Chapter 32: The Changes In The Metal Sect
Eastern Continent
The attack done by the rogue cultivators caused insurmountable damage and chaos on various Sects and Clans throughout the entire Eastern Continent. Aside from pillaging of resources the rogue cultivators instigated rebellions from all over the place and even went as far as encouraging to settle old scores.
Hundreds of factions were instantly annihilated overnight due to the coordinated simultaneous attack Continent wide. It was considered lucky for the forces who just returned from the war with the Continental Isle to recall all forces and be on the defensive until they have recuperated.
This action by some coincidentally saved them, the entire Eastern Continent was shocked of such provocation against the various Sects and Clans that spanned back for several thousands of years.
This of course invited a massive hunting parties from the first class Sects to “train” their disciples to hunt down the criminals.
Very few factions survived the rogue cultivator offensive relatively intact like the Metal Sect. Despite their massive casualties their resources and legacy arts remained untouched allowing them to recuperate back to their peak given time… especially now that Sera Hawke has taken the helm of this ship.
Days came by and the damage reports dealt by the rogue cultivators are still coming continuously. The Eastern Continent is vastly larger compared to the Western Continent and the Continental Isle even back in its prime combined by at last 5 times.
These damage reports are most likely reports from weeks if not months ago only coming here now due to the sheer size of the Eastern Continent. That also means, that if the rogue cultivators decided to hide the first rate factions would have to spend a very long time and a lot of resources just to deal with bandits. Something that most people knew they won’t do.
Currently the majority of the Eastern Continent is being torn apart by lawlessness and rebellion, making the factions like the battered Metal Sect look like a safe heaven to the refugees who fled with as much as they can as quickly as possible.
“ok, now that you have all gathered here my proposition still stands follow me as the new Sect master of the Metal Sect or get in line to receive your severance and rewards in the service of the Sect” Sera said as she tried to sound and look empathetic to these people
In truth Sera Hawke could not care any less if each and everyone left the Metal Sect right now, she will just hand out the rewards, shake their hands and be done with them. What’s really important to Sera Hawke right now is the information in the scroll that the former Sect Head gave her before his death.
The scroll depicts of a heavenly metal mine that could continuously produce precious metals as long as it is fed spiritual energies or mana. Something that could make her a real powerhouse right here on the Eastern Continent.
This world in general is considered by Sera as backwards due to the over reliance to magic. Because of magic and the such science and technology are pretty much steam and clockwork at best.
But in her hands Sera could not only build an army but depending on the capacity of this heavenly metal mine she could probably create a smaller version of a death star looking down on all creations of this world.
This line of thought alone makes Sera Hawke want to drool. Several days after the disciples of the Metal Sect recuperated enough to walk around Sera again popped the question stay or leave?
And as expected ninety nine percent of the disciples decided to take the severance and rewards to separate from the Metal Sect. In their minds after the Veterans, Elders and then the death of the Sect Head this new Metal Sect with a stranger leading them would have no future.
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Aside from the outer sect disciples who have nowhere else to go decided to continue their lives normally as is. 1 out of 10 only manages to enter the inner sect and on the light of the rogue cultivator’s invasion severely damaging the Sect, these outer sect disciples could only be content that they could still cultivate better that rogue cultivators who literally have to fight tooth and nail for resources that even outer sect disciples like them could casually pick on the ground.
“I am saddened by your decisions but a promise is a promise, you can be rest assured that I will do my best to live up to the former Sect Head’s expectations”
Despite her sad facade Sera Hawke could barely contain her excitement! According to the scroll she received from the former Sect Head only the core members of the Sect knew about the heavenly metal mine that could constantly produce precious metals. And with the death of the Elders and the Sect Head only Sera Hawke knew of its existence right now!
It took several more days to liquidate the assets of the Metal Sect and distribute them to the disciples who wanted to leave. What made it took longer was the copying of the cultivation manuals something that Sera did not bother with because she had the entire collection and Legacy inside the former Sect head’s spatial pouch.
There are several dozen mining site within the territory of the Metal Sect but the grand majority of them are simply mundane ores and minerals. There are only 2 actual mining sites that mattered one is a spiritual ore mine that produces metals with spiritual energy and spirits stones or more commonly known as mana stones back at the Continental Isle.
The second mining site is the most important one and probably no less in comparison to a Dragon Vein. The heavenly metal mine which is hidden within the depths of the Sect itself, had it not been for the sheer amount of resources poured towards its defense the Metal Sect could easily reach the status of a second rate Sect by this generation.
The Flying Fortress is currently hovering silently above the Sect grounds being a symbol of awe and terror as the disciples still remember the might of the Flying Fortress during the battle with the rogue cultivators.
“the Metal Sect is over” said one of the leaving disciple
“yeah, who would follow a random stranger seriously?”
“she saved our lives!” said another
“a stranger still nonetheless. Who knows how long she can defend a broken down Sect?”
“regardless!, we should be thankful that we even got payed before leaving the Sect”
“agreed. If it was any other person they would likely just take everything for themselves”
The disciples could only sigh at the tragedy of the Metal Sect though it was only a third rate Sect it was still a Sect that had several hundred if not several thousand years as its foundation.
The former disciples of the Metal Sect scattered to the wind to find their own fortunes. Some decided to live a normal life and be content with what they have, some decided to join the bigger Sects to increase their chance for a breakthrough and support their cultivation while there are a few who decided that maybe ow is the era of rogue cultivators and thought it would be a good idea to become bandits.
Several days after those who wanted to leave have left, those who wanted to stay were put to work after several days of physical and mental recuperation. These outer sect disciples were quickly sent to mine mundane metals which had very little spirituality.
Sera told them that each outer sect disciple have a quota of 1 ton of metal to turn in every week otherwise they would not get cultivation resources. This of course made the disciples disgruntled but based on their situation this is already better than most of the cultivators out there.
These were literally a mountain range filled with resources. Sera could build a lot with it but the mechanized jet fighters are being used to monitor the entire territory and its surroundings to avoid any surprise attacks otherwise she would not have to rely in a meagre amount of 500 outer sect disciple with only a handful of early foundation establishment stage.
Though this method are crude it was not that slow either, the disciples of the Metal Sect even outer sect disciples have a huge affinity towards metal rather than hitting them with pickaxes they use a special method to extract solid metal out of the mineral veins. Needless to say it is an extremely taxing process which Sera had to tell that this is part of their training.
Few believed her on that but since they are getting paid for their work they aren’t really bothered by it. Gemini Doc would heal the outer sect disciples turned miners every time they would overexert themselves with the use of Sera Hawke’s special medicine making them stronger ever so slightly each day.
Despite the ever present spiritual energy and or magical phenomena Sera wanted to have a more conventional and stable method to generate energy. Solar and wind energy is a given considering the location but also steam powered turbines simply due to the seemingly inexhaustible amount of trees in the biggest continent on this world.
In just 2 months after Sera Hawke took over the Metal Sect she already started constructing modern facilities made of stone and steel mined from the mountain range. By this time the outer sect disciples have already received medication from Gemini Doc which made their body stronger and their cultivation smoother.
They are already prepared to make a breakthrough towards the foundation establishment sage, but when they came down from the mountain mines they were completely shocked at the sight.
“w-where the hell are we!?” one said extremely confused and panicked
“did we exit the wrong side of the mountain?” another asked
“don’t be ridiculous we may be outer sect disciples but we have been here for years now!” he shouted
“then how do you explain that”
They pointed at where the Metal Sect was supposed to be only to be awed by a city seemingly made out of steel. Eventually they gathered their courage to investigate further and found out that this is indeed still the Metal Sect only better and more worthy of its name “Metal Sect”.
Sera managed to bribe some of the inner sect disciples who were supposed to leave into staying and help her in managing the place making them temporarily have the authority of an Elder. Of course they don’t have the personal strength to back up their temporary rank so Sera have 100 mechanized jet fighters transform into humanoid form to attend to these temporary Elders in their duties.
When they arrive they asked W-where is the Matriarch?” they asked as they tried to sound in a respectful manner.
“She can see and hear you, just talk to one of those Steel puppet things” the temporary Elder pointed at the mechanized jet fighter in its humanoid mech form.
“M-matriarch can you hear me? We have done as you told and we are here to collect the reward and ready to breakthrough the foundation establishment stage”
“hmm? Oh aaahh yes I remember, good work. now get your rewards from one of the temporary Elders managing the place. Your new dwellings are in the spire the big shiny structure touching the sky it’s very hard to miss just take any unoccupied room, they keys are either of your hands check the manual I have distributed everything new is in there. Now I am busy go bother the temporary Elder”
With that Sera cut off the communication to the stunned representative of the outer sect disciples.
“T-this… I’m not dreaming am I!?”
With a sigh one of them could only say “those who left really made a bad rushed decision”
They could only shake their heads and click their tongues “tsk tsk tsk”
“looks like our future here in the Metal Sect is not so bleak after all” they all thought as they get reinvigorated with more and firmer dedication towards the Metal Sect.