Chapter 563


    Once they knew what they wanted, threads in the upper realm were pulled to reveal information one bit at a time. It started with a simple visit to the east, circling around the Harmonious Citadels territory. There was always someone who kept track of who came and went, and they knew about interactions with the Trigold Cluster. Though it seemed they were quite careful to never technically establish anything within the agreed upon neutral ground of the Scarlet Midfields, they still had influence. How could they not, with such power rtive to the scattered groups?


    Getting basic information onings and goings hardly counted as spying. And in truth, it was both impossible to keep such information secret and hardly deemed important. Alva and Velvet got so much information they didnt know what to do with it.


    What are we even looking for? Alva asked.


    Something that tells us whichs they control towards the border. Shipping routes or something.


    Why would they even ship things to super secrets?


    Why wouldnt they? Velvet countered. Whos going to stop them? And the level of secrecy is only an assumption on our part. Were just cautious because we dont want to get picked out as threats.


    Probably shouldnt have brought Fuzz then, Alva frowned.


    On the contrary any time we go somewhere without Fuzz, we are no longer the same people. There are the two women with the giant wolf, and the two women who are perfectly normal, Velvet exined. Also I was hoping he could pick out scents or something.


    Fuzz shook his head. He wasnt actually expected to track people through space, but if there had been a particr individuals scent that came up regrly he could remember it. So far, theyd found none he could discern.


    Eventually, they had to pull out star charts, though dealing with those with inexact information was annoying. Just because something was flying in a direction did not mean it would be doing so when it reached the edge of the system, nor did it reveal specific systems. That took more work, generally leading them southward towards less inhabiteds. Finding the right information there was more difficult because fewer people would keep track, and their presence and questions would seem more suspicious. Though there were many Integration cultivators, they werent somon that they were just glossed over when they showed up.


    Eventually they found a few probable systems. The only issues were determining whether or not it was safe to approach, and how to visit and return. Popteds had many options for replenishing the energy stores of interster ships, but even if they <em>did</em> find popteds they would solely be inhabited by enemies. That was a ce they had to take a pause.


    So Alva said, Do we attempt infiltration with just us, or do wee back with an army? And how much would be enough?


    Enough to invade an entire lower realm. And unfortunately, they will not be weakened here. Even if we could face them on an individual basis they would likely outnumber our forces. Velvet pondered for a few moments. That is, of course, if the key forces are even present at all. We are still quite early- more than a handful of decades.


    Then taking a peek at what infrastructure they have set up should be easier, Alva decided.


    That might be best. From orbit only, Velvet shook her head, Which means I will be of less use, but I dont want to risk setting down on dangerouss.


    Then we just have to pick a target and go, Alva said.


    -----


    The best negotiator among those from the lower realms would be Prospero, who had experience running a sect. Unfortunately, he was still not strong enough to be taken seriously. Or rather, his cultivation had not yet reached the Integration stage. Even if he could match lesser Integration cultivators, he didnt <em>feel</em> strong, which was important for such things.


    That essentially left the matter to Hoyt or Timothy. Catarina was a poor choice for negotiations that didnt involve formations. She was intelligent, but her people skills were not astounding. For these particr negotiations, Hoyt was the choice.


    You want us to act against the Trigold Cluster? asked the woman known as Zazil incredulously. She was an important figure in the Dark Ring, and one of the first Hoyt had met upon his ascension.


    Not directly, Hoyt said. We just want you to help disrupt their operations for invading the lower realms. Or at least get us in contact with people who are sympathetic. <em>Someone</em> has to have dealt with it.


    ... you overestimate the number of people who could survive such things and still have reached ascension in the short time afterwards, Zazil reminded him. Even your own world was essentially reset six- now seven- hundred years ago, was it not? There may indeed be some angry Integration cultivators but most are quite content with their positions here now.


    What about Augmentation cultivators? Hoyt asked.


    Hah! You think we just have them lying around? Let me tell you, the Harmonious Citadel might have nine or so Augmentation cultivator, but we dont. Even the big yers like the Trigold Cluster dont have spare Augmentation cultivators to just set on any task they want. Maybe a few dozen, maybe a hundred. Far fewer than one for each major system they control.


    There must be some, though, Hoyt prompted. Maybe not part of the Dark Ring or even allies but you have to know them.


    Zazil folded her arms in front of her. The number Ive met in my lifespan can be counted on a single hand.


    Same here, Hoyt agreed. The one I saw gained her advancement through the theft of ours resources.


    Fajra. Zazil frowned, And now shes got a grudge against Xankeshan. Though that was unavoidable considering it was due to your takeover. Zazil pondered for a few moments. That woman cant afford to dwell in the Scarlet Midfields for long. Her mere presence might already be a vition of the agreement with the Exalted Quadrant. Zazil shook her head, Unfortunately, I really cant provide help with anyone. If that insane bastard Everheart were still alive Id imagine you could get him to do something, if you had something of sufficient value. But as youre upying his clearly thats not the case.


    How did he manage to cause trouble for so many people? Hoyt asked. He was only alive for a few centuries, right?


    That was his active period, yes. The rest of the details are unclear. As for how I guess he met the right people, caused the right uproars. A lucky and daring fellow. I wouldnt try to replicate his sesses, if you can call them that.


    Oh, I wouldnt, Hoyt agreed.


    -----


    A pile of booksy in front of Catarina. One was flipped open, paged through at astonishing speed, then set aside. Of those who could make use of Ten Thousand Scrolls, Catarina was at the top of the list. But to her, this speed of reading didnt seem fast enough. This would be easier if there were more of me, she said.


    Please dont, Timothy said. I love you, he added, But I can hardly keep track of one of you. I wouldnt want more getting up to trouble.


    I would be much more responsible than Everheart, Catarina said. I would work <em>with</em> my projections instead of having them work <em>for</em> me. And I suppose not letting them hang around indefinitely would be for the best.


    We shouldnt be in a rush, Timothy said. Were still quite young, only a handful of decades into Ascension.


    Thats the problem, Catarina said. What if we face those who are further along with more experience? Practical, useful experience. Not just age.


    Then wed best be ready to face them together as a group. Not with one of us off kilter and perhaps mentally damaged.


    Projections are totally safe, Catarina said. As long as you dissolve them within a reasonable amount of time, apparently. Besides, you dont have to worry about them. If they die, its not <em>me</em>. And theyre so useful! They let you be in multiple ces at once, hash out so many more ideas


    Get yourself tea.


    Thank you, Catarina said, taking a cup from a nearby woman. And so many more things.


    I see youve already done it, then, Timothy sighed. I thought you were undecided?


    This is an experiment! Both Catarinas said together. Then the real one continued. It will only be a month. Im not going to leave anything for a century to get divergent thought patterns. Its just a part of me, a simple projection of energy that uses my thought patterns to some extent. And theyll stay that way.


    Your words imply there is already more than one, Timothy raised an eyebrow.


    No Catarina turned her eyes away. But maybe there will be.


    I suppose this exins why our resources have been used up so quickly. I trust you to be responsible but


    Hey, Catarina said. Those are investments. Trust me, soon enough well be getting more in than I spend. Think of all the things I can do. Working around Xankeshan on the formations, training enchanting, and Ill still have time for other things.


    ... You havent recently looted any vaults ofrge sects and made them eternal enemies, right? Timothy asked.


    ... Does Everheart himself count? Catarina asked. Because we all did that. Otherwise, no.


    Then I suppose I will support you in this. Just try not to be <em>obvious</em> about it, alright? We wouldnt want people associating you.


    Dont worry, Catarina said. Im much more pleasant. And I have actual friends.


    -----


    Everhearts fist tore through the space just to the left of Antons ear. His arm was still a kilometer or so back with the rest of his body, and that same fist was there an instantter, but whether hed torn open an actual portal or some other option, the attack had definitely originated <em>near</em> him.


    Arrows flew in a rain towards Everheart. The man swept them away with a massive war fan which transformed with a flick of his wrist into a bow of his own. He shot not just arrows of energy, but physical arrows with all sorts of special properties- and asionally none that Anton could discern. They might have been perfectly normal or the very worst of the bunch.


    The other man switched styles as quickly as he was said to loot vaults, harassing Anton in melee for a time before backing off when Anton began to find a rhythm. Along with bows, he tossed spears, axes, or daggers. He also attacked with all sorts of elemental abilities. The man seemed to know and have a high degree of practice with hundreds of fully formed techniques. Hundreds that hed shown in thest few minutes of battle.


    Clearly, Everheart was recovering well from his injuries. If Anton hadnt managed to attune to so many stars he would have been defeated in mere moments. Now, he was unable to keep up. It was tempting to use Candle Wax. But when, and how? Would it even defeat him, or would it defeat Anton?


    Of course, not knowing his remaining lifespan, burning it away seemed quite foolish. And it would be even more foolish to do so when he was fairly certain the man wasnt actually trying to kill him. He sure did a good job of looking like that was the n, though.


    Anton finally found an opening, summoning ascension energy through Fleeting Youth and firing an arrow. It pierced straight through Everhearts chest- a wound that was at least without ragged edges and thus presumably recoverable. If he had been there, of course. Antons senses were amazingly finely tuned, and he had grown used to illusions but an actual body had been there. It just wasnt the real Everheart. That one stabbed a dagger between his ribs from behind.


    Too bad kid. Youre dead.


    Anton turned to look at the man. Good thing you want me around for the invasion. Even as he spoke, he pushed poison out of his body. That is an astoundingly expensive poison to use when you dont actually want to kill me, Antonmented.


    What made you think I wasnt actually nning to kill you? Everheart said, the bloody dagger still pointed between them.


    I recognize the poison, Anton shrugged. Youve gotta have crazy stuff from the upper realms.


    Most of that crap breaks down without upper energy, Everheart shrugged. Then he flicked his dagger, the blood spattering on the wall. But youre right kid. I dont intend to kill you yet. But maybe someone else you know might take a chance. Dont let your guard down.


    An ominous warning, but was it paranoia or did he know something? Or it was another step further, intended to simply make <em>Anton</em> paranoid and sow discord with between him and others. Or to make him worry that that was the n for fun or some nefarious purpose.


    He was going to need someone to stitch together the muscles in his back and where the dagger nicked his organs but the cut was clean. There was no reason the dagger had to not cut further than its edges.


    Anton considered the rumbling fires in his dantian that had been ready to explode out. He wondered what would happen when he died. Nothing idental, he thought but perhaps he could control ast bit of that power. He was always careful to not draw too much, but if he was going to die anyway? It was a thought he hoped he never had to follow through with but improving his ability to draw upon the power of his stars was a perfectly sensible training for non-paranoid reasons.