Village Head's Debauchery

The newly arrived spirit beasts frowned upon noticing Orion's deliberate action of hovering above them. Though it was embarrassing, like the others, they said nothing, though the hostility in their eyes was poorly concealed.

"Tsk! Can't you see we're already in the middle of a negotiation? Why don't you wait your turn instead of trying to butt in?" chided the blood-red exoskeleton-covered scorpion.

"If you're trying to take advantage of the situation, I advise you not to act foolishly until we're finished."

Despite his irritation, the scorpion didn't rise to challenge Orion directly. Doing so would only force Orion to ascend even further, thereby emphasising his position of dominance.

Since they couldn't do anything about such a humiliating dynamic, they chose to avoid escalating it.

"Don't worry. We're not here to cause trouble," said a man with sharp features and feathered azure hair. He wore a long, torn silk-like robe that flapped fiercely despite the absence of wind. In his hand was a bone-white staff that radiated the power of a Spirit Law.

"We only want to ask if it's possible to reduce the number of binding oaths required."

Orion shook his head. "It will not be less than that. Since this appears to be a difficult decision for you all, I will give you ten minutes to decide. If none of you make a decision, you'll be forcefully escorted out of this territory, and any attempt to re-enter will result in direct execution," he said.

"Also, please ensure that you don't cause any harm to this territory, or your life will be demanded as repayment. The countdown starts now."

After finishing his words, Orion didn't wait for their response. He turned around and soared back toward the floating island with the others.

"This god is too arrogant. If it wasn't for the presence of the King's aura, did he think we would have remained idle up to this moment?" asked the man with feathered azure hair.

"His strength and that of his group aren't bad either, but does he really think he can forcefully remove us if we choose not to accept his terms?"

"Then let's do it. Let's wait till the ten minutes are up and see how he plans to remove us all from this territory," said a regal man with long aquamarine hair streaked with silver, flowing like slow-moving currents. His skin glistened with silver scales, and around his head floated a rotating halo of levitating, jagged stone shards.

They each had similar thoughts in mind. Though they could easily capture a hundred Earls or fifty Marquises in exchange, with the number of formidable spirit beasts present, and those still in hiding, choosing that option would inevitably lead to them fighting amongst themselves for the opportunity.

So, despite the opponent's strength, they weren't foolish enough to put themselves at a disadvantage by clashing over his terms.

They didn't trust each other enough to send someone else to obtain the information in their place. Rather than take such a risk, they preferred to get the information personally.

The fact that those who had already acquired it had chosen to keep it to themselves and remain on the floating island was proof enough.

However, just as they were about to agree, an explosion rang out in the distance. Their gazes snapped toward the sky, where a black sphere had appeared, with countless chains emerging from it and wrapping around the spirit beasts behind them, including those who had remained hidden.

The solidified space was easily broken through.

The spirit beasts tried to fight back, striking at the chains and the floating black sphere, but their attacks were rendered ineffective. Instead, the clash created a shockwave that caused the space to undulate, spreading outward.

Yet before it could reach the surrounding smaller floating islands, the icy plains below, or the hovering forest above, it was halted by an invisible force.

Meanwhile, the surrounding spirit beasts could only scream in horror as they were dragged into the black sphere, vanishing from sight.

Another explosion rang out in a different direction.

This time, they saw a beam of light capturing numerous spirit beasts and sealing them within a rift-space that followed its trajectory.

Within moments, the entire area fell into disarray as spirit beasts turned on one another, each attempting to capture the others.

"Tsk!" the blood-red exoskeleton-covered scorpion said, "They refused to come out to confront this god together, and now they're already taking action to fulfil his terms? Don't they have any dignity?"

He noticed the sudden solemnity in the air and glanced at the thirteen figures around him, and sighed inwardly.

"It seems it can't be avoided, then."

The space around them solidified, sealing off all possible exits. The spiritual energy and spirit laws in the environment grew more potent.

Instantly, they charged at one another.

BOOOOM!!

...

Back on the floating island...

Orion observed the scene from afar.

He didn't care about those at the Viscount rank and below; only Earls and above had the strength to roam freely across the Spirit Realm.

Though his terms had seemed directed at the Duke and Marquis-ranked Spirit Beasts, they were actually aimed at the hidden Royal Princes. As he expected, they had taken the bait.

He anticipated finally meeting them once the battle ended. Whoever else was caught in the mix didn't matter.

Meanwhile, the Kafla and the others who had accompanied the groups to hunt down the spirit beasts had returned. However, those groups remained stationed nearby to ensure the territory was protected and to eliminate anyone who failed to obey Orion's command.

"We'll begin the next meeting once this is over. I hope you can be patient until then," Orion said, turning to the side to look at Kun'lin, the mysterious white furred ear woman, Jaros, Zaelthar, and the others who had joined him in the air to observe the unfolding battle.

They could only nod their heads in understanding. That was the only thing they could do at this moment. They all knew that whatever items they provided didn't matter in the coming meeting.

The information regarding the Seven-Headed Hydra would be given on Orion's terms.

The battle continued for the next twenty-four hours.

Those who had recklessly attacked the territory during the chaos were eliminated, and their lives were used to repair the damage they had caused.

After a few more Marquis and Dukes were instantly killed, the others did everything in their power to avoid harming the territory.

As a result, the territory remained unharmed.

During that period, two Dukes captured 200 Earls. They were forced to take the binding oaths before being released. A mysterious spirit beast captured a Duke. Two more arrived, each with a Duke, and they too were forced to take the binding oath before being let go like the others.

As time passed, more and more spirit beasts stepped forward with those they had captured.

Since they had taken the binding oath, they also began ensuring the safety of the territory and its residents.

Within the next twenty-two hours, the number of those eligible for the meeting exceeded one thousand. Most were Dukes and others whom Orion presumed to be Royal Princes.

The number of Marquises who had successfully captured a hundred Earls could be counted on one hand. No Earl had accomplished the task.

By the third day, the battle reached its conclusion.

The number of Marquises present stood at 49. The Dukes, at 3,000. The suspected Royal Princes numbered 400. Altogether, 3,449 Spirit Beasts had completed the task, and all of them were powerful.

A few of them were among the Dukes who had previously confronted him. The rest had taken the binding oath.

Because their numbers were too vast, Orion commanded them to wait outside, choosing not to hold the meeting within the floating island.

Nonetheless, one thing that surprised him was that all this had occurred within just a small corner of the Middle Layer of the Spirit Realm.

He now gained another understanding of why, despite the Divine Corps' efforts in taking over several Spiritual Link Points to build their bases, they hadn't been seen as a threat serious enough to warrant a united response from the Spirit Beasts.

With Transcendent Spirit Beasts acting as a deterrent to any true god attempting to create chaos, they truly had nothing to fear.

As such, a matter like the Divine Corps' invasion was handled solely by the Spirit Beasts Coalition. Even the Vylkr spawns, that had brought calamity upon them time and again, were treated with contempt and left to act as they pleased, so long as they didn't cause abnormal disarray.

Orion once again realised why the Vylkr spawns had chosen to take a different approach by allying with the Spirit Beasts Coalition.

He had gathered a wealth of information regarding the Spirit Beasts Coalition through the spirit beasts around him.

Each one possessed a vast information network, built and maintained over tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of years, allowing them to learn everything they wanted to know.