154 Tiny Village (1/2)
Ed and Tai returned through the portal. The portal closed, and a new larger portal appeared in a large plaza near the center of the sect. Over the next several days, all Fire Dragon Sect forces participating in the war would enter it to travel to the Water Snake Sect.
Tai grimaced as he turned to Ed. ”I need to meet with the elders. I'll be damned if I leave my sect members behind to become fodder for some ancient formation. Is there anything you need before the war starts?”
Ed thought for a moment before shaking his head. He could maybe use some new mana batteries for his arms, but they were growing increasingly useless as his strength continued to increase. They simply couldn't meet the damage output of his normal powers unless he blew them up. Plus, he could always get the materials from Flair. Other than that, he needed new strong mutant flesh to further improve his body's mutant ratio, but that wasn't really the type of thing to bother Tai with, as he could easily just go hunting himself.
Tai smiled and placed a hand on Ed's shoulder. ”Thanks for siding with me even before knowing which side of the war I'd be fighting on.” He hesitated a moment, an awkward expression on his face. ”But are you really okay with breaking your alliance with the Purple Origin Sect? Wasn't that your entire reason for coming to China?”
”It's fine.” Ed replied. ”I came to learn cultivation and I have. Other than that, I just wanted to obtain cultivation techniques for Harmony, and what better place to do that than a war?” He grinned. ”Besides, I've got something to settle with Sect Leader Fang. True, I didn't plan for it to be this extreme, but sometimes things just don't work out the way you expect them to.”
Tai nodded. ”Don't worry. After the war is over, I'll meet with the elders and we'll forge an official alliance between my sect and Harmony.”
”Sure.” Ed agreed.
...
Back at the mansion, Ed raided Flair's supplies to create two new mana batteries for his arms. It was more effortless than ever since she always seemed to keep plenty of raw materials on hand for her inventions. As he was leaving the mansion to go beast hunting, Haru blocked his way.
”Sensei!” Haru shouted.
”Hmm?” Ed rose an eyebrow. It was unusual for Haru to directly block him.
Haru looked extremely serious. ”Please help me solve my weakness!” He earnestly requested while bowing.
”Your weakness...” Ed rubbed his chin. ”You mean the whole being slow while strong and weak while fast deal?”
”Mm.” Haru nodded. ”Actually, the Starlight Body Technique gradually reduces the weakness over time, but it'll take a long time to finish filling my meridians. I would need years to do so, but the war starts soon.”
”...” Ed thought for a moment. ”Want to become a chimera?” He asked.
Surprisingly, Haru hesitated, looking slightly nervous. ”The side effects the soldiers had...”
”Ah, right.” He nodded. ”Well, I have a cultivation technique that will probably resolve that, but I don't know if it will be compatible with the Starlight Body.”
Haru frowned. ”I can't train in any other cultivation techniques according to the book.”
”Then it's up to you.” Ed shrugged. ”Extreme emotions for more power and speed, or complete control for your current weaknesses.”
Haru lowered his head in thought for a moment before looking back up, his eyes shining with resolve. ”I'll do it!”
”Let's go then.” Ed walked out the mansion door. Not wishing to fly low in the sky, he grabbed Haru by the shirt collar and flew into the air, being careful so that his flames didn't burn the baggage.
...
Several hours later. Ed had flown north into the freezing wilderness wastelands of Russia. By now, he was deep into Russian territory. There seemed to be very little life in the harsh tundra. Ice covered the ground, and the temperature felt almost as cold as the early parts of the blue water training room he had spent so much time in previously.
Haru was so cold that he had been forced to cover his body in yellowish mana to fight it off. His body constantly trembled as the bellowing wind stung his face. All he wished for now was for Ed to finally stop flying and put him down.
'Maybe I should've flown east or west instead...' Ed frowned as he continued. He had chosen north as there was little chance of a fight breaking out. He didn't wish to go west where he'd run into other provinces in China or into more populated parts of Russia. South would have also taken him to other Chinese provinces. East would have been the sea and maybe Japan depending on how far he traveled. It seemed like north was the easiest choice.
Suddenly, Ed's eyes widened in surprise as he came to a sudden halt.
”Ugh.” Haru grunted as he felt the force of suddenly stopping. He looked as if he was ready to vomit. Well, it was his first time flying after all.
'What is that...' Ed stared curiously at what could only be described as a golden road amidst the frozen wastelands. He flew down and landed on the slippery tundra. ”Golden faith energy...” He frowned as he examined the road. Looking in either direction, the golden road seemed to go on without end. Golden faith energy lit up from it, as if it was trapped beneath the permafrost surface and trying to radiate out. Curious, he wished to try freeing the strange golden faith energy, but he knew he couldn't risk it. His soul was already on its last leg, and he couldn't risk the slightest bit of damage to it.
Haru stood silently for a moment while allowing his stomach to catch up to him. When he was feeling a bit better, he glanced at Ed. ”Uhh, why are we standing here in the middle of nowhere?”
”Hmm?” Ed turned to him. 'Oh, right. He probably can't see the golden faith energy...' Flames carried him a few meters high in the air. ”Follow me.” He said without explaining.
Haru looked confused, but he didn't argue. He was more than happy to go by foot as opposed to flying. Blue light covered his body as he chased behind Ed.