?Thousands of soldiers radiating a dense killing intent lined up inpact formations on the grasnds of open ins. On a high hill not too far away was a giant military tent that raised the gs of the Samuel Household and the Issac Household.


    The Crouching Dragon Province was an area of contention between these two peak households, and they have been at each other''s throats for hundreds of years by now.


    As usual, the geographical terrains of Arcadia revolved around high mountains, winding rivers, towering trees, and expansive ins. The cities and towns are usually built within thefort of multiple mountain chains to shelter the poption from conflicts between cultivators and massive beast tides. Although reaching these cities would prove rather tedious, it could also provide benefits such as a strategic advantage in defensive wars.


    The high mountains and rocky terrain limit the channels through which an army could advance onward. Moreover, even if the army managed to reach the cities hidden deep within the mountains, attacking a stronghold deeply rooted within suchplex environments is no different from sensing one''s troops to their deaths.


    Hence, predicting the enemy''s path of advancement is rather simple, especially when the site of conflict has already been predetermined. The Crouching Dragon Province would be Grace Army''s first target, and to chain up with the next province they''d need to go through the wild ins currently upied by thebined armies of House Regalia, House Samuel, and House Issac.


    Although the resources and tax rates within this province are monopolized by the two houses and theirpetition, thend is strictly regted under Regalia''s rule, and thus the two feudal houses are subjected to paying yearly tributes.


    Honestly, by this time, the two houses didn''t care to whom they paid tributes and would rather they wouldn''t pay any at all. However, they are forced through covenants to put up arms and help the Regalia Kingdom in matters of war as long as they lived under their jurisdiction and rule.


    Hence, there was a total of six saints in themander''s tent, currently listening to a rather interesting piece of news. The six saints sat onvish stone chairs in a semi-circle while facing the open space centre of the tent. A man dressed in ck, seemingly proficient in espionage, stood respectfully to bow before taking on a knee.


    "The one thousand-strong Grace army disbanded as every member of their ve recruits defected during the grace period. ording to our observations, they have all used some secret channels to smuggle their way into forgotten ruins, and abandoned towns, or even directly escaped across the borders through unfavourable routes."


    "Haha! That''s what happens when you ce an ipetentmander to lead an army! I knew it, what would a young kid who ved his life away chasing business and fortune know about the arts of war?" Sneered one of the two saints upying the highest two chairs, feeling disgusted.


    "I don''t know why those businessmen dispatched to the forbidden domain are scared witless simply by the mention of this guy. Really, young people are too green when ites to managing armies of hot-blooded warriors. Did he really expect the ves to throw their lives away after gaining freedom? Since when was the world so benevolent and kind?" A Samuel saint spoke up, subtly sucking up to the saint from House Regalia''s army divisions.


    Still, he was still somewhat worried inside.


    "Didn''t the reports also hint that a powerful expert is backing Leonardo as well? Won''t we be offending them?" He voiced out his worries aloud for everyone to hear. As expected, the others descended into silence for a moment before one of the saints spoke up with a not-so-confident tone.


    "As long as we don''t put that kid''s life in danger, that expert won''t have the drive necessary to make a move. Moreover, no one knew what exactly happened on that day. I heard that over 80% of the soldiers died without the slightest hint of energy, as though their life force was extinguished by an attack bypassing everything else."


    "You''re right. Judging from the traces, there was an intense battle pattern. If I guessed correctly, when Leonardo''s life was in mortal danger, that expert finally made a move. Since that is the case, don''t worry about it and focus on eradicating the army. As long as they don''t have armies ornds, so what if he has a powerful expert behind him? If he acts out too much, he will eventually draw the ire of Goddess Arcadia and be struck dead with none the wiser."<novelnext></novelnext>


    Everyone else nodded. All of them have powerful and erudite backgrounds. The higher one''s realm, the closer one bes to thews of the world around them, all in preparation for the construction of their personal sub-dimension and attaining divinity. Those powerful saints that gain the favour of the''s will are nourished by itsws, allowing theirprehension and cultivation to soar.


    In exchange, when the is facing mortal danger, those powerful cultivators are to defend it even at the cost of their lives. It remains unknown whether or not this was worth it, but they ''sacrifice'' themselves to provide their families with better fortune and care from Arcadia.


    This fortune is ephemeral and illusory, the benefits are intangible, to say the least, but one can see the difference in power snowballing as the three ruling powers rotate the position of the Sovereign between their three houses.


    However, this fortune and protection are exclusive to the three ruling powers, and years of peace and petty scuffles between the vassal kingdoms allowed the three ruling powers to hide their fangs deeply, to the point where their power remains a mystery.


    The saints continued to discuss, but there was one among them who had a frown on his face as he faced a certain direction with an ill omen striking his heart. The heavy air around him drew everyone''s attention, and someone finally asked him, "Is something wrong?"


    This saint was the closest of them to the second-cycle, and they felt like they should respect him. Openly at least, even though he was stuck in a bottleneck for many years. The saint did not respond, he merely closed his eyes and extended his domain in the direction of the army, and expanded further ahead of them.


    Everyone else watched silently as time ticked by. Until suddenly...


    Rumble! Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!


    BOOM!


    One sonic st after another echoed from the distance. Then, the saint felt a powerful domain smash directly into his domain. The point of collision was a dozen kilometres in front of the joined armies, and they had no idea what was going on before the sky shook and invisible wind des spread from the point of contact. An aura of unquenchable bloodlust entangled with the aura of a staunch mountain as the two domains shed.


    Then, another domain superimposed over the first, and another, and another...


    Eventually, the defending domain crumbled like ss, and a fierce explosion reverberated through the air. The soldiers felt like this was a descending apocalypse as waves of dark clouds approached from the distance as though fleeing from an ancient beast. Like a bolt of red lightning, a halberd three meters tall tore through the vanguard formation of the armies with a loud bang, shaking thend.


    In the tent, the unlucky saint felt his mind ring and his body rattled. Unable to hold on, he spat a mouthful of blood and went pale in fright. All of that happened within an instant, and before anyone could inquire about his plight, explosions rocked their hill and they immediately shot to their feet.