"Tsk. What was that all about?" Mira clicked her tongue and frowned. Today was the first time she'd ever heard Aelina so panic-stricken. From that alone, she understood the severity of the matter.
'But, Ascension Realm experts, huh? So, that's what the earthquakes are about.' She put her hammer to the side and sat on the nearest bench. 'However, why'd she think I was involved? Even if I did manage to offend someone of that level of strength to the point that they had to kill me, why go through all the trouble?'
Even Aelina could wipe her from the face of the Earth if she wanted to, let alone someone stronger. Though the Sect Master might face a bit of difficulty, given all of her trump cards and innate durability, there was nothing Mira could do to fight back.
She'd have to, at the very least, cripple herself to bring down someone of Aelina's strength.
'Still, I can't just disregard her instincts.' Mira thought as her brows scrunched up. Aelina sounded genuinely concerned that she was somehow in the middle of all this.
'It's not those Central Continent guys… or, rather, it's highly unlikely to be them.'
The only other person she could think of was Sue Ming, but she wasn't strong enough, nor did she have the influence to command those from the Central Continent.
'...Did that guy send down more reinforcements?' That seemed to be the most likely answer, but it didn't make sense why he'd send down so many powerful beings all of a sudden.
He's been silent for a while now. This normally wasn't his style. He preferred to sit back and control her life from the shadows like an unseen hand manipulating everything. For someone like him, brute force meant nothing. He wanted to entrap his prey in a spider web of despair, where the only road to hope and freedom was through him.
Sue Ming was supposed to be that person, but Aelina was just as much of an anomaly.
'Maybe he figured that to control everything fully, he needed to defeat the top guys first and work his way down? So, he sent down stronger people?' Rubbing her chin, she felt she was close to the right conclusion, but something seemed off.
'...It feels more like a rampage than a meticulously thought out plan.' She'd lived long enough to understand the difference between something down out of frustration and anger versus calm, cool, and collected.
'It could all be a hoax to fool me, though.' She thought as it wouldn't be the first time. 'But it feels different this time.'
Eventually, she stopped thinking about it. Either way, now that he was involved, nothing good would happen.
Whether he lived in the shadows or not, her life was about to get much more difficult. 'Tch. Just when I was starting to enjoy myself, too. What a fucking bastard.' She grumbled, but she tried to look at the bright side.
'Since the Central Continent and his little minions are duking it out, maybe it'll give Aelina and I a chance to swoop in and reap the benefits.' A subtle smile broke out on her lips. Now that she'd have less of a target on her back, she could spend the next few decades doing everything she could to get stronger.
'...Once I'm done here, I'll loot this Continent dry before heading back to the ocean. Perhaps then, I'll finally be able to put Coralia to work.' A sinister laugh echoed in the forging chamber. There was no way she was going to let unused and… bothersome… resources go to waste!
'However, before all that, I'll become a Mystical-Grade Blacksmith! By then, I should be able to breakthrough to the next stage!' After creating Mortal-Grade items, she felt a twinge in her soul, as if her comprehension of the Absolute Ice Dao had risen.
At first, she was confused. How could something unrelated to ice enhance her comprehension? But it didn't take long for her to understand.
The "Absolute" part was the key. In a way, that word alone was separate from the ice element. Her definition and view of absolute was unkillable, immortal, omnipotent, and everlasting. With that came domination.
How could one be omnipotent if the world wasn't in the pall of their hands? How could one be immortal if their very existence wasn't fully under control? How could one be everlasting if time and space still constrained them?
She needed to dominate! To rise above such things!
However, to do that, she must understand them. And what better way to understand the world than to conquer its base elements? Than to conquer the earth and the skies? To comprehend the nature of creation and destruction?
How could she create a perfect, everlasting, and all-powerful ice if she couldn't even create a perfect set of armor?
Although she was still in the beginning stages, she knew that now, she was on the right path. One that could truly lead her to the peak. All she had to do was follow the clues–the fluffy, multicolored clues that waved around behind her.
With that in mind, she hopped back to the forge, eager to improve. Ascension Realm experts or whatever, she wouldn't let her fear of those assholes stop her from achieving her goals.
***
Meanwhile, Mira's two stalkers who had sent those puppets after her were currently on the run.
"Oi! Torian! Do we really need to head back to the Sect?" Esharael shouted as they sped through the sky. They had just received word that nearly every Sect on the Central Continent was under attack by foreign invaders. It wasn't just those in the Ascension Realm, either.
Those invaders brought with them legions of underlings, each stronger than the next. Fearsome beasts flooded in from a crack in the sky, rampaging about their cities, bringing nothing but destruction in their wake. And weird phenomena were beginning to take place, with the weather being more sporadic and much more dangerous.
Tornadoes that could slice Soul Transformation Realm beings apart… Tidal waves that dragged chunks of continents back with them… Even the sun had become hotter! The entire world was going through tremendous chaos, with every inhabitant, regardless of strength, feeling the consequences.
"No!" Torian yelled back. "We don't! But do you really want to miss out on the fun? I hear there are all kinds of new beasts and treasures being discovered! Can you imagine what sort of artifacts we'll be able to create?! I won't allow those senior brothers and sisters to get their hands on them first!"
Esharael nodded. What he said made sense, but still… "I think we should stay until things start to die down. There's still Mira, and-"
"Mira?! Who cares about her?!" Torian interrupted, increasing his speed as she shot forward. "What are we going to do even if we stay? Just watch her?!"
"..."
"Even if we get the order to kill, are you going to do it? Face her head on?"
Esharael shook her head. Why would she take that risk? Unless there was a good reason like she had some rare goods in her possession, why should she attack someone strong and unpredictable like Mira?
After a bit of investigating, she had come to understand Mira a bit more. If she failed to kill her, she could expect to be hunted down for the rest of her life.
'Not to mention… all my treasures might go to waste!' Just that alone made her feel like crying. She'd much rather KEEP her creations and be able to continue creating them.
"Then, you understand, right?" Torian asked, turning to look her in the eye. "The disciples back at the Sect are getting rich while we're wasting away on this ice block! Stop concerning yourself with Mira, and let's go back! I'm sure Master will understand!"
"This…" Esharael was still a bit hesitant, but she nodded nonetheless and sped up, flying next to Torian. "Fine."
"Good!"
The two exploded with power, and it wasn't more than a few hours when they reached the ocean. Unfortunately, they were bound to be disappointed.
A massive tidal wave with thunderclouds circling above it trapped the entire continent. Nobody, whether they be boats or cultivators, was allowed to swim or fly through without being zapped, drowned, submerged, and eaten in that dark blue abyss.
"...Well, shit." Torian cursed, giving Esharael a wry smile. They flew a bit closer to the edge of the continent, overlooking the ocean, but even just standing there, a jolt passed through their bodies. Their defensive treasures kicked in, protecting them, but they could feel death behind those lightning bolts.
"Guess we're staying, after all." Esharael chuckled despondently. It didn't feel good to be trapped.
"Yeah. Nevermind. I guess we won't be getting rich…" Torian lowered his head and muttered, walking away from the edge.
"What about Mira? Want to go back to spying?" Esharael caught up to him and asked.
Torian thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Maybe later. Since we're stuck here, she won't be going anywhere. In the meantime, I want to take a look around the Continent to see if all this commotion has spawned any treasures."
"Good idea!" Esharael's eyes lit up as she threw Mira to the back of her mind.
