As the meeting concluded, the great doors of the Sylvaneth palace opened, and the leaders of the Great noble families began to file out in orderly fashion, their expressions solemn and resolved.One by one, they disappeared into the twilight, their aides following behind like shadows.The hall slowly emptied, leaving only three figures behind:King Elpis Evergreen, Queen Elara Evergreen, and Belenus Lumina.The green glow of mana-crystals continued to bathe the great hall in a soft, ethereal light as Belenus approached the throne once more, no longer bound by the formal restraint he wore during the council.“Do you really believe Conri will act?” Belenus asked, his tone shedding the usual formal veneer of court.Elpis leaned back in his living throne, his sharp eyes drifting toward the vaulted ceiling above.“He will. Among all the Great Families, those with the deepest bloodlust have always hailed from the North.”Elpis’s voice was low, sure.“I’ve known Conri for years—even before h

Without wasting time, the two departed the Bluemoon estate and began their journey south, heading toward the Black Fur Sect—where tensions near the borders were starting to rise.A Week Later – Riverwind Territory, Western Border RegionNestled deep within the Riverwind family’s territory—known across Verdantia as Springfield—stood a fortified stronghold near the western edge, not far from the tri-border junction between Lunaris, Springfield, and the territory of Stormreach.The fortress, constructed from pale-gray stone quarried from the highlands, stood firm amidst a thick forest and surrounding wetlands.Its high walls were scarred with age, wrapped in moss and lichen, and partially hidden by towering evergreens.Murky Half frozen water pooled around the base where forest met swamp.Narrow watchtowers rose above the tree line, their guards vigilant, eyes scanning the horizon.Within, the mood was tense.Smoke rose from torches lit inside the war chamber, casting flickering shadows

The following day…At the Black Fur Sect, Oasis spent nearly half the day seated in stillness, his gaze distant as he monitored the movements of the invaders.Above the sect grounds, high in the cold afternoon sky, Vesta soared invisibly, her senses merged with his own.Venak, meanwhile, remained inside the room, cross-legged and cultivating quietly.Through Vesta and his Divine Peak, Oasis studied their prey with relentless focus.He noted how meticulously the fifty invaders blended into the local towns and villages.They never moved in groups larger than three, never acknowledged one another openly.Even if twenty of them entered a town, they pretended to be strangers, sometimes even staging arguments among themselves to dispel suspicion.Some posed as laborers searching for work. Others played the role of friendly volunteers helping local farmers.A few lingered at the edges of towns, targeting traders on the roads.Still others hid deep within the forests and along the canals, pre

The mist slowly unraveled, thinning like stretched silk as the cold wind drifted through the snow-laden forest.What had been a dense veil moments ago now exposed the truth underneath—carnage, swift and silent.Venak stood amid it all, his blade dripping, his breath steady.Around him lay the slain bodies of awakened cultivators .Their blood soaked into the snow, steam rising faintly as warmth met frost.Some had fallen in mid-swing, others with wide eyes, unaware of the strike that ended them.There was no struggle now. Only stillness.From the vanishing mist stepped Oasis, calm as ever.No scratches, no blood. Just his piercing gaze and the fading hum of spiritual and magical energy that had once filled the forest.“Let’s head back,” he said coolly, glancing at the scene.Venak gave a small nod, but said nothing.He wiped his blade against the robe of a corpse and sheathed it, then whistled softly as he rested his hands behind his neck.The way he moved—casual, even playful—stood i

The atmosphere inside the inn was dense—not from heat or crowding, but from tension.Soldiers and patrol cultivators from Black fur sect sat hunched in corners, their postures rigid, their voices hushed.Not a single cough dared to escape.No one moved for the door.Even the innkeeper stood like a statue behind the counter, eyes flickering to the veiled woman and her company seated among the common folk like wolves at a sheep’s table.Tension had woven itself into the walls like thick webbing.The presence of the Blood Letum was suffocating.Yet Oasis, seated casually at the inn’s largest table, seemed oblivious.He chewed slowly, savoring the soft dumplings and broth, even calling for seconds.Venak, ever instinctual, followed his lead, quietly eating with measured calm.The only one who truly seemed nervous was Ragar, whose hands trembled slightly as he lifted his spoon.“He doesn’t even blink,” Ragar thought as he kept sneaking glances at Oasis.“After what I did earlier… is he rea