Chapter 200: Information, Risk, and Reward
Emperor Han Shu was not sure if the information contained in the report he just read represented a good thing or a bad thing for his faction. Peace had existed between his empire and the sects for more than a century, but a single cultivator seeking advantage could change that status at any time.
For as long as anyone could remember, three sects had ruled the portion of the continent he currently controlled, but they cared not for mortal affairs. His family dynasty had started humbly, his ancestor being the simple mayor of a small village. Over the next several centuries, they slowly and cautiously spread their influence, taking over managing more villages and then towns and then cities.
They had, of course, given the sects much face, kowtowing to them while gathering resources in secret. The cultivators had appreciated not having to govern lowly mortals while having their wants and needs met.
Favors were bought, and the most talented members of the family were sent to the sects to learn. Slowly, political power had turned into actual power. Over even more centuries, the family had acquired enough cultivation methods and techniques that they no longer had to rely on outside help.
Now, they stood on equal footing with any of the sects.
But only equal. Which rankled him more than he liked to admit. If he grew too strong, they would band against him. If he showed weakness, one or more would strike.
Cultivators were predatory and merciless.
Two decades ago, the Righteous Rain Sect, one of the Big Four, had been destroyed overnight. Han Shu’s faction and each of the Big Three tried to take advantage, but the prospect of any two enemies combining strength tempered growth.
The four factions lapsed into stasis.
Days ago, that stasis had been upended. A lone cultivator of unknown realm had effected twelve verified kills of Jade Chameleon Sect Golden Core cultivators. Further, rumors on every tongue indicated that the inciting event of that massacre also resulted in deaths of three more Golden Core cultivators, including Teng Jian.
Even more unbelievably, there were credible reports that three additional Golden Core cultivators had their dantians destroyed. By tribulation lightning.
Obviously, no one, regardless of realm, could control tribulation lightning, but the one known as Chao Su had been able to mimic it to a degree such that Han Shu wasn’t sure the distinction mattered.