Back in Sam's city.

Arc is still in the meeting room with Sam. He wanted to persuade Sam to not push too far, but he felt that his words made sense, but he quickly lost in thoughts about his own weakness.

If he really is strong, he should have been able to not care about the whole situation from the major associations at all and let Sam do what he wants.

The towers are indeed arrogant for their own good. They control many things in society.

And all that stemmed from these associations. His father tried to free the empire from the influence of the central continent. He didn't like being a subordinate of the thunder god temple.

But he died of old age. Cultivators wouldn't have kids when they are in their twenties, with the breakthrough past the Nascent stage, their life span changes and they have a completely different take on their youth.

A transcendent will stay in his youth for over a century.

Arc also wanted to try his best to get out the influence of the thunder god temple.

But for that, he has to reach the Consummate realm. With all his ability, all he was able to reach was the Peak of the middle-stage of Transcendent.

He is seeing improvement, but he couldn't find himself breaking through anytime sooner.

But is just breaking through that realm is enough? He doesn't know. Because the weakest head of a major power is a middle-stage consummate realm cultivator.

Even if he reached the initial stage, he wouldn't stand a chance against the thunder god temple.

As he was drifted in his thoughts, a small tapping sound brought him back.

Sam's finger tapped on the table and he asked Arc.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing much. It is just how pathetic I am. Sam, you tell me. Am I destined to stay like this? Being an emperor only in name and only doing their bidding."

Sam didn't reply and just looked at him. Arc started chugging glass after glass of wine and let it go to his head without using his spiritual energy.

He was being thrown around by the thunder god temple and almost turned into an errand boy since the Old One's incident.

He wanted to get drunk. Drown his sorrows in the wine.

He paused his drink and said to Sam.

"Sam, you are the person I envy the most. You are actually, a young man, a puny teenager who came this far on your own. Even the major powers don't dare mess with you.

If only I have the same level of abilities you have and the same level of intelligence you possess, I would have succeeded in changing my fate.

I am sick of being a puppet."

He downed another glass. Sam didn't say anything to him. He didn't drink any wine either. He normally wouldn't drink alcohol. Only when he is overthinking and his brain and the thoughts within overwhelms him would he drink so that he could numb the mind and rest.

He looked at Arc deeply and thought for some time, before finally opening his mouth.

"How about a chance to escape this fate?"

Arc was stunned and shook his head. Trying to sober up.

"Did I hear you right?"

"A chance. How about it?"

"What do you mean?"

"I will give you a chance to become a Consummate realm, to create a power solely led by you. I don't care about how you rule or what you rule. All I ask is that I want to use that place as my base. How about it? Do you want it?"

"Such a chance wouldn't come for free, right? What is the price?"

"Loyalty."

Arc frowned; he didn't know how to prove his loyalty. But he can understand, where Sam is coming from. At this moment, what Sam needs are loyal people around him.

Even if it was loyalty, to what extent does he have to be loyal to Sam.

If he has to maintain the relationship the same as the one with the thunder god temple, then he doesn't have to do that right? He can just stay in the present situation.

Sam placed a Crimson red pill and placed it on the table.

"This is a Pill of Servitude. If you want to stay loyal to me, take it.

I am doing this because I cannot trust anyone at this moment. You might think, you are going to be my puppet. But that is not exactly true.

Because, for one, I don't have any intentions of controlling territory and ruling an empire. I would rather do business.

As for what I will give you, it is only fair that I explain it as well.

From what I observed, the main thing that is making the Transcendent stage cultivator is lacking is not the talent or resources. But guidance.

There are not many Consummate realm cultivators in the world and in every generation, only less than ten cultivators appeared.

Anything regarding that realm was completely sealed off by the major powers making it hard for normal Transcendent stage cultivators to breakthrough. In fact, it has become nigh impossible.

But, I have a way to grant you that guidance and I am pretty sure, even the major powers wouldn't have access to that level of guidance"

Arc went into a deep through and took a deep breath.

"If you don't trust me, why should I trust you?"

"I don't have an answer for that, you might feel this is unfair, but there is one thing I am sure of, If I want to destroy you, I don't need to play the trust game and all, I can kill you anytime I want and if I really wanted to take over the empire. I would have taken over it by now.

All I really want is a peaceful place to stay with and if you become a Consummate realm cultivator, you will be acting as a form of deterrent.

So, simply put you cannot do anything but trust me.

The same couldn't be reciprocated for obvious reasons. My enemies are too big. So, big that it is laughable that someone of my age and strength being their enemy.

If I place trust in you and you betray me, I would lose everything that I worked hard for.

Even if you are an emperor, that makes you more vulnerable in face of threats. At the end of the day, you will think of me as a single young man. And if the question came if you have to sacrifice me or your imperial family, it is easier to see who you will pick.

My distrust in you lies in your weakness. I hope you understand."

Sam didn't speak further after this.

He had laid out the situation entirely.

Sam gets nothing from the empire even if he destroyed. There is nothing the empire can offer that he cannot get himself.

But he really needs a Consummate realm cultivator. He could just bring a Raiju to the city, but that would make it hard for him to keep the tempest valley a secret, and even such, he doesn't want to use such a force for trivialities.

He would try his best to get out of his situation himself. Unless he was completely cornered he wouldn't resort to using the strength of Raijus directly.

But Arc is going through a rollercoaster of emotions.

He doesn't know what to say, in fact, he doesn't have any words to refute Sam. Because he is exactly right.

At this moment, it is still okay because they don't have too close of a relationship. It is just Arc's slip of the tongue to vent his frustration in front of Sam.

But if Sam really helps him and trusts him, he would become a vulnerability to Sam.

Because, on the surface, he still has to follow the thunder god temple's orders. Sam couldn't be sure without any form of reassurance.

But he also has his reservations. What if Sam really wanted to gain control of the empire.

If he really used the pill's effect to gain that, then Arc would be the one at the losing end.

Sam looked outside the window and watched the sunrise.

He stood up and stretched his body a bit.

"I have something to do. If you agree, you can take the pill, and if you don't, handover the pill to Philip before you leave."

Sam then went to the Arena where Arman is. By this time, Arman already lost his will. He is living like a dead man.

And now, Sam is not just beating the crap out of him, rather bullying him. Forcing him to do things and punishing if he didn't do as he was told.

This is also happening every day in front of an audience.

This day was just like any other day, but this time Arman couldn't hold himself and started crying.

Sam kicked him on his head and said.

"Who said you could cry? I don't want to see those tears?" Arman hurriedly wiped his eyes.

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