“ I haven’t seen anything, I’m blind,” shouted Jake. He felt as though if he made one wrong move he would lose his life right here.

“How much of a fool do you think I am.”

The sword on his neck drew more blood, he started to get even more nervous as his heart raced.

“Please, I’m not lying, my name is Jake you can check with the other workers,” he pleaded.

“Turn around slowly, if it turns out you are lying I will kill you where you stand”

Jake felt the sword point leave the back of his neck but knew it was still there, ready to draw blood if he did anything suddenly. He slowly turned to face his attacker who he thought was a fairly young lady from the sound of her voice.

“Open your eyes,” she ordered.

Jake slowly opened his eyes, it had been so long since he had last opened them that he had to force them open.

“It seems you were not lying,” said the lady looking into his blank white eyes.

Then with a ripple of water behind him, she was gone. He released the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding and slowly walked out of the river. He diverted some heavenly energy to the wound on his neck to help it heal as he changed into his clothes and grabbed his staff.

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

In the end, she didn’t lose anything but didn’t she still see me naked, thought Jake with regret as he walked back home.

For the next few days, Jake stayed at home and recovered his heavenly energy.

After breaking through cultivators are the most vulnerable because they are completely drained of heavenly energy. The higher the realm you break into the longer you would be in this weakened state, due to the larger amount of heavenly energy you need to recover.

3 days later Jake was fully recovered from his breakthrough, so he could now report his new status to the Zoldyck family.

The workers in the mining camps were required to do hard labour while they were still in the strengthening realm, unfortunately, this was the majority. If they did manage to break through they would still be under their contract but would now be allowed to go on missions for the Zoldyck family to pay off their contract.

Jake made his way to the camp’s service station to report his breakthrough. He had never been to the service station before so he had to make a detour to the mines to ask for a guide. Eventually, some workers who had finished their shift took pity on him and guided him there.

Jake thanked the workers one last time as he heard their footsteps fade behind him. He walked into the station using his staff to guide him.

Jake stopped as he felt his staff hit something in front of him

“Hey watch where you're going kid,” said a gruff voice in front of him.

“S s sorry, I can’t see,” Jake quickly replied, he didn’t want to get into any trouble, especially not with the incident at the river still fresh in his mind.

“Cmon, Noah you bullying disabled people now,” another voice in front of Jake laughed.

“Shut up Kyle, how was I supposed to know. My bad kid, I didn’t notice your walking stick.”

“ It’s okay,” replied Jake. “ Uhh, do you mind showing me where the front desk is?” He nervously added.”

“Yea sure just follow me,” said who Jake now knew was Noah. Jake felt his shoulder being tugged slightly so be followed the direction he was being pulled too.

“ Here you go kid, this is the back of the line to the front desk when you hear someone yell next just step forward a little.” Jake nodded as he heard the man start to walk away.