Īone had kept me company till I had put my own clothes back on.
She was much nicer than she'd been to me during classes, polar opposites actually.
Did she actually know that I was in fact that same person from her class and was just playing it off?
Is she treating me like this because I'm actually female?
My inner game of 21 questions came to a halt when I noticed how tightly my clothes fit my chest.
"Damnit!" I cursed silently but not even recognizing my own voice due to it's extreme femininity.
- the fuck is going on?-
"So when did you become the sect master's disciple?" Īone asked still eyeing me in a way that would make anyone feel like prey.
"Last I heard, he only had one disciple and that disciple's name is Era."
Was this a test?
Is she trying to get me to admit the fact that I actually disguise myself as a guy?
But to what end?
What's her end goal?
"I'm not." I responded dryly. Trying my best to keep the conversation to a minimum. "Grandpa, is honored master, mom said so."
Even though this wasn't exactly true, but it wasn't a lie either.
She giggled.
"You talk funny." She replied.
I caught my myself blushing and turned away to avoid her noticing.
-No! Stop that? The fuck? Why is happening to me? I'm straight! Her laugh isn't sexy! Stop thinking like that!-
And then Of course I'm talking weird. If she finds out who I actually am wouldn't that be disastrous?
Huh?
My mind reeled at the realization that I had been acting weird. This whole thing was off, even my own thoughts.
I mean… why?
Why… would I even be worried?…
Wasn't this what I wanted? To be able to be my true self around others? Making friends and letting people know the true me?
I exhaled a sigh, I had been holding my breath unconsciously again.
After all, I already knew the answer.
Yeah… Right…
-Gramps, wouldn't like that.-
"Thanks, I'll find my own way now." I stated, trying to pull myself from the awkward situation.
"Trying to run?" Īone calls , a hand on my shoulder to prevent me from leaving.
"Don't you care about your secret?" She laughed. "Or does mommy also think it's a bad idea for you to be friends with me?"
This!
I turned to her. "If you already knew, why bother playing?" My anger was showing.
Did this girl really think that I'm easy to bully?
But this form….
Exhaling I gave in, since this was a no win situation "what do you want?"
She had the biggest smile on, "Good! A wise man submits to circumstance~"
This girl…
"Are you a man tho?" She giggled whilst she said this.
____________________{(<________________
I sat by the small area that served as a cooking and dining area in my small home.
With Īone sitting on a chair similar to mine across from me, legs crossed, arms folded and that 'amused-that-I-have-a-new-toy' look.
It was all that I could do to keep my composure. For one, she still had not told me what she wants.
My whole body had become heavy, not that my weight had changed much but rather, I had lost a significant portion of my upper body strength. The areas I had strengthened before, now more than 50% weaker.
This baffled me because I hadn't even broken through to the second rank successfully, I didn't become stronger so why the hell did I get weaker?
However even with the looming questions, this situation was one I never thought I'd find myself in.
I never thought I'd have anyone apart from old lady Obu the rune master of myriad flower peak and Gramps, sect master of profound star holy-land at my home.
As far as visitors my own age goes she was the first and I have no idea what to do.
So naturally I have mixed feelings about the whole thing.
See, I had spent many days overlooking the sect from the roof of my small home . But the path which led to my abode was one that rarely anyone ever dared tread. Unless it was through ignorance since not even the annoying ones dare to come here.
My house is situated on top of a hill overlooking the densely populated area of the profound star holy-land and myriad flower peak . The main sect buildings being directly a part of the flourishing city below.
My house just out of reach of ordinary folk and out of the way of strength dragons who cultivate the strength Dao.
But this.... Why did she insist on following me home?
"Trying to threaten me with the secret Gramps himself hid for so many years, I don't know whether to congratulate your bravery or reprimand your stupidity." I started after handing her the pink, gold rimmed cup with water. The cup came as a pair and was one of the last things I had that remained of my mother. As the sect master had destroyed most of the other things.
"This is… water?" She asked after tasting it her gaze turning into one of pity. "Don't you get cultivation resources from the profound star's sect master?"
"That's, none of your concern." I replied. Quickly cutting her off before. "What do you want?"
"Will you listen to me first?" She asked.
"Do I have any choice but to listen?" I replied Curtly.
My words seemed to have stung.
Without another word and knitted brows she stood and made for the exit.
Wasn't she here to take advantage of me?
"You're not gonna tell anyone are you?" I tossed the question at her.
She paused as if thinking of what to say before simply continuing to and out the door.
Slamming the old door shut behind her.
-Eh?-
I hurried to the door and opened it expecting her to be there when I did.
She wasn't.
She had already left.
-Did she get mad?-
I breathed a sigh of relief.
Her presence would've been nothing but trouble.
But even with this development I still couldn't help but be slightly troubled that she'd left the way she did.
Breathing an internal sigh, I headed back in and climbed the cramped stairs that led to my room.
Then navigating past my bed and other furnishings to the corner of the room, and to a hidden door in the corner that opened to reveal stairs that lead to the roof.
The moment I stepped out into the small garden the roof offered, the refreshing wind brought me calm and in a gradual manner soothing my worries, allowing me the one thing I needed most.
A calmed mind.
I sat on the straw mat beside the flowerbed in full lotus position. My intention was to meditate. Checking the state of my body and previous cultivation.
I relaxed my breathing, closing my eyes, pushing out all negative thoughts and calming myself internally.
My cultivation seems to have lowered slightly but in fact it is only due to my true blood essence being in a chaotic state that required me to simplify and regulate.
Consolidation.
This is good news.
Through closer inspection my cultivation appears to have progressed along with my mastery of the old elemental laws. But the benefits this time are just so much better than my previous realm of cultivation.
This was much raw power was simply amazing.
I could feel my physique change as I activated the blood mark.
Slowly i open my eyes looking at my open palms and them my arms and thighs everything had reverted. Even my breasts size had been reduced to what it was before. Leaving only my long white hair as evidence of my previous change.
Did the concealing rune not break?
I close my eyes and looked inward.
Instead of mere blood paths of my true blood essence I could see an entire inner realm.
A small dark red core pulses slowly in the empty space with ten glowing rings around it. Each with a different color with the closest one being a brilliant yellow.
Around the dark red core all the rings rotate violently in directions opposite each other to create a perfect balance. Balance that only seem to work so long as i focus on maintaining the rotation.
This is amazing!
The blood mark had been activated, but manifested differently from how the manuscript my mother and father had left behind stated.
My whole body changed with the activation, did the rune get integrated into my cultivation?
And was it Even possible for a strength dragon to possess an inner core?
According to my parent's cultivating manuscript. The blood mark was supposed to manifest itself as a color change and burning sensation in the eyes. However no such thing happened to me! Not only that, my physical strength was several times higher than before!
And with this i could no doubt easily crush a peak second order strength dragon without resorting to or using the forces of the laws or any tricks.
A laugh of pure glee escaped me.
After all how could I not?
With this I could easily change my appearance and strength!
I could be who I wanted and not be a bother to gramps!
The best part was that appearance wise, my cultivation was still only at the peak first realm.
This would undoubtedly give any who dare to mess with me a pleasant surprise.
Suddenly powerful waves of hou rolled over the area!
Weighing and pressing against everything it covered causing large structures to creak noisily.
This wasn't the first time. The waves of hou were a sign after all and soon enough the peak disciples of the profound holy star and Myriad flower peak will compete for the right to enter the pit to claim the subdued monarch's inheritance.
The waves started roughly two years ago and come as frequently as every other week. Skipping some weeks entirely only to return the following week with twice the pressure.
Luckily, strength dragons mostly have innately strong bodies which render them impervious to most weaker forms of body tempering.
And for the few who don't, as long as they are inside the city's walls the warding rune array would undoubtedly protect them. Leaving them with only a mild headache at worst. But as my house rests on the far peak which is barely under the warding rune array's protection, the waves of hou are especially stronger here.
I have used them to cultivate the old laws many times over. The first few times left me a bloody mess.
This was a calculated method and was well worth the risk.
I naturally feel the pressure from the waves but as the the old elemental laws now protects me from them, neutralizing the strong waves.
I can only smile.
With my parent's guidance through the old manuscript, I just know I can be strong enough to eventually venture out on my own.
.....@)))......
Standing I slowly open my eyes, the sun was about to set and the waves of hou had long since faded. The cool wind of the crisp afternoon whips my long hair with a powerful and refreshing frenzy.
With my hands above my head I slowly exhaled while lowering them allowing the remnants of the marrow cleansing pool to be released from my body as a red mist through my breathing.
My body reverting to extreme femenity as I did.
Despite everything, this form is actually more comfortable. Even though it's not the best for combat.
One thing concerned me though. My body seemed to be adapting somehow to the change.
This wasn't something I concerned myself with seeing as how I still had plenty of room left to grow.
***********
If only I knew what was to come.
How The terrorist group 'Rain' and their new leader would begin a war with the regions.
I'd have prepared more instead of being content with the little strength I had managed to gain.