"An inheritance left behind by a State Cultivator? How could something so valuable be left in such a desolate area?"
"Well... not so much an inheritance, more so... a grave? From the rumours I heard, this Cultivator died somewhere south to southwest of Great River Bank Settlement, his body was not found."
Edifice opened the book and pointed at the roughly drawn map.
There are five red marks in the southern regions below the Great River bank Settlement, and a trail of five more red marks leading to the southwest.
"I planned to retrieve this for myself. If there truly are Dao Art scriptures and a Mystical Weapon, it could help greatly with the coming competition."
"However, now that you've come along, it would be best to share this with you."
"Unfortunately, with the surging tides of beasts and Spirits, it would be dangerous to try and locate the inheritance now."
Selene nodded in understanding. At the mention of the tides, she faintly recalled Dawn and Sun.
'They should have departed from Union Settlement at this time. I hope they stay safe...'
The two youths looked eyed each other before turning to Edifice, the boy raised a proposal.
"If you need a safe method to travel down South, why don't you employ the Mortal Army? Or hire some other Cultivators to aid you?"
Edifice shook her head and denied this idea.
"That is because of the Blade Seeds, who have deep connections within the military. If we hire the military, word would likely spread back to the two Heirs."
"Admiral might take action and retrieve the inheritance himself... assuming that there is one."
"I do not want to take the chances of letting such incredible benefits fall into the hands of my competitors."
The boy receded in his seat, the sister was the next to raise a proposal.
"Then why don't we hire people for you? We can establish a trade route with one of the subsidiary Mortal Settlements, or an external Mortal Settlement."
"That is not a bad idea, but that would still put a bunch of people at risk... The supposed location is further than our subsidiary Mortal Settlements reach."
Mulling over the idea for a minute too long, Edifice turned to Selene and asked for her opinion.
"What do you think we should do?"
"..."
Selene thought that if this inheritance could greatly benefit them, then they should pursue this chance relentlessly.
However, with the encroaching beasts and Spirits, there would definitely be risks, even for someone like Edifice.
'Recruiting external parties can sabotage our benefits, Edifice also doesn't want to risk the lives of people.'
'It would take weeks for this tide to quell, we don't have such time. The only choice is to act now.'
'Even if we don't have manpower... There are still friends in places that can help us. It is all a matter of whether they can help or not...'
"Sister Edifice, the plan to use a trade route to mask our true ideals is most beneficial, while you may worry about the cost of people, the area we are travelling towards can aid us in our efforts."
"Sister, what do you mean?"
"...well. We could supply resources in exchange for manpower. Enlisting from the external Mortal Settlements in that area allows us to remain discrete and more capable of fending off the tides."
Selene gave Edifice time to think about the proposal before adding on.
"West of Great River Bank Settlement is Union Settlement... I still have friends there, supporting the subsidiary Mortal Settlements."
"I should be able to get in contact with both of them, they might be able to help us out."
"If not, then we at least have a safe place to retreat to when times become dire."
Edifice did not miss the subtle nuance in Selene's voice as she mentioned 'friends'.
It was probably the warmest her tone has ever been.
'I do not want to risk lives, but if I don't accept the risks, then we won't get anywhere.'
'Hiring external forces does not abate this risk, but we can retain our people over external parties.'
'...'
She sighed and approved of this plan. The two youths were eager to help Edifice, so they further discussed the details.
Ample resources would need to be allocated to recruit foreign forces and to support their travelling party.
They could earn benefits from the tides of beasts and Spirits, but still must exercise caution.
The two youths would research a 'trade route' towards the southeast.
As well as looking into the potential beasts they might run into, especially from the tides.
Since there are already existing catalogues of the myriad beasts, mystical beasts, and Spirits in the tides, it would not be difficult to attain such information.
Edifice was responsible for looking into the external forces they could recruit.
There were a few external Mortal Settlements on the path of their trade route.
Selene would be responsible for contacting her friends, if possible.
"Sister, do you know where exactly your friends might be?"
"...no. I only know that they will be aiding Union Settlement's subsidiary Mortal Settlements during the tides."
"Hmm. Well, we will have to start here. It is east-southeast of Union Settlement."
...
A soft, fluffy cloud races under Night's sky.
The forests below pass with a blur, like a violent tide of green and brown, ebbing and flowing far beneath them.
Eventually, the vast flora recedes and bleeds into the lands of dirt and stone.
A large, pale mountain reaches towards the sky.
The appearance looked unnatural, the peaks chaotically, ridges and valleys appeared and ended abruptly.
The base of the pillar was like a wall, rising a few dozen meters before finally turning into a slope.
Upon closer inspection, it looks like hundreds of large pillars are rising out of the ground to create the image of a wide mountain.
Each pillar has a diameter greater than a hundred meters.
The ground around the mountain was barren and desolate.
Chunks of terrain were uplifted and displaced, slowly moulding to the environment over the gradual course of time.
At the base of the pale mountain lies a humble Settlement of short buildings, overshadowed by the wall of pillars.
Landing upon the ground, the riders of the cloud were greeted by a rough-looking man.
"I welcome you, friends from Union Settlement."
A tall, lean man returned the greeting.
Wearing a formal blue martial uniform embroidered in silver, which expressed his authority, the silver armour covering his body emphasised his power.
His short, silver hair was striking, as if demanding attention.
"I am Silver Extreme, Disciple of Union Settlement."
"Behind me is the expedition team formed to aid Iron Mountain Quarry Settlement during this dire time."
The rough-looking man bowed and thanked again.
"Friends, you are so benevolent to aid us in such times. I must confess, the tides have proven much more difficult than expected!"
Silver Extreme beckoned for the man to straighten himself.
The Cultivators behind him were surprised to discover that this man was a general of the mortal army.
"Please, we are all followers of Lord Immortal Union, we are all brothers-in-arms."
"Thank you, thank you... It is just that the tides have gotten so fierce."
"Rest assured. We are looking for this Mortal Settlement's Lord, where might he be at this moment?"
...
Silver Extreme and the general conversed.
Stepping off the soft cloud, she looked around, especially captivated by the tall white spires.
Dawn drew in the cold air and savoured this scene.
She was glad to get off that crowded cloud and to feel solid ground beneath her feet.
However, she did not over-indulge in this fleeting respite.
In a few nights' time, this Settlement will become a bastion for a large battleground.
The tides of beasts and Spirits drew near.
The following nights only promised more hardships.