The Imperial Clan"s Region covered at least fifty hectares of land, housing not only those who had the bloodline of the Emperor but those upper-ranked n.o.bles that stayed loyal to the Emperor. Inside a wide hall protected by dozens of Heaven Grade Artifacts, one could see a shelf that spanned at least a hundred meters.
Placed on the shelfs were numerous jadeslips that mysteriously shone amidst the darkness. Below the jadeslips were plaques that had names of the owners writted in flamboyant calligraphy. It was clear that this room housed soul jadeslips.
Soul Jadeslips were jadeslips that contained a thread of the owner"s soul. Once the owner died, the Soul Jadeslip in question would crack and dissipate into dust upon losing its source of energy.
The lined up jadeslips that shone in an ethereal and dreamy light looked fascinating to the eyes. However, if one looked closely, they could see a single jadeslip that broke this line of lights. It was the jadeslip belonging to Rodger Duterte.
In contrast to the others. His jadeslip was filled with fissures and the light within it had obviously dimmed. The cracks that spread on its surface indicated that it was about to return to dust like its owner.
"T-T-This can"t be... A member of the Imperial Clan... Someone possessing the bloodline of the Emperor was actually killed?!" The old man who guarded the Hall of Souls saw Rodger Duterte"s jadeslip and hurriedly approached it with hastened footsteps.
Sending a thread of Spiritual Energy into the jadeslip. Images flashed through the old man"s eyes, revealing Rodger"s final moments in this world. Clenching his fists, the old man"s eyes flashed with a hateful glare. His gaze flashed with hardened resolve and swiftly disappearing from the room, he reported this event to the Emperor himself.
"Someone within the Paradyne Academy comprehended the Dagger Intent and killed a member of the Imperial Clan... Good! Good! Good! It seems like people have been looking down on the might of the Imperial Clan..."
A terrifying might exploded towards the skies and everyone within the Imperial Clan"s Region felt the suffocating pressure that carried with it an undeniable Imperial Aura. Everyone within the Region quickly knelt on the ground and prostrated. Displaying their submission to the Emperor"s Authority.
Danilo Duterte almost crushed his armrests. Both of his arms bulged with veins that looked as thick as tree roots. His became violent and purple from anger.
The old man who reported the news started shaking like a sieve. Suppressing his fear by gulping a mouthful of saliva. He didn"t dare to lift his head lest he suffers the Emperor"s anger.
"Kalan! Summon the Golden-Clawed Guards! Make sure that they are here in half an hour. Those that don"t follow my instructions shall be executed!" Danilo Duterte roared and the old man, named Kalan who knelt on the ground, hurriedly lifted his head and bowed before disappering from the Throne Room to act on the Emperor"s decree.
In the next several minutes, literally the entire Empire of Eternal Faith trembled in nervousness and apprehension. The Emperor"s enraged roar not only reached Kalan. It also extended throughout the entire Imperial Clan"s Region and those who heard his voice started praying for their safety.
The current Emperor of the Empire of Eternal Faith, Danilo Duterte was a man known for his shrewd mind and composure. There was moment in his life where he had to execute his own brother using his own hands. According to witnesses, throughout the entire execution. Danilo Duterte never batted an eyelid nor cried in sorrow.
It was rare to see him erupt in anger. But when that happened, a bloodbath never failed to happen. However that wasn"t the reason why everyone was so shaken. It was because his tone contained far more unprecedented resentment and bottled-up fury. Just from that alone, one could imagine the incoming storm.
In the airs.p.a.ce above the Empire of Eternal Faith. Dozens of brilliant lights that looked as bright as the sun manifested and surged towards the Imperial Clan"s Region. Cultivators that had substantial cultivation visibly trembled while those with weaker cultivation couldn"t help but fall on the ground.
"T-T-That"s the Golden-Clawed Guards of the Imperial Clan! They are scattered throughout the entire continent and seldom summoned! However, legends say that once they are summoned, a fierce bloodbath and cleansing would ensue!"
An old cultivator that had far greater wisdom and experience than the others announced, astonis.h.i.+ng and shaking the hearts of those who heard his announcement. Within the next few minutes, the Empire automatically went into a lockdown, all establishments refused customers and the city gates denied visitors.
Mortals took cover in their houses, hoping that they wouldn"t be involved in the incoming battle between cultivators while those with lower cultivation huddled together inside the Adventurer"s Guild of the Empire. Each and every citizens focused their anxious gazes at the Imperial Clan"s Region, hopeful for a peaceful resolution.
Lined along the sides of the Throne Room were twelve Golden-Clawed Guards of the Empire of Eternal Faith. Their faces stoic and unyielding. Their eyes cold and indifferent, not revealing any hint of emotions at all. Standing at the center of this procession was Kalan who knelt down and announced.
"Your Majesty, the twelve Golden-Clawed Guards of the Empire of Eternal Faith has arrived. They are here to pay homage to the Emperor and obey his decree..." Kalan deeply bowed and retreated silently to the back.
Danilo Duterte, his Majesty swept his gaze at the Golden-Clawed Guards. Nodding his head in approval, he clasped his hands together below his chin and his expression turned complex and solemn.
"Today, Kalan, the guardian of the Hall of Souls reported that a Soul Jadeslip, belonging to one of my direct descendants has dimmed out..." When the Emperor"s voice rang out, the Golden-Clawed Guards that remained composed all this time finally showed hints of emotions of disbelief within their eyes.
They couldn"t believe that someone actually dared to challenge the Emperor"s authority as their eyes narrowed in utmost killing intent and the desire for slaughter. As someone a.s.signed to the honorable job and t.i.tle of a Golden-Clawed Guard, they had absolute loyalty to the Emperor and were willing to sake their lives for his sake.
"Kalan immediately probed and realized that the b.a.s.t.a.r.d who killed a direct descendant of mine came from the Paradyne Academy, one of our greatest nemesis..."
When Danilo declared these in front of them, the Golden-Clawed Guards were astonished for a moment before seething in anger.
They hated the Paradyne Academy to the extent that they didn"t want to exist under the same sky. As a result, these seasoned men who seldom revealed emotions trembled from the fury and indignance that bubbled within their hearts.
"I know that you are angry, and so do I. In the past, I never challenged the Paradyne Academy"s intrusion and authority despite the fact that they were foreign intruders that came from the other continents. Respecting their strength, I gave them autonomous authority and allowed their operations, but what did they do?"
Danilo turned silent for a moment before continuing,
"They killed our brothers, sisters, parents and mothers, all for the sake of solidfying their position as the so-called absolute authority and what"s more, in our own Empire!" Danilo started shaking from emotions and seeing their sovereign trembling like a leaf. His men, the members of the Golden-Clawed Guards were also affected.
"We suffered in silence and let them do whatever they wanted with us. But now, enough is enough. They had continuously provoked and challenged us yet we still remained pacifists, making them feel conceited about themselves. But now, enough is enough..."
Slamming his hands on his armrests, it exploded into smithereens as Danilo continued: "I had enough of this humiliation! After seeing one of my direct descendants die inside their region and by the hands of their disciples, I have finally understood that there"s no way backing out from the fight could solve everything..."
"Right now, we will go for war, we will go for war until we reached the answers that we needed from the mouths of their leaders themselves... Gentlemen, follow me. Raise the banners of the Empire, for today, we shall lay siege to our enemies..." Danilo stood up and flicked his robes.
"Yes, Your majesty!" The twelve Golded-Clawed Guards simultaneously howled. Their voices echoed like m.u.f.fled thunder and their bodies radiated fierce battle intent and the desire of complete annihilation for their enemies.
Lifting their war banners and with Danilo, the Emperor himself at the forefront, each and every citizen of the Empire of Eternal Faith stared fearfully at the direction of the Paradyne Academy. Silently hoping in their hearts that everything wouldn"t escalate and settle peacefully.
At the Gates of the Paradyne Academy, it was the same average day for the disciples that guarded the entrance of the Academy. Playing some board games and joking with each other, they looked leisurely and unfettered.
"Break that Gate down!"
That was until a fierce voice rang out, along with a might that instantly swallowed their consciousness as their bodies fell to the ground with a dull thud.
Panic ensued around the area and the disciples who saw what happened immediately reported it to their Senior Brothers and their Senior Brothers reported it to the Elders until it reached the ears of Mathias, the Headmaster of the Paradyne Academy.
Atop the tallest mountain peak inside the region of the Paradyne Academy. Mathias stood there, clad with pure white robes. His expression looked nonchalant but when a voice transmission informing him of the Empire"s invasion struck his ears. His lips lifted into a smile as he whispered into the air.
"War... Is this what you really desire for? Old geezer..."