33 Seven Dawns Imperial City (1/2)
•••
Within a clearing, a figure of immortal beauty sat in a lotus stance; multiple gigantic beast bodies lay around him.
Lines of blood were pulled from the beasts bodies and gently floated in the air before they entered the handsome youth's body. The thorny rose tattoos on the left flank of the man shone intermittently to the volume of the blood entering him, his heartbeats becoming stronger over time.
Beautiful red roses had grown throughout the clearing, and centred around the youth, almost prostrating themselves to the immoral enchanter before them. The youth's tanned skin rippled with aesthetic muscle culture, his muscles containing the power to sunder mountains. He wore tight black leather pants that barely did enough to hide his skin, the definition of his legs exposing itself.
Wiggling his toes in his formal black shoes, Astrallis stood up with a smile on his face.
”It took me four months to reach the small completion stage for the first level of the Sanguinary Felicity Body-Art, although I can't compare to Enyo in regards to physical cultivation, I'm pleased with my results,” Astrallis said, as he placed the beast corpses inside his spacial ring.
”Indeed, your results are adequate, you have reached minor-grade World-Wandering Realm as well,” Bataar said as he materialised on Astrallis' shoulder.
”Good thing you've learnt how to retract your wings, it would've been a bit too difficult to explain that once we go into cities.” Bataar chuckled
The tattoos of wings on Astrallis' back suddenly came to life, and obsidian six-meter wings spread out from behind him.
The shirtless youth soared into the sky and pulled his sword from the sheath on his back.
He began striking out elegantly, sending waves of emerald blade-intent out around him.
Once one reaches an adequate comprehension of their chosen weapon, they will be able to agglomerate their Qi into their weapon and release it in an attack. There are seven levels to blade-intent, many immortals never manage to break through the seventh level.
Currently, Astrallis had only touched the fringes of the first level, which was an achievement in itself, many sects from the Blade Realm would instantly make him a core-disciple of their sect.
Astrallis continued his sword-play regime for the rest of the day. He had noticed the level of his Felicity Blade Art correlated with his comprehension of blade-intent; therefore he would hit two birds with one stone and only practice his blade art.
Throughout the training session Bataar would closely inspect Astrallis, and whenever his bloodlust would start expanding Bataar would command him to practice his Way of Buddha, all to counteract the Way of Devil taking over.
This practice regime had carried on for the past four months, with Astrallis attempting to balance the Way of Buddha and the Way of Devil. Currently, the Way of Buddha was favoured in this balance, but all of this could change once Astrallis' level in the Sanguinary Felicity Body Art increases…
'He's lucky that Dharma Qi does not need a benevolent mind to use it. Dharma Qi has just taken the unfettered nature of both Astral Qi and Buddha Qi to form; at the same time, Devil Qi also has this nature. He may be able to succeed in creating the most balanced mind, the amalgamation of Devil and Buddha.' Bataar thought as he watched Astrallis practice.
•••
”Alright, let's head to the capital city,” Astrallis said anticipation is his eyes, as he looked the map he just retrieved from a cultivator's body who met his untimely fate within the jungle.
His wings beating the air around him, he flew towards the city, leaving an emerald glow in his wake.
After two weeks of intermittent flight he eventually made his way out of the jungle and onto open plains. ”According to the map, the Seven Dawns Imperial City is just past this plain,” Astrallis murmured.
”Let's get there fast! I haven't been able to feast upon any luxurious food since leaving the Religion; one can only last so long on that garbage from the jungle,” Bataar complained from Astrallis' shoulder.
With a deep laugh, Astrallis rushed across the plains, a speed much faster than the average World-Wandering Realm cultivator. Along the way, the duo finally began to see signs of life, with airships both private and merchant flying both towards and away from the city; along with a few travellers, like Astrallis, who did not possess any vehicles of motion.
”Astrallis, you may want to put on some other clothing; your looks are just too imposing, we don't want any girls following you around,” Bataar said while chuckling.
”Seems I must, although I'm not against attracting trouble. Just not of that kind,” Astrallis inwardly shivered, memories of his time in the Religion appeared in his mind.
”It seems my ladies were aware such a situation would arise, they've left me a fitting robe and mask,” he said as he took out items of clothing from his spacial ring, which he quickly donned.