Truthful Transmigration

Conflicting thoughts filled John's head, like if he should bother to ask the name of the man he was about to kill. It would be useful to have for context if people complained about it later, but when would it even matter? If the Empire of Elements betrayed the first opportunity they had for negotiations, surely they would do the same for all others. No, it was safe to assume that they had slain those on the various ships they sent through the normal seas as well.

At the very least, John couldn't expect any serious efforts to negotiate until they were on the back foot. And then he was going to push them three steps further for all the trouble. But as for today, nobody had to survive.

What a waste of time, effort, and lives. That was lives on both sides- in a large battle it was impossible for any group to have no casualties unless one side was massively overwhelming. At least against human opponents that wouldn't easily allow people to swap out when they got tired.

"I've seen enough of their techniques," John commented to Astrid. "How about you?"

"The water cultivators are nothing exceptional," she commented. "Only the Bright Trinity have anything unique going for them. I think I've seen as much as we can safely observe."

John nodded. "Right then. Let's finish this."

The man who stood against them- with numerous subordinates protecting him- narrowed his brow. "You know I can hear you right? It won't be so easy."

"Oh, is that so?"

John began to gather his spiritual energy. Astrid as well, and he internally prompted her to gather more light element. She would be able to intuit which technique he wanted based on his own balance.

She threw weak darts of flame which the man easily blocked- but that wasn't their purpose. Nor was the light element in the sudden blooms of sungrass meant to actually blind the man. Instead, it was meant for John, who tossed a throwing dagger into the mix, charged with darkness. Together their elements erupted, sending the man staggering back. Another dagger followed behind, which the man dodged. However, it didn't matter if he did. The trail of darkness it carried wrapped around him, drawing his attention as it was supposed to.

Four elements carried John forward with great speed, the molten sea and the skies above pushing him forward. His sword stabbed towards the man, who tried to parry with his quarterstaff. If the man hadn't focused on the light element John was displaying as a feint, he might have gotten the actual attack trajectory correct.

John's sword stabbed through one of his lungs. "W-wait!"

"Why?" John gave the man half a moment to supply a reason. Yet he stood there stunned, as if merely asking should have been sufficient. He certainly wasn't going to give a duplicitous bunch a chance to pull one over on him.

He charged his sword with the three opposite elements. While they more or less balanced out, unfortunately for the man who was about to die that was only reasonable if the clash was happening outside of his chest cavity. With a look of confusion and rage on his face, the Bright Trinity cultivator died.

Did he expect special treatment because he was a little bit stronger than others? His subordinates had been dying all battle and he hadn't begged for any of their lives. John wasn't inclined to try for ransoms when it would just result in them sending another organized group for an assault.

He flicked the blood off his sword and turned to the next Ascending Soul Phase cultivator. Presha had the water cultivator well handled- the only reason she hadn't won her battle yet was the numerous subordinates holding her back. But she would win, especially with the tides turning against them.

John and Astrid moved in on another- the Empire of Elements apparently had plenty to spare, or they wouldn't have sent these people to die. Unless Roi just didn't like them. Though if the Empire of Elements had such petty infighting, they probably wouldn't last long.

The woman tried to run. Subordinates even tried to block for her, but it wouldn't have done any good. John seriously doubted most people would get far in the Molten Sea without a ship. She would have worn herself out flying or protecting herself from the sea itself… if John and Astrid hadn't cut her down after the handful of Consolidated Soul Phase cultivators.

At least she died with dignity. A tactical retreat was the reasonable option, and she at least didn't look surprised that she wasn't going to live. It was their fault, of course. If they had wanted peace they would have had peace. But they came in with a declaration of war, and so they would get war.

-----

"The spoils of war we claimed will go to those who sent the ships," John declared. That excluded the portions the Searing Sarcophagus to help with fortifying their position- including calling on the support of others in the Molten Sea. They weren't at a critical location, but they were one of the closest.

That declaration did mean that the Six Elements Crossroads had to cover the costs of some continentals who had died, but it was worth such minor expenses to begin getting everyone on board.

"The Empire of Elements doesn't intend to cease their conquest," John continued to address the gathered leaders of the continent. If he was trying to get the whole continent to go to war- without their territory being clearly intruded upon- he needed to be as convincing as possible. No small groups. Instead, they filled a section of the arena like an amphitheater. "They have no honor to speak of. If we wish to stop them, we must gain a dominant position and force an end to things."

Many people wanted to comment, but only one could speak at a time. John was able to direct things with his position, but he still chose a number of random individuals he couldn't predict the words of.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Why shouldn't we just claim their territory?" asked a cultivator from the Darklands. A moderately sized sect that wasn't terribly important… but still had late Consolidated Soul Phase cultivators due to the current cultivation boom.

"Logistics," John said. "The continents aren't conveniently located. A defensive war is to our advantage, with the support of the Molten Sea. And if we try to exert lasting influence over what is left of the Molten Sea…" John shook his head. He didn't have any specific negatives to state, so he left it to speculation. "It's simply not practical."

Plus, he wasn't really into the whole conquering empire thing. But there were plenty of people with older ideas in their head that would need to be convinced through other methods.

"How will we distribute the future spoils of war?" asked a man from the Sunfields.

"By contribution, of course. Those immediately involved will receive the largest share. Those on the frontlines will receive a portion even if they aren't required to be active. And a smaller portion will be distributed among those who help maintain our border security here. We can't forget about other dangers, after all."

He could make a number of declarations himself, but ultimately John needed the support of the whole continent. He had great sway when including the various sect and clans with which he had close ties, but it wasn't complete. He needed people to be motivated to fight, yet not feel excluded if they didn't.

Some would opt for easy jobs like defending the shorelines. They wouldn't be paid much, nor would they grow much since they lacked ambition. Not that John expected everyone to throw themselves onto the frontlines. Half of his friends and some of his family might be doing that, but he didn't expect it of people. It was perfectly reasonable to stick to supporting the Molten Sea, but of course cultivators liked their rewards and practical experience both.

Most of the important details had already been worked out among those who mattered more… but they still needed the support of people in general. The western continent wasn't an empire where he could just do whatever he wanted. It would have been a terrible idea… right?

Right. Even if he had been interested in the idea, he wasn't strong enough yet. Certainly, there weren't that many late stage Ascending Soul Phase cultivators and fewer that weren't his close allies… but as could be seen with Abritt, a stage advantage wasn't everything. The downside of being in a centralized location was that everyone could move against him and the Six Elements Crossroads together, if they wanted to. Or take out his various allies individually. Which was why it was important that the continent as a whole got along.

For the same reason he didn't want the western continent to hurt itself with infighting, they had to stand against the Empire of Elements. More people would die if they didn't, and they would also be people he cared about. It seemed strangely true that there was always a stronger threat. John imagined he could kill this empress if they fought- wasn't she lower cultivation?- but of course he wouldn't even have an opportunity. And if he did, he wouldn't be planning for a 'fair' fight.

Fair fights were one had a good chance of dying. John didn't think he could get away with many more even odds and survive. Obviously he was willing to take chances if he had to, but if he didn't then even a handful of ten percent odds wasn't great. Battle wasn't actually random, but it was always possible to overestimate oneself- or underestimate an enemy. John knew that well, because he often made use of that to surprise his enemies. He was the one that yet lived, so it was clearly feasible.

Many questions came about precise distributions of money. Everyone wanted to optimize things for themselves, to draw a little bit more. John said the details weren't quite worked out yet, but they would be fair. The latter part was true as far as he could make it. Perhaps biased towards those that were already strong- but they would be the ones taking on the main risks. Besides, that was just how a cultivation world worked. As long as they didn't intentionally exclude weaker cultivators from opportunities, John believed things were better off than previous generations.

He wasn't going to get everything perfect in just one lifetime. That was because John, as well as all of his good friends, were imperfect. Just because he thought they were the best didn't mean he needed to get a big head and forget that they had flaws. That was a good way to suffer negative consequences… which he intended to be there to experience. Lifetimes were long in a world of cultivation, and John quite liked being alive.

-----

The Six Elements Crossroads had a number of reliable individuals watching over it. Physical dangers weren't the biggest threats given its position. Instead, it was economic or social threats. John was unconcerned about leaving that in the hands of Viriato and his primary disciples. Though soon enough, some of the latter might be reaching the Ascending Soul Phase. The core cycle cultivators had serious choices to make with their progression, but all the information the Crossroads had was available for them. Some might choose to double up on two elements- or get mixed totems to try to maximize their core cycle. But John knew some wanted a full cycle of six elements, so they'd have to choose light or darkness.

From his perspective, it seemed easier to have started with one of those choices. Of course, his start had been rough… and so had reaching the Ascending Soul Phase. And the Exalted Soul Phase might kill him, but wasn't that just cultivation?

He was leaving to participate in the war. Not on the frontlines at all times, but at least near them to help coordinate things between the Molten Sea and the continent. When he was needed, if they had sufficient forewarning, he could join as reinforcements. The same was true of many others, though some would be constantly involved with such things.

Ursel, for example. She didn't have a clan tying her down and she very much thrived in conflict. The Molten Sea wasn't the easiest location for an earth cultivator like her to act, but that just made it better training. Even at a disadvantage she was among the strongest people they had. Lucanus and Yustina would of course be superior, with their primary element being the most intense part of the local environment. Ursel's armor was good, but she had neither endless stamina nor an invulnerable body. The Molten Sea was far more intense than simple arena formations. Though the Crossroads might be working towards some more satisfying arena setups for Ascending Soul Phase cultivators.

Remaining on the defensive, Deirdre would be monitoring the shores of the Molten Sea with numerous others- just in case the Empire of Elements tried to slip past the sects of the Molten Sea instead of continuing their conquest as expected. On the watery shores, there would be numerous patrols of ships already looking for islanders. Tirto would be involved with some of those ships, and Melanthina was helping secure the Gloom Desolation's shorelines. Though perhaps their name wasn't going to remain appropriate for long. Gloom, perhaps, as the area was still strongly dark element- but desolate it was not, with the earth element returned.

John didn't know whether to hope for a short war or a long on. Short wars likely meant more cultivators dying in a compressed timespan, but long wars could have more total deaths. The only thing that was certain was that war was happening, and they had to win.