Leaving

An hour passed fairly quickly, and Eve loaded all sorts of obscure research data in my mind during this time period. I learned some interesting new techniques, including the 'Celestial Attunement' and 'Probability Shift' that Crescent Moon cultivated. I couldn't bring out the same kind of power as it did, because I wasn't chosen by the heavens and didn't have innate luck accumulation, but after a bit more research I will probably be able to modify them into some stronger abilities that I could use. The elder also returned, with a couple of people by his side. Most of them were other elders of the sect, that I already saw before, but there was a guy in a ceremonial robe radiating a powerful presence. He should be the elders' plan to deal with me.

-Junior Xiao Xia, this is Senior Shen Lao, a guest of our True Fate Sect and a good friend of our esteemed sect master...

...who doesn't even have the balls to show his face...

-...who happened to see your outstanding performance and mighty combat abilities, and was wondering if you could exchange some pointers with him. If you can accommodate this small request of Senior Lao, we will hand over your letter of recommendation and prizes immediately after you're done with the exchange.

-Elder, I seem to recall saying that I wanted those things handed to me after this hour of waiting is up. I don't recall ever giving you the idea to put forward a condition to this. As for Senior Lao's request...

I turned towards the powerful senior, looked into his eyes, and said:

-Kiss. My. Feet.

The elders shivered when they heard what I just said, but rejoiced inwardly, since now there was no chance for Senior Lao not to beat the crap out of me for being disrespectful. But in the next moment, their minds froze, as they saw Shen Lao jump in front of me, drop on his knees, and start kissing my feet, with so much enthusiasm, as if his life depended on it. This went on for a few seconds, until the elder in front reacted, and hurried over in front of me.

-Junior Xiao Xia, this is truly just a misunderstanding, please, let this matter slide. If you don't want to exchange pointers with our esteemed guest, it's all fine. Here are your prizes and here's the letter of recommendation you requested, I just hope that junior doesn't mind the small delay in bringing them to you.

Well, he sure knows how to lick ass. Not that I care, but at least I don't have to decimate an entire sect just to prove a point.

-Thank you, elder. With this, this matter is concluded, and I bid you all farewell. Oh, right. Shen Lao, kill Crescent Moon, in a way that she can't ever reincarnate. After that's done, cripple yourself.

Saying this, I vanished from the middle of the arena. I reappeared a few hundred kilometers away, in the middle of a wilderness.

-Man, that guy was tough. So this is the kind of pressure a God realm cultivator can exude without even activating their domain? So scary. If it wasn't for my new 'Worldly Enchantment' ability, I would have had to expend some serious effort to subdue him. Luckily I didn't need to show any weakness in front of the elders, so they gave up quickly, I don't know if I could've kept up the enchantment for more than a couple of minutes.

-I must say, you handled this beyond my expectations. I didn't think you would use the expert's hand to slay that transmigrator, it was a nice touch.

-Well, I didn't have much of a choice in that regard. I can't personally slay that guy, since that would invoke the wrath, or at least the scorn of the heavens. And I couldn't have that, since I want to replace it as the heavenly forces' champion. If I had to actually fight Shen Lao, I would have arranged for an accident, so it still would have become collateral damage.

-Oh? You want to become heaven-blessed? I don't think that would raise your power in any significant way though.

-It doesn't matter. Maybe it'll help with the understanding of the heavenly powers. And it wouldn't be harmful in any way, so why not take the chance, if it's practically presented on a golden platter.

I scan the arena, and sure enough, I can sense Shen Lao killing Crescent Moon. The elders tried to plead for him to stop, but since he wasn't actually in control of his actions, they couldn't even slow him down. He extracted its soul, burned it with a special flame, then pulverized its body. Crescent Moon was as dead as dead somebody could be. Having done this, Shen Lao crippled his limbs, then his cultivation. Man, he went out of his way to "cripple himself", according to the command. This is a real scary ability. His head cleared out after this, as there were no more commands, and started screaming in pain and horror. I think I've seen enough.

Alright, it's time for me to cultivate. I've been stuck at the first stage of Soul Severing for hours, I'm getting itchy to become more powerful. I look over my spoils from the Inner Trials, but there isn't anything useful, except for the spirit stones, but I can get those anyway. The main reason I wanted to get this reward is actually the spatial ring these were stored in.

-You could have just stolen one, you know.

-I know, Eve, but since this reward was mine to begin with, I didn't see the reason to do so. Things got settled nice and easy, without any bloodshed...

-...except for Crescent Moon...

-...with minimal bloodshed, and maximum profit...

-...except that you could've just looted everything in the sect...

-...and a well-earned profit. Nothing to be ashamed of...

-...except that you made a God realm cultivator kiss your shoes...

-...no lines were crossed...

-...except that you crippled an outer disciple of the Heavenly Fate Sect, and threatened the elders and the whole True Fate Sect...

-WHY ARE YOU MAKING THIS SO HARD? I am trying to feel good about not slaughtering a whole sect! Can I just please have that?

-Shouldn't that be normal though?

-You're impossible. I don't even care anymore. Next time I want something, I'll just take it, and if anybody asks, I'll tell them "Eve said that I could".

-Yeah, that's always a good reason to do things. "The voice in my head told me to kill the girl I can't fuck and burn the sect that has what I want". It'll definitely work, I'm rooting for you.

I'm not listening anymore. She's just trying to piss me off, because she's bored again. I open a spatial tear to one of the nearby spirit veins, and start cultivating, hoping that she'll grab the opportunity to do the same, and thus shut up for a while.