Now that I'm here, the story's beginning is about a week away: the banquet. Another kingdom's Empress, known only as "The Blazing Demon" due to the scarcity of her true name, Saminah, will be in attendance. Few know her name because of her title.
Everyone fears this Empress—or rather, Saminah—not just because she's half-demon, but because she's incredibly powerful; arguably the strongest in the world at this point in the story, though early on, she was considered merely one of the strongest. She maintained her position through formidable strength and astute governance.
Her cultivation, at the early Divinity Spirit stage, places her at the pinnacle. Her rapid growth allowed her to assume control after her father's death at the tender age of sixteen to eighteen.
The world's cultivation realms are structured as follows:
- Qi Gathering (9 Stages)
- Foundation Establishment (6 Stages)
- Core Building (5 Stages)
- Nascent Soul (4 Stages)
- Broken Void (3 Stages)
- Divinity Spirit (3 Stages)
- Void Stage (2 Stages)
- Immortal Ascension
The Empress could have reached Immortal Ascension had she not been killed, a thought that filled me with pity.
There are also Mages and Knights:
- 1-Star to 8-Star Knights/Mages
Both paths offer increased lifespan, similar to cultivation, but breakthroughs are significantly harder in cultivation. The Empress is an exception; most highly talented cultivators are at the Core Building or Nascent Soul stages, capable of competing with 5-6 star Knights/Mages and enjoying a longer lifespan, though not dramatically so.
The main character, Gab, is a commoner destined to become a hero with a harem. He possesses an inner companion—Azoth—capable of world destruction, and a system that grants incredible abilities. He's severely overpowered; the prospect of defeating him seemed daunting.
He's about to break through to 1-star Knight, though he can also cultivate. Choosing two paths is impossible; individuals have one talent. He bought low-level cultivation talent using his system's shop.
Thankfully, the author nerfed him; his cultivation talent is abysmal, only reaching Foundation Establishment, but he does become an 8-star Knight by the end of the story.
At the banquet, Saminah will be provoked, unleashing her aura and forcing everyone to kneel. This will alarm other kingdoms. Since she is also a half-demon, they will soon team up against her. She's the sole target, causing her kingdom to remain initially unharmed. However, her absence creates an opening for demons to attack when she falls. Their greed for the kingdom's resources will drive the invasion.
That's still far off. If others become wary of her, she'll meet her tragic end again. This body possesses some cultivation talent, but it's skinny and overall weak.
The next morning, the pain was gone. After washing and a simple meal of bread and water, I donned my suit and entered the hall, finding Saminah, the Empress, eating while maids served her.
I greeted her respectfully; she nodded coldly. "My Lady," I said respectfully, my voice low, "did you receive a letter from the Kingdom of Solitude?"
Surprise flickered across her face. "How did you know?" she asked, her tone cold.
I smiled gentlemanly. "When I met you yesterday, my Lady, you held a letter bearing the Solitude kingdom's symbol."
She nodded, remembering. "What about it?" Her voice was as cold as ice.
"I suggest you not attend; they may have ill intentions."
Saminah, still cold and aloof, replied, "There's no grudge between us. If they act, I shall kill whoever provokes me."
I nodded, thinking "Dammit, you can't go around killing everyone. It leads to your downfall, even if you're strong." Her beautiful face was set on mine; I blushed slightly, coughing awkwardly and then focusing. Her mind turned cautious. Should I kill him? she wondered. Every servant had tried to kill her, making her wary.
She dismissed it—he hadn't done anything untoward—but she'd kill him if necessary. A sudden killing intent—subtle. If I were less cautious, I wouldn't notice.
There was chaos in my head: Did she consider killing me already? Dammit, I want to help you, not cause your downfall! I needed to earn her trust.
I acted as though nothing was amiss, ignoring the killing intent, maintaining a gentlemanly smile.