The Dark Lord's POV:
It has been several weeks now since I set out to look for my beloved, but we have yet to find even a trace of her. I am currently worried I'll have to delay the search even further, as I'm on the verge of a breakthrough to the orange stage of the nascent soul. Due to my rare physique my cultivation will often times progress on its own accord, which is why even though I have barely had time to cultivate since my last advancement I am already close to a breakthrough. The problem with that is, if I am to successfully advance, I will need to sit still and meditate, preferably somewhere with a lot of defensive barriers and a high concentration of the elemental energies, which means I'll likely have to return to the dark palace to prepare. However, despite my better judgment I have yet to do so, because I have a feeling if I were to do that, the perfect bait I had prepared to lure her out might run away in the meantime. As for what that bait is, that would be the bound and gagged elf that's been locked up in the adamantite cage behind me.
*Muffled complaints*
As my brother-in-law had so kindly told me, one of the many things my Noxy can't stand is hostages. So, I have had my men tow her disciples cage on a cart through my territory, while spreading a rumor that we are going to execute him, throughout the surrounding countries if his master doesn't show up. Even if it means upsetting her a bit, I just can't stand waiting much longer, as my fears are growing ever bigger. With innumerable enemies out there, every moment she spends out of my sight only intensifies my anxiety. Without any limits on her sexual preference I fear she might find another suitor to replace me, and that I cannot allow. I find my thoughts grow ever darker as even I am starting to fear what I might be capable of should I find that someone else have deflowered her by the time I find her. She only recently turned 15, so I still have some time, assuming she doesn't fall for a degenerate. Come to think of it, I haven't gotten her a birthday gift yet. I was planning on throwing her a celebration party after we got back, but it might be a good idea to buy something in the next city. I digress.
*Muffled Screams*
We are currently towing the elf's cage up a snowy mountain situated on the border between my territory and the Chou empire.
*Muffled screams*
Maybe if my search would go better if I conquered the entire continent. The only reason why I haven't done so already is because most of my forces are currently defending my land on the 2nd martial continent, while I remain here to protect this territory from being overtaken by the countries that are secretly supported by my true enemies.
*Muffled Screams*
Maybe I can conquer this place quickly while I stall for time on the 2nd continent? It would be worth it in the long run even if I lose some ground, but it is a big gamble. I don't know how long I could even stall them without-
*Bang* *Bang*
*Muffled Screams*
Snapping me out of my reveries, the elf started banging his body on the cage to get my attention.
"Stop banging! I told you! I am not letting you out until she shows up!" I spoke to the elf.
However, he refused to stop banging on the cage, it was then I realized he wasn't looking at me, but rather something further up the mountain. It was rather far away, but thanks to my enhanced vision I had no trouble making it out. At the mountain's peak, there stood a wide eyed, silver-haired woman in a white hanfu robe pointing her magic gun in our direction.
Seeing the target of my affections after so long I couldn't help but rush up the mountain after her, only to find she had placed some illusion barriers in my way. They are rather simple, which is why I failed to notice them at first. All they did was make the ground appear lower than it actually was, making me crash headfirst into the snow. It was a minor inconvenience at most, and I quickly recovered. However, by the time I had lifted my face out of the snow, she had lifted the hand holding her gun to the sky and.
*BANG*
I could see a puff of smoke come out of the gun as I could feel the ground below me rumble. I soon realized there was more than one illusion barrier as I suddenly saw a wave of snow appear right in front of me. The little imp had caused an avalanche.
I had quickly attempted to escape to the sky, but it was too late, and I was quickly dragged into the tsunami of snow running down the mountain. It took me a few minutes to escape from the wave of snow as I could feel a sharp pain in my dantian, at the worst possible time. I had to quickly suppress my advancement, before it was too late. By the time I had stabilized my core and escaped the snow I could see my beloved showcase her barbarian strength as she was carrying the entire cage up the mountain, where a spatial distortion was forming.
I rushed after her, but once she noticed my pursuit she threw the cage at me to buy herself some time as I noticed some intricate enchantments under the disheveled snow. However, I was in no mood for her games, so I smashed through the elf's cage as I rushed into the spatial distortion after her. I barely made it in after her, as I could hear a loud explosion in the distance. When I emerged on the other side, I found myself outside a verry impressively crafted illusion barrier. If I wasn't standing right in front of it, I wouldn't have even known it was there.
"You have run far enough! It is time for you to come home!" I spoke as I prepared to crack it open.
But to my surprise the barrier was empty. All that was inside was a small mountain of magic stones and a very powerful and complex multi-elemental ritual enchantment. Just as I entered the containment field of the ritual, I could feel my cultivation core going out of control. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't stop it. It was as if someone was pouring additional qi into my body, forcing me to advance whether I liked it or not. As I had no choice, I reactivated the few protective enchantments I recognized while I stumbled into the central energy pool of the ritual where the variety and density of energy was the thickest before I started meditating.
Normally, when advancing in the nascent soul stage, you would first fill your body to its limit with qi. Then before the core breaks from an excess amount of energy, you gather the surrounding energy in the atmosphere to create the tribulation lightning. A high-density form of pure qi, which you will use to hammer the impurities out of your core. Once it hits a certain stage the color you see when searching your body through your mind's eye will change.
That would normally be the case, but for some reason it didn't seem to be necessary. Whatever these liquids flowing into the center of the formation were, they were perfectly compatible with my qi. Their purity and density were similar to that of tribulation lightning, yet unlike the lightning bolts, this didn't seem to be nearly as dangerous as it didn't tear my body apart as I was absorbing it. It was like it was designed for cultivators. I could hear loud explosions in the distance as I could see my core changing from red to orange to yellow to green to blue too indigo. It had taken me less than a day to reach what very few could in a lifetime as I reached the peak of nascent soul.
Wait, something is strange. My core is still shifting color. As I sat there meditating, I thought I heard my little Noxy's voice cheering me on as I watched my core's color change one last time, turning from indigo to violet. I could feel my core stabilizing as the energy from the ritual was fading.
I opened my eyes to see that the ritual, the nine surrounding energy pools, the mountain of magic stones, the barrier as well as the vast field of green grass had all disappeared as I found myself alone with a dusty little minx in a wasteland.
"Oh! I see! This must have been an apology gift my little Noxy prepared for me in secret! How cute!"
"You smug asshole!" she said, giving me her adorably defiant glare.
"Hehe! It has been so long, I almost forgot how dirty your mouth is! I'll have to wash it thoroughly later!" I said, as I could watch her fidget with excitement. Ah, it is just so refreshingly cute to watch my Noxy's shy behavior.
As I moved to catch her, the world slowed down to a near halt as I could spot my Noxy getting ready to flee into the spatial distortion behind her. However, as curious as I am of what other gifts and games she has in store for me, I have to bring this to an end before she manages to escape me for a third time. Hence, I moved towards her as I disrupted her spatial distortion with my qi and grabbed her by the hip as I gave her a hug.
"You don't have to be scared! This patient lord is willing to wait until his woman is ready!" I said to reassure her, but…
"The fuck are you smoking?" As normal, my words of affection just went in one ear and out the other. I suppose she needs me to spell it out for her.
"I am saying I am willing to wait until you're an adult to marry you! You little numbskull!"
I had ascertained that my Noxy was scared I wouldn't be willing to wait for her to come of age back when I first proposed. Hence, I wanted to reassure her so that she would calm down and come back home with me.
It seemed as if I finally got through to her as she suddenly embraced me. Wrapping both her arms and legs tightly around my torso, she clung to me in a full body embrace. Or so I thought until I noticed the shadow looming over us. I looked up to the skies as I recalled my brother-in-law's warning.
"FUCK YOUUUUUU!" She screamed.