.
I don't care-
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The palace was on top and interwoven in a way into a tree. Glowing lights illuminated the place and made for a wonderful sight. It was right out of a kid's dream to have treehouses like this. Or.. super tree huggers maybe.
Passing through the entrance and hallways that had more guards than it did a few minutes ago, Shen Yue kept his Astral Sense going to determine how many they were willing to have as a show of force.
'Hmm, just a 100 or so. Growing more by the second. Not bad at all.' Looking around without a care in the world, he directed Astral Sense towards Shen Xiu's group. 'At least they are fine and not wasting time. The guards are training while Dian Rei frets over Zhu Xiangjian. And Shen Xiu is working on documents of some sort.'
Hongyue felt even more worried at the fact Shen Yue was still not bothered by all the guards they passed. His three guards at least looked concerned while moving.
'They didn't even put up a protest when told their weapons had to be put away. Her eyes looked to the sword Shen Yue carried on his waist. 'What is with that weapon?' A sense of fear permeated from the sheath. This was because the Flaming Snake was starting to stir from its hibernation just a little.
Passing by a large golden statue that looked like a valkyrie, Shen Yue actually wanted to take it right then and there. But that could wait until later depending on how things progressed.
*Scrch! Scrch! Scrch!* A scratching noise could be heard louder and louder as they travelled. An older teen was currently getting whipped while chained to a podium by a few guards. The strikes were powerful but barely left a mark on him.
"Grr!" The 1st officer of Shen Yue's was ready to lose it again. He calmed down instantly seeing Shen Yue walk forward. "Master.."
"Be quiet." Shen Yue ordered. He moved to pass the guards and grabbed the young man by the face. Seeing the resentful eyes of Duan Jian, he actually gave a small sympathetic look. "I have .. heard of you. But I need to be certain."
Duan Jian couldn't look away as the flames that dance in Shen Yue's eyes hypnotized him in a way.
"You are interested in this lowly mongrel?" Hongyue asked disgustedly. "His mother was from our Silverwing Family, yet she got herself involved with someone from a rival family, the Black Dragon Family, and gave birth to him."
Duan Jian trembled a little remembering the story that was told several times to torment him.
"After the discovery, his parents were chased down and cornered. They committed suicide, leaving this bastard behind!"
"Grr!" The 2nd office almost lost it instead of the 1st. His spirit energy dripped out a little bit. Almost like a constant stream funneled through a small opening.
"I see, a mother that cared more about love than her child." Shen Yue frowns a little remembering what happened. "Such a pity. Did not have the strength to choose who she loved and yet had a child and a relationship despite what it meant. To go into the relationship and continue it... is very.."
*Ching! Ching!* Duan Jian shook against his chains. Torn between being angry and shame.
"Well, do you want to be free?" Shen Yue felt his Flame Vortex Core start to spin. "Such a waste to have you here like this. Don't you think?"
"...." Duan Jian remained silent.
"Please this way." An Elder of the Silverwing Family called out. Seeing as Shen Yue did not move, he became angry. "Guest, it is best you do not mess with the abomination." It almost came out as an order.
*Boom!* An explosion of air erupted out. The 2nd officers' right fist went out in a flicker jab. The whip-like motion sent the elder flying off into the distance. The elder was embedded into the wall unmoving.
"Give him this." Shen Yue tossed over an Elixer that healed wounds quickly. "Consider it the best apology you will get for him attacking like that. Like I said, still training." He didn't look away from Duan Jian while doing this.
"I.. want to be free.." Duan Jian said. The smile that Shen Yue gave him, he wanted to reconsider immediately. 'This man.. is a monster!'
*Fwoosh!* Blue-white flames engulfed Duan Jian in an instant. Once they died down, all that was left were scorched chains.
The Silver Wing Family members present thought he killed Duan Jian. But he just stored the young man away into his Internal Space to recover.
"Well, let's continue." Shen Yue wiped his hands looking towards Sikong Hongyue.
"Yes..." Hongyue was speechless for the most part. The fact that he "killed" Duan Jian so easily was one thing but the rate at which the injured healed was another. 'Such a wonderful elixer.'
"Wow!" Shen Yue voiced impressed. The king looked like Jabba the Hutt with wings. More fat than muscle, it was a wonder if he didn't have any sores from sitting to long. Might even have Hemroids despite being a cultivator to! "Three beautiful women tending to you while you waste away, nice."
The Fatman opened his eyes with a slight struggle. Hands moving away from the women that tended to him. Shen Yue smirked seeing that one even wore heels. It was such a bizarre thing.
"..Hongyue.. who are these people?" Sikong Yi gestured towards his daughter.
"Hmm, what a weak aura you have. How many different medicines have you taken to prolong your life like this?"
"Who is this insolent brat!?" Sikong Yi's voice rumbled. The women near him fled to safety. "Do you know who you are dealing with!?"
"A Legend rank that is dying and dying faster by the moment." Shen Yue said unbothered. He looked to Sikong Hongyue with sympathy. "He is not worth saving and will lead you to death along with the rest of your family is not to late."
"He is my father! I will not give up on him!" Hongyue said with a few tears in her eyes. "Can you treat him or not?!"
"I can but I have no reason to." Shen Yue shrugged. The haughty king was worse than the daughter currently. "Besides, the method I have will require the Fatman to lose some weight as well as the wings that sprouted out. The sickness is mostly coming from the wings after all. Not a good method your family uses I tell yah what."
"Get this spy of our enemies out of here!" Sikong Yi's belly shook along with his jowls. The armrest had a little dent from the strength he exuded. This only served to make things worse. "Kuff! Kuff!"
"This fat idiot should have died. And the medicines should have been used to elevate your other warriors." Shen Yue stroked the flames just a little. "A failure as a Family Head if I ever saw one. Trust me I have seen a lot."
Dark Blood splattered on the floor. The rousing of Sikong Yi's soul force with his anger caused his blood to flow in reverse a little. His anger actually causing a heart attack that was not helping at all.
*Woom!* Shen Yue sent a small pulse from the Metal Seed towards the man as he and the guards backed away. It targeted the heart and disrupted the rhythm even more so.
"Father!" Hongyue and the Elders tended to him quickly. She turned to Shen Yue pleading. Her anger completely in check. "Please help him! I will swear I will do anything you want!"
"Sir..." One of the officers watched as Shen Yue pulled out an Elixer. Mouth closed seeing it was one of the dangers that required a strong will to survive them.
"This is extremely potent so give hi only a drop/" Shen Yue ordered. They would not listen, which was fine for him anyway. With the situation turning dire for the Sikong Family head, they were excused for the time being.
.
Death with out doing much-
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Sikong Hongyue came over depressed. Anger that her father refused to give Shen Yue a chance but also angry that he died. Hearing from an outsider that all the members with wings would have the same fate was not pleasant to hear.
"My.. father.. is dead!" Sikong Hongyue actually looked like a fragile teenage girl in this moment. It was almost touching. "Soon our enemies will find out and things will turn worse! Your were right about just a drop. He was fine at first. Then feeling the power father took the whole bottle."
The three officers had to control themselves to keep from smiling. It was very hard to do so.
"There is a way to help the situation." Shen Yue rubbed his chin giving the impression he was thinking hard on the matter. But he already had plans to try out. "Hand over the body of your father and a few others who have died and I can perfect the method to keep the rest of you alive. As well as boost your cultivation."
"Hand over his body... are you insane!" If Sikong Hongyue could set fire with her eyes, Shen Yue would be a flame right now. Which wouldn't do much damage to him really considering. "He hasn't been dead more than an hour and.. and you..." She started to cry and hiccup. Turning into a right mess.
"Hmm..." Shen Yue turned away and waved his hand. Out popped Duan Jian. Except a big change had taken place. His body had been cleaned up a good bit from the scratches. But his wings looked no different than that of the members of the Silver Winged Family. The spikes at the top and the few leathery traces were gone. "..well, what will you do?"
Sikong Hongyue was much distraught to notice death was actually in front of her. But her pitiful appearance made Duan Jian's anger flow away. Well, his hatred really. The clothes that Shen Yue gave him fit well. His outer coat was draped over the crying teen.
"Of all the things." The 1st officer mumbled. He was currently doing handstands with weights strapped to his thighs and feet. The other two were currently reflecting in deep cultivation.
"A kind young man.... foolish but to each their own." Shen Yue stretched his Astral Sense out towards the mines.
.
Elsewhere-
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The Sacred Family was begrudgingly enjoying their victory of the Heavenly Marks family. On one hand, Shen Fei defeated Nie Li after the other members in the family lost to him. The loss of money from the previous fights were negligible at best.
The Elders were just happy Shen Fei was currently under control. But it was short-lived as the Patriarch of the family, Shen Hong stepped out of isolation. He did not break through into the Legendary Rank.
"Tell me how you allowed this to happen!" Shen Hong was furious. His right-hand scratching at the throne's armrest. His left arm stroking his beard to apply a slight measure of calm. It was not working at all. "Sheng Ming, oh Shen Ming how you have failed me."
"I am sorry Lord Patriarch!" Shen Ming didn't dare to look up. "I was only hoping to teach Shen Yue a lesson and never thought it would spiral out of control as it has!"
"The resulting actions even pushed several families to look at us closer." Shen Yan reported angrily. "Several would be allies have seperated from us completely. The Dark Guild has received a lot of pressure and was forced to raid and trespass elsewhere. From my contact, they planned on leaving Glory City alone for a while. To many members of the Snow Wind Family have gained strength over the last few months."
"And how is that?"
"Shen Yue..." Shen Ming trembled on the floor. ".. revealed himself as an accomplished Alchemist after leaving the Family."
"Why didn't you drag him back for discipline!"
"We couldn't!" Shen Ming looked up. All he saw was pure rage greeting him. "Gulp!" He immediately put his head back down. "His strength and funds increased quickly. Selling to the City Lord's Mansion and the Alchemist Association most likely helped with that. Then there is Shen Xiu.."
"Where is my sister?"
"With Shen Yue." Shen Yan answered. "She is also quite powerful. In fact, I think she has stepped into the Black Gold Rank already. Her techniques as well as her Demon Spirit are powerful. Whoever is backing the Dark Moon Family is powerful."
As they continued over everything that happened, Shen Hong went through several emotions. Ranging from pride, anger, sadness, back to anger, and finally resting on disappointment.
"Shen Fei is practicing a forbidden art that will lead to his death, we must take care of him first. Send word to our men in the Alchemist Association that we need someone to come over to help." No one moved for a few seconds. "What happened to our men in the Association?"
"Most have gone missing." Shen Yan answered. "Not a single trace of several of our informants all over. the city. "For the most part, we tried to not get involved in their matters, especially since.."
"Since what?"
"Since they were scared." Shen Fei walked in dragging two guards that blocked the chamber. They were very dead. "My little brother defeated quite a few members of the Dark Guild and a massive wave of Demon Beasts at the ruins. He will be quite the opponent to beat."
*Thump!* Both bloody guards were dropped. Their faces twisted in torment from the pain Shen Fei inflicted on them.
"Do you think you can defeat him?" Shen Hong wanted no more failures. Shen Fei nodded confidently. "Very well then. Then let me see what you have learned boy." Feeling his authority in danger he did what he did best. Punished the weak to inflict fear.