Chapter 339


    Hamund arrived at the sacred retreat where the Commander was in deep contemtion, but rather


    than hastily ascending the mountain, he stood at its base, quietly gazing up at the summit.


    The mountain was teeming with a host of formidable individuals from Amber Valley and those sworn


    to Lord Viperbane, all of whom were concealing their presence as much as possible, gathered near


    the peak.


    Lord Viperbane and Tobin had set up barriers within their sanctuary, cloaking their aura, lying in wait


    for Hamund. They were exceedingly cautious, yet still, they underestimated Hamund.


    Standing silently in the dense forest at the foot of the mountain, Hamund whispered an incantation.


    "Arcane Shadow!"


    A wisp of invisible essence slowly drifted from his body, like a transparent wraith. It nced back at


    its physical vessel before lightly making its way to the mountaintop.


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    At the summit, Lord Viperbane, Tobin, the Grand Elder, and warriors from all three factions waited in


    silence, oblivious to the essence that had already neared them.


    In Cobalt Strike, Hamund was a peculiar entity, aloof from the dealings of the Organization and


    seldom forming alliances. Before he took Celesse as a Protégé, he rarely stayed within Cobalt


    Strike''s bounds, leaving most of the Elders with scant knowledge of him, save that he was an


    Archmage, second in might only to the Grand Elder.


    Hamund''s Arcane Shadow paused at the mountain''s crest, not approaching the sanctuary. The


    gathered force of three to five hundred was a surprise to him. Where had all these powerful beings


    come from? And why were they assembled outside the Commander''s retreat?


    He floated silently in midair, observing the sanctuary but never entering.


    After a long while, the Grand Elder within the sanctuary nodded. "He seems unaware of our


    presence. It''s time to move."


    "Are you certain?" Lord Viperbane asked cautiously.


    "This is the Commander''s ce of cultivation, and a little disturbance is to be expected. Plus, we


    are deep within the Organization''s hearnd. No one would daree here uninvited," remarked


    another.


    The Grand Elder added, "I''ll leave a few behind. If Hamund does arrive, they''ll dy him. We must


    act swiftly and return promptly."


    Before departing, they confirmed once more that The Commander was gravely injured and could


    not break free from his chains. Then, they hurriedly left the sanctuary, leading their party towards


    Botanic Haven.


    "Lord Viperbane! Tobin!" Hamund''s Arcane Shadow, upon seeing them, immediately kept a wide


    berth, altering its expression dramatically.


    Lord Viperbane, sensing something amiss, frowned and scanned the mountaintop, but discovered


    nothing.


    They all departed, rushing through a secret passage prepared in advance, heading towards Botanic


    Haven. If they could subdue both the Commander and the Botanic Haven Elder, taking control of


    Cobalt Strike would be effortless.


    Up to this point, all went smoothly. After all, who would suspect the Grand Elder, second only to


    one, would conspire with outsiders to foment rebellion?


    "Who is stronger, the Botanic Haven Elder or Commander Kashann?" Lord Viperbane inquired.


    "The Botanic Haven Elder''s strength has been nearly drained by the Botanic Haven itself. For


    years, he has been nourishing the Rune of Abandonment Lock with his own flesh and blood,"


    someone replied.


    "And the Chained Spirit within the formation, where has it gone?"


    "That is a secret of Cobalt Strike."


    "What is this Chained Spirit?" Tobin inquired further.


    "Just focus on taking down the Botanic Haven Elder. The rest is of no concern," the Grand Elder


    sternly reminded, urging haste. The n remained unchanged—first, administer the potion, then


    dy, and finally strike, capturing the target in one fell swoop.


    Outside the mountaintop sanctuary, an Elder, appointed by the Grand Elder to guard the sanctuary,


    looked towards the distant hills with a smile on his face.


    Having captured the Commander, they only needed to control the Botanic Haven Elder, and Cobalt


    Strike would be entirely in the Grand Elder''s grasp. Soon, the situation in the Nortnds would shift,


    starting with Cobalt Strike and igniting an unprecedented fray.


    He could hardly wait!


    Longing for battle in the Nortnds rather than seclusion within the Organization, he thirsted for the


    chance to join forces with the mighty.


    The Grand Elder had dered that the royal house was ready to intervene in the Nortnds, no


    longer tolerating the dominion of the Eight Orders. This was their moment! If Cobalt Strike openly


    allied with Lord Viperbane to shatter the Nortnds'' bnce, royal support would be assured, and


    sweeping through thends would only be a matter of time.


    The Grand Elder had the resolve and ambition befitting a leader of Cobalt Strike.


    "Elder Codin, what brings you here?" Hamund asked as he followed the mountain path to the


    summit.


    "Hamund," the Elder named Codin tensed inwardly. Had hee so quickly?