Chapter 149
Symphony of Change
Yu Minge slowly opened his eyes, walking out to the overlooking deck, his gaze wandering down to the valley. The Sect was... alive. Even beneath the ashen skies, there was a constant stream of Disciples going in and out, young and old alike, pursuing whatever dreams they had. Some may not return, some may return fully reborn, and some will simply meander about in desired mediocrity. Such were the ways of Martial Arts.
But, beneath the veil of liberated freedom and the appearance of calm, he knew there existed undercurrents running like mountain rapids. The word of what he had done must have spread out, far and wide, by now, and reached the ears of those old foggers in the Central Ashlands. While they were unlikely to truly descend with full might, it was entirely possible that they would send someone else. Or, perhaps, put a bounty on the Holy Blade Sect.
Not immediately, no; things never functioned either that quickly or smoothly, no matter the corner of the world. But in due time, there would be smoke and fire arising on the horizon, headed for their walls, and he was not yet strong enough to steady the wave. A breath away from the Nascent Soul Realm, yes, but even if he broke through... it would not be enough.
He could only fight so many on his own, and after him... well, there was Xiao'er, having just ascended to Soul Ascendance Realm. She, too, could shine as brightly as a star, but even so, Tier V Sects alone each had at least a dozen Soul Ascendance Realm cultivators. That was the earmark of the difference--unless one broached the vaunted Immortality, an individual's prowess could only do so much. While he and she would be occupied fighting the other experts, what of the rest of the Sect? It would fall.
Yu Minge believed in his Disciples and believed in the Sect's Martial Arts, but he was also a realist; there were no more than ten people in the Sect with the potential to eventually ascend, and that was if they were lucky. To foster an army, he would need resources and time--neither of which he had. It was the misfortune of being positioned so far out from the center, where all the richest Wellsprings were.
As though by instinct, his eyes slowly veered westward and beyond the mountains, toward the distant canopy of trees. Xiao'er had already reported everything--Master Leo was building a Sect. Someone of that ilk building a Sect wasn't merely the matter of another competitor arriving; the reasoning behind it ran as deep as the veins of the earth and likely had nothing to do with the mortal struggles of Sects and Martial Artists.
A man who could compel the Immortal Spirits to his will had no use for the mortal battles, which meant that it had to do with the sky above and the changes.
The Primordial Qi.
"Master," Xiaoling appeared rather abruptly, as she oft did these past few days, bringing forth as much information as she could gather.
"Still no word?" he asked.
"No," she shook her head, her expression despondent. Yu Minge frowned for a moment and sighed; the kids who were sent to the Hidden Realm... had not returned. Not just theirs, but no one's. The exit seemingly never opened.
And based on their Soul Tablets... two had already fallen.
"What should we do?" Xiaoling asked, her voice faintly uncertain. It seemed as her life expectancy began to expand, the apathy of her heart began to thaw.
"We cannot do anything," Yu Minge said. "Obsidian Dragon Realm is a drifter," he added. "It moves through the dimensional membranes almost like a floating island. It had always taken the exact same journey, predictable and anticipated, which was why we knew where and when the portals opened. This year, not only did they open much earlier than expected, but the Primordial Qi must have destabilized it in some way and knocked it off course. It could be days or years or centuries before it drifts close enough to our reality for a connection to form. We can only hope that the kids have found a sanctuary and will find a way to live."
"... the changes are coming too quickly," she sighed, sitting down and taking out a bottle.
"They always do," Yu Minge chuckled faintly, sitting down by her side. "How is your cultivation progressing?"
"Smoothly," she said. "I have a feeling I can reach mid-stage in less than a year."
"Amazing."
"Sounds almost condescending from you."
"Ha ha ha."
"It's not enough, Master." she said, her voice turning heavy. "If it stays like this..."
"... we will perish, yes," he nodded along.
"How long before they come?"
"Hm, I'm not certain either," he said. "A year, at least. The biggest question is whether it will only be them or whether ghosts of these lands will join to aid them."
"They undoubtedly will," Xiaoling scoffed. "Especially the shits from the Pavilion."
"Xiao'er--"
"--their Sect Master can't stand you," she said. "Remember the last time their Envoy visited? They all but robbed us blind because one of their disciples happened to get hurt in our territory. Why did you acquiesce so much?"
"I don't fear the Pavilion, Xiao'er, as I've told you countless times. But they've long since sold themselves off to another power. Unless you are certain you can dig out the roots, never rattle a large tree."
"... maybe if we ask for his help? No... he's building a Sect, and it has to be for a reason."
"I will go and ask," he said.
"M-Master...?"
"I don't care for my pride; if I have to, I will beg on my knees for... anything."
"Then let me go!" she said.
"Why? Are you going to try and seduce him?" she rolled her eyes rather gently and smiled.
"Seduction is your game," she said. "I've heard the rumors, Master. From when you were young. Supposedly, there are quite a few heartbroken maidens still lamenting the hallowed face of their first love~"
"... we'll close ourselves off from the world starting next week," he said. "For a year, at least. Raise internal standards as much as possible," he continued as Xiaoling's expression tightened. "Don't hold back on any of our reserves--pills, pearls, pastes, whatever it be, start using them all. Tournaments, competitions, rewards... we need to create explosive growth. You, too, should start burning through Spirit Stones; activate the sect-spanning array and run it every day for six hours at least. With our reserves, it should be enough for just about a year, give or take."
"All the same, it won't change much. The battle won't be won by the kids, Master."
"Maybe not," he said. "But if even ten of the kids can withstand the aftershocks of the fights, it would have been worth it. We will defend our home, Xiao'er, and all those in it. To that goal, we cannot spare any expense."
"When will you be back?"
"As quickly as I can," he said.
"What will you ask for?"
"For anything that he can spare."
"What if he can't spare anything?"
"Then I will take a little while longer. I'm not that good at groveling, so wearing him down might take a while."
"... if any of our Elders heard you, all the prestige of the Sect would go up in flames."
"I always figured our little heart-to-hearts were spoken in confidence, Xiao'er. Was I mistaken?"
"Haah, the number of secrets I hold could fill a mountain," she said, standing up. "But fine. I will hold the fort for as long as you're gone. Even if you run away and don't come back, I will die believing you did so for the sake of eventually taking revenge."
"... that one hurt," Yu Minge said. "Really, really hurt."
"Good," she glanced back and grinned for a moment. "Let it be the knife pulling you back home, no matter how far you go."
**
"It's done," Three said in a dismissive manner before vanishing almost immediately. Her scent remained a few moments longer as One walked up to the railing and looked down into the faintly lit pit.
There were eighteen cell doors, torches hanging on the wall beside them, illuminating the circular opening under the dome of the sky; of the eighteen cells, only thirteen were populated. Within the cells, children wept in the corners, shaking in terror of their circumstances.
"She really got thirteen, huh?" A boyish voice broke through the darkness as a young boy joined him on the side. One glanced down and frowned; Five had been absent for months, supposedly stalking the investigator from the Central Plains... only to reappear as soon as the current mission was done. It was not an infrequent thing, either, as he often disappeared during missions precisely in this manner.
"You're back," One said.
"You don't sound too pleased."
"You've abandoned your duties," One added. "And put in jeopardy our calling."
"Did I? I don't recall doing anything of that nature."
"... it seems I have been too forgiving of your antics."
"Oh no. Am I going to be punished?" The boy cackled, and One could only sigh; it was difficult to tame the devil within those eyes even for Master, and there were occasional bouts where he would just become untamable.
"I've informed Master," the laughter stopped rather abruptly as One felt strong killing intent wash over him. Glancing over, he met the boy's eyes--they were starkly red, glowing in the dark, full of murder and wrath.
"You've... informed Master? Of what?"
"Of your incompetence."
"My... incompetence?" Five grinned momentarily. "Being called a leader for so long had gotten into your head, it seems. You've forgotten your place."
"My place is to take charge of our calling and do Master's bidding," One said.
"No. Your place is to be a silent dog and not disturb my life."
"Master has ordered you be locked in the pits for six months."
"WHAT?!!" The killing intent exploded outwards; One frowned before quickly dismantling it as it nearly reached the children in the cells.
He'd always prided himself on being calm, on being able to handle anything with a reasonable mind; after all, it was one of the most necessary attributes of a leader. However, watching someone nearly undo decades of work in a bout of tantrum... broke him. Shadow flickered, and his fingers tightened around the boy's neck as he lifted him off the ground.
One's serene expression was gone, replaced by distorted eyes and flaring nostrils, blood in him boiling.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" He barked in a low growl as the boy's legs began to frolic back and forth. He could sense Qi trying to disperse the chains, but it was for naught. "I should end you where you stand, you pathetic little vermin. Do you think you are important? No. You are merely tolerable. By me and by Master alike. We let you run amok because, ultimately, killing you and rebirthing you is too much of a pain in the ass. However, you are nothing, Five. You are a barking dog. Even after seven lifetimes, your talents are pathetic. If I were you, I would not be flaunting myself but hiding in the darkest shade from the world just to hide my shame. This will be your final transgression. Should you jeopardize our calling even once more, I will personally chop that head off your body and permanently extinguish your soul. I'd sooner become a Bloodletter myself than allow your brainless existence to continue. Do you understand?"
"--!! You, b-bastard, I will--" One tightened his squeeze until the blood circulation was completely gone. Even as he was passing out, the look in the boy's eyes remained defiant and angry.
Loosening, the body fell, and One sighed; it seemed... it was another failure. And yet, his threats rang somewhat hollow--they could not kill Five, not now when they had the kids with them.
"Chain him with Ice, Six," he called out as another body stepped out from the shadow. A young, handsome, silver-haired boy stopped by the passed-out body of a child for a moment before picking him up.
"He will be very angry," Six said.
"Let him."
"He might refuse to help."
"He won't."
"How do you know?"
"..." One paused for a moment, looking up toward the stormy, ashen skies. "Because, despite everything... he is the one who has waited for this the longest. He is pathetic and laughable, but... it was merely because of his pride and inferiority. That is his curse, Six, that he will never be able to shed, no matter how many times he is reborn or even how talented he becomes. However, regardless of that, there is nobody shorn of Master himself who has anticipated today more than him. He will help. Yes, he might curse and spit and bark... but he will help. Take him. I've sealed him temporarily so he shouldn't wake up, but even if he does, just ignore him."
"... where did Sister Three go?" the boy asked.
"The Forest, I imagine," One said. "Now that her mission is complete, her own curse must have taken over."
"Will she be okay?"
"She will," One said, glancing at the boy and smiling; yet another felled by her charms, just as they all were before being burned by the fire beneath them. "There is seldom a soul capable of resisting her, human... or otherwise."