Myriad Rivers to the Sea

Li Yu left the small town behind and accelerated through the gray sky. He adjusted his internal energy and allowed his aura steadily until it settled firmly at the King realm. He had learned from Gorm that the strongest experts in the capital were rumored to be at this level so matching that power seemed like the most efficient way to proceed. Projecting a King realm aura would deter random harassment while ensuring the ruling class treated him with the respect necessary to open their libraries to him.

He listened to the wind rushing past his ears as he flew over the endless dark waters in deep thought. Hearing that the peak of this continent was only at the King realm left him feeling unconcerned about what he might face. From what he could tell through his travels and perhaps with a bit of arrogance born from true strength, he felt like no one on this realm could match him besides those on the central continent. That area was unknown to much of the wider world but clearly it was strong enough to have deterred those who have tried in the past. It seemed the other continents were much too starved of resources to produce genuine threats to it.

It was not that he was looking down on the people living in these lands. He knew surely everyone did the best they could with what they were given. But if one group was hoarding all the rich resources at the center of the world, it would naturally create this exact scenario. Cultivation requires dense Qi in the environment, spirit stones and natural treasures to progress. Without those foundational building blocks, even a genius with unparalleled talent would eventually stall and wither away into dust.

His thoughts drifted away from the swamp and focused on the Zhan Clan and the Li Clan that he came from. This barren world served as a dark representation of his own family and their cosmic operations. His clans were terrifying entities whose true depths he still did not fully understand yet. Their influence and reach spanned multiple realms and surely they operated like the dragons of this realm in some ways. He did not know the exact degree at which his clans took in resources from their territories but the fact remained that they did extract wealth to fuel their own power.

However, it was highly unlikely his clan operated to such a severe degree as the dragons here. The outer continents of this world were mostly starved out which meant it would be rare for the dragons to ever face an enemy that could get strong enough to challenge their rule. It was a strategy of forced stagnation that kept the ruling class safe at the expense of the entire world.

From what Li Yu had seen while taking missions on realms the Zhan Clan operated on, they did not crush the others to such a degree. Yes, there were yearly tributes and most likely favorable trades enforced by treaties but the Zhan Clan did not bury the other organizations, at least Li Yu didn’t see it on the surface.

They allowed the local sects and families to retain resources to grow and govern themselves. The Zhan Clan demanded tribute but they never demanded slaves or halted local progression. They wanted their subordinate realms to produce strong cultivators who could eventually be recruited into the main clan forces as well.

The Zhan Clan members were not feared like tyrants in the realms he did missions for. They were respected as a power one would not want to provoke. They were neither loved nor hated but sat somewhere in between which was probably acceptable to most people.

Li Yu was also not trying to justify his family members compared to how the dragons behaved though. He was just making the observation and taking the time to understand the balance for himself and what he could learn from it. A ruler needed to leave enough meat on the bone for the subjects to survive or the subjects would eventually turn into desperate cornered beasts. As he flew he pondered how he would handle things but quickly realized he didn’t truly know.

'Why do you stop at this level?' Yuan asked through their mental link as Li Yu. 'You seem to have much more power inside you. If you show them everything, they will just give you what you want out of fear.'

"Fear is a useful tool, Yuan," Li Yu answered while watching the dark water rush by below them. "But revealing too much is also not wise. My ultimate goal is to head to the central continent and there are most likely spies or scouts in these lands. I do not want anyone to know my true power or else they will be able to plan for me accordingly. Projecting a King realm aura is the best balance for this specific place. It is strong enough to demand respect and bypass the mundane guards but it is still within the range that I will not draw too much attention from that continent."

Yuan digested that wisdom and sent a feeling of contemplation back to Li Yu. The serpent was learning the subtle arts of power projection from a more experienced fighter. Brute force was the snake's preferred method but it recognized the value in Li Yu's more measured approach.

The dark swamp below him began to show signs of organized civilization as he neared the central region. The wild twisted trees gave way to cleared waterways and watchtowers rising from the water.

A sharp whistling sound pierced the air as a squad of soldiers shot up from a large tower to intercept him. Li Yu slowed his flight and came to a hovering halt while Yuan flicked his dark tongue against his neck.

The squad was led by a female commander of the Soul Reaping Axolotls. She wore sleek armor crafted from dark metal and carried a long halberd that pulsed with water Qi. She possessed pale translucent skin with vibrant pink gills flaring outward from the sides of her neck. Her dark eyes lacked pupils and stared at him with intense scrutiny. Li Yu sensed her aura hovering at the Divine Transformation stage which meant she was most likely a higher ranking officer in their military structure.

It was rare to see a human in these lands and even rarer to see one so powerful flying wantonly toward their capital city. The commander held her halberd steady but kept the blade pointed slightly downward in a show of respect toward his projected King realm pressure. It was clear from the start that they were no match for him but they still had to perform their duties and at least ask him what was going on.

"Halt traveler," the commander called out with a fluid voice. "You have crossed into the inner perimeter of the capital. State your name and your purpose for approaching the royal seat of power."

"I am Li Yu," he replied smoothly while keeping his hands resting calmly at his sides. "I am a wandering cultivator looking for a way home. Heading to the capital with the most information and the strongest people would be most helpful to my search and is my purpose for coming here."

The commander narrowed her dark eyes and tightened her grip on her weapon. She was naturally suspicious of a human possessing such overwhelming power appearing out of nowhere. "We do not often welcome outsiders into our archives. What specific information are you looking for?"

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"Anything that will help me return home," Li Yu answered honestly. "I do not know what that information is yet. I am searching for ancient maps or records of spatial anomalies. I am not here to cause trouble and I will happily leave your continent once I get the knowledge I need."

She stared at him for a long moment while weighing her options. Her duty was to protect the capital from threats but she felt much too weak to stop a King realm expert with just a small border patrol. Provoking him here would only lead to her death and the loss of her squad for no reason at all.

"You may proceed toward the city gates, Li Yu," the commander finally said while signaling her soldiers to lower their weapons. "But know that our generals will be watching your every move. Do not cause a disturbance."

"Thank you for your understanding," Li Yu offered a polite nod and resumed his flight at a leisurely pace.

The commander immediately pulled a glowing jade slip from her belt and began sending rapid messages to her superiors in the city as Li Yu flew past them. He did not mind her reporting him since he wanted the leaders to know he was coming. It was much better to be out in the open and let them do as they pleased.

Just a few minutes later, another figure shot out from the sprawling city ahead and intercepted his path. This new arrival was a man wearing ornate robes woven from shimmering blue silk. He possessed the same pale skin and external gills as the commander but his features were sharper and more refined. He carried no visible weapons but his aura radiated at the Half King realm.

The general had been summoned to investigate the strange human and his original intent was to block the path to assert the dominance of the Axolotl royal court. He flew forward with a stern expression and prepared to demand Li Yu turn around.

However his plans changed the moment he stopped in front of the human.

The general looked into Li Yu's calm eyes and felt a sudden chill run down his spine. Torsten was a veteran of many bloody wars and he knew the scent of danger intimately. As he hovered in the damp air facing Li Yu, his instincts did not just warn him, they screamed at him to flee.

Li Yu was projecting the aura of a King realm cultivator but Torsten's soul felt the terrifying weight hidden beneath it. It was like looking at a calm pond and suddenly realizing the water was unfathomably deep and filled with sleeping leviathans. When the general tried to probe that King realm pressure, he felt like he was staring into a dark endless abyss. The power did not feel like a natural limit. It felt like a thin veil covering a monster that could swallow the sky.

A single bead of cold sweat rolled down the general's pale cheek as he realized this. The Half King expert felt like a small child standing before a tidal wave and his stern expression immediately melted into a welcoming smile. He realized that if he spoke a harsh word or raised his hand in a threatening manner, this human would erase him from the sky before he could even draw a breath.

"Greetings esteemed, guest," the general said while bringing his hands together in a deep and respectful bow. "I am General Torsten of the Royal Guard. We received word that a powerful traveler was approaching our city. It is a rare honor to host someone of your level."

Li Yu raised an eyebrow at the sudden shift in tone but accepted the greeting gracefully. "I appreciate the welcome, General Torsten. I assume your commander relayed my purpose for visiting?"

"She did indeed," Torsten agreed while gesturing toward the sprawling city below them. "You seek knowledge and a path home. Our capital holds the oldest and most extensive archives on this continent. Rather than having you navigate our city alone, I would be honored to act as your host and guide you to the royal library."

It was a very smart move on the general's part. By acting as a host, he could keep a close eye on the dangerous stranger without inciting a battle he knew he would lose. Li Yu understood the tactic and smiled since it saved him the trouble of finding the archives himself. Never punch a person smiling at you after all, especially so when the person is like a toddler in comparison.

"I would be glad to accept your guidance," Li Yu replied. "Lead the way."

General Torsten turned and flew at a steady pace while Li Yu followed closely behind. Yuan peaked his dark head over Li Yu's shoulder and watched the Half King expert with hungry eyes but the serpent remained silent and well behaved.

They broke through the final layer of gray mist and the capital of the Soul Reaping Axolotls revealed itself. It was quite grand and looked incredibly thriving compared to the desolate villages Li Yu had seen earlier. The city was built directly over a vast subterranean lake with sturdy stone bridges connecting dozens of large islands.

The architecture was beautiful and flowing. The buildings were carved from smooth white stone and decorated with glowing blue pearls that provided a soft light against the gloomy sky. Tall spires reached upward while wide canals served as the main streets for the citizens. Boats crafted from large polished shells glided through the waterways carrying merchants and noble families dressed in fine aquatic silks.

The air in the capital smelled of sweet incense and fresh rain which was a stark contrast to the rotting odor of the outer swamps. The grand canals were lined with vibrant underwater gardens where glowing anemones and colorful kelp grew in carefully arranged patterns.

Li Yu expanded his senses slightly to take in the details of the thriving metropolis. The city was wealthy and bustling with activity but the demographics painted a grim picture of the continent's social structure. The population was mostly comprised of the Soul Reaping Axolotl people. They walked the stone bridges with heads held high and congregated in grand plazas filled with flowing fountains.

There were not many other species present in the grand capital and the few Li Yu sensed were clearly slaves to the Axolotl people. He saw broad shouldered toad kin hauling heavy containers of something up a steep ramp under the watchful eyes of guards holding whips. He saw river rodents scrubbing the sides of the canals and turtle beast kin pulling heavy cargo boats through the water using thick iron chains strapped to their shells.

The slaves wore ragged clothing and kept their eyes glued to the stone pathways. They moved with a defeated posture that spoke of generations of broken spirits. The contrast between the pristine white buildings and the suffering laborers was jarring but it fit with the stories Gorm had told him back in the village. The Axolotls simply wanted cheap labor to build their monuments and they did not care who they had to crush to achieve it.

Li Yu watched an elderly frog beast stumble under the weight of a heavy marble pillar. A nearby guard immediately cracked a glowing water whip across the slave's back leaving a deep red welt. The slave did not cry out though. He simply gritted his teeth and pushed harder against the stone while the Axolotl guard laughed.

Li Yu felt a familiar coldness settle in his chest. He was a cultivator who had seen much cruelty across his journeys. He knew the strong preyed upon the weak and the natural order of the universe was inherently unfair. Yet seeing the casual brutality displayed in the open streets always left a bitter taste in his mouth. He was not here to save them but he promised himself that he would not show these rulers any mercy if they tried to cross him during his stay.

"Our capital is the jewel of the swamps," General Torsten said with a proud tone as he guided Li Yu toward a grand palace situated on the largest central island. "We have spent centuries cultivating beauty and order in this harsh environment. I am sure you will find our archives to be quite enlightening."

"It is certainly a sight to behold," Li Yu responded while keeping his tone neutral. He kept his thoughts focused on his own mission as they descended toward the royal plaza. He was here for information and maps, not to change how this continent operated. The politics and the cruelty of this city were not his concern today as long as they did not stand in his way.