Chapter 401


    The lvory Turtle ultimately came to grips with the harsh reality and reluctantly decided to stay by vin''s side. After all, what choice did it have? Its


    fate was sealed by enchanted chains.


    "Are you done talking?" Balder pushed the door open and entered.


    “Come in and take a seat.” vin stretchednguidly, having had a refreshing sleep. With the Mallister family issue resolved, his mind was at ease,


    and he felt light as a feather.


    "Where''s the little turtle?"


    "Call me Grandshell." The Ivory Turtley on its back on vin''s shoulder, limbs sprawled out, swinging its tiny feet. wagging its little tail, and leisurely


    nibbling on an Elixir Fruit.


    “Grandshell??"


    "Good, you shall be rewarded!" The Ivory Turtle casually tossed an Elixir Fruit


    Balder instinctively caught it, a walnut-sized brown fruit heavy in his hand, like a lead ball. The Elixir Fruit was shrouded in a dense earthy aura that


    asionally settled on its surface and then churned, morphing into various beastly silhouettes struggling for freedom. With his experience, Balder


    recognized at a nce that this was a Super Elixir Fruit with a core of earthen might. A treasure almost on par with the Legendary Elixir Fruit, imbued


    with pure Terran Power, highly tempting to Mages who practiced earth-based Combat Magic.


    Balder took a deep breath, genuinely astonished by the grandeur implied by the title “Grandshell.”


    "This Grandshell was very important,” vin said with a chuckle, gesturing towards the turtle


    "Well said, have a reward." The turtle dug out another Elixir Fruit from its shell and flicked it to vin.


    vin caught it and shook his head with a wry smile as the creature truly fancied itself as some kind of an elder.


    Balder clicked his tongue in wonder at the turtle''s bold personality.


    "What''s the situation outside?”


    "The Nortnds have truly been stirred this time. Everyone''s talking about Stormeast and discussing the eighteen royal statues—we''ve be


    famous. Many havee to the wilderness in recent days, drawn by the majesty of the statues.”


    "I suppose many are cursing me,” vin said with augh. He intended for this deterrent effect—the more they cursed, the more it showed their fear,


    and if they were afraid, they wouldn''t dare bully his kin.


    "The Hidden Essence and the Skyborne Rivers have activated their protective barriers, dered their Organizations sealed, and ceased to involve


    themselves in the Nortnds’ affairs, no longer speaking of vengeance. I believe they are genuinely afraid. Lord Viperbane and Lord Skyveil have


    uprooted their families and fled to the Minds.”


    “They fled?” vin was surprised. He had expected Lord Viperbane and Lord Skyveil to seek an alliance with other royal households for revenge.


    After all, their power was formidable, and with Archmages still within their Organization, along with numerous other mages, they could muster a


    significant force


    "They know to avoid your de and preserve their strength,” Balder exined. "Those of Lord Falconcrest are no fools. Were they to seek Lord


    Falconcrest''s aid for revenge? They would swallow you whole in due time.”


    "Minds," vin repeated, chuckling. He had been nning to explore the Minds after settling matters in the Nortnds, to join an expedition to


    the Luminous Sanctuary and meet the talents from other realms. Now, it seemed two fierce Lords had already taken residence there. No doubt, as


    soon as he set foot in the Minds, they would be ready to pounce.


    "What is it?"


    "Nothing much. Has the Blessed Citadel responded?"


    "The Blessed Citadel''s delegation stayed at the Ster Precepts for a few days before departing.”


    “Didn''t the Ster Precepts Commander kill one of their Elders?"


    "It was an idental death; he''d


    surely find a way to reconcile the


    matter. The Nortnds are ina


    delicate staté now, and the Ster —


    Preceptgdnce the foremost a


    Organization, is now isted. They


    >)


    can aly seek help from the Blessed


    Citade , which has been yeaining to


    centrol the Ster Precepts for


    years. Both sides have mutual goals,


    and this might be their


    opportunity—it''s a matter of who can


    use whom."


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Balder saw the truth clearly. After


    this incident, the remaining three


    Lords would band together more


    tightly, and a Rew alliance of five


    Organizations would form. The


    Ster Precepts had suddenly ~


    betthe weakest fromthe <=


    strongést, and unless they could”


    takecsontrol of the Skyborne I Rivers


    the Hidden Essence, they had to


    s€ek other allies. The Blessed


    Citadel was an excellent choice; it all


    hinged on their negotiations. If they


    agreed, the Ster Precepts would


    be the Blessed Citadel''s w


    and fang in the Nortnds. If not,


    the Ster Precepts would do


    everything in their power to control


    the Skyborne Rivers and the Hidden


    Essence.


    +


    "Awake, are you?" E pushed the


    door open, her vibrant and youthful


    charm immediately filling the room


    with color. Hep stunning figure and


    alluring persona made the entire XN


    chamberséem more lively. Her ~


    radiantface seemed a masterpiece


    crafted by the heavens themselves,


    and Her rosy lips curved intesa


    subile, enticing smile. Herattire


    today was modest by her usual


    standards, not as revealing as it


    often was, yet her thin garments


    could scarcely conceal her seductive


    curves. Her ample bosom, slender


    waist, and long, shapely legs exuded


    an astonishing allure. Content


    belongs to swnovel.ne