Solflare: The Painter's Secret

Chapter 237: Land of Lords

Thousands of kilometers away from Agatha, mirrorlike clouds moved at different angles and formed a giant white spear that had the name Welcome to Seol-Mujin in the sky.

Beside it, white birds with tentacle feathers swirled around the spear and began turning it using their large wings.

When they cried, a beam of white fire escaped from their small throats and struck the transparent spear. The fire snaked through the spear from all angles and merged at the tip, then blasted out into fireworks of pure heavenly grace.

Below the glorious display were reflective roads that stretched long without an end. On them, countless men who seemed to be above their thirties walked like gods that cannot be killed.

They flung their colorful robes at the side and smiled whenever they collided with each other.

At the left side of the road, huge translucent towers sprawled there with their sharp edges cutting through the sky and having their own artificial stars beside each one.

On the right side were massive floating gardens that hung suspended with nothing but air holding them in the air. Large sunflowers that can swallow five heightened muscular humans on the go lingered in the garden, sending warmth across the Land of Lords.

Inside one of the translucent towers, countless people walked but no foot sounds echoed. Every step was measured and was in perfect sync as if a little miss would send a calamity against the city.

Some flew on mechanical equipment that the humans of Thule of Agatha could only dream of touching, while the very few Skywardens flew in the air without any technological equipment.

Among the Skywardens, two of them dashed into the clouds with a speed that surpasses time and appeared at the edge of the second largest blue Skywarden tower.

The moment they hovered closer to the tower, its walls opened, folded in on themselves like a mat, then folded back when they entered without leaving a single scratch on them.

As soon as they appeared in the interior of the tower, Lord Kessa shoved her partner Lord Riven’s shoulder then dashed forward like a bomber jet, laughing.

"Oh, want to play that game again?" Lord Riven said and took in a deep breath as he placed his hands at his sides. "Here I come."

They flew across an endless hallway until they reached the front of a black door that seemed to bend with every slight vibration that lanced through the walls.

"Be careful this time," Kessa said as she shifted her blue gaze to Riven’s own, then slowly lowered herself on the moving floor. "I will miss you."

When they reached the door, a white glow scanned their entire bodies before the door turned white and opened.

"Good morning, Lord Luo Fang," Kessa said as she bowed her head slowly. But when she shifted her head slightly, Riven was still standing on his feet as if being in the presence of the second in command of the Skywardens was just a joke.

"Hey Uncle," Riven said in a joyful tone then moved a step forward, leaving only Kessa standing there with her head bowed.

"Kessa, you may leave now," Lord Luo Fang said without even turning his gaze away from the thick darkness outside the tower, despite the graceful light in the city itself.

As soon as Kessa exited, she ran to the wall on her right side then covered her face with her palms while tears slowly dripped from her eyes.

Inside the chamber, Riven threw a smiley expression around and began swinging his arms as he walked sluggishly toward Luo Fang. "Uncle. So, why did you call me? I asked Kessa but she kept on smiling and telling me she has no idea."

Luo Fang inhaled deeply then lowered his gaze before turning. He looked at Riven’s childish face, then shook his head in shame.

’How come that brat reached a level like that but Riven hasn’t over the past five years of intense training he had been taken through?’ Luo Fang said in his head as he closed in on Riven.

Riven looked at Luo Fang with shocked eyes, then giggled when he felt a heavy hand landing on his shoulder.

Luo Fang walked Riven to one of his chambers with the smiley face drawn at its top, then stopped a few inches away from the smiley figure. "Step inside."

Riven looked at Luo Fang then hesitated before moving a step inside. "Uncle, would this boost my strength like you did the other time?"

Luo Fang smiled without answering. As soon as he closed his eyes, a transparent glass sealed the chamber shut.

Riven began slamming his fists on the glass when he began to face changing breathing. "Uncle! Uncle! Please, I can’t breathe."

Luo Fang stood there with no remorse in his eyes as he watched Riven’s eyes and skin redden.

"This is just the beginning," he said then turned toward the glowing orb on the wall. "Go and come back stronger, Riven." With a press of the button, a blue glowing message appeared on the screen.

[TELEPORTATION ACTIVATED.]

[CONFIRM LOCATION: ]

[TARTARUS]

[YES / NO]

Luo Fang shifted his gaze to Riven’s then grinned. "Accept."

[LOCATION CONFIRMED]

[DEPARTURE IN 3...2...1...]

Inside the chamber, Riven’s body dissipated into motes and vanished from it, leaving only smoke behind.

As soon as the glass door rolled back into the wall with the smiley face, Kessa came back with a rigid face. "Sir."

Luo Fang walked to her left side then stopped. "Make sure the next person you train surpasses grade B in the period of one year."

Kessa swallowed hard while her eyes widened with shock. "But sir."

"That’s an order."

"Okay sir," she said and stiffened her body until Luo Fang exited the room. "One year?"

She looked at her palms then at the walls with the smiley face. "Even the only person who transcended from Tier 4 to Tier 5 of the Skywardens used two years with constant practice. Who on earth is Lord Luo Fang trying to create?"

...

Outside the chamber, Luo Fang stopped when he saw Hayes nearing him.

"Lord Luo Fang," Hayes said in a low voice, then shifted his gaze to the back before shifting back to Luo Fang. "We have to inform the council about Leon before they get to him first."

"Don’t worry," Luo Fang said as he placed a hand on Hayes’s shoulder. "The right person has already been sent to finish the task Tiger failed to complete."