Chapter 2008 - 2008. Fear

"Can we do this after leaving the barrier?" Noah asked before turning toward the chrysalides. "I'm trying not to cause a mess this time."

"No one in the entire higher plane would believe you," The cultivator commented. "Besides, I already see this as a mess."

"I can leave you with half of a rank 8 dragon," Noah proposed.

"What about the others?" The cultivator questioned.

"Don't get greedy now," Noah scoffed. "I thought you had Heaven and Earth taking care of everything."

"Your misconceptions about Heaven and Earth's system can't be so massive," The cultivator declared..

"Is that a compliment?" Noah asked.

"You are correct," The cultivator admitted.

Noah was ready to slash forward, but he held back. His instincts screamed in danger and told him not to give his opponent an opening. That expert was strong but also peculiar. Other cultivators belonging to Heaven and Earth's system would have already attacked after seeing him seize all the dark metal in the area.

"How did you sneak up on me?" Noah asked.

"I didn't," The cultivator admitted again. "You sensed me as soon as the teleport ended."

"Help me solve a doubt," Noah exclaimed. "Why did you join Heaven and Earth if you could oppose them? And how can you retain your world when you are part of their system?"

"Those are two doubts," The expert commented.

"And now I can confirm that Heaven and Earth's privileged followers can also count," Noah joked.

"That traitor said too much," The expert sighed. "You should have learnt about us only after reaching the sky."

"At least you know that you can't stop us," Noah commented.

"You have all grown far beyond Heaven and Earth's expectations," The cultivator revealed. "You will always be many steps ahead of the fairness, and the higher plane doesn't leave much room for loopholes."

"Are you saying this to make me lose interest in the next part of my journey?" Noah questioned.

"Just a bit," The cultivator chuckled. "Some of us have plans for your group. Others only want you to disappear."

"I bet you belong to the second category," Noah guessed.

"You are correct again," The expert affirmed.

"Why aren't you attacking me then?" Noah asked. "Do you fear breaking this structure?"

"The whole point of this place was its secrecy," The cultivator said. "The area on the other side of the cracks is a dead zone, but you have attracted a lot of attention by spending a long time here. Everyone will soon learn what Heaven and Earth were planning, so this area can fall apart freely."

"What about the black metal?" Noah questioned.

"I'll let you keep enough to enter the sky," The cultivator assured. "I'm afraid the rest has to come with me."

"I was starting to worry that we would just talk," Noah laughed.

"Please, I believe you have already confirmed that the dark metal can't give you much," The cultivator insisted. "You will end up using it for a few millennia only to forget about it once your centers of power reach a certain threshold."

"You know me so well," Noah exclaimed in a mocking tone.

"Everyone in the sky knows you this well," The cultivator corrected.

"You'll know that I didn't forget about my doubts," Noah reminded.

The cultivator's eyes sharpened before a deep sigh escaped his mouth. He considered his options for a few seconds, but he eventually decided to explain his state. "Why would I oppose Heaven and Earth when I can join them and reap benefits without losing myself? Also, my world does belong to their system, but only I can control it properly, so I can retrieve it whenever I want."

"Sounds nice," Noah commented.

"It is nice," The cultivator continued. "I can reap benefits and deal directly with Heaven and Earth. Everything is within my reach, and I don't have to face deadly dangers every time I try to improve. It's truly a blessed life."

"How do you even hope to improve without dangers?" Noah asked.

"A lack of dangers doesn't necessarily mean that I don't have to face challenges," The cultivator explained. "The cultivation journey is a constant battle against themselves. I always have someone to fight."

"You must be quite rusty if you spent the last eras fighting against yourself," Noah mocked.

"I don't need to hurry my way to the peak," The expert declared. "Heaven and Earth's breakthrough won't be the end for me. I can approach the cultivation journey without joining pointless struggles."

"And yet you decide to help the rulers with this project," Noah uttered. "I bet they gave you something substantial in exchange."

"Of course," The cultivator announced. "I wouldn't have done all of this for free."

"Isn't this another pointless struggle?" Noah wondered.

"Not at all," The expert declared. "The sheer understanding gathered throughout these years would already be enough to repay my efforts. What Heaven and Earth added as a reward has only improved my situation even further."

"I guess you had the chance to study Heaven and Earth up close," Noah stated. "Did you find a way to delay your inevitable absorption?"

"I have survived until now," The expert exclaimed. "I don't see how I would even risk dying now that Heaven and Earth is a mess."

"Don't lie," Noah laughed. "You are worried that Heaven and Earth might become stable enough to understand your world. Sword Saint must have ruined your plans. I can't imagine what it is to experience fear after being completely safe for entire eras."

"You are gravely underestimating our position in the system," The cultivator declared.

"I am only stating facts," Noah insisted. "Heaven and Earth's huge array of laws has always been a weakness. Sword Saint has forced them to balance everything and make room for more. They might grow stronger than before in that state."

"You really like to throw taunts," The cultivator sighed.

"Someone always takes the bait," Noah said. "I know that I hit you hard with my previous comment. Don't even try to deny it."

"You might have some talent there," The expert admitted.

"Divine Demon surpasses me there," Noah sighed. "He is unmatched when it comes to pissing someone off."

"He surely is an anomaly," The expert added. "It doesn't surprise me that you are so worried about his safety. I might also start to fear Heaven and Earth if they were to absorb Divine Demon."

"I'm afraid you have forgotten what fear feels like," Noah laughed.

"Fear is everything I feel," The cultivator snorted before heaving a helpless sigh. "I hoped we could have solved this peacefully. That's clearly impossible with you."

"Is this our time to go out?" Noah asked while storing the Cursed Sword. "I was getting tired of keeping my weapon raised."

"Who said that we had to go out?" The cultivator asked. "I can call upon Heaven and Earth's light whenever I want here, and I'm also stronger than you. I can't lose here."

"I told you that you have forgotten what fear feels like," Noah repeated before turning to fly toward one of the tunnels created previously.

The cultivator didn't stop Noah. He remained speechless for a few seconds before muttering a curse in his deep voice and following his opponent in the tunnel.

The dragons were roaring their anger on the surface, and their focus converged on Noah when he reappeared. However, a single cry from him made all those creatures go silent. Even the middle tier specimen found itself unable to do anything as Noah continued to move toward the opening in the barrier.