Chapter 7: Other powers making a move

[Damn system, can't it wait until I explain things.]

"What the hell is going on? Shouldn't the system be on my side? Why is it asking to cripple my cultivation and restart again? Isn't that a waste of my time and resources?"

[Calm down, host. Even though it's low level compared to all the realms above it, still it's the starting point of your cultivation. As I mentioned before, you have to temporarily cripple your cultivation and restart it because you reached level one using that cheap technique that shouldn't be used.

"What are you saying?"

[The ending of a story depends on the story's beginning and what happens in between. The thing is, bad things tend to occur at least once, if not more than once. For example, you wanted to become a cultivator because you couldn't protect your mother during the bandit's raid. You strive to become strong to protect the ones you care for. If the bandit raid had not happened, your perception of life would have differed. You might have settled in the village to be by your mother's side. Someone else would have paid the price if not your mother.]

"I understand, but…."

[Enough for tonight, rest and sleep on what I said to you. We have to prepare for the upcoming tournament from tomorrow, which will be much more interesting than everyone thinks.]

"What do you mean by that?"

[You'll learn about it soon. For now, let's stop with questions and take a rest.]

"Okay, Goodnight for now. I'll think about what you said, and we can discuss it tomorrow."

---

Elsewhere

"Are you sure about it?" asked an old man, stroking his white beard. He gave an aura of a sage. He is in deep thought about what occurred recently in Heavenly Peak Sect.

Many rumors were going around across kingdoms.

While many were interested in rumors, the old man judged based on what he believed and the words of people who had his trust.

They all confirmed that it was true; an ominous event did occur in the Heavenly Peak sect.

The fall of a sect has many consequences. This sect protected two kingdoms; if the sect falls, the kingdoms lose protection. The Heavenly Peak Sect is in a state of terror for now, but many sects and kingdoms are overjoyed.

This would create an opportunity for the kingdoms which shared borders with the two kingdoms.

This doesn't only create turmoil in those two countries or the ones which whom they share borders with.

If any kingdom starts a war with one of these two, that doesn't mean they have no other enemies. When a large portion of the army moves from one position to another, it causes waves throughout the kingdom.

Most kingdoms station a significant force at the center of the kingdom, capital, or borders where their neighbor is a strong one.

If that significant force moves away from either of these points, it creates a window of opportunity.

If it is from the border, the border territory becomes vulnerable to attack and possesses a high chance of losing that territory.

If any significant force moves from either center of the kingdom or capital, the window of opportunity to seize any weak border territories increases. The troops will be far away to reinforce borders in time.

As soon as war broke out, it won't end with a single fight. The starting war creates a ripple in the form of multiple wars across kingdoms and sects.

Sure the weakened Heavenly Peak sect and the two kingdoms under its influence may fall, but that doesn't mean they will be the only ones to fall.

It would be chaos, and the old man hated chaos. No one can let go of the opportunity, but the old man didn't become the sect master of Heavenly Mountain Sect for nothing. He was known for his wisdom and intelligence throughout all sects.

Moreover, he has something that other sects lack, something only the sect master of the Heavenly Mountain sect has access to.

Thousands of years ago, a cultivator descended from higher heavens. Everyone believed him from the second heaven when he visited the sect, also called upper heaven. They are all fools, frogs in a well, but the cultivator didn't divulge anything.

He was indeed from higher heavens, but the place he is from is called fifth heaven, where we only knew about two; the one they were in and the one above.

The cultivator only told the truth and other secrets while drunk to the then sect master. When he got sober, he made the sect master promise not to tell anyone, for there would be repercussions. The sect master wasn't a fool, but it is too valuable information to forget.

He promised that he would only relay it to the next sect master and no other. He promised it would only pass between sect masters, making an excuse that it is required. They would be adequately prepared for any threat that could descend on them from other heavens that could kill thousands of innocents.

Only after a long plea and a soul pact did the cultivator agree. A condition came with the agreement; he would make the same pact with anyone with the person he revealed the information, and they had to do the same.

The Soul pact came with enormous repercussions for anyone who broke it. Their soul breaks apart into thousand pieces, and the person becomes a lifeless husk. Every part of the body breaks every day and repairs itself. The person feels every pain but can't vent their frustrations.

Moreover, even he becomes a sort of immortal for he couldn't die. He could last for a long time without any food. Even when others try to kill him, he regenerates back.

There are only two ways out of this situation. One is to wait for thousand years when the curse ends, and the person can die or find the antidote in the Death Valley. Death Valley is located in the third heaven, so it's an absolute nightmare for those in the lower two heavens. Even ordinary cultivators don't dare enter the Death Valley who are from the fourth heaven.

One of those secrets is about the occurrence that had similarities to what happened at the Heavenly Peak sect. The cultivator found an ancient scroll in one of the secret realms. It described the rise of a power that could rule all of the nine heavens one day.

Most of the details about this power got erased with time. Still, the cultivator could clearly decode one thing, there was a description of black lightning appearing in the sky.

The old man isn't sure if this is what was written about in the ancient scroll or not.

He doesn't want to gamble the life of his sect as no doubt others are preparing for. If it was a forthcoming announcement of that new power, he definitely wouldn't want to be on its wrong side.

He doesn't know whether the power would be an ally or an enemy of the Heavenly Peak sect. He decided to be cautious; even if a spark appeared, he wouldn't barge into the mess without rationally thinking.

He has to be sure, and there are plenty of idiots who would make excellent Guinea pigs. The decision would depend on what happens with those.

With that, he spoke, "Elders of the sect make preparations but don't start anything that causes enmity with Heavenly Peak sect or any other sects. We would prepare but only with caution. Even if we aren't benefitted, make sure we don't lose anything."

"Sect Master, I advise that the Sect Master think …."

The old man silenced him before he said anything more, with a wave of his hand, "Brat, you are an Elder for not even a decade, and you dare to advise me. Forget not; you only got this position because of your grandfather, the Grand Elder. SO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT."

No one dared to speak, seeing that the Sect Master was angered.

Everyone dispersed to act as ordered by the old man.

---

Erik stretched out his body with a yawn. He had a peaceful rest as now he is an outer disciple, and he still has chances to grow stronger.

Moreover, he now can collect a new technique for free from the skills hall. Every new outer disciple has a chance to get a free technique of their choice.

He first needed to go see the Elder for the uniform and a slip that would give him access to get the free technique.

He quickly cleaned himself up and went straight to the administrative building.