CHAPTER 858: TRAINING

Fifteen days later.

During the journey toward the Fallen Star Cluster, the activities were naturally limited inside the vessel. However, with how large it was and with the many facilities provided to support both passengers and crew, no one would feel bored or lack things to do.

At this moment, Aldrian was inside one of the vessel’s special rooms. No, calling it a room would be an understatement; it was a training hall, spacious and equipped with numerous training facilities.

Many devices here were designed to help cultivators maintain their fitness. There was even an area where they could spar using techniques at the pseudo-immortal establishment stage. The area was protected by a strong barrier formation, allowing cultivators to use their techniques without worrying about damaging the vessel’s hull.

However, at this time, the place that was usually filled with activity was quite calm. The only people present in this vast hall were a few figures in the sparring area. Aldrian stood in the middle, surrounded by several others.

All the leaders of the major territories of the Aster Empire stood in various positions around him. Their serious expressions showed their focus and concentration on what was about to begin.

Aldrian closed his eyes, and after a few moments, he opened them before speaking.

"Start."

The moment he said that, several figures vanished from where they stood and appeared right beside him. King Durand, King Herman, and Sect Leader Ryu positioned themselves around Aldrian, each using their techniques to try to land a direct hit.

They targeted his chest, head, and feet. There was no room to escape, and their speed was truly remarkable, which was not surprising, as all three were peak emperor stage cultivators.

But in Aldrian’s sight, they moved incredibly slow. Before their attacks could reach him, he blocked them effortlessly with his hands and feet. As if anticipating that reaction, the three shifted tactics and tried to lock his movements by grabbing his limbs.

From afar, Sect Master Kang dashed forward at his fastest speed, channeling his fist technique. His strike rapidly closed in on Aldrian. Not only that, but elsewhere, Sect Master Baek unleashed her illusion technique toward him. As if that were not enough, from another direction, King Ladwin fired an arrow straight at Aldrian.

Aldrian was attacked from all sides, and his position was restricted as three of them held his limbs.

However, Aldrian only smiled as he quickly moved his hand, swinging King Durand toward the incoming Sect Master Kang. He also swung his other arm, where Sect Master Ryu was holding on, using him as a shield to block the incoming arrow from King Ladwin.

Seeing that Aldrian intended to use their comrades’ bodies to block the attacks, Sect Master Kang immediately canceled his technique, while King Ladwin redirected his arrow with his wind laws.

But then, Sect Master Kang continued his charge toward Aldrian, and the arrow curved back, flying toward Aldrian once more. King Ladwin was using his wind laws again to control the arrow’s trajectory.

The three figures restraining Aldrian’s movements did not release their grip. Instead, they tightened it even further.

Aldrian raised an eyebrow, sensing that three more figures had finally made their move. King Douwin and Venerable Karma Seeker were unleashing their techniques.

King Douwin leapt forward, swinging his giant hammer, while Venerable Karma Seeker activated his sealing art. A massive palm imbued with the symbol of "seal" surged toward Aldrian. If it struck him, he would lose all ability to use his techniques or perceive anything. Every one of his senses and his energy would be sealed.

King Raymond, who stood not far from Pope Claudius, also unleashed his lightning attack. Purple-white strands of lightning shot out from his palm, forming a long dragon-shaped current that roared toward Aldrian. The power it released was truly terrifying, almost reaching the level of a pseudo-immortal foundation stage attack.

As for Pope Claudius, he remained in place, casting support techniques on King Raymond and King Ladwin. They were responsible for long-range attacks and support, along with Sect Master Baek.

They watched as their combined attacks closed in on Aldrian, whose movements were hindered by the three people clinging to him. Sect Master Kang had already drawn back his fist, ready to strike as he stood right in front of Aldrian.

Aldrian, seeing this, thought that their strategy seemed to involve sacrificing three of their comrades to restrain his movements so their techniques could hit.

However, despite the disadvantageous situation Aldrian was in, he smiled instead. With his overwhelming strength, he rotated his body, sweeping both of his arms that were being held by two people. The powerful motion lifted them off the ground. King Herman, who was holding onto his leg, could no longer restrain him.

Aldrian stomped hard, sending King Herman flying, while the two caught in his arms were thrown toward the incoming attacks. Sect Master Ryu’s body collided with the incoming fist from Sect Master Kang, causing Sect Master Kang to lose his balance and strike the floor instead. King Durand’s body swept through the path of the arrow, knocking it off course and sending it toward King Douwin.

King Douwin was forced to cancel his attack and defend himself from the redirected arrow. It struck his hammer with a loud impact, pushing him back several dozen meters. As for the sealing technique from Venerable Karma Seeker, Aldrian still held King Herman’s body, which was struck by it instead.

Venerable Karma Seeker tried to unleash another technique, but Aldrian hurled Sect Master Ryu’s body toward him, forcing him to evade. His eyes widened when he realized Aldrian had already appeared right in front of Sect Master Baek.

Aldrian began his counterattack!

Sect Master Baek was slightly stunned by Aldrian’s speed as he suddenly appeared before her. Her illusion technique seemed to have no effect at all, so she decided to switch to another attack. She stomped her feet, and a strong gust of wind shot toward Aldrian’s legs. But Aldrian ignored it and simply kicked the wind apart, splitting it in two.

Sect Master Baek had no time to react, as Aldrian was already right in front of her. He swept her legs with a quick motion, making her lose balance before he gently touched her forehead.

Aldrian did not stop there. He immediately directed two fingers toward Venerable Karma Seeker, who seemed to be preparing a surprise attack. From Aldrian’s fingertips, a surge of wind erupted, forming a powerful force that shot straight at him at a speed even he struggled to follow.

Venerable Karma Seeker was forced to evade and narrowly avoided the attack. The moment he regained his footing, Aldrian was already in front of King Raymond, launching his next assault. King Raymond tried to defend, but he was powerless. With just a flick of Aldrian’s hand, a powerful gust struck his forehead, shattering his defense.

Aldrian did not stop as he pointed his finger at Pope Claudius, who still seemed slightly shocked, and released another wind technique. The strong wind struck the pope’s body, sending him flying. Aldrian then did the same to Venerable Karma Seeker, throwing him back as well. In fact, Aldrian swept his attack in all directions to ensure that everyone was knocked away.

There was a brief moment of silence before Sect Master Kang shouted,"Damn! We almost had it—ah, I’m sorry, Your Majesty, for my words."

Aldrian smiled. "Don’t mind it. Your teamwork has improved, and it feels much more natural now. Even someone at middle pseudo-immortal foundation could be trapped and killed by your combined attack, especially if Pope Claudius and Venerable Karma Seeker joins in, since they are the strongest among you"

They had been training to strengthen their coordination as a team during this journey. The purpose of this sparring was not to defeat Aldrian, but to learn how to fight together against a far stronger opponent when the time came.

They had never trained together before this journey, for obvious reasons—their past differences. Even after the unification of the territories into the Aster Empire, they had never considered training like this, as they simply did not have the time.

That was why Aldrian proposed this training: to synchronize their different fighting styles and strengthen their teamwork. In the coming war, their coordination would prove invaluable and could even keep them alive should certain circumstances arise.

"It’s much better than yesterday, when none of you could restrict my movements. This time, I’m impressed by your resilience in holding my limbs to hinder me. That was the same as sacrificing your bodies for the others," Aldrian said to the three figures who had restrained him earlier.

"And the others also did their part well. This is really good progress. We’ll end it here for now and continue tomorrow."

"Yes, Your Majesty," they all replied in unison before beginning to leave. Venerable Karma Seeker assisted King Herman in dispelling the sealing technique that had struck him earlier. But before they could all exit the hall—

"Your Holiness, may you stay here for a while? There is something I want to ask."

Pope Claudius suddenly received Aldrian’s voice transmission, leaving him momentarily stunned. He stopped in his tracks, causing King Raymond beside him to raise an eyebrow.

"What is it, Your Holiness?" he asked.

"It’s nothing. You may go ahead. I suddenly remembered something I wish to say to His Majesty," Pope Claudius replied.

King Raymond looked confused but decided not to pry into someone else’s business, so he simply nodded and left.

Once the others had gone, leaving only Pope Claudius and Aldrian in the training hall, the pope turned to face him.

"Your Majesty," he greeted, to which Aldrian responded with a nod.

"My apologies for suddenly asking Your Holiness to stay, and also for the question I wish to ask."

"What is it, Your Majesty? If it’s something I can answer, I will, of course, do so," Pope Claudius replied.

Aldrian nodded. "Do you have something troubling your mind, Your Holiness? All this time, I’ve felt that you seem to be carrying something heavy in your thoughts, and it has affected your focus. If there is a problem, and you don’t mind sharing it with me, I would gladly listen. Perhaps I could help, Your Holiness."

Hearing that, Pope Claudius’s heart skipped a beat.