Myriad Rivers to the Sea

Chapter 895: The Rejection Force and the Grand Plan

The deep oceanic trench that served as Gart's territory was devoid of grand architecture or complex defensive mazes. Li Yu dragged the heavily wounded Tide Shark through the dark water for several miles before they finally arrived at the base of operations. It was a massive hollowed out ridge located at the bottom of a steep underwater canyon. Gart was a solitary predator who mostly roamed his vast lands to hunt so he never bothered to build a fortified palace.

It was not a stronghold but it was better than nothing and it provided the team with a safe place to rest after the brutal three sided war.

They settled into the cavern and quickly began their recovery. Zhan found a quiet corner to meditate and mend his cracked metallic carapace while Ouros rested against the stone wall. Talia sat near the entrance to monitor the deep water currents and nurse her bruised ribs.

As the adrenaline of the battle faded away, Li Yu sat in the center of the cavern and closed his eyes. He focused on his internal meridians but a strange sensation interrupted his cultivation.

It was a heavy and invisible pressure pressing against his very existence. He had felt it subtly over the past weeks but now it was becoming pronounced and impossible to ignore. The world around him felt like it was trying to push him away. Li Yu frowned and assumed it was the natural rejection force of the Ferine Realm acting against an outsider again.

'Why do some realms push me away while others do not?' Li Yu thought to himself as he analyzed the strange pressure. He remembered visiting other places where he could stay indefinitely without any issue.

Li Yu did not understand the deep cosmic laws at play and mistook the feeling for a territorial expulsion. He had no idea he was actually feeling the rejection force of the timeline itself and was attempting to correct a temporal anomaly.

Four days passed in quiet recovery within the dark cavern.

The resilient physiques of the high level cultivators and beasts proved their worth. Zhan and Ouros were back to full condition and Talia had mended the internal damage from Gart's tail strike. Even the Tide Shark was moving around the cave on his own now.

Gart's injuries were much more serious than the rest of the team but his Tribulation cultivation and supreme oceanic body allowed him to heal at a terrifying rate. He remained in his humanoid form as Li Yu had commanded.

Despite his rapid physical recovery, his mood was foul. Gart was incredibly blunt and short tempered whenever anyone spoke to him. He was a king and an apex predator just a few days ago so being relegated to the role of a bound servant was a bitter reality to swallow.

He followed Li Yu's orders because the soul seal forced him to obey but he voiced his displeasure at every opportunity. Li Yu simply ignored the grumbling and allowed the shark to vent his frustrations.

On the morning of the fifth day Li Yu decided to stretch his muscles. He stood up in the center of the cavern and drew Gilded Calamity for his morning routine.

Zhan opened his multifaceted eyes and watched the human practice. The mantis still believed Li Yu's sword technique was utterly pathetic but he kept those thoughts to himself as before. When Li Yu finished his routine and relaxed his stance, Zhan stepped forward with his scythe arms lowered respectfully.

"You look well rested." Zhan said while clicking his mandibles. "May I hold the blade again?"

Li Yu smiled and tossed the heavy ceremonial weapon to him as before. "Go ahead."

Zhan caught the golden scabbard with his intent. The barren stone walls of the underwater cave vanished instantly and his mind was violently pulled into the blood soaked mental landscape of Gilded Calamity.

The heavy crimson sky loomed overhead as Zhan materialized in the center of the ancient battlefield. The ground was littered with the broken weapons of a million fallen warriors and the smell of rust filled the air.

The spirit of Gilded Calamity looked down at the mantis and a rare smile crossed his brash face. The spirit hopped down from the mound and walked a slow circle around his visitor while evaluating the changes in the insectoid aura.

"Well, look at you." The spirit boomed as his voice echoed across the endless graveyard. "You managed to make another solid step forward in your sword intent. The slaughter aura surrounding you is much thicker than before."

Zhan lowered his head in a deep bow. "It is good to see you again. I have been putting your teachings to the test in the physical world."

"I can smell it on you." The spirit laughed while crossing his arms over his chest. "Tell me what you killed to polish that intent."

"We fought a large battle just a few days ago." Zhan explained with genuine pride. "I used the Second Step of your technique to fight off a vanguard army of rogue sea beasts. I was able to sever their formations and break their lines. Later in the same battle I used the Third Step against a Tribulation realm cultivator to pierce him."

The spirit raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You used the Third Step on a Tribulation beast and lived to tell the tale? Your physical vessel must be holding up well under the backlash. To strike a target well above your own realm and inflict damage means your understanding of the sword is deepening."

"I suffered cracked armor and heavy internal strain but I survived." Zhan confirmed.

"Good." The spirit nodded and looked highly satisfied with the progress. He had expected the insect to kill himself by using the supreme art improperly but Zhan was proving to be a highly capable warrior. "You are learning to harness the destruction instead of letting it consume you."

The spirit turned and walked a few paces away before looking back at the mantis with a serious expression. The brash arrogance faded from his voice and was replaced by a solemn weight.

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"You are growing strong." The spirit stated clearly. "When the time comes and you are able to leave and travel the cosmos as you please, you must fulfill a task for me. You must go and find the Li Family."

Zhan tilted his head in slight confusion. "The Li Family? Where are they located?"

"You will know the correct family when you have the strength worthy of going there." The spirit assured him. "They are a supreme lineage of sword cultivators and they hold the true legacy of this blade. Seek them out and offer your strength. They will recognize your talent."

Zhan did not question the vague instructions. He recognized the importance of the request and slammed his scythe arm against his chest in a warrior's salute.

"I swear it." Zhan vowed with absolute certainty. "When I am strong enough to travel the cosmos, I will find the Li Family and honor your command."

"See that you do, bug." The spirit smirked as the serious atmosphere evaporated. "Now get out of my sight before I decide to test that Third Step of yours myself."

The crimson sky shattered like glass and Zhan opened his eyes back in the physical cavern. He handed the sword back to Li Yu with a renewed sense of purpose burning in his chest. He had a goal that stretched far beyond the borders of the Ferine Realm now.

Over the next week the team continued to rest and refine their gains from the battle. However, the invisible pressure pressing against Li Yu grew exponentially heavier. It was no longer a subtle push but a constant and suffocating weight that made his bones ache. He could feel the fabric of reality vibrating around him and he knew his time was running out.

Li Yu walked over to where Zhan was resting and pulled the mantis aside so they could speak privately near the mouth of the cave.

"The rejection force of this realm is increasing rapidly." Li Yu explained while looking out into the dark ocean currents. "It is pushing against my foundation and I cannot fight it. My time in this realm is coming to an end much sooner than I originally thought."

Zhan stood up straight and his multifaceted eyes focused on Li Yu. The mantis did not understand how the cosmic laws of realm rejection worked but he understood the reality of departure. He knew Li Yu was an outsider who did not belong in the Ferine Realm forever.

"Then you must go where the cosmos demands." Zhan said stoically. "We have fought well together and you have shown me a path to greater strength. I will continue to walk it. Thank you."

Li Yu looked at the metallic green insect and felt a sense of camaraderie. They had not spent much time together but they had survived ancient trees, wars and treacherous rulers together.

"I am sorry to leave the journey unfinished." Li Yu said.

"There are no unfinished journeys for those who seek the peak." Zhan replied while clacking his mandibles in a reassuring rhythm. "Even once you leave, we will continue to grow. When I become stronger and can travel freely between the realms, we will meet again. I am sure of it."

Li Yu smiled warmly at the promise. "I look forward to that day, Zhan. I truly do."

They returned to the group and finished their preparations. When the full two weeks finally passed the team packed up their minimal camp and left Gart's cavern. Li Yu led them through the deep trenches and up toward the designated meeting spot.

They arrived at the massive black stone marker that sat on the neutral border between the three territories. The water here was calm and the gruesome remains of the dead had been cleared away.

Thalassa arrived a few moments later with a small retinue of her elite siren guards. Her severed arm was nearly restored already. Mire emerged from the murky depths shortly after. The colossal deep eel had brought several of his surviving children and a few elite commanders. His dark green scales were mostly healed from Gart's brutal bites but his glowing yellow eyes remained vigilant.

The two aquatic rulers looked at Li Yu and then glanced at the towering shark standing silently behind him. Gart glared back at them with pure hatred but he did not make a single move to attack. The sight of the gluttonous predator acting as an obedient servant solidified Li Yu's authority over him.

"It is good to see you both recovered." Li Yu greeted them as he floated near the black stone marker.

"We are mending." Thalassa replied. "Our borders are secure and the rogue army remnants have been scattered or killed. We are ready to discuss the future, as you requested."

Li Yu nodded and decided to lay out his grand plans. He felt the rejection force pulsing heavily against his soul so he wanted to get his revenge in this realm before he was forced out.

"I want to launch a campaign." Li Yu stated boldly. "I want to take over the lands of Elder Mu. The ancient tree betrayed me and tried to consume me so I intend to get back at what they did to me. Once we secure that territory, I want to start dominating the other rulers in the surrounding zones. With the two of you and my team working together, we possess enough power to conquer this entire region."

He looked between the siren and the eel while expecting them to jump at the chance for expansion. He offered them an alliance that could elevate them above all their rivals. Mire and Thalassa exchanged a long and measured look. They did not share his enthusiasm for endless war.

"We must decline your offer." Thalassa said as she shook her head slowly.

Li Yu frowned in surprise. "With Gart's strength added to our ranks we would be unstoppable. Why refuse?"

"Because it is much more complicated than raw strength." Mire rumbled as his deep voice vibrated through the water. "You are an outsider so you do not understand the delicate balance of the Ferine Realm. If three powerful rulers suddenly form an alliance and begin conquering territories, it will trigger massive panic. The other rulers will not just sit back and wait to be eaten. They will join forces together once the word gets out and we will face a coalition that could crush us all."

Thalassa nodded in agreement. "We have just survived a battle that nearly cost us everything. We need decades to rebuild our populations and train new soldiers. Launching a campaign of domination now is suicidal."

Li Yu processed their logic and he realized they were operating on a scale of centuries while he was rushing to accomplish things in a matter of days due to his impending departure.

"However." Thalassa added while raising her remaining hand to offer a compromise. "We acknowledge the favor we owe you. We would be willing to assist you in taking the lands of Elder Mu so you can rule over it yourself. With the ancient tree already dead, it would be easy for our combined forces to march in and take out the remaining followers. You could establish your own territory there."

It was a generous offer to grant him a massive seat of power within the realm. Li Yu thought about the sprawling forest he could claim. He thought about building a fortress and establishing his own faction.

Then he felt another heavy throb of the rejection force pushing against his chest.

Li Yu looked at the two pragmatic rulers and then looked at his own team. He realized he was acting out of pure spite for an enemy that was mostly already dead. He wanted to conquer Mu's land simply to satisfy a grudge and he was willing to drag his allies into unnecessary conflict to achieve it.

'I let my desire for revenge carry me too far.' Li Yu realized with a sudden wave of clarity. He was trying to force a grand conclusion before the realm expelled him and it was clouding his judgment. He needed to be better than a petty warlord.

"I appreciate the offer." Li Yu said while offering a respectful nod to the rulers. "But I must turn you down. I got ahead of myself and let my anger dictate my strategy. The ancient tree is dead and the debt is settled. I do not need to claim an empty forest just to prove a point."

Mire and Thalassa looked slightly relieved that they would not have to march to war again so soon. They respected his ability to step back from the edge of conflict and reevaluate his goals. The meeting continued as they discussed the peaceful division of Gart's former lands but Li Yu's mind was already preparing for the inevitable departure that awaited him.