Inside the Four Divine Beasts Clan's estate, in a room on the third floor reserved for elders, Emmanuel was in a pretty good mood. The gloom that had weighed on him for days had completely lifted.
Alfred's arrival had brought him an unexpected boon. With the Sovereign's Might Alfred had left behind, he wouldn't need to offer his own Sovereign's Might as payment to hire Copperfield. And as an extra surprise, Alfred also had a Heaven and Earth Treasure.
Although Emmanuel personally had little interest in Heaven and Earth Treasures, he'd heard that the Ancestor was fond of such things. Many clansmen had once collected Heaven and Earth Treasures to present to him. Even if they were all ordinary treasures of little worth, they could still demonstrate their loyalty and help the Ancestor remember them.
"Very well. Since you're so sincere, I accept." Emmanuel remained seated, speaking casually, as though this were a trivial matter.
From Emmanuel's perspective, Ren deserved to die because he had "offended" him. As for Alfred, who wanted to offer him Sovereign's Might and a Heaven and Earth Treasure, Emmanuel naturally didn't take him seriously.
Alfred felt a little uncomfortable, but made no sign of it. Instead, he spoke with gratitude. "Thank you for your great kindness, Elder Emmanuel. Alfred will never forget it."
Emmanuel's casual, condescending attitude made Alfred slightly uncomfortable, but it also let him breathe a quiet sigh of relief. Such contempt showed that Emmanuel didn't care about him—and that meant he wouldn't target him.
Over the years, Alfred had come to know quite a few Asuras, but he'd never considered asking anyone for help in exchange for Sovereign's Might and a Heaven and Earth Treasure. Instead, he'd chosen the Four Divine Beasts Clan, with whom he'd never had any dealings. Part of the reason was that Ren was no weakling, and he needed someone powerful to take action.
But there was another reason he couldn't ignore: he was afraid of being silenced. They said that an innocent man was guilty of possessing a jade. If he asked someone else for help, even if they succeeded, he couldn't be sure they wouldn't kill him afterward. The Four Divine Beasts Clan was different. Most people silenced others because they feared attracting attention, but the Four Divine Beasts Clan had no fear of being watched—and didn't believe anyone would dare target them.
The Ancestral Land of the Four Divine Beasts Clan, in the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range.
Towering peaks soared into the clouds, each one so high it seemed to pierce the heavens.
In the east, the Azure Dragon Clan's territory lay among the mountains. A winding, coiling dragon stretched across the range, forming a passage known as the Dragon Path.
Blue scales had been carved into the dragon-shaped structure, and the entire passage glowed with a blue light. Following the Dragon Path onward, one could see a cluster of elegant estates.
From time to time, clan warriors on patrol could be seen nearby. Whenever they looked toward the central district, their faces filled with envy and admiration. This was where the Four Divine Beasts Clan's elders lived—the most splendid, central district, a symbol of the highest honor, second only to the Ancestor and the clan leaders' residences.
The Four Divine Beasts Clan set aside an area befitting the status of each elder. Although elders could choose to remain in their own branches, most brought their families to live in the elders' district.
In the Azure Dragon Clan's elders' district stood a magnificent palace more than five stories tall. From a distance, only the Azure Dragon Palace at the summit—the residence of the Sovereign—rose higher.
At that moment, on the palace's fifth floor, a middle-aged man with brown hair and a red robe sat on his bed, eyes closed as he rested. His expression was stern, his brows arched, and his neat, short hair stood like steel needles. An earth-yellow aura enveloped his body.
He wasn't a member of the Four Divine Beasts Clan, yet he was allowed to live in its central district. Every clansman who saw him addressed him respectfully as Elder, and even the clan's other elders and its leader showed him at least the basic courtesy of outward respect.
Conofier Hall was an honorary elder of the Four Divine Beasts Clan's Azure Dragon Clan, an Azure Dragon Sovereign Envoy, and an Asura who possessed a Sovereign Artifact. His strength was unfathomable. Even Gaiseresen, the Azure Dragon Clan's leader, wouldn't claim he could defeat him.
The Four Divine Beasts Clan was a vast clan, born in the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range, with a population of over a hundred million. Backed by four Sovereigns, its influence extended throughout the Divine Planes. In the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range alone, it had more than ten Asura-level powerhouses. In Hell, where only one hundred and eight Asuras were publicly known to exist, it was unquestionably a colossal force.
Naturally, not all these powerhouses belonged to the Four Divine Beasts Clan. Even the bloodline of a super divine beast would grow much thinner over generation after generation. The Four Divine Beasts Clan had six Asuras in total: its four clan leaders, as well as the Grand Elders of the Azure Dragon Clan and the Black Tortoise Clan.
The other Asuras were all envoys of the Four Divine Beasts Sovereigns and honorary elders of the Four Divine Beasts Clan. There were seven of them in total, and Copperfield was one. Although he cultivated the Earth Law, he belonged to the Azure Dragon Clan.
"Whoosh!"
A streak of light slowly descended from the sky and stopped outside Conofier's door. Emmanuel spoke much more mildly now, with none of the arrogance he'd shown in front of Alfred.
"Haha, Elder Conofier, it's been so long. I've missed you. I've come to pay you a visit today."
Emmanuel's voice wasn't loud, but he knew the other man could certainly hear him. As an Asura who cultivated the Earth Law, Conofier had built his own palace residence. No movement nearby could escape his notice.
Sure enough, the next moment—
"Crack, crack!"
The earth outside the door gave a series of sharp cracks and trembled slightly. Earth-yellow Divine Power appeared, and Kofinor's figure instantly took shape, a hint of a smile on his face.
"Haha, Elder Emmanuel, it really has been a long time. Please, come in."
Kofinor quietly wondered what Emmanuel wanted, but gave no sign of it. Instead, he warmly ushered Emmanuel inside.
The two chatted as they walked deeper into the palace and took their seats. Kofinor brought out some of his finest wine to entertain his guest. After they'd had a few drinks, Kofinor finally brought up the matter at hand. "Elder Emmanuel, you never visit without a reason. I assume you have something to discuss?"
At that, Emmanuel didn't hide the truth. He sighed softly and said, "Alas, to be honest, there is something I'd like to ask you to help me with, Elder Kofinor. It's like this..."
Emmanuel quickly recounted what had happened to him, including Ren's "offense" and Alfred's request. Of course, he'd dressed up the supposed "offense." Kofinor didn't believe a word of it. He only wanted to know what Emmanuel was asking him to do and how much he'd be paid.
"So, Elder Emmanuel, you want me to take action and kill that Ren, is that right?"
Kofinor asked with a smile. He neither accepted nor refused, merely watched Emmanuel.
He naturally had no intention of refusing. He just wanted to see whether Emmanuel would offer a sufficient reward. As for Ren, he didn't take him seriously. As an Asura with an Offensive Sovereign Artifact, he was confident he could handle a newly appointed Prefect.
Before you continue