A Hands Off Grand Elder
"… It's decided…
We shall send our Inner Court Disciples to lead the Outer Wing Disciples and recruits capable to fight.
No matter what… we must take hold of the Red Tortoise Wing… and convict Wang Jie for his crimes to bring harm to our Exalted Night Heavenly Sect."
The Sect Leaders voice reverberated throughout the Grand Hall, where the Inner Court Elders and Outer Wing Elders would meet to hear their Leaders thoughts, plans, ideas, and anything else relevant that involved the Sect.
Those present in the hall weren't too surprise by the declaration to storm the Red Tortoise Outer Wing, even the few Elders from the other Outer Wings of the Sect couldn't help but agree with their Sect Leaders plans.
Some thought about alerting their old friend, Wang Jie, about the impending attack on his Outer Wing, but none had the courage to go against their Sect Leader.
They also knew their would-be eyes on them from the shadows, lurking close to them to see if they would turn traitor.
Many who found the plans to attack and crucify Wang Jie as a traitor of the Sect found it hard to believe, because of his connection to the Grand Elder of the Exalted Night Heavenly Sect.
None truly knew the reason why, but they all understood the Sect Leader and a certain portion of the Inner Court Elders didn't like Wang Jie, trying their best over the years to reduce his influence in the Sect to nothing before they stopped providing him any resources to develop the Outer Wing he supervised.
A few of the Outer Wing Elders assumed it had to do something with the Sect Leader not being chosen as a direct disciple of the Grand Elder, but even then, they couldn't understand why the Inner Court Elders and Sect Leader chose to restraint Wang Jie.
They knew once the Grand Elder returned, he would reprimand them all heavily, however a handful of wise Elders realised the Grand Elder wouldn't be able to continue stating Wang Jie has his direct disciple after his cultivation strength had dropped beyond a particular threshold.
Unfortunately, no one had the power or authority to stop the Sect Leader and the Inner Court Elders with their plans, leaving many to wonder when the Grand Elder would return and what would become of their Sect once the Grand Elder would learn about his disciple's alienation.
.
'"As the Sect Leader commands!
We, the Elders of the Exalted Night Heavenly Sect, shall fulfill your wishes…!"'
All the Inner Court Elders roared loud enough to match the intensity of the Sect Leaders words, making a large number of the Elders from the Outer Wings to rethink their position and influence within the Sect.
Out of fear they also joined the Inner Court Elders and voiced their support for the Sect Leaders plans, even though a small number started thinking of ways to save their brightest students from the brutal showdown with the Red Tortoise Outer Wing.
Only one Elder of an Outer Wing prepared to send everything he'd recently heard and learnt to the Grand Elder, as he was chosen by Liao Zhen to be his eyes and ears, should anything go seriously wrong within the Sect.
Meng Yazhu, the Elder for the White Crane Outer Wing, served as a member of the secretive intelligence order which worked closely with the Grand Elder, either to manage the internal affairs of the Sect and the external affairs that might cause issues for the Sect and its members.
The disciples of the White Crane Outer Wing typically were chosen to enter the Inner Courts of the Exalted Night Heavenly Sect because they were supplied with a great deal of resources found outside the boundary of the Sects borders.
This would drive the Inner Court Elders to call in as many White Crane disciples to serve their own Courts, completely unaware they were typically bringing in disciples who had secretive tasks to conduct for Meng Yazhu.
He wasn't the only Elder serving the Grand Elder secretively, however the others weren't as heavily inclined to serve the Grand Elder anymore since he'd disappeared for more than a century, leaving them to question if he still remained alive.
Only Meng Yazhu knew their Lord, the Grand Elder was alive and well, training in seclusion at the base of the mountain ranges encompassing the Sect.
In a deep cavern, only assembly to cultivators who'd developed their power to a specific level that gave them the ability to fly, laid the density Spiritual Energy that was vital for progressing a cultivator's strength.
Though Meng Yazhu could head down and visit his Lord, he instead used the Communication Talisman Artifact that worked similar to a mobile phone, but only pairs were made which were connected with one another.
He'd made contact with his Lord previously through the talisman; however, Meng Yazhu was rather worried about not being able to reach the Grand Elder quick enough to avert the crisis about to befall the Sect.
Considering the number of people that would be involved in the siege of the Red Tortoise Outer Wing, Meng Yazhu believed no one in the entire Outer Wing would survive the onslaught from what he'd learnt through his intelligence network.
Thankfully, Meng Yazhu was blissfully unaware Esmond had trump cards stacked up like a deck of cards, ready to be deployed at any moment to turn the tide of the incoming battle, otherwise he would be calling the Grand Elder to stop the Red Tortoise Outer Wing instead.
…
..
.
[Status!]
[Name: Esmond Manston]
[System Level: 1]
[Host Level: 25]
[Experience: 16,746,346,500/46,943,040,000]
[Credits: 9,258,601,000]
[Body Condition: Healthy]
[֍ Soul Condition: Healed (Condensing) ֍]
[Body Status: Primordial Human (Great Noble)]
[Xrian Organism Count: 1,010]
[MP: 2,100,000/2,100,000]
[Status: Healthy]
[Affinity:
- Pure Lightning
- Pure Fire
- Pure Water
- Pure Light
- Pure Dark
- Earth
- Wind
- Ice
- Thunder
- Blood
- Nature]
[Strength: 150 🔒 (525→545🔓)]
[Endurance: 150 🔒 (525→545🔓)]
[Stamina: 150 🔒 (525→545🔓)]
[Dexterity: 150 🔒 (570→590🔓)]
[Intelligence: 150 🔒 (610→630🔓)]
[Agility: 150 🔒 (515→535🔓)]
[Magic: 150 🔒 (430→450🔓)]
[Wisdom: N/A]
[Abilities:
Spectral Consciousness
Taming
Universal Lifeforce Control
o Lifeforce Pace
o Lifeforce Body Strengthening
o Lifeforce Vision
o Lifeforce Manipulation]
*
[Artus Anima Star]
[Quality: Elite Grade]
[Grade: 0]
[Level: 86]
[Exp: 900,000/4,300,000]
*
[Spatial Ark Star World]
[Grade: 0]
[System Level: 1]
*
[Hunting Grounds Generator]
[Stage: 0]
[Level: 1]
*
[Universal Sentient Lifeform (Lifeforce) Body Refinement]
[Grade: 0]
[Level: 86]
[Exp: 900,000/4,300,000]
*
[Universal Sentient Lifeform (Lifeforce) Essence Energy]
[Grade: 0]
[Level: 63]
[Exp: 900,000/4,300,000]
*
[Universal Sentient Lifeform Essence Spring]
[Grade: 0]
[Level: 5]
…
..
.
"Mmm… I should train in the Chronicles Lake at some point…" Esmond said aloud, having examined his status screen while drinking the scotch brought out from his Inventory.
They used the Spiritual Essence infused scotch to celebrate the Grand Elder, Liao Zhen, decisions to join their side, even though the Grand Elder didn't wish to choose a side, there were just too many benefits available for him and the Sect if Esmond took control.
Liao Zhen decided to wait for the members of the Sect to begin their raid before appearing before everyone, rather than racing over to the Grand Hall to tell them all to stop since he wished to see and hear how the Elders and Sect Leader behaved without him being around.
He also didn't believe Esmond when he said there were capable fighters ready to take on the Sect forces, waiting patiently to be called.
Esmond chose to wait until the last minute before summoning the First-Generation Clones being trained extensively by Kizelar.
Carter notified him they had been moved over from the Shadow Intelligence Agency facilities and moved to the Library of Raibeelze so they could maximise their training potential.
The library had training facilities to enhance the speed at which one absorbed Spiritual Energy and could understand the martial techniques through a time diluted hall.
Having stayed behind in the Spatial Ark Star World, Carter closely examined the Clones training, informing Esmond about their progress.
He was also tasked with forging equipment for the Clones through the facilities of the library that Kizelar had shown Esmond during the quick tour when they inspected the building, however Carter believed by the time the Clones would be called to fight, there wouldn't be enough weapons for everyone to use.
Wang Jie was tasked instead to gather as many weapons as he could throughout the entire Red Tortoise Outer Wing, even asking Liao Zhen to supply them with his own weapons kept in a spatial ring.
.
"Isn't that the Lake filled with the various elements you were taking about earlier…?" Rahzil asked, laying across one of the sofas with his legs leaning off the end.
"Mm… it is.
Rashid set up his residence by the Lake and has been using it to develop his strength.
We could actually set up an external Lake here as well through the Ark Points." Esmond added, while speaking loud enough to pique Liao Zhens interest, who'd stayed behind in Wang Jies apartment with them after his disciple went off to prepare the Outer Wing for battle.
"May I ask… what is this Chronicle Lake you are speaking of…?" Liao Zhen sheepishly asked, trying his best to hide his enthusiasm for the unknown, especially if it meant furthering his strength.
Esmond decided to tell him the very basics about the lake and its properties, which made Liao Zhen feel even less guilty for backing Esmond and going against the Sect leadership.
More than anyone, Liao Zhen understood the Sect wasn't as strong as it used to be throughout Astelan, with other Sects in the region growing their influence beyond the power of martial arts.
After seeing all the changes made to the Outer Wing alone, Liao Zhen couldn't wait to see how the entire Sect changed under Esmonds control, however he had some issue with Esmonds thoughts on managing the Sect.
Up until now the Sect Outer Wings and Inner Courts were managed by Elders and people they chose to be put into position of power, but Esmond wanted to leave all of that to A.I Spirits, leaving more people to train and develop rather than wasting their time on menial tasks.
Liao Zhen didn't feel completely at ease with the new management plan Esmond had proposed to him yet seeing the A.I program that managed the Red Tortoise Outer Wing perform, he began to think about the future of the Sect where favouritism and injustice for the weak wouldn't occur.
.
While the three rested in Wang Jies apartment, Liao Zhen felt one of his talismans, which paired with another handed to certain members within the Sect, finally started to vibrate.
Using his Mental Energy, controlled by Internal Body Energy to exert power possible to connect with the other person through the talisman, Liao Zhen learnt about the dire situation within the Sect, especially the attack that would occur within the next half a dozen or so hours.
The amount of people called to fight in the battle alarmed Liao Zhen, which made him rethink his thoughts about not interfering until later, but he still didn't change his mind and decided to believe in Esmond.
In his opinion, Esmond was the only person who could save the Sect from being overtaken by others, plus his childish curiosity made him want to try out the Chronicle Lake to see if it was as powerful as it'd been made out to be.