The Rise of the Black Plain

After some time, Elena went straight to her family headquarters in the capital of Stone Island.

She had a lot to talk to Elen about, but her main reason for coming here right now was to visit her family. So, she had decided to leave to settle her issues with her friend later, after her reunion with her family!

And it didn't take long for her to pass through the entrance gate to the Neel family property, that great organization of Stone Island blacksmiths.

...

"Miss Elena, it's a surprise to see you at this level so soon!" An elderly man, dressed in the typical attire of butlers, remarked this to the young woman who walked behind him.

That was Elena's father's butler, the person who took care of most of the affairs and residence of the elder Shane Neel.

And while she was walking behind that butler, Elena was talking to this old man through the halls of Shane's residence, who she wanted to meet right now.

Elena did not have any significant responsibility in the Neel family, as she did not follow the family business and had not even previously reached the minimum level for having great influence. However, now that she was a Spiritual King, she would have to take on some responsibilities and undergo a status change, even though she had previously been very free to do whatever she wanted.

Young nobles would certainly hold much higher positions than subordinates, even when they were not yet mature enough to lead. However, the difference in the political powers of a young nobleman could be very significant concerning specialists in these powers.

Take the example of the Nash family young master, Luke. He had been humiliated by Minos, but even so, he couldn't ordain Spiritual Kings to settle his affairs at that time. He had to get permission for this from a superior to do something about it.

And precisely because of things like this, Elena had come to talk to her father first!

She wasn't worried about her status in the Neel family and what she might get out of it, as her advantages in the Black Plain Army were already very significant.

Of course, she had a bit of a desire to improve her status in the family due to the years she had grown up in this place and had often wanted to achieve such a thing. But that was just a small thing for her now.

She was no longer trapped in a cave. She had gone out and seen the many possibilities of this vast world!

But unlike what would have happened if Elena had gone to one of the sects of some empire, she could improve fast in the Black Plain and actively help her family.

And that cheered her up!

That's why talking to her father and then achieving her status improvement in the family was significant for her. Not for the benefits she could get, but for the help she could bring to her home.

She wishes she could see her elders level up again and the Neel family reach a level never before reached in their history. Finally, she would like to help her parents reach the 7th stage of cultivation!

And with that in mind, Elena soon arrived at her father's office.

"Please, miss Elena, come in." The butler told her as he opened a large wooden door.

"Hmmm."

...

Upon entering that place, Elena immediately saw a man with utterly white hair sitting on a sofa while reading a newspaper.

This person seemed relatively calm right now, with a cup of spiritual coffee on a small table next to him as he attentively read the contents of that newspaper.

On the front page of that newspaper, there was a large image of a podium and some unique representations of the top three. Finally, the title of the text said the following. 'He did not go!'

"Dad?"

But while paying attention to that matter, suddenly this old man lost his attention when he heard a sweet voice coming from behind him.

"Elena? You're finally back!" He commented as he had a smile on his old face. Shane then put his paper aside and got up to give his only child a welcoming hug.

After greeting each other, Elena quickly sat in front of her father. Then the two began talking about more serious matters.

"Congratulations on becoming a Spiritual King! It's a great joy for the whole family when one of our descendants gets there." He said in satisfaction simultaneously as he had his eyes closed and scratched his white beard.

"Your mother will be delighted to find that out, hehe."

"Hmmm." She nodded while her face was slightly reddened this time.

"But since you've reached that level, I'm afraid you'll have to go through some bureaucratic procedures for the next few days, Elena. This will be a bit boring for you. Still, it is necessary for you to gain some political powers and responsibilities."

"Hm, I know, dad."

"You probably know about the Stone Island situation these days, right? That is partly your and Elen's responsibility, so you should already expect something related to that."

"But the most important thing will be concerning other things. You will be able to lead some subordinates at the 6th stage from now on, and you will be able to command your own base even if you are not a blacksmith like the rest of us..."

"Anyway, it's good that you're a warrior too. Few of us specialize in battles, so you'll have plenty to do in the future, hehe..."

Elena and her father then continued to talk about this and other subjects until this woman had understood everything she should do from now on.

...

While Elena prepared to fulfill her responsibilities in her family, Minos was in the Dry City, taking care of matters relating to the guards sent by the Gill family.

At this point, all those people had already been interrogated by local soldiers and police officers. With that done, Minos already had all the necessary information to act against such a family.

Previously he had learned the basics of this subject from Winston and Russ. But this young sovereign was not the kind of person who thought that subordinates or lesser nobles would not have valuable information!

And, sometimes, people like these knew of truths that would hardly reach influential individuals...

Sometimes, to dominate a city, it would not only be necessary to know the influential powers. In addition, understanding how the masses behave and how the underworld's rats act behind the scenes would be needed.

And generally, such information was better known to more ordinary people, as in the case of some minor subordinates and nobles.

That had proved to be valid after the interrogations were over, and young Stuart discovered information gained through Lionel Gill, someone Minos remembered very well...

Such a person had better understandings than his superiors about the personality and attitudes of certain nobles of the Gill family. After all, Lionel had only modest Blue talent, but still, he could be considered a person with ambitions!

He didn't want to be forever a second-rate nobleman, someone who would possibly never make it to the 6th stage of cultivation. With that, he could only use his means and intelligence to get information and things that could help him fulfill his ambitions.

And such a person had the information that had made possible the plan Minos had in his mind right now!

Earlier, young Stuart didn't know whether he should deceive the Gill family, saying the invasion was successful, or threaten them and use the people in that group as hostages.

Both seemed to have very similar results and had given the local ruler a lot of headaches. But upon being informed of the full content of the interrogations, this young man had approached a resolution.

He was preparing to deceive the Gill family and thereby wreak even more havoc on that power!

Minos had already concluded that it wouldn't be long before the truth about the Dry City spread. But he at least wanted to buy enough time for him to take over the Maritime City and reach level 50.

With that, he would at least have better ways to act against his many enemies!

....