The Ancient Aura Sect was set at the cusp of Cetra and Duet Prefectures of Madsa-Tamu. As the team walked closer, all they could see initially was silver fog rolling around in all directions. Rihanna wondered what wonder lay beyond the fog barrier which had obviously been placed not only to defend the Sect, but probably also to obstruct the outsiders from seeing the layout of the Sect.
Though the last parts of stay in the dimension was mostly foggy, she still remembered some parts rather clearly - the fight in the Visionless Path, making a contract with the spiritual consciousness of the mountains in the Soundless Valley, and also becoming disciples to one of the ancient clans, the Stryae Family, which might not even exist today.
Thus she could also remember the conversation with their new Master about how rigid these Clans and Sects were in keeping their techniques and methods to themselves. It was no surprise that sects which were so guarded about their sources and techniques, would necessarily try to keep their exact locations and layouts hidden from prying eyes.
Ye Luo walked out from the fog. His master had sent him to receive the people from the Underworld Abyss coming to visit them. Almost all Sects in all five countries had external and internal dealings with the Underworld Abyss. Not surprising, since the Underworld Abyss was spread all over the lands, and had many channels for accumulating a great number of resources, especially those which were rare and uncommon.
Moreover, through the long years they had existed, they had built strong connections with all the different guilds, and also had close relations with many hidden families and powerful cultivators who stayed from society and did not like keeping any connections with the five countries.
As such, though the governments of all the five countries were wary of their great power, they could not go against them either as they had too many external and powerful backings. And all the Sects were extremely respectful, even if only at the surface. It was no wonder that the Sect Leader had sent forth his most prodigious disciple to welcome the visitors.
Ye Luo was indeed a worthy disciple. Though he had met Wenzhaobei already, when he had come to rescue them once they were ejected out of the dimension, he did not falter nor become too casual. He completed the entire welcoming ritual with adequate solemnity. The only time he lost a bit of his bearing was when he faced Rihanna.
Both of them looked at each other, and both of them immediately looked away. Wenzhaobei lifted his fist to his mouth to hide his smirk. He did not know what had happened inside the dimension, but it was clear that both were feeling rather embarrassed and were trying to avoid each other.
Wait....embarrassed and trying to avoid each other?! Did something really happen between them when they went out of his radar?! Damn! How was he supposed to report this to his Master? Or was he supposed to ignore this little display? His job was like the Fruits of Nebarask...if he ate it, it would be disastrous, and if he didn't eat it, it would still keep hounding his dreams!
Ye Luo made some small talk with Artreya and Rihanna, but diverted their attention and turned round to bring the visitors to the inner grounds of the sect. As he turned, the smile on his twisted slightly to take on a bitter note. He had been sure that she would avoid him...and that is exactly what she did. He suddenly didn't know what to talk with her, and was left pining for that close comfort of talking everything under the sun and moon with his little friend.
The entire Sect was build on lotus leaf shaped floating islands of various sizes, all afloat in the middle of a large man-made lake. The lake's water was a glistening deep bluish-green, and so clear that Rihanna could count every rock and crevice at the very depths of the lake. The islands spread out in a loose concentric circle, with the largest island at the center of the lake. And every single island was covered in a green haze, making it impossible to see what lay inside the island.
Ye Luo signaled Rihanna and Artreya to wait at the periphery of the lake with Fluffy and Phantasm. The Sect Leader was waiting at the main atrium in the central island for the visitors from the Abyss. Moreover, there were some things he needed to discuss with the two of them, and it would be more relaxing to do so without others nearby.
Another disciple took the lead, and guided Rihanna and Artreya to a smaller island at the outer edges of the lake. Once the green mist lifted before their eyes, they noticed tiny stone and wood pavilions sprawling all around the land, amidst lush green grass and a wide array of flowering and colorful vegetation. Broad leafed trees waved over the open-sided pavilions, shading the seated people from light and hail which kept alternating throughout the days.
The disciple guided them to a secluded pavilion at the edge of the island, from where they could enjoy the view of the world below the lake surface while waiting for Ye Luo to join them.
The water at the surface sparkled with a greenish glow, but the depths of the lake looked more mysterious wrapped in a bluish light. Tiny water beasts floated at the surface or swam leisurely at the depths, amidst the red, yellow and pink fauna and corals embedded in the ground.
Artreya was trying to talk to the little boy who kept mum as he stared back with large, unblinking eyes. Sometimes he would reply in short sentences, other times he kept mum. But he talked more with Artreya than with Rihanna. At least he had often seen Artreya inside the Lair of the Dorminions when he went around on his little tasks to supply food and drinks to the various chambers. After coming out of the dimension, the knowledge that the only place he had known for all his life, the only place he had ever felt an attachment to, was suddenly no more. And the leader he held in much reverence was hated by the people outside, and was also probably no more....it was hard to say what was going on inside his tiny mind as he rarely spoke. But at least Artreya felt the little fellow had some sort of an attachment with him, other than Phantasm. Probably this would be the first step in trying to help him break through his inner dilemmas and silence.
Rihanna was watching the duo in a daze. Fluffy and Phantasm had taken off on a rare whim, wanting to explore the little island. Ye Luo paused in his steps, watching the very familiar scene he could never grow tired of seeing. Yet...so much had changed, and this scene had become so much more precious to him since he had no idea if they could all return back to those moments.
"I didn't know you came from the Core City."
Artreya remarked rather excitedly as Ye Luo took a seat opposite them. The little boy looked at the three of them, then silently went off to search for his little companion. He still felt uncomfortable near this girl. Though he now understood better all the illegal dealings those people had been doing in the desert, still....they were the only family he had had since he was born. And this girl had caused his family to get injured and caught by the people from the outside. He felt very conflicted, since she had also been the one to help him escape. That was the only reason he still managed to live freely despite the many of his family members who had been caught and sent to the Outskirt Dungeons to await trials.
Rihanna glanced at the boy and sighed inwardly. She did not feel she had done anything wrong. But then....there were always different perspectives to the same thing. She turned back her attention to Ye Luo.
"I come from the Branch Family of the Ye Clan."
"Ye Clan...as in the Ye Clan of the Cetra Prefecture?! That means.....your family must be in charge of one of the tri city areas of the Cetra Prefecture!"
"Hmmm.....The Dalphinue Tri-city area."
"That is pretty close to the Ancient Beast Aura Sect. And you must be one of the probable heirs to the clans territory?"
"....One of them....yes..."
Rihanna was trying to come up with the map of the Cetra prefecture in her mind. Though she had seen it a long time ago, since her memory had become much more sharper in the past few years, she could still remember it clearly. She sat up and looked at Ye Luo. The sharp stare caught his attention, and he fell in a daze, staring back at those familiar eyes, with the very familiar expression and glow in her eyes.
"So why are you suddenly going to the Core City? Is this a call from the Main Branch?"
".....Sort of...actually....all the branch families have been invited to attend the wedding rituals of the youngest lady of the Main Family."
Rihanna lifted an eyebrow. Why would Ye Luo want them to accompany him to attend a wedding....that too a wedding of his own clan member?
As far as she had observed, the relationships of people in this world was pretty open ended. Some people got married and were faithful to their partners, some people did not get married and had multiple sleeping partners. Marriage was not a concern for the clan, but children were. And since cultivators did not necessarily give birth to cultivators, they were free to get married to other cultivators, or keep many commoners and even low grade cultivators as their sleeping partners.
Both men and women enjoyed the same freedom. And even having same gender relations were not uncommon. However, the clan clamped down rigidly when it came to the children. All children born from the members of the clan belonged to the clan. Those born with cultivation, were sent to the inner areas to train from a young age. And those born commoners would be assigned to specific tasks once they reached working age.
It was understandable that the elders of the clan wished to celebrate the marriage of the main family's youngest daughter. But holding such a large celebration was not really common!
"Well...actually the marriage ceremony is being held right before the Glockial Arena Conquest of Two Hundred Years, which will then be followed by the Gavarnum Coronation. Though it is not necessary to attend the marriage, I wanted to take you both to attend the Arena Conquest and the Coronation. Outsiders are generally not allowed. But since I belong to the Branch Family of one of the Major Clans, I have an invitation. And I can bring along a few friends to attend the event."
Artreya was staring at Ye Luo, his eyes wide and jumping in excitement. Even his body had slowly leaned towards him unconsciously. Ye Luo stretched out a finger to tip his body back into position. Rihanna furrowed her brows, trying to recall whatever she knew regarding these two events.
Madsa-Tamu had four prefectures, and each prefecture was commanded by one of the four major clans, the main family of which lived in the Core City.
And the main Leader or King of the entire country was called Gavarnum. But instead of being a king, he was more like a President or Prime Minister.
Because the Gavarnum was always selected from the Glockial Arena Conquest. Only the Four Major Clans had the right to participate in the Glockial Arena Conquest. The best cultivators, in the age range of 300 - 500 were selected. However the Conquest Participants could come from either the Main Family or the Branch Family. They could even send participants who did not really belong to the clan. But for that, the selected participant would have to give up their identity and become a core member of one of the clans for their lifetime.
Two champions were selected in each Glockial Arena Conquest, sort of like a President and a Prime Minister, and both of them would become the Joint Gavarnum of Madsa-Tamu for the next 200 years.
Rihanna felt this was a pretty democratic way of selecting the ruler of a country. Of course, in a world governed by cultivation, family and background became secondary. Only the most powerful could control the destinies of themselves and others. Only they had the right to make and break rules.
Hmmm...attending a once in a lifetime event.....was definitely something in her bucket list!
"Sure. When are we leaving?"
Ye Luo, who was still talking to Artreya, paused mid-sentence, surprised at this quick agreement. But glancing at the stars dancing in those shining eyes, he felt like laughing. Whether she was Beibei, or Rihanna.....she was definitely the same person. Anything exciting, and she still couldn't sit patiently. A smile surfaced in his eyes. This was the friend he liked, and no matter what their relation was, in this world or that dimension, she was still the same friend.
"We'll be leaving in two days. We should be able to make it back just in time for the wedding. And then we'll stay on till the end of the coronation before returning. I was kind of hoping you would agree, so your rooms have already been prepared. I'll take you around the sect in the next two days. And then we'll depart."