Regressor Sect Master

The Imperial Prince City of Gomerlia. The largest imperial city on the Northern Continent, and the second largest imperial city in the world. Its city was home to almost forty million mortals, and sprawled to cover the valley, the grasslands to the south, and even the mountains on both the north and the east. It was so large and sprawling that the mortals split the city into one hundred and seventy sub-cities, each with their own independent management, overseen by a minister of the Prince's choice..

"Was the journey difficult?" Duke Hadrian was already waiting when the flying ship arrived at the airdocks. Gomerlia was large, with multiple towering structures that served as the landing areas for the various flying ships. Even the greatest and largest of the flying ships, such as those owned by the Great Sects, could dock here. Every few minutes, a flying ship could be seen landing in the distance. Many of these are owned by the numerous trading guilds that called Gomerlia home.

"Pleasant. I hardly felt it." Tundra smiled, dressed in the dark red robe. Even with his aged, wisened experience, the outfit fit him so well that he looked centuries younger, and dashing. "To think that I could get here , across the north ocean, in less than two weeks. Oh, pleased to meet you too, Young Master."

"Gomerlia is far, after all." Hadrian Thunderstone smiled. Hadar quickly bowed to greet the master. "Have you ever visited Gomerlia?"

"I can't say I have." Tundra nodded, amused. In his first life, the death of Prince Gomerl left Gomerlia a husk of its former self. Without Prince Gomerl's presence, the wealth of the imperial treasury dried up, and the city thus crumbled.

But he could tell something must be up. In his first life, he wasn't even aware of the banquet until it was over, and this probably suggested that even Prince Gomerl wasn't certain who supported him, and who didn't. The banquet was meant to reinforce that he was the top dog, and so this would be a show of force. "Come, come, we have two weeks to spend before the banquet, let me show you around. Hadar, you can leave us."

***

"Am I the only one you invited?" Tundra was surprised to find that Duke Hadrian's entourage was really small. Duke Hadrian, Hadar, and one of his elders was all that came for this. "I must say I am very honored."

"I have four seats." Hadrian chuckled. "And my elder Hashim always wanted to visit Gomerlia, so he gets the third slot."

"Surely someone as well connected as yourself would have those more worthy of the post."

"True. But they've made up their minds on who they wanted to support." The duke said as they walked into a busy restaurant. "So there was no point bringing my other allies."

"Ah. That's how it is." Tundra nodded, as the restaurant's waiter quickly escorted them aside. He heard them whisper, and their party of two was given a beautiful seat by the window, with a view of one of the many small streams that flowed through the entire Gomerlia Valley. The table though, was a little too large, for ten.

Duke Hadrian merely whispered to the waiter, and he ran out.

"You seem to be familiar here." Tundra smiled.

"I come here often enough." Duke Hadrian smiled. "I happen to own a third of this restaurant."

"Ah. The other two thirds?"

"The operators have it. My name is on the signs somewhere, it gives the restaurant a degree of protection."

Around that time, a handsome man appeared, and quickly kowtowed. The man was clearly a mortal. "Duke Hadrian, a pleasure for us to serve you again."

"Eh, come, come. This is Lord Tundra Fox, Sect Master of the Verdant Snow. This man is the head and owner of the restaurant."

"Greetings, Lord Fox!" The restaurant owner smiled, and they began to chat. It seemed that Duke Hadrian owned the business for centuries, and the owner's family has been in his service for multiple generations. For mortals with short lives, businesses often changed hands, while the cultivators would still be around.

Eventually, the restaurant owner left to cook, and then, two more people emerged. This time, they were cultivators, and ministers of Prince Gomerl.

"It's really you, Duke Hadrian Thunderstone." The two ministers looked tired and worn out, and quickly sat at the table. "This is-?"

"Lord Tundra Fox, of the Verdant Snow. I invited him along for the banquet. This is Minister Wiyad and Minister Numar, both senior ministers of the-"

Minister Wiyad coughed. "I'm afraid I must correct you, old friend. Prince Gomerl recently demoted me. I am just a regular minister, and I now only handle the trade matters of the lower 24 sub-cities of Gomerlia."

"My fate is not much better. I may still keep my title, but I have been reassigned to the Outer Gomerlian towns as the War Minister. I am only here for the banquet, once it is over, I must return to the Outer Towns."

Duke Hadrian blinked. Hadrian only visited the city of Gomerlia once every six to ten years. "When did this happen?"

"Just two years ago." Wiyad said. Numar then continued. "Six months ago."

"What- why?" While Duke Hadrian interrogated them, Tundra was able to detect that these two were clean. Not members of the Zuja cult. The explanations lined up to what Tundra had expected.

Zuja's agents and demonic cultivators both maneuvered their own agents into positions of power within the Prince's inner circle, and loyal, honest men were eliminated or transferred out. Eventually, the only ones that held the Prince's ears were these corrupted folks.

But not all was lost. Not yet. Minister Wiyad said. "General Kansha is the only good man left next to the Prince. But I don't know how long he will be able to keep his position."

General Kansha was one of the high-ranking warriors in the Prince's retinue, a man in the 8th realm, he is a strong royalist, and he saved the Prince's life from numerous assassins and enemies over the long decades together, and has been a close friend of the Prince since his youth. But lately, General Kansha faced difficulties completing the tasks assigned to him, and had begun to earn the Prince's ire.

"It's a scheme to demote him." Duke Hadrian quickly pointed out the obvious.

"Everyone could see it. But unfortunately, Prince Gomerl is smitten with this foul woman and she's whispering poison into his ears."

Duke Hadrian knew who it was. "Minister Sanesa?"

"Chief Minister Sanesa."

"Chief Minister." Duke Hadrian repeated, but the way it rolled off his tongue was strange. As if it was in disgust. Tundra heard of the name in his first life, but he had not met the person. It also didn't matter when Prince Gomerl died in the end.

He sat at that restaurant table trying to recall what else he knew of Minister Sanesa, though most news and rumors that came out of Prince Gomerl's camp frequently mentioned that the man was frequently intoxicated, so much so that the Flaming Phoenix stopped supporting him at the crucial moment against Patriarch Whitedragon's Snow Dragon Temple.

Was that really what happened, or was it a corrupted form of the truth?

In their world of cultivators, memory jades and crystals were fairly common, but memories can be tampered with, and so any cultivator with half a mind would know that it could be untrue.

So, other means of news came through word of mouth. Statements from witnesses, official releases of the court and so on. Again, all biased and thus, they have to be taken with a large grain of salt. A master must read between the lines and guess the intentions of most official statements.

Already, just here in the city of Gomerlia he could feel the presence of the Flaming Phoenix, and the Slicing Heavens. As far as he remembered, the Slicing Heavens withdrew their support from Prince Gomerl fairly early on.

Was this the moment it happened?

The natural direction would be to suspect that Chief Minister Sanesa was a Zuja agent, but he would have to meet her to be sure.

Also, he wasn't exactly sure if these sources could be trusted. Slighted ministers are biased in their opinions.

***

They were housed in a luxurious mansion in a private area around the Prince's palace, a guest area for those privileged to attend the banquet.

Unfortunately, most of the luxuries and amenities went unused, as Tundra spent the next few days with some disguises, and explored the city of Gomerlia. The city may be large, but within those few days he found the presence of at least twenty Zuja agents. Not only that, there were at least two of these Zuja agents that could be in the eighth realm in their full parasitic form, because their hosts were already in the sixth realm.

But even with their numbers, the Zuja had to act carefully, there were multiple peak ninth realm spiritual guardians in the city of Gomerlia. If he could trigger them to attack the targets, that could help to eliminate the Zuja agents.

A difficult challenge, but not altogether impossible. He was familiar enough with the spiritual guardians of the royal family, and knew of some ways to trigger their effects.

But, his list was likely incomplete.

There were also agents with the palace, and he had to find those too.

In the last few days of his surveillance, he spotted a pair of familiar faces.

Zuri Blackpetals and Wilber Blackpetals were both dressed in the formal robes of the Crimson Lotus Spire.

"I was not aware you were affiliated to Prince Gomerl." The alchemist said to the returned alchemist.

"I am not. I am here at the invitation of Duke Hadrian Thunderstone, and my attendance is an exploratory one." Tundra clarified.

"Then you've wasted your time, because you would find a man who wished he had more of your intellect, instead of what he has." Branch Leader Wilber injected, and Zuri was immediately so horrified that she tried to forcefully cover up her brother's mouth.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"Brother! Watch your mouth, you are not in the safety of your home!"

"Ah. Good reminder, good reminder." Wilber nodded, as if acknowledging his sister's point. "Well, I hope you find something useful during the banquet."

Tundra merely grinned. "If I may, then why are you two here?"

"The Prince offered a deal we could not refuse." Wilber countered.

The regressor nodded, understanding that it must've been quite a bribe for that to happen. "Well, I suppose it aligns nicely with your patron sect's position."

"Indeed, indeed." Wilber nodded along, even if he didn't seem personally convinced.

"Since you two are here, I believe you've gotten my letters."

"Yes we have." Zuri answered.

Tundra waited for them to clarify.

"Things are complicated at home." The female alchemist answered. "It takes a while to solve such things. We may have to offer an alternative venue."

"Ah, I see. If it is too much of a hassle, that is alright. We are willing to visit branch sects as well." Tundra countered, clearly understanding her meaning.

"My sister means to say that we want you to come, but we have to deal with some troublesome internal politics at home." Wilber decided to just cut the fluff. "We intend to use your presence as a piece against the other forces within our sect. That is, if they haven't already acted."

"Oh." Tundra thought that clarification was helpful. "Then let me know how I can help."

"See?" Wilber nodded, while giving his sister a look.

Zuri did not respond to it.

"Well, I'll get back to you on the arrangement. If we can make it in time, we will. If not, maybe we will have to trouble you with something else altogether." Wilber winked at Zuri.

Zuri looked utterly confused for a moment, but she caught on quickly. "You cannot be serious, brother?"

"Do you see another alchemist we can trust?" Wilber answered his sister, and then decided they should discuss this at a later date. So, he changed the subject. "Will we see you at the banquet?"

"Yes, as a guest of Duke Hadrian. But I suspect there may be trouble, it might be wise to prepare appropriately."

"Oh?"

Tundra suspected that the target of the Zuja's attacks would not be the Prince. Removing a primary competitor from the royal struggle only accelerates the consolidation of power, which would reduce the overall loss of life.

If the intention is to sow discord and cause widespread losses between the various sects and thin out the number of cultivators that would stand against their parasitic ways, then it is likely that the target of any Zuja operations will be on the inner circle of the Prince, or the Prince's primary supporters.

"Are you aware of who else is invited?" Tundra asked. He had asked Duke Hadrian for the list, but such a list is confidential. All the Duke could do was name those likely to attend, mainly the Flaming Phoenix, the Slicing Heavens, the few vassal sects of the Flaming Phoenix and Slicing Heavens.

Both Zuri and Wilber also could only name the same few sects, and that made Tundra realize that there was a simple split. The sects allied to the Flaming Phoenix, and the sects allied to the Slicing Heavens.

If so, it's likely that any offense will be between the two great sects. "Are the Sect Masters attending?"

"Most likely."

Tundra closed his eyes, and remembered meeting both Ember Talons and the Sect Master of the Slicing Heavens, Zomo Sapphens, much, much later in life. Tundra was in the late seventh or the eighth realm when he first ran into smaller conflicts against the Flaming Phoenix, which eventually snowballed into bigger conflicts.

All of the Great Sects were far from the Verdant Snow Sect, which was why Tundra's rise in that part of the world went unchecked in the earlier few thousand years. The Verdant Snow, located in the Greenstream Region of the Southeast Continent, was not home to any other great sects. This was not true for a few other continents. The Northern Continent, for example, was home to two great sects, the Slicing Heavens and the Furious Seas. The Middle Continent, the largest and most prosperous of the world, was home to three great sects.

The two were already tenth realm cultivators at this point, though both were still in the 1st stage of the tenth realm.

It was just the nature of the tenth realm, that it took more than a few thousand years to rise a single stage, while Tundra managed to climb all the way to the tenth in the same time span. The same could be said for the seventh, or even the sixth realm. Tundra knew of many that spent decades in the same stage of the sixth realm, unable to advance.

"Are you familiar with them?" Wilber asked.

"A little." Tundra answered. The part where he fought both of them before didn't need to be said. He remembered trading blows with Ember at least ten times, though both of them, as tenth realm cultivators, didn't go all out. "I mean, they don't know who I am, but I suppose I know who they are."

Wilber laughed. "That we do, that we all do. Sect Master Zomo Sapphens should be arriving soon."

Just as the three were still talking, there was an explosion in the distance. Tundra wondered whether the cultists had taken action, and immediately sprung from his seat. Zuri and Wilber, reflectively followed his lead as they charged to the location of the explosion.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" There was a powerful man with a sword, the sword emitted an energy barrier. He was dressed in the colors of the Slicing Heavens. On the floor was a younger man who was only slightly injured, but it would've been worse if not for the protective artifacts on his body.

On the other side were two women in the robes of the Flaming Phoenix. "You can ask young master Sapphens there. He ogled at my junior sister as if she was a piece of meat."

The young master was shocked. "What? When have I ogled at your junior sister-"

"Don't lie! Does the young master of the Slicing Heavens need to lie to save his face?" The Flaming Phoenix's disciple countered.

Tundra, Zuri and Wilber approached the scene and looked around. "Oh dear." Zuri sighed.

Yet, both the Flaming Phoenix and the Slicing Heavens were not Zuja agents. So why did they fight?

The regressor scanned the vicinity and immediately realized there was a shapeshifting Zuja cultist nearby. One that had some kind of facial expression mimicry, spiritual signature mimicry and the ability to use some kind of illusionary abilities! It was something likely very few cultivators encountered, but one Tundra met many times.

"The real culprit is nearby." Tundra spoke to his two compatriots, while he continued to check his surroundings for any other Zuja agents.

There was another one watching the conflict from a nearby balcony.

Two. One actor, and one backup. As it usually is.

In Tundra's mind, a plan emerged. It is true that he could not challenge the Zuja up front, but just as the Zuja attempts to manipulate the Great Sects and the royal family into conflict, it is also possible to counter the manipulations and expose their actions.

He had to get them both together, and he'd have to signal to the city's protective guardians to hit them together.

"So, what will you say, Young Master Sapphens? Do you deny it when I saw it with my own eyes?" The Flaming Phoenix's core disciple didn't seem pleased. The woman was in the high sixth realm, while her junior sister, also a lower ranked Core Disciple, was in the high fifths. The two were gorgeous women, so naturally they drew attention everywhere they went.

But most were wise enough to just merely glance. Any sinful thoughts kept in the crevices of their minds.

"This is a false accusation, counter." Young master Haran Sapphens was also in the high sixth realm, while his guardian was in the eighth. It was likely that the Flaming Phoenix got a lucky shot in. In a full fight, they wouldn't stand a chance.

In fact, it is likely that the two ladies are relying heavily on the name of their great sect, and the presence of onlookers, to stand up to their perceived slight.

"My young master is right. I was right here and I did not see my young master look at your junior sister inappropriately. We were merely passing by." The elder, and the young master's guardian still tried to defuse the situation. Conflict between two great sects could often start from such small incidents.

"Really? I saw him walk up to us and stare at my junior sister inappropriately! The look he gave my junior sister made her pale in horror. Look at her now, even now she trembles."

"I did no such thing. You must be mistaken!" The young master dusted his robes and stood.

It was a person's word against the other.

In conflict, opportunity. Tundra looked around, and immediately began to weave two strands of energy together, and attached them to the two Zuja agents observing the conflict between the two Great Sect's members.

Strands of an ancient foe of the royal family.

A type of energy used by a now-extinguished sect. The Dragon's Hunters. A group of dragonslayers during the old era.

An old enemy. Something he learned, from an old scripture found deep within the ruins of the Imperial Palace after the Zuja's horrific slaughter of the royal house. He set those strands of energy to detonate, and immediately cut off his connection.

"Let's take a few steps back." Tundra said to his two coincidental companions.

There was a huge crowd, all watching the conflict between the two great sects. There were more than a few onlookers that prepared recording gems and jades, and they would soon be resold for a far higher price.

The seeds of a conflict between two great sects.

Too bad. He is here today, and they would not have their way. The seeds would be burnt before they could be planted.

It was almost indistinguishable in the constant hum of metropolitan life, filled with so many other cultivators. In Tundra's mind, he calculated the odds. At first, he hoped to trigger the spiritual guardians only when he discovered all of them Zuja's operatives. Once he did, it is likely many of them would go into hiding where it is harder for him to spot it.

But preventing conflict between the two great sects took priority. It would prevent deaths across the world. If the fangs and claws of two great sects attack each other, the deaths could be in the tens of thousands.

So, a change of plans. He would use his little abilities and play the role of mediator after all. He briefly thought about Celestia's suggestion that he should be a diplomat.

His wife was right after all.

And so, in the great chaos of the city, there was but a little crack.

A little spark.

It snapped like a little bit of static.

But it triggered the response needed.

The entire city momentarily shook, as a gigantic silver dragon appeared in the sky, the power of the ninth realm flooded the entire giant city.

Almost everyone in the city gasped when one of the many great spiritual guardians of the city now loomed overhead.

A dead creature's temporary manifestation of it's strength.

Zuri and Wilber glanced at each other, curious. But no matter, because the Spiritual Guardian's judgement was swift. It's ray of silver light landed immediately on the two Zuja agents. The two Zuja agents panicked, but they were unable to spot who sold them out.

Even the Flaming Phoenix and the Slicing Heavens had to wait in the presence of such a powerful creature.

The ray of light almost paralyzed the two stunned Zuja agents, and briefly, everyone saw how that shape-shifting Zuja agent's form change. It was trying to defend itself. It transformed into the young master of the Slicing Heavens, and ordered the Elder.

"Elder! Protect me!" It was the creature's instinct to use all of its abilities to survive. Even the Zuja.

The Slicing Heaven's elder stared, dumbfounded, and had to do a double take. He looked at the real young master next to him, and immediately touched his wrist just to confirm whether it was the right one.

The other Zuja agent wanted to run, but the ray of light, the [Silverbeam of the Radiant Dragon] kept it stunned. A judging light.

A light that exposed all of its being to the Radiant Dragon.

If he was truly innocent, there would be no second ray of light.

But it did not.

A second later, a second ray of light descended, and this time, there was nothing left of the two Zuja agents. The spiritual guardian, the Radiant Silver Guardian Dragon vanished back into its storage formation somewhere in the city.

The Flaming Phoenix's core disciples immediately realized what's up. Someone had set the two of them up, and the sixth realm Core Disciple quickly apologized.. "Young Master Sapphens, it seems we owe you an apology."

The young master was too stunned by the replica to even react. The Elder, on the other hand, answered on his behalf. "Apology accepted, juniors. But this is a lot more serious than it seems."

He walked over to what's left of the agent's corpse, and saw the ashes of a worm. A black spiritual jar manifested out of the spatial pouch, and it sucked up all of those ashes.

Tundra Fox, still blended into the crowd, did not react.

This was a small victory. The Zuja would likely watch their actions more carefully during the banquet, and he wondered whether the Zuja would double down, or back off. Either way, the Great Sects are not stupid and they will notice.

If he could manipulate or steer them towards the Zuja, it's quite likely their strength would suppress the Zuja's growth, and that would buy everyone more time, and force the Zuja into more difficult battles.

"Did you know that a spiritual guardian would appear?" Wilber asked. It wasn't really a question, but rather, an accusation.

"No. Not at all." Tundra lied, with all the honesty he could muster. The man knew something else was up, but Tundra couldn't reveal that. If anyone knew he could manipulate the guardian spirits of the royal family, he would be in really big trouble.