Archwizard K’s Journey In The Cultivation World

Case 120: Never get to Heaven.

August von Lilienthal.

In many ways, she was an enigma. Even if one spent a significant amount of time around her, comprehending just who she was would prove to be difficult. One second, she appeared as a cold-blooded, noble empress; the next second, she was a mean teaser, and the next, a gentle lover.

This was especially hard for the women of the cultivation world, who needed information on their greatest foe in love.

'...What am I thinking?'

This wasn't time for that. Yu Chen knew that yet she couldn't avert her eyes from August's calm back as the Sword Empress navigated toward the frontline.

Tian Yun had pretty much the same thoughts.

Amidst the chaos within the White Tower's camp, the White Lotus felt as though she and her companions today were too relaxed. People were running around restlessly, yet their steps could only be called a 'little faster than usual.'

Breezing through the sea of personnel and soldiers, they eventually climbed the main fortress's wall, where one could observe the enemies' advancement.

''You're finally here!''

From a corner, a robed old man hurried over to the three women. With a long, lush white beard and blue eyes, he was easily recognized as the White Tower's master.

An old master, often revered as one of the greatest, yet Yu Chen and Tian Yun couldn't help but think that he appeared infinitely small compared to the overwhelming Sword Empress. 

''Calm down.'' She casually said. ''How long until your forces are ready?''

As she clutched her sword's scabbard, August's gaze shot toward the distance. Mirroring the dejected purple of the land below, hordes upon hordes of grotesque abominations couple be spotted approaching the camp's direction. Their sizes were diverse—some as small as a cat, others as tall as buildings.

Yet, none could match the mountingly colossal figure rising above them all.

Each time its foot stomped onto the ground, the whole of the earth shook as if it were an earthquake. August's golden eyes slowly followed the legs' length to beyond.

'A humanoid... like a giant, huh.'

The bronze-colored, almost metal-like skin.

The bulging muscles.

It was so tall that the thin clouds would split by the thighs at their half-length when the creature moved. Through those clouds, two clear red lights pierced to the ground.

''...''

Without saying a word, August unsheathed her sword.

''Sword Empress, what are you—''

Slash.

A graceful motion that formed a crescent in the air.

Before the eyes could register, an intense wind current was generated, almost blowing both the tower master and the cultivators away. 

''T-That...''

Tian Yun was the first one to react. Seeing that, Yu Chen also followed her master's gaze, and her eyes immediately widened.

The clouds were gone.

In one stroke, August blew everything away, yet that wasn't even the most stunning point. 

''Interesting.''

The Sword Empress muttered.

The giant, whose true form had now been revealed, had its palm facing the fortress, on which a clear horizontal line could be spotted. Golden, molten blood flowed from the wound, but it was quickly healed.

It appeared that it had blocked August's sword—with ease, at that.

Somehow, August got quite irritated at the creature's stone face and its eyes looking down on her.

''Hey, answer the question. When will you lot be ready?'' She turned to the tower master.

''Five... no, three minutes!''

''Get going. We're facing that thing head-on.''

After shooing the old man away, she turned to the master-disciple duo behind her, ''You two... right. Yu Chen, you join me in fighting directly with that thing. Tian Yun, support us from behind. Got it?''

''Okay...''

''Understood.''

''Good.''

While waiting for the forces to be ready, August tried to recall information about her opponent. She had been working with perhaps too many documents lately, but she could still remember the texts...

'Right, The Divine.'

Her opponent was a Heavenly Venerate who called himself 'The Divine'—the mortal god, one who governed his people from Heaven as though a deity. Symbolizing resilience and strength, his main forte could be summed up as 'overwhelming toughness.'

A rather simple opponent, yet undoubtedly annoying to face.

''Heaven, you say.'' August chuckled. ''If Heaven is like this, I'd rather never get to Heaven.''

''...''

''...''

Somehow, the two of White Lotus could understand August's feelings, even if they only heard a random mumble.

Once the army of Immortals and wizards had sufficiently gathered and a formation had formed, both Yu Chen and Tian Yun pulled out their swords and readied their power.

The moment they stepped past that line into the green land, the fight must break out.

Now.

''Follow my lead.'' August declared. ''I'll give you a little present.''

After that, she climbed on top of the wall and titled her body forward. Within the blink of an eye, her figure completely vanished. Before most could realize it, they heard a loud, deep cracking noise.

It sounded as though space itself was being smashed to shreds.

''Holy—''

And it was, indeed.

From left to right, spanning fields of vision, the space was torn apart in a single streak. Spewing from within the opening was something horrifying—perhaps even more so than the abominations. Thousands of feral eyes were lit against the jet-black background, and as though a black hole, it sucked everything in.

In an instance, a considerable number of the fiends were eliminated.

''C-Charge!''

Seizing this chance, the leader of the Immortal soldiers gave the order to advance, and the wizards also began their casting.

Meanwhile, August stood alone before the colossal rift she had slashed open, which was now slowly closing. She took another look at the Heavenly Venerate... and clicked her tongue.

Despite such an attack, its legs were only minorly damaged—not nearly enough to call it a proper wound.

''August!''

It took another second for Yu Chen to arrive at where the Sword Empress was and three more seconds for the Immortals to sprint past both of them into the sea of monsters.

A wave of mana spread. It was the wizards' universal enhancement spell.

Colorful magic took over the battlefield, and explosions clouded many's sight.

One could spot Tian Yun's lightning shower that blasted hundreds every moment. Periodically, barrages of spells flew from behind, decimating elite monsters.

Amidst that chaos, the colossal enemy slowly raised his fist. The sheer size of him made it seem as if the end of the world was inevitable. In other words, utter despair.

''...Ready your sword.'' August tapped a dazed Yu Chen's shoulder. ''We're facing that head-on.''

''T-That?! Are you serious?!''

Yu Chen was flustered. Her instinct was telling her that she should absolutely not be anywhere near such power, yet August remained adamant.

''Are you going to let our troops all die, then?'' She asked, narrowing her eyes. ''Think of the big picture, not of what's in front of you.''

As the Sword Empress said that, her sword glowed a gentle light. It was the same golden aura she had shown many times, but Yu Chen couldn't stop admiring it even now.

''Ah...''

The martial master of Qinling let out a small sound, seeing her love rival proudly take off to the sky, leaving behind a golden trail as if a reversed meteor.

''Tch.''

Clutching her sword, Yu Chen also shot herself into the sky.