Chapter 49: Upon the Waterfall
Anemone sighed, "I always thought something like this might happen, you can't gain something without losing another thing in return."
Anemone turned around and gazed at Astrallis, her eyes shining brightly. Under Anemone's scan of spiritual sense, Astrallis felt as if all his secrets were laid bare; he even lightly shivered at the thought, he at least knew that his grandmother was never against him, only wanting the best for him.
This was also a difference in cultivation realm and comprehension; the difference in their power was too astronomical to compare. Only something at the level of the Mandate of Balance would be able to shroud Anemone's ability, but even then, Anemone would still be able to make some idea of what it is.
This time was no different.
Anemone had a slight smile when she identified the Mandate of Balance Artefact inside his consciousness, but she decided to keep quiet about it. Everyone needed to have their secrets, and it was also the time that she started not to influence his life as much.
'Ay, I have been a bit selfish; also influencing him. He's just too beautiful and outstanding.' Anemone silently whispered to herself.
Astrallis shivered a little; he was well aware of what that look on his grandmother's face entailed. He had seen it all too often on the women of the Religion; he was akin to a small deer in front of a giant lion, ready to be eating up.
So pure and tasteful.
"I can give you some advice my darling. Concepts and things at the level of Dharma Qi have an innate pride and arrogance; they do not like to be used with other things of its kind. While you may not be aware of it, Dharma Qi could be suppressing other parts of your body." Anemone sternly lectured.
"Anyway, enough of this. It's up to you to figure this all out."
Anemone and Astrallis slowly walked to the highest point on the ship and sat on the couches lining the sides. Servants immediately arrived and lay different types of rare drinks and delicacies.
At this point, the sleek ship guided into a beautiful cove; charming flora jotted the area. With cute and graceful beasts hopping around.
"Grandmother, you do find the best places wherever you go," Astrallis chuckled noticing the environment.
"Of course, our bloodline is known for their grace and aesthetics, it's only fitting we reside in such areas." Anemone said in a way as if it is only right.
Astrallis chose to keep quiet, but still had a slight smile on his face as if he agreed with her words. One should always have pride in themselves and their families; as long as that pride only adds to yourself and does not retract.
"Your mother and I had been planning on giving you some more time to temper yourself, but we didn't expect for you to reach the First Layer of Heaven Ascension; it's already been more than two months."
"You are close to the age of twelve, and I would like for you to go to the Central Realm at some point in the next decade. Being in such an environment will be good for you." Anemone said as she picked up a glass of dark-red wine.
"There will be a few things happening in the Central Realm that will change the Universe; you must be there to experience them."
Astrallis kept quiet as he listened to his grandmother, only silently nodding to her words.
"While you were gone for the past two months, I decided to experience Little Jack's hometown; and to my surprise, they had a Secret Realm there. Even I'm jealous of you young'uns being able to enter such a place." Anemone chortled with a pout.
"I can not enter places such as that Secret Realm; the Universe won't allow it. I could force myself in, but I do not want to garner such negative karma. You'll understand what I mean once you get stronger. This Secret Realm is a place is for the younger generations."
At this point of Anemone's speech, she stared sternly at Astrallis.
"Even I could not say what will happen in there, but considering the Universe created such a place for people of your age, you should be able to handle it. Of course, most of you will die, but it should be fine."
Astrallis almost choked on his wine listening to his grandmother, "You make it sound like I won't die."
"Oh you could, no doubt about that. But it's time you had a go at things alone, completely alone." Anemone said as she drummed her fingers against the couch.
"Although protection and vast resources are needed for one to reach a high altitude, these are only some of the faculties also needed for success. Self-tempering and perseverance are also important.
"Anyway, this is enough talking. Go prepare yourself for the Secret Realm; I have a few friends I need to talk too." Anemone shooed Astrallis away.
---
Astrallis stood on a rock at the top of a waterfall in the beautiful cove; the carmine ship floated off a few hundred meters away.
With only tight leather shorts on, Astrallis' magnificent aesthetic was open to all to see. Droplets of water slowly rolled down the perfectly defined muscles of his flank, eventually dropping down to his prominent V-line. His beautiful body was open to all to see, streamlined with perfect muscle structure and form.
His tort calf muscles displayed themselves when he crouched down peering at the fish swimming around his rocks, the azure water allowing for one to see clearly.
"Even Gods would be jealous of Young Master." A few bikini-clad female servants whispered to each other as they sunbathed on the shorefront of the river.
"If only I could have one night with him, I'd be willing to lose half my lifespan." Another female servant, dressed in a bikini with goldfish imprinted on them, almost shouted as her nose began to bleed while staring at the ultimate form of the male body practising in the river.
"Oh, please! Like Young Master would even look at you."
"Quiet all of you, if even I can't have him then none of you are allowed as well." A seductive voice chortled behind the group of spectating servants, causing their bodies to go numb with coldness.
They all immediately knew who that voice belong too, they were at her beck and call for the past few thousand years; their master Anemone.
"Relax all of you. It's time to have some fun, I'll cook up a barbeque for all of us while we watching Astrallis practice." Anemone lightly admonished them as she moved across the sandy shoreline to set up the grill.
Only at this time did some of the male servant see what their master was wearing, almost causing a nosebleed. Luckily they had enough will to stop that, only the finest of cultivators could join an Immortals entourage, and to join the entourage at the level of the Felicity Immortal was another story altogether.
Anemone wore a tight black bikini, that joined at a V around her large breasts; not leaving much to the eyes. She wore a light skirt around her waist, along with fashionable glasses and straw-hat. She was the epitome of a beautiful middle-age lady oozing sex appeal.
The male servants quickly ran after her, all to welcome to help. It was well known that Immortal Felicity was quite promiscuous, after all these years her bloodline could fill an entire city. With her autonomous birthing formation, she had never once given birth naturally, apart from Astrallis' mother Jasmine, with this birthing formation she had leagues of children being born whenever she couldn't control herself.
All the servants had one thought in mind, 'Maybe we'll get lucky tonight and have a story to tell our future generations with pride.'
.
Astrallis carried on his training, carrying out powerful strokes and stabs with flourishing movement. He was well aware of the barbeque close by, as his grandmothers cooking was quite renowned in the Immortal camp.
Astrallis turned to the shorefront a slight smile on his face when he saw his grandmother coaching her servants on how to play volleyball. Although there was a smile on his face, it wasn't in his eyes. Throughout this practice session, Astrallis had been thinking about how to overcome Dharma Qi; Dharma Qi may have an innate pride but so does Astrallis. One would have to overcome the other.
"Everytime I use Dharma Qi I feel the blood in my body burn as if it is in anger. It is only subtle though, for as soon as it comes it vanishes. As if something is suppressing it." Astrallis thought to himself as he watched the excitement in front of him.
"Astra, come get your food." Anemone happily said, proud to show off her cooking to her favourite grandson.
He moved towards his grandmother a smile on his face, "Well whatever it may be, it's nothing that I, Astrallis Felicity Ether cannot overcome."
Once he got his food he walked with his grandmother to the top of the waterfall and sat down overlooking the beautiful valley watching the animals go about their lives.
"Astrallis,"
"Yes, Grandmother?"
"The Buddhist Sects have been searching for you for around five years, ever since you invoked the Shakaymuni Manifestations. You are essentially their 'Son of Heaven', and after some discussion, we have agreed to allow some of the Buddhist juniors to come with you on this trip to the Secret Realm." Anemone replied, although her tone was that of annoyance rather than happiness.
"Oh. Bataar told me that they would most likely be searching for me. Why the tone grandmother?"
Taking a great bite out of her chicken breast, Grandmother Anemone answered Astrallis' question, "Their intent is to create a connection between you and the Buddhist sects. Personally, I do not like this. The Buddhists are in polite terms… sanctimonious twats."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Imperator_
Imperator_ Alright, so this was an intermediary chapter preparing us for the next Arc and volume!
This next Arc will be big, and it will define Astrallis' future. The Arc itself will be action-packed, full of surprises.
I'm excited to write it, just as some of you may be to read it.
Cheers,
Imperator.
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