"I know Love, it doesn't help to dwell on it right now anyway. It seems some more hopefuls are coming forward…" I said, my eyes nearly jumping when one of them was clearly not like the others. I teleported him and him alone directly to where Luo Ting He had just been. "Speak, who was it that chained you to such a low rank? I can tolerate a single rank being a mistake. But you, you're not going to go through with this are you? You could have broken through to the 7th rank and yet you're only able to reach the 4th. Explain!" I demanded. "Forget pleasantries, tell me who it was that poisoned humanity's future to such a degree." I continued demanding.
"Ah, it… It happened 200 years ago, I married into the Cave Heaven from a 2nd class force. It turned out I had been an unwanted child of my now late father. But my uncle took me in by arranging a marriage." The young man answered. Young, but still older than I.
"So it was someone who held prejudice against you due to the circumstances of your birth? And until I came along the 7th rank was banned from your force. Top that with limited resources and 4th rank is all you could manage…" I said, getting confirmation. And then my cup shattered, more like imploded and returned to a fully energized state. "I see, stand up straight and brace yourself. I'm going to clear your Dao Seal. I can't let a guaranteed high rank die off just because of something stupid like resources." I ordered. "Is your wife also here?"
"Uh, yes she actually is. She just took that storm cushion over there. It doesn't seem like she's started yet… Oh, now she's here." The young man said with a bit of a surprise.
"Please, for me, teleportation is practically easier than breathing at this point. No need for surprise." I chuckled, waving it off. "Now then, I'm told you are this young man's wife?" I asked.
"Greetings, Temporal Thunder Divine Monarch. Yes, this man is my husband." She answered with a respectful bow and all manner of courtesy. "If he has offended you, I'd be honored if you let me take it out on him later at night." She smirked.
"Ah, I see. No, offense has been done… At least on his part. I had you come here well, first is he your only husband? Was he later attached to bring him to the Cave Heaven?" I asked.
"No, I did not have a husband prior nor do I plan on taking one after. Even though he is destined to perish long before I do." The young woman said.
"I'm going to offer you something. Would you like to live out some time together free of worries? I am stripping his Dao Seal of the elements he had refined. And I will personally fund his new rank." I said, sipping a new tea that Qing Ning made for me. "Of course life will be inside my small universe. Out here only about 5 breaths will have passed by the time he is ready to come back out. But he might be lonely in those moments. Breaking through to the 7th rank directly is no easy feat. Will you support him? You can take some time and teach students whenever you want too." I finished explaining.
"Huh?" The young woman gasped. "Can he really reach the 7th rank?" She asked with a tear, proving she really had grown to love him.
"It still depends upon himself. However, after clearing his elements… Well my method isn't like the other way. What I will do is destroy the element and repurpose it into your foundation." I explained in simple terms. "I can promise you three things; first it will hurt like nothing you've ever experienced before but that pain will aid you on the battlefield, second regardless you will survive this event, third you will be able to break through to higher ranks." I continued. "And finally there is an element I won't know until after. But if my lightning stimulates that foundation of yours as much as I think it will, you may very well break through to the 7th rank directly. If not, 6th is already in your sights as is." I finished, now only awaiting an answer.
"Do it. I can bear the pain." The Young Man said, and braced himself. A bolt of lightning shot through his body and the cry of agony was nothing short of intense. I did put a sound dampener so it would not disturb others.
I opened a gate to one of my small universes, and the married couple inside. After taking a few sips of tea, swirl it around gently. I looked at Qing Ning and smiled. "It's delicious." I said.
"Awe, it's nothing compared to my sisters. Or that ultra special tea you make." Qing Ning retorted back with an embarrassed pout.
"Ehehehe, don't compare yourself to them. The time for that is over. You've already long since broken past that bar…" I said trying to console her, but teasing at the same time since she was doing it to me. "And it looks like they are ready to come back out. I sure am glad I have extra resources on hand." I chuckled and made a gate.
The couple walked out of the gate, they decided it best to remain a couple and not expand that number for the time being. A wise decision on their part.
"Temporal Thunder Divine Monarch… I thank you for everything. I regret I was unable to pull off the 7th rank directly and wasted a 7th rank resource. But I am able to do the 6th rank." The young man said, kneeling down.
"That's fine, a small price to pay. And because you did it inside my small universe none of the energy went to waste. So you're fine, just go and break through already." I chuckled, and with a wave the two had found themselves on clouds far away from me.
"I swear, whatever it takes, I'll make good on this gift." The young man said with a determined mind as he sat down and began his process. One that seemed to shock some onlookers.
"Well, it looks like I'm going to have more visitors than just these ones, aren't I?" I sighed and then glanced down at the giant spirit god…