Sovereign of the Ashes

When the Magus Civilization’s forces arrived at the border of the Hundred Flowers Worlds, they stirred deep apprehension among the native plant creatures living there.

Even though Sein had previously negotiated peace with the natives of this star domain and received essence from their Rank Six Snowball Flower King, the sheer scale of the Magus Civilization Army still sent shivers through these floral inhabitants.

Still, the native beings of the Hundred Flowers Worlds understood their limits. They showed clear unease, gathering along the border to observe, but they did not mobilize their forces or take any reckless action.

Had they done so, the situation would have spiraled out of control, potentially forcing the Magus Civilization to fight its first battle within this medium-sized star domain.

The Hundred Flowers Worlds consisted of forty-four complete planes governed by established laws, along with many demiplanes and broken planes.

The Snowball Flower King was the only native Rank Six being in their domain, supported by roughly four Rank Five creatures. Sein had already met two of them—one resembling a willow, the other a peach blossom tree.

As for Rank Four beings, their exact count remained uncertain, but it was unlikely to exceed thirty.

Overall, this was a medium-sized planar civilization with relatively limited strength. And since plant creatures were rarely hot-tempered or battle-loving, their actual combat power was even lower.

Sein had gathered this information during his previous passage through the region with the Klytheran Legion.

Because the Hundred Flowers Worlds occasionally maintained contact with the outside world, they had some vague understanding of the terrifying might of the Magus Civilization, as well as the ongoing war between the Magus Civilization and the Gallant Federation.

In short, this was a secluded, plant-dominated world that never initiated conflict and only wished to protect itself.

Upon reaching the border, Sein received an assignment from Grandmaster Feylis: he would accompany Master Lorianne and several other Rank Four and Rank Five powerhouses from Magus World to formally negotiate with these plant creatures.

These talks were meant to secure the Hundred Flowers Worlds’ entry into the Magus Alliance.

The Hundred Flowers Worlds must join!

As the Magus Civilization commander overseeing this region, Feylis could not allow a world civilization here to remain vague about its allegiance.

If the Magus Civilization Army engaged the Gallant Federation and its vassals near the Shadowbat Civilization, and the Hundred Flowers Worlds suddenly cut off their supply lines, what then?

Of course, such a scenario was extremely unlikely. Those plant creatures would never dare attempt something like that.

But neither Feylis nor the Magus Civilization were pushovers.

The Hundred Flowers Worlds were given two choices: join the Magus Alliance and take part in shaping prosperity across the surrounding star domains, or be crushed under the Magus Civilization’s advancing armies.

There was no third option.

“Gregory is too fierce. I worry he might scare those floral beings,” Feylis said.

“You have experience interacting with plant-type creatures, and Lorianne naturally gets along with floral lifeforms. With the two of you leading the mission, our chances of success are much higher,” she confided to Sein.

It was also her way of giving Sein and Lorianne a chance to shine.

After all, among the Magus Civilization forces traveling with them, there were plenty of Rank Five powerhouses who could have taken the lead, including knights and mages who specialized in dendro or wood elemental laws.

If Sein and his group managed to secure the Hundred Flowers Worlds’ allegiance, it would count as another significant accomplishment.

Bringing the Hundred Flowers Worlds into the alliance was not just about removing potential threats.

A medium-sized dendro-attribute star domain held far greater value to the Magus Alliance than an ordinary medium-sized world civilization.

“Yes, Grandmaster,” Sein replied respectfully.

This was the advantage of powerful backing. When sent on missions, he did not need to chase opportunities—his grandmaster had already arranged everything for him.

It was a stark contrast to the time he had been unknowingly used as bait on the Grand Eye Demon World Star Domain battlefield.

Aboard a space fortress, Sein, Lorianne, and their delegation headed straight toward Hundred Flowers World.

Along the way, the native lifeforms did not dare to stop them and only followed at a distance.

It was only when they neared Hundred Flowers World that Sein finally encountered a familiar face. It was the Rank Five creature resembling a willow tree.

Since plant creatures had limited mobility, this one had likely manifested a divine clone to receive them.

Compared to their previous encounter, the willow’s anthropomorphic expression now carried a faint hint of flattery and eagerness.

Noticing this, Sein whispered to Lorianne through mental focus, “I didn’t meet the Rank Six being when I came here last time. But this one, along with another Rank Five that resembles a peach blossom tree, clearly understands the prestige of our Magus Civilization. They seem willing to join the Magus Alliance.”

“Whether this mission succeeds depends not only on the Snowball Flower King, but also heavily on this Rank Five willow before us,” he added.

Lorianne responded with a calm nod.

The Rank Five Willow did indeed come to greet Sein and his companions. Following Sein’s suggestion, the group headed straight into Hundred Flowers World.

Sein was not worried about entering their territory at all.

In fact, the moment he entered this medium-sized plane, he sensed almost no planar suppression. He exchanged a look with Lorianne, silently knowing that their plan was already halfway to success.

“We are representatives from the Magus Civilization, and we wish to meet the Rank Six Snowball Flower King to discuss the admission of the Hundred Flowers Worlds into the Magus Alliance,” Sein explained to the Rank Five Willow beside him.

A flicker of hesitation crossed the tree’s face. But without making Sein’s group wait long, Rank Five Willow replied, “Very well. Let us make our way to the White Jade Flower Sea immediately.”

***

Sein and his companions spent six full months in Hundred Flowers World.

During this time, they met with the Snowball Flower King multiple times and became familiar with the Rank Four and Five beings of this star domain.

Recruiting a medium-sized plane into the Magus Alliance was no small matter.

To finalize the fundamental terms within just half a year was nothing short of remarkable.

Having taken part in the recruitment of Phantom Crow World back then, Sein knew well how unusually smooth this process had been.

Of course, the Hundred Flowers Worlds were able to finalize their entry into the Magus Alliance so quickly, largely because Feylis had stationed tens of millions of troops along their borders.

Had they refused, the invasion would have begun immediately!

The Magus Civilization was powerful enough to annihilate the Gallant Federation’s vanguard fleet. Why would they ever spare a weak star domain like the Hundred Flowers Worlds?

“We request that the Snowball Flower King accompany us beyond the Hundred Flowers World to sign a contract with my grandmaster. This is a major step in establishing friendly relations between our Magus Civilization and the Hundred Flowers Worlds. Therefore, I hope Your Majesty will attend the signing in your true form,” Sein said.