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."

Every two years, the Eight Sanctums convened for a grand Conclave. The titans of the martial world would meet, Elders would parley, and the most elite Initiates from each Sanctum would clash in brutal tournament combat.

This tradition had been upheld for centuries—it was their way of reasserting their dominance over the Northlands.

Over time, the Conclave of the Eight Sanctums became the most critical political and martial summit in the region. The combat tournament was no longer just a display; it became the definitive stage to unveil the next generation of absolute monsters. The top five combatants of each Conclave were not only showered with legendary artifacts but bestowed with official titles of immense power.

Anyone who claimed a title at the Conclave would instantly become a legend across the Northlands.

Thus, each Sanctum brought their absolute best, fighting tooth and nail for the highest ranks while fiercely analyzing the prodigies of their rivals.

The performance of these Initiates directly reflected the future military potential of their respective factions. The birth of a single peerless genius could single-handedly shift the balance of power in the decades to come.

Serac’s smile never wavered. "For the past three consecutive Conclaves, not a single Initiate from the Azure Sky Sanctum has breached the top five. You barely even managed to scrape into the top ten. Is the Azure Sky Sanctum entering an era of decline? Have you lost the ability to forge champions? Or are the other seven Sanctums simply leaving you in the dust?"

"You sit in the Serpent King's Dominion yet keep such a close eye on us. How thoughtful. But a few poor showings at the Conclave are hardly enough to shake the bedrock of the Azure Sky Sanctum."

"It may not shake your foundation, but it certainly shatters your pride. However, it seems there is finally a glimmer of hope. With Lyra's monstrous talent, securing a spot in the top five should be effortless. I am here to offer the Dominion's congratulations in advance."

The Sanctum Master and the Elders exchanged suspicious glances. 'Congratulations in advance'? Since when did the Serpent King's Dominion give a damn about the Sanctum's prestige?

"There have been... misunderstandings between the Dominion and the Sanctum in the past. Our relationship has been fraught with friction. The Serpent King personally dispatched me this time to extend an olive branch. What say you, Senior?"

The Sanctum Master did not immediately respond. He was carefully dissecting Serac's true motives. In their youth, he and Serac had been close. But after Serac abandoned the Sanctum twenty years ago to carve his own path in blood, his mind had twisted into something dark and unrecognizable. They drifted apart, and over a decade ago, Serac pledged his soul to the Serpent King's Dominion, slaughtering his former brothers to prove his loyalty.

Over the years, Serac had grown terrifyingly powerful, his rank within the Dominion skyrocketing until he was crowned one of the Seven Champions, becoming the absolute right hand of the Serpent King. His name struck fear across the entire Northlands. Yet, in all that time, he had never once returned to beg forgiveness, nor had he ever tried to mend the severed ties. Why this sudden urge for peace? And why bring the young prince along for an 'apology'?

Serac waited patiently before continuing. "The young prince has always harbored a deep admiration for the Azure Sky Sanctum. Since this is his first visit, would Senior be so kind as to assign an Initiate to give him a tour of your majestic grounds?"

The Sanctum Master gestured to a guard outside to arrange a guide.

"We will speak more later." Lord Cassian stood up, offered a perfunctory bow, subtly exchanged a look with Serac, and strode out of the grand hall.