Yue Li and Shang Li approached their guest with composed, measured steps befitting their status.
Lady Azure Rose did not bother with such restraint.
She closed the distance in an instant.
And pulled both of them into a crushing embrace.
"Ha! It's been too long!"
Her laugh rang through the hall as she squeezed them both tightly, utterly disregarding decorum.
Yue Li stiffened.
Shang Li let out a strained breath.
Around them, members of the Li Clan froze.
Some averted their eyes immediately, pretending not to see such an informal display between figures of immense authority.
Others… stared.
Not at the hug itself but at what it implied.
Just how close were these three?
Behind Rose, the Lionesses moved with practiced efficiency.
Armor, weapons, and banners...
All of it vanished.
Stored within the rings they wore.
John watched closely, fascinated.
Storage rings.
A product of spatial compression techniques a high-level application of mystic arts and Artifact making. By imprinting one's Qi into the ring, a cultivator could store inanimate objects within a suspended pocket of space, halting time within it.
Convenient,Very expensive but not rare.
John's gaze lingered.
The Lionesses… all had one even those at the middle of the of the physical cultivation, rank regular rank four and fives .
Their weapons alone were high-grade.
Their armor, custom-fitted.
Their rings, uniform.
Their sect must be absurdly wealthy.
Even the Li Clan couldn't outfit every warrior like that.
His attention shifted back just in time to hear Yue Li speak.
"So," she said calmly, "did you suffer any losses this cycle?"
She referred, of course, to the Beast Scourge.
A catastrophe that had plagued the land for over five centuries.
It began during the reign of Emperor Marcus, when the first great tide of demonic beasts surged across the borders. Since then, the Seven Sects had been established, and the Four Grand Generals assigned to the cardinal directions to reinforce the border defenses.
It wasn't perfect.
But it worked.
Most of the original Sovereigns were long gone, retired or slain in battle.
Only legends remained.
But with one exception.
General Shou… who had stood beside the Emperor since the very beginning, known as the oldest known cultivator in their history.
Rose shrugged lightly.
"A few losses," she replied. "Nothing unexpected. Some of my girls fell, but they died with honor."
Her sharp green eyes flicked toward Yue Li.
"And you?"
She smirked.
"Still too weak to thrash anyone properly?"
Yue Li's gaze sharpened.
Her complexion was indeed paler than usual. Dark circles lingered faintly beneath her eyes.
"I'll manage," she replied coolly.
Then, without warning...
She snatched John from Shang back into her arms.
"I believe my son requires rest."
John blinked.
"I do? Im just hungry" He thought.
He had, in fact, just been trying to figure out where the incredible smell of food was coming from.
And whether he could eat it.
According to Yue he was tired.
Rose watched her go.
Her expression softened slightly.
"…She's not recovering."
"Now then," Rose said suddenly, turning back to Shang Li with renewed energy.
"So, old friend...have you considered getting your wife pregnant again?"
Shang Li nearly choked on his wine.
"What?! No, Not yet! Why would you even bring that up?!"
He shot her an incredulous look while wiping his mouth.
Rose grinned.
"Because."
She did not elaborate.
Shang Li stared at her.
Then sighed.
"I haven't decided yet," he admitted. "But if we're asking questions…"
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"What about you?"
Rose's expression shifted almost imperceptibly.
She turned her face away.
"I've been busy," she said flatly. "As one of the Seven Sovereigns, my workload is… considerable."
She exhaled slowly.
"Sometimes I regret taking the position. Being a wanderer suited me more."
Her voice dropped.
"No responsibilities. No people depending on me."
She glanced toward the distant horizon beyond the hall.
"This world is too large… and my problems too numerous."
Shang Li nodded.
"I understand."
Internally, however...
It's hard to cook a meal using the same two ingredient every time.
He suppressed a smirk.
Best not to say that out loud he thought.
Especially not to her.
A brief silence passed.
Then Shang Li's expression changed.
Subtly.
His voice lowered.
"That reminds me… I've been inspecting the cardinal formations recently."
Rose's attention snapped back instantly.
Her green eyes sharpened.
"What about them?"
Shang Li's golden gaze grew serious.
"They're not just maintaining the borders."
A pause.
"They're powering something."
The air between them stilled.
"…What?" Rose asked quietly.
Shang Li's voice dropped further.
"Every five years… during the Beast Scourge…"
He looked toward the distant mountains.
"The formations doesn't just protect the Empire by blocking the invaders it attracts them as well."