Aksai started to piece together the motives behind Haitin’s bold decision to provoke the Haan Di Lord.
It was clear to him now that Haitin had wanted to lure the Haan Di Lord out—not just to confront him and gather information about the Holy Land Torel.
Perhaps, he wanted to test the abilities of the 3rd-order formation by provoking an already injured Core Formation Lord.
Haitin had anticipated the possibility of the Haan Di Lord trying to force his way into the sacred site again. Yet, despite that risk, Haitin had gone ahead with his plan, confident that the newly erected 3rd-order formation would prevent such an incursion. If not, he could make some more modifications and make the formation even better.
Jina, walking a few steps ahead, seemed to sense what Aksai was thinking. Without turning around, she spoke, her voice casual but laced with insight. “You’re only thinking about half the picture,” she said, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. “Haan Di Lord is certainly a part of the reason we built this formation, but he’s not the whole story.”
Aksai raised an eyebrow. “Hm? Please explain.”
Jina glanced back over her shoulder, her eyes glinting as if she were amused by his surprise.
“Don’t you know what is happening at our sect’s territory? At this point, an injured Haan Di Lord who hasn’t shown himself up in the Wild Devil Lands is not threatening to us. Our main concern these days is the Sun Ocean Lord.
Even though he’s supposed to be our ally, we’d be fools to trust him completely. Core Formation Lords are driven by opportunity, and the Holy Land Torel is a prize that could tempt even the most trustworthy ally to turn selfish. This formation helps ensure that we negotiate with him from a position of strength.”
Aksai nodded, beginning to understand. “So, it’s not just about keeping them out—it’s about striking a deal where we aren’t the ones being taken advantage of.”
“Exactly,” Jina affirmed.
“A deal struck from a place of weakness will always leave you at a disadvantage. If we didn’t have this 3rd-order formation, the Sun Ocean Lord could force us into concessions we’re not willing to make. We’d end up owing him far more than we’re comfortable with.
But now… now we have something that makes him think twice before trying anything forceful. This gives us leverage, and with leverage, you can negotiate without losing ground.”
Aksai, however, wasn’t entirely convinced. “But… what if the Core Formation Lords, like the Haan Di Lord and Sun Ocean Lord, decide to team up? What if they band together against you, just to break through this formation?”
Jina paused for a moment, contemplating his question. Her expression shifted into something more thoughtful as she finally responded. “It’s not an impossible scenario,” she admitted, turning to face him fully.
“But you’re underestimating how difficult it is for powerful individuals like that to trust each other. Core Formation Lords don’t just align easily. There’s too much ambition, too much self-interest.
They might see value in working together, but in practice, they’re too wary of being betrayed by their supposed allies. The moment they try to team up, they’ll start calculating how to backstab each other.”
Aksai couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “So, the problem solves itself, huh?”
“Not exactly,” Jina said. “This formation wasn’t built to be an impenetrable wall against Core Formation Lords. We know it can’t withstand a full assault from two of them, not for long. But that’s not the point. Its purpose is to make them hesitate, to make them reconsider their options. To force them into negotiations instead of acting rashly.”
She resumed walking, and Aksai followed, absorbing every word.
“As long as we show the Sun Ocean Lord that a forceful entry into the Holy Land Torel isn’t worth the effort, he’ll be willing to bargain. Once he’s on our side, he becomes our second line of defense.
Even if other Core Formation Lords consider making a move, the Sun Ocean Lord won’t let them. He’ll protect his own interests, and as long as our interests align, that protection will extend to us.”
Aksai took in Jina’s explanation, impressed by the foresight involved. The demonic faction had thought everything through with remarkable depth, leveraging politics, power, and ambition to their advantage.
This formation wasn’t just a defense; it was a tool in a larger game of power, ensuring that they not only survived but thrived against these powerful forces.
Jina then stopped at the edge of the barrier and pulled out a wooden token from her robes. It was intricately carved with runes that shimmered faintly in the light.
With a subtle flick of her wrist, she raised the token in front of her, and immediately, the barrier responded. The translucent surface rippled, folding in on itself to create an opening wide enough for them to pass through.
“Come on,” Jina called over her shoulder as she stepped forward. “We don’t have much time.”
As Jina led Aksai closer to the towering wall, he felt an unsettling shift in his perception. What had seemed like an ordinary structure from outside the barrier now revealed itself to be anything but.
The closer he got, the more intricate and overwhelming the details became. His senses had been tricked by the wall’s mysterious nature—there was more to it than he had initially thought.
Standing at the base, Aksai’s gaze swept over the entire surface. The wall was covered in runes, intricate and foreign, etched into the stone with a precision that felt ancient and beyond comprehension.
These Essence Equation runes were something Aksai had never seen before. They glowed faintly, pulsing with some deep, forgotten power, as if they belonged to a long-lost era.
Beyond the runes, the wall was adorned with carvings that told stories of immense power. Pictorial depictions stretched across its surface, illustrating beings wielding the elemental forces of nature with effortless might—lightning crackling from fingertips, waves crashing at a command, and mountains rising from the earth with a simple gesture.
What truly caught Aksai’s attention were the unusual figures etched into the stone. These beings had elongated ears, their features sharper and more refined than any human he had ever encountered.
They looked like they belonged to an ancient, nearly mythical race.
‘Hm? Druids?’ Aksai thought to himself.