The Dawn of the New World

Back in Dai Zhi's treasure palace time flowed at a snail's pace as compared to where Hao Xuan was.

One by one more and more cultivators arrived from all three powers, as well as a few rogues native traitors. Dai Zhi welcomed them all with open arms and soon his many halls were filled with voracious laughter of the hundreds of visitors that could finally let loose.

They ate, drank, slept, and enjoyed the company of the native men and women who were presented to them like cattle to be used however they wished.

From some halls flowed blood like wine while from others moans of forced pleasure. Nothing was off-limits as long as they kept it within the boundaries of each enclosed space so that once they were finished indulging their darkest desires, they could once again don the robes of excellence that they claimed to be born for.

Approximately five hours had passed when Tian Zheng's party finally arrived.

Dai Zhi went out to welcome him in person and was quite surprised to see so many people. Almost a 100 strong, each one at the very pinnacle of the Spirit Realm and some whose cultivations could not be determined at a single glance.

These were probably the ones that had broken through to the Profound Realm but were either hiding their powers or forcefully suppressing them.

Dai Zhi stood at the main entrance of the Palace along with many of his personal followers including Micha. Across from him was Tian Zheng and his personal army, each of which was an experienced fighter capable of killing dozens of their own brothers.

That was how the Hall taught its pupils. Only the strongest survived while the weak were sacrificed on their behalf. Spilling blood was in their nature and they were good at it.

Dai Zhi put on an affable smile as he peered towards Tian Zheng.

"Brother Tian Zheng, welcome. But I did not expect you to bring so many...'guests' with you today."

Tian Zheng was in his usual clothes, wearing nothing but a black jacket and a pretty girl as an ornament that hung tightly from his waist. He grinned, "You know how it is these days, can't be too careful. These are just a few good friends of mine. I hope you don't mind?"

"No, of course not. Everyone is welcome today since it is such an important occasion! Come, you must be tired from your journey."

Tian Zheng's grin widened from ear to ear when he heard that. The occasion was of course his 'wedding' if it could even be called that.

Dai Zhi snapped his fingers and turned around to lead the party in. Dozens of maids and servants swarmed in with trays full of food and liquor but not a single of Tian Zheng's followers touched it. Dai Zhi noticed and was further incensed by but it kept it well hidden. Instead, he yelled at the servants.

"What are you waiting for?! Start the preparations! It is a wedding not a funeral!"

***

Meanwhile back in the Shadow Realm, Hao Xuan was encompassed in a ball of bubbling shadows that hissed and whispered into his ears but could not get close.

His physique appeared to be emaciated, flesh sticking to bones and his appearance mimicked that of a malnourished hobo.

But his aura had never been any clearer, any nobler than it was at this moment. He sat cross-legged with the palms of both his hands facing upwards, resting calmly on his knees.

Above each palm was a squirming ball of bright red and blue matter. It shapeshifted into different forms and elements like fire and lightning, sometimes creating water and other times thunder as a result of it.

But mostly they retained the shape of billowing clouds within the palms of his hands. It was plasma, neither solid, liquid nor gas. Shifting shapes and attributes on the go like it was completely normal.

The space within 2 meters of his body was completely devoid of any of these foreign shadows. It looked like there was an invisible wall keeping them at bay, just out of arms reach.

He remained in this state for a very long time, or a very short one. It was hard to tell the passage of time in this place. But then Hao Xuan abruptly opened his eyes.

The balls of plasma floating above his palms suddenly quivered before calming down. Their shapes became more and more solid until that's what they became. Sparks of blue lightning ignited across the surface of both balls increasing in intensity and frequency until they formed a bridge between each one.

Brighter and deadlier arcs of lightning started spreading across their surface, increasing in magnitude with every passing second until they fully encompassed Hao Xuan's body.

He then raised both his hands and brought them closer together.. The lightning started receding back towards his palms to congregate around the tips of his fingers.