3RD POV

  'He is not asking for divine blessing, why?' he wonders observing the light figure.

  "I have a request in return."

  "Please."

  "I want to build a sect in this forest. Let me use your territory in exchange for whatever you need from me."

  The tree's phantom body doesn't answer immediately. It stops to think through the advantages and disadvantages of allowing a strange god who feels like one yet weaker than one, close to it.

  All these years, it has dreaded the day the god who planted it in this world will come. Although it has no memory of the said god, it remembers hearing the words, "When the time is right, I will come to harvest your core. Live well."

  What would happen if the god comes back and it is tied down by another god or even, mortals?

  Or maybe this is the Dao giving it a chance to survive? Will aligning itself with another god guarantee its safety? It could use this divine lord standing before it for selfish reasons. But only until it transforms.

  Since the process will be long and slow, letting him establish a sect here while supplying it with his power will benefit the two of them. They can use each other until the day it transforms. When that day comes, it will leave this place to explore other worlds.

  "Fine. I accept your conditions. But, this energy source will not be directly accessible to those mortals. I do not trust a single one of them."

  "We have a deal then."

  "What is your name?" the phantom asks.

  "Tianling. That is my new name. I will rise above everything else, taking my people with me."

  Amused, the phantom nods rubbing its chin. "Then, I'll call myself, Tianzhe."

  Tianling eyes the phantom in simple disbelief. Right before his very own eyes, the frame of light gains a face before its body metamorphoses into a naked male form with dark skin and flowing snow-white hair that reflects its original tree colors.

  "You...have you not said that you need my-"

  "Hahaha! Just as I thought. Even a name has power." Tianzhe lifts his hand to examine it carefully with sheer excitement. "All these years, I have dreamed of gaining a second form which I can use to roam around with. It has been torture being stuck in one place for thousands of years as I watch the mortals rise and fall."

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Tianling takes a step forward before lifting his hand to poke Tianzhe's shoulder to confirm if the body is real.

  However, his finger goes right through.

  "This is still a phantom. I will only gain a real body when my original one transforms."

  "Oh. Okay." Tianling takes back his hand, hiding the tinge of embarrassment that Tianzhe's words have brought him. 'Why is there so much to learn?'

  "You two can stay here. I will deal with the mortals sticking their noses in my place."

  "Okay. Okay. You can go now."

  Tianzhe's phantom dissipates into beads of light that travel up and disappear into the mirror tree that is sticking out from the ceiling of the cave. He leaves behind a heavy silence that instantly weighs heavily in Tianling's chest.

  "Tianling. A good name indeed." He smiles at himself, congratulating his mind. "I should stay here a little longer before setting out to look for disciples," Tianling says to himself as he walks closer to a wall filled with priceless stones. "I don't need to worry about not having a spiritual vein. This mine is more than enough to rear immortals. As for the rest, I'll need whatever I can find in that bracelet."

  He eyes the silver bracelet on one of Xing'er's front limbs.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Tianling and Xing'er meet up with his informants near the human border where the heavily guarded wall stands proud, stretching far out of sight to both their left and their right.

  The invisible barrier that protects the human realm stands tall, piercing into the sky to ensure that a flying being will not invade them.

  The leader of his six informants hands Xing'er two gate passes, a pouch full of money, as well as a map.

  "You won't go with us?" Tianling asks.

  "The fastest place to collect all new information is in the Land Between. Besides, you have asked us to find good workers who will help build according to the design you created. If we go with you, I'm afraid we will fall behind on our duties."

  "Mmm...okay then. We will reach out to you if I need you." He walks past them but stops to say over his shoulder, "Be careful not to disturb the forest. I won't be there to help you if you wrong the beings there."

  They all quickly salute bowing their heads. "We won't, Sir."

  They straighten and watch the person who saved them from the life of crawling through the dirt, walk towards the queue in front of the border gates.

  Even though they have worked for him for some weeks, they have gained a lot in terms of money and even better techniques.

  As Tianling said to them, "Anyone who follows me is not allowed to be weak."

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`~~~~~~~

  The guards at the gate do not give them any trouble. Once the array confirms that they do not have any demonic energy in them, they are allowed to make their way inside.

  A large market greets them as soon as they pass the gates, bringing with it so much noise that leaves Tianling's ears paining.

  But he endures it, keeping a composed expression to appear dignified to anyone who lays eyes on him.

  A person's face speaks a lot about them. And if he wants to recruit powerful humans, he has to look put together.

  "Zhuren, look!" Xing'er tugs his sleeve with one hand as she points at the animal figurines made of sugar. "I want one."

  Tianling stops by the stall to purchase one for Xing'er and one for himself. He wants to spoil himself before he takes in disciples who will look up to him. His face has to be maintained. It has always been this way in the past and will be so in the present.

  "Five coins a piece?! Are you trying to rob me?"

  "Move along if you can't afford it. This is the lowest price we can sell them. How do you expect us to pay the high taxes, huh?" the vendor growls annoyed.

  "Sugar figurines! Buy the best ones over here!" he ignores their presence and continues shouting.

  Tianling flinches at the noise. Angry, he turns around to stomp out of there but Xing'er's small tug stops him. He sighs inwardly, cursing his weakness for children.

  Tianling pays for only one dragon figurine for Xing'er with a frown before taking her away from there.

  They walk around the market, buying anything that catches Xing'er's eye while he looks for a suitable person to make his first disciple.

  Using his divine eye, he assesses the cores of everyone passing by him without making it obvious. But after walking around for over two hours, circling the streets, and even getting lost multiple times, he decides to take a break and do something else.

  Using the map they got, he searches for a familiar street. Upon finding it, he takes Xing'er along. She is too busy eating through the countless cakes they have just bought to bother about where they are going. To her, her master is right in whatever he does and she will follow him obediently to the ends of the void if needed.

  He helped her hatch, raised and protected her like a father.

  He is her only family despite how distant he treated her in the past.

  ****I write my novels from two POVs(1- The MC's and 2- omniscient POV) I hope it won't bother you all***