Chapter 352: A Gift of Blood

Nerissa gave a cold snort.

"The only reason the Black Banner cannot send Mythic fighters down from Sector 632 is Helena Grey and her gang. If the Jade Court handed those troublemakers over, our nations could have been enjoying prosperity together long ago."

Corven frowned. That decision was well beyond his authority.

"I’ll convey your concerns to the Court."

Marshal Grey’s standing in the war sector was formidable. He also knew why the Jade Court still held a place there at all: powerful War Marshals like her were keeping it alive.

"If handing her over is impossible, surely you can strip her of office," Nerissa said. "The Mythic Ancient Road will open soon. If the Court does that much, the Black Banner will support you when it does."

Corven’s eyes brightened.

Nerissa was Osric Vaust’s great-granddaughter. An offer from her carried weight.

Gavin, who had listened in silence until now, suddenly laughed.

"I have a better idea."

Nerissa’s manner warmed at once. Western Beacon had recently dropped a Peace Shell on her homeland, but she still treated its representatives very differently from those of the Jade Court.

"Please, Lord Roswell. Tell us."

"The Five Elements Temple belongs to the Homeworld," he said. "It’s our common wealth. Not Cassian’s private possession."

Nerissa frowned.

"Of course. But he’s the one who controls it."

They were well past polite arguments with Cassian. He had the strength to keep what he held. What use was a declaration that it belonged to someone else?

Gavin’s smile widened.

"Have you forgotten? The Temple can be relocated. We can donate it to Fivefold Heaven on the Homeworld’s behalf. In return, we ask for places where our Lords can study and develop there."

For a moment, Nerissa, Corven, Piers, and the other Black Banner representatives simply stared at him.

What an astonishingly shameless idea.

Then they remembered Ilyse’s humiliation at Cassian’s hands. Smiles began to spread around the table.

"Exactly," Nerissa said. "To Fivefold Heaven, that Temple would be a priceless treasure. A great Human Realm can’t simply seize it without a reason."

"So we give them a reason," Gavin said.

Piers laughed.

"The Homeworld has laws. Democratic institutions. We submit the donation proposal to the Homeworld Council and let the Provinces vote. Whether the Temple is donated will be decided by the result."

"All forty-three Jade Court Provinces will vote in favor," Corven declared.

——

"Donate my Temple to Fivefold Heaven? And they want a vote on it?"

Cassian’s eyes turned cold as he listened to Odette’s report.

"Don’t let it spoil your day," she said with a smile. "The proposal is rather... shameless. But words are only words. What matters is who has the strength to enforce them."

"I know. Hearing it still leaves a bad taste."

His expression soon eased. After a moment’s thought, he smiled back.

"I’ve sent you a small gift through the Exchange. My thanks for the information you’ve been providing."

"You’re too generous, Lord Cassian. There really is no—"

She stopped. Surprise broke through her polished manner.

"Emperor Blood Essence?"

"I can’t expect you to keep working for nothing."

For Bloodkin, advancement could be almost impossible or remarkably simple.

Their racial hierarchy was strict. Crossing its boundaries through cultivation alone demanded extraordinary effort. With enough Blood Essence from a higher Bloodkin, the same advancement could become as easy as eating and drinking.

The difficulty lay in obtaining it. A powerful Bloodkin normally needed a long recovery after condensing even one drop of vital essence. Blood from the upper ranks was precious. An Emperor’s was rarer still.

This drop had come from one of Cassian’s summoned Blood Emperors.

He had discovered the possibility recently, during a paid summons. Condensing a drop shortened that Emperor’s remaining service by ten minutes. At the Chalice’s rate of upkeep, ten minutes amounted to roughly three hundred drops of Legendary monster Blood Essence. The initial summoning cost was separate.

He could not advance blood materials the way a suitable Writ could advance equipment. Even so, with the Chalice and enough qualifying blood, producing a few hundred drops was entirely possible.

He was already considering whether he could use them to cultivate a force of real Blood Emperors.

Odette stared at the drop in her hand. It drew her with an almost unbearable intensity. She fought down the urge to swallow it immediately and looked back at Cassian, her eyes brighter than before.

"Your ties to Blood Throne really are extraordinary."

She had reached the wrong conclusion again.

"If I wanted more of this," she asked, "what would you want in return?"

Enough Emperor Blood Essence could let her become a Blood Emperor herself. S-grade Aptitude. For that chance, she would consider a great deal.

Cassian noticed the way she was looking at him. He had little doubt that a more personal invitation would be welcome.

"You know I don’t need money just now," he said. "It depends on what you can do for me."

Odette considered his words carefully.

A man with his strength and determination would hardly mean something as simple as getting her into bed. Offering that would only lower his opinion of her. He wanted someone useful.

She drew a breath.

"Don’t worry, Lord Cassian. I understand what I need to do."

The call ended.

Cassian looked at the empty space where her image had been and sighed. Apparently, his reputation was making certain invitations harder than they ought to be.

Then he remembered the news she had brought, and his mood grew more serious.

Fivefold Heaven was one of Humanity’s twelve great Realms. That was no small opponent.

He returned to the Homeworld Channel. Several golden announcements were pinned at the top.

[The Third Provincial Ranking of the Homeworld Realm is now open.]

[Contest: Outer Realm Expedition. Select to view rules.]

[1st Place: Governor—all attributes +2,000. Resident Lords—all attributes +200. Provincial National Fortune +40. Fortune Talismans ×4,000.]

[2nd Place: Governor—all attributes +1,200. Resident Lords—all attributes +120. Provincial National Fortune +24. Fortune Talismans ×2,400.]

[3rd Place: Governor—all attributes +800. Resident Lords—all attributes +80. Provincial National Fortune +16. Fortune Talismans ×1,600.]

[4th–10th Place: Governor—all attributes +400. Resident Lords—all attributes +40. Provincial National Fortune +8. Fortune Talismans ×800.]

[11th–100th Place: Governor—all attributes +200. Resident Lords—all attributes +20. Provincial National Fortune +4. Fortune Talismans ×400.]

[Settlement: Five months from the announcement.]

[During the contest, Homeworld Lords of Sector 666 who destroy a native Nation will receive a Founding Writ.]

[Gate access to the Outer Realms is temporarily unlocked for the duration of the contest.]

[Kills made by Lords descended from upper Realms will not count toward Outer Realm Kill Points.]

The rewards had doubled again.

If Divine Province took first, another four thousand Fortune Talismans would carry Riftward past ten thousand Fortune.

A hundred, a thousand, ten thousand. Each threshold brought a qualitative change. Would the Aether Vein gain a new trait when they crossed the next one?

Another line held his attention even more firmly.

"Destroy a native Nation and receive a Founding Writ..."

He read it again.

"Those used to be random drops. No reliable pattern at all. Now there’s a guaranteed way to get one."

The condition was demanding. But with five months and the combined strength of thirteen Crown Provinces, destroying one native Nation was not beyond hope.

Unless someone interfered.

Especially someone from beyond the Homeworld.

"What a nuisance."

The announcement was half a month old. He was already behind those who had begun at once.

At least the Outer Realms were not easy hunting grounds. Their monsters started at Level 100, and native Lords ruled the land. Ordinary War Lords who rushed in would only be throwing their lives away.

After thinking for a while, he sent his friends another message.

[Cassian Vale: Everyone, remember tonight. Come to my Domain. We’re having a party.]

The expedition and the possibility of founding a Nation were worth discussing together. He wanted to hear what the others thought.

While he waited, he put Rhea and more than a hundred Eclipse fighters to work sorting the loot from the Labyrinth.

He kept Vaurak’s rewards for his own inspection.

The three Supreme Attribute Books required no deliberation. Cassian used both Physique books and the Aether book on himself. Light sank into his body, bringing another two thousand Physique and a thousand Aether.

[Attribute Books consumed this year: 96/100.]

Only four uses left. Fortunately, the sector’s first anniversary was half a month away. His annual allowance would refresh then.

As for the two Mythic Troop Souls, he had already chosen their recipients.