Kiel's steps regained their perpetual spirit after calming himself. He looked at the unreachable stars to set his mind straight, but it couldn't be done so quickly this time.

"I hurt my sister outside of combat."

"There was nothing you could have done to help her recover her composure."

"I did."

"..." Ouroboros could not refute his claims.

"It was unnerving..." Kiel added.

"You did it for her own good, and if you genuinely wish to make it up to her, then you know what you need to do... though what you have in mind is not advisable."

Kiel nodded.

Moving as if he was the wind, Kiel soon reached the very edge of the Forest; he smiled as he touched the trunk of a tree, extending himself to it to ensure its integrity.

Taking in deep breaths, Kiel gathered his strength and forced his body to go beyond its limits; his veins began to feel like it was about to burst, and blood dripped down his nostrils and eyes.

He had already suffered today, his body exhausted, but Kiel hardly cared for any of that. His soul, his essence of being, and his intent all came exploding at the same time.

He breathed out a red mist, whispering, "Heaven and Hell Palms — Fifth Step Mastery of the Palm."

At that instant, when the intent reached his hand into the tree, Kiel's right hand imploded. His meridians and veins burst, "Ugh!"

Even Kiel couldn't help reacting to the pain.

The tree trembled but was not destroyed, and when Kiel's palms were retracted, a smoldering Bloody Palm Imprint was carved on the tree's surface.

He nodded in satisfaction, followed by his chest caving in and litters of blood escaping his every orifice.

Kiel felt like his body was being turned inside out. The intent he called upon wasn't the sharp and domineering spear but palm pressure.

It spared him from being lacerated, but Kiel felt like he was about to implode, so using his fingers, he punctured three acupoints near the heart and the principal organs.

His body felt like it was burning from the inside as though magma was clawing its way out of Kiel's throat as he spat out boiling blood.

Kiel collapsed; his ragged flesh crossed the borders of insanity long ago.

But, he picked himself back up, asking, "This... should be enough... right?"

"Yes."

With Ouroboros' confirmation, Kiel coated his remaining left hand with Spear Energy to carve out the handprint he made.

Only the sharpness of his intent helped in cutting the area he struck. There was no strength behind his movement. There was nothing left for him to give.

But, he got it after a long process.

Instead of keeping it inside the Dimensional Bangle, Kiel carried it with him. Though he wanted to place it inside the bangle, he had no Spirit Energy to use the Dimensional Bangle.

Kiel left for Lily Town with his bloody image. His steps were unorganized, tiny and the dripping blood created a trail. Ouroboros' existence kept his breathing going, and only with determination could he keep his feet functioning.

He continued walking and walking until he reached the Town Lord's gates. Kiel was on the other side of the road as he looked over the gates.

Staring at the mansion beyond, Kiel moved and then went over the walls. It was already night, but the Town Lord's Manor was still busy and the entire city. Shouting could be heard from afar; combat ensued.

Kiel, however, did not care about this as he walked over to one of the posted guards.

"Please... tell the disciples of the... Celestial Phoenix Mountain that... my Sister, Ame... requires their help."

"Boy, what nonsense are you talking about? Leave now or— me-medic! Someone, call the medic!" the posted guard was tasked with keeping anyone from approaching the Manor, but even he could not keep himself from crying out to help a boy walking out of the darkness caked in blood.

***

He rushed into the medical facility of the Manor to be checked.

He was in pain, but his words remained the same before. His intention was to meet the disciples of the Celestial Phoenix Mountain.

"I... need to talk... to them... about Ame..." he repeatedly pleaded despite his injuries.

He would repeat to them until the guards could no longer just hold him down and had to promise him that they would relay his words to them; only then did he allow the old Physician to examine his condition.

Kiel did not fight back, and in the end, the examination ended with nothing to show for. Kiel was fine despite all the blood that he had lost.

The old Physician even doubted if it was his blood, to begin with, but Kiel simply answered, "My injuries aren't physical. They are internal, my meridians are ruptured, and my veins damaged." he explained.

"Then that is worst!"

"No, I will be fine."

"You will die..."

"I will be fine."

"But..."

"I am fine."

"...okay."

The aged Physician averted his gaze from Kiel's.

"I wish to rest; please leave me." he requested.

"...Yes." the old Physician didn't have the heart to say otherwise, 'I'm too old for this.'

He said as he walked out of the door with the parting words, "Boy... I do not want to help you because you scare me, but... if you need my help, you can always find me."

Kiel looked at the old man and nodded, "Thank you."

The old Physician had finally left the medical hall; he was now smiling with odd satisfaction.

Now alone, Kiel chose to lie on the blood soaked bed. He watched the white ceiling, and finally, he closed his eyes to start his recovery.

"You stopped the usage of the Incomplete Fifth Step Level Mastery of Palm Energy in time. It didn't cause me much damage. With this and forcing the Spear Heart out of Horus' system, you sustained a massive internal injury… this will take you ten years of recuperation to heal."

"A fair penance to pay for my arrogance," Kiel answered.

"This too is living, I suppose." The Ouroboros said.

If he had Spirit Energy, Kiel would be able to steady his body and even heal up in a manner of five years.

"You could summon Spirit Energy anytime you want. This could have all been avoided if you had just called upon its help. "

What Ourorboros spoke of was the truth.

However, Kiel still didn't plan on using Spirit Energy. By this point, he had no reason not to, but he kept at it nonetheless.

He did not even notice how much of a problem this would post to him, but Kiel did not mind. His principles would remain with him; he had no intention of dipping his pinky into the sea of cultivation.

'If I let even a sliver of Spirit Energy in my body… I would soon be dragged back into the life of a cultivator. A life far from the ordinary, a path that is filled with blood and suffering.' Kiel would need a reason as to why he would return.

"I thought you abandoned the thought of fighting against the entropy of life?"

'I did, but that does not entail allowing myself to go according to the flow of its will. I chose to follow my own path, and I will follow it even if it hurts... it is stubbornness, as I recall.'

"Stubbornness indeed."

Aspiration, wishes, a dream, or even passing through may drive him to cultivate once more, but he saw no reason why he would need power.

"The Maidens of the Celestial Phoenix Mountain allowed you to meet them."

A maid awakened Kiel. His eyes opened, and then, he saw the look of horror the maiden had looking at him.

"A-are you okay?" she asked before she could even think what to say.

With a groan, Kiel got up and hopped off the bed. His entire body ached, but with a sharp breath, he nodded, "I am, please lead the way."

Bloodied and holding a strange imprint, Kiel felt everyone's eyes stabbing into his skin. He should feel something, yet he didn't bother allowing them to bother him.

Kiel chose to look around and sensed three pairs of eyes in the shadows, observing his every movement. He ignored them, for their hostility was minimal.

"We're here." the maid said.

"Thank you." Kiel extended her gratitude and then his hand.

Before the maid could say anything, Kiel had already pushed open the door.

Inside, there were two women, the one with the Qipao and robes. They were looking at Kiel; both carried an odd expression seeing his current state.

"How are you still alive?" the one in the Qipao blurted out her thoughts.

Kiel looked at her with a tilted head, "It's because I am me."

The lady in the Qipao's eyebrows twitched, "All that blood, and you're walking fine. And I see not a single scratch on you. Did you use your sister's name and pull this stunt to get our attention?"

"All my injuries are internal, and I don't care to react to your petty provocation." Kiel answered and took a step forward, "Anyway, I have important matters to discuss."

The one in the Qipao creased her brows as she watched Kiel take a step inside while disregarding any form of seniority or respect, "Quite brave, aren't you? For you to act so arrogantly and enter without regard, how admirable."

The one in the Qipao was clearly incensed. She didn't like Kiel, not one bit.

Kiel realized what he had done and quickly slightly lowered his head to apologize, "Oh, I did not mean to do such a thing… it appears that I am quite agitated. I apologize for my rudeness."