21 9 Transformations realm

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"9 Transformation Realm?"

"Yes, 9 Transformation Realm is the realm above the Void Realm. If one breakthrough to this stage, then they can experience a similar thing like a rebirth. In this whole world, the people who reached void stage can only be counted on one hand and those are the publicly acknowledged one, there are still some people who didn't like attention so nobody knew that they were on Void Realm as well. The reason why this map is incredibly precious, is because it is a map to the path on breaking through the next 9 Transformation Realm."

Old Pete explained and Sieg listened, he nodded with under standing. 'That's why their expressions were like that when they saw the beast skin'. He thought, if he was also in the Void Realm and he found out about a path that will open up the way to breakthrough the next realm, he would not hesitate to go as well. Since he wanted to go after that calling anyway, why not check out all of the paths right?

"How did you guys learned of this?" Sieg once again asked in curiosity.

"This map's previous owner was the 67th generation Emperor Huang Long of the Avalon Country. When the 66th generation Emperor was nearing his retirement, the battle for the crown began. During that time, he had a total of 20 children, 12 males and 8 females. The whole country was sent into a frenzy, it was the 12th prince, Huang Long who hailed from poverty, won the war. During the battle, all of the people weren't really positive about his chances, after all just stepped into Void Realm when the battle happened."

"But who knew that he was bidding his time, he didn't fought that hard during the skirmishes and even disappeared when the last battle happened. It was before the coronation began that he showed up exploding with the power of 1st Transformation Cultivation Base. It was not an overestimation that he can destroy the whole country if he wanted to really. So he was automatically hailed as the new Emperor."

"As time went on, the country of Avalon went an era of absolute peace, but all of this went to end when Emperor Huang Long died. Before his death, Emperor Huang Long announce to the whole world how he broke through the 9 Transformation Realm. He obtained a map of road leading to it, and he even said that he was still holding on to that map. Unable of remain calm, the old hermits of the past showed up to the Imperial Capital and razed it down just to get a hold of the map. But before they reached Emperor Huang Long, he already hid the map somewhere, and self-destructed. Erasing the whole Imperial Capital with him along with those who trespassed."

"The whole world was sent into a frenzy, blood flowed like rivers and corpses built mountains, but even if they already scoured the entire country, they can't find the map. Eventually, people decided to put an end to the search and fix the chaos. And even though this happened 1000 years ago, some people are still searching for the map. But so far, they only knew it's former appearance, and it was a beast skin."

As Old Pete narrated, the three of them was already sitting down inside the room. Sieg's mind was in chaos.

"What an asshole that Emperor was! Can't he just die peacefully? As if the Crown Wars wasn't worst already!? Did he had a grudge with all of his subjects to do that? As an Emperor, didn't he thought that if he killed most of his Void Realm subject, the other countries might wage war? If that happens then what will happen to those people who were innocent? What a hateful guy! Cultivators like him that crosses the 'bottom line' should be tortured for at least one Era." Sieg berated, just like before, he didn't filtered any of his thoughts and spoke what he truly feels.

This left Old Pete and Gin surprised, that short period of time, a kid questioned a behavior of an Emperor. He was even saying that an 'Emperor' like that should be tortured for an era because of his sins. They looked at each other with a strange glimmer in their eyes.

"Well there's no use on dwelling over it since 1000 years have already passed. But now that we're holding this map, all of this should remain a secret okay?" Old Pete warned Sieg solemnly. Sieg then nodded his head in agreement, in truth there was no need for Old Pete to say this since he already decided that he won't speak any of this to anyone except them even from the beginning.

"Aside from that secret we will also give you a part of the things we will find on the way, is that fine for an exchange?"

"Are you guys going to go there right now?" Sieg answered Old Pete's question with a question as well. Well, Sieg had a reason why he asked this of course.

"It's not like I want to come as well, after all I'll only be a burden if I tag along. I just want to let you know that I don't think it's a good idea to go right now. I don't know but my instincts are telling me that the place that you guys are about to go is incredibly dangerous. My guess is that if the expedition started now, then the gains would absolutely not going to outweigh the loss."

"From what I've read. Crown Wars spanned for at least 4 years minimum and 15 years maximum. You said that Emperor Huang Long disappeared for the final battle and appeared in the coronation right? There was even a guess that he was merely bidding his time, why don't you guys do that as well. It's just what my 'Instincts' are telling me anyway."

Once again, Old Pete and Gin looked at each other in surprise. They had to agree that they hadn't thought of this, it looked like they were still being very greedy. Sieg's words are like a bucket of cold water poured over to their burning eagerness. They've regained their bearings and Old Pete made a decision.

"You're absolutely right about this, thank you for the warning and we will do as you say alright? Who knows maybe when the expedition begins, then we might decide to tag you along so you need to be stronger fast okay?" Old Pete smiled at Sieg as he said this.

Sieg nodded his head, and then they continued to talk about other matters as well.

***

Sieg then went back to the Inn and prepared for the sect recruitment date. Still he didn't made any real efforts on pushing his cultivation up. Even though Old Pete said that they might bring him along if he was strong enough when their preparations were finished, deep down in Sieg's heart, he still wanted to follow his master's instructions and let his cultivation rise on it's own.

He wasn't really banking of that 'road to transformation realm' shit really. He was used to relying on his own efforts to achieve his aim, assistance is nice but too much would cause reliance. He didn't to be that type of person.

Old Pete also said that he didn't need to worry about his pervious actions. He was the victim anyways. The disciples of Godly Altar Sect that he attacked are most likely not going to talk about what happened since they were afraid of him. The disciples of Freezing Sky Sect didn't even got the chance to see his face so Old Pete said that he won't have real problems. And even though he will, he's already a member of the 'Order of Scribes', a well known organization in the country. He can show them his badge and that should be enough to have them retreat.

Sieg was of course thankful for this, his inner peace already returned, the only thing that he's doing right now is practicing his blade skills inside the Inscription Lands where time is slowed down by half.

He was trying to master the 5th dance: A Maiden's Tribute, of his Imperial Dancing Blade Art. He would only exit if he ran out of Ki. He would sit down to recover and ponder about the things he was wrong or what he could improve, then when he's fully restored, he will enter the Inscription Lands again.

He was not only trying to advance his Imperial Dancing Blade Art, he was also trying to gain more understanding towards the second stance of Gentle River Blade Art: Gentle Wave stance. If he could apply the second stance when he defend, parry, disrupt, of evaded an attack it would be considered as him entering 'Great Completion Stage' in this.

Since he broke through to 9th step of Awakening Realm, he can now support the energy requirement for the 5th dance, making his Imperial Dancing Blade Art reach 'Major Completion Stage' like his Gentle River Blade Art.

He will do this routine for about 11 hours before taking a short rest and going back inside the Inscription Lands. He's trying to gain mastery of the Basic Inscriptions that he learn so far. Old Pete was so kind to hand hind the recording that he used previously so he would have reference. And since the Inscription Lands is literally filled with spiritual energy, he wouldn't need to exit after he emptied his reserves.

He had an urge to revive some of the inscription patterns inside but he decided not to at the moment. He would do so upon reaching Niwan Palace Realm. It's because he's afraid to overdraw his spirit again and losing his memories. Gin told him that in order to prevent this from happening, he needed to be at least at Foundation Establishment Realm first. Niwan Palace Realm is acceptable too, so he decided to suppress that desire.

Unlike the beast skin, Sieg's didn't inform Old Pete and Gin about this place. There's no use in telling them since he was the only one who got the mantra for entering and exiting. Sieg also didn't feel stressed upon knowing that he had access to such treasure since he could enter and exit at will.

Now the only thing that he's waiting for is the sect recruitment.

***

Few days after...

In a large and majestic room inside the City Lord's Mansion, five figures are sitting around a table. They were emitting dangerous aura's and their faces are solemn.

Four of these people are the Sect Directors of the four sect branches that exists inside the Great Blue Carp City, and of course the last one was the City Lord.

"I give my thanks for Fellow Daoists, for giving this old man face and attending this emergency meeting."

A woman wearing a sky blue robes immediately replied: "No need for thanks Fellow Daoist Wen, we are after all under your jurisdiction." Her voice was a bit cold, but not because she's being sarcastic, it is because of the technique she's cultivating.

Her words were followed by the agreements of the other Directors, the City Lord smiled and his solemn expression went back. This made the four Directors to tense up.

"This old man is not going to beat around the bush, we're in trouble fellow daoists. I sent a several scouts all around, their reports are not good. Right now, we're expecting a beast wave at the size of 100,000."

As the city lord's voice fell, the eyes of the four directors widened. They can't imagine the possibility of these happening into such a small city. 100,000 beasts could easily flatten this whole city, not to mention that there's a possibility that there are Demonic Beasts will show up, this made everything worse.

"And the other thing is..." they did not know that the city lord wasn't still finished. "They are expected to attack tomorrow..."

And just like that, the temperature of the whole room went down.