While Zier was busy experimenting in his little lab, Raven and Blaze watched over the training of their juniors in the courtyard.

But it would be more appropriate to say that Blaze was training them. Raven stood back, occasionally glancing in Ozul’s direction, worry evident in her eyes.

"Did something happen?" Ember’s voice came from behind Raven.

These days, she rarely showed her face to anyone other than the Sages. Her presence in this courtyard surprised Raven, but she was quick to compose herself.

"What brings you here?"

There were simply too many matters to deal with for Ember to stroll through the gardens and courtyards with leisure. Although she dumped most of the work to Rai and others, there were still things that only she could attend to.

Glancing at Ozul who was curled up on one side with the arms and legs drawn in, together with the black cat under the shade of trees, Ember replied, "Rai told me he refuses to go out."

Raven hesitated before slightly nodding her head.

"There is something wrong."

Ember’s eyebrows raised in concern. Among Ozul’s companions, she trusted her words the most.

"What happened?"

"I... don’t know. Just that he feels something wrong will happen."

Raven sighed ruefully. If she knew the problem, maybe she could have helped him.

She knew Ozul wasn’t acting like himself these days but it was evident since he hadn’t been able to take a ’nap’ for weeks now. He was restless about something that even he didn’t know anything about.

A flicker of doubt appeared in Ember’s eyes as it all seemed like baseless worries.

She noticed that even Blaze would occasionally check up on Ozul, concerned about his well-being.

She shook her head at Raven, "And here I thought you were the mature one among this group.

The barrier protects the whole city. This estate alone is littered with hundreds of cultivators. Not to mention, there is me and the Celestial Phoenix. They couldn’t even breach after trying for 10 years, what can they do now?

Until this ’feeling’ of his dies, let him stay here."

She then walked toward Alden and Rameel, checking up on them for the first time. She was curious if they were just as unusual as the group of Ozul. It was important for her to know if there were potential future Sages joining her side.

Raven tried to give her an assured smile but it visibly looked forced. She was well aware of Ozul’s frightening intuition.

If he felt something wrong, then there must be something wrong. She trusted him blindly on that part.

As such she and Blaze remained close to him at all times. Even Zier regularly took breaks from his lab to come here and check up on him.

They were more restless than him.

. . .

In the Realm of Shadows, Baoshi and Qingyu reported to the Lord of Shadows.

"That old man is currently in the Land Above All."

"What may the reason be?" Yasashii Hito, the man renowned as the Demonic Emperor, asked indifferently. Others would have mistaken his tone as if the matter wasn’t of importance to him.

Both of them shook their heads.

"At least there doesn’t seem to be contact with that brat Kami yet," Qingyu shrugged.

If Old Gu were to align with Kami, then it would disturb the delicate balance that they had maintained in the war until now.

"It would have certainly made things easier if he had made the right choice," the Lord of Shadows spoke, "But it matters not, I took this possibility into account."

"They have also gone unusually quiet recently," Baoshi added.

"Gu has not aligned with Kami either then," muttered the Lord of Shadows before a stillness descended the room.

It appeared that even Kami was awaiting the result of Old Gu’s meeting with his father. As such, his alliance with them was not yet confirmed.

"Or that brat is plotting something else?" Qingyu added.

Nodding, the Lord of Shadows waved his hand as two people materialized out of writhing shadows behind him.

"My Lord." x2

"Keep watch and remain vigilant. If they make any sudden movements, you are all to immediately head into battle."

The two Empyreans behind him and the two Heavenly Virtues nodded in understanding before disappearing from that room.

"You refused to join me, martial brother. Will your dear friend make the same mistake?" Yasashii Hito muttered, gazing at the moon outside his room.

If the Wise Seer was alive and present, he would have laughed at the scene, comparing the habits of the Lord of Shadows to those of their Master, the Heavenly Emperor.

. . .

In the Land Above All, Old Gu walked the lonely corridors of the Palace.

He had already taken the object he wanted from the treasury and was making his way to the exit.

The Heavenly Emperor had decreed a rule that disallowed all to use Spatial Teleportation inside the Palace. So, he had to go outside even if it was annoying.

As he navigated through the complex structure, he took a turn only to find the Head Royal guard standing firm in his place. He stood straight, not tiring under the weight of his heavy golden armor.

"You miss me again?"

"The Empress demands your presence." The Head Guard did not like to play Old Gu’s games.

"Hmm?" Old Gu hummed in confusion. He had expected many things out of this visit, but not a meeting with the Empress.

It was well-known throughout the Land Above All that the Empress cared little about political matters and avoided all troublesome matters.

Given that there were no concubines of the Heavenly Emperor nor any lovers, the Empress never felt threatened by her position either. Hence, she had no need to play the vicious mind games.

Even as the Empress, not many considered her in the grand scheme of things. No one wanted to get on the bad side of the Heavenly Emperor.

"Very well," Old Gu sighed, following the Head Guard to lead him to the Empress.

It took them a few minutes and they stood before the chambers glowing with red-hue lamps and adorned with different stained glass.

"You may enter," a voice came from behind the doors, prompting Old Gu to enter.

The Head Guard turned around and left, not worried that Old Gu would do something to harm the Empress.

Before Old Gu was a wall carved with different styles, hollow in some places while displaying intricate designs in others. There was also a translucent silk curtain behind the wooden wall, blurring the figure behind.

"It has been a long time," the Empress spoke from behind the curtain.

"Indeed it has."

Old Gu was patient with the Empress.

"Regarding your meeting with him, should I be... concerned for my son?" The Empress did not waste her words.

Old Gu chuckled. "A mother’s worry, huh? You must realize how many mothers have lost their children because of his war, Your Majesty?" He replied sarcastically.

"..."

For a while, there was no reply.

"I... am aware."

Shaking his head in disappointment, Old Gu spoke again, "My reason to visit the Emperor was unrelated, however."

"Is it that object you wanted from the treasury?"

Being the Empress, except for the Emperor’s room, she had eyes everywhere around the Palace. So, he wasn’t surprised that she knew.

"Partly, I would say." He admitted.

That object was crucial to what he was about to do next. Since it was something made by the Heavenly Emperor personally, he couldn’t get it from anywhere else.

"I get it you asked me here to probe the details of our meeting?" Old Gu inquired.

"... Yes."

"Then rest assured. I aim to relieve his worries."

"I am glad to hear that," the voice from the other side of the curtain sounded genuinely eased and cheerful all of a sudden.

With a hint of hesitation, the voice continued, "If I asked you to aid my son-"

But Old Gu cut her off quickly, "I refuse."

Before the Empress could say anything, he was quick on an explanation,

"Prince Kami has a foul personality. He sees himself above all and unless it aids my goals, I would never work with him."

Once again, there was quiet in the room.

"... I understand." The voice behind the curtains was resigned.

Although the Empress wanted to mention how his involvement could end the war early, thus reducing the number of casualties, in the end, she couldn’t voice out her thoughts. She couldn’t object to such an assertive rejection.

It was evident how much Old Gu disliked her son.

"You may leave," she said softly.

Old Gu nodded, stood up, and left the chambers immediately. There were things he needed to get done.

Once outside the Royal Palace, Minho appeared by his side and matched his walking pace.

"Where to now?" He asked, watching his master tearing apart and creating a portal.

"To the Shadow Realm."

The gears in Minho’s head turned at an alarming rate, yet he could not come up with a reason to step into that territory.