The Urban Dao Child

Yang Dao finished casting an array that worked with all four elements in correspondence. The backyard was not blooming with flowers, a constant breeze was flowing around the place. The ground was covered with patches of what seemed like fog.

The boy manipulated the array and soon the palace that was already surrounded by fog was cleared of it, however, thirty feet above the ground, on the top of the highest tower of the palace, a cloud began to condense, it was a mesmerizing sight.

Yang Dao smiled at this, it looked like the high tower was a chimney and it was giving off strong smoke that created a cloud around the palace, a patched canopy of cotton seemed to be spread over the place, but it did not restrict the glow of sunlight or anything else for that matter. This was the effect of the array.

The cloud palace was truly the cloud palace. Yang Dao sat in the backyard, watching the moon hanging in the sky through the clouds he created. The people he summoned had all arrived as well. They all sat around on chairs around a small round table. Yang Dao did not say anything but kept gazing at the sky.

Athena was the first one to notice the oddity, as she asked unsurely, “Why does it seem like the clouds are really low today?”

Daina raised her head and so did the other people. Soon they discovered all sorts of subtle changes inside the backyard. Shakti asked, “Dao, what is going on here?”

“I set up an array. It is because of that. Well, ignore that, the reason I called you all here was to ask for your help.” said the boy.

Amil raised his eyebrow and asked, “What do you want us to help you with? This thing does not seem to be too easy to me.”

Yang Dao nodded his head and said, “You all are aware of the rift between, Yue Ming and me. Now, big sister Jing has become a part of that rift. She is definitely treated as an enemy by Yue Ming, I have been told that all his people have retreated. This way I cannot track him so, I hope that you all can lend me a hand to monitor him from the shadows.”

Diana asked, “Why do you not monitor him from the shadows?’

“Because that guy has changed. If I took an action, then the person will definitely track it back to me. It will put us in a bad light in front of the elders of the family.” said Yang Dao.

Trent and Daniel nodded. Amil took a deep breath and said, “I can help with monitoring him, here on Supremacy. The rest I am not sure.”

Yang Dao nodded and Daina spoke up, “Thale will be able to get you what you need, Dao. He is a merchant and he has a network of his own. You do not fret I will have Thale keep tabs on Yue Ming. However, when do you think the claim on the family leader’s throne can be presented?” ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

Yang Dao shook his head and said, “Only when you reach the nascent soul realm can you challenge the rest of the people to get the seat.”

Trent nodded and said, “This is similar to the rules in our households. Well, you guys still have some time.”

Daniel spoke up, “Indeed, they have time, but the time is for Yue Jing to train and become the best version of her. Also, only when they have the majority of the family relationships supporting them can they get a chance at the throne”

The people nodded and Alisha said, “Why do you need to monitor him?”

This was something she did not understand. Why did they need to monitor Yue Ming and not just leave him alone to his own devices? Yang Dao did not speak but Yue Jing said, “You might think that we are being too paranoid in our approach, but my father and elder brother are not those who will leave you alone, they are the most opportunistic people you will find. At this moment, what may seem like a retreat is just the silence before the storm.

In the next five months, while we try to gain more experience outside the sect, they will try to hinder us. The methods will be enticing disputes with people from other sects or free travelers, also, I will not rule out the possibility of assassinations. They have never stopped and they never will before they get what they want. So, we need to know what they are doing.”

Alisha gulped, she was aware that the world of immortals was not peace-loving La La land, but she did not expect Yue Jing to do such things about her family. The latter sensed the awkwardness in the air and said, “I have never been treated like a family by those people, so other than slight hesitation, I have nothing more in my heart. If they tried to push me too much, then I will not hesitate before severing bonds with them and take them down once and for all.”

The discussion continued and the people found out that Yang Dao was not a freak but Yue Ming was an even bigger snake. After the meeting finished, they all settled to form an alliance with each other, not their families but as individuals, they all took a heavenly oath before leaving.

Suddenly, Amil said, “How about we name our alliance something?”

The people all smiled and agreed with this proposal but they were stuck with the name. Yang Dao gazed at the sky and said, “Trent, Amil, Daniel, Daina, Shakti, Athena, Yue Jing, Alisha, and me. We are nine, so how about, Nine-star constellation?”

The people all were surprised and they nodded and agreed. Before leaving, Yang Dao asked, “Senior Sister Shakti, I was told that you were looking for me?”

The girl said, “I comprehended the intent of the weapon and I wanted to seek your advice from you.”

Yang Dao smiled and said, “I am much delighted.. Come, we can start right now.”