Elder Cultivator

Chapter 731

For people who werent Anton, approaching Azun was a bit of a tricky prospect. Its rapid spinning required it to be approached from the correct angle to avoid the beam of radiation it was spewing out. But that very power was what made it most interesting to research. Anton remained nearby while Matija and her crew approached, though for the moment they were just remaining towards the edge of the system.

Im amazed you can actually approach that, Matija said. Even with it bound to you.

Does a sun hurt itself? Anton asked.

Debatably, Matija grinned. And the point still remains cultivators can hurt themselves with their own energy if theyre careless.

Anton nodded, Well, the good news is that I have performed an unintentional experiment where I approached a star while lacking consciousness. He rapped his knuckles on his replaced ribs. It doesnt affect me. Though it did destroy everything else. When I am conscious, I can protect anything on me.

It would get pretty awkward otherwise, she said. So you said you can actually approach Azun, right? And escape its gravity well?

It does not hold me. Or perhaps I use its energy to escape its grasp, Anton shrugged.

We can always use more data on Assimilation cultivators, if youre willing to demonstrate.

As long as it is helpful to you. But I think for most cultivators, you wont be able to provide a necessary amount of personal insight.

Not for many, certainly, she admitted. But for some. And for what we can learn from a more technological perspective.

It is amazing what can be done without energy, Anton said.

Not really Matija shrugged. It doesnt use natural energy, sure, but it still requires power and to get anything close to the efficiency of powerful cultivators takes a long time of development.

But the benefits can be distributed to many Anton nodded. Its good. As long as our enemies dont learn to use it.

Its simple. We just keep manuals on the shelves of every ship, and theyll never learn it.

Anton raised an eyebrow. How so?

Because if it is unsealed and without fancy ornamentation, it cant be important.

Anton laughed. A fair point. But I doubt that would last forever. Actually, the real issue is what happens in the upper realms. They have a wider spread of influence already, but not using technology would be giving up that possible advantage. I just hope it stays away from those who would invade us in the next cycle.

Its so far away, Matija said. But I suppose we cant afford to be careless. Now, that demonstration, if you could.

Anton nodded. Very well. I can show you a few things. Make sure your recording devices are ready.

With that, he approached Azun. It was so extremely tiny for a star, but that only made it more intense. Anton truly admired how even a dead star wielded so much power. It was almost a form of reincarnation. He thought about that for a few moments. He had no desperate desire to continue living, but it would certainly be useful if he came back after he died. But perhaps he was already in such a state after having achieved Assimilation. He wasnt physically smaller, but his energy was certainly denser. Well, he could decide whether to pursue such a path in the future.

For the moment, he just stopped at about the distance a larger star would reach. The gravity would have been fairly manageable for him if he wasnt attuned. The flashes of power from the spinning pulsar and the powerful magnetic fields made him tingle as he approached to stand on its surface.

A neutron star was much different from others. The extreme density meant that even at monumental temperatures it was solid on the outside. Anton could have stood upon other stars he was bound to, but it wouldnt be the same.

He walked all around it. It was a fairly short walk, a normal human being able to walk the full circumference in two days if one ignored the gravity and other factors that would kill them. But the absolute distance was barely a factor. With power gained directly from the star, Anton took a leisurely stroll where he circumnavigated it within an hour.

And for the sake of his own practice and demonstration, he practiced some archery, shooting off vaguely in the direction of the upper realms. His energy would disperse before it even got close to a nearby system, and he lost control long before that. Even if he wasnt aiming for anything in particular, his absolute limit on control was not sufficient to exist on the scale of lightyears. Not yet, at least.

-----

Inistra was just a short journey away. Anton had plans for meeting with various individuals, but Varghese was at the top of the list. He was the local sect head, after all. His power was starting to actually embody that dignity. His cultivation was comfortably resting in Life Transformation, and it would be some decades before he could even be expected to reach the peak even at the quickest rate. Anton himself had spent over seventy years in the stage, and that was considered quite rapid.

Sect Head, Varghese greeted him as he approached.

Anton nodded. Good to see you, Branch Head Varghese. I hope everything has been going well?

There were some issues, but nothing that would have required you. I didnt forget the communication device you left for me.

Thats good to hear, Anton nodded, But you could have said hello.

The same with you, Varghese replied.

Anton grinned, Fair enough. The only news I have for you I thought best to deliver in person. I gave up my position as the head of the One Hundred Stars on Ceretos, Anton held up a hand. But it is not a bad thing. Instead, it is an acknowledgement of your efforts, and hopefully those of others in the near future. I dont want one planet or system to be considered a controlling interest in sect affairs, when it comes time. I would prefer to promote unity without an unnecessary hierarchy. Anton held out another communicator. This is a direct line to Sect Head Vincent. I told you of him, of course. And you can still speak to me, if you need advice of any kind. But he will have a different perspective for you to draw from.

Varghese nodded seriously, So your position is now?

Effectively the same, but now I am able to officially move about without causing so many wrinkles. I intend to guide the various branches of the sect, and found new ones.

Good, Varghese said, then looked down at his hand. Are there only two branches?

All of the Trifold Alliance is currently under the same authority, and mainly focused on Ceretos.

But you have visited many other systems, havent you? What of them?

You think I should have official branches everywhere?

Why not? Varghese asked. You are the best thing to have happened to Aspin, and likely Inistra as a whole. At least in living memory. We have been able to rebuild because of your instruction and guidance. But what I appreciate the most now is how you relied on me to shape the local sect.

I wouldnt wish to ruin the local culture, Anton said. There are some things that are required, and the rest is personal taste. Without the moral core, great cultivation could become worse than nothing. But I am not here to dictate bureaucracy. Anton grinned slightly, Just how you grow your crops.

Varghese laughed, Learning from those who have come before is the whole point. And I truly think you should establish branches wherever you can.

Well, I cant say that my opinion on the matter hasnt shifted at all. I am open to the idea, though I intend to remain somewhat more conservative. If I go about things the wrong way, my presence and all of my teachings could be rejected to the point of people trying to do the opposite. I could not bear causing more harm than good.

You have the experience, Varghese said. But I can tell you how things have been from my perspective. It is rare to have someone who chooses to help without wanting to take more in return. And I know your feeble excuses about devotion and the like.

I would just like to remind you I am not perfect. In fact, as one of the branch heads it is your job to keep me in line should I stray.

In that case Varghese stroked his chin. You will have to remain on the proper path for quite some time. I am not yet strong enough to keep you in check.

Vincent can help, Anton grinned. Now then, how have things been here? Any invader spies?

They appear to have been well and truly eradicated. The sea beasts are proving to be a constant source of struggles but even that Varghese shrugged. Well, it is good for global unity. Especially without any specific individuals blocking communication between groups, we have regular hunts that are almost festivals.

Good to hear. So no enemies?

There will always be some who dont like any particular sect, Varghese shook his head. We have plentiful allies and less official friends, however. I believe some of that is due to you? Quite a few originated in the Reef of Serenity.

I was just trying to solve some problems, Anton said. And the rest came about naturally. Now then have you had any cultivation hiccups?

I do have some questions, Varghese nodded, Especially about magnetism.

-----

The planet of Poriza. They didnt truly have a star, relying instead on a closer orbit to the mediocre heat of a brown dwarf. They had managed to get by with little light and a modest amount of heat. Taking Vargheses thoughts into account, Anton was considering how and where he would found a branch of the One Hundred Stars. The real issue was not whether he thought he could improve anything at all, but whether it would eventually make them a target for the upper realms. And if it would be worth it given the troubles that would come of that.

But he couldnt make such a decision himself. He had to consult the people who lived there. Though the planet didnt have a huge population, it was more than Aipra. Choosing who he would make first contact with was a tricky question. Disguising his energy had been easy enough last time, but this time he might actually make prolonged contact with some of them.

Within one of the larger cities known as Krosburgh, Anton was drawn to a particular group. Refugees displaced by a war, trying to live and find work in a big city. He pitied them, but that was not the only reason he chose them. There was a specific trio among them he latched onto. A grandfather, mother, and daughter. Botros, Aykorkem, and Nasima in turn. The two women offered their labor as weavers and seamstresses, but were only able to secure temporary work. The grandfather reminded Anton somewhat of himself, too stubborn to admit he was too old for manual labor.

Botros would be the first Anton approached. He wouldnt know if the man would make a good sect head for some time, but Anton had to start teaching somewhere. But before that, he doubted most people would react as well as Varghese to a random man appearing from the sky and giving advice. And Varghese had tried to kill Anton. So Anton needed an excuse to be around. It was simple enough to secure a warehouse and some goods. Anton wasnt the sort of individual who liked trade so much that he would ever become a merchant, but he didnt need to make profit from whatever ventures he had. After quickly establishing himself, he put his plan into motion.

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