Myriad Rivers to the Sea

Chapter 1064: The Umbrella

Two days later the dust of conflict had finally settled over the ruined capital and the new political lines were drawn. The local leaders had a firm grasp on the transition of power as Zhan Chen stood by the outer gates of the palace courtyard and smiled warmly. He was preparing to depart and return to his own training journey and other duties."I leave the rest of this city in capable hands," Zhan Chen said while clapping Li Yu on the shoulder. "The power structure is stable and the Lunaris Kingdom knows what to do from here. I bid you farewell and good luck with the rest of your time in this realm. Do not forget to send word if you find any ancient inheritances that require a second set of hands."

"I will keep that in mind," Li Yu replied with a bright smile as he returned the gesture. "Safe travels and do not let those future wives of yours cause too much trouble before the weddings."

Zhan Chen let out a booming laugh that echoed off the stone walls while he gave a final nod of acknowledgment before leaping into the sky. His golden aura flared like a second sun as he rocketed toward the eastern horizon and vanished into the clouds.

Li Yu watched his older cousin leave before turning around to walk back into the palace grounds. He needed to check on a few final details before he started his own journey northward. He wandered through the repaired corridors until he found Princess Lena studying a large map that was spread across a wooden table in the temporary war room. The princess looked up as he entered. "Li Yu, it is good to see you this morning. How may I assist you?"

"I am planning to leave the capital today and continue my travels," Li Yu stated while returning a polite nod. "I wanted to check on how Morrigan was doing before I departed. Is she recovering well from the ordeal?"

Princess Lena smiled and her eyes softened with warmth. "She is recovering very well. Our best healers have been attending to her daily and her strength is returning faster than we anticipated. She is currently resting back at our capital."

"That is good to hear," Li Yu said as a sense of relief washed over him. "What are the plans for her now that the Solaris Kingdom is gone and you are taking over the territory?"

"My father and I discussed this at length last night," Princess Lena explained while tracing a finger along the borders drawn on the map. "We are going to have advisors and generals stationed here to manage this new territory but I will be overseeing the reconstruction and ruling over it personally. I asked Morrigan to help me with the administrative duties since she ruled over her own kingdom in the past. She possesses a wealth of experience that will surely be of help."

Princess Lena paused and looked directly at Li Yu. "I want what is good for her as well. She will have a place of honor and authority by my side."

Li Yu was very happy to hear that outcome. "Please take care of each other then. The road ahead will be busy but having a trusted friend will make the burden lighter."

"Would you like me to summon her so you can see her before you leave?" Princess Lena asked while stepping toward the door. "I am sure she would want to bid you a proper farewell."

"No, that is okay," Li Yu answered while holding up a hand to stop her. "We were just master and servant in name after all. While I want what is best for her, I wouldn’t say we are close friends or anything like that. There is no need for a tearful goodbye. As long as she is doing good and has a safe place to stay, that is what matters most to me."

Li Yu knew he could not get Morrigan back to her original realm right now anyway since that entire realm was currently missing. She had no way to return to her family or her throne. Since she was stranded here, she might as well stay with the Lunaris Kingdom and build a new life alongside their princess and put her abilities to good use. It was probably the best place for her right now.

"I understand," Princess Lena said with a respectful bow. "We will ensure she is treated like royalty."

‘Once the Zhan Clan and the Li Clan secure this realm after our training period is over, I will be sure to put in a good word for the Lunaris Kingdom.’ Li Yu noted to himself as he turned toward the exit and bid her farewell. "Your hospitality and fairness will not be forgotten."

The princess smiled back at him as Li Yu left the room and walked out into the bright morning sun. He met up with Faen and Borum at the city gates and the trio set off on their journey. Li Yu decided to head north where the Crest Spine Sect was located because he was very curious if there would be more dragon cultivators living in that region.

The travel pace was relaxed and easy as it usually was when he didn’t have any specific goal in mind. They walked along the roads and enjoyed the changing scenery as the plains slowly transitioned into rolling green hills. During the first evening as they set up camp, Li Yu began to prepare dinner and noticed a significant change within his own body. As he summoned his natal flame to roast a freshly caught spirit beast, the fire danced across his palm with a much deeper intensity than before.

The heat was stronger but somehow more gentle. The control he exerted over the shifting colors felt more effortless as well. He realized his flame had grown much stronger after absorbing all of the elemental essences from the Ashen Stone Clan members he had fought earlier. The raw destructive power was still there and even stronger but the finesse had improved drastically.

Li Yu applied this newfound control to his cooking right away. He infused the roasted meat with gentle waves of heat on the inside that locked in the juices and seared the outside to a perfect crisp. When he took his first bite, his eyes widened in sheer delight. The meals he cooked had grown even more delicious and the flavors burst across his tongue like a beautiful melody.

Even the vegetables were tasting incredible just from this newly refined fire. This culinary improvement made him incredibly happy and he spent the next few hours happily sharing the food with his two companions around the warm fire. It was safe to say he was even more happy with this discovery than he was when he looted half the vault but it could just be that he wasn’t in need of spirit stones right now.

The trio traveled for an additional three days until they found themselves approaching a bustling settlement nestled in a wide valley. It was a village populated entirely by dragon kin. The residents walked around with varying draconic features such as hardened scales on their arms, slit pupils or small horns protruding from their foreheads.

Li Yu scanned the area with his senses and noted that the cultivators here were not very strong compared to what he had been facing recently. The most powerful auras he could detect were only hovering around the Soul Formation realm. However, it was a very peaceful village that surprisingly remained welcoming to outsiders. There seemed to be a lot of merchants and traveling cultivators passing through the paved streets or visiting the various shops.

He was quite surprised that a village like this could exist out in the open without being taken advantage of by roaming bandits or greedy cultivators. They really did not have the strength to defend themselves in this area of the realm. The resources required to maintain such a thriving market were substantial and weak villages usually became prime targets for exploitation in the cultivation world.

Li Yu decided to find out the secret behind their prosperity as he walked up to a local food stall smelling of roasted spices and sweet glaze. A middle aged dragon kin man with emerald scales along his jawline was flipping skewers of meat over a bed of glowing coals.

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"Welcome to the valley, young master," the stall owner greeted with a wide and friendly smile. "Would you like to try our signature spiced lizard skewers? They are guaranteed to warm your belly and restore your energy. They also have a wonderful flavor and texture."

"I will take ten of them," Li Yu said as he handed over a handful of spirit stones onto the wooden counter. "And please pour me a cup of whatever tea or drink you have brewing in that iron kettle."

The vendor happily accepted the stones and handed over a steaming plate of meat along with three clay cups filled with fragrant tea. Li Yu took a bite of the skewer and nodded in approval. The spices were robust and the meat was tender.

"This is very good," Li Yu complimented before leaning against the wooden frame of the stall. "I must ask though, your village is very prosperous and sees a lot of people going through. How do you keep the local bandits and rogue cultivators from causing trouble? Most places with this level of wealth and only a few Soul Formation experts would be fighting off raids every week."

The stall owner looked at him suspiciously with how he had worded his question but seeing him enjoying the food so much, thought something else and chuckled while he wiped his hands on a coarse towel. "We do not have to worry about bandits, young master. This entire area rests firmly under the protection of the Crest Spine Sect. They built an area of safety for all the dragon kin in this region. Some of us refer to this as their umbrella of peace."

"The Crest Spine Sect?" Li Yu asked while taking another sip of his tea. “I have seen them before, just recently in fact.”

"They are strong and exclusive," the vendor confirmed with a nod. "Only those born of a dragon species or possessing the dragon bloodline can actually join their ranks and learn their core techniques. However, they do not abandon the rest of us. They established this region and several other towns nearby as safe havens for any dragon kin who wish to live in peace."

Li Yu understood now how this village could thrive in such a dangerous world. No sane bandit or greedy merchant was willing to rob this village or destroy its buildings because upsetting the Crest Spine Sect was a death sentence for them. The meager treasures they could gain from a raid were simply not worth the wrath of a dragon sect led by powerful experts.

Li Yu felt his opinion of the sect increase significantly. Kindness should still be viewed positively regardless of the underlying reason it was being done or the potential benefits it brought to the sect in terms of loyalty, recruitment and others. They were using their strength to shield the weak and that was a rare sight in the brutal path of cultivation.

"They sound like a very honorable group," Li Yu commented as he finished his first skewer. "Do they patrol the area often?"

"They do indeed," a new voice chimed in from the side. An elderly woman with silver horns resting on a wooden cane had stopped to listen to their conversation. "The disciples come every month to check on our supplies and ensure the roads are clear of dangerous spirit beasts. Last winter a pack of wolves migrated into the eastern woods and started hunting our livestock. The sect sent down a team of disciples and cleared the woods in a single afternoon without asking for a single thing in return."

"They even help us with the spring planting," the stall owner added while flipping a new batch of meat over the coals. "Some of the younger disciples use their earth arts to plow the fields and dig irrigation trenches. They say it helps them refine their Qi control but we all know they do it just to ensure we have a bountiful harvest."

Li Yu listened to the locals share stories and he found himself smiling at the genuine affection in their voices. The people here truly loved the sect that protected them.

"My grandson was born with a crippled meridian," the elderly woman shared while tapping her cane against the cobblestone. "We thought he would never be able to cultivate even basic Qi. But an elder from the Crest Spine Sect happened to be visiting the market to buy herbs. He took one look at my grandson and spent three hours using his own precious energy to forcefully clear the blockage. He left behind a bottle of marrow pills and told us to send the boy to the outer pavilion when he turns ten."

"That is incredibly generous," Li Yu said as he offered the elderly woman one of his skewers and she accepted it with a polite smile and took a slow bite.

"They are the righteous pillars of this region," the stall owner declared proudly. "As long as you do not break their laws or harm a fellow dragon kin, they will treat you with fairness and respect."

Li Yu spent the next hour eating his food and talking with various villagers who stopped by the stall. Every person he spoke to had a similar story of the sect providing aid, offering medical assistance or stepping in to settle disputes before they turned violent. The Crest Spine Sect had spent generations cultivating a deep foundation of goodwill and trust among the common people here and it showed.

As Li Yu finished his final cup of tea and watched the children playing safely in the bustling street, a sudden realization struck him regarding the recent war. He thought back to the alliance between the Crest Spine Sect and the fallen Solaris Kingdom.

'Why would such a seemingly righteous sect that spends its time protecting the weak ally themselves with a kingdom ruled by a demonic Matriarch in the shadows?' Li Yu thought to himself as he rubbed his chin.

The potential answer slowly formed in his mind as he connected the political dots. Sect Master Korren must have known how dangerous and cruel the Solaris royal family truly was behind closed doors. Perhaps the alliance was never about friendship or shared goals. Instead, allying with the Solaris Kingdom was a calculated move to establish a political shield over these lands.

Being formal allies made it much less likely that the kingdom would send their troops or their hidden experts into this territory to kidnap people or harvest resources. The sect used the treaty to keep the Matriarch and her vile practices far away from the villages and towns under their area of control. It was a necessary compromise to protect the innocent lives resting under their umbrella.

'Sect Master Korren played a very dangerous game to keep his people safe,' Li Yu concluded internally but it was simply a guess, the reason could be something else completely. As Zhan Chen had said, it was very easy to keep up appearances if need be.

However, Li Yu chose to believe in the more positive story as the karma he felt from the sect leader reflected that more. He felt a newfound respect for the scarred sect master and the burden of leadership often requiring making ugly deals to preserve the greater good. Li Yu handed a few more spirit stones onto the counter to thank the vendor for the food and the conversation. He signaled for Faen and Borum to follow him as he walked deeper into the village. Li Yu wanted to spend some more time exploring this unique culture before heading further north toward the main peaks of the Crest Spine Sect.

The sun began to dip below the surrounding mountains and painted the sky in vivid shades of orange and purple. The village square lit up with lanterns crafted from glowing spirit stones wrapped in colored paper. The atmosphere shifted from a bustling daytime market to a relaxed evening festival.

Li Yu walked past a group of young dragon kin practicing basic martial arts forms under the watchful eye of a retired guard. The fluid motions and the subtle hints of draconic power in their strikes showed a solid foundation. Even the weakest members of this community were taught how to defend themselves.

He eventually found a large inn near the center of the town constructed from sturdy redwood and decorated with carved wooden dragons wrapping around the support pillars. Li Yu decided this would be a perfect place to rest for the night. He rented a spacious room for himself and his companions and spent the rest of the evening sitting by the window.

He watched the peaceful lives of the villagers below and felt a sense of contentment knowing that there were still places in this chaotic cultivation world where the strong actively chose to nurture the weak rather than trample them. As Li Yu leaned against the window frame of the inn, Faen stepped up beside him and looked down at the glowing lanterns.

"This place is very different from the cities we have visited so far," Faen noted while crossing her arms. "The air is calm and there is no underlying tension of impending violence. It almost feels like an illusion."

"You are right about that. However, it is not an illusion," Li Yu replied while turning his gaze toward the distant northern peaks where the Crest Spine Sect resided. "It is the result of hard work and a very clear set of rules enforced by those that have power. It takes a lot of effort to build a sanctuary like this but it takes even more effort to maintain it."

"Do you think we will find more places like this as we travel?" Faen asked even though she had lived here far longer than Li Yu.

"I hope so," Li Yu smiled and closed the wooden shutters to block out the evening chill. "But until we find the next one, we should enjoy the peace we have right here. Tomorrow I am going to see if I can convince one of the local chefs to teach me how they mix those roasting spices."

Faen laughed softly and shook her head. "Always focused on the next meal."

"Cultivation requires energy," Li Yu countered playfully as he walked toward his bed. "And good food is the best energy there is, at least for the mind."