25

“Hey, are you going to get up today?” I said jokingly, a smile crossing my face as I moved red strands out of hers.

My heart wavered as heavenly light shone down upon her face. Giving her a look of an enlightened fairy, a picture perfect moment. I couldn’t help but run my thumb down her cheek. Rare moments like this, whether you love someone or not, make you realize what is precious and what’s not.

Definitely back on Earth where love was immortalized and everybody had this fantasy in their minds about what their true love would look like. Even though reality let them down, you could see a lot of people trying to match that fantasy.

Ha, even I slipped up and tried to create a fantasy.

I couldn’t help but lean onto my elbow and watch Long Yun sleep. It’s not something I normally would do, trust me. I could have found tons of other things to entertain myself with. It's just that I put a lot of work into creating a fantasy for her. Giving her a near perfect guy. Though there were moments where I messed up and allowed my cynical self to be exposed but it's not that big of a deal.

Compared to other males, I am still number one, right?

I caught movement out the corner of my eyes and turned to see Su standing in the crack of the door.

“A few merchants wish to talk to you.” he whispered.

I nodded and turned back to a pair of sea green eyes. She moved ever so slowly as stretched like a kitten.

“You can go handle your business instead of staring at me all morning.” she sounded kind of annoyed but her cheeks were a little lively today.

I chuckled and threw the covers off me. I took one step off the bed and both my maids were there in an instant. The life of luxury is so wonderful. People can’t tell me I ain't living the american dream.

They carried me off to the bathroom. Scrubbing me down, fixing my hair, dressing me. I hardly had to do anything other than exist and I realized in a weird way, that they have come to enjoy this moment where they have complete control over me.

I walked into a grand room that serves as almost a conference room. A large polish white marble tabletop. Legs carved from white ivory in the form of dragons. The chairs themselves were beautiful rendition of dancing fairies, each scene transcribed onto the ribs of the back support looks like a short movie clip.

I dropped into a chair and kicked my feet up. Pulling out a guqin from my storage ring. I didn’t have to ask because Butler Su had already brought the first person in.

A young man with a sharp disposition, smelled like he was recently playing with herbs. His fingertips slightly darken and a slight bag under his eyes. He smiled upon seeing me and took a seat on the opposite side of the table.

Maid Xinyue set down a cup and poured him some tea made from a tree transformed from Stellar qi. It had a dazzling effect of making one feel like they were soaring in the stars. A very calming drink to me.

“Thank you for giving me a little time. I, Hai Yun. am from the Alchemist Association and can represent them within this Ancient World. I heard plots of land could be rented and I have come in hopes of retaining at least five plots. I would like to understand how I can achieve my aim.” Hai Yun stated outright his demands.

I passed the Guiqin to Shuren before pulling up a screen which showcased this guy's battle results. Well, sadly, his lack of battle results. His alchemist didn’t make it very far and his hired goons only made it up to floor sixty.

“Your overall strength isn’t enough to get one plot. However, there are always ways to get around such things. I can sell you at minimum of two plots and you just provide me with twenty percent of what you grow. You can also look for such deals with other Manor Lords.”

Hai Yun's expression turned a few degrees cold and he looked at me like he wanted to wage war or something.

“City Lord, we, the Alchemist Association, always existed to work alongside the controlling fraction. Offering concessions for concessions. This currently is leaving us without any room to discuss things.”

“Sometimes, the Alchemist Association can be considered as a mighty force with great and skilled Alchemists but are you the only such force like this? Ignoring the Pill Sovereign Palace or the Extreme Elixir Association, you still have small clans who have been researching pills and elixirs for hundreds of thousands of years. Your, Alchemist Association, is just one of many such groups. Even without them..” I held up a Grade four Alchemist badge. “Would I really need to make concessions to you for pills I can make myself?”

Hai Yun let out a heavy breath and stood up, bowing and leaving. I shook my head at his audacity. Coming without the intentions of bribing me, how drab!

The next one in was someone I half expected to see, Goddess Bing Wei.

Though I have no idea why she was conferred the title Goddess. Even though she was beautiful, I heard many rumors about those who could form a line of suitors. Her figure wasn’t all that impressive. No, it wasn’t fitting for the term, voluptuous.

I have not even yet seen a rather chubby Asian woman. So this term is one that shouldn’t even be written in the books or used to describe these rather slender women.

Goddess Bing sat down with grace of a ballerina. She had this charming smile on her lips and I could feel she was trying to utilize some kind of enchanting technique. Something that played upon your desires.

I pulled up Miss Bing's record and noted that she, herself, made it to the seventy-second floor and her hired goons made it to eighty-ninth. Impressive.

“Miss Bing, I often hear the term Goddess this and Goddess that. I hear people confer this term on no less than three women but when I gaze into their eyes, I did not see what made them Goddess. It was very bothersome and has troubled me for a fortnight. Would you be willing to explain to me what makes you a Goddess in other eyes?” I pulled my legs off the table and leaned forward like an eager student.

Goddess Bing smiled and waved for a second as she took a sip of tea that Xinyue just sat down. Her eyes closed and her lips parted. It took her three minutes to return to herself. Another two to formulate a reply that might not seem offensive.

“Men always have established standards and ideas that they projected onto women. Such as calling beautiful women Goddesses. In a way, it is a clever ruse to make us fight amongst ourselves as what woman doesn’t want to be considered beautiful? The beast among her peers? However, I, too, do not understand why I was conferred the title of Goddess? Maybe it had nothing to do with my looks and more my talent as Businesswoman? Does this maybe satisfy your curiosity, City lord?”

I picked up the bowl and slowly spun it as I let her assume I was contemplating her words.

“Do you know who I would project the terms Goddesses onto?” I smirked as I looked at her.

Goddess Bing's eyes wrinkled but she asked, “Who?”

“To me.. A Goddess is someone who overlooks everybody in her generation. However, it's nearly impossible to do so, yes?” I took a sip of tea and placed the bowl down. “There are so many worlds with so many powerful people. For her to overlook everybody in her generation, she would have to be unmatched everywhere but in reality this would be impossible. We only have a limited time in this life and thus she can’t travel everywhere.”

I glance out the window at the city below.

“This window is a bit narrow and what we can see is a bit less than if the window was a bit wider. Maybe this is why they conferred you the title of Goddess. In their eyes, you are the one overlooking your generation, but it is a shame. That their view is so small. However, it almost feels worse for you being that your view as a successful business woman has been shrunken to their level.”

I sigh and turn to her with a gentle smile.

“You probably came here to talk about renting a shop on the main street of the inner ring, yes?”

Goddess Bing nodded not letting the conflicting thoughts enter her mind.

“Correct.”

I waved my hand and a map of the inner ring appeared before us. I pointed along the street leading up to market and palace steps.

“The only buildings available are these six buildings near the gate leading to the outer ring. The pricing tags are on them, the monthly taxes are set. Please take your time to study them.” I leaned back then added at the last minute. “Oh, touch the building and you can see inside. What the structure is like.”

Goddess Bing nodded and studied the pricing before choosing the most expensive and one that looked like a seven story pagoda. She studied each floor, moving her hands back and forth to zoom in or out.

To be fair, she adapted to the new system of array quickly. It took me at least half an hour and I had experience with touch screen phones and computers. Ah, the embarrassment is real.

“I would like to choose this one.” She sounded very sure of herself.

A contract appeared above the screen and she read over it before placing her palm onto it. Unlike the old paper contracts or blood oaths, this took a copy of your DNA sequences and built an oath around that. Breaking it, would mean you had died and your cells turned inactive.

Goddess Bing touched her ring and several large chests appeared on the table. Su opened them and only took one look. Even though they were all mid-grade spirit stones, the amount was all there.

The Seven Story Pagoda had small change, to the people outside, the words Rain Pavilion would be on the sign.

“I hope you have an enjoyable time in the Ancient World.”

I leaned back and grabbed the guiqin again. Next couple of people coming in were similar to Goddess Bing, wanting to buy a building on main street. Sadly two of them were actually able to achieve a position on the ninety floor with one more being very close on the eighty-sixth floor. This is an achievement in itself and I didn’t mind encouraging shady car salesman practice to train more.

Of course, before I could even take a break and eat breakfast, the Manor Lords forced their way in. All twelve of them came to determine their duties and more information about the college and defense force.

Surprisingly, it went quick. Nobody made any snide comments or wanted to be a rebellious teen. Well, to get to their rankings and positions of power they had to be more mature than the average genius.

Mindset is, after all, an important part of rising into immortality.

***

I pointed into a classroom with a smirk. The instructor was teaching about the sun and using some terms that I once used which originated back on earth. It was pleasing to establish a slow change like this that was visible.

“Don’t get too proud of yourself.” Long Yun snorted but I could feel her eyes on me as I listened to different classes. Listen to the crowd talk about this or that.

It was encouraging to see your idea being well liked.

“Isn’t that the girl from before? I remember she was with you when you were trying to bully the Sea People.” Long Yun grabbed my arm, turning me slightly as she pointed at someone fighting on one of the stages.

We walked over and she was right. It was Gao Jian. Aye, I remember that time I got her into bed. Haha, wonderful. She was so good but tried to be indifferent. Couldn’t control her body from reacting. Tsk, I kind of miss her a little.

“She seems to have a sword soul. However, she isn’t leveraging the full power of her sword moves. Nor integrating her concept fully into her techniques. Is she at the elementary level?” Long Yun deciphers Gao Jian's ability just like that.

I guess Long Yun has improved tremendously under my guidance. Does this mean that I have or haven’t improved if she is slowly closing the gap between us?

“Mm, you’re right. The reason she hasn’t integrated the concept into the sword moves is because all of her sword moves are of a different element than her concept. They are exhibiting signs of metal and fire. Explosives movement but sharp blade. Her wind concept can be utilized with her body movement technique but it only gives her speed rather than overwhelming power.”

Long Yun nodded. “What if I took her as a disciple or sword slave?”

I raised an eyebrow as she turned to me. Even though it looked like she was asking permission, I felt like she was testing me or something.

“It is up to you. I told you before, if you make your own division then you can do what you want with them.” I said after a moment of thought. I felt this was the safest answer that would show my trust in her but also not hinder her spirit to be her own person.

It could be vexing to be under someone's shadow like she is. Her every movement analyzed for weakness that can be exploited to get to me. So I was more than willing to show my broadmindedness and let her bear all consequences of her actions. I had the power within this world to at least clean it up.

I took a glance at her opponent who wasn’t putting in a real effort. She was effortlessly defusing the attacks. I scanned the crowd and figured out what was going on pretty quick.

Zhou Nuan probably insulted and issued a duel, lost and then sent up her best fighter. Which in turn was why Gao Jian was being humiliated like this. Though I guess this couldn’t be considered a humiliation since this could be considered a teaching moment.

On the other side, hm. I don’t recognize the young man. Must be a lover quarrel.

“Can you stop the fight? I can see the other person gearing up to leave a reminder. It’s best if she doesn’t gain a demon from this fight.” Long Yun tugged on my sleeve and I sighed.

With a flick of my sleeves the two fighters froze. With a single pull of my finger, Gao Jian knelt in front of Long Yun.

Long Yun crouched down and helped her up while giving me a look.

“Sorry about that but I saw your potential and want to offer you a chance to follow me and cultivate. What do you say?”

Gao Jian looked a bit confused as she stood up but then her eyes landed on me and her spirit sharpened once again.

I smirked, “Let me know when you are done. I’m going to walk around.”

Bending down, I planted a kiss on her forehead and walked off. My outer garb flowed as if the wind was mighty strong as my dragon aura roared to the heavens. I laughed as the crowd parted around me but I vanished a second later.

***

Long Yun expressionless watched her husband vanish. She hesitated a moment before turning to her maid.

“Let’s go to the palace. I want to watch his fight.” Long Yun turned ignoring the now silent Gao Jian.

When Long Yun and her two maids took three steps, Gao Jian snapped out of her emotional conflict and chased after Long Yun.

“I would be willing to follow you.” Gao Jian said quickly.

Long Yun glanced at her but kept walking. Giving Gao Jian a choice of following or staying behind.

It only took a few seconds to land in the garden with the Dragon Chariot.

“Put up my husband on the big screen.” Long Yun demanded as she dropped onto a couch.

She gestured at a chair, “sit there and watch.”

Gao Jian looked a bi confused as she sat down.

***

I appeared on the Dragon Chariot, facing sixteen Martial Emperors and thirty Martial Monarchs.

One of the men in bright golden armor faced me on the bow of his ship. Looking at me with cocky anger that looks really disturbing.

“Little Dragon Emperor, do you think you can stop us from getting our women back? I suggest you think with your brain instead of your tiny prick. Hand them over, compensate us for our losses and time wasted and maybe we won’t lay waste to your city.”

I rolled my eyes. This is the perfect reason why you don’t talk to people you know you can kill. It ruins the mood. However, as city lord, I can’t just not jab back right?

“Kill!” I stated it was a normal thing to do.

Kill people that is.

I stepped off the chariot and my cane transformed into a sword. I slashed forward and large meteors shaped like swords came rushing down with a burning fervor. My eyes flickered with momentary surprise as my enemies activated a formation but I merely activated my own and added greater force to the attack.

They came in six ships, two collapsed out the sky as nothing but rain debris. The rest looked a bit like a ghost ship and that might have been one of my strongest skills but it wasn’t the only one.

I jabbed forward with my fist and mighty fire dragons burst into existences. Blocking the sky in all routes as they turned the blue sky a deep red with their fires.

“Do you think this will kill us?!” the same talkative guy yelled out. Seven out of sixteen Martial Emperors soared out of the burning ships.

Me, I just popped a pill and slowly recovered my essences. Wait, perfect time to talk shit.

“I’ll let you go back and all you have to do is submit to me. Pay taxes like anyone else or when I get bored of playing in this city. I’ll bring my troops to conquer all and you will be the first one to witness their glory.” I smirked.

The bastard looked at me with burning hatred and I knew he wasn’t going to surrender. To be honest, it isn’t the first time he led a group to attack me in the name of reclaiming his women. I assaulted his fort many times and stole many precious things including women, children and some elderly.

Why? I wanted to have a real city, not one composed of these different forces. Plus their children would have loyalty to me, if their parents had nothing but praise for me, right? Right, brainwashing is a super common thing.

“You think you won?” He waved for his men to circle me and I sighed.

My sword changed to spear and my dragon aura burst free from the cages I keep it shrouded in. I didn’t bother waiting for them to gather energy to do coordinated assault. I dashed forward and struck my spear out once, surrounded by three thousand shadows of my spear. While thrusting a palm to the side of them and the dragon palm slammed into the next closet to help.

Do they think, just because they are Martial Emperors, they can defeat me? I don’t know what fighting fair is.