(An: Sorry for late upload. This new year has got me busy as hell with friends and families i can't even be on my phone till close to midnight from all the parties I'm going to. Which is why this chapter was so rushed. Tried to finish it before midnight but failed.)
(Floating Cloud City: Main Entrance)
(3rd Person Pov)
Acnologia after stating such a bold and yet terrifying statement, he was in an extra good mood. He had wanted to enact out one of his fantasies to be able to declare such a statement with an anime characters power, and Acnologia was a great choice for whoever reincarnated him.
'Aura farming is always fun.'
Acnologia appeared behind the scholar hired as he questioned.
"Excuse me. Are you the scholar hired for someone named Acnologia?"
The elderly man jumped in fright, as he turned around. Yu Julie was the elderly man's name. And he had been hired by the sect of the Frozen Cloud Asgard to help teach a young man by the name of Acnologia in a backwater city known as Floating Cloud City.
His job was simple. For 12 hours a day every week, he had to come to this city as a hired scholar. He was told to teach the history of this world and that's pretty much it. He was curious who was it he had to teach that would have the Frozen Cloud Asgard of all sects actually help, when the person he's teaching will be a man not a woman based off descriptions by the sect. All that he was informed of was the man's physical description, and the place he was living at. Although the distance was great, the Frozen Cloud Asgard had brought him here personally. However, their conditions were obvious.
He gets paid to do his job, however, he must never reveal who sent him. If word got out, he would find himself turned into an ice cube. He was wise enough to understand it's better to return home to his family in one piece than in ice cubes. Now meeting his "student" Yu Jueli couldn't help but wonder just who was this man? He seemed like a bum, yet every instinct in his body was warning him he would die if he offended this man.
Thus, Yu Jueli nodded his head to Acnologia as he answered.
"Ah. So you are Acnologia? Very well then, where shall we begin our lesson?"
Acnologia shrugged pointing to a random restaurant. He headed to the restaurant, and ordered himself a meal and offering the old man a meal as well that he politely declined for the time being. After putting the meal on the Xia Clans tab, Acnologia and Yu Jueli took a seat at a nearby table.
Yu Jueli was uncomfortable with all the stares and whispers because of Acnologia's unique appearance. Acnologia crossed his arms as he questioned.
"So tell me mr Jueli, what does the history of this world look like?"
Yu Jueli took a deep breath as he answered.
"Right. Let me explain the basics of history. We live on this planet that is made up primarily of water. Our history isn't well recorded as we believed we came into existence roughly ten thousand years ago. On this planet, there exists only three continents.
The most remote is the Azure Cloud Continent while the Profound Sky Continent and the Illusory Demon Realm are relatively close to each other. The Profound Sky Continent and the Illusory Demon Realm were at war for almost one hundred years. This location we are in right now is known as the Profound Sky Continent, and where we are now exists within the Blue Wind Empire."
Acnologia nodded his head.
"Please continue. Other than the Blue Wind Empire, what other Empires exist on this continent?"
Yu Jueli nodded his head.
"The Profound Sky Continent is home to seven major nations.As stated before, we have the Blue Wind Empire. Then next, we have the Divine Phoenix Empire, the Black Fiend Nation, Sunflower Dew Nation, Grand Asura Nation, Divine Incense Nation, and the Navy Tide Nation.
Of the seven nations, the Blue Wind Empire is regarded as the weakest. The strongest nation of the seven is without a doubt Divine Phoenix Empire. It is the most powerful nation due to its Divine Phoenix bloodline which they received from the 'Divine Phoenix God' which was soul fragment left by the Phoenix, a primordial divine beast, to pass on its legacy. The empire is closely intertwined with the Divine Phoenix Sect. The royal family also leads the sect. The imperial capital is Divine Phoenix City.
The Divine Phoenix Empire used to be called the Grand Asura Kingdom. But at some point, the name of the empire was changed to Divine Phoenix Empire. Why? No one truly knows, but the assumption mostly is that it has to do something with the divine beast the Phoenix.
They also hold the Seven Nation Ranking Tournament every twenty five years and in all the previous tournaments, Divine Phoenix Empire has been the undisputed strongest nation."
Acnologia seemed intrigued as he questioned.
"This Divine Phoenix you speak of. What is it all about? And were there others like it?"
Acnologia's question caused Yu Jueli's eyebrows to furrow. He's trying his best not to question Acnologia's identity, but how is it that a young man such as himself doesn't have a clue as to what the Phoenix was that he'd need a private tutor to discover more about the world he was born in. This was all standard knowledge even children knew about. However, he remembers who's backing this young man. The Frozen Cloud Asgard. He has to be extremely careful because not only were they the only way for him to return home, but they might silence him if he offends this young man so he sighs as he explained.
"The Divine Phoenix was one of three of what we consider to be Gods. There was the Dragon God, the Phoenix, and the Golden Crow. This is what every scholar knows, we did not have a 'Creator' in the way the holy texts of far-off lands might suggest. Instead, we had Legacy Providers. We believe that the Dragon God, the Phoenix, and the Golden Crow looked upon this blue speck in the void and chose to leave their footprints here."
Acnologia hummed in interest as he questioned.
"And are these so called "God's" dead?"
Yu Jueli shook his head.
"We don't know if they truly died. To us these mythical beasts are more akin to religious mythology. But it's fairly common to believe they ascended to a higher realm rather than die after their jobs on earth has come to an end."
"Did they have any legacies?"
Acnologia questioned. To which his mentor nodded his head.
"Indeed. But of the 3 divine beasts, we only know that the phoenixs legacy is real. It's in the fact that the phoenix empire has the blood of the phoenix. And many do believe that so long as they carry said divine blood, they can never truly die. Even if killed they will simply be reborn like the phoenix does from it's ashes."
Acnologia hummed amused.
"Tell me more about the Blue Wind Empire."
Yu Jueli just sighed and nodded his head. He really wanted to complain about wasting twelve hours teaching something even elementary students would know, and the fact they are being stared at by everyone in the restaurant as if they are genuinely surprised such a dumb question is being asked. But, he was paid to do a job, and regrettably, he must see it through.
"It is a vast empire home to a great number of powers. It is considered the smallest empire, alongside the weakest, however, although they had the lowest overall strength, they have never been annexed by the other countries. A large part of the reason why was because of those four major sects. Those powers that be are not afraid of the Blue Wind Empire's strength but instead fear the four major sects. The Heavenly Sword Villa, the Frozen Cloud Asgard, the Xiao Sect, and the Burning Heaven Clan.
There is no doubt about the strength of those four major sects. The process in which they recruit disciples was very strict and they did not care about background in their selections. The most important thing they want in the end was talent. Everyone living in the Blue Wind Empire dream and aspire for that kind of great fortune.
If you get into one of these major sects, even the lowest of disciples will bring honor and prosperity to their family. They would even be the guests of honor at court and be presented with the rank of a marquis.
No one of this little Floating Cloud City had ever heard of anyone being admitted into one of those major sects and no one would even dare dream about it."
Acnologia listened intently as the scholar explained the history. And soon enough twelve hours would have passed. They started so early in the morning yet now it was already the dead of night. Acnologia had come to learn a lot about this worlds history. Especially about the true overlords of this continent, the Four Great Sacred Grounds. As they stood up, Yu Jueli spoke.
"Lord Acnologia. I have given you all the information regarding this worlds history. I'm afraid there is nothing else left for me to teach you."
Acnologia pondered before nodding his head.
"I'll tell the person who employed yourself to let you go. Thank you for taking your time to come teach me about this worlds history. How fascinating."
Acnologia spoke to himself as Yu Jueli felt relieved. He enjoyed the money he's earned no question, but he feels himself no mattering any longer to Acnologia and the Frozen Cloud Asgard. So better safe than sorry in his books. He saw Acnologia's outstretched hand and nodded his hand giving it a firm handshake. Acnologia watched him leave towards the gates before heading to the Xia Manor. Both his own meals and the meals of the Scholar had been paid by one of the servants who had come over on behalf of Xia Hongyi to pay for everything. And unexpectedly waiting for him was Xia Qing Yue.
"Well now, this is quite unexpected. Can I help you young lady?"
Xia Qing Yue said nothing for a few seconds before answering.
"You are free during the fourth to seventh days right? May I ask you train me in combat, and those runes?"
Acnologia raised an eyebrow.
"Why should I? I have no reasons to waste my time on you. Besides, don't you need to focus on cultivation?"
Acnologia questioned causing Cia Qing Yue to clench her fists.
"I want strength. I need to grow strong as soon as possible. I have something I want to achieve. And to achieve it, I need to have overwhelming might."
Xia Qing Yue admitted seriously. Acnologia hummed amused.
"Ah. The one desire that everyone has. Overwhelming power. Because when you are the strongest, everything you desire is achievable. Go ask your master to train you or something. I'm not your babysitter."
Acnologia dismissed her with wave, walking past Xia Qing Yue, who's fists clenched harder. She had already broken into the Nascent Realm, an extraordinary achievement especially since many take as longs as a whole decade to breakthrough into the Nascent Realm.
And yet at 12, Xia Qing Yue already was. She wanted to get Acnologia to train her especially in rune craft. If she could learn runes, she'll likely grow exponentially stronger even more faster. Just as Acnologia was about to enter the manor he paused and spoke.
"A piece of advice. Find some way to treat the frost accumulating in your body. I noticed that you cultivators of the Frozen Cloud Asgard have lots of frost accumulating in your body. If you force yourself to grow stronger, your just speeding up killing yourself and weakening yourself greatly over pride and desperation. That Chu Yuechan, I just met her today, yet one look at her and I could tell that her body was as close to frozen as one would expect an ice sculpted from frozen mist. A living ice sculpture as they would say. If you can clear all that frost in your body I guaranteed you will be able to grow stronger even faster."
And with that, Acnologia disappeared into the manor heading towards his temporary residence, since tomorrow was another subject he was going to have to learn.
—(End)—