The local leaders began to murmur among themselves after Mortimer’s words, some agreeing that this was indeed a problem, even considering that this Spiritual Sage clearly wanted to harm Minos with this.

The supreme elder of the Edwardstone family heard that, but he could not agree, even if he did not like Minos. “Sect Master Burgess, you don’t know the whole situation, so you think the empire is losing from this.

But the truth is that we have a very detailed agreement with sect master Stuart that favors the empire immensely…

Anyway, the Gray Clouds Sect is in no way weakened because of the actions of its master.”

Other people nodded in agreement, knowing that the number of experts in this organization had indeed increased after the changes initiated by Minos.

“Still, I find it strange that he does this in the northern region and not in the territory of the Gray Clouds Sect, supreme elder.” That man in bone armor said, pressing the issue. “If it is for his sect to become stronger, it must be done in the empire and for the sake of the empire.

How can his sect becoming stronger for the good of the Black Plain be of any use to the forces of our state?”

Then Minos said. “Mortimer doesn’t care about the empire. He just wants to dominate this state and is trying to weaken the only force that can genuinely prevent him from achieving his goal.

He knows he can’t act against me in the northern region, or the Spiritual Church will exterminate him. So he desperately wants to decrease the number of experts under my command in my empire.”

Everyone realized this would happen, but Mortimer did not accept Emperor Stuart’s words. “Bullshit!

Are you going to trust the damn bastard who has always acted for his benefit, harming others in his way or a colleague who has walked ‘side by side’ with you for hundreds of years?” He gestured. “Not only that, that bastard is in collusion with the forces of our enemies!

Has anyone here forgotten that he has close relations with the leaders of Rosser and Albano? He has even recently dominated Vogel!

Do you believe that he is not a threat to the empire being so close to our enemies?”

Minos rose from his seat with an ugly expression on his face. “I keep the peace in the Flaming Empire because of these relations…

But you are right about something. I am really close to those states… And I have people capable of activating the sacrificial weapon of that alliance.

So be careful about turning your claws towards my allies, you bastard. I won’t hesitate to kill you if you leave the Flaming Empire’s territory.”

Gulp!

Silence spread after those words, with many looking in surprise at Minos and Mortimer frowning.

One of the reasons Harold did not act personally against those four states was precisely the sacrificial weapon that the kings and queens of their enemy territories could use together.

It could even seriously wound a Spiritual Sage!

But everyone in this place thought such a weapon was lost because of the downfall of the Vogel family and the current situation of the alliance of the three kingdoms with the Black Plain.

Blackrock had not been in agreement with Minos in recent years, and with only two of the four leaders needed to activate that weapon, they should not be able to muster the strength for such an action.

However, Minos was not a naive fool who would act without having alternative plans!

When he found out about that weapon, the first thing he did was to put into his mind a plan to develop a cultivator capable of jointly activating such a weapon with the leaders of those three states.

Thus, when he took over the leadership of the alliance of those territories against the Flaming Empire, he had gained access to the techniques needed for such a thing and had one of his subordinates master such thing.

After more than a decade, such a person had enough power to successfully trigger such a weapon, even if its power was less than it would have been if King Vogel was still around.

With that, he had this weapon prepared to use against Mortimer if he set foot outside the Flaming Empire and went to one of those states.

‘Bastard! Did you really get that?’ The supreme elder of the Saints Killing Sect wondered as he looked terribly at Minos.

Even Isabella was surprised by Minos’ actions, which showed that he was also prepared for her family.

“Minos…”

Minos then said to everyone. “Don’t misunderstand. This weapon was never in my plans to use against experts from the Flaming Empire but to protect myself from outside opponents.

It’s just a coincidence that someone in this state has become strong enough to be the target of it.”

“Minos, you truly are vile!

Even when you become a local organization leader, you act for the sake of the empire’s enemies!” Mortimer said angrily, shouting. “Supreme elder Edwardstone, this is a clear indication of treason!

I ask that the position of the sect master Stuart be reviewed!”

“Yes, we should unite against the traitors of the Gray Clouds Sect and invade the four northern territories to stop the threats to the empire!”

“With our sect master, no one else will be able to threaten the empire’s security!”

The high-level elders of the Saints Killing Sect advocated these ideas.

The people in the surrounding area began to become uncertain which side to be on, knowing that Mortimer was a clear threat, but seeing how Minos’ actions could also harm them.

They already expected the worst from Mortimer if this man reached the 9th stage. But of Minos, some doubted whether he would cause chaos or bring peace to the state.

But from the actions his own words seemed to indicate he was taking, they could already see a Minos far worse than Mortimer!

Minos realized the situation and said to everyone in the surrounding area. “This person is trying to disunite us to facilitate his domination. War will be inevitable if you believe his words and take his side.

I assure you, Mortimer Burgess does not have a promising future. He will not even reach level 81 before he dies.

At that time, peace will return to the Flaming Empire, and those who side with him now will have the future of becoming nutrients for my black holes!

Do not desire war. You will not win!” He said soberly, trying to show these people that the future would be worse if they feared the short-term threat.

Everyone knew that Minos could kill them there now if he activated one of his techniques fusions and created a black hole. So no one tried to counteract him, creating a sepulchral silence in that arena.

In the midst of this, the members of the imperial family felt left out of the conversations, for the first time in a long time, depending on other people to decide their fate.

But they had no choice but to accept this momentarily, siding with Minos, while the opposition sided with Mortimer.

On this day, the division of the Flaming Empire into two great factions would be born, which would mark the beginning of a not-so-long but very complicated period for this state!