"You dare to ask?" Grinding her teeth, her eyes burned, "We are already on a shoestring budget, and yet you dare to try and start a legion? So you even know the expense that building a legion would bring? Because I don't. You know why I don't? Because it's a fucking, insane, task! A thousand cultivators, warriors all, the resources alone to build such a legion would be astronomical! And yet!"
"We aren't building the whole legion right now. For now it's just the tested warriors of my War Hall which is equal to two hundred powerful third chain warriors!" He countered calmly, "Are you saying that we don't have enough for two hundred warriors? They do not seek any pay! Just food, and battle with their fellows!"
"You meatheads! Where are you going to battle, huh? Do you plan on marching by yourselves out into the Exiled Court? Or perhaps into some smaller world? Or are you going to war here, in the Demon Realm? Tell me, huh?" She got right in his face, their noses almost touching as she didn't lack in height at all.
"We will raid the Exiled Court, and any small worlds. In order to catch up the great patriarch, we must! It is our duty to grow in strength even while is he away!" Liu Gang rebuffed righteously, locking eyes with Yui Luo.
"You curd. Catch up? At this rate you are going to throw us into another war! What sect, clan or other place doesn't have at least a Law Expert within the Exiled Court? You think you're great because you barely managed to break into the Fourth?" Frowning coldly her eyes were lie a tigers as she released her own aura, "I am also in the fourth. Are you still great?"
His brows furrowed and his facade of a scholarly man fell apart.
"Yui Luo, you stubborn woman. Then, let's fight to decide it!" He stepped back and drew out his sword!
Those warriors of the War Hall flanking him drew their blades!
Shiiiiing!
Her eyes burned with terrifying fires.
Those scholarly people who looked like they would run at the sight of a blade, drew weapons from their sleeves!
Shiiing!
Reaching out with her palm, a warhammer flew into he grip from the side of the War Hall.
"Meathead. Today, I will beat into you which of us is on top." Her words were instilled with heavy bloodthirst.
"No. Today is the day you recognize which Hall is greater!" Liu Gang staked his pride on this battle, and those behind him burned angrily.
With the prides of both the Treasure Hall and War Hall now on the line, no one would give up easily.
Someone would most certainly die.
"There's a flying ship! It's a warship!"
"What?!"
Looking at the sentry who had just burst into the middle of the nearly broken out fight, Yui Luo and Liu Gang spoke at the same time.
In a moment, they stopped the fight with each other and joined forces without a word, rushing outside.
The descending warship had a white hull with golden inlays, it's sails white save for the gold outlined insignia which was all too familiar to those below.
Only once it had broken past the Great Sword Formation, was it visible however, causing everyone to relax.
The Sword, Wings, Dragon and Platform, the mark of the Shou Clan.
"Welcome home, Great Patriarch." Those from the War Hall cupped their fists.
"Welcome home, Grand Matriarch." Those of the Treasury Hall bowed deeply.
Giggling drizzled down into the serious atmosphere, tickling their ears.
They looked up to find that the massive warship had stopped just an inch off the ground, it's massive ramp had been lowered and their patriarch and matriarch were being harmonious.
"Then, let's destroy them first."
"Really?"
"Of course! They have these really nice pearls, as well as some of the best dumplings in all of the Southern States! I swear it!"
"Fine then, the Growing God Sect it is." The speaker, a handsome scholarly young man, looked down at the rest below and spoke, "We will be going on a trip for the sake of strength. Who will come?"
"Patriarch, allow us!" Liu Gang and the War Hall looked smug at they cupped their fists, truly the patriarch never disappoints.
"Matriarch, we seek guidance." Yui Luo bowed deeply.
"Come along then. This ship has more than enough room. We will need people to keep track of the treasures we take anyway," Feng Wuqing secretly sent a message through voice transmission, "Besides, it's a good chance to suppress the War Hall, they've been a bit rampant lately, haven't they?"
"Yes, Matriarch!" Yui Luo looked grateful whilst Liu Gang looked like he'd eaten a pile of a shit.
The goal of the Treasure Hall is to gain wealth and continue gaining wealth for the clan.
The goal of the War Hall is to gain strength enough to fight any war for the clan and win.
These two goals became more and more conflictive as time passed since the passtime of raising battle cultivators grew more and more laboursome on the Treasury Hall which distributed both treasure and food, which had become treasure since coming here.
The War Hall drained food like it was water as they constantly ate, there was no moment where they didn't eat, whilst trying to fuel their bodies to the extreme in order to train longer, their training policy one of full satisfaction in the way.
On the other hand, the Treasure Hall was indeed being far too stingy over the smallest things, leading to conflicts over various others things, small grievances and grudges building between the two until it head reached such a point.
As it happens, the Treasure Hall's Hallmaster, Yui Luo, had taken to Feng Wuqing, looking up to her and calling her Matriarch.
At the same time, no one aspired more, worked harder, nor fought with greater resolve, than Liu Gang, who was the War Hall, Hallmaster Liu.
—-
"It's all on fire."
Off-handed. Unfeeling… Cold.
"...Demon Fire." A fact.
"Gods!" A gasp.
"They won't save you." A twin-headed truth.
Burning.
The city below rose in plumes of blackened smoke and simmering ash.
"...So be it. They abandoned us! And betrayed us, all on the flip of a coin, a small change and they switched flow." Anger.
He who stood at the helm of the ship, his back that which they all looked to, shook his head.
"Where love once bloomed. Where hope once stood firm. Where innocent life once took root. That is a place, which should be mourned when lost," He stood with an indifferent look, however tears fell from his eyes, "Our homeland… is no more."
None of the hundreds of warriors and scholars on board shed even a single tear, they felt nothing below, and neither did the young man, he was unable to feel a thing, only shedding a tear for the sake of it.
Outside the flaming city, countless warriors stood at attention now that they had arrived.
A speak stepped forth into the sky, the pressure coming from them tremendously overbearing as though trying to cut the sky.
"By order of the Exiled Court for crimes against the Dao and for siding with Demons. The Shou Clan is banned from entry into this Realm! Return now, or be destroyed!"
"Second Law." The young man scanned this speaker, and felt a tinge of disdain.
Immediately, the speaker flared and hundreds of auras at the fifth chain shot into the sky, creating a terrifying formation which surrounded the flaming city.
"Turn back, brat."
"I'll have to make this quick. I don't want to wake her." He muttered something only he could hear, and sighed whilst shaking his head.
The warship raised it's sails, and the cannons which had been hidden on the hull came into full view, each one as big a truck which a payload of similar size.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Like an orchestra, the cannons let loose the sounds of war!
"Luckily, the inside of the ship is insulated," Sighing quite heavily once more, the young man looked up at the Second Law Expert which was now on his sixth arrow fired, the first just an inch from his eyes now.
Sword Steps.
Yet, it's speed paled in comparison to his own.
The arrow went through nothing but afterimage, slamming into the deck of the ship. Those warriors and scholars who were on board flew out, the scholars handling the cannons and warriors fighting in melee combat with the army.
"Hu Ji. I remember you."
"Shou Xin. You little rat-bastard."
Indeed, the Second Law Expert was Hu Ji, the son of the man who once opposed the Shou Clan vehemently all the way till the day he died, the very man who had vanished after the Shou Clan became accepted.
He refused to fade away.
The terrifying power rolling off him in waves even caused Shou Xin to look a little serious, as it was clearly no bluffed power.
"The Righteous Sects welcome you to the Exiled Court. Now, stay forever."
Heavenly Vision.
The useless movements and mistakes in his posture vanished in an instant, the speed of the arrows becoming as swift as a hurricane!
Shou Xin's pupils shrank as he activated his Sword Steps, yet the arrow cut his cheek still.
Instantly, tens of more arrows no less strong than the first flew in, and Shou Xin's full attention turned to simply dodging!
Sword Sight.
His Sword Intent allowed him to see his own flaws at a closer degree, his desperate movements gradually becoming more and more refined under the rain of Qi arrows.
"Fukkatsu."
Guoooo!! Lightning and Fire rose together casting a terrifying being into existence with a roar loud enough to shake the ruined city below!
"Drimon!"
Ssssss! Slick and thin, the noise seemed to aim at the void itself, trying to cut it apart as darkness and souls coalesced together forming a massive hydra!
"You are not the only one with a Spirit Artifact, Sword Devil."
Spear Intent flourished and an illusory pillar seemed to form, trying to hold up the sky itself!
The bow was put away, and a heavy air rolled in like an inescapable poison fog, suffocating everything.
A spear, a Hydra patterned on it's shaft and a red cloth with the mark of the fallen Hu Clan upon it.
In his heart, Shou Xin knew that the true battle, had begun.
"In the name of my dead family which your family humiliated and destroyed, I swear to end your filthy bloodline. Beneath the heaven's, the Hu and Shou may never coexist!"
Countless myths and myriad worlds, yet all know of the hydra, Seven Headed Fang Stab!
A ruler's aura, that of a king looking down on those beneath him, the Hydra spread it's noxious gas in all directions, creating a terrifying art in which an illusory swamp seemed to appear, sending the fear of death into those who saw it.
"I never asked to be born to villains nor be cursed to be hated by all. But if that is my fate, then let this world be drowned in blood. You who seek to take the little I have, I will carve your flesh."
The river flows through the land so long as I deem it so, death is my will, Dragon River Stroke.
Tyrannical aura rose like a slow, preying beast. A long, neverending river arose in the sky, the images of beasts preying upon the fish within filled those who watched with a sense of terror.
ROAR!
GUOOO!!!!!
Those Weapon Spirit's which laid within the artistic conceptions there came hearth shattering cries! The fallen city below had it's fires extinguished by the tornados which had touched down as the two moves collided.
"Watch out!" Released a breathless stroke, Liu Gang saved a comrade from the flaming hurricanes flying about the land wreaking havoc!
Those who had come with Hu Ji backed away as well, their time to fight had ended.
Now, they could only look at the two powerhouses battling fiercely in the sky!
Blades dance like starlight, Sword Steps.
In the darkness a spear glints, Spear Dance.
Whoosh!
BOOM!
CLANG!
GUOOO!!!!!
Tangled together in a fearsome combat which tore flesh from bone, yet regenerated it just as fast, Shou Xin and Hu Ji seemed to dance through the sky, each attack missing by a near impossibly small margin!
Those watching were mesmerized as these two ethereal beings of immense power seemed to be dancing through a hail of endless sword strokes and spear strikes.
ROAR!!!
The terror instilled in their hearts was deep, as they heard the Hydra roar! It's head was taken off, but in it's place, another grew!
GUOOO!!!
The Yong let loose a horrifying gasping noise as it was bitten by the freshly formed head, it's claws flaring and taking flesh from bone, the battling continuing in an unending cycle.
They were evenly matched.
The Dragon River Stroke could hardly contain the immense power brought forth by the overbearing pressure of Hu Ji's Seven Headed Fang Stabs.
The Dragon River Stroke was only good for those of weaker strength to use as little strength as possible to create the greatest damage, a move to conserve power.
BOOM!!!
Whoosh!
Cough!
Hu Ji spat out a glob of blackened blood, a terrible sword scar along his chest.
P-, Pfff-!
Shou Xin sprayed blood, his orifices bleeding as the poisonous Qi had pierced his form.
"Patriarch!" Liu Gang screamed and attempted to take to the sky, but the barriers of the warship were risen, and he could not go.
"Lord!" Those aides of Hu Ji rushed forward, but could not get close as the Qi storm would cut apart anyone beneath Law Realm.
Hu Ji raised his chin.
"Your father kneeled and begged as he died."
He was made low, and humiliated like the bastard deserved.
Shou Xin smiled with a blackened gaze.
"Your father never got the chance to beg."
He wasn't even significant enough to be given a second thought.
The Yong Sword Spirit, Fukkatsu, fell from the sky, wrapping around Shou Xin's feet, it's eyes turned onto Hu Ji.
The Hydra Spear Spirit, Dimon, appeared from the noxious gas at his feet, appearing like a snake now with only a single head left, it's eyes locked onto Shou Xin.
"Your body impaled upon my spear, it will complement it well."
Hu Ji stood coldly in the sky, Dimon fused with his spear.
"Your head stuck upon my sword will be your finest honor."
Shou Xin raised a smile, Fukkatsu entered the sword's gleaming edge.
In truth, they were both exhausted, but neither backed down, pushed forward by their desires for strength, and answers to questions which were hidden away.
Clouds will never vanish, only move with the winds, Soundless Destruction.
Shou Xin's pupils shrank, as an overbearing arrow fires straight at his back!
There is not strength beyond my own, devouring the world is but a moment, Devouring Fist.
Terrifying fist marks exploded the skies from the ships deck!
"Sect Leader!"
"Matriarch!"
Powers of Law arose and those hurricanes were dispersed and reformed into a single, tropical storm which razed the coast and shook the warship itself!
"An animal vixen dares to try and stop the will of the Cloud Faring Sect. The Exiled Court." The sky was blotted out by the arrow rain, "Audacious."
"Mere pieces of wood fired from another. Borrowed power but weak insides, who is the truly audacious one?" A single, sky covering palm strike, "Fool."
Energies dance upon the palm of the path, I alone reign dominion over them, Bewitching Fist.
Those energies behind the arrows were sucked out by the massive palm strike, which once caught, turned into a horrifying fist!
Those arrows turned into simple pieces of wood.
"Perish in anguish." A freezing voice pierced the veil and an arrow came from a hidden void behind Feng Wuqing, too close to dodge.
Swoosh!
Blood splattered!
"Hubby!" Feng Wuqing screamed as her eyes turned fully velvet, an enraged cry rocking the heavens and the earth!
Pa-CHENK!
"Benefactor?" Sect Leader Ji's eyes widened in shock, a fist mark indented itself upon Hu Ji's chest!
The Bewitching Fist which had appeared sought to take Sect Leader Ji's life, but it was stopped as the hidden killing blow from him, was stopped by Shou Xin who was stuck in the chest.
"Damn it!" Sect Leader Ji raised a hand and countless blue strands shot in all directions, coiling around the hundreds of disciples!
"You will not escape!" Feng Wuqing raised an earth quaking shout!
Hundreds of fist marks sought to take the life from the very breath of the world, colliding with the void as they passed through the sky!
Yet, it was too late.
They all teleported far, far away.
Shou Xin fell from the sky like a broken kite, but he was not allowed to fall.
Those who stood on the deck, caught him. They would never let him fall, not now. Not ever.
The pledge of their clan stood like steel. If one should fall, they will all take revenge. If they must fight, they will all fight. And if they must die? Then they will all die fighting!
Brought down to the warships deck, those villains were gentle with his body.
Feeling the many hands passing him down carefully, warmth filled his body and he slowly began to open his fogged eyes.
Within his body, the violent energy of the Sect Leader of Cloud Faring flared.
However, the Lightning and Golden Fire of Fukkatsu, who was fighting even now within him, was able to burn away at it effectively neutralizing it quickly.
By the time he landed on the deck, he could hold himself up.
His beautiful robes were ruined, his bare back untouched.
"Cloud Faring Sect?" Hair glistening with the tinge of crimson cast upon it, the hurricanes destroying the darkened world, he spoke slowly, deliberately pronouncing each word with eyes of one who preys and is not preyed, like a beast who had found its meal, "They…will…bleed."