Luo Tianshen stood atop the city wall, his black robes utterly still in the breeze.
He gazed down at the black-clad youth, surprise in his eyes.
After a long while, his aged voice slowly rang out, every word reaching the ears of everyone present with perfect clarity:
"Very well. Then you shall have your wish!"
Luo Tianshen raised a hand and made a light downward pressing motion toward the hundred-odd Silver-Armored Thunder Riders behind him.
"Withdraw."
His command carried the weight of a mountain.
The hundred silver-armored knights withdrew their spears in perfect unison, without a single stray sound.
The Thunder Cranes beneath them gave low cries and lightly beat their wings. Wrapped in lightning, they parted to either side like an ebbing tide, retreating a considerable distance.
"To possess the strength of a Fourth Grade Sovereign at your age is truly remarkable." Luo Tianshen looked at Mu Chen and said slowly, "I will not take advantage of your youth. I shall suppress my strength to that of a Ninth Grade Sovereign."
"Three moves. As long as you can withstand three moves from me, I will raise no objection whatsoever to your relationship with Luo Li."
"If you cannot..." He paused, his gaze passing over Mu Chen, then Luo Li beside him. "Then return to wherever you came from."
"When you have confidence, come find me again," Luo Tianshen finally added.
Luo Li's fingers curled slightly at his words.
She knew her grandfather.
This three-move agreement gave Mu Chen a chance, but also set a threshold that was all but impossible to cross.
Between a Fourth Grade Sovereign and a Ninth Grade Sovereign lay a chasm of five minor realms.
Moreover, the "Ninth Grade Sovereign" her grandfather spoke of was no ordinary Ninth Grade Sovereign.
He had once stood at