The first, faint rays of dawn began to paint the eastern sky, casting a soft, golden light over the tranquil sea. On the rooftop, Jian Xuan stood, a silent figure absorbing the profound new depths of his own power. The world felt different, sharper, more vibrant. He had not just broken through; he had been reborn into a new state of being.
A soft footstep on the roof tiles announced another's presence. It was Li Yu. He had been in his room directly beneath the rooftop, and the immense, sudden vortex of spiritual energy, even with Jian Xuan's swift suppression, had been impossible to miss. He came up to the roof, a quiet, genuine smile on his face.
"Congratulations, Jian Xuan," Li Yu said, his voice carrying a sincere warmth. He could feel the change in the swordsman. The aura, while still as deep and vast as an ocean, was now calmer, more harmonious, yet had an extreme sharpness to it. "4th level Soul Formation. That is the strongest realm I have ever personally witnessed." It was a simple statement of fact, filled with respect for the centuries of dedication it represented.
He's never even met another soul formation realm person before, a show of Jian's genius.
Jian Xuan turned, relaxed smile gracing his own features. The breakthrough had not just elevated his power; it had unburdened his heart. "It has been a long time," he admitted, his voice a low, satisfied rumble. "Your questions, Young Master, provided the final key."
He looked at Li Yu, a new, challenging light in his eyes. "We will have to spar again when we return to the sect. Properly, this time. I am eager to see how my newly consolidated sword dao holds up against your Celestial Leviathan Form."
Li Yu's smile widened. "I agree. Of course we must fight!"
Jian Xuan's own smile turned into a wry, joking grin. "As long," he added, his tone light and humorous, "as you refrain from using that soul attack from back at the Golden Tide Clan's city."
They both laughed, a shared moment of understanding between two beings of immense, and in one case, terrifyingly unpredictable, power. The memory of the silent, frozen battlefield was still fresh, a sobering reminder of the forces they now wielded.
The peaceful, triumphant moment was shattered by a sudden, urgent vibration. Li Yu frowned, taking out his communication talisman, it was from Fengliu. He infused it with his Qi.
"Fengliu," he said, his voice instantly becoming serious. "What is it?"
Fengliu's voice came through, calm and professional as always, but laced with an undeniable urgency. "Young Master, I apologize for the intrusion, but the situation in the north has changed dramatically. It is in an all-out war."
The news struck Li Yu with a jolt. "War? I thought things were beginning to settle down after the king's death."
"They were," Fengliu confirmed. "But the First Prince, the one who was in hiding, has resurfaced. And he is not alone; the Third Prince is fighting alongside him. It seems they have formed an alliance, or one is now working for the other. They have recruited a massive force—it is the same army I reported was gathering to the east of the Boreal Empire, and they are marching under the banner of the Soaring Dragon Sect."
This confirmed one piece of the puzzle. "And their other supporter?" Li Yu asked, recalling Fengliu's earlier report of a second, mysterious backer.
"Their identity is still unknown, Master," Fengliu admitted. "But their influence is undeniable. The princes' forces are incredibly well-equipped and their movements are perfectly coordinated. They are not acting alone."
He paused, and the next piece of information was the true hammer blow. "They have driven the queen's forces back. The Boreal Empire's Guardian, a respected 7th realm Core Formation expert, was engaged in battle by a new, unknown powerhouse on the princes' side. A 9th Core Formation expert. The Guardian was no match for him and was gravely wounded. The north is now in complete chaos. The Queen's forces are in full retreat, trying to consolidate their power around the capital."
Li Yu's mind raced, processing the information. A 9th Core Formation expert was a being capable of deciding the fate of a nation.
"Why are you telling me this now, Fengliu?" Li Yu asked, a cold sense of dread creeping into his heart.
"Because of the consequences of the princes' advance," Fengliu's voice grew grim. "Our people, the managers and staff of the Golden Shell Guild and the mercenary forces from the White Paw Company that we had stationed in the northern territories, are trapped. The princes' forces have locked down the entire empire. They are not letting anyone in or out."
He took a deep, steadying breath. "And there is something else. Something… disturbing. In the days before the lockdown was complete, my last few agents sent out a series of terrifying reports. As the princes' forces take over, people are going missing. In massive amounts. Not just individuals. Entire towns, small cities… one day they are there, and the next, they are empty. No bodies, no signs of a struggle. Just… gone."
The line went silent. The implications of Fengliu's report were horrifying. His people, the men and women who had sworn loyalty to his guild and his company, were trapped in a warzone that was rapidly descending into something far darker and more sinister than a simple civil war.
After ending the communication, Li Yu stood in the dawning light, the peaceful, triumphant mood of a moment ago completely shattered. He quickly relayed the entirety of Fengliu's report to Jian Xuan and Cyra.
Cyra's face grew pale. "Mass disappearances? An entire city? That is not war. That is… something else."
Jian Xuan's expression was hard as stone. "This is a dark and bloody business. There must be something else going on here. And our people are caught in the middle of it."
Li Yu's decision was instantaneous. There was no hesitation, no calculation of risk or reward. "They are my people," he said, his voice quiet but as unbending as steel. "I will not abandon them." He looked at his companions. "We are going north."
Cyra nodded immediately, her expression firm. "I'm with you."
"As am I," Jian Xuan stated. This was no longer a distant political squabble; it was a rescue mission.
A new plan was quickly formulated. They would not go as a conquering army, but as a diplomatic force, at least at first.
"Kui is already on his way north," Li Yu said. "He caught wind of the lockdown through his own Guild channels, and Fengliu confirmed the severity of the situation with him directly. He is on one of our ships, a standard Guild transport, and intends to try and negotiate."
"A sound first step," Jian Xuan agreed. "If force is needed, I can go as one of the 'Grand Elders' of the Golden Shell Guild. We can demand the release of our people. The Guild's reputation for wealth and power should, hopefully, make them listen to reason."
"We will rescue our people first," Li Yu affirmed. "And then, after we have seen the situation on the ground for ourselves, we will decide what to do next."
They sent word ahead to Kui of their new plan and their imminent arrival. Then, without any further delay, they departed from Sunken Treasure City. The peaceful, healing interlude was over. A new, far more dangerous fire was burning in the north, and they were flying directly into it.