[RSM] Chapter 112. Consequences (Patreon)

Using treasure realms as secret hideouts was not uncommon throughout the eons. Tundra himself remembered the Great Viperfang Bandits, a group led by a single rogue seventh realm cultivator, found one such treasure realm and made it their base of operations. With it, they've evaded capture for almost one thousand and five hundred years. 

Many sects have also tried similar hideouts and safe spaces over the years, though the risks remained.

Treasure realms could be closed from the outside, their connection to the main living realms were ever so fragile and easily snapped. Once snapped, the treasure realms could drift eternally within the infinite seas of folded space, until some fluke of fate such treasure realms collide once more with the living realms. Who would want to ever trap themselves? Who would ever tolerate such an easily exploitable vulnerability? 

Unless, of course, that was the intention. Some treasure realms were converted to prisons, for monsters and cultivators that could not be contained by normal means. But doing so are nothing more than acts of desperation. Treasure realms are still great sources of spiritual energy. They are safe spaces, and cultivators who did not need food and water, and with no distractions, often found themselves hyperfocusing on their cultivation and emerged from these 'prisons' more powerful than ever before.

It is said that the earliest cultivators learnt of the benefits of secluded cultivation from cultivators who survived long years of solitude in these treasure realms.

Tundra found himself, and his recently acquainted group at the center of a large room, one mostly used to fighting. There were traps, formations, and weapons strong enough to disable and expel even ninth realm invaders.

"Lord Tundra Fox." A middle aged man in a white robe stood to receive him. He had a beautiful white sword strapped to his waist. "I am Taurfan, of the White Sword. Has Grandduke Edrian elaborated on our role?"

"Not much. He spoke little of it all, only that in times of need, I can ask for the White Sword's aid."

"That is wise. Our role is easily misunderstood. More than one has thought of us as shadow players in the Imperial political game. But first, medical aid." The man led them across the mostly empty room, and through a set of doors. They arrived at a large hall well stocked with common medical supplies up to the fifth realm, an assortment of cultivation materials, and four doors that led to special healing chambers. "It is not much, but it should be sufficient to arrest the most serious of harms."

Tundra and the rest of the alchemists moved on their own to fix up their own injuries. "Will the realm hold against Prince Kaorl's men?"

Taurfan chuckled. "We fear only the Imperial Dragon and the great titans of the Great Sects. We can handle everything beneath them."

"I see."

His attention went to the ten alchemists, now removed from the Spiritual Gourd. They were all injured and tortured in many different ways, and were all teetering dangerously close to death. Taurfan frowned as he noticed the injured ten. "Feel free to use the medical pill and elixirs, Lord Fox."

***

Time felt disconnected within treasure realms, and Tundra honestly could not know how much time had passed outside. Inside, it felt like five days of constant medical attention for the ten alchemists who once served Prince Kaorl. 

Tundra had many questions for Taurfan, and Taurfan was extremely evasive. He claimed that the White Sword was whatever society needed, and refused to squarely state where they stood in the succession war. To them, they have a singular goal of preservation of the Imperial throne, but what that meant, what policies and strategies that led to, was as real as a mirage. 

It was not the sort of ally he hoped for, but at least, they were safe. In a few days, the chaos outside would've died down, and with alchemists in a far better state, they could mount a proper escape from Kaorlia. 

By the fifth day, they were in good enough state that a few of them began to rouse from their long sleep. 

They looked around their recovery room.

"It so appears that we somehow live." One of the alchemists said, and though they were stripped of their belongings, at least their cultivation appeared mostly intact. "Thank you. May we know the name of our benefactor?"

"Tundra Fox, of the Verdant Snow Sect." Tundra answered, in his heart he already suspected foul play. Someone set these alchemists up to take the blame. "But more importantly, I want to know what happened."

All ten alchemists that once served as Prince Kaorl's personal pill masters and alchemists were in the sixth realm, except for two, who were in the seventh. Tundra thus suspected the two of them were the leaders. 

He didn't know their names, but the other alchemists that Tundra met along their escape did. The two seventh realms were Lord Vasu Folk, of a small, rather obscure herbal focused Folk Clan, and Lady Rasha Noela, of the Noela Family. The Noela family was one of the core families of an upper mid tier sect known as the Heavenly River Palace, a water-earth focused sect that ruled a series of islands and ports along the coasts not far from Kaorlia.

The two were once supposedly the private alchemists of Prince Kaorl. In his first life, was it Vasu Folk that was executed? 

Both individuals were non-factors when he joined Prince Kaorl's retinue, and not one of the other eight alchemists were familiar faces. One way or another, they were all removed. Tundra subtly cursed his spotty memory when it came to distant, unrelated events.  Or was it one of the sixth realm? 

Rasha Noela was the first to answer. "We were likely framed." 

"Likely?" Vasu Folk countered immediately, taking offense that somehow, Noela answered with uncertainty. "Do you need evidence to say that we were framed, when we were strapped to that torture machines and whipped for weeks, Rasha?"

One of the sixth realm alchemists named Broni Dzen added. "Master Folk is right. I cannot see how we are anything but framed. None of us tampered with the pills, and yet Prince Kaorl's condition deteriorated." Broni Dzen was apparently once a wandering cultivator that served as one of the assistant alchemists, and over the decades rose up the rank to be one of the ten personal alchemists. 

"What happened to Prince Kaorl?" Tundra asked. "Exactly, specifically. We need to know what caused Prince Kaorl to accuse so many alchemists of being frauds, and initiating a large-scale slaughter under the guise of an Imperial Summons." 

Vasu Folk stared at Tundra in disbelief. "What exactly happened? We were chained and kept in the dark, and I don't think any of us can remember what occured"

The regressor knew that they were unconscious throughout the Imperial Summons, even when they were paraded in front of the banquet crowd. If Prince Kaorl wanted to alienate alchemists, parading failed alchemists in front of a banquet was incredibly effective.

Tundra and another alchemist present gave them a quick summary of the Imperial Summons, and all ten of them wore the same horrified face. 

"This entire thing is a set up. This doesn't help Prince Kaorl's position in the fight at all." Vasu Folk said. "It's as if they wanted Prince Kaorl to lose, and also drag the entire royal family's good name down into the mud with it."

"Which is why I want to know what happened. What effects did Prince Kaorl suffer from?"

"Soul leak. A form of collapse of the soul's barrier with the outside world." 

"A realm barrier decay?" Tundra clarified. That was one of the possible causes, but it was one of those that he ruled out as extremely unlikely. Realm barrier decay, or soul leak, was the spiritual equivalent of the thinning of the soul and reality barrier. A cultivator gathered spiritual energy by creating the spiritual realm. The spiritual realm and the reality barrier were separate. Entry and exits between the two separate realms was ruled and controlled by the meridians and the spiritual roots, or any other unique gateways created by special inheritances and artifacts. 

Tundra had expected the Zuja to try and use one of the parasites on the Prince, so he was surprised that the Zuja wouldn't try to poison the Prince with a parasite directly. 

Realm punctures, or soul decay, was a thinning of that barrier. It meant cultivators could not 'store' their spiritual energy, and over time, would lose their cultivation.

It was not an irreparable problem. It could be fixed. 

But he was puzzled how a pill managed to deliver such a significantly powerful disease

"Yes." 

"But how?" Tundra asked. There were many types of substances and materials that caused thinning of the spiritual realm, but long term soul leak required pretty consistent consumption of such- "Someone tampered with your pills over the decades."

"More than decades." Vasu Folk stated. "I had personally suspected tampering some time ago, but it had been exceptionally hard to catch them in action. Sometimes it is tampered, sometimes it is not. That, naturally, didn't make me friends amongst Prince Kaorl's advisors."

He knew that Neuren Zheng, the Minister that worked so closely with Prince Kaorl, likely had a big hand. But, he also remembered Neuren Zheng's tactics. The man always worked through intermediaries. In front of Prince Kaorl, and in his actions with his personal involvement, it was almost always to the Prince's benefit. 

But the man was always countered by others. His actions were meant to fail.

"I see why he thinks the alchemists are behind this. Soul Leak of that extent cannot occur without long term tampering."

"It is not just the pills that are tampered." Rasha Noela said. "Not just our pills." 

Tundra eyed the female alchemist, and wondered what else. She, however, refused to elaborate. She clearly suspected a lot more than just regular pills. 

"Do you personally provide the pills to the Prince?" Tundra asked. 

"Most of the time, no. The Prince wants so many pills, so I'm always busy. But I tried to be there." Vasu Folk countered. "But there were always other alchemists around, like Rasha and the rest. Did you all see anything?"

The other alchemists saw where Tundra's interrogation was headed, and added theories of their own. "It could be when the pills are stored. We store them in the Imperial Vaults, and only the Prince, and his close confidantes have direct access to them."

"But entries to the Imperial Vaults are logged and heavily guarded. No one gets in there without company." It was another alchemist that answered, and now that the discussion was ongoing, Tundra just needed to listen. 

"Unless something was already in the Imperial Vaults." 

"How safe are the imperial vaults?" Tundra asked. 

"They are guarded by ninth realm spiritual guardians, and the vaults themselves are a semi-segregated spatial chamber of their own. It is not like a mortal safe where we can kick down a wall and get in."

"This ninth realm spiritual guardian, what is the extent of his abilities?" The regressor asked. Just because they were ninth realm did not mean they were perfect or masters in every art. There is always a way, always a blind spot. Even Tundra knew he had many blind spots.

"We don't know." The alchemists said.

"Who would?"

"Maybe the ministers and royal advisors? Some of these defenses are ancient, but I believe Prince Kaorl grants the ministers some access to facilitate things."

Corrupting the royal family is likely a key priority of Zuja. They could pull out a wide range of tools and abilities within their arsenal to create an opening. 

"As it is, Prince Kaorl doesn't trust any of us or the alchemists, and his people are still on the streets hunting the alchemists."

At that point, Taurfan appeared, holding three scrolls. "Well, do you mind if I interrupt? I have news from the outside world." 

No one stopped him.

Taurfan tossed one of the three scrolls to the table, and it unfurled perfectly to reveal a large announcement from the royal house. 

It read. 'Alchemists are outlawed in Kaorlia and surrounding regions. Sale of elixirs, pills and cultivation materials is banned. Medical use of pills shall be regulated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. A bounty will also be paid for the corpse of each confirmed alchemist."'

"Madness!" The alchemists said collectively. 

Tundra echoed the sentiment, but in his heart, this was the exact type of chaos Zuja loved. Using cultivators to hurt each other. 

"Well, it looks like we cannot stay in this region for long." Vasu Folk said. "We'll need to escape Kaorlia."

"That is nothing to worry about." Taurfan said. "The White Sword is a treasure realm with many anchors. I can send you to the edges of Kaorlia's territory." 

"But how did the sects take it?" Rasha of House Noela said, her eyes looking at a few other alchemists in their group. From his prior interactions, he understood that many of them came from prominent families, some with more alchemists than others. "There are a few alchemy families throughout Kaorlia and the nearby regions."

Taurfan sighed, before he answered. "They have unfortunately become the target of opportunistic cultivators across the world, even those within the alchemical clans and families who are using the chaos to sell out their own." 

"Madness." Vasu Folk said. "My family! How are they?"

"I have not heard news, but it appears Lady Rasha Noela's Heavenly River Palace is one of the prime targets. There are large bands of cultivators now gathering around the city of Rivermouth."

Rasha slammed her fist on the table. "If they dare lay a single finger on my family, I will wage war against the Prince."

Vasu Folk touched his greying hair, and looked a lot more thoughtful. "How are the Great Sects taking it? They have alchemists in the midst as well. More so than the rest of us."

"So far, none of the Great or Great Pretender Sects are participating in this new decree, though they are secretly and not-so-secretly moving all their alchemists out of the region. Prince Kaorl's men appear to allow them to leave with little fuss" Taurfan declared. "So, it appears to be a movement targeted at the mid tier and lower sects." 

This was unfair. Those on the ground must feel thoroughly enraged but such inequality. 

Taurfan looked around, and then at the other alchemists in the recovery room.

"Unfortunately for the rest of you, it seems some of your sects have publicly denounced and revoked your positions within the sects." A second scroll then appeared on the table, with a list of alchemists identified as criminals, wanted by the Prince himself for execution. The stated crime was poisoning and deliberately sabotaging a Prince's cultivation. 

It was a death sentence, and there was a bounty next to each of the ten alchemists. Each of them looked at each other, and then at Taurfan warily. "How do they tell if they are an alchemist?"

"Witnesses and statements by others, at this point." Taurfan declared. "But as it is, the Prince's personal army and guards would not dare enforce the order on any of the Great Sects or the Great Challenger Sects."

But it is nothing a quick path to false accusations and innocents framed for the sake of a bounty. 

Tundra looked around, and back at Taurfan. "How far can you send us?" 

"All the way to the edge."

"We must reunite with our families." Vasu Folk declared. "I am sure they will resist this insane order."

Taurfan shrugged. "Be careful, Lord Folk. There already are vultures looking for where the rest of your families are hiding. Acquaintances and allies are quick to denounce their prior security commitments when such events occur."

"So much for friendship." 

Tundra looked at Taurfan, and then asked. "What's the third scroll? Do we know why Prince Kaorl are so angry against the alchemists? What's the real reason?"

"I do not know." Taurfan answered. "But the third scroll is another list of criminals." 

It unfurled on another table, and it read. 

'List of Individuals wanted for abetting crimes against the Imperial Family.'

There were many familiar names, many of them were guests of the Imperial Summon. He cursed when he saw that Tundra was one of them. 

If Zuja wanted the rest of the cultivators to ignore future Imperial Summons, this was one sweeping, beautifully elegant way of getting all cultivators to weigh the odds of being branded as a criminal, or fall for a greater set up. 

But he also knew this was overreach. Prince Kaorl was not the Emperor. His edicts and commands hold sway only in his parts of the realm, and those with Imperial Protection, especially those bearing the Emperor's various titles and seals, are exempt from such regional laws. Once Tundra returned to his part of the continent, Prince Kaorl would find it hard to enforce that order. 

Yet, something was missing. What did the Zuja gain by killing so many alchemists? What were they fearful of? 

He didn't make sense of it. He walked around, spoke with the other alchemists, and then, by sheer chance, saw, amongst one of the alchemists that came for the Imperial Summons, a small parchment. An anonymous letter.

"What is this?" Tundra asked that alchemist, clearly recognizing the letter. 

"Oh, it came via my information networks. It claims to be some newly invented pill recipe to reverse parasitism, especially a persistent type of Zuja bug infestation."

Tundra blinked.

Had he forced Zuja's hand into killing alchemists because he revealed his anti-parasitic pill early?

[ Well, consequences. ]