"Of course we can visit the capital, and our manor remains ours. We are not enemies of the kingdom, just neutral," Conri replied.
"When Oasis returns, we should head to the capital to see the prince and others along the way," Zane suggested.
Conri smiled faintly at his son's enthusiasm, but Zane's thoughts turned mischievous.
That prince called me a puppy once. I need to teach him a lesson next time I see him.
Conri's expression turned stern as he unleashed a bit of his aura.
"That's not going to happen, young man. As soon as Oasis returns from his mission, both of you will enter secluded cultivation and training."
Zane shuddered slightly, feeling the weight of his father's presence.
I sometimes forget how terrifying Father can be, he thought.
"Raising our strength is the priority," Conri continued.
"It's also about time your elder brother, Zenon, comes out of his seclusion."
"Brother Zenon!" Zane exclaimed with excitement. "I bet he'll be even stronger now."
"With Brother Zion now in the Awakened Realm, I need to focus on my own strength too," Zane mused.
"Father is right—I can't afford to slack off."
I wonder how strong Elder Brother Zenon is now, Zane thought with anticipation.
Conri glanced at his son with a knowing smile.
"Tell me, son, who do you think is the strongest in your generation throughout Verdantia?"
Without hesitation, Zane replied, "Oasis is the strongest."
Conri raised an eyebrow at his son's confident answer.
Oh, no hesitation at all. Such high praise for his junior, he thought with amusement.
The following day in the Dawnhail region...
In Belvan, around the afternoon, the usually quiet town was bustling with movement.
Armed personnel from the city lord's forces filled the streets, returning from their posts across the territory.
The city lord had summoned every available unit for a crucial mission, and the streets reflected the gravity of the situation.
There was an air of anticipation as citizens paused to watch soldiers and martial artists march back into town in orderly formations.
Some wore grim expressions, knowing this was no ordinary gathering.
Combat units, archers, and shadow units—each group moved in sync, preparing for something significant.
Amongst the crowd, Oasis strolled casually, blending in with the locals.
To an outsider, he appeared nothing more than a simple villager—a trader who had come to Belvan to sell his wares.
His calm, unremarkable demeanor gave no hint of his true identity or formidable power.
No one would suspect that this young man, walking amongst them like any other citizen, was key to a plan that would decide the fate of the region.
However, not everyone was deceived.
High above the clouds that hung over Belvan, Cedric Sandborn hovered in the sky, observing the young prodigy below.
Mmm, Solaris… you really left behind a monster, Cedric thought to himself as he watched from his concealed position.
"The boy has fully integrated with the Eyes of the Divine Serpent, and he's just a step away from awakening."
Cedric marveled at the rapid progress Oasis had made.
He's even stronger than some who have spent their lives refining their bodies. No doubt, he's used the Body Morphosis technique Solaris left behind.
There were questions in Cedric's mind—how had this been possible?
How had Oasis grown older, stronger, and more formidable in such a short span of time?
Despite his curiosity, Cedric felt relieved.
At least he's doing well. I look forward to seeing how he handles this mission. His thoughts shifted to the danger Oasis faced.
And that fool Conri Bluemoon… how could he assign such a dangerous task to someone so young?
But Cedric knew that Oasis was far from ordinary.
He's not human, after all. His progress can't be measured by human standards. His mind replayed the recent events.
He already killed an Awakened Realm cultivator. If it had been anyone else, they'd be long dead by now.
Cedric mused on the strange occurrences surrounding Oasis.
What artifact did he use to disappear for two days and return stronger and older? His questions, however, remained unanswered. For now, he would continue to observe.
I'll watch over him until this mission is done. Then, I'll return to Avaloria. And if the worst happens, I'll step in. After all, I owe Solaris too much.
Cedric had pretended to leave the region, but in truth, he had been watching over Oasis and the unfolding situation.
He had already scouted the enemy's camps, marking their territories without being detected, proving just how formidable he was.
Even Oasis, with the Eyes of the Divine Serpent, hadn't sensed his presence.
As time passed, night fell over Belvan.
In the city lord's mansion, 800 warriors had gathered, murmuring among themselves, uncertain of the reason behind the summoning.
The mansion's vast courtyard was filled with soldiers, their armor glinting under the moonlight, their weapons ready for battle.
The tension was palpable.
On the balcony overlooking the courtyard, Captain Garven, City Lord Cedric Valen, the vice city lord, and their families stood, observing the gathering below.
Beside them stood Oasis, his eyes scanning the sea of warriors.
"It's been a while since we've seen a gathering like this," Captain Garven remarked as he stood on the mansion's balcony, looking down at the warriors below.
It's quite the sight, Oasis thought, his eyes scanning the crowd below.