No one remained in the castle. A massive group made of cultivators, hybrids, and magical beasts moved toward the center of the new domain of the Legion.
Similar scenes unfolded in all the other outposts inside the domain. Even the existences in the seventh rank left their positions to attend the massive gathering.
An event like that had never happened after the Legion had started to expand. Some of the weaker troops had never seen their leaders. The organization had even recruited the experts who had ascended from the new landing zones under its control. Its current size had reached incredible proportions.
Multiple groups eventually appeared in the distance as Noah's army continued to march forward. The various teams decided to fuse during the rest of the journey, and Noah had the chance to meet some of his oldest friends.
"I also have a thing or two to say to Heaven and Earth," Flying Demon snorted when he heard Noah's story.
"It's a pity to have missed the chance to inspect the sky," Dreaming Demon continued.
"I wonder if I can purify Heaven and Earth's light and remove the flaws obtained through the forced absorption," Daniel commented.
"If you don't die first," Faith laughed. "I must say, you really have a talent for this. How did you even end up near the sky?"
"It was a trap," Noah explained. "I didn't mention a few complicated details, but you'll learn everything once the meeting starts. I also want to understand what has happened here since I have a few cultivators to hunt."
The Demons, Daniel, and Faith were in the gaseous stage, but their power fell behind June. The latter was close to the breakthrough, while the others would still require a few centuries of training to reach her state.
"The Crystal City didn't make any move," Flying Demon explained. "The secret organization has basically vanished."
"The human forces here didn't want to overcommit," Dreaming Demon continued. "Their priority was the battle on the other side of the Immortal Lands. Most organizations didn't know if Heaven and Earth would have asked for reinforcements, so they kept their best assets hidden. They lost the old human domain because of that."
'What can reinforcements even do when three rank 9 existences rule the battlefield?' Noah thought before focusing on a tall pyre in the distance.
An immense fire that featured multicolored flames burnt at the center of a large plain. Countless experts had occupied different spots of the region while they waited for all the members of the Legion to gather.
Noah couldn't help but note in his mind how big the Legion had become. The organization had been nothing more than a small force living in the Outer Lands. Instead, its current might could make the entire higher plane tremble.
Jordan, Ian, Alexander, and other familiar experts appeared in Noah's sight and didn't hesitate to set off to meet him. The two hybrids had started to approach the breakthrough to the liquid stage in those years, and Noah didn't miss that detail.
"I heard that you caused another mess," Ian shouted once the group approached Noah's team.
"Which isn't surprising," Jordan added.
"We have a lot to discuss," Alexander went straight to the point. "The new size of our domain requires a careful distribution of troops. We also have to reintroduce magical beasts in the environment and plan our next move."
"I think you can enjoy yourself today," Wilfred commented.
"Or we can resume clearing your mental sphere," Noah proposed before June punched his waist.
The various groups eventually landed on the plain and gathered near the massive fire. The countless experts created a horde of powerful cultivators, hybrids, and magical beasts who began drinking and eating.
Only Noah and the other higher-ups decided to occupy a slightly separated spot on the plain to discuss matters that didn't involve the underlings.
"That's a lot," Alexander commented. "Are you sure that Heaven and Earth couldn't touch you anymore? What if that's another trick?"
"I have a theory that has a few blank spots," Noah announced. "The fact that their centers of power separated into three different entities might explain a lot about Heaven and Earth."
"Are you talking about the body?" King Elbas asked.
"Exactly," Noah continued. "What if their body couldn't contain the energy required to reach the tenth rank? A center of power that is about to go past the normal cultivation journey should be enough to generate the Immortal Lands."
"So what?" Jordan asked. "Their centers of power simply split once their body gave up?"
"That's my theory," Noah replied. "I guess that they belonged to a species similar to humans. That might explain why their body failed to endure the breakthrough."
The cultivators in the area fell silent. Except for Fergie and Robert, the other humans didn't receive any physical enhancement. The issue that had afflicted Heaven and Earth could eventually land on them.
"I don't know how this helps us," Ian eventually said.
"This is Heaven and Earth's body," Noah said while placing his hands on the ground. "They will eventually need it for the new attempt to reach the tenth rank, but we have laws that can counter their existence now."
Robert and the Foolery smiled at those words. They had followed Noah's speech closely, so they could vaguely understand the nature of his plan.
"Our domain is only a small part of the higher plane," Noah explained. "The magical beasts' domain is massive, and the Outer Lands are hard to evaluate due to the storms. However, we can start to overrule these areas before slowly infecting the others."
"Do you want to mutate the entire domain?" King Elbas asked as surprise filled his voice.
"Why not?" Noah asked. "It will also help to spread my influence. The entire Legion will benefit from my law once the ground starts radiating my existence."
"The process will take years," Wilfred commented, "But we have years to use. Defeating Heaven and Earth requires drastic measures."
"I wasn't asking for your permission," Noah laughed. "I'll start the process as soon as this meeting ends. Alexander, you should also come with me to take care of the remaining instabilities inside your mind."
Alexander nodded without giving the matter a second thought. Noah was a lifesaver when it came to his innate flaw. The devouring ability of his mental waves could correct Alexander's greatest weakness.
"I only have one question at this point," Jordan announced while pointing toward Sword Saint. "How do we handle him?"
"Handle?" Sword Saint asked.
"You aren't an enemy, but you aren't an ally either," Jordan explained. "You have helped to repay a debt, but I don't know where your loyalty stands now."
"Only the blade deserves my loyalty," Sword Saint replied. "I came here because I also share my deep enmity with Heaven and Earth."
"We can vouch for him," June suddenly stepped into the conversation. "Part of his inheritance has fallen on our Mortal Lands. Noah's techniques prove that."
"I understood that," Jordan continued. "I just don't know his current position."
"I will cut everything on my path until I'm fully able to endure the stormy regions," Sword Saint announced.
"Talking about inheritances," Flying Demon said while scratching his chin. "There is this cultivator. He ascended d some time ago, and the Legion didn't miss the chance to seize him. Still, he kept saying that you were his Master."