In the first few days, everyone listened with great interest, but after three days, Judge, Soul Chaser, Ian Blade, and others gave up. They felt embarrassed about their lack of talent in this area. For them, it was better to spend time practicing martial arts, which would yield much better results than focusing on the array.
In the following days, more people gave up.
By the tenth day, only Casey, Harleen, Azure Fang, Vermilion Bird, and Night Orchid persisted.
After observing them for a few days, Billy found that these five indeed had talent in the array, so he decided to cultivate them properly.
That morning, after finishing lunch with everyone, Billy chatted with them on the lawn in the courtyard.
“Boss, do you know what’s going on with the Sheardal Empire now?” Azure Dragon asked.
“With their current strength, it would be a piece of cake for the other three empires to annex them!”
“According to the information sent back by the people arranged by Mr Thompson, there is nothing significant for now,” Billy replied.
“Boss, in my opinion, we might as well take over the Sheardal Empire.” White Tiger suggested.
“After all, I think it’s hard for Desmond Henderson to hold on to such a large empire. Sooner or later, it will be annexed.”
“I think so too!” Black Tortoise added, “And I guess Desmond Henderson would be happy to belong to our Skydragon City.”
“That’s feasible!” Bob nodded in agreement.
“It’s not the right time yet!” Stephanie Stuart, who was beside them, said thoughtfully.
“Our own strength is still too weak. It’s already difficult enough to hold on to Skydragon City for now.”
“Aunt Stephanie…” Azure Dragon continued.
Bang!
Before Azure Dragon could finish, Marquise Thompson walked in with two attendants.
“Mr Thompson, is there something?” Stephanie Stuart stood up to greet him, and Billy and the others also stood up.
“There are indeed two things I need to tell Mr Billy,” Marquise Thompson said after coming forward.
“Please go ahead, Mr Thompson,” Billy said.
“Mr Billy, the news about the three women you mentioned last time has come.” Marquise Thompson responded.
The three women he mentioned were the Opal Trio.
“Oh?” Billy’s eyes lit up. “Where are they?”
“According to the information just received from our people in the Ice Cloud Empire, his men saw the three women in the imperial city of the Ice Cloud Empire yesterday,” Marquise Thompson responded again.
“Ice Cloud Empire?” Billy was slightly surprised.
“Exactly!” Marquise Thompson nodded.
“Moreover, they are very likely to have been targeted by someone. Our people are worried that something might happen, so they sent a message back for Mr Billy to decide.”
“Did they say who the other party is?” Billy frowned slightly.
“The other party is very cautious, and he hasn’t found out yet,” Marquise Thompson shook his head.
“However, it is said that their cultivation is not low. The strongest among them has already reached the first-rank Sacred Realm.”
“And it seems that they are not friendly towards the three women.”
“Hmm?!” Billy frowned again. “Are your people still keeping an eye on them?”
“Up to the moment he sent the message, they have been keeping an eye on them, and nothing has happened yet. But it has been several hours now, and I don’t know…” Marquise Thompson responded.
“Give me the address of your people in the Ice Cloud Empire!” Billy interrupted him directly.
“I’ve already written it down.” Marquise Thompson handed the note to Billy.
“Thank you!” After taking the note, Billy continued, “You just mentioned there are two things, what’s the other thing?”
“According to the information sent back from the Rainbow Moon Empire, there may be a civil strife in the royal family of the Rainbow Moon Empire,” Marquise Thompson replied.
“Civil strife?” Billy was slightly surprised. “Do you know what exactly happened?”
“The royal family is being very discreet about this matter, and no information has come out of the palace,” Marquise Thompson shook his head.
“We’ve arranged for people in the Imperial City, but they only know something has happened, without knowing the specifics,” Billy explained.
“Keep your people investigating, and let me know once there’s any news,” Billy instructed.
“Alright!” Marquise Thompson nodded in response before asking, “Mr Billy, how do you suggest we handle the situation with the Ice Cloud Empire?”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll go there right away,” Billy replied.
“Okay!” After Marquise Thompson responded, he bid farewell to Stephanie Stuart and the others.
“Honey, Opal, Amber and Abby might be in danger!” Harleen expressed her concern after Marquise Thompson left.
Casey, Ivy, and others showed worry on their faces as well.
No one knew Opal’s strength, but being targeted by a first-rank Sacred Realm expert was definitely serious.
“Right,” Billy nodded.
After a brief thought, he turned to Stephanie Stuart, “Mom, I’ll take Casey, Harleen, and the others to the Ice Cloud Empire.”
“Ice Cloud Empire ranks second among the Four Great Empires, and there must be hidden dragons and crouching tigers in the Imperial City. I’ll go with you,” Stephanie Stuart responded.
“Billy, Stephanie is right. We should all go together, just in case,” Edie Fennimore chimed in.
“Mom, Aunt Edie, you don’t need to go. We’re just going to take a look, nothing might happen,” Billy replied.
“And, we don’t know what’s happening with the Rainbow Moon Empire’s royal family. Just in case, Skydragon City can’t be left unguarded.”
“Alright then, just be careful!” Stephanie Stuart didn’t insist further.
She knew well that Skydragon City couldn’t be left unguarded. The relationships between the Four Great Empires were delicate, and anything could happen.
“Got it,” Billy nodded.
Afterward, Billy briefly explained the array in the canyon to his mother.
According to him, if anyone attacked, his mother should release the five thousand hidden guards to defend.
Stephanie Stuart had some knowledge of arrays herself, and she grasped the gist in about half an hour.
Then, Billy led Casey, Harleen, Ivy, Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Bob towards the direction of the Ice Cloud Empire.
Azure Fang, Frostblade, Ian Blade, and others initially insisted on going with them, but Billy persuaded them otherwise.
The territory of the Ice Cloud Empire was considerably larger than that of the Rainbow Moon Empire and the Sheardal Empire.
However, one-third of its area was perennially covered in ice and snow, somewhat resembling the Polar Domain, hence the name Ice Cloud Empire.
The Imperial City was situated in the center of the empire’s territory. Although the weather was slightly colder, the seasons were distinct, with only winter being snowy, similar to Skydragon City during other times of the year.
It was around three or four in the afternoon.
The figures of Billy and his group appeared in the open space outside the Ice Cloud Imperial City.