Joshua hesitated, then glanced at Stillness Sage beside him.

"It seems I should excuse myself,"

Stillness Sage said with a faint smile, rising as if to leave.

"My lord, there's no need!"

Tredy transmitted a few words to Joshua via mind power.

Joshua steadied himself and continued,

"The Crossbridge Empire already possesses a foundation on the level of a Divine Empire, and is currently planning to fully take control of the Abyssal Demon Realm to establish its national strength."

"Moreover, His Majesty Aurek is extremely young. To call his talent heaven-defying would still be an understatement. In the future, the Empire may even have the potential to challenge a Divine Court."

"My words should make clear to you how much weight this carries."

"A Divine Court?!"

Stillness Sage was deeply shaken.

Starbound Savant also frowned tightly.

"You're saying that the Crossbridge Empire intends to contend with behemoths like the Council of the Dark Order and the Judicatory Sanctum?"

he asked cautiously.

Joshua replied,

"There are deeper details that I'm not at liberty to disclose."

He dared not reveal too much, fearing it might affect Fiona's standing within the Crossbridge Empire.

Antoine also added a quiet explanation from the side.

Starbound Savant and Stillness Sage both fell into silence.

If the Crossbridge Empire truly rose to the level of a Divine Court, then Fiona's position as an imperial consort would radiate across the endless star seas, rather than being confined to a single world.

The implications of this were perfectly clear to them.

"Since Fiona has already entered the imperial court, it would be unreasonable—both emotionally and logically—for you to stand by and do nothing,"

Stillness Sage advised at the right moment.

Starbound Savant nodded, then turned and spoke solemnly,

"Old friend, I hope you can help Fiona together with me."

"Both Fiona and I will remember this kindness."

Stillness Sage possessed Divine Radiant ninth-level strength, with a rank even higher than his own.

This scene today might ostensibly be for Fiona, but wasn't it also a move to recruit this close friend of his for the Crossbridge Empire?

The potential of the Crossbridge Empire was something people who had lived for countless ages could see clearly.

Stillness Sage fell into contemplation.

Joshua understood immediately and said at once,

"Please, my lord, help my daughter!"

"If my daughter can establish a firm position in the imperial court in the future, your contribution will be indispensable."

"Fine!"

Stillness Sage put on an expression as if he had been persuaded.

"I've known the Sage for many years, and I truly do like Fiona."

"I'll agree to help her, then!"

In truth, he had already wanted to follow Starbound Savant from the very beginning.

Leaving aside the vague and distant notion of a Divine Court, just the ambition of the Crossbridge Empire to conquer the Abyssal Demon Realm—and the terrifying strength it had already displayed—pointed to an immeasurable future.

He had long been tempted; it was only that, as a Divine Radiant powerhouse, dignity mattered greatly.

He could not demean himself by eagerly throwing himself into it.

That would make him worthless.

Within Silver City.

Ares was fully prepared, ready to depart for Nisno Valley.

Accompanying him were one hundred thousand True God–rank titans, one hundred thousand True God–rank void warlocks, and one hundred thousand God General–rank Elemental Assassins.

"General Ares, please wait!"

Just as the army was about to set off, Joshua hurried over.

Suggwoth, Lucio, Philip, and the others turned their gazes toward Joshua.

"May I ask what this is about?"

Lucio asked.

Joshua said, "We already have a candidate to slay Wings of Calamity!"

Hearing this, Philip's and Lucio's eyes lit up at once.

They seemed to have a guess.

"Has Starbound Savant returned?"

Joshua nodded, smiling broadly.

"Starbound Savant has always doted on Fiona."

"Upon hearing that she had already entered the Empire, he didn't hesitate much before agreeing to serve the Empire."

"He has also brought with him an ancient Sacred Radiance–rank powerhouse."

Even the White Lady, hidden high in the skies, turned her gaze toward the distance in surprise.

To be called an ancient Divine Radiant meant not only that the individual had reached Sacred Radiance ninth level—

but also that they had existed for an extremely long time, with unfathomable strength and methods.

Moments later,

Antoine led Starbound Savant and Stillness Sage to the scene.

After brief greetings,

void warlocks performed Transdimensional Leap, transporting everyone to the outskirts of Nisno Valley.

The void warlocks' mastery over spatial laws made even the well-traveled Stillness Sage secretly gasp in amazement.

"Old friend, these soldiers' control over spatial origins is terrifying,"

he transmitted to Starbound Savant via mind power.

"Any one of them could probably hold their own against a God King."

"The foundation of the Crossbridge Empire is truly astonishing."

As an ancient Divine Radiant, Stillness Sage could sense extraordinariness from the slightest fluctuations of the world's laws, and thus understood better than most just how frightening these soldiers were.

Starbound Savant was equally shaken.

"It truly opens one's eyes."

"I've heard that the Crossbridge Empire possesses such soldiers in vast numbers."

"Perhaps Joshua wasn't exaggerating after all. The Empire's potential really is beyond measure."

Ares cast his gaze toward Nisno Valley.

An aura of death pervaded the land, as though one had stepped into a burial abyss.

Yet massive legions were stationed within it.

Most of them belonged to the Ossuary Court.

The Ossuary Court was a race of undead built upon powerful skeletal forms.

They absorbed death energy from heaven and earth to strengthen their bones, causing them to continuously evolve—forming corroded bones, black iron bones, fine gold bones, legendary skeletons, and even sacred bones.

They treated bones as their most fundamental weapons and armor, granting them astonishing hardness and defensive power.

The bones themselves also contained terrifying death laws.

To completely kill them, one had to shatter their near-indestructible skeletal defenses—

and also destroy the undead consciousness and soul flames that sustained their existence.

This process was far more difficult than killing ordinary living powerhouses.

Deep within Nisno Valley.

Upon a throne constructed from countless massive bones,

a man with jet-black scales on his forehead lounged with one hand resting on the armrest, boredly watching a group of dancers sway before him.

He was none other than Wings of Calamity.

Standing beside the throne were several skeletal generals clad in bone armor, all God King–rank experts.

"The Secondary Demon Realm is still focusing on defense, is it?"

Wings of Calamity suddenly asked in a low voice.

One of the skeletal generals, named Glegor, stepped forward, his jaw opening and closing as he spoke.

"My lord Demonic Dragon, there has been no movement from the Crossbridge Empire."

"Their attention seems mainly focused on the Holy Kare Mountains and the Yuli direction."

"As for us in Sablecliff, they've only reinforced their borders and strengthened defenses."

Wings of Calamity snorted softly, impatience flashing in his eyes.

"Days without battle or bloodshed are truly unbearable."

Glegor replied,

"The Bone King is accelerating his preparations."

"Once completed, he will be able to tear open the Crossbridge Empire's defensive line in the Secondary Demon Realm."

"At that time, that fertile territory will become a hunting ground where you, Lord of Calamity, may indulge to your heart's content."

"A hunting ground…"

Wings of Calamity's mouth curved into a cruel grin.

"I like that wor—!"

BOOM—!

A violent thunderous explosion erupted from an extremely distant place, abruptly cutting off Wings of Calamity's words.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.