Chapter 318


    After a mere two decades of being a cultivator, Anton was able to see a significant change in Graotan. He was only familiar with a rtively small portion of it throughout the duration of his normal life, but it had been much the same throughout. Goodnd worked by numerous hardworking individuals. There were of course some bad apples in every town or vige, but Graotan was a good country. That was made possible by the Order. Even if they failed to perfectly protect the country, they had done their best. They could have used their position to exploit the country for more resources to increase their power- individual towns and viges werent much, but the numbers would add up to something real. Instead, the Order of Ny-Nine Stars had given the people the opportunity to thrive in a world dominated by cultivators.


    But while they had been unselfish, the Orders actions hadnt required any sacrifice on their part. The recent efforts, however, had cost the Order time, effort, and a not insignificant portion of their resources. And the country was different for it.


    Nearly a generation since Anton began cultivating, and the country was changed. It wasnt suddenly a beacon of strength, but every town and vige had people cultivating. With the knowledge and training made freely avable, people were able to improve themselves beyond human limits, amplifying what they could do in their everyday lives. While some were content to ept a limit in their crafts that they would not go beyond, even they were swayed by the ability toplete their daily work with more crity. Others devoted themselves to deepening their abilities, creating useful goods and deep works of art that they might have never imagined possible.


    There were a number among every sect who devoted themselves to things practical for cultivators- forging weapons and armor, sewing herbs that filled with natural energy, and studying formations. Art of various sorts was popr as a meditative technique. There was nothing wrong with those pursuits, but with cultivators being the main practitioners it led to truly very few great masters.


    The Order had several thousand disciples when Anton joined. Approximately half of them were in Body Tempering, clumping at the peak of Body Tempering where mostcked the talent to break through to a higher level. Though no other sects had arge sway in Graotan, there were various smaller sects. All told, the number of cultivators had been in the low tens of thousands,pared to a poption of over ten million throughout the country. Exact numbers werent easily avable with the current changes, but the newmon cultivators outnumbered those who cultivated as their primary focus. Hundreds of thousands at least, though still less than a tenth of the poption. Those who were too young, too old, or too stubborn to make the attempt werent part of the numbers, and some simply hadnt gotten the proper opportunity yet.


    It was the problem of general education- people couldnt afford to spend time away from their work, even if ultimately they woulde out ahead. Not everyone who supported the efforts worked so closely with people to help them maintain their daily work. But every major city had at least one, sometimes up to ten people dedicated to teaching people to cultivate full time. Most were disciples of the Order who received a modest stipend for their efforts, though Anton suspected that the positions would be coveted in the future, if those fulfilling them made optimal use of them. Much could be learned from the perspectives of others.


    Except for his regr visits to Windrip, Anton didnt settle down in a single spot. Thest handful of years had seen him constantly roaming around Graotan- and anywhere else on the continent that wanted him. Estary was the most receptive to the movement. While many sects throughout the countries would <em>normally</em> be against the efforts, the looming threat of aing invasion made them willing to ept as many people who might have some effect on the war as possible. Nobody was sure if the invasion would happen in one decade, two, three but four or five were the far limits. It had already been more than a decade since Everheartsst tomb popped up, and it appeared as if it might truly have been the final one.


    The recent years could be said to be a time of peace- but they could also be called a time of preparation for war. While a good number of the most powerful sects had formed an official alliance, there were always conflicts among people. For the most part they hadtely been kept from as much violence, but it would take work to see a real peacest a generation or more.


    Anton hoped that the rising levels of natural energy in Graotan would be a sign to others. The Order understood, but even inside the Order there were some who didnt fully believe that everyone cultivating could possibly result in <em>more</em> natural energy throughout thend. Anton had to admit that a few years could be a random fluctuation, but he knew that the greatest changes were in the first areas he had established cultivators.


    People worked at all of their tasks, taking in natural energy from their surroundings and putting it into crops and materials and finished products. The various pockets were beginning to merge together and feed into each other, and Anton knew that soon other sects would covet Graotan more than they had before. But if they were paying attention, a little bit of patience would allow them to produce simr results in other ces.


    Those who didnt have the patience but still had enough self control to behave properly would still be able to benefit. Graotans borders werent closed, after all. Though those associated with dangerous elements were kept out, most sects were wee to visit. A few even chose to move, re-establishing themselves within Graotans borders. And as long as they didnt cause trouble, they were wee.


    -----


    As Ayotunde was familiar with Anton, he sought him out first when he arrived at the Order. Even so, he was not present for a friendly visit but an official meeting. Along with Afi, the Matriarch of the Temitope n, there were also other representatives of various portions of Ambati to the west.


    When are they gonna make you an elder, huh, Anton? Ayotunde grinned. You absolutely deserve it by now.


    I would not want to chase any of those others deserving the title out of their positions, Anton shook his head. And I like the freedom I have now. I have no desire to leash myself here.


    Is that so? Ayotunde grinned. You can do what you like I suppose, but I imagine theyll foist the title on you when you reach Life Transformation regardless.


    If I do, Anton shrugged. That would be at least a decade away still.


    Ayotunde clicked his tongue. Youre gonna make the rest of us ashamed if you say it like that. Acting as if even being on the precipice in thirty years isnt an aplishment. When we first met I had more than a decade as a cultivator and was only in mid Spirit Building. Now I cant even hope to keep up.


    Proper ess to resources has certainly elerated your growth, Antonmented.


    True, but some of that sess we owe to you.


    The same is true in reverse, Anton pointed out. I treat people like anything worth spending time on. I pay into them, and hope they pay back into me.


    Swift growth of friends and swift death of enemies, Ayotunde nodded. It works well for you. Some are afraid of the risks.


    It helps to hit the point where you have nothing, Antonmented. Then youre not afraid of losing something.


    That works until you get something important again. Then you be afraid again. How do you not? Ayotunde asked.


    I got to the end, and was content. Even now, I think about what my legacy will be. Im willing to die for any of it but I dont n to make it easy, Anton grinned. But tell me about you. You have been gone for so long. Was your expedition sessful?


    To an extent, Ayotunde nodded. The exact details arent mine to share, but we found others. For the most part the ocean to the west is dominated by the Exalted Ind Sect. They control the entire archipgo, which they renamed after themselves. The Exalted Archipgo. They were not terribly weing as a sect, but they did not forbid our passage- and the locals were interested to see foreign travelers, something they thought was an impossibility. Ayotunde shrugged, As far as we can tell, they have eradicated the Twin Soul Sect since the time of Everhearts final tomb. Other than that, they prefer to be left alone.


    A shame, Anton said. Id like to visit or more relevantly have another group to coordinate with. But peaceful contact is at least something. Our picture of the world is finally being repaired. Unless were missingrgendmasses the Twin Soul Sect has been driven to hide in far corners, if nothing else. Though I wouldnt bet on full eradication.


    Very cautious. But for good reason. Ayotunde nodded contently, Ambati has been holding together, but people have been growing weird potatoes everywhere. I hear that it is your fault.


    We got the permission of the Temitope n to spread those crops. And they grow quite well under the care of those with only a small amount of training in cultivation.


    I looped around through Edelhull. It is almost difficult to recognize, with all the cultivators there. And most bearing the energy of the Order


    Anton shrugged, Its a familiar and generally useful style. Theplete style is still secret, though mainly for the sake of differentiating proper disciples of the Ny-Nine Stars. Identification tokens have be necessary. They have little formations inside of them that make them hard to replicate or steal. Though the gatekeepers can still memorize all the proper disciples for the moment. Our actual numbers havent grown <em>that</em> much. Enough to bounce back from the wars, at least.


    Except for the Life Transformation experts, I imagine. They are not so easy to rece. Ayotunde shrugged, Though your current generation makes that seem incorrect. All of the big sects have a handful of potential Life Transformation cultivators closely ced. And more following.


    Its a phenomenon that happens sometimes, Anton replied. A surge in those with cultivation talent. Its said to be signs of trouble, and I have no evidence to refute it especially since we <em>know</em> somethingsing this time. I just hope we have long enough. Well need every cultivator we can get. Life Transformation the most, obviously, but even the Body Tempering cultivators I fear will be necessary.


    Thats enough of that, Ayotunde shook his head. Or youll make me an old man before its my time. Tell me of the good things. Your cultivation if I am correct you have surpassed the fiftieth star, correct?


    Anton nodded. It sounds like its halfway, but its far from it. I have quite a distance to go still. What about you? Have you kept up with the shrimp and granny?


    We work together from time to time, Ayotunde nodded. Perhaps we will all work together again sometime soon.


    -----


    This looks familiar, Anton said as he stood in a circr room, about ten meters wide. Much smaller though.


    Its for testing, Catarina pointed out. And for the intended use, it will be sufficient.


    I wasnt trying to insult you. Modesty and restraint are good features. Features that Everheart will never have.


    Regardless, Catarina continued, Thank you for being here for this. It is good to have familiar faces around for the inaugural test of the teleportation formation.


    Test? Anton raised an eyebrow. Its already been tested, right?


    Catarina said nothing, but Timothy came up to assuage his concerns. Its already been sessful with homing pigeons,rger animals, and then groups of beasts with cultivation. And some volunteer ants but nothing happened with them. Timothy shrugged, Either way, Catarina isnt the sort to be careless with this stuff. And neither are the rest of those shes been working with.


    Okay, Catarina said as she pped her hands. Everyone in the area turned to look. Were going now.


    That wasnt an announcement to get ready. It was just her saying it was happening. A vaguely remembered flush of power washed over them and that was it. Anton didnt even feel his stomach leap like it had the first time.


    Anton looked out the door, but of course instead of the location theyd set up outside the Ordersnds it was brilliant red stone hallways as far as could be seen. Anton felt himself sweating already, but less from the heat than worry about how careless Glorious me Pce seemed to want the teleportation pad to be <em>inside</em> their sect, merely for the sake of convenience. But it was just a test anyway.