Across the capital, the call to court stirred the city like a horn before battle. Ministers abandoned their morning routines, robes hastily adjusted as carriages bearing clan insignias thundered toward the Imperial Palace. Imperial Cultivators soared through the sky on spirit cranes and swords, their auras streaking like comets above the roofs. From every direction, power gathered — the crimson banners of the Imperial Guard fluttered in the dawn wind as they opened the grand gates. The air was tense, alive with speculation; whatever had occurred near the Kai residence had shaken even the highest ranks, and none wished to arrive late before the Emperor's summons.
The ministers and Imperial Cultivators poured into the Dragon Hall, the vast chamber echoing with the sounds of hurried footsteps and the hum of spiritual energy. At the far end, the Emperor sat upon his elevated throne, his expression calm yet unreadable, while the Empress remained at his side, her gaze sharp and calculating. Beneath them, the seven sons of the Emperor took their seats in perfect order, each radiating a cultivated aura that marked their position and skill. At the back, the Empress Dowager observed silently, her eyes glinting with the wisdom of decades and the subtle authority of one who had seen generations rise and fall. Of the thirteen Bronze Seats reserved for the generals of the realm, only seven were filled — the remaining six occupied distant battlefronts, their absence noted but accepted, leaving a tense emptiness that hinted at both duty and vulnerability.
A vast, almost suffocating silence settled over the Dragon Hall. Every footstep, every shuffle of a robe, seemed amplified in the cavernous space. Ministers and cultivators alike held their breath, eyes fixed on the throne, waiting for the Emperor to break the stillness. Even the faint hum of spiritual energy — the invisible pulse of power in the hall — seemed muted under the weight of expectation. No one dared speak, not a whisper, not a cough; all waited in perfect, tense obedience, aware that the slightest movement might draw the Emperor's scrutiny. The quiet stretched on, heavy and deliberate, a prelude to words that could reshape alliances, fates, and the very balance of the realm.
With a single, deliberate gesture from the Emperor, the Empress leaned forward, her voice cutting through the heavy silence like a blade. "What exactly happened?" she demanded, her gaze sweeping over every minister, cultivator, and noble present. "Where did this power come from? Who summoned a tribulation of such magnitude in the capital — so quickly, so precisely, and with such potency?"
The question hung in the air, settling on every pair of ears like a weight. Eyes darted nervously between faces; each person studied the others, weighing influence, rank, and courage. No one spoke. Not a single minister dared break the tension first. Even the Imperial Cultivators, accustomed to conflict and command, hesitated, uncertain who among them could claim knowledge without inviting disaster. The hall seemed to hold its breath, waiting for someone to step forward and bear the impossible responsibility of answering.
A deep, commanding voice suddenly echoed through the hall, cutting the tension like a sword. "Kai Ava has arrived."
All eyes turned as Kai walked calmly through the vast chamber, robes flowing and every movement measured. Nobles, ministers, and cultivators alike instinctively straightened, many whispering in awe. He approached the front of the hall, stopping a respectful distance from the Emperor and bowing low, his demeanor composed and unwavering.
"I have come to report," he began, voice steady and clear. "The tribulation was summoned over my residence, aiding me in reaching the Bodiless Realm."
A sharp, incredulous voice broke from the back of the hall — an Imperial Cultivator, eyebrows raised. "Impossible!" he barked. "Never in the history of cultivation has anyone attempting the Bodiless Realm summoned a tribulation! It is unnecessary for such a low stage in the grand scheme of cultivation!"
Kai raised his head slightly, bowing again with flawless etiquette toward the Emperor before releasing his aura. Though only a Level 1 Bodiless Realm cultivator, the weight of his presence pressed down on the hall like a mountain, resonating with the authority and refinement of someone at Level 7 — the peak of the Bodiless Realm.
The Imperial Cultivator who had interrupted hesitated, his words caught in his throat as he felt the overwhelming force. Slowly, he sank back into silence, forced to eat the pride of his own disbelief.
Kai's aura gradually receded as he bowed once more to the Emperor, signaling both respect and completion of his report. The hall remained in stunned quiet, the weight of his power lingering like a living thing in the air.
A low, rumbling laugh rolled through the Dragon Hall, echoing against the high ceilings. The Emperor leaned back slightly on his throne, eyes twinkling with amusement and admiration. "Impressive," he said, his voice carrying across the hall. "Not only has this young lad reached the Bodiless Realm at such a tender age, but he did so in an unorthodox way — commanding a tribulation with precision, strength, and strategy far beyond his peers. Truly remarkable."
He turned slightly, his gaze shifting toward the back of the hall where the Empress Dowager sat, her presence commanding even from afar. "Mother," he said, voice calm yet carrying weight, "what do you think? How will this play out to the rest of the world?"
The Empress Dowager's sharp eyes scanned the assembly, lingering briefly on the young cultivator's name etched into whispers throughout the hall. "A storm is coming," she replied softly, yet her tone carried across the silent chamber. "When the powers of the capital — and beyond — hear of this, many will scramble. Some will seek alliances, others will plot to contain him. The young man has altered the balance, whether they realize it yet or not."
A ripple passed through the audience. Even seasoned ministers and generals shifted uneasily, sensing the truth in her words: this was not merely a personal breakthrough. This was a declaration that the hierarchy of the cultivation world and the quiet rules of the capital were about to face an unprecedented upheaval.
The Emperor rose from his throne, the movement commanding absolute attention. One by one, his sons and the seated generals mirrored his action, standing in solemn respect. Every eye in the Dragon Hall was fixed on the young cultivator who had already shaken the foundations of the capital.
The Emperor's hand lifted, pointing decisively at him, and his voice rang out with authority that left no room for dispute. "From this day forward, I bestow upon you an esteemed title. From this moment, you shall be known as Marquis of Swords — Bronze Rank 2, equal in standing to a military commander of this realm."
A hush fell over the hall, broken only by the whispered astonishment of nobles and ministers alike. The weight of the decree was immense; not only recognition of power, but an official position placing him among the elite echelons of the Empire. Even seasoned generals exchanged quick, cautious glances, realizing the Emperor had elevated a youth who had scarcely entered the world of politics and officialdom to a rank few could ever attain.
The young cultivator bowed deeply, acknowledging the honor, while the Empress Dowager's eyes glimmered knowingly from the back — a faint smile hinting at the far-reaching consequences this moment would bring.
With the decree still resonating in the hall, the Emperor's voice rang once more, formally dismissing the court. "This assembly is concluded."
In an instant, the Dragon Hall erupted into motion. Ministers and nobles hastily gathered their robes and notes, their minds already racing with the implications of the Marquis of Swords' sudden rise. Some rushed toward their residences, intent on strategizing with their families and allies, while others hurried to the ministry offices, eager to adjust plans and alliances in anticipation of the inevitable shift in power.
The Imperial Cultivators lingered only briefly, casting wary glances toward the young Marquis, before vanishing into the skies above the capital. Whispers and speculation spread faster than footfalls, a tide of uncertainty and intrigue rippling through every district. By the time the gates of the Dragon Hall closed behind the last minister, the capital had already begun to bend and sway under the weight of the new reality — a young cultivator, untested by politics, now standing as a power to be reckoned with.
The Imperial Study. A chamber lined with towering shelves of ancient texts and illuminated by the soft glow of floating spirit lamps. The Emperor sat once more, his expression thoughtful, while the Empress and Empress Dowager listened intently, the seven princes gathered quietly around them. The air was heavy with the weight of strategy and foresight, the recent events still vivid in their minds.
The Emperor spoke, his voice measured but carrying authority. "Do not forget the growing powers across the realm," he warned. "There are threats beyond our borders — not just the Titans. Even now, forces stir that would see our nation weakened."
He paused, eyes sweeping across the gathered family. "When talents like this rise under our banner, we should cherish and support them. They may be the strong pillars we need to reach higher heights. At the Bodiless Realm, he has already refined Tribulation Power. And this," he said, his tone firm, "is only the beginning."
A quiet murmur passed through the princes and ministers present, each realizing the implications. A new power had emerged — a cultivator unbound by tradition, wielding strength that could tip the balance of both court and cultivation alike. The Emperor's words were both caution and promise, a directive to nurture and watch closely the rise of this young Marquis of Swords.
However, even they could not fathom the true force behind that power — the one who had made it possible. Unaware of the monumental shift he had caused, Leon slept peacefully in his quarters, completely oblivious to how his actions had already begun to reshape the world around him.