Against Heaven's Will

In the World of Cultivation, just as the name suggested, the most important was Cultivation but it wasn't just one world limited to Heaven Realm and Earth Realm. It was a complex of hundreds of Main Realms spilled all over the Space where strength ruled. 

The strong were always praying on the weak and to stop that, the weak could only work hard to become strong as well. Unfortunately, it wasn't always the case. Sometimes working hard was just not enough as the environment was favoring strong Cultivators. 

No matter how much some people trained, there would always be someone stronger with already established power. 

Xuefeng and Tianshi cultivated hard for the tournament.

Four Devils trained their new gang, managing the camp to prepare it for the next day's departure. 

Yiren and Lisa traveled back to the Hidden Leaf Village with the new addition to their team, sleeping in Yiren's arms. 

Nuwa cultivated and improved her soul despite hating this boring activity, treating it as a chore but when thinking of Xuefeng, she could only suck it in and continue. 

Wu began spreading her influence in the Trade Union, earning people's respect with her experience. 

While all of them pushed forward and increased their power, something out of their power was happening in the Upper Realm. It wasn't a surprise that the Upper Realm controlled the Lower Realms in one way or another and this time wasn't different. Even if Xuefeng acted low-key and hid his activities as much as he could, his presence was like a giant sun for the Upper Realm. 

"Master, we found it. We detected the Elemental Bracelet activity in the Heaven Realm. Shall we pursue the new Elemental Bracelet Holder? It seems he didn't collect many Elemental Stones yet as its power is still relatively low, so we can still claim it easily." 

A servant came in front of the wooden throne, kneeling on the floor as he reported. They were in the forest with a throne room engraved directly inside one of the trees. The upper half of the throne was filled with darkness but a person's legs and arms were visible. He sat on the throne without any movement and only his voice resounded within the room. 

"Finally… The day has come… Is Little Liu still in the Heaven Realm or do I need to send my Avatar down?" 

The voice was manly and deep, sounding profound as if the person experienced a lot in their life. The Servant even shuddered at the sheer pressure coming from it, even though there was no malicious intent in it. 

"Master's Disciple is still in the Heaven Realm. He is preparing to break through to the God Realm. It should still take him a few months or up to a year to do so," the Server replied in detail. "Should I notify him?"

"Yes. Ask him to help you get it before he Ascends to the God Realm," the Master ordered. "My Avatar is still busy searching for the third Stone." 

"I will pass the message to Disciple Liu then," the Servant replied, touching the floor with his forehead. He didn't leave till his master let him. 

"Go. I want to see the Elemental Bracelet soon. My two babies cannot wait anymore." 

The Servant couldn't avoid glancing at the two giant crystals on his masters' fingers as he raised himself to leave. Those were his master's two babies. 

Ether and Earth Elemental Stones. 

Those two weren't the only ones who had similar conversations. Many already knew about the appearance of the Elemental Bracelet as it was the only Godly Treasure currently on loose, with no owner yet confirmed. The moment Xuefeng used it for the first time in the Heaven Realm, tens of Cultivators got alarmed, beginning to act. 

After all, the potential immortality after collecting all Elemental Stones was enough to entice everyone. Even if it was just a rumor if they can control all Elements, can anyone ever kill them? The power was just too much to ignore. 

When the Servant left his Master's room in the tree, he didn't leave far away, flying to his own dwelling instead. He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. Qi instantly burst out from his body and formed into himself, creating a perfect replica of him. Without moving, he severed part of his soul and let it flow inside the clone. 

"Seems good I guess," the clone spoke in the Servant's voice as it opened its eyes. 

The main perk of reaching the Celestial Stage was Spirit Severing ability, allowing one to split part of their soul away without hurting it. One could place this piece inside their clone, creating an avatar that looked exactly like them and could function as long as it had enough Qi. 

There was little difference between a normal clone and an Avatar. Both had similar capabilities with the only difference being the control distance. A clone could be manipulated only at a certain distance while the Avatar could even move to a different Realm and still be manageable. The Soul inside the clone's body made it more independent. 

"Let's see… Spirit Land Heaven Realm…" the Servant muttered as his main body pulled out a portable teleportation station in the form of a flat disk, and threw it on the floor. 

Instantly, the space above the disk rippled, creating a portal which closed right when the clone hopped inside of it. Entering the Heaven Realm wasn't hard. All one needed was a suppressed Cultivation to that of a Celestial Stage and they were ready to go. 

Heavens tried to regulate the unfair rules of the Realms by not letting anyone stronger enter or stay inside the Lower Realms but there were still ways to cheat it, using an Avatar for example. After all, even with their suppressed Cultivation, their skills and experience stayed the same.

———

"Hmmm? Elemental Bracelet?" Sect Master Liu couldn't help but frown at the strange order coming from his master. "Can't he get it by himself? Doesn't he know I'm in the middle of breaking through?" 

Sect Master Liu wasn't an old man like Xuefeng imagined but instead a grown man of healthy build with his face not having even one wrinkle. It was firm and spotless with the look of someone in his early thirties. 

He was just in the middle of his cleansing baths when he spotted an intruder breaking through into his personal territory. Only his daughter and Mia could come even near his house and the intruder's presence was much different than theirs. 

Jumping out of the herbal bath, Sect Master Liu couldn't help but curse, knowing all the expensive herbs would go to waste. He only cursed more when he recognized the person, realizing he wasted the herbs for nothing. 

It was the Servant of his Old Master. 

"Yes, Master knows very well but Master's Avatar is currently busy searching for the third Elemental Stone so he asked you to help me get it for him before you Ascend to the God Realm," the Servant explained, showing a bitter expression. It was obvious based on Sect Master Liu's face that he didn't want to do it. 

"Damn, who does he think I am? I'm busy Cultivating!" Sect Master Liu exploded with anger. "I don't care about the Elemental Bracelet one bit. It's a Master who is stupidly obsessed about it. If he stopped wasting his time with it, he would have surpass his peers a long time ago." 

Sect Master Liu's eyes showed no greed as he wasn't a fool. Anyone who desired the Elemental Bracelet was clearly suicidal. He would rather give up the overwhelming power in exchange for being left alone by tens of other experts that would try to hunt him down. 

"Disciple Liu, you know how Master is. We can't do anything else other than listening to him. If not for the limitations and the lack of resources, I would do it by myself. Disciple Liu has House of Dragons that can help us localize our target, I don't," the Servant said with a shrug. "I'm sure Master will reward you with some skill once you complete the mission. On the other hand, he will definitely be disappointed if you reject helping me." 

"Damn it! Wasting my time again…" Sect Master Liu cursed as his fist tightened. "Where is that Elemental Bracelet right now?" 

Sect Master Liu was mad but there was nothing he could do. Even though he hated his Master's guts, he helped him a lot by teaching him back in the days so that was the least he could do to help him. The only issue, it wasn't the first time his Master asked him for favors. 

Sect Master Liu was already done being ordered, especially with the status he had in the Heaven Realm. 

"I pinpointed the location to the Water Land Capital. I know it's still a wide range but that's the most I can do," the Servant informed. 

"This is the last favor I'm giving him. Tell Master not to ask me anything anymore. I will reject it," Sect Master Liu called out firmly. 

"I will pass him the message," the servant nodded. "When are we leaving?" 

"We?" Sect Master Liu raised his eyebrows. "You are not going anywhere. You will stay here and wait for the good news. I'm always working solo. If I see you leave the mountain, I will kill you first and Master can forget about the Elemental Bracelet." 

"…" the servant didn't seem to know how to comment but Sect Master Liu didn't let him. He left his house and smacked forward with his palm. Bright golden light spread out and created a barrier surrounding the whole house, locking the Servant inside. 

"Fuck…" Sect Master Liu cursed once again under his nose as he flew away, not bothered about the Servant anymore before crying out at the sky. "My Queen, I am out! Come meet me!"