The state of the Continent

Roland sighed when he saw Ragna's nonchalant attitude. "For now we will not make your engagement known to others... It will be just a verbal agreement for now."

"Why father?" Elise asked her father, knowing how upfront and boisterous her father was. She was confused as to why he wanted to keep something a secret.

Roland looked at Ragna, and then at Reki before shrugging. "Hmm... Well seeing as you'll become part of the family, and the other one is a good friend of my daughter, I might as well tell you."

Ragna, and even Reki looked at Roland seriously, the happy atmosphere seemed to change into something serious.

"To tell you the truth, right now the Archeon Empire is about to head into a crisis. In the inside their are some minor conflicts here and there, but for the past year the Li Clan has been doing some shady things, the Li clan is the clan of Leylin just so you know." Roland looked at Ragna with a knowing smile, he continued.

"Also their is some trouble brewing on the outside as well. For the benefit of my son-in-law I might as well explain some things about the continent. Our Empire the Archeon Empire, is located in the middle of the continent, it is the second largest country in the continent, dominated by human cultivators. To the south are where the beastmen live, these is a country filled by human hybrids, a combination of beast and man. Unlike human cultivators, the beastmen become stronger not by cultivating immortal arts, but by their Ancestral blessing. The ancestral blessing is a mystery to us humans, but like our cultivation techniques, they allow the beastmen to match us cultivators.

To the east, is a country of refugees. The beastmen are very strict with themselves. Those of them who can't prove themselves as warriors are shunned, and the others who fall in love with humans are exiled or killed. So those beastmen who cannot live in their own country, made their own country. The country to the east has no name, but is populated mostly by beastmen, and some humans who are their lovers.

Now to the west of the Archeon Empire, is the largest country in the continent. The Divine Lord's empire, this country is the base of the Divine Lord's religion. This country advocates human supremacy, they also hate cultivators, but not as much as they hate the beastmen or the demons. They like the beastmen, have a different way to get stronger, they call it the Divine soul. Also like the beastmen we don't have much information how to use this Divine Soul, only the members of the Divine Lord's religion seem to acquire it.

Now finally to the North is the Demonic Beings Country. The ones here have the most aggressive personalities. Their society centers around war, some of the Nascent Soul Masters who ventured to this place, have died horrific deaths. Still because of them we somehow understand a bit about the demonic beings. They are a warlike race, that look exactly like us but with redder skins, as well as a red or blue crystal on their forehead.

So now I have explained the countries here in the continent were you able to follow my son-in-law?" Ragna nodded at Roland.

"Ok then, now I can tell you the problem the Archeon Empire is facing. Every now and then the Beastmen have minor skirmishes with us, but for some reason recently they decided to have a full scale war against the Archeon Empire. If that wasn't bad enough, the Demonic Beings, have suddenly ended their long civil war, and banded together to declare war on us as well. Of course we already requested for aid from the Divine Lord's Empire, but they wouldn't aid us, unless we stopped cultivating immortal arts, and follow the way of their Lord. Of course we didn't agree to do that, so they decided to not join this war, stating that the deaths of cultivators, beastmen, and the demon kin are a blessing for them.

This is also the reason why the Young Dragons Tournament is being held. The most outstanding of the younger generation will lead a unit to fight on the southern battlefield against the beastmen. So announcing an engagement in this current situation will make it even more difficult for me, and my son-in-law." When Roland finished his explanation, everyone looked at him dumbfounded.

"So that's whats happening here..." Ragna whispered.

"Father, that would mean your going to the battlefield as well?" Elise looked at Roland worriedly. Roland wryly smiled at his little girl.

"Yes, after I talk to the Emperor regarding Cromer City, and my new son-in-law. I will go to the battlefield to the north, and face the Demonic Beings."

Ragna started to think about how he could survive in the upcoming turmoil, and asked. "Does the Archeon Empire, have a chance of winning?" When Roland heard Ragna's question, Roland chuckled.

"The Empire can win, and it will not lose, as long as the current Emperor remains alive." After saying that he turned around, his back now facing Ragna.

"Elise take care, you don't have worry, son-in-law will protect you now. You, Reki was it? I hope you continue to be a friend to my daughter. And lastly son-in-law do what you must." When he was done saying his piece, Roland made a black tear in space and entered it, disappearing from the area.