Celebrations! Celebrations!!

After the first batch of northern inhabitants returned to their homes, they were stunned to see the enormous change after the war. Before leaving it, they could see the practically dead land and smoke everywhere, with scorched signs of live from some areas, several hundred thousand kilometers big. Now, however, everything was lush and light green. Although it was far from what a rich and healthy 3* Region could compare to, in actuality, this was just 1 year after the bloody water.

The forts that once were disappeared completely, allowing the civilians who traveled the longest back to where they once lived, to see the largest areas of empty land. They were notified that only villages and some small towns were built, and that they had to wait before deciding if they would live there or elsewhere.

However, when they arrived at the new settlements, they were surprised and under heavy pressure. The militarism here was heavier than in the south. In the north, the Dynasty wasn’t a warlike fanatic, and the Est Soul Empire prohibited the use of arsenal to anyone who wasn’t a cultivator for decades. The times the civilians saw these machine guns, artillery, and missile warheads were a few every several decades.

Now that they returned, and they saw dozens of these even in a small town, they were a little scared. However, their honeymoon came right after, entrapping them in the new lifestyle the Crimsonbreaking Faction had prepared for them. Some no longer wanted to choose…

As for the south, after the representative practically ‘gifted’ the Heraxle Clan’s supplies, they had enough to buy more arsenal and ammunition. They flaunted their gains and ‘power’ every time they could, even just using ammunition for parties and cultural festivities.

But after the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s wave, these had become the guardians and protectors of a settlement’s safety, and its territory, respectively.

The first batch was tasked with learning the new livelihoods they’d have, and fast, to prepare the second batch of northerners who returned home half a year later. Despite the immense changes, the civilians adapted quickly to the new rule.

There were no more Soul Race members who looked at everything that moved, and wasn’t Soulish, as if they were all inferior to themselves. There was also no distinction between the military forces and the inhabitants, like in the Flora-Sweet White-Heavens Dynasty case, where their soldier units drew a clear line between each other. It was complicated to know if it was either because of their superiority, or Universal Land homeland.

The Crimsonbreaking Faction auxiliary units weren’t shy, or reserved. Although they did employ punishment whenever smart assess or plain idiots showed up, and it wasn’t light in the slightest. During some long nights, when the civilians and auxiliary units spent lazy time together, there were cases of some auxiliary units ‘robbing’ daughters and sons from time to time…

A year later, in the second year, all the villages were finished, but the northerners couldn’t just choose their new homes just yet. Another 2 batches followed after them. After those latter 2 batches learned from the 1st, the earliest returners were allowed to select their pick. Thus, several years passed with the land recovering and the settlements being completed, as more and more northerners returned home throughout time.

From hundreds of billions to hundreds of thousands of billions, the north gradually repopulated, with most of their inhabitants returning home. A minority remained in the south, either because they found someone, or some, and wanted to stay there, or because they were too loyal to their selective natal home.

Although the early selection of villages and towns might be messy compared to the previous rule, that was a matter for the inhabitants to resolve among themselves in the future. Those who arrived in the first 10 years since the war managed to see the changes of a reconstruction land to a fully prosperous one with their own eyes.

Every day, every week, and every month; vital news of the Turtle Hiding Region’s north echoed throughout each settlement through a screen or various. Even if they didn’t have a family member with Universal Conveyance, be it a citizen or cultivation, they could know what was happening through their north and the south.

Even those who had someone or some like that only saw a little more about their Region’s changes. Suddenly, the inhabitants realized that the uncertainty and fear of the future had been long replaced with curiosity… and they were quite pleased to satisfy it. Although most denied it, after 15 years since the occupation took more than a billion of ‘enemy’ soldier units’ lives, that denial phase was practically gone.

The Crimsonbreaking Faction never bothered with the civilian resources, let alone their livelihoods. Although the garrison units they were informed about would keep any seemingly ‘large enough’ yet small disturbance within the city under control, they didn’t become the police.

During the 16th, 17th, and 18th years, the civilians were showered with a self-sustaining program where they choose their village head, mayor, and city governor. Their police and security departments were set up, and the schools from elementary to beyond senior were built. Although it seemed a lot, especially for a border Kingdom, it was a tiny portion of what was happening in the rest of the Region’s north.

While the civilians’ job rate and supply districts were still something the Crimsonbreaking Faction worked in the 19th year, the peacefulness of the Turtle Hiding Region made them feel… like fools. Fools whose slave mentality had developed so much that they couldn’t even see it as something wrong when they realized.

Either way, as they worked to enjoy their new lives, and the first batch of newborn civilians entered the military recruitment for citizens or cultivators, the northerners who remained in the south lived well. They didn’t experience the throes of changing one’s home, and were instead treated like they were always from the south.

After all, they were all from the same Region. Thus, in the beginning of the 19th year, as things started becoming even better for the civilians’ livelihoods. An agreement was reached between the north and south’s civilians. They accorded to meet yearly for a celebration between both sides across the Mountain Pass. A little silly, but that was how things started.

Then, just as rumors of naming their Era commenced…

… Turtle Hiding Fortress. Inside the very center of the fortress’s mansion, inside the chief of operation’s cultivation bedroom.

“…” Heian Ciemnosc slowly opened his darkest eyes. His cultivation had reached the Universe realm 3rd stage. As he woke up, he decided to slowly stop his group cultivation method and watched his lovers’ backs as they diligently cultivated in the Life-Long realm. After a while, he folded his right knee upwards and stepped up with his right arm supporting on the former.

Heian Ciemnosc stood up and sensed everyone with his Spirit Sense. He also sensed the current situation in the Collariverse Universe. There were no Godly cultivators in this bordering Universe, but quite a few things have happened. Heian Ciemnosc detected them during his secluded cultivation, but seeing their results was quite worth mentioning.

The Turtle Hiding Region never suffered a setback during his absence, but a few rats and flies were moving in between his people and the inhabitants. After gathering their data and giving an order, Heian Ciemnosc sat back down behind Xue Yoler and placed his palms on her back.

“Ah,” a light moan escaped her lips. She opened her eyes, somewhat groggily, and turned her head by twisting her neck. Xue Yoler smiled wide sweetly, and contented. Heian Ciemnosc looked down at her and asked, arching his right eyebrow upwards, “What? You can now smile at me?”

“Ah,” her lips relaxed, and her neck jolted backwards a little. Xue Yoler sobered up, but she still gave Heian Ciemnosc a thin, amicable smile before facing her front. Heian Ciemnosc grinned and patted her head before standing up. She followed him as the three Fairies smoothly mimicked them before swooning towards Heian Ciemnosc. He caught them with his strong, long arms and received their loving, passionate kisses.

Xue Yoler diverted her face, but they didn’t go any further, letting silence grow instead. When Xue Yoler felt her back pierced by 8 eyes, she looked at them, only to see her new boss’s lovers teasingly smile at her.

“Alright, that’s enough. She’ll believe I’m trying to eat her. Don’t scare her,” Heian Ciemnosc said after a little while. Lu Cro, the elder sister among his Fairy lovers, nestled her left ear on his right chest and commented. “But, my love, can’t you eat her? You can always gift her to somebody else, kekek.”

Slap! “I said enough,” Heian Ciemnosc wore a ‘cold’ expression after soundly smacking her buttocks, but Lu Cro just melted in his chest while the other two looked at her, enviously. Heian Ciemnosc turned to Xue Yoler, whose surprised, overly widened eyes hadn’t receded, and voiced in a calm tone. “Let’s go. Time to meet your people and see what they think.”

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“Mn,” Xue Yoler calmed down and obediently nodded. She wondered if her people’s mindset will be hard to change as she has now, because she wanted to let them see the fruits of following Heian Ciemnosc. Xue Yoler didn’t say it out loud, as she knew Heian Ciemnosc didn’t need her to do so, but this was the most enjoyable short cultivation session she has ever had.

Heian Ciemnosc and company exited his cultivation bedroom. Xue Yoler was amidst reveling in the findings she had during this seclusion, with her Soul already in the Crystalshine level. When they arrived at the main entrance, everyone was already out, stretching and chatting with each other.

Heian Ciemnosc had a calm expression as he watched them before walking down the stairs towards them.

Anastasia reached the Life-Long realm 7th stage, and her maids were at the peak of the Second Step. They needed a bit of work before attempting breaking into the Third Step. Clanton broke into the Bright realm 4th stage, Moy into the Bright realm 1st stage, along Sandra. Cara achieved the Bright realm 5th stage peak level, and Ruo Wei the Bright realm 8th stage.

This was enormously good progress from before. Loma broke into the Bright realm 5th stage, and Rosina into the Silhouette realm 8th stage, but Ruo Wei’s breakthrough was a whole damn lot. Past the Life-Long realm, everything was harder to achieve, which could be seen by how Sandra and Moy took a long time to achieve the Bright/Silhouette realm. However, Ruo Wei had a strong goal in her head that nobody could take away.

“Congratulations,” Heian Ciemnosc walked up to his Eternal Return Team and said to Ruo Wei before anything else. Instead of receiving a few words from her, she directly hugged him. Her head rested on his chest as her arms rested on his shoulders. Heian Ciemnosc was a little taken aback, but he returned the gesture as his Team members grinned.

Rustle~.

“It’s all you, isn’t it? It wasn’t this much before you returned. Is the Universe realm that scary?” Ruo Wei separated her head from his body and asked him, looking up at his taller frame. The rest of her torso remained stuck to his abdomen. Heian Ciemnosc nodded and lightly rubbed her forehead from her long hair, which she grew during this seclusion. “Perhaps.”

“You look pretty,” Heian Ciemnosc calmly said. He added after seeing a little smirk from the left corner of her mouth, “If you want Beto to turn crazed after he returns, then make some memories throughout the world. Let the world take pictures of your long hair, alright? Then, when he is back, you can chain him until he gives you three triplets, like those around those two fools.”

Ruo Wei grinned victoriously. She nodded and kissed his left cheek before hugging him again. Heian Ciemnosc didn’t say anything and let her vent her emotions. He couldn’t blame her. Then, he walked to the two fools he just mentioned.

“Haha, good one, Heian Ciemnosc,” Riquel sarcastically said without any emotion. Heian Ciemnosc grinned and slightly narrowed his darkest eyes, spreading his arms as he was passed the 2 boys in Riquel’s arms. Then, the little girl running all around Cara stopped and looked at them enviously.

“Come here, little rat,” Heian Ciemnosc grinned and ignored the boys in his arms. The little girl, having Cara’s blonde, precious hair, she rushed to Heian Ciemnosc’s shins and hugged his left leg. Then, Heian Ciemnosc brought the 2 useless, unlikable little boys away with his Vocón Link and a sub-body before grabbing the little shit with both hands.

“Hehehe,” Cara’s miniature little girl touched all over Heian Ciemnosc’s face. Riquel and Cara became silent. They could tell the hidden glint from Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes. Not even the bottomless pools could remain secretive from parenthood-experienced eyes.

“They’re about to grow, huh? Congrats,” Heian Ciemnosc placed the little Cara on his right arm and chest as he addressed the parents. Vocón Link brought the 2 little boys to Cara and Riquel as they nodded and exchanged pleasantries before Heian Ciemnosc left the little girl in her mommy’s hands.

Heian Ciemnosc walked to Moy and Sandra, who were surrounded by Clanton and his harem. They grouped around the former, who spoke ardently as if having no empty fuel for an eternity. When Heian Ciemnosc neared them, they lowered their voices but didn’t stop chatting among each other. Finally, Moy stood before Heian Ciemnosc and directly shook hands. Before Heian Ciemnosc knew it, Moy pulled him to a chest to chest bro gesture and patted his back.

“Sigh, it’s been a wild half a century, eh?” Moy said, nostalgic of the old times. Heian Ciemnosc grinned and nodded. His darkest eyes glinted as he looked at the first person to support him the most back then, “You’ve grown quite well, Moy. Beto will be proud once he fills my space.”

“I know, I know… Then, hurry to get your shit together afterwards, alright? This Team has reached this far because of you. Hey, if you truly want to dethrone Beto, we can think-” Moy had a vacant expression for a second before turning humorous. However, that was when his wife closed in and asked with a stern tone, “Husband? What are you planning so secretly?”

“Nothing, nothing,” Moy drove Sandra away, but she harrumphed and hugged Heian Ciemnosc tenderly. She wasn’t this affectionate before, but they had always been cordial during their teamship. Now that things were becoming like ‘this’, better now than ever.

Afterwards, Heian Ciemnosc stayed with them for a few minutes, talking with the couple and Clanton and his wives. Many of them had big bellies, especially the Humans. He didn’t just cultivate this time, it seemed.

Moy and Sandra were a little sad that their boy and twin girls had grown up without them. However, they were contented to know their children were living the Crimsonbreaking Faction experience in the Space Station and… everything else, which not even they had enjoyed.

At last, Heian Ciemnosc walked to Loma and her husband. If it wasn’t because of Loma’s need in the Team, and her not-so-recent promotion to lead a Large Flotilla, becoming a Captain, they would have at least started a small family of 3. Heian Ciemnosc hugged Loma, who didn’t let go until her tears cleared up.

When Heian Ciemnosc arrived before Rosina, she was no longer just listening, but giving directions to her advisors, which had now become her right-hand people. She naturally gained inspiration after the war. From the Team, her forces were some of those that lost more soldier units, but it was also the one to have added the most to the war effort from all other Captains, amazing Heian Ciemnosc and the Team.

“Mwah, you’re good.” After speaking with her for a few minutes, Heian Ciemnosc sneakily gabbed her right profile face and kissed her forehead. Rosina’s cheeks turned red, rosy, and purple as Heian Ciemnosc flashed away and requested asylum with her daughter and subordinates. Xue Yoler was among them, of course.

“Daddy!” Anastasia didn’t care about her image and directly hugged Heian Ciemnosc, rubbing her face left and right on his dark coat as her maids followed soon after dropping their hesitation. They gently walked towards him and softly raised their hands to hold his shoulders before rubbing their faces on him. Unknowingly, Heian Ciemnosc now had 3 daughters, and soon 4.

Although neither came from his wives wombs, product of their talks about life, he was contented. Ah.

Heian Ciemnosc rubbed Anastasia’s head as the Fairies walked towards them. He placed his hands on her shoulders and said sweet things only he knew to say to Anastasia to cheer her up. Anastasia’s feelings of homesickness didn’t go away, but they were treated correctly.

Heian Ciemnosc rubbed Anastasia’s head, destroying her beautiful hairstyle some more, before addressing his subordinates. “Etherea, any news?”

“Yes, sir.” Etherea stepped forth, stopping 2 steps before Heian Ciemnosc. She bowed lightly before briefly reporting, “The Chairwoman has confirmed the trip. It’ll be 2 years to prepare everything and arrive. What should we respond?”

“Oh,” Heian Ciemnosc nodded before turning towards the others, “Tulla, Floris. In 3 years, we’ll announce the news to everyone. Announce it to the Region, and let Molto’s little butterflies distribute it accidentally. Let the Turtle Hiding Region and the Stormy Calm Sea speak up. Use Xue Yoler’s expertise to arrange the celebration. It is time to go big.”

Xue Yoler: “…?”

“Yes, sir.” - “Understood.” - “…” Tulla and Floris responded with a slight bow, gently punching their left chests with their right fists. Molto respectfully nodded, and Xue Yoler asked with some bewilderment. “Why do I have the feeling I’m not being told anything?”

“When our liege decides you’re worthy, you’ll naturally become one of us. For now, you’re still in your probationary period, girl.” Tulla replied to Xue Yoler, keeping the latter silent as they dragged her away to get to work. They had just the perfect ideas to employ.

“And us, my love?” Lu Cro walked to Heian Ciemnosc and said, standing with Anastasia and her maids between them and Heian Ciemnosc. Heian Ciemnosc caressed his lovers’ faces before softly saying, “When Alyona comes, you’ll return with her. My Master will take care of you. You’ll meet your new comrades there. Don’t lose your grip in cultivation. If you can become notorious in her eyes, you’ll have a groundbreaking growth before reuniting.”

“Okay…” Lu Cro spoke for all the Fairies, and her younger sisters in Heian Ciemnosc’s harem. Although they were saddened to leave his side, they would obey and wait for their reunion. Anastasia’s eyelashes blinked during their conversation as it continued for several minutes. They grazed his dark clothes, but Heian Ciemnosc didn’t mind.

Anastasia tightly held hands with her maids as they also didn’t want to leave their beloved father, but duty and the world… they are all so heavy…

“Well then, it’s time to make those 2 years worth it.” Lu Cro said, beginning to unfold Heian Ciemnosc’s dark coat’s neck and breaking his shirt’s collar bit by bit. It was all dark Vigor Energy, so it didn’t matter.

“Don’t be naughty, we’re in public.” Heian Ciemnosc knew she wanted to be manhandled, so he gripped her wrists and warned her. Unfortunately, Lu Cro said as Anastasia teasingly shook her head and rushed away with her maids where his subordinates fled to. After thinking for a few seconds, Etherea’s reddened face turned around and chased after Anastasia’s group.

“My liege, if you’re rude to us, you’ll only make us not care anymore and eat you whole here.”

Lu Cro continued as the rest of the Fairies walked to the Eternal Return Team’s people, willing to help with whatever they could to please their liege. Meanwhile, the Three Big Sisters, Heian Ciemnosc’s Fairy lovers, dragged an ‘unwilling’ Heian Ciemnosc back to his bedroom.

He was also needy. 20 years not doing anything? How crazy! Besides, there was something in his mind that gnawed his resistance to use any method to cultivate faster than usual, and without any more devouring to be made.

‘Dammit. I used a few months to break from the Universe realm 1st stage to the 2nd stage, but that was with a Godly cultivator’s Godly Energy. Yet, with hundreds of millions of devoured cultivators’ bodies, I only broke into the 3rd realm after 20 arduous years, and that was with the help of a fifth of the Godly Energy remnants.’

Cultivation was bound to be more difficult, but the resources at his disposal, in the near future, so… so near, would be enough.

…