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086 - Troubles at the Gate
🕑 Added 2024-09-18 17:43:35 +0000 UTCAs the group approached the wall, Qin Yun was stunned by its magnificence. It wasn't beautifully ornamented or made of precious material, but it possessed some sort of functional beauty. The stones were thick and heavy, interlaced with each other, making the wall sturdy enough to support any assault.
Countless runes were engraved upon the stone surface, creating an almost invisible barrier; only a slight shimmer could be gleaned, even up close. Those runes pulsed at a low frequency, propagating a feeling of oppression in their surroundings. It was almost as if telling those near it not to approach under any circumstances lest they wish to wager their lives.
"Quite impressive," Qin Yun said as he looked up to the top of this over 25-meter-tall wall. I'm surprised it's able to resist the storm to this extent. Despite the passage of time, these stones appear to be brand new."
“No one has been able to truly uncover all its mysteries without shutting it down, but from what we know, the formation can attach sand particles to its surface, repairing itself with time," He Zihao replied, feeling somewhat proud of himself. "This place is the focal point of our conflict with the outsiders. Keeping this fortress in good condition is our local sect alliance's mandate."
“Well, we can only do what we can,” Yao Ruolan said, showing a slightly hopeless smile. “This side isn’t that bad, but the other is in really rough condition. Their relentless assault leaves us no time to perform repairs. The formation simply cannot keep up.”
“Indeed,” He Zihao sighed. “Somehow, they’ve got worse in recent years, almost as if they’ve been bolstered by something we aren’t aware of.”
Qin Yun's eyebrows rose slightly, feeling something was at odds. He couldn't help but voice his doubts.
“I heard the other side of the great barrier is barren, almost unfit for life. How can they sustain the numbers needed to assault this place? Did the two of you ever venture to the world's end?"
“Never," He Zihao said but then frowned. "I always wondered what someone unaffiliated with the alliance was doing near the barrier. Don't tell me you intend to venture to the other side?"
Qin Yun turned to face him but only offered him a slight smile, to which He Zihao shook his head.
“I’m afraid your trip will be for naught,” he added. “The alliance won’t allow you passage.”
“Why so?”
“They are afraid of spies," Yao Ruolan interjected. "Too often people go missing on the other side, only to reappear months or even years later completely changed. In years past, some had even infiltrated the city and threatened to open its gates during an outsider invasion, almost costing the city dearly. After that incident, comings and goings are strictly monitored.”
“There must be a way to be approved?” Qin Yun asked, yet showed no signs of restlessness, as if these restrictions were inconsequential.
“Join the alliance and devote yourself to the war effort. If your contributions become substantial enough and your strength exceeds the void core realm, you may be allowed to venture over there, but there are always some restrictions."
“Join a sect, I would imagine.”
“Indeed," He Zihao said. "Many rogues cultivators, who have been rejected by the sects inland, flock to this place if only to join the four local sects and try to be accepted as inner disciples. After all, sects have a much better environment suited to cultivation than trying so by yourself."
“Most are only treated as cannon fodder,” Yao Ruolan scoffed, clearly displeased. “They come here for the simple hope of trying to better their lives, only to be told to fight and die for the faint hope of maybe achieving it. Most never make it past outer disciple, while only a select few can become an inner disciple. As far as I know, none in our generation has ever made it to core disciple.”
“A necessary evil,” Qin Yun replied, making Yao Ruolan frown even further. “The city must stand by any means necessary. Of course, the sects will use outsiders if they can avoid sacrificing their own people. This is war, after all. No method is truly off the table."
“The Moonlight Sword Palace isn't like that!" she replied. "While we may not accept as many outer disciples as the other three, at least we care for them as our own."
“Quality over quantity,” Qin Yun shrugged. “A different path, the same destination. All of it to further strengthen the sect.”
Yao Ruolan was on the verge of fuming, yet He Zihao restrained her.
"He's not wrong," he said softly, yet his tone was firm. "While we take our duty seriously, the sect will always come first. If something should threaten that, then it should be removed..."
Qin Yun looked at him briefly before dismounting. They had finally reached the gate, the only opening permitting entry into the city from this side of the barrier. On each side of the gate were two large towers serving as lookouts. From his vantage point, Qin Yun couldn't see anyone on top, yet he could clearly hear banter originating there and a very familiar smell.
Booze, and a lot of it, he thought. Doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. After all, this is the inside gate, and security should be somewhat more lax. Still, I didn’t expect them to drink on the job. If this is how the rank and file behave, their boss should be even worse.
“Who goes there?”
The voice originated from the other side of the large steel gate just as a small slit opened in the metal at face height, showing the grizzled visage of a man who had spent too much time in the desert. He was thin, and his beard was unkempt with countless grains of sand within, making him look as if he had been weathered by the climate. And yet, he felt as if it had only made him more resilient.
A gatekeeper at the peak of the foundation-building realm? If this is their standard, I can see why rogue cultivators would be relegated to cannon fodder. Even in Jin City, gatekeepers would at most be in the qi refining realm, if even that. I guess that’s a war zone for you...
“Disciples of the Moonlight Sword Palace reporting back to the sect,” He Zihao said, supported by Yao Ruolan as he showed the gatekeeper his sect emblem.
The man squinted as he looked, using his hand to block the harsh sun overhead. He then frowned and glanced to the side.
“Wait here,” he replied before closing the small window.
As they waited to be granted passage, Qin Yun heard numerous footsteps on the other side and whispers that were mostly muffled by the raging storm around them. Unbeknownst to the duo, Qin Yun took a few steps back, distancing himself from them, and then waited in anticipation.
"What's taking them so long?" Yao Ruolan grumbled as she waited restlessly for the gate to open.
“They may be contacting the sect. I’m sure they already received news of what occurred,” He Zihao replied, urging her to calm down.
A few moments later, the massive gate opened, revealing countless armed guards lying beyond. Most of them sported long spears, and their cultivation ranged from early qi refining to late void core. Most of their gazes betrayed their animosity, which couldn't help but make the duo frown.
"What's the meaning of this?" He Zihao asked, his voice still calm yet betraying a hint of uneasiness.
Then, a man with a golden emblem strapped to his waist strolled to the front of the crowd and addressed the duo.
“He Zihao and Yao Ruolan, I assume?” the man said with a wide sneer on his face. “You have guts coming back here after what you’ve done. No matter... You’re now under arrest for suspicion of treason against the alliance. Men! Take them away!”
The guards fawned out, taking position all around the group, threatening them with the point of their spears. They seemed to want to poke them to get them to move, yet Qin Yun made no indication of budging. Instead, he looked at the men who surrounded him with slight pity in his eyes, which only prompted them to back off involuntarily, feeling that something was abnormal.
“Wait a minute!” He Zihao exclaimed. “On whose authority are you acting on? I demand to speak with one of my sect’s elders. They must be informed of what had transpired!”
“Whose authority?" the man scoffed. "This is my gate, and I can do what I please with it! As for your sect, they can come and see you in jail if they even want to. You have no idea of the shitstorm that your actions have created. If you don't move, don't blame me for being rough on you!"
The guards stepped forward, their weapons inching closer to the group. The duo looked at each other, feeling completely helpless. Without their sect's backing, trying to plead their case was an exercise in futility. These men had no intentions of hearing them in the first place.
As they resolved themselves to their fate, Qin Yun remained calm and collected, only looking at the man who was obviously their leader with a slight derision in his smile, which undoubtedly caught his attention.
"What are you smiling at?" the man said, his face showing a slight trace of anger. "Do you think you are in a position to do anything about it?"
"I can't help it," Qin Yun replied. "It's just so funny seeing pawns do someone else's dirty work. We both know this isn't about taking responsibility but purely about politics. While your men die on the front line, preserving the peace inland, here you are, trying to gain the upper hand in this game of power. It's no wonder that the Immortal Beast Alliance looks down on you small sects. You won't ever amount to anything with this mentality. You'll forever be relegated to this hell hole without any chance to crawl out of it."
Unnerved by Qin Yun's calm attitude and harsh words, the guard captain gestured for his men to take him down, yet the situation was completely reversed. Through quick and accurate movements, Qin Yun swiftly broke all the weapons that surrounded him, leaving all the men unharmed, looking back at him with wide-open eyes.
"Impossible!" one of them yelled. "Those spears are all artifacts, yet he broke them with his bare hands!"
They stepped back, unwilling to confront him anymore, even if their realms were much higher than Qin Yun's. After all, their bodies were much weaker than the spears they relied on.
"I can let it go once, but try it again, and I can't promise your men will remain in one piece," Qin Yun replied, his breath still steady despite the forceful actions he had taken. He looked back to the guard captain only to see him grit his teeth. Unwilling to let the situation devolve into an all-out melee, He Zihao chose to speak.
“That man is uninvolved in all this. It’s me you want, right? If I come quietly, promise not to escalate this any further. You can’t bear the consequences.”
While He Zihao didn't believe that Qin Yun would honestly act upon his threat, putting on a show of strength was the only way he found that he could keep the situation stable. He now could only hope that the man would be reasonable. However, he would only be disappointed.
“Why would I?" the captain replied. "I have the might of this city behind me while you are merely a criminal. You don't possess the right to bargain with me. Enough of this! I'll do it myself if I have to."
His aura exploded, the strength of the golden core realm spreading into the surroundings, prompting the duo to fall to the ground, kneeling on the soft, warm sand. However, Qin Yun stood motionless as if the pressure he felt was a slight breeze.
Qin Yun clenched his hand, preparing to strike the man if he ever were to act against him, yet he was stopped by a deep voice originating from beyond the door, preceded by an overpowering divine sense that stopped the man in his tracks.
"Cease this foolishness!" the voice exploded in their surroundings, almost deafening them. "You may think you represent the city, but you in no way represent my sect. If any of our disciples acted in any reprehensible manner, then the sect will take care of it. If you have any objections, please forward your dissatisfaction to the Moonlight Sword Palace!"
Comments
Peter Smith
I believe it depends on the story. Often cultivator stories are either rushed l, incomplete or repeating. I pike this one because it just... Is. There is no rush to the heavens, but there also is no strong ambition. The premise is amazing and i adore the idea that somebody who can remember every detail of previous lives retaining their connection with the rules of reality. However there is a difference between slow pace and slow burn. This story is a true slow burn story. Its pace is continuous yet not forced, yet a slow pace story tends to focus on everything but the characters growth for as long as they feasably can. I agree in the idea of spell crafting, yet there is a reason why others cast premade spells, and having the main character make even the majority of their spells on their own is... Honestly really annoying. There is a point where it is completely unfeasable to make their own spells, usually when it becomes more complex to create, and those are very painful to read because they end up recreating really simple and straightforward concepts when all that was needed was to just use a premade spell that does the same thing more efficiently. Don't get me wrong i love a good runework diagram but not considering spellwork used by others as magic completely invalidates the mystical essence of those societies. It would make most stories completely empty. It sounds like instead of reading contempory fantasy or scifi you should be reading kingdom builders or portal slice of life's instead. For instance you should try Star Force by Aer Ki Jyr. They are a slow burn empire builder that follows a group of young men and women as they rediscover the ancient psionic abilities of human ancestry and then recraft these abilities to not only fit the human race more efficiently, but to make them their own, all while preparing to prevent the ancient Dinosaurs from returning to slaughter them for surviving, all because the human race is a slave race crafted by the dinosaurs as both perfect stormtroopers and attendants. It should be noted that the creator of Stargate used this story as the basis for all shows and novels they have written, as such Aer Ki Jyr is considered the father of portal SciFi.
Irakli Jishkariani
I really like mc's idea of perfect steps toward the heavens. And I am really enjoying reading this. Yeah, if it is not thorough it's trash. I always liked thoroughly understanding and doing these cultivation stages properly. I mean reading those. Doing something someone else told you and not knowing why is antithetical to me. And I don't like fast paced stories. I like slow deliberate progression. Maybe mix of slice-of-life and progression too. And if it's about magic, I don't acknowledge using someone else's prepared spells as magic. If there are spells, there should be spell crafting and spell customization and invention and stuff. If it's about pure elemental bending that's also good. But I like getting to know the element more there.
