Chapter 278: The Seven Banes

Heaven’s Sovereign Throne.

The mountain upon which the King’s castle of the Hundred Sky Mountains stood was inhabited only by servants responsible for maintaining the grand castle and its surroundings. The castle itself would open only when Voltrex—the King—summoned all key members of the Seven Banes to make an announcement or issue an order that everyone was bound to follow.

In his countless years of reign, the number of times Voltrex had used the Sovereign Throne could be counted on the fingers of two hands. Unless absolutely necessary, Voltrex allowed the Sect Masters of each Bane to manage their respective clans in their own ways.

The last time the gates of Heaven’s Sovereign Throne were opened was two and a half years ago. On that day, Voltrex announced the birth of the God and heir to the Sovereign Throne of the Hundred Sky Mountains. Some congratulated the King on that auspicious occasion, some remained neutral, while others openly showed their discontent toward the god.

Voltrex had intended to use the throne again one and a half years ago to announce the birth of the Goddess, but Aurelion had requested otherwise. He did not want his daughter’s life to be placed at risk by jealous or overly cautious Sect Masters of the other Banes.

However, after two and a half years, the Golden Bell of Summoning—resting upon this mighty mountain and used to summon the leaders of each Bane—rang vigorously across the Hundred Sky Mountains.

Ding… ding… ding…

The melodious chime echoed through the heavens, announcing the King’s return to the castle and ordering all Sect Masters to halt whatever they were doing and present themselves immediately.

Trails of light streaked across the sky from every direction as the key figures of each clan arrived at Heaven’s Sovereign Throne.

“When did he return from the frontlines?” a handsome man with long amber hair and sharp, fiery eyes of the same hue asked as he reached the base of the mountain. He was the Sect Master of the Flamebane Clan—Aethon El Flamebane.

Beside him stood a striking young man with sharp features and eyes reminiscent of Aethon’s. His hair bore an even brighter amber shade, as if it were ablaze. The boy appeared to be in his early twenties and wore an arrogant smile.

“Hah! Voltrex must be calling us to help him at the frontlines since he hasn’t been able to win the war for so many years,” the young man—Ignis, Aethon’s son—scoffed.

“Ohoho~ Aethon, you should teach your son some manners. The punishment for disrespecting the King is death,” a serene female voice echoed through the air.

When the father and son turned toward the source, their breaths hitched for a moment upon seeing the beauty standing before them.

Her light pink hair cascaded down her back, while two shimmering butterfly-like wings fluttered softly behind her. Matching the design of her wings, her pink pupils bore the delicate shape of butterfly wings within them.

She was Sylvaris El Flowerbane—the most beautiful woman in the world, whose beauty some claimed even rivaled that of the ancient Goddess of All Beasts—Gumiho.

Although none had ever seen this ancient goddess, poems and stories claimed that Gumiho’s beauty could not be captured in paintings, could not be explained by mere words, and could not be gazed upon by mortals without them losing their hearts.

There were also tales of a higher god falling in love with Gumiho. The higher god pestered the Goddess of Beasts for more than fifty years before she finally agreed to give him a chance. Their marriage was said to have been fixed in a higher realm, but whether they were actually married, no one knew, as there were no records of any offspring between Gumiho and that higher god. Some legends claimed that Gumiho eventually left him, disappointed that he loved only her outer beauty, an act that ultimately resulted in her imprisonment within the Forest of Gumiho.

In the end, they were all legends, and legends tended to be exaggerated.

There was no way such an ethereal beauty could truly exist. That was what Sylvaris thought.

Quickly averting their eyes so as not to be pulled into her charms, Aethon muttered with a narrowed gaze, “Don’t you know it’s disrespectful to eavesdrop on someone’s conversation?”

“How brute~” Sylvaris murmured with a seductive smile, moving past them with elegant grace.

“Where are you going without me, dear Sylvaris?” a man’s voice echoed from behind, forced to sound cute.

Wearing a long blue robe and holding a silken fan in his hand stood a beautiful man. Yes, not handsome, but beautiful. His delicate pale neck was adorned with a necklace, and jewelry of similar design crowned his short blue hair. He was Tartaglia El Waterbane, a man known less as the sect master of the Waterbanes and more as the restless suitor of Sylvaris.

The moment Sylvaris heard his voice, a frown appeared on her usually calm face.

Without even halting her steps, her beautiful wings suddenly flickered, and she moved in a flash toward the gates of the castle.

“Wait for me, dear!” Tartaglia shouted, quickly following her as a smooth wave of water rose beneath him.

Aethon and Ignis were about to move when a sudden surge of wind erupted, instantly fluttering the hair of the two Flamebanes. At the same time, the land beneath them began to tremble as numerous cracks split open across the ground.

Within seconds, two imposing figures emerged—one descending from the sky, the other rising by tearing through the earth below.

“Long time no see, Aethon,” said the man whose arrival had thoroughly messed up the hair of both Aethon and his son.

He wore a long, light-colored green robe adorned with flowing wind-wave patterns. His mint-colored hair, reaching down to his neck, swayed freely as though a constant breeze surrounded him. His emerald eyes flicked between Aethon and Ignis, an amused smile playing on his lips, clearly aware of the chaos his entrance had caused.

He was Barbatos El Windbane, the Sect Master of the Windbane clan.

“Bastard, this is the fifth time you’ve messed up my hair,” Aethon muttered. A burning aura erupted from his body, instantly forcing his disheveled hair back into place. “If you’re looking for a fight, just say it. I’ll burn you to a crisp.”

Before Barbatos could reply, another voice cut in.

“The bell has been ringing for quite some time. We mustn’t keep His Majesty waiting,” said the man with a colossal, muscular frame. He had short brown hair and wore a robe open at the front, proudly displaying his powerful torso.

He was Titan El Rockbane—yes, his parents had truly named him Titan.

He was known by another title as well. Beyond his dominion over the earth, bending the very ground beneath his fingers, he was revered as the Strongest Eternal Sage, unmatched in physical might.

“You say that, Titan, but you’re the one who arrived last,” Barbatos replied calmly, a trace of mockery hidden beneath his tone.

“I was in closed-door cultivation,” Titan said before striding toward the castle gates with hurried steps, as though unwilling to make the King wait any longer.

Casting one last murderous glare at Barbatos, Aethon clicked his tongue and turned toward the castle stairs himself.

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