Far away, within a vast and dense grassland, two wooden chairs stood facing one another, a simple table placed between them. The wind swept through the tall grass, causing the world to whisper in low murmurs as the wind move in a strange movement looking like it was alive
Future Overlord sat on one of the chairs,
his massive frame making the fragile wood seem pitifully small. He appeared far too large, far too imposing, as if the chair existed only to remind others of his presence.
Yet some crack could be seen on the chair
A finely sculpted mask concealed his face, its edges sharp and deliberate, carved with unsettling precision.
Opposite him sat an old man.
The man's eyes were closed, his long beard flowing down his neck like withered roots. Though aged and clouded by time, his gaze carried the stillness of a predator waiting for its prey.
The Future Overlord lowered a teacup, pouring more tea with unhurried movements.
"What do you want, little brat?" The old man spoke coldly. "
I hope you're not here to waste my time again, babbling like an idiot as you did yesterday."because that cause me to have some sleepless night because of you brat !
The Future Overlord paused as he pour more tea inside the cup as he handed to him
The old man quickly took the tea as he smash the cup down as splinter flew in the air
The old man opened his eyes slowly, surprise flickering across his face. A trace of sadness appeared, soon replaced by faint joy as he raised his head.
You better don't played with me like yesterday
"I wanted to ask," he said softly, "how is Mingyin and Magman?"I hope there doing what our leader told us
A faint smile curved beneath the mask.
"That brat Magman tried to kill me for my artifact," the Future Overlord replied calmly. "I reported him to the leader. He'll be facing serious consequences."
The old man stood abruptly. His beard fluttered in the wind as he slammed both fists onto the table
Did I ask if he wanted to kill you even if he would it none of my concern
. A small bronze card clattered between his sleeve , engraved with a tapestry of grinning clowns.
"Let's play a game, Future Overlord," the old man said with a sigh, smiling strangely.
The Future Overlord leaned back, crossing his arms.
"No."he said slowy
The old man opened his mouth trying zo argue—with him
But roots erupted from the ground, thin and sharp, hovering in the air like needles aimed at his throat.
The old man froze. He swiftly retrieved the card and sat back down.
"Damn you," he muttered. "You're worse than Mingyin."
The Future Overlord rose to his feet, taking look up
"Mingyin," he said quietly, "that shameless brat outsmarted an entire crowd without revealing his strength."
His tone darkened.
"If my Supreme Elder hadn't killed me back then… I wouldn't have get the shitty artifact ."
The old man waved his sleeve and as he show his finger there where blood pale to the pint showing his flesh beneath his skin
The Future Overlord handed him a sheet of paper.
As he mutter out loudly
This is a report from leader he is warning you that the debt between your guys is gonna to not end well
And who the heck is your vessel evenself
The old man clenched the paper, muttering to himself.
"How ungrateful… I'll need more time to reclaim the vessel. I lost my connection to the artifact in the mountain, but once I take over that body—"
The Future Overlord interrupted calmly.
As he wave his massive hand
Calm down your still have some time left
The old man nodded, biting his finger. Blood dripped into the air, swirling unnaturally before being absorbed back into his wound. His body blurred, dissolving into the wooden chair itself. As he mutter out
Then I be going we will be seeing us in the mountain
Silence returned.
The Future Overlord looked up at the sky, his expression dark beneath the blazing sun.
"…What a busy day."
….:.
A strange silence fell over the crowd as countless gazes gathered on Ming Jin.
"To think I'd witness such a massive tiger with my own eyes…"
One man spoke in disbelief, his breath hitching.
"Why didn't we see this during the battle?"
Murmurs spread rapidly through the group.
Ming Jin smiled calmly and spoke aloud, his tone relaxed yet confident.
"Oh, this creature is enslaved. I didn't reveal it on the battlefield because once it goes berserk, it would cause tremors across the land. A beast like this could even kill me if I lost control. You understand, don't you?"
The crowd exchanged glances, confusion flickering across their faces, but one by one, they nodded.
The copy of Mingyin smiled faintly.but he was still thinking away to scheming against each othere but he open his mouth
"This is my younger brother. Though he's only a Grade One, he can control beasts of Rank Two and Three."
And he quite even terrified even at his level
He wasn't lying.indeed
Countless regression ago, Mingyin had grown tired of being weak, powerless, unable to obtain even the simplest form of strength. In desperation, he sought out immortals and created a circular crystal that allowed him to use soul energy.
With it, he could only control animals and insects.
Yet even so, he had dominated many immortals through it.
As a mortal, however, he was still fragile. If the tiger or any beast laid eyes on him directly, it could kill him instantly. He could only issue commands for twenty-five seconds at most.
The man who taught him had lied.
He claimed the beast could be controlled for a full minute.
But Mingyin was no fool. Too clever to die so easily, there were countless reasons he had survived until now.
Ming Jin smiled and spoke again.
"So I'm here to join you all in retrieving the Treasure Core. I'll accept only five percent of the gains."for personally benefit
Smiles spread across the immortal crowd.
A young girl thought quietly to herself, He's polite… and considerate. Even if he's not as handsome as Mingyin, he feels far more mature. Cooler. Strangely attractive.
An old man, however, stared at him with narrowed eyes.
"This boy has manners. Unlike this generation… still just a brat."
Opinions differed.
Some smiled oddly.
Others crossed their arms in silence.
Ming Jin simply nodded.
Mingyin then spoke aloud, his voice steady.
"So, may I ask… what are we doing next?"
Magman smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"Wait. Give me a moment."I need to think
He turned away.
Mingyin sighed quietly.
As he grin as he spoke out loud looking at magman
"
Damn it… If I hadn't provoked that brat, I'd still be sitting on the White Bone Chair."or maybe died of it
The crowd gave mingyina. Weird look
Magman's eyes twitched.
Rage boiled deep within his chest, his hands trembling uncontrollably.
After this… for sure I'll will smash him until he's dead.
Mingyun laughed silently in his mind.
Magman turned back around.
"Bronze Holder, bring out the map."
We now going to prepare free adventure
She nodded and retrieved a scroll from her storage pouch, unfurling it in the air.
A vast map appeared, depicting a jade palace resting on the sea floor, surrounded by scattered skeletons.with many small spider web across the sea floor
Mingyin's eyes widened.
"Wait… isn't this where the Jade Emperor once resided? The father of all humanity in the mortal world?"why is one of his jade palace here
He smiled faintly.
Bronze Holder glanced at him.
"Mingyin, we can talk about that later but we have a lot to do. We'll need to protect ourselves from the carp beasts guarding this area. You'd better tell us your Soul Core formation."so we can prepare even more
Magman's heart skipped a beat, though his expression remained calm.
I've caught you, Mingyin. You're finished.
You would oppose yourself if I told you where a stupid mortal you would for sure gossip about me
A young man with a cheeky grin spoke loudly,
"Yeah. Why don't you tell us your Soul Core formation, ?"
Mingyin looked at him.
Any other cultivator with decades of experience would've humiliated the boy on the spot. With some twisted logic But Mingyin only smiled.he wasn't like that
"I used to be like them ," he said calmly. I
To himself "Targeting the weak Gossiping behind others' backs. That's humanity for for us . No matter how hard we try, we repeat the cycle and become worse than those before our ancestors
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"
Mingyin smiled again.
"My Soul Core formation is forbidden by my sect. I can't speak of it. But it has something to do with illusions."that is all I can say
Magman's eyes turned red with anger. He dug his fingernail deep into his flesh, drawing blood, before wiping it away.
That damn brat… he's clever.
Bronze Holder opened her mouth to speak—
But Magman interrupted.
"Forget it.ahh…. We already know Mingyin is a Sage Artist. The Supreme Elder allowed him to stay. Let him do whatever he wants. He could kill all of us if he wished."to right ?
The crowd nodded instantly.
"Oh, of course."
"We wouldn't dare offend a Sage Artist."
"Why were we even pressuring you?"
Their attitudes shifted completely.
Mingyin bowed slightly.
. "There all desperate to prove yourselve themselves . To show the outside world that there accomplished something great.."opposes a mortal among immortal
He paused.
"The strong devour the weak… but no one ever talks about how the weak outsmart the strong."
Mingyin was far too experienced to be killed so easily.
What exactly is that brat planning…
Mingyin glanced at Magman, who was smiling pleasantly.
Silence stretched.
Then Mingyin spoke again.
"Alright. Let's discuss how to retrieve the Treasure Core. This continent is about to collapse. We shouldn't waste time."
Everyone nodded.
Bronze Holder raised a finger.
"Then we'll prepare immediately."
She snapped her fingers.
Tiny sparks fluttered through the air, forming ripples of energy. Moments later, alabaster masks emerged, shaped to fit human faces.
Twenty-five of them.
Bronze Holder handed them out one by one.
As she gave to magman who she gave a stern stare
Magman shudder from the stare as the some of the crowd gave magman a arrogant look
Mingyin frowned slightly.
"A water artifact? Isn't your Soul Core path focused on armor?"
She smiled, though darkness flickered briefly in her eyes.
"My father follows a Water Soul Core formation. He gave these to me so I could retrieve the Treasure Core."
Mingyin studied her quietly.
When she tried to hand him a mask, the copy of Mingyin refused.
"No need. I can breathe underwater."
Bronze Holder froze.
"What? We'll be fighting underwater for nearly two hours. You'll die."
Mingyin shook his head.
"Didn't I tell you? My Soul Core formation is forbidden."
She stared at him for a long moment, then laughed softly.
"Very well, Mingyin… then I won't ask."
Magman turned away, his expression dark.
I'll still use you.… for now.don't dare think you can run away from me
His eyes paled slightly.
Wait
No… it's impossible. He couldn't have heard us. I checked the entire area.how did he know that we are gonna to oppose him as a mortal
A thought struck him.
Unless… a clone was spying on me?
No. That made no sense.
Still—
A deep unease crept into his chest.
Because somehow, an immortal like him was being used…
by a mortal.