Jump 8: The Great Ruler Snippets 1-2

Snippet 1:
    I had lived in this town for nearly three years now. Some time after I crossed over to the Heavenly Fusion Stage I had moved here. It was close to the one of the Great Academies, which meant that it would occasionally get the windfall of a good year of cultivators. I nearly didn’t move here though. Living so close was a constant reminder that the Li clan had failed to produce a good enough cultivator in the form of me. The sheer shame of this had been enough to drive me from my clan. I wasn’t one of those valuable clan heirs, or sect geniuses. I was just Xun Li: the girl who didn’t pass. Once I was kicked out of the clan my cultivation slowed right down. The mere pittance of resources I received cut down to only what I could find for myself. I had managed with great difficulty to pass into the Three Heavens Stages last year, but that was the last time I had gained anything of note for my cultivation.
    Back to the present though. As said, I had been in this town for going on three years. That’s why my confusion was understandable when one day, while walking through town, I walked past a quaint little shop that had definitely not been there the hour before. “Valkyries Store For Potential Protagonists” loudly proclaimed the redwood sign hanging above the oak door.
    I blinked and took in the rest of the building. It was made of an odd stone, with a few gems dotting the surface of the walls. The roof was sloped, and tiled with a shimmering red material that made it look like the top of the building was ablaze.
    The door was slightly ajar, which afforded me a small glimpse of the inside. It looked to be a cheerful place, yet also mystical. Purple glowing flames darted around the ceiling above blue glowing rocks, which meant the colours inside were constantly subtly shifting. If I wasn’t mistaken I could also see a few tiny storm clouds that were releasing equally tiny lightning bolts up in the wooden rafters.
    My curiosity thoroughly piqued I decided to look around it. Maybe they had a special offer if I was their first customer? Even a small trinket would be nice, if nothing else so that I could sell it later.
    A bell above the door rang out as I opened it fully and cautiously stepped inside. I stopped just inside the doorway, the entryway slamming back into place behind me with a resounding thud, and looked around the now completely revealed room. The rest of it was just as mysterious as the small peak that I had been given. As my head reached a 90 degree angle to the right I was forced to duck under a whizzing storm cloud that was being chased by one of the purple flames. I gave a gasp of awe as the flame caught up to the cloud and engulfed it, which caused it to start letting off random bolts of purple lightning while it spasmed.
    “Fun little things aren’t they?” I shrieked and spun around, raising my fist in the beginnings of my Spiritual Art. What I saw made me stop dead. Sitting with her legs crossed daintily on the wooden counter was a breathtakingly beautiful creature. She looked like a stunningly pretty woman with red eyes and gorgeous golden locks, but behind her back were nine large (and rather soft looking) tails that curled and swayed softly, and atop her head were two perky ears. She was wearing a red and white robe of some kind that looked rather good on her, and her long golden hair tumbled down around her waist. She was also looking at me with a rather amused glint in her (not human!) eyes. One of her arms was crossed across her chest supporting the elbow of her other arm, which was idly swirling through a greenish flame that was hovering by her.
    “I’ve never been able to decide what I want to name them” she continued to speak, heedless of my aborted attack, “I’ve constantly flitted between about four different names.” Her scarlet eyes wandered away from me to look at the flame by her hand and I realised that I desperately needed to breathe in. I dragged in a heaving gasp, before croaking out a question.
    “W-who are you?”
Her eyes flicked back to me but I was prepared this time and didn’t let it affect me on the outside. She laughed pleasantly and then gestured to the entrance behind me.
    “Did you not read the sign? I am Valkyrie, store owner and seller of mystical items. Though my friends call me Valky.” She smiled kindly at me, in a way that made me feel like things were going to be alright. It was like the effect of a Spiritual Art yet I could tell no Spiritual Power had been used. “And you, missy, seem like someone who could use a helping hand.”
    “Now tell me,” she vanished and before I could react I was swept up and sitting on the floor next to her, wrapped up in the delightfully soft tails. “What troubles you.”
    Something about being next to her seemed to soothe my soul. It was like I was sitting by my mother again, her frail warm eyes crinkled by a smile as she listened to what I had been up to with my training. Without really understanding why, I found myself opening up to her. I poured out my woes to her, telling her about being kicked from the clan, the loss of my parents two fold, and my constant feelings of self doubt. Throughout it all she nodded sympathetically and not once did I detect any hint of scorn nor sneer. When I finally finished my tale she gave me a warm hug that left the taste of chocolate on my lips, the smell of ozone in my nose, and the faint roaring sound of fire in my ears.
  “It sounds like what you need is something special, to get you racing through the realms. Something that will let you progress fast and show everyone else that you matter.” She rested her chin in between finger and thumb as she thought. After a few seconds of thought she snapped her fingers as her eyes lit up.
    “I’ve got an idea. This will ultimately be up to you though,” she cautioned me. I sat up and listened attentively, supremely curious as to what she would say. “I could gift you with great power, and improve your progression. But to do so will leave us linked in some form.”
    Was she referring to a Bloodline bond? Somehow I doubted she was offering to do something so major for someone she had just met. Especially given how prideful Spiritual Beasts were known to be.
    I indicated for her to go on, not trusting myself to speak yet.
  “I will claim you for my faction. Now hold on!” she cut me off as I started to protest, “I know how that sounds, but it’s not what you think. The claim is merely a formality. It will mean you cannot harm me willingly, but in exchange you will gain the potential for so much.”
  “Can… Can I think on it?” I asked, hand clenched into a fist on the floor.
  “Of course. But I have to warn you that once you leave that door, you may not find this store again.” she said mysteriously. Surprisingly I didn’t have to think for long. My life couldn’t get much worse anyway, so even if I was forced into servitude in this shop it didn’t seem too bad.
  “I accept.” I stated, resolve solidifying. Valkyrie’s smile widened and then she made a weird gesture with her hand. In front of my eyes a small screen appeared.

<Faction Leader Valkyrie has invited you to join the Mystical Fox faction>
...
<Do you accept? Yes - No?>

I didn’t waste time questioning the strange screen and after scanning the text pressed accept.

<You have accepted the invite to the ‘Mystical Fox’ faction>
…
<Race has been modified>
…
<Calculating Stats>
...
<Your level has been set to 1>

    There was an immediate change. That change came in the form of a weird popping sound from behind me, before my back was flooded with sensations I had never felt before, in a place that I was fairly certain didn’t exist before. Glancing behind me I saw a fuzzy blue tail sticking out from the bottom of my dress. It was the same shade as my hair. Speaking of hair, I could feel weird new sensations on my head, which I quickly guessed would be from a fair of animal ears that I had gained. Oddly enough I could still feel my original ears on the sides of my head.
    I started to hyperventilate as I realised that my very species had likely been changed. I was no longer the same! I was different! Other cultivators would trap me once they found out and then they would d-
    My train of thought was cut off by a finger poking my nose.
    “Enough of that missy. You’ve gotten a great gift just now. You just need to learn how to use it.”
    My eyes pierced into hers and my face furrowed into an stormy mess of harsh lines.
    “And how will I do that exactly!?” I huffed, barely containing my growing rage as I realised who had done this to me.
    “Why, I will teach you of course,” she replied, her smile still innocently in place as she watched my anger filled face slowly relax into a mere scowl.

    One year later I would go back out into the world a changed woman, both physically and mentally. Using my newly gained powers, which I had been trained in by the mysterious creature, I swiftly took back my place in my clan and within a few months declared myself clan chief. After that? I set my eyes on the Nine Birds territory. My teacher had told me that some interesting people would likely be arriving there soon, and I would know who they were once I met them. For now though, I was content to let my clan grow in strength and prestige.

xXXXxXXXx


Snippet 2
    Jianyu strutted down the street, flanked by his two guards. He felt a small bit of glee as he watched people scramble to get out of their way, some tripping and falling in their haste to do so. It was only natural they do so; a single Sovereign realm expert would be able to destroy this entire backwater city if they wished, let alone three.
    But he wasn’t too concerned with these weaklings. He was here for the rumours of a shop that was said to have recently set up in this city. Rumour had it that it was a fantastical shop that everyone who visited would come away from much better off. People across the Thousand Worlds had started hearing the rumours about this shop. The trouble was that it vanished and reappeared in different locations without any warning or reason. Not only that, it would only do business with a few people before vanishing again when it did appear.
    It must be fate then, that he was in the immediate area when word came that it had materialised in this place. Jianyu let an arrogant smirk slide onto his face as he finally caught view of the famous store. A small crowd of people had formed outside the front and appeared to be watching the door with bated breath.
    He grew annoyed an no one paid attention to his presence, nor moved out of his way to unobstruct his view of the entrance. His smile dropped from his face and he let his aura wash out from him. Suddenly several members of the crowd were finding it hard to stand up, and a few had gone pale as they gasped for air. The crowd turned to face him and then swiftly parted.
    *Tap tap tap* went his feet as he approached the door. He paused before he reached for the handle, nodding to his guards who took up positions either side of the door, ready to bar anyone else from entering. Gathering himself, he twisted the handle and stepped into the shop.
    A mundane bell chimed as he stepped into the shop. Inside was what looked like a boring store with various vegetables and trinkets lying around. He couldn’t sense any real Spiritual Power from any of them. They all appeared to be ordinary items. At the counter stood a young woman with blue hair, looking nothing like the rumoured human beast creature that was supposed to be the owner. The woman herself was a real beauty though, and he found himself leering at her. She would be a good woman to take back as a concubine.
    “How can I help you?” she asked nicely. Even her voice was wonderful. That sealed it in his mind. She would be his.
    “I came to buy some valuable items!” he proclaimed loudly, displaying several tokens that marked him as having lots of wealth. She was remarkably unphased by it.
    “Then please have a look around and purchase what you wish.” She replied, gesturing to the store at large. Her dismissal of his show of wealth felt like a blow to his face.
    “You misunderstand me” he said, “I wish to see your items worthy of a Sovereign like myself.” He puffed up his chest in pride.
    “Then please look around the store. Our wares are out for purchasing.” she repeated, once again gesturing to the items that dotted the store.
    “Do you think me a fool?!” He growled, inexplicably angry, “there is nothing of value here, only mundane trinkets for the peasants outside!”
    The store clerk merely raised her eyebrow at him, her smile fading somewhat.
    “What one person considers trash may in fact be a treasure for others” she quoted at him. This only made him angrier.
    “And this is definitely trash to me!” he yelled, his Spiritual Power starting to flare out in an attempt to intimidate her. “Now give me your best items or I will destroy this store myself and take you back to my clan for ‘disciplining’!”
    She sighed right to his face, and her face was filled with ridicule for him.
     “Our best items are out here. The fact that you cannot see this shows you are fated for very little in the future. A baby who has to be spoon fed his strength.” His face turned purple with rage. She left him no face, insulting him as directly as was possible.
     ‘Earth Dragon Fist’ he yelled within his heart as he punched out at her, intending to exterminate this insects life. The resulting blast rocked the store and scattered most of the items onto the floor.
    “I wish you hadn’t done that. Now I’m going to have to clear that up.” A voice floated out from the dust cloud. The dust slowly swirled and then parted. The store clerk was completely unharmed but her face was now annoyed. The air around her started to shimmer and then changed, revealing the previous appearance of the store to be a mere illusion. This change spread with increasing rapidness, quickly over taking the entire store. Suddenly the wooden tables became shimmering green metal. The mundane items on the floor changing to weapons and armour that he could feel monstrous power from. Fires appeared above his head, glowing red as if angry, while storm clouds brewed and grew with each passing second.
    “What is this? Finally revealing your secrets?” He sneered, burying deep his growing unease at the situation. She shook her head with contempt.
    “You see,” she started, letting a powerful aura that was in no way inferior to his manifest around her, “we have a little test in this store. Those that we judge worthy of it will receive assistance from us. Depending on how well they do on the test will determine the amount of help we give them.”
   She conjured up several pictures in the air, each someone who had originally been a no-one but had suddenly become much stronger and had started dominating their areas. Among them was a picture of a blue haired woman with fox ears, the rumoured first customer of this store who was swiftly becoming a powerhouse of the entire Thousand Worlds.
    Jianyu was frozen in place as he watched them swirl around her for a few seconds before fading away. She turned her piercing gaze back on him. Her aura grew even further, until she reached the peak of Sovereign class.
    “Others, however, prove themselves to not be worthy of our help.” More pictures came into existence around her. Various people including a number of clan heirs that he recognised. “Those that are full of themselves, who lack kindness and humility. Those that would bully others for no reason.” A final picture appeared. It was him, his face twisted into an ugly sneer. She flicked her wrist and these pictures caught fire, the faces on them briefly changing into screams of pain before they vanished into smoke. Jianyu flinched as his did the same, before puffing himself up.
    “That’s just the way of the world!” He protested, “The strong eat the weak, and take what they want.” he waved his arms towards the outside for emphasis.
    “Just because that is the current state of the world does not mean that is right, nor does it mean that it has to stay that way.” she whispered, yet her voiced carried clearly to his ears. “A wise man taught me that.”
    “Are you being sentimental again?” came a sensual voice from the side. Out of a side door walked a red haired beauty with purple slitted eyes. It was obvious she wasn’t human. “Really Xun’er, there is a time and place” she snarked.
    The store clerk, Xun’er, appeared slightly embarrassed for a second, before firing back.
    “And what would Valky say was that time and place?”
    The new woman rolled her eyes.
    “He would say ‘when is better than here and now?’. Which I still think is silly”
    “Yes,” Xun’er admitted, seemingly having forgotten the extra presence in the room, “It is silly. But that’s part of why I like him.”
The other girl just rolled her eyes again, her hands on her hips.
    “Xun’er..? Xun’er?!” His face paled rapidly as he finally recognised the identity of the shop assistant. It was one of the wives of The Flame Emperor herself! As the wife of that terrifying expert she would have to have a minimum strength of Earthly Sovereign. That would mean that the other woman was Xiao Cai, the ruthless other wife, who was rumoured to have killed dozens of cultivators that had vied for her affection. Suddenly the flames that had appeared hovering around the ceiling became insidious bombs in his eyes. If this place was really owned by the Flame Emperor then he may very well have just doomed his clan.
    He made to step back but found he could not move his feet. He looked down and saw stone slowly creeping up his legs, his very flesh petrifying in front of his eyes. Looking back up, he could see Xiao Cia’s purple eyes glowing as she stared at him.
    In a panic he destroyed the stone, freeing himself at the cost of his legs and fled from the store as fast as possible. As he exited the store he saw his two guards frozen in place, unmoving. They were frozen in stone, arms still half raised as they moved to attack.
    His face paled further and he flew away as fast as he possibly could, not looking back for even a single second.
    If he had, he would have seen the two wives exiting the store and bickering as they went about cleaning the front entrance of the two guards. Xiao Cai didn’t even pretend to be careful and broke off one of the guards arms ‘accidentally’ as she carried him away to god knows where.
    After that incident, the rumours surrounding the shop would grow much more intense. Rumours that it was in fact owned by The Flame Emperor and had his wives as the store clerks. Rumours that if you displeased the employees you would suffer grievous bodily harm.
Rumours that to shop there you had to pass an unspeakable test. Some of the rumours were dismissed as hearsay, but some of them reached all the way to the Martial Realm, and the Endless Flame territory, causing a stir there.
    Jianyu would never fully recover from this incident, having lost both his legs and two Sovereign guards. The clan would live in perpetual fear from then on of retaliation by the Flame Emperor.
    The store in that city would vanish three days later. A few months later, a local clan member who had been struggling not a year previously would rock his clan tournament with techniques that would shock the entire city.