Void Cultivation

The Market District was extremely crowded, making it an excellent location for someone who wished to conceal their movements. With the sheer number of people constantly moving through the streets, it would be difficult for anyone to notice a single individual entering or leaving the area.

But meeting on top of a building was another matter entirely.

It was much easier to observe someone’s approach from such a position.

Grey was certain Zayne had chosen the location for a reason.

Nevertheless, since he was already there, Grey decided to follow through with the meeting.

To a cultivator at his current level, climbing such a building was no different from taking a leisurely stroll.

However, Grey had no intention of attracting unnecessary attention.

The Market District was filled with ordinary people and low-level cultivators. If he simply leaped onto the roof, the sudden display of strength would inevitably attract attention.

That was precisely what Grey wanted to avoid.

Therefore, he stealthily climbed up the side of the building.

His movements were silent and incredibly swift.

To anyone below, Grey’s figure would have been nearly impossible to notice.

After a short while, he finally reached the top.

The moment Grey stepped onto the rooftop, his gaze immediately swept across the area.

There was only one person standing there.

A lone figure stood near the edge of the building, his gaze directed toward the sky before occasionally shifting toward the streets far below.

The multitude of people continued moving through the Market District, completely unaware of the figure standing high above them.

From their position, they could not see him.

The man had deliberately positioned himself beside the large stone shaft that extended upward from the building, using it to conceal most of his body.

Moreover, he wore a dark cloak that blended surprisingly well with the surrounding shadows, making his presence even more difficult to detect.

Grey’s eyes narrowed.

The instant his gaze landed on the figure, his shadow couldn’t help but curl slightly.

It was an instinctive reaction.

Almost immediately, the figure standing on the rooftop seemed to sense something.

His body stiffened slightly as he slowly turned his head.

His gaze met Grey’s.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. Grey could see his face clearly now.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Green hair. And that somewhat awkward appearance.

Grey immediately recognized him.

It was Zayne.

The same Zayne who had once been an awkward-looking young man.

The same Zayne who had been placed on the same team as Grey during the Sky Mist Exams.

That had been over two years ago. A lot could happen in two years.

And the Zayne standing before Grey now was clearly no longer the same person he remembered.

He appeared slightly older, and there was a cold glint hidden deep within his eyes.

The awkwardness he had once possessed was nowhere to be seen.

His expression was calm and detached. But there was something else.

Something that made Grey’s instincts quietly warn him.

Zayne’s gaze lingered on Grey for a brief moment before slowly shifting downward.

Toward Grey’s shadow.

The moment his gaze landed there, the shadow beneath Grey’s feet trembled slightly.

Zayne’s eyes narrowed.

Silence descended between the two of them.

The noise of the Market District seemed distant from their position. After several seconds, Zayne finally broke the silence.

"It seems like your shadow has awakened even further."

His voice was hoarse. Grey remained silent. Zayne continued staring at his shadow.

"The first time I saw you, it wasn’t like this."

Grey’s eyes remained calm. A few seconds passed before he finally replied.

"The Bizarre existence that parasitizes your body has also taken control of a large portion of it."

His gaze shifted toward Zayne.

"Almost half of your body is already under its control."

Grey spoke calmly. There was no surprise or fear in his voice.

It was as if the revelation of his shadow’s abnormality meant absolutely nothing to him.

For several seconds, Zayne remained silent. Then, a detached smile slowly appeared on his face.

He lowered his head slightly. From that angle, Grey could finally see what the dark cloak had been concealing.

Dark greenish tattoos.... They emerged from beneath Zayne’s clothing, beginning around his chest and neck before slowly spreading across his face.

The strange tattoos seemed almost alive.

They intertwined with one another like countless vines, crawling across his skin in an unnatural pattern.

Grey’s eyes narrowed.

He could feel it.

The strange aura emanating from those tattoos.

It was the same kind of feeling he had experienced two years ago.

Only now, it was far stronger.

The dark cloak Zayne wore had concealed most of the tattoos covering his body, but Grey could now tell that they extended far beyond his face and neck.

They covered a significant portion of his body.

Zayne raised his head.

"I thought that by this time..." he began softly.

His voice carried a faint trace of disappointment.

"...I would have been able to find someone who could help me."

He paused. Then his smile quickly faded.

"I was wrong."

Grey’s brows furrowed slightly. He did not immediately respond.

Instead, his mind drifted back to the events of two years ago.

At that time, Grey had already noticed that something was terribly wrong with Zayne.

The young man seemed to be in an extremely strange state. It was almost as if he had been possessed.

Or perhaps...

He had become the host of something else.

A Bizarre existence. Even back then, the strange existence had already taken control of at least ten percent of Zayne’s body.

Yet despite that, Zayne had been able to draw upon some of its power.

Grey had witnessed it personally. And that was precisely what had made him wary.

At that time, Grey had sensed a feeling of trepidation whenever he stood near Zayne.

It was difficult to describe. It was not simply fear. It was something deeper.

Something instinctive. Maybe because he also had an existence like that hiding in his shadow, Grey was able to perceive it far more than a normal person would.

The same feeling Grey occasionally experienced whenever he looked at his own shadow.

That was why, after their encounter two years ago, Grey had deliberately chosen to avoid Zayne.

He had no desire to become involved with something he did not understand.

But now... After seeing Zayne again, Grey finally understood the true nature of his condition.

Zayne’s body was being used as a host. A parasite.

A Bizarre existence was slowly parasitizing his body, gradually taking control of him from within.

And two years had passed. In those two years, the parasite had grown significantly stronger.

It had already taken control of nearly half of Zayne’s body.

Grey’s expression became slightly solemn. He could imagine what would happen when the process was complete.

Once the Bizarre existence completely took over Zayne’s body, the person standing before him would no longer be Zayne.

His consciousness would disappear and his will would be erased.

His body would become nothing more than a vessel. A host.

A dreadful Bizarre existence would emerge from within him and completely replace the person he had once been.

Zayne was already standing on the edge of that fate.

And there was seemingly nothing he could do to stop it.

"I thought your situation was the same as mine."

Zayne’s voice suddenly broke through Grey’s thoughts.

Grey’s gaze returned to him. Zayne was staring directly at his shadow.

"The parasite of a Bizarre existence..."

His expression was strangely calm.

"I thought you were also being slowly consumed by something similar." A faint smile appeared on his face.

"However, I was wrong."

Grey’s brows furrowed into a deeper frown. He did not immediately understand what Zayne meant.

But something about his words made Grey’s instincts stir. Zayne’s gaze remained fixed on the shadow beneath Grey’s feet.

"The thing inside you..." He paused.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"...isn’t the same as the thing inside me." Grey’s expression remained calm.

But deep within his eyes, a cold light flashed.

Yes, the bizarre existence in Grey’s shadow was not the same as the one parartizing Zayne. While Zayne was battling with keeping his sanity and his will in check, Grey and the shadow’s relationship was a strong and firm equilibrium.

Grey was the master, while the shadow was the servant.