Bk 2 Chapter five (9)

"You seem to recognise her," Lizzy said.

"Any cultivator would," he said wearily. From the energy the woman before them was extruding, she was strong, he could not even fathom how much at his level. This was not any Nether person; this was someone high up in the hierarchy. He remembered the words she had said and looked at Lizzy with caution.

"Who are you?" he asked her.

"I am Lizzy," Lizzy answered. What was she supposed to say? She knew nothing else, safe for this.

"How do we leave this place, Sol?" she asked.

"This is the Dark Valley, my lady. I could just take you out if you wish it," Sol answered.

"That's impossible. Word is, this valley has a consciousness. It will not bow to anything or anyone," Si Sanga said and Sol only glanced at him.

"This is just a place. If you have the ability you can just leave as you like. Those with lower cultivation are unable to perceive the laws here, so their minds translate it as such," Sol patiently explained.

"How do you perceive it?" he asked and Sol kept silent. She was awaiting her master's orders.

"I wish to leave. I will wait for my lady at the exit," Lizzy did not care about these complications.

"This servant obeys," Sol bowed.

"Wait. There may be things here that may be of some interest to you," he said and Lizzy paused.

"What?"

"I heard that this is a place housing great etheric energy. There must be some treasures here," he said and Lizzy frowned under her veil.

"Why do you think this will be of interest to me?" she asked.

"I heard that there are certain treasures that people without cultivation can possess, someone like you. These treasures are not like those from a store, they are weapons. They are mostly left behind by immortals. They can protect you. Everyone needs a knife somewhere in their sleeves," he said. Lizzy considered his words. Even though she knew he only wished to go for his benefit, they made sense. She knew that with her ability and the trouble she seemed to be brewing all on her own, she would be a burden to her lady. Besides, she was sure that the empress of the Netherland would find her even if she decided to never enter the Nether palace.

"Is this true?" she asked Sol.

"Yes, my lady. There are treasures here that you can use without cultivating. Even though ownership is decided by fate, with my lady's natural disposition, it is certain you will get one," Sol said.

"Will it be dangerous to get?" she asked.

"Yes, but I will not allow you to be harmed, my lady," Sol answered. Lizzy considered her words and then made her choice. She needed a weapon. She was just a maid from the Juhntt capital; all the weapons she had ever seen were usually swords, axes and the rest. But living in the Nether halls as a slave changed her view of life. She saw weapons that did things she would never have imagined. If she could get one to help her vanish, she would be even happier. With the thought of that, she nodded her head.

"Since Sol can take us out easily, we will probably wait a while outside for my lady to come out. We might as well look around," she said and Si Sanga smiled.

"You are making the right choice, Lizzy," he said. As these words left his lips, Sol released her aura and it descended upon him like a mountain, causing him to go dizzy and stumble to one knee.

"You dare to call her esteemed name?" Sol asked coldly. Lizzy saw that Si Sanga was struggling to stay standing and panicked slightly.

"Enough, Sol," she ordered and Sol retracted her aura and knelt hurriedly.

"I have sinned, my lady, punish me," she said and Lizzy felt a headache come upon her.

"You cannot make decisions like that without my permission," she said and Sol's head lowered even more.

"If it pertains to your life, my lady?" she asked and Lizzy sighed in reply.

"Only then is it allowed," she answered, then turned to Si Sanga who was struggling to breathe the moment the weight lifted off him. He stabilized his breathing and looked up at Lizzy.

"Who are you?" he asked again. Before, he had thought she must be either valued by the Nether people or have some relation to them. But now, he was sure she was this fearful woman's master.

"I am Lizzy,"