Free Web NovelChapter 1172: Chapter 294: Storm Approaching
A group of guards dressed in red cloaks hurriedly passed through the bustling market, their cloaks’ metal edges clinking against their chest armor, sounding like a whirlwind sweeping across the ground. Antitina’s gaze followed them across the entire market, where the Holy Temple’s guards disappeared at the other end, their synchronized footsteps fading into the distance. She turned back, feeling that the tension in Ambeser was even greater than it had been two days earlier.
"I didn’t expect the Lion Heart Sword to be in the hands of the Princess, but the northern nobles may not be willing to submit so easily, right?" There were only two people in the carriage, swaying slightly as the carriage moved forward—the space shrouded by the curtain was filled with the scent of Brand’s perfume, making the staff lady somewhat uneasy, and she whispered a question.
"That’s why they postponed the next meeting by two days." Brand replied with his eyes slightly closed. The subtle changes at the nobles’ meeting made him abandon his original plan. Duke Anlek seemed to have given up on allying with the Royalists due to the pressure from the Cruz people, choosing instead to remain neutral. Therefore, the original arrangements were no longer applicable—at least not until the true intentions of the Holy Temple were clarified.
The intervention of the Holy Temple caught everyone off guard, yet it was expected. The Holy Temple certainly did not want Erune to split or fall into civil strife, but what if civil war were inevitable? Just like what happened historically—the key is how many months it will take for the Tuokui Lion-man to prepare enough provisions. Creating a time difference to change the balance from south to north is not impossible. As long as the Princess shows enough strength, it’s not impossible for the Flame Temple to shift its support southward.
But Brand speculated about the reason prompting the Holy Temple to intervene so urgently in Erune’s affairs. Moros took office nearly a month earlier than historically, which was not merely a coincidence. History was secretly changing in unknown places, making him realize that not everything was as he expected; some things might not be as simple as he thought.
The atmosphere in Ambeser was now somewhat delicate, and Brand had to suppress his eager intentions, opting to observe first; after all, he had other matters to attend to today.
"Can they find evidence in two days to prove the Holy Sword in the Princess’s hands isn’t the Lion Heart Sword?"
"Proving it’s not the Lion Heart Sword might not be easy, although the sword does differ somewhat from the past Lion Heart Sword, the Guardian Sword Lake Knight is genuine, and the Earl of Yan Castle can also testify to this." Brand sighed, deciding to let it go since he couldn’t figure it out. In any case, there’s Wood Main Priest from the Holy Temple and the person he’s meeting today—he would eventually understand what happened to make the Holy Temple so anxious.
"Yan Castle?" Antitina looked at her Lord curiously.
"Haha, I didn’t expect there to be things you don’t know. The first ancestor of the Yanbao Family was an attendant by the side of Former King Eke. Before King Eke passed away, he made a will for them to guard the Holy Sword for generations, which is why Yan Castle holds such a distinguished place in Erune. As for the Guardian of the Lion Heart Sword, it should be the knight by Eke’s side—" Brand answered.
"How is that possible!" Antitina’s eyes widened: "Wouldn’t that make him several hundred years old?"
"The Lake Knight is not human but a being contracted to the sword, dedicating his entire life to the sword. In terms of existence status, he’s more akin to the Undead." Brand replied, selecting some reliable folk tales from his memory, though he wasn’t entirely certain, since these pieces of information came from a motley forum.
"So isn’t it very powerful, giving the Princess a strong ally?" The staff lady’s thoughts immediately returned to politics, making Brand can’t help but chuckle, "Not as fearsome as you imagine. The Lake Knight has the strength of Enlightenment Elements, but due to the lack of a physical body, he’s still slightly inferior to Veronica of the Cruz Empire." His implication was that the Lake Knight was Level 57, while Veronica at Level 59 was at the late stage of Enlightenment Elements.
Gray Sword Saint Mephisto definitely had the strength of Level 60 at the pinnacle of Enlightenment Elements. Beyond that is the Extreme Realm of Controlling Elements, a power that the Dragon Clan naturally possesses—but currently, there is no such existence in Erune. Humans progress from Golden Peak to Manifested Elements after a long cultivation, breaking through the Elemental Wall to Enlightenment Power, eventually mastering the Extreme Realm of Control. However, for those with golden and silver bloodlines, this progression is as simple as eating and dressing.
