Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 387 - 386 - Sword Breaker Sect

There was a massive island with lush forests and fertile farmlands.  It could easily swallow the continent of Indelia in its size but it was one of the medium islands only.  It had many bridges and teleportation formations built into it, but it was dominated by a single sect.

At the center of the island was a massive complex built over rich veins of Qi for all 6 elements.  Dark stone walls towered over all and could be seen almost to the edge of the island.  They were the first and only relevant landmark.

It was the shield wall of the Sword Breaker Sect.

Massive gates were guarded by tier 1 Sky Realms but World Realms did much of the guard duty just inside.  They let the flow of goods and people visiting get in and out efficiently.  Bribes were not discouraged but they had a limit before they had to be turned in to superiors.

The outer disciples could not out do their betters after all.

If they could get away with it, fine, but if caught, the penalty was not worth it.  Confiscation of all resources for a decade was as good as crippling them without the hassle of doing it.

The outer ring was where most outsiders would stop and drop off goods to be distributed inwards or around the outer circle.  The buildings were quite impressive to the visitors but to the outer sect disciples, they were simple and not enough.

They had to share each house with at least 5 others, 10 if they were unlucky.  The yearly assessments by battle, production, or direct cultivation analysis were also nerve wracking.  Progress was all that mattered and strength was not always enough.

Jealousy could bury a cultivator as much as someone being stronger.

The building of connections and sucking up to superiors was the usual method of advancement in the Sword Breaker Sect.  They actively encouraged short cuts so long as they led to results.

The Divine Sword Sect loathed them but their power was near equal in the Floating Isles.  The fact the Sword Breaker Sect had no organization in the Heaven Realm was a stick in their craw.  They hated that fact so much.

Thus they forced their disciples to advance, advance, advance.  They had to over power the sanctimonious crazy bastards of the Divine Sword Sect as much as possible.  The fact their results were not making any progress to the Heaven Realm did not seem to be addressed ever.

Afterall, if they changed their methods, many elders and important members of the sect would have to pay for the consequences of their actions!

Such an environment normally would be every man for themselves but because they had a common enemy, there was a rather strong bond between disciples in the outside world.  The competition inside the sect had a bottomline of not affecting the overall sect.

In other words, so long as no one found out you did something harmful, you were fine.

All other instances were to be a unified front.

As such, there was a special hall that all disciples had to visit once admitted to the sect.  They would make an imprint on a soul tablet.  It would then reside in a certain hall depending on rank, achievements, or legacy status.

Disciples were in charge to monitor the tablets at all times under the leadership of elders.  It was actually a hard fought for job as it had a lot of contribution points with little danger.

It was located in the core area of the sect where palaces were set up for each resident.  The Elders lived in castles with many disciples as their servants essentially but they still had to make them progress.

Elders that had stagnant disciples would be punished far more severely than normal disciples.  It motivated them to serve the sect as they would be directly crippled and publicly exposed as well.

The Vice Sect Master was currently in his office going over the upcoming admission tests next year when the sound of pounding steps reached his ear.  His graying hair gave him a gentlemanly feeling but his cold blue eyes erased such an impression.

There was no pity in those eyes.

As he was not working on anything secret, he did not have wards up but he hated distractions.  He pulled out his spear and was ready to make an example when the soul tablet elder appeared.

His haggard look made all thoughts of attack vanish from the Vice-Sect Master's mind.

"Lingyun, calm yourself and tell me why you are running to me."  It had to be important but a haphazard report could be more dangerous than a calm one.  The elder was potbellied but any that assumed he was out of shape or slow would be dead before they knew it.

His cultivation technique had the side effect of building up a lot of fat on the body.

The man took a few deep breaths as his balding head and wispy beard simply made him look ridiculous to the Vice-Sect Master no matter how he looked at it.

"I have come to report the death of an expedition."  Anger flared in the Vice-Sect Master.  If that was all the news, he may still prick that fat belly until it was drained properly!  His anger was clear but the elder quickly waved a certain tablet before placing it on the dark wooden desk.

The scrolls pale paper made teh broken shards stand out, but it was not the fact it was a dead disciple that made the blood drain from the Vice-Sect Master's face, but the broken emblem on the tablet.

Most tablets simply had the symbol of the sect, a broken blade, on them, but a few were impressed with clan symbols.  There were 3 founding clans of the Sword Breaker Sect.

One had a crane as their symbol, another had a rune inscribed shield, and the last had a serpent.  The serpent was an adder.  It was the sylvan adder of the forests that made up the very island they were on.

It was one of the most poisonous snakes in the world.  The fact the clan chose that as their symbol showed their mercilessness.

"Why was he on an expedition?!"  The Vice Sect Master knew who it had to be.  The idiot was too full of himself!

"It was just to the Ravaged Isles.  There is nothing harmful there but shortly after I confirmed the shattered tablets, I sent word of any news from there.  Maidens are heading there!"

Now the reason for Lingyun sprinting made sense.  If the grandson of the Sect Master had crossed the Maidens, that was very bad!  He should know better but if the Maiden was not in her robes or was simply visiting family, he could have slipped up!

The vengeance of the Heavenly Maidens was legendary.  Even demons would not harm a hair on their head if they could.

As hard nosed as the Sword Breakers were against the Divine Sword Sect, actively encouraging their members to maim or cripple their disciples, they warned all extremely to never harm a Maiden.

It was not like other things where if you could hide it, it was fine.  The Maidens always seemed to know who attacked them.  They had proven it often enough it was simply taken as fact!

If that idiot's death was enough to evade their wrath, then all was well, but if they came knocking, they were doomed.

"I will take care of this, you did well."  Lingyun seemed to deflate then bowed before slowly walking away.  It was the Vice-Sect Master's problem now.

He summoned a jade communication stone and then thought about what he wanted to say.  What could he say?  They did not have all the facts save one, his grandson was dead.

He infused his Qi into the stone and waited.  He prayed to the spirits the old man was in seclusion as it would buy more time.

"Daoming, what do you want?"  The gruff voice made him sigh as luck was not on their side.

"Sect Master, I have urgent news that cannot wait, I must deliver it in person."  It was his last hope this would be denied.

Baihu was notorious for dismissing the administration of the sect and foisting that work onto the Vice-Sect Masters.  In battle, however, he was a legendary warrior.  His son, before he died, was a member of pride to them all.

His grandson, Han, was a disappointment.  He rode on the coattails of his father and grandfather to rise to the Sky Realm by pills.  He disdained work and did everything to be comfortable.

He would go out on missions but the Ravaged Isles was a good example of the type he liked to do.  Safe, little expectation of results, but still accomplished on his record.

"He is dead."  Daoming froze.  How did the old man know?  The soul tablet was with him in his windowless office!  "I have my own tablet.  You are to find out who killed him and then bring them to me, alive.  Intact is not necessary."

"What if it was a Maiden?"  He had to ask and the pause made a cold sweat break out.

"If he crossed a Maiden, then his name will be expunged, but if it was anyone else, bring them to me.  Breathing is the only requirement."  Daoming let out a breath he had been holding.  The old man was not gone yet, so they were not doomed.

"By your command, Sect Master."  He responded smartly and began reaching out to his contacts and his brother Vice-Sect Masters.  The Sword Breaker Sect became a hive of activity and information brokers smelled blood in the water.

⬧⬧⬧⬧

"Lady Tyr, there is a problem."  A gorgeous young girl dropped a signet medallion on the desk as Tyr saw the coiled serpent with a wide neck on it.  A vein pulsed on her forehead but she could not really blame him this time.  How could he know?

"I want all the sisters here and that village elder, now!"  They could not stop it forever, but they could buy some time.  She owed him that much.  Her loyalty to the sect could only stretch so far for him.

"You better not drag them into this or I will personally deliver you to the White Tiger myself."  Tyr whispered on the wind but her face was cold as she looked at the signet.  The last blood relative of the most dangerous peak Sky Realm was dead.

There would be war.