Bloom

As I’m watching over S’neli when she moves through the mansion, I consider the energy I felt a moment ago.

It was definitely a sliver of Dao.

Being, that I’m not a genius in the Dao, I can only feel one I’ve seen before up close.

So, out of all the Dao I know, this one had a peculiar sensation that can’t be faked, yes, a feeling of sharpness.

Someone in this mansion is gaining, or has gained, insight into the Dao.

This is confusing to me though, the Dao of the Sword doesn’t seem like something that can be developed here. I’m not saying this mansion doesn’t have all the requisite training areas, just this place also has a ton of distractions.

If it isn’t the gorgeous maids, it’s the even better dressed slaves. Or should I say the ‘less’ better dressed slaves?

I find it hard to believe someone could train a Dao that focuses on sharp in a place that would dull most blades.

Oh, wait though…

That’s implicit bias isn’t it? I mean I know at least one supremely gifted female Sword Dao user.

That’s right, couldn’t it be that?

As we finally burst into a hall conjunction that joins the center of the mansion to each section I see my guess is right.

Standing in the center of the lobby area is a single female slave with a sword down at her side. The sword itself is an unassuming rusty piece of garbage that I wouldn’t equip a dying madman with for use. However, the young slave girl seems to treasure it greatly, as evidenced by her clutching it tightly.

Well, even though I only sense a sliver of the Dao, it is enough to completely crush S’neli. I wasn’t originally going to take action, but I won’t allow someone I’ve invested valuable time and energy into to be turned into meat paste.

The slave girl raises her sword shouting, “One world, under the Sword!”

An awe inspiring aura bursts out, flattening S’neli to the ground as her body shudders in fear. Her hand unclenches, causing my traveling pot to fall towards the floor.

The feeling of sharp reaches out billowing from the girl as if a sword has been pointed a both of us. Killing intent mixed with bloodthirst drenches S'neli slicing into her will, attempting to devour her whole.

Enough.

In a fraction of a second my pot levitates before hitting the floor as I instantly appear in front of S’neli.

My bark begins to glow with white energy as I activate my power.

Absolute Domain.

Like a soap bubble popping from the pressure of a touch, the sword aura is dispersed, brutally.

I could have stopped there except, I sensed a chance to show S’neli a piece of the path she could walk.

From within my leaves a combination of ingredients ripe with the power of the Dao of Alchemy converged. In front of S’neli I deliberately slowed the formation of the alchemy array so she could see the flow of power. Ingredients refine into essence, which is condensed into crystallized pill form.

The pill formed is more powerful than a hundred thousand glowing orange potions. Throwing the pill forward I watch in glee as the ignorant slave does exactly as I expect.

She cuts it.

For a brief moment, the sun is brought to earth, contained behind the power of the Absolute Domain I established around the sword user.

When the light vanishes, nothing remains of the slave girl with the exception of a single sword that falls clattering to the floor.

I quickly scoop up the sword into my leaves, since it happens to be a valuable piece of Metal, I haven’t lost out on the exchange.

I move back to rub S’neli with my leaves, and watch as she stares blankly at me.

Tsk, people are so easily amazed these days.

A single whack of one of my many branches brings S’neli back to reality.

She stares at me again, but I refuse to be worried.

Just a normal tree here, hallucinations not our problem, moving on now…