(MC POV)
The vacation felt longer than it actually was, probably because of all the things that had happened these few days.
Guiying had returned to the capital to resume her duties while Lilith came back to Heaven Sect with us. The demoness had taken up the position as my unofficial assistant teacher by keeping an eye on my disciples for me.
That was a good thing since there was something I had to do so I had to leave them by themselves for a little while. I made sure to tell Lilith to take care of them before I left though.
With Xun Guan, Shiori and Akari as my companions, I teleported all of us to the Sanctuary. Of course Iris had followed along as well, she was keeping herself invisible at my request since I didn't want any altercation between her and the monsters. Better safe than sorry.
On the teleportation platform inside Sanctuary, I was immediately greeted by Jack, the Beholder blinking its multitude of eyes at me in greeting.
"Welcome home, Divine One. Shiori has already told us of your wish to help us. We truly are unworthy of your benevolence."
I don't really remember him being this polite before but ok.
"Hello Jack. How are things around here so far?"
He gestured for us to move using one of his eyes and I followed behind him with the two foxes flanking me, Jack leading the way deeper into the Sanctuary.
"In terms of the situation within this side of the Death Mountains? It couldn't be better. On the other side however… I fear conflict may be unavoidable."
I frowned at his answer, "I don't understand what's wrong with that though. It may not be the most elegant of solutions but with who I've seen around here, I don't think the other side could triumph against you guys if it comes down to a fight, yes?"
I mean, have you seen what monsters are in this Sanctuary? We have giants, dragons, liches, behemoths and even a goddamn leviathan. What does the other side have that can rival them?
Jack made a motion that might have been a shrug, "That is one of the issues, we do not know. But what we do know is that they have something that could crush Melody very easily if we were judging by their aura."
"There's someone there that can beat a leviathan?"
"I think it would be better if the others explained it, Divine One."
Jack stopped at the war room of the Sanctuary and ushered me in. Entering said room, I found several monsters were already gathered there and waiting behind the war table that showed a map of the continent, most of them I knew personally while a few new faces were also scattered amongst them.
"Welcome, Divine One. We thank you once again for offering your divine assistance," Benjamin greeted with a bow of his head, prompting the rest to mimic his action with varying degrees of respect.
Before I could return his greeting however, someone near the corner of the assembled monsters snorted, "This is the one you bow your heads to? When we were approached to join this little group of yours, I was promised that the master of this coven is a Divine. I see I was lied to."
Everyone including myself turned to see the speaker, finding the person to be a young man with pale skin and dressed in all black leather clothes standing there with an arrogant look on his face.
"Gilead," A female Giant I remember seeing during the fight with Lilith growled. "Watch your tongue."
The man snorted, "Please, Mohvri. Are you telling me a proud Giant Magi like yourself is actually bowing her head to a weak human like him? I had expected better of your race. To think the proud Giants had fallen so far, it truly is a pity."
I could see most of the room prepared to strike the arrogant man down right there and then, but a quick raise of my hand stopped them.
"Gilead, is it?" I asked, stepping forward to lean against the giant table in the centre of the room.
The man turned up his nose at me, "You do not have the qualifications to say my name, human. I am the Ancestral Vampire of the Valpeer Family, I have been in this world even before you were swimming in your father's ballsack."
I couldn't help but let out a chuckle at his words, which only made him even more pissed.
"Is something funny, human?" He growled, spitting out the last word.
"Oh nothing. I was just wondering if you even know who I am?"
He crossed his arms and scoffed at me, "Why would I care to know who an insignificant being like you is?"
"Because I am Master Lin?"
"So? Is that name supposed to mean something? I can assure you that whatever your Lin Family is, my Valpeer Family is much more illustrious in every way!"
I raised an eyebrow at Benjamin.
"The Valpeer Family are located in the far northern regions of the Death Mountains. They have built their own independent estates and are not involved in the rest of the world, thus they do not know much about the Cultivation world either," He explained helpfully.
Ah, these must be the ones they had trouble convincing back then.
I'm guessing they managed to make their estates self-sufficient so they didn't have a reason to venture out into the world, content in being the kings of their lands with no enemies to worry about. Because of that, they don't even know how the world has changed without them.
Gilead huffed, "So this little human is a cultivator? Now my interest is piqued. What little illusion did you use to trick everyone here into thinking you're strong?"
I noticed Akari's fur was standing and her tail was curled slightly, a clear sign she was preparing to pounce.
I placed my hand on her head to calm her down before smiling at the vampire, "Why do you think I had to resort to such methods? Surely they have told you how this Sanctuary came to be?"
"No? And why should I care?"
"Because your life might be forfeit if you don't?"
"The only reason why I'm not leaping over this table to rip your throat out is because it's beneath me to do so. Watch your words, human."
"I'd think it's more because of the fact that those around you would strike you down before you could even do that, no?"
"Hmph! I understand now. You must be adept at mind control, right? Unfortunately for you, Vampires are masters of glamour and your weak skills can't affect someone like me. It seems I was right in thinking this group was simply a gathering of the weak."
Oh well, I think I've pushed enough. I can see that even Stephanie was nearing the limit of her patience even though her skull wasn't showing any emotions.
I readied the skill that I knew would knock him out when the dragon at the back suddenly spoke out with a small tremble in his voice, "Divine One… If you are going to use your Elemental Pressure… Please direct it only to him…"
Oh? I'm surprised this dragon knows about what I was going to do.
Seeing my surprised face, the dragon answered before I could ask, "It is natural I know. I was there when you first used it. I admit I was sceptical when I first joined as well, but to be able to crush my mind so easily like that… I do not wish to experience that again."
Err… Crush their minds? Not sure if that is what people experience when I'm doing that but when the dragons were using it on me back then, it was just instilling a sense of fear so it shouldn't be that bad? After all, if I as a human could withstand it, they should--
Oh wait… I'm not exactly human so I can't use myself as a benchmark for these kinds of things… I forgot.
Fuck it. It works, I ain't going to complain.
I looked directly at the Gilead, causing the vampire to glare back at me.
"What are you loo--"
He didn't finish his words before I let out a burst of elemental pressure directed solely at him.
His mouth hung open for a second before his eyes rolled to the back of his head, his entire body collapsing backwards in an unconscious heap.
"Apologies Divine One, we will deal with this idiot later," Stephanie sighed while shaking her head.
I waved my hand, "It's fine. I think he should already know where he stands after this. If he doesn't, you're free to do whatever you want to him."
"Divin One's benevolence truly is vast."
"Ahem… I suppose we shall continue?" Benjamin suggested, as though the vampire never existed.
Right, let's just get on with it.
