Meiying's sweet voice filled the Palace room even as her violet eyes and jet-black hair seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly light. If Dyon was here, he would immediately recognize this as a Curse. Why did he leave Meiying in charge of things? Precisely because of this ability of hers to Charm.

Charming was a small and difficult branch of the Poison Masters. One who understood this branch was capable of influencing those around her with the fluctuations in their voice and the lights in their eyes. For Meiying, who already had a deep understanding of Feng Shui and the natural energies of the world, her Charming abilities were comparable to that of a high celestial despite still being a lower saint.

Just like Magic, Poison Masters comprehended the meridian pathways of the body. The only difference was that Magic was usually situated in the Yang while Curses were situated in the Yin. The particular pathways Meiying was using now were located in the eyes. On the one hand, that made them usable with just a gaze, but on the other, it was highly dangerous due to the sensitivity of the pathways located within them.

In truth, now that Lyla was here, this Charming ability wasn't strictly necessary anymore, but Meiying liked the feeling it gave her.

Hela bit her lips. She didn't like her Ragnor Clan, but her father was still a Minister of their Clan. It would be impossible for her to forgive herself if she was a proponent of her father's death. Even though this father of hers sold her off to the Main Royal Line, what other choice did he have? She couldn't bring herself to blame or hate him.

As for Baldric, his resistance was even more fierce. He had never faced any grievances in his Clan. Although he suspected that they had abandoned him, it was all speculation.

"Big Brother." Dravil stepped forward, seeing his elder brother's struggle. "Ever since I was young, I listened to stories of your greatness. You became First Saint Son as a middle Saint, such a feat is almost unmatched through our history, this little brother respects you."

Dravil was a cautious personality, but that didn't make his words any less sincere. In fact, he wanted to bring this elder brother along with him on this journey.

"To tell you the truth, big brother, I was jealous of you for a long time." Kneeling to the ground, he placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I never met you, but everything I did, even when I became such a young First Essence Son, was always compared to you. Even though mother and father tried to hide it, I could see the reflection of your image in their eyes whenever they looked at me."

Baldric's furrowed brows eased a bit hearing this.

"However, big brother, you understand how cutthroat our family is, and you know how many children and wives our Father has."

"This breeds talent. There's nothing wrong with that." Baldric said seriously.

"Maybe" Dravil said lightly. " But shouldn't a family you gave up everything for, even to the point of risking your life for hundreds of years, reward you instead of spitting in your face?"

An uncomfortable and anxious feeling overwhelmed Baldric. "What do you mean by that? What happened?"

Dravil sighed. "Almost half a decade ago, Father annulled your marriage to Nina."

Baldric felt his world crumbling that moment those words resounded in his ear. Despite not having Dyon's support, their First Celestial Sister, Nina, was still the most talented woman of their Clan. Much like Abraham, her light was one that resources couldn't overcome.

"You" Baldric eyes reddened.

"It's not what you think, elder brother." Dravil explained. "She wasn't betrothed to me. About 15 or so years ago, another younger brother of ours was born. His name is Abraham. His talent is so dazzling that even with Lord True God Sacharro's support, I can't hope to outmatch him. If it wasn't for the decades of cultivation I have on him, he would have surpassed me long ago."

A bitter chuckle escaped Baldric's lips. 15 years ago? Wasn't that the exact time he stopped receiving replies from his family?

Dravil sighed once more. "Our Father wants to bring Abraham and Nina together in marriage. With their talent, he hopes to birth a child with the purest Uidah Bloodline seen in several ten thousand years.

"Do you see now brother? This is the kind of family we are. We force siblings to fight over the title of First Son and Daughter as though power is what should decide the place of a child in a parent's heart. We are a family that backstabbed our own kin for the sake of power. We are the kind of family that tosses away those willing to give up their lives for the Clan like elder brother

"If we can toss away our own flesh and blood away so easily, how is this a Clan worth protecting?

"Big brother, because you went on this important mission from the Clan, you were privy to information even I don't have despite having been away from the Clan for so long. Although you were treated like a successor for much of your life, I never got the opportunity because before I rose up, Abraham was born.

"However, although Abraham has fallen under the control of True God Sacharro, he is still too young for father to have trusted him with anything important just yet. Only you can help us now." Dravil said seriously.

A bitter laugh escaped Baldric's lips. He felt like his whole world was crumbling down. Just what was the purpose of this life of his?

The truth was that Baldric wouldn't be convinced so easily. Even with Meiying's Charm, at most they received consent of his cooperation. As for Hela, she was in the same boat, not because she didn't want to act against her Clan, but rather because she had reservations about her father and faith seed.