Emperor's Reckoning

The sun was already setting down as its twin lovers replaced the day with a bright night. It wasn't long before the twin reached its peak, revealing the final night of yesterday and the starting morning of today. A smattering of luminous stars scattered the heavens as most men and beast already asleep.

Below the beautiful night was a vast lake with clear water that couldn't even reflect a human staring at it. On one edge of that very beautiful lake, was a small bonfire where only two figures could be seen. A young man and a sleeping young woman.

The young man stood tall as his eyes turned sharp to their surrounding. With one wave of his hand, the surrounding space was sealed with his magic. He didn't mess around nor taking anything lightly, one slightest killing intent and he was ready to obliterate. Not even the hissing of a mosquito was heard.

Though his eyes were focused, his heart was aching. The young woman he was currently protecting was having her cultivation realm dropping to the lowest level possible, one more step and she would be an ordinary human. What's more, was that he owed this woman too much. First, he stole her first kiss out of impulse, now she had saved him from something ominous with her own body as the prize.

He felt enormous guilt that he couldn't possibly repay her in any way. Though their first meeting was bittersweet, he would have never guessed that he would be in this situation.

The young man gritted his teeth as time passed. The cultivation of the young woman finally dropped no further as she finally became an ordinary human. Her eyes twitched as she woke up from what felt like a long slumber.

The sound of the dry wood cracking was the first thing that entered her ears. She tried to get up before she was greeted with a handsome face.

The young man knelt with his warm eyes looking at the dumbfounded young woman, "Still need another sleep, teacher?"

Karina smiled as she punched his chest. However, that smile soon turned sour as her punch stuck on his chest, seemingly not doing any damage at all. Her expression also caused Lyon to be devastated.

He knew how much of a tomboy Karina was. She was most active and cheerful, however, right now she was frail and dejected.

"C'mon teacher, let's cultivate!" said Lyon in an attempt to bring back her spirit.

Karina looked up to his face as she said softly, "You would still call me, teacher?"

Lyon furrowed his eyebrows, "What are you talking about? Of course, I would!"

Karina's dejected face slowly turned up as a smile slowly formed on her face.

"You are still my teacher, and I still have not bested you yet! So many situations proved that I am still not having the same cool as yours. Your decisive and meticulously action could bring about the best outcome! While me, I'm still making mistake here and there... and over there... and probably somewhere over here."

"Pfft!" Karina couldn't help but laugh at his attempt of making a joke.

Lyon smiled as he stood up, "Well, I will protect you while you cultivate, by the size of that anti-mana that you absorbed, grandpa Long said that it took only a quarter of it to reset your cultivation, so the rest can be used to advance your anti-mana cultivation path!"

Lyon turned his back against her as he absorbed the surrounding mana, "Divine Magic, Scabbard!"

Unlike the previous Scabbard, the size of the sealing was only as big as a normal house with a backyard. Karina didn't have the time to be astonished before she asked, "Lyon, what about the war? Aren't we gonna launch the first attack?"

"Don't worry, they would do well without me for a while. I mean, Kyoko and Ryona are also there so there is little to be worried about," answered Lyon.

(Ah crap, Fei would get mad at me for sure!) thought Lyon as he couldn't imagine what would Fei do to him.

"But you are also a vital part of the first assault," refuted Karina. She knew that Lyon was their hidden ace card. The man with the most versatile abilities among them.

Lyon shook his head, "No, I will not go until you finished breaking through and keep breaking through to the point that you can send me flying with a punch once more."

(No way would I leave you, not after what happened. I cannot owe you anymore, I don't want to lose you because of my carelessness!) thought Lyon with a firm heart. He wouldn't let anything like that happen once more. He knew how much it pained his heart as he saw her figure fell to the ground like a corpse.

"You are stubborn!" said Karina while she turned her back against him. However, unbeknownst to Lyon, she put on a sweet smile on her face.

"You said it! if I can send you flying with my fist, you will join the war ASAP!"

"That's right, we will enter the center of the battlefield!"

"Fine!" answered Karina as she sat down cross-legged.

Lyon stole a glance before he was astonished by the fact that Karina already entered the meditation state of a clear mind. The epitome way to cultivate.

(The first phase, is Body Tempering how fast can you-HUH?!) Lyon couldn't help but faced the cultivating young woman.

(SHE-she already entered the second level!).

The time had not passed even a minute yet but she already broken through the second level of Body Tempering realm. Even though she was mostly retracing the steps she once took in and just replace the source, this kind of pace was quite unbelievable.

"Looks like I don't have to wait long," said Lyon with a smile.