The Dawn of the New World

"My Lord," he gave a conventional light bow. It had no other meaning than to fulfill the formalities between their respective statuses. Others might become angry, but Izak gave no heed and simply smiled amicably in response.

"Sit," he gestured with his chin and a seat appeared on the other side, facing Izak himself.

Bogdan Shen sat down like it was his own home. He looked more relaxed than perhaps even Izak. The only thing to note was that his eyes never left the ground. He was looking down and didn't even look up at Izak when first meeting him.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Half of the representatives were frozen stiff while the other half were more or less indifferent.

Adeline was a Great Elder from the Academy. She was seated on the right furthest from Izak and nearest to Shen. She was the Academy's senior representative.

Across from her on the left was a man in his 30s. He had sharp features that made him look strict. Had the same characteristics as Wu Jin and was a member of the Wu Clan. This was Elder Krates, Junior representative from the academy. He was sitting there with his eyes closed like he was in deep sleep.

Next to him was Dusa who was still staring daggers towards Shen. He was the Senior representative from the Hall and a Great Elder. But he was mostly known as the Myriad Armed Stone King because of his cultivation technique.

Across from him was a lady in her late 20s. She was the youngest person here and was the Junior representative of the Hall, Elder Sissel. She had a dazed look on her face which along with her soft features made her look like an 'air-head'.

Next to her was an old man in his late 60s, or at least that's what he looked like. He was bald and his face was covered with wrinkles.

He was eating something that looked like grapes but they were white in color with something floating inside them. Every time he bit into one, it would make a weak screeching noise for an instant before being chewed up.

And although he looked like a normal old man at first glance, his shadow kept moving on its own. Sometimes it would change shapes and playfully touch the shadows of the other people. The only ones he didn't approach were Lord Izak and Shen.

This old man was a monster from several generations ago and the Temple's Senior representative here. Most people didn't know his actual name since he was older than the recent history records. He was only referred to as the 'Shadow Regent'.

Across from him was a man in his early 40s. He was wearing thin white spectacles, had a pale countenance as if the sun had never touched his skin and looked like an ordinary scholar with a weak physique.

This was the Temple's Junior representative Elder Wushing, who Cao Shuren was talking about.

These were the people belonging to the three of the most powerful institutions on the entire continent.

And the man that had just arrived and was being alienated by most had no last name. He was simply called 'Shen' but others had given him the unofficial title of "Bogden", which stood for "God's Gift" because of his rare 'situation'.

He was the Junior brother of the current Elven King, his most powerful general and one of the strongest people on the continent and was part of the hegemony that ruled over it.

Seeing him for the first time, it was hard to imagine that someone that looked so delicate would be feared even in the lawless outlands.

Bogdan Shen had numerous fleets under his control and an Elven army led personally by him.

Like most others, he was an undisputed hero to his own people and a plague to others because of his ruthless tactics.

A genius strategist, a scholar, and a battle-hardened warrior all neatly packaged into a petite container.

Izak was the first one to break the veil of silence.

"I was a little surprised to hear that you were coming too, little Shen," Izak said while taking another sip of the fragrant liquid in his cup. "Are you worried about the prince's safety?" he finished with a chuckle.

Dusa scoffed upon hearing that. To even imply that Shen cared about anything would be nothing more than a joke. For this man had thrown away all his emotions to cultivate the infamous core-scriptures of the 'Palace of the Thousand Stars'.

Not much was known about these scriptures other than their requirements which only 1 in a hundred trillion people was capable of fulfilling. It required a special constitution and physique that was rarely ever found in nature.

But it was like the alignment of the stars when they both appeared on a single individual. Which is where its name was derived from.

The only publicly known 'side-effect' if it could be called that, was the cultivator would lose all emotions. Be it empathy, love, hate, desire, concern, nothing would be left.

Lord Izak knew this as well yet he chose to make that joke which clearly showed his stance towards him.

But Shen didn't react in the slightest.

"No, my lord. I am here in a personal business. Ryfon's business is his own," Shen replied in his placid tone.

"Ooh," Izak looked at him with interest.. "Is it related to that new 'Gate' you found?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.