The barrier that imprisoned the hotel and its immediate surroundings looked exactly similar to that of the one used against the immortal, although quite weaker.
"Is it those demigod beasts or is it someone else?" Mark couldn't help but wonder. At the very least, he was sure that he was likely the target, but was it for the items or something else? It's another question that needs to be solved.
His suspicions soon came to an end as the perpetrators came forward. They made quite an entry.
A portal appeared out of nowhere and golden armored knights started walking out of it in an orderly fashion.
They were roughly around 100 in number and each of their cultivation is at 6-circle realm.
Qing Jie was filled with nervousness as he saw them, "It's the Gold Dragon Knights division."
"Do you know them?" Mark asked after hearing that. While there has never been an Empire in the rest of the continents with such a powerful army, they still don't seem strong to Mark. Just Sylvandria is enough to wipe them out. Is there a need to have such a reaction? He wondered.
Qing Jie answered with an explanation, "The Dragon Empire's knights were divided into four divisions; White Dragon, Blue Dragon, Black Dragon, and the Red Dragon. Above those, there is a special division that solely serves the Imperial Sovereign, the highest-ranked military officer, and also the one who had the same status as the Emperor since ancient times.
Well, not in a literal sense. The Emperor can still order the Imperial Sovereign. It is like, if the Emperor is the symbol of authority, the Imperial Sovereign is considered the symbol of power.
Except during wartime, or to crush a rebellion from one of the vassal states, the entire Gold Dragon Knight division was never deployed before.
The Gold Dragon Knights were here, meaning the Imperial Sovereign must be arriving."
"Is he a demigod?" Mark asked a simple question after hearing all that bullshit.
Qing Jie shook his head, "No, he isn't. He is a Supreme Being, but it is said that he possessed one of the five heaven-grade weapons that exist in the world.
And guess what, its rank is listed as 2nd." After conversing with Mark for the past few days, he already realized that Mark might have power, wealth, and background, but with minuscule knowledge of the world outside the Vermilion bird continent.
In his view, Mark was like a giant dragon quietly sleeping in its mountains ever since its birth and just decided to explore the world.
Hence, he didn't try to give half-baked information, "As the last disciple of the Empire's founder, the current Imperial Sovereign is said to be powerful enough to fight on equal footing with a demigod. His Knights were also said to be strongest among their peers.
Mark's companions, the two 8-circle realm generals, the Gold Dragon Knights, and the mage that erected the barrier and currently watching the scene in hiding, everyone who witnessed it was stunned by the sudden development.
In a couple of seconds, all the knights had their right knee touch the ground with their heads bowed down.
Mark silently stared at him for ten seconds before opening his mouth, "How did you find out?"
"Your mother was here," replied the young-looking century-old man in calmness after getting up. His subordinates followed suit.
Mark's facial expression changed all of a sudden.
The Imperial Sovereign saw extreme coldness in Mark's eyes as the latter asked, "Is your allegiance with that shameless woman that kept on claiming to be my mother?" The hatred in Mark's heart erupted for no reason and he didn't even hesitate to speak such disrespectful words for the woman who gave him birth, although abandoned him.
However, the Imperial Sovereign was calm. He shook his head, "No, I'm not in allegiance with her." As Mark calmed down a bit, Fu Sheng continued, "A few days ago, Elder Lan Jing was here to meet me to convince me to join him in returning to our homeland. Coincidentally, our meeting was disrupted by Lady Lan. It was then I found out about your existence.
Now that I have seen you in person, I'm feeling as if Patriarch Lan returned to life."
While Mark no longer seemed angry, the frown had yet to disappear from his face, "If you want to meet me, why do you need to make such an entry? You could meet me in private."
Fu Sheng's jaw clenched, his usually warm expression replaced by a stern mask. His gaze turned steely as he spoke, "My daughter's imposter and her husband met a cruel fate at the hands of hired assassins, orchestrated by the Imperial family. You, my friend, were unfairly framed for those murders." He paused, a heavy sigh escaping him.
"The acting emperor, seeking vengeance for the late emperor, believes you're the culprit. Yet, as the Imperial Sovereign, I'm bound by an oath to serve the Emperor. It's a duty I can't rebel against, but my heart no longer bears allegiance to this empire."
With a determined look, he continued, "Before I depart from this place, I must make a resolute statement. The Empire must realize the truth and dare not act against you."
He knelt once again on the ground, this time, both of his knees touching it, "Whatever the young master wishes, I, Fu Sheng, and my knights will follow from this moment. We will shed our blood for you and we will shed the blood of your enemies on your order. All I desire is to return home with my daughter and my grandson."
*Ding!
As soon as Fu Sheng was done with his explanation, the familiar sound of notification was heard in Mark's ears.
"Oh boy, I don't know if I'm lucky that I got a strong subordinate out of nowhere or unlucky that I can't claim the celestial-grade weapon..." Mark sighed inwardly.