Elder Cultivator

Chapter 837

Despite how she looked and felt, Velvet was capable of moving at a fairly decent pace. Not fast enough for Runa, however, so her friend carried her along under one arm. It wasnt a very dignified way to travel, but she wasnt going to complain. Much.

Runa turned her head back where they came, slicing her knife through the empty air. Even in her current state, Velvet could pick out senses reaching out for them. Does that work? Velvet asked. Cutting apart energy senses? Wouldnt that make us just as obvious?

Not with the right technique, Runa said, slicing the area ahead of them as the energy continued to flow. People dont actually take in everything. Theyre just looking for something of note.

Something like void ants, then, except they were also aided by their miniscule size. They could still be noticed by a lack of feedback, but you had to be ready. Youll have to teach it to me sometime, Velvet said. And give me one of those daggers.

Both are sect secrets, Runa shook her head.

Ill teach you about Augmentation, Velvet said, grinning.

Her friends steps faltered for a moment. ... Wait, really?

I think its a fair trade. In truth, if she actually stayed around she would probably end up teaching people regardless. Even if they couldnt reach Augmentation, any additional power the Chaotic Conglomeration had would be bad for the Exalted Quadrant. She still wasnt certain whether or not she could trust the whole group as allies, but she really didnt need to. There were some secrets she might not share- such as communications technology- but mostly so that the Exalted Quadrant couldnt get their hands on it. Theyd already snatched some from Chikere, but hopefully its safety measures had rendered them useless. Either way, it was difficult to produce complex technology from limited samples.

Runa was silent for the next hour. Velvet almost didnt realize her next words were continuing an earlier thought. Ill talk with father about it. Well have to see.

So serious. Not that Velvets request wasnt serious as well, but still.

It was difficult to concentrate on detailed uses of energy while moving, but since Velvet no longer had to conceal herself she was able to begin slowly building up her energy stores. By sundown, she felt much more capable of fighting if it came down to it. And around midnight she actually managed to convince Runa to let her down to move on her own.

Velvet briefly wondered how far she could go, and how quickly. Her momentary burst of speed in that combat was something she couldnt easily forget. They were merely idle thoughts, however, because even in the best case shed end up a significant distance from Runa. That was assuming she didnt draw attention with the burst of energy and then collapse just inside the searching cultivators sensory range.

Having not properly slept since her Augmentation, Velvet was looking forward to reaching safety. As an Augmentation cultivator she could likely continue without sleep indefinitely in optimal situations, but being already fatigued and on the move wasnt one of those.

That said, Runa was aware of the current locations of their allied forces, and they were able to rather quickly leave the most dangerous areas. They might have already been back at the Spirit Slicing Sects base if they went directly, but they couldnt be certain they wouldnt be noticed along the way so they took a circuitous route around the north side to enter through the east.

-----

Velvet wanted to just sleep, but first she had to meet with Emrik. This time, Emrik kept Runa in the room with them. As Velvet looked at the middle aged man, he wondered what the purpose was. To make her feel more comfortable, or to have backup if she tried something? Velvet as she was this exact moment wasnt particularly stronger than before. Not injured and with her energy still below its maximum.

It feels like just yesterday you were here in my office, Emrik said. When you said we matched in strict cultivation level, I thought you were conceding my strength. But perhaps you were simply being humble.

You might have been stronger at the time, Velvet pointed out.

Unlikely. At least, not in the way that would have mattered. You never really answered that first question.

I dont think its important, Velvet shrugged.

What question did you ask? Runa asked.

Emrik shook his head. I suppose it really doesnt matter now. So, daughter, you have brought her here.

Thats right. Shes, um, from the far east.

So that was it. The Trigold Cluster, then?

Velvets eye twitched. Between them and the Exalted Quadrant. In the Scarlet Midfields.

Strange, Emrik furrowed his brow. Not much news passes all the way through the Exalted Quadrant, but there was something but it involved a swordmaster on the edge of Augmentation. Or at least thats what I heard. Ah, wait. There was that one sect. The Harmonious Citadel? Some of them used daggers.

That is the best way to describe it, yes, Velvet said. They dont, anymore.

Really? Emrik said. They seemed the traditional type who would never change their practices.

They didnt do that, Velvet said. Theyre dead. The Scarlet Alliance wiped them out.

Youre not one of them? Emrik asked. I heard some of their saints were Augmentation cultivators.

All of them, Velvet said. Plus a couple more. She frowned, Well, you can also subtract a couple, since the Citadel of Exalted Light snuck in a disciple to take over as their sect head, and they had another that was probably from them. The connection of Citadel in their names was simply a coincidence. Velvet could think of dozens of citadels, palaces, and the like among prominent sects.

Then your Scarlet Alliance must have had a great many Augmentation cultivators.

Fewer than them, Velvet said, not willing to give away actual information. They just underestimated us for too long and fought stupid. Plus Everheart took a shot at them.

That asshole? No wonder they crumbled.

... You know Everheart? Velvet asked.

Oh yeah, he stole a planet from one of our systems one time, Emrik said. Who doesnt know him?

Velvet made a mental note doubling down on what she was already doing, which was never telling anyone she was from the same planet as him. We just thought he was a slightly more local menace.

Yeah, but at least he died. Wait Emrik frowned. Then sighed, Hes not dead, is he?

Unfortunately not, Velvet said. She could hold the opinion that the galaxy would be better off if he was dead and be glad that he was alive to cause trouble for their enemies.

I assume hes running things from that tomb planet of his, then?

Not for well over a century, Velvet shook her head. Rather than saying that they wrested control of it which would sound rather unbelievable, she obfuscated. He moved on to a whole system thats a few times as deadly. He named it after himself, obviously.

Emrik took a deep breath. At least all of the Exalted Quadrant is between him and us. Maybe Ill be lucky and die of old age before he comes back here. But weve gotten far off track.

Right, Runa said. Um, the point is, father, that shes willing to fight with us for a while. Because of our mutual enemy.

Everheart? he asked.

The Exalted Quadrant, Velvet clarified.

Oh. Your alliance must be a bigger deal than I thought.

Weve stayed minimal on direct confrontation. Except for Chikere.

That would be the swordmaster?

Shes no good at not getting in trouble. Speaking of swordmasters with the Limitless Edge here, information will likely find its way back to the Exalted Quadrant about my breakthrough. It might draw more trouble here.

If the Exalted Quadrant was willing to field more Augmentation cultivators, they would have a century ago. Most likely, theyll redistribute their forces. Preferably, well make some headway before then.

Velvet nodded. Im willing to assist. Obviously I dont intend to fight experienced Augmentation cultivators head on if they arrive, however.

I wouldnt expect you to, regardless of experience. Your talents seem to lie elsewhere.

Oh! Runa spoke up. Velvet mentioned guiding me towards Augmentation, in exchange for some of our techniques. And a void blade.

Well have to talk about that later, Emrik said. For now, we should let her rest. He looked at Velvet, You look like you need it.

Velvet nodded. I didnt break through under optimal circumstances.

As she took her leave, she expected the two of them to have a secret chat about whether they could trust her- in general and specifically with their techniques. She didnt think that could result in a negative enough result that they would try to kill her, not at this point- but if they did, she was fairly confident in her ability to flee. Not that she thought it likely, since Runa trusted her, but she had to keep such ideas in mind.

She would sleep with one eye open, though that wasnt any different from usual. She only ever slept deeply within the safety of the One Hundred Stars, either upon Xankeshan or previously Ceretos.

-----

Five days of alternating between sleep and meditation to restore her wounds, Velvet didnt find any more value in remaining in isolation. Her injuries were fortunately the sort that were easily recovered from, though she would still need some time before she was completely finished patching up her body. Her energy stores, however, were higher than they had ever been before. That was obvious, since she had stepped into a new stage, but she was still pleasantly surprised. She also expected to grow rapidly for a short time as she stabilized her transition to Augmentation.

She walked around the Spirit Slicing Sect much as before. She had already kept her cultivation understated, and she continued to do so. While people had some idea about there potentially being an Augmentation cultivator, she didnt need the regular sect members to connect it to her. That would make it harder for them to spill information if they were captured and interrogated. Plus, she didnt want the attention.

Velvet! Runa said, having noticed her once she stepped out of her room. Are you feeling better?

Indeed. I think theres little more I can do lazing around. So I planned to get involved in something. Whats the current situation?

Were planning an attack on the forest, Runa said as they walked. I guess we never got your latest report on things there, but they kind of gave up their secrecy.

Indeed, Velvet said. Forest of Death cultivators along with the Limitless Edge. I can give you a decent count of their numbers and strength from when I was there, however. They also had an adequate defensive formation. And because of their trees, they will know youre coming.

They will, Runa agreed. But theyll be lacking critical information.

They know about me, Velvet pointed out.

Not that. They wont know how many of us are on our way.

I dont see how youll accomplish that, Velvet admitted.

Runa grinned as she pulled out her knife, giving it a twirl. We know theyre connected to the trees. So we just slice that connection.

Hmm. How long will that last?

Long enough. Its not so easy to reform permanent connections. And if they try, Im sure theyll exhaust themselves faster than we tire. Of course, well be involving other local sects as well. Theyre quite mad about these people camping basically next door.

Are you certain they havent moved on?

They fled back to the forest, after people started moving against them, Runa said. You know, when they were trying to chase after you. They were all spread out, so they really couldnt do much but run. And some of our people were watching the far side for reinforcements or the like. Maybe theyll get some, which is why were intending to move out soon.

Five days seems rather slow, Velvet admitted.

Not to coordinate multiple sects. And the Exalted Quadrant is usually even slower to act.

Hmm. Velvet was aware of that, to some extent. Perhaps there was some actual advantage to being from a new alliance. On the scale of cultivators, of course. The Scarlet Alliance was decently strong for having existed in its current form for less than two centuries. Ut the Exalted Quadrant was an ancient monolith that loomed over everything, making them seem impossible to overcome. But she could at least help the Chaotic Conglomeration chip at their base.

And in the short term, checking how her combat capabilities had changed would be useful. She didnt expect to make perfect use of her new abilities right away, but that was why there would be a whole army with her as just one part. At least, she hoped nobody would be relying on the word Augmentation too much.

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