The Rise of the Black Plain

Joey then began to report. "Well, according to information from the Cohen family spies, members of the major regional organizations have been moving around for the past few months."

"Some of them are coming to the Black Plain, as we expected. But, meanwhile, some of the strongest in the region, as in the case of King Carline, are heading toward the capital of the Kingdom of the Waves."

Upon hearing this, Minos' pupils contracted, understanding what Joey was trying to say.

"Are they going to beg for the help of the Spiritual Church?"

"Yes, young master, that's what we assume."

"According to our friends in the Cohen family, some major organizations already consider us at the peak of regional power. So, there are already many who think that this war cannot be won without the intervention of outside powers."

"With that, they are counting on some kind of support or guarantee from the church, to at least give them a chance to fight on equal terms..."

"Tsk!"

"Equal terms, eh?" Minos said this as he found such a thing funny. 'It's truly fascinating the way these people think...'

'States with hundreds of millions of people fighting against a single city... And they still want outside help to fight on equal terms with me.' So, he thought, sensing the absurdity he had heard.

Obviously, Minos' enemies were not interested in the ordinary fighters on the Dry City side. Instead, what concerned them was the high-level Spiritual Kings on this young man's side and, of course, him.

However, as much as they were dominating the war in terms of numbers, the best counter-revolutionary experts did not have the confidence to face those allies of Minos.

And that was what they wanted in seeking outside help, something to equalize the high-level powers of both sides.

Minos then listened. "It appears that if they are unable to obtain direct assistance from the Spiritual Church, they will attempt to obtain permission from that institution for the natives of our region in the Flaming Empire to return."

"They believe that with this temporary addition of power, they will resolve the conflict and quickly peace will return to our region."

"Oh?"

"Well, the church will never fight me directly just because of these local families," Minos said thoughtfully. "But about this possibility..."

"I don't think they will accept that easily, but it's not impossible."

"That could be a problem!"

Minos did not know how far the power of the families of this region went when considering their descendants throughout that empire or even other states in the Spiritual World.

But he understood that such branches of the regional families could not be overly powerful to the point of having high-level Spiritual Emperors or Spiritual Saints.

After all, at least for most of these organizations, if they had such influential people outside the northern region of the Central Continent, then they would no longer be around.

That is, considering that their descendants were the least bit concerned about the future of their families. Otherwise, such powers would not have a chance of ascension outside this region, not even with influential descendants.

But in this case, such individuals might not even have contact with their former homes or even care about their future anymore.

Therefore, even considering the tiny chance these families' descendants were at a high level, this was far from Minos and had a slight possibility of affecting him.

On the other hand, the only families that could perhaps have something better were the royal houses, as they enjoyed the best living conditions in the region. So, maybe it would not be so attractive for them to go to a place where they would be mediocre.

But even for these royal families, it would be pretty challenging to have someone of such high standing outside the region.

Unlike the northern region of the Central Continent that had experts at the 6th stage, in the Flaming Empire, for example, the local experts were those individuals at the 8th stage!

And as much as cultivators with Black talent could reach this stage through artificial methods, doing so was just as tricky as a Blue talented person reaching the 6th stage in this region of Minos!

It was not easy at all!

Regardless of their background, these people were of more humble origins. They had started their cultivation with lower quality techniques in a less competitive or lower quality environment. With this, the competition from places like the Flaming Empire caused many geniuses from this region to become ordinary people who fell behind their peers when they joined the sects of such places.

Cases like young Troy's and even Kara's were exceptions, challenging to happen.

But even they would only realize the disadvantages of starting their cultivation in a poorer place after the next stage.

Even in the northern region of the Central Continent, people like them could reach the 6th stage with some ease. The problem would start after that.

As for places like the Flaming Empire, young people like Troy and Kara would only realize their disadvantages after reaching the 7th stage.

When that happened, they would notice how their fighting proficiency would start to become more and more different from those of the same level as theirs but who were raised in better environments.

And with lower fighting proficiency than their peers, life would become more difficult for these people to continue to improve their cultivation. After all, by being 'weaker,' they would lose out on the best opportunities, pay, job options, etc.

In this case, a negative cycle would begin.

Without the best resources, most would fall behind, and as time went by, their natural progression would fall due to the aging their bodies would undergo. After a while, such people would most likely encounter a virtually insurmountable bottleneck.

That could be the end for a cultivator who wants to reach their full potential!

And that was the situation for exceptions, like those two. As for those ordinary individuals, they would suffer from these effects much sooner!

All things considered, it was complicated for people from this region to reach high levels by going to the empire. And even if someone managed to overcome all the problems that would surely appear on their journey, such an individual would hardly surpass the limit of the 7th stage.

Therefore, Minos did not believe that such strong people would be on the enemy side if the church allowed that.

However, that did not make the situation any less problematic. After all, people at the initial levels of the 7th stage would already be enough to stop his plans!

That's why Minos had said such a thing to Joey!

Gulp!

Joey then swallowed his saliva, feeling that their situation was getting more problematic.

'Before, we only had to worry about the regional king... But now, even Spiritual Emperors might end up getting involved in the war!'

'How unlucky!'

He then asked. "What shall we do about it, young master?"

Minos frowned as he tried to think of a solution to this, worried about the power those families might get if the church accepted such nonsense.

"Perhaps..."

"At the moment, I can only think of two ways out of this problem..."

"Actually, three."

"What are they, young master?" Joey asked in curiosity.

"Well, the first is that we end the war by securing recognition by the regional kingdoms of the Black Plain as an independent state."

"But that will be difficult to achieve... At least for the time being."

"The second alternative is for us to force the subordination of some royal houses before the church allows such a thing... That would at least lessen the effects of that nonsense."

"Finally, perhaps if I appeal to the Spiritual Church, there might be a possibility that they will abandon the regional families." He said thoughtfully. "This is probably the easiest way to solve this whole problem."

"However..." Minos muttered, not liking that possibility at all.

He had nothing against the Spiritual Church, but he did not like the idea of relating to an organization that behaved like a parasite.

He could even get along with such an organization if he had the strength to do so since a parasite that manipulated billions of people was not at all bad to have as an ally.

But as Minos could not use the tools of this profiteering organism to his advantage, he did not want to approach the Spiritual Church.

He did not want to be used by them!

That is why he had forbidden the presence of such an organization in his city and did not like that alternative.

"Hmmm..."

Then, finally, he made up his mind. "The second option will be more difficult than the third, but keeping our future freedom is more valuable than beating the enemy faster!"

...