Strongest Kingdom: My Op Kingdom Got Transported Along With Me

Chapter 440: Chapter 439: Azure Heaven Sect, House of Draven (part 1)

He was a man in his late forties, with short black hair beginning to show traces of silver near his temples.

A neatly trimmed beard covered his jaw, while his sharp blue eyes carried the calm authority of someone who had spent decades ruling a kingdom.

He wore a dark blue royal robe embroidered with golden dragons, and a heavy crown rested upon his head.

Despite his age, his body remained imposing.

The aura surrounding him belonged to a powerful cultivator.

Yet, compared to the authority of his position, his cultivation was not what made the surrounding ministers fear him.

It was his mind.

King Aldric was known throughout the region as a cautious and calculating ruler.

He rarely made decisions without considering every possible consequence.

That was why the expression on his face changed the moment he finished reading the report.

The parchment slowly lowered from his hands.

Silence filled the throne room.

The ministers standing below immediately noticed the change.

Their king... Was tense.

Not angry or confused, but tense.

King Aldric reread the final section.

His fingers tightened around the parchment.

”Read this again.”

The royal intelligence officer standing before him swallowed nervously.

”Your Majesty?”

”Read the section concerning the dungeon.”

The officer immediately obeyed.

”The infiltrating team confirmed the existence of a dungeon in the territory formerly controlled by Alnera Kingdom. Based on the information gathered, the dungeon contains monsters ranging from Tier 3 monsters to Tier 6 monsters. A Tier 7 existence classified was also rumored to be in the dungeon.”

The ministers immediately fell silent.

A Tier 7 monster.

That alone was alarming.

But it wasn’t the reason King Aldric’s expression had changed.

He tapped the parchment.

”Continue.”

The officer took a deep breath.

”The dungeon appears to be extremely large and contains a previously unknown ancient civilization. The infiltrators also confirmed the presence of valuable resources, including high-grade magical materials and... indications of Tier 7 treasures.”

The atmosphere inside the throne hall instantly became suffocating.

Several ministers exchanged stunned glances.

One of them finally whispered,

”A Tier 7 dungeon...”

King Aldric slowly leaned back against his throne.

His expression became grim. Valoria possessed a dungeon.

But theirs was nothing like this.

Their dungeon was considered a precious national resource, yet the strongest monsters inside were only Tier 5.

The resources produced by it were valuable enough to support the kingdom’s cultivation industry, but they were far from sufficient.

There were only so many Tier 5 monsters.

Only so many valuable materials.

And only so many treasures.

Now, another dungeon had appeared.

And this one was clearly on an entirely different level.

King Aldric slowly closed his eyes.

”This changes everything.”

No one disagreed.

If the report was accurate, the dungeon in Alnera was not merely another dungeon.

It was a treasure trove.

A source capable of producing resources that could potentially influence the balance of power throughout the entire region.

And worse... It was currently controlled by monsters.

King Aldric opened his eyes.

”Send additional intelligence agents.”

”Yes, Your Majesty.”

”And...”

His expression became cold.

”Do not allow the other two powers to discover everything before we do.”

-----

Azure Heaven Sect

Far from the royal palace of Valoria, another report was being read.

The Azure Heaven Sect was located atop a vast mountain range.

Clouds surrounded the mountain peaks throughout the year, while countless enormous buildings had been carved directly into the cliffs.

Thousands of disciples moved between the mountain paths.

Sword cultivators flew through the sky.

Elders meditated within isolated caves.

The entire sect radiated the atmosphere of an ancient cultivation force.

At the highest point of the mountain stood the sect’s main hall.

Inside, a middle-aged man stood before a massive window overlooking the mountains.

His name was Sect Master Jian Wuchen.

He appeared to be around fifty years old, with long black hair tied behind his head and a thin beard beneath his chin.

Unlike King Aldric’s imposing appearance, Jian Wuchen possessed an almost scholarly appearance.

He wore a simple white cultivation robe without unnecessary decorations.

His hands were folded behind his back.

His expression was usually calm.

But right now, his calm had disappeared.

An intelligence elder stood several meters behind him.

”Are you certain?”

The elder bowed deeply.

”Yes, Sect Master.”

”The information was obtained directly from our agents.”

Jian Wuchen slowly turned around.

”A Tier 7 dungeon...”

His eyes narrowed.

”Our dungeon has existed for more than a thousand years.”

”And yet...”

He looked down at the report.

”The strongest monster inside is only Tier 5.”

His voice carried a trace of frustration.

The Azure Heaven Sect’s dungeon was one of the primary reasons the sect had grown so powerful.

Yet its limitations were obvious.

The resources produced by it could support only a limited number of disciples.

Every high-grade material had to be carefully distributed.

Every Tier 5 monster had to be hunted efficiently.

The sect had spent decades attempting to discover methods to increase the dungeon’s production.

Nothing had worked.

And now, a much greater dungeon had appeared right next door.

Jian Wuchen’s fingers lightly tapped against the table.

”How many Tier 7 treasures?”

”We don’t know.”

”Then find out.”

”Immediately.”

The elder hesitated.

”Sect Master...”

”What?”

”The report states that the dungeon is currently controlled by the monsters occupying Alnera.”

Jian Wuchen’s expression became complicated.

”Then we need to determine exactly how strong those monsters are.”

He paused.

”Especially the existence responsible for conquering Alnera.”

The elder nodded.

”Understood.”

Jian Wuchen looked toward the distant horizon.

For the first time in many years... His heart began beating faster.

A dungeon capable of producing Tier 7 treasures could completely transform the Azure Heaven Sect.

Their strongest disciples could advance.

Their elders could obtain better cultivation resources.

Their weapons could be upgraded.

Their influence could expand.

The sect might even have a chance to surpass the other two great powers.

But there was one problem.

The dungeon was already occupied.

And the occupants... Were monsters.

Jian Wuchen’s eyes gradually became colder.

”Prepare a second intelligence team.”

”We need more information before making a decision.”

-----

House of Draven

The third great power was neither a kingdom nor a sect.

It was a clan.

The Draven Clan.

Their territory occupied an enormous valley surrounded by black mountains.

Unlike the magnificent palace of Valoria or the majestic mountain sect, the Draven Clan’s main residence looked almost like a fortress.

Massive stone walls surrounded the entire valley.

Countless defensive formations covered the mountains.

Inside the central estate stood an enormous manor constructed entirely from dark stone.

At the highest floor of that manor sat the clan’s patriarch.

Caelum Draven.

The old man appeared to be in his early seventies.

His long white hair reached his waist, while his thick eyebrows partially covered a pair of deep golden eyes.

His body appeared thin beneath his dark robe.

Yet the moment he opened his eyes...

The entire room seemed to become heavier.

Several elders of the Draven Clan stood before him.

Nobody dared speak.

Caelum had just finished reading the report.

Unlike the other two leaders. He didn’t immediately show surprise.

He simply remained silent.

After several seconds, he placed the parchment on the table.