The Third Year Begins

Later on, Heian Ciemnosc returned to the Palace with the little girl, not leaving her mother's embrace. Empress Shuna remained silent on their way back and didn't care about others, such as the Imperial Guards and some fishers staring at her, holding her daughter. Now, they walked through the Palace's corridors leading to the Empress's bedroom, with Heian Ciemnosc walking beside the pair when Empress Shuna addressed him at last.

“They were just the top organizations’ leading figures. Why did you not attack? They were just there, helpless and in your palms. Why didn’t you just get rid of them? It would’ve made all this easier, giving us more time to prosper and recruit more troops.” Empress Shuna said, not elaborating much as the sleeping Little Ish comfortably lay on her bosom. Heian Ciemnosc nodded as he walked 2 steps behind the Empress and said, “No, no. That would’ve just made things take longer, not make anything easier. It might even make other Regions alarmed with us. Besides, who is to tell there isn’t someone at my level or above it watching nearby?”

Heian Ciemnosc shook his head, walking with his arms on his sides lazily resting. He took a short breath and said while looking ahead and slightly up before continuing. “I can’t wait that long. And while I can’t promise to help you rule over the Region in a short time with unshakable confidence, years should be enough, more than enough.”

“You don’t wish to stay here anymore?!” Suddenly, Empress Shuna asked loudly, with a frown and a side glare to his person. Heian Ciemnosc was left slightly awestruck before he rapidly replied with a casual tone. “It’s not that. I have things to do and promises to keep out there. It’s not like I want to leave this place soon or leave it halfway done, but I’m not willing to shake my resolve and waste the time I could spend well for the future. Why focus too much in one place when I can do so after everything else is done? And live however I like?”

“Mmh,” Empress Shuna kept glaring at him for a few seconds before letting go of it. Heian Ciemnosc felt like sweat would be running down his face if he could sweat. The Empress then turned her head around and opened the door with her Spirit Sense instilling into her residence’s command before stepping through them. Heian Ciemnosc stepped twice, stopped before the doors, placed his hands behind his back, and saw the Empress off as she entered her living room. The Empress suddenly stopped, turned to face him, and said before slowly closing her doors.

“I don’t know nor care what you think you’re capable of, but dying and losing all those ‘after’ dream life and desires isn’t known in the world. You’re no different from other Geniuses. Hmph, even the Great Sage perished. What can you do but be stepped on by someone like me right now? Let alone any other advanced Second Step organization in your Academy’s turf. You should already know the number of Middle Kingdoms out there.”

“Although there are not many overlord organizations, there are infinitudes of peak Second Step organizations, stronger than your Academy, even if not by much. So if you plan to die before enjoying life, which doesn’t seem to be a problem for you, then make half those desires happen… or you’ll regret it as you perish somewhere in space out there, kid.”

“...” Heian Ciemnosc watched Empress Shuna’s strongly determined aquamarine, azure eyes looking back at him through the door entrance until a slight slit closed his view and Spirit Sense. The last thing he saw from her was how she checked her daughter’s face with blatant tenderness and love… something that dazed him outside her doors. Then, that word Empress Shuna said rang in his head a lot. ‘Regret.’

Heian Ciemnosc lowered his head and became slightly pensive, lost in his thoughts. To every cultivator, one of many taboos is the sensation, feeling, and memories of or that beget regret. If a civilian’s life is short, from 150 years for the shortest lifespan of some Humans to up to 3,000 for every Race person who spends enough money and resources, without cultivation, all they have to care about is living their lives. Short, eventful, emotional, and mostly peaceful memories before dying and repeating in some untold story— yet again.

But for a citizen, let alone a cultivator, to live for several thousands of years, or hundreds of years without specification from their Race, taking an alchemy product or pure genes, and not spend their time growing stronger, more capable, or a force to follow them for life… That was the perfect definition of waste. Cultivators can cultivate, unlike most life in the world, and they can even live virtually ‘forever’ if they are that capable.

They can also make mistakes, suffer, kill, or die, and they learn their nature more than any citizen or civilian. But to be able of all this, yet still manage to fuck up so much that one feels regret… It isn’t as simple as not confessing one’s puppy love or saying something wrong when one wanted something right. Its meaning is elevated a hundred thousand times, to say the least. Losing a child might not necessarily mean regret, as fertility alchemy products are one of the most sought in every corner of the Universal Lands.

But having something precious gone, tainted, disfigured, touched, destroyed, or taken away…

Step, step, step, step… Heian Ciemnosc kept his head low, staring at the floor, and thought for a good while. While he was nearing his residence, a few maids came to him. They already knew his likeness to quietness and didn’t speak more than a greeting and asking him if he was feeling alright. When they arrived at his doors and entered, Heian Ciemnosc was helped to his bed as they slept with him. Some bare, some barely clothed, but together with those palace maids, he slept like a baby as soon as he hit the mattress and was surrounded by piles of soft, fragrant, warm flesh.

When morning came, an astounded Heian Ciemnosc realized he was waking up and not meditating. He became aware of one thing while his body radiated some warmth as it took delight in the same from the sleeping palace maids around him on his bed. Not ending meditation or cultivation… but waking up! Furthermore… his cultivation base was now at the Dantreulity realm 9th stage!!

After waking up, he spent about an hour contemplating his current life and lifestyle within the Palace before getting up. After nearly a couple years of training under him, the flamboyant, fragrant, and expert palace maids’ bodies, on top or sideways, writhed as they felt the warm but fresh and colder source leave. They each woke up themselves by another maid. When everyone sobered up, they witnessed a handsome and… slightly different… dressed-up Heian Ciemnosc bid farewell to them and leave his Residence.

Heian Ciemnosc had too many things to do, and this proximate third year since taking this task might be the last year he’ll have so much freedom everywhere. A second, busy and hellish tri-year waited for him.

…

A week and 2 days later, last day of the year. Far East Region’s North Sea.

Whoooshhhh… splash! Splaasshhh~! Gurgle… In a sneaky manner, a convoy of approximately 7 true battleships sailed through the sea while a mist rose around them, following them and covering a radius of 400 km. This was no coincidence. Within those battleships, Azure Dragon’s Bloodline people effectuated their fine Water elemental manipulation. The mist followed them and pried any surveillance array formations outside the covered zone.

Although this was a tremendously high cost in energy, with the sea below their feet, endlessly surrounding them, and their Bloodline, the Blauw Empire’s Imperial Guards would always have the draconic founders of the Empire in a ship to effectuate these necessities. The Azure Dragon’s Bloodline was already 4 times larger than all other Races in the Empire together, but with this distribution, they would be everywhere on the battlefield. They could become the symbol of their morale and ferocity… in a sense.

The Blauw Empire’s territory consisted of several islands, too many to be named individually, and whose importance varied, and not everyone was an island City. For example, the Empire’s island Cities were between the Small City island as the center, the Palace, inland shores, and south from the Small City island. But there were even more island Cities between the Small City island and the defensive islands, which were at the east, southernmost, and northeast regions of the Blauw Empire’s territory.

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Farther into the east and surrounding their eastern borders, the defensive islands were the biggest in the empire, except for the Small City island. One was even more oversized than the Palace, positioned east of the Small City, with a narrow passage in the middle, more than 10,000 km long and a few km wide. Meanwhile, both sides of the passage were semi-circular and were as big as the Palace’s island.

Directly above it were 4 strange-shaped islands. One on top in a northern preposition, with a crooked blade-like island on its south. From that crooked blade-like island to its east, another 2 blade-shaped islands were positioned. They were called Front 1 after Heian Ciemnosc devised a plan to be completed before the third year ended, whose resources had already started arriving in the Empire’s treasury.

The most extensive island from the ‘fortified islands project’ Heian Ciemnosc devised was thus called Fortress. Below Fortress, another 4 islands were incorporated into the project. They would go from defensive islands to fortified islands. They were aiming the east this time and were pretty long. The first one directly below the Fortress had an unscathed bone-like shape and a steep end on its other extremity. The second had a lightning-ish symbol at its extremity facing the east, and the third looked like a compact bow facing the northeast.

Lastly, the 4th island was like a caterpillar in motion, arching its back upward but arching it a lot and using its bottom half to push itself forwards while its head dragged on the floor. It looked strange on the map and from a high point of view of the sky, but it was big. Not as large as the Palace, it was still quite decent for positioning the arsenal and could provide ammunition or reinforcements with a safe traveling route from behind the lines to the rest of the fortified islands. These 4 islands to the south of the Fortress were called Front 2.

This convoy bypassed between the eastern island Cities and the Fortress, towards Front 1. Afterwards, they moved in a straight line northwards for several hours before finally arriving at their destination. The mist they employed didn’t just travel with them. It left some steam behind as they arrived past early in the morning at the North Sea and had already exposed themselves to the patrols from the Feathered Valley Pavilion and the Clashing Dust Cult.

However, not only had they been warned beforehand. They were even invited to check things out from a distance and guarantee nobody was peeking while the Blauw Empire showed them something. Yet, when the patrols themselves witnessed what kind of behemoths the Blauw Empire was carrying, they were astounded on the spot and nearly warned their superiors of an invasive force from another Region illegally declaring war against them!

They had thought the Blauw Empire had gotten some good ships to increase their naval security and repel any enemy incursion if the top 5 organizations became nasty. However, seeing the huge monsters, with one of them dozens of times larger than their most threatening ship, their hairs stood on their ends, and their skin numbed. This was the Blauw Empire they easily bullied in the past few hundred thousand years?!

Had the Blauw Empire taken these wonderful massacre-destruction machines out during the wars, all top 7 organizations would have lost the entirety of their sea territory at the end of the overlord war, not the other way around for the Blauw Empire! However, they couldn’t just watch. Remembering their duty, they escorted the small convoy and admired, worshiped, and lusted after them, sighting from the side and rear with passion. Only a crew member knew what it felt like to wish to upgrade their toy.

When the clock neared 10 am, the convoy arrived at the North Sea. They made a little communication check with the Clashing Dust Cult before proceeding with the same pace towards the center of the North Sea. Behind them, Fighters suddenly flew over with the Pavilion and Cult’s emblems. Without any surprise, inside those fighters were the highest hierarchy from the mightiest 2 organizations in the Far East Region.

Whoooosh! Whoooosh! Flying side by side, the Cult and Pavilion seemed to notice each other’s presence within their cabins. At the same time, as if prearranged, the organizations’ leaders from both parties called the other’s Fighter. Immediately, a connection was started, with the Pastor’s image appearing before the Head and Grand Master, with Preacher Alex standing behind him. His slight smile became more pronounced as it greeted them first.

“Good morning, gentlemen. How do you like the views from here? Hehehehh…” Not forgetting to rub some salt over their ancestors’ past history, the Pastor said. Head Mo Liao crossed his arms exasperatedly before saying in a heavy, slightly somber voice. “Pastor Miguel, Preacher Alex, good morning… Is this what you wanted to surprise us with?”

“It doesn’t seem like much, other than buying top-notch battleships after making money through one’s Universal Conveyance.” Head Mo Liao said as he turned his head and nudged to the convoy below. His face was unimpressed since every other top organization had enough riches to buy top-notch battleships. Not on a large number, but still many every few generations, enough to secure extreme measures for several all-out wars. He then said, “Well, I am unimpressed.”

“Haha, Head Mo’s jest is getting better. Did you feel inspired in just a week after watching a younger generation’s wits? Hehehehe~,” Pastor Miguel didn’t mind the condescension from the Head and lightly laughed. The Head rolled his eyes and offered no more words to this machinating fella. Preacher Alex giggled a little, acting all girly, before Grand Master Errticol joined and lightly, but directly, questioned. “Did we come here just to be shown they can do what they didn’t dare a few years ago? Pastor?”

“Grand Master, if that was the case, would I have come here?” Preacher Alex added before cutting off the communication, leaving the Grand Master baffled. How can a younger generation treat their older seniors like this?! Even if she was immensely talented and has a similar cultivation base, they can’t act like this just because of that! Right?!

Peeew~! “Follow them!” Suddenly, they watched as the Cult’s Fighter sped up. Head Mo Liao commanded, sitting relaxingly on his chair. The Grand Master looked at him questioningly and asked after not finding anything from their previous chat. “Head, did you notice something from their words?”

“Ah? Nope, but I also want to see what else that little black monster is trying to show us. Has he ever done something boring? Or not important? Who knows. We may even be convinced to become the Empire’s allies.” Head Mo Liao’s words disappointed the Grand Master but then forced his eyes to widen before crackling in laughter. “Hahaha! How can that happen? One thing is those Azure Dragon’s desc- Bloodline, and the other is the Wrath Nihility Academy’s assigned supervisor. I’m sure they won’t miss this, heh heh heh!”

“...” Head Mo Liao shrugged and said nothing else. Their Fighter sped up and left the battleship convoy behind. Meanwhile, the escorting patrols started encircling the North Sea, with some elite patrolling teams already in position and ready to begin their surveillance duty. Like this, 2 Fighters flew through the sky and rapidly closed into the North Sea’s center, where they saw Heian Ciemnosc’s Ornament and several figures outside.

Heian Ciemnosc stood in the middle of his Ornament’s lateral side. He was leaning against it, supported by his left elbow, while 2 figures floated before him. The Blauw Empire’s Empress and little royal princess wore ravishingly magnificent dresses. While Little Ish wore a pale golden a-line dress, without much tail nor extra length, the Empress wore a bright golden long robe with a dress whose ornamental veil and mantle, pure white in color, revolved around her.

Futomp! Futomp! Psshh, psshh. “...” - “...” After getting out of their Fighters, the Head and Pastor looked at each other, still remembering the Empress’s might far above anything they had seen before. After noticing the strict awareness in each other’s eyes, they flew over and bowed before her out of respect for her might, not status. “Greetings, Empress. I have come from far to witness this… event.” - “It’s an honor to see the Empress again, hm. I see the little royal princess is also here. I’m truly honored to have attended. It’s in my backyard, after all.”

Empress Shuna understood what these leaders respected, but he didn’t mind. Like Heian Ciemnosc said, instead of going through a fast and less efficient road for the future, everything that needed to be proven will be proved and earned. She lifted her chin slightly, and her strongly determined eyes narrowed. Revealing her innate arrogance and haughtiness, she splendidly spoke with indifference, “It’s good that you’ve come. Wait at the side. My troops will arrive in a few minutes.”

“Hm? Is that so? They were still far away, and I didn’t see disturbances in the still water. They aren’t hurrying up here. They will take a long time. Can we maybe discuss the next batch of-” Seeing the thousands of royal guards surrounding the little royal princess from behind as she was in the middle and Heian Ciemnosc and Empress Shuna were at her sides. The royal guards were like the little girl’s wings, while those two were her guardians. Feeling amazed by this notion, the Grand Master turned in a good mood and wanted to discuss a higher exchange rate.

Swuuulooooshhhh~~~! But suddenly… from the direction the Grand Master just pointed with a glare, a sonorous noise came from the sea. On its surface, right where they could finally see the tallest structures from the largest battleship in the convoy, water barely rippled, and they barely created mini-waves as they coursed through water. The noise itself came from the water in front of the convoy, which was like it was moving on its own volition and to the convoy’s advantage.

What was more was… that this was no Azure Dragon’s Bloodline’s doings… but an intricate array formation… only an advanced Craftsperson could create! It was as if the convoys were moving extremely solid, yet they were unaffected by the waves, and the water before them became as smooth and leveled as possible. The battleships barely tilted up and down and were practically motionless as they gained even more speed!!

…