Chapter 222: Meeting of Powerhouses
Three days had passed, and the forces within the White Star Radiance Sect in both the Outer Sect lands in the Old Blue Star Sects Grave lands and the Inner Sect within the Pocket Dimension continued their rounds. Both Christy and Shayleaf were traveling through the older, repaired buildings of the sect, collecting resources and documentation.
Christy had to temporarily halt her explorations, much to her dissatisfaction, because she was needed for a special assignment.
Within the Pocket Dimension, their forces had already made contact with demons and other beings dwelling there. Skirmishes had broken out, though no major battles had yet occurred. In most cases, the enemies either fled or were completely annihilated.
Before Christy left, Shayleaf waved with a carefree smile and called out in her usual lively tone.
"Don't worry, Sister Chrissy! I'll collect everything and bring it to our home! Ah, my familiars and doll clones can help too, so it's no big deal!"
Christy could only smile wryly at Shayleaf's free-spirited confidence before heading off. In a place just outside the sect grounds stood Elton, Erica, and Christina, who smiled warmly at the sight of her arrival.
"You finally made it, Chrissy! Let's not keep those overbearing people waiting," Christina said with a tired smile.
"Yes, Mom…" Christy replied, her expression just as weary.
"Now, now, you two," Elton said, smiling as he tried to lighten the mood. "Let's keep things positive. It's not like either of your clans would go back on their word, given their status."
"Ugh… yes, you're right, El Onyem, or at least you should be, but…" Erica murmured, clearly uneasy as she forced her imagination not to spiral.
"Goodness… let's go, guys," Elton said with a wry smile before turning toward the direction of the secret Dimensional Gate.
"Fufufu… my son-in-law is so dependable," Christina said with a beautiful grin. Her teasing words made both Erica and Christy blush, though they couldn't help but smile as their spirits lifted.
Some time later, in a grand meeting room within White Star Radiance's Outer Sect lands, many powerful figures had gathered. Present were experts from the Aka Boshi no Tengan clan, the Soloman clan, the Bright Brilliant Blade sect, and the Fanged Elf tribe. What was about to be discussed here was meant only for these select powers.
Elton, Christy, Erica, and Christina entered shortly after, with Elton taking the main seat as the sect's master.
"Greetings, Sect Master Solman," voices echoed in unison as everyone gave a respectful nod.
Elton almost faltered under the sudden wave of acknowledgment, but he quickly recovered, smiling and nodding back. His ability to maintain composure made several present silently raise their estimation of him.
"Thank you all for coming," Elton said. "Umm… Elder Rukia, why are you here?"
Christy and Erica blinked in surprise. Neither had expected their master to be present.
"Hmm? Why can't I be? It looks like you've completed your mission more than ten times over," Rukia replied with an unreadable expression, though her tone carried a hint of pride.
"Yeah, we certainly have, and at a far faster rate than expected," Elton said, recalling everything that had happened up until now.
"Oh? Pray tell, what could that mission have been?" asked a member of the Soloman clan with an arrogant sneer.
"I'm not obligated to tell you, sir," Elton replied coolly. "It was a confidential mission given to me by the Bright Brilliant Blade sect."
"Ohh? Is that so?" The man's voice grew colder.
"…Please, sir, refrain from causing any problems for my beloved Sect Master, even if we share the same clan," Erica cut in coldly, her voice sharp as her gaze locked onto the man whose aura revealed he had only recently broken through into the Early Stage Mortal Lord realm.
"Hmph! Sect Master Solman, do you enjoy letting Lady Erica fight your battles?" the man scoffed, his irritation mounting.
The Fanged Elf tribe members frowned in response, ready to act, but Aeloria raised a hand to stop them. Her grandfather, Aerlan, simply observed in silence, one hand resting on a small red-and-gold treasure shaped like a tree.
The Aka Boshi no Tengan clan remained mostly silent, watching like spectators, except for Christian, Jonovan, and Christina, who were visibly irritated. Most of the Bright Brilliant Blade sect members merely sat calmly, waiting for orders.
"Is the Soloman clan here just to provoke me, then?" Elton said evenly, his tone steady but his aura flickering around him like a brewing storm.
"Keh… you certainly talk a lot. I would've already rushed over and cut him down," Elton's inner voice hissed arrogantly in his mind, filled with malice. His left eyebrow twitched before another voice cut through the tension.
"Hmm… why would the Soloman clan want to fall out with a sect ruled by its own descendants? That's interesting," Rukia said, her tone turning sly. "Regardless, isn't this meeting supposed to concern Sect Master Solman and the two women from your clans who are to be his future wives? I was under the impression we were here to solidify an alliance and give our blessings."
Rukia finished shamelessly, her expression unreadable but her words landing with perfect precision.
The room fell silent for a long time as everyone was taken aback by Rukia's bold statement. Both Christy and Erica sat with their heads lowered, faces burning red in embarrassment. Their fidgeting only made the atmosphere stranger.
Elton remained silent for a moment before clearing his throat.
"Ahem. Umm… haha, Elder Rukia, you really are something. But to be honest, your thoughts almost completely mirror mine. People of the Aka Boshi no Tengan clan and people of the Soloman clan, I, Sect Master of the White Star Radiance sect, the White Lightning Sage Solman, would like to formally request that you accept the union between Christy Hucklebare, Erica Soloman, and myself."
His voice was passionate and his gaze unwavering, striking even the Middle Stage Mortal Lords present like a flash of lightning.
Silence filled the room once more until a man from the Aka Boshi no Tengan clan began to speak, only for a woman's voice to cut him off.
"Hahahahaha! Oh, this boy is interesting indeed! Regardless of what many of those old fools in the clan think, I don't really mind your union with Lady Erica. In fact, I'm far more interested in you, Sect Master E. Soloman."
A woman sitting at the head of the Soloman clan experts smiled coyly as she spoke.
"Umm… it's Solman…" Elton replied awkwardly, sweat forming on his brow as he felt her mounting pressure.
"Right, right. I'm totally interested in you and your endeavors, Sect Master E. Soloman! Hahaha! As a member of our clan with such an incredible mutated bloodline, I believe nurturing you and your sect would greatly benefit both of our parties. Your talents even surpass Lady Erica's, elevating her potential further! In fact, I think you should take more women of the clan and even procreate with them."
The woman's tone was playful, but her expression carried a fierce authority that made several people tense.
"Wh-What?! No! Wait, Madame," one of the other Soloman clan experts began to protest, but his words were immediately silenced by her glare.
"Be silent! What say you, Sect Master E. Soloman? You should mate with Rija, and I have two granddaughters around your age as well."
"M-Madame, you can't! El Onyem doesn't need any more women buzzing around him!" Erica shouted defiantly, her voice trembling with both fury and embarrassment.
Christy's eyes widened in horror at the suggestion, her entire body shivering at the thought. Before anyone could respond, another voice chimed in.
"Hmm… I think Pristine Lord Amora Soloman might be onto something. But I can't allow you to just do whatever you please. In fact, I believe my great-granddaughter Silvia would make a heavenly match for such a handsome sect master. While she isn't as talented as Lady Christy, who is a once-in-three-centuries genius, she's still an incredible beauty and an exceptional talent of our Aka Boshi no Tengan clan."
The speaker was a middle-aged man seated as leader of the Aka Boshi no Tengan delegation, Pristine Lord Judan.
"Wh-Wh-What?! Milord, you can't do that! Silvia?! Since when did our clan openly allow such a form of polygamy?!" Christy protested, her voice rising in disbelief.
"That's a funny thing for you to say when you're already pursuing such a relationship yourself, little lady," Judan retorted with an amused roll of his eyes.
"Pristine Lord Judan, it seems our thoughts are aligning," Amora said with a knowing smile, her eyes glinting mischievously.
The two clans' experts erupted into chatter, some approving, others outraged. Even among the Bright Brilliant Blade sect, Rukia sat smiling proudly while her subordinates sighed in exasperation. The Fanged Elf tribe's members looked on with amused discomfort.
Elton, meanwhile, felt a throbbing headache coming on.
It was at that moment that a powerful, resonant voice cut through the noise like a blade.
"Enough of this. I don't care about what all of you have going on, but for now, let's just say you're accepting White Star Lightning Sage Solman's marriage to those two women and begin the actual negotiations. There is also a far greater issue that those of us at a certain level must discuss."
Instantly, the room fell into silence. Every person present straightened respectfully. Even Amora and Judan, both Peak Pristine Soul-tier experts with a foot in the Aetherial Soul realm, lowered their heads.
The one who spoke was none other than Aetherial Master Rowan, the Red Star Empire's Bloodflame Sword Duke. He sat apart from the rest, his aura suppressed, yet the faint pressure he released was enough to instill terror in everyone present.
Elton felt the man's presence weighing on him like a mountain, yet somehow, he remained composed. There was something strangely familiar in that power, something that reminded him faintly of Master Bluesonics.
"Yes, it is as you say, Aetherial Master. Let us continue with negotiations," Amora replied seriously. Judan also gave a solemn nod in agreement.
Afterward, the discussions continued for hours as they drafted plans to handle the impending collapse of the dimensional boundary and the coming invasion. What most didn't know was that Elton's forces were already active within the Pocket Dimension, putting them several steps ahead.
The meeting lasted three hours before finally being adjourned. Later, Elton, Christy, and Erica returned to the Inner Sect lands.
Elton went to the temple area to meditate and further master the Treasured Orb. Christy resumed her search for ancient sect records and relics related to the Blue Star sect. Erica gathered the Soloman clan members assigned to her division, though her expression darkened as she recalled the names that had been approved in the meeting.
More Soloman clan members would soon be dispatched to join the White Star Radiance sect, some of whom she wished she'd never have to see any time soon. She sighed heavily, frustration weighing on her heart.
Christy, too, had been irritated upon hearing certain names from the Aka Boshi no Tengan clan's list, one of which was Judan's great-granddaughter, Silvia.