novelraw Chapter 528 - 527 - Advisory Council
Chapter 528 - 527 - Advisory Council
There were many that doubted the Moebius Sect would put together their competition so quickly but in a mere 10 years not only had they revamped the former city of main headquarters of the old Warders, it had settled all disputes in a quick succession.
In the last 3 years, many parties had begun to arrive as competitors were selected to enter the upcoming production tournament. Unlike combat tournaments, there was a different kind of excitement in the air.
Alchemists were always in demand but seeing promising seeds of the future would allow cultivators to know who to ingratiate themselves to or who to seek out in the centuries to come.
Refiners were powerhouses of creators in the cultivation world to the point even supreme powers would honor masters as guests without peers.
Formation masters were in a strange place as both a stand alone profession and support profession to the other 2 main professions. They were in high demand but were far more numerous, yet experts could produce results with half the resources so were highly sought out.
A change to the upcoming tournament was the inclusion of the relatively newly flourishing derivative professions.
Elixir masters had always existed but quality had been highly inconsistent so any true master was practically hidden away until Lind Frey came along. Not only was he a high quality elixir master, he taught others!
He had practically made it so new powers could soar!
Elixir masters, however, were too inconsistent in abilities even through grade 5. The limit of elements often required collaboration or artifacts to compensate, but Moebius Sect had the true gems in that case.
The 6 elementals! While not all of them were as varied as Lind Frey, they could easily create the simple elixirs most cultivators desired for their use.
Still, many looked forward to what they could create for the competition!
The Forgers were legends. Anyone that wanted a custom item dreamed of finding a Forger. Quality was not always the goal, but compatibility. The rumors had it that one of the prizes was a spirit tool for first place in the Forging competition and refining both!
The announcements had not yet been made publicly but the competitors knew!
The last profession was more exclusive. It was also the one many had dark rumors about but enough certified experts had existed for the last 3 centuries to dispel most of that issue.
Weavers.
Little was known but there were already many looking forward to seeing what that contest could produce. It was said that unlike formations that needed a material to hold the arrays, weavings could stand alone in the very air itself!
Hence, rather than the tension of rivalry, it was a festive feeling in the newly opened city of Saisei. Auctioneers were promoting some key events in the near future and a few noticed that Starfire House was very quiet compared to them.
Being one of the investors of the competition, some wondered if there would be an auction like the lower world later! No information broker could confirm but many were sniffing around.
A hooded individual was resting at an open restaurant as the crowds bustled in the streets. It was a warm feeling to see people smiling and not worrying for a change.
The man was sipping at tea as he enjoyed the restful time before another 2 hooded figures joined him.
One was in simple lighter colored robes while the other had a more tattered looking set on.
"It seems pointless to observe if you both join me so openly." A light hearted tone came from him but the other 2 ignored him as they ordered tea and food.
"You got the invite the same as we did. Hardly unexpected that we met up before the meeting." A pleasant female voice came from the tattered robes. No one could make out any features but also it was as if people could not sense them at all.
"I find your verbal dance wasteful but I had heard decent tea and food was offered. I wanted to confirm if that was true." The firm female voice brooked no nonsense from the lighter colored robes.
All 3 sat for a time and observed the city.
"Do either of you sense anything amiss?" The man finally spoke but both shook their hoods. The man nodded as he agreed. Sometimes powers ran competitions not for prestige or to make alliances, but to hide their true intentions.
"The boy's goals have never wavered. He is obsessed with knowledge and teaching. His victories were not unearned but he is hardly the danger you outlined." The dark robe spoke up with a hint of ridicule.
"I disagree. The dreamers are the most dangerous cultivators. They don't take the time to understand the implications of what they are doing until it is far too late." The other woman disagreed but the man held up his rough hands.
They were cracked and scarred but both respected the history it showed the man had survived.
"I think he is not the dreamer he pretends to be. Oh, he wants knowledge and peace. I think the competition is exactly what is advertised but there are still goals behind it all. Spirit tools are not so common to offer them up as prizes in a mortal realm after all." The 2 at the table nodded.
As if they all agreed to it ahead of time, all 3 stood up and left a few Qi stones on the table before they vanished from the restaurant. There was not even a ripple of the air when it happened.
⬧⬧⬧⬧
The Babylon Guild did not normally have prestigious courtyards or places in most cities. They had a main headquarters but most of the rest of their personnel were traveling across the Floating Isles.
It simply took too much time to send people after a demand was met otherwise.
Moebius Sect had made the request they add a branch to Saisei City.
Unlike other areas where the builders were allowed some freedom, the Guild had insisted on some restrictions as well as the freedom to separate areas as they wished.
Azylea and Huo were at the center of the compound called Blue Sector. It was the place their staff ran things and the center of power for their branch. It had several mansions as well as a tower at the very center that could look over the whole city!
The rest of the compound followed a similar scheme to their headquarters but both aether children had been stunned that Lind Frey already knew about it!
They thought they would have to explain things but instead it was already planned out and only minor modification needed!
Green sector was around the blue that was mostly places for powerful guests to take lodging as negotiations were being settled. Mostly Sect Masters or envoys of powers.
Grey sector was more for the guilds and other mercantile industries to not only have meetings but to discuss trades between them as well.
The brown sector was for the itinerant or common cultivators that wanted to appeal to them as well. It was also the place local vendors could set up on the streets for food or other minor trade so long as they got permission from the blue sector.
Finally, the red sector encircled the whole compound. The guards and warriors of the Babylon Guild would work and live as assigned when not rotated to the other areas.
"Pup is sneaky. I think he talked to the Guild Master behind our back!" Azylea was reviewing a few documents for already submitted dispute issues before the tournament even started!
Apparently some competitors had been showing off outside the arena and a mid power of the Floating Isles took an interest. It was minor and they were willing to wait till after the competition to see if their target was actually any good.
"I doubt it. Master Frey had no time. Between the negotiations, the constant demands for his approval on each project of the city, and don't get me started on those prizes! He had no time to even cultivate in the last decade!" Huo smirked as Lind had left a message to not be disturbed a few days ago.
He was exhausted and both of them knew it but things had finally progressed to the point he could delegate more.
They were about to continue when both felt the medallions on their robes burn. They knelt immediately towards the door of their office and kept their eyes down.
"Well, you have both done excellent work here." A pleasant male voice spoke up as a man materialized in the room. There was no sensation of space being torn open, he simply appeared.
Neither aether child reacted and awaited permission to rise.
The hooded figure swept the room before he looked down at the 2 women. A warm feeling flowed over the room before they were picked up as if they were dolls.
"You 2 are always so serious when we meet but I hear such good stories from the others. I wish you would relax more around me." Despite the implied intention, neither woman looked up. A tired sigh followed that lack of response.
"They know you of old, pervert. Let my disciples go." A firm female voice spoke that removed the tension from both women. Just as they relaxed, a third voice nearly made them jump.
"Ha ha ha! She called you out! You just want to trick them into your bed like all the others!" Cold sweat broke out on their brows before an aura swept the room to silence.
"Enough! We are not here to test our juniors nor cause trouble. The Advisory Council officially replaces the envoys of Huo and Azylea from this moment forward until the competition ends." The firm female voice belonged to a beautiful demoness with a cobalt and turquoise set of eyes.
The man pulled back his hood to reveal a confident smirk as he swaggered over to a seat next to the playful tri-elemental aether child! Her skin of light, water, and air colors blended well together!
The demoness hugged both Huo and Azylea before taking up a seat on the other side of the man. He then stopped being playful and became serious.
"Now, bring us up to speed on Lind Frey and this competition of his." Both women gulped before they slowly began speaking of the last 10 years. They had known the Guild Master was invested, but not to the point he would restrict the cultivation of 3 peak Moon Tiers that made up the Advisory Council!
Both were wondering how to warn Lind of the change but neither knew how to do it as Moon Tiers, even restricted, were far more potent than any Star Tier could hope to be!