She paused briefly, steadying herself as her gaze swept across her 'sisters' and finally lingered on her beloved before she continued.
"Our objective today is fairly straightforward in theory, but packed with potential complications. We're officially entering the Akashic Records Universe, and we likely won't be leaving it for quite some time. Once we arrive on Diron, we'll move swiftly toward an Evolution Center to break through to the Spiritual Foundation Realm."
Her tone remained composed, but there was a quiet fervor in her eyes that contrasted with her usual shy demeanor. "Once we reach that realm, our talents—especially after everything we've done and prepared over the past three years—should be more than enough to attract the attention of the Three Overlords of the Suncrest Region."
"They, as you all know, are the Flame Sovereign Sect, the Frozen Serenity Sect, and the Wandering Sword Sect. All three are roughly equivalent in strength, so we won't need to base our choice on power dynamics. Our decision will come down to other criteria once we're there."
She took another short pause, just as she was about to continue, when Kiara's teasing voice chimed in with a playful undertone, "Hmm, teacher Lyra, you forgot to mention the Evolution Center's role in how the Three Overlords will actually learn about our talents…"
Lyra rolled her eyes, a mixed smile tugging at her lips—part irritation, part amusement. She muttered under her breath, "What's the point of explaining the plan when they know it by heart well enough to correct me the moment I skip a step…"
Then she raised her voice again. "Anyway, since student—" she stressed the word with a slight pause "—Kiara asked, I'll explain the connection between the Evolution Center and the Three Overlords. So, normally, the Evolution Center operates under the control of the Akashic Order, which is arguably the most powerful organization in the entire Akashic Records Universe."
"In some ways, they could be seen as the 'government' on a universal scale. Which, in theory, means they shouldn't have any reason to share the test results with the Three Overlords. In theory. But reality is different. The Evolution Center located in the Suncrest Region is, well… it's a branch of a branch of a branch—you get the idea—of the Akashic Order. Their actual influence is minimal, especially when compared to the Three Overlords. There's just no contest in terms of power."
"So what ends up happening is that the Three Overlords—and other powerful sects in the Suncrest Region—simply bribe employees working at the local Evolution Center. In exchange, those employees leak the test results to them. This has become so commonplace that it's considered a standard method of recruitment."
Her purple eyes locked onto Kiara. "Now that your question's been answered, let me move on to the rest of our plan. Once our talents are displayed following our breakthrough to the Spiritual Foundation Realm, we'll naturally draw attention. Using that, we'll join the Wandering Sword Sect."
"The reasoning? Simple. Of the three sects, the Flame Sovereign Sect specializes in fire-based cultivation. None of us focus on flame techniques, so that's already a disadvantage. Even though they likely possess excellent techniques that we could learn from, the real issue lies elsewhere—they're infamous for their hyper-competitive nature, even within their own ranks. Joining them would mean constant infighting, and peaceful cultivation would be almost impossible. So they're out."
"As for the Frozen Serenity Sect, their focus is on ice—a type none of us specialize in either. Again, that's not ideal, though their techniques might still be worth learning. But the real problem is that they're a women-only sect. That alone disqualifies them, because Mikael wouldn't be able to join. And we decided a long time ago that we would all enter the same sect, not just because we want to stay together, but because it's far safer. We can support and protect one another that way. So the Frozen Serenity Sect is also out."
"That only leaves the Wandering Sword Sect. They specialize in swordsmanship, which is a clear advantage for Mikael," she added, nodding subtly in his direction.
"As for the variety and quality of their other techniques, it's roughly equivalent to what the other two sects offer, so there's no real loss there. What truly sets them apart is their reputation—they're known for being... what's the word… chill. There's relatively little internal strife, and many of their disciples are often out in the world, traveling."
"Of course, when I say they're chill, that only applies until you cross one of them. The moment you do, their behavior tends to shift—they become bloodthirsty asuras. Which is exactly why they're our top choice!"
Lyra paused once more, her gaze methodically sweeping across Mikael, Amelia, and Kiara to confirm that she still held their attention. Only then did she continue, "Up until now, I've gone into detail about our objective, but I haven't yet addressed the possible complications. And let me be clear—there are many, so many in fact that I couldn't possibly name them all."
"They can range from something as unlikely as a random fight breaking out in Watermoon City that somehow ends up implicating us, which frankly isn't very probable... to something far more likely. Like, say, a lustful young master catching sight of us and deciding to act on his impulses because of our beauty…"
"That kind of scenario would inevitably lead to conflict. We'd probably end up killing the bastard, but because of his background, we'd be the ones in deep trouble. His faction would hunt us down in retaliation—just like with that Jiang Xuan guy Mikael saw during his first visit to the Akashic Records Universe."
"Even now, three years later, Jiang Xuan is still being hunted by the Flame Sovereign Sect. Killing someone like that—or getting entangled in similar drama—would bring us immense trouble. Maybe even fatal trouble, unless we've secured a powerful backer."
"All of this to say, we're looking at a wide array of potential complications, but most of them boil down to a single word: 'attention'. If we attract attention, the chances of us getting dragged into dangerous situations increase exponentially. On the other hand, if we manage to look like regular loose cultivators, we'll avoid standing out and minimize the risks."
She gestured toward Mikael. "Which is why Mikael got us these Taoist robes—to help us blend in as if we were natives of the Akashic Records Universe. That way, we'll draw far less unnecessary attention."
As Lyra finished speaking, Mikael conjured four dark grey Taoist robes from thin air. They shimmered briefly before materializing and gently landing on his knees. Simple and unadorned, the robes were perfect for keeping a low profile.
Without wasting another second, the four of them began changing out of their modern clothes and into the newly conjured robes.
Once everyone was dressed in the more traditional cultivator attire and had resumed their original positions—Lyra naturally reclaiming her role at the center—she resumed, "These robes will help, but they won't be enough to make us invisible. Honestly, they'll only reduce the attention we attract by a bit. The real problem is that Amelia, Kiara, and I are... well, too beautiful. That alone will inevitably draw unwanted eyes."
Her words could've easily come off as arrogant or self-congratulatory. Yet, her tone was calm, analytical—devoid of pride or ego. It was clear to all that she wasn't boasting, merely stating a fact.
A small, round pill suddenly appeared in her hand, releasing a rich, enticing medicinal fragrance that spread through the room. She opened her mouth to speak, "Which is exactly why we're all going to take a pill like this one." She raised it slightly, allowing everyone a clear view. "This pill, as you all know, is my own creation. It will allow us to alter our respective appearances and make us look completely ordinary. Our beauty," she glanced toward Amelia and Kiara, "will be significantly reduced, making us appear like average girls. And Mikael's handsomeness will also take a hit, turning him into just another unremarkable man."
Before Lyra could continue, Kiara's plaintive voice suddenly cut in. "Argh, it's so frustrating that we have to take these pills! Especially for Darling... what a waste…" she whined, a cute pout forming on her face as she eyed Mikael with unmistakable hunger in her gaze.
The other three exchanged a glance and rolled their eyes in unison. It was, after all, completely in character for the blue-haired yandere to voice something like that—especially when it involved her beloved Darling~.
"I understand," Amelia replied calmly, her voice as composed as always. "But it's something we need to do. If we don't, we could all end up in serious danger."
Kiara let out a long, reluctant sigh. "Yeah, yeah, I get it… still, that doesn't mean I have to like it…"
"Me neither—I hate having to dull the shine of my stunning wives…" Mikael added with a faint smirk. "But with how ridiculously beautiful the three of you are, I'd rather not start a war over it."
CRITICAL HIT.
The moment those words left his mouth, all three girls instantly flushed a deep red. It was a devastating one-two combo—he had not only called them his wives but also praised their beauty without a hint of restraint.
The impact was enough to leave the trio momentarily frozen in place, struggling to process the double blow. Eventually, it was Lyra who regained her composure first, coughing lightly before speaking again. "Ahem… Yes, as I was saying, we'll each take one of these appearance-altering pills. Their effects should last for about two days, which gives us more than enough time to break through to the Spiritual Foundation Realm. And even if the effect wears off too soon, I've prepared extra doses just in case."
"So, everything should be fine… or at least, I hope it will be…" she added quietly, half to herself.
After Lyra's final words, the girls took a moment to fully regain their composure. Then, one by one, they swallowed their respective pills. The transformation was immediate—drastic changes in their appearances began to manifest almost at once.
Mikael was the first to undergo the transformation, as he didn't need a moment to steady himself like the others. Calm and collected, he consumed his pill first, which naturally made him the first to experience the change.
The instant the pill touched his tongue and slid down his throat, he felt its medicinal effects begin to spread through his body like a subtle wave of energy. At that precise moment, he knew he could easily neutralize the pill's effect if he wanted to—it wouldn't even be difficult. But he chose not to. Instead, he allowed the compound to act freely.
His body began to change almost at once. His hair, once vibrant and full of luster, slowly dulled, turning into a lifeless black. His piercing emerald eyes faded, their brilliance dimming until they became a muted, almost muddy brown. The same occurred with his facial features—they lost the refined handsomeness that made him stand out, softening into something far more average and forgettable.
His body didn't escape unscathed either. The toned muscles he had painstakingly trained began to recede. His well-defined abs, usually visible even beneath light clothing, vanished as layers of softness subtly formed in their place. Similar changes rippled through the rest of his physique, dulling what once marked him as exceptional.
Mikael paused, allowing himself to fully feel the transformation. Curious about how much his appearance had changed beyond what his senses could tell him, he reached into his pocket, retrieved his phone, and activated the front camera. His reflection stared back at him.
"Shit… really something," he muttered, his voice low, as he examined the face and body now staring back at him—completely ordinary, wholly unremarkable.
Still, knowing this was only a temporary disguise, he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he lifted his gaze, now filled with curiosity, wondering how the girls would look after their own transformations. The moment he saw them, however, a genuine gasp escaped him—their changes were far more drastic than he had anticipated.
Author Note:
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