"I apologize for our inadequate hospitality as we prepared this place hurriedly," the Prime Minister misunderstood. "If it isn't to your liking…"
"No need. We can stay here. Elder Terus, please," he spoke to a bird standing behind him.
The large sparrow nodded and extended both of his claws. One below and one above, he formed a cage with his hands as his fingers touched. A swirling conglomeration of Magic Energy appeared at the center like the starry sky. Four Magic Circles manifested simultaneously! One in each of his palms, and one across the ground, and one in the sky, large enough to cover the entire building! Prime Minister Pon-Wai and the Cardinals had a change in expression. They could feel… no, see the air fainting 'condensing' around the sparrow. It was pure World Energy! That was Condensed Drop! Furthermore, the sparrow grunted. Bloodline Ability: Starry Caged Sky!
"This… This is!"
Prime Minister Pon-Wai stood up in a panic, while Cardinal Loujin and Yongyu drew their weapons. The other Imperial Sentinels were also thrown into disarray. After all, the building disappeared in their eyes, replaced with a vast expanse of the starry sky! If not for the ground that still existed beneath their feet, then they would have clung onto each other and screamed in despair, believing they were about to fall to their deaths! Everyone geared themselves for a fight and looked at the birds viciously. This was clearly an act of war!
"This is Elder Terus's Bloodline Ability: Starry Caged Sky. Worry not, it isn't an offensive technique, so it won't harm you. I hope you won't mind our actions," Argo said calmly, looking at everyone's reactions.
"Is this another world?" Cardinal Yongyu blurted out in wonder. She took measured steps around the 'floor', worried that she might fall through at any moment.
"Of course not. It isn't anything like those legendary techniques from Rank 4 Emperors," he chuckled. "The room and building did not change places at all, and neither did we. Rather, Elder Terus can alter the perception of living beings inside to give them the false impression that 'space expanded'. Of course, he also tampered with the perception in both directions to give us a sense of security."
"Really?" Yongyu found it hard to believe and experimented. After walking some distance away, she really could feel the walls and other furniture. Her eyes widened. The room really did not change, but her senses did! Although Argo said it was not an offensive technique, the combat potential was extremely high!
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister thought over the new terms: Bloodline Ability, Rank, Emperor… They were still an unknown concept for humanity with few knowing like Elizabeth from the spirit Rena. That was how disengaged humanity was! So, the Prime Minister was running on guesses and assumptions. Yet, he could already roughly figure out how Ranks worked since it was a simple system, and Argo gave plenty of hints. And the question came, as expected…
"Prime Minister Pon-Wai, what Rank is humanity?" Argo smiled.
"We're Rank 3 as well," he replied instantly.
"Is that so?" the bird replied quizzically, with a hint of malice. "I find it hard to believe that the leader of a Rank 3 civilization would be a lowly Rank 1. Where are the Peak Rank 2s, Half-Rank 3s or Rank 3 Kings? I don't see them in your entourage."
"Acting Sect Master, you should understand our situation as well. I believe we told you that I am the temporary leader of the Xingyuu Empire because our leader, Emperor Lianghu, died months ago. Furthermore, I don't think that you have the qualifications to question our Ranking, right? You arrived in our land, but you're only five people," Pon-Wai returned the smile.
The Prime Minister promptly reversed the conversation as his eloquent speaking skills came in full swing. Argo observed the man's expressions thoroughly, trying to sieve out any flaws. However, the Prime Minister was calm and reserved, standing firm like a mountain. Strictly speaking, the Prime Minister had far more experience navigating troubled waters and political trickery than Argo. After all, the Featherwind Sect was unified under the Sect Master, leaving no room for debate. It was entirely different from the Xingyuu Empire where the political landscape was equivalent to a warzone! As a result, the bird could not tell if it was bluff or not, even though his gut was telling him it was!
Most importantly, the man spoke the truth. They were a party of five, facing against an entire empire! Although they were exceedingly strong individuals, possessed powerful spells and techniques, and comprehended many secrets, there was still a limit to what one could do. There was a saying that until one reached the level of a Rank 4 Emperor, numbers would win! It might take a thousand deaths, or even a million, but eventually the side with more numbers would prevail. That was all the more relevant to this poor bunch of birds, who slipped from half-Rank 3 back to Rank 2. Not to mention, the Luminous Central Origin was right on their back… Thinking to this point, Argo realized he grew too bold and took a step back.
"I only said that in jest. Please do not take that to heart." At the very least, humanity was at the pseudo-Rank 3 level, if not Rank 3! Escaping the Luminous Central Origin to anger another Rank 3 existence would be stupid beyond belief!
"No, I also acted out of line. Please forgive my rudeness."
The Prime Minister also pulled back his daring attitude and smiled. The two sides were two sides of the same coin. Neither understood the other party well enough, and that acted as a natural restraining force. Due to that, the ensuing discussion became harmonious, and they settled everything in the coming nights. No one knew exactly what happened inside due to the Starry Caged Sky Bloodline Ability. Afterwards, the Prime Minister placed heavy emphasis on sealing any speck of news from leaking, treating this matter above a top-grade national secret! Spies belonging to the Li Family, the Zino Kingdom, and even the Alzar Kingdom were helpless. They knew something huge transpired, but nothing more! That was how extreme the information control was!
Time passed slowly. From February, the wintery seasons came and went, bringing with it a fresh burst of spring. This time was when the Lannisail explosion rocked the Alzar Kingdom's capital, and the heavenly phenomenon dominated the Zino Kingdom's capital! Everyone was stunned silent with the outrageous news and questioned it vehemently. To think such a ridiculous matter would occur, one had to be mad! However, as the waves continued and the news poured out, people had to accept it! The Lannisail Household was destroyed! The Whispering Shadow was annihilated! The Arcellius Family was revived! One was crazier than the next, driving everyone into a frenzy. It completely drowned out the events at the Xi Wall and everyone soon forgot.
Until… In K.A. 515, at the first dawn of summer, the unthinkable finally happened! The Imperial Council unleashed a terrifying attack on the Li Family with unstoppable momentum! In a flash, five heavily guarded strongholds were captured without a chance to retaliate. They were the cornerstones of the Li Family's defensive line and had more than ten thousand guarding its walls! In the past hundred years, they stood strong against all adversity! They were almost deemed impenetrable! Even the titanic behemoth, the Alzar Kingdom, was forced to take the long way around and avoid them in the First Great Kingdom War. So, to hear that they were captured, everyone felt their worldview crashing down. And this became the spark that transformed into the raging fire that ravaged across the empire. It became the start of the Xingyuu Empire's civil war!