"Hello? Millo, are we in the same place? The qi here is heavily influenced by a demonic force, and strange people populate the streets. Some possess an eeriness to them, others are experiencing mental demons, and a minority are losing their sanity completely. Just on my way into the city, I encountered a person I’m now certain was a demon. You’d have to be either disillusioned or completely separated from the outside world not to sense such abnormalities. The corruption runs deep. So deep, in fact, the world seems unable to resist any longer. What can a bunch of younglings do in this situation?” Leumas initially wanted to manipulate Millo by mentioning state secrets, but his reaction was too intriguing. He now wanted to know more. Was the demonized realm some trial ground, a malicious entity, a separate dimension to this planet, or something else entirely? Leumas also wanted to understand why readying the younger generation for combat was necessary. No one below the Transcendent stage, or the corresponding power level, could remotely affect such elusive creations.
Millo became further flustered after hearing Leumas' response to his outburst. “It’s impossible for demons to pass through the city gates! There is a millennia-old formation erected here to disallow any such creatures' entry. You must be mistaken—” Before Millo could begin accusing Leumas of lacking brain cells, he interrupted the nervous wreck of an advisor.
“Let me stop you right there. Do not attempt to disregard or disrespect my intelligence because you live in a fantasy. That was not the only demon I’ve encountered in the city, so I’m not mistaken. Hell, over a dozen of those asking me questions earlier were demons. Open your eyes, old man.” Leumas was having none of this bullshit. Millo wanted to call him stupid, which is fair, but not coming from this shriveled raisin, not believing in the truth presented to him. Also, the damn carriage was almost at its destination.
“Listen, Millo, I think you should have a nice and calm talk with your king rather than spectate that worthless tournament. Since this is a private matter, I’ll leave you two alone for it. I’ll take my leave, but don’t worry, I won’t leave the hotel room arranged for me. Oh, when you stop mumbling ‘there’s a decade left’ and you’re done with all your business, pass me the information about the realm and your history with it. Thank you.” Wasting no time, Leumas opened the carriage door and leapt out. His escape was successful! Who knew old men were so mentally fragile?
“The True King of Chess broke down after receiving slightly startling news, huh? Wonder what his fans would think,” Leumas thought to himself walking down the boisterous and highly populated street. Earlier, when Millo guided him towards the garden, he gave Leumas a keycard. It was for a suite in the Seed of Gol hotel, the hotel where everyone of importance or talent would stay during this time of year. In fact, the hotel was only open for one month and closed for the other eleven. Leumas was ecstatic at the thought of sleep at first, but a minor premonition of his was pushing him towards cultivation. Or rather, figuring out some of the changes he’s undergone.
It would be strange if Leumas struggled to find the hotel in question, as it was uncharacteristically for such a minor city. It was a tower near the city’s center, standing over five hundred meters tall. It was colored in a combination of red, gold, and silver, while a formation was constantly projecting an image of a qilin into the sky. It was pompous to say the least.
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There was only one legal way of entering and exiting this hotel, which was an archway facing the arena. It was nothing special in and of itself, but was heavily fortified with different runes, formations, and hidden contraptions, all supervised by hundreds of guards. The people staying here were too important, resulting in such heavy security.
Leumas approached the archway, all the while having various weapons pointed in his direction.
“Halt! Only residents are allowed entry; turn around at once,” one of the guards shouted. Leumas, however, only pulled out the keycard from his dainty satchel, hanging off his belt. He then flashed it towards the guard, who scrutinized it for some time before placing a weird cube in front of his eyes. Leumas could feel an altered spiritual sense scan the card, and then him, before retreating.
“Lower your weapons, but remain vigilant; the night is still young. Young master, I sincerely apologize, but this is routine procedure. Please do not take offense.” The guard knew some of these youths had egos the size of mountains, and being denied immediate entry could cost his head, but the situation demanded it. All he could do was apologize and hope for the best. Worst-case scenario, he’d enter royal protection.
“I understand. Don’t worry about it, but could you move now? You're standing in the way.” Leumas couldn’t care less at the moment, as the nagging feeling was slowly growing stronger. The second the guard opened the path, he powerwalked through it, rushing towards his room, located at the top floor. Luckily, he wouldn’t need to walk the entire way. He’d just use the elevator-like platform located in the center of the lobby.
There was a young woman waiting on the platform, seemingly a guide in control of the contraption. She gave the flamboyant and feminine young master hurriedly approaching a warm smile and asked what floor and room he was going to.
“Room 4250. Also, I’m in quite the rush. The faster I get there, the better,” he responded. The young woman nodded in affirmation and began controlling the elevator. It quickly rose through the stories, sometimes moving in a horizontal direction, through different pathways.
“Young master, please place your keycard here.” The platform stopped under a marble hatch in the ceiling, with a dispenser of sorts on the side. The guide gestured for him to deposit his card into it, and so he did.
The card was quickly eaten, before the hatch opened, allowing the platform to ascend a little further. When they came to a stop once again, they were inside his new suite. Leumas tipped the woman with some spirit stones; she smiled, then left through the hatch now found in the floor.
Leumas wanted to appreciate the living quarters but felt compelled to begin his journey of introspection at his earliest convenience. He thus jumped onto the bed, lied down in a proper cultivation position, and pretended to fall asleep. His breath became heavier, and his energy exchange with the surroundings changed significantly. No one, not even his attentive predator-like stalker, would know he was fully awake at this moment. Which was the point.
Most of his conscious mind entered his personalized space, viewing something similar to a mummy constructed out of dark-gray chains. There was a change from last time, however, as instead of two lights, there were now three. Light might be the wrong word, as it was actually pure darkness. On the mummy's right hand, a rune he recognized from his own body was now apparent.
“Does this thing change with my body, or does my body change with it?” Samuel thought to himself. No one could access this place, so there was no need to hide his existential traces. Something Samuel was still confused by.
If Samuel behaved like himself, he’d give away traces to his stalker, but when revealing never-before-seen information on his race, no such thing happened. The inconsistency in this entire concept was remarkably ridiculous. Samuel didn’t understand the criteria.
“This doesn’t matter now. That sense of urgency continues to grow stronger; I don’t have time to waste.”