speech to turn toward them. The Tenth Elder bowed. “This young clansman has returned from outside claiming to bring news of our current situation. If it pleases the Patriarch, allow me to introduce Wei Shi Lindon.”
Several clumsy spiritual perceptions locked onto Lindon and began scanning his spirit, including the Patriarch’s.
Yerin’s red eyes remained on the Tenth Elder until it was clear he wasn’t going to introduce her. “People from your homeland think asking my name’s going to give them some nasty disease,” she said to Lindon in a perfectly normal voice.
Several of the spiritual senses turned to her.
Lindon saluted the First Elder. “I have returned, honored Elder.”
“Shi Lindon,” the Patriarch said. “What entrance did you use to return to the Valley?”
Lindon knew what that question really meant. “I came through Heaven’s Glory, Patriarch. And I brought allies with me.”
No murmuring went up between the old men, but several exchanged meaningful gazes. Heaven’s Glory had been after Lindon’s blood, but he had come through them unharmed. With a large enough force to escort him through enemy territory.
This was the Wei clan. No one would take him at his word. They would investigate his claim, but that would take time.
Patriarch Sairus made a doubtful sound. “You must have mighty friends indeed, if Heaven’s Glory respected them enough to allow you to pass.”
Lindon met his eyes. “Yes, Patriarch, I do.”
Before anyone could react to that statement, Lindon turned to the First Elder and dipped his head again. “A monster known as a Dreadgod comes for you. It is called the Wandering Titan, and the shaking in the earth you feel now is the least sign of its coming. If it passes through Sacred Valley, it will notice none of us, but its very footsteps will bury us all. You must leave.”
The First Elder’s white eyebrows climbed into his hair. “You have proof?”
“Dross,” Lindon said aloud.
They had practiced this on the way.
On cue, Dross projected Lindon’s memories into the minds of everyone in the room.
His first sight of the Wandering Titan sleeping face-down in the bay outside Sky’s Edge, its black shell the size of an island. The close-up view of its hand, each finger like a collapsed tower, as Lindon reached out with his Remnant arm to touch its rocky skin.
The feeling of overwhelming strength as it woke, the slashing of its tail kicking up waves, one cycle of its madra knocking a cloudship from the air.
With that, the memories cut off.
Every Elder exclaimed differently. Many of them had risen to their feet. Some demanded Lindon repeat his technique. Others were simply impressed, or in shock.
None looked more shocked than the First Elder. “Where did you train the Fox Dream?” he asked in disbelief. He glanced down at Lindon’s badge. “We can find a Ruler badge for you.”
That warmed Lindon more than he had expected. Even though he hadn’t been the one to use the technique, and he had passed beyond the understanding of Sacred Valley’s ranking system long ago.
Even so, this was the man who had once given him the badge declaring him Unsouled.
“You can’t expect us to take an illusion as proof, no matter how carefully crafted,” Patriarch Sairus said.
“Pardon, Patriarch,” Lindon said, “but I didn’t.”
Then he unleashed the full might of his spirit.
He had been drained down to roughly Gold, but his pure core was mostly full, so it was stronger than his Blackflame madra. Exerting spiritual pressure on someone had better results the greater the power difference and the more sensitive the receiver’s spiritual sense. It could be used on those under Jade, but its effects were blunted.
The senses of these Sacred Valley Jades were dull, but fortunately the gap in power was wide.
Everyone in the room collapsed to their knees, gasping for breath, as a great weight settled on them. Everyone except Lindon, Yerin, and the First Elder.
Lindon took it easy on him.
“I know more than most what power the words of the strong have over you,” Lindon said. “Let this represent the weight of my words.”
Patriarch Sairus struggled to speak, but Lindon continued. “I have strength beyond anyone and anything you have ever encountered.” A moment later he added, “…in this life.”
They had all seen Li Markuth and Suriel, though they had died for it.
“If I wanted you to suffer or die, I would not need to deceive you. I could have that now. If I wanted revenge, I could have it. I could have leveled the Heaven’s Glory School, but I did not. I do not