Chapter 416: Angered Ashlock

Stella saw a great opportunity to boost the Ashfallen Sect's finances after Sebastian arrived shortly after his young master and hurriedly explained the situation more thoroughly.

"So you see," the poor man took a moment to catch his breath and survey the room. "That's why, while I would appreciate it if anyone could accompany my young master to explain the situation better, I understand if that isn't possible with the looming beast tide. I'm quite happy to accompany him alone..."

"No need," Stella said as she ruffled Ryker's hair, "I'm more than happy to go and rob—ahem, I mean to converse politely and introduce myself and the Ashfallen Sect, to the very wealthy Silverspire family."

"But it will be quite a long journey," Sebastian tried to reason with her, a hint of fear in his voice. It was almost as if he was trying his best to dissuade her from coming. "There's no need for you to attend personally, Princess. I'm sure your presence is required here."

"Nah," Stella waved him off, "Distance won't be a problem. Ash can move me anywhere within his domain in an instant. So long as one of his Bastions is nearby, I can teleport between it and Red Vine Peak. So long as the visit doesn't drag on too long, I can't see an issue."

Sebastian shook his head. "It's still dangerous."

"How?" Stella refuted, crossing her arms. Just what was this man's problem? Ryker had asked for her help, and she was being generous enough to offer it.

"Ryker's mother heard rumors that a powerful being may lurk in the wilderness west of Nightrose City. It's already taken out many airships, and we must cross that area to get to the Silverspire family's territory."

"To the west of Nightrose City?" Ashlock's voice echoed in everyone's mind, "That's the direction that Nyxalia went, and she certainly has the strength to wipe out a whole fleet of airships by herself. Stella, you should go on this trip as you might be able to see and speak with her through the aether."

"Is that wise?" Diana chimed in, and Stella glared at her friend, "What? Don't look at me like that. Nyxalia is ridiculously strong and out of control, right? Who's to stop her from killing not only you but all of us in a split second?"

"Finding Nyxalia and helping her get control over her body should be one of our top priorities," Ash said with some finality in his voice.

"Why is that? Don't we have enough to deal with." Diana countered in a respectful tone.

The pen on the table rose until it floated vertically above the map. "It's never been done before, but I suspect the way to beat the beast tide is to go on the offensive against it."

"The offensive?" Sebastian muttered as he glanced out the window at the bellowing storm, barely being held back by Ash's desolation.

"Yes," Ash explained as he moved the pen, "The monsters are forced to move forward due to stronger monsters behind them. There's also the matter of this destructive storm making the fight harder than it should be. However, this could all be resolved if I sent a small but powerful team involving someone like Nyxalia to travel deep into the storm and wipe out the Monarch Realm monster. Hopefully, the storm will cease by doing this, making combat easier, and we can fight the monsters from two flanks."

"I love this idea!" Stella felt excitement bubbling up inside her. Just killing the monsters from afar at the edge of the storm was already getting tiresome. The idea of diving head-first into the storm and eliminating the threat directly sounded thrilling.

"You can only go if you reach Nascent Soul Realm within the next week," Ashlock said, and Stella froze.

"Eh?"

"You heard me."

"But I'm only nearing the end of the 7th stage! That means I must jump three stages and form my second soul in a week!"

"Don't forget the Mystic Realm unlocks tomorrow."

"Still!" Stella hated this feeling of being left out and being looked down on. "Reaching the next realm of power so soon is too hard. I want to go—"

"I don't care what you want! I won't be able to protect you in there!" Ashlock thundered in her mind, making her mouth clamp shut. The room became deathly quiet as everyone stared at her. "Listen. It will be out of my root range. My ability to assist will be limited, and the group will be deep in enemy lines. Do you remember how difficult it was to kill Vincent Nightrose despite him being on our territory where I'm strongest?"

Stella nodded without daring to say a word. Ash was mad.

"Well, he wasn't in the Monarch Realm, yet there will likely be monsters of that strength in there. I don't even know what such a being is capable of. That's why you could see this as a... suicide mission. Understand? That's why I'm only willing to send members of this sect that are strong enough to deal with the threats lurking in that storm, such as Nyxalia, or I can send strong Ents that I don't mind losing. What I won't send on a suicide mission is any of you, and especially not you, Stella."

Stella gulped, "S-Sorry Tree."

Ash sighed deeply, "This isn't some fun game. It's real life. My desolation Qi can hold back the storm and these weak monsters for now. However, within the next month or so, at least one Monarch Realm monster will pass through my lands, and if they decide I'm an eyesore, well..."

"You and all of us will die," Diana said quietly, yet was heard by all. A heavy mood weighed on everyone present as some looked to the floor in deep thought while others stared out the window at the looming storm.

"Now, all hope isn't lost. I just wanted to set the record straight on the current situation," Ash said, lighting the mood a little. "Larry is in the Monarch Realm after his recent evolution, and Maple has proven to have abilities around that level. I also get far stronger the closer to Red Vine Peak the monsters come. So, if a Monarch Realm were to appear, we are not helpless. However, if we can get Nyxalia under control and send her in there? It will be the monsters who fear us."

"So what's the plan?" Diana asked, leaning over the table and staring at the map, "We take a Bastion into Nyxalia's territory and hope she doesn't murder us all?"

"Sebastian?"

"Yes, Immortal?" Sebastian asked the ceiling.

"How long until Ryker has to be present at the Silverspire family's peak?"

"Ideally, a week from now," Sebastian respectfully replied. "If he arrives later than his siblings and the Grand Elder emerges from closed-door cultivation, it is probable that Ryker will be overlooked, and the silver core will be handed out without him being present."

"What would obtaining this silver core mean for Ryker exactly?"

Sebastian let out a breath, "Phew, a lot. When a metal cultivator ascends, they sheds their old soul like a snake does with its skin. That Silver Core not only contains many stages worth of Silver Realm Qi that the Grand Elder will now deem inferior to his Golden Realm Qi, but it also harbors whispers of all the daos the Grand Elder has comprehended in his lifetime. If Ryker were to obtain it, his cultivation would soar to the mid stages of the Silver Realm, or as you all call it, the Star Core Realm."

"What about the daos?" Stella asked.

"He won't learn them straight away." Sebastian rubbed his chin, "Unlike the silver Qi, which is already distilled and in its purest form, making it a breeze to absorb, the daos are like scribbles etched into a cave wall. While they will help him comprehend the daos many times faster, it will still depend on Ryker's capabilities, which, as we all know," Sebastian glanced at the kid, "Are outstanding for his age."

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Stella looked down at the silver-haired kid under her hand and couldn't help but feel a little jealous. A five-year-old in the mid stages of the Star Core Realm? What happens if he reaches Nascent Soul Realm before me? That would be far too embarrassing.

It seemed others were mirroring her thoughts as she looked at everyone else's mixed expressions.

"Okay, so this mission to the Silverspire peak has turned out to be quite significant," Ash said, refocusing everyone. "We need to find and tame Nyxalia and meet with the Silverspires to secure the Silver Core for Ryker. We also need to rinse them for as many spirit stones as we can."

Sebastian had been nodding alone but paused at the last bit, "Immortal, what do you mean by 'rinse them' in regards to spirit stones?"

"We need more spirit stones and fast. The Silverspire family is rich. They can help us."

Sebastian raised a brow. "Money holds far more value to the Silverspires, as they literally have to buy their cultivation resources. I don't think they will part with their riches so easily."

Stella chuckled, "It's fine. We can just kill them all and take the spirit stones from their cold dead hand—"

"Stella," Diana glared at her and gestured to the two Silverspires in the room.

"Ahem," she coughed awkwardly, "Obviously, we will leave Ryker's mother and maybe father out of the slaughter if needed."

"That is not the point I was making," Diana sighed deeply. "The Silverspire family is valuable to keep around."

"How?"

Diana raised her hand and showed off her many spatial rings, "They are the only ones who know how to make these. How would life be without them?"

"Quite annoying."

"Precisely, so no killing them."

Stella huffed the hair out of her face, "Fine. But I'm sure I could figure out how to make them myself."

"Don't worry, big sister," Ryker swiveled his head to grin at her, "You can fight them if you want! I'll even help you. We can be a team!"

"You know what, I like you." Stella pulled him closer and whispered in his ear, "How about becoming my disciple?"

"Maybe another time," Sebastian said, stepping in and dragging his young master out of Stella's grasp before the kid could answer.

"So long as the Silverspire family recognizes our might and stays in line, I have no ill will against them. Besides, killing off such a minor family at this point is a waste of time and Qi," Ashlock paused, "I think I have an idea they would be willing to pay for. How much do you think I could charge the Silverspires to use my ethereal root network, Sebastian?"

Sebastian's eyes widened as he wrested the energetic Ryker away from Stella. "It's practically priceless. Usually, a spatial gate is used to travel across large distances quickly, which devours a ridiculous number of spirit stones each time. It is not a cost-effective way to transport metal ores from distant mines, so they use airships that must be guarded while traversing the wilderness." Sebastian whistled, "I can't even imagine their reaction if you tell them they can close the distance between their peak and a mine in seconds as many times as they want."

"Perfect. I'll use that then."

"But if you are going to try to negotiate with the Silverspires, no matter how good your offer, they will ignore you two," Sebastian glanced between Stella and Diana, "If you wear clothes like that."

"Huh?" Stella looked down at herself, "What's wrong with this?"

She was wearing her favorite black cult robe, which was a little tattered from use during practice and combat. Underneath, she wore white cotton trousers that ended just below her knees and were tied in place with red rope. Meanwhile, on her top half was a white sleeveless top. Both halves of her outfit were embroidered with black branches and red leaves.

"Ignoring your flawless face, earrings, and spatial rings, you look like..." Sebastian tried to form his following words carefully but seemingly gave up, "Like a homeless cultist wearing their pajamas."

Diana burst out laughing at her side.

"Shut up," Stella snapped at the demoness, "And no, I don't look homeless."

"To be fair," Diana said, wiping the tears from her eyes, "you are kind of homeless. You slept on a bench under Ashlock until recently."

Stella simply answered by sticking out her tongue at Diana.

Sebastian shaped his orbiting silver into a mirror and floated it between them. "Princess, I know you ignore most things that don't interest you, but I need you to understand. Due to your position and who stands behind you, nobody would dare comment or speak ill of your outfit."

"Ash, do you like my outfit?" Stella asked the ceiling.

"Sure, it suits you."

"See? He likes it."

"The 'he' you refer to is a spirit tree." Sebastian didn't look impressed, "Do you trust the fashion advice of a hundred-meter-tall tree?"

Stella mulled over his words while looking at herself in the silver mirror and sighed as she faced reality, "Fine, I could look a little better."

"Great," Sebastian clicked his fingers, and the silver mirror collapsed back into a stream that returned to orbiting its master. "I'll organize a suitable outfit for you. Do you have any specifications?"

"Mhm..." Stella furrowed her brows. She had never been good at this stuff.

"We should all arrive in style!" Ryker had stars in his eyes, "Imagine how my brothers and sisters would react when we show up in cool matching outfits aboard a Bastion? I can picture the scene already."

"This is true. We need to make a good impression."

Ash said, "Since the mission also involves Nyxalia and the Grand Elder will be in the Nascent Soul Realm, I will send a suitable envoy to accompany you all."

"What would that look like?" Elaine chimed in for the first time since Sebastian had shown up.

"Good question, let me see. I think I will increase the size and grandeur of Erebus, the 9th stage Star Core void bastion. Any other Bastion won't be of much use against Nyxalia. As for security, Larry has to remain on the front lines, combating the beast tide alongside many of my other Bastions and Ents so they can't go. What does that leave me with," Ash hummed in thought for a moment, "Oh, I got it. Since we want to appear as powerful as possible, I will have Ents that aren't cost-effective to use against the beast tide, such as Khaos, accompany you. They are quite intimidating."

Elaine brought out a notebook and began scribbling, "Erebus, Khaos... I assume Stella and Diana are also going? Will that really be enough protection for Stella?"

"They are all weaklings! The Grand Elder will have just stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm." Stella scoffed and rolled her eyes. "But if you are so adamant about my safety, then what about this?"

Stella clicked her fingers, and a terrifying presence that even sent a shiver down her spine slowly stepped out of her shadow. Each step the figure cloaked in darkness took into the world seemed to carry a foreboding. She didn't even need to turn around to know that the being was looming behind her because of how everyone looked up.

"You called, Mistress." Anubis, the 5th stage Nascent Soul Realm shadow Ent, said.

"It can talk?" Ryker said in surprise.

Stella nodded, "Ones this powerful can. This is Anubis, and he's in the 5th stage of the Nascent Soul Realm." She looked over her shoulder at the white bamboo shadow lich, "You have made your presence adequately known. Return to my shadow and continue to guard me."

"As you wish," the lich said, sinking back into her shadow without a trace.

Not receiving a look of approval from Sebastian, Stella crosses her arms. "What? Still not enough? That Ent could wipe the floor with the entire Silverspire family."

"While that is true, also take Maple with you too." Ash insisted, "If Nyxalia is truly out of control and attacks you, Maple can buy you all enough time to activate spatial anchors and escape back here. Anubis would be snapped like a twig if he tried to stand up to her."

"Sure," Stella shrugged. She took Maple to most places anyway, "But won't I be in the Mystic Realm for the next week?"

"I'll need you to come out once the Bastion enters Nyxalia territory. As we speak, I'm extending my roots toward the west, but I don't believe I will reach the Silverspire's residence within a week. Therefore, the Bastion will have to slowly traverse the last leg of the journey. Someone needs to be onboard to monitor for Nyxalia. Otherwise, the Bastion may get destroyed before I can even react."

"So the Bastion will be Erebus, and it will be expanded and made to look more intimidating," Elaine read out while tapping her notebook with a pen, "Stella, Diana, Sebastian, and Ryker will be accompanied by Khaos, Maple, and Anubis for protection. Is that correct?"

"You will be going too."

"Me?" Elaine looked surprised.

"I need you here assisting Diana and the Redclaws with managing everything, but on the day the Bastion arrives at the Silverspire's gates, I will teleport you over."

"Okay," Elaine was, failing to hide her beaming smile, "I will prepare."

"Good, this meeting is over. Everyone must prepare for the Mystic Realm that will open up tomorrow morning. Anyone that can will be sent in for training." Ash's presence vacated the room and went elsewhere.

"I'll leave my outfit up to you," Diana waved as she left the room and spread her wings, "I have more demons to devour." She licked her fangs, "Their demonic Qi is so delicious."

As Diana took off into the rain, Stella turned to Sebastian.

"I have some suggestions about the outfits."

"Oh?" Sebastian raised a brow, "Let's hear them."

"While you can give Diana a more sensual outfit that fits her body. I want something that makes me the center of attention in a final boss type of way. If I'm going to go dressed up, I want to ensure the Silverspires feel the need to respect me from the moment I walk in," Stella pulled Sebastian in closer, "Understand this is for the safety of your family, too. You know what might happen if they don't take me seriously, and I must prove myself."

Sebastian nodded, "That's fair and a good idea. I'll see that it's done."

Stella smiled and patted the man on the shoulder. "I'm glad you understand. I'll see you and Ryker tomorrow for the Mystic Realm." She then pulsed her Star Core to vanish into the aether. After navigating the ethereal roots, she materialized in her house inside Ash's Inner World and sighed.

"What a pain. Having such an eye-catching outfit will hopefully reduce the small talk and skip over the annoying part where they look at me like some peasant," Stella lay down and smiled as she looked at the ceiling, "I also want to look cool. I mean, is that so embarrassing to admit? Who doesn't want to be cool?"

Closing her eyes, she decided to rest. A busy week was coming up with the Mystic Realm opening up and Ash's insane requirement for her to reach Nascent Soul Realm.