The Dragon-Chen Legion doesn’t pay taxes or tribute to the Frostbane Dynasty—this is no secret anymore. The Pearl-Mountain Star-Region develops independently, the Dragon-Chen Legion roams everywhere plundering and waging war, and every deployment is arranged by the Legion itself, with zero involvement from Frostbane’s high command.
You could put it this way: if not for the Frostbane Dynasty granting the Dragon-Chen Legion its official title, the Legion itself would be little different from the Savage Brotherhood.
The only real advantage is that the Dragon-Chen Legion has its own base—the Pearl-Mountain Star-Region.
But honestly, all Frostbane has really given Dragon-Chen is just that title. Meanwhile, Evan Chu didn’t hesitate to poach the battle general Lance Li, and every time the Legion sends tribute to Frostbane, it’s barely acknowledged—pathetic, really.
Actually, Frostbane’s own high command understands this situation even better than outsiders, but nobody cares. Why? Because Evan Chu is the current Third Person—they all believe that the stronger Evan gets, the stronger Frostbane gets. In the end, Evan’s destined to become the ruler of the Frostbane Dynasty.
That’s why the Four Temple Masters and Seven Thrones in the high command just turn a blind eye and let Evan Chu develop however he wants—after all, it can’t hurt them.
But now, things have started to directly affect how all the major powers and experts view Evan Chu and his Dragon-Chen Legion.
First off, aside from the Mansfield Family, Star-Treasure Pavilion branch, and a few powers with personal ties to Evan Chu, most of the guests are actually from Frostbane’s camp in the just-ended Dynasty War.
So here’s the problem: everyone says ‘merit eclipses the Lord.’ If one person gets so strong that the dynasty can’t suppress him, what happens when he decides to rebel?
Now, all those who are close with Evan Chu—if that day ever comes, where will they stand? Sitting on the fence is absolutely impossible. If you want to survive in the Star-River Dominion, forming alliances is basic common sense, but picking the wrong side could be a disaster.
This isn’t just a stray thought—pretty much every dynasty representative here is thinking the same thing.
The Dragon-Chen Legion is just too strong. If Frostbane keeps letting them run wild, something huge is bound to happen! Lots of people are convinced of this. So when that day comes, which side do you pick? How close should you stay to Dragon-Chen? If you get too cozy, will Frostbane come after you later? If you keep your distance, will Dragon-Chen cause trouble for you instead?
On the surface, it’s just a simple wedding banquet, but underneath, there’s a raging storm. Evan Chu knows this perfectly well—so this wedding, while a stroke of genius, was also planned long in advance. He just waited for the right moment to use it as his excuse.
Even if there hadn’t been this wedding, Evan Chu would’ve found another chance to stir things up. But right now, there’s only one word for it: coincidence. Evan always thought handling all this stuff was a headache—messy, complicated—but Desmond Mansfield’s arrival pushed his plans forward.
With Desmond Mansfield as the military strategist, Evan Chu has zero worries about these problems—he leaves it all to Desmond to handle.
The wedding on stage goes on—cheers, music, dancing, and endless toasts. All the big shots wear smiles, but everyone knows their hearts aren’t at ease.
Every so often, a few familiar faces send secret voice transmissions, quietly discussing the situation.
“Elder Yang, you’re a pillar of the dynasty’s high command. What’s your take on all this? About Throne Chu, about Frostbane?”
“Can’t Throne Feiyan see it himself? There’s bound to be a clash between Frostbane and Dragon-Chen. From what I know, Frostbane’s Holy Emperor has been in seclusion for years and hasn’t shown himself. If Dragon-Chen keeps growing, even if Frostbane’s high command can tolerate it, can the Holy Emperor really just ignore it?”
“Exactly! In the Star-River Dominion, strength rules. Evan Chu’s potential is off the charts—give him time and becoming a Holy Emperor is just a matter of when, not if. Everyone can see that.”
While those two old-timers chat, others are having their own discussions elsewhere.
The Dragon-Chen Legion has enemies everywhere, but right now Frostbane is the overlord of the Star-River Dominion, so nobody dares speak up. But if the day ever comes when the two turn against each other, Frostbane’s influence plus all Dragon-Chen’s old enemies—if they join forces, Dragon-Chen will become an enemy of the world.
Throne Xiao can see right through this—no wonder he’s a Holy Emperor–level powerhouse. I respect that! But let’s be real: Dragon-Chen’s strength isn’t just hype. Even if the whole world turns against him, whoever faces him first is bound to pay the price.
So, in the end, which side do we pick—and how? That’s what really matters.
“No argument there…”
Everyone’s trading thoughts via divine sense—these are all top-tier experts, so there’s no risk of eavesdropping or leaks. Their exchanges are packed with information.
In a special reserved seat, an old man and a golden-armored woman sit cross-legged. Lena Lin downs her drink, then glances at Marcus Lin and asks,
“Uncle Marcus, why does it feel like something’s off with the atmosphere?”
“It is off, but that’s all we can sense. This wedding isn’t as simple as it looks. If we can’t figure it out, let’s just enjoy the food and drink!”
“True, but I still don’t get it. Why did all these people gather here? To give Frostbane face? To give Nathan Yates face? Or is it for Throne Red Lark?”
Marcus Lin shook his head. “Lena, your mind’s still one-track—if it’s not fighting, you’re lost! This is obviously way bigger than just giving face to someone.”
All these people came for one person—and it’s definitely not Nathan Yates or Lydia Hong. It’s Evan Chu. Throne Chu!
“Pfft! Like you’re some genius.” Lena Lin rolled her eyes, totally unconvinced. Marcus Lin saw her attitude and just sighed—there was no arguing with her.
It’s true—the Savage Brotherhood’s five leaders can fight, but not a single one’s got much brains. If they had good genes like the Mansfield Family, they’d have become a top sect or even a dynasty ages ago, instead of just a bandit gang.
“Enough, just eat and drink. This isn’t our business anyway. For now, all we can do is follow the Great Sage’s advice, clean up the Savage Brotherhood, and stick close to Throne Chu. Whatever happens, that’s the right move!”
“Alright, got it.”
Lena Lin knows she’s not the sharpest—her instincts say things here are complicated, but her brain just can’t figure it out. What can you do?
Suddenly Marcus Lin’s eyes lit up. “Wait! Our family’s genes are terrible, but some people have great genes. What if we mix things up a bit? Maybe that’ll give us a boost!”
He blurted this out, then stared eagerly at Desmond Mansfield up on the platform, focused on the powerhouses below.