"The negotiations in the Xingyuu Empire have concluded. The Conquestian and the two Ten Dawns should be returning," Sage Pannark explained to Lady Alice.
Everyone felt an array of emotions when they heard that. The negotiations that Sage Pannark mentioned was really the Xingyuu Empire's surrender. The Imperial Council was defeated when the Shui Family changed sides and captured Prime Minister Pon-Wai. Despite their best efforts, the other Great Nobility Families could not reverse the situation, especially when there were monsters like the Featherwind Sect, Sword King, and Protector Avin. They were forced to capitulate! Princess Xiuying and Ming thus inherited the throne and became the new empresses of the Xingyuu Empire! Elizabeth and her friends were instrumental throughout the process, earning great reputation and fame for their actions. Nobody could have imagined this conclusion. It was quite unthinkable that a conflict that spanned five centuries ended in an overwhelming victory!
Some months ago, the Alzar Kingdom's new queen, Queen Samanthie, personally travelled to Yongtein to oversee the terms for the Xingyuu Empire's surrender. As the leader of the Zino Kingdom, the Conquestian naturally had to be present. The discussion went on for a long time. Empress Xiuying and Ming, the Four Great Nobility Families, Queen Samanthie, and the Conquestian… Everyone wanted to protect their interests, and fight for more benefits. Throughout the discussion, Queen Samanthie was the most forceful. She dominated the conversation and steered it wherever she wanted. That was the benefit of being strong, of being victorious! And the Alzar Kingdom was currently the supreme overlord of the human world. Nothing could contest it. The Zino Kingdom was subordinate to the Alzar Kingdom, so the Conquestian did not have much to say. It was mainly the two empresses, and the Four Great Nobility Families that argued. Although they were in a weaker position, even a cornered animal knows how to bite back. Queen Samanthie knew she could not go too overboard. They went back and forth before they finalized the details last week.
"We should wait for the Conquestian before deciding anything," Lady Alice said.
"The matter with the Arcellius Family shouldn't be rushed." Lord Denno nodded.
"The Welgen Family agrees with Lady Alice."
"We vote to defer as well," the Vensire and Rellion Family representatives added. They did not want to be caught up in the fight with Protector Avin unprepared.
"That isn't a problem," Sage Pannark replied. He knew this could not be forced. After all, he was not the final decisionmaker in the Zino Kingdom. That was the Conquestian. Still, that did not stop him from making his arrangements. He continued, "There are seven vacancies in the Ten Dawns right now. Kel Lanark and Vivian Malkhorn will be appointed as Ten Dawns immediately. Of the five remaining spots, four will be reserved for the Engelsheft Families and one will be free for anyone to take."
The others frowned inwardly. Including Ten Dawn Yvonne and Runenda, that meant there would be four Ten Dawns in the Lanark and Winhelm Families. That was almost half! Not to mention, there was the First and Second Sage, and plenty of Ten Auroras in their ranks. That would mean they would have majority control over the Celestial Council of Magic! But it was hard to argue against Sage Pannark because Kel and Vivian did meet the minimum requirements to be Ten Dawns. Their families were too strong. The other Engelsheft Families could not say anything. Many sighed, while others lamented. The rise of the Lanark and Winhelm Families was imminent!
Knowing they could not compete against the two families, they focused on the four open Ten Dawn spots. It was more than a position. It symbolized the family's status and power! Whichever family had a Ten Dawn could hold their head high. They could say they were leading the next generation of Arcanists! Everyone else was beneath them! One could say that it determined the ranking between Engelsheft Families for the next ten or twenty years! It was extremely important for their development. Unfortunately, Lord Denno from the Arkfell Family had an ugly expression, since there were no suitable candidates from his family. Without a Ten Dawn, how could his family remain as the third strongest? They would undoubtedly fall, and it would be hard to climb back again.
Lady Alice from the Cisvernia Family was pleasantly surprised. She would definitely urge her son to become a Ten Dawn. Aster graduated from the university ranked fifth, and he had Half-Condensed Drop Core Level. Although the challenge to cross from Half-Condensed to Low Condensed was certainly not trivial, she believed in her son! Moreover, the requirement for a Ten Dawn was lowered to Half-Condensed Drop after the disastrous losses in the Xingyuu Empire. They urgently needed to refill their ranks again. This turned into a golden opportunity for the Cisvernia Family! Likewise, the representative from the Welgen Family wished to recommend Lady Solis. She was a genius in her own right, graduating ranked seventh with Half-Condensed Drop Core Level. She could push the Welgen Family into the light again! Lady Alice and the Welgen Family's representative communicated with their eyes. They knew they had to get two spots at the minimum!
As for the Vensire Family, this was their chance too. It could propel their family into the middle tiers. They had to grasp it properly! The pitiful Rellion Family had their hands full with Protector Avin and the Arcellius Family. Even if they could take a Ten Dawn position for themselves, they would be drawing the ire of the other Engelsheft Families. Was that not asking for trouble? Regrettably, they had to leave it to the other families to devour. Sage Pannark said a few more things about the Arcellius Family, but it was apparent that no one was interested. Either way, the Conquestian would need to be present to decide things. Thus, the meeting concluded and everyone went their way.
Returning to the Mordrigan Peaks, Elizabeth and her party had just arrived at the foot of the first mountain. The Mordrigan Peaks had the word 'peaks' in it, it naturally referred to a mountain range. There were four mountains in total of varying heights. The tallest mountain sat at the center, while the other shorter mountains were arranged around it, almost like soldiers guarding a king. This made the central mountain inexplicably vast and grand, like the sovereign of the world! It was so tall that large clouds would form near the peak. Currently, a heavy snowstorm shrouded everything in a veil of mystery. Between the mountains were sharp ravines and deep crevices, snaking through the land with unparalleled finesse. Some were shallow and survivable. Others were dark and fatal. There were many beasts here too, far more than the normal amount. Just hearing the countless howls made Elizabeth and her party alert. The Mordrigan Peaks had earned its reputation. It was a land of death!
Elizabeth dismounted her horse, and Shirley, who was riding with her, followed. The road ended here. It would be difficult to bring their horses any further. They would need to continue on foot. Benedict, Freon, Yuna, Lady Kalasena, and the others gathered. It was too dark to see, so the guards lit torches. Even then, the heavy snowfall made visibility poor. They could barely see past the trees in front of them. People used their Martial or Magic Perceptions, but their efforts yielded nothing. The mountain range was vast, and their perception range was tiny by comparison. It accounted for less than one-ten thousandth! A gloomy mood pervaded. The chance of finding Nassandra was slim. She might not even be here! Freon did not want to give up. He could not give up! Anxiety was written across his face. Where could she be?
Elder Unvo flew haggardly through the skies. Although he was fairly strong, being a Perception Realm Expert, he was first and foremost a bird. Strong winds whipped his figure and made his flight unstable. Heavy ice covered his wings and released deep chills into his body. He used Martial Energy to resist it, but the storm was unrelenting. His Martial Energy would run out sooner or later. That was the power of the heavens! However, that was not the problem at the moment. When he was searching for Nassandra earlier, he was still far away from the mountains. He did not notice anything strange. But now, when he was so close, his bird eyes widened slightly. A trace of surprise flickered across them.
"One central vein, three cores isolated. Equal spacing in a triangle, as earth ravines snake through. Colorful World Energy and many beasts. This is…" Elder Unvo muttered.