Looking at the places she could go- if she had money- they were all planets controlled by the Harmonious Citadel. Or related to missions for them. Theoretically if she got sowhere along the outer limits of their territory it would be possible for her to find so way to leave. It was unclear if there would be legitimate ans of that or if she would have to find so sort of smugglers, and she wasnt particularly feeling hopeful about either possibility.
There was, however, one place where Alva was certain she could et up with Catarina and Timothy. A place where people were coming and going from many different places all the ti. It probably had a na once- but it was just known as Everhearts Tomb now. Rumor had it that hed been killed by the combined efforts of the Exalted Quadrant and the Trigold Cluster. Maybe he had- but Alva knew that tombs didnt get built by people who were already dead. It was surprising that this one was the only one, though.
But to get there she had to make up for the stupid debt she had by going on a mission or two. As long as no disaster happened like the previous one, she should be fine. In truth, she was strong enough that she could go on trivial missions for a year or two and not have to worry, but just because she had a long lifespan didnt an she wanted to waste possible years. Especially sowhere she didnt feel safe. So she chose a mission.
Im so glad were going on another mission together! Vari said with too much enthusiasm.
Mhm, Alva replied.
Youre an archer right, Sister Alva?
Mhm.
And youre from the lower realms? Youll have to tell about them at so point.
Why? Alva asked.
... because? Vari tilted her head.
Listen, Vari. Last mission can you do anything?
Of course I can do anything! I am a practitioner of the great Holy Harmony Technique! Varis chest puffed up with pride. As she did so, more strands of sothing flickered away from her. Not just anyone can practice such a magnificent technique.
Sounds great, Alva said. She was holding onto another wriggling strand of energy, which apparently Vari couldnt see. They appeared around this place fairly regularly, but they ca from Vari much more than anyone else. Alva hadnt seen any co from herself, but Vari couldnt see her own so maybe that didnt an anything. Does anything involve intercepting enemies? Vari didnt seem to have a weapon, and Alva hadnt seen her take one out even when they were fighting the bandits but she was admittedly distracted at the ti.
It can, Vari said. I am capable in both hand-to-hand combat and barrier techniques.
Great. We should team up then. Alva wasnt planning to sacrifice Vari for her own safety but she did much prefer the idea of Vari getting hurt instead of her if soone had to. With her mobility missing a certain large wolf, she needed to consider other approaches.
-----
When the fog settled over the Grasping Willows, Lev could imdiately tell that it was wrong. Natural fogs happened in the area, but the way they appeared was much different. Perhaps if circumstances were different he wouldnt have noticed, but his perception spanned the whole valley- and not in the standard way where his energy senses stretched to cover sothing. Instead, he was present in every part of the valley, as the great branches of the Grandfather Willow.
Lev barely had ti to start waking people when sothing struck the barrier from above. The barrier itself was not particularly amazing, but the way it dissolved after the single bombardnt ant sothing odd was going on. A great burst of power that none of those Lev sensed could have created. Hopefully, a tool of limited use.
As cultivators rained from the sky, it beca clear this was more than just a casual intrusion. More than that, people began to pour in from the surrounding area, Spirit Building and Essence Collection but more than a few Life Transformation. And those who ca from the skies were nearly all Life Transformation.
It was difficult to pick out so of them, dropping almost invisibly into the sect grounds. Only the criss-crossing roots were able to sense those, while others were more straightforward. The individuals flying through the branches, for example, nearly brushed against the branches of the Grandfather Willow which would have gotten them entangled without Levs input. Then there were those with swords, who were imdiately chopping at the tree itself- its thick bark limiting the damage of their attacks, but not completely impenetrable.
On the other side, the Grasping Willows had twenty of their own Life Transformation cultivators present, and many of their disciples. Many of those who were weaker were told to simply form defensive groups, but so made their way to fight so of the relatively weaker cultivators who ca from the ground.
The sudden attack was well coordinated and had great power, but they made one mistake. They ca for the Grandfather Willow. Lev wasnt sure what they would do with it, but its wood was incalculably valuable. If things had been as they were in the past, the Grasping Willows wouldnt have been able to withstand even a portion of their forces, and the Grandfather Willow itself would have had no reactions.
But now, the Grandfather Willow was Lev. He had to pick and choose his targets. First were the assassins, then those attacking the tree itself. There was a whirling frenzy of branches as Lev directed dozens of them towards a handful of targets, while having the others sweep around randomly. The latter took basically no concentration on his part, so even if it only slightly inconvenienced one or two it would be worthwhile.
Roots sprang up beneath the assassins feet, wrapping around their legs. So attempted to tear them apart, while others just held them- still invisible, but obvious to anyone watching, making them a tempting target.
The swift and powerful resistance was clearly unexpected. While Levs recent improvents werent exactly secret, they also werent public knowledge. With a good portion of the attackers seeming to be from the Exalted Archipelago, they might not have known. Or they underestimated him. In truth, Lev had so serious limitations. Beyond the limits of the Grandfather Willow he was not necessarily any better than any other Life Transformation cultivator but here in his domain he was unstoppable.
Mont after mont, Life Transformation cultivators were grappled, crushed, and torn apart. Within the first few minutes there was a clear consensus among the attackers that they were going to retreat. Those from the Soaring Sky Sect picked up those who were convenient and flew up through the branches. Lev let them go, but only because he was focusing on protecting his people. And he didnt intend for that to last.
By the ti he sufficiently cut back on the forces remaining on the ground, they were beyond the sizable reach of the dangling branches- so able to stretch a kiloter or more into the sky beyond the top of the Grandfather Willow itself. But Lev wasnt willing to just leave things at that.
Further above, he sensed at least a half dozen skyships, hovering between four and five kiloters in the air, waiting for their passengers to reach them. While letting them leave would still be a victory on the part of the Grasping Willows, Lev couldnt help but sense all of the lost life. Dozens of individuals, so of greater cultivation but all people Lev knew and wished to prosper. And these bastards thought they could co take what they wanted, lives and sacred wood?
The Grandfather Willow began to creak and groan as its wood stretched. The ground rumbled as roots tore from it, pushing the massive tree upward. The branches extended their length, and beyond their ends extended natural energy in the sa form, reaching upward. Tendrils wrapped around cultivators and skyships, pulling them downward. In retaliation, dozens of branches were severed, but there seed to be no limit to what Lev had to call upon. None of the attackers would be leaving with their lives.
-----
Another ssage from Lev. Anton was paying attention to that ssaging plate, but nothing said would change his decision.
You dont need to do this. I had my revenge.
Anton shook his head. Then he replied, The Exalted Archipelago has grown up in their bubble of safety and arrogance. They need to know there are consequences for their actions.
Through a series of relays, Anton had already contacted the Rising Waterfall Sect. They had the swiftest ships that Anton was aware of, and that was the most important feature for what he intended. It would take them a period of a couple weeks to get as many ready as he wished, but he had already arranged for paynt. Now he just needed more people.
ssages went out to everyone he knew across both continents. He needed the best. Life Transformation cultivators were the bare minimum. Million Sword Vault were the first to volunteer with a dozen individuals. He gladly accepted them, though if his plan worked they would have minimal impact on the results. Other sects were reached out for. Anton didnt want to include the Grasping Willows because they had their own wounds to tend to, but word got around and soon so were in contact with him. Lev did not forbid them to go, because despite his protests he knew that it was better to respond with full force instead of sothing insufficient.
Beyond all of the familiar allied sects, there were those who simply wanted revenge on the Exalted Archipelago for any number of reasons. Anton accepted them all with one condition- they would follow his orders. And while the continents were large, not that many people were eager to suddenly go to war at the drop of a hat- especially those who had no connection to the Grasping Willows.
Beyond sects, there were individuals Anton knew he specifically sought out. Hiram was now the sole practitioner of the Deathly Heart Technique, which had the important feature of incorporating effective ranged attacks. Nthanda was an excellent archer, not yet capable of the sa distance as Anton but still deadly and effective at a great distance. Marcio and others from the Order were requested, and while Anton had so authority to order them to co along he made sure it was clear they were not required to support him. Yet nobody refused a direct request.
Those from Brogora gathered made their way as swiftly as possible to teleportation formations to reach Aicenith, then to the west coast. The Exalted Archipelago had to know that they lost a great many cultivators, but they might expect a diplomatic response. And there would be one later. First Anton was going to wipe so sects off the map. Previously there had been so trepidation concerning the power of those in the upper realms, but it was now clear that without the pact preventing them, so sects in the Exalted Archipelago couldnt coexist with the continents. As for those in the upper realms? If they had complaints, Anton was willing to receive them when they ca to visit.
Despite the speed of the ships, Anton wished they could go faster. But perhaps it was better that they did not. Rage had certainly influenced his decisions, but as they made their way Anton had already rationally thought through what he was doing. It was still the correct decision, but he needed to think about collateral damage. Much of his advantage would be lost if he allowed ships to co close enough to display their intentions, but the majority of those in the Exalted Archipelago didnt deserve to die. Or at least not for this particular incident.
That was why he wanted the fastest ships rather than those who could hold the most though in truth with over a hundred Life Transformation cultivators between the ships they were a frightful force for anyone. They were missing the normal lower ranking cultivators which would normally disadvantage them in a pitched battle but if anyone below Life Transformation dared to approach Anton, he could take them out by the hundreds without even breaking a sweat. And he would but he intended to focus on the three sects directly responsible- and anyone who got in his way. The Soaring Air Sect had been right to be afraid.
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