Immortal Paladin

468 Luminary’s Rest

I stood at the head of the long table and let my gaze sweep across everyone gathered inside the tent.

The air felt heavier than usual.

“Alright,” I said, folding my hands behind my back. “This meeting is now in session.”

It sounded overly formal, but the structure mattered. If we were going to build something real in this Greater Universe, then we could not just wing it like reckless cultivators stumbling into destiny.

On my left sat Ru Qiu, Alice, and Gu Jie.

On my right were Hei Mao, Ox-Head, and Horse-Face.

The contrast between the two sides almost made me laugh. On one end, an ancient war criminal with a martyr complex, a former Holy Maiden with a sharp tongue, and my terrifyingly competent daughter. On the other, a loyal ghost disciple, a towering underworld marshal, and a horse-headed bureaucrat with chronic attitude problems.

Horse-Face broke the silence first.

“What even is the purpose of this meeting?” he grumbled. “Can’t you just mouth off your orders and be done with it?”

I arched a brow at him.

“If I were going to be that heavy-handed,” I replied calmly, “do you think I would permit you to continue talking like this?”

He snorted but said nothing more.

Hei Mao spoke up gently. “Lord Horse-Face, my master is just like that. He values our opinions.”

Alice nodded in agreement. “Yes. David is not perfect.”

I shot her a look. She returned it without shame.

Even during the Civil War back in the Hollowed World, I had preferred strategy meetings like this. The Hollowed World War had spiraled into a massive, chaotic conflict because of its sheer scale. We adapted, we crushed, we won, but there had not been enough room for calm discussion.

I did not want to repeat that mistake here.

“Now,” I said, exhaling slowly, “let’s talk business.”

Everyone straightened, even Horse-Face.

“I have achieved one of my goals in coming to the Underworld. That alone is only the beginning. I am grateful for the effort all of you put into building this place. Truly.”

My gaze lingered briefly on Ru Qiu.

“I understand where you’re coming from,” I continued. “But I think it would be better if everyone here understood your motivation clearly.”

Wei Bao’s earlier outburst had not been trivial. It had exposed fault lines. I could not afford fractures in my inner circle. Ox-Head, Horse-Face, and even Hei Mao had concealed their feelings fairly well. Alice, on the other hand, had not bothered.

Ox-Head cleared his throat. “Before you say anything,” he rumbled to Ru Qiu, “let me speak my thoughts. I know who you are. A Supreme Being. Incomplete, perhaps, and yet to fully realize your supremacy trait, but still a dangerous existence.”

His eyes were steady.

“To be frank, I don’t think you should be here.”

The tent went quiet.

Ru Qiu did not react defensively.

Instead, he nodded slightly. “I agree.”

That caught a few of them off guard.

“I’ve killed a lot,” Ru Qiu continued flatly. “Lost count a long time ago. Does that matter now? Maybe. Maybe not.”

His eyes shifted to me.

“You asked me to speak of my motivation. Fine. But what about you, Da Wei? You’ve reclaimed one disciple. The logical next step would be to leave this realm and continue searching for the others. The sooner you find them, the safer they’ll be.”

He leaned back slightly.

“I believe we’re thinking along similar lines, so I won’t hold back. My motivation? It’s war.”

The word settled over the table like ash.

“I have a bone to pick with the Supreme Beings. Or whoever put me in this situation. I’m angry. I need something to hit.”

His voice remained eerily calm.

“Six Supremes. Yellow Emperor. I don’t care. They’re all getting hit, regardless. If I happen to get my ‘wish’ along the way, that’s just a bonus.”

Gu Jie frowned.

“Is that true, Father?” she asked me quietly. “Is that why Ru Qiu didn’t hesitate to build this place?”

She turned to both of us.

“You and Ru Qiu are wanted individuals. Establishing a visible base like this could invite hunters seeking your bounties. Resentment will grow. If it’s war you want, what exactly is the goal?”

Ru Qiu responded before I could.

“I’ve covered my identity.”

Dark flames ignited over his head, swallowing his features in shifting black fire. His silhouette remained, but his face vanished into obscurity.

“As for the end goal?” he said. “Why don’t you spit it out, Da Wei?”

I sighed.

“I can’t hide anything from you, can I?”

“It’s for survival, isn’t it?” Alice asked quietly.

I met her gaze.

Ox-Head stroked his chin thoughtfully. “That makes sense. Eventually, everything will boil over. The Hollowed World being isolated doesn’t make it safe, especially considering its true nature.”

Alice shook her head.

“It isn’t that simple. It’s never that simple.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly at me.

“I can see it, David. You’re more impatient than usual. You want Losten to join us as soon as possible, don’t you? You’re even willing to make use of that Pestilence woman. And I imagine you’re itching to summon your players as well.”

I grimaced.

Talk about being seen through.

“Yeah,” I admitted. “You got me.”

Then I turned to Ox-Head and Horse-Face.

“Have either of you heard of the Origin?”

Both of them froze.

Horse-Face was the first to recover. “We can’t talk about it.”

Ox-Head gave a slow nod. “If you truly wish to know, I could attempt an answer. But there is a real possibility my existence would vanish into the ether for doing so.”

I raised a hand.

“There’s no need. I understand.”

The reaction alone confirmed enough.

I exhaled slowly.

“Alice is right. It is about survival. But not just the Hollowed World.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I looked around the table.

“It’s about everything.”

My counterpart had brushed against the Origin once. Only briefly. Even that fleeting contact had been incomprehensible. It was not simply a being or a force. It was the how, the why, and the when. It mirrored the Source in a way that made my skin crawl.

“I can’t determine whether it’s an enemy or a friend,” I continued. “But the gods of your era deemed it an enemy. I don’t know what relationship the Six Supremes have with it. I don’t know if they’re resisting it, serving it, or planning around it.”

I paused.

“The picture isn’t clear. But I can say this with confidence.”

My fingers tightened slightly against the table.

“This—everything—appears to be heading toward a mythological end. One that spells definitive doom.”

Silence filled the tent.

I had only glimpsed it through limited omniscience. Fragments. A horizon where causality folded inward. Even my Ophanim recoiled at certain projections.

I wasn’t willing to trust the Six Supremes.

I wasn’t willing to trust the Lost Gods.

But I was willing to trust the people in this room.

I shifted my gaze to Ox-Head and Horse-Face.

“The same way you have reservations about Ru Qiu, I have reservations about you. You two belong to the Age of Divinity. Your goddess likely stands high among whatever hierarchy remains. I’m stating this openly, the same way you question Ru Qiu’s presence.”

I let the words settle without hostility.

“Sabotage would be unforgivable. Transparency is the highest rule here. That’s why I’m speaking plainly.”

I straightened.

“What are my intentions? What do I want in the Greater Universe? In the Underworld?”

I answered my own question.

“Yes, survival. But survival requires structure.”

I raised one finger.

“First, we establish a base of operations. This city is the beginning.”

A second finger.

“Second, we create a stable route between the Hollowed World and this realm. Logistics. Movement. Communication. That includes summoning my players and using them as probes to test the waters without exposing our core.”

A third finger.

“Third, Losten. The world where I was created. I want it.”

I didn’t soften that statement.

“Before the Six Supremes take real notice of my movements, I want us in a position to assert ourselves. To seize advantage when opportunities arise instead of scrambling for scraps.”

My gaze hardened slightly.

“If the end truly is coming, then I refuse to face it as prey.”

I leaned back.

“We either become a power capable of negotiating with fate…”

My eyes swept across every face at the table.

“…or we get erased by whatever writes the last chapter.”

Silence followed my declaration, thick and contemplative.

Ru Qiu was the first to break it. He suppressed a laugh and said, “Jue Bu is going to be so pissed he’s missing this.”

Gu Jie nodded thoughtfully. “If you truly intend to proceed with this plan, Father, then eventually you will have to kill the Supreme Death, the ruler of the Underworld. I believe Jue Bu also has a stake in that matter.”

Alice shook her head slightly. “I doubt he can act freely. He’s bound to the Hollowed World, isn’t he?”

Ru Qiu leaned back in his chair. “If we’re talking about stakes, he’s probably like me. A bone to pick with every single one of them.”

I snorted softly. That did sound like Jue Bu. If nothing else, he would relish the opportunity to flip the middle finger at the Supreme Void.

Horse-Face tapped the table to get our attention. “So what’s the plan now? Big speech and all that, sure, but what exactly are we doing?”

I folded my arms. “I intend to go to Losten. Before making any large-scale moves, I want to survey it personally. A proper tour of the place.”

I glanced around the table. “Suggestions?”

Ox-Head spoke first. “I want to go with you to this Losten.”

Hei Mao immediately followed. “I’m coming too, Master.”

I shook my head and looked at him. “You need to look after your sister.”

His expression faltered. Conflict flickered across his face before he sighed. “Yeah… you’re right. I should stay. Master, should I return your Ghost Soul to you?”

I shook my head firmly. “No. Keep it. The Ghost Soul is better off with you right now.”

Alice leaned forward. “I’m coming. No question.”

There was no hesitation in her voice, and I did not argue.

Horse-Face crossed his arms. “I’m staying. I’ve been thinking about looking into Goddess Meng Po’s whereabouts. I’m fairly certain she hasn’t truly perished.”

That was genuinely good news. I trusted that old lady far more than I trusted the Yellow Emperor.

Gu Jie spoke next. “I will remain as well. However, I will send a clone with you, Father. I plan to focus on cultivation and return to my peak condition.”

That was reassuring in its own way. If Gu Jie returned to her former height, our foundation would become significantly sturdier.

“I’m coming too,” Ru Qiu said.

I opened my mouth to object, but he cut me off immediately.

“I’m not wasting my time managing infrastructure. Your daughter can handle that. If the city lacks firepower, Hei Mao is here. Listen, Da Wei. I need to understand my supremacy trait. I won’t achieve that by sitting around meditating.”

His eyes sharpened.

“I’m also curious about Losten. The nature of our transmigration. The powers we were given. How deep does it go? I lost my system when I lost the Source. What about you?”

That struck closer than I liked.

“When something unexpected jumps you and you can’t react in time,” he continued, “you’ll need someone to pick up the slack.”

“I’m still here,” Alice interjected coolly. “I’m more than enough. Joan and Dave are there too.”

The temperature between them dropped a few degrees.

I considered it carefully.

Ru Qiu was unstable, yes, but he was also one of the few beings here capable of standing toe-to-toe with the kind of threats Losten might hide. If Losten truly connected to our origins, then it would not be simple.

Finally, I exhaled. “Fine. You can come.”

Ru Qiu smirked faintly.

Alice shot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel. He returned it without flinching.

I rubbed my temple.

This trip was already shaping up to be a headache.

I dismissed the meeting and allowed everyone to disperse to their preparations.

For a moment, I remained seated alone before finally stepping out of the tent.

The budding city stretched before me. Structures were rising from ruins, streets were being cleared, foundations reinforced. There was life here now, fragile but determined.

And then there was the statue.

A massive likeness of me towered over the central square, carved with far too much reverence. The craftsmanship was impressive. The intent behind it was even more blatant.

This was inviting trouble.

Faith was power, yes, but overt displays like this were like lighting a beacon in shark-infested waters.

Before I could dwell on it further, a scream tore through the air.

“Help! Help us!”

My head snapped toward the eastern quarter.

An enormous ghostly figure descended from the murky skies of the Underworld. It radiated the pressure of the Ninth Realm, its form bloated and distorted. Translucent jaws snapped around fleeing spirits, devouring them whole.

The monster laughed, its voice echoing grotesquely.

“So much food! So much food! What a delightful feast!”

My expression darkened.

“Zealot’s Stride.”

Space folded beneath my feet, and I appeared directly before the creature in a burst of compressed light.

It barely had time to react.

“Divine Smite.”

Radiance erupted from my palm and crashed into its torso. I calibrated the force precisely, shredding its ghostly structure without annihilating the souls trapped within.

The monster howled as its body ruptured.

I extended my will through Ophanim and carefully extracted the devoured souls from within its dissolving form, separating them from the corrosive energies before they could disperse permanently.

With a final burst of light, the Ninth Realm ghost disintegrated into ash-like motes.

The freed souls drifted downward, trembling but intact.

Below me, the residents dropped to their knees almost in unison.

“Praise be to Lord Wei!”

“Our god has saved us!”

“Long live His Holy Majesty!”

They kowtowed repeatedly, foreheads pressing against the stone. I felt the surge of faith rush toward me. It was potent and dangerous. What in the world was Ru Qiu doing? I seriously hoped he had not used any coercive or wicked method to cultivate this kind of devotion.

I descended slowly and landed among them.

I pointed at one of the kneeling men. “You. Stand up. Tell me something.”

The man trembled but obeyed.

“What do you see in me that makes you worship me so fervently?”

He swallowed hard before answering.

“My lord… we are just mortals. In the Underworld, monsters roam freely. Powerful factions hoard resources. We are nothing but food. A divine being such as yourself who protects us… who grants us safety… how could we not worship you?”

His voice cracked at the end.

I sighed quietly.

The Underworld truly was chaos incarnate. Most who fell here were ordinary mortals with no cultivation. Even if they attempted to cultivate as ghosts, resources were monopolized by dominant factions. To acquire even a sliver of opportunity meant risking annihilation.

To them, protection was divinity.

I raised my voice so all could hear.

“Do not be afraid. As long as I am here and as long as my loyal soldiers stand, this city will not fall to wandering predators.”

A wave of cheers erupted.

“Glory to Lord Wei!”

“Protector of the lost!”

The faith thickened again.

I resisted the urge to rub my temple.

Instead, I spoke clearly.

“Holy Summon: Ezekiel.”

Dark and holy energies intertwined before me. A tall skeletal figure emerged. Flames of pale light flickered within his eye sockets. Ezekiel was the product of Jue Bu’s dark arts fused with my divine authority. A holy skeleton forged from paradox.

He knelt before me. “Awaiting command.”

“I order you, Ezekiel, to defend this city.”

“Yes, my lord.”

I extended a thread of faith from myself into the city’s spiritual foundation and anchored Ezekiel to it. The connection stabilized instantly.

Then Ezekiel raised his staff, created from his innate conjuration abilities.

“Summon: Holy Spirit.”

One became many.

Lesser skeletal guardians manifested in rapid succession, each a diluted echo of Ezekiel’s power. Individually weaker, collectively overwhelming. They spread across the city perimeter, taking defensive positions with disciplined precision.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

“A miracle…”

“He commands an army of divine spirits!”

I gestured toward the towering skeletal commander.

“This is Ezekiel. Treat him with respect. He stands as your shield.” 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Ezekiel turned his skull slightly toward the kneeling residents and inclined his head in acknowledgment.

The city no longer looked quite so fragile.

I rose above the square, letting my presence settle over every street, every half-built wall, every trembling soul that had chosen to gather here.

The statue behind me cast a long shadow as I declared, my voice carrying across the entire city through divine resonance. “My people, hear me!”

The murmurs ceased. Even the drifting ash of the Underworld seemed to pause.

“From this day onward, under my divine name, I claim this land not as a throne of tyranny, but as a sanctuary. I bestow upon this city a name of its own.”

I raised my hand, and light spread outward in a slow wave, seeping into the foundations, into the stones, into the very air.

“From now on, this city shall be known as Luminary’s Rest.”

The name echoed, carried by Ezekiel and the host of Holy Spirits to every corner.

“A place where even the light of hope reaches the Underworld.”

Some began to weep.

“A place where the weary souls of the dead may take refuge. Where the hunted are no longer prey. Where the forgotten are no longer abandoned.”

The glow intensified slightly, pushing back the oppressive gloom that eternally blanketed this realm.

“And perhaps, one day, within these walls, you will grow strong enough to defy the darkness and the bitter chill of the Underworld itself.”

I lowered my hand slowly.

“Stand. Build. Cultivate. As long as you remain within Luminary’s Rest, you are under my protection.”

The name settled into the land like a vow.