According to Waylan, the captured dark mage, another dark mage had been placed in charge of Hera following its invasion. He warned Wei that this individual was several levels stronger than himself and far less restrained in his methods. Despite the warning, Wei remained confident in their chances. Chord had brought four personal guards, while Wei was accompanied by his 13 elite warriors. These individuals answered to Wei alone, having sworn their loyalty to him above all others. They were prepared to follow their prince into any danger, even if it meant sacrificing their lives. With such a capable group, Wei believed they had a reasonable chance of reclaiming Hera.
Before proceeding, Wei turned toward Chord with a question. "How would you describe your fighting abilities?" Chord considered his answer before responding, "I've completed the Commander's Dance and was preparing to begin the General's Waltz before the invasion. I'm confident in my swordsmanship, but my cultivation is unfortunately less impressive. My body absorbs spiritual energy rather slowly." Wei found this rather interesting. Completing the Commander's Dance was no small achievement, particularly for someone whose cultivation progressed so slowly. It suggested that Chord possessed considerable talent in martial techniques, even if his spiritual development had been hindered by circumstances beyond his control.
After considering the situation, Wei extended his hand toward Chord. "Give me your hand. I'll transfer some spiritual energy to help strengthen your cultivation." Under ordinary circumstances, sharing spiritual energy was considered dangerous unless both cultivators possessed compatible Qi. An incompatible transfer could damage the recipient's meridians, destabilize their spiritual core, or cause serious internal injuries. However, Wei possessed an unusual advantage. His amber eyes indicated that his spiritual energy was compatible with virtually every known cultivation type. This made him capable of transferring energy to others without the usual risks, provided he properly controlled the amount being shared.
In the cultivation world, a person's eyes revealed the nature of their spiritual energy whenever they summoned their raw power. The resulting glow allowed experienced cultivators to identify different Qi types, a method frequently used by sects when assigning disciples to suitable cultivation paths. Amber was the most common and versatile spiritual attribute, capable of adapting to numerous techniques and crafts. However, Wei's circumstances were particularly unusual. Because of the conditions surrounding his birth, his eyes remained permanently amber, even when he wasn't actively circulating spiritual energy. His natural compatibility extended far beyond that of ordinary amber-eyed cultivators, allowing him to study nearly any cultivation discipline he desired.
His shadow mark provided another extraordinary advantage. It strengthened his spiritual flexibility, allowing his mind and soul to withstand tremendous strain without suffering permanent damage. More importantly, it enabled him to practice dark arts without corrupting his natural Qi. Even when channeling powerful dark energy, his spiritual core remained completely pure. Wei explained these characteristics to Chord, who gradually became more comfortable with the proposed transfer. Once Chord understood that their energies would not conflict, he extended his hand. Wei placed his palm against Chord's and began transferring a controlled stream of spiritual energy into his body.
The moment their palms touched, Chord experienced an overwhelming sensation of bliss. Warm spiritual energy flowed through his meridians, spreading throughout his body before gathering within his core. The feeling was unlike anything he had experienced during cultivation. His previously sluggish energy circulation accelerated, and the spiritual pathways that had always resisted his efforts began responding naturally. As the transfer continued, Chord's eyes started glowing with a mixture of blue and green. Wei immediately recognized the significance of the two colors. Chord possessed not one, but two distinct spiritual attributes, and their opposing characteristics explained why his cultivation had progressed so slowly.
The blue represented cold energy, while the green indicated life energy, sometimes referred to as prosperity energy. These two forces were fundamentally opposed. Life energy encouraged growth, restoration, and evolution, while cold energy suppressed development and could eventually bring living processes to a complete halt. Within Chord's spiritual core, both attributes had been competing for nourishment since his birth. Neither had managed to overcome the other, leaving his cultivation trapped in a constant struggle. Most cultivators born with such conflicting attributes would eventually lose one, but Chord had somehow preserved both. It was an extraordinary constitution, one that even Wei found fascinating.
Ji had certainly been correct about Chord's cultivation potential. Although his current power was limited, the young prince possessed a spiritual constitution that could become exceptionally powerful if properly developed. For the moment, however, Wei decided against attempting to resolve the conflict between the two energies. They had a kingdom to liberate, and Chord needed something he could use immediately. "Focus on your cold energy for now," Wei instructed. "It should be particularly effective against the puppets we'll encounter. Don't worry about controlling both attributes until we've dealt with Hera." Chord nodded and began directing his concentration toward the colder energy circulating within his core.
Following Wei's instructions, Chord gradually suppressed the influence of his life energy while allowing his cold attribute to dominate. His eyes changed from their mixed blue-green glow to a brilliant icy blue, indicating that he had successfully isolated the desired energy. The temperature around him dropped slightly as his spiritual circulation stabilized. For the first time, Chord could feel his power responding without resistance from the opposing attribute. Although he had not permanently resolved his cultivation difficulties, the improvement was remarkable. Wei was pleased with the results and encouraged him to continue practicing throughout the remainder of their journey.
With Hera only a few hours away, Wei gathered everyone for a final discussion. His 13 elites displayed their usual composure, showing no hesitation despite knowing that a powerful dark mage awaited them. Chord's four guards were equally determined, having already lost their homeland once and refusing to abandon their prince. Wei reviewed their responsibilities and reminded them that protecting civilians would take priority over pursuing enemies. He also made one instruction particularly clear. "If the dark mage reveals himself, leave him to me. Under no circumstances are any of you to engage him directly." Everyone acknowledged the order, understanding that confronting such an opponent would only place unnecessary lives at risk.
Following Chord's guidance, the group approached Hera's capital through a series of concealed passages known only to select members of the royal family. These tunnels had originally been constructed as emergency escape routes, allowing important figures to move throughout the city without attracting attention. Fortunately, the invading forces appeared unaware of their existence. After navigating several underground corridors, the group emerged within a secluded district that remained hidden from the occupying army. A small unit of surviving Heran soldiers had established a temporary base there, using the surrounding buildings to conceal their activities while awaiting further instructions.
The soldiers were initially startled by the unexpected visitors, but their caution disappeared the moment they recognized Chord. Several immediately rushed forward to greet their prince, visibly relieved to see him alive. Others noticed the distinctive colors and imperial emblem worn by Wei and his companions. "Greetings, my Lord of Cheng!" one soldier announced respectfully. Wei acknowledged the greeting without correcting the man's assumption about his rank. The unit's commander, Nona, soon arrived and personally welcomed the visitors. After learning that Chord had returned with reinforcements, he offered to escort them to the makeshift refugee camp where the surviving civilians had been gathered.
The camp occupied several concealed courtyards connected by narrow passages, providing shelter for those who had escaped the destruction of their homes. Food and medical supplies were limited, but the soldiers had done their best to keep everyone safe. As Chord entered the camp, one of the refugees recognized him and immediately called out his name. Within moments, the entire settlement became aware of his arrival. People abandoned their activities and hurried toward him, many falling to their knees in gratitude. Some wept openly, having believed their prince was dead. Others simply stared in disbelief, struggling to accept that a member of their royal family had returned.
Chord was deeply moved by the sight of his surviving people. Raising his hand, he encouraged everyone to stand before addressing them. "My fellow Herans, I have returned to liberate our homeland! With the assistance of His Highness, the 7th Prince of Cheng, we will drive out the evil that has invaded our kingdom!" His declaration was met with overwhelming cheers. Commander Nona, however, suddenly realized his earlier mistake. He had addressed Wei as a mere lord without recognizing that he was speaking to a prince of the powerful Cheng Empire. Embarrassed by his oversight, Nona slapped his own mouth before hurriedly offering a proper royal greeting.
Before Wei could respond, an excited voice suddenly called out from behind the gathering crowd. "Cousin! Cousin, you're back!" A young man pushed his way forward, immediately catching Chord's attention. It was Prince France, one of the surviving members of Hera's royal family. Chord hurried toward him, pulling his cousin into a tight embrace. "You're alive! Thank the Divines you're safe!" he exclaimed. "I only managed to escape because of you, France. I thought our entire family had been wiped out." France laughed at his cousin's concern, clearly pleased to see him again. "Oh, please. A few puppets are hardly enough to finish me off!"
As France stepped away from the embrace, his attention shifted toward the striking young man standing behind Chord. Wei's long hair, unusual eyes, and elegant appearance immediately caught his interest. France moved closer, studying him with an openly appreciative expression. "And who might this handsome gentleman be, Cousin?" he asked playfully. "Is he for me?" Wei smiled at the unexpected question before offering a polite greeting. "I am Wei Cheng, 7th Prince of the Cheng Empire. It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness." France appeared delighted by the introduction and was about to approach him further when Chord interrupted.
"France, how have things been here since the invasion?" Chord asked, positioning himself between his cousin and Wei. France gave him a knowing look before chuckling at the interruption. Nevertheless, his expression soon became serious. "Things have been terrible. That wicked creature has started using our fallen soldiers and civilians as puppets to strengthen his army. Fortunately, the bodies of our royal family are blessed, so they cannot be defiled in the same manner." Chord's expression darkened upon hearing the news. The thought of their deceased people being forced to serve the very enemy responsible for their deaths was horrifying, and it only strengthened his determination to reclaim Hera.
Wei listened carefully before offering a possible solution. "I can teach your soldiers a technique capable of dealing with those puppets." Chord immediately recognized what he was suggesting. "The Iron Bells technique?" he asked. Wei nodded. "Exactly. Spiritually generated puppets will be shattered by the bells' resonance, while reanimated corpses will be cleansed of the energy controlling them. Once that energy is removed, their bodies will return to their natural state." Having personally witnessed the effectiveness of the technique during the battle at Gi's border, Chord understood just how valuable it could be. If the surviving soldiers could learn even a basic version, their chances of victory would improve considerably.
Wei gathered the available soldiers and began demonstrating the Iron Bells technique. He first explained how to circulate spiritual energy into the required formation before showing them how to summon the bells themselves. Although the technique appeared relatively straightforward when performed by Wei, the soldiers quickly discovered that controlling its spiritual resonance required considerable concentration. Fortunately, his 13 elites were already familiar with the technique and immediately began assisting with the training. They divided the soldiers into smaller groups, correcting their mistakes and helping them maintain stable energy circulation. Even those with limited cultivation were encouraged to participate, as the technique could be adjusted according to individual capabilities.
For nearly three hours, the hidden camp became an improvised training ground. The sound of spiritual bells rang throughout the concealed courtyards as the soldiers practiced repeatedly. Some struggled to maintain their formations, while others managed to summon small bells almost immediately. Wei moved between the groups, offering guidance whenever necessary. His elites handled most of the practical instruction, allowing him to observe the soldiers' progress and determine whether they were ready for battle. By the end of the session, enough soldiers had demonstrated a reliable understanding of the technique for Wei to feel comfortable proceeding with their plans.
Chord had also made considerable progress during the training. With the spiritual energy Wei had transferred to him, he could now circulate his cold energy far more effectively than before. Combined with his mastery of the Commander's Dance, his improved cultivation gave him greater confidence in his ability to confront the occupying forces. He understood that his current strength remained far below Wei's, but he no longer felt as helpless as he had during Hera's invasion. His swordsmanship had always been excellent, and now he finally possessed enough spiritual energy to support his techniques properly.
Satisfied with everyone's preparations, Wei approached Chord and informed him that they were ready to begin the liberation. The surviving Heran soldiers had received the necessary training, their hidden position remained secure, and the Grey Squadron's elite warriors were prepared to support the operation. Although the dark mage overseeing Hera remained an unknown danger, Wei had already decided to handle that threat personally. For Chord, the opportunity to reclaim his homeland had finally arrived. With his improved cultivation, trusted guards, surviving countrymen, and the powerful 7th Prince of Cheng standing beside him, he was determined to see Hera freed from the Wicked King's control.