The Rise of the Black Plain

A few weeks after the departure of Minos and Starclaw from the largest city in the Snow area...

By now, the group of envoys sent by the Longus family to deal with Minos had finished their investigations into Minos' whereabouts and what that thing about Dry City was.

With those results, they were awaiting a response from their leaders on the Divided Continent, to whom they had sent the compilation of information they had recently gathered the previous day.

...

"So Minos Stuart is coming to us?" Patriarch Longus wondered aloud as he finished reading the information that had just arrived from the Black Plain Empire.

"It seems that he is not in the least bit afraid of us, patriarch." An elder said while having a smile on his face. "It seems he would rather face us head-on than hide..."

"Haha, a fool. But at least he's not a coward. We would lose any chance of getting what we want if he were smarter." The supreme elder of this family commented in an extremely satisfied tone.

They couldn't act in the Central Continent because of Maximillian Flamen's threats. But in the Divine Continent, everything was different. In this place, Minos Stuart had no protectors, and they had a numerical and geographical advantage.

The patriarch was also pleased and said. "It's good that he's coming. We can settle this in a few more months, and then the Ancestor's Spatial Kingdom will be ours!

My friends, get the party ready for our beloved chosen one!" He smiled.

"Our men on the Black Plain said that he has advanced to the 9th stage, so we have to take some extra care. His techniques are much stronger now, and he should be able to make new fusions." He said, feeling that it would be good they prepared traps for Minos.

As much as they all felt they could handle against a low-level Spiritual Sage, Minos was a little box of surprises.

Getting ready would cause no harm and put them closer to their goal!

"What about the men on the Black Plain, patriarch? What do we do with them?" A subordinate there in that office asked in a low voice.

"Since the cursed Minos' defenses are excellent against Spiritual Sages, have them wait on the outskirts of Dry City.

If anyone relevant to his family leaves this place, kidnap those people. We'll use them as hostages in case he proves more difficult to deal with than we think now."

...

In another part of the Longus family headquarters...

The members of the faction opposing the family's opposition to Henricus Longus' chosen one, the most relevant members of the group, were preparing for their actions in support of Minos.

It would do them no good to protest within the family and simply tell the world that it was wrong for their leaders to betray their ancestor's will. As weaker people, what they thought didn't matter!

For the family leaders, an act of protest by these people would be a good opportunity to get rid of them!

So the leader of this Minos-friendly faction would obviously not set a direct collision course with the patriarch and the high-ranking elders of the family.

His method was more subtle.

"And so? How are our envoys doing?" A rather muscular woman with several scales across her body asked her leader.

Some of his most trusted faction members left the Longus family headquarters a few weeks ago to begin their plans to support Minos.

That level 86 man then said as he put tea in this woman's cup. "Two of them have arrived at their destinations and are beginning the necessary talks. But we have yet to receive their feedback to know their situation."

"Will they make it? Not everyone would agree to associate with people with such strong enemies." Another person, standing next to that woman, said.

She agreed. "Even though our pledges are not small, we are still talking about opponents 3, 4 levels higher than theirs."

This group wanted to gain the support of tribes and families they had associated with over the years.

These people were not necessarily allies of the Longus family but rather friends and companions of members of this Minos-friendly faction.

As such, the leader of this group wanted to join forces to try to give Minos some influence within the family.

Bargaining power was what they needed!

The faction leader replied. "Hard to say if they will accept. But some of our people are among the most talented of the younger generation. We are opening up the possibility for these powers to connect more deeply to the Longus family.

At the same time, we will give Saint medicines to each group of 4 Sages that join us... I don't know about you, but I would think hard about this offer.

So I believe we have a good chance of getting support."

Half-breeds of humans and beasts could both cultivate as beasts and as humans.

People like them couldn't use combat or support techniques as pure humans. But there was one exception, they could use cultivation techniques to strengthen their soul power.

But at the same time, they could also use medicines to increase both their spiritual and bodily cultivation.

Because of this, half-breeds had both magnificent physical and spiritual powers, the best parts of beasts and humans.

Upon reaching level 70, each of them could use their beastly form, and even though they couldn't learn techniques, they inherited one innate ability from their human relative and one from their beast relative.

So they had two special abilities which they could develop and strengthen throughout their lives.

As they could raise the quality of these skills with medicine, Saing-grade medicine was extremely valuable to them!

The groups that this faction was trying to attract to their side were groups of half-breeds, so this was particularly valuable to them.

"That makes sense..." Another individual in that location said.

"But how will we do to begin to help the chosen one? The family leaders are already planning to act against him."

"The chosen one of the ancestor must be a fearless man." The leader of such a faction said with conviction. "I believe he will not hide like a coward in the Spatial Kingdom. Then let us prepare for his coming to the Divine Continent.

I want part of our group to start paying attention to the west of the empire. He must come here through the East Sea. Then he will arrive on our west coast."

That said, that group would split up soon after, focusing on continuing their plans.

While those groups were moving, Minos and Starclaw sailed on the high seas, slowly making their way to the Divine Continent.