## Chapter 1320
**"The Lord of the House?"**
The moment Raon caught the words of Shadow Agents' Leader Chad regarding Glenn's arrival, his gaze snapped toward the Lord's Manor.
Whoooosh.
An atmospheric pressure, heavy and profound beyond description, began to radiate from the very residence where he had been only hours prior.
'This is different from the Great Training Ground...'
The transformation was stark.
Glenn was projecting a resonance that felt fundamentally altered, as if he had stepped into a loftier plane of existence during his time away from the Great Training Ground.
\-Hmm...
Wrath also peered toward the Lord's Manor, thoughtfully rubbing his jaw.
\-Did that elderly Nadine Bread fanatic actually undergo Ascension?
Even he seemed to detect an anomaly, his eyes narrowing into thin slits of suspicion.
"Is he only just emerging?"
Sheryl’s brow furrowed slightly, her tone suggesting the timing felt overdue.
"It truly was a lengthy disappearance."
She moved her head side to side, noting she hadn't anticipated Glenn remaining in secluded cultivation for such a duration.
"It serves as a testament to the sheer power of the adversary he must face this time."
Though his words gave due respect to the Heavenly Demon, Roenn offered a dry, hollow chuckle. It was the sound of a man whose faith in Glenn remained unshakable, regardless of the foe.
"That is a fair point. Even from my perspective, that being was..."
Sheryl shivered involuntarily as the memory of the Heavenly Demon's pressure resurfaced.
"He was a literal freak of nature."
She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment before reopening them, clearly wishing to banish the thought of that encounter.
"Still, I cannot imagine the Lord of the House tasting defeat."
A soft smile returned to Sheryl’s face, mirroring the absolute confidence she placed in Glenn.
"T-the Lord of the House has requested the presence of the Temporary Head of House."
Shadow Agents' Leader Chad exhaled in a jagged breath, gesturing urgently toward the Lord's Manor.
"Understood."
Raon reached down to flick away the stray particles of dust that had settled on his attire during his drills.
"Let us move."
After signaling for Chad, Sheryl, and Roenn to accompany him, he began the walk toward the Lord's Manor.
'I wonder what has changed.'
Raon himself had walked a long road while Glenn was locked away in meditation.
He had infiltrated Eden, stood toe-to-toe with the Heavenly Demon, forcibly removed \<Pride\> from Pride, ended Archangel Sariel, and even traded blows with Uriel. Having secured growth that no amount of time in the Great Training Ground could provide, he was intensely curious to see if the distance between him and Glenn had narrowed.
'Phew.'
Raon came to a halt before the audience chamber, his heart a mixture of reverence for Glenn and a quiet evaluation of his own progress.
"Temporary Head of House Raon Zieghart reporting."
He lowered his head toward the entrance he had treated as his own office for months.
"Enter."
A familiar, missed voice resonated from behind the heavy timber of the audience chamber doors.
"Yes, sir."
Raon steadied his pulse with a deliberate breath, pushed the doors wide, and stepped inside.
Shiiiiine\!
Upon the raised dais, the golden throne—now reunited with its rightful occupant—shimmered brilliantly. There stood the undisputed King of the territory.
Glenn Zieghart, the man feared as the Destructive King of the North and revered as the Sword God. Yet, the figure standing there had shifted.
The vibrant, golden mane that had always symbolized the unyielding wall of the family had faded into a ghostly white. The lines on his face had deepened and multiplied.
His once-brawny frame seemed to have retreated, his solid build appearing more delicate. It was as if the indomitable, iron-clad veteran had been replaced by a gentle, elderly grandfather from a quiet village, waiting patiently for his kin.
"L-Lord of the House?"
Raon’s jaw tightened in shock. This was not the image he had expected.
"What has happened..."
Before his isolation, Glenn had always looked decades younger than his years, possessing a fierce intensity and a powerhouse physique. Raon struggled to reconcile that image with the man who had aged so drastically in a few short months.
\-Hmm, that old man...
Wrath’s eyes thinned, sensing a layer beneath the physical surface.
'What do you see?'
Raon let out a heavy breath, looking toward the demon.
\-Physically, he has clearly withered. He finally looks the age he actually is. However...
Wrath stroked his chin, his voice dropping an octave.
\-The essence of that man's soul and his internal energy have become blindingly transparent. He has achieved a level of purity that even you, with those cursed rings, haven't touched.
He signaled with his chin, urging Raon to look past the wrinkles and white hair.
'Hmm...'
Raon engaged his Ring of Fire and expanded his Aura Perception. As his ten rings spun into motion, he began to probe the internal landscape of Glenn, tracing the web of his energy.
'Wait... his essence and soul have completely transformed\!'
In the past, Glenn’s path to power had been one of raw, aggressive acquisition, meaning his soul hadn't been particularly refined. That was gone.
Now, Glenn’s soul and energy felt as tranquil and crystal-clear as a high-mountain monk who had spent a lifetime in silent meditation. It was a metamorphosis far more staggering than his physical aging.
'How is such a shift even possible?'
Seeing it for himself, Raon realized the internal revolution was far greater than the external one. He burned with curiosity about what had transpired within the Great Training Ground.
"L-Lord of the House\!"
"Unbelievable..."
Sheryl and Roenn were equally paralyzed by the sight of Glenn’s new form.
"What has befallen you\!"
"If your health is failing, I shall fetch Federick this instant\!"
Their expressions twisted with genuine grief, assuming Glenn had suffered some catastrophic illness.
"Hmm..."
Chad’s hands shook as he gripped his reports, his eyes wide with concern for his master’s vitality.
"There is no cause for alarm."
Glenn dismissed their worries with a casual wave and a faint, serene smile.
"I am in a state of greater peace than I have ever known."
The corners of his mouth lifted gently, assuring them he felt no discomfort.
"But your appearance..."
"You refer to this."
Glenn stepped before a mirror, observing the aged reflection of his own face.
"It is the toll of true realization. One must shed what is unnecessary to grasp what is essential. In this human shell, one cannot hold onto everything at once."
He touched his snowy hair with a light, contemplative touch.
"Reflecting on it, my previous appearance was the true anomaly. As a man grows old, it is only right for his hair to silver and his skin to fold."
Glenn gestured dismissively, telling them their worry was misplaced.
"T-that is simply not true\!"
Sheryl protested vehemently.
"Everyone strives to retain their youth\!"
Given her own youthful appearance, her face flushed red as if Glenn’s words were a personal critique.
"Hehehe."
Roenn chuckled softly, seemingly beginning to grasp the weight of Glenn's philosophy.
"If youth is what you desire, then let it be so for you."
Glenn offered a thin, amused smile. He seemed far more approachable and light-hearted than before, prone to genuine laughter.
"Then..."
Raon closed the distance to the dais, his eyes sharpening.
"Exactly how much have you progressed?"
Raon believed his own growth would allow him to gauge Glenn’s current standing.
He was wrong. The chasm between him and Glenn felt as wide as it had before the seclusion; he still could not even begin to fathom the boundaries of Glenn's power.
"Well."
Glenn paused, stroking his chin with a relaxed expression.
"I believe I have reached a point where, regardless of what the Heavenly Demon has achieved, I will not be the one to fall."
He didn't claim an easy victory; instead, he issued a steel-clad vow of resilience. To those listening, it was more comforting than a boast of total triumph.
"And..."
Glenn focused his gaze on Raon, nodding with warmth.
"You should be capable of perceiving it, shouldn't you?"
His eyes were encouraging, suggesting Raon’s Martial Prowess should allow him to see the truth.
"I beg your pardon?"
Raon’s brow knit in confusion.
"I haven't reached such a height yet..."
"It is clear you have walked a difficult path."
Glenn stepped down from the platform. Previously, they had stood eye-to-eye, but now that Glenn’s stature had slightly diminished, he looked up at Raon ever so slightly.
"I can sense the hardening of your body, the sharpening of your spirit, and the depth of your blade."
Glenn placed a weathered hand on Raon’s shoulder, a gesture of deep pride.
"I made the right choice in making you the Temporary Head of House."
He closed his eyes for a moment, his silent approval speaking volumes.
"However, you aren't fully utilizing the gifts you've earned."
Glenn moved his hand from Raon’s shoulder to his chest.
"Alter your rhythm. When you learn to breathe not just with your lungs, but with your very soul, a new horizon will open for you."
He offered the cryptic advice with a knowing nod.
"Breathing... with the soul..."
Raon whispered the words, biting his lip in concentration.
"Ponder it. There is no rush; you have the luxury of youth."
Glenn tucked his hands behind his back, signaling that time was on Raon's side.
\-Ah\! So that’s the trick\!
Wrath clapped his hands together while observing Glenn.
\-That explains why your essence was so turbulent\!
He smirked, finally piecing together the puzzle.
'What do you mean?'
Raon looked toward the demon.
\-If your grandfather won't explain it, I certainly won't spoil the surprise\!
Wrath huffed, leaving Raon to his own thoughts.
'Hmm...'
Raon turned his focus inward, scanning his spirit.
'I don't feel anything different.'
He couldn't grasp Glenn's concept of soul-breathing, nor Wrath’s comment about his boiling essence.
"It isn't something one understands in an instant."
Glenn smiled widely, acknowledging that growth takes time.
"For now, I am less interested in the technicalities of the sword and more interested in the tales of my grandson."
He admitted he was eager to hear the story of Raon's tenure as leader.
"Yes, sir. I will share everything."
Raon set aside his confusion and agreed.
"Once I assumed the role of Temporary Head of House..."
"No."
Glenn raised a hand to stop him.
"These are not mere trivialities to be discussed in private. Since you mentioned these events are not yet public knowledge, the timing is perfect."
He shook his head, refusing to keep such stories to himself.
"Order a full assembly of the Swordsmen for tomorrow morning\!"
Despite his newfound gentleness, Glenn’s excitement was palpable; his desire to brag about his grandson remained his one unchanged vice.
"Your achievements deserve to be heralded before the entire family\!"
He rubbed his hands together, clearly anticipating the shock on everyone's faces.
"What...?"
"Hehehe..."
Sheryl and Roenn stood there, mouths agape at the sudden change in atmosphere.
\-This old man...
Wrath scowled at Glenn’s reddening cheeks.
\-I thought he’d attained enlightenment, but he’s still a total fool for his grandson\! How is his most annoying trait the only thing that didn't change\!
-----
"Ahem\!"
Glenn cleared his throat and made a final adjustment to his formal attire.
'I can finally enjoy this again.'
Since Raon had joined the ranks of the Swordsmen, Glenn's favorite pastime was hearing of his grandson's triumphs in the company of others.
Re-listening to stories he already knew while watching the crowd's jaws hit the floor was a joy he wouldn't trade for anything.
'And this time, the feats are legendary.'
Raon had infiltrated Eden, challenged the Heavenly Demon, struck down Archangel Sariel, and crippled Archangel Uriel. The mere thought of hearing these things and seeing the reactions of the clan sent a shiver of delight through him.
'No. I must maintain my composure.'
Glenn regulated his breathing and smoothed his hands over his robes.
'Since this is my first formal meeting with the family in months, I must project the proper authority.'
Though his heart was light, he was still the patriarch. He needed to display a powerful Martial Prowess to ensure the Swordsmen felt secure as the war with Eden loomed.
"Let us proceed."
Glenn nodded to Sheryl and Roenn and began the walk to the Great Training Ground. A massive contingent of Swordsmen had already gathered, their collective Sword Aura sharp enough to slice the clouds, proving they hadn't been idle.
"The true Sky of Zieghart approaches\!"
The sentries bowed deeply, striking their blades against the stone before throwing open the massive gates.
"Mm."
Glenn entered the arena, cloaked in a heavy, solemn dignity.
'What should my opening remarks be? Something about the coming conflict, perhaps... words of reassurance...'
As he calculated his speech while exerting his overwhelming presence—
"L-Lord of the House\!"
"You've returned at last\!"
"Save us\! Please, save us\!"
"Don't ever leave us alone again\!"
"P-please... couldn't you just give the title to Karoon?"
"The Light Wind Palace Master is too much\! We’re all going to die\!"
The disciplined ranks broke instantly as the Swordsmen scrambled toward Glenn. Their eyes were bloodshot and desperate, as if they were pleading for their very lives.
"What in the..."
Glenn, caught completely off guard, swallowed hard as he was swamped by the frantic crowd. He looked toward Raon, who stood calmly by the dais.
'What on earth did you do to them...?'
-----
Would you like me to paraphrase another chapter or summarize the current state of the Zieghart internal politics?
