It was still midnight, looking at my spirit holding orange (D grade) and green (C grade) cultivation stones. Like big gems, the reflection of the stones are mesmerising. Cultivation stones, formed through a process called crystallization and elemental fusion, the name itself explains the rest.
"Let's start cultivation now, put the stones in front of me." I said solemnly
"Wait, but you are too young to cultivate, your arteries would only rupture!"
"Trust me"
"But-" he knew he couldn't change my views so he only nodded with a hint of loneliness.
Sitting in a lotus position, hands open to embrace the Qi to my veins. My mind focuses on the slightest movement of Qi. My white ring formed once again, turning tick by tick like a mechanical clock. Suddenly, dense amount of Qi moved through my veins like a machine gun, knitting my bows, I suppressed overflowing though fine adjustments of my palms, the entryway.
With high efficiency I used the Qi to strengthen my heart, then my veins, my bones, my organs and my skin. I feel a sense of familiar enlightenment, my white ring started to glow immensely, illuminating my room for a moment, it finally stopped.
"It's only been 6 hours and you had a breakthrough, that efficiency!" my dragonfly spirit had it's jaw drop to the floor, it was petrified by fear but paralyzed by exhilaration at the same time.
I looked at my simplistic sparkling metal framed window, it was sure that Yu Yuan placed a ton of effort in cleaning my room, then outside the window. The moon engulfed by the mountains escaped from sight, the sun slowly rose in her place as she sleeps. The sound of fowl calls, brightens the empty campfire sky; alongside the fowl, the birds chirping merrily and the tree rattle in harmony. Flower buds bloom as the intricate sun's ray seeps into the crevices of the petals, creating a bed of thick flowers. At such a scene I couldn't help falling asleep. Awaiting for the arrival of Yu Yuan's voice calling for me.
Moving through time, roughly 1.5 years later, the day before I turn 6 years old
_____________________________________________________________
Beep beep!
"Did fall asleep again?" I mumbled to my drooling self.
————————————————
Year 2057, month 2, day 15, 11: 46
————————————————
Written strikingly on my clock, it's hard to tell that it is actually the year 2057, when everything looks very similar to our world in 2019. Minor difference like bigger and better quality of a TV and the lack of a calendar. The clock has become a multipurpose device of our day to day life, everything from music, temp, date, WiFi, virtual assistant, audiobook, light switch could be found in a simple 12x10cm clock. The fact that everything is automated says a lot about our laziness.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Me, my mysterious parents and Yu Yuan live in an average villa type house, not the floating ones on the air that cost a ridiculous amount, just a simple villa. We are, after all, not rich to afford those floaty devices, nor too poor to be forced to live in the slums. Yes, slums still exist, but for varied reasons than my past world; in this world slums are given to those who believed in the concept of extreme minimalism. Slums are not crowded with corroded metal sheets and smelly feet, it is instead a small piece of land with a man made cave owned by a minimalist, usually. Those people are off the grid and therefore unable to connect with the rest of the technologically advanced society. Think of them as a caveman that like to cultivate.
In this world the population of humans only reached 6 billion before plateauing; paired with massive floating lands on the air, land on this content is pretty cheap. Furthermore, the people of this dimension are similarly advance in their perspective regions, that also means, not a single region has been underdeveloped and therefore have massive population forced to cope with famine and starvation. This world is not without its flaws, politics and power dominates this world; without a democratic system, corruption are more bound to manifest in the minds of people.
Ring!
"Oh, looks that the bug is here." I said with an evil smirk
"What do you mean?" Dragoon, the nickname I gave to Thunder dragon, questioned asked as he sprang up into the air. He seems to have forgotten the fact that I'm not as innocent as I seem to be.
"You'll see, let's go!" Without waiting any further, I rushed towards Yu Yuan.
"What is it big sister Yu, you don't seem so well?" I asked with a smile
"Li Bai, if anything happens, run alright?" Her face looking a bit sick
"Why?" I asked daringly
"Just listen to me." Her face turned serious.
"Uhm..."
The door slammed open and a 10 year old kid wearing sharp gentleman's clothing walked in, accompanied by 2 tall titans wearing black suits paired with black glasses.
"Miss Yu, I've come to pick you up," he said as he combed through his short gelled brown hair before holding out to offer to Yu Yuan.
"Please accept our young master's gratitude, Miss Yu" the two titans bowed deeply.
"Wang Yong, I told you already, I will not become your fiancé!" Yu Yuan said with a forced voice and a boiling face.
Proposing at such a young age, kids in these world.
"Miss Yu, it is the consent of your foster parents, an arranged marriage"
"I will never agree to such marriages. Furthermore, how would I know if you are not trying to fool me into accepting a marriage?" It was clear she was about to erupt very soon, if I don't stop this.
A deep voice from one of the titans,clearly impatient: "Miss Yu, we have a signed contract from your foster parents, and we can assure we are not pulling- Ahhh!" Both the titans were sent through the window and out of the house.
"Less talking, come back when you become stronger." I spoke in a monotone voice.
Wang Yong did not fret nor back down, he is a brave soul, too bad he picked the wrong person to mess with.
"I suppose you are Yu Yuan's younger brother, I didn't know you are this talented in lightning magic." Wong Yong spoke with courtesy.
Power speak for itself, as the dominant the rule, everything comes second.
"6 years from now, we will spar with Qi, the loser will have to be obliged to do 3 things the winner propose."
"Only Qi and no elemental magic? Winner gets to propose anything, including taking your sister away from you?" Wong Yong asked with a twisted smile, he knows he won't be taking Yu Yuan away today but he is going to repay the shame I induce on him in the future and he can't wait for that to happen.
"Yes"
"Li Bai, don't you'll get hurt!" Yu Yuan screamed from behind, with worrying glassy eyes.
Wong Yong said provokingly: "You may have caught my guards off guard today, however, in the future I'll make you pay 10 folds for today's shame!
"If you can!" I returned with a smile, and we both parted ways, back facing back.
After the door slammed, Yu Yuan gave me a tight hug from behind, refusing to let go.
"I was my fault that I pulled you into this, as your big sister, I'm really sorry..." She slowly spoke into my right ear; I could feel droplets of salty tears flow down my neck.
I barely patted her and replied with: "shouldn't you be happier, the fact that your brother is talented in elemental magic?" I guess she is too worried about any of this, my heart could melt at this point.
"But... the agreement."
"No elemental magic right? Don't worry, it's not like he would stand a chance against me either way." I said with a wicked smile it is obvious she could not see it from behind or else she would have been shocked.
"He has 2 C grades spirit right now, with his talent, there is no doubt he would reach B grade rings along with his spirits in 6 years." Her endless worry and sorrow would not be good for her health to endure.
"How about this? Let's make a bet. If I win, you would have to marry me in the future, hehe"
This should brighten the mood.
"Wa-" she couldn't finish her words before turning completely red like a tomato.
"You can't marry your sister!" She yells, before breathing hardly.
"We don't have the same blood remember?" I teased her.
"Li Bai!" Those were the words that echoed around our house for the day.