There was a certain old monster lurking.
It was unknown how long he had been there.
He had the prowess to contend against the major players of the battle, but he did not enter.
It wasn't wrong to say he had nefarious intentions, but his priority was to remain hidden and observe.
The fact that he was not noticed by a Deity was proof of his capabilities.
Having experienced the strange phenomenons and seeing monsters like him alike made it difficult for someone in his position to act.
Thus, one thing was for certain, he was afraid of somehow being implicated in the situation.
A Deity, a taboo existence, and a mysterious Emperor? Such things shouldn't have occurred in a low plane like this. At the very least, out in the open.
This old monster wasn't stupid, and he was privy to many things that he should not know.
When the battle had finished, he could only sigh. He would have never had thought out of all the hidden existences in this plane that man would be killed.
The forces behind the Exalted one would probably not have much care behind his death. And a replacement would soon likely follow. However, one of the biggest problems was that the Exalted one had actually had a life and death battle with an existence known as a Deity.
This meant that the strife of powers much far beyond had descended to this world.
He had lived over a 1000 years and most of it could be said to be peaceful despite the hardship. He could only curse that his luck had run out, forcing him to be involved in an tumultuous era. His position would not let him escape.
Hence, his decision to break through to the next horrific realm had become stronger. He had an ominous feeling that he wouldn't be able to handle what is to come.
But attempting to break through that realm was the equivalent of courting death…
The old monster remained stationary high above in the clouds. If something somehow happened to be nearby, they wouldn't be able to see him as they would only be able to see some clouds drifting amidst the sunny sky.
In fact, even if they were right up close to the clouds they wouldn't be able to see anything.
This old monster had spent hundreds of years learning a heaven-defying technique that allows him to become invisible as well as have his aura hidden. The time expended was worth it. Even against existences that are more powerful than him, he had yet to be detected. Moreover, he hadn't even fully comprehended it!
Nobody knows this and it was a secret etched into his heart..
Suddenly, the old monster held his breath, his eyes widened, and his mind became disturbed.
As he was looking down watching the pair, he saw the Emperor tilt his head up, directly gazing up to where he was hidden.
'Fuck!!'
After a second, he turned his eyes away from the man's eyes. He finally understood why they referred to him as a 'Son of Heaven', or revered him as an Emperor. Just by looking into his eyes, he felt as though he was insignificant.
The old monster trembled. Horrible memories flooded, reminiscing those powerful crimson eyes that sent him shaking uncontrollably he had once seen. Biting his tongue and using a meditative technique, he did his utmost best to clear his thoughts and continued to observe.
Unexpectedly, he didn't feel much pressure at all in this encounter. He didn't understand why. Every time he had looked at him throughout the battle, the fluctuations of pressure emitted always changed and were radical.
Sometimes, it was puny as a bug, and other times as boundless as those dreadful existences.
He even had a suspicion that it was all in his mind and it was just his anxiousness kicking in.
Perhaps the events he had seen today had driven him crazy.
'Could it have been just a coincidence?'
After all, with his cultivation base, he could at least sense if the Emperor was actually eyeing him.
Thinking along those lines, the old monster calmed down.
'It appears I have become too much of a hermit, panicking for nothing. Even a Deity and that bastard wasn't able to detect me. My technique is truly unriva—'
The old monster had his words cut.
He felt his heart stop, trembling. From the corners of his eyes, he caught a glimpse of a twisted smile playing around the lips, parted flashing brief upper white teeth, head still unmoved in his direction.
There was no doubt.
The Emperor had noticed him.
The old monster hastily brought his arms close, cupped, and then bowed deeply, reaching his toes. He did not say a word, nor did he cancel his invisibility. He prayed that the Emperor would be magnanimous to pardon his excessive rudeness which he continued to selfishly push.
The old monster no matter what did not wish to be exposed here. This scene here would soon be investigated by several existences. He was absolutely sure of it.
After a period of time, he raised his head thinking that it was sufficient.
The Emperor and Deity were nowhere to be seen.
He was pardoned.
The old monster put a palm on his forehead and swiped off the beads of sweat.
He turned away and headed towards where the Exalted one was.
But he stopped mid-air, seemingly struggling with a decision.
In the end, he went forward.
That was an action he would regret.
And would never be able to take back.
This old monster was about to later run into a true old monster.
***
"So 3 out of the 7 talismans were able to hit him?"
Kuan Yin nodded her head. "Yes. The rest were dodged by him and ruined in the impact. But to think that the talismans were this potent…"
Li Cheng braced himself for what was to come.
However, what came was an unexpected frown, light brows shadowing her eyes as her frown grew deeper. If it wasn't for the fact that her attention was not him, Li Cheng would've been sweating bullets.
"I am sorry."
"What's wrong?" Li Cheng was perplexed.
"7 of the demonic cultivators managed to escape. 4 in the Sky-Seeking Realm and 3 in the Nascent Soul." She flopped her head downwards. "I should have secured them more firmly, but my worry was that my roots might inflict excessive pain upon them."
"...Did they use some kind of secret life-saving escape technique?"
"Mmm" she hummed in a muttered manner. The black flowing hair remained hanging. Li Cheng was unable to see her expression, but it didn't take a genius to know that she was quite upset about it.
To be honest, Li Cheng didn't really care as long as the boss was dead. "Don't worry. We all make mistakes. Even Deities are included in that. Next time, just hold them down harder."
She raised her head back up a little. "You're right." She smiled, but it was wry.
Li Cheng was not sure what to say so he turned back to the front. 'I guess the pride of a Deity took a big hit,' he thought.
Soon, the two arrived back to their original spot where they met. Neither Li Cheng's somewhat casual, polite demeanour, nor Kuan Yin's sour mood was present. Instead, they appeared like two otherworldly powerful existences, ready to cast judgement upon the sinned mortals.
"Son of Heaven, Daughter of Heaven, it is good that you both safely made it back. After you 2 had defeated the great evil, we surrounded those demonic fiends and stood guard in await for your arrivals. Unfortunately we…"
The old man's words were stopped short in response to the whisk of the willow branch. "No Mortals, this wasn't your fault. It is this Deity's negligence that allowed those fallen souls to escape. Do not blame yourselves. Also, please do not refer me as the Daughter of Heaven. I am not her. You can refer to me as Deity."
"See old man! I told you your ears have gone deaf over the years. His Imperial Majesty said she was a friend. How can a friend be his sister? Sorry great ones, I will make sure this old man learns his lesson." A Nascent Soul cultivator ran up from the crowd of kneeling believers and pressed the head of the kowtowing old man up and down.
Li Cheng's expression stiffened, and he furtively glanced over to Kuan Yin. Her resigned expression indicated that she was very used to this ordeal.
Feeling pity for the old man, who was only in the Foundation Establishment, Li Cheng spoke up. "No need. You both are dismissed."
"Did you hear that?! His Imperial Majesty was magnanimous to let you off! Bow your head down more to pay your respects and show your gratitude."
"Thank you, your Imperial Majesty! Thank you, your Imperial Majesty! Thank you, your Imperial Majesty! Thank you, your Imperial Majesty! …"
The old man's head grinded the floor, his head in tandem with the gripped claw on his withered, white-haired head. Li Cheng immediately knew where this one was going.
Before Li Cheng could speak up, Kuan Yin spoke. "Your respects have been heartfelt. There is no need for more."
"Understood Deity!" The Nascent Soul cultivator dragged the old man away.
Kuan Yin looked at Li Cheng. Seeing him nod, Kuan Yin walked up to the demonic cultivators.
When they saw her approach, some of the brave demonic cultivators cursed her and struggled. The ones closest tried to extend their limbs out, uncaring of the terrifying glowing amber aura that shrouded her.
They were too mad to think straight. Even though they knew in their minds that their actions wouldn't be able to do anything and only stir the roots that bind them to chain harder.
Kuan Yin, who was in mid-air sitting on her lotus, halted. She took out a Buddhist scripture and began her lecture. The demonic cultivators all cried out in resistance and bashed their bodies, but it was futile.
Some even tried to commit suicide, but something in the scripture lead them to a different way. After about 15 minutes, there was silence. Not a single cry or movement from the demonic cultivators.
Taking away her Buddhist scripture, she performed a Buddhist hand gesture. Her palm opened out; the fingers slighted crawled in and her thumb out.
Abhaya Mudra!—Do not Fear.
Then, her other palm moved. The pinky and index fingers pointed out like horns and the rest caved in including the thumb.
Karana Mudra!—Demons be Expelled.
Following an ancient-like vibration noise, the demonic cultivators felt their demonic natures purged. Their bodies glowed in twinkling golden light that moved like a wisp of a soft candle flame.
And like dying flames about to be lost in the winds, they were extinguished. Their last expressions in the world were relaxed, in smiles, and were at peace.
"Amitabha. May your souls find goodness in the next life."
She didn't need to kill them as their demonic natures had been purged. But because they were cultivators, the malefic Qi in their bodies were still present.
If she expelled the malefic Qi, it could cause problems and most of their cultivation base would be lost.
For a cultivator, that was akin to something worse than death.
Thus, she let them pass away.
Normally, she would have asked them each personally. But her time was running out, and there were other problems too. She didn't wish to impede Li Cheng with her selfish wishes.
"Let's leave here." Li Cheng's voice rang in her mind.
"Yes."
The birds twittered and sang their last chorus. Vines and roots shrunk and wormed into the ground. The lush greens lost their vivid green saturation and returned to their former colour. Animals cried out one last time before fading like illusions. Everything returned to how it once was.
But everyone could tell that there was something different about the land. Although the exoticness was gone, the land appeared to glisten, and the soil was much richer and fertile than before. It was not before long that this spot would become a tourist spot.
Not merely because of the incident, but also they would later find that the Qi in this area was no inferior to those up in the proud peak of Deepthorn Mountain.
"Please wait, your Imperial Majesty."
The same Nascent Soul, who had bullied? disciplined? the old man, called outwards to their departing backs.
The Deity said nothing.
The Emperor did not turn to face the man, but his straight wide back remained stationary, waiting.
The Nascent Soul grit his teeth and mustered up all his courage. With a deep breath he asked,
"...Are you really the Son of Heaven?"
*Silence*
The Emperor continued on with his companion.
Their figures soon disappeared from their views and into the woods.
The Nascent Soul shook his head and let loose a sigh. 'Such insolence by I,' he thought.
But then, a drifting wind breezed in their direction, carrying the words for the question they thought would remain unanswered.
"I am, but a mere disciple."