The Rise of the Black Plain



Everyone in the surrounding area looked at Minos for a moment, thinking he was probably making an over-optimistic promise to try to gain their attention.

He could probably get the Demigods since he had high-level cultivators on his side who, if properly nurtured, could rise a level or two in the next few decades.

It was reasonable to consider the 5 level 90 Demigods, even considering that there was no way it could be guaranteed.

But Minos reaching level 88 was something none of these people thought possible.

The most talented in the current generation of the Divine Continent was the First Prince of the Grinia Empire. Still, even he had taken 64 years to advance from level 80 to 89. 

That was an average of 6.4 years of cultivation for each level!

If Minos were as talented as the First Prince of Grinia, he would only be at level 85, maybe level 86, given that he was already near the middle of level 80.

'Perhaps he is considering his ability?' Aarav considered and so did not question Minos' promise. 'If so, it is indeed possible. One way or another, he would be pretty strong by then.

I think our faction members will be satisfied with that.' He looked at the people watching Minos thoughtfully in the area.

"Level 88, huh?" The level 96 elder asked, closing her eyes and smiling at Minos. "Very well, that is a goal you created, Minos Stuart. I hope you will achieve it when we meet again on Elves Island in a few years."

"I will do my best, elder." He said as he made a gesture of thanks, seeing that she would support him, even if temporarily.

"With these goals Minos made himself, he made it easy for us..." Someone at level 94 said. "Well, I agree to accept him into our faction. But we should reevaluate him during the Continental Tournament."

"I agree..."

"That way looks good to me."

Everyone there agreed, stating their opinions as their meeting drew to an end.

After a few minutes, Minos greeted each of those elders individually, hearing their welcome and some charges.

This group would support him in his obligations to the Pantheon of Honor for the next few decades. It would help him create a communication network in the northern part of the Central Continent that would connect with the rest of that organization and his other obligations.

This would be more intense for the next 2 years while he would be under evaluation. But even after he became a de facto member of the Pantheon Of Honor, they would still help him until he became influential enough to 'fly' on his own.

"Minos, low-level temple members do not have to attend our annual meetings in person. But once every 20 years, we hold meetings to reassess our accomplishments, plans, and actions, but also personal." Aarav commented to Emperor Stuart after most of the group had left. 

Julian shook his head and said. "The last major meeting took place 4 years ago, so since you will have your position confirmed in 2 years, you will have to return to the Divine Continent in 16 years."

"16 years?" Minos lowered his head and placed one of his hands on his chin. 'I think this trip will match the timing of me going through the Continent of Beasts with Emlyn...'

"All right, it won't be a problem. I will attend that meeting in 16 years." 

After those words, it wouldn't take long for Aarav to return to the temple while Julian said goodbye to Minos.

"Young Minos, you are free to return to your continent." Julian smiled at him, still inside that property of his faction. "You don't have to worry about sending reports. We will send people to your city, and they will assist you and keep in touch with us."

"OK." Minos thanked them and then asked. "Is there any way you can send me to the west coast of the Grinia Empire?"

"Hahaha, no." Julian laughed. "I have some business to attend to now, young Minos. Have a safe journey!"

After that, he disappeared in front of Minos while Emperor Stuart watched in his direction, clenching his fists.

'Damn it! I don't even know which way to go.' Minos closed his eyes and regretted that he had trusted Julian to give him back where he had found him.

Now he had to find a way to get to the west coast of the Divine Continent in less than 7 weeks!

If he could not do this, his people, led by Starclaw, would leave him behind, and he would have to find a new way to return to the Central Continent.

With that in mind, Minos wasted no time standing still and soon moved through that city, feeling he had to find a map and, who knows, a network of wormhole ports.

Wormhole ports usually only existed within domains of the same sovereign. So even though the three states of the Divine Continent were allied with each other, there was a high possibility that they would not be connected in this way.

Things were different for Minos and his allies because the Black Plain was much bigger and stronger than their allies, and they wouldn't need to use wormholes to ensure their domination or anything like that.

But something like that would hardly work on a continent where the forces were so evenly matched.

...

Hours after leaving Julian's group and starting his crusade searching for information, Minos finally got a map of the Divine Continent. But not only that, he heard about the local wormhole network.

Sages and stronger beings could open wormholes. However, no matter how much control one might have over the place where he left, one would never have it over their place of destination.

Therefore, this possibility of travel hid a big problem!

What if the one who opened a wormhole had as their destination an area of confrontation? That person would end up in a problematic situation where they could even lose their life if the battle were with beings more powerful than themselves.

That's what wormhole networks existed for!

Not only were they more efficient than teleportation arrays, but they were also passages leading to safe places where battles would not threaten those arriving in a new area.

That's why these were the preferred travel paths of the Spiritual World!

In the Divine Continent, there were many of these, several of them being private paths for organizations.

But some could be used by people willing to pay.

Minos found one of them after hours of searching and was at this moment leaving the headquarters city of the Pantheon Of Honor.

This path he would take would not take him to his destination, and he would still have to fly through some regions on his own. But at least he could shorten his journey through them!