"You know, your stubbornness reminds me of someone but unlike that person, you're not cooperative... oh and you're annoying too."

Arthur blatantly said that as he met Jian Si's burning gaze. Lucy was stubborn too, much more than this girl but she wasn't suicidal and knew what to do, she wasn't a battle-thirsty person such as Cold Sword.

Jian Si didn't reply and held her long sword, she unwrapped the cloth around it, showing a jet black sword with a thick blood scent emanating from it.

Arthur still wasn't impressed, he raised his hand towards her and moved a few fingers randomly as he added:

"As I said before, you're not my match and I do not have the patience nor the time to play with an angry kid."

Cold Sword's expression finally changed when she found out that her body was immobilized, she couldn't even move a finger, much less charge at him. Upon a closer, thin threads were wrapped around all her body, forcing her to remain motionless, she even activated her Sword Energy trying to cut through them but such efforts were futile. The Sword Energy were shattered by strong and violent vibrations coming from the threads.

Natural Lightning, that was flowing through the threads unnoticed, is one of Arthur's main offensive powers. The vibrations created from it are able to shatter weaker forms of Energies, destroy Meridians and burst hearts and bones, it was also hard to detect, which is another reason Arthur always includes in his attacks, even simple physical exchanges.

Arthur used the threads to lift the old man's body, who looked like a lifeless force but actually wasn't. Arthur was aware that the Spatial Master was ready for the last struggle, his Dantian was destroyed but not all the energy he held dispersed and he must have treasures that can be used without Nether Energy too.

"Now then, I have only two questions for you. If you answer them, maybe I will spare your life, or what's left of it."

In response to Arthur, the old man merely looked at his attacker with anger, his eyes were thirsty for a bloody vengeance. His thousands of years of cultivation and training vanished in seconds which made him almost turn mad.

"Kid *cough* my disciples and sect won't let you live for long *cough* *cough* you will live the *cough* remaining of your life in fear of my revenge! *cough*.."

Arthur listened to his words calmly, he wasn't feeling threatened at all. After the old man finished his successive oaths of revenge and so-on, Arthur simply tugged the threads leading to the old man's arm, instantly tearing it off causing even more blood to gush out and paint the nearby pond with red.

"I guess it's useless to ask you."

It's was pretty apparent that the old man wasn't the kind to give up easily and answer his questions just to live so Arthur decided to end it.

"Hahaha*cough* it's too late for you to kill me now, kid!"

As he spurted those last words, the old man died, however, something emerged from his forehead. It was an eye as big as the old man's head, it stared at Arthur for a few seconds before it vanished. Despite being seen by whichever was that, Arthur wasn't worried as this wasn't his real body and he has thousands of bodies so his identity can never be discovered. This last struggle could be said to be futile, if it was another one who killed the old man, then he may be doomed but it's another matter for a parasite.

After things calmed down, Arthur unceremoniously took the storage ring of the old man but surprisingly wasn't able to inspect it. He knew that the Demonic Lightning may be of some help but he didn't use it right now as it may require more time than he already has.

He stored the ring and ordered the golem to block Jian Si's proceed then he swiftly possessed the old man's lifeless corpse and got out in just a second. It barely took the time for a person to blink before he gained what he needed, his vision was flooded with system notifications.

Since time was tight and there are few people who must be after him, he didn't read them and only tested his new Spatial Mastery.

His hand grabbed the air, distorting it and when he tried grabbing it and forcefully pulling it, the ground shook and the space shattered for a split second before it automatically self-repaired itself instantaneously. Before he was done with the quick tests, he tried the special skill the old man had, it was the [Space Bend] unique skill obtained from the 'Space Bender' the deceased elder had.

It allowed him to cover his presence and become undetected by all Gods unless he purposely exposed himself, it was a very useful skill for assassination and escape, this further reassured Arthur. However, it isn't uncommon for a delight to be followed by misery or despair, which is more or less what happened to Arthur.

The chains wrapping around his waist started thinning and crackling, they burned his skin and the tightness around his limbs was stronger yet this made him more comfortable.

"Demon, it looks like your arsenal is yet again bigger. How about it... give me that stone and I'll gladly become your God Spirit, I'm sure that even Sovereigns won't be a match for you."

From within his consciousness, the Earth Knight couldn't remain silent and proposed the same offer for Arthur.

"Not interested."

The Earth Spirit wanted to insist but knowing Arthur's attitude, he gave up and went back to his sleep, unaffected by what happens outside.

This wasn't the end for Arthur, when the burning effect from the chains disappeared, he felt that he could break them and finally be free of their restraint and when he was going to, he found himself standing in an endless space which belonged to the ARK.

"We meet again, Arthur."

The lame copy of Arthur stood before him, however, this time he wasn't as cheerful as usual and he even had a serious expression.

"What do you want?"

The lame copy started walking around Arthur, inspecting the long chains then he replied

"It's not what I want but what you intend to do."

He didn't even give Arthur enough time to talk before he resumed

"You know.... a very long time ago, there was a person named 'Moria', this Moria was very skilled in Shadow Magic. He had an ability similar to yours and could gain the power of others through their shadows, and as you may expect, he became strong, very strong, enough to be called the Shadow King and live for countless generations without anyone matching his strength... but he ended up dying despite having no one who can kill him and being practically immune to aging. Now, Arthur, you're a smart person, how do you think he died?"

Arthur contemplated the matter for a few seconds before he gave his answer

"Must've been suicide? Maybe loneliness and the lack of equally strong people made him want to end his life."

"That's the only plausible answer but it's wrong. The Shadow King didn't kill himself, neither did anyone kill him, he simply led himself straight to his death, too much power can kill someone. He consumed way too many shadows, his power was really something to look up to despite the fact that he didn't acquire it himself. It's quite unbelievable for an eternal king to die due to obtaining more power than he could control.

In such a case, you and he are more similar than you think. You might not be blinded by gaining power, but becoming stronger is necessary to protect what's dear for you and I totally get that but remember this, Arthur, there is always a limit to what a borrowed power could do."

The copy crouched down and grabbed part of the chains, feeling it while he continued speaking:

"You do know why those chains are restraining you, right?"

"My physical body is much stronger than what my Mental capacity could handle and my Realm is too low."

"That's only the main points. Your body's strength has exceeded the necessary boundaries, if you break the chains.... then yes, you'll get unimaginable power, a physical body that kills Gods with a flip of a finger, and you could also travel to Earth through sheer strength, however, everything comes at a cost. I can assure you that when you break the chains yourself, you would die within twelve hours at most and nothing could save you, not even that skill of yours."

Arthur was tempted when he heard the first part but was forced to give up when he heard that his death is imminent if he breaks those damnable chains.

"Don't think of them as a restriction, they are saving you from self-destruction. Even if it's not exactly like the death of the Shadow King, the way you would die will be a bit like his, through obtaining more power than one could process and use. As for when the chains will break, it'll be when your Mental Capacity is high enough, but at such a pace, I don't think it'll happen anytime soon."

"Do I need to reach a specific number of Mental Power to break them?"

With a precise number to reach, Arthur thought it'll be easier for him to determine how far he is.

"Mental Power? That's only one side of the coin, Mental Capacity isn't only numbers that are increased through cultivation, then again, if you could understand its entirety then you wouldn't be struggling in such a world. If you want a number then I would say five hundred thousand? Perhaps a million? Numbers are everything yet nothing. They are the basics, a number can't always be precise, and I think you know that well."

Arthur remained silent for an unknown amount of time, pondering about many things. His copy only gazed at him without uttering any more words, he seemed to be content after saying that and now that he had nothing important to say, he patted Arthur's shoulders and said

"Remember well, Arthur Bilgart, a heart bleeds, a man weeps, a soul burns, thence comes the darkness to consume, yet even in the depths, the flames endures."

The copy vanished after saying that, leaving Arthur alone in the endless pace, still deep in a daze, thinking about all the things the copy has just said.