Hello, dear readers! Here's chapter 138 part 1! Hope you'll enjoy!
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Bright Star City, Bright Star Island, Flowing Stars Archipelago, Earth
Omniscient P.O.V.
Hearing that question, a wry expression appeared on Pietr's face before he replied.
"Daunting, you say... Calling it frightening would be more appropriate, in my opinion. Facing a Mid Emperor-Grade Frost Whale, what can my Second Level Void Sapling cultivation achieve?"
Despite framing the situation in a light-hearted manner, the blue-haired man was genuinely concerned.
Was a thousand years a long time?
For a Mortal, or even those low-level cultivators, it certainly was.
However, for those at the Void Sapling Rank whose average lifespan started in the hundred thousand, it was merely a fraction of time in their extremely long lives.
Wanting to become strong enough to face a Mid Grade Emperor-Grade Demon Beast in such a 'short' time, especially one with such a strong foundation as that Whale Emperor, would be the hardest challenge their Federation had to face since its inception.
Don't think that one minor level was merely a small difference.
Jumping from the Third Level and Fourth Level Void Sapling Rank was stepping from the Low Void Sapling Rank to step onto the Mid Void Sapling Rank.
There was a reason why every three levels in each Rank was considered a watershed, called Major Levels, and just like how the difference in power between Minor Levels grew larger as cultivation rose, it was even more prevalent between each Major Level.
Unless one was a supreme genius, facing even an Entry-Grade Fourth Level Void Sapling cultivator as a Peak Third Level Void Sapling cultivator was asking to be killed, akin to a newborn facing a two-meter-tall burly man, with the result of such a reckless decision easily predictable.
Could the Supreme Elder of their Federation match a Mid Emperor-Grade Frost Whale Demon Beast?
Even with his strong faith in his mentor, Pietr had to be realistic.
There was no way it was possible.
Unless...
Turning toward the older man, Pietr asked, a faint hope rising in his Heart.
"What are your plans, old man?"
Seeing the expectant look on the blue-haired man's face, Maksim chuckled briefly before he stated.
"Seems like you guessed it without me needing to say anything."
Turning his head back toward the silent Void Layer, he remarked.
"The situation may seem dangerous at first glance, but in reality it's much less dire than you think. I'd even dare to say, it's actually the best opportunity for us to break the current stalemate."
As a playful smile appeared on the bearded man, he added.
"That cunning old fish is just trying to scare us into inaction with this operation. Actually, that Whale isn't as fearless as he seems. Quite the opposite, he's terrified, and that's why, for the last 40,000 years, he never risked tearing all pretenses and only allowed for Tier 3 and below cultivators to participate in the war operations against us."
Pausing for a second, he asked, throwing a brief glance toward Pietr.
"Do you know what he could be scared of?"
Despite pondering for a few seconds, the lightning-filled, blue-eyed man could not find anything that a Demon Beast as powerful as that Whale Emperor could actually be scared of.
Thus, he simply replied with a 'I don't know', prompting the older man to answer his own question.
"It's me, of course. Or to be more specific, that fish was terrified by the possibility of me breaking through to the Fourth Level Void Sapling before he could do it first."
Feeling as if he understood, but also not, Pietr questioned.
"If that's the case, shouldn't he have tried his best to exterminate our Federation as quickly as possible?"
Seeing that the younger man failed to grasp his point, Maksim explained further.
"It's actually simple. Breaking through to the Fourth Level Void Sapling implies moving from the Low to the Mid Void Sapling Level. Besides every 'internal' requirement, one also needs the right external environment. In this case, a Mid Tier 5 Energy Vein is pretty much essential, something our Federation unfortunately lacks, but that the Frost Beast palace possesses."
Halting his explanation for a second, he shook his head while a wry smile appeared on his handsome middle-aged face before he commented.
"Truly, only your enemy knows you best. Although I can't be considered soft-hearted when important things are involved, when it comes to the Federation, or more specifically, the people living under its rule, the situation is slightly different. That cunning Whale, knowing that I wouldn't be able to bear seeing everyone under my protection be slaughtered and refined as blood food, only had to arrange for some Beasts to monitor both the Archipelago's surroundings and the Teleportation Stations leading to the Main Continent, and the problem of me breaking through before him would be solved. It's a simple and overt scheme, but still extremely effective on cultivators like me. Either I leave, but I then would most likely breed some Inner Demons because of my choice, or I stay put, but I then have to give up on breaking through further. No matter the choice, my cultivation is effectively severed. Deviously Clever..."
Hearing those words, Pietr's understanding of his mentor's and, by association, the Federation's situation was completely refreshed.
How convoluted for something so simple at the beginning.
Even the current attack, despite the seemingly endless layers of meaning behind it, actually had the same origin as everything else.
As his mind was trying to wrap itself around Maksim's explanation, the latter continued.
"At least, that's what he thought."
A few chuckles escaped his lips as a disdainful expression appeared on his face.
"Thinking he succeeded in severing my cultivation path was too naïve. I was already confident enough to break through around thirty thousand years ago, let alone now, after having refined my foundation to the limit, with the only thing lacking being a Mid Tier 5 Energy Vein. I've been waiting all this time for an opportunity, one where either enough Void Sapling cultivators appeared in the Federation to feel confident in leaving for the Main Continent, or for that Whale to be in a situation similar to the one he's in right now. How ironic that both happened at the same time!"
As those words left his lips, he burst into a hearty laughter before turning toward the younger man, who had an expression of realization painted all over his face.
"Do you understand now why I said it was a great opportunity?"
Nodding his head, the tension on Pietr's face had seemingly vanished with his mentor's explanation, leaving only a light smile as he replied in a tone of self-reflection.
"It seems I was wrong to worry so much."
Shaking his head slightly, Maksim replied.
"You can't be blamed for thinking that way. I never told anyone about my situation to avoid all of you feeling guilty, risking the birth of Heart Demons, and the severing of your own cultivation Path. But now, there's no need to hide, whether from all of you or even from that whale. After all, even if he wasn't aware of my cultivation's status back then, after so many years have passed and with himself having broken through, he will certainly take into account the possibility of me using the fact that he's unable to act to leave the Archipelago, especially knowing that there's definitely enough Void Sapling Core Elders to face the Emperor-Grade Beasts under him. In the end, it has become a race between the two of us to see who among us will be the first to possess a stable enough Mid Tier 5 to allow an assault on the other's Force."
Hearing those words, Pietr remarked, his tone confident.
"I'm sure you'll be the one to win that race, old man. After all, I've known you for a long time, and I've never seen you lose against that Whale, so this time will certainly be the same."
Unlike the unbounded confidence oozing from the blue-haired man's voice, Maksim knew that the future was unpredictable and thus said.
"Maybe, but no matter if I do succeed or I don't, there are things all of you Core Elders need to prepare. I'll send the specific orders each of you is to follow before I leave."
From the long explanation, Pietr understood that the other man's departure, no matter that it was merely temporary, was inevitable, but he still felt a tinge of reluctance when confronted with it.
No matter how high one's cultivation became, parting with someone as close as a father for such a long time was never easy.
Emotions were just like that: A bittersweet combination that could either destroy or elevate you, depending on your willingness to face them without letting yourself be submerged by them.
Embracing by letting go, let go by embracing.
Life was both extremely complex and surprisingly simple, and emotions were similar, something that Pietr was growing progressively aware of.
Letting out a sigh, the latter asked rhetorically.
"Since you've already made your decision, when do you plan to leave?"
With a resolute expression, Maksim responded with a single word.
"Today."