Chapter 627: The Invisible Empire
Chapter 627: The Invisible Empire
On a vast and flat grassland, a clear river divided the land, flowing gently with numerous fish swimming within its transparent waters.
Feng Ye's figure appeared on the riverbank, his demeanor calm as he strolled along the shore.
Following the direction of his steady strides, one could see a lush forest ahead, filled with the sounds of birds and fragrant flowers. Beyond the trees lay expansive, flat lands dotted with numerous buildings.
Gazing further, one could see beyond a dozen such towns to a massive, icy palace—grand and majestic.
That was the heart of the Invisible Empire, also known as Silver Rack City!
"To have allowed the enemy to develop right under your noses for nearly a millennium, reaching such a scale, what a failure you were, Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni."
As Feng Ye walked along the riverbank, he retracted his gaze from Silver Rack City and sighed.
A millennium ago, the Gotei 13, led by Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, consisted of mostly powerful captains like Unohana Retsu.
With such might, they had defeated the Quincies.
However, after their defeat, the Quincies escaped using the Shadow Realm and hid in the shadows of the Seireitei, unbeknownst to the Gotei 13.
And so, the Quincies were allowed to thrive right under their noses, developing a vast world within the shadows of the Seireitei over the course of nearly a thousand years.
The spatial range of the Invisible Empire was now even larger than the Royal Palace!
Everyone living here was a pure-blooded Quincy, and though their numbers had once dwindled to a small amount a millennium ago, they had since grown significantly.
This place was not just about the Sternritter; they were the cream of the crop among the Quincies, selected and granted power by Yhwach himself.
Ordinary Quincies were countless.
In fact, it was through these vast numbers that Yhwach had gradually regained his strength.
The massive Quincy empire periodically sacrificed a portion of its members, converting their lives and strength into nourishment for Yhwach's revival.
As Feng Ye walked along the riverbank, deep in thought, a commotion emanated from the trees ahead.
It sounded like a chase.
Whoosh! Whoosh!!
A startled deer bolted out of the forest, fleeing towards the grassland.
Around the same time, a young girl riding a horse emerged from the trees, a crossbow in her hand. She aimed at the distant prey and fired an arrow.
The glowing spiritual arrow cleaved through the air, tracing a perfect trajectory as it pierced the fleeing deer.
"As expected of the young mistress, your control over spirit arrows is already so adept."
Several servants, dressed alike, rode out from the forest behind her. Seeing the girl's successful shot, the one in front flattered, "You are indeed destined to become a Sternritter."
The girl tilted her chin slightly, a confident smile on her face. "Of course. I will be a Sternritter and more in the future."
In the Invisible Empire, everyone was a pure-blooded Quincy, but their talents and abilities varied depending on the purity of their bloodline. Thus, only a select few could become knights, and even fewer could stand out among the knights to become leaders.
At the pinnacle of all knights stood the Sternritter—the ultimate goal of all Quincies and a symbol of the highest honor!
"With the young mistress' pure bloodline and talent, you will surely gain His Majesty's recognition."
The servants continued to flatter her.
Becoming a Sternritter was an extremely stringent process. If one were to categorize bloodline purity into six levels, only those at the very top would immediately qualify as Sternritter.
As for those at the second level, they would have to undergo various rigorous tests and display exceptional talent to have a chance at becoming Sternritter.
Those at lower levels would never have the opportunity.
After all, there had never been a Sternritter with a bloodline purity below the second level.
The Bambietta family was an upper-class noble family in the Invisible Empire, with most members possessing bloodline talents of the fourth level and above. Bambietta Basterbine, the young mistress of this generation, was a rare second-level bloodline purity, an individual with the potential to become a Sternritter!
Because of this, she was the most valued member of her family. Even though she had not yet officially become a knight, she held a significant position within the family, her word powerful enough to decide the life and death of her servants.
Clop, clop, clop, clop...
Bambietta rode her horse over to the deer she had shot and prepared to dismount to inspect her prey. However, at that moment, she paused, a surprised look on her face.
"He's kind of handsome."
Bambietta tilted her head, eyeing the figure before hopping off her horse. Forgetting about her prey, she strode towards the riverbank.
Feng Ye noticed Bambietta and her entourage in the distance but didn't pay them much mind. He continued walking, and after a few steps, he heard a voice from across the river.
"Hey there! What's your name?"
Bambietta called out to Feng Ye from across the riverbank, a smile on her face.
Feng Ye paused in his tracks and calmly replied, "Feng Ye."
"Don't be so cold," Bambietta said with a playful smile. With a graceful leap, she jumped across the river, landing gracefully not far from Feng Ye. "You're not going to tell me your surname? With your appearance and attire, I doubt you're from a commoner family."
"Of course not," Feng Ye replied amiably.
Bambietta sized up Feng Ye, noting the luxurious and rare quality of his clothing, though she didn't recognize the style. Moreover, she didn't see any signs of a knightly order on him.
Circling Feng Ye with a curious gaze, she stopped in front of him and asked, "Are you a knight?"
"No," Feng Ye replied, his eyes also assessing Bambietta.
If he remembered correctly, this young lady before him, with her name and surname, was one of Yhwach's future Sternritter, the one who would eventually be defeated by Koumura Zojin? She looked quite young at the moment.
"You're not a knight?" Bambietta asked, a hint of surprise in her tone.
Feng Ye's calmness and lack of reaction to her surname, coupled with his refined appearance and clothing, suggested that he, too, was from a noble family. Moreover, his age seemed to be a bit older than hers, perhaps in his early twenties, an age when most would have already become knights.
Furthermore, given Feng Ye's noble background, it was highly unlikely that he had an impure bloodline. He wouldn't have faced any obstacles in becoming an ordinary knight, so the only explanation was that he had chosen not to participate in the knightly assessment.
"Did you not take the knighthood exam? Why is that?" Bambietta inquired, intrigued.
It was rare for a Quincy to not aspire to become a knight and serve under Yhwach. Devotion to the emperor was instilled in them from a young age.
Feng Ye glanced at Bambietta and smiled faintly. "You sure ask a lot of questions for someone I barely know."
"Hey, now," Bambietta said with a grin. "You're quite the odd one, answering all my questions despite us not being acquainted. But I must say, you're the first Quincy I've met who doesn't aspire to be a knight and serve His Majesty. Those with such thoughts usually end up as sacrifices, offering their lives and souls to the emperor."
In the Invisible Empire, those who showed disloyalty to Yhwach or refused to serve him were deemed unfaithful. Such individuals were often swiftly chosen as annual sacrifices, their lives and souls used to hasten Yhwach's revival.
Before Feng Ye could respond, Bambietta continued, "However, it would be a waste to offer someone as handsome as you as a sacrifice. If you agree to become my subordinate and obey me, I won't send you to your death."
Disloyalty to Yhwach, whether from a noble or a commoner, was punishable. If Feng Ye wasn't from a noble family, it would be even simpler for Bambietta, as the young mistress of the Bambietta family, to exert her power over a commoner Quincy.
"Is that a threat?" Feng Ye smiled.
Bambietta stood about six feet away from him, her servants having already reached the opposite riverbank. With a light laugh, she admitted, "I suppose it is."
"In that case, I refuse," Feng Ye replied, his face still bearing a faint smile.
A slight smirk played on Bambietta's lips as she lowered her hand, causing a small amount of Reishi to gather in her palm. "It's a shame, but you've made the wrong choice."
(End of Chapter)
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