Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

The three days went by swiftly. During this time, Yan Zaizen had cultivated briefly, once more tempering his body towards a greater success stage. With his Dao amplifying his speed, he had already touched upon the peak Initial Success Stage. With a little push, not only would his physical body become closer to a true Herculean, but his vital energies would become more abundant and powerful.

The simple fact that the first level of the Herculean Immortal Method required zero resources was a blessing. While it required an immense will and once to withstand an astonishing amount of pain, its self-efficient starter path made it very friendly towards the poor.

At the moment, outside of a few coins, Yan Zaizen was thoroughly poor. His wallet had been eaten in these three days as he and the little white puppy splurged at the local restaurants. The shock of his appetite was heart-shaking. After consuming breakfast sufficient for twenty men, his hunger had only been minimally sated. 

As for the white puppy, it was even more monstrous. Yan Zaizen had essentially paid for the entire restaurant's food storage and it cleaned every plate placed before it. This furthered his belief that this white puppy that was the pinnacle of cuteness was abnormal. 

The disbelieving and horrified stares the two received only increased day after day. While it was a blessing that he bought out everything at a reasonable price, he and the white puppy received a nickname within the city's restaurant managers - The White & Amber Gluttons.

Yan Zaizen's amber-gold eyes were incredibly particular. In fact, there was no one in the entire city who had his eyes nor its shine. Those distinctive eyes made many contemplate who his parents could be. 

Yan Zaizen soon arrived at the platform with the white puppy snuggled in his arms. When he did, he noticed a crowd of people gathering. These people belonged to the families and clans of the young children who were accepted, this included those who passed the combat trial to enter the Soaring Cloud Sect.

When he made his appearance, the gazes and whispers of many were directed towards him. 

"Isn't that the orphaned thief?"

"Shhhhh! Did you not hear that he's a body refiner? He may seem weak, but his strength is greater than an initial-Essence Formation Expert!"

"What? Really?!" 

He merely maintained his casual and calm half-smile, glancing here and there with a hint of casual air. It was as if this scene nor these people could affect his mind. The white puppy's pure black eyes roamed as it stretched its maw at people in a threatening manner, but it came off abnormally cute and innocent. There were a few girls in the crowd who let loose "awwws" when they saw this.

If it wasn't for Yan Zaizen's mysterious existence, they may have already come forward to pet the little pup for three days and three nights. In fact, Yan Zaizen's looks were incredibly great on a masculine spectrum, making him already cause a few young girls in the springtime of their youth to blush with a mere gaze.

His musculature and physique that was both tall and well-proportioned made him have a dominating air. This only accentuated his aura.

In the far off distance, Long Bailin was standing beside a white-haired elder with an extraordinary authorial air that could only be birthed by being within the upper-echelon of societal standards for decades. He had bandages wrapped around his neck and left arm, while his eyes were gloomy and somewhat listless. 

"Seems like Long Wulin truly gave him a set-back," Yan Zaizen quietly thought as he noticed how Long Bailin was standing beside the elder while looking here and there. It seemed he was terrified and relying on this figure to maintain his sense of dignity. 

He couldn't help but think, "If I awakened the Black Hole and stayed in Meteorite City, would Yan Jinzen have become like this?" His eyes flashed with nostalgia as he arrived beside the platform and calmly sat at the edge. Since arriving here, in the place he was born, he found that his memories of the past kept throbbing to life. 

All these memories brought about pointless 'what ifs' and they only sought to occupy his time without end. His early life was not ideal. He was a Non-Entity born without talent to cultivate the Essence Path. He knew this was because the Non-Entity didn't belong to the Thirty-Three Heavens but the Non-Verse. It was the Non-Verse's Laws that he was most attuned with. If it wasn't for the Black Hole, maybe he would've been forced into mediocrity.

Just as his memories kept diving further, Long Wulin arrived. However, he was alone. His expression was indifferent but one could tell he was gloomy from his aura. 

"Oh?" Yan Zaizen realized that the beautiful immortal fairy that was no longer beside Long Wulin. In fact, he realized that she never took the examination despite her strength and talent being far beyond Long Wulin. "Could she be entering another sect? Now that Long Wulin is joining a sect, she couldn't accompany him any longer?"

The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was likely. If the stories were parallel, then Yan Jinzen and himself would've joined the Soaring Cloud Sect, while Ya Qinqan joined the Water Veil Sect.

"Wait…" he shook his head. History may repeat, but it was never the same. His forceful comparison would only shift his thoughts and influence his actions. If he truly thought about it, wasn't he Long Bailin in this current situation? However, there were differences so there was no need to overthink it.

Bruuuum!

A sound of air trembling resounded, causing the gazes of everyone to turn and witness the arrival of a skyship. It was white and grey. At the hull was the image of a sword with velocity lines indicating its rise into golden clouds. It was slightly animated and released a grand aura that could develop reverence and fear in one's heart.

Yan Zaizen's eyes narrowed. He turned to see Old Man Bo standing in the crowd in a black martial arts robe with a white inner. He looked fierce and like a prestigious fighter, but his mouth was agape as he observed the skyship's descent. 

Yan Zaizen understood that sentiment. When he was younger, he had never seen a skyship before. So, witnessing this grand skyship capable of housing hundreds soar through the skies, felt surreal and amazing.

Yan Zaizen shouted, "Old Man Bo!" His voice was piercing as it started Old Man Bo out of his amazement. He turned to see the youth that he had known since he was merely a child. He had truly grown up and different. While his qi aura was non-existent, he released an unfathomable presence and his eyes gave off endless majesty. 

He felt as if he was watching the future Emperor. As for what he was an Emperor of, he had no idea, but he felt it would not be a tiny city like this. 

After reconciling with Yan Zaizen's abrupt offer that was more like a demand, he was ready. Even if it was just to witness the Soaring Sword Sect's extraordinary sights, he was fine with traveling along. In fact, he was already nearing his fifties, and with his current cultivation base, he didn't have many years left. As an orphan, he spent most of his life developing under the safety of Meteorite City.

Outside of visiting neighboring cities, he had never seen the greater world.

With a step, his journey would begin.

After he arrived beside Yan Zaizen, Yan Zaizen merely smiled. The skyship soon arrived as it released pulsating waves of energy that buffeted the faces of all those present. When it landed upon the platform, the examiner peered over to the side and indifferently said, "All those who've passed the exam and their slaves or servants, come aboard." 

The examiner saw Old Man Bo and changed his words to include passengers. This shocked many as they hadn't known that even servants could come along. This caused many to realize there was an opportunity here. A few parents had stealthily relegated themselves as slaves or servants to their children as they brought them along.

"How shameless!" Many in the crowd called out, but the envy in their eyes were clear.

A staircase was generated from energy that reached the deck of the skyship to the edge of the four platform's directions.

Yan Zaizen lightly chuckled. Without hesitating, he brought Old Man Bo along. After arriving on the skyship, he saw the female disciple who manned the Heaven banner calmly look towards Yan Zaizen before revealing a sweet smile. 

"Greetings Junior Brother, I'm Han Bingyu. I'll be showing you your room." She was incredibly polite as she spoke, her eyes flashing with a light of shyness to accentuate her beauty. 

Yan Zaizen laughed internally. This woman had no interest in him, yet she placed on this front in a matter of a second. It was impressive. However, he didn't interfere with her machinations to set an impression and likely get him to pursue her. 

Old Man Bo was lost in the incredible design and materials the skyship was made from. In fact, the air seemed cleaner on the skyship and he took several hefty inhales. He wasn't the only one as the eyes of these slaves(parents, uncles, aunts, and lovers) were gleaming with all sorts of light effusing tangible amazement. 

After finding his room, he settled himself as he looked at the window. He didn't bother to inspect the room much, and only found the bed and sat. He placed the white puppy on the pillow and calmly started to cultivate.

The journey wouldn't take more than three days. In that time, they would finally arrive in the Soaring Sword Sect.