Administrator of Another World

I returned to Zaki's location, where she was waking up groggily.

 

"So painful!" She groans, "But I've gone from foundation stage to the top of core formation in an instant!"

 

That technique must have been truly incredible, I wonder why no one else has succeeded in using it...

 

<Answer: The only copy of Astral Reformation Technique is located in the Divine Library. Any cultivator that has previously undergone core formation will die upon attempting this technique.>

 

I see... So the only reason she was able to do it was because she didn't form a core yet.

 

"Impressive performance. If you continue like this, you can easily achieve your revenge." I praised, startling her with a voice coming out of nowhere.

I can use [Manifestation] to talk for free as long as no one else hears it, whatever I do in front of my apostle doesn't matter as long as it doesn't affect anyone else or the world.

 

"But... What's wrong with my vision? I can see all kinds of particles and aura around me. Am I hallucinating?" She asks.

 

Huh? A side effect?

 

<Answer: Due to the effects of Astral Reformation, Zaki Tianlei's senses have been modified.>

 

In what way?

 

<Answer: Zaki Tianlei is currently experiencing Qi Synesthesia.>

 

Synesthesia? So she can see Qi now...

I was about to explain it to Zaki, but she seems to understand what's happening already.

 

"I can see Qi?! But only natural born geniuses have been rumored to have this ability! If anyone else finds out..." She ponders.

 

I didn't want to spend my entire time in this world as an outside observer, so I used [Manifest] again, this time spending 2 points.

Now I had a fully realized body, and I was wearing dark black robes.

 

I heard a gasp that made me look up from myself.

"So... So handsome!" Zaki gawked.

 

I would not have had trouble with women in my past life if I actually looked that good.

Is this power exaggerating my looks?

 

"Come, it's time for you to claw yourself away from the precipice of death." I say, turning to lead her to the exit of this deathly ravine.

She knew who I was without any words needed.

 

As the terrain started to rise and level out leading to the plains, a loud hiss stopped us in our tracks.

A long, stone colored snake appeared from its camoflauged perch on the walls.

 

"A Stonewyrm!" Zaki identified.

 

Indeed, that's what the system identified it as.

However the following was also listed: {Causality: 100+ Points}

It has 100+ points?!

 

No matter how I look at it, I can't imagine this thing being able to kill 100 people. Which means that it's most likely destined to kill 100 people in the future.

 

Basically... I can't kill it.

If I do, Laplace will surely smite me where I stand.

However, Mentor didn't say anything about my apostle!

 

"Zaki, do you think you can handle that?" I suggested.

 

"With my new strength, I'm certain of it!" She states confidently, taking the stance of an unfamiliar martial art with her sword.

 

"Uh, hold on a minute! You haven't been at that level for even an hour! How do you plan on fighting if you don't know how to use it yet?" I questioned.

 

"Even at the beginning stage I could at least infuse my sword and body, and that's all I need!" She shouts as she charges the snake monster with a sword of roaring Qi.

 

The poor Stonewyrm seemed to try covering its body in some kind of elemental armor, but Zaki's blade of Qi sliced right through it easily.

 

It was way too weak to have already killed 100+ people, so now I'm sure it was destined to do so eventually if left alone.

 

Oh, please. Please let the penalty pass me by since my apostle killed it instead of me. Even if she killed it because of me...

 

<+2 Plausibility>

  

Huh? No penalty, right?

 

It seems that my apostle thankfully doesn't count, but I still get Plausibility from it. That's neat!

 

"My Qi infusion has gotten even stronger!" She celebrates and hurriedly extracts the core of the monster. "Woah, cores look so bright with Qi vision!"

 

She carries the core in a pocket as we close in on a large city.

My exaggerated looks regrettably pull a lot of attention onto myself. Maybe next time I'll have to explicitly tone the look factor down a bit.

 

"Here's our clan manor. I would give you a tour, but I have to go destroy that bastard!" She grumbles and storms towards the meeting hall.

She slams the door open with a mission and approaches the bulky figure ahead.

 

"Father!" She calls with a vengeance.

However, Xu is also there and turns back with an expression of shock after hearing that she's alive.

Her father also seems surprised, Xu no doubt told him what happened as though she died. But he also eyed me as well.

 

As soon as Zaki sees Xu she gets so angry that she barely holds herself back for her own good.

"That despicable man left me to die! He can't be allowed to remain in our family any longer! If you need a witness then allow my savior to testify!" She accuses.

 

"Perhaps Miss Zaki is mistaken, it was simply too dangerous to turn back to save you. It was unfortunate that we couldn't save you, but I express my gratitude to your benefactor for generously saving your life." He lied confidently and without pause.

Her father didn't look entirely convinced but also didn't seem to have a choice but to believe the lie over his daughter because of his position.

 

Is there any way?

  

<Answer: The Tianlei family has a dated tradition aptly named Trial by Might, however, it's use may not be looked upon favorably.>

 

There's not really any other choice, he'll get away scot free if this is allowed to stand.

I whisper the information into her ear and let her choose whether to use it or not.

 

"Then I hereby challenge Xu Wanshu to a Trial by Might!" She yells without hesitation.

 

"What?" Both her father and Xu express at the same time.

 

"I haven't had to oversee one of those in a long time... But I can't stop it... Both of you will meet on the training grounds tomorrow." Her father stammered.

 

Xu looked deviously amused and excited as if he knew he was going to win beforehand, then walked out of the room.

 

"Why would you do such a thing when you haven't even formed your core yet?!" Her father snapped as soon as Xu was out of the picture.

 

"I'm n-"

 

Using [Dimension Isolation], I isolated both of us in my fast moving dimension, making the surroundings suddenly still.

 

"What?" She starts.

 

"I know what you were going to say. Do not tell him you've reached core formation already." I ordered.

 

"Why not? He's my father! He's going to figure it out sooner rather than later anyway. I don't want him to be worried, because I'm going to crush Xu!" She retorts.

 

"No! You cannot 'crush' him either." I replied.

 

"Why not?!" She complains.

 

"You have to barely win, and only use weak Qi techniques." I answer, "If you lose, he won't face consequences, but if you win overwhelmingly, he'll just say you were never in danger in the first place and that you pulled out an obscure family tradition to frame him."

 

"Fine." She relents.

 

Once I make sure we're in our original positions and release the isolation, she continues, but tries to turn it into something else she wasn't going to say.

 

"I'm not weak. I'll definitely win, father." She says.

 

That's good enough.

 

Her father asks about me, but thankfully she describes me as a cultivator that stopped to help instead of trying to explain me as a god or something.