Chapter 752 Your Future
At the moment, time seemed to completely condense in the air. Everyone present could feel ever second that passed, it was as though each one was ten times its normal length.
Dyon wasn't the type of person to lose himself in anger often. And even if he did, he rarely showed it. Even when an entire Universe tried to drown out his name in mud, he laughed before showing them why they weren't even worthy of knowing who he was, let alone attempting to tarnish his reputation. He stood tall over an entire generation of geniuses with barely two years of cultivation.
However, when Dyon did decide to show his anger, those who faced it would pay a grave price. He still hadn't forgotten how he had sworn to destroy Planet Deimos, nor had he not noticed that Tau Aumen had tried to help the Uidah take over their universe. He may have let it go for now, but that didn't mean it had left his heart. He had his own reasons for letting Tau believe that he had hidden himself from him, but one had to say that he had already signed his death contract.
Minister Akhekhu didn't dare to allow the coldness in his heart to spread. He felt that he didn't have the right to have such thoughts, how could he go against this mountain?
There was only one reason Dyon's mere gaze could pressure a Dao Formation expert like this: Heaven's Blessing.
Why was it that experts could have an invisible pressure to them even without releasing their cultivation? Heaven's Blessing.
However, there was something else growing within Dyon. Just like his perception in the last trial, this trial was once again increasing something within him.
One might wonder just why the ranks of the Epistemic Tower were labeled as such. The answer was simple. The presence of a martial warrior was decided within these trials. Whether one became a member of nobility, or transcended it all and became a God, it was all decided here.
In the first trial, Dyon began to cultivate an all-seeing eye, reaching a level of perception that could look down on the world and read it on a whim. This eye was a Martial Art, something that relied solely on one's body. However, such a thing was exceedingly difficult to cultivate, and as such, was separated into seven levels of foundation that decided its future level. A martial warrior who only entered the first Viscount level would only be able to increase their perception within that range. But, Dyon now had the opportunity to cultivate his perception all the way to the peak of the God level.
Each level was split into four level. Early, Middle, Late and Peak.
The levels themselves were decided by titles of nobility. Viscount, Earl, Marquise, Duke, King, Emperor and God.
In order to pass the first trial of the viscount, one needed to birth the seed of viscount perception. However, in order to pass the first God trial, one needed the seed of God perception!
The seed decides the potential. But the level itself is decided by another ranking system. A seed of viscount perception is the equivalent of a half step to Early Viscount Perception.
But… The seed of a God Perception is the equivalent of a peak Duke Perception!
Even more interestingly, Dyon completely shattered the first trial's record. Knowing this, how could his perception possible be at the minimum requirement? No. Dyon's perception had already crossed over into Kingly levels. Currently, Dyon wielded a Late Stage King Perception.
It was no wonder why his Kingly aura was so overwhelming.
If this was all said, then what Martial Art was Dyon currently fostering within this second trial? It was none other than Presence.
This trial wasn't just about wielding the strongest hammer. It was about understanding the will of your people, maneuvering your kingdom even when it was at a disadvantage, and soothing the raging storms of war and politics. Dyon had already seen through this, likely because of his awakened Perception seed. As such, he treated his every action as important.
There would come a point where those of lower cultivation and Presence would directly kneel before him, not daring to fight. Such was the goal of this trial.
Knowing what was currently growing within Dyon, it was no wonder these family heads felt pressure. There was no doubt that any dao formation expert, or even quite a few celestials would have at least one of the Martial Arts. However, not everyone had the capabilities of fostering or cultivating them, and Presence was particularly difficult to cultivate. Many tried to fake it by using their cultivation, but such a thing would simply be fake bravado. It was the equivalent of a brawny man being willing to fight anyone weaker than him but running as soon as he saw true competition.
Dyon's grand teacher had a solid grasp on the fact that it was often the intangible things that formed what made you up on the inside that not only decided what type of person you were, but also the kind of road you would take on the martial path. As such, although some of the trials consisted of needing martial talent, another large segment required the proper mental make up and fortitude.
As for why he did this… Even Dyon didn't know fully… Only the grand teacher and those with him knew that even while he leisurely chatted with Dyon, he had an eyes on a never ending war in front of him… A war that only those prepared could help in.
He didn't just need powerful allies. He needed unbreakable allies.
Without even understanding why, the three Ministers stepped forward. The peak celestials directly kneeled, trembling and accepting their wrongs. They couldn't describe the feeling very accurately… But it was fear that overwhelmed their hearts, it was reverence and guilt… If one were to say fear was an aspect, they would be partially right, but it would more so be fear in concert with a disbelief that they had been so brazen before their King.
However, Minister Akhekhu did no such thing.
One could say that the combination of the two ministers knowing that Dyon was their rightful king, in combination with their relatively young age and the fact Dyon's Heaven's Blessing was the equivalent of a Dao Formation expert, they hardly stood a chance.
They knew that they were in the wrong from the beginning, and the prestige of the Angel Clan King was etched deeply into their hearts, so they were relatively easy to handle.
The problem was that Minister Akhekhu's Heaven's Blessing was also that of a dao formation expert. In addition, he had true reasons to hate the King, while his two followers were simply doing so for small benefits. In addition, his cultivation itself could resist Dyon's currently growing Presence. A powerful enough dao formation expert could even resist and Emperor level Presence if forced to do so. However, the benefit was that they would have to divert some of their strength to do so.
That said, Dyon hadn't even earned a King level Presence just yet. Currently, he was still within normal noble ranks, although he was steadily improving. He could currently be considered a Peak Marquis in Presence.
The truth was that Dyon had long since fostered Presence. His very own father had taught him without understanding that it was one of the most difficult things for even talented martial warriors to learn. The reason why people like General Mace could make Madeleine and Ri feel fear was because he had cultivated Presence.
In the mortal realm, in order to become an outstanding official, it was necessary to have a noble level Presence. So, even when Dyon had not a lick of cultivation, he already had a Viscount level Presence. By the world tournament, it had already broken into the Earl level. After he faced life and death, it had broken into the Marquis level. One can see how difficult it was to cultivate Presence. After all, Dyon faced a dao formation expert at the meridian formation level, and only increased by one stage.
"You've changed, my King." Minister Akhekhu bowed slightly, trying to avoid his pull to look at his daughter. He had wanted this for her for so long that he couldn't understand how he should act now.
Although it may seem like it, this slight bow by Akhekhu wasn't actually disrespectful. As a Minister of the highest order, this was just about the amount of respect he was due to show the King. This may seem like small gesture, it was at least something to move them in the right direction. Now, Dyon's reaction was all that remained.
Dyon glanced silently at this minister of his. Interestingly, he was neither cold nor angry. The wave of rage they had felt just earlier seemed to dissipate into smoke.
They were used to their King restraining himself, after all, this wasn't the first time these three were purposely late to a meeting. However, this didn't seem like simply holding back. It seemed more like their King had decided that now wasn't the time. He eyes came off of them, almost as though to say "I'll deal with you later."
"Bring in the traitors."
The eyes of the three ministers widened. Traitors? They thought that this was supposed to be a normal war meeting, they knew nothing of these traitors. How could they, as high class ministers near the peak of this society, know nothing of such a big move by the King?
A cold sweat permeated on the back of not only them, but a few other ministers within the court. The sharp contrast between their attitudes and that of the rest meant only one thing: This was done purposely by their King.
When Dyon asked for a detail report that day and put in place all of those laws, he hadn't said a single word about traitors. What he had said very clearly was: "When they try to escape curfew tonight, let them." It was only afterwards that he gave commands to catch a few of them and only through those that he had judged were trustworthy.
If he had given this task to possible traitors, wouldn't they make sure to catch only those that knew nothing? If that was the case, wouldn't Dyon be in an even deeper well? He would have no cards, little trust of many of his ministers and people, all while facing an army of millions.
This seemingly simple move sense shivers down the backs of his ministers. Even those who knew of the traitors were trembling when they noticed the pale faces of some of those around them. All of this meant one simple thing: Their King had decided to no longer trust them.
The fact that the three before him now had the palest faces of all told everyone all they needed to know. The blood only continued to drain from their faces as 8 criminals in strong reinforced chains were dragged in, in dirty and ragged clothing, completely bloodied and beaten.
The message was clear.
This is your future if you continue to defy me.