The news of the soldiers’ death left everyone stunned.

Not a single person there could have expected those soldiers to already be dead. Alex had promised Hao Ya that he would help find these soldiers and help get revenge on her behalf, but from the looks of it, that was not needed.

"All four of them are dead?" Bladedance asked.

"Yes," the Sky God said, her expression quite grim. "It’s not just these four. There were another 3 that have also died at the same time. If these four were, as you say, in a group, then those 3 would have to be part of that group as well."

"That’s not suspicious at all," Bladedance said with a snort. "How did they die?"

"I’m not sure," the Sky God said. "So far, I have only been able to determine that they have died because their soul lamps have extinguished. I have sent Windveil to figure out what has happened with them. We should learn the truth in a few dozen years."

"You didn’t have the information transferred directly?" Bladedance asked.

"I didn’t think the situation demanded any urgency," the Sky God said. "My soldiers die from time to time when they enter some old tombs or get into some fight. While they are my soldiers, I give them some degree of freedom when they have no responsibility. I figured this was one of those times."

"Well, it certainly isn’t, because one of your soldiers was in the Sacred Lotus Dominion, trying to kill your Grand-disciple. She was extremely fortuitous to have met my disciple, or else she would have most certainly died."

"You were involved in this as well?" Newheaven turned to Alex.

Alex nodded. "I was more than involved, senior. Once I had saved sister Hao Ya, he came after me directly."

"He did?" the Sky God appeared surprised. "I assume you escaped somehow."

"No, I killed him."

The room went silent. The majority were already aware of this truth, but the small minority that weren’t were too stunned to speak.

The Sky God took a few precious seconds to make sure she had heard what she did. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion at that point.

"You killed one of my soldiers?" she asked.

"Yes. The one that came after me and sister Hao Ya. He’s the one on the top," Alex said, gesturing to the paintings the woman was holding.

The Sky God looked down at the painting before looking up. "This man is Wei Xunlan, a soldier under my army, which requires them all to be in the Divine realm before they can even join. And you killed him?"

"I did, Your Majesty."

The Sky God remained silent for a while longer before a look of understanding flashed across her eyes.

"I see... I see. I understand what must’ve happened," she said, looking as though she had it all figured out. "There is a very simple explanation for that from what I can see."

"Have you received no information yet?" Bladedance asked. "It happened nearly 4 years ago now."

"The information you speak of comes at the same time as you do. It has likely only just arrived and is being filtered by my Reverends. I should be hearing about this very soon."

"I suppose that makes sense," Bladedance said, refraining from saying any more.

Ronron seemed confused. "Aren’t all soldiers sworn to you, Master? They should not be able to do anything to break that oath, right?"

"That’s correct," the Sky God said. "They shouldn’t. And yet, those people from that exact batch had somehow done it. I might have to examine the rest of the soldiers from that batch of swear-ins."

That was the only way she could possibly be certain that she had weeded out all of the traitors.

The Sky God turned toward Hao Ya. "I’m sorry they attacked you, but I’m happy to hear you are fine. I will talk to you a little while later if you don’t mind. Ronron, could you please show your senior sister to her courtyard?"

"Yes, Master," Ronron said, starting to move.

"Please take the rest with you too. I must speak to your father and his master alone."

Ronron nodded, gesturing for the others to leave along with her. The others had little to no say in that matter, so they could only bow and walk away from the room.

The moment they walked out and the door shut behind them, the Sky God turned toward Alex.

"Did you use your Primordial energy to defeat my soldier?" she asked.

"What’s Primordial energy?" Alex asked with a confused look.

"You don’t have to lie to me. It is obvious that you have it, even though in a confusingly tiny amount," the Sky God said.

While that wasn’t an explanation, it told Alex what the Sky God must’ve been talking about. He nodded slowly. "Is that what it is called?"

The Sky God looked confused. "Were you not aware?"

"No, Your Majesty. I have no one to explain to me how this works," Alex answered.

The Sky God watched him for a few seconds. "I’m trying to figure out the same thing. How does this work exactly? As far as I am aware, one must be a Celestial for them to be a Half-God, but you have somehow managed to do so while being only a mere Immortal."

Bladedance agreed. "I’ve been quite confused as well. I did not want to presume what went on with the matters of the Half-God, so I waited until now so you could help explain the situation. But if even you don’t know, then we might have no answers at all."

The Sky God smiled slightly. "Before I say anything else, would you mind telling me the nature of your Primordial energy?" she asked.

"The nature? Do you mean the elements?" Alex asked. "If so, then it is Fire and Yang."

"Fire and Yang?" the Sky God repeated with a strange look in her eyes. "I see. Then, Ashmaker should have already started his search for you."