In the end, she met watch makers, artists, professional scammers and more, and she didn’t appreciate that in the slightest. It took an absurd amount of effort, including the integration of numerous planar stones into the Kong Prison Realm and the siphoning of the energy that they released into the Truth of the Universe, but she succeeded in removing the azure lights from each and every one of the residents without issue.

Meeting back up with Min Shi was pleasant enough, even if the way in which she immediately snapped to calling her ‘dad’ was rather odd now that she had a moment to consider that.

Her otherworldly gift, Wound Refinement, was contained within her neck, which meant that she had to take a great deal of effort to remove it from her body, but she had plenty of practise after all the gifts she had dimmed – she wasn’t sure what to call the process yet, but that term seemed fitting – and so it went with surprisingly little damage to the young woman.

She would experience the equivalent of a sore throat for a few days, but given that she was still rather quiet and reserved, it wouldn’t affect her all that much. On the contrary, the fact that she had far less to gain from self-harm would ensure that it would be easier to speak with her, as conversing with people that seemed to be obsessive and absolute masochists was rather challenging, but speaking with a reasonable person was always possible for those for whom communication itself wasn’t already rather difficult.

If things were different, she may have stuck around, conversed with Sarah a little more, helped her figure out her own feelings and settled on something that was acceptable for the both of them, but she had already wasted far too long on rather meaningless things, like sex and more sex.

‘Of course, it depends on how one defines meaningful things, but although I may have enjoyed all of it, that did not progress any of my major goals, which this ought to,’ Wei Yi thought, hovering above the Chu District as she considered her next course of action, ‘According to my instructions, much of the fighting has been occurring nearer the Ning and Yi Districts, so the Chu District is not as on edge as those two. Furthermore, the other two have multiple surrounding districts threatening them, but the Chu District only has the Ju District, separated by large mountains, and the Ping District, which isn’t in ideal condition even now.’

That left the Chu District with little more than one and a bit of a district’s attacking force. As such, the Greats made a reasonable decision for once and shifted their forces in the direction of the districts at greatest risk of attack while keeping only Chu Fu and Chu Chao, the second generation members of the Great Chu, at the district to protect it.

It gave her an opportunity, and an important one, to attack before the Great Leeches realised the full extent of the attacks to their east and moved their forces back to a more reasonable arrangement.

This was exactly what she intended to do, and so she was now recalling her own experience with the district, observing its current state, and establishing exactly what the best method of attack would be while minimising unrelated casualties and damage to significant parts of the district. She was intending to capture it from the hold of the Great Leeches, not obliterate it, so it was vital to not appear to be some kind of maniac in the eyes of the people, and to instead leave a good impression.

From her understanding of the district’s culture, gathered in small part when she had last been here and far more so from her interactions with Chu Ling and other people from the Chu District, she determined the location of the Ancestral Hall, a number of significant buildings, and some of the people that were most likely to be important to the people.

Unlike many of the districts, the Ancestral Hall was not simply a structure made of stone, placed somewhere near the centre and with a great deal of space below or above, depending on what was most convenient. Instead, in line with the nature-focused approach of the Chu family, it was within an enormous dead tree that was once an eighth realm material, although it had since degraded to the seventh realm and even then, it functioned best while part of the whole. The moment that part of the tree was carved away, the removed material was said to rot to the level of the third realm or lower, leading to this powerful object in the eyes of the modern world remaining mostly untouched.

There was some rooms beneath the first floor, but the majority of the structure was above the ground, reaching up through the tree canopy, and ended a good distance above.

Tomes, manuals, slates and even a few jade slips of varying quality and durability were scattered around the insides of the trees, alongside a number of alchemical furnaces and the like, with the great art of most interest to the people of the Chu District clearly being alchemy and pill refinement. None of the rooms and chambers were clearly most significant, which meant that she couldn’t damage a single part of it recklessly and then excuse herself by appealing to the fact that she hadn’t damaged the most significant parts of it.

A seventh realm material was difficult to alter, violently or otherwise, but only for those not near its level of power. A third realm cultivator couldn’t remove a slice of wood from the great tree even if they would find a good use for the rotten material, but the second generation of the Great Leeches had power that was roughly equivalent to the sixth or seventh realm, while the Ascendant was in the former and could face those in the latter with little effort. So long as they fought without restraint, the great tree would most certainly be damaged, so the first thing she needed to do was to keep it out of the crossfire.

There were several areas dedicated to parks and groves, not entirely unlike the Timeless Grove of Chu Ling. She could find none that were as well hidden as that space of peace and serenity, nor were there many users of forbidden skills at all, but there was still a clear focus on, and interest in, the groves.

Next on the list of things that she shouldn’t destroy, and that she should encourage the Great Leeches to attempt to destroy so that she could save them and improve her own reputation, were a series of artistic pieces and sculptures formed by living materials, like wood, grass, flowers, vines or other flora, and all of them were clearly intended to communicate something beyond the paintings created by Monique of the Lightless Domain.

Presumably, this was part of their attempts to study the nature of… well, nature, and various people would stop by to look upon those images and attempt to gain some kind of enlightenment from them, with some even adjusting their techniques on the spot as they did so. Most did not do that good of a job, as was only natural in a world where such a thing was rare, and in a district where such things were clearly not appreciated by those that had to deal with the consequences of idiots ruining their cultivation and bodies by attempting such things without proper preparation.

In the best of cases, there was a need to quickly provide healing of some kind and lead the one attempting it away, as to prevent an accidental collapse of their cultivation and a great explosion.

On the other hand, the worst possible consequence was something akin to the effects of a failed talisman, except not contained to a single piece of talisman paper and many times greater in power. The energy within a single talisman was rarely ever even close to a hundredth of a cultivator’s overall planar pool, due to a combination of inefficiency, impracticality, and a host of other matters that meant it was nearly impossible and completely unnecessary to attempt such a thing. For most, after all, planar energy did not recover within a few minutes, but could take an hour or two at the higher realms, prior to reaching the eighth realm and escaping the issue of lacking planar energy supply altogether.

Explosions that used the full power of cultivators were terrifying, and they made the eighth and ninth realms all the more dangerous, for they were able to display their full power in individual attacks with little delay between each strike. For the eighth realm, a little wait would be needed to permit the Imperfect Rift to refill one’s dantian, but in the ninth, this recovery was said to be nearly instant.

Of course, the Ascendant had not yet had any personal experience with that realm, having only seen glimpses of its potential in memories relating to Kong Shi Meng, but the knowledge that Yi Shi Ming had been able to retain informed her that the only way to run out of energy at the ninth realm would be to overdraw it and oneself to such an extent that the everything was drained from the body, leaving even the Eternal Gate dry for a while. It would need to occur in an instant, and without any preparation to quickly begin the recovery process afterwards, and even then it would only be a temporary state.

The fact that azure lights might well go beyond all of that was rather hard to imagine or believe, but she had little choice but to acknowledge that it had to be the truth from her observations so far.

‘Alright, I’m starting to go into the irrelevant for the moment stuff again, and I don’t even have a way to verify whether I have comprehended more of the Dao of the Heavens via the Truth of the Universe anymore. If there’s no vision state by the Great Stride stage, then I could be rising by a stage a breath and not realise it until a true realm is reached.’

Her tendency to get stuck in all kinds of deliberations and contemplations of no relevance to the moment was getting worse as of late, as she had far more to ponder and far more concepts to get through, but she restrained herself now and quickly concluded the best way to finish the fight quickly.

With only a few enemies, she needed to remove them from the equation, then ensure that they did not send a distress signal of some kind to the other Great Leeches. Then, she would need to speak with the leaders of the Chu District – which, while she was contemplating matters, had gotten closer to the Greats – and ensure that they did not continue assisting her enemies, even if they did not provide active support for her. Removing a significant portion of territory from the Great Leeches would be sufficient, but obtaining it for herself would be significantly better, and what she was aiming for as the expected outcome.

To make sure that her opportunity did not pass, she moved her position to above the gathering of Great and Patriarch, then stepped off the chains of Law that had been holding her up in the air.

As she fell, she brought out Moon Splitter, raised it above herself, and then swung down.

The many shards of the blade broke apart and fell down with an even greater speed than her own, accelerating far beyond the typical terminal velocity of the Planar Continents. All of them lit up with cosmic light and Obliteration energy, smoking with killing intent and shining with the faint silver of spiritual will. Only the Shard of Warfare stood out, the crimson around it getting more and more vibrant, almost turning into a beacon amidst darkness due to its relative brightness.

With such a show, those below could hardly overlook it, but even the fastest of men could not do much before the shards struck the ground, bursts of dust and dirt scattering everywhere, but being stopped by an invisible barrier of spiritual will around the two Great Leeches. The shards mainly hit the ground, for they were deliberately scattered as to cover the area instead of only hitting her foes, but a few did crash into the hastily raised cores that cracked from the collision, getting stuck within the glass-like energy while the power within built up.

Then, the many shards exploded, completely filling the area within the barrier with so much light that all were forced to look away. Cracking and fracturing was heard once more as the Ascendant fell into that space, temporarily opening up the barrier at the top and falling through it, allowing the energy within to surge out in one flash of celestial luminance.

Within the enclosed space, the Shard of Warfare exploded last, scattering the cosmic light and replacing it with an absolute crimson that finally revealed the situation to those within, and without.

The cores of the two Great Leeches were in a poor state, the marks on them barely remaining functional, but the ones hiding within them were still fine, and very much ready to act as soon as they had any clue what was happening. One began with the standard barrage of point beams, while the other rushed closer and condensed a wooden sword construct with the stabilisation of all of his anchors, meaning that it had great offensive and defensive potential from that alone.

In order to finish this quickly, Wei Yi first reformed Moon Splitter and met the incoming blade, forcing it to cease in its approach, then used the force of the strike to break it apart and come into the way of the point beams, each shard blocking them effectively.

While the female Great Leech, the one that had fired the point beams, stayed back and prepared another planar construct to match that of her brother, the brother was a far better target, so the Ascendant splintered Moon Splitter into two and attacked with both, slashing using her left hand – for it was easier to do so with a straightforward motion – and stabbing with her right, naturally avoiding the large sword construct that her opponent attempted to use to defend himself. He did block the slash, not that it would have been difficult for anyone who had the raw power to do so, but the stab got past him and pierced his skin, albeit not deep enough to truly harm him.

That didn’t stop the shards from exploding once more, the one at the tip of the blade erupting in cosmic light that bypassed any attempt to raise his core in defence, and throwing him back at the barrier between the battle and the rest of the district with a great gash in his chest. For the moment, he could do little else, for his body was at the brink of death.

His sister’s calm expression twitched as the attempts to form a planar constructs split apart into thirty-eight individual blades that then rushed towards the Ascendant, doing so with little strategy and planning, at least as far as the target was able to see. Such an assault could have been blocked in a number of ways, but since there was an audience, there was some motivation to act in ways that would appear to be most striking – and in a battle, one of the most striking things was to do nothing.

All of the blades came at slightly different speeds and from different anchors, so they did not arrive at once, allowing Wei Yi to release her boundless killing intent and let it spread across the ground, building up a great deal of it before any of the blade constructs even had the chance to draw near to the large pool of smoke and, far beneath that, vibrant crimson. The moment that the first blade went into the air above the pool, a figure manifested from a small quantity of the smoke, made of smoke and wielding a crimson blade trailed by more smoke.

The crimson blade met the one stabilised by one of the many planar anchors floating around the female Great Leech, and although it did not shatter the soaring construct, it forced it off course.

A second blade was met with a second strike from such a phantom, and so were numerous others, while the Ascendant turned and gathered the shards of Moon Splitter, raising the weapon and swinging right away at the core of the male Leech. He had raised his core again, prioritising the overall state of his body to protecting his dantian, but as the blade fell once, then twice, it brought the core to a terrible state.

“N-No! You must not-” the man began, but whatever statement he wished to make was completely overwhelmed by the third swing of Moon Splitter, which was joined by the faint light of the moon around the sides of the blade, while the weapon itself emitted the boundless light of the sun.

It cut into the core, breaking it apart completely, and severed the form of the Great Leech, blood pouring from both sides in the moment before the heat of the sun became too great and completely burnt the husk to a crisp. All of his anchors were shattered with the light of the moon, but that did not stop a burst of energy surging from within his heart, shattering what remained of that and easily passing through the planar barrier Wei Yi had set up, for she had not never been able to suppress some of the methods used by the Greats and had not yet managed to comprehend their nature.

Most likely, there was some property of the multiple anchors combined with their connection to Testament that permitted them to bypass simple barriers and obstructions, and she had not yet mastered the technique of the Reclaimed Lands, the Overwhelming Resonance.

It was not an immediate problem, as most of their actions took a while to impact, but it was unfortunate still.

‘It just means that I need to take care of that piece of shit first, and then manage whatever that man had unleashed,’ she easily concluded, turning to the female Great Leech and putting Moon Splitter away, raising her free right hand and bringing her index and middle finger together before performing a slashing motion, as if she was wielding a blade.

The core of her opponent had been raised as a precaution, but it was not able to endure the sudden strike of an impossibly sharp blade falling upon it, cutting the sphere in two and breaking several anchors. An attempt to block it with several obstructions made of planar energy failed completely, with the invisible edge cutting straight through all of them and finally landing upon the Great Leech, splitting her in two as well. There was no following flash of energy from her body, for whatever reason, which allowed Wei Yi to lower the barrier and turn towards the Patriarch, who looked back sternly and with blatant disapproval.

“Ascendant. Do you understand what you do, and in whose lands?”

“Were you not looking at how I had deliberately restricted the fighting to a small region? Do you not know what I had done to the Ping District, where I very much intended to attack the ruling Patriarch?”

“That you had done worse elsewhere is no justification for your deeds.”

“So, was it wrong of me to kill the Greats? Do you know what they intend to do, and do you support their stupid plans?” Wei Yi asked, “They seek to bring this entire world down, just so that they can reign at the top. I have seen the illusion they had used to force others into obedience.”

“Do you deny the threat of the Primordial Deities? Are you of the opinion that there is nothing out there that will emerge once you force this world back into the ancient times? Do you think that just because you are not wise enough to fear such things, that others must suffer alongside you and deal with those horrors as well?”

“Why did you bother cultivating, Patriarch?”

“You have not answered a single one of my questions yet, Ascendant-”

“Then answer this one. If you had wanted to run away from the world around you, to hide in some hole and pretend that this was all that existed in the world, I am sure that you could have done. In fact, that is what everyone can do. And yet, we do not. We go out, we hunt planar beasts, we cultivate, we grow in power and knowledge, and we pursue fields that were once unknown even in the golden age of Yi City. What makes other threats any different?” the Ascendant asked again, “Kong Shi Meng had faced the Primordial Deities, and won, sealing them all. He had faced a threat from beyond our world, and he had slain one of their number, and had been studying a way to not only defeat them, but to overcome a far greater problem, that of the otherworldly demons.”

“Are you Kong Shi Meng, then? Are you someone who is capable of fighting at his level, of keeping the world safe?”

“Two things, Patriarch: I don’t need to be him, and in some ways, I can be better.”

“What an arrogant thing to say, Ascendant. I recall you calling the Great Families arrogant at some point, and yet they have never once claimed to be able to stand above the man that had unified most of the Western Continent.”

“Fine, I’ll begin with my second point. Kong Shi Meng had fought against the Primordial Deities, but he was clearly outmatched in certain regards. I have faced the influence of Primordial Earth within the Bao District, and although it was only a small fragment, I had managed to suppress it. If I could suppress a single fragment, then there is no reason why I cannot face the greater threat and come out as the victor. Already, I have reached far greater heights than most, and I walk a path that even Kong Shi Meng had not imagined, with what you may even consider to be his blessings.”

“Unless you are able to prove your words, you may as well explain your first point as well. It would not do much good, but since you already speak, you can finish.”

“How kind of you to permit me to do so, Patriarch. I shall remember that kindness forever,” Wei Yi made sure that the sarcasm could not be more blatant, “I don’t need to be Kong Shi Meng, because I don’t intend to stand alone. The world as a whole could grow, could learn, and develop into something far greater than it had ever been before, and then the threats that once terrified us would fall before us.”

“Really?”

“My Arbiters already use methods that permit them to cultivate two paths at once. Those who are closer to me have even managed to develop all kinds of insane techniques, like using a single set of meridians to pulse planar energy and bloodline power in a way that greatly empowers both. Sure, on their own such things would not permit victory against a far superior foe, but if the entire world grows with the power of my physique abilities, with my shared knowledge, with my techniques – I do not see a single reason why we could not improve.

“In fact, I had seen what happened when the Master of Yi City had fought Primordial Invader near the Wu District. His troops fell in droves because they were far weaker in comparison to him, and all that they were able to contribute was their killing intent to assist in sealing the Primordial Deity,” she brought out Moon Splitter and broke apart the blade, revealing the overwhelming crimson light within, “This did not need to be case, and I will guarantee that the next fight has far fewer losses.”

“You claim that you would share your techniques just like that?”

“I already do, and had you sent someone to visit any of the districts with a connection to the realm the Great Leeches had once stolen from Kong Shi Meng, you would have seen an archive with countless techniques and insights woven into tomes of mental energy that anyone can study and learn from.”

“And you would share this with the world as well?”

“I would provide it to Yi City.”

The Chu Patriarch narrowed his eyes, “You want to become the Master of Yi City, don’t you?”

“Name a single reason why I shouldn’t. I can give you all the time in the world, so long as you do not attempt to stop me from fighting whatever forces had been called upon by the death of those two leeches. Your help would also be appreciated, but likely to not be necessary.”

“So you would prefer to discuss things at a later time, once you have already stolen my cooperation from me with boasts and outlandish claims. Why should I trust you at all, Ascendant?”

“And why do you trust the Great Leeches, if they are who you would rather get your information from? Have they been significantly more open during your lifetime? Did you receive numerous gifts and techniques from them at no cost to yourself or your time? Is it in your interest to lose all power and structure and revert to a primitive world where none can cultivate, and where the few that had decided the fate of the world wish to rule as kings?”

“That last part could describe you, expect in a different outcome.”

“Not at all. I have a vision for Yi City. With the power that I have, and whatever power I may gain in the future, I will do whatever I can to make it happen. If the outcome is positive, I don’t need praise, for I would live in a better world. If it is not… then my failure would be worse than my demise.”

“… Ha. So you have this kind of view, then… Fine, Ascendant. As Patriarch of the Chu District, Chu Su, I make a declaration now that the Chu District will not oppose you for the duration of this War of Ascendancy, and especially not in the battle that you expect to come shortly. Any of my citizens that disregards this will be punished,” the Patriarch said, “For now, I will not provide you with any of the benefits that the other Patriarchs seemed all too eager to hand out, but if you can display the truth of your words, then I shall reconsider.”

“In that case, if you want to protect your land, activate all of your protective methods and stay within your district. I have a horde of enemies to deal with, and I won’t be holding back this time.”

“You need not worry about that. The state of my Chu District has already been greatly disrupted by your activity, and I would rather not have it continue for even a moment longer than it must,” he said, floating into the air while his energy poured out from his form, “Go, before I seal you in here with us, and do not return while there is still danger to my lands.”

Wei Yi nodded and vanished from the spot, reappearing outside of the walls of the Chu District. Behind her, numerous branches and roots suddenly rose out from under the ground, acting in ways that seemed random at first, but as more and more rose and more and more grew further up, out, and towards the centre of the district, it was clear that they were forming a large dome around the entire district. Given the focus of the district, this was no surprise, but it was still a more costly and complex method of defence than previously seen in the likes of the Ping District, which was why she had copied it all before leaving.

Within the barrier, the guardians of the Chu District finally arrived onto the scene, finding a large square of marred ground, two corpses, and the Chu Patriarch activating the defensive array with a serious look in his eyes.

“Patriarch-”

“That woman better be telling the truth, and if so, she better win. The land as a whole was dying only a few years prior, but now it begins to bloom once more…”

“…” the guardians shared a look, then took a step back and began to assist the defensive array.