Chapter 1059
Under the wide branches of the Grandfather Willow, a great many individuals from both the upper and lower realms gathered. It was both a reunion, and an opportunity. While the realms had been able to keep in contact, and indeed continued to iterate on their communications increasing the speed and other factors… it still took months for any information to reach between the core planets. That was better than the years it took to travel in person- now that it was even possible- but it did not make for any sort of convenient back and forth.
Looking at the composition of members and considering how many were related to Anton directly made clear how different the future could have been. If he hadn’t been drawn into the world of cultivation when he was, their family scattered… what would have come? Anton himself certainly would have perished. Catarina, from the extended family that had ended up away from Dungannon, would likely have been the only one to take up cultivation. Anton would have died of old age, happily moving on, not knowing that an invasion was coming from the upper realms.
Based on what had been seen from other planets, they might have developed alternatives to Ascension without Anton. Rutera and Weos would have come into contact with Ceretos- potentially diminished or even ‘reset’ to an earlier stage of development.
The further one went, the more history would diverge. It was an interesting thought exercise now and again, but they’d come to their current history… and all were quite satisfied with the results.
They were in an age of prosperity, despite the invasion. It seemed that the majority of people of lower cultivation were also happy with their lives as well. Everyone had great opportunity available, and the natural energy of every system in the Lower Realms Alliance was still building up- though there were diminishing returns on the results.
The gathering allowed for people to finally meet in person, or to renew old connections. It also provided for an exchange of insights about cultivation, something that could not be accomplished to nearly the same extent with the loss of instant feedback and the personal touch.
Core to their discussions was the stage of Domination, and what that meant for both the upper and lower realms. They’d had only a few clashes- though it wasn’t likely that they would have survived many more. Anton slaying one was not something he was eager to attempt again in the near future.
Rather than ask how long it would potentially take Catarina or others of similar training to reach Domination, Anton had another angle to come from. “Is Domination the correct path?” He looked at those from the upper realms. “Perhaps that is a matter for individuals to decide, but it must be asked. In the lower realms, we have alternatives for Ascension. Chidi has managed an alternative for Augmentation. Could or should there be alternative routes to Domination?”
It was a manyfold question. But it brought about interesting discussion.