Chapter 220: Vael-Khazul
The three hunters had already packaged the bear meat into hide sacks when Finesh emerged from the tree line. The pale green-haired one looked up with a grin.
"Hey, Finesh, how long does it take to pee?"
Kael — wearing Finesh’s face, his voice, his very mana signature — offered a dismissive wave. "Let’s go back quickly with the meat before sunset. Father might get annoyed."
The hunters shrugged and hoisted their sacks. They moved through the forest with easy familiarity, navigating root tunnels and moss-covered paths that Kael memorized with every step. The Mask of a Thousand Faces was flawless — it replicated not just appearance, but build, voice, and even the unique texture of Finesh’s mana signature. Even an Origin realm cultivator would find it nearly impossible to detect the deception.
What the other trio didn’t know was that the real Finesh was dead, his body buried deep in a cave miles behind them.
Based on the information Kael had extracted before killing him, the Gra-Khazul settlements were remarkable. Their homes were carved into hollowed trunks or built on wide branches, connected by rope bridges and root tunnels that wove through the colossal trees like a spider’s web. The largest structure was the Patriarch’s Hall, built inside a tree so massive that its interior could fit a noble’s mansion. Its walls were lined with carved glyphs that told the tribe’s history stretching back three millennia.
The tribe was divided into eight clans, each tracing lineage to one of eight original founders: the Zorath Clan — the Patriarch’s clan — the Vael Clan, the Khaz Clan, the Rul Clan, the Thesh Clan, the Mora Clan, the Kal Clan, and finally the Nesh Clan. The lowest of the eight. Finesh’s clan.
Finesh had been one of the head hunters of the Nesh Clan. Not a prestigious position in the grand scheme, but respected enough within the clan itself. Inter-clan rivalry existed but was regulated through something called the Blood Pit — sanctioned duels rather than outright warfare.
But none of that was what Kael cared about.
What interested him was their soul cultivation techniques.
The cultivation world generally followed three paths.
The first was the Mana Path — the most common. Mana cultivation progressed through the Core from Mana Gathering, Core Formation, Foundation Establishment, Mana Heart, Spirit Soul, and Origin Realm. These were the first six stages of mana cultivation that most cultivators followed.
The second was the Body Path — body cultivation, which used mana to temper the physical form, starting from Tier 1. Everyone who cultivated the mana path eventually had their body tempered to some degree due to constant exposure to mana and external factors like tempering with fire, ice, or gravity. Most reached Tier 1, some Tier 2. The Vorn children, for example, had bodies constantly tempered by mana and gravity from birth, giving them a natural Tier 1 foundation. But anything higher than Tier 2 required a dedicated body cultivation technique. Most cultivators didn’t bother with body cultivation because they could use mana to protect their bodies during clashes — but mana shielding could never compare to a true body cultivator’s physical resilience.
The third path was the Soul Path — and this was what Kael needed.
Soul cultivation required converting mana into soul force. It was extremely rare. The process was even more painful than body cultivation and carried strict requirements that most cultivators simply couldn’t meet. Over the centuries, soul techniques had been lost to time, fragmented, or hoarded by powerful factions.
But the Gra-Khazul still practiced it.
From what Finesh had known — which was limited since he hadn’t begun his own soul training — the soul path progressed through five stages: Soul Awakening, Soul Core, Soul Tempering, Soul Manifestation, and finally Soul Condensation, where the Patriarch currently resided.
Normally, when a cultivator reached the Spirit Soul realm in the mana path, they gained access to the first stage of the soul path — Soul Awakening. At this stage, a small amount of soul force, also called soul power, became accessible. The most common manifestation was soul sense — a five-meter radius of spatial awareness that didn’t rely on eyes or ears. Soul sense allowed a cultivator to perceive the presence, position, and general strength of living beings within range. It couldn’t identify specific techniques or read thoughts, but it made ambush nearly impossible and was especially effective in darkness or confined spaces. Higher stages of soul cultivation expanded this range dramatically and added more capabilities — soul attacks, soul defense, even manipulation of others’ soul force.
The Patriarch was at Soul Condensation, which meant his soul sense likely covered almost the entire territory. That was a problem Kael would need to account for eventually.
But for now, the immediate concern was simpler.
The Nesh Clan settlement came into view as they crossed a wide root bridge. Homes carved into massive trunks lined both sides of a natural clearing, with rope bridges connecting upper levels. Bioluminescent moss provided soft blue-green light. Children played among the roots while elderly Gra-Khazul sat on carved benches, sharpening bone tools or weaving baskets.
Around seven hundred and thirty-two warriors and villagers made up the Nesh Clan. It was the smallest of the eight clans, and the humblest.
An old man emerged from the largest home as the hunting party approached. He looked to be in his sixties — though with Gra-Khazul lifespan, he could easily be over two hundred. His pale green skin was weathered and scarred, his scales dulled with age, but his reptilian eyes were sharp and clear. His mana signature was restrained but unmistakable.
Rank 2 Spirit Soul realm. Soul Manifestation stage in the soul path.
This was Finesh’s father — Goran Nesh. Family head of the Nesh Clan.
"You are back," Goran said, his voice a dry rasp.
"The hunt was successful," Kael replied in Finesh’s sibilant accent. "A Rank 6 bear. Enough meat for the clan along with the meat from other hunters too."
Goran’s eyes lingered on him for a moment. Kael kept his expression neutral, his posture relaxed — exactly how Finesh would behave around his father. The mask handled the rest.
Goran nodded and turned back inside without another word.
Kael released a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Even with the ridiculous amount of mana in this area, the current Gra-Khazul tribe can’t progress past Peak Spirit Soul realm. That’s probably why the Patriarch turned to the soul path — to find power beyond the mana ceiling.
The women of the clan took the bear meat and began cooking it over large stone fire pits, alongside other meat stocks the hunters had brought back. The smell of roasting meat filled the settlement, mixing with the earthy scent of moss and ancient wood. Each cut was portioned and distributed — first to the main family, then to the warriors, then to the villagers. The Nesh Clan might be the lowest of the eight, but they ate well tonight.
After the feast, Kael retreated to Finesh’s room — a modest space carved into the upper trunk of a large tree, accessible by a rope ladder. Bone weapons hung on the walls. A sleeping mat lay in the corner. A small window let in the faint blue-green glow of the moss outside.
Kael closed the door.
He knelt and began inscribing runes along the door frame, the walls, and the floor. Silencing runes first — to block sound from escaping. Then perception-interference runes — designed to disrupt soul sense, creating a small pocket that would appear as dead space to anyone scanning with spiritual awareness.
It took him twenty minutes. Rank 4 Runemaster precision meant every line was clean, every symbol exact.
When he finished, he lay down on the sleeping mat, hands behind his head, staring at the wooden ceiling.
Finesh hadn’t started his soul path training yet. At his age, he’d chosen to focus on the mana path first — a common decision among Gra-Khazul youth. Which meant Finesh was registered for soul training but hadn’t begun.
Which meant Kael could take his place.
A slow smile spread across Finesh’s borrowed face.
"Let’s get the cooking started."