Immortal Kingdoms

Even though he was bound with no contract whatsoever. Still, as a proud man with integrity in the world of his mother's business empire, meaningless gestures such as contracts proved beyond redundant.

Leonardo's breathing grew laboured and rough, feeling dizzy and out of place as the world spun all around in his vision. In that split second, he watched as Nier's silhouette faded into the grey sky and earth, followed by the figure of his sickly mother closing her eyes to never open them again.

That was all it took to douse his rekindled pride, and the expression in his eyes faded into obscurity once again.

Just like that, Leonardo took the first, second, and third steps. The more he advanced, the lighter his feet felt. Pride clashed with humiliation, and his blood eventually ran cold.

The sharp contrast between Nier's petite body and her long, midnight black hair as it swayed left and right across her firm buttocks worked like a hypnotic charm.

As though she could see Leonardo following stiffly behind her, Nier flashed a faint smile as she complimented him, "Good boy, Leo."

The old man silently watched from the sidelines without saying a word. However, a trace of worry flashed through his eyes as they traced over Leonardo's figure. This is a dangerous game she's playing, he thought to himself with a sigh before following the two.

The party of three walked for a few kilometres silently before they spotted what seemed like an abandoned village in the distance. Many middle-aged and old men and women seemed to go through the village, and it seemed to Leonardo that this is their current destination.

Before long, the party made their way in front of an old hut in a fairly isolated corner of the village. Then, Nier approached the door, knocked twice, and retreated into a half-kneeling posture with her right hand resting against her heart.

About an hour later, the door cracked open and a flat voice sounded, "What do you need, the little girl from House Hestia?"

Nier bowed her head low and spoke, "I am here on behalf of my first generation's ancestors. I would like to offer a young talent from our house as your disciple."

After a moment of silence, the voice spoke again, "First of all, he doesn't carry your bloodline. Second, he's a mere mortal. Third, are you absolutely sure?"

Nier thought for a moment and nodded her head.

"Very well," The voice responded, "This means I'll need to remodel his constitution as well. Even though your old ancestor didn't mention anything about this, I'm not going to haggle with you; he saved my life after all. Even if the second alternative was to exile me into this forsaken land."

"However, this wipes our slate clean. If your House Hestia is on the brink of destruction one day, don't expect my descendants to come helping."

Nier understood this point clearly, but she didn't mind.

Leonardo couldn't understand their language, but he could tell that both parties had come to an agreement after the brief discussion.

Nier then stood up and looked at Leonardo, smiling faintly as she spoke in English again, "This mainland is an isolated dimension cut off from the flow of space, time, and energy in the outside world. In this place, everything is in a static state, including time. Even if you spend a hundred years here, it'll feel like a moment outside."

"I'm telling you this so you don't stress over the course of your training to come. Of course, heaven is fair, and you can't stay here forever. A mortal's life expectancy is about a hundred years, so if you leave this place after a hundred years, you'll die instantly before you even know it."

Leonardo was first pleasantly surprised, then his brows furrowed, and a sense of unease assaulted him. He wanted to say he could become an Immortal here before leaving, but he then remembered that energy doesn't exist in this dimension. In a sense, no one can progress in their cultivation, regardless of their talent. Then, what's the point of coming all the way here?

Nier seemed to read his thoughts as she explained, "You are here to get yourself a master and disciple relationship with one of the convicts here. This Senior will restructure your constitution, teach you the divine tongue, and hone your combat skills and techniques."

"Heaven is fair just like you said, so I assume this constitution thing comes with a price?" Leonardo responded with creased brows.

Nier chuckled as she responded, "Indeed. The constitution reconstruction will drain your life force, you'll be lucky if you had 20 years left to live afterwards. But that's fine, all you have to do is enter the Saint Tier, and you'll attain the corresponding life expectancy; a few hundred years."

Leonardo took a deep breath before clenching his pale fists. Then, he nodded heavily and calmly, his gaze as lifeless as ever, as though he was but a mechanical puppet.

Nier nodded her head and turned around to walk off into the distance. She wasn't willing to waste even a minute of her precious time and life force in the Exiled Paradise, as time lost here is not worth it for a powerhouse on her level.

Nier and the old man quickly faded into the embrace of the grey sky and earth, like a pair of desolate Immortals. After trekking through a few kilometres, Nier and the old man phased through the chaotic membrane and back into the novel starry sky.

They floated silently in the void for a few moments, and the membrane began to ripple with a silent disturbance before a young man's silhouette was flung out from the Exiled Paradise.

Before the forces of the void could collapse on his figure, the old man waved his hand to wrapped Leonardo in a faint film of energy before catching him by the collar.

Nier spared the unconscious Leonardo a glance before asking faintly, "How much does he have left?"

The old man's muddled eyes flashed faintly before responding, "Mhm, he has about five years of vitality. As for his constitution, it'll do."

Nier said, "Conceal it under the guise of a Divine Constitution for now, since we can't keep his existence a secret, we can at least confuse those idiots eyeing my family like a pie."

…

When Leonardo opened his eyes again, he felt dizzy and exhausted. The moment he left the protection zone of the Exiled Paradise, he felt as though millions of swords skewed his body, the pain was so intense he instantly fell unconscious.

After a brief episode of struggling, Leonardo sat up on the spacious and fluffy bed. Looking up, he was momentarily dazed.

Nier stood in nothing but a thin nightgown in front of a tall, vertical mirror. Underneath the plain clothes was a body riddled with old scars. She was busy inspecting her wounds new and old, seemingly unbothered by Leonardo's presence.

"Disappointed?" She turned her petite figure in full display to Leonardo. Unlike when she spoke in stiff English, her voice was as melodious as the flowing waters.

"Overwhelmed…" He responded absentmindedly. Those intertwined scars mapping her body had an inexplicable wild charm to them. When it came down to it, Leonardo was still 17 years old, regardless of how mature his mind seemed.

He may have spent an untold number of years training in the Exiled Paradise, but his mind was absolutely blank as he watched Nier sashaying her way towards him.

The scars danced like elegant snakes, her firm breasts swayed ever so slightly due to their compact shape, and the spring scenery between her thick, muscular thighs mesmerised him so. Before he knew it, her small little foot pressed against his chest, forcing him to lay back down on the bed.

A mysterious force swirled across Nier's tip toes before lashing out at Leonardo's body, rendering him as incapable of resisting whatsoever. Both of them could listen in to his frantically beating heart, as this was the mindset of an inferior subject meeting their owner.

Leonardo had long surrendered his pride to Nier.

This was a psychological warfare he had long lost.

He felt immobilised and out of control, not to mention unjustifiably aroused.

This was perhaps the first time Leonardo felt anything remotely close to pleasure after who knew how many years of torture. He was so absorbed in the pleasure, he didn't notice the subtle frown on Nier's face, nor did he notice the stiff pause in her otherwise fluid motions…