A Moment Of Silence

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...!!

The coalition's leading elite Teams advanced. These Teams couldn't and didn't dare try flying into the sky, so they could only run with tens or more meters traversed in one go. Heian Ciemnosc wasn't left behind since his bodily strength made amends for that. And only a few Breaking Point realm cultivators were present, like Moy, who were under the Light/Dark realm, so the latter took the front as the others lagged behind in a formation.

The hill the Motherblood Expiritus was on became bigger the more the leading elite Teams neared it. When Heian Ciemnosc was just 200 meters from it, he slightly stopped and observed with his darkest eyes in a daze until Moy slapped his back and woke him up without waiting for him. A few seconds later, everyone had reached the foot of the hill, observing the tree.

“Heian Ciemnosc, is everything… safe?” Beto spoke once he noticed Heian Ciemnosc looking around the hill. The heavenly leading figure opened his eyes more as he also noticed black monster and heard Beto’s words. Heian Ciemnosc continued looking for another minute, and this time, since it was only 4 Teams, they patiently waited for Heian Ciemnosc’s words without question or impatience.

“There’s… nothing,” Heian Ciemnosc finally said. He shrugged and slightly shook his head, “No traps, no natural array formations, other than the concealing at the entrance… Nothing is stopping us from taking it and leaving. Sir, you can go ahead.”

With Heian Ciemnosc saying that and gesturing to the heavenly leading figure, the latter nodded without thinking and walked up the hill. Everyone waited as the Dynasty's commanding officer stood before the Motherblood Expiritus Tree and observed its trunk. It wasn’t long, possibly 3 meters tall, not even half a meter in diameter, and its roots on the ground seemed not buried underneath but like fake vegetation.

The Motherblood Expiritus was hanging from the only branch of the tree, which was also very short, no more than 40 centimeters long, and had a thickness of 10 inches. It extended in an upwards arch with a tiny piece of fruit-like object hanging from its tip. It still had a leaf on its upper back.

As the heavenly leading figure observed it, the others did, too. Their breathing became more notorious. The last ray of the sun shone one last time when they were engrossed in the image of the Motherblood Expiritus Tree before hiding from the Interconnecting Rupture Dimension’s world. That was when the heavenly leading figure softly caressed the tiny fruit, which didn’t even encompass his palm, and it fell onto them like a dainty damsel in the arms of secure, warm arms.

“I… have it… One step closer… one step closer…!” The heavenly leading figure’s excitement was present in the air. Riquel smiled in congratulations and nodded at the fella, with Yun Tang nodding solemnly. This meant another Overlord Fourth Step organization would show up in the Existence. And this was just in the first hundred years of the new Change. They were boosted with opulence.

“Wait,” Heian Ciemnosc suddenly spoke out. The atmosphere turned silent, but Heian Ciemnosc didn’t dramatically pause and immediately followed, “This place… we can use it. Sir, you should have the rest of the army step in and cultivate here, around the hill.”

“What is it?” The heavenly leading figure relaxed and walked towards Heian Ciemnosc, who went up the hill a little. Heian Ciemnosc darted his darkest eyes around the place before saying, “I can see this place has become like a… medical center. It can also help with one’s cultivation. Not just progression. It should also help one solidify and right their wrong footsteps in their cultivation path. It might also increase their Spirit Sense range if it wasn’t maxed already and heal one’s slight wounds on the Soul.”

“You can see all of this?” The heavenly leading figure asked Heian Ciemnosc, surprised and a little excited, but he didn’t doubt the truth behind those words. He didn’t let Heian Ciemnosc respond and immediately articulated to a Heavenly Attendant, “Go out and inform the others. Everyone will take their turn. We’ll wait for weeks or months if necessary. Just defend this place and ensure they understand how important this is.”

“This… nature’s effect won’t be gone any time soon, right?” The heavenly leading figure turned towards Heian Ciemnosc and asked. Everyone looked at him, to which Heian Ciemnosc casually nodded and responded, “Indeed. It would last for at least half a month. But we can speed it up by ‘using’ it.”

“Mn,” the heavenly leading figure nodded and said, “Go ahead and inform them. We’ll leave in 2 weeks or less. Hurry!”

The Heavenly Attendant in question nodded and turned around, rushing back to the swamp entrance to notify the army. Meanwhile, Heian Ciemnosc went around the hill with the Team following. The other leading elite Teams did the same, picking a spot to sit and start cultivating, meditating, and anything else they could. Riquel’s Team sat with Beto’s, which some people were content to do.

As Heian Ciemnosc sat down and closed his eyes, he felt Ruo Wei’s hand caress his, slightly warming them up before giving them a squeeze and letting him be to sit beside her man. Heian Ciemnosc engrossed himself in the sensation of sitting around this no-longer Motherblood Expiritus tree. He felt ‘safe’ as if something was watching and embracing him somehow. It was a strange sensation. More so than any other such sensation in his life.

As he became absorbed in the notion, the other Teams also did, but their team leader remained wide awake to survey the army’s movements and guarantee they had their slight boost before letting another batch of soldier units from the coalition organizations have at least a few minutes around the tree.

It seemed little, and it was too little. But the time the soldier units spent like this was enough for some to breakthrough several stages. Even if they were in the Light/Dark realm, they still went up a stage, and even Beto’s aura changed and warped as if he was leaving something behind and charging into a new paradise.

Meanwhile, in Heian Ciemnosc’s inner self— the dark galaxies, destroyed and leaving nothing behind, slowly incorporated into his endless darkness. It was as if his Dantian region was opening to his whole body, letting his cultivation base and dark Neutral Energy storage assimilate to his endless pure darkness. Heian Ciemnosc continued cultivating and meditating without interruption, and the dusted dark galaxies dissipated into his inner self as if… they were devoured.

Heian Ciemnosc’s inner being continued eating away those destroyed dark inner galaxies while the world outside was in constant movement. As usual, the first group to enter was curious and disbelieving. However, knowing the Motherblood Expiritus had been here, they sat down and calmly cultivated, only to receive a tremendous shock as their cultivation base stabilized, solidified, and soared! The former 2 were even repeated after the latter.

As the first few batches returned to outside the swamp, word spread. The blessings of the Motherblood Expiritus were never meant to be hidden, and as time passed, the soldier units couldn’t wait for their turn. They were orderly, however, or they wouldn’t be part of a high-end organization, not just in this Existence but in any other in the world.

If there was one thing that occurred everywhere, that was a general standard for the organizations of every Existence requiring a level of discipline and talent that could be hidden or falsified. One honoring power and raw truth over anything else.

Slowly, days went by, and when the leading elite Teams were busy cultivating through stages and reaching a state they couldn’t have attained without such a natural treasure like the Motherblood Expiritus, there was finally a change from Heian Ciemnosc!

Pshiiiiiift~~! Heian Ciemnosc made the pure energy above him burst like a tornado, but it didn’t influence anything or anyone in the swamp, merely showcasing a torrent that focused on him only. This woke up the others, but it didn’t disturb them. The soldier units around the hill sat with their crossed legs half-sunken in the swamp waters, looking at the hill as if they seemed to understand something.

It was like this place targeted any living being, or even object, and helped them cultivate intricately. It wasn’t a simple boost of pure energy and cultivation efficiency, among other marvelous effects. It was as if the Motherblood Expiritus had given this place something new, different, and unforgettable… like a will and a reserve of precious pure energy that could help them like they couldn’t imagine.

Then, as the leading elite Teams observed, Heian Ciemnosc’s body exploded with dark Neutral Energy, and a dark aura slowly extended from his body, as if he was a living object whose only purpose was to slide that dark aura into the world. Extending mostly upwards, as his arms, legs, torso, back, hands, and feet were only outlined by it.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Above Heian Ciemnosc’s head, the dark aura and dark Neutral Energy increased in volume, as if they were creating a space within that allowed them to become as thick as possible while only looking as thin as a cicada’s wings in the outside world. A strange phenomenon.

Everyone watched until Heian Ciemnosc’s body exploded with pure energy, suddenly shooting near his body outwards, showering the others in the swamp with a boost. The new soldier units’ batch no longer needed to spend as much time here, thanks to Heian Ciemnosc’s abrupt phenomenon. When everything happened, and things seemed to calm down, Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes smoothly opened.

“... Congratulations!” Ruo Wei’s voice attracted Heian Ciemnosc’s attention. He looked at Ruo Wei, slapping his left knee and nodding at him like an elderly encouraging a younger generation brat. Heian Ciemnosc smiled, showing his pearly white teeth and grabbing Ruo Wei’s wrist before throwing it away. Beto’s Team heartily chuckled, with Riquel and the other leading elite Teams congratulating him before returning to cultivation and meditation.

“...” At this point, after Heian Ciemnosc broke through, everyone resumed their wholehearted dedication to their cultivation path. He felt a new, slightly distinct change in his dark Soul. Heian Ciemnosc investigated it and slowly became overwhelmed with different realizations, thoughts, and theories. ‘Could it be… my dark Soul was never fully unlocked? No, that isn’t it… Was my dark Soul… never locked? Could it be just me who wasn’t… somehow willing to use it? Unleash it? But why…’

‘Even if it had something to do with my mental state or my acceptance, it shouldn’t just become stronger as I become stronger. That’s not how Soul cultivation works. And I’m definitely not cultivating my dark Soul… Why is my dark Soul like this? Would something happen if it wasn’t… like this? Did someone really temper with me? Was my dark Soul’s limitations fabricated by someone… or something? Aghh…’

After several thoughts, Heian Ciemnosc gave up and continued cultivating. He wasn’t in need of stabilizing his cultivation base even after breaking into the Breaking Point realm 1st stage, but it wouldn’t be bad trying to be like others and cultivate without eating other Races or Fauna. A few days passed, and finally, everyone in the army consumed a tiny iota of the Motherblood Expiritus’ natural effect.

This was a natural treasure, or nature’s treasure, after all. Whatever it was and wherever it was located, its birth would not be ordinary. It could even be said that every natural treasure is a representation of the ever-present, ever-living Mother Nature and her doings to this world. Without it, countless stories couldn’t be counted. History might really… not be the same.

. . .

3 weeks after the coalition discovered the swamp, at the swamp entrance from the outside.

“Young master, we’ve already wasted a Yang Body Yin Mind pill to recuperate your body. We should retreat and return to the Pavilion. The Head will be glad knowing you’re safe. Besides, we’ve invited another possible enemy to our side…” Sandra looked at Ezquivel as he held him with his right arm over her shoulders. She and Elga dragged him on foot, as she had already confirmed one could only enter with their feet and not by flying.

It was necessary to ensure the swamp wasn’t a trap, filled with them, or dangerous. Sandra had to do it because if it was Elga, and there were such things, Elga would try to deal with them regardless of her safety just to keep the young master at a safe distance with enough protection. Fortunately, no such things were found when Sandra went in.

However, this made their young master anxious to get in. It was evident that the Motherblood Expiritus was already picked up, and if they wanted to do something, they had to rejoin whatever was left of the army… and didn’t flee somewhere to hide. They could do something afterwards. Unfortunately, the young, short boy didn’t plan to listen. He ordered to bring him here despite the possible danger, and with who knew what was inside.

“No more talking me… out of it!” Ezquivel shouted, still wearing a pale countenance and painfully limping with every step. He stared ahead, and his eyes were determined. Elga didn’t say anything, leaving Sandra alone to accept orders. “...”

They went into the swamp and passed through the entrance and its slow passage before discovering the hill hundreds and hundreds of meters away. When they looked at it, it felt desolate but beautiful and harmless. With a few groans, Ezquivel led the ‘charge’ with Elga and Sandra right behind him.

Splash, splish- splash, splash, splash, splash, splash~!

Ezquivel continued moving, not wasting his breath on anything else but the hill before him. His protectors could feel the strangeness of this place, but it was too negligent to ascertain anything. Yet, before they could inform their young master, he arrived at the top of the hill with a slightly hunched back and heaving up and down. His head was sweaty. The pain had clearly taken a notorious toll on him.

“Huff, hurrf…!” Ezquivel slowly knelt without their help, feeling more pain, but he couldn’t care. His eyes carried hatred, and his childish face sweated crazily, making his thin, short hair appear like a bubble of brown hair that wouldn’t dry up no matter what.

“Young master!” - “...” Sandra and Elga moved forth, with only Sandra showing concern for this tiny behavior. Elga had an indifferent expression but still walked towards Ezquivel and placed his hand on the other shoulder as Sandra questioned Ezquivel.

“I’ll stay here. I need a breakthrough… I will kill him…” Ezquivel’s body slightly trembled as he spoke, initiating cultivation before closing his eyes and entering meditation. Despite showcasing incredible self-control and multitasking like the Chosen he is, the hatred in his eyes didn’t go away after closing them, only gaining a somber, deathly aura around him that slightly surprised the 2 young women.

“I’m gonna breakthrough, find him, and end this… His head will hang on the gates of my Tortoise Glabella Pavilion!”

“...” - “...” Sandra and Elga looked at each other. But this time, both felt apprehensive something had changed in their young master. For whatever it was worth, it seemed for the better. As for how it would end like… they’ll have to see.

***

Tens of millions of kilometers from the swamp where the Motherblood Expiritus once was. 6 months later.

Whoooosh! Whooosh! Pffffuuuuhh~~!

In the sky, the coalition’s Fighters flew. On the ground, the coalition’s improved base rapidly moved through the ground, cutting off any grass and tree it came close to but securing the coalition’s army departure. They’d been peacefully moving for millions of kilometers, wasting even more resources, but they weren’t worried, as the enemies’ Covert Space bags found their trip to the place they came from.

They weren’t always moving without stopping. After the war, many enemies fled in either Fighters or other tools. Not all of them could move that fast, and only Fighters could course through 100 million kilometers if they had done enough preparations. Thus, the coalition encountered enemy cultivators stealing harvestable fields, and definitely those that were forbidden to touch.

The coalition had to stop for several days, still tens of millions of kilometers from the teleportation location, and now that they were so close to it, they once again found enemy cultivators who came prepared with Fighters installed with array formations and so on. Thanks to Heian Ciemnosc’s idea to keep the harvestable fields and the forbidden with an extra surveillance feature, the coalition could hunt these flies and virtually exterminate the enemy.

“... Heian Ciemnosc! The way ahead is open, too!” In the borders of the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s platform on the base, Beto’s voice sounded before entering Heian Ciemnosc’s mini tent. There, a couple gals lay on his bed, exposing their bodies with some parts under the sheets. Ever since the war, and with the coalition hunting flies, Heian Ciemnosc didn’t have enough food to keep him satiated. It wasn’t as if the coalition would limit their hand while at war to secure corpses for him.

Thus, every now and then, some brave and selfless gals would sacrifice themselves to satiate the black monster. It was known throughout the coalition, let alone the Crimsonbreaking Faction. After everyone exited the Interconnecting Rupture Dimension, this news would only spread, and the black monster would gain more famous infamy.

“Are we leaving already?” Heian Ciemnosc said, opening his darkest eyes that were still studying his dark Soul. He also checked on Sara, but she was veeeery asleep and could barely give Heian Ciemnosc any attention. At most, she could respond to his hugs and when he intently watched her with the corners of her eyes twitching. But nothing else.

“Yeah. Make preparations, it’ll be fast, but they’re still chasing.” Beto said, giving Heian Ciemnosc a glance before turning around and leaving his tent. Heian Ciemnosc’s neutral expression grinned, seeing Beto leave excitedly. Beto would be able to break into the Third Step after solidifying his cultivation path for so long and with the Motherblood Expiritus. Heian Ciemnosc thought a little more about it while groping the gals’ breasts and nipples some more before waking them up and dressing up.

Heian Ciemnosc only needed to tell them to clothe him, and they obeyed. Because if he asked, they would blush as if he had asked for their hand. But if he told them to do it, they would feel compelled to do so. He didn’t use his dark Soul or nature reading to seduce them or bewitch them… It was simply… his charm.

After getting dressed, Heian Ciemnosc freed the gals and walked towards the edge. Beto’s Team was there, waiting for him. Ruo Wei looked back and sniffled, seemingly noticing something. She gave Heian Ciemnosc a glare and wrinkled her nose, causing Heian Ciemnosc to grin from the left corner of his pale red lips. He then looked back, where the remaining stubborn enemies chased them at a calculated distance and changed their speed depending on the coalition’s base.

The remaining enemies who didn’t flee were only their Fighters, but they were adamant, and it seemed like someone was funding their expenses. It had to be someone important, and that could only be Chosen Ezquivel. Otherwise, nobody on the enemy side could afford to spend so much to traverse tens of millions of kilometers.

“...” Something was coming. Heian Ciemnosc could feel it. He just couldn’t deduce what it was. And that was a little worrisome…

…