Chapter - 2

Blue Cloud City - Chen Clan

"Yan'er, your inscriptions can be a little better."

"Good, Change the spirit line to curved."

Chen Yan'er, a beautiful young girl wearing snow-white clothes, diligently practised her inscriptions in the forging room. She was seriously inscribing on a piece of paper. As she finished, there was a glow, and then the paper shook a little.

The lady standing beside her and giving her instructions was another young girl wearing a grey coloured robe.

Chen Wan'er. Chen Yan'er's elder sister.

Judging by their appearance, both of them were only in their 20s. But Chen Wan'er could already point out her imperfections one by one with his discerning gaze.

After finishing an inscription, Chen Yan'er stood up, clearing the ink on the brush. She smiled and went over to Chen Wan'er.

"Sister Wan'er, do you think I can start with forging?" Chen Yan'er asked.

"The inscriptions you drew are only basic runes. Until you master these, there is no need. For now, it's already quite good," Chen Wan'er declared.

"Thanks for your help; without you, I couldn't have reached this level in this short period." Chen Yan'er stated.

Chen Wan'er shook her head.

"My instructions were only a small part, but what's more important is that Yan'er has great talent in this field. In the Chen clan, where most people paid attention to artefact forging, perhaps Yan'er is the one with the highest talent..."

And then laughed: "... of course, apart from me."

"Sister Wan'er, how long did it take you to study all the runes? It's only a few months, right?" Chen Yan'er asked.

Chen Wan'er smiled but did not answer her.

Remembering all the hundreds of runes and practising to the point of being proficient in them was decade long effort. However, Chen Wan'er did finish them within a few months.

It meant that she had reached great heights long ago in the field of inscriptions. However, she didn't want to tell this to Yan'er. It would be a severe blow.

"With your talent, you could study it in a few months as well, except…." Chen Wan'er looked at her sister with reluctance and sorrow in her eyes.

Chen Yan'er certainly knew what she implied. She smiled a little and said, "Sister, don't worry. I will work hard."

"Good." Chen Wan'er heaved a sigh of relief. After all, she didn't have much time.

Chen Wan'er was the eldest daughter of the Chen clan's Patriarch, Chen Guang. Recently she was even recruited by one of the major sects in the continent. Her father was also a Spirit Grade Artefact Master. She grew up under her father's instructions and help from various elders.

Thanks to her father, she was born into a position of eminence. She was absolutely one of the top young-generation genius disciples in the Chen clan. However, all that changed considerably three years ago when she heard a piece of shocking news.

Her father had left to travel during that year, but he came back with severe injuries after that. When he recovered, he mentioned the matter of his promise.

Fortunately, her misfortune didn't come twice. That year, she had accepted a clan mission to eradicate some bandits. After her battle, she had a chance encounter with her future master. As a result, her master accepted her as a disciple. She also let her continue cultivating within her clan.

She was supposed to leave in a few months from now.

Her father had spent countless resources on her, and she wasn't an unfilial daughter. So she had decided to teach everything she could to her sister before she left to join her sect.

Unfortunately, although her sister is very talented in martial arts, her talent is limited in inscriptions. So the sisters spend almost all their time studying as much as they can.

To become a Spirit Grade Artefact Master, one needs to learn the art of forging and inscribing on them.

During the past few months years, Yan'er had never given up. Instead, she lessened her time on cultivation and continued to work hard to become a Mortal Grade Inscription Master. She had hoped to succeed in her sister's seat and be given the right to participate in the leader's selection one day.

But the reality was cruel.

She didn't have much time.

"Sister, I will work even harder and become a Master." Chen Yan'er said confidently.

"Good." Chen Wan'er smiled and encouraged her.

"Wan'er, Yan'er." A kindly middle-aged man walked into the forging room.

"Father," Both the girls bowed together.

This middle-aged man was the girl's father, the current Patriarch of the Chen clan, Chen Guang.

"Wan'er, you have instructed Yan'er all these months. That's very kind of you," Chen Guang smiled and said.

"Father, it's my duty as her sister." Chen Wan'er laughed as she shook her head and said, "If only I had more time."

Suddenly, the mild look on Chen Guang vanished, and his expression changed to one of grief.

"Wan'er, do you hate your father?" Chen Guang looked at his daughter and asked her in a low voice.

"Father. No. Why are you asking me this?" Chen Wan'er looked confused.

"Do you remember the promise I made years ago? Long Chen has arrived at our clan." Chen Guang spoke with a stern look.

"Father, why are you talking about the promise now?" Chen Yan'er interrupted the conversation and asked angrily.

"Father. No. I don't hate you for that. The promise of a father is to be honoured by his child." Chen Wan'er said in a soft voice.

However, she sighed in her heart. As Patriarch, years of involvement in clan affairs and scheming has taken his heart further away from Dao. If her master hadn't said a few things, she would probably be the same.

"Sister." Chen Yan'er cried out. "We all know about that loser."

As Chen Wan'er was about to speak, the forging room's door was pushed open, and a pretty lady walked in. She looked at Chen Guang and coldly said, "Do you know what Long Chen did just now?"

As soon as the pretty lady finished talking, Chen Yan'er rushed out of the room in a fury.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blue Cloud City - Wang Clan

There were five aristocratic clans in the city, and the Wang clan was one of them.

Late at night, Wang Clan's Main Hall.

In the depths of the hall, the elders and disciples had already scattered, returning to their abodes.

Right now, only one orb of light glowed in the entire palace hall. Moreover, the light was flickering, adding a slight ghostly feel to the people standing in the lobby.

"I need to get this changed." The person standing there commented as he gazed at the flickering lights.

A young girl had already changed into the clan uniforms. Her face was no longer looking miserable but had a little charm. Her eyes were severe and profound, yet one could see that they hid a hint of expectation.

"Thank you, Patriarch."

The young girl was on the ground, sincerely kowtowing.

"Xiao'er, you did well."

The young girl, Xiao'er and a middle-aged man were the only two people in this hall. Neither could see the other, and the one who spoke had his back against the kowtowing girl.

A profound indifference could be sensed from within the depths of that voice. As if whatever done went according to the command.

"Xiao'er will definitely faithfully obey all your commands." The young girl's body trembled slightly, her beautiful pupils also wavering. One could see some sadness deep inside.

"Regardless. The clan considers you as my daughter. As long as you don't cross the line, you can still continue with the ruse."

If these words were leaked, they would absolutely astound the entire Wang clan. Wang XiaoXiao was actually not the Wang clan Patriarch's daughter.

The relationship between the two was simply a scheme.

"Patriarch, I still feel a little worried. I have a good friendship with the Chen sisters, and Long Chen is a young master of Long Clan. If they find out and come for revenge....." Xiao'er eyes flashed with a cold light.

"You are dismissed."

"Patriarch". Xiao'er shuddered. She kowtowed again and left the hall.

On her way back, her fists were tightly clenched. She thought: 'I will always be a disposable pawn if I am weak.'

The middle-aged man was looking at the flickering orb in deep thought. Then, finally, he sighed and closed his eyes.

"This light is really bothering me."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unknown Location - Dark Space

A massive blue pearl lay quietly in a dark space, rotating at a quiet pace. The new crack that had appeared started to spread a little and resembled a small scar. Stillness prevailed, only to be interrupted by the discussion of two individuals.

Three individuals were floating in front of this pearl. However, they didn't greet one another; instead, they conversed directly.

One of them whispered, "I never thought there were other worlds out there."

"Indeed. To see a world similar to the novels I read is even more surprising." It was another one who spoke this time.

The third person remained quiet, without uttering a single word.

The first one said with emotion: "To think that my life would end three years ago and you would arrive here and occupy my body."

"I did come, but..." said the second one as he slowly blinked his eyes, still looking at the blue pearl, "..aren't I the same as you stuck in this place."

"Tell me, is your world the same as the one in the novels I read? There is no cultivation, and people live peacefully."

"I am just a normal person in that world. Although there are several problems there, it took a lot of deaths to reach the stage of our current peaceful society. Who knows what will happen in the future?"

"If possible, I want to live there. My lifespan will indeed be limited, but I want to see everything that you have shown me."

"And I want to live in this world. And, I want to be the strongest person there is and bring the culture of my world here."

A sudden groan was heard, and the two of them turned their attention from the blue pearl and looked at the third person.

"Will you two shut the fuck up? I am trying to rest here."

The first one ignored this comment and continued gazing at the blue pearl.

The second one smiled as he shook his head.

"System, get the fuck out here right now." The third one shouted.

The blue pearl now shined in low brilliance as a neutral tone came out.

"Host, calm down."

"System, I completed the first mission. Where's my reward?"

"Host, It's not complete yet. Unless the issuer approves."

The third person who was speaking just now turned towards the first person and asked: "Hey, Long Chen Two, I did what you asked. Now go back to the damn pearl and give me full control of the body."

The person referred to as Long Chen Two laughed: "Why are you getting angry? You are one who messed with the system in the beginning."

"Long Chen Two, do you have any idea how it feels to read thousands of novels and comics about the same damn thing in your mind whilst sitting there looking at the same book like an idiot?"

"I do." Long Chen Two laughed again and continued: "Congrats. I will take my leave now. Good luck."

The person turned into a stream of light and merged with the blue pearl.

"Host, Congrats on completing your first mission. You now have full control of this body."

"Next up is you, Long Chen One."

The first one agreed by nodding, with his facial expression calm and determined.