The Sovereign Chronicles novel Chapter 27

Late at night, Kaelen returned to the foot of Mount Veridia. The roaring, which had just been suppressed, echoed through the depths of the mountain once again. Looking into the distance, golden light flickered and dense fog surged, accompanied by the faint rumble of shattering earth.

Kaelen took a few tentative steps forward. The roaring instantly turned violent, making the entirety of Mount Veridia tremble.

"What exactly is imprisoned in there?"

Kaelen began to feel uneasy. Who would dare approach such a monstrous entity? Could its constant beckoning be an attempt to seize *The Netherward Blade* from him?

"You again!" Linnea materialized from the shadows, her tone devoid of its usual frosty courtesy.

"What is in there?" Kaelen demanded.

"Do not ask questions above your station. Fall back!"

"The great Azure Sky Sanctum can't even keep a single beast on a leash? Why are you letting it scream?"

"Fall back!!"

"It's interrupting my sleep. You'd better deal with it." Kaelen pointed a warning finger at Mount Veridia, then turned and walked away.

Linnea was left speechless. But then, the inexplicable happened again—the moment Kaelen left, the violent roaring abruptly ceased.

The next morning, Kaelen finished his delivery run and, hoisting an empty stone vat, wandered back to the perimeter of Mount Veridia. The instant he arrived, the roars erupted from the mountain's depths once more. Though not as apocalyptic as the night before, it was loud enough to shake four or five neighboring peaks and alarm thousands of Initiates.

Panic began to spread. Usually, the beast only raged in the dead of night. What was happening today?

Having deliberately provoked the mountain, Kaelen immediately turned and left. As soon as he was out of range, the roaring faded into total silence.

For several days straight, Kaelen would randomly stroll near Mount Veridia, triggering the roars every single time. He was sending a clear message to whatever was locked inside: *Stop calling me, I'm not going in!* It was also his way of pressuring the Sanctum's Elders to finally fix the damn problem. But the rest of the Sanctum remained entirely in the dark, and even the Elders began to panic, wondering if the containment was failing. Should they initiate emergency protocols?

Today, a highly unusual delegation arrived at the base of the Azure Sky Sanctum.

Eight men and women, mounted on eight magnificent Black Tiger-Steeds, halted before the towering main gates. They looked up at the colossal mountain peak where three archaic characters were carved into the stone: The Azure Sky Sanctum.

"The Azure Sky Sanctum. This is my first time gracing this place." The young man at the forefront wore opulent robes embroidered with gold, exuding an air of extreme nobility, though his python-patterned cloak hung wide open, giving him a wild, untamed swagger. He possessed a towering, muscular physique, bronzed skin, and sharply defined, deep-set features. A cocky smirk played at the corner of his mouth.

"The Azure Sky Sanctum is one of the Eight Sanctums of the Northlands. Though they prefer to keep a low profile, they have thrived for centuries and possess deep, ancient foundations." The man to his left had completely white hair, yet it was immaculately combed. His garments were pristine and luxurious, showing not a single speck of dust from their long journey. His face was fair and unblemished, showing zero signs of old age, and his entire demeanor radiated sharp, lethal efficiency.

"I am only here for this Lyra. Let us hope she does not disappoint." The young man spurred his steed forward.

Initiates stationed at the main gate had already spotted them and rushed forward to intercept. "Halt! Dismount! You stand before the Azure Sky Sanctum."

The young man continued to ride his Black Tiger-Steed directly toward them. The massive beast raised its head arrogantly, showing no intention of slowing down. The rest of the entourage followed closely, radiating the same disdainful pride, completely ignoring the perimeter guards.

The Sanctum Initiates were about to draw their steel to deliver a lethal warning when an Upper Initiate commanding the gate suddenly recognized the distinct heraldry embroidered on their cloaks. "The Serpent King's Dominion?"

The young man casually flashed a golden medallion from his waist. "Inform your Sanctum Master. Lord Cassian of the Serpent King's Dominion demands an audience."

The white-haired man beside him smiled faintly. "Serac Vorn of the Serpent King's Dominion, requesting an audience with the Sanctum Master."

The Azure Empyrean Hall, the pinnacle of the main peak.

The Sanctum Master and several high-ranking Elders were personally waiting within.

The Serpent King's Dominion matched the Azure Sky Sanctum in both raw power and influence, but in terms of political backing and pure aristocratic hierarchy, they sat slightly higher on the food chain.

"Senior, it has been far too long." The white-haired man let out a soft chuckle and bowed respectfully toward the Sanctum Master seated upon the high throne.

The Sanctum Master’s expression remained glacial. He cast a brief glance at Lord Cassian before speaking in a detached, emotionless tone. "Junior Serac. I trust you have been well."

"Thanks to your continued thoughts, Senior, I have been quite well." Serac took a seat alongside the young prince, then nodded to the Sanctum Elders across the room one by one. "It has been over a decade since I last set foot in the Sanctum. Do my fellow disciples still remember Serac Vorn?"

A female Elder replied coldly, "One of the Seven Champions of the Serpent King's Dominion. 'The Sunfang Wolf', Serac Vorn."

Serac chuckled softly. "I was referring to my identity within the Azure Sky Sanctum."

A slightly heavyset Elder blew on the tea leaves in his goblet and took a slow sip. "From the day you abandoned the Azure Sky Sanctum, you ceased to be one of us."

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