After leaving Cecilia behind and putting contingency plans in place, Bai Xiaowen departed the Kane Plane early with the rest of the White Phoenix Team.
They had spent nearly three days there, and the result was fairly satisfying.
They had successfully thwarted the Divine Court Training Camp's Grand Unification plan. Bai Xiaowen had also predicted that they would turn to the Plague Lord next.
As long as they couldn't cause a major incident in Northland and trigger a new main quest, the Spirit Realm Rules' time limit would forcibly expel those Divine Court Awakeners.
Less than two days remained on the Permanent Fief Deed's allotted time in the Kane Plane, so he had to use it sparingly. If things took a turn for the worse, Bai Xiaowen would have to join the fight and turn the tide, even if it meant exposing his identity.
Every report Cecilia sent back brought good news.
Nicholas IV had kept his word. After returning to the Imperial Capital, he immediately issued a decree recruiting top masters from every trade to support development on the frontier—in Northland.
Tempted by the prospect of titles and fiefs, many top masters of the auxiliary professions signed up and began arriving in White Stone City.
Notably, the masters who signed up were all vigorous, middle-aged people in their forties. Younger ones had yet to reach the threshold of mastery, while older ones wanted a comfortable life and had no wish to endure hardship in Northland.
For Bai Xiaowen, that was good news too.
Masters in their forties were at the peak of their craft. They might be less adept at training apprentices, but their superb skills and abundant energy could bring more profit to the fief.
A noble title required them to "train an apprentice to graduation." To qualify,