A Farmer's Journey To Immortality

The King’s question was actually giving Kalina an opportunity.

At least that’s what she believed. As long as she honestly revealed her affiliation, perhaps the atmosphere would become less tense.

There was nothing worth hiding anyway. If this King truly came from another faction of the Shinayin Empire, he would soon discover her identity regardless.

Rather than appearing secretive, being straightforward would leave a better impression. After a brief hesitation, Kalina cupped her fists once more.

She respectfully lowered her head.

"Answering respected Great Elder King... I serve under Great Elder Runiye’s faction. I was dispatched here to carry out a conquest campaign across this subcontinent under the Shinayin Empire’s mandate."

Only then did she slowly raise her head. Her voice carried obvious confidence.

"May I now know your esteemed name and the faction you belong to?"

A brief pause followed.

The cold wind swept across the battlefield once again.

Aksai remained motionless beneath his cloak.

Outwardly, he looked like he had expected this answer all along.

Inwardly, he already started filling the missing blanks in his head.

’So that’s how it is.’

One sentence from Kalina had answered many questions at once.

Although he did not know the reason for the empire to act in such a way yet, he could already guess. After all, Nuri had already run some tests and told him that the subcontinent was going to cultivate a brief paradise-like environment after the release of the Dao Paths.

It seemed that the Shinayin Empire was also aware of this thing and it had already begun its invasion to prepare for the future. Not through a single army.

Not through one organization.

Instead...

Multiple factions inside the empire had been given permission to conquer different parts of the Dadangar Subcontinent.

They were competing with one another. Each wanted to claim more territory, more resources, more sects, and more Spirit Veins that were due for major upgrades.

By dividing this operation into multiple campaigns, the Empire had given face to all the factions. It also wanted to minimize the losses of resources that could be caused due to sudden handover of the power. As such, multiple attacks from various factions would prevent the natives of the subcontinent from organizing their strength.

This was not a random invasion. It was a carefully planned campaign.

Aksai’s expression remained hidden beneath the hood. His heart, however, had become much heavier.

’Great Elder Runiye...’

He silently remembered the name.

Judging from Kalina’s confidence, this Great Elder was clearly a Nascent Soul King and possessed tremendous influence inside the Shinayin Empire.

Even more importantly, it seemed that the leaders of these imperial factions were most likely all Kings. At least most of them if not all.

Aksai did not know how many Kings existed within the Shinayin Empire. But one thing was certain.

Even a single genuine Nascent Soul King was enough to overwhelm the combined strength of the current Dadangar Subcontinent.

The difference between a Lord and a King was simply too great.

Aksai had only managed to fool Kalina by relying on the False King Essence Pill.

If he truly fought a real King, the outcome would not even need to be guessed. His gaze quietly swept over the battlefield below.

’This woman... is only the beginning.’

Kalina had not come here because of some personal grudge. She represented an imperial faction.

Soon...

There would be others.

Other Lords and their subordinates.

They would support the existing royal faction within the subcontinent to establish a "just cause" before attacking the sects. This "just cause" was nothing but a facade meant to calm the mortals and keep them from supporting the sects.

Although mortals possessed almost no power, that did not mean their rulers could simply ignore them. Doing so would only be detrimental to their rule.

After all, the flames of rebellion could easily grow into a wildfire given enough time. This flame would then seep into the very fabric of the societal order of the subcontinent, influencing the future Spirit cultivators as well.

If the royal faction knew one thing, it was how to keep the mortals in check.

The combination of the royal faction and the empire’s forces would completely crush the sect system of the subcontinent. Once a new order was established, the majority of the empire’s forces would return home, leaving the royal faction in charge.

The subcontinent’s royal faction would act as the empire’s proxy and begin mining the Spirit resources that would soon emerge across the subcontinent for the empire’s benefit.

In this way, the royal faction would eradicate the Big Five Righteous Sects and the Three Major Demonic Sects from the face of the subcontinent and establish a unified rule. At the same time, the empire would receive the majority of the benefits while acting as the royal faction’s supporter.

It was a well-thought-out plan.

Perhaps another influential sect was already under attack somewhere else on the mainland.

Perhaps another Great Elder’s subordinates had already begun claiming Spirit Veins in another region.

The invasion had already started. Tonight’s battle was merely its opening move.

Aksai felt the pressure growing inside his heart.

If nothing changed, the current order of the Dadangar Subcontinent would disappear.

The Big Five Sects.

The Three Major Demonic Sects.

Independent forces.

Everything would eventually be swallowed.

They would either surrender or be destroyed.

Naturally...

Emerald Cove Island would not escape this fate either.

For now, the empire’s attention remained fixed on the mainland. Conquering the major sects would always come first.

Only after stabilizing the mainland would they turn their attention toward the countless islands scattered across the Dadangar Archipelago.

That included Emerald Cove Island as well.

It was only a matter of time.

Aksai slowly narrowed his eyes beneath his hood. He had originally believed he still had several years to strengthen himself before embarking on another world-hopping trip.

Now...

He was no longer so certain.

These otherworldly trips could only be taken when his homeworld remained stable and secure. Otherwise, they would be far too risky.

The empire had already arrived.

And from what Kalina had revealed, the subcontinent was about to welcome more than one King, pushing all the existing Lords off their thrones.

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