2 The Proud Little Star

The strong make the law and the law of the strong rules over the weak. In this world capriciously bound to spiritual power, force is justice, while weakness is simply that, weakness.

Spiritual power is the engine that move the gears of this world, and the force that outlines the destiny of living beings. The untiring quest for this power is the 'spiritual path'.

Initiated spirit, adept spirit, rock spirit, crystallized spirit, cloud spirit, spirit master and spirit king, these are the seven realms of power that exist on the spiritual path, and like every living being in this world, humans aspire to reach the summit of the spiritual path.

At the northern end of the 'Kingdom of Fire Sunflowers', lies the Cold Brook City, the only true big city in the far north. Moreover, in the peak of power within this city, three clans continually dispute by the power and absolute influence of the northern region, the Cold Rock Clan, the Grey Willow Clan and the Whithe Brook Clan.

Due to its remoteness from the center of the kingdom and its capital, the only notable events in Coold Brook City, always focus on the three most important clans of the region. However, early in the morning with the first rays of the sun, the appearance of a small delegation of four individuals caused great commotion in the inhabitants of the city. Those individuals wore elegant white robes, on which the blue star pattern stood out powerfully. Despite the remoteness from the capital, that blue star was not be indifferent to anyone in the city; after all, it was the emblem of one of the four clans that could force any common person to kneel before them, the Blue Star Clan.

The unique thing about such outstanding visitors, and what awoke the most rumors, was that the delegation of the Blue Star Clan had entered directly into the grounds of the White Brook Clan. Speculation soon followed, and the Cold Rock Clan and Grey Willow Clan were particularly curious about the situation of their rivals and their possible connection to such a clan.

Inside the large main mansion of the White Brook Clan, in the enormous meeting hall, after completing the corresponding formalities for visitors and after each important member of the clan was finally present, a meeting was be held near sunset.

"Once again, on behalf of my White Brook Clan, let me thank you for the honor you have bestowed upon us by taking the trouble to make this visit" - in the central position within the members of the White Brook Clan, the clan leader, Lankareto Katro addressed those words to the small group of distinguished visitors.

Lankareto Katro did not exaggerate in his statement; the commotion caused in the city and between his two rival clans from early morning, had already reached his ears. Simply being hosts of such visitors would entail a tremendous prestige.

The vast majority of the important members of the White Brook Clan present were barely able to hide their smiles full of satisfaction. Within a few months, the Prestige and fame of his clan would become beyond the remote cold Brook city and spread throughout the kingdom. The reason behind it was of course the imminent family bond that would be it wrought precisely with the blue Star clan, by marriage between the son of the clan leader and the granddaughter of one of the three great elders of the Blue Star clan.

"There is nothing for which the honorable leader of the White Brook Clan should be thankful, the matter that brings us here is one of great relevance to our Blue Star Clan" - an old man with white hair and a clever look, he replied with decorum, but without any apparent hint of respect.

The group of distinguished visitors was composed of only four individuals, the astute-looking old man, a middle-aged male, a young person barely in his twenties, and a striking young woman barely near the age of fifteen.

At the old man's reply, Lankareto Katro's eyebrows shook slightly. Since those four individuals appeared surprisingly early in the morning, he had spent most of the time until now trying to think of a reason for his sudden visit. There was simply no way for the Blue Star Clan to make an occasional visit without a powerful motive in between.

"I-I see, since this affair is one that justifies mobilizing the honorable Lua Rublanda and the famous Lua Akoro, it must be something of great importance to the Blue Star Clan. If there is anything that my White Brook Clan can help, we will spare no effort "– inevitably the eyes of Lankareto Katro had been constantly travelling among the figures of the old man and the middle-aged.

Luatelo Rublanda, a powerful spiritual practitioner whose influence was only beneath the three great elders of the Blue Star Clan. As for the middle-aged man, Luatelo Akoro, the mere mention of his name caused shivers in all spiritual practitioners throughout the kingdom; rumors said he had taken the heads of more than a thousand enemies during a battle at the border east of the Kingdom.

The mere mention of those two names on the part of the clan leader caused the breaths of the rest of the members of the White Brook Clan to stop. Until that moment, most had kept their gazes on the young girl among the visitors. Who could blame them? The young girl was beautiful as a bluish pearl, her slender figure and her gaze laden with pride quickened the hearts of any man. Her striking shoulder-high blue hair and white porcelain skin evoked the thought of a winter fairy over everyone who looked at her. However, after the shocking identities of Luatelo Rublanda and Luatelo Akoro were be revealed, looking at the beautiful young woman became a luxury that all members of the White Brook Clan no longer allowed themselves.

"Leader of the White Brook Clan, Lan Katro, you fame as an honorable man resonates throughout our great kingdom. Of course, I will take your word because the matter that brings us here also competes with your White Brook Clan! "– a scarcely perceptible sneer was drawn upon the lips of Luatelo Rublanda.

Lankareto Katro could almost feel his heart stop, he gave a brief bitter drink and his gaze turned slightly to his right. Standing beside him was the person who would make the name of his clan spread throughout the kingdom, Lankareto Kafilo his only son!

"Miss, please" -without giving Lankareto Katro time for giving an answer, Luatelo Rublanda extended his hand to invite the beautiful young woman to step forward.

While Lankareto Katro contained his breath, all gaze focused once more on the beautiful young blue-haired girl.

"Lua Rilua pays her respects to the leader of the White Brook Clan" - deliberately omitting to bring her hands forward, the young woman bowed her head slightly without even attenuating her proud gaze.

Lankareto Kafilo's body quivered slightly, while a great ' oh ' escaped from several of the present. Lankareto Katro's fingers trembled for a split second, that young woman who had offered that greeting without the slightest hint of respect, was nothing other than the granddaughter of one of the three great elders of the Blue Star Clan, the fiancée of her son!

"Mr. Lua Rublanda, the matter which brings you hither..." – Lankareto Katro was not a naïve man, indeed, his great cunning was well known to all the inhabitants of Cold Brook City. Ignoring the disrespect in Luatelo Rilua's greeting, he immediately noticed that she greeted he as ' the Clan leader ', and not as he would be supposed to refer to the father of his future husband. A bad feeling nested in the mind of Lankareto Katro.

"As might be expected of the honorable leader of the White Brook Clan, is as you imagines. The important issue that brings this servant to this remote city in the north is none other than the marriage arrangement that you're Clan and the second great elder of our clan agreed upon years ago" –Luatelo Rublanda interrupted the words of Lankareto Katro, and all fears about this issue seemed to begin to take shape for the leader of the White Brook Clan.

The four great elders of the White Brook Clan and their respective children exchanged gazes full of uncertainty, Lankareto Kafilo took his gaze laden with doubts towards his father.

"Lua Rublanda, I'm not trying to be disrespectful you, but the marriage arrangement between this server and the second great elder of your clan is not an issue in which you are authorized to inquire" – Lankareto Katro's tone of voice hardened.

"Of course, it's just as you say. This old man is not here to deal directly with this issue, but simply to provide advice and safety to the person directly involved"

With that answer from the old man, all eyes fell again on the slim figure of Luatelo Rilua.

"Leader of the Withe Brook Clan, two years ago my grandfather and you personally agreed to a marriage between your son and me. For neither side is a secret that the reason behind this agreement was to obtain the 'root of the tree of spiritual dew' by my grandfather, and as for your reasons, you know them better than anyone" – without giving time to anyone, Luatelo Rilua began to speak with some arrogance. "However, my grandfather's reasons for obtaining this precious treasure in the hands of the White Brook Clan have disappeared"

Luatelo Rilua's last words were like a bucket of cold water in the middle of winter for most of those present. The great hall was completely silent, not a single breath be could heard.

The 'root of the tree of spiritual dew' was really a treasure; it was really a root, not just a simple tree, but also a 'Spirit Dew Tree', a tree that feeds directly on a spiritual vein for at least a thousand years! 'Spirit dew trees' are extremely difficult to find and the reason for this is not due to their low number, but to the fact that these trees change their appearance to resemble common trees! As for the usefulness of these extravagant trees, it is found mostly in their central root, which contains a great deal of spiritual energy, and whose use is none other than to elaborate a powerful pill that allows any spiritual practitioner to break the final limit of any realm under the 'cloud spirit realm'.

"Miss Lua Rilua, does that mean your older brother...?"

"Indeed, my honorable elder brother has finally managed to break the final limit of the crystallized spirit realm, and has successfully entered the cloud spirit realm"

Luatelo Rilua's response confirmed the worst fear of Lankareto Katro. From all the final limits of the spiritual realms, the final limit of the 'crystallized spirit realm' was the second most complicated to break, and this was in such a way that of every hundred spiritual practitioners in the 'crystallized spirit realm', only ten they would be able to break the final limit before the forty years of life. This is nothing strange considering that the 'spirit cloud realm' allows spiritual practitioners to defy natural laws by being able to fly through the skies.

As for the current event, two years ago, Luatelo Naligranda, the second great Elder of the Blue Star Clan, appeared directly to Lankareto Kratos to propose that marriage arrangement with the 'root of the tree of spiritual dew' as dowry to the bride. The motive of Luatelo Naligranda was no other than to allow his talented grandson to break the 'crystallized spirit realm' long before reaching thirty years of age.

If Luatelo Rilua's words were true and his older brother had managed to break the final limit by his own means, then Lankareto Katro was really ruined. Even if the marriage agreement put the word of both parties in the middle, who was Lankareto Katro to demand of the second great elder of the Blue Star Clan the fulfillment of his word?

"I understand my sincerest congratulations to your talented older brother" – despite his words, Lankareto Katro cursed luck for depriving him of such a connection. "As for the marriage agreement... should I assume that Miss Lua Rilua has come here personally to... – before finishing his question, Lankareto Katro noticed something unusual? With the power and prestige of the Blue Star Clan, was it necessary for Luatelo Rilua to come in person to cancel the marriage agreement? In addition, she was be escorted by two important figures of the Blue Star Clan, Luatelo Rublanda and Luatelo Akoro. "Make a New Deal?" – that was the quick conclusion that Lankareto Katro reached in the face of the unusual situation.

An inaudible 'oh' escaped the lips of Luatelo Rublanda it was for him unexpected that Lankareto Katro could reach that conclusion so easily.

"It is as the leader of the White Brook Clan says, the marriage agreement has been cancelled" - the indifference with which Luatelo Rilua exclaimed those words provoked a hidden anger in several of the members of the White Brook Clan. Particularly Lankareto Kafilo, who had been mentally delighted with the appearance of his supposed future wife, was unable to hide the anger on his face. "Even so, I will take the ''root of the tree of spiritual dew' with me"

Luatelo Rilua's final words caused indignation among the members of the Arroyo Blanco Clan. They had come to cancel an agreement in which they had pledged their word, and now they declared that they would still take the 'root of the tree of spiritual dew' - was this some sort of bad joke? No, they were the Blue Star Clan, with overwhelming power and influence. Who other than the other three powerful clans at the top could oppose them throughout the kingdom?

"Of course, we're not using power to take from the weak. We will pay for it" -after adding those words, Luatelo Rilua made a slight gesture with his right hand, and a red ring shone between his fingers.

Three small chests full of gold coins appeared out of nowhere to face Lankareto Katro, which was at least three million spiritual gold coins!

Luatelo Rilua's declaration and the enormous amount of spiritual gold be did not in the least dispel the indignation in Lankareto Katro or in any of the members of the Withe Brook Clan. It was not an offer, but rather a forced compensation! Luatelo Rilua was not asking for that anyone's opinion and contrary to her words, she was actually using the power of the Blue Star Clan to take the precious treasure of the White Brook Clan!

"In addition, the second great Elder has asked me to take us back to ' Star Lake ' to a talented member of the Withe Brook Clan" – noting the wrath and indignation in Lankareto Katro and the rest of the members of the White Brook Clan, Luatelo Rublanda added cunningly those words.