Near where those energies intersected, the landscape twisted and contorted like a whirlpool. A second later, the space shattered like glass as two figures stepped out. It was Elder Unvo and Terus from the Featherwind Sect! Elder Unvo extended his perception around warily in search of the Sword King. However, a Rank 3 King's perception range was many times greater than a Rank 2 Lord's. He would be discovered long before he discovered the Sword King. Thankfully though, it seemed like the man really left, leaving Elder Unvo to exhale in relief. To tease a Rank 3 King was to tease death itself. They were lucky to escape unscathed! The magpie unruffled his feathers and loosened his tense body.
"Thank you for your help, Elder Terus. If it weren't for you, I would've…"
"What are you saying? We've known each other for a long time. You don't need to thank me."
"I guess so," Elder Unvo chuckled nervously. "I didn't expect that the Alzar Kingdom's Rank 3 King would come personally."
As it turned out, what the Sword King sensed was Elder Unvo's martial technique, Sense Link! Sense Link allowed him to view the most recent memories of any animal he met, dramatically expanding his reconnaissance range. Although it lost to the thoroughness of a True Perception, in ideal conditions, it won against a Rank 3 King's perception range! Operating outside of the Yunyun Stronghold was how he evaded the Sword King's detection. Normally, he preferred to use this technique to hunt for treasures, but it could also be applied more generally to gather information. He had wanted to learn more about the kingdom's affairs, not alarm their Rank 3 King!
"It's strange though. My spell shouldn't be enough to ward off a Rank 3 King's True Perception," Elder Terus said.
"Maybe you improved your skill?" Elder Unvo suggested.
"I don't think so…"
Back in the Featherwind Sect's heyday, he was a Half-Rank 3 King and while he lacked the confidence to make that final step into Rank 3 King itself, he remained as one of their top experts right underneath the Sect Master. His Bloodline Ability, Starry Caged Sky, also played a pivotal role in the final Battle of the Featherwind Sect and later the Battle of Liguang! He was an unassuming monster in every sense of the word. However, that was in the past. Currently, thanks to the backlashes he suffered, he was a mere Mid-Rank 2 Lord and more specifically a Medium Condensed Drop Arcanist. His ability had plummeted severely from his peak, which led to his confusion. Even at his peak, he was far from matching a genuine Rank 3 King like the Sect Master or Commander Infernal Witch King. Therefore, it should be impossible for him to trick the Alzar Kingdom's Rank 3 King, especially when he was weakened.
"That's true… According to Elder Ludin and Crus, wasn't the Sword King supposed to be stronger than our own Sect Master? However, this crude technique and meager aura… It's still at the level of a Rank 3 King, but it's much weaker than our Sect Master," Elder Unvo pointed out.
"He does lack the sophisticated technique and refined control that our Sect Master has." It was like comparing a master painter to a fledging amateur. To the average onlooker, they might appear the same, but to the discerning eye, the difference was night and day. It was two worlds apart! Elder Terus turned cold. "Perhaps we overestimated the Alzar Kingdom as well. They might be weaker than we thought!"
Elder Unvo's eyelids twitched at the idea. Months ago, when he used his martial technique in Yongtein, he discovered Prime Minister Pon-Wai and the Imperial Council's treachery. Now, history seemed to repeat itself with Princess Elizabeth and the Alzar Kingdom! As the saying goes, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Elder Unvo felt incredibly frustrated and ashamed that the once great and mighty Featherwind Sect could be toyed like this!
"Don't stress yourself. We haven't fully healed yet," Elder Terus cautioned.
"I know," Elder Unvo exhaled. "Let's go. We should report this."
"Alright."
The two then took flight and vanished into the setting horizon.
***
In the city of Chongdu, Qianwing Province, the Li Family's elder council assembled once more. Originally, the elder council had ten members, but it dwindled down to half after the Battle of Liguang. Lord Foshan Li was one of those absent. It could not be overstated how important these elders were, especially Lord Foshan. As the former patriarch of the Li Family, and the current grand elder, he had vast influence over the family, and the empire as a whole. His words carried more weight than the current patriarch! Therefore, it was no surprise at all that their absence, combined with Imperian Qiang's rumored death in Liguang, created the perfect storm for the Li Family. Everything became a mess! The number of complaints or problems that they had to address recently was ridiculous. Suffice to say, everyone was exhausted and irritated. Nobody wanted to waste their time on another meeting.
"I'll make this simple," Lord Fengji announced. "The Instinct Realm swordsman, Sword King Sin Quelldown, has been spotted in the Yunyun Stronghold."
"So, that person is finally making his move?"
"Sword King Sin Quelldown… He's someone we can't underestimate."
Everyone was rightfully worried. In the past, they might have labelled a lone swordsman as anything but significant. Indeed, barring the Ten Dawns who could utilize large-scale tactical spells to affect an entire battlefield, a single man swinging a sword seemed woefully weak in comparison. Perception Realm Masters like Sir Winstin, Cardinal Hui, or Lady Mingyu might be pinnacle masters, legends of their generation, but they could never match the sheer destructive potential that the Ten Dawns wielded. That was reality. That was why the Alzar Kingdom, the Xingyuu Empire, and the Zino Kingdom… None of the three great powers of humanity ever placed an importance on them. They were delegated to simply guards and nothing more.
That sentiment changed with the Featherwind Sect's arrival. Starting with the Battle of the Maelstrom Gulf to the Battle of Liguang, they had consistently shown a domineering and undeniable presence on the battlefield. They could singlehandedly dictate the entire war! Anyone could tell that a new era where experts reigned supreme began. Sword King Sin Quelldown was the first Instinct Realm to emerge in over a century, surpassing every other genius or prodigy alive, and he grasped Martial Energy too. He easily became the strongest human in the world! His strategic potential was frightening to imagine. It was not limited to his fighting potential either, because if he could teach the Alzar Kingdom how to nurture Perception Realms with Martial Energy like the Featherwind Sect did to the Imperial Council… The kingdom would grow invincible! The elder council could not afford to let that happen.
"Could we send the Shen Family to assassinate him?"
"You know their patriarch isn't too receptive of us after what happened in Liguang."
Someone snorted. "Is he loyal to the Li Family or not? That's the only question he needs to answer. If he won't cooperate, then we'll use someone else. It's just that simple."
"Either way, it won't be easy to infiltrate the Yunyun Stronghold, much less assassinate an Instinct Realm. I think that approach might be hopeless."
"We still need to try. We can't let the kingdom succeed like this."
"I can organize something with the Shen Family then."
"Why don't we attack them directly?" Lady Hong-Lan suggested. "I know we're waiting for them to starve, but that would take too long. The Sword King takes precedence, don't we agree? We should coordinate with the council to siege the stronghold together."
"That's true. The council hasn't sustained any losses yet besides the Battle of Liguang. We can't let them sit by and reap all the benefits."
Everyone agreed, prompting Lord Fengji to say, "I will raise our concerns to Prime Minister Pon-Wai then and see what the council has in mind. However, we should also prepare ourselves. It's about time we choose the next leader of the Li Family." Looking over everyone's sly gazes, Lord Fengji waved his paper fan shut. "I trust everyone has their own ideas about who should be the next leader, but I'm not interested in hearing them. I will propose this instead. Lady Hong-Lan Li, you've been serving as the temporary matriarch of the Li Family, right? I hereby nominate you as the next matriarch of the Li Family!"
"What?" the other elders were outraged. Even Lady Hong-Lan herself was shocked.
"Relax. Depending on her performance, we'll judge whether she deserves her position or not," Lord Fengji said casually. He sounded like he was deciding what to eat for dinner, not the next leader of the Li Family! There was not the slightest bit of tension in his voice. "Lady Hong-Lan Li, you won't disappoint us, will you?"
"No…" the woman replied weakly. Although she always wanted to be the matriarch, this was not how she wanted to do it. She was the equivalent of a spare part, ready to be thrown away!
"Good. Work hard, and you may keep your position." Ignoring her dark face, he continued, "The Sword King's affairs isn't the only thing that I wanted to discuss. We've finally received the results of the Alzar Kingdom's inheritance race. Their new monarch is…"