Prime Originator

From the letter, Elizabeth learned a bit about the nature of the Burning Heaven Sect and how they had no interest in expanding outside of the Ishaan Kingdom.

The sect master explained how they were a 'good' sect and did not see eye to eye with an 'evil' sect like the Bloodfiend Sect that treats human lives like dirt. However, they were not as powerful as the Bloodfiend Sect and could not do anything to them until now.

In a few words, the sect master had differentiated the two sects between good and evil. 

The Bloodfiend Sect would have been uprooted eventually. Still, the Burning Heaven Sect intervened to establish friendly relations. They believed they could get along well despite there being little to no interaction between their sides due to the great distance between them.

Towards the end of the letter, the sect master expressed his regret that they could not locate the sect master of the Bloodfiend Sect on the Blood Mountain and told Elizabeth to be careful of an ambush.

This was also the cause for Elizabeth's frown as the threat posed by the unknown whereabouts of an enemy Transcendent was quite significant.

The Burning Heaven Sect also did not loot anything from Bloodfiend Sect when they arrived to slaughter all the remnant disciples. The loots were all rounded up and left on the Blood Mountain for Elizabeth to deal with. However, the sect master did suggest that those evil techniques should all be destroyed.

Elizabeth folded the letter after she was done and stored it away in one of her gauntlets. 

"Your sect's wishes and gift, I have received them. You can be assured that my kingdom will not be hostile to your sect." Elizabeth said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. If there is nothing else, I will return to my sect to deliver your words." Denzell said politely. 

"Leaving so soon? I assume your sect had already returned to the Ishaan Kingdom but does this kingdom holds nothing of interest to your sect? I find it hard to believe that your sect would help us without gaining anything."

Denzell shook his head and said, "That is where you are wrong, Your Majesty. Establishing a friendly relationship with your kingdom would be the greatest gain on this trip for our sect. A Sword Master such as yourself is respected anywhere you go in the Human Domain, even in the mysterious far eastern Geyser Kingdom."

Denzell had not finished talking, but the mention of the Geyser Kingdom quickly drew Elizabeth's attention as she asks, "Why do you say the Geyser Kingdom is mysterious?"

"That's because I don't know much about the Geyser Kingdom, Your Majesty. In fact, I am sure it is the same for everyone. Although the Durham Kingdom and our Ishaan Kingdom neighbors the Geyser Kingdom, not many have the qualification to travel there."

"Why is that so?"

When Elizabeth asked this, Denzell appeared surprised before he had a look of understanding. "It's actually quite old news now, but 300 years ago, the Geyser Kingdom decided to construct a great wall and seal themselves off from the rest of the Human Domain."

"Although it is not as impressive as the Great Wall that holds back the beast invasion from the Wildlands, it is still impressive. Also, border security is very strict. Unless we have a recommendation from someone important there, it is very difficult to enter the Geyser Kingdom."

Elizabeth had a look of doubt after she heard all this. Even if that was the case, people should have attempted entering the Geyser Kingdom illegally, right?

As if knowing what the Crawford Kingdom's Queen was thinking, Denzell said, "You do not need to doubt my words, Your Majesty. Anyone who lives near the border will know this. Of course, people have tried entering illegally, but they have all been killed without exception."

"I can't say much for the rest of the Geyser Kingdom as I am ignorant, but the person guarding the border is very powerful. So powerful that I can confidently say that even if the sect master of Illusory Butterfly Sect and Bloodfiend Sect stood before that person, they would just be ants."

"You speak like you have seen how powerful this person is, personally," Elizabeth said. If what the elder said was true, then this person was also stronger than herself.

Denzell nodded and admitted, "The first-generation sect master and our last sect master were both killed with a single slap from that person."

The elder of the Burning Heaven Sect felt a bit embarrassed as he exposed this part of history from their sect.

Forget about the first-generation sect master, the previous-generation sect master was a person with body cultivation equivalent to the first stage of Transcendent. The sect was overjoyed when the previous-generation sect master had broken through to this level of strength.

However, the previous-generation sect master was too arrogant and decided to challenge the rules set by the Geyser Kingdom by illegally crossing the border openly. He gathered the sect to send him off that day.

The sect had also been confident that nothing would happen since few Transcendents had crossed the borders in the past, albeit while following the regulations. In the end, the sect did not expect that they were sending their sect master off to the netherworld, rather than the Geyser Kingdom.

The elder could still remember the strict and domineering words of that person after slapping their previous-generation sect master to death with a single palm.

"Whether you are Transcendent or mortal, in the Geyser Kingdom, all must respect its laws!" Was what that person had said.

"What about the people from the Geyser Kingdom? Has anyone crossed the border to enter the Ishaan Kingdom?" Elizabeth asked. She was very intrigued by information on the Geyser Kingdom and paid no heed to the officials waiting on the chance to speak to her. 

"Yes, Your Majesty. There have been few instances where people have crossed the border over to our side, but we could never catch them to learn more about the Geyser Kingdom. However, one of them had spoken a few words to us before we lost sight of them."

"What did they say?"

"Crawford guard the west, Geyser guard the east. The person said this with a deep sigh." Denzell answered.

"Crawford guard the west, Geyser guard the east…"

After hearing this line, Elizabeth fell into deep thoughts. 

"The Crawford Kingdom guard against the beasts of the Wildlands, but what does the Geyser Kingdom guard against?" She mumbled to herself.

"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave, Your Majesty," Denzell said courtly.

The elder of the Burning Heaven Sect was a bit impatient to return back to his sect. He had missed out on quite a few days of cultivation time.

Only by returning to the Ishaan Kingdom could he continue to train in the burning sands of the Ishaan Desert.

"En. The information you provided had been beneficial. If you ever visit my Capital, I will be a good host and welcome you generously." 

"Thank you, Your Majesty." 

Denzell bowed slightly with a cupped fist before taking his leave. After he was gone, Elizabeth pushed the matter of the Geyser Kingdom to the back of her mind. It was something worth looking into once she returns to the Capital.

Her gaze soon fell on the officials of the Valaran Kingdom as she rubbed her chin in thought.

"Now, what should I do with all of you?"