Moon Splitting Cascade
-Realm of Destruction-
"hummmmm-"
BOOOMM!
The world trembled, the skies shook and even the sovereign of ice, the ice phoenix, retreated a few steps as she was struck with a mighty and peerless force. Dragon Might, the most powerful Aura in the universe! Percy's eyes were Azure and his body was covered with sparkling scales as he slowly rose to his feet with a grin. The Bloodline of the Primordial Azure Dragon filled his body, and the Dragon Marrow of the Dragon God had transformed his skeleton into an impregnable fortress.
And with the power of the True Dragon Soul, his soul had become incomparably powerful. Now forget any ordinary man, even a god would be unable to resist the terror that would be brought on by the unleashing of the Dragon Soul Domain. The Roar of the Dragon God would truly dwarf the stars and the heavens, and bring end and ruination to it all! Especially with the addition of he Energy of destruction being added to the roar, his soul attack now had the power to cause the soul of his enemies to even shatter if they were too weak.
The power's grasped by the third of Percy's soul was simply incomparable to anything even his original body had grasped before he died. The ice phoenix's eyes were flickering with shock, but in the end, she managed to overcome her shock and she extended her slender palm forward. " Perseus Jackson…" her voice was ethereal, like a descended fairy from the skies. " as the Azure Dragon has already informed you, Myself and the Ice Qilin have already granted our powers to the girl known as Piper. However, I still have yet to disappear, because I was uniquely connected to the Flame Phoenix. However now that he has passed on, my own time has come close to an end. So before I disappear, I will also grant you the last vestiges of my power. I do this only because I an see that within your body lies an almost incomprehensible affinity towards the element of water. Though this compatibility is covered by your extremely powerful Flame powers, it should be understood that if you continue to develop these powers of yours, you will one day exceed your own control over fire! So even though the power I have left is barely existent, I will still try to grant you a small seed that you may be able to develop."
The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit took several steps toward Percy, bringing an extremely icy cold chill along with her as she stopped just one step in front of him.
"Close your eyes, calm your soul, and observe your mind. There cannot be any distractions."
"Yes," Percy replied.
As he closed his eyes, his aura gradually calmed down as well. By the end, the sky of falling snow began directly landing on his clothes and sticking.
The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit stuck out a single finger as a drop of blood flickering with an icy blue light condensed at her fingertip and then directly touched the center of Percy's brows.
Percy's body quivered as a pure, frosty energy dispersed around him. A blue light flashed as the abnormally colored drop of blood slowly merged into Percy. Afterwards, a layer of illusory ice blue light emerged on the surface of Percy's body.
The blood of the Ice Phoenix God!
Moreover, it was the purest origin blood!
The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit retracted her finger as a frosty glow condensed in the center of her palm. Just as she was about to come into contact with the center of Percy's brows again, her eyes and palm simultaneously paused for a moment, after which she once again slowly retracted her palm and began to just silently watch. It seemed like there was no need for her to use her own strength to help Percy refine the blood.
When the Ice Phoenix's bloodline entered his body, Percy felt that an ice crystal so pure that it was practically holy had blossomed inside his body with the pure, cold radiance of ice.
Compared to the extremely combustive blood of the Phoenix and Golden Crow, the Ice Phoenix's blood was a lot gentler. It practically submitted to the flow of Percy's profound energy and swam slowly across all of Percy's body. It slowly melted into his bloodline bit by bit, like ice.
Percy opened his eyes as an odd flash of blue flitted across them. Although it was merely a single drop of origin blood, he could sense the changes happening in his frost profound energy.
He lifted his hand as a tiny ice bead appeared in his palm. Although it was still made out of ice, this particular ice bead felt like it was actually alive. Its aura and its radiance had climbed to a whole new level and it was radiating with great divine way aura, just like his flames.
Now that he possessed the Ice Phoenix's bloodline, Percy had no doubt that his Frozen End Divine Arts would become several times stronger than before.
"Seven and a half minutes."
The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit's icy voice rang beside Percy's ears.
Percy got up and said respectfully, "Thank you, Master."
"...Follow me."
The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit looked at him once, before turning around. Her snow-like figure appeared a few hundred meters away in an instant, as Percy hastily chased after her.
This silent world contained nothing but infinite ice and snow. Human life didn't exist here; in fact, no life except theirs existed here at all. Percy suddenly had a strange feeling that he and his master… were the only ones left in this world.
Percy followed The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit into the Sacred Hall.
It wasn't really beyond Percy's expectations. The building before him might be called a "great hall" but it was so vast that he couldn't see the end of it. He couldn't even see the ceiling of the hall. This world was entirely pure white and infinitely silent.
It was obvious that this place was restricted by special spatial laws just like the Flame Phoenix Trial Grounds, except that the laws here were a lot more complicated.
"Here will be your place of cultivation from here on out."
The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit's voice was cold and merciless. "You are my direct disciple, so you must be prepared to face cultivation training far crueler than you can possibly imagine! Do not dream of slacking off even a day. Even if you feel regrets now… it is too late to turn back!"
Percy nodded firmly and tightened his eyebrows. He didn't look afraid in the slightest, because the reason he risked so much to enter under The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit's tutelage was to obtain the most extreme of training.
"The Ice Phoenix's divine blood has fused with you, so technically speaking I should be teaching you on recultivating the Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon. But your main weapon is a heavy sword and you are extremely reliant on your movement skill. Adding that to the fact that you were able to cultivate the Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon even before you obtained the Ice Phoenix's bloodline, it is unlikely that you'll need my guidance in this department at all."
The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit extended her right hand with her jade white palm facing towards Percy, "Therefore, I shall teach you this first!"
"Focus and watch!"
The moment The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit said this, Percy subconsciously tried to look up. But suddenly, a soul cowing cold energy suddenly assaulted the back of his neck. He turned around like he was pricked by electricity and to his shock he saw another The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit behind him holding the same posture… her slightly crooked fingers were merely half an inch from his neck. His larynx would be shattered instantly if she spat out even a bit of energy from her palm.
Apprehension sizzled in Percy's heart but cold energies even more terrible than the one before suddenly stabbed in his direction from his right and topside before he could react. When he finally did, an icy cold sensation was already prickling against his head and neck.
"..." Percy turned his head with a bit of difficulty and he saw two more "The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirits" above his head and his right side.
Then, The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit's "shadows" disappeared all at once. The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit was standing in front of him with the same posture again as if she had never moved an inch.
"... What is this…?" Percy exclaimed.
The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit put down her arm and said indifferently, "Just like the Movement Technique used by your previous master, Moonlight Shift, the Moon Splitting Cascade is a profound instantaneous movement technique. The strength of Moonlight Shift lies not only in its ability to move a cultivator instantaneously but also split off several afterimages. Moreover, the aura discharged by these afterimages are almost exactly the same as the cultivator's, right until the moment they dissipate, thus foiling the enemy's attempts at tracking them down."
Percy nodded. It was obvious that The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit knew the Moon God's Moonlight Shift very well.
"The reason the Celestial Moon God Artemis taught you the Moon God's Moonlight Shift is probably in hopes that you wouldn't die too early."
Something moved behind Percy's eyes before he nodded once more. He was unspeakably weak when he met Artemis for the first time. If he died, Artemis's soul would die together with him. So it was true that she had taught him the Moon God's Moonlight Shift to protect his life.
After he arrived at the Dragon God Trials and chose a heavy sword as his weapon, his reliance on Moon God's Moonlight Shift grew by leaps and bounds.
"This technique that I am going to impart to you now may not be suitable for a human to use, but my technique is in no way weaker than the Moon God's Moonlight Shift! It is true that the Moon Splitting Cascade cannot compare to the Moon God's Moonlight Shift in terms of the range of the instantaneous movement but it also has a great advantage of its own, and that is presence concealment!"
"Presence… concealment?" Percy whispered softly, "So it conceals a cultivator's presence?"
"Yes. This technique is propelled by the profound energy of ice and it will leave behind an afterimage and aura that will hang around temporarily the instant you move away. The technique is executed differently from the Moon God's Moonlight Shift but it is in no way weaker in terms of disrupting the opponent's senses."
Percy's mouth fell open in shock. This technique could leave behind a cultivator's figure and aura so that the enemy wouldn't notice that they had moved away already. The enemy would be fooled into attacking or defending themselves against the afterimage… It was a technique that could create a huge opening in the opponent's guard even if it lasted only for an instant.
If that was true, then it definitely wasn't weaker than the confusion instilled by the "broken shadows" left behind by the Moon God's Moonlight Shift.
"However, you will need to cultivate this technique until you're completely proficient with it to leave behind an afterimage. In fact, if you can cultivate it to perfection…" The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit's eyes narrowed slightly, "Then you would not only be able to conceal your presence but also yourself!"
The concealment of oneself!?
"Do you mean that the cultivator can turn invisible?" Percy asked with a little bit of disbelief.
"That's right," The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit gave him an affirmative reply while Percy was still stunned by the news, "Although no one, your master myself included, has succeeded in cultivating this technique and no one has even seen this level of achievement before, it is a technique left behind by the Original Ice Phoenix Spirit herself, and not the creation of our founder. Therefore, it simply cannot be a lie."
"A high rank profound movement skill is far harder to cultivate than a high rank profound art. If you can cultivate the Moon God's Moonlight Shift, then there is no reason you can't cultivate this technique!"
The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit extended both hands, touching his glabella once with one left finger and his three main profound entrances around his chest with three right fingers, "I will teach you the art's fundamental stage and the profound energy circulation method to you now. Concentrate your mind."
"Yes," Percy responded and closed his eyes.
Four blue dots appeared at the same time as the art's fundamental stage was instantly imprinted in Percy's soul and mind. At the same time, his own profound energy began circulating swiftly in a complicated pattern under the guidance of The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit's profound energy.
Several breaths later, The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit moved her hands away from Percy. Percy also opened his eyes at the same time.
"How much did you manage to memorize?" The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit asked.
"I've memorized everything," Percy answered.
"... Everything?" The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit frowned slightly. It was obvious that she didn't believe his words.
Percy nodded, "Mm, I've memorized everything."
"In that case," The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit spoke while maintaining her frown, "Then circulate the technique once for me!"
"Alright."
Percy closed his eyes and carefully began to circulate his frost profound energy. Blue dots appeared on his body and persisted for several breaths before he abruptly opened his eyes.
Swoosh!
A cold wind brushed by and Percy instantly moved thirty meters away while dragging a long, blue afterimage behind him. However, the light dots abruptly flickered as his body wobbled and he nearly stumbled.
The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit: "...!"
Percy hastily stabilized himself and exhaled softly. Then, he said with a bit of shame, "It really is quite difficult. My movement is incomparable to your movement at all, master."
"..." The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit couldn't say anything for a very long time.
Even the most basic movement of Moon Splitting Cascade required the cultivator to use thirty seven profound entrances at once. Moreover, every profound entrance was required to follow differing profound energy circulation patterns and strengths. The requirements were so strict that even the slightest misstep in the strength or direction of the profound energy in a certain profound entrance would cause the cultivator's profound energy to go out of control. If the error was serious, it might even hurt the cultivator's profound veins.
And this was just the control of the profound entrances. The circulation of profound energy in the cultivator's veins wasn't even brought into question yet.
She had guided the circulation of Percy's profound energy only once… once! And yet he actually managed to memorize everything correctly. It was true that he used several breaths' time to prepare his instantaneous movement; his speed was slow, his landing needed much work, and he left behind a long trail of ice shadows after he executed the technique… but there was no denying that his form was the starting sign of mastery over the technique!
This was an ancient divine technique that no elder or palace master had ever managed to cultivate despite spending thousands or even tens of thousands of years trying! And yet he actually managed to complete a shoddy but extremely complete version of the technique in one go, just based on the art's fundamental stage and profound energy circulation method she taught him!
In silence, The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit hid her astonishment in the deepest part of her eyes. Her assessment and recognition of Percy's abilities had changed dramatically over the past moment. If the impression Percy left her before this was the "Chaos Seed Inheritor" and the "Dragon God And Phoenix God's Inheritor", then her impression right now was absolute astonishment toward Percy's unbelievable power of comprehension and control of profound energy.
History was inadvertently repeating. That year, when Artemis was instructing Percy, she had been stunned by his astonishing, to the point of being unbelievable, comprehensive ability. And today, within the heart of Percy's second master following Artemis, a similar astonishment emerged.
Seeing The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit remain silent for a long time with a frosty and pressing countenance, Percy thought she was disappointed and said softly, "Master, just now… Uh, it was only a small mistake I made in haste. Give this disciple one days' time. This disciple will definitely satisfy Master; otherwise, this disciple is willing to receive any punishment."
"..." The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit turned, then replied coldly. "It's good that you're aware, you still have a long way to go! Today, you'll follow what I demonstrated just now and cultivate with all your strength, not slacking off for even a moment. Eight hours later, if there are still ice shadow remnants… don't rest for the next three days!"
"Yes." Percy smiled bitterly.
Her stern order issued, The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit didn't say anymore and left.
"Phew!"
Without The Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit near his side, the pressure on Percy's body and mind abruptly eased. He took a deep breath and rapidly concentrated his mind, focusing wholeheartedly on cultivation.
-Beast Realm, Unknown Territory-
Booom!
A ruinous explosion rang out and a group of armoured wolves were sent flying into the air, blood spraying and flesh scattering as they were thrown apart in ragged pieces. The ones who survived the explosions were left in pitiful conditions, some torn apart with barely a breath left, others missing limbs and some of them missing entire organs and struggling to stand up and run away.
In their midst, stood a single figure.
Eyes bloodred, breath filled with a bloody mist, Percy's arms were covered with black scales, and a set of horns had torn out of his forehead. He glanced up and his eyes were burning with the rage of passion. All around him, stood members of the organisation that he considered responsible for the death of his master!
Riptide roared and a slash rang out like a terrifying monster, slicing through them like they were nothing but wooden puppets.
With despairing cries, they tried to muster up all their strength, trying to use the power of sheer numbers to try and overpower Percy, but how could their pathetic strength even be compared to Percy's power of rage? He roared in retaliation, sword swinging and causing ruination and devastation as it swept out, each second causing another death.
Riptide's blade had already turned black, glowing with an evil mist as it drank in the aura and stench of death and pain with every passing swing.
A.N: I'm out of practice with typing, and forgotten most of the plot for the storyline as well. Need some time to pull the plot together.
