Chapter 343: Return of the Ashfallen Sect
The pain from upgrading Cursed Sap faded into the background as the sunlight bathed Ashlock's leaves in its pleasant warmth. The pain was still there, but he could tune out most sensations occurring throughout his vast body other than those happening in his Inner World or to his trunk.
If he didn't have a constant mental barrier, he would be overwhelmed by the demands of his offspring, and his soul would quake from the continuous suffering of the World Tree.
"It's finally time to welcome everyone home," Ashlock thought as he looked at the sunlight inching across the mountain peak before touching the edge of the Mystic Realm fog. "Though it's a shame, I had planned to visit other pocket realms via my Bastions, but Tartarus and the recovery from absorbing so much Qi took up most of my time."
Ashlock had a lot to process and go over from this Mystic Realm. The power of his new cultivation level, upgraded skills, and mutations aside, he also wanted to check out Tartarus and explore the possibilities that were open to him by owning a pocket realm.
But first, he wanted to welcome everyone back home. This had been the largest excursion into the Mystic Realm yet, with the entire Redclaw family, the Silverspires, and an army of Mudcloaks in attendance alongside the usual crowd. It had been easier to track everyone's changes when it had just been his core group, the Grand Elders of the Ashfallen Sect and the Redclaw Elders. But now? He would just be happy to see everyone return safely and hopefully satisfied with their own progress.
Though a few inheritances, bundles of treasure, and corpses would be appreciated too.
"I wonder who will be first to return..." Ashlock mused as the sunlight hit the celestial fog of the Mystic Realm. The fog degraded into nothingness in the sunlight, and a very distraught Stella stumbled out from the empty space. Her eyes were wide in shock as she stared at her empty hands.
Ashlock was glad to see her alive, but her distress worried him. "What's wrong—" He said but was held back as Stella collapsed to her knees in utter despair.
"It's gone," Stella clenched her fist and pounded it into the rock, "The origin stone is gone!"