The Undying Immortal System

Chapter 483 – Life 120, Age 58, Martial Lord Peak

After stabilizing the other cities, I returned to Black Eagle, where I could more easily monitor the flow of messages through our territory. I had no intention of interfering if I didn’t have to, but I needed to be ready should things begin to slip out of control.

To that end, I chose not to return to seclusion. Instead, I claimed an out-of-the-way room near the city’s communication formations, then got to work on a task that I had been putting off for far too long: upgrading my inner world, which had long since reached the limits of a Rank 4 Small World.

I hadn’t been willing to initiate its advancement since doing so would trigger a tribulation. Based on the previous tribulations, the creatures in this next one should only be high-level Grandmasters, but I couldn’t be certain of this. Even if they were, an endless tide of Rank 3 tribulation creatures would still be enough to slaughter countless people in Chang’an, Hei’lin, and the other planes.

Now that we had dozens of Martial Lords, and even a few Martial Kings, I didn’t need to worry so much. Having our entire sect disappear for a couple of months might lead to new problems, but our ceasefire with the Nine Rivers Domain had eased most of my concerns on this front, and we had plenty of time to prepare for our absence.

Making my decision, I sent messages to Kan and JiuLi, informing them that a beast tide would strike Chang’an in the coming years and that our entire sect would be needed to repel it. I wanted them to stay focused on stabilizing our sect, but there was no reason not to warn them about what was coming.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t be certain when this attack would occur. Infusing my inner world with the Laws of Light could take months, or it could take years. I could only hope that, by the time it was ready, Kan and JiuLi would have things well under control.

Still, I didn’t necessarily have a good understanding of when the upgrade would happen, and it might suddenly occur before I was ready for it. So, I went ahead and sent them a quick message just so they would know to prepare.

This done, I reached into my treasury and began sorting through my fire seeds.

The next element I planned to unlock was light.

While I had gathered copies of every fire seed on the Nine Rivers Continent, my stock of light-based fire seeds was still somewhat limited. I had over a dozen Yellow-Rank seeds, but only a handful of Profound-Rank seeds, and not a single Earth-Rank seed. I did have a few mixed-element seeds, which could provide supplemental Laws, but they wouldn’t be enough on their own.

I needed more.

I had been planning to buy the seeds I needed from the System. Earth-Rank fire seeds were expensive, but with the pile of credits I now possessed, purchasing two or three of them was well within my capabilities.

Now that I was in the Nine Rivers Domain, my plans had changed. There was no way that anyone here would willingly sell me a fire seed outright, but they didn’t need to. I just needed them to lend it to me so I could copy its Laws into my inner world.

Borrowing a fire seed was still a big ask, though, one that needed connections, connections that I didn’t have in this domain. Therefore, I sent a message to Mei, requesting a meeting and offering a brief explanation of what I needed.

A week later, I sat down across from Mei once more, this time in an opulent mansion near the edge of our territory.

The room she received me in was absurdly extravagant. Formation-enhanced painted screens divided the chamber into elegant alcoves, while pale incense curled up from golden, essence-infused censers in each corner. Everything about the place had been arranged to project a feeling of ancient wealth.

Mei, of course, looked every bit as comfortable here as she had in the military tent.

“These are the fire seeds currently held within the Nine Rivers Saint’s treasury,” she said, passing me a short scroll. “Not all of them are available at present, but if you have a particular need, it may still be possible to arrange a trade.”

I accepted the scroll with a hint of anticipation, only to feel that anticipation die the moment I read through its contents. More than ninety percent of the listed seeds were ones I already possessed. The few I lacked were only Yellow-Rank.

“This is it?” I asked. “The Nine Rivers Saint doesn’t have any Earth-Rank seeds?”

Mei shook her head. “Only Saints are capable of creating Earth-Rank fire seeds. In some domains, such seeds are indeed passed down to a Saint’s successors, but the Nine Rivers Domain does not follow this custom. Any fire seed created by a Saint is given to the clan from which that Saint originated. The only seeds stored within the Saint’s treasury, therefore, are those that have been provided by the clans to assist in the Saint’s broader mission.”

The four great clans of the Nine Rivers Domain all treated the Nine Rivers Continent as a source of fresh blood, harvesting its most talented cultivators to prevent themselves from entering the Period of Decline. It made sense that they would contribute a few fire seeds to help make this process more efficient.

Unfortunately, this new understanding did little to solve my problems.

“So, the best seeds are kept within the clans themselves,” I said, rolling up the scroll. “I need an Earth-Rank light-based fire seed. Does the Li Clan have one that they would be willing to lend me?”

Again, Mei shook her head. “The Li Clan has never had many light cultivators, and what few light-based seeds they managed to produce over the years were all traded to the Nine Rivers Saint for various favors. If it is a light-based seed you require, there is only one clan that can provide it.”

“The Zhu Clan,” I said.

Mei nodded. “Yes. Their Spirits and Ancestors are all either light or dark cultivators, so their clan has amassed a sizable stockpile of seeds aligned with these elements. However…”

She paused, then looked me over. “Earth-Rank seeds are still rare, even for them. Not every Saint is strong enough to produce one. Most will have already been claimed by the clan’s elders. They will not hand them over easily.”

Leaning back in my chair, I considered the matter carefully. What was I willing to trade for access to a few fire seeds?

At this point, the only thing I possessed that might interest one of the great clans was my knowledge of body cultivation. This was my sole bargaining chip, and every fragment I revealed would cost me leverage in future negotiations.

How much was I willing to give away? Especially when the only benefit was saving myself a few credits.

After a moment of hesitation, I reached into my inner world, pulled out a jade slip, and spoke through an avatar in my inner world.

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“System, imbue this slip with all my knowledge of body cultivation, from Rank 1 to Rank 3. Strip away as much context as possible while preserving all of my insights.”

Purchase confirmed. Cost 1 credit. Xxx credits remaining.

I lifted the jade slip and showed it to Mei. “This contains everything I know about Warrior Tier body cultivation. Not just methods, but principles, limits, refinements, and countless other small details that only become visible after years of trial and error. I do not know how much you have already shared with the Zhu Clan, but I can guarantee there is far more knowledge in this slip than they could possibly possess.”

Mei looked at it silently for several seconds, then shifted her gaze to meet my eyes. “How much?”

“Five Earth-Rank fire seeds, all light-based. On loan for as long as I may need them.”

Mei let out a long, slow breath. “That’s not going to happen.”

I gave her a small smile, then sent the jade slip back into my treasury. “That is my starting offer. All I ask is that you share it with the Zhu Clan.”

Over the next several weeks, I cycled through the various light-based fire seeds in my possession, moving them into and out of my soul as I infused my inner world with the Laws contained in each one. To accelerate this process, I tapped into my vast reserves of spirit stones, burning their energy to produce additional qi and Laws.

This was enough to establish a foundation, but if I wanted my world to advance, I needed access to Earth-Rank Laws.

I had been hoping the Zhu Clan would respond quickly to my offer. They did not.

The weeks slipped by, but I heard nothing from Mei.

Finally, after more than a month of silence, a black portal suddenly appeared in my private courtyard.

I assumed this must be someone from the Zhu Clan. I was wrong.

The first through the portal was a little girl, who wasn’t yet old enough to cultivate. She had pale white skin, fiery red hair, and large green eyes that moved across the courtyard with obvious caution. She wore a dress of lush green silk trimmed with silver thread, clothing far too expensive for an ordinary child. However, the way she wore her silver jewelry and powder made it clear that such finery was still unfamiliar to her.

The moment she saw me, she drew herself up, gave a short, rigid bow, and spoke in a loud, slightly tinny voice that sounded as though it had been drilled into her through long rehearsal.

“May I present Duchess Renata Verga, Mistress of the Guiding Light, Warden of the Western March, Shield of the Dawn Host, and Cardinal of the Church of Liberation.”

Before the final title had fully left the girl’s lips, a second figure appeared.

This woman only looked a few years older than the first girl, but when I focused on her, I was struck by the weight of her presence. Something about the way she stood, the way she held her shoulders, indicated that she was a cultivator who had lived for centuries.

She wore silvery armor over a pure white robe, with long blond hair cascading down her back like a stream of pale metal. The instant she emerged from the portal, her piercing blue eyes fixed me in place.

“Su Fang, Elder of the Changing Family Blade Sect, I greet you.”

She spoke with a heavy accent, making it clear that she was not familiar with the Western Han language. Still, her meaning was clear enough.

I rose and gave her a deep bow. “Greetings, Duchess Verga. Though my home is humble, you are welcome here.”

I wasn’t particularly pleased that this pair had appeared without warning, but I didn’t dare show any dissatisfaction. A quick check had already revealed that Renata Verga was a Peak Spirit. If she chose to take offense, she could end my life with little more than a thought.

The Duchess studied me, then inclined her head by the barest fraction. “No need to be soldier, Elder Su. I want to speak about cooperation.”

It took me a moment to process her words, but once I understood what she was trying to say, I gestured invitingly toward a nearby table. “Of course, Madam Verga. Please.”

She did not sit. Instead, she reached into the small leather pouch at her waist and drew out a large slab of white marble. With casual ease, she set it down between us, then placed five jade boxes upon it, each one roughly the size of a man’s head.

“Five Earth-Rank fire seeds. Three are blessed with pure elemental light. Two blend light with the power of purification.”

I stared at these boxes for several seconds, then shifted my gaze back up to the Duchess. “You wish to trade for knowledge of body cultivation? Are you members of the Zhu Clan?”

The Duchess did not answer. Instead, her eyes shifted to the girl who had introduced her.

“We are not,” the girl said, stepping forward. Her Western Han was much smoother, though a foreign rhythm still lingered beneath it. “The Zhu Clan is not the only power in this world that welcomes the Light into its heart. Duchess Renata Verga, in her capacity as a Cardinal of the Church of Liberation, has come to seek your assistance in our fight against the forces of darkness.”

The title meant little to me, but the implications were obvious.

“You mean the Devil Saint,” I said.

The girl’s expression hardened as she gave me a grim smile. “Yes. The Nine Rivers Domain has chosen to ally itself with the devils, providing them with the secrets of body cultivation. In this past year alone, more than a dozen kingdoms have fallen to their wickedness. If this is allowed to continue, they will soon overrun the whole of the Northern Anvil. Not even the Palace of the Herb Saint will be spared.”

I looked from the girl to the boxes to the Duchess.

I had no desire whatsoever to choose sides in a war between Saints, and I knew nothing about the Church of Liberation or the Devil Saint beyond the titles themselves. For all I knew, both sides were monsters wearing different masks.

That said, nothing prevented us from making a fair trade.

“These five fire seeds in exchange for knowledge of Warrior Tier body cultivation?”

“Yes,” said the girl. “Conditionally.”

She moved closer and rested one hand on the nearest jade box. Her fingers lingered there with unmistakable reverence. “You wish to spread the Laws of Light through your Small World. Under ordinary circumstances, the Church would gladly assist anyone in walking such a path. But these are not ordinary circumstances. Lending you these seeds will cost us dearly.”

I said nothing, letting the silence force the girl to continue.

“We have already stripped these seeds of as many spirit flames as we could without risking permanent damage. To infuse your Small World with their Laws, you will need to feed them enormous quantities of energy. As you do, they may condense new flames. Any such flames must be surrendered to us immediately, so that we may continue our struggle against the darkness.”

I considered this for a moment, then nodded. “I can accept that. But if a seed condenses at least three flames while in my possession, the last will belong to me.”

The girl did not answer immediately. She turned toward the Duchess, and the two held a brief exchange in a language I didn’t recognize. The sounds were soft, fluid, and fast enough that I could not even begin to parse them.

At last, the girl looked back at me. “Five. If a single seed condenses at least five flames, you may keep one of them. If three separate seeds each condense three flames, then you may choose one flame from among them.”

I did not know how quickly Earth-Rank fire seeds produced new spirit fires, but one seed condensing five flames seemed rather ambitious. Still, I didn’t get the impression that these two were trying to cheat me. If anything, they seemed reluctant.

“Agreed.”

“Also,” the girl continued, “you must promise not to share knowledge of body cultivation with the followers of the Devil Saint. Furthermore, any knowledge you pass on to others must be given with the understanding that it is never to reach the Devil Saint’s minions.”

The girl slipped a hand into her sleeve and drew out a smooth, pearlescent orb the size of a fist. “We require an Oath to this effect. One that will be binding across the whole of the Northern Anvil.”

I studied the Oath Stone in silence, weighing my options. I had never liked making Oaths. The danger of violating one was far too great.

This particular demand was not unreasonable, though. I had no particular desire to negotiate with the Devil Saint, so these restrictions wouldn’t interfere with any of my plans.

Still, there was one condition I would not yield on.

“I can agree, but the Oath must include language preventing punishment for inadvertent disclosures. Also, the Oath must remain in effect until the day of my death, no further.”

For the first time since arriving, the Duchess smiled. It was not a warm smile. It was the smile of someone who understood the game we were playing.

“Naturally. None of us would ever willingly bind ourselves with chains that extend into future lives.”

Her response allowed me to relax. It was the answer of someone accustomed to bargains that had to account for more than a single lifetime, someone familiar with the complications of reincarnation. It also provided me with a convenient excuse for the knowledge I possessed, giving me more room to maneuver in the future.

I drew out the jade slip containing my knowledge of body cultivation and placed it on the marble table. Then, I took the Oath Stone, spoke the required words, and felt the agreement settle over me.

When it was done, I pushed the jade slip toward the Duchess and rested one hand on the nearest jade box. “Happy cooperation.”