"Amber, Kali, listen to me. Just calm down. I will get us through this."
Cain finally spoke after the last few moments. His tone didn't hold a trace of panic. In fact, he didn't sound deathly serious like a veteran cultivator.
He instead used a warming tone, one that sounded like a soothing, melodic tone. His voice smoothly flowed into Kali and Amber's ears, swirling in their minds like a calming stream of water.
In this instance, Kali and Amber shuddered. The shuddering wasn't from anxiety or fear but their mental state genuinely calming down.
That tone of warmth was so comforting in this dangerous situation.
Subconsciously, Kali and Amber trailed their eyes to Cain's back, noticing it seemed much larger than before. They both realized it simultaneously.
Together and calm, they will surely get through this!
"Huu~. Since when a crazily serious guy like you can be so calming?" Amber actually had the gall to tease, feeling the tension in her body calm down. Her mind was clearing up, allowing her to think better about their situation.
"Hmph. Brother was always like this. His calming aura is the best of all the best!" Kali's direct confidence blew up. She was already expecting to escape in just a few more moments.
Hearing the girl's better tones, Cain was satisfied. He didn't want them making any rash decisions or movement for when he broke them free.
Throughout this entire time, Cain was slowly circulating his Soul's Core, bringing out his Soul Energy.
Unlike his Qi or body, his Soul's Core couldn't be suppressed!
As of now, his Soul's Core has natural properties of the Heaven-Defying Chaos Energy. Against all manners of suppression, it would all be useless.
Although this didn't mean he should immediately pull out his Soul Energy. If any energy leakage flowed out of him, Cain was positive that this mysterious kidnapper would cut him down before he could even blink.
But if he goes slow and careful, suppressing all manners of Soul Energy from leaking out, he could find the perfect opportunity to escape!
Two seconds passed.
Amber and Kali were silent but more confident in thinking about how to escape.
And Cain could feel his Soul Energy gradually link to Chaos Energy. But suddenly, their Spirit Senses pricked with immediate danger!
Cain, Kali, and Amber snapped their attention forward, and their gazes narrowed on a figure walking out of the jungle of trees and bushes.
This person was a tall man, frighteningly tall, being seven feet tall! He wore a pure black robe and a matching black mask, expertly hiding his identity.
As the man strolled up to the trio, the same chilling voice leaked out from him.
"Really, a magnificent catch this time. Amber Hiyashi and the Crimson Sea Academy's uprising Heaven-Defying Talents. A new age truly is about to usher in our entire City. Perhaps the whole Province!"
"Hoh? So you're some delusional, huh?" Kali's lips curled into a slight sneer. "Since you haven't killed us or knocked us out, you must willingly want something from us, eh?"
The black robe man paused, feeling genuine surprise. His gaze tore off from Amber, settling square on Kali, intently focusing on every little feature of her face.
The black robe man's gaze was as if he was trying to discern the secrets of Kali's very soul.
After only a brief moment, he surprisingly nodded towards her. "It's good you have sharp intuition. But you're a bit wrong. If you were to willingly submit, this process wouldn't be painless at all. In fact, it will feel quite good. But do resist and well… .let's just say death would seem like the kinder option."
His indifferent tone combined with such chilling words did manage to leave a considerable impact on Cain, Kali, and Amber's minds.
Still, Amber had the gall to summon her courage, asking out of pure curiosity, "I'm already assuming you intend to make us slaves? Perhaps planting a Spirit Slave seal in our souls?"
"I suppose you can say that. However, we are a fair group, so let me properly explain what makes our seals a bit special."
Suddenly, the black robe man took out three jade talismans. He was only a few feet away from Cain as he stopped and started to speak again.
"You see, if you willingly absorb these talismans, you three will enter into a new world. A new level of power this City won't be able to possibly understand. You will become a part of our Ink collection. With this, everything about your cultivation, bloodline, and Talents will evolve by several times. Furthermore, this will passively grow in your soul, strengthening you beyond belief. The only thing is that you will absolutely obey your new Master, who is the fairest cultivator the World has ever seen. If you choose to resist this, you will experience soul-rendering pain that feels like you're whole entire body is being roasted by the eternal flames of hell. It will only stop once your soul sees the light of this new way. So? What will it be?"
Taking all of this information, Cain, Kali, and Amber chose to stay silent.
The black robe man gave them their time, true to his words of proclaiming to be 'fair.'
Suffocating seconds passed until Cain finally spoke up.
"So, this seems like something very grand and planned out. Just how far does your reach grasp?"
As he talked, Cain's Soul Energy was almost done. And at the same time, he found something curious about this man's robe.
Him mentioning this so-called 'Ink Collection.' It most likely was just a coincidence, but his mind promptly snapped back to the Ink Rain Sect organization.
Could they possibly be connected?
There was no concrete way to tell, so Cain simply had to dig out more information.
And, of course, the black robe man didn't believe for a second that either Cain, Kali, and Amber could escape.
Their area was secluded, and his cultivation far surpassed the trio. For them to escape could only be achieved through an absolute impossibility, so why would he care about taking so much time?
"Indeed, it as you think. Our Sect extends to the far corner of the entire City. We bid our time for so many years until it was the appropriate time to strike. And now, we will set loose an evolutionary change towards the entire City and this Whole Province. Perhaps we can grasp far further out our Province. And all of this and more will be fully available to you if you willingly intake this talisman seal into your souls."
The black robe man proudly explains. Even as his methods were entirely forceful, he believed there's no way even the stubbornest of people would resist him at this point.
After all, what advantage would they gain from resisting?
Pain worse than death?
Not even the most masochist of cultivators would want to experience the anguish that can break their minds into pieces.
Furthermore, the advantages far outstrip the only other option. These younglings' agreement was virtually guaranteed.
However, while the black robe man's reasoning wasn't the slightest bit wrong and his plan was perfectly executed without a single hitch, Cain had a different answer.
"Is that so….then my answer is…."
As Cain trailed off, seeming as if he was taking his time to answer, his Chaos Energy suddenly erupted, instantly covering him, Kali, and Amber!
'Chi!'
"What the hell?!?"
Right before the black robe man's very eyes, an bright green flash completely engulfed Cain, Kali, and Amber!
Then, an energy he had never felt before in his entire long life drilled into his Spirit Sense, utterly stunning him into a statue-like state.
This energy….it wasn't Qi; it wasn't Spirit or any type of Elemental Energy. It felt far too mystical, as if it was a higher plane of existence!
And in the briefest moment the black robe man was frozen in shock, the green flash turned blinding.
The black robe man was forced to shut his eyes. Not even his cultivation could protect against that shine.
And in the next second, the flash vanished.
"You?!" The black robe man swung his eyes open, but he was only met with an empty jungle.
For what seemed like minutes, the black robe man simply stood still. He honestly didn't know what to describe he was feeling.
Disbelief, shock, frustration….fear. It all swirled into his mind at this very moment.
All of his built-up plan that was impossible to fail crumbled before his very eyes. Somehow, Cain, Kali, and Amber disappeared, and he was simply too slow to stop it.
And if he even did react appropriately, he still wouldn't be able to stop Chaos Energy's teleportation.
….
Hundreds of mile-deep within a Wild Plain's Demonic Area, a mystical signature of energy suddenly leaked in the air.
Then, in the next moment, the energy immediately vanished, and a bright green flash filled the area.
Out from the flash, three youths dropped right into a large blush. These three were Cain, Kali, and Amber!
As they crashed into the bush, Cain didn't get lax. He immediately shot out rays of Chaos Energy towards Kali and Amber, covering them in Chaotic Concealment.
Just like last time, Amber's Soul Core didn't resist at all.
Of course, if her Soul was to put up defenses against Chaos Energy, it wouldn't be able to resist for even a brief moment.
But, oddly enough, it was like Amber's Soul Core gladly welcomed Cain's invasion of Chaos Energy. It was intriguing, but Cain didn't have the luxuriously to think further on this.
Without delay, he unleashed Chaotic Concealment on himself before immediately recalling his Chaos Energy.
"Ahh~? Hey….we're….wow. You really stay true to your words Cain."
Amber was genuinely impressed. So he also has the power of teleportation! Her fascination only shot up. She shot Cain over a look of utmost gratefulness, showcasing a beautiful expression resembling that of an angel.
"See? I told you he got this." Kali stated in a matter-of-fact tone as she picked herself up from the ground, shuffling around in the bush.
But in the next moment, she froze.
'Shit! Oh, that's great! Now she knows….we're gonna have to-'
"Ah?"
Suddenly Amber raised a confused grunt, interrupting both Cain and Kali's train of thoughts.
When looking over at her, Cain and Kali turned solemn.
On Amber's face, she had a genuine look of worry. Trying to maintain a calm tone, she said, "This is bad for us. We escape, but we're too far away. As of now, we're deep in the Demonic Area, and around here are beasts that even I wouldn't dream of fighting.. Just how is everything going from terrible to awful? Haah~."
