Lilian stared at John for a moment before nodding her head approvingly.
"Good. It seems your victory did not go to your head and you still know how to show your master the proper respect," she said half in jest.
It would be easy, even expected, for a genius of John's caliber to get a swollen ego and look down on all others, but John never did that. Lilian found that honest sincerity to be much to her liking.
"I take it that you managed to absorb the seed?" John asked.
"I did," Lilian confirmed, "but I'm still a bit confused on how that came to be. You said you claimed the treasure, which I can only assume is the World Dimension Seed, and yet I was taken there to do the same. So, did you receive a different treasure, or?" Her question trailed off.
"I'll explain it at a later time," John said dismissively. It wasn't important enough to discuss at the moment.
Lilian eyed him for a moment and then nodded.
"Alright," she said, stepping up besides him.
"So, when you absorbed the seed and broke through to the World Expansion Realm, was it beneficial?" John asked curiously.
"Its benefit was beyond invaluable, it's worth to my future growth incalculable," Lilian said, "I would never have believed such a heavenly treasure could exist before today," she added.
John smiled, satisfied at the answer. If his master praised it so much, it would no doubt be an incomparable boon when he ascended to the World Expansion Realm.
…
Several hundred miles away from the Divine Source Monastery, a sprawling mountain range stretched out in all directions for as far as the eye could see. Mountain peaks pierced out from the clouds below, like claws reaching out to the heavens above.
This mountain range was famous for its winds, winds that were fierce and frigid enough to give even World Expansion experts some pause.
On the tallest mountain peak stood two figures of different sizes. Both ignored the howling winds slamming into them as if the winds didn't exist at all.
The two stared in the same direction, towards the very center of the continent. They were unmoving, as if waiting for something to happen.
The Astral Emperors calm gaze suddenly wavered, and a frown of displeasure appeared on his face.
"Annoying brat," he muttered under his breath, although it was loud enough for the Asura to hear. It glanced at him, blood red eyes narrowing with question.
The Astral Emperor noticed this gaze, and waved his hand dismissively.
"It's nothing to worry about," he said, still staring into the distance. "It's just that annoying brat of mine defying my orders again and again. It does not change our plans at all."
The Asura's blood red eyes stared at the Astral Emperor for some time, a sinister glimmer within, as if judging the veracity of the mans words. His gaze shifted back towards the horizon, eyes narrowing and smile widening with menacing anticipation.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" The Astral Emperor asked. "Once we reveal ourselves, there's no going back."
The Asura snorted, and his mouth curled upwards with confident arrogance.
"Once I consume the boy and restore my full power, there will be no need to concern myself with anyone on this pathetic little world. This world will fall to ruin beneath my might!"
…
John and Lilian continued to converse within the rock garden, discussing their experiences with the World Dimension Seeds. Lilian had been surprised to hear John's world seed had been so profound, and was surprised to hear he had managed to claim it.
She knew how difficult it had been to claim her own world seed, and yet based on John's description, he had obtained it without any effort at all.
Their discussions were interrupted by an approaching figure, the two of them turning around towards the Grand Abbot. Both nodded slightly in respects to the abbot.
He inspected Lilian for a moment and then nodded his head approvingly.
"Both master and disciple managed to acquire a world seed. You two will no doubt cause an upending storm wherever you go in the future," he said, his voice tinged with approving praise.
"Thanks to the opportunity your monastery gave us," Lilian replied respectfully.
John gave her a sideways glance, his expression seeming to imply that he found it surprising his master could be respectful and show proper decorum. Lilian noticed this skeptical gaze, and suddenly slammed her heel down on John's foot as punishment.
Boom!
The rock garden shook, and John stared at Lilian curiosity, as if she were stupid.
"Using a physical attack on a body cultivator of my caliber?" He said calmly, indicating he felt no pain at all from the sudden attack. "That might have worked before, but I'm quickly catching up to you. If it continues at this rate, it won't be long before the disciple has surpassed the master."
"Oh?" Lilian said, turning to him. "Then why don't we test right now just how strong you really are?" She said, her battle lust rising.
Ahem!
The Grand Abbot coughed lightly, interrupting the two. Both quickly remembered where they were, and put their childish antics aside.
The Grand Abbot smiled, and then his gaze wavered for a moment, as if he had just received a sound transmission.
"It appears you two have a guest who would like to see you," the Grand Abbot said.
"A guest?" John and Lilian asked at the same time, wondering who it was.
'Is it sect leader Thunderzen? Or someone else?' John wondered.
"While this guest makes their way here, I wanted to ask you about your plans," the Grand Abbot said,
his question mostly addressed towards Lilian.
"Plans?" Lilian asked.
"He knows about the Asura," John said, his words causing Lilian's face to light up with surprise. "He wants to know if we have a way to deal with it, should it attack us once we leave the monastery."
Lilian turned her gaze towards the Grand Abbot, staring at him with a questioning gaze.
"We have a plan, should it come to that," she said.
"Good," the Grand Abbot nodded. "Ah, your guest has arrived," he added, turning around towards the entrance of the rock garden.
John stared in that direction as well. His eyes lit up with utmost shock as he saw a familiar figure of incomparable beauty, one that he didn't know when he would see again, appear and enter the garden. After recovering from his brief shock, he called out her name, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Laia!"
