Chapter 34: The Solaris Keep (3)
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Chapter 34: The Solaris Keep (3)
He felt the two Patriarchs attention shift to him, their expression one of interest as they awaited his decision. They would not yet recognize the significance of his subsequent words, but Yao Shen intended for that moment, that decision, to be a pivotal one— a defining mandate that would set the tone for the rest of his time as Grand Patriarch.
“A day ago, the Flame Division was presented with a choice,” Yao Shen’s voice was soft and tranquil, his hands clasped behind his back as he simply took in the grandeur of the Solaris Keep. “A choice between honor and deceit. A decision that could very well decide the fate of the Flame Division for the coming decades, if not centuries.”
Patriarch Lei Weiyuan remained calm, seemingly unmoved by Yao Shen’s words; however Yao Shen noticed a brief disturbance in the Earth Patriarch’s usually unreadable emotions.
“Our honor was once what united us as members of the Righteous Path. Not as a sword that hangs above our heads and neither as a constant need, rather, a constant desire to maintain and uphold the reputation of ourselves and the families we represent. We are far weaker than our ancestors in martial strength... and it is easy to blame lost inheritances and forgotten knowledge for our ineptitude,” Yao Shen had an almost melancholic smile on his face as memories of his past.... his missteps, flashed through his his mind.
“But we often choose to forget, that it was not all that separated us from our ancestors. When the radiance of the sun was obscured by dark clouds, the greenery of the grass concealed in an eerie, thick blanket of fog and it felt like all was lost.... It was honor that gave strength to their blade, cutting down the demons concealed in the mists. For the knowledge that the path they walked down was the correct one, the righteous one, was enough to blow back the clouds of despair, to allow the warmth of the sun to once again bless Ionea’s land....”
“....The Flame Division has honored me, Yao Shen, by it’s display of sincerity. It has honored the spirit of the Modern Sect, by choosing to believe that the Azlak Plains are capable of progress,” Yao Shen did not actually believe that Lei Weiyuan was even close to fully convinced, if he was at all, but that did not change fact. The Flame Patriarch had ample opportunity to skim, or outright conceal a significant portion of the treasury’s wealth and Meili Zhu would have been none the wiser. His display of strength, undoubtedly, was the greatest factor in Lei Weiyuan’s compliance, but a small part of him wanted to believe that deep down, somewhere, the Flame Patriarch wished to see his perhaps naive, definitely over-ambitious vision for the Modern Sect blossom into reality.
“I refuse to meet honor with avarice. Confronted with such wealth...” Yao Shen gestured at the sprawling keep before him, “....even the most virtuous of souls would be swayed by temptation. Thus, I have devised a solution.”
Meili Zhu’s expression turned somewhat pensive upon hearing Yao Shen’s words, but the other two Patriarchs listened closely, wondering if his grandiose speech had any substance behind it.
“The wealth of the three divisions belongs to the Modern Sect. However, the Modern Sect itself exists to serve the interests of its divisions, which includes, as some of us often forget, even the weakest among the outer disciples. Therefore, it is only natural that each sect’s treasury should be managed and supervised by representatives from all three major divisions,” Yao Shen concluded his explanation, a small smile forming on his face.
Meili Zhu’s eyes glinted with clear surprise, which shifted to confusion for a few seconds before settling on clarity.
The Guardians continued their task relentlessly, though Yao Shen suspected that it would yet take them a few weeks before they were done compiling and verifying all the relevant information.
Yao Shen finally took the opportunity to ask the question that had been simmering in the back of his mind for quite some time now.
He knew that Lei Weiyuan would not be naive enough to expose all his Gatekeepers in a place where Yao Shen could kill them nigh instantaneously. There had to be atleast one hiding somewhere, ready to send the command to incinerate the Solaris Keep at a moment’s notice.
His divine sense could not detect any hidden rooms or passageways, barring a passageway that led deeper into Eliria’s depths. The conclusion was obvious; there were most definitely more layers to the Solaris Keep, though he doubted any would be as expansive or as affluent as this one.
Naturally, his curiosity led him to push his divine sense deeper down the passageway, only to be met with genuine surprise. Had Yao Shen been even a second late in recalling his divine sense, the portion he extended would have been shattered in half.
The Divine Sense of a Soul Emperor, shattered.
“You may choose not to answer, if you wish, but what lies beneath this layer?” he asked, already having a vague idea of the answer. For anything else would not make much sense.
Patriarch Lei Weiyuan seemed to have expected that question, transmitting his reply directly with his own divine sense.
“Interesting. Would you be willing to lead the way?”
Patriarch Lei Weiyuan took a few seconds to think about it, and then simply shrugged.
"Why not."
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Chapter 34: The Solaris Keep (3)
He felt the two Patriarchs attention shift to him, their expression one of interest as they awaited his decision. They would not yet recognize the significance of his subsequent words, but Yao Shen intended for that moment, that decision, to be a pivotal one— a defining mandate that would set the tone for the rest of his time as Grand Patriarch.
“A day ago, the Flame Division was presented with a choice,” Yao Shen’s voice was soft and tranquil, his hands clasped behind his back as he simply took in the grandeur of the Solaris Keep. “A choice between honor and deceit. A decision that could very well decide the fate of the Flame Division for the coming decades, if not centuries.”
Patriarch Lei Weiyuan remained calm, seemingly unmoved by Yao Shen’s words; however Yao Shen noticed a brief disturbance in the Earth Patriarch’s usually unreadable emotions.
“Our honor was once what united us as members of the Righteous Path. Not as a sword that hangs above our heads and neither as a constant need, rather, a constant desire to maintain and uphold the reputation of ourselves and the families we represent. We are far weaker than our ancestors in martial strength... and it is easy to blame lost inheritances and forgotten knowledge for our ineptitude,” Yao Shen had an almost melancholic smile on his face as memories of his past.... his missteps, flashed through his his mind.
“But we often choose to forget, that it was not all that separated us from our ancestors. When the radiance of the sun was obscured by dark clouds, the greenery of the grass concealed in an eerie, thick blanket of fog and it felt like all was lost.... It was honor that gave strength to their blade, cutting down the demons concealed in the mists. For the knowledge that the path they walked down was the correct one, the righteous one, was enough to blow back the clouds of despair, to allow the warmth of the sun to once again bless Ionea’s land....”
“....The Flame Division has honored me, Yao Shen, by it’s display of sincerity. It has honored the spirit of the Modern Sect, by choosing to believe that the Azlak Plains are capable of progress,” Yao Shen did not actually believe that Lei Weiyuan was even close to fully convinced, if he was at all, but that did not change fact. The Flame Patriarch had ample opportunity to skim, or outright conceal a significant portion of the treasury’s wealth and Meili Zhu would have been none the wiser. His display of strength, undoubtedly, was the greatest factor in Lei Weiyuan’s compliance, but a small part of him wanted to believe that deep down, somewhere, the Flame Patriarch wished to see his perhaps naive, definitely over-ambitious vision for the Modern Sect blossom into reality.
“I refuse to meet honor with avarice. Confronted with such wealth...” Yao Shen gestured at the sprawling keep before him, “....even the most virtuous of souls would be swayed by temptation. Thus, I have devised a solution.”
Meili Zhu’s expression turned somewhat pensive upon hearing Yao Shen’s words, but the other two Patriarchs listened closely, wondering if his grandiose speech had any substance behind it.
“The wealth of the three divisions belongs to the Modern Sect. However, the Modern Sect itself exists to serve the interests of its divisions, which includes, as some of us often forget, even the weakest among the outer disciples. Therefore, it is only natural that each sect’s treasury should be managed and supervised by representatives from all three major divisions,” Yao Shen concluded his explanation, a small smile forming on his face.
Meili Zhu’s eyes glinted with clear surprise, which shifted to confusion for a few seconds before settling on clarity.
The Guardians continued their task relentlessly, though Yao Shen suspected that it would yet take them a few weeks before they were done compiling and verifying all the relevant information.
Yao Shen finally took the opportunity to ask the question that had been simmering in the back of his mind for quite some time now.
He knew that Lei Weiyuan would not be naive enough to expose all his Gatekeepers in a place where Yao Shen could kill them nigh instantaneously. There had to be atleast one hiding somewhere, ready to send the command to incinerate the Solaris Keep at a moment’s notice.
His divine sense could not detect any hidden rooms or passageways, barring a passageway that led deeper into Eliria’s depths. The conclusion was obvious; there were most definitely more layers to the Solaris Keep, though he doubted any would be as expansive or as affluent as this one.
Naturally, his curiosity led him to push his divine sense deeper down the passageway, only to be met with genuine surprise. Had Yao Shen been even a second late in recalling his divine sense, the portion he extended would have been shattered in half.
The Divine Sense of a Soul Emperor, shattered.
“You may choose not to answer, if you wish, but what lies beneath this layer?” he asked, already having a vague idea of the answer. For anything else would not make much sense.
Patriarch Lei Weiyuan seemed to have expected that question, transmitting his reply directly with his own divine sense.
“Interesting. Would you be willing to lead the way?”
Patriarch Lei Weiyuan took a few seconds to think about it, and then simply shrugged.
"Why not."
Chapter 34: The Solaris Keep 3He felt the two Patriarchs attention shift to him, their expression one of interest as they awaited his decision. They would not yet recognize the significance of his subsequent words, but Yao Shen intended for that moment, that decision, to be a pivotal one a defining mandate that would set the tone for the rest of his time as Grand Patriarch. A day ago, the Flame Division was presented with a choice, Yao Shen's voice was soft and tranquil, his hands clasped behind his back as he simply took in the grandeur of the Solaris Keep. A choice between honor and deceit. A decision that could very well decide the fate of the Flame Division for the coming decades, if not centuries. Patriarch Lei Weiyuan remained calm, seemingly unmoved by Yao Shen's words; however Yao Shen noticed a brief disturbance in the Earth Patriarch's usually unreadable emotions. Our honor was once what united us as members of the Righteous Path. Not as a sword that hangs above our heads and neither as a constant need, rather, a constant desire to maintain and uphold the reputation of ourselves and the families we represent. We are far weaker than our ancestors in martial strength... and it is easy to blame lost inheritances and forgotten knowledge for our ineptitude, Yao Shen had an almost melancholic smile on his face as memories of his past.... his missteps, flashed through his his mind. But we often choose to forget, that it was not all that separated us from our ancestors. When the radiance of the sun was obscured by dark clouds, the greenery of the grass concealed in an eerie, thick blanket of fog and it felt like all was lost.... It was honor that gave strength to their blade, cutting down the demons concealed in the mists. For the knowledge that the path they walked down was the correct one, the righteous one, was enough to blow back the clouds of despair, to allow the warmth of the sun to once again bless Ionea's land.... ....The Flame Division has honored me, Yao Shen, by it's display of sincerity. It has honored the spirit of the Modern Sect, by choosing to believe that the Azlak Plains are capable of progress, Yao Shen did not actually believe that Lei Weiyuan was even close to fully convinced, if he was at all, but that did not change fact. The Flame Patriarch had ample opportunity to skim, or outright conceal a significant portion of the treasury's wealth and Meili Zhu would have been none the wiser. His display of strength, undoubtedly, was the greatest factor in Lei Weiyuan's compliance, but a small part of him wanted to believe that deep down, somewhere, the Flame Patriarch wished to see his perhaps naive, definitely over-ambitious vision for the Modern Sect blossom into reality. I refuse to meet honor with avarice. Confronted with such wealth... Yao Shen gestured at the sprawling keep before him, ....even the most virtuous of souls would be swayed by temptation. Thus, I have devised a solution. Meili Zhu's expression turned somewhat pensive upon hearing Yao Shen's words, but the other two Patriarchs listened closely, wondering if his grandiose speech had any substance behind it.The wealth of the three divisions belongs to the Modern Sect. However, the Modern Sect itself exists to serve the interests of its divisions, which includes, as some of us often forget, even the weakest among the outer disciples. Therefore, it is only natural that each sect's treasury should be managed and supervised by representatives from all three major divisions, Yao Shen concluded his explanation, a small smile forming on his face. Meili Zhu's eyes glinted with clear surprise, which shifted to confusion for a few seconds before settling on clarity. The Guardians continued their task relentlessly, though Yao Shen suspected that it would yet take them a few weeks before they were done compiling and verifying all the relevant information. Yao Shen finally took the opportunity to ask the question that had been simmering in the back of his mind for quite some time now. He knew that Lei Weiyuan would not be naive enough to expose all his Gatekeepers in a place where Yao Shen could kill them nigh instantaneously. There had to be atleast one hiding somewhere, ready to send the command to incinerate the Solaris Keep at a moment's notice. His divine sense could not detect any hidden rooms or passageways, barring a passageway that led deeper into Eliria's depths. The conclusion was obvious; there were most definitely more layers to the Solaris Keep, though he doubted any would be as expansive or as affluent as this one. Naturally, his curiosity led him to push his divine sense deeper down the passageway, only to be met with genuine surprise. Had Yao Shen been even a second late in recalling his divine sense, the portion he extended would have been shattered in half. The Divine Sense of a Soul Emperor, shattered. You may choose not to answer, if you wish, but what lies beneath this layer? he asked, already having a vague idea of the answer. For anything else would not make much sense. Patriarch Lei Weiyuan seemed to have expected that question, transmitting his reply directly with his own divine sense. Interesting. Would you be willing to lead the way? Patriarch Lei Weiyuan took a few seconds to think about it, and then simply shrugged. "Why not."
