Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

"..." A wave of silence flooded the surroundings. Old Man Bo and his fellow guards were shocked by Yan Zaizen's words and declaration. Was this little thief who could only escape their pursuit actually saying he would leave to the Soaring Sword Sect?

Old Man Bo frowned, his posture stiffened. "What are...talking about?" His expression and gleam in his eyes revealed confusion.

Yan Zaizen smilingly said, "I've just been accepted as an Outer Disciple for the Soaring Sword Sect. I want you to join me. Will you?" His tone was unhurried and filled with sincerity. Old Man Bo had essentially saved his little life before, and this debt couldn't be ignored.

Old Man Bo looked at his fellow guards, then saw the expressions of envy on the faces of the crowd. "You're serious?" He asked in disbelief.

How could he not be skeptical? The Soaring Sword Sect was one of the top cultivation sects in Presba with insanely high requirements for their disciples. However, they boasted the five qualities needed for a cultivator's rise: Guidance, Environment, Legacies, Protection and Resources. 

These five qualities were a must-have for cultivators. Otherwise, they would be relegated to mediocrity for their entire lives. An example was him and many of the guards. 

His cultivation base was merely at the mid-Qi Cyclone yet he was already in his mid-forties. Similar to Yan Zaizen, he was an orphan who grew up without any of these five qualities and only rose to his current status due to a minor fortune blessed onto him by a Lieutenant of the City Lord's military. 

In comparison, Long Bailin was born to the Long Clan, the top clan of Meteorite City and had reached the late-Qi Cyclone Realm at sixteen years old. The disparity was horrifying. 

Yan Zaizen could see his confusion which brought about a stall in his brain, so he only declared, "From henceforth, You'll be my protector and butler." His eyes flashed with an amber-gold light as his Dao Aura quietly spread. As a weakling of this grand world, Old Man Bo merely nodded in acceptance.

The puppy in Yan Zaizen's arms stretched its tiny jaws and seemed to let loose a yawning smile. "Good!" Yan Zaizen calmly nodded. Old Man Bo was a good man, and he had accrued enough karmic connection to be considered a friend.

"Settle your affairs, be here in three days for departure." Yan Zaizen's tone was calm yet held an indisputable authority innate within his voice. The guards were shocked as he merely walked off with a puppy in his hands. They had forgotten themselves, but considering Yan Zaizen's words of being a disciple of the Soaring Sword Sect, they would later thank the heavens that they didn't take action.

Not too far away, Long Wulin calmly observed Yan Zaizen's back as he walked off. This enigma of a youngster was shocking. In fact, he had recollections about Yan Zaizen. He was a notorious thief that had no name. He stole from countless minor families and clans, but they could do little due to his frightening ingenuity and planning. 

The young maiden as beautiful as snow in a winter bliss eyes shone with a mysterious light. 

"He's...odd." Was her only comment, but it caused Long Wulin's eyes to widen and start a little. Odd? To think this mysteriously profound beauty beside him would give Yan Zaizen such a vague yet interesting appraisal. He couldn't help but want to ask more, but she responded curtly.

"I can't answer you. Just, be cautious of him. It'll be best not to offend. At least, the current you shouldn't." After those words, she moved with her beautiful and slender white legs. Before long, she left a dazed Long Wulin with only her exquisite back figure as she returned to their dwelling.

Long Wulin took in that backside figure and wryly smiled. This girl was far too beautiful and extraordinary to be in this little city. Even now, he could barely comprehend why she was with him. Without delay, he hastily followed after her footsteps.

Long Bailin gritted his teeth off to the side. His eyes flashed with hatred as he gazed at Long Wulin. "I'll prove to everyone what trash you are!" To him, Yan Zaizen was impressive, but he already possessed a strength he couldn't even consider. He had a hard fought battle with that Earth banner disciple, but Yan Zaizen essentially one-shotted him. Therefore, everything was focused on his emotions towards Long Wulin.

In the upcoming three days, Long Wulin and Long Bailin would have an exchange that would only further their enmity. In the end, Long Wulin will overcome all obstacles and send Long Bailin packing, his life barely kept intact in retreat.

However, this wasn't their story.

In Yan Zaizen's humble abode, the abandoned warehouse, Yan Zaizen lounged around in contemplation. The little white puppy was moving about energetically, going here and there while jumping and rolling about. It was a comforting sight that could ease the tension in one's soul.

"I'll need a few months to reach the Perfection Stage of the Nascent Herculean Physique. At that point, I should be strong enough to fight against True Essence cultivators. That's the peak of this planet in the Xiantu Realm. I need to gather Heavenly Law Liquid to rapidly progress into the Second Level, Grand Herculean Physique." As he contemplated his future actions, he felt the gathering of Heavenly Law Liquid will be a little hassle.

For now, he simply needed to slowly cultivate and gather sufficient resources. As for joining the Soaring Cloud Sect, it was merely an impulsive decision. Furthermore, the sect could offer soul materials such as soul stones. With it, he could recover his soul cultivation.

While this was a new soul, it contained his Pseudo Grand Dao and memories of his introspective comprehension. The moment his memories were awakened, he could be considered to have reached the Paragon Soul Realm once again.

It was this very fact that allowed his perception to track and react to the Heavenly Annihilation Light movements. Unfortunately, if his soul was given an evaluation of total energy, it would be one trillionth of his original soul. It was pathetically low.

"My Heavenly Dao Seed still needs time to mature into a Dao Heart," he placed his hand to his chin and muttered. The Heavenly Dao Seed was merely a fragment of his Pseudo Grand Dao and wasn't its fullest in terms of strength. In fact, it could be considered as an Imparted Dao of his origin soul to this new one.

In the cultivation world, developing a Dao was fundamentally and incomparably difficult. The vast, vast majority of cultivators throughout all Thirty-Three Heavens used Bestowed Daos, which enabled them to cultivate the Heavenly Path. Those that can create their own Nascent Dao, overcome the resulting tribulation, and then fully form it were such a minority that a billion people in the entire 27th Heaven would be high-balling the numbers.

To compare, the entire Xiantu Realm had trillions of people, whereas the Sirius Titan Realm and quadrillions of people. As for the entire 27th Heaven which had hundreds of thousands of realms, one could simply understand how horribly low True Daos were, especially amongst Heavenly Cultivators.

His Heavenly Dao Seed was somewhat special, making it not a Bestowed Dao yet not a True Dao, hence its seed state. It was created using the Grand Soul, Dao Heart Divine Art, so it had Dao Heart traits.

When his Heavenly Dao Seed matured, becoming a Dao Heart, he might be able to merge with his original Dao Heart to create something incredible! After all, the basis of the Grand Soul, Dao Heart was creating two identical Daos from the same source and transforming into an entity that can devour other Daos and strengthen their own Dao and Soul.

It was miraculous and devilish. 

It reminded him of the Black Hole. 

"Maybe I have an affinity for devouring?" He released a bitter smile as he realized he needed to devour Daos to help his Heavenly Dao Seed fully mature. If he had more Dao Energy, he could further accelerate his Herculean Path's Immortal Herculean Physique. Thinking up to here, he realized what his objective was. He realized that, regardless of when, his fate was constantly entangled with a single act.

Yes. It could only be one thing:

Plunder!