After the shift exchanges between the Spiritual Saints on the Black Plain of the Gray Clouds Sect and Flaming Empire, only elders of levels 78 and 79 remained in that state.
Currently, in Cloud City, 20 Spiritual Saints maintained the presence of that organization locally, following recommendations from the Dry City staff and the Edwardstone family.
That was a high number of high-level experts, which not even the imperial family had before Harold's departure.
Because of this, even though the size of the Grey Cloud Sect's territory had been greatly diminished and the number of members of this force was only a few hundred now, this was the most powerful force in the state.
Because of this, the noble families of the Flaming Empire and the sects feared the Minos Sect more than the imperial house itself!
But with Isabella having already taken over virtually all the functions of the supreme elder of her family, the imperial family was not the least bit nervous about this current reality.
What Minos and the Black Plain Empire were doing was the little that was maintaining this state at a level close to that before Harold's leave, something that had prevented this state from going into recession.
Because of the presence of this sect, the migrations of people from this state to Minos' had been negligible since everyone believed that he would eventually take care of the empire.
Thus, the evolution of the Black Plain benefited not only the direct subordinates of Emperor Stuart but also all his allies!
...
In the capital of the Flaming Empire, Temple of Payton...
Gloria's father was at this instant attending to matters concerning his position as leader of this post of the Spiritual Church when suddenly his communication array activated on its own.
"Patriarch Frost..." Someone spoke through that item, disconcerting Sarah's grandfather.
"That voice..." He muttered before saying in a louder tone. "Cardinal Cobb!"
"That's right, hehe.
How long has it been since we've spoken, 500 years?" The voice in the blue-green crystal said in a humorous tone.
"Actually, it's been over 700 years," Joseph commented briefly before asking. "Anyway, what is this connection about? I thought one of us would die before one tried to contact the other..."
"Don't talk to your superior like that, Joseph, hehe. It's not that I didn't want to stop supervising you. It's just that I was busy with something important and could not communicate with you for some time." That man said, without showing any irritation. "Anyway, I had let an acquaintance of mine take care of those areas of your state and northern region... But now I have returned to that role."
"Oh?" Joseph was surprised by this. "That's the first time I've heard that. In the past centuries, I was never notified that someone else was supervising me."
"Cardinal Knight has his ways of acting..." Cardinal Cobb commented before becoming a little more serious. "In any case, Joseph, I hear that your daughter has formed a faction in the northern region.
She already has support in Blackrock, Albano, Vogel, Rosser, and the Flaming Empire...
I must say, I am impressed with her ability to convince!"
"I know... What's this all about? I already tried to get Gloria to join a larger faction, ours. But she refused. So there's no point..."
"I know. Knight told me you were trying to do something about it but failed. I'm not here to pressure you to try more of that. I'm just here to help you." That man said, interrupting Joseph's speech.
"What's this about?"
"Gloria didn't want to join a bigger faction, so let me tell you, some big factions already have their eye on her." That man said thoughtfully. "In particular, Prince Calvert's group intends to pressure her and her faction for them to join his group."
Joseph became more serious as he heard this, imagining this would be a big problem for Gloria.
Calvert Evergreen was a third prince of the imperial family of that state, one of the members of that organization that belonged to the Spiritual Church.
He had his faction and was aiming to become the next Supreme Pontiff, replacing the current leader of the Church, who was to leave his position within the next 100 years.
The current leader of the Church was a level 99 Spiritual Demigod, and being in his last millennium of life, he would soon be temporarily relinquishing his position to try to advance to the 11th stage.
That was a dangerous and time-consuming advance that 70% of those who tried would die from, and 29% would fail to succeed.
When a Supreme Pontiff would go through this, they would generally leave their position, allowing a new one to rise.
Usually, these experts would fail, so someone who replaced him would not have to give the position back. If they survived, these individuals who failed to become Gods would live out their last days as guardians.
Anyway, with the change about to happen, the main factions of the Church were already moving to put their candidates in good positions, improving the influence and powers of each of them.
Calvert was doing this and had already seen some potential in Gloria's faction.
Joseph knew about this whole Church situation and Calvert's position, so he didn't like the idea of such a situation approaching his daughter.
"Is there anything we can do?" He asked his superior, who was also an old friend of his.
The Cardinal on the other end of the line shook his head negatively. "No. Besides being part of a larger faction, she won't have any protection from the pressure of Calvert and his group."
"Shit!"
"Hmm, yeah, that's a complicated situation... I recommend you try explaining the situation to her as soon as possible. It won't take long for someone to get to her in the northern region."
Joseph knew his daughter was not around at the moment, although he was unsure of her location. But he would not say that to his superior and simply accepted the suggestion. "I will do that... Thanks for the warning."
"That's nothing... After all this time, I owed him something, haha."
Thus, the call between the two ended with Joseph putting away back the medium-level grade-4 communication array that this post had for receiving communications from Church headquarters.
Joseph was pretty serious and worried, not knowing what to do since he had no way to contact his daughter at the moment.
'I will send someone to the Black Plain. When she returns, he will pass the message on to her!'
...
Thus, 19 months had passed since Minos' advance to level 73!
Much had happened in that period, but the long-awaited day for Minos had finally arrived.
After weeks since he reached level 74, the birth of his first son and heir to the Black Plain had finally arrived!
In the Spatial Kingdom, Minos and his family gathered at the lake house, together with Abby and the Grey Clouds Sect doctors who were around for this moment.
Sarah was the most interested and was also there to accompany the birth of her little brother, who would be born a few weeks after her 15th birthday, the beginning of her adult life.
So this young lady at level 43 was beside her mothers and Minos, watching the birth of Kendrick Stuart!
...
