The Meeting

The pair walked towards what seems like an open plain. There seems to be nothing there but Amelia with a mutated space nuclei can feel slight space displacement in front of her. Having read the original work, she knew this is the place that serves as a portal to the hidden families territory.

"I can feel a space distortion in this place. Should we enter?" He can open space wormholes so he can also feel the difference. Blake's voice actually got even more seductive. It has lost the rusty feel and gained a magnetic flavour that captivate the ears. The sound is manly and beautiful at the same time. 

Amelia sent out her spirit power and it allowed her entry with ease. It seems this is how they ensure only cultivators are able to enter the hidden territory. However with the emergence of supernatural powers, no only spiritual energy cultivation allows people to store and use spiritual energy in their bodies.

Blake also used his spiritual power and entered. When they made it to the other side, a new world with superior air greeted them. The air contaminated with the virus, rotten smell and many other unpleasant smells got immediately cut off as soon as they entered this pocket world. 

The place is like a picture in a painting, green and untouched by technology. It is not to the extreme because Amelia is aware these people have a way to test the level of physical and mental power of their people. 

They check it to see if they have some special people such as a telepathic or an oracle. Those born with greater mental power are said to be very special according to an ancient oracle. It said the future will need these individuals very much to the point that humanity will depend on them.

"The air quality is significantly better than outside." Blake noted.

"They have spent centuries focusing on the elusive dream of attaining immortality." Amelia said with a mocking tone that is hard to detect for someone who doesn't know her.

"You have opinions?" Blake raised an eyebrow. 

"How dare I?" Amelia said with a faint gasp. Amelia and Blake made small talk and had a good laugh but they were interrupted by a rude voice.

"Indeed! How dare a mere peasant pass remarks about matters of their betters?" A man with a permanent sneer on his face appeared in front of the two. 

He is wearing a robe that may have been funny outside the barrier but here, in a somewhat primitive place like this, it seem fitting. When he saw the extreme beauty of the pair he is momentary stunned but upon noticing nothing special about their strength, his sneer deepened.

What use is beauty? What matters is one's power. "If you're here for the meeting then please follow me." He didn't even greet and turned his back on them expecting to be followed. 

Amelia and Blake followed but they were not perturbed by his attitude and felt no need to bother correcting it. Amelia is aware of important information from reading the original work and she is almost at the peak of level 8 foundation establishment.

Blake has been at the top of the pyramid for over a century and is used to dealing with clowns like these. The one thing He knows about people who are quick to show their power like this fella is that on the grand scheme of things they are not worth mentioning and the power in their hands is negligible. 

The man tried to show off his might by speeding so these mortals can eat his dust but no matter how much he sped up they are right behind him when he is just getting proud of himself. He got to the location and dumped them in a hall and disappeared.

When they entered, Amelia saw many familiar faces such as the King and queen, the central base Qing family head, the B base Wei brothers and her cute gay little cousin Liang Fei who is behaving like a secretary to the central base leader. Amelia smiled and took a seat near the Wei brothers even as she can feel a piercing gaze on her the entire time.

Blake behaving like a dutiful bodyguard stool behind Amelia. The pair looked ethereal, one seated, one standing in their beautifully crafted hanfu dresses, they garnered everyone's attention.

"Amelia?" Qin Feng stood up with the chair making the harsh sound as it slides on the floor. Amelia also stood up as a reflex incase she needs to draw her weapon. She soon realised that it is LumFeng who just couldn't hold back anymore.

"Lu Feng." Amelia answered back with a nod and a voice lacking the same enthusiasm as the man.

Qin Feng realised she is very cold towards him, he went towards her wanting to pull her outside. Amelia avoided his hand and looked at him in confusion.

From the corner of her eye, she can see the beautiful queen of China looking at the two of them without showing much emotion on her face. Amelia commends her for seeing her husband with such a silly look for another woman without loosing her temper.

"If you wish to speak with me, all you have to do is ask. Why are you behaving so rudely?" She lowered her voice. "Aren't you supposed to be some sort of king?" She had lowered her voice but everyone is a supernatural powered person so they heard her. Some chuckled while others twitched their lips.

"You have the nerve to play around after what you did? Do you have any idea of what you have done?" His temper couldn't be held back anymore. Only for Amelia to chuckle.

She took a step back and Blake stepped in between them. Qin Feng seeing such a good looking man by her side finally realised this is the reason for her to not call him all this time.

"Step aside." He commanded with gritted teeth.

"Make me." Blake's pleasant voice answered him in a way that infuriated him.

"I didn't come here to be a clown for others to point and comment. Can you return to your seat or do you need help from Blake?" Amelia came out from behind Blake after sending him a mental message.

Qin Feng went back to his seat with a huff. Amelia wondered what happened to the cool, and ruthless man she met back then? He seems like an angry tiger now. In any case Amelia is not so bored as to bother with a married man.

After taking her seat amongst the pindrop silence she chuckled. "Good day everyone, what did we miss?" She smiled. It is fine if she didn't smile but with an enchanting smile, it makes people dazed by her beauty.

A while later with no one answering the room became awkward but a woman on the side spoke with venom, jealous because of her partner's action of blatantly staring at the woman.

"Who the hell are you?" The woman has a built of a strong warrior with tall stature, muscles on her exposed arms and the large twin blades on her sides as she stood behind an even sturdier man who is seated on the chair coincidentally right opposite Amelia.

"Pardon me. I am called Amelia." She answered with a smile as if the woman didn't just show blatant hostility towards her.

The Wei brothers were worried she would start cutting off limbs with that smile on her face and rushed to change the subject. Wei Lin smiled charmingly and looked at Blake.

"Is he..?" He asked Amelia who nodded.

"He looks.... different from what I remember." Wei Jie said from the side.

"Did you have his image etched deeply into your mind?" Amelia asked slightly.

"No. I....." He didn't finish.

"Because I can understand how his unique features can captivate even the most conserved of men. But he is under my protection now so..... down boy." Amelia said jokingly making Wei Jie speechless.

Anything he says now will look like he is reluctant. "How has my beloved elder sister been? I am surprised she isn't here accompanying the two of you." Her expression didn't loose the playful tone but her eyes turned inquisitive.

"Did you upset elder sister?" She asked them. They fidgeted in their seats but Wei Lin broke the silence first.

"She started another base in an island and took her parents with her." Wei Lin seem saddened by the separation. But Amelia knew better, Wei Lin is a master of manipulation.

She ignored them and looked at the rest of the people in the table. When she locked eyes with the central base people, the Leader nodded in greetings. Nodding back she continues to count. There are at least 200 people in here, most of whom came after Amelia and Blake.

A while later a new set of tables and chairs were brought in. Each family having their own table and chairs. In the novel, this was explained as a power move by the hidden families to show how they feel about the mortals residing outside.

The fact the their own chairs are at the high platform looking down of them didn't help the situation. Everyone here is in high position so they can understand the play of the hidden families. But what of it? They won't even be able to resist if these centuries old people decided to kill them.

The play had just began when the same loud woman couldn't take it anymore and started cursing. "What do these bastards mean by looking at us with such obvious contempt?" She stood out from her previous position angrily.

The man she is guarding tried to pull her back but she only got more angry. "Leader look how they are openly despising us, how can I tolerate this?" The woman is clearly hot tempered.

Someone from the other side also couldn't take it anymore and released pressure on to the woman forcing her to lay flat on the ground without even power to lift up a finger. The room became silent. The man opposite Amelia stood up and wanting to help her but also finding himself forced to kneel on the ground.

The woman's bones began to get crushed. While the man tried to speak but no word could come out of his mouth due to the tremendous amount of pressure pressing on him.

Just as the woman is about to be crushed into a meat paste, the woman got teleported to behind Amelia and Blake. She took out a bright silver pill and gave it to Blake. As if reading her mind, he fed the pill to the woman. Her injuries healed in a speed visible to the eyes.

She hasn't even looked at the people in the high platform. The same person who had been holding the woman exploded in anger and a breath filled with a frosty chill spread all over the hall. She has an ice spirit root.

Amelia finally looked at the woman who was said to be as beautiful as the night filled with colourful stars while her breath is filled with moon essence making her look ethereal like a celestial being. If Amelia has a fairy like charm, this young woman is the cold empress. You want to worship her and never let her feet touch the ground. Of course that is if you have had the opportunity to learn of her foul temper.

The man had gotten up and ran to the woman as she passed out on the ground. Seeing this, Amelia teleported the two of them to the outside of her Jiangkang base's many gates hoping they are not eaten by wild beasts as soon as they appear.

"Who dares interfere in my Ye family business?" She shouted but her eyes are firmly glued to Amelia and Blake. Her eyes are filled with anger.

A chuckle escaped Amelia's mouth as she looked at another villainous character who gave Liang Mei a lot of trouble in the original work.

"Miss Ye Daiyu, an ice phoenix incarnation is aloof and gentle. Why do I have an impression of a dragonnes when looking at you? Rather than aloof and gentle, you are proud and hot headed." Amelia's words made the girl's expression become very rich. In the end she settled on anger.

"Calm yourself no matter the situation and you will feel your body respond well. That fire is standing in your way...let the cold winter snow cool your heart and a clear path will present itself." Amelia spoke calming in a silent hall and the moment the finished, Ye Daiyu became dazed and as if a something broke, her cultivation soared.

The people from the Ye family stood up in shock and surrounded the little girl with clear intention to protect her in her continued breakthroughs. Amelia stood up amongst the chaos and pulled Blake outside to take a stroll.

The others do not understand what happened. Only a few people understood that she had spoken words that enlightened the young cultivator and led to her breaking through in her cultivation.

"Should we use this time to go back? I don't think these people have a good attitude towards us." Amelia looked at Blake.

"Are you sure? What about the other thing?" Blake is aware that Amelia is planning on stealing something from one of the most powerful people in that hall. How can she leave like this?

"I am afraid I may end up gaining enemies." She said to him.

"Afraid?" He raise an eyebrow.

"Not for me." She said.

"But you only just helped them."

"This time."

"Just see what happens." Blake offered.

The two went back to the hall only to be taken to another place. The place doesn't have higher and lower platforms like the previous one.

"I am Yan Xi from the Yan family. We have gathered all of you because you are leaders in our country. The Han people are gearing to take China under their control. Inside these files there is the information about their organisation."

The leaders were not actively talking and asking questions to the hosts because of the previous incident. They are used to wielding power but the ability to flatten someone on the ground without even making any physical gesture is extremely terrifying to them.

The meeting went on as the briefing session where the master tells the servants what is expected of them. In this case, the leaders are expected to serve as foot soldiers and deal with the plentiful low level assassin group while they stay back and deal with the powerful bunch of the organisation.

Amelia knows this arrogant attitude is why they suffered so much in the novel. Liang Mei, looked on coldly when they couldn't handle the leaders of the Yamomato association even though she could have offered assistance with her power at the time.

Liang Mei had learnt a technique to hide her cultivator status from the hidden families so she doesn't have to deal with problems. This was very smart because how can a mortal peasant become a cultivator? unless she came across a treasure. People will die for wealth just as birds will die for food.

Amelia is not interested in all the details of the cooperation but the bracelet dangling in the hand of the Ye Qingyue woman. She hopes the appearance of the demon Lord has not changed anything important.

No one offered any comments or asked questions throughout the meeting because people are actually mad at the actions of the hidden family earlier on. When they reached the important part, no one responded.

"You, Miss Amelia how many soldiers are you going to contribute to the cause?" The Yan gentleman is not very fond of this young lady who provided their enemies with enlightenment. The hidden families may be standing together but in the shadows they are fighting for power.

The Yan family wants to remain the overlords while the other three are struggling to break free from the shackles that binds them to the servitude of the Yan family.

"I will offer no one." Amelia answered the man as if unconcerned with the increasing wrath in his eyes. She looked at him calmy after answering, unafraid and not at all affected by his measly pressure he is putting her under.

"My people are very weak and sending them to ..... whatever this is will be suicide. I will go there, and that is enough." Amelia calmly spoke.

She is aware they had rounded them up here so they can use their supernatural powered people as meat shield in the attack because they think their own disciples who can cultivate are far more valuable than a bunch of peasants who can only do a few magic tricks.

"We are only doing this because we are helping you. But you show no gratitude at all." One member of the Yan family slapped the table making it break into pieces.

*Chuckle*

"You are doing this because of the pact your ancestors signed with our ancestors. Not to mention, the Japanese association has all the tools to render a cultivator helpless so you don't want to send your precious disciples to their deaths. If not for the written agreement signed in blood you people wouldn't lift a finger to help us."

*Boom*

Multiple colours of spirit powers attacked Amelia but she remained inside a transparent space barrier unharmed. As if she wasn't just attacked a moment ago, her poisonous tongue continued to speak.

"You are better off scamming the clueless. I will go myself because sending my inexperienced, low level and weak soldiers who only know to fight mindless zombies to go fight a group of ruthless killers who can kill powerful cultivators is a Ludacris idea to me." She smiled at the man as he turns green with anger. Not just him, but everyone in that group seemed visibly shaken to be seen through so thoroughly.

"How dare you?!" Yan Xi's authority has never been challenged like this before.

"You asked for my men and I had given you my answer but you just wouldn't stop." Amelia shrugged internally as she spoke calmy.

"Miss, you are treding on very thin ice." Ye Qingyue who was having a good time seeing someone from the Yan family having a hard time and said nothing when she saw the woman doesn't want to send soldiers for o real became uneasy as well.

If she doesn't send people, the others may also refuse. If that happens her family will have to fork out the numbers. The other people also realised this as well.

"Then we will not go on this expedition. Your side will suffer more anyways." Someone from on of the other families said with a dark tone.

"Then we don't go. If the Japanese come, the people you rely on for recruitment will be enslaved. This will reduce their physical quality even further with abuse and malnourishment going through generations to come. You will have to start recruiting Japanese young talents."

"That is not a problem. All we need is people." A woman from the Xu family.

"But then, how long will your families be in charge of the hidden territory? With their love for power what form of power is more enticing than spiritual power cultivation? How long till you are also slaves in the market with the rest of us wishing that his meeting had gone differently?" Amelia asked unhurried.

Every question touched the hearts of everyone in the room, those with more to lose then others.

"What do you want?" Yan Xi trembled.

"Just honour the deal like you were supposed to. Go in there guns blazing and kill every last one of them. We will be there but, not as main support. We will only provide that which we can. If you don't like it then negate." She has spoken for awhile now.

One look and it is obvious the hidden families are not happy with it. In the novel, Liang Mei was angered to a blue liver when she saw how her army, the people she had cultivated with patience and much struggle were slaughtered as if they didn't stand a chance. She was mostly angry at herself for not realising earlier they were being used.

"Does anyone else feel the same way as Miss Amelia?" The voice of Ye Qingyue came as she scanned the crowd. When she took a good look at Blake she had a smirk at the corner of her mouth.

No one spoke. The queen looked at Amelia in a new light. But she still can not bring herself to like this person whom her husband is obsessed with. Seeing how ridiculously pretty she is, she can admit when it's true. Amelia is very beautiful and courageous she even dares to calmy contradict the might of cultivators.

"Speak!"

A horrific pressure descended on to the people and only Blake and Amelia remained without sweat on their faces.

"If anyone refuses to send people to the battlefield, you and you little base will become the enemy of the hidden territory. Now, I know we have been exposed here today so there's no need to pretend. Each of your bases must contribute atleast 10 000 soldiers for this war. To refuse will be to defy the joint might of the hidden families." Yan Xi exposed his sharp teeth.

"What do you say to that Miss Amelia?" Ye Qingyue asked with a grin.

"Even if you say that, my people are off limits." Amelia said calmly.

The grin on Ye Qingyue disappeared. The room became eerily quiet.

"Audacious."

"Indeed."

....