As Trampas finished his daily cultivation in his mind's eye he saw his golden core in a vast dimension of grey clouds spinning away gathering the clouds around itself and those clouds started to rain and form a pool under the golden core. It started as a puddle and grew larger and larger until it stretched as far as he could see. Trampas opened his eyes and let out a breath of air before he stood up and left the cultivation room.

Elder Li and Elder Song gasped as they saw the four emerge from the cultivation chambers abroad the ship. Elder Song looked at Elder Li and asked, "When we went to the Red Runner Clan they were only at the Foundation Building realm, right?"

Elder Li nodded and said, "Spirit Lake Gathering already... It's almost like they just skipped past Core Formation."

Trampas started to walk past the two Elders when Elder Song asked, "Tea Dubuya, may we have a moment of your time?"

"Alright." He came to a stop in front of the Elders as Fairy Bai lead the other wives into the kitchen.

Elder Li waited until they were well away before looking at Trampas again and starting, "Tea Dubuya we are worried about the Princess."

Elder Song nodded and then carefully explained, "The mark on her forehead is even more vibrant this morning than it was the previous days. This is something you aren't aware of Tea Dubuya, but the way the Emperor grants his favor on his children is based on the vibrancy of their seal. Right now Princess Chen's seal is more vibrant than even the Emperor himself. Probably something to do with your cultivation technique."

Elder Li spoke up once again, "When the ship lands in Xia, she will be noticed and it will cause a commotion."

Trampas raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is the official stance of the Blood Sword sect toward the Royal family?"

Elder Song rubbed his forehead and then gave an honest answer, "It is the position of the sect that we do not interfere with the matters of the Royal family."

"That's fine then, continue doing so. I will stand up for my own family, I do not require the sect to step in." Trampas said offhand.

Elder Li shook his head and then explained further, "Tea Dubuya, I don't think you understand. We have no members of the Royal family in the sect at all."

Trampas stopped his normal jovial expression and with a serious look on his face replied, "If the Blood Sword sect doesn't welcome my wife, it doesn't welcome me. I'll thank you for the ride over here, but I am sure there would others in the capital that would more than happy to accept my wives no questions asked."

Elder Song quickly spoke up, "Tea Dubuya, I don't think it will be like that, I think Elder Li and I just wanted to prepare you for the possibility this could become an issue."

Trampas smiled again and then shrugged, "That's where you are wrong Elders, you see, this is a problem for y'all. Me and mine are quite capable of rolling with the punches and if Princess Chen'er isn't invited to the sect, we'll find the place where she is and that's where we'll be headed."

Elder Li nodded and then asked, "Even if she is accepted directly into the palace and given her guards and home?"

"Look man, I'll explain this to y'all in simpler terms. To you, the sect is your world. To me, a sect is just a place I can earn points. I might not even need to be there more than a week. I didn't even get to know anyone over at the Red Runner Clan." Trampas just shrugged. "If you ask me if I care that you might not accept my wife I only care in as much as it means I should be looking for a place to live, you get that?"

Elder Li and Elder Song nodded and then Trampas slapped them on the shoulder one at a time and said, "Come on now, don't get down on yourselves. Let's go see what my wives came up with for breakfast."

They walked down the long hallway of the ship and then turned into the dining room where Zi Chyou and Fairy Bai were setting out plates of food. Princess Chen came out from the kitchen carrying a basket of steamed buns. Elder Li went pale in the face and quickly took the basket from her and allowed her to be seated first.

Trampas sat down with his ladies and then took their hands in his and dipped his head in silent prayer before he ate his food. The strange custom caught his ladies off guard at first but they just assumed it was one of his many quirks and just went with it after a while.

Zi Chyou smiled at Elder Song and asked, "Excuse me, Elder, how long until we see Xia?"

Elder Song rubbed his hand over his beard and then answered, "We will see the palace this afternoon, the top spires are visible from the upper decks right now if you know what to look for, but the full city won't be visible until tomorrow morning."

Elder Li leaned closer to Zi Chyou and said, "The city is beyond your imagination in size. Within the city walls, there are almost three million people. Baichi by comparison has no more than three hundred thousand people. Six of the great sects are within walking distance of Xia city walls and act as a sort of reserve army for the Empire. The Empire's army guards the city walls and acts as the police force for the city itself. Just above the city sits the grand palace. The palace is guarded by the Royal Guard. They are all cultivators at the Core Formation realm and above."

Zi Chyou looked shocked, "And each of the great sects must be the size of a city as well!"

Elder Li nodded and said, "The Blood Sword sect has a million disciples alone. Gathered from all over the country. Each of the great sects is of at least this size."

Trampas looked interested and asked, "How do they raise enough food?"

Elder Song smiled and replied instead, "The area around the great capital of Xia is known as the country's rice bowl. Each year it raises 50 million shi of rice. Each of the great sects also raises animals and some of its food."

Elder Li nodded and added, "Also there is a constant stream of skyships coming and going from the great port of Xia trading with the other cities of the Empire and a few of our neighboring countries."

Elder Song nodded in agreement and added, "That's why even a backwater like Baichi still has such a remarkable market even during the worst months of the year."

"You mentioned a wall around the city, what's it keeping out?" Trampas asked as he helped himself to more food.

Elder Li thought for a moment, "Out there in Baichi I guess you never had the problem, but the Capital suffers from constant attacks from both people and animals."

Elder Song nodded and added, "The great sects usually keep the number of animals down in order to protect the food supply, but since we are in a country's capital there are attacks from other nations and even large organized bandit brigades. Mostly hit and run attacks in order to steal food and supplies. Every decade or so there is a great beast tide that comes from the mountains down into the valley. When that happens the great sects retreat inside the city and help man the walls."

Trampas just nodded as he ate. He dabbed at his lips with a napkin and then asked, "The Emperor and the great sects allow these Brigands to exist on purpose I suppose. Probably to keep the soldiers sharp and to help keep up the need for so many standing troops."

Elder Li's eye twitched, "You are... Very perceptive."

"Princess Chen taught us about the nearby nations the other day." Trampas mentioned as he finished his bowl of food, "Do you know what I think must be a problem when you have a few people who are immortal and more than a few who will live a long life like the cultivators?"

Both of the Elders looked at each other and then Elder Song asked, "What is that?"

"Eventually the long-lived will start to consume resources needed for the cultivation of young talents. When that starts to happen innovation will stagnate and progress will grind to a halt. The long-lived will get to a point where having children and making changes will no longer interest them."

Elder Li closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "What would you do to solve such a problem?"

"Me personally? Aw hell, if I was the Emperor I'd just figure out ways that these old folks could either work for the greater good or I'd find ways for these folks to... Shall we say, play a higher stakes game?" Trampas walked around the table collecting the empty dishes, "You need these folks to die off or become useful one way or another. You can't just let them linger on like living ghosts."