First impressions are important

Uneasiness broke out as the earth trembled. Many adventurers who just left for the Sleeping Lake Forest hurriedly returned. Most experienced adventuress would connect the earth's rumbling with some beings of higher cultivation. If they were humans they would be fighting, if they were beasts it might be enough if they just walked around. In either of those cases hiding in Thobar Bionics camp would be the sanest thing to do.

However, someone didn't think this way. Elena had never felt such an intense reaction from her Sacred Fate Body. Although their family had always been questioning what counted as an opportunity to their constitution, following their instinct generally let them emerge as the winner from most situations. Therefore, the young woman wasn't able to keep her usual calm. Without talking to anyone she instantly flew up into the sky, racing towards the epicenter with all her might. Her protector was startled but quickly followed behind her.

Elena crossed the Sleeping Lake Forest at the highest speed she could muster. She ignored the beasts roaring at her from the ground, and even flew straight through a swarm of bird-like beasts without stopping. Although she heard the exasperated shout from her old protector behind here, she knew she couldn't turn around or she might regret it forever. From the corner of her eye Elena even saw Dragon Tail's messenger advancing, but he seemed too careful and was soon left behind.

After a few minutes of flight, Elena was suddenly confused, as her body screamed danger signals at her. Her whole being was filled with fear, as she instinctively turned around. She observed all the beasts on the ground escaping in every direction. Even her loyal protector turned hurriedly and flew away. This however, actually made her confused. If there was one thing she was certain about, it was that her protector would defend her with his life. The young woman slowed down a bit and tried to listen to her body.

She carefully inspected the signals her constitution sent her. She thought about It for a few seconds bevor she realized, that the intense danger she felt didn't come from her constitution. It seemed to be something on a deeper level, placing the idea of running away in her mind. Listening closely to her body, she still felt an enormous opportunity before her.

Elena's face took on a look of determination as she resolutely turned around and flew towards the earthquake.

Suddenly the young woman came to a stop. Just now she felt like she flew through some kind of transparent bubble, as she almost couldn't believe her eyes what lay behind it. In front of her a mountain was moving. An enormous mass of stone and rock stood there in a humanoid posture. Its head looked down on the whole Sleeping Lake Forest from at least a few hundred meters of height. It stood on two massive legs, looking like pillars capable of supporting the heavens. All over its body small crystals could be seen, which she recognized as the scarce Ordur Gems.

The young woman was in awe as she observed this giant. Her eyes slowly took this massive being in, before landing on the two humans standing on the golem's raised hand. With her eyesight she was able to see the finest details over enormous distances. Therefore, it was easy for to make out that one of the two humans was the person she had been searching for. Her happiness only lasted for a second however, as she watched in horror while the golem's hand slowly closed.

Bai Jingshen was amazed as well. When he and Sam had finished their business, the overseer had told them it was time to go. Bai Jingshen would have expected a lot, from simply being thrown out to being teleported far away. However, what happened next left him in awe, as the crystal above their cave suddenly vanished. Afterwards enormous rumbling could be heard as Sam and Bai Jingshen suddenly felt the cave around them moving.

The former emperor quickly stabilized himself and realized that the biggest part of their cave was pulled into the air. As one after another rubble began to crash down from one side of the cave, the two young men finally realized that they were in the hand of a massive golem. This creature was like a huge version of the golem's they fought earlier. They naturally understood that this monstrous being was the overseer they had been talking to the whole time. Bai Jingshen was excited just looking at this kind senior, as he imagined what power he must possess.

The stone golem slowly stood up, sending earthquakes throughout the Sleeping Lake Forest. Looking down one would notice that a massive hole had appeared. The young men noticed how this hole slowly filled with the elves' water. They could already imagine how those beasts would fight over the territory here.

Bai Jingshen heard a cracking sound above him, prompting him to look upwards. He saw the golem slowly unfolding its hand, looking down on them with two of those massive crystals in place of its eyes. Bai Jingshen assumed that the position of a 'head' didn't even really matter to this being, as it didn't bother to create any facial features on its head. Maybe even its eyes were only to pretend, so it looked slightly more familiar to humans.

Once again, the former emperor heard the golem's voice in his head. It was telling them that it would erase all clues of them ever being here, before setting them down on the forest's edge. Bai Jingshen thanked it for its thoughtfulness before readying himself to say their goodbyes.

Just as the golem closed its hand however, it already noticed someone coming closer.

Bai Jingshen was also surprised, as he heard an almost pleading female voice:

"Stop. Please stop Senior Shi. If those two have disturbed your rest, I will apologize. I am sure they didn't do it on purpose. Can you let them off just this once?"

The two young men were surprised. How did this young woman get here? And she even pleaded with an obviously enormously mighty being on their behalf? Why would she put herself into such danger?

Bai Jingshen tried to observe this woman as she slowly flew closer. Although the former emperor had seen many beautiful women in his lifetime, he was amazed when his eyes saw this valiant woman. Her perfectly sculpted face and eyes showed a determination, which he seldom saw even among the strongest cultivators. Coupled with her thin lips, her sword-like brows and her long, black hair bound to a ponytail, she gave of a feeling of confidence and authority. Her whole appearance was underscored by her tight, black state-of-the-art armor.

Although her appearance was outstanding, what really shocked Bai Jingshen that this young woman was already at the Nascent Soul Realm. He knew that many cultivators looked young, but over the years he became fairly confident in roughly guessing cultivators age. From Elena's whole demeanor Bai Jingshen wouldn't estimate her age to be over thirty years old. In the Great Cultivation World this would make her a top genius even among the strongest sects.

Only when the woman stopped less than hundred meters away, Bai Jingshen was able to recognize the Thobar Bionics' logo on her chest, before she elegantly bowed down towards the stone golem. Although this situation seemed to be a misunderstanding, how could the young man not get a good first impression of this woman, who pleaded an immortal being for his safety. The former emperor looked up towards the stone golem, getting the impression as it was in deep thought. Only a while later its voice sounded again:

"You… called me Shi? Have… you… seen others of… my tribe?"

"Yes, Senior Shi. From time to time some stone golems awaken. The few times someone spoke to them, they seemed in a hurry to leave. Once again, I am deeply sorry if my employees have disturbed your slumber. Please let them leave."

The stone golem's gigantic head turned towards the two young men before speaking in their head:

"Do you… recognize this woman? I… will just do… as you say."

This time it was Sam who spoke first. However, Bai Jingshen was surprised to see the same admiration in his eyes, with which Sam looked at him before they grew closer. He suddenly realized that he wasn't the only one Sam idolized.

"Yes. Of course, we know her. Senior… Shi, this is our boss. Elena Thobar."

With this new information Bai Jingshen took another look at the young woman. He had heard only good things about her so far, as all the employees seemed to admire her greatly. He might already understand why. Just like many cultivators in his world wished for a strong sect master and a successor with a lot of potential, many people in the Rising Force World also hoped for their boss to go far and carry them along.

Elena herself was surprised at how freely her recruit spoke to senior Shi. Still keeping her head lowered, she tried to get a look at the young man she hadn't given much attention until now. She instantly felt a comfortable feeling surrounding this man, and surprisingly her constitution reacted strongly, too. Obviously she had to take good care of both of those men, as they would surely help her in the future. Suddenly the young woman was startled, as she heard the stone golem's voice in her head:

"I… see. The laws of… fate… they love… you. Keep listening… and all your… ambitions will… be fulfilled. Since you… found your way… here. Let me… give you something. We… will surely meet… again."