Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Wrapped in a Karmic Aura, chains fell from the heavens tearing through my skin and bones, latching onto my soul, caging it. Holding back the revulsion threatening to spill from my mouth, I placed a smile over my lips.

"Did I pass?"

"Anyone ever told you your kind of a dick? Try sounding less of a condescending asshole." He spouted, losing his solemn air, returning to an aged man about to keen over.

"All the time, but I wear that title as a badge of honor. At the end of the day, I have power, looks, and women. Humility is for those wishing for something. I have it all." I argued, covering my bare chest with a new set of robes.

"An arrogant dick as well." He added.

I smirked and glanced around, "So what\'s next?"

"Now you get your cultivation cave in the inner sanctum of the Holy Swords, a powerful blade if you so need it, and resources." Instructor Gu long windily explained. Drawing out each word with his old age, I resisted the urge to punch him in the throat.

"What possible resources could a God get? By my understanding, the transferring of divinity was impossible." I claimed, somewhat curious by these new rules.

"In a sense, but there are always exceptions. For example, our Sect, for the longest has forsaken individual rule. When we rule over a world, they pray not to us but our Sect. So this divinity is free of any particular intent. This way, we can distribute such divinity to our disciples."

"Form there the Elders will mold the free divinity into crystals of various ranks into Tears. God Tears, we call them.

Amazed by this little trick, Lord Gu leaned onto his cane and chuckled, "But I am afraid I need to still check up on your master. The fair maiden Lu Chu will be taking you to your cave."

Glancing at the icy beauty, standing still for god knows how long in the distance, I touched my chin, "Such a coldness will never allow her a man—such a shame. By the way, Lord Gu, when you meet my master, do be sure to say you did not attack me. She can be quite protective."

"A feisty one! Warning received, my boy!" He laughed, strolling away with a limp.

Advancing towards the Ice Maiden, her phoenix eyes narrowed, and a coldness grew to my puzzlement. "Follow me," she coldly uttered, taking to the skies. She shot off to the ground flying away.

Chasing after her, who intended for me to lose sight of her, I kept up without issue, enjoying the view from behind. Lu Chu had quite a body that made one think her body was made for temptation. If only that coldness would fade.

Resisting the urge to peer into her heart, we headed deep towards the center of the Holy Swords, passing through various towering Pagoda that stretched over trees and mountains. It was not long before I started to take note of An azure essence rising in the air like embers.

Breathing in this strange essence, the ring within my chest pulsed, sending a profound shudder through my skin.

"Divinity," I remarked, just as Lu Chu pointed down at the canyon that stretched down into the darkness below. Hearing the water racing within the depts, the density of divinity in the air began to rise.

"This is Sparrow\'s Edge," She coldly stated, "This is the land where only the Chosen of the Holy Swords is allowed to live.

"And the water below?" I lustfully asked, peering past the darkness like it never existed and onto the river of nectar glistering Azure.

"It is called the River of Tears, the breathing ground of the divinity you feel. Each day, there in the morning such as this, you will experience this divinity for one hour." The little Chu explained with a bit of envy visible in her tone.

"And what is stopping me from just falling into the river below?" I probed, knowing it didn\'t really matter what she said; I was going to do it.

"The purity of the divinity will peel your skin away and destroy your divine artifact.

I smirked, hearing no issue I could not handle in a few months, if not a year. Licking my lips, a playful Darkness coiled around my soul.

Heading down towards the canyon filled with carved dorms through the rocks, the density of divinity began to increase. Taking it all in, Lu Chu stopped just at the top at the canyon, "You are at the lowest rank of chosen, if you wish to go deep down, then head towards the ranking grounds."

Tossing me a talisman, the stone door opened; however, before I could inquire about these Ranking Grounds, Lu Chu vanished.

Narrowing my gaze at this woman threatening to have her head removed, I stepped into the darkroom of my cultivation cave. Welcoming the darkness, the door to my cave closed shut on its own.

Sealing me in. A scarlet glint flickered through my darkness as a silver-headed goddess ran her blade through my chest. Lifting my lips, I did not groan but instead lifted her head to gaze into the amethyst that grew cloudy the instance my fingers touched her soft skin.

Pulling her blade form out of my chest, that left no wound but instead severed the chains around my soul, the cloudy fog within her eyes faded.

"You have a soul," she said, and I nodded, seeing no need to hide that truth.

"Did you know that when you pierced your blade through my chest?" I suspiciously asked as she turned her cheek. "Son of a bitch, are you trying to kill me!" I snapped. "didn\'t you tell me people don\'t heal from that sword! I would assume that includes soul attacks."

Blushing a bit, I could hear her giggle, "tee-hee."