Life After Reaching The Pinnacle

Bob's Restaurant, Maple Town

In the morning, Bob's Restaurant was filled with laughter, as usual. It was the only restaurant in town where many people and travelers came for rest and meals. The building was a simple two-story structure, with the restaurant on the bottom floor and living quarters above.

Most of the tables were occupied, and the topic of discussion was common.

"Did you hear that sound last night? I was so terrified."

"Yeah, there must have been some high-level Profound Artists fighting."

"I just shut the door of my house and holed myself up."

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it aside from praying that their attack doesn't land on us."

"Seriously, why didn't they just fight in an open place? Why come to a place filled with people?"

As these discussions continued, two individuals at a nearby table silently listened to everyone's conversation.

"Looks like everybody has holed themselves up in fear. It seems we can't gather any information here, Master," Rey said.

"Sigh, I already expected that. Let's go. We can deliver this information to His Majesty, and he can decide what to do," Jav Kela said, standing up and leaving some coins on the table.

Rey followed his master, but as they were leaving, Rey's gaze fell upon a nearby building.

"Master, that building is the closest to where the fight happened. Shouldn't we ask the inhabitants if they know something?" Rey asked, pointing towards the building.

"I doubt we would find anything. They must have shut themselves up as well," Jav Kela shook his head.

"No harm in trying, Master," Rey said.

"Fine, let's go," Jav Kela agreed.

————————

On the other side, as Aurora reached the hot spring, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. The events of the day had been overwhelming, and now she found herself in the presence of a mysterious and powerful individual like Aadi. She had no idea what her future would hold, but the prospect of becoming his disciple intrigued her.

She had been observing Aadi and knew that he didn't have any bad intentions; he had even saved her and taken her as his disciple. She had decided to be fully loyal to him.

As she lay in the hot spring, some black goo-type substance began to excrete from all over her body. She was shocked and hurriedly cleaned herself, but it took nearly 30 minutes to do so. Aurora was surprised as she could feel her body had become stronger. She didn't know what had happened, but she could tell it was because of the water she was bathing in.

'So even the water they bathe in has such qualities,' Aurora thought. 'Even those body-strengthening pills I took back in the clan didn't strengthen my body this much, and using them was even painful, but this didn't even feel uncomfortable.'

Aurora went outside the hot spring and put on the new clothes Asty had left for her. After changing, she went towards the library where Aadi and Asty were.

As she approached the library, she overheard Aadi's and Asty's conversation.

"Hey, Asty, can I ask you something?"

"Nope."

"Oii!! It's just one question, you know!"

"Fine, but it better be something good; otherwise.."

"Yeah, yeah, we'll see that later. So here's my question... Asty, are you stupid?"

"What are you getting at?"

"No, I mean, there's always 'U' in 'stupid.'"

"...that was way too lame and cringe."

"Hey, you aren't following the script!"

"Oh? And how do?"

"You should have said there's also 'I' in 'stup'..oi, that's cheating! You can't use my weapon against me!!"

"Well, you're the one who said you're stupid."

After hearing their conversation, Aurora burst out laughing. Seriously, just before, she was thinking they were some Bigshots, but now... is this how powerful people live their life?

Both Aadi and Asty turned their heads toward the laughing Aurora and smiled.

"Hey, Aurora, tell me, was my joke good?" Aadi asked, after Aurora finished her laughing session.

"Yes, Master, it's way too good." Aurora happily said. She has already decided to be loyal to them, so why shouldn't she be happy?

All of a sudden, as if thinking of something, Aurora looked at Aadi with wide eyes.

"How do we know your name when you didn't tell us?" Asty asked the question Aurora had in mind.

Aurora nodded her head as she was confused about it.

"Well, I told you people will die to get what you remember," Asty responded. "Tell me, do you want to know everything about yourself and your destiny? Tell me, are you sure you want to be Aadi's disciple?"

As Asty finished speaking, a terrifying spiritual pressure descended upon Aurora, forcing her to kneel. Even the floor made with precious materials cracked under the pressure. Although it was spirit-based pressure, it was so intense that it could materialize in the physical world.

If Aurora hadn't undergone that change in the hot spring, she wouldn't have been able to withstand this pressure. Her bones began to crack, and blood came into her mouth.

Aurora gritted her teeth and forced herself to kneel properly, saying, "Yes, I want to be Master's disciple, and I don't want to drag his name down by my actions. Please tell me everything and make me someone who will befit Master's disciple."

Asty smiled and withdrew her pressure, then jumped down from Aadi's shoulder and began to walk towards the pond. "Let's go. Your training is starting now, and I'm the one who will be teaching you as I have more knowledge about your bloodline than him. You can learn from him later."

As soon as the pressure was gone, Aurora spat a mouthful of blood and began panting heavily. Then, she stood up with difficulty and followed Asty with great determination in her eyes. 𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗼𝘃𝐞𝐥.𝗰𝗼𝐦

The only one left in the room, Aadi, smiled wryly as he thought, 'She really doesn't change,' but Aadi also knew that for Ruler's Bloodline, no one could understand it better than Asty. So, for Aurora to have Asty as her teacher was a blessing.

Aadi then looked at the still closed door of the library and said with a crazy smile, "Time to entertain our first cultivator guest."