Human heavenly monarchs wouldn’t take action so easily. When they did, it was either to face-off against great dark monarchs as with the Pointer Monarch and Progia, or to kill special targets as in the case of the Profundity Monarch.

The problem was that the humans also knew of the qualitative difference in the malicious intent’s reaction. They would surely make use of these two opportunities. The heavenly monarchs would be able to go all out, safe in the knowledge that great dark monarchs couldn’t stop them.

Experts at the heavenly monarch and great dark monarch realm were overwhelming forces in battle. Princes might be fine under such circumstances, but some of the grand dukes would be in danger. Those who were powerful in combat but weak in running away might fall in the new world.

Dukes were the pillars of each clan, and the grand dukes, even more so. Each loss could change the power balance of the entire family. Even powerful races like the demonkin and vampires would find it difficult to handle the loss of a grand duke. The weakest among the twelve major vampire clans relied on their grand duke to keep up their prestige.

At the mention of this topic, the top-experts of the three races went silent. In truth, the Profundity Monarch’s attack was rather surprising. No one knew why the humans had targeted that kid from the Masefield clan when he had almost never appeared in battle before. This set a pretty bad precedent.

The Azure King said, “Why don’t we have the werewolves shoulder some of the burden?”

Progia said, “That won’t be possible. We kept them out during the opening of the new world and only think of them when there are sacrifices to make. Neither the Summit of Peaks nor Sousa will agree.”

“Maybe they’ll have no choice but to agree,” said Noxus.

“It’s easy to see that this is impossible. We’ll only gain the opposite result if we pressure them."

“Would you rather take this risk yourself?” Noxus asked.

The vampires and demonkin went silent.

Moments later, the Azure King said, “We can’t suppress the werewolves. Don’t forget that the werewolf sovereign of the Summit of Peaks is fairly close to the Sacred Mountain level, not to mention a storm has been brewing inside the peaks all this time. The ancestral faction has a werewolf ancestor in addition to Sousa.”

“Is that old bastard still alive?”

“The most recent intelligence says he’s still alive and quite well.”

Everyone understood the Azure King’s meaning. The werewolves might not have a supreme on the holy mountain, but they were still one of the four major dark races. It wasn’t that easy to bully them, and things would only become more difficult if they were pushed to a corner.

Excluding the werewolves in the opening of the new world was a secret plan involving countless under-the-table negotiations. It would be inexcusable to leave them out from the benefits, then force them to step out and take on the backlash.

The three races would have to shoulder the two attack quotas.

Progia said, “I’ve already sacrificed a duke and thirty thousand elite soldiers. The remainder is no longer my business.”

This was within reason, but it also meant the Eternal Flame would have to bear the entire quota of the demonkin race. And this time, it wouldn’t be as simple as losing a duke.

The blaze representing the Eternal Flame showed no fluctuation, almost as though he hadn’t heard a thing.

The Azure King laughed. “Don’t forget that our vampire race holds an extremely important character. As the price for helping out at the critical moment, we won’t be taking on this risk, either.”

Noxus said coldly, “Are you guys saying that our race should take on the two quotas?”

It was impossible to have the arachne bear all of the damage. The Eternal Flame finally said, “I can take on this quota, but I’ll need ten holy trees as compensation.”

The Eternal Flame’s proposal would compensate him with one-third the value of a duke while shouldering two-thirds himself. This was something all parties could accept. Neither the Azure King nor Medanzo had any objections, so the meeting came to an end.

Before leaving, Medanzo said, “I heard two human youngsters have been acting arrogantly. Can the demonkin really do nothing about them?”

The force closest to the Empire was the Masefield clan, and the first to clash with them in the central region were the arachne. These two had suffered the most in Song Zining’s hands, while the vampire race had it better. They had lost several small squads in battle but nothing that would hurt them to the bone.

Both the demonkin and arachne looked rather unsightly as the Lightless Monarch poked at their wounds. Progia replied, “They’ll reach your borders very soon. I hope your subordinates can perform better.”

Medanzo laughed out loud. “Of course, our vampire race is different.”

He was just halfway through when Progia and Noxus broke into howling laughter. Even the silent Eternal Flame formed a mocking smile with his blaze.

All the great dark monarchs had received the latest report at that moment.

Song Zining had suddenly appeared in the central region and launched a surprise attack on four vampire fortresses, killing three glorious marquises and routing two reinforcement units. The vampires had lost over fifty thousand elite soldiers and were now catching up to the demonkin in terms of casualties.

This slap to the face was resounding.

Medanzo was unable to remain calm. “Didn’t he just kill Freyr? How can he appear in the central region? Unless his entire army is moving around by air.”

Progia said, “It probably is.”

Medanzo narrowed his eyes. “That’s no ordinary expenditure.”

“Our losses are grave as well.”

Medanzo’s expression darkened. He snorted deeply but surprisingly didn’t act out and merely left together with the Azure King. Progia and the Eternal Flame were left talking secretly among themselves as they watched their receding figures.

Noxus said, “That’s not his usual character.”

Progia said, “Perhaps they do have a hidden ace.”

“That person?”

The fire representing the Eternal Flame flickered briefly in agreement.

Noxus glanced at the two demonkin monarchs and said meaningfully, “Your race’s Demoness is also a rare genius. She might be affected if she’s overtaken by that person.”

Progia sneered. “That person’s origins are mysterious, we still don’t know who the awakened character is. I heard only the Queen of the Night knows. Regardless, she’s an ancient character even for us, while the Demoness is from a much younger generation. There’s no need to compare.”

“Others might not think that way, but the Demoness might.”

“You guys should just keep an eye on your Basil.”

“Basil’s bloodline is closer to the Spider King and not the Spider Queen, it has been since his birth. We’re still waiting for the next messiah”

The arachne had always been a matriarchal race. Warlord Noxus, for example, was already at the limits of a spider king. He would need the Queen’s bloodline in order to take the next step forward.

“Then we wish you find one soon and not have to wait a hundred years.”

“A hundred years is fine so long as we can obtain one. What we really fear is finding the messiah, then someone else coming along to destroy everything.”

Dark undercurrents flowed throughout the hall as the great dark monarchs dispersed unhappily. The other representatives recorded the meeting at great speed, not daring to make a single mistake.

…

At the central region of the new world, a normal-looking valley was filled to the brim with parked airships. Large groups of Imperial soldiers were setting up camp nearby while the technicians made use of the time to maintain the machines and exchange damaged parts. There were also people constantly recording data.

As more and more airships broke down, these technicians were beginning to grasp which parts wore down quicker and which materials were more resistant to the corrosion of the new world’s origin power. The Empire’s manufacturing system now revolved around the requirements of the new world. The data sent back to the Empire would return very quickly in the form of new technology or engine parts in bulk.

Song Zining was atop a hill, scattering a handful of divination tokens onto the ground. He studied it for a while before shaking his head and repeating the process.

Zhao Jundu sat down beside him and gazed at the distant sky. “Did you find anything?”

“I’m just practicing. You’ve asked countless times now, it’s annoying.” Song Zining stared at Zhao Jundu briefly. “You’re bleeding again.”

“I’m used to it, but… you’re bleeding too.”

Song Zining looked down and saw some blood seeping out of his leg. “It’s just a small wound, I have already forgotten about it.”

Zhao Jundu turned his nose up at him. “Stop bluffing, you clearly couldn’t heal it.”

“As if you can.”

“Of course I can! It’ll be better after bleeding out a bit.”

Song Zining sighed. “I do miss that aloof Zhao Fourth and not the naggy monster shrouded in killing intent.”

Zhao Jundu laughed in a carefree manner. “Refining true gold in flames is a path of mortal peril, just a minor carelessness will get me killed. If I don’t nag now, there might not be an opportunity in the future.”

Song Zining put away his divination tokens. “Then go on, I’ll listen.”

Zhao Jundu pointed at the tokens. “Do you really plan to take this path?”

“I know what you’re trying to say, but who else will take this path if I don’t?”

Zhao Jundu looked at him. “Divination is prying into the workings of fate, it will definitely come with a price. Marshal Lin’s example is right there in front of you. If you choose divination, you’ll never become a heavenly monarch. Have you really thought it through?”

“The path of divination brings great benefit to the Empire and to the human race. Someone has to walk this path. Marshal Lin must’ve faced such a dilemma as well back in the year, but he made the same choice. It’s my turn now.”

Zhao Jundu stretched his body. “Who would’ve thought someone like you would care so much about the nation and this world?”

Song Zining sighed. “In my shoes, you’ll find that there’s no difference between love for the country and for oneself.”

“Fine, I admit I can't outspeak you. I heard the Empire has a divination project that has been in the works for countless generations, something called the Chronicle of Glory. Only the Emperor and a handful of top characters know the details, but I heard that divination experts who are a part of this project never meet good ends. Think about it carefully.”

“I will.”