chapter 34

"the town used to be good, back when I was a bit younger. It all went downhill a few years back. The previous guards died to protect us from monster and in their place some new people came. They were strong yes but they did not have honour or responsibility, they were ruffians. They would only protect you if you treated them like royalty, even then they wouldn't respect you."

"I see. Just know this, I will never. Never. Treat anyone badly for no reason, I would never be unfair, I want to create a society where everyone can become better with effort"

"Thank you, I can feel your sincerity, I'm Ned by the way" The old man, Ned, murmured his thanks and the two became quiet.

A comfortable silence was sustained as the two flew high in the sky, over all the dangerous land.

"Wow, it's beautiful. You're lucky being able to see this view of true freedom"

Hou didn't answer, he knew that although this felt free they were not really free even still. They were locked in a game between cultivators. But Hou still felt what Ned was talking about, he was free from the mortal world's struggle up here.

The two went back in silence until Hou started gliding downwards, slowly spiraling down from the sky to ground. Partway through they passed a intangible layer and the camp became visible.

Ned saw this and re-evaluated How's settlement in his eyes. It didn't took impressive from the outside, well inside, but the fact it could be hidden from the outside means it should be safe from outside threats.

Hou and Ned landed in the main tent that was erected and Hou announced,

"Today is a celebration, from today you are are officially members of the Hou sect! Go celebrate I have brought alcohol, drink to your heart's content. Be do be mindful we shall be moving tomorrow but also don't let that snuff your fun, be free."

Hou turned away from the crowd cheering and passed the barrels to Ned, patting him on the shoulder,

"I'll let you do this, get to know everyone and how it all works. Have fun and come find me if you want anything." Hou gave Ned instructions and left for his own celebration.

For the rest of the night, until late, Hou drank with Armen and his wife. Sadly for him, but fortunately for Armen, Hou could not get drunk with his strong body and so he took care off Armen Jr.

Once the two had drunk until they collapsed, Hou took the two off them and carried them through the chaos of the night celebration back to their personal tent.

As Hou passed the celebration, he made his way through the main tent and saw a pile of bodies. Almost everyone had passed out, or almost.

The exceptions being Hou, Jr, Hamar and Ned. Even Penn had succumb to the drinks and was layed flat on his stomach, his new pair of arms up in the air.

Hamar and Ned were talking to eachother about the old days when they saw Hou and gave a small but sincere wave.

Hou returned the wave and quietly passed through the tent placing Armen and René in their tent to sleep off the alcohol.

Hou took the last dredges of alcohol and flew himself to a cliff side. As he looked into the night, he drunk a cup and gave a thought,

'see you soon everyone, see you soon'

Hou remembered all his people he left in the past at Sacrarium and gave a drink to them.

He then turned around and with the rest of the barrel, he lifted it into the air and said aloud,

"And to you master"

He drunk the full thing but jokingly said,

"But I would've liked it if I could get drunk"

Hou still had Jr in his hand who promptly woke up and started to cry, he took this as a sign to go back and sleep.

The next day arrived and everyone slowly started to rise from their slumber, all with hangovers and headaches, all except Hou of course.

Hou sat up, and also sensed that Yue also woken up and decided to ask the question he had from before,

"Master I have a question, I got a new symbiote that creates a force that I can manipulate. Is there a way to use the spirit will in a formation, perhaps to improve the blood dome?"

"Slow me to look into your recent memories about it, just think about it"

"Okay, I give permission"

Yue looked through the memories and analyse the ability of the symbiote and how it may be useful.

"Yes good work Hou, I can't just put it in, but I may be able to figure out a way to use it. Place the symbiote into your inner world and try to activate it"

Hou moved the symbiote from around his brain into his inner world but still physically over his brain. When he activate dit, it worked as normal.

"It works perfectly"

"Yes. This is perfect, Hou give me some time and I may be able to use this into a formation which you can store in your inner world and activate instantly, creating a dome of either protection or isolation. It should allow you to expand your some of influence much further without stretching your inner world so much"

"Thank you master, I will surely await your work once you have finished"

Yue did not sleep but instead worked on the formation silently, and Hou looked over Yue and watched him work. While he wouldn't understand it all he did want to learn and would ask Yue the reason and purpose for various points in the formation. Even how it could be applied to non blood formations.

Hou did not leave his tent and for the full morning while Yue was awake and working he sat still learning about formations and using spirits without absorbing then directly.