Cloud City was surrounded by a wall.
A great wall, large enough to dwarf its own city's buildings in comparison. Aside from the seven mountains, the symbols of the Seven Clouds Sect.
Why was this wall built? It was to keep the enemy away.
Beast tides, natural disasters, assaults from demonic sects. Anything and everything. That was why this wall was built.
And the Wu Clan were one of the many who tended to it, constantly establishing formations to further improve its defensive capabilities.
The Sect Leader initiated this plan over 80 years ago when he first founded this city. As if he were anticipating a day to come where these walls were to be put to use.
And at the northernmost corner of Cloud City, atop the wide berths on these walls; stood one of Cloud City's largest industries.
Flight. In other words, transportation of goods and people from Cloud City to the nearby three continents. The Granxian Continent to the north. The Veredai Continent to the south. And, the eastern expanses, followed by the Aegeas Continent, harbouring the most sea trade routes across the world.
Shuren and Junyu stood at the top of the walls, at one of the berths which held a beast, larger than even a house. Sea gray, It had an oval shape. Its fins floated with mists of cloud forming at its end, and its large doe eyes reflected Shuren's body in it. It was known as a Flaiten.
"Within half a day, we'll reach the borders of the Dezuan Forest. That's where the Flaiten will drop us off. It's a good thing we were reimbursed with funds for the trip. Though, I would've paid out of my own pocket just for the convenience." Shuren held a paper in his hands; intel received from the sect. The supposed route of smugglers most oft used, and also leaked to be from the demonic sect.
Which only meant one thing.
Cloud City had a double spy of their own that had infiltrated this sect.
Yet even that spy couldn't spread the information of this sect's location. There had to be a reason why it was that difficult to send that intel.
Junyu yawned, having arrived early in the morning. "Honestly, you sure are prepared. You made us all spend hours just making sure our battle tactics were on point, while getting information on all of our battle styles. Even then, you managed to get everyone to be looking up to you, thanks to giving them that free feed. You're a natural leader."
"It's the bare minimum I can do. The results of this expedition are my responsibility as the team leader." Shuren put the paper in his robes, awaiting the arrival of his teammates. And, if I want to become Patriarch of the Liu Clan, I must be able to lead the people with ease. I must understand the people I lead in order to command over them.
There were five Outer Disciples on Shuren's team. When the hues of dusk encumbered over the city, they had reached the location through a mechanical lift on the side of the walls.
A tall man with neatly cut black hair, with a lanky build stepped forth. His name was Luo, an older Outer Disciple. He came with a simple saber and robes with light armour beneath them. His strength was at Stage 4 of Qidense Realm.
The second member was Shibai, one of the new Outer Disciples. A young man with curly brown hair, wielding a spear. He and the rest after were also Stage 3.
Two young women, both Vulfoans, were also on the team. One with brown hair was named Arene, wielding a staff similar to shuren. And the other, with emerald hair and a necklace, was Sarya, wielding a sword. They similarly wore robes of the Evening Clouds.
Finally, there was Tez. A traveller from afar, he wielded a simple steel sword. He came not with robes, but a complete mixture of flexible leather with bits of iron armour. He had a hunting knife at his hip, with multiple small satchels.
Out of them all, Tez was prepared to go on a survival mission the most. As if he had plenty of experience doing so.
Stage 4, but he should be stronger than Luo. He'll be my most useful attacker amongst the Outer Disciples.
"I see you've all prepared well. I want you all to remember one thing during this expedition in the Dezuan Forest." Shuren led the conversation as the team leader. "No matter the situation, do not break formation. The moment someone's unable to follow orders, we'll fall apart at the most critical moment. No matter the opponent we face, unity will always be key."
Sarya took the initiative. "Leader, you said you'd prepare some Jade Transmission Slips for us, amongst other things. What if an incident happens if we're outside of the range for it?"
Shuren took out five opaque crystals, shaped into a rectangular convex slab. "The range is a thousand metres. This is the most you lot can do at your cultivation level. This is why I emphasised formation. Even in the worst-case scenario, do not flee away like wild rabbits. We stay together." He also took out a few scrolls, extremely simple formations engraved on Lumineal paper, most conductive with Qi. "Formations such as presence shrouding, beast repellence, and signal flares will be distributed once we make camp."
Shuren led the way, stepping on the top of the Flaiten beast. At the front was a helmsman, ready to take the group to their destination. Having already paid and organised the transportation service, all that was left was to relax on the back of the beast; reshaped into a house made of vines and wood.'
The rest followed, initiating the expedition.
***
Everyone in the team had long been used to the sights of a Flighten, with some of them even using it. But to Tez, this was a new experience. He spent slightly longer with each gaze looking into the Flighten, trying to understand how it worked. Its fins that continued to spew out mists. The belly that pulsated with a docile rhythm. The yawn every few minutes that sounded like the sound of a whale.
This world is always surprising me at every turn. Once again, I have no regrets about getting this new chance in this world. I just have to be strong enough that I never get into a situation like I did back on the island. That's all.
Tez smelt the scent of flowers. Someone else had come to observe the outside on the observation deck.
"First time?" Shuren asked, holding a cup of tea.
Tez nodded.
"In terms of economy, Cloud City is one of the top ten across the world beneath the realms of Immortal cultivators. There's even a chance it can go from a Rank 5 to a Rank 6 Special Economic Zone. So it'll have far more interesting things than whichever region you'd have come from." Shuren took a small sip to enjoy amongst the breeze in the sky. "But don't be like an ignorant bumpkin. Put in an effort to learn more about the world. You might not have been here for long, but it's good to learn its history."
Tez stared at Shuren, once more dealing with the strange sigils on the screen he saw. It didn't matter how many times he had upgraded his Examine skill, he couldn't gleam all the information there was on Shuren, the young master of the Liu Clan. "There's something I wanted to ask. You're not a Cloud City native. The Liu Clan is an Immortal Faction, with a Rank 7 cultivator at its helm. Isn't it customary for all clan members to remain with the clan and not join a sect?"
"Normally, yes. But it is no rigid rule. Tying sects and clans together through marriage, for example, is quite common. Or by having a clan member become the disciple of a master, who is part of a sect. That'll be used as a reason to form a friendship. That is mainly my goal here as well, as you could guess." Shuren looked north, towards his old home in the Granxian Continent. "If everyone simply remained in the clan they were born in, they would fall behind compared to other clans that spread their web of alliances and connections across the world. These are the basics for any clan to function in the new world."
Tez tilted his head. "New world?"
"You… do not know? You truly were born from one of the isolated islands in the Devanthra Archipelagoes. You have a lot to learn." Shuren held a serious gaze. He would have to educate Tez on some matters. An eastern outlander from a small and ignorant village on an isolated island.
Those with tanned skin and blue hair were often found amongst the sea, after all.
"The time before the Grand Eras was the Old World. The First and Second Grand Era is referred to as Humanity's Era. And the gap between that and the end of the Third Grand Era is known as the Forlorn World. During which was the Unhallowed Cataclysm, when the entire world was thrown into war. With it came the death of untold people. Half of the world was rearranged from all the damage. That was when the New World began, where instead of sects and clans being isolated from each other, they began to connect with each other, forming alliances across the world. We weren't split and bordered by just lines on old maps anymore."
Shuren pointed his left arm straight at the sky. "The New World is up there. It is the goal of every new cultivator. With the world devastated, most Immortals took to living above the skies. I consider the true world of cultivators to be after Rank 6, when one becomes an Immortal and can fly freely in any environment without issue."
Tez scratched the back of his head with embarassment. "I should definitely brush up on my history. I haven't had time to learn after coming to Cloud City."
"Then you should now. No disciple of the Seven Clouds Sect should walk around as a representative while being ignorant. Go to any mortal library and you'll find plenty of information." Shuren gazed as glowing purple clouds formed in the far west, glistening with light pillars leading up to the sky. Even beyond, an extremely thin outline of a dark pillar could be seen.
"The season of Evanescence is soon, it seems. The world is lighting up, with the Northern Boundary being revealed once more." Acknowledging Tez might be ignorant, Shuren explained. "These phenomena only last for a few minutes when they appear, but when they do, landmarks in the far distances of the world become visible to the mortal eye."
With the appearance of these lights, Tez also saw a strange dark pillar in the far distance. "Including that weird pillar?"
"Yes. On occasion, that tower is seen floating on the ocean beyond the westernmost continent. Some call it a blessing of Immortals, a grand exhibition of their power. Others call it a scourge, the Obsidias Salt Steeple. Sometimes it'll float near the continents. The Crestfell Continent has been dealt a rough hand when it brings with it rains of salt and decay. You don't want to see it up close, since you'll be dead by then." The endless forest expanding into the horizon appeared in Shuren's sight. Finishing his cup of tea, Shuren walked away from the deck. "We'll be there soon. I'm going to go read. You should likewise do the same once we return."
But when Tez was left alone, he could only look forward with shock in his eyes. When he had drawn near enough to Dezuan Forest, a screen lit up before his eyes.
New Quest Initiated.
Difficulty Level: Qidense Realm; A Rank.
Find the hidden trial of the Thief Path Immortal.
Reward: Unlock Legacy Quest, Find the True Inheritance of the Thief Path Immortal.
An A Grade Quest?! The inheritance of some dead cultivator can be found here, and it leads to more of his rewards?! I can get a massive advantage if I find it!
Tez rubbed his eyes, calming himself down.
With both his hands gripping the rail of the deck above the Flaiten, his golden eyes trembled with avarice.
"I'll have to find it during this expedition, no matter what!"