"Ying Yue, your report, please." A voice filled the dark chamber.

　　"Boundless Heaven Sect Master Ying Yue reporting to Ten Heavens Council. Enril has left the Vale. I handed him the supplies you provided." She paused. "Is this truly what must happen?"

　　Ying Yue gazed into the dark abyss until a shrill voice called out, "Yes, this is necessary. Enril appears to be the one we desire."

　　"Didn`t you swear up and down that Zelek was the one destined for this fate? Maybe you should take an apprentice and pass your abilities on. You`re only growing older." A deep voice grumbled and laughed.

　　"Come now, the Council is more dignified than this, are we not?" A shadowy figure rose from one of the chairs and stepped into the light. Yun said, "Thank you for your report, you`re dismissed." Ying Yue bowed and left.

　　After her departure, the shadowy veil lifted, revealing the nine members. The nine reminisced about past talents. Complaints rose with each story, tales of failure, delays to their plans, and disappointing results.

　　"It has been three decades since the last hopeful set out. I`m sick of waiting. Why don`t we expand the territory and share some secrets to help their growth?" An elderly woman with a long, gnarled staff spoke.

　　Yun frowned at her and replied, "My father created this place under specific conditions. Altering them would spell our doom."Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

　　"The same father who was stronger than a mountain, yet succumbed to a mere herb? I respected your father`s strength, but this plan is taking too long. What happens next? We all raise children to take our places since we`ll die of old age before the tenth piece joins us? I`m sick of being cooped up." A man`s voice thundered through the room and he slammed a fist into the wall.

　　Yun sighed. "None of you understand the immensity of Heaven and earth, it seems. This land is sacred and holds a secret that the imperial families must not discover. Should the seven of them unite, they could wage a war of attrition and outlast the nine of us."

　　Silence engulfed the room.

　　After a moment, the man rose and walked to the entryway. He stood tall, broad-shouldered, his left hand missing, and a long scar tracing down one cheek. "I don`t know what you`re so scared of, Yun. If we just raised an army we could show those imperial ingrates what it means to be beyond expression. They think they understand, but they haven`t even begun to scratch the surface." A wave of riken rippled from the man as he disappeared.

　　Yun held her head and let out a weary sigh.

　　"He has a point, Yun. With our knowledge, it would not be difficult to raise an army." A raspy voice spoke. "We`re far beyond anyone in the Vale. Why don`t we increase their growth with our secrets?"

　　Yun steepled her fingers and took a deep breath. "I need you all to understand, my father showed me a truth that we cannot fathom, a world of power beyond even us. The cage protects us, not them." Yun`s icy blue eyes darted to each of the remaining members. "I`m telling you, if we disturb the array before we have our tenth piece, Heaven`s Vale will be erased."

　　The seven remaining members rose from their seats and left without a word. Yun was left in silence. Silence would soothe her on most days, but for some reason, today it nagged her. Her hopes were high that Enril would be the one to allow her to enact her father`s plan, to reach realms beyond anyone`s comprehension.