Kaelan looks at the woman, and his eyes narrow.
Life Tree Alchemist, Isorin.
She is similar to Dustin White, one of those who inherited knowledge from the previous civilisation. But now Kaelan understands something deeper. Their power does not come from some mysterious outside civilisation that once visited the world.
It comes from a civilisation that once existed within this world itself.
Ancient.
Forgotten.
Buried beneath the ruins of history.
Kaelan watches quietly as the confrontation continues in the arena. The Sun Dragon Alchemist glares at Isorin, and tension spreads through the stands once again.
Kaelan loses interest.
He lets them quarrel.
His body fades from the highest private box.
A moment later, he disappears completely.
Now, within the Sand Continent, Kaelan can freely use the continent's spiritual energy nodes. These nodes are ancient structures embedded beneath the land itself, forming a network that channels spiritual energy across the entire continent.
Through the power of these nodes, Kaelan can teleport anywhere within the continent.
Space twists.
In the next moment, Kaelan appears sitting upon a throne.
The throne room is vast and silent.
He looks down.
An old man kneels before him.
If the entire world were to see this scene, they would be shocking.
The kneeling man is the current Pope of the Sand Temple.
Aluris.
Kaelan supports his face with the back of his hand, wearing a bored expression.
"Aluris," he says lazily, "how many times have I told you that you don't have to kneel before me?"
Aluris remains kneeling with his head lowered.
"My master," he replies quietly, "this is what I should do."
Kaelan sighs.
"Stand up."
Aluris immediately rises.
He looks toward Kaelan, sitting on the throne.
His eyes shift slightly, as if he has something on his mind.
Kaelan notices the hesitation.
"Ask."
Aluris takes the permission seriously.
"Lord… is your body alright?"
Kaelan was not born normally.
Thousands of years ago, spiritual energy began receding from the world. To ensure his future existence, he used alchemy to construct a perfect body.
Twenty years ago, he was finally born with a Demigod body.
But because the birth was artificial, flaws remained.
Instead of entering the inner world to cultivate immediately, Kaelan travelled across the world searching for ways to stabilise and heal his body.
Three years ago, he stopped at Olden City.
That location marked the final stage of healing his physical body.
Kaelan answers calmly.
"Yes."
Then he adds,
"Start preparing the God-Making Ritual."
Aluris's eyes instantly fill with reverence.
"I will begin preparations immediately."
He turns to leave.
"Wait."
Kaelan's voice stops him.
"Why are you so impatient?"
Aluris turns back quickly.
His voice carries urgency.
"Lord, do you require anything?"
Kaelan looks toward him calmly.
"Verena, from the House of Aat-Tjehent."
"Bring her to me."
Aluris blinks.
"Why?"
Kaelan smiles faintly.
"I will take her as my lover."
Aluris's eyes widen in surprise.
Then his expression becomes joyful.
"Lord, this is wonderful news!"
"Shall I prepare a celebration banquet?"
Kaelan shakes his head.
"No."
"I do not want anyone outside to know."
Aluris bows deeply.
"Understood, Lord."
He leaves the throne room.
Soon, Kaelan sits alone again.
He closes his eyes and begins cultivating.
Spiritual energy flows from the continent's nodes toward him.
He gathers the energy steadily, beginning the process of constructing an insignia required for the upcoming ritual.
Outside the throne room, Aluris walks through the temple corridors.
There is joy in his steps.
He smiles to himself.
He begins imagining the future.
"I wonder," he murmurs softly, "whether the first divine child will be a son or a daughter."
Then he shakes his head.
"It does not matter."
"If it is a God Son or a God Daughter…"
"I will make them the first Emperor or Empress of the entire world."
"And every religion except the faith of the Lord will be banned."
Aluris has never understood something.
Kaelan possesses the strength to conquer the world already.
Yet he never does.
But perhaps that will change.
If the Lord takes a lover… a child may be born in the future.
Suddenly, Aluris stops walking.
A thought crosses his mind.
"Lord is a Holy Alchemist…"
"For someone like him, conceiving a child may only happen once in a hundred thousand attempts."
His expression becomes serious.
"I need a ritual to increase the chances of pregnancy."
He resumes walking, now with a clear goal.
The Life Alchemy Research Institute.
The massive doors of the institute open as Aluris enters. The chamber inside is filled with glowing arrays, preserved specimens, and floating alchemical instruments slowly rotating in midair. Scholars move quietly between tables covered with scrolls and glowing formations.
At the centre of the room sits Seshn.
She studies a complex Life Alchemy diagram suspended above her desk.
The moment Aluris enters, she senses his presence and looks up.
He barely finishes explaining his request when Seshn suddenly stands from her chair.
Her eyes widen in shock.
"What?"
Her voice echoes across the research hall.
Several assistants nearby freeze.
Aluris frowns with visible annoyance.
"Why are you shouting?" he asks.
Then he speaks again in a calm but commanding tone.
"Tell me if you can create a ritual that will increase the chance of pregnancy for the Lord's lover."
Seshn's eyes remain wide.
"When did the Lord take a lover?" she demands.
"And why did nobody tell me this?"
Aluris rubs his forehead.
"Not taken yet," he says. "The Lord ordered me to bring the woman."
Seshn slowly sits down again.
Her breathing steadies.
But her teeth grind slightly.
"Who is the lucky woman?" she asks quietly.
"Can I know?"
Aluris's eyes widen slightly.
Inside his mind, he curses himself.
He had forgotten.
Seshn's devotion to the Lord goes far beyond normal faith.
Her love is not only the worship of a believer toward a god.
It is also the obsessive love of a woman toward the man she adores.
Those two emotions have fused together.
Her devotion has long crossed into obsession.
Aluris thinks bitterly.
"I should have gone to someone else."
He clears his throat and speaks carefully.
"Seshn, the woman will become our Lord's lover and our future mistress."
"If you do anything to her, the Lord will kill you."
Seshn smiles.
Her expression becomes gentle.
"Why should I do anything to her?" she replies softly.
"This is a happy event."
"Our Lord will not be alone anymore."
Aluris stares at her.
Trying to determine whether the words are sincere.
After a moment, Seshn calmly folds her hands on the desk.
"So," she says quietly.
"Who is our future mistress?"
Aluris answers.
"Verena, from the House of Aat-Tjehent."
Seshn leans back slightly.
Her eyes narrow as she thinks.
The name feels familiar.
She has heard it recently.
Aluris notices her reaction.
"Do you know anything about her?" he asks.
Seshn nods slowly.
"She is currently the most sought-after woman on the continent."
Aluris tilts his head.
"I know the House of Aat-Tjehent recently became one of the richest houses."
"But why is she so sought after?"
Seshn sighs lightly.
"You truly know nothing about what is happening outside."
Aluris frowns.
For the past few years, he had been absent.
He spent most of his time in the inner world pursuing deeper research and cultivation.
During that time, the bishops managed the temple in his place.
He returned to the continent only a few months ago.
Since returning, he had immediately buried himself in study.
Two new branches of alchemy had appeared.
Life Alchemy.
Steam Alchemy.
As the Pope of the Sand Temple—the temple of the Creator of Alchemy—he must understand every branch of alchemy.
So he dedicated himself to studying them.
Then, only weeks ago, the Lord returned.
Bringing knowledge from a foreign civilisation.
And information about a previous civilisation that once existed in this world.
That discovery alone consumed nearly all of his time.
Because of this, he had barely paid attention to political changes across the continent.
Seshn explains the situation.
Three factions are currently fighting to gain influence within the church.
When Aluris hears this, anger flashes across his face.
"They think they can control the church?"
His expression darkens.
His long absence had given them an opportunity.
And ambition.
He slowly takes a deep breath.
Then exhales.
Without another word, he leaves the institute and walks back toward his private office.
Inside the quiet chamber, he sits down behind his desk.
"Let them fight," he mutters aloud.
"I will deal with them later."
"I have more important matters now."
He closes his eyes.
A spell forms within his mind.
Through the spiritual energy nodes beneath the continent, the spell travels instantly toward the founder of the House of Aat-Tjehent.
The message is simple.
Bring Verena to him.
After sending the command, Aluris begins preparing the God-Making Ritual.