Chapter 818


    So nice to have a chance to talk, Anton said to Aerona as they sat down at a table. Obviously this isnt a great time, but Im here so Anton shrugged.


    Devon has said a lot about you, Aerona admitted. Though I wouldnt have expected being dragged off to a mountain vige for lunch.


    Normally I prefer to be local, Anton admitted. But apparently I have business here.


    I see? Aerona tilted her head. I cant say I know much about this ce in particr. Then a server showed up at their table. Ah. I get it now.


    What can I get you? the young man asked.


    Youd be Heath, right? Anton asked.


    I couldnt allow anyone else to serve someone of your cultivation, the man inclined his head.


    Tay sent me this way. I want to have a chat. But first Ill eat whatever you rmend.


    I see. Spice tolerance?


    Anton stroked his chin. Lets go with moderate for today.


    And thedy? Heath asked.


    Hello, Heath. Umm anything like when you visited the sect would be great. Everything was good.


    Got it. Ill be back shortly, he said.


    Anton turned his attention back to Aerona. So. You like my grandson?


    Thats right, Aerona found herself more nervous than normal. Talking with heads of state negotiating important contracts was one thing, but this was Anton. Oddly enough, she was more concerned about his family rtion than the fact that he was probably the most powerful individual in the lower realms. Very much. Hes just the right amount of kind and supportive. Once you get to know him at least.


    Yeah, I get that, Anton nodded.


    I know Aerona stumbled over her words. I know I might not be worthy of someone like him as I am now. Im not even in Life Transformation yet. But some day I will be.


    Im going to stop you right there, Anton said. If you think I care more about the cultivation prospects of my future family than how they are as people, youll be quite wrong. Besides, its quite clear to me that your main problem is time. Shed been in mid essence collection for over a decade, which wasnt a poor showing but it wasnt impressive either. Anton had seen those with less talent achieve significantly, over the centuries.


    I see, Aerona said. She did her best to calm herself. She was just having a pleasant chat. She knew it really could be. I dont really know what to talk about, other than that.


    Well, I dont <em>mind</em> talking about cultivation, Anton shrugged. But it can be anything really. Cultivation, politics, archery, cute photos of sapient non-humanoids with weapons, embarrassing stories of Devon when he was a little kid


    Aeronas eyes sparkled. What was thatst one? And the one before it, actually


    Anton grinned. Well, let me tell you all about it


    As promised, Heath returned with food. Antons meal was some sort of chopped tubers roasted with spices of all sorts. Aerona had soup.


    Taking a forkful of the food in front of him, Anton began to perspire slightly as Heath watched for his reaction. Its good, Anton said. Thank you. A bit hot, though.


    The bread helps bnce it out, Heath gestured.


    Anton nodded and tore some off. Hmm, youre right. Its even better.


    ... Im surprised, Heath said.


    By what? Anton asked.


    I was only vaguely aware of your existence. So partially by you being here now. And the other part would be so easily eating what I put in front of you. Even if he didnt tell you, you sensed everything on me.


    Its not hard to pass over unimportant details if you can read people, Anton said. And youre the kind of person who likes seeing people happy after they eat.


    Hmm, Heath smiled. Youre right about that. So about that chat. Do you need me to perform a task?


    Just seeking permission for something. Since youre one of those with influence and I cant reasonably inform and survey everyone on the to ask this. Anton gave his brief exnation. And so, Id like permission to bind your star.


    ... Does it not work as well if you are rejected?


    I dont think its a factor. Ive only had one or two situations where I didnt ask. Ceretos might technically count as him not asking, but he hadnt really known how things would turn out there. Ekict was the only exception, and ultimately hed severed that connection for other reasons.


    Heath just stared at him for a long time.


    Any further questions? Anton asked.


    Im just trying to determine if youre an expert of deceit, or if you really mean it. Because if you <em>are</em> a liar, you might want to bind the star for nefarious purposes and you might need my permission.


    Oh, good point, Anton nodded as he continued eating. Well, try to make a choice by the end of the day, alright? Sooner is better.


    Soon enough, the meal was finished. Tay will be disappointed he didnte with us, Aerona said.


    He said it would be better if I came without him.


    Really? Aerona asked. I thought he and Heath were friends.


    Its for a show of bravery, Anton said.


    But- you know he can probably hear us, right?


    I know, Anton said. But I prefer the straightforward approach.


    Aeronas decades of experience cultivating her social abilities told her that it was true. And she found it quite refreshing. If only more people were like Anton but then again, it was by virtue of his power that he could afford to be like he was.


    Heath came up to Anton before they prepared to leave. Ive made my decision.


    Im excited to hear it, Anton said.


    The man nodded, his folded hands held at his waist. I need to exin my reasoning before I tell you. The options for who you really are range between how you appear- a benevolent figure at least as far as our side in this is concerned- or an equally powerful figure bent on our demise and subjugation. In the former case, I would want to give you my permission, though it would be unnecessary. In thetter, I wouldnt want to give you my support as you would be deceiving me to achieve your goals. Since that is the case, I am forced to choose the option of standing against you and saying I dont allow you to bind our star.


    Fairly solid reasoning, Anton said. Did you consider that in thetter case your refusal might be solved by me killing you and removing you from the equation?


    I did, Heath said. It wasnt a terrible surprise to Anton that the man showed no fear of death.


    Well, I have heard your opinion and I respect your logic, Anton said. But the vast majority of people agreed already so Im still going to be binding your star to myself. Anton looked closely at Heath. Are you going to try to stop me?


    I have already given you my logic. It would be foolish for me to fight against you directly.


    Well, thanks for not poisoning me then, Anton grinned. Heath didnt respond. Im going to interpret that favorably, Anton said. Then he turned to Aerona. Give me a few minutes before we go, alright?


    She nodded. Sure, what do you need to do?


    The one thing Ive been talking about this whole time, Anton said.


    Anton didnt know how fast he could force a connection to a star. He knew that with Ruteras star, hed formed something like half a connection andpleted it in just a few moments but he wasnt in any rush here. Or rather, he wouldnt <em>allow</em> himself to rush. Nobody he was connected to was in mortal danger that very minute, so he made sure to be patient and do things right.


    The yellow star of Vrelt was notrge nor particrly small as stars went. Amon type, though not truly in the mid range as far as mass went. With somewhere around two orders of magnitude of mass above it for the heaviest stars and only a single order of magnitude difference for stars smaller than it, perhaps it was on the smaller end after all. Either way, it wasfortable and warm. The bond came naturally as Anton reached out for it. Strength flowed from it towards him and perhaps the same was true in reverse, not that the star needed him in its current state.


    A new conduit of energy settled within him, and the fatigue of his travel began to melt away from him as his rate of replenishment elerated. Away from bonded stars, he could sustain his peak Assimtion power, but going beyond that had drained him.


    Much better, Anton said. Come, Aerona, we need to get you back. And Heath I understand your caution. The young man just nodded in return. Perhaps he had nothing to say.


    -----


    Message me when you are prepared to move, Anton said. He had returned Tay to the Supreme Silver Sect, as the sect head would have ess to his forces there. Anton himself would be taking care of the Runic Complex and the people there if there was another attack. In truth, he was going to be aiding the whole front- including the ming Shores further advancement. Though before that, they wanted to convince the Wavecallers to join them. Antons presence might be helpful there, as a sort of inspiring factor. Or a threat, if they did it wrong, which was why he didnt show himself arbitrarily.


    From now on, Anton would be assisting with one of the fronts of the war and he didnt intend to be timid about it. The sooner they could secure the transmission formations the better. Hopefully they would be able to taint the information as had already been suggested.


    As he was now, Anton could begin picking off enemy Anchoring cultivators but this was Vrelts war. Specifically, their cultivators needed the experience of fighting others, even if it wouldnt be precisely fair since Anton would make certain that the Trigold Clusters cultivators lost. Anton didnt intend to solve <em>all</em> their problems, but he was nning to make certain they could march forward without fear to take over territory. And he wasnt above acting as artillery to take out a few strategic targets.


    Anton almost wished that the cultivator whod taken Devons arm was still alive, so he could do the same in return. But ultimately, the arm was just an arm. Antons senses briefly entered his own chest, where he often forgot a majority of his ribcage had been reced. Their arms were also very good, though obviously with movingponents they were more difficult. It wasnt the arm itself so much as the fact that it had happened that bothered Anton.


    He thought of Jinrisa, the whose poption was wiped out by it being shifted out of the habitable zone. He wondered if he would turn to such a harsh retaliation, if there werent innocents around. Then he shook his head. The main tragedy of Jinrisa was that only a single individual or small group had been responsible for the death that caused that retaliation. Here, the Trigold Clusters infiltrators were a significant portion and they were the ones who would die.


    Though Anton intended to save some specific individuals for when the rest of the alliance arrived. Specifically, those who might seal off the to prevent Twin Soul Sect reincarnations. Though Anchoring <em>might</em> prevent that already, it was better to be safe than sorry. Then again, Anton supposed he could deal with that issue without formations. Spectral energy as the killing blow should certainly cause enough damage to their souls.


    Antons fingers twitched, and he shot nearly invisible arrows onto a faraway battlefield. He couldnt just ignore things happening within his senses, after all.


    As for theing battles, he tried not to be too eager about them. He nned to start with the defeat of those at the top, though he was aware that many of those in the lower ranks were just as corrupt- but less powerful. Even in the best case scenario, Vrelt woulde out of this war with a significant poption drop. On the other hand, they already had their own methods to surpass Life Transformation with some consistency, so he could see them recovering their numbers quite rapidly once they became part of the alliance.