I looked around myself in astonishnt. I stood in a dark world, without a sky or even a ground, but a forest sohow surrounded on all sides, with fog blurring my sight and not allowing to see anything.
The sounds of rustling leaves as sothing moved around were the only thing I heard around myself besides the sound of my own breath and the beating of my heart.
Was this the matriarchs spirit? No- no this place was real. My thoughts and mind had little sway or influence in this place. It was a part of the world, overlapping on the actual world around . Sohow, I can tell this. The real physical and tangible nature of this place and the stability it had only served to unnerve even further.
Shadows moved around , and I turned, mories of the assassin returning. But this was different. And in many ways, worse. I could sense the poison lurking in the air, the leaves with hidden thorns ready to prick you and the little creatures waiting patiently for their chance to strike.
This is my domain, boy, the matriarchs voice ca from all around , as the air itself vibrated.
Here, without a domain of your own to fight back, you are at my rcy, she said, as the world around began to shift. I could sense sothing waiting in ambush, still and silent, ready to strike.
This is how a master fights. This is how Divinities fight. The difference that separates us from the rest. The matriarch said.
I knew about domains. Of course I did. They were what you obtained to enter the fourth circle, a manifestation of your spirit, and your path. A domain was in many ways a world you imposed upon reality, forcing it to bend to your will by bullying it into submission with power.
It also explained how the empire kept a grasp on its power. Those with a domain held absolute authority over those without, there was little to be done about it unless one could counteract with their own.
I jumped, using Stepping instantly to move aside as a giant pure white serpent leapt out leapt was not quite right. It moved like a mountain being chucked at , tearing down trees and carving a giant trail in the ethereal black ground.
The creature continued past , moving across the forest as it raised its head high into the skies, and if there was a sun the place I stood in wouldve been under the serpents shadow. I stepped back as the serpent leaned its head closer to the ground and the matriarch patted its head, before stepping down. Her aura was intense, but it wasnt enough to overwhelm as I currently was anymore.
I took so amount of pride in that.
Domains are achieved at the tenth realm. Its why no matter how powerful you are, if you lack a domain youll always be weaker than a master, the matriarch said, looking at . A mont later, she frowned. Of course, with your Path its hard to tell even just that.
I wasnt sure what to make of that, so I simply looked at her. The serpent continued to keep its head down, fog dancing around the destroyed chunk of forest as the Shie matriarch looked at expectantly.
So, what do you plan to do?
I looked back at her, not sure how to reply. Ask nicely?
The woman looked at in surprise.
That was a joke, I added, as her gaze made want to shrink and run away.
Perhaps you do not understand the situation, if you can make such jokes, the Matriarch said as the giant snake hissed next to her. We did say we would not kill you, so you best try to stay alive.
I didnt like where this was going, as the Matriarch stepped back, climbing onto the snake as it raised its head and the swirling mists began to move around . I didnt wait for the giant thing to attack as I ran into the remaining bits of the forest. Using Stepping, I moved as fast as I possibly could, while the giant serpent gave chase like a bulldozer, knocking down trees like bowling pins. Soone needed to tell the lady that deforestation was a bad thing.
A fivefold sage, a boy walking upon a brand new path, one carrying the divine tree in his soul. You have many achievents to your na, but are you truly all they say? The matriarchs voice echoed once more through the fog. Show your ttle. Prove to us that you are everything they say you are, boy. That you are worthy of the Path you walk.
The serpent hissed as I dodged another strike that took down trees, while the giant creature swung around to take another strike. It felt like I was playing on the palm of her hand. There was no way to hide, she would know every inch of his place and no matter where I would go, she would find .
Thankfully, I wasnt planning on hiding, I just needed so ti to think. Unfortunately the Shie matriarch didnt seem very inclined to give that. Her aura descended upon from all directions, the pressure on my spirit increasing. I stumbled, falling through thorny and almost certainly poisonous bushes, before slowly picking myself up.
Sadly, I didnt have enough ti. The snake jumped at and I turned as its massive mouth and hands were about to pierce my body. I grabbed the giant serpents mouth, holding it open as the snake raised its body up in the air, trying its best to swallow .
My hands clutched its scales, fingers digging in as Chi channeled to all my limbs for every ounce of strength. I could feel my bones creaking under the pressure. Letting fires rise at my hands, I began to burn the snakes body as it thrashed around, eventually flinging off. I flew across the domain, crashing into branches before falling down. I got up swiftly, dodging the angered snakes strike, before turning back around.
Calling upon the first law, I let Chi split into Qi and Gu in two balls of energy that ford around my two fists. Bringing them together, I let the energies collide with one another.
First Law: Duality I echoed with all the power of my spirit, as the two halves t and destruction manifested into the world.
The beam of energy flew across the space, piercing the serpent and injuring it as the giant snake shrieked. Its scales sizzled and charred, a chunk of its body burned. The space around my fists cracked for a mont, light peeking through, but before I could see what was beyond, the cracks nded themselves.
The snake got up, my attack rely a bruise, and only serving to annoy it even further. I heard the matriarchs voice.
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Were surprised. Perhaps weve underestimated you a little.
Unfortunately I had no ti to rejoice over her complint as I resud running for my life once more. But now I had a clue. I tried once more, calling upon the first law as I let the destructive energy collide, but this ti it was focused not on the serpent, but on the very space in front of and the domain I was trapped in.
Space cracked once more, like peering through as I tried to put my hand through to try and peel it apart yet the world patched itself around , nearly cutting off my fingers had I not pulled it back.
Damn it, so I cant just blast my way out of here. I continued to run through the forest, dodging the giant serpent, and I felt the pressure on my shoulder increasing one more ti.
I considered using the second law, but genesis would not do much here. I couldnt affect the matriarchs cultivation, it would simply overpower , and the domain was just another extension of that, so it would behave similarly.
That only really left one option with , and I didnt like the option very much.
I moved through the foggy forest, dodging a strike from the snake before I found a cliff side. Jumping down the edge and landing on a protruding rock, I leapt inside a cavern section where I knew the snake wouldnt be able to enter very easily.
The giant serpent rushed in, smashing itself against the caves entrance, loud rumbling hisses shaking the ground around as I watched it in horror. My heart was racing, as I panted for breath, standing back up. It would break the walls, or the matriarch would, so I didnt have a lot of ti.
Closing my eyes, I began to focus. Id only done this one ti before, and it had been on the verge of death after Id absorbed my own body into myself. I still didnt know what the effect of that had been, but I knew how it had felt.
I reached into my spirit, finding the source of power waiting inside, with all the grace that a giant turtle would have. I let that power flow into , as both resonance and dissonance manifested in my spirit, the waves traveling through my Chi as Harmony was created.
Chi moved without restriction, like I stood in my own spirit with free control on the very world as my eyes lit up with the sheer overflow of Chi moving through my body.
I felt the energy coursing through , and I knew I couldnt hold it longer. The cave entrance collapsed as the serpent broke the wall holding it back, trying to rush in.
I didnt let it. Moving ahead with rapid speed and power I struck with my fist, slamming the serpent backwards as it tumbled across to the other side of the valley. I flew through the air, moving out as the giant snake shook its head.
Gu and Qi swirled around my hands, as I let them collide shooting a beam much stronger and powerful than before. Space shook and shivered around as the serpent dodged the attack before rushing back at .
The aura of a divinity was on my shoulders but I was fast now, in this state, nothing could hold back.
And so I moved, and with the power of a mountain behind my strike, I struck at the snake, hitting it hard enough to lift its body off the ground. The strike created a sonic boom, the air exploding around as rocks and boulders feel free from the impact of the shockwave.
The strength had been enough to tear a chunk out of the matriarchs domain. But it was shrinking and would be gone in the blink of an eye. I grabbed the edges of space itself, Chi coursing through my hands as I tore the gap, cracking them wider till I could fit through, and then I stumbled out.
The very mont I did, all my strength faded, Harmony disrupting itself as I collapsed onto the ground. I coughed, trying to gather myself when the matriarch moved in close instantly, grabbing my robes as she pulled up and looked in the eye.
How do you have a Divine Beast.
I had never seen a goddess, much less an enraged one, but now I knew what sothing like that might look like.
The matriarchs eyes glowed with the power of a Divinity, and I could feel myself crumbling away under her strength.
Grandmother
SPEAK!
The command was absolute, and yet, I knew I could resist it. I had no reason to, and it wouldve helped to speak, but I did not like being grabbed by the collar. I gathered all the will I could, and when that was not enough, I asked for help. Xuanwus aura mixed with mine, breaking the order as the matriarch stumbled back in shock.
The Old man stepped in front of . Calm yourself, Zhuihu.
You are you trying to destroy this empire? The matriarch asked, looking at the old man with an expression of grief, as if shed just been betrayed by a close friend.
No, but you have lost yourself in your anger, the old man said, harshly this ti.
Grandmother, you need to stop, Liuxiang said, her voice a lot closer than Id anticipated.
I finally raised my head to see Liuxiang standing against her grandmother alongside the old man, her hair pins out and ready to fight the woman.
You you would betray us too? The woman asked, as if her heart was breaking.
No one is betraying you. But you need to give the boy a chance to explain himself, the old man said, fire dancing at the edge of his fingers. This was the first ti Id felt the old mans aura with this intensity, as it matched the Matriarch, keeping safe.
I raised myself, looking up at the woman. I still felt incredibly weak, and more than a little annoyed, but I knew that I needed to explain quickly before the woman decided I was not worth keeping around.
I was chosen as a vessel by the spirit you sensed, I replied, looking at the woman. The last ti he ca around, I lost all sense and control. It was your granddaughter who brought back, I said, looking at Liuxiang who still looked nervous at her grandmothers sudden reaction.
Do you do you know what it ans to carry a Divine Beast? The woman asked , her eyes still glowing with power, and I could see the old man straining now.
I do. But I have no intention to surrender to it. We are allies, working towards a shared goal, I said.
What do you intend to do with it? The matriarch asked.
I plan to stop the demons. To stop Yang Shen and to reunite Heaven and Earth, I said.
The world shook around for a mont, but the matriarch did not seem to care. She continued to look at , as if trying to peer into my very soul, and I kept my expression straight.
A mont later, the glow from her eyes faded, as she clutched her head. We will not apologize for our behavior, the woman said, looking at the old man. We would say we are happy to see you, and we are, but you bring far too many bad ons with you, Shen Ming.
The old man looked sad at her words, but did not deny it.
Your control needs work, boy, if you truly are to be a vessel. Youre barely able to hold the divine beasts power and that too, not for long. If your path and ambitions are as grand as you proclaim, then you will need to master this ability, the matriarch said, glancing sideways. But as you are now, you will be able to break through any domain.
The old man nodded, bowing his head lightly. This old man appreciates your help, Zhuihu.
Right. Were done for now, leave us alone for so ti, the matriarch said, dismissing us.
I bowed my head as well, looking towards the old man, before we left the chamber. As I did, I let out a giant sigh of relief.
Guess that went about as well as it couldve gone.
***
Zhuihu sat on her throne, feeling unsettled by what she had seen. A vessel to a divine beast after all this ti, and this alongside the return of Yang Shen and the disappearance of demons. It gave her a bad feeling.
But while one part of her thought of that, another was making different calculations. The boy had certainly asured up to his na, and a vessel was the equivalent to the emperor himself, if cultivated properly. Most of all, the girl had raised a weapon against her. She had only ntioned him as a friend, but Zhuihu knew how these things went with children.
It would certainly not be the worst option, though she herself would not care to beco an Empress, she wouldnt mind having a son-in-law as one.
The matriarch smiled, taking a sip from her cup as she sat on her chair. Perhaps she could nudge things along a little soti.
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