Alliance HQ

Zhao Jing was busy with the paperwork.

Suddenly, he heard a knock on the door.

He asked. "Who is it?"

Fang Ming replied. "A guard is here saying he needs to inform you about something."

Zhao Jing questioned again. "What is it about?"

The guard replied. "Alliance leader, it's about a dominion realm cultivator. We have never seen him before, and he says he's a student from one of the academies."

His pen came to a halt. "Come in and give me the detail."

The guard entered the room and started recalling the events.

Hoh!

"A dominion realm student in our location? Where is he? Take me there." Zhao Jing ordered.

"Yes, alliance leader. Should I inform the other alliance leaders too?" The guard asked.

Zhao Jing replied. "No need. I'll go myself."

The guard yelled. "Yes, alliance leader."

***

Faith Academy Courtyard

Grim was busy talking to everyone.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man made an entrance.

Everyone glanced at the man. They kneeled immediately.

"Greetings, Alliance leader."

Grim was the only one left standing. It felt slightly awkward, so he bowed.

"Greetings, Alliance leader."

Zhao Jing paid no heed to others, his attention was solely on Grim.

"You must be Grim. The one and only dominion realm disciple in the entire world."

Grim smiled wryly. "You overpraise me, Alliance leader."

Zhao Jing retorted. "What nonsense. This much praise is nothing for someone who has achieved such a feat."

Grim spoke. "Thank you, Alliance leader."

Zhao Jing inquired. "So, what level are you at?"

Grim replied. "I'm at mid-dominion realm, Alliance leader."

Zhao Jing slapped his back.

Haha!

"Not bad. Not bad. Finally, I got to hear something good."

"You'll attend future meetings with me. If you have any demands, feel free to state."

Grim stated. "If possible, I would like our academy to be relocated somewhere better, and I also want my fellow disciples to return for now."

Zhao Jing agreed immediately. "No problem. I'll send someone from the alliance. In the meantime why don't we spar slightly?"

Grim was slightly taken aback by his request, but he agreed nonetheless.

Zhao Jing took off. "Let's go somewhere else."

Lou Xiang asked worriedly. "Are you sure about this?"

However, Grim responded with confidence. "I'll be fine, master. It's just a spar."

Afterward, he flew away.

***

100 kilometers south of the HQ

"We should be fine here."

Zhao Jing landed, and Grim followed suit.

Zhao Jing spoke. "Alright junior. It's fair that you attack first."

Grim asked. "Are you sure about it, Alliance leader?"

"Of course. Now hurry." Zhao Jin replied with confidence.

'Vigor'

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He strengthened his body by 70x causing his body to be swollen by 3x.

Zhao Jing was shocked by the transformation.

"Here I go."

'Aerial'

Zap!

Grim appeared behind Zhao Jin instantly and threw a punch.

All of a sudden, Zhao Jing got a goosebump. His instincts were screaming for him to dodge the attack.

He dashed from the location, causing the punch to miss. However, he got kicked in the stomach the next moment.

Banggg!

He was sent flying, leaving trails of smoke, broken trees, and damaged land behind. His body came to a halt at a distance of 500 meters.

Cough! Cough!

Zhao Jing threw up blood.

Hahahahaha!

"Not bad, brat. It seems I have underestimated you."

'Ice Domain'

The domain swallowed an area of 1200 meters, including Grim. But Grim was calm as water.

"Let's see how you deal with this."

'Ice Shards'

Zhao Jing launched multiple ice shards toward Grim. The shards had a size of an arm-getting stuck by it would be fatal.

Yet, Grim didn't move from his position.

'Fire Domain'

The temperature within 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) rose instantly-melting all the ice and nullifying the domain.

"Whatttttt?"

Zhao Jing was left speechless. His mouth was gaping wide like the characters in the cartoons. It was a sight to behold.

Grim teased. "Are we done yet?"

Zhou Jing retorted. "You cocky brat. I'm not done yet."

'Lightning Domain'

The domain expanded to 1200 meters and disappeared within a few seconds. The extreme temperature weakened his domain to the extreme.

Zhao Jing stuttered. "I...Impossible."

Grim teased again. "Are we done now?"

Zhao Jing yelled. "Brat, what did you do?"

Grim responded. "It's nothing special, you can do it as well once your mastery reaches 'master' level."

Zhao Jing muttered. "So, that's what it's called."

Suddenly, Grim opened his palm revealing a yellow gem. The violent aura pervaded the environment and created the same situation as the fiery highlands.

Ahhh!

Zhao Jing was pushed away by the aura causing his clothes and outer skin to be burned.

Zhao Jing yelled. "What did you do brat?"

Grim calmly replied. "It was done by this gem. But, don't worry if used correctly it can help to improve your affinity with the 'fire' element."

"Improve affinity with 'fire'? Could it be you..."

Grim exclaimed. "You are correct. I'm willing to donate this to the alliance, but disciples from the 'Faith' academy should get the priority."

Grim murmured. "What was the name of the third young master of the 'Spring'? Something something Zhou."

"Oh, that's right. Add Meng Zhou from the 'Spring' sect to the priority list as well. The sect supplied me with enough Qi for continuous breakthroughs. It's given I return the favor."

Zhao Jing replied. "I accept the deal."

Grim remarked. "You have made a good decision, Alliance leader."

Zhao exclaimed. "Alliance leader my ass, you can just call me brother Zhao."

"Alright, brother Zhao. You'll be evaporated if you try to touch this gem, so I'll take it to the destination instead. Let's go." Grim took off.

Zhao Jing followed suit.

***

15 minutes later, Alliance HQ

The duo arrived at the headquarter.

"Brother Grim, wait here. I'll gather the alliance leaders first."

Grim nodded in response.

Zhao Jing and the two alliance leaders arrived in a few minutes.

"Is he the new brother of yours?" Tao Shun pointed at Grim.

However, Zhao Jing interjected. "Be respectful to our new brother if you don't want to get beaten."

Hmph!

Tao Shun retorted. "This guy will beat me? We'll see about that."

He dashed toward Grim.

'Vigor'

Bang!

Tao Shun crashed into the headquarters wall.

Ren Ping was astonished by the sight.

A question popped into his mind. "Tao Shun, a pinnacle of physical strength-got taken out just like that?"

Zhao Jing sighed. "Ah that musclehead, always causing trouble. I'm going to cut repair costs from his pocket."

Grim snickered. "You guys don't have problems with me right?"

Both Zhao Jing and Ren Ping shook their heads vigorously.

Grim remarked. "Very well. Now find me a place to place this gem. An area of 500 square meters (597.9 square yards) should be fine."

"This way, brother Grim." Zhao Jing took Grim to the garden near the headquarter.

Zhao Jing said. "Brother Grim, you can place the gem here. It will be secure here, and no one will be foolish enough to trespass here."

Grim opened his palms and dropped the gem. Soon, a fiery aura spread across the garden. The 10-meter mark turned into a pool of lava instantly, and the aura spread across 500 meters.

The heat within 400 meters of the gem was enough to harm cultivators below the dominion realm.

"I'll get going. Remember our part of the deal. If you don't want to turn into ash, don't push yourself too far here." Grim took off.

***

Crack! Crack!

Tao Shun regained consciousness and climbed out of the wall.

Oww!

He inquired. "What happened?"

Zhao Jing fumed. "You almost dragged us with you. That's what happened."

"Calm down, brother Zhao. I didn't know he was so powerful." Tao Shun tried to calm Zhao Jing.

Zhao Jing yelled again. "Why else do you think I was being respectful to him? You musclehead."

Tao Shun apologized. "I'm sorry, Brother Zhao."

"Wait, what's that at the garden." Tao Shun walked toward the garden to get away from Zhao Jing.

Zhao Jing knew what he was doing.

"That bastard."

Ren Ping inquired. "Brother Zhao, how about we let the disciples absorb the aura from the following day."

Zhao Jing replied. "That's a good idea. Our priority should be disciples from the faith sect, then we can let other talented disciples take part as part of the deal."

"Alright brother, I'll get going too. I need to arrange the new location for the faith sect, and return the disciples from the army."

Zhao Jing left as well.

***

Faith Academy

Grim returned to the academy and gave a detailed report of the events except for the battle.

The disciples and instructors were delighted by the news. They thanked Grim.

The commotion died down by the afternoon, and everyone returned to their room.

It was evening. Suddenly about a hundred disciples returned to the academy causing a lively atmosphere in the academy.

Grim also observed all the returning disciples, but he couldn't find the peoples he was familiar with. His brother and sister were missing.

However, he saw two familiar faces, Meng Rong, and Teng Guo

Grim approached the duo. "How have you guys been?"

"You still remember us, brother Grim?" Tears started rolling down their eyes.

Grim replied. "Of course. How could I forget my first two friends?"

"Brother Grim."

They started crying even more.

Grim comforted them. "No need to cry, you guys."

Grim stated. "I need to ask something from you guys."

"You can ask us anything, brother Grim." Meng Rong puffed his chest.

Grim inquired. "Do you guys know why half of the disciples haven't returned?"

Meng Rong replied. "Oh, about that. They wanted to train themselves further so they remained in the army."

"So, that's the reason. Alright, it was good to see you. I'll get going for now. You can come to see me if you have any problem."

Whoosh!

Grim disappeared from the spot.

"Take care brother Grim."

The duo waved at the empty air.

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