Hise Departs

The next morning, at the first light of dawn.

Akes walked out of his room to find people already active in the courtyard. The five Barker brothers were up even earlier than him, huddled in a corner of the yard, whispering to one another. Seeing Akes emerge, Barker hurriedly stood up to greet him.

"Brother Akes, morning."

Akes nodded, his gaze sweeping over the five of them. A night had passed, and their states were clearly different from yesterday. Barker's brows were tightly locked, Gates was scratching his head from time to time, and the youngest one had obvious dark circles under his eyes, clearly having not slept a wink.

"Didn't sleep well last night?" he asked.

Barker scratched his head and gave a wry smile: "How could we? We spent the whole night pondering what that senior said. It still feels like a dream."

"How does it feel?"

Barker thought for a moment and said earnestly: "I can't put it into words. Knowing who our ancestors were, you'd think we should be happy, but I can't quite feel it. We grew up without parents, not even knowing our own surname. Suddenly having this 'descendant of the Undying Warriors' thing pop up, it doesn't feel real."

Gates chimed in from the side: "Exactly. I pinched myself several times last night, terrified that I'd wake up from a dream. But it hurt, and I'm still here."

Feijin whispered: "I've been thinking about what that senior said about our ancestors. Undying Warriors, Saint-level experts—do we really have ancestors like that?"

He stopped mid-sentence and lowered his head.

Akes didn't speak, merely patting Barker on the shoulder.

Things like this truly required time to digest. To live for over twenty years only to be suddenly told there was a hidden truth to one's lineage, and that one's ancestors were the legendary Undying Warriors—for anyone, it would be hard to accept all at once. Especially for the five of them, who had grown up without parents; now that they suddenly had "roots," the complex emotions involved couldn't be summarized by simple joy or sorrow.

The courtyard gradually grew lively. Linley came out of his room, with Bebe perched on his shoulder as usual. The little guy was full of energy, looking around and sniffing constantly, as if searching for something. Sessler was also up; his complexion was much better than yesterday, though his gait was still a bit weak—the battle last night had consumed too much of his magic, damaging his vitality.

Sessler walked to the center of the courtyard, stretched his limbs, and looked at the five Barker brothers: "How are your injuries?"

Barker hurriedly said: "Much better, much better. Many thanks for your concern, Master Sessler. After you treated us yesterday, there's nothing serious left today."

Sessler nodded and asked no more.

The group waited in the courtyard.

The sun climbed higher, and the town residents began their day. Some carried hoes to the fields, others drove ox carts out of town. Occasionally, someone would glance curiously in their direction, but they would quickly look away. People in remote towns knew not to ask about things they shouldn't. These outsiders clearly weren't simple, and it was best not to provoke them.

Akes leaned against the courtyard wall, watching the people coming and going on the street. Life in the small town was peaceful and monotonous—working at sunrise and resting at sunset, day after day, year after year. For ordinary people, such a life might last a lifetime. But for people like them, this kind of peace felt somewhat unreal.

Time passed bit by bit.

The five Barker brothers gradually became restless. Gates paced back and forth in the courtyard, glancing toward the gate from time to time; Feijin squatted on the ground, tracing lines with his finger, though it was unclear what he was writing; the other two brothers—Akes remembered their names were Leike and Weber—huddled together, whispering and occasionally glancing at the wooden chest placed in the corner of the yard.

"Do you think he's not coming?" Gates muttered.

Barker glared at him: "Don't talk nonsense. A person of that senior's stature, since he promised, he will definitely come."

"But the sun is already high..."

"Just wait. If he comes, it's a favor; if he doesn't, it's his prerogative." Barker said, though his tone held a hint of unease.

Akes knew what they were worried about. To the five Barker brothers, Hise was not just a powerful expert, but the only link between them and that legendary ancestor. The Necropolis of the Gods Manual was, to them, more than just a cultivation technique—it was proof of their identity and a vessel for their sense of belonging.

For those who grew up without parents, the deepest longing is to know where they come from.

Linley seemed to sense their anxiety and spoke up: "Since Mr. Hise promised, he will definitely come. An expert of his level does not make promises lightly, but once he does, he will certainly fulfill them."

Barker looked at Linley with gratitude: "Brother Linley is right; we were just being impatient."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a figure descended from the sky.

Hise stood in the courtyard, still in his gray robes, his black hair draped loosely. He carried a half-person-tall wooden chest in his hand. The chest looked very old, its corners reinforced with copper, and it was carved with intricate patterns. Those patterns were archaic and complex, bearing a distinct ancient style that clearly spoke of its great age.

"Tired of waiting?" he asked.

The five Barker brothers hurriedly stood up and bowed in unison: "Senior!"

Hise waved his hand, his gaze falling upon the five of them. He remained silent for a moment before placing the wooden chest on the ground. The chest made a dull thud upon landing, clearly quite heavy.

"The Necropolis of the Gods Manual is inside."

The five brothers' gazes fell simultaneously upon the chest, their breathing quickening. Gates's hands subconsciously gripped his shirt, Feijin's lips trembled slightly, and even the most composed of them, Barker, saw his Adam's apple bob up and down.

Hise did not rush to open it, but looked at them and spoke slowly: "This manual was handed to me personally by Amanda back in the day."

Barker's lips moved, wanting to say something, but nothing came out.

Hise continued: "Amanda was the best friend I ever had."

He paused, his gaze drifting into the distance, as if recalling something.

The courtyard fell silent.

The morning breeze blew, carrying a few fallen leaves. In the distance, the sound of a rooster crowing could be heard, along with the playful shouts of children. These ordinary, worldly sounds formed a strange contrast with the heavy atmosphere in the courtyard.

Hise withdrew his gaze, looked at the five Barker brothers, and said in a flat tone: "I tell you this not because I want your gratitude, nor because I want you to owe me a favor. I only tell you this so you don't bring shame upon him."

Barker fell to his knees with a thud, and the other four followed suit.

"Senior, rest assured!" Barker's voice trembled, his eyes already red, "The five of us will never fail our ancestors, nor will we fail you! From this day forward, we will cultivate diligently and carry forward the name of the Undying Warriors, so that the whole world knows that the descendants of Senior Amanda are no cowards!"

Hise waved his hand: "Get up."

He opened the wooden chest.

The moment the lid was lifted, a scent of antiquity wafted out. It was the smell of time itself, a mixture of animal hide, paper, and some special type of wood. Inside the chest was a yellowed scroll of animal hide, along with several booklets. The scroll was large; when unfurled, it was half a person's height, densely packed with writing and accompanied by diagrams of human meridians. The handwriting was vigorous and powerful, every stroke imbued with an archaic charm.

"This is the original Necropolis of the Gods Manual," Hise said, pointing to the scroll. "It has been passed down through the generations of Amanda's lineage, and it is said to trace back to the progenitor of the Undying Warriors from the ancient era. Those booklets on the side are the cultivation insights Amanda wrote himself, along with some historical records of the Undying Warriors. In his later years, when he had nothing to do, he wrote down everything he knew. Take them and study them slowly."

Barker took the box with extreme caution, his hands trembling. Gates and Feijin crowded around, wanting to reach out and touch it but not daring to. Leike and Weber stood behind them, craning their necks to peer inside, their eyes wide.

"Is... is this really what our ancestors passed down?" Gates muttered, his voice filled with disbelief.

Hise watched them, a complex look flashing in his eyes. He remembered Amanda from back in the day—that forthright and straightforward man, who had also been full of curiosity and reverence for everything. If he were still alive to see his descendants reach this day, Hise wondered what his expression would be.

He looked at Linley. "Linley, a word."

The two walked to the other side of the courtyard. Akes was close enough to vaguely hear their conversation.

"Keep an eye on these five lads for me," Hise said. "They don't understand anything yet. They possess the bloodline but don't know how to use it; they're no different from ordinary people. If you have the chance, look after them."

Linley nodded. "Rest assured, Mr. Hise. Barker and his brothers have good character. As long as they are willing to put in the hard work, they will surely make something of themselves in the future."

Hise grunted, then added, "Be careful yourself. The Radiant Church will not let this go. That old thing, Heitins, is no pushover. He has been in power for so many years; his methods are ruthless and his schemes are deep. The Radiant Church's growth to its current scale on this continent is largely due to his contributions."

"I understand," Linley replied calmly.

Hise patted Linley on the shoulder and said no more. He turned and walked back into the courtyard, waved at the five Barker brothers, and then his figure flickered and vanished.

He came and went like the wind, clean and efficient.

The courtyard was quiet for a moment, then Sessler let out a long breath. "Coming without a shadow and leaving without a trace—that is the true style of an expert."

Linley smiled and shook his head, not responding.

Barker held the wooden box, his eyes slightly red. The other four gathered around him, their gazes fixed on the box.

"Open it and take a look," Gates couldn't help but say.

Barker looked at Linley, who nodded.

He placed the wooden box on the ground, opened the lid, and carefully took out the scroll of beast hide. The scroll felt heavy in his hands; the leather had turned yellow and stiff, but it was well-preserved. He gently unfurled it, the writing upon it clearly legible.

"Undying Warrior, source of the bloodline. The physical body is the foundation, the will is the soul. Refining the body is like refining iron; forging the bones is like forging steel. Sinews, bones, skin, flesh, and internal organs can all be tempered. Upon reaching perfection, one is impervious to blades and spears, immune to water and fire, capable of regrowing severed limbs, and regenerating from a single drop of blood..."

Barker read a few lines, then stopped. He was literate, but the cultivation terminology was too profound—"circulating qi and blood," "tempering sinews and bones," "honing the will"—he couldn't understand it at all. He scratched his head and looked at Linley in embarrassment.

"Brother Linley, what's written here... I don't understand most of it."

Gates leaned in to look and also scratched his head. "What kind of gibberish is this? 'Circulating qi and blood,' 'imprinting the will'—it's like reading a heavenly book."

Feijin whispered, "I recognize a few characters, but when they're put together, I have no idea what they mean."

Leike and Weber also crowded over. The two stared at the scroll for a long time until Leike suddenly said, "Why are there so many lines on the person drawn here? They look like earthworms."

Weber nodded. "And those little dots, they're so dense it makes me dizzy."

Barker closed the scroll and carefully put it away. He looked at Linley and said earnestly, "Brother Linley, our brothers will follow you from now on. If you have any orders, just give them. We may be slow, but we are willing to endure hardship and aren't afraid of work. Whatever you tell us to do, we will do."

The other four also chimed in.

"That's right, Brother Linley, please take us in!"

"We promise to be obedient and will never cause you any trouble!"

"If you tell us to go east, we will never go west!"

Linley shook his head. "Let's not talk about that yet. First, heal your injuries, then study this secret manual properly. There is no rush for cultivation. Barker, take out those notes and read them first; what Senior Amanda wrote should be easier to understand than the manual itself."

Barker quickly fished one of the booklets out and opened it. It was indeed much simpler. Amanda had used plain language to write down his own experiences and insights from his cultivation, along with specific methods and precautions. Although there were still many technical terms, it was far more accessible than the manual.

The group discussed things back and forth, their conversation growing heated.

Linley and Akes exchanged a look, choosing not to disturb them.

Sessler watched from the side for a while before suddenly asking, "Do you lot know how to read?"

Barker was stunned, then scratched his head. "A little, but not much. When we were kids on the street, an old gentleman taught us a few characters, and we picked up bits and pieces while working later, but those profound ones..."

Sessler nodded. "Then learn to read first. You won't understand the contents of this manual if you can't read. Read through and fully grasp these notes from Senior Amanda first, learn all the characters in them, and then study the scroll."

Barker nodded quickly. "Master Sessler is right; we were too impatient."

Sessler grunted and said no more. He looked at Linley and suddenly asked, "Linley, what are your plans next?"

Linley pondered for a moment. "I'm heading to the Fenlai Kingdom. I have some matters to attend to."

Sessler nodded and did not press further.

The sun rose higher and higher, and the clamor in the town gradually grew louder. There were the cries of peddlers, the playful shouts of children, and the shrill voice of a woman scolding her child. These sounds intertwined, forming the unique atmosphere of life in the small town.

The five Barker brothers were still huddled together, studying the notes and occasionally letting out exclamations of wonder.

"So that's how it is! It says here that the most important thing for an Undying Warrior's cultivation is the will, not the body!"

"Nonsense, didn't it say the physical body is the foundation and the will is the soul? The soul is more important than the body!"

"So, is our will considered strong? We've suffered and endured hardships since we were kids; our will shouldn't be bad, right?"

"I suppose... it counts? It says here that the stronger the will, the better the cultivation effect. We've suffered so much, there ought to be some benefit."

Linley listened to their conversation, the corners of his mouth curling upward slightly.

He looked down at Bebe on his shoulder. The little guy had fallen asleep at some point, curled into a ball, his tail occasionally twitching.

"Boss, food..." Bebe mumbled in his sleep.

Linley shook his head, not having the heart to wake him.