A weeks worth of time passed within White Corpse City, and a rather interesting rumour had started to spread about the general populous.
The vast majority of the population within White Corpse City were mortals, however, due to the presence of both the two nearby Fae Grounds, and in addition to the Corpse Shore replica directly beside the City, most mortals had Fae Master relatives within the White Dominion Region.
Connections were always important in this world, and what was a stronger connection than blood?
A few of the more knowledgeable Fae Masters were talking quite loudly in a bar. Most of them had seedy connections to some of the more.... sinister machinations that went on within the White Dominion Region, although one of them barred the symbol of a White Coffin.
The symbol of the White Dominion Sect.
"Did you hear about the rumour, Old Seven?".
The white garbed individual paused the swig of his drink, raising an eyebrow.
He had known all these people from his mortal years, before he joined the White Dominion Sect, and considering that he was the seventh oldest out of all of them, only those who knew his background and origins would call him Old Seven.
After joining the White Dominion Sect, his horizons had broadened significantly, and his worldview had almost completely shifted to that of a proper Fae Masters.
Being one of the more knowledgeable mortal born Fae Masters, he understood the importance of sowing karma, as well as the severance of karmic relations. In order to ascend to even higher stages of existence, completing the cycle of karma and removing these mortal relations would only push him further towards the apex.
And by that, he would help out their descendents, if they ever showed the potential to become Fae Masters.
"What rumour? If it's one that the Elders haven't been talking about, then it shouldn't be that important-".
"It's about a Sovereign Boundary Physique".
The white garbed individual felt his eyes widen slightly and he put down his drink slowly, gazing at his old childhood friend.
Their was a faint tingling on the back of his neck, and his voice couldn't help but quiver slightly when discussing the possibility of an actual Sovereign Boundary Physique wielder.
His oldest childhood friend, who was already pushing 70 at this point, widened his ugly grin, drawing closer towards his younger brother.
His voice was hushed, although the other people at the table could still hear their conversation. The sound of drunken bums and lascivious squeals of the barmaids drowned out their words completely.
"Word on the street is that a few days ago a Fae Master of unknown origins came to White Corpse City, and immediately headed towards the Returning Galaxy Auction House. A girl I know there told me that both Elder Raincloud and Lord Blood Mist greeted him upon arrival. They spent an extended period of time talking before leaving".
"And?".
The mortal born Fae Master drew in even closer, his voice even more hushed than before.
"I don't know the exact details, but a line of credit had been established and a request for an unusual item came through as well. Not to mention, a day after this had happened, information about two items the Returning Galaxy Auction House are auctioning next month "leaked". One is an Alchemy Attributed Flame Essence, and the other a strange black book".
"Is the unknown individual who put up these items for Auction the one with the Sovereign Boundary Physique?".
The almost seventy year old man nodded slowly.
"I don't know which one, but Elder Raincloud is handling his matters personally. A huge influx of Fae materials came in with them, so if I were you, I'd take a look at just what type of Sovereign Boundary Physique it is you're dealing with, and potentially....".
A strange glint appeared in the old man's eyes.
This "Old Seven" knew exactly what it was he was talking about.
The Fae Master rubbed his black beard, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"Three Sovereign Boundary Physiques within the Azure Envy Continent.... Overflowing Ocean Depths belongs to the Azure Ocean Sect.... while the Formless Night Shadow belongs to the Nightime Demon Sect...."
"The former is ranked 9th in terms of combat strength, while the latter is ranked 14th.... The chances of it being higher ranked than those are quite low but on the off chance that it might be "that", then I have to try and rope him into the White Dominion Sect!".
The "that" that this middle-aged man was referring to, was the 21st strongest Sovereign Boundary Physique. The only Sovereign Boundary Physique with the Corpse Attribute!
A Sovereign Boundary Physique with a dual Life-Corpse Attributes!
Cadaverous Manuysa Flower.
Out of every single Sovereign Boundary Physique that has ever been created, only the Cadaverous Manuysa Flower's origins are unknown. Without exception, within every variant
Only a single name was mentioned.
Corpse King.
His desire to give life to a Corpse is what pushed him to create the Cadaverous Manuysa Flower. A Corpse, with the Life Attribute. Despite being a failure, just like all the other Sovereign Boundary Physiques before it, the Corpse King never presented Cadaverous Manuysa Flower to the First Man.
Only mentioning her once, before never being mentioned again.
The only thing known about Cadaverous Manuysa Flower, is that her Secondary Origin Fae, the Dead Life Flower, supposedly could reanimate any dead existence. Controlling a corpse through Fae was easy, but reanimating one was immensely difficult.
A reanimation would have a combat power comparable to 90% of its original strength, and could think and act independently of a Fae Master. Without using an Attribute Control Skill afterwards, they would be free to roam the Heavens and the Earth as they did once more, only this time, they possessed no methods to improve their cultivation, or surpass their previous self.
They enjoyed a seemingly endless lifespan, although they could not give birth, or have relations with others. They could not feel the touch of others, nor could they have Desires.
That was the price or reanimation. As someone who had their desire to live completely removed, they only had Thoughts and Emotions driving their actions.
In terms of strength, the Cadaverous Manuysa Flower was ranked a single notch higher than the Boundless Forest Yearning. One could reanimate the dead, while the other could inspire affection in the heavens and the earth.
If someone like Milena was given such a Sovereign Boundary Physique, she would undoubtably become a peak Rank 5 Fae Master in the future. Her desire to reach the limits of the path of Corpses, was a budding seed, but on comparable to the past Arthur.
Only he.... desired something far greater than the apex of a single path.
He desired immortality! He desired eternity!
Cultivation was the act of going against the Heavens, and yet from the get go, he had been limited to but a single path! He had transcended time, and reincarnated back into in his younger body!
He was an individual who knew what the future held! He was a former Fae Immortal, and now someone with a Sovereign Boundary Physique!
Choosing a single path to walk down was limiting to someone who knew what tomorrow held! The existence of the World Of Madness was surprise to even a former Fae Immortal, but he had pushed himself even further beyond his previous self, obtaining a Foreign Treasure, on top of the Boundless Forest Yearning!
Sitting in his room, within the Fragrant Wine Inn, Arthur let out a deep breath of air, opening his eyes, feeling the talisman in his pocket grow warm.
Elder Raincloud had delivered this to Arthur the day after he had discussed their business deal. He had just been informed that the leakage of both his items were completed as well as a few individuals from the White Dominion Sect, who had requested to meet with him.
Arthur smiling, nodding slightly.
"Good. Even though fighting is always the easier option, the gains I seek a much greater if I take things step by step.....".
Arthur only had a limited amount of time within White Corpse City before he would head to the Viridian Greed Continent, and planned on sowing seeds in this Region before he ventured off into the wider world.
'It would just be like back then.... only this time.... I'm not as weak as I once was'.