novelraw Chapter 199: Chatper 198 - You Can't Have it Both Ways
Chapter 199: Chatper 198 - You Can't Have it Both Ways
"Will this be ok, Big Brother?" Fey was finishing up the formation plates arrangement Lind asked for. She was the only one with him in the massive outdoor auditorium. It was the only place the entire student body could be gathered from outer to core students of the Lotus Academy.
Lind smiled at her as he straightened his now signature crimson robes. His platinum badge remained at low grade 4 due to he had not yet met the conditions for it to advance. He had tried to study both badges but the arrays and formations inside them made his head nearly split apart in pain.
His best guess was that the badges had conditions setup to recognize his progress. How and what method used eluded him but he could guess that consistency was key no matter what.
An alchemist could only advance if they could prove concocting the correct grade of pill to a panel of experts. His own mother had described it as a nearly day-long process of testing and concocting 4 to 6 pills of the same grade maintaining quality in all of them.
His situation was difficult because there were no experts or recognized guild to be tested in. The badges themselves were his judge and both of his masters were quite harsh from what he could compare to other professions.
The silver badge for Forging had yet to change despite some low grade 3 items he had created.
"We avoided interception so I could get back to the Lotus Empire but the situation with the Kingdom of Altair cannot be left as is. The Emperor is limited in his responses by politics and restrictions from Darkmoor. I am not so limited." Lind sighed as he reflected on his past fury. His younger self would have gladly laid waste to Altair but the amount of lives lost now truly came home to him.
Altair was taking the very approach it was to avoid interference from Darkmoor this time. If they could gain a foot into the imperial family by legal means and start to bring the Academy under its sway by the rules, they would gain what they always wanted.
Altair suffered from poor resources due to thin Qi in that part of the world. The Lotus Empire was no better but the Ruins more than compensated for it. The struggle to make Iron Tiers was bad enough but also, the way Altair viewed the hierarchy also made it an issue.
While an Emperor ruled now, Empress was not an unusual state either. Altair's visceral disdain for women made them declare war for that face alone from what Lind had understood. It was the problem of cultivation. With enough strength, reason need no longer apply to a country or sect.
If the norms get ingrained bad enough, it becomes harder to change them. The current method was clearly a break from the more direct methods Altair used in the past but it meant they left themselves open for unexpected situations.
Lind was going to use the Academy to announce his return and also that he was not letting them off anymore. He was only a Stone Tier, a considerable cultivator in that part of the world, but far from being unstoppable.
The key, however, was the official stance of Altair concerning him. He had met their conditions and was now going to make them pay for trying to use him all those years.
"It will all be fine. I hope you enjoy my show, in fact. I just wish the others could be here." Lind had finally admitted it was impossible to move around with 5 women so clearly beautiful and from the Heavenly Maiden Sect if recognized.
Annabelle's illusions were powerful enough but she could not hide 6 people indefinitely. The flying artifact was a secret most did not know about and thus no formations were set up to pierce its defenses. It was the biggest reason they arrived safely back in the Lotus Empire.
After talking with Princess Astrella, Shoti and Qing had brought him up to speed on the current situation. He did not like what he heard about in the Southern District so he sent them south.
They wanted to split up but he insisted they all go. The lack of seeing them would be more powerful than seeing them. Besides, he had a low Gold Tier Maiden with powerful sword Qi at his side. A few Soul Realms would not be a bother.
The formation plates were finally set up but Fey looked at them confused as Qi flew into the arrays to no effect she could see.
"What do these do?" Lind had worked with Annabelle on what he needed as formations were not able to be made by him so far. They had spent weeks on them on their journey but no one seemed to know what they were for exactly.
"To save me some time. Master Delenn revealed a way to test for what I wanted but it only narrows my search a bit and is not exact." Fey looked confused but shrugged as she was just happy to be still with him.
"So now we wait?" Fey asked and Lind nodded but his smile was odd. It was not one of joy but one that was more predatory. Fey felt a chill in her spine and a bit of pity for the people that had provoked her Big Brother.
⬧⬧⬧⬧
"What do you mean none of the duels would get approved?" A broad shouldered young man with sandy blonde hair was leading a group of men towards a mandatory school gathering that had been announced a few days ago. His blue eyes were irritated as reports began to come into him.
He was a senior from the great Kingdom of Altair. They had been given a mission at the Academy to lure their rivals, especially the Lotus Empire, into duels they were guaranteed to lose. It had all been going well, but then suddenly all their targets decided to settle with honorable actions.
Direct conflicts still existed, but too many like that would be obvious to the other powers. He had no doubt other powers suspected the line of attack was more about the Lotus Empire losing face, but it was one of many arms of attack currently working as desired.
The royal Regent had already secured an engagement meeting with the Emperor and the remaining royal blood in the Southern District was easily picked up at any time by Altair as well.
"Enough! We will redouble our efforts after whatever waste of time this is!" They sneered at a few groups that went by them despite some of them being near peak Soul Realms. The women avoided these men like the plague but a few of the other men happily joined in with the large group from Altair.
The Lotus Empire youths looked in anger as they passed but the mix of white, violet, and black robes marked the clear count of outer, inner and core students. The Lotus Empire had more white robes than Altair which was strange until the last 2 years was taken into account.
Any way they could, the Altair members snatched resources, bet duels against the Lotus Empire, and basically ensured the opportunities usually enjoyed by students of the Lotus Academy were greatly reduced. It had been devastatingly successful because the Kingdom of Altair stuck to the rules while hiding their strength.
Normally that was fine but the sheer number of lost resources had clear results that made the leader of the group smile. His father was a noble of Altair, the Ba family. Liu Ba was much like his father in desiring direct conflict but he could not deny the results when shown so clearly before him.
"Make sure to remind the new outer students to restrain their natural desires carefully. The brothels will be available if they behave." It was one of the few things Liu approved of. The Regent set aside a fund to allow the Altairan men relieve themselves as they are allowed to at their whim while not making enemies as they tended to do in previous years.
"It will be done, my lord." Liu smiled as his subordinates smiled. As they neared the auditorium, a sudden feeling of pressure flared over them. It was so brief that most missed it but Liu scrunched his brow as his tier 7 aura flared to see what had happened.
He did not notice anything odd or strange in the air but he definitely felt it. He glanced around but only saw a few others that seemed like him to have felt something as they entered the outdoor auditorium. They were all tier 7 and above but he did not see any that figured it out or declared it normal either.
Were they being tested?
The students gathered and surrounded the large stage that currently only had a young girl. What shocked many of them was that the girl's cultivation could not be felt yet she wore the robes of the Heavenly Maiden Sect. Anyone could easily identify the type of robe marked a core disciple.
Her white robes were lined in gold. Since the Academy had her here, that meant she was a certified Gold Tier but she was so young! Murmurs filled the crowd before someone suddenly exclaimed.
"The Fierce Fairy! It is the Fierce Fairy!" A young girl was crying out excitedly while the Maiden's face frowned but a cheer went up from the women as Liu frowned deeply. He had heard of that title and scoffed at the stories but seeing she was Gold Tier he was forced to swallow any deriding comments.
Only an idiot would speak, unfortunately, some of their newer members were just such idiots.
"Ah, the mighty Fierce Fairy. A no doubt another overblown 'legend' of the Heavenly Maiden Sect." Liu nearly slapped the fool but then a lance of fire manifested from the stage to the very head of the idiot that spoke.
Everyone could feel the sword Qi infused as well which left Liu with his throat dry. A sword of fire created instantly with such precise control demonstrated extensive training few could pull off.
"If you dare denigrate my sect again, you will no longer be a concern for anyone. Am I clear?" The cold voice made the crowd go silent but the fool seemed to think he was invincible.
"You would dare to interfere in Darkmoor, woman? Your sect is the only reason you can be haughty on that stage. Did you come to lecture us on the foolish beliefs of your sect?" Liu felt his heart freeze in his chest. How stupid could an idiot be. He wanted to slap him to death himself!
The Fierce Fairy smiled wide at the idiot. Liu realized what was about to happen and would happily wash his hands of the fool. A voice suddenly cut across the auditorium.
"You can't have it both ways. The strength of the Heavenly Maiden Sect is far above the Lotus Empire and the Kingdom of Altair. Strength brings validity in the cultivation world, that you disagree with their success only means you are weak. The weak cannot assert protection from the strong unless they are strong themselves." A man in crimson robes appeared on the stage. His aura was weaker than the girl but Liu felt his world freeze.
"Also, the Demon Empire stays out of Heavenly Maiden Sect's way. You think Darkmoor will care for a backwater power's indignation for an idiot that can't shut his mouth?" The male voice was the only distinguishing feature from the hooded figure but his robes and 2 badges were well known to anyone from Altair or the Lotus Empire.
"Fey, it is your call." The blood drained from the fool but no one dared breath. There were plenty of witnesses and the old monsters of the Academy made no move. It was clear where they stood.
"Remember this. Remember your life was in my hands and I granted it back to you." The blade of fire retracted and dispersed. Liu was about to breathe in relief when the spirits proved they could not save idiots.
"As I thought." Pure sword Qi cut him in 2 without even grazing anyone else. The silence was terrifying as the woman on the stage did not even seem satisfied. She had done exactly as she had promised.
"Well, not how I planned to start but it will drive home the next part. I am Lind Frey. I am a low grade 4 elixir master. I am a peak grade 2 Forger. I am a high Stone Tier 6 elemental." The hood fell back to reveal dirty blonde hair, dark green eyes, and slightly tanned skin. Any doubt fled Liu as the man looked right at him. He knew who they were.
"I am also the heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Altair. I have come home." Liu felt the world fall away. The signature look of their royal family was clear in his face and the coldness there left no doubt he was serious. All their plans have come to ruin!