Haitin continued.
“Brother Aksai, do you know the core difference between the righteous and demonic sects? It’s pretty simple.
The righteous sects use well-established techniques and spells. These methods are well-researched and have stood the test of time.
Though they may produce slower results, they’re stable and won’t harm one’s foundation in the long run. As long as one has talent and the right resources, the orthodox methods of the righteous sects will yield better results.
Demonic techniques, on the other hand, aren’t designed for people with talent or strong backgrounds. They’re for those who walk the cultivation path against all odds. As such, these techniques are filled with both covert and overt dangers.
They’re the complete opposite of righteous sect methods—anti-orthodoxy, so to speak. They’re experimental, with no one-size-fits-all approach.
If righteous sect techniques are stable and mediocre, then demonic techniques are unstable but revolutionary. Some people may find success overnight, while others may meet their doom.
Of course, there are exceptions on both sides. Some righteous techniques are more dangerous than demonic ones, and some demonic techniques have been refined to perfection, giving them an edge that rivals righteous sect methods.
But broadly speaking, righteous cultivation is orthodox, while demonic cultivation experiments with novel ideas.
It’s not uncommon for the righteous sects to adopt demonic techniques, creating variants based on their own understanding. We from demonic sects also refer to the techniques that our rivals have in order to work on our shortcomings.
If demonic cultivation is about taking risks to compensate for a lack of talent, then righteous cultivation is about using natural endowments for maximum efficiency.
These two concepts often meet and create something beautiful. That’s why neither the righteous nor the demonic factions will ever truly perish.
We exist because of each other. Our survival is linked. At times, the demonic faction will be suppressed, but we hold on, knowing our time will come. The same goes for the righteous. No faction can completely obliterate the other.
Can light drive away darkness forever? No, it can only keep it at bay. And darkness cannot rule forever because a ray of light will always eventually break through. This is the balance that has existed since the dawn of time.
The righteous and demonic factions? Are we really so different from each other?
At the end of the day, we all seek the same things—power, longevity, and control over our destinies. The methods may differ, but the goal remains the same. I’ve simply chosen the path that gives me the most freedom to achieve those goals.”
Aksai chuckled softly. “You make it sound so simple.”
“That’s because it is,” Haitin replied, shrugging. “People complicate things with labels, ideologies, and morality. But at its core, cultivation is about survival and growth. I use what works. If that makes me a demonic cultivator, then so be it.”
Aksai leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with newfound respect. “You’re not like anyone I’ve met before, brother Haitin. Most people cling to their sect’s ideals or the path they’ve chosen, but you… you’re different.”
Haitin nodded. “That’s why I believe we can work together. We’re both unconventional in our own ways, and that’s precisely why we stand to gain so much from each other.”
Aksai was quiet for a moment, letting Haitin’s words sink in. This man, this demonic cultivator—or whatever he truly was—had just laid out a vision that Aksai couldn’t help but admire. In fact, it resonated deeply with his own principles.
Aksai took a deep breath before finally speaking.
“Brother Haitin, before I say yes to the exchange of inheritances, I have one final question. Even though you say that the righteous and demonic cultivators are not so different from each other, I still have my reservations.
Don’t you think it’s unfair for you to offer your two inheritances in exchange for the one I possess? And why not just take what I have in the name of providing protection?”
Haitin smiled, almost as if he had been waiting for this question. He leaned back, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. “In short, you’re asking why I haven’t bullied you into giving me Mao’s inheritance? Why am I acting so friendly and cautious? Why don’t I just kill you and take what you have?”
Aksai stayed silent, but his expression made it clear that Haitin had hit the nail on the head. The smile on Haitin’s face widened.
“I could, you know,” Haitin said, voice smooth but carrying an undertone of steel. “In fact, it would be the easier route—eliminate the threat, take what I want. But I won’t.”
“Why?” Aksai asked.
Haitin’s expression grew serious, his tone sharpening slightly.
“Because it wouldn’t be a smart move. Look, brother Aksai, I’ve been watching you carefully. From the moment we met at Jaishin Lake to how you handled your so-called teammates.
You’ve been calculating. And I’m not a fool—I know when someone has more cards to play than they’re letting on.”
Aksai’s pulse quickened at Haitin’s words.
Even though it seemed like Haitin had forced him to kill his captured teammates, Aksai had, in truth, a way out. The Enchanted Everwood Farm.
He could’ve escaped and left the subcontinent entirely, but the cost of doing so had been too high. He wasn’t willing to take a long hiatus from his new homeworld. Haitin was right—Aksai had chosen to act, rather than flee.
But how did Haitin know?
“To be honest, I don’t know exactly what trump card you have,” Haitin continued, leaning forward slightly, eyes glinting with curiosity.
“Maybe it’s a 3rd-order teleportation talisman you got from Mao or some artifact that can temporarily boost your power enough to wipe out your enemies. But I can tell you’ve got something.
And even though I can’t be sure what it is, the fact that there’s even a one percent chance you could get away from me… well, that’s more than enough reason for me to be cautious.”
Haitin chuckled, shaking his head as if the thought amused him.
“I’m not interested in creating enemies, brother Aksai. Especially not ones who can slip through my fingers and come back stronger later, seeking revenge.
Why would I risk turning you into a shadow lurking in the background, waiting for the right moment to strike? No, that’s a risk I’m not willing to take.”