Two decades later...
Hou rose from his bed, stretching. He moved over to a window and looks out, a massive mountain peak surrounding everything. He looked down, seeing a while village and large palaces. This was the Hou sect.
It was surrounded by mountain ranges, protecting it from any danger, these were not natural though. They were created from a spirit Hou gained, one that creates mountains where he wants. The sect had grown much larger. They could settle down side they had enough power and protection.
Real buildings were built, a fully functioning town even if the works outside was dead, in the Hou sect all was fine. There were thousands of buildings, and even though it was a sect, not everyone was a 'sect member'.
When Hou made the initial sect, everyone had to be sect members but now that life was safe, there were ordinary people. Anyone could live in peace, they wouldn't get sect benefits like housing and food but they would be safe.
The town was real, in the way that it had people living in there who made their own living from the businesses they create.
Those in the civilian sector paid the sect tax which was used for protection and public services (and sect needs). There was a real economy developed, even currency. There were printed money backed by the sect which was used as the universal currency.
Hou took a fresh breath from the cold morning air and turned around. He made a whistle and his robe materialised from his skin. It was stored inside his body and when needed could moved outward.
Hou opened up his door, a design told to him by Yue. It was a wooden frame with a fabric paper insert, you could not see through it but it let light through. It slid on a set of rails to the side, letting Hou see his house.
It was a small house, built to the side of the tallest mountain in the middle of the sect. On it one could see past the mountain ranges into the corrupted miasma-filled lands around.
Hou had another spirit which could create a separate atmosphere. Unlike the outside world, Hou sect was a bright vivid green, there were fields on the outer area nearing the mountains.
Hou walked into his open area, all large room with wide windows on one corner, in the middle, a fire pit for cooking. Hou looked out of the windows and then slid then across.
A gust of wind flew into the room, but Hou was still regardless. He flew into the sky out of his house into the clouds.
Hou flew down from his mountaintop, flying down into a barren space. A walled off training area with stone squares on the floor, this was a practical point. They needed a solid ground but choose some slabs so if broken they can be switched out.
Hou flew down and gently landed onto the stone.
"Hamar, how are you!" Hou put out his arms to the side shouting into the training grounds.
A sudden gush of wind went through the ground, leaves flew to Hou's direction and the ground shook.
Instantly, to outside observers, Hamar appeared in front of Hou. He looked older, his hair all grey and skin wrinkled. Although he looked old, he carried himself with the power and energy of a youth.
"It is good to see you, do you want to spar a little?"
"I would love to, come" Hou held out his hand in front of him towards Hamar.
Hamar drew his sword from his hip. It was a beautiful black blade, it had an amazing tinge of purple. It was a spider's fang which was crafted into a blade with love by an artisan when the two hunted a massive spider.
It was the size of a mountain and could let out poisonous fog, luckily it was defeated by the combined power of Hou and Hamar. They had grown to be the apex of strength, and any damage could be healed by Armen.
Hamar took the first step, moving forward with enough power to break the stones he stood upon. In a fraction of a moment Hamar's blade was shaking floating around Hou's forearm.
The blade was covered by aura, a light sharp energy created by mana and training. Hamar could slice into mountains but with an intangible force Hou blocked it with ease.
Hou took his attack, with a wave of his hand, Hamar flew into the air pushed by an invisible force. This was not the symbiote he had previously but another new spirit which did much the same.
Hou withdrew his hand and waited for Hamar to come back.
Hamar flew into the air and lost consciousness due a split second, until he woke up and focused. Under his foot a wall of light formed, he kicked off it flying back down to Hou at speed. He gained so much speed he created a booming sound, kicking surrounding people over.
Hou took Hamar's charge from the sky easily, he actually sat down! Hou was relaxed and sat down, everything the astral realm, he then modified a law and returned. Instantly, Hamar slowed to a halt, then gravity acted once more and he fell at normal speed onto Hou.
Easily however, Hou deflected the aura blade with a whip of his forearm.
Hamar got up and rushed back, starting at Hou. Hou, too, looked at Hamar before relaxing his shoulders. Hamar relaxed and sheathed his sword, releasing the aura.
Hou and Hamar both put their fists to palms and bowed.
"Thank you for entertaining my spar, I still have a long way to go"
"It was my pleasure" Hou responded in kind and then released his bow.
"However I have another reason to come to you, it is time."
Hamar nodded at Hou with a very serious expression.
"I shall follow"
With that said, Hou and Hamar set off. Hou flew into the sky and Hamar ran in the sky, aura floors materialising below his feet.
The two travelled across the mountain range. They locked up many people, since could fly but those who could not, Hou lent them a false spirit will to allow them to.
Later that day, all important people in the sect was in a room. It was inside the mountain Hou lived atop. A plain rock cavern, only special thing was a series of lines below their feet. The whole floor was covered in an intricate 3d blood formation.
Not only that, there were various ingredients strewn across too. There were plants, rocks, animals, all sorts of material in separated blood circles.
The whole group stood in a main blood circle, as Hou started to talk.
"Today, we take a risk. Today, if we succeed, we will go into the past and start our attack against that cultivator who created monsters and miasma!"