The capital city, Elven Lands, Aterna.

Trees covered the entire city in a magical manner that made it seem less like a city and more like a paradise away from the hustle and bustle of the everyday world. The city was very different from the cities of other races in Aterna. Humans were known for their ability in craftsmanship and construction and hence, their cities and settlements looked more like stone jungles. Elves, on the other hand, were more inclined towards forests. Over the period of their development, the elves had created many magic-arts that allowed them to grow and control trees. Thus, their cities were generally situated between forests.

Today, many races could be seen in the elven capital city, an uncommon sight. Werebeasts, humans, dark races, one could see an assortment of different races as if a carnival was going on. It was already night but the trees shone with golden lights keeping the entire city alighted. Bars and inns were packed full as this was the season of tourists.

In any random bar in the city, a boisterous atmosphere was held by many people drinking and sharing their stories. In a primitive society, stories were the main pass-time of the masses.

Hey, have you heard? This time, the elves have a very powerful contender. She has emerged as a dark horse. You can check the information about the candidate #17.

Huh? Candidate #17? Wait, let me check.

Wow, you're right! This lady has won all her matches. I just looked at her first match. Her opponent was Kaiser, the werebeast candidate #34. While that guy is not a chosen, he is still considered fairly powerful. He had already reached the saint realm. Superficially, it looks like they were evenly matched but after looking closely, you can see that she had the entire match under control. This would only be possible if she was overwhelmingly stronger than the opponent!

Haha! As I said, she is a dark horse. I have heard the rumours that she is actually the daughter of Roger Lishlechis! She changed her appearance to join the competition. It looks like she is actually in the perfect realm of body and soul!

What! The Roger Lislechis who recently made a breakthrough to demi-ascendant?

Yes. The same Lislechis elder.

As people mentioned the title demi-ascendant, there was awe and respect in their eyes.

Five years ago, Aterna Emperor Michael Rageberg had reached the ascendant realm and founded the Aterna Empire by conquering the ancient kingdom. It was the event that had changed the trajectory of the entire world. After the Aterna Empire was established, the Emperor decreed widespread circulation of cultivation scriptures throughout the plane. Now, anyone irrespective of their background and race could go to public repositories and take up a suitable cultivation scripture. This was considered a boon for the masses and many talented youths who lacked a suitable cultivation technique went to these public repositories. Later, the arts found in the repositories shocked the world. Not only were these techniques varied, but they were also at a much higher level than even the techniques owned by noble houses. This caused even the nobles and important personages to go to these public repositories in search of better techniques. One could even find techniques leading all the way to the Ascendant realm!

These repositories also contained a lot of soul cultivation scriptures and techniques. Soul cultivation was very rare in Aterna because there were very few techniques available and there were only a handful of people who were compatible with these techniques. Due to this, many immortals did not cultivate their soul. They never found a suitable cultivation technique. Thus, the introduction of new soul-cultivation techniques was like rain after a drought. Many immortals found a suitable technique and went into seclusion. And so, a year ago, Aterna empire moved to the demi-ascendant era. Several immortals broke through one after the other reaching the demi-ascendant realm. In just under a year, more than 20 demi-ascendants had emerged!

The military power of the plane as a whole improved by a level and the power structure kept on changing dynamically. For example, the Elven emperor had yet to reach the demi-ascendant realm causing him to be suppressed in his own palace!

But even in this time of rapid changes, the custom of Pan-Aterna martial competition still continued. Young heroes from all races came to the elven capital city to show their might and techniques. It was considered the best platform for one to earn a reputation. Even divine beasts' young experts took part enthusiastically. The competition was organised directly under the supervision of Consort Lislechis. It also acted as the entrance exam for many training and military institutions. As a result, the competition became more and more famous among people.

In the corner of the bar, two men were sitting, sipping wine as they conversed.

P1: The Divine Sea Sect Army has already moved. They are trailblazing a safe path from their base to this plane. It will probably not take more than a few years for them to completely establish themselves here. We need to increase the speed of our march as well. We need to have a decisive battle here and stop the conquest from finding the Might-path secret realm.

P2: Do you know who is commanding the army that is coming here?

P1: It is Krill Nash! The Divine Sea Sect is taking this excursion very seriously. It seems that they have some inkling about the secret realm's existance.

P2: The legacy disciple, Krill Nash, huh? He is strong, indeed. If he was to lead the army, we will be hard-pressed. The normal cannon-fodder can't suppress them at all. We need to truly make a move.

P1: Yes! I have discussed this with Blood Devil faction, and they agreed to send one of the Legacy disciples commanding the main army.

P2: If the Blood Devil faction is making a move, why are you trying to drag our Bone Devil faction in the mess? Krill Nash is not enough for two factions to move.

P1: You are right in saying that, but I want to leave no chance. You know how important this test is for me!

Following this, the two men fell silent. After a while, the. other party spoke:

P2: Very well! I will do this favour for you. But you have to keep this in mind. If you dare to have thoughts of not repaying, even after becoming a legacy disciple, you will still die!

P1: Of course, this is official business. I will repay you for sure. Don't show me such an angry face! Tell me, what do you think of this plane?

P2: A lucky paradise in a war-torn world. It is truly rare for so many races to survive on a small plane like this. If the plane-will is strengthened, even projecting would become difficult. Also, this Michael Rageberg has great potential. If we let him grow, he would become a powerful adversary in the future.

P1: I know. He is very talented and completely battle-tested. We should dispose of him in this war.

After chatting a bit more, the two men sublimated into thin air, leaving behind empty glasses. The festivities of the city continued without any change. While some people in Aterna knew that a storm was headed their way, none of them had imagined the intensity of the storm, not even Michael Rageberg.

At the same time, in the Rageberg city, Michael was communicating with Perseus Pendragon - the head disciple of Divine Sea Sect.

Perseus had come in the form of a projection but a normal person would not be able to tell this. Only people who had deeply grasped at laws could see the essence of this technique. Even Michael could only vaguely see some clues due to his powerful psychic energy. This was a technique that only upper-ascendants could master - law projection.

Perseus: Junior, the one leading the army this time is the legacy disciple of Sludge Sea Divinity. He is an upper-ascendant celestial and is incredibly powerful. While he is not at the top level, he would still be considered a high-tier upper-ascendant with his combat strength. He will bring the will-replenishing liquid with him exchanging it with the plane-will for half the territory for a permanent military camp. It will be your duty to receieve him and help him in constructing the operating base. Once this is done, you will have to gather an army of the natives and create a native army division of the Divine Sea Sect there. Then, with this native division, you have to serve under the main army in the upcoming war. These are the orders that have been passed by the Elder council. Do you have any problems?

Many thoughts flashed through Michael's mind in an instant - a feat not too hard due to using accelerated thoughts as a great-master.

First of all, a high-tier combatant in upper-ascendant realm meant someone as strong as an average peak-ascendant. This meant that the army operation this time was much bigger than what he had anticipated. Michael could not think of any reason why such a powerful army would be deployed. This indicated that the opposing party would have similar strength. If things went wrong, the entire plane might be destroyed as collateral damage! Also, the mobilisation was passed by the Elder council making it certain that there was more to this than what was visible directly. He had already anticipated that he would have to contribute a native division to the Divine Sea Sect army as the plane was effectively in their jurisdiction, he was now reconsidering who he should include. Typically, joining the Divine Sea Sect Army, even the native division would mean that the soldier would be considered as an outer-sect disciple. This would have made it easy for many people to gain promotions and become members of the sect later. Thus, Michael was initially planning on giving preference to his relatives and subordinates in recruitment.

Michael: Don't worry Head Disciple! I will guide them well and also make sure that the plane smoothly transitions under the Sect's jurisdiction. But, may I dare to ask a few questions for clarification?

Perseus did not seem surprised by Michael's response as he nodded for him to go ahead.

Michael: From what I know, the devils have their base in Listonia, a secondary plane. The powerhouses there are not all that strong and Gordon Marx many years ago had killed a lot of them. May I know why such a huge mobilisation is happening?

Perseus: Hmm, this is something that should not be told to a core-disciple. But given that you are also the appointed Governer of the plane, I do have to give you an explanation. The truth is that we have found clues to a secret realm. As you know that secret realms are areas that are separated from law ocean and many times, one's cultivation is suppressed in these worlds. But these unique conditions generally give birth to treasures that are miraculous and beyond the system of laws. This is the primary reason why all sects focus on secret realms. I can't tell you anything in detail but we might have to compete with the Devil army for this secret realm. Thus, we must send enough strength to not only contend against their army but also explore the secret realm.

Michael: Thanks Head Disciple for clearing my doubts. I have another question and hope that you can answer. What exactly is the goal and origin of the devils? Why do they destroy planes like locusts and completely kill all life in different planes?

Perseus: This is also not something that you should know. But know that the true devils are nothing like what you have seen till now. The devils that you have seen till now are all brainwashed war prisoners who are used as cannon-fodder. The true power of the devils is extremely strong, outside of your imagination! Their motives is also something that you are not qualified to know. When you reach the upper-ascendant realm, you will naturally get to know the truth of the world we exist in. I hope that you reach that stage soon and become my comrade.

Michael's mind was in turmoil but he still ended the conversation respectfully. Later, he fell into deep contemplation.

Cannon Fodder, huh? So, the normal devil army only consists of brainwashed war-prisoners. Had I reached my current realm when I interrogated the war-captives, I might have noticed something. But, I have indeed experienced their methods. Just now, the expression on Eldest brother's face betrayed his wariness against the true devils. That is a divine child standing at the peak below divinities. For him to show such an expression, the true devils are likely to be more powerful than the Divine Sea Sect! I need to prepare for the worst.