Top-Notch Clubs

"Master, I-" Heian Ciemnosc was about to stand up from his cross-legged, sitting position when his Master lifted her right hand and lightly spoke. The next thing he knew, he had reappeared above the surface and 4 km from his Master's abode. Heian Ciemnosc's mind rang with Lady Calisneia's words. "Enough chit-chat. Go breakthrough properly, no advantages."

Heian Ciemnosc didn’t feel as if he had teleported, which he previously felt when his Master brought him to know his COs, nor did Heian Ciemnosc feel he was transported. All he sensed was moving upwards, smoothly and rapidly, without letting him gain a moment to say a word. When he reappeared in an open space, still sitting cross-legged, Heian Ciemnosc’s thoughts were driven away as he looked up.

Crrrrrrrrr- ka-cha! A sensation like the whole world had targeted him and locked its aim on Heian Ciemnosc's shoulders, making him feel like a diminutive ant before the world. A lightning bolt condensed in the sky after a blue cobweb like a broken window shard appeared and descended from it, shooting at an invisible speed that avoided Heian Ciemnosc’s detection and vision. Although he could tell something was onto him, Heian Ciemnosc couldn’t see anything as he only noticed a little light suddenly getting bigger and transforming into a gigantic pillar of blue lightning just 1 second before it hit his forehead.

When the lightning strike came into contact with his pale skin, Heian Ciemnosc felt the bubble from before crashing at his forehead, reappear again, and explode from the lightning bolt descending on him. Heian Ciemnosc could already notice that there was no upheaval in the surroundings and that this scenery might not be visible even for Second Step cultivators in the first few realms. As for the higher-ups from the Academy, since his Master’s abode moved at times, they would just think some other student chose their breakthrough within the Academy’s individual territory, like the 10th this year or something.

Heian Ciemnosc watched and analyzed his body as the bubble broke off and the lightning strike hit him. However, his body and clothes were fine, and his pitchest-blackest hair barely fluttered with the impact. Instead, when the lightning strike landed on his forehead, Heian Ciemnosc felt only pain, similar to when the bubble formed but multiplied and extended over his inner being!

‘It’s not seeking to destroy me… to test me… with lots of pain!’ Heian Ciemnosc’s brows tensed, wrinkling towards his glabella as the lightning strike covered his entire body. Before he had the chance to think it was gone, when it was already gone, and start taking a relieving breath, Heian Ciemnosc felt another lightning strike and looked up only to become blinded by the second lightning strike’s explosion after landing on his glabella.

Ka-cha! Pfuuuooooooohh~... Heian Ciemnosc saw little blue particles and stellar contrails spreading everywhere around him. A thin, blue mist wrapped him, but everything quickly receded, and his surroundings returned to normal as Heian Ciemnosc saw it with his Spirit Sense. It wasn’t locked despite feeling endless pain spread from his Psychogenic, but Heian Ciemnosc felt as if he had grown new limbs and was hurting them by moving them a millimeter, which he was doing by probing around him with his Spirit Sense.

Kaa-chaa!... ‘Here it-’ Just before Heian Ciemnosc’s thoughts, forming after spending a lot of effort, could be finished. The third lightning strike came down without issuing any warning and collided with Heian Ciemnosc’s Psychogenic. The impact nearly made him faint this time around. His eyes opened and almost went completely white, while his hands loosened and only gripped tightly into fists after several seconds with electrifying shockwaves, smallish but real, spread down his body.

“... BAAAH! Huuuuu- ku- ka- cough!” Heian Ciemnosc felt like a minute passed with his body mostly paralyzed. He couldn’t move or react too much. He could only feel pain, and it was long-lasting. When it finally ended, he didn’t have a breath anymore, and his torso was shrunken. When he woke up, he barely noticed his Master floating at the side as his body recuperated. It wasn’t a simple ‘need rest’ and recover his composure.

Heian Ciemnosc’s body was slightly cracked open, with his scarcely open, superficial wounds shedding blue lightning as if he had turned into just that. However, it was only in energy. Heian Ciemnosc’s organs, flesh, and even skin were completely alright, without a single spot of damage. Only those superficial wounds were different, but rapidly turned yellow and started closing with every passing moment.

Before that energy could turn golden, which looked to be about to, Heian Ciemnosc’s pale skin closed, not allowing anything to gain such a color. Heian Ciemnosc’s body was still exhausted from the experience, and he wanted nothing but to lie down for another minute. His Master approached, her legs extended downwards until he sat up and started meditating. His cultivation base was stable. And now, he only had to solidify his foundation before personally assessing himself as an authentic Neutral Encephalon realm cultivator.

3 minutes more passed before Heian Ciemnosc stopped, meditated, stood up, looked at his Master, and bowed deeply. His voice sounded with a light manner, “Thank you, Master. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I missed this chance.”

“Good, come back,” Lady Calisneia didn’t react and simply answered before disappearing from Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes. Her reflection was naturally not in those retinas. Heian Ciemnosc kept his hands clasped before his collarbone as he looked at his Master’s shabby cottage. He felt injustice and speechless but still walked back to the abode, and once inside, he spent 3 days solidifying his cultivation base.

Heian Ciemnosc had solidified beyond perfection on the first day, just a few hours after breaking through. However, if he was such a spoiled and uncaring, reckless cultivator, he might not have reached this point, especially after he broke through an entire realm and ‘barely’ suffered from it.

… After his foundation solidified, Heian Ciemnosc returned to attend his clubs. This time, it was the combatant clubs. Before Heian Ciemnosc left, many Second Step student seniors had seen his cultivation base remain skyrocket at the peak in the Neutrality realm 10th stage. It had been weeks like that, and they often debated among themselves when this little black monster junior of theirs would finally find the moment to breakthrough.

There weren’t any rumors of him losing his shit and falling down his prime. Even if there were, it would be in a joking demeanor, and it wouldn’t last in the conversation. By now, everyone understood Heian Ciemnosc’s importance to the Academy. Not just the upper echelons treating him as their future, but also as one of few who could get so many ‘friends’ everywhere, even after killing one of their Genius. And what’s more, he and Elena were married… wasn’t this too obvious?!

However, after Heian Ciemnosc once again asked for free days from the clubs, they started spreading rumors that Heian Ciemnosc might be breaking into the Neutral Encephalon realm! So, what did this mean? A 19-year-old reaching the second-last realm before the middle realms of the Second Step began, where he could become an Assistant Teacher or graduate! It spread quickly, and then, Heian Ciemnosc was seen again. Something about him seemed different.

And indeed, Heian Ciemnosc returned after breaking through, aiming for the melee-based clubs. His Spirit Sense had risen to 200,000 kilometers, and his nature reading had expanded more. Before, he could use his eyes and see beyond what any Soul or Spirit Sense detection could. However, now he could read nature through his Spirit Sense and Soul without necessarily looking at it. Although he could always enhance his darkest eyes to look at things. He needed much less effort now to do so. It was slightly more taxing when using his Spirit Sense or Soul to nature read instead.

In any case, if this continued, he might be able to simply read through one’s nature at some point. Maybe, if Heian Ciemnosc becomes or transcends into an existence, could he do that, as just like with Spirit Sense, there are not, and there will never be any records of anyone or anything capable of using nature reading at all times without exhaustion. Heian Ciemnosc’s nature reading was like everyone’s Spirit Sense. They couldn’t use it too much, or they would exhaust themselves, even if they could quickly recuperate.

But that wasn’t important now. As Heian Ciemnosc commenced his routine, he took less than a week and a few days to receive the melee-based top-notch clubs’ invitation. He had simply swept through everywhere with only his bodily strength and used some of his dark Neutral Energy when facing Dantreulity realm students in the early stages, although Heian Ciemnosc could’ve still used just his bodily strength.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

After receiving the invitation, Heian Ciemnosc targeted the rest of the combatant clubs. From energy manipulation to Elemental combat with Fire, Water, Earth, and the Wind elements, Heian Ciemnosc went through everything, and finally, only one type of unpopular club section remained. The writing and knowledge-based clubs. No matter how many organizations there were, records had to be written by hand somewhere to be read and stored.

Universal Conveyances are excellent and safe for one’s life, but one’s home has the most meaningful treasure pieces, and they can’t just be delivered into the universal net just because they exists. If everyone stored their Arts, Supreme Arts, and even Divine Arts in the Universal Conveyance, even if no one but whoever they decided to could see and read them, it would be stupidity on many unnecessary levels.

As such, the Wrath Nihility Academy even allowed clubs for writing and storing or sharing knowledge to exist. They would later become the records’ writers of the history of the Academy later on until the day they died. Of course, this was an optional lifestyle for anyone, although it was predominantly packed by talentless students whose lifespans are between thousands at best to a few tens of thousands of years.

By then, it was only a couple weeks before the end of the year, and Heian Ciemnosc would finally attend the top-notch clubs to his heart’s content. Like the Saberbone Diabolical Club is to the combatant clubs, these top-notch clubs were the dream of every student in any of the similarly-based clubs below them. Heian Ciemnosc came to this section like an unexpected guest but remained there and showed them the art of being a book whore like never before.

In under 5 days, Heian Ciemnosc was a sight the other students got used to. However, as he spent time among these people, he became interested in a few, and little by little, Heian Ciemnosc recruited them into his Concealed Ornament Team by promising to only let them have a look and nothing else. Naturally, Heian Ciemnosc planned to show them something that might call upon them from the very hidden corners of their inner beings, but that would be for after surpassing every single top-notch club’s ranks.

The end of the year approached ever so quickly. Heian Ciemnosc finished his main focus on the writing and knowledge-based clubs. He left after owning almost every piece of knowledge the Academy had to offer, almost. He still had a few sections he’d like to read, but he needed someone unknown to his circle to accompany him at all times, and even Lady Calisneia was unwilling to vouch for him and keep him company, wanting him to work even harder.

While Heian Ciemnosc didn’t care about his Master’s businessman-like mindset, he cared about utilizing as much time as possible to cultivate before his wives returned from leading the Crimsonbreaking Faction. One thing was foolproof about their organization: Despite being a free-loader in the soldiers’ heads, since even grandpa Fonso watched Heian Ciemnosc’s fights in the tournament, so did they.

The road to being liked by these proud, haughty, and capable people was still long, but there was progress, which meant there was a chance!

After finishing with the last club section, Heian Ciemnosc rushed to his Master’s abode and went into full-time secluded cultivation with his new learnings and knowledge. He could now create many Second Step alchemy items without feeling awkward whenever he tried new recipes. Although he couldn’t keep going endlessly like when he worked with First Step alchemy items. But he could create even the second-most advanced ones, even though that would definitely drain him for the day’s second half. The first one would be taken by the process itself.

During his time learning and practicing in the clubs, Sara had been quiet. Only when he entered secluded cultivation did she start chatting with him, tired and bored about things inside her little space to stay inside Heian Ciemnosc’s inner being. Heian Ciemnosc’s Master didn’t say anything about it, so he didn’t tell his Master about Sara. He also hadn’t found a reason to tell Elena and was waiting for it to mean something. But, for now, Heian Ciemnosc had Sara move everywhere around him as he sat cross-legged, moved back and forth between his Craftsmaking tools, and watched his doings.

Needless to say, Sara was impressed, and after a month of watching Heian Ciemnosc in his completely engrossed state of Craftsmaking, she became more chatty with him during the time she hid in his inner being, and he went outside. Heian Ciemnosc had at least someone to chat with from then on, as his Master would appear less and less when he learned more and more about the Soul-exalting Old World parchment.

Sara couldn’t see through the parchment even if Heian Ciemnosc allowed her to see it. She lived in his inner being and was now practically connected to him, but she couldn’t see the parchment… Although Heian Ciemnosc was the farthest from understanding it, he felt the parchment was infinitely mysterious. Since this was the case, it was no wonder the Soul Race would seek it everytime it was heard to be seen somewhere… anywhere.

Heian Ciemnosc started attending the top-notch clubs of each section. He followed the same route as before, and finally, he met bottlenecks and challenges as he gained access to more recipes and difficulties when creating alchemy products. Heian Ciemnosc was now 20 years old. The first 10 years he spent cultivating in his life. He became someone renowned for the Existence he lived and known in the world. How many have shared this glory?

Many, actually. But nearly 100% died at a young age. The rest, like the Great Sage, were negligible situations that were once-in-a-Change. Heian Ciemnosc, however, wasn’t burdened by this, and he immediately walked to the alchemy-based top-notch club, and he would go to the next afterwards, and the next after that…

… The 20th year after the Great Sage’s demise and the new Change’s incoming chaos brew began was tranquil, peaceful, and, so far, the most smooth-sailing year since the 10 year war. It was a strange occurrence. There were still some wars ensuing, but there was a sudden stalemate like the world was a harmony and its people each piece of a tune. Even nemesis for Periods ceased fire, letting their cultivators or armadas fleets live for more and not destroy each other to dust.

Meanwhile, Heian Ciemnosc spent this year with utmost tranquility. He went from one top-notch club to another, finding answers anywhere he could and creating innovations that ensued admiration, but only that. He didn’t make another whole world or turn useless food into elixirs that could turn a civilian into a God or Goddess. The world continued on its track as if nothing mattered… and Heian Ciemnosc started liking Sara’s voice more and more.

2 months before the 21st year, Heian Ciemnosc became free, no longer needing any more club activities he must focus on. For once, he felt annoyingly on his own. Thus, after checking with his Concealed Ornament Team, Saberbone Diabolical Club, as he could only be one club’s club leader and Elena’s schedule for the next year, Heian Ciemnosc planned on taking up on his promise and turning Elena into his toy. Sexual toy, living being toy… and turn into hers. Ah, love.

After Heian Ciemnosc had confirmation from Elena, he made plans for the subsequent year. However, if there was one thing that took everyone’s attention, from the whole world… It was the announcement from every Universal Land about the celebration of 10 years of ‘peace’ after the 10 year war! They have built a universal feature for the Universal Conveyance!!

This wasn’t just any feature and was one that had several different utilities to any person with a Universal Conveyance. For starters, this feature was a ‘game’ of sorts. However, this game would have ranks and different modes. Instead of creating a temporary virtual arena for every cultivator to briefly test themselves against old and new, dead and living amazing figures in their youth as it has been since long ago whenever the world finds peace, they had made a war game!

It didn’t have a set goal like destroying a nexus or just massacring the other side. Furthermore, one wouldn’t be dealing with dead or living high-end figures from the world with their knowledge and habits, but anyone who was playing and searching for an opponent. They would actively face off against other people, just like any other online civilian videogame or Universal Conveyance entertainment services.

There wasn’t much information, and only those important figures, growing or already strong to their utmost, might know about what it meant and all the things considered. However, Heian Ciemnosc and the rest of the world could only imagine after reading through all the available information. It would require one’s wits and cleverness. Thus, strategy, tactics, and schemes were guaranteed as a requirement to play and rank up.

On the other hand, it would remain forever, as they had created this Universal Conveyance in accordance with the Glorious Nexus Entente. Thus, the world itself was the reason this feature could exist in the first place. The rest, like spreading it among every Universal Land, rested on the Existential Sixth Step organizations’ shoulders. In any case, one of them was extremely advanced when it came to technology.

Heian Ciemnosc didn’t give it any more thought, and after knowing he could hide his origins, cultivation base, Soul fluctuations, and identity and communicate with the feature’s chatting system, he went to pick his wife up. It was time to breakthrough again, and although not quite there yet, he would by the end of the Change’s 21st year. He was excited, though. Such a feature could be really somewhat revealing, although no drama could come of this with the identity protection being the world’s doing and not the Existential Sixth Step organizations…

Before the year even started, Heian Ciemnosc went into secluded cultivation with Elena, having taken too many important missions to help his mounts cultivate by harvesting ample resources, and capable of forging a full top-notch Earth armor set with great difficulty that it would take him a year and a half to complete, Heian Ciemnosc confidently walked to his room while granting his maids permission to enter if needed.

The future was unpredictably… exciting…

…