"After that I was in a trance and wandered for a few hours, that was when I ran into the bandit group."
Anissa took another sip of tea, she knew that merely hating wouldn't accomplish anything, her father had always told her to keep a level head so that's what she would continue doing until she had her chance.
But even still, she felt like at any moment she could lose composure and go berserk.
Feng Zhiming slowly continued to eat his steak, he found it fascinating that a mysterious unknown Dao Lord emerged right when the game started, it was nearly a one hundred percent chance this Dao Lord Fury was one of the four Dao Lord's that were part of the game.
He found it cathartic that at least even as he died, Liam Evermore had been able to protect his daughter.
"I understand you're with me now because you feel indebted to me."
Anissa flinched ever so slightly.
"But before we go to the Wildlands, I will convert you to be a true Follower of the Forgotten One."
"I-"
Feng Zhiming raised his hand to stop her.
"By the end of the day, we'll have the support of the Zhuge clan for our church, and this will all be courtesy of the Forgotten One's guidance."
Anissa merely nodded, she was with him partly because of the Forgotten One and partly because of feeling indebted, but it was not like she had another option, she didn't really have many other prospects at the moment and Feng Zhiming seemed to possess some secrets.
Although she hadn't said anything she was truly surprised when Feng Zhiming had traumatized Louba Tian to death merely by speaking to him, that was a true feat of power, power beyond cultivation or strength.
"So putting that aside, where did they get the idea to sell you off."
"It was Louba Tian, despite being an Ethereal Core cultivator he knew from one glance that I was at the Quasi Spiritual Awakening level and he had some contacts within the Dual Divine Demon Sect. Contacts that would pay greatly for an.…. Unused spiritual awakening cultivator, especially someone who was very talented."
Anissa felt embarrassed dictating the story about getting captured by a group of people she could have cut into half with one strike if she had been full strength.
Feng Zhiming remembered something else from his inherited memory, another one of the three overlords of the Dark side of the Etheria continent, the Dual Divine Demon Sect.
"I've heard you speak of your talent excessively, how old are you, one hundred and fifty, two hundred, maybe three hundred?"
Feng Zhiming wanted to figure out what exactly they meant by talented here and if he would qualify for that description. Maybe even impress her by showing her the difference between the two of them.
Usually an Ethereal Core cultivator had a life span of five hundred years, so breaking through anytime before four hundred was considered talented.
Anissa's hand tightened around the cup of tea she had been holding and cracks started to appear on the surface, her normally neutral expression had shifted into a slightly annoyed look.
"I am ninety-seven years old…" she spoke in an unusually monotone voice.
Feng Zhiming realized he had slipped up, but it was unimportant, something else took priority at the moment.
"Ninety seven!?" Feng Zhiming almost choked on the steak he had been chewing on.
For reference, Feng Zhiming was ninety-five years old when he had broken through to the Ethereal Core stage, while it was true he didn't prioritize breaking through as much as others did it was still stunning.
"By the grace of the Forgotten One, I didn't realize how lucky I was to run into you."
Before today the earliest he had heard someone break through to the spiritual awakening stage was a two hundred and fifty-year-old sect elder in his home world. That elder was predicted to become a Dao lord within two and a half millennia.
He quickly grabbed her hand and scanned her with his spiritual energy into her to check her bone age.
"Wha-" she was surprised but didn't say anything, he was her benefactor after all.
He released her hand and had a defeated look on his face as he sunk into his seat.
"Are you real?" was what he wanted to say, but he couldn't tarnish his image anymore for now.
"I reckon you'll be a Dao Lord before reaching one thousand years, maybe even eight hundred." he tried to act mysterious as he spoke, trying to regain parts of the image he had maintained before.
Internally he was overjoyed, if he could have her become one of his loyal subordinates all he would have to do is raise her into a Dao Lord killing demon, she already had enmity with one of them anyway.
Not to mention, a sword cultivator had an easier time crossing realms to slay enemies, and was normally considered the most deadly among cultivators.
"I see." was all she replied with.
Anissa had a pleasantly surprised look on her face, although it wasn't ideal, she had hope now that she could someday have enough power to avenge her clan, father and sister.
"Looks like the main event is about to begin, reel in your divine sense, it's ok if people hear us speak now."
From the very start of the conversation, Anissa had deployed her divine sense and employed it to stop sound-waves from leaking into their surroundings.
She did as she was instructed and in the very same instance a group of three men walked into the restaurant, all at varying stages within the Foundation establishment level.
The stages preceding the Ethereal Core were Foundation Establishment, Qi condensation and Body Refining.
"This will be fun." Feng Zhiming silently whispered to himself while chuckling.