Truthful Transmigration

Chapter 541 541

They docked along the eastern coast of the Empire of Elements. John wanted to sleep for a week- after what he'd already done on the return trip- but he didn't have the luxury.

Some enterprising individual had gathered what existed of the Triptych's bodies. Enniaun's head was still recognizable even split apart, but the other two had burned up to some extent. Even so, small scraps of their remains were sufficient to provide a clear picture with the resonant energy of their Exalted Soul Phase cultivation. The remains of their various weapons should be recognizable as well.

Most likely, there should have been a formal ceremony for John's arrival and departure, but he was exhausted. Aldara didn't intend to push for it, either.

She smiled with about as much energy as John felt like he had. Not much, really. But it was genuine. "We must settle our local affairs first. Then we will decide what must happen next."

John nodded. "We will remain in contact."

What happened next… was probably more death. At least the immediate future, because the Sovereign Primacy wouldn't just suddenly believe their leaders were dead. Even physical proof wouldn't be perfectly convincing, though. Many people had probably never even seen the Triptych. At best, they experienced them from afar as they forcefully converted people to their cause.

That was the problem. One John considered for several days at sea, and would continue to think about far longer than that. Many were forced into the Sovereign Primacy, but that didn't completely absolve personal responsibility. On the other hand, there had to be some limit to their retribution.

Most likely, Aldara would agree that the core of the Sovereign Primacy would be erased. Not the people, necessarily, though it was likely their highest ranking cultivators would be purged. As for random civilians… there was no reason to harm them. And without the Triptych around, John and Aldara would have a significant enough advantage in power that they could afford mercy.

At least, that was John's hope. As long as the rest of the world didn't have more hidden Exalted Soul Phase cultivators. Or perhaps they could develop more of their own soon.

John found his jaw was tight. He tried to relax, but he couldn't help but feel something when he thought about those with talent. Steve and Yustina… Lucanus, to those who didn't know him as well. They had been among the best. They deserved a time of mourning, but John wouldn't be able to give that to them properly. Not for some time.

He attended their funeral, of course. Great Zolvolj even seemed to rumble for them, though the volcano often showed signs of activity. John couldn't say that the funeral was good or bad- it provided what it needed to for some of those who still remained. But his friends deserved more on his part, and it would simply take time.

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One event followed another, and soon enough John felt like he had been dragged around half of the continent. Not a pleasant journey on his own two feet, or even a quick flight. Instead, he was riding in carriages most of the time. His spiritual energy had recovered, but he still felt tired. Especially with the next destination on his list.

He felt nothing when he approached a port and annihilated the enemy fleets that refused to retreat. It was easier not to think about them as people. Or not to think at all.

But he wasn't going to kill anyone, and yet someone was going to die. The Sky Islands, where he had been invited to witness a death.

Even now, John thought cultivators were weird. Though regular humans would have done the same, if they could predict their own deaths with sufficient accuracy. It also wasn't something that most of the continent did, as cultures were different. But the Sky Islands did.

From carriage to ship, the last step of the journey was in a hot air balloon. It was the most practical way to reach the Sky Islands for those who couldn't fly on their own. Even a mediocre cultivator could shift the trajectory of a balloon, though simply launching them from the correct location would nearly guarantee a safe arrival.

The balloons weren't practical for any combat purposes, and John liked that. Even if they had used some to scout during the war, just moving people about was nice. They could interact with their neighbors, some of which had tried to kill them in the past. It was hopeful.

John arrived at the Sixth Peak not long after. That one… was new. He hadn't even realized they were building a new one. Even so, he approved of them adding it to the end instead of trying to replace the First Peak. It was a reminder of where things had been.

Renato and Deirdre had joined John for most of the journey. Mandlen met up with them in the Sky Islands. The latter wasn't a true member of the club… but it was appropriate to have him present both as a fellow reincarnator and simply due to his status on the continent.

It was Sitora, of course. Her lifespan had been limited even before the war. Afterwards she had given her all, even up to the last moments. If she had devoted herself a little bit less, John honestly didn't know if they would have reached the Triptych at the right moment. If they had gotten a bit of rest to match… John might have been the one people were going to funerals for. Or more likely, not being able to attend the funeral of. His friends and family would certainly be among those the Triptych killed in their takeover.

Balloons didn't quite work in the difficult skies between the peaks, but John was more than capable of carrying a handful of people. He wasn't any weaker than before. No, he was stronger- and he would grow even further. He just rarely felt motivated to use that power. Cultivation lacked joy… though John resolved that it wouldn't be forever. He had lost before, and unless he was the next to die would inevitably experience it again.

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Beyond this very day, of course.

Sitora was smiling. She was strong, and that had nothing to do with her cultivation. John had to at least appear strong… until he was again.

"Thank you for the invitation."

John wasn't quite sure what the protocol was for a ceremony such as this, but he knew that sorrow was inappropriate. At least while Sitora was still around.

"But of course," Sitora said. "While you have little to gain from my demonstration, I still desire your presence."

A demonstration of power just before her death. No, in this case it would be a demonstration of power that led to her death. It was not something that happened out of despair, but simply from a full understanding of the circumstances. At least, that was what John understood.

He didn't know what to do except watch. Watch his friends, watch the other visitors. Nobody was foolish enough to come up to him to make requests on such a day. Everyone was perfectly tolerable.

Sitora was far more positive than most could be in the circumstances. Deirdre seemed quite curious- as an individual from Earth this was even stranger to her than others. John paid special attention to Renato's attitude… but he also noticed the man's energy. He wouldn't bring it up at such an event… but afterwards? They needed to speak. For cultivators, times of tragedy could also result in significant gains… though any sane individual would prefer the longer path.

People gathered around the Second Peak arena. That was the best place for a powerful demonstration of spiritual energy. Even if Sitora wasn't launching any real attacks, she might still require containment… especially at the last moments.

"I appreciate everyone showing up," Sitora said. "I have a few final words before I begin. Mirka, I trust you to take over the Second Peak for me. Make sure people remember why it retains that name despite appearing the highest. Together, you and Venera must guide your fellow Island Masters and the whole of the Sky Islands. If you have any worries, trust our friends on the continent."

Her eyes settled on John.

"Most things I needed to say have already been said, so now I will simply say goodbye. Though, with one final addendum. I hope to meet you all again." Sitora shook her head slowly. "Do not take this as some sort of special insight on my part. I do not know if my fortune has been used up merely to transmigrate to this world, or if reincarnating here is even possible, let alone probable. But even if it is not in the next life, and we do not remember each other… I still wish to meet you again. Please, witness the insights I have built throughout my life."

Sitora gave literally everything she had to one final demonstration. Mixed into everything were insights built up over the centuries. As the insights of another person, John couldn't truly comprehend them- not in the time they continued to exist. Even so, he felt traces of winds and storm. The weight of earth, and how two elements could bond together. The freedom of flight.

John was certain that the paths of many of those present would be smoother. He hoped to do the same thing some day, even if it wasn't the tradition of the main continent.

But of course, he could provide many benefits while still alive.

John watched as a shroud settled over Sitora's still body. Alva, as she had been called in a previous life, had lived in two very different time spans to John- and yet they had met. John wondered how he would affect people in futures he couldn't yet imagine.

He wanted to give as many people as possible a good future. More death probably wasn't the answer… but it was impossible to completely avoid it.

Mercy from the strong might be cruelty to others, if a mistake was made. And now John was down many wise voices from whom he would take counsel on such matters.

Yet he wasn't alone. Not even close. Renato and Deirdre might be his closest peers, but the generation after John was barely younger. Even if they were his own children and disciples, there was much to learn from those who came behind him. Even Ursel had things to teach, besides bashing her head against a mountain enough for the mountain to break.

Obviously he wouldn't say that, in that manner, anywhere Ursel could hit him with her skull. He wasn't crazy.

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John held his sword high. He was reminded that he still needed to replace Aldara's weapon. Well, not that she truly needed a high quality weapon against anyone else that remained. It was more of the principle of the thing.

He looked down at the ships in front of him. "Lay down your arms and you will be spared."

John knew the results, of course. They would say 'No surrender by the will of the Triptych!' or some such, and then…

"We will surrender!" said a female commander. "But you must swear to guarantee our lives."

Oh. Smart. This would be… actually, it was harder for John to bring people in than to simply sink or kill them. But it was a satisfying result, at least.

"Good," John said. "You may be required to pay reparations, but I can at least offer your lives." He rested his sword on his shoulder. "When did you hear about the fall of the Triptych?"

"Ah-" the woman cringed slightly. "We… have only heard rumors. Did they truly fall at your hand?"

"Not mine alone," John said. "Empress Aldara was there. And of course, we had forces to counterbalance their great spirit beasts and the fleets with them."

Being unnecessarily humble here wouldn't provide much value, but people needed proper credit.

Besides, it didn't seem likely people were going to change their minds about the surrender with how they were bending under the weight of his spiritual energy aura. Was he that terrifying?

John thought back to fighting those more powerful than himself in the past. Faramund of the Society of Midnight had been disturbingly powerful, even for an artificial Ascending Soul Phase cultivation. The leviathan had been similarly terrifying. The former John could have trivially slain at his current level, and the latter… as long as it was the state he'd met the leviathan in, John could certainly have fought it alone. Though he suspected based on Carl's growth that it had been much stronger in the past. A long hibernation had weakened the creature, perhaps with the intention of producing offspring.

"If you cooperate properly, we can make your time easier," John said. "I give my word. So shall it be done."

He didn't need to give his word as an emperor or anything, even if he sort of was. The same was true of Aldara. What greater guarantee could there be than their personal word? John very much wanted to continue to cultivate an image of an upright individual.

Obviously most of the current Sovereign Primacy would hate him. Others would praise him for breaking them free from the command of the Triptych regardless of his character. But for those that cared… he wanted to show it was possible to be more than a killer. Though he still did an awful lot of that these days.