Below the clouded Heavens, above the majestic earth, a young man with long silver hair was currently laying down without a care in the world.
Watching attentively the drifting clouds high above for a few minutes, Alexander began to move, standing up as a start.
Scrutinizing this new place, he dusted himself, strolling in circles on the verdant grass. His feet leaving depressions on the green vegetation below, he inspected himself, first starting with a well deserved Divine Sense scan, however...
'Around 250 million kilometers, or fifty meters depending on the scale... And it only managed to do so while using the blue Divine Sense only... its former golden shade completely gone...' Making various facial expressions, he sat down cross-legged, this time contemplating his current cultivation.
'No idea what this is, my World Core is still the same, I think that my body is a bit tougher now? Or maybe saying it has adapted to this environment a wiser choice of words?'
His head held high, Alexander took in the beautiful view above, his ten million kilometers tall body comparable to a two meters one on a regular world.
'Those clouds are so far... multiple Universes would fit in between me and them! I guess it's time for me to stop the mighty act, for now at least.'
Reminiscing about the past, Alexander remembered his younger, struggling self, fighting to make a living, stealing cultivation techniques left and right just for an opportunity.
"Time to be a rat bastard all over again!" Shouting, his voice was soon drowned by the howling winds.
Willing to test his current strength using the most crude of methods, Alexander struck the ground using his full battle prowess, causing dust particles to move ever so slightly, the grass flattened, the earth near unfazed.
'Damn... A full powered blow and the dirt was moved... a bit... Even when I was at the Foundation Establishment Realm I had more impact on the world than this...'
Sighing, he could only walk forward in a straight line, all the while having many different thoughts and theories.
'I suppose that my immortality is gone, I also expect my status as a true immortal to be void. My wealth is probably worthless, my strength miserable and am currently standing tall, at the lowest cultivation level there is. It has always been this way when ascending within the Universe, going from the Lower Realms to the Upper Realms and so on, always ending up as cannon fodder...'
Kicking a very large pebble, Alexander felt his toe sore but did not grunt, ignoring the pain.
'The only thing I have that is amazing is my experience, I doubt most people in this Celestial Realm to even possess a quarter of my life experience. After all, I honestly cannot believe that every single cultivator present here originated from a Universe, ascending to this place. There probably is a major part of the population birthed directly here.'
'At least it is a possibility, though a welcomed one if true.'
His mind drifting, Alexander kept walking for hours on end, until he suddenly met with two humans in the middle of nowhere.
Noticed by the duo, he did not hide, still walking ahead with confidence.
"Who are you?" A young man the first to talk, he eyed Alexander with suspicion. Grabbing the young woman to his left, the young man hugged her defensively.
'Where did this man come from? What are the odds that someone would pass by these lost plains of Tuzim?'
Understanding why the man acted as such, Alexander raised his hands openly, showing his lacking hostility.
"Hello friends! I am lost you see, and in desperate need of something... I hope these two young friends are willing to help an unfortunate soul!"
Frowning, the young man was about to prepare himself for a duel when Alexander blurred.
'?!' Unable to react, the duo was hugged by Alexander, now behind them.
Resting his arms on their shoulders, he smiled evilly.
"Now, I just need something very simple from you two, and after that... I will simply be on my way!"
Shivering from fright, the two meekly nodded their heads, still unsure of what was currently going on.
"Senior... please be merciful, we are willing to help senior with his troublesome situation!" Not letting the young woman say a word, the youth was the first to speak.
Smiling even more, Alexander chuckled, before parting his lips.
"I just need you guys..."
His eyes turning cold, Alexander felt a nostalgic thrill inside.
"...to die!"
'?!!'
Too late to dodge, the duo had their hearts brutally taken out of their bodies by Alexander's blurring hands.
'What luck for me to find two Primordial Divinity Realm trashes! Though they were clearly much stronger than anyone that I knew at that level... Just using Celestial Qi at this realm is quite the sight!' Happily taking out the duo's space rings, Alexander did not even hesitate a second before spying inside.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
'Garbage all around, I'll just keep the potential valuables that are possibly tradable for currency and the true prize, these cultivation techniques! Oh~ aren't these books about this place as well?' Done with them, he threw the space rings inside his internal world, their existence already a far fading memory.
Opening book after book, Alexander kept walking, his restricted Divine Sense a veritable helping hand in his endeavors.
'The Celestial Realm is called exactly that, as for the region I am in... it should be called Tuzim according to these books...'
His head resting on one side, Alexander was perplexed.
'But the cultivation levels... It starts at the... Mortality Shattering Realm? Then there is the Low, Middle and High Warrior Realms... finally, the Ascension Realm here is equal to a major realm just above these called the Pre-Celestial Realm.'
Trying to remember the names and equivalents, Alexander continued reading about the Celestial Realm's cultivation stages with curiosity.
'Now, that's where it gets interesting... I should be at the Celestial Realm I believe, the level just above...' Raising a brow, Alexander was slightly confused.
'The Celestial Realm? Wait, so I should be a Celestial Realm cultivator inside the Celestial Realm... Who the fuck thought it was a good idea? Is it meant to be confusing or am I missing something?' Shaking his head in lament, Alexander preferred reading the rest to quell his annoyance.
'Alright, I'll just forget about that, we have the Celestial Harmonization Realm after that, followed by the Grand Gravitational Realm... Wait, did I test flying in here?' His memory playing tricks on him, Alexander simply shrugged at his senile state, attempting to fly.
After jumping a few meters high, he could immediately tell his current inability to float, fly or even glide.
'Well this is annoying... I suppose I have to reach that Grand Gravitational Realm to somewhat fly?'
Done with his hypothesis, he read the last cultivation stage shown in the book.
'Oh... The legendary Cloud Immortal Realm... legendary? That's what? The fourth major realm above what I would consider low for this place? So either there are almost no cultivation stages in here, which is highly unlikely, or I am in a...' Looking all around Alexander saw white fog blocking his sight a mind numbing distance away.
'...a remote, low-level location... like always...' Pursing his lips in resignation, he sighed.
'Road to the top... again... or should I say, Road to the top again again again again?''
Exhaling in future struggles, Alexander took in the surrounding view with more contemplation.
'Nevertheless, this place is really beautiful... verdant, short vegetation surrounded by a mystical fog far into the horizon, all of it shadowed by a grey cloudy sky... It feels surreal, if only I had such a view inside my pyramid...'
His eyes gleaming, he had one last thought.
'If I can't find such a view anywhere else within this Celestial Realm, then I'll build a house here!' Nodding in satisfaction, Alexander resumed his stroll.
-----
Now having spent days walking, Alexander was getting annoyed.
'Nothing but beautiful landscapes, I don't really mind, well wouldn't mind if I was already super strong, but now I need to steal some cultivation techniques! The ones I got earlier were all garbage... Thankfully I still don't need to eat. Seems like I kept some of my abilities, I mean it would be hard to digest when I don't even have organs anymore...'
-----
A year later, Alexander's eyes seemed unfocused as he was still walking without stop, his mind elsewhere.
'I wonder if there are weird cultures here, like people eating grass everyday...'
The thoughtful Alexander was soon startled by his subconscious, spotting a structure in the distance.
'A city? Did not take me long if I'm being honest, could've been worse...' Now lucid, he let his previous thoughts of mystery and green food go.
Taking in the view ahead, he looked at the relatively tall wall with curiosity. Exhaling, Alexander slapped his cheeks, getting himself in his old state of mind.
'I'm a rat! The rat coming from this world's worst nightmare! Until I reach at least the Cloud Immortal Realm, I will cultivate through blood and dishonesty!'
His strides wider and wider, he soon arrived at the city gates. Looking above, he saw the city gates be imbedded within a small mountain range.
Watching in front as hundreds of cultivators went in and out, he noticed a queue to the right.
Waiting in line, it was finally his turn only a couple of hours later. Stopping, Alexander looked to his right, a man in unremarkable armor looking his way.
"If you don't have a pass you must pay six thousand Celestial Stones!"
Nodding, Alexander handed over the required amount, having already prepared valuables beforehand.
The guard nodding as well, Alexander was free to go through.
Minutes later, Alexander was walking on chiseled pavements, a wide rocky yet smooth road for people to stroll onto.
On each side, countless densely packed buildings, be it shops, inns, houses and more.
His restricted Divine Sense exploding outward, Alexander spied on the likes of taverns and inns.
Stopping in his tracks, he smiled slightly, having caught onto a conversation. Heading to a somewhat secluded alley, he listened very attentively, making sure to remember the actors' faces.
Watching the group of three discussing next to a window, their table round, Alexander heard a man's voice.
"Miss Verdia, we can't go like this! How are we supposed to finish the sect's mission with just the three of us?!" A black haired young man in fancy cobalt and white robes speaking, the so called miss Verdia looked annoyed, pouting her pale cheeks, playing with her long black hair, a tint of green visible on each strand.
Standing up from a wooden chair, a short haired young man wearing brown clothes spoke, his small ponytail jumping along.
"He's right miss Verdia!! We are just Celestial Harmonization Realm cultivators! Even with our battle prowess combined, how can we possibly defeat a Tyrant Belial?"
Harrumphing, miss Verdia smacked the table using her delicate hands.
"So what?! I refuse to leave empty handed! What will my father think of me at that time?! Can you guys handle the responsibility then!!? When I go to you two directly, just to cripple you!"
Shivering, the two youths meekly sat back down, their heads hung low, fidgeting about.
'Celestial Harmonization Realm? They don't seem much different than me though?' Stroking his chin, Alexander was dumbfounded.
'Are you saying I actually am above even the Celestial Realm already? If so, was it a gift I received or simply a lucky occurrence?' Done with his investigation, he entered the building, soon arriving upstairs, before approaching his targets.
"Hello friends! I heard from afar that you planned on taking down a Tyrant Belial? If so, would you mind letting me in?" His attitude friendly, Alexander extended his hand.
*Slap!*
Alexander's crescent eyes turning cold inside, he retracted his hand. Hidden hostility birthed within him, staring maliciously at the black haired man.
"Friend, what is the meaning of this? Slapping my hand when I only wanted to make friends, was it intentional?"
'Rude little slave, just wait until we're alone... I'm gonna tear your mouth apart!' Alexander already looking at the youth as if he was nothing more than a corpse, his feet started to move, walking away very slowly.
'Knowing of these sheltered princesses and their daddy issues, she should call for me about...'
'...now?'
"Wait!" Hearing the young lady shout, Alexander's back kept his black heart hidden from view, his smiling face showing signs of greed.
'Fools!'