"Petty. Could it be that you liked him?"
Selene jested as the two stared at Surya's remaining God-Bones. The words pulled a faint smile from Konrad.
"What can I say, talents are becoming a rarity. As a monarch, seeing one fall so soon does unsettle my heart."
Konrad replied while holding his heart with a theatrical head spin.
"Loads of nonsense. The Jade Dynasty teems with talents selected from all corners of an entire Realm, what more do you need?"
Selene rolled her eyes. How could she not see that Konrad was once more trying to cheat her?
"Touché. Bold, sharp and resolute. Though I do not lack Suryas, I did fancy his abilities and feel like there isn't much difference between us. If my strength wasn't that much higher than his, we could have had an interesting competition.
Adelar said it better—Scheming is the method of the weak. We scheme because we are feeble. When strength reaches a certain level, all plots become meaningless—As we step increasingly closer to the end, I somehow regret those days where wit was my sharpest tool, and my opponents as many as swarming ants on a summer night."
Konrad declared while his hands rested on either side of his hips. But hearing those words, Selene shook her head.
"There is nothing wrong with not having to rely on plots. I believe Surya's fondest dream was to possess the absolute strength that would make all his scheming unnecessary. Also, I disagree with one thing. The core similarity between the likes of you and I, is that we separate the world into two categories: Those we care about, and the rest.
The first category we don't harm, the second is fair game. He was different.
When the clutter of ambitions and aspirations replaces the heart, are we threading the road, or are we its puppets? Heartlessness is the slothful road to might. Therefore, I despise him."
Satisfied by Selene's reply, Konrad nodded in approval and turned toward her.
"Well said, beautiful. You must have had an extraordinary instructor."
Knowing who the "instructor" referred to, Selene spun to face Konrad, and bowed with clasped hands, unwittingly giving a direct view to her massive cleavage.
"Only the best."
The words echoed with a playful tinge that didn't escape Konrad. His lips curved into a smirk, and without warning, he yanked Selene by her left arm, and as she lurched onto him, Konrad seized her waist.
"Fawning officials and riveting beauties have always been the bane of great dynasties. Selene, by reaching the top in both areas, are you trying to ruin the state?"
Konrad bantered with a wolfish grin. And as if wronged by the words, Selene pouted, furrowing her brows while pressing her massive rack against Konrad's chest.
"Your majesty, all I am, I owe to your careful nurturing. Even if I must ruin the state, don't I first need your approval?"
As she spoke, Selene batted her eyelashes with suggestive glances and pressed her chest harder against Konrad's. His grasp around her waist tightened while the gleam of desire shone in his eyes. From beneath his pants, Selene could feel Konrad's rod harden, rising against the fabric to press her thigh.
"Good that you know. The trial period is over. It's high time you officially join the household."
Konrad declared, and without further ado, took Selene's lips into his for an impromptu, slurpy smooch.
……
Meanwhile, alarmed by Surya's last flame pillar, low-level deities from the Primal Sun Domain rushed toward the sect's ruins and were startled to see their holy land ruined beyond recognition. Hundreds of thousands of corpses littered the desolate ground as the lingering cry of wronged souls permeated the atmosphere. And in the middle of all this carnage, the Sun God's skeleton remained. None could comprehend the source of this calamity, and dumbfounded, those minor deities stared helplessly at one another.
But this was merely the beginning. Soon, the Heaven Warding Temple dispatched a team of Brahma Gods that arrived to determine the truth of the events. After combining their Eye of Illumination with Seer's Vision, those Brahma Gods came to the same result:
"In his haste to break through to the next level, the Sun God suffered cultivation deviation, was demonized, and turned against his sect, slaughtering all without exception before immolating himself."
The Brahma Gods declared, and waved their hands, weaving a Truth Projection that showcased the events following Surya's "deviation." At first, none could believe that after billions of years of cultivation, the mighty Sun God would suddenly go astray, break through on the Sect's sacrifice, and finally immolate himself.
Such a tragic tale had never occurred in the Celestial World. Alas, the images spoke louder than all speculation, certifying the truth of the events.
"What a tragedy. Who could expect that after billions of years of radiant rule, the Primal Sun Sect would end in such a wretched manner?"
"Under his eminence's leadership, the Primal Sun Domain incessantly thrived, leaving the others far behind. Now, without the Primal Sun Sect to protect us, we stand at the mercy of the other domains. Who knows? Perhaps those other Divine and Cardinal Sects will soon come to split both the domain and goods."
"Not necessarily. There is no active Primogen left in Heaven. As long as lord Pandu's group returns from the Myriad Dreams Valley's inauguration, there is room for manoeuver.
Some rationalized. Due to the Life Plate Hall having been ruined, none could see those disciples' current state. Alas, from the various sects' headquarters, other news soon followed. Of all the guests dispatched to the Myriad Dreams Valley's inauguration, not one survived.
Afterward, the Sea Dream Temple spread the news, that under the guise of congratulatory visit, the Primal Sun Sect attempted a coup, but though supported by the various guests, was defeated. The clash saw the deaths of all "guests" alongside legions of promising Sea Dream disciples. This time, the Heaven Warding Temple didn't care to corroborate the news, for at this point, it mattered not.
Of course, even if they wished to, they could only see what Konrad allowed them to.
Again, Heaven's power sphere had experienced seismic changes. The Divine Sects could no longer live up to the name, and of the remaining Cardinal Sects, only the Sea Dream Temple still stood strong.
The Heaven Warding Temple aside, they could suppress all. With the banner of retribution, the Sea Dream Temple dispatched troops to secure the remains of the Primal Sun Sect.
With the warden unable to interfere and Rati's promotion as Legendary Goddess, the Heaven Warding Temple couldn't take a strong stance. Seizing the momentum, the Sea Dream Temple and Myriad Dreams Valley used the alleged guests' involvement to annex all Divine Domains. Their ruling sects quickly capitulated, with Konrad-controlled elders rebelling, and offering both direct access and treasury to the invader.
In any case, with the Myriad Dreams Valley's superior might, they couldn't offer much resistance. In a flash from thirteen domains, Heaven only contained four, with the Sea Dream Domain now occupying more than 70% of the Celestial Realm. Little did the world know that while they'd not officially bowed, the Radiant Light Mountain – whose entire elder council had been invaded with Devil Seeds – also stood within Konrad's control.
In the meantime, Konrad led Selene back into his chambers to finish the day on a steamy note.
