Way of the Knights

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Azure Sun Great World.

One of the larger planes in the Divine Realm which also has a bit of history and fame. All of this was due to the existence of two Empyrean Knights guarding and protecting this world. 

Empyrean Heaven Slayer - Howard Cromwell and Empyrean Void Obliterator - Gerald Maximilian, these two are the ones who propped up the heavens of the Azure Sun Great World. 

According to history, these two were bosom friends and treated each other as eternal rivals. They always fought against each other and always tallied their wins and losses. If one broke through earlier than the other, the other would catch up shortly. Rumors said that their battle records remained even throughout their competition. Neither one was stronger than the other yet when they join hands, hardly anyone could match them. 

As they were both citizens of Azure Sun Great World, they decided to settle down here and make it prosper. Under their rule, the great world regained its vitality and rose to fame. They even built a sect called Twin Star Academy, with both of them ruling it. 

During these past few weeks, the Azure Sun Great World had experienced its most busiest period. The amount of social traffic was immense. Immortal Abodes, Royal Palanquins, honorable guests, youthful visitors and desperate people all flocked towards this place, seeking entry in hopes of participating on a grand event which is going to happen a few days from now. 

What else is it other than the Ancient Elysium Sect's Disciple Recruitment event?

It wasn't really clear whether, spreading this news to the rest of the world, was a good idea or a bad one. Needless to say, Azure Sun Great World became increasingly boisterous during these months. 

Well, it really couldn't be helped. The fame and might of Ancient Elysium Sect is just too immense. News about them recruiting disciples had always been a big deal since it only occurs once every five decades. Those who are hoping to be a disciple of the sect are just too many to count, but the badge that would give them rights to participate is just too few. 

Because of the demand is too high compared to the supply, it causes some people to be driven insane by their desperation. These people would set up schemes upon schemes in order to steal a badge just so that they could participate in the event. Due to this, the crime rate on Azure Sky Planet rose to an unprecedented heights. 

That being said, if though many people died, no one dared to blame the rulers of Azure Sun Great World. The first reason is due to them having two empyreans, and not just two ordinary empyreans, they have two empyreans that could coordinate well with each other. This alone is already a great deterrence for most visitors.

Other worlds doesn't even have a single Empyrean on their ranks, therefore they don't have a say or the right to ask Azure Sun Great World for explanations. 

Another reason is because, the rise of crime rates isn't really the fault of the Azure Sun Great World's citizens, they're merely allowing the Ancient Elysium Sect use their world as a venue and nothing more. Plus, people who came here are all aware that the competition would be intense and there's bound to be casualties. Since they still decided to come here even after knowing that, then they could only depend on themselves. 

***

At the eastern Transmission Gate of the Azure Sun Great World, great number of people were still coming out. 

All of these people came from numerous corners of the Divine Realm. As soon as they came out, they will go through a preliminary security check before they were allow to pass through, resulting on a great traffic of people. 

"Take him away!"

"No! No! You can't do this! This is slander!"

"Shut up! This is not a place where people like you could come and go as you please!"

"No! I refuse! Why should I be taken away! There must be something wrong here! I want to see your supervisor!"

*Smack!*

"Shut the fuck up! See my supervisor? Who the fuck do you think you are? A wanted criminal wants to see my supervisor? Hell, you'll meet him alright! But not here. Take this guy away! Make sure he's nice and comfy as he waits for Chief!"

"Roger!"

"Noo!"

"Next!"

Such a scene certainly caught many people's interest, yet all of their reactions vary. Some people sighed, others view it in contempt. Some people started feeling nervous, while the other couldn't care less. 

"That fool. I don't know whether I admire him for his audacity or blame him for his stupidity."

"There's a famous saying, 'don't underestimate what a person can do when they're desperate'. I used to take this lightly before but now I changed my mind."

"Well, who could really blame him for being desperate? This is the Ancient Elysium Sect were talking about. If I were on his position, I'm afraid I'll do worse than that."

"Can't help it. The chance is just too alluring. Even if we don't end up as a disciple, the benefits we'll get will still be worth the visit."

"I agree. The last time I was here, I could only watch as those participants gain one opportunity after another. Hopefully we could grab a chance this time around."

"Yeah, let's hope so."

***

"Woah. Isn't this a bit exaggerated?" Albert couldn't help exclaiming after seeing what happened just now. 

Currently, him, Raven and Raul along with some bodyguards, were queuing up the line and waiting for their turn to be inspected. 

"No it is not exaggerated. Not even the slightest bit." Raul sighed, "Due to the great number of people who wants to participate, of course they have to filter out some people. The competition is already heated even though it hasn't started yet. Due to this, the crime rate will increase, and in order to somehow control that, its imperative to make some countermeasures."

'So that's why you told Raven not to casually bring out his badge.' Albert replied using voice transmission. 

'Exactly.' Raul sent back. 

Raven who was standing behind then remained silent. He heard what the two were talking about and of course understood why Raul gave him such warning. However, Raven wasn't really worried or nervous. Instead, he felt serene and just watched everything unfold like it has nothing to do with him. 

He's purposefully staying low profiled as of the moment, though his expression was serene in truth, he's actually alert all this time. As soon as they left the Blue Marble Planet, he's already like this. 

Raven doesn't know if Albert was aware of it but he's sure that Raul could sense it as well.

From the moment they queued up in this line, some people were already inspecting them, and it certainly wasn't the guards. 

The methods of some people are sometimes very resourceful and quite rude. It is a unspoken rule that one shouldn't casually spy on some people lest they were given permission. Needless to say, those rules were surely meant to broken specially on events like this. 

The Badge that Ancient Elysium Sect provided for its participants gives off a unique aura. Even though their senses couldn't penetrate the contents of others' spatial ring, some people could actually sense the remnant aura of the badge on a person's body or belongings, therefore allowing them to know who has a badge or not. 

Thankfully, Raven hadn't touched the badge ever since the first time that he revealed it to Raul. Since it has been a long time since then, all the residual aura from badge had already dissipated from his body, which should somehow minimize the suspicion of these rude people. 

However, one could never really be too sure about something…

The line unceremoniously went on until it was finally their turn. After a brief inspection, they got through without a hitch and were now marching towards the capital while riding a chariot. 

Raul's chariot was driven by four Herculean Horses, a top breed of horses that could travel for long periods of time without breaks. 

Only the three of them remained inside the chariot, the rest of the guards were outside in order to watch out for any assailants. 

"Finally away from those rude people." Raven sighed as he rested his back against the seat. 

"Rude people?" Albert tilted his head in confusion. 

"He was talking about those people who were spying on everyone." Raul replied as he too sighed on his seat, "You really know how to relax huh? Do you still think that we're in Blue Marble Planet? You're not even aware that some people were deliberately scanning every nook and cranny of your body."

Hearing his father's admonishment caused Albert to feel rather embarrassed but also chilly inside. "My bad. I was just a little careless. I won't happen again."

"Hmph! You're lucky that we're around and that you weren't the one holding a badge. Otherwise, you'll die without knowing how." Raul snorted. 

"Sect Master!" Raul suddenly heard some guards clamoring and calling out to him. "Some people are fighting not too far away from us. Should we make a detour?"

After hearing that, the three people inside unknowingly tensed up.