Red Cloud Sect

A man could be seen leaning against the wall drinking some wine from a flagon. He was located in Red Cloud Hall along with Third Elder and the Sect Leader. He took a sip and then turned his head toward the Sect Leader.

“Where exactly did you send Akata? The place you sent my incarnation was a place I couldn’t recognize as belonging near here. Also when I went there I felt multiple auras that were just as strong as the Earthly Rank, if not stronger. How could Akata survive that?”

The Sect Leader looked at Fourth Elder with a calm face and smiled. “Elder Hao Beng… You’ve tended to probe for information a lot a lot lately. Could you be up to something perhaps? Maybe you’re turning on the sect?” She spoke slowly and cheerfully, almost in a joking manner.

Fourth Elder took another sip of wine and spoke. “I’m just a bit more curious about affairs in the world as I have progressed in cultivation. Is that such a crime? How could I turn on the sect?” He took another swig.

The Sect Leader took a long look at Fourth Elder then chuckled lightly. “Relax. I sent Akata to a place to temper himself. He is a special person after all, but don’t worry he isn’t in any danger at all. He’ll be back in two months, by that time things will be different.”

Fourth Elder gave a side glance toward the Sect Leader as he was drinking out of his flagon. He nodded and looked away.

Third Elder listened to all of this without any interest. He was seated in the lotus position and gray light swirled around him. His eyes were closed and as Fourth Elder and the Sect Leader finished speaking, he transmitted his voice over to her.

“Why did you banish all of them? The “punishment” you delivered to them seems a bit weird considering the circumstances. Especially to Xiun Wu who planned to kill Akata. Why keep him alive? Death surely would’ve been appropriate for him without question.” After listening to the punishments the Sect Leader gave out he was a bit confused.

She thought for a moment before transmitting her voice back. “You could say that I’m repaying a favor for helping Akata along.” She said calmly.

“Repaying a favor he did? And what could he have possibly done?” Third Elder wasn’t paying any attention to Akata when he was within Misty Forest, the Sect Leader was the only one who had eyes on him the whole time.

“You could say he gave a chance for Akata to upgrade his red rune. With all the blood that Akata spilled his red rune was able to absorb it. Although he doesn’t notice anything changed about it, I saw the whole thing clearly. Absorbing the blood of beasts does increase his battle prowess a bit, but the true strength of the red rune comes from the blood of mortals.

Akata was able to take that blood in thanks to Xiun Wu sending assassins to him. And since this was supposed to be secret, there won’t be much repercussions for Akata in the future for killing so many people. You could say I also created an enmity between Akata and Xiun Wu so that he will constantly be targeted and will have to grow faster.

That is why I kept Xiun Wu alive.” Sect Leader Fu said clearly to Third Elder. He, on the other hand listened in. He now understood how things were and felt that her actions were rather appropriate now. He didn’t voice his agreement however and just kept his silence and continued meditating.

White Water Empire. Gateway City

Gateway City was the largest town located in the White Water Empire. It was a huge city that was full of life. People could be seen everywhere running around from place to place. Shops could be seen selling different merchandise to all the people on the streets. Many inns were full of people that were too tired to run around. Green and blue lanterns were lit on the side of the roads.

Many people roamed throughout the city. Merchants could be seen behind their stalls, innkeepers were managing multiple rooms, guards were stationed at their post, and cultivators could be seen getting supplies and meditating.

The city was full of immortal practitioners that practiced cultivation. So many practiced that the environment was rich with the energy of heaven and earth. It made life feel abundant, plants and people alike thrived in the city. More of the energy was concentrated in the southern part of the city. In a sect called the Holy Water Sect.

The Holy Water Sect was the largest sect in the empire. The strongest practitioners in the empire were housed here. Nobody dared to go against the Holy Water Sect, as it was a force that was unquestionably holding the empire together. The leaders of the empire were members of the sect. It could be said that going against the sect was like taking on the empire itself.

In an exquisite building that was adorned with lanterns and banners, five people were in a room. Two of the people were dressed in similar clothing, and stood at the doorway making sure nobody entered. Shockingly, these two were in the Earthly Rank. A Rank that, if most others reached it in other sects or clans, they would be able to be an Elder. Yet these two were merely used as guards.

The other three were seated in the center of the room around a table. One was a man, the other was a woman, and the other was a boy. They all wore extravagant clothing fit for royalty. Their azure robes glittered in the light. On the chest could be seen the insignia of the sect, a golden raindrop with a halo over it.

Right now the man looked deeply at the boy. He spoke with a deep booming voice, “So you were banished from the sect? Well it makes things easier to get you out I guess. Tell me all that you were able to learn from the sect, no matter how little or insignificant. I’m happy to hear how you have been.”

Xiun Wu looked respectfully at his father and nodded. He began to explain all that he had went through for the years he had been in the sect. Even though he had explained most of these things to his father before, he wanted to go through these memories again.

He talked about the techniques and skills the sect showed him, the Elders and disciples of the sect, and even the treasures found in the sect. He spoke about everything he knew about and didn’t hold anything back. Smiling as he talked, Xiun Wu showed happiness that he hadn’t experienced in a while.

His father listened closely, sometimes smiling himself, and nodded his head at times. After a few hours of listening to Xiun Wu, he spoke again. “Good good. Not only have you been training in the sect you have also learned many things. Now…” His face turned serious as he spoke. “What is the reason that you were banished? And tell me all of the details of the process and the events leading up to it.”

Xiun Wu’s smile froze and he immediately became serious himself. “Father, the reason I was banished had to do with this scheme I had come up with. This disciple, named Akata, challenged my power so I had to assert my dominance. Therefore, I planned to get rid of him, but unfortunately the person I set up to do the deed ended up failing. Akata found out and we, along with others, started a huge brawl. At the moment before total destruction occurred, Fourth Elder stopped it.”

“So the one called Hao Beng stepped in? Interesting.” Xiun Wu’s father said. ‘Could it be because he was just close by or was it that they didn’t want to reveal their top forces?’ He mused to himself. “Tell me of how the battle occurred.”

“I happened to provoke Ming Lu, so she started the wide spread attack first. She unleashed her Crimson Blizzard Storm which is at a stronger level now. To combat it, I used my Celestial Storm technique which destroyed it with ease. I then directed the full attack at Ming Xu to get rid of her, but then Akata stopped me.” Xiun Wu clenched his teeth together and resentment could be heard in his voice.

“He stopped your Celestial Storm?” At first Xiun Wu’s father didn’t put Akata in his eyes, but after hearing that Akata stopped his son’s full attack by himself surprised him. “Who is this Akata? How did he stop it?” He had to ask.

“He had this… this technique that was too strong. It was actually a match for my Celestial Storm. He called it Astral Obliteration. If his cultivation base was at my level it would have easily overpowered my attack.” Xiun Wu said gnashing his teeth together.

“So he wasn’t at your cultivation level? Having a technique as powerful as that, yet he has such a low cultivation base, was he special to the sect? Hmm… Akata Akata, I never heard of this person before, yet he seems to be important. Tell me, what is his connection to the sect, his cultivation base, and more about this Astral Obliteration.”

Xiun Wu immediately complied and answered thoroughly. “At first he seemed insignificant, however in the last month or so, it was like he has been protected by the sect. His cultivation base should be at the 3rd Grade of the Mortal Rank. And his Astral Obliteration… it was a mysteriously profound technique. He made this illusory rock that when he launched it out, it drew in the surrounding energy. Much more than what our Heavenly Waterdrops technique can handle.”

The father’s face was stiff as he listened. ‘A random boy that is suddenly protected by the sect, a technique that can combat the Heavenly Waterdrops even though the person is a full 2 Grades lower… There has to be more to this than I thought.’ He mused. “And how were the consequences handled? Who else besides you was punished and how?”

“Four of us total were punished by the sect. The two sisters from the Ming Clan were banished before me. And Akata had his punishment dealt with after me, so I don’t know about that one.” Xiun Wu spoke softly.

His father thought for a moment. At his level of cultivation certain events would evoke clues to him. Clearly the way things were handled were awkward. If Xiun Wu and Akata were the main culprits then why were they last to get banished?

“Well then, this makes things interesting. Go back to your room and start cultivating again. In due time, we shall start our war. I want you to reach the peak 6th Grade by the end of two months, if not the 7th Grade.”

Xiun Wu nodded his head and stood up to leave. His father watched him leave and then turned his head to the woman beside him. His eyes were sharp as he seriously said, “This makes things a bit more difficult. If the Red Cloud Sect has something else up their sleeve then this war will be more intense than I thought. If young people such as this Akata can use techniques this strong with such a weak cultivation base, then other, stronger disciples surely will be able to do so also.”

The woman looked deeply at him and nodded her head. She had been listening to the whole conversation between Xiun Wu and her husband and knew how things stood. When she spoke her voice was soft like an angels and calmed the hearts of anyone who listened.

“Even if they did get a truly profound technique, they don’t have enough experts to use it to make a difference. Besides when we strike out, it’ll be a surprise and we’ll aim for the higher ups. They won’t know what hit them when we attack. My clan will have an attack squad to support us, but they will mostly focus on intel and defense.”

“Mn. I know. Plus we have the aid of the Paladin Gate Sect to help us as well. We may suffer casualties but even still it will be a one-sided raid.” He stood up and his voice reverberated throughout the room. “In two more months we will wage war on the Red Cloud Sect and attack in unison with my Holy Water Sect, your Jiandan Clan, and the Paladin Gate Sect.” He turned to the guards and ordered out, “Relay my message to the involved parties and make sure word doesn’t get out.” He then took his leave out of the room with his wife by his side.