Regressor Sect Master

"I, Tundra Fox of the Verdant Snow Sect, humbly greet the esteemed phoenix, Ember Talons." Tundra said with a bow, while the woman seated on the throne hardly paid him any attention. Tundra was not the only sect master who came to pay their respects, as often happens in the presence of the Great Sect.

There were so many other sect masters here, and there were two sessions, one for the Flaming Phoenix, one for the Slicing Heavens.

The Flaming Phoenix's networking session went first.

Tundra remembered her well. His old foe. The one who killed so many of his descendants as a result of their war. This person here knows none of that.

She would remain on the 1st step of the 10th realm for quite a while.

Ember Talons, at this point, was already legendary. The speed of her ascension through the cultivation realms, and also in the Flaming Phoenix was the stuff of legends. Gifted with tremendous, heaven defying talent, it was said that within the first year of cultivation she already reached the 5th realm, and by the one hundredth she reached the 7th.

And yet, that smooth rise eventually came to a significant slowdown like many others. The ninth realm was especially hard, and she was there for a few hundred years. But nonetheless, the Flaming Phoenix made her the Sect Master even before she reached the 10th realm, as if sure that she would rise to the level.

She did.

So, now he didn't expect much of a reaction from her. When a 7th realm alchemist greets a 10th realm Sect Master, the gap between the two cultivators was too large, and so, in almost all cases, the 7th realm would just convey their greetings, as a formality, and they would usually be prepared to walk away.

Yet, she turned to look at him, and for a brief moment thought he saw strange flashes in her eyes.

"Well met, Tundra Fox." She called, and a servant nearby was assisting her to ensure that she knew the names of all those that came to see her.

Yet after she said it, she paused, and rubbed her head briefly. The assistant quickly read this as a sign that she didn't want to meet him anymore, and quickly stepped in and shooed Tundra away. It was as expected, so he nodded and was prepared to follow the assistant.

"Wait. I want to speak to you later." The Sect Master of the Flaming Phoenix declared, she was trying to rub her temple, as if she had a migraine. That surprised the assistant, who quickly walked to his side and whispered.

"Yes, mistress. Let me take you aside somewhere so you can wait for your turn."

"Very well." Tundra was ushered to a quiet waiting room in Gomerlia's Flaming Phoenix branch.

Tundra had to wait for a while, for almost an entire day. Luckily, the waiting room had an area to rest so he sat and meditated while waiting for his supposed audience.

It was the next morning when she finally came. It was quite easy to notice her presence, Ember Talons didn't hide her spiritual energies, and so Tundra was there to greet her when the door opened.

She walked in and sat on one of the guest chairs, and motioned for her to sit on the other.

"Have we met, Tundra Fox?" Ember Talons said with a strange look. Her eyes were like golden candlelights, they shone even with the little ambient lights of the room. He had not seen the [Eye of the Phoenix] up close, especially in such non-confrontational terms.

All earlier interactions with her were just filled with battles. Combat. How her phoenix flames burned through his metal constructs and steel blades.

At this point, her hair was like the living flame itself, it shifted colors from dark red, to bright golden yellow, and she wore the attire of the Sect Master, a bright red and golden robe woven with the true phoenix's soft underfur, interwoven with silks and steels that would bankrupt many sects a few times over.

She was clearly a fan of accessories, her hairpin was beautifully carved and gem-encrusted, and she wore multiple rings and bangles, at her wrists, ankles and fingers.

A far cry from the other times they met. When she was dressed for war.

"No." Tundra answered, taking a moment to steel himself from the presence of someone 3 full realms above him. It would be a while before he would stand as her equal.

She didn't look pleased with the answer. "But it felt as if I've seen you before, and you seem to be familiar with me."

"Ah, must be just memory jades, then. Recordings of Master Talons' presence in various events can be found for a decent price." Tundra deflected, even if being at this distance he could only remember being on the receiving end of her fury. Most of his memories of Ember were not pleasant, and it took him some willpower to keep them from surfacing.

"Strange." She said, as her eyes continued to glow some more. Their eyes met, and it felt as if he saw three candles spinning within her irises, their flames flickering. "Are you sure we've never fought together? Or against each other?"

Tundra blinked as he wondered the possibility that somehow, Ember Talons retained a fraction of that future version's memory? How did Hedron Warp's time reversal work? No. He couldn't risk it. Was it the [Eye]?

"No, we didn't. I am merely the sect master of a small sect, how could I dare to even raise my fists against the great sect master? I had merely come to pay my respects and greetings to the master of the Flaming Phoenix, we purchased one of your excellent flying ships and am thankful for the other assistance provided during the auctions in Forgestone Peak."

The regressor did his best to redirect the conversation, but now he wondered what sort of treasure were those eyes?

She seemed to allow his misdirection to slide.

"I see. I see. Do you have something else you wanted to say to me?"

Tundra decided on a roundabout way of dropping clues on the affairs of her own master.

Before this, Ember's own master had a precarious position, being only in the ninth realm while leading a Great Sect. It has been said that many others were confident that she would rise to the tenth, just like those before her, but in the end, more than a thousand years passed and she gave way to Ember Talons as the next Sect Master. But he knew from that final battle that her Sect Master is very much alive and under Zuja's influence. He decided, thusly, on a false rumor.

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

"I just wanted to comment that it is exceptionally admirable and unique that the Flaming Phoenix has such an unusual process for selecting their Sect Master. It must require great courage and humility for your previous master to relinquish her position and make you the Sect Master. Very few Sect Masters would do such a thing. I'm sure that now that she is in seclusion, she must've found some secret methods to ascend to the tenth realm. I am merely here to congratulate the Flaming Phoenix for it's great fortune."

"My master?" Ember Talons fiddled with her red and golden bamboo fan, a staple ornament among the ladies of the imperial court. She looked at him as if trying to read something between the lines. After a moment, she declared. "She's dead."

"Oh. Then I must have been misinformed." Tundra answered while feigning horror, and was prepared to kneel in apology. After all, he is just a 7th realm Sect Master having an audience with a 10th realm Sect Master. "I apologize for the offense."

"That is not necessary." Ember Talons stopped him. "I do not mind. The rumor mills often exaggerate, especially for a Great Sect. It is not the first time someone has complimented us based on rumors."

"Ah. This lowly one thanks the great phoenix for her magnanimity. I will surely return to chastise my informants for this faulty rumor."

She stared, and their eyes met again. For a moment, as their two eyes gazed into each other, and the three flaming candles swirled into a single tri-colored flame. Red. Yellow. Blue.

Her face changed into one of horror.

Tundra immediately got a bad feeling.

A sinking feeling of dread when he saw those eyes, and decided it was time to leave. It was a strong gut feeling of fear that even someone of his strength could still feel. "This one has imposed enough on the great phoenix's time. I once again thank the great master for her benevolence and charity."

He stepped away from the room, and Ember Talons looked torn. She closed her eyes and rubbed her head. Even at this distance, he could feel her swirling spiritual energy, the weight of someone in the tenth realm.

His instincts screamed at him to prepare to escape.

And yet, she allowed him to leave.

***

Zomo Sapphens. Sect Master of the Slicing Heavens. Master of the blades, and some even call in him the God of Swords, the Sword Deity. Tundra met him many times as a tenth realm alchemist, often to brew pills.

The number of tenth realms in the cultivation world wouldn't even fill a small dining hall of one hundred, and so, everyone met and knew everyone else.

"Greetings, Sect Master Sapphens. It is an honor to finally meet the Sword Deity himself in person." Tundra bowed before the man. There was a small gift by the side, which he passed to the Lord Sapphens' assistants. He was not the first, but instead, he was one of the last to attend the Slicing Heaven's networking session.

"We've met at the banquet, albeit under much less pleasant circumstances. I wanted to speak to you for a while, but alas, it is what it is."

Zomo Sapphens was a middle aged man, tall and well built, with a slightly tanned body. His skin was littered with hundreds if not thousands of scars from sword cuts, something he could've removed with his cultivation, but yet, he retained it as part of his identity.

Cultivators often find such anchors to remind themselves of who they are, especially for someone so high up in the ladder. The world feels unreal, false. A lie. So they must convince themselves that something in it is sacrosanct. Something for them to believe in.

Even Tundra himself was not exempt from it. To Tundra, alchemy is real. The rules that govern them are real. It is the craft of pills, elixirs that are real. A tenth realm cultivator has tremendous power over the world that can effectively alter how certain pills work. So cultivators create things for themselves to maintain a coherent sense of self.

"I see. What could this humble alchemist do for the great Sword Deity?" Tundra was ten steps away from the Sect Master, but even so he felt as if he could be sliced at any moment. The presence of the master's heavenly swords, all three of them tingled on his spirit.

"Was it you that detected the presence of the formation targeting the elders? During the banquet, I sensed that you were with the Grandduke the entire time, and I've known Grandduke Edrian long enough to know he isn't that perceptive."

"Ah." Tundra cursed. He knew these masters were not fools. They kept tabs on him as well. Not just him, perhaps everyone. "Yes."

In that second, Tundra felt as if a sword sliced through him. There was no escaping the blade. Not at his current level.

But it wasn't a killing blow. One of the Sect Master's heavenly blades had just pierced him, the [Sword of Truth].

It didn't hurt, but instead, it was a spiritual blade aimed at one's heart. "So, tell me, Lord Fox. Who is it that schemes against us? Duke Hadrian has already shared what he knew of the spatial weapon, and he was not shy to admit you may know more."

Tundra inwardly cursed. "I am not sure. It could be followers of the bug cult. Or demonic cultivators. But their goals are simple, if we take a step back."

"Vultures." The swordmaster said, he didn't need Tundra to answer. "But alas, vultures survive in nature despite never hunting on their own, because it is our nature to fight. And it is impossible for us to change our nature, even for someone in the tenth realm."

Tundra felt the spiritual blade vanish from his chest. Zomo Sapphens, was one of the few true heroes of the world, a man of great fortitude, talent, and honesty. He remembered brewing a few ninth-realm pills for the Slicing Heavens when he was in the ninth realm, some of them were used by Zomo himself.

"But we shall hide some blades in the dark. The vultures may think they have us weakened."

If only he knew how deep their strength went. They had at least fifty tenth realm Zuja avatars. But Tundra kept his mouth shut.

"Still, I believe I owe you a reward, for preventing a pointless battle with the Flaming Phoenix and likely saved myself and my elder from using any of our treasures. Alas, the battle still meant there is some distrust between the two sects, but the worst was prevented. So tell me, Lord Fox, is there anything that you require?"

"At this moment, I cannot say I know." Tundra declared. "But I am on a quest to strengthen my sect, my family and sect disciples' abilities."

"Do you want a wife of suitable bloodlines?" Zomo Sapphens offered. "If not for you, for your descendants or disciples? My people tell me you've been poking around the Ancient Titans, to learn their bloodline abilities. If it is bloodlines, the Slicing Heavens have much to offer as well."

"Ah, this one appreciates the offer." Tundra wasn't going to turn this one down. If anything, it may be a good idea to have a strong bloodline for someone like Yavin, Julia or Agnia. Or even his own descendants. "Perhaps, if you could have a list of names for me to match with my disciples or elders?"

"Oh? Not yourself?"

"As Sect Master, I must also look after those loyal and capable around me." Tundra answered. "It would be unwise for a man to hoard all good fortune."

"On the contrary, one's fortune often matches one's contributions, and I dare say your contribution is not small."

"Still, wealth should be shared." Tundra deflected. This entire event felt like he was flying a little too close to the sun. If he didn't know or understand Zomo Sapphens and Ember Talons well enough, he would've likely lost his life.

If it was around Patriarch Whitedragon, he would've just said nothing and avoided the encounter altogether. That man would probably kill him without batting an eye.

"Very well. Then you will get some good news, though I do hope that the candidates are at least of the sixth realm. Anyone lower than that will find it hard to have a match with those of the Slicing Heavens."

"If they are not able to do that much, then they do not deserve their good fortune." Tundra answered, though that meant only Severian would be eligible for a partner. Maybe he should ask Severian to have a wife, it may not be a bad thing for their sect.

"Very well, in a few years, maybe about five, my elders will have a list of eligible names."

"Five years it is." Tundra nodded. Five years is more than sufficient. For cultivators who measured time in years and decades, five is really nothing.

"Then it is settled. May your journey be a smooth one, Lord Fox. We will meet again."