“Butcher them. Let them know the price, and have them pay it,” he spat, his axe upon the nape of one such pest. “You see? They’ll not stop. Never. Ownership of such a realm fosters greed and animosity both. Sink one’s teeth so deep that withdrawing them would bleed the carcass dry. Devour the fools that inhabit it, terrorize them, extinguish their selfish desires.”
The fields ran red that day.
“Do you think one might claim a realm freely? That supplication would see it returned to you? These realms are both as myriad as the stars and rarer than phoenix feathers. If you think cruel, young ones, then look no further than the Sects. Against their thods of ownership, I am a kitten.”
“Fundants of Authority,” conversations of the Heaven-Pillaging Bandit
Unseen winds spilled from Fu’s [Inner Reserves], saturating this strange hall with a density of [Air Qi].
Instrunts blared atop the old woman’s arm. One pristine prosthetic that held myriad more lights, minor flares of [Ink] and warning than any he had yet co across.
“Co forth, Model 861. I choose you to deal with this tresspasser.”
An octagonal prism burst from her chest, conducted by this prosthetic. Golden light manifested in the space before her, spawning a great tallic [Spirit Beast] of Precursor shape. A breed of avian heritage, bladed in wing, beak and talon.
Further deposits of gold shone where eyes of flesh should be.
Shuidi’s [Spirit] roiled in derision, more so than any minor slight she could not tolerate, for this thing was of cold, lifeless feel.
An affront to the Heavens and [Boundless Dao].
The Fatherly [Asura] was no great hero. No righteous defender of the natural save for those who truly mattered.
But even his nose wrinkled at such perversion.
About the [Spirit Core] repository whirred a great many of these floating arms, and they now detached from their tasks to conspire with the great [Spirit Beast] before them.
To treat their partner as this goes against nature. What soul would deny Qi and [Dao] from their other half?
The beast took flight, blurring with a tinny screech to grasp the shelving so few strides from Fu’s position.
Instrunts chid.
“A concealnt technology, using pollution as its source. What outdated thods,” she sighed, orchestrating the [Ink] upon her arm. “The simplest path from here is capitulation. If today’s disruption is at your hand, the authorities will have you answer for it. No more. Our system is just, infiltrator, and so I wonder why you rally against it.”
These many qiang-arm constructs flew in array, and from their tips erged a coursing fork of eight energy-laden tines.
Fu fird his jaw as Gu pulsed forth.
An affront.
[Half Cloud Step].
The head of his chain bounced from a barrier of shimring light one palm from the woman’s head.
Tenfold.
[Poison Qi] gushed from his breath, t by a manifesting mask of tal across his target’s face.
A useful treasure. If Hushi’s recent addition was able to travel as mist however, the conclusion would differ.
He retreated as the woman’s eyes widened. “Assault?” she half trembled, changing to address a recipient on her arm. “All security, to ! A violent intruder has invaded my inner sanctum. The necessary permissions have been granted!”
Many circuits of golden light spun about the open floor, forewarning the arrival of platforms.
The reaction of one that has forsaken the Martial path. How rational.
With the appearance of these Gu emitters on the myriad arm-constructs placed about this vast repository, Fu could not stay idle. The Qi-devouring effects upon his [Heavenly Spectre’s Shroud] promised a swift and sudden end, for this was a devastating weakness of his [Constitution].
So too did it devour his projected, ambient Qi, weakening the [Dao] that shrouded him from sight.
Brother, sister, I do not know how these constructs function. But if they are powered by the sa near-Qi…
The three parted.
Fu strained in proximity to his first target, feeling his spectral flesh diminish as [Pull] shattered the construct’s inner workings.
No [Spirit Beasts], these tallic things held laughable [Resilience].
Void of the supporting energies all manner of minor explosions were wrought across their length.
The tinny screech of the perverse [Spirit Beast] clattered into Hushi’s last position, conducted by its ageing partner below. It gave ferocious chase, and yet for its weight and bladed appendages did no damage to the surrounding property.
Shuidi faced less trouble with the arrival of so hundred armoured cultivators, poorly orchestrating their [Spirit Beasts] to defend the Gu emitting arms.
A mask of fear strained the old woman’s features as many warriors set a barricade of energized staffs about her.
“...excessive force?” finished one beside her.
“Granted,” she trembled in reply.
Bold, when they cannot glimpse us.
Sothing greater blinked into the space above, conjured by a falsehood of [Spatial Qi]. Jagged and tined as the lesser arms were, but on a scale that nigh touched wall to wall.
An on of Gu.
Fu’s mood dimd to feel a wellspring contained within. Legions remained of the lesser arms, and each staff in the cultivators’ grips sparked with this sa malady.
Brother. Sister.
The three arrived, reaping all they could of this greatest construct.
Blinding fissures tore across the octagonal construct. Gold and red intertwined. The [Resilience] of this was far greater, and Fu felt chambers, channels and energies reroute within to avoid their vicious greed.
Yet this lack of martial spirit had stirred thoughts within their own. Before the greatest construct erupted, these three took to the air.
They demanded the thinning breezes bend, enshrouding their form to appear as a spectral of woven winds. “All of this,” Fu uttered, lacing [Intent] through his words. “Is a shallow mimicry.”
Those gathered stabbed their staffs skyward. Stalled by its partner’s fright, the false [Spirit Precursor] went motionless.
Oh how they trembled.
The aging woman tore from her protective ring, birthing concerned cries from all she passed. “Who are you? Why do this?”
“rely a wanderer upon the defiant path. What all here might have beco were these crutches not leant on so readily,” he declared. “Allow to show you a glimpse of what the Heavens might bestow.
Gu thrumd about them, flickering his facade.
Manifest, [Final Skies Domain].
“Increase the output of our anti-pollutant asures!” cried the aging woman, rashly hamring upon her prosthetic. “Maximum output, now!”
Pillars rose from the air about Fu, looming as [Mist Qi] and [Spectral Qi] flocked from each of their [Cores].
Fuel to shatter the desolate surroundings.
Remnant [Affinities] hid within thin pockets of this great repository, nigh cleansed by the Gu emitting constructs. Yet these too bent to [Sky’s Authority], transmuting into that of Fu’s own. The area of their influence grew with every manifested pillar, and was not hampered by the material space despite his will placing them at the repository's boundary.
The Gu constructs imploded, unable to swallow the sheer purity unleashed.
Fear tangibly rippled through the crowd.
None stepped forth in challenge.
“We must evacuate the area,” demanded one.
“Our preparations are not enough for this!”
“Please, grand seneschal,” begged another, bypassing his frozen senior officer to plea at the aging woman’s side. “Your life is our priority, but I can’t throw away the lives of my fellows for nothing! Give the order, or I will.”
Fu frowned as they turned and fled.
False near-Qi granted power to these cultivators’ armour.
False, near-[Lightning Qi].
Shuidi’s will expanded through the [Final Skies Domain], and her impression passed with a deep, loatheful bite. “[Demonic Art: Spectre Steals the Stars].”
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Each segnt upon shin, wrist, chest, neck and shoulder - seized - collapsing the cowards as though they were already the lifeless shells Fu would soon make them.
His chain was drawn.
🀧
The lower the grade of the [Mystic Realm], the swifter their collapse ca. So he had suspected the case would be for the [Depths of Myriad Thought].
It collapsed in re hours.
Shuidi thought it the Heaven’s own will for all these strange cultivators had wrought on the natural world. How they had corrupted the very [Constellation Seed] that anchored their realm with foul instrunts and rejection of the [Dao].
This was a matter of deep ponderance, and had proved a vexation for the many days since both halves of Fu had erged from their respective [Paifang]. Now the mists receded, no longer needed to ward against the myriad searching eyes of the Heavenly Roaming Prefecture.
Fu Gao and Gao Fu parted without the need for conversation, their tasks complete.
What remained were the twinned [Paifang] of [Imperial Realm 31] and [Drowned Fathoms Peak]. Their [True Lord Grade] qualities crept forth, now uninterrupted by the clash of diverse Qi spawned from two additional mouths.
[Storm Qi] and [Blizzard Qi] had warred given the disparity in ti between the collapse of their previous, adjacent [Paifang], held at bay by the insidious heat that had poured from the [Infernal Hatred Domain].
Now a carpet of icy jewels clawed forth, claiming the gentle overlook where the four [Paifang] had first ford. As though the ridge grew teeth, vast sets of nacing icicles protruded from the rock’s underside, and the double confluence of [Air Qi] and [Water Qi] from both realms’ [Affinities] delivered a chilling, ankle-deep fog to obscure all it had frozen.
Fu’s [Core] felt nurtured.
A ho away from ho, is it not? Even with the additional trace [Affinities], our [Shrine of Final Skies] will turn this into a paradise of [Mist Qi]. The matter of our physical roots however, that must be addressed.
Shuidi passed her own impressions, colouring their next steps. “This Gao Shuidi might deepen her already peerless understanding of Qi density and transformation. Yes, leave free of these upcoming mortal affairs.”
No Master, Fu smiled. His attention flitted over the surroundings, for much of the [Spirit Crab’s] intent was upon this mild overlook. “I am intrigued,” he said as nurous, recently pilfered seeds and natural elents were pulled forth from the shrine’s storage
His nature as one of note might have allowed the [Dao] to set him down in any settlent’s center, and yet he wished to appear as one of carefree attitude. Thus the approach he now took ended with a gentle stroll.
Though it was not the nearest village, he held the greatest ties with Aunty Quan and her respective cluster of scattered neighbours.
The village proved lively on approach.
“Master Gao,” distantly bowed a pair of Warriors Association disciples, though the spirit wine they shattered in doing so underpinned much of the gesture.
“Master Gao.”
“Master Gao.”
Fu returned gentle smiles to farr, warrior and child alike. “May [Sumr’s] longevity find you well,” he repeated in variation, and yet the many colour-stained youths t it with great confusion.
Refugees of [Spring], in abundance.
Aunty Quan stood at the head of twenty four where Clear Sky and [Spring] were interspersed, demanding order with all the efficiency of herding [Spirit Cats]. Their rags of yellow, burlap, green, and orange crowded the mundane, dirt road.
“Young Mistress Quan,” Fu called.
A blush tinted her cheeks. “Master Gao, you’ve caught at a poor ti.” Her hand gestured demonstrably to the jostling, energized youths. “It isn’t right to scold your household before another, no matter how those cultivators feel.”
“A grand household. It has grown. City Lord Minqin’s support goes far I see.”
“Food and subsid… City Lord Mingqin’s support is great indeed. Good for these children and Jade Songbird Province. Though we’d not rightly turn away hungering babes even if this was not her declaration,” she grinned, snapping to glare at a green Vajra boy whose toe strayed out of line.
He paled as if under an immortal’s [Intent].
His [Spirit Spider] did not.
“Mistress Quan, I had hoped you might aid in a project of mine. Perhaps your household as well?”
“Na it, Master Gao.”
Fu dipped his head. “City Lord Minqin has allowed to purchase land so many li from this village, and I was hoping to employ any local carpenters you might know to begin work imdiately. As I am fresh to the Jade Songbird Province, I am in your care with this matter.”
Aunty Quan tapped her lips. “Carpenters? Don’t take this with offence, master Gao, but none here have what you’re looking for. We’ve busy enough hands with preparation for this [Winter], and more than a few have taken the City Lord’s charity by fostering. More mouths ans more need to work in the rice fields.”
“Understandable,” nodded Fu, withdrawing a single spirit stone. “Nevertheless, I would pay above the market value for such services.”
Save for the children of [Spring], many eyes glittered at such an enormous display of wealth.
“Is that a spirit stone? By the ancestors, they’re brighter than I’d thought,” said Aunty Quan, eyes widening.
Her expression bore strange nostalgia, whisking Fu montarily back to his trials within Thousand Shore City. No fisherman of worth struggled to eat, and yet a single spirit stone could have fed the mortal Feng, Yuqi and Yuling for [Seasons] on end back when such things were not negligible.
Fu set it in her palm. “A gift. For your aid.”
“Hmm. I’ll not accept charity,” she chided, frowning. “Children. Fetch that old miser Lan, politely, the Feizhou brothers. Repeat master Gao’s words. Chandra, take your oldest brothers and run to the next village. Don’t stray.”
The children dispersed.
“I see difficulty here, Aunty Quan.”
With the children out of sight, fatigue crept landed like a [Spring] shower. “That boy is no older than eight moons. On arrival he tore my door from the wall. Children are children, but these [Spirit Beasts] are like the difference between Heaven and Earth.”
Hushi blurred, fetching a stool for the woman. His [Intent] washed forth a warmth of kindness.
Her look was curious. “Gratitude,” she said uncertainly, setting down. “If only I might instil the sa manners in my boys. You’ve a well trained beast, master Gao.”
The wise never mistook ignorance for malice.
“Perhaps once, before our eting, Hushi was a beast. Cultivation brings a great many gifts, mistress Quan, and for propriety I should ntion that my brother here is no pet. Less savoury sorts might take offence at such a suggestion.”
A teal arm stopped her from falling into a penitent dip. “Forgive then, I didn’t know. Master Hushi, is it? As I’ve said, it’s as the difference between Heaven and Earth. Co tomorrow I’ll have another two Bonded girls, unfit for these fresh hos. They say a fall in a ditch makes you wiser, and yet I feel that we’ve yet to reach the bottom.”
Fu considered this.
City Lord Mingqin was clever in her manipulation, if overt. The loss of a [Paifang] from Jade Songbird City’s imdiate control was great, not only in prospects, but in political sway. Yet, ceding ownership to Fu set a powerful cultivator against the would-be threats and factions across the threshold.
To include a village within the bounds of his claimable land would also swiftly test his righteous nature.
As it stood, his [Paifang] fell short of the last requirent.
“Two more. Aunty Quan, a soul as righteous as yours is as rare as phoenix feathers,” he smiled.
“As foolish, I’d say,” ca her weak grin. “My downfall is strays.”
“We share the sa downfall then. There are small signs of it about us, but I am certain you have noticed the coming change. An uncertain tide cos, and the next generation will be swept beneath it lest righteous souls stand before it. If I was to offer a chance for them, young lady, what might you say?”
🀧
The clouds were ill-tempered, masking much glow. Only the twin [Paifang] glittered, shedding light on what was once an overlook.
Now, one week hence, a shore.
Bladed ghosts stalked here, performing deeds that their vocation could scarce dream of. An orchestrated depravity to chill the hearts of honourable Sects, for none among their number would lower themselves to such face-destroying acts.
A spine tore.
Each rib cracked.
Mundane, long-dead flesh was stripped back to make way for this whispered lie.
“Gratitude,” nodded Fu, causing the gathered spectres to freeze.
Before him, beneath a cloak of volatile darkness, a junior and his [Spirit Serpent] bowed. “This lies outwith our skillset, senior.”
Fu plucked an aged set of teeth from the working. “Have you ford a concept yet, junior?”
Of the twenty Clouded Courts’ disciples he had summoned, every ear pricked.
“A concept. No,” the junior shook. “This lacking serpent is fresh upon the Path. In five moons I have yet to realise the [Dao], let alone coalesce my cultivation into a singular pursuit.”
An expansion of [Senses] revealed this as truth for many, as was expected of those that dwelled in the closest branch.
Twenty Sunrises City was no pool of talents.
Bare traces of [Profundity] circled most of their [Cores], undeveloped.
“The Twenty Sunrises City branch has you in my employ until this matter is concluded. If done with skill, I would not decline an extra span of days if any junior wished to further their insight in the surrounding realms. A matter to keep between us, no?”
Another spine was ripped, fervently.
This, Fu inspected. With a hand upon the great wooden support beam, he inwardly sighed.
It seems a waste.
The assassins in his temporary employ were tasked with the mimicry of all the mortals had already constructed. Planing, painting, cutting to asure, hamring - myriad mundane tasks that would have these buildings appear as though untouched.
[Mortal Grade] materials inefficient for the coming shift in density, and neither did any mortal carpenter or labourer possess the relevant [Might] to even chip a peak [Core Formation] plank or tile.
A necessary, wasteful charade.
He was grateful his station as Bingbai’s disciple and the Fatherly [Asura] restrained the temperants of any assassin that thought such a task beneath them. To deal with rowdy juniors would be unforgivable to his growing list of tasks.
Pensive, Fu strolled. From the boundary of the first constructed building and across, he reached the overlook. Playful mists wisped about him, dancing over the edge to Shuidi’s grand design.
“Brother has yet to comnt,” her impression ca, filled with reticence.
Childlike.
The granite [Spirit Crab] erged from his hanfu to be half cradled. He brought her to his brow. “When Sister Shuidi proclaims herself peerless, there is a reason I do not disagree,” he smiled, sharing the view.
[Hegemon of Pale Mists] had the scene as clear as [Winter’s] bite.
Firstmost glittered the petals of so hundred lotuses across the surface of a vast lake. With manipulation, Shuidi had diverted the warring energies of the twin [Paifang] to fill all the land beneath his previous overlook.
What remained was a verdant shoreline for so many dozen li, planted and nurtured by an unfathomable number of [Life], [Water], [Air] and [Soul Qi] saplings of great variety. A trove of future growths that would be amplify and be amplified by the growing densities.
A paradise of mists.
Bamboo groves. Wild reeds. Seeded, sedentary flowers that would not consu the resources of the next.
Shuidi had achieved much harmony in this.
“My pride knows no bounds,” Fu smiled, adopting the lotus position atop the lake’s true center.
Fog and lake alike pulsed with their rhythmic breath as they tasted the purity of this grove.
Hushi disrupted it with a thought. “The children.”
Not the Gao clan, Fu knew, but those of Aunty Quan’s belonging.
Ah. The [Cherry River Fool] was correct in her words. Perhaps I deserve that mantle more than she.
He looked at the assassin’s construction. This half shell raised over a mortal week. An orphanage, halfway house and refuge set within his domain, qualifying City Lord Mingqin’s prerequisites and his own interests in one.
Only…
The orphans of Jade Songbird Province held no hegemony over mist.
“It would be prideful to say we have grown to such an extent that this is Bingbai’s disassociation in effect," he chuckled. “No, this is re foolishness. Co Shuidi, we will have to tweak your paradise.”
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