For most people, there existed an irreparable rift between the Sage's Valley and the empire. In their view, it wouldn't be a surprise if the two forces suddenly declared war on each other. Truthfully, it was more surprising that the peace had lasted this long. especially Considering the tensions apparent between the two parties.
So, when emperor Ira decided to present one of the handful of perfect conduit weapons in existence as a gift to his enemies' child, the delegates in attendance where rightfully confused.
After all, the perfect conduits were of strategic importance, as their use could significantly increase the destructive capabilities of a cultivator.
The reason for this was simple. Due to the nature of aura, the most powerful techniques involved a person emitting their aura outside of their body. But because of aura's penchant for rapid diffusion when outside of a person's body, a significant amount of aura was wasted upon release.
In some cases, up to 60% of the aura was wasted when emitted from the body. Skilled users could lower that figure to 40%, but there has never been a person with 0% wastage.
It was for this reason that conduits were so important, 60, 70 and 80% conduits were the norm. 90% conduits were national level treasures and perfect conduits could cause wars.
In battles between cultivators even a few percentage points disparity in aura potency could mean the difference between life and death. And when one reaches the highest levels of cultivation even a 1% difference could shift the scales in one direction or the other.
When considering the factors of aura dissipation, one would be correct in posing the question of maintaining the aura within your body and using it that way. However, there is a problem with that argument. The human body itself has a maximum capacity for aura usage (This is separate from the capacity of aura storage).
While the body can theoretically store an endless quantity of aura, the amount that can be used without harming the body was limited. The body in its base untrained state can safely utilize about 20-40% of the total aura stored in a person's Aura Sea. There existed ways to raise this threshold through training and there existed entire sects that followed this branch of cultivation (the Isle of Might for example). But it's a general rule of thumb within the Acies continent that cultivators that fought using emission were more explosive, and cultivators who fought with their body had more endurance. This was due simply to the limitations of aura.
There existed exceptions of course (Peter Invicta for example), but that was a story for another day.
***
Seeing the audience's reaction to his gift, Ira could only sigh to himself. "These ignorant children, so hungry for war. If only they knew what it entailed."
Before returning to his seat, Ira stopped for a minute to kindly greet Isabella.
"Do you know who I am? I'm your uncle Ira" said Ira in the softest tone he could muster.
Isabella clearly frightened by Ira's ferocious appearance, hid herself in her mother's embrace. Leaving Ira at a loss of what to do.
Seeing this Zander didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"At least you tried" Zander said with a soft chuckle.
"Hmph, you probably poisoned her mind against me" snorted Ira.
"Or it could just be the fact that children find you scary" interjected Peter.
This comment got a chuckle from all four kings.
Seeing this interaction, let alone the delegates even those present from the Sage's Valley were at a loss. It seems that the relationship between the four kings was much more complex than that of simple enemies.
The relationship between the Four Ascending Kings (barring Charlotte and Zander as they were married) was complicated. As the only living members of their generation, as well as being the only people alive who had lived through the 1000-year war. The four of them had developed a strange bond that couldn't be comprehended by others.
Enemies but not enemies, friends but not friends it was a relationship born from shared trauma and experience. In fact, the main impetus of their conflict was the ideological differences that existed within the group especially in regards to how lasting peace should be attained and maintained.
Ira as an eternal pessimist believed that if humans with what he believed to be their inherently greedy nature were left to their own devices, then they would eventually begin fighting amongst themselves in the pursuit of whatever selfish goal they wished to attain. And that the only way to prevent this was for all nations to fall under the banner of a powerful singular ruler.
Zander and Charlotte however, were slightly more optimistic. They held the belief that with knowledge and proper understanding between parties most if not all conflicts could be resolved. They saw collaboration as the drive force towards lasting peace. However, they did believe that a deterring force was necessary (at least in the short term) to remove the possibility of factions back stabbing each other. It was for this reason that the peace force existed.
***
After a brief interlude, to mingle and enjoy their meals as well as watch a short play. Zander motioned for the MC to return to the stage. After all, Isabella was getting bored of the adult pleasantries and was beginning to nod off. It was time for the day's main event.
The Heaven's day ceremony of talent testing.