The Rise of the Black Plain

"Minos?" Mendy said in surprise, seeing young Stuart and those two serpents passing down the same street as her group.

Mendy and her group had quickly traveled from their previous position to Dry City, even having entered the protected area of the dome with some ease.

But this was to be expected. After all, Mendy had already visited this town a few weeks ago and had an item in her possession that could be used to enter this territory more easily.

So, she and her group had had no trouble getting to this point, where at the moment, they were heading towards the local government mansion to visit young Stuart.

But as they did so, this group suddenly noticed the disturbance on that street they were passing, as Minos and those two beasts drew the people's attention in the surrounding area.

Anyway, after hearing his name being called by the sweet voice of Mendy, Minos immediately turned his neck towards her.

At the same time, the two giant serpents stopped their movements in the middle of that street and then looked down, where they could see a group of five humans.

Of those five people, there were four Spiritual Kings and one Spiritual General. Mendy, who was at level 50, Vivian, level 49, Grace, level 50, and the two bodyguards, at levels 51 and 52.

'Hmm, young Minos' territory already has so many regional experts!' One of the two serpents commented on her mental connection with her partner while closing her eyes in satisfaction.

These two had obviously already sensed several Spiritual Kings' auras in this city. So, they thought that Minos was being very successful in his plans. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many experts in a city like this!

Even if they didn't know if these people were Minos' subordinates, the two serpents were well aware that their presence here indicated Minos' influence. And this was also very important for any organization!

As such, they couldn't help but be pleased with this young man that their tribe wanted to have relations with.

And while the two serpents stood just behind Minos, soon that young man recognized those people. "Mendy?"

"Hmm, Vivian... So, you are already here, huh?"

"Yes, we just arrived in your city..." Mendy soon answered him as she approached that young man and hugged him. At the same time, she was saying some minor things to him.

Meanwhile, Vivian, who was just behind Mendy, finally recognized young Stuart's voice. 'So it was you!'

'I was right. The person who killed Kevin Chambers and injured my brother was you all the time...'

On the other hand, the other people who were there and only knew Minos by his name had other thoughts in mind.

'This is the person who gave the bottle with the Spring of Life to Vivian...' So, Grace thought to herself while she had a semblance of gratitude on her face.

She would have died if it were not for the fact that young Stuart had given that item to Vivian. Hence, she felt a deep sense of gratitude towards Minos, and seeing him here, she already saw him favorably.

'That boy is a monster! What kind of cultivation speed is that? He's already a Spiritual King!' One of the bodyguards thought about it as he looked at Minos with an incredulous countenance on his face.

It was not strange that the greatest geniuses in the northern region of the Central Continent reached level 50 with ten years of cultivation, that is, around the age of 20. But Minos had only been at level 39 for about four years ago!

In contrast, the top regional geniuses were already between levels 42 and 44 at that time... So, the two bodyguards couldn't help but be impressed by Minos' current level!

'And considering how strong he was back then, he must be stronger than me!' The level 52 bodyguard thought as he tried to compare himself to Minos...

On the other hand, all of them, including Mendy, was shocked by the two beasts accompanying young Stuart.

They all came from noble families and knew perfectly well what breed these beasts were.

Therefore, they couldn't help but pay attention to these beasts, which had a reputation for rarely interacting with humans.

'What are these Feathered Serpents doing with Minos? Has he tricked them somehow?' Mendy wondered as she finished talking to young Stuart.

"It's good to see you again, Minos. At that time, you had not left your name..." Vivian finally said something right after Mendy greeted that young man and waved in the direction of those four people.

"Hmm, back then, there was no room for introductions..." He smiled and looked at Vivian and then at the woman next to this old acquaintance of his.

Grace was about 1.5 meters tall, with proportionally ideal measurements, full breasts, and a slim waist. At the same time as this, her brown, curly hair nicely enhanced her high-standard beauty.

Hence, young Stuart couldn't help but stare at her for a moment.

Upon seeing this, Vivian soon introduced her group, who were then presented to the two serpents behind Minos.

"So you are here to make a deal with Minos, huh?" Mendy muttered as she understood that young Stuart's influence was much more significant than she had thought.

But as Mendy thought about it, Minos and Vivian began to talk of more formal things simultaneously as the group headed back in the direction of the local government mansion.

"It's a surprise that you can increase your level so quickly... At that time, you were only at level 42." She said, looking at Minos' face steadily. "Well, I guess I can assume that you do have the abilities that Mendy commented on..."

"Otherwise, neither this city would be like this, nor would you be at this level now." She said, looking to the sides of the street they were passing with a countenance of admiration on her face.

Never, not even in her wildest dreams, would this woman have thought that there would be such a well-developed city in the middle of the impoverished Black Plain.

The place was organized and with a good supply of services. But, still, it also had a population that was not small for such a place, and these citizens had high levels of cultivation!

It was very unusual that there were so many Spiritual Kings and Spiritual Generals in a city of this size, as there were in the current Dry City. After all, most people in this region had difficulty getting past level 40.

However, this city looked more like a super-headquarters than a regional city!

And combined with Minos' level, this woman was aware that this information already carried much of the evidence she needed.

Furthermore, as much as she was still going to investigate this place before deciding anything, she was more confident in doing business with the local sovereign.

"Sure, hehe." The young Stuart commented while he had a look of tranquility on his face. "Anyway, did Mendy tell you exactly what I want with the Hayes family?"

"She said that you want a military alliance and that you might help us increase our strength."

"Hmm, that's right. As you already know, we have a common enemy. The Chambers family." He began to speak more seriously as he saw his mansion at the end of that avenue they had just entered.

"Such a family has nefarious relations with an underworld organization in our region, the Scourges of the Devil. At the same time as this, they follow dangerous ideals for regional stability, enslaving and abusing thousands of people in our region."

"So, to protect our region and our interests, we must unite to destroy this threat!"

"Oh?" Vivian asked in satisfaction.

"And I already have a plan for us to deal a fatal blow to the Chambers!"