CHAPTER 221: MAJOR SHIFTS

Chapter 221: Major Shifts

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Three days had passed since the meeting between the three emperors, a meeting of historic importance not only because the three emperors, who rarely ever saw each other, had decided to gather in one place, but also because of the topic discussed and the repercussions it would have in the years to come.

Something that directly concerned the safety and, in general, the future of the three empires and their citizens.

The meeting lasted two whole days, and the matters settled there were anything but trivial.

Although the rest of the population had no way of attending, they still got to hear a few things, and one in particular, one that was actually the central topic of the meeting, struck everyone deeply.

A joint operation led by the three emperors to go beyond the great mountain chain that separated the three empires from the mysteries and dangers lying on the other side, in the frozen lands.

The reputation of that place was such that even ordinary people had heard of it, and they all knew of its danger.

They had heard various stories, both of lone adventurers and high-level cultivators who went there only to never return. And yet now they were hearing that the greatest powers of the three empires had decided to attempt an expedition into that very place.

Needless to say, this stirred up quite a bit of turmoil everywhere, but more importantly, people genuinely believed that the expedition might produce good results, after all, the ones leading it were none other than the three emperors themselves.

Everyone knew that each one of them was strong enough to overturn the balance of power among the empires, so hearing that the three had decided to personally lead the expedition reassured everyone that it would not turn into a massacre.

The fear of what lay beyond the mountain chain had always been rooted in everyone’s hearts; hearing that the danger sitting right next to them, separated only by that natural wall of mountains, would actually be addressed, brought joy to many.

That said, while some people were celebrating the decision, others were skeptical, especially those who had studied the past events in the history of the three empires.

Even though many traces of those events had been lost or restricted by the emperors, some had managed to learn that an attempt to cross into the frozen lands and subdue whatever threat lay there had already been made long ago, an attempt carried out by the strongest figures of that era, heroes whose deeds were still told even now.

And they knew about the great defeat that group suffered, with enormous losses that struck at the very foundations of all three empires. If not for certain figures of that time who sacrificed their lives to protect their empires, that defeat would have led to even more disastrous consequences.

This made people fear that something similar could happen again, and it led to the main question: why had the greatest powers of all three empires decided to do this?

What were they trying to accomplish? Was it merely an exploration attempt on a larger scale, or was there another motive behind it?

Those who didn’t know drowned in doubt, unsure if they should even ask. And those who did know kept their mouths shut out of fear of stirring needless panic among the population.

The threat was great, and it had to be faced whether they liked it or not. Having the population in constant fear would only make things harder to manage, so the real reason for the expedition was not revealed.

The expedition was scheduled for the following year, in other words, six months from now, giving the three empires just enough time to prepare.

Even Huo Lian, who had decided to handle things for Zhu Rong in his absence, had to make extensive preparations to reorganize everything, since she too had chosen to take part in the expedition.

Practically all cultivators in the Spirit Realm were required to join, and only those who were either too weak or unable to participate for serious reasons were left behind, so that the three empires would still have a degree of protection in the absence of their main force.

According to many, this was done as a precaution against unexpected accidents out there. But many also understood that it was equally meant to prevent any of the three empires from trying something against the others while their main powers were away.

Given the gravity of the situation, all three set aside their disagreements, and although they had a peace treaty among them, everyone knew that this peace was superficial and was mostly upheld only because the strength of the three empires was similar. If one of them were to become stronger, then that peace would very likely be broken.

Needless to say, the expedition had triggered a long series of hidden schemes and intrigues that, depending on the outcome, might flip the balance between the three empires entirely.

While all this was happening, Ye Ning, who had stayed behind to take care of various matters, finally settled everything and was ready to leave.

Zhu Rong, who was already outside waiting, saw her tired expression and could only sigh as he said,

"I told you not to do everything alone. We have so many loyal subordinates, if you don’t use them, it’s just a waste." He gave her a gentle pat on the head.

It wasn’t strong; in fact, it was soft, and it gave her a warm, tender feeling she hadn’t been used to at first, but over time she had grown accustomed to it, and she actually liked it.

It made her understand that he cared for her a lot, something that made her happy inside every single time. And although she felt there was more behind his gentle gestures, she never thought too deeply about it.

"If you want something done well, you must do it yourself. You taught me that," she said with the serious tone of someone recalling ancient and precious divine teachings.

Zhu Rong, seeing this, didn’t know whether to be proud or worried that she followed his lessons with such precision and rigidity.

"That’s true, but it’s also true that you can’t always do everything on your own, or you’ll risk overworking yourself and making mistakes that, depending on the situation, could turn into huge problems.

Anyway, you’re still young, you have your whole life to sort out all these little things. Come on, let’s go.

I prepared a surprise for you. I’m sure you’ll love it," he said, offering his hand, which she took without hesitation.

She was curious to know what it was, but she decided to just wait and see instead of asking. She was already excited at the idea of entering a Secret Realm for the first time, wondering what it would look like inside, so she didn’t make a fuss and simply waited for him to take her there.

And she didn’t have to wait long, because a moment later, the two of them disappeared from the spot, finally stepping into the secret realm.