Feng Zhiming lay atop the bed in his secluded abode, but sleep eluded him. The weight of unspoken thoughts and unresolved matters kept him awake, urging him to take this chance to reawaken in his original body. He needed to speak with Kura, for the matters at hand could not wait.
As his consciousness in Ryes’s body faded, he felt the familiar pull and then the distinct sensation of reawakening atop the altar in the Heart. The air was thick with an otherworldly energy that he had grown accustomed to, and beneath him, he felt a softness that wasn’t there before.
He opened his eyes and was greeted by an unexpected sight. Kura, the pale woman who had been his enigmatic helper in this realm, was staring down at him, her expression unreadable as he lay in her lap.
"…"
Feng Zhiming’s mind raced, pondering whether she had spent the entire time watching over him like this. Her actions were always shrouded in mystery, but this, this was beyond strange.
“Fated one, you have returned so soon?” Kura's voice broke the silence as Feng Zhiming slowly sat up, extricating himself from her lap.
“I had a few questions,” he replied, putting a deliberate distance between them. The unsettling closeness was something he couldn’t easily shake off. He needed clarity.
“First of all, tell me about your strength,” he inquired directly, needing to gauge the power of those he had chosen to ally with.
Kura’s response was swift, almost as if she had anticipated the question. “I would say I’m equal to the sect leaders of these various sects,” she replied with a calm certainty that left little room for doubt.
Feng Zhiming nodded, processing the information. “Is it safe to assume you have complete control over this realm?”
Kura pointed to the ground beneath her. “The Heart is a special place,” she began, her voice tinged with an almost reverent tone. “It is said that a cultivator forcibly slashed open the fabric of reality here, allowing the lord to plant a seed for a creature of communion.”
Feng Zhiming directed his spirit sense downward, piercing through the earth. His senses detected something like dark roots, sprawling and winding far beyond the cave, extending into the infinite expanse.
“Over time, the seed took root within this realm,” Kura continued, “and it integrated its very existence into the Heart. In reality, it extends infinitely, but due to the nature of space outside, the Heart appears limited in its confines.”
He listened intently, his mind already strategizing.
“Given enough time, I will be able to manifest the entrance to the Heart anywhere on the continent, and eventually, anywhere within the realm of Primus,” she added.
This revelation was a great boon. If the entrance could indeed be summoned anywhere, it would eliminate his reliance on more conventional, and often unreliable, means of transportation. But Feng Zhiming was no fool. He knew better than to trust blindly. The one of Truth and Veracity had shown its hand, but whether its intentions aligned with his own was yet to be determined.
Just because he said he could not take the Throne did not necessarily mean it was true. But for now, Feng Zhiming would play along. As long as the resources and power this alliance provided served his purposes, he would continue the charade. The game of thrones was intricate, and he intended to play it to his advantage.
“Who was it that slashed open this rift?” Feng Zhiming’s voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of urgency in his question. The origins of such power intrigued him deeply.
Kura paused, her ethereal features betraying a flicker of thought before she answered. “A great cultivator, the name… it eludes me,” she admitted, her tone tinged with a rare hint of frustration. “They must have walked the path of power long before the previous cycle, in an era so distant that even I struggle to recall. Treading the path of power and… I cannot remember.”
Feng Zhiming’s eyes narrowed. The vague answer left him unsatisfied.
“In terms of other benefits to the Heart?” He shifted the topic, seeking tangible advantages.
Kura’s lips curved into a slight smile, and with a snap of her fingers, the scenery around them changed abruptly. They now floated in the sky, overlooking a vast and dense forest stretching endlessly in all directions.
“I have captured and detained many demon and spirit beasts,” Kura said, her voice echoing with pride. “At least 200 fourth order beasts and 20 fifth order beasts. The rest, third order and below, number in the thousands.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Feng Zhiming’s eyes widened ever so slightly, though he maintained his composed exterior. The significance of her words was not lost on him. Fifth order demon beasts were equivalent to Heavenly Eye cultivators, a force that only the great six Sects could rival. Such power under his command was invaluable.
“I see,” he replied, his voice betraying none of the surprise he felt. His mind raced with the possibilities. This realm, with its boundless resources and powerful inhabitants, could indeed prove indispensable in his plans to conquer the continent.
After a moment of contemplation, he changed the topic. “About Krimin, are you certain we should have let him go?”
Kura’s expression remained serene. “The Caelum Juravi blessed by the Beastial Origin,” she mused. “He will serve a great purpose. Not only will he distract other Caelum Juravi from targeting you, but there’s a slight chance that he may play an important role in the future.”
“Important role?” Feng Zhiming echoed, his curiosity piqued.
Kura shrugged her shoulders with a graceful, almost dismissive motion. “I cannot say any more,” she confessed. “The lord has only revealed so much to me. As for the girl, I’ve been meaning to ask, why did you let her go?”
A smirk tugged at the corners of Feng Zhiming’s lips. “You should know that as well, right? Or has she evaded even the sight of a Dao Lord?”
Kura nodded, acknowledging his point. “I had my suspicions, but it seems your insight with the Lunar Sun eyes has indeed blessed you.”
Feng Zhiming inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting towards a distant waterfall. The sight of the cascading water, pure and untouched by the chaos of the world, brought a rare moment of tranquility to his thoughts. He admired such natural beauty, a stark contrast to the turbulent path he walked.
A familiar yet painful feeling in his core reminded him that he could inhabit his main body much longer, it already yearned to breakthrough.
“Indeed,” he finally said, his voice quiet but firm. “The Lunar Sun eyes are tools of the greatest caliber.” As he spoke, his mind was already turning over the implications of what Kura had revealed.
…
The next day.
Raja strode through the halls of the academy with a wide smile plastered across his face. His heart pounded with excitement, and his mind raced with thoughts of his imminent breakthrough.
“I’m just a step away from the Ethereal Core realm,” he thought to himself, confidence radiating from every pore. The memories of his past humiliations gnawed at him, the bitter taste of defeat at the Flowing River Sect and the Hiding Demon Sect still fresh in his mind. Most of all, he remembered Feng Zhiming, the man who had forced him to kneel.
“Don’t get overconfident, brat,” a woman's voice echoed in his mind, cutting through his thoughts. “You’ve been blessed by great luck, but don’t forget the grace of this Venerable.”
Raja glanced down at his finger, where a ring glowed faintly. It was a reminder of the powerful presence that now dwelled within it.
“Senior, how could I forget?” Raja replied, his voice tinged with reverence. “After all, it was you who freed me from the illusion cast over me by that demon Feng Zhiming.”
His hands clenched tightly, anger flaring in his eyes as he recalled the encounter. “I will do my utmost to ascend to the realm of Sovereigns and repay you. It’s my greatest honor to have come upon this ring in my darkest hour.”
The woman’s voice softened, almost as if she were smiling. “Make sure to ace the disciple examination this time. The academy’s resources will greatly improve your cultivation speed.”
Raja nodded, determination hardening his resolve as he continued walking. As he moved forward, a figure caught his eye, a woman walking briskly ahead of him. He recognized her instantly.
“Senior Yari,” he thought, watching as she disappeared around a corner. She moved with the grace of a fairy, her presence enchanting. Her face was as bright as a flower in full bloom, and Raja had never seen a woman as beautiful as her, although he had been looking through tinted glasses of the heart. Without hesitation, he quickened his pace to follow her.
“Lecherous brat,” the woman in the ring muttered, her voice laced with irritation.
“You misunderstand, Senior,” Raja protested inwardly. “I merely have a few questions about cultivation. I was hoping she could help me.”
The woman in the ring rolled her eyes and thought. “You have someone so powerful at your beck and call, and yet you seek an Ethereal Core cultivator for advice? Even a fool wouldn’t believe that.”
As Raja followed Yari, he found himself at the training grounds behind the academy. She stood beside another senior, Leila, and both of them were listening intently to Instructor Ryes.
Raja hid behind a pillar, his gaze fixed on Yari.
Feng Zhiming, sensing Raja’s presence, glanced in his direction. A wry smile tugged at his lips as he noted the lecherous gleam in the young man's eyes. “This kid jumps from senior sister to senior sister as if they’re different meals of the day,” Feng Zhiming thought, aware of Raja's obvious infatuation.
“You will soon find,” Feng Zhiming mused inwardly, “that trying to grab every rose you see will result in more thorns than you can handle.”
Turning his head slightly, Feng Zhiming addressed him, “Disciple Raja, are you interested in this training session as well?”
Raja, caught off guard, laughed awkwardly and stepped forward. “I hope the instructor wouldn’t mind enlightening me as well,” he said, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.
Feng Zhiming’s smile widened, the irony of the situation not lost on him. Here was Raja, bowing to the very man he loathed.
“Go on then, get in line and listen closely,” Feng Zhiming said, gesturing for Raja to join the group.
As Raja took his place, he had no idea that this was more than just a training session, it was an opportunity for Feng Zhiming to assess the young disciple's skills.