The Growth of a Titan in the Cultivation World

"How is that possible Little Abdu? Humans were born with their acupoints opened? Then—Then doesn't that mean they were born while being in the Spiritual Realm?"

Sol found this absurd. Was that actually the case? What was going on?

"I'm not mistaken, brat."

Little Abdu said as if he had read Sol's thoughts.

Thinking for a moment Sol then reason.

"Okay, your cultivation system does make more sense now that I know people were actually born in the Spiritual Realm. All they would need to do is absorb enough Aether Energy and they could forcefully open their Spiritual Palaces. But how strong were cultivators back then if they were born in the Spiritual Realm?"

"Brat, that's not the issue here."

"It's not?"

"No, think about it. A Mortal Palace didn't exist back then, but now everyone in the current Era has one. Don't you think that's strange?"

"Yeah, i guess it is..."

"Brat, do you know what a Heavenly Palace was called and how it was perceived back then?"

"As a shackle on one's soul?"

"Oh, correct. Are they still referred to by that name?"

Sol shook his head.

"I read it in an old book, but I don't think people see them as shackles now."

Little Abdu snorted.

"Well, they should. Heavenly Palaces were known to be shackles that were placed on us by the Heavens themselves. We aren't 'opening them' we're picking their locks by cultivating Aether Energy."

"So the Mortal Palace..."

"Within the time that has passed, the Heavens chose to put shackles on our physical bodies."

There was a shackle placed on a person's Soul, Energy, and Physical Body. This was what Sol thought when he heard Little Abdu.

"Maybe something happened for this physical shackle to now exist."

After Sol said that Little Abdu's expression suddenly changed and all the hair on his back stood on end.

His shattered Heavenly Palace between his forehead started trembling in fear as an unknown aura suddenly engulfed the entire palace. Luckily, this Grand Formation was specifically created to reject the Heavens influence, so the aura was faint.

Little Abdu glanced up at the ceiling of the library, but it looked like his gaze was directed further upward.

"Sol, let's stop talking about this topic. This might not be something we can discuss."

Hearing Little Abdu's serious tone, Sol clamped his mouth shut and didn't question his words.

Why would he when he had faintly sensed that terrifying aura that appeared out of nowhere as well?

Sol rubbed his forehead, where the sun Holy Crest in his mental landscape was trembling. It wasn't due to fear, but more so by repulsion. The crescent moon, however, didn't so much as twitch when this aura appeared. It almost seemed unimpressed.

Sol put aside these weird feelings and took a step to place his hands on the dragon mural. They were finally about to leave this palace.

As the blue light from the dragon mural encapsulated Sol and Little Abdu, Sol raised his right hand to recall the Grand Formation around the entire palace.

The blue runes appeared in the library once more and slowly drifted toward the rune on the back of Sol's right hand.

Little Abdu silently watched as this happened, and a melancholic emotion appeared in his heart.

After spending so many years here, he was finally leaving. But even though he was leaving, the pain and guilt will still follow him for a lifetime.

"Are you okay, Little Abdu?"

Sol asked after sensing Little Abdu's downcast mood.

"I'm okay, brat. Let's get out of here."

Sol paused, then nodded.

"I liked this place. Even though I thought it was haunted, it turns out it was just you Little Abdu."

Recalling how scared he was, Sol chuckled and then asked.

"Hey, how did you create that ghost before? Did you use the Grand Formation?"

Sol was curious because even though he used his Heavenly Eyes at the time, he was never able to see through that illusion. That's why he thought it was real. However, what Little Abdu said next caused all the hair on his back to stand up.

"What ghost?"

"The ghost Little Abdu. You know, the one you created before I entered Su Jin's room?"

"I don't know what you're talking about brat. I thought I would mess with you by knocking over those plant pots, but that's it."

Sol's heart rate started picking up speed.

"Little Abdu, you—you're just trying to scare me, right?"

Little Abdu looked down at Sol and frowned.

"No, I don't know what you're talking about."

Little Abdu wasn't lying, Sol could tell.

"Bu-But, if you weren't the one who created that ghost, then who d-WAH!!!"

Before Sol could finish his sentence, he suddenly let out a wretched high-pitch squeal.

Little Abdu was shocked.

"Brat, what's with you?"

He was still looking down at Sol's head but seeing that Sol was just staring ahead wide-eyed without saying a word, he looked up.

What Little Abdu saw caused his whole body to stiffen.

"Su Jin?"

Standing in front of them just outside the teleportation light, was undoubtedly Su Jin.

Sol knew this because he looked just like the dead body back in the office. Little Abdu had created it using illusions, but it was accurate as even the clothes of the Su Jin in front of them were the same golden robes. He had also seen Su Jin as an adult when he was absorbing the Legacy Rune.

Little Abdu stood up on Sol's head, wondering if he was just seeing things.

However, Su Jin suddenly smiled a familiar smile before he raised his hand and rubbed Little Abdu's forehead.

"You made the right choice. I don't want you to be stuck here forever."

Little Abdu's body trembled.

"You were here? All along, you were here?"

Su Jin nodded.

"Do you blame me for not showing myself?"

Little Abdu wanted to say yes, but he instead lowered his head and replied.

"You had your reasons for not wanting me to see you."

"Yes, but it's not because I hated you. It just took me a while to remember who I was. It was thanks to those illusions showing up earlier that I remembered."

After saying this, Su Jin looked at Sol. His smile widened as he clasped Sol's shoulders with both hands.

However, as soon as Su Jin's hands fell on Sol's shoulders, his appearance changed to that of a young boy. Now the two were at eye level.

"Sorry for scaring you. Can you take care of Little Nian for me?"

"I will. I promise."

Sol immediately said as he cupped his fist and bowed to Su Jin. He felt Jianghu's custom was a perfect fit to show his gratitude and sincerity in this moment.

Su Jin was still smiling, as the Grand Formation around the palace reached the library and slowly entered the rune on Sol's right hand.

Sol and Little Abdu watched as Su Jin slowly faded away with the smile still on his face.

That last smile wasn't forced; it was filled with joy and relief. Perhaps because he was able to say goodbye to his best friend.

After Su Jin disappeared, the teleportation light reached its peak, and spatial ripples covered Sol and Little Abdu's figures before teleporting them away.