Chapter 170

Kyon had read a lot about different techniques of concealment. Only the best quality techniques of "B" and "A" rank could hide the sound, and only the upper-class families in the empire owned them... Therefore, the person who had appeared was anything but ordinary.

Kyon slowly turned around and saw a girl of about 18 in the dark corner. She was wearing black tight-fitting clothes the highlighted her slender body. She had the whole world in her dark eyes. The girl was reading a book, sitting on the chair near the reading table. There was something royal in her bearing and elegant pose. Kyon wasn't wrong, the young lady was from a noble family. He was impressed by her amazingly beautiful face. She was like an exquisite rose with black petals in the Garden of Eden.

Kyon took a furtive glance at her, then he shook his head and continued leafing through the book. In this world, beauty was a valuable resource. Those in power have the most beautiful wives and husbands, which enhances the quality of genes and the talent in the family. It was foolish to stare at every high-born beauty. He would only get into trouble. Once Kyon screwed things up with Juno and Dinah.

The boys were still whispering loudly about the mysterious girl when suddenly Jeremy gasped and froze. He noticed the charming lady and nudged his friend, letting him know that the person they had been talking about was there. He was so embarrassed he could sink through the floor. She must have heard everything... However, judging by her indifferent face, she couldn't care less.

There was no trace of arrogance or self-confidence left in Arsen. He stared in astonishment at the girl in black. His heart began to beat a little faster, his emotions overwhelmed him. The beauty of the girl was mesmerizing. He had never seen anyone so charming, magical, enchanting. Arsen got dizzy. If ever slept with her or got a single kiss, the rest of the girls would always be a gray mass to him.

Arsen summoned up all his courage, rose from his seat and went to the girl. Hadn't he taken a couple of steps that a cold, gloomy feeling pierced his heart, and goosebumps went down his spine. Jeremy was right! The girl had a powerful aura!

He took another two steps, and the sensations doubled. Arsen's knees trembled. He was a miserable mortal, trying to approach a dangerous deity. His forehead was covered with beads of sweat. Arsen turned to the exit. He had a sudden urge to go to the toilet.

{Gods… She is incredible!} – Arsen thought feverishly, recalling her icy look and black sparkly eyes running along the lines of the book.

Jeremy was not surprised by his friend's reaction. He tried his luck yesterday, but a phantom threat frightened him out of his wits. The descendants of direct blood valued their lives too much, they would never make a desperate attempt to get to know a stranger.

Kyon noticed the boys read the same one word over and over, again and again. Their anxiety amused him. They looked like flanking an important exam. He continued leafing through the book, not paying attention to what was going on around him.

Kyon frowned when he started reading on different limits in this world. He had never heard of the restriction on five elements. He believed that those who could bend six elements were too rare, but the book proved the existence of a certain limit that didn't let anyone reach enlightenment. It wasn't about a bolt of lightning, as in his case! The book suggested that only the messenger of the goddess could overcome the barrier... She was above the limitations of heaven.

Kyon also found out there was a restriction on flying. It was incredibly difficult to stay in the air with the help of elemental energy. Even soaring was almost impossible. Only the powerful practitioners of the overlord phase (9) can move beyond limitations and fly at the expense of their incredible power (but rather slowly.)

{It means a jetpack or an ultra-magnetic engine would let me fly. I would become the envy of the world!} – Kyon stroked his chin, thinking of the dwarves' engineering abilities. No... Too poor technology.

At some point, the black-haired girl frowned. She couldn't stand the naughty child leafing through the books in search of pictures. She made this a conclusion based on Kyon's young age and the way he was leafing through the book. The quiet vibrations of the earth element emanating from him irritated her.

Two descendants of direct blood, responsive to any girl's movement, instantly understood everything and looked at each other. They rose from their seats and headed with a menacing look to the underdeveloped jerk who dared to bother the exceptional girl. If she appreciated their goodwill gesture, it would be a fairy tale come true.

Jeremy and Arsen approached Kyon and saw him take out a diamond token with the emblem of the Stone family. He blew on it and wiped it with his sleeve.

The boys were astounded. They hesitantly looked at each other and passed by. The boys were red in the face. How could they know that the jerk who was noisily flipping through the books was a Stone of the first rank? They'd rather sell out their grannies than get him and themselves into trouble. But who was he? They thought the patriarch Stones didn't have a fourth offspring? Or was it something they didn't know?

Kyon put the token back into the ring and continued to study the books, pleased with himself. The first rank had certain perks. It commanded respect and boosted opportunities.

Kyon moved on to the books on developed practitioners and their features, where he learned some useful information. He had long wondered how different empires maintained balance if the advantage in power was so uneven. Why couldn't some asshole from the top, dominant empire come to a weaker kingdom to be a king or a great master rather than staying nobody in their homeland? Why not organize courses in the top empires so that weak practitioners from Rosarrio could study there and enhance their development? The energy in the developed kingdoms was much denser, after all.

It turned out it was pointless to going abroad to boost the development. There was another way to gain power. For example, Saturn, the empire of the first rank, didn't hold its leading position because of the high energy density in the air (successful geolocation.) The immense heritage and high-quality resources, as well as numerous geniuses were the reason for that. High-rank unique bodies and valuable medicine increased the development to the unimaginable levels, which was unthinkable for the families in the Iron Throne. Besides, high energy density in the air is beneficial for the foetus. The babies have a higher chance to be born talented (this information isn't widely spread. It could be found in this restricted section of the library only.) Good genetics gives much more geniuses and their energy is way better than in the low-ranking empires. That's where the power comes from.

As for being a "wolf among the sheep," even if someone highly-developed arrived in the Iron Throne, unfortunately or fortunately, they would have no chance to dominate. The government, a priori with great power, hunts the immoral criminals down and uses the full force law, executing them. Therefore, even scum in powerful families prefers to stay at home rather than get into trouble among wimps.

Kyon discovered among books on advanced practitioners some more useful and disturbing information. It is known that anyone can reduce their development (power and strength of the body decrease proportionally), starting with the 2nd phase. It is more difficult to apply a subjugating formation on the practitioners of the 2nd phase. However, by the Imperial phase (7) the spiritual energy gets so intensified that the practitioners can reduce the development of their body or some part of it. Their spiritual senses are powerful and work non-stop (even when they sleep) as an analogue of scanning or echolocation, which means it's impossible to take them by surprise with a pistol or a sniper.

At present, Kyon was no one even compared to someone in the powerful royal phase. (6) Their powerful spiritual energy makes his weapons useless. Moreover, they can turn a heavy tank into a pile of scrap metal with a snap.

…

Kyon was reading until late at night.

*sigh*

The beautiful girl slammed the history book with irritation and left the library attic. The two descendants of direct blood timidly watched her go. The damned boy made it difficult to concentrate! However, she wasn't interested in shedding the blood of little puppies. She hoped that tomorrow his presence wouldn't disturb her reading.

«She left…» - Arsen said dreamily and a little sadly, watching her go.

«I told you she is awesome!»

«Yeah... I have never met anyone like her... When I go anywhere near her, I feel a deadly dagger at my throat. She must be a foreigner from a noble family! It's impossible to approach her, too scary! I wish I could prove myself to her, get her attention…» - Arsen frowned, turned to the boy who was still leafing through the book and headed to him with unkind intentions.

Jeremy stopped his friend, laying his hand on his shoulder. - «Don't do it, buddy…»

«The asshole was bothering her…» - Arsen hissed with righteous anger. He had always treated girls dismissively, and now he was ready to stand up for the stranger, even if it meant getting into major trouble.

«He's not worth it. A Stone of the first rank is not our level. I don't want any trouble. Let's go and think about tomorrow. We have to find a way to prove ourselves. Any ideas?»

The boys left the library, engrossed in the conversation.

Kyon did not have time to enjoy his solitude. At midnight, a guard came in and announced that the library was closed. He had to postpone reading until tomorrow...