The Rise of the Black Plain

After a few moments, the group arrived at a leisure area of the palace, where Minos normally received important guests in his city as equals.

Even if those individuals owed the proper etiquette to him, an emperor, as people of higher rank, they also deserved to be treated differently.

Minos was no fool and did that, soon in an area that overlooked the beautiful center of Dry City, where these experts sat down to eat and drink while waiting for Grant.

"So, Your Majesty, do you intend to travel to the empire in the future? A talented and prominent young man like you will have many opportunities there." The blonde woman said this while looking at Minos with a smile on her face.

"Maybe I will go in the future. But I don't have a date for that at the moment." Minos commented.

As a state leader, he would eventually do business with many states from this and other continents. So he was not kidding about going to the Western Empire.

But for the moment, he was in no hurry to do so since he had a long road ahead of him to get some relevance in a place like that. On the other hand, the Black Plain would not need to be connected to any high-level state for a while.

That way, Minos thought it best to keep his organization's distance from powers like the Quinn family.

"Is that so? Are you interested in staying on the Black Plain for a long time? Or, who knows, maybe you'll get out and see the rest of the world one day?" The level 81 man questioned, in doubt as to whether Minos would stay in that place or not.

He thought that for someone with Minos' skills and talents, there was no point in staying in the Black Plain and northern region.

Minos replied while the rest of his group just listened to the conversations between the three. "I intend to live most of my life here. After all, this is my land. So I will do my best not to have to leave."

'So that's it...' The level 82 woman understood that Minos wanted to develop as much of this place as possible and perhaps create a legacy.

As far as they knew, everyone eventually died. So what better to 'immortalize' than a legacy of creating and developing something?

Then he would be remembered for generations, and his name would not disappear in the river of time. So, as long as there were people to tell his story and accomplishments, he would not completely die!

The two experts could understand this even though they preferred personal power to such a thing.

On the other hand, they could not help but admit that Minos was somewhat different. It took a lot not to pursue power and status when you had as many opportunities and talents as in his case!

Anyway, as they chatted about matters of the sort, nothing too specific to forge in-depth relationships between them, just casual conversation, Grant arrived at that place next to a local soldier.

"Grant Yates?" The level 81 man asked upon seeing the face of this old fellow, who was supposed to be from a generation before theirs.

Due to the seniority of this person, even though there was a significant difference in powers between them, those two felt some respect and regard for the man in front of them.

"You are from the imperial family? Really?" Grant smiled after hearing his last name after so long.

"Yes, Mr. Yates. We are here under orders from His Majesty and Her Highness to take you back to the capital and personally report your experiences." The blonde woman said this as she stood in front of Grant.

"His Majesty..." Grant murmured in admiration.

Previously, he was a talented individual who might one day become a Spiritual Sage. But even so, he was only a newly promoted Spiritual Saint at the time. So he had never been close to the emperor.

So, upon finding out that he would see and speak with such a person, this man could not help but be surprised and also thrilled since one of his greatest dreams in the past centuries had been to return home.

He had learned to live in the northern region and even taken the Black Plain as his home. But still, he wanted to at least return and pay a visit to the Western Empire, resolve unfinished business, and then go back on his path.

In this way, he was pleased with this organization's sign and hopeful that the emperor would believe in him, as Minos had already done.

"Yes, you have to settle some matters, but His Majesty wishes to hear some of your group's tragedy and your experiences from you." The level 81 man commented.

"When do we leave? For that matter," Grant looked at Minos and asked. "Your Majesty, is there a problem with me leaving? I promise to return to continue helping the Black Plain in its development."

Minos smiled upon hearing this and did not stop this man from going. "It is up to you to decide. I never required you to be here."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will not forget all you and everyone on the Black Plain have done for me!" This man said emotionally, feeling accomplished.

After a few moments of thanks and casual conversation, Minos and the Spiritual Sages finished the matter smoothly, with those people soon departing along with Grant.

The mercenary hired by Grant to deliver the message to the Quinn family also departed alongside those individuals, leaving Dry City back to the previous peace before their arrival.

When everyone realized they were 'free' of these troublesome visitors, several individuals following the situation closely sighed in relief, feeling that they could breathe normally again.

Among them, the level 78 Spiritual Saint next to Minos was the most grateful for the departure of those experts.

'It seems that everything occurred well...' He thought about it as he felt better.

Then, this man from the Gray Clouds Sect approached Minos and asked. "Your Majesty, will this bring us any trouble in the future? I mean, Grant knows about that place and might end up saying things he shouldn't..."

Minos answered that man. "Grant has a Soul Contract with me that binds him to keep such a place secret. So even if he goes insane, he would be destroyed by lightning punishment before he causes us harm."

"But they have Spiritual Demigods..." This person insisted, worried about the Spatial Kingdom.

After months since the end of the war between the Gray Cloud Sect and the Saints Killing Sect, Minos had made agreements with the strongest experts from his sect who came to the Black Plain Empire. Such agreements involved them having the opportunity to cultivate in the Spatial Kingdom and thus grow stronger more quickly.

Obviously, they would have to take turns in the fight against Abe. Still, several Spiritual Saints were already aware of this and had been enjoying the cultivation sanctuary of Minos.

Because of this, a part of the experts from that sect was already 100% loyal to Minos and was utterly at his disposal to bring all the rest of the sect to the Black Plain.

Since this man was one of those who knew such a place, he was naturally worried!

"Even they can't stop the heavens from punishing someone..." Minos said to calm that expert, someone who was among those who had the best chance of becoming a Spiritual Sage in the near future.

That was his goal with his revelation to these experts. To develop future Spiritual Sages for the local forces!

...