The main planet of the Empire Nine Secrets stood out as the brightest among the eight of that empire. A powerful aura emanated from it, easily felt by Alm and Bruno. And for good reason: the greatest cultivators and the most influential clans of the empire resided there.
The current generation was led by King Vulke, who ruled efficiently. Under his leadership, the empire flourished, solidifying its dominance over the two adjacent empires.
On that planet, the day started beautifully and sunny, until...
*Boom!*
Suddenly, a figure shot across the sky and crashed hard. Alm and Bruno, now without their powerful bodies, still hadn’t mastered the laws they were supposed to control. Even though they were connected to Yin and Yang, those were different laws, and they were still learning.
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Out of control, both plummeted to the ground, creating a considerable crater.
*Clank! Clank!*
The sound of swords and sabers leaving their scabbards echoed around. Alm and Bruno squinted as they lay on the ground. Oppressive auras surrounded them, and sharp blades were placed inches from their necks. Any wrong move would result in decapitation.
It all happened so fast—these weren’t amateurs but well-trained cultivators. Looking around, they noticed that all escape routes were blocked. They were being treated as powerful enemies.
With a quick glance, they saw they were in a plain, guarded by watchtowers in four directions. A significant figure must have been camped there, explaining the number of guards. Now, with the sudden appearance of strangers, these guards were on high alert.
"Who are you?! Where did you come from?!" roared the guard captain, a humanoid Fiendgod standing four meters tall, with muscles as frightening as his presence.
’A True Saint, and he’s just a guard captain?’ Bruno thought.
This being was in the fifth realm of cultivation, possessing three cores. He was close to the peak of Anima cultivation. Under normal circumstances, he’d be someone of high importance, like an Elder. But here, he was just a simple subordinate. It seemed they had ’luck’ beyond belief this time.
"We arrived here by accident," Bruno replied, still seated.
"This is a forbidden area. No one could approach within a hundred kilometers. Now speak! Who sent you?!" the captain roared, his eyes burning with fury.
"Is this how you greet guests?" Alm responded coldly. They were already in this mess; now they had to bluff their way out.
"You dare! Men, bring the torture tools! We’ll make this arrogant one talk!" the captain threatened, his eyes overflowing with killing intent.
"Torture tools? Hahaha," Alm smiled darkly, and a murderous aura flowed out.
"Wait!" A voice suddenly rang out.
A figure appeared out of nowhere, like a specter. Everyone turned, and when they saw the newcomer, their eyes widened. An old man of the Yggdrasil race appeared, and the guards immediately dropped to their knees.
"Divine Lord!"
The shout echoed across the field in unison, regardless of the guards’ cultivation level. Even the captain showed fear. It was clear that their respect for the old man came more from deep fear than reverence.
He was in his humanoid form, dressed in a gray robe, and appeared frail; but Alm and Bruno felt the crushing power he hid. Even though he didn’t project an intimidating presence, they knew this figure could wipe out everyone there in seconds.
The old man was a high-level True Emperor, one step away from becoming a Divine Inquisitor. He represented the pinnacle of power in that micro-universe, for beyond that level, he would serve directly under the queen.
But... he looked into the eyes of that young Primordial Elemental Spirit. Then his soul energy tried to invade and assess him.
Alm and Bruno snorted dryly; the situation was delicate, and pretending weakness now could doom them. Without hesitation, a soul fragment was destroyed.
"!"
The old man’s eyes widened, and he quickly restrained his surprise. He felt the loss of a fragment of his soul, causing deep pain and injury. But he kept his composure, pretending nothing had happened.
He looked deeply at the young one... but this time, a disdainful aura radiated from his eyes as he stared down the old man. At that moment, the old man felt a cold chill run through his body. He immediately understood that if he dared to act rashly, the consequences would be fatal.
He nodded slightly, trying to calm himself.
"Please forgive us for the improper welcome, Esteemed Guest. I am Mermeon," the old man quickly said, adopting a respectful tone.
The guards were dumbfounded. Mermeon, known for his cruelty and bloodlust, was being polite? His reputation as a ruthless enforcer seemed to have vanished in front of this young one.
The guard who had his sword at the young man’s neck immediately backed away, trembling in fear and collapsing to the ground.
Mermeon, on the other hand, remained calm, watching the young man cautiously. He didn’t dare show any intent to fight, simply giving a respectful gesture. "Her Majesty wishes to see you, Esteemed Guest."
All the guards took a deep breath, completely terrified. To them, their king was a supreme and unreachable existence, ruling over countless living beings. Any thought of rebellion, no matter who it came from, would be crushed in no time. That was the level of respect and fear ingrained in them.
"Very well, I just arrived and I’m not familiar with the place. A meeting should suffice."
The young man smiled as he got up, completely calm and in control. Internally, though, Alm and Bruno were quickly assessing the situation. It didn’t take long for them to reach a conclusion.
’We’ll just go with the flow and see where this mess leads,’ Alm thought coldly.
They were calmly guided through the camp, which housed a massive army, probably making a brief stop. Around a million soldiers were ready for any order.
The leader didn’t travel in a simple carriage; there was a magnificent palace, worthy of a supreme king, carried by eight massive quadrupedal Aberrants. The sight was truly imposing.
Inside the palace, the atmosphere was luxurious, with an air of nobility. Mermeon led them to a royal chamber, where several servants were waiting. The strong smell of medicinal herbs filled the air.
Lying on a wooden bed was an old man, a Primordial Elemental Spirit. His stature was colossal, so tall that most people standing beside him would barely reach his waist. His long white hair flowed like silver threads over his shoulders.
A faint aura of fire laws surrounded him, indicating the element from which he was born. However, the king appeared fragile and worn out, like a candle about to go out.
"Your Highness Vulke, the guest has arrived," Mermeon announced, bowing before disappearing into the shadows.
Alm and Bruno were stunned to have encountered the king of the Empire Nine Secrets so quickly. ’Is the Heaven’s Will scheming something again?’ both thought.
King Vulke was the ruler of the empire, with cultivation equivalent to Mermeon’s, but Alm and Bruno could sense that the King was much more powerful. Perhaps his internal laws and the technique he used to create them were superior, leaving a noticeable difference.
Vulke’s reign had lasted for three generations, the longest in the empire’s history, possibly in the other empires as well. Certainly, this was related to the laws he had created.
In addition to his power, he also had a daughter who had become a Divine Inquisitor. No one dared to even think of challenging this king.
While many ancient masters, after reaching old age, chose to withdraw from worldly matters, Vulke continued to rule with an iron fist, maintaining total control over the empire’s affairs. Under his leadership, the empire prospered, surpassing the other two during the three generations of his rule.
The king opened his eyes to observe the young visitor. "…I cannot stand to greet you, esteemed guest… I apologize for my lack of manners."
His face flushed, as if just saying those words required immense effort, like a man on his deathbed.
"No need to be so formal, I’m just a lost traveler," the young man replied, pulling up a chair and sitting casually.
His indifference made the servants hold their breath. Vulke, on the other hand, stared at the young man again, perplexed by his complete lack of fear. The light in his eyes flickered for a brief moment.
The king murmured weakly, "…my name is Vulke… what’s yours?"
"Kakarotto," he replied casually.
"That’s a good name…" Vulke murmured before taking a deep breath. "A meeting is fate. How about becoming a guest of my empire?"
Anyone else would feel honored by such a proposal, but he replied dryly, "Sure, I’ve got some free time."
"Great," the king responded with satisfaction, casting a glance at one of his servants. The servant bowed respectfully and led the young man out of the room.
Once outside, the young man was taken to a luxurious room. Alm and Bruno were completely puzzled, but they decided to go along with it to see what would come of it. It seemed like an opportunity that had appeared strangely.
Inside the royal chamber, time seemed to stand still.
"Your Majesty…" Mermeon broke the silence.
"My time is running out. It’s time to name a successor," the king said weakly.
"…"
"I know what you’re thinking. But meeting him by chance is destiny, don’t you agree?"
Mermeon didn’t respond, remaining like an invisible shadow.
"Begin the preparations at dawn. I want to return to the palace. If I die, let it be in court," the king concluded before falling into a deep sleep.
***
The servants followed the king’s orders to the letter, without showing any displeasure. It was a testament to His Majesty’s absolute authority and power.
Because of this, Alm and Bruno were enjoying the highest level of treatment within that palace. They were treated as if they were crown princes, and many cultivators were envious of the privilege they held. This position gave them power and the freedom to do whatever they wanted.
Naturally, the king’s esteemed guest held great authority — it felt like he was second only to the king, yet above everyone else. His influence was enough to shake the entire empire.
Kakarotto, however, went against expectations and remained in his quarters, meditating in silence. Alm and Bruno focused on perfecting the use of the 80 unique laws within them.
His attitude surprised everyone. He didn’t ask any questions about the king’s health, acting as if he was unaware of the situation — or at least that’s the impression he gave.
In recent years, King Vulke’s health had deteriorated significantly, but he still hadn’t named a successor. This made everyone closely watch his every move.
The Empire Nine Secrets had long been the largest of the three empires, and the moment the king passed away, many feared that the power struggle would throw it into chaos.
The other two empires would certainly take advantage of the weakness and start a war, trying to destroy the empire while it was vulnerable. Whoever inherited the throne would hold the fate of the empire in their hands, for better or for worse. It was a storm waiting to happen.
However, as long as the king was still breathing, he held absolute power — untouchable by any other force.
In seven days, everyone returned to the imperial city.
Upon seeing the army’s arrival, people whispered among themselves. "Could His Majesty have found a remedy for longevity?" murmured an Ancestral Devil.
"I highly doubt it. If they had found something, the army wouldn’t be marching back so quickly. Look at them, rushing back to the court. The end is near."
The fact that the king had lived this long was already considered a miracle. Everyone knew his lifespan had run out years ago. Many believed the journey was to find cures, but it seemed like it had been a failure.
Meanwhile, the eight most powerful clans of the empire were restless with the latest news. The throne would be vacant at any moment. More importantly, the king had no son or named successor!
Even so, as long as the king still breathed, these factions waited patiently. They knew Vulke didn’t hesitate to commit genocides to protect his rule, not to mention his invincible army and the feared executioner, Mermeon.
Many lessons of failure were taught during the king’s long reign. No one had been able to usurp his power; all who tried met a tragic end. However, the powers were already mobilizing their troops. The only thing missing was the news of King Vulke’s death.
Meanwhile...
’Such a fierce and murderous atmosphere, so nostalgic,’ murmured Alm, already settled in one of the rooms of the royal castle. Neither he nor Bruno cared about the ongoing intrigues. They were just focused on taking full advantage of the situation and wrapping things up as quickly as possible.