Arrival

One week later, the edge of the Blanc kingdom

"Finally! We're here!"

Alex looked back at his silent companion. She hadn't spoken during their journey, it would seem she would only speak when she was in human form. However, whenever Alex needed to talk she was very willing to listen. At least, she didn't seem to mind.

Alex was actually pretty happy with the arrangement. He was used to someone following him around, so much so that it felt weird without someone there. He was also used to always being stared at, so the crow's gaze didn't bother him too much.

Speaking of the crow, he had yet to learn her name. He had asked during their journey, but she had just stared at him so he left it alone.

Alex stood near the gates, which were guarded. The kingdom was huge, worthy of being marked on the map. The guards were also quite strong, though Alex couldn't tell how strong due to him being a lower cultivation.

As for a plan... Alex just planned to tell them he was an ascended. They would see his really low level GM and understand. The fact that they didn't know him would also aid in this fact.

For the record, being lower than 9th level GM is not unheard of in the 2nd Heaven. People are born and they have to cultivate and though the speed may be faster, they will be a lower level than 8th generally. The king of the spirit beasts and the guards could tell he was an ascended due to him being in the forest. No 8th level would venture there unless they had ascended and ended up there.

Alex figured they would welcome him. Ascenders weren't exactly rare and people came up from the 1st Heaven every once in a while. The last 9th Heaven had ascended while Alex was still growing, so no one else had gone up and this was also the reason why Alex was basically the strongest in the 1st Heaven.

The teleportation for ascension is assumed to be decided by the 10th Heaven. They sent some people to the forest and some to the kingdoms. One thing was known, it wasn't random. Nobody teleported into the ground or an area where they would die immediately. That's why people assumed the 10th Heaven, which was considered separate from the other 9 due to it being a bit mythical and on a completely different level, had a hand in it.

Alex walked forward, the crow watching on a nearby branch, as always.

The guards instantly went at alert, though they relaxed a bit when they sensed his level. They were waiting for him to approach them, as they could sense his presence, but they couldn't see his level until he got into visual range.

"Hello. My name is Alex and I have recently ascended from the 1st Heaven. I found myself in forest about a week's walk from here, but I encountered some friendly spirit beasts and they gave me a map which I used to navigate here. I confirmed I wasn't a descended there, but am happy to do so again here. I was hoping for some guidance as I am new here. Please take care of me."

Alex bowed. In matters such as these, it was best to be precise about your whereabouts and to be respectful. These people would be responsible for your well being. You would show respect and they would help you out. It was an universal rule for the ascended and the locals to do so, before establishing boundaries and loyalties and saying respectful goodbyes. Especially, if those loyalties did not coincide with whatever kingdom's you approached.