The atmosphere inside the hall remained heavy long after the burst of pressure from Aelric dissipated. The wooden floor still trembled faintly, as if his authority had carved itself into the foundation.
The five guards, four peak of First-Rate and one entry stage of Peak Realm martial artists, were sprawled on the ground, coughing violently. Their faces were pale, veins bulging slightly from the overwhelming suppression they had endured. Even though Aelric had released only a sliver of his authority—far less than what he was capable of using in his current condition—it was still twice as heavy for these guards compared to what he had exerted on Branch Manager Bai or Sect Leader Jian Wuhen.
To beings beneath him, even at twenty percent of his former peak, a progenitor's presence simply couldn't be resisted.
Aelric tilted his head slightly and looked toward the guards. His expression didn't change—neither sympathy nor cruelty in his calm eyes. He simply stared at them for a couple of moments.
In the next instant, all five guards collapsed fully, their bodies falling in unison like puppets with cut strings.
Branch Manager Bai and Jian Wuhen both stiffened.
Neither of them had seen him move.
Not a gesture.
Not a flicker of inner energy.
The guards had simply… fainted.
Bai Hanyue's eyes widened slightly, a brief trace of panic flashing across her composed face.
Jian Wuhen instinctively reached for his sword hilt before stopping himself. His rational mind caught up—Aelric would have no reason to harm the guards in such a roundabout manner.
Aelric's voice broke the tense silence, even and unhurried.
"Don't worry. They're only unconscious."
His gaze moved away from the guards, as if the matter was already closed.
"I merely put them to sleep. It will reduce their suffering."
The casual tone struck both Bai and Jian far more deeply than the pressure earlier. Someone capable of knocking out four peak First-Rate guards without lifting a finger—while speaking as though discussing the weather—was inherently frightening.
Neither dared to ask how he had done it.
Curiosity may be natural, but in this moment, curiosity felt like a risk.
A proverb floated through Bai Hanyue's mind:
Curiosity kills the cat.
Whether Aelric was ally or potential threat, neither she nor the sect leader wished to provoke him unnecessarily.
She regained her composure after two breaths and turned toward the doorway.
"Send attendants," she instructed with a wave of her hand. "Take these guards to their rooms. Lay them on their beds and call for the doctor."
A few servants rushed in, bowing nervously as they carried the unconscious guards away. None dared to look in Aelric's direction for more than a second.
Once the hall quieted again, Bai Hanyue straightened her robes and faced Aelric.
Her expression was respectful, but not submissive.
Her tone held courtesy, but not fear.
She represented White Dragon Hall—one of the region's strongest merchant powers. Even if Aelric possessed terrifying strength, he had no faction, no resources, no foundation. Alone, he could not stand against an entrenched power like theirs.
"Divine Doctor," she began, her posture dignified, "what does Azure Heaven Sect seek from White Dragon Hall?"
Her eyes held calm intelligence. She was not someone who bowed easily. Her duty was to negotiate, not to kneel.
And Aelric understood perfectly well what her tone implied.
He didn't take offense. In fact… he agreed.
Strength alone could not conquer a world. One needs connections and foundation to out do strength.
Even peak strength couldn't unless one possessed absolute power—power he once had to trample anything which blocks his way, but no longer.
He was far from his peak.
Tact and strategy mattered.
And if White Dragon Hall treated him as an enemy, he knew complications would follow.
There was no ego in him—only glasslike clarity.
He answered without pause.
"Azure Heaven Sect asks White Dragon Hall to maintain neutrality," Aelric said. "Do not support Flowing Cloud Sect, even if they come begging… and after tonight—when the Flowing Cloud Sect is erased—side with Azure Heaven Sect to make it clear who started this conflict first to public."
Bai Hanyue's breath hitched.
The calm certainty in Aelric's voice…
He wasn't boasting.
He wasn't threatening.
He was simply stating what would happen.
Flowing Cloud Sect… erased?
She felt a cold ripple run down her spine.
Yet she did not question him further. Instead, she asked the only reasonable question.
"And what does Azure Heaven Sect offer White Dragon Hall for this neutrality?"
Aelric gave a faint smile—a serene expression, not arrogance.
"Azure Heaven Sect will offer thirty-five percent of all materials obtained from the Spirit Realm," he said, "and exclusive merchant rights within Yunlai Village with greatly reduced taxes once Azure Heaven becomes the governing power."
The hall fell silent.
Bai Hanyue and Jian Wuhen both inhaled sharply.
Aelric continued calmly, his voice smooth as still water.
"Flowing Cloud Sect cannot offer that much. They are cultivators. Their resource consumption is immense—far greater than any martial sect."
He spoke slowly, thoughtfully, recalling the information he studied in the library.
"In the Southern Region, there are few cultivation sects because their resource requirements are too heavy. They would not, and cannot, part with thirty-five percent of Spirit Realm materials."
Aelric's eyes narrowed slightly, the faintest trace of insight passing through them.
"And second… Flowing Cloud Sect is greedy. Once they become the governor of Yunlai Village and take control of the Spirit Realm, merchant groups will flock to them. Taxes alone would bring enormous profit. They will not willingly give up significant shares."
This reasoning was detailed, precise, and more importantly—it made sense.
Bai Hanyue lowered her gaze in thought, processing the offer.
Her shock was very real.
Flowing Cloud Sect had previously offered:
• 25% of Spirit Realm materials,
• And any extra would be sold to White Dragon Hall at ten percent below market price.
But Aelric's terms…
Thirty-five percent.
Exclusive merchant rights.
Low taxes.
And the chance to secure a firm base in Yunlai Village.
This offer was twice what Flowing Cloud Sect had offered—and strategically far superior.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her sleeves.
This was a deal she wanted to accept immediately.
However…
Jian Wuhen's expression did not match hers.
The sect leader looked troubled—stiff, uncertain, even hesitant.
He appeared to fear that Azure Heaven Sect would incur losses.
Aelric glanced at him and spoke silently, channeling his voice with Frequency Whispering, the technique Jian himself had provided to him.
—"Sect Leader Jian," Aelric murmured directly into his mind, "Flowing Cloud Sect has White Dragon Hall's current favor. Without a stronger incentive, Azure Heaven Sect cannot defeat them."
—"This agreement may cost Azure Heaven Sect in the short term," Aelric continued, "but it guarantees control over Yunlai Village… and secures White Dragon Hall as an ally."
—"With that alliance, Flowing Cloud Sect loses their advantage completely."
Aelric knew his limits.
He was not delusional.
White Dragon Hall was far beyond what he could currently challenge.
He adjusted himself to reality, not pride.
He did not cling to ego.
He adapted.
Jian Wuhen finally understood.
After a brief silence, he exhaled slowly and nodded.
"I agree," he said aloud.
Bai Hanyue also nodded, a gentle smile forming on her lips.
"Then let us formalize the agreement."
A servant brought forth a jade scroll and ceremonial dagger. Both parties pricked their fingers, allowing a few drops of blood to fall on the scroll. The crimson marks glowed faintly before sinking into the jade, forming a sealed Bloodbound Agreement.
Jian Wuhen and Bai Hanyue bowed toward each other.
Just as they were preparing to leave, Bai Hanyue suddenly spoke.
"One more thing," she said, her eyes shifting toward Aelric. "Divine Doctor is a title. I would like to know your name."
Jian Wuhen also turned toward him expectantly.
Aelric paused for a moment.
This was the first time since he stepped into this world that someone asked his true name.
He met their gazes, his voice quiet and steady.
"Aelric Noctarion."
The syllables were calm yet carried an ancient depth—simple, not dramatized, yet naturally imposing.
Bai Hanyue repeated it softly.
"Master Aelric… Noctarion. I see."
With that, the two parties exchanged final courtesies and parted ways.
⸻
On the Path Back towards Azure Heaven Sect,
Jian Wuhen walked ahead, discussing preparations for the upcoming attack, unaware of the faint instability behind him.
Aelric followed behind silently.
A sudden sharp pain bloomed in his chest.
He covered his mouth lightly—
A thin line of blood escaped between his fingers.
Using both Progenitor's Authority and Blood Veil in rapid succession had completely drained his essence. His current vessel could not keep up.
His steps faltered for half a second before stabilizing.
"…My essence is empty."
He wiped the blood casually with his sleeve.
I cannot use my offensive abilities for now.
Recovering my original strength must be prioritized… soon.
Fortunately, Jian Wuhen didn't look back and saw none of it.
By the time they reached the sect, Aelric's expression had already stabilised his internal condition.
All the elders had returned—except one.
Jian Wuhen's right-hand man knelt and reported, "Sect Leader! We eliminated all nineteen assassins. No one escaped. Defensive arrays remain intact, though several disciples suffered injuries. No casualties."
Aelric's voice cut through the hall decisively.
"We depart in half an hour. Prepare the forces. Flowing Cloud Sect will be erased tonight."
Half an hour was enough for him to recover a minimal amount of essence—Hex was still asleep, so this was his limit.
The sect mobilized instantly.
⸻
— Silent Crown Sect —
Deep within a dim chamber, a man ran through the corridors, breathless. He halted before a sealed door, pushed it open, and knelt immediately.
Inside, a man sat at a wooden table, methodically wiping a dagger.
The dagger was old—ancient even.
Its blade was blackened with age, engraved with runic markings that faintly shimmered like ghostly veins.
The handle was wrapped in dark cloth, embroidered with tiny silver threads forming an insignia resembling a crescent split in two.
The one holding it was Reaper, the leader of Silent Crown Sect.
"Sect Leader!" the messenger gasped. "We've lost contact with Silent Shadow. He is most likely dead!"
Reaper paused mid-stroke, lifting his gaze just slightly.
"…Is that so?"
His voice held neither anger nor disappointment.
Instead, he set the dagger down with deliberate calm.
"Let it be. Silent Shadow became a liability long ago."
He leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing.
"As I expected, the situation in Yunlai Village is becoming chaotic."
Reaper had felt uneasy for days—an assassin's intuition warning him to avoid Yunlai Village entirely.
He tapped a finger on the table.
"Send word to all our operatives in Yunlai Village," he instructed softly. "No more requests. No more killing. Gather information only. Everything goes through me."
"Yes, Sect Leader!" The man bowed deeply before retreating, closing the door quietly behind him.
Reaper resumed cleaning his dagger, though his eyes glimmered faintly with interest.
"Yunlai Village… something dangerous has appeared."
⸻
The moment Aelric and Jian Wuhen left the estate, Bai Hanyue rose from her seat and headed deeper inside.
The inner compound held far tighter security. Guards saluted her respectfully as she entered the central building.
She slipped into a sealed room and shut the door behind her.
Approaching a seemingly ordinary wall, she pressed her palm against a specific point.
A faint click sounded, and a small compartment opened—revealing a stone tablet the size of her hand.
Intricate symbols were carved across its surface, forming a complex rune array.
She drew a small dagger and made a cut across her palm, letting a few drops of blood fall onto the engravings.
Light burst through the carvings—
A bright, shimmering yellow glow that filled the entire room.
A moment later, a soft, gentle female voice echoed through the light.
"Manager Bai," the voice said calmly, "I instructed you not to contact me without good reason."
There was no irritation in the tone—only serene authority.
Bai Hanyue bowed deeply, her expression solemn.
"Young Miss… a variable has appeared. The entire situation in Yunlai Village has shifted."
She then gave a concise but thorough report:
• The failed assassination.
• The Azure Heaven Sect's new alliance proposal.
• And most importantly…
About the man named Aelric Noctarion.
Silence followed for several seconds.
Then the gentle voice whispered,
"Aelric Noctarion… interesting."
Her tone carried genuine curiosity.