After receiving the master-slave seal technique from Lysander, recorded on a simple but elegantly crafted jade slip, Jian Xuan was led to the heavily guarded detention area of the Radiant Dawn's new headquarters. In a small, isolated courtyard, surrounded by a shimmering, complex suppression array, sat a single, powerful figure.
It was General Zhong, the former supreme commander of the princes' army. He was not in chains, but the array pulsed with a power that kept his 9th stage Core Formation cultivation completely sealed, rendering him no stronger than a mortal. He sat in a meditative posture, his expression calm and resigned, a man of power awaiting his fate.
When Jian Xuan entered the courtyard, the General's eyes snapped open. He had felt the shift in the atmosphere, the arrival of an aura so immense, so overwhelmingly powerful, that it made the very air tremble. He had grown accustomed to the powerful, sun-like aura of Commander Lysander, a 1st stage Soul Formation expert.
This new presence was different. It was sharper, colder, and possessed a depth that made Lysander's power feel like a shallow pond next to a bottomless abyss. He recognized it instantly. It was the aura of the being who had descended upon the capital and brought an entire army to its knees.
Instantly, the composed General stood up. There was no scrambling, no panicked haste. He moved with the crisp, disciplined motion of a lifelong soldier. He performed a deep, formal military bow, his fist clasped over his heart, a gesture of profound respect from one commander to a supreme, conquering power. His head was bowed, his voice steady but filled with a genuine awe. "General Zhong greets the Grand Elder," he said, his tone clear. "It is an honor to be in your presence once more."
Jian Xuan paused, a flicker of amusement in his sharp eyes. He looked at the general, who stood with the dignified bearing of a defeated but proud warrior. This was not the groveling of a coward, but the genuine reverence of a professional soldier who understood and respected a power far greater than his own.
"Your display of power at the capital… it was a lesson in strategic dominance," Zhong continued, his head still respectfully bowed. His flattery was not sycophantic, but analytical, delivered with the respect of a general.
"This one has served in a hundred battles. I have seen masters of strategy and paragons of martial might. But I have never witnessed such absolute, effortless control. You achieved total psychological victory without a single wasted move. Your presence alone was a strategic weapon that shattered the morale of my entire officer corps and rendered the chain of command irrelevant. It was a masterful display of power projection."
This was of course all flattering non-sense, that any person besides Jian Xuan could see. Almost none of those things were true but General Zhong was a good judge of character, he saw how Jian was basking in the glow of his own dominance back at the capital and could roughly guess what kind of person he was.
Jian Xuan's amusement grew into a genuine, pleased smile. This man was intelligent, he thought. He didn't just see power; he understood its application. He didn't beg or make excuses; he analyzed his defeat and gave respect where it was due.
"You have a good eye, General," Jian said, his voice holding a tone of magnanimous approval. "Stand at ease." Zhong straightened up, but kept his head slightly lowered, maintaining the posture of a subordinate. Jian, thoroughly pleased, made his decision. This man would be a useful, and competent, subordinate. He accepted him, crushing the jade slip in his hand as he absorbed the technique.
He then placed a hand on the General's head and began the sealing process. Complex, glowing runes flowed from his palm, sinking into Zhong's forehead as he bound the General's soul and will to his own. From this day forward, General Zhong would be a loyal and unswerving member of the Golden Shell Guild.
With their business concluded, Jian Xuan, Lysander, and Grand Elder Theron retired to a private, elegantly furnished room for drinks. The atmosphere was no longer that of a formal transaction, but of a meeting between peers, equals in power if not in age.
Li Yu had already filled Jian Xuan in on the shocking revelations about the seven continents, and Jian's mind was buzzing with questions, eager to expand his own knowledge.
"Grand Elder Theron," Jian began, after taking a sip of the fine, potent spirit wine. "Li Yu has told me of the continental structure. I wish to know more. My own home, the White Tiger Continent, is a land of constant struggle between man and beast. What is the nature of the conflict on your Southern Jade Continent? Is it an open war against these demon worshippers?"
Theron swirled the wine in his cup, his expression growing somber. "It is a shadow war, for the most part. The Hegemony and its ilk rarely operate in the open as they did here. They infiltrate, corrupt, and conspire. We fight them in the dark, in hidden places, to prevent mass panic. An open war would mean acknowledging that the Abyss has its claws in our world, a truth most are not prepared to face. But the skirmishes are growing more frequent, more brazen. Vorlag's expedition here was their most ambitious move to date."
Jian then turned his attention to Lysander. "And what of this Frostbound Dominion to the north? You said it is a land of eternal, three-way war. What are the powers there like? Are they stronger than us?"
Lysander took a deep drink before answering, the memory of his defeat still a fresh wound. "Stronger is a difficult word, Grand Elder Jian. They are… harder. The constant warfare forges them in a different fire. We have heard tales of human sects that have adopted demonic cultivation methods to fight the demons, and beast-taming techniques to fight the beasts. They are pragmatic, ruthless survivors. A Soul Formation expert from the Frostbound Dominion would be a terrifying opponent, as they would have a lifetime of experience fighting beings of equivalent power."
The information exchange continued for hours. Jian, in turn, described the White Tiger Continent in detail for them. He spoke of the great Beast Dynasties that ruled the vast wildernesses, of the Five Great Mountain Sects of humanity that stood as bastions against the beast tides, and of the unique cultivation methods that focused on emulating the raw, physical power of the beasts, which he took some references from in his sword techniques.
Theron and Lysander were surprised when he told them he had traveled across the Endless Sea alone, without the aid of a special treasure. "You are either the luckiest man alive, or your power is even greater than we can perceive," Theron had remarked, his respect for Jian growing even deeper. They had thought him merely powerful; now they understood he was also a survivor of a near-impossible journey.
As their conversation began to wind down, Theron set his cup down with a sigh. "This has been a most enlightening discussion, Grand Elder Jian. But I am afraid my time on this continent is drawing to a close. My power and presence are needed back on the Southern Jade Continent. The hunt for the Hegemony's and other demonic roots continues, and I cannot be absent for long."
"You are leaving?" Jian asked.
"I am," Theron confirmed. "But the Forest of the Radiant Dawn is not. I will be leaving approximately sixty percent of the disciples and elders we brought with us under the command of Lysander. He will oversee the establishment of our new branch and continue the alliance with your Guild."
Jian Xuan nodded, understanding the strategic decision. "Then you will be using one of the Warp Formation Arrays to return?" he asked, his tone carefully casual, probing for the information he truly wanted.
Theron gave a slight, knowing smile. He knew what the younger Soul Formation expert was asking. "I will. But as for its location, I am afraid I cannot tell you." He held up a hand to forestall any protest.
"It is not a matter of trust, but of ancient protocol. The Gate Keepers who guard the arrays are a neutral power. They do not answer to us. Your Golden Shell Guild will need to come into contact with them yourselves. However," he added, his smile becoming more genuine, "your Guild has now more than proven it has the power and the right to stand among the great powers of the world. When I pass through the gate, I will inform the Gate Keepers of your existence and of your Grand Elders. I will tell them that a new, formidable power has arisen on the Central Plains Continent. They will likely seek you out."
Jian Xuan processed this. It was not the direct answer he wanted, but it was, in its own way, even better. It was a formal acknowledgment, an introduction to a hidden power of the world. "Then you have my thanks, Grand Elder Theron," Jian said with a respectful nod.