There was the introduction of the class system. There were things such as bloodline. Those of noble families had an advantage of bloodline as some cultivation techniques were entirely dependent on one's bloodline.
There were others like lineage factors. Those from the normal families did not understand anything about these systems. But one year later, the system had been fully integrated and accepted.
The most powerful person known was the Emperor. He was said to be in the fifth stage and almost breaking into the sixth stage which was said to be the peak of the cultivation realm.
As things stood, it would be very difficult to establish an empire without enough resources. The Noble families must have been planning this for the past almost thousands of years gathering these resources.
They had taken the one year retreat in order to plan on how to establish themselves. When they appeared, they trampled over everyone who opposed them. This helped them in establishing their foundation.
Still, that was not all. The reason they had all assembled people from their families was because they needed to fight future opposition. Each family had at least a thousand under them. Most of them were in the Third Stage. That was the Master Plane.
Those in this plane were almost legendary and a family having more than a thousand in this plane was enough to wipe out a kingdom. Life was now resuming to normal and now it was like the tragedy was forgotten.
There were few changes for examples in the weapons and the modes of transport. Not much changed but the source of energy was changing. A new source was being discovered.
This was energy from beast cores. There were crystal in the demon realm which had a high demand for the energy they carried. They were called essence stones. Celebrities were no longer hailed from their talents.
Celebrities were now hailed by their strength. That was the rule of the present world. If you had no power, then you were supposed to be trampled on. Thus everyone's goal was to get stronger.
***
The Byron Mansion had become the palace. It was not that very different than before. It was only that it had become even grander. Behind the backyard, one could hear clanking of swords and pants.
Then a feminine shout and an even louder clang rang. Then as one approached, they would see a girl holding a sword panting. Before her was an older man. The man was holding a wooden sword and the girl was using a real sword.
Yet, if one looked at the wooden sword, it had no crack. As for the real sword, it was close to breaking. It seemed like after a few clashes, it would be broken. The girl grit her teeth as she raised her sword.
She was familiar. The only difference was that she was taller. Standing at 5'6. She was wearing a metal armor on he chest. She then shot forward towards the old man at speed that was impossible for normal humans.
It was like she turned into a white flash and she reached the Emperor almost immediately. The Emperor just raised his sword and whoosh! Then bang! A white smoke engulfed them and the sound of metal meeting metal sounded.
An ear piercing clang sounded and there was certainly a crack. Those who were observing closed their eyes as the wind blew away the plant's leaves near them. It was difficult to believe that this was the same Luna from three years ago.
The wind cleared and it appeared that she had leapt and clashed with her grandfather. The old man had raised his wooden sword and countered. Luna was left hanging in the air as she pressed her sword to her grandfathers.
She grit her teeth and suddenly, she saw cracks appear on her sword. Her sword then broke shattering like glass as she fell on her butt. Her cheeks turned crimson when she heard the laughs from the crowd.
She was only left holding the sword's handle. She refused to look at her grandfather. This just caused everyone to laugh even more. Now throwing a tantrum?
"I see that you are improving. You finally crossed into the fourth stage. I am seeing like I am going to lose my position to you younger generation soon," the emperor said.
All those who were observing here were all of the same age group as Luna. Luna was the tenth person to break into the fourth stage. She was actually the first girl to break into the fourth stage.
The nine others were boys older with few months or two years at most. She was her grandfather's favorite. She picked her sword and stood up. She went to the side and stood alongside the rest.
Then, a guy who was the oldest of them all stood up. He was the younger generation's first young master and probably the next heir. It should be noted that cultivation was not the only factor that determined ones strength.
It was very possible for someone in the first stage to beat someone in the fourth or even the sixth stage. This was where bloodline and lineage factors came in. There were also many factors that determined one's strength.
The guy was 6'5. He had a sword trailing behind him. He walked in a dignified manner as he approached the arena. He did not say anything. It was only those on the sidelines who were speaking showering him with praise.
He was known for no words and even without warning, he had drawn his sword. Not many were able to see him draw his sword. All they saw was a blue flash. He also did not hold the sword with both hands like everyone else.
He just flashed forwards. It was almost instantly. Even the blue light faded almost instantly. Those who could keep up with his movement were few. He was planning on swinging his sword at the Emperor.
He raised his sword and slashed forward. He was too predictable was all everyone had in mind. But none of them saw how disappeared from the front and was slashing behind the Emperor.
The Emperor was just about to raise his sword and block but he too was caught off guard when he disappeared. But he was quick to recover as he for the first time stepped forward.
It was still a habit that he still did not open his eyes. He was quick to turn even with the sword a centimeter away from his body. He raised his sword and blocked the attack. Also, for the first time, there was a cut on the wooden sword.
The Emperor smiled at this. It seemed that the boy was now utilizing his bloodline. He pushed the boy away as he chuckled staring at the cut on the sword. Soon they really were going to be outdone by the younger generation.
But the guy had still not had enough. He was just getting started. He raised the first and middle finger. He then closed his eyes and a blue ball of light appeared at the tip of his fingers. He had fallen back on one knee.
He raised the sword in front of his face in a horizontal manner. He then passed the blue light on the sword giving it a blue glow. The sword was coated with the blue glow and when he opened his eyes, they had the familiar blue glow with that of the emperor.
This caused whispers. That was one of the family techniques. It was one very difficult to learn and it usually took around two years to learn it partially and even more practice in order to finally use it.
The fact that he was able to use it at that age was a testimony of his talent. Though, it was common knowledge that he could not use it for long. Even showing signs of mastering of the technique was enough to term him a genius.
He then held the sword with both hands and there was a sudden wind that started blowing towards him. His muscles clenched and his toes made a shallow hole in the ground as he shot forward.
This was his ultimate move the same as the last one Luna had used. But his was fast and tons of times more powerful than Luna's. It was like he was instantly teleported. He did not go for feints and he sliced forward.
No one saw how he reached the target and even when they heard a clang, none knew what happened. The wind from the clash was twice what Luna had caused. It even bent the flowers nearby.
It produced a white smoke that covered them all. They all heard a crack and they could not help but grow impatient with the smoke that refused to dissipate. It cleared seconds later but to their surprise, it was only the guy standing there.
He had the sword held with both hands pointing down to the side. His eyes had lost their blue glow and the aura that he had just evoked died down. He looked around but the Emperor was nowhere to be seen.
Everyone was confused. Just when they were about to start speaking, they heard a laugh. All eyes turned up and looked at the emperor who was standing ten meters in the air. If people heard the Emperor laugh, it would shock them for they thought that he did not have the ability to. The other half of his sword to the tip fell next to the guy.
"You have done me proud Miles." He said and disappeared.
***
'For the 600th time. Let's see if I will die....'