Chapter 195: Murim Invasion
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I checked my children’s status, finding out they had interesting Skills, some were similar to mine too, and others were specifically designed by me. Yes, I created Skills through these Fragments of my own System by infusing them with great energies, powers, and various other materials.
“Now, listen well; the Skills mama has made for you are three,” I said. “The first one is the one that appears at the front; it's called [Venerable’s Children Privilege (SSS)]. It increases the amount of EXP you earn, the amount of Credits you can earn, and also increases the speed at which your Skills can grow! Oh, and of course, the rate at which you can learn new Skills based on your current abilities.”
“Oh wow… I don’t understand most of it, but it sounds great!” said Orion, nodding.
“Orion, you didn’t really put any attention on Mama’s classes?” Athena sighed.
“Hey! I did!” Orion said. “And the rest? We’ll figure it out along the way anyways, no problem!”
“Hmm…” Athena groaned at her brother.
"Well, he’s not wrong,” I said. “Anyways, the second Skill I’ve given you is called [Heavenly Synthesist (SSS)], it’ll allow you, like Mama, to easily merge things using your Primordial Ki and Mana combined. It should easily allow you to combine skills, techniques, and more on the go, and you can even permanently fuse skills and objects too, although for Skill Merging, you’ll need Credits. You can earn those killing monsters, selling the items they drop inside the tower, and so on.”
“Oh, gotcha!” nodded Rainbow Eyes.
“Sounds fun!” said Kalana.
“So we could even make our own equipment, mama?!” Orion asked. “T-Then I’ll make a big sword and armor!”
“That sounds interesting!” Athena nodded. “Maybe a staff and some magic grimoires! I want to learn all the magic! Uncle Francisco has been teaching me a bit.”
“I see,” I nodded. “Now, that’s not everything. There’s also a third Skill I’ve made… Can you read it? I am fairly sure everyone here should be able to read.”
“The… Protecshion… Shau…” Orion squinted his eyes, trying to red it.
“Divine Nine Heaven Protection Runes?” asked Athena.
“Yes, also SSS Rank,” I nodded. “This Skill is connected directly to my own source of power! Meaning that as long as it exists, Mama will protect you with a powerful barrier from lethal damage.”
“Oh wow!” Orion said. “So we’re invincible!”
“No way…” Kalana said. “Wouldn’t that make it boring though? I need the thrill of battle!”
"Sure, have all the thrill you want.” I sighed. “It actually doesn’t protect you... from death, but it’ll set a barrier that will be very hard to break through. And well, it has other purposes. I’ve set this barrier on all my loved ones to protect them from danger; even the big cities have them as well. But I decided to make it a Skill this time, so it merges into your bodies like powerful Runes, giving you more power.”
“Isn’t this a bit too much babysitting though?” Ruby was watching from behind as she gave a word.
“Maybeee… But they’re still children and babies, so of course I will babysit them all I want,” I smiled proudly. “Alright! We’re done with explanations. Now, what do you say when someone gives you something nice?”
“Thank you, mama!” all four kids said at the same time before hugging me.
“Good kids!” I nodded, embracing them in my arms. “I think we’re ready with this for now. Let’s go have lunch with your mommies before departing! I think all the disciples should be there as well.”
“Yeah!” nodded everyone.
“Auntie Ruby, let’s go!” Athena grabbed Ruby’s hand, smiling cutely.
“Aww, of course,” Ruby giggled. “Aren’t you a cutie, Athena? Come here! I can hardly resist hugging you when you smile like that!”
She ended up hugging my daughter and then grabbing her and carrying her on her shoulders.
“Oof, she’s a bit heavier… than I thought,” muttered Ruby.
“She has a lot of densely packed muscles; her strength doesn’t come out of nowhere!” I giggled. “But after you’ve become an immortal, it’s not too hard to carry her, right?”
“Yeah, I can do it just fine now,” Ruby nodded. “Reaching the Immortal Physique Creation Realm, or Rank 7 as you call it, was pretty sweet.”
Rank 7, in this point the Immortals truly become Immortals by refining their bodies using Immortal Materials of very high cost that not many could afford at that point in time.
However, with my boundless riches and resources, my sister was able to easily get the best, most compatible Immortal Physique
Her appearance had changed a bit; she became taller, and her hair was long, red and black colored; she even got a little pointy tail. I think she had absorbed a lot of the demonic components of her class.
Although she didn’t really mind the changes, Juan had been going a bit crazy about them, according to her.
“Well, we’re back!”
We walked inside the palace leisurely, as we were welcomed by my wives and the rest of the family of this sect. The table was already full of delicious preparations, made mostly out of the Martial Beasts and Ingredients of this Inner Realm.
Even the food we ate, after all, made us grow stronger. Although, due to the nature of most of the members here, there were a lot of big pieces of roasted martial beasts, mostly those similar to wild boars, cows, and goats, who had the more delectable meat.
Of course, there was also a lot of birds, mostly phoenix variants that were of “lesser bloodline,” that grew in droves in this Inner Realm; a luxurious meal even in Murim was an everyday meal in my Sect, making everyone that once joined realize just how privileged they were to be part of my family and also become even more grateful.
“Ruby! I see you’ve been training with Bing Xue?” Juan walked towards Ruby.
He looked very different than at the beginning of the eight-month training. His body had become huge, muscular, and tall; even his average-looking face had turned very manly and handsome for male standards; his eyes were bright and his hair long; he looked a lot like a Murim Cultivator from the Desert regions, with their brown skin and long black hair with bright eyes.
“Ah yeah, a bit, but I’m done for now,” said Ruby. “We’re leaving today after all... I was just checking on the kids.”
“Uncle Juan!” Athena welcomed him. “Hi!”
“Ah, Athena! I didn’t see you there; when did you get there? Hahaha!” Juan joked around with my daughter.
“I was always here!” Athena jumped out and landed on Juan’s head. “Hehe!”
“W-Wait a second, don’t stand over my head! Athena, it’s dangerous! What if you fall?” Juan asked. “No wait… I don’t think anything would happen if you fell, never mind.”
“Hya!”
Athena then jumped off his head towards me.
“Mama!”
“I got you.”
I caught her in midair and quickly gave her a little kiss in her nose before leaving her over the floor.
“Don’t go jumping over people’s heads, alright?” I asked. “You’re a bit heavier than most… If you do it on normal people, they could be seriously injured! Remember that the world and its people are generally fragile; you always have to take care of your movements.”
“I know,” she nodded. “I understand, mama! I’m hungry though!”
“Me too! Me too!” said Orion, jumping constantly.
“Woah! Mom made so much meat today!” Rainbow Eyes beautiful glistening eyes glowed brightly today. “Yummy!”
“There’s fish too? Oh! Mommy’s Orcish cuisine is the best! There are so many authentic plates there!” Kalana was a fan of her tribe’s cuisine. It seemed only natural, as its flavors, texture, and calories were all made for orcs to love it.
“Let’s go eat then!” I quickly led the babies to sit down around the table, their mothers arriving with the last plates of food.
“Dear, you’re back, so were you able to share your System?” wondered Urbosa, placing a huge roasted boar over the table, surrounded by steamed potatoes with butter on top.
“Yeah, everything went nicely,” I nodded. “The kids got a bit scared, but… things went alright, don’t worry.”
“Oh, well, that’s a relief then,” nodded Urbosa. “I hope Orion didn’t do something weird again!”
“I didn’t! I am a well-behaved… child!” giggled Orion.
“So how strong have you gotten now, Athena?” Merkite asked her as she brought noodles for everyone one by one, making the plates float around with her powerful Divine Spiritual Immortal Aura. “Are you stronger than me now?”
“Yep!” Athena giggled. “I already surpassed you, mommy! I’m super strong.”
“Well yes, technically the children are already beyond everyone here…” I sighed. “It’s mostly because of the immense power they were already born with. But I’m sure everyone could one day grow to become new Venerables, I’m working towards that goal.”
The children were born with immense power and had inherited my own abilities and even cultivation to an extent.
Although they aren’t quite there yet, with the System I gave them, it shouldn’t be hard for them to awaken the rest of their abilities and become true Venerables.
Which means they’ll be the youngest Venerables to have ever existed…
“V-Venerables, us?” Mursha asked, bringing freshly baked bread and grilled, salted river fish, which were gigantic. “I’m already happy with Kalana being one in the near future.”
“Rainbow Eyes’ strong too; he will become great Venerable of the Primal Humans and lead our tribes to unification!” Fiery Hair said.
“Aren’t you placing too big of a responsibility on the boy, Fiery Hair?” I laughed. “Calm down a bit; he’s only like four for now…”
“Hmm… I wonder if one day I could visit the primal world where Mama came from,” said Rainbow Eyes.
“Will we ever go to Elios?” Athena wondered.
“That’s where our original tribe came from, right?” Orion wondered.
“I have to go to Elios and meet fellow Orcs!” Kalana said.
“Of course, don’t worry, we will visit all those places,” I nodded. “For now, concentrate on eating your meals. Don’t ignore the vegetables, as they’re very important too!”
“Okaaaay~!” the four said at the same time, wolfing down anything in front of them.
Despite being so small, their stomachs could fit things several times larger; it was as if they had little black holes there.
And technically, maybe they do; seeing how they’re so much like me, this means their Primordial powers are already in full effect.
Meaning that their bodies are probably composed of pure power and energy, or a combination of both that and flesh and blood.
Bodies like those can easily consume anything in front of them and digest it super rapidly.
“Looks like we’re finally stepping out of the Inner Realm, huh? What a relief, I’ve been looking forward to resuming our daily lives outside,” said my mother. “Katherine, I have to congratulate you, my daughter. You’ve shown me that you can be a good mother, and you’ve also helped everyone, me included, grow stronger beyond what we ever thought possible. I was already proud of having you as my daughter even before you were sent to Murim, and this feeling will never disappear.”
“Aw, thank you, mom,” I felt slightly moved. “The world outside is full of dangers, even more with all these crazy things happening so far… But I hope that with this, things could become a bit more doable, to an extent.”
“Let’s hope so,” she nodded.
We ate together and enjoyed three long hours of conversations with everyone. The place was so lively, the atmosphere was so warm and welcoming, so homely, I felt really happy.
I was proud of what I had built here, of my sect, my disciples, my family, and my children.
And quite honestly, I wouldn’t ever mind if every day continued the same as today.
But I knew that these days had to eventually come to an end.
And we had to face a chaotic reality.
And just as we stepped out of the Inner Realm, arriving at the interior of the Golden Pagoda, a single day has passed.
“Phew, we’re back,” I said. “Feels nice to-”
RUMBLE!
My senses immediately expanded as I felt a rumbling sound coming from outside the pagoda. I looked outside, noticing a gigantic spatial tear above the skies.
And from them, enormous pagodas, smaller than mine, emerged by the dozens, carrying with them immense Primordial Ki Essence.
“This is…?!”
I gasped in disbelief as I felt the presence of that accursed World I thought I had finally left behind…
But it seems that even when I escaped it, this world simply followed me.
“Murim?!”
As I stepped out of my Pagoda while the rest of my family and disciples seemed slightly panicked and shocked over my sudden reaction, I heard the laughter of a wicked man.
“Hahaha! Hahahaha! So this is the little sorry excuse of a sect you’ve made now?! How pathetic!” He laughed. “Truly, you’re definitely a woman, hahahaha! To think you reached the pinnacle, yet you became satisfied with such lesser beings and with such a small place… Bing Xue! You disappoint me once more!”
This man was…
“You… I killed you! What sort of illusion is this?!”
The Heavenly Venerable of the Seven Paths of Heaven.
A Venerable I killed long ago!
Why is he alive?
What is the Heavenly Will plotting now?!
“Come on, am I not allowed to have a second wind?” laughed the man, his long black hair swaying by the wind as he pointed his hands at me. “I’ve even brought you a surprise party, all from Murim! Rejoice, my dear white jade! The Demonic Sects you suppressed, my thousands of heirs, all of them have been waiting for this moment, you know?! You shouldn’t have stupidly left them alive!”
The gigantic pagodas charged forward, their energies gathering on top of their metallic crowns, firing gigantic, colorful lasers at us.
BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!
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