Lord Zhou stood at the window of his chamber, looking over the seventh peak. It had been a month since the duel had happened, and winter had settled upon the peak fully. The entire month had been spent in a rush of repairing the damage caused, and explaining to people just what was happening. But now, things had finally begun to settle down.
Everything had changed in such a short span of time. Every cultivator on the seventh peak had lost their cultivation within a single moment. And then, they had gained something new in return. Even he had felt the change, his own path subtly shifting, though the effects had altered things less for him than most. The weight of being Lord kept him firmly where he belonged, but for everyone else, it was a brand new world.
Every mortal in the city had quickly realized that they suddenly could cultivate and chaos had reigned for some time. But people had adjusted quickly, as cultivators had begun guiding people in preparation for winter. Lives had quickly returned to how they had been, the common people returning to their livelihoods. Yet the changes that had come would leave a massive impact.
Elder Yan had fled the sect and the peak, without any signs of his whereabouts, leaving the sect in tatters. Yan Yun had taken his place, gathering the sect members. Many disciples had left, and many more had joined the sect anew under Lu Jie. Today was the day when they finally officiated their new sect.
Lord Zhou let out a sigh. Things had been moving rapidly, and winter was not even here yet. The challenges and visions of the future that he’d been told of still lurked in the distance. He only hoped this city would be able to weather what was to come.
“My Lord,” a girl said. Lord Zhou turned to look at Elder Yan’s Shadows, now free of their oaths. Qui Hou, known as Zu Ri before, had decided to join him in service, alongside a few others.
“What news do you have, Qui Hou?” Lord Zhou asked, taking his seat.
“We’ve found a destroyed carriage near the central plains. I sent men to confirm and they’ve brought back some grave news. It seems the Elder from the Alchemy Hall that was meant to arrive had been assassinated.”
Lord Zhou stared at the woman. “How could that be? If the man is dead…” Lord Zhou looked outside, feeling a dark premonition fill his chest. “Then who is Sheng Yuan?”
***
I stood within the sect again on a podium of sorts, wearing clothes with far too many decorations. Yan Yun had insisted that it was tradition, but I still hated the look so much. It was too official, and very not like me. I’d managed to reduce the flashiness of it as much as I could, but it still stood out.
“You’re going to be the Sect Elder, you need to look the part too,” Yan Yun said, fixing my clothing for me. I huffed, but did not argue any further with the girl. She had been the one managing everything in the sect for me, and teaching me how to do things.
There had been a bunch of protests when I’d shown up, despite the massive support for me to take up the position. I myself had felt uncertain at best, but there was not really anyone else who could do the job, and I did want the resources the sect had to offer.
“Any news on your grandfather?” I asked.
Yan Yun looked at me briefly, before looking away. “Not really. He’s alive, that’s all I know.”
“You know, maybe all of this will change his mindset. He lost a significant chunk of his cultivation, so it’ll be a blow to his ego,” I said, patting Yan Yun’s shoulder.
Yan Yun nodded, but did not comment further on the topic. “You should head out, they’re waiting for you.”
I grimaced, but I suppose there was no point in trying to avoid this work any longer. With a sigh, I left the chamber. A little further, I found Labby waiting for me, dressed up suitably as well. By which I meant, adorned in all kinds of jewelry.
At least she seemed to enjoy it a lot more than I did.
“Master!” she exclaimed, giving me a hug, and I lifted Labby up in my arms. “Labby!” I exclaimed back, as she giggled at me happily. One thing that had happened after my uncontrolled rampage was that Labby had become a lot more clingy. Again. But I didn’t mind it, I enjoyed her company.
Walking ahead, I let Labby down to walk on her own. Zhang stood at the gates, even he wore a much better dress than normal as he waited with his spear by his side.
“My Lord,” he said, bowing.
“Not you too,” I said, grimacing, and Zhang gave me a pleased smile. The guy had grown a sense of humor, one I entirely did not enjoy. How unfair that he teased me, only I was allowed to tease other people, didn’t he know that?
“They’re all waiting to see you,” Zhang told me.
“I know… it’s just a lot of responsibility,” I replied.
“It’s what you wanted,” Zhang told me. “Now go, before I have to call Granny.” I winced.
“Fine,” I replied. Standing in front of the gate, I took a breath. I put my hand on the gate and pushed it open. Slowly, I walked out onto a balcony, as a crier announced my arrival.
“Baron of Taizhou, and the new Elder of the Sect, Lu Jie has arrived!”
Cheers echoed throughout the massive crowd of sect members cheering at me. The wave of strength was powerful enough that I felt myself being pushed back a step from the intensity of the sound.
Yet, what I had expected to be a nerve wracking experience… actually turned out to be pleasant. I stood in front of the people, feeling my spirit connected to each of them, and their feelings flowed into me as one.
I raised my hand, as everyone fell silent. I took a moment to simply look around, before I spoke.
“A lot has happened in the last month alone. Things have changed, for some the very basis of their reality has been upended. For others, an entirely new life’s path has opened in front of them. But in all of this, we must not forget the trials awaiting us in the future,” I said, my voice pouring out through my Chi as it traveled through the crowd.
“Demons lurk, waiting to rise as winter is almost upon us. We must be stronger, better than we have ever been, and fight for our city, and people. There are no cultivators, or mortals anymore. We are all equal, and so, we must all do our part to face these trials,” I announced, glancing as I felt the crowd mimicking my emotion.
“For this, I now begin a new Sect, one founded upon new ideals, and a new Path. No longer does the Cloudy Peaks sect exist. From now on, we shall be The Divine Tree Sect!”
Cheers echoed through the sect, shouts echoing into the skies as they shook the very ground. “Long live Elder Jie. Long Live the Divine Tree Sect!”
I felt a strange emotion fill my heart and I smiled.
My dreams were starting to come true.
***
Sheng Yuan flew within the skies, watching the seventh peak city from afar. “What a fun little trip,” he said.
“You’ve wasted far too much time, Yang Shen,” a shadow growled from behind him, holding an unconscious boy over his shoulder.
“Ah, but I wanted to meet my Junior Brother! Not to mention, it’s rare that I get to see someone from Earth,” Sheng Yuan protested, pouting.
“You waste our time. He is not pleased. Not to mention… why do you insist on still keeping this human form?”
“Because I like it. Why can’t I?” Sheng Yuan said.
“It’s unsightly. Fragile.”
Sheng Yuan sighed. “You just don’t appreciate human beauty.”
“Such things do not matter to us. More importantly, are you sure about picking this child up? He has no cultivation.”
“Yup. He’s got the right qualities. It’s a shame he was born here, he would’ve made for an excellent demon with us. But it’s alright, we’ll train him,” Sheng Yuan said, brushing the boy’s hair. “Isn’t that right, Yan Li?”
The demon snorted, Gu swirling around him. “Enough fooling around, let us depart. Winter is upon us.”
Sheng Yuan turned to take one last look at the seventh peak city. Flames erupted around him as his form changed, the demon underneath revealing itself.
“I’ll see you at the capital, Junior Brother Lu Jie.”
Gu flames swirled around him, as he vanished into the skies.