Arrival (3—Last Part)

"You spoke about other Races... is it possible that there are more like you in the world? Not just from the Beast Race... seemingly. But... different like your people?" Heian Ciemnosc asked without wasting a second. Empress Shuna looked at him. Her head was completely sideways, and her eyes looked at him more than necessary. Before answering his question, she asked him in a light tone, "Have you met others that don't seem to fit in the description of the Beast Race?"

“Err, only a couple,” Heian Ciemnosc answered after minor hesitation. There wouldn’t be any problem keeping Milyy’s identity. Besides, she just revealed her daughter to him. It was only the right thing to do. Heian Ciemnosc faced her and continued, “I have met few whose aroma and nature are similar but different to the Beast Race, like cousins’ blood or the similarities between trees or animal species.”

“Yet, I have never heard of someone like you, Sir. Is that what you’re wondering about?” Empress Shuna interjected, lifting her left eyebrow, keeping her arms relaxed to her sides and her stance proud and straight. Heian Ciemnosc crossed his arms nearly to his shoulder level and nodded. “No matter where I look for, there is nothing about at least something like me before out there. Nothing at all… I was wondering if Empress Shuna could he-”

“No need to say more,” Empress Shuna interrupted Heian Ciemnosc. She continued after shaking her head and slowly blinking her strongly determined, beautiful eyes. “As my daughter’s personal Imperial Teacher and even my tutor, this is the least of things I can do. I’ll have Sir know if I can find anything in my Bloodline’s records. In the meantime, Sir. I’m glad to have the chance to inform you that our libraries are all to your disposition.”

“Oh, really?” Excited, content, and even satisfied at once, Heian Ciemnosc’s pitchest-blackest eyebrows jumped and were kept up there as he half-turned towards the Empress. The Empress nodded and blinked her eyes before elaborating, her voice indifferent but somehow amicable. “By now… I think everybody understands that if they want to bring you to their side, knowledge and Craftsmaking is the way. Money, women, and unique women won’t be effective.”

“Mn, there’s nothing wrong with women. It’s just that I have high standards and a future to live up to,” Heian Ciemnosc rubbed his palms together as if they were cold. Empress Shuna lowered her eyes slightly and lightly nodded, “I see.”

“Now, let’s see what this last little group has to say, should we?” Heian Ciemnosc clapped twice as the array formation before him rippled a little. Empress Shuna’s eyes became as majestic and cold as possible, and looked ahead. They were no longer seated, so this ‘extra’ meeting could easily be understood as a bother. On the outside, 2 cultivators stood waiting before the concealment barrier.

“Come in, or do you just wish to live there from now on?” A cold, cut-off set of words reached their ears as the barrier opened a gap, enough to let them see part of the room but not the assigned supervisor or the Empress. They briefly nodded before entering the concealment array formation, stepping into the resting hall. As soon as they crossed the barrier, they were met by only Heian Ciemnosc and Empress Shuna, no one else.

They looked around before nodding towards them again and walked to stand before them. One wore gold and purple robes and was a middle-aged looking Demon with cream colored skin and robust. He had a natural smile plastered on his face. The other was a cute and even tender young woman with a pale purple uniform, long, brown curly hair, and ebony.

“Greetings, respected assigned supervisor, Empress.” The robust middle-aged man spoke first, bowing and biasedly honoring Heian Ciemnosc. The young man followed his actions accordingly, but before she could voice anything, the man did so earlier. “As you might know, I am the Clashing Dust Cult’s Pastor, Miguel. This is my Cult’s top expert to become the next Preacher, Alex. She has recently broken into the Dantreulity realm a couple decades ago. Although she’s close to the 2nd stage, I’m sure she still has to learn for thousands of years before ever nearing the Hana-Saga realm, haha!”

“Nice to meet you, oh, you’re in the 3rd stage, not bad. You are one of the few strongest ones in the banquet. How does that feel?” Heian Ciemnosc didn’t bow back. Instead, he lifted his right arm and had the Pastor grab it with his. However, the Pastor became slightly confused and jolted his neck backwards when he heard Heian Ciemnosc’s comment. With a little frown, he tentatively asked, “Only one of the strongest? Who else had my cultivation base… or higher? Haha?”

“Hmm,” Heian Ciemnosc hummed a little as he casually grinned with his pale red lips becoming thinner. The Pastor had no choice but to keep a little smile as the Empress showed no sign of wanting to end this slight awkwardness. At this time, Preacher Alex chipped in, taking a step forward, and spoke with a loud-enough voice to be considered not annoying and simply attention-grabbing.

“Little Sir, my Cult has known about you and debated of your achievements since the Change Merit Trials. We are astounded!” She garnered everyone’s attention, and even the Empress’s eyes looked at her, unlike the other 2, who spoke a little before turning things awkward. She continued, “If there’s any time in the foreseeable future, my Cult would like to invite you to debate about the Wind. If possible. We would really be grateful if you could teach us a thing or two.”

“Although the top organizations are in the ‘over the peak’ boundary before transitioning to the next Step, our strong experts have less comprehension due to the need to cultivate quickly and efficiently without the talent. Our knowledge is limited. Our believers and upper echelons alike would gladly repay you the favor.” Preacher Alex bowed towards Heian Ciemnosc respectfully. Pastor Miguel nodded with a smile at the side, seemingly satisfied with the Preacher.

“I can visit, maybe. But I have many things to do. I don’t just go everywhere, wasting my time with unknown folks. As for paying me, I don’t need any money or more Mortal weapons. I’m fine with what I have. Knowledge like this should be something… mandatory for organizations that focus on Elements like yours. If I ever go there, it will be because you deserve it. Of course, you can always ask anyone else to come teach you.” Heian Ciemnosc spoke. His final words were meaningful and a hint. The Pastor and Preacher weren’t dumbasses and picked it up but declined to offer a comment about it… at least for now.

“Well then, me and Preacher Alex should return now. It has been an enjoyable banquet. I hope my Cult and… the Empire can have a few more chats in the incoming future. Haha.” Pastor Miguel kept smiling as he bid farewell. Preacher Alex bowed towards Heian Ciemnosc again before they turned around and began walking out of the Central Building. Heian Ciemnosc watched them leave, with Empress Shuna finally setting their eyes on their backs.

“See? Not that difficult. Today, they might still believe they are in a more advantageous position. 10 years later, they will be paying tribute to you for eternity. Doesn’t that sound amusing?” Heian Ciemnosc said, placing his right pale hand on her back, still decently covered by her golden, royalty robes. Empress Shuna slapped his hand, breaking his middle finger’s knuckle, and calmly said, “I would appreciate it more if you called me by my title instead of directly. Sir… assigned supervisor, I may respect you, but you are just a kid.

Heian Ciemnosc: ☉Ô☉!!!

‘How long since I was seen like a kid? Not even Fengli or Violet think I’m younger than them anymore… I miss all my wives…’ After sulking a bit, Heian Ciemnosc sighed and slouched his back. The meeting room was closed, and guards started pouring everywhere to patrol one of many Blauw Empire’s buildings. That was when Empress Shuna started walking away through another set of hidden doors while wording her farewell to Heian Ciemnosc. “You should go to your bedroom in this Small City, Sir. You must be ready early tomorrow for my daughter’s ceremony.”

“...” Heian Ciemnosc kept silent as the Empress walked away. He looked at the dark of the meeting room, with the Imperial Guards not making any move or looking at him weirdly. In fact, they felt kinda pressured to see the little black monster stand in the same place they were working. It was a kind of test for their resolve. After a few minutes, Heian Ciemnosc spotted a few royal guards who came looking for him.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Walking towards them, they bowed until their backs were fully bent before proceeding to guide him elsewhere. The Imperial Guards took relieving sighs as the celebrity left, leaving their fangirling hearts at ease. There weren’t just males. Many females were here too, and had to step a couple steps further ahead on their spots because of their summonable tails.

… After walking for a few minutes, passing through a couple elevators, and taking some small transporting vehicles for interiors, Heian Ciemnosc arrived at his bedroom in the Small City. His assigned supervisor token opened the doors as the royal guards left. Upon entering the bedroom, he was welcomed by a nightly, moon-like light blue glow with a bed facing him sideways in the middle. To the left, a kitchen and bathroom were placed together.

The kitchen was open and in a corner, while the bathroom had a door leading to its room, with multiple toilets and shower booths. To the right, Heian Ciemnosc saw 2 doors leading to a meditation and a cultivation room. There was also a Universal Conveyance terminal and several openings for particular items delivery and transportation. There were in the walls, and Heian Ciemnosc could see the most complex array formations’ inscriptions around the walls. Those belonged to the transportation type.

The room was pretty long, but it didn’t have enough width to match it. Still, Heian Ciemnosc found it strangely pleasing, to an unbelievable degree. After praising the Blauw Empire’s ability to read through people’s commodities, he went to the kitchen and started a quick barbeque. After preparing several different sandwiches, he brought them to his bed and started eating there like the pig he was.

That was a book he found near the meditation room, on a shelve with several dozen thin books piled up. They were all about the Blauw Empire, but more importantly, of the Azure Dragon’s Bloodline. Things have become much more different than what the Academy had warned Heian Ciemnosc on what to expect. For example, the Blauw Empire used to be the House of the Azure Dragon, and all its descendants were the Followers of this historic organization.

After a long time, it had transitioned for the third time, but instead of ascending to the Third Step, or because it fell to the Second Step, it became an Empire. This wasn’t a simple move. In fact, it was the work of hundreds of leaders who perished one after another under the internal disputes over the last few Eons. At last, the Blauw Empire was formed. However, it wasn’t a beautiful history lesson, as the Azure Dragon Bloodline separated into 2 different parties.

Although those ‘traitors’ weren’t even a third of the people their Bloodline consisted of, this was still a moral blow to the entire brand new Blauw Empire. However, under the Empire’s first leader, the people’s hearts were united and slowly condensed into an unbreakable stone after 400,000 years. Now, it had transmuted into a jade, but it had to be polished. Under such a powerful threat like never before, the other top organizations were strangely silent but not timid.

When the first Emperor descended from his position and gave it to his daughter, Empress Shuna, who was only at the Dantreulity realm 1st stage then. The Ancestral Emperor would take his mother’s role and protect the Empire if any trouble came knocking. He wasn’t even halfway through the end of his lifespan, so the future for the Blauw Empire was in the brisk of unstoppable potential. However…

When they least expected it, the Blauw Empire’s Ancestral Emperor suffered deviation. His figure flew above the ocean for 10 years, crashing waves into nowhere and lifting mountains worth of water bodies before exploding them until the day his life ended. During this time, the Blauw Empire would be bombarded with news from their Ancestral Emperor’s situation, and whether they were true or not anymore, it further dealt a blow to its people.

Yet, during that time, the Blauw Empire grew like never before, exceeding even the First Emperor’s achievements of 400,000 in less than 10 years. Naturally, the Empire was brimming with patriotism and a boiling heart. Even the non-Azure Dragon Bloodline started feeling part of the Empire, like they were born as one of them. Similarly, the Azure Dragon Bloodline slowly accepted them into its embrace.

During the rest of the time until actuality, the beloved Empress turned this new Empire into a solid organization with a firm foothold to grow. However, although they were peaceful and no longer embarked on any military voyage, and trading with other sea and near-shore Regions had vastly improved to industrial levels, they were still targeted by the ever-increasingly-restless top organizations. Nowadays, it has been a few decades since strange happenings started.

The party that separated from the Blauw Empire was none other than the True Dragon House, as they would be struck down by heavenly lightning if they dared to name themselves as the House of the True Dragon and were no True Dragon’s descendants, so they would win the world’s discord for no reason. They had already grown to a First Step organization over the peak level, with several Second Step cultivators who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years.

During the recent wars, however, only the Blauw Empire didn’t join any side. There were naval battles that the Empire was forced into. There’s no way they would let anyone get close to them by sea, their strongest forte at that moment. They lost millions, while the top organizations lost millions altogether. In the end, when the Academy started gaining territory, they surrendered and waited to receive punishment and annex into the Wrath Nihility Academy as their vassals.

The damage was done, and the Blauw Empire saw its declining stage. Now, after a few years after those events, the Blauw Empire’s army vastly decreased since it was already a low number. It did not go up. Instead, the Empress started expanding more in creating ships to sail longer and faster, developing a few trading companies and some merchant businesses, and slowly creating an enterprise or more to chain the Regions around them to trade with them.

It was a complex situation, handled intricately like a master and with good results. It must have been significantly challenging because of the recent wars taking a toll on the overall population in the Blackotia Kingdom. Only the Academy knew how many billions were put down until most organizations surrendered, even more before the resistance crumbled beneath its feet.

However, when the Blauw Empire was just about to receive its first voyage and fleet of goods from the enterprise she had formed of several Regions on the other side of the sea, they canceled and delayed the delivery despite the Empire having already bought some stuff… They were from Second Step organizations acting as watchers for the Academy, so they couldn’t be threatened or stolen. The only answer was… bribery.

In fact, with how things were, there might not have been any bribery with some of the other Regions, as whoever was behind this should have struck another deal. After all, once the once a legitimate ‘legendary’ Warlord organization was taken down, it would be easier for other Regions to trade without being handled like a little kid despite dealing with a decaying organization like the Blauw Empire and having to pay as usual, instead of gaining some leverage.

If anything, the Blauw Empire’s Empress Shuna couldn’t be taken even highly. One had to be fully alert when dealing with her, even as an ally. Thus, faced with such blatant obstruction, the Blauw Empire’s Empress decided to humiliate its history and depend on its old rival, this aged enemy. When the Blackotia Kingdom received the news that an assigned supervisor would move outside their individual territory again, they read and listened through the lines… until the destination was disclosed.

Immediately, the Blauw Empire received confirmation that the enterprise she had articulated was on the move again and that the Regions that had once delayed were sending extra gifts for the unprofessionalism they showed. It would arrive a few days after Heian Ciemnosc arrived, but it was worth noticing the rapid decisions the actual world of cultivation had, even when this was a Kingdom whose stage was dominated by the Second Step organizations. Organizations, not cultivators.

The ‘over the peak’ First Step organizations were those that had experts in the Second Step, but their overall capabilities and strength remained within the First Step. For example, some Second Step over the peak level might have Non-Mortal Step cultivators. It could vary, but in the end, their cultivation base couldn’t exceed the first few. One good example was the Pastor, Preacher, Head, and Grand Master from the Clashing Dust Cult and Feathered Valley Pavilion, respectively.

They were in the Dantreulity realm, but it would be impossible to find one at the Hana-Saga realm, although it could happen. On the other hand, the Blauw Empire, a full-fledged Second Step organization, had a leader secretly hiding their cultivation base at the Spirit Magna realm. It could be seen how anyone could be crafty and capable.

However, the First Step organizations over the peak level couldn’t beget the same level of members, from the lowest, to the highest, in a stable period. To be a Second Step organization, they had to be able of producing a Hana-Saga realm cultivator by the end of a generation and millions of Broken Crystallization realm members. None of the other organizations in the Far East Region had those requirements. Only a few were nearing them.

… After Heian Ciemnosc finished his sandwiches and read through every thin book on the shelf, he rested his back on the bed for 1 hour before entering the meditation room. It was decent but not comparable to the one in his Master’s abode. He wondered if he would have a permanent residence elsewhere as his ‘headquarters’ and not simply provided to him for accommodation like this bedroom before meditating in preparation to break into the 2nd stage and get ready for the little girl’s ceremony.

…