The air turned strange the moment I saw them.
Everything slowed down ten, maybe twenty five times.
Every movement dragged like a tortoise on a long road to freedom.
It was way beyond weird.
Stronger than a storm.
Like ten mountains falling from the sky at once.
Someone was manipulating reality on a small scale.
Making everyone else feel inferior. Insignificant.
Five percent existence manipulation, my system told me.
For a Type 1 civilization like ours, he's a god.
His descent here is judgment of a supreme deity here to weigh our existence and either kill or spare us based on his version of justice.
Seven tiers below him. Invincible.
The law itself.
He rules over several family ancestors. Roams without fear of death.
If not for Makena, seeing a Daoist Master would be near impossible.
Their bodies are partial law, with domains where they have complete control over everything inside.
And he's fire attributed. He could burn this entire place to ash.
Chakra Bloom. Dantian Genesis. Nascent Soul. Law Venerable.
If any of them appeared here, they'd be a joke next to him.
Becoming Dantian Genesis or above means you could become an elder in a sect.
Nascent Soul cultivators are sect leaders.
That's how insignificant 100% of all beings in our Type 1 civilization are to him. He does as he wishes. As he pleases.
I'm telling you this because he'll become my first cosmic arch nemesis.
I'll be playing hide and seek with him until I'm strong enough to win.
So yeah I'm more fucked than anyone you could ever know. I'll be running for a long time.
Now let's get back to the moment. Now you know how powerful he is.
I had the pick in hand, working in the mines. Sweat ran down my cheeks.
The ground trembled like crazy like an earthquake was about to tear us apart.
The purple light and crystals dimmed when his flames appeared. Dangerous. Dancing. Circling in cycles to taunt us all.
The slaves couldn't notice or fathom what was coming.
They had no sense, no consciousness to pick up the shift in the air.
Even the 36,000 souls trembled. Went quiet.
Then I realized why.
Two figures in magnificent attire walked through the compound gates.
The guards parted without being ordered.
They knew their place. Fast.
The first one was ancient old.
Not the old we mortals get the kind where you've seen everything life has to offer but know there's so much better out there.
The kind who's watched kingdoms rise and fall, and nothing surprises them anymore.
His robes were black and gold.
Trying to look at the gold hurt your eyes super bright, like staring at the divine.
Even the black side could swallow light. Air and fire floated and orbited around him.
Long white beard.
An old face, but not weak.
He didn't stress himself to look at anyone or anything he could sense and see everything in 4K, and we just weren't worth the privilege of his gaze.
That's Chakra Bloom Level 10, the 36,000 souls said.
He was floating walking was optional. That's how far he'd come.
Three feet off the ground.
Dust swirled and moved around him without daring to touch.
Guards moved involuntarily, their bodies reacting on instinct.
Chakra Bloom Level 10, I thought.
Three tiers higher than me.
This is the power I need. The power to get up and leave because no one could stand against me except the warden.
The second figure was young. His robes were gold and black too, but cheaper.
A fake. You could tell he was pamperes smooth face, flawless skin. Probably never worked a day in his life thanks to his father.
He held himself like a spoiled brat. The usual type. Walked like the earth should be grateful he existed.
That's the kid Makena's getting married off to.
My grip tightened on the pick.
Kid, calm yourself down. You're trying to die. Who's gonna use the
"Seriously? That's all you're concerned about?"
I forced my hand to relax. I couldn't outrun even if I tried.
The Daoist Master stopped in the middle of the compound.
With a gesture, everything stopped.
Then he lowered his hand. Everything returned to normal.
The guards were confused. Scared. Bewildered. No one knew what happened.
But I did.
Intimidation. A show of strength.
"The golden blood girl. Where is she?"
He said it softly, but everyone could hear it clearly.
"Where is she?"
The head overseer a Meridian Level 1 stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"In the special quarters, my lord. Just as you ordered. Isolated and taken great care of."
"Take me to her."
He started floating ten feet into the air following the head overseer's lead.
I followed secretly. In the chaos, I reached the crack in the wall where I could observe everything.
"How did the blood test go?"
"Her rate of recovery is 1,000% faster than we calculated. She'll be in perfect form in less than two months."
"Two months? Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I wouldn't lie to you, my lord."
"Have there been any incidents? Has anyone tried to claim her?"
"No, my lord. No one would be foolish enough to piss you off in this Type 1 civilization."
The son entered and spoke, asking to see her.
"Mind if I see her, please, Dad?"
"Have patience. She'll be your wife soon."
"Please, Dad."
"Fine. But don't do anything too crazy, okay?"
"Okay."
The spoiled brat walked past me three feet away but I was well hidden. And he was way over his head to notice.
He dashed into the room at twenty meters per second.
For better visibility without getting seen, I peeped through a crack in the window.
He stood floating three feet above the ground, as if on a stairway.
"Wow. You are indeed the eighth wonder of the world. The pictures and what I heard did you no justice, sugar."
She was quiet.
"Wow. Quiet and not talkative. You're a keeper. My dad said talkative wives are a headache. And you, girl, are a keeper."
He sat close to her. Reached out to touch her face.
She flinched. Shook. Like a girl who'd been a victim of rape and had post traumatic stress.
"Shy. Reserved. Quiet. I love you already. You'll be mine in less than three months."
He kissed her hand like a British gentleman. Turned. Left.
Then I heard the Daoist Master say the marriage would be in three months.
"Make sure she's in her best shape. Give her princess treatment."
"Yes, my lord."
"And make sure you find the one killing my overseers.
My pulse awakeners.
Don't play dumb with me, or I'll find someone at Dantian Genesis to take over."
"I don't know what you're saying, my lord. I'll look into it."
I heard a huge rumble like a planet falling on someone.
The Daoist Master Chen Ping punishing the head overseer for his incompetence.
"I'm only below Reality Domain Lords, and they're at the top of this lower realm and Type 1 civilizations.
I sense death energy, but somehow I can't find a trail."
"Are you saying what I think you're saying, sire?" (Weakly, after being slammed by a small planet.)
"Someone among your slaves in your care is a cultivator in the Meridian Realm.
And you, a Chakra Bloom, couldn't detect it.
They have the Peerless Fire Supreme Furnace to burn everything without a trail and forge weapons by merging hundreds and thousands of swords."
"This is a treasure at the highest realms even I can't comprehend it.
But it's in its broken form, so it's only up to Dantian Genesis level or one tier higher.
Find the person, or I'll have to kill all slaves and guards with a snap of my fingers."
"There'll be no need. We'll find him soon."
"You have until the wedding day.
After taking Makena away, if you haven't killed them, I'll wrap this place clean."
"You have my word, Chen Ping Daoist Master."
He and his son flew away into the Ping Diamond Ivy Ship with ten Nascent Soul guards.
I watched them leave. Awe struck me. Nascent Souls who could open sects
even answered to Chen Ping. Meaning the power scale was absolutely insane.
I went to comfort Makena. She was still shaking like crazy.
"We have less than ninety days," I said.
"I know. And he caught on to my killing of the overseers."
"What? So that's why you're different?"
"Be ready. A lot is about to happen that's all that i know".