---A couple of days later, Yijing City---
"Repeat that," he said in a commanding voice. His words echoed in the vast hall. Despite the many ministers lining the left and right chambers, nothing could be heard except the emperor's command.
Kneeling on the purple carpet in the central aisle was Zou Long, general of the Ironblooded Cavalry. It was his report of the situation in the southern province that caused the almost unnatural silence amongst the usually bickering and feisty ministers.
"Our investigation has confirmed that all 75 members of the Southern Sect Alliance have been wiped out. Although there are survivors, there is no hope for any of them to revive their sects and clans," the army man repeated the conclusion of his report.
Over the past day, they had gotten many reports from officers and officials of various regions in the south about cruel battles and the appearance of giant trees across the southern province. Even the vicinity of Yijing City had not stayed untouched, as the Great Feng Clan, the Gold Merchant Whatever, and the Dark Assassin valley had faced similar fates.
Prompted by these rumors, the emperor had ordered the imperial army to investigate. Although the secular and martial worlds were separated by the laws of the central, it was inevitable for them to interact frequently.
Although sects were often a hindrance or a thorn in their side, they had their uses. Usually, they worked as a deterrent to external influences. They were especially important in their current situation with dungeons and random portals opening across the province, releasing monsters and invaders in droves.
But instead of refuting these presumptuous rumors, they only confirmed the worst possible outcome. Over half the sects holding sway over the southern regions had been destroyed beyond repair.
To think such a strong force had not just been defeated but vanished overnight was hard to believe and even harder to manage. All of them were clear about the consequences of such a sudden power vacuum. This would have far-reaching consequences for the whole southern XiGuang Province.
"Is it confirmed that it was barbarians from the Verdant Twilight?" The left Minister showed off his cool mind, keeping calm even when facing such a catastrophe. Zou Long nodded grimly before answering.
"As mentioned earlier, we have collected many accounts about the attackers. All of them were claiming allegiance to Minas Mar of the Verdant Twilight Province in one way or another. They called this attack a retaliation for the supposed crime of the Alliance in their province," the commander explained.
They all had heard that name some time ago when Minas Mar hosted a tournament, which was abruptly cut off during the finals. They were a powerful organization deep within the Verdant Twilight Province and practically the overlord of the people living there.
The biggest news was the heaven grade armament they gave out as a prize for first place. But it had grown quiet about it since then, so the ministers hardly remembered it. Only that they were able to produce heaven-grade artifacts stuck in their mind.
According to the report he had summarized earlier, the smaller sects had been overrun by soldiers in uniform silver armor never seen before in the XiGuang Province. It was not unheard of for smaller sects to be wiped out, but the number and time frame this time were shocking. Was Minas Mar really that strong?
Worse were the reports of bigger members of the Southern Sect Alliance. If there were witness reports, they sounded like horror stories. Legions of walking corpses overrunning clan estates, Lion's riding clouds in massive storms. Roots that turned cultivators into desiccated corpses in the blink of an eye. Singular people, spreading auras of fear and power that even bend immortals.
The way the bigger sects that were even outside the influence of the imperial army vanished was unbelievable, but they were gone. All that was left were small groups of survivors and giant trees that acted as tombstones for their fallen sects.
And all of that was perpetrated by a single foreign sect from a new province. The ruler's eyes swept through the room. Usually, these ministers were hard to shut up; they would bicker and argue either out of genuine concern for the people or for their own little schemes.
But the realization had seeped in and taken root in their minds. They were facing an organization with the ability to flatten several powerful sects and clans in a single day. Where the imperial court had to approach even just one bigger sect with caution, Minas Mar had wiped out several in a single day.
They were all worried and occupied with a single particular question. The worst part about the situation was that they had no knowledge about this new force and no idea of their goals. This was the one thing on all their minds. What did this new powerhouse want? They wouldn't just leave after creating such chaos, would they?
Considering their actions, they would have no problem dealing with the imperial court if they decided they were in the way.
"We have to contact the Luminous Mountain Sect," the right minister stated resignedly, breaking the silence. The emperor's eyes rested on him, prompting him to explain himself.
"Were they not quite open about their stance concerning the new province? They and some of their allies are in contact with the Verdant Twilight Province. Maybe even this Minas Mar itself. If anyone can bring further light into this situation, it is them," the right minister explained his reasoning.
The room stayed silent as everyone had their own thoughts. They remembered the rumors and speculations about the Southern Sect alliance that were brought forward by the Luminous Mountains Sect.
However, those had been quickly buried, and they were Martial World Business, which didn't concern them. Or at least it was supposed not to concern them. Now, they were facing turbulent times because they had neglected such events.
"I take your silence as agreement with the Right Minister?" the emperor concluded, after looking at the left minister and the cabinet of lower ministers. Nobody voiced their disagreement, or any opinion for that matter.
"I don't disagree with the right minister, but I think we should contact the central, " an ominous voice added. It was a man in precious robes, rivaling those of the emperor, showing his high standing within the province.
The upper minister spoke rarely; he barely attended court sessions, but today he saw a reason to be heard. He was an ancient master and had already served the empire since time immemorial. Many even think he was among the people during the time when the Xiguang Province was not part of the Voracious Cloud Continent.
He usually dislikes talking about the central. For him to bring up contacting them was especially rare.
"If they are a force that is not bound by the rules and could threaten to destroy the order of both the martial and the secular world, we have to contact them. They may be the only ones able to rein in such power," he said bitterly.
The emperor felt even more bitter than the upper minister sounded, but he controlled his expression. Only the reigning emperor knew the secret of the Upper Minister. Although he was immortal and unaging, he was bound by an ancient curse that robbed him of all his power.
The minister wouldn't talk about it, but silently, the emperor was able to guess that it was the central that had crippled him, to keep their control even in a backwater like the XiGuang Province. he wouldn't be any help in a fight...
But this was exactly why the central might be willing to move. A faction of such strength is called to be kept in check.
While the upper echelon questioned and feared what this new faction could be planning, a deceivingly simple carriage was entering Konan, the biggest city in the vicinity of the Desolate Dawn Gate.