In the plains only miles from the new governments western border, Tang Sheng and Mia were almost finished with their week-long journey to central China.
Throughout the journey, they had encountered animals twice the size of their pre-awakened counterparts, bears and wolves so dangerous they left these lands impossible to trek without heavy weaponry, and orc and goblin camps that Mia dispatched with relative ease.
They were both crouched behind a bush, viewing the spectacle directly in front of them.
A giant Orc so large he could be confused with a small mountain, standing at around twenty feet in height and at an unimaginable weight, a giant from mythology may be a better word for this Orc. The only reason the duo had not named this beast a giant was its nametag through the system. 'Orc Tribe Leader' it stated.
Although Tang Sheng did not feel threatened by this existence, he was starting to seriously worry. If monsters like this were just the scout party, to weaken the masses before the main force invades like he predicted, then China, no, the earth was doomed.
He sensed that this monster was at a power level close to Martial Grandmaster realm, a realm few humans can ever reach, and yet a similar power was shown here in the first wave.
The only consolation was the system and its levelling, as he had watched his disciple Mia grow in strength dramatically over the past few months.
She had reached level 10, unlocked a new skill [Ice of the Ancients], and trained to a level around the Martial Master realm. If other humans can quickly reach a higher realm and gain the ability to fight back, he wouldn't worry so much.
The other worry he had was not knowing the strength of the invasions' leaders. They were likely in the same realm, or even above his own.
He had to strengthen himself through this system before meeting these invading armies, or China did not stand a chance. The new government, the imperial faction or the martial alliance all could not hold out against a Martial Saint. They in fact, had absolutely no chance.
Mia looked on in fighting spirit at this giant Orc tribe leader, not because she wanted to fight it to the death, but because she believed this would net her many levels and increase her strength. She looked at Tang Sheng with pitiful eyes, begging to let her try this fight.
Tang sheng shook his head with a sigh. "I'm afraid you have no chance here; this monster is a realm or two above you. Let me try [Soul control], If I can truly control its soul as it sounds, wouldn't that give us an edge over the invaders?"
"Heh, using their own army against them, good thinking master" She replied.
As the master and disciple walked forward, out of the bush and into the line of sight, the Orc tribe leader sent its underlings to attack.
'This one has higher intelligence, sending out subordinates to test the strength of unknown hostiles while he observes' Tang Sheng thought.
Waving his hand, he used strong air currents to push the fifteen or so Orcs to Mia. This was above the number of Orcs she was used to, but he knew she could handle it. With her skill [Ice of the Ancients], Orcs would be frozen in the area surrounding her, only breaking free if the monster had enough time or strength. Unfortunately for the Orcs, this was a clean sweep for Mia. Tang Sheng had mentioned once that this skill was almost unfair, and did not improve her training in the martial way by relying on a powerful skill, so unless there was a large number of enemies, she would not use it.
After cleaning up those Orcs within half a minute, Tang Sheng walked towards the Orc Tribe Leader, whom at this point was sweating.
He did not have the ability to speak human language like some others of his tribe and other tribes, but he could understand the man was ordering around the girl, and the girl was already this strong.
Immediately, he attempted to run away from Tang Sheng. He crossed ten feet every step and was very fast, but not faster than a Martial Saint.
Tang Sheng jumped towards the Orc leaders head from behind, throwing his head to the grown with his palm. He then activated his skill
[Soul Control].
The Orc Tribe Leader howled in a frenzy; this was the most painful experience of his life. He had been stabbed, cleaved with weapons of war and many injuries over the years, but they didn't compare to even a fraction of this immense pain to his soul.
Eventually, the tribe leader calmed down and began to close his eyes for a few seconds. Tang Sheng got down off his back and took the palm of his head, bending down to his eye level.
At this point, the orc tribe leader opened his eyes. Instead of his regular black eyes, they had turned a ghastly deep blood red, just like Tang Shengs.
The orc leader got up and kneeled, still much taller than Tang Sheng, he spoke for the first time, "Greetings, Master".
----
One day had passed since the Imperial Qing dynasty had enacted quarantine within cities located through the West of its borders. Reports have shown a dramatic increase of plague cases within the quarantined locations, with plague carriers even reaching the border guards and infecting them.
The quarantine was not working as intended. The Plague was not stopped even for a day, and Emperor Qing Genji had no idea what to do.
The plague doctors had been increasing in size as more and more unique classes related to pestilence had been found, yet no substantial cure was found.
Qing Genji thought to himself, whilst in his chambers alone. 'There is only one thing that can be done. We can only ask advice from the ancestor'. He was now stood outside large boarded up entrance of stone, deep within the central palace. This was his ancestor, the founder of the Qing dynasty. No one knew how she was still alive, nor dared to question it, they also wondered why she stood idle and did not assist her own dynasty when it was disbanded. All they knew, is that the ancestor was a being of unimaginable ability, one that could destroy a city with a wave of her hand, and now, the emperor had to ask for advice.
Wiping the sweat formed from his forehead, he kneeled before the entrance, before addressing the secluded ancestor.
"Descendant Qing Genji greets the ancestor!" He yelled.
Seconds of silence went by, with no answer. Just as he was about to yell again, the stone holding the door shut began to collapse, and a figure of a woman so remarkable she could be called an immortal was shown. Just her hourglass outline could mesmerise a man with ease. She spoke in a soft voice.
"Is there an emergency, child?"