Dim starlight filters through streaks of grey clouds, shining lightly upon Union Settlement.
Immortal Union resides in a monastery, sitting on the peak of the mountain Union Settlement is built around.
His monastery had ornate architecture, blue, white, and brown were the main colour schemes. It had two stories, various rooms, and a central hall which served for discussions.
Immortal Union sat at one end of a table. Tea was poured into a cup, wisps of steam rose from its amber-coloured surface.
A figure entered the central hall, walking unhurriedly to the seat opposite of Immortal Union.
Black robes that remained unnaturally still, embroidered in crimson symbols. Silver armour covered her arms, chest, and legs, and shone radiantly against the dark. Long black hair fell freely over her shoulders.
The woman's very presence seemed unaffected by the world.
Immortal Union stood and greeted with a bow.
"I hope you are doing well, Immortal Adamant."
"Very."
It was the female Immortal who battled against the Demons that destroyed the Star Gazing Settlement.
Her tone was casual and firm, but her expression still and stoic.
She returned the bow and greeting.
"Everything seems to be going well. Your annexing of Immortal Defiance's people shouldn't take too long, I presume?"
"Indeed. They are settling back into normal life rather quickly. Although their situation was disastrous and scarring, they seem very adaptable."
Immortal Adamant sighed, she knew what exactly those people had been through. Having battled the Demon's themselves, she witness what exactly those beings are capable of.
"I must say, my first encounters with Demons was beyond my expectations. They were powerful and disorientating, their wield Conjuring similar to Spirits."
"I am not surprised. While I may not have battled a Demon myself, I know of other Immortals who shared their experiences to spread and gather information."
"Then I guess I must be the next to share their experience? Collating our knowledge about these beings is important."
"What of their situation? I heard you lost them when flying North of Star Gazing Settlement."
A disdainful expression fell upon Immortal Adamant's face, she waved a hand and conjured a map of sorts.
It splayed along the table, it roughly depicted the Western region's geography, with mountains and rivers, and marking the other settlements with their respective symbols.
Union Settlement was represented by two hands grasping each other's wrists. The symbol was a dark, pale blue.
Great River Bank Settlement was to the east of Union Settlement, separated by five mountain ranges. It had a white symbol depicting a winding river.
Star Gazing Settlement was south of Great River Bank Settlement, depicted with a pale golden symbol of a lotus.
"I encountered the demons two mountains west of Star Gazing Settlement. We battled intensely, then I chased them North, traveling two mountain ranges until I lost them."
Immortal Adamant then conjured two wisps in that approximate area, one a pale greyish blue, the other a deep crimson.
"Demon of Confusion is a fitting name for the one of mist. Demon of Calamity, too, befits the other one."
"During the final moments of our battle, the two Demons surged with tremendous power, flooding the surrounding lands and skies with mist and flames."
"By the time I managed to escape, I had already lost sights of the two Demons."
Immortal Union's expression was solemn, he had expected them to be powerful.
Even with the efforts of Immortal Defiance and Immortal Adamant, the two Demons still retaliated and escaped in the end.
"The Demon's diversion left severe effects on the land. Currently, Immortal Sage and Immortal Druid are handling the lasting effects of mist and flames."
"Beasts and Spirits are fleeing the surrounding area. Mineral Mountain Range and Crystal Mountain are experiencing the brunt of this ordeal."
"The surrounding Mortal Settlements are also suffering from these rampaging beasts and Spirits."
Settlements are classified by the Settlement Lord's cultivation. If a mortal Cultivator rules over the Settlement, then it is a Mortal Settlement.
One or various Immortals may rule over their own settlement, thus known as Immortal Settlement.
Immortal Settlements are usually larger, encompassing a mountain or mountain range. Immortal Settlements prosper more than Mortal Settlements, too.
Immortal Union stroked his beard in contemplation.
"I have heard that the other Immortal Settlements are preparing to send small groups of Cultivators to aid their subsidiary Mortal Settlements."
"Yes, you are right. My Great River Bank Settlement is also planning to send out two groups to help defend our subsidiary Mortal Settlements south of our Immortal Settlement."
Great River Bank Settlement was the closest Immortal Settlement to the Demon's remnant mist and flames, but Union Settlement was not excluded from this threat either.
"I also plan to send out groups. I heard that a tide of beasts would reach my Union Settlement. I plan to intercept these beasts at one of my subsidiary Mortal Settlements."
While these problems would be easy to solve for an Immortal, due to the two Demon's locations being unknown, the Immortals must focus all their attentions towards the Demons and their Immortal Settlement.
Demon of Confusion and Demon of Calamity are both evasive and destruction, the Immortals can take no chance at letting one get close to their Immortal Settlement.
They also have to beware other Demons from appearing, too.
Immortal Adamant raised her brow and questioned Immortal Union.
"What of Immortal Defiance's daughter, what do you intend to do with her?"
"She, and two other juniors, wished to further journey down the path of cultivation and strengthen themselves. I am merely offering her the chance to develop further."
"Do you intend on naming her an Immortal Seed? She is the daughter of Immortal Defiance and most likely inherited his Way."
Immortal Union smiled gently and sipped his tea. He then conjured three small spheres of light, a pale white light to represent Selene, a pale green light to represent Sun, and a pale golden light to represent Dawn.
"I believe Junior Dawn has already reached the Second Foundation of cultivation. She wields a mystical weapon--Iron Lotus; Night Breaching Spear."
"Junior Sun is only at the First Foundation of cultivation, as is Junior Selene. The former is a Medical Expert, while the latter only took on cultivation as a means of living."
"I intend to send them as one of my groups to hold off the beasts, I intend to further their cultivation before I do so, too."
Dawn's radiant sphere of golden light shone proudly. Sun's sphere was not as intense, but still had potential to become great.
Selene's sphere was the dimmest, her body's condition was weak, her cultivation was only meant to alleviate some of the strain.
Immortal Union continued to explain what he has observed about Dawn, Sun, and Selene.
Immortal Adamant's gaze was caught on the sphere of white light.
"Did you intend to raise all three of them? Would you mind if I take one of them?"
This perplexed Immortal Union.
"That... is not my decision to make. You would have to ask the Junior directly. Who did you have in mind?"
Sparing a faint smile, Immortal Adamant pointed at the pale sphere of white light--Selene.
"This junior seems promising. Embracing cultivation to not just oppose the world, but to retain one's self. I do not know of her Way, but I feel that it is interesting."
"Unfortunately, I have other matters to attend to at the moment, so I can not ask her at this moment. I hope to retrieve her in a week from now."
"When I finish documenting my information on the Demons, and arrange the groups to deal with the beasts and Spirits encroaching Great River Bank Settlement's subsidiary Mortal Settlements, I will make my appearance here again."
The two of them continued talking, they conversed about the types of beasts and spirits, and the significant members of those respective parties.
Union Settlement and Great River Bank Settlement were closest to each other than the other Immortal Settlements.
They discussed about the aid they could offer one another, especially towards their respective subsidiary Mortal Settlements.
Of course, Immortal Union and Immortal Adamant would converse with the other Immortals of neighboring Immortal Settlements, setting up similar plans to aid one another.
At the end of this discussion, the two Immortals created a list of the beasts encroaching upon their subsidiary forces, and the significant beasts that demand more attention.
Spirits were listed separately, they were especially important to keep an eye on.
"Currently, none of the beasts are too powerful. Foundation Cultivators are able to handle even the significant beasts of the list."
"Spirits are also not too serious, but the few significant Spirits might be too much for Foundation Cultivators to handle."
"I must assemble groups of Foundation Cultivators with at least one State Cultivator."
The beasts and Spirits heading towards Immortal Union's direction were not as severe as the number heading towards Great River Bank Settlement.
Immortal Adamant contemplated her situation again before addressing Immortal Union.
"I would be most grateful if you could prepare a private meeting between me and the Junior Selene. I wish to see her in a week."
"Still vying to claim her, hmm? Very well, I will notify her of your interest and provide a private area for you two to discuss."
Immortal Union drank the last of his tea. They continued to talk unhurriedly.
Immortal Union walked Immortal Adamant to the monastery's gate, bidding her farewell as she flew off the mountain's peak.
He gazed at the star sea above, solemnity fell upon his face with the gentle, dim star light.
His aged voice spoke amidst the quiet, cold silence.
"Immortal Defiance, old friend, I will make sure that your successor--your daughter--will surpass you."
Immortal Union walked back inside his monastery and shut the gates, there were still a few matters he had to work out before the night's end.
...