As the months passed, the Icefire Sect as whole became increasingly stronger.

It was perhaps natural, both from the increase in numbers with new disciples, and the increase in cultivation of the older members. With few exceptions, there had been an overall growth on all levels, from better methods and increase care for disciples, to the Elders themselves achieving breakthroughs after they have nearly given up, as thousands of years of cultivation blocks were quite common on this planet.

And higher realms also meant a more powerful presence onto the continent, stronger beasts getting hunted or better herbs being brought for the Alchemy Hall.

Even the mortal world noticed, as patrols of Outer Disciples began to cull rogue bandits or open new roads, or build bridges and garrisons in the areas claimed by the Sect. And with the new safety increase, so it came a wave of trade and commerce, as well as news from other places.

Not only the Xia Clan noticed, but other forces as well. There were criminal groups that had to hide or run away, demonic cultivators caught and executed publicly, mercenary groups finding themselves out of work as the roads became safer...

And lastly, a more insidious force was starting to spread, promising rapid ascensions and unlimited power, for a small price.

In a dozen Sects from the North Western continent, unknown disciples rose rapidly in cultivation, being hailed as geniuses not seen in a generation. Even some Elders abandoned their millennia-old scriptures for the chance of a new breakthrough, and the extended lifespan that followed.

But as with all large-scale movements, the leaders of the Righteous Alliance did notice the phenomenon with worry. Monarchs and Saints had an immense ability to sniff out when things were wrong, and they did have some tips from the Sect Master of the Icefire Sect himself.

Some Saints even contacted others from nearby continents, and confirmed the news with them. The disloyalty plague was spreading all over the planet, and in places rife with wars or disasters, much faster.

So, when a meeting of the Righteous Alliance was called, the Icefire Sect decided to send their Saint and a small blonde boy to represent.

"I hope you can be polite with the others...Holy Son. Those old monsters are not as enduring as I am." the Saint advised our hero as the City of a Thousand Spires appeared on the horizon.

Pef heard him but declined to answer, being rather busy scanning and storing the qi transmissions all around. As as dozens of messages were indeed encrypted, some of them with the Nether Code already known, the little blonde menace had quite a busy time, locating the senders and decrypting the messages.

'Humans are quite stupid, when looked at as a whole. So many secrets, released in the open...' Pef mused inward as the little Icefire logged every cultivator above Emperor Realm, along with their true allegiances and mental states.

'Your mental shield is still at the basic level, little user. If a Saint pushes hard enough, it will break.' Icefire warned the boy, as to not get too complacent.

'...At least I have one, unlike anyone else here below the Saints.' Pef answered with a scowl. An open mind was purely an invitation to invasion, and the Netherservants took full advantage of that.

Two guards flew out from the city to intercept the Saint carrying a child on his shoulder, then bowed politely as they realized whom they met. "Ice Saint, your Sect will be housed in the Silver Cloud Spire" one of them spoke while pointing at a rather decrepit tower at the edge of the city.

The Saint frowned and flew by without a word. "This was a veiled insult from our hosts, the Flame Anvil Association. It seems there won't be a need to be too polite after all." the man muttered as cold flames began to burn in his eyes.

Pef just shrugged and instead admired the trade city with the thousand spires, a somewhat familiar sight comparable to the skyscrapers in his memory. Except each spire was also a giant turret, able to fire with qi cannons or thousands of crossbow bolts at any approaching enemy, be they beasts or men.

"Silver clouds have silver linings, frosty guy. Take me to the cannon, I want to see the weapon." he asked while patting the Saint on his head.

"...You can be polite with me." the old man grunted as he flashed forward and landed just beside the cannon and its guards.

Pef just jumped off and ran excited near the cannon. "Is this a real qi gun? Is it strong? Can it shoot down dragons?" he asked while smiling cutely at the guards, while also patting the weapon to get a feel of its secrets.

"Child! Don't touch the gun! And there are no dragons!" a guard shouted while moving to intercept.

"Hmph! Touch our Holy Son and your broken spire will be shattered to bits. Or are you afraid of a 9-year-old?" the Ice Saint scoffed as he flared his ice qi and restricted the guard with his Ice Domain.

"Don't kill them, big guy! I want to know more first. What does it shoot? How to you aim it? Do you use your own qi to recharge it?" the blonde boy inquired with a serious look on his angelic face.

"...It can shoot enchanted spears or pure mana globes, depending on the mana crystal and the rank of the gunner. Right now, it has a nearly full Lava Crystal so it can even wound Monarchs, if you can hit them. Monarchs are awful fast." another gunner replied with a kinder smile.

"Oh! Our Sect Master is a Monarch. He is so fast too, just appears beside you!" Pef gushed out as he ran around to stare inside the barrel of the gun.

"...Saint, please don't cause problems. Your Sect's quarters should be 50 floors down." the first guard muttered as he watched the energetic child run around the precious (and secret) weapon.

"Let's buy a gun like this, frosty guy! I can go hunting some big monsters then..." Pef demanded as he jumped into the Saint's arms and was placed on his shoulder.

"Maybe a smaller one..." the Saint muttered audibly as he flew off the roof.

"...We don't sell these cannons, do we?" the second gunner wondered a bit confused.

"Of course we don't! Are you listening to a small child now? The cannon needs to be washed now, get to it!" the first guard yelled in frustration.

He knew the Saint was upset for the shoddy spire they were housed in, and the child was just curious. But a small qi cannon would be nice to have, if anyone could make it.

'Did you get it all, little Icefire?' Pef asked inward as they got welcomed into their apartment on the 51st floor.

'We did, little one. But it will take a while to create a copy.' Icefire answered in a second.Pef just grinned devilishly. An army needed weapons after all.