"Their Young Master is also a top-level genius who can compete with Sean Thundervale and your mother. They're obviously gathering wealth for their Young Master," Grace answered.

"Is that all?"

Richard didn't believe a mere genius could act so brazenly.

Grace shook her head and added, "Do you know that in the Land of Human, there is a faction even more terrifying than the combined power of several top-level factions? They're even considered one of the most terrifying in the entire world."

"There's something like that?" Richard truly had never heard of such a thing.

"Of course… They're simply hidden. And they have produced five Grand Sovereigns. The first three were produced in three consecutive eras. Do you remember the Aether Magic Shop? Its owner should also be a member of that faction. The Young Master of the Dark Abyss Clan is the candidate they will support in this era."

Grace, who was usually calm, even looked slightly uneasy when speaking of this faction.

"Five?" Richard repeated, his voice trembling slightly at the number Grace mentioned.

Apparently, even the owner of the Aether Magic Shop—who owned large stores in the biggest cities of every region without anyone daring to disturb them—was part of this faction.

"Yes, five. They also have many Ancient Sovereigns. To oppose their candidate is to oppose the faction with the greatest number of powerful magi. Historically, it takes a grand alliance to face them. Only a few individuals have ever suppressed them, but destroying them is practically impossible."

"What is the name of this faction?" Richard asked.

He had read countless books, yet there was no record of this faction at all.

Were people truly too afraid to even write about them?

"Order of the Heaven Emperor. Its founder was the Heaven Emperor Grand Sovereign."

"Sounds extremely domineering," Richard remarked.

"They are dominating…"

"But is the Young Master of the Dark Abyss Clan really exceptional enough to become their candidate?"

"Who knows? Everything about him is still just rumors. But the Order of the Heaven Emperor would never embarrass themselves by supporting a mediocre candidate. Richard, for this enemy, it's better if you restrain yourself. It would be disastrous if the Order of the Heaven Emperor appeared above the Holy Star Kingdom."

Grace's tone carried a serious warning.

"That will be difficult," Richard replied quietly.

His personality wasn't one that easily backed down. Until now, he had never truly feared any group because he had strong supporters—Aldric Moonshadow, the Fire Spirit Queen, both Ancient Sovereigns and previous era Grand Sovereign candidates.

Those two alone weren't enough to make him arrogant.

But there was also the Skylight Clan, a truly formidable group.

Even if the clan demanded he fight his own battles, if he were pushed too far, he didn't believe they would stand idly by.

However, if he clashed with the Order of the Heaven Emperor, Richard knew the conflict would become enormous—and he wouldn't be on the advantageous side.

Grace didn't say anything more. She clearly didn't intend to lecture him; she wasn't that kind of woman.

After crossing the border, Richard walked to the front of the flying ark.

He needed to observe the location based on the information provided by the White Ancestor.

It should be surrounded by active volcanic mountains.

Richard did see many volcanoes, but they were scattered in different areas.

To have a clearer view, he increased the altitude of his ark, observing more carefully.

This land was extremely vast—too vast to imagine.

Some mountains even stood atop an even larger mountain.

As he continued to observe, he finally saw a ring of volcanoes in the distance, spewing hot smoke into the sky.

"It should be there," he thought.

He felt confident, as several of the volcanoes matched the shapes described by the White Ancestor.

At the center of the volcanic ring, Richard saw a wide, rocky terrain.

It was filled with black stones that appeared extremely hot—likely stones expelled by the volcanoes.

It was certainly a deserted area. No one knew it would soon become a Spirit Nature Mine.

Spirit Nature Mines always appeared suddenly—or more accurately, surfaced from deep underground to a specific place on the surface.

Usually, the path was already formed underground, but only a powerful Magus could detect it.

Of course, when the mine emerged, the disturbance would be massive, making it easy for people nearby to notice.

Before that happened, Richard needed to prepare something so the mine would belong only to him, while everyone else could only watch.

Whoosh!

Richard's ark quickly arrived above the area.

Grace still didn't know the purpose of their trip here. She simply followed him.

Even after looking at the rocky land below, Grace didn't notice anything particularly special.

"This will become a Spirit Nature Mine…" Richard told her.

Since they had arrived, Grace deserved to know their goal.

"Really?" Grace seemed surprised.

"It will appear soon. If not tomorrow, then the next day," Richard replied.

"And I want the mine to be mine."

"Do you already have a plan?" Grace asked.

Richard shook his head, causing Grace to roll her eyes.

"Many people will want it. You definitely can't claim it for yourself."

"That's why I want you to help me think of a way," Richard said with a bitter smile.

Although Grace looked like she wanted to shake her head again, she instead rested a hand on her chin, thinking seriously—her red eyes slightly narrowing as she observed the ground below.

While Grace was deep in thought, suddenly another flying ark appeared, causing Richard to knit his brows.

It slowed down abruptly.

On its hull, he saw the name of a clan: Dark Abyss Clan.

Richard noticed a group of young men standing atop the ark, with an old man next to the young man who seemed to be their leader.

The young man had black hair similar to Richard's.

His body was somewhat thin, his skin dark.

Richard suspected he wasn't the Young Master Grace had mentioned, because this young man was only at the World Realm.

He was only wary of the old man—clearly a Lord, though likely a low-level one.

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