IdleYoungMaster

Chapter 283: Nothing Bad?

The past ten years helped me settle down. The 99,999 lives in the Heart Demon Tribulation may not have affected me much, but the experience is still there. The darkness I experienced inside IX resurfaced due to it.

I fully accepted it now.

Everyone present at the conference has a darkness of their own. It showed during our discussions. It is precisely because they came to terms with it that they became their current selves.

Kiana herself used to say it. She fought for all that is beautiful, but it doesn’t mean she disregarded/forgotten the ugly ones. The bad strengthens the good, just as much as there is despair before hope.

Worries, trauma, obsessions…

They are part of who we are.

This realization allowed me to reach the pinnacle of Divine Sword. An opportunity is all it takes to reach the next level, Karmic Severance Sword. I planned to reach it before attempting to pierce the ‘fog’ of the “Past”, the one made by Fuli.

It is necessary not only because of Blade Mantra, but also to revert time and resurrect those who needed to be resurrected. Two things, one problem.

Anyways, there is still a lot of time left. 1,943 years is not a lot for the long-lived species outside, but it is more than enough for Earth to get prepared. The high grade Spirit Roots and my Partners can become high-level cultivators at this rate (i.e., minimum of Divine Transformation Realm). I am also looking forward to the sight of thousands of Nascent Soul Realm practitioners.

Buzz-!

Soon, I arrived at my first stop. The crackling of thunder never stopped on this mountain peak. Little did everyone know, it is but a projection from another spatial layer.

Hum-!

I tore a slit onto the void and stepped inside. 

Crackle-!

Bam-!

I am greeted by two lightning cages clashing. One tried to disrupt the absurdly strong magnetic field of the latter. The two people fighting knew that breaking the attraction and repulsion of the lightning cages can decide the winner. It is no longer in the realm of physics but concept itself!

Boom-!

One of the cages shattered, leaving the remaining one to suppress the loser. Moments later, it is dispelled.

“Shishou.”

Mei’s lightning fast teleportation did not startle me. Her swift bow did. Her clothes are the same school uniform from decades ago. Its holding power… is not good.

“Tsk.”

Queen Mei came from behind. She inherited Mei’s Herrscher Battlesuit. Immediately, I asked her something.

“Does it not bother you wearing those high heels?”

“Hum..? I am not bothered by it.”

I turned back to look at Mei, only to see her change into the exact same Battlesuit. Two identical Mei appeared.

Excuse me..?

Her eyes sparkled as if she wanted to be noticed.

“It looks good on the two of you. Giving its drawings to you is a worth-while effort.”

As expected, Mei received the praise very well. 

Just as we were talking about some things, a puddle of multi-colored ink emerged on the space we stood on. It quickly formed a human silhouette… Griseo.

“Greetings, teacher.”

She spoke as she did an elegant bow.

“Teacher..? Shishou, is she…”

“Um. She is also my student.”

Griseo’s calm pupils glanced at Mei. 

“Greetings, Senior.”

For some reason, I heard Queen Mei’s exasperated sigh. Mei and Griseo seemed fine on the surface, so it shouldn't be like that... maybe.

“Greetings. If you face any problems, you can consult me.”

“En. I will trouble you, Senior.”

Nothing bad happened. I led the discussion for some time before leaving. This query session took an entire week. My two students had a lot of questions to ask.

Hum-!

I stepped onto the real world once again. The date showed May 17, 2075. Out of curiosity, I checked the current census of immortal cultivators within the Federation’s database. Theresa’s account helped a lot in this regard.

======

Qi Refining: 4,900,200,093

Foundation Establishment: 780,001,500

Purple Mansion Realm: 50,890

Golden Core Realm: 2

Nascent Soul Realm: 21

Divine Transformation Realm: 1

=====

The current data matched the statistics. Around 30% to 40% of the populace are immortal cultivators. Out of these populations, less than 5% have middle grade spirit roots. The rest are low grade spirit roots.

The two people at the Golden Core Realm are the high grade Spirit Roots, Welt Yang and Chen Tianwu.

It is inevitable that the majority will be stuck at Qi Refining. The luckier ones can break through Foundation Establishment. Only the middle grade spirit roots can break the barrier to the Purple Mansion Realm. With Blade Mantra and the Honkai, the rate of breakthroughs are larger than expected. Still, this difficulty persists.

This is the truth of immortal cultivation. Every major realm is a chasm. It is inevitable most would perish before the two-thousand year deadline is reached. The Purple Mansion Realm, with 1,500 years of lifespan at minimum, is their sole option to reach the next era.

The bright side is Earth’s growing population. Living spaces and resources are not a problem. Creating artificial planets from dwarf stars is not a big deal. So long as humans reproduce, the possibility of having spirit roots is there.

Moreover, we still have the Previous Era geniuses. I have a strong feeling Vill-V and Mobius have a lot of ideas to increase the rates of spirit roots. I, myself, have a lot of solutions to it. Only, they are resource-extensive. It’s better to have them study it along with Imaginary and Quantum Energy.

The basis of it comes from my capability of bringing them back. 

Hum-!

Before I could enter Kiana’s residence, she already opened the door. Her narrowed eyes sent warning signals in my mind.

“What did you do with aunt Theresa?”

…

Oops.

“I… didn’t do anything bad.”

“I never told you it was bad?”

“Remember the Tao Body awakening we did? Aunt Theresa’s situation is similar to mine…”

I explained the ins and outs of Theresa’s evolution to “Mega Theresa”.

“She drank your blood…”

Kiana fell silent for a while.

“I feel it doesn’t end there.”

“That’s the only thing we did.”

“No. I mean… Aunt is acting strange whenever you are mentioned.”

Moon…

Ultimate grade Spirit Roots…

Ten Lights Immortal Physique…

…and Nine Dragons Primordial Universe Body.

I think I got it.

It’s bad news.

Chapter 282: Formlessness

What constitutes the universe?

It is a question asked countless people—geniuses and mundane alike—over the span of aeons. The answer was rather simple:

Imaginary Tree.

Outside the solar system, it was Genius Society #1, Zandar One Kuwambara who founded the Imaginary Tree Theory. Inside the solar system, it was Otto Apocalypse who did so.

The Imaginary Tree is the ‘image’ of this world, of this universe. It splits countless smaller worlds, spanning from planets to star systems, in branches. These branches signify the ‘possibilities’ each world possesses. At their ends lay the leaves. These leaves are the mark—outcomes—upon treading a certain branch.

That is as far as the knowledge from the game goes. The Divine Transformation Realm granted a unique ‘status’. It is the proof of being a high-dimensional being. This ‘status’ allowed me to see more than what meets the eye.

For every ‘world’, there is only one ‘Present’. It is the unshakeable, most unique branch out of them all. The rest of the branches merely exist as ‘reflections’ once the ‘Present’ is established.

Here comes the interesting part.

The temporal dimension of this world, when viewed using immortal cultivation, has flaws. A fog obscures them, interrupting the ‘Past’ and ‘Future’ to act according to the standards of immortal cultivation. I used to divine using the ‘Present’ timeframe back then. It worked more like a probability study and less of ‘divination’ itself.

The Divine Transformation Realm changes that. I attempted to peer through the fog and found a shocking result.

The fog is a cover.

Think of the Matrix, a simulation of the real world. It mimics the laws and phenomena of the real world. Only, it is a world inside a computer.

What was simulated by the cover are the Past and Future. Two entities took root of the Past and Future. They simulated the ‘Past’ and ‘Future’ with their powers.

Fuli, of the Remembrance Path, collects memories and establishes them as the “Past”.

Nous, of the Erudition Path, extrapolates all possibilities of the world and anchors them as the “Future”. 

This ‘cover’ naturally affected the Imaginary Tree. It is that far-fetching.

My discovery ended there. I haven’t tried ‘tearing’ the cover of the “Past” yet. I didn’t want to provoke any potential enemies. It is enough to see the Imaginary Tree’s ‘true’ situation.

The reason why the Imaginary Tree is very crucial is tied to Blade Mantra’s next level.

“Formlessness.”

I uttered its name. Everyone remained engrossed with our findings. Nobody paid attention to the bask of golden glow around us.

Ten years.

That was how long we worked on Blade Mantra 3.0. Boosted by the seventh level Dao of Enlightenment, one idea clashed after another. What should have taken hundreds of years only took ten.

Hum-!

A clear roar came from my heart.

{Tao Heart: Sixth level (Divine Sword, Breakthrough Requirements Met)}

The completed Blade Mantra 3.0 benefitted us a lot. We couldn’t use it yet, but being its pioneers allowed for self-retrospection. This conference evolved from practical terms to the philosophy of life itself. That is how the Tao Heart is—metaphysical and philosophical.

“Cutting off one’s karma… Never have I expected to be able to do so.”

“There is the famous Divination Commission in Xianzhou Alliance. They won’t be able to track your movements, Miss Shushang.”

I looked at Shenzhou’s “Pride” on my right. Her attire remains the same as her Jade Knight Battlesuit. Her shorter stature made the depths of her weapons more visible.

“Why does it feel like you are expecting me to have trouble?”

“Is it not? The adventures in the martial world are troublesome, much more the murky waters of the immortal world.”

“That’s true…”

I managed to gaslight… ahem, point out the truths.

“Items that can help in karma isolation are extremely rare. Comprehending the Blade Mantra prior to the Void Refinement Realm breakthrough is extremely helpful.”

Eminence, True Form, Heart Intention, and Formlessness. These are the realms present in Blade Mantra 3.0. 

Formlessness utilizes the stigma space born from the user. The first step requires cutting off the stigma space from the imaginary space, and then placing it inside the user. The seventh level Tao Heart will act as its anchor, preventing its disappearance.

Through this, a special inner space will be formed. It has two functions: to contain an Authority born from the Tree and grant a high status. 

This Authority is the same authority held by Aeons.

Everyone who comprehends Formlessness will possess the capabilities of an Aeon.

The Imaginary Tree is the ‘world’. Aeons are its administrators. Authorities are the ‘empty slots’ in which one can achieve Aeonhood.

Formlessness allows one to occupy an empty slot. However, the ‘control’ over the Authority must be exercised. The progress bar starts from 1%, with 100% signifying complete control, the level where an Aeon is at. Moreover, progress depends on the anchor’s level. An eighth level Tao Heart is needed to move beyond 60%.

Nonetheless, reaching this 1% allows one to inherit the characteristics of Aeons—their karma being detached from the world. It is bound to be of great assistance in the Void Refinement and Dao Integration Realm. The former is involved with karma isolation. The latter is involved with the Authorities themselves. 

They are flawed, akin to the Herrscher Cores I inherited, but they helped a lot in comprehending its Dao equivalent. The Dao of Ice and Miracles coming from my possession of Herrscher Cores of Ice and Origin is the living proof.

All of this…

They are under the condition of piercing through the simulated “Past” and “Future”. A perfect grasp of the temporal dimensions and the Imaginary Tree is necessary to attain Formlessness.

“What if we encounter a problem?”

Suddenly, Shushang raised a question.

“If… If there is a problem beyond the covers you spoke of…”

“We’ll fix it. If we cannot benefit from it, then the next generation’s lucky.”

“A legacy.”

“That’s right. Just like the Empyrean’s original intention in creating the Blade Mantra.”

In the corner of my sight, I saw Senti’s lips curl up.

“Do you want more praise? We won’t mind seeing your nose held high, Senti.”

“I don’t need that.” Senti opened her eyes and stared right at me. “One is enough. She won’t be able to handle more.”

Fu Hua’s eyelashes trembled. Her desperate attempt in pretending to contemplate almost sent me laughing.

“Will you spread this knowledge to the universe?”

Bianka was the fifth one to awaken. Her query earned an answer instantly.

“Yes. Someday.”

The two Xuanyuans woke up at the same time.

“That day…”

“We’ll live to see it.”

Hei Xuanyuan disposed of Ji Xuanyuan's doubts. Her temperament, no longer unruly, transformed into a sharp sword.

“Then, this marks the end of it. Thanks for the assistance, Fellow Daoists.”

The First Sword Conference ended today.

*****

A/N: The entire thing about the Imaginary Tree is made from the implied canon details. For example, in HSR 3.7, it is revealed that Fuli collects memories. Herta metaphorically compared it to the Past. Nous "anchors" future events to lead the universe to the outcome it saw, being metaphorically compared to the Future. In short, Fuli manages the Past with memories while Nous creates "canon events" (Instances) for time to move forward to the future.

Christmas Extra: Holiday Dungeon

All of a sudden, I woke up inside a Bubble World. Its fluctuations and differences from the real world is undeniable.

Thinking of the ones who can make this prank, I narrowed it down to one.

It’s the naughty Tuna.

After a brief sigh, I decided to play along with her whims. I chose not to use my divine consciousness. 

I looked around and saw a huge gingerbread house standing in the distance. I recalled the nature of Bubble Worlds. They are ‘possibilities’ given form. At first, they are merely ‘worlds’ discarded by the Imaginary Tree. Later development allowed immortal cultivators to ‘create’ Bubble Worlds to simulate the future.

Kiana has the power of the Cocoon. It is a trifle to use this application.

A Bubble World created by the naughty Tuna…

I have a feeling as to what it is.

I stepped inside the gingerbread house. What greeted me was a hallway made of brown gingerbread. A signboard held by a candy cane stood tall.

“Shi Tian’s exclusive dungeon. Satisfy the… stage requirement to pass through.”

I eyed the barely recognizable crossed-out word between “the” and “stage”. It read: desires.

…

I moved forward with the mentality of trying out. I reached the “stage requirement” sooner than I thought.

The gingerbread corridor turned into a snowy backdrop. Upon closer look, the ‘snow’ turned out to be icing. Sirin squatted down in the distance. Her body shivered nonstop.

I looked at her speechlessly. She wore a bikini Santa outfit. Only her bust and hips are covered. There is also a pair of white and red armbands near her shoulder. The ‘Santa Hat’ drooped low atop her head.

No wonder she felt cold.

The moment her golden pupils saw me, her face gave a beaming smile. 

Rattle-!

The golden bell on her chest rattled as she… crawled at my spot.

“Master, I feel so cold!”

“...”

I didn’t say a word. I placed both my hands underneath her armpits and lifted her up like an abandoned cat. Her snow-white face got infected by a tinge of deep red. She did not say anything either. Her eyes continued staring at me.

“M-master… My sister’s still waiting to be woken up!”

“..?”

“A kiss… No, it’s defrosting…”

Sirin explained to me everything. Turns out, her “sister” is frozen inside an ice coffin. To break her free, I need to ‘defrost’ Sirin. What else can I use aside from yang qi? The effect is also much better if we did it on top of the coffin.

This ridiculous setting made me more speechless. I looked at Sirin once again. The emotions in her eyes gradually became the one I am familiar with.

I didn’t have any choice but to carry her over like an immobile kitten. 

Then, the defrosting began.

…

…

…

I looked at the sleeping Sirin. Her bikini Santa outfit got disheveled. She slept on the sea of white icing. 

“My Prince~”

I didn’t catch a break. The melted ice coffin left traces all over the ground. The sleeping beauty hung closely to my neck, her face pressed against my cheeks.

This Tuna…

…

…

…

The signboard explained everything. Kiana, who wore an identical bikini Santa outfit as Sirin, fell asleep with disheveled clothing. Traces of white liquid spilled down her bikini shorts.

I rubbed my temples. Kiana is fine. Sirin too. But what if it’s the others whom I haven’t made a move yet?

With these doubts in mind, I began moving forward. The expanse of white snow ended. The gingerbread corridor returned.

After some walking, it turned into a desert. I scooped the sand. It turned out to be a chiffon cake.

Traces of my footsteps are left on the surface. 

“An oasis..?”

I saw two people kneeling beside it. One of them stood up. It was Rita… with a revealing reindeer-themed outfit. Her neck, abdomen, and legs are left exposed. A pair of antlers and a choker with a bell adorned her neck.

Where’s the Christmas spirit in this one?

I wondered about it until the other cloaked person stood. Her brown cloak flew as the wind swept by. It is none other than Bianka who wore a fake white beard. The Santa outfit covered her entire body, though it was tight-fitting.

The two came closer to me.

“Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa has a gift for good boys!”

The second-hand embarrassment I got from Bianka’s lines sent a chill down my spine.

“Your exclusive reindeer, Rita-dolf!”

“...”

My deadpan expression must have been sensed by Bianka. Her jolly character broke down. 

“Is it not to your liking?”

Her voice returned to her normal pitch.

“What about this..?”

A large present box appeared out of nowhere. Its cover lifted itself, revealing Bianka who wore Rita’s reindeer outfit. It is just as sexy as Rita’s. It lacked the “vibe” she has, but it is replaced by her youthfulness.

The two of them crept closer. The expected apprehension I had did not appear.

I actually…

…

The two reindeers got knocked out. Bewilderment filled my mind. I thought I would feel apprehensive to those I haven’t had dual cultivation yet. It did not appear. Worse, I went along with it like an actual scumbag..!

…

Before I knew it, the surroundings changed. The “Christmas Gift” ensued. There was Bronya, Seele, Veliona, and Sin who worked on a tall Christmas cake. The very first mission is to squeeze out milk, to be done by Bronya. Sin followed forth for the icing. Seele and Veliona are responsible for the final ‘drizzle’.

…

The Shenzhou Tablets came next… scratch that. Fu Hua, Senti, Ji Xuanyuan, and Hei Xuanyuan are accompanied by Li Shushang. Her destructive weapons carried the entire Shenzhou squad.

As for what it was, Senti ‘directed’ a short martial arts-esque film. It doesn’t even qualify for a film. It’s basically what would happen if Santa went inside a house filled with aphrodisiacs. 

I was drained dry.

…

The ‘Gifts’ continued. There’s Lunar Vow Theresa and Himeko working together after being drunk under the Christmas Tree, Anna and Wendy that ‘kidnapped’ me as a pair of Santa Clauses looking for ‘naughty kids’, Vita who brought me to the South Pole with her huge mecha (the most normal one), and Leylah who asked Santa (me) to find her Mama…

*****

The world reflected itself under the starry-like eyes. The snowy world filled with ‘Christmas Gifts’ was nothing but a snow globe in her grasp. Her gentle hands felt like it could grasp the entire universe.

“Hum… Things don't change.”

“That’s unfair, Kiana.”

The surroundings became smaller. The familiar environment of the Moon appeared. Kiana looked back and saw Theresa crossing her arms underneath her prided weapons. The sense of elegance and playfulness in her crimson eyes pierced through Kiana.

“The past…”

“There is no past, Aunt Theresa. In this pursuit of the infinite, we can look back. But never, ever, remain in the past.”

“That’s not it. You chose the Shi Tian who’s only familiar with you four. How about me?”

A thin smile appeared on her lips.

“Hehe~”

Theresa rubbed her temples helplessly.

“I know you miss him, so feel free to be willful. After all…”

*****

A/N: Chapter 279's complete part is out now. Feel free to check it out. Anyways, this is the bonus chapter for Christmas.

Chapter 281: Theresa's Show-off, Siegfried's Misfortune

“Hm…”

A pair of scarlet pupils stared at the Moon high in the sky. Her eyes curled up in elation. The waves of satisfaction—and pleasure—swept her entire body like a tide. It wasn’t as strong as the sensations inside the blood cocoon. She treasured it, nevertheless.

The President’s Office had long been sealed off. She let go of everything, disregarding even her lack of clothing.

Rustle-!

Clothes appeared out of thin air. Theresa’s mastery of Blade Mantra made her very adept in manipulating honkai energy. Creating a ‘Battlesuit’ is a trifle for her. A frilled black-red dress wrapped around her body. Her legs are tightly bound by a pair of black stockings. A pair of black-red heeled boots housed her feet.

Theresa teleported straight to the office’s bathroom. She looked at her reflection in a daze. Gone was the ninety-year-old loli-slash-elementary school student. Replacing it is a mature woman 175 centimeters tall. 

Her scarlet eyes sparkled with joy. Suppressed squeals came out of her mouth.

“It worked! It worked!”

No words can describe Theresa’s feelings. It has been her obsession to see her grown-up self. It wasn’t as strong as the time she was St. Freya’s Principal, but now that she ran the entire Federation for more than thirty years, it flared up. She always imagined an elegant and mature grown-up self befitting of her age.

“Hm? Perfect timing!”

Her mischievous acts began. The first target was none other than Siegfried.

‘I wonder how she is now…’

He had heard of Theresa’s situation. She encountered an unexpected breakthrough inside her office. Nearly every member of the Federation’s Council is worried about her. Who can find someone as efficient and as generous as Theresa? 

Their salaries and benefits alone increased by fivefold over the past thirty years. Add to that her resume of aiding the Law Enforcement Hall’s world-wide purge.

A mascot, generous, and effective leader. 

‘To think she will reach this point…’

Just then, Siegfried’s eyes were drawn to the ‘woman’ who passed by.

‘Is she the Secretary, Amber? No…’

He did a double-take on the woman’s back. She resembled Amber down to her atoms. An absurd possibility came to his mind.

‘No. There’s no way…’

“I can read your thoughts, Ziggy.”

“..?!”

Siegfried was startled to see the ‘woman’ in front of him.

“So?”

“So..? Do I know you?”

“...”

He swore he saw the woman’s eyes twitch.

“Can’t you recognize me?”

“..!”

At this point, even a dumbass can guess who she was. 

The same childish tone. 

The same appearance as Amber. 

Most importantly…

He is inside the Federation’s Main Headquarters.

“How did the midget…”

Slap-!

Rumble-!

Siegfried’s “flight” was extremely comical. The slap on his face caused his body to rotate dozens of times before crashing into a wall. Everyone who was in the lobby suddenly looked at the ‘woman’ who caused it.

In mere seconds, a security team arrived. They were about to question her when she took out an ID card.

The guard who took it could not help but rub his eyes. His gaze went back and forth from the ID to the woman in front of him. He wordlessly scanned the ID with a scanner.

Beep-!

The scanner’s screen confirmed her identity. The ID card will only show as valid when its valid holder possesses it within ten meters.

The security man blankly handed the ID card back to the ‘woman’, who then walked away. His jaw almost dropped.

When his colleagues asked him about it, his answer remained the same rambling:

“It’s gone. The President we know is gone…”

*****

“Aunt Theresa..?”

Kiana did a double take at the mature woman sitting opposite of her. She went straight to Theresa’s Office upon learning of her awakening.

‘The soul frequency is the same. She is Aunt Theresa…’

“Ow… It feels very cold.”

Flames flickered on Siegfried’s fingertips. Half of his face got frozen and is in the midst of being defrosted.

The mature woman crossed her arms.

“Humph. You deserve it. My efforts in drinking Bitter Gourd Juice paid off, and that’s how you will react?”

“I mean, that’s how most will react… save for Cecilia. She will be happy seeing your growth.”

The mention of Cecilia’s name calmed Theresa down. 

“Aunt, I heard Tian helped you with it?”

“...T-that’s right.”

Theresa’s calm expression slightly faltered. A faint blush appeared on her ears. She relaxed once she saw it tucked behind her hair.

Unfortunately for her, it was this act that made Kiana suspicious.

“Anyways… I will personally talk to him once he’s out.” Theresa stated. “He’s busy with the others… with Bianka.”

The “sword conference” on the Sword Vein is common knowledge for the people who fought against the Honkai. The attempt to create another level of Blade Mantra involved the Imaginary Tree—a threshold so high Otto’s five hundred years barely touched upon it.

‘Aunt… Something’s very wrong.’

Kiana’s mind was on Theresa’s abnormalities. She is more than certain something happened between her and Shi Tian. 

‘I will ask him about it.’

She passed on the chance to become a detective. Kiana knew Shi Tian would tell her about it—even if it involved another Official Partner.

“Oh, that’s right. Kira invited me to her underground idol debut.”

Siegfried took out five tickets and placed them on the glass table. He turned to look at Theresa. She wore a traumatized expression; Kiana also did.

“W-what’s going on?”

“Ziggy… If you value your ears… no, if you value your Tao Heart, don’t attend.”

“Why? That girl’s been clamoring to be an idol since a long time ago. It’s not that bad, isn’t it?”

It was Kiana’s turn to dissuade him.

“Old man… She is the equivalent of you in cooking. Bianka and Miss Rita attended her debut once.” She paused before continuing, “Her power to stir up Inner Demons are unmatched.”

Seeing both of them reacting like this, Siegfried felt scared.

“What about the debut? This isn’t her first time?”

Theresa shook her head.

“No major record labels will accept her again. Only the poor souls in the underground idol industry haven’t heard of her notoriety yet.”

‘It shouldn’t be that bad… no?’

Ultimately, his favors on Kira outweighed their reminders. She was a crucial member of Cecilia’s team. Siegfried still planned on going…

A decision he will come to regret.

Chapter 280: Sword Conference

Waking up with two women hugging you like an octopus is the pinnacle of life. Kiana acted proactively while Sirin acted submissively—borderline masochistic. The two managed to turn this “gap” into an offensive against me.

Unfortunately for them, they could not win against me. A major realm difference is enough to form a huge chasm between us, not to mention the ultimate grade spirit root and two high grade Tao Bodies I possess.

Even if Seele and Veliona joined the fray, I won’t be scared at all…

…But that doesn’t seem like a good idea.

My mind drifted to the Innate Yin I forcibly suppressed. This dual cultivation session lasted two years. Absorbing it is enough to propel me straight to the middle stage of Divine Transformation Realm. Its effects should extend to halfway through the middle stage, or even more. All it needs is one session of seclusion. I estimate I can absorb it completely in ten years. Innate Yin is far easier to absorb compared to the spiritual essences inside my [Chaos Furnace] or other spiritual pills.

Such an exaggerated effect is all thanks to Sirin’s sacrifice. The Innate Yin of a peak Divine Transformation with high grade Spirit Roots, multiplied five times, produced that exaggerated effect. If I can receive several more Innate Yin, maybe I can break through the Void Refinement Realm in two hundred years.

I swatted this thought down. I will be going against my bottom line if I guilt-trip others into giving their Innate Yin away.

Just then, the cold touch on my little dragon interrupted my thoughts. Kiana peeked at me with one of her eyes closed. Her hands already grasped my second lifeline well. A teasing smile crept up to her lips.

Kiana’s small gestures did not last for long. She stood up and crept to my legs. My dick stood tall as her hand teasingly circled on my glans. Feeling it was somewhat dry, she opened her mouth and allowed her saliva to spill on it.

Just then, I felt another stinging gaze from my left. Sirin, who had been hugging me like an octopus, woke up. She immediately directed her gaze to Kiana. Her entire body jolted in surprise. An air of competitiveness arose.

Sending me a flirtatious look, Sirin followed forth and crept to my leg.

Under our surprised gaze, she threw the opening remarks and placed my glans inside her mouth. Her gaze remained glued to it. The tip of her tongue began to swirl around it.

A jolt of electricity traveled through my spine. It was Sirin’s first time trying that move out. The sight of her testing things out is a massive turn on.

“Hum. You won’t be able to defeat him with that.”

I was caught off guard by the tone she used. Kiana’s expert-like words made me laugh. Sirin disregarded it as my shaft left her mouth. Silver strings of her saliva connected the two.

“How about we… do it at once?”

Before I knew it, the two women looked at me with different looks—one out of teasing, the other out of pure desires. It doesn’t change the fact they are both horny.

Not soon did they make their move. Kiana on the right side, Sirin on the left side. The tips of their tongue touched my shaft at the same time. 

..!

From the tip of their tongues, they licked it like a popsicle. Two different tongues enveloping my erect dick nearly short-circuited my brain. The most impactful thing is their gaze. Their eyes never left mine. I can clearly see their thoughts along with the pleasure they brought.

The thoughts of arriving early on the sword conference flew out of the window.

I need to punish these Lewd Tunas first.

*****

Everything happened as Shi Tian predicted. Fu Hua, Senti, Ji Xuanyuan, Hei Xuanyuan and Li Shushang finished their seclusion. Upon seeing the floating cubes containing Bianka’s message, they gathered at her residence.

“It’s been a long time… Headmaster.”

“Indeed.”

No follow ups occurred between Shushang and Fu Hua. The former knew her from her master. The latter knew her as a very talented user of Blade Mantra—an inheritor of Taixuan School’s mantle. The connection between the two is very formal.

This doesn’t apply to Senti, however. She used her spiritual consciousness to send a message to her.

“When will we foo—I mean, hang around, Little Master?”

“I won’t go out.”

Li Shushang treated Senti as the same generation as her.

“What happened..?”

“You don’t need to know. I will focus on cultivation next.”

She looked at Senti once more. Shushang couldn’t imagine what had changed with her. Whenever they went down the mountain and played around as mysterious masters, Li Shushang and Senti enjoyed it well. They did this several times already, turning them into good friends.

“You might want to focus on it too. You’ll be left behind at this rate.”

‘..?!’

That sentence awakened Li Shushang’s competitive spirit. She was about to say something when Shi Tian arrived along with the two Xuanyuans. The latter greeted them with a slight bow before taking their seats.

Shi Tian’s  presence was akin to a drifting wind, inconspicuous yet tangible. He greeted everyone before sitting down. The seven seats on the courtyard’s tea table were filled.

“Let’s not waste much time. I asked you to come here to jointly create the next level for Blade Mantra, and of course, to upgrade it further.”

Several rays of light flew straight in front of them. The four accepted Shi Tian’s Divine Consciousness. The contents of the half-revised Blade Mantra 2.0 came into their minds. This included the next direction of Blade Mantra—the level for the seventh level Tao Heart.

“Samsara… It’s very plausible.” Li Shushang was the first one to speak up. “But I feel it shouldn’t be the core concept.”

“That sense of incongruency is apparent to me too. True Form equated to the Innate Sword Soul, the true understanding of self. Maybe we can follow this pattern?”

Senti followed up, her serious self being far different from her normal self.

“The severance of karma, but not limited to it. Karma has several aspects beneath…”

Fu Hua opened her eyes and shared her insights.

“What if it is… a world within oneself?”

Bianka’s words made everyone pause. They collectively looked at her.

“The Stigma Space is similar to a Bubble World. This can be the reason why we have it.”

“The Stigma Space is a house of personal information…”

“...Perhaps we can isolate our karma through it?”

Hei and Ji Xuanyuans gave their insights, respectively.

“A world within oneself… mimicking samsara… self-isolation.”

Shi Tian, who was silent for a while, spoke up.

“A formless world. What if we start with that concept?”

The legendary Enlightenment at the Sword Peak took place…

Chapter 279: Sirin's Self-Submission

A/N: Lemons up ahead.

*****

Sirin’s dazed eyes told me everything about her predicament. Her bright purple hair sprawled all over the bed.

Bam.

I closed the door and locked it. I walked towards the bed and sat on its edge.

“...Thank you.”

I swallowed any words of apology. It would do nothing but to belittle her efforts. Thanking her is much better.

Sirin understood my words. A smile drew on her lips.

“Mn…”

With that, I moved to the center of the bed. The pool of her cum spilled to the carpet floor. There is no need for any foreplay.

My head ducked to meet her moist pink lips. She did not make any responses. I took the initiative to pry her mouth open. Her passiveness made it easier to maneuver my tongue inside her mouth.

Splatter-!

This ‘simple’ gesture created another water fountain. Her petite body tensed up. 

I let go of her lips. Her dazed eyes expressed nothing but satisfaction. I shifted positions. I knelt in front of Sirin’s wide open legs. 

If there is something that can dispel thick Yin Qi, it could only be Yang Qi.

With a single touch, the robe I wore disappeared. My erect dick pointed its head towards Sirin.

The white dress she wore gave her a pure temperament… if it wasn't for the exposed pink slit in front of me. Her pair of pink labia looked extremely moist under her current condition.

My hands reached out to her waist. Its willow shape did not differ from Kiana’s.

“I'm putting it in.”

“Mn…”

The tip of my glans bumped onto her entrance. The thrust of my waist propelled it forward. 

Squelch-!

It went on smoothly. My thick shaft slid inside her insides with ease. The thin membrane blocking its way did not last a second.

The slippery yet tight sensation brought together a brand new sensation that crawled to the crown of my head.

“Hn..!”

I breached her hymen in one go. A tinge of blood seeped out of her entrance. Her eyes rolled back in pain and pleasure. Drool escaped from the tips of her mouth.

I waited until her pained expression dissipated.

Squelch-!

That one thrust made me curl my toes in satisfaction. The warmth of her insides, the slippery sensation, the desperate clinging of her inner folds… all of it constituted the girl named Sirin.

Her absurd Innate Yin flooded my entire body. The chilling yet gentle sensation fueled my improper desires.

My hands kept a tight grip on her waist. The sloppy sounds of flesh bumping filled the room. The subtle trembling of Sirin’s body transferred to my hands.

“Hum… Mn… Ehn…”

Her words turned garbled. Her eyes turned into blinking headlights. Her intoxication made her act drunk.

My hands turned restless. My waist continued thrusting back and forth, the cacophony of flesh resounding. My right hand travelled to her bare legs. 

My fingers sank on her thighs. While it could not be called plump, it is also not skinny. My eyes turned to her feet… and so did my hand.

Her jade-like feet wrinkled as her toes curled. The tinge of red amidst the pale white created an itch inside my heart.

The moment my thumb traced her foot, a high-pitched laugh came out of her mouth.

My body continued to heat up. My already erect dick burst out unprecedented power.

“Ehe..!”

The speed of my thrusts increased. The mix of moans and drunken laughter gnawed on my self-control.

My left hand carried her toes to my left shoulder. My right hand gripped onto her right ankle.

The “L”-shape position unexpectedly felt better. My glans pressed onto her womb more. The stopping force in my waist made me breathless, not to mention Sirin’s doll-like current appearance.

“Ah..?!”

Her eyes blankly stared at me. The tip of my tongue went through the fine muscles on the base of her foot. A tinge of bewilderment and intoxication appeared on her face.

Another splashing sound leaked out of her hole, breaking that very expression.

My body that subconsciously ran the [Sun-Moon Creation Art] almost went feral.

I…

I wanted to impregnate her.

Fortunately, I pressed it down. Sirin’s efforts weren't in vain, either. The familiar operation of the [Sun-Moon Creation Art] ran on her petite body.

After the pool of liquid turned into a lake, a hot sensation emerged on my shaft.

My cum flooded her insides uncontrollably. The inner folds clung onto my dick at its tightest. Sirin's golden eyes rolled back completely.

This release lasted minutes. I couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh. It felt like countless electric arcs assaulted my brain and gave it a deep-seated massage.

I thought I would calm down after that… 

But no.

Sirin's face is a huge mess. The drool flooded her white pillow. Her extremely flushed cheeks and her rolled back eyes awakened something inside me.

…

I want to bully her more.

The sharp contrast of her prideful self in our first meeting turned out like this. 

Sirin made me feel a completely new emotion, one I wasn't even aware I had.

Psshk-!

I tore apart her dress straight in the middle. The physical strength capable of punching a hole through Earth manifested in this way.

The patches of skin I didn't see earlier revealed itself. Pulling the torn portion apart revealed her pair of mounds. They are small enough to be cupped by my palm. Atop them are the strawberry-like nipples that stood erect.

My dick which remained inside her twitched. Its flaccidness did not last for a minute. My beastly actions turned on the evil flames beneath my waist.

I chose not to continue thrusting. Instead, I nibbed on her erect nipple. My left hand circled around her other nipple, touching it with a hint of teasing.

When I felt I had enough, I moved towards her snow-white armpits. Her dress doesn't cover it. I left out the torn dress as my right hand grasped her right wrist. I pushed it upwards, resting her arm on the pillow.

My tongue extended to her armpits. Her unique body scent wafted to my nose. I greedily inhaled it while leaving my saliva on her.

This action ignited me. I began to thrust my dick to the depths of her insides once more.

I maintained my current position. Her legs sprawled out besides me, forming a reverse v-shape.

My mouth soon moved to her swan neck. One by one, a bright red mark appeared.

Sirin's unresponsiveness soon ended. I stopped leaving hickeys. I placed my hands beside her neck, coming to her face-to-face.

“...Tian… Use…”

The silver ring on her finger flashed. Several items appeared on the bed. Each one made me gulp.

Is this the real surprise they talked about?

It…

It fitted my current mood. The voice telling me to bully Sirin became stronger.

My thrusts came to a temporary halt. My hands touched the first item, a black blindfold.

I met her barely conscious golden eyes. Complying to her wishes, I placed it atop Sirin's eyes. The blindfold automatically locked itself.

Next was a leather belt with a red ball. A gag.

As if knowing what to do, she opened her mouth. 

Click-!

Like the blindfold, it bound itself automatically.

Then, the red dog collar with a silver bell. It is tied to a black leash. I placed it onto her neck.

Click-!

The next item is a pair of stringed silver beads. I wondered what they did.

Buzz-!

An input of spiritual qi made them vibrate strongly. Looking at Sirin’s body, I knew where to place them.

I pulled out my rod. A line of transparent liquid strewn onto my shaft. A portion of my cum spilled out of her wet pink slit.

My hands reached out to her other door.

Pop.

A faint popping sound came as one of the silver beads entered her butthole. Sirin's body trembled uncontrollably. It became stronger as more beads entered her rectum.

I am not worried about hygiene. This hole remained unused since the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The might of immortal cultivation extended even to sexual intercourse…

I sealed the deal with a pair of handcuffs. I placed Sirin's hands behind her back before locking the handcuffs.

I looked at my work. My dick swelled as the evil flames spread out.

Sirin…

Pet…

Two words far from each other intersected at this moment. I knew well not to hurt Sirin, but if it makes her happy… I am for it.

More so when this dark desire also existed within me.

Holding her waist, I turned her body over the bed. Her fair back faced my eyes. Her cuffed arms remained above her buttocks. The stringed beads’ end hung mid-air.

Grasping her butt cheeks, I thrusted my erect dick.

Plap-!

“Hm..!”

Sirin's muffled moans seeped through the gag. Her trembling body explained everything. Every reaction from her excited me further. 

Slap-!

A crisp sound exploded. A faint red mark appeared on her white buttocks.

One wasn't enough. The crisp sounds continued until both sides turned beet red.

The heavenly sensation from her insides and this twisted pleasure merged together. Another stream of cum shot straight to her womb. 

Sirin's muffled moans grew louder. Her body turned into a human vibrator as it shook nonstop. I was rendered immobile until I stopped cumming.

The concentration

My eyes shifted to the untouched leash. A bold idea grew.

First, my spiritual qi entered the stringed silver beads. They started vibrating as soon as I willed it.

Sirin's Yin Qi decreased sharply with the presence of my Yang Qi. Still, they existed… and they grew stronger.

The act of turning on the vibrating beads caused her slit to flood out clear liquid. The presence of yin qi overwhelmed the present yang qi. A declaration of war, per se.

I took it too seriously.

My dick turned erect for the third time. My right hand reached out for the leash. Sirin's head, sprawling over the pillow, lifted up. It stood straight at the level of her torso.

Plap-!

…

The sensation of thrusting turned different. Pulling up her leash, slapping her left butt cheek, the faintly vibrating end of the beads…

These acts made Sirin cum non-stop. A refreshing yet guilty sensation swept my entire being. The muffled moans grew louder and louder; her excitement reached an unprecedented peak. 

The third eruption blasted with a huge explosion. Waves after waves of yang qi left my body, filling Sirin's womb to the brim. I slowly let go of the leash, allowing her head to lay back on the pillow. The noticeable rise and fall of her back made her fatigue evident. 

In our connection, however, it is nothing but pure joy. Sirin's elation is so strong it infected me, feeding onto these desires to bully her further…

And so I did.

This time, I placed my hands beneath her chest. My hands occasionally played with her nipples. My mouth reached to her neck and began dirtying it with saliva. The deeply thrust dick twitched intermittently.

Plap-!

Plap-!

…

My entire body is bigger than Sirin. Hugging her felt like hugging a doll. She did not have Kiana's plumpness, but more of Seele’s and Veliona’s. Their smaller and petite build strengthened this controlling feeling in my chest.

I looked at Sirin’s mouth. Her saliva started flowing incessantly. The tip of my tongue licked her face, catching onto some of her saliva. A faint sweetness came from it, followed by a mellow flowery taste.

A surge of heat came from my thick rod. The cathartic sensation crawled straight to my head. Sirin's scent overloaded my mind.

Our breathing overlapped. My chest laid atop her back. Her steady breathing enlightened me.

Sirin fainted.

The compressive force threatening my shaft didn't disappear. It forced out every bit of my cum, overflowing her womb.

Just then, someone barged inside the room. I turned around and saw Kiana. She wore nothing but an oversized white t-shirt. She tiptoed all the way to the messy bed. Her star-like irises shifted between me and the unconscious Sirin.

“To think you’ll do that to her…”

“...Don’t act surprised. Aren’t you one of the perpetrators?”

“Hm.”

Kiana fully admitted it. 

“I want to try it too.”

She revealed her evil plans. The thick rod inside Sirin could not help but twitch.

Seeing Kiana take out the exact same things Sirin wore, my mind stirred. Her star-like irises told everything she wanted to do.

I pulled out my dick. It left an enlarged ‘hole’ in Sirin’s slit before it went back to its normal shape. I pushed her butt down, allowing her to rest her abdomen on the soft mattress.

I moved towards Kiana who sat at the edge of the bed. The ‘toys’ she brought out are the same as Sirin’s.

“Not the gag.”

“Hm..?”

“It’s inconvenient for kisses.”

She agreed to my suggestion. Sitting beside her, I placed the toys one by one. The blindfold and cuff are easy. It is the stringed beads that is the issue. I gently pushed her to the bed. Her perfect body laid bare to my sight. Clear liquid soaked the bedsheets wet. Her moist pink lips parted and met in anticipation of my actions.

After the spiritual qi input, I placed both of her legs atop my shoulders. Her two holes became accessible.

Plop-!

“Ah..!”

Kiana’s high-pitched moan fueled the evil flames beneath my waist. My erect dick pulsated with greater power. Moans after moans accompanied the beads’ insertion.

Splash-!

I looked at her pink slit. The sound of splashing didn’t come here.

Then…

I looked at Sirin’s position. As expected, a trail of clear liquid flowed from her torso. Her buttocks twitched repeatedly.

My throat bobbed. These two are sharing senses. This means Sirin is awake. I am about to make a mess of Kiana right beside Sirin!

Using my left hand, I positioned my rod to Kiana’s entrance. Her pair of pink labia turned moist. I teased it with my glans. Her legs continued trembling. My right hand held her waist tightly.

Plap-!

The thick shaft penetrated her insides in one go. The gurgling sound of water erupted. Some of them went up to my chest. Some to my cheek. Another sound came from Sirin’s side. Her waist shook more noticeably. Her shoulder shook left and right, unable to break free from her restraints.

I thrust my dick as deep as possible. A portion of its base remained in sight; the rest inside Kiana. The frequency of squeezing of her inner folds grew.

My hands crept up to her breasts. I went straight to her nipples, pinching them with greater force.

“Ehn..!”

Her moans became weirder… hotter. Simultaneously, muffled moans came from Sirin. She lay on the bed with her back facing the ceiling. Its endless twitching and continued water shower blended with Kiana’s reactions. An unprecedented shaking swept through her body as I teased Kiana’s body more.

An idea grew in my mind. My thrusting did not cease. My left hand reached out to Sirin’s leg. I pulled her towards me, until my hand could reach her buttocks. I cupped it with my palm before giving it another slap.

“Hn..!”

“Mm..!”

The reactions of the two are synchronized. My right hand continued pinching Kiana’s nipple. My left hand slapped Sirin’s butt. It did not take long before my dick felt extremely hot. Streams of cum left my body, to be poured onto Kiana’s empty womb.

During these few minutes, my hand continued fondling Sirin’s butt. In return, she could not stop cumming. The scent of mellow honey filled every corner of the room. 

Once everything was squeezed out, I took out my dick. I held Kiana’s waist and turned her over. I positioned her right beside Sirin. Their butts are poking out.

I chose Sirin this time. My left hand held her leash. I gently pulled it up, making sure she would follow my movements.

Plap-!

The extremely slippery surface took my entire thing in one go.

Slap-!

It is Kiana’s turn to be slapped. Her breathing turned ragged.

“Harder…”

Her words acted as confirmation.

Slap-!

Plap-!

My right hand struck with greater force. My waist could not help but move with greater intensity, too.

Before long, Kiana’s pearly-white buttocks are filled with red marks.

A sudden thought entered my mind. I placed my fingers on the stringed beads’ overhanging tip.

In one go…

Pop-!

I yanked it one by one.

“Ahn..!”

Splash-!

The surface of the silver beads are coated with clear liquids. It shook intensely even when it was taken out. As more beads left her butthole, the greater her trembling became. Sirin’s exaggerated trembling became more exaggerated.

The time of eruption came faster. The trepidation of her insides became intense. It served to have been used thoroughly by my rod for a long time, yet it stood strong.

The mix of guilt and pleasure fused together. The time I let my cum out became Sirin’s rest time.

Pulling my little brother out, I also took off Sirin’s gag.

Pop.

“Fwa…”

I brought it closer to my face. Not only the gag itself, the strap is soaked wet with her saliva. Just how much did she drool..?

Curious about her true appearance, I took off her blindfold. I went beside her. Her face…

It’s not the first time I saw someone faint. But Sirin is different. Her golden eyes rolled upward. Her flushed cheeks and drooling mouth is an overkill.

I also took off Kiana’s blindfold. The moment she saw the ‘broken’ Sirin, her expression changed.

“Was I… like this..?” She asked.

“Kind of. Her expression… it’s much worse.”

“Hmph. I should have synchronized early on!”

This dirty Tuna…

Her eyes sported a naughty look.

“Take off my handcuffs.”

“Why would I?”

My counter did not last for long.

“Please take them off, Master.”

This is the first time she called me like that. A thrilling sensation crept up to my head. Her soft, fragile voice called me out with that title…

It’s dangerous.

I complied with her wishes. Not only hers. Sirin’s too.

Kiana took the initiative to flip Sirin over. The latter’s sleepy and dazed look awakened somewhat. Kiana lay right on top of her. Her breasts pressed together with Sirin’s, creating a tantalizing sight.

“Come on. Punish us more, Master.”

I went back to my previous position. Kiana’s pink slit dripped with clear liquid and white cum. Some of them spilled onto Sirin's pink slit. The overlaid pussies filled with cum… it’s my first time to see it.

Positioning my glans, thrusting it forward… no words needed to be said.

“Hn…”

Kiana’s voice resounded. My thighs clashed with her butt. Barely underneath her slit is Sirin’s.

After some time, I pulled it out from Kiana’s insides. I positioned my rod slightly lower and thrust it forward.

Plap-!

“Hn..!”

“Ah…”

Two moans came this time. My eyes remained seated on the pair of buttocks being rammed by my dick. Alternately, I thrusted between Kiana and Sirin. Their moans remained the same, if not stronger.

Sirin’s insides felt more slippery. Kiana felt more tighter. The subtle differences between the two gave a greater sense of pleasure. I could not hold back my cum after some time.

My dick remained inside Sirin for a while. Then, I thrust it inside Kiana for the other half.

I looked over their heads. Kiana’s face lay on Sirin’s neck. The latter stared blankly on the ceiling. Her arms circled around Kiana’s waist.

My mind sought for a new position. I carried the fainted Kiana and asked Sirin to turn over. While her eyes remained blank, she complied to the order. Her back faced the ceiling once more. 

I placed down the fainted Kiana. The buttocks of the two are stacked on one another. I couldn’t help but notice Kiana’s slit forming another golden shower. 

I forgot about Sirin.

The vibrator is still inside her ass… her ass.

Plop-!

I pulled out the beads one by one. Her startled yelps came simultaneously. Her voice turned raspy due to all the moaning she did earlier. Pulling out all of the beads resulted in another wet mess.

Down the carpet floor, everything is flooded with their cum. The entire room reeked of nothing but sex—the most primal instinct to reproduce.

My evil claws reached out to their untainted territories… yet.

Using my hands, I spread out Kiana’s butt. Her smaller hole became more prominent as I pulled it further. The tip of my glans touched her backdoor. Its coating of slippery clear liquid served as the natural lubricant.

My glans entered first. A strong sense of rejection came from it, squeezing my glans out. I fought against this force. My waist thrust deeper and deeper until my entire shaft entered her forbidden hole.

“Eek..!”

Sirin’s moan that bordered a shriek echoed loudly. Beneath my dick, the sounds of water spilling never stopped.

Round and firm, my thick python reached Kiana’s deepest parts. The heavenly sensation of being able to put my entire dick inside made me shiver.

Slap-!

Slap-!

Two slaps to her reddened butt cheeks came. I never stopped thrusting. The flesh of my shaft continued scraping against her inner walls. Her butthole’s inner folds don't cling as tight as her pussy, but it compensates extremely well in terms of squeezing force. One wrong move and my dick will be squeezed out of it.

“Wuwu…”

Sirin’s mouth bit onto the pillow. Kiana remained unconscious, with several small moans coming out of her mouth. The two are utterly swept by the pleasure. I am the same.

Soon, my white fluid began flooding her anus. Its intense squeezing force made my dick twitch more as it went. 

Two is better than one. That’s a confirmed thing. Fucking Kiana is one thing. Sirin’s reactions stimulated me to go further. Some of the plays I came up with spontaneously emerged in reality.

My thoughts ran wild until everything was squeezed out. The moment I pulled my dick out, the squeezing force helped expel it outside.

Looking at the two fainted women beneath me…

What if I continued?

Gradually, I could not escape the clutches of my evil thoughts…

*****

A/N: It reached 3.7k words this time. I couldn’t think of any other plot further. It doesn’t feel as natural as if I ended it now. So yeah, here’s the complete part.

Chapter 278: Self-Torture

The Moon is the residence of high-people not involved within the Sect. Kiana, Sirin, Griseo, and Queen Mei are the only ones present. Hei Xuanyuan used to be with them. She separated once she took over as the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall. Occasionally, Vita and Leylah come to hang out with the others. Thirty years are enough for them to ‘connect’ with the others on Earth, more so with Earth’s Goddess, Kiana.

Their residences are separated. The designs are also different—from a normal courtyard up to an entire pagoda reminiscent of Seele’s.

Sirin’s residence is separate from Kiana’s. She developed shut-in tendencies after everything she went through. She did not have the energy to interact with other humans. Her burning hatred had dissipated over the years, but it didn’t mean that she had forgotten everything she went through.

To her, Shi Tian is the world.

Aside from him, Kiana is the only other person who can truly understand her. Sirin did not care about anything else. Her biggest concession was when Earth faced a crisis. She will not remain indifferent and lend a helping hand.

The presence of two people changed Sirin.

“Hm…”

Her attire consisted of a white dress with semi-transparent shoulder sleeves. She bore the air of a sunny girl-next-door. It was her face that broke it. Her cheeks flushed, she sleepily held the hem of her skirt. The first to be revealed is the pair of succulent legs.

Sirin fitted into the category of petite women. Her pride lay not on the thickness of her body, but on something else.

The moment she pulled up her dress, it revealed Sirin’s commando mode. She did not wear any underwear beneath her pure white dress. A wet paper talisman clung tightly to her revealed pink slit. Clear liquid dripped from her entrance. It did not reduce the talisman’s cohesion due to its special properties.

A sense of coldness emanated from it—which made it more tantalizing.

The talisman is a [Nine Yin Locking Seal] Kiana found from foraging through Shi Tian’s treasury. It is a peak sixth grade talisman used to nourish one’s Innate Yin. Its maximum effect is to amplify the Innate Yin’s strength by five times. It is a method belonging to the dual cultivation arts.

Sirin cautiously touched the talisman. A jolt of lightning went through her spine. Her toes curled on the soft mattress. Her upper body fell straight to the bed.

She sensed the unprecedented coldness below.

‘I-it’s done…’

The [Nine Yin Locking Seal] is a bonafide treasure—it has other effects. After spending a period of time with it, the five times multiplier hits its limit. The improvements do not stop there as the user’s Innate Yin begins to grow beyond their current realm. The talisman has a limit of reaching the Innate Yin comparable to a peak Divine Transformation cultivator, multiplied by five.

Kiana fed her a bunch of high-level spiritual pills to shorten the required time. In terms of Innate Yin, Sirin had reached five times that of a peak Divine Transformation Realm. If there was a downside, it would be her desires. The further the Innate Yin’s strength goes, the greater their desires become.

Sirin is just as perverted as Kiana. The talisman amplified Sirin’s base desires, forming an even stronger Tuna. Worse, she did not have many avenues for venting it except her fingers. At some point, she could not live normally and had to be drowned in her desires. Sirin was stuck on her bed.

She endured all of this torment for thirty years, all because of one reason:

‘I want to help him.’

Sirin once slipped in the middle of consciousness and unconsciousness. Aside from her morbidly obsessive thoughts of wanting to help Shi Tian, everything else turned into naughty thoughts. The sheets were stained with a pool of clear liquid. Her legs trembled continuously. Her jade-like fingers scratched her slit, barely preventing herself from tearing the talisman open.

The paper talisman couldn’t escape its fate of being wet. The aura of thick yin qi emanated throughout her room. Its concentration is enough to put even Seele and Veliona into shame. Sirin’s Nascent Soul body sustained her ‘consumption’.

Click-!

Everything was interrupted by the turning of her doorknob. Sirin halted momentarily and looked at the door in a daze.

The moment she sensed who arrived…

She went crazy.

*****

The resources accumulated over forty years are vast. Earth’s self-sustaining system hadn't been implemented when I received this inexhaustible amount of resources. It mostly consisted of Divine Transformation Realm materials, though I am lucky enough to obtain storage rings.

Their contents varied. Some of them are for a single Divine Transformation Realm cultivator. Some are the inheritances of a sect, given they contained vast arrays of lower-leveled spiritual materials.

I did not have the time to personally go through them. This matter ended in Kiana’s hands. She distributed some materials according to my instructions. The rest remained in her possession, mainly because everyone no longer accepts the treasures I gave.

Anyways, Kiana ended up sorting out things in the dual cultivation category. It ranged from toys up to treasures helpful for it.

Dual cultivation is divided into two types: exploitative and harmonious. The former plunders the essence of their partner to advance their cultivation. The latter utilizes the principle of yin and yang to enter a harmonious state—one where both parties benefit.

Kiana did not touch the exploitative ones. She knows me too well not to use them. This left her with the safe items.

I did not expect for the two of them—Kiana and Sirin—to come up with using the [Nine Yin Locking Seal]. It is fine to use it for short durations, but thirty years?

That’s pure torture.

But then, Kiana explained it was Sirin’s initiative. I couldn’t bring myself to reprimand them, more so when it is their own decision. Sacrifices are mutual in a loving relationship. Kiana made that point clear during our talks.

I sighed as I faced the pure white door. I am currently inside Sirin’s residence, a two-storey residence with a simple layout. I entered using the password and keys Kiana gave to me.

I did not choose to teleport. I walked my way up to the bedroom on the second floor. Turning the doorknob, I pushed the door open.

The thick aura of Yin Qi instantly greeted me. My body started to feel hot. I turned my gaze to the woman laying helplessly on the bed.

Sirin wore a pure white dress with translucent cold shoulder sleeves. Any sense of purity was swept by her revealed torso. A pool of clear liquid dripped onto the floor.

It’s time to help Sirin.

*****

A/N: Y’all already know what’s going to happen next. It’ll be 4k-ish words. There will also be a bonus chapter on top of that.

Chapter 277: Universe's Unanswered Equation

The ‘universe’ within the Imaginary Tree is vast. It holds countless worlds separated by barriers. Above all beings exist high-dimensional entities supported by the Imaginary Tree itself, the Aeons.

Each Aeon represented a Path, a concept. It bore huge resemblances to the Dao of immortal cultivation. Only, the notion of Paths itself is flawed. Shi Tian saw its underlying mechanisms from IX whose very self is replaced by the Path they held. The Aeons of this world are restricted by their Paths, as much as they access all the power that comes from it.

The Path of Erudition is not an exception. Its Aeon, Nous, seeks to solve all of the universe’s mysteries. Naturally, his Emanators sought to do the same. "Curiosity" exists in their very being.

Genius Society’s #83, Madam Herta, was the first to discover this hidden world. Her connection to Nous granted her everything Nous gazed upon—all of their knowledge, so to speak. The interest Nous held towards that unknown power was clearly felt by her… as if it was a power that answers a huge question. It is a transcendental question far surpassing even the likes of an Aeon.

Aeons themselves already hold great attraction for Herta, what more of a ‘question’ that piques THEIR interest?

Tap-!

Ripple-!

She knocked on the invisible ‘barrier’ twice. The ‘information’ it held swiftly appeared on her mind. Herta pinpointed a very interesting thing.

“A power similar to Paths, but also unlike it. Xianzhou’s myths bear similarities. Self-made Authorities and…”

A brand new type of energy.

All it took were two knocks to figure out the solar system’s peculiarities.

“A new system separate from Paths… No wonder.”

From the moment she saw the World Rendering Sword, she already discovered its subtle differences. It is similar yet 'different’ than the Aeons’ recorded descent. The following Divine Transformation Realm fluctuations further confirmed one of her conjectures.

The universe holds a flaw.

The 'Dao Integration Realm' encompassed something missing from the recorded Aeons' descent. It is an additional data. An extra tick in the system. But one overlooked by all.

She temporarily halted her current projects and tracked down the World Rendering Sword’s origin to this world.

She wasn’t disappointed. The fragments of information she found pointed to a new transcendent system. It is a system capable of turning a mortal into the likes of a God!

Herta’s eyes sparkled, her smiles appearing ever-so-often. Anyone who sees her act like this would fall to their knees and worship her as the second coming of Idrilla. She was like a child who received not one, but a thousand new toys.

Her probing ensued until the administrator of the barrier popped out.

Crack-!

Shatter-!

Herta was kicked out of the ‘server’. Nonetheless, her strong interest towards the solar system did not change. Her tranquil mind had long been turned into chaotic waves. ‘Stalking’ the information preserved within the imaginary barrier whetted her interest even more.

“How many questions can you bring..?”

*****

Things got peaceful. While waiting for Seele, I consolidated my new realm.

{Realm: Early Divine Transformation Realm (2%)}

{Mind: Early Divine Transformation Realm (1%)}

The ‘Body’ and ‘Soul’ are no longer separate. This fusion granted new capabilities to the Divine Transformation Realm cultivators. As long as a single infinitely miniscule trace remains in the world, they can resurrect. My life span increased to 12.5 billion. I almost caught up to the age of the discovered universe in my previous life.

The Nine Dragons Primordial Universe Body is overpowered when it comes to being an old turtle. However, they are also restricted by a kind of Heavenly Dao in typical cultivation worlds.

It wasn’t just them; almost all overpowered aspects have drawbacks. In my Tao Body’s case, it is the increased difficulty of bottlenecks. 

I can imagine why it existed. If there are hundreds of Divine Transformation Realms as powerful as me, the typical cultivation world would have been destroyed long ago. That Heavenly Dao is made to balance all things, ensuring everyone can reach the higher realms while causing minimal damage.

As for whether there are True Immortals who ascended under such worlds, it is very likely. The techniques I received are diverse, but one thing’s the same. All of them can be cultivated up to the True Immortal Realm. The knowledge I received at this point is in the billions. It is not wrong to say that I am the cultivation world.

I sorted my thoughts out and made some new plans, mainly on Earth’s next development. Humanity’s continued growth fed back to my Dao of Enlightenment. I am completely certain it can turn into a Dao before everything else.

Population development, artificial planets, and the likes are coming next. The best thing about it is I can dump my resources to solve these things. Not to mention trillions, even if humanity’s population reaches quadrillions after two thousand years, we can sustain a lot of living spaces for them.

Hum-!

The familiar presence behind me halted my thoughts.

“There is someone outside. I stopped her from probing.”

I turned back and saw Kiana with a serious expression. I already have an idea as to who it was.

“Does she wear a witch’s attire?”

“...You really know who it is as long as they are beautiful girls.”

Kiana pouted with a wronged look.

…

She’s very cute.

The lethality of an already cute and beautiful woman pouting is beyond the heavens. It rarely appears. Once it does, it makes my heart flutter.

She saw my look and became even flustered. I struck with the killing blow.

“It’s very cute. The way you pouted.”

“..!”

Kiana turned completely silent. Her abashed look made me want to bully her more, but I stopped.

“It’s fine if she gets it. I doubt she will care about the outside world.” I said to her. “Has the erosion begun already?”

My serious question brought Kiana back.

“Um. It’s not as bad as expected.”

The imaginary barrier’s interaction with the outside world’s forces is bound to corrode its strength. The Paths alone might exert greater influence through their Pathstriders and even Emanators. My World Rendering Sword worked wonders when it comes to intimidating them. This erosion is manageable.

“If it continues, we might have 1,500 years left.”

“It’s enough. Our power by then can manage it.”

Even if that was only enough to reach the pinnacle of Void Refinement Realm, it’s more than enough to handle most things. My hacks are no longer the Honkai, but the partners I have. Be it their Tao Gifts or the possible Innate Yin I can acquire, they have the greatest bearing for my current cultivation speed.

“By the way, is Sirin alright?”

A startled look appeared on Kiana’s face. I became suspicious.

Just what did the two of them cook..?

Chapter 276: Beyond the Barrier

“Your seclusion is too sudden… but we can’t blame you.”

By the end of her scolding, Veliona’s tone turned soft. I did not use words to apologize, but instead my lips. Kissing her moist pink lips, coupled by her narrowed eyes, spelled her approval.

We did not go for a long kiss. Veliona invited me inside the multi-storey pagoda. The first floor remained as neat as ever. The second to the eighth floor contained all sorts of spiritual herbs stored in separate rooms. Our destination, the ninth floor, is the solo floor for alchemy.

It is not unusual for alchemists’ failed concoctions to cause explosions and the likes. Seele’s obsessive compulsive disorder refused to make a mess out of things, and as such, designated an entire floor for the sake of precaution.

My eyes are greeted by an endless expanse of dark-blue. Each of my steps caused ripples to appear on the ocean’s surface.

“Bronya set this up, didn’t she?”

“You know her well, huh…”

Veliona affirmed my guess.

This simulated environment is caused by a sixth grade formation, Heaven Patching Formation. It can freely simulate countless environments suitable to the cultivator. Seele’s water spirit root fits well with oceans and the likes, providing her with a boost whenever she is in one. It can also slot-in an entire spirit vein to further improve this boost.

This formation is a staple within the Sect. Weaker versions of it already exist for weaker cultivators to use.

“Are you interested in Sister Bronya?”

Veliona suddenly asked a dangerous question. Her crimson pupils strictly scrutinized my reaction.

Before I could even speak, she already saw through me.

“So you do!”

“...”

I knew I couldn’t hide from her.

“Yes. Will you help me?”

“Humph. To think I will help you…”

“Won’t you?”

She gave me an exasperated look. Her teasing side dissipated into bubbles. I win.

“You already know the answer. Why ask?” She said. “I will help you. Even if it meant selling out Sister Bronya… but it’s not like she isn’t interested in you. Hm, you must have seen it already.”

“I did.”

I readily admitted to seeing Bronya’s feelings. She did not make it clear during our last meeting. I chose to wait for her initiative.

“If… Hm..!”

Veliona’s eyes widened at my surprise kiss. My right hand crept up to her waist. Her body felt delicate, inadvertently reminding me of the time her legs turned muddy.

My teasing went further. I used my tongue to pry her mouth open. Surprisingly, she is very cooperative. Upon capturing her narrowed eyes filled with satisfaction, my heart fluttered.

The sound of tongues intertwining is all I could hear. Veliona’s hands pressed gently onto my chest. It took a while to ‘disengage’.

“Do you want to…”

“No.” She shook her head. “Let’s wait for Seele.”

I followed through with her choice. The ambiguous atmosphere between us disappeared as we calmed down. Still, we continued to shower each other with affection. Veliona loved doing that by digging her face on my neck.

“How is it with the Bubble World?” I asked.

“It happened as you predicted. We cannot sustain their existence for long.”

I haven’t forgotten about the Bubble World inside Seele. I have a mission to reverse time and bring back everyone from the Previous Era.

As it turned out, the consumption of summoning a random person on the Bubble World is the same as summoning the Herrscher of the End. Summoning them for an extended period of time cannot be done. Vill-V and Mobius would have steamrolled through immortal cultivation’s integration with the Tree and Sea had it been possible.

Needless to say, their talents are the best I have ever seen. Their innovative ideas are something even I cannot consistently come up with. That was with me possessing hundreds of millions of cross-referenceable knowledge inside my head.

There is also Kevin and Grandpa Su. Kiana nor I couldn’t save them after the battle on the Moon. Kevin died due to his overuse of the Cocoon’s power. Grandpa Su used the forbidden technique to help Kiana scope out IX. 

Bringing them back involves turning back time, something possible with my current power.

“Are you also eyeing the women of this Bubble World? Miss Elysia, Miss Mobius, Miss Vill-V, and your “student”, Pardofelis…”

“The future is not fixed… but there’s a huge chance I will.”

“Hm.”

Unlike what I expected, Veliona did not say any sharp remarks. Her calmness stirred another wave in my heart.

I sensed her fear of being forgotten.

“Veliona.”

“Hm..?”

“I will love you. Forever.”

Her entire body froze. The next moment, it relaxed. She did not say anything else, but I can feel her joy. My free arm locked her waist in a hug.

For a while, I relished this moment of peace.

*****

The Imaginary Tree holds countless worlds on its leaves. This world does not exist like a conventional universe. Every “world” is separated by an imaginary barrier. It is akin to leaves hanging on a tree’s branches. Special means are necessary to cross one world from another.

The Path of Trailblazing is the universally acknowledged power when it comes to this. However, it does not mean that others are incapable of traversing worlds without it.

“A world hidden from the gazes of Aeons…”

The Memokeeper’s fingertips touched the ‘empty space’. Ripples appeared on its surface.

“Unrecorded even by Remembrance… As expected.”

Excitement began to surge from the depths of her heart. She is a part of the Garden of Recollection, a faction in this world under the Aeon Fuli. Their main purpose is to gather memories and ensure it will be remembered in the face of the world’s End.

Stepping onto a world never seen before is the equivalent of striking a gold mine for the Memokeepers. Their morbid obsession over recording memories is unmatched by others.

Unfortunately, she is bound to get nothing. The Memokeeper’s power is useless in the face of this gigantic imaginary barrier. More than seventy percent of Kiana’s (i.e., Cocoon’s) power is spent to sustain it. This huge expenditure is meant to shield the solar system (and its surrounding asteroid belts) from other worlds as well as block foreign invaders. It also has the function of speeding up time. Twenty years outside is two thousand years in the solar system, a full one hundred times difference.

Unless an Aeon personally takes action, it is practically indestructible. The question is…

Who will take action?

Everyone saw the World Rendering Sword exhibited by Shi Tian. The level of that power was more than enough to deter them all. At the very least, they cannot blatantly strike at the mysterious solar system.

The Memokeeper was forced to depart, jotting the location on her little notebook before doing so.

Just then, she glanced at this special world one last time. Surprised filled her eyes, if she had any.

“Elation is unsurprising. But…”

The visage of a witch was reflected on her light blue helmet.

Chaptrer 275: First Impressions Are Always...

Talking with Dudu felt as if I was looking at another mirror image of Kiana. Their ideals, though they differ, ultimately chase the same goal. 

To fight for all that is beautiful.

Back then, I could not help and take their ideals as my own. That was how beautiful it was.

“That’s right. I once met Miss Shushang.”

“Is it about the Blade Mantra?”

“Mn.”

She began telling me about their study of the Blade Mantra five years ago. It turns out that Li Shushang had attained the sixth level Tao Heart, the Divine Sword. Bianka followed suit three years after her.

The two of them solely discussed the Blade Mantra for an entire year. Shushang had to enter seclusion after sensing her breakthrough, thus it got interrupted now.

“We can create the new realm with the five... no, seven of us.”

“Seven? Could it be…”

“Miss Hua reached that level too.”

Divination is a very convenient thing. It stacked with my Encompassing Eyes in terms of summarizing important events that happened while I was breaking through.

Fu Hua broke through the Divine Sword as well. Senti followed her footsteps not long after.

Aside from us sword cultivators, Kiana, Sirin, Seele, and Veliona also reached the sixth level. The rest are on the verge of breaking through, particularly Bronya. Considering there are still 1,955 years left on Earth’s development, things are going pretty well.

I did a quick divination and received a date when everyone will be present.

“The date… It will be two years from now. August 15, 2064.”

I sensed admiration coming from Bianka’s eyes.

“Was that Divination?” She asked.

“Yeah. Divining complex things lessens its accuracy. The time when everyone leaves seclusion is not that complex.”

This topic reminded me of Bianka’s status as an Artifact Forger.

The Artifact Forging Vein has three top-secret projects on the Void Refinement Realm.

“I heard from Mister Yang about your assistance.”

“That one? It’s no big deal, really.”

Project Qan[T], Project Hyperion, and Project Zhuxian (lit. Immortal Slaying).

Qan[T] can gather all of humanity’s strength into one Mecha. Project Hyperion turns all of the solar system’s stars as formation nodes, thus gathering imaginary energy, quantum energy, and spiritual qi for enemy bombardment.

Finally, there was Project Zhuxian. It is a special sword artifact on the level of Dao Artifact, the equivalent of Dao Integration Realm. However, forging a Dao Weapon is impossible for now. What they are building now is the prototype of the Zhuxian Sword, a Dao Embryo (i.e., the equivalent of seventh grade artifacts). It is to be added with growth capabilities to transition into a Dao Weapon.

Its main capabilities is to 'borrow' humanity's "Past", "Present", and "Future" into one sword. Qan[T] borrows spiritual qi; Zhuxian Sword borrows humanity's causality.

“I consulted Miss Shushang about the matter. I could not understand its essence…”

Bianka asked about sword intent. The Zhuxian Sword is a Dao Artifact embodying the essence of killing. Its potency is its key, being able to extinguish even the tenacious immortals in a single decapitation.

She faced troubles when she did not know how killing intent felt.

“I can show it to you.”

Words are not needed. The memories of my time inside IX’s space resurfaced. The overwhelming powerlessness turned my thoughts murky, only to be completely reined in by me. Using it, I emulated the killing aspect of the Zhuxian Sword.

Space froze. Time went still. Not a single life passed through the mountain peak. 

Under Bianka’s shocked gaze, I manifested the so-called killing intent. No visible changes arose. Her eyes, however, perceived it clearly. 

“How is it?”

*****

The one-day long conversation soon ended. Bianka stared blankly at Shi Tian’s back. She ended up asking his guidance on what “Immortal Slaying” truly is. It was not some kind of sword nor ordinary mind set.

It was all about killing.

It was a broken, borderline obsessive, mental state that kills to achieve their intended purpose. Only in a twisted place can this kind of intent be born.

‘He…’

Bianka saw that exact same intent from Shi Tian. His endless years of isolation inside IX is more than enough to break his very existence, yet it did not. He lasted for a long time before being saved by the golden orb.

Although this experience can no longer affect him, it did not mean he had forgotten about it. The darkness hidden beneath his casual smile far exceeded that of an ordinary killing intent. Nobody sane enough can remain normal… except him.

Thus, emulating a lower-leveled power such as killing intent is extremely easy for Shi Tian.

‘What did he go through..?’

That same question popped up over and over again. Bianka thought she had seen darkness itself. It is why she has her current resolve. She saw the world’s evils and treasured the good even more.

However, when it comes to Shi Tian, she cannot find the words to describe him. Bianka experienced what Kiana, Seele, Veliona, and Sirin did. Their deep bond—body and soul—are enough to know many things about the other party. 

Coincidentally, Bianka reached the same conclusion as them.

‘Nobody should experience it… not even him…’

*****

The short-term matters are settled. There are still a few months before the others leave their seclusion. I was barely able to send the Tao Gifts to others while undergoing the breakthrough. A sliver of it is more than enough to pull up their realms.

In terms of realms, Kiana, Sirin, Veliona, Sirin, Bronya, and Sin Mal are on the verge of breakthrough. Meanwhile, Fu Hua, Senti, Ji Xuanyuan, Hei Xuanyuan, Mei, Queen Mei Himeko, and Theresa are on the peak stage of Nascent Soul Realm. Wendy, Anna, Rita, Bianka, and Shushang are on the late stage of Nascent Soul Realm. Finally, there are Vita, Griseo, and Leylah on the middle stage of Nascent Soul Realm. 

Once all twenty-one of them break through the Divine Transformation Realm, that would be the greatest hack in history. It is the equivalent of having twenty-one high grade spirit roots cultivating simultaneously for me. Add to that the imaginary energy tempering, spirit roots elevation, and the Innate Yin for dual cultivation…

I broke free from these idealistic thoughts.

It will take some time for Fu Hua and the others to reach the Divine Transformation Realm. The time needed for absorbing Tao Gifts is still considerable enough. I would need to wait for their breakthroughs to come.

A more realistic prediction is me requiring three hundred years tops to complete the Divine Transformation Realm. The entire Void Refinement Breakthrough is estimated to take a hundred years.

Reaching the Void Refinement Realm in four hundred years is absolutely exaggerated in typical immortal cultivation worlds. The difficulty of finding high grade spirit roots alone are high, much less the ones willing to become my partner. Most of these talented people must have a strong background and personality. 

Arriving in the Honkai World really is my biggest blessing. 

As for the Dao Integration Realm, it all depends on dual cultivation. Innate Yin alone is a huge booster of cultivation, more so the Innate Yin of a high grade cultivator. The Dao Integration Realm is no longer unattainable by then.

“You finally decided to drop by?”

Veliona’s grievance-filled look greeted my sight.

Chapter 274: Talks With Dudu

Erdos Helia, a graduate of Saint Freya Academy. Awakened middle grade Dragon Spirit Roots. She didn’t turn out to be my ‘partner’. That’s a good thing. I have twenty-one partners. 

Twenty. One.

I haven’t even met five of them. I confirmed my relationship with four—Kiana, Seele, Veliona, Sirin. I can already see my future. If I stay at home, I will be spamming dual cultivation.

Morning? Dual cultivation.

Afternoon? Dual cultivation.

Night? Dual cultivation.

Even with my ultimate grade Ten Elements Spirit Root and two high grade Tao Bodies, I could not help but tremble. Fulfilling my responsibilities to the four are already quite challenging, not to mention twenty-one. I don’t know how I will handle it. 

Heck, no one does.

Love is not as simple as collecting women like pokemon. Whoever does that is a true scumbag. That, or someone whose relationships do not go deeper than fuck buddies. I personally despise these kinds of relationships the most. They are a fake harem lord. 

A true harem lord has the ability to take care of one hundred girlfriends at once. Admittedly, my abilities are far from it. I can only hope that I can finish resolving it before the two-thousand years deadline comes.

I shook these thoughts out of my head. 

“The Heavenly Prodigy Program hasn’t started yet, right? Let’s put her into it. It happens I have a new batch of resources to give.”

“Will it follow the original schedule?” Welt Yang asked.

“Yes. Eight years from now on. Earth’s sense of crisis shouldn’t disappear completely…”

*****

The Wushi Dao Sect stood at the previous Mount Tai. Earth’s surface received the blessings of numerous spirit veins, causing the entire planet to become ‘tougher’. It did not change in size. 

Mount Tai alone is not enough to house the millions of disciples. Hence, floating islands and smaller mountain peaks are built. Every Vein has a separate mountain peak. The main activity, however, takes place in the original Mount Tai.

A sight made up of a tall mountain surrounded by floating islands could be seen. The surrounding fog and dew added further to the sight. To the outside world, however, only Mount Tai’s projection could be seen. The Sect itself exists inside another layer of the three-dimensional plane. Its internal space was also expanded.

At the top of the Sword Vein’s island was its Peak Master’s residence. Bianka did not leave her residence during most of the years, secluding herself all the time. The occasional fluctuations emitted from her residence made her a subject of reverence of the Sword Vein’s disciples.

Bianka’s residence was a two-storey modern courtyard. Its open yard houses a tall tree. Lush green leaves blocked the sunlight, leaving behind parted shadows. The tea table was right under its shade.

Bianka opened the snack cabinet and took out one pastry after another. The burst of flavors inside her mouth made her entire body relax.

Shortcakes, cheesecakes, cupcakes, puddings…

Knock-!

The light knock snapped her out of reverie. Bianka flashed straight to the front door and opened it.

“Hello.”

What greeted her was none other than Shi Tian. His attire was the same as she could remember. The double-layered Daoist Robes consisted of black and blue. The feathered white cape draped down from his back. The pair of golden pupils added another layer of majesty around him. Anyone who sees him will halt on their tracks, showing how absurd Shi Tian’s current charm was.

Bianka was no exception. It took her a second to regain herself.

“Please come inside.”

Shi Tian looked at Bianka’s back. She wore nothing except a large white t-shirt and black shorts.

‘Their fashion sense is the same…’

Being reminded of Kiana’s overtly casual attire almost made him choke on his saliva. Fortunately, it wasn’t black spats, lest he would have doubted whether the two are connected mentally.

Soon, the two of them sat across the table. He examined Bianka as she started taking the tea set. The dignified and solemn air around her prompts everyone to take her seriously. Her mature charm held a hint of chivalrousness. She is idealistic on her actions yet she is also grounded on reality.

The stark contrast of her two sides fascinated Shi Tian.

“Have we met before?”

Bianka’s question broke his internal thoughts.

“Yes, in Glastonbury. 2012.”

Her mind rapidly recalled her memories. Bianka saw the time she met a boy who appeared to be homeless. His features are worlds away from the current Shi Tian, but the similarities are there.

“I was homeless at that time. Miss Bianka should have heard of my background.”

“Yes. You belong to another world.”

Shi Tian did not hide his background from others. He came from another world and happened to land onto Earth. His teacher guided him in immortal cultivation, which gave everyone a chance to turn things around.

“That was my first day on this Earth. Come to think of it, I met you that day and Kiana the next.”

‘Kiana…’

Bianka had long known about her true background. Her memories automatically recovered the moment she stepped onto the Foundation Establishment Realm.

She is the original Kiana Kaslana. Otto used her bodily tissues to clone her and Sirin, which ended up as K-423. Siegfried attempted to rescue them, only for their plane to be shot down by Otto. He managed to save K-423, but Kiana ended up severely injured.

It was Ragna who took her to Otto for recovery. Such was the beginning of Bianka’s story.

She had confronted Siegfried, Theresa, and Kiana herself about it. Be that as it may be, her relationship between the three remains awkward.

Shi Tian saw the hint of awkwardness and brought a topic forward.

“Actually, she told me about you several times. Kiana wanted to spend more time with you if not for conflicting schedules.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. She bragged about having an older sister…”

Bianka is similar to Kiana in a lot of aspects. Had Kiana been properly taught by Siegfried, she wouldn’t be a bonafide Paramecium, but a twin of Bianka in terms of hard work. Kiana is capable of working hard as long as she sees the benefits.

Their different upbringing caused their personalities to diverge, but their core remains the same. 

They will fight for all that is beautiful.

The two continued chatting without noticing their unfamiliarity disappearing.

Chapter 273: Quanta

Theresa’s extraordinary situation alarmed the others. The first one to come was Rita. Her footsteps are silent. She did not cause any fluctuations on the surrounding space. She perfected the movements of a perfect maid even as an immortal cultivator.

“Greetings, Sect Master.”

She bowed elegantly as a greeting.

“How was the last thirty years? I hope I didn’t leave you with too much work.”

“It is fine. The work is manageable. Miss Bronya helped shoulder the burden of management.”

As expected, the CEO Duck is no joke. There’s a reason she became Mihoyo’s CEO.

“Aunt Theresa’s changes won’t harm others. I will set up a formation in case something goes wrong.” I returned Rita’s gaze back to her. “You might have to take over her role temporarily. This will last for about three months.”

“Understood. I will settle her due responsibilities now.” She was about to leave when she looked at me. “The Young Miss is out of her seclusion. When are you available, Sect Master?”

Bianka wants to meet me?

It doesn’t come off as a surprise. I still have a lot of ‘responsibilities’ left on others. I have a lot of partners whom I haven’t met yet.

“Is tomorrow alright?”

“Yes. I will schedule it tomorrow.”

After another elegant bow, the perfect maid disappeared out of the room. I did not waste time. I started setting up a sixth grade formation around the entire office. It took some time to finish it all. I looked outside the window and saw it was already dawn.

The formation’s up and running. I can leave Theresa for now and meet up with Bianka. But before that, I need a gift.

The storage ring I possessed is a seventh grade storage ring. Its internal area is the equivalent of the entire observable universe in my previous life. I can stash all of my treasures inside and still could not fill it completely.

Better yet, I have five of these.

I scanned for a while and suddenly remembered about my gacha. I briefly went inside the golden orb space and saw a full charge of 10,800 in daily draws.

I decided to draw all of them at once.

Hum-!

A magnificent sight appeared inside the ring’s internal area. Golden light covered more than a tenth of its overall space. Treasures of Divine Transformation Realm littered around. Sixty-two sixth grade storage rings floated amidst them all along with 105 Void Refinement Realm treasures. There are no Dao Integration Realm treasures for this batch.

I looked around the storage rings. Some of them contained one person’s stuff while there are others that contained the inheritance of an entire Divine Transformation Realm force. The treasures of Golden Core Realm and below that I currently possess are too many to count. Even if I donate a fraction of it to Earth, I would still have countless others in possession. 

I am not just rich. 

I am very fucking rich.

If not for me not wanting to spoonfeed Earth, I would have showered them with resources already. I decided to wait for one to two hundred years before releasing a small fraction of my wealth to hone Earth’s cultivators. Its complete sustenance chain of spiritual materials will mature then. It’s like giving fish to fishermen who already knew how to fish.

Hardships, innovations, and development is a good thing. I don’t want to mess up Earth’s development, not when everyone else committed massive efforts in making it possible.

“Welt must have completed half of it by now…”

*****

“The Quantum System needs to be rebuilt from scratch.”

Welt Yang is living the best retirement life. He served as the President for ten years before fading into the background. The disciples of the Wushi Dao Sect, however, knew him as the Peak Master of the Artifact Forging Vein.

Despite his cultivation being a major realm lower than other Peak Masters, everyone respected him. Welt Yang’s talent in Artifact Forging was so absurd he could forge sixth grade artifacts as a Golden Core Realm cultivator.

Unbeknownst to others, he is also undertaking three projects involving the Void Refinement Realm!

It is widely known that alien gods known as Aeons exist beyond the solar system. The Federation’s policy regarding Mandatory Military Training, Combat Readiness, and the Special Combat Zones containing dangerous monsters all stem from it. 

Naturally, the higher-level cultivators are preparing for the day the solar system’s lockdown ends.

The three top-secret projects in the Artifact Forging Vein are the war weapons designated to deal with strong Emanators. One of them was the Mecha inspired from Gundam 00, Qan[T].

Its main function, the Quantum System, is modified to borrow a portion of Earthlings’ powers and converge them into one. This includes high-level cultivators. Its theoretical ceiling is at the pinnacle of the Void Refinement Realm.

Welt Yang’s focus went to creating this Mech.

“This new design should work.”

Tap-!

Tap-!

…

The sound of footsteps echoing in the metal floor caught his attention. He looked back and saw a familiar figure.

“Long time no see, Mister Yang.”

He was momentarily stunned to see Shi Tian in the hangar.

“It has been a long time, yes.”

Recalling the time, Welt Yang felt sentimental. More than forty years had passed, yet neither he nor Shi Tian showed any visible changes in their appearance. If there was a change, it would be Shi Tian’s bearing becoming stronger. 

Dignity, power, amicability… 

His vibe depends on his current emotions. He is someone who can influence the world with small thoughts.

“I heard the Quantum System has to be scrapped?”

“That’s right. We were too conservative.”

Shi Tian glanced at the tall Mech and understood his words.

Earth’s knowledge repository all came from him. However, it is limited to immortal cultivation. The fusion of immortal cultivation, Sea of Quanta, and Imaginary Tree are completely new areas. This has been the main focus of Earth’s academic fields lately.

Welt Yang built Qan[T] by referencing hundreds of other Immortal Mechas. Its original limit was the pinnacle of the Void Refinement Realm. Things change when the Sea of Quanta is added. Its upper limit was raised to the Dao Integration Realm. Although, it was still riddled with a lot of flaws.

It wasn’t until they came up with a way for Qan[T] to harness the opposing powers of the Sea and the Tree did their progress ensue.

“Do you have a suitable pilot?”

Shi Tian’s question made Welt Yang pause.

“We have someone in mind. Einstein’s adoptive daughter has a partner. Her individual records inside the Class Two Special Combat Zone are in the top one.”

Shi Tian instantly thought of a familiar name.

‘Erdos Helia.’

Chapter 272: Teriri, Drink My Blood

I am cooked.

The way Theresa looked at me just now felt wrong. My upgraded Hexagram Spirit is telling me, with all its power, that I will have a romantic encounter with this small Principal. My intuition is at the Divine Transformation Realm level. Its accuracy is needless to say.

How will I explain this to Kiana?! To Siegfried?!

…

I forcibly calmed myself down. Maybe I got it all wrong. It’s too early to judge things.

“I thought Aunt Theresa will grow up once I return. What went wrong?”

“It’s no use asking me. I want to know it too…” She grumbled as her eyes darted around me. “Can you help me?”

“Hm…”

The familiar darkness consumed me. The white lines beneath my feet and the shattered glass fragments greeted my sight. I took out a brand new I-ching coin. It is a sixth grade artifact Kiana found somewhere after sorting out my stuff.

Flick-!

Clang-!

Once I caught the coin, I opened my hand. It flashed six different sides of a coin. 

Rumble-!

Click-!

The white lines beneath my feet became active. The glass fragments turned into possible scenarios in the future. I unhesitantly chose the largest one. Darkness consumed me for the second time.

“Stop moving. Leave it all to me.”

The woman’s voice sent shivers down my spine. It is barely recognizable, but I know who it is. 

I pulled for her Battlesuit!

I opened my eyes to a vast expanse of whiteness. Her black and red dress barely clung onto her body. My sight is blocked by that and her slender white neck. A slight tingling sensation came from my right shoulder.

The familiar movements awakened my memories of Kiana doing the same. It is all in the bloodline.

…

..!

!!!

Shit.

I hastily ended this divination process. Everything turned back to normal. I returned the gaze given by the small Teriri.

For a moment, I did not know what to say. I rarely lost my composure… and I did so now. That woman was definitely Theresa… in her Lunar Vow Battlesuit.

I really do not know what to do. I can already foresee Siegfried’s reaction. I can’t tell for sure with Kiana, but I feel very guilty about this one.

It’s fine if it is other girls, but Theresa…

How will I tell her that her aunt will join the harem?!

I experienced the feeling of wanting to cry but having no tears. All of my experience up to this point is useless in this predicament.

“How is it..?”

Theresa’s voice showed a hint of concern. 

“I got it. You need to fulfill a requirement.”

“W-what is it?”

I looked twice at her. The strange stuttering made me feel like she knew about the answer already.

…

That’s it.

There’s no use thinking about it. There is also no use hiding it. If it happens, it happens. Honesty is much better than hiding a secret. I got up to this point because I am honest with Kiana. A sincere love is better than one covered with white lies.

“You need to drink my blood.”

I chose to bite the bullet.

*****

A strange atmosphere permeated the room.

‘How did it come to this?!’

Things progressed a little too fast for Theresa’s mind to track. She was doing her daily duty as the Federation’s President when Shi Tian broke inside her office. He did not hesitate to help her resolve her growth predicament.

“You need to drink my blood.”

Her frantic heart became even more frantic. She could not stop it from beating faster and faster. The sense of shame, guilt, and a tinge of expectation turned her mind upside-down.

Theresa thought about this event for more than thirty years. It was inevitable she would look forward to it. Her body itself craves for his blood, as if it was its long-lost partner.

‘It is happening.’

She gulped down on her saliva. Theresa barely controlled herself from stuttering. The awkwardness between the two is thick enough to form a huge wall.

Shi Tian broke it down first.

“I’ll place it inside a container. My blood.”

“Ah? Oh.”

He took out a narrow-necked jade bottle. His right thumb wounded his pointy finger. A flash of golden light drew a line of blood, contrasting his smooth finger. Drops of blood began to accumulate on the bottle. Shi Tian controlled his physical body and drove his blood towards the wound.

No changes occurred inside the office… except for Theresa.

Shi Tian’s blood is an attractive treasure to cultivators in the lower realm, but that was it. It is a different thing for Theresa.

The scent of his blood contained that of an ultimate grade spirit root surpassing the Sun Spirit Root. It also has the traces of two high grade Tao Bodies. Its rich aroma instantly filled Theresa’s nose.

Desires began to overwhelm her sanity. Her blue eyes turned blank as she stood from her high seat. The blush on her face and ears became more apparent.

To Shi Tian’s surprise, her small hands grasped his wounded hand. Her pink lips parted upon placing his bleeding finger inside her mouth. He felt her warm tongue surround his finger. The familiar movements threw him off guard for the second time. Her eyes narrowed in satisfaction.

‘She’s blanked out.’

He could only sigh and begin driving his blood towards the wound. Shi Tian was not one who would take advantage of others’ weaknesses. Knowing he will end up with Theresa did not mean he could arbitrarily initiate contact with her.

His understanding of love is with sincere feelings, not just physical desires. Shi Tian believes it is the key for a healthy harem.

He patiently waited until Theresa had her fill. She soon lost consciousness before a blood red cocoon started enveloping her.

‘The same as my Nine Dragons Primordial Universe Body. Her situation is quite special…’

Originally, Shi Tian planned for the others to gain a high level Tao Body with a technique first. Then, he would convert their physiques to gain a second high level Tao Body. Most techniques have the mandatory requirement of having no prior Tao Body for it to work. It is the most flexible choice.

Theresa’s situation was very special. She was born with the genes of an emperor-class honkai beast and Kallen Kaslana’s genes. Despite being on the weak side, it formed a strange resonance with her high grade Moon Spirit Root. Shi Tian’s blood containing traces of ultimate grade spirit roots and two high grade Tao Bodies served as the equivalent of True Spirit Demon Cores.

Once Theresa wakes up, she can have two Tao Bodies, boosting her cultivation speed and other capabilities to a large extent.

“A grown up Theresa… It is bound to make a lot of noise.”

Shi Tian imagined the chaotic scene and laughed.

Chapter 271: Teriri's Bitter Gourd Juice Dilemma

“The future? I see.”

“...What else did you hide?”

Oops.

I composed myself and headed straight to the Moon after the breakthrough. I did not expect for Kiana to mention about an encounter with her “future self”. I quickly recalled the times I met mine and Kiana’s “future selves”. Those meetings are the precedent of obtaining the Dao of Mirrors.

“I did not particularly hide it. I forgot to mention it…”

I genuinely forgot about those encounters. Aside from giving small hints, they had no other effects.

“Hum. So, what was it?”

“It’s most likely your future self.”

“Then I am uber talented!”

I pinched her nose that was about to grow taller. 

“That guarantee doesn’t mean you won’t face any dangers. Don’t be too complacent. Who knows if…”

Her eyes widened before it turned serious. She understood what I implied—of something bad happening to me.

“Don’t. Don’t even think about it.”

“Sorry.”

“Hum…”

My apology worked. Kiana no longer had that reprimanding look.

“By the way, where’s Sirin? I saw her just now.”

“That…”

Her smile explained everything.

*****

Thirty years of rapid development elevated Earth’s overall level. Solving the basic world problems such as world hunger paid off extremely well. With the basic welfare provided by the Federation—food, lodging, and jobs—manpower flowed endlessly. What came after a period of time was reproduction.

Most of the worlds’ cultivators are in the Qi Refining Realm. Their fertility rates remain the same as mortals’. Only after the Foundation Establishment Realm do cultivators face a sharp decrease of fertility.

Even, Qi Refining Realm cultivators tend to have higher fertility compared to mortals. A strengthened physical body greatly contributes to it. Add to that the mortals’ reproduction rates, Earth’s population showed a rapid increase.

From 7.1 billion, it doubled to 14.6 billion. Immortal cultivators make up 6.5 billion while the rest are mortals. Accommodation and the likes were resolved by the Federation with floating cities as well as the spatial folding technology.

Due to these, a frenzied atmosphere appeared on Earth. Reproduction rates skyrocketed as most mortals aspire to have a child with spirit roots. It also helped that the Federation itself incentivizes the appearance of children with spirit roots.

The surge of the workforce single-handedly solved most of the Federation’s problems. Earth’s current prosperity is closely tied to it.

That, and the most esteemed President.

“I should have retired sooner!”

Theresa slumped on the desk with her heightened chair. A trace of fatigue could be seen on her pupils.

“I could have been drinking bitter gourd juice while reading HOMU comics at home…”

She sorely regrets becoming the Federation’s second President. It was supposed to be a ten-year term per President. Theresa would have retired by the year 2038. Everything changed with the arrival of the Law Enforcement Hall.

The purge of corrupt officials deterred anyone who harbored malicious thoughts.

Then came Shi Tian’s Divine Transformation Realm breakthrough. The second Sun hanging in the sky for three decades had long evaporated corruption. That power was the living proof of their statuses.

Since then, the next generations of officials have more integrity than the last. The basic salaries and incentives received by officials increased correspondingly, in turn increasing their satisfaction.

Theresa was the one who pulled it off, hence they gave her a big “surprise”. The amendment about the ten-year term turned into a fifty-year term. Everyone in the Council agreed; even the masses did.

Theresa was not only the mascot, but also the Leader that changed the world. Forget fan clubs, it is typical nowadays for a ‘Theresa Cult’ to pop up now and then.

This, however, meant that Theresa had to sit in the President position until 2078. When she tries to show even a tiny intent of resigning, the Council will flock to her side and beg her not to.

Everyone’s life—save for Theresa—is satisfactory. Be it for practical benefits or idealism, nobody wanted Theresa to retire. The entire fiasco ended up with Theresa promising everyone she will find a worthy successor.

“And this entire thing is a scam. Why did it work on Bronya, but not me?”

Theresa looked at her petite figure. Nothing changed in the last thirty years. She was still stuck in the body of an elementary school student.

When she saw Bronya’s changes during the Golden Core Realm, Theresa was exhilarated. Her motivation in immortal cultivation lies here.

She reached the Golden Core Realm. Nothing happened.

She reached the Nascent Soul Realm. Nothing happened still!

“...No. Blood..?”

Perhaps due to her fatigue, her thoughts began to wander off. Theresa recalled the tantalizing scent for the nth time.

The Moon Spirit Root is a documented mutant spirit root outside of the ten elements. People who possess it have a great affinity for practicing water, yin, and moon based techniques. It is the “ultimate softness” that complements the “ultimate hardness” (i.e., Sun Spirit Root).

It just so happened that there was someone in this world whose talents far exceed that of the Sun Spirit Root.

“If I drink it… His blood…”

Theresa has zero substantial evidence supporting her thoughts except her instincts. It has been a long time since she believed that Shi Tian’s blood surpassed the bitter gourd juice by light years.

The only thing stopping her from doing so was shame. Theresa is Shi Tian’s aunt-in-law. Doing such a shameful thing as drinking his blood was no different from infidelity in her eyes.

It feels very illegal.

“Should I ask him directly?”

The frustration she felt over her stumped growth accumulated over the years. Theresa barely restrained herself, lest she would have gone straight to Shi Tian and asked for ‘blood’.

“Yes, I should just ask him. No need to complicate things.”

“Ask what?”

“Eek!”

Theresa jumped out of her seat. She looked back and saw Shi Tian standing behind her. Her heart throbbed uncontrollably. Theresa could not calm down.

“W-why did you come to me?”

Shi Tian fell silent.

‘How should I tell her?’

His Hexagram Spirit instantly broke through the sixth level upon his breakthrough. His third-level understanding of the “Past” aspect throttled it all the way up. Divining urgent matters to attend to became trivial for Shi Tian.

Surprisingly, the most urgent one came from Theresa.

‘Inner demons from not growing up…’

He did not rush to laugh at her. It has always been Theresa’s concern since back in the days.

Moreover…

‘I didn’t expect Teriri to think about me.’

Chapter 270: Paramecium's Glorious Return

Obsession.

It is something that will always be present within an immortal cultivator. Negative obsessions often result in the shattering of Tao Hearts—a cause of inner demons. Triumph against them and one’s Tao Heart will be strengthened instead.

Seele’s seven hundred years of obsession led to a positive growth. Mei’s eighteen years of torment is another example.

I…

I could not escape it either.

“Fu…”

Sensing the dissipating power of the Endless Reincarnation Springs Tribulation, I did not open my eyes. My mind recalled the events I went through. True to its name, I went through a total of 99,999 reincarnations. Their contents are not fixed. It is a normal life at first, and then a martial arts world at the next. There are also worlds destroyed by apocalypses and the typical immortal cultivation worlds.

What was fixed, however, are the people I met. 

In the normal world, I met Kiana. We got married and had four kids. What was incredulous was that I ended up cheating with her “sister”, Sirin. As if that wasn’t unbelievable enough, Kiana ended up accepting our relationship. Sirin got pregnant and gave birth to my kids.

In the martial arts world, things are more direct. After meeting Seele and Veliona, we formed a three-man crew and challenged the entire jianghu (martial arts society). We consummated our marriage together. 

In the zombie apocalypse world, there was Raiden Mei who ended up rescuing me. Her exquisite sword techniques proved to be a boon in this world. Unlike the first two worlds, she did not allow anyone from stealing me—not even Queen Mei, who was her twin sister at that time.

Then came the spiritual qi revival world, high martial arts world, sci-fi world…

This tribulation lasted tens of millions of years. It would have been fine if that was it, but it was not. Every life ended in tragedy. Everyone I loved died right in front of my eyes. The sense of powerlessness was so disheartening not even suicide can remove that feeling.

Had I been consumed by that feeling over and over again, a complete annihilation would be the result. My sixth level Tao Heart retained my sense of self, fortunately. My mind is incorruptible. I can see through the level of this tribulation at the end of each reincarnation. 

This experience did reveal one thing. 

When I fought against IX, I used up most of the Void Refinement Realm mental power to unleash the World Rendering Sword. The remaining portion was stored inside the [Chaos Furnace]. At that time, the memories of spending endless amounts of time inside IX resurfaced. It was a complete memory, unlike the general outline I had. It is inevitable for it to affect my mind to a large extent.

Seele’s seven hundred years, Griseo’s 1,500 years… then there’s my endless years.

Its influence did not negatively impact me with the existence of my Tao Heart. Its effects are subtle.

Only in the tribulation did it resurface. That same sense of helplessness resonated with my feelings from back then. I realized one thing from it.

I won’t hesitate to kill anyone who threatens this leisurely life.

Cultivating to immortality, farming spiritual plants, showering my wives with love… I would never let go of this life… never..!

The answer to this predicament became clear after this tribulation.

To become a True Immortal.

This is my end goal. Not the Aeons. Not the Imaginary Tree. Not any other threats outside this world.

To become someone who overlooks the infinite realities and enjoys a leisurely life for all of eternity…

That is whom I shall become.

*****

Crack-!

“Hm..?”

Kiana’s attention was redirected to the source of “noise”. She sensed a special power that was both familiar and unfamiliar. It is unfamiliar because it differed greatly from the Cocoon of Finality nor the other Aeons she saw; familiar because it is from immortal cultivation.

Hum-!

A static sound followed forth. The Moon’s surface shook intensely. The next second, everything returned to normal. Kiana checked the “damages” caused by it, only to find nothing. She was the only one who witnessed it.

“What is this..?”

“.emoc yllautneve lliw tub ,emoc t’nsah taht enO .seitilibissop etinifni eht fo noitcejorp A”

She turned her back and saw an exact mirror image of her. The only thing different was her aura. Surrounding the other Kiana was the familiar Dao of Void and Dao of Time Kiana she focused on.

“.ti rebmemeR .noitcnitxe slleps driht ehT .evorp ot si dnoces ehT”

Shatter-!

Kiana’s eyes turned blank as the world returned to normal. Her mind has no traces of the prior meeting. She returned to what she was doing… until she felt her right palm burn.

“Ah..?”

Written in it was the exact words she had forgotten:

“The second is to prove. The third spells extinction.”

The somewhat intricate handwriting and extremely strong aura of Dao heightened Kiana’s guard. She was like a high-strung cat as her spiritual consciousness frantically scanned her surroundings. Her high alert caught the attention of the women living on the Moon. Sirin was the first one to step out.

“What happened?”

“It’s…”

Kiana decided to tell everything to her. Sirin frowned as she looked at Kiana’s palm.

“I can feel something strange in your palm. I couldn’t see the words on it.”

“You couldn’t see it? Then, you didn’t feel the shaking earlier?”

“No.”

Kiana’s mind wandered around the knowledge she knew about immortal cultivation. Shi Tian possessed an extremely large knowledge inheritance. All of the current cultivation techniques used on Earth came from him. 

She didn’t slack off and read through hundreds of thousands of techniques. For the Dao she majored on, she did not hesitate to master them to [Small Accomplishment] at the very least. 

It didn’t take long before Kiana found an answer.

“It’s me… a future possibility of me.”

The moment she pointed it out, it made sense to Sirin. Their connection allowed for sharing knowledge.

“So it is that…”

It is said that there can be no “true” time travel in immortal cultivation; it is a feat reserved for a True Immortal. At most, it is a “future possibility” affecting the Present Time. It is akin to the people of a future-version Bubble World temporarily stepping into the Real World to give some words of advice.

These “future possibilities” can manifest tangibly in the Present given that a cultivator’s potential is enough to guarantee that “future possibility” from existing. The said guarantee is none other than reaching the Dao Integration Realm and above.

If there was someone with a guaranteed chance of becoming a Dao Integration Realm expert, their “future possibility” can descend into the Present Time. This included guaranteed survival from life-and-death calamities.

The demand for talent, luck, and survivability made it a nigh-impossible feat.

Kiana’s meeting with her “future possibility” showed she is bound to reach the Dao Integration Realm sooner or later.

“The second… The third… Ugh, I am back in grade school again!”

The Tuna’s studying PTSD back when she was a Paramecium resurfaced.

*****

A/N: Bonus chapter.

Chapter 269: A Clear Resolve

The notion of the Cocoon of Finality and Aeons being fake immortal cultivators felt ridiculous, but acceptable. This world’s temporal dimension is inherently flawed. This flaw extending to the Aeons is not surprising. 

I looked at my Divinity and compared it to their statuses. Mine felt complete; theirs felt incomplete. They emitted the intensity of their respective cultivation realms, yet they also lacked several key aspects of it.

The Cocoon of Finality, for example. 

It is not karma-less.

Isolation of karma is the core of Void Refinement Realm. It is the mandatory requirement for the breakthrough. Being able to step on this realm without doing this leads to an extremely flawed power. The Cocoon did not exhibit signs of being that weak, however. 

It is weaker than my Void Refinement Realm power, but it is not weak to the point a Divine Transformation Realm can beat it. I could also sense a trace of an even higher-leveled power from it, which I suspect is at the level of Dao.

I relished in this feeling of omniscience until I heard a voice.

“Have you seen enough..?”

I snapped back to reality. The stunning Tuna appeared in front of me like the wind. Her star-like irises looked at me with a hint of teasing.

“Thirty years. Do you know what it means?”

I sensed a hint of danger from her words… and I already know why.

It’s all about being drained dry.

“Good. I have your word!”

“...I haven’t agreed to it yet?”

“You have no choice this time.”

She did not let me speak further.

Rumble-!

The brewing heavenly tribulations interrupted us. The overwhelming amounts of spiritual qi from Earth and Moon alone is comparable to an eighth grade spirit vein. It is a trifle for it to form a Divine Transformation Realm Tribulation.

“You made me work overtime. We’ll do it for five years!”

“Alright, alright.”

At this point, I knew I couldn’t escape this fate. Thirty years passed and the Tuna only got smarter. Too bad her smarts are used in lewd things…

Not that I complain.

I glanced at the forming tribulation above. It did not differ from the prior tribulations. Heavenly flames taking the shapes of True Spirits, Heavenly Winds that can tear dimensions with ease, and the infamous Eighty-One Death Heralding Thunder Tribulation consisted of the first three phases. The final one is the Endless Reincarnation Spring, the high-level version of Heart Demon Tribulations.

“We updated the protective formation ten years ago. It’s already in the seventh grade.” Kiana spoke beside me. “So, make it eight years.”

“...”

Why do I have a feeling my “debt” will reach up to ten years?

*****

A lot of things happened in the last thirty years. The Wushi Dao Sect’s Nascent Soul Realm powerhouses rose from eleven to twenty-one, making it the most powerful holy land throughout Earth. These are people who can affect the entire solar system with a single strike. 

The overall atmosphere of immortal cultivation remained uncorrupted by opportunistic individuals. Hei Xuanyuan’s existence was one thing. The Sect’s strength as well as the overwhelming power shown by the Sect Master intimidated them all. Nobody dared to be underhanded at all. The ones who thought they could get away were suddenly arrested.

All in all, the Earth of 2062 is leagues ahead of the Earth in 2015.

“Tsk, tsk. Is this the next realm? It’s so…”

Sin Mal attempted to observe closely at the Heavenly Tribulation beyond Earth, only for her spiritual consciousness to bounce back. Her mind suffered a backlash. Her thoughts became sluggish for a moment.

Silence pervaded her residence. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed her saliva. Her sluggish thoughts did not help in her chaotic thoughts.

Sin Mal’s heterochromatic eyes glanced at the dazzling Sun. It held hints of what she first saw fifty years ago; the same beautiful light that slowly captivated her. Its brilliance is fully unleashed now.

“...beautiful.”

It wasn’t just Sin Mal who got disturbed by the Heavenly Tribulation. Everyone who hasn’t entered full seclusion left their residences and glanced at the Heavenly Tribulation with amazement and trepidation. The panic died down as soon as they saw the protective formation shielding them from the outside world.

As for Mars and Phosphorus, they also have their own, standalone sixth-grade formations. They also have their own “supervisors”, namely Vita and Leylah. Both of them awakened high grade spirit roots and reached the Nascent Soul Realm.

The one who brought them along is none other than Kiana. Things became extremely simple once the literal incarnate of the Cocoon talked to them.

With Shi Tian on one side and Kiana on the other, the entire solar system is in their unilateral control. Power made things simple.

Fwooosh-!

Rumble-!

Sou-!

…

For three months, all they saw were the devastating attacks caused by the tribulations. Observing them is an opportunity, as if the Dao itself was there. Several uninhabited dwarf planets on the Oort Cloud got obliterated instantly, though they were restored by Kiana’s Finality power. The other major planets, however, are protected from direct harm. 

There is already progress of turning them all into colonies—training grounds of sorts. Mercury’s close proximity with the Sun is suitable for practicing Fire and Yang-based techniques. 

Venus’ atmosphere is harsh enough to temper physical bodies and further Blade Mantra 2.0’s practice.

Jupiter’s gaseous environment is suitable for wind-based techniques as well as unique forging methods.

Neptune’s coldness can be used as a special training ground for ice-based techniques, physical body tempering, growing ice-type spiritual plants, and so on.

One-by-one, Earth’s cultivators began to fall into sudden enlightenment. The number of people observing the terrifying tribulation decreased as time went by.

Finally, by the end of the third month, the three tangible tribulations ended.

‘This should be enough. The early stage will be faster.’

Shi Tian looked at the spiritual essences he obtained from the tribulation. He did not let a single ounce of it go uncollected by his [Chaos Furnace]. He was particularly strict about his cultivation speed.

Earth’s isolation will last for two thousand years at most. He had to hack his way through the Divine Transformation Realm and step into the realm of karma-less. That was the safest option he determined—one that allows him to face off against the Aeons head-on.

‘Ultimate grade Spirit Root… Three hundred years at most. I can reach the pinnacle of Divine Transformation Realm at that time. Then…’

Shi Tian cut his thoughts off. He already sensed the power of the Endless Reincarnation Spring manifesting around him.

‘...I can protect this leisurely life.’

Chapter 268: Divine Transformation Realm

The Divine Transformation Realm involves three things: Integration of Body and Soul, the sublimation of the Mind into the Divine Consciousness, and elevating one’s “status”. This realm is a huge threshold, a watershed. It is the boundary separating an immortal cultivation from a high-level immortal cultivator. All three stages require massive amounts of high grade spiritual qi—the ones suitable for Divine Transformation Realm.

Shi Tian shook his head and began the first stage.

His golden blood started to boil. Its circulation speed throughout his entire body became faster. More than a dozen Dharma Laws emanated from him. The glow his physical body emanated soon became far more dazzling than that of the Sun’s.

Shi Tian’s Nascent Soul flew out of his body. This child-like version of himself, sculpted from pure white light, followed his actions and sat cross-legged. It did not take long before it emanated a similar glow as his physical body’s.

This entire process took an entire decade. Everyone on Earth saw a second Sun appear in the sky. Glancing at it remained harmless due to the upgraded formation set-up around Earth.

In the eleventh year, the second Sun experienced new changes. 

The light surrounding Shi Tian turned pure golden. Its scorching brightness could easily blind one’s “perception”, rendering their sight “useless”.

The Nascent Soul grew to Shi Tian’s current size. Its position overlapped with Shi Tian’s physical body.

HUM-!

A vast tremor originated from his very being. Layers upon layers of dimensions shook under his presence. Its fluctuations were blocked by the imaginary barrier, only for a portion of it to seep through. Like an ink in a blank canvas, this small ink stained the entire universe black.

The signal awakened countless beings. All of them, whether weak or strong, followed the urge to look at the shooting star in their worlds’ skies.

{The fusion of Body and Soul is successful.}

{Realm: Nascent Soul Realm > Half-step Divine Transformation Realm}

Shi Tian did not stop for a second. The successful integration of body and soul gave him unprecedented strength, but it also made him feel a sense of ‘incompleteness’. His thoughts could no longer follow the strength he could exert, much like an outdated program inside a high-end phone.

The urge for his Mind to transcend became more apparent… and so he did.

Crack-!

Crack-!

Web-like cracks appeared in Shi Tian’s mind. Like a butterfly breaking free from a cocoon, it appeared pure and unfettered. It is desolate yet approachable, free from all of the world’s worries. New stars emerged out of nowhere. All because of reality following his wishes.

Such is what constitutes the divine.

{The sublimation of Divine Consciousness is successful.}

{Realm: Half-step Divine Transformation Realm > Divine Transformation Realm (Unanchored, Temporary)}

‘I knew it. Status is important.’ He thought. ‘It is based on one’s Dharma Avatar. I can finally experience the typical protagonist treatment.’

Due to the degree of completeness of the golden orb’s immortal cultivation, it placed no distinctions on one’s “foundation”. There are no human, mysterious, earth, and heavenly grades of Foundation Establishment. There are no nine-pattered and dao patterned Golden Cores. There is no earthly or heavenly Nascent Soul. A genius’ advantage manifests in their cultivation speed and capability to leapfrog through realms, nothing else.

However, it is different starting the Divine Transformation Realm. The more ‘complete’ and aplenty the Dharma Law held by one’s Dharma Avatar, the higher their “status” will be.

As for “status” itself, it is the most special aspect belonging to high-level cultivators. It represents one’s “weight” of existence. It is turning a three-dimensional object into a higher-dimensional one. The heavier the weight, the more they can affect the more complex spatial dimensions as well as the special temporal dimension.

‘Divinity.’

Shi Tian’s boundless mind calculated every possibility present before arriving into one.

‘Light the flames of Divinity. A mark that transcends all dimensions. A proof that I exist.’

Gradually, a small silver dot emerged out of his pure golden self. It swirled one after another, mixing various colors as it did so. 

The Dao of Five Elements came first, followed by Sword, Cloud, Life…

All of Shi Tian’s comprehended Dharma Avatar Aspects came together to form a unique “status”. It is an ethereal “thing” existing in conceptual state. It is also closely tied to the Dao one would take at the Dao Integration Realm.

A status’ function is simple: to elevate one’s plane of existence. In the truest sense, he had moved one step towards the Cocoon of Finality’s level of “existence”.

‘The status of All Creation…’

His ultimate grade ten elements spirit root and Ten Lights Immortal Physique are keys to step onto the Dao Integration Realm, with the Dao of All Creation as the endpoint. The rest of his Dharma Avatar Aspects complemented the power belonging to All Creation—the mix of Ten Elements, Yin-Yang, Extremity, and Void.

‘Seventeen different Divine Laws… no, Authorities.’

Shi Tian watched as the status turned into a dazzling silver halo floating atop his head. It brought forth yet another surge of power. He felt he could turn the world upside-down with the swing of his hand. He can now affect all ten dimensions to a greater extent, going as far as to easily manipulate the reality within the three-dimensional plane.

{The establishment of Divinity is successful.}

{Realm: Divine Transformation Realm > Divine Transformation Realm}

The updates brought by his Encompassing Eyes no longer has the unanchored state.

It confirmed his entry to the Divine Transformation Realm.

Bang-!

The mystical golden light surrounding his body dispersed everywhere. It blessed the creations within the solar system. The stars began to exhibit signs of mutation. Spiritual qi began to be formed at the depths of their core. Given enough time, they would produce precious spiritual materials.

At some dwarf planets, patches of green arose. The mere thought of a Divine spanned across billions of years of natural development. Life was granted to the previously desolated planets.

Shi Tian opened his eyes to the “new world”. Every single information inside the solar system entered his mind—be it simple or complex. His divine consciousness vastly differed from spiritual consciousness. It is not wrong to say that everyone below his current realm can be affected with a single thought. He is now a bonafide reality warper, although severely limited.

Out of them all, two stood out from everyone. 

Seele and Veliona possessed a very special connection with the Sea of Quanta. They are its beloved daughters, but also its experimental approach towards immortal cultivation. 

Kiana is the most special person chosen by the Cocoon of Finality. She is the only one who Embraced this high-dimensional entity throughout billions of years.

These two people possessed a “status” with a weight no lesser than Shi Tian’s, if not heavier. It also enabled him to “see” the statuses of other “beings”.

‘I can see them now.’

Unconsciously, a smile crept up to his lips. He was not deterred by the extreme difference between them. He was motivated by it.

‘I couldn’t see it before…’

Back then, the difference between him and these colossal entities was so huge. It is just like the vastness of the sea. The difference was so huge he could not see the end of it.

It is different now.

‘Void Refinement, Dao Integration, and Tribulation Transcendence. I can see them now.’

Shi Tian saw the ends of the sea. What was once an insurmountable mountain became surmountable.

The Cocoon of Finality has the “status” of a Void Refinement Realm;

The Aeons has the “status” of a Dao Integration Realm;

The Sea of Quanta has the “status” of a semi-Tribulation Transcendence Realm.

While his current estimates might not be accurate, it is within these ranges. The main problem came from these entities themselves. To Shi Tian, they felt incomplete, much like the fake immortal cultivation of the Herrschers.

‘Are they also…’

Just then, a certain Tuna interrupted his thoughts.

“Have you seen enough..?”

The smile in Shi Tian’s lips froze.

Chapter 267: Approaching Divine

The familiar pure black space greeted my eyes. Lines made of white lines originated from my footsteps, heading forth towards the unknown. 

I flicked the coin I held and caught it mid-air. I opened my palm and saw six different outcomes appear. Fuzzy memories popped up inside my mind.

Hm, Wendy and Anna won’t exit seclusion until a year later. I can set aside their matters for now. Their mental states are normal… Thank goodness.

Sirin can wait for a while. She’s… preparing something?

For a moment, I felt the urge to divine it, only to stop.

Even without this session, I knew about Kiana’s frequent interactions with her. They are cooking something together. 

Then…

I can break through now!

Words cannot describe what I felt during this long wait. My Tao Heart is already at the sixth level, Divine Sword. Everything except myself is ready for it. My heart longed for the Divine Transformation Realm.

Time and time, it has been proven that Nascent Soul Realm is severely insufficient when it comes to dealing with enemies. The level of awakened Herrschers fall steeply compared to the Emanators whose singular strength can stump galaxies. Heck, the members of the Stellaron Hunters alone have the power to destroy planets… Well, some of them.

The Divine Transformation Realm is a safety threshold. I can use the innate ability of my Nine Dragons Primordial Universe Body to summon the dragon phantom. I can temporarily reach the pinnacle of Divine Transformation Realm by then. There is also the Ten Lights Immortal Physique overlaid on it. It also has a unique ability similar to my other Tao Body. Its existence overlapped with the Daos I treaded, further strengthening them.

Most importantly…

I can finally crush others with my realm.

My encounters with the Honkai is like fighting against higher realms. Heck, immortal cultivation couldn’t show its full potential during these fights. 

Herrschers, for example. Not once did I fight them using artifacts. The Cocoon of Finality and IX were faced off using my Tao Heart alone. During these instances, my enemies are way above my current realm. Nascent Soul level artifacts—Dharma Artifacts—could not pose a threat to them.

My current resources are vastly different now. As long as I equip myself with a few Divine Transformation artifacts, Divine Artifacts, I can fight against a dozen Herrschers of the End without using a forbidden technique.  The same applies to Void Refinement Realm artifacts, Embryonic Dao Artifacts.

In short, immortal cultivators are now eligible for the pay-to-win route. I can finally fight like a true immortal cultivator instead of a poor cultivator whose sole weapon is his World Rendering Sword.

I let out a sigh as I imagined the promising future. Earth, the Star Rail, Aeons…

I am looking forward to these encounters.

*****

A month later, both the Federation and the Sect received a groundbreaking announcement:

The First Cultivator is about to break through the Divine Transformation Realm.

Shi Tian’s name was pushed to the front of the news once more. Although his current realm was publicized, nobody can imagine how he managed to be several steps ahead from others. Immortal cultivators know the difficulty of cultivating. That was despite the Blade Mantra 2.0’s existence, something capable of speeding up one’s cultivation speed.

For those who cannot comprehend it, they are even more affected. The majority of Earth’s cultivators consisted of low grade spirit roots. Their highest cultivation is hard-locked at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment Realm with a lifespan of 500 years.

Cultivation’s inherent difficulty and this race against time made the public even more incredulous as to what level Shi Tian’s talent had reached.

Then came the next bombshell:

He will hold a Dao Questioning Conference prior to his breakthrough.

The said event will be seen by the entire world. Shi Tian will transmit his voice and figure to every person within the solar system. His spiritual consciousness had long reached the level of being able to do so.

As such, everyone waited for the destined day with abated breaths. The moment the clock struck, a voice appeared within everyone’s minds.

“The Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao.”

Tao Te Ching’s long-standing status extended up to this world’s Earth. Some of its principles perfectly encompassed the golden orb’s way of immortal cultivation. The Dao held by Dao Integration Realm cultivators are ever-changing, yet it also orbits around a central concept. This kind of contradiction is common in the Dao Integration Realm.

To those who witnessed Shi Tian’s World Rendering Sword, these words resonated more thoroughly. Everyone saw an ethereal phantom, with his back facing them. He continued to utter the words of wisdom.

One by one, they fell into a state of enlightenment. It started with the Qi Refining Realm, then the Foundation Establishment Realm, Purple Mansion Realm, and Golden Core Realm. Mortals did not escape. They, too, fell into a state of Enlightenment. Whether it be on Earth, Phosphorus, or Mars, time stood still.

Only those at the Nascent Soul Realm did not experience such changes.

Shi Tian opened his eyes. The blazing Sun was reflected in his pupils. He sat cross-legged atop it.

“Enlightenment… It’s quite a long way to the eighth level.”

The Dao of Enlightenment is a special Dao Shi Tian earned by being the First Cultivator. It has the power to send its targets into a state of Enlightenment, all at the cost of Shi Tian’s spiritual qi. Since the Dao of Enlightenment is reliant on the civilizations’ level, this action gives a positive feedback to its growth.

“Hm, even mortals benefitted.”

For a while, a short-haired cultivator nodded every now and then. Him directly sitting cross-legged above the Sun did not matter.

His long list of thoughts halted when he sensed everyone break free from their enlightenment state. It took an hour for mortals up to three days for Golden Core Realm cultivators.

“It’s time. I wonder how long it will take…”

Shi Tian pulled his sleeves and stood up. The vacuum environment surrounding him further elevated the sense of mysticism caused by him. Space shook. Layers upon layers of dimensions emitted a humming sound. 

The sword in his hands worsened this reaction. It was the same pitch black dao (lit. sword) Shi Tian used back in the days, the Beginningless Sword. Having been upgraded to a Divine Artifact, he could freely use it to confront the incoming tribulations with ease.

This is the sole artifact he had refined and perfectly controlled. The rest has to wait until he settles this breakthrough.

‘To turn everything divine… to become a God.’

Shi Tian took his step into becoming a true high-level immortal cultivator.

Chapter 266: Shi Tian's Number One Stalker

Wushi Dao Sect, Divination Vein.

It is one of the more lowkey veins (i.e., departments) of the Sect. It does not have as many disciples as the other Veins, mainly because of its talent threshold.

It is too high.

Divination requires good comprehension. Most disciples with good comprehension had chosen other veins such as the Alchemy Vein, Weapon Forging Vein, and Formation Vein to make a living. In a world where spirit veins are abundant but resources are scarce, not much had the time to dabble in Divination whose sole function is to foresee danger and opportunities.

Danger? The First Cultivator’s unfathomable power deters all evil forces.

Opportunities? What more opportunity is there than the readily accessible resources within the Sect?

Overall, the Divination Vein has a low popularity. Its disciples are akin to gamblers who either win big or earn nothing—still an acceptable outcome. The basic supplies handed by the sect are what kept them afloat. Most already regretted their selected specialization. Those who had left abolished their Hexagram Spirit and had to recuperate for years before being able to try a new specialization. The remaining disciples stayed due to sunk-cost fallacy.

Then again, their Divination Vein has a prestigious Peak Master. She was none other than Wendy. Nobody expected for her to choose the Art of Divination. Bianka, for instance, chose the Art of Weapon Forging and its [Treasure Organs] specialty. Her physical constitution grew more rapidly and complemented her sword path.

It would have been better for Wendy to choose the Art of Formations as it complements her talents, or so most people had thought. She used to major in the Art of Formations, having her Thirty-Six Heavenly Phase Flags at the second level. However, she abolished it and turned into Divination.

Wendy chose it for a reason: to dig deeper into the past.

More than twenty years ago, she was Saint Freya’s most promising Valkyrie. She was touted to have the potential of a S Rank Valkyrie. That was until she got assigned into a top-secret experiment. Wendy, whose honkai resistance was excellent, got chosen to become an “Artificial Herrscher”.

It wasn’t until a week prior the experiment was forcibly halted. Headquarters recalled the Gem of Desire. Wendy was reassigned to the frontlines, accruing merits and rising through Schicksal’s ranks.

Once the advent of immortal cultivation came, she awakened a high grade wind spirit root and rose to the ranks of a Golden Core Realm master. She also mastered the [Blade Mantra 2.0] to the [True Form] realm.

She didn’t take much pride in it, however. More than half of the credit belonged to Shi Tian. Wendy researched a lot about it. She just so happened to dig out an old intel that there used to be a ‘negotiation’ between him and Schicksal’s former Overseer, Otto Apocalypse. Shi Tian possessed the Gem of Desire and the eighth divine key, Fenghuang Down, in exchange for the Second Divine Key.

‘Strange…’

It was like an itch scratching her heart relentlessly. Nobody she knew could explain why Shi Tian took the “useless” Gem of Desire during that trade. Even Bronya, whom she asked, could not explain why.

However…

“There are inexplicable things he would do… for an unknown reason.”

Having heard Bronya’s response, Wendy took it upon herself to investigate things. She decisively abandoned the Art of Formations and turned to Divination. Her prior knowledge with formations greatly helped with Divination. She boosted her Hexagram Spirit to the fourth level with resources and sheer talent.

Then came the most interesting thing. Divination Masters can utilize the Sea of Quanta to their advantage. They can induce the Sea to manifest new Bubble Worlds. These Bubble Worlds hold the information about the Real World’s “Past” and “Future”. It is extremely limited compared to the immortal cultivators’ control over the temporal dimension, but Wendy made do.

She induced the creation of a Bubble World containing the past. There, she was able to view Shi Tian’s past, albeit very vaguely. Several forces joined together to block Shi Tian’s information. Only a few fragments are left behind. She was barely able to reconstruct the past through them.

That’s when disaster struck.

‘So cool… No, I shouldn’t be doing this!’

Fortunately, she wasn’t able to freely view his past, lest she would have developed a strange fetish regarding voyeurism.

Unfortunately, these few fragments did not contain any useful information. Wendy was forced to look for other options. She slowly made her way, progressed her proficiency in Divination, and strengthened her cultivation. Unlike Mei, it was a healthy goal she strove for. Her determination to resolve this puzzle piece grew stronger…

Until she found the way.

A full five years of pursuit and it boiled down to one thing. All she had to do was to create a Bubble World without Shi Tian in it. Wendy wanted to know about her future trajectory without Shi Tian’s help. 

Thus, reality struck her hard.

The top-secret experiment turned her into a cripple. Gone was her strength, replacing it with fragility. She had to constantly bear the burden of honkai energy rampaging inside her body. She went through all of it just to get an unresponsive Gem. Wendy had to go through it for two years. Her psyche had collapsed. She blamed the Gem of Desire; the Schicksal; and the world.

A single choice destroyed her life.

Though she could not see her ending, Wendy knew it wasn’t far off from a bad one.

‘How blind I was, to only realize it now..?’

It was extremely easy to simulate her previous Valkyrie constitution and have it clash against the Gem of Desire… not that it mattered now.

Wendy’s discovery answered her long-held question. Shi Tian’s possession of the Gem of Desire was tied to her. Further questions such as “Why would he do it?” became easy to answer. She herself has unparalleled capabilities of seeing the past and future. What she can do, Shi Tian can also do.

Thus, the biggest question was:

“Why is he willing to help a stranger like me?”

‘Something only he could answer…’

She looked forward to their meeting more.

*****

A/N: It's not a yandere this time ;)

Chapter 265: On a Yandere Streak???

I am on a three-time streak.

Seele, Sirin, and Griseo. It’s three and a half if I consider Hei Xuanyuan. Fortunately, her mental state is not as shaky as the other three. The threat of Honkai made me overlook a lot of things. The fight against the Honkai brought a lot of trauma. It is inevitable some would find themselves in a broken mental state. 

Meaning, the chances of this world’s people—women in general—having a broken mental state is extremely high.

Eighteen years later after the Honkai was defeated, this problem became very apparent.

I glanced at the elegant woman sitting in front of me in a seiza. Her eyes revealed her chaotic thoughts. Mei did not hide her thoughts. This kind of deep obsession was comparable to Seele’s… no, to Sirin.

I am on a four-time streak.

“I neglected you for eighteen years. Please accept my apologies for that.”

I slightly lowered my body towards her.

“Shishou..? No, there’s no need to apologize. It is I who should do so. I failed your expectations!”

Thus, the scene turned into two people bowing at each other. My speechlessness must have showed up in my face as Mei stopped bowing. She sat upright on top of the futon. Her attire did not change. It is her pure black high school uniform made from spiritual silk. Her long purple hair touched the ground. Mei did not tie her hair, resulting in a very appealing look.

The look in her eyes changed as changes occurred inside her Tao Heart. It is visibly increasing at a fast rate. It has already reached the fourth level and is still rising. Correspondingly, the obsession in Mei’s purple eyes grows stronger. A weird atmosphere started to emerge between our silence… so I broke it.

“A sudden enlightenment does not differ from gradual progress. I am glad to see you find your heart.”

Mei’s gaze turned even stronger when I mentioned these words.

“I understand. I will follow my heart… my true will.”

…

I guess this is it.

I acknowledged the thing that is about to happen. Mei’s “enlightenment” is deeply tied to me. She does not look at me like a typical teacher. It is contrary to the typical teachings of the immortal cultivation whereas one’s teacher is to be treated as one’s parents. Her look is not one given out of respect.

It is something else.

“Shishou… can I ask for a reward?”

“What is it?”

“After I break through, can I… spend time with you for a day?”

Spending time for a day…

It is not as bad as I expected. The level of her obsession towards me surpassed Sirin’s. Her reaction at that time was for me to use her to my will. She surrendered everything to me. She wanted me to possess her.

Compared to that, a day out with Mei is far tamer.

“It’s settled.”

A thin smile drew on her lips. 

Why does it feel like I fell into a trap?

*****

Mei stared intently at Shi Tian’s departing back. They conversed for a while before he left Mei to consolidate her injuries and breakthrough. 

At this moment, her Tao Heart had reached the fifth level, Innate Sword Soul. Her thorough understanding of herself ripped off Mei’s trivial disguises.

She will strive towards what she wants.

‘He… is a romantic man.’

The technique for soul synchronization has been increasingly popular within the Herrschers’ circles. Their nigh-identical souls allowed them to form a connection with their other personas, share cultivation, master two different specialties, and so on.

Once the two people form a “perfect connection”, they can readily share anything to the other party. That includes cultivation insights, memories, and senses.

The moment Mei made up her mind, she had long since entered that state with Queen Mei. The latter shared to her the events she missed out on. Mei skipped Earth’s major events and focused on one thing:

Shi Tian has two girlfriends.

At first, she could not believe it. Her impression of Shi Tian was that of a responsible man. He willingly risked his life and almost turned into a mangled flesh to defeat the Honkai.

But…

That made her rejoice.

Mei did not know the circumstances around Shi Tian and his personal love affairs, nor does she need to know about it now. 

All she needed to know was that she had her fighting chance!

‘To be by his side, to surrender myself to him…’

A jolt of lightning went through her body. She, who would control lightning with her will, felt helpless to it. Lines of clear liquid crawled down on her plump thighs. Her skirt did nothing to hide it. Fortunately, nobody was present to see this…

Well, one person did.

On the Moon’s surface, Queen Mei appeared to be dazed. Her mouth remained open in an o-shape. 

‘Is my other self that helpless..?!’

She would willingly give the crown of losers to Raiden Mei. She never expected for her to turn into a twisted lady, more so a rational one. She saw how Mei transformed from a depressed loser into an elegant yet cunning woman who boldly showed off her emotion to her teacher.

What’s worse in her eyes was Shi Tian’s tacit approval. He never bothered to point it out nor correct it. Queen Mei knows him well; he should have seen Mei’s internal thoughts. The rapid rise of her Tao Heart, however, begged to differ. It proved that what Mei realized is her true self. It was what she truly wanted: someone who will stay by her side and affirm her existence. That someone happened to be Shi Tian.

Only, Mei’s experiences twisted the once innocent young lady. 

‘Humph… but it’s not bad.’

Queen Mei readily accepted her changes. She would rather see a Mei who would directly fight for her wants than someone who will do nothing yet expect something. In this regard, their thoughts overlapped. It is their common trait, a core of what made Mei, “Mei”.

‘Who will expect him to be like that..?’

Shi Tian was simply too dazzling. He already showed what he is willing to do to keep the world afloat—to protect what others deemed as their home. Shi Tian’s circumstances with other women seem more trivial once it is considered. Even then, he does not act like a typical playboy. He did not hug women left and right. What he sought was a real relationship born out of a spiritual connection—the term “true love” in modern language.

Queen Mei could foresee more women falling for him with this aspect alone.

She’s not spared of it.

‘A perfect man…’

Chapter 264: All Roads Lead To...

I made a lot of mistakes. I can admit to it.

When I used the World Rendering Sword to replenish the traces of my mind, I should have made one exclusively for Mei. I never thought about it at that time. I was pressed by my limited time in utilizing this eighth level power. I made this huge mistake.

I looked at the girl sitting in a seiza. Not a trace of light could be seen inside her dwelling. Some parts of the floor had dark red spots. Fragments of broken items littered around. 

This is not a house at all…

No one would think that the dignified Queen of Chiba Academy will end up in dire traits… not even me.

A mistake. 

A big fucking mistake..!

For a moment, I don’t know how to face her. My negligence for Mei cannot be fixed with a simple sorry. I pushed her to become an immortal cultivation, yet I wasn’t able to properly guide her as a teacher. This is the responsibility I failed to uphold.

Not even defeating the Cocoon of Finality could compare to this heavy feeling inside my chest.

…

No matter what, I will bite the bullet.

Just then, spiritual qi fluctuations emerged from Mei’s frail body. Her shoulders shook intensely as she fell to the ground. I saw everything instantly. I reappeared right behind her and took out several pills. I carried Mei’s fallen body and flipped her over. My left arm supported her back. 

I disregarded the softness I accidentally touched and placed the round pill in front of her wounded pink lips. Her reddened eyes appeared to be in a daze. The power of Enlightenment gathered on my middle finger. It manifested in a form of golden light and seeped through her forehead. Her eyes swiftly turned to normal.

A plethora of emotions emerged from those purple irises.

“Can you hear me? Mei? You need to open your mouth… no, cover it with your spiritual consciousness. I will direct its essence to you…”

It took a while before she could respond. Her spiritual consciousness enveloped the golden pill. My spiritual consciousness also enveloped the pill. It merged with Mei’s spiritual consciousness.

‘...worthless student.’

‘...do anything.’

‘Cannot…’

‘...stupid…’

Some of Mei’s thoughts gradually opened up to mine. My heart sank before I swallowed my guilt. I began to control the merged spiritual consciousness. The golden pill melted into a golden pool of fluid, and then a ray of golden light. The moment it sank onto Mei’s chest, her mottled Golden Core stopped producing any more cracks. Some of them vanished instantly while the rest grew visibly smaller.

Using the same method, I fed her three other pills. It dealt with the damages on her mind and physical body.

Seeing her face turn rosy and her breathing become stable, I heaved a sigh of relief. Her eyes caught my attention. Mei stared intently at me. It looked as if she wanted to say a lot of things but could not.

For a while, nobody said a word.

“Let’s have a proper talk, Mei.”

*****

‘It’s so bright.’

The first thing Mei saw after coming back to senses was her teacher’s concerned look. His golden pupils instantly drew her attention. It was just as imposing, if not stronger, than what she could remember.

Hidden underneath these eyes is concern, something Mei had never expected.

‘But… why..?’

She already imprinted her uselessness on her mind. She is a useless student, a useless person who could not do anything except wallow from her sorrow borne from her mistakes. She was someone who could never take a step forward by herself, requiring acknowledgement to sustain her very being.

Such a dependent person deserved nothing but to fall in the path of immortal cultivation.

‘Teacher… gave me another chance.’

Her inner demons spawned out of smaller things before it nearly grew unstoppable. Mei is extremely aware of it—on how ridiculous it was to nurture inner demons from these small mistakes. She felt she does not deserve any other chance in life, that this pathetic display is completely undeserving of the care she received.

Yet…

Yet..!

‘It is warm…’

She could not help but be happy.

Shi Tian’s act of acknowledging her existence by dragging her from the gates of the underworld sent tremors to her soul. For the first time in a long while, happiness greeted her like sunlight seeping through her windows.

Then, the act of their spiritual consciousness “worsened” her condition. Mei intercepted Shi Tian’s thoughts. The most overwhelming emotion was guilt.

‘No…’

The thought of committing suicide instantly came to her mind. But then, she realized it would do nothing but worsen Shi Tian’s guilt. His concern towards her ran very deep.

Mei was stuck between self-loathing pure bliss.

‘Even a useless person like me can…’

Perhaps she acts similar to a puppy in the eyes of others. But, if it came down to it, she would gladly become her teacher’s puppy.

Nobody would have expected that fighting inner demons for eighteen years, in seclusion atop that, would change Raiden Mei…

No, that was not it.

She did not change. She was merely throwing away all pretenses, revealing who Raiden Mei truly is.

In the game, the continued bullying of her classmates led to the emergence of her stigma personality. However, it was this same bullying that drew Kiana closer to her. To Mei, she was nothing short of a white moonlight (i.e., idealized person). 

She spent countless hours cooking despite not having touched any kitchen tools due to her wealthy upbringing. All to see Kiana’s joy over her food. All to earn Kiana’s smile—her acknowledgement. The small family of three in Saint Freya was what gave Mei’s life another meaning. 

When it was threatened to be torn apart, she never hesitated to join the World Serpent and embrace her Herrscher Core fully. The events of the Lament of the Fallen—that she would gladly become a sinner if it meant saving Kiana—took place because of this simple reason.

Without such events occurring, Mei still stood at the same endpoint, if not more extreme. She ended up experiencing the same impacts to herself but with different events. Becoming an immortal cultivator elevated the strength of her self-doubts, turning them into tangible inner demons.

“Let’s have a talk, Mei.”

Hearing Shi Tian’s voice sent a jolt down Mei’s spine. Fear encroached her heart.

‘Will he cut me off?’

‘Is he angry?’

‘What will he say?’

…

Having tasted the sweetness of his acknowledgement, her doubts turned into nourishments of her twisted desires.

‘I don’t want it to happen..!’

In the end, Mei’s downfall did happen, but not in immortal cultivation.

She had turned into an obsessive yandere.

Chapter 263: Lament of the Fallen

Small failures, when experienced, do not amount to much. The very little things of stubbing one’s toe, forgetting one’s assignment, and shading the wrong letters of an exam are the trivialities of daily life.

However, if one’s resentment goes unnoticed and the mistakes pile up, it becomes something else.

‘It is no… I am no good.’

The sound of her coughing echoed throughout the room. It was a huge room the size of a warehouse. It contained nothing except for a futon. Traces of burnt marks could be seen everywhere along with broken fragments of toiletries.

Mei looked at her hand once again. Bright red blood stained her fair white hands. An overwhelming sense of weakness swept through her entire body. Cracks littered around her Golden Core. It is not the same as shattering one’s Golden Core and giving birth into a Nascent Soul… but the destruction of it.

The thought of it woke Mei up. Her mind is riddled with negative thoughts—inner demons. Outside of tribulations, it appears within a cultivator’s meditation session. 

Immortal cultivators inherently defy their fate. They are forced to face their biggest fears head-on. Inner demons are included in this category.

Whoever passes goes further in the immortal path, while those who fall will meet their end: dissipation of mind, failure of the physical body, and the obliteration of the soul.

‘I… I don’t want to..! But… but..!’

Self-loathing.

Anger.

Frustration.

Helplessness.

Mei’s barely ignited fighting spirit was doused instantly. Her stomach churned—literally and figuratively—as she spat yet another pool of blood. Her body turned cold at the thought of suffering from another failure.

‘Despite having everything… I am useless!’

It all started from the day she became an immortal cultivator. 

“Immortal cultivators hold their fates in their palm.”

The first lesson Shi Tian imparted to her was permanently etched onto her mind. The premise of an immortal cultivator is improvement. It is a race against time, but at the same time, the process of becoming a better version of yourself. It rewards effort with tangible benefits—power to singlehandedly change the entire world.

From then on, Mei’s focus changed from her high school studies to immortal cultivation. Her talent is in the upper percentile. A high grade spirit root guaranteed one’s passage to the Void Refinement Realm. They are absolute behemoths capable of affecting galaxies with one thought. The solar system alone was a vast world for Raiden Mei, what more of galaxies?

Her smooth-sailing journey ended not long after. The first hurdle appeared during the final confrontation on the Moon. Her steady cultivation and ordinary background yielded less results compared to the others—the four other high grade spirit roots whom she spent time together with.

Fu Hua has accumulated for almost 2,000 years.

Sin Mal grew up from a twisted adoptive family and possessed the aptitude to exploit Project STIGMA.

Bronya was a child soldier whose mental fortitude is miles beyond that of her peers.

Theresa was raised by the Otto Apocalypse and was destined for an extraordinary life.

Mei did not consider the fact these four were at the pinnacle of talented immortal cultivators. Seeing the gap she wanted to close to widen further filled her with disappointment.

Once again, she saw them contribute greatly to the final battle. Even Theresa, who was relegated to the sidelines, led the entire crew of Hyperion for a massive cleanup. Her mentality got worse when she heard of her teacher whose life is in grave danger. 

She was the first one to visit Shi Tian. His physical body was akin to that of a mummy. Not an inch of his body wasn’t covered in gauze. Golden blood seeped out occasionally. His mind was in slumber; his soul severely damaged. It was Kiana who took meticulous care of him. 

‘Teacher…’

Self-loathing took over her mind once again.

‘I could not help him.’

The visit took a huge toll on her mind. Mei narrowly broke through the Golden Core Realm. She settled Queen Mei’s affair and locked herself in full seclusion. Frustration fueled her motivation to grow…

‘I will become stronger.’

…which turned out to be a huge mistake.

A Tao Heart is born out of a pure understanding of self. A hasty attempt born out of negative thoughts bears nothing. This statement was proven with Mei’s experience.

Five years had passed without seeing a single progress of her third level Tao Heart. Such abysmal progress resulted in more frustration and self-doubt. Anyone who is experienced enough knows it is time to explore the outside world to cheer oneself up—much like touching grass outside after being in a ranked losestreak.

Mei chose to do the opposite.

‘I don’t believe it!’

She went further.

And so reality proved it to her.

Eighteen years had passed with zero improvements. Instead, all she got was self-inflicted injuries. Her cultivation started showing signs of regressing. Cracks appeared on her Golden Core. 

The metaphysical Tao Heart exists as one’s belief is anchored on the soul. Anything negative it experiences is shouldered by the soul. When the Tao Heart becomes unstable, the soul experiences immense pain and injuries.

Mei’s eighteen years of stagnation slapped her hard in the face. Repeated failures consumed her will. Inner demons were born out of her negative thoughts. Her soul and physical body are in a continued state of decline. 

Before she knew it, she was already standing at the edge of an endless cliff. The sudden realization brought a momentary sense of clarity.

“I… I did this to myself.”

Nobody pressured her to seclude herself for eighteen years. The people around her would have given her help and advice had she asked for them. 

The constant thought of self-loathing…

The repeated recollection of her teacher’s dire state…

The pressure to catch up and be able to contribute more…

It is all on Mei.

The girl who never faced the real world’s suffering dove head-on towards self-destruction. This time, Queen Mei was not with her. 

‘To stupidly act like that… it is undeserving of you.’

She had declared to Mei that she would surpass her—that she should set her mind straight.

Mei’s eyes widened. The words Queen Mei said back then wasn’t her scorn. It was a gentle reminder, just as how she was beside her when she started cultivating.

Out of everyone, it was she who knew Mei best. She knew what Mei strove for.

Acknowledgement.

It was the acknowledgement of her father at first. Becoming Chiba Academy’s top student was the least she could do.

She wanted to be acknowledged.

This time, her subject was changed to Shi Tian. It was why it brought her a profound impact when she saw her very own teacher in a near-death state.

Forget acknowledgement, she couldn’t even help her teacher!

“I can’t do anything right.”

Mei’s downfall began. Her symptoms intensified to their utmost limits. Her mind was soon brought onto an imaginary scenario.

And for better or for worse…

‘Oh no.’

…Shi Tian happened to be present at this exact instance.

Chapter 262: The Second Student

I looked carefully at “Senti” who wore a high school uniform. Her short-sleeved sailor uniform and her ‘short’ skirt indicated it was worn during summer. It is mismatched in today’s winter season.

Idle thoughts aside, my Divine Sword pinpointed it wasn’t Senti. Warnings also appeared from my Hexagram Spirit, not to mention [Blade Mantra 2.0] itself. The last one is particularly strong. 

Having reached the [Heart Intention] realm, I am very sensitive to imaginary energy. “Senti” lets out fluctuations of imaginary energy, but it is different from Blade Mantra’s.

Coupled with her strange vibe, I have a guess as to who it was.

But…

Why is she looking at me like that?

A sense of deja vu swept over my entire being. Memories flashed right in my eyes before I pinpointed where it came from.

“Senti’s” look…

It reminded me of Seele and Sin.

My first meeting with Sin was normal. I did not notice much from her until I forced her to enter our circle in the orphanage. I was inexperienced back then, but looking at it now, she reacted strangely every time we met. It was particularly prominent when I ‘punished’ her.

Having dealt with Seele’s mental problems, I know Sin shares the same situation as hers. Seeing “Senti” possessing both Sin’s and Seele’s look is anything but good.

Snap-!

I used the Dao of Enlightenment to stop her daydreaming.

“How is your experience so far, Miss Griseo?”

My words served as a signal. “Senti” melted akin to different colored inks. The paints splashed on the ground, revealing Griseo’s true appearance.

“It… has been a nice experience.”

Her soft voice is on-point with the Griseo I know. It was her eyes that made me feel very strange.

What is she thinking?

I can answer this doubt with a simple divination, though I chose not to. I am not a perverted voyeur whose hobby is to intrude on others' privacy. 

“What do you plan to do next?” I asked her.

“...I will become an immortal cultivator.”

When she said it, I noticed how she hasn’t awakened her Spirit Roots yet.

“Can you become my teacher?”

Griseo’s eyes turned normal at this point. She looked at me with a hint of eagerness, nothing else. Thinking of her possible mental affliction, it is better to guide her myself instead of letting her go astray.

“I can.”

“Then, please accept—”

“There’s no need for the ceremony.”

I immediately knew she got it from Senti. The apprenticeship ceremony involved doing three bows, nine kowtows and pouring tea for the teacher. I am not a fan of ceremonies.

“I, Shi Tian, will have you as my second student. I will awaken your Spirit Roots first…”

A few seconds later, a wide-scale Heavenly Phenomenon appeared in Earth’s skies.

*****

“So noisy…”

The Heavenly Phenomenon’s range depends on the level of one’s Spirit Roots/Tao Body. High grade Spirit Roots correspond to the Void Refinement Realm. Its range spans all of the universe. The Heavenly Phenomena playing out on Earth can be seen throughout the entire solar system.

It is inevitable it will disturb some whose residences are not in full seclusion. The said state activates more than a dozen formations to isolate the residence from the outside world. Its downside is its exaggerated resource consumption, which is why most are simply in seclusion; major breakthroughs warrant full seclusion.

“It’s rare to see you outside.”

“Hum.”

Queen Mei nodded to Sirin as a greeting. The Moon's vacuum environment could not affect her at all. She stared at the center of the Heavenly Phenomenon—Earth—as she was reminded of something.

“I am getting tired of waiting. When will he come?”

A hint of grievance could be heard from her voice. Sirin’s expression changed as she defended Shi Tian.

“It’s not his fault. A lot of things happened at the same time.”

“Oh..?”

Queen Mei shifted her gaze to Sirin. Though Sirin looked the same, she saw her eyes soften with the mention of Shi Tian.

‘Is she the Sirin I know of..?’

Unbeknownst to her, Sirin’s mind is still dwelling on the craziest three days she had ever experienced. A jolt of lightning went through her body once again. It took her all to stop herself from collapsing.

Thinking of the plays Kiana shared with her was enough to turn her into a nymphomaniac.

‘I want it.’

‘I want it.’

‘I want it.’

‘I want it.’

…

Sirin’s  outward appearance remained the same.

“I can’t blame him… but it’s partly his fault too. Hm, it’s really hard to solve.”

“Don’t worry about it. I heard from Kiana that he's back on Earth.”

“Oh?”

Queen Mei’s eyes lit up.

“It’s finally time. I… I couldn’t convince her alone.”

*****

Two sides of the same coin.

It is the most used description for those with a split personality. 

Kiana and Sirin; Seele and Veliona; Fu Hua and Senti; Ji Xuanyuan and Hei Xuanyuan. All of them fall under this category. Their personalities may differ, but they have overlapping core traits. It is to say that one is a counterpart of another, and vice versa. Whatever you might find on Kiana, you might also find on Sirin.

This case applies to Mei and Queen Mei. The latter knows what the former is going through as early as seventeen years ago.

“I can’t do anything.”

These words came out of Mei’s mouth. Queen Mei did not have a separate body at that time. She saw how Mei trained everyday until the final battle came. However, it wasn’t enough. She wasn’t exposed to dangerous battles. All she did was to train within her comfort zone.

She easily reached the Purple Mansion Realm prior to the final battle, but that was it. Her Tao Heart was stuck at the third level. Her Herrscher Core remained unawakened.

Mei’s power was limited to cause huge changes.

The sense of dread and helplessness erupted during the final battle. She was the only Herrscher who remained on the sidelines. The Project STIGMA’s imaginary space was shattered by Sin Mal and Hua. Kiana, Shi Tian, and Bronya took care of Kevin. All she ever did was to participate in the clean up.

That was where it started.

“I can’t do it.”

Mei broke through the Golden Core Realm with spiritual materials. Her talent as a high grade spirit root made her cultivation speed fast by default. It is her Tao Heart that had problems.

Seventeen years… and she remained at the third level.

Seventeen years.

Seventeen y…

Se…

…

“I can’t do anything.”

Chapter 261: Brighter Than The Sun

Griseo possessed a special power to see the world through “colors”. It was a metaphor for the “essence” of all things. Once she understands a ‘color’, she can paint them in a “blank canvas”, giving them life. She can also use her colors to change an item’s functions. 

In simple terms, Griseo has a limited capability of reality manipulation. Her power was so special Aponia had to watch over her for caution’s sake. 

When Senti asked for Griseo to take on her colors, she did it out of concern. She had a feeling it might help Griseo resolve her inner conflicts—and also hers.

The moment she saw the Senti that Griseo had transformed to, her pupils shrank. The familiar yet unfamiliar school uniform resurfaced from her memories.

“I wonder why she didn’t wear it. It’s not half-bad.”

Senti held an air of haughtiness.

“There’s a reason she didn’t make any friends! Don’t you think so too?”

“...Hum.”

The real Senti turned silent. Her shock was still apparent.

“If I had the chance, I would’ve beaten up those gossiping monkeys! Hua is too lenient…”

“Senti” talked a lot about Fu Hua’s “mistakes” during her time as a student. She was the quiet girl who never interacted with anyone. She wore her martial arts uniform in school, too. She knew nothing about fashion and was branded as an outcast-slash-oddball within the classroom.

“We would be better off had she challenged the other dojos in the city. Or used the Internet to pull out some stunts. Anything would’ve been fine!”

There were also the financial problems her family dojo faced. Hua lived by eating bland wheat noodles thrice a day.

“Then, there’s that. She lost her heart and acted like a coward!”

Senti was silent, though she saw the emotions within “Senti’s” eyes: anger, loathing, and disappointment.

“Who would have thought that the mighty Hua went off to hide inside a trash dump? Tremblingly, at that.”

The knee-high skirt fluttered along the wind, interrupting “Senti’s” speech. Her pure white underwear was revealed. She hastily pulled the hem of her skirt down. Her embarrassment destroyed the momentum she built up from earlier.

Fortunately, there was only Senti with her.

“That’s why she hated skirts…”

“Senti’s” mutterings did not register in Senti’s ears. The impact of seeing “Senti” cleared up her mind.

‘No wonder… No wonder she acted like that.’

Senti had memories of Fu Hua. One time, Griseo did not know of the implications of her power. She unconsciously transforms into the people she spent a long time with. Fu Hua was one of them.

Senti knew that seeing the Griseo-transformed “Fu Hua” gave a lot of impact to Fu Hua herself. She couldn’t understand why it was so, but now that she experienced it herself, she found the answer.

Griseo can glimpse upon a person’s “true self” by seeing their colors. It is not a perfect interpretation. But not a lot of people can understand their “true self”. Most of the time, Griseo’s “interpretation is deeper than the person themselves.

Fu Hua was lost after the seventh eruption. She, who had always survived, did not know what she could do for the deceased. She questioned herself, again and again, on her life’s worth.

‘If it was Carole who hid and survived and not me…’

‘If it was the Major who survived and not me…’

Before she knew it, Fu Hua was heavily burdened with a survivor’s guilt. It wasn’t until Griseo appeared as “Fu Hua” that she got the answer she wanted.

“I want to know… what I can do.”

“Don’t worry. We have a lifetime to figure it out.”

Senti faced the exact same situation at this moment.

“She did not lie. I… we are a part of her.”

“Hum..? Why bother confusing yourself? Of course we are a part of her!”

Senti is the manifestation of Fu Hua’s regrets. All of her “what ifs”. She is the “Fu Hua” that was strong enough to face the things Fu Hua never dared to face.

If she was bullied in school, she would have beaten them up.

If they faced financial difficulties, she would have tried many things to help keep their dojo afloat.

If she faced the hordes of zombies and honkai beasts, she wouldn’t have cowered behind a trash dump, but faced them all bravely and saved her sole friend.

Senti carried Fu Hua’s expectations of a “better outcome” without any worry about the next thing… even if they are flawed.

Had she beaten up the gossipy girls, she would have been expelled.

The capabilities of a teenager are limited in the face of real world financial struggles.

The hordes of zombies and honkai beasts are a death trap had Fu Hua chosen to face them.

Flawed or not, it was undeniable she carried all of Fu Hua’s ideals—self, future, and all.

“It seems we are the same as her… or not. Heh, wallowing in regrets is not my style!”

With the fog clearing up, Senti felt rejuvenated. She also sensed the impending breakthrough of her fourth level Tao Heart.

“Since she chose to remain in the past, I will remain in the present.”

Fu Hua did not like interacting with others in the present. She had long accepted that she belonged to the past.

Senti chose to be in the present. She will wholeheartedly accompany humanity in the present.

“Past and present. All that’s left is to tread the future!”

“Senti’s” temperament changed greatly as she saw Senti’s changes. She no longer had the haughtiness of before. It was replaced with calmness.

“Thanks.”

Senti did not need to say more. She left soon after. Only “Senti” with her schoolgirl uniform was left.

Just then, a newcomer appeared. She promptly faced him and saw his appearance. Shoulder-length purple hair tied into a short ponytail. A pair of golden pupils that glowed with wisdom. A pointed nose that added a hint of elegance. His jawline was neither too prominent nor too hidden. Not a trace of excess fat could be seen on his face, much less the rest of his body. His overall build made him look like a chivalrous swordsman in one angle, and then a knowledgeable scholar in another.

The height difference of almost one head (i.e., 15 centimeters) forced “Senti” to look up at him. 

The moment their eyes met, “Senti” saw his colors. She saw it shift from the serene blue to the benevolent green; the stagnant gray and the majestic red.

Things halted from there as the sheer brightness of his colors bombarded “Senti’s” mind.

It was as bright…

No.

It was infinitely times brighter than the Sun.

‘Ah…’

Chapter 260: A Certain Painter

Meeting Li Shushang is an eye-opener. She is the Vill-V equivalent of martial arts. Her talent extended to immortal cultivation, too.

Most importantly, her assets are the pride of Shenzhou. It wasn’t as noticeable as seeing her three-dimensional character inside a screen, but in real life, it’s almost spilling out. Add to that her elegant yet childish personality and we’ll get the perfect Young Miss in martial arts novels.

I talked about her with Kiana when I woke up from IX’s battle. I didn’t expect she would deeply remember it.

“No matter what, I will love you. There is no need to compare with others.”

Her eyes stared directly at mine. It took a while for her to come to a resolution.

“Alright. I won’t make you worry. I tried them out for a new experience.” She paused before giving me a teasing look. “...but it’s what she would like.”

“Sirin..?”

“Her… Her situation is worse than mine. I hope you can understand her.”

She looked apologetic while explaining things. Everything clicked inside my mind.

“You did it for her?”

“How will we get you to use them if not for it?”

Kiana knew I didn’t like the fetishes that harmed others. The problem is that… Sirin works around those fetishes. Kiana must have predicted I will not use them on Sirin during our first time. Hence, she used this dual cultivation to make me adapt to them.

So that’s how it is…

I understood something. It won’t work if only my preferences are considered. Things will remain fine at other times, but during dual cultivation, we should be able to reach a common ground. 

How can I give my partners the best dual cultivation session when I overlooked something as simple as this?

“Got it. But I have something to ask.”

“Hm..?”

“Did you like it?”

Kiana’s smile turned sheepish as she replied:

“Yeah.”

They truly are two sides of the same coin.

*****

Venus and Mars, represented by Phosphorus and Oxia/Langqiu, exist within Bubble Worlds. Earth’s existence did not cause much change in Mars. It was different in Phosphorus, however.

Sa’s main gameplay is for the Bubble Worlds’ inhabitants to manifest wishes. These ‘wishes’ inevitably lead to the Bubble Worlds’ destruction, turning into a great boon for Sa herself. Her system was extremely similar to modern civilizations’ development. By leaving them with a potent power (i.e., wishes), it will destroy itself.

Sa’s defeat spelled the end for their brutal loop. Earth’s delegates negotiated with their officials, the Seven Vitas. The people inside this Bubble World suffered a similar affliction as Seele’s Bubble World, however. 

Their souls are incomplete. Their physical body could not be maintained outside the Bubble World. It closed the possibilities of immortal cultivation for them.

Mars was a different case. The humans inside the supercomputer are ‘real humans’, save for a few special cases. They possess a complete physical body and a soul. The Project STIGMA of Mars maintained the humans’ state while being able to make deliberate changes within the simulated world.

This situation brought a dilemma for Phosphorus—for the inhabitants of Salt Snow Holy City.

What happens next?

“You don’t need to continue probing. The Sect Master does not have any arrangements yet. You don’t need to worry about your civilization’s safety, either…”

“I did not come for that.”

In the vast expanse of space, two women faced each other. Hei Xuanyuan eyed the gray-haired woman with a sharp look.

“I have heard of Earth’s Awakening Hall. Can I drop by?”

‘She’s only asking this now? But he mentioned she is special…’

Despite her doubts, Hei Xuanyuan properly attended to her question.

“There is no problem with it.”

She did not waste any time. She enveloped the two of them with her spiritual consciousness.

Hum-!

Their surroundings turned into a melted art canvas. The backdrop of a starry sky rippled as it changed into a highly urbanized city. The space manipulation—teleportation—is but a basic operation readily available to Nascent Soul Realm cultivators.

Hei Xuanyuan transferred the quiet Vita to one of the staff members. The said staff was shocked to see the high and mighty Lord of the Law Enforcement Hall. It was his instincts to keep this high-paying job that made him lock-in, effectively leading Vita to the Awakening Hall.

Two minutes later, a wide-scale phenomenon appeared on Earth. The presence of spiritual qi is a conduit to the so-called ‘Heavenly Phenomena’. It occurs with the awakening of a high grade Spirit Root and Tao Body. Earth’s environment is drastically different from eighteen years ago. Every nook and cranny is flowing with spiritual qi.

Hence, Vita’s awakening of her high grade Spirit Root took everyone by surprise. The skies thundered with countless lightning. The distant stars shone, causing rays of starlight to rain down on Earth.

This Heavenly Phenomena gave the entire Earth yet another opportunity for a collective breakthrough.

Hei Xuanyuan, watching all of this occur, sighed.

‘Why do I have a feeling she will qualify for that criteria..?’

*****

I made sure Kiana was fine before leaving for the Sect. I had several ominous feelings from my only student, Mei. She skipped so many major events and secluded herself for seventeen years. No matter where I look at it, her prolonged seclusion is a bad thing.

Mei is my student, yet I wasn’t able to guide her well. I wasn’t there during the Bubble World incident; and so was I after settling the Honkai. The best form of teaching I left to her are mere video recordings—up to the Golden Core Realm, at that.

I can be compared to an irresponsible college professor who only had classes once in an entire semester.

I heard from Kiana that Rita, Durandal, and Senti broke through the Nascent Soul. I can already guess Queen Mei’s current mental state, more so Mei herself. The former must’ve been crashing out. She is the prideful version of Mei, basically the Mei with a stronger personality. She couldn’t bear to get outclassed by newcomers.

As for Mei…

Lament of the Fallen answers that question… but much worse. The Mei at that time joined World Serpent. She was able to do something for Kiana. My intervention changed the original events. Mei remained as an ordinary high school student. Her power was subpar compared to the other mainstays now.

She wasn’t able to do anything.

My chest tightened at the thought of it. I saw such cases from Seele and Sirin. I saw how hard it was for them. There is also Senti. I haven’t met her, but I have a strong feeling she has a strong internal conflict.

Just as I thought about her, she appeared. Senti is completely identical from Fu Hua, save for the white highlights on her hair as well as her crimson red pupils. She wore the aura of haughtiness, as opposed to Hua’s reticence.

I met her gaze.

…

Wait, no.

She’s not Senti.

Chapter 259: Shenzou Slander Shall Never Pass

The Previous Era held several countermeasures. Project STIGMA corresponded to Kevin. Project Valuka was handed over to Su. Project Ember was assigned to Hua.

Finally, Project ARK was first given to Kosma before he passed it onto Griseo. 

All four projects failed.

Su wasn’t able to find a Bubble World containing the key against the Honkai. Hua’s act of teaching humanity the Blade Mantra resulted in the advanced appearance of the first Judgement-class Honkai Beast, Chi You. Kevin failed in his attempt to enact Project STIGMA, resulting in the current development of Earth.

Griseo’s Project ARK failed the moment she entered the edge of the solar system. Fire MOTH considered a lot of factors at that time, but they never considered a goddess interfering.

1,500 years ago, the Ark crash-landed on a planet near the edge of the solar system. Griseo was placed upon a samsara loop where she had to relive the same day for 1,500 years. She only had herself at that time. It was nothing short of a grueling experience—retaining her sense of self was a miraculous feat.

Griseo encountered a stroke of luck upon years of waiting. The power shown by Kiana and Shi Tian intimidated Sa. She threw away most of her arrangements to do a last-ditch attempt at Mars. That included Griseo.

She was discovered once Sin Mal expanded her spiritual consciousness throughout the solar system. She was indoctrinated with new sayings such as “Cutting off one’s trouble at the roots”. Sin Mal checked around to see if Sa had any backup plans—to which there was none. Her discovery over Griseo at the crashed Ark was a coincidence.

Griseo was taken back to Earth. She was treated with all sorts of spiritual pills until she woke up. Everyone had a problem after that.

Nobody knew what to do with her.

It wasn’t until a rather unexpected person came that this problem was solved.

“Staring at the Sun again? Wouldn’t your eyes hurt?”

A concerned voice came from behind Griseo.

“I… made a promise with someone.”

“...”

Senti scratched her head. Even after four months, she could not truly understand Griseo. She was confident she could take care of her, just as she (Fu Hua) did back then. Unfortunately, she could not.

Senti was aware of Griseo’s experience, though it is precisely because of it that she chose not to say anything randomly. She is sensitive enough to avoid reminding Griseo of that experience, but she doesn’t know what to do for the rest.

‘Can she handle this..? No. I can do it better than her!’

A lot of unseen things happened between Fu Hua and Senti. The latter used to be the Herrscher Persona brought by Fu Hua’s thousands of years of memories. Senti represented another version of Fu Hua—one that placed matters into her own hands.

Unfortunately for her, Fu Hua possessed the capabilities of an immortal cultivator and an awakened Herrscher. Senti was forced to watch everything from the sidelines.

By the time the Honkai was defeated, Senti felt lost. Her presence in Fu Hua’s life diminished to the bare minimum. She no longer knew of her purpose.

‘She did what I wanted to do. There is no use for me…’

That went on until Fu Hua confronted her after twelve long years.

“I am granting you a new life.”

“...What for?”

“To see the things I would have never done.”

Fu Hua acknowledged Senti’s presence, more so the impact she brought to her. She is another version of Fu Hua. Whatever mistake Fu Hua is bound to make, Senti might not. The same applies otherwise.

Senti was not just a fake; she is a part of Fu Hua. 

That resolution sent Senti into a whirlpool of emotions. Knowing she needed time to process everything, Fu Hua went into a seclusion after giving her a physical body. 

Little did she expect, Griseo would return to Earth. The task of taking care of her fell to Senti.

Seeing Griseo acting like this reminded her of herself… and she hated it. She thought for a long while before speaking:

“You used her colors once, but not mine. Isn’t that unfair?”

“Sister Senti…”

Griseo looked at her with a startled look. In the past, she used to transform into others by taking on their colors. She did not know much at that time, but once she was aware enough, she stashed that ability. It was far too disrespectful to intrude upon one’s personal space like that.

“You will have to make things up.”

Senti flashed an unrestrained smile.

*****

We finished our shortest dual cultivation session. Three days was all it took to turn Kiana from a naughty girl into a dazed Tuna.

I cleaned up the bed while she sat silently at the edge of it. The damp bedsheets became clean after a cleaning spell. If it had any masteries, it would have been [Beyond Perfection] due to the number of times I had to use it.

I swiftly sat beside Kiana after cleaning everything up. Her blue eyes contained that mystical purple star, though she remained dazed.

A strong sense of guilt came knocking to my mind.

“Let’s not do that again, okay?”

Her irises focused as she regained consciousness. She wanted to say something when her legs trembled once again.

A brief moan escaped her throat as she bit her lower lip. The cleaned up bed turned damp again.

“I-it’s not like I can’t… Hn..!”

Just like that, she came for the umpteenth time. I placed my right hand onto her back and helped her digest the recovery pills I fed her. It took another day for her body’s state to return to normal. Kiana could not speak properly until tomorrow. Her naked body did stir up the desires on my lower body, but reason prevailed over it. 

“It’s my first time taking it all in…”

“Does that matter?”

“...Yeah.”

Four days ago, Kiana started a dual cultivation session. Like drought to a farm field, she was especially active in milking me dry. Unlike Seele and Veliona, she mastered the art of riding my dick without her womb hurting. 

That was when she proposed to try out the dual cultivation techniques she saw. It was tame at first, like the Lactation Spell and Increased Sensitivity. But then, she used the more risque ones such as the Breast Enlargement Spell, Aphrodisiac Pills, and even the Womb Modification Spell. The last one increased the depth of her pussy, which made her irises roll out literally once I inserted my dick inside.

When everything stacked upon together, it made Kiana super sensitive. She came nonstop and got locked out of her dazed state. I had to cancel her spells altogether and deal with the aftermath.

“So, which one’s bigger? Mine or the new Shenzhou girl?”

…

Was this why she did all of this?!

Chapter 258: Kaslanas' Thirst For Blood

I opened my eyes to a familiar ceiling.

I looked around and saw Kiana laying beside me. She watched my reaction with gusto as she used her right hand as a stand against the pillow.

“You like fainting after battles, don’t you?”

She looked at me with a teasing smile. I chose to fire back.

“It’s not just me who faints after every battle.”

“Oh? Let’s find out?”

It is completely ineffective. Her free hand is already circling atop my chest. I wore nothing except a t-shirt and shorts. 

…

“How long was I out?”

“One year.”

It’s not as bad as I expected. A quick look at my body revealed no deep injuries. Traces of medicinal essence lingered around my bloodstream as well as Nascent Soul. Without any injuries left, it lay dormant.

“I fed you with the pills you left. The sixth grade one.”

“Using?”

“My mouth, of course!”

Her smug answer made me speechless. My piled up treasures are mostly left inside the imaginary space. I also left a lot of materials on the Alchemy Vein. It’s not surprising to fully recover after waking up.

“I saw some interesting stuff while I looked for the pills…”

I felt an ominous aura from the Tuna.

“For example, the Great Benevolence Pill. The Soul Shattering Whip. The Heavenly Furnace Collar…”

The Great Benevolence Pill is a strong aphrodisiac capable of affecting Divine Transformation Realm cultivators. The Soul Shattering Whip is a sixth grade spiritual artifact that can inflict pain and pleasure onto one’s soul. The Heavenly Furnace Collar are basically slave collars worn by Female Furnaces—basically female cultivators whose Tao Bodies are beneficial in dual cultivation.

All of them are dubious stuff.

“How did you have the time to sort through them all..?”

“Sirin helped me with it. I have a feeling she likes them.”

Her response rendered me speechless… again. Considering Sirin’s disposition, it’s not far from the truth. I barely stopped Seele from pulling this off. Now I have Sirin to deal with, too.

“You don’t have to worry. I already told her not to use excessive things. The candles are a no-go, but the whip…”

Kiana’s dirty talk made her hand more frantic. She already made her way down to my shorts. Just as I liked pulling her shorts down, she also liked pulling mine.

“Why don’t we try it now?”

Seeing her lustful eyes, I knew she couldn’t be stopped…

*****

Although a year had passed, the Federation’s first major event is still talked about in many areas. The rewards gained from merits alone propelled numerous cultivators to make a breakthrough one after another. Rare treasures that wouldn’t have circulated came out; and thousands of them, atop all.

As if that wasn’t enough, they also had the chance to witness the First Cultivator’s sword. Everyone who did so managed to elevate their Tao Hearts to the next level. It wasn’t an exaggeration that the overall strength of immortal cultivators rose after this major event.

The name of the First Immortal also rang loud. Due to his absence after the Federation’s establishment, his deeds are more of legends rather than history. Only when Earth saw his strength first-hand did their respect reach its peak. This phenomenon is particularly stronger within the Wushi Dao Sect. To them, Shi Tian represented the pinnacle of immortal cultivation.

Aside from that, the next major event was the discovery of two civilizations—Venus and Mars. The specifics weren’t publicized yet.

Unbeknownst to others, a lot of talks went underway.

“It’s finally done…”

Theresa signed the final amendment swiftly. It was a complete set of laws regarding Venus’ and Mars’ formalities. While these two civilizations did not have a huge population—spanning a hundred thousand at best—this was Earth’s first case with aliens. Theresa knew the Federation must set a precedent to get ready for their future encounters with other worlds. She worked non-stop for a year, going as far as forsaking sleep and cultivation itself to manage these affairs.

A hint of fatigue could be seen in her eyes. If not for her constitution as a Golden Core Realm cultivator, she would have had large eyebags already.

Theresa set aside the documents and slumped on her desk. The height of her chair was adjusted to make it possible.

“Should I bring Yang back..?”

Thinking of the days she slacked off as the Principal of Saint Freya, she could not help but have the urge to resign. Unfortunately, she could not do so. The officials of her committee do not want her to resign, partly due to her efficiency as the Federation’s President. 

Most importantly, the Wushi Dao Sect did not say anything about it. The Sect is the true decision-maker behind Earth’s development. Nobody dared to go against the First Cultivator, more so the Nascent Soul Realm powerhouses they have.

“I can fill in your position temporarily, President.”

“Rita.”

Theresa raised her head and saw an elegant maid bowing to her. She did not sense Rita’s presence until now.

“Your Nascent Soul Realm breakthrough has been delayed several times.” Rita reminded her.

“...Alright.”

Theresa did not refuse her offer. The most troublesome year had already passed.

“How about Bianka? Did it go well?”

“Yes.”

This year, three people broke through the Nascent Soul Realm—Bianka was one of them. It brought up the total Nascent Soul Powerhouses to eleven. Theresa is the next contender for the Nascent Soul Realm, having reached the pinnacle of Golden Core Realm a long time ago.

‘Rita broke through too…’

A sense of urgency welled up inside Theresa. She had a feeling that her workload would have been easier had she broken through the Nascent Soul Realm already. After all, the weight of a Nascent Soul Realm Powerhouse is different from that of a Golden Core Realm.

Unfortunately, she was hit by one reform after another. The Foreign Civilization Policy is one thing; she was also caught up with the sect’s establishment of the Law Enforcement Hall. It is an independent group directly answering to the calls of the Vice Sect Masters and the Sect Master himself.

They are built to deal with corruption and all sorts of internal affair struggles unaffected due to legal loopholes. Their power extended to the Sect and Federation alike.

A wide-scale purging was made, imprisoning more than a thousand officials from the Federation’s lower levels. It was a sensational case that affected the vested interests of thousands, if not tens of thousands of officials.

In the end, it served its purpose of intimidating any potential corruption. It also appealed greatly to the general public.

Its cost was Theresa having to clean up the aftermath. This included the reformation of recruitment standards, optimized character tests, and so on. It wasn’t exaggerated to say that the entire governmental system of the Federation went under a major revision.

Just then, a random thought popped up in her mind.

‘I heard my nephew-in-law handing out rewards. Can I ask for one too..?’

Chapter 257: World Rendering Sword, Once More

Venus, Earth, and Mars.

Three civilizations struck by the honkai. Each of them came up with different last-ditch countermeasures: Venus’ Sa; Mars’ Supercomputer; and Earth’s Project STIGMA.

Undeniably, the plan who came the closest to succeeding was Project STIGMA. The “unqualified” humans are placed inside the imaginary space and turned into wishes. Then, these wishes form the Spiritual Adam. The Spiritual Adam is responsible for empowering the new batch of humans (i.e., stigma awakened). Project STIGMA turns humanity into a part of the Honkai itself, hence it will no longer be destructive. Its Proportionality Law would also lose effect.

This entailed sacrificing the majority of humanity to save a few. It is a final failsafe kept for more than fifty thousand years.

Today, the thwarted failsafe showed itself once again.

The people of Mars felt a connection appear out of nowhere. They uncontrollably fell unconscious. Soon, they entered their dreamlands.

Hare's flag swayed as light spots gathered around it. Strangely enough, the lights are a mix of black and white. She frowned when she sensed the unwelcome power.

Hum.

Shi Tian appeared beside her.

“That’s the Shadows. A power belonging to the Cocoon of Finality.”

“No wonder it felt familiar.” She nodded in agreement. “I shall pass this onto you.”

“Thanks.”

“You are welcome.”

He was very formal when talking to Hare. The latter did not mind and gestured to him to hold her banner. 

Sou-!

A long lost sensation returned within Shi Tian.

‘As expected. Mars is the perfect place to pull this off.’

His fight with Nihility cost him the Core of Origin. He exchanged it for a strike belonging to the Dao Integration Realm. Now, the power of wishes filled his entire being once again.

Mars’ Bubble Worlds lay in the Sea of Data. It is a special place within the Sea of Quanta. Wishes can be turned to reality here.  Moreover, the ‘people’ living in this simulated world are not digital lifeforms, but real humans. They are akin to the stigma awakened, granting them unique powers (i.e., control over shadows and wish manifestation).

Given such a perfect place, Project STIGMA gathered all of Mars’ power to temporarily recreate the Spiritual Adam. Its biggest downside is its extremely short duration lasting five seconds. Anything longer than that will incur permanent damage to Mars’ people.

‘It won’t last long. I need to recall that moment..!’

“Final blow. Retract!”

Everyone followed his words. The imaginary barrier lost the powers sustaining it. In exchange, they were freed up. Sa was immediately greeted by their attacks.

One second. 

The power of wishes turned into the familiar Core of Origin.

Two seconds.

The Core of Origin is mobilized.

Three seconds.

Shi Tian began summoning a past projection. Four out of six eyes have been lit up. Sa’s final attack neared completion.

Four seconds.

Seele and Veliona held each others’ hands. The projection of the Herrscher of the End sent terrifying waves to the birds and branches, obliterating them all. The rest focused their attacks to the hourglass-like apparatus protected by an egg-shaped crystal shell.

An ominous sense of foreboding arose amongst them, though it quickly died down.

They trusted the man behind them!

Then…

Five seconds passed.

“My samsara is that of life and death…”

Sa’s six eyes fully lit up. The power of Abundance blossomed throughout all of Mars’ two Bubble Worlds. It threatened to erode everything—to become her samsara.

Flutter-!

The swaying of Daoist robes took Sa’s attention. Her words came to a halt. She glanced towards Shi Tian. His appearance did not change…

Except for his eyes.

Click.

The time projection belonging to his past self fully assimilated with Shi Tian.

Why call the past instead of the future?

The answer’s simple.

He had once stepped into the realm of an Aeon!

He joined his index and middle finger, forming a sword-gesture. He pointed it straight at Sa. His overwhelming aura halted time itself. The world came to a stand-still, save for the two of them.

In her eyes, nothing but a sword remained. The entire world turned into a sword pointed at her.

“Face the weight of the world.”

Along Shi Tian’s words…

Shiing-!

…the World Rendering Sword fell.

*****

Time is something perceived by everyone. For mortals, it can only go forward, not backward. They are to be stuck within the Present, unable to touch the Past nor the Future.

However, at this exact moment…

Time froze.

Every immortal cultivator present has their eyes on the sword… which is not exactly a sword. They never saw a sword, yet their minds registered it as one. It is formless, yet it has a form. Such a contradiction grinded their minds to a terrifying halt.

‘...as if the entire world is my enemy…’

Chen Tianwu’s thoughts drifted away. All that remained in his mind was that sword. Its forms began changing. From a sword, it became a towering tree; then a boundless ocean; then an expanse of nothingness…

‘Forms are not fixed… and so is the Tao. The Tao that can be named is not the eternal Tao.’

Steadily, his third level Tao Heart rose to the fourth level, the equivalent of Golden Core Realm. It wasn’t just him. Everyone who paid a modicum of attention to the boss battle cutscene gained benefits. Their comprehension of their Tao Heart rose. Some raised their techniques’ mastery to a higher realm. Be they the cultivators within Langqiu, Oxia, or even the real Mars, the sword appeared under their sights.

They, who were the bystanders in this world-ending boss battle, gained experience packs and leveled up.

They did fail to notice one thing. Their minds are focused to the extreme on the sword. They did not notice the irregularities of time and assumed Sa was defeated by the sword.

‘Time stop…’

Shi Tian saw the glimmer of white on Sa’s disintegrated body. He knew what happened. Right after he struck Sa with the weakened version of the World Rendering Sword, Kiana’s attack came. It obliterated Sa’s backup plans as well as the trace of Abundance left on her.

Hum-!

Buzz-!

A metaphysical sound spread throughout the solar system. Shi Tian eyed the imaginary barrier enveloping them.

‘The Cocoon’s power is enough to hold it off.’

He let out a sigh of relief. The most dangerous part wasn’t Sa, but the Aeon of Abundance. Fortunately, the Cocoon of Finality showed him why it remained undetected amongst other Aeons for billions of years.

With the threat gone, a sense of emptiness filled his entire being. The events of the past repeated once again:

Shi Tian fell unconscious.

Chapter 256: Cultivators' Catchphrases

Mars’ two Bubble Worlds existed in a special area within the Sea of Quanta: the Sea of Data. Here, lifeforms similar to Seele’s Bubble World can emerge. Dreams can be turned into wishes; fears into tangible and permanent objects. It is the pinnacle of Mars’ creations, the crystallization of an entire civilization.

Sa never had the intention to fight in the real world. Her greatest strength lay inside the Sea of Quanta, and by extension, the Sea of Data. It just so happened that the power she sought was hidden within it.

Within the tall skies of Langqiu appeared Sa. Her form was no longer the island with the three torsos, but a huge female humanoid who wielded a dark staff. The end of her staff carried forth a blazing meteor that descended onto the city.

“What the hell is that..?”

“No. That’s far above my pay grade.”

“Is this the power of an alien god..?”

The ones affected by the meteor were Earth’s immortal cultivators. The strength exhibited by Sa altered their understanding of the Honkai.

Their general consensus became united:

How strong must humanity be to win against these gods?

For the first time, they felt the weight of their duty—of the sacrifices made by the Golden Core and Nascent Soul Realm cultivators.

‘A familiar saying… Like a frog in a well.’

Chen Tianwu stared at the falling meteorite. Its crushing weight rendered most of them helpless.

‘To defy fate, stand with the pioneers, and slay gods.’

He finally understood the true nature of immortal cultivation. He had accepted his death when the blazing meteor exploded into lollipops.

That’s right. Lollipops.

Thousands of lollipops rained upon the futuristic and urban city. Unlike Earth’s cultivators, the people of Langqiu focused on survival. Hence when literal candies rained down from the sky, they, too, felt at a loss.

“You dare ignore my presence? Your divinity is nothing but a fake! Idiotka!”

Seeing Sin Mal’s ‘lively’ words, Shi Tian who was watching from afar laughed.

“Oh no. She’s embodying the true meaning of xianxia… pfft!”

He hadn’t laughed like this for a long time. Sin Mal acting like a bonafide young master made his entire day.

He reappeared right beside Sin Mal.

“I will introduce a new phrase for you.”

“Hum..?”

Shi Tian looked at Sa. The latter’s piercing gaze turned into apprehension the moment she saw him.

Crack-!

Six time projections walked out of the shattered mirror. These Shi Tians belonged in the brief past. Like him, they possessed the pinnacle of Nascent Soul Realm as well as the sixth level Tao Heart.

Their figures blurred until only one Shi Tian remained. The power he emitted increased to the Divine Transformation Realm. Varying colors swirled atop his palm before turning into a gray orb made of fog.

The next moment, he was already speeding towards Sa.

Zoom-!

“Feel the immensity of heaven and earth!”

The gray orb within his palm expanded into a large sphere and trapped Sa in an instant.

BOOM-!

A vague phantom of yin and yang appeared as the explosion took place. After the gray fog dissipated, Sa’s power was weakened. A yin-yang symbol could also be seen engraved on her forehead.

Shi Tian looked at the mark. It was the same mark he applied to IX, but a weaker version of it. The mark forces the target to confront the next attack head-on—without any kind of defenses. It is a skill that deals true damage in gaming terms.

In exchange, his spiritual qi was completely drained. Even with the pills he placed on his mouth, it will take a dozen seconds to recover.

‘It’s being erased fast. That recovery too..!’

His voice echoed to the remaining six via spiritual consciousness.

“Now! At the same time!”

Nobody held back. Sin Mal’s comically large hammer approached Sa’s head. Sirin utilized the void and trapped Sa’s lower body into a dark cube. Hei and Ji Xuanyuan wiped their sword with their two fingers. The Xuanyuan Swords glowed dimly as they flew to their target.

Finally, dark blue butterflies surrounded Seele and Veliona. Their sixth grade scythes carried a superior force that threatened to erase Sa straight out of the Sea of Quanta. It was the same attack they used to weaken IX’s influence—a one-time attack borrowing the Sea of Quanta’s core power.

Hammer. Cube. Swords. Scythes.

Sa could not escape her fate.

Bam-!

Bzzt-!

The collision of several powers gave rise to a blinding light above the night sky. Langqiu experienced daytime for a few seconds before it died down.

Everyone stared at the wounded celestial giant in the sky. Cracks appeared throughout Sa’s body like a broken porcelain glass. Parts of her body crumbled down, leaving it hollow. Her long silver hair fluttered as half of her branch-like wings broke.

“How resilient!”

Like always, Sin Mal livened things up through her trashtalking.

Shi Tian, who was beside her, did not speak but eyed Sa’s staff. He noticed her grip over it tightening. Coupled with the foreboding feeling he felt…

“Last phase. Defend!”

He immediately assisted the exhausted Seele and Veliona. Everyone else had already prepared their defenses which consisted of the [Blade Mantra 2.0]. Imaginary Energy counters Quantum Energy and vice versa. It all boils down as to who has a better control of which energy.

A golden light descended upon the broken-down Sa. The air she stepped on started to grow flora and fauna. Thick wooden branches rose from it, turning into living vines. These vines entangled Sa’s broken body. Akin to time reversing, the holes on her body disappeared as it was mended.

Her power threatened to erode the surroundings, only to be blocked by the joint imaginary barrier erected by five Nascent Soul Realm cultivators. The skies are soon filled with countless hostile bird-like creatures.

The moment Sa stepped forward, an hourglass-like item was revealed from behind. It was protected by an egg-shaped crystal barrier.

‘That’s her final attack. It’s checkmate once she succeeds..!’

Shi Tian gazed at her. A phantom of six eyes appeared as he looked deeper. Three of them were already lit up.

‘There’s no Vita to redo things if we fail. But Kiana doesn’t have a sure-kill opportunity yet…’

His mind raced fast. 

‘We still have a lot of cards left…’

He looked at everyone. Seele and Veliona had already recovered from their prior attack. It wasn’t as strong as the one they used against IX, lest they would’ve been incapacitated for two entire years.

Just then, he noticed another woman floating atop the city. It was none other than Misteln. Her appearance made Shi Tian smile, for it meant one thing:

‘It’s time to show Mars and Venus how it is done.’

Chapter 255: Sa's Boss Fight

During Part 1, the solar system feels nothing special. Aside from the Cocoon of Finality, there aren’t other known higher-dimensional beings.

The truth couldn’t be farther away.

One billion years ago, Senadina, Nahrahlab, Litost, and Serapheum came from outside the solar system. Nahrahlab is a confirmed Pathstrider of Permanence while Senadina is implied to be a Pathstrider of a certain Path. It wasn’t explicitly confirmed in-game; only that Senadina’s departure from her home planet caused her immortality to be lost. The choices are between Permanence and Abundance.

During the time I wielded the World Rendering Sword, I met the gazes of numerous Aeons. I memorized their auras very well.

Sa…

The aura of Abundance is well within her. I have a vague intuition that once the imaginary barrier breaks down, she might transcend into one of Abundance’s Emanators. My hunches are usually produced by the Hexagram Spirit, divination per se, hence it is not baseless. It is Sa’s biggest confidence in messing around while Kiana is present.

Facing this event that did not happen in-game, I felt nothing wrong with it. The course of history is not absolute. My existence changed a lot of things.

Time is just like this.

Buzz-!

The sound of a rewound tape cut down my thoughts. I looked around and saw no one else around… except for Seele and Veliona. They remained at the exact same place when they played around with my fingers.

Crack-!

This special place did not hold on for long. It took a fraction within a second for mirror-like cracks to appear.

“The samsara of life and death, yet it remains enclosed by the world itself…”

Seele looked dazed as she stared from afar. Her words carried a hint of power, of solitude, but most importantly, longing.

“Divinity can be challenged. The Dao is not eternal. But if it is you…”

Veliona lost the strength within her voice. All that is left is her utmost solemnity—borderline exasperation out of despair. The last bit of her strength is carried by these words.

““You can transcend everything.””

Shatter-!

A blink of an eye changed the world around me. I scanned my surroundings and found everything was back to normal. Aside from the sense of loss in my chest, nothing else is abnormal. 

I can perfectly recall what happened just now. It is similar to the scenes I saw during my first time with Kiana as well as the Cocoon of Finality’s embrace. Only, it affected me tangibly now.

My entire being tried to make sense of what I experienced just now. Lines of text emerged in my mind.

{Tribulation Transcendence: First Tribulation Accomplished.}

{The set limits have been raised to the middle stage of the Tribulation Transcendence Realm.}

{Tribulation Transcendence: Second Tribulation Ongoing.}

{Tribulation Transcendence: Third Tribulation Ongoing.}

This information is not new. I had long known that the golden orb pushed me towards Nihility to complete the first tribulation in advance.

{Temporal Dimension | Present: Third Layer}

This is normal. Monstrous Nascent Soul Realm cultivators can comprehend the temporal dimension’s “Present” to the highest third layer. It allows for the manipulation of time within the present timeframe. Acceleration, deceleration, and the likes can be done. The complete comprehension of the “Present” adds the Dao of Time to the Dharma Avatar as well.

The next one is the abnormal one.

{Temporal Dimension | Past: Third Layer}

{Temporal Dimension | Future: Second Layer}

I felt a strong power in my fingertips. Dozens of future possibilities appeared in my sight. Every move we and Sa made appeared as faint projections. Similarly, my eyes gazed upon the prosperous civilization of Luoxing. These images disappeared as I got out of my daze. 

{Hexagram Spirit: Fifth Level > Seventh Level}

Cultivation Specializations can surpass the realm of the cultivator. This rule applies up to the Nascent Soul Realm. To reach the sixth level and above required one’s realm to step onto it. 

The Divine Transformation Realm entails becoming “divine”;

The Void Refinement Realm is all about turning “karma-less”;

The Dao Integration Realm is to embody a “Dao”.

These unique features could not be replicated in the lower realms. 

But… 

My Hexagram Spirit jumped to the seventh level in one go. Aside from lacking spiritual qi to fully utilize it, there are no drawbacks.

…

This doesn’t matter.

This strange phenomenon happened several times. I did not have the Dao of Mirrors and Time back then. That is the difference now; I am more capable than my past self.

“Tian. Is something wrong?”

Kiana is the first one to notice something. Sirin did not speak but her grasp over my pinky finger tightened. Seele gave me a look of concern while Veliona looked panicked. My gaze focused on Veliona, to which she gave an explanation.

“It felt like you drifted away…”

“I felt the same.”

Sirin surprisingly interjected.

Even Sin and the two Xuanyuans showed concern.

“I had a special enlightenment. There’s no need to worry…”

My explanations eased everyone’s concerns. I looked at the huge entity in the sky once again.

It’s time to break Sa’s samsara.

*****

To Mars, Sa is an indomitable foe.

To Earth, however, she is an isolated enemy. With the impenetrable barrier erected, her Sky People who left could not return to the solar system. It greatly reduced the combat power she can deploy, forcing her to use herself as the main force.

Once she obtains the power left on Mars, she might be able to forcefully escape the ‘cage’.

Unfortunately…

She is doomed to stay on Earth forever.

“Your pretentiousness knows no bounds. How can you speak about divinity when you haven’t seen it?”

Sin Mal appeared right in front of the huge entity. It is akin to a floating island with three female torsos facing different directions. The projected immortal cultivators from Earth had long seen her. They watched in curiosity as the confrontation between Earth’s Nascent Soul Realm and the foreign god began; a mistake that will kick them out of Mars moments later.

Much to Sin Mal’s surprise, Sa made a declaration this time:

“The power of dreams… are not yours to wield.”

Click.

Bzzt-!

A prismatic square-shaped door appeared behind Sa. A huge ray of prismatic beam headed straight to Sin Mal; her provocation worked.

““Huup!””

Buzz-!

Ji and Hei Xuanyuan appeared right in front of her. They wielded the reforged sixth grade Xuanyuan Swords and immediately launched the ultimate attack of Blade Mantra’s [Heart Intention] realm…

Desolation.

Crack-!

Zoom-!

A cross-shaped attack cut the prismatic beam into four quartercircles. Though its power was reduced, its remnants were enough to destroy Mars’ surface. The poor cultivators with a goldfish’s sense of danger were kicked out of the Star Network as their projections dissipated.

The two Xuanyuan’s attacks went straight to the door.

Shatter-!

The destruction of the door halted Sa’s offensive efforts. Before she could make her next move, Sirin had already stepped onto her huge body.

“Die.”

Hum-!

BAM-!

The gigantic body was pushed towards the ground. Black slits appeared on its way, and whenever it did, a part of Sa was cut off.

Seele and Veliona rapidly approached her when the huge body turned dark blue before vanishing. They immediately knew where she went.

““The Sea of Data.”’