[I died..][Well technically, only my physical body died at first. My powerful soul which I had cultivated for thousands of years lived on, but only for a time.]
[No matter how powerful it was, the weapon used to slay me severely damaged not only my body, but my soul which only lasted 7400 years after my bodily death before it too faded away into the heaven and earth.]
[I had over 7000 years to try and leave the cave but I knew it was fruitless. The cave walls themselves were reinforced with countless formations preventing anything from intruding or leaving; the corridor leading to the exit was lined with the most deadly of traps which an Ancient in the dao of treasure making carefully laid down.]
[Even if I had managed to escape and possess a body, it would have been a pointless endeavor. My soul was far too damaged as it was taking all my willpower to prevent it from falling apart, the moment it entered another body it would have shattered to pieces...truly, my disciple was ruthless and left no chances for escape.]
[Without my soul I wouldn"t even be able to enter the underworld and reincarnate.. ]
[Thus, I could only wait and watch helplessly as my flesh turned to dust, as my soul withered and weakened until true death claimed me.]
[So how is it that I"m currently alive right now? I feel the beat of my heart, the blood running through my veins and my healthy and vibrant soul!]
I curiously look towards the peerlessly beautiful woman whose looks made even me feel inferior, it was only accentuated by her terrifying eyes, foreign looking golden hair and those strange wings on her head.
Before I could even ask a question, she had already spoken and...her words were baffling to me.
"Welcome back to the land of the living my new maid!"
I was caught of guard by her voice which was soft and heavenly, it would put the mistress of the Sound Void sect to shame.
"Wait a minute....maid?!" From her tone, the t.i.tle sounded like that of a servant!
Looking towards the woman with an incredulous expression, I could only reply with a frown.
"Me a mere servant? Laughable! Absurd! I am an Empress and sect master with the highest of status! My immense power coming solely from my own efforts! Countless beings looked up to me, whether they be a commoner or an Emperor. Even those foul juniors from Blood Tiger sect respected my power till the end, not daring to push me."
I shake my head. "No..no..I shouldn"t be getting caught up on that, the true question is; how am I not dead? Is this a dream, some unfathomable form of corpse revival technique?"
Words finally leave my mouth. "Why am I not dead? I know I should be, I felt it! I lived it!"
The woman gestured lazily as she replied. "You"re wondering about that? It"s simple, I brought you back."
"Impossible, you must be lying! Not even the greatest Celestials could do such a thing! Stranger, what is the hideous corpse cultivation technique you used to bring me back?" I ask with a hint of anger, my eyes narrowing into slits. "It"s common knowledge that no matter high someone"s cultivation is, resurrecting someone from true death is out of the question!"
The woman smirks at me which only added to my frustration. She pointed towards one of the vegetables in the corner and said. "They"ll vouch for me."
I look over and my eyes open wide with surprise. With a loud gasp, I shout. "Th-those are intelligent herbs!"
[It takes over 30 thousand years for such herbs to come about naturally...just how long have I been gone?]
One of the herbs, a large Beetroot, nervously walks over; it"s root legs were nimble and balanced as they plodded along the stone floor.
"Uhh..um...the G.o.ddess did indeed bring you back, we saw how your skeleton got all veiny and fleshy! It was pretty gross actually," The Beetroot wryly smiled as it scratched it"s leafy head. "And then after a few seconds, there you were! Alive and well...It was amazing!" The other herbs surrounding all nodded in agreement, stars sparkling in their eyes.
As I listened, my mouth had unknowingly opened wide in shock. [They were telling the truth! With my abilities, telling truth from fiction was a piece of cake especially for these herbs whose temperaments were as pure as a white sheet!]
"Listen closely my new maid, I...am...Ariel!" Ariel opened her arms wide as she said her name, the cave began to tremble as cracks formed on the walls, crystals from the ceiling fell out of their sockets. In fact, from what my divine sense was telling me; the mountain and the surrounding lands were violently shaking as if there were an earthquake of epic proportions.
My heart began to tremble as a single thought resounded in my mind. [Such power!]
Ariel"s eyes glanced towards me with a faint smile forming on her lips, she spoke with a tone full of authority. "I am G.o.d! If I want you alive, you"ll live. If I want you to wear a maid outfit, it will be so," Suddenly my stylish robes disappeared as they were replaced by a foreign uniform that was quite inappropriate.
The uniform was very revealing as it showed off my ample chest like you would often see from those low cla.s.s brothel girls. My thighs and bottom could feel the wind flowing under them as the skirt was very short. [How insulting!] I thought while angrily glaring at her; but she just gave me a lecherous look while continuing. "If I want that little herb over there to be human, it will be human!"
She pointed towards the large Beetroot which screamed in surprise before it grew into a 4ft tall young child.
My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "Did you just..." I scanned the child with my divine sense and came to a shocking discovery! The Beetroot turned into a living, flesh and blood human child!
After collecting itself, the child burst out into joy as he shouted. "I"m a real boy! I"m a real boy!" While dancing in circles.
The herbs looked at the child with jealousy.
Ariel waved her hand again and the Beetroot child excitedly dancing suddenly turned back into it"s original Beetroot self.
"Eh!" The Beetroot looked at it"s hands which were roots again, shock appearing on it"s face. Tears began to well up in it"s small black eyes while it mumbled. "I"m a vegetable again...d.a.m.n it all!!!"
"Ahahaha!" The other herbs looked at the dispirited Beetroot while laughing and pointing.
"Silence!" I heard Ariel mutter as all the herbs had their mouths clap shut.
She looked towards me with a smile. "So maid, do you have any more questions about the matter?"
I shake my head and reply. "Your servant does not." Although my face was showing an expression of subservience, inwardly I was feeling deeply aggrieved! To go from a mighty Empress to a lowly servant? Such a thing was absolutely intolerable!
But no matter how much I hated the thought, I had to accept! I knew the reality of the situation I was in, this woman in front of me was an unfathomable being with powers so profound; reality itself seemed to bend to her will! There was no hope of opposing her, it would be foolish to do so.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath.
I am not my past self any longer. To survive now, I have to lower my pride and rein in my stubbornness.
[I will serve her well.] I decided deeply in my heart. [It"s the least I could do considering she gave me another chance at life.]
[Serving a G.o.d....maybe it won"t be so bad?] I thought optimistically.
Ariel seemed to read my thoughts as she chuckled. "It"s seems you"ve accepted your fate, good...we will leave now."
"Where are we headed Mistress?" I ask curiously. What location could arouse the interest of this G.o.ddess?
"One of the lowest realms." Ariel replied vaguely.
"The Ancestral continent?" I reply with surprise flickering on my face.
"That big chunk of land at the bottom?" Ariel shook her head. "No we"ll be heading to one of the planets surrounding it. We may stop and have look on this "Ancestral continent" on the way though."
"Those small worlds?" I utter with a baffled expression. Why would she want to go there of all places? There"s so little spiritual Qi on those barren planets.
Ariel turned to leave and before I could follow, my skirt was tugged. "Great master, please don"t leave us behind." The large Beetroot looked at me pitifully. All the other herbs were standing behind it while twiddling their root-like fingers.
"Come along then." I sigh, my ring flashes as the little herbs were absorbed into it"s s.p.a.ce.