The Matriarch and The Reincarnations

The waters were calm, rippling merely due to the leaves kissing it gently as they land, while the sun was shining warmly at every living being below, the peace could make anyone long for time to stop. It was a beautiful day. More disciples were coming, they showed good aptitude, and her top students were already among the top of the younger generation. Asides from that, opposing sects were being taken care of, slaughtered, scandalled, robbed, and it was all due to one man.

The Heavenly Sword Sect had a good future in front of it.

She was sitting inside her pavilion, drinking fine herbal tea that one of her many suitors gifted her. It was able to calm the psyche to such lengths while still having a fine taste, although she didn't like the man, she had to admit the tea was exquisite.

"Are you going to stare at me forever?"

At first, it seemed as if she was talking to the wind, the only thing that replied to her was the light breeze blowing on her porcelain face. However, soon enough a man materialized out of thin air, appearing from a mist of blood red.

"The Matriarch of the Heavenly Sword sect is indeed perceptive, forgive me for trying such a puny trick in front of your imminence."

"You wound me with your formality, Han. Haven't I told you to call me by my name?"

"If I were informal with you, I fear your suitors may hunt me down through the continent."

She chuckled, "I take it the Immortal Blade Sect has been taken care of?"

"Indeed. You don't have to worry about any of their top students appearing within the tournament, anymore."

"Delightful, but then again, when have you ever failed me?" She smiled as she tossed him a pouch, that jingled as they landed on Han's palm.

"Now, won't you stay for tea? It's from one of your rivals, you may be more appreciative of beer and such but trying tea wouldn't hurt you right?"

"You joke with me, Matriarch. I am not one of your suitors." Han replied, and yet he sat down gracefully, the Matriarch poured him some tea, and Han drank it taking care not to gulp it down like beer.

"Where do you plan to go after this, Han?" The Matriarch asked through sips. Han finished off the tea before answering,

"I suppose I'll go to another continent. Make a name for myself, also it's safer there. As you already know, I made lots of enemies," Han chuckled,

"Is that so?" The Matriarch paused," Han, you don't have to go, you know I can take you in, even as my core disciple. No one would dare to touch you then."

Han smiled somberly, then he peered out, looking at the students training on the courtyard far below them. Silence enveloped the two of them. She looked at him with her doe eyes and dainty lips that were slightly parted, waiting for an answer. The silence was Han's answer.

"Thank you for the tea, and everything, Matriarch." Han bowed deeply.

The Matriarch didn't reply and looked away. A wave of her hand was the farewell she gave. Han didn't say anymore as he disappeared, turning into red mist, going along with the breeze, moving away for the last time.

The Matriarch watched, feeling as if she lost something of importance to her. A sigh escaped her lips as she let the tea go stagnant within her hand, she simply sat there in her pavilion staring at the wind.

It was her mistake. A man like him could never be tied down to a place like this.

The day quickly passed in sadness, after finishing sect matters she holed up inside her cultivation room. Meditating, trying to calm her state of mind. Banishing the figure of a man that reeked of death.

A hurried knock came from outside, disturbing the Matriarch's unsuccessful meditation. "Matriarch, there's an urgent matter."

Annoyance swelled within her, but this was one of her responsibilities, she merely stood up and opened the door with a forced smile. "What's so urgent that you even dare bother my cultivation."

"All sect masters are being summoned to Immortal Peak. It's an imperial order of the Emperor."

*****

At the Immortal Peak.

It was the first time the Matriarch saw so many powerful beings in such a space. Millions of them all huddled within, the Immortal peak was massive, but it suddenly appeared to be so small as it was packed. The orthodox sects and unorthodox sects were even agreeing to stay neutral. It made the Matriarch realize the severity of the situation as what kind of disaster could force two opposing forces that were at war for centuries to suddenly act so docile.

The meeting hall was rampant with voices, as each and every one of them tried to find out what was going on.

"I heard multiple martial artists are disappearing. The Martial Gods must be taking them!"

"Nonsense! This must be about the recent disappearance of wildlife!"

"Fools! It's simply because the Emperor plans to marry my daughter!"

"Ptui! You're daughter's looks like a donkey's ass!

"How dare you insult, me, your grandaddy!"

"Silence!"

The Emperor's voice boomed throughout the meeting hall. He strode inside with an elegant bearing, matched with his majestic presence. His face which was usually steady and calm had a trace of weariness and exhaustion. It was the first time anybody saw a crack in his immortal being.

"I gathered you today to discuss a grave matter that affects the fate of all living beings in this world. Recently, we discovered a great decrease in wildlife, natural resources and as of now, the Immortal Sea has dried up."

The whole crowd collectively gasped. The Immortal Sea, an immense reservoir of energy, so massive that its mere essence was capable of fueling the world with energy. Without it they were no different from noncultivators. They would lose their extraordinary capabilities, lose their cultivation, and worst of all, their everlasting youth.

"That's impossible! The Immortal Sea is eternal, undying!."

"Indeed! I fear the Emperor plans to take it all for himself!"

"How dare you blaspheme the Emperor! Seize him!"

Before the whole crowd could go chaotic, the Emperor raised his hand.

"No need. I know some of you doubt me, however, to prove my innocence, and to make you all see the gravity of the situation, I will lead you all to the Immortal Sea."

The crowd went silent. To see the immortal Sea was something they could only dream off. It was forbidden for any being besides the royal family to even be near the Imperial Sea, and yet the Emperor was giving them permission. No one would be stupid enough to disagree.

The Matriarch followed the crowd, they traveled inside the caverns of the Immortal Peak until they reached a humongous gate, it opened slowly with one swipe of the hand from the Emperor. Inside was a large hole, a hundred meters in diameter. The Emperor flew down, strangely enough, it was the first time he flew, from the start he was walking as if he was subservient. Perhaps he wanted to show that he was sincere in his innocence. It didn't matter, however, what mattered for most was that they were going to see the Immortal Sea and they couldn't help but choke from excitement.

They all landed within a barren land, nothing but dull sand surrounded them as far as the eye could see. The Emperor stopped moving,

"Is there a problem Emperor, are we waiting for a primordial dragon to carry us to the Immortal Sea?"

The Emperor chuckled dryly, "This is the Immortal Sea."

The crowd took a moment to process his words, and after a minute they went mad.

"Impossible!"

"How could this be!"

"We're all doomed!"

"I don't want to be an old geezer!"

The Matriarch was also devasted by the revelation. She clenched her fist in disbelief, but she didn't dare to scream at the Emperor.

"You can all see for yourself. We are perhaps the last generation of martial cultivators that would ever exist in this world. However, that is not all. Cultivators are starting to get sucked into other worlds."

"It has long been confirmed that our world is conscious. A great being sustaining millions of lives, but it appears like she has reached her limit, and she is now self-sustaining. Siphoning energy from other planets. The pathway that is opened when our planet siphons is like a void that sucks all, of course, the other planet fights to reclaim its energy, and that is done by taking cultivators, beings who carry the energy of the world in their bodies." The Emperor explained,

"Ridiculous! Simply ridiculous! Forgive my insolence, but I don't believe you one bit! You're simply plotting to take all the energy for yourself! To boost your cultivation to the very peak by absorbing the Immortal Sea!"

"You fools! I have told you the truth, if you still doubt my words then we can prove it right now! Conjure the strongest martial spell you have right now, and hit me."

The man who opposed was taken aback, but his face darkened as he waved his arms, conjuring up a giant flame dragon that could devour all that was cold.

"You're underestimating me, Emperor." Was his words as he swirled and fired the dragon, but a second only after being launched, it dissipated within nothingness.

"I-Impossible!" He yelled as he tried again and again to attack. He tried various spells of all varying levels but merely the weakest spell was able to last long enough to actually hit the Emperor, but it didn't even leave a scratch.

The others watched on with horror as the man puked blood and collapsed on the floor. The man was pale and couldn't even breathe properly, however, what truly scared them was when his face started to wrinkle. Slowly his face aged, his skin became so shriveled up that the others had to check their faces out of fear that their youths were also going away.

When the aging stopped, he laid there, from a youthful middle-aged man to an old dying soul.

"Ah, I forgot to tell you all, but I advise you to not use your energy. It won't replenish ever again." The Emperor said with a face filled with fake regret.

Everyone, including the Matriarch, froze. Flying meant using energy, and since they flew all the way down here it meant that they had used up a portion of the last of energy they had.

"No wonder the Emperor was walking as he lead us here!"

"If he told us earlier, then I wouldn't have even come here!"

"Fuck your mother!"

"I just finished sparring with someone earlier, can someone carry me out?!"

The Matriarch watched as the people started to revolt, then seemingly out of nowhere an army of Imperial guards appeared and blocked the exit. Two guards went to the Emperor and carried him away.

"I am terribly sorry that you lost that small amount of mana as well, I feel a much deeper loss than you as you have a greater purpose. The age of cultivators must live on, and so for the greater good, you will serve as substitutes for the Immortal Sea, until it is able to sustain itself again."

Out of nowhere, the gigantic hole started to close. Chaos ensued as it was every man for himself, every cultivator fought to get out. It didn't matter they were using energy, as preserving it at this moment could spell death. A massive energy accumulation occurred as everyone fought with pure martial arts in the air. Some even dared to use the weakest of martial spells to gain an edge.

The Matriarch passed through a gap between the fighting and flew with all the speed she can muster outwards. The hole was closing at a faster pace than she thought and just before she can get out, the hole squeezed her body. She prepared herself for immense pain as she closed her eyes, but she didn't feel anything at all.

*****

When she opened her eyes the first thing she saw was the sky. Pain suddenly erupted from her body but when she turned to look at the problem, she saw a foreign womanly body with a knife stuck in the abdomen.

She glanced around and found herself in an entirely foreign room surrounded by men in bizarre clothing.

"Ah man, you killed her already!"

"We didn't even get to play with her."

"Shit! She's infected, she's fucking getting up!"

*****

After killing the men she stumbled towards a window and found herself looking at sky-high structures made of glass and steel. There was fire and smoke scattered all over the city, a city that she was somehow familiar with, a headache erupted within her and she fell to the floor.

Throughout the city, similar scenes happened as dead bodies started to awake, cultivators of various capabilities scattered all around the city, inheriting the memories of the bodies they possessed.