Book 2: Chapter 77: Intruders Entrance |
Meng Li stood as far as she could within the atmosphere of the planet.
The darkness of the void had changed the color above her head to a pitch black of night, only the constellations were any source of light.
Any further and she would have suffered backlash from the barrier created by the Original Calamity.
Today was a day unlike any other. It had started just like the previous ones, slowly waking up from her self-induced naps of six hours, stretching and yawning out of her comfy bed, washing her face, and then stuffing said face in a bowl of warm milk and sweet treats she had made the day prior during testing and development. The perfect little routine she had created to keep her sane while facing the dangers of existing within the same physical realm as the Original Calamity.
She hadnt thought anything could have shifted said expectation because it had been so consistent for so long.
Except there had been a change.
Meng Li summoned her IceSpire Sword, a broad bladed rapier that had been in her family line for nearly seventy generations. Gifted to the strongest amongst the new blood.
Her most powerful weapon and the reason she had been trusted to explore so far away from their home territory even though the dangers were so great.
She felt the Weapon Spirit awaken. A dragon of ice wrapped around her body a hundred times. Her battle companion was as large as a mountain and with enough power to carry her even against foes she had no right fighting. If only it could cross a dozen major realms to face the dictatorial yoke of the Original Calamity.
Lady Meng Li, the ice dragon rumbled into her mind. Has battle arrived on the shores of Mount Fen Zer?
No, Zer Galidon. We have other matters to take care of.
Meng Li pointed her blade to the entrance of this realms barrier as it pulsed for the dozenth time already. Something was moving fast and trying to enter into this world. A powerful being that made the entire wall of Qi shake and tremble with every attack. That was until it found the convenient doorway that should not have been accessible by anyone stronger than the worlds most average denizens.
Yet, here she was, preparing for the entrance of a new monster.
Ready for war.
Because she knew, without a shadow of doubt, that there would not be a moment of negotiations and peace. The fighting would break posthaste, just as she had considered during her first days of arrival. At least before she figured out who or what she was dealing with.
Meng Li smiled as a plan formed in her mind.
Both as a way to get rid of this new intruder and to test just how strong the Original Calamity truly was.
Zer Galidon roared as the entrance sputtered for a second before it spat out a person into the atmosphere of this planet.
The being, black robes, black flames surrounding him, a black blade that made Meng Li shiver in fright, and deep eyes that found her in seconds and instantly dismissed her as a non-threat. Very few people made her feel the way she did now. All of them were as strong as her father and the most powerful elders within her Clan. Beings she had no hope of defeating any time close.
Strange, the black robed man combed through his full beard. His lithe form looked back and forth for something yet it could not locate whatever it was trying to find. So very strange. I felt the activation of a high level power source coming from this world. Yet, there isnt anything anymore?
Meng Li couldnt help the tremble in her hands as she pointed her IceSpire Sword at the man before her. S-State your business here! This is territory of the Frozen Foxkin Clan of Mount Fen Zer! Our patriarch Meng Fuo does not take kindly to intruders
The man laughed at her.
Never in her life had she ever felt so insulted before.
She stared stunned and unable to compute a proper response to the way the man reacted to her.
Frozen Foxkin? What is a pathetic and small clan doing so far up the realms? The man circled around her faster than she could see. Reappearing at Zer Galidons face and patting its monstrously gigantic head as though it was a cute house pet and nothing more. This must be the semi-fabled ice hatchling. Six-hundred thousand years old only, I recall? Whats it doing so far away from protected lands anyway?
I-I w-was sent as a representative of the clan to h-hold this territory!
The black robed man appeared behind her and pinched her ears. She shouted and swung at him, but missed completely.
He emerged a dozen feet away and laughed at her reaction. You are a terrible liar. Youve come to consume this world, havent you little kit. Do you not know how? Or maybe youve failed to cow the denizens of the world like any self respecting person should. Then again, with a world this far up the realms, you shouldnt be strong enough to enter as a Conqueror or Devourer. The Administration''s remnant laws should have made it impossible.
This is my only chance. I cant mess this up.
Meng Li took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Gathering as much confidence as possible from Zer Galidons presence around her. You would be correct in assuming that I am not strong enough to do anything here. And honestly she paused for effect. I doubt you are either if my estimation of the Overlord of this world is anywhere correct.
The man in black guffawed once more, he was clearly in a very good mood and she could see why.
Anyone, even the most powerful beings, would be gaining a massive boost to their cultivation if they could turn this entire planet into a cauldron. Eons of cultivating all within a few years at most by turning this place into a waste of molten rock and sulfur filling the atmosphere.
All of its inhabitants be damned.
You should thank the Heavens that I am in such a good mood. Ill entertain this plot. Theres enough strange about this world that I might take a few days before crushing it to learn more. An entrance into its realm? Havent seen anything like that since my last ascension! Figure that, little kit
Meng Li struggled not to bristle at constantly being called little kit.
a world that has a foundation and holds greater power than I? Hei Gu! he grinned so wide it reached from ear to ear.
Meng Li wondered if he had a Demonic Bloodline.
Where is this force of defense that has you so worried?
Who, Meng Li corrected Hei Gu. Its who defends the world. Nothing but a single person.
Hei Gu frowned this time. Dont insult me, wench. A single being? A threat to me? Ive faced the Ancients of Feather Peak! Killed and given final death to the Phoenixes of Volcan. Even injured a Void Wielding, Tentacled Demon that had thought itself undefeatable! You insult me by suggesting that anything could potentially face me.
Not much else I can say, Meng Li shrugged. Ive seen its power just as clearly as I see you standing before me.
Show me this being then.
Thats the problem. It only shows itself whenever it so desires. I cant figure heads or tails of its whereabouts unless it allows me to.
Hei Gu huffed as he spun around and let his senses escape him. The atmosphere around her shook violently as his Qi burned it with black flames that barely missed her. Huh. There is more to this world than meets the eye. A Primordial World? An unexpected prize. Oh? An opened Ancient Vault? he turned to her with a suspicious gaze. No. You wouldnt be so unwilling to engage in confrontation had you opened an Ancient Vault. That means this person you mentioned does actually exist.
The man kept scanning for nearly five days without moving from his spot.
Meng Li did not shift in that time even once. She could survive for centuries without food or water. Being stuck in one spot for days was nothing when her isolated cultivation sessions could last decades. Anything to survive what has suddenly turned into a very messy situation that was nowhere as simple as before.
Wonder if this Hei Gu likes sweet treats Nah. he doesnt look the type to enjoy anything enjoyable.
I-I dont find them? Hei Gu stood up on the seventh day with a confused expression. I dont understand.
Meng Li shrugged her shoulders but said nothing else. Anything she uttered could end up being used against her or might spark Hei Gus ire unnecessarily.
The only being I see that shows any positive signs is an Old Ghost. Likely searching for talented kids to forcefully inherit his legacy. Disgusting old coot. Maybe I should give him a visit? They do sometimes carry nice treasures for potential future generations, especially in a world this far up the realms.
She stood there silently and let him come to his own decisions.
Hei Gu gave her a condescending look, huffed, and then vanished from his spot. Likely going after the Old Ghost he found.
Meng Li felt all of the tension leave her body at once. She was safe, at least for now. There was no telling what the man in black would suddenly do after he fails to find the Original Calamity. Something kept telling her that even someone as powerful as Hei Gu stood no chance before him. Which was a terrifying thought. The man in black had recognized her familys clan name and even Zer Galidons form. His assessment had been ridiculing her when she mentioned her fathers name too.
Oh father. What the hell do I do now?
No matter how hard she thought, the only thing she could think of was rushing to her oven and baking. She had recently made a breakthrough, hopefully it would be enough considering she felt the Greater Dao guiding her hands toward this development.
Soon enough, she would have something worthy of the Original Calamity and then everything will be perfectly fine.
Meng Li hoped that was the case.