Escape

In the 2nd of 9 Heavens, a man could be seen gasping for breath. He had just taken the stairway and ascended, escaping the confines of the 1st Heaven. He was a high level Grandmaster, standing at the peak of the 1st Heaven and should've been ecstatic to reach the 2nd, but he was not.

Rather, he was already thinking about how to gain strength.

The realms went like this:

Realms (same as other novel):

1

Apprentice

Practitioner

Master

Grand Master

2

Grand Master

Lord

King

3

King

Emperor

Tyrant

4

Tyrant

Monarch

Overlord

5

Spirit Master (Overlord renamed)

Spirit Grand Master

Spirit Lord

6

Spirit Lord

Spirit King

Spirit Emperor

7

Spirit Emperor

Spirit Tyrant

Spirit Monarch

8

Spirit Monarch

Spirit Overlord

Pseudo God

9

Pseudo God

Demigod

God

10

Celestial

9 minor level for each

The man was handsome, a real looker, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He had angular features that made women swoon and a very fit body. He also had a sword strapped to his waist. Contrary to his noble and handsome appearance, his clothes were tattered, and stubble lined his face if one looked close enough. He was clearly a bit tired, however he stayed alert. He needed strength, and fast.

This was not a simple desire to get stronger. No. It went deeper. He needed to stay ahead of them. The ones who hunted him.

For context, the man, whose name was Alex, was born in the 1st Heaven. He had amazing talent and was quickly noticed by the kingdom he was born in. He went on many adventures and slew many enemies. He quickly became world famous.

However, this fame turned the attention of some very powerful people on him. People, who would later come to want to control him. To own him. This, coupled with some relationships made along the way with people who he helped, sparked a possessive nature in some.

It wasn't that unusual. People in the heavens weren't exactly mentally stable. Alex was a nice guy, though he was still a cultivator and would kill his enemies, and this was a rare feature. Specifically, he became the object of affection of some women, to a frightening extent.

Fortunately, he had the upper hand. He was stronger than them and was only getting stronger. However, this wasn't enough. They were catching up... fast. He spent his time in the 1st Heaven accumulating strength, before he decided to ascend.

He knew his ascension wouldn't go unnoticed and that they would follow him as soon as they had enough power to do so. They wouldn't let him go. Alex cared for them, so he didn't want to kill them. So he could only run... only continue getting stronger so that they didn't have a chance. And most of all, he needed to stop making strong and talented women obsessed with him. For whatever reason, this was a reoccurring theme.

Alex stood. He had almost been stopped from ascending by them. They didn't like each other, going so far as to hate each other, however they had a common goal. Despite this, Alex was still insanely strong compared to them and he had been able to ascend nevertheless.

But it wouldn't be long. All seven of them were insanely talented and insanely motivated. Alex was not the strongest anymore, not in this heaven. He would have to be careful, while still making leaps and bounds to prepare for their inevitable arrival.

Alex looked around. He was in a forest or spirit beasts, mostly ones that were stronger than his current 8th level GM. He would have liked to become a 9th level before ascending, but he didn't have a choice. Such was his fate.

'Alright, let's begin.'