As the dust settled, Liam was more than a little shocked to see the destruction he had caused. He couldn't believe his eyes. The courtyard wall had exploded in front of him, along with another building beyond that. A gaping hole cut through the structures, making it look like a train had rammed straight through. Liam expected that in a dream like this, his power would be extraordinary, but such devastating and concentrated force was beyond his imagination.
As surprising as the devastation was, the complete lack of consequences on his own figure was even more striking. His robes still looked like they were fresh from the dry cleaner and his palm didn't have so much as a scratch. It felt warm, and was covered in a thin layer of burnt, pulverized debris of what was once the courtyard wall, but wiping it away he couldn't find so much as a splinter.
His newfound power entranced Liam as he walked through his impulsive exit. Was this what it was like to live as those oligarchs in their engineered bodies? Immortal and powerful? If this was what a casual palm strike could achieve, then what were the limits of his power?
Two silhouettes came to view through the cloud of debris. It was a man and a woman. Their groans of pain and fits of coughing pulled Liam from his thoughts. Neither seemed in their right mind. They both looked like drunkards stumbling to get on their feet after a fight. Liam moved to help, but stopped only a moment later. If this was a dream, then what did it matter? It was more entertaining to watch their struggle. The thought consoled him from his worries about if anyone else was caught in the line of destruction. These two had been lucky. It looked like they had narrowly avoided the brunt of the blast.
As the shock wore off, a look of disbelief settled on the woman's face. The man looked to him with a mixture of fear and awe.
"Let's see. What do we have here? You are obviously the jade-like beauty. As for you... what are you? One of my lackeys? A side character? Or maybe a rival young master?"
Liam noticed a scroll in the girl's hand. It should be for him since he was the main character here. He took it from her and observed that on its face it was addressed to Li Hui. Presumably that was his name now.
Opening the letter, a tickling sensation surprised him at the back of his mind. It was a strong tingle that quickly faded. He supposed it was probably his sleeping body wanting to sneeze.
> Li Hui,
>
> A rising tide comes to the Cloudy Sects. The king sleeps, dragons stir in their slumber, and lions roar in the valley below.
>
> For those who can swim, the treacherous waters wash clean their sins and raise them up to new heights. For those who cannot, they are doomed to suffocate beneath its crushing weight.
>
> Chaotic waves are harbingers to the coming storm. Elders Teng Wu, Liang Fu, Bai Chao, and Liang Jia have all quietly exited their seclusion as Middle Profound Realm Martial Kings.
>
> A keep is not enough to save the kingdom from the raging waters, only a wall forged by a hundred thousand hands of the people can save it from destiny. For the Cloudy Valley to survive the storm to come the younger generations must soon carry the torch.
>
> In the spring Patriarch Duan De will exit his seclusion and instruct the council of elders to refocus our efforts on the younger generations.
>
> I warn you not to test the patriarch's resolve on this matter. Your disciples are to be proper disciples, as are your students.
>
> Qian Qing
>
> Burn after reading.
Liam, no, Li Hui chuckled and thought to himself: What the fuck is this nonsense? Cloudy Sects? Elders? It's been years since I've read a cultivation novel. Why am I dreaming of this now?
"If you want to tell me something, then don't speak in circles." Li Hui sighed. He didn't understand what was happening at all. "Who wants to explain the situation to me?"
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No one answered.
"Are none of you my servants?"
"Apologies Master Li Hui."
"Apologies Master Li Hui."
Two of them answered in unison, apparently broken free of their stupor.
"Hmph. The two of you have been negligent in your cultivation." Li Hui made up some bullshit. "But fine. Here, both of you read this and tell me what you think."
"This is... Brother Li Hui, do you really mean for us to read this?"
"Did I stutter? I've been in seclusion too long. I need the two of you to bring me up to speed."
"Pardon, Master, but didn't you just enter seclusion this morning?" The man asked.
"Did I?"
"That's what sister Feng Ning told me." The man indicated towards the woman.
"Yuan Su that was... I meant-"
"Interesting." Li Hui interrupted while adopting a stance of contemplation as he faked some deeper level of understanding. "Very interesting. I suppose my breakthrough has warped my sense of time. Still, it will be relevant to your missions, so I wish for you to read it all the same."
"But master, this scroll has vestiges of a mind flaying seal. "
"Enough nonsense. Interpret the damn scroll."
"Master. Are you sure?"
"Make me tell you again and it will be the last thing I ever tell you."
"Apologies master." Yuan Su gave a bow.
Li Hui watched with great interest as their eyes scanned over the scroll, watching as they became ever more absorbed in contemplation. He waited patiently, not wanting to interrupt their concentration. From how long they mulled over the information, he knew there had to be some deeper meaning he didn't yet understand.
"So? What do you think?"
When neither of them answered, Li Hui decided he had to pick on one of them.
"Yuan Su, how do you interpret it?"
"Master. I can glimpse layers of deeper meaning within the words, but I'm unable to decipher anything beyond the surface. Of that, all I can say is your benefactor is advising you to take on a few disciples."
"That's it? Surely you came to some deeper understanding in all that time."
"Apologies master."
"Well, I suppose you are still in shock so I will forgive you. Very well. And you? Feng Ning?"
"I understand master's intentions, and I accept of course." Feng Ning said while clasping her hands and giving a shallow bow.
You understand what!? Li Hui was screaming internally. Though he didn't show his confusion, this was his dream and he ought to be the master.
"Very well, please explain your understanding to Yuan Su."
"As you wish. As you realized Yuan Su, this letter advises Li Hui to accept disciples. Given his breakthrough, Li Hui is able to quickly rise to an elevated position in the sect. Although I do not know the details of the sect's politics and master's role, it's clear that he has chosen a side and that his elevated position would be of utility. The only thing that might stop his rising through the ranks is his political opponents denying his ascension on account of his skirting of responsibility to the younger generation. Given all this, master has presented this information to us as an invitation to come under his tutelage as his core disciples."
Li Hui was stunned. How did she come to such an elaborate conclusion? Wasn't she making too many assumptions? Still, he couldn't explain otherwise himself. He felt that would make him look the fool. He could only nod and sagely accept Feng Ning's interpretation.
After seeing this Yuan Su hurriedly clasped his hands and gave a bow. "We are not worthy of such an opportunity."
And I wasn't offering! Li Hui was screaming internally while on the outside he kept his sagely appearance.
"You underestimate your strengths. I expect great things from the both of you, let’s consider the matter finished."
"Thank you, master." Feng Ning said, bowing her head in respect. "We will not disappoint you."
Yuan Su nodded in agreement. "We will do our best to live up to your expectations."
Li Hui nodded sagely. "I expect no less. Now then, I'm sure my prior state of stagnant cultivation emboldened some fools to step out of line. I feel like stretching my muscles a bit. Tell me, which fool needs a show of force?"
Li Hui was itching for a proper fight. How could he dream of an Xianxia world and think of anything else?
"Jin Yahui." Yuan Su answered eagerly.
"Feng Ning, what do you think?"
Feng Ning looked uncertain, slightly troubled.
"Jin Yahui may be... troublesome."
"And why is that?" Li Hui asked.
Feng Ning remained silent for a moment.
"It's about your cultivation. May I speak of it?"
"Go ahead."
"Very well. I sensed ripples of intent aura just before Master exited his seclusion. That could only mean that Master ascended, but given the time in seclusion, I question if Master has enough control over his Qi to fight a prodigy such as Jin Yahui without suffering a backlash."
"Apologies Master Li Hui, but as you broke through so quicky, Feng Ning and I have not had time to complete our mission."
"Your mission?"
"Master I can explain-" Feng Ning started hurriedly.
"No need. You can take care of it after the fight." He was tiring of all the exposition. What he really wanted was just a good fight. "There is no problem. Now then, if that is all, tell me where I can find this Jin Yahui."
Though he said so, Feng Ning continued to look conflicted.
---
End of Chapter 0