"Realms can be vast, and they can be small, but they cannot be eternal. Or at least that is what should be the case. For there is a realm where eternal is its foundation, endless in all but the truest sense of the word. And while there are a set number of continents that span billions of miles each, it is the sea that is truly endless. At least in the eyes of many scholars and adventurers, it is as close to endless as anything can get. No matter what divination magic or scrying wizards do, we cannot see the end."

An old short man with a pointed hat said while pacing in front of eager 10-year-old students. He took a moment to gather his thoughts, stroking his white beard that reached down to his plump stomach. But before he could continue, a student raised his hand energetically. His eyes sparkling with such curiosity that the old man could not help entertaining the boy. With a light nod to the boy, the child rushed his words out as if they were going to be forgotten if he spoke too slowly.

"If the world is so huge, why are there only four lands sir? And why is there that much ocean? And was the Heavenly System the one that made this world so big? Why haven't we seen any water people at least? Why is..."

With a raise of his hand, the instructor forestalled any more of the questions and then replied with a light chuckle.

"Truthfully, there was once only a single continent, but we and our cultural differences caused those supreme powers to send us apart." A solemn tone etched his voice, but he carried on.

"And yes, the Heavenly System is the highest existence of the Eternal Realm and while it does not usually interfere with the lives of anyone, be it mortal or god, we can only assume it created everything we know and don't know."

His brows creased in contemplation as he eyed the students one by one. He then went over to his desk and took a seat, making an exaggerated sigh escape his lips, phoning in having weak joints.

"In terms of 'water people' as you call it. No, we have not discovered sentient life outside of the four continents. But you should not disregard this land or any other abroad. While in the grand scheme of things, our pieces of land are insignificant compared to the vast oceans, it would still take the fastest of gods weeks to move from one end of any of the four lands. That is not to mention the wonders that remain to be seen everywhere on this continent alone. More so, on the faraway lands that have atmospheres majorly of Qi instead of mana!"

A collective sound of Oooooh's and Aaaaaah's sounded about as the children imagined a place quite different from their own. They did not catch the sharp glint in the teacher's eyes at the end that faded away as if never there.

The boy who had inquired earlier spoke up again.

"I always ask my parents and other teachers about the foreign lands, but they ignore my questions as if they heard nothing. Why is that?"

A genuine sigh escaped his lips this time as the old man saw the other children nodding in agreement with the little rascal. He should have known that he would have been asked this eventually but unlike his colleagues, he did not see the harm in addressing this. It was so long ago now since that royal decree. Was he supposed to keep these future generations ignorant forever? He tried to collect himself as his body began to tremble ever so subtly.

"The reason your parents shy away from speaking further on foreign lands is because of one clan. Yes all because of one damn clan. A clan on a far away land called the Immortal Continent. A place of cultivating one's soul and harnessing the power of Qi."

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The end to that statement made the youths have sparkles in their eyes. Which soon evaporated when an icy chill ran through the room and beads of sweat formed on all their faces as their expressions turned fearful. The intensity of the instructor's stern eyes was palpable as he continued.

"It is unfortunate that this land had to give rise to a clan that by all means should not exist. Know this. And I will say this only once. If you ever travel to this land, never get on the bad side of the Li Clan. Unless you wish to doom your entire generation! Those damn monsters are unnatural! They do not function as beings of this world should! Stay far away from that place! If there is any lesson you must take to heart, let it be this one!"

There was a deafening silence in the classroom, the youths with worried and confused expressions plastered on their innocent faces. They looked at each other in bewilderment, not knowing what to say from this random outburst. It seemed hardly intelligible.

The boy who had been talkative the entire time hesitantly squeaked out a word.

"W-what?"

The wrinkled old man lowered his hat and ran it across his sweating forehead while he let out ragged breaths, realizing that he was still quite affected by what had happened in the past. His mind homed in on this intense feeling. But why? It occurred over 100,000 years til this day! Of course, as a 6th step Mortal, this passage of time was hardly a drop in the bucket compared to his overall lifespan, yet he still assumed that he had gotten over that dreadful day. In his mind, he could still see the massive force of Gods they had sent being slaughtered effortlessly by a single man while his subordinates supporting him still easily picked off gods and higher step mortals as if they were breaking open some damn eggs! It was utterly humiliating and a stain on the Imperium ever since!

Having these pent-up feelings brought into the open made him understand his colleagues' hesitation towards telling these young scions anything about the foreign lands, as that land would eventually be brought up. Truly, nothing is more profound than simple hindsight.

The instructor cleared his voice and settled himself down the best he could and spoke in a calm tone.

"Apologies, I have already said too much. But I hope that you all can infer that this is a touchy subject. And while I cannot bear to tell you more. You can always speak to the Royal Oracle. She is the one soul that is not bound by the laws of the imperium in the same way. Well, outside of the royal family at least, which you did not hear from me."

He said with a mischievous wink. While he knew that his colleagues would not be happy about him still giving the youths a way to get some answers, he saw no actual harm in it. If he was not the one having to relive those memories, of course.

With those last words, he dismissed the class for the day as the young curious boy of the class immediately scampered off. A wry grin showed on the balding old man's face as he tracked the direction the boy and a few that followed went.

"I really hope that old crone isn't too descriptive. Poor boy."

He grumbled to himself as his gaze met a window of the classroom. His senses could make out a shoreline a few miles away effortlessly. His mind could not keep certain intruding thoughts away despite trying so desperately for ages.

"Oh, how I wonder how such a clan came into existence. If I could only be there to see it all."

It frustrated him that even with such fear that the clan instilled into him, he could not help admiring its power and legacy. If only he could know the history…what a story that would be.