The Gloom Desolation wasn't right. That wouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone, Astrid imagined. The locals were aware that almost nothing grew within their territory, and aside from darkness the spiritual energy was lacking. For them, it was an acceptable situation where they maintained pure darkness cultivators- but they didn't thrive.

As for outsiders, it was clear from the first moments that things were not as they should be. At the very least, it would be expected to have more darkness element flora and fauna, but they were just as lacking as everything else. There were occasional patches throughout the region where such things thrived, but the name Desolation was not granted casually.

All this Astrid felt, and she also thought she determined what should have been there. She had her answer for Melanthina. "There should be earth and light elements here, somewhere." She crouched down, tracing her hands across the soil. "Buried, perhaps?"

"Do you sense it?" Melanthina asked.

Astrid shrugged. "Vaguely. A decade ago, I don't think I would have. My senses would have been overwhelmed by the darkness."

Melanthina nodded. "I believe we should bring this discovery to Tenzing. The people of the Gloom Desolation have a choice to make. There is a significant amount of light element bound beneath the ground… but I think that ultimately it would be better even for their darkness cultivators if it were freed."

Nik agreed. "Obviously I find value in light and darkness together. There should be enough insulating elements that the two energies don't annihilate each other. It might be more difficult to access the darkness without the right methods, however."

Astrid thought for a few moments. "I can't say I fail to see how a proper balance of elements here would help. It would be difficult to judge otherwise, with John. However, the locals might not be so easy to convince."

"And yet," Melanthina said, "It must be done. Unless the continent wishes to subsidize their growth for the sake of defending ourselves from the southern seas."

"That might not be the worst," Astrid countered. "It might even be possible to promote some sort of growth of the land itself with outside resources."

"You believe that?" Melanthina asked.

"I think we need to consider the option," Astrid said. "Not presenting it to the locals would be problematic."

Melanthina sighed, "I agree, unfortunately. Even if I think unsealing the land somehow would be the correct choice."

Nik held no further opinions than what had already been voiced. The three of them and their retinues set out towards Port Dusk, taking the oft neglected land route.

-----

The initial meeting with Tenzing went well enough that he called upon the governors of other ports and some prominent sects in the region. Of course, his deference was expected as even if all were supposed to be equal, the Gloom Desolation still had no Ascending Soul Phase cultivators. He was one of the closest, but that still put him decades behind- presuming that he could maintain the same pace as those from other regions. That was an easily disprovably presumption.

"We do not intend to dictate your path," Astrid said, "But we must ask that you choose one after careful consideration." She said more or less the same thing that Melanthina would have, but her position was slightly more prominent. However, she would not discount the prior connections Melanthina had in the area- it was simply that providing her backing legitimized their intentions over a wider area. As far as official positions went, the wife of a prominent sect head was slightly more than that of a daughter that ran her own clan.

Whether it should have been wasn't Astrid's business. She was simply able to speak with a broader authority.

Along with Tenzing, those they most needed to agree were Shukrat of the Midnight Bolts and Merjem of the Silent Spirit Sect. The Dark Shore and Tenzing were naturally most influential along the coast. The other two were prominent in different parts of the Gloom Desolation. It was possible that they would go along with the opinions of the majority, but they could have a great sway.

Whatever happened, it was most important that everyone supported the same path. Either one of the two options they had provided… or keeping the status quo. Not that any of the visitors could recommend the latter in the slightest.

"When I visited previously," Melanthina took an opportunity to speak, "I was allowed to peruse some old records. I found little conclusive evidence, but in several unrelated records from different clans and sects I learned of efforts to seal away something- presumably the light element. While this was expected to be a boon for the local cultivators, it does not appear to have had the intended results."

"Light might have been naturally eliminated," Nik mentioned. "Slightly reducing the prominence of the darkness element. However, with earth being sealed as well we believe the loss of a supporting element caused more harm than the potential benefits. Furthermore, with recent technique developments, converting that somewhat prominent earth element into darkness would be more feasible."

"That's correct," Astrid continued, "Any reduction in darkness from interaction with light would be more than offset by the gains. The techniques required are easy enough to learn, with the Six Elements Crossroads making them widely available. It may disturb your routines, but ultimately it should be beneficial. Alternatively, a similar or greater effort must be put towards enhancing the region itself. The continent has been providing some resources, of course. It would take more than that to bring the region into a proper state in the near future."

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"Could we not just use those resources to develop our cultivators as we do now?" Shukrat asked.

"You could…" Astrid began. "You may even raise an Ascending Soul Phase cultivator from among your ranks within a decade or two. However, they would likely be the only one in half a century. In the course of a hundred years, you might have a few. If either the unsealing or development options work as planned, you could raise up a younger generation that is full of such cultivators in that same time. And of course, you would no doubt advance yourselves."

Merjem pondered for a few moments. "Would we not be worthy of more resource investment after producing a single Ascending Soul Phase cultivator?"

Astrid took a few moments to think through her answer. "With all due respect, a single Ascending Soul Phase cultivator is nothing." She gestured to Nik and Melanthina. "The Tenebach clan has three. The same of the Brandle clan. The Six Elements Crossroads has but two only because we are still on the first generation of disciples. You know how many the Sky Islands once had, and they still have many."

"We only wish for your region to prosper," Melanthina said. "You are part of the continent. Our support will not waver as we have need for you, but I think you would much prefer having no need of it. A transformation as we speak of will be what you need to keep up with the rising age."

Tenzing spoke hesitantly. "I trust the intentions of the Six Elements Crossroads and the Tenebach clan. However, should we really undo the efforts of our ancestors?"

Melanthina answered confidently. "If they were wrong? Absolutely. I doubt this is the result they intended, so either they failed and the sealing must be undone. Alternatively, their vision was incomplete and simply must be finished. Feel free to take some time to think it over."

-----

The next day after consulting among themselves, they returned with questions. Tenzing took the lead. "Should the sealing of the land be undone- presuming that is possible- what ratios of elements could be expected?"

That was something Melanthina had taken careful consideration of. Astrid had been brought to provide a final opinion. Melanthina had a clear enough answer. "Darkness would remain somewhat close to what it is now. Earth would return to being a proper secondary element, prominent above the rest. Water, air, and fire would likely retain their current levels- perhaps air would diminish slightly. Light would once again be present, but no more than what is naturally occurring in the darklands."

Shukrat looked concerned. "Would we not end up with a situation like the Annihilation Strip?"

Astrid shook her head. "That would require a full portion of light element. This was just a small sliver that your ancestors seemed to believe were holding them back. I don't think it would have even been possible to live here if things were anything like that."

"Even so," Merjem commented, "If light element has been sealed for some time, are there not risks of something like that happening?"

Astrid nodded, "That is why you would have to be willing to devote resources to the task beyond simply the time of your cultivators. You would need to take proper precautions about how the energy flows are undone."

"Or we can develop the darkness," Tenzing said. "Why would that not be better for us?"

"It might not work," Melanthina said simply. "The soil and climate are different between here, the Darklands, and the Soulrot Bog. The coastal regions of the Muted Crags don't have much to offer. It is possible that the western islands might have something to contribute. It would set you back a few years if you wanted to wait to see."

"Or we could just remain as we are," Tenzing commented. "It wouldn't be… optimal, but we might make it work." Even he didn't believe that, though. He had witnessed too many Ascending Soul Phase cultivators around him.

"Well…" Nik made a face. "That might not actually be possible."

"What do you mean?"

"It's quite possible that the seal will break down. Melanthina and I have been observing things. For the second option, you might actually have to expend some of the resources to maintain that seal while otherwise improving the region. Again, assuming it is possible."

"So we're left with only one real suggestion," Tenzing said.

"We will support whatever decision you make," Astrid said. "Perhaps you can come up with another alternative."

She was quite convinced about the viability of broad element cultivation, however. The Six Elements Crossroads weren't the only ones flourishing due to new developments.

-----

It was a significant decision, one that the Gloom Desolation would not take mildly. Astrid spent much of the next several months waiting for results… while also convincing anyone that might need it that the continent would benefit. They were already sending resources to defend their coasts, but seeing said resources put to different purposes might bother some.

The person that mattered the most was trivial to convince. John accepted the situation as described with little effort. "I thought something was strange. I just never spent long enough to diagnose the whole situation. Good thing Melanthina was looking into it."

The continent wouldn't move just based on a single man's opinion… but it wasn't far from that. Harder than getting his agreement about the viability of the plan was convincing him that he didn't have to personally contribute.

"We can handle the matter ourselves." Astrid would be quite useful for breaking down earth element seals, and she would easily be able to handle any light that arose- unlike the locals. Melanthina and Nik together would maintain a proper balance as they figured out the mechanics of how the situation was held together. From what she had heard, it appeared the entire region had been twisted into a large enchantment formation. It did what it was meant for, but didn't necessarily produce the results that were desired.

After many centuries, it was time to assess what needed to change. Astrid didn't believe that the Gloom Desolation would choose to remain as they were. Even if their top cultivators could grow and dominate the others in the region, they would have the rest of the continent to compare themselves to. Just a few people growing wouldn't be enough.

They might try to populate the lands with more suitable flora and fauna, but that might not work without the earth element. She hoped they would investigate properly and confirm the same results- finding a better solution was unlikely. Especially with their lacking cultivations.

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