For the next few minutes Yan Ming was repeatedly beaten down brutally till he passed out in a miserable state.
Bennett dragged his bruised body out of the hole and hurled him over his shoulder without a care. "It's a pity I still can't figure out what happened to the forest but I'll leave the investigations to Ferras, I'll take care of this little brat first he's quite impressive to stand my aura without flinching, even taking on so many of my casual hits." He muttered with a twinkle in his eyes like he found a priceless treasure. It never occured to him that Yan Ming could be the cause of the commotion in the forest, he couldn't even react before he got wrecked into dust, if he had the chance to cast a spell the "battle" might have ended differently. Bennett returned to the city wall, ordered the guards to clear out the forest area, and investigate for any possible source of danger then returned to the Imperial palace where the emperor and other court members were waiting. They were in the midst of a meeting when the commotion broke out. As cultivators of high realms, they immediately sensed the sudden anomaly, prompting the emperor to send Bennett, the head of the royal guards, to investigate. "Your imperial majesty, I already scanned the area for possible causes of the sudden Influx but there's nothing there, could've been a natural phenomenon or a cultivator breaking through to the ember core realm." Bennett said with a bow towards the emperor seated atop the throne. The emperor remained silent for a few seconds, tapping his armrest with a contemplative look "If it's a natural phenomenon it must be the birth of a divine treasure." "I've given the orders for Ferras to search the Tedra forest, if it really is a divine treasure we'll receive feedback soon, if it's a cultivator breaking through then he might just be passing by, either ways it doesn't pose any threat towards the capital." "A new Ember Core realm cultivator, I wonder which empire he belongs to, breaking through right in front of my capital." "Who's that kid?" The emperor asked with a slight gesture towards the unconscious Yan Ming hanging limply on Bennett's shoulder. Bennett dropped him onto the ground without a care and said "He's the only witness I found on site, he refused to comply or answer my questions so I brought him along for investigation." He said generating a wave of attention towards the unconscious lad. "Heber, isn't that one of your kids? Your fifth son if I can recall, the cripple." A middle aged man said with a slight smirk on his face placing an emphasis on the word "cripple" The news of the crippled Frostmoon family's fifth son was not new to those present but while others didn't pay anymore attention to it Bennett raised an eyebrow when he heard the middle aged man's words. "Are you sure it's him? Even though I can't recognize him I still recall him being in the early stages of the body tempering realm." His words generated a spark of interest in the meeting, Heber asked with a frown "What do you mean?" Bennett's words to him felt like sarcasm, his fifth son had always been a source of shame to him for years and his opponents never let go of any small opportunity to poke a few taunts at him. "When I found him he was in the first stage of the spiritual awakening realm, you could check yourself." "Spiritual awakening realm? Are you sure about what you're saying?" Heber asked with a puzzled look on his face, walked over to the unconscious Yan Ming lying on the ground and placed a palm on his chest after which his eyes widened. "He really broke through to the spiritual awakening realm! It can't be.." The room burst into chatters when Bennett suddenly said. "I want to take him in as my personal disciple!" --- Yan Ming opened his eyes to find himself in a room. The furniture and artistry blended seamlessly, creating a soothing atmosphere but he paid it no mind. He stood up from the bed and walked over to the stand nearby, recalling what happened to him before passing out he almost passed out again from the anger but decided to stay rational. "Isn't this my room in the Frostmoon family? Why am I back here? I can't believe I lost so miserably to an ember core realm cultivator." {If you had your flames it wouldn't be this troublesome but your flames are currently sealed, just give me some time to unseal Olethros, I'm under hibernation right now, concentrating all my energy to recover and unseal your flames} "How long will it take to unseal Olethros?" {A few weeks at least} "Too long!" {I can make it done in ten days if I shut down all other activities} "Still too long I'm not prepared to stay in the mortal realm for long, are there any other ways to unseal it?" {If there's an excessive supply of energy I can shorten it down, the higher the supply the lower the time it'll take} "How long left before Olethros is unsealed?" {Seven Infernal Flames Of Hell} {Olethros: Status (sealed)} {Unsealing process: 24/10000} {Odyne: Status (sealed)} {Unsealing process: 0%} {Epithymia: Status (sealed)} {Unsealing process: 0%} {Apate: Status (sealed)} {Unsealing process: 0%} {Ktisis: Status (sealed)} {Unsealing process: 0%} {Abussos: Status (sealed)} {Unsealing process: 0%} {Palingenesia: Status (sealed)} {Unsealing process: 0%} "This all happened because of those three!" {I'll advise you stay here for now, find sources to gather energy and shorten the unsealing process, that's the only option we have right now} "Fine, I'll reign in for now." Yan Ming said then made a move for the door, pulling it open in a single swing he walked into a courtyard filled with flowers and a few maids hurrying around tending to their jobs. The moment he appeared all eyes in the courtyard were drawn over to him. "Young lord Draxus!" "Big brother!" 'Wait, I have a sister?'Latest Chapter
The Warden's Response
They made camp at the valley's edge as evening settled over the still lake, Yan Ming settlinginto meditation near the water's shore in hopes that whatever mechanism had first drawn theWarden's attention to this location might respond similarly to their return. Qing Chun keptwatch nearby, golden-white light occasionally flickering at her fingertips as she continued herown quiet practice while they waited.Hours passed without any sign of the Warden's return, the valley's silver-shimmering treesrustling softly in a gentle evening breeze, the lake's still surface reflecting the graduallyemerging stars with perfect, undisturbed clarity. Yan Ming was beginning to wonder if theattempt had been misguided when a familiar, layered voice finally broke the silence."You've returned sooner than I expected."Yan Ming's eyes opened immediately, finding the Warden seated on the same flat stone he'doccupied during their first encounter, grey robes settling around him as though he'd simplyalw
The Captives
The captured Concord agents proved considerably more forthcoming than the Tian clan's earlierinterrogation of the fleeing traitor's associates, whether from the visible devastation of theirfailed assault or simple exhaustion after weeks of demanding service to a cause several of themprivately admitted they'd never fully understood. Elder Rushan conducted the questioningpersonally, flanked by two of her most trusted elders, while Yan Ming observed from ashadowed corner of the interrogation chamber, old instinct sharpening at every fragment ofuseful information."Tell me about the array," Elder Rushan said to the most senior of the captured agents, aweathered man whose Ember Core cultivation marked him as considerably more experiencedthan his younger companions. "What have you heard about its purpose?"The agent hesitated, old loyalty warring visibly against the practical calculation of a man whounderstood his current position offered little room for continued defiance. "Only f
The Mountain Halls
Rest, as it turned out, proved shorter-lived than Elder Rushan's hospitality had promised. YanMing woke well before dawn to the unmistakable sensation of alarm formations activatingsomewhere deep within the mountain stronghold, old instinct pulling him upright beforeconscious thought had fully caught up to the danger."Something's wrong," he said, already reaching for Qing Chun's shoulder to wake her from theadjoining sleeping mat.She stirred immediately, years of travel together having sharpened her own reflexesconsiderably since their first weeks on the road. "What is it?""Alarm formations. I don't know the cause yet, but it's close." He was already moving towardthe chamber's entrance, crimson-gold flame kindling reflexively at his fingertips. "Stay close."They emerged into the stronghold's corridors to find them filled with hurrying clan members,some armed and moving toward the mountain's lower levels, others clearly civilians beingdirected toward secured inner chambers
The Ember Vale Request
Word arrived three days later, carried by a travel-worn messenger bearing the Ember ValeClan's insignia, requesting Yan Ming and Qing Chun's presence at their territory directly ratherthan continuing to coordinate purely through correspondence. Tian Shen read the letter twicebefore passing it across his study's desk, expression thoughtful."They're asking for more than information sharing," he said. "Their message suggests they'veencountered something specific — an artifact or technique recovered from a skirmish withConcord scouts, something they believe requires expertise beyond what their own elderscurrently possess.""And they think I'm the one who might understand it." Yan Ming scanned the letter's careful,formal phrasing, old wariness mixing with cautious curiosity. "Did they say what kind ofartifact?""Only that it bears markings unlike anything in their clan's historical records, and that it wasrecovered from a Concord agent killed during a border skirmish two weeks ag
Deeper Into the Seal
True to his word, Yan Ming began the following morning with a return to the deliberate,dangerous work of unsealing more of his restrained cultivation, retreating to a heavily wardedchamber deep within the Tian clan's palace that Tian Shen had personally arranged for exactlythis purpose — thick stone walls layered with containment formations, designed to absorb anyerrant surge of power that might otherwise threaten the surrounding structure."You're certain about pushing further?" Tian Shen asked, watching from the chamber'sthreshold as Yan Ming settled into a meditative stance at its center, the Restriction Key'spendant clutched carefully against his chest. "The scouts' report gave us months, not days.There's no need to rush this recklessly.""There's every need," Yan Ming replied, eyes already closed, breathing settling into the slow,measured rhythm of deep meditation. "Feng Lie Zun knows we're organizing against him now,thanks to the traitor's information. Whatever timeline
Terms of the Alliance
Morning arrived with the Tian clan's palace grounds still bearing faint scars of the previousday's assault — scorched stone along the archive wing's outer wall, freshly reinforced wardshumming visibly along every entrance, guards posted in numbers that hadn't been necessarybefore the traitor's betrayal had come to light. The assembled delegates reconvened in the greathall with considerably less ease than they'd carried into the summit's opening session, warinessnow coloring every exchange, every glance toward unfamiliar faces among their own retinues."Before we finalize anything," the Azure Tide Sect's representative said, arms crossed as shesurveyed the room, "I want assurances that yesterday's breach won't be repeated. If Concordagents can infiltrate the Tian clan's own staff, what's stopping them from doing the same to anyof our territories once this alliance becomes public knowledge?""Nothing, entirely," Tian Shen admitted, meeting her gaze without flinching from theunc
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