【Alibuda Chronicles】 Episodes 34-36 Author: Nongyu

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【The Alibuda Chronicle】
Author: Nongyu (Luo Sen)
Publisher: Hetu Publishing House

◆ Chapter 1: The Prince Gets Scolded, the Princess Scolds Her Mother

King Grins, as the ruler of Solancia, was naturally a well-known figure on the land. However, to be precise, although he was famous, people only knew his name, because he did not accomplish much during his reign. He did not strive for good governance, nor could he be described as having any significant achievements in either civil or

military affairs. The domestic political situation was relatively stable, and the people did not suffer much hardship. Of course, given the elves' tradition of valuing honor and dignity, King Grins's various scandalous affairs of debauchery within the country would never be allowed to spread abroad. Therefore, the outside world did not have a deep impression of King Grins. On the contrary, his son, Lunfiel, was famous in the human world. Everyone who knew the name Solancia knew Lunfiel.

If I hadn't personally experienced this, I would never have imagined that this elven king of Solancia would have such a regal demeanor.

Although he was controlled by the evil entity posing as the high priest for a long time, in that brief moment of lucidity at the end of his life, he made swift and decisive decisions, bravely facing danger and sacrificing himself to save his son—actions that were truly remarkable.

Looking back at that moment, if King Greens had wanted to escape alone, he could have easily done so by setting aside all his ties and concentrating all his strength to break through the wall. However, he must have also realized that under such circumstances, he couldn't possibly save his son, who was some distance away. Therefore, he weighed the situation, risked his own life to save his son, and did everything in his power to block the black aura, half-begging and half-coercing me to take his son to safety.

Making such a judgment and taking such action in a mere half-minute—wisdom, strength, and decisiveness are all indispensable. Among all the national leaders I have ever seen, only President Ryan can compare; that useless King Leng Qiji is incomparable.

If possible, I would really like more time and more opportunities to get to know this elven king again, even if we were enemies. Unfortunately… life is so unpredictable; those who are gone and opportunities lost will never return.

However, compared to King Grins's death, I didn't have time to think too much, because my current situation was far from safe, only a step away from hell. Although King Grins had temporarily blocked the expansion of the black energy, I had only just reached the palace entrance when this venerable king had already sacrificed himself, swallowed by the life-devouring black energy. After absorbing King Grins, the black energy instantly exploded and grew, like a raging tidal wave, surging forth overwhelmingly. I had barely

stepped out of the palace when the black energy was about to engulf me and Lehman. Only one question came to my mind.

(Damn it, I just promised to avenge someone, now who's going to avenge me?)

This thought had barely crossed my mind when a sudden, powerful force erupted from beneath my feet. Before I could react, I was blasted away, along with Lehman who was on my back, flying several feet to avoid the burst of black energy.

Narrow escapes are nothing new to me; when I'm down on my luck, it can happen several times a day. So, this feeling is familiar. In the instant I was blasted away, I knew someone had likely come to my rescue, but I couldn't figure out who it could be, so I widened my eyes, trying to see clearly.

The situation changed drastically, and I couldn't see clearly, but in those few seconds, I saw a short, dark figure appear in front of me. It looked strangely familiar, as if I'd seen it somewhere before.

(Strange, why does this look familiar? This back view... is it a girl? Is it a girl I've been with before?)

Suddenly, a scene I had almost forgotten resurfaced in my mind, overlapping with the scene before me. It was the battle on Fengling Island in the East China Sea, the most chaotic part of the battle. When Wu Jian Yi Mo was about to kill me, someone suddenly blocked my way, shielding me from Wu Jian Yi Mo's attack.

"Ghost... Ghostly Evening?"

The most unbelievable savior. Since the Black Dragon Society's demise, I had never heard of this top female assassin of the land. Regardless of why she was here, the bigger question was why she came out to save people? And why save me twice?

In intense shock, I saw the black energy sweeping over us like a giant black wave, about to swallow us whole. The petite figure blocking my way took out a long, thin object. Instantly, this object touched the black energy and released a faint golden light.

The golden light was faint, but it quickly turned into a dazzling brilliance, so intense that I couldn't open my eyes or look

directly at it. It was as if a sun was shining brightly in front of me, and within the intense light, there was an extremely powerful divine aura, capable of exorcising evil and dispelling demons. (Wow! Is it some kind of high-level sacred object? The strength of this divine aura is unprecedented in my life. What could be so powerful?)

After the dazzling golden light disappeared, my vision returned, and the first thing that came to my mind was that since I had survived, the black aura must have disappeared.

Logically speaking, that black aura corroded gold and iron, devouring everything and turning it into its own energy, constantly growing stronger. It was truly a formidable technique. If it continued to devour things like this, it would eventually become a terrifying thing that would destroy the entire world. However, such a thing should be impossible unless its existence transcends the physical laws of this world. Otherwise, as far as I know, no magic or magical artifacts that surpass such limits have been developed in this world.

I've seen things with similar effects, but nowhere near as powerful. Based on their operating principles, the process of frantically devouring and constantly growing can only last a very short time, like inflating a balloon; once its size exceeds its limit, it explodes into dust.

Therefore, I expected that the black energy's frantic devouring would end in its own collapse. However… I don't know if the black energy collapsed on its own, and we were saved by some sacred object, or… if that sacred object was the needle that popped the balloon? Was the black energy, which should have continued to spread, destroyed upon encountering that sacred object? I

can put aside the academic theories for now; what I need to determine first is my savior. The fact that Ghostly Evening appeared to save me doesn't mean she won't turn around and stab me in the back. Most women in this world are unpredictable, and I dare not be careless about this.

"Uh...you...how could it be you?"

The thin figure in front of me had stood up and turned around. Although he was also dressed in the uniform of the Black Dragon Ninja Army of the East Sea, this savior was not Ghostly Evening, nor even a woman, but a very annoying and detestable boy.

The future!

On the way to Ishtar, the Black Dragon Genin we rescued by chance, although we didn't get along very well, his actions in the series of fierce battles in Ishtar were of great help to us. But later, we parted ways on Whitebeard's fleet and went our separate ways. Although I didn't think I would never see him again in this life, I didn't expect to meet him again so soon.

The Huaer Forest is currently a place of great trouble. Why did he have to arrive at this particular time? He couldn't possibly be here for sightseeing and prostitution; there must be some reason. Moreover, the long, narrow object in his hand just now emitted such a powerful, sacred aura—it was definitely no ordinary object. Did he bring this here specifically to show off his treasure to me?

I deliberately examined the object for a moment and found that its appearance was very strange. It was about 1.3 or 1.4 meters long, and although it was long, its entire exterior was an irregularly shaped, semi-transparent mineral, like a low-grade crystal with many impurities. It was rough and clumsy; if it were abandoned by the roadside, probably no one would give it a second glance.

Below, on the outer shell of this long, narrow object, there were several cracks. I didn't know if they were caused by the black energy earlier, but faint golden light seeped out from the cracks, not very strong, sometimes there and sometimes not. I felt a sacred aura emanating from it with the flashes of golden light.

(This is so strange. What kind of magical artifact is this? It looks weird, not normal... Could it be that something sealed it, causing it to look like this?)

Several thoughts flashed through my mind, but before I could speak, Future held out her hand and handed me the long, narrow object.

"Uh... so easy for me?"

Future was mute and couldn't answer me. Considering our unfriendly relationship, I really didn't dare accept this "generous gift." Just as the situation was at an impasse, I heard a commotion not far away, and a large group was rushing towards us. Only then did I notice my surroundings.

The destructive force of the black aura swallowed most of the main hall, along with several palaces beside and behind it. Even the giant tree that housed the palace was 40% destroyed. Both the palace and the giant tree were protected by multiple layers of barriers, capable of withstanding continuous bombardment with large-scale magic for a considerable period. However, the black aura completely ignored these barriers, instantly absorbing and destroying anything it touched. It was truly terrifying, even beyond common sense.

No life within the aura's reach was spared; all were devoured. Initially, I didn't see a single elf approach, but such widespread destruction alarmed the entire Val Forest. Within minutes, elven soldiers from all sides surrounded the area.

In the distance, the sky blazed with intense fire, and explosions and screams could be heard intermittently, indicating that the fierce battle was still ongoing. Otherwise, elven soldiers would have arrived much sooner. But now the palace is mostly destroyed, and the elves inside are obviously all dead. I'm dragging the heavily injured and crippled Rayman, and Future is standing outside the palace ruins. This scene... if I were in their shoes, I'd capture these two highly suspicious humans first.

Future is a master of ninjutsu. If I'm not mistaken, that sudden appearance just now seemed to have emerged from my shadow. That's the Shadow Escape technique of ninjutsu. When these elves attack, he can just slip away, while I'll be the one in trouble.

(Damn it, I can't use magic right now. Should I take Rayman hostage? Even so, it's not necessarily safe...)

The elves are guarding various branches of the giant tree, yelling at me, as if questioning what happened to the people in the palace. How could I possibly explain that? Just as they were about to close in, I was preparing to hold Hyakkimaru to Rayman's throat as a hostage when I suddenly heard a shrill scream.

"Stop!"

A piercing shriek, brimming with true energy, thundered through the ears of everyone who heard it, causing a buzzing in their ears. Some of the weaker elves were even knocked unconscious on the spot. Such power, to those unaware of the situation, would have made them think that a top-tier expert had arrived.

Unfortunately, because the newcomer was not, some other deceptive techniques were needed. Before the person even appeared, a giant sword almost as tall as a man was hurled at me, landing three feet in front of me, burying itself to the hilt. The power contained within the giant sword radiated outwards, and within a radius of thirty feet, all the elves that came into contact with it were paralyzed in their legs and collapsed to their knees.

If the defensive barrier of these giant trees were still functioning properly, this strike would have been ineffective, but without the suppression of the barrier, the hundreds of elves within the range of the sword's force all collapsed to their knees. On flat ground, at most a bunch of guys would have just stumbled and fallen, but up in the giant tree, it was a different story. Countless elven soldiers lost their footing and tumbled from the branches, their companions struggling to protect themselves and try to save others, creating chaos.

Amidst the confusion, a blue figure descended from the sky, swiftly drawing the Greatsword of the Sea and standing firmly beside me. It was my best bodyguard, Leng Linglan, who had arrived.

"Are you alright?"

"If you had arrived any later, things would have been much worse. What's the situation outside?"

"Those lifeless monsters are rampaging wildly, attacking indiscriminately and causing a lot of damage. The elves' actions are also strange... How did you get into this mess? What happened here?"

"It's a long story. To put it simply... I encountered an alien."

I briefly explained what had happened to Leng Linglan. She frowned and said, "The High Priest's strange behavior suggests a major conspiracy. Now that the Huaer Forest is in such chaos, what should we do? Should we retreat? Or should we help one side?" "

Neither side is our concern. We can't exactly become mercenaries for the elves, can we? Those lifeless dragon tooth warriors are difficult to deal with. Even if we wanted to be righteous, we wouldn't choose such a strong enemy. But even if we wanted to retreat, with things in such a chaotic state outside, it would be difficult to escape unscathed..."

I looked up at the sky and muttered, "Let's wait a little longer. Judging by the time, the people cleaning up the mess should be arriving soon."

"The ones cleaning up the mess? Who?"

"Oh, I misspoke, the elves cleaning up the mess."

Just as the words were spoken, another series of commotions arose in the distance, in the opposite direction of the fierce battle. It seemed either that Dragon Fang Chess had split its forces into two groups to open a new battlefield, or that another new force had arrived.

Before long, the new commotion grew closer and closer, heading straight for the palace. I looked around and saw a small elven unit rushing towards us. Although every member of this unit was wounded, their armor tattered, as if they had just fought a brutal battle, exhausted and wounded, the sharpness they exuded as they moved was not to be underestimated.

Compared to the other elven soldiers, this small unit was a true fighting force, an elite surviving the harsh realities of war. Though few in number, their combat power was astonishing. And in the entire Solancia, the only leader capable of cultivating such a formidable army was probably…

“General Farrell.”

From afar, a powerful shout, like a gust of wind cutting through the waves, echoed. It was spoken in human silkworm language. Although the voice was still invisible, its force was overwhelming. I wanted to retaliate, but I lacked the ability. Reluctantly, I devised a plan and instructed Leng Linglan beside me,

“Help me, repeat what I said, make sure they hear it.”

Without waiting for Leng Linglan's reply, I shouted at the top of my lungs.

"Lun~Fei~~Er~~~ I'll fuck your mother~~~"

After shouting, I turned around and saw Leng Linglan staring at me in disbelief, completely unable to carry out my request. After all, given her noble birth, it would be easy for her to draw her sword and kill someone, but to shout profanities in front of hundreds of elves was a great humiliation for her. Under normal circumstances, she probably wouldn't do it even if she were killed.

However, men are just base; the more difficult something is to achieve, the more they want to do it. Seeing Leng Linglan's awkward and embarrassed look, my head went hot. I didn't care how many eyes were watching, and I swung my hand out: "Smack!" I slapped Leng Linglan's pert, round buttocks hard.

Startled, Leng Linglan was stimulated by this sudden shock and almost without thinking, she exhaled and shouted loudly.

"Lun~ Lunfiel~~~ I'll fuck your mother~~~"

As expected of a level seven powerhouse, his roar was high-pitched and echoed through the heavens, shaking the ears of all the creatures present and leaving them unable to calm down for a long time. Although not every elf could understand human language, at least Lunfiel could, which was enough for him to enjoy.

Such vulgar cursing is the behavior of thugs and hooligans. I usually dislike this kind of thing; I think it's like wild dogs biting each other, a waste of time and meaningless. But this time, I went through a dangerous situation and helped Lun Feier a lot, allowing him to gain a huge advantage for nothing, while I certainly won't get any benefit. Forget about bonuses or gifts; as long as he doesn't renege on his promise, he'll be considered very loyal. How can I not vent my anger by cursing him in public and having a good time?

How could Leng Linglan understand this thought? After shouting out those filthy words in one breath, she seemed to wake up from a dream afterward, her beautiful eyes glaring angrily, as if she were angry, but she quickly turned her head away as if nothing had happened. This charming, girlish demeanor was truly captivating.

After being greeted by Leng Linglan's resounding shout, Lunfeier was probably embarrassed and didn't call out in response. His elite troops quickly arrived nearby, used their hovercraft to climb the giant tree, and appeared before us.

This long-absent second prince of the elves did not look well. The last message he left before his disappearance was that he was fatally wounded and his fate was unknown. His current appearance perfectly matched that message. Not only was his armor torn and stained with blood, but his body and face were also covered in wounds. He was even blind in one eye and wore an eye patch.

Such severe injuries suggest the ferocity of the battle. Lunfiel, once a refined and handsome elf, now bears scars on his face and has lost an eye, his good looks practically ruined. However, his still-open eye shines brightly, and though his face is weathered and haggard, his heroic spirit remains undiminished, even gaining a touch of fierceness. It seems… this near-death experience wasn't entirely bad for the second prince.

In terms of status, Lunfiel, currently a wanted criminal, should have been attacked and captured or killed by the elves upon his sudden appearance. But simply by standing there, the surrounding elven soldiers all parted to show him respect, almost bowing in salute, demonstrating the criminal prince's high standing in their eyes.

"General Farrell!"

The one-eyed elf prince bowed to me, then said to Leng Linglan, "Princess, greetings to both of you. I had already led my men to ambush nearby, but I was afraid of the demon's power and dared not enter the Huaer Forest. Later, I saw a commotion in the forest and guessed that General Farrell had succeeded, so I immediately launched a surprise attack to provide support. Fortunately, I arrived in time and did not cause any problems." "

That sounds nice, you stayed far away to provide support, pushing me to the edge of a knife, making me your assassin: what was that note about? It wasn't even clearly written on it, making me guess for a long time before I dared to make a move... Damn it, you elf have no conscience at all."

Lunfiel had always benefited from this, and after I scolded him like that, he just smiled and didn't get angry. Just as he was about to reply, he suddenly saw Lehman lying behind me, and his face changed drastically.

"...Third brother? What happened?"

Lunfiel rushed over to check on Lehman's condition, his worry evident in his eyes. This surprised me somewhat. I had heard that the brothers were fighting, and Lunfiel also considered Lehman useless. The two seemed to have been enemies for a long time, but seeing his expression now, it was clear that blood was thicker than water, and their relationship was not as estranged as others had said.

After confirming that Lehman's injuries were serious but not immediately life-threatening, Lunfiel asked about what had happened. There was no way to hide such things, so I gave a brief account, including King Greens's self-sacrifice and the shocking events in the palace.

Lunfiel turned pale upon hearing that King Greens was dead, and his body swayed, almost collapsing. Fortunately, he had experienced many storms and managed to hold on. He waved his hand, asking us to give him a few minutes to calm down and also to pay our respects to their father.

Our family situations are different, and I find it hard to imagine that losing one's father could cause such grief. However, judging from Lun Fei'er's appearance, he is truly heartbroken and almost overwhelmed by the pain of losing his father.

Taking advantage of this brief moment, Leng Linglan asked me when I formed an alliance with Lun Fei'er and how we got in touch. I shook my head, indicating that I had never had any contact with Lun Fei'er.

"If there really was a connection, it wouldn't have been so dangerous. The operation could have been more meticulous, and there certainly wouldn't have been so many casualties..."

I said, "Do you remember that day when the mecha puppet attacked that old beast, and I was caught in the crossfire, getting hit right in the chest by a silver shuttle? That silver shuttle wasn't actually meant for that old beast; it was meant for me. The entire assassination was just a cover for that one attack."

No one knew about these things at the time, not even myself. It wasn't until that night, when no one was around, that after a sharp pain in my chest, five-colored light floated from my chest, revealing a magical message. That's when I realized that the silver shuttle contained a magical message, and someone had painstakingly sent it out using this method.

To avoid being noticed by others, this message was sent with great care, but perhaps because of the excessive emphasis on secrecy, the already weak magic dissipated significantly. The message I saw didn't contain any complete content; it was just some fragmented words.

"Culprit," "Zhizhi," "High Priest," "Kill," "Life in Danger"—the fragmented text left me unable to determine its true meaning. I could only piece it together according to my own understanding. This matter wasn't exactly simple, nor was it particularly difficult. I couldn't possibly translate it as "High Priest in danger" or "Kill the culprit Zhizhi," could I? I could only interpret it as "Zhizhi in danger" or "Kill the culprit High Priest."

That was the correct interpretation, but the entire note might be missing nine-tenths of its meaning. Was it too presumptuous of me to make such a deduction based on only one-tenth of the text? What if the "culprit" and "kill" referred to had a different meaning, and I mistakenly associated it with the High Priest, acting rashly? Wouldn't that be shooting myself in the foot? Even if it did refer to the High Priest, that was only their side of the story; I had no reason to become their assassin.

As for who sent me this magical note, that was quite easy to guess. Many people are capable of sending magical letters, but unless they are extremely skilled craftsmen, they cannot create such autonomously moving automatons. Therefore, when I saw the magical letter, I knew that Zhizhi was involved.

Zhizhi disappeared on her way back home, and her whereabouts are unknown. However, before her disappearance, she was traveling with Lunfei'er's group. It's possible that something happened along the way, and they reunited. In that case, even a broken ship has some nails. With the strength of Lunfei'er's remnants and Zhizhi's assistance, launching such an attack would be effortless.

After deciphering this information, I knew that Lunfei'er was not dead, and his forces were lurking nearby, waiting for an opportunity to strike. But if someone thought that I would get their help after doing something... hehe, that would be too naive. I wouldn't even dare to think about it.

Many concerns ultimately prevented me from acting rashly. I was very worried about Zhizhi's situation, but it would be inappropriate to do anything before obtaining further information.

The unexpected upheaval in the palace and the High Priest's various misdeeds made me realize that the word "culprit" was indeed true. I had indeed fallen into a trap set by someone else. In this situation, the enemy's strength was unfathomable, and even if I struggled, I would be powerless to change it. However... rather than sitting and waiting for disaster to strike, I would rather fight to the death, at least to get some interest back from the culprit.

Based on this mentality, I bravely struck, plunging the Soul-Destroying Dagger specially made by Hua Gengsha into the old monster's heart. Although it did not cause serious injury, it forced the old monster to reveal its true form, exposing all the darkness to the light of day.

(The things the old hag makes are definitely monstrous; their power is more likely to be excessive than insufficient. In other words, even if that old monster isn't seriously injured, he probably won't be completely at ease, which is why there hasn't been a second wave of counterattack yet... Hmm, the old hag said that the Soul-Destroying Dagger is effective against the Dragon Fang Warriors. Perhaps we can try it later and trade the dagger with Lunfiel for some benefits. Otherwise, we don't know how to deal with those out-of-control war pieces.)

I thought for a moment, and had many questions to ask, but since his father had just died and he was in mourning, it seemed inappropriate to disturb the ever-silent Future. He walked up to me and handed me the long, thin object he was holding again, this time with a letter attached. It seemed… he had been entrusted to bring me this letter and this item. This…

“Hey, I always enjoy unwrapping gifts.”

I took the letter, opened it, and found it was from the long-lost, delinquent middle-aged man, Mao Yan’an. The opening was filled with tedious small talk, saying he was doing well, had plenty to eat and drink, and told me not to worry about him. He also mentioned that he would be coming to Solancia soon to help me, and that I shouldn’t monopolize all the beauties of Solancia; I should get a few for him. It was all a bunch of boring nonsense.
◆ Chapter Two: The Descendant of the Otherworldly Demon. Chaos in Heaven and Earth.

Almost everything in Mao Yan’an’s letter was nonsense. The real point was the origin of this item. Back in the All-Flower Federation, I formed an alliance with Narcissa. If I escorted her safely to Ishtar, she would reward me handsomely with a priceless treasure of Ishtar.

A priceless treasure—this wasn't something I could just casually mention. According to her, it seemed to be one of the Creation Artifacts. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been tempted to risk my life for her. However, too many unexpected events followed. Since entering Ishtar, there have been endless battles and constant troubles. Even someone as greedy and profit-driven as me was overwhelmed and completely forgot about the treasure until the eve of the Battle of Baghdad. I then inquired with Narcissa about it and tried to use the chariot.

Ordinary people, unaware of the situation, might hear the words "Seven Sacred Artifacts of Creation" and assume it's a supreme magical artifact with divine attributes, perfect for dealing with demons, monsters, and headless evil spirits. However, each of the Seven Sacred Artifacts of Creation has its own characteristics. The "sacred" in "sacred artifact" describes its status and weight, not its attributes. If you use the wrong artifact to fight the headless knight, you might accidentally add fuel to the fire, making the enemy even stronger. Therefore, I dare not use it recklessly and need to clarify things first.

Upon questioning, Narcissa answered hesitantly, saying that she had made the reward particularly attractive to entice me to accept the mission. In reality... Ishtar doesn't have any Sacred Artifacts of Creation, but there are quite a few things that resemble them.

The Seven Sacred Artifacts of Creation are the seven most extraordinary artifacts in the world. They are said to originate from the same source, used by the gods to create the world. However, the exact nature of their creation remains unknown. After a long period of struggle, these seven artifacts were not only lost to the annals of history, but even their exact identities have become a subject of much debate.

National powers across the land have continuously searched for and tracked down the Seven Sacred Artifacts, and Ishtar is no exception. However, while national powers have an advantage in treasure hunting, they are not invincible. Often, like unlucky anglers on a vast ocean, they catch nothing but junk. Ishtar's situation is exactly like this. After hundreds of years of searching, they haven't found the Seven Sacred Artifacts, but they have accumulated a warehouse full of strange and unusual objects that resemble them. When Narcissus led me to that warehouse, my expression was probably as bizarre as that of the Headless Horseman.

"I'm sorry, but back then... you know my predicament. With the country in peril, Ishtar didn't have much of value. To express my apology, you can choose any three or five items from the warehouse."

"Treasures? More like junk! It wasn't even packed, just piled up there, and you have the nerve to ask me to take any three or five items? Damn it, if you're going to be generous, why don't you just give me the whole warehouse at once?"

"If you like, you can take all the junk from the warehouse, no problem..."

Narcissus's act of generosity was indeed thorough. When promising to give me the entire warehouse full of junk, she didn't forget to add, "To show our sincerity, we'll pack it for you."

"...Do you believe me? I won't even have to wait for the Headless Horseman to go on a killing spree; I'll take you down with me right now."

This was so embarrassing; if I could, I wouldn't even want to think about it again. Before leaving the warehouse, I instructed Narcissa to choose a more substantial treasure as a token of my gratitude. I insisted it wasn't something to be taken

lightly. As for the treasure, I would discuss it after the battle. If the war went well and we achieved great merit, the reward would be doubled; otherwise, I would cut off her head and use it as a creation artifact. After the Battle of Baghdad, before I could even bring it up again, a series of unexpected events forced us to flee Ishtar, nearly losing our lives. Later, on Bin Laden's five-colored sailing ship, I would often think of this incident and lean on the railing, lamenting what kind of precious treasure Narcissa would have given us if she had kept her promise to deliver the gift, to compensate us for our life-or-death struggles in Ishtar. Even on the journey to Solancia, this regret frequently surfaced in my mind.

Unexpectedly, Narcissa proved to be a woman of her word. Perhaps because she felt she had wronged us too much, shortly after we left Baghdad, she sent a secret envoy to try and find us, offering her reward.

The most practical gifts of gratitude were real gold and silver, a point Mao Yan'an wholeheartedly agreed with. So when the messenger found Bin Laden's fleet and presented the gifts, Mao Yan'an generously accepted them for me and lavishly spent them, even providing me with a detailed bill.

In his letter, Mao Yan'an stated that real gold and silver were too heavy and inconvenient to carry, and out of consideration for my situation, he would first indulge me in my pleasures, saying he would use the money to buy several more virgins for me to have sex with. Once he confirmed their quality was excellent and there were no problems, I would then return to take over the business.

Reading this letter made me furious, my eyes blazing with anger. But the letter wasn't over yet. In the last two lines, Mao Yan'an said that he felt bad about enjoying the fine wine, food, and beautiful women all by himself, so to ensure I also had something good to enjoy, he specially entrusted the future to send me the precious treasures sent by Narcissus to bolster my fighting strength… Upon reading this, I could no longer hold back and let out a long howl.

"Mao Yan'an~~ You international good dog!"

He gets all the bargains, he sleeps with all the beauties, and I'm left to fend for myself, wearing worn-out shoes. He eats all the fine wine and food, and then throws the bill and receipt at me. It's clearly a deliberate attempt to provoke me, but he stays far away. No matter how angry I am, there's nothing I can do about it.

"Calm down. At this point, all the cursing is just the barking of a defeated dog, it's meaningless."

Leng Linglan doesn't understand the entanglement between me and Mao Yan'an, but judging from the situation, she understands a little. She advises me that we're in a dangerous place right now, and getting angry is pointless. Instead, we should take a look at the secret treasure sent by Narcissus.

"What's so interesting about it? You really think it's a treasure? It's just junk!"

Saying this, I suddenly recalled the strange phenomenon of the object in Wei Lai's hand when we were facing the oppressive black energy. Regardless of its origin, the sacred aura I felt then was indeed powerful; it was a very high-level sacred artifact. If it was truly sealed by some strange object, its effectiveness limited, only able to release a portion of its sacred energy, yet it already possessed such divine power, its overall strength was unimaginable.

I took the object from Wei Lai's hand and found it heavy, like holding a large rock. The object's crystal outer shell had many tiny cracks, within which golden light flickered intermittently, but I couldn't clearly see the details inside.

Leng Linglan saw through my thoughts and placed her palm on the strange object. She unleashed a burst of power, initially at level six, instantly increasing to level seven. Logically, even a giant granite boulder should have been shattered with a single blow. However, the object merely flashed with a blinding golden light, and Leng Linglan's mountain-splitting palm strike vanished like a mud ox in the sea of dust.

"Good heavens, indeed extraordinary… Palm strikes ineffective, let's try slashing with swords."

Leng Linglan finished speaking and was about to put her plan into action. Since I was holding the object, if she were to chop or hack at it, I would also be in trouble. Realizing this was a mistake, I quickly stopped her.

"Right, there's something I need to ask first…"

I remembered something and asked Wei Lai if the cracks on this strange object were originally there. Because this strange object is so sturdy, even Leng Linglan's palm strike couldn't break it, so it's unbelievable that so many cracks appeared. How did it get there?

As it turned out, my guess was confirmed. Wei Lai gestured to explain that when he received the object from Mao Yan'an, it was completely intact without any cracks. It was only when the crystal shell came into contact with the black energy that many cracks appeared.

(It seems it really was a lucky accident. If I hadn't happened to encounter that black mist, this huge thing would still just be a useless rock... Hmm, I've unexpectedly found a way to break through the surface. If I could completely remove this outer shell, what's inside...)

Having a method gives me direction, but how to break through the crystal shell of this strange object requires careful planning. However, a major obstacle is that I can't use magic, making things quite difficult. If I really want to break through the shell and get the treasure, I'll have to find someone to cooperate with, which means I'll have to make some sacrifices and can't keep all the benefits to myself.

Lost in thought, I suddenly noticed a worried look on Leng Linglan's face. My heart skipped a beat, and I immediately realized the problem. In Lunfei's incomplete magic letter, it mentioned that Zhizhi was in danger. Leng Linglan and Zhizhi were nominally boss and subordinate, but they had a very close personal relationship. The two women struggled together in a man's world, striving to make a name for themselves. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were like sisters. How could Leng Linglan not react when she heard that Zhizhi was in trouble?

If it weren't for the fact that Lun Feier was still grieving his father's death and his emotions were not yet stable, Leng Linglan would have already grabbed his collar and asked him questions. I understood Leng Linglan's feelings and comforted her gently, but my own heart was in turmoil. If Zhizhi was safe and sound, she should have appeared with Lun Feier. Now that I didn't see her, what was the answer...?

"I'm sorry to have kept you both waiting... And who is this?"

After finishing his mourning, Lun Feier suppressed his grief slightly and came over to deal with Leng Linglan and me first, and questioned the identity of the future. After all, this kid was wearing the uniform of the Black Dragon Ninja Army. Others might not recognize him, but with Lun Feier's knowledge, it wouldn't be surprising if he recognized him.

"He's mute, so don't make it difficult for him to introduce himself. His name is Future, and he can be considered my comrade... the kind who lives and dies differently."

Hearing my introduction, Lun Feier was stunned for a moment before nodding, bowing to Future, and speaking to Leng Linglan at the same time.

"It's only been a short time since I last saw you, and the Second Princess's cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds, she

's no longer the same as before. I'm truly envious. I wonder what extraordinary encounter she's had?" Leng Linglan's martial arts have progressed by leaps and bounds, breaking through to the seventh level. With Lun Fei'er's sharp eyes, he couldn't possibly have missed it. As he asked this question, his gaze also turned to me, as if he had sensed that I was the cause of Leng Linglan's breakthrough.

I waved my hand to stop Leng Linglan's answer and said directly, "Stop with the idle talk, Second Prince... no, I should call you Your Majesty, what do you intend to do about the current situation?"

King Greens has passed away, and Lehman has become severely disabled. Although there is still an eldest prince, this guy has been sickly and incompetent for many years, so it's unlikely that he will inherit the throne. Therefore... Lun Fei'er is the rightful heir and can ascend the throne immediately.

Although... Renfell is currently still a wanted man, the elves' attitude is quite clear. Even knowing he's a criminal, they still bow to him, openly showing respect and admiration. Unless he himself relinquishes the throne, it's already in his grasp.

Becoming a king grants supreme authority, but with power comes responsibility. Solancia is not currently a place of peace and prosperity, but rather ravaged by disaster. The Dragon Fang Chess is rampant, and mysterious evil creatures are stirring in the shadows. If an incompetent person were to ascend to this position at this time, they wouldn't enjoy it for long before being crushed by the burden.

"It's too early to talk about these things at a time like this. Let's solve these problems first."

"I am talking to you about how to solve these problems!"

"What exactly is going on with the enemy over there? My scouts reported that a bunch of undead evil creatures have inexplicably appeared in the Huaer Forest. They are extremely powerful and are wreaking havoc everywhere in the forest, unstoppable... How could such a bunch of things suddenly appear?"

As Lunfei spoke, his stern gaze swept over me. So, smart people are hard to deal with. Lunfei clearly didn't know the details, but he guessed that this matter was related to me.

If this debt were placed on my shoulders, it would be difficult to get away with it later. Of course, I had no reason to admit it. Anyway, there was a scapegoat I could shift the blame to, so I put all the responsibility on the head of that sorcerer, the high priest. I said that I was dealing with him in the cave when he suddenly released a bunch of war pieces that transformed into human form, and then... this bunch of war pieces went out of control, broke through the mountain wall and flew out, and that's what happened now.

His words were half true and half false. Almost everyone who witnessed the events was dead, and the great demon couldn't possibly come forward to defend him. Even if Lunfiel didn't completely believe him, he could only accept it for the time being.

"In any case, let's deal with these evil creatures first,"

Lunfiel shouted. He declared that since his father was absent and there was no one else to command, he would temporarily assume command, leading the entire army to resist the foreign invaders. He asked all the elves to lend him a hand. Naturally... after saying these pleasantries, he gained control of the scene. All the elves obeyed his orders, formed teams, and followed him to the battlefield.

"Wait, let's get this straight before we leave. What happened to Zhizhi?"

I stopped Lunfeier to ask. He replied with difficulty, "Miss Zhizhi... isn't in mortal danger, but her condition isn't good. It's hard to explain now. I'll give you an explanation after things are settled here."

I had specifically instructed Zhizhi not to reveal her relationship with me. This matter should still be a secret. Lunfeier was only explaining to Leng Linglan. After all, Zhizhi was Leng Linglan's beloved general. Lunfeier had borrowed her from Leng Linglan in the first place, and now that he couldn't return her beloved general safely, he naturally had to take responsibility.

Lunfeier rushed off to start the battle. I actually wanted to stay out of it, but Lunfeier and Leng Linglan were allies. Seeing Lunfeier facing a formidable enemy, it was natural for me to lend a hand. Besides, she had just achieved seventh-level strength and probably wanted to find a tough opponent to test her skills. This was a common problem among martial artists, and there was nothing I could do about it.

On the way to the battlefield, I didn't forget to ask Lunfiel what was going on with that great demon. How did such a powerful demon suddenly appear in Solancia?

"Well... to be honest, I don't really understand either, but one thing is certain: the original High Priest Bernanke is no longer here,"

Lunfiel explained to us. High Priest Bernanke was a highly respected elder, revered by every elf in Solancia. Despite his high status, he usually lived a secluded life, delving into more profound magic. Even the king rarely saw him more than a few times a year.

This revered figure, during a period of secluded cultivation, encountered a mishap, suffering severe injuries and emerging bleeding from all seven orifices to receive treatment. Given the High Priest's status, the things he needed to study in seclusion were likely crucial technologies affecting the entire Solancia. Normally, no one dared to investigate, so no one could possibly know what he was practicing that caused the problem. After the incident, his disciples and attendants pieced together various clues, guessing it was related to mental or soul magic, but that was all; no more detailed information was available.

The High Priest was severely injured and fell into a deep coma, remaining unconscious for two whole months. When all the elves thought he would remain unconscious until death, he suddenly awoke. After a period of recuperation, he fully recovered and returned to his post.

After his recovery, the High Priest showed no outward signs of illness, and his speech and behavior remained largely unchanged. However, he had indeed changed. He had gone from being aloof and indifferent to worldly affairs to becoming extremely worldly, frequently summoning important figures from Solancia for talks.

Bernanke was the chief elder of the elven world and a religious leader, whose authority rivaled that of a king, even capable of deposing and installing monarchs. Who would dare refuse his invitation for a private talk? Moreover, countless elves longed to be close to this elder; upon hearing his summons, most were overjoyed and rushed to the meeting, each elf considering it an honor to speak with the high priest.

Elves worshipped and believed in the natural world, unlike humans who practiced idolatry or had specific doctrines; reverence for nature was sufficient. The high priest's frequent private talks with elves were unlikely to be sermons or religious pronouncements; what they discussed remained a mystery to the interviewees. However, during that period, accepting the high priest's invitation became a trend. Those who had been invited were overjoyed and longed to return, while those who hadn't were filled with anticipation, hoping such good fortune would one day fall upon them.

Nobles, royalty, or even the King himself were exempt; the trend was so widespread that even His Majesty the King joined in. The High Priest, contrary to his past aloofness from state affairs, frequently visited the palace and met with King Greens to discuss matters of state. He also became very close to several princes and princesses, expressing his intention to select talented individuals as his disciples and personally nurture them to become the future of the elven world.

"Back then… I was captivated by human culture and traveled to the Cihang Jingdian to study under Master Xin Chan. I was away from the country for many years, only returning occasionally. Such… hey, good things like that, of course, didn't come my way. Although I was disappointed, I wasn't too heartbroken. After all, I studied at the Cihang Jingdian and knew that there were countless schools of thought in the world, and that the sea of knowledge was

boundless. Even without the High Priest's instruction, with my own talent and effort, I wouldn't be inferior to anyone in the future. Who would have thought…" Lunfei sighed as he recounted this past event, and from this, we learned the reason he had escaped unscathed.

"Later... the atmosphere in the palace gradually became very strange. The High Priest frequently held secret meetings with my father, forbidding other elves from approaching. Each meeting lasted for most of the day. When I received the news outside, I thought they were plotting important military and national affairs, planning to wage war against neighboring countries. I was shocked and rushed back to investigate. On the way, I gathered intelligence to find out the details, but..."

The truth left Lunfiel in disbelief, almost causing him to kneel in shock. According to palace intelligence, King Greens and the High Priest's frequent meetings were not for discussing state affairs, but for engaging in debauchery. Usually, the High Priest would prepare beautiful women and bring them directly to the palace to present to King Greens, or the two of them would take turns.

For a king and the High Priest to secretly indulge in debauchery in the palace would be a huge scandal if it got out. The content of their activities was also complicated. Initially, it was just the High Priest bringing beautiful women, and King Greens enjoying himself. Soon, the women brought by the High Priest became a group of beautiful women.

The number of beautiful women increased, as did the number of races. While there were indeed lecherous kings of Solancia who built harems, they were bound by tribal rules and ancestral laws, their harems consisting entirely of elves. No other race was spared, unlike King Grins, who enjoyed a daily rendezvous with elves, humans, and orcs. Such a lecherous king was truly rare throughout history.

If it were merely about finding women for debauchery, that would be one thing; heroes have always been lustful, and those who aren't heroes are even more so. The High Priest and King Grins's licentiousness was immoral, but not necessarily a crime, as no one was harmed. People would turn a blind eye, and things wouldn't escalate. But… the whole affair slowly spiraled out of control.

The High Priest and King Greens demanded a constant variety of beautiful women for their services, demanding high quality and variety. Although these two held high positions of power, not many high-quality women were willing to offer themselves up. Therefore, those who refused were forced into sexual relations. The women offered by the High Priest initially included many who had been kidnapped or tricked. These women, who were not willing to give themselves, would be released after being used to tormented, and their complaints and slander would be extremely offensive, potentially even leading to revenge. To avoid future trouble… they resorted to murder and cleanup, and things escalated to this point, becoming utterly immoral.

The self-proclaimed chivalrous Lunfiel was the first to be unable to tolerate this and rushed back to his homeland to deal with the matter. However, upon arriving in Surancia, he realized that things were not so simple.

One was His Majesty the King, the other the High Priest. Their combined status alone was not something a mere prince could challenge. Moreover… the entire ruling class of Solancia was practically on their side. The High Priest's usual orgies and lewd banquets, besides those hosted by King Grins, also invited these generals, ministers, and nobles. They were all usually companions in debauchery, so of course they wouldn't be a problem now.

Only then did Lunfiel realize the gravity of the situation. He couldn't do much alone, but what puzzled him most was the utter inconsistency of the whole affair.

The High Priest's magical practice going awry and his abnormal behavior was somewhat explainable; King Grins also had a history of impregnating his mother-in-law, making him lustful and greedy—that wasn't too surprising. But many of the nobles and ministers who were lost in their lewd banquets were upright and even averse to women. How could these elves suddenly lose their nature through womanizing? One was one thing, but all of them were like this, and this change happened in such a short time—it was as if they had completely transformed into different souls?

Renfell sensed something was amiss, but he couldn't do much on his own. He could only proceed cautiously, taking on responsibilities and trying to consolidate his military and political power to change the situation.

Gradually, everything became strange. If the actions of the High Priest and King Greens had escalated from minor evils to major ones, what followed transcended the distinction between good and evil; everything spiraled out of control.

The orgies, which had lasted from a few hours, stretched to days and nights. King Greens, who had initially been wary of the scandal and dared not let his shameful deeds be publicized, became increasingly unrestrained. He not only disregarded public ridicule but also lost all sense of shame, actively engaging in absurd behavior, including encouraging his subjects to engage in promiscuity, demanding that they bring their wives to the orgies to exchange sexual partners, and secretly going to his subjects' residences to have sex with the maids who cleaned the courtyards, rather than with their wives.

When the father finally played the "Emperor's New Clothes" trick, and the first naked king in Solancia's history appeared, Renfell was dumbfounded, feeling as if he were in a dream. Worse still, these phenomena weren't limited to King Greens; the entire Solancia court, its high-ranking officials, smiled at their lord's absurd behavior. Seeing their lord parading naked through the streets, they saw nothing wrong with it, as if it were all perfectly normal.

"I often wondered then, was I insane? Or had the world gone mad? Why didn't they react to something so abnormal?"

Renfell's words resonated deeply with Leng Linglan and me, because what we experienced after arriving in Solancia was precisely this feeling of utter confusion.

"I don't know why my father and my compatriots have become like this, but I, the young master, understand that the root of everything lies with the High Priest. He is the one who caused Surancia to lose control... Alas, I know this, yet I am powerless to change anything or stop anything..."

Lunfiel, striving to gain power and reverse the chaos, later encountered obstacles. To counterbalance Lunfiel, King Greens divided power among his three sons, Lehman, allowing the two brothers to fight each other. However, Lehman was mediocre and uninterested in power struggles, completely obedient to the High Priest. The so-called balance of power was essentially a battle between Lunfiel and the High Priest.

In recent years, Lunfiel's situation has become increasingly difficult. Due to his position, he was unwilling and unable to seek help from the outside world. The High Priest also began creating the Doomsday Dragon, ostensibly to strengthen the country's defenses, but it was clear to everyone that his aim was external invasion. Lunfiel grew increasingly alarmed and ultimately decided to destroy the Doomsday Dragon. A surprise attack failed, and he almost lost his life.

"I've never understood whether the High Priest's personality changed drastically due to a cultivation mishap, or if there's some other reason. But judging from General Farrell's description, things are probably not as simple as a cultivation mishap. He transforms into black mist, and his body ages and grows... Is this really an elf? Or some other kind of creature?"

Lunfiel was very worried. Seeing his expression, I thought of other questions.

(I stabbed that monster with a dagger, I wonder how badly he's injured? Whether he's dead or alive is uncertain, but how could Ah Xue escape his control? What's wrong with her now? Sigh, I'm really worried...)

Ever since the High Priest revealed himself, after figuring out the whole thing, I've come to understand one thing. Ah Xue's energy conflict was something no one in the world could cure. Even with Bin Laden's extraordinary abilities, he could only guide me to Solancia to retrieve the Heart of the Earth. But that great demon not only broke the seal on Ah Xue's coffin, but also brought her back to consciousness, restored her normal activity, and even allowed her to fight. Such abilities... are truly unimaginable. I've never understood where he got such abilities.

However, judging from Lunfiel's words, this great demon is extremely proficient in the theories of the soul and spirit, and his own body is also unpredictable, formless, and unrestrained. In the whole world, there is probably no one else with such abilities who is simultaneously proficient in both of these aspects.

It was with these astonishing methods that he transformed Ah Xue's body into human form once more, and manipulated her soul and spirit, allowing Tianhe Xueqiong to replace Ah Xue. He also somehow eliminated the energy clash within Ah Xue's body, restoring her normal mobility.

With such technology and background, it's no wonder he was able to save Ah Xue from her incurable injury. I wonder if this can be considered a blessing in disguise? However… this guy is so capable, to completely defeat or kill him… I really don't know how to do it.

◆ Episode 3: Clash of Contradictions, Losses and Deaths

When Bin Laden designed the Dragon Fang Chess, he was definitely preparing for large-scale warfare, not for small-scale one-on-one battles. Otherwise, the Dragon Fang Chess wouldn't be so comprehensive, with each piece supporting the others, each possessing its own strengths, making it almost invincible.

When I first witnessed the devastation in the cave, I felt immense admiration for Bin Laden. If he hadn't remained a detached observer and instead chosen to advise either the Black Dragon Society or the Rebel Alliance, the balance of power in the East Sea would have been broken long ago, and the outcome would have been very different.

Today, all the elves in the Huaer Forest will experience the power of this man. In just over two hours, the Dragon Fang Warriors have engulfed half of the Huaer Forest in flames, with the death toll exceeding ten thousand. Looking back at the history of Solancia, there has never been such a tragic record—the capital city was invaded by the enemy, and such heavy casualties were inflicted.

The Black Knights are impervious to swords and fire, possess immense strength, and are incredibly brave, making them arguably the strongest unit in terms of overall combat power. While the number of armored artillery, centaur cavalry, and earth-riding dragon chariot cavalry is relatively small, their attacks are wide-ranging and spectacular, instantly felling hundreds of enemy soldiers. Not to mention the two half-bodied evil women who can summon wind and rain, lightning and thunder, frequently unleashing highly destructive magical attacks that leave the elven mages and archers screaming and fleeing in terror.

The commander of the Dragon Fang Warriors stood alone in the very center of all the warriors, seemingly under protection. However, the chilling aura emanating from him made the area within a hundred feet feel like an ice cellar. Any creature entering the area of influence shivered uncontrollably, making it impossible not to believe that he simply disdained to interfere in the battle and was merely observing coldly.

Looking at that familiar yet unfamiliar face, I was filled with mixed emotions. I wondered why Bin Laden had made it resemble Bai Qi, and what the relationship was between Bin Laden and Bai Qi. These two shared the same surname and lineage; could they be relatives?

However, if it were truly Bai Qi here, I could try to build ties and avoid this disaster. But in this situation… there was absolutely no room for sentimentality. How Lunfeier would handle this situation today was truly a major undertaking.

"All troops, heed my command! Do not attack blindly!"

Lunfiel suddenly appeared. The elves, seeing him, were greatly encouraged, cheering loudly. The previously chaotic offense and defense were reorganized, their power increased significantly, and casualties decreased. However, the battle situation remained unchanged, and they did not gain the upper hand. Although the Dragon Fang warriors were surrounded by thousands of troops, they did not feel surrounded at all, launching frequent and fierce attacks. The elves were struggling to withstand them.

"General Farrell, the current situation is unfavorable. Do you have any thoughts?"

Lunfiel did not seek Leng Linglan's opinion but asked for mine. This did not flatter me; I only felt that trouble had fallen into my lap.

In fact, ever since the Dragon Fang warriors were released, I had been thinking about how to solve the problem. Knowing yourself and your enemy is the only way to break the stalemate. White Laden gave me the war game but did not tell me the details of its creation. I did not understand the war game either; I could only find the answer through observation.

These Dragon Fang Warriors certainly possess self-awareness, but what is the root cause of their attacks and destruction? Is it driven by dark instincts, a desire to destroy all life they see? Or… is it targeting specific individuals?

A man like Blaine is cunning; every action he takes may conceal many hidden meanings. I still can't say for sure how many purposes he had in entrusting the Dragon Fang Warriors to me. Especially… the existence of such a powerful sorcerer in Solancia. I didn't know beforehand, but didn't Blaine know either?

Throughout this journey, the intelligence Blaine provided about Solancia made no mention of the High Priest's unusual behavior. However, judging from what Lunfiel said, the High Priest's manipulation of Solancia's politics wasn't exactly a secret. It's understandable that I didn't know, but it's hard to believe Blaine was completely unaware.

If Blaine did know, could he have some other purpose in sponsoring my trip to Solancia? The blueprints for the Doomsday Dragon originally belonged to him, and he and the High Priest aren't exactly without grudges. If he intends to eliminate the High Priest, then I become a tool he can use.

How could I possibly kill the High Priest alone? But with the Dragon Fang Warriors, the situation changes completely. If the Dragon Fang Warriors surround and attack the High Priest, no matter how skilled this demon is, he won't escape unscathed. Hmm… the more I think about it, the more certain I am that my prediction is correct. Especially since, after observing for a while, I noticed the Dragon Fang Warriors' movements are somewhat strange. If they were simply acting on instinct, destroying the creatures before them, they could have used more efficient tactics, resulting in far greater casualties.

However, the Dragon Fang Warriors' actions are merely passively enduring attacks before launching counterattacks, occasionally taking the initiative to launch a preemptive strike, but the offensive isn't particularly fierce. The commander of the Dragon Fang Warriors stands motionless, giving no orders, his expression seemingly… as if he's searching for something, looking for something.

If my guess is correct, the Dragon Fang Warriors are the precious gift that Bin Laden gave to that great evil man. If that evil man hadn't escaped quickly in the cave, a full-scale battle would probably have broken out then. After the Great Evil left the palace, he never reappeared. It seems he wasn't hiding because he was seriously injured, but rather avoiding the Dragon Fang soldiers to avoid becoming a target if he showed himself.

(Would Bin Laden specifically help Solancia eliminate this scourge? That's impossible. He's not that kind-hearted. He must be after some benefit, or perhaps he has a past grudge and is taking this opportunity to get revenge? Whatever the answer is, as long as we can find that Great Evil, we might be able to use one tiger to devour another, eliminating two major troubles in one fell swoop.)

That's what I thought, but I couldn't say it aloud, because I had just blamed the appearance of these Dragon Fang soldiers entirely on the Great Evil. Now, any explanation would be contradicting myself.

"General Farrell, do you have any objections?" Lunfeier asked, seeing that I had been pondering for a long time without saying a word. Leng Linglan, who was beside me, was already itching to act and took a step forward.

"We don't know anything, so what opinions would we have? Let me try first, exchange a few blows with these monsters, and maybe I'll discover something."

"Wait!"

Knowing the power of the Dragon Fang War Soldier, how could I let Leng Linglan take the risk? If she gets entangled by the Dragon Fang War Soldier and can't retreat at will, it will be very dangerous. Moreover, now that I think of using the Dragon Fang War Soldier to deal with that great demon, it would be a loss if we wasted the energy of the Dragon Fang War Chess due to a boring battle.

I didn't have any good ideas about stopping Leng Linglan; I just didn't want her to blindly fight and get hurt. However, in the current situation, if I didn't help at all, it wouldn't be good to explain to Lun Feier. Just as I was feeling troubled and didn't know what to do, a sudden change occurred.

The most powerful cannon monster among the Dragon Fang warriors suddenly turned its direction and bombarded a black warrior on the left, while two centaur war beasts nearby also drew their bows and fired arrows at the black warrior. The cannon fire and the rain of arrows were incredibly powerful. Even though the Dragon Fang warriors themselves had extremely high defense, they couldn't withstand this combined attack. The black warrior soldier screamed and was blown to pieces.

"Uh! What's going on?"

A perfectly good battle suddenly turned into friendly fire. This really startled me. And this strange situation was not an isolated incident. After the black warrior was destroyed, the Dragon Fang warriors began to fight fiercely among themselves.

At first, several Dragon Fang soldiers locked onto a target simultaneously, launching attacks to completely destroy it. After destroying one target, they would immediately switch to another. However, after several Dragon Fang soldiers were destroyed in succession, the entire chaotic situation spiraled out of control. Whether it was cannon monsters, chariot riders, centaurs, or dark warriors, they all seemed to have gone mad, attacking everything around them indiscriminately, attacking the elves while also taking out their nearby comrades.

This made the scene ten times more chaotic than before. I felt that the Dragon Fang soldiers had completely lost their targets and began attacking indiscriminately. Everywhere I looked, there was a hail of bullets, billowing smoke, and the deafening roar of explosions. Although we were standing far away, we were still affected. The Dragon Fang soldiers' attacks struck nearby, snapping trees and splitting the ground, blasting up large amounts of sand and dust that then rained down on us.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!"

Seeing the situation was dire, Lunfiel ordered a retreat, hoping to minimize the elves' casualties. However, the fog thickened, making his orders difficult to execute. Everywhere, the roars and howls of soldiers filled the air, but these sounds were constantly drowned out by a series of explosions. Each explosion was accompanied by the death of an elf. Lunfiel was filled with worry and anger, but powerless to do anything.

Leng Linglan wanted to take advantage of the chaos to destroy the Dragon Fang Warriors, but I stopped her again. I didn't want her to get involved, especially at a time like this. The Dragon Fang Warriors were attacking indiscriminately; if things went wrong, Leng Linglan could be surrounded and beaten by them all—it was far too dangerous.

"No, I have to go. Those monsters are so powerful, I have to at least cut one down."

"Nonsense, what's so great about cutting them down? If you really want to cut down monsters, go back and cut down Granny Hua later, she's a monster too."

I tried my best to dissuade her, but I couldn't stop Leng Linglan. For safety's sake, I handed her the Soul-Destroying Dagger, hoping it would be effective.

Leng Linglan held the Soul-Destroying Dagger, her figure disappearing into the thick fog. Not long after, I heard Leng Linglan's angry shout. The strong wind generated by the clash of the two forces briefly dispersed the fog, allowing me to see Leng Linglan swinging the dagger, slashing at the neck of a half-demon female warrior of the Dragon Fang Warrior. As soon as they clashed, the dagger shattered. The fragile material couldn't withstand the impact and broke into pieces. The sure-kill strike failed. Fortunately, Leng Linglan reacted quickly, drawing out the Overlord's Sea and unleashing her full power at the seventh level.

With a single horizontal slash, Leng Linglan unleashed her seventh-level power without reservation. At close range, the unparalleled power of this strike was absorbed entirely by the half-demon, who didn't even have time to scream before her head was severed and sent flying. The remaining force continued to explode through her body, shattering her into pieces.

Leng Linglan's successful strike certainly boosted our morale and earned us a great deal of face, but it also put her under attack from the Dragon Fang soldiers. Fortunately, the Dragon Fang soldiers were engaged in fierce infighting, allowing Leng Linglan to escape unharmed.

The half-demon, capable of using magic, was a crucial support character among the Dragon Fang soldiers. The fact that Leng Linglan had killed one of them significantly weakened their strength. Amidst the thick fog, we heard a series of clashes and explosions of energy. Powerful shockwaves swept in all directions, nearly sending me flying. Fearing for our safety, Leng Linglan had to retreat to my side to protect me, abandoning any further risky attacks.

Looking at the chaos before me, I focused on ensuring my own safety while also strategizing.

(The Soul-Destroying Dagger shattered upon contact with the Dragon Fang Warriors, having no killing effect whatsoever. This meant that the Witch's suggestion to use it against the Dragon Fang Warriors was utter nonsense. Hmm, where are those invisible assassins and guards? Although I can't see them, they should be here too, right?)

Our naked eyes cannot see invisible things, but the Dragon Fang Warriors' perception and detection abilities should be able to detect the presence of invisible guards. In other words, those invisible guards were also caught up in this infighting and may have been completely destroyed.

After about ten minutes, the rumbling sounds in the thick fog gradually subsided, indicating that most of the Dragon Fang Warriors had been destroyed due to their infighting. This was something I had never imagined before. Although the Dragon Fang Warriors were a completely out-of-control weapon, the so-called out-of-control referred to their power, not that they were indiscriminately attacking their own people and causing their own annihilation.

(Could this also be... Bin Laden's design? He knew the Dragon Fang Warriors were uncontrollable, so he set a timer to make them self-destruct, so that if he couldn't control them, I would be doomed too?) As soon as

this thought crossed my mind, I immediately shook my head, banishing this absurd idea. If it really was Bin Laden's design, the Dragon Fang Warriors could have just self-destructed en masse. Why bother with this mutual attack? Surely he wasn't insisting on dying a spectacular death, was he? Besides... I would never believe Bin Laden would be so kind to me...

Due to the strange situation, Lunfiel ordered all the elven troops to stay far away, not daring to approach the chaotic battle area in the mist. Not long after, a sharp shriek was heard, and several figures soared into the sky from the mist. Judging from their appearance, it was the commander of the Dragon Fang War Chess, leading several damaged and wounded soldiers, flying at high speed.

The attack happened so suddenly that we had no time to intercept them or react. We could only watch helplessly as these Dragon Fang Warriors soared into the sky at incredible speed, disappearing into the clouds in the blink of an eye. Lunfiel led the charge, sending his team to clear the area where the battle had just taken place. All they found were fragments of crystal—the remains of the blasted Dragon Fang Warriors. The Dragon Fang Warriors'

rampage had caused over ten thousand casualties, a blood feud that should be considered irreconcilable for the elves. Logically, Lunfiel should have drawn his sword and sworn an oath, promising to avenge them even if it meant chasing them to the ends of the earth. However, the Dragon Fang Warriors were not living beings, nor could they be considered intelligent or thoughtful. It was pointless to argue about that, especially since... these were troublesome times. Having finally gotten rid of these plagues was a relief; who would dare to provoke them again?

Renfell frowned, waved his hand, and ordered all soldiers to line up and retreat, awaiting his command.

In the following days, Renfell directed the army's post-disaster cleanup. The devastation in the Vale Forest was immense. Besides the horrific casualties among the elves, countless trees and plants were destroyed. The elves, who revered nature, were already saddened by the loss of their plants, but the breaking and burning of ancient trees, some hundreds of years old, was like the death of their fathers. Considering the total losses, the Vale Forest was likely facing its greatest funeral in history.

King Greens had died, and many important officials and figures had perished in the battle. The Vale Forest was in chaos. If Renfell hadn't stepped forward, restored the command structure, and begun rescue and disaster relief efforts, the damage from this battle would undoubtedly have been even greater.

However, Renfell was not there to do good deeds. He was the most wanted criminal by King Greens, and King Greens did not lift the manhunt before his death. Under other circumstances, he would have been chased for several blocks after he showed up. Only in this situation would even some ambitious people with ill intentions not dare to oppose him and could only submit to his orders. Renfell seized the opportunity and took back all military and political power.

It's conceivable that after these few hours of cleanup, Lunfiel will summon all his ministers, announce the High Priest's crimes, and formally take over the administration of Solancia. There will be some twists and turns along the way, but in the end, the outcome is certain, because Lunfiel has no strong competitors, and heaven has even given him a new gift...

"I just heard the news that the long-ailing eldest prince, unable to withstand the shock, has passed away. He can be considered a victim of this battle,"

Leng Linglan said. "The eldest prince was frail and sickly, bedridden for a long time, and in recent years he had become terminally ill. If it weren't for King Greens and High Priest Bernanke repeatedly sparing no expense to use elixirs to relieve his suffering, he wouldn't have survived until today. During the chaos of battle, his attendants carried him away on a stretcher, but a nearby giant tree broke and collapsed. He wasn't crushed, but he was injured, in pain and fright, and couldn't hold on, dying just like that."

"Isn't that perfect? The eldest is dead, the third is crippled. Compared to them, Lunfiel, though a one-eyed man, can still eat and sleep. The throne is definitely his now. By the way, what's the eldest prince's name? I suddenly realized I only know he's sickly, but I don't know his name."

"Huaqi. Granas. Stedin, didn't you do any research beforehand? You don't even know this?"

"...Well said. If I had known earlier, I definitely wouldn't have come."

Lunfiel went to stabilize the political situation. Before leaving, he was very polite to Leng Linglan and me, asking us to rest for the time being. He said he had important matters to discuss with us after he finished dealing with the current affairs.

Leng Linglan and I were busy with many things, so even if we wanted to leave, we couldn't. We could only part ways with this second prince and join the Bai family members.

Faced with the current chaos, I began to reflect on my original purpose for coming to Solancia.

At first glance, I've helped Solancia uncover the great demon and done Lunfiel a huge favor, but in reality, Solancia's journey has been a complete mess.

The initial goal was to heal Ah Xue, but now that she's in that state, it's hard to say how it counts. She's recovered and is lively again, but she's turned on us as an enemy.

Another purpose of coming to the Huaer Forest was to deliver a message for Whitebeard. We haven't even met that woman called Silver Sprout yet, but she's already caused chaos and left Solancia with many dead and wounded.

The message definitely needs to be delivered. Finding a woman in the prison isn't too difficult; we can just get the order from Lunfiel. What I'm worried about is what problems might arise after the message is delivered. What if there's some unexpected turn of events that causes a huge upheaval? That would be truly disastrous.

As for High Priest Bernanke, although he has escaped without a trace and is lurking in the shadows, waiting for his chance, he is Lunfiel's problem, not mine. This guy has been causing trouble in Solancia for so long, he must have some grand scheme. He wouldn't have time to specifically target me, would he? As long as I solve the problem at hand, I can just pack up and leave Solancia. What does it matter to me how much trouble this guy causes?

(However, to solve the problem, I also need to find this guy. The one who tied the knot must untie it. Bianca disappeared after that battle, and Tianhe Xueqiong also disappeared. It must be related to that guy.)

Leng Linglan told me that after she was taken away by Tianhe Xueqiong using the Shrinking Earth Technique, the two of them briefly fought outside. Tianhe Xueqiong deliberately stalled, and Leng Linglan was worried about my safety, so she fought and retreated. In the end, Tianhe Xueqiong seemed to receive some signal and suddenly withdrew. Leng Linglan didn't dare to chase after her and just watched her disappear into the distance, her whereabouts unknown.

It's conceivable that Tianhe Xueqiong went to meet that sorcerer, and the same goes for Bianca. Also, I gave Charlotte to that sorcerer as a bargaining chip, and now she's disappeared along with him, her whereabouts unknown. I don't think that sorcerer would be so desperate as to keep Charlotte by his side for his own pleasure; there must be some hidden story behind Charlotte's disappearance.

Besides these, there are also Yu Ni and Violet. This human and beast went to track Ah Xue that day and haven't appeared since. Based on my speculation, they've most likely fallen into the sorcerer's hands, but I haven't been able to confirm it.

Now, thinking about it, quite a few women on my side have indeed fallen into that sorcerer's hands. Although when he impersonated Lehman, he was indifferent to women, no matter how beautiful, he didn't see any of them. But when he appeared as the High Priest, he was shameless and incredibly lustful. If this is his true nature, then Ah Xue and Bianca's bodies must have already been violated by him.

Realizing this, I stopped abruptly, my expression turning extremely grim. Leng Linglan, walking beside me, noticed this and seemed to see through my thoughts. She coughed lightly and said, "I think... that demon is definitely not the real High Priest."

"Oh? Why? Lunfeier and I also have this suspicion, but we're not sure. How are you so sure?"

Lunfeier could only be certain that this High Priest was no longer the same as before, but he couldn't be sure whether the High Priest had gone astray during cultivation, resulting in a drastic change in personality, or whether he had been replaced and was no longer the same soul. This was also what troubled me.

"The reasoning is actually quite simple. In your relay of that sorcerer's words, he mentioned that he had been serving as the high priest here for many years. This tone seems off, so I believe the original high priest was either killed and replaced long ago, or his mind and soul were controlled by this evil entity."

Leng Linglan pondered, "Also, he said he had many names, and his favorite was 'Your Majesty the Dragon King.' What associations does this title make with you?"

Dragons are powerful and auspicious beasts, and many heroes and powerful figures on earth like to identify themselves as dragons, even calling themselves Dragon Kings. However, I only remember one person who would use "Dragon King" and "Your Majesty" together: the leader of the Black Dragon Society, the Black Dragon King.

The various modification techniques used by that sorcerer, as well as the black magic he had Tianhe Xueqiong use, are indeed intricately related to the old Black Dragon Society. In addition, he calls himself Your Majesty the Dragon King. Could he have some connection with the Black Dragon King?

However, not only was the Black Dragon King, the Hermit of the Heart Lamp, long dead, but even his soul had vanished into thin air. Where could another Dragon King possibly appear? Not to mention, this demon had been in Solancia for at least a decade or two, back when the Hermit of the Heart Lamp was still alive and running rampant.

"Damn it!"

There were too many things happening around me, and my thoughts were completely occupied by the chaos in Solancia. I forgot the major event I had just heard about not long ago.

The East Sea's counter-offensive against the Pit King was a complete defeat, with the entire army wiped out!

I don't know if this devastating news is true or not, but it has been some time since it happened, and there should be more detailed information available for verification.

Leng Linglan and I hurriedly returned to the inn where the Bai family members were staying. Although there were traces of the war outside, it wasn't too serious. These Bai family members still had the ability to protect themselves. When the two of us returned, they greeted us with solemn expressions and told us that Hua Gengsha was in seclusion performing a spell and asked us to guard her outside and prevent outsiders from disturbing her.

"That old hag is quite serious, judging by her momentum, could she really have succeeded?"

I've always admired Hua Gengsha's abilities, and I know that her connection to Bin Laden means she's no ordinary sorcerer; she certainly possesses extraordinary skills. But no matter how powerful she is, resurrection is still an unbelievable myth. Countless sorcerers have spent their entire lives pursuing it, only to be in vain. I find it hard to believe that Hua Gengsha has the ability to break this age-old taboo.

Back then, the Black Witch Goddess went to great lengths, causing so much trouble, all to try and resurrect her lover, but in the end, she failed. The Black Witch Goddess was arguably one of the top sorcerers on earth, with abundant resources at her disposal, yet she still failed. How could Hua Gengsha be an exception?

If Lindsay were merely seriously injured, or in some state of suspended animation like Ah Xue before, then no matter how difficult it was, I believe it was possible to bring her back to life. But Lindsay died right in front of me, her heart even ripped out; she was beyond dead. To bring her back to life would truly be a matter of resurrection.

However, Hua Gengsha had made preparations beforehand and was now seriously performing a ritual in seclusion, which seemed quite convincing. I couldn't see her, so I could only pray in my heart that Hua Gengsha could truly create a miracle and bring the dead back to life.

"By the way, what's the situation in the East Blue? Has any further news come back?"

Leng Linglan asked the question for me. If you asked someone else, they might not have any new information in such a short time. For example, Lun Fei'er might not even know about the rebels' crushing defeat. But Bin Laden is the Pirate King, and the East Blue is his sphere of influence. How could he not know what happened? Half a day to a day was enough time for him to send over detailed information.

"Yes, we just received the latest intelligence from the Duke. The video footage of the East China Sea battle has been sent over. You can watch it directly."

Having video footage is much clearer than any written or oral account. His own disciples retrieved magical ore, installed it on the playback device, and immediately projected the image, showing the East China Sea.

The image clearly showed the Black Dragon Society's remnant fleet linked together by iron chains, forming a floating island. At first glance, it was indeed incredibly impressive, seemingly impervious to wind and waves. However, in battle, this was the most foolish tactic. If even a few ships caught fire and sank, it would drag down the entire fleet.

Fighting with this formation was tantamount to suicide. I think these remnants of the Black Dragon Society must be eager to get to the sea to feed the fish. If they were caught off guard by Li Huamei's surprise attack and knew nothing beforehand, then their elaborate chain formation would be understandable. However, Li Huamei had announced this military operation to the world long beforehand, inviting forces from all sides. These guys not only didn't flee, but instead set up this chain formation to await their fate—it's highly illogical.

This single act alone, even before the battle began, already hinted at something unusual…

◆ Chapter Four: A Strange Calamity Strikes, Total Annihilation

I never believe in free lunches, and I certainly don't believe that in war, the enemy would be so easy to get, rushing headlong into my death. So, seeing the Black Dragon Society remnants' formation, my first thought was that this was a trap.

Although the Black Dragon Society's ships were heavily damaged, some with half their sails burned, and their hulls bearing marks of cuts and cannon fire, making them appear harmless, a discerning person would surely find something amiss… At least, with Li Huamei's shrewdness, she shouldn't have missed the problem. On the other hand, the East China Sea Allied Forces were far more formidable than simply described as strong and well-equipped. In addition to the original East China Sea Resistance fleet, they had a large contingent of troops from various land-based nations. These troops, aboard their own warships, formed a fleet that, while only a third the size of the Resistance, boasted the highest quality personnel. They were all skilled warriors and mages from their respective countries, holding high-ranking official or noble positions and being prominent figures in their own nations.

These outsiders, though invited to participate in the war, were essentially VIPs there to observe. Otherwise, while their individual combat abilities were excellent, their lack of naval training and coordination would render them ineffective on the battlefield, potentially hindering operations and significantly increasing the danger.

Li Huamei invited these distinguished guests to participate in the war to establish her authority and forge cooperation. The real focus wasn't on the battlefield, but after the war. Li Huamei would privately meet with these guests to discuss military, political, and economic cooperation. This is my speculation, but I can't think of any other reasonable explanation. Although I always felt this was too ostentatious and rash, not a proper approach, Li Huamei had her own ideas, and I couldn't interfere, much less try to persuade her.

Fortunately, to ensure the war's success, Li Huamei had also prepared a surprise force, possibly the strongest air combat force on Earth: the Feathered Clan and Phoenix Island.

After years of painstaking searching, the Feathered Clan has finally found the lost Phoenix Island. This floating island is not merely a solitary flying island; it possesses formidable firepower and weaponry. In the past, it dominated the Southern Wilderness, suppressing all beast races and making it virtually invincible. Now, the Feathered Clan has reactivated Phoenix Island, traveling thousands of miles to the East Sea. They would have the upper hand not only against the remnants of the Black Dragon Society, but even against the Black Dragon Society's fleet at its peak.

The images show Phoenix Island floating in the sky like a colossal beast overlooking the earth. Its mere presence casts a massive shadow, covering most of the sea and seemingly blocking out the sunlight. Such power would inspire trembling in anyone who beholds it, especially considering its superior position; it is always the one attacking, and no one else can reach it. Who would dare challenge it?

This situation was more than a trap; it was a sure thing, a sure thing. I saw no possibility of the East China Sea Alliance failing. Yet, the final result was the complete annihilation of the East China Sea Alliance. What exactly happened?

"Toot~~"

I heard the East China Sea Alliance sound their horns. Li Huamei was standing on the deck of her flagship, clad in dragon scale armor, one hand on her sword hilt, gesturing with her hands. Even without uttering a word, her orders were being relayed to the entire army through flags and horns.

The entire image was taken from a great distance. I could only see Li Huamei's figure and movements, but not even her expression. This was a pity, because if I could see her expression and eyes, I could deduce much more. But... even so, I don't know if I had the courage to open my eyes to see her clearly.

The horns sounded again. The vast sea offered no obstruction, making the horns' sound exceptionally loud, carrying a chilling aura of killing intent—the order to attack.

The East Sea Allied Fleet slowly dispersed, advancing towards the enemy in a fan shape. Phoenix Island also moved in the sky; I could vaguely see the winged female warriors on the island flapping their wings, forming ranks, ready to coordinate with the island's weapons for an attack.

I didn't see Katrina, but as the leader of the winged race, she should be on Phoenix Island directing her people. Seeing how smoothly they controlled Phoenix Island, I could imagine the effort they had put in behind the scenes. I wondered what it would be like when thousands of cannons roared from Phoenix Island.

In the sky and at sea, two powerful forces gradually advanced. The Black Dragon Society's tattered fleet, caught between these two forces, appeared utterly vulnerable, like an egg under a giant stone wheel, destined to shatter and perish upon contact.

Everything seemed to be happening as it should, but at that moment, I suddenly realized something.

Ever since hearing about the annihilation of the East China Sea Allied Forces, I've been baffled. With such a vast disparity in strength, why were they defeated? And why were they so utterly wiped out? Even after watching the footage, I still couldn't understand. However, the destruction of the Dragon Fang Warriors gave me a valuable lesson: if faced with a powerful, multi-enemy force that's difficult to handle, the best approach is to instigate conflict between two opposing forces.

I guessed the reason and wanted to shout it out, but it was too late to stop anything. The whole thing had already happened; even in this footage, everything that was supposed to happen had already happened. Nothing had changed, and nothing could be changed.

The whole thing happened suddenly, without any warning. All I saw was Phoenix Island in the sky, its altitude decreasing as it moved. Initially, few noticed, but as Phoenix Island's altitude decreased further, that colossal, sky-covering shadow appeared above us. Even the most oblivious person would be jolted awake by that pressure.

By the time they noticed this critical point, it was too late. In fact, even if they had noticed it earlier, it would have been useless, because Phoenix Island was flying directly overhead. At that distance, unless they could teleport or fly dozens of miles in seconds, the colossal shadow that blotted out the sky would crash down in an instant, and even a god couldn't escape it.

The enormous aerial island plummeted at an alarming speed, and where it landed was the fleet of the East Sea Allied Forces. By this time, those below had realized that the end was nigh, and panic and commotion erupted. Some screamed madly, some hurriedly jumped into the sea to escape, and some desperately used their strongest power to bombard upwards, probably trying to shatter Phoenix Island. However, let alone them, even if the five strongest people in the world joined forces, it would be impossible to do such a thing.

Everything happened in a mere dozen seconds. Leng Linglan and I unconsciously held our breath as we watched Phoenix Island crash into the East China Sea Allied Fleet. The speed and the area it covered were simply devastating. Sixty percent of the East China Sea Fleet was instantly pulverized and sank to the bottom of the sea upon impact with Phoenix Island.

Even if they weren't killed on the spot, it didn't mean they could escape. The waves created by such a large island falling from the sky into the sea were absolutely devastating. I'm not kidding. I've never seen such a magnificent wall of seawater, rising straight up, a hundred times more powerful than any mighty beast. Under such irresistible natural force, even the largest and strongest ships were nothing more than insignificant toys, easily swallowed up by the giant waves.

Such a massive tsunami wouldn't just casually swallow up a thousand ships; the resulting shockwaves would crash directly onto the land, wreaking havoc along the coast. The death toll would be incalculable. However, before that, the Black Dragon Society's dilapidated ships would be the first to be destroyed, the first to perish alongside the East China Sea Allied Forces.

But things in this world are rarely so ideal. Desperate allies and allies are readily available, while desperate enemies are always out of reach. In this world, enemies are always powerful, and allies seem to do nothing but hinder you—that's life.

The Black Dragon Society fleet's seemingly foolish actions now held full significance. Faced with such a powerful natural disaster, even iron chains connecting the ships, or even steel or gold chains, would be useless. But if combined with magic, it would be a different story.

Iron chains bound all the Black Dragon Society ships together, not to increase stability, but to connect them into a massive floating magic circle. The position of each ship was meticulously designed, and magical characters were inscribed on the decks of each vessel. Once activated, several combined effects would immediately appear.

I'm quite certain this magic circle possesses two effects: forming a sturdy shield and assimilating with water.

The stable shield would cover the entire fleet, ensuring that when the immense impact arrived, the fleet would be firmly anchored at sea, preventing it from swaying or directly impacting the water. But even this wasn't enough. This tsunami was far too powerful, beyond human resistance, and no magic in the world could completely block the impact of seawater. Therefore, the second effect was needed in conjunction.

No matter how powerful the waves, they cannot harm the ocean itself; this is an unalterable law of the world. As long as one transforms into water, one can escape unscathed beneath the waves. This is not usually so easy, but the Black Dragon Society, dominating the East Sea, has many water mages, which is why they were able to create such a large-scale water magic array.

Transforming all the ships into water is absolutely impossible, but through the established magical shield, they can be made to be the same substance as water. When a massive wave crashes down, the two are of the same nature, blending together naturally and being unharmed.

Of course, this is equivalent to a temporary distortion of the laws of nature; to forcibly achieve this would require an immense amount of energy, and the time would be short. One can imagine that when this magic array collapses and disappears, not a single mage in the Black Dragon Society fleet will be able to stand; half might even perish. However, this sacrifice is worthwhile; the sacrifice of these mages has resulted in an unprecedented and unparalleled victory.

I cannot estimate the damage from this battle, but even a rough estimate leads to the conclusion that the East China Sea resistance was completely annihilated, with no fighting power remaining. All the soldiers and ships have sunk to the bottom of the sea, with no possibility of survival.

The land-based forces suffered similar heavy losses. Guests invited by Li Huamei included representatives from the Golden Flower Federation, Alibuda, and even Ishtar and Solancia. These guests were no ordinary figures; those chosen by Li Huamei were either high-ranking officials or powerful individuals with formidable strength. In other words, they were the elites of the various nations of the land. They arrived triumphantly, never imagining they would become food for fish without even having the chance to draw their swords or cast spells.

The deaths of these people will severely impact the nation's strength, making widespread chaos inevitable. Ten years ago, this might have immediately triggered a multi-national war, with everyone eager to take advantage of a neighboring country's troubles to launch an invasion. Now, with the international alliance stabilizing the situation, things won't be as dire, but the aftereffects should not be underestimated.

Phoenix Island plunged into the sea, its raging waves towering high. Even with wings, the Feather Clan female warriors were trapped in this desperate situation, unable to escape. I witnessed some Feather Clan female warriors attempting to take flight being swallowed by the raging waves. After this battle, even if the Feather Clan wasn't wiped out, there would likely be very few left.

The entire war footage ended there. I stared silently at the ground, saying nothing. Leng Linglan, with perfect understanding, stepped forward and replayed the entire footage. We watched the footage several times, then fell into a long silence.

If one had to find a description for this battle, then "total annihilation" would be the best description. After this battle, the death rate of the East Sea resistance army, the dignitaries from various countries, and the Feathered Clan was over 99%. There were only deaths, no injuries, and complete extermination.

From an outsider's perspective, I can only offer my sincere admiration. If I were to plan it, I really can't imagine how to set up a scheme to wipe out so many people in one fell swoop, leaving them no chance of escape, while suffering almost no losses myself. It couldn't be more magnificent than such a victory.

"...We've been tricked."

Leng Linglan's soft voice broke the silence. I looked at her and heard her say, "To be able to orchestrate such a plan, there must be a mastermind behind this war. The remnants of the Black Dragon Society are far more than just remnants; there might even be a deeper story behind the entire Black Dragon Society's demise."

This was something I had always suspected. In fact, ever since the death of Master Xin Deng and Li Huamei's crushing defeat of the Black Dragon Society, my doubts had never diminished. Master Xin Chan and Mao Yan'an had also discussed this with me several times, emphasizing that we couldn't be careless. But in the end, we always inevitably encountered the same problem: even if the Black Dragon Society intentionally went into hiding to plot, the price was far too high.

Losing so many troops was already extremely painful, but even the Black Witch Heavenly Maiden and even the Black Dragon King himself lost their lives. Such losses were irreplaceable. Was it really necessary to go to such lengths?

For these reasons, my doubts remained unresolved, but many questions still troubled me, including the mysterious disappearance of their research findings after the Black Dragon Society's demise, the reasons why Ghostly Evening would assassinate Heart Lamp Hermit—none of these could be explained. After

arriving in Solancia, related clues surfaced. The demon was inextricably linked to the Black Dragon Society, even claiming to be His Majesty the Dragon King—all hinting at a possibility.

Now, this possibility has become a reality, presented before us. The Black Dragon Society's demise concealed a massive conspiracy, deceiving everyone on Earth and successfully orchestrating this devastating war.

"The Black Dragon Society not only has strategists, but they definitely have archmages. To use a large-scale magic array of this size, no matter how many mages assist, a top-tier sorcerer is still needed as the magic center to guide and activate it,"

Leng Linglan said, her eyes filled with worry. "Just how strong is the Black Dragon Society now?"

I sighed, "You'll have to ask their new leaders about that. But if they still possess their original strength, given the shift in power, they won't just aim to dominate the East China Sea; they'll likely extend their influence to the mainland."

With the Black Dragon Society's ambitions, how could they possibly be content to remain confined to the seas? It's only because the mainland nations are powerful, and Li Huamei's occasional guerrilla warfare at sea has kept them from invading the mainland, that they haven't yet. Now that the East China Sea resistance has been wiped out, and the mainland nations' strength has been further weakened, nothing can stop the Black Dragon Society's ambitions.

The deaths of these guests are certainly a serious loss for the mainland nations, but the real key to weakening their national power occurred much earlier.

The turmoil instigated by the Hermit of the Heart Lamp has severely weakened the Cihang Jingdian Palace; Ishtar was nearly destroyed by the Black Witch Goddess, leaving its country's experts almost extinct; even Solancia, after being wreaked havoc by this High Priest, will likely take at least ten or twenty years to recover. In such a situation, if the Black Dragon Society launches a major offensive, I truly don't know how we can withstand it.

The Black Dragon Society is advancing along the coast, and Ishtar and Alibuda will be the first to bear the brunt. The former is a problem for Narcissus, while the latter is Leng Linglan's inescapable responsibility. Therefore, after seeing the outcome of this war, her expression was exceptionally grave as she pondered strategies to deal with the Black Dragon Society.

"...Phoenix Island has fallen like this, I wonder what Marshal Li..."

My grudge with Li Huamei is probably known to the whole world at this moment. Leng Linglan stopped halfway through her sentence, simply watching my reaction, while I could only manage a bitter smile.

Although Li Huamei was skilled in martial arts, she was probably helpless in such a desperate situation. With an entire island crashing down and being buried deep in the sea, how could she possibly survive?

Watching Phoenix Island crash into the East China Sea Allied Forces' fleet, I knew that Li Huamei was unlikely to survive. At that moment, my heart suddenly ached. I couldn't even explain it myself. Even though I had already severed all ties with Li Huamei, why did I still feel such heartache when I saw her die?

This is something I don't want to think about deeply. Perhaps in the future, I will keep asking myself this question until the end of my life...

(Li Huamei's defeat was so devastating: If Wang miscalculated two things, one was the Black Dragon Society, and the other was Phoenix Island. The Black Dragon Society

's situation is understandable, but Phoenix Island... how could this happen?) If Phoenix Island hadn't suddenly fallen, the East Sea Alliance wouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat. And looking at the Black Dragon Society's formation, it's clear they knew Phoenix Island would fall all along. There must be a connection between the two. I wonder if the Black Dragon Society sent a team to launch a surprise attack on Phoenix Island and take control of the island, or if the Feather Clan and the Black Dragon Society had already discussed it?

Leng Linglan said, "Phoenix Island is guarded by the Feather Clan. Given Li Huamei's shrewdness, she must have maintained constant contact with the island before launching an attack. Even if the Black Dragon Society sends out top experts and manages to capture Phoenix Island, it's unlikely that Li Huamei would be completely unaware. Therefore, the Black Dragon Society capturing Phoenix Island... this option can be deleted."

Her analysis was reasonable, and I agreed, nodding in agreement.

"The possibility of the Feathered Clan colluding with the Black Dragon Society is also low. Normally, any kind of collusion is nothing more than an exchange of interests. But with Phoenix Island sinking, the Feathered Clan is almost wiped out. Unless the Feathered Clan is determined to become the Black Dragon Society's loyal followers, such behavior doesn't make sense." "

That makes sense. So what do you think the real explanation is?"

"Someone within the Feathered Clan, or...someone, is colluding with the Black Dragon Society. As for what kind of person it is, I've never had any dealings with the Feathered Clan, so of course I wouldn't know. Only you would know."

Leng Linglan spoke with a wry smile, but her analysis was very useful to me. Following this line of thought, a graceful and elegant figure immediately appeared in my mind. To cause Phoenix Island to crash and burn, one would need to be able to control Phoenix Island. There aren't many people like that; perhaps only...

In that instant, I remembered Katrina, whom I had seen in the magical image not long ago, and that fleeting, peculiar look in her eyes.

At the time, I felt very uneasy, as if something terrible was about to happen. But no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't figure out what the problem was, so I attributed this ominous feeling to overthinking. After all, since Yu Hong stabbed me with a dagger, I've often been paranoid and terrified. It's true that I sometimes overthink things.

However, it seems I should trust my intuition more, because my premonition back then has now come true. If anyone could control Phoenix Island, Katrina, as the leader of the Feather Clan, would be the first choice. But I can't understand why Katrina would collude with the Black Dragon Society. What benefit would she gain from doing so?

(No, that's too hasty. Things might not be like that. There's no evidence that Katrina was behind it. If I think like this, I might wrongly accuse someone, which would be too...)

I told myself this, but my increasingly strong intuition told me that my suspicions were not wrong. Katrina must be the key to the whole thing. As long as I find her, I can find out the truth, including the specific conspiracy of the Black Dragon Society.

Seeing the horrific scene when Phoenix Island crashed, with the Feathered Clan on the island barely surviving, I don't believe Katrina truly caused the island's destruction. There must be some way she could have survived, or perhaps she didn't even perish on the island.

"...What do we do now?"

Leng Linglan asked. I could only shake my head with a wry smile. In this situation, there's nothing we can do, especially since we're still in Solancia. How can we care about what's happening in the East China Sea?

In this regard, I don't think it matters much. Even if the Black Dragon Society rises again and invades the land, it won't be able to reach the inland areas for a while. At most, I'll stay away from the East China Sea for the rest of my life. If I can't win, I can always hide, right? But Leng Linglan can't stay out of it. The Black Dragon Society has risen again and swallowed up the resistance army. They could march west at any time and threaten Alibuda.

Compared to other countries, Alibuda's overall national strength is decent, but it really lacks talent, and its king is a good-for-nothing. The only reason it hasn't lost an inch of territory over the years is thanks to the efforts of its two daughters and the support of my eccentric father. If the Black Dragon Society attacks, and Leng Linglan isn't in the country to oversee operations, there will definitely be chaos.

Leng Linglan can't afford to be anxious. "If you're worried about the situation there, go back first. Anyway, Lunfiel has already appeared, and the situation in Solancia is settled. You can ask Lunfiel about anything; there's no rush. Also, I'll handle things here. You can go back to Alibuda first."

"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm not some sheltered little girl. I know what's important and what's urgent. Although Lunfiel has appeared and holds power, it's too early to say that the situation in Solancia is settled. That demon is still lurking in the shadows, and nobody knows what kind of trouble he can cause. Besides... if that demon is really related to the Black Dragon Society, figuring things out here will be very helpful in dealing with the Black Dragon Society later. Maybe... we can even capture the leader first."

Leng Linglan said, "You can't use any magic right now, and you don't even have the basic ability to defend yourself. If I'm not here, I'm afraid you won't live to see the next day. Those people with the surname Bai can't be trusted. As for Hua Gengsha... that woman is ruthless, vicious, cold-blooded, and cruel. It's too dangerous for you to stay here and deal with her."

Hearing Leng Linglan care so much about my safety, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. This was something I could never have imagined before. But before I could speak, a cold voice unexpectedly rang out.

"Ruthless, vicious, cold-blooded, and cruel—that's true, but gossiping behind people's backs isn't exactly honorable, is it?"

Caught red-handed talking behind our backs, Leng Linglan and I were both startled. Turning around, we saw Hua Gengsha, dressed in surgical scrubs and white gloves, appear silently behind us, covered in blood, with blood still dripping from her gloves. She looked like a female Grim Reaper straight out of hell.

"You two incestuous bastards, enjoying that porn?"

Those words were truly vicious. If it were anyone else, Leng Linglan would probably have struck them down with a single blow, killing them and silencing them. But facing Hua Gengsha, even with her mastered martial arts, Leng Linglan dared not act recklessly. She could only suppress her anger and say, "Don't talk nonsense." "

Is that so? Since you've done it, don't be afraid of what people say. People will talk about this everywhere. Practice first, so you won't be caught off guard later, and you can kill someone faster if you want to."

If I were to argue with Hua Gengsha, it would be endless. I stopped Leng Linglan from speaking and said, "How did the surgery go? Can you really bring someone back to life?"

"What surgery?"

"You were inside for most of the day. The Bai family members all said you were saving someone, weren't you performing surgery on Lindsay?"

"That little girl's matter is troublesome to prepare beforehand, but as long as the props are ready, it can be done in ten minutes. You didn't ask me to modify my body, get breast augmentation and liposuction, so what kind of surgery is needed?"

Hua Gengsha said casually. After a brief shock, I was immediately on the second mind, because from these words, it sounded like Lindsay was already fine. Could this ruthless and vicious old hag really have the ability to bring the dead back to life?

Leng Linglan said, "If Lindsay's matter was so easy, what were you doing inside for so long? Don't tell us you were covered in blood because you were cooking beef noodles in the back!"

"Of course not. When we were selling water spinach earlier, your brother said something that I found very interesting. Although he used it incorrectly, being tricked for no reason made me lose face too, so I thought I'd go and resolve the matter."

Leng Linglan didn't understand what Hua Gengsha was talking about, but I did. She was referring to the matter of Dai Meisi providing false information. If Dai Meisi hadn't insisted, I wouldn't have been so sure of the fake Lehman's identity and thus been fooled. Hua Gengsha stepped in to save face, which was good, but how exactly did she do it?

Seeing Hua Gengsha covered in blood, I was shocked. Before I could ask anything, she said, "I accidentally discovered something interesting. Follow me."

Hua Gengsha lifted the white cloth covering the partition, and we followed her behind it. We were horrified to see a rectangular wooden box standing upright on the floor. Most of Dai Meisi's body was inside the box, with only her neck and above protruding. At least… that's all we could see.

This beautiful elven woman, who always appeared before us with grace and elegance, now… her face was covered in blood, her eyes rolled back, and seven golden needles of varying lengths, the shortest being at least twenty centimeters, were stuck in her forehead. They should have been excruciatingly painful, yet a joyful smile bloomed on her lips, as if she were in blissful ecstasy. This bizarre

scene sent chills down my spine and on Leng Linglan's spine…

◆ Chapter Five: Don't Ask About the World. What is love?

A figure as important as Demees would normally be under tight protection; harming her wouldn't be easy. However, the past few hours were probably the most chaotic period in the Huaer Forest in centuries. With Hua Gengsha's abilities, kidnapping Demees wouldn't be difficult.

I won't comment on the kidnapping itself, but on the other hand, I have to admit Hua Gengsha's move was brilliant. Demees had been repeatedly violated by King Greens and the High Priest over the years; if there was any woman with the closest relationship to them, it would undoubtedly be her.

We know too little about that sorcerer. Now, through Demees, perhaps we can make some unexpected discoveries. Hua Gengsha's preemptive strike, kidnapping Demees for interrogation, was a correct strategy, and she has unique skills to handle it. However, this scene was truly chilling.

I shifted my gaze, avoiding the head pierced by seven golden needles, and boldly asked Hua Gengsha if she had gotten anything out of her.

Hua Gengsha shook her head and said, "No, my memory is a complete mess, my consciousness is also a mess, I'm incoherent, and my answers are irrelevant. I can't get anything useful out of me."

"Ugh, then what did you call us here to see? You're not just trying to scare us into thinking that if we resist you, we'll end up like her, are you?"

"Why would I be so bored? If you really offended me, how could the consequences be just like this? The real discovery is about to be demonstrated to you. Watch carefully." As

Hua Gengsha spoke, she placed her hand on the seven golden needles and gently twirled them. We saw Dai Meisi's eyes roll back and quickly become bloodshot. Then, she let out an extremely painful scream, a pitiful and heartbreaking one. Although Leng Linglan and I were mentally prepared, our hearts were still pounding, and we wanted to cover our ears and not hear it.

However, Hua Gengsha's move wasn't simply to inflict pain on Dai Meisi. After that piercing scream, Dai Meisi opened her mouth and exhaled a thick wisp of black gas, which spread to the side—the very same black gas that had caused King Greens's martyrdom.

"Wow!"

Having witnessed this black gas before and knowing its devastating ability to devour anything it touched, my first thought was to run as far away as possible. But this time, the situation was different. The black gas left Dai Meisi's body and, upon contact with the outside air, quickly and completely dissipated. After a few seconds, nothing remained.

After the black gas dissipated, Dai Meisi's screams ceased, her expression slowly relaxed, and even her rolled-back eyes returned to normal—a clear look we had never seen before.

"You...you are..."

Strangely, it was the same voice, but it sounded completely different from before. Gone was that seductive charm that emanated from her very bones; instead, it was very dignified and gentle. This was understandable, after all, before losing her true nature, this elven beauty was once an elegant noblewoman, chaste and self-disciplined.

Things were now very clear: Dai Meisi had been corrupted by that sorcerer, and the sorcerer's method of manipulating people was to inject this black energy into living beings for control. Hua Gengsha's move further proved that as long as the black energy was expelled, the controlled person could return to normal. This was truly great news for me, because it also meant that Tianhe Xueqiong could...

Lost in thought, a piercing scream interrupted my thoughts. Looking closely, I saw that the one who screamed was Dai Meisi. Having regained her senses, she seemed to realize that something was wrong with her situation and cried out in surprise.

I was already used to the woman's screams, and now I didn't think much of them. After all, it was just a person in a box with only their head sticking out; it wasn't like they were having their tendons ripped out or their scalp cut off. What was there to scream about? However, when I looked at Demees more closely, preparing to ask a question, I was surprised to find that I was terribly wrong .

Demees... wasn't just in the box with her head sticking out; she was practically just a head, swaying precariously on the box.

This bizarre scene sent chills down my spine. I'd seen dead heads before, but I rarely saw a living head like this, especially one without a body, just a head. How could it survive? And how could it scream?

Demees seemed to realize that something was wrong with her. In her shock, her screams became even louder and more piercing. I found it hard to imagine how a woman could scream like that without hurting her throat, but I could somewhat understand her feelings. If someone suddenly discovered they only had a head left, they would be terrified.

The scream startled everyone, but what surprised me even more was that at the same time Demethe screamed, a large amount of blood flowed from her neck. This abnormal situation usually indicates the collapse of magic; in other words, the magic that was keeping Demethe alive had reached its limit.

Hua Gengsha stood up, waved her hand, and pale blue powder drifted down. The screaming head instantly turned into wisps of blue smoke, bones, flesh, and blood disappearing within it. In just a few seconds, the entire head was gone, but the terrifying scream still echoed in our ears.

Leng Linglan said Hua Gengsha was ruthless and vicious, something I already knew. However, seeing her display this skill now, I felt that description even more deeply. After sprinkling the powder, she sighed and said, "Living like that, if she used magic to prolong her life, it would only be an extension of suffering... Giving up like this is a kind of relief. We should be happy for her." "

...Ghost Hag, aren't you picking the wrong person to talk to? Or should I say, what right do you have to say such things? You practically toyed with her to death!"

"Really? I thought you guys liked this kind of dialogue. Sometimes I want to try a different style. Otherwise, let's just say what I should say."

Hua Gengsha slapped the box and said, "This bitch gave you false information, got you into trouble, and made me lose face too. Anyone who makes me look bad... this is the minimum consequence."

I don't know if this counts as intimidation. Leng Linglan next to her snorted, but didn't confront Hua Gengsha directly. After all, it wasn't worth getting involved with such a cold-blooded maniac.

Sometimes, I really wonder what's wrong with this world. In terms of personal character, I'm already considered ruthless, but why do I keep running into a bunch of cold-blooded perverts who don't value human life wherever I go? Whether it's Xin Jian Shen Ni or Hua Gengsha, compared to them, I can only sigh in self-pity. Are they crazy? Or is this world crazy?

The three of them were silent for a moment, but suddenly they heard a series of hurried footsteps. Many people were rushing towards them. Judging from the situation, I think it must be that Renfell finished his work in the palace and rushed over to discuss the follow-up.

The white sheet in the cubicle was suddenly pulled back, and an elf with a missing eye, arm, and leg rushed in like a whirlwind. It was none other than Prince Lehman, the number one lovesick fool of Surancia.

"Where's Lindsay? How is she?"

Lehman's remaining eye was bloodshot, showing his inner turmoil. He had become severely disabled and should be lying in a hospital bed, but he was staggering and staggering over, supporting himself with two wooden sticks that were barely even canes, completely showing his anxiety.

It was obvious that Lehman had rushed over as soon as he regained consciousness, otherwise he wouldn't have rushed over without even having time to get a pair of canes. The medical staff responsible for caring for him had followed behind him, rushing over in a disheveled state. Logically speaking, they shouldn't have been unable to subdue a severely disabled person, but if Lehman threatened with his own life, that was another matter.

"John Farrell, you..."

Lehman's tense emotions exploded the moment he saw me. He seemed about to lunge at me, grabbing my collar and demanding answers, but in his injured state, he couldn't possibly maintain his balance. He lost his footing and fell heavily to the ground, breaking the two wooden sticks he was holding.

The elves guarding him finally seized the opportunity, swarming forward and pinning the prince down, administering sedatives to calm him down.

Watching this scene, I felt a deep sense of admiration. No matter what, it was truly remarkable for someone to risk their life for a relationship like that; I could never do it.

Lindsay was a very good girl, I had to admit, but conversely, she didn't seem that good. Lehman, a dignified elf prince, woke up severely injured, even neglecting his own father's recent death, rushing over like a madman to check on Lindsay's condition. What exactly did he see in her?

Thanks to the efforts of the elven healers, Lehman was completely subdued and fell unconscious. At this moment, Lunfiel, alarmed by his brother's situation, hurriedly led his men to the scene. Seeing Lehman's condition, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Leng Linglan asked curiously, and Lunfiel was initially reluctant to answer, but later explained to us,

"You probably think that my third brother's secret marriage agreement with the dwarf was just for transporting weapons, but actually, it was all orchestrated behind the scenes by the High Priest. The only reason my third brother agreed to cooperate was because he insisted on marrying that dwarf princess."

"Huh? What did you say?"

I was utterly confused. Lunfiel sighed and explained that although the High Priest had promoted Lehman to power and was vying for power with Lunfiel, Lehman himself was actually a gentle person who disliked politics and military affairs and loved gardening. His greatest interest was spending long hours in his private botanical garden planting flowers and grass.

Such a refined and honest man, let alone being lustful, didn't even touch women, but that didn't mean he didn't have someone he admired. Long ago, Lehman was on a diplomatic mission to Rosetta on agricultural matters. There, he met a dwarf girl who also loved gardening. They spent an afternoon together, enjoying the flowers and scenery, chatting and laughing.

For the dwarf girl, it was just an ordinary encounter. She was innocent and guileless, always talking to her people and tending to her flowers. Even when she encountered an elf, she treated everyone the same, maintaining a normal attitude. Soon after, she forgot about it and had no idea that the elf was a prince.

But for the other person, it was a different story. Although brief, that afternoon was the happiest time of Lehman's life, the most romantic encounter. After returning to Solancia, he was haunted by the memory, unable to forget it for a long time, yet unable to take any concrete action.

Elves consider themselves a noble race and are quite averse to interspecies marriage. Lehman, as a prince, would already face considerable resistance if he fell in love with a human woman and wanted to marry her; he would have to expend considerable effort to overcome opposition. As for falling in love with a dwarf and wanting to marry her as his queen, such a thing is unprecedented, making him the first in Solancia's history—it's absolutely out of the question.

A prince's status is incredibly prestigious, but sometimes it's also a source of trouble. If Lehman were just an ordinary elf, the worst consequence of doing such a thing would be exile, never to return to Solancia. But as a prince, he sets an example, and the elves, fearing this bad precedent, might imprison him for life, or even take his life; even King Grins couldn't protect him.

Under normal circumstances, Lehman's wish would never have come true; he was destined to die in despair, filled with regret. But perhaps it should be considered his good fortune, and the misfortune of all of Solancia. Under the High Priest's manipulation, Solancia was in an abnormal state. As long as the High Priest was willing to help, a prince marrying a dwarf was nothing; they had done far more absurd things.

Hearing that the prince wanted to marry a dwarf as his queen, the High Priest readily agreed, generously guaranteeing it, but with two conditions: first, Lehman had to stand up and help fight against Lunfiel; second, the marriage had to be completed together with an arms deal.

In fact, Lehman had no choice but to agree. Although Lunfiel knew about this, he had to admit that under normal circumstances, his brother's infatuation would never have a result. So he pretended not to know, thus silently facilitating the matter. In this respect, he was truly a considerate older brother.

Lehman originally wanted to marry Lindsay in a grand ceremony, so she wouldn't feel wronged. However, the High Priest believed that a large-scale event would attract strong opposition. He argued that it would be much easier to handle once the marriage was finalized, and besides, a major escalation could expose the arms deal, which would be disastrous.

Thus, everything was settled. What happened afterward is what we know. After hearing Lunfei's explanation, Leng Linglan and I exchanged bewildered glances, completely unable to believe that such a seemingly obvious political marriage and shady deal could have such a twist behind it all.

Leng Linglan said, "It's quite unexpected. Lindsay and Prince Lehman actually had such a romance. I never imagined they were truly in love..."

As she spoke, Leng Linglan cast a stern glance at me, naturally recalling my promiscuous behavior with Lindsay and the severe humiliation I'd inflicted on Lehman, who had challenged me to a duel.

Thinking about it, Lehman was truly pathetic. The woman he so desperately wanted to marry had willingly given me her virginity, and in such an utterly humiliating way. There was no greater disgrace than this. I wasn't surprised he was so enraged that he challenged me to a duel; rather, I admired his unwavering devotion to Lindsay after all that.

If it were me, and the woman I loved slept with me and another man right in front of me, could I still love her like that? I probably knew the answer, but I just didn't want to say it aloud.

Leng Linglan's gaze towards Lehman held a hint of admiration. Normally, she wouldn't even give a damn about incompetent people, but now she looked at Lehman this way, probably admiring the depth of his affection… But this was quite interesting; when did she begin to understand these matters of love and affection? It seems Princess Leng has changed as well; I don't know if it's for better or worse.

After being given a sedative, Lehman's emotions were relatively stable, but he remained fixated on Lindsay's safety. Supported by the medical staff, he struggled to our side, looking at us with his one eye and pleading for information about Lindsay.

During the cave battle, Lehman had already collapsed midway through; all he saw was Lindsay tied to a cross. So he could only come to me for answers. All I knew was that Lindsay's heart had been ripped out, and she had died a gruesome death. He certainly couldn't bear to hear that, but if I asked about what happened afterward…

Without a word, Leng Linglan and I both looked at Hua Gengsha, waiting for her explanation. Hua Gengsha shrugged and said, "If this happens unexpectedly, there's nothing we can do. But if we know in advance and prepare the necessary tools, as long as we can complete the first aid within the time limit, it won't be difficult."

Since entering Solancia, we've faced an intractable problem. Although I've tried my best to avoid it, I know that sooner or later, we might have to sacrifice Lindsay for that core. I've thought of many alternatives, but I didn't expect that someone else was also thinking of different solutions.

What Hua Gengsha was thinking was something I hadn't considered, and something no normal person would think of. If disembowelment is unavoidable, then instead of going to the trouble of finding alternatives, it's better to think of a cleanup strategy. I don't know what ingenious plans Hua Gengsha has, but she is a dark sorceress and certainly possesses many techniques I don't know.

"I've searched countless places these past few days to collect thirty-six puppet worms. These are legendary artifacts; using them is equivalent to bringing the dead back to life."

"Wait... bringing the dead back to life is one thing, but what do you mean by 'equivalent to bringing the dead back to life'?"

Faced with my question, Hua Gengsha didn't bother explaining. She simply clapped her hands twice, and the box in the center of the room suddenly opened. A petite figure rushed out of the box and pounced on me like lightning. Before I could dodge, she pulled me into her arms.

"Mr. John, Lindsay loves you."

The familiar voice and appearance were unchanged; it was the dwarf girl who should have been dead, reappearing before us. With a simple hug, I could feel her body temperature; she wasn't a cold corpse. My gaze drifted down to her full chest, her small breasts round and adorable, completely devoid of the horrific injuries from before. It was as if those tragedies had never happened. I was overjoyed. Although I didn't know how Hua Gengsha had done it, Lindsay had truly come back to life!

"Ahem!"

Leng Linglan's soft cough brought me to my senses. Lindsay's rebirth was good, but Lehman's murderous glare at my back was bad. Lindsay and I weren't in a loving relationship; I didn't want to get myself into this mess for her.

I tried to separate from Lindsay, but she held me tightly, her strength extraordinary. I couldn't break free immediately and had to turn to Hua Gengsha, who was closest, for help.

"Help me, pull her away!"

"Why should we pull her away? Don't you men love it when women hug you like that, saying 'I love you,' and rubbing their breasts against you?"

The viciousness of this sentence was comparable to the previous "incestuous couple." If Hua Gengsha said a few more words, even the crippled Lehman would probably jump up and kill us. After all, this is their territory...

"Lindsay is Prince Lehman's fiancée. Prince Lehman is her destiny. How can she hug me like this? She's just recovered from her serious injuries and her mind isn't clear. Please help pull her away."

Hua Gengsha didn't say anything this time after hearing my words, but just showed a very impatient expression and clapped her hands twice. As

soon as the two claps rang out, Lindsay, who had been tightly hugging me, suddenly let go and ran away like the wind, rushing towards Lehman. Ignoring the wounds on his hands and feet, she hugged him tightly.

"Prince Rayman, Lindsay loves you! Lindsay loves you!"

This sudden turn of events was more terrifying than the resurrection of the dead, leaving everyone present stunned. In the ensuing silence, only the continuous echoing of "Lindsay loves you" could be heard. It didn't sound like a human voice, but rather like a broken machine repeating the same phrase over and over. The dwarf girl speaking these words had unfocused eyes and a vacant gaze, appearing to be nothing more than a soulless puppet.

In an instant, my heart skipped a beat, and I vaguely knew what had happened, though I couldn't quite grasp the details. Then, overwhelmed with shock, Lehman cried out, "W-what happened? What did you do to Lindsay?"

Hua Gengsha frowned and said, "What happened? Isn't it good that you got a good deal? If it weren't for this, would she have fallen in love with you?"

By this point, anyone who wasn't completely ignorant could roughly guess the truth. Lehman shouted, "What kind of love is this? I don't want this kind of love! I don't want a puppet! I…"

"Shut up! Always complaining, you're so hard to please!"

Hua Gengsha frowned, then clapped her hands twice. The sound of the clapping stopped Lindsay's voice. We looked in her direction, and the dwarf girl, whose eyes had been vacant just moments before, now had expression. Her eyes not only had a sparkle, but they were also filled with tenderness. She gazed intently at Lehman with a deep affection I had never seen in her before. That look of infatuation was enough to make any man's heart flutter.

"Your Highness, I only understand now how good you are to me. Today I finally know who I should cherish most. As long as Your Highness doesn't mind, I'm willing to serve you by your side for the rest of my life... Your Highness, Lindsay loves you."

Her tone and expression were exactly the same as Lindsay's usual self, without the slightest abnormality. However, her deeply affectionate appearance made it seem as if she had taken "true love" and fallen deeply in love.

Speaking incredibly moving words of love, Lindsay took Lehman's hand and gently rubbed it against her cheek, beaming with joy, as if simply holding her lover's hand like this was paradise.

A happy ending for lovers should have been a touching scene, but what we saw only sent a chill down our spines; no one could utter a word.

Clearly, while Lindsay's body had been repaired, it hadn't come alive as we had hoped. Her current state was common in dark magic, where wizards manipulate corpses or even surviving zombies, driving them to action as slaves. These slaves would faithfully execute every command of the wizard, without a thought of disobedience.

However, something was strange. Whether corpse or zombie, the dark magic I knew of—those soulless, mindless puppets—could only execute very simple commands and make very basic reactions. They couldn't possibly express emotions, nor could they utter systematic words like Lindsay was now… Could my understanding be wrong?

As it turned out, Lunfeier responded quickly, roaring, "What on earth is going on?"

His shout was filled with anger, showing that Lunfeier was truly enraged, which meant he had also guessed the truth. Hua Gengsha merely glanced at him coldly, completely disregarding this current de facto leader of Solancia.

Leng Linglan gave me a look, signaling me to go out and de-escalate the situation. Otherwise, Lunfeier, unaware of Hua Gengsha's terrifying power, might offend her in his rage and die an unexplained death one day. Although I felt it wasn't really my business, given how things had developed, I couldn't remain inactive and fail to find out the truth.

"Ghost, answer me first, Lindsay... didn't come back to life?"

"...That depends on how you define death and life."

"The definition that ordinary people use."

"Of course not! What do you take me for? Someone who can do something so incredibly difficult?"

Hua Gengsha rolled her eyes and gave this answer, making me almost vomit blood. "Then what exactly were you preparing to come here for?"

"That's ridiculous. Others can ask that question, but you shouldn't. Didn't you already know why I'm here?" Hua Gengsha looked at me, her expression serious and earnest, and said, word by word, "I'm hired here to be... a corpse prostitute? Have you forgotten?"

"I... I... Oh my god!" I exclaimed in shock, "You... you turned Lindsay... into..."

"Yes, otherwise how could I possibly carry so many rare materials with me? Anyway, your little fox apprentice doesn't need them anymore, and I can't just come all this way for nothing and let the dwarf girl have them. Now she's as soft as butter, as warm and fragrant as jade, invulnerable to swords and spears, and incredibly strong—she's got so many uses. Whoever has her is making a fortune. I was originally going to give her to you to enrich your harem, but if you're going to give her away, then that's a bargain for someone else."

Hua Gengsha said slowly, as if everything was just as it should be. Listening to her, I felt my head spinning, and I managed to ask, "If that's the case, why does Lindsay have... such a quick wit?"

"If there's no reaction, no thought, then it's a corpse, not a corpse prostitute. It doesn't showcase your skills, and the Bai family wouldn't have bothered coming all this way to find me," Hua Gengsha said. "If I only used puppet worms to move the body, it would just be a walking, incorruptible corpse, which you wouldn't accept. So I used the Dream Creator, developed with the Bai family's latest technology, implanted in the brain to reactivate brain function. Combined with hormones I extracted from the True Love Research Institute, this is the effect."

This is a technology we don't know, and I can't really explain it, but I'm certain that this Lindsay is the dwarf girl we know.

Lehman, holding Lindsay in one arm, tears streaming down his face, cried out that this was just a soulless shell, not a real life. These words seemed to provoke Hua Gengsha. She strode up to Lehman, pointed at the dwarf girl, and said rudely, "You say she's not real? What's not real about her?"

"She...she has no soul..."

"Bullshit soul! What is this so-called soul you're talking about? Memories? Personality? She has all of those! Her brain retains all her memories. The Dream Creator assists the brain, reading and reacting to those memories. She has a personality; she can cry and laugh, run and jump, she has flesh and blood and a heartbeat. She has everything a human being should have. How is she not real? Look, her eyes are filled with tears, all because you've hurt her!"

Hua Gengsha's words not only left Lehman speechless but also stunned everyone else present. Although I felt things shouldn't be explained this way, I couldn't offer any rebuttal. As Hua Gengsha said, if this "Lindsay" has breathing, a heartbeat, past memories, emotions, and the ability to think, then... how can you say she's not real?

How do you define life and death?

What standard defines truth and falsehood?

We fell silent. Even Renfell said nothing more. We only heard Lehman sobbing softly, muttering, "This…"

Seeing Lehman's reaction, Hua Gengsha scoffed, "Cheer up, elf boy. If you were still exactly the same as before, would she ever love you? Eat shit! She'd still throw you away to love someone else, to sleep with other men! Let me tell you, only like this, does she truly love you one hundred percent!"

Few could refute this statement. Lehman seemed to be awakened by these words. Looking at the affectionate dwarf girl before him, after a moment's hesitation, he hugged her tightly and burst into laughter.

Mutual affection should have made for a joyful laugh, but to our ears, in a daze, we couldn't distinguish whether it was laughter or sobbing.

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【Alibuda Chronicles】 Episodes 34-36 Author: Nongyu

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