Chapter 89: The Seventh Day- Minor Progress In The Silent Reaper

The dawn of the seventh day arrived veiled in a peculiar, almost suffocating stillness, as though the world held its breath in anticipation of Jiang Feng's next move. Standing at the edge of the Lin Courtyard, the Celestial Dagger gleamed faintly in his grasp, its sharpened edge catching the dim, hesitant light of morning, as the runic lines continuously absorbed spiritual energy. His breaths were slow and deliberate, measured as if each one drew him closer to the enigmatic truths within the Silent Reaper's teachings.

Jiang Feng had discovered something unsettling yet undeniable: the concept of darkness rejected all else. Neither his Eternal bloodline nor the power of his draconic heritage could coexist with it. This realization gnawed at him, an alien restraint within a world that had always rewarded his boundless cultivation potential. Yet, there was nothing to be done—he had only glimpsed the distant shores of darkness, unable to fully touch its waters.

On the sixth day before getting ready to depart for the Obsidian Waterfall Realm, he had wrestled with the riddles inscribed on the scroll, their cryptic verses pushing his body and mind into unfamiliar rhythms, but the more he studied the more he realized that his comprehension was improving. The Silent Reaper was no ordinary technique. It defied the traditional paths of cultivation that thrived on raw power and dominance. Instead, it demanded mastery of the unseen, of stillness, patience, and dread. To command the unknown, Jiang Feng realized, was to embrace fear itself, becoming a phantom in the void.

He began to move, each step a muted whisper against the courtyard's earth. His motions flowed like ink spilled across parchment—deliberate yet unpredictable. His mind clung to the mantra etched into his consciousness after memorizing it for hours:

"Feel the breath of the unseen, the weight of silence. Do not chase the night; become it."

With a pivot, the dagger arced through the air, so swift and precise that it seemed to vanish into the stillness around him. For an instant, Jiang felt it—a flicker of something intangible. It was faint, like the cool brush of a shadow across his skin, yet undeniable. The dagger pulsed with an enigmatic energy, both mysterious and worshipful, fading momentarily into the dimness as though it were a piece of the darkness itself. Jiang's body followed suit, dissolving into the shadowy ether.

A heartbeat later, he reappeared on the rooftop of a nearby pavilion, his form solidifying as though conjured by the twilight itself. His heart pounded in triumph—minor progress, yes, but progress nonetheless.

From a shadowed corner, Lin Moyi observed, his keen eyes narrowing with intrigue. "He's starting to grasp it, Feng'er posses shocking comprehension skills that's even amazing among the first rankers. I've never seen anyone so amazing when it comes to comprehending!" he muttered, his voice barely audible above the silence. Yet he made no move to interrupt. The Silent Reaper was a solitary path, demanding both skill and introspection. Interference, even well-intentioned, could disrupt the fragile thread Jiang Feng was weaving.

Still, unease tugged at Lin Moyi's thoughts. "How did the Ji Clan not know the value of what they sold?" he wondered aloud, his brow furrowing. "Was it ignorance or some deliberate gambit? No, the Ji Clan would never relinquish something like this willingly..." He shook his head, the unanswered questions tugging at him as he continued his quiet vigil.

The courtyard remained sealed from prying eyes, its isolation a deliberate safeguard setup by Zhen Chen after numerous visits. Even the other residents of the Lin household were oblivious to the quiet storm unfolding within its bounds.

As the hours stretched into midday, Jiang Feng's focus never wavered. Each strike of the dagger grew sharper, each movement quieter, as though the shadows themselves guided his hand. The Silent Reaper's true meaningful essence was still beyond his reach, but on this seventh day, Jiang Feng had taken his first deliberate steps into its abyss, walking a path few could even comprehend.

-

As the sun climbed higher into the midday sky, Jiang Feng finally paused, his breaths steady but deep from hours of relentless practice. The Celestial Dagger rested in his hand, its blade now cool and still, yet brimming with a faint aura of potential. He released his grip on the dagger which zipped into his body, he then reached into his spatial ring, his mind drifting to the rare materials his father had entrusted to him.

With careful precision, Jiang Feng retrieved a bundle wrapped in shimmering cloth, the items inside exuding faint but potent spiritual energy. These were precious remnants of his father's legacy—valuable resources he had yet to fully utilize. Among them were rare herbs, small vials of spiritual essence, and fragments of precious ore- it's only now that Jiang Feng realized that the payment that his father too back then and used to assist his breakthrough on the path of reverse cultivation was astronomical.

"If I remembered correctly, father requested payment in the form of 500 medium-grade spirit stones, which is 500,000 low grade spirit stones, the blood essence of a level 6 Sun Burning Lion and a beast core of the 6th rank" Jiang Feng didn't even know what stage that was. After all, the Nascent Soul stage was only the forth stage, he had heard that the formation that's currently supporting the Celestial Shadow Church is at the 5th stage which only Spirit Integration stage experts could create.

"I don't even know what the 5th stage is like much less to know what's above it." Jiang Feng shook his head as he sighed. While he was thinking, Lin Moyi's earlier advice came to mind: 'Prepare yourself not just with strength but with the means to recover and endure.'

///

Deciding it was time to heed that advice, Jiang Feng made his way to the Ji Emporium, a bustling hub of commerce in the heart of the city. Owned and operated by the Ji family, it was renowned for its extensive inventory of cultivation materials, weapons, rare finds and trades done using there massive networking skills and auction houses. If there was any place to acquire the healing pills, detox pills, and energy restoratives he needed, it was there.

The Azure Spirit Hall is a formidable power, renowned for its unparalleled mastery in pill refinement. However, unlike other sects or organizations, they abstain from direct trade with individual customers. Instead, their refined pills are sold in massive quantities, often in the thousands, to other influential powers. These buyers, in turn, distribute the pills through their own stores and smaller shops, creating a vast network of availability. Beyond commerce, many of these powers reserve significant portions for their own use, bolstering their families and sect members with the hall's exceptional creations.

The emporium's entrance was an imposing structure, adorned with intricate carvings of mythical beasts and glowing runes that hinted at its wealth and prestige. As Jiang Feng stepped inside, the clamor of customers and merchants was momentarily subdued. Eyes turned toward him, whispers spreading like wildfire. It seemed his reputation had preceded him.

Ji Moran, the overseer of the emporium and a member of the Ji Clan's younger generation, greeted him with a polite smile. She was a poised and striking woman, her sharp eyes and dignified bearing exuding confidence. "Young Master Jiang" she said warmly but with some amusement, inclining her head. "Welcome to the Ji Emporium. To what do we owe the honor of your visit today?"

Jiang Feng returned the gesture with a slight nod. "I need healing pills, detox pills, and energy-restoring elixirs" he said simply, his tone steady. "I've brought materials to cover the cost." He placed the bundle of rare items on the counter, their glow catching Ji Moran's attention.

Her eyes flickered with interest as she examined the materials, but her gaze soon shifted back to him, a subtle smirk playing at her lips. "Ah, it seems Lin Moyi's advice wasn't wasted on you" she said knowingly. "Very well. I'll prepare what you need."

As she worked, Ji Moran couldn't resist striking up a conversation. "You know, the city has been buzzing with news about you. Defeating Zhen Ming and Lei Wenshan was impressive enough, but challenging Wu Lihua?You've become quite the sensation, she could contend for top two. People are saying you're backed by a Nascent Soul realm expert, an intriguing claim."

Jiang Feng's expression remained calm, though inwardly he noted how quickly word had spread. "Rumors have a way of exaggerating the truth" he replied evenly.

"Perhaps" Ji Moran said, her smirk widening. "But you've certainly made an impression. It's not every day someone ascends the ranks so quickly, especially with the Ji Clan's treasures catching the attention of someone like you."

Her tone carried a hint of playful curiosity, but Jiang Feng didn't rise to the bait. He simply waited as she finished assembling a collection of jade bottles, each containing the pills and elixirs he needed.

"These should suffice" Ji Moran said, sliding the items across the counter. "And with these materials, I'll even add a few extras—call it a gesture of goodwill."

Jiang Feng accepted the items, his gaze steady. "Thank you." He turned to leave, but Ji Moran's voice followed him.

"Do tread carefully, Jiang Feng. The higher you rise, the sharper the blades waiting for you in the shadows, not to mention in the Obsidian Waterfall Realm."

He paused briefly before stepping out into the bustling streets, her words lingering in his mind. With the resources secured and his resolve strengthened, Jiang Feng set his sights on the challenges ahead, his path growing ever darker yet clearer with each step. 'Obsidian Waterfall Realm, here I come!'