Chapter 10: Breath of Death
Kage sprawled lifeless on the ground for several minutes, paying no attention to his surroundings. He simply lay there in the wreckage of his room like a man who had just clawed his way back from death.
’Damn! I wasn’t even this drained when I actually died!’
Kage released a heavy sigh and gently pressed his palm against his forehead, staring at the torn rope dangling from the ceiling.
At the same time, he studied the new strings of text that materialized in the air before him.
[Name: Ardyn Kage]
[Path: Breath of Death]
[Realm: Earth – Stage 1 (Lower)]
[Qi Essence: 100/100 (Regeneration: 0.2/sec)]
[Dantian: First Awakening]
[Meridians: 0/12 Cleared]
[Physique: Mortal Constitution]
[Foundation: Fragile (Risk of deviation)]
[Attributes]:
[Suffocation Endurance – Moderate]
[Cold Resistance – Low]
[Heat Resistance – Low]
[Arts: None]
[Cultivation Method: Breath of Death – Nascent Breath (5%)]
[Skills: None]
[Heart Demon Progression: 0.0001%]
Kage frowned as he studied the display, then propped himself up, eyes widening with bewilderment.
’Fascinating! A vivid representation of my current state—how pathetic! Yet remarkable that I can track my progress in such detail.’
He meant it. For a moment, he pondered the system’s origin—the bizarre ritual, the entity that had entered him.
Then his focus shifted to the final entry as he recalled the black and crimson mist.
’Heart Demon, huh.’
Demons were exceedingly rare, but that didn’t mean they were nonexistent. They remained as enigmatic as the Heavens, though far more active.
Kage felt uneasy knowing he might harbor demonic influence, yet couldn’t shake the feeling that this Heart Demon was also responsible for his regression and the Sovereign Gods within him.
He scratched his head wearily.
’I suppose I’ll need to start researching this...’
Despite its mysteries, Kage sensed he’d gained a reliable and useful ally, albeit temporarily.
’Standard regeneration should be one qi essence per second. In my case, I can only absorb 0.2 per second, and my dantian holds a measly hundred. By comparison, even a mundane Aspirant should contain at least 1,000 qi essence.’
Kage glanced at the system display with a wry smile and scoffed.
’Talentless indeed.’
He grinned and stood up.
’At least I’ve managed to awaken my dantian—I’m now an Aspirant. That should suffice for now, until I’m ready to tackle becoming a Purist.’
Suddenly Kage froze, noticing something odd. His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
’Why are they silent?’
For a heartbeat, no response came. Silence reigned. The sun had sunk deeper toward the horizon, shrouding the world in creeping darkness.
Then suddenly, a new panel materialized.
[The Wolf of the North is breathing harder—they think they might be having a heart attack]
[The Heretic Inquisitor of Eternal Truth shakes their head at you and says you definitely are courting madness!]
[The Witch of Mirrors grins feverishly at you]
[The Oathbreaker shakes their head and calls you a reckless brat—they advise you to continue like this and you’ll die before protecting your mother]
Kage observed their varied reactions with a devious gleam in his eyes.
Of course, this hadn’t been mere gambling. In fact, he was intimately familiar with Breath of Frost. While he’d awakened his dantian through five years of meticulous cultivation, he later discovered Breath of Frost—a true gem among techniques.
Kage knew the Breath itself inside and out; only the awakening criteria required innovation. Since his regression, the chandelier had been practically taunting him, daring him to attempt it.
Kage knew he would succeed. He wasn’t ready to die, and he knew exactly what he was doing.
He exhaled slowly and rose to his feet, stretching briefly.
’Now that I’ve handled that, I should go retrieve my old friend. And set out for one hell of a holocaust.’
Kage groaned as he stood, a bruise darkening his neck while his throat still burned from the suffocation. His body ached, but nothing someone like him hadn’t endured while doing what mattered.
He dragged himself to the hall on the lower floor and slowly entered. Straightening his back, he smiled as he was met by a vast, empty room.
[The Heretic Inquisitor of Eternal Truth widens his eyes in disbelief]
[The Wolf of the North is shocked—all the swords are gone!]
[The Weaver of Sorrows sobs at your unlucky fate]
Kage raised his chin, one corner of his mouth curling upward.
’Unlucky my foot.’
He strode forward casually, then stopped at the only sword lying in the vast hall. He knelt and touched the ground, lifting black dust and letting it slip through his fingers.
’This bastard really ate them all’
Then he examined the sword itself.
[The Wolf of the North rubs their eyes in disbelief]
[The Heretic Inquisitor of Eternal Truth is impressed]
The rusty blade had transformed into cold obsidian with a lustrous, sinister gleam. The hilt was bound in black and crimson cord—firm yet elegant—ending in twin tassels adorned with violet beads that swayed like drops of blood caught in twilight.
Kage smiled and grasped the sword. As he did, the blade flickered with dark radiance and Kage felt his qi essence being drained rapidly. In less than thirty seconds, his reserves were depleted.
Even as they regenerated, they continued draining.
[The Heretic Inquisitor of Eternal Truth shakes their head—says you like dangerous things]
Kage’s smile widened.
’Befitting of a talentless wretch like me, wouldn’t you say?’
He retrieved the black and crimson sheath and slid the blade inside. Immediately, the qi drain ceased and he felt his essence settling peacefully in his dantian as he breathed.
[The Stone Tyrant steals glances at your sword—he seems uncomfortable]
Kage paused.
’A new Sovereign God graces me with attention, huh?’
He smiled and continued on his way. First, he headed to the storage room to gather necessities, then to his mother’s chamber.
Despite the late hour, she sat at her bedside table with a lantern, kneading. He bid her farewell and, to his surprise, she accepted it gracefully. She and Taro escorted him to the entrance, where Master Shinro waited at the gate with his only hand gripping a sword.
Kage regarded him and slowly stepped into the open courtyard between the main building’s entrance and the gate.
Master Shinro bowed his head.
"Young master."
Kage’s expression turned cold.
"What are you doing?"
’Do you want me to sever your last surviving arm?’
Master Shinro met his gaze.
"No matter how much I deliberate, I remain conflicted. I don’t understand your intentions—they’re bewildering, yet it feels wrong to sit idle knowing you could perish. So I’ve decided..."
He slowly extended his sword toward Kage.
"If you can land a single strike on me, I will stand aside."
Kage’s frown deepened, his voice dropping to an icy whisper.
"Do you comprehend the implications of pointing your blade at the Ironstorm bloodline?"
Master Shinro’s gaze hardened with resolve.
"I shall bear the consequences of my actions if it means halting your recklessness."
In that moment, the already dark night plunged into deeper shadows.