Chapter 256 - An Event for the Ages
"Our Profound Astral Sect will be among the many sects participating in this coming Infernal Hunt. The Sect Master expects an outstanding performance from our disciples this time around, so the rewards will be reflecting that!"
The Mysterious Sect Master of Profound Astral Sect had informed the Elders and told them of the coming Infernal Hunt, with this information soon being released to everyone as soon as the preparations were complete.
"Among the top rewards for the disciples that outshine and outperform...is the Absolute Space Technique of our sect!"
Noah's eyes shone at this new piece of information as his mind worked at high speeds, the face of the being he was portraying showed an interested look that expressed his enthusiasm.
"I will show them my power in this Infernal Hunt, Father! I will take down a higher number of Infernals than anyone else!"
His face was that of a young man with his blood boiling in excitement as he looked at the proud gaze of his father. 'Crixus' sharply turned his shining eyes towards elder Baldwin as he spoke carefully.
"When it comes to stabilizing my cultivation though, I used up all of my Spirit Stones while breaking through, and have completely run out as of right now though…"
Haha, don't sit on the ceremony with your father. Spirit Stones, Pills, and even the Saint Realm techniques you haven't looked at yet, I'll bring them all here and prepare you for the Infernal Hunt to come."
An expression of appreciation was plastered on Noah's face as he nodded, his vibrant power at the Saint Realm still showing signs of instability as Elder Baldwin moved out of the Cultivation Abode and went out to grab some of the less restricted techniques of Profound Astral Sect, as well as an abundant amount of refined [Core]s, also known as Spirit Stones, for his 'son'. His face was full of pride as his figure disappeared in the skies.
Noah rose up as he observed silence in the Cultivation Abode once more, his gaze turning calm as he thought about his great use of time this past week.
For 8 days, he had been able to coop himself up in the Time Space of the Spiritual Land as he used [Budding Farmer] on the plots of lands he made in the Time Space for an even faster growth of the Medicinal Fruits and Herbs that he then turned into resplendent pills through the {Forge of the Silver Flame}.
He was also able to raise the proficiency of many of the Saint Rank skills he held, the ones he obtained from the Devilish Time Unveiler and Black Serpent already being maxed as he was able to effectively use the time period of more than 2 months in the Time Space to his advantage.
New possible combinations for the space and draconic based attributed skills from the Devilish Unveiler and Black Serpent which would optimally combine with the [Aberrant Saint] to bring about a terrifying skill of the next rank were already swimming in his mind as he continued to move forward.
He spread out his powerful senses as he pulled out the purple-gold Dagger of Time, using [Insight] once more as many possible plans formulated through his mind with the addition of this interesting event, the Infernal Hunt.
---
On a glowing star in a distant location, the Celestial Drax was breathing out stably as a milky white aura calmly floated around him. In the period of a week, he had released the limiter he placed on himself that allowed him to consolidate his strength at the Transcendent Rank and finally reached the Saint Rank, or what the Celestials called the peak of Rank 3 Celestial.
His body held enough strength to battle on par with those in the Saint Realm when he was just Transcendent, and even though he had just stepped into this new rank, he expected his battle power to be even more astounding.
He meditated peacefully as he stabilized his strength when he soon received a message from his master.
"The time is here. Come down to meet the ones that will be going with you into the Infernal Realm through the World of Cultivation."
Drax's eyes snapped wide open as his figure disappeared, quickly appearing near the monastery where his master was as he saw four new figures of beings letting out levels of power no less than himself.
They all held unique aspects, with one having similarities to the Elven Race, and another was a being looking very close to a human, yet they had gloriously shining white wings erupting from their back. Drax looked curiously at this rare being of the Faerie Race as he observed the last two to be humans.
Shock appeared on his face as he laid his eyes on one of the humans, a dark-skinned girl with a head full of glossy hair tied in a ponytail and a prominent figure that was still visible even with the red robes that she wore.
The red robe that this woman wore signified that she was not just any normal Celestial Disciple, but one that was about to take on the full title of a Celestial with the completion of just a few more missions!
Drax knew the identity of this famous disciples as she was known with the title of The War Princess, Athena.
She was only a mere human mortal with not an ounce of strength less than one hundred years ago, and a Celestial had chanced upon her when they were traveling across the stars and observing the planets and stars that needed to be saved or destroyed.
She was in a world on the verge of ruin as her people continued to wage wars amongst each other, eventually depleting the resources of their planet as their only path left became destruction. The Celestial was observing this ruined world when they noticed her unique body disposition that was perfectly inclined towards techniques related to Fate. This Celestial took her in as a disciple right away, finding in her a monstrous ability to advance through ranks unlike anything seen before.
Among the many rising Celestial Disciples, Athena was at the forefront of all them with her power and wit, even being granted the rare chance to work with other Celestials as they brought balance throughout the stars.
One particularly recent mission that Drax recalled was one where Athena was accompanied by a Golden Robed Grandmaster on one of the Interstellar Warsh.i.p.s that very few disciples would have a chance to come close to. These were the warsh.i.p.s that held powerful weapons capable of destroying lower-ranked planets with ease.
She was in charge of releasing this power down to a particular planet that continued to interfere with the Order of the universe with the creation of cursed items known as World Engines that naturally defied Order with each usage.
In this mission, her will was tested as she excelled in the lesson that many of the Celestial Disciples were still learning- the death of a few can be ignored in order to bring a more perfect balance in the universe, that taking away the lives of billions to return things to their natural order will only save a trillion more beings over the vicissitudes of time.
Athena had an extremely strong will as she was able to complete this mission with ease, gaining even more recognition from the upper ranked Celestials. This was the War Princess, Athena!
Drax calmed his beating heart as he chanted incantations in his mind, his gaze going towards his master that had begun talking.
"You all will meet with our representative at the little sect known as Profound Astral Sect, and be given special identities among their disciples. Your participation in this Infernal Hunt counts as a mission, with those of you being the most successful reaping the most rewards."
The Grandmaster spoke slowly as the five beings looked at each other, his gaze focusing on Drax and Athena.
"Be especially on the lookout for any irregularities as you investigate to see whether the ones tampering with fate are still moving around the World of Cultivation."
"Yes, Grandmaster!"
Drax and the others placed their palms over their hearts as they received the commands, calling out in unison words they had been trained to say for many years.
"For Order and Balance!"
"For Order and Balance!"
Bursts of power resonated around the five of them as they turned away from the monastery and made their way towards the abundant Teleportation Portals on the Celestial Star they were on.