It was quite frustrating to deal with information from the Harmonious Citadel, especially concerning Saints. While still indoctrinated by the Harmonious Citadel Vari had been aware of a number of Saints with actual nas, but this particular Spear Saint didnt have one. Was it erased or? Vari wished she had access to the whole library back on Rouhiri, or even the easily available portion. That way she could determine if there was so weird tradition about it.
It was weird to think about how obsessed shed been while not really knowing so of the important stuff, but Vari supposed that could have been on purpose. She was one of many with no family and no prospects- but sufficient cultivation talent to practice the Holy Harmony Technique. Those with greater talent- or perhaps those who had connections- were instead allowed to practice the Glorious Harmony Technique. The worst part was she could see the reason to have a subordinate technique that empowered so cultivators. It was the deception that was the issue- in fact, even Vari herself might have remained steadfast in the Harmonious Citadels clutches had they simply inford her what she was actually giving up, and given her a proper benefit in exchange.
Now, though, she was taking the benefits promised, as well as clawing back her devotion, with interest. If they were going to exploit peoples belief in the system, she would do the sa to them.
Searching through the records was dull. Catarina was very helpful, her mind for sorting through information being more robust than Varis own. Even so, both of them could have made use of a technique her grandfather ntioned. There was just the issue of transmitting a technique via their communication thods, as it would be missing imbued insights and the like- unless Catarina managed to put together the thing shed been working on. Beyond that, it was apparently excessively long, though Anton had ntioned that a good portion of it was likely more for practice than an inherent necessity of the technique. Either way, they didnt have the Ten Thousand Scrolls even though it had apparently been on Xankeshan at the sa ti as them. Just locked in Everhearts clutches.
Every bit of information had been snagged from the outpost- spending weeks or months reading was a good way to get killed by soone coming to check up on the outpost. So they had returned to Xankeshan with their goods and read.
There was a large amount of damning information hidden among what they recovered- if only they could distribute it to disciples of the Harmonious Citadel and be believed. Unfortunately many would be naive like Vari had been, and unwilling to even entertain the words of an outsider- or forr sister.
Found it! Catarina said finally.
Vari scooched around her pile of papers. Are you sure?
Definitely. The ti fra matches up. They dont say when the Spear Saint was replaced, but theres information that can lead to that. A couple hundred years ago, a top disciple just stopped having records updated. Not marked as deceased or missing, but simply ignored. The current Spear Saint is a man, right?
That is correct, Vari nodded. A Damjan Atanasov.
Aha! So he changed his family na. Interesting. Too bad we dont have continuing records after he took over as Saint, but we can presu the old one was replaced then.
Thats nice, Vari said, But it doesnt tell us about her.
Oh, but it does! Catarina fanned out a pile of papers. Because the exact sa scenario happens in the older records, with one Silvija. It has to be her. Sa thing, no records of anything happening- they just stop. And around that ti, a lot of other disciples got shuffled around. The kind of thing Id expect to happen with a new leader in charge.
Huh, Vari said. That doesnt answer any of my actual questions. A na was sothing, but it didnt help with the weird feeling in the back of her head.
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This is interesting stuff! Everheart said as he waved about his copy of the Worldbinding level cultivation thods. If I had access to this before I ascended, I might have been interested in trying it out. Well, except for the thousands of people who were looking for to kill , Everheart admitted. Probably best I ascended to avoid that whole thing. But still, these are decent. How would you say they compare?
Anton frowned, I cant quite say. For personally they are inferior. For those with the right attributes? They might greatly increase the possibility of advancent. Did these two create these, or did the thods co from soone else?
From what I was able to glean, theyre on the second or third generation of Worldbinding cultivators, Everheart said. They likely had so basis to work with, and this is their personal version.
I see, Anton said. He felt a montary surge of power in one of his communication devices- going to the upper realms, specifically. Hmm.
Everheart sighed, wistfully staring off into space. I knew a Salvija
Anton made a ntal note to be more careful with incoming ssages around Everheart, but he had so questions. Is it a common na?
It was not uncommon, Everheart said. There are a great number of individuals in the upper realms, so there is no lack of people sharing nas.
Who was she to you?
We had a fling, Everheart said. You know how it is. Attractive woman shows up, you hit it off- pretty soon youre in a war with her sect and everything goes up in flas. Then it ends the usual way.
... Which is? Anton asked.
Death, of course, Everheart sighed, You should know that.
I feel like you left out a few details.
Nothing I feel like elaborating on.
Did this happen often with you?
Oh, sure. Every century or two. Thats how long it took for them to get fed up with or for sothing unfortunate to happen.
You must have chosen won of remarkable fortitude for them to last a century with you, Anton said.
Yeah, Everheart shrugged. Im pretty sure they were all crazy on so level.
Did this one happen to be a Spear Saint of the Harmonious Citadel?
Oh, you know about her? Everheart grinned, They were so mad when I invaded their stupid towers and snatched away her statue. But they were just going to destroy it anyway.
Right. Believing Everheart was truly done with the topic, Anton wondered if the information would help Catarina and Vari. Ill be going for now. I have a eting with so individuals from Weos. If you could leave a copy of as much of everything as possible for , Id appreciate it. No doubt Everheart would scramble off as he pleased, back to Ceretos. Anton wasnt certain if he was weaker outside of the system or simply more familiar and thus comfortable there. Either one was reason enough for the man to avoid battling outside the area.
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Among the contingent from Weos was Oluchi, with rve being present because of Antons promises. Those from Weos were a select few Anton trusted with certain information. In general Anton was quite willing to share information about cultivation, but he preferred not to be reckless. Ascension and Assimilation were both significant steps, and Anton was trying to focus more on nurturing those who were trustworthy. Ceretos was in a decent state, but Weos hed prefer if those at the start of the race were allies. On paper the whole system was allied with Ceretos, and that would be true in practice at least for the duration of the war unless so powerful groups chose to be very foolish.
Afterwards, there was no guarantee that Weos would remain friendly just because they didn't have an infestation of Twin Soul Sect mbers. Cultivators were still cultivators, and just because Weos was internally stable enough to colonize their whole system didnt say much- especially with how the Sylanis Cluster ended up.
Regardless, he would be sharing the two Worldbinding thods. They were closely tied to the underlying cultivation techniques, but there was still information to be gleaned, and along with Antons own insights he hoped to guide so of those now with him towards Assimilation- or at least having it as an option. If they rely chose to study it and ascended instead, he would still be glad for improvents in individuals he felt positively about.
It seems to that they were quite focused on local expansion of their domains, Anton said. I think this might hold true for other Worldbinding cultivators as well. It seems to to be a limited thod.
Is it? Oluchi asked. Most cultivators would rather secure one area strongly.
Even so, Anton said. It is possible to cover a wider area.
For you, it seems, Oluchi agreed. But what about the others from Ceretos? Theyre not exactly hopping between systems.
Thats a good point, Anton admitted. However, I would still suggest a wider focus. Or at least considering the potential to expand. For example, if you wanted to bind with a large gas giant, you might also consider attuning to each moon in turn as well. Then, perhaps, one could move on to other planets whenever that finished.
Its not crazy but Oluchi shook her head. It seems impractical.
So is restricting yourself to a small area, Anton shrugged. Even if I am weaker among the outer planets, I am still effective. The further Anton could expand his draw on each star, the less it would make a difference where he was, except for imdiately adjacent to a star. That would always provide significantly more power than anywhere else- and it seed more than normal Assimilation cultivators. There had been the slight issue with him nearly burning to death, but that was the risk taken for bonding with a huge source of power. It was a good thing Anton had only attempted a small channel, instead of dominating the whole thing. He couldnt imagine when hed be strong enough to control more than a small portion of a stars might.
I have a question, rve said. Would it not be reasonable to draw upon the power of stronger cultivators?
In what way? Anton asked.
The one cultivator had her followers attend her to provide power. If they were instead other Worldbinding cultivators there would not have needed to be many.
Thats a problem of access to power, Anton explained. There is one individual who shares the power of an ecosystem with another. That only works in situations where conflict is nearly impossible. Even if they agreed to it, powerful cultivators might struggle against each other. But, I do agree that if there were no conflicts that an individual or group might be empowered in such a fashion.
I see, rve nodded her head in understanding. I had planned to use my techniques to support you in the attack, but the distance between us was too great. I was thinking that such a bond might allow for mutual assistance.
It certainly would, Anton admitted. But you would need a great deal of trust to make that work.
I understand, rve said. I will toss that idea aside. I doubt that a re decade or two would result in such trust with anyone in either direction.
For your technique, I think working with companions might do well, Anton said, knowing that she didnt have much contact with anyone besides him. And if soone were to do sothing similar with the others becoming Worldbinders, no doubt it would be formidable. Let us be glad that the Sylanis Cluster had not accomplished this.
What about a weapon? Oluchi asked. Bonding with such a thing and bringing it with you seems like it would solve the problem of mobility.
True but does your weapon empower you, or the other way around? I imagine it would take a weapon of truly marvelous construction to provide even the minimum requirents for Assimilation. Anton thought of Chikere- she certainly shared a sort of bond with her weapons, but her current power should co from ascension, and thus the powerful energy of the upper realms. Soone with a collection like hers might have managed Assimilation, though even then they would likely need weapons that could only be produced in the upper realms. Chikere had managed to snag so of those during the invasion.
Oluchi sighed, Youre right. It would have to be sothing rather amazing.
There is so power to be gained rely by the level of insights necessary, Anton said. I would be more powerful than a Life Transformation cultivator anywhere- but not to the sa degree. I also believe that bonding to sothing rely to do so could set ones path in motion in the wrong direction, weakening the cultivator. Either way, the choice between Ascension and Assimilation is not one that should be made in a short ti nor could it be, unless one cultivated to the peak without thinking a single step ahead.
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