Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 607: One Heaven’s Disappointment

CH607 One Heaven’s Disappointment

***

One Heaven nodded approvingly at Alex’s progress.

But just then, his expression changed slightly as he sensed something within the illusionary maze of the Heaven-Earth Concordance formation.

”Something interesting is about to happen,” he said suddenly. ”The sorcerers from the hidden heavens who entered at the same time as you are about to face a powerful corrupted being.”

He glanced at Alex.

”This is a good opportunity to observe the abilities of this generation’s sorcerers. Would you like to come along?”

”Of course,” Alex agreed without hesitation.

One Heaven waved his hand.

In the next instant, both of them vanished— reappearing within the maze.

They invisibly hovered in the air, overlooking the battlefield below.

There, the Chosen Sons and Daughters of the Holy Lands were locked in combat against the berserk, were-croc human.

”Heaven Secret Sect disciples...” One Heaven murmured, watching the current generation of his sect face the overwhelming threat.

Alex caught the mutter.

His gaze immediately shifted toward Hiro and his fellow sect brothers.

His eyes narrowed as he observed their struggle against the cold irregular.

Several times, his attention flickered between the battle below and One Heaven, silently wondering if the old man would intervene.

But One Heaven remained utterly still.

Even when one of the sorcerers was killed, he didn’t so much as react.

Even when the successors of his own sect were pushed to the brink, he simply watched, expressionless.

Eventually, the sorcerers began to stabilise.

They regrouped. And this time, recognising the danger they were in, they truly cooperated.

Working together, they managed to bring down the berserk human.

Each of them had to reveal their greatest trump cards— risking hidden injuries that could hinder their future cultivation.

But in the end, they succeeded.

The senior Heaven Secret Sect disciple rose at the crucial moment, delivering the final blow before the berserk human could regenerate.

It was a display of grit.

Of resolve.

Of decisive action.

Yet, One Heaven merely shook his head in disapproval.

Alex frowned slightly, confused by the old man’s reactions throughout the entire battle.

After taking a short rest, the surviving sorcerers began to regroup, preparing to continue their trials.

But it seemed... One Heaven had already seen enough.

Just as the group was about to pass through the trial gate into the next section of the maze, One Heaven waved his hand.

In an instant, the sorcerers, Alex, and the old man were all transported to a new cavern chamber.

At its centre stood an ostentatious statue— at least, in Alex’s opinion.

The statue depicted One Heaven himself in his prime.

The moment the Heaven Secret Sect disciples recognised it, they immediately dropped to their knees.

Without hesitation, they kowtowed before the statue in reverence.

Only then did One Heaven sigh softly and wave his hand once more.

The statue shifted aside, revealing a pedestal beneath it.

Resting upon it was a book... one the old man had casually placed there earlier.

The Heaven Secret Sect disciples approached with almost religious solemnity and retrieved the book.

Yet, as they did, the atmosphere grew tense.

A subtle greed flickered in the eyes of the surrounding sorcerers.

The tension was palpable.

This did not escape One Heaven’s notice as a trace of annoyance crossed his face.

With another wave of his hand, an exit opened.

Fortunately, the sorcerers restrained themselves and no conflict broke out.

They exited the Heaven-Earth Concordance grounds in uneasy silence.

Only after they were gone did Alex turn to One Heaven.

”I don’t understand,” he said. ”If you knew sorcerers —descendants of your own sect, no less— had arrived at the same time as us, why did you bring us to the stele mountain instead of them?”

He frowned slightly.

”Why pass your legacy to outsiders, when your own descendants are right there?”

”My descendants...?” One Heaven repeated.

He shook his head.

For a fleeting moment, Alex thought he saw a sneer on the old man’s face— but it vanished too quickly for him to be certain.

One Heaven turned his gaze in the direction the sorcerers had departed.

His eyes seemed to pierce through space itself, as though still watching their retreating figures.

”Those brats, raised in comfort, can never be entrusted with the responsibility of saving the world,” he said calmly.

”You saw it yourself— the arrogance etched into their very bearing.”

”Having lived their entire lives within the Hidden Heavens of the Holy Lands, they have become disconnected from the true Heaven of this world.”

”To bear this legacy, one must care for those beneath them.”

He paused briefly.

”But with their arrogance, their disdain, their entitlement... and their contempt for the people of the main Heaven—”

”They will fail the legacy.”

His voice turned colder.

”And more importantly, they will no doubt fall to Gu Mo and the traitors.”

He turned back to Alex and continued,

”Besides, I had hoped that the presence of an external threat would foster unity among the sorcerers... but it seems I was mistaken.”

”The various Holy Lands have grown far too comfortable within their Hidden Heavens. Even with the plane under threat from multiple fronts, they still find time to indulge in petty conflicts amongst themselves.”

His tone grew colder.

”Granting the legacy to any one of them would only deepen those divisions— entangling the inheritor in needless struggles and ultimately dooming the final chance this plane has to resist the coming tribulation.”

The old man sighed, a trace of melancholy slipping through.

”To think that you —an outsider— would show more empathy towards the people of this plane than those born into it, yet deluded enough to believe themselves superior...”

He paused.

”Perhaps I made a mistake... sealing the Hidden Heavens too perfectly all those years ago.”

Alex frowned.

”If that’s the case, then why give them the manual?” he asked. ”You know exactly what will happen once they return with it...”

His eyes suddenly narrowed.

’...A poisoned chalice!’

Realisation struck.

”Why?” he asked, disbelief creeping into his voice.

”A rotten tree must be cut down to make way for a healthier one,” One Heaven replied calmly. ”Since the Holy Lands have already begun to rot, I might as well accelerate the process.”

He spoke without hesitation.

”Perhaps this will serve as the wake-up call they need to identify and excise the corruption within.”

”Or perhaps not.”

He shrugged faintly.

”Either way, while they struggle amongst themselves —competing for the inheritance, believing they can become the true Legatee— they will remain distracted.”

A faint glint passed through his eyes.

”And in doing so, they may even draw the attention of Gu Mo and the traitors.”

He looked directly at Alex.

”Which, in turn, will grant you —the true Legatee— the time you need to grow.”

Alex’s eyes flickered.

’This old man...’

’He has completely given up on the current generation of sorcerers.’

After that, neither of them spoke further on the matter.

With a wave of his hand, One Heaven transported them back to the courtyard near the Trial Steles.

Alex’s wives and followers were already gathered there.

The moment they sensed his aura—

They froze.

’Late-stage Great Mage... how?’

That was their first thought.

But almost immediately, they realised their mistake.

Even then, his true rank was still shocking enough.

”Congratulations, Master,” Udara said with a smile.

Although she didn’t appear all that different, Alex couldn’t quite explain it—but her smile seemed more charming than usual.

”I expected you to finally break through, but to jump straight to the late-stage of the Elite Mage rank?” Zora said with a smile of her own. ”Looks like you gained quite a few benefits.”

”Looks like I’m not the only one,” Alex replied knowingly.

Zora’s cultivation had also reached the late-stage of the Elite rank.

”I gained some things from the trial as well,” she said. ”Because of that, Father’s seal could no longer suppress my progress.”

Alex smiled wryly.

’Some people struggle with everything they have just to advance...’

’...while others are monster who go out of their way to slow themselves down.’

He glanced at her.

For a brief moment, a trace of envy surfaced within him.

Cursed or not, Zora’s talent was simply overwhelming and enviable.

As for Eleanore, although her cultivation remained at the mid-stage of the Elite rank, Alex was fairly certain her alchemical expertise, at least, had improved significantly.

Udara, on the other hand, showed no obvious advancement in rank. However, her presence had changed— her intent and application had clearly deepened.

As for how much she had improved... only time would tell.

Turning to his followers, Alex was surprised to discover that Havel had broken through to the Elite rank at some point during his final trials.

Combined with Silver —who had already advanced earlier— all four of his soul-bound followers had now reached the Elite rank.

Only Sugud and Mordor remained at the Intermediate stage.

Speaking of Sugud—

The man hadn’t stopped grinning since he successfully produced a working prototype of the robot concept he and Alex had previously discussed.

Compared to that achievement, his lack of cultivation progress seemed completely insignificant to him.

Finally, through his bond, Alex sensed subtle changes within his beast companions.

They had undergone some form of metamorphosis.

Their strength had clearly increased.

He couldn’t confirm the extent without seeing them directly, but Alex suspected they had also reached the Elite rank.

Taking everything into account—

This venture into the Heaven-Earth Concordance talismanic field had been a resounding success for the majority of his core team.

***