163 Xia Makes a Scene (1/2)
Ed returned to the plains near Tai. ”Did you already know about this?” He questioned.
”Of course.” Tai nodded. ”It's what made the Water Snake Sect famous a long time ago.”
”Then why haven't they used it against the nightmares?” He asked.
”They've tried before.” Tai sighed. ”It was so long ago that not many are aware of it, but they succeeded in dropping the mountain on both the Water Nightmare and the Earth Nightmare. Of course, both nightmares were completely crushed, but they just escaped from the mountain and completely reformed less than an hour later.”
”Tsk.” Ed clicked his tongue. ”Figures.”
”Attention everyone!” Sect Leader Ying called for the other sect leaders. ”Since Di isn't here, we should choose someone to lead the operation.” She smiled. ”The Purple Origin Sect may only have a couple thousand elites, but we should still treat it like a real fight. Of course, I'd be more than happy to take on the leading role!” She cackled.
”You think you're the one suited to leading us?!” Tai angrily replied in shock. It was the equivalent of handing their lives over to a buffoon!
”Am I not the one that controls when and if we even arrive?” She mocked.
”I agree.” Ed spoke up while grinning. ”Sect Leader Ying is best suited to leading us during the war. However, we shouldn't stick with Di's original war plans since he could have betrayed us for all we know.”
”Oh?” Ying's eyes widened in surprise. The last person she had expected to support her was the foreigner she had argued with just minutes earlier. ”I agree.” She smiled, her eyes narrowing in joy. ”Perhaps you are wiser than I thought, foreigner. What would you suggest for the offensive?”
”My plan is somewhat different than Di's.” He replied. ”We now lack the Earth Dust Sect cultivators for defensive means, so it'll be difficult to make up for that. We should put all of the Light Tiger cultivators up front to create barriers and provide healing while the Wind Hawk and Lightning Eel cultivators will provide support. Then instead of placing Water Snake Sect members in the back and Fire Dragon Sect members on the offensive, we should combine them into teams with the Dark Phoenix Sect members. The fire cultivators will provide offense in the team, the water cultivators defense, and the dark cultivators support that allows them to retreat or press the offensive when needed.”
There was a glimmer in Tai's eyes as he seemed to approve of the plan, which would beneficial to his own plan. However, he and Sect Leader Ying were not the types to agree on anything nor get along. If he supported it, then she would likely oppose it just for the sake of argument. But if he were to do the opposite? ”Ahem.” He coughed into his hand. ”That plan... is severely lacking. I think I can come up with something better.”
”Nonsense!” Ying glared at Tai before turning back to Ed and smiling. ”I think it's a wonderful plan. We'll use it.”
”Sure.” Ed grinned.
”Humph.” Tai snorted while crossing his arms. He turned his head away, pretending to be angry with the results.
Striking while he was on her good side, Ed flattered her to get the information he wanted. ”This mountain really is amazing! As expected of Sect Leader Ying! How did your sect acquire such a marvelous thing?”
”Hoho.” Ying happily laughed. ”It was here right at the beginning of the Mana Apocalypse, just waiting for someone to take it. Not only is it good for travel and protection, but it also has amazing tools that help with training related to the element of water.” She held her head up proudly. ”It's how I became the genius that started the Water Snake Sect!”
'Ah, I see...' Ed immediately thought to himself. 'So, that's how a fool rose to the top of the pyramid... literally.'
The sect leaders continued to make idle chatter with occasional arguments as they travelled.
...
Nearly two hours later. Mount Dongling appeared on the horizon. It wouldn't be long before their mountain cast a large shadow over the Purple Origin Sect.
”Do you think the weddings already started?” Dongfeng asked.
”Allow me to check.” Ying smiled. She waved her arm in front of her, causing ice to appear and form a large mirror. A light-colored mana radiated from her body and entered the mirror. Any rays of light that went into the mirror now bent and twisted in odd ways, visible to even the naked eye. A brief moment later, an image appeared on the mirror.
Ed's eyes widened in surprise. 'This is similar to the ancient televisions my father taught me about...'
The mirror showed moving images from the Purple Origin Sect. Cultivators sat in groups of a hundred each in twenty different places throughout the sect. They seemed to be meditating while waiting for the start of the war. Beyond that, towards the very peak of the mountain was Sect Leader Fang's castle. However, the usual purple decorations had been traded out for dazzling red and gold tapestry's and other similar decorations.
In the castle courtyard, there was a new large red structure with a giant golden Chinese character painted atop it. Multiple banquet tables covered in red cloth were lined with food. Despite it being daylight, red paper lamps hung all over the courtyard. Various guests wore their formal robes as they patiently waited for the bride and groom.
Suddenly, the bride and groom arrived. They both wore red robes with elaborate golden patterns of lotus flowers and dragons. Bai Fang had a smug grin on his face as he held his future wife's hand. Yuki's face was covered by a red veil that was held in place by a golden tiara.