Fey Lin Fo did not understand, at least not completely.

To have ideals and to not bring them to fruition smelled of weakness to her. A person couldn't expect the world to change to their desires, they had to beat it into a different form. And yet here was a man with the biggest hammer refusing to shape the metal of the world.

He wanted the metal to bend of its own will.

How foolish.

Mei guided her through the village, though she already knew most of it. Her senses wandered, touching upon everything she could. The village, the cultivator, the people, the forest.

She stopped walking.

That forest was dangerous. She hadn't noticed it before because she had teleported directly next to that man, but had she walked through that forest, she might have died.

No, she definitely would have died. She could feel something hungry staring back at her. It was something primal and animal, and it was a feeling she had only felt a few times throughout her life.

Celestial beasts were everywhere in existence, but they were lacking in Ah-Marin. The humans had long since cleared the realm of any beasts beyond the ninth realm and of the few beasts in the ninth realm remaining, all had been made peace with.

Whatever was in there, it was beyond her, at least of the tenth rank.

Fey Lin Fo shivered with truer fear than she had ever felt.

"How strong is that man?" She asked.

"Very strong, and yet not strong at all."

The meaning of her words were clear. He was capable, but there were stronger beings out there, and Mei Shan had witnessed them.

"Would you tell me of the political situation within the realm? It is hard to get good news from here."

"You do not have attendants for such things?"

"Mister Bill likes to stay within the valley, and we do the same."

They walked around the outskirts of the village.

"Well, the realm is ruled by the Ten Great Sects of Ah-Marin. They all have some sort of territory on the planet, though some rule over major empires while others hold only cities and small regions."

"And this is determined by resources and qi density?"

"Yes," Fey Lin nodded. "The smaller the territory a sect holds, the more valuable it is. My old sect, The Eternal Darkness Sect, holds only one city, and yet it is one of the most powerful sects within the realm."

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"What makes the city so valuable?"

"You know the anatomy of the realm, yes?"

"Not that well."

"Well, Ah-Marin the realm is tied to Ah-Marin the planet. The realm used to be a much weaker one, incapable of creating anything above the seventh rank, then some ancient arraymaster created an array at its center that gathered qi and grew the realm beyond its limits. The planet acts as the heart of the realm."

"I see," Mei Shan nodded.

"I hear it is a common way through which realms form and grow," Fey Lin added.

"It is very common."

"Truly?"

"Yes."

Fey Lin nodded. She had never left the realm, but she had thought about it and read up on many things concerning the outside world. To hear that the center of her realm, the very thing around which her life revolved, was common—that was staggering.

But she kept her composure.

"Yes, well, this array has vents, through which it releases condensed laws and qi. Those vents allow for extreme cultivation, allowing most of our sect to rise to the eighth rank with few troubles."

"I see, and the other realms have similar territories?"

"In some ways. At certain spots the qi is thick and will stay that way. That is where the small territories are established, but at other spots, qi is wide and comes out at a steady pace. In those cases, the sects create sinkholes. Sometimes through enchantments, other times through arrays, qi flows down into their central area, and they can use it to cultivate easier within the depths of the empire. If you use your senses to feel the flow of qi and where it's heading, you could use that to guide yourself to the center of the Void Blade Empire."

They kept walking, having now reached a rather large house with a small gathering of people standing in front of it.

There was a strange metal pole poking out of the ground and standing firm in the center.

"Ladies and gentlemen, people of this small town, residents of Oasis Village--"

"Get on with it, Mackie!"

"Alright, alright, Mister Chin. No need to raise your voice. We are gathered here today to unveil the newest innovation brought to our small town by the recent burst of economic growth and trade! I present to you the Lamp Post! Made with metal and powered by a small array on the inside, along with the crushed residue of old and dull spirit stones. It will charge during the day and light up during the night! Any city within the region has it, and this is officially our first one! Hoorah!"

The crowd repeated the cheer three more times and stayed gathered around the light while in discussion about how it functioned.

"And if you try to steal it, remember it's not just old man Jha anymore, it's a fifth-rank cultivator you'll be dealing with," The man named Mackie added.

"You should remind yourself of that, Mackie!" An old lady yelled.

"Madam, I do not steal from anyone."

"You robbed me blind with that sale last Tuesday! A bag of flour straight from the Hidden Viper, he said, it would make the greatest of breads! It was just regular wheat--"

"Madam, all issues with the product should be taken up with upper management."

"You're a one man business, Mackie!"

"Well then, who else wants to have these lamp posts by their home? For an extra silver, I can put you on the hurry-up list and have them installed at--"

"There is no hurry-up list, and you'll go get the rest of them tomorrow, Mackie," an old man cut it.

"But—alright, Mister Chin, keep your hat on. Tomorrow, though, it'll be at least a week before I can get back to ya!"

"That's fine, we'll see you then, Mackie."

"That's Mackie," Mei Shan explained. "He's one of the village's best merchants. He goes out and buys everything they need from the rest of the region, and he always gets the best prices too. He's a great haggler, to a fault at most times. He might work for the village, but that doesn't mean he won't try to get the best prices here as well. Ah, and that is who we're here to see, Chin!"

Mei Shan waved at a mortal man.

He looked at Mei and nodded. Then he looked at Fey Lin and frowned.

"Another one?" He asked.

Now what could that possibly mean?

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