My eyes widen as I fully expect to see the thunderous booms of cultivators rushing over here.
But nothing happens.
The scan surrounding my body gives an indication of why.
Another privacy field?
Sowhat, but its on a completely different level.
A look outside the field shows that while no one is near , creatures outside the field are moving almost imperceptibly slow. Its almost majestic in how the flying creatures hang in the air and their wings extended, prepared to flap. Its quite reminiscent of a 3D artistic rendering of an urban environnt.
Except that its real life.
My focus changes to the old man before . This man is unmistakably ancient, and after his eyes shined into the sky, his clothes tore before my eyes, revealing the most ripped old man body Ive ever seen.
Naked. But thats not the craziest part.
Like how one would describe sound waves, I can now see and hear the air pulse in ti with this heartbeat. The surrounding dirt forms waves centered on his position, rolling like theyve been turned into liquid. As the waves reach my position, I can feel my entire being shaken in ti with this.
Each roll of the air and dirt sends one ssage. That this is his space.
Strangely enough, this is unlike the spiritual pressure I had experienced from Senior Song. This hits on a different wavelength. From what I can tell, it weighs on the soul more than the body.
A normal person would be either dead or coughing blood right now.
And this is definitely unintentional, as there is no intent felt within the waves.
This is actually a great lesson, as it shows that I can still feel intent, even without cultivation. That will an that others might be able to as well.
Im wary for quite a while, my eyes locked onto the old man. But nothing happens, and I beco used to the situation.
Keeping my scan on him, I change my eyes to the surrounding area. The edges of this contained area display the marks of an array, lined with countless markings and symbols of unknown aning shining in blueish gray light.
My body turns naturally, to take a closer look and Im tempted to use the scan to decipher these, but as soon as I moved a change occurs that brings my attention fully onto the man.
Hes looking at .
Im not sure when he arrived, but its like he has been this whole ti. His piercing grey eyes and furrowed brows cause shivers to roll down my bag.
His piercing grey eyes and furrowed brow send waves of anxiety rolling down my back.
It makes freeze in place and then dip my head low.
Im not normally one to bow my head to others, but I feel that this is one situation I shouldnt test.
I hear a humph from him.
He visibly looks around and his eyes sharpen. Hes looking for soone. I can sense his intent wash over this area.
It then focuses back on .
Boy.
I feel a hit of nostalgia, whiplash, and also irritation from this term of address, as they said similarly it to a character from a ga.
The irritation cos from the connotations it had for my people. This quickly dies down, as it clearly isnt ant like that in this world.
I quickly raise my head to et his eyes.
How did you restore my cultivation?
His voice, deep and sharp, cos out directly.
I cant help but freeze in place.
Ah. I should have known they would ask this.
I have no idea how to answer this one.
I can hear him breath out, and I turn my head up to et his again.
My apologies. That is rude to ask of the person who saved , regardless of your lack of cultivation. All that matters is that it was done.
He turns to the side, but his eyes have never left . Showing that he still really wants to know.
However, I take the opportunity like a thirsty man at a lake.
I say nothing.
He waits for a bit before posing another question.
Why did you help ?
He seems to be the straightforward type.
From what I can tell, he is still around Nascent soul. However, hes not using his power to pull the answers from . Whether its out of wariness or his normal personality, I dont know.
I answer him soon after.
I I saw you were suffering and thought I could help.
Even without using their spiritual sense, they can tell if a non-cultivator is lying. Their senses have been increased to that point. I have no chance of hiding it.
What I said was the truth, but my body will probably show that I am still anxious and holding things back.
His face is the picture of suspicion, but soon changes to one of confusion.
The hairs on my neck rise, as I can feel even the air shiver with tension.
You do know who I am, right?
I quickly shake my head.
He stares.
And stares so more.
Then blinks, before covering his face.
And he begins to shake.
Suddenly, the space is filled with his laughter. Ground rolls in ti with every bark. Where the intent I could feel was originally of suspicion, it now has changed to one of giant booming sounds of mirth.
He even starts coughing from how hard he laughs.
It takes quite a long ti before it settles down.
For my part, I stay still and as quiet as possible. While Im not feeling anxious anymore, I am still on guard. Even with such a change in atmosphere, I dont let my guard down.
Every action of his screams of his power.
The little knowledge I have of Nascent Souls is that they are typically hidden masters, hiding away the fact they have such power or are overbearing in their strength, flaunting it in every situation. In contrast, this guy is neither hiding it nor flaunting it. It naturally rolls off his body.
Its part of the reason that Im able to stand without any trouble in his presence. Hes not doing anything with his pressure. Its just there and uniform.
And regardless of the amount of power he shows, Ive learned my lesson. At any mont, this could turn south. And while I would have no chance, I would still like to attempt to put up a fight.
He obviously senses this, as even with my relaxed stance and use of my scan to make appear normal, my body still gives off scents, revealing my intent.
I hear the laughter die down and a long sigh erge from him.
Im not going to forget favors and violate justice. You need not be wary of .
He looks off into the distance, like a protagonist. It actually looks majestic.
And then he snickers again.
I bet those fucking bastards never thought Id only be sealed for 2000 years and soone would actually have my cultivation restored afterwards.
He tilts his head back in perverse happiness.
Ahhhhh, it feels good.
And then he turns to .
I cant tell you my na, as you are much too weak to handle that burden. However, I can do a few things for you, as what youve done is more significant than you know.
!!!
Maybe this is why it sent to him? Perhaps I dont need to join the sect and go through all those headaches. If I can set him as my master, I could learn direc
Its like he reads my mind, as he directly combats that thought.
Ah, but I cant be anyones master. I have too much to do to take on a disciple. Regardless of their talent and skill.
I feel crestfallen, but he continues with sothing that sets off warning bells and major red flags.
Not only that, but youd likely be targeted within the hour, from whatever I could provide you.
Why did that give off the feeling that hes the bad guy?
Almost as if confirming my fears, he says sothing else.
Hmm I might need to hurry with this, as dusting this country will take longer if those old farts catch wind of .
He says it like hes talking about the weather or picking up the mail.
The countless people Ive t flash through my mind. The people I care about.
Even a simpleton knows it is dangerous to make requests to Nascent Soul cultivators that goes against their interests.
But if I dont
I need to try.
Would you be able to spare this country?
It feels like ti stops for a mont, as his eyes, which were elsewhere, seem to have a newfound pressure on . A tinge of anger is felt in his squinted gaze.
You ask to forgo my revenge?
He speaks softly, but it rings like a gong.
Its not the sa as the physical pressure that ca from Senior Song. This one is like a test. Weighing my commitnt.
If I say yes to this, Im dead. Theres no doubt in my mind.
I need to use my scan.
I change all of my scanning, including the ones that I placed for my tas onto this specific conversation. Even my defensive ones fall away, as I redirect everything to this specific type of scan.
Defense ans nothing in the face of this much strength. Only negotiating.
With the amount of power I orient to it, my scan guides to the best of my ability. Starting with a strong statent and a deep bow.
No, I would never do that!
And then silence. I dont dare move, even a centiter, as the slightest disrespect could lead to doom.
The tension remains in the air as the threat of death lingers.
It is only until that abates, do I continue speaking.
Forgive my impertinent request, but I only hope for you to limit your revenge to those who directly caused this. I have many people here that I deeply cherish.
The air shifts and I hear a loud crack from his jaw, caused by the clenching of teeth. A long breath exhales from him.
That is your request?
I manage to bow even deeper.
It is.
He shifts his weight and the pressure from before is removed.
I do not move. My scan tells it is not yet ti. I hold it, as he is appearing to think.
Okay. I grant this request. Though, you know not what you have asked for and what Ive just given you, or you would not have requested it.
He pauses and says nothing else.
A minute later and my scan lets know it is safe to raise my head. As I do so, I see him still watching .
The situation seems more stable now, and he appears to have ntally moved on. I can sense the change in the air. Hes in a good mood again.
I slowly change my scans back to normal, as I await his next words. They co faster than I anticipated.
I shall give you one other thing. It will depend on your own ability whether you are able to make use of it. At the very least, no one will be able to tell from it that you had any connection to .
His hand opens and closes. His fingers alternate in different patterns as he does so. On the fifth open of his hand, a small book appears.
I can feel the excitent mount in my heart.
This is it!
However, the words on it are blurred and undecipherable, as if it had a censor placed on it. I set my scan to automatically work on translating it.
Surprisingly, it is decoding comparatively slowly to any other written language Ive seen. Its becoming clearer and clearer, as if it is being enhanced and sharpened.
He continues, unknowing of my effort.
You will likely need so ti to study it, as it ca from a dinsion that I had to fight out of. If you can do so, Im sure it will bring dividends. All I could discern is that only certain people can grow to understand it.
He shakes his head, while the translation gets faster, the more scan I pour into it.
If we had more ti, Id let you study it in
He doesnt finish his statent, as the world explodes into a world of color, once the cover of the book beca clear to .
It has only one word on it.
Cultivation.
Particles surge toward from the book and Im thrust into a world of darkness, yet again.
Reviews
All reviews (0)