"Where are we going?" Cui long asked as she helped Aotian adjust his green robes. "On a date." Aotian said softly with a smug on his face. The burstful girl blushed. Right now she was wearing an elegant blue dress, looking dashing and graceful. Aotian couldnt distinguish if he had already formed a bias towards her, or she was always this beautiful. Her looks were like autumn, her fair skin like the moon and her curves so alluring they could bring down the entire Autumn leaf kingdom.
The Autumn leaf kingdom was located west of the northern region of the Martial Grotto continent, while Lingfeng city was situated on the southern border of the Autumn leaf kingdom. The Autumn Leaf kingdom could be considered a high grade power in contrast to the overall power of the continent. It was ruled by eight imperial families where seven were under the most powerful. In the current Era, the most powerful family was the Futian Imperial family with the Chu, Meng, Su, Li, Long and the two families of Lingfeng city.
These families ruled over the kingdom via cities with each family laying claim to most major and minor cities in the kingdom. That is in the condition that they protect that said city and pay tax on the resources produced on that city to the impreal family. The situation on Lingfeng city however, was somewhat peculiar, with two great families laying claim to one city.
"Just what could be the secret to this city ?"Aotian wondered aloud. He then turned towards Cui long, " Cui 'er ? what is your source element ? "
Cui long was confused for a moment, then Ling Aotian explained," Source element is the type of Qi you absorb from heaven and Earth. Fire based cultivators absorb fire Qi , earth cultivators absorb Qi earth Qi and so on."
"Oh,Cui 'er understands but.." she hesitated " I am not a cultivator ." Aotian was stunned. Just how could he be mistaken? He turned to face her, looking at her with shock in his eyes.
" You say you haven't awaken your spirit body? " He asked just to be sure. "Yes." She replyed straightwardly. "Then.. could it be ? " Aotian grabbed her waist, picked her up lightly and put her gracefull body on a table. He instructed her to remove her dress slightly to let her back accessible.
Siting on a meditative position, Ling Aotian places his hands on her back. He was feeling the movement of her blood from the heart and onto all pores of the body. A few moments later he jumped from his seat."This.. this is white grade spirit body!!"
Spirit bodies were the foundation of all cultivators. It was what allowed cultivators to absorb spiritual Qi from heaven and earth. It was also what aids in opening the three treasures of the human body,the three dantians: The upper dantian which was the mind sea, the middle dantian containing the spirit root and holds spiritual Qi and the lower dantian located in the abdomen containing blood essence of an individual.
For Cui Long having a white grade spirit body most likely entails that she has a white grade spirit root, officially classifying her as an venerate seed.
A white grade spirit body was truly heaven defying. Literally, it could not be completely restrained by the heavenly daos. This is also the reason why Ling Aotian assumed that she was a cultivator. Spiritual Qi was already circulating through her body.
"Tell me your origins, how are you just a maid? " He couldn't understand. Her blood essence was too dense for her to be just a maid. Blood essence was a hereditary factor in cultivation. When one reached the peak and has a child, that child inherits the blood essence of the parents giving the child more talent compared to her peers.
One could wonder what blood essence has to do with spirit body and root or Qi. The thing is , the three treasures contain, Qi Spirit and essence. This three are a whole and can not be separated. Blood essence nourishes the body and dantians containing spirit body, the spirit body absorbs Qi from heaven and earth and Qi nourishes blood essence. It was a loop. Having high grade blood essence automatically raises the talent of Qi and spirit.
"Well .. I.. I belong to the great Long family. My mother once told me that we were the previous imperial family and that .."
Aotian finally understood. He continued to listen to Cui Long narrate her family history. It turned out that her grand mother had once being the fourth princes of the long family, her mother being a slave of the other families after their downfall and she a maid of the Ling family after Mei Ling had pity on her. It was truly tragic.
Ling Aotian looked at her with expressionless eyes then asked." Do you really want to be my wife..?" He had realized that he never asked for her opinion. Thinking that as a maid it was her greatest honor.
"Yes." She answered resolutly. Then she continued making Aotian freeze. " That was my goal from the very begining. When I first came to the Miss's house I noticed you. My blood reacted to yours and I knew that you were talented. I wanted to get close to you, then use you to finally start my vengeance against the Futian and Long Family. But then..." She blushed.
Ling Aotian smiled, his eyes becoming warm as he careress her hair. He put two and two together and understood. The Futian family usurped the throne using traitors from the Long family. The same long family with high statuses while the likes of Cui Long became slaves.
Giving her a kiss he softly said," I won't lie, I was a bit rush and gave in to my desires that day. However it still happened and now you are my wife. Your matters are mine and my matters are yours."
Cui Long melted in his embrace and tears flowed as her voice trembled with her cry. She was finally letting loose, feeling as if she had find her rock. Someone she could rely on and fulfill her desires.
" It's okay, stop crying. Everything is going to be okay." He comforted.
***
An hour later, the two walked around Lingfeng Market place.Both looked relaxed in each other's presence with only their own individuality knowing the burdens of their souls. Ling Aotian responsible for this whole world while she responsible for her ancestors and justice towards her kin.
The bustling market place was magnifiscent.The air humed with spiritual resonance. Rainbow cranes circling overhead while arrays etched into the cobbled stone floor suppressing violent intent. It was a neutral ground where both the Ling and Feng Family roam.
This market was above the city. Floating like a huge cloud with formations etched in every building. If one was on the ground, he could not see the market. It was supported by illusion formations that made it transparent and invisible,with only four flags to show it's existence. To enter one needed to pay fee to a trading company which offer a token. Of course the said trading companies usually collude with the two families.
Around Ling Aotian,floating pavilions drift above like tethered ships, hosting auctions and private trades. From the sides, rows of vendor stalls stretch like rivers, separated by elemental themes: fire alleys for pill ingredients, metal lanes for weapons, wood districts for talismans and spirit flags and such.
"Ling 'er look ! " Cui Long pointed at a man performing a sword dance. She was enruptured and wanted to go. Aotian agreed and led her to a seat. The seat cost him a 100 low grade spirit stones,making get a money ache- ahem stomach ache. It was daylight robbery.
"Look ,look !! " Cui Long pointed with enthusiasm. She wasn't alone, this place was parked. People from all walks of life were here to watch the self named sword master perform a sword dance.
Aotian looked at the sword master performing and grunted." Hmmp! sword master! What a joke. Ahh my spirit stones!! " Cui Long looked at him hurramf like a small child and couldn't help let out a chuckle. It was a sight she had yet to see from him.
"So you also have a cute side ." Aotian blushed. Looking away he was pleasantly surprised. He saw Ling Luo. He was sitting in the left side of Aotian, busy trying to comprehend sword essence and grasped any insight from the sword master.
Seeing him like this, Aotian shook his head. As a sword master himself, he could see through the so called sword master. All he was doing was moving his sword beautifully, a feat even a scoundral could perform with enough practice. His sword lacked any will and intent.
Feeling like Ling Luo was being misled, walked over to him. Ling Luo was with his entourage, flocking over him pretending to be interested with swords.
One said " wow, so that's how you should adjust your feet while sword fighting " he pretended to comprehend.
Suddenly, a figure blocked Ling Luo's sight and said. " You're wasting your time getting mislead by this fool. Go home and meditate to erase his influence."
Gasps rang out from the crowd. The sword master stopped his dance and all eyes were on Ling Aotian.