SCC Chapter 6 Khaatam(2)

And with those words, Lily found herself in a small room that was as bland as bland as the grey tailored suit on her back. This room was located underneath the farm above, with even a window, through which she could see the expanse below, where many people were going about their tasks. It seemed that even in an era where autonomous technology had become prevalent, humans were still needed.

All the material needed to present the complaint had been gathered, and Mr. Mumaso had even given her the permission to throw his name into the mix. After all, everything had to be provided.

After a bit of mental preparation, Lily transmitted her divine sense into the device on the table, attempting to initiate contact.

"Hello there fellow Daoist, how can I help you today?"

The moment the illusory meeting space spawned, Lily was somewhat taken aback by the figure before her, yet didn't let any of that show up on her face. Calling the man chubby would have been a severe understatement, but there were plenty of bizarre things in the world, like that cultivation technique that made people stockpile spiritual energy within their cells.

All the data pertaining to the complaint was transmitted to the man.

-----

"You most definitely wowed me." spoke Reed.

Even now, he was still shocked at the fact that the woman had not only managed to win a refund, she had also acquired the funds related to the inspection of every pipe from that sect on his module! She was better than talented.

"That was the bare minimum. Though, I must have offended the Pipe sect."

"It doesn't matter. Besides, they might not exist in the near future."

"What do you mean?" asked a curious Lily.

"This accident wasn't an isolated event..." Those words made her understand.

Reed felt good. They were taking a walk within the meadow, enjoying the rare peace. He knew that this wasn't going to last long. News of Lily's affiliation would surely reach Zeus' ears through the Pipe sect, not to mention the fact that tomorrow, his exit from seclusion was going to be announced.

It was going to get hectic, with many people wanting to meet him in order to discuss things, offer deals, or simply his expertise in wood attuned spiritual energy. Reed was the only cultivator who had risen all the way to the Nascent Soul with that particular attunement. Most cultivators chased after the most destructive of attunement in order to not be disadvantaged in a conflict. Though, the current generation, those born within the last 100 years were breaking this trend, embracing the diversity of the other attunements.

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"Mr. Mumaso, if Zeus were to decide to attack you in order to get to me, how confident are you in stopping him?"

That question caught him off guard. For a moment he considered spewing out a lie, but gazing into those steely eyes ultimately made that decision waver.

"I don't think that I can stop the man. His attunement is one focused on speed and destruction. I would be too slow to react. Though, that's only because he is at the peak of the stage while I am still on the early step. There are also people I am in contact with, who wouldn't hesitate to aid me in fighting him."

"Really?"

"All sects established before the Federation have inadvertently accrued grieviences among many people."

"I heard that they voluntarily chose to not fight the Federation upon its formation. Why did the President not simply annihilate them?"

"The first generation Zeus-"

"First generation?" interrupted Lily.

"Yes. There have been three generations of the Pantheon sect master. All the others are essentially clones of the first generation." Disbelief appeared in her eyes.

"We still don't know the exact specifics, but apparently the formation used to speed up their cultivation is related to biological DNA."

"... Back to the topic at hand. The first generation Zeus was a prodigy. Everyone in this world who has had the privilege of knowing the man or experiencing his inventions believes so. Even the President himself. Almost every piece of technology we use in today's society is derived from his creations."

"I have heard a bit about that but I hadn't taken it seriously."

"Its true. That's why the President didn't try to annihilate the sects. He would have to start with Pantheon, yet even now, we still have no idea of their depths. Their state has the highest population of mortals, owing to their laws, yet they do all they can to keep both cultivation and technology from them, thereby making it hard to even investigate them."

"So that's why the world is in this status quo, where the sects and those powerful clans have become self supporting, only occasionally trading with the Federation."

"But... Each of us believe that there must be a great plot behind the sects' continued peace."

"The world really is a chaotic place." sighed Lily.

Reed plopped down into the meadow after finding a suitable spot where the grass wasn't too long. He even subtly provided some spiritual energy to it, feeling a small feedback. Maybe if it could last for a few hundred years, there might be some small soul fragments that could develop, transforming it into a semi spiritual state.

"Though, I have a sneaking suspicion that whatever Zeus needs you for, must not be simple."

"The Federation has grown into this kind of behemoth. Since they left it to grow to this level. Whatever they are preparing must be powerful enough to destroy this status quo."

"Thats why it's frustrating that we haven't managed to get a lead on what they are doing, except for the fact that many resources are being channeled towards it. And they aren't originating from just Pantheon."

As Lily sat down, a communication request came through to him, one that elicited a modicum of surprise out of him.

(Why simply audio?)

(It is inconvenient. How did you know that I was out?) Reed asked the woman on the other side. His face bearing a trace of seriousness.

(That stunt with the Pipe sect.)

(It seems like you have your tendrils almost everywhere, Livia.)

(Come on. We are old friends. You know my methods. There is nothing I can't have if I put my mind to it.)

(I heard. You finally became the sect master of Radiant.)

(Why aren't I getting a congratory vibe from you?)

(What do you want?)

(I have some information that could be of use to you.)

(...)

(...)

(...what kind of information?) He had wanted her to reveal it herself, but it seems the woman wanted to play around.

(Zeus.)

That one name captured his attention. It finally clicked. She knew something that all the sects in partnership with Pantheon had been keeping secret. She wasn't trustworthy, but atleast, he knew that her personality made it certain that she could never get along that man, Zeus.

(What do you want in exchange?)

(We have been friends for a long time. How can I ask something of you.)

(Livia... We both know that you don't give something without an equivalent in return. So, what do you want?)

(You should take some time out of your clearly about-to-be-packed schedule, to pay me a visit. Everything else will come naturally if we meet face to face. And don't get the silly idea that I am bluffing. I really do have some juicy piece of information.)