Chapter 778 The Price of an Invitation
Indeed, every word Rhazorn had said to Kael had come at Valerius’s direction.
“Kael, this is Valerius, Vice Dean of Sunlance Academy. Come to the academy, and I guarantee that humanity will be elevated into the top one hundred races.”
Valerius had raised his offer yet again.
“Fine. Have Rhazorn come and escort me in person, and I’ll accept.”
Valerius’s brow furrowed.
He could tell that Kael had no intention of coming to Sunlance Academy. However, Kael possessed a large supply of Lesser Immortal Spirit Liquid, and Valerius had to do everything in his power to win him over.
With that in mind, he turned toward the grim-faced Rhazorn.
“Rhazorn, would you make a trip to Skyfire Planet and escort Kael back?”
“Me?” Rhazorn’s voice tightened. “The grudge between Kael and me runs deep, and he has already reached the Galactic Realm. Even Solvaris died at his hands. If I go, I’ll never return.”
The other three elders of the External Affairs Hall remained silent.
They all knew that if Rhazorn went to Skyfire Planet, he would almost certainly die.
Valerius said nothing. He slowly turned away and ran a hand over his white hair before pulling back his sleeve.
Five or six patches of stone covered his forearm.
Without Immortal Spirit Liquid to nourish his body, he feared he would be completely petrified before reaching Eternal Tier 9.
“Rhazorn, I’ve always known that you used your position in the External Affairs Hall to line your own pockets. Have I ever held you accountable for it?”
“I...”
Rhazorn suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
Everyone knew that the elders of the External Affairs Hall skimmed resources for themselves. It was one of Sunlance Academy’s unwritten rules. He hadn’t expected the Vice Dean to expose the practice now.
“And as an elder of the External Affairs Hall, negotiating with outside powers is part of your duty. Am I wrong?”
“Could I send one of my disciples in my place?” Rhazorn offered.
“Kael specifically asked for you, so go and make the attempt. If anything happens to you, your family will become my family. I’ll arrange marriages between my descendants and members of your Heavenly Dragon clan, and I promise your people will be well cared for.”
Rhazorn hesitated, unwilling to give him a direct answer.
“If you refuse, then one of the other three elders will go in your place,” Valerius continued. “You may decide among yourselves.”
“What?”
The other three elders stared at him in alarm.
All of them were only at the Stellar Realm, while Kael had already reached the Galactic Realm. Considering everything they had done to humanity in the past, traveling to Skyfire Planet would be a death sentence.
“Rhazorn, you should go,” the Head Elder of the External Affairs Hall finally said.
“That’s right,” the Second Elder agreed. “As the Fourth Elder of the External Affairs Hall, negotiating with foreign races is part of your responsibility.”
The Third Elder belonged to the Heavenly Dragon Race, just like Rhazorn, but he remained silent.
“Fine. I’ll go.”
Rhazorn let out a long sigh.
Only then did Valerius turn back to him with a smile.
“That’s the right decision. Take the teleportation array to Skyfire Planet immediately. If you return safely, I’ll personally recommend you for admission to the Talisman Hall, where you can study Sunlance Academy’s advanced talisman-crafting arts.
“If anything happens to you, I promise you’ll receive a grand funeral. Your descendants will also enjoy Sunlance Academy’s protection in recognition of the sacrifice you made today.”
Valerius gave Rhazorn a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
“I understand.”
Rhazorn took his leave and flew toward the nearest teleportation array.
...
Humanity’s sacred grounds were packed with people.
Amir occupied the seat of honor, while Kael sat to one side.
Kael had little interest in drawing attention to himself. More importantly, Amir had willingly remained on Skyfire Planet and risked his life to protect ordinary humans.
Only after considerable insistence had Kael managed to force Amir into the seat of honor. He, Aria, and the others then took their places along the side.
“The Flying Squirrel Matriarch requests an audience!”
The announcement rang out from the distance.
A short while later, a woman entered the sacred grounds with several disciples.
“Lord Lin.”
Hazel led her people in a graceful bow. When she raised her head, however, she discovered that Amir—not Kael—occupied the seat of honor.
“Lady Hazel, please rise. Humanity owes your people a great deal for all the help you’ve given us over the years.”
Amir quickly stood and returned her greeting.
“Think nothing of it.”
Although Hazel addressed Amir, her attention had already shifted to Kael.
Kael met her gaze with a smile.
“Please, take a seat.”
Rook approached to usher her to the guest section.
“Very well.”
Hazel sat down, but her attention remained fixed on Kael.
After so many years apart, his presence had grown even more commanding. He might not occupy the seat of honor, but he still dominated the entire gathering. Everyone else seemed to fade into the background, scarcely worthy of Hazel’s attention.
“Lady Hazel, do you remember me?”
Dexter suddenly leaned into her line of sight, his broad face and smarmy grin blocking her view of Kael.
“Ugh.”
Hazel instinctively leaned away and covered her mouth and nose, making no effort to hide her disgust.
“I’m Dexter. I don’t know if you still remember me, but I wrote you this letter myself. Please accept it.”
Dexter produced a carefully prepared letter and placed it on the table before her.
“I’ll leave you to read it.”
He walked away wearing the same ingratiating grin.
“Ugh.”
Hazel blew gently across the table. True Fire swept over the letter, reducing the apparent love letter to ashes in an instant.
“The new patriarch of the Blood Race requests an audience!”
Another announcement came from outside the sacred grounds.
A middle-aged man with violet eyes entered soon afterward, followed by several senior members of the Blood Race.
“Lord Lin, I am Orin Long, the new patriarch of the Blood Race. It is an honor to meet you. How have you been?”
Only after finishing his greeting did Orin notice that Kael wasn’t sitting in the seat of honor.
Amir was.
A flash of displeasure crossed Orin’s face. He felt as though someone had deliberately made a fool of him.
Orin had reached the Planetary Realm, while Amir was only at the Great Ascension Realm.
“From this day forward, Amir is humanity’s patriarch on Skyfire Planet. Orin, do you understand?”
Kael gestured toward Amir.
“Yes.”
Orin inclined his head, though his resentment was plain.
Among the myriad races of the universe, strength commanded respect and obedience. Forcing a cultivator to submit to someone weaker was almost worse than death.
“Hey, you. Take your seat.”
Rook waved impatiently from the guest section.
Orin’s heart sank. He obediently walked over and sat down.
During Kael’s absence, the Blood Race had caused humanity plenty of trouble from the shadows. Now that Kael had returned, Orin had no idea whether he intended to settle those old accounts.
“The Blackheart Matriarch of the Ant Race requests an audience with Senior Lin!”
The announcement rang out once more.
The Blackheart Matriarch entered the sacred grounds.
“Blackheart Matriarch, there’s no need for ceremony. Please, take your seat.”
Kael personally rose to welcome her.
“Very well.”
The Blackheart Matriarch took her place in the guest section, her luminous gaze sweeping over Kael from head to toe.