Anytime there was even a slightly unfamiliar fluctuation of energy, Catarina insisted on a thorough review of the local formations. Of course, nobody was going to complain. Her intense focus was one of the things keeping them safe.

"This one also does not throw anyone into a black hole," Catarina confirmed.

There were few things that could instantly kill a Domination cultivator like Timothy, but if there was one that would be it. An extreme enough energy could do it, but keeping such power hidden was difficult and would likely require active control. As far as they could tell, there wasn't any active control involved with Everheart's current systems.

Generally aligning themselves with the rules kept their progress slow, but they hadn't been willing to run into any surprises. Regardless of Everheart's current status, anywhere he had made was dangerous and could remain so for centuries.

They gained few useful snippets of information, but even what wasn't officially said painted an important picture. Everheart's final assault hadn't been a spur of the moment occurrence. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so much in place in the event of his 'death'. Or at least, they could presume that to some extent. Obviously he was the paranoid sort that would always have some, but he had been keeping far too many systems low profile. Usually he would make some sort of announcement to draw people in- unless his death was an announcement.

"He expected it," Vari said. "I'm sure of it."

"I can't believe he would expect us to kill him," Catarina said. "Which means that he merely expected us to appear as if we did. Sadly, we have no intact corpse… despite what we should have expected."

Specifically, Chidi should have been able to prevent it- if he could have anticipated the detonation. But Everheart was unpredictable and full of various techniques to change his flow.

-----

One additional thing of note with regard to Everheart's operations was that the solar platforms were inactive. Some had shut down after his subordinates ran off through deeper layers of subspace to… wherever they were going. Others ceased before they got through. Nobody who remained had any idea what was going on. It was clear that many of them felt betrayed, their leader having disappeared. Though that was less the case the higher up you went.

Those at the top had their own ambitions to begin with and had merely aligned themselves with Everheart to meet them. Most of those had been involved in various missions throughout the great powers, and thus the Scarlet Alliance hadn't managed to capture and interrogate them. Others were like Rahayu, perishing in the battle around Xankeshan.

The Scarlet Alliance was inclined to offer amnesty for those who would offer information, though there were limits. Everheart hadn't much cared about who was willing to work under him as long as they followed his commands. Rahayu was a battle maniac who had killed many from the Alliance, but he was far from the worst they had. But many were like Luksa, a former saint of the Harmonious Citadel. Just cultivators trying to make their way in the world, and Everheart wasn't as bad as many of the sects around despite his reputation.

If the Scarlet Alliance wanted a clear picture, they weren't going to get it. Everyone agreed that Everheart had plans and rarely failed to carry them out. Nobody could say that if he actually died he wouldn't do it almost casually but with great drama. Still, it was difficult to believe he was dead. Or that he had reached a higher state of cultivation. If nothing else, it was too early. He was a great genius, but the length of time available simply wasn't enough for him to have even hit the peak of Domination- assuming such a thing existed.

That was the largest issue. Domination cultivators could grow in power steadily, if they put in the effort. Limits didn't seem to be so much about the stage, but the individual cultivator- though of course the Scarlet Alliance didn't have many examples of long term Domination cultivators to consult. Just Ratna, but she also hadn't seen the limits of Domination itself..

The only conclusion that could be solidly confirmed was that Everheart and his systems weren't a threat… for the moment. But if they could compile more information and learn some sort of secret? They would. But the Alliance also had other things to manage, was no doubt part of Everheart's schemes.

Or he was actually dead. If so, it did make the Alliance look good. It would have been a more useful achievement if their immediate neighbors needed to be cowed by such a thing… but that wasn't the case anymore.

-----

The Exalted Quadrant and Trigold Cluster had been in decline since their first Domination cultivators fell. No, it was before that during the first cycles the Lower Realms successfully began defending their planets. Or perhaps it was even before that. Their decline might have been what allowed the successful shift. The Alliance would happily process old records to try to figure it out.

Obviously the great powers hadn't been particularly open about sharing statistics. Any numbers given would likely be exaggerated to promote strength, unless they were specifically hiding things like Domination cultivators to get an advantage. A strange duality.

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Slightly more knowable had been the total population numbers- but since their commoners hadn't cultivated for the most part it really wasn't useful. Furthermore, planets didn't always neatly compile such things, especially where control was split between sects.

The enumerators and archivists and everyone who worked with data were happy to finally be getting some accurate information, as the influence of the Scarlet Alliance spread into their neighbors. Some data they snatched during their retaliatory strikes- there were certain sects they wouldn't allow to continue existing. The Heartbound Palace was one of those.

While it appeared that Rambert Glas had advanced during the Swirling Swarm incident- and potentially because of it- it was too risky to let them remain as they were. The same was true of many others… though of course the Scarlet Alliance wasn't planning to purge every system. They couldn't, even if they wanted to. Instead, they made targeted strikes. The end result was much the same as the great powers tended to do- destroying techniques and leaving behind only a weakened generation that had to develop from their very foundations.

A bit more merciful than they had been on the lower realms, even. Not that they would see it that way. No doubt there were many dreaming of revenge already.

Unfortunately for them, the Scarlet Alliance didn't intend to allow them an opportunity. Instead they would grow stronger, their own growth outpacing the less coherent organization of the formerly great powers on either side of them. They didn't need to kill each and every one of them. Instead, they could let them collapse naturally while securing their own borders.

The Scarlet Alliance stood proud and tall as the greatest. The Chaotic Conglomeration might protest that statement, but they were far too busy taking over the northwestern portions of the Exalted Quadrant. That would doubtless be a problem for the Alliance in the future, but they already had to protect the Little Alliance- and Runa's advancement there made that far easier. Assuming that the Chaotic Conglomeration would give up their growth and not show limitless greed was a bit much, but they could at least calculate it would take time. Rather than not dealing with it, they were simply preparing long term solutions for long term problems.

At least beyond their eastern side was actually friendly. For the moment they still had to engage in any trade through the lower realms, but that wasn't the worst option. Inter-realm ship technology had advanced significantly, so while such vessels weren't as good as standard ships- and their crew would be weakened on one side or the other- they could do more than transport a few hundred people per year on a couple ships.

-----

Anton had once again been roped into serving as a diplomatic envoy… but at least it really was just that. He didn't expect the Adamant Federation or Free Planet Guardians to suddenly want to attack the upper realms. They were just interested in what their somewhat-distant neighbors in the upper realms would do. The trade between upper and lower realms had to flow through or around them. Reasonable taxes were fine… but the two groups were also expanding that direction regardless. They had some trouble with their own borders- the layers they determined were theirs weren't exact.

Some time had been devoted to making sure the two groups were willing to sit down peacefully with each other before it even came to third parties. Fortunately, space was big. The Adamant Federation was sort of sandwiched between the Free Planet Guardians and the Shining Cooperative, but in truth they were able to grow up and around. They had three dimensions to work with, and they possessed more than ten times as many systems as they had when they were first formed. The Free Planet Guardians grew a little bit slower, but Anton thought they had a good foundation.

Reminding the groups of their common origins didn't do much good. Their leaders all remembered the split from the upper realms and were bitter that things hadn't gone their way. If they hadn't gotten over it by now, Anton didn't expect they ever would- but at least they were mostly peaceful. As much as could be expected from neighboring groups of somewhat traditional cultivators.

There were Lower Realms Alliance members better than Anton at diplomatic situations… and some of them also happened to be present. Anton was there because his status afforded him extra respect. Being a Unity cultivator and all that. Cultivators had a lot of respect for someone who could kill them and were incentivized to behave in a way that continued to make that not true.

Not once did Anton have to threaten anyone, and for that he was quite glad. He didn't even have to imply it. He just had to be a pleasant old man, making suggestions about what people might give up in exchange for certain concessions. While the Scarlet Alliance was willing to pay reasonable taxes for anything that passed through these territories, they weren't keen on paying it twice. While there were currently routes that would bring them through just one territory, the best routes went through both.

Anton thought it was natural to split the revenue evenly. They hardly had to do anything for it except exist. But people weren't pleased, and his advisors helped him suggest terms that seemed more favorable. Though it would be a negligible difference, whoever happened to be responsible for any necessary inspections would be paid a slightly higher rate. Not enough that they would fight for it, but enough that they could see themselves coming out on top. Otherwise, they couldn't stand to do the work and split profits evenly, even if the work was also nearly even.

How miserly. They would pinch pennies just to get ahead. In Dungannon, Anton had preferred to give away anything that didn't pack neatly into a shipping crate rather than charge for the remnants. He quite frequently received pies from the local bakers. He liked pies, and he'd never bothered to think about whether they were worth more than what he gave away or not.

Beyond those negotiations, the two groups wanted something only the upper realms could offer- not those beyond the Trigold Cluster but within it. Though they weren't asking them but the Scarlet Alliance. They wanted original copies of all of the cultivation techniques they practiced. Even if they had developed their own modifications for their own needs and grown beyond Life Transformation, their originals had often been sorely limited. But now that the Scarlet Alliance had access to more of such things after the war, they were interested.

That shouldn't be too difficult, but Anton didn't make any firm promises. Ultimately, he doubted the Scarlet Alliance wouldn't do it- it was only the specific price that mattered. And if some in the upper realms wanted them… they could make copies. Core manuals should be easily exchanged for any other… even the one that had been on Yann's body. But the Adamant Federation did want that one just in case. Their own Fearsome Menagerie could use any scrawling notes he left- or any elders from the main sect.

Cultivators seeking to grow their insights didn't make Anton worried. Nothing could, these days. Every day was a blessing, and he was both strong and at peace. With both the world and himself.

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