The Dawn of the New World Chapter 1567

[Your existence does not make sense]

Hao Xuan was planning on ending the fight before it got out of hand but couldn't help but lend an ear when the shade found itself in a talking mood.

'The state he is in seems to be permanent which means the damage is irreparable. He shouldn't be able to heal or keep it up for too long despite it appearing easy. I'll draw this out for as long as possible before severing the creature.'

Hao Xuan clasped his hands behind his back to appear even more defenseless and unprepared, "Oh, you already had my curiosity but now you have my interest. Why does my existence not make sense?"

The shade seemed conflicted at the start but in the end chose to continue the dialogue after settling whatever internal struggle he was going through.

[You see my true form. You hear me]

"Is that all? I'm sure many people can do that if they are prepared-"

[No, they cannot! I am a denizen of the Umbral Planes. My true form and voice can only be perceived by those who have perfected their Astral Forms- which you have not]

'Astral Form?! How did I forget?? It is created to traverse the umbral planes with ease so of course it could allow the person to perceive otherworldly threats without much trouble. I should try to create one as soon as possible but...what should I say to him?'

'The reason I can see him is because of the Crown of Darkness and I hear him because my extrasensory perception of other planes is so high because of the connection to Cerberus. However minute it may be, I am still connected to him at all times so things are bound to come through. But I can't very well say that since traveling across planes without even a cultivation is unheard of.'

In the end Hao Xuan decided to adopt the same tactic the shade was using earlier.

'Be as vague as possible and let him draw his own conclusions!'

"How do you know for certain that I have not completed my astral form? Obviously I have some sort of a connection to the other planes that allows me to see you."

[Without a cultivation to support it?]

"Yes, of course! A powerful enough soul does not need to depend on spiritual energy for interplaner travel."

[I have never seen such a soul before but...one powerful enough could allow such- No! It is far more likely that a blessing from the Nine is the reason!]

'A blessing?! He knows I have a mark?? So he didn't come here blindly then! But what is his goal? Maybe that Song princess is still harboring some ill will towards me...but why not just kill me then?'

While Hao Xuan was lost in thought the shade put forth even more 'evidence' of his bizarre situation.

[But what vexes me the most is your fighting ability]

"My fighting ability?" Hao Xuan repeated numbly, "What about it?"

[You do not fight like any other warrior I have ever seen. Your kind takes great pride in your Sacred Scriptures and Battle Skills. Sometimes to the point of yelling out their names in the midst of combat. Every physical being I have ever fought had a set of techniques they cherished and used repeatedly but you...you swap from one doctrine to the next without a thought]

"So what??" even Hao Xuan couldn't see the problem with that.

"I know a few techniques, what's the big deal?"

[Not a few!] the shade hissed venomously trying to explain himself.

[In our brief encounter you used 3 Sky Grade (Profound Realm equivalent) Techniques, 8 Saint Grade skills, and TWO Immortal Grade Scriptures! If you had any spiritual energy I would have been destroyed by the 3rd blow!]

Hao Xuan's mouth fell open. That was one thing he had completely overlooked because it all just came out naturally. He had amassed so much experience by absorbing countless millions of souls that it was second nature to him now.

Unless he was against a particularly strong opponent he wouldn't even pay attention to which skill was being used when. He mostly just went with what 'felt' right for the situation.

The shade noticed the change in his expression, [It seems you finally understand the weight of your actions. The level of skills you have been displaying without so much as a conscious thought are enough for a Middle Tier Kingdom to go to war over! And yet you did not even blink an eye- No, you did not even REALIZE what you were doing because that's how inconsequential they were to you!]

Hao Xuan let out a breath that he had been holding for quite a while.

'I fucked up...'

[Now answer me this human, what could be the true identity of a "slave" that holds such knowledge and power? What else could he be hiding?]