While keeping tabs on the events in the upper realms for a couple decades, Anton thought it would be convenient if every problem could be solved instantly. But of course, he would only want <em>their</em> problems to be solved instantly. To their enemies, they would be the problem.
The one instant thing they did have wasmunication. First generation iterations of technology that currently defied the miniaturization that normal development brought. Perhaps that was fine, because the main ces that would need any of that wereary bodies that had sufficient space to put the tech, even if some of it was the size of a building.
“They’re so cool!” Bear Hug dered. “They even have a bunch of dangly green stuff that make them look like me!”
Anton rather doubted that it was an aesthetic choice. Most likely, those various wires were a necessaryponent. However, the green itself could have been a homage. Unless that actually <em>was</em> required for functionality. It was unlikely, but such advanced tech was far beyond Anton’sprehension.
“They’re gonna put some in the upper realms too! Once they stop exploding.”
There was that slight issue. Specifically with the versions meant to work in an environment suffused with upper energy. As everything had been based off of Bear Hug to begin with, the real-timems stations were mixed tech that used formations and other technological understandings. ording to what Anton had heard, people were confident they could make things work in the upper realms- Bear Hug did- but it still required some work. Clearly.
“Someday soon you’ll be free to do whatever you want. Within reason, of course,” Anton said.
“What I want to do… is basically the same thing. Except people won’t <em>have</em> to talk to me.”
That sounded about right. Bear Hug should have plenty of friends in all their different locations already. From the beginning, Bear Hug had neither been enthusiastic about being used as amunication method nor resistant to the idea. Ultimately, it should end up far more secure with what they had now- and more <em>robust</em>. Even if they could only send a small stream of data, that was still more efficient than asking Bear Hug to repeat some words. It was possible to get Bear Hug to repeat evenplicated phrases one word at a time, but it wasn’t terribly <em>efficient</em>. Machines would be better for that, and it would leave them with more free time to engage in hugs. Or something like that. Things weren’t actually quite to the point that they could <em>fully</em> rece Bear Hug formunication. Maybe in another century, though the convenient mobility was certainly something.
“Reneden is getting pretty good at cultivation!” Bear Hugmented. “It, um, is probably as flexible as a strong Spirit Building cultivator now!”
It was a good thing for Reneden that lifespan wasn’t an issue. Rather than saying that Reneden was low talent, Anton would have said that methods meant for organic cultivators simply didn’t mesh well. For forging a unique path, Reneden was doing quite well. Anton provided advice whenever he could, though sometimes it was difficult for Reneden or Bear Hug to articte the correct questions.
Anton couldn’t always be there to oversee Reneden’s development, so sometimes he was working with limited information. Instantaneousmunication was one thing, but transportation was much more difficult. At least, beyond a certain distance. Between systems with proper infrastructure was still possible, and the lower realms was catching up in that regard. Some things were easier in different sorts of energy- though it could also be that the insights people happened to have simply arrived in different orders.
Either way, for the moment the lower realms was ahead on themunication front and behind on the physical movement front. They didn’t have a good shape to set uprge spatial distortions either, though that was constantly being worked on. By others. That wasn’t Anton’s job.
“You shoulde visit,” Bear Hug said. “People here would like to see you again! Aretis is a lot more friendly now that they’ve gotten to know us.”
As they should be. Even if they were faking it- not that Anton believed they were- that would have been the better result for them. The lower realms Alliance wasn’t going tounch any sort of attack against them regardless, but they had vast quantities of information to share on both technology and cultivation. Such things were being shared a little bit at a time. It was partially a matter of trust, and partially not overwhelming Aretis with a millennium of progress. In turn, Aretis shared some of their own technological developments, starting from basic forms of the past.
If Anton understood correctly, they had only shared past the level where Reneden would have been built. Or rather, the automatedputer setup that had now be Reneden. The technology hadn’t <em>made</em> Reneden. There were so many unlikely things that had to take ce, though precisely which were the most important were up for debate. Nobody was trying to recreate anything, for various reasons.
First, it could be dangerous. With interconnected technological systems, an unfriendly intelligence might cause a lot of trouble. It was also probably hical to leave something that could be sapient isted for long periods, which would be required to even vaguely replicate things. Nor was it reasonable to try to induce some sort of physical or emotional trauma- even if said individual probably wouldn’t be able to feel either at the moment.
It was possible that Reneden would figure out how to replicate at some point, though some people were wary of that. Personally, Anton thought it was fine. After all, human children sometimes strayed from the teachings of their parents- but if they had a proper support structure that was far more rare. They should treat everything else the same way- with respect.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Anton considered Bear Hug’s suggestion. “I may find an opportunity to visit soon, but I can’t be certain just yet. I have many to teach, and I don’t wish to move too far away from our territory.”
Obviously his disciples didn’t need him every day, or even every week. Anton didn’t really have any <em>direct</em> disciples anymore unless one counted Three Squeaks and Varghese who were capable of standing proud and tall on their own. Still, he was by far the most experienced cultivator of the One Hundred Stars in the lower realms, and their technique wasn’t stagnant. He could help those trying to develop new paths to not hurt themselves too much.
Anton might also be called to help out with some sort of emergency. He didn’t <em>want</em> that, but he wanted to be around just in case. But he couldn’t always be waiting around. And if anyone needed him to start annihting the Swirling Swarm near the border, he expected to have a significant amount of warning.
-----
In the upper realms, Prospero Vandale and Ratna were attempting an often tried and usually failed technique for dealing with the Trigold Cluster- diplomacy. It was somewhat helpful that there were fewer Domination cultivators around to cause them trouble. They could enter pretty much any territory they wished without fear. It was theoretically possible for some groups to entrap a single Domination cultivator, but two would be a far riskier proposition. Their styles also had little ovep, which would make it harder to deal with them.
They really didn’t want to fight people though. Instead, they were visiting any sect or n of note to convince them of the threat the Swirling Swarm posed. Obviously many were resistant, deeming that they were trying to sow discord among ‘allies’. However, they did have a proper chance to convince a few.
The Immortal Shell were located in the neighborhood of the Distant Shadow Sect. That ced them quite far from the Scarlet Alliance, and that was one factor that had contributed to minimal friction.
Ratna was reprising her role as ambassador sta, representing the Distant Shadow Sect. The sect had long grown used to their sect head being a shadowy figure- Vandale had some doubts about how she could properly help the sect develop. However, she did make trips frequently enough, sharing with her other sect much of the useful development techniques possessed by the Alliance as a whole.
At some point, they might connect the sect to Alliance territory via spatial distortions. For the moment, they remained officially distinct and something like a neutral party.
The two grand elders that shared control of the Immortal Shell were called Horem and Guanting. Horem was younger than his co-leader, but it didn’t appear that either of them held a higher position. If it had been a shorter period of time- some decades or a single century- it could have been seen as an uneasy bnce. However, the two Augmentation cultivators seemed content.
The two of them were joined by a pair of mighty golems- the main fighting force of the Immortal Shell. They could imbue their power within the constructs. No doubt if they reached Domination, they would be an excellent anchor. However, the two were a bit distant yet.
“Thank you for allowing us to meet with you today,” sta began. “There is a matter of great relevance to our mutual interests.”
“We have already heard from others,” Horemmented.
“Indeed,” Guanting furrowed her brow, “Your words have been heard by many.”
“As they should be,” sta said. “The message should be the same for all. Have you suffered no incursions by the Swirling Swarm?”
“We’ve had conflicts with them, yes,” Horem said. “But they were not any worse than with others around us. Previous conflicts with the Distant Shadow Sect have cost us more.”
“Yet you must see how their territory encroaches further towards you with each year,” sta said. Then she turned to Prospero. “There is also other information you may not have heard from public discussions.”
Prospero nodded. “What do you know of the core worlds of the Swirling Swarm?”
“Nor much,” Guanting admitted. “But I assume they are just as much of a chaotic mess as the others.”
Prospero showed them a series of images. “This is what they look like. If you would like to confirm our discovery, we can tie each of these to a specific system. I also have a sample of the ambient energy, but it will be quite underwhelming.”
“You would have us believe they havepletely dead systems?” Horem asked.
“We have seen it with our own eyes,” Prospero dered. “A rtively less troublesome path through their territory is something we can provide as well. We would not ask you to move against them without being fully convinced of what we see. However, it can be shown that their territorial expansion is quite aggressive. Unlike some sects, you should not expect them to slow down anytime soon.”
“So, what?” Guanting asked. “You expect us to fight alongside the Distant Shadow Sect while your Scarlet Alliance sits safe and distant?”
“Of course not,” Prospero said. “When the timees we would dly move alongside you. But we will certainly have to pass through systems you or others control. You’re hardly evenfortable with <em>me</em> being here, so we would certainly prefer to seek permission before fleets pass through.”
sta took over there. “Our sect head has found their words quite convincing, having already personally verified the threat. They will never be content with what they have taken, and they do not have a sense of caution or fear that would limit other sects.”
“They do not seem like a problem now,” Horem shook his head.
“Perhaps not,” Prospero said. “But they <em>will</em> be. You will have plenty of time to think about this, to watch their movements. You will no doubt be able to verify for yourselves with some effort. We bring this information to you <em>now</em> so that you are convinced before things be… more troublesome.”
The Immortal Shell might not immediately be convinced, but Prospero knew that just nting the idea would help. So far, they had actually been the most receptive. Meeting them peacefully- without threatening conduct from the Alliance- would also lead to potential cooperation in the future. Potentially a very long time into the future, but the Alliance nned to be around for many millennia toe, so they needed to continue to expand their influence where they could. Trying to extend their actual territory so far would be problematic, but a series of neutral or somewhat friendly systems could be quite valuable forter maneuvering.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!