Surrounded by thick walls one could observe the raised pavilions and the shades of vermilion colored wooden columns that supported the entire structure. As Sara guided everyone into the house they were drenched in ancientness. The yellow glazed roof tiles and the landscape gardens created a serene and peaceful environment that would immediately calm the person.
***
[ Detected Increase in Vital Energy ]
[ Beginning Absorption ]
***
The texts from Athenaeum made Aria complement the house in his thoughts.
"Have a seat my dear!" An ancient voice filled with time sounded from within the courtyard.
The courtyard had a small pond with some golden carps swimming freely in it. At the edge of the pond was a mechanism that deposited water in the pond made from bamboo.
There were meditation mats lying around at one edge of the courtyard and on one of the mats sat an old lady, eyes closed. Her silver hair emanated an aura of time, whereas the wrinkles denoted history.
'Ah, she's really blessed.'
Aria praised her as he observed the aura around her which emitted a shade of calmness and peace.
He tried to use Athenaeum to detect her level but apart from [ ??? ] nothing could be inferred, the reason--
[Host needs to be more powerful]
[The information can be updated if the target reveals their power]
The two envoys stood in silence beside Sara but Aria could sense that Orn's muscles were taut and the other envoy was turned stiff just from her presence. Even the darkness surrounding that person had subsided a little.
"No need to fear, envoys from afar. You would have already been dead if I wanted to." The same voice emanated from the old woman and she gently opened her eyes.
"General!" Aria and Sara saluted to the general and the envoys bowed in fear.
The old woman first looked at the envoys then turned towards Sara and nodded towards her before facing Aria.
"I presume you must be Cadet Aria, Marshal Seven's new disciple?" The woman said as her eyes scanned Aria from top to bottom.
"Yes, General!" Aria replied as he sighed repeatedly in his mind.
"You can call me Granny Fu, no need for formalities, after all I am still indebted to Marshal Seven and can be considered an in-name disciple of his." Granny Fu explained as a smile blossomed on her face just like a benevolent grandma.
"Granny Fu!" Aria too nodded as he felt an unknown sense of comfort and warmth in his heart as he heard the concept of family.
Granny Fu then proceeded to glare at the two envoys and suddenly the smile vanished from her face and a rich sense of dignity emanated from her entire appearance.
"Who was the one?" She raised a question as her pupils locked on the envoys.
"Reporting to the General, it was Envoy Orn." Sara answered truthfully not trying to stop the General, as in her sense it was only right for the one to be punished for daring to attack someone from the Academy.
According to her and all the higher ups from the Academy, a cadet of the Academy could only be punished by the Academy, no other authority had the right.
Orn's complexion visibly waned as he suddenly felt a wave of suppression from the old woman in front of him. Despite her small frame she seemed to emanate a presence vaster than the sky. He could even foresee a huge battlefield filled with bones and flowing rivers of blood surrounding her.
[Target has revealed some of her power]
[Athenaeum is reacting to its presence]
[Information has been updated]
Listening to Athenaeum's message, he immediately activated the Detection system.
***
[ General Fu Hao ]
[ Level: 9.6 ]
[ Brilliant Tactician ]
***
Aria was puzzled by the additional information but suddenly he looked above.
-Whoosh-
Just when Granny Fu was about to punish Orn something seemed to be approaching the courtyard at rapid speed. Granny Fu squinted her eyes and observed at the horizon, she could see a metallic board speeding towards them with a person on the top.
The metallic board immediately landed within the courtyard and Old Seven alighted. His gaze first landed on Granny Fu, who in return nodded towards the Marshal.
The envoys bowed deeply and Sara saluted with utmost respect.
"You brat, you create trouble everywhere!" Old Seven screamed as he looked at Aria with an annoyed and irritated tone.
"What was my fault? Why are you shouting at me? Should I have let him kill me then?" Aria too retorted in dismissal as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Are you hurt somewhere?" He immediately changed his tone and asked warmly.
"My muscles are numb from the impact, but yeah there does not seem to be any problem." Aria replied as he rubbed his muscles on the arm, soothing them.
"General Fu, sorry to bother you." Old Seven apologized to Granny Fu.
"Don't worry Marshal, it's alright!" She said in reply as a rich smile blossomed on her face.
Old Seven then turned towards the envoys, his gaze landed on Orn as he had seen the footage earlier and knew he was the culprit.
He raised his palm facing Orn and his index finger softly met with the thumb forming an 'Om'. An ancient chant of 'Om' reverberated within the surrounding as a faint figure of maroon colored wheel formed behind Old Seven.
Athenaeum's prompt flooded Aria's eyes.
***
[ Detected change in the Universal Laws ]
[ Warning ]
[ Warning ]
***
And just like that Aria observed that the entire persona of Orn vanished into ashes. His body was decomposed into a molecular level converting all the matter into elemental energy which swept past everyone, raising chills on everyone's bodies.
Aria analyzed the prompts and tried to decipher what had happened. On the other hand, Sara's eyes gaped in surprise and perspiration gathered on her forehead. Granny Fu looked at the Old Seven with pride and praise.
"Your strength never fails to surprise me." She said calmly as she sighed while clenching her fist.
"You very well know, we cannot win this war with just strength." Old Seven replied in a grave tone, hinting at the deteriorating condition on the frontlines.