Chapter 632: Zenith.

Alliance Leader Ma sat on a simple wooden chair in the meeting hall while Master Strategist Ogun stood beside him. There were seven people in the room with them, old people from different big clans that had devoted themselves to people beyond their own clans. Most of them were former patriarchs and the rest were former elders of the clans. They were chosen not only based on their pure hearts and scholar-like personality , but also on their way of thinking. However, the most important part was that they had to achieve something called enlightenment, ascending them from normal martial arts and becoming Grandmasters. They were called the Seven Zenith.

Ogun had shared all the reports that could shake the whole continent with the Seven Zenith. ‎The issues were too much to handle even for them because each issue had a big enough impact to bring instability. The inevitable war between the empire and the Sultans, the appearance of a Grandmaster from the Demonic Cult and the moment of Demonic Cult, Anastsha Asghar who had roamed the empire, and the guests she brought with her.

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‎"As I have stated before, I will ask for an audience with the emperor and try to persuade his Majesty to delay the war. With all these issues appearing one after another, the war should get affected if the Demonic Cult made their moves and the appearance of an Asghar family member. I hope that His Majesty will reconsider his decision to wage a war with the Sultans," Ma said as he looked at everyone in the room with a serious expression.

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‎Most of the Zenith weren’t convinced, they still found the solution was lacking. However, they would do the same if they were in Ma’s shoes because that was the best solution they could think of at the moment.

"Alliance Leader, the emperor wouldn’t even consider the Demonic Cult as a threat. All this time the officials have never done anything to them because the Demonic Cult still obeys the laws and understands their position in the empire. The imperial family never made a fuss about them because the Demonic Cult still seen as loyal subjects to the imperial family," Jin said as he looked at Ma with concern. Jin was the former patriarch of the Sanggu Clan, one of the five great clans among the big clans. He was bestowed the title as Sword Emperor, the Gentle Swordman Jin.

"We received our freedom and the imperial family is generous enough to bestow on our clans and other clans so many lands to maintain and develop. Anything that happens within those lands, we are the ones who are responsible for maintaining its peace. Everyone is proven innocent until proven guilty, Alliance Leader. If the Demonic Cult only hunts martial artists, the official will turn a blind eye because of that agreement with the imperial family," Magura added. Magura was an elder from the Isagani Clan, one of the five great clans just like the Sanggu Clan. He was bestowed the title as Crescent Moon, the Invincible Spearman Magura.

Everyone nodded in agreement with those two because they all had the same opinion about Ma approaching the emperor. Of course, Ma and Ogun already knew about that, and the issue with the Demonic Cult wouldn’t even make the imperial family bat an eye. However, it wasn’t the main factor in persuading the emperor to delay the war.

"Alliance Leader, I believe you have something under your sleeves that will help you solve this situation. Mind if you shared it with us?" Yuna asked, her voice was quiet that almost hard to understand even when the room was quiet. Yuna, the youngest among the Zenith, and she was neither a former matriarch or elder of a clan, she was the daughter of the former patriarch of the Guma Clan, one of the big clans, not one of the great clans. She was the youngest to reach enlightenment in her era and was known as the Moon Lady, Empress of the Blades Yuna.

Everyone looked at Yuna and before they turned their heads to look at Ma who seemed to already know the issue before Jin and Magura mentioned it.

"As I have mentioned earlier. Any of you know who the guests that came with Anastasha Asghar are? Especially when I mentioned the name Rasmus Blackheart?" Ogun asked.

All the Zenith looked at each other and they were unaware of that name, not even in the slightest.

"Everyone here is well-known, respected and even feared by some. In this continent nobody who doesn’t know all of you, but outside this continent, the names might not even mean anything to them," Ogun spoke gently, using his hand gestures to emphasize his words. "On the other hand, Rasmus Blackheart is a name that has reached every continent," he revealed as he stared into everyone’s eyes. "Forgive my bluntness for saying this, but even with everyone’s reputation here, comparing to him, you are all just frogs in the well," he added.

The Zenith made various expressions, some narrowed their eyes, some raised their brows, some furrowed their brows. They were surprised that Ogun would say something like that toward them, but they knew Ogun and his peerless knowledge that they didn’t find it insulting but humbling.

"Enlighten us, Master Strategist," Tenzin lowered his head to Ogun. Tenzin was an elder from the Sihan Clan, a clan who was respected even among the unrighteous clans that even criminals would find themselves unpleasant when they were around the people of Sihan Clan. Sihan Clan was known for their selflessness who helped everyone without questioning their background. Tenzin was an elder, and he was given a title as Hand of Light, the Monk Tenzin.

Ogun pulled out a scroll from under his robe’s sleeve and read the information he had gathered from merchants that had spent their time on different continents. It wasn’t an easy task, but he could manage to gather all of them so effortlessly. He then began to reveal every known achievement of Rasmus Blackheart from being the Hero who saved South Neva from complete destruction to demons with power that could take over the continent in a single night. The achievement where he fought Satan and prevented the annihilation of Central Neva, the being that made the demons who threatened South Neva become pale in comparison. The achievement where Rasmus defeated the ressurected True Dragon in West Neva and put Demonic Beasts almost in extinction that had threatened West Neva for centuries.

Each achievement was spoken by Ogun, the Zenith and even Alliance Leader Ma slowly felt smaller and smaller until they felt like their achievements were like a child who was proud of themselves from creating a lump of dirt believing it was a castle in their backyards. After Ogun finished reading all the information he had gathered, he looked at everyone in the room.

"There’s another thing. He’s not alone, he came here with his wives, at least that was what people called those women. They’re Aris, the Aristoria of the Orthias race, a Saint of the past, Serena, and a woman whose origin remains unknown, yet whose power is said to rival Lady Aris and Rasmus Blackheart," Ogun revealed before everyone could even breath after holding their breath for too long. "And they’re here with Anastasha Asghar, a family that has known to control the continent even with that small piece of land they soverign," he added.

The Zenith finally understood and knew it would be enough to convince the emperor if Ma decided to reveal this information.

"The Emperor wouldn’t look over this matter once mentioned, not when the scale is this big," Sunni muttered as she put her fingers under her chin. Sunni was the former matriarch of the Somachi Clan, one of the Great Clans. She was known as Peerless Sky, the Hidden Blades Sunni.

"Do we even need to worry about the emperor’s opinion anymore when we already know who are these people are?" Woon looked at Sunni with his brows furrowed. "Knowing them is one thing, but knowing their intentions is another thing entirely," Woon was nothing like the other Zenith, he wasn’t affiliated with any clans, and he belonged to no clans, he was a man who had climbed the walls and gained reputation across East Neva with his achievements and martial art from a mysterious Grandmaster. He was known as the Shapeless Blade Woon.

Everyone nodded in agreement because the matter was bigger than Khan Empire could handle.

"Wouldn’t it be wise to invite them here and find that out ourselves?" Rukan suggested. Rukan, the oldest Zenith, a former patriarch and elder of the Guan Clan, the most powerful clan in Khan Empire. He was known across East Neva, and even the imperial family acknowledged his martial art and mind, known as the Sword of Heaven Rukan.

Alliance Leader Ma cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention.

"We should focus on one thing at a time. With the information you all have received, we need to prevent the war from happening first. The war is the biggest opportunity for all the variables to make a move, and if we can prevent the war, there will be no unpredictable moves from them," Ma concluded as he looked them in the eyes.

Everyone nodded in agreement.