The Rise of the Black Plain

After talking for a few moments, Grant separated from his traveling companion and accompanied Minos and Abby for a walk through the imperial palace.

Sarah was also with them, following silently behind her father, listening to all their conversation.

Grant saw how Sarah had grown into a beautiful woman, already able to be considered a powerful cultivator by local standards, and said. "Your Highness has become quite an impressive woman. I heard some stories while traveling around the empire...

She must have learned some of what I heard from Your Majesty."

Minos smiled and said. "The truth is, I didn't teach her any of those things... In any case, she is not walking a bad journey."

Grant didn't doubt it, thinking the explanation was in the blood.

'An apple doesn't fall far from the tree after all...'

He then became more serious and said. "But I'm apprehensive.

I've always had my theories about what's up north and how terrible it could be for the continent's future. But I never imagined we would be so close to facing what might be there.

Until a few months ago, I thought we might have decades to solve this. But with the prophecy revealed by Vico Travisani, it seems we don't have that much time."

Minos nodded in agreement. "I was also hoping to have more time to go after it... Anyway, things are as they are. At least we have a high-level Demigod concerned about it.

If the threat is really upon us, we'll at least get some relevant support when the time comes."

Abby clenched her fists upon hearing this, worried about the chaotic future that could endanger her family and her son.

Kendrick was just a child. He didn't deserve to face a calamity right now!

Even in a few decades, he would still be just a weak young cultivator, so most likely, he wouldn't have enough to protect himself.

Thinking about it, Abby couldn't help but fear the future.

"What will we do? Is there anything we can do to improve our chances?" She asked.

Minos and Grant were silent for a moment until the emperor said. "There are some alternatives. They are not 100% safe, but they exist."

"Oh?" Abby and Grant exclaimed in surprise, not expecting Minos to already have things in mind.

"What is it?" The empress asked.

Minos said. "There is a possibility that Henricus Longus left some help for me. Of course, there are some dangers regarding that aid, and it may not even exist anymore, but if it does, I may be able to get some allies.

But I would have to look into that, as I'm not sure where it is."

They knew about the Spatial Kingdom and Henricus Longus, so they knew what Minos was talking about.

He continued. "Besides, we can get more allies in other ways.

Perhaps there isn't much room for us to gather powerful cultivators in the Central Continent, given the tensions between the major states. But we can definitely get allies in the Continent of Beasts, the Divine Continent, and the Marine Empire.

Thus, in addition to going after what Henricus Longus left, we can also visit those areas for support."

"I see..." Grant muttered.

But then Sarah asked. "You want to visit these places? How would that help us? Those places have greater dangers, and there is no guarantee that anyone will join us."

Minos looked at his daughter and said. "There are guarantees. Think of your Aunt Emlyn. In her tribe, we will definitely be able to get something."

Emlyn was only a Spiritual King when she left that place alongside her husband. But now she was a Spiritual Saint and could in some more time become a Sage, the highest cultivation stage her people could reach.

As such, if they went to the Continent of Beasts after Emlyn's advancement to the 9th stage, they could get the support of at least part of the Nine-tailed Foxes tribe, as Emlyn would surely get influence there.

Moreover, every tribe on that continent had relations with other tribes, some even being great allies.

Through these relations, Minos could try to contact other races and thus gather a group on that continent to bring to his side.

Perhaps in one tribe, he would not get enough beasts to make a positive difference to his plans. Still, he could eventually gather a strong enough group by moving around that continent.

Something similar could be done in the Divine Continent and the Marine Empire. In these powerful places, there were even 9th-stage mercenaries, a good option for Minos in case all others failed.

"Other than that, some important events will happen in the next few years," Minos said. "The Ancient Dragon Spatial Kingdom must open its doors on our continent, and then there will be the Continental Tournament.

All these will be opportunities for us to bring talented and powerful beings to our side."

Minos had gotten this information through Gloria's faction, who, with one of their allies in the Evergreen Empire, had obtained this information.

Knowing this, he had several means of trying to improve his state's chances before a venture further north and preparing for the moment when catastrophe would be upon them.

"And when will you be able to pursue these alternatives?" Grant asked.

"Not before I advance to the 9th stage. By then, the dangers will be too great, and I also have to use the peace over my state to strengthen it as much as possible in the short term.

So, for now, I can't go through with either of those plans."

"How long do you think you need to start that?" Grant insisted as he would have to give Emperor Quinn feedback on this.

"Five to ten years. Not before then." Minos said, considering his current cultivation speed and the status of his forces.

It would only make sense to go after the Longus family or Emlyn's tribe once he was strong enough to face warriors at the peak of the 9th stage. Otherwise, the risks would be too great.

Emlyn also needed to become a Sage beast in the meantime, so things were not just about his advancement.

He could even start sorting these things out beforehand. However, his travel to the Continent of Beasts would still depend on her advancement.

Finally, going to the North Sea wouldn't be suitable either if he didn't have enough power to at least counter low-level Demigods.

Grant understood why Minos' deadline and didn't think his superior would find it problematic.

'I don't think ten years is too much for that... Such a catastrophe is supposed to come after the continent is weakened... I don't believe that a confrontation between the Western and Southern regions will end before then.'

"All right, I'll pass that on to His Majesty."