Chapter 565: Suggestion

"So what should I do then?"

Aksai finally asked, his tone calm but carrying a quiet weight.

"You’ve told me about Kalingoot, about the Alliance, and how the Big Five will play their games... but what about me? What should I do in all this?"

The Frostbound Lord answered right away.

"You should act decisively when the real war begins," he said.

"Don’t waste your strength on petty skirmishes or small shows of power. When the Alliance and Kalingoot finally clash head-on, that’s when you strike—and strike hard. Score major victories early on. Show overwhelming strength when everyone else hesitates."

Aksai frowned slightly. "And that will make a difference?"

"It will," the Frostbound Lord replied.

"In the early chaos, everyone will be watching. The Big Five sects, the demonic ones, even the neutral powers. They’ll all be waiting to see who bleeds first, who wins first.

Those who look like they’ll win will get the most support. The Big Five and the three major demonic sects aren’t loyal to anyone—they’re loyal to benefits. They’ll back the side that seems stronger, the side that promises survival and reward."

He paused for a moment, his icy eyes narrowing slightly.

"So, if you can lead Emerald Cove to a few strong victories in the beginning, you’ll force their hand. They’ll have to invest in you. Because nobody wants to bet on a losing horse.

Furthermore, even if these powers don’t help you directly, as long as they stop their investments and fundings to Kalingoot by fearing that it might fail, you would gain a lot."

Aksai’s eyes dimmed in thought. "And if I fail to do that in the beginning?"

The Frostbound Lord smiled faintly. "Then you’ll be crushed under the weight of their indifference. Once they believe you can’t win, they’ll cut ties before you can even ask for help."

Silence lingered between them for a while, broken only by the faint sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs outside.

Then the Frostbound Lord’s tone softened but his gaze was still sharp.

"You should treat this turmoil as an opportunity, Aksai. A test of your strength and influence. The Dadangar Subcontinent is shifting, and once the dust settles, those who survive and hold their ground will control the new order."

The Core Formation Lord sighed, his voice calm and thoughtful. "As long as you can keep Emerald Cove’s interests safe through the storm, the peace you’ll enjoy afterward will last a long time. Not even the Big Five righteous factions or the three major demonic sects will dare disturb you for years to come."

Aksai nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. His fingers stopped tapping.

"Then," he said quietly, almost to himself, "I suppose I’ll just have to make sure Emerald Cove wins when it matters most."

The Frostbound Lord’s thin smile returned. "Exactly."

Aksai stayed quiet for a moment after hearing the Frostbound Lord’s earlier words. He took his time to collect his thoughts before speaking further, as if he was suddenly reminded of something.

"Wait... you are closing your shop right? Then what about your sect? What will happen to the Frostbound Sect after you leave the Dadangar Subcontinent? You’ve led it for more than a century. Surely your departure will shake it apart."

The Frostbound Lord chuckled softly, his voice calm, almost indifferent. "What else?" he said, raising his cup but not drinking from it. "It will be eaten alive by the remaining two of the three major demonic sects. The Spirit-rich lands and mines that my sect controls will become the reason for its downfall."

He placed the cup back on the table and leaned back, his gaze distant.

"First, the grand elders within my own sect will start fighting among themselves for control. Greed has always been an average Spirit cultivator’s weakness. Once that starts, the other demonic sects will step in quietly—feeding the fire, whispering promises, offering protection in exchange for loyalty.

Before long, most of the Frostbound Sect’s elite disciples will switch allegiance. The rest, the ordinary ones, will scatter and turn into rogues."

Aksai frowned slightly. "You sound like you’ve already accepted it."

The Frostbound Lord gave a faint smile.

"Because I have. That’s how these things go. Even the Big Five righteous sects will take advantage of the chaos. They’ve been waiting for a crack to appear in the Devil Lands for years. And even more so after the discovery of the Holy Land Torel.

When my sect begins to collapse, they’ll move in under the name of maintaining balance or preventing unrest—whatever excuse suits them best. They’ll carve their share from the ruins while pretending to act noble."

He sighed then, not out of sorrow, but more like someone acknowledging a storm he could no longer stop. His eyes looked colder, distant, but strangely peaceful. "Without a Core Formation Lord to hold it together, my sect will eventually cease to exist. It’s just the way of the world."

Aksai studied him quietly. The Frostbound Lord’s calmness was inspiring.

"Don’t worry though," Nael said.

"All of what I’ve said... It won’t happen overnight. The Frostbound Sect will last a while before it completely falls apart. Its end is still a distant thing, far beyond the coming war between Kalingoot and the Alliance. By the time it dissolves, this subcontinent will already have changed hands."

He picked up his cup again and took a slow sip, his tone casual, as though talking about something trivial. "As I told you before, I’ve already instructed my grand elders to withdraw all our support from Kalingoot. Whatever happens next is beyond me. I’ve made my peace with it."

Aksai looked at the Frostbound Lord, his voice calm but laced with curiosity. "If the Frostbound Sect is really going to fall apart... what if I take in some of the disciples who leave it?"

The Frostbound Lord raised an eyebrow, then gave a low chuckle. "Be my guest," he said, his tone amused.

"Why stop at just taking in my sect’s disciples? If you have the strength and the means, you can even set your sights on the Frostbound territories themselves."

Aksai blinked, a little taken aback by how easily the man said it. "You wouldn’t mind that?"

The Frostbound Lord smiled faintly. "Mind? I told you, Aksai—I’ve already let it go. To be honest, if things were different, if this war between the Alliance and Kalingoot wasn’t about to tear the subcontinent apart, I might have handed the reins of my sect to you myself."

He leaned back in his chair, resting his elbow on the armrest. His cold eyes softened slightly, as if he were remembering something from a long time ago.

"You might not have been able to hold it for long since you’re still some distance away from the Core Formation realm, but with your temperament and your cleverness, you could’ve used the sect’s resources well. Even a few years under your control would’ve been enough for you to grow stronger and build your influence."

Aksai didn’t answer right away. He tapped a finger lightly on the table, thinking. "Then why not now?"

The Frostbound Lord’s expression turned serious again.

"Because now, taking the Frostbound Sect’s name would be the same as painting a target on your back. Every demonic and righteous power will be watching for any sign of weakness. If you suddenly take control of a crumbling sect, it will draw attention—the kind you don’t need right now."

He paused, then continued in a quieter tone. "You already have Emerald Cove to protect. That’s where your roots are. In the coming war, your strength will come from how well you hold it and how you play your moves, not from spreading yourself too thin. Focus on making Emerald Cove stronger, not heavier."

Aksai nodded slowly, though his eyes were still distant, thinking about the opportunities and risks. "So I should only absorb what I can handle?"

The Frostbound Lord smiled again, a glint of approval in his eyes.

"Exactly. Take in the talented ones if they come your way. Build them up slowly under your own banner. Let the rest of the Frostbound Sect burn itself out. Once the dust settles, the land and the people that survive will find their own way to you if you’re strong enough to deserve it."

He looked out the window again, where the mist had begun to thicken, and his voice softened.

"That’s how things work in this world, Aksai. The smart don’t fight for ruins—they wait for them to crumble and claim what’s left."

Aksai leaned back in his chair, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I’ll remember that," he said quietly.

The Frostbound Lord chuckled again. "Good. I’d hate to see my sect’s remains go to waste."