To put matters into perspective, though eyes were focused on the Connecting Heaven Realm experts, they weren't the only geniuses the Core Region had sent.
The eighteen were split among six Clans. First there were the Core Clans – the Basteel, Xie, Vinn and Croft Clans. While the final six Connecting Heaven Realm geniuses were split amongst two Clans that had gained their favor. Though these Clans weren't as powerful as the Loom Clan, they were certainly better at currying favors.
The Lao Clan and Lucien supported the Xie Clan and the Awae Clan. The Minn Clan and Vygil supported the Basteel Clan. The Ofera Clan and Annbar supported the Vinn and Rume Clans. Finally, the remaining Croft Clan was supported by the strongest Ember Clan.
Within the mix, outside of these eighteen most important geniuses, the Core Region had also sent numerous Divine Vessel Realm seedlings to ensure they could control the entire situation perfectly. It was clear they took no chances even if they looked down on their opponents.
Not only was The Selection important for the choosing of the Zu Clan's replacement, but one had to remember that this wasn't the first time The Selection was held. Simply put, this wasn't its original purpose.
Originally, The Selection was in place to decide quotas and territory splits within the Mortal Qi Small Realm. The Core Region's actions were essentially meant to allow all the Clans that acted as their pawns to fully control these quotas.
In the past, the Loom Clan had the support of the Sixth Order Lao Clan, so everything was fine. But, after Taedra rejected Throne Byrin's marriage proposal, their fates took a turn for the worst.
Just when they thought things couldn't worsen any further, the Core Region changed the rules once more, allowing Connecting Heaven Realm experts to participate. Like this, Taedra was forced out of the competition for her own safety, leaving the Loom Clan with only two participants… That should have been the end of it all… It should have only become worse after Ryu failed to breakthrough…
And yet… Why was it that they still had a chance?!
Ryu continued to climb upward. Soon, it wasn't just the three geniuses who chased after him initially who noticed, but others began to as well.
On a certain mountain peak of the Small Realm, a young man with flaming red hair and brows sat amid a slew of corpses. Not far from him, the quiet young heir of the Croft Clan sat, using his senses to red the changes of the jade they had all been given to start the competition.
"This is Throne Ryu?" The red-haired young man spoke.
"His name matches, his stature and arrogance as well. Also, his appearance here is in line with his disappearance from the Outer Ring."
"But there was no record of him appearing in any one of the teleportation array formations. Are you telling me that a Qi Refinement Realm pup traveled through the wilderness alone and made it here in just two months?"
"He is a Mental Realm Master, he likely took advantage in order to avoid trouble." This was the only answer the Croft Clan Heir could think of.
"Maybe…" The red-haired young man's eyes narrowed. "… I was entrusted by the Apostles to find this person should he appear. But, his appearance here makes things tricky…"
This young man was a member of the Ember Clan. And, unlike the Minn, Ofera and Lao Clan second-in-line heirs, he wasn't anywhere near as important to his Clan. However, even still, those three would most certainly lower their Heads if they came across him. This went even for Lucien who had a Throne for an elder brother. The strength of the Ember Clan was undeniable!
What did it mean to be a Half-Step Seventh Order Clan? It meant that they had a Path Extinction Realm Ancestor! Even a Throne wouldn't dare to be arrogant before such power.
The Croft Clan Heir trembled slightly when he heard the Apostles mentioned, but said nothing more.
"… The Selection is the Core Region's method of maintaining control over the Inner Ring. But, if we casually circumvent the rules as these scum have, this strength will crumble. We are simply too far away to influence any meaningful change here, and anyone intelligent enough knows this…
"I can't just casually detain him, how troublesome."
This Ember Clan Envoy hadn't moved from this spot in more than a month. It was precisely because of this reason that he ranked eighth individually, allowing Matheus, who was holding back, to rank above. However, even now, he didn't find it necessary to move.
"It's better if he continues along this pace." The young man finished. "Then we'll simply severely injure him during the second phase and detain him afterward…"
"Young Master Fuoco, there is another problem."
"Oh?"
"There seem to be many odd movements this time around…
"The only ones in this Small Realm should be the number taking part in The Selection, this is to hinder cheating. But, it seems that many others have entered when they shouldn't have."
Fuoco frowned. He was already displeased by those Clans breaking the age rule they set for themselves, but now they were going even further?
"The issue is that there haven't been any irregularities in the point and mission completed totals. This likely means they're not here to cheat, but are here for some other reason.
"The Zu Clan has proof of Throne Ryu using one of their elders as a corpse puppet, so they are using it as justification for their appearance. But, it seems that the Basteel Clan is showing some oddities as well…"
Fuoco sneered. "How would the Zu Clan receive this evidence only now? Isn't that as good as blatantly admitting they entered this Realm when they shouldn't have?"
But aside from this reaction, it was clear that Fuoco's contempt for the Zu Clan was much lower than even the other Sixth Order Clan… In fact, he seemed to be almost… wary?
Why he would feel this way about a Half-Step Sixth Order Clan was beyond the Croft Clan Heir's understanding.
"A few months ago, the Zu Clan received word of their elder's demise. They've been using it as an excuse to wreak havoc throughout the Inner Ring, searching for a killer. But, there must be a deeper reason for this.
"Years ago, when that man was appointed as an elder, it confused many. He was too weak not long before, but that was when we received word that he actually became a Divine Vessel Realm expert in such a short time."
"So you mean that the Zu Clan suspects one of their own for having a supreme treasure and are using the moral high ground to find it. But this doesn't explain why they were here in the first place."
"Well… all elders of the five Core Clans are allowed to enter and exit the Mortal Qi Small Realm at their leisure. Although they're restricted to venturing the territory of their own Clans and can't encroach on others, these rules aren't strictly enforced. After all, who can police elders besides other elders? And, which elders would waste their time away acting as guard dogs?
"Usually, it becomes a mutual tacit agreement that they can venture into and out of each other's territories as long as they don't take any treasures rated at and above the Middle Earth Grade. But, what if…"
"What if this Zu Clan elder didn't venture into the territory of others to take something, but rather, to hide something, right? That's your line of thinking, hm?"
The Croft Clan Heir nodded toward Fuoco.
Fuoco smiled, but it was decidedly cold. "Then that would be quite interesting, wouldn't it…"
**
At this moment, the very Ryu everyone seemed to have their attention on was staring down a problem of his own. The land before him didn't seem to be very special at all. In fact, one could easily pass over it without a second glance. Yet, Ryu felt his body trembling. The blood vessels within his eyes pumped so furiously that he could feel a dull pain fogging up his vision.
'Ryu…? What is it…?'
Even Ailsa herself was confused. Ryu's mind was a mess of jumbled thoughts she simply couldn't see through. And this piece of land… It didn't look special to her at all.
There was a very small pond, no more than three meters across. In fact, its only specialty was the fact it was clear enough to see to its very bottom.
Around it, there was a small clearing of grass before the trees slowly appeared.
To the east, west and south, there was nothing but a large expanse of thick forest and foliage. But, to the north, past a thin patch of trees, there was the foot of a mountain range.
The only oddity of this place was that it didn't seem logical for a pond to appear here, but it wasn't so illogical that one would spend as much time as Ryu staring at it.
"Ailsa… What are the odds of a Small Realm birthing its own Realm Heart…?"