Chapter308-The Gathering of the Great Factions
In the vast conference hall of the Duke’s mansion.
The originally spacious hall, hundreds of meters wide, was now packed shoulder to shoulder with representatives from
numerous factions. The air was filled with the smell of sweat and the cacophony of voices, creating a scene as chaotic as a bustling marketplace, with the noise nearly lifting the roof.
“How did Owen learn the secret of the
Divine Path Stone and use it to survive the
Millennial Cataclysm? If only we’d known earlier!”
“Exactly! If we had known sooner, others would be begging us for help instead of us begging them.”
A few members of Middle Earth factions wore expressions of envy, jealousy, and regret.
“Heh, what’s the use of saying that now? Even if you knew about the Divine Path Stone, you’d still lack the power to claim it,” scoffed the Dragon Princess from amidst the crowd, disdainful of those envious of Owen.
She and the other members of the Dragon Clan had been closely following Owen’s actions.
They knew the Divine Path Stone had been taken by Owen from beyond the Gate of Reality, even drawing the attention of Loki.
They were well aware of Loki’s power. Even if every lower faction joined forces, they wouldn’t be able to stand against him.
Besides, the Divine Path Stone was an ancient mystery. Other deities had attempted to use it before, yet all had failed. Owen’s success in unlocking its
potential was what intrigued the Dragon Princess most.
“With Owen and Leslie’s personalities, do you really think they’ll let us seek refuge in
Azure Kingdom so easily?”
“Those two are ruthless and decisive. I
doubt they’ll let us enter Azure Kingdom
without conditions.”
“I’m more concerned that if we do enter
Azure Kingdom, our forces might no longer remain ours. With Owen and Leslie’s ambition, they’ll likely swallow us whole!”
At this, many mages from Middle Earth and the continent scowled, faces darkening
with uncertainty.
They all wanted to survive the Cataclysm,
but not at the cost of surrendering the forces they and their families had built.
“We’ll band together and negotiate with Owen and Leslie. Our forces must remain under our own control, though we might
offer some treasures as payment…”
“I doubt Owen will agree to that.”
“I think so too. Besides, what’s wrong with joining Azure Kingdom under Owen’s command? His talent is evident, and he’s
one of the leaders in the resistance against The Celestial. Following him could bring boundless prospects!”
“Sure, if you’re so eager to throw yourselves at Owen, go ahead. I’d rather
rule my own domain. Bowing to Owen? That’s giving up my freedom!” Arguments arose among the crowd as they
debated whether to join Owen’s cause and how their allegiance might affect their future. No one could sway the others.
Just as the noise in the hall reached a
crescendo, a powerful aura swept in from outside, silencing the crowd and dispersing
the noise.
The once-boisterous factions fell into quiet reverence, with some leaders kneeling in respect as Owen entered.
Owen glanced around. Numerous factions had come, from Middle Earth to the continent, including all the notable powers. Familiar figures like Edward from Academy
City, Henry from Middle Earth, and Davis from the Cloud Empire had been pushed to the entrance due to the sheer number of Middle Earth forces crowding the hall. Owen also sensed a few probing auras mixed among them, as if some factions were ready to seize Azure Kingdom the moment they sensed his power was insufficient.
The room was a blend of motives, with
people from all sides harboring different intentions.
With a thought, Owen released a powerful pressure from the Divine Path Stone, spreading outward to dominate the crowd
and quell their ambitions.
As the force expanded to every corner of
the hall, everyone present felt it descend upon them like a waterfall, weighing heavily on their shoulders, causing spines to creak under the pressure. Ancient families from Middle Earth, especially, grew tense.
Though they were already aware of Owen’s
impressive battle prowess, standing before
him, they realized how limited their knowledge truly was.
Those who had entertained thoughts of
seizing Azure Kingdom or stealing the
Divine Path Stone now quickly abandoned the notion.
The aura Owen emitted made it feel as
though they were mired in a swamp, unable to stir the mana around them.
Among them were God Emperor-level powerhouses!
Yet even these formidable figures found themselves breathless, as if a stone weighed upon their chests.
If forced into a life-or-death battle, none of them felt confident facing Owen.
Though Owen was still only a god-tier
mage, his battle strength was easily comparable to a God Emperor. And beside
him stood Leslie, who was as ruthless as she was cold as ice.
Together, they had previously held their ground against a celestial god! With the crowd subdued and their auras
quelled, Owen nodded in satisfaction,
sweeping a gaze over them before speaking.
“I understand why you’re here, so let me
make three points clear.” “First: Azure Kingdom, protected by the Divine Path Stone’s immortal energy, can
indeed survive the Millennial Cataclysm!”
At these words, the factions who had
gathered for precisely this purpose visibly brightened, breathing faster, their eyes lighting up.
While they had already assumed as much,
hearing Owen confirm it ignited their hope of survival.
The Millennial Cataclysm was a disaster
that engulfed the entire era. Many here regarded themselves as top mages of their time, yet they had little
confidence in surviving it, much less leading their followers through it.
Now, Azure Kingdom represented their only chance!
Seeing their reactions, Owen smiled and
continued, “However, as you know, Azure Kingdom’s territory is limited. It’s
impossible for all factions to enter.”
Many hearts sank at this. Though they’d anticipated it, hearing Owen lay it out so plainly made their hearts race.
If they couldn’t enter Azure Kingdom for protection, they would face total
destruction along with the epoch. “Third: You are welcome to seek refuge
within Azure Kingdom, but you must demonstrate your value. Once inside, you must henceforth follow my command!” With that, Owen fell silent, surveying them calmly as he awaited their decision.
“Follow Owen’s orders after receiving protection from Azure Kingdom?” Many present furrowed their brows. This
was precisely what they had feared, though they hadn’t expected Owen to put it forth so directly, with no room for negotiation.
Faces turned complex, and someone couldn’t resist asking, “Lord Owen, if we join Azure Kingdom, will our kingdoms be able to remain independent?”
“Will we forever become vassals of Azure Kingdom?”
Several leaders, reluctant to give up, pressed for clarification.
Owen nodded. “I’ve made myself clear. If you disagree, you are free to leave.” Azure Kingdom didn’t need every faction; for Owen, this was an excellent opportunity to filter out those with ulterior
motives.
The crowd exchanged glances, particularly the top factions, who hesitated even more..
