Chapter 168 – Reclusive
Somewhere, deep within the Hollow Song, Grand Elder Yan stepped through an invisible barrier, going from a simple mountain trail and entering a cave that was buried beneath thick layers of snow and sparkling blue ice. The passage itself was narrow, the walls covered in the same ice, acting as the lighting, painting the cave in blue. Watching her breath escape her mouth, she shivered a little even at her level while walking deeper until the corridor ended in a small cavern. Inside, a rectangular stone platform had been raised along one wall, serving as a bed, while a low table occupied the center of the chamber with two mats beside it. There was a kettle whining when she arrived, and two cups were already prepared, clearly expecting visitors. Going by the smell, the owner of this cave was making the Grand Elder's favorite tea.
“Grand Elder Yan.” Orzimar's voice welcomed her, lifting the kettle and pouring the tea out. "Please, come and sit."
"Thank you, Senior." Yan bowed her head a little, which, if anyone saw it, would confuse them.
Even other elders would find the situation odd, as Yan was a Grand Elder, pretty much the highest-ranking member of the Hollow Song beside the Sect Master. Yet, she was acting politely toward someone who was only... a High Elder? Well, the key was in the fact that Orzimar was no longer an Elder, High Elder, or Grand Elder. He had lived for more than a thousand years, although there was nothing in his appearance to suggest it, and that wasn't an illusion or a transformation spell.
After entering the Second Circle, cultivators and their bodies no longer decayed in the same way as those of mortals or First Circle cultivators. After everything, their flesh could remain unchanged for centuries, and those who reached the latter stages could preserve their chosen age practically without limit. Time lost its edge on them, but that didn't mean they were immortal.
One cultivation backlash could kill them, so could battling. It was the two most common reasons why someone at Orzimar's level would die. A failed breakthrough could tear apart the soul, or a serious backlash could cripple them, restart aging, or accelerate it. If those and getting killed could be avoided, their lives could last so long that sometimes it began to lose meaning. That was why some allowed themselves to age, as Grand Elder Lin did. All his silver hair, the weathered face, those were choices he made. Being one of the oldest Grand Elders at the moment, he had spent centuries allowing his appearance to mature, right until he would step down, allowing his body to rejuvenate and return to how he looked as a young man, exactly what Orzimar was doing.
Since retiring, the man had only one thing left to do: try to reach the Third Circle of cultivation. Or die trying. Since making the decision, Orzimar had surrendered his titles and authority, withdrawn into the mountains, and become what the Hollow Song leadership called a Reclusive Elder. They were the sect’s hidden strength, as in this world, only a percent of all the cultivators could reach the Third Circle. It was just too hard and too rare.
So, the strongest forces any sect could summon in a dire situation were people like Orzimar. Every great sect accumulated people like them if they survived the passing ages and kept growing. As for how many the Hollow Song had? Nobody knew, not even the Grand Elders, only the Sect Master. Everyone else only knew those people they met, but never the full extent, which was deliberate. It made it safe and made their enemies think twice before acting.
“Grand Elder,” Orzimar said after Yan sat down, "I knew you would come. I hope I didn't anger you."
"No, you did not," Yan said, looking at him with a smile, "And please, you are older than me, Senior. Your cultivation is also beyond mine; no need to stand on ceremony.”
"Rank has to be respected, Grand Elder Yan," He said with a calm and polite voice, “Strength alone does not equate to authority; if we only rely on that, that becomes tyranny. It needs respect to work, and that boy picked up on the fact very well. I like him. I hope you will train him well, because he has it all that we need... A strong foundation, a mind that doesn't fear to act... The way he stood up to me was pleasing to see. And a special affinity. With the end of the millennium closing in on us... I think this is a sign.”
“Maybe..." Yan muttered, as she had the same idea once, "Anyway, I heard from Kyrae.” She chuckled, sipping on her tea. "You will have to appease him later, or he may hold some grudges."
“That's fine.” Orzimar said, shaking his head, "Time will make it clear anyway. A little bit of anger, just the right amount of spite, that can make people push forward."
"I think I understand why some people still dislike you, Senior," Yan’s lips curved faintly. "I read about your exploits when you were a disciple..."
“Good times, good times!” He chuckled, also lifting his cup to his lips. "But your story is greater than mine. You advanced faster than I did, became a Grand Elder, and you will catch up to me more quickly than I would expect. You are better than me, Grand Elder Yan, and that delights me, because it means our home is stronger than ever. That's also why I hope the boy will be even better than the two of us.”
“Thank you for the high praise, Senior, in Siu's name too.” She nodded again, but then continued, "Still, I am here to ask: what are your plans with them?"
“I simply intend to measure them out of curiosity. It has been a very long time since I got any message, and I feel like this may refresh my mind to continue anew.”
“I understand," She shrugged a little, "But I want to urge you not to damage them beyond reason.”
"Why would I?" Orzimar’s gaze sharpened a little. "I will do nothing that permanently harms their foundations, and I can promise that I will not inflict injuries on them that will delay their cultivation for more than a month.”
“A month...?” Yan asked, squinting a little.
“They are First Circle disciples; they can handle that, especially the Paragons. Or... Is our honored list so weak in the current day that the people on there can't withstand a little bit of pain?”
“Believe me," Elder Yan said with a flash in her eyes, "Today's Paragons are just as good as the ones in your time."
"I hope so." He nodded, watching Elder Yan slowly stand up, finishing with her tea and with the business she came to discuss. "I heard you were also first on the list, so is your disciple."
"Just as you were." Yan nodded, straightening her robes.
"We could spar one day, Grand Elder," Orzimar stood, too, smiling. "When was the last time you moved your essence around in your body, for real?"
"Senior Orzimar..." She looked at him, pausing, then smiling. "I would love that. But only after you dealt with the group, because I don't want to hurt you before they come and face your challenge."
"Hah!" He laughed, clapping his hands, "That's more like it! See...? That is why you are a Grand Elder... That's the spirit I liked in the boy too..."
...
....
......
The three days had gone by very fast, and by morning, the Spirit Wardens gathered at the foot of the mountain path, even before proper sunrise. Because Orzimar said nothing about exactly when on the third day they should come, it was decided collectively to get there early. Naturally, every one of them had come. Siu stood at the front, dressed in simple training robes with his arms wrapped from wrist to elbow. Arya stood beside him in her fuller form, wearing training clothes too that were way too small... They were fighting for dear life around her chest and bottom, trying to keep from tearing, which she was very much happy about, drawing everyone's attention as they passed by while walking.
However, Siu made her wear that because the sky was already beginning to brighten, and soon, she would shrink down, filling it out perfectly. When Arya also realized why her Master finally decided to dress her appropriately, allowing her to show flesh, she began moaning at once.
“Maaaasteeeer!" She whined, still in her charming voice, "Can we ask him to wait until evening? Please? I work best like this!”
“You will do fine,” Siu said with a smile.
"But I'm the greatest distraction like this! Look!" She jumped, flipping her tail, actually managing to show a new moon right at dawn.
Ruben looked away immediately, muttering something about being indecent, while Vael and Joren couldn't help but stare.
“Can we focus?” Seloryn asked, rolling her eyes, elbowing Joren, "For Heavens' sake... Foxes..."
As for the others, everyone else was dressed the same as Siu, even Ruben, who carried his umbrella over one shoulder. Only the yawning Quillian and Vael were dressed normally, unsure why they were here, but nobody wanted to give Orzimar any excuse to cause trouble from the start.
"She is a nutter," Marly said jovially, sitting on Siu's head, while, ironically, stuffing nuts into her mouth.
"Says who? You?" Arya scoffed, rounding at her, just when the sun came up, and she shrank down in a flash, making her almost cry.
"Sun! MY ETERNAL NEMESIS!" She yelled, waving her fist at the ball of fire, peeking over one of the mountains.
"I like her." Vael muttered, rubbing the black bracelet on his wrist, quickly adding with a glance at Siu, "I'm not going to try to do anything."
"I didn't say nothing!" He chortled, shaking his head.
"Should we head up?" Nokoh asked, "We are all here after all."
"Yeah," Ruben moaned, rubbing his face, "Let's get this over with... No reason to delay it anymore."
"You could have stayed home," Seloryn added, beginning to walk up the route.
"And bring shame to my title?" He snorted at that. "Two of three Paragons of the Spirit Wardens fought while the third fled? The eunuch! That's what they would say... Between that and a black eye, I'm choosing the latter."
Siu just smiled, deciding it was best to stay silent while walking up the slope and stairs. Then, soon, the stream came into view, and the closer they got, the more they could see that the empty parcel had been cleaned up a little. The grass was cut, the wildflowers were gone, and the land became even more level than before.
It was Arya who hopped onto the bridge first, skipping over it, then coming to a quick halt as if she had seen a ghost. Curious, Siu followed her and immediately understood the reason for the surprise. The moment he stepped off the bridge, he could perceive Orzimar, sitting there, his robes rolled up, his naked feet dangling over the edge, submerged in the stream, humming.
“You brought everyone...” He muttered after all of them crossed over, but he did not look back towards them. "I'm glad." He added, lifting his head and looking up the mountain, because far above the terrace, hidden behind a veil of shadow that not one of the disciples could perceive, Grand Elder Yan stood on the rocky ridge, gazing down at them all. "Well then!"
With a clap, he stood up, but none of them could perceive how or when... He was simply facing them the next moment, his feet still wet, his toes enjoying the freshly cut grass. As the group looked around, the area around the terrace had disappeared, and they couldn't perceive the edge of the previously defined parcel. It felt like it was going in all directions endlessly, while the horizon remained the same, showing the sect and giving a sense of vertigo if they thought too much about it.
"There is a spatial formation placed here...?" Seloryn gulped, "Holy... That's..."
"Expensive." Orzimar chuckled, "It was laid down by the first Sect Master, as when the Hollow Song was established, she personally reinforced all the first lands she gifted to her followers. This is one of those first lands... Hence, it is priceless and can only be given to the worthy."
"We need this place..." Ruben muttered again, no longer angry to come to this already lost fight, "Give it all, you hear?"
"Greedy fuck." Joren muttered, rolling his eyes, but his heart was beating just as fast as everyone else's. Even Quillian was wiping his mouth after hearing that piece of news.
"Oi!" Arya raised her hand, "Can you turn it into night, too?"
"No," Orzimar said simply, "It's not working like that. It can't affect the weather or time; it just affects the size of the plot."
"Booo... It's useless..."
"Well then!" Orzimar clapped again, ignoring her. "The test is simple. Come at me with all you have and stop when you go unconscious or can't stand anymore. Ready...?"
"Do well," Quillian muttered, patting Siu's shoulder, wanting to turn around with Vael, but then Orzimar's voice stopped them from doing it.
"Where do you think you are going?" The Reclusive Elder asked, his smile growing, "You two are part of the group... You are participating."
"But..." Vael gawked, but Orzimar just waved a hand.
"All of you are going to fight," He said as a whiff of his aura spread out, for a brief moment only, suffocating everyone, "Or if you try to leave now, I'm crippling you for real."