A few kilometers away from the previous battle scene, three figures sat underneath the shade of a towering tree. Faint purple mist encompassing them like a curtain due to the ebb and flow of the winds.
Noire returned to wearing his mask, Yue also wore her veil, and Ning'er recently changed into a clean attire that emphasized her maiden features. An indigo palace dress with deep cleavage, the dress clung to her right leg whilst a splitting cut traced down her left to showcase her clean skin.
Ning'er and Yue were like night and day in their clothing which caused Noire a slight headache, he couldn't understand Dragon females much less human ones. The extension of his expertise with the opposite gender revolved around practice and nothing else, as he grew up in a high-class environment and surrounded by maidens of wide reputations, he never made advancements on females as he didn't want to abide by political marriage afterward.
'Sigh, I don't want to call her cheap... On the other hand, since there are no restrictions on whom I can contact, I might as well enjoy the opposite gender later in the future,' Noire made up his mind to focus on gaining a foundation in the current realm before his personal enjoyment.
"Junior sister Yu, you said you had information jade slips about the power distribution, right? Can I have a look?"
"No need to be polite Senior brother Siyu, you can call me Ning'er," she replied with a smile before taking a pile of jade-slips from her space ring, each jade slip had a different set of information regarding the power balance, cultivation, renowned forces, and whatnot.
Noire picked up the slip that contained information regarding the cultivation system and levels in this realm, he didn't want to accidentally surpass the range of 'normal cultivation genius,' and bring unwanted attention. Although he desired some superficial backing, he didn't want his activities under suppression.
[ Opening a Dantian in the body before linking it towards the meridians is the first step towards cultivation... After a Dantian is established, the cultivator uses his or her own meridians as a medium to absorb world energy, otherwise known as Qi, and accumulate it inside their Dantian for personal use.]
[Advancing in cultivation requires the criteria of a certain degree of accumulation, whenever the Dantian is filled to the brim with Qi, that is called a bottleneck in cultivation as the progress is momentarily tackled. Breaking the limits of one's Dantian to expand its size is considered a breakthrough in cultivation, a failed breakthrough is tantamount to accidental suicide in severe cases.]
[There are three major realms each consisting of nine minor realms, then a fourth major realm consisting of five minor realms.]
[The major realms are; Ether, Twilight, Eclipse, and Celestial. Peak Ether state cultivators are abundant in middle-class forces as core disciples, but they're merely outer or inner court disciples in high-class sects.]
[The distribution of disciples in every sect is the same following the Orthodox ways; Ordinary, Outer Court, Inner Court, Core Disciples, and Elders. The criteria of joining a high-class sect are either passing the examination exam or having enough aptitude for reaching the Twilight stage with 30 years of cultivation.]
"..."
Whilst Noire was immersed in the information, Ning'er was engaged with Yue in a convo that seemed more like an interrogation.
"Where have you met senior brother?"
"What is your relationship?"
"How old is he? He looks 18 or 19..."
"Have you ever killed anyone?"
"How did he kill those people when he's only 3rd level Ether state?"
"..."
Yue was bombarded with questions, how can she explain that she basically came from a literal human farm? How can she explain that Noire isn't even human? Can she even reveal such a secret?!
Yue could only smile bitterly at Ning'er who seemed to have a crush from a first sight vibe around her... Is that the attitude of a lady from a prestigious family?...
"How can you be so enthusiastic when your mother just died?" Yue asked unintentionally as she remembered her family... She then noticed a sudden drop in temperature as Ning'er had an ugly expression.
"Humph, because I killed her with my own hands!" Ning'er spoke proudly with a sinister smile as she played around with a silver dagger.
"Because I have a mediocre aptitude and worked twice as hard as my siblings, the family decided that I'm a waste of resources, my mother decided to trap me in the Viper Mist Sect because she couldn't handle the scoldings of father Juan."
Ning'er gritted her teeth sharply as she spoke, "I'll show them, I'll soar the rankings of the Four Seasons with my blood and sweat and make them regret casting me like a dog!"
- - - -
Yue was caught off guard by Ning'er and her past, she momentarily felt bad and sympathetic... She eventually discarded her veil and began sharing her life experience, discarding the identity of Noire's real background and replacing it with a fake story of a successful escape from prison tale...
Meanwhile, Noire had finished studying the available cultivation techniques in this realm and compared them with the few he already knew of. Because he was interested in human practice, he came prepared with his own techniques. If a Dragon started human practice in the 6th dimension he would surely be hunted down, but here where no one knows of him... hehe...
If he wanted to gain a foothold for cultivation in the 6th dimension, he needs to reach the pinnacle of the lower planes with a solid foundation first. Much to his surprise, even the worst technique of his is twice as effective as the best technique in this realm...
[Power distribution; The entire Realm is called Chaotic Dynasty. Divided into six continents each with four regions.]
'Quite a large realm considering the limitations of cultivation...' Noire thought.
[The current continent is called Foreshadowed Demise Continent, the only continent that has an entire region ruled by beasts and not humans. Surprisingly, the ruling family of this region is the Phoenix Household.]
[The remaining three regions don't have a clear domineering force at the pinnacle, but there are nine families to monopolize resources and combat powers.]
[Yu Household, Rai Household, Chi Household, Luhei Household, Bai Household, Qiu Household, Xue Household, Rui Household, and Kai Household.]
- - - -
"Four Seasons huh... It's going to be more cramped than I anticipated..."
Noire mumbled in a low voice before he noticed how friendly Ning'er and Yue became in mere minutes. They probably shared sensitive information and started to relate... Noire thought to himself. Obviously, he already concluded how Lady Yu died, though he's oblivious to the details.
"Oh! You're done!" Ning'er spoke in delight before she clung to his right arm with a gentle smile.
"..." Noire was speechless and cast a questioning gaze at Yue, but Ning'er spoke before Yue could utter a word.
"Yue told me about your village! I'm sorry you had to go through such sorrow! It's fine, now you also have me!" Ning'er spoke in a tone full of determination to protect her senior brother with body and soul.
Noire couldn't help but glare at Yue demanding an explanation, but the latter only turned her head in embarrassment, speaking in a mosquito-like tone...
"Haaa... Sorry-..."