Truthful Transmigration

It was ever so slightly more difficult to fly to the Third Peak than it had been to the Fourth Peak, but it wasn’t really a challenge. The difficulty of flight was always less than what he’d dealt with from the sea below, and the distance? Incomparable. John had flown with the others ten kilometers vertically, and the vertical distance to each of the peaks was no more than a kilometer. This was a test for the natives- if the islands even had any control over the pathways.

Ayhan and Lir might have had a harder time of it alone, but with John supporting the group they could sustain the necessary force for a sufficient amount of time. He barely had to provide anything himself, except for Viriato. Carrying one other person wasn’t that difficult, however, and it didn’t make any difference what Viriato’s cultivation rank was.

When he landed upon the Third Peak, John didn’t let his spiritual energy fully settle. The others got the message, keeping their energy somewhat active.

Control of the situation was the most important thing. That was what John had decided. So rather than timidly walk forward and have to face the local island master in whatever sort of throne room she had, he took the reigns.

He projected his voice widely. It wouldn’t be loud anywhere, but it would be clearly heard- and his energy would be felt over the whole island, and hopefully beyond. “The Six Elements Crossroads arrives to challenge the Third Peak in the Trials of Ascension.”

John was being rude. It was an intentional choice, intended to produce favorable results. And he wasn’t so rude as to be completely unreasonable. From certain perspectives, he would certainly be displaying confidence. Announcing himself wasn’t that unreasonable either.

Part of it was his plan, and part of it was his annoyance at the Third Peak island master, despite never having met her. However, what he had heard from Mirka and Venera hadn’t changed the opinion he had formed based on the attack by Third Peak disciples.

If there was some sort of error, and they were rogue disciples… then he might apologize for his brash actions. If it seemed appropriate. But until then, he would act like someone important. Because as it turned out, he might be.

He felt ripples of movement as people responded. John and the others strode towards the gates at a measured pace. Without directly focusing, he kept his thoughts on Morana, the island master. He felt hesitation, then she moved from her position deeper in the sect.

John timed his approach to arrive at the gates near when she did. She wasn’t rushing, exactly, but she wasn’t moving at a leisurely pace either. Before she reached them, John paid special attention to the surroundings. He didn’t want to make a mistake in how he handled things… but then he saw the few people he needed to. That decided things.

The four stopped outside the gate. Internally, John’s energy was still nimble. If things went wrong, he was wholly prepared to take Viriato, Lev, and Ayhan and just run. Dropping off the edge into the ocean might be embarrassing, but he wasn’t looking to get killed here.

There was a hint of motion from above, but John simply took note of it. He didn’t have the spare attention to continue tracking that, with Morana in front of him.

“Greetings,” Morana said the word, but John knew she didn’t feel it. Which confirmed his understanding of things. “I am surprised. It has been some time since a continental has attempted the trials of ascension.”

If he only considered her words, they were polite. But the way she said continental was as if she were speaking about a particularly disfavored sort of insect. John kept his tone as clear as possible. He saw several of the disciples moving past the others. He needed to keep the initiative.

“Perhaps it would not be so rare if the Sky Islands did not distance themselves. And if the Third Peak did not shelter bandits.” John pointed directly towards the closest of the disciples- the man of the trio of Consolidated Soul Phase cultivators who had attacked them along the way. The man twitched, as he had clearly been about to decry John as the offending party. And while he would still have an advantage in his own sect, it still helped shape the narrative.

Morana’s spiritual energy flared. John continued the interplay of elements inside of him, hidden. “How dare you make such accusations against a disciple of the Third Peak!”

John nodded. “So you did order them to attack us, then. Typical.”

“Of course not. There was no-”

“Ask him about the burns on his backside. Or those two women about the wounds on their sides.” John knew they wouldn’t have healed from his flames just yet, as it had only been a few days. And while he hadn’t caused serious damage, perfect recovery in that time was difficult. The six Soul Expansion Phase cultivators hadn’t made it out, recklessly trying to overpower Viriato and the other two- though it wasn’t like they’d fought long so they had little time to realize their mistakes.

“These are serious accusations,” Morana glared. “We will investigate thoroughly.”

“He’s the one that attacked us!” one of the women declared.

John grinned- but only internally. “Trivial. I believe that was the word you used, assuming someone of your status could defeat me with a trick and numbers. That was moments before you all ran with tails between your legs, of course.”

“Enough!” Morana shouted. Wind blew in all directions from her, whipping John’s hair and clothes. “I will not tolerate these insults to the Third Peak. The accusations against you are sufficient to place you under arrest.” She stepped forward, reaching out.

John drew his blade in an instant, cutting her wrist. He’d hoped to completely sever the hand, but she yanked her hand back too quickly for him to accomplish his task.

“He comes to assault the peak! Seize him!” Morana yelled.

John stood his ground. Not because he thought the four of them could stand up to a whole sect, though. John was pleased that aside from readying their spiritual energy to the full, his retinue restrained themselves.

Cultivators swarmed forward- John noticed Morana herself hesitated.

“Stand down.”

The words were spoken no louder than casual conversation, but their weight was immense. Even John felt slightly mollified.

The disciples had to have heard, but not all of them reacted immediately. Some continued forward, preparing attacks. An instant later, a gust of wind pushed them in all directions. John noted that one of them was caught so off guard that he tumbled over the edge of the island, more than a hundred meters away. If nobody caught him… he’d might not be coming back. It was a long fall, and an even longer ascent. Most likely he could avoid hitting the sea too hard, but that wasn’t guaranteed.

Sitora landed between the two of them, her age showing just as much as it had the last time John had seen her. She didn’t appear to be on the verge of death, but she certainly wasn’t getting any younger. Her energy was that of the Mid Ascending Soul Phase.

“What is going on here?” she demanded, as if she didn’t know.

John let Morana speak first. She could condemn herself with her own words.

“This continental attacked my disciples!” she said. “I was merely bringing him in for a proper investigation.”

“I see. And when did this incident happen?” Sitora asked calmly.

“It was barely a week ago.”

“Why did you not report it to the Peaks immediately?” Sitora said. “Surely your disciples must have noticed him challenging the peaks. His presence has not been subtle.”

“I did not wish to-”

“Inform me that you had attacked my guest?” Sitora raised an eyebrow. “Yes, I am aware you prevented his message from reaching me.” She turned her head to John. “Do you have anything to say?”

“Your insight has revealed everything of import,” John said. “Did you perhaps sense the battle?”

“Faintly,” Sitora said. “You were many islands away. I will admit I did not immediately recognize your spiritual energy, though I should have predicted this. You were but one step from a fire totem.”

“Not a trivial step,” John admitted. “But I accomplished it, in time.”

“What is it you wish?” she asked. “Revenge?”

Morana interrupted. “You haven’t heard-”

Sitora’s head whipped around. “I wasn’t speaking to you. And I have heard enough.”

“I don’t care about the affairs of unimportant disciples,” John declared. “Unless they intend to shame themselves again, I am done with them. I am merely here to test myself against the peaks. With several members of my sect,” John gestured behind him.

“Then a challenge you will have. Come, everyone,” Sitora gestured. Though she stood alone among the members of the Third Peak, she was not entirely unguarded. There were other members of the Second Peak that had followed after her, hanging above the island.

-----

Things were going about as well as John could have hoped. He figured Sitora would have been paying attention, but it was good that she remembered him. Though it was likely she would have had to make a concerted effort to forget anyone, even with her age. Maybe if John hadn’t interacted with her directly, but even then she would likely remember his energy signature.

Morana would have been steaming, had she been a fire or water cultivator. As it was, she was quite close as she shuffled along after Sitora, subdued.

“Pick your combatants,” Sitora said simply as they arrived at the arena after climbing several flights of stairs. John noticed that this arena had no floor. If he understood the rules correctly it would still count as a loss to pass through ground level, and the island would catch anyone that actually fell, but it would be embarrassing. The floating platforms were also moving around independently, and John thought there were slightly fewer of them. “I am certain you know how to choose appropriately.”

Morana was clearly annoyed at being told what to do, but also clearly unwilling to stand up to Sitora. That was quite reasonable, because ignoring other factors a fight of two Ascending Soul Phase cultivators against her would result in her guaranteed loss- and most likely death. There would be no way John would stand by if something happened. The rest of the sect might have been problematic, except for the hovering guard. And the fact that as many as felt they could get away with it had started to pull away.

The island master was not at all conservative with her picks. She chose late Soul Expansion Phase cultivators to go against Ayhan and Lir, who were solidly in the mid Soul Expansion Phase. John was quite certain they had people more appropriate, based on duration of training. But he didn’t complain. Viriato’s opponent was in the thirty-fourth rank while he was in the thirty-first. The late Consolidated Soul Phase.

“Second Island Master, if I may,” Morana said. “I believe things would be resolved most optimally with a group engagement.”

Sitora glanced over at John, but he gave her no expression. Perhaps she picked something up regardless. “That is an acceptable test.”

With Morana being two ranks ahead of John- the same rank as Venera- all four of his side were at a cultivation disadvantage. But personally, he had no issues. This was actually the best way for Ayhan and Lir to officially ascend. They might be able to follow him because of his own success, but then they wouldn’t be able to experience a battle on the Second Peak. That would be far more valuable for them compared to a standard match here they might lose.

John expected Viriato would have won here, even a single battle against the opponent the Third Island Master chose. He was only gaining more experience against earth and air opponents, and they were still just as unfamiliar with his style. Being unable to actually fly himself would only be a minor hindrance if he blasted them out of the sky.

“Your orders, Sect Head?” Viriato asked as they approached their positions.

“Take out the small fry. Don’t hold back.” He looked to Ayhan and Lir. “Same goes for the two of you. Morana won’t have an opportunity to engage with either of you, so focus on rapid offense.”

Morana hadn’t done herself any favors with her suggestion. The Third Peak was going to lose more face for their defeat with a stacked deck.