Chapter 10)Meeting

In the sky, an ice dragon soared towards the lands of the Star Empire Luo. Seated on the dragon, in a meditative pose, was an old man with a long white beard and flowing white hair. He wore a blue robe adorned with ice ornaments. Following closely behind him were young men dressed in similar attire, responsible for controlling and tending to the dragon.

The old man belonged to the Ice and Snow Clan, serving as an elder of Ice. He was on his way to meet the ruler of the Luo Empire, though he had no desire to be there or engage with the emperor. Nevertheless, it was his duty and responsibility to fulfill this task. Besides, the Patriarch had more important matters and spiritual beasts to attend to, so he entrusted this mission to the elder.

"Elder, we will reach the capital soon. Shall we land outside the city or fly directly to the palace?" one of the young men inquired.

The old man pondered for a moment. If they were to fly directly to the palace, it would be seen as a sign of disrespect towards the ruler, possibly resulting in a swift return home. However, as the Patriarch often emphasized, unnecessary conflicts only hindered their cultivation. With a sigh, the elder responded.

"Land outside the city gates. They should already be aware of our arrival and prepared to receive us."

"Understood, Elder."

The dragon gradually descended, gracefully landing right before the city's entrance. The sight was awe-inspiring, causing both passersby and city defenders to become startled, thinking that the capital was under attack. It wasn't until one of the generals and defenders of the city flew down and greeted them that the commotion began to settle.

"We are delighted that the Snow and Ice Clan has arrived. The emperor awaits you at the palace. Shall we proceed?" the general announced.

"Lead the way, young man. We mustn't keep the emperor waiting," the elder responded.

With that, they swiftly made their way through the palace grounds, passing numerous guards, until they finally entered the grand palace.

Inside the palace, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of grandeur and solemnity. Intricate tapestries adorned the walls, depicting scenes of ancient battles and legendary figures. The sound of soft music echoed through the corridors, adding an aura of elegance to the surroundings.

As the entourage made their way through the palace, they attracted curious gazes from the palace staff and courtiers. Whispers of their arrival spread, and the news of the Snow and Ice Clan's presence reached the ears of the emperor. Anticipation filled the air, as everyone awaited the meeting between the ruler and the esteemed elder.

Inside the throne room, the air was thick with anticipation and intrigue. The Emperor of the Star Luo, a formidable figure adorned in regal attire, sat upon his throne, emanating an aura of power and authority. The room was adorned with rich tapestries and intricate carvings, symbolizing the empire's grandeur.

Elder Ice, with his long white hair and a serene countenance, stood before the emperor with unwavering composure. The emperor's keen eyes assessed the elder, sensing a depth of wisdom and strength that intrigued him. Their gazes locked, silently acknowledging the respect and potential within each other.

The Emperor began the conversation with a commanding yet respectful tone, acknowledging the significance of the elder's presence. "Welcome, the esteemed elder of the Ice and Snow clan. I am honored by your visit."

The elder inclined his head respectfully. "I am grateful for your warm welcome, mighty Emperor. Your reputation as a Titled Doulo of great stature precedes you."

The courtiers whispered amongst themselves, astounded by the elder's composed demeanor and lack of submission. However, the emperor's gesture silenced them, signifying his authority and desire for a respectful atmosphere.

The emperor proceeded to propose a mutually beneficial exchange, offering his son and daughter-in-law, gifted individuals with royal spirits, to the Ice and Snow clan in exchange for the secret of spiritual evolution. The courtiers held their breath, waiting for the elder's response.

The elder's gaze remained steady, contemplating the emperor's proposal. "Your offer is generous, Emperor. However, the secrets of our clan are sacred and entrusted to us by our ancestors. Moreover, our clan specifically focuses on those with the ice attribute spirit."

The emperor's expression remained calm, understanding the elder's position. "I understand the significance of your clan's secrets. Yet, I firmly believe that everything in this world has a price. In light of this, I propose that I will aid you in finding ten talented individuals with the ice attribute spirit, in addition to offering my bloodline. This way, the secret can be entrusted solely to the heir of my family, ensuring its exclusivity."

The elder considered the emperor's proposition, recognizing the value of such a gift. "Your generosity is truly remarkable, Emperor. While I cannot part with the clan's methods, I am willing to concede due to your benevolence."

The courtiers leaned in, eager to hear the elder's response.

"I offer a compromise, Emperor. In exchange for your generous offering, I will share with you a rare artifact, an ice crystal of immense power. It holds the essence of the ice attribute, capable of helping with meditation. With this crystal, you can pave the way for your family's future generations."

The room fell silent, the weight of the elder's proposition hanging in the air. The emperor's gaze flickered, contemplating the potential of such a valuable artifact.

"Your offer is extremely valuable, but I cannot offer my son for it. Therefore, I agree to offer you 20 children with the attributes of ice and snow in exchange for it."

"Well, I will accept your offer, Emperor. I hope in the future we will be able to bargain and conclude trade agreements. "

"I also hope for such a scenario. I think we have something else to discuss."

"Of course, I'm happy to help you, Emperor."

The discussion lasted for several days, thanks to which they made several more trade agreements. In the end, the elder of the Ice and Snow clan left the capital and returned to his clan.

In the Imperial Palace.

The emperor sat for a long time and pondered the benefits he received from this meeting until one of the courtiers spoke. "My Emperor, we have never been able to gain the ability to improve and make our spirits evolve. These arrogant upstarts are unwilling to share their secrets with everyone for the benefit of the world and the future generation."

The rest of the courtiers nodded and supported the one who spoke before. The other also bowed and said. "My Emperor, let's gather our strength and show this clan that we need to respect our Luo Empire."

The others again began to nod in agreement and support the plan of attack. The imperator just sat silently and looked at these fools. Unlike them, he knew that this clan is not simple and it is located in the far north. In those lands, his troops will not even be able to launch an attack and will die of cold and hunger. And although he didn't get what he wanted, he still made a good profit from this meeting.

"That's enough, I'll decide what to do with this clan myself, and you should start collecting all the talented and not-so-talented children with the attributes of ice and snow. With their help of them, we will be able to buy useful things for ourselves from this clan, and as soon as the entire continent becomes mine, I will deal with this clan."

The courtiers bowed and began to carry out the emperor's instructions.