"Enjoy the little things, huh... and don't lose myself to all things bad..."
"Precisely, you seem reclusive and avoidant of people. I don't know what kind of life you lived, but you should try to lighten up."
"What if I choose not to? What if my distance from people, and my dire need for strength, is a product of my Way?"
Edifice gave her a solemn look, as if lost in thought. She spoke before taking another bite of her pastry.
"Then I only hope that isn't the case."
The mood between them became awkward. Soon, they had finished their pastries, leaving them with no distraction from this silence.
Eventually, Selene spoke up.
"There is a story that I am fond of."
"Oh...? Would it happen to be one of the books I gifted you?"
"No, it was from my home, Star Gazing Settlement."
Edifice's expression subtly changed.
Star Gazing Settlement wasn't widely known, it was recently established. The state in which it fell was also not widespread, at least among the majority of Mortals.
Some Cultivators know of Star Gazing Settlement's fall.
Edifice knows about the Settlement's fall due to Immortal Adamant's notice. She had also heard some tales about the Settlement Lord, Immortal Defiance, and a story that bore his name and the Settlement's.
"The story of the Golden Youth? I believe most Immortals know of this story, but I don't know the full story myself. Would you mind sharing what you were told?"
Selene sighed as she recounted the story to her senior Sister; she knew the story off by heart. Edifice listened with delight and finished her pastry.
"Seems like you do cherish something."
"What of it?"
"It means that you can come to love something else."
"..."
Thrown again in the midst of contemplation, Selene ponders over the purpose of this conversation.
'Love the little things in life... Don't lose yourself in the bad things... Focusing only on cultivation will lead me down the wrong path.'
'If the world weren't so cruel, I would be able to live my life as I wanted. I don't want to be stepped on, but I will forever be trampled unless I have strength.'
'If Night wasn't so hopeless, and I wasn't stuck under its embrace, then I wouldn't be so cold and reclusive myself.'
"As a symbol of all things cruel and bad, Night was ever-present. Night's sky ruled over the lands, the starlight was the only thing that withheld total darkness."
"Even with the presence of light--or hope--it is impossible to ignore all things bad."
"How could I lose myself in the 'little things' when I am unfamiliar with such concepts?"
Edifice's expression remained solemn.
'Unknowing that she does have such stuff that she cherishes dearly, she is overwhelmed by the dire straits befallen her.'
'She doesn't feel like she can simply take a step back to appreciate the moment, instead walking forward relentlessly.'
'Sister...You...Hmm?'
Snapping Edifice out of her thoughts, she faces the tall man before her.
Clothed in white and silver robes, he commands an air of authority around him. His pale hair waved in the gentle wind, fluttering like a silver sheet.
The most striking detail of his appearance was the lone blade on his waist.
"Friend Edifice, it seems that you have finally attained a new Sister Immortal Seed."
"Friend Admiral..."
Selene took in the pristine, almost royal image of this tall man.
He looked to be around the same age as Edifice, but his demeanour was completely different.
Calm and reserved, opposed to the warm and talkative Edifice.
This Admiral bowed and properly greeted.
"Greetings, Sister of Friend Edifice, and Immortal Seed of Lord Immortal Adamant."
"My true name is Jin, but please refer to me as Admiral, first Heir of Immortal Blade, and also a fellow Immortal Seed."
Referring to people by their titles is a common expression of respect; most Cultivators choose to express themselves through titles around the Second Foundation.
Selene could not hide the subtle surprise from rising on her face. She watched as Edifice returned the greeting, following her lead and deciding to introduce herself.
"My name is Selene... It is an honour to meet you too, Friend Admiral."
"I assume that you know of our competition between us, Immortal Seeds?"
"Yes. I was already told of our circumstances..."
Edifice stepped in and questioned, caution lacing her tone.
"Friend Admiral, what has brought you here to us? There mustn't be here to probe Sister Selene, right?"
"No. I heard from Master Immortal Blade that Lord Immortal Adamant has received another Immortal Seed. As I saw you cross the bridge to the bank, I followed, hoping to meet our new friend, Selene."
"Have you come alone? Where is the second Heir?"
"He remains at the plateau. He was not interested as I was, so I brought only myself here."
Looking around, Edifice scouts the streets further down. Closing her eyes, she immerses herself in the world, trying to sense anyone else in their immediate vicinity.
"What of Lord Immortal Monolith's Immortal Seeds? Have they decided to walk outside?"
"No. In fact, most of their attention is directed towards their youngest Cultivator. Friend has finally decided to inherit Lord Immortal Monolith's legacy, becoming his first heir!"
It was then that Selene remembered.
Heirs are people who inherit an Immortal's legacy. Dawn was an heir to Immortal Defiance.
Her senior Sister was also the sole Heir to Immortal Adamant. This Admiral was the first Heir of Immortal Blade, and there is a second one back at the plateau.
"This Heir of Lord Immortal Monolith is a problem?"
Edifice turned around and nodded.
"Yes. Heirs, like myself and Friend Admiral here, receive far more support from Immortals than Immortal Seeds do."
"While in the case of our competition, our respective Immortals have been restricting the support they can provide. This was especially the case due to the imbalance of numbers."
"But Immortal Monolith has chosen an Heir, he stepped in and offered momentary aid to his Heir. This disrupts the natural power balance."
Admiral also stepped forward and pitched in some information he was told.
"Master Immortal Blade complained about this decision, but Lord Immortal Monolith doesn't seem to have hit the bottom line of their agreement."
"I do not know the details, but the Immortals seemed to have excused this for the moment being."
"It is likely Friend Selene's appearance which caused both this action, the following complications, and the resolution of these complications."
Selene raised a brow and questioned.
"What do you mean?"
"Well... Originally, due to Lord Immortal Monolith's aggressive approach to gain more political power over Great River Bank Settlement, there was subtle animosity between him and the other Immortals."
"Naturally, the other Lords would gather Immortal Seeds. Before you were brought in, there was one under Lord Immortal Adamant, two under Master Immortal Blade, and three under Lord Immortal Monolith."
"Regarding the animosity, the power balance was relatively equal, but your appearance shifted everything out of Lord Immortal Monolith's favour. He likely took action to retain the balance."
There were three Heirs between Immortal Adamant and Immortal Blade, but in terms of rank, they were equal to Immortal Monolith's two Third Foundation Cultivators and the sole Second Foundation Cultivator.
Selene's appearance shifted the balance; any progress in her cultivation would further shift the balance out of Immortal Monolith's hands.
He lacked a true Heir, so he took action to elect one.
The other two Third Foundation Cultivators could not change their cultivation so easily, only the Second Foundation Cultivator was feasible.
This would also not breach the other Immortal's bottom line.
Immortal Monolith could only aid in removing and replacing the Dao Arts assimilated on the Second Foundation Cultivator's Cores, and leave behind the myriad Dao Arts of his legacy.
This would harm the Cultivator's cultivation, but provide them greater prospects.
It is like taking a step back to take three steps forward.
This is also a reason why Immortal Monolith did not incite the wrath of the other Immortals.
It had incredible benefits, but it was a dangerous move to make.
"So that is the decision he has made... Hmm."
Edifice lost herself in thought, and Selene was also thinking to herself.
'Heirs should be really powerful, right? I know Dawn was an Heir and exceptional among her peers, I guess Edifice should also be exceptional too, as the sole Heir of Master Immortal Adamant.'
'The Immortal Seeds of Lord Immortal Monolith should have the highest battle strength altogether. If we decide to join forces to face them off, we could defeat them when the competition comes around.'
'The problem revolves around what comes next. By wiping them off the field, we have to compete against Admiral and that second Heir.'
"Friend Edifice, Friend Selene, you must know of the situation. With another Heir on the board, the power balance will shift gradually out of our favour. We must look at the bigger picture."
"Generally, I would never ask such personal information, especially in such times; allow me to be blunt, Friend Selene, what is the rank of your cultivation?"
Selene's face was blank, she looked away sheepishly as she quietly muttered under her breath.