Escaping the Planet

*Splash

Waves of sea water collided with the rocky shores of a man-made island spanning forty kilometers in length and Clay is standing on a pavement as he looked into the distance.

On his hand is the necklace and the gold triangular card left by Professor One-Hand. Clay has no clue what the numbers and bar-code-looking labels on the card are and he is hesitant to keep it with him. The last time someone gave him a purple card, all it brought him was trouble leading to his current predicament.

While he is grateful the Professor sacrificed his life to save him, he finds it odd he does not feel the need to seek vengeance and not even a trace of guilt.

Before the Professor’s last word, Clay noticed the look in the Professor’s eyes. It gave off a familiar vibe of someone who has come to term with their regrets and rejoiced in their deaths similar to that conversation he had with Immortal Lao Ayan.

*Sigh

Sometimes he wonders if he will ever have a peaceful life. Originally, his plan if something were to happen is to retrieve his spatial ring and hide inside the floating island in it or maybe transport himself in a subspace and come back to reality thousands of year similar to what an actual Sleeper does. The spatial ring is currently on the opposite side of the world and he had not retrieved it yet as he had been very careful not to arouse any more suspicions.

The plan is to use those herbs that have aged 100 thousand years inside that floating and breakthrough yet it looks like his treasure must be abandoned.

Clay stored the necklace and the golden card in his spatial ring and levitated. His destination is the island where his maid Merea was put into deep illusion a hundred thousand years.

According to the movie he watched, this island once had a historical significance for Kulfagar Watersmen but like everything in existence, it did not escape the inevitable change. Today, the island has become an ultimate testing ground for elite citizens who want to further pursue cultivation.

After a few minutes, Clay got closer to the island. The last time he visited, the island has lush and dense forest yet today, he only see scattered violet vegetations and unknown advanced buildings stretching from the center.

*Swish

“Hmmph?”

Clay was flying at constant speed when he suddenly felt an unknown energy pulse and creating a heavy pressure around his body. He stopped and looked around and put up his guard.

“If you cannot manifest Dao, go back and you will spared.”

Clay immediately activated his Dao Power to 1ST Phase and attempted to resist pressure.

“Huh, huh”

Clay finds it hard to breath. For moment, he thought his Dao will help lessen the pressure yet he still feels suffocated and he feels like dropping to ground any time soon. He had never felt this kind of pressure before and looking at the building where the source of energy is coming from, he is certain it is from an Ascendant guarding the island.

“The next major recruitment is in 3 years but it is not bad idea to enlist with the Federation’s Elite. Proceed at the center and you will be teleported for registration. That is, if you don’t want to wait.”

As soon the transmission ended, the pressure around Clay’s body disappeared.

“I thank this senior for his guidance.”

Clay expressed his respect and propelled his body again towards the center of the island. Back at Grizzly School when he saw the modern railguns, instinct warned him how dangerous practitioners are on the next realm and today, he had a taste of their powers.

The unknown expert had released his aura and imbued it with a trace of Water Dao creating a disparity Clay may not even be able to defend. He is glad he did not confront the Ascendant from Norkita family who is after him. Had he been careless, he probably had to start by being reincarnated again.

If possible, Clay wanted to wait and join a Major Sect but having realized how powerful Ascendants can be, he has no choice but to get under the protection of Navarum Federation as soon as possible.

After a minute, Clay landed and walked towards a huge circular teleportation platform.

As he walked, he could feel the arrays on his foot and the surrounding pillars vibrate and when he stopped his tracks, his eyes was struck with a blinding flash of light.

*Swish!

The teleportation platform activated and Clay disappeared from his spot.

“Arggghhh!”

Clay clenched his teeth in pain. He felt like all the bones in his body had been forcefully removed and put back on. Clay lost his balance and stumbled on the ground. It was momentary but something disrupted his circulation that his Dao failed to properly manifest leaving him vulnerable during the spatial transfer.

“No one taught you that you should protect yourself with a suit during planetary displacement, huh?”

Clay ignored the pain and forced himself to get up and greet the stranger. He does not know if this is part of a test so he started to strengthen his body with his Qi and revealed Half-Step Dao power as he assessed the situation.

“Seriously, transporting someone during a planet’s full tide barrier. Follow me, boy.”

Clay was confused but followed nonetheless. Observing his surroundings, it looks like he had been transported to space.

Meanwhile, even without looking, the man in battle suit can tell Clay is a novice and said, “We’re currently at the 8TH Orbital Space Port of your home planet. You’ve been teleported here so we could bring you to where cadets are properly enlisted and you’re not alone. Like you, everyone else has earned their qualifications. As a human myself, my advice is to mind your own business until you get to Minraca Star System.”

Clay was delighted upon hearing the other party is a fellow human. “I wonder if this senior can tell me more about planet full tide barrier? Believe it or not, I was raised in an isolated mountain and had little education.” Clay honestly asked in an attempt to make a small talk.

“There are all sorts of planets. Developing, Semi-evolved, Terraformed but Living Planets in particular have its own invisible barrier to ward away or destroy spatial beast. Just like ocean tides, this barrier rises and fall. Don’t worry. You’ll have your time attending these boring classes.”

“It seems I have a lot to learn.” Clay smiled and scratched his hair. He wanted to ask another question but the moment they reached the perimeter of the Formation, the man in battlesuit levitated.

Clay immediately activated his wings and caught up. As he flew behind the man, he can’t help but closely observe the Arrays that are currently activated on the suit. For as long as he can remember, the only flight technique he knew is the Formation he modified from a martial artist back Gar Wahger planet.

“Did anyone teach you to control your Dao? Just because your Dao comprehension has reached Half-Step, it does not mean you have to keep showing it around. Once we get to our destination, you’ll realize how big the world is. Only trouble awaits arrogance. We’ve made a detour just to pick you up and if you cause more trouble during this trip, even I may not be able to help you out.”

“I keep this reminder to heart.” Clay was surprised at the sudden remark and retracted his Dao Power. After making a decision to temporarily pursue cultivation and escape the planet, he planned on revealing a bit of his ability yet his ignorance striked again. He had always been opposed to the idea of showing off his skill but to be able to gain some level of protection, he did not mind flaunting this ability which eludes majority of cultivators.

Clay is aware that his destination to enlist in the Federation means he will be competing with a crowd and thought that revealing Dao will create a good impression yet it turns out to be the opposite. All this time, he subconsciously pictured in his mind that if someone discovered that he has achieved a Half-Step in Dao Comprehension that a Master would proactively greet him and say, “You’re a dragon amongst men.”

Clay inwardly cursed. He thought that restraining his Dao to Half-Step would be modest enough given his Immortal-like Comprehension yet he was right all along. He should just hide it completely unless needed. No wonder the Ascendant who tested him earlier was not even impressed. He guessed that the place he must be going must be crowded with talents. At least someone with a good heart reminded him now instead of being embarrassed in the future.

After a few minutes, Clay now has a view of the spaceship docked at the edge of the gigantic asteroid they are currently at. Similar to the floating island he constructed inside a spatial ring, this humungous asteroid share the same basic principle but more intricate and complex. He is fascinated by how far technology has reached the people in this era could create marvels only seen in fictions.

As they got closer, Clay got a feeling he may not be able to ask questions again.

“I humbly asked this senior if there is anything I need to be on the lookout for.”

“You’re fine. Just remember you are a human and protect the dignity of the human race.”