Chapter 543: Off to the Bulwark! (2/2)

Gravis nodded. ”That's all I needed to hear.”

The Empress turned to Ferris. ”Ferris, your status has changed. Your new status is no longer fitting to keep watch over Gravis. I will call another Elder to keep watch over him.”

Ferris looked like he had just heard that he would die. ”What?” he asked in shock. ”What have I done wrong?” he asked, almost fearful.

The Empress blinked a couple of times in confusion. This wasn't a punishment. A Pre-Ascender's time was valuable, and keeping watch over a King would be a waste of time for a Pre-Ascender.

”You didn't do anything wrong,” the Empress said with furrowed brows. ”Your status is different now, and you should think about increasing your Realm and ascending to the next world. Keeping watch over a King for nearly a century is a waste of time for you.”

Ferris wasn't sure what he should do now. On the one hand, the Empress was right, but on the other hand, Gravis was the one that allowed him to reach his current power.

Not knowing what he should do, Ferris turned to Gravis. ”What should I do?” he asked helplessly.

Gravis snickered a bit when he saw Ferris like this, while the Empress would have groaned if she hadn't had to uphold her royal demeanor. A Pre-Ascender was asking a King what he should do. This was not how a Pre-Ascender should act.

”Sharpening the axe doesn't take away time from cutting wood,” Gravis said, eliciting confused looks from Ferris and the Empress.

Gravis groaned. 'They don't know what an axe is,' he thought helplessly as he realized that his smart words had fallen on deaf ears.

”What I mean is that learning more about the world now won't take away any cultivation time in the higher world,” Gravis explained to the Empress. ”Isn't he in my exact situation? He has just barely reached the qualifications for an Ascender, which would make him one of the weakest Ascenders from our world. So, learning more will only benefit his future.”

”He might not share your goals, Gravis,” the Empress said. ”Nearly everyone is only interested in ascending. He may not be interested in becoming stronger than everyone.”

Gravis scratched his chin in thought. Then, he turned to Ferris. ”What's your goal in life, Ferris?” Gravis asked.

Ferris was a bit taken aback by that question. His previous goal had been to increase his Fire Manipulation, but he had achieved that goal now. What should he now pursue?

”What's your goal, Gravis?” Ferris asked.

”To become the most powerful,” Gravis answered immediately.

Ferris nodded. ”Then, my goal is also to become the most powerful!” he said with new-found motivation.

The Empress massaged her temple with her hands in frustration. One couldn't decide on their life-goal just like that! Yet, the Empress just couldn't bother anymore. Ferris was even older than her, so if he wanted to decide his goal just like that, it had nothing to do with her.

”Fine,” the Empress said with annoyance, ”I take it that you still want to follow Gravis?”

Ferris nodded excitedly. ”Yes, can I?”

The Empress sighed in frustration, no longer bothering to keep up her royal demeanor. ”Sure, but remember that Gravis isn't allowed to fight, kill, or consume another beast.”

Ferris excitedly waved that comment off. ”No problem, no problem!” he said with excitement. ”If anyone threatens him, I will just kill them!” he said with an excited smile.

The Empress felt even more frustrated when she heard that. If he just killed anyone, this would become a political nightmare. Yet, she just couldn't be bothered to deal with Ferris anymore. With a wave of her hand, she showed the two that they could leave.

Gravis smiled and felt great when he saw the frustration on the Empress' face. He still remembered the frustration he had felt when Ferris came to him, proudly telling Gravis how he had understood another Law. It was nice to see someone else suffer under Ferris.

”I don't know where the bulwark is,” Gravis said as he looked at Ferris, still smiling.

”Sure! Just follow me!” Ferris shouted with excitement as he rudely shot off the mountain with his full speed, creating a powerful sound of an explosion. A strong wind hit the Empress and her throne, but she just didn't react. She just didn't care anymore.

”Bye,” Gravis said to the Empress and followed after Ferris but with less force.

Now, it was time to go to the bulwark and talk to the Plant Ultimate!