chapter 84

Nine Clouds Purple Miasma and Hou stood at one end of the Purple Cloud Pavillion. In front of them, there was a large stone gate. 

It was as tall as the pavillion itself, made entirely of stone. A dark circular gateway, engraved upon the stone being symbols which Hou could not comprehend.

"This is the teleport point, connected to all others in the array. From now on we shall go through each main district of the Nine Clouds Sovereign Sect that we can. This is a coming of age tradition carried through the sect from the start. Normally when a core direct disciple is chosen they would not be seen by anyone before turning of age."

"Then why am I doing it, I'm already past that age?"

"There's two simple reasons for this. The first reason is that you are my direct disciple and I do wish to show that to others, they should know not to mess with you. The second reason... Is my reputation. I've never had a direct disciple, you are actually my first."

"I'm your first!?"

"Exactly as I say. Although I am an elder, I am considered the weakest. I have no disciples and have been in closed practice for 1000 years."

"1000 years! What were you doing for 1000 years?"

"I was actually managing the land you are from. That whole land was covered in many spirits that I could easily take. You had actually taken the last few. But that is all old news. Once I show the other elders and leader my new strength, I shall become one of the strongest elders!"

"Congratulations Master!"

'So this is the reason for him making my people life misery?! Just to steal and plunder, for what gain. Laws? Power? Authority? He tortured generations for hundreds of years for this...' Hou's resentment was slowly growing for Nine Clouds Purple Miasma.

Over the last while, Hou had started to bond with his master but now that was lost. On the surface it was lost that is, in the back of his mind Hou understood. 

From Nine Clouds Purple Miasma's perspective the people there were like ants. He merely was working on a higher perspective. But Hou could not accept this, if this was how it was... What would he becomes?

"Thank you Hou... Now we should stop talking and get to the parade!"

Nine Clouds Purple Miasma took out a token and threw it into the air. The circular gateway started to glow, rays of light rejected form the token.

The token stopped releasing rays of light and fell back into Nine Clouds Purple Miasma's hand. The gateway then shook. The engraving all around the ring started to release white smoke. 

The smoke then swirled together to the centre of the gateway, creating a soft cloudy wall. The cloud then shimmered and transformed into a different location.

"This is the Cloud Sword Mountains. This district is headed by Elder Nine Clouds Sword Master. He is known to be the utmost cultivator in sword laws. He has completely given up all other laws, cultivation one sole Dao."

Hou listened to Nine Clouds Purple Miasma but he was mostly focusing on the surroundings. Thought the portal he could see the Cloud Sword Mountains. A bed of grey stormy clouds with piercing mountains spread about. Floating mountains connecting the peaks. 

All around the air, beasts and cultivators flew across the mountaintops. Once Nine Clouds Purple Miasma finished speaking, Hou activated his flight body cultivation technique, Free Lark Technique, and set off using his Cloudy Eagle Divine Wings. 

Nine Clouds Purple Miasma saw Hou's enthusiasm and smiled, shaking his head but not stopping him. Under his feet, a pink cloud formed and lifted him into the air following Hou. 

"Now you may explore this later but first just follow me" 

"Mhhm" Hou nodded absentmindedly.

Nine Clouds Purple Miasma shook of Hou's attitude and started to fly forward. Hou followed behind while looking to the sides at the environment.

As they were flying, Hou could see the inner goings of the Cloud Sword Mountains. He flew over the abyss of clouds below. It was a dark a stormy later of clouds which crackled with red lightning. Occasionally the lightning would crawl up mountains, coiling around it and destroying parts. 

However the mountains did not fall, instead the pieces of earth shattered stopped in mid air and slammed back into the mountain. The mountain healed itself and the lightning was disrupted, disappearing.

Hou looked at this environment with true joy, he had seen amazing effects but nothing so... natural. He looked forward, into the sky next. Instead of clouds, he saw a seemingly endless void of sky. Not a single cloud anywhere, all a single shade of blue.

Nine Clouds Purple Miasma saw Hou looking at the environment and spoke,

"Quite the mysterious world isn't it? This was actually made by Nine Clouds Sword Master himself. Through a sword dance he distorted this whole area's laws. It was then retrofitted into his district, adding in certain embellishments."

"So this was all just an accident, just on a whim?!"

"Yes, hard to believe isn't it? This was before I joined the sect but I heard of the reasoning. He had many laws which he wanted to discard to focus on the sword. Instead of gifting them to others, he decided to further his sword path and do one last sword movement with all of his other laws!"

"Woooah"

Nine Clouds Purple Miasma saw Hou was struck with thoughts about this and wisely chose to stay silent. While Hou might've been a strong traditional cultivator, he was now shown what true modern cultivators can do.

'...Cultivation is truly profound. A sword technique could permanently change the world. Unlike magic, the world did not reject it. This Nine Clouds Sword Master quite literally changed the world to his whims. If this was an elders level of strength... What about elder? Other sects? Great Earthly Master of the Heavens, the originator of modern cultivation?'