Shortly before Everhearts proclamation in a expansive room with walls smoothly carved out of the plateaus stone, dozens of cultivators pushed themselves forward against the pressure of the area. Oskar felt his muscles straining as he was nearly forced off his feet. One section ahead of him he saw Devon, likewise struggling to resist the pressure of the area.
The rules of their current test were simple. Reach the furthest point that one could without collapsing. So candidates attempted to improve their results by moving as swiftly as possible, but the second part of the rules resulted in that rarely being to their benefit. The participants location over a certain period of ti was averaged- thus, if soone could run from the front of the room to the back but collapsed at the end, they would only count as having reached the middle. The participants instead needed to match their stamina and the strongest place they could resist, moving as far as they could quickly while not going too far and suffering defeat.
The weight bearing down on Oksar was oppressive energy, but he welcod it. Though he now practiced the Ninety-Nine Stars, his first experience in cultivation had been in mines where the natural energy was far too dense for a normal human to operate. Even without any training as a cultivator he had been able to feel the energy there, and he had chosen to let it inside to slow the pressure instead of trying to hold out against it. That could have easily been the wrong choice- if so, he would have died slightly sooner. Of course, he wasnt dead and in fact had set himself down the path to power with his decision.
He used that sa experience now to let the pressure flow through him, easing the burden on his body. The effects were easy to discern- Oskar had reached his current point next to several cultivators in early Spirit Building, and he felt he could go further. Not much, but at least to the next section where the pressure would increase strongly once more.
Ahead of him, Devon seed to be relying on another thod to continue forward- pure grit. Though he was certainly using all of his technique to lessen the pressure on himself, he kept moving forward through the power of will, despite his body trembling in exertion and pain.
At least half of the participants had already collapsed, with so of those who rushed ahead despite the stated rules being the first. Their rewards would be the least, though Oskar wasnt certain that the rewards themselves mattered. An area like this required powerful formations- the likes of which even the Order of Ninety-Nine Stars would find too expensive to sustain for long periods. It was an excellent training thod, though Oskar knew that if he tried to use it as his only training thod he would end up quite flawed. Notwithstanding that its effects would be most helpful for body tempering, diversity in training was important. Energy was extrely important to a cultivator, but Anton had taught him that properly making use of whatever energy was available for training and combat was more important.
The energy flowed over him and through him, and though it wasnt in a pure form where he could absorb more than a modest amount into himself, he took advantage of what he could. He carefully guided it through his ridians starting at his head and exiting his feet with the greatest portion he could handle diverted into his dantian where it would be refined and used as his own.
His steps forward were slow and determined, bringing him to the edge of the next section. Every minute one or two more people were unable to continue, so ahead and so behind. Oskar stepped forward and felt a weight crash down on him. It was like a full tub of water, washing over him and destabilizing him. However, he withstood it. More than that, he comprehended it. Personal control of energy was important to Oskar, and hed resolved that his first step into Spirit Building would be Spiritual Connection. It couldnt wait for the pri tempering, and thus completing it first was the most efficient. As he stepped forward, he felt himself also take the more taphysical step into Spirit Building. He wasnt at the completion of the eleventh star and wouldnt be for so ti, but fundantal changes were starting inside of him.
He continued forward, each step feeling as if he had a boulder on his back. He could push himself further than he had thought, though each step took several seconds to complete. He could barely raise his feet off the floor, and ahead of him Devon was rely shuffling his own feet. Yet the two of them continued to make progress. Oskar soon found himself one section further than hed thought he could reach, though he rely stood across the threshold with his body trembling, fearing he would stumble if he continued. Devon stayed ahead of him, stopping before the threshold to the next section for so ti before flinging himself forward. Oskar thought he could hear Devons bones creaking- though that may have been his imagination in the relatively quiet hall. Before he collapsed ten seconds later, Devon had made it not just through one section but into the next as well, though barely. When Devon collapsed, he did so with a contented sigh.
Then the announcent from Everheart ca. A decree they would be staying inside for a full month and having a competition to increase in cultivation for the greatest prizes. It didnt sound like anyone was allowed to refuse, but Oskar rely determined to be cautious in efforts. That was why he had chosen this particular room- it didnt have anything that would be deadly, unless a cultivator actually chose to push themself to the brink of death. However, when people collapsed the pressure on them was released- so Oskar wasnt even sure there was any possible danger besides embarrassnt in this particular challenge.
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Outside of the tomb, the reactions of the various sects were quite varied. So imdiately attempted an attack on the entrance or the projection of Everheart, but in both cases he simply laughed. The attacks rebounded off of the barrier at the entrance and simply passed through the projection, respectively. Im afraid you will simply have to wait until the ti is up. The danger inside is no higher than it was before, so I should not think it would be a problem. Unless you believe your disciples are too stupid to know their own limits? Nobody answered that one at all. Then please do not attempt another attack on the barrier, or Ill have to break my fully neutral standing and remove so of you. As he said that, just to prove he did have power to affect people, he waved a muscled arm and toppled all of those who were close to the entrance of the tomb.
Most of the sects involved were quite calm about the result. As Everheart said, the danger hadnt suddenly changed- just the option for their disciples to withdraw. There was little they could do about it regardless, not without endangering themselves or possibly their disciples.
Among the mbers of the Order of Ninety-Nine Stars, the elders and those who had been cultivating longer than the allowed duration, Elder Kseniya was thinking about sothing else. She was an archer, and had eyes that could pick out a specific target on the horizon. She would of course notice anything happening right in front of her gaze. Her current feeling was regret at not having brought along the woman known as Kohar Tolvaj. Her training in law was irregular for a cultivator but had proved extrely useful for Antons goals.
Kohar was currently working with the Order on sothing as well. If things had ended with everyone leaving Khonard and nothing more the Order could have rely expressed disapproval that a lawsuit had been required to free unlawfully enslaved people. The attack by rcenaries and the trouble at the border, however, gave them so ammunition. The problem was using it in a way that did not harm the greater interests of Graotan for the sake of petty revenge. The rcenaries had generally gotten their just desserts- most of them were killed in the attack with nothing to show for it. It was simply those who had hired them who hadnt yet been punished, and that would require so maneuvering. Along with direct legal advice, Kohar was knowledgeable in how to manipulate people. It wouldnt be useful to just make a declaration and assu that Ofrurg would enforce their will. Instead, they had to take advantage of their internal politics to make certain parties interested in taking the action they wanted from them.
All of that was probably more important, but when Elder Kseniya saw a criminal right in front of her eyes she wanted to just shoot his head off. Shed seen Anton resist the urge, however, and she would hope she was sowhat more responsible than him. Even though Van Hassel wasnt anywhere near the top of the list of the Orders enemies, because of Anton and the company he kept many elders were aware of him. And it would be so easy to just shoot him. She could even declare he was a criminal, and since he had been formally removed from the Heavenly Lion Sect they shouldnt be able to respond. Yet it would still probably be seen as a breach of the contract of peace for events such as these. So was following him as he left and killing him in the wilderness. Of course, nobody would be able to do anything about that second one, but anyone strong enough to get involved would be missed.
So Elder Kseniya did nothing except keep careful track of how close Van Hassell stood to the Heavenly Lion Sect and also the few exchanges he had with his uncle and so of the others. They prevented anyone from overhearing their words, but they couldnt stop her from trying to read their lips. Sadly, she saw nothing incriminating beyond the very fact that an expelled disciple was still able to engage in pleasantries with his forr sect. Then he left, along with many others- all of those who werent chosen were being escorted away by part of the elders, while the others remained to escort the rest at the end of the month.
There was one last chance to shoot him, after he was just over the horizon. A simple Horizon Shot would be able to take him out, and nobody could say they saw her shoot the arrow that killed him. But they could say an arrow much like hers did it, and that she shot one at the right ti. Maybe she should teach Anton that. Though by the ti he could learn it, she would be extrely surprised if he hadnt already killed Van Hassel through other ans.
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...and thus I propose this particular course of action, Anton concluded. He looked at his current companions- including Firdaus, who had been included in the discussion.
Having expected strong disagreent, Anton was pleased when Catarina was the first to speak- and in support of his ideas. I concur with the idea. Even if it does not go well, it should not diminish our relative standing in the competition.
Im not sure, Velvet said. How will we enforce anything? What if we help soone and then they refuse to contribute in turn?
There is an entire month here, Anton said. Well take things one day at a ti. If soone decides that one hint or piece of assistance we give is so valuable that they wish to take it without contributing in return, we shall simply ignore them. Of course, I am not suggesting we try to work with absolutely everyone. We should take stock of those who might be anable to teamwork with other sects. I do believe I would imdiately discount the Heavenly Lion Sect as whole, though that might be unfair to so of their individual mbers.
Probably not, Firdaus said. Nor do I think they would agree to cooperate in any fashion.
We should take careful stock of the allegiances of those involved, Hoyt comnted. There are more than direct enemies of the Order, and so of those who are technically neutral are allied with them. Being as open as possible is fine, but we should not cross that line.
Fair enough, Anton agreed. Perhaps more in-depth examinations of people before we make the offer, then. Though of course we should coordinate with the Order and the Grasping Willow sect. As for Cloudtop Summit, Anton looked to Firdaus, What do you think? The personal offer to you will remain open of course, regardless.
I cannot say Cloudtop Summit is an ally of the Order, but we are certainly not enemies.
Neutral is fine, Anton said. Even with excellent training conditions, one month is still rely that. We shouldnt significantly impact another sect on the whole, and even if we sohow do they should be more inclined to be friendly towards us. This might drive a rift between certain groups but honestly cultivators arent naturally inclined to get along anyway.
Nobody had hard objections to the plan- but so were cautiously optimistic about the possibilities while others were just cautious. Before they could even determine if theyd actually be able to accomplish anything useful, they were first going to seek out their allies and ask about the other areas. It wouldnt do to miss out on the basics.
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