'Was that wise? That there was a huge gamble. But my instincts didn't warn me against revealing so much to my master. In fact, it was somewhat urging me to take this significant risk. And what exactly is the restriction that master placed on me? Maybe my status has some details.' wondered Fang Hao with a reasonable degree of unease.

He opened his status screen and scanned it with concentration. Everything was same as before, but there was a new addition under the section of Active Effects named 'Ancient Restriction – Vow of Silence'. Fang Hao was a bit peeved at this addition, but he shrugged helplessly before he resumed drinking resolving to never ever even hint at this aspect of himself ever again.

Meanwhile elsewhere in the sect, deep underground, a statue of a young man was suspended over a large lake of magma. Magma flowed upward in helical patterns and condensed in a cocoon around the statue of the young man with shoulder length hair. The figure of Old Man Zhu appeared on the shore of the large lake a few hundred kilometers away. Sensing the abrupt arrival, the statue of the young man vibrated, before cracks appeared and a fine layer of dust fell off. The figure of Great Elder Shi became cleared from the statue and teleported near o Old Man Zhu.

“What is it Brother Zhu? To disturb me during my training ...this better be important.” Great Elder Shi inquired in a grumpy tone.

Old man Zhu didn't reply immediately. Instead a three dimensional formation of silvery archaic characters enclosed them before Old man Zhu replied.

“Brother Shi, you are aware of the approaching catastrophe correct?”

When Great Elder Shi gave a slight, almost unnoticeable, nod. Old Man Zhu flicked his sleeve, and a an ancient looking roll of parchment flew over to Great Elder Shi. The Great Elder took the rolled piece of parchment and unrolled it. After examining it for a couple of breaths, he frowned and addressed Old Man Zhu.

“Brother Zhu, after all we have been through through the millennia; is such a stringent soul contract necessary?”

Old Man Zhu had a bitter smile on his face as he replied.

“Brother Shi, regardless of whether you agree to the terms of the soul contract or not; I will owe you a favor. Regardless, let me assure you that this is of utmost importance, or I wouldn't intrude here thoughtlessly.”

Great Elder Shi observed Old Man Zhu thoughtfully, before spitting a glob of dense red blood essence brimming with vitality on the piece of ancient parchment. He then pressed his thumb on the glob of blood essence and flicked the piece of parchment back to Old man Zhu. After receiving the piece of parchment and examining it, Old Man Zhu sighed in relief as he addressed Great Elder Shi.

“Brother Shi, my latest disciple, the little fatty, is probably more extraordinary than he appears to be. By his own admission, I think he has a Heart of Slaughter.”

Instantly Great elder Shi's expression turned grave and he waited for several breaths before inquiring.

“How sure are you?”

“At least sixty to seventy percent sure.” Old man Zhu replied.

“Have necessary precautions been taken?” inquired Great Elder Shi.

“I Placed my best restriction of silence on my disciple and myself. From now on, other than the three of us, no one under the cultivation level of an Ascendant can know about this guess of mine. Even an Ascendant Cultivator would have to do soul-searches on all three of us to hope to find out this assumption. But if it comes to that, it really wont matter.” replied Old Man Zhu gravely.

“ I didn't mean that! Do you plan to allow your disciple to grow unhindered?” replied Great Elder Shi in an irritated tone.

“If circumstances were different, I would have sealed that little fatty's cultivation base myself and banished him far away; if not outright killed him. But you must consider the circumstances. A weapon isn't inherently good or evil. It is the will of the wielder that shapes it.” replied Old Man Zhu in a serious tone highly uncharacteristic of his usual style.

The Great Elder Shi still appeared unconvinced but wavered a bit, with a frown on his face. Looking at the expression Old man Zhu replied.

“The cumulative cost of the divination of Senior Dreamer's divination in terms of cultivation base exceed three major realms and two minor realms. He reduced his formidable cultivation base from peak Spirit Transformation to Early Core Formation. That is not a laughing matter. Furthermore, the Devils and Demons have been unnaturally cooperative this time around considering our past history. Surely their own seers urged them to be co-operative.”

There was a few breaths worth few silence before Old Man Zhu further revealed his speculations.

“Brother Shi, have you ever wondered why there are so many exceptional anomalies in this present generation? A mortal street urchin achieves sword intent under five decades with a Core Formation Cultivation base. A moody ex-slave, who has an infernal hound as a foster mother no less, achieves battle prowess of a late Nascent Spirit Elder under a century?' Old Man Zhu then passionately continued.

“A random little fatty is suspected having the dreaded and feared heart of slaughter; and he just happens to have a fortunate encounter in the mortal world bestowing him with a rather robust Body Refining Technique? Not to mention the excessively favorable harvests in terms of disciples and resources we had this generation. And even the spies in other sects bring us news of unprecedented qualitative growth.”

“Maybe one of those in a few generations could be chalked up as a coincidence. But all of these omens in a single generation? Brother Shi, remember that a candle burns the brightest before being extinguished.” Old Man Zhu concluded his discourse as he awaited Great Elder Shi's response.

Great Elder Shi seemed conflicted for a bit, before he seemingly acquiesced and said.

“Fine Brother Zhu. The Karmic Shadow is indeed worrying. While I may regret it in future, what request do you exactly have of me?”

Old Man Zhu had an obsessed glint in his eyes as he said.

“I want you to help the little monster grow as quickly as possible, in absolute secrecy.”