Life Drain System

    Making it to the opening, his eyes quickly adjust to the light again. Then he looks around, and exclaims. "You have to be joking? What sadistic person created this? If this was made by dragons, it certainly does not seem like it was meant for humans, and they must be far more skilled than any human I have ever met."

    Inside, he can see a dome shaped room just like the previous one, with the writing around the sides, the sky above, however below is the only difference. If one wants to move through this places they can only get through by jumping on top of stalagmites made of metal, that seem to go down tens if not hundreds of meters, it is difficult to tell due to the shadows after the first 50 meters. The entire floor being made like this, made it exceedingly difficult. Therefore if you fall you either die or get seriously injured.

    Seeing this, Yueliang closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and then jumps while thinking. 'It is either all or nothing right.' Then opening his eyes, he positions his feet to land on top of one of the spikes. Due to the distance between them, the only way he could stand on two spikes at once, he would have to do the complete splits. If that happened, he would likely get stuck there.

    Stepping onto the first one, Yue starts jumping between them, until he is positioned where he wants. Then staying standing, he starts reading what is written.

    Meanwhile, a few hours ago, Ai Lan makes her way from her room to the dinning hall for breakfast. Which takes a little while, but making her way there, she eventually arrives at the doors and walks in. 

    Bowing before her father, she walks to his right side, and takes her seat at her normal spot before saying. "Daddy, I have a few questions for you."

    Looking to his right, Emperor Rin replies with a sigh. "What is it that you want? If this is about traveling for more suicidal trips, that will be a no for now."

    Hearing this, Ai Lan says. "Well the first is, about paying out the money to the people. Traveling on this planet should not be troublesome due to your divine sense covering it. Although, the commanders wife lives a few planets over. Honestly I had no idea that people still live there, I was taught they all died out a century or so ago. That is the second thing I was wondering. What do you know about that?"

    His eyes widening, Rin turns his gaze to her once more saying. "Did little John really die?"

    "It seems so, and I was hoping for your permission to go there." She answers.

    "*sigh. That is sad to hear. I really liked him, and he is one of the most loyal people I have ever met. But to answer your earlier question, they were all wiped out except for a small group of them when I was exploring the planet. Finding them, we happened to become friends, however since I did not want their enemies to come back to finish the job I reported them all dead, and set up an array formation to hide their life auras. ..."

    "... Therefore they mainly live underground, so as not to be seen, but also because the ice on the surface has been getting worse and worse with each passing year. Regardless, I will send someone else, I would prefer you not to go there for various reasons." Her father explains the situation.

    Ai Lan however quickly adds. "But daddy, while I do respect your judgement, there is one more reason I want to go. It is to talk to his wife who may be able to help me with a personal matter."

    The emperor shakes his head as he says. "My little Ai, please listen closely. The first and most important reason I do not want you going is so that you do not die. The second is because if you go, you may end up alerting others that they are still alive. So tell me about this personal matter, and give me the remuneration, and I will pay it, as well as maybe help with your situation."

    Feeling it is hopeless to keep beating around the bush so to speak, Ai Lan takes a deep breath before handing over the remuneration for the commander that she took out of her own money, as she will reimburse herself after, as well as a few other things. Then she says. "Daddy, from what I understand this is one of two situations. One I have either fallen in love, or I have been very close with brother on the other side before this life. ..."

    "... And as far as I know from what the commander told me, he had a similar situation. Looking into it, he and his wife found an ancient text explaining the situation, but it is damaged, and I figured maybe we could fix it or look for another copy to figure it out."

    Listening closely to his daughters words, he hopes that it is the second situation and says. "Alright, I will ask her to bring it and the two of you can look into it together. But you must stay on this planet, what do you say?"

    "Yes! Thank you daddy." Ai Lan said upon seeing her request fulfilled.

    With the food now before them the Emperor takes a bite of the hot meal before them. However seeing his daughter staring at the food, but not yet eating, he asks. "I take it you have more you want?"

    Her eyes sparkle when she hears her father saying that before saying. "Yes, well, I was wondering may I keep the bracelets? I was planning to make some zip lines, among other things in my room, and figured this way we could keep all the danger contained in the house right?"

    Face palming for the first time in his life, the emperor sighs quite deeply before saying. "*Deep Sigh. That is complicated. You may have them, but you are not allowed to use them except in two situations. The first that you are trying to contain someone or help them by removing their cultivation. The second being that any of these thrill seeking things you intend to use the bracelets with you must have my approval before you test them alright? After all I cannot risk you dying because of one of my gifts."

    Understanding that it would likely haunt her fathers conscience, she replies. "I promise."

    Then turning to eat a second bite of the food, and seeing her still not eating he says with a surprised face. "There is more?"

    Feeling a little bad about interrupting his breakfast for her own personal gain she says. "Well, I was curious about what you said yesterday. You said the pill certainly fulfilled its effects. But I was curious what are the effects, and you said it would only last 44 hours or something like that."

    Putting down his chopsticks, he answers. "I was also hoping you would stop these escapades after this but it seems I was mistaken. Anyways, you probably already figured it out, but I gave it to you because it will save your life until the energy runs out or the time runs out so long as you remain a mortal. And the time is actually 48 hours, but due to not wanting you to push your luck, and in case you got injured or nearly died on your way back, it would save you."

    "So why did you not tell me then? I promise this is the last question I will ask during breakfast." She said clearly seeing the hunger in his eyes.

    "*Sigh. It was because, if you knew about this, your adrenaline will have less of an effect, if any at all if you know your life is not in danger. But that does not mean you will not feel it. Either way, if you knew you might have taken bigger risks, which may have resulted in your death. Now let us eat alright." Rin says as he picks up his chopsticks and starts cutting into this cinnamon and sugar covered french toast.

    Ai Lan nods upon hearing this, and gets to her food as well. Then after a while of eating, the two leave the room and go their separate ways in the hallway. The emperor to the throne room, and Ai Lan to the room next to it. Although they walked together for a little while they felt no desire to say anything at the moment as they are enjoying the flavors they had for breakfast in silence.

    Then the two finally separate, Ai Lan walks into the accountants room. Walking straight to the head accountants desk, she notices the dark circles under all the accountants eyes. Yet for some reason they are still smiling as if they where addicted to their work.