The Empire XIX - The Fallen Dynasty

This Chapter has 1668 Words!

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A month had passed, Shi Changmao's travels through the planes of death had been uneventful. There was literally nothing there. It made him feel uncomfortable, and the pressure of the Void above constantly weighted on his shoulders.

Nearly the entirety of his travels he spent observing the daily lives of Lingyu's Inhabitants. Ignorant of what was happening outside, they enjoyed themselves and lived in happiness. Their population was a little less than five hundred (…does this number fit?) and they had built themselves a large village. Within this one month they had explored a big area of the space they now had access to, maybe a few more until they had explored it all? The Animals he had thrown inside also had well-adjusted to the new environment.

What he liked the most was their attempts at Cultivation, now that they had access to so much natural Qi, they progressed steady and soon the first one would reach the Nascent Soul Realm. They didn't use their Cultivation to fight, well they did but more as entertainment, but instead for building and farming.

Changmao withdrew his Domain and focused again on his eyesight. Infront of him was a Dome that looked like it could fall apart. This was what gained his interest and made him come here.

He was only a few meters away from it and moved his Domain, it touched the fabric the Dome was made from and slowly began pulling it apart.

*ZISCH*

A new hole formed, and he entered. At first, he was confused, as he couldn't feel a Ruler's Domain like he had expected! But then as he looked around, he was shocked! The Sky was full of holes, the Sun had been extinguished, the Moon shattered, and the Stars fallen!

His Domain expanded, covering a gigantic distance. What he sensed shocked him even more! He found multiple not so hidden cities with millions of inhabitants, from their inhabitants' conversations he gathered that this Dynasty's Strongest had betrayed their Ruler and fought him! Since then, no one had seen him, and the Traitors, most of them in the Archon Realm, had split the Dynasty between themselves!

The Destroyed Sky and ravaged Earth were the results of their fight! "This Dynasty… has fallen!" he exclaimed in shock. For all his life he had seen the Dynasty as something that has always been and would always be. For Dynasties to fall!

He retracted his Domain 'Let's hope those other Archons didn't notice me…' he thought and began flying towards the nearest City, this was one of the Rebellious Cities that didn't acknowledge the Archons as their rulers. Changmao used his Domain to cover himself in case another Archon scanned this Area.

A few hours later he felt the Aura of someone at the peak of the refinement Realm. It seemed to be the City's ruler. He landed and covered his Cultivation, even an Archon like himself would need to look twice to see his true Cultivation, anyone else would think he was only at the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm with a Silver Core and a Green Soul.

Then he began running towards the city 'Hm… what am I gonna say to the guards if they question me…' a few minutes later the City gates filled his view, the Domain of the City's lord scanned him.

Changmao slowed down and started walking. A small caravan had reached the Gates shortly before him and were currently checking in. Halve an hour later it was his turn. One of the five guards signaled him to step forward.

With a hoars voice the guard asked, "Who are you, where are you from, and what is your matter in our City? Oh, yea and your Cultivation." Changmao thought shortly before answering "I am Shi Changmao, I come from a distant City and search here for a new home. Im currently at the Peak of the Nascent Soul Realm." As for the latter part, he spoke it proudly. The Guard made a few notes and nodded "There is a tax of 50 Mid Quality Spirit Stones, with this you may enter."

Having none of those he created 500 within his Spatial Ring before Taking 50 outside. "Here is your permit. Don't lose it, if you are found without one you will be sent to the Spirit Stone Mines!" "Yes, sir!" Changmao bowed slightly and walked through the Gates.

Bustling Streets greeted him, there was so much activity. Shops sold, people bought, carriages transported. It reminded him of the City he would often visit with his Father to sell their crop. He felt how a girl sneaked up on him 'So soon someone already tries to steal from me?' he chuckled and turned around "Got you!" he grasped her Arm just as she was about to take a poach of his. He made it a few hours ago and it had a few coins used within this Dynasty.

She tried to turn around and run away, but Changmao's grip was too strong for her, a mortal. "Be my Guide and I'll give you a few coins." He offered her. The Girl, still silent, thought a bit and asked, "Where do you want to go?" in a light voice. 'Great, a Guide!' "If you could lead me to an Inn? It doesn't have to be anything too fancy." "Hm… I know of one. Follow me." she began walking away, not waiting for Changmao.

"So, what do you do? Do you often steal?" he questioned her but didn't get a response. "What about your family?" She continued on, and Changmao gave up getting any response. The Streets slowly got emptier, soon only a few people walked on them. 'If I remember correctly, then we should be near the Slums…' While he didn't make a complete mental map of the City, he still had a good grasp about his position.

The Girl slowed down and turned around "This is The Old Inn." She pointed to a small Building; it had a stone foundation, but the top was made using wood. Changmao chuckled "What a name!" he pulled a few silver Coins out of his poach. "Take this." Her eyes opened wide, "This… this is my payment?" He nodded and laid the coins into here frozen hands. "May our paths cross again!" he turned around and wandered off towards the Inn's entrance. Seeing this woke the Girl out of her stupor and she bowed 'Thank you kind stranger…'. A little later she turned around and ran away, to her home.

The Interior of the Inn was the opposite of what one would expect from the outside. He thought it would be a little bad, but no, in contrary! The Inn was well equipped, it had seven empty round tables each with four to eight chairs. Little candles lit it up. All in all, it had a welcoming atmosphere.

No one was at the counter, but a little bell hung there. He rang it. "A moment please!" someone shouted, steps echoed a little.

A Mortal at the mid of the Qi Condensation Realm greeted him. She had a smile on her face. "Hello! Welcome to my little Inn. Sorry that I wasn't here, normally my customers come at the evening." "Everything fine!" he chuckled "I'd like to have a room for one. Maybe a week or so." "Yes, I can do that…" a particular light filled her eyes "You are a Cultivator!" she exclaimed "What brings someone as powerful as you to my little Inn?" 'Oh, she can already scan for Qi even though she is at such a low Realm!'

"It's nothing. I'd just like a room. You know… I don't see why I should pay such high prices when I can also go here. A room is a room." He explained himself. "Ah… yes that makes sense. Thank you again for coming here!" a proud smile spread on her face, she then continued "A room a week would be 70 copper Coins. Do you also want to eat here?" "Hm… yea, why not?" "Then the total would be 91 copper." "Here it is."

The Woman put it into her poach. "I will go and prepare the room for you; do you want to drink or eat anything while waiting?" "A beer will be enough, I just ate a few hours ago." She nodded and soon a beer was delivered to him. She then went upstairs, vanishing from Changmao's view.

As a Cultivator his body no longer was affected by beer, but he liked the taste a bit. He expanded his Domain a little, only 50 meters, and explored the Neighborhood. If one would follow the Street further one would reach the Slums. A bakery was three streets away. What surprised him the most were the many underground rooms and tunnels. Nearly every house had one! But most of them were empty. As for Cultivators, there were none near him. The Strongest Mortal in his Vicinity was a young man a few streets away at the lower halve of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

"Your Room is ready; you can go up!" the Inn's Owner shouted. "Im coming!" Drinking the rest of his beer he stood up and went upstairs. "This is your Room. Here is the key." She handed him a small iron key; it had a strange pattern.

"I'll be downstairs. On sunset I'll prepare you something to eat. Till then." He nodded and entered his Room. It was quite clean and had much space. 'I like it.' While it was nothing compared to what he had within his Spatial Ring, living as he had before all of this started, when he was still an Ordinary Cultivator at his Sect, was something he enjoyed. He closed the door and laid down on his bed, swimming within his memories.

What he didn't notice was the Inn's Owner staring at him through the Ground. Her eyes seemed to scan him, and an interested expression filled her face.