Yulan calendar, year 10022, December 28th. In two more days, it would be the Yulan Festival. This would be a very historically special Yulan festival, because…on this Yulan Festival, the Baruch Empire would be formally founded.
Baruch City was a hubbub of activity. Outsiders had filled Baruch City to the brim.
Ten guards were escorting a simple, unadorned carriage on the streets of Baruch City. Just by looking at those warriors of the fifth rank and higher, one would know that the people inside the carriage were no ordinary people indeed. A long time later, the carriage arrived at a hotel.
The guards immediately halted the horse.
“Madame, we are at the hotel.” The carriage driver said respectfully into the carriage.
“Understood.” A calm voice from within the carriage. A jade-white hand pulled open the carriage curtains, then stepped out. This noble lady wore violet clothes, covered by a black cloak. If Linley had been here, he would definitely recognize her…
Alice!
It had been almost twenty three years since the Apocalypse Day.
Back then, Alice had been very young. After twenty three years, she had now acquired the natural grace and elegance of a noble lady.
“Twenty three years.” Alice looked at the city, her heart filled with emotion. She knew the name of this city; Baruch City. This city had been founded based on the name of Linley’s clan. The fifth great empire of the Yulan continent would be formally founded in two days.
The name was also the Baruch Empire.
“Linley Baruch.” Alice murmured Linley’s name.
That year when she and Kalan had met with danger in the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, Linley had suddenly descended from the skies and saved her. That year, Linley was nothing more than a youth with potential, while she was a beautiful, carefree young girl. Kalan was the successor to a major noble clan.
Twenty three years later.
Linley had already reached a height which she couldn’t hope to approach.
Alice felt gratitude from the depths of her heart towards Linley. On the Apocalypse Day, it was Linley who had entrusted her to Director Maia, who for Linley’s sake had taken care of her and Rowling the entire time they were fleeing. Director Maia had been very kind to the two girls.
Afterwards, Alice and Rowling had become the adopted daughters Director Maia.
And then, Alice had begun helping him take care of the matters of the Proulx Gallery. Rowling wasn’t good at management, but by contrast…Alice was very talented at managing the various Galleries, and so Director Maia slowly gave more and more authority to her. This time, it was Director Maia who had sent her to come to Baruch City.
The reason was…she was going to start up a new Proulx Gallery, here in Baruch City!
Generally speaking, all of the enormous cities had a Proulx Gallery present. In the future, Baruch City would become the center of the Baruch Empire (the Anarchic Lands). Naturally, they had to have a Proulx Gallery here.
“Madame?” A nearby guard reminded gently. “It is snowing outside.”
“Oh.”
Only now did Alice return to the present. With a calm laugh, she said, “Let’s go.” Alice, escorted by her guards, entered the hotel. The guards behind Alice were very respectful to her. They knew that Alice’s husband had died years ago, on the Apocalypse Day.
They actually were all puzzled…
Why was it that Alice had never remarried?
Yulan calendar, year 10023. January 1st. The Baruch Empire was founded.
On this day, the envoys of each nation came, and Baruch City was full of festivities. However…at the same time, some of the experts hidden in seclusion throughout the Yulan continent were beginning to stir.
They had begun to receive orders from the various Deity-level experts.
O’Brien Empire. Outside the imperial capital. War God Mountain.
“Welcome back, Master.” Over twenty Saints were standing there respectfully, while the War God, O’Brien, landed atop the mountain, his scarlet red hair flowing like knives.
The War God O’Brien nodded slightly, then began to issue orders. “Castro.”
Castro immediately took one step forward, awaiting the War God’s order. The War God said calmly, “Immediately head to the Anarchic Lands. Inform Linley that he is to come assemble with us next year on March 3rd at War God Mountain.”
“Yes, Master.” Castro said immediately.
“Lanke.” The War God spoke again. His disciple, Lanke, immediately took one step forward. The War God ordered, “Head to that little island in the North Sea where Kefande [Ke’fan’de] lives. Inform Kefande as well that no matter what, next year on March 3rd, he must come assemble with us at my War God Mountain.”
“Yes, Master.” Lanke immediately assented.
The War God spoke yet again. “Kenyon.” Kenyon also took a step forward. The War God continued, “You head to…”
He issued orders to twelve disciples in a row, then immediately ordered ten other disciples to stay behind. These ten disciples were the most powerful of the War God’s personally taught disciples, and they included his very first disciple, Fain.
“The ten of you, make your preparations. I don’t want you to end up like your Third Brother.” The War God said calmly.
“Yes, Master!”
The ten of them responded respectfully. They knew what their master was referring to.
“If you are afraid to die, you can choose to give up instead. There are many Saints who would be willing to accept this opportunity.” The War God said calmly, then glanced at his ten disciples. Seeing the look on their faces, the War God nodded with satisfaction, then left.
……
In an underground hall, Castro sat down. He had flown for a long time, first to Baruch City, then to here under Barker’s guidance. Castro had thought that Linley was still living at Mt. Blackraven.
“Castro, wait a moment. Let me go notify Linley.” Barker smiled as he spoke.
“Fine.” Castro was very polite.
Barker then left the hall, and in three steps, headed towards that mysterious door. Castro quite orderly sat there, not daring to investigate with his spiritual energy. After all, Barker was a Saint as well. He would easily detect any spiritual energy probing.
Barker arrived at the door.
With one step, Barker entered the pocket dimension.