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An incandescent light shone out from a large mega-airship, black in colour with light blue on the edges; the ship itself was around ten kilometres long, with a diameter close to two kilometres – this ship was the mega-ship from the Quintessential Umbra Organisation (QUO). The light beam stopped at the centre of the four Holy Land airships, it began to condense in a celestial lake, the lake covered the entire area, and sitting upon the lake were multiple pavilions – each connected to each other by bridges that just skimmed the water’s surface. The pool was a colour of the most transparent blue, with a plethora of shimmering sea-life making merry within.
At the centre of the pavilions was a sizeable wooden arena, with at least one bridge from each tent converging on to it, the stage itself was glossy in nature. A clear sign of runic formations.
Without these runic formations, there would be no way for a lake to mythically levitate kilometres up in the sky.
“Your Senior-Brother Yan, the oldest and strongest of your age group, will be the designated leader of your group. He will take you to meet the other Holy Lands; from what I’ve seen the geniuses from the Empires within Augustin have joined in too,” Informed Cestra.
“While you go and meet your contemporaries, we will go ‘welcome’ the other Holy Lands.” Cestra gave his compatriots a wink, eliciting a smile from all of them.
•••
Senior-Brother Yan was a handsome young man, close to the age of eighteen, once he passes the age of eighteen his age he would move up to a higher age group. Realising this Senior-Brother Yan’s dark eyes, took a solemn air to them, this was the last chance he’d have to shine within this age group – he’d make the best of it he could. He’d missed out on comparing notes with his contemporaries for the past five years as a result of the Cataclysm Array activating, but he was anything but displeased by it, the boon he received from the baptism of primordial laws was a chance only stumbled upon, not searched for.
Senior-Brother Yan was at the large success stage of the World Coalescing-Realm, in this realm, one can fly freely throughout the air; at this point, most battles between cultivators is done in the air. To reach the peak of the World Coalescing-Realm near the age of eighteen was a commendable achievement, even though within a Holy Land, it wasn’t the top. Many of Senior-Brother Yan’s contemporaries would be at the peak of the World Creation Realm, but this is all within good reason. During the primordial baptism, Senior-Brother Yan was introduced to laws and comprehensions he wouldn’t even be close to touching for another hundred years, but he wasn't able to cultivate during this baptism. As a result, his battle power is well above the World Coalescing Realm, even breaking into the peak of the World Creation Realm. Yan spent most of his time these past five years comprehending the laws rather than cultivation, hence why he is one step behind.
To advance through the World Realms, one needs to wander the world and broaden their experiences while communicating with their chosen Primordial Way.[1]
Although the key-players of the Awakening Ceremony, at Mt. Evanescence, were the children between the ages of five and seven, this doesn’t mean Senior Brothers and Sisters wouldn’t join them on this trip. All Holy Land disciples used the Awakening Ceremony as an excuse to compete against their contemporaries from the other Holy Lands and compare notes.
Senior-Brother Yan turned towards his junior sect members, and more specifically to the five youngest disciples.
“Although you will not be competing in this sparring-session, you’ll be flying the flags of our sect during your ascendance of Mt. Evanescence. Every single one of your movements will be captured on vision-arrays and spread throughout the plains and the world. I have the utmost confidence in you, and especially our five-youngest members to perform miracles. If you can receive an inheritance from an ancestor, it could lead you to be one of the most eminent members of the cultivation community in the future,” Stately said Senior-Brother Yan with a fire burning in his eyes.
“I for one received a spear-inheritance from an ancestor with a realm I can’t even fathom. As a result, Patriarch Cestra accepted me as a disciple when he saw me flourish in the practice of the inheritance.
This is just an example of how your destiny could be changed during your ascendance of Mt. Evanescence.” Said Senior-Brother Yan, proudly motivating his junior sect members.
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At this moment, a silver walk-way with ethereal green lights cascading from it travelled towards the Celestial Lake from the Elysian.
“Let’s go.”
The beautiful and inspiring young Ethereal Sect Members began to move along the incorporeal pathways towards the floating celestial lake, beasts and humans walking along in harmony from the East cardinal direction.
At the same time, three other groups of young people move along their own pathways towards the celestial lake.
From the West cardinal direction, a group of only humans, with robes coloured the same as the elements they practice moved along a multi-coloured pathway shining with the different aspects of heaven and earth. This group was from the Elemental Infinitum Sect.
From the South cardinal direction, a group of only beasts, in all their scale, furred and feathered brilliance moved along their pathway sending frightening killing-intent towards the Elemental Infinitum Sect, this group was the Divine Bestia Sect.
The Elemental Infinitum Sect didn’t hesitate to reciprocate the ‘kindness’ towards the Divine Bestia Sect.
From the North Cardinal Direction, a group of fae, with a few humans, moved along their elegant pathway. This fae group consisted of fairies, elves, demi-humans, dwarves, seraph and many other diverse types of fae. This division was the Quintessential Umbra Organisation.
The four parties converged on a large pavilion; at that moment all the other Holy Lands looked towards the Ethereal Grotto Sect. All the Holy Lands were interested in the reason for the Ethereal Grotto Sects absolute reclusion from the world for the past five years; the youth leaders of the other Holy Lands noticed that they were a small-realm above Senior-Brother Yan and smiled in disdain. Apart from the youth-leader of the QUO, a beautiful female elf with long white hair, unlike humans and beasts are more sensitive to the primordial laws; she stared at Senior-Brother Yan in amazement.
“How could he reach that level of laws at such a young age.” She inwardly thought in astonishment, but at that moment that astonishment turned into disbelief as she noticed that every single member of the Ethereal Grotto sect had reached an absurd level in the Way of Laws.
“Even though they are a few small-realms beneath the rest of the Holy Lands, their battle power will definitely not fall short… maybe even surpassing ours.”
Realising this, Aylox’er Silvanus the elf youth leader of the QUO took the initiative to move towards the Ethereal Grotto Sect and welcoming them; one can’t reach her position with just strength, an astute mind is needed as well.
“Welcome Brother Yan, and members of the Grotto, it has been five years since we saw you last, and the realms in which you have reached amazes me,” Aylox’er Silvanus flattered Senior-Brother Yan.
“What type of chance did the Grotto stumble upon, to go into seclusion for five years?” She inwardly thought.
Before Yan could respond, a snort of disdain echoed throughout the surroundings, an average-looking man with multi-coloured hair from the Elemental Infinitum Sect, “Why are you so benevolent to trash like that, Fairy Silvanus?”
Shooting a look of repulsion towards the multi-coloured haired man, “Nezul, just because you can’t fathom their power, doesn’t mean you must speak derisively of my decisions?” Aylox’er replied with disdain.
Shocked into silence, Nezul didn’t reply but instead looked at the Grotto members once again. Gradually he started to notice an odd-repressive power of laws emanating from them, he specialised in the elemental rules, so it’s only natural that he would see eventually.
His face turned an odd colour.
“It seems you’ve noticed.” Aylox’er pointedly said.
Although the Grotto did not receive killing-intent towards them from the Elemental Infinitum Sect and the Divine Beastia sect, there were looks of disdain sent towards them. Unlike the Grotto which whole-heartedly believed in the diversity of creatures, these two other sects believed in a monogamous living; only humans or only beasts. They disdained the Grotto for mixing this principle that they so proudly held.
Yan and the other Grotto members just looked onto the events in front of them with enjoyment; they expected such a reaction from the other Holy Lands.
“Thank you for your words of compliment, Fairy Silvanus. Let’s end these superfluous words, we all know what we want to do. I’d like my junior sect members to broaden their horizons during our spars," Senior-brother Yan indicated behind himself.
"They’ve been trapped within the sect for five years, I’m sure they can barely contain their battle-intent, just like me.” A devilish smile formed on Yan’s face.
A great battle intent formed around him, while a suppression of laws landed on the youth leaders; Nezul and a large three-meter-long golden lion from the Divine Bestia Sect.
“You dare suppress me, Leon, a descendant of the Lion-Deity,” Roared the lion, a brilliant red Qi proliferated his skin.
“Us beasts may not be proficient in the Way of Laws, but you will never surpass our supreme physiques which we cultivate.”
“Alright boys, before we start let’s get our junior brothers and sisters to safety. Brother Yan, do you think it’ll be alright if my organisation sits with you in your pavilion?” Seductively said Aylox’er, lightly gracing Yan’s muscular arm.
“That’ll be excellent.” Entirely taking advantage of the situation, Yan took her hand and lightly kissed it.
Fairy Silvanus also taking it in her stride, moved along with him towards their pavilion.
While this was going on a tall-child with magenta coloured eyes stared astutely at the actions of his Senior-Brother Yan, a profound light flashing across his beautiful eyes… it was if he just learnt something new.
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