254. Cautionary Example
Admiral Aurelio Barragan had always assumed that Inspector Kane was sent by the Martial Abbey to assist in Florida.
Now, however, it seemed like things weren't quite as he had imagined.
The four abbey priests stormed in, adopting postures that suggested they were demanding someone be handed over to them.
"Where is he?!" Reverend Thompson took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger.
Finally returned.
If he didn't teach John Kane a lesson today, all these years spent cultivating his Redeemed Spirit would be for nothing.
The other abbey priests noticed Senior Brother Thompson's anger but made no attempt to dissuade him.
What do prodigies fear most? Falling before they've fully realized their potential.
Young people like him were typically proud and stubborn, refusing to listen to advice. Now that he'd caught Fox Wonderland's attention, he indeed should receive some proper guidance—even if harsh, it was better than everyone silently lamenting after something truly terrible happened.
Young people of his caliber were typically proud and stubborn, rejecting advice from others. Now that he had caught Fox Wonderland's attention, he truly needed proper guidance—harsh though it might be, this was preferable to everyone's silent regret after a genuine tragedy occurred.
"He... he went home." Aurelio Barragan's thin frame was surrounded by the priests, and he swallowed nervously before pointing toward the courtyard.
Before he could finish speaking, a Redeemed Spirit seized him and flew him directly to Courtyard A.
The three abbey priests watched as Senior Brother Thompson summoned his Redeemed Spirit, exchanging rueful smiles and shaking their heads before following after him.
Was that really necessary? The young man had just returned—it wasn't as if he was about to flee again.
...
Courtyard A.
Clutching the gold cross, I sat motionless on the bed, rigid as a statue.
I had just opened my status panel when a soft knock came at the door.
I opened my eyes and waved my hand, using my energy to push the door open.
I saw Aurelio Barragan standing weakly at the doorway. Behind him loomed a Redeemed Spirit with its hands clasped behind its back and two dense, wispy wings extending from its body.
Shortly after, three more figures in black robes entered the courtyard.
Drawn to the commotion, a number of floating Redeemed Spirits from around Courtyard A congregated, lining up silently to observe the unfolding drama.
"..."
I furrowed my brow as I studied the doorway, confusion washing over me.
What is going on?
"Brother Kane, was your trip to Florida interesting?" Calvin Thompson asked, forcing a smile.
I glanced at the numbers on my status panel and nodded. "It was fine."
"Will you go again?" Thompson asked, his eye twitching twice as the other three abbey priests reluctantly stepped forward.
"It depends on the situation." I sensed something was off but nodded slightly anyway.
My decision to return would depend primarily on whether I found anything there worth pursuing.
Hearing this, all the abbey priests unconsciously cleared their throats: "Ahem."
As expected, Thompson's expression shifted subtly as he walked directly to the young man's side.
His hand clenched, and his breathing quickened.
"Oh my."
The row of Redeemed Spirits floating outside perked up with heightened interest; it had been ages since they'd witnessed Old Fox Thompson spring into action.
The abbey priests exchanged glances, and couldn't help wanting to offer a word of advice.
A lesson was necessary, but they had to be careful not to excessively wound the young man's pride.
"Brother Kane." With all eyes on him, Calvin Thompson forced a stiff smile and gently patted my shoulder, speaking earnestly. "Indulge me for a moment. The world may be vast—but what true significance do the Twenty Five States hold? You must prioritize your training and curb your wanderlust."
"After forging a Golden Vessel and reaching the Fifth realm, you'll have tens of thousands of years of life ahead of you. What pleasures couldn't you enjoy then? What beautiful scenery couldn't you see? Why rush now?"
"Do you understand?" Thompson asked, forcing his smile to appear more benevolent despite his obvious discomfort.
"..."
I felt an instinctive urge to slap away that old face, my fingers twitching with restraint as I held myself back.
"Look, even though you went to Florida, what did you accomplish besides wasting time?" Thompson asked with strained patience.
Aurelio suddenly raised his head cautiously: "He killed two Vampire Kings and cleared Florida of all vampires..."
Hearing this, he suddenly realized something. The Martial Abbey had no idea of Inspector Kane's true strength.
"Shut up! What nonsense are you spouting? He's just a Seeker of Redeemer..." Calvin Thompson whipped his head around and fixed Aurelio with an icy glare.
"Inspector Kane's body tempering is unmatched, towering over all others in New Terra. This is the true path that a Seeker of Redeemer should follow." As he spoke, Aurelio Barragan's demeanor shifted to one of surprising determination.
More than ten Redeemed Spirits hovered in the courtyard, all falling into complete silence.
They were the highest-level Seekers of Redeemer in New Terra. Now, a mere Admiral from Florida—a lower-realm Seeker of Redeemer—was lecturing them on the true path of Redeemed Spirit training.
Several Redeemed Spirits began rolling up their sleeves, preparing for confrontation.
The chubby black-robed abbey priest strode into the room and shot Thompson a withering glare—Is this how the old fox teaches someone a lesson? Utterly useless!
He turned his gaze toward Aurelio and asked, "You said Inspector Kane cleared Florida of vampires? How exactly did he do this... with body tempering methods?"
This reminder finally jolted the others back to their senses.
The Florida incident was even harder to grasp than understanding the true path of Redeemed Spirits.
"Who says Seekers of Redeemer have weak physical bodies? Inspector Kane needed no crystal embryo, didn't even call upon the energies of heaven and earth—with just his bare fists, he beat a Vampire King to death."
Aurelio Barragan swept his gaze across everyone; having witnessed it firsthand, he spoke with unwavering confidence.
Even this group of advanced Seekers of Redeemer was momentarily stunned.
They couldn't even begin to visualize the scene he described.
Not just warriors—even vampires relied on their vampiric energy. Using just physical strength?
"You're practicing body tempering techniques as well?!" Thompson's smile instantly vanished, replaced by visible agitation.
What a waste! Such a terrible waste!
He had thought John Kane achieving Seeker of Redeemer at such a young age was already an earth-shattering talent, but never imagined the man was cultivating both physical body and Redeemed Spirit simultaneously.
Why not cultivate a crystal Infant too while you're at it?! If this time had been used for Redeemed Spirit cultivation, perhaps he could have already begun forming a golden body.
"How utterly foolish! How can you squander your potential like this?" Thompson pounded his chest in frustration.
"Well..." I opened my hand, showing him the gold cross.
Upon seeing this, Thompson froze momentarily, then shouted at the others: "Everyone out! You're interfering with his training!"
Turning back, he found me staring silently at him.
Calvin Thompson clicked his tongue and reluctantly said, "I'll leave too. Focus on your training. If you need anything, just ask—or help yourself from the Abbey Repository."
Everyone exited the room, gently closing the door behind them.
Walking to the edge of Courtyard A, Thompson finally stopped and looked back with a dazed expression. "They say the creator is fair. We're all mortal bodies born of parents, so why is there such a vast difference?"
While others struggled with arduous training, the young man breezed through without bottlenecks and still had ample energy to pursue and excel at other disciplines.
"Brother Thompson, you shouldn't feel you were wrong," the chubby abbey priest consoled. "Remember, New Terra has produced such a prodigy before. Senior Brother Robert Fairweather condensed his crystal core at twenty, nurtured spirit with core at twenty-six, and began refining his golden body at forty."
At the mention of this name, everyone fell silent.
"Now, at three thousand nine hundred years old, he still guards the golden body manuals in the Abbey Repository—dazed and confused—waiting for the day his Redeemed Spirit finally dissipates."
"Brother Kane should heed his story as a cautionary example..."