This is the first time for Kairos' group that a large number of people died without anyone to bury them. And the group actually wondered if they should stay and bury the dead, a naïve kindness that still dwells within the 13 years olds' hearts.

Vouno smiled when he looked at the young chaps, then told them that this place is a natural burial ground if they let the Phantoms sink to the bottom of the mire.

They actually had another option, to feed the SS rankers to their contract beasts. Not only would eating other beasts be able to strengthen their pets, eating human cultivators are no different.

Letting the Snow Stoat and the others consume these bodies would certainly bring a strong boost to their cultivation. Of course, being only C ranked, the contract beasts would need a long time to digest and assimilate the Double S rankers' power.

However, Kairos did not take this option, because unlike beasts humans have a natural respect for honouring their dead. Though these men previously wanted to kill them, now that they have turned into corpses Kairos did not wish to desecrate their bodies for a little benefit.

If they truly wanted to strengthen their pets, they could simply purchase food for them. It is a thing is so common in Saint City that there are specialised vendors for this, although the meat of high-level beasts is a rare commodity.

And furthermore, when the boys' little contract beasts grow stronger, only the meat of higher ranked cultivation beasts would remain beneficial.

Just like how practitioners could eat cultivation pills to gain strength, dependency would lower the efficiency, and consuming lower tiered pills will also be of little help.

They quietly gathered the bodies for them to sink into the mire, together with a large amount of corpses they found within the Phantoms' space-time rings. Due to the sensitive nature of their identity, the Phantoms had kept some bodies in their space-time containers to ensure they have ready-made scapegoats.

With a short prayer for their souls, the guys exited the swamp and begin their uneventful travel back to the Solitary Blades Clan.

On the way, because there were extended periods of silence, Kairos began questioning if his old tome of the Origin has any link with the mage guilds of the south. To have arcane arts accompanying his cultivation method is a peculiar thing, unique among the cultivators.

It is general knowledge that the South had kept their methods to use mana a secret.

Pretty soon Kairos has his answers.

As he recalls, the Origin's cultivation method came from that person called the True Lord. And Aisa revealed that it is, in fact, a far higher form of cultivation technique which based off the Origin Energy, which all other energies signatures derived from.

And one of those energy types is Mana.

In the higher realms, it is a form of power that is extensively researched upon, and when those beings gain knowledge on it, Mana also became known as the Natural Laws (法則). And the one who deciphers the way to wield a law gains the ability to command it freely, and after that be christened the title of Magus.

The 5 elements of creation.

The 3 elements of nature.

And the 8 transcending elements.

Each of these Elements has their own Natural Law, and they are intricately entwined. Not only do they act as opposing powers but often also complimenting forces.

The creation elements are versatile.

The nature elements are powerful.

And the transcending elements have unique properties superior to the rest.

Having answered his questions, Aisa gave Kairos several more magic circles that could harness the elements. However, she warned him of the magic circle detection device of the South.

Kairos frowned a little when he heard this. With the Southern Countries keeping an eye out for spell casters, even if he learns more magic, he could not use it lightly. Nevertheless, having abilities that are sealed is better than not having anything at all, and he continued to learn the different magic circles that Aisa imparted to him. After a while, Aisa has already transmitted the images of all the magic circles she knows into his mind, for him to research and understand.

Putting aside delving into the mystic arts for a better time than on the wobbly back of Wyrmy, Kairos allowed his curiosity to surface and asked, "Aisa, why did you choose to teach me the Origin's martial techniques only now?"

If he had learned these skills earlier, he would not have suffered such difficult fights.

But Aisa became quiet after she plainly replied,

Kairos needed to control his Veritable eyes first.

He could guess that the tiny dragon had been bounded by the rules that the True Lord set, and whenever he fulfils a particular criterion, there will be some form of benefit for him.

Though it makes things more tedious, he had no qualms of such restrictions placed on Aisa and him, because he understands that his own Dao must be fashioned personally.

.....

Back in Aurolia city, at the Palace where Axtaius resides, the caretaker of soul lanterns once again petitioned an audience with the Emperor. He had just entered moments ago, bringing the news of Syriong's death.

Risking the wrath of his sovereign for repeatedly being the bearer of bad news, the old steward brought him the news of Duro's death.

"Your Excellency, before his life flame extinguished, it shows an image of purple coloured blood. It was poison, my Lord," the caretaker says.

Axtaius closed his eyes, feeling pain in his head when he heard that even the leader of the Phantoms he had sent had fallen. Then with a whisper, he sent for Duke Revenater.

But before the messenger even stepped out of the audience hall, a platter of feet announced a group had gathered outside, petitioning to see the Emperor.

"Duke Revenater, House of Shadowers petitions an audience!" A crier announced.

"Let him in quickly," Emperor Axtaius said with haste. Having the Duke arrive before his summon gave him a bad feeling that he could not shake off. Not many knew, but Duke Revenater is, in fact, the manager of the Phantom Organisation. Therefore, if the Duke personally requested an audience, then things are not as simple as he thought.

The Duke walked in with quick steps as if reflecting his anxiousness and he stopped a step too close to the Emperor than propriety requests. But instead of the usual stern correction that should follow, everyone ignored it, and it only added to the tension in the air.

"My Emperor, I come with grave news" The Duke started.

Immediately, with a wave of his hand, Emperor Axtaius ordered the rest of the courtiers including the Duke's followers, out of the room. The existence of the Phantoms are information only some of the top level executives, and of course, his faithful soul lantern caretaker has access to.

Watching even the royal guards leaving, Duke Revenater only had a strange look in his eyes. He thought internally, "What's the use of asking them to leave now?"

When the audience hall is completely silent, he spoke with much difficulty on the news he brought, "...Your majesty, t... the... Phantoms had been wiped out. Except for the few that had gone on other missions, all of their Life Tablets have shattered."

Besides Duro who was important enough to have a soul lantern, every Phantom member was assigned a Life tablet when they joined.

The Life tablets are green metal plates which acted as a cheaper alternative to soul lanterns. Although it is unable to display a person's life flame and thus identify the situation of the individual, the Life tablets are adequate to know if a person had passed away.

The Phantoms, deemed as the most powerful fighting force within Silent Lambs Empire, has merely a little over five hundred members.

They were sent out to retrieve Jones, who is a vital piece to their nation's security. But instead, they have been completely decimated within a day. When Axtaius heard that he lost the Phantoms, he felt his heart sink. The Empire has entered a crisis.

And it is all due to a small group of seven men.

.....

Several days later, the guys reached the Solitary Blades Clan, much to the relief of Yi De and the other elders of the clan. The seniors of the clan surrounded Jones, impatiently questioning him where he was and who dared to take their young heir.

Hearing the commotion outside, Old Ye the Immortal, stopped his isolation training and rushed out to see them. At his frightening top speed, the others only heard a sonic boom, and he has already arrived next to them.

The elders of the clan opened their mouths to greet him, but any person could speak, the wind that was created from Old Ye's movements whipped past everyone and muffled every noise.

Ignoring the powerful gale that almost toppled a few of the more ancient elders, the Immortal excitedly greeted Kairos, "Young master!" he said with a smile.

The Immortal opened his mouth, wanting to tell the boy of all the progress he had made after eating the Yggdrasil fruit, but seeing so many people he stopped himself and forcefully sealed his lips.

Restraining himself, his eyes suddenly set upon the new addition to the team, Jones, and immediately a delighted smile emerged.

The conversation had ceased since Old Ye turn up, and they politely left when the immortal asked to speak to the boys privately.

The group gathered in Old Ye's room and began retelling the incidents that happened so far. They kept the details brief, since the only one closest to him is Aisa, and they do not truly know if they could trust him.

However, Aisa told everyone not to worry. As a holy dragon, she could see into the Old Immortal's soul, and pleasingly found scant amounts of darkness in his heart.

But what the Holy Primordial Dragon said, revealed her ability of sensing darkness to Kairos.

"Aisa, you could tell if a person is evil?" Kairos asked.

Aisa is great!~

"Then could Aisa warn me if she spots a bad person in the future?" Kairos tried his hand at coaxing the small dragon. It could become a valuable asset in the future, if she relents to his request.

In his connection with the dragon, he sensed her and thought: There's a chance!

Okay~ Aisa will help, but in exchange...

A look of apprehension appeared on Kairos' face as he waited, causing the small dragon to hide a grin.

... Aisa wants lottsa high-quality meat, and ... and... um...

"Meat, approved! But no new pets!" Kairos replied sternly. He pre-empted the dragon's thoughts.

His mansion is far from sufficient to keep the number of pets that Aisa wants. Though the small dragon did say she could converse with her pets no matter where they are, it only made him pity those wild beasts even more. Because no matter how far they run, even living in their own natural habitats, they will forever be chained to his dragon.

Kairos privately thought that this lovely white and gold dragon of his, is definitely a tiny tyrant in disguise.

Take how frightened Wyrmy is of her, for example...