Chapter 584: A New Situation (1/2)
A New Situation
During those five years, Profound Continent was engulfed in war. Lancelot Empire, Kasi Empire, the Brut Merchant Alliance, Angela Empire, Oden Empire – all nations big or small participated in the war.
With Helen Tina and Burt Zili cooperating in the dark, Lancelot Empire’s military campaign to invade the seven grand duchies was a success.
Oden Empire – the mightiest nation on the continent, formed an alliance with Kasi Empire to constantly expand their territories. Countless smaller nations that bordered the two were annexed. Angela Empire even lost more than half of its territories to them. Brut Merchant Alliance too was in a perilous situation, hardly resisting Oden Empire’s stronger and stronger assaults.
Soon after occupying the seven grand duchies, Lancelot Empire faced the invasion coming from the kingdom of orcs. This round of military offense from the orcs was much fiercer and more violent compared to previous times. Even Firenze, the commander of the Howling Legion, had great difficulty defending the southern border. With the majority of Lancelot Empire’s troops allotted to the southern border, the military strength of the entire nation was basically held up by the southern border.
While the southern border faced constant assault from the Orc Kingdom, Kasi Empire took advantage of the situation to launch their attacks on Lancelot Empire. After taking down the seven duchies with great difficulty, Lancelot Empire wasn’t given the time to digest its repercussions before having to suffer heavy blows from enemies.
The orcs’ reckless invasion made citizens of the empire live in fear. But things over in Brettel City were unexpectedly smooth and steady. Under the management of Jack, Dorcas, and the others, the city had even grown more prosperous.
The territories that formerly belonged to the seven grand duchies were now managed by Jack, Dorcas and co. Among them, Dorcas had obtained everyone’s acknowledgment for his outstanding talent in military strategy and shared the title of military genius with Firenze.
Brettel City and the seven grand duchies on the east of Lancelot Empire, were natural barriers to the Empire. During the past few years, as the mighty Oden Empire had been constantly pressing hard on the Brut Merchant Alliance, not only had Brettel City been living peacefully with the Brut Merchant Alliance, the two even secretly joined hands in resisting the greater threat that was Oden Empire.
Through Stratholme the old monster’s description, Han Shuo gradually gained an understanding of the present situation on Profound Continent as well as the relationships between various nations.
After Stratholme explained the situation of the continent, Han Shuo squinted and started to carefully examine the old monster.
Back then, Stratholme the old monster had managed to completely digest the Origin Crystal of fighting aura and fused his soul with it. Although he had yet to attain the realm of basegod, it may be assumed that he was close to achieving it.
Being in the realm he was, Han Shuo understood that the fighting aura cultivated by some on Profound Continent didn’t belong to any of the twelve mainstream energies.
Of the eight elemental energies – light, darkness, earth, fire, wind, water, lightning, death – and four edictal forces – fate, space, life, and destruction – fighting aura didn’t fit into any of the twelve fundamental forces.
Fighting aura was a type of energy formed by mixing the elements of light and air. Just like summoning and the loot energy Datara cultivated, it was categorized as non-mainstream energy. However, as fighting aura was partly the element of light, while air was one of the most abundant elements, there was quite a number of people who cultivated in the energy of fighting aura in various material planes. In fact, this non-mainstream energy had one of the highest numbers of cultivators after the twelve fundamental energies.
Back in Tarrag Canyon where Han Shuo ran into the Soul Race, he found twelve orbs containing energies that could be fused with one’s soul. However, the twelve spheres did not completely correspond to the twelve major fundamental forces. For example, the rather special energy of life and fate was not among the twelve. On the contrary, the fighting aura in which Stratholme cultivated was in one of those spheres. The Origin Crystal of Summoning which had an even smaller count of cultivators was amongst the twelve orbs.
Although fighting aura wasn’t one of the twelve mainstream energies, it had nonetheless a sizable following on various major material planes. This indicated that fighting aura had its own uniqueness. Stratholme the old monster seemed to be a truly lucky one. Not only since he managed to escape from the six-horned tribal king of the Soul Race, but he had also successfully fused his soul with the Origin Crystal of fighting aura.
“Any big movement from the Church of Light and Calamity Church during these few years? How did you escape from the six-horned tribal king? Also, why are you here?” Han Shuo questioned Stratholme after thinking about his words for a moment.
Stratholme put on a smile, casually pulled a chair, and sat down. He turned Han Shuo, who was still standing tall at the same place and indicated to him to sit down as well. He continued to explain, “Back then, at the Church of Light’s sacred mountain, the six-horned tribal king was probably injured in that battle with that Saintess. After the two of us separated, I immediately went to the extreme north of the continent and sought a place to cultivate. As for what happened when I cultivated, I have no idea. In any case, the six-horned tribal king did not come knocking at my door.”