Jade Slip

[Immortal Adamant - State Cultivator.

Twenty-fifth Night of the Eleventh Epoch, ninety-second Period.

Third Hour of Late Hour.

Arrival at Union Settlement after receiving a Jade Slip requesting help.

Immediate arrival reveals the ruin of Union Settlement.

The ordinary mountain, upon which the Settlement was conceived, was scarred with deep wounds. Fire ravaged all things organic, unlike the Crimson Fire, which devastated the Central Western area of the region.

Evidence suggests multiple parties were involved.

One Immortal of considerable battle strength.

A subsidiary party of mortal Cultivators.

Survivors were located within areas of the Settlement or fleeing from the Settlement. Referring to the previous numbers, one-fifth of the original population of twenty thousand has survived, with the majority of them being injured.

There are no signs of the Immortal Settlement Lord, Immortal Union's presence.

Likely fell in battle.

]

...

That was the information stored in the Jade Slip.

The Settlement Lord read it all with a grim expression.

"How... How could such a thing have occurred..?"

Trembling on the spot, he let go of the Jade Slip as if to drop it, yet it merely remained floating in place.

"Union Settlement...!"

"Lord."

Turning his gaze to the man who called his name, Warrior of Spring beckoned with a troubled gaze.

"I understand that such an ordeal is unthinkable, but we must remain grounded and confront our situation first."

"..."

"As you know, we are lacking manpower. Even Sister and I would not be able to completely repel the third tide, especially if a Spirit is present. Adding to this ordeal is the presence of Demonic Cultivators."

"..."

"We must evacuate the people, but without a proper location to evacuate them to, where do you plan to go?"

"..."

With the fall of Union Settlement, not only would Corpse Mountain Settlement lose its backing, but also its refuge.

Due to their terrible situation, fleeing the Corpse Mountain was the best choice to save the many lives of the Settlement.

Union Settlement was naturally the intended destination to retreat to.

Unfortunately, not only is the Settlement in ruins, but Immortal Union was also -- likely -- deceased. 

Regardless, this new ordeal changes the situation abruptly, once again.

'What is happening...? These tides of beasts and Spirits have surged, Demonic Cultivators were after our Corpse Mountain, and now Lord Immortal Union was killed...!?'

With too much on his mind, the Settlement Lord could not help but collapse in his chair, holding his head in his hands.

"Lord! Shade of Autumn has requested an audience!"

"...!"

Looking towards the door, he hesitated before granting her entrance.

With a polite bow, Shade of Autumn greeted the Settlement Lord, Call of Winter, and Warrior of Spring.

"Lord. Seniors."

Saying so, she straightened herself as she presented a few pages of a report.

"I have collated all the information I could obtain from Sun."

"Information?"

With a questioning gaze, Call of Winter took the paper into her hands.

Analysing rough sketches of hideous, misshapen beasts.

The text that described them was a bit lacking.

"This 'Stream of Scales' seems to be the only one with an in-depth understanding?"

"Indeed. Sun has claimed that it was the only one that was active."

"I see..."

Flipping the page again, she looked at a weird-looking figure, an androgynous face with pitch black eyes.

They were wearing a simple cloak.

The most eye-catching detail was the two titles assigned to them.

"Follower of the Spirit... Envoy of the Lion?"

"Yes. It seemed to strain Sun, but he eventually spit out those two titles."

"Envoy?"

Neither title was familiar to Call of Winter or Warrior of Spring, nor the Settlement Lord.

"Regardless of their titles. They still assaulted the Settlement. If not for Sister Winter's aid, we would have been killed."

Shade of Autumn then turned to face Warrior of Spring.

"When you battled that Demonic Cultivator and that dragon, could you point out any noticeable features?"

"Well. Looking at their cloaks, they both wore simple cloaks to hide their visage. Additionally... this 'envoy' does not look nearly as grotesque as that bone-wielding Demonic Cultivator."

"So we are dealing with a bunch of freaks?"

"Could be so... considering their similar unsettling appearances, this would make them likely allies. Although that bone-wielding Demonic Cultivator spared me few words but many insults and threats, so I can not ascertain anything about his relations to these 'Follower of the Spirit' or 'Envoy of the Lion' titles."

"I should also point out their shared ability to control beasts and Spirits. Those four mockeries of the Celestial Beasts and the Bone Devouring Dragon, each of them is of considerable battle strength."

Evaluating their respective battle strengths:

Call of Winter and Warrior of Spring are First State Cultivators, equal to that bone-wielding Demonic Cultivator and the Bone Devouring Dragon.

Shade of Autumn, Golden Eagle, Axe-Wielding Fiend, and the Settlement Lord are Third Foundation Cultivators. The four mockeries of the Celestial beasts and the Envoy of the Lion are of similar battle strength.

Their major forces are not equal, with the enemy faction slightly advantageous.

That was assuming that there are no other Demonic Cultivators.

Although with the third tide incoming, and the Envoy of the Lion's ability to command a large tide of beasts, their overall manpower was terribly unequal.

"Without Union Settlement as a backing, and currently in ruins, we cannot retreat there for safety."

"However, the other subsidiary Mortal Settlements would be in a similarly dangerous position. Therefore, we can not rely on them for aid, either."

"Either way, it seems like the situation has greatly plummeted..."

The Settlement Lord spoke out his thoughts as he contemplated the situation.

Everything seemed to be at a loss, though a sliver of hope led him to believe in some sort of gain.

Some sort of saving grace.

"Lord."

Calling his name was Winter.

She looked down at the troubled man and offered a compromise.

"We can still flee the Settlement. However, we will convene with other Mortal Settlements."

"What...?"

"All subsidiary Mortal Settlements of Union Settlement are in similar positions, no? If they can not find an Immortal backer, while in such a dire position, they will not survive."

With a hand on her chest, she proudly declared.

"Veiled Forest Settlement is willing to convene with Corpse Mountain Settlement. I, Call of Winter, extend my hand to you."

...