(Author: Hello.  Last chapter, Lingqi and Zhuang received the power of a Demon Emperor through the Rebirth Tear. Exactly what power they got is unknown, but they grew closer. Both underwent physical changes and soon they would reunite with the two recruits who came with them. Of course, news of the Rebirth Tears had spread so there will be many jealous disciples from other factions. Enjoy.)

Chapter 10: Reunion and Enemies

After a period of two weeks, Zhuang and Lingqi were finally able to leave Elder Shan's house. They had to remain in the house as they had sudden breakthroughs skipped a few level of qi condensations. While people thought Zhuang skipped from the fifth level of qi condensation to the eighth, he was already at the seventh level of qi condensation and had hidden his true power. Now people knew his true strength and he and Lingqi had to stay at the house until they adjusted to the sudden burst of spirit energy and qi in their bodies.

Lingqi's hair had turned blonde and now had azure colored eyes. Zhuang did not undergo anymore transformations and still had light brown hair and jade colored irises with ash colored patterns within them. The two of them had relaxed and talked to each other during the last two weeks and played the zither together.

Zhuang did not notice it, but his personality had changed slightly. He was more open to his feelings and became a nicer person to people he trusted. It was strange. Zhuang, ever since gaining a body, his emotions became stronger and stronger. He was less indifferent than before. He was becoming more 'human' than before.

"We finally get to leave," Lingqi smiled.

"It's about time," Zhuang agreed. "We should be at the power of an inner sect disciples now. This means less people will bother us. Notice any changes in the crystal tear?"

"No," Lingqi answered, shaking her head. "Besides breaking through to the sixth level of qi condensation because of it, I hardly feel any power from it. I don't sense any demonic qi in my body. My spirit energy is stronger though. How about you?"

"I feel more draconic qi and less human qi in my body," Zhuang answered. "But I don't feel any demonic qi. I do feel like I have more spirit energy than before."

Zhuang's realm of qi had changed after the incident at the lab. The volcano had erupted and constantly poured lava, expanding the land around it as the lava cooled. The ocean had become larger and whirlpools formed randomly. The poison seemed to concentrate around the whirlpools and his ocean seemed cleansed from poison. Small thunderclouds had formed around the edges of the ocean and lightning traveled in a circle around the ocean through the clouds.

The wyrm  egg had finally hatched and a small black wyrm seemed to fly around. When it sensed him, it seemed like it wanted to speak, but couldn't form any words. Zhuang was shocked as he didn't know it could notice him. Perhaps when he became stronger, the wyrm could talk.

"I wonder how the others have been?' Lingqi asked as she walked beside him. Over the past two weeks, the duo had  forgotten about their revenge and enjoyed playing the zither. They had returned to acting their age and worrying less about the outside world. She was happy as she felt as if a huge burden left her shoulders.

"They would probably be around the fifth level of qi condensation as they joined the strongest faction," Zhuang answered. "News of the Rebirth Tear should have spread while we were in isolation and adjusting to our more powerful bodies. We're bound to attract attention now. It's irritating. If they threaten us, don't blame me for taking action."

"At least your less bloodthirsty now," Lingqi teased.

"I'm not!" Shuang said. As its master gained power, so did Shuang as their souls were bound together. Shuang also practiced speaking the human tongue. Of course, it spoke draconian if it only wanted to talk with Zhuang.

"Wyrms," Lingqi's night breeze monkey, Yingzi, sighed. "Blood thirsty and violent."

"You want to be eaten monkey! While you stay in your puny size, my true form is now five feet tall and fifteen feet long," Shuang roared, venting in its fist sized form on Zhuang's shoulder.

"They're getting along well," Lingqi said as they arrived in the plaza. "See Lily or Jian?"

"They should be in crimson colored robes with gold colored collars cuffs," Zhuang said, describing the robes of the Dragon Sword faction. "Ah, there they are. They're on a picnic mat under that peach blossom tree. They brought food. I wonder if they have chicken vegetable dumplings."

"I want steak," Shuang said as they approached Jian and Lily. Jian and Lily did indeed reach the fifth level as Zhuang identified their qi condensation levels. As for Jian and Lily, they were surprised Zhuang and Lingqi seemed closer than before. Zhuang also had new horns and seemed less calculating than before.

"Dude! Someone's been on a power spike," Jian grinned as he bumped fists with Zhuang. "More friendly too. Good. You're less scary that way."

"You were afraid of me?" Zhuang chuckled. "Relax. To my friends, I am not a danger."

"I see you haven't totally changed," Lily said and turned to Lingqi. "Oh! You're hair and irises changed colors! You also got a lot stronger. It's funny. We are in the strongest faction, but one incident granted you so much power. It seems like our efforts are wasteful."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Are you inner sect disciples now?" Lingqi asked.

"Yeah, the lowest level though," Lily answered as they sat down and began eating. "News spread about the Rebirth Tear and other factions appealed to the Grandmaster but were denied. Seems you lucked out, power and a lucrative trade in alchemy. Not to mention constant exposure to spirit energy from the materials is also a form of training."

"But its more peaceful so we get less battle experience. It's the only downside," Zhuang sighed. "Of course, a few 'accidents' occur when other factions try to steal our potions and elixirs. Thanks to being part of the Venomous Serpent faction, we can punish and kill other disciples without consequence whether its in public or not."

"And he took full advantage. I did too. Human meat with spirit energy is delicious," Shuang said as it found its prize and began devouring the steak. "Although now that master is stronger, no more outer sect disciples fight us. Outer sect disciples number the most in this human sect. So master being at the strength of an inner sect disciples trades less meat for a higher quality. Less action though."

"It can talk without talking in your mind now?" Jian asked, startled.

"It's cute and it can talk," Lily said, trying to pet Shuang.

"I'm not a pet human!" Shuang growled and quickly finished the steak before retreating to Zhuang's shoulder.

"If it isn't the lab rats of the Venomous Serpent faction," a voice mocked, several other voices laughing along with it. Zhuang and the others turned around to see a large group of disciples wearing the white and black robes of the Snow Tiger faction. The man who talked was an eighth level qi condensation disciple of the Phoenix Wing faction, the second strongest faction which also had close ties to the Snow Tiger faction.

"Get lost," Jian shouted. "Unless you want trouble with the Dragon Sword faction?"

"I'm talking to the freak with the wyrm horns on his head," the boy snarled. "I know you! You've been 'taking care' of a few disciples of the Snow Tiger faction as well as a few of my buddies from the Phoenix Wing faction."

"You remember eating dogs like that?" Zhuang asked, looking at Shuang.

"I don't remember the taste of bad meat," Shuang snickered. "Must have been a few outer sect disciples. Pretty weak flesh with scarce spirit energy."

"YOU!" some of the Snow Tiger disciples roared, but the large boy held them back with a wave.

"Relax guys. I got this," the large boy said and looked at Lingqi. "My name is Yu Sun. How about you leave those guys and we can find a private place to chat?"

"Pig," Lily muttered.

"I'm not interested," Lingqi said without looking at Yu.

"If you want to die, I suggest saying a few more words," Zhuang said, standing up and withdrawing his halberd from a small compartment hidden in his zither. Everyone saw Nightmare expand to its full size and Zhuang started to radiate qi from his body, Shuang roaring as it transformed to its full size as well. The crowd moved back as they sensed Zhuang's spirit energy, but Yu Sun didn't move.

"It seems someone from your faction's got a spine," Yu mocked. "There's a gathering among inner sect disciples taking place next week. We are allowed to venture into the ruins beneath the sect and loot any treasure we find. Of course, a lot of fighting will take place. Be there!"

"Don't leave yet, I haven't given you a gift for the warning," Zhuang mocked as he took out a bottle from his robe. Yu and his lackeys stepped back in alarm as Zhuang opened the bottle and threw it at them. The bottle hit the floor and a yellow mist spread over the crowd. Yu and his lackeys fell to the floor, screaming as they began scratching all over their body.

"Itching powder," Zhuang sighed. "Useless in solo combat but its very easy to make. It suits well with multiple opponents clustered together. If you run quickly to the medics, they should cure you of your 'inconvenience.' Fair warning though, you'll have to rub powder all over your body for the next three days. Not even a dirty bathroom will smell as bad as the powder on your bodies. Pity. You will suffer for a while."

"Zhuang," Lingqi said as Yu and the others ran, cursing loudly as they scratched themselves. Everyone in the plaza laughed as they saw a large group running while scratching themselves.

"Least they're not dead," Zhuang said as he picked up an apple. "Then I'd have to have the medics clean the mess again."

Chapter 9: Rebirth Tear Main Page Chapter 11: Vein of a Titan