Dra’xx watched the boy leave for bed, citing he didn’t want to be tired and hungover while he 'dealt' with the Rei Ui. Knowing them, they’re probably going to give him the lightest slap on the wrist possible, if that, and let him run off pretty much scot-free.

Something Dra’xx very much disagrees with.

Calling the boy over must be their way of begging him not to do something like that again, but Dra’xx knew the boy well; if you want to give him rules he has no obligation to follow, you better give up right then and there. Not that it mattered to Dra’xx, he had no sense for politics and no place in his heart for it either.

He’s just a bodyguard as far as they’re concerned, nothing more, nothing less. No reason to drag an old fool into their little games of chess.

Games of chess the boy’d win anyway.

The boy liked to say it was a hassle to deal with them, but that was a blatant lie if he’d ever heard one. The boy loved it when someone licked his boots, no matter how insincerely. It seemed to Dra’xx the boy’d never stop vying for the top of the hierarchy of whatever’s in front of him, just so he can feed his massive ego.

In that respect, the boy was much like every other damn Imperial. One thing different about the boy, however, is that he knew how to handle failure and the subsequent loss of face. For an Imperial, that’s truly a rarity.

Dra’xx took most of the credit for that. His way of raising the boy was harsh and mean, but effective in making the boy an ideal Prince, one the people would appreciate. Perhaps an ideal soldier too, which will be helpful when he’s eventually drafted into the Imperial Army, tradition for the heirs of noble titles. And there was no title more noble than that of Heir to the Divine Throne, the one who will have the Mandate of Heaven within his very palms.

But that just meant more will be expected from him, which might be too much considering he missed the vital early years of cultivation. Still, the boy had incredible talent, even when comparing him to the rest of the Imperials.

If only that damn coward of an Emperor let him grow into his potential. Though, he could understand Him to a degree. No one wanted another person with Jack’s level of talent to go rogue like his brother turned Demon, Calck. No, Calcius, his name stained with the suffix a traitor is ascribed.

It had been difficult to raise the brat into a decent man, but it seemed he was close to accomplishing it. However, there was no getting rid of that ego, nor his utter resentment bordering on obsession towards his father, which perhaps was a sign of the Plague. As much as Dra’xx would like to help with that, even the trained maids aren’t qualified to help with trauma like what he faced in Haya Vaan, so all Dra’xx could do was try to mould the boy into a person strong enough to overcome his past on his own.

Quite like Dra’xx’s own parents did.

His willpower had developed quite nicely; it was not everyday you saw an effective cripple resist the spiritual pressure of someone at the 10th and final Stage of the Mortal Realm. Even if they were holding back.

Dra’xx finished his evening snack and drink quickly after the boy had left, finding the motivation to get out of his seat and get ready for bed. Dra’xx appetite had been increasing lately, no doubt the cause, or maybe a consequence, of gaining quite the belly.

It’s no surprise he’d start to get fat and frail after 12 years of relative inactivity. His lack of training and meditating isn’t out of laziness, however, but because it was impossible to do effectively using his current Cultivation Manual, Song of the Sun, Sauliess’ own.

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His meridians are too full of impurities and tired from overuse, if only he broke through to the Heaven Realm when he had the chance, then his meridians would be 10s of times more effective at circulating energy around his body and ridding it of impurities, extending his lifespan in the process.

But alas, his body had grown too frail to handle Heaven Realm energy. It was as the boy said, better to grow weak and old than die in a foolish overestimation of his abilities without even a body to leave behind.

Dra’xx went into his room, a bedroom with a window facing west, which was apparently a bad omen. He didn’t pay that any mind, though, the moon was a delight to look at as he calmed himself to sleep. It’s pale radiance soothing and the craters awe-inspiring.

It gave him something to concentrate on other than the sounds of clashing blades and battle cries which screamed in the back of his mind whenever he tried to sleep.

Dra’xx had put Mai’xx’s newest letter on his bedside desk, the sight of it sending a slight twinge of guilt in stomach for singeing poor Aia’s hair. She thought nothing of it, luckily, but if she were more like her sister, Bia… he’d be in a world of hurt.

Dra’xx was inspired by his old friends’ letter to finally have an all-out fight with his students, or disciples, though they don’t treat him much like a master, which was preferable really.

The old Recon Specialist had adopted his own grandson as a disciple, his second ever. If it were any other man, Dra’xx would worry he’d be too soft on the boy, but Mai’xx was the type of person to be harder on those he cared about than strangers.

He was a respectable man who wanted to stay out of politics as much as possible, something Dra’xx could understand. What wasn’t understandable though, was how he hated politics enough to live and work at the Fortress full-time with his children and grandchildren.

Dra’xx was beginning to think Mai’xx a madman, but still a man no less mad than himself. Maybe that’s why they got along so well. It’d be good if his disciples got on well with the boy, but he knew how hard Jack was to get along with if you didn’t know him well already, so he didn’t expect much. However, it seemed from the letter that his grandson was equally disagreeable,, and somehow equally talented, most definitely taking after his grandfather.

Turns out, Mai’xx’s teachings have turned his grandson into a disciple of enviable talent, someone talked about whenever the new generation of Martial Warriors is brought up. Perhaps that sparked a bit of jealousy in him, leading to him testing their abilities.

He wasn’t disappointed with the results, and in some areas, impressed. Bia lacks talent in cultivation compared to her sister, but her fighting ability seems to have increased exponentially. She was capable of keeping up with him for a little while.

Aia, too, has grown, especially in her cultivation. In that regard, she was among the best of even the top Imperial genius’. At only 18, it was truly impressive. Maybe in the future, she would fulfil his own dream of breaking through to the Heaven Realm.

But for now, she was only at the 8th stage of the Mortal Realm out of 10, those last stages being vastly more difficult to break though than the others. So, that would be a while yet. A shame he wouldn’t be alive to see it.

Speaking of great talents, the Grand Imperial Tournament was coming soon, and the new generation from each major Clan would be showing off their ability.

Mai’xx wouldn’t be there as he was exploring the Whitelands with his team and disciples, which was disappointing. This might be the last tournament he’d ever see, it only happened once every 15 years once a new generation was ready, but he wouldn’t get to see his old friend, a true shame.

Dra’xx always liked rooting for the underdog, and the Rei Ui might be able to fulfil that role this time around. Decently powerful but not quite strong enough to expect much from, they seem like a Clan the audience could connect with and cheer on.

The top spot was always the same, and the 2nd and 3rd places were interchangeable. Ura Lega, Sra Mura and Cal Mira, the three invincible Imperial Families, with the Cal Mira being the current rulers of the Empire.

This tournament might change public opinion. With the Cal Mira’s 2 top genius’ either crippled or exiled, it seems like another Imperial Family will take the reigns over the Empire, for better or worse.

The Cal Mira family had been in power for a very long time, but perhaps this was the only opportunity for the other two families to take it. After all, whoever wins the tournament, wins the public support of the most powerful Clans.

And with their support, the Mantle of the Ruler, and the Mandate of Heaven will be theirs for the taking.