20 Years Of Secluded Cultivation

“Brother Lingmin, you go ahead and start!” Xue Feifei said after the meeting continued as intended. Everyone had greeted each other. Now that things proceeded officially, they became silent and waited for someone to speak up. The young Snow Fox said as she smiled, dexterously in all her beauty, to the same young man as before. The young man looked at her before checking everyone's faces. If there was one thing among the Universal Lands, it was the acclaimed strongest battling Existential Sixth Step organization, the Toreon Clan.

“If everyone is alright with it, I’ll commence with a few words,” the young man said in a loud, stable voice. There was something to not only belonging to that Clan, but also being the Young Master destined to inherit the Patriarch’s position. If it was only his companion attending the meeting, even if the other renown figures weren’t here, they wouldn’t be taken into much consideration as he is now.

Lingmin Toreon saw the acceptance in the others’ faces and nodded towards them before standing. He spread his arms a little before commencing, “I believe that because the Soul Race’s Est Soul Empire was the sole victim in this war in the Lsefattern Kingdom, they should have their turn first. Followed by the Heraxle Clan, to explain themselves, and then the Dynasty.”

“Why is my Dynasty last, young master Lingmin?” The Snow Fox older woman spoke at this very moment, interjecting Lingmin Toreon’s arrangements. The latter didn’t grow dissatisfied. He addressed her calmly. “Senior, the Flora-Sweet White-Heavens Dynasty’s people are positioned in a vastly better position than the Soul Race’s people. They’ve been… removed from the Turtle Hiding Region, and it won’t be simple for them to want to recuperate.”

Lingmin Toreon gave Heraxle Pinor a glance as he finished speaking. The meeting grew silent, but Lingmin Toreon continued. “We’ll give word to Est Selaya first. She can speak, question, and request for anything she wishes. It will be the same for the Snow Foxes present. It’s your time to question the Heraxle Clan’s inactivity, after all. As for the Heraxle Clan, they can only explain themselves when it is their turn.”

“Agreed,” the Head of Bluenet Nation’s National Security lifted his left hand and proclaimed. The Soul Race members, Uster Orion Grotto’s people, Axe-Filany Sect, and the Heraxle Clan agreed as well. The Snow Foxes fell pensive for a few moments before nodding.

“Est Selaya, please. You may commence,” Lingmin Toreon signaled to the Soul beauty sitting in her chair like a sharp spearhead. She nodded at Lingmin and stood up. Her Soulish body appeared tantalizing as she just stood on her feet with her Soulish clothes, unlike Ogork or her companion in this meeting.

“We shall start by questioning the Heraxle Clan for their inactivity, as young master just pointed out,” Est Selaya stared at Heraxle Pinor calmly, without any glints of emotions or desire to get revenge. Heraxle Pinor returned a neutral expression before Est Selaya commenced, “Knowing the ‘black monster’ you sent there had shown signs of disobedience beforehand, why did you send him to the Lsefattern Kingdom? Our border Kingdom?”

The question was quite audacious, even bold, but Est Selaya’s eyes didn’t show viciousness. They merely narrowed a little and nothing more. Heraxle Pinor leaned forth in his seat and lifted his chin before replying. His voice was a little low, “The Heraxle Clan doesn’t command every organization in their territory as if they were brought up by us since they were in their mothers’ bellies, and we raised them up with our hands.”

“No,” Heraxle Pinor shook his head, ”The Crimsonbreaking Faction was tasked with the border Kingdom’s activities after our representative there showed signs of losing control. Turns out, our previous representative was no longer thinking for the Clan. Anyhow, the Faction chose their ‘champion’. We only selected where that champion came from. And they did their job, as expected.”

“Are the losses our Soul Race, your ally, suffered also in your expectations?” Est Selaya immediately followed, not bothering to get a straight answer, focusing on Heraxle Pinor directly. He answered candidly, “We never imagined the situation would recur to that. However, we also didn’t know what was going on after decades of our representative going under the radar.”

“The Clan desires to maintain our current relationship… if the Soul Race also wishes for it,” Heraxle Pinor lifted his eyes, quite narrowed, to Est Selaya’s eyes before returning to normal and continuing. “Nevertheless, it doesn’t change that my Heraxle Clan’s border Kingdom remains as it is. The Heraxle Clan’s.”

“…” Est Selaya’s lips stopped, just as she was about to ask once more with the same reaction speed as before. She crossed her arms before her solar plexus and stared at the Heraxle Clan’s Holy Son, second young master.

Finally, she asked with her eyes seemingly relaxing, “Do you recognize the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s actions, the black monster’s leadership, as autonomous? Were they, in any way, influenced by your Heraxle Clan? Did they act upon their own goals and schemes?”

Heraxle Pinor gently smiled from ear to ear for a second before responding with a neutral face, “Of course. The Crimsonbreaking Faction can do as they wish. As for rebelling against us, or conspiring with other Existential Sixth Step organizations. I think nobody here needs to me repeat the words going in your heads.”

Step, thud. Est Selaya turned and sat back in her seat. Heraxle Pinor lightly breathed in, while his companion seemed a little fidgety. Selaya crossed her arms again, and without debating with her companion, she directly put some conditions on the table. “I want remunerations for my Empire. Our companions can debate that later. If possible, what if the border Kingdom’s parties decide to strike back the black monster’s forces?”

“Sure, you can try that,” Heraxle Pinor said. Est Selaya’s eyes narrowed a lot with these words. Pinor offered more words after a few seconds from her reaction, “But don’t confuse the border Kingdom’s matters with my Universal Land. Target the Crimsonbreaking Faction, and you’ll find the Heraxle Clan reminding everyone what kind of defensive force we can pull.”

“Hmph, what wise words, brother Pinor,” Xue Feifei sarcastically commented with a low voice from the side. Pinor looked at her but said nothing. Est Selaya delicately waved her right hand in the air with her arm fully extended and said, “That’s all for me. The Soul Race isn’t interested in breaking our relationship with the Heraxle Clan for a trifling dispute between your Kingdom’s territory. Alright. That’s it.”

“It is the Heraxle Clan’s turn to explain themselves,” Lingmin Toreon nodded before saying, staring at Heraxle Pinor at last. Heraxle Pinor gave a slow, heavy nod before addressing everyone present. “Before saying anything, I’ll give everyone the opportunity to question my Heraxle Clan as they wish. We’ll respond accordingly, as long as you ask within your limits.”

“I’ll start,” Xue Feifei stood up after seeing Heraxle Pinor not stand up and hearing his words. She faced him and coldly asked with a light smile on her lips, filled with schadenfreude. “With all these problems arising, and the situation only growing tenser in the Universal Lands, wouldn’t it be better to just let go of that black monster?”

“That’s true. It’s a concern that we can’t avoid,” the Heraxle Clan responded. But, this time, it wasn’t Heraxle Pinor. Everyone looked at his companion, the short man, who looked down and lightly caressed his chin with his left index finger’s back side.

“…?” Pinor looked at his companion and frowned slightly. Seeing this, Xue Feifei playfully smiled before supporting the short man, “Yes? What is it?”

“The Heraxle Clan might give this Heian Ciemnosc to the Est Soul Empire and the Snow Foxes’ Dynasty. But what will it be of the trade for him? He’s valuable, af-” as the short man talked, the other pairs’ companions narrowed their eyes when looking at him. But suddenly, Heraxle Pinor waved his right arm upwards towards the short man and voiced in a heavy tone.

“The Heraxle Clan won’t give one of our people away because others asked for it!” Then, Pinor looked at the short man, whose face started sweating heavily, and looked up at him in trepidation. Pinor continued, “If there is really such distress in the Universal Lands as you’ve said, my Clan would like to see that. When it comes to handling our people, we manage that ourselves, never giving their most ordinary soldiers to others, let alone their blood and flesh.”

“…” Xue Feifei’s face fell, and her eyes became somber as she tightened her fists, grabbing the chair’s top armrest after listening to those words. Her fangs gritted behind her lips as she hid the anger from within. But Pinor wasn’t finished, and he added, “As I’ve said, the Heraxle Clan is willing to put speak in good word with everyone. But try to touch our people, and you’ll soon find out.”

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“I’m sure the black monster knows what to do with an important figure as Xue Yoler. Senior, you can rest assured that a deal will be struck between you and the black monster’s forces to bring her back home,” Pinor said as his eyes moved to the woman beside Xue Feifei. Then, he looked at his companion.

“She won’t betray her people. Miss Yoler has always been known for loving acting for her people, be it when she was a child, or recently, in her job as a representative. She has always worked for your Dynasty’s benefit and image.” He paused before making a finesse gesture with his right hand towards the short man, “As for how my Clan deals with traitors, or insubordination… Well, I’m sure many of you know about it from the records.”

“I assure you,” Heraxle Pinor looked at the others before returning to the short man, who was sobbing with snot and tears all over his face. “We won’t forgive anyone. And if it ever comes to that with the black monster, it will be the same. But Security Elder Heian Ciemnosc is a man who belongs to my Universal Land… and is highly acclaimed by me and my brother.”

“…” The meeting room was silenced further. The Heraxle Clan’s stance became clearer, and not even Xue Feifei wanted to continue with her adamant opposition.

“How will you act now that the black monster has occupied the Region you signed to allow others to nest their territory in?” Lingmin Toreon suddenly asked from the side. Everyone looked towards him, with Pinor last, as he waited with a neutral expression. However, Lingmin offered no more words and gestured for Pinor to answer.

“That brings us to a different point in my turn, doesn’t it?” Pinor asked, and Lingmin semi-nodded in a positive reply. Pinor gently smiled and started, “It comes at a good time. Since you are so adamant on seeing this matter further. Let us make an agreement here. First, the Heraxle Clan’s border Kingdom is still the Heraxle Clan’s territory. Trespass it, and it means war. Who’s afraid of reckless warring?”

“…” Everyone became surprised again, but Pinor continued with a gentle voice, “Second, the other Existential Sixth Step organizations can send forces to the Lsefattern Kingdom… and the rest of the Collariverse Star Universe. However, you can only send more than 10,000,000 soldier units to the Lsefattern Kingdom.”

Heraxle Pinor looked at everyone’s faces and became satisfied with himself, while the short man sitting beside him was already trembling in sadness. Since they wanted a stage, the Heraxle Clan will give them one. If they wanted to play, the Heraxle Clan will play, too.

“Is there a third?” Xue Feifei asked with a bothered face and severe eyebrows. Pinor’s expression returned to a neutral one as he responded to her, “Indeed. Let this become a sport to let the situation lighten up.”

“The Collariverse Universe was allowed to become independent in that the Heraxle Clan wouldn’t place their branches there, allowing the inhabitants to maintain the safety of the Universal Land. Now that you’re changing these rules… is this what the Heraxle Clan wants?” The Head of National Security interjected at this time.

He seemed to want to say more, but in the end, he didn’t. Pinor nodded and reaffirmed everyone, “If my word is not the Heraxle Clan’s. Then, what the hell am I here for?”

“… … …” The meeting room became silent yet again. After a little while, Xue Feifei stood up again and exclaimed, leaving no chance to become interrupted, not even by the other Snow Fox beside her. “Since we’re gonna accept that, I want to use my turn now. I liked the words Miss Selaya used before. I want to request the other Existential Sixth Step organizations to group with my Flora-Sweet White-Heavens Dynasty and extirpate this tumor off the Universal Lands’ peace! Who’s with my Dynasty?”

“…” Xue Feifei interrupted Heraxle Pinor’s turn, but nobody minded, not even Pinor. After a few moments of silence, Feifei received a response. Est Selaya lifted her left hand high above her head and declared, “My Soul Race is interested. We will join the coalition.”

“My Grotto doesn’t. I will have to leave this opportunity. But thanks, I guess.” From the Uster Orion Grotto’s pair, the renowned figure, a beauty with pale blonde hair and dull brown eyes, lifted her left hand and declared with a fragile countenance. Immediately after, from the Axe-Filany Sect’s pair, a Beast beauty in her humanoid form, yet with gray, long hair that seemed like fur down the middle of her neck lifted her left arm and concisely spoke, “We are also too busy to participate. Next time, I promise.”

“Grrr…” Xue Feifei looked at them and silently growled before stopping as she felt her senior’s hand on top of her right hand, tightly gripping the top armrest again. But then, the Head of National Security lifted his left arm and confidently declared, “My Bluenet Nation has become worried about the black monster’s tyrannic rise to prominence. We will participate in this operation.”

“Good!” Xue Feifei smiled beautifully, feeling a little better. Then, she looked at the only person who hadn’t chosen their side. Lingmin Toreon. Just as all pairs of eyes fell on him, even from the terrified short man beside Heraxle Pinor, he lifted his lowered face and quietly spoke. “I’d like to say our Toreon Clan will help the Dynasty, and the Est Soul Empire… But I’m afraid my Leftover Goldslaughter Universal Land is too far away, and the situation hasn’t developed to the point where my Clan has to move.”

“But, if the Flora-Sweet White-Heavens needs our assistance, we will be there,” Lingmin Toreon finished with that, intertwining his hands below the table, on his lap. Xue Feifei didn’t insist and lightly sighed before nodding, “Sigh~. I understand.”

“I’d like to clarify some things. It’ll be quick, and we can confirm the meeting’s end with it,” Heraxle Pinor stood up before Xue Feifei completely sat down on her chair. She looked at Pinor somewhat resentfully before lowering her gaze to the short man beside him. Everyone else also looked that way, because with Pinor’s words overall, he showed that the Heraxle Clan hadn’t grown soft.

“Go ahead,” Lingmin Toreon said, as if he was a judge. Pinor merely nodded gentlemanly before commencing. He spread his arms and addressed everyone, “Let this not become a reason to find fault between our Universal Land. They are all important, and healing. In a hundred thousand years, if we really want to, we can always start warring against each other again. Before then, let’s limit ourselves to growing a hatred that doesn’t exist yet, but not fight with our full forces. I hope that is understood.”

Clap, clap! Est Selaya slowly stood up and nodded towards Heraxle Pinor. She wasn’t being sarcastic. Soul Races rarely were. The look in her eyes was honest as she said with a clear mind, and nothing in between. “If it wasn’t because of your disinterest in people in power like us, and favor mortals the most, I wouldn’t mind enhancing our relationship with a marriage. A pity.”

“Apologies,” Heraxle Pinor bowed his head and said to Est Selaya before she blinked, returned the nod, and turned around. Her Soul Race companion stood up, deeply bowed to everyone present, and left with humbleness radiating from his Soulish body and physical clothes.

“Haha! That’s right. I had forgotten about the rumors. Eh? Why haven’t you gone out, hunting for more? If I remember correctly, don’t you like going around trying to search for your true, non-cultivator love?” Xue Feifei uproariously laughed, sounding like tender bells, and said with her arms crossed. She added with a touch of ruthlessness, “Or… could it be that you’ve messed up somewhere? Tsk, tsk.”

“I will…” Heraxle Pinor’s eyes became chaotic. Everyone could read the fluctuations of sheer might within him growing chaotic, even Est Selaya, who was walking through the hallways to the mini port. But his words came out calmly a few seconds later, with his fists tightly clenching. “Leave now! This insubordination scum will be punished publicly… huff… If you’re interested, I invite you to watch. Let’s go!”

With that, the Heraxle Clan’s pair left, leaving the remaining 5 Existential Sixth Step organizations, 10 people, behind. The Uster Orion Grotto and Axe-Filany Sect departed shortly after, leaving the coalition of forces behind. Then, the Bluenet Nation’s National Security Head commented before beginning setting things up, “A less than a hundred years old Universe realm boy, and one with Almighty God battle prowess. It was a Baby God, but still… Who would have thought? Hah-heh…”

***

20 years passed since the Turtle Hiding Region became part of the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s territory, which was only the Region’s south, but was now the entire Region. Although the world and the inhabitants in that Region still knew it was the Heraxle Clan they responded to, they couldn’t help but see the Crimsonbreaking Faction as their actual leader, ruler, and master.

20 years. 10 years had been enough to change half the Region from an inhabitant rule to a foreigner’s new base of operations. Although the chief of operation’s doing made the world believe this was the work of a converted grand operation. It remained as an operation per se in the open.

Thus, now that 2 decades had passed, and less than half the Region went under the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s rule… this change was bound to bring more incredulous improvements. One thing was clear though, after living as refugees in the south for a year, the northern inhabitants were enchanted with the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s approach.

A few tens of trillions made things a bit too crowded everywhere. However, this was only for some cities, all Small and Medium Cities. The south still had no problem housing those refugees. Although they were refugees, anyone could tell they didn’t live poorly. They were from the same Region, so that helped in the behavior of others towards them. However, even then, the humane civilian laws the Crimsonbreaking Faction put on them were tough to ignore.

It wasn’t new that an organization would place care on the civilian population, particularly one that isn’t from their Space Station or Kingdom. But it is also not acclaimed. For example, of the Existential Sixth Step organizations, only the Bluenet Nation, Toreon Clan, and the Flora-Sweet White-Heavens Dynasty had formulated civilians laws to not just demand people to become cultivators for them, but for their benefit.

It wasn’t a coincidence that the levels of corruptions, known throughout peak powerhouses in the world, in the other Existential Sixth Step organizations’ Universal Land, were high but deeply concealed.

Even then, as time passed and the Turtle Hiding Region was welcoming the most colorful, warm, and prosperous time even before the Great Sage’s fall. Their chief of operations still concluded debates and decided for the Turtle Hiding region amidst cultivation. Several years passed, but the highest command in his absence still listened to his every word as he calmly cultivated to the Universe realm 3rd stage.

A year after the war, the northern inhabitants were beginning to return to the north via the navy. They were astounded to see so much manpower not belonging to the land forces. After learning a bit from the Crimsons, they came to know about the real division between land forces, navy, and armada. Although there was no armada, that was only for now. But this was just the beginning of the changes they were about to welcome with wide open arms.

…