The Legend of Khan'av
Book 1: The New Dawn
Chapter 2: The New City
It had been quite some time since Khan'av was in the valley. Now, he started mapping the terrain with the help of Zero. For a second, he thought, maybe only he had such a vast and detailed map of what he had seen of the cultivation world from all his travels. But then he admonished himself again. He had not even been able to see the whole world. Who knew what kind of ancient horrors were hiding somewhere? He would always be confident, not over-confident.
He had seen the out-and-about sects and organizations, and he had also seen the hidden sects, clans, families, and whatnot. He didn't meet them. He went secretly to their scripture pavilions, secret vaults, and other places to note down everything he could find. He didn't steal their treasures or anything. Though, he did take a look at those he could. He would record everything. No matter what it was or even if it was a repeat. You never know what you might uncover, and he had been surprised a few times. So, he continued doing it. He would leave no stone unturned.
He even recorded all the evil cultivation techniques and arts he found. Few had willingly gone into the ways of evil, most only forced to do so. However, that was not any justification for the deeds they had committed. Their methods were even crueler than the so-called righteous sects. So he recorded whatever he found of them and then burned everything down so as not to leave anything behind. They were suitable reference materials but not something to be passed down. As much as he didn't like it, these evil cultivators were also geniuses. They were finding ingenious ways to get power and doing so constantly. So he took from them what he could and that he couldn't; he destroyed. No dearth of these guys running around courtesy of all the atrocities the others, both evil and righteous, were committing. Only those evil he had hunted actively over his long years of travel, whether they had anything or not, the sheer quantity had made him rich. No one would care if evil cultivators died, it was a boon to many, and those portraying under a hide of righteousness were also not spared.
Many did try to find him, something he had used to his advantage sometimes. No one knew his name, identity, or anything. All they knew was that he killed those who committed atrocities. They had tried to set traps and use those evil as bait, some of which, if he were strong enough, he would destroy, and if he weren't, then he would mark them and come back later when he was. It was truly a nightmare for them and had even given inner demons to many.
He hadn't started going after them before he had any concrete proof and, more importantly, enough power. What if they use some divination methods to lock down on him? But his fears were unfounded. Many messed with space, but monumentally rarer were those who dabbled into time and fate. A shining beacon of examples, in ways, to die. Those who came out unscathed after fiddling with those two could be counted on one hand, taking all of history into account. He had only tried to use the mathematical time series formulae to try something. He wasn't bold enough to neglect the alarming deaths of many. People couldn't just wield these powers as if unlocked at a suitable cultivation realm. It was not a game. Thus, the spread of fear among them and a little more caution in their actions. That didn't mean he didn't have his fair share of trouble and encounters, only minimized due to his cautious approach. Sometimes, he got caught or found, but he only ever acted when he had carefully investigated power levels or if he would be able to run away. Operating with multiple clones and varied identities was a nice thing to do. That didn't mean the cultivators were fools. Arrogant, yes, but stupid not. Many had strung together the various identities and whatnot, but none had been able to lead to him:
1. He acted in far-off places, not in one region continuously.
2. He employed different manners every time he acted.
3. He would fling blame around to their people, meaning suspects ranging from least to highly likely to have done it. Even going so far as to leave the proof publicly of not only their actions but also evidence of the actions of the one he killed, which eventually became the reason for his death.
4. Face being given the importance by many, they would be busy trying to mitigate the losses or wipe the stains on their faces leaving them no time searching for him.
5. The commotion he caused would be used by them only to mine for benefits, thus, aggravating the situation even further, making the waters even murkier to find anything, hiding whatever little trace he left behind, helping him vanish in thin air.
It was a surprise to him at first and a fantastic sight. And the more he did it, the more practice he had, and the better he became.
He had a vast map now, inked with everything he had found. This only made him more apprehensive of long-standing accumulation and its terrifying strength. He had seen and learned a lot. Giants of the surface and down below of the caves & caverns, gargantuan beings with barely their feet visible. Mystical races abound and aplenty. His extensive travels took him from the clouds in the sky to the world under the rocks and water going via the surface lands. The knowledge he had hoarded came from such differing aspects and perspectives; it was a sincerely wondering and humbling sight. He always believed no one was omnipotent and omniscient, and his travels only strengthened that belief.
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His desire to onset the fire of change had become even firmer.
He set the black like night stone on the center line near the end of the valley. Engraved with the words 'For the People, Of the People, By the People.' The carving didn't mean he was going to establish a democratic nation. Because even if it was possible, it wasn't now. The words were to be a guiding light. The meaning, their decision-makers come from them, not forgetting their roots and moving ahead with them instead of harming them. But there would not be elections and the like. Only those loyal, hard-working, persistent, compassionate, kind, and the like would be allowed on The Council. That was just a broad explanation. There would be strict and thorough investigations before giving people a council position.
Yes. The Council would decide for the city, consisting of cultivators and non-cultivators alike. Not by patriarchs or elders in a sect. Patriarchy was a plague of the past, not a part of the future. Discrimination of any kind would not be permitted. Khan'av didn't think he was perfect but would try his hardest to strive for a better future.
For the change he envisioned, ideological education was going to be critical. It was a crucial cornerstone that could make or break the next course of action. Thus, the new generation had to be brought up very carefully. They would be the first leaders and set the tone.
There was still time to that, and he would prepare properly. And there was still a lot to lay before that, starting with the formation that would cover the entire city. It would be an open formation that would even have the houses, other buildings, and establishments as part of it. So, the more the town grew and expanded, the more the array grew and thickened.
Therefore, he began laying the formation. The core of which would be the foundation stone. The foundation stone not being the only core. He would have one, and those trustworthy would also have that authority. He would enclose the foundation stone in a circular fence at about ten meters. The stone would also show a hologram of the words inscribed on it in the sky at all times of the day, which people could spot from afar. Obviously, not people from outside the city when the formation's illusory, deceptive, hiding, and covering functions were open.
It was still not time for the city to be open to all. Ergo, even if someone passed by here by chance, they would walk around and continue on their way without even realizing it unless someone more powerful than him came, which was even rarer than someone passing by here. It was not because he was at the pinnacle of strength. The path never truly ended.
His cultivation realm was high, at least according to the division and standards of those here. And those he had found more powerful than him were all asleep in some hidden places. But he wouldn't be so arrogant as to believe he was the strongest. Even if he reached the so-called pinnacle, he wouldn't think so. There was no end to learning and knowledge, and his strength was tied to it.
Humility was the way forward, and conceit the way behind.
Inscribing a formation put together from the hoarded knowledge bases of countless races, sects, clans, and more was a huge task and couldn't be completed in a day. But now that he had found the place to be, he could do it slowly, checking and double-checking each step of the way. A mistake now could become the wormhole for forces to enter in the future.
So he spent three months and, with the help of Zero, constructed a never-before-seen formation. These are the types of things that could be accomplished together. Don't get him wrong. It's not that there was no progress at all. Killing, constant battles, and war had to fuel something. And fuel they did. The cultivation techniques, the pills, etcetera were much more refined than the ancient times. So clearly, progress was there. But it was slow and one-sided. Everyone came up with more methods to deal with the other, amassing power and not understanding the power that unity held. Here, the strength of one could triumph over the force of many, but battle strength was one thing, and collective genius was another. Khan'av would never underestimate the ingenuity and creativity of ordinary people. The solutions they came up with with what little they had were mind-numbing, and empowering them would thrust everyone into the future.
Just because something was ancient didn't mean it was better. The world was always moving, and while it had stagnated significantly, the cultivators were constantly improving, no matter how minuscule that may be. Lack of communication and sharing of knowledge and information had left them all rowing their boats in the face of storms alone and isolated, not realizing they could build a ship to weather it together. Their methods were also based on having terrifying talents and comprehension abilities. Everyone was for themselves, and that was a huge issue.
As much as people were similar, they were also unique. Everyone's talents diverse and numerous, everyone's thoughts diverse and numerous, and thus their paths, no matter how similar they might be, also diverse and numerous. We were as similar as we were different. We were complex beings.
And yet here we were, such narrow-minded ways of pursuing power and leaving a trail of blood behind only to be alone arrogantly at the perceived supposed top or joining the trail themselves. It was a sad reality, and one Khan'av wanted to change. And he had the power to do so now.
Heeeave hooooo,
Raise your banners,
For chaaaange iiiis iin
Siiiiiight.