Void Cultivation

Grey did not hesitate for even a single second. Without the slightest trace of uncertainty, he strode toward the blurry temple standing several meters away. The ancient structure seemed to exist between reality and illusion, its outline wavering endlessly as though it were merely a reflection upon the surface of disturbed water. The moment Grey crossed an invisible boundary before the entrance, his figure vanished completely from the outside world.

Left alone, Violet silently observed the surroundings. Her sharp gaze swept across the mist-covered temple and the hazy landscape surrounding it, carefully examining every detail she could perceive. However, no matter how closely she looked, everything remained vague and indistinct, as though concealed behind countless layers of illusion.

After waiting only a few brief moments, she took a light breath before stepping forward. Like Grey before her, her figure disappeared the instant she walked through the temple’s entrance, swallowed by an unseen force.

Grey felt his vision gradually darken.

It was an unusual sensation, as though he had passed through an incredibly thin yet incomparably sturdy membrane that separated two entirely different worlds. The darkness lasted for only an instant before light slowly returned to his eyes.

When his vision finally cleared, he found himself standing inside an enormous hall.

His gaze instinctively lifted toward the front of the room, where several towering figures sat upon lofty seats positioned high above the ground. Their presence alone filled the vast hall with an indescribable pressure.

The figures themselves were perfectly clear and solid, completely unlike the temple and the indistinct seats beneath them, which appeared blurry and dreamlike. Yet despite their solid forms, their faces remained hidden beneath an unfathomable veil of darkness that Grey’s eyesight could not penetrate, no matter how hard he tried.

The instant they sensed his arrival, all of the figures turned their gazes toward him simultaneously.

Grey immediately felt an overwhelming pressure descend upon him.

Suppressing the instinctive chill that ran through his body, he quickly counted the number of figures seated before him. There were seven in total.

Without wasting another moment, he lowered himself and respectfully kowtowed.

These individuals before him were the Sect Elders who governed the various sequences within Sky Mist City.

Their authority was absolute.

Within the entire Nine Colored Sect, only the Sect Master possessed the qualification to command them. Every order they issued carried immense weight, capable of determining the fate of countless disciples with a single sentence.

More importantly, each of them possessed cultivation bases that had reached unimaginable heights.

Although Grey was unable to discern their appearances, he possessed a strong intuition that his inability to see their faces was not merely because of the surrounding darkness.

Rather, it was because his current cultivation was simply too low.

If the darkness were removed, he believed the result would remain largely the same. At best, their faces would appear blurry and horribly distorted, impossible for him to perceive clearly.

It was no different from the temple he had just entered.

Certain existences simply could not be fully perceived by those beneath them.

"Greetings, Elders," Grey said respectfully while remaining in a kowtowing position.

This was not only a gesture of respect toward the Sect Elders themselves but also an acknowledgment of the Nine Colored Sect and its authority. Throughout the entire process, his expression remained calm and composed, showing neither excessive nervousness nor arrogance.

Several seconds later, another ripple spread through the hall.

Violet emerged from behind Grey.

The instant her eyes landed upon the seven figures seated high above, her expression changed ever so slightly. Surprise flashed across her face before quickly disappearing.

Without needing any reminder, she immediately followed Grey’s actions.

She respectfully bent down and kowtowed before the elders.

"Greetings, Elders," she said.

Her movements were smooth, swift, and without the slightest hesitation.

Silence filled the enormous hall.

Neither Grey nor Violet dared to raise their heads.

Several long seconds passed before one of the seven elders finally spoke.

The voice was cold, emotionless, and carried an unquestionable authority that echoed throughout the vast hall like heavenly judgment itself.

"Fellow sect disciples," the elder began, "you have been proclaimed witnesses to the crimes committed by the Heaven’s Chosen of the Bizarre Broken Sect. Before this council proceeds with its judgment, you shall each recount everything you witnessed without omission or falsehood."

A brief pause followed before the elder continued.

"Aside from explaining the events in their entirety, is there anything either of you wishes to say before the judgment begins?"

At that very moment, as the elder’s voice echoed throughout the vast hall, another figure suddenly materialized before Grey and Violet.

It was Kaien.

His hands remained tightly bound behind his back by invisible restraints, while numerous sealing marks covered his body, suppressing every trace of spiritual energy within him. His cultivation base had been completely sealed, leaving him no different from an ordinary mortal.

The moment he appeared, Kaien’s eyes darted frantically around the hall.

It was filled with fear, confusion and terror. All three emotions were clearly reflected in his expression.

It was obvious that he had no idea where he was or what was happening. One moment he had been imprisoned, and the next he found himself standing before seven mysterious figures whose mere presence made his soul tremble uncontrollably.

His breathing became increasingly hurried as cold sweat formed across his forehead.

Grey merely glanced at him before respectfully bowing once more toward the seven elders.

"Sect Elders," he began calmly, "Daoist Kaien of the Bizarre Broken Sect has been found guilty of kidnapping and murdering innocent civilians. Furthermore, based on the evidence and testimonies gathered, these crimes were not isolated incidents. They appear to have continued for a considerable period of time within Sky Mist City."

His voice remained steady and neither hurried nor hesitant.

"From this disciple’s perspective, it is reasonable to conclude that he possesses accomplices operating both inside and outside the sect."

Grey paused after speaking those words.

His gaze briefly swept across the seven towering figures seated above, as though waiting to see whether any of them intended to interrupt or question him.

However, the elders remained perfectly silent. Not a single one spoke. Receiving no objection, Grey continued.

"According to the Enforcement Laws of Sky Mist City, such crimes are punishable either by death or by the complete destruction of one’s cultivation base."

His eyes shifted toward the silent Kaien.

"The law makes no distinction between disciples of the Nine Colored Sect and outsiders. Anyone found guilty of such crimes is subject to the same punishment."

The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere inside the hall became noticeably heavier.

Kaien’s expression changed dramatically. His face instantly turned deathly pale.

Although he still could not fully understand where he was, hearing the words "death" and "destruction of cultivation" was more than enough for terror to overwhelm his heart.

Despite being one of the Heaven’s Chosen nurtured by the Sect Alliance, he was no fool.

He knew exactly what those words implied. If he were truly sentenced here today, even his identity would not necessarily be enough to save him.

Of course, executing a Heaven’s Chosen of the Sect Alliance would inevitably create enormous consequences.

Even if the Sect Alliance ultimately chose not to retaliate for the sake of maintaining peace, the Bizarre Broken Sect certainly would not remain silent.

A genius like Kaien represented not only the future of the sect but also its dignity.

Allowing him to die at the hands of another sect would be an unbearable humiliation.

Grey naturally understood all of this. Yet his expression never changed.

His voice remained calm from beginning to end, but hidden beneath that calmness was an unmistakable coldness and ruthlessness.

Even though he consciously restrained himself, a faint strand of murderous intent still escaped from his body.

The killing intent was incredibly subtle.

However, within this hall, where seven unimaginably powerful cultivators were gathered, even the slightest fluctuation could not escape their perception.

Realizing his lapse, Grey slowly calmed his mind and forcibly suppressed the murderous aura after only a few breaths.

To be perfectly honest, he did not particularly care whether the Bizarre Broken Sect caused an uproar afterward.

To him, Kaien had already become a hidden threat. And hidden threats had only two outcomes.

Either they were eliminated... Or they would eventually return to eliminate you.

If the sect chose to execute Kaien today, it would undoubtedly save Grey considerable trouble.

However, if the elders ultimately spared his life, Grey was equally unafraid.

He would simply wait. One day, sooner or later, an opportunity would present itself.

And when that opportunity arrived... He would personally hunt Kaien down. And if that opportunity never came, he would go out of his way to hunt Kaein himself.

This had gradually become one of Grey’s deepest instincts over the years.

When the scavenger within the scavenger camp had harbored malicious intentions toward him, Grey had made certain that the hidden danger never survived long enough to threaten him again.

When the old man from Green City had nearly taken his life and later revealed unmistakable hostility, Grey had returned without hesitation to settle that debt personally.

Mercy was reserved for those who deserved it. Enemies who sought his life deserved none.

Although Grey still remembered very little of the life he had lived before awakening in this cold and unforgiving world, one truth had long since become clear to him.

Much had already been taken from him. His memories. His past.

Perhaps even the people he had once cherished. He did not know who had stolen those things from him, nor did he know why.

But he understood one lesson better than most. If he ever lowered his guard...

If he ever allowed himself to become complacent...

Then the next thing taken from him would be his life.