Ch.11: Elsewhere
…Elsewhere.
Towering marble pillars stretched upward like the trunks of ancient white trees, supporting a vast painted dome covered in glowing murals that radiated a faint holy brilliance beneath the drifting light.
Frescoes depicting angels, divine beasts, radiant spirits, and legendary figures adorned every inch of the towering ceiling and sacred walls, their golden outlines flickering softly beneath the glow of countless crystal lamps suspended high above the hall.
Gold-trimmed carpets extended across the pristine floor like flowing rivers of light, while strands of fragrant incense drifted lazily through the air, carrying a faint sweetness that calmed the mind without one even realizing it.
Every polished tile, every towering statue, every shard of stained glass embedded within the cathedral-like structure radiated an overwhelming sense of sacred authority and ancient prestige.
Priests dressed in spotless ceremonial robes stood lined along both sides of the hall like unmoving statues, their expressions calm and serene, their posture rigid and disciplined to the extreme.
Even the echoes of footsteps within this place carried an indescribable pressure, as though the hall itself did not acknowledge the existence of equals.
At the very center of the grand hall, seated upon a magnificent throne beneath a crown-shaped structure resembling a blooming lotus flower, sat a woman.
Her skin was fair and flawless, her entire presence carrying an aura of noble radiance that seemed naturally elevated above others.
She wore luxurious black robes lined with intricate golden patterns that shimmered faintly beneath the surrounding light, while atop her head rested a nine-tipped purple-gold crown decorated with precious gemstones of various colors.
In her hand rested a scepter over two meters in length, its body forged from deep violet crystal and inlaid with countless rare jewels that glimmered softly with spiritual light.
Long violet hair cascaded down her back like flowing silk, while her facial features possessed a balance of sharp elegance and gentle beauty so overwhelming that even the surrounding light seemed to bend subtly around her presence.
"Two more awakenings involving innate full soul power, and the possibility of twin martial souls is high as well."
Her elegant brows slowly furrowed together, a trace of disbelief and concern surfacing within her otherwise composed gaze.
"Again?"
The moment those words fell, the already silent hall seemed to grow even quieter.
Everyone present understood exactly what those words implied.
After all, it was a well-known fact throughout the continent that encountering even a single genius possessing innate full soul power or twin martial souls was akin to witnessing a miracle unfold before one's eyes.
And yet, within this single year alone, Spirit Hall had already recorded more than nine such cases.
Some possessed innate full soul power.
Some possessed twin martial souls.
And a few possessed both extraordinary talent and abnormal martial soul mutations.
Such numbers were simply unheard of.
"One… perhaps two… maybe even three cases across an entire decade could still be explained as fortune smiling upon an era."
Her fingers lightly tapped against the armrest of the throne.
"But nine? And all appearing within the same year?"
At this point, calling it suspicious almost felt insufficient.
A strange atmosphere slowly spread through the hall.
"It feels…" she murmured softly, her gaze lowering slightly as though contemplating something far beyond ordinary understanding, "as if some hidden hand is turning fate itself like pages within a book… altering the flow of destiny according to some greater pattern."
Her slender fingers lightly tapped the bottom of the scepter.
Clink.
The crisp metallic sound echoed throughout the massive hall with startling clarity.
"Don't tell me these two are from that small village near Nuoding City again?"
A cloaked elder standing below immediately stepped forward before bowing respectfully.
"No, Your Holiness. According to the latest reports, the location this time is… Qinglong Kingdom."
For the first time since the conversation began, a trace of genuine surprise surfaced within her eyes.
"Qinglong Kingdom?" she repeated slowly.
"That seaside kingdom known for craftsmen, healers, and spirit tool artisans?"
A faintly amused smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Even that place wishes to claim a share of the era's fortune?"
"Yes, Your Holiness," the elder replied respectfully.
"The reports indicate that one of them is the kingdom's crown prince, who recently underwent a large-scale awakening ceremony personally arranged by the royal family."
"And the other?"
"The other appears to be the descendant of the declining Qinglong Blacksmith Clan, once considered one of the kingdom's greatest noble families before their gradual fall from power."
The elder paused briefly before continuing.
"Furthermore, the two factions already possess strained relations, and according to current analysis, conflict between them is highly likely in the near future. If mishandled, it may even escalate into internal instability severe enough to drag the kingdom itself into chaos."
"Heh… how original."
A soft laugh escaped her lips, though the amusement within it carried an almost mocking undertone.
"It seems there will be quite a bit of drama to watch on the continental stage soon enough."
A faint smile appeared upon her flawless features.
"Though it is somewhat unfortunate. If either of them had been ordinary commoners, Spirit Hall could have recruited them much more easily."
Even so, inwardly, she still felt somewhat relieved.
After all, dealing with ambitious nobles was often far easier than dealing with truly intelligent people.
Nobles were predictable.
Pride, greed, power, status… most of them revolved around the same desires.
But geniuses with both talent and intelligence?
Those were the ones capable of becoming variables.
She slowly leaned back against the throne, allowing the scepter to rest lightly beside her as amusement flickered quietly within her violet eyes.
Even Spirit Hall itself had already secured several of these so-called "heaven-chosen" talents this year alone.
Four… perhaps five extraordinary prodigies had either been born directly within Spirit Hall's sphere of influence or recruited before other factions could react.
And yet, even they could not help but feel bewildered by the sudden emergence of so many abnormalities at once.
A grand scheme?
A divine omen?
Or perhaps…
The world itself was beginning to change beneath their feet.
She slowly closed her eyes.
"Keep watch over Qinglong Kingdom," she ordered quietly, though the calmness within her tone only made the pressure behind those words feel heavier.
"It seems another fire is beginning to burn there."
Her fingers lightly tapped against the throne once more.
"And we must ensure it does not grow beyond control."
A soft chuckle escaped her lips soon after, almost sounding like quiet anticipation.
"The world… is going to become lively very soon."
The hall gradually dimmed as the scene slowly faded into darkness.