Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Prince Gregory shook his head almost immediately, categorically rejecting the idea:
"No, Prince Xia Zuo, you're being too radical!"

I have come here on my father's orders, with the aim of acting according to circumstances and maximizing our interests, but this absolutely does not include arbitrarily mobilizing the demigods who protect the empire!
The strongest force I brought was the Hundred-Star Saint.

Getting a hundred-star saint to take action is already the limit. I have no authority whatsoever, and I would never dare to mobilize a demigod!
A single move by a demigod can have far-reaching consequences! No one can predict the outcome.

"Xia Zuo, do you really think you can arbitrarily mobilize the guardian demigods of your Eastern Empire?"

His skepticism was tinged with surprise, clearly indicating that he didn't quite believe Xia Zuo had such power and influence.

Faced with Gregor's questioning, Prince Shazor's lips curled into a cold and confident smile.

His current status and the high regard for succession in the Eastern Empire are not only due to the vast political legacy and team he inherited from his father, Udi Tang, but also, and most fundamentally, to the guardian deity of the Eastern Empire, the powerful demigod, Grenus Tang!
Grenus Tang is not only the guardian deity of the Eastern Empire, but also the mentor of Xia Zuo's late father, Udi Tang, and the most steadfast supporter of Xia Zuo's direct lineage.

Before the current Emperor Eberon of the Eastern Regions ascended to the throne, Grenus had been supporting the talented Prince Udi.

After Prince Udi's unexpected death, Grenus largely transferred this support and expectation to Udi's only son, Shazzo.

Grenus's support was crucial to Shazor's ability to secure his position as prince and become the first in line to the throne.

This battle for divine status is of great significance to the Xiazuo Group. Therefore, he had already obtained Genus Tang's approval through secret channels—that he could take action if necessary!

“Not bad.” Shazo nodded slowly, meeting the shocked gazes of Greg and Jonathan, his voice carrying a suppressed excitement and certainty. “Lord Gnus, you can make your move!”

Upon hearing this, Greg and Jonathan's expressions changed completely.

They knew that Xia Zuo had the support of a demigod, but they never expected that he would actually dare to and be able to get Gernus Tang to come in person!

Prince Xia Zuo's gaze did not linger on Greg for long. He had not expected the eldest prince of the Southern Region to be able to mobilize demigods—the Southern Region emperor obviously had stricter control over his heirs.

His real targets were two other heavyweight figures who could influence the situation.

He then looked at Jonathan Wertheimer, whose expression was solemn, and at the three tomb masters whose soul flames flickered faintly in their eye sockets.

Jonathan fell into a deep silence, his brow furrowed.

He was torn between his own conscience and his own mind. Indeed, the House of Nobles of the Central Empire possessed a demigod-level ultimate deterrent—his teacher, the previous guardian of the House of Nobles, Lord Roosevelt Harper, who had long since withdrawn from worldly affairs and devoted himself to pursuing a higher realm.

If they could get their teacher to intervene and cooperate with Grenus, their chances of seizing godhood would undoubtedly increase significantly.

However, deploying a demigod... the cost and risk were far too great, exceeding his initial estimates for this trip.

His purpose in coming here was indeed to compete for divinity within the House of Nobles, thus adding a huge bargaining chip to the House of Nobles to counter the imperial power. However, this was on the premise that it was controllable, rather than dragging the entire Central Empire into a possible demigod war.

Cohen Corleone is nominally the consort of the Central Empire and the husband of Empress Shanes.

If they really go to extremes and send a demigod to kill the Empress's husband, the Imperial Consort, no matter the outcome, the House of Nobles will be completely opposed to the royal family.

He completely broke with Queen Shanis and the equally unfathomable royal guardian demigod, "Blade of Judgment" Karl Hohenzollern.

At that time, the empire will be divided and internal strife will intensify. Even if the House of Nobles obtains the divine status, it will be uncertain whether it can truly digest it, withstand the wrath of the royal family, and resist the covetousness of other forces.

The political risks involved and the overall stability of the empire demanded his utmost caution.

"To mobilize a demigod is no small matter."

Jonathan finally spoke slowly, his voice low and filled with deep concern, "A single move can have far-reaching consequences. If His Excellency Roosevelt makes a move, His Excellency Hohenzollern will certainly not stand idly by."

At that time, it will no longer be a struggle for godhood, but a direct clash between the highest combat forces within my Central Empire, and the foundation of the empire may be shaken.

Unless absolutely necessary, I believe it is unwise to take such a risky step.

He clearly expressed his opposition to immediately using demigods.

Upon hearing this, the three tomb masters let out a strange "heh heh" laugh, and the deathly aura on the skeletal throne surged:
"Jonathan, how can you accomplish anything if you keep looking back and forth like this?"
My teacher is ready to intervene at any time! But... the main concern is that old geezer from Cobalt Soul Academy, Dumbledore!
This old guy is known as the number one expert on the continent, an old monster who has lived for countless years, and his strength is unfathomable.

Five years ago at the Northwest Exchange Conference, he personally took action for the sake of divinity. Who knows if he will get involved again this time?
My teacher and Grenus alone might be able to handle Cohen, Yardel, and the Stargods who might intervene.

But don't forget, Cohen's father-in-law, Aziz Wenze, the patriarch of the Golden Wing family, whose grandfather has also been out of the public eye for a long time, and is said to have broken through to the level of demigod!

And most importantly, if Dunprado also jumps in, then the outcome becomes very uncertain.

When Dunprado was mentioned, even the lawless Third Master of the Tomb became more serious.

The enigmatic Dean of the Cobalt Soul Academy is recognized across the continent as one of the closest beings to a true god, a terrifying figure whom no demigod would dare to easily provoke.

Jonathan fell silent again, his mind racing as he weighed the options.

With Grenus's support, Shazor was determined to win.

The three tomb masters had an aggressive attitude and were backed by demigods.

Greg's attitude was ambiguous, but he clearly couldn't offer equivalent combat power.

If they insist on not deploying demigods, the House of Nobles may lose its dominance or even be marginalized in the upcoming core competition.

However, it would be too risky to rashly invite Mr. Roosevelt.

After a long silence, a glint flashed in Jonathan's eyes, as if he had made up his mind. He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Xia Zuo and the three tomb masters, and said in a deep voice:
"Don't rush to summon the demigod."

Demigods are vital national treasures and should not be touched lightly.

In my opinion, with our four sides joining forces, plus the various forces outside the city attracted by the divine power, the number of saints is already quite large, and there are even more legends.

"Perhaps we should first test the waters with the power of a saint, and see just how much resources Effie can muster to deal with this!"

He looked towards the city walls of Florence, at Cohen's javelin-like figure standing tall, and at the faint magical glow emanating from the walls, and slowly said:

"Although Cohen has risen to power quickly and has many allies, Effie's nation-building period is still short."

The Star Clan may have several Saints, and the Pale Wings and the Church of Prophecy may also provide assistance, but how many top-tier combatants can they mobilize?
Are you willing to fight to the death with us, the four sides, and the countless greedy people outside this city for Cohen?

We should first use the power of saints and legends to exert pressure openly and fairly, test their strength and exhaust their power. If we can even force their allies to back down and cause internal strife, that would be even better.

If they truly possess profound resources and can withstand our first wave of attacks, or if beings like Dumbledore actually intervene...

Jonathan took a deep breath, made a compromise, and left himself an out:
"At that time, I will immediately report to His Excellency Roosevelt and ask him to make a decision!"
With the abilities of a demigod, crossing continents to arrive would be a matter of moments, not delaying the battle.

His meaning was clear: let the saint-level warriors take the lead and engage in conventional-level combat and attrition, and then decide whether to escalate to a demigod duel depending on how the battle unfolds.

This would both avoid immediately triggering a high-level conflict and allow them to probe Effie's true intentions and the reactions of all parties involved.

Upon hearing this, Prince Xiazuo frowned slightly.

He originally intended to crush the enemy with the overwhelming force of a demigod and quickly end the battle to avoid any unforeseen complications.

Jonathan's concerns were not without merit, and Jonathan represented the attitude of the Central Empire's Noble Council. If he firmly opposed immediately dispatching a demigod, Jonathan and the Black Tomb alone, even with Lord Gnus's support, would seem somewhat weak and isolated.

After all, Dunprado's threat was very real.

He needs the power of the House of Nobles to share the pressure, especially to restrain the potential appearance of the Star Clan and other powerful saints.

Weighing the pros and cons, Shazo had no choice but to temporarily suppress his urge to summon Grenus immediately. He was somewhat unwilling, but reluctantly accepted Jonathan's step-by-step strategy.

He sighed, the sharp light in his eyes dimming slightly, and said in a deep voice:
"Alright, since Lord Jonathan insists, then we will do as you wish."

However, this first wave of attack must be launched with all our might, with overwhelming force, to weaken Effie to the greatest extent possible in the shortest time and force them to reveal their trump cards!
If the war goes poorly, or if unforeseen circumstances arise...

He didn't finish speaking, but the cold glint in his eyes said it all—if the attack at the Saint level was thwarted, or if an unexpected event like Dumbledore occurred, he would not hesitate to call upon Gnus!

Jonathan nodded: "Of course, now that we've decided to take action, there's no need to hold back."

He looked at Greg and the three tomb owners, "What do you two think?"

Seeing that he wouldn't have to summon demigods himself for the time being (since he couldn't anyway), Prince Gregor felt a little less pressured and immediately nodded in agreement:
"Lord Jonathan's method is quite appropriate. It is the best course of action to first test the waters with the power of a saint."

He didn't want to get involved in the demigod war immediately.

The third tomb owner snorted, somewhat impatient, but knowing this was the safest option at the moment, he said hoarsely:
"Then hurry up, I can't wait to tear that brat Cohen's bones to shreds!" As the leaders of the four forces temporarily reached a consensus to "test, wear down, and put pressure on us with the power of the Saints," the suffocating silence outside Florence City was broken.

Instead, a powerful aura soared into the sky, shaking heaven and earth!

Behind Prince Xia Zuo, three figures, as deep as abyss and as imposing as a mountain, slowly emerged.

A burly old man shrouded in dark golden dragon energy, his aura as heavy as a mountain, was none other than the veteran of the Eastern Region Empire's military, the "Immovable King" Saint.

An old woman in purple robes, holding a strange crystal staff and surrounded by distorted light and spatial ripples, is the chief court mage under Xia Zuo, the "Weaver of Spells" saint.

There was also a tall, thin man whose figure seemed to float in the shadows; he was the leader of the Xia Zuo intelligence organization, the "Shadow Saint."

At the same time, more than fifteen legendary-level powerhouses also released their powerful auras, including majestic generals, mysterious mages, and ghostly assassins, making for a truly luxurious lineup.

The Central Empire's House of Nobles was also quite impressive. Besides Jonathan Wertheimer himself, on his left was a giant in golden armor holding a huge tower shield, the House of Nobles' "Steel Wall" Saint.

To his right is a middle-aged man in a magnificent noble robe, the patriarch of an ancient marquis family, the "Blood Rose" Saint.

Behind them stood more than a dozen legendary powerhouses, each with an extraordinary bearing, representing the profound heritage of the Central Empire's Noble Academy.

Prince Gregor brought three saints: one was a barbarian saint named "Mountain Opener" with a fierce aura and carrying a double-edged battle axe; another was a druid saint named "Forest Whisperer" shrouded in a pale green natural light and holding a wooden staff.

There was another one that didn't have a human form at all; it looked more like a giant octopus. Clearly, it was a sea monster saint from the sea tribe!
From the dark cloud of the dead where the three tomb masters resided, besides the tomb master who was at the peak of sainthood, three more figures emerged, exuding a dense aura of death and evil.

One is a lich saint clad in tattered robes and wielding a skull staff, the fourth lord of the Black Tomb.

One was a Death Knight Saint riding a bone dragon and wearing rusted armor, exuding an overwhelming aura of slaughter. He was the Fifth Tomb Master who had once appeared at the Northwest Region Exchange Meeting.

In addition, there is another ghost that has been hiding in the shadows, the second tomb master of the Black Tomb!
The Black Tomb is teeming with legendary undead creatures, including skeleton mages, liches, terror knights, and wailing banshees, forming a terrifying tide of death.

A rough count reveals that these four main forces alone have revealed twelve Saints.

Adding to this the lone saints who came seeking a share of the spoils, as well as the saints hidden among some inconspicuous small and medium-sized forces, the total number of saints surrounding Florence City has now exceeded twenty.

This doesn't even include the far greater number of legendary powerhouses, whose combined pressure, like a tangible weight, enveloped the entire city of Florence.

The air seemed to freeze, the sunlight was distorted by the powerful energy field, and the sky darkened.

The entire city of Florence was shrouded in an airtight cage of death, composed of the oppressive aura of saints and legends!

Looking at the terrifying lineup before him, a lineup capable of making any empire tremble, the Third Tomb Master's hoarse, shrill voice rang out once more:

"Cohen! Do you see this? This is what happens when you fight against the entire continent!"

I'm giving you one last chance: hand over Adel and your divinity.

Otherwise, a combined attack from the twenty-odd Saints of our time would be enough to reduce your little Florence, along with your laughable empire, to ashes in an instant, leaving not a trace of life!

His voice, amplified by the aura of death, resounded in all directions, carrying an immense sense of oppression.

Greg, Shazo, Jonathan, and the others also watched the city walls indifferently, waiting for Cohen to collapse in the face of absolute power.

In their view, with such a disparity in power, Effie had absolutely no chance of getting away with it.

However, facing the despairing pressure and death threat from the saint outside the city, Cohen on the city wall showed no fear whatsoever; his eyes even held a hint of mockery.
"To be reduced to ashes? With your abilities?"

The next moment, he suddenly waved his hand!

As if it were a signal, countless powerful auras that had been gathering strength within Florence City, like sleeping dragons awakening, suddenly erupted!
Deep within the palace, several streaks of light shot into the sky and landed steadily beside Cohen.

The representatives of the Five Wings Clan were the first to appear, each of them radiating a powerful aura no less than that of any saint outside the city.

Following them were several elegant figures, each wielding a longbow or staff, surrounded by the radiance of nature and arcane magic—the saints of the Winged Elf race!
Their arrival brought a fresh and powerful aura of life and magic, a stark contrast to the deathly clouds outside the city.

On the right, the space rippled, and several tall, noble, and mysterious figures stepped out—the saints of the Starry Empire!
Their aura was deep and vast, carrying the power of the stars. They stood firmly beside Cohen, demonstrating the Star Clan's unwavering support.

Then, several monks carrying crystal balls and heavy scriptures quietly appeared.

The saint of prophecy church!
Even more unexpectedly, several pure and warm lights appeared, and several figures draped in pure white robes emerged—the saints of the Holy See of Light!
And the saints who exude a rich aura of life and healing—the saints of the Holy Healing Order!
The Pale Wings, the Winged Elves, the Starry Empire, the Church of Prophecy, the Holy See of Light, the Holy Healing Order... these influential forces on the continent have all stood on the side of the Effiin Empire at this moment, sending their Saint-level experts!
At a glance, the number of saints who appeared around Cohen and clearly expressed their support for Effie was as high as twenty!
In an instant, the auras of the two saints collided violently in the sky above Florence, forming two distinct and enormous energy fields that squeezed and resisted each other, producing a rumbling sound that distorted and trembled the space itself!
The previously one-sided situation of overwhelming pressure was instantly shattered!
"This...how is this possible?"

The sneer and smugness on Prince Xia Zuo's face froze instantly, replaced by disbelief, horror, and anger. He even cried out in shock.

Prince Gregor's pupils also contracted sharply, his face filled with shock and confusion.

Jonathan Wertheimer's hand froze in mid-air, his eyes flashing with a sharp light as he stared intently at the powerful figures surrounding Cohen, his heart filled with turmoil.

They had gathered powerful forces from all sides and united many scattered soldiers, thinking they could easily overwhelm Cohen and force him to submit.

Who could have imagined that this newly established empire, founded just a few years ago, and this seemingly isolated and helpless young emperor, would be able to gather such a massive amount of Saint-level support forces in such a short period of time?

Jonathan Wertheimer's aged yet sharp gaze slowly swept over the imposing figures surrounding Cohen, the turmoil surging within him almost impossible to conceal.

Saints from the Starry Empire, saints from the Pale Wings Five-Winged Family, saints from the Winged Elf Clan... these are surprising, but still within reason.

After all, the world knows about Cohen's relationship with the Star Queen, Isabella the Golden Winged Daughter, and Windsordler, the Winged Elf Princess. It's understandable that these forces would lend a helping hand.

While the Church of Prophecy's stance was unexpected, it was somewhat acceptable considering Cohen's identity as the "Son of Prophecy" and the Church of Prophecy's consistently mysterious style of operation.

The appearance of saints from the Holy Healing Order and the Holy See was completely beyond his comprehension.

Even this Hundred Star Saint, who had seen countless storms, felt a deep unease and a sense of absurdity!

Especially the Holy See!
As the First Church with the largest number of believers, the deepest foundation, and the widest influence on the Demon Tide Continent, its stance has always been detached, and it rarely intervenes so clearly in the conflicts between secular empires.

Not to mention this sensitive event involving divinity, which could trigger a civil war on the continent!

But the figures before me, clad in pure white robes, were clearly the revered saints of the Holy See!
Moreover, with Jonathan's keen eye, he was shocked to discover that there were as many as five powerful individuals among them, with faint phantom images of stars surrounding them and their auras resonating with the heavens and earth—that was the mark of a Hundred Star Saint!

The Holy See of Light actually sent five Hundred-Star Saints at once.

This is practically the entirety of the Holy See's top-tier combat power on the surface.

Such strong support is not just simple "aid," but a naked and undisguised show of allegiance!

Could it be that Cohen possesses a secret that even these high-ranking members of the empire are unaware of, a secret that would make the Holy See of Light take such a heavy bet?
Just as Jonathan, Shazo, Greg and the others were shaken by the series of shocks and had not yet fully digested this astonishing information.

The representative of the Holy Healing Order, who was also the president of the Holy Healing Order who had recently arrived in Florence, Saint Buze, slowly stepped forward and spoke:
"His Majesty Corleone and Empress Adele of the Efein Empire are the most honored friends of my Holy Healing Order."

Saint Buze paused, his tone still calm, but his words caused everyone's expression to change drastically:

"On behalf of the entire Holy Healing Order, I, the President, request that you, in consideration of the past kindness in saving lives and healing the wounded, withdraw from this matter and refrain from engaging in warfare that would cause widespread suffering."

If you insist on being enemies with my friends of the Holy Healing Order…

Saint Buze's voice suddenly turned cold, carrying an unprecedented decisiveness and majesty:

"From this day forward, all physicians, pharmacists, and healers of the Holy Healing Order will never again set foot in any of your respective powers or kingdoms!"
All cooperation, medicine supply, and personnel exchanges with the Holy Healing Order are hereby terminated immediately!

In the name of the Superior General of the Holy Healing Order, I hereby swear!

These words were like a thunderbolt from the blue!

Outside the city, the allied forces, including leaders of various factions, saints, legends, and even the scattered soldiers driven by greed, were all horrified and erupted in a huge commotion.

"Wh...what?"

"The Holy Healing Order... is permanently severing ties?"

"Are you kidding me! What if we get injured without a superhuman doctor?"

"This...this is going to completely break off relations!"

Although the Holy Healing Order is not as powerful as the Holy See, its unique status and widespread influence mean that no force dares to offend it easily! (End of Chapter)