8 Years, Just Like That

The next day, in the Small City.

The Small City changed overnight. The once partially lively City became festive and ordained with the help of most northerners. It wasn't slavery, though. They decided to collectively take part in the south's victory over the Calatida Region's rulership war. By now, the Universal Conveyance brimmed with news of the Aqualian Drake Sect and Forestalress Academy taking that role.

Many things would come in due time, but for now, the Calatida Region would celebrate for an entire week. On the other hand, the ruling organizations were preparing an enormous budget to send every soldier and auxiliary unit off. Too many died, including the enemy. Some work had to be done to deal with the aftermath.

Like this, instead of funding the festivities, the Region was getting ready for a monumental burial ceremony. It would happen at the canyon, with broadcasting channels everywhere for the inhabitants, and a few Universal Conveyances channels. But only inhabitants would be allowed at the canyon on that day.

… In a private district, private for the following days, atop a pyramid-like structure, Heian Ciemnosc sat cross-legged in fashionable, yet humble clothes, all dark. Before the pyramid’s stairs was an area that was already taken by a couple of thousands at the rear and middle, and a few hundred at the front, in front of the pyramid-like’s stairs.

The Headmaster, Vice sect master, and Tulla were at the front with their people behind them. The Sect Master and Vice sect master had already spoken, and from the looks of it, Floris would leave her brother and join Heian Ciemnosc as his subordinate. On the other hand, the Sect Master also let Tulla bring whoever she wanted out of the Sect. Some Elders and even a few Ancestors that were still far from the Farsighted realm followed her.

The Headmaster had brought everyone with her. When she walked into this place, she held onto that Giant’s hand, and it seemed warmly. The people she brought with her were all the higher ups and upper echelons. Anyone could guess what she was thinking. The Aqualian Drake Sect’s Sect Master occasionally gave the Headmaster a ‘good luck, lass’ face as Heian Ciemnosc meditated.

Behind them, the Aqualian Drake Sect’s Sect Master sat cross-legged before the 1,000 core, inner, and even outer disciples, representing his organization’s top disciples. Meanwhile, the Headmaster represented the rear, center, and front of her people.

Finally, Heian Ciemnosc opened his darkest eyes. He stared at everyone standing before him and slowly stood up. His tall figure became more enunciated. Coupled with the achievements that this man had attained, he was an insurmountable mountain that only a few select in the world could think of competing with him. In the younger generation, that is.

“Before starting, Denisse, Tulla, and Vice sect master. Come with me.” Heian Ciemnosc walked down the stairs and turned around midways to the ground. A hidden hatch opened. Heian Ciemnosc entered it, followed by Tulla and Denisse, who weren’t called by their title. The Vice sect master, Floris, followed shortly after.

… Inside the structure, the Vice sect master found the other 2 and Heian Ciemnosc waiting for her. They stood at his sides while he stood in between, facing her as she landed her feet a meter before him. Before Heian Ciemnosc could express anything, Floris took her robes off and walked towards Heian Ciemnosc before kneeling on his shoes, hugging them with her knees.

“Black monster, I willingly follow you. When I leave, I promised my brother I would still care for our organization. I wish to send gifts to the Sect from time to time. May I-” Before Floris could continue as her hands softly massaged Heian Ciemnosc’s thighs, he stopped her by flicking her forehead.

“...?” Floris looked up, startled as to what was happening. Heian Ciemnosc tilted his head and shook it lightly, “What do you intend to do? Do you think I’m all dick and no brain? Stand up. I never request my people to let me bed them in exchange for letting them under my wings. That’s a fate for slaves and prisoners. What I offer doesn’t need any act, only my will. Or do you still want me to embrace you? Hold you?”

“... No,” the ex-Vice sect master gradually stood up, recognizing her misunderstanding. She pondered for half a day before shaking her head slightly, embarrassed to back off after getting this far. Heian Ciemnosc grinned and picked her chin up as his dark Vigor Energy clothed her, giving her loose robes anti-Spirit Sense that hid even most of her shoulders and her collarbone.

“To know how and when to back off isn’t just an honorable man’s piece of wisdom. I expect all my people to know that well.” Said Heian Ciemnosc. His words reached the ex-Vice sect master, who recuperated her composure and looked at his darkest eyes.

“You’ve seen my daughter’s skills. It wasn’t all me. Learning and improving comes from oneself, not from learning from others. If that wasn’t the case, the entire world would’ve been filled with Generals and Great Sages.” Heian Ciemnosc caressed Floris’s left cheek with his right thumb, slowly driving it to her forehead through her left temple.

“I understand,” Floris imperceptibly nodded. She knew what was coming. To be honest, she was nervous. She expected an imminent sensation of her body shuddering in a light or sudden pain before feeling comfortable, so she closed her eyes. But before she could feel his thumb on her face again and follow it with her sense of touch, it had already left her glabella. Her head wobbled back and forth a little before she opened her eyes with a startle.

“There you go. Now, let’s go. I have a crowd to strengthen,” Heian Ciemnosc said as he walked towards the only entrance and exit. Floris looked at her new comrades, feeling silly. However, it wasn’t her fault for thinking someone with only personal female subordinates wasn’t banging everything that moved. This, Denisse understood. Thus, she placed her left hand on Floris’s right shoulder and comforted her.

“Don’t worry, he has enough with me. And it’s really delicious. More for me,” Headmaster Denisse said before leaving for the exit. Meanwhile, the 2 old comrades looked at each other and noticed the other’s speechlessness. “... “- “...”

Heian Ciemnosc exited from the hidden hatch and reappeared before everyone again. This time, his daughter, her maids, Molto, Grietta, Tania, and his Eternal Return Team sat on different steps of the pyramid-like structure. Heian Ciemnosc nodded at them after staring at each before proceeding to the top.

His new subordinates proceeded to sit cross-legged before their people and waited for Heian Ciemnosc, who ascended the stairs at his own pace, to reach the topmost step. Once Heian Ciemnosc sat cross-legged again, facing the crowd, he started cultivating.

His dual cultivation method was employed as hundreds of shapeless, dark energy strands filed with his 3 power sources flew towards the crowd. They were stricken, but only for a moment. They stared at their leading figures, and seeing their calmness, they remembered their instructions before focusing on cultivating to the best of their capabilities.

They didn’t feel when it made contact with their bodies, but they felt their Souls stirring as their cultivation overall efficiency exponentially increased. Some nearly moaned, while most of the 1,000 chosen disciples and 1,000 students slightly gasped. The rest were silent.

Heian Ciemnosc’s people were used to it, and even Anastasia’s maids had tasted this group cultivation method. But it was the first time for anyone else. Except for Denisse. Tulla was astounded, but she felt more gloating when she realized what kind of monstrous monster she followed. As for Floris, she was astronomically surprised. Once, she hoped to rope Heian Ciemnosc into her Sect. Even now, before the cultivation session began.

Now, however, Floris can only think of the future… This was one of the effects that Heian Ciemnosc would affect on more and more people from hereon…

‘This black monster… Heian Ciemnosc… He cannot be refused… Is following him… my purpose?’ For someone who had become a Third Step organization, to just follow a person without their organization formally accepting them… It was unthinkable. Especially when there’s no conflict between them, but many things worked this way. It was just that… Floris never thought it’d happen to her.

The first day of the cultivating session began. Heian Ciemnosc remained there for 4 days before stopping and bringing his people away, including his subordinates’ groups. From that day on, the Headmaster of the Forestalress Academy, Tulla, and Floris were also his people. On the other hand, the crowd remained there for another day before departing.

Half the peak Life-Long realm cultivators were ready to breakthrough into the Farsighted realm. The Small City had more than enough cultivating rooms to bring them the opportunity and safety they needed. As for the others, they received a boost in their cultivation base, as usual.

On the other hand, Heian Ciemnosc brought Denisse to his bedroom, leaving the others baffled. She was definitely getting extra points for nothing. However, they didn’t know that Heian Ciemnosc only bedded Denisse a few times with his dual cultivation method before simply fornicating like the animals they are.

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The Headmaster had a little someone in her heart, but it was a still distant relationship. Whatever the case it was with that Giant, Dylan, the Headmaster would continue wallowing with Heian Ciemnosc until things started to look solid, if they even could… Nevertheless, it wasn’t something that influenced the 3 of them.

Time can really pass quickly, especially when Heian Ciemnosc’s dual cultivation base provided progress to Grietta and Tania. Not only were their meditation sessions better off in the coming years, they could also feel their pure energy refinement and quality/quantity improve to lengths they believed unreachable for themselves.

If they weren’t at the peak of the Universal realm, they would’ve needed at least a decade to break into another stage in the later stages. Nevertheless, this still helped them. Like a ‘guiding’ hand that showed them the way to the next Step’s refinement process. A sneak peek.

Naturally, because of Heian Ciemnosc suddenly going hardcore to cultivate, Grietta and Tania didn’t have time to spend organizing massive bukkakes or the like. Despite the humiliating acts they suff- no, they enjoyed before, they were treated with equal respect as before.

Of course, it would be like that. Not only were they monumentally some of the strongest cultivators in the Third Step. They were also acclaimed as the greatest in any melee focused combat. What’s more, the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s ‘policy’ of sexual endeavors allowed for little to no, so as to not say nonexistent, shaming between comrades.

If anything, the fact that they, being allowed and available to indulge themselves, gave the Soldiers and Officers pleasure, was a reason to venerate their superiors even more. Of course, as long as it wasn’t brought to mindless stupidity… Or at least not all the times, and only sometimes and on special occasions.

Although this would also happen with men, Heian Ciemnosc was an exception. How dare he covet the goddess Chairwoman?! However, after many years commanded by him… It couldn’t be helped, he was being accepted in a way they never thought possible. This was the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s acknowledgement. Few things would be as astronomically meaningful as that.

Either way, Grietta and Tania became off-limits, and only Heian Ciemnosc could use them. The Crimsons lamented, but… coming from the black monster… it seemed fitting.

. . .

7 years and 5 months later.

After the week-long celebration, the burial ceremony began. It lasted 50 hours and didn’t stop until the 2 days of mourning finished. The canyon was crowded with tens of millions, all moved by the navy directly to the Northeastern’s northern beach.

It started simple. The people were orderly spread throughout the canyon, with several auxiliary units around to keep them safe from stupidity or incidents. Then, the cases, approximately a torso’s length and width, with a head’s height, flew towards the canyon. Hundreds of millions of ornamental cases were placed across the deep, crescent crater as dirt and sand were constantly poured down.

A few underground river currents were artificially made as the canyon was filled up. The inhabitants watching gave it numerous names. Such as ‘Canyon of the dead’, ‘Canyon of the Sand, Dirt, and People’, ‘Burial Canyon’, etc. Heian Ciemnosc was present only for the last hour to witness the new rivers and the place where the future settlements would become a historical marvel.

The world continued living after that. Things were simple to work with, but the supreme commander didn’t immediately order more auxiliary units to be recruited. First, a hundred million was sent to repair the damage in the Southeast and Southwest. Meanwhile, once every villager lost or hidden in the north was sent to the south, the special operation’s armies leveled the land sections to only vegetation.

After the cleanup, the re-building commenced. First, they started a fortress where the northern Medium Cities once were. Building various watchtowers around them beforehand. Additionally, they built supreme-sized villages in strategic points to create a well-built infrastructure where the villages were connected to all possible trading routes if one wanted to travel by either air or land.

Then, the supreme-sized towns were built, littering them around the north like they are in the south. Moreover, defensive towers were built around them, with the hundred million still in the south already starting their creation around the towns, forts, and outposts over there. After the towns and their defensive towers were built, it was time for the outposts and forts.

The outposts and forts were also surrounded by those defensive towers around their perimeter, forming a much safer environment for the garrisoned units and the army. Those defensive towers also increased the response and swiftness of the roads whenever an incident occurred.

Afterwards, the auxiliary units focused on finishing the 2 ports built between the northern territories. No further ports were built in the north, they were just not necessary, and the south covered enough oceanic river territory while the north held the northern oceanic river in adequate protection and vigilance. The ports were built just a few hundred thousand kilometers from their upper Region borders, after all.

For the North, 4 Fleets were enough, but the south would increase it to 8 per territory. Since they were one now, and ruled under the same boss, there was no reason for the ruling organizations’ to fight for having more numbers or so. In the end, they had to divide their forces between the south and north, east and west, to protect it.

In under 3 years, with the higher number of auxiliary units spread throughout the northern territories, the north finally became habitable. The Northeasterners were the first to return to their home. They were flabbergasted when they saw their land looking as promising and prominent as the south. With a bit of hard work, the auxiliary units, cultivators and citizens, distributed the people to the supreme-sized villages, towns, and to live in the fortress.

The fortress was like a different City made for protection, but it worked like a City with or without war. It needed people, inhabitants, to live there and populate the ginormous fort. It was a fairly new concept, but one that nobody felt annoyed with. During the first months, it was brand-new and exotic, but after a year, the inhabitants got used to their new home.

With this, the Northwestern candidly returned to their homes. After they were distributed throughout the supreme-sized settlements and the fortress, they felt an enormous difference from a few, short years ago. It was as if the entire Region’s fate had changed.

They weren’t forced to move to the supreme-sized settlements. Those who refused would just build their villages elsewhere, and others would be selected for the job. There was no shortage of capable ‘enough’ people with the right attitude. This concept brought from their attitude-driven supreme commander spread in the special operation’s army.

As for why it wasn’t disbanding yet and the ruling organizations recuperated their soldier units… Their task wasn’t over, not completely.

The ruling organizations made more shocking changes under the supreme commander’s counseling. Now, all First Step organizations could indiscriminately recruit people into their organizations. They could gather resources, too. But only those with a permit, and with the machinery that the ruling organizations will provide them. Not for free, though.

Additionally, they could now own territory, but only by being accepted by the village head or major and with the Academy and Sect branches in the settlements could they expand their territory. They would oversee the settlements’ well-being through missions and tasks, but not compulsorily. However, the settlements’ expansion and birth rate was their responsibility, at least for the following tens of thousands of years. And keeping the peace between them.

Were there to be any high-end task they could not deal with, the First Step organizations could call upon the Second Step organization whose territory they’re in. Because, indeed, Second Step organizations were finally ‘legal’.

A Second Step organization must take a wide territory, farther than 30,000 kilometers radius from any other, and they cannot directly start a conflict. Nevertheless, ‘peaceful’ territory overtaking was possible, and conflicts could result from them, which was optimal.

For the First Step organizations within their territory, they could yield to them and decide to become a vassal or to simply respond to them. Of course, they could also be ‘convinced’ to become either. Or simply not. Whatever happened from there would be their little story, and nothing else.

Second Step organizations were tasked with the well-being of their territory, be it the ecosystem or the Myriad Races, and peace between First Step organizations. No all-out, several-ways wars could occur in the tens of thousands of years to come. The recruiting system allowed for the next 100,000 years was simple, silly, and punishing for both ‘parties’.

The recruiting and those who seek recruitment. The organizations could visit the settlements once every 3, 6 months or a year. However, each time the First Step organizations would be the first to recruit, followed by the Second Step organizations.

One could easily imagine the embarrassment of being too arrogant to enter a First Step or too conceited to deny entrance to a civilian or citizen as a Second or First Step organization for whatever reason. Only for things to result in an opera of regret or tragic stupidity.

Second Step organizations had the same obligations as a First Step organization, with an extra ‘tribute’ of 5% of their earnings. As a result, the ruling organizations will have them as their people without needing to become vassals. Of course, there were too many benefits if they did turn into vassals of the Sect or Academy.

Finally, the Small City Heian Ciemnosc started with just 300,000 auxiliary units became a Medium City.

After the 3 years rebuilding the north, the majority of the auxiliary units were sent to the Southeastern territory to build a Medium City out of the Small City. Furthermore, the Medium Cities would become the Sect and Academy’s fortresses, where they could rule the Region from.

At first, Heian Ciemnosc wanted to divide the east for the Sect and the west for the Academy. However, they were too connected now, and their soldier units were already as one. Furthermore, their auxiliary units were unrecognizable, knowing well to aid every land section as if they were their children. All in all, a love for the land was never erroneous.

The Medium City, where both the Headmaster and Sect Master would bring their leading figures, deciding figures that would govern the Calatida Region’s matters, was built in under 5 years. It became one of the most beloved constructions, far surpassing the resupplied arsenal and southern fortresses.

Like this, the oceanic rivers were filled with merchants, fishers, and the navy. The Region still ‘forced’ outsiders into their military, but it wasn’t as inflexible as back then. The cultivators could avoid it by having their Universal Conveyances installed with a time limit without localization features, unless their vitality diminished greatly to basically about to die… to retrieve the corpse.

Either way, from nearly 2 decades ago, 2* Region whose conflict even 3* Regions rarely suffer was overcome and became a wonderland for both cultivators and non-cultivators.

…