"What was that for?" Yun Che inquired, referring to the slap she had just delivered.
"For being an idiot!!!" Her anger was palpable. "You could have saved so much time by stealing that bead, but instead, you chose to confront that dragon and put yourself in danger."
Yun Che sighed and responded, "I apologize for that. I'm not the kind of person who steals from the strong. I wanted to face that dragon to gauge my own strength. Confronting foes from higher realms doesn't mean I'm throwing my life away. I do it because I have trump cards to rely on, and it's an opportunity to test my limits. As a gamer, I've never backed down from a challenge. This battle is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I have the will to survive and the courage to face death, which makes the fight itself valuable. Besides, it helps me level up."
He then turned serious and asked, "What about you?"
She was puzzled by his question. "Me?"
"Yes," he affirmed, "you know that I had plans to confront the dragon. You didn't need to intervene. Even without your push, my body would have instinctively reacted to avoid the attack, thanks to my Observation Mode from my Sharingan. It allows me to anticipate and automatically evade any moves."
She didn't have an immediate response, questioning why she had intervened in the first place. Was it because he was her disciple? Was it because he had saved her? Why had she chosen to protect him?
"You don't have to save me," Yun Che continued. "If your strength had recovered, you could have easily defeated that dragon with a single strike. This time, have faith in me. I always have backup plans if things go awry. Trust me; I will protect you. I don't need to rely on you. It's a man's duty to protect the woman he cares about."
Yun Che's words triggered something within Jasmine, conjuring images of her brother and her past. He had spoken similar words during her time in the Realm of the Gods. Her family had been her source of happiness until her father had torn them away. Although her pride as the God's Realm princess initially resisted the notion, she found herself strangely receptive to the idea that Yun Che could protect her.
"Do you care about me?" she asked tentatively.
"Of course," Yun Che replied, a warm smile beneath his mask. "You're my master and my partner."
Jasmine turned away, her face flushed with a smile she hadn't experienced since she'd lost everything. She quickly regained her composure and returned to her usual arrogant demeanor, the "Ojou-sama" mode."
"Hmph, you're a thousand years too early to protect this princess, especially with your unpredictable, crazy, and reckless fighting style. How can I possibly depend on you?" She turned back to him, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Yun Che felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of her smile. It was the first time she had shown such a soft side. Usually, they were busy bickering with each other rather than revealing their more tender sides.
"Well, Jasmine," Yun Che began, a hint of playfulness in his tone, "care to make a bet? This 'demon' can protect you from now on."
"Oh, so now you're a demon?" Jasmine teased, her smile widening. "I thought you were just a blockhead."
"Grrrr, this little girl…" Yun Che muttered, but he couldn't help but enjoy their banter. It felt like the familiar dynamic of a master and disciple. However, before he could dwell on it further, a notification popped up before him.
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[Ding…. Congratulations on defeating the Emperor Rank Red Dragon.]
[Emperor Rank Demon Core obtained. Can be exchanged with the system for 700,000 XP. Can also be used to level up companions.]
[Ding….. Host has leveled up]
[Ding….. Host has leveled up]
[Ding….. Host has leveled up]
[Ding….. Host has leveled up]
[Ding….. Host has leveled up]
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"Holy shit, defeating an Emperor Rank really boosted my cultivation," Yun Che exclaimed as the notifications continued for about twelve times before showing the next one.
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[Ding….. Host is now Level 44, Fourth Level of the Spirit Profound Realm.]
[Ding…. Congratulations on triggering the 'One Fell Swoop' achievement. Leveling up an entire realm in one fight. Reward: 10,000 XP and 1,000 SP]
[New Frame Unlocked]
The new frame shows Chibi version of Yun Che had a giant plus one above him.
[Ding…. Host has leveled up.]
[Ding….. Host is now Level 45, Fifth Level of the Spirit Profound Realm.]
[Ding… Host has achieved Spirit Profound Realm. System reward acquired. Would you like to open it?]
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Yun Che had been eagerly anticipating this moment. His previous rewards had included two Zanpakuto and a 13th Division haori. What would this new reward bring? However, just as he was about to open the system reward, another notification appeared.
--------------------------------------
[Ding... Duration: 0 minutes and 45 seconds. It is recommended that the host disappears immediately.]
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"Damn, now's not the time for that. Jasmine, we have to get out of here. Multiple energies are approaching fast." Yun Che warned.
Jasmine extended her senses, and he was right. A lot of those cultivators are close. "You're right; I sense them too. Grab that dragon and the seed. The dragon might come in handy one day."
Yun Che nodded before swiftly storing the dragon and its severed arm into the system's storage. Then, he immediately used his flash step to reach the seed and transferred it into his system as well. He knew he needed some time to consume it properly, so he decided to do that later. He noticed that the altar holding the seed was surrounded by Fire Spirit Grass, so he stored all of it in the system before returning to Jasmine.
He suddenly grabbed her waist, surprising her. "Idiot, what do you think you're doing?" She asked, trying to resist his touch.
"Calm down," Yun Che reassured her, "I'm about to try another movement technique. I may have mastered it, but it still needs some getting used to."
"What kind of movement technique?" She calmed down but was still curious. Flash step was the fastest movement technique she had ever seen. Did he have another one that was even faster? She had so many questions about the recent events.
"Hold on," he said, focusing his spirit force on his body, and then...
Swoossshhh.
They disappeared from the ruins of the mountain, leaving no trace behind.
Moments after their sudden disappearance, cultivators began to arrive at the devastated mountain range one after another. Their numbers included hundreds of Monarch stage cultivators, along with others at the Overlord stage. Those with less formidable cultivation levels either kept a distance or observed the scene from afar.
"It seems like a genius was cultivating here. Judging from these blood puddles on the ground, a tremendous battle must have taken place," commented an elder from the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary, who was among the first to arrive.
"Ho, are you here to lay a claim on this genius as well, representatives of the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary?" inquired an elder from the Sun Moon Divine Hall, showing a hint of rivalry.
"Hmph, do we require your permission to claim this genius? We shall act according to our own will," retorted the elder from the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary with an air of defiance.
"Look at you, foolish people trying to claim our future disciple. Are you seeking to initiate a war with us?" interjected an elder from the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region, stepping between the rival factions.
Suddenly, an imposing ark materialized on the horizon, emerging from the direction of the sea. Several elders, each exuding a late-stage Monarch aura, disembarked from the ark. This formidable vessel belonged to the only sect that hailed from the sea—the Supreme Ocean Palace.
"You old coots," declared the elder from the Supreme Ocean Palace, "I wish to claim that genius for the glory of our sect. Your sects lack the qualifications."
"Supreme Ocean Palace, are you prepared to provoke a war with us as well?" retorted the elder from the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region with unwavering resolve.
Various superpowers from across the Profound Sky Continent had converged upon this location, driven by the prospect of claiming Yun Che as their own. However, their expectations were in vain, for Yun Che had vanished without a trace, leaving only a lingering puddle of blood from the severed arm behind—a mysterious enigma that defied comprehension. Yun Che's disappearance sparked a heated competition among the sects, all vying for a figure whose identity and whereabouts remained shrouded in mystery. For the weaker sects, it was an exercise in futility, and they could only watch in frustration, unable to partake in the struggle for his allegiance.
As the bickering elders continued their quarrel, a cacophonous roar reverberated through the surroundings.
ROAARRRRR!
Hollows, those malevolent creatures in white masks, charged toward the cultivators from all directions in overwhelming numbers. While the cultivators were capable of dealing with the hollows, the risk of losing disciples in the process was too great. Moreover, rival superpowers saw an opportunity to exploit the situation to their advantage. To avoid unnecessary confrontations and bloodshed, it was wiser to depart expeditiously.
"Well, those accursed white-masked beasts have reared their heads again. We will have to postpone our business for another day. If the genius willingly chooses to join our sect, none of you shall have the authority to interfere," the elder from the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region declared, pointing at the representatives of the other factions.
"Hmph, we return the sentiment. Even if it means going to war with you, we will not relinquish our claim on this genius," the Supreme Ocean Palace elder retorted before reboarding their imposing ark. All the diverse superpowers shared the same sentiment, swiftly vanishing aboard their respective vessels or soaring back to their home sects.
The hollows, while individually weak, held a numerical advantage. Engaging them would serve only to deplete valuable energy with little gain. Soon, they retreated, and the weaker sects followed suit, deciding to forego any further involvement in the perplexing circumstances.
Meanwhile, the seven guardians observed the events from a distance, making sure to remain hidden from the gaze of the high-level cultivators. It was an awe-inspiring display of legendary powers, an experience that none of them had ever encountered before. Among the seven guardians, one in particular, Chu Yueli from the Frozen Cloud Asgard, experienced mixed feelings. She had been present when Yun Che had employed the Absolute Suppression skill, controlling everyone in that city, and she had not been exempt from its effects. Her conflicting emotions stemmed from recognizing the energy surge earlier.
"That energy... It gives me the same sensation as when the mountain was split in half six months ago. This time, it's even more potent," she reflected with a furrowed brow.
"Could it be?" She silently vowed to inquire about this matter with her disciple at the earliest opportunity.