Taylor rolls away from the blow and pounced away as his eyes turn a deep shade of red. “Fucking scum!” He hissed like an animal.

Taylor activates the teleportation array that his father had gifted him and his marked sword appears in front of him. Taylor quickly takes it and unsheathes the blade as a dark and red aura engulfs him. Taylor immediately turns and prepares for battle. His opponent was on the sixth stage. But he's a Mountain Climber! I can smell it! He thinks excitedly, expecting this to be a quick battle. He quickly lunged forward but Taylor was forced to raise an eyebrow. Why is my sword not becoming engulfed in white light? Taylor asks, distracting him from the flaming staff striking from above.

A deep impact and a crack is heard as the flaming staff deals a heavy blow to the top of Taylor’s head, causing his hair to catch on fire and blood to gush out.

“Fuck.” Taylor groans after landing on the ground, before immediately rolling away once again, expecting a finishing blow.

Taylor crouches on the ground and activates the teleportation array again and catches a small golden tablet with small script inscribed into it. Johan had given them these at his father's request. He had smiled when he had given them to Taylor; he said it was a problem-solving tablet. Apparently, they solved all a person's problems; "They solve so many problems that a person won't have a reason to exist." Johan had said with a laugh at the time.

“Tell me! Who are you and who are you working for? And I promise I'll let you go.” Taylor says as he looks up with his ass to the ground.

The assassin smirks under his mask. What an idiot. He thinks with amusement, not sensing any threat from Taylor’s supposed magical artifact. “You previously killed the Dark Lord’s nephew. I’ve come to seek repayment.” He says like the grim-reaper coming to collect a debt before lunging forward to end this fight.

“Bitch!” Taylor exclaims, forcing himself to activate the tablet, causing it to explode as a golden energy rushes out and engulfs the other man.

“Aaaaghh!” The man yells as his body crumbles away like sand.

Taylor collapses with his back to the ground. He takes a few deep breaths and sighs. “Can’t a man go on a spiritual journey in peace?” He asks with a sigh.

…

…

“You’re cultivation technique didn’t activate?” Taylor’s father says with a smirk. “Taylor, you’re no longer the righteous cultivator that you started out as. Your cheat-like battle style against the Mountain Climbers is no longer going to work. You’re going to have to fight like a man from now on.” He says with a loud laugh.

“Fuck…” Taylor exclaims with a sigh. I guess I'm fair game now… And the hunt for my head seems to have started… He thinks with a bitter shake of his head. I can’t stay with my family any longer… Taylor thinks as he considers his options.

“Can I stay here for a while?” Taylor asks shamelessly. He hoped to hide under his father’s protection for the foreseeable future.

Taylor’s dad lets out an evil chuckle. “Taylor, oh, Taylor. I’m not sure you know what kind of Asura I am. Although I came from the same source, I hate demons; harvesting their souls is what I do for fun. Unless your human side and your demon side find common ground and your soul establishes its foundation, you’re not welcome to stay here. And you’re not allowed to stay with Johan either; I’d rather you die under an assassin’s blade than for your soul to corrupt. I don’t want to watch my son enter the abyss, Taylor. Your soul is higher on my priority list than your life, so I kind of hope you die out there.” He says mercilessly before erupting into a loud laughter.

Taylor’s eyes open wide. Are you fucking serious? He couldn’t help but think in shock.