Moving upwards towards the mansion proper, I came across quite the variety of cultivators all in different stages of karmic imbalance reacting to the situation. Differently, some remained still, as if they had never heard anything, some roamed around the corridors, trying to seem as if they were doing something but just as lost as the others.

It was the competence that brought a surprise, more than I was expecting due to the massive imbalance in karmic forces.

Those were getting things done, moving, and communicating surprisingly well for a random rogue group from a lower sect. Prot and Shen had beat into them some proper reactions to doomsday scenarios.

The general response was pretty typical of an inadequately trained Ghost devouring rogue unit. Still, the fact they had managed to reach this level with the resources they had at hand was quite impressive.

“They are moving away from the town; everyone shift towards passive defense response and await further instructions.”

The force was moving at quite the speed towards the tower; they would find the result of the battle very soon. I didn’t think they would be able to discover my corrupting of their construct, a weak version of the ones at my disposal now that I had control over the army of hair that was in the base.

It was a common tactic of some sectors of the Ghost devouring sect to offer hope of rising to a more powerful neutral sect, which would, in turn, cause the sect to fall into internal strife. No matter how small, there was always a group that didn’t want to head towards a more positive future. We would empower that group, no matter how small, with better resources and techniques under certain conditions.

Once they reclaimed power or destroyed themselves so much, it was a simple matter to swoop in, then we struck. Great benefits without a tremendous amount of investment or risk. It was a pretty common strategy, one they were using to good effect here.

The support force was far more potent than I was expecting. Sending five core formations experts along with all the ground troops. The tower must have more significance to the Neutral faction than I had realized, I was glad we didn’t stick around to chat with them when we were first planning our next course of action.

Now we had to start the next part of the plan. Even with this new enemy hanging over our heads, I would still have to go through the motions of the plan.

I stuck to my path, heading towards the top of the mansion, from there, I could release the signal starting the plan.

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The second bout of alarms told me that that was not necessary.

Shifting back into the array feed, I was greeted by a stone monstrosity rampaging its way towards the mansion.

It seemed Yurt took the huge spiritual waves from the response force as a cue to attack.

The construct had reached the high core formation level of strength, which was impressive for the resources they had access to. One member of Bin Ji’s team must be very talented with formations. I would have to find out who that was. If I could convince him over to join my prime, I was sure he would be a great boon.

“Return to active defense formation. We are currently being attacked by a construct with ties back to the Towering Mountain Sect. Enter ultimate defensive formation.”

Once again, Shen’s gruff voice rang out throughout the whole base. I began making my way back towards the entrance. I would need to meet up with Bin Ji and her small strike force before making our way down to the control room.

After some theatrics where Prot nearly beats me, I would gain control of the constructs and win another point for the good guys.

Just one tiny problem. Bin Ji was already fighting Shen.

She was losing quite severely as well. She was no match for the core formation cultivator, only her team around her, and the fact that none of the Demon Hair sect members had joined the fight kept her keeping up with the man.

Prot was still down below in the control room. I could feel him sending out orders to fight off the construct and to assist Shen.

The battle wasn’t looking good for Bin Ji; she was continually losing ground. Her team around her being little to no help. Of course, fighting against a core formation cultivator, they were never going to be useful.

So I picked up the pace a little, speeding past the lucid and non-lucid cultivators alike. None taking notice of me, all content with going about their duties in this defensive plan. There training had to be admired.

I arrived soon after at the scene of the battle.

Shen was standing over Bin Ji, ready to deliver a fatal blow. I couldn’t let him take out of my star accomplices out of the running just like that.

A tendril of yellow energy was sent hurtling out, slamming into Shen like a collapsing mountain. I moved Bin Ji out of the way in the same motion. She was sent sliding along the floor into the hands of the Towering mountain cultivators nearby.

She was safe. Shen began standing once again, ready to take on this new foe.

His face morphed, his mouth dropped suddenly open. He was surprised it was me. Of all the reactions, I didn’t think that would be the one I was faced with. I had thought I was immediately suspicious, the first one to suspect when anything went wrong.

Yet he was surprised. Maybe I was a better actor than I thought.

“Byren, you betrayed us. How?”

Ah, I had forgotten about the oath I had sworn on my qi. No sane cultivator, no matter of what karmic origin was ever really willing to swear on our QI. Our cultivation and life efforts rested in that power. You had to love a cause a whole lot to be ready to destroy it through such a measure.

“Yes?”