Morning light pierced through the window. A light breeze rustled the curtains.
Altria's eyes fluttered open.
Her room was decorated with numerous paintings and simple furniture. She shifted on the bed, feeling lazy. She stayed there for a while, letting herself sink into the mattress, before finally pushing herself up.
She wasn't sleepy anymore.
She sat up and stretched her arms, shaking off the last traces of morning grogginess. The blanket slipped down, revealing her bare breasts. Her full chest rose gently as she breathed, pink nipples peeking softly beneath the light.
Altria's skin glowed under the gentle morning sun. It was fair and smooth, without a single blemish.
She got out of bed, fully naked. She liked sleeping that way. Yawning lightly, she walked toward the bathroom and stepped into the pool of warm Harmony Water.
The water shimmered with a golden hue. It could only be found in this domain, infused with the Harmony attribute. This water was famous for boosting cultivation, as it enhanced the harmony between Heaven and Earth energy and the cultivator.
But it was meaningless for Altria, just like it was for all other vessels.
They could not sense Heaven and Earth energy. The mark on their bodies prevented it. To them, this water was no different from ordinary water, except that it was naturally warm.
Altria floated quietly, eyes closed, thinking of nothing.
After a while, she stepped out and dressed in her usual outfit. She walked outside her house and sat down on a chair in the courtyard. Taking out the tea she had prepared earlier, she poured herself a cup.
She sipped the tea slowly and enjoyed the view.
The courtyard was decorated with numerous flowers and herbs. Distant chippering of birds and gently rustl of leaves made the yard peaceful.
Small dots of colourful lights floating around. The Garden Spirits wandering about.
Altria had slept for nearly a month without waking up. Right now, she felt strangely… happy. Or was it excitement? She couldn't tell.
But she knew one thing clearly. She didn't feel lonely anymore.
Leaning back in the chair, she looked up at the sky. The familiar sight of countless floating islands stretched upward until her eyes could no longer follow them. Yet something felt different today.
The atmosphere was... warmer.
The cold, oppressive feeling she had lived with for so long was gone.
Altria couldn't help but laugh softly.
She shook her head and took another sip of tea. For some reason, she wasn't afraid of hope anymore. The grievances she had carried for centuries felt washed away by her long sleep. She felt light, energized and free.
"Did I really need that much sleep?"
She murmured to herself.
She didn't understand why she felt this way, but she didn't dwell on it. Thinking about it wouldn't change anything.
Then, something happened.
And Altria couldn't understand what it was.
Suddenly, her surroundings grew brighter. Golden-white light swept across the land. Instinctively, she looked up, and her eyes widened.
In the sky, a distant island shone so brightly it resembled a second sun. She would have mistaken it for one, if not for the fact that she knew the Deity resided at the top of the estate.
She immediately understood.
This phenomenon had something to do with the Deity!
Pulse~
Before long, a massive golden wave burst outward, accompanied by a deep pulsing sound. The pulse spread rapidly, enveloping the entire estate before reaching her island.
A powerful wind followed, rushing past like a tsunami of air.
Then came another pulse.
And another.
The everything paused for a moment before the sky changed colors. The sky was dyed in brilliant, celebratory hues. Altria stared in complete awe, her mind blank, eyes wide, mouth slightly open.
Moments passed.
She noticed her surroundings reacting, almost as if they were alive. The land itself seemed to dance with joy. Heavenly Tribulation clouds formed all around her island, and below, animals began breaking through their limits one after another.
She didn't understand what was happening.
Before she could even gather her thoughts, the mark on her forehead began to glow intensely.
A sharp light shot upward. Her eyes went round. Hear heart almost jumped out of her mouth.
A dreadful thought struck her.
'Am I being rejected!?'
That fate was worse than rotting alone in this place!
But before she could sink into despair, the mark trembled violently, then shot back down into her forehead and the mark went inside her Soul Sea.
Her head snapped back instinctively.
She followed the mark inward, into her Soul Sea, and saw it slam into her Soul Essence and merge before disappearing entirely!
She didn't know where it went! She could not see nor she could feel the mark! Her senses hovered above her Soul Essence, trying to locate the mark. But she couldn't find it.
'!!!'
But She didn't have time to think. After fifteen hundred years, sensation returned. She could sense Heaven and Earth energy again!!
Heaven and Earth energy surged toward her, pouring into her body like a starving beast finally being fed.
Her Martial Core, Essence Core, and Soul Core absorbed the energy at the same time.
Surrounding energy started to move towards her in droves.A spiraling light phenomenon formed around her.
Her stagnant cultivation surged forward, breaking barrier after barrier. Golden particles materialized in the air and sank into her body, stabilizing her foundation and reinforcing her breakthroughs.
Boom~
Before she even realized it, she had stepped into the True Immortal Realm with a soft burst of energy outwards.
Above her head, tribulation clouds gathered, rumbling softly. Yet their power felt strangely reduced.
Lightning descended and the Tribulation began.
Altria didn't even move. She was too overwhelmed to process everything that was happening around her.
The lightning struck her face directly, flooding her vision with white light, but she felt no pain at all. The entire experience felt unreal.
She remained seated, calmly enduring the heavenly tribulation as it passed.
After nine strikes when the clouds disappeared, she noticed something else.
Not only her island, but countless others were covered in tribulation clouds. Breakthroughs were happening everywhere, all at once.
'!!!'
Then, within her Soul Core, she felt a quiet ethereal sound echoed.
~I'm Sorry~
Her body trembled. Her eyes filled with tears.
All the grievance she had buried, all the loneliness she had endured, crashed down at once. And with it came validation.
The Deity had apologized.
She didn't fully understand how, but she knew instinctively. The owner of the mark was speaking to her. The mark now felt gentle, soothing, comforting. Deepest part of her Soul felt warm and protected.
She felt safe, noticed and above all, cared for. Although Altria couldn't see the Deity, but she could feel a connection with something far heavier existence then her. And through that invisible connection, she felt the sincerity and quite remorse of the Deity.
And that was enough. Tears fell freely.
Altria covered her face and sobbed silently. Energy surged through her body, resonating with the surrounding Heaven and Earth as if trying to soothe her suffering.
After a long while, she stopped crying.
She wiped her tears and leaned back into the chair. Exhausted but excited.
Her heart raced, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. For the first time in fifteen hundred years, she felt truly alive.