Chapter 356: Into Pandora Forest

The announcement sent a wave of anger through the Homeworld Channel.

[It’s easy to be generous with someone else’s property!]

[That Temple belongs to Cassian. Who gave you the right to donate it?]

The protests came from far beyond the Crown Provinces. Even Lords of the Black Banner and Western Beacon found the proposal impossible to stomach.

[A Black Banner Lord: First the Beacon drops a Peace Shell on us and refuses to admit it. Now they’re using Divine Province’s Wonder to buy favor with Fivefold Heaven. Why don’t they give away their own Firstborn Gate?]

[A Western Beacon Lord: I’m from the Beacon, and even I’m ashamed.]

The people making the decision had little interest in those protests.

[Gavin Roswell: Please remain calm. This is not the decision of any one person. It is a choice for the whole Homeworld Realm to make.]

[Gavin Roswell: Sometimes the interests of an individual must give way to the greater good. Lord Cassian is an example to us all.]

Lana laughed in anger.

[Lana Whitmere: What a farce. We refuse to vote, and we refuse to recognize this proposal as legitimate. Enjoy your little performance.]

The result came shortly afterward.

[Gavin Roswell: Of our 365 Provinces, 228 have voted in favor. None have voted against. The remainder have abstained.]

Every Province supporting Divine had refused to participate. That was the reason for the empty column of opposing votes.

[Gavin Roswell: I declare the proposal passed. The Homeworld Council will immediately invite our allies from Fivefold Heaven into the Realm.]

[Gavin Roswell: Lord Cassian, please prepare a proper welcome and arrange the transfer of the Five Elements Temple.]

[Gavin Roswell: In gratitude for your contribution, the Council has commissioned a limited-edition commemorative banner. It will be delivered to Divine Province shortly.]

Across the thirteen Crown Provinces, Lords glared at his words.

Everyone knew Cassian would never hand over the Temple merely because Gavin told him to. But the vote gave Fivefold Heaven the excuse it needed.

Without that excuse, even a great Realm had to consider its reputation and the views of its peers before seizing a Wonder from a weaker Human Realm.

Now the Beacon had supplied a vote and an official invitation to claim the Temple.

——

In Fivefold Heaven, Ilyse Ardent stared at the envoy in delight.

"A Five Elements Temple? There’s one in the Homeworld, on the maps of our 108 Human Realms?"

To the Elemental Covenant, that particular Wonder was worth several others of the same Quality. With one in their possession, Fivefold Heaven’s development in Sector 666 could accelerate by at least thirty percent.

The longer-term possibilities were even greater. Throughout the Covenant’s history, sectors that obtained a Temple had drawn in the strength of dozens of sectors opened after them, eventually becoming branches of the Covenant itself.

As a commander in Sector 666, Ilyse would rise with that branch. She might even become its head.

Whatever the cost, Fivefold Heaven had to have this Temple.

"It’s absolutely true," the Western Beacon’s envoy assured her. "There is one small complication. A very small one..."

He did his best to make it sound trivial. After a few sentences, Ilyse understood exactly what was happening.

She sneered inwardly.

She had heard that the Homeworld was a chaotic place, with two hundred nations scheming against one another within a single lesser Realm. Apparently, the stories had not exaggerated.

Fortunately for her, their infighting had supplied a reason to claim the Temple.

Then the envoy mentioned its owner.

Cassian.

Hatred flashed through her eyes, followed by something less welcome: caution.

That man had snatched away the opportunity she had believed was hers and made her a joke among Humanity’s finest young Lords. She loathed him for it.

But however humble his origins, his strength could not be dismissed.

"On behalf of Fivefold Heaven, I accept the Homeworld’s donation," she said. "If the transfer succeeds, we will offer one thousand places for Homeworld Lords to train here, with status equivalent to Inner Circle apprentices."

The envoy could barely contain his joy.

A thousand Inner Circle places! That status carried the right to settle in Regions with a thousand Fortune.

"Thank you, Lady Ilyse. Thank you!"

He left amid a stream of gratitude.

Ilyse considered the matter for a moment, then sent a message to Fivefold Heaven’s leadership group.

[Ilyse Ardent: I’d like the commanders of the Metal, Wood, Fire, and Earth Chapters to come to my Domain. We have something to discuss.]

——

Cassian took the threat from Fivefold Heaven seriously.

Darian had placed 482nd among Humanity’s Lords. Judging by that ranking, Fivefold Heaven alone should have at least several dozen Lords stronger than him, with far more below that level.

There was no point worrying about what he could no longer prevent. With Harriet’s six wings and One’s new Crystal Princess form, he was confident he could fight them. The question was how much of his strength he would have to reveal.

Still, he would prefer to settle the matter peacefully. War could remain the last resort.

[Cassian Vale: Everyone in Divine Province, concentrate on getting stronger. Leave Fivefold Heaven to me.]

His friends felt a little better. Cassian was Humanity’s Paragon now. Perhaps even the commanders of a great Realm would show him some respect.

Then they learned he still intended to explore the Outer Realms, and their concern returned at once.

[Shouldn’t you wait until your Domain reaches Rank XVII, boss?]

[The native Lords are supposed to be vicious. Plenty of them have Domains above Rank XX.]

"Don’t worry. I’ll be fine," Cassian said with a smile.

He raised a hand. Using the contest’s temporary access to the Outer Realms, he opened a Gate several dozen meters across.

[Destination distance: 13,000,000 kilometers.]

[Gate opening cost: 3,000,000 Aether.]

[Maintenance cost: 300,000 Aether per minute.]

"Three million just to open it..."

The Aether was deducted. Cassian led Rhea, Aurelia, Sylvara, and his main army through the Gate.

For high-level Lords, travel to and from the Outer Realms was a major expense in itself. A poor hunting trip could leave them with a loss after paying the fare.

Several Lords who knew and trusted one another would often share a Gate to spread the cost. The drawback was obvious: they would also get a very good look at one another’s armies and abilities.

On the other side, ancient forest surrounded Cassian’s force.

Trees hundreds of meters tall rose above them. Thick roots twisted through the ground, and branches crowded the sky so densely that even the midday sun struggled to reach the forest floor.

"So this is Pandora Forest."

Cassian took a deep breath of the cool, fresh air.

"Not a bad place at all."

Sylvara’s delight at returning home was plain.

"One moment, my lord. I’ll contact the Elven Lords of Pandora and ask them to come welcome you."

She walked to an immense tree and gently laid her palm against its trunk.

Its leaves began to rustle. The trunk trembled faintly beneath her hand.

Then the tree beside it stirred, followed by another. The movement spread outward until the forest around them seemed to be passing the message from branch to branch.

"What a remarkable way to send word," Cassian said.

This was how Sylvara had contacted her old followers when she raised the ten billion Aether for him before.

Seven suddenly spoke.

"My lord, Echo Survey has found a Jungle Reaver nest a hundred and ten kilometers away."

Cassian’s interest sharpened.

"Let’s go warm up."

When they reached the nest, he checked one of its inhabitants.

[Jungle Reaver]

[Race: Beastkin]

[Level: 104]

[Quality: Elite]

[Combat Power: 21,290 stars]

"That’s disgusting."

Rhea shuddered.

Giant pythons lay tangled together in a writhing mass hundreds of meters across. The smallest were more than ten meters long; the largest stretched for dozens. Cassian could not begin to count how many had wound themselves into that enormous knot.

Hissing filled the air. Heads thrust out between the coils, tongues flickering as the snakes warned the intruders away.

It was an unsettling sight. For Cassian, that was about the extent of the danger.

These were wild monsters below Level 105. Their combat power fell well short of even his six-star Eclipse fighters.

"It’s been a long time since I fought monsters this weak."

He turned to Harriet.

"Show me what Heaven’s Battle Array can do."

"Yes, my lord!"