After Elder Reid''s initial excitement, his power puppet, White Tiger, curled up beside the ancient tree.


    It was Julian''s first time inside the tree, and the space within was like a vast starry sea.


    Elder Reid exined that it was a high-level power equipment that had apanied him for tens of thousands of years.


    Elder Reid had also suppressed his earlier childlike demeanor upon encountering something new.


    His brilliant disciple had serious matters to discuss, and he had a good idea what they were.


    Julian had been working so hard all these years, and now he was even showing him the power puppet technique.


    He must want his master to take him seriously.


    "Master," Julian said, gazing at Elder Reid, his voice deep.


    "I have something to ask. Why... why was my ckwood family met with such a disaster?"


    His gaze was calm, but a raging fire burned in his heart, directed at both the Emerald Empire and the Sunshine Mansion''s Heavenly Path.


    He refused to believe that the Venerable of Heavenly Path attacking his family that day was a coincidence.


    Bing Elder Reid''s disciple wasn''t just about learning skills; it was about gaining knowledge.


    He believed that with Elder Reid''s power, he would surely have answers.


    Perhaps, for the sake of his talent, he might even help him deal with Heavenly Path.


    Elder Reid hesitated for a long time before letting out a long sigh.


    "My disciple, your ckwood family should never have risen in Azure Cloud, and they should never have risen in Sunshine Mansion."


    Julian frowned.


    Elder Reid continued, "Everything in this world has a cause and effect. In truth... the ancient god is nearing the end of his lifespan. Long ago, factions began to form within the Emerald Empire. Our empire is different from other ces. Our ancient god, our officials, they are all blessed by heaven and earth, bestowed with divinews.


    They are the rightful rulers of humanity."


    "For example, when the ancient god ascended to his position, he was already at the Advanced Mastery level. When one bes the ruler of a prefecture, they immediately attain Competent Force. This is why there are struggles for power."


    Julian knew this.


    Back then, Edward had sought the position of Duke and was almost bestowed with divinew, but the ancient god had refused.


    When the Oracle Chamber had appeared, the ckwood family had also learned of the ancient god''s severe injury.


    It turned out the injury was a lie, but his approaching end was very real.


    He frowned.


    "Then... what does that have to do with my ckwood family?"


    "There are many things your master doesn''t know," Elder Reid said.


    "I only know that the empire''s tworgest factions are the Grand Tutor and the national advisor. Grand Tutor Gilbert has been away on expeditions for many years, while the national advisor manages domestic affairs. When the ancient god''s lifespan began to dwindle, the struggle for the throne also began."


    "Initially, the national advisor supported one of the princes. This prince was eager for achievements, and when the Druids invaded, he ceded the twelve border prefectures in exchange for a millennium of peace."


    "..."


    Julian knew this.


    That prince had been killed by William.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Unaware of Julian''s thoughts, Elder Reid continued, "Later, Lance supported another prince, the current Twelfth Prince. This one possesses Competent Force cultivation but is known for his entric, violent, and suspicious nature. With Lance''s help, more and more people sided with the Twelfth Prince. However, your ckwood family... you subtly aligned yourselves with the Grand Tutor."


    "Even so, the Twelfth Prince didn''t consider the ckwoods a threat. You were just in that small ce, Cloudview County, unable to cause him any trouble."


    "But then, for some unknown reason, someone emerged within your ckwood family who could actually intimidate the Druids into inaction. Such a powerful individual must be of Advanced Mastery level, and not just an ordinary one! Such a figure would definitely catch the attention of both Lance and the Twelfth Prince!"


    Julian understood.


    It turned out that the seeds of disaster had been sown for his family long ago!


    His eyes widened, and he gritted his teeth.


    "Then why Heavenly Path? I sensed that many within the Emerald Empire knew of Heavenly Path''s existence!"


    "Within the Emerald Empire, Basic Mastery Psychics are forbidden from taking action. Otherwise, the empire will surely know. This is the empire''s rule, for a single strike from a Basic Mastery Psychic can level a city and cause irreversible damage to a thousand miles. Ordinary Basic Mastery duels are always held in the sky."


    Elder Reid said solemnly, "Your ckwood family wouldn''t have been attacked by a Basic Mastery Psychic otherwise. The ancient god would have restrained them. Any Psychic above Basic Mastery wouldn''t be able to escape his notice. Unfortunately, you went too far."


    "The ancient god remained silent, secretly observing which of his children would excel. But that doesn''t mean he''s truly weak or without temper. He let the twelve border prefectures go because he wanted to see what those princes could aplish. But your ckwood family interfered..."


    "In the grand hall, your ckwood family made the ancient god lose face. Edward even proimed himself king during the court assembly, provoking the ancient god. He wouldn''t protect the ckwoods anymore, nor would he restrain anyone from acting against them."


    "This gave Lance the opportunity to make a move against your ckwood family. However, he couldn''t do it directly. The Grand Tutor held your ckwood family in high regard, and Lance didn''t want a direct conflict with him."


    "That''s where Heavenly Path came in."


    When Elder Reid mentioned Heavenly Path, a look of shock shed across his eyes.


    "As for Heavenly Path, I only learned of them after the ckwood incident."


    "This person can assume countless forms, reincarnating thousands of times. It''s astonishing. But such a heaven-defying method might escape the eyes of someone like me, who lives in seclusion, but how could it escape the notice of the national advisor and the Grand Tutor?"


    "I suspect that Heavenly Path must have joined one of the factions long ago, most likely Lance''s."


    "However, someone like Heavenly Path, with such ambition, Lance would never allow them to grow unchecked."


    Upon hearing this, Julian''s body trembled.


    "Lance sent Heavenly Path to destroy my ckwood family?!"


    "He set a trap," Elder Reid shrugged.


    "Someone in your ckwood family could intimidate the Druids. Lance probably didn''t know what other trump cards your family held, and he probably didn''t know what Heavenly Path was truly capable of. Moreover, Heavenly Path was right there in Sunshine Mansion. A conflict between them and your ckwood family was inevitable. That''s how that disaster came to be."


    "That was your ckwood family''s great tribtion."


    "I doubt Lance expected Heavenly Path to breach your ckwood defenses so easily, nor did he expect them to win so effortlessly."


    Then, Elder Reid smiled faintly.


    "He also didn''t expect that your ckwood family would have the strength to fight back after a few years, and now you''ve yed right into his hands."


    "So that''s it, so that''s it!" Julian felt like all the strength had drained from his body.


    After all these years, he finally understood everything!


    Back in Azure Cloud, they had been so naive, truly believing they could remain untouched with the strength of a single prefecture.


    They never imagined that the Emerald Empire was like an abyss, slowly swallowing them whole.


    At this thought, Julian''s expression suddenly changed.


    "Master, what about Radiant Sky Grotto...?"