Chapter 855


    Time spent reading at a leisurely pace was how Lte liked to rx. While she could finish any book in an instant thanks to her practice of the Ten Thousands Scrolls technique, there was a serious difference between absorbing a book and properly <em>reading</em> it. If she only needed the knowledge contained within, absorbing it in a few moments was perfectly fine. However, she learned that even re-reading previously understood texts could provide further insights as her mind had time to dwell on the information.


    Not that this one was worth reading simply for the information. It was fiction. As such, it served a much more important role than simply providing knowledge. It made her think, and feel. And while sometimes those feelings were negative, ultimately the simted experiences helped her reach a better bnce in the real world.


    Right now, she had plenty of time to focus on such things, as she was simply waiting for the representatives of the Shining Cooperative. They could be arriving any time now. After the first scout ship, they had spotted several more at increasingly frequent intervals. So she was expecting them any time from a few days to a few months out, depending on how exact they wanted their arrival time to be and their capabilities. Because it was entirely possible that they would have had to send people immediately to arrive when they did- the scouts could have been at the very limits of their territory.


    That was all spection, of course. Their actual information was limited. At least one Ascension-ss ship, control over multiple systems, a hatred for the Trigold Cluster. These were the things they knew, plus the bits and pieces theyd picked up from observation of the scout ships.


    Hopefully, they intended to attend the peace talks. Lte was prepared to wait as long as was necessary- though after five or ten years she might ask for a shift change. However, considering they had scouts around already she would have to presume that anything longer than a year or so was them <em>intentionally</em> making her wait, which was a negotiation tactic that would get them off on the wrong foot. And if they wanted to act that way, she had any number of ways to make their life worse. Like not offering them any fruit. Oh, and her experience creating airtight contracts.


    There was some chance they were a danger, and while attacking a diplomatic outpost wouldnt be <em>beneficial</em>, there were some cultivators crazy enough to do so. If that happened, Lte would mainly have to depend on her guards. The strongest among them had only recently arrive, and Lte found that she fit quite well.


    Looking at Nthanda, Lte could fool herself into thinking she would win in a fight. The woman had natural energy that felt somewhere around the Essence Collection and Life Transformation divide. This would ce her among the weakest of the guards- on par with some of the other diplomats and even their assistants.


    And unless there was actualbat, nobody would be able to tell the difference. Nobody would know that Nthanda had a body more durable than the armor of most of their ships unless they attacked her. They wouldnt see the way she could manipte the matter around her, unless they forced her to. Which made her perfect, as she didnt <em>seem</em> like a threat. Kind of the opposite of Anton in a way, except Anton wasnt weak. He was just much more friendly. If it came down to actualbat, the only reason to prefer a battle with Anton was that he might have the spare capacity to keep people alive. Though some of that depended on having a bound star. The <em>exact</em> change in his power was a national secret that Lte intentionally didnt learn.


    Waiting allowed too much time for thoughts. She should go to the gardens. Somehow, Anton had found nts that would bloom and fruit in different seasons, so there was always something to look at and usually something tasty. Though if the diplomats arrived at just the wrong time, theyd have to stick to their own food or the rather boring options avable on the Alliances side.


    -----


    A noise awoke Lte in the middle of the night. Hermunicator. Looking at it quickly, it indicated a small fleet of ships was on approach. Couldnt they havee at a better time?


    Not that they likely even knew what sleep schedule she was sticking to. They just arrived when they arrived. Lte quickly got up, dressed, and freshened up as much as she could. At her level of cultivation she really didnt need all that much sleep. It just took a moment to adjust herself to wakefulness after the interruption.


    Another message to hermunicator. The Astral Spear was confirmed as one of the approaching ships. That was the small Ascension-ss ship Anton had encountered, its captain being thedy Kybele. That was probably a good sign. Especially since it seemed to be the most powerful of the ships sent, which meant they either werent interested in violence or were at least going to be incapable of enacting it as they intended.


    Lte swiftly made her way out of her rooms to find Kinslee, another diplomatic representative. This was far too important for just one person to take responsibility, after all. There were many more people involved as well, but having too many people at the highest level would just sow confusion.


    Figures it would have to happen while were asleep, Ltemented.


    Depending on their approach, they might actually arrive here during our morning, Kinsleemented.


    Well, were already awake either way, Lte shrugged.


    Since they were up, they gathered and organized. They had to be ready to give a proper greeting to the arriving group. Screwing up could set back rtions decades, even if it really shouldnt matter. Some people were simply too proud, and others were easily offended. Hopefully, they didnt take offense at the rtive modesty of the rooms. Some cultivators were far too used tovish pces, and they might not care that it wasnt practical to ship something hundreds of lightyears.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the vition.


    But Lte put the spection aside, trying to let herself get mostly unbiased impressions of whoever arrived. That was the best that anyone could do.


    Time seemed to pass slowly, but eventually the Shining Cooperative fleet arrived. Lte couldnt feel it clearly, but her senses were enough to confirm that it was indeed a small fleet. The one ship certainly radiated arger power than she expected, but she was well aware that humanity could develop down different paths in interesting ways.


    The Astral Spear remained in orbit while a number of smaller ships descended towards their smallpound. There had been preparations made to guide them, if they were unaware of the location, but the previous scouts had done their job well enough.


    They hadnt known what sort ofnding area would be necessary, butrge open spaces were easy to prepare. There didnt seem to be any hesitation in the craft as theynded, so that was something. Lte also noted that the vesselscked the traditional shape of sea craft that was often kept as they developed flight and space travel.


    The Lower Realms Alliance diplomatic team waited near thending area. If there had been proper protocols in ce, they could have been oriented directly down the exit ramp, but it wasnt too awkward to have an entourage walk down the ramp and turn towards them. The clear leader of the bunch was a man, with an appearance neither young nor old. Somewhere around the peak of Life Transformation, though that was the limit theyd seen for humans from the Shining Cooperative so far.


    Greetings, members of the Shining Cooperative, Lte took the role of hostess. The Lower Realms Alliance hopes your journey was swift andfortable. Regardless of whether it was those things, kind words shouldnt hurt.


    The man nodded. The journey was as pleasant as it could be, given the distances involved. His slight smile was clearly practiced, but Lte didnt necessarily peg it as fake.


    I am Lte, she introduced herself, And this is Kinslee. We are the head envoys sent here. We also have many assistants that can help you and your entourage get settled and facilitateter exchanges of information.


    Wonderful, the man said. I am Daris, envoy of the Shining Cooperative. We appreciate your willingness to meet us despite the distances involved.


    And us as well, Kinslee added. Perhaps we should first direct you to your rooms, though of course you can stay on your ships if you find the amodations there preferable.


    Daris followed after them, and soonmented, I am impressed there are actual structures here, so far away. They look quite solid as well.


    Indeed, Ltemented. There are no formations, so theyck some amount of privacy, butmon courtesy should suffice in that regard.


    She could feel the man scanning thepound with his senses. When they reached the far side, he tilted his head slightly. And you have gardens. Well kept, even. I am impressed.


    They were developed personally by one of the foremost experts in the growth of nts. By some metrics, the head of the Grasping Willows might beat out Anton in that regard, but Anton would certainly be listed near the top in any case. And most people didnt have any use for ancient semi-sentient trees bing even <em>more</em> impracticallyrge.


    Basic greetings and weing necessities took time, but ultimately they got around to official proceedings in thete afternoon.


    Though he said it more eloquently, Daris made the intentions of the Shining Cooperative rather straightforward. They wanted to know the extent of the Lower Realms Alliance- though they didnt seem to be pushing for exact details. They wanted to know the official stance on the Trigold Cluster and others in the upper realms. And Daris wanted to know how they intended to deal with future invasions. It wasnt explicit, but a nonaggression pact was further down the list, simply by the emphasis Daris ced on everything.


    Lte had to be content that the nonaggression pact <em>was</em> at least somewhere on the priorities list. And while the next opportunities for invasions from the upper realms should be centuries off, she also knew that it <em>was</em> important.


    I think our first order of business should be an exchange of information regarding what we know about the Trigold Cluster, Lte said. Though you will excuse us caution in that regard, as they are known to infiltrate local poptions.


    Have you had much trouble with thattely? Daris asked, not fully hiding his concern. He hardly even made any attempt to conceal the way he scanned the people around him. Perhaps just enough to be slightly diplomatic about it.


    Whenever wee across upied systems, it is one of our primary concerns, Lte exined. But we have systematically eradicated them from our poptions.


    Even Daris narrowed his eyes. The Twin Soul Sect?


    <em>Especially</em> the Twin Soul Sect, Lte emphasized. The approaching individuals had been scanned several different times in different ways looking for that exact thing.


    So you too have developed a way to sense them, Daris nodded. We would like to exchange methods some time in the future but you will forgive us some level of caution in that regard, I hope.


    Because we need to make certain the other has truly eradicated the Twin Soul Sect, Kinslee made the unspoken idea heard aloud. Lte might not have done so, but ultimately it rxed Daris somewhat.


    Yes. We have detected no issues so far. And I would presume the same for your side. But if weve somehow missed anyone, I would hope you let us deal with it.


    And what would you do?


    The mans face hardened. Destroy them. Such parasites living among our systems were the cause of millennia of suffering, or at least mediocrity. We were lucky to break from the cycle.


    When was that, I might ask?


    Just this previous cycle, Daris said. The unnatural shortnessbined with some fortunate circumstances allowed several systems to break free these systems discovered each other, and the Shining Cooperative was formed.


    So that would put them at about four centuries of development. Which was actually quite remarkable, for how far they had reached. Ceretos was now close to a millennium since it wasst ground down. Though perhaps the destruction of those particr systems was not quite as thorough. They would have to ask about those fortunate circumstances.