1069 Stuck in the Capital City...
Following the independent sects deciding to start preparing to move their sects to the Star Shattering Sect, it did not take long before the rest of the sects in the Sky Empire took notice and began getting ready to scout out the situation for any opportunity to launch an attack during this process.
Unfortunately for them, even if they wanted to take advantage of this to launch an attack on them, the major powers in the capital city didn't want to see a large number of their Domain Lord Realm Experts leaving the capital city to deal with these few independent sects.
After all, even if these independent sects might seem strong in the eyes of the rest of the sects under the different kingdoms of the Sky Empire. In the eyes of the different Soul Ascension Realm Experts, they were not worth mentioning, let alone a big enough problem for them to risk the safety of their own Domain Lord Realm Experts.
If it had been before the invasion of the different empires, the situation might have been different, but now there could be Soul Ascension Realm Experts lurking around just outside the capital city. Waiting for anyone dumb enough to walk out of the area covered by the capital city during this period of time.
Luckily for the different independent sects, none of them were anywhere close to the capital city.
In a sense, this was due to the influence of the different sects under the major kingdoms preventing them from building their sects anywhere close to the capital city… And now, this fact allowed them to escape a possible attack from these different sects.
Not only that, but because these sects were forced to stay inside of the capital city, the relationship between them and the kingdoms above them began deteriorating. Soon resulting in a clear split between the Domain Lord Relam Experts belonging to the different kingdoms and the Domain Lord Realm Experts belonging to the sects.
In normal circumstances, these kingdoms would give them a lot of different resources to make sure they would be obedient and do what they said… But, with the situation in the capital growing worse as the resources available became less and less with each passing day, the sects no longer saw a reason to continue serving under these kingdoms.
Not only that, but with the invading empires taking over more and more territory, the resources available would continue to shrink in the foreseeable future. Giving these sects even less of a reason to continue staying inside the capital city.
If not for the fact that the kingdoms had the backing of the Soul Ascension Realm Experts in the capital, it would long since have caused the situation to reach a level where the Domain Lord Realm Experts from the different sects might start having thoughts about leaving the capital and cutting themselves off from these major kingdoms.
After all, when all things were considered, these sects were not truly a part of the Sky Empire and could at most be considered a faction associated with the Sky Empire through the Sect Alliance. Given that they didn't participate in the battles, these sects felt they would have a better time staying neutral like the independent sects had decided to do.
Unfortunately, it was already too late for them, as the Soul Ascension Realm Experts in the capital city didn't want to willingly allow so many Domain Lord Realm Experts to just leave and potentially join their enemies.
…
As the situation inside the capital city continued getting worse for the different sects who had been instructed to move their people into the capital city of the Sky Empire for protection, the Domain Lord Realm Experts of the sects gathered together in a small corner away from the rest of the people in the capital city.
"Haa… What are we supposed to do. If we just refused the invitation to come to the capital back then, we might have had a chance to avoid the upcoming battle…"
"Indeed, even if we are in the Domain Lord Realm, we will be reduced to nothing more than cannon fodder in a battle between Soul Ascension Realm Experts."
"You two are forgetting the fact that most of our resources were sized in a bid to ensure there would be enough if a possible siege of the capital ended up happening. Hmph! From what I saw, they just took them and used them on their own people without even thinking about the so-called siege of the capital that they talked about. If a siege really does end up happening, those people will be the first to run away…"
"But what are we supposed to do? Even if we want to do something about it, there is nothing we can do with our current strength. At most we will be able to complain away from them like we are doing now."
"""…"""
Not knowing what to say, everyone froze on the spot as before silently looking at each other helplessly.
Indeed, no matter how much they complained, there was nothing they could do with their current strength. At most they could complain in secret. Hoping that the people above them wouldn't learn about what they were saying and decide to punish them.
Leaving the capital city of the Sky Empire was far from something they could do even if they wanted to, the Soul Ascension Realm Experts would undoubtedly notice them the moment they tried to and would punish.
Not to mention, they still had a large number of disciples and elders inside the capital city. Although not all of them could be moved there in such a short period of time, the most important and strongest ones were all in the capital city.
If they did leave and managed to somehow succeed in escaping from the capital city, the people from the different kingdoms would undoubtedly take out their anger on their disciples and elders still left inside the capital city.
Even if some of them still wanted to run away, they also understood that the rest of the people present might report this meeting to those kingdoms in hopes of not being punished when someone decided to try and escape.
"Looks like we can only keep quiet for now and hope those empires decide not to attack the capital city and stops expanding after taking control of a few mines and spiritual herb fields…" Noticing the fear and nervousness present in everyone, one of the older elders present decided to end their little meeting with this as he turned around and left.
No matter how on edge everyone present was when thinking about the possibility of having to fight against someone in the Soul Ascension Realm to protect the capital city of the Sky Empire, he also understood that there was a chance those empires wouldn't go so far.
After all, dealing with the large number of Domain Lord Realm Experts and Soul Ascension Realm Experts currently inside the capital city of the Sky Empire was no simple matter. Even for someone who might have reached the Fourth Tribulation of the Soul Ascension Realm!
Whoosh-!
Whoosh-!
Whoosh-!
Following the words of the old elder, the rest of the people from the different sects also took their leave. Each of them understood that they might be forced to leave behind their people if they wanted to leave the capital city.
As for the possibility of the different empires leaving the capital city alone… None of them thought that this was a likely scenario. After all, the Soul Ascension Realm Experts staying alive might result in their current expansion into the Sky Empire being wiped out in the future when a powerful expert emerged.
…
"Ah! Someone left the capital city last night without being noticed before already having left the area under the protection of the capital city!"
"Huh!? Who was it!?"
"From what I heard; it was the Grand Elder of the Violet Mist Sect!"
"That is old news, I heard that it wasn't only the Grand Elder of the Violet Mist Sect, but also the sect master and several of their elders and most talented core disciples."
"Wow… Are they really planning to ditch everyone else and try to reestablish their sect outside the Sky Empire?"
"Who knows…"
Indeed, the next morning after the meeting between the different elders of the sects serving under the kingdoms. News of someone leaving the capital city spread through the city the next day.
"This isn't looking good for the Violet Mist Sect… I doubt those people will let them go after learning about this…"
At the same time, the people from the other sects in the capita city began looking in the direction of the Violet Mist Sect. Understanding that it would only be a matter of time before someone showed up to punish them… And considering that this was the first time someone had fled from the capital city, they would undoubtedly make a spectacle out of it to warn anyone else having thoughts about running away.
