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Sacred Beasts: The Supreme Administrators
By Dexsia Trebia
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Sacred Beasts are the most powerful lifeforms of the Turtle World. In this case, 'most powerful lifeforms' refers to one simple fact: their power is outsized in every great realm. Even in Nascent and onwards, where fighting across small realms is rare, every member consistently does so. This power stems from their unique biology. Possessing a beast core and a dantian simultaneously, a Sacred Beast has more qi than a Spirit Beast or a Cultivator, and benefits from both potent natural abilities and the capacity to advance their cultivation.

In other words, they retain all the strengths of both spirit beasts and Cultivators, the weaknesses of neither, deeper qi reserves, and in Nascent and above, Heavenly backing. Most of the Sacred Beast species could possibly overthrow humans as the rulers of the Turtle World, if they had the ambition to, but none do. Deliberately designed by Heaven's will as they are, they are nearly all solitary animals, and those who are not are bound to covenants and rules.

The sheer strength of these beasts makes it a necessity to understand how they work, and here I shall summarize for the Aspirant all the Sacred Beasts known to the Clan, woefully incomplete as this knowledge may be. Many others exist outside our understanding, and there are some which we believe to be Sacred Beasts, but lack enough knowledge to conclusively prove. Faced with the gaps in our knowledge, I must regretfully admit just how far we Optimatoi have fallen.

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The First Sea

First Sea Dragon

The dragons of the First Sea are an unusual edge case when it comes to Sacred Beasts. While they once held the role, they have since been cast down by Heaven for the crime of siding with the Sea Conquering Army. A First Sea Dragon has the beast core and dantian which are associated with the Sacred Beasts, but its dantian is undersized and misshapen, making cultivation more difficult. They can advance in cultivation, but their cycling is very inefficient, so they require massive hoards of treasure to grow stronger.

Unlike other dragons, First Sea dragons are born in Core Formation, a sign that they have mostly been turned back into spirit beasts. They retain the Dragonfire and control of the wind held by the other dragons, but Core Formation dragons cannot fly unburdened like Dragonfish can, and they will never attain the power of lightning no matter how much they ascend. For these reasons, they have evolved wings with which to fly in Core Formation, as well as a stockier, longer-limbed body more suited for the ground.

Unicorn

One of the most unassuming Sacred Beasts, the unicorn isn't much larger than an ordinary horse, weighing three tons at most. Those who think this makes the beast weaker than its fellows are soon silenced. While the unicorn is physically weak for a Sacred Beast(though it is still a Cultivator horse), it has unparalleled casting ability thanks to its horn.

Considered the second most valuable regent in the entire Turtle World, just after a World Turtle egg, the unicorn's horn has the power to resonate with the qi channels beneath the earth and draw power from them. This means that the unicorn has effectively infinite qi reserves, and never tires, so long as its horn remains intact. This makes the species potentially the most powerful beings in the world for their cultivation stage, at least in a head-to-head battle. If one was foolish enough to attack a unicorn, they would be best served by assassination. That said, while they can endlessly draw qi, their maximum output is no higher than any other creature of their stage, so they do have limits in that sense.

Being non-confrontational by nature, many unicorns who have hit a dead end in their cultivation will seclude themselves, gathering energy from the qi flows for decades or centuries to cast a single technique of massive proportions, sometimes equivalent to two great realms above their level. This power then crystallizes into a Miracle, to be granted to one who has earned the unicorn's favor.

Green Lion

In every Sea, the Green Lions are known very well. These Sacred Beasts, blessed with the power to freely transmute matter and qi alike, taught some of their secrets to humans, which led to the creation of alchemical techniques, shaping the state of modern Cultivator pharmacology.

Originally created as an anti-Heaven weapon in the service of Heaven, the Green Lions were designed with a passive field which suppresses Heavenly power, as well as their miraculous transmutation which can reshape the physical world however they desire. The purpose of these two abilities was to suppress rogue bearers of Heavenly Treasures who had turned against Heaven, recovering their gifts so they might be turned over to more worthy bearers. However, by gifting a species with a direct connection to itself the ability to suppress its power, Heaven gave itself more harm than relief.

Perhaps one in one thousand Green Lions turned against Heaven, but each one that did was a nightmare to deal with, and as such, their anti-Heaven field was taken away. The Green Lions now serve similar duties to other Sacred Beasts, preventing calamities and guiding history at the behest of their guiding light.

When not performing these duties, a Green Lion is a chemist par excellence, with an instinctive understanding of the natural sciences. In particular, they can understand the molecular structure of any object by touch. When Heaven decides that a pill or elixir of world-shaking proportions must cross paths with a predestined hero, it is usually a Green Lion that brews it. These beasts take such pride in their scientific endeavors that, supposedly, many of them desire to be forged into a pill, body and soul, when they die.

Outside of their transmutation abilities, Green Lions are not exceptional compared to others at their cultivation level. However, many of them modify their bodies with exotic materials, parts from other creatures or even treasures, in the service of increasing their fighting ability.

The Second Sea

Thunderbird

Another relative of the Phoenix, the Thunderbird of the Second Sea trades the fire for lightning and thunder. Compared to the Phoenix, the Thunderbird's regeneration is not as potent(though it can still regrow an entire wing in under a minute), but its physical and spiritual power is greater.

While other Sacred Beasts exist in the Second Sea, the Thunderbird is considered by many residents to be the most sacred of all, as it personally carries and delivers the judgement of Heaven. And indeed, it's lightning functions somewhat like tribulation
lightning, attacking both the mind and the body and being stronger against those who have drawn Heaven's ire.

In some regions of the Second Sea, it is traditional for the heir to a large and prestigious Sect to be bound to a Qi Condensation Thunderbird the day they first awaken their qi, so as to ensure a future full of prosperity.

Blue Ox

In contrast to the most isolationist personalities of many Sacred beasts, the Blue Ox is extremely confrontational. However, it does not destroy for destruction's sake. The purpose of the Blue Ox is to test things; heroes, nations, even ecosystems.

In nature, destruction is invariably followed by new growth, and the Blue Ox was created for this reason. With its massive size, ability to generate earthquakes, and horns that can pierce through anything, it excels at breaking whatever stands before it, so that something better can take its place. It is said that when a mighty hero aims to change the way things are, this beast will test his might. Similarly, a nation that survives a Blue Ox attack is said to be blessed, for it has shown it deserves to exist.

When not performing these duties, Blue Oxen frequently fight each other purely for the thrill, seeking ever greater strength.

The Third Sea

Dragon

The most well-known Sacred Beast in the Third Sea is the dragon, by a sizeable margin. While all four of the Third Sea's Sacred Beasts demand reverence with their almighty power, the dragon's particular form of majesty is one which has captured the hearts of humans for all of recorded history. Because of this, dragons have come to be seen as the agents of Heaven's will on earth, though individual dragons will generally have their own agendas and desires in addition to whatever missions Heaven doles out to them.

Due to the extremely high potency of the regents which can be made from their bodies, protodragons are sometimes hunted by particularly unsavory Cultivators. It is perhaps for this reason that Sacred Carp eggs are laid in secret, in closed-off spawning pools far from prying eyes, or mixed in amongst the eggs of lesser fish. The imagery of the unassuming carp hatchling being born in a secluded corner of the world, then eventually growing into a mighty dragon, is considered synonymous with facing challenge and achieving greatness.

The known stages of the Dragon are the Sacred Carp at Qi Condensation, then the Rainbow Carp at Foundation Establishment, then the Dragonfish at Core Formation, then the Azure Dragon at Nascent Soul, then the Yellow Dragon at Spirit Severing. At each stage, the dragon gains new special abilities. The Rainbow Carp can weaken the laws of gravity around its body somewhat, enabling it to fly with the ease of a Core Formation Cultivator. Furthermore, it gains deeper qi reserves and the ability to spray Dragonfire. The Dragonfish is entirely unburdened by gravity if it does not wish to be, able to fly as effortlessly as a Nascent Soul Cultivator. It also gains even deeper qi reserves and the ability to summon windstorms by swinging its tail. Finally, the Azure Dragon gains the divine power of lightning, able to summon Heaven's wrath on command to smite foes directly or enhance its other attacks. Part of the reason for the dragon's power is the versatility in its natural abilities - summoned storms can devastate an army, lightning strikes can target individual enemies, and Dragonfire can burn nearly anything.

While they live in schools for safety as Sacred Carp, in subsequent stages Protodragons become increasingly solitary, as they must range out farther and farther distances in search of cultivation resources. As they are considered by some to be the strongest of all the Sacred Beasts, it is said that if dragons were pack animals, they would conquer the world with ease. Or at least, that's how it was before the Third Sea's degradation.

The secret of Dragonfire lies in its delivery system. This is not a conjured flame, but a sticky, extremely flammable liquid sprayed from a gland in the dragon's mouth and lit by a spark of qi. While this means the number of shots is limited by the gland's capacity to produce and retain this fluid, it means this ability can be activated with little to no qi. Furthermore, the flames can instead be intensified with the qi that wasn't used to conjure it, producing a fire twice as hot as an ordinary fire technique, for the same cost. Finally, because the fluid is so sticky, Dragonfire cannot be safely blocked unless the thing being used to block it is completely heat-proof; the fluid will adhere to whatever it hits and burn for hours.

Interestingly, the dragon seems to have been a very successful design, so to speak. Prior to the Sea Conquering Army's invasion, dragons in the First, Third and Eighth Seas were seemingly identical.

Phoenix

The Phoenix is assuredly the second most famous of the Third Sea's Sacred Beasts, after the Dragon. With burning wings, a regal bearing and the ability to endlessly resurrect, the Vermillion Bird has inspired artists, rulers and warriors alike since time immemorial.

The known stages of the Phoenix are the Firebird, which remains relatively unchanged from Qi Condensation to Core Formation aside from growing in size, then the Phoenix at Nascent Soul, then the Sunbird at Spirit Severing. With each stage, the Phoenix grows larger, its fire becomes more unusually powerful for its great realm, and its regeneration grows more potent. A Sunbird regenerates so fast that it is effectively immune to damage, and can only be killed by snuffing out its qi or soul - much easier said than done.

The legendary regenerative abilities of the Phoenix are often referred to as "true resurrection" because the bird will heal the same way whether or not its life is ended. This is because its qi is contained within a sort of "personal field" around its soul, and thus when its body is damaged or destroyed, the qi will automatically expend itself to repair the body, in a manner more efficient than any other healing known.

The phoenix's biology remains a relative unknown, because there is no such thing as a dead Phoenix with an intact body, and even if a Spirit Severing Cultivator were to hold a Phoenix down and vivisect it, the wounds would close too fast to observe anything.

Like the dragon, the Phoenix is an extremely territorial beast, often staking a claim over tens of thousands of acres and attacking anyone who stays too long. In particular, targeting a phoenix's eggs is cited as among the worst mistakes a person could possibly make. A phoenix will, without hesitation, destroy a country to save a single one of its children, unlike the cold-hearted dragons who abandon their eggs.

White Tiger

Amongst all the lifeforms of the Third Sea, there exists no greater warrior than the White Tiger. Abandoning all the special abilities held by other Sacred Beasts, the White Tiger is simply a huge animal with unspeakable physical power and the keen intelligence to utilize that power to its fullest.

Each of a White Tiger's claws and fangs holds the sharpness, toughness and qi receptiveness of a Nascent-grade sword, and so particularly arrogant or ambitious old monsters will sometimes hunt for this beast. Most of the time, it proves fatal to the hunter. In addition, a White Tiger's physical attributes relative to its baseline are nearly three times greater than that of an ordinary Nascent Soul. And said baseline body is, of course, a giant tiger.

While the White Tiger has no special abilities of its own as a species, individual members often do, because any variety of Tiger has the potential to become a White Tiger. Any ordinary Tiger which cultivates to Nascent Soul will become one, but more curiously, this can happen to spirit beasts. It is unknown how this happens, but an old myth says that a spirit Tiger that has risked its life in ten thousand battles grows a Dantian.

Any Tiger can become the White Tiger as a Nascent Soul, and then at Spirit Severing it becomes a Golden Tiger, gaining metallic fur oddly similar to the hair of a Golden Devil with the Blood of Gold, giving it far greater defense.

The reproductive habits of this species are not well documented, as none but the stupidest people alive are willing to approach a mother White Tiger, who will fight to the death to protect her cubs. However, it is known that on the day the cubs are weaned, their parents immediately cast them out to make their own way.

Black Tortoise

The fourth of the Third Sea's Sacred beasts is the least well-known by humans, mainly because these reptiles never meddle in human affairs. Black Tortoises are concerned wholly with the wellbeing of the natural world, and dwell in overgrown places where nature reigns supreme. The havoc wreaked by Soup Chef turned the jungle most of them called home into a desert, causing their population to plummet. The survivors now live among the mountains and the plains, often disguising themselves as mesas or foothills.

The Black Tortoise lacks the natural weapons and mobility of its three peers, but makes up for this in sheer size. It is enormous, with the largest Nascent Soul specimens reaching over three hundred feet in height. Its shell is also arguably the hardest natural material in the world, or at least in the top five, and its scales make the dragon's look like paper by comparison. But the tortoise's greatest asset is none of these: it is its qi reserves. All Sacred Beasts possess qi reserves greater than an ordinary Spirit Beast's, which are themselves greater than the reserves of a Cultivator. A Black Tortoise, however, is special; it can store twice as much qi as a dragon, and three times as much as a White Tiger.

Most curious of all is the source of these reserves: the Black Tortoise's body contains tiny qi channels, like those which run through the earth. This may hint toward the theory that a Black Tortoise which reaches Law Creation becomes a World Turtle egg.

Peaceful by nature, the Black Tortoise will avoid humans when it can, unless they do something to anger it. Some have been known to stay in the same spot for a century, cultivating inside their shell and pondering the universe.

The Fourth Sea

Djinn

Possibly the most unusual of the Sacred Beasts, the Djinn of the Fourth Sea are not dissimilar to humans. Rather than one evolutionary line, the Nascent Soul Greater Djinn is a form which can be attained by one of nine Minor Djinn. Each of these species has nine Lesser Djinn predecessors of its own. Finally, each Lesser Djinn can be born from one of nine Transient Djinn, Qi Condensation spirits given that name because without a physical object to possess, they will dissipate in minutes. They all serve the Spirit Severing-level Celestial Djinn.

Much like humans, the many races of Djinn compete amongst each other to cultivate and earn Heavenly approval. However, unlike human Sects, Djinn Sects do not have political power among anyone but other Djinn, because, being Sacred Beasts, they are forbidden from forming their own kingdoms.

On paper, Djinn are the weakest Sacred Beasts of all. They are not spiritually exceptional, and are physically weaker than humans. However, they have the phenomenal ability to possess any physical object. There are caveats, of course - the farther above their level the host, the greater the odds of losing control and being trapped. Furthermore, living hosts can fight back under some circumstances, and a lack of Dao compatibility can spell disaster for whichever of the two has the weaker will. Still, the Djinn's ability to not just control a host, but bring out its power more effectively than it ever could, could be considered among the most powerful abilities ever.

Many Djinn form Beast Bonds with human Cultivators, possessing and strengthening their treasures. There are countless tales across the Fourth Sea of heroic human and Djinn duos.

The Fifth Sea

Garuda

The Fifth Sea's Sacred Beasts have a great deal of overlap with the Third Sea's possibly due to significant intermingling in the past. The White Tiger of the Fifth Sea is, by all accounts, identical to the one of the Third Sea. Same abilities, same biology, same advancement.

The other "doppelgänger" beast is less exactly alike. The Garuda is similar to the Phoenix, being a giant and powerful bird which controls flame. However, unlike the Phoenix, the Garuda does not regenerate. Instead, it pairs control of the wind with its control of fire, alongside far greater physical power, speed and toughness. Being much like a White Tiger of the sky in terms of sheer martial dominance, the Garuda is known as the King of Birds and is a popular choice of heraldry for Fifth Sea nobility.

It is not known how the Garuda attained its striking green plumage. Given their prideful nature, perhaps they somehow engineered it, so as to be more distinct from their Third Sea cousins.

Vanara

Mysterious even to the people of the Fifth Sea, the monkey-like Vanara live apart from humans, one of that rare type of Sacred Beast which gathers in groups. Nevertheless, they have little in the way of social structure, living ascetic lives in jungles and forests and diligently cultivating, waiting for when their power is needed. It is unclear to what degree the Vanara have free will, given their almost impossibly peaceful societies.

Like the Djinn, the Vanara also do not seize political power, living in kingdoms and villages of their own and communing with Heaven through secret rituals which no human has ever seen. They are unique in this way, having a deep connection with Heaven from birth, rather than deepening it as their cultivation advances. They also do not have stages to their growth, simply being born as mortal Vanara, awakening their qi with their first breath and immediately beginning cultivation.

The primary asset of the Vanara is brute force. The baseline strength and speed of their bodies is unbelievably high for their size, and they must eat an extremely large and nutrient rich diet to maintain themselves. They also receive greater physical enhancement than normal at each Great Realm, making them a devastating enemy to go up against. In addition to their great physical power, many Vanara also possess the ability to shapeshift freely. Due to the power and control over their own bodies they possess, they are often thought of as the world's premier masters of Body Arts, and indeed many Body Arts in the Fifth Sea are designed to emulate the Vanara's movements and abilities.

The Seventh Sea

Baba Yaga

The Seventh Sea's strangest Sacred Beast by far is the Baba Yaga, mainly for how humanlike it seems. The Baba Yaga is an all-female species of witches, resembling warped and withered humans, and they are feared for their peerless magical power. In particular, the Baba Yaga's curses can bring down entire civilizations with ease should their wrath be kindled hot enough. They lack physical power, usually being weaker than a human Cultivator of the same rank, but to get close enough to physically attack a Baba Yaga is easier said than done.

Little is known of what duty these mysterious creatures carry out, though it is thought by some that they bring dreadful punishments to the wicked. However, they seem oddly interested in the promising children of powerful Cultivators. While they don't violently attack humans to steal their children, any child left alone in a Baba Yaga's territory invariably vanishes, never to be seen again.

Another strange thing about these witches is that a member below Nascent Soul has never been sighted, leaving it unclear if there is a "proto-Baba Yaga" or not. A popular theory as to their method of reproduction is that the Baba Yaga is akin to a unique Heaven-aspected cultivation path, rather than a species. The children taken, then, would be new inductees into their tradition, forming a sort of bizarre, decentralized Sect.

----

As you can see, our understanding of how Sacred Beasts work is sparse at best. We don't even know for sure of any of the Sixth, Eighth or Ninth Seas' unique species. I am of the opinion that much could be gained from their study, but opportunities for such study remain few and far between.

Qinglong Shu 13- Fanatic Dedication

Many of his fellow Sabers had mixed feelings about this Great Era they found themselves in. Lian Pei was no different. The opportunities it granted were exciting to say the least, but the shift of power was greatly concerning. Demonic Cults growing everywhere, the Golden Devils having conquered the entire damned desert, after the damned rain that turned half of them into corpses and the half that survived turned Demonic themselves. Pei was one of the lucky ones that avoided such horrible fates. Alas, he could not enjoy the fortune of the Heavens nor his maintained sanity, as the lands were dangerous as ever. Even with the alliance between Righteous forces, combat was a daily life for him. But as much as he would complain, duty was duty and he would be damned to allow those demons to encroach on their rightful territory just a step further.

He grasped the pendant around his neck and gave it a soft kiss. His heart ached, memories of a better time, of her radiant smile directed at him, pink hair fluttering with the wind, before he let out a deep breath, letting the image fade into the corner of his mind. They all have lost something. But the path of the Cultivator was a harsh one. One could only continue to move forward. Which led him to the now. As a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he was tasked with the important mission to cut off the heads of the demons. Important, powerful figures, whose deaths could and would shift the balance towards the Righteous Cause and push the enemies of Heaven back to whence they came. He clicked his tongue as he went through his memories. Huanglong. A pretentious name, for a pretentious monster. Leader of the Bloody Center Beast Sect. Not the most inspiring of names, but as a "sub group" of the Blood Altar, it has been growing at a concerning rate. Supposedly this Huanglong managed to kill many equals with ease, bearing strange treasures mimicking the Four Guardian Beasts. He grit his teeth as a memory resurfaced, one not remotely as pleasant as the one before. The screams, the fire, the rage. The slaughter of those that betrayed them, who dared to cry for mercy, dared to claim themselves innocent. Shaking his head, he growled. He knew there were survivors, as they couldn't have caught all of them, as another treasures Demonic group attacked while they were already fighting. If his theory was true... he would get to finish what he helped start so many years ago.

With that in mind, he came to a stop in front of the cave. Exhaling, he drew his saber. It was no Heaven Defying Treasure, but the Jade Petal has been a reliable friend ever since he started his Cultivation, having been improved alongside him. Yet just as he was about to walk into the dark cave the enemy sect called home, he froze, his eyes widening, before he leapt backwards.

"You do know distance only matters if we are equal, correct?"

The voice echoed through the walls with smug amusement. He clicked his tongue, widening his stance. With both of his hands grasping the hilt, he narrowed his brown eyes.

"Show yourself, Demon."

"I prefer the name Dragon, ponytail."

Thus, she stepped forward. And he grit his teeth as he contained his anger. He knew that person. A bounty, a target, existing since many many years ago. Red eyes. Monstrous sharp teeth.

Qinglong Ming. So that was the Huanglong. The one who committed the greatest sins among the Four Beast Alliance. Wrapped in golden cloth, she idly played with four trinkets between her fingers. He reacted immediately, realizing the distinct designs. However…

"Azure Dragon Armor!"

She raised an arm, just as his Saber descended. Sparks, a crack in the air and the ground exploded from the clash. But he couldn't cut through the mail, no, the scales, that formed around her. A dragon head formed a sort of hood over her, the scales covering her previously golden cloak. He moved his sword to the side, blocking the claws aiming for him. He narrowed his eyes. Wood Qi against Wood Qi was always tricky. They tended to chip away against each other. And yet, he felt that her Qi was empowering him. Then he felt it. The Earth Qi feeding the armor itself. He growled before unleashing a flurry of blades. If he was inferior in quality, he just had to make up with his well learned techniques! Stab after stab, he unleashed his attacks, forcing her on the backfoot. And yet, she smiled.

"Come forth."

His mind exploded in static, his instincts screaming at him. He slammed his sword down, causing ghost like blades to shoot up like trees sprouting out of the ground. It was just in time, as three monster descended upon him. The blades didn't stall them for long, but it gave him the breathing room to move out. Rolling over the ground, he shot up to his feet and clicked his tongue.

A white tiger. A black tortoise. A red bird. They were all standing in front of the demonic women like obedient beasts, with their eyes blank like automatons. So the Four Beast Alliance truly did have aces in the hole they didn't get to use that day. A part of him wondered why three of them acted as familiars and why only one of them acted as an armor, but he chalked it up to specific blood requirements. For now, he had an enemy to kill. He raised his saber, holding it next to his head, while his left hand served as an aiming aid. Then he exhaled and his arm blurred.

"Lotus Thorn!"

A jade green energy spear shot out, guided by his saber. But to his shock, the beats merely moved out of the way and flanked him, while Ming raised her hand and crushed the blast in her clawed hand. His eyes widened. Treasures or not, they couldn't have created such a gap. Which meant, he thought with a growl... that she had more Pillars than he expected. He just didn't know how many. At the very least five, more than his three. As if reading his mind, she tilted her head with a laugh before snapping her fingers.

"Gimmicky techniques are meaningless against overwhelming power, iiiidiot~!"

Water. Fire. Metal. The energies came forth from the beasts, forcing him to advance. But it was just what she wanted, as she reared back her right arm and shot it out like a shooting star. He swung his sword down with a mighty roar. But as their attacks met, it was him that was flung back. Smashing his back against the wall, he spat out blood before falling down on his knees. He wiped his mouth and looked up with a glare, as the woman widened her arms, as if asking 'is that it?'.

"You will not win. We have killed your kind before, we can do so again."

It was the first time her smile vanished. She stopped short, tilting her head.

"My ki-"

Then her eyes widened. She let out a snort before doubling over, covering her stomach as she laughed as if she saw a particularly funny theater play. It was his chance to move, but he was too baffled by her reaction. Not only that, the soulless eyes of those beasts made it clear that she didn't let her guard down at all. She wiped a tear from her eye before patting herselfo n the chest.

"Oh, you people still think you killed enemies of Heaven that day? My, my apologies for letting that misconception continue!"
"What are you-"

She pointed at herself with a claw, her sharp teeth revealing themselves. It was like he was looking at a deranged parody of the usual graceful and heavenly dragons.

"It was me. Just me. I am, what you may call, a traitor. I attacked your bases, killed your mortals, defiled your Cultivators. And then, I said, it was in the name of the clans who exiled me."

He felt his core freeze over. His skin paled. It had to be a lie. But... a part of him couldn't help but remember. The desperation he faced back then was not one by sinners. It was the desperation of those who simply wanted to live. And while they had to retreat due to the other group's attack... He didn't spot a single Blood Art during the struggle. He didn't see anyone act selfishly. Horror filled his heart. It must have showed on his face as Ming laughed even louder.

"I honestly thought it would be harder to sell it, but you sword swinging fools gobbled the narrative up like starving hyena! Brandishing your steel against people who had no idea what
they had done! How could they? They didn't do anything!"

He shouldn't listen. But each word invaded his ears and stabbed his heart. The images of the blank eyes. The corpses lying on top of each other, trying to protect others. Two mutilated bodies holding hands, as if embracing each other. He remembered how she held his own hand, the beginning of their relationship, how she soothed his worries with playful sparring. Their blades sung under the moonlight. It tasted like ash in his mouth now.

"You and your ilk killed so many innocent people, just for me!" She spread her arms open with a giddy expression. "I must thank you, for making my divine task so much easier! They didn't have anything to offer after all, so trash needed to be taken out by the trash men!"

He exhaled before rising to his feet. He felt the burdens on his soul. The guilt. The hate at himself and at the circumstances. But his Pillars stood strong. Rooted strongly in wood, the Metal reinforced its foundations as the water nourished it. Raising his blade, he narrowed his eyes at her.

"If what you say is true, Blood Demon-"

"Huanglong," she commented casually, but he ignored it.

"-then I must start making amends for this great sin by slaying you here and now!"

After that, Pei thought he would dedicate his life to repay the survivors. If there were any. That was what it meant to be a Saber of Justice. It would never be enough. Never be enough to fix the mistakes his Sect has commited. But it wasn't about fixing things.

It was about doing the right thing.

"You said my techniques are meaningless? Pah! Power with no refinement is meaningless against superior techniques! Have at thee!"

His Qi grew. His power grew. All to pass through his Meridians in perfect flow. He imagined it. The day of their first meeting. The day they became rivals, the foundation of their love. Their styles were similar, but with enough differences to be used as whetstones against each other. His was a furious flow, like vines growing wild. And he moved as such, veins popping against his skin as he became a whirlwind of death, his grip almost crushing the hilt of his blade.

"Green Lotus Dance!"

It felt empty. As if the other half was missing. But that was just fine. He would dance alone, to reach the heave-

"Cherry Blossom Dance."

His brain stopped while his body still moved. A flow that was almost gentle. Like petals floating through the air. The blade, so pristine and white, brushed against his own, nudging them away ever so slightly. It was like the first time. He didn't even realize she got past his swords reach and was right up his face. He remembered when he stared her down. But the memory was broken, when the present caught up to him.

That Was not a gentle smile of enjoyment that captured his heart.

That was a demonic grin of sadism that terrified his soul. A fist pressed against his stomach. Then an explosion of pain. He felt his Dantian shatter. He didn't know through how many things he crashed. Rocks, trees, dirt. It felt like an eternity, after his most precious memory was sullied, before he finally came to a hold. He barfed up blood as he faced the sky. He tried to move, but not a muscle heeded his command. Then, a shadow loomed over him. The demon tapped her shoulder with the sword he knew, tilting her head coyly. Rage fueled him, the fire passing through his throat as he spat out.

"You... you... ! You took her techniques?! You took her Saber?!"

The head in a filthy wood box. His screams at the heavens as he clutched it, her beautiful pink hair sullied by blood, her pristine skin shriveled up like a rotten berry. Tears ran down his eyes as he tried to rise, but kept failing.

"You killed my Ling?!"
"Of course." Ming shoved her blade into his throat, chuckling quietly. She ignored his gurgling, ignored his horrified expression as the blood went up the blade, up her arm, as if absorping him."Everything goes back to the Center, fool." She hummed as he became more and more shriveled up her eyes fluttering as if processing many things at once. Then she tore her blade out, leaving behind nothing but a shriveled husk. "But how quaint! You really do have the same type of Qi! Excellent, excellent! Maybe I should spend more time sifting through memories instead of just noting down the techniques!"

She dusted herself off. With a finger snap, the Four Guardian Beasts returned into their small item form. Attaching them under her cloak, she rolled her shoulders before sheathing her sword.

"Aaand there we go! Never let anything go to waste, no matter how shit it is! Didn't even need to switch, hah!"

Her smile slowly fell, a sigh escaping her. Touching her chest, she blushed a bit as she shook her head.

"Ah, but it isn't enough... you want more, don't you? More knowledge, more skills, more souls, more food!"

Nothing responded. The woman was alone. But in her head, she felt it. The approval. The hunger. The sheer presence that surpassed anything in the Turtle World. She could feel it slumbering. Ah, she wanted it to open its eyes! To bless her with its attention once more! She began to drool as her eyes rolled up before she shook her head. Ah, no time to fantasize. No, no, no, she had to keep moving, keep gathering, keep Reclaiming! She spread her arms open and looked down at the Earth, the representation of her faith.

"But don't worry! With this Great Era, it is a festival of a meal for you, Huanglong! Don't worry, I'll wake you up in no time! And then, we'll be together forever, my god!"

With all that decided, there was simply a few more things to be decided.

Manuel had left these up to his council - the disposition of the poorer territories was not that important, all things considered.

Still, such efforts would determine the fate of these lands for centuries to come. He had simply let his Council vote on it, and ignored the matter entirely. They were used to these decisions being crucial, that minor scraps of territory would be the sort of thing that gained the attention of the Archegetes. Two centuries ago Manuel would've agreed with them. Now, though...

His attention was demanded elsewhere, to say the least.

The Southlands

[ ] The Coloneia

Sheng Yu suggests this as a military solution. Simple Golden Devil colonies, well-suited for tamping down on Blood Path rebels. Of course, these lands have some wealth, but realistically it will be concentrated within the Southlands themselves. So far from the rest of the world it is unlikely Legions will be easily deployed from here, or Spirit Stones mined and sent west in any meaningful number. A safe, quiet land. From here, in time, twelve loyal Legions could be raised, but this will take centuries to come to fruition.

[ ] The Ma Clan

Kleisthenes reminds the Council that the remainder of the Ma Clan remains quite strong, with thirteen Core Formation elders as well as a substantial army in the Strength Purity Sect surviving the new Ma Emperor's madness. Attainted and no longer considered to be a righteous power, the remainder of the Ma Clan must choose either to dissolve into other Righteous powers, or be considered Demonic. Tisamenos's closeness with the most powerful Ma Elder, Ganbaatar, has meant a potential offer could be made. The Ma Clan would relocate their last forces into the desert, with almost ten Legions worth of men coming with them. They would swear fealty to the Golden Devils - at least until they could reclaim their former lands. The Ma Clan would still serve in the Great Battlefield, but would be a political pawn of the Clan.

In the short-term, this would offer a substantial boost to Clan power. Of course, much of the Ma Clan fell to the Blood Path, and they are not known for their resilience of spirit against temptation. A rebellion here could easily grow out of hand.

[ ] The Great Auction

Destasia has a simpler notion. Why not sell off these lands to the many and varied refugees of the war in the east? There are many and varied treasures that can be traded for, and in return we offer protection. Four or five new vassals might arise, and they would be loyal only in name, existing in the south, performing their own rituals and rites, living in their own way. They would provide no troops or income beyond a minor token amount to show submission, but we would gain their best treasures immediately. Gain three to five new vassals in this territory, a new sub-vote is opened. Each vassal offers a powerful treasure worth 2-4 Purchases. A total of ten Purchases worth of powerful treasures will be gained.

The Grand Scorpion Sect

[ ] Rebuild the Scorpion Sect

The Grand Scorpion Sect are a group of scorpion-worshipping madmen, who nonetheless fought bravely against Blood Path infiltration and assault for centuries. They will serve as a loyal bulkwark in the west, Sheng Yu states. With their knowledge of scorpions, two new Legions worth of power in auxiliaries could be raised, each riding scorpions at speed.

[ ] The Scorpion Trade Palace

Casia sees an opportunity. With their knowledge of taming and scorpions, the Sect could become a Trade Palace, serving as traders and the like for the Clan. Linking up the trade routes with scorpion-pulled wagons across the desert would mean more interchange between the Clan and its vassals, increasing their loyalty and integration into the Clan proper. This would mean a slow increase in loyalty across all our vassals each turn until the end of the game.

[ ] The Scorpion Transformation Cult

Destasia, on the other hand, has a simpler notion. The maddest of the Scorpion Sect followed the art of transformation, becoming scorpions. Destasia believes she could use this art on all the Sect, making them far more powerful - if somewhat more erratic. They would be more difficult to deal with, but their power would be increased substantially when deployed.

Sixty Kingdoms Alliances

[ ] Unification

Sheng Yu considers unifying the Alliances under their Core Formation elders permanently would raise their combat potential and ability to resist the Blood Path. Admittedly, the Sixty Kingdoms are not particularly loyal, so this may backfire.

[ ] Scattering

Xie Xinya believes that the Alliances are better left scattered and weak. With laws in place preventing them from unifying and mandating trade with the Clan over each other, they will remain weak, though more susceptible to Blood Path uprisings.

Heavenly Bandit Kingdoms

[ ] Rebuild the Bandit Kingdoms

Casia states that without the raids from the north and south, the Bandit Kingdoms can recover. With the massive river-systems feeding into the Spirit Lake, the Heavenly Bandit Kingdoms host some of the richest agricultural lands in the entire desert. As many as twenty-five million mortals could live here without over-spending on Spirit Stones, and these new cities would be a mixture of coloneia, as well as lands the various bandit kings wish to claim. For their allegiance to the Golden Devils, they will be rewarded with a lush and richland. Of course, the Dreamlike Tower would be guarded by the Golden Devils, nobody would be permitted to approach it. Seven Temples would remain as-is, but their lack of loyalty to us and defensive power means that they are a poor choice for a vassal.

[ ] Open the Dreamlike Tower

Destasia thinks that the use of the Dreamlike Tower is best. The Beast-Surge it triggers yields thousands on thousands of powerful Beast-Cores, and it can turn comparatively useless allied Qi Condensation cultivators into Core Formation vassals. Of course, this would mean that the riverlands could not be properly colonised or fortified, but the potential gains are immense. Each turn there would be a one in ten chance of a new Core Formation Elder rising, and a new Beast-Surge being triggered. Such a Surge would be the property of the Golden Devils, and would yield an entire Purchase worth of wealth!

[ ] The Rise of Seven Temples

Sheng Yu suggests that the power of the Daylight Monk means these lands can be easily guarded, and the various River-Spirits propitiated. While the Bandit Kings were our allies, we do not need to reward them in excess. Permit them to keep what they have, with a little more, and give the lion's share to the city of Seven Temples. Rebuilding the Gotun and Ekbar Kingdoms would make Seven Temples the premier power in the region. More importantly, the Sunset Monks practice the Dao of Decline, and could be easily expanded and brought into the Legions as powerful auxilia. Their ability to fight several small realms above their own level makes them deadly, even if their lifespans are short. The Dreamlike Tower would be sealed off, of course.

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Final vote for the turn (unless you pick the Great Auction)!