103 Center Region is Under Attack 1

"So, what do you think? It is your time to avenge your father. Just tell me what you know about this whole scheme. I will help you commence your revenge." Yuna said to Commander Xiaorong as if pressuring him to take her thoughts into consideration.

However, Commander Xiaorong was just silent, slightly agitated by the fact that he had entertained the idea of betraying the emperor. But, his family is way more important to him, rather than revenge that was just a result of his father's being impulsive.

"Your father was a great father. Was he? That is why you were not fighting back. You are entertaining the idea of betraying your puppet emperor, right?" Yuna also whispered to him in a teasing tone that made him grit his teeth.

Yuna moved her head backward and chuckled, looking at Commander Xiaorong's expression. It was too pleasing to her, making her feel delighted about the fact that she did not have to torture, she just needed to be cunning.

But as Commander Xiaorong didn't react to her, her patience was cut short, making her click her tongue and stand up.

"I see... So it was not a good one for you, huh? You should think about it." Yuna said, then pulled out a sword from the small storage magic that Lucas taught her.

"You see... I am a bit on the edge now."

Then, Yuna swung her sword, creating a fuzz of ice that mostly covered the room with mist. It hit Commander Xiaorong's knees, instantly freezing them, and as the cold sensation reached his system, it eventually numbed his nerves, making him shout from the excessive pain.

The coldness and the hardness of his legs were unbearable and unexplainable, and they would just make him shout for eternity.

Yuna, on the other hand, only had a vicious smile, making some of the guards outside agitated about what was happening inside the cell. But, they just paid no heed and continued doing their job.

And as Yuna looked at the pair of eyes in despair, she grinned. 

"I am asking you while I am nice. Please tell me what it is." 

Yuna continued making Commander Xiaorong suffer. She did plenty of types of torture, from making him bleed to making him endure pain. She didn't make him rest for an hour, and as Commander Xiaorong was left panting, Yuna darted her eyes at him with an unsightly expression.

"It seems like all of the people in the northern continent are stupid. Still continuing the legacy even the ambassador wasn't that paying much of the Mortal Heaven." Yuna commented before turning her back to Commander Xiaorong.

"I know you knew about it, so let's stay like that, Commander Xiaorong. It seems you are more afraid of that puppet emperor than me, who has your life now."

"Oh wait, I might tell you something important. That emperor you have may have sent you on this mission to throw you for good. He didn't need you, so he used you as a decoy for something. I can feel it."

Yuna totally left Commander Xiaorong; he was left contemplating while the pain was lingering in his system.

Contemplating... what to do as Yuna had already placed facts on the table. 

He is an important figure on the northern continent, but it couldn't be said that the emperor would treasure him. One thing he was sure of was that the emperor might be using him as a disposable pawn.

However, he is waiting. Waiting for reinforcements that would notice the lateness of their return. If that happens, he will keep his mouth shut, but if a year passes without any reinforcement, he'll endure the torture for his family that was in the hands of the emperor.

He wasn't devoted, but the desire to protect his family was irreplaceable. He would not risk it.

"Just wait... I will do everything I can to keep you guys alive."

His father's death was enough. He could not let another death reach his family, whom he loved the most.

***

"Brother Lukros, were you Brother Lucas's disciple?" Yuna asked while their session was ongoing.

While Lucas was away, Lukros was the one who had to teach Yuna about magic, especially storage magic. And as Yuna couldn't help but be curious about Lukros, she asked him pertaining to it.

Lukros only raised her eyebrow and responded, "Why do you ask?"

"Well, you also have the same aura as Brother Lucas. I am just curious. Despite being a magical beast, you were still able to use a technique specialized for unique cultivation."

"It was because we had lived in the same environment. I think that is how I should put it. But being more elaborative, perhaps, Master taught me plenty of things that I eventually learned this as well."

"So, what you just said, was it direct to the point, or was it just a vague explanation, keeping words to have a deeper meaning?"

Lukros paused for a moment as his eyes fell on Yuna's innocent face. He scoffed, then shook his head as he continued talking.

"That was all direct to the point. I am not poetic enough to keep my words from the actual meaning of. And, just to be sure, I am talented, you know."

Yuna couldn't help but snicker as she said, "So you do say that you are a talented magical beast. And I am getting more curious about what you are. You are too huge when you are in your original form."

"Well, it is because I am called a soul dragon. It is hard to explain. Please wait for Master to explain it further."

Yuna nodded and listened to Lukros as he continued the lecture. She followed every process she needed to memorize to perform the storage magic. 

Some were difficult for her to grasp, but Lukros was patiently explaining them to her. He knew what being unknowledgeable felt like. But, not underestimating Yuna, he kept things in their basic form, not in a piece for children's lessons.

It took a few hours until Yuna was able to perform the magic clearly. After learning the Magique Qi cultivation, she learned a little bit about storage magic from Lucas. And because of it, she was able to perform it with minimal space. 

"You are doing great. You are now able to create a spacious storage spell. But be mindful that as you continue to enlarge it, the more energy you need to open that dimension."

Yuna nodded as she continued to perform the spell. After that, she went back to cultivation and raised her Magique Qi cultivation so that when Lucas returns, she'll be able to receive more lessons different from what she was currently studying.

After a few hours of cultivating, Yuna was cut off as she felt a presence, different from Lukros, that was entering the room. It was from one of her officials in the family, Rodulf Xiao.

She slowly opened her eyes and looked at him at the end of the white room. She then called for him, which he immediately obeyed.

"What was it? You look agitated, " she noted, which was the first thing she noticed when Rodulf Xiao approached him.

"The center region is under attack."

Yuna suddenly paused her concentration on the cultivation and paid all of her attention to Rodulf's report.

"What about it? Who attacked?" she asked.

"The northern continent attacked the central continent, and the Wealthiest of Ten Grand Families were used as hostages."

Yuna scoffed after hearing it. It was funny that those wealthy people were used as hostages, just to emphasize that they were weak enough to be used as hostages.

"So, what about it? I know that it is about the northern continent, but can't I focus first on this technique? You just need to fight back."

"But we can't, My Lady. The attackers were at least near the General Spirit Realm, and we are losing the numbers to find that could fight them back."

Yuna sighed, then stood up with her eyes closed, feeling the frustration streaming down into her veins. She tilted her head, stretching some of her limbs.

"I guess I need to test this thing out. I am excited about the other effects of the Dimensional Storage Mystical Art." Yuna remarked, which made Rodulf dumbfounded.

He was so speechless that he couldn't find the words to comment on Yuna. Although Yuna seems to be in a good mood, which is perplexing, he was still reluctant to share his thoughts.

"I guess you need to take it slow, Lady Yuna. That technique you learned is something different from what you usually practice. It might bring chaos instead of benefits to you." Lukros suddenly warned her, making her pause for a second.

But as Yuna was about to respond, Rodulf was irritated that Lukros was acting as if they were equal, casually talking to her.

"Y-You imbecile! How could you address My Lady with such a calm tone! Be respectful!" Rodulf exclaimed, but it didn't please Yuna. Instead, she glared at him.

"You don't talk to him like that, Rodulf. Let me remind you that they are teaching us mystical arts that aren't easy to acquire. Be mindful of the future generations, " she said in a static but intimidating tone.

Rodulf immediately retracted and lowered his head.

"I apologize, My Lady."

Yuna didn't pay any heed to his apology and just moved on to another topic.

"Prepare a battalion of Master Spirit Realm cultivators. We will return to the center region, but keep security in the sacred land stable." Yuna said to Rodulf, which was immediately obeyed.