Corpse Mountain Settlement, despite the ominous name, it was once one of the greatest sites of agriculture; the western region's greatest distributor of crops.
The Settlement had tilled fields with simple irrigation.
From simple crops, such as millet, rice, barley and so on, to more lavish crops, such as spices, sugarcane, and ginseng.
Fruits that are turned into wines and alcohol. Leaves that get turned into various teas. Flowers that get turned into perfume.
Corpse Mountain Settlement had some of the most diverse fields with a myriad of different plants.
However, the crimson lustre of the bloody soil and the myriad verdant fields were currently covered in snow.
The blanket of Winter had long since descended, shrouding Corpse Mountain in a chilling white.
What little of the tilled fields were stripped bare.
Crops were taken in and stored in bundles. Warehouses were filled to the brim with entire fields' worth of wheat, rice, spices, and such.
Now a barren land, Corpse Mountain had lost its prestige as the greatest source of agriculture, not because of the barren fields or Winter's embrace, but because it would soon become desolate.
Sun was helping the denizens to gather their crops and relocate them to the newly built warehouses of the central districts.
"I am glad to see you alive and active, Senior Sun."
"Yes, we had only seen you when you treated us after the second tide. Had it not been for you, who knows when we could get back on our feet."
By Sun's side was a small group of First Foundation Cultivators and mortal warriors.
Most of them were of the injured that Sun had treated before.
"No, I only did so little to help, but it is reassuring to see you all in good health."
Despite such ruinous ordeals, such as those Demonic Cultivators who attacked the Settlement and left the Settlement in a disadvantageous position, morale was high.
Sun himself was feeling a subtle feeling of pride, not only surviving, but also saving people.
To see the effects of his actions affecting the world, in a good manner. He feels comfortable enough to excuse a portion of his time spent inactive.
"Sun!"
Calling out his name was a female cultivator dressed in brown robes.
"Senior Autumn? What do you request of me?"
"Just call me Autumn. Seniors wish to see you again. Are you free now?"
"Again...? Yes, I am free. Ah. Just let me drop this off first."
"Let us take it, Sun. Go on and meet our seniors."
That last voice came from one of the mortal Cultivators.
They offered to take his burden of work; it was the least they could do to show their gratitude.
"If you have nothing else, may we leave now, Sun?"
"Yes. Let us go."
Sun was pulled out of his duties and joined Shade of Autumn.
'I feel as if Autumn had been calling me around a lot lately... Senior Spring, too. I wonder what they wish to talk about this time?'
In just a moment, Sun and Autumn had reached the Settlement Lord's complex, where Warrior of Spring and Call of Winter were being accommodated.
Shade of Autumn led them to a study room. She knocked on the door and received permission to enter.
Upon walking through, Sun felt a formless pressure wash over him, a familiar feeling that he remembers from a bygone time, and a similar feeling to the one surrounding his head.
"Please, sit down, Sun. We have a very important matter to discuss with you."
"Yes, Senior."
Warrior of Spring and Call of Winter both sat side by side behind a wide desk.
The latter gave Shade of Autumn a subtle glare and received a nod in return.
Autumn stood with her back to the door.
Sun did not notice this as he sat down to face his two seniors.
"Senior Spring, Senior Winter, what is it that you request of me?"
"First of all, the matters we are about to discuss must be kept with the utmost discretion. We can not let these matters be heard by anyone else."
"Okay... Yes, I understand, but what exactly are we discussing? Something of such importance..."
"We have an offer to make to you, Sun."
"...?"
Warrior of Spring nodded to Call of Winter, who laid out the entirety of the proposal.
"As you know, Immortal Union is missing, believed to be dead. Union Settlement is in ruins, while the subsidiary Mortal Settlements are now without backing."
"We plan to unite these Settlements into Veiled Forest Settlement. Corpse Mountain Settlement's Lord has already agreed to convene with us, and we have sent notice to Silver Extreme, who should be at Iron Mountain Quarry Settlement."
"With Silver Extreme's support, we would have an easier time annexing the other Settlements, but due to a peculiarity on our part, between us, Four Seasons' Cultivators, an issue will arise which disturbs our plans."
Sun received all this information and processed it slowly.
'They wish to unite the other Settlements? Without Lord Immortal Union as their backer, and considering these current ordeals, they will likely not be able to stand on their own.'
'Uniting everyone will increase everyone's odds of survival, not just now, but allow the people to prosper, even without a greater power governing us. However...'
"This issue... I assume that it will be detrimental to your plans, which is why it requires utmost discretion?"
Warrior of Spring nodded as Call of Winter continued.
"You are familiar with the Four Seasons' Cultivator's reputation, yes? Brother Spring and I are State Cultivators. Sister Autumn is a Foundation Cultivator, but an expert among her peers."
Sun nodded, understanding the prestige behind this group of Cultivators.
"Do you know of Herald of Summer?"
"Very little... I believe there is little known about him. I heard from the other Cultivators and mortal Warriors that he resides within Veiled Forest Settlement and never leaves."
"That is partially true. Summer does reside within Veil Forest Settlement, and there once was a Cultivator by that title. However, Herald of Summer does not live any more."
"What do you mean?"
"The previous Herald of Summer had died long ago, but we have upheld this fake visage. For years, we have continued to boast the name of a man who does not exist, but nobody knows of this."