The Black Market

Cale rode on Ember in her Brutal Armored Pegasus form as he led the Dual Sword Army outside the Celestial Sword Empire.

On Cale's left side were the old general Lexus and his two deputies. On Cale's right was Wenren Wushuang who had an excited look on his face. Behind them were thousands of dual sword-wielding soldiers dressed in silver and gold plated armors. 

"Duke Cale, where should we go first?" General Lexus glanced at Cale who was now clad in his striking Void Wolf Immortal Armor. The latter looked like the messenger of death himself with his armor on.

Cale did not glance at General Lexus as he pondered deeply on the old general's words.

"There were four holy lands and great sects that aided the second prince's revolt. They were the Rising Sun Supreme Hall, Blue Ocean Palace, Blue Jade Holy Land, and the Titan Sect. Among the four of them, the weakest is the Titan Sect with Rising Sun Supreme Hall being the strongest. Since the Titan Sect's location is also the nearest, let's head there first." Cale said after thinking deeply.

General Lexus and his two deputies nodded their heads in acknowledgment while Wenren Wushuang merely glanced at Cale in excitement.

After seeing his expression, Cale knew that the swordsman was itching for a fight. Wenren Wushuang broke through the initial-stage of the Immortal-Class level for quite some time already, but he was yet to test his strength since he was only staying inside Cale's manor. That was also why Cale brought him to this mission. 

"Wenren, relax your fighting intent. The Titan Sect might be the weakest among the four, but they still have quite a number of experts at the Immortal-Class level. Although their sect master is already dead, their vice sect master is also someone at the late-stage of the Immortal-Class level. Remember that safety comes first." Cale looked at Wenren Wushuang sternly.

Wenren Wushuang took a deep breath and nodded his heavily. He was indeed craving for a good fight, but after hearing Cale's words, he hurriedly calmed himself down. 

Cale nodded his head in satisfaction after seeing Wenren Wushuang's reaction. He then turned his gaze to General Lexus and his two deputies. "These words also apply to the three of you. Your safety comes first. But don't worry, before anything happens, I will be there immediately." 

After that short interaction, their expedition towards the Titan Sect started. 

* * *

Inside the Titan Sect.

"Sect Master! Sect Master!" A disoriented and shaking voice echoed in the sect master's abode.

Some cultivating elders were awakened by the loud voice which incurred their disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e. But after seeing who it was, their gazes warmed up a bit. 

"Second Elder, what's with the urgency?" The new sect master of the Titan Sect asked in an unfriendly look. This new sect master was Song Bi, he was formerly the vice sect master of the Titan Sect, but after their late sect master died at the hands of Emperor Aventus, he rose into position. 

"Se-Sect Master Song, the...the Dual Sword Army of the Celestial Sword Empire is coming towards our sect. They clearly harbored ill intentions." The second elder said in an urgent voice.

After the second elder's words came out of his mouth, the sect master's abode became quiet.

"Did you say the Dual Sword Army?" An elder spoke in a slightly arrogant tone. 

The second elder nodded his head and replied. "Yes, it's indeed the Dual Sword Army."

Sect Master Song heaved a sigh of relief. He then said in a confident tone. "If it's just the Dual Sword Army, we can still make amends with them. If they choose to fight our sect, then they will have to pay a heavy price for it. So if it's the old general Lexus leading them here, he should be smart enough to talk it out with us instead of fighting against us."

The other elders nodded their heads at Sect Master Song's words. Indeed, the strength of their Titan Sect was still not to be trifled with despite losing their late sect master. 

At the moment, the Titan Sect had eight experts at the Immortal-Class level. Among them, five were at the initial-stage of the Immortal-Class level, two were at the mid-stage of the Immortal-Class level, and Sect Master Song was at the late-stage of the Immortal-Class level.

The second elder sighed helplessly and shook his head with a despondent look. It seemed like he aged considerably in that instant. "It won't be a problem if it's just General Lexus leading them. But the Celestial Sword Empire's new duke, the Unfettered Duke Cale is the one leading the Dual Sword Army."

"What?!" 

"The Unfettered Duke Cale?!"

"Why does it have to be him?!"

Sect Master Song and the elders exclaimed in fear after hearing the second elder's words.

"Wait! It's not yet hopeless!" Sect Master Song said in a grave tone.

"The news about this new Unfettered Duke Cale came from the mouths of the people from the Celestial Sword Empire. Don't you find it too suspicious for someone to suddenly rise so fast in power? I think this is merely the Celestial Sword Empire's plot in order to maintain a deterrence to the outside powers. Although this Duke Cale might be an expert, his strength shouldn't be as exaggerated as the rumors say." Sect Master Song touched his chin with a thoughtful look.

The elders' eyes brightened when they heard Sect Master Song's words.

Only the second elder maintained a frowning expression because he was the only one who saw Cale. 'That's what I believed at first, but when I glanced at this Duke Cale from quite a distance away, he turned to look in my direction and flashed a smile at me. I know he detected my presence at that time despite being so far away. But how can any random expert be capable of doing that? That guy is a monster! The rumors weren't exaggerated at all! In fact, it's an understatement...' The second elder thought to himself.