​He disappeared, and the beast looked around in confusion, failing to notice a demon standing behind with a wide grin.

Kucchhhakkk!

​A terrifying purple light flashed, cleanly severing the beast's neck into a neat slice. With a leap, he landed in front of its severed head.

​"...If all the beasts are this disgusting, there's no way we could eat these things!" Rahu snorted, the [Sword Aura] around him slowly dissipating as he spoke.

​The poor beast didn't even have the time to react before its head was sliced off. During his training, the amount of control he had achieved was so impressive that even Ophelia was shocked by his speed.

​She had even questioned him if he had any type of Sword Physique!

​"..."

​Lucy stood there, petrified. She didn't even understand what that last attack was. It looked like [Sword Intent], but it certainly was more than that.

​Seeing her standing there with her mouth gaping, Rahu raised his hand and

​Slap!

He smacked her bubbly butt with a minimum amount of force, enough to not hurt but definitely sting a bit.

​"O-Ouchhh! Y-You!?"

​Rubbing her butt, she glared at Rahu. If eyes could stab, there would definitely be a sword lodged deep inside Rahu right now.

​"Alright, let's go and find a place for the time being."

​…

​A few hours later

​There was no day or night concept in the Inheritance realm; it's just an endless, depressing red sky.

Both Rahu and Lucy discovered a nearby cave. Inside, Rahu was curiously staring at the man on the ground.

His eyes shone with a tinge of astonishment and wonder as he watched white-blueish Mana surround the man and heal the cut on his arm.

​"This…it's not like the Celestial Mana is pure or soft. In fact, it shares the same quality as that of Demonic Mana. At least the fundamental aspects of it."

​He analyzed his observations. The cultivation paths they follow are similar, starting with the Body Structuring Realm, Vital Core Realm, Spirit Realm, and then Origin Realm, but these cultivators had an innate advantage of quality and strength.

He frowned, not liking the situation at all. From what he heard from Lucy, there were 250,000 Celestial Cultivators from Solterra and the same was from Yvaris.

​He didn't give a flying fuck about the cultivators from the Holy Sun Continent; heck, if given the chance, he was more than welcome to kill them.

But there was his woman among them. Woman, whose location and condition he didn't know yet.

​Except for Vivianne, all had entered the Inheritance Realm. So, he had to find them. Fast.

​"...If you want to study this, you can do it later," she said. "And besides…he's waking up."

​Lucy spoke; she couldn't bear the silence any longer. He had been studying that guy for the past hour, ignoring her entirely. That irked her for some unknown reason.

​Rahu shook his head and raised his hand.

​Slap!

​Slap!

​Slap!

​After three consecutive slaps straight to the face, the celestial cultivator finally began to wake up. His eyes fluttered, and slowly but surely, he opened his eyes.

​How can a Spirit Realm cultivator be unconscious for this long, you ask? It's obviously because he had poisoned him.

"W-What!? Where a-am I?" He slowly looked around, and when he saw two unfamiliar faces, his face contorted.

​"And who the fuck are you, brat? Get out of my face before I kill you!"

​"Pff-! Hahaha!"

​Hearing this, black lines creased his forehead. Lucy burst out in a laugh, pointing a trembling finger at the guy.

​Slap!

"BRAT!? WH—

Slap!

"You Fuc–

Slap!

"I-If you dar—

Slap!

"H-Hey bro—!

Slap!

"W-W—

Slap!

Slap!

Slap!

​The man's face swelled like a pufferfish, while Lucy shook her head. She couldn't believe how petty this guy was.

​"So? Are you going to answer, or should I heal you and begin another round?"

​"NYO! I-I WBILL ANDBSWER!!!!"

​The Celestial Cultivator shook his head desperately; it looked like he was shaking and nodding his head at the same time.

​"Hmm, so go on, tell me about the Houses of the Solterra." Rahu nodded at his attitude.

​Slap!

​"B-But w-why now!?"

​"Oh, my bad. It's a habit."

The man felt like crying! Wronged! Never in his long life has he been so wronged!

​Fearing that this guy would slap him again for keeping his mouth shut. He hurriedly spoke,

​"There are six major houses in Solterra! The land is divided between House Rivera, House Yaksha, House Elyra, House Ghandharva, House Rudhra and lastly House Kindhar…"

"Oh? Now that's ... interesting," Rahu said, his voice filled with amusement. It seemed they didn't have a kingdom or an Empire ruling them.

​They were all independent bodies, functioning and raising their own territories. That kind of confederate structure has its own set of strengths and weaknesses.

Mainly, there won't be a single point of failure. The fall of one house cannot affect Solterra as a whole; the Houses could develop rapidly without being restricted by a central authority.

​Also, the power is inherited within one's own clan. There would be no dilution in the blood.

​But the world is not a rainbow and sunshine. These strengths have their own inherent weaknesses, such as endless internal manipulation and politics; their response to the threat will be slow, while individual houses may act fast, their collective response will be slow. Negotiations, discussions, bargaining, etc.

​And finally, civil wars will be just one step away. Without an Emperor to lead, ambition alone is enough to start a war. A young master was angry that he didn't get the jade beauty. Boom, widespread wars, millions dead.

​Rahu analyzed all of this in just a few seconds. At the end, he let out a quiet chuckle. His lips curled slightly. "A land that is ruled by balance, not authority, huh? Heh, all it takes is a single hand to shift it."

​Shaking his head, he held the man's head and gripped it. The poison inside him travelled to his brain, resulting in his instant death.

​BOOOM!!

​Just as Lucy was about to nag him, a loud explosion thundered across the whole area.

​Rahu turned his head curiously to the source. At a distance, he saw about twenty men chasing a single, lone woman.

Seeing her, his expression turned strange.

​"...Thalia?"

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