《Reincarnated as incubus: I didn't mean to seduce you!》 Chapter 1: Reincarnated as an Incubus, Show Your Real Skills in the Game World [Location: Bell Federation - Duchy of Yibel - Border of Lancaster Territory] Ning Ruyu felt a severe headache. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om In a daze, he could still hear someone urgently shouting beside him. "Young Master, wake up, weve arrived at the Lancaster Territory." Ning Ruyu reluctantly opened his eyes, drowsily looking at the old man in front of him. A crisp white shirt, ck vest and bow tie, a neatly pressed tailcoat, straight ck trousers, and shiny ck leather shoes. His hair was meticulouslybed, and his posture was always upright. A strict and serious old housekeeper. This was Ning Ruyus first impression of the old man. "Young Master Kael, were almost at the Lancaster Territory. You can start preparing to get off the carriage." Newly awakened, Ning Ruyu slowly rose from the carriage seat cushion, rubbed his temples, and the chaotic memories in his mind, which had been sorted out through the night, were finally thoroughly absorbed. A jumble of thoughts and the stabbing pain in his brain intertwined... I am Ning Ruyua professional yer of the next-generation virtual online game "Gate of the Netherworld," under the guild "Strange Power Chaos God." I am Kael.D.Heloisa Mixed Blood Incubus in the Human Kingdoms Bell Federation, Duchy of Yibel, who, due to insufficient legitimacy, was fleeing to his fathers fief. At this moment, two became one. It felt like a damn dream! He tightly clutched the corner of his clothes, his slender fingers showing a bit of unhealthiness, his face pale like cold jade. He had to ept one thing: he... had transmigrated! Transmigrated into the number one work of the Human Federations virtual game leaderboard, "Gate of the Netherworld," back to before the gameunched. However, after a whole night of crammed memories, when he stood up, he felt his brain buzzing and terribly aching. Before transmigrating, he had been leading the core members of the guild in an all-night battle against another nation. As a result, their allied guild had an unexpected incident, causing a massive group wipe that caught them off guard. The pain from the death penalty mechanism and the frustration from their unreliable allies made his body suddenly grow cold. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself transmigrated. Kael frowned, a memory of Old White surfacing in his mind. Old White was the old housekeeper his father, Anthony.D.Charles, had taken from the family before leaving. This old housekeeper had served Anthony since he was a child. Now that Anthony had a son, his service had extended to Kael. The original body was naturally weak, and with Anthonys job in the strongest legion of the Duchy, the "Lion Heart Battle Group," he often had heavy tasks and seldom returned home. Therefore, Old White, who had watched Kael grow up and cared deeply about him, handled most of Kaels daily needs. Transmigrating into "Gate of the Netherworld," he didnt know whether it was fortunate or unfortunate. It was fortunate in one wayhis original bodys status was neither too high nor too low. Although he was an illegitimate child and had Incubus blood, which was poorly regarded among humans, he had a loving baron father who ensured he had no worries about food and clothing and wasnt much bullied. But the unfortunate things were numerous. The grand background of "Gate of the Netherworld" was far from a peaceful era. Not to mention the natives, even the yers faced countless hardships, living like ordinary NPCs re-spawning in and of suffering every day. Getting killed repeatedly by NPCs at the resurrection point over a chicken they had killed was normal. Let alone seeking a haven of peace as chaos descended upon the world, which was incredibly difficult. Of course, if it were just that, Kael might not have been so troubled. His biggest issue now was that his father, who shielded him from the wind and rain, was probably gone. Thinking of this, he looked up at Old White and asked in a low voice, "Grandpa White, what is the situation with Father now?" Old White had hurriedly awakened Kaelst night, brought the coachman and maids overnight, spent over 200 demon crystals, used the Mage Associations teleportation array to travel to the border city, bought horses, carriages, and led the group out of the citysurely something major had happened. Until now, the loyal old housekeepers expression only rxed slightly. Obviously, the problem was with his father, who had been missing for two nights. Hearing his young masters question, Old White said, "Were already close to the Lancaster Territory. The problem shouldnt be too big. Are you confused about why we are rushing to Master Anthonys fiefdom overnight?" "Yes... Weve been hurrying along without a proper rest, its impossible not to worry." What kind of reason necessitated the immediate return of a nobles only heir to his fathers fiefdom? Kael had his suspicions. Old White nodded, lowering his voice, "The other day, Master Anthony sent a secret letter through someone. It said that the Lion Heart Battle Group had received intelligence about traces of an Evil God ritual in a nearby town, so he led a team to investigate. Before leaving, Master Anthony was worried about the danger of the mission and the possibility of not returning. Concerned that you might be bullied in the Royal Capital and couldnt take care of yourself, he asked me to bring you back to the fiefdom to wait for an opportunity." Kael slightly frowned, then chuckled a momentter, "I suppose thats not all, is it?" Old White didnt hide anything and nodded, "It is indeed also rted to the Charles family. The Earl Rezhe has always harbored ill feelings towards you. If Master Anthony is alright, then all is well." Thinking of some troubling matters, Old Whites face became even more serious, "But if an ident happens, Master Anthony cannot trust your safety to the mercy of those family members." Chapter 2 - 1: Reincarnated as an Incubus, Show Your Real Skills in the Game World_2 "Leaving the Royal Capital first and returning to the territory is the best choice for you," Old White sighed and shook his head. The young master was naturally a likable child, but Count Rezhe never listened to others exnations. If it werent so, Count Rezhe wouldnt have parted ways with the Lord years ago. If the Lord couldnt return, staying in the Royal Capital would not only prevent Kael from inheriting the Barons title but also endanger Kaels safety. Even sending professionals in secret to kill the young master was something Old White could never ept. In contrast, returning to the Lancaster Territory, far from the storms center, provided more opportunities to maneuver. But young master Kaels health... s, this matter was still full of trouble! ... Kael had no idea what Old White was thinking. Now, dragging his sick body, he felt like he had rested for a long time during the journey, yet still couldnt regain his energy. Inparison, the threat from the Charles family had to be put on the backburner. After all, he considered himself knowledgeable. The nners of "Gate to the Underworld" always liked to let loose, and the chaotic era after the yers descended presented dangers even greater than this. Left and right, it was just a fight. The Fourth Cmity had always been like this. Whenever they couldnt figure out the plot and skipped it in one click, the tone rapidly escted to a very intense level. "I dont know who I am, I dont know where this is, I just know I want a killing spree. jpg" Thinking about the freewheeling yer lifestyle, his sense of crisis was slightly suppressed. He extended a hand to lift the carriage curtain, seeing fields of wheat, farms, and babbling brooks. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om As the carriage advanced, more popted areas and short buildings gradually appeared. Kael knew that his fathers fief, the Lancaster Territory, was near. ... Outside the carriage, after a neigh from the horse, the previously swaying carriage gradually slowed down, "Young master, weve arrived. After such a long journey, you should rest early today." Old White knelt on one knee on the cushion, extending a hand to support the weak Kael. Perhaps due to the integration of Kaels memories, his state was now an intertwining blend of both identities. He wasnt ufortable with Old Whites actions, allowing him to assist in getting off the carriage. The carriage stopped in front of an elegant manor. Beyond the tulip garden in the courtyard, a long-unpruned stretch of lush greenery could be seen. The surroundings were decent. Once the servants tidied up the room, the extremely fatigued Kael, after having a simple meal, hurriedly went to the room to rest. He needed a sufficiently private space to sort through the information. From the original bodys memories, he knew it was currently the year 778 of the Shenhua Calendar. If the yers were to descend as per his memory, then in about a year, he would encounter the Fourth Cmity. Speaking of which, having crossed into the game now, would the yers truly descend? Ning Ruyu shook his head, not delving further into this question. Regardless of whether they descended or not, it was wise to prepare. He meticulously searched his memory and locked onto key event timelines in the games early stages. Currently, the Human Kingdom--Yibel Federation stood at the cusp of the Age of Exploration, with the New World having just been discovered not long ago. The Federation Naval Expeditionary Fleet had just set sail from thergest port in the Duchy of Inglis, with members sailing westward into the mysterious sea. The Holy Maria, the Mayflower, and the Victory Goddess, imed to be thergest sailing ships in human history, were among them. Freighters plied the seven seas, and the ve trade thrived. The Seven Kingdoms Navy had not yet evolved into legitimate plundering ships as it would inter generations. On the once-dominant Western Sea Fleet, the sound of irond steamships reverberated through the deep water port. This era was a blend of ignorance and civilization. If the yers were to arrive as history had set, then the spark of change would be thoroughly ignited by these reckless Fourth Cmity yers. He let out a soft sigh. "Another national war campaign. Its no big deal, just lose yourself." Having reincarnated into the game and bing a mixed blood Incubus wasnt too bad. At the very least, he could take advantage of the informational edge before the yers descended. When the yers did descend, he would emte the tactics of "Scavenge Master" Old Han, striving to be an era protagonist, rather than being punched to death by the Fourth Cmity. If things could go that way... As everyone knows, "if" means theres no if. Standing by the window, he subconsciously flicked his third "hand"--a slender, flesh-colored tail emerged from his back, with the heart-shaped membrane at the end slightly twitching. Turning in front of the mirror, the twitching little tail made a soft pping sound. It was pretty cute, made him want to... Grab it! A subtle electrical sensation spread from the tip of the tail, climbing up his spine to his brain. He let out a muffled groan. Not good, the sound was a bit seductive! But was it truly reincarnation? "Gate to the Underworld" had arrived at the perfect time. The Human Federation allowed yers over 16 to adjust the green blood to real red, but one thing was off limits. That was legitimate eroticism! If one attempted it, the game screen would automatically turn into a mosaic and holy light,pletely nullifying the tactile sensations felt duringbat. If you yed too wildly, you might even be kicked offline directly. The subtle stimtion after caressing an Incubus tail... he could faintly hum through his nose. Chapter 3 - 1: Reincarnated as an Incubus, Show Your Real Skills in the Game World_3 That feeling couldnt possibly exist within the game! Before long, he felt his body bing even weaker. As he fretted over his frail physique, a clear prompt suddenly sounded. "Vitality Value -1" "Warning, Incubus bloodline awakening entering the second stage, no foreign vitality value obtained, continuously drawing from own vitality..." The systems still here? A glimmer of joy shed in Kaels eyes. "Open personal panel!" An ancient scroll quietly unfolded. ...Personal Panel... Name, Kael.D.Helois/Ning Ruyu (Spirit and Flesh Fusion in Progress) Gender, Male Race, Human??Incubus?Unknown Bloodline? Anchor, Version 1.0 [Chaos of Factions] Open Beta Countdown: 299 days Level, 1 Profession, [Main Profession - Magician LV1 (41/1000)] [Secondary Profession, None] Free Attribute Points, 0 Health Points, 77/1500 (The lower the health points, the closer to death) Vitality Value, 3/110 (Vitality value is akin to stamina; the lower it is, the harder it is to move) Mana Points, 50/400 (For different professions, mana points represent different energies) Attributes, Strength 1.1, Agility 2.3, Endurance 1.1, Perception 3.0, Intelligence 2.2, Will 0.7 (Strength determines the amount of force exerted; Agility determines reaction speed; Endurance determines the duration ofbat and vitality value; Perception determines the ability to observe the surrounding environment; Intelligence determines spellcasting strength and somewhat affects skill learning speed; unrted to wisdom or ability to handle affairs; Will is rted to the steadfastness of ones beliefs) Specialties/Passive Section: [Moderate Charm] - Your temperament and appearance significantly improve (As the saying goes, eye candy, and you are certainly the main dish on the table) [Magic Affinity LV2] - Your sensitivity to Magic Energy increases (Ah, no, thats not a ce for Magic Energy to touch) Skill Bar: [Sweet Fragrance] - The Incubuss tail can spray a hallucinogenic sweet scent (Maybe you can think of it as perfume, try marinating yourself) n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om [Energy Drain] - When you use your tail tounch an attack, sessfully feeding can drain the opponents vitality value, reducing their mobility and dismantling their will to resist (Every enemy facing an Incubus will despair, finding that the more they struggle, the more they are ensnared by the Incubuss cage, unable to extricate themselves) [Tail Injection] - Using the heart-shaped tail to inject special magical substance, there is a certain chance to dismantle the opponents resistance and randomly cause "Strong Hallucination/Sensory Enhancement/Rationality Burning" buffs (It is said that the Subus Queen once told the Witch Queen, "The witchs taste is quite nice," and the Witch Queen blushed) [Greasy Technique] - Can designate a specific area to create a slippery zone, hindering the opponents attacks (In special settings, it can save additional expenses) [Water Gun Shock] - Release a high-speed jet of water to repel the opponent (You havent quite mastered Water Gun Shock yet) [Freezing Aura] - Freeze the surrounding 2m or the 10m range in front (I think you should cool your head first) Evaluation, A mixed-blood incubus refusing to drain others vitality, in bloodline ascension struggled to resist instinct, chose to bite its own neck with its little tail to absorb vitality, a foolish act that affected the bloodlines advancement and continues to devour your life force and energy. ... Seeking collection, rmendation votes, monthly votes, all sorts of requests, a newbie on the road, much attention and care needed, the book has been internally reviewed, status will change soon, those looking to invest and earn can make a move now. Chapter 4 - 2: The Possibility of Tears Behind Bars The next day. After spending the whole night researching the game panel, Kael was almost sealed by his nket until noon. Thank goodness, the game panel from "Gate of the Netherworld" was still there! And from the information received from the system, it seemed that the arrival of those idiotic yers wasnt far off. I just didnt know if the unique power-raising methods of the yers had changed. However, the evaluation from the game panel had many points that could be criticized. In short, the original bodys death could be summed up as... Not willing to have fun with others, deciding to have fun alone, losing control, and dying from excessive fun! No wonder I was so weak now, the rapid development period after the awakening of my bloodline required a lot of high-quality essence to supplement the bloodlines advancement. As a result, the original body refused to absorb others essence and instead suffered the drawbacks of bloodline advancement, ending up with many internal injuries. It would be a miracle if it wasnt weak! By the time I went downstairs, Old White had already prepared lunch in the kitchen. Just when Kael was leisurely enjoying the decadence of the nobility, he suddenly heard a somewhat familiar roar from outside. "Its a griffin," Old White said to Kael. "Young master, Ill go take a look. Please stay in the living room and dont move." After speaking, he turned and left. Kaels expression was subtle, feeling as if he was being taken advantage of. Within two minutes, Old White came back and said softly, "Its Lord Fox from the Bronze Cross with some business. Young master, please go to the inner room to change your clothes." Upon hearing this, Kael found it odd. After all, besides temple worship days and harvest festivals, he barely saw anyone from the Lionheart Knights. The Lionheart Battle Group was divided by function into the Bronze Cross guarding the city-states, the Iron Cross waging war against external enemies, and the Golden Cross protecting the lord. The most elite and loyal members would be promoted to the Royal Capital, bing the core strength of the Lionheart Battle Group - the Glory Knights. Foxs Bronze Cross and his fathers Iron Cross didnt have much contact; in the Royal Capital, Fox had never visited his home. If it werent for Kaels good memory, remembering his father mentioning this person in his early years, he wouldnt even recall his name. Todays sudden visit must mean something serious had happened. Thinking of this, Kael quickly stood up and went to the inner room to change clothes. In the inner room, in front of the full-length mirror. He changed into a clean mages robe and hung an old leather-bound book by his side. The reflection in the mirror showed a somewhat haggard beauty. That handsome face had a pair of bright eyes asionally shing with a thoughtful look. He subconsciously touched his cheek. The beautiful figure in the mirror gently held up his cheek, looking somewhat puzzled. So good-looking, truly worthy of me! While changing, he thought back on the information about the Lionheart Battle Group, frowning slightly. As the violent force of this duchy and thergestwful power in this federation, the Lionheart Knights with their griffins were never friendly towards the evil gods and the races often associated with them. As a mixed-blood incubus, if he fell into their hands aftermitting some wrongdoing, it would be very likely that he would be killed outright. No wonder he felt guilty; in his past life, when in the game, Kael had chosen to be a demon and had faced them a few times. Were they here to deal with me? Impossible, absolutely impossible! Kael dismissed this option without hesitation. Although he didnt know how his father, bound by the Lionheart Knights treaty, had gotten involved with an incubus. And he didnt understand how the public trialmittee of the duchy that always excluded abyss creatures had allowed a mixed-blood incubus into the Royal Capital. Nor did he get how the Secret Scroll Mage Academy in the Royal Capital dared to admit an abyss child with disqualified political screening into an institution cultivating elite federation mages. In any case, they were all his people, so he should be reassured.... What a joke! Wasnt this just a temte for the death of the son of a big shot in the Federation Army, caught in a scandal of power and sex, being ced in a prestigious school through illegal channels? If this was found out, wouldnt he face execution a hundred times over? n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om No, he might not evenst until the execution! After all, with such an enchanting appearance, he would end up as the main course if he entered prison. What would happen if those inmates targeted him? He wouldnt risk his safety to test those criminals self-control. Thinking of this, as he walked towards the living room, his eyes became stern. Should he attempt to kill them preemptively? But... given the average level of LV12 of the Lionheart Battle Group, trying to kill them preemptively would be difficult! Difficult! Difficult! Wouldnt he die even before starting his mission? No, he had to find a way to deceive this person! He recalled the original Kaels memories and subconsciously sighed in relief. Thankfully, ording to the original Kaels memories, he had never preyed on humans, except for himself. At least in terms of behavior, he was innocent regarding the duchys regtions. Really, using an incubus heart-shaped tail to bite himself, draining his own energy, and trying to suppress the bloodlines advancement instinct... Good idea, maybe in the next life! Left with this terrible body, he had no means to resist the Lionheart Knights. Instead of thinking about killing them, he should consider how to gain their favor and avoid the possibility of an unknown imprisonment. With these anxious thoughts, Kael left the inner room. At the door, Old White stood waiting. Seeing that Kael hadnt moved for a while, he asked with concern, "Young master, are you alright?" Kael shook his head and said, "Grandpa White, Im fine. Go make some tea for our guest. Even though my father left the family years ago, we shouldnt forget our noble etiquette." Old White nodded and smiled, saying, "Young master Kael, the tea is already brewed and ced in the tea room. Ill bring it over shortly." Kael nodded. At this moment, downstairs in the reception hall. Fox exuded a cold and serious aura. This first-ss Glory Knight of the Lionheart Battle Group was contemting how to inform a child about his fathers death. He sighed softly, hearing light footsteps in the hallway, and straightened his chest. When Fox looked up, he saw a young man in a mages robe walking over slowly, stopping before him, and making a mages salute: "Are you Uncle Fox of the Fourth Bronze Cross? Your sudden visit caught us unprepared. We only have some tea and snacks to offer. I apologize for theck of hospitality." Beside them, Old White brought the tea and snacks, cing them beside Fox and Kael, and poured tea for them. Foxs calm and deep gaze focused on the young man, feeling surprised. He thought, no wonder this mixed-blood incubus looked so handsome and pleasing to the eye. Even wearing a simple mages robe, the youths cold features and natural courtesy were evident, and he called out his name at first sight. Just based on this first impression, Foxs strong-mindedness couldnt help but mitigate some of his bias towards the incubus. This only made it more difficult for him to speak, and his guilt grew. He sighed and said, "Your father, Anthony.D.Charles, led an army to encircle the Evil God yesterday and died in the wilderness. I came today to inform you and return Anthonys Holy Sanctuary Core." Chapter 5 - 3: Bad News, the Trust of the Holy Sanctuary Crystal Kael froze for a moment. Despite being prepared, hearing the news so suddenly left his mind nk. It took him a while toe back to his senses... After all, the two were intertwined, inseparable. For a moment, his already weakened body felt a pang in his heart. The teacup he was holding fell instantly, caught mid-air by Foxs outstretched hand. A few drops of tea spilled as Fox ced the cup on the table and turned away silently, knowing that the child was heartbroken. But he wasnt good atforting others. Seeing the young man not speak for a long time, he felt uneasy, wishing he would either shout or burst into tears. Instead, it was this silent, speechless atmosphere that was most torturous. Recalling everything about his father, amidst the bitterness, Kael remembered something else. Anthony.D.Charles... The surname Charles was rare, tracing back to the ruler of the Duchy of Engnce, the legendary Lionheart Duke. On thend of Lancaster, the descendants of the Lionheart Duke were the undisputed privileged ss. Besides the direct line of the duchy dukes, the Charles family was among the top traditional nobles. A major problem, the worst oue! If it were an ordinary family, it wouldnt matter. But based on Kaels knowledge of these traditional nobles from the game, this group of staunch defenders of bloodlines was more hostile to illegitimate children than one might imagine. Not to mention that Anthony bore the title of a hereditary baron... Dont underestimate the nobility of a baron. Though the hierarchy went duke, marquis, earl, viscount, baron, a baron was indeed the lowest, but below a baron were five ranks of royal knights. These ten tiersbined formed the ruling ss of the Yibel Federation. When his father was around, no one dared say anything, but now... it might lead to manyplications due to this position. Thinking of this, more ideas formed in his mind. Though it was somewhat despicable, to survive better, slyly using the advantages of being an incubus was not shameful... After a while, Kael raised his pale face, forced a smile, and said, "Sorry, hearing the news shocked me. Uncle Fox, you know, Father was often busy outside and rarely came home. You just called Anthony directly, and I didnt even react in time. Truly an embarrassment to Father." The moderate charm inherent in his incubus bloodline made him seem even more delicate and fragile. That teetering look softened Foxs heart once again. How could a son remember an outsiders name but forget his fathers? It was just an excuse to avoid pity from others. "Thats not true. Anthony always saw you as his pride." "Pride?" Kael took a deep breath and continued, "Father, was he brave on the battlefield up there?" Foxs breath caught, feeling as if his heart was coated withyers of cement, making it hard to breathe. His chest heaved, a mixture of pain and guilt crossing his mind. What kind of character could say such words? In thatplex moment, his voice trembled as he gently grasped Kaels shoulder and said: "Your father was very brave. He was a lionheart knight without a doubt, and the Iron Cross and Lion Heart Battle Group took pride in him!" "Then he indeed fulfilled his duty to Saint Engnce." Kael nodded, seemingly disinterested in continuing the conversation. But a thought shed through Foxs mind: But he didnt fulfill his duty as this childs father. Yes, there was only one father, and now there was nothing. This heavy atmosphere felt like being choked, making it impossible to speak. After a long while, Fox rasped: "Before your fathers death, he left his Holy Sanctuary Core for you, hoping you would absorb it and inherit the honor of him and the Charles family. Child, the bloodline of an incubus doesnt prove your heart leans toward evil. A brave and fearless heart like gold is the proof of your humanity! You have done well in this." Kaels worries eased slightly, knowing that he had passed this ordeal with the Lionheart Knight. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om But upon hearing "Holy Sanctuary Core," he couldnt help but feel his heart skip a beat. In the original memories, he wasnt very aware of how strong his father Anthony was. After all, he was a magician, and Anthony wouldnt deliberately show his strength in front of his weak son. But a Holy Sanctuary Core could onlye from a Holy Sanctuary warrior. The professions had different titles based on their levels. LV1-10 were initial practitioners; LV11-20 were transcendent practitioners; LV21-30 were Holy Sanctuary practitioners; ... Even in the Lion Heart Battle Group, which was filled with strong warriors, a Holy Sanctuary warrior was undoubtedly a key figure. The most crucial part was that a Holy Sanctuary Core was the essence of power condensed within a Holy Sanctuary practitioner, equivalent to the source of their power. This item, in the game "Gate of the Lower Realm," was also known to yers as a "high-level experience stone," which could be used aspensation for casting some forbidden techniques or as a material for bloodline or level advancement. Even by theter 9.4 version, it was still a very rare high-level item. Seeing Kael remain silent, Fox patted his shoulder and said, "We know you have never fed on human essence since birth, not even on cattle and sheep blood. Your father left the Holy Sanctuary Core, probably to ease the pain of your bloodline instincts. Dont overthink it; the Holy Sanctuary Core is not essence but is superior to essence. Replenish your body, live well, and do not betray your fathers intentions." After speaking, Fox took out a blood-red crystal from the inneryer of his armor and gently ced it in Kaels hand. Kael tightly gripped the crystal, feeling the small stone as heavy as a thousand pounds, his mindplicated. Fox gently hugged him and said, "Your Uncle Fox has limited abilities, but if you return to the Royal Capital, you are wee to visit my home. Lets use the time to bond as uncle and nephew. As for the territory, I will speak with themander. Those who sacrifice for order should not leave their children cold-hearted." Kael nodded in agreement, and Fox stood up and left. After Kael walked him to the door and turned away, Fox took out a cigarette from the inside of his armor, lit it, and puffed on it for a while, his expression unpleasant. He remembered what had happened early this morning. ... In the Duchy of Engnce, to the south of the Royal Capital, a giant building stood majestically. The locals called it the "White Bone Christmas Tree," legend having it that the first Lionheart Duke of Engnce, during the founding of the nation, killed a Titan Giant that disturbed the borders, melting its bones with arge amount of alloy to create the giant marvel. Branches extended from its spine, with two-meter-high ss panes affixed to them, making up the main body of the structure. Because it used special paint, the building emitted a blue phosphorescent glow at night, appearing like a conical white skeleton structure floating in mid-air. Cold and harsh, much like the Lion Heart Battle Group that existed within the White Bone Christmas Tree, representing their absolute dominance over their domain. Suddenly, a fierce wind blew at night, and a manticore d in armor, bearing a Lionheart Knight dressed in beast bone armor, slowly descended with pping wings. As the knights feet touched the ground, it seemed as if all strength left him, and he knelt on the ground. Chapter 6 - 4: A Qualified Father, A Qualified Knight (Extra for the First Wild Recommendation Vote) "Cough, cough~" A heavy cough echoed inside the helmet. The three nearby Lionheart Knights immediately surrounded him. The leader ced his finger on the magic energy rifle at his waist, gazing down at hisrade without any intention of helping him up. N?v(el)B\\jnn "Anthony, where are the others who went to eradicate the Evil Gods seed?" He drew his weapon from his waist. "... " "Anthony?" The muzzle of the magic energy rifle lifted, aimed at his formerrade. "The eradication failed. They~ cough, cough were corrupted." "And you?" "I brought back the intelligence, the information is..." his voice was full of pain. His body suddenly convulsed. One of the nearby Lionheart Knights stepped forward, the cold light of a charged armor-piercing spike glinting in his hand. Suddenly, a burst of electric light exploded from Anthonys helmet, and before his pained screams could escape, an Iron Fist mped onto his head and smashed it into the ground violently. The armor-piercing spike crashed directly into his body, nailing him to the ground. The leaders magic energy rifle fired instantly, emptying a whole magazine in a burst, and 24 chained explosive shots turned Anthonys chest to mush. The white cloak was stained red with sttered blood. With one hand, he gripped Anthonys helmet, pulling it off, revealing his chaotic long hair and the twisted, crimson face underneath. The excessive electric current left a faint smell of cooked meat. "Stage three Evil God corruption. The safeguard fuse of the evil detection rune has burned out, which indicates that Anthonys mental corruption exceeded his threshold and caused irreversible changes to his soul... he was beyond saving." He removed the recording crystal from Anthonys waist and inserted it into the reader on his wrist. The recording crystal could capture battle scenes for a period, and with the mage-crafted reader, one could quickly ess the recorded intelligence. It was standard equipment for the Lion Heart Battle Groups official members. A few minutester, he removed the recording crystal and sighed. Fox looked serious: "The eradication failed?" The leader shook his head: "No, Anthony and the others seeded. Before the Lionheart Duke arrived, the hatched Exotic Realm Evil God had been sent backat the cost of the entire 11th Iron Cross Legions death." The knight holding the armor-piercing nail gun muttered, "ording to the Lionheart Knight Treaty, upon realizing potential contamination, he shouldnt have returned to the territory; he shouldve waited in ce for processing." "Because of his child..." "Hmm?" "The child the Incubus brought over, now working as a librarian at the Secret Academy of Magic." "No wonder..." Fox sighed, "If he had stayed in ce until the evil transformation erupted, his Holy Sanctuary Core would have been directly corrupted. Coming back to let us kill him ensures that at least something is left for that little Incubus he was a good father." The knight ced his hand on Anthonys chest, digging in forcefully. The skin, tougher than leather, was torn apart, and he extracted a thumb-sized, smooth crystal stained with corrupted blood. That was Anthonys Holy Sanctuary Core. After a moment of thought, he took the recording crystal from the captains hand, bent down, and took the Lionheart Battle Group insignia from Anthonys body. "He was also a worthy knight. Go, Fox, give these to that kid and let him absorb them as soon as possible..." "Wait. Captain, what about you? Where are you going?" The captain drew the bolt, reloading the magic energy rifle with a tube of magic bullets: "I really feel like killing today, especially those Evil God believers." His blood-stained cloak rustled in the high-altitude wind. Turning his head while facing away, he said: "Fox, you need to safely deliver Anthonys Holy Sanctuary Core to that kid." "What was his name again?" "Kael, Kael.D.Helois, a good kid." ... Memory Divider ... "A good kid?" Foxs face, shrouded in smoke, showed a displeased expression. He had a general aversion to beings like Incubi. He was aware that within the Lion Heart Battle Group, some younger knights didnt favor the groups rules and often frequented the red-light district of themercial street. Elves who boast "eternal charm," "wild" kemonomimi; those were childs y inparison. Humanoid monsters with barely any reason, fangs, and ws; it was said that "Furry" type orcs were trending among certain circles currently. Even Incubi, considered the embodiment of desire As long as they could make money, it wasnt out of the question. Thinking of this, a thought crossed his mind In terms of normal human aesthetics, hybrid Incubi, with their high attractiveness and human-like body structure, actually met human standards even more. Especially in these recent years, with the increasingly peculiar trends among some nobles. Now that Lord Anthony has died, considering the Earl of the Charles familys attitude and the Lancaster Territorys location on the Federation border No, he needed to find time to warn that kid, just in case. After all, given the character of those behind-the-scenes big ve traders in the red-light district, the rarer and more profitable the breed, the more they sought to acquire it. Even if it meant risking execution, but with a thousand percent profit, burning rationality and morality was a non-issue for them. Not to mention, once they had the backing of the nobles, targeting a "dirty hybrid Incubus" in the eyes of the high nobility cleared their path. Never measure those driven by profit with normal human standards. If they knew, someone would undoubtedly shout: "You only lose your life; I lose my chance to cozy up to the high nobility!" Even in the Lion Heart Battle Group, which upheld order and justice, there were candidate Lionheart Knights who frequented particr establishments to satisfy themselves with Incubi or even indulge in abusive acts. Fox often didnt hesitate to assume the worst of others, but upon seeing the kid Kael, his hidden dissatisfaction with Abyss creatures was repressed. Had he been charmed by the kids Incubus bloodline? Fox knew he hadnt. The kids aura was pure, as rumored within the battle group. He probably hadnt even drawn energy from others, let alone killed anyone. He frowned. Recently, there were rumors within the battle group, spreading tales of how Anthony leveraged his standing in the Charles family to secure benefits for the hybrid Incubus who shouldve been killed outright. Thinking about it now, something felt off. Was someone targeting Anthony? Or was it the Charles family behind Anthony? Meanwhile. In another ce, Kael sat in the living room, a shadow passing through his eyes. Anthony.D.Charles, the individual, he shouldnt have heard this name when he was still a yer. But the Charles family... he did have some memory. It was unforgettable. Because the 1.0 versions main storyline in the "Gate of the Netherworld" game began with a yer epting a Royal Secret Agent mission, investigating the Lionheart Duke branchCharles family. As a descendant of high nobility, the Charles family held a special status in the Duchy of Yngns, backed by the Lionheart Duke, the real power holder of the duchy. They thrived in the duchys social circles. But as more hidden secrets were revealed and exposed by yers, the Ibel Federations royal family issued an edict to confiscate the Charles familys property, dragging the entire Duchy of Yngns into the Federations turmoil. Even veteran yers couldnt help but mention the downfall of the Charles family to neers when discussing the games plot. Their status indeed paralleled the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife by Serbian youths during World War I, triggering widespread chaos. Short-term, he foresaw an impending sh between the Charles family and himself. Long-term, the Charles family, gued by internal corruption, would eventually face the royal familys wrath, potentially implicating him. No, he couldnt stay idle! He had to find a way to secure enough time to grow. Fortunately, he had distanced himself from the capital and earned the support of Fox Knight, who promised to back his im as the territorys legitimate heir. But he didnt know how long that promise would hold. Without improving his own strength, holding the territory and title would remain a challenge. Chapter 7 - 5: Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river... Sorry, wrong set. Moreover, it was necessary to make two more preparations, finding a way to distance themselves from the Charles family. In the games future storyline, the event of the Charles family being judged involved a vast range, with many small families that depended on the Charles family being affected and declining. Some were even eradicated along the way! Although Kaels father seldom mentioned his family, Kael knew from his original memories that Anthony and Count Rezhe were brothers. At this thought, he felt a big "danger" symbol appear above his head. Did you think Kael was fearing the Federation? No, he feared the yers who would descend in 299 days! It was because he was once a member of the Fourth Cmity that he knew how terrifying the Fourth Cmity was to NPCs. Terrifying upright apes had fought beasts for a hundred thousand years, had ughtered each other for ten thousand years, and their brutal nature had long been ingrained in their souls. When they became the Undead in the game, who knew how many crazies were among them. Perhaps because Kael had been sitting in the living room for too long, Old White stood behind him, quietly watching his young master in low spirits, and simply refilled his empty teacup with tea. "Young Master Kael, its time for your nap. Rest early. Mr. Anthony wouldnt want to see you like this." Old Whites voice was very gentle. Kael turned around to look at Old White, seeing him standing behind him wanting to say something but saying nothing, suppressed his anxiety, and asked: "Grandpa White, do you have something to say to me?" Old White said: "Indeed, there is something I want to discuss with you, young master." He walked into the tea room, brewed a fresh pot of hot tea, and was about to pour it for Kael. But Kael took the teapot from him, let him sit down, poured him a cup of tea, and said: "Grandpa White, sit down and have some tea first. Slowly tell me what you want to say." Then he sat down. Old White didnt mind. He just said: "Young Master Kael, youve be more mature since you went to the academy." Kael forced a smile and said: "Grandpa White, youve watched me grow up. Its only right to pour you a cup of tea." Old White took a sip of tea and softly sighed, as if reminiscing about something: "If Mr. Anthony were still alive and saw how much better youve be, he would certainly be very pleased." Kael sighed: "Unfortunately, theres no chance for that anymore. Sigh..." Old White was silent for a moment, then hesitated and said: "The old master had thought that since you were almost an adult and had few friends, he had arranged a marriage for you. Originally, he nned to confirm the marriage contract and gather some of the elders for a banquet in another estate when the camellias bloomed next spring, hoping having a fiance would change your introverted nature." Kael was surprised: "There was such a thing?" Old White nodded, took out a small wooden box made of the rare Downworld tree species Red Copper Wood, unique to The Gates of Below, with a finely carved hollow lion pattern and a small Sapphire iid in the eyes of the lion. Kael hesitated, then took the box. A roaring lion pattern, indeed, it was the Charles family. The Charles family was originally a branch of the ruling Lionheart family of Ennd. In essence, they were the same lineage as the current main family of the Lion Heart House. Both the main family and the branch family used the roaring lion crest. The only difference was that the main familys lion eyes used Rubies, symbolizing bloodlust, while the Charles branch used polished Sapphire. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om He opened the box, took out the Beast Skin Scroll inside, and unrolled it to take a look. "Lady nna Newman, the only daughter of Baron Newman?" Kaels expression grew strange. His old father really had been too good to him. For someone like him, with a mother who wasnt a noble marriage and was even an enemy Incubus, the child born would be considered lower than a bastard by rights. Yet, the arranged marriage was with a legitimate nobles only daughter. Such favor could be called extraordinary. In the Bell Federation, titles of Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron, even the lowest Baron was an unreachable existence for the ordinary Knight ss. "But, considering the current situation where father has passed away, it would be normal for Baron Newman to want to go back on the marriage. Its likely going to be a story of Three decades east of the river, three decades west." He tried to recall Baron Newman. In his original memories, the Baron seemed to be a rising star among the new Nobles but just a rising star at that... Compared to his current status in noble circles, his daughter at the Royal Knight Academy had a good reputation among young wealthy men, being exceptionally talented and rumored to be a rare beauty. Beautiful as she was, in Kaels current situation, trying to force this would probably bring trouble. Beauty causing trouble was a real possibility in an era without cosmetic surgery. But if Kael were to let his fiance be someone elses bride, thinking about it it was quite unpleasant. It wasnt about love, just possessiveness, a basic human nature. Old White said softly: "Before the old master passed, he prepared an engagement ceremony for it. Young Master Kael, now that theres unrest within the family, everything was fine while the old master was around. But now, its hard to guarantee that no one will have sinister thoughts. I still suggest you visit Baron Newmans ce tomorrow, secure the engagement, and distance yourself from the family turmoil." Kael pondered deeply, considering using Baron Newmans power to temporarily distance himself from the Charles family? ording to how Nobles acted in the game, someone like him, an ignored "tainted blood," aligning himself with Baron Newman and working for him, was essentially giving up on the core power of the Charles family. If it came to judgment, it was unlikely to involve him. But he remained doubtful and asked: "Grandpa White, given our current situation, theres a higher chance of Baron Newman backing out if we approach him. If were rejected, our survival situation might be even worse." Old White paused, looking at his young master, seemingly taken aback, and after a while said: "Young master, you carry the blood of the Charles family. The familys honor is invible. Moreover, Baron Newman, as a rising noble, cannot act so foolishly if he wants to stand his ground." Kael nodded. Since the old housekeeper said so, he agreed for now, taking the marriage contract and the Holy Sanctuary Crystal back to his room. Sitting on the bench, Kael pondered for a while and understood the reason for the misunderstanding. The yers hadnt arrived yet, and this era was in the early days of the Age of Exploration. Rising Nobles hadnt yet sprouted like mushrooms, gradually recing traditional Merit Nobility and bing the mainstream among the Nobles. In other words, this period was the peak of traditional Merit Nobilitys prestige. They upied the mostnd, had the strongest armies, the greatest cultural influence, and the most wealth. The era where yers ran around on quests and rising Nobles imednd hadnt truly arrived. When facing traditional Nobles, all rising Nobles remained silent. Whether Baron Newman liked it or not, the marriage contract made by histe father meant it was set in stone for him. Would he back out if you went to confirm the engagement early? Impossible, absolutely impossible! At this thought, Kaels face showed a relieved smile. If things could work out this way, that would be great. He wasnt the type to dere "Three decades east of the river, three decades west" in defiance. Using the engagement to extricate himself from the Charles family wasnt a bad idea. As for whether the marriage would happen? That was up to him, not Baron Newman. Although it was apologetic, if the time came for a getaway, he would follow his heart and offer amplepensation. But, he couldnt put all his hopes on Baron Newman. If this path failed, he would have to initiate his other nadvancing to a formal Mage. A Magician was also a Mage profession. Once he reached LV2, he surpassed the apprentice level and could register with the Mage Association. Spellcasters were always respected in most games, and The Gates of Below was no exception. Qualified Mages were few, especially in these times when the Mage growth system was still developing. Fully advancing Mages were even fewer. Fortunately, he had something that yers couldnt acquire at this stage the Holy Sanctuary Crystal! Kaels face lit up with excitement. If the system panel still functioned correctly, he could use the Holy Sanctuary Crystal to solve the Incubus bloodline issue and advance from a LV1 Mage Apprentice to a formal Mage, gaining the protection of those special-status spellcasters. If he demonstrated enough value, he might even turn passive into active, for examplepletely making his fathers title his own. At this thought, his Incubus tail behind him wiggled slightly, the heart-shaped flesh petals slowly opened and swallowed the Holy Sanctuary Core whole. PS: Please add to your favorites, continue reading, give rmendations, and vote for the monthly pass. Dear readers, support the newbie. Update times are at 8:00 and 20:00. Thats all. Chapter 8 - 6: Deep Blue, Level Up!!! Activate skill, power absorption! With a single thought from Kael, a dim light appeared on his thrashing little tail, and a surge of power spread from the tail to his spine. His little tail wobbled a bit. Kael let out a muffled groan as the gentle power washed over his body, thefortable sensation making his body tremble uncontrobly. Unexpectedly, he didnt dislike this feeling! Especially when the pure power extracted from the Holy Sanctuary Core finally entered Kaels body through the tip of his tail, an indescribable sense of happiness spread throughout his entire being. His body gradually warmed up! [Skill Judgment Passed, General Experience Points +1000] [Skill Judgment Passed, General Experience Points +1000] [Skill Judgment Passed, General Experience Points +1000] ... As expected of a high-tier experience stone, it didnt restore energy but directly granted experience points. This is... fantastic! Kaels overflowing general experience points soared on the panel, just as he expected, he didnt feel like he had ascended. He stopped the power absorption skill released through his tail and looked at the panel again. Sure enough, there were now 13,000 general experience points avable for him to allocate. "Perfect!" Kael couldnt help but whisper with a smile. Just like in the game, the rare Holy Sanctuary Crystal gave general experience points upon absorption. Unlike the level experience points used for leveling up through monster ying and other activities in the yers panel. General experience points were harder to obtain and had broader uses, recing the naturally rued skill experience points from skill usage, directly enhancing skill levels. Most importantly, in version 4.0, yers discovered its incredibly precious utility... It allowed them to develop a unique "exclusive skill" simr to enlightenment, dependent on the skills,bat techniques, and ingenious ideas the yer had mastered, through artificial intelligence calctions, albeit at the cost of a significant amount of general experience points. Of course, whether it was reasonable or strong was another matter. Because of the existence of "exclusive skills," although there were no "hidden professions" among the top-tier yers, thebat power boost from effectively utilizing exclusive skills still created a massive gap between ordinary and professional yers. Kael was a beneficiary of exclusive skills in his past life, with his four unique exclusive skills [Magic Silk Thread], [Silk Thread Maniption], [Void Silk Thread], and [Humanoid Theatre], making him stand out among ordinary yers. Under the control of Magic Silk Thread, his body transformed like a puppet, maneuvering short distances and abruptly casting spells in an elegant, dance-like attack that truly captivated the eye. One could say that his exclusive skills were the core reason he became a professional yer. He even became a top yer, side by side with his guild leader, known as the "Champion Wall," regarded as "worse than pigs and dogs." But the reason why he was part of the Champion Wall was also clear. If the guild leader of [Strange Power Chaos God] relied on decent techniques and an extremely high investment to maintain his standing, Kael being the core of the Champion Wall was more genuine He was too fragile. Hisbat style was meticulous, aesthetically pleasing, and deadly elegant, but if faced with a top yer who knew him well and deliberately targeted him, he could be instantly emptied of health. Who could guarantee no mistakes duringbat? The low tolerance for error made Kael capable of spectacr and elegant kills against low-level yers, but against simr-level yers, thisbat systems ws were magnified. But as the saying goes, strength is temporary, and handsomeness is forever. Even though he might notpare to the few awareness freaks and skill monsters in the league, Kaels wire-dancingbat style made yers exim "Elegant, so elegant" and attracted a massive following... As well as countless haters! "I wonder if the system panel still retains the function to develop exclusive skills. If I could reim my exclusive skills, then it would be... hmm?" Kaels expression momentarily froze. As he had that thought, memories of operating his character and using exclusive skills shed through his mind. The precise and elegantbat scenes, like a flood, reyed in his mind. When he came back to his senses, the skill bar on his personal panel had subtly changed. Skill Bar: [Sweet Aroma/Power Absorption/Greasy Technique/Water Gun Shock/Freezing Aura] -redundant [Detected you have significant experience in the fine control of Magic Energy. Consume 10,000 general experience points to unlock exclusive skill-"Magic Silk Thread"] [Detected you have unique insights in controlling the body with Magic Silk Thread. Consume 15,000 general experience points to unlock exclusive skill-"Silk Thread Maniption"] [Detected you have relevant experience in integrating Magic Silk Thread with Space Magic. After mastering basic Space Magic knowledge, you can consume general experience points to unlock exclusive skill-"Void Silk Thread"] [Detected you have extensive experience in Magic Silk Thread, Silk Thread Maniption, and Void Silk Thread. After mastering the skill "Void Silk Thread," you can consume general experience points to unlock exclusive skill-"Humanoid Theatre"] Kaels body slightly swayed, a look of ecstatic shock spreading across his face. yers could use their exclusive skills even aftering into the game? And without huge trial and error costs, just by consuming arge amount of general experience points, they could reim their previous exclusive skills? In an instant, all the unease from traveling to this world, the pressure of the impending upheaval within the Charles family, and the fear of surviving in this war-torn gaming world melted away. Joking aside, in the gaming world, a professional yers status was on par with top nobles. Achieving that status purely through skill was incredibly difficult. But now, he directly possessed the professional skills exclusive to top-tier practitioners. All that remained was improving his job level, and he would soon carve a niche in this era, avoiding being crushed like an ant beneath others feet. With this thought, he felt his increasingly weak body and smiled slightly. Activate skill, power absorption! The remaining Holy Sanctuary Crystal was instantly drained, and he subconsciously touched his abdomen, seeming to feel the remnants of the vast energy merging into his body. Seeing his panel with a high of 122,000 general experience points, a nearly joyous smile appeared on his face, and he murmured, "System, consume general experience points, add [Magic Silk Thread], [Silk Thread Maniption]." The general experience points on the panel instantly dropped to 97,000 points. In exchange, the two exclusive skills lit up instantly. "System, consume general experience points, replenish Incubus bloodline awakening consumption!" "System, consume general experience points, increase job level!" The general experience points on the panel plummeted instantaneously, leaving only 53,040 points. In a moment, an overflowing power flooded his body. His previously paleplexion turned rosy, and the tail behind him wobbled restlessly. As he opened his eyes, the pupils in his eyes had already turned a faint pink. ...Personal Panel... Name: Kael.D.Helois/Ning Ruyu (Spirit and Flesh Fusion Complete) n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Gender: Male Race: ? Human, ? Incubus, ? Unknown Bloodline Anchored: Version 1.0 [War of the Divided Nations] Public Test Countdown 299 Days Level: 1 Job: [Main Job-Sorcerer LV2 (0/2500)] [Sub-job: None] Free Attribute Points: 2 HP: 2000/2000 Vitality: 210/210 Mana: 800/800 Attributes: Strength 2.4 (Base value 1.1 + level up increase 0.5 + Incubus bloodline correction 0.8) Agility 3.9 (Base value 2.3 + level up increase 0.5 + Incubus bloodline correction 1.1) Stamina 2.0 (Base value 1.1 + level up increase 0.5 + Incubus bloodline correction 0.4) Perception 4.9 (Base value 3.0 + level up increase 0.5 + Incubus bloodline correction 1.4) Intelligence 3.8 (Base value 2.2 + level up increase 0.5 + Incubus bloodline correction 1.1) Willpower 2.0 (Base value 1.4 + level up increase 0.5 + Incubus bloodline correction 0.1) Feats/Passive Bar: [Moderate Charm][High-level Charm] - Your demeanor and appearance have greatly improved, and when facing the Human Race (including sub-races) and the Elf n, your high-level charm effect will increase to Transcendent Charm LV1 (Its said that beauty is as nourishing as food, and you are clearly a rare court feast, Incubus bloodline is just that innately powerful) [Magic Affinity LV2][Magic Affinity LV4] - Your sensitivity to Magic Energy has greatly increased (Oh no, this unimaginable allure thement of Magic Energy) [Magic Control LV7] (New)- Your control over Magic Energy has greatly improved, casting speed is increased, 0-1 ring spells can be cast instantly once mastered, casting time for spells above 2 rings is reduced (This is not a feat you can master at this level, or rather, it is a gift from mastering [Magic Silk Thread]) [Incubus Bloodline LV1] (New): Your Incubus bloodline has been preliminary activated, with an Incubus bloodline LV1 correction bonus of Strength +0.8, Agility +1.1, Stamina +0.4, Perception +1.4, Intelligence +1.1, Willpower +0.1 (An Incubus is also a demon, with the preliminary awakening of your Incubus bloodline, you will find it easier to reach the Transcendent realm) Skill Bar: [Sweet Aroma/Power Absorption/Tail Injection/Greasy Technique/Water Gun Shock/Freezing Aura] -redundant [Seductive Demon Eye] (New)- Passive: Slightly increases charm Active: Consumes certain amount of magic power, causing anyone who meets your gaze to fall into a dream-like illusion (From today onwards, you are also a part of the Eye Legends) [Magic Silk Thread (Exclusive)] (New)- You have an extraordinary talent in the fine control of Magic Energy, able to mold it into silk threads to control yourself and enemies (Tying techniques are both a business and an art, who will be the one you control?) [Silk Thread Maniption (Exclusive)] (New)- You have unique insights into controlling your body, able to manipte various body movements through Magic Silk Thread, the reaction speed of your body depends on the control speed of the Magic Silk Thread. In the [Silk Thread Maniption] state, your agility stat will be supplemented by your intelligence, the supplement value being [Current Intelligence] 0.7 (Once the skill is activated, your agility stat will be supplemented to approximately 6.5) (The ultimate Puppet Master is transforming ones own body into a heartless puppet) Free Skill Points: 1 ([LV1-10/11-20/21-30...] each level up grants [1/2/3...] free skill points, used to learn ordinary and job skills) Gold Skill Points: 0 (Earned every 3 levels, used to unlock core job skills or enhance special skills, affecting career development path) Evaluation: Little Kai is not really open! Lets see the limit of a level 2 official Mage!! Deep Blue, add points!!! Looking at the brand-new game panel, Kael took a deep breath. The NPC stats, the Fourth Cmitys advancement method, and the yers unique free attribute and skill points. He felt the surge of power within his body. At the moment of bing an official Mage, being reborn into this world, he finally felt somewhat secure. Chapter 9 - 7: Visiting the Barons House The next day, Kael woke up early, washed up, and had a bit of breakfast under Old Whites service. He put on the simple mage attire and draped over the white mage robe. This was probably the most luxurious set of clothes Kael owned. A mage robe was not cheap. Manymoner mages at the Secret Scroll Mage Academy still couldnt afford one. Standing in front of the alchemists ss mirror, looking at his slender figure, clear and clean face, but with a subtly alluring charm, he revealed a satisfied smile. "From today on, you are just Kael.D.Helois." Knock, knock, knock~ There was a heavy knock followed by two light ones from outside the bedroom: "Young Master Kael, Ive already arranged for a long leave with the Secret Scroll Mage Academy in the Royal Capital. The carriage is ready outside. When do you n to depart? Please give me a heads-up so I can prepare." Kael opened the door and nodded at Old White, saying: "Lets leave early then, right now." Old White had already ced the gifts in the carriage. With the coachmansmand, Kael boarded the carriage and headed towards the Newman Domain, adjacent to the Lancaster Territory. As soon as he stepped out, Kaels eyes were drawn to the pastoral scenery of the Lancaster Territory. "Innd Duchy, Lancaster Territory, so this is the first Newbie Vige in the beta test and the public test?" In the game "Gate of the Netherworld," the first version of the human nation was called "Yibel Federation," and it was guarded by nine dukedoms. Innd Duchy was the firstrge map opened to yers after the public test. Though this map was excessivelyrge, it would be exhausting to traverse without a teleportation array. Even a newbie vige like the Lancaster Territory could amodate fifty thousand yers... After half an hour of rapid movement technique-boosted carriage ride, the carriage finally started to slow down and stopped. The coachman knocked on the carriage door, saying: "Sir, weve arrived." "Please wait a bit longer outside." Kael got off the carriage and said to the coachman. The Newman Manor was just north of the Lancaster Territory. Unlike Kaels three-story mansion with arge courtyard, it was merely a refined three-story townhouse, let alone a garden. It was said to have cost quite a fortune to build it. Though Baron Newman was a noble,pared to traditional nobles controlling vast resources, even the wealthier nouveau riche still struggled to obtain better core resources. Such as the grand estate in the Lancaster Territory where Kael resided, Baron Newman couldnt afford to build. Kael stepped forward and gently rang the manual doorbell. "Just a moment, Ill be right there." Apanied by hurried footsteps, the grand gate quietly opened, and a middle-aged maid, whose once-beautiful face could still be faintly seen, opened the door. Kael performed a mages salute and softly said: "Kael.D.Helois, visiting Baron Newman." The middle-aged maid returned the salute, nced at the handsome young man before her, and her smile became more enthusiastic, saying: "Are you Young Master Kael from Lord Anthonys family?" Kael nodded, seeing the maids smile grew even brighter: "Pleasee in and take a seat. Lord Newman mentioned you to Miss a few days ago. Its been a long time since we saw you. You truly live up to your reputation." Noticing the coachman carrying several gift boxes behind him, she chuckled: "Youe visiting yet brought so many things, thats really kind of you." Kael took the gift boxes from the coachman and said loudly: "These are gifts prepared by my father. Its my first visit, so please dont refuse them." However, he thought to himself that this somewhat dignified middle-aged maids speaking tone didnt quite resemble a maid. He didnt care much about it. After cing the gifts under the maids guidance, he entered the hall. With nothing better to do, he had a little chat. Under the social prowess enhancement effect, he soon learned that this maid, like Old White, was the housekeeper of the Newman Manor. She managed a batch of young maids under her, making the manor much livelier than Kaels home. Clearly, even though Baron Newman had spent extra money to obtain a residence matching his status, the daily living expenses were still far higher than Kaels household. This was also the norm for nouveau riche nobles. Their daily life enjoyment was much greater than nobles of the same rank, even extravagantly wasteful. Other than the hard-to-get resources controlled by some traditional nobles, they truly lived freely. "Please have a seat first, Young Master Kael. Lord Newman was supposed to be in the domain this morning, but someone informed us that he went to visit a guest. By my calctions, he should be back soon." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Kael nodded, not annoyed, as the visit had not been prearranged. Changing ns on the fly was quite normal. He just smiled and said: "Then Ill wait for a bit." The middle-aged housekeeper called a maid to pour tea for Kael and then turned to him, smiling: "What brings you here today, Young Master Kael? Is there something you need from the lord?" Kael thought for a moment, a hint of sorrow appearing on his face, and said: "The news has not spread yet. My father passed awayst night while subduing the Evil God. So, Im here to consult Baron Newmans opinion." He deliberately used a more intimate form of address, in essence, probing Baron Newmans thoughts by retreating to advance. Even if intermarrying with nobility to escape the vortex of the Charles family, if Baron Newman had other intentions, it might be more convenient to seek an alternative way out from within the family at a critical moment. As for Old Whites assertion that "Baron Newman couldnt refuse," it was too absolute. Without testing, who knew what Baron Newman was thinking? He wouldnt bet his entire life on someone else. It wasnt his style. The middle-aged maid sighed softly, saying: "The lord has mentioned before that nna is betrothed to Anthonys child. It seems that Lord Anthonys passing has made you have some thoughts. However, this matter still needs to be discussed between you and my lord. We cant say much." Kael heard this and fell into thought. The middle-aged maid reheated a pot of tea for Kael. Looking at the calm and confident Kael, she couldnt help but marvel at what a beautiful young man he was, truly worthy of herdy. No thinking about it, herdys married life would surely be iparably blissful! She unconsciously nced at the little incubus tail, after all, it was rumored that the charm of incubus, whoever tried it, knew it. Thinking of the masters sighsst night as they shared a bed, she had some new ideas in her mind. At that moment, in the courtyard, a blonde maid quietly pushed open the door and excitedly said to a girl sitting at the desk reading in the bedroom: "Miss, miss, I heard from the people below that Young Master Kael from the Charles family hase!" Chapter 10 - 8: First Encounter In the master bedroom, a girl of young age with graceful curves sat quietly at the rosewood dressing table, reading a book while a maid carefully applied a drop of Beast Blood Essence to her cheek. The Beast Blood Essence, like a tear mole, slowly glowed on her cheek. A red streak spread from that "tear mole" into her eye, instantly activating the spell power within her. As faint red incantations spread across her body, the air in the room became noticeably warmer. The maid could not help but look at the youngdy in the dressing mirror. Her beautiful face wore a cool and distant smile, with eyebrows that were slightly sharp. Yet without lipstick or face powder, her lips bore the red of blossoming April cherry blossoms. Her delicate cheek, wless as white jade, surpassed the snow, softening the sharpness in her eyes, like a red rose frozen in ice! What a resilient and untouchable flower. Indeed, mydy is exceptional! thought the maid. "Did hee to visit today?" nna turned her head to the maid, her eyes showing a hint of curiosity, revealing a glimpse of her dazzling radiance. She had heard from her father long ago about his engagement arrangement with a top warrior from the Lion Heart Battle Group. Though they hadnt met over the years, it wasnt entirely true to say that she wasnt curious. The daughter of a noble family was still a girl, and although she was not yet married, she naturally had dreams about her future partner. Who wouldnt want their husband to be as handsome and powerful as the heroic knights in travel tales? Thinking of this, she raised an eyebrow and looked at her maid. The maid, who had grown up with nna and knew her thoughts well, smiled yfully and said, "Miss, the person is in the downstairs living room. I just went down and took a peek. He is really good-looking! When I go down to serve teater, Ill secretly pull down the curtain in the living room, so it wont be as easy for people to see the staircase from the outside." nna immediately understood the maids intention. Even though nna had a cheerful disposition, she blushed slightly at the maids teasing but... did not refuse her kind offer. With the curtain pulled down, it should be harder for people to notice her secretly observing the guest in the living room, right? Thinking about this, she tidied up her dressing table, her eyes showing some urgency. The maid said no more, gave a lightugh, and quietly left the room. nna felt a bit impatient. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Later, she would sneak a peek from behind the curtain. Even if she got noticed, what did it matter? She was allowed to take a few more nces at her betrothed, right? She wasnt like those traditional nobledies who spent most of their time in their family castles, only gaining some freedom during noble salons and enrollment in the Royal Knight Academy. At most, her father would scold her a bit, but it wouldnt be a big problem. Thinking of this, nna surmised that the maid had already lowered the curtain. She quietly descended the attic and headed towards the main hall. At this moment, Kael was chatting with the housekeeper in the main hall. After several rounds of tea, the housekeeper was quite open with him. Through their conversation, Kael came to understand the origin of the engagement. Baron Newman, a member of the emerging nobility, was once an aplished maritime adventurer. With his exceptional courage, he was among the first to "discover" the new continent. Naturally, upon returning to the country, he was granted a title by the duchy and became a baron. It was evident that even among the new nobility, there was a clear hierarchy of disdain. Nobles like Baron Newman, with remarkable abilities and courage in specific fields, represented the elite of the emerging nobility and even held official positions within the duchy. Some wealthy merchants who had amassed fortunes by trading along the newly established routes to the new continent could also buy baronial titles. However, for specific tasks, they still relied more on capable nobles like Baron Newman. The connection between the Newman family and Kaels father stemmed from this. Before Baron Newman was conferred a title, he was targeted by a destitute local noble who coveted his exceptional maritime knowledge and control over extensive navigation routes and ind distributions. During that era of restricted information, such knowledge was an invisible wealth. The noble had even sent people disguised as bandits to ambush the Newman family on their return home by carriage. Unexpectedly, they were defeated by Anthony, who happened to pass by, saving their lives. This incident would have ended there, as Anthony, a knight of the Iron Cross, had frequently stood up for justice in the past. However, when the duchyter ennobled a group of emerging nobles led by Newman, Baron Newman was pleasantly surprised to see Anthony, stationed in the hall with the knights of the Golden Cross, and was deeply grateful. This anecdote, thoughcking a dramatic story, showed Baron Newmans appreciation of kindness. During his asional visits to Anthony, he learned about Kaels situation and formed an idea. Recalling past events, the housekeeperughed heartily for a moment. While acting as a listener, Kael guessed the housekeepers other identity. Baron Newmans wife had passed away years earlier, and he had never remarried. Now it seemed that there was already a newdy of the house. As he pondered this, Kael suddenly felt something and his spiritual power vaguely detected a gaze. Using the excuse of pouring tea for the dy of the house," he nced at a ce where the curtain had been drawn. The curious and clear eyes behind the curtain met his instantly, and like a startled fawn, they withdrew at once, leaving only a breeze gently stirring the uneasy curtain. Kael chuckled softly, as if he had seen nothing, and after pouring the tea, he continued his conversation with the housekeeper. Behind the curtain, nna felt her heart racing and couldnt help but recall those calm, deep eyes. Though their eyes had met for just a moment, it seemed as if those eyes were imprinted in her heart, and unknowingly, her cheeks grew hot. She lightly patted her face, eyes cast down, and whispered, "He is quite handsome?" She had worried that her father, driven by a sense of gratitude, might have found her an unsuitable partner. If that were the case, she had thought she might have to use her sword to gain control of the marriage (physically). But now she only felt her face growing hotter. A guy as handsome as jade andposed as him seemed like a good match? The concerns in her heart about her betrothed started to fade. Then she frowned again. No! She was never one to judge by appearance alone, nor the type to blush at a mere nce from a man. Yet, just now, a simple look from that man had made her heart race. "So thats it, the charm of the Incubus? No, it must be more than that..." nna showed a hint of shame. The charm of the Incubus was powerful, but she had heard that her fianc hadnt fully developed his Incubus bloodline. Thinking of this, her shame and anger grew. Because to fully exert the charm of the Incubus, there was an even simpler method C He just happened to strike a chord in her heart. Chapter 11 - 9 Earl Rezhe.D.Charles Several hours before Kaels visit, within the heavy city of Fransburg, near the Newman Domain, a meeting that few knew about was taking ce. [Location: Celeia Racing Club] This club, which primarily catered to Nobles and the Knight ss with deep roots, upied a significant plot ofnd between the aristocratic district of Fransburg and the bustlingmercial street. Racing, knight duels, beastpetitions, and man-animal sports... Most of the entertainment that could excite the ruling ss could be found here. At this moment, on the second-floor viewing tform of the racing venue, a few people were engaged in conversation over tea. "I wonder what matter brings Count Rezhe to reserve the second floor of Celeia and invite me here, its no small figure." Baron Newman was an adventurer in his prime, a believer in the Sea God and an advocate for adventure. He was over forty years old, his face, barely wrinkled, wore an expression of calmposure. And the Count Rezhe he mentioned should be referred to in full as Rezhe.D.Charles. As a branch of the Lion Heart Dukes lineage, rulers of the Duchy of Ennce, although not as profound and flourishing as the main house, his inheritance of the Lion Heart Dukes blood still allowed this n leader of the Charles family to inherit the title of Earl. In terms of blood rtions, Kael would have to address him as a great uncle. Whether Count Rezhe was willing to acknowledge that was another matter entirely. Suppressed by the aristocratic hierarchy, coupled with a status so noble it was beyond words, even Baron Newman, who had made no small contributions to the Duchy, still had to suppress his feelings of aversion and respectfully address him as "Count". Rezhe was now just over sixty, dressed in an exquisite, Baroque-styled noblemans attire, appearing a good thirty something years of age C unexpectedly three years younger than Baron Newman. At this moment, the Count wore a formic smile, dismissing the waiting maidservants before he began to speak with augh: "The reason for my visit is indeed to discuss a matter with Baron Newman. After all, you have a good rtionship with that good-for-nothing brother of mine, and I suppose that makes us somewhat associated." After Count Rezhe finished speaking, he paused before continuing, "The reason I am here today is to inquire about Anthony. A few months ago, after Anthony returned from the Royal Capital, did he entrust you with anything?" Mr. Newman looked at Count Rezhe,ughed lightly, and said, "Just now I was wondering why a small newly elevated noble like myself warranted an invitation from the Count to sit at the high table. Now it seems that Count Rezhe really has a special concern for your brother." "You jest, Baron Newman," Rezhe emphasized the word "Baron" with a heavier tone, pausing momentarily before continuing, "Mainly because that brother of mine, who has always been against family wishes, has indeed been a constant worry." Newman shook his head: "If you truly cared, you would have seen him at least once while Anthony was alive." "He would have had to be willing to see me for that to happen." Rezhe sighed, straightened his face, and changed his tone, "Ive heard that Baron Newmans daughter has a fine reputation in the Royal Capital, and Charles has some renown among the Nobility. Given that my good-for-nothing child is of the right age, if a marriage could be arranged with a genius from the Knight Academy, it would seal an excellent reputation." "The Charles family is too grand, and I was too used to drifting at sea in my early years to think I would receive such favor from Lion Heart and gain a Barons title. Ive let her grow up wild since she was a child. Entering the Charles family would naturally be a good thing, but I fear she might cause trouble for Count Rezhe. Anthonys family is just right; he inherited his barcy based on his own merit and does not look down on my humble drifting life, so..." As Newman said this, his face showed the right amount of hesitation, "It seems, Count Rezhe, you arent aware that nna already has a marriage arrangement. Its truly delightful that shes received such high praise from you. Considering the rtionship between Anthony and you, along with this fortunate arrangement with Kael, surely you wouldnt mind the other aspects, right?!" Rezhe looked meaningfully at the robust man who was dodging the topic, narrowed his eyes, and said, "Have you thought it through?" "Wheres the rity in that, being valued by the Charles family is a good thing, a great thing!" "Now, Im somewhat inclined to believe what the outside world says about Mr. Newmans rtionship with my brotherits as close as his own limb." Rezhe nodded, then said no more. "Then..." Baron Newman hesitated, wanting to take his leave directly, but ultimately, he could not bring himself to voice it immediately under Rezhes aggressive gaze. The atmosphere on the scene grew increasingly tense. Suddenly, a servants light knock was heard at the door of the viewing tform, and without waiting for Rezhes response, the servant pushed the door open and entered. A look of dissatisfaction crossed Rezhes face; the arrival of this person undoubtedly disrupted the oppressive atmosphere he had been deliberately cultivating, his voice even rising slightly: "Since when did Celeias servants be so impolite?" When the servant saw the displeased expression on Count Rezhes face, he involuntarily stepped back, half in fear. Suddenly, a warm chuckle came from behind, and the servant finally realized his ce, struggling to suppress the unease on his face, he said to Newman: "Lord Newman, there is an urgent message from the Mage Association for you, someone from your family hase to visit, and your housekeeper has sent someone to deliver the message." Baron Newmans face rxed as he replied, "Good, good, good! You really have troubled yourselves." No one knew what he truly meant by that, but clearly, Count Rezhes expression soured upon hearing him speak in this way. Baron Newmans countenance, darkened by years at sea, wore a slight look of apology as he turned to Count Rezhe: "Count, there is an urgent matter at home. I must leave for today, and I implore you to honor us with your presence at the next banquet." "Well... we shall talk another day." Count Rezhes perfunctory smile eventually took on a hint of permanence, and without any attempt to detain him, once Baron Newman had left, his smile vanished instantly, his voice cold as he said: "What do you think, is there truth in what he says?" From a seemingly normal corner of the viewing tform, a raspy voice suddenly spoke: "True or false, who cares? In the end, its up to your will, Count. If you really want to know the secret behind young master Anthonys rapid ascent to the Holy Land, who could stop you? That half-blood, without the support of young master Anthony, is at your mercy, isnt he?" Rezhe nced coldly at the distorted shadow in the corner and scoffed, "Why do I get the feeling that youre cing quite a lot of importance on that bastard child?" "After all, I am your Shadow Servant, tasked to clear away any obstacles that stand in your path. Thats my duty," the person in the shadows bowed, his voice dripping with what seemed like lightughter. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om But the very next moment, a suppressed groan of extreme difort was heard. Rezhes hand, at some point, had grabbed a small piece of flesh and when he pressed down hard with his fingers, the person merged with the shadows shook even more violently. "You may speak when I allow it, and should remain silent when I do not. The misbegotten might not have my approval, but the blood of the Charles family still runs in his veins. I can decide how to deal with him, but that does not mean you can, not even think about it, understand?" "Yes... Your will." Rezhe tapped the desk leisurely and said, "I dont believe that Newman, with no backing, can endure for long. If the old man doesnt give me what is mine, I will take it by my own skill." Chapter 12 - 10 Dungeon Phenomenon and the Gate to the Netherworld The conversation had two sides. On the other side, after leaving the racetrack club, Baron Newman spat on the ground, his earlier cautious expressionpletely gone: "A bunch of hyenas that follow the scent, things not even worth a dogs attention. They call you Count as long as you look the part, but without that skin, what are you really?" Baron Newman let loose a string of choice words. Simple joy, extreme foul-mouthedness. The Newman familys coachman, who had been waiting outside, whispered, "My lord, be careful with your words. If outsiders hear and it spreads, it will reflect poorly on you." "He does as he pleases, and I cant speak my mind?" "Yes, there are things he can do and say that we cannot. Youve known about this, havent you?" the coachman sighed. Baron Newman sat in the carriage, not saying anything more. Yes, he had known all along. Thats why, during his conversation with Count Rezhe earlier, he had deflected with other topics. If this had been when he first embarked on his adventurous journey, he wouldnt care if you were an Earl, Marquis, or Duke; dare to act so pretentiously in front of him, and he would have kicked them right in the chest After all, boasting isnt illegal since hed never actually meet them. Without further thought, Baron Newman asked, "Who visited today? They really helped me out. I must properly thank himter." The coachman said, "It was Lord Anthonys son, Young Master Kael." Newman was taken aback and then roared withughter, "Very good, very good! Worthy of being my dear son-inw, helping me out of a bind so quickly. Although I dont really care about that guys (Rezhe) attitude, at this moment, its better to avoid more troubles than to create them. Come on, old chap, speed up a bit. I cant wait to meet the boy." As for Rezhe? To hell with your Earl title. Dont brag about your substantial family wealth and rare status in the Duchy when there are still others who are better than you. If it reallyes down to it, just go see Duke Lion Heart in the Royal Capital. As long as Duke Lion Heart lives, your Charles family is just a distant branch of nobility, considering the Duchy of Lancaster is Duke Lion Hearts territority. As the carriage sped on its way, back at the Newman residence, Kael felt that he had been sipping tea for quite a while, even feeling somewhat full. Seeing the second round of snacks being served in the living room but still no sign of Baron Newman made him somewhat suspicious. Had they decided to leave him hanging, or was there some urgent matter preventing Newman froming on time? Considering the former seemed unlikelyafter all, it was likely that thedy of the houses housekeeper, extremely warm in hosting him, This was like how, in his past life, guild members clinging to the guild leader and himself begged them to lead a high-level raid; that was the level of enthusiasm shown. But if there was really an important issue, not that he underestimated Baron Newman, it was just that the Newman Domain was too small; it was time for him to have returned. After all, the size of the Newman Domainpared to his own Lancaster Territory was vastly different. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Land granted to celebrated heroes from the Holy Land and simrly honoredmon adventurers naturally could not be equal, as giving too much, they wouldnt be able to defend it all. Inherited nobles like Anthony and Newman, upon receivingnd from the Duchy, while enjoying its benefits, also bear the heavy responsibility of guarding the borders. If the strength isnt sufficient, havingnd wont stop both people and territory from being lost. After all, this ce borders the edge of the Human Federation; outer regions are fraught with a phenomenon known as "Dungeons," prone to sporadic beast waves. If you really want to talk about it, the "Dungeon Phenomenon" mentioned here is not just the underground mazes that people envision, or, in a narrower sense, the dungeons are just one type of the many manifestations of the Dungeon Phenomenon. Mist zones, historical remnants, mini-worlds... Different forms exist at different times and in different ces. In the context of the game "Gate to the Nether," the foundational territories of various races are located in and called the Sylvera Continent, and this world is in a state of constant expansion. This realm continually devours fragments of other worlds from the endless void, blending these Void Fragments into various forms of "Dungeons" and dumping them into its core, especially along the borders where they are most numerous. The many races residing on Sylvera Continent naturally take on the role of eradicating these "Dungeons." Of course, you can also choose not to eradicate them, and there wouldnt be any punishmentafter all, no punishment is greater than death. The monsters emerging from the dungeons wont consider how valuable your little life is; they will trample over it simply to survive. Under such circumstances, all races have developed the behavior of clearing any discovered dungeons immediately. The worlds will also contributes a great deal. Clearing the dungeons of monsters or facilitating the orderly integration of intelligent creatures into this world garners rewards from the worlds will. emmmm~ Does this rhetoric sound familiar? Thats right, there is a specific term among the yersinstances. Via the specialized portals to the Nether in specific regions, yers explore instances, y monsters,plete tasks, and then receive rich rewards from the worlds will (like exploding with equipment, skills). For yers, participating in instances is amon activity; however, for the inhabitants of this continent, it is an unbearable burden. Nearly every major race power inevitably battles with dungeons during their growth, cultivating a tradition of fierce local customs, and also forming the earliest ruling ss of this world. Coming through the barrel of a gun, the new nobility of the Human Federation proves itself by guarding the frontiers, waging wars in dungeons, gaining power, and clearing various dungeon "instances." Once the local dungeons are consumed, the territory naturally expands. This was also why Kael was puzzled. Lancaster Territory was the first Newbie Vige opened during the beta and public test periods, muchrger than a normal territory. Inheriting the memories of his predecessor, he knew this was because Anthony had already conquered one of the dungeons and merged it into Lancaster, expanding his territory. But Newman Domains strength simply couldnt clear a dungeon at this stage; if Baron Newman were currently within his domain, given the size of this territory, it would already be a stretch to manage without him, unless... He was not in his territory at all. Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves at the door. "The master has returned," he faintly heard a servant shouting outside. Kael looked towards the door and saw a middle-aged man with somewhat disheveled hair and a joyful smile walking towards him. "Hahaha, isnt this Kael? Its been many years; youve really grown up a lot. Windsor, have you treated my good son-inw well? How about it, can you handle the marriage I brazenly arranged with nna?" "Everyone knows about your discerning eye, master," the female housekeeper who had been chatting with Kael replied with a softugh. "Aunt Windsor has also treated me very well, and shes told me a lot of fun stories about nna from the past," Kael added smoothly with the word "Aunt." As expected, Newmans smile brightened even more, and he took a longer look at Kael, finding the in white Mages attire even more striking. What a subtly attractive man! Chapter 13 - 11: Attacking Like a Red-Haired Female Knight Baron Newman had originally been worried that Kael might develop a timid and self-deprecating personality due to some rumors. But now seeing him carry himself so gracefully, with a demeanor quite reminiscent of Anthonys calm and solemn nature, he was secretly delighted. However, thinking about Count Rezhe who still had his sights set on Kael, the smile on his face faded a bit. After some idle chat, Kael finally got to the point: "Uncle Newman, I dare not hide anything from you. The news from my father came rather suddenly. This time, Im here to seek your opinion on the engagement with Miss nna." "Oh? Lets hear it." Kael said seriously, "Uncle Newman, the matters on the Lancaster familys side are fraught with risks. You havent despised this incubus bloodline and have allowed nna to get engaged to me, which is my good fortune. But if I let you drag the Newman family into the Lancaster familys struggle, I would feel uneasy. So today I came to ask you to reconsider." Newman nced at the faintly visible red hair behind the curtain, and with a hint of amusement and a smile, said loudly, "In fact, I rushed back today after spending quite some time dealing with matters on the Lancaster familys side." Kael was slightly taken aback, recalling the change in Baron Newmans expression earlier. During his years in the guild, handling various affairs with guild members, other yers, and NPCs, he had developed a knack for reading peoples expressions and decided to probe: "Uncle Newman, is there something difficult that youre finding hard to share?" Newman said, "Earlier, Count Rezhe sent someone to invite me to Fransburg to discuss matters. They are well-informed and must have been the first to know about your fathers death, hence they approached me for coboration. Count Rezhe said he had heard of my stupid daughters reputation in the Royal Capital and wanted to marry his child to nna. Kael, you may not know, but Count Rezhe is immensely powerful. Though he hasnt made a move in many years, the foundation of Lancaster is indeed frighteningly strong. His curse power is quite astonishing." Kael nodded, recalling the fleeting glimpse of red hair from earlier, and thought to himself: "It seems Newman no, Father-inw, doesnt have any intention of breaking off the engagement. If he really wanted to, an ordinary person wouldnt be able to say it with a smile." With that thought, he breathed a sigh of relief. Since Newmanno, Father-inwdidnt intend to break off the engagement, he would have to find a way to secure a ce in the world and ensure the safety of the territory. He happened to know that the Lancaster Territory would soon have a stable portal to the underworld. The dungeon on the other side of the portal was quite suitable for beginners to level up and hunt monsters. Yes, everything was within his ns. It definitely wasnt because he was enamored with nnas beauty. Yes, thats right, thats exactly it. Besides, as a warrior of pure love, wasnt it only natural to wipe out those obnoxious Minotaur? However, more preparations were needed for this matter. After all, the pressure from an Earls presence was indeed formidable. With that in mind, Kael looked at Baron Newman, who had a smile on his face and a look of anticipation in his eyes, and said very seriously: "As you said, Uncle Newman, you should consider my opinion. Count Rezhes proposal for an alliance is false; his intention to exert pressure is real. Clearly, he already sees us as being in the same trench. I truly cant bear the thought..." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Knowing the jargon of the trade, saying one thing while meaning another, especially after seeing Baron Newmans deliberately revealed dissatisfied expression, he realized he had guessed right. Just as Kael was about to fan the mes further, he heard urgent footsteps approaching from beside him. He saw a girl stride past him ande to stand before Baron Newman, her back to Kael. He could only see the red hair cascading down like a wave of heat: "Father, dont you think saying such things is quite unbing?" Unexpectedly, his daughters reaction was so intense that he scratched his head, looking like a child being scolded by his mother. He sighed deeply and raised his voice slightly: "But Count Rezhe truly is a very dangerous man, although, to be honest, I do look down on him." Kael, too, watched with interest his nominal fiance from behind, feeling a sense of familiarity. He couldnt help but feel a bit emotional. In his previous life, the LGBTmunity and another group with unnamed buffs had begun to exert significant influence within the Human Federation, trying to convince everyone of their beliefs. He had thought he had be ustomed to these phenomena, but now, this girl suddenly burst forth, like a knight wielding a longnce. She didnt say much, and her words werent particrly sharp. But standing proudly with hernce, she instantly shattered the harmonious atmosphere, pointing thence at the person speaking to you. You might not know if she had ever noticed you, but you would trust her. Just as at this moment, with her back to you, you couldnt see her beautiful eyes that had caught your attention, but under the midday sun, her hair spread out like a fine aged wine. This was the first time he had encountered such a girl, seemingly indifferent to others opinions, with a confident and fearless air, which rendered the normally outspoken Baron Newman momentarily speechless. Just as Kael was about to say something to ease the tension, he heard the girl say clearly: "Father, Aunt Windsor has already exined the engagement clearly to me. Since it was your proposal, how can you lose credibility at the crucial moment? Father, do you remember when you were newly enfeoffed, I asked you why some people were nobles, some weremoners, and some became ves? Now that our family has be part of the nobility, does that make us different from others? Do you remember what you told me back then?" Baron Newman was momentarily lost in thought, recalling his own exuberance when he was newly enfeoffed. He had been overjoyed, taking nna to a restaurant he had previously dared not visit. Though it wasnt on the same level as Count Rezhes Celeia Jockey Club, that restaurant was renowned for its luxury in the area. Families that were once noble but had since fallen into decline often smeared pig fat on their lips before going out to appear as if they had been feasting on fine foods to maintain their dignified facade. Such non-hereditary nobles and knight-ss individuals were people he had seen plenty of during his youthful adventures. Every time those clowns forced into adventuring crouched on the deck, boasting about their familys former glory, they would always mention that restaurant. "Do you know? Theres a restaurant called Messiah at the biggest port in Enndrance, a favorite among the local nobles. Its said even the Duke has dined there. Before I set sail with you mud-footed sailors, I often liked to visit there." They would always say. They said it so often that young Newman took it to heart. Chapter 14 - 12 Hidden Details That day, when he found out he had been appointed a noble, he happened to be passing by the harbor with the young nna. Remembering the event, he took her there. "Why are some people nobles, somemoners, and others ves? Now that our family has be nobles, does this mean well be different from now on?" At that time, sitting on one side of his table, the mother in a normal family of three turned to look at him, her face filled with reverence and longing. As a Transcendent professional, he immediately noticed the calluses on the couples hands. Clearly, they couldnt be regr patrons of this restaurant. Judging from their slightly worn but clean clothes, they must have had something worth celebrating toe to this restaurant... just like he and nna. At that moment, he looked at his daughter and said... Back then was exactly like this moment now. Baron Newmanughed heartily and said very seriously to nna, whom he had cherished since she was a child: "At that time, I asked you if your room was painted in different colors, with red being the one you liked the most. You said, Yes, Daddy. I said, if I took away the other colors and left only one color on your wall, would you like itpared to the way it was before? You said, No, Daddy, I like it because they all look beautiful. And then I told you, The great creator made people with different statuses, perhaps because having only one color on the wall would be too monotonous? Maybe the creator made people of different statuses and appearances to let us appreciate the true beauty in their real forms, and the nobilitys aesthetics are meant to protect their subjects. So you should be someone useful to your subjects, someone who doesnt exclude those of different statuses. This has always been the case, and it should be." Upon hearing Baron Newmans words, the girl chuckled softly: "Since you wont exclude people of different statuses, why are you hesitating now, Father, and belittling your beliefs because of an Earl? Once the marriage contract is set, it shouldnt change because of his status. This is the time for me to practice the lessons you taught." Seeing this exchange between father and daughter, Kael was also moved for a moment. What a fierce Lady Knight. No, it should be said that a good father would not raise unworthy children. On the contrary, his thoughts were a bit too narrow-minded. Even if he said binding the Newman family to his chariot wouldnt directly provoke Count Rezhes underhanded tactics, making such a decision required significant courage. "Since it is my daughters decision, there is nothing more to say. Of course, I will support you all the way. Hahaha~ You are right, its just getting involved in the Charles familys messy waters. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om I cant y noble politics better than he can. After all, the Charles family was taught all this, but these noble lords havente to the frontier to open up new territories for years. The methods that country bumpkins can y with, these noble lords cannot. Good daughter, you certainly have your own opinion. Once the marriage contract is set, do not betray it. And... nna, I dont recall teaching you to always turn your back on your fianc." Baron Newman winked at Kael behind him. nnas shoulders trembled as if she had deted. The arrogant aura she had just now instantly weakened. Realizing the situation, her face reddened. When she regained herposure and saw the exceptionally handsome young man, she met his warm gaze, causing her heart to skip a beat. Her cherry lips moved slightly, just wanting to say something. But she saw the young mans expression change slightly and thought it was because she had hurriedly rushed out and her clothes were in disarray, so she instinctively nced at herself. However, there was no problem. Could it be because of her boyish attire? For a moment, nna felt a bit anxious. "Dont overthink it. Its just that, seeing Miss Enna for the first time truly took my breath away, and made me lose my focus. Its no wonder I heard of Miss Ennas beauty even while working at the Mage Academy." Upon hearing Kaels unabashed praise, nna slightly suppressed her doubts. Maybe she had just seen it wrong earlier? Baron Newman, on the other hand, found the atmosphere between the two quite good, but still slightly reminded them: "But Kael, you need to prepare yourself mentally. Count Rezhees with ill intentions. Although your health has improved significantly over the years, you must remain cautious. Some people, when they cant solve a problem, will chose to solve the person who made the problem. Rezhes ancestors were merit nobility. If they truly wanted to cause trouble, it would be a thunderous strike. You need to be well-prepared." Baron Newman rarely spoke to him so candidly. Kael didnt refuse his kindness but just smiled and said: "I have already asked Grandpa White about my uncles situation. Although Rezhe is the n Leader of the Charles family, he ultimately isnt the legitimate heir of the Lion Heart. With the Lion Heart above him and the Federation Noble Council controlling the power shifts of the elites, as long as I dont make mistakes, I merely need to find the protection of the Noble Council. If ites to that point, the easiest solution for him would likely be to directlye after me." "Your health... seems to be much better than Brother Anthony mentioned." Newman sighed, "Did Brother Anthony finally make his choice?" Kael frowned and said: "Did Father tell you so?" "More than that, Anthony has already prepared himself mentally. If your health didnt improve over the years, he would look for an opportunity to take a Federation mission and go after those Holy Sanctuary Madmen hiding in the Land of Lawlessness." Kael shook his head and said: "Is it really necessary to go that far... If it came to that, how could I risk Fathers safety for my pride?" Baron Newman lightly tapped the table and said: "Your health has a problem. Its not just the long-termck of essence extraction. Even if you were filled with the best essence, it wouldnt help. This is a bloodline disease. There are many ways to repair it, the simplest being to replenish the bloodline with the essence of the Holy Sanctuary Crystal. This is why your father never forced you to extract essence, because it was fundamentally ineffective." Kael nodded to show his understanding, but involuntarily thought of a piece of data on his system panel. [Race: Human?Incubus?Unknown Bloodline?] Even if The Gate of the Lower Realm was a fanciful world that didnt care about science, such a bloodline ratio was clearly problematic. This also cleared Kaels doubts. He couldnt understand why Anthony, who loved his original self so much, would let Kael slowly die. It wasnt that he didnt want to, but that he couldnt. "Since you have already formted your n, I wont interfere much. But as family, I must remind you... to think more and act only when youre sure. You cant afford to lose now." Kael smiled and promised: "Dont worry, I understand." Chapter 15 - 13: The Blossoming Blood Rose Baron Newman, still concerned about Kael, nheless did not intend to say anything disheartening when he saw the young mans resolute eyes. After Kael had left, Newman sat in the living room for a long while. nna sat opposite him, watching her fathers expression change. "Father, whats wrong?" "nna, would you me me for tying you to Kaels chariot?" nna sighed deeply and said softly, "Ive said it before, Father. Since its already a done deal, I wont back out halfway through... Even if our future may not necessarily turn out sessful, the issue isnt Count Rezhes coercion, but other more pressing realities that we need to consider." Baron Newman did not speak, his gaze gradually became distant. Anthony, have you really thought it through, bringing that child into this whirlpool of danger? Are you not afraid that one careless move could shatter him to pieces? ... Meanwhile, elsewhere. Kael boarded the carriage back to his territory. Once inside the carriage, his expression changed dramatically, and he thought to himself, "Why is it her?" His face went through several changes. Previously, it had been but a fleeting nce, so naturally, he hadnt seen the girls features clearly. When nna turned around a moment ago, out of politeness he had taken a longer look at her, which sent a subtle shock through him. It wasnt simply because of what he termed an "eye-catching" issue, but because of the storylines that had urred within the original timeline of the game. Kaels desire to distance himself from the Charles family was precisely because the Charles family would be embroiled in the Duchys political turmoil in the future. It seemed that the Federation Secret Agents had found extremely damning evidence against the Charles family, and in a very short time, the family waspletely destroyed by the governing officials and the jointw enforcement department. However, the notoriety of this mission and the attention it garnered from countless yers, even leading to reys, had another reason. The story began with a murder case in the Newbie Vige of the Lancaster Territory, where a noblewoman from one of the domains (considered big shots to yers who had just started ying) died at the Lancaster Manor. Thats right, not inside the Manor. The red-haired noblewoman, deprived of her knights spear, was impaled and nailed to the wall outside the second floor of the Lord Mansion, her crimson blood coating the wall. This incident caused quite a stir among the small group of yers who were part of the initial limited beta test. On one hand, it was because the noblewoman was indeed very attractive, and on the other, many yers in the Lancaster Territory had received a lot of help from her. ording to yers who had interacted with the noblewoman back then, she came to the Lancaster Territory to investigate the news of her fiancs death, the previous Lord of Lancaster. In the 1.0 version of the story line sorted out by "Underworlds First Paparazzo" [Irresponsible Fish], this professional paparazzo, known for "being seen on camera but not in person," rarely added personal emotion in his reports, but did so in this case: "That NPC was quite interesting. Just say youre loyal to the Lancaster Territory, and willing to assist in investigating her fiancs death, and she would offer you great help. It could be a simple, unadorned Newbie Sword, perhaps a Mage Potion, and she would also assign us missions. Every time we brought her some relevant clues, an undisguised smile would always appear on her troubled face. Back then, when the game had just entered open beta, most yers were a group of ruthless task machines, and few were willing to stop and truly understand the stories behind the quest chains. I happened to be one of the few who did. In my spare time, I asked her how an NPC like her got the resources to distribute as rewards, and if someone specifically delivered them to her. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The girl who didnt seem much older than me would look at me with surprise and say, How could resources simply appear out of nowhere in this world? All of these I obtained from the Dungeon and exchanged for in Fransburg. Im really grateful for your help in finding so many clues. I dont have much money and cant give you anything nice. All I can do is try to kill more monsters in the Dungeon to give you some things that you might find useful. Her smile was truly beautiful. When I looked at her scarred hands, I was at a loss for words to describe my feelings at that moment. I just felt she was a flesh-and-blood NPC. Later...ter she died. I dont want to know what conspiracies lie behind this, nor do I care if the damn developers coffin is nailed shut. Right now, all I want to know is who did it, who to kill, and how manyI just want to go on a killing spree!" The attached screenshot showed a girl in armor lying as if asleep, her red blood mingling with her long hair like blooming blood roses Then this story arc went viral thanks to the female boxers on the Garbage Bin APP. Although "The Gate to the Underworld" was very popr in a small circle at that time, it was still a while before Kael joined the game. He only heard a rough outline of the games story during that period, and was not very clear on the details. However, the incident recorded by the explosive outing of the female boxers left a deep impression on him. He had seen that photo of nnas death, circted with usations of the games unfairness to women, over a dozen times. Yes, it was indeed his beloved paper-character wife. The real worlds bustling chaos clearly had nothing to do with the game world. Back then, the open beta yers investigation of the clues led to the involvement of the Charles family. The exact circumstances were unclear, but it was known that the yers who couldnt keep their mouths shut had attracted the attention of the Federation Secret Agents. Later, the Charles family was promptly cooled down after being tangled up in this investigation. Of course, whether they cooled down or not didnt matter, because now the concern was not just about nnas life or death. [RampantLittleFish] That dead paparazzi who loved to hype up CPs exposed another piece of information The previous Lord of Lancaster, nnas fianc, had died before they even met nna. Considering Old Whites n and Baron Newmans character, it is likely that in the games original timeline, my former self also took the path to formally engage nna. And then, without leaving even a name behind, just died in the street. Without even knowing how it happened. "The n to level up must be prioritized immediately. In a world where personal strength rules, power is the foundation that secures everything." He rolled down the car window and gazed at the lush scenery around him, his eyes gradually hardening with determination. Lets start with that Dungeon, get reacquainted with my new powers, and then enter the next phase as quickly as possible. Kael admitted that he had been a bit ck, but after being awakened, a sense of urgency suddenly surged within him. And so, without another word, he returned to the Lord Mansion, heavily preupied with his thoughts. Chapter 16 - 14: A First-Level Mage, Terrifying as Such The next day. Kael, slightly tired, got up for breakfast and then changed into his Mage Robe. He sought out Old White to ready the carriage, preparing to visit the Dungeon. Old White was surprised, stepped forward, and said, "Young master, pardon my boldness." After speaking, he lifted Kaels loose sleeve, pinched his arm, and the smile on his face became brighter as he did: "This... not only has your frail condition not worsened, but it has also significantly improvedpared to ordinary people. Young master, have you sessfully assimted Mr. Anthonys core?" Kael nodded his head, "Strictly speaking, not only has my body be stronger, but my professional rank has also been upgraded." "Formal Mage (LV2)?" "Formal Mage." "Great! Young master, let me take you to the Guild for registration. With this status, you will also have an additionalyer of protection." Old Whites thoughts coincided with his own. His n B for escaping the arranged marriage was to be a Formal Mage and use the power of the Mage Association to fight against Earl Rezhes forces. After the master and servant discussed, they freshened up a bit and went to the Lancaster Territorys Guild. There is no formal Mage Association in Lancaster Territory. Although the territory is vast, it is sparsely popted, and there are only a few formal members of the Mage Association, so its not possible to build a dedicated Association there. Even wealthy mages wouldnt spend their money this way. Simr situations apply to the biggest association in the Human Kingdom, "Curse Swordsmen Association," the upation guild "Iron Guard Association" thats easy to learn but hard to master, and the "Forest Patrol Association," which primarily deals with scouting and exploration. In these sparsely popted territories on the periphery of the federation, such associations are indispensable and difficult to establish independently, so they rely on the Adventurers Association. Multiple parties jointly fund the creation of a Guild that is shared by various associations within the region. Some of the foundational functions of different associations will be integrated into the Guild. For example, the rted registration after the upgrading of a mages professional rank is included therein. Lancaster Territory is in this situation. When Old White boarded the carriage with Kael and arrived in front of a building, they were met by the person in charge of the Guilding forward: "I was wondering who woulde to the Guild this early in the morning. Turns out its Young Master and Mr. White." "Jones, since you came to Lancaster, howe the opening hours have been gettingter?" Jones touched his disheveled beard, looking somewhat sheepish as he said, "Slept in... what professional wouldnt call it sleeping in? Besides, didnt I open on time?" Old White chuckled without saying anything else, stepped back to make way for Kael, and said, "Were here to register the Lord for his Mage qualifications." Jones was stunned for a moment, giving Old White a meaningful look. Old Whites expression remained unchanged. Joness face became a few degrees more eager, he wiped the sweat from his palms and stepped forward with a loud voice, "That truly is an honor. Lancaster hasnt seen a Formal Mage for several years. Just recently the head of the Frantown Mage Association wasining about this matter to me. Id been thinking it was about time for some neers. Look at this, herees the Lord. Good fortune is knocking on our door." Leading them into the Guild, Jones took a standard-issue half-staff Magic Wand from a safe at the counter and handed it to Kael, saying: "Lord, this is a standard-issue wand produced by the Mage Academy. Its inferior to your fine Magic Wand, of course, but please use this wand to release any first-level spell of your choice. The Recording Crystal here will upload the image to the Royal Capital, where a senior mage assigned to review the images will evaluate it. Once approved, youll be recorded as a recognized Formal Mage." Kael nodded in agreement, gazed at the target in the backyard, and said, "So, I just need to break the target, right?" "Yes, you only need to break the wooden target next to... Before he could finish, six condensed Water Guns appeared around Kael, and a spreading halo of ice-blue light made Jones involuntarily step back half a step. He opened his mouth, shivered, and then pressed his lips together, saying no more. ng and booming sounds erupted, and the humanoid iron target next to the wooden one was perforated by the Ice Arrows that burst forth, turning it into a porcupine. "What abination, the Chain Water Gun Technique with the Freezing Aura, and such a fast simultaneous spellcasting, Lord, your magical control is truly profound." Although Jones was not a Mage, and didnt know much about the spellcasting certification standards, merely coborating with the Mage Association for on-site verification as a heartless tool person, he was still a professional. Just seeing Kaels fluid spellcasting speed and the immediate pration of the iron target was enough to deserve his praise. Who the hell outside said that Anthonys son was as weak as a goose? That iron target was used to test the sword damage of registered curse swordsmen, not to test official Mages. Attacking the strength of curse swordsmen with the Mages weakness and achieving such an effect was truly astonishing. But how should he exin to the Curse Swordsmen Association that their testing tool was blown apart by a Mage? Jones scratched his head and felt a bit troubled for a moment. However, his hands moved quickly, transmitting the information from the Recording Crystal shortly after. Soon, feedback came back. [Magic Type]: Combined Damage Magic [Damage Assessment]: 3 [Casting Speed]: 4 [Average]: 3-4 [Assessment]: Granted Official 2nd Level Mage StatusLuxius Parker ... [Location: Duchy of Lancaster, Royal Capital, Frantown Mage Academy, Inside Mage Tower] Monarch of the Enchantment Department, Honorary Vice Dean Luxius looked at the noodles boiling over the alcoholmp, warming his hands. Having forgotten the time while doing magical experiments thesest two days, he was now so hungry he felt dizzy, and there was still an experiment to be der, so he decided to make do with some rations. N?v(el)B\\jnn Suddenly, the gemstone at his waist shed, and he picked it up, ncing at the live scene of the official Mage test that had been sent for his review. Just as he was about to look at the "Mage Evaluation Level" section, the noodles in the beaker suddenly began boiling over. Luxius turned his head and stirred the noodles with a fork, and when he looked back, he found that the iron target in the image was already prated by Ice Arrows. "Huh, not bad technique there. Even among 2nd level official Mages (LV3), hes quite skilled." So, he offhandedly wrote a note in the [Assessment] section. Granted Official 2nd Level Mage StatusLuxius Parker After writing, the glow from the gemstone gradually faded. "Huh, I hadnt noticed just now, but it was only a 1st level Mage test, didnt I give a rather high assessment?" After saying that, Luxius scratched his already thinning hair: "Never mind, it doesnt matter, the casting speed and damage indeed meet the standards for a 2nd level Mage assessment, and Mage levels are not so inconvenient a matter, are they?" ... At this moment in the Lancaster Guild, Jones was scratching his head and wondering how the official Mage test ended up with a higher rating level. But he didnt dare to ask, and certainly didnt dare to say the big shot made a mistake in the scoring, as in the realm of magic, he was the professional. So he could only cough once and say to Kael: "Lord, the backstage review has been passed, from now on, you are an officially registered 2nd level Mage." Old White: "Huh?" Kael: "Oh." Chapter 17 - 15 Dont be nervous, watch my performance Having left the Guild, Kael headed to the eastern border of the Lancaster Territory as originally nned. There, thergest defensive force of the entire Lancaster lineage was stationed, and it was his destination for leveling up today. Excluding a small number of magicians who solely relied on bloodline magic spells for theirckluster performance, magicians, as a magic-based profession, also needed to study magic models. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Mastering the use of bloodline instinct in magic modelspared to relying on instinct to use magic models, the gap between the two cant be put into the same category. Furthermore, excavating inherited magic models is, in itself, a process of inheriting the knowledge of original bloodline spells. Usually, if one wishes to make progress in this area, there are two simplest methods. One is to follow the schrs path of Mages, making fine adjustments to ones own magic models through knowledge inheritance and tutge from esteemed teachers. The other is to take the practitioners path of Mages, disregarding everything else and just doing it. Its not that just fighting can optimize the magic models, but that after a fight, youll know the shorings of your magic models when facing an enemy. With a new direction for development and the help of specialized magic books for reinforcement, many magic models with practical battlefield functionality are developed under such circumstances. However, for Kael at this moment, the most important thing was to follow his past lifes path in magic direction and climb back up, focusing on raising his too-low professional level by going through dungeons. As Kael gradually approached the border, he could almost visibly feel the concentration of magical substance around him steadily increasing. Old White, who sat next to him with stern posture, also began to emanate a changing aura, and Kael sneaked a nce at him. Old White was indeed a man of strength. He also seemed to be a man with a story. "Young Master, we are nearly at the area where the portal to the lower world is," Old White said softly. "Hmm, I hear it," Kael replied. The sound of hooves and the friction of armor, he could faintly hear it. Gazing at the border, which was far different from what he remembered in the Lancaster memories, he suddenly felt as if he was worlds away. "Clip-clop~" A series of hoofbeats sounded, and Kael saw a cavalryman charging toward the edge of the region. As the carriage slowly came to a stop, Kael felt the knight dismount before the carriage and kneel on one knee: "Lord, your knight, Jonathan, hase to escort you." Old White stepped out of the carriage, reaching out to catch Kaels hand as he was about to disembark. Kael stood in front of this knight, looking somewhat bewildered towards Old White. "Jonathan is the Knight Captain of the frontier rangers and a trustworthy individual," Old White stated softly. Kael nodded, extended his hand to help him rise, and asked, "Whats the situation around the portal to the lower world now?" Jonathan responded, "The Rune Magic Statue in the center of the Twisted Jungle shows no signs of activity, but recently, there has been a wolf crisis in the area, with many Corrupted Tree-men and Huge Hoofed Deer fleeing. We could attempt to redirect some of the Huge Hoofed Deer to the pasture on the west side of our territory for settlement, but the Corrupted Tree-men and the Shadow Wolves causing the wolf crisis are somewhat troublesome." "Shadow Wolves and Corrupted Tree-men?" Kael nodded in understanding. It was just as he knew from the game. The Dungeon in the bordends right now should still be the Twisted Jungle, a ce from a special world afflicted by the misuse of magic. It was filled with arge number of giant Golden Trees that required over a dozen people to embrace and stood hundreds of meters tall, all influenced by the magical substance. Their habitats were home to the Huge Hoofed Deer capable of leaping on the massive tree trunks and the Shadow Wolves that preyed on the Huge Hoofed Deer. As for the Corrupted Tree-men, yers from his past life only learned after clearing the dungeon that these tree-men came from a magic civilization of their world before it shattered, the uncontrolled biological weapons created from the abuse of magical substance. Theirbat capabilities were average, and because of their nt-like nature, they could even be considered somewhat sluggish in reaction. The greatest threat was probably therge amount of corrosive liquid that sprayed out when they died and their bodies exploded. These Corrupted Tree-men were Kaels targets. He looked toward the forest shrouded in a mist and the protruding arch-like gateway on the ground, which, in his eyes, was surrounded by countless magical essences as beautiful as the stars adorning the night sky. That was the gateway to the Dungeon. A slight smile crept across his heart. Twisted Jungle, your undertaker has returned! "Lord, are you entering the Dungeon?" Jonathan said, noticing Kaels eagerness, "Shall I call a small squad of Light Cavalry to apany you?" "Jonathan." Old White spoke up, "Bring me a sword, I alone apanying Lord Kael in should suffice; lets not disturb the other guards." Jonathan hesitated, his expression flickering, and said in a low voice: "With your protection, certainly better than a troop of Light Cavalry, I am at ease. But please be extra cautious; it seems that a leader among the Shadow Wolves in the Twisted Jungle has emerged, posing no small threat." Old White looked at Kael, and Kael nodded, saying, "Lets decide on that then. This time, well mainly look around the outer ring. Its not necessary to delve deep into the jungle." Jonathan nodded, "Then let me escort you both there." With that, the group headed toward the archway. ... Passing through the gateway, apanied by a slight sense of dizziness. Kael saw the magical essences, like stardust, rushing towards him, passing through his body. He gagged, then raised his head to look at the scene in front of him. The hundred-meter-high Golden Trees blended with the thin daylight and the mist in the distance. Faint howling from the wolves in the forest could still be heard. Kaels gaze gradually changed, and a few calctions began to form in his mind. At the beginning of different versions of "The Door to the Netherworld," the supeputer "Divine River" that supported the game would periodically produce various promotional CGs. ording to the habits of the "Divine River" supeputer, these promotional CGs would generally consist of randomly edited clips from many recent events in the game. But in the early days, when the game needed to attract yers attention like a peacock spreading its feathers, "Divine River" would select representative clips from recently outstanding NPCs, as [Promotional Materials] for different professions. Most importantly, these CGs that resembledrge advertisements for attracting investment, primarily judged not on strength but the professionals appearance. Attractive enough or standing out in a unique way. High entertainment value of skill effects. Higher damage from skillspared to peers within the same level. This was the experience summarized by yers after having encountered the corresponding NPCs upon entering the game. Although no one could verify whether the internal test CGs were based on these criteria, Kael felt he might as well try. He was confident in his looks... pah! He was confident in the entertainment value and strength of his unique skills. "Young Master, were here," as the master and servant delved deeper into the Twisted Jungle, the sound of rustling gradually surrounded them. Soon, several hunched creatures that resembled distorted, hollow tree trunks slowly approached them. "Grandpa White," Kael ced a hand on Old White, who was about to draw his sword, and chuckled, "Dont be nervous, just watch me perform." Chapter 18 - 16 Air Waltz Standing before the approaching Corrupted Tree-man, Kaels gaze gradually became calm. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Whenever he quietly stood there, it gave off the serene and content feeling of admiring flowers on a spring outing. But the Corrupted Tree-man clearly wasnt the type to be merciful or delicate. The moment its hollow eyes spotted Kael, itunched an assault without hesitation. Unlike their slow movements, when they attacked, their thick roots, entwined like vine whips,shed out with the force of a whip, causing bursts of sound in the air. Fast as a startled rabbit and still as a maiden, where was the slowness in these Tree-mens actions now? Just as Old White drew his sword, preparing to join the fray, Kael moved. "Magic Silk Thread," activated! He instantly shaped Magic Energy into silk threads. With a slight movement of his spiritual power, several pale blue threads formed between the trunk of the Golden Tree and the Corrupted Tree-man. He lightly flicked his fingers, and the dense silk threads instantly tensed. The front row of Tree-men who were charging straight at him were now bound at their roots. Reliant on their roots for lotion, the Tree-men were already on unstable footing. Tangled up like this, three of them immediately lost bnce and toppled over, their vine whips swaying erratically and raising dust as they missed Kael and struck the ground beside him. Kaels face was the epitome of tranquility as he looked up at the subsequent Tree-men arriving, "Silk Thread Maniption," activated! Threads, nearly invisible, instantly coiled around various parts of Kaels body. As Kaels exclusive skill, Silk Thread Maniption was essentially using Magic Silk Threads for traction, allowing him to quickly move short distances. Since the pulling speed of the Magic Silk Threadsrgely depended on intelligence stats, with Silk Thread Maniption activated, his dexterity value surged, and with the traction of the Magic Silk Threads, he achieved astounding speeds within a small area. His body became like a puppet, with theg of nerve reaction speedpensated for by the speed of spiritual force feedback. Threads shot out, fastening onto one of the Tree-men that hadnt been restrained. In that instant, his body turned into an afterimage, pulled by a gust into the Tree-mans face. Raising a leg, the outline traced by his shoe tip instantly came together to form a slender Water de. Faster than the Water de was the sprawling Freezing Aura. If that split-second approach and swift leg raise heralded the swiftness of the strike, then the Ice de, turned solid by the Freezing Aura and elerated by the swung thigh, became a deadly edge. The nearest Corrupted Tree-man, having fallen to the ground, let out an uneasy roar. It frantically tugged at its body with arms like wooden limbs, crawling toward Kael. But the moment it raised its head, the cold light of the Ice de had already swept across its body. Its actions stiffened for a moment, a fine line appearing on its body; the corrosive acidic water from inside the trunk began to seep out. It was already dead. Meanwhile, Kael was spinning in mid-air, instantly being pulled away from its vicinity. Despite the approach being a movement that concealed a chilling intent to kill, one could still see his gentle turning form, as if he was dancing. The threads linked from all around Kael to his body made one feel as though they were beholding an exquisitely carved puppet. And the threads linked from his hands to the enemy, in tandem with his movements, came together and apart, giving a feeling of disjointed fragmentation, as if hands joined and then let go. Old White, standing by with his sword ready to deflect any danger, lit up at the sight. Graceful, so graceful! However, before he had time to praise, Kaels movements became sharper. Each strikes forceful power hinted that this dance wasnt meant for mere viewing, while the threads on his body gave an even stronger impression of a marite, especially as his movements sped up and the light gradually left Kaels eyes, leaving him looking more and more hollow. Just as Old White was shocked by his young masters deathly dance, he was indeed lifted by the threads, evading the attack of two encroaching corrupted orcs, stepping on the vine whip to rise into the air. "Do you also wish to dance?" Following the threads in his hands, he charged toward the enemy again, each strike swift and sharp, yet blending dynamics with elegance, like a solo dance, while the threads asionally tugging on the enemy made it seem like a pas de deux. While spinning, the Magic Silk Thread left more and more wounds on the corrupted tree-men, and Kael, not satisfied, shaped arge flow of water around him. Under the influence of the Freezing Aura, it turned into a huge Circr Ice de, which he grabbed in his hands. The spinning elerated, and the waltz flung out. The Circr Ice des, suspended in mid-air by the Magic Silk Thread, spun at high speed and flew out, tearing outrge gaps before being yanked back toward Kael by the threads. With the dexterity bonus from "Silk Thread Maniption," Kael dodged the returning edge of the ice des, a level of agility impossible at his level, grabbed the handle of the Ice de, and with a turn of his body, elerated the de for another throw. The high-speed spinning Ice des, like a cutter, whipped up an ice de storm in the gaps of the forest. Corrupted tree-men at the perimeter were startled by theirrades pitiful howls and gathered in this direction. Whenever the spinning Ice des slowed down, he would pull them back, physically elerating them. As graceful as a startled swan, as smooth as a swimming dragon. When the 33rd corrupted tree-man fell amidst the flying ice shards, only a giant tree-man, a head taller than the others, was left on the field. Corrupted Tree Elder. This fellow counted as a rather threatening creature among corrupted tree-men; yers exploring the Twisted Jungle for the first time in a past life had their fair share of troubles with it. It was, in a sense, the Twisted Jungles version of the Jackal Wolfman, Hog. Even if it was those expert yers from a previous life, truly adapting to the attack pattern of the Corrupted Tree Elder andpleting a speedrun unscathed, that only happened sometime after the server opened. But unlike now, where the tree elder, purportedly a stumbling block for new yers inter generations, roared without managing an effective counterattack. It was covered in wounds all over its body, and even the rationality that was suppressed by its frenzy began to resurface under the call of intense pain and the premonition of death. But clearly Kael had no intention of delving into the backstory of the corrupted tree-man. He just wanted to ughter spectacrly! This time, he didnt catch the Ice de pulled back by the Magic Silk Thread with his hands, instead, he kicked out with his feet towards the des body. The already terrifyingly fast Ice de, under the force of a more powerful kick, turned into a wheel slicing the tree elders body in two. Finally, he rotated and was lifted into mid-air by the threads, descending in a spin amongst the ice shards, like an elegant dancer performing an aerial waltz on stage, bringing the entire dance to an end. The overwhelmed Ice des shattered into fragments of ice crystals and fell to the ground, alongside the Corrupted Tree Elder, almost split in two from the heavens, by the high-speed spinning Ice de. Old White looked at the young master turning back to look at him through the ice shards, with the light streaming through the Golden Trees canopy pouring onto the ice, reflecting a dazzling array of particle light effects, like a frozen world masterpiece. By now, Old White was starting to feel a tinge of envy for the person who would be able to stay by Kaels side in the future. However, for some reason, he always felt... it was as if the young master was not so much fighting as consciously performing. But there were only the two of them, master and servant, so who exactly was the young master performing for? Chapter 19 - 17: If Youre So Bad at Playing Games, Why Not Go Home and Raise Pigs? [Prompt: You killed a Corrupted Tree-man (LV1), sessfully plundering Life Essence, Level Experience Points +10] [Prompt: Your skill "Water Gun Shock" proficiency increased, Skill Experience Points +2] [Prompt: Your intelligence reached the first-stage eleration standard for Skill Experience Points, "Water Gun Shock" additional Skill Experience Points +2 (Extra Skill Experience Points earned for every 5 points of intelligence)] [Prompt: Your skill "Freezing Aura" proficiency increased, Skill Experience Points +1] [Prompt: Your intelligence reached the first-stage eleration standard for Skill Experience Points, "Freezing Aura" additional Skill Experience Points +1 (Extra Skill Experience Points earned for every 5 points of intelligence)] [Prompt: You killed a Corrupted Tree-man (LV2), sessfully plundering Life Essence, Level Experience Points +39] [Prompt: You killed a Corrupted Tree Elder (LV3), sessfully plundering Life Essence, Level Experience Points +107] [Prompt: Your skill...] ... Kael nced at the game panels log flooded with messages, a satisfied smile appeared on his face. A series of attacks against the outer Corrupted Tree-men directly added 40 points to Kaels "Water Gun Shock" Skill Experience Points, and 20 points to "Freezing Aura" Skill Experience Points. And the level experience bar went from [Magician LV2 (0/2500)] to [Magician LV2 (1222/2500)]. The progress bar had directly passed the halfway mark! It had to be said, the way yers leveled up was indeed unique. If their attributes were not harder to grow through self-trainingpared to NPCs, this game would not havested ten years, yers would have been the dominators of the world within one or two years. Kael was extremely satisfied with his execution of the mid-air waltz. At this stage, how many peers could match Kaelsbat skills? Count them all, how many natives could match Kaels natural advantage? Never underestimate the gold content of a professional yer! Even among the Longevity Species in "Dungeon Gate," how many could risk their lives to skyrocket theirbat experience? Not to mention the countless dungeon raids and wipes yers had endured to cope with theplex and variable dungeons. The average Paradox Interactive yer, J-level war criminal. The road to top-tier gamey was paved with the corpses of countless yers, and a significant portion of the top yers became professional e-sports yers, engaging in even more brutal fights on the global stage. Under such fiercepetition, most people remained anonymous ordinary yers, how many names could be remembered, and how many could ensure entry into the global league? Top-tier battle instincts and operation skills, coupled with high-frequency trainingbat. Any professional yer who entered the global league was a monster among monsters. When Kael was still called Ning Ruyu, he and his club[Strange Power Chaos God]s boss, a top-rich second generation with enormous financial backing, were jokingly called "worse than pigs and dogs" by numerousizens. The two were known as the Champion Wall. It was because only the core yers from clubs that had won championships in "Dungeon Gate" had a good chance of beating them. But the chances for other rtively ordinary yers to win against them were slim. They might even bepletely crushed. Not great but not terrible inparison. As a result, Ning Ruyus haters would always praise them by saying "only the champion core can beat them" before showing their true colors... And when they encountered a strong team version in the global league and sharply lost, they would immediately curse, "When will Strange Power Chaos God die, really just sending Phantom Gods to the world championships." Ahem, such bad memories were better left unspoken. After all, in e-sports, being weak was the original sin, for many championship fans, if you won it was "World No. 1 ," if you lost badly, your nationality was gone. Enjoying glory automatically meant bearing the weight of expectations and abuse, this was the fate of all professional yers. But even if the president + financial backer of [Strange Power Chaos God], "God of Wealth is Arriving", recognized as one of the top-tier yers but also considered the biggest faux pas among top-tier yers, it depended on who he waspared with. Compared to the few monsters at the top of esports, there were certainly noticeable differences. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om But ifpared to first-tier yers, crushing them was amon urrence. Not to mention the other extreme of the Champion Wall, Ning Ruyu. His skills werent actually a problem, it was more about the inherent shorings of thebat system based on Magic Silk Thread he developed. Not being one of the first yers to enter "Dungeon Gate," it was hard topete against those professional clubs who started strong and snowballed from the very beginning of the game. But at this stage, among the natives of his age in "Dungeon Gate," purely in terms ofbat skills, Kael couldpletely dominate them, begging them not to die. "At the current rate, when the closed beta ends and the official release starts, Ill be able to outpace other yers by a huge margin!" He thought to himself, casually epting the silk handkerchief handed over by Old White. Old White looked at Kaels purple-frozen palm with pity, cautiously wrappingyer afteryer with the handkerchief, while saying: "Young Master, if you want to test spells next time, you should take better care of your body." Kael didnt think much of it, but he thought it would be better not to worry the old man too much, so he smiled and said: "Grandpa White, Ive finally awakened my Incubus bloodline, I have to find a way to make my body stronger!" "Stronger?" "Theoretically, the more frequently a professional is exposed to the same type of unusual power during their growth, the more likely they are to develop a special constitution to resist that power during their growth." Old White affectionately ruffled his hair, "... Theoretically?" "Theoretically it can be done..." Kael wasnt lying to him, yers in theter stages all knew, to increase the special keywords in the [Trait/Passive Column], especially Element Resistance and Element Affinity, such adaptive damage was unavoidable. The advanced metamagic feat [Total Element Affinity]s prerequisite passive [Elemental AffinityIce] was the special passive he nned to max out first. The old housekeeper saw the stubborn look on the little masters face and sighed, "Even if you want to acquire transcendent feats, you should take better care of your body. Preparing Special Potions in advance or getting guidance from a master with high-level feats is much better than throwing yourself headfirst into the relevant domain." "..." Kael found himself momentarily speechless. "Are you aiming to get[Enhanced Reflexes]or[Elemental AffinityIce]?" Old White asked. Kael: "..." Old White actually knew? For yers with game panels, they naturally knew that by simting and acting, they could add quite a few passive keywords to themselves. He could even potentially convert long-term passive keywords into feats. But C Chapter 20 - 18: The Eve of Internal Testing However, for the native inhabitants who do not have a game panel, it is impossible to systematically feel this kind of progress. Take the specialty "Reflex Enhancement" to the legendary specialty "Legendary Reflex Enhancement" as an example, yers can continuously refresh the passive progress bar through a series of operations, umting to form the progress of a legendary specialty. But what about the natives? They are akin to starting from scratch, even trying to cross the river by feeling the stones is out of reach for them. They can only umte experience and lessons through trial and error, and that experience might even be wrong. The true realization of the existence of "Specialties" for the nativeses at the instant they advance to the Holy Land, where they can integrate their life experiences to generate the entry for the corresponding "Legendary Specialty." The qualitative change from "Passive" to "Specialty" and then to "Legendary Specialty" allows every Holy Land inhabitant to truly feel the existence of the legendary specialties. But such news generally circtes only within the Domain of the Holy Land and above. How to retrace the path of top powerhouses bing stronger, integrating scattered life experiences into replicable passives, specialties, and even legendary specialties, is in itself information of tremendous value. This important information... Was it told to him by his own father? Or is it that Grandpa White himself knew about this? If its the former, how much trust must his father have in Old White to divulge the foundation of a Holy Land inhabitants standing so readily? If its thetter, then Old Whites past bes quite interesting. Kael chuckled softly, but had no intention of digging deeper. Old White undoubtedly held goodwill towards him, otherwise, with his knowledge of the Charles family, he could have easily put him in mortal danger. "It is Elemental AffinityIce, hiss, I have to say, this thing is quite chilling to the touch." Magic Power fluctuated around Old White, a warm force permeated into his palm, and the hand stiffened by the ice element rapidly returned to its original ruddiness. Old Whites voice sank slightly, "Oh~ but this will cause frostbite to the young masters skin, which wouldnt look nice." Kael: "..." Whats with this undisguised tone of disappointment? Old White spoke with a tinge of regret, "Although Elemental AffinityIce is not like Reflex Enhancement, capable of developing an elegant posture and slender fingers, as a specialty topensate for a mages defensive weaknesses, its still pretty good." So your regret is about not being able to have an elegant posture and slender fingers? Youre really all about appearances, arent you? Kael maintained an impassive face, discreetly adding, "Elemental AffinityIce can improve skin quality to some extent, making flesh and bones as clear as ice jade, and it can also greatly enhance my casting strength." Old White nonchntly pulled out a notebook from the inner pocket of his tailcoat and started making a memorandum, "First, let me see if there are any mild ice-attribute materials nearby the Lancaster Territory. Ive been to a Dungeon before, where there was a creature named Shiva, born with the superb magic specialty Elemental AffinityIce, graceful and beautiful, with skin as white as snow... What I mean is, their strength is indeedmendable, and if they could receive systematic mage training, its conceivable that Elemental AffinityIce would be quite suitable for the young master." In the end, Old White put away the notebook, adding very seriously, "We need to prepare early." Kaels lips twitched. He felt likeughing. Had he triggered some switch in Old White, like a Pandoras box being opened by an unboxer, unleashing the indescribable? For some reason, his neck felt chilly. Maybe it was because the Mana on him was running low. Even with the Mana reduction from "Magic Control LV7", the overwhelming waves of battle still resulted in a considerable drain on his energies. They didnt linger, and the master and servant followed the road back, leaving the Twisted Jungle and returning to the border. After getting on the carriage, he paused for a moment. Old White, who was behind him, nced at the Lancer standing by the carriage and asked, "Lord, did you forget something in the Dungeon?" "No, its nothing. Get on the carriage, Grandpa White." Once the carriage started moving slowly, Kael found an excuse to lie down for a little nap. Just as he got on the carriage, he heard a notification sound from the game panel. [Detected that the game beta testing will start in one week. Pre-download channel is now avable. "Game Forum" function is enabled.] [Today is also a day full of hope. Wee back, my warrior!] He tried to open the built-in game forum. As he had guessed, the game hadnt even started overhyping to yers yet; the forum didnt have a single post. He tried posting himself, but then a notification popped up saying "User does not exist." Troublesome Can only look but not speak, huh? This way, the idea of controlling public opinion to guide yers fell through right at the outset. N?v(el)B\\jnn However, cutting leeks is a skill in itself, and guiding public opinion with forum functions would be better. Without it, its not like there arent other ways topensate. Its just that being able to look but not speak is somewhat lonely. Meanwhile, in another time and space, at a location in Yu City. The neighbors Little Kitten, male, 22 years old, a top indigenous up-riser and game streamer. As for why he goes by a nickname instead of his real name, perhaps its because he has always promised to release game strategy videos but ended in either "definitely next time" or "maybe next time," fearing his fans rage might lead to them sending des in the mail? In recent years, as virtual technology from the Human Federation shifted from military to civilian use, a plethora of virtual reality games sprang up like mushrooms after rain in various industries. Unlike those streamers who deeply delve into one type of game and bind themselves to it, "The neighbors Little Kitten" focuses on game reviews, and his critiques are as discerning as his tastes, to the point that shoddy game developers have grown somewhat fearful of asking him to review their games in the past two years. Today, after purchasing a game touted as a AAA title, he went to check the yer reviews out of habit as usual. But when he nced at the top trendyments, he noticed that the yers focus was quite strange. "My review: not on par with the original demon (lifts skirts)" "The least you can do is make the characters sway a bit, how am I supposed to give you a good review?" "Keep it up, optimize the model a bit, the heroines nose is a bit deformed" The Little Kitten, who was live streaming in first-person view from inside the gaming pod, was silent for a moment and then exasperatedly said, "Who exactly are the people ying this game? Do they all want to rush at the screen or what?" Little Kitten, with righteous indignation, criticized the other yers and then seriously started the game. Half an hourter, he quietly exited the game and said to his viewers: "What the brother said in thements is right, this character is as stiff as a nk, I think we need to find another game." Facing the barrage of teasing from the live chat, Little Kitten smiled disdainfully and opened the virtual game tforms purchase square. Chapter 21 - 19 Trailer Released However, before Little Kitten could sift through to find an appropriate game, the chat box at the bottom right corner flickered, and a notification sound chimed. "Ive seen this avatar before; its from a pro yer of the AS clubst time." "I know, I know, Atomic Signals club, the perennial runner-up from the previous Domination pro league." "Domination, cant apany just die first for once!" "Open it, open it, let me see what sort of friendship transactions UP has with these clubs." Little Kittens fans were mostly gamers, and their curiosity about the behind-the-scenes life of professional yers was rather strong. The moment this notification popped up, it immediately drew the attention of many fans. Little Kitten was mentally prepared for any surprises that might appear in the livestreamit was all part of the norm. But he wasnt a "face-cam streamer" or a virtual idol in costume, and there certainly werent any friendship transactions with the AS club. Could it be a bombshell revtion? No way, absolutely impossible. He decisively clicked to open the chat window. AS, Nai Feitian: "You there? Seen the promo? Ive got a beta code for you, 300 Lingot currency included, no need to thank me." Someone elses Little Kitten: "????" AS, Nai Feitian: "I got word, theres this game in the annual g that hasnt hit the shelves yet but has already clinched the Best Game Production of the Year award. The promo was out just five minutes ago, and its a knockout." AS, Nai Feitian: "The Nether Gate is the name, you can search it on the virtual gaming tform, its rock solid... wait, are you streaming? I mean the game is hardcore solid, dont give your fans the wrong idea. Im a decent person!" AS, Nai Feitian: "So, do you want, want, want..." Someone elses Little Kitten: "Type slower, my fans didnt get that." AS, Nai Feitian: "Is it really that exaggerated? Im already typing as slow as possible." Someone elses Little Kitten: "To the average person, it is, and even for some professional yers, its too much. I heard Strange Power Chaos God reported you for disrupting the match." AS, Nai Feitian: "Eh eh eh~ If I cant win the argument, Ill just unleash a Big Silence spell, but cmon, thats not fair!" Someone elses Little Kitten: "I think they have a point." AS, Nai Feitian: "Cat Giant, we cant keep chatting if youre like this!!!" Someone elses Little Kitten: "So, are you advertising that game? I just saw you post it on your Moments too." AS, Nai Feitian: "Ah? No, I just heard from the takeout manager that the tforms about to release a monster-level new game, so I went to check it out. The promo was really well made, I have to admit. By the time I snapped back to reality, time had flown." Someone elses Little Kitten: "Have you looked back at what youve typed?" AS, Nai Feitian: "" (AS, Nai Feitian retracted a message. Guess what was retracted.) "Whats with that promo thats got you so pumped?" Little Kitten was a bit curious. Professional eSports yers have seen a lot, and for such praise from Nai Feitian, there must be something noteworthy about it. He selectively ignored Nai Feitians mention of the "takeout manager" and pondered whether it was worth the risk of losing money to check out the promo for the new game. What? You ask why its losing money? I could have made a nice sum from advertising, and now I havent, so isnt that losing money? AS, Nai Feitian: "Anyway, about The Nether Gates promo, are you going to watch it? Its truly spectacr, and although its a fantasy theme, it feels as refreshing as chewing on some Excel gum, watching it for the third time now." With that, he sent over a link directly. Little Kittens lips twitched as he addressed his audience, "See, this is the professional yer youve all been dreaming about. Behind the scenes, hes still all about his deep-fried dough snacks." Then he added another line, "So tell me, should I watch it or not?" Beep beep~ AS, Nai Feitian: "So, are you gonna look, look, look..." "Im not watching! Psycho!" This guy is such a chatterbox! But Little Kitten didnt send a message, he just made ament in the livestream. He scratched his untrimmed hair, feeling somewhat irritable, and said to his fans, "Let me tell you, fantasy themes have no market, both domestically and internationally. Im just not interested in this kind of thing, I really dont want to y... unless they pay a lot!" Then a fewments popped up in the live chat. What does the ipetence of the game manufacturers have to do with my dislike for fantasy adventure themes? What if, I mean what if, that game takes off, wouldnt Little Kitten be pped in the face? Little Kitten thought about it and wondered if he had sounded too absolute just now. Then he saw a new message from Nai Feitian. Perhaps feeling a bit too explosive and unfriendly toward one of the few good friends in his circle, he hesitated for a moment before opening the chat window. He clicked on the trailer link. Just going to watch it, just to appease Nai Feitian, otherwise hell nag at the next offline meetup, boasting about hotpot and spicy crayfish which is a headache even to think about. The mere thought of it is giving me a headache. Ill just look at it, just a peek! The webpage redirected. A y window popped up. Clicked on y. Apanied by the howling of a gale, the logo of "Portal to the Nether" slowly appeared and then got scattered by the wind. Great winds arise. With epic and grand music resounding, through the snow-flurried mountains, a figure wearing heavy armor and wielding a two-handed greatsword two meters long appeared, He was riding a pure-blooded armored Griffin, with thick frost hanging on his body, and through the cracks of his helmet, one could glimpse a pair of deep eyes. "My son." "You grew up in Yibel." "The food you eates from the soil of Ingnds." "The water you drink is from the southeastern rivers." "Your life is now inseparable from the Humans, from the children of Yibel." "You are a citizen of Yibel, under the rule of Human." As the deep male voice narrated with an increasingly mncholic undertone, the camera zoomed out to a long shot. As the view widened, the bloody armor of the Griffin Knight revealed a backdrop of ruins and dismembered bodies. Above that apocalyptic scenery were the mountain-like contorted masses of flesh. N?v(el)B\\jnn "Kael!" In that moment when the deep voice roared with the name, The iron steed moved, as if awakening from a deep slumber, with blood-red magical power spreading from every joint of the armor, resembling a fiercely zing blood sun. The background music suddenly became more uplifting. Inside the gaming pod, Little Kittens body twitched as if his fur exploded. Sss! He gasped in a breath of cold air. These lifelike, top-tier visual effects fit for a movie, this hair-raising music... His expression started to get serious. Chapter 22 - 20 I admit I was a bit loud just now From a godlike panoramic view above the virtualndscape. The blood sun heavily sank into the mountains of flesh. The Evil Gods flesh, marked by Divine Descent, was eroded by the scorching curse at this moment. The music gradually became steadier. On thend where blood and snow melded together, the Evil God pierced by the entire Divine Descent spoke indifferently: "To think that you could destroy this Sacred Body of mine, but such a powerful Forbidden Technique will surely recoil upon you as a curse, tormenting the one who cast it." The dull footsteps echoed as the Knight set down his shattered one-handed sword and did not look back, kneeling on the ground and brushing the snowkes off hisrades helmet. At this moment, a womans whispering voice in the background music, like a sirens song, seeped into the soul. The Knights deep voice rose once again. "My child." "Blood knows whence you came, heart knows whither you go." "Do not be yed by power itself, nor should you reject it, but summon the courage to master it." The falling snowkesnded on his armor as he gently stroked the Griffins fur beneath him, which seemed to understand something, letting out a series of mournful cries and taking flight. With increasingly rousing music, the camera zoomed higher and further away. Following the Griffin, it crossed the snowfields and mountains, winding through rivers and seas. The camera zoomed out. There stood a towering structure, rising into the sky like white bone spears. The snow had melted, and daylight hade. The rising sun illuminated the city below. Castles, Spiral Towers, Baroqueplexes, low t buildings, slums And this scene. Was deeply imprinted in Little Kittens eyes. On the screen. The man in heavy armory atop the high tower, with the morning sunlight pouring down, the camera freeze-framing the blood-stained face of the man whose helmet had been lifted. He had died. Yet he was smiling. The background music abruptly turned at a dramatic point and came to a sudden stop at its peak. When the background music resumed, it had changed to a lighter, more rhythmic tune. Ten cards, each bearing a character portrait, shed across the sky, and a line of text quietly emerged. "Foundation sses of the Lower Realm!!" Rotating above the cards, a line of text appeared. [Barbarian] (Open) [Bard] (Open) [Priest] (Open) [Wanderer] (Open) [Warrior/Sorcerer] (Open) [Mage/Magician] (Open) [Druid] (Not Open) [Martial Monk] (Not Open) [Pdin] (Not Open) [Forester] (Not Open) ... As the background music gradually reached the chorus, silhouettes emerged on the cards marked "Open." All six open sses lit up one by one. Scenes of different ss characters fighting appeared. The first to appear was a Barbarian, muscles bulging, who, amid wide sweeps and powerful strikes, decapitated a ferocious beast in the scene. Little Kitten shook his head: "I dislike muscle-bound characters who only know how to train and sweat." What followed was a Bard who, ying the ordion and driving magic with music, seemed a bit brooding. Little Kitten focused briefly: "Oh~ This slightly brooding ss looks much more interesting than the previous one." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om A Wanderer who moved through the night, sneaking into vaults, stealing secrets, and safely escaping after setting deadly traps. Little Kittens eyes lit up, he sat up straight unconsciously smiling. He had always liked this kind of old-coin-type ss. But in the next second, he saw the Yining Priest holding a Holy Scripture fitted with a rams horn, chanting "Holy Light!" while purifying a Monster. Little Kitten: "???" He was forcefully silenced by this hardcore purification. "You call this a Priest? Which Priest tears apart monsters with their shirt bursting open while swinging the Holy Light Iron Fist?" The streaming room effect was great, with "Purify (Physical)" barrage flooding the screen. But he was quickly drawn to the Warrior/Sword Casters screen. After the Priests scene transitioned, a red-haired girl who looked like a Knight appeared onscreen. Clothed in light armor, she wielded a one-handed sword wrapped in red glow, delivering lightning-fastbos with extreme precision. The same spots on the monsters tough scales dented, and the rapid strikes precisely hammered those dents, with the blood-red curse power corroding the wounded areas. After a few seconds, the scales, corroded by the curse power, could no longer withstand, and the red-haired Lady Knight tore through them into the flesh. Before the monster could let out a wail, the Lady Knight leapt in ce; with one fierce kick, she pierced right through the monsters chest with the hilt of the sword still in the wound, causing it to copse with a thunderous fall. "Wow~ so cool! I admit this girls looks are not inferior to mine." "Wife!" sparse barrages in the viewers vision were instantly suppressed by a dense sea of question marks. And the increasing speed of these question mark barrages was visibly skyrocketing. "Hmph, dont you guys always say youre fans of a beauty streamer? What now, not admitting it? I find that Barbarian full of hot air, I consider that Bard too pretentiously reserved, and then theres that Priest, somewhat inhumane, and that Wanderer with his face covered... I say Im more handsome than all male NPCs that have appeared so far, right!? Rounded up, that makes me the most handsome! Whats the value of a beauty streamer anyway!" Little Kitten made a tactical lean-back gesture, looking utterly self-satisfied. Until the appearance of that young man... Walking calmly like strolling in a garden amidst the attack of a dozen massive Treants. Pulled by Magic Silk Thread, and every now and then, he would adjust his center of gravity if he stumbled, with that little tail shaking behind him, always causing a knowing smile. Rotating his body to elerate the massive Ice de again and again, coordinating with the crisp pop of counter slings from the tree whips, the shing and forging sounds surprisingly keeping pace with the background musics beat. Whats worse, in that gorgeously executed Melee Mage scene, the camera that captured the battle unexpectedly began to pan to the young mans clean face that provoked sinful thoughts. In the mid-air waltz, the fading glow in his eyes made him appear even more delicate and, indeed, seductive... to the extent that viewers were already making inarticte gori noises like "Ahhh ahh ahh!" As hended and finished off thest Treant, the young mans dim eyes lit up once more, and amidst the snowke-filled sky, like sensing something, he slightly tilted his head and a shallow smile appeared on his face. The promotional video ended abruptly there. Cute... I want to... Little Kitten was lost in thought for a long time. He even considered going offline to have a cigarette, and check with a friend who was a psychologist in Yu City whether there was something wrong with his head. He had calcted countless possibilities but never expected to be astonished by a males beauty. Why do I feel a sudden thrill, even thinking that scene looked a bit risqu? Dumbstruck, he shivered and instantly snapped back to reality, looking towards his streaming room. As expected, the chat had exploded, and lines of barrage kept streaming. "Hes looking at me, hes looking at me!" "Style, The Invincible!!!" "So handsome, Ive fallen for this kid" "_(:١)_ For the first time, I know what a smile thatunches a thousand ships means, and its on a male NPC" "Bros, meet in the 3D section!" "Hahaha" "He smiled at me, he must like me" "Male Mama?" "No Male Mama, no Male Mama!" "Dont start flirting in the streaming room" "To be fair, that rhythm! That impact! That level of difficulty inbat! Its not on the same level as any other NPC from any career enactment Ive seen before. I dont know how to describe this feeling" "Its a different style, isnt it?" "Exactly!" ... Seeing the barrages in the streaming room, Little Kitten felt his heart racing, but somewhat reassured. It wasnt me who was wrong, but... "Folks, I admit he looks a bit better than me... No, wait, what does that have to do with being a game streamer? Personal attacks are not allowed!" Little Kitten showed a dejected expression. He felt his foundational status as a "beauty streamer" in the hearts of his fans was being shaken. The assumption was his fans were truly consistent... In any case, he felt he needed to do something now to control his fans who were speeding towards getting the streaming room shut down. Thinking this, he opened the chat window and found Nai Feitians avatar. Double click. A chat window popped up. Little Kitten: "I admit I was a bit loud just now. What I meant was, how much? Send me a closed beta code privately, and Ill treat you to 6 pounds of spicy crayfish this weekend" Chapter 23 - 21 The internal test begins System selection interface [Tip: Please set your nickname.] Typed in "Eighth Level Gale." [Tip: That nickname already exists, please set a new one.] "Damn, troublesome... Forget it, Ill just use the ount given by the club. System, Id like to apply for the use of the professional yer exclusive ount name rights.] [Tip: Detected that you own a virtual game B-level league professional yer ount, ount nickname Guarantor Human Soul, would you like to activate the exclusive name ount?]" "Activate." [ount activated, based on the Beta Character Preference Form you filled out previously, we are now randomly selecting an initial birthce for you... due to the beta test agreement, your birthce is: Bell Federation-Duchy of Lancaster-Lancaster Territory-Oby Vige.] [Neural connection function activated, thought eleration system started, direct connection seeded, being born now, please wait...] Oby Vige, one of the few viges mainly ced in the first round of beta testing. When Guarantor Human Soul came to his senses, he found himself here. After getting up, he noticed he was lying on a patch of grass. The warm sunlight made thewn a bit hot, lying there, one could vaguely catch the scent of rotting grass and trees. Wait a minute... scent? Guarantor Human Soul looked surprised. He looked up to take in the surrounding scenery and then nced at his own body d in a hemp garment. "Wow... this is getting interesting, new technology, huh? No wonder it has been pre-selected as the best game of the year before the public test." He scanned the surrounding environment and saw that the grassy area was already filled with many people. Seeing the curiosity with which that group was examining their surroundings, it was expected they were yers. Many of them were hopping about the grass like unleashed Siberian retrievers, as if they were afraid the grass beneath their feet would scorch them. Others were gesturing in the air, clearly unfolding the system panel to understand its features. He even heard a guy who just got up next to him mumbling about why he couldnt create a female character, and mid-attempt to take off the hemp clothes, he vanished into light and disappeared. Guarantor Human Soul, who had been staring at that guy, felt a pain in his eyes and was almost blinded by the Holy Light that the guy emitted when he was kicked offline before it could fully fade. "Fuck, Holy Light... I cant see anymore." Guarantor Human Soul covered his eyes and rolled on the ground, it took a while for him to feel his vision returning. He was still too young. As a young yer who had sessfully joined the B-level league team TCK through an esports club training camp and served as a substitute, Guarantor Human Souls entire being radiated with the youthful vigor of a greenhorn. Clearly, Guarantor Human Soul, who had been well-protected, aside from maintaining high-intensity neural reaction training, did not have a clear understanding of how naughty other yers could be. After all, even this closed beta slot was handed down to him by a senior in the team who was toozy to try out the new game. He attempted to open the system panel. Personal panel Nickname: Guarantor Human Soul Gender: Male Race: Human Level: 0 Profession: [Main Profession-Civilian LV0 (0/500)] [Secondary Profession: None] Free Attribute Points: 0 Health: 1000/1000 (The lower the health, the closer to death) Vitality: 100/100 (Vitality is simr to stamina, the lower the vitality, the harder it is to act) Mana: Not activated (Different professions will have differing energies represented by mana) Attributes: Strength 0.8, Agility 0.8, Stamina 0.8, Perception 0.8, Intelligence 0.8, Will 0.8 Specialty/Passive Bar: None Skill Bar: "[Reconnaissance]-You can recon part of the enemys secret information, but if the level difference is too big or the target has anti-recon skills, you might be detected and arouse their animosity (Be thankful, you originally didnt even have a basic skill)" Evaluation: Every yer is a future lord... what I mean is, right now yourbat strength is that of a goose. ... Guarantors mouth twitched, nearly bursting intoughter, but after the failed chuckle, he felt his pride slightly wounded. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om He lifted his head to look at the distant medieval countryside that was partly hidden and partly visible, vaguely seeing traces of smoke and fire. Seeing more and more yers gathering around, he rolled his eyes and, with a mischievous grin, loudly said: "This nearby forest is so big, is there anyone who wants to team up and go monster hunting in the forest, so we can watch each others back?" As soon as the words were out, some of the nearby yers reacted, and those who already knew each other started calling friends, nning to venture deep into the wilderness to see what the games wilderness was all about. After shouting that, Guarantor quietly slipped out of the crowd and walked unhurriedly in the direction of the vige. Halfway there, he suddenly realized that three people were silently following behind him. He warily nced back at the three of them, then after a moment, he asked with some suspicion, "Traveling together?" The young man at the front wasnt annoyed, heughed heartily and said, "Sure thing, bro. Youre quite the trickster, eliminating thepetition as soon as the game starts. I like your style." Having said that, he added, "Strange Power Chaos God Club, just call me by my in-game nickname God of Wealth." Guarantor paused for a moment, "Youre the investor behind Strange Power Chaos God...?" God of Wealth spread his hands with a sigh, "If you want to say Im an easy mark, just say it. Ha-ha, I dont mind that. After all, everyone needs hobbies. Paying a bit of a price for it? No problem, absolutely no problem!" Facing the heavy burden of his financial power, Guarantor felt the weight on his knees grow heavier. Investing in an eSports club, nurturing a hobby, spending a fortune? Are these three things really equivalent? He could only picture God of Wealth, sitting in an executive chair, casually holding a stack of cash and saying to him, "Dont challenge my pocket money with your sry." Luckily, God of Wealth seemed to understand the others apprehension about his identity. He patted Guarantors shoulder and said: "Rx, buddy, Im not that scary, I still have two eyes and a mouth, look C aside from a fortune-bringing face, Im no different from a normal human." Fearing Guarantor wouldnt believe him, he leaned in closer, pointing at his own face trying to convince Guarantor. Guarantor took a deep breath and whispered, "Are you following me because you need something?" God of Wealth smiled and said, "Let me introduce first. This is a new yer our club is training, Qing Ya past the Cold Pond, just call him Qing Ya." A tall guy who looked a bit young and bashful nodded at him. God of Wealth pped him not too lightly or heavily on the shoulder, causing the guy to shudder. "Qing Ya, were all of the same age. Show some spirit! How are you going to be a pro yer if you dont speak up?" "Okay! Hello, Im Qing Ya past the Cold Pond, just call me Qing Ya or Xiao Ya!" his decibel level shot up a notch. But after speaking, his face turned slightly red, and he wilted a bit, looking somewhat distressed as he said to Guarantor, "If you need help, as long as it doesnt affect our club, you cane to me." It looked like if God of Wealth said any more, Qing Ya would have a mental breakdown right there. "Well, for now, being able to do this much is quite good, huh?" God of Wealth spoke with some hesitation but ultimately didnt force Xiao Ya further. Seeing this, Qing Ya exhaled with relief. God of Wealth then pointed to the girl who was a bit shorter than him and said, "This one here is a friend of mine in real life, not a member of the club. Her in-game nickname is Lone Wanderer of the Empty Mountain, just call her Xiao You." Lone Wanderer of the Empty Mountain was a lovely girl who showed cute dimples when she smiled. Although the circle of eSports yers has be much more open these days, the percentage of female pro yers is still rtively low. Guarantor, despite being talkative online, giving unsolicited advice, didnt have many direct interactions with strange girls and felt a bit restrained for a moment. God of Wealth didnt seem to mind and looked at him very seriously and said, "I can see youre a smart guy, so I have a mutually beneficial proposal to discuss with you." "Hmm?" Guarantor paused, "You can go ahead and tell me." Chapter 24 - 22: You crave his body, you are despicable! "Hmm?" Guarantor was slightly stunned. "You can go first." God of Wealth arrived, nodded and asked, "Have you seen the promotional video for the Gate of the Lower Realm?" "Seen it. It was really quite shocking." "The first batch of beta testing willst for one month. After elerating the thinking process, it corresponds to just 10 days in real life. Based on the clubs assessment of the games potential, its clear this is not one of those virtual online games that n to burn brightly for a couple of years, satiate themselves, and then run off with the profits. Thirty days of game time may seem long, but in this game, who knows how long it will take us to gain a foothold. Youre a member of the TCK Club, so you should have undergone relevant training and have some understanding of this." Human Soul nodded. That was why he had just guided some people to go into the forest to hunt and level up. But he wouldnt go. Whether they could hunt monsters in the forest to help yers advance was one thing, but he didnt want to end up bing the Monster Hunted instead of bing a Monster Hunterit would be tragic. Instead of focusing on leveling up or exploring ways to be a professional, Guarantor preferred to gather more information and buildworking advantages. He didnt need to guide everyone to hunt monsters. He just needed some people to be a little slower, one step after another, to gain a time advantage and exploit informational gaps. That was why he had been a bit wary when God of Wealth called him Lao Liu just now. God of Wealth pped his hands andughed, "Since youve seen the promotional video, thats much easier to talk about. In the promotional video, you should know howrge the games map is. Instead of fighting with so many yers over the limited resources in this small vige, why not think differently... For instance, the four of us pool our money and ask an experienced viger to take us to a town in the Lancaster Territory by some means of transport, where there will be more development opportunities." "Then why not head straight for the central Royal Court of the Bell Federation?" Guarantor instinctively replied. God of Wealth shook his head and sighed, "Given our current situation, what would we do in the central Royal Court? The Royal Court is likely full of strong yers and wealthy merchants. In that environment, how much of a chance do we have to stand out? Moreover, theres a very crucial reason why we have to immediately give up on the idea of heading to the central Royal Court." Guarantor was curious: "What is it?" "We dont have enough money." When God of Wealth mentioned this, Guarantor seemed to hear him slightly grinding his teeth. It seemed this sponsor, known for his Strange Power Chaos God, rarely experienced such frustration despite having money, and his mood was less than pleasant. "So why choose me?" Guarantor asked. "Do you need a reason?" "Shouldnt I need one?" "Then I can only tell you, I, God of Wealth, have always liked making friends, especially smart friends. Effectivemunication is the beginning of mutual benefit. I think we could get along well." "Then I agree." Having received the final answer, Guarantor extended his hand. "So, boss, happy cooperation." God of Wealth showed a broad smile and continued, "Then lets split up and gather information about the vige." The four nodded and quickly dispersed. ... When they regrouped, their expressions became even more serious. "Any impressions?" By then, God of Wealth no longer looked as rxed and cheerful. "Its a bit too realistic, in every sense. Very realistic..." Qing Ya crossed the cold pond and said seriously. God of Wealth gave him a suspicious look. "Why did you run over my face with the wheel?" "Huh?" Qing Ya was stunned, as if he didnt understand what that meant. "Its nothing. I overthought it." God of Wealth skillfully changed the topic, then looked at the thoughtful Xiao You and asked, "Xiao You, did you hear anything?" "The information about transferring military technology for civilian use should be true. My dad said I should y this game more if I have the time." Xiao You, deep in thought, briefly hesitated. Had military-to-civilian technology advanced to this extent? But without any evidence, he could only keep this thought to himself. God of Wealth paused, then continued, "Is there a reliable way to take us directly to a town in Lancaster Territory? I found a lead through the vige head here; hes willing to provide a donkey cart." Guarantor interjected, "There is, but its probably not as reliable as yours." After thinking for a half-second, he disclosed more information, "The cksmith at the smithy here has a son who serves in a Ranger Squad in a border town. Their main task is to guard the Gate of the Lower Realm leading to the Dungeon." Everyones eyes lit up, and they spoke in unison: "Dungeon?" 3 "If not a dungeon, it should involve many rted tasks." Guarantor gave a positive response. "Is the initial system-provided money enough if we split it?" Xiao You asked. "Enough. Are you willing to bet?" God of Wealth replied without needing to do the math. "Why not?" "Then hurry up!" ... Three dayster, the group was riding the vige heads donkey cart from Oby Vige, steadily heading towards the Lancaster Territory town. "Finally arrived at the destination..." After three days of riding, passing through five viges, they finally saw the outline of the town. Half-starved and sleepless along the way, three dayster, even though they could relieve mental fatigue by logging out, they were still thoroughly exhausted. Its funny; this game always put extra effort into unnecessary details, making them both hungry and tired along the way. Fortunately, the suffering was about to end. [Hint: You have entered a new area, unlocking the exploration achievement "Titan Town"] When they entered the town gate, the sentry questioned them. Seeing they had no proof of residence, the sentry had them wait at the gate while he fetched a temporary entry permit. While the yers were waiting at the checkpoint, the sentry turned and reported the suspicious activity: "Suspicious individuals spotted. Quickly report this to Mr. White. The Lord is currently inspecting suspicious individuals. Do not dy." Then he turned back, grabbed a few temporary permits from the sentry window, and mumbled, "Since yesterday, why do these strange-acting people seem to be appearing more often?" An old soldier processing residence permits nearby chimed in, "I heard from Mr. White. These people seem to be citizens of Shangtiyas domain, you know, those living in the Divine Kingdom. Their customs might be different from ours?" The sentry was taken aback and said, "The citizens of the Mother Earth and Harvest Goddess? No wonder several priests and nuns from the Earth Mother Goddess Church showed up recently." "Watch your words! Dont speak too much, hurry on, dont let those foreigners harbor suspicions." "Oh!" ... On the other side, those who finally made it into the town sighed in relief. They had sessfully entered. If they couldnt get in, all the time and effort they had spent would have been wasted, and they might have been livid. "Whats the n now?" God of Wealth asked. "Find quests?" n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Gather intelligence?" "I heard there are Incubi in this game..." Everyones eyes turned to Qing Ya who crossed the cold pond. He seemed a little embarrassed by the attention and stammered: "I saw in the promotional video, the mage with the incubus tail looked different from others. Hes probably an NPC with many hidden tasks... Exploring hidden quests, right! yer questing for hidden tasks cant be considered inappropriate!" "You sneaky crow. You crave the incubus body, how low." Xiao You scolded, then added approvingly, "I crave it too; at least Im honest. I just want a few quests. Just not sure about the NPCs name. I dont want to do anything, just grab some tasks." God of Wealth nudged Xiao You. Xiao You looked at him in confusion, "God of Wealth, whats up?" God of Wealth looked awkward, opened his mouth as if to say something, but finally uttered, "Check private chat." Xiao You blinked, instinctively opened his private messages, and saw a message from God of Wealth: Dont turn around yet. The NPC you crave is behind you. Find an excuse to bluff. Once you turn around, dont use any detection skills... looks like my detection skill alerted him God of Wealth sweated as he looked at the smiling youth who was observing them. The youth looked young but struck overwhelming calmness at first sight. He curiously sized up their group. Had he not immediately seen the [HIGH DANGER] tag after using a detection skill, this might have been a memorable first meeting? [Hint: You have used detection. Based on the targetsprehensive evaluation, you received the following basic information.] Name: Kael.D.Helois Gender: Male Race: Human?,Incubus?,Unknown Bloodline? Identity: Lancaster Lord Other: The gap is toorge to view more information Warning! Warning! Your detection has been noticed by the opponent! Since you are within the territory of the detected person, the town safety-zone restrictions are lifted Chapter 25 - 23 First Intimate Contact (Mistake) God of Wealth remained motionless, and he didnt know why. It wasnt that he was scared of the NPC who seemed powerful in the promotional video. Whether the NPC was strong or not had nothing to do with me. If a conflict really ensued, it would just be a matter of life and death. Meaning he was kneeling before me begging not to die. But when that young boy looked at him with flickering eyes and curiosity, he felt a twinge of shame for some reason. It was as if he had just made a very impolite gesture that caught someones attention. If he had to describe the scene in his mind right now, it might resemble noticing a girl with a nice figure and snapping a photo of her. Then the sound of the click drew the girls gaze back to him, and you realize shes someone you know. As she stares at you with wide eyes and tilted head, saying nothing... For some reason, the face of that female ssmate in his mind was gradually blurring, reced by the face of the boy wagging his tail. Tsk, what am I feeling embarrassed about? "Casually using the Divine Arts bestowed upon your subjects by Her Grace is very impolite, you know? If you meet someone with a bad temper, you could really suffer. And thatdy facing away from me, theres no need to use the secret techniques of the Earth Mother God tomunicate, nor worry about how to deal with me. Im not the type to get upset over such matters." Upon hearing this, the person turned around and coughed once before standing straight and said, "Theres no helping it. People naturally be more curious towards beautiful things. Its just that sometimes, it indeed causes trouble for others. If I have made you ufortable, I sincerely apologize!" Look at that, look at that. Thats what we call eloquence. This girl really speaks nicely. Kael chuckled softly, gazing at the group of yers, feeling contemtive for a moment. yers are here, peace reigns in the territory! yers are here, justice has arrived! (Referring to encouraging the new yers to venture into the Dungeon to fight monsters) Of course, thats not the point. The system panel is indeed a rather magical thing. One can tell a lot from the messages prompted in the backend. For example, when he first saw God of Wealth approaching, he noticed an interesting alert in the system panel. [Alert: Your perception dominates the "Undead," perception check passed, you have detected traces of the "Scout" Divine Art] [Alert: Your subjective judgment affects the "Scout" Divine Art, scouting effect nullified, you have discovered the caster "God of Wealth," "Guarantor Human Soul," "Qing Ya through the Cold Pond"] Kael was pensive. So the scouting skills of the yers are represented by the effects of Divine Arts in the eyes of the local residents? Even nullifying the effect of a scouting Divine Art just needs ones personal judgment? Ha, interesting! Just by firmly believing that yers have used scouting skills on oneself, even if one doesnt reach the level to nullify the scouting skill or even sense which yer has cast the skill, one could still nullify the scouting effect? The nullification effect brought on by ones own conviction in scouting is indeed rare. And as for why he is so convinced that yers will use scouting when they meet... Do we even need to talk about it? When he was a yer himself, he did the same thing. Even virtually every yer is used to throwing scouting upon meeting, which has led to the discontent of the local residents and ultimately various disasters. Hey? If the scouting effect fails, then the yers should not get too much additional information apart from my name and identity. They cant really think that I am strong enough to nullify scouting skills, can they? Interesting, too interesting! As long as I firmly believe that yers will scout me upon meeting, and if I maintain a level suppression, wouldnt I always appear unscoutable in their eyes? "Understood, from now on, I decidedly believe the yers will throw reconnaissance skills at me." Those who dont use their skills wont get feedback from the system, and those who do will have their skills immediately nullified. Rounding it all up, its almost like rendering the yers skill useless." As for whether there could be any yers whose leveling speed could catch up to mine...pah, are you underestimating Kael, who controls the future direction of development and countless pieces of information, and even has the game panel to support his leveling? Not to mention, games are games, life is life. Even if yers are addicted to virtual games, constrained by reality, they still spend a significant amount of time in their real lives. Even professional esports yers who earn their livelihood from this cant devote all their energy to virtual MMOs, as Human Federation policies also wouldnt allow it. In this case, why should this group of the fourth cmities use their entertainment to challenge Kaels life? Its just not possible. As long as the system panel still functions, the gap between Kael and the yers will only widen. Not to mention, he could also use the method of cutting the yers Leeks to achieve his many goals faster. Thus, this meeting with the yers wasnt because they used their scouting skills to find him and drew him here, but rather Kael proactively went to contact these yers. The Lord Mansion itself is located at the very core of Titan Town. Plus, with Titan Town being the base of Lancaster Territory and rangers, the core defense force of the territory,prising forty percent stationed in Titan Town. In this town, Kael indeed could haveplete ess to all information, and if one includes the ordinary sentries who eat around the Lords table, the number could double. Thinking of this, Kael gave the people a slight smile: "Hello, brave one under the Queens grace, do you have a moment? I need help." God of Wealth, ultimately still thinking like a yer, couldnt help but disy a friendly smile upon hearing this standard NPC quest initiation procedure. "Downworlders Gate" doesnt easily issue tasks. It neither has a group of NPCs with several quest exmation marks hovering over their heads like traditional online games, nor will NPCs actively seek out yers to hand out tasks. Even if you were to obtain amission from an NPC through persistent nagging, its difficult to convert it into a task recognized by the system. More often, yers taskse from NPC official powers and many rtively independent powers publicly issuing tasks. The craziest part is that sometimes these tasks requirepeting with the natives. These messages were all previously announced on the official website of "Downworlders Gate". "It would be our honor to be of service to you, Lord," God of Wealth quickly responded, raising his voice slightly. Among the group present, God of Wealths passion for virtual MMOs was definitely top-notch. If it werent for genuine interest, who would be willing to invest so much money to organize a club from scratch? You have to know, although Strange Power Chaos God Club has entered a popr games major league this year, the core function of this club is still to gather a group of like-minded professional yers for publically funded gamey. After all, there are too many sycophants in real life, and for someone as wealthy as him, many things are aplished too easily,cking any challenge. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Only those high-fidelity virtual MMOs with extensive artificial intelligenceputations allowed him to enjoy the pleasure of starting from scratch and growing together with the forces he built. Although the artificial intelligence of NPCs in various games had been very realistic in the past, for some reason, he felt this game was different. God of Wealth said with a smile, "Just say the word, if we can assist, we will not hesitate to do so, believe me, in helping, we are very professional." this chapter includes images... (Braised Intestines and Rice Crispy Rice Version.jpg) (Pizza.jpg) (Crying Umaru.jpg) Chapter 26 - 24 The Best Leeks Have Sprung Up "How about we find a ce to enjoy some afternoon tea?" Kael gestured invitingly. The group exchanged nces as Qing Ya hesitantly scratched his head and said sheepishly, "Actually, weve almost spent all our money rushing to get to the town." What he meant was that if they went somewhere a bit more upscale, they might not have enough money with them. Kael was surprised and asked with some confusion, "Im the one who wants to entrust you with some tasks. Why should you be the ones to bear the expenses incurred during this period?" The Guarantor nodded frantically, tears welling up in his heart. Such a simple NPC! It reminded him of the times when he was a substitute on The Clown King team and asionally had to double as the delivery manager, collecting takeouts for teammates who were training. That was tolerable; spending a bit of effort to gain his teammates favor seemed like a worthwhile investment for when hed have to coordinate with them on the field. But sometimes when he ordered the food, aside from one respected senior who would secretly give him money and even treat him to a seafood buffet, the other four never paid for their meals. Friggin heck, Im here to be your teammate, not your ATM. Be human, will you? Youre worse than NPCs. Kaels face remained impassive with a slight smile as his gaze swept over the Guarantors soul. "It truly lives up to the internal testing phase. These past couple of days, Ive met quite a few famous high-level yers from my previous life! Of course, that makes sense. The first round of internal test invites mainly went to long-time online yers, professional club gamers, and game review journalists. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om And since the first round of testing happened in towns and viges in the Lancaster Territory, it would be surprising not to bump into familiar faces... God of Wealth and Xiao Ya, needless to say, were teammates in my past life. That A Walk in the Empty Mountains sounds vaguely familiar. Wait, dont tell me hes... damn! Then theres the Laughing Clown Guarantor; Ive heard about him, a promising professional gamer whoter had a fallout with his club and officially quit. What a waste." Thinking this, Kaels smile grew even warmer. They were all fine sprouts of leeks just waiting to be harvested! After receiving affirmative from Kael, the group seated themselves in a modestly decorated establishment. Once they were seated, God of Wealth, who seemed to be the leader of the group, cleared his throat and said, "Lord, may we know the details of the task you wish to entrust to us and any specific requirements?" Kael nodded and spoke, "In recent days, the Pope of the Earth Mother Goddess Church has received a calling from Mother Earth, the Harvest Goddess. Weve learned that Her Holiness will soon send a group of her children, endowed with the Undying Blessing, to the Divine Continent. I was shocked when I first heard about this from the Churchs regional bishop. Its been many years since thest visitors from the divine realms came, especially after the War of the Chosen instigated by the God of Suffering." The group nodded, lost in thought. The official website didnt directly exin the identity of the yers; it simply introduced the main powers within the game, alongside gamey mechanics and things to take note of. Now, after hearing what the good-looking Lord had to say, it seemed that the yers in this world were the citizens of the Harvest Goddesss divine realm. Unspoken but clear, the clout of a Lords station is formidable indeed! He had revealed so much confidential information just through casual conversation. And take a look at the casual Versailles dropped in passing: mentioning Goddesses, Popes, and at the very least a regional bishop. Without a doubt, this was a big fish! You have to understand, during their three days on the donkey cart with nothing to do, they had gone through the game forums extensively. ording to the multitude of intel dropped by internal testers, the information yers had collected from NPCs in various viges and remote wildernesses these days was mostly not as valuable as what they got from the Lords own mouth. After giving the yers some time to think, Kael continued, "Compared with the children of Shang Qiya who are graced with the Undying Blessing, its inconvenient for regr citizens to carry out certain tasks. While the defensive force within the territory is still strong, we really dont have enough spare hands to deal with the Huge Hoofed Deer that have migrated out of the Dungeon. This is a pivotal livestock industry focus for Lancaster this year, but the current wolf infestation in the Dungeon is severe. A wide-ranging migration of the Huge Hoofed Deer would undoubtedly provoke attacks from the Shadow Wolves, so I require additional assistance." As he finished speaking, Kael suddenly noticed that a popup window had appeared before him. [Would you like to issue a quest to the yers?] [Note 1: The daily refreshed task experience points depend on aprehensive bonus from the territorys prosperity and the individuals level and social status] [Note 2: You can decide the additional rewards for yerspleting tasks, including but not limited to unused level experience points, unused general experience points, vocational skill teaching, territories, items, money, etc.] [Your current territory prosperity: (Depends on the size of the territory and how bustling it is)] [Your current personal level: (Every 2 levels count as +1)] [Your current personal status: (Determined by the worlds will collectively)] [Total: ] [Level Experience Pool unlocked, current experience points = 10004+500=4500. Experience Pool capacity: 4500/4500] Sadly, favorability cant be put into it. Kael had tried it yesterday when he issued tasks to another group of yers, but this game doesnt have such a setting as favorability. He silently recited the requirements for issuing the task. At this moment, those with anxious faces finally heard the exciting system notification sound. [You have received a task from "Kael.D.Helois" called "The Lords Ranch"] [Task eptance: Single/Multiyer task, up to 15 people] [Taskpletion condition: Complete the migration of 100 Huge Hoofed Deer and ensure they are not harmed by wolves] [Task reward: 1000 Level Experience Points; 1 piece of special intelligence; 2000 Demon Crystals] Here ites, the task has really arrived. Everyone looked at each other and smiled, epting the task without hesitation. But after the task was epted, the Guarantors soul unexpectedly added one more thing: "Lord, you just mentioned that the Huge Hoofed Deer we need to escort are migrating out of the Dungeon. May I ask if we could get more rewards for bringing out more deer from the Dungeon in addition to the 100 Huge Hoofed Deer?" Kael looked at the Guarantors soul, and seeing the young man biting his lip and cautiously probing, a smile suddenly bloomed on his face: "Of all the Undead who havee to me for taskmissions in thest two days, you are the first to make this request to me." Kael purposely showed an extremely surprised look, then smiled beautifully at him and said: "I had nned to pay you 2000 Demon Crystals and tell you a secret piece of intelligence if you couldplete this task perfectly. However, for clever people, I think the task conditions can be slightly altered." Following that, the Guarantor heard a new system notification. [Your task "The Lords Ranch" has changed. Thepletion condition has been changed to: Complete the migration of at least 40 Huge Hoofed Deer and ensure they are not harmed by wolves] [The task reward has changed to: For each migrated Huge Hoofed Deer, +10 Level Experience Points; For each migrated Huge Hoofed Deer, +20 Demon Crystals; One piece of location intelligence about the "Twisted Jungle" Dungeon; 1 piece of special intelligence] The Guarantor immediately turned to the trio known as God of Wealth and said, "Gentlemen, before we start the task, would anyone like to join me in going to the Dungeon to capture Huge Hoofed Deer. For every deer we capture alive, Ill pay 20 Demon Crystals, not making any profit. But if you can find enough helpers for me, Ill buy each deer they catch for 14 Demon Crystals." He paused for a moment, his gaze seriously turning to God of Wealth: "The difference in the Demon Crystals, half for me and half for you." Upon hearing this, Kael showed a faint smile. How could one not say the Guarantor has the makings of a high yer? Hes learned early on how to share responsibilities, truly a prime sprout of chives! Chapter 27 - 25: Can I Touch Your Little Tail? "Since thats the case, Ill leave the next task to you." Kael made a polite gesture of thanks and then shouted loudly, "Jonathan!" The sound of steady footsteps approached, and Jonathan, dressed in leather armor, walked in from the doorway. At this point, a few yers noticed that the few remaining customers in the tavern stood up one after another and walked directly behind Jonathan as he entered. Kael gave a slightly apologetic smile to the group, saying, "Sorry, the territory has been a bit tensetely, and my subordinates are worried about my safety. When you head to the Dungeonter, Jonathan and his men will take you down, and of course, please look forward to the rewards after the mission." As he finished speaking, a tall figure appeared next to Kael, "Lord, Ive brought the items." It was Old White. He had been hiding in a dead angle out of sight from the beginning, quietly guarding his young master. He was always the type who preferred action over words, but when it came to matters concerning the young master, he hesitated to handle things directly. The young master had grown up, and in the absence of the lord, as the old housekeeper serving Anthonys lineage, he felt it necessary to let the young master understand the various aspects a lord must pay attention to, within the limits of what he could take on. For the housekeeper and the master, their fates were intertwined. Seeing the young master grow rapidly during this period, he felt a heartfelt relief. But... Old White nced indifferently at the four yers, who were somewhat stiff, and snorted before saying, "If you dont curb this kind of disrespectful behavior a bit, the glory of the Sunflower Covenant will be shamed by you all eventually." Evidently, the yers used their scouting skills on Old White the moment they saw him. But to their frustration, unlike the Rangers in the other taverns, the scouting skill failed immediately when used on Old White. Like the friendly Lord, after the skill failed, the only information they got was Old Whites name and his identity as Lancasters housekeeper. There was no other useful information. This gave them some ideas. After all, the general background of "Gate of the Nether" wasid out clearly: This was an era of Nobles. In the grand environment transitioning from thete Middle Ages to the early stages of industrialization, the Nobles held power while also leading individual might. They could scout the attributes of most lightly-armed Light Cavalry and sentries in the tavern without being noticed, and even Jonathan, leading the group, had various attributes visible. They saw information about Jonathans profession as a LV7 Cursed Swordsman variant. But when it came to the Lord and the old housekeeper, besides their names and identities, the onlybel left was "High Danger." Whats more, that young lord could bypass the Systems designated safe zones to punish them. Holy cow, brothers, theres a cheater! The group looked at Kael with more seriousness. It was clear that this Lord was not the kind of ordinary NPC you interact with a few times and never see again in many virtual games. He was a character with strong enough power and a noticeable potential for significant advancement. Or to put it more urately, by just looking at Kaels appearance, one could tell he was no ordinary person. Although the few present were yers, they were evidently far from being chaotic evil pranksters; they took virtual games seriously. Not to mention, the head housekeepers current gaze seemed quite unfriendly. "All right, Grandpa White, dont scare them. Lets have some mutual understanding; none of us have seen the Sunflower Covenants Divine Kingdom, so different customs are normal." Kael reached out and took a small pharmaceutical bottle from Old White, hesitating for a moment. His slender incubus tail behind him stood slightly upright, emerging from his waist. Seeing everyones attention on Kael, he hesitated, not needing to guess that this group of dunces had already activated the Systems built-in recording function. Being directly recorded made him feel a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, but he was never the type to let his emotions affect his ns. In the next moment, the Heart at the end of the tail opened up, revealing sharp barbs inside, from which natural Magic Potion dripped slowly into the bottle. "Hiss~" "Wow~" The male yers gasped. On the other hand, the female yer, Kzans Wanderer, had a slightly flushed expression from the inexplicably erotic scene but quickly suppressed the emotion. With a face full of curiosity, she looked at Kael and asked, "Can I touch your little tail?" As soon as she finished speaking, she realized she had done something impolite. But somehow, she felt as if she had been controlled, and the words slipped out before she knew it. Oh no! The group was taken aback. "Insolent!" N Unsurprisingly, the housekeeper and Rangers became furious. Jonathan even directly pulled out a short sword from his waist, pointing it at Kzans Wanderer and saying sternly: N?v(el)B\\jnn "The Lords honor cannot be sullied. Although harming a weak woman goes against the Knights code, as a Knight, my life is tied to the Lords glory. Unforgivable, absolutely unforgivable! To defile Lord Kaels honor, an Undead like you should cleanse the filth with your own blood! If you still hold the light of your faith, pick up your weapon and duel!" He flung the short sword in front of Kzans Wanderer and took a wooden training sword from his back. "Pick up the sword!" Jonathan shouted angrily, evidently on the verge of losing control. Kael sighed, realizing that without intervention, the situation wouldnt be resolved. The small tail he held suddenly opened up. A breeze blew, making everyone feel as if they were in the Moli Flower Workshop, with the exquisite essence and sweet fragrance spreading freely in the confined space. Bloodline Magic [Sweet Aroma], activate. As everyones expressions gradually calmed, Kael gave them an apologetic look. The original version of Sweet Aroma wouldnt have such effects, but Kael didnt mind investing. Whether from allocating exclusive skills or from a long-term perspective, Kael had already nned out his future. He had long determined the development path for his Magician profession. Revise for a new main ss, with the Magician ss as support, so the skills from the Magician ss would be tailored to assist his future primary ss. Kael also knew that mere charm could neverst long. Humans areplex creatures. Though they mayment the impossibility, people enjoy watching a yboy sumb to fidelity, a conspirator to loyalty, a thief to charity, a selfish person to sacrifice, a sunflower to dawn, and a weed to an unnoticed breeze. An incubus? Believe it or not, even a real incubus would be criticized for immorality once yers transition from Pleasure Mode to Wise Mode. Such unsustainable behavior in harvesting the yers interests was something Kael couldnt afford to engage in. He had another method... Chapter 28 - 26: This Moment, Just Like That Moment Kael had another method... The chaste and even holy subus, just like the half-revealed beauty or the fallen saintess, would more easily pique others interest. Whether yers or the natives, they all fell for it. Did you not see Uncle Foxs attitude change dramatically due to his own half-true, half-false acting, even patting his chest in promise to help Kael resolve the noble pressure? He "happened" to know another development direction of the subus bloodline, so he didnt hesitate to use a valuable skill point on Sweet Aroma. As a result, now his Sweet Aroma skill description changed. ... [Sweet Aroma] - The subuss tail can emit a specific type of scent. (Its said that in the Abyss, a subus pdin once appeared who was dissatisfied with her own impure bloodline and made extensive adjustments to the various core spells of the subus bloodline. And you learned of this skills development direction, spending a skill point to unlock the specific Magic Aroma - Queen Jasmine. Queen Jasmine Effects: 1. Refresh; 2. Calm; 3. Enhance memory.) The same hallucinogenic scent that some subi used to dissolve heroes will to resist on soft couches, another subus could use it to feel clean and refreshed, even enhancing spell learning efficiency. Whats with the limited edition, super rare, Chinese New Year incubus training guide! Wouldnt this be an SSR limited edition in the Magic Power Reward for Mouse Member Purchase? Facts proved that the scent of Queen Jasmine was quite useful. After the hallucinogenic gas of [Sweet Aroma] calmed everyone down, Kael continued: "Alright, calm down about what just happened. Also, Jonathan, put down your sword, we are not enemies." Jonathan slightly lowered his head, put down his sword, and looked at Kael as he came closer, kneeling on one knee, and said with some guilt, "Sorry, Lord Kael, I lost myposure." The calming effect of the scent allowed the loyal knight to quickly think through the key issue once he calmed down. Lord Kael was very obviously trying to use the Chitia people to n something big, and his own actions could possibly causeplications. Jonathans family had two generations of being with the former Lord Anthony, working on thisnd. It reached his generation as the third. He was knighted by the previous lord and was a vassal of Lord Kael. When Lord Anthony brought him back, the entire territory was calling his name. When Lord Anthony invited his vassals to a banquet at the lord mansion, four knights attended together, and that day was the first day the young Jonathan saw Lord Kael. At that time, little Kael timidly hid behind Anthonys legs, asionally peeking out to look at them. Then, when they made eye contact, he shrank back, grabbing Anthonys trousers even tighter. At that time, Lord Anthony walked to them, ced the ceremonial sword used when he knighted them on his shoulder, and said solemnly: "Jonathan, Dan, Barry, and Willfo, I may be your lord, but nothing in this world is permanent, even the gods above will fall. When he (refers to Kael) appeared in my life, I realized, clearer than ever, that my life was counting down. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Perhaps one day I will die. When that timees, Kael will inherit my glory and continue to lead you forward. Especially you, Jonathan. You are still young, with a long road ahead. Go to the Lancaster border, where there is a gate to the Twisted Jungle, and hone yourself. From today, the inner territory for White, the border for Jonathan, you are the head of the rangers. If you are willing, take this sword and forge your edge! You and White are the final swords I leave for Kael!" Anthony encouragingly pushed Kael forward, pointed at Jonathan, and signaled the child to go over. At that time, Jonathan watched as the small Lord Kael approached him and reached out a simrly small hand, gently touching his cold leather armor. He instinctively raised his hand, afraid that the cute little figure might fall. But unexpectedly, those small hands reached out and grasped his finger. Ah, look, the child smiled. Time flew by, in a sh, the youth of that year had grown into a fairly sharp sword in the years of guarding the Twisted Jungle. They met again many yearster. When the carriage bearing the family crest arrived again, he realized something from the image of the cute figure from childhood. "Lord, your knight Jonathan is here to escort." When his lord got off the carriage and extended his hand to him, at that moment. That moment, as if time had turned back. The two different figures seemed to ovep. Now, just like then. It was true that a lords dishonor meant a knights death, but often, knights should think of their lords. Despite inner dissatisfaction, they should not ruin Lord Kaels ns. Not only for Lord Kael but also for Lancaster. The more Jonathan thought, the more guilt he felt. After calming down, he suddenly realized he had made a rather fatal mistake. If it was as Lord Kael said at the internal banquet a few days ago, and Chitia people would enter the Shenhua Continent inrge numbers, these beings with the Undying Blessing would absolutely stir up the world. Or rather, just like the Champion Chosen Battle back then, these beings could very likely be the source of chaos, but more possibly the source of rise. Whoever controlled the undead had the potential to cause unrest. Now was not the time to conflict with the undead, even forming alliances should be a priority. As Jonathan thought about this, he saw Kaels lower garment appear in front of him while he kept his head down. He lowered his head even more, thinking about epting criticism or even punishment, but then he heard Kaels voice, suppressing augh, "Jonathan, lift your head." Jonathan raised his head and looked at the bent-over Kael. "Once, a respectable elder said to her young daughter." Kael imitated Baron Newmans tone slightly, saying, "The great highest creator created people with different statuses, maybe it was because the wall with only one color was too monotonous. Perhaps the highest creator created people with different identities and appearances to let us appreciate the true beauty in their true forms, and the nobles aesthetics lie in protecting their own people. So I ask you, are you my people?" "Serving Lancaster is my honor. I mean, undoubtedly yes," Jonathan said. Kaels smile gradually faded, and his clear eyes looked at him, "Have you evermitted any act that vited the public order, customs, orws of the territory?" "Never," Jonathan replied. "Then why are you lowering your head!" Kael said very seriously, "You did not err, and you offered courage and faith to your lord without deviation, without forgetting. What crime is there?" Chapter 29 - 27: But he gave too much Kaels words could only be described as resounding. Old White showed a satisfied smile, and his ranger subordinates also looked at him with envious eyes. Kael felt no ripples in his heart, and even felt a bit likeughing. In his previous life, the Strange Power Chaos God Club had created a guild of the same name in this game. God of Wealth, who had high hopes for the game, almost single-handedly funded the guilds expenses with his private money. This group of people was indeed strong inbat but had scant knowledge of how to run a virtual game guild. This situation continued to improve only after Kael entered the game, made his name, and was eventually recruited by God of Wealth. In his previous life, Kael entered the game near the end of the 1.0 major version as a lone wolf, drifting outside the mainstream yermunity. It was not until mid-2.0 that he began to rise, acquiring a powerful team battle weapon during a pursuit mission. Later, when he sold that divine artifact in the public channel, he and God of Wealth saw eye to eye. Lao Cai personally came to persuade him and even said that much-quoted phrase among the yermunity, "Youre so strong, why dont you y professionally?" When Kael heard it, his DNA moved this was a lie. Mainly because Lao Cais offer was too much to refuse. An apartment with a river view in Jiangdong, not some cramped apartment by an artificial drainage ditch, but a real river and sea view apartment with a wide-open river flowing to the sea. Although part of the offer was due to the team battle weapon Kael possessed, it was still far above the market price. Once the money was in ce, things naturally became easier. Later, not long after he was recruited, the guild of "Gate of the Netherworld" was assigned to Kael by the God of Wealth. His experience with people and affairs was essentially cultivated during that time. yer guilds were different from clubs; the core of clubs were professional yers and coaches, while others didnt matter. But a yer guild, besides the clubs main members, also had a significant number of high-skilled non-professional eSports yers and many ordinary yers. Rather than saying it was a yer guild, it was more like a small-scale business operationpany. Control of virtual currency finances, guild operations, task allocation, and team coborationall these tasks were not to be mentioned yet. During Kaels tenure as Vice President of Strange Power Chaos God, the reputation of the entire guild within the yermunity and among its yers significantly improved by at least two levels. Whenever a yer wanted to leave, even if it was just an ordinary yer, as long as he was avable, he would specifically go to talk to that person. Mostly to check the departing members recent situation, understand the reasons for leaving, and try to retain them. Although everyone knew that once someone had the thought of leaving, such thoughts would quickly spread and eventually break, it was generally impossible to force them to stay. Just like when an employee wants to resign, even if HR persuades them to stay, they are likely to leave after a short time of stability. But why would apetent HR still try to persuade, even if it seemed like "futile work," even for an easily receable workforce? Kael looked at Jonathan with clean eyes, then subtly nced at the moved rangers on the scene, and even at the yers Yeah, why? Probably because, from the beginning, such gestures were not meant for the departing employees to see. Just like now, when the hidden gazes of the other rangers cast over, they were the ones Kael hoped to see. Team spirit and organizational strength were umted in such details. Does it matter if its acting? Who cares? "Jonathan, my knight, stand up!" Kael extended his hand to him. A visibly excited Jonathan put his hand in his lords hand, and when he stood up, he nced at the slightly awkward-looking Kongshan Iyuu, opening his mouth as if wanting to say something. But he found that his lord had already turned around, smiling at the undead girl, "Is it your first time entering the Divine Continent?" Kongshan Iyuu answered honestly, "Yes, and I spent three days on a donkey cart as soon as I got in, quite tiring." "Are there any incubi in Chotiyas Dominion?" Kael continued. Kongshan Iyuu thought for a moment; the NPCs regarded them as guests from the goddess Chotiyas dominion, but they were actually from the real world. Although technology advanced rapidly in reality, something like incubi couldnt possibly exist. She instantly realized this was a lifeline and very apologetically said, "Naturally, there are no incubi in our world." Kael chuckled lightly, his slender fingers swaying slowly, squinting his attractive peach blossom eyes, and said, n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Never had, never seen, so you wouldnt know. For hybrids like us with tails, there are many sensory nerves on the tail. In other words, you cant touch my tail, oh. Youre a girl; next time you see a hybrid like me, you should be a little more reserved." He blinked and turned to Jonathan, smiling, "My knight, now do you understand?" Jonathan, dropping his grievances, became cheerful again,ughing heartily, and rubbing the back of his head, "Lord Kael reacts quickly; my thick skull didnt even consider it." He then picked up the short sword he had thrown on the ground, thought for a moment, and handed it to Kongshan Iyuu, saying, "Since this sword was offered due to a misunderstanding, let it be reborn as the misunderstanding ends. It seems you dont have suitable equipment, so take this sword as an apology and put it in the hands of someone who deserves it. Tell me your names; you wouldnt want me calling you Hey when I take you to the dungeon, right?" "Kongshan Iyuu!" "God of Wealth!" "Guarantor Human Soul!" "Qing Ya Over Chilly Pool!" Everyone stated their nicknames one by one. Jonathans face, which had just shown a rare smile, froze, changing along with Kaels snicker. Subway Elderly Cell Phone.jpg He looked helplessly at Kael, seeming to understand something, pped his head, and forced augh, "Aha~ ahhahaha~ so its the customs from Chotiyas Dominion; how unique indeed!" He couldnt help but wonder why the Harvest Goddesss followers were so strange. Listening to them announce their names so enthusiastically reminded him of himself as a child, waving a stick around, giving himself an impressive-sounding nickname, and sweeping away weeds. The memory he looked back on, wanting to strangle his younger self. Honestly, he felt embarrassed for these undead. Compared to the situation of citizens described in books about the Divine Kingdom, these people were vastly different. It made him wonder what had be of Chotiyas Dominion. Wait, could it be the goddess Chotiya couldnt tolerate them anymore and cast them out of the Divine Kingdom? He paused his thoughts, unsurely considering this about the goddess Chotiya. Rumor had it that gods in the Divine Kingdoms on high could hear mortals conversations about them; would his thoughts offend the deity? He had heard that there were priests and nuns sent by the Earth Mother Goddess Church in the territory; should he confess? Little did Jonathan know that the voices of skepticism about the goddess Chotiya releasing the undead never ceased from the moment these "Chaos Evil" set foot on the continent. And this would merely be the beginning. Chapter 30 - 28: Missed Opportunities, Potions, and Maids Having left the tavern, the group went their separate ways. Watching the yers rubbing their hands eagerly, along with Jonathan and his group of rangers disappearing into the distance, Old White reflected, "Young master, can the people of Shang Ti Ya be trusted?" Kael said indifferently, "I dont care. At least for now, our rtionship with them is more about using each other, as for the rest..." The master and servant got into the carriage. As the carriage door slowly closed, only the old butler and the coachman might have heard the rest of Kaels words. Sitting in the carriage, Kael nced at the yer Forum. Because the beta test hadunched, the forum was a lot busier than before. Compared to himself who received the prompt "This user does not exist," the real-life yers didnt have so many concerns. Currently, the pinned post on the game forum was the first promotional video released for "Gates of the Underworld." Just like Kael remembered from his previous life, a yer had obtained permission from the official side to repost the promotional video initially published on the virtual gaming tform onto the forum. Kael was well-acquainted with that person, the Hidden Intelligence Dealer known as "Lan Xiaoyu." This individual was a chief editor in the news media industry, mainly focusing on the gaming industry and was quite well-known in the gaming circle. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Various clubs gave her face, often providing her with exclusive news, and even like now, official authorizations. This reposted video post undoubtedly dropped a depth charge in the forum, stirring up a lot of celebrities. Someone Elses Little Kitten: "The modeling is unbelievably exquisite, it hasnt lost the military-to-civilian conversion face-off, much better than a certain board game. At least the peasant girl I saw was truly dazzlingoops, I mean truly pale. Anyway, its set to be a hit of the year, even Jesus couldnt change that, I say." God of Cmity: "No shivering allowed, you cannot shiver, Nai gets hit, send me a screenshot for criticism!" This Man is Not Too C: "Why cant I take off my pants? I just want to try, are you questioning my proud soul?" Nai Feitian: "Who was the jerk who told me yesterday that there were good things in the forest? You meant these weird vines that corrode clothes, I assume (annoyed)" Nai Feitian: "Why must people hurt each other? My newly bought adventurers jacket, such a big adventurers jacket is gone!!!" Nai Feitian: "Damn it, why wont youe out and admit it, now I can only switch back to the novice linen robe!" 2 Kilos of Rice: "Calm down, boss Nai, it was me. Its not that I didnt reply, you just messaged too fast." Nai Feitian: "Get online, I need to supermarket you." 2 Kilos of Rice: "Boss Nai, I took a picture of a big bird spinning in the forest." Nai Feitian: "Thene over, I still have 20 demon crystal coins, Brother Rice, it turns out we hit it off, theres a tavern here that does rabbit meat quite well." Please Urge Me to Write: "Lol, with so many silly yers in this game, if I choose the right material, Ill go back and update whenever Im short on money, I refuse to believe the editor can chase me into the game to beat my dog head." ... No wonder its a pinned post, the activity of beta testers and guest ounts is extremely high. Just a nce at the topments shows that theyre either acquaintances or high yers you generally recognize. Seeing them chat without being able to join in made Kael somewhat restless. Suddenly, he recalled something and slightly restrained his smile, was silent for a moment, and clicked on the save button for the pinned post. "This user does not exist, you cannot use the save function." Kael was stunned for a moment, feeling somewhat mncholy. "I never thought the first time Id truly see your face would be in a promotional video on the yer Forum." In novels, the plot is fixed and destined people somehow meet after all, but in reality, often if you miss it, its gone forever. After all, the issue with missing isnt about being wrong... its about being gone. Kael knew well that even a hot pinned post would eventually cool down one day; it would vanish into the vast ocean of numerous posts over time and with more yers joining, never to be found again. So he took a few more nces at it. Then Kael turned to look out the carriage window. At that moment, the sunlight was just right for the lush grass and warbling orioles of early spring. His gaze gradually became vacant, focusing on the empty space ahead. Watching the promotional video, the knight whose cloak was lifted by the wind. "Father..." Old White, who was heating tea for Kael with a little magic stone furnace, trembled, spilling a bit of tea. He carelessly ced his finger on the table where the tea had sshed, and a red streak shed. The spilled tea instantaneously vaporized. He sighed softly in his heart. Tonight, he would personally cook some of his young masters favorite dishes. Ah, thats right, he would send a maid to Newman Domainter! He would tell Miss nna that the young master missed her and invite her over tomorrow. ... The following day. Kael felt much better. Early in the morning, Kael first loosened up his muscles a bit in the training room of the Lord Mansion, getting used to controlling his body through the traction of magic silk thread. The destructive power that the magic silk thread could exhibit at this level was limited. It wasnt that the magic silk threadcked potential for development, but simply because at this stage, his bodys control over magic elements had an upper limit. In fact, up to now, Kaels body had never truly adapted to the intricate operations of the magic silk thread. This body, after all, was not the one from his past life that had been tempered through countless battles. If not for relying on the rare General Experience Points to forcibly unlock the professional skills of his past lifes game character and the apanying Magic Control LV7 passive, he would not have been able to achieve such powerfulbat capabilities at this time. To further harness hisbat abilities, it was necessary to incorporate training and learning new knowledge into his daily life, only then would continuous growth be possible. Afterpleting the sixth set of the Puppet Dance in the training room, Kael felt his body gradually loosen up, and after breaking a light sweat, he took down the freshly cleaned towel from a nearby rack. He picked up the towel and wiped the sweat from under his arms and side, his pale skin adorned with a faint reddish glow like that of sunset clouds. That was a side effect from the pulling of the magic silk thread and the flooding of magic elements into his body. Kael naturally knew how to address the bodily damage caused by magic element contamination; in his previous life, yers had used their bodies to test various potions side effects frequently. Especially when the yers levels had not yet caught up with the mainstream tier of the natives, those crazies would literally die to show you if you dared to let them try. Just as brutal wars would prompt advancements in medical technology, the Undead had sessfullyid the foundation for the post-potion era with their own corpses. Many effective potions were usable by both yers and natives; Kael did not have a deep understanding of magic potions, but for the sake of nurturing his professional ount, he had mastered more than a dozen potions developed based on exclusive skills. One of these was the Magic Spirit Potion, which transformed the damage of magic element contamination into "Passive Magic Element Sense." The procurement of this potion was entrusted to the old housekeeper. He did not trust others to purchase this type of potion. His main concern was the leakage of the potions form. Even if one merely obtained the potion form without the method to refine it, replicating the Magic Spirit Potion would be difficult, but it was better to avoid potential issues. The potion was prepared by him personally. When the hot water washed over his body and Kael had donned his bathrobe, he asked the maid who had been waiting outside the door to bring the potion. Gaining strength was not easy; the areas contaminated by magic elements needed repeated massaging by the maid with special techniques to evenly integrate the Magic Spirit Potion into the contaminated areas. Only when the signs of being tormented faded by the next day and then getting injured again through Silk Thread Maniption, healed again, injured again After cycling through this process for more than twenty days, the special passive could finally take shape. It was just... The little maid entering the room blushed as she looked at the stained marks on Kaels slender neck, unconsciously feeling a bit nervous and excited. No wonder the Chief Maid was receiving increasingly frequent requests from the maids below to "assist Master Kael with his medication." The little maid who carefully approached with the bottle of potion grew increasingly nervous as she came closer to Kael. Chapter 31 - 29: The Girls Dress and His Warmth Kaels voice was slightly nasally. The potion applied to his wound hurt. Fortunately, he didnt have many extraneous thoughts at the moment because Old White had told him during breakfast that Miss Enna missed him and was nning to visit him today. Kael had a feeling something was off. But he quickly realized that based on his initial impression of Enna, his fiance didnt seem like the type of girl who would say "I miss you." If she really wanted to see him, she would probably don leather armor, ride the Dragon Horse that Baron Newman had given her, and charge through a thousand troops to get to him, wouldnt she? That girl was not the delicate and coy kind. Yes, thats right. After all, she was his fiance! So thats it... Grandpa White, huh? Kael quickly realized what was going on. He chuckled silently. The old housekeeper had gone overboard! But he didnt dislike this sense of being cared for. However, since Enna might arrive at any moment, as a qualified fianc, he didnt want to let her see this scene. So... Queen Jasmine bloomed quietly. The forced calming effect activated. Ten minutester, the maid left the room with a face full of shame, feeling guilty for having unwarranted thoughts about the young master. As she walked, she thought, the young master was bing more and more handsome. And he smelled really good! She wondered if there was a simr perfume on the market. If there was, shed quite like to buy a bottle... after all, it carried the scent of the young master. After getting dressed and finishing breakfast, Kael sat in the study, contemting his future development. The matter of the yers had temporarily been put on hold for Kael. Next, he nned to focus more on dealing with issues rted to the territory. The number of closed beta yers wasnt thatrge, which was why Kael hadnt paid much attention to them during this period. Completely abandoning the yers was practically impossible. The rtionship between NPCs and yers would go through a long period of adjustment in the future. The deterrent power of the Undead was simply too great, making it impossible for him to let futurepetitors acquire this power. But... that didnt mean he had to make unconditionalpromises to appease the yers. Focusing on benefits, using a well-established task system as leverage, supplemented by functional territory services, markets, and sustainably explorable dungeon instances, along with an "NPC persona" as a stabilizing force, was the best way to keep yers in check. One must understand that yers thoughtpletely differently from normal inhabitants. Even hardcore yers, top independent yers, and professional yers, if given the chance to make theirbat systems more aesthetically pleasing, wouldnt mind sacrificing a bit of strength. Ordinary yers were even more focused on looks... after all, this was a group that shouted, "Being strong is temporary, but looking good is forever." Did Kael from his past life not only just be the Champion Wall but also garner a huge fan following because of his handsome looks and mboyant fighting style? Apart from that two-time winner of the Global Professional League, who dared to im to have more fans than him? Of course, this also led to manyments about ck of virtue," with fans and critics being indistinguishable. But that was another story. Still, he couldntpletely allow yers to take over the core industries of the territory. They were suitable for supplements, but in case yers logged off or there was a long hiatus due to version updates without immediate recements, it would spell trouble. Kael tapped his fingers silently on the table, looking at the system panel. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om ...Personal Panel... Name: Kael.D.Helois/Ning Ruyu Gender: Male Race: Human 1/3 Incubus 1/3 Unknown Bloodline 1/3 Anchor: Version 1.0 [Chaos of Division] Public Beta Countdown 286 days Level: 3 upation: [Main upation - Magician LV3 (449/5000)] [Sub upation: None] Free Attribute Points: 4 Health: 2000/2000 Vitality: 210/210 Mana: 800/800 Attributes: Strength 2.9 Dexterity 4.4 Stamina 2.5 Perception 5.4 Intelligence 4.3 Will 2.5 [Note: Perception attribute exceeds 5, entering Transcendent Stage 1. Please select a perception attribute development branch:] [1. Keen Intuition - You will more easily sense hidden dangers] [2. Mana Vision - You will more easily sense the flow of mana] [3. Natural Senses - You will more easily detect environmental changes and somewhat sense the emotions of living beings] [Do you wish to choose a perception development direction?] [Yes/No] Specialties/Passive Skills: [High-level Charm/Mana Affinity LV4/Mana Control LV7/Incubus Bloodline LV1] - Abbreviated [Elemental AffinityIce] (Progress: 11/45): You are gradually adapting to the power of winter, as the spirits of frost are bing your allies. Once this entry is generated, your difficulty in casting ice attribute spells moderately decreases, and your control over spells moderately increases. (To endure the pain of mana invasion for the sake of icy beauty... is it really worth it? Well... your radiant appearance convinced me it is indeed worth it.) [Mana Sensitivity/Passive] (Progress: 3/22): Once this entry is generated, your ability to cast Enchantment School spells slightly increases, and your spell models be more stable. (You are gradually being filled with wild mana, reshaping you in its image) Skill Bar: [Sweet Aroma+1/Power Drain/Tail Injection/Greasy Technique+1/Water Gun Shock+4/Freezing Aura+2/Seductive Demon Eye] [Magic Silk Thread (Exclusive)] - Free skill points cannot be allocated [Silk Thread Maniption (Exclusive)] - Free skill points cannot be allocated Free Skill Points: 1 ([LV1-10/11-20/21-30...] Each level up grants [1/2/3...] free skill points, which can be used to learn ordinary skills and upational skills) Gold Skill Points: 1 (Every 3 levels, an additional gold skill point will be awarded. These can be used to unlock core upational skills or enhance special skills, affecting upational development direction) Evaluation: The taste of an Incubus is really nice! ... The attribute panel was as luxurious as always, but Kael frowned... Based on the time, the Royal Capital should have reacted by now. It was just unclear why it was taking so long? At this moment, a knock sounded, one heavy and two light. "Young Master, Miss nna is here." The knocker was Old White. "Come in." Old White opened the door, gesturing for someone to enter. Kael saw Enna stride in briskly. As she was about to reach his side, she slowed down a bit. From Kaels perspective, it was indeed a magnificent sight. Seemingly ufortable under her fiancs gaze, she tugged at her dress and said suddenly: "I dont think Im suited to wear this nobles dress. Ive told Father before, these dresses are so strange. It would be better to wear the Royal Knight Academys uniform." Though she said this, her right hand nervously toyed with her hair, asionally twisting her red strands. Kael chuckled softly. Rising from his chair, he walked over to Enna, leaned over, and performed a hand-kiss salute on her gloved hand, saying: "Take my seat. Grandpa White, is everything ready?" "I will bring it to you and Miss Enna shortly." "Good." Old White slowly stepped outside. Enna sat in the chair that still carried Kaels warmth. Through the thin dress, she could feel the lingering heat, making her increasingly ufortable in this atmosphere. Just then, Old White gently knocked on the door and said, "Young Master, I brought the items." "Bring them in." ... Please bookmark, vote, request monthly tickets, and most importantly, keep following. I noticed some readers leavingments on the free tform. If possible, pleasee to the main site! Reading on the free tform doesnt count towards our main site rmendations and leveling up metrics, making them practically meaningless during the period when the book is new. If possible, I hope readers from that tform cane here to help with the follow-through data on Monday and Tuesday, which directly impacts our rmendation and promotion. Chapter 32 - 30 Transforming into Elegance, Fame, and a Fashion Pioneer Old White walked in holding a tray. nna saw Kael walk straight over, took the item from the tray, and gently ced it in her palm. "Whats this?" She nced at the item in her hand, an attire more suited for traveling than the dress she wore, and paused. If one must say, it looked more like a customized set of Knight Clothes. In the Bell Federation, being a Knight wasnt a Transcendent profession but a symbol of social ss. To encourage more civilian professionals to join the expansive army of knights, the Bell Federation had a fairlyplete set of requirements for knight advancement. Consequently, to make the knights more attractive externally, a supplementary knight service industry had emerged. The most recognized by civilians and future yers was the series of aesthetically pleasing Knight Clothes. In the years when the Bell Federation emerged from neighboring countries, Lion Heart, who advocated establishing a Knight ss, had once said, "Only by bing beautiful will one be happy. To be beautiful, I must transnt that filthy Alien blood. Thus, a Knight chooses to be glorious, famous, and a fashion pioneer." Guided by this statement, the knights somewhat became even more appearance-obsessed than the Nobles, raising the enthusiasm for knights to a new height within the Duchy of Lancaster. Clearly, nna was deeply influenced and loved the specially customized female Knight Clothes. "Is this for me?" Joy appeared on her face. Though she already knew the answer in her heart, she still wanted to hear his response. Kael chuckled lightly, "I see Uncle Newman tends to be quite strict with household rules. I believe during this visit, Uncle Newman probably emphasized following the noble etiquettes quite a bit. But after thinking about it, my family doesnt have so many demands, and Lancaster Territory should also follow an inclusive path in the future. Since the tone has been set, why not start with the Lord and his fiance right?" He yfully winked at nna. Elsewhere, oblivious to external matters, Old White suddenly spoke up, "Recently, the wolf gue in the Twisted Jungle has been severe, and the young master organized a campaign against the Shadow Wolf pack. Shadow Wolves are rtively threatening among level 2 Monsters; they have a patch the size of a palm on their chests, with white wolf fur that has excellent magical conductivity. Usually, the fur from dozens of Shadow Wolves is needed to make one set of Knight Clothes. After the most professional tailor in the territory worked overnight, there came such a set of Knight Clothes that only Lancaster could produce." Kael looked at Old White, feeling more appreciative of Old Whites intelligence. Many times, its not what you do that matters, but making sure others see what youve donethats most crucial. Even if Old White hadnt mentioned it, Kael would have found an opportunity to casually reveal the origin of the specially customized Knight Clothes for the girl. This probably counts as a simple trick in external interpersonal interaction, one that could bridge rtionships with others more easily. But if not applied properly, it can oftene across as too deliberate. Even if done well, its nowhere near as seamless as learning about it through someone elses words. Grandpa White, you really are too clever. Where on earth did you learn these skills? A mere housekeeper shouldnt be able to exin this. Because these skills are used not only for normal social interactions but also on certain asions with specific people of the opposite sex. Just thinking about the timing of Grandpa Whites recent intervention... its too daunting to think about in detail. He spoke with a smile, "I shouldnt say much about how Uncle Newman asked you toe, but if you are worried about him making too much fuss, you could just follow his instructions to dress up borately. But once you arrive in Lancaster, if you dont like the dresses of the nobledies here,e and change into this gown at my ce." "Sure!" nna nodded happily. She was really fed up with the restrictive dress and followed the maid from the Kael household to the guest room to change out of her gown. When she reappeared, Kael was impressed. nna was dressed in a dark red coat with a pure white lining that entuated her beautiful figure; a longsword with a scabbard hung from her slender waist, giving her an impressive and energetic appearance. Kael quite liked her in this attire. After calling her over to sit down, he pushed a letter that Old White had given him during her change in front of her, saying, "nna, you might want to take a look at this too since it also involves Newman Domain. I think its necessary for you and Uncle Newman to be informed about the situation." nna was momentarily stunned, then quickly responded, "Did Count Rezhe make a move?" "Its more troublesome than I expected," Kael pointed at the letter and said, "Take a look first, this is from Lord Fox of the Bronze Cross." n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Alright, give me a few minutes." A few minutester, anger was evident on nnas face as she mmed the table and eximed, "How can there be such shameless people in this world!" The letter was about a recent council meeting of the nobles suggested by Fox. At the council, a well-known young prodigy of the Charles family from the Royal Capital, Harry.D.Charles the eldest son of Earl Rezhe and a senior mage with teaching credentials from the Mage Academy proposed an initiative. Basically, it stated that, following Harrys research at the academy, since the path to nobility was opened to exceptional talents amongmon professional workers ten years ago, a considerable number of new nobles had gone to the frontiers to guard the dungeons and protect the federations peace. It seemed to provide a route formon professionals to ascend, but most of these professionals were notbat-oriented. During their time guarding the dungeons, many promising new forces died young on the frontier. Harry mentioned that a significant portion of the new nobility, such as navigators, cultural relics protectionists, and magical nt cultivators, who tended to work behind the scenes, were not really suited to defending the dungeons. Compared to the wealthy new nobles who could afford to hire strong professionals to protect their domains, those who couldnt were struggling to handle the burden. Instead of letting this segment of the duchys talent perish on the frontier, it might be better to reconsider the reasonable allocation of domains. At the end of the meeting, Harry.D.Charles also stressed that if the Noble Council approved the preliminary review, the Charles family would willingly participate and cooperate actively. For instance... bringing back some family members of the Charles family who couldnt protect their own domains to the Royal Capital and leaving the domains to those who could truly add value to them. Chapter 33 - 31 Silent Arrogance "I cant believe they had the nerve to say that" nna actually wanted to curse, but as she sat in the chair, she could faintly catch the light fragrance emanating from the clothes of the person standing behind her, which greatly improved her mood. As a result, the anger in her heart was also somewhat suppressed. Kael looked at nna with a slightly peculiar expression. The lingering scent of Queen Jasmine was remarkably enduring. It had been nearly an hour since hest released Queen Jasmines scent, yet its effect on her was still so pronounced. Perhaps one day he could profit from this skill with its exceptionally long duration? After all, as long as there was a chance, those yers wouldnt mind spending some money to stack a few more BUFFs on themselves while running dungeons and fighting monsters. But Kael quickly abandoned the idea. No it couldnt be turned into a production chain. The effect of Queen Jasmine required prolonged exposure, and the reason he had learned this skill was to be able to benefit from the scents enhancement of his brainsputational abilities during sustained research when moonlighting in other Mage professions. And with its negligible side effects, Queen Jasmine, whichbined the trio of effectsinvigoration, calming of emotions, and memory enhancementwasnt so obvious in its usefulness to yers who struggled to settle down and study Spells. But for Kael, who was determined to study and research spells on his own, this skill that could affect his learning state for a long period was actually more desirable. To aim for endless future possibilities with limited skill points, he had to prioritize sustainable development from the outset. As for why he didnt sell it to the yer base on arge scale Heh, he had noticed already in the morning, during breakfast, that there were personal threads about him on the forums, with two videos rted to him uploaded. One was a video aimed crazily at his face after adjusting the camera angle, documenting his no-angle radiant appearance. The other was a short video where he imed "no guilt" towards the Knight Jonathan. As for the rtedments from other internal test yers and visitors, even dogs would shake their heads and say, "Dont open a barber shop here." At that time, he took a long look at the poster, Qing Ya This former teammate, who seemed somewhat timid but was secretly quite saucy, really had the character of a barber early on. Heh, he really couldnt let them get a taste of it too easily. asionally, when he was in a good mood, hed randomly pick a few lucky yers to stack a BUFF, and that was enough. Intriguing them but keeping the taste just out of their reachthat was truly delightful. "Kael" nnas call brought Kael back to his senses. He saw the girl with a somewhat puzzled expression and showed an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I was just thinking about some things. Speaking of which, nna, what do you think about Harrys unreasonable demands to the Noble Council?" Kael asked softly. nna sighed and said, "Every word doesnt mention you or father, but every word targets you and father." "And what about you, Grandpa White? How do you see it?" Kael then turned to Old White. After pondering for a moment, Old White replied, "Arrogance." Surprised by Old Whites words, Kael was taken aback for a moment, "Arrogance?" "Count Rezhe must have already guessed the preparations youve made, young master," Old White said. "What preparations?" nna was curious. "The Mage Association. After I became an official mage, I immediately applied for a registered mage identity through the Guild. From the start, I had no intention of fighting with my great-uncle through normal means. I was hoping to leverage my registration as a level 2 Mage to obtain the protection of the Mage Association. But the involvement of people from the secret scroll Mage Academy meant that many procedures that could have been handled simply now required extra precautions. After all, from the perspective of the Mage Association, the conflict between Harry and me is an internal dispute among mages, not an attack from external enemies." What Kael didnt say was that, should Count Rezhe foolishly try to use his influence to make Kael concede, Kael would definitely not resist at all... And then he would turn around and report the matter to the Mage Association! He might not be able to deal with Count Rezhe at the moment, but that didnt mean the Mage Association couldnt handle him. Or rather, because the number of mages is even scarcer than one might think, there is a very clear tendency for unity within this extraordinary profession system. You could say these people protect their own or assert that they form informal organizations within the human race; in any case, once Count Rezhe makes his move without any regard, it will inevitably be seen as a provocation to the Mage Association. Regrettably... Count Rezhe is clearly not one of those brainless antagonists who actively deliver themselves into trouble. Judging from his actions, this man is not as overbearing and careless with his schemes as the outside world depicts. "Grandpa White, are you saying that Count Rezhe purposely had his child do this?" Old White nodded and looked at Kael. After Kael silently nodded, Old White continued: "Framing young master Kael as a noble would undoubtedly drag them into internal strife with the Mage Association, but... Young master Harry is also a mage, and whats more, he is a formally recognized mage in the secret scroll Mage Academy, already acknowledged by his mentors." Kael nodded and added, "I know Harrys mentor, a notorious human supremacist within the academy who exhibits extreme aversion to any student with alien blood. Even I, a librarian who doesnt interact much with students, have heard of his deeds. Standing up for Harry must mean that Harry has touched a nerve, stirring up that persons distaste for me. As for the arrogance mentioned by Grandpa White... Ha, without using the power of the Charles family, without getting their own hands dirty, effortlessly crushing us both who are also part of the noble ssthat really is quite a show of power! I never encountered my great-uncle before, but now it seems he never considered our existence from the start. I even suspect that dragging us into the mire this time was just a convenient action for him. His actual targets are likely another set of groups that require his efforts to strike at. The reason we got involved? Simply because were too weak." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Who is he targeting?" "Didnt he make it clear already... Those seeking to take away thends granted to the new nobility, allnds of lords whock substantialbat ability and lean towards support roles, will be his targets." For a moment, nna was puzzled: "On what grounds? We wont agree, and he cant possibly dictate in the Noble Council." "Because he has already united those he wished to unite, and those people still crave more benefits... Those who became nobles with their wealth as rich merchants have an endless greed forrgernds and more benefits." Chapter 34 - 32: Maintaining a Man’s Dignity is a Woman’s Modesty "Those greedy and shameless hyenas?" nna appeared to have an epiphany. In fact, this group was perhaps the most loathsome among all the nobles. But in a way, they were indispensable. Even though nna had never been involved in the management of the territory, she understood the advantages of money in resource allocation. "Grandpa White, do the merchants of the Charles family have a lot of connections among themselves?" Kael looked at Old White, always believing that the old man would know more. And as always, Old White proved reliable. "Young Master, for years the Charles family has mainly dealt in magic potions, equipment for professionals, and monster trading. To ensure a steady supply, they do have significant dealings with those big merchants. But how harmonious their rtionships might be, only they themselves might know." "Then we can be certain of the Charles familys intentions. It must have been tough for them these past few years," Kael chuckled softly, bending slightly behind nna. Perhaps because Kael moved closer, she felt a bit uneasy, her usual confidence now reced with a shy, young girls demeanor. Kaels right hand brushed past nnas hair near her ear, as if embracing her, his fingers pointing to the different names on the letter. Noticing the red-haired Sword Maidens unease, Kaels little tail stood erect, swaying slowly behind him. Old White looked at the two, his gaze bing much gentler. Indeed, bringing Miss nna was the right choice. Look how much happier the young master is today. "Ordinary emerging nobles, big merchant nobles, a teaching mentor from the Scrolls Mage Academy, and even their own children... What a well-thought-out n, using the banner of the Scrolls Mage Academy and dividing the emerging nobles into two factions internally. The problem is, a lot of border lords have died in recent years, and the Noble Council already has quite a few grievances about it. If the big merchants among the emerging nobles choose to switch sides under all the pulling forces and start using their connections... If the Charles family pushes a little from behind, they might actually seed." "Isnt there any way to stop them? I noticed that Lord Fox from the Bronze Cross seemed quite displeased with this. Can we leverage the Lionheart Knights power?" nna hesitated for a moment, then added, "Actually, if you insist, I might have some say. In a few days, when I return to the Knight Academy, I could try to ask my teacher. She holds the title of Honorary Knight in the Lion Heart Battle Group, she should be able to help put in a good word. Shes always been kind to me, though her personality is somewhat peculiar..." "Peculiar?" Kael was taken aback. The Royal Knight Academy was known for its strictness, being a preparatory institution for knights across the Duchy of Lancaster. Though not every instructor had the same demeanor, finding one with such an unusual personality was rather challenging, given most were retired military officers from various regional corps. "Shes actually quite beautiful, but she loves to smoke and drink, and even when theres no training, she enjoys consuming high-calorie foods. Additionally, it seems the Headmaster cant control her. Sometimes I worry the Headmaster might lose patience and expel her... After all, many of her behaviors dont seem very fitting for an Honorary Knight." Kael chuckled softly. "Perhaps your teacher has significant backing, knowing she wont be expelled from the Royal Knight Academy. Dont fret. Earning the title of Honorary Knight in the Lion Heart Battle Group is no small feat. However, lets hold off on troubling your teacher for now. I suspected the Charles family would react in some way. While their countermeasure is somewhat unexpected, its still within controble bounds... or rather, its just as I hoped." Seeing that Kael had a n, nna didnt insist on contacting her teacher. She simply smiled and said, "As you wish, but if you do need my help, please dont hesitate..." She turned her head to look at Kael. She felt she could sense the resolve in Kaels words. This had nothing to do with gender, empathy, or self-satisfaction. The first day she met Kael, there was not even a mesmerizing moonlight, only the midday sun cascading over him, making him seem to glow. In that moment, she found it hard to look away from him. Was it the allure of the incubus? Or something else? But she knew she wished he would look at her that way too, his ears blushing just like hers, like a thief holding roses. Then she raised her head, looking earnestly at this boy, man, and futurepanion, and said: "Kael, you should have noticed that I dont know the etiquette of nobledies. Including the dress I wore today, it was custom-made to fit noble fashion standards, but wearing it only makes me feel that it looks good; there are no other emotions. Moreover, I dont know the Elvennguage, opera, dance, painting, or even how to appreciate wine and tea. My only strength lies... in swordbat. I cant help you much, but if you need, please rely on me. Upholding apanions honor is a knights pride, even if the opponent seems insurmountable. Kael paused for a moment, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He spoke softly, "Alright, if I need help, youll be the first I turn to. But until then, let me y this out with them." "Alright, as you wish," nna responded with a gentleugh. In the afternoon, under Kaels guidance, nna toured Titan Town. There wasnt much conversation. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Both sides maintained a certain tacit understanding. After all, although they had privately agreed to the engagement, it had yet to be formally recorded in the Noble Council. Even if nna wanted to get closer to Kael, she still had to maintain some distance from her futurepanion. What nna didnt know was that Kaels thoughts were continuously changing at that moment. There was a mix of shyness and mncholy, but more importantly, there was unease. Because a thought vaguely surfaced in his mind The noblewoman with wine-red hair had her knights spear taken away, her body impaled and nailed to an outer wall of the Lord Mansions second floor, her crimson blood smearing the wall. In the original game, was nna killed because she wanted to investigate her fiancs death, or was there another reason? There was a critical issue here. Since nna was investigating her death in Lancasters territory, it implied that the original bodysst known location was in thisnd. Where was Grandpa White? And Jonathan? And the Rangers? If they were still alive, why did nna end up that way? If it wasnt that they didnt want to save nna, then... Chapter 35 - 33: The previous excessive exercise for both hands If they didnt want to save nna but had no way to do so, then the problem was much more serious. Was it really Count Rezhe of the Charles family who did it? Kael didnt believe it anyway. If Count Rezhe had indeedmitted the murder so openly without cleaning up the aftermath, that would definitely be quite strange. Judging by the Charles familys actions in this Noble Council, his nominal uncle seemed to be the type of old-fashioned noble who valued reason over emotion and strictly adhered to noble codes. Arrogant yet not ignorant, observant of rules yet grand in his actions. He wielded power to oppress others. Such an ostentatious murder would surely bring great trouble to the Charles family. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Keep in mind that although the enfeoffment of the emerging nobility was implemented by each duchy, it was sanctioned by the Bell Federation. The new nobles were nobles of Lancaster, and more importantly, they were also nobles of the Bell Federation. ording to the games development, first, Lancaster would lose a top Holy Land lord loyal to the knights code. Then, his offspring would die for unknown reasons, and even his fiance, who could inherit the title, would die on thisnd. Basically, it equated to the annihtion of an entire family. Was this a provocation against all Federation nobles, or a tant disregard for the Federation Noble Council? Once such a precedent was set, today you can ughter the heirs of emerging nobles for your own benefit; tomorrow you could ruthlessly eliminate neighboring lordspeting with you. The day after tomorrow, could it be possible to rob and kill the noble lords guarding other territories? By next year, would it reach the point where you move against the Caesar Governor of the Bell Federation? If you dare to do so, the first ones to attack you would be the lords surrounding your territory. This was clearly a behavior that would undermine the foundation of the Bell Federations order, an unbreakable bottom line. Or even if you were going to take action, couldnt you make sure no evidence was left behind? Speaking of which, it was a bit strange. ording to the rewards nna gave yers in the original storyline, as per [Lanyxia], they were supposed to be her own rewards earned from delving into the dungeon. Did Baron Newman just watch her ruin herself without offering any support? That didnt seem like something the doting Uncle Newman would do... So, were there other hidden threats on the territory he wasnt aware of? He nced at nna, who wore a joyful smile, and made a decision in his heart. No matter who was scheming behind the scenes, Kael truly liked nnas personality and was naturally unwilling to see this Ice Rose-like girl perish. Upon arriving in this world and merging with his predecessor, he inherited the predecessors memories. ording to the introductory guidebook "Book of the Dead" from the Necromancy School of the Mage Academy, the death of the flesh led to the immortality of the spirit, but the body as a vessel could stabilize and absorb the remnants of thought. Therefore, living beings with bodies had strong desires and rich emotions because their bodies were intertwined withplex mental emotions, inseparable. The undead, having lost their bodies, also lost many desires and emotions. Undead creatures generally had a [Compulsory Calm] effect because they lost their ability to express emotions. Undead incapable of absorbing residual thoughts demonstrated an intense desire for living flesh and hostility towards the living for this reason. They needed living flesh to absorb residual thoughts, the reason why the undead were considered enemies of the living. As Master Sandrew of the early Necromancy School put it, the undead, rather than being hostile to the living, craved the redemption of the flesh. So the unification of spirit and flesh in the Necromancy School represented a special state that stabilized necromantic spells and enhanced mental spells. Kael, using the power of the system panel, sessfully achieved this state. This was why Kael could take everything around him so naturally upon arriving in this world. He was Kael, and also Ning Ruyu. But he could also be said to be neither Kael nor Ning Ruyu. He was simply himself. A new entity wholly marked with his own brand, entirely bing Kael.D.Helois from body to soul,. He only needed to follow his heart. Who wouldnt love a red-haired female knight who said to you, "Maintaining your partners dignity is a knights pride"? Using nnas death as a catalyst to spur a Federation investigation, eventually leading to the destruction of the Charles family and igniting the prologue to the turmoil in Lancaster Duchy? Whoever wanted toe, bring it on, he had sworn to protect this woman, and nobody would seed, as he proimed. After determining his thoughts, Kael made up his mind without hesitation. As evening approached and seeing nna, dressed in formal attire and somewhat troubled, he sent her off in her carriage and returned to his study. He picked up a quill, dipped it in ink, and wrote the first sentence on paper "Dear Mr. Luxius Parker," "..." After finishing the letter, Kael stretched, waved the wet letter to dry the ink, and after a moment of thought, a little tail of the incubus reached in front of him. Petals bloomed. The fragrance of Queen Jasmine condensed on the letter. He folded the letter, sealed it with wax, and handed it to Old White, instructing him to send it to the Royal Capital. "Lets consider this an extra backup for myself... No, with just threeyers, it feels a bit insecure. Since thats the case, lets also involve the yers and issue a special quest." ... In the real world, in a certain virtualwork tform chat group. [House of Dog Empire Chat Group] Touring Empty Mountains: "Down on luck, folks. I didnt expect Id end up ying the entire night just to capture a group of wild deer. This game is truly addictive!" Nasilia: "Xiao You, did you ept a yer quest?" Touring Empty Mountains: "Yes, the quest was quite difficult. Attracting the wild deer wasnt a problem, thanks to the good stuff given by that lord. Nasilia: "One must say, being an incubus really shows. Do you know how he made the hallucinogenic potion? Look at this! (Kaels little tail.jpg) Touring Empty Mountains: "This wild man is really handsome though. Haha, I really like such NPCs." Coconut Juice Mixed with Green Tea: "Am I the only one lost in the forest? Damn it! Someone from our vige said I could level up fast by fighting monsters in the jungle after forming a party. Now Im stuck in the forest. Should I try dying to see if it helps?" Touring Empty Mountains: "Is there any possibility, just a thought, Cha Cha, that you were tricked? Haha!" Coconut Juice Mixed with Green Tea: "It cant be. I felt I gained a lot in the forest. But its so deste here, and the mosquitoes are really annoying. Damn it, this game always focuses on details where it shouldnt!" Love Xiao Yi: "What are you all talking about? It seems interesting." Touring Empty Mountains: "???" Nasilia: "???" Coconut Juice Mixed with Green Tea: "???" ... Finally, a group member with the nickname "Nan Ke" spoke. Nan Ke: "Xiao Yi, didnt you use the beta test code Xiao You got us?" Love Xiao Yi: "What is that? Let me check the chat history... " A few minutester, he spoke again. Love Xiao Yi: "Maybe I passed out from too much exercise before sleep... I mean, I had too manyte-night snacks and drinks, and got a stomach ache. Dont think too much." Nan Ke: "Its alright, Xiao Yi, were all friends here. We understand, we really do!" Love Xiao Yi: "Ill enter the game now to see what kind of game earns your high praise. If its not fun, Ill suggest you treat me to spicy strips tonight." ... PS: Please support with collections, rmendations, votes, and views... various requests, Rua! Chapter 36 - 34: Not a Well-known Girl Group Member [Real World - A typical residential area] I love Xiaoyi, and here he is C a scruffy, somewhat decadent man. At the moment, he is sitting on the sofa, watching as a chat group member in the House of Dog Empire forum, nicknamed "Sister Astate," posted a racy GIF. The content roughly depicted a woman in office attire, hesitantly trying to leave after being groped in the corner of a bus by a wolf. Quite unkindly, the creator of this GIF had only left the legs, just the legs, making it difficult to trace back to the original since the creators face wasnt shown. Sister Astate: "Who can tell me the code for this? Then well be friends." I love Xiaoyi took a deep drag of his cigarette, and flicked the half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray. How are there still fools trying to solicit sources online. Those guys would have used any link themselves if they had it, why would they share it with you? This behavior is more immature than a kindergarten student... yet more mature than a college student. Great, I love such genuine youngsters. He typed leisurely using the T9 keyboard: "I remember the shape of those legs, APEX-R99, a bit old, average appearance,cking skills, and definitely not a member of a famous girl group. Nothing good to watch but the legs, let it go." Sister Astate: "Got a link? Let me see it (with trembling voice)!" The man stubbed out his cigarette, thought for a moment, and replied, "I looked at the link just half a year ago, easy to remember, a bit familiar, but Im not giving it to you. After half a year, its normal for the download link to be lost." Sister Astate: "Xiaoyi, with your memory and observational skills, its a waste not being a detective!" The man didnt reply anymore, just sat on the sofa, looking at the cold, damp room, watching from dusk till sunset. Suddenly, he seemed to snap out of it, mocking himself, "Forget it, time to start a new life. What was that game Xiao You mentioned? Oh, I remember now, Gateway to the Underworld..." With that, he got up and headed towards the gaming pod. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om As the gaming pod made some noise, everything returned to tranquility. yer, "I Love Xiaoyi," the game had started. ... Meanwhile, on a donkey cart heading to Titan Town, "Braised Donut" looked gloomy and was in a foul mood. He just felt he was really unlucky. Others y the game, but it seems the game ys him. Before entering "Gateway to the Underworld," he was once again overwhelmed by spam. The trigger was a radicalment he posted on a trash app concerning dowry reform. He had furiously criticized the issue of dowries not being taxed, bluntly saying one could manipte interests through dowries. Upon discovering that a leader had a daughter, one could propose to try for marriage, break off swiftly after paying the dowry, and then shamelessly refuse to reim the dowry money. This way, one couldplete internal financial transactions, the leader would get rich off the money, and oneself could gain a higher status through legitimate means. Of course, Braised Donut knew his suggestion had serious logical ws, and it wasnt feasible in reality. But in an era of universal connection, there must be a ce to reveal the effectiveness of the trash app. By publishing such statements in the trash app and seeking validation, the oue for Braised Donut was foreseeable. Fortunately, as a veteran virtual gamer with 2500 hours, he had ces outside of having two girlfriends to reward himself. Especially now, with "Gateway to the Underworld," which was already exploding in poprity in his circle. He had started full of anticipation. He originally thought that upon entering the game, it would be a thrill of "Bored, I want to see rivers of blood," until he killed a chicken... Looking at Titan Town, now visible with its city outlines, he couldnt help but feel sad. "Brother, do you mind showing the way? Im a bit tired from walking, and look at my shoes for the sake of a fellow countryman, can you give me a ride?" The slow-moving donkey cart suddenly stopped, and the old farmer riding the donkey nced at the Braised Donut and then at the man suspiciously, hesitating for a moment. Braised Donut reacted quickly, throwing out a Reconnaissance Skill, and he knew immediately that this was indeed a yer. It was just the nickname... "I Love Xiao Yi", youd think it was a girl ying if you didnt know any better. But at a nce, he was aplete, rough-and-tumble man. "Buddy, although the game doesnt allow one to adopt the appearance of ancient gods, theres really no need to force yourself to use such a face." Braised Donut looked at the farmer who had stopped the donkey cart and said, "Let him on, will you? We dont have much further to go, hes my fellow countryman." The farmer looked nervous, sizing up both men as if seriously evaluating their rtionship. Braised Donut was actually a bit annoyed, but then he quickly calmed himself down, remembering the chicken he had impulsively killed when he first arrived at the vige. He tried to sound as kind as possible and softly said, "Dont worry, he really is my fellow countryman; he wont hurt you. Right, buddy?" Braised Donut looked towards Xiao Yi, then saw him shake his head before turning back to the farmer and saying, "See, let him on. There wont be any trouble, I promise." The farmer sighed heavily and muttered, "Itll cost more." Braised Donut: "..." I Love Xiao Yi: "..." Was that what you were hesitating about just now? After a while, Braised Donut looked at I Love Xiao Yi, a somewhat awkward smile on his face, and asked, "What do you say?" I Love Xiao Yis gaze was vacant for a moment. Braised Donut knew he was browsing his system panel, likely checking his bnce of Demon Crystals, so he didnt rush him. A momentter, I Love Xiao Yi looked at the stern-faced farmer and said, "Alright, but you need to give a discount!" The farmer nodded. I Love Xiao Yi then looked to Braised Donut and said, "You pay for me..." Braised Donut paused, looking at I Love Xiao Yis expression, as if to suggest he had some serious illness. "I can share a mission with you." I Love Xiao Yi sent a screenshot of the mission directly to Braised Donuts panel face-to-face. Braised Donut nced at the character level. High-risk Crimson Mission -[Corner of Shadows]. The mission required yers to investigate hidden threats within Titan Town in Lancaster Territory, with Level Experience Points and currency rewards determined by the value of the information they provided. A momentter, Braised Donut bowed his head. When he raised his head again, he was all smiles. He jumped off the donkey cart, came up to I Love Xiao Yi, patted him vigorously on the shoulder, and said: "We are fellow countrymen, after all. Giving you a ride, how could I possibly charge you?" Chapter 37 - 35: A Task from the Lord Mansion? "We are from the same hometown, giving you a lift, how could I charge you for that?" Lancasters face bloomed into a smile as he pulled "I Love Xiao Yi" onto the cart and handed the driver several demon crystals. Giving the driver a re, he then sat down with his "dear hometown friend." The donkey cart rocked and was not very stable. He tried several times to find out the source of the mission from "I Love Xiao Yi," but "I Love Xiao Yi" only shared the mission with him and did not say another word. This situation persisted until the donkey cart stopped outside the checkpoint of Titan Town. After getting off the cart and registering with the sentries at the checkpoint, they continued on. "I Love Xiao Yi" nced at the somewhat verbose man and said in a low voice, "Lets go, this isnt a ce for talking." Lancaster was momentarily stunned and instinctively followed along. They found a stone stool to sit down on. After lighting a cigarette, "I Love Xiao Yi" asked in a raspy voice amid the swirling smoke, "How long have you been in this game?" Lancaster replied, "Seven days. Whats the problem?" "You must have had a hard time after entering the game." As "I Love Xiao Yi" finished speaking, a cartden with goods passed by them. The ttering of the carts wheels hitting the ground made Lancaster feel momentarily dazed as his eyes instinctively followed the cart into the distance. Following the direction of the carts movement, he took in the whole scene of Titan Towns main street. Carts hauling goods asionally trudged by on the main street. Elderly men in coarse clothes strode briskly by with stacks of firewood on their backs. Cavalrymen in leather armor rode horses through the street. ... In a daze, he shivered. He remembered killing that chicken in the vige, and the family looking at him with such venomous eyes, as if one death wasnt enough, they came after him again with pitchforks. It was as if they were genuinely filled with endless rage because of his actions. Now looking back at the scenes in Titan Town, it felt more like he had truly traversed into another world rather than just being in a game. "This games effects are incredible! The overall experience is great, its been four to five years since a game with such immersion has appeared. But the NPCs with AI-driven responses are too terrifying, soul-based games arent sustainable, they should lower the difficulty of getting started a bit," Lancaster praised. "Yeah, you could say that... If we have to put it like that, this games logic is excessively consistent. Many things that seem absurd, if you delve deeper, youll find theres a reason for the oddities and even a certain inevitability in the coincidences... like that." "I Love Xiao Yi" pointed at the sentry at the checkpoint, then at the farmer who had brought them here. He turned and followed a sentry into a building. Shortly after, he came out again, grinning from ear to ear. "I Love Xiao Yi" waved the temporary entry permit in his hand and said, "See, the farmer who brought us here, as well as the sentry of this town, actually already know our identities. Do you believe that right now, in that room, the farmer ismunicating information about the two of us with the sentry? I even suspect that we are constantly being observed. To be honest, this situation makes me really uneasy. When I first entered this game and arrived at the vige, I realized that the vigers were consciously guiding us toplete tasks. You understand, right, that these NPCs are actually aware of our existence." Lancaster was momentarily taken aback, thenughed and said, "Whats so strange about that? Ive also seen the posts by Strange Power Chaos God on the forum." "Hmm?" "Information about our yer identities, saying we are the people of the Harvest Goddesss Shangtiya Divine Country, endowed with the Undying Blessing granted by Shangtiya. We came to this world from Shangtiyas divine country, and this news has already beenmunicated by the priests and nuns of the Earth Mother Goddess Church to the leaders of major forces. So, its normal for some well-informed forces to know this information in advance. From what Strange Power Chaos God revealed on the forum, it is clear that Lancaster, that Incubus Lord featured in the promotional video, is aware of this. Isnt thismon knowledge among those who frequent the forum?" Once he started talking, Lancaster couldnt stop sharing all the information he knew. Finally, he said, "Wait, you didnt think this game is a real alternate reality, did you?" "I Love Xiao Yis" expression froze for a moment, and he smoked more furiously. After a while, he stubbed out his cigarette, threw it into a nearby trash cart, and sighed, "I trust my own eyes more." "Eyes can be deceiving, you know... A few years back, when virtual games were at their peak, game operators would secretly promote their games as alternate realities within yermunities if the games had high immersion... Afterws were enacted banning such false advertising for virtual games, didnt all the major gamepanies cease such promotions? I heard that even now, many hardcore addicts still firmly believe in it." At this point, Lancaster looked at "I Love Xiao Yi" with a puzzled expression and raised his voice slightly, "Dude, how old are you to still believe in that? If this game is truly another world, Ill livestream myself doing handstands while having diarrhea." "I Love Xiao Yi" was stunned by Lancasters harsh words, and said stiffly, "You guys are only interested in scamming free food and drinks... but you make a good point, perhaps Im being overly sensitive. Im not much for game forums, so Im not up to date on this news, but if what you said is true, it could exin why I received this mission." Hearing "I Love Xiao Yi" was finally willing to exin how he triggered the mission, Lancaster immediately perked up. The games mission mechanism was somewhat inscrutable. Sometimes, a vige girls request to pick small andrge mushrooms could turn into a mission. Other times, the vige chiefs request to drive away wild boar princesses was not only difficult but also failed to generate a rted mission, let alone mission rewards. Now that "I Love Xiao Yi" was willing to share how he triggered this mission, it naturally piqued Lancasters curiosity. "Your reasoning just now convinced me. If thats the case, the mission I shared with you must have been issued by the Lord Mansion." "Hmm? Exin." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "There are needs, thus there are missions. If you think about it, on this territory, who else but the Lord Mansion would want to investigate hidden threats within the town? One thing worth noting is that evidence suggests Lancaster, the Lord of this territory, is quite familiar with yers and their thinking patterns. He is likely the NPC most prone to issuing missions throughout thend. Even if he didnt have the need to issue you tasks, you could create a need for him. For instance, now... this kind of investigation mission, who else could do it better than our rootless, connection-free yers? I even suspect that the Incubus Lords control over his domain isnt as strong, which is why he needs more intelligence. I suspect that this investigation mission is specifically targeted at yers. After all, we truly are like weeds in the wind. At this stage, having no ties to any faction makes us the best candidates toplete this mission and the most trustable individuals." ... [Picture 1] [Picture 2] [Picture 3] [Picture 4] Chapter 38 - 36: Its the Young Masters Scent Braised Donut scratched his head and muttered softly: "Indeed, from your perspective, the most likely originator of this mission is still from the Lord Mansion. But what does it matter? I dont care who the missiones from; I just want toplete the task and get the reward." Love Little Yi knew that this guy was a typical yer, lit another cigarette, and bit it lightly, saying: "Then lets make a bet... I bet that someone from the territory wille looking for you by the end of the day. With your open and aboveboard investigation methods, trust me, youll feel pretty ufortable. Also, no matter what this game is about, my advice to you is, dont treat NPCs as NPCs. Treat them as living people... Learn to show reverence. Although this is just a game, its not something to mess around with." Just as he was saying this, he suddenly noticed a young man in in linen clothes, who looked like a local resident, walking towards them. Love Little Yi nced at Donut and said, "Add me as a friend. Keep an eye out for my messagester." The young man came up to them with a simple smile on his face, awkwardly scratching his cheek and saying, "Hello, are you citizens of Shangzhia?" Indeed... Love Little Yi sensed something was wrong and frowned, retreating behind Donut. Donut felt speechless. What was this guys deal, being so cautious even in the game? But as a standard task-grinding yer, he would never miss an opportunity to trigger a mission. The storyline? Whats it got to do with me? Im just here for the task. So, he put on a bright smile and said, "Is there something you need our help with?" The muscles on his arms and legs are much thicker than those of a normal resident. Judging by the distribution of calluses on his hands, this guy is probably used to holding something all the time. I think its more likely iron rather than meat. Braised Donut felt a bit surprised. This guy is quickAhem, I mean, hes quick at observing NPCs and gathering intelligence. I have to admit, he really sounds convincing. Hearing Braised Donut speak, the young manughed a bit awkwardly, saying, "Actually, the situation is like this. Recently, a continuous stream of Shangzhia citizens has been arriving in Titan Town. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The townsfolk heard that youre helpful, so they thought toe to you for assistance. We really have no other options; the town hasnt been peacefultely. Weve heard that monsters from the dungeon have sneaked past the portal and hidden in the town. The residents are uneasy. Weve been continuouslymissioning third-party help to investigate. If youre interested, we would appreciate your assistance." Agree, and add, Besides finding monsters sneaking into the town from the dungeon, can we get additional rewards if we discover other unknown threats from you? Although Braised Donut found Love Little Yis personality a bit odd, he had a lot of respect for the mans observational and judgmental skills. After all, the Strange Power Chaos God Club clearly obtained specific information directly from the Lord, so it was easy to deduce NPC factions attitudes toward them. But Love Little Yi clearly noticed many hidden clues through keen observation and judgment. As an experienced yer, he knew very well that strong yer capability alone often wasnt enough to uncover hidden quests. yers like Xiao Yi were evidently better at triggering certain tasks. So, he said without hesitation, "Besides finding monsters sneaking into the town from the dungeon, can we get additional rewards if we discover other unknown threats from you?" The young man was amazed. He had heard from his father, who worked as a ranger for the Lord Mansion, that Shangzhias citizens had divine skills that allowed them to view basic information about people like them. But Mr. White also mentioned that the information discovered was only surface-level. For example, a ranger reserve like himself, if not officially employed as a ranger, was no different from the undead to the townsfolk. Because of this, in the past couple of days, some partners like him have been following Mr. Whites advice and arranging variousmissions for thosezy, trouble-making undead in the town. Watching this group of undead, who would excitedly jump around and shout "Woohoo, hidden quest" once given a task, the young man felt they were a bit out of their minds. At the same time, he felt that the Harvest Goddesss radiant image was crumbling. Oh great Shangzhia Goddess, why do Yourmbs seem to be corrupted by the Evil God? Did You expel them from the divine kingdom to punish them or us? However... He thoughtfully looked at Braised Donut. It seemed there were still some normal people among the undead. Like those smart ones currently hunting Huge Hoofed Deer in the Twisted Jungle, and the two before him now. Thinking this, his honest, simple smile gradually vanished, reced by a stern expression: "If you can manage it... then show us your skills to the fullest." [You have received the hidden mission "Restless Unease" from "Kroel."] [Quest eptance: Single/Team Mission, up to 10 people] [Quest Completion Condition: Find the hidden threat in Titan Town. Rewards based on threat level.] [Quest Reward: Indeterminate level experience points; indeterminate job change voucher; slight increase in Titan Town reputation] Braised Donuts eyes lit up. He immediately shared the mission with Love Little Yi. He had a good understanding of himself. He might be capable of executing tasks steadfastly or acting impulsively as abatant, but when it came to solving clue-hunting, puzzle-like missions, someone else was more suited for the job. With 2,500 hours of virtual game experience, the only thing he learned was that when you dont know how toplete a mission, the only thing you need to do is Find someone strong who took the mission with you, and activate the father-raising mode. Love Little Yi nced at Donuts eager face and sent him a message through the chat window: Ask him for a means to call for backup. At least know how to quickly find him if we discover urgent information. See, there you go. The task ahead just entered easy mode. ... "You need a guarantee?" The young man Kroel furrowed his brow upon hearing this request and said, "Youre right. If you do find something, youll need a way to contact us. You can go to the Berlin Wood Restaurant on West Street and inform the boss about your discoveries." Kroel hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly took out a small bottle from his pocket and handed it to them with great seriousness: "If you Shangzhia citizens really have the Undying Blessing as the priests say... then throw this beacon bottle before you die. As for its usage, the divine arts of Shangzhia will tell you." Braised Donut took the bottle and casually cast a detection skill on it. Hmm...hmm!? [You used the skill "Detect" and obtained the following detailed information] [Beacon OilQueen Jasmine] [Use: A mixed solution made with grease produced by the Greasy Technique, merged with native potions from Incubus production, and special magic aroma through blending.] [When sprinkled on someone, it leaves a traceable magic aroma thatsts twelve hours and is hard to dissipate. Its a product of multiple skillsbined.] [When used by yers, they will automatically gain a twelve-hour buff "Queen Jasmine," slightly improving spellcasters casting sess rate and uracy] [Evaluation: Ah, its the young mastersWhisper from a Snow Wolf n maid in her sleep] ... PS: I want your... rmendation tickets, monthly tickets, investments, and continued reading (loudly)!!! Chapter 39 - 37: This is something that can only happen on the IF line Kroel left. Leaving Braised Donut with a bewildered expression on his face. Speaking of this item, and this introduction... Is it passing the audit? Is there another Incubus existing in this territory? Thinking again of the well-known Incubus Lord Kael during the beta test... Hiss!!! Braised Donut took a deep breath, turned around, took a screenshot of the information detected on the system panel, and then opened the games forum... He chose the "Fanart" category, entered the title [My Secret with the Puppet (1)]. The "Puppet" was a nickname for the Incubus Lord Kael.D.Helois. Now "Gate to the Netherworld" had be a viral hit. First, the game review god [Little Kitten of Others] drew attention with a short video that gained over thirty million views and over a million likes. Unfortunately, while he had been so tough when dissing the AS professional yer Nai Feitian, his attitude was incredibly humble when he spent money to buy the beta test code. As a result, thements below the video were densely packed with "Itste but delicious" remarks. With top-tier content creators and professional yers giving so much attention to this game, naturally, the games poprity skyrocketed, and besides... Hase-hase~ Can anyone really resist the charm of Kaels body? Can they? Can they? If "Gate to the Netherworld" broke out due to praises from a group of game content creators and professional yers, along with various meme videos, then when the heat rose, the one who carried the entire game to new heights was Kaels airborne waltz, his hollow gaze, and the smiling nce he gave uponnding in the promotional video. Elegant, so elegant! Like a delicate puppet manipted at will, ying a magnificent symphony; youd never guess how popr Kael was in various chat groups. A ton of emoticons came out. Kael wagging his little tail. Kaels smiling nce. Kael quietly staring at you. Kael enjoying the scenery... A bunch of emoticons started all kinds of dirty talk in various chat groups, so much so that even beyond the beta testing groups, Kael earned the beautiful nickname of "Puppet." Braised Donut even heard that some unscrupulous page games directly intercepted Kaels segment from the "Gate to the Netherworld" promotional video and used it as their pop-up ads on various websites, resulting in awsuit and paying quite a bit in fines. Even more ridiculous was that, ording to some reports, even with the fine, the short-term traffic attracted because of Kael still made them a small profit. Envy (longing eyes).jgp Doesnt this traffic cheat make you tempted? Are you tempted? Im tempted! Is there anyone who isnt tempted? Bastard! Send! Send it all! Today I dere that I am the brightest kid in the entire forum, without a doubt! Now I am going to wipe off the tragic experience of being stabbed with a pitchfork after killing a chicken, posting on the forum toin, and then being pinned to the top,ughed at by all the yers for two consecutive days! ... Meanwhile, night fell. At this moment, in Kaels study in the Lord Mansion, Kael was leaning on his resting spot. He gently let go of the little tail he was ying with, the hazy look in his eyes gradually regaining brightness, a trace of helplessness shing in his mind. The experiment to weaken the sensitivity of his little tail had failed. A few days ago, while routinely practicing Silk Thread Maniption, because of a momentary distraction, the Magic Silk Thread hooked off-center and wrapped around his tail. At that moment, he only felt a numbing and slightly stinging sensation pervade his whole body. Kael had never experienced such a sensation; with a stumble, he was hanging in mid-air, the orderly Magic Silk Thread turned into a tangled mess because of the fleeting pleasure, binding himself tightly. Then he immediately understood the annoyance of having a tail... Honestly, if you dont count the potential drawback of it being a weak point in battle, its not that annoying, even somewhat blissful. He vaguely remembered that many yers who randomly became tailed races in theter stages would go and learn the Half-Orc Races special skill [Iron Tail]. It was said that after learning [Iron Tail], one could greatly mitigate the annoyance of the sensory overload on the tail and even use the tail for attacks. To this end, he specifically learned a massage technique to aid in learning [Iron Tail] from a maid of the Snow Wolf n at home. The feeling brought by that massage technique, in retrospect, was a nightmare. If Kael hadnt consistently cast Queen Molis focus and calm spell before starting, every young maid in this Lord Mansion tonight wouldnt have been able to escape. However, its evident that this scenario is something that could only happen in an IF line. Tonight, it was time to learn Iron Tail smoothly. But... Thinking about this, Kael ground his teeth in anger. Good news, he had learned a new skill. Bad news, it wasnt Iron Tail. ... [Overreaction] (New) - After the little tail of an Incubus is influenced by the Snow Wolf ns Iron Tail technique, the inactive cells are activated, revitalizing the Incubus. In this state, your little tail will be more aggressive, and its controbility will significantly improve. At the same time, spells cast through the Incubus tail will automatically rise by 1 level. (Oh, dear Little Incubus, the tails of Orcs and Half-Orcs are different from those of Incubi; the more an Incubuss tail is trained, the more aggressive it bes, as it is inherently the casting medium for specific spells. The Snow Wolf ns special massage technique wont help you learn [Iron Tail]; instead, it will further stimte the power of your Incubus bloodline within you. This is a gift from the Abyss Will to Incubi; congrattions, you have be even more delicious.) ... n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Should he be happy or ashamed? Even though there arent many spells that can be practically used through the Incubus tail, the ability to directly level up spells is quite a game-breaker. Sweet Scent, Power Drain, and Tail Injection were essentially boosted by one skill point, effectively upgrading three skills. Feeling his tail bing stronger and more controble, he couldnt help but sigh. It seemed he still needed to get used to it. This feeling brought him a blissful annoyance, and in the end, he could only sigh helplessly, thinking: "Forget it, lets see what those silly yers on the forum are praising me for again in the middle of the night!" Thinking this, Kael casually opened the forum... Then his expression froze, and for a moment, he was somewhat flustered. At the top post, a title caught his eye [My Secret with the Puppet (1) (Explosion)] [Posted by: Braised Donut] A quick nce at the content, various cliched middle school essays, made him lose interest; even making things up couldnt have been more interesting. But the post went viral, obviously for a good reason. The only reason was just because of that screenshot. [Beacon Oil - Queen Moli] [Usage: Omitted] [Evaluation: Ah, its the young masters scentfrom the shy murmur of a certain Snow Wolf n maid in the night] This screenshot truly shocked the world, and even some yers began to offer prices to Braised Donut. "Hehe~ Ahahaha~ As expected of yers, so bold! Do you really think Im blind and wont check the forum? Braised Donut, huh? Why dont you go die! Just wait and see tomorrow, hmm..." Kael was stunned for a moment and noticed that one minute ago, Braised Donut hadmented under the post: "Oh shit, brothers, we have a cheater; I got my head twisted off before I even saw the person! The item is gone, and my brother sprinkled it out before he died." Hmm? What was going on? Chapter 40 - 38: Do you like my scent that much? Somethings up? Kael was momentarily stunned. He quickly checked the system records and finally found the entry in the roster of tools used to release hidden tasks from the Lord Mansions designated personnel, where a youth named Kroel had posted a record showing that Braised Donut and ILoveXiaoYi had taken on a task. Hmm? ILoveXiaoYi? The name seemed vaguely familiar, oh, he remembered now. In his previous life, this guy had coborated with their guild to tackle a veryplex task. At that time, Kael was so busy dealing with guild matters that Lao Cai didnt dare disturb him, just mentioned it in passing and went off with a few experts to handle it. Afterpleting the task, Lao Cai even bragged about it while showing off some crayfish, praising the yer whose nickname was ILoveXiaoYi. Its just the task was taken just today during the day, and they already discovered the hidden dangers? Truly worthy of Lao Cais praise. He took a deep look at the nickname ILoveXiaoYi recorded on the panel. In the notes section of the system panel, he found a subdirectory marked Outstanding Explorer Chives and added a new person to it. Then he stood up and shook a bell. Old Whites voice came from the door: "Young master?" Kael said, "Grandpa White, call Hassaka over." Old Whites voice paused for a moment outside the door, then quickly responded in a low voice: "Yes, young master, is there anything else that needs preparation?" "No, just bring her over." Kael took a ceremonial sword from a carving on the study wall and hung it at his waist. "All right, please wait a moment." Old Whites voice sounded a bit surprised. However, he didnt ask further and went to find the Chief Maid responsible for all the maids daily arrangements. Unless necessary, he didnt want to intrude on adys private space directly; it wasnt very elegant. Let the Chief Maid handle it. Oh right, should he remind the Chief Maid to tell Hassaka to wash herself clean beforeing? No, better not, what if Kael wanted it urgently Anyway, theres a bathroom in the study too, it should be fine. Meanwhile, Kael, unaware of Old Whites thoughts, had no idea that in the old butlers eyes, calling someone over turned into this scenario. Probably because since Kael came to this world, most of his time was spent understanding the history of the Shenhwa Continent, reading therge collection of books left by his father in the study, and learning basic knowledge of spellcasting. He even forgot that in this world where entertainment activities werent plentiful, the biggest activity at night was always bedroom y and human transformations. In Kaels Lord Mansion, without ancestral elf treasures or Coral Pce caviar, the most agreeable things were probably a few pretty maids. And this little maid Hassaka, being from the Snow Wolf n, had a keen sense of smell, fluffy tail fur, and looked pleasing to human aesthetics. Being called over unexpectedly in the middle of the night naturally made the old butler think that the young master had grown up. However, Kael did indeed want to use her, but not in that way. He needed Hassakas sense of smell. Earlier, he had concocted the "Beacon," intending for yers with the Undying Blessing to throw it onto others during fights with enemies. This way, he could use the Snow Wolf ns keen sense of smell to follow the scent of Queen Moli. N?v(el)B\\jnn Its just that Kael didnt have the same versatile investigation skills as yers, so he didnt understand what his product was evaluated as by the system If he knew, he would never allow something like "The incubuss scent is truly delightful" to happen. But it was toote now, what needed to be done had to be done. He nced at the forum again and noticed that underneath the forum post, Braised Donuts reply had started to stir up activity. WantIceCream: "I was the first to arrive for augh!" PastoralWen: "Though I must ask, can you tell me how you got the hidden task? Newbie asking for guidance, willing to love seniors!" NoLazyCat: "Why did it turn out this way For the first time, I found a game I liked; for the first time, I made true game friends. These two pleasant things intertwined, and these two joys would bring me many more joys. It should have been a dreamy happy time, but why are your task-snatching moves so practiced!" BraisedDonut: "@PastoralWen Honestly, hidden tasks arent great, too dangerous, one careless move and youre dead. Look at us, were in death penalty time, itll take fifteen minutes to resurrect and log back in." SleepsTillNoon: "Legendary, keep being legendary!" EmperorHa: "Is what killed you still in the town? Need help? Im just curious about what it was. Trust me, I wont take your loot, just tagging along!" Amid the densements, Kael quickly found what he wanted to know. ILoveXiaoYi: "My suggestion is you better not go. Donut didnt see how he died, isnt very clear That thing lunged, grabbed, twisted, and its speed was incredibly fast, totally beyond our level to challenge. Dont believe me? Look at the picture. (image.jpg)" WantIceCream: "Whoa, Donut Spinal Cord Sword!" SleepsTillNoon: "You can even post this kind of picture, arent you afraid the forum admin will ban you!" Kael didnt mind. After all, he had already experienced all this in his previous life. After ten years of killing monsters from the Netherworld Gates, his heart had be as cold as a de. Its just that this brutal and intimidating attack style vaguely gave him some guesses about who did it. But before confirming, he still needed to investigate. Just as he was thinking this, there came a knock at the door. "Young master" "Grandpa White, contact the Rangers stationed in town, prepare for support, we might have caught a big fish." Old White didnt say much, just nodded and left Hassaka, whose beast ears were trembling with unease, standing at the door, unsure whether to go in. Before she could decide, Old White reentered the room: "Young master, Ive notified them. What should we do next?" Kael looked at the Snow Wolf n little maid. Hassaka was clearly not prepared for this scene, her snow-white wolf ears perked up, but soon drooped as if losing power. Kael found it amusing, walked directly to Hassaka, and quietly looked at her. The Snow Wolf n little maids nose twitched. Sniff sniff~ Subconsciously, she wanted to lean closer to Kael. But Kael flicked her forehead and snapped her out of it. "Ow, that hurts" Hassaka showed a pitiful expression. Seeing how adorably silly the maid was, Kael couldnt help but tease her in a slightly frivolous tone: "You like my scent that much?" Hassakas face turned scarlet in a sh, and the fine hair on her ears stood up. She lowered her head, not daring to raise her face, wishing she could flee from Lancaster at light speed. "The thing you did, Ill let it slide, but naughty girls must be punished. Later, youlle with me to see if there are traces of my scent left anywhere in this town, okay?" "Okay~" The little maid Hassaka squirmed a bit, whispering. Elsewhere. In a dark corner of Titan Town. A burly man, tall and hairy, threw the Donut Spinal Cord Sword to the ground. From the shadows behind him, a small giant with a physique even more massive stepped forward, tossing the corpse of ILoveXiaoYi, whose head was crushed, to the ground, speaking in a strangenguage that humans couldnt understand: "Have we been discovered?" Chapter 41 - 39 The Flying Head "Were we discovered?" The existence of the small giant with a white bone ornament belt around his waist, or more urately called a barbarian, murmured in a low voice. As he said this, heavy footsteps gradually came from the darkness. Six barbarians, taller and more robust than average humans, emerged from the darkness. Without any extra words, like a group of silent killing machines, they stood in front of the smaller, more frail-looking barbarian. The short barbarian, whose facial lines were clearly visible, obviously had a status and identity different from his physique. He said in a low voice to the group: "It doesnt matter. As long as no living person sees us, this is a perfect stealth operation. However, the n needs to change now." The group disappeared into the darkness, heading towards a house with flickering candlelight at the end of the alley, leaving one person behind to clean up. Entering the house, a small, secluded space hidden in a remote corner of Titan Town without even a venttion design, as the door closed, it turned into an isted secret chamber. "Bone-Cracker, the n needs to change a bit. Things have changed. That red-haired noblewoman, we cant make a move on her. Its too strange. Clearly, there was no leak, but during the day, when she left the territory, many human spell swordsmen appeared around to protect her... Why are there trusted aides not protecting the lord? This is even more excessive than thosezy chief guards! And those liars, those sewer maggots rolling in the mud! They said the Incubus Lord was weak, but when I observed from afar, weak? Is that weak? The eyes cant be gouged out! That persons physique was alreadyparable to a barbarian. Earlier, I went to the dungeon and observed from afar. That guy, not easy to kill, let alone the human always by his side, as dangerous as a monster... We are here to carry out the tribes n, not to court death!" "So what should we do?" The barbarian scratched his head. "Just tell me what to do. Bone-Cracker doesnt like thinking, just tell me whose skull to crush." The young barbarian grinned, looking at the corner of the room, revealing a cruel smile. Hearing Bone-Cracker say this, everyones eyes turned to the corner, where a girl was tied to a chair, her mouth stuffed with a rag. The barbarians expressions became strange. Another barbarian,cking Bone-Crackers indifference, said somewhat dissatisfied: "How do we deal with her? Kill her directly? ording to the n, either the Lancaster Lord or his fiance must die. When its confirmed that those two are dead, then kill the student of the stic Science Monarch, and they will fulfill their promise... But now weve only captured a girl. Shes seen our faces, we cant let her live." "Then kill her!" the leading barbarian said coldly. Terror filled the girls eyes as she struggled madly against the ropes binding her to the chair. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Not paying much attention to the student of the faction monarch who had returned home, the ck Hand, after seeing her expression, paused: "You understand the tribalnguage?" The girl nodded frantically, trying to prove that she indeed understood the tribalnguage and couldmunicate with them. This is a joke. She had just be a student of a faction monarch, and she didnt want to die inexplicably in this abandoned small house in her hometown without enjoying her youth. She now deeply regretted it. Clearly, no familiar people remained in this territory. Why did shee back to this ce of sorrow? The professor had arranged a residence for her in the Royal Capital. Wouldnt it be better to stay in the Royal Capital and not return? Why insist oning back? Thinking this, the fear in her eyes became clearer. She could tell these barbarians really intended to kill her. Doing nothing would mean the end of her future. She thought that nodding to show she understood the tribalnguage would at least give her a chance tomunicate with the barbarians, but unexpectedly, the one called the ck Hand wouldnt even give her a chance, coldly saying: "You understand the tribalnguage and have seen our faces. You definitely need to die. Dont leave trouble for the tribe. Empty promises are as worthless as leaves used for wiping. They have no meaning. If they dont honor their promise, we will just take from those liars. They are much weaker and easier to bully than the Bell Federation. As for this one... kill her directly." They came to the Lancaster Territory with a mission. Everything they did here must not be discovered by outsiders. If they were discovered... There was no if! As long as everyone who discovered them was dead, then nothing would be discovered. He looked at the girl. Judging by her age, she was about the same as his daughter. A trace of pity shed in his eyes but quickly disappeared, leaving no trace ofpassion. He coldly said to his kin: "Send her on her way." "Then Ill begin..." Bone-Cracker grinned and walked straight over. He liked the wails and the sound of bones cracking when he crushed his preys bones. But before he could reach the corner, a p directlynded on the back of his head. PAH!!! Bone-Cracker shook his head, looking confusedly at the small leader: "ck Hand, why did you hit me?" The ck Hand, both angry and frustrated, cursed: "What are you doing?" Bone-Cracker, who was about to make a move, paused, still dazed: "ck Hand, as you ordered, kill her!" The ck Hand nearly fainted from anger. He jumped up and pped Bone-Crackers head again, saying fiercely: "Where are we now?" "The Lancaster Territory!" "I mean... whats our environment?" Bone-Cracker hesitated, then whispered: "A room not even big enough to lie down in?" The ck Hand gritted his teeth: "Then do you want to stter blood all over this temporary base, turning it into a mess? Take her outside, gag her. Dont do it in here. Find a hidden corner and strangle her." The ck Hand recalled something and added: "You dont like using your brain, you dont have enough food, tribal status, or your own tent. If you want someone to take interest in you, thats impossible. You must be holding back badly. When you go outside, make it quick and dont leave any traces. The Magic Monarchs student may not have started formal spell research yet, but she wont be easy to handle without protective awareness." Just as he said this, a chilling feeling surged through his heart. The ck Hands pupils contracted sharply as the corner of the room got shattered, dozens of spears wrapped in azure spell power whistling through the air! Quick to react, the ck Hand already had a short axe in hand, his muscles swelling as he frantically swung, shattering the spears heading his way. But clearly, not everyone was the ck Hand. Except for Bone-Cracker, who blocked the sudden attack at the cost of injury, other barbarians were either critically injured and killed on the spot ory writhing, losing their ability to fight back. "Bone-Cracker! What are you standing there for, you fool? Run!" the ck Hand roared. Bone-Cracker, knocked senseless by the barrage of attacks, instinctively crashed into a nearby wall. The impact shattered the wall. Bone-Cracker rushed into the dark night, instinctively looking back. The ck Hand didnt fall back but roared and tried to charge into the encircling rangers. But the next second, several threads emitting a faint cold light shot out. A cold figure shed like a bolt of lightning, drawing an arc. Even from afar, Bone-Cracker could feel the chilling killing intent in that cold light. He instinctively knew it was toote. ck Hands angry shout faintly echoed in his mind. In reality, ck Hands head flew off in an instant. "Chase him." He heard a distant, indifferentmand. Driven by fear, Bone-Cracker dared not stay, immediately darting into the darkness. Chapter 42 - 40: Was This All Part of Your Plan? "For flesh that hasnt undergone transformation, this thing is much more useful than spells." Standing next to the fallen corpse of ck Hand, Kael gently wiped the blood off his ceremonial sword. The de gleamed, and the bound girl instinctively closed her eyes. But in the next moment, she felt the tight bindings around her body loosen. After being tied for so long, the girls cirction was poor, causing her to stagger and lean forward. Kael, with quick reflexes, caught her. "Th-thank you" the girl whispered. Kael nodded and said to the little maid hiding behind a group of Rangers, "Hassaka, take this child to the manor for a wash and some rest You can use that if needed; she looks terrified." Hassaka opened her mouth to mention she was running low on "Beacons." "When we get backter, Ill make you a new bottle an even better one," Kael added. Hassakas ears and tail perked up, her tail waving fervently, almost kicking up dust. She quickly ran over and took the nameless girl aside. Kael turned his attention to the group of Barbarians in front of him, frowning, "These guys are so distinctive. When did they sneak into the town?" Jonathan, standing beside him, shook his head and said, "Its probably not the sentries fault. From the frozen northern wilderness to the hellish southern rainforests, these Barbarians are scattered. They revere destruction, evil, and brutality and are top-notch fighters. But the Federation rarely provides them with professional equipment. This group is fully armed, reaching an average level of a third-level novice. The leader here should be at least above a fifth-level novice. In a scattered Barbarian tribe, hes likely the strongest. Its highly probable they infiltrated the town premeditatedly; its normal that the sentries didnt notice," Kael nodded in agreement. Titan Town wasnt like Fransburg, a military stronghold with numerous ordinary soldiers and professionals on guard, nor did it have the resources to build a city wall. Being infiltrated was, in fact, quite normal. Though he decapitated the Barbarian leader with one strike, Kael knew too well that a third-level magician typically couldnt take down a Barbarian like this ck Hand. The gap in strength was too vast. For magicianscking diverse spellcasting techniques and spells not yet transformed, such sheer brute force could easily turn them into one of the Barbarians war trophies. Moreover, after killing the guy and receiving a system notification, Kael immediately knew the level of this Barbarian. Name: ck Hand. Level: LV7!!! That was already considered a high level among beginner professionals. However, ncing at the Barbarians wrinkles and lines, it was clear he was quite old. He had a wealth ofbat experience and a high professional level, enabling him to unleash considerable power in battle. But time had taken its toll; he couldntpete with the scissor of time. Even with a heart ready to die, in this scene, he clearly wasnt the protagonist. In terms ofbat experience, Kael was even more adept. Using a fight style of wide openings and strength to ovee finesse wasnt unfeasible, but at this level, the attribute bonus from the Barbarians professional level wasnt significantly superior to Kaels Incubus lineages bonuses. Without a high attribute advantage, using a wide-opening style? Facing Kael, who, after activating the Silk Thread Maniption skill, had dual A-rank strength and speed, that was simply courting death. The temptation led Kael, who didnt intend to approach, to strike with another sh. He first instantly cast Freezing Aura, briefly disrupting ck Hands defensive rhythm. Then he timed his spellcasting, using Greasy Technique to cause ck Hand to lose bnce as he was about to block a spear. Then, activating Silk Thread Maniption, he approached swiftly and shed his neck! What? You say this is a ceremonial sword? A ceremonial sword can kill too. Dont believe it? Look, hes dead! Isnt it simple? Anyone can do it! "A warrior; he could have escaped," Jonathan said, standing beside Kael, as he pulled an iron spear from ck Hands corpse. The iron spear with a blood groove tore off a piece of flesh. Kael paid it no mind and said, "An enemy hero is our nightmare. Respecting his character for dying to protect hispanions doesnt conflict with my need to kill him." Old White, who was closely following, nodded in agreement: "The Lord is right; an enemy we cannot coexist with should be swept away like a storm, giving them no chance to counter." While Kaels group reorganized on the spot, they began to collect what the Barbarians left behind, hoping to find some evidence. However, it was evident that there was no trace of their origin left behind! The totem tattoos indicating their origin were so worn down they couldnt be identified. Their gear had no conspicuous marks of cksmiths, making it impossible to trace the weapons origins. "Like you said, these Barbarians specialize in this," Kael sighed, ceasing the futile investigation. Most Barbarians came from untamed areas or Barbarian tribes outside major civilization circles. These people came to the town possibly for wealth and pleasure, or they might have been captured by ve traders from their homnd and lucky enough to escape to Yibel and sneak into town. They could be Human, Half-Orc, Dwarf, or any race, but their blood flowed with Frenzy, making them more powerful and dangerous and brutal. In fact, Barbarian was not just an ethnicity but an extraordinary profession, nurturing and harnessing Frenzy, using Frenzy... Through Frenzy, they unleashed unmatched destructive power, gaining widespread recognition for their power...and killing intent. Gathering these Barbarians invariably caused trouble. Especially given their nature, it was easy for them to be henchmen for powerful forces. Once they misstepped, provoking those powerful forces, having their tribes annihted was normal. Except for those Barbarians wishing their entire tribe ascended to heaven, most Barbarians working in the dark wiped out all identification to protect their families. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Clearly, Kael and his group had encountered such people. "Lord, we didnt capture that Barbarian..." The returning Ranger Squad, dispatched by Kael to hunt down, had their leader, the Knight Willfo, looking grim. Dismounting, he kneeled before Kael. "Exin what happened; that Barbarian should have been heavily injured." Kael said unhurriedly. "I dont know..." "Hmm?" Willfos cold sweat dripped down as he repeated, "I dont know... When we were about to intercept him, a shadow suddenly appeared, swallowing the Barbarian whole." Kael nodded, "Got it, stand up, Knight." "Lord..." "Rx, theres no intent to punish you. We anticipated this." Kael helped Willfo up, patting his shoulder, "Go now, many townsfolk were probably awakened. Exin to them; can you handle that?" "At your will!" Willfo and the Rangers stood, soon dispersing. Kael looked at Old White, always by his side, chuckled, and said, "Grandpa White, did you foresee this too?" Chapter 43 - 41 Please Urge Me to Write "Grandpa White, was this within your calctions as well?" Kael had asked Old White fifteen minutes ago. Fifteen minutester, when Kael and hispany had returned to the Lord Mansion and were seated in the living room, Old White finally dropped his guard and replied, "I hadnt thought in this direction before, but when you ordered me to have Rangers secretly protect Miss nna as she left the country, I became suspicious. Now it seems, there are quite a few who are making their moves." Kael tapped the table, his face fleeting with dissatisfaction, "Is it the followers of the Dark Sun?" "Most likely, since this is an excellent opportunity. You should have heard that the priests of the Dark Sun are devoted to spreading strife and murder, as their deity, Shirek, is indeed the embodiment of lies and intrigue." "And you... I am actually not too worried about the Earl (Rezhe) taking a swing at you, considering he has always been an exceedingly proud man from a young age." "Proud?" Kael was surprised to hear such a descriptor from Old White. Seeing the unmistakable curiosity on Kaels face, Old White chuckled and said, "Count Rezhe may not be an honorable man, but he is almost certainly thest person in this world who would want you dead." "He is a noble, a true noble. Once your body contained the blood of the Lion Heart, even if he detested you, he would not let you die dishonorablynot with the oath he swore before the Dukenot to fail the Lion Heart Blood." "So, it had to be the followers of the Dark Sun?" Kaelughed. He seemed to have understood how the original Kael had died. Those who despise him, wishing him to live. Those with no grudges against him, hoping for his death. Such a damned world! Kael had once dealt with the Dark Sun Church, more precisely, it was called a suppression. The major gaming guilds, centered around the clubs, were basically the main force of the suppression. On one hand, arge number of yers, including the club guilds, had experienced being betrayed by the followers of the God of Murder and the Prince of Lies, Shirek. On the other hand, the core gamers of the clubs ultimately did not y the ultimate nature of chaotic evil like the ordinary gamers. They made their names in reality, bearing the burden of the reputation of their clubs and their individual images as yers. Even in virtual games, they tended to align with the more righteous factions. It had been the same in Kaels past life. And these followers of the Prince of Lies, insane enough to waste most of their time on internal scheming. They had sacrificed their own godsmbs, sometimes even more than they had outsiders. This situation of a different kind of mad field made them notoriously known, the many evils theymitted caused widespread yer difort and condemnation. There was no helping it; after all, the Prince of Lies, Shirek, was mad, and his followers followed suit, the deeper their faith, the more they stepped towards madness." "With this in mind, some preparations must be made in advance. Grandpa White, whats the situation with the bards we hired previously?" "Theyre almost ready; they can intercept and head towards the Royal Capital at any time. We even got help from an Undead who is said to be involved in simr literary work at the Goddesss side, which has greatly elerated theption progress." As he sipped his tea, Kaels face disyed a nuanced expression, his tone slightly odd as he asked, "Why is an Undead involved too? Whats their name?" "It is said that this Undead has received recognition from the bards we hired, and they have even nned to start guiding the Undead on the Extraordinary Path. As for the name..." Old Whites expression turned a bit odd, hesitating before he added, "Seems to be called Please Nag Me to Write? These Undead have quite the strange names." Kael calmly ced his teacup down, yet inside he couldnt help but feel both amusement and irony. He normally needed arge sum of money to develop his territory, save for his family, or direct yers toplete numerous tasks. To earn more demon crystals for future needs, he had siphoned some funds from the ounts of Lancaster Territory before the arrival of the yers and used them to hire bards topile short and long novels. The idea stemmed from the fact that yers in his previous life had indeed done such things. Starting a newspaper in "The Gates of the Underworld" was useless, as the Yibel Federation already had simr products. Moreover, the federation had a basic understanding of controlling the high ground in public opinion. To start a newspaper, the hurdles to ovee were not just one or two. But novels were different. The Yibel Federation couldnt and didnt need to control biographies and novels. As one of the foundational professions in "The Gates of the Underworld," there were too many bards who relied on these for their livelihood. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Spreading artistic and exaggerated stories and poking fun at the interesting affairs between celebrities was a way for many lower-ss bards to make a living. After bing bards, yers in his previous life found out that this profession was not easy at all. As a basic profession more inclined towards support, bards still needed to possess a certain level of artistic literacy and talent. Whether it was their music magic or some of their branch skills, yers with rted literacy were much quicker to get started than others. Typically, sustaining a transcendent profession required spending at least twice the amount amon household would spend on demon crystals. Even the lowest-tier transcendent professionals, if they didnt make an extra effort to earn additional ie, could easily end up poor and destitute. Barbarians could at least sell their strength, obtaining a decent ie by moving bricks at the dock. And bards? If you cant even figure out how to feed yourself, do you still expect to livefortably? Thus, after the public test, many LSP yers who fantasized about spending a wordless night with a nobledy almost became the leaders of the "Dirty Clothes Sect" after they officially took up their jobs. However, yers without talent in this field quickly found a way to break through their predicaments when faced with such difficult circumstances... The cause was a web novel author in real life who, after updating for a while, decisively abandoned his work under the guise of "creative exhaustion, taking a break for inspiration," but actually went to livestream "The Gates of the Underworld" on a small tform. When an angry editor, driven by performance goals, chased into the game to rush the author, the desperate web novelist eventuallypleted enough material for the next months full attendance under the threat of the editors Holy Light Nail Head Hammer. And then something shocking happened. The bards professional skill provided positive feedback for this behavior. They gained extra professional skill experience points and level experience points. What author could refuse to type and update in the game, while receiving feedback for professional skill experience and level growth, and even directly transforming the novels written in the game into real-world updates that could actualize wealth? Suddenly, the continent was in turmoil. No one ever imagined that at a time when the top yers of various professions were still growing wildly, a group of word typers from another world would join in the affairs of "The Gates of the Underworld" for the first time with their thoroughly enjoyable modern web novels and insanity-inducing frequent updatesCC They quite literally elevated the God of Literature, Dinel, to a pedestal worshipped by thousands of bards. ... Please save, vote monthly, and rmend! Also, this book is in the second round of rmendations, a gentle reminder as usual that the readers engagement on Monday and Tuesday affected whether the book could secure more rmendations during the new book period. So, after thetest chapter is released on Monday and Tuesday, please dear readers, view thetest chapter within 24 hours, and ensure that chapter reaches 30S to help me out, I also want to achieve a memorable aplishment for a new book. (*/أ*) Please! Chapter 44 - 42: Young Master, Are You Serious About That Reward? The chaotic deeds done by the humans were many, but like the God of Literature Dinel, there werent that many. They couldnt move ssic books from reality, but they could transport the modes. Rhythm, thrill points, outlines... such things could obviously bypass the in-game copyright system and be directly replicated in "The Gate of the Netherworld". It was well known that when online literature reached a new height of thrill, the mental stimtion provided by top-tier web novels was still quite terrifying. The original residents of "The Gate of the Netherworld" had never experienced this before. Upon first contact, it engrossed them day and night, so much so that some became unwilling to leave. Laying aside the literary question for now, can you say that a qualified thrilling novel isnt thrilling to read? Thrilling? Then its right. Providing added value meant it could be converted into tangible wealth, especially since Kael had other ns in mind. Though the appearance of Dark Sun followers surprised Kael, it did not disrupt his ns. Or rather, it only solidified Kaels resolve. If he wanted to avoid being easily harmed by these lunatics, he had to add a few extrayers of "protection" for himself. This short-term benefit industry, which could quickly harvest cash flow, was something Kael could digest; there was no reason not to get involved. Making money wasnt shameful! There werent many industries within the territory that could form a positive cycle. Due to limited ie, he could only rely on ying with words to barely survive, trying to carve out a niche in the market to sustain himself. Maybe one day, when he seeded and became famous, it would be a great story. After all, he already had the gun barrel of the territory in his hands, so it was time to head to the Royal Capital to handle some matters. Kael did not disbelieve Old Whites evaluation of Count Rezhe, but as hed said, he didnt like cing his hopes on someone elses mercy. "Just in time to see that incubus on Romance Street in the Royal Capital... that thing she holds is of great use to me," Kael pondered and made up his mind. He should go and check it out too. Pre-positioning in the Royal Capital was always Kaels strategy in preparation for theing chaos. After all, the background of "The Gate of the Netherworld" was one of turmoil. Closer, there was the chaos in the Duchy of Engnds initiated by the trial of the Charles family. Thenter, Marquis Gransham, dubbed the "State Plotter", offered half of hisnd to the Papal State of Brinia, earning the title "Saint Grantham", spearheading a frenzy to dissect the strongest human confederation on the continent, the Bell Federation. After suffering massive damage, the Bell Federation nearly disintegrated, leading the then-Federation Governor Caesar Cedric tounch a westward expedition against the Papal State of Brinia, with the warsting nearly 15 years. Both sides fought fiercely, dragging surrounding alien forces like the "Supreme Forest" into the fire, spreading war over arge portion of the continent. This war, spanning from version 1.0 to 3.0 of "The Gate of the Netherworld", marked the rise of yers and was a nightmare for countless original residents. Kael had no intention of plunging headlong into the whirlpool of chaos unprepared. He needed money, people, and resources! Building, developing, and strengthening the territory! Since he hade to this world, even if he had to recklessly charge ahead, he would carve out his own sky. N?v(el)B\\jnn The Charles family was the first obstacle blocking his path. Kael didnt want to spend too much time on them; he nned to find an alternative way to mitigate the threat they posed. Otherwise, having someone always watching your back would be ufortable. The status of a formally registered mage with the Mage Association could only guarantee that they wouldnt use methods of dealing withmoners against him. But, he felt it wasnt enough! He needed more, much more!!! And those Dark Sun followers... "Grandpa White, do you think the followers of Dark Sun might disrupt the order of Lancaster when we head to the Royal Capital?" Kael understood why those lunatics didnt dare to attack him directly, but if he were to visit the Royal Capital, the old housekeeper would obviously go with him. "Of course not, young master. The rats of the sewer can only stay in the sewer; even if they asionally poke their heads out, a single nce would make them shrink back," Old White said. Kael nced at Old White. He had figured it out. As long as Grandpa White was by his side every step of the way, any trouble on the road would depend on whether the Dark Sun followers dared to make a move. They were lunatics, but most lunatics knew fear and also feared death. At least until now, even with Kaels far superior perception among his peers, he hadnt sensed the true depth of Old White, although he could be sure that Old White was definitely not a novice (LV1-10) adventurer. So in that previous battle, Old White preferred to let the barbarian go rather than leave Kaels side, probably to deter any potential enemies. In this respect, Kael wasnt wrong. Even now, Old White was reflecting on whether he had been toox. He couldnt imagine how guilty he would feel if his young master were attacked due to his absence. "Young master." At this moment, Hassaka popped her ears out, her little head poking into the living room and calling out to the two: "The girl you had me bring back and clean up seems to know something. Should I bring her over for you to question?" Kael paused for a moment, three question marks slowly appearing above his head. What did she mean by "clean up and bring back"? Someone who didnt know might think he had captured a bride! But he sighed and said, "Let here over. Any additional piece of intelligence would be helpful." "Alright, Ill go get her!" The little maid joyfully retracted her head and ran off with a patter of footsteps. Kael chuckled and said, "That kid is waiting to be praised. Fine, lets see what that poor girl knows, anyway." "If there are no other important matters, we should reward Hassakater." Old White gave his young master a nce. Young master, are you serious about that reward? ... Meanwhile, elsewhere. [Titan Town, in a dimly lit room] On a desk near the window, a pitch-ck leather diaryy open. A gust of wind blew, rustling the pages. A withered hand pressed down on the diary. In the nk space beyond the hand, one could vaguely see lines of what could be called elegant handwriting "Count Rezhe of the Charles family was tough and proud, never liking his freedom-loving brother Anthony. The seeds of jealousy were sown, especially when Anthony overshadowed him in every way." "The conflict erupted from the inheritance of the title. The previous Family Head of the Charles family intended to choose Anthony as the familys next leader. Although this made the young Rezhe terribly jealous, he believed it was the right choice because he knew that Anthony was a true genius." "The conflict exploded when Anthony, eager for adventure, left the family." "Anthony thought that his departure would give his only brother the position, avoiding the tragedy of internal strife. He believed that even without inheriting the noble title, he could still achieve his own glory." "Rezhe felt tremendously insulted. He allowed himself to fail but would not tolerate receiving charity. He thought that Anthony was shirking his responsibility." ... Please collect, vote with monthly tickets, and give rmendations! Most importantly, please read and follow, read and follow, read and follow, repeating important things thrice! (*/أ*) Please! Chapter 45 - 43 Those Beautiful, Let Them Become Ugly (For Follow-up Reading) "The rage of being insulted, the shame of Anthonys easy abandonment of what he cherished, finally drove the furious Rezhe tomit the sin of jealousy." "After losing a duel with Anthony, he decided to surpass his foolish brother in another way and elevate the Charles family to new heights. Rezhe rang the bell of transformation that would reverberate throughout the entire Charles familys industry chain." "The Lion Heart Duke said, Only by bing beautiful can one be happy. To be beautiful, I must imnt that filthy alien blood. So, choose to be morous, be famous, be a fashion pioneer." "Rezhe wrote this in his notebook, but it read differently. Only by possessing wealth can one be happy. To plunder wealth, I must cooperate with those Chamber of Commerce dogs." "Then he added a final line, I must fight for dignity, not to prove how extraordinary I am, but to tell Anthony that the pride I lost, I will reim with my own hands! That is the kind of proud person he is." "When a monumental rift appeared between these opposing brothers, it marked the grand beginning of the theater dedicated to my God, Shirek." "The mixed-blood Incubus became an indelible shame for the Charles family. Anthony, now Lord of Lancaster, for the sake of his child who would never return home, always suspected that Rezhe disliked the kid. In truth, it was indeed so." (Several paragraphs are blocked by emaciated hands, with vague, meaningless scribbles visible.) "The glorious Holy Sanctuary Knight bowed his head for the demon offspring, doing his utmost to ensure the childs survival, only to fall before dawn, his impure body blooming with a flower of unclean blood." "The demons offspring fled to the worlds edge, gradually corroded by the restless blood of the Abyss amidst the wails of losing his nearest kin, slowly withering away." "I must live! That child named Kael still remembered his fathers hopes. Even a limping wildcat tried to stay alive, and he was also a proud boy." "Later, Kael went to the Newman Domain and met the red-haired Lady Knight. He admired her noble character. For a moment, he felt there was one more reason to keep living." As if remembering something, the figure at the desk gently turned a page, revealing the contents of the next number of pages "To sever the union between the Charles family and various newly rich merchants, an emerging noble contacted a Barbarian squad." "To acquire the resources needed for the survival of their isted tribe, the Barbarian ck Hand agreed to their request and infiltrated Titan Town to carry out the assassination of Lancaster Lord Kael and Magic Monarchs pupil Lily Agatha." "Just then, Dark Sun followers passed by. To avoid being detected by the sentries, they discreetly cast a Repel Idle People magic technique." "The Barbarian squad happened to pass through the area affected by the spell, sessfully capturing Lily Agatha upon her unguarded return home, and began lurking within the town." "Meanwhile, Kael received a letter from the Royal Capital. A stranger informed him of the proceedings of the Noble Council. He learned that Count Rezhe had already begun taking action, that danger might have already quietly arrived. Just then, nna came to visit..." "He started to feel anxious, afraid of losing her someday. After all, he could never be sure of Count Rezhes attitude towards him, nor could he guarantee that his titr uncle wouldnt act against the girl named nna." "Worried that nna might encounter danger on the road, Kael asked Sword Maniac White Symthia to escort the girl back home." "Sword Maniac would never know what consequences his departure would bring." "Titan Town suffered a massacre by the Barbarian squad. The Barbarians murderous frenzy shed head-on with the rangers guarding the Lord Mansion. No one in the Mansion survived." The returning Sword Maniac went mad... (Arge amount of unreadable, meaningless scribbles)" The enraged Count Rezhe arrived in Lancasters territory, standing before Kaels grave for a long time... (Arge amount of unreadable, meaningless scribbles)" "He realized there was a conspiracy, began investigating Kaels death. However, because of his students death, the nar Magic Monarch Luxius vented his anger on the most probable suspect, the Charles family. This greatly slowed Rezhes investigation." "nna arrived in Lancasters territory, starting to investigate the truth behind Kaels death. With the help of the Symthia people, she quickly found traces of ck Hands group hiding in the Twisted Jungle." "nna died. ck Hand first knocked her knights spear away, then, caught by the bone-crushing grip of Chomper, she was thrown with all force, pinning her to the second-floor wall of the Lord Mansion, her red blood painting the wall." "The extermination tragedies of both noble families caused an uproar in the noble circle. Entangled with Luxius, Count Rezhe sensed a conspiracy, but his struggles were futile; the gods did not care." The Federation Noble Council reported the incident to Governor Caesar, who demanded the Council provide specifics and name the mastermind behind it... (Arge amount of unreadable, meaningless scribbles.)" (Arge amount of unreadable, meaningless scribbles.) "The Noble Council dispatched numerous Federation secret agents to investigate. A secret agent eager for a quick promotion seeded in creating evidence of the Charles family persecuting Kael." "The Federation Noble Council acknowledged the intelligence, quickly closing the case." "The Lion Heart Duke rejected this evidence, believing there was an unknown misunderstanding... (Arge amount of unreadable, meaningless scribbles.)" (Arge amount of unreadable, meaningless scribbles.) The Lion Heart Duke went to the Royal Court to visit Governor Caesar. Between them... (Arge amount of unreadable, meaningless scribbles.)" "The Lion Heart Duke left in a rage, returning to the Duchy of Enns to the shocking discovery that Marquis Gransham, then vice chairman of the Noble Council, had, led by another branch of the Lion Heart Dukes lineage,pleted the trial of the Charles family." "The Charles family had all been executed." "The story of the two brothers and their descendants ended here." "And the great earthquake in the Duchy of Enns had quietly begun." Gazing at the notebook that flickered with dark light, the figure at the desk fell into an ecstatic, revengefulugh: "Ah, God! A perfect grand performance, my God Shirek, did you see it? This is all the aftermath of your great power, a web of conspiracy woven from drafts of the Shire Scripture, just a fraction of your immense power!" "Ignorant fools do not believe in the one true God, thus your followers will shepherd your flock." "Those beautiful things, we will make them ugly!" "Those powerful ones, we will turn them into puppets!" "Those who fought side by side, make them hate each other!" "Those as close as siblings, forever make them enemies!" "And those who disrespect you, we will mercilessly exterminate their entire bloodline, leaving none alive!" "The lie of lies, turning truth and falsehood on their heads in an instant! God! Look at this turbulent future weve woven from the Shire Scripture!" The voice of that figure was filled with maniacal emotion, and the draft of the Shire Scripture on the desk responded to his call, emitting ring after ring of cold light. The Shire Scripture was a Divine Artifact created by Shirek, possessing the mighty power to weave webs of conspiracy and transform them into reality. Its existence represented the ambition of the Prince of Lies, Shirek. He once sought to dominate all nations and conquer other deities. Yet, clearly, even as a powerful deity, the Prince of Lies could not achieve this goal through the Divine Artifact. Ultimately, the Prince of Lies was driven mad by the Divine Artifact he created, developing schizophrenia. Even so, the terrifying power of the Shire Scripture still shocked and terrified the gods. When the Shire Scripture was initiallypiled, the drafts scattered in the mortal world still possessed great power, or more urately... they were curses that normal people could hardly resist. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Evidently, the one on the desk was a part of the Shire Scripture drafts, now interfering with reality with the power of lies. Just as this power of lies was about to spread into reality, a mutation urred. ... Monday and Tuesday, please follow up and read! Follow up and read! Follow up and read! Important things are said thrice. (o??)o Chapter 46 - 44: If you cant even handle this, go home and raise pigs! (Please follow and read) A gust of wind swept through, flipping the pages of the ck-covered notebook on the table. The Dark Sun Bishop in front of the table wore a smile of stealthy satisfaction. He felt Shireks Divine Power of Lies spreading rapidly, and in an instant, he sensed the environment around him changing at a breakneck speed. The power of the Prince of Lies permeated the draft of the Shire Scripture, beginning to interfere with the real world. Even the Dark Sun Bishop himself was woven into this fabricated reality. He felt his consciousness shifting, entering a unique ne. It was a special realm intertwined with countless consciousnesses, memories, and spiritual projections. With the help of the Shire Scripture, this rarely essible domain was quietly torn open. In a daze, he seemed to see one terrifying figure after another gazing at him with dark stares from the Chaotic Ocean spreading out from the draft. There was the Sword Maniac, whose eyes were as vicious as a scythe; There were the scarlet eyes peeking quietly from within the ck mist; There was the Lion Heart, whose build was robust, exuding an imposing presence like a roaring lion; There was an ancient and mysterious terror; And finally, there were the cold eyes of the terrifying Federation Governor Caesar... Ah~ My brain is trembling! The Dark Sun Bishop knew that this was the power of the Shire Scripture, touching the conscious ocean of chaos, a natural phenomenon created by contacting those spiritual bodies of the woven entities. However, it was still just a draft of the Shire Scripture. Even though it possessed immense power, it was not as terrifying as the original. It could attempt to interfere with the thoughts of those top-tier powerhouses, but if it proactively tried to influence them, it was very likely to be detected by these monsters. Once a conspiracy is discovered, it ceases to be a conspiracy. The most deadly daggers are those unseen. Therefore, from the very beginning, the Dark Sun Bishop never intended to influence those "monsters." Instead, he focused his eyes on a figure who could not possibly resist Shireks power. It was a boy with extraordinary charm. He was very weak but was a crucial part in the murder woven by lies. The Dark Sun Bishop grinned maliciously as he extended his sinful, poisonous hand towards him. With this thought in mind, he directly merged into Kaels spirit body. ... The spirit body could be said to be an image formed by aggregating many factors rted to the soul and spirit, such as a persons memories, soul, beliefs, etc. It could be said that, using the power of the Shire Scripture to influence the spirit body, making this person firmly believe that the lies fabricated by the Shire Scripture were real, one could transform falsehood into reality, directly interfering with individual behavior in the real world through lies. This iprehensible method, once deployed, was enough to spark a longsting,rge-scale assassination. Even many people never figured out who the true mastermind behind the conspiracy was until their death. At this moment, the Dark Sun Bishop sessfully entered this spirit bodys interior. The first thing toe into view was the mother river, the Sain River, traversing the duchies and city-states. With mighty waters flowing continuously day and night, the Sain River rushed into Bristol Bay, carrying an unknown legion of soldiers and different species corpses, turning the river red. There was no questionthis was a war! All around, one could hear the roars of battle and the agonizing cries of soldiers with maimed limbs who were yet to perish. Barbarian army? The Dark Sun Bishop was stunned for a moment. For a while, he couldnt understand what was happening. The spirit body harbored many reflections of past real-life experiences, and what this area showcased should have been something that Incubus personally experienced. Barbarian-formed legions were actually quitemon. The Bell Federation also had such a foreign legion. But the problem was... this legions equipment was extraordinarily superior. Mixed Blood Dragons as mounts, dark fish scale pattern armor enveloping their robust bodies, paired with fine steel long-handled spears, throwing spears, and turtle shell shields, along with their intimidating aura and disciplined coordination. Everything indicated that this was a top-tiernd army designed based on barbarian characteristics. It made the Dark Sun Bishops hair stand on end. When did such a terrifying army appear on the Divine Continent? No, the right question should be, whos the madman who thought it was a good idea to give these barbarians a say in military power? No, shouldnt I be seeing the Incubus memories? Before he could ponder further, the wind suddenly picked up. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The gale howled, and the sky instantly darkened. Apanied by the roars of that steel torrent of an army, it seemed as if the entire world reverberated with their screams. Suddenly, a mountainous dragon beast emerged from the legion, its dragon body trampling the earth with might. Atop the dragon, a formidable barbarian raised a three-meter-long Victory Spear, leading the army in an assault against another group by the riverbank. Such power! Such strength! Such dominance! It was as if no one in the world could stop them as theyunched a death charge. What kind of opponent could warrant this elite legions murderous intent? His gaze turned to the other group by the riverbank, their number noticeably fewer than that of the legion, obscured by a thin mist. He was shocked. Who were these people who had the credentials to necessitate a life-and-death struggle with an elite legion? The next moment, it began to drizzle from the sky. A light blue ring of light shone from the riverbank, spanning the entire Sain River like a shockwave. In an instant, the river was cut off, and a vast expanse of pale white ice appeared out of nowhere on the river, transforming the mighty river into a walkable surface. In the next moment, the frozen ice shattered into pieces amidst a wildugh, a rampant surge tearing everything apart. A barbarian wielding a two-ded giant axe taller than himself, with runes shing continuously, appeared. The battle axe covered in ck lightning tore the ground apart, making the sounds of wind and rain submissive to the thunderps. "Guns and Roses! What the hell! Have these idiots lost their minds after being ttered by those suck-ups on the gaming forum for so many years?" "Cant hold the perpetual legion for half an hour. How are we supposed to win the national war quest! Dream on! Cant handle this, and you still want to be the E-Sports Iron Maiden? Go home and raise pigs!" "Damn it, Vice President, we cant hold them!" "Help, help, help..." "Vice President, Qing Ya charged! Ah, Qing Ya is down!!" ... The chaotic shouts made the Dark Sun Bishop feel irritable. The drizzling rain obscured the scene on the river. Suddenly, a body part fell from the sky, startling the Dark Sun Bishop. It looked like the upper half of a Human, butically, the person wore a crooked-mouthed horse head mask. The half-body lying on the ground wasnt dead yet, struggling to crawl toward the battlefield while cursing: "GG, gonna get wiped out!" The chopped-off upper body, theical crooked-mouthed horse head mask, and the cursing with no fear of death... The absurd scene made the Dark Sun Bishop instinctively step back. He felt that this person seemed crazier than himself. A voice with a slightly barbaric ent reached him from the river, speaking themon Humannguage, seemingly restraining uncontrolled anger: "Puppet, how dare your Strange Power Chaos God intercept me?" The barbarians low voice felt like it made hearts pound. Suddenly, dozens of cerulean silk threads interwove through the barbarian legion like a. As the agonized cries of more than ten barbarians, each at the Extraordinary Stage, being instantly bisected by the Magic Silk Thread, the Dark Sun Bishop heard the cold voice of the "Puppet": "Kill all you want, see if you finish us Strange Power Chaos God faster, or I finish off your Perpetual Legion faster." Before he could fully process the cold tone, a cold me swept over, and the Dark Sun Bishop felt his soul instantly frozen. The rain-drenched scene gradually shattered into fragments. "Huh? Some small fry lurking in the shadows!? Die!" This was thest echo he heard within the spirit body. Chapter 47 - 45: Then find a chance to kill him and say he died of a venereal disease. [Titan Town - Unknown House] "Hmm? Whos the small fry hiding in the shadows, spying on us!? Die!" In a daze, the Dark Sun Bishop heard a disgruntled voice. The tone reminded him of his days before bing a professional, when he would look at the flies hovering over the sewer in the slums during the summer and make simr disgruntled remarks. He wondered if the flies he crushed back then felt the same way. But at this moment, he only felt his brain trembling! No, it was his brain matter boiling! In an instant, it felt as if nothing mattered anymore! The Shire Scripture Draft on the table seemed unable to withstand the bacsh, which crossed over the spirit body and fed back into the draft, rapidly corroding it. The Shire Scripture Draft was like a helpless girl. The grinning skull and Dark Sun insignia on the cover shattered and fell off, the draft itself invaded by a strange power. The Dark Sun Bishop felt as if, when he looked at the manuscript, it was losing its resistance before his eyes. It stayed motionless, allowing the strange power to swell inside it, and gradually, the symbols representing the Dark Sun Church fell away, revealing the clean draft beneath. The paper began to take on faint pink patterns, transforming from a sinister, eerie Book of Evil God into a mysteriously eye-catching scroll. What was happening? Resist! Why arent you resisting! Werent you the treasure given to me by my god Shirek? Why are you giving up the resistance? He had possessed the Shire Scripture Draft for many years, and instinctively, he wanted to use the Divine Arts granted by Shirek to take control of the draft once more. But in the next second, he was stunned to find the Shire Scripture Draft unresponsive!? Already feeling his head splitting in pain, the Dark Sun Bishops vision suddenly went dark. Five years ago, it was by a stroke of luck that he obtained the Shire Scripture Draft, allowing him to escape the chaos of the slums and be a ck Sun Priest of transcendent status. Having long lost all family and friends, he once regarded the Shire Scripture Draft as his spiritual anchor and firmly believed that bing a professional was the result of the great Shireks guidance through the draft. He could feel that whenever he preached Shireks teachings, he felt the gods gaze upon him through the draft. This divine attention made it easier for him to control and wield the manuscripts power. The spiritual bond between man and manuscript grew stronger over time, facilitating a smoother path in his priesthood than normal. But now, when he tried to call upon the manuscript using divine arts, the Shire Scripture Draft remained indifferent. A difficult-to-describe gloom filled his heart. But in the next moment, he watched in shock and disbelief as the pink radiance filled the entire draft, erasing the murderous and destructive aura it once held. The Dark Sun Bishop felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. He sensed that the draft had adapted to the new power, changing into a different form. He reached out painfully towards the manuscript, murmuring, "No, no, dont leave me..." But in the next moment, the draft quickly shed its previous Dark Sun form and transformed into an entirely new shape. It was a form he had never seen or understood before. The Chaotic Ocean unfurled once again, and the Dark Sun Bishop could only watch as it disyed itself in a new form to a spirit body within the Chaotic Ocean. It prostrated beneath the awe-inspiring spirit body of an Incubus, and soon it seemed to receive permission and slowly melded into the Incubuss spirit body. In its final moments before being consumed, the draft finally reacted. A faint pink glow shot from the clean paper, striking the Dark Sun Bishop. In a daze, he thought he saw a pair of faintly glowing eyes. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Was that... the Seductive Demon Eye?! He was terrified, but soon a "controlled" red light shed in his eyes. As the red light gradually faded, his eyes filled with emptiness and longing. "Is this the power that drove the Prince of Lies mad?" The Dark Sun Bishop remembered everything. He was never truly a bishop. He was just an ordinary man controlled by the Shire Scripture Draft. The Shire Scripture was one of the most dangerous books on the continent. Reading its original form would turn the reader into a fanatic follower of the Prince of Lies, Shirek, insane enough to spread Shireks teachings and create conspiracies worldwide. When he first got the Shire Scripture Draft and read it, he had already gone mad. He believed himself to be the pious follower of Shirek, one of the pirs of the great Church spreading the teachings of the ck Sun, a bishop-level priest with tremendous power. And guided by this unshakable belief, Shireks blessings would more frequently befall His pious followers. Its a reversal of cause and effect, creating pious followers first, then using their devout faith to feedback into the god, who in turn dispenses blessings through faith. This was the power of the Shire Scriptures mad god. But now, that power was corrected by a higher, purer power. Ah~ Ah~ Nameless and beautiful deity of purity, thank you for pulling me from the prison of conspiracies and granting me a new life! Your loyal follower, Allen Ackham, offers you his devout faith! A flicker of red light appeared in the Dark Sun Bishops eyes. He felt as though he was free. But perhaps he, already mad, never considered that the simplest way to break one curse was to rece it with another, more dangerous one. For instance... using the twisted Shire Scripture Draft as a medium to release the enchanting spell "Eternal Enchanting Magic Eye". At this moment, a writhing shadow appeared. A figure in a Dark Sun Priest Robe knelt halfway down, holding an unconscious Barbarian: "Bishop, the mission has failed." "I already know," Allen Ackham said calmly. "Chris, do you remember what I asked you to do about Anthonys heir when we arrived in Lancaster?" "Yes, Bishop, I have not forgotten your words~ If the opponent is great, we use him of corruption and bribery. If he is clean, we smear his personal life. If he is loyal and upright, we spread rumors about his peculiar personality. No one is perfect, and if he truly is, we find a way to kill him and im he died of illness." "Very good, youre indeed a qualified Dark Sun follower." Allens face showed a warm smile, and the Dark Sun follower stared nkly at the Nail Head Hammer hanging above his head, a bead of cold sweat dripping down. "BiBishop?" he asked fearfully. "Hello, Chris. Please allow me to reintroduce you to our Heavenly Father and Savior... You will be moved by His mercy and radiant glory." Chris nodded frantically like a pecking chicken: "Too afraid to move, oh I mean... deeply moved!" "Ah, youre indeed a worthy listener! While I preach the beauty of our god, please do me a favor and first do something..." "Certainly, serving you is an honor!" he said loudly. "Very well, then Chris, go close the door..." Chapter 48 - 46 The Timid and Proud Girl In the living room. Kael suddenly shivered, his tail swishing half a circle before he stood up and sneezed abruptly. Old White, who was brewing tea on the side, quietly put down the teacup, walked to a corner of the living room, inserted a demon crystal, and activated the central temperature control system in the magic array. A gentle warmth, like that of a sunny day with a warm breeze, slowly wafted through, instantly warming up the whole living room. "Sorry, it might be due to the recent drop in temperature, which might have caused some difort," Kael said apologetically to the reserved girl in front of him. Yet, he was feeling somewhat skeptical in his heart. For some reason, he seemed to recall the great battle that took ce before he was transported here. At that time, the "Bone Eater Great Chief," who led the rise of the barbarians as the new generations "Child of the Version," fought a deadly battle with his yer guild "Strange Power Chaos God" on the banks of the Sain River at the border of two countries. Due to the fatal mistake of the ally guild "Guns and Roses," the tribal cavalry "Eternal Legion" that should have been stopped at the border managed to meet up with the Great Chief Bone Eater ahead of time. As a result of the pincer attack, a group of yers from "Strange Power Chaos God" were outnumbered and ultimately forced to concede defeat with a GG. Looking back now, that barbarian Bone Eater was incredibly strong, absurdly strong! It was just unfortunate that the mission item bound to him was lost. The entire guild had been busy in the game for over a year for that quest chain, and to think that after being killed by Bone Eater, the item just exploded out of existence. Damn, a five percent explosion chance and it actually happened, is that the strong luck buff of the "Child of the Version"? On the contrary, Cai Ketongshen, its said that he had gone over to the other side of the sea for a party not long ago, found two exotic top female stars, and wouldnt be able to log on until two dayster. Kael had nned to verbally condemn that guys shameful behavior as soon as he logged on, but before he got the chance, he himself was transported into "The Gate to the Underworld." Coming back to his senses, Kael turned to the girl and asked, "You mean to say that those barbarianse from the northern wastnds? But how can you be sure of this information?" The girl with the fluffy ponytail braid perked up when she heard Kaels somewhat dubious question. The timid girl seemed to gain a lot more confidence all of a sudden, lifting her bowed head and cing her hand on her chest, she said very seriously: "Let me introduce myself properly, Lily Agatha, a fourth-year student at the Secret Scroll Mage Academy, and also a pupil of Lord Luxius Parker of the stic Energy Science. Please trust in a spellcaster who seeks the path of knowledge to master what they learn. Im not bragging, but when ites to magical knowledge, I am definitely the most learned among my peers. I have that confidence! After learning the Elf Language, I took out some time to learn various tribalnguages. Compared to the much moreplicated structure of the Elf Language, tribalnguages are much more straightforward. Theres a noticeable difference in intonation from different regions, and although those people consciously suppressed their ents, I could still tell they were from the area east of the northern wastnds." As she spoke with pride, her slightly curved upper body exhibited the posture of someone proudly sharing her aplishments with a close friend, while a tuft of hair she had failed to manage bounced on her head. For some reason, Kael felt like the girl was trying to get some praise from him. A girl with a timid nature, but an immense confidence in her area of expertise? Such a character is easy to engage in conversation with, as long as you follow her lead. Thinking this, Kael nodded andplimented her: "That is truly impressive. Dean Luxius is considered the premier authority in the stic Energy Science within the Lancaster Duchy; gaining his approval is no easy feat." Praising someone through the acknowledgement of another, especially when that someone is a Magic Monarch, a mage with a presence in their specialized magical domain akin to that of a monarch, carries more weight than a directpliment. Its not something the average person can im to have. To be candid, being a student of such a person in itself is a testament to Lily Agathas exceptional talent in magic. "Hehe, although Im quite confident in my memory, Im not as phenomenal as you say!" n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om nna showed a happy smile on her face. She indeed had ample confidence in the areas she excelled at, which had been the foundation of her standing and why the Magic Monarch valued her after all these years of going to the Royal Capital, working and studying simultaneously. "Its quite a coincidence, too. The person who reviewed my official registration at the Mage Association was Mr. Luxius himself. I never expected to meet Mr. Luxiuss student here in the territory." Kael still felt quite emotional when he brought up this matter. Luxius Parker, in his past life, was also a well-known NPC among yers, ying with smic Spells to a divine level, a favorite among yers who styled themselves as magical artillery. Its just... A subtle thought shed through Kaels mind. He seemed to vaguely understand why the situation in Lancaster Territory had been so odd in his previous life. ording to the first batch of yers, when they entered Lancaster Territory, there wasnt a true lord in charge. The basic operations of the territory were managed by support nobles sent by the Noble Council. The protection of the territorys security was not the responsibility of any Rangers but a knight troop transferred from the Federation Royal Court, as well as support personnel from the Guild of Fransburg, the closest fortified city to the Lancaster Territory. And the ones who gave out daily tasks to the yers were the priests and nuns from the Earth Mother Goddess Church who had sought them out before the yers arrival. This way, thest piece of the background story of Newbie Vige, which had eluded the yers investigation in his past life, was put into ce. It was Kaels death that attracted nna, the most beloved Newbie Vige NPC by yers back then. nnas death was the catalyst that ignited the Federations fury, leading the Noble Council to directly send people to take control of the Lancaster situation. As the investigation went deeper, the conflict between the Charles brothers surfaced, attracting the Federation Magic Secret Agents investigation and ultimately involving yers in the main questline of version 1.0. The internal struggle between the Charles brothers attracted the attention of the smic Monarch, Luxius Parker, who otherwise wouldnt have cared about the matter. Because he clearly remembered having a student who died under unclear circumstances in Lancaster Territory during the ongoing disputes between the Charles brothers and their descendants. Owing to his concern for the incident, Luxius sent another of his students who had grown up, coincidentally the NPC who assisted yers in ss-switching to Mage during their newbie phase. At the same time, due to the lords death, the Earth Mother Goddess Church, which hadnt nned to get involved in yer activities during the beta, had to contact the Fransburg Guild to dispatch more professionals to interfere with the yers development alongside the Church. The elite personnel from the Fransburg Guild made up the ss-switching instructors for the basic professions such as Barbarian, Bard, Wanderer, Warrior, Cursed Swordsman, Druid, Martial Monk, and Ranger. The priests and nuns sent by the Earth Mother Goddess Church became the instructors for the two basic professions, Priest and Pdin. Thus, by the time "Door to the Underworld" officially entered open beta, Lancaster Territory had sessfully be that standard Western fantasy-style Newbie Vige in all yers memories It was only that the map was somewhatrger, there were more people, brick-carrying was tougher, there were more soul-based elements, and the art style was a bit darker and more unconventional. After all, it was only just a tiny bit better than other games. Having thought this far, his gaze towards Lily also changed slightly. Conveniently, he was nning to visit the Royal Capital this time and intended to pay a visit to Luxius Parker. Chapter 49 - 47 Tail Injection "Eh, Lord, are you going to the Royal Capital these days?" Lily was taken aback and felt a tinge of joy in her heart. She had no idea how to repay the handsome lord who had saved her life. Although she was fortunate to be Mr. Luxiuss student, after staying in the Royal Capital for a long time, she realized that the world of the Nobles and that ofmoners were two entirely different systems. And the lives ofmoners and ves were like two parallel lines. The biggest gamble of her life was, after the death of her parents, to set off to the Royal Capital to study without hesitation, bringing all her family possessions with her. Then, quite fortuitously, she had be a freshman at the Secret Scroll Mage Academy with an admission rate of merely one in two thousand. There was no doubt that this was a stroke of luck. Once inside the Secret Scroll Mage Academy, Lily knew that this path would be a long journey for anyone who wished to go far. Compared to those Nobles who had ess to abundant resources, she was unfortunate because she had nothing to rely on behind her. But she was also very lucky. Because she had something most of her ssmates did notastonishing learning ability,prehension, and the efficient capacity to construct Magic Models. This was the only thing fate had bestowed upon her, which she could hold tightly in her Heart. So, after entering the academy, she studied desperately, absorbing any Magical knowledge, experiences of past Masters and Monarchs of various Magic Schools, ideas for developing Magic Models, and research on emerging Magic ... She tried to grasp all of it in her hands. For this, she also lost many things. Like the sporadic invitations for afternoon tea from a few friends in the academy, like social interactions with various Nobles and magical prodigies, like the pleasure of being praised by a variety of people outside the academy. But it didnt matter because she had a clear understanding of herself and always remembered the Secret Scroll Mage Academys motto: "Every spell knowledge and philosophy I learn may not necessarily be used in the future, but I believe they will merge into my bones, my blood, my spirit, and then one day they will quietly sprout. That might be the day when my Magic Flower blossoms." The more she grew in the academy, the more she sensed what the Nobles really meant tomoners. The more she feared, the more she sought something to entrust her sense of security to. N?v(el)B\\jnn Bing an excellent Mage was, for her, the most readily graspable "sense of security." So, when Mr. Luxius stood before her and told her, "Youve made it, wee to the Sculpting Department," she was overjoyed Then in that little house back in her hometown, which had lost all warmth, she felt utter despair. On the night she was captured, she thought she heard the footsteps of the Death God, as a cold gaze swept over her neck from time to time. She even anticipated her own end Stabbed multiple times, carved up into bloody pieces, her corpse discarded in the wilderness. The headline of Lancasters newspaper the next day would read, "A girls body found in the wilderness, murder ruled out after investigation." Oh wait! Lancaster didnt even have newspapers! As she felt hopeless, watching those ferocious Barbarians drawing closer, she suddenly found it all pointless. Ah, how boring the people are, how ludicrous the life is! Though dying here seemed somewhat tragic, upon reflection, many peoples deaths were quite abrupt. Just as she closed her eyes, serenely awaiting Deaths arrival, a thunderous roar suddenly erupted. Along with the copsing walls, dust filled the air, cries of pain followed, and when she opened her eyes again, she saw Magic Silk Thread weaving through each corner of the room like cobwebs. "Keep your head down, you wont be hurt," she heard a faint voice in the wind. The young mans profile was illuminated by the Magic Silk Threads light, his golden hair spreading in the wind, resembling the Glory Knight from her ssmates Knight picture book. The Barbarian struggling tounch an attack couldnt stop his aerial stroll through the frenzied chaos. With leaps and bursts of energy, he brought an end to the fear engraved in her heart with a single sword stroke. At that moment, time seemed to slow down, and the shades of blood mingled with the cold in his eyes, catching her gaze. As the howling winds raged, standing before you at this very moment was a true hero. The rational girl seemed to understand at that moment why so many girls at the academy liked to read those childish tales of knights and princesses. So dazzling... Lily watched as Kael, who had already sheathed his sharpness, suppressed a slight sigh in her heart. "If youre going to the Royal Capital, if you dont mind, I can show you around the Royal Capital." She couldnt even dare to think of another way to repay him, so Lily thought of the only way she could repay this Lord, was to make use of her role as an all-knowing guide to the Royal Capital and see if she could be of any help to him. Kael was surprised and intended to refuse at first. After all, in his memory, he had mostly settled in the Royal Capital and likely knew no less than Lily, especially during the time Kael was a yer, he had mixed it up quite a bit in the Royal Capital. Truth be told, those idle yers were the ones who had the most gossip. But he didnt refuse Lilys kindness. Mr. Luxiuss student, who looked every bit the bullied and diligent student, often the more such people are in real life, the more cautious and wary they be, not easily engaging in close rtionships. Her current attitude could well be an aftereffect of the suspension bridge effect. Kael now needed favors from the Magic Monarch of the Energy Sculpting department, so spreading some goodwill to those around him wasnt a bad thing. Although he felt the letter he had sent to Mr. Luxius should catch the Magic Monarchs attention, there were no guarantees in life. At a crucial moment, taking the route through those around him was also a good strategy, all the more so because... "Then Miss Lily, please do me the favor of showing me around when the timees. In all those years in the Royal Capital, for various reasons, I havent really walked around much, so Ill be relying on your help then." A lie! But the slight nervousness on the girls face rxed, and she put on a big smile, "Okay!" The next day, Kael, who had arranged for someone to sort out the necessary items in advance, got up early. ording to nnas original travel n, at this time, she should have already passed through the teleportation array in Fransburg and was probably close to arriving at the Royal Capital. He wondered if she would be surprised to see him so soon after parting. With that thought in mind, he couldnt help butugh out loud. He saw Lily, dressed in fresh clothing,ing downstairs, dragging along a sleepy little Snow Wolf n maid. Kael nced at Hassaka and knew that the derelict maid must have spent the whole night hugging a bottle, not getting good sleep. The enhanced version of the Beacon potion was significantly stronger than before, but Kael was aware that human bodies had their limits. The more one activates the potential of the body, the easier it is to feel the presence of that limit, unless one decides not to be human anymore. Otherwise, even the Queen Jasmines version with minimal side effects couldnt be released on her endlessly. The consequence of excessive energy consumption was clear from those who dropped dead halfway after taking the potion without any restraintthat was the fate of unbridled indulgence. He tapped on the drowsy Hassakas head and said, "Like this, you might be caught and sold, and yet still count the money for your captors. I didnt give you the Beacon to use for this purpose." "Its okay, I already... already sold myself to the young master, hehe, the young master is... the best!" the little maid muttered softly. Seeing that the conversation was getting nowhere, and he seemed to see the path to the kindergarten heading straight for his face, Kaels expression darkened. His tail flicked, Heart opened, revealing a pale pink inside, and with a gentle squeeze, two sharp fangs emerged, then flung out and bit into the maids neck. The slender channel in the tail writhed, and the maids body shuddered. Chapter 50 - 48: Journey to the Royal Capital (3100 words) With a sudden dtion of her pupils, the special demonic essence Kael injected made Hassaka feel her heart start beating. Previously dazed and exhausted, she felt as if a shot of adrenaline had been injected into her, instantly bing full of vitality. Kael released the small tail biting into her neck. The magic potion secreted from his fangs quickly transformed into a natural elixir that healed her minor wounds. Kael retracted the tail behind him with a snort. "Th-thank you, Young Master," the young maid came to her senses, feeling a bit embarrassed. She was definitely blushing! Kael nodded and didnt say more, but his eyes couldnt help but nce at the three yers whispering nearby. Since just now, these three yers had been waiting here for quite some time. This was why Kael suddenly made a move on the young maid. If this fool were to b in front of the yers again, his reputation might bepletely ruined. If something like that happened and got spread around, Kael wouldnt mind much. But if nothing happened and he got falsely used, he would be utterly unwilling. "Sorry, Young Master, the beacons effect is too strong. After upgrading, the lucid dream creation effect is much more potent than imagined," Hassaka weakly protested, having realized her ownpse. But such a protest was so feeble, and it subtly revealed some of Hassakas little secrets. Kael red at her with irritation. What, so you think you can do whatever you want in a lucid dream? But seeing the young maids reaction, Kael realized that he really had to be cautious when using this "Beacons Oil" in the future. The incubus tail injection appeared ordinary, but it had gone through multiple stages to reach the highest injection effect. Starting with a surprise attack, then fangs piercing the skin, injecting paralyzing fluid to erase the preys pain. Next, releasing weakening toxins to dissolve the preys resistance. Finally, injecting a special demonic essence to dominate others Injecting a potent hallucinogenic essence that drags people into illusions and crushes their sanity, making it hard for them to escape. Injecting a touch-amplifying essence that makes neuron signals more intense, magnifying physical pain and sensitivity, blurring the lines between pain and pleasure, making them sink deeper into the torment. Then, injecting a rationality-burning essence, equivalent to continuous mental attacks, grinding down the preys sanity and unleashing their primal instincts. Coupled with the seductive effects of the Sweet Scent skill, and afterpletely prying open the enemys heart, using the Seductive Demon Eye to attack their spirit body, one could achieve sustainable long-term mental domination. This was why the original batch of incubi had such a notorious reputation. If you managed to suppress an incubus, it was still okay. But if you failed and were countered, you might never be yourself again. However, all of this had nothing to do with Kael. Kael took a different path from them, after all, he had the system panel, and didnt have much need for these aspects. But he could clearly feel that after acquiring the "Overreaction" skill, he could better control the development direction of his magic organs. After all, this game was his reality, not something to mess around with. He didnt want to be overwhelmed by the influence of the incubus bloodline. Kaels ultimate goal was still to possess the power to control his own life, and in the increasingly chaotic times ahead, to secure a safe haven for himself. So his focus turned to the inherent racial skills of the incubus. He clearly remembered that a certain new star in the AS club, who randomly received an incubus ount, had transformed the entire set of incubus bloodline spells into exclusive spells. In fact, he had already unlocked a prerequisite skill for his core exclusive skill. Thats right, that skill appeared on him now with a special effect, it was called "Queen Jasmine." The exclusive skill "Queen Jasmine," mutated from the skill [Sweet Scent], greatly elerated the yers speed of gaining skill experience points and provided a long-term beneficial buff for the mage. That new star in the AS club happened to guide this skill in this direction and transformed it into an exclusive skill, then gradually developed a series of bloodline-mutated exclusive skills. The exclusive skill "Life Treasury," mutated from the skill [Energy Absorption], increased the speed of absorbing foreign energy and allowed the natural overflow of ones vitality to be stored in a special pattern on the forehead. By releasing the energy stored in the Life Treasury, the yers game character could gain significant beneficial effects, even releasing stored vitality to greatly heal themselves and their teammates. This was an extremely functional exclusive skill. Of course, Kael didnt have much of a clue about the Life Treasury yet. But the exclusive skill "Awakening Potion Injection," mutated from the skill [Tail Injection], seemed to have given him a rough direction under the influence of "Overreaction." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "So~so strange, it feels like Im suddenly full of energy," Hassakas mental state greatly improved. She patted her face, felt much better, and remembered Young Master Kaels instructions from yesterday, then walked towards the three yers: "Hello, are you the ones who signed up yesterday, [Lackluster Fish], [Nan Ke], and [Sister Astate]?" The three yers, who had justpleted shooting, showed regretful expressions. They didnt know what they were looking forward to, nor did they dare to say much, just nodded in agreement. They felt they were pretty lucky. After all, with more yers flocking to Titan Town, many avable tasks had already been imed by experienced yers. Especially the yer [Guarantor], who personally started the "Twisted Jungle" daily quest chain, was now the top yer admired on the forum. That round of quests not only let him reap great rewards but also gained him some fame. He even taught neers in the quest chain how to capture the Huge Hoofed Deer on the forum. He also live-streamed with a group of club yers, showing everyone how to resist attacks from Shadow Wolf packs without having professional skills yet. Most yers trusted him quite a bit. Bncing mutual benefits, he got the reputation, Demon Crystals, and experience points without doing any dirty deeds. It was a well-deserved win for him. But to say other yers didnt envy him, thats impossible. Many yers heard that something big happened in the townst night. First, two yers who took on a quest suddenly died, then eerie roars and the sound of hoofbeats were heard deep into the night. Even the Rangers, who usually patrolled the Twisted Jungle, surprisingly roamed the streets and alleys that night. Last night, [Nan Ke] saw a yer from his hotel window and thought he had found a hidden quest. Without hesitation, he tangled with a Ranger. After being scolded by the Ranger without retreating, he even tried to fight back but ended up being stuffed into a trash can by a hot-tempered Ranger. Shortly after, he vented his fury on the forum that night. The three who took on the hidden quest issued by the Lord Mansion all had different thoughts in mind. What they didnt know was that while it looked like they were lucky to get the quest, in reality, only the yer named [Nan Ke] wasnt pre-selected. It was much like many job openings advertised to the public, not because there were vacancies but because they were tailored for specific people. [Lackluster Fish], ha, an old friend and a rat person. Dont doubt it, it wasnt a typo. An old acquaintance and a rat person indeed. This person was quite audacious. Ever since virtual gaming became popr, yers rarely used their real-life appearances for their avatars. Not to mention, like those "Pants-Down Bros" who kept a forum thread dedicated to recording various pants-down moments. If they used their real faces, Kid, do you have nothing left to lose in reality? But [Lackluster Fish] wasnt like that. He used his real-life appearance to enter the virtual game directly. It could be said that this guy wasnt ying the game but engaging in his actual job. In real life, he was also considered a sessful person working in game esports media. All he needed was authenticity and immersion. In reality, as a professional club yer, Kael had definitely seen this guys real appearance, but in the game, this guy almost always wore a cloak and a rat person mask. Even in the series of videos she edited, her real form was never seen, undoubtedly "a voice without a face" mouse. Having such a dedicated industry worker apany them was equivalent to getting a hand in interfering with the yer forum. With her around, whether to showcase themselves or control the public opinion of Lancaster Territory or enhance yers sense of belonging to the territory, it was better than working blindly. As the saying goes, "hard work alone isnt enough; letting others see your efforts brings sess." Kael would call this "even good wine dreads deep alleys." As for [Sister Astate]... Kael silently nced at this seemingly normal man. He was the first madman to stand out among the immersive yers of "Gate to the Netherworld," impossible to ignore. During the beta test, only he became a madman. Kael couldnt help but be interested! To be a madman, one needed both qualifications and rich emotions. A person with love was more easily manipted, hesitant, andpromising, and when they lost everything, they became even more insane. He was the first yer in the previous life to discover that Prince of Lies was trying to dominate yers. He was also the one who orchestrated the horrific "Blood-Red Norman River" massacre, shocking both NPCs and yers. He was the third yer to be god-ughtered and titled as a Saint. [Sister Astate]... Long time no see! ... Seek follow-up reading, rmendation tickets, monthly passes,ments on this chapter! Ugh, it seems like the background hasnt been lively recently, have you found new favorite streamers? Chapter 51 - 49 Carriages, Royal Capital, and Enjoying the Cool The carriage, enhanced with Swift Technique, was racing down the main road leading to the Royal Capital. It was already the second day since the group had set off on their journey. Sitting in the carriage, Nan Kes eyes were filled with exhaustion, and he sighed softly, "Working in the Twisted Jungle was so intense, it made me feel like I was back at my previous job at department 007, dealing with overtime..." Who would have thought that even in the game, they would have to do such high-intensitybor. "Is the task difficulty in the Twisted Jungle really that high now?" Kael was taken aback, as he knew once yers took on a task, they could demonstrate tremendous initiative. But 007...? This wasnt like the old online games where you could use software to automate things; in this virtual game, doing tasks required actual effort and time from the yers. Even if the rewards were greater than those in reality, it was impossible to keep it up continuously. If it really turned into digitalbor, most yers would be unwilling. Its always like this with chaotic evils; its normal for them to just throw their hands up and walk away if theyre not pleased. After all, its a game where money cant buy happiness! "Pretty much, actually a significant number of yersah, which you call the Undead in the Twisted Junglesometimes we find even the routine quests tiring. Not everyone is cut out forbat, and capturing Huge Hoofed Deer does have a learning threshold." For us lifestyle yers, it indeed is a bit overwhelming," Nan Ke exined. Kael chuckled lightly, pretending he didnt hear the word "yers," and only after taking a sip of tea, did he continue, "I once heard a Priest of Astate say that you came to Shenhua Continent essentially to experience apletely different life than in the Divine Lands, to start a new chapter, but now it seems..." Kael chuckled again, drawing everyones attention. He appeared as if awoken from a pleasant dream, his lips lightly curved in a rxed smile. Unaware of it, he turned to look out the window. Outside the swiftly moving carriage, the roadside scenes shed by, and together with them, his fleeting smile disappeared. Sitting quietly the whole time, asionally bowing his head to jot something down, Lansyfish felt dazzled by that briefly blooming smile. Coming to his senses, he heard Kael say softly, "Bing a Transcendent is somewhat hard yet somewhat easy. You are children of the Goddess of Abundance. Even outside the Divine Lands, with restrictions imposed, you still harbor tremendous potential within. For you, bing professionals is not as cumbersome as it is for many races on Shenhua Continent; it primarily depends on whether you are willing and... if there is anyone willing to guide you." "Hmm?" Nan Ke was momentarily perplexed, sensing something but not quite grasping it. Sister Astate seemed unable to watch any longerboth of them were group members of the "House of Dog Empire" chat group. Seeing Nan Ke struggling to understand, she elbowed him in the chest, managing a strained smile, and said, n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Lord, for situations like Nan Kes, do you have any advice?" Kael nced at Sister Astate. The youth was taciturn but had promptly hit the nail on the head. After all... if one were to talk about it, no one in Lancaster Territory was more suitable to lead these people than him. The resources he controlled were simply not on the same level as those of a regr NPC. Struck by an idea, he smiled and said, "If youre asking for help, it would be better for the person in question to speak up." He looked at Nan Ke, a yer he was unfamiliar with. He could imagine that in his past life, he wasnt one of those particrly well-known yers. He remembered thatst night, when organizing people to post tasks, he had seen posts from Lansyfish and Sister Astate on the forum, which had inspired him to arrange for tasks to be given to them. Nan Ke had just finished part of the Huge Hoofed Deer task with Sister Astate at that time, and it was not appropriate for him to manipte things secretly and appoint someone right in front of others. Anyway, whether bringing two yers or three, it was all the same, so he simply brought him along. Looking back, it truly was a brilliant move. Nan Ke said, "Actually, I still hope to take it easy. Lord, you must have heard that we Undead, after being busy, return to the realm of the Goddess Shangtiya. In the realm of Goddess Shangtiya, we also have our own duties." Kael nodded and said, "Oh? To be able to work in the realm of the Goddess must mean you are quite capable. I wonder what exactly do you do there?" "Ah... mainly operations like selecting and nurturing seeds. Actually, there are quite a few people in the realm of God, and food is an issue there. My main task is to observe and cultivate seeds that have a higher yield. Ah, speaking of which, if there were a profession rted to botany or zoology, allowing someone like me, who is moreid-back, to asionally enjoy the mountains and waters and venture out, that would also be a nice choice. But I always feel that such leisurely jobs, even in the world below... seem hard toe by." After saying this, his face showed an embarrassed expression. After all, he always felt that his requests were a bit too much. However, unexpectedly, there was no sign of displeasure on Kaels face. Instead, after pondering for a moment, he said, "There are such jobs... plenty, actually." "Hmm?" 3 "It all depends on how you see it. If you are really determined to take this path, it is feasible. I would even be happy to see it happen and could offer you a long-termmission." Nan Ke was momentarily stunned, then immediately overjoyed, "Is there such a good thing?" Kael said somewhat irritably, "Obviously, its not all good. If you really decide to do this, I will have certain requirements." "No problem, Lord, just say it!" Nan Kes face broke into an excited smile. Kael stood up, knocked on the carriage door, and signaled the coachman to slow down. As the carriage slowed down, Kael opened the carriage window. A refreshing breeze blew in from outside, clearing the slightly stifling air inside. He pointed out of the window and said to Nan Ke, "Mr. Nan Ke, what do you see outside the window?" Nan Ke leaned out and said, "Wide ins and woond, what about them? Is there a problem?" "How much do you think this forest could provide for the daily needs of food for the Royal Capital of the House of Lancaster Duchy?" "Uh, that depends on the poption density in this forest, the edible wildlife, fungi, special natural seasonings, wild fruits and vegetables... A forest can provide a very rich variety of food ingredients." "Compared to the mass-produced fields, vegetable gardens, orchards, and extensively breed meat-producing wildlife?" "Under the same area, of course, it cannotpare." "What aboutpared to meticulously cultivated high-yield grain crops, pest-resistant vegetables, improved taste and vor fruits, and wildlife that produce more meat?" Nan Ke did not give a direct answer but said, "That depends on the level of the cultivators. Usually, through several generations of hybridization and optimization, it is possible to differentiate a variety of species in different directions. Lord, do you have such ns?" Kael nodded and said, "Mr. Nan Ke, the Royal Capital of the House of Lancaster Duchy has 18 million people, whose livelihood needs are supported by the entire Duchy. The poption of Titan Town in Lancaster Territory, including the suburbs, is about 110,000 people, relying on 77 viges in Lancaster Territory for support. A big part of the reason for this is the inadequate self-production." Kaels expression was serious, and he said something that shook Nan Ke to his core "Sir, I had a dreamst night where I was lying peacefully beneath the rice paddies outside Titan Town, with rice nts that were very tall..." Chapter 52 - 50 Gentlemen, the wind is rising! The carriage neighed, slowly passing under the towering city walls through the iron gate that stood over a dozen meters high, entering into the city district. Traveling straight along the main road, they entered the central noble district of the city. To the east of the main avenue, past the Royal Capital Cathedral, they saw an elegant mansion after going straight for a hundred meters. "Sigh~" Past the courtyards tulip garden, they entered the mansion and a group of yers encountered a scene flush with blooming flowers. "Wow, its huge!" Nan Ke eximed. The buildingyout of the Royal Capital in the Duchy of Lance was already majestic and grand, with a clearly nned noble district that one could tell at a nce had been designed by someone of high caliber. Unique and not seeming cluttered, the overall visual impact was very strong. Upon seeing the noble mansion, which was two sizesrger than the surrounding grand houses, and exceptionally elegant and dignified at first ce, even surpassing most delicately designed ssical mansions in modern society, the yers couldnt help but be astonished. They werent fools who knew nothing. The real power lord, who controlled a vast territory, had now revealed that he also had such an asset in the Royal Capital. This flow ma in the game obviously had other information worth digging deeper into. Many yers were curious about Kael the Lord on the forums; after all, those who appeared in the games promotional CGs were usually important NPCs, at least. "Lord, shall I summon people toe over for questioning?" Old White turned his head to look back and suddenly said to Kael after getting out of the carriage. Everyones gaze was drawn involuntarily in the direction Old White had just nced, where someone was quickly walking away with their back to them. A yful smile crept onto Kaels lips as he spoke softly, "No need, someone has to go and report to my dear uncle... after all, I believe its about time for the two of us to meet." When he said this, his smile was warm, but the temperature in his voice had imperceptibly dropped. A breeze blew by, and Nan Ke involuntarily shivered, quickly sending a message to Sister Astate: The NPCs in this game have quiteplex characters. Honestly, its hard for me to imagine how that young man who shared his dream of leisure under the rice stalks during the car ride could have such a tough approach to someone else... But this feeling isnt off-putting; this NPC is handleable! Sister Astate nced at Nan Ke. Having known Nan Ke in the House of Dog Empire for nearly two years, she was well aware that Nan Ke was a person of peaceful disposition. In reality, he was a high achiever, having worked at the Human Federation Agricultural College for some time. It might be due to his working environment and personality, but he gave off a refined and patient impression and was even jokingly referred to as the "virtuous wife" in group chats. To those he liked, as well as those he didnt, his attitude was basically consistent. But not everyone in the world was like Nan Ke. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Human nature is indeedplex. Thus, she replied: Dont you think a Kael like this seems more real? Besides, if you must apply a setting, not only is he a young lord, but the rangers spoke highly of this Lord during our mission to the Dungeon. If he had the same disposition as you, he wouldnt be able to gain his subordinates recognition. If kindness alone could make one a leader... Nan Ke, believe me, kindness is both the most valuable and the least valuable thing in this world. Those who rise from the nobility, no matter how good their nature, will not hesitate when its time to take action. Nan Ke nodded silently, understanding. He was not one to contend, but that didnt mean he was brainless; he could still grasp such matters. But it was Lan Xiao Yu, who was observing Kael and Old White with great interest, who had already started furiously recording information along the way in the System panel. "Ah... Did Lord used to live in the Royal Capital all the time?" Lily hesitated for a moment in front of the mansion, scarcely daring to enter. The level of prosperity between the border territories and the Royal Capital was simply not on the same level. Even for the Lord Mansion in the border territory, Lily, whocked a clear concept, found it hard to sense the hidden power behind Kael. ``` But... owning another sizeable courtyard in the Royal Capital revealed to her what kind of concept that was. A mansion in a poor town in a cold region,pared to an elite residence within the wealthy district of the Duchys capital. The formercked a sufficient point ofparison. But for thetter, even among the sought-after noble offspring at the secret Mage Academy, not everyone could live in such a ce. The most expensivend at the foot of the Royal Capital couldnt be attained by money alone, but required status as well. And something Kael had said just now had caught her attention. Did he have other enemies in the Royal Capital? "Theres no need for such expressions, I still hope you can rx a bit. Feel free toe over anytime and staying for a few nights is no problem," he said. Leading several people into the courtyard, and after preparing tea, Kael looked toward the three yers and said, "When your client issued the task before, they must have told you about the specific task you need toplete whileing to the Royal Capital, right?" Everyone nodded in understanding. When they had received the task the night before, the guard from the Lord Mansion had made it clear. During their time in the Royal Capital, their living expenses would be covered by Kael, and they were to help Kael promote the refreshing literature he intended to publish. Thats right, not to sell, but to promote. To put it simply, it was meant to be given away for free. "Lord, rest assured, we will definitely distribute these books to the groups that are most likely to be customers," one assured. When first confronted with the task, Overfishing had realized the advantage it held for her. As a worker in the modernmunications industry, she was quite confident in her ability to identify target customer groups. But to her surprise, Kael shook his head and said, "Regarding the promotion of the books for the first round of distribution, Ive already made arrangements. When the timees, just follow the areas Ive designated." "Oh~" Overfishings face showed a hint of disappointment. She had hoped to use this opportunity to explore new maps in the Royal Capital and see if she could gather more intel on unknown territories. After all, "The Gates to the Lower World" had already broken out of its niche, causing the forum for the entire game to be incredibly lively. Having first-hand intel could quickly establish her advantage as an information broker in the game. Whether it was making a bit of extra cash on the side, enhancing the value of the ount known as Overfishing, or even contributing to her real-life job, these were all good options. She swore with the little integrity she had left from her years in the industry that this game would explode in poprity upon open beta! It was just that when Kael revealed the target customers for their promotion, everyone couldnt help but exim in astonishment. Why would it be here?! ---- Asking for favorites, votes for rmendation, monthly tickets, and followers! The greedy author tries to tempt readers into lending a helping hand! ``` Chapter 53 - 51 The First Stop in the Royal Capital, Listening to Music in the Brothel District The prevalence of various novels in the Bell Federation can be traced back to the strengthening of the Corelon faction, associated with the spring, beauty, and arts. Or to be more precise, when the elves who worshipped Corelon once became the continents overlords in the past era, the ensuing elf ideology, along with their art, literature, and evennguage, spread to every corner of the continent. This surge gave rise to the flourishing of the publishing industry and an increase in the number of bards. "The Royal Capital has a vast poption and a huge market for consumption. Why focus on such... such ces!" After some preparations, the carefree fish Kael was truly conflicted as he nned to begin his journey in the Royal Capital. Who could have imagined that their first stop in the Royal Capital would be Joy Street? Moving so quickly into brothel-crawling and music-listening mode made her want to let out a groundhogs roar of "Can this even pass the review?" more than once. This special area, which would make all men in the Royal Capital smile knowingly after hearing about it, actually became their first stop for pitching sales! It hurts, it hurts so much! But it seems like it could be interesting to look into it (muttering softly). Kael admitted that she spoke too loudly at first and was too happy too soon, as where she lived in reality would never allow such things to surface publicly. Now, she was boldly experiencing the atmosphere of strolling down the Blue Lane in the game. However... The three yers looked at each other. Nan Kes face started to turn red as though he felt going to such a ce was beneath his dignity, considering he had never experienced such a spectacle in all his years in reality. On the other hand, after Kael coughed, she said, "This time, the main goal is toplete the quest and, incidentally, to gather thetest information on behalf of the yers and to collect an encyclopedia of different races that might exist in the game. Its an investigation for justice. No problems with that, right?" Sister Astate looked solemn, like a night watchman silently guarding the peace of a vige in the darkness, and after a long moment of contemtion, she said, "This is a necessary sacrifice." Kael had thought he would crack some cold, inappropriate jokes, but she never expected him to say something so risqu and was simultaneously amused and bewildered. No matter what they were thinking, they had reached a rather unified agreement on the matter at hand: just do it. Why overthink it? We are simply heartless machines forpleting tasks. Were not here for the brothels and music. Its just a coincidence that the ces were going have them! ... Inside Kaels private residence. Lily nced at Kael carefully. She suddenly felt that this Lord of an age simr to hers was a little mischievous. On the carriage, when she heard him dreaming about a cool summer under the grain and wanting the children of Shang-Ti Ya to help him collect seeds of staple crops and their variants from around the world, including creatures they had or hadnt seen, she, as a bystander, was quite shocked. But now, she was somewhat puzzled by the Lords actions. Having lived in the Royal Capital for four years, even Lily was aware of theplex interests behind Joy Street and the myriad of sins that ebbed and flowed within. It was a ce that made hearts race, yet it was also an area that many who possessedpassion and a sense of justice didnt want to confront. It was said that even some of the Lionheart Knights would seek pleasure there in secret, such that despite repeated efforts by the Royal Capital to crack down on it every few years, they could never fully eradicate this gray industry chain. Although she had yet to master the spell to identify factions, she could tell that those three Undead didnt seem to be the kind of extreme self-serving individuals. People like that going to Joy Street might feel aftering out that the brilliance of humanity had been challenged Just like a few years ago, under the guidance of Mr. Luxius, she witnessed the darkness of Joy Street. Back then, she hade to the city believing that "hard work pays off," but an idental encounter with Joy Street showed her a world where even the hardest effort doesnt guarantee a fair return. It was that experience that suddenly made the young her realize that she felt "hard work pays off" because she had spent a long time living in the restricted Mage Academy. There, people encouraged you, pushed you forward, held your hand, and acknowledged every small progress you made. But in the unseen corners, there were people who worked hard yet received no reward, those who longed to work hard but didnt even have the opportunity to do so, and those who worked so hard that they were left physically and mentally drained. This was undoubtedly a cruel yet effective growth experience, but it left her with a significant shadow. "Dont understand? Why take them to that Joy Street?" said Kael in a soft voice. Lily nodded. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om She didnt understand, she was only greatly shocked. "How could they truly understand the stakes of the game if they dont see it for themselves? Most yers have not yet learned to respect life," Of course, Kael kept these words to himself, hidden in his heart. Letting them go to Joy Street to explore the market, or more precisely, to distribute the published books inrge quantities to the ve Traders and Brothels for free. This was the first round of market development strategy that Kael had established. As for why such a bold move was taken...the level of education in the Yibel Federation was far less widespread than in the real Human Federation, and even within the Human Federation, there were many undereducated people in remote and backward areas. Not to mention in the harsher living environment of the Underworlds gate, the majority ofmoners did not have the capability to read books. Even many low-level professionals probably couldnt recognize a single character. On the other hand, at Joy Street, to increase the added value of the prostitutes, they often taught the women to read, and a select few "premium goods" even had somemand of the Elf Language, which many Nobles couldnt learn. Perhaps because Elf Language wasnt essential for Nobles, but for many prostitutes striving to survive, it could be the hope of turning their lives around? Kael didnt hide too much as he said, "Lily,moners cant afford books, but professionals with money to burn can. Professionals may not understand the written word, but in the Brothels, where literary education is rtively widespread, many can read. Compared to Nobles, professionals are the main clientele of the Brothels... Especially the charming bards, who wander far and wide earning money that ends up in ces like Joy Street, a pit of gold. Those who are serviced by Brothels everywhere are the target audience for these books." Lily vaguely realized something, but felt that behind this logic, there seemed to be anotheryer of reasoning that Kael had not disclosed. Taking into ount that her rtionship with Kael was only that of a rescuer and the rescued, not close enough to speak freely, she didnt dare to ask further. But just then, the sound of the door opening came from the entrance, and a maid walked in following Hassaka, who bowed upon seeing Kael. Hassaka, tail wagging, ran up to Kael, presenting a reply letter in her palms, and excitedly said, "Master, this was sent over by someone from the academy, see if its what you wanted!" Kaels eyes lit up, and he stood up to close in on Hassaka, taking the reply letter from her hands and carefully reading line by line. Then, in Lilys bewildered gaze, he suddenly looked up at her and pped his hands withughter: "Good! Good! Good! Everything is ready; lets see if the fish will take the bait!" Chapter 54 - 52 What Are You? Putting aside the inexplicable feelings in Miss Lilys heart, Kael looked at her with a smile in his eyes and said, "Miss Lily, I originally thought that there was no need to trouble you for now, but it seems I might still need to ask for your help." "Ah?" "Go to the Mage Academy and visit your teacher, Mister Luxius, the Sovereign of the Energy Shaping faculty." Kael lifted the response letter in his hand, catching Lilys attention. Seeing the me emblem of her teacher on the response letter, Lily chuckled softly, realizing that Kael had been in contact with her teacher even before he had arrived at the Royal Capital. She just didnt know what for. Speaking of which, when Kael had saved her, he had used precise control to condense magic power into silk threads, along with silent spell casting, and used Greasy Technique and Freezing Aura with such skill that it didnt seem like something someone of his age could master. Thinking this, she felt a bit more disheartened. Her life-saving benefactor was really strong! Visiting her own teacher, was there something academic regarding spells that required consulting her teacher? She didnt ask any further, but simply followed what Kael had said, waiting until the coachman had cleaned the carriage at the door before joining him on the ride to the academy. This time, however, the carriagecked the undead, the maid, or the housekeeper; it was just the two of them riding together. In the not too spacious carriage, a faint magic aroma was discernible, and Lily had smelled a simr scent in her teachers Magic Tower, but she always felt that the scent used by Kael was more pleasant. "Young master, were here." As the carriage gradually came to a stop, the coachmans voice interrupted Lilys thoughts. "Lets go, carriage movement is not allowed within the academy, well need to walk a bit further." Kael opened the door and stepped out, offering his hand to help Lily down. But just as Lily stepped out, she heard a snorting from the entrance: "The academy really does let anyone in nowadays." Kael looked in the direction of the voice, only to see at the doorway a young man in a mages simple attire with a rather haughty expression, followed by two servants, staring unfriendly towards Kael. Lily whispered, "Its a student of Professor Szar Snake; Kael, do you want me to drive them away for you?" "No need, I do have a bit of an impression of them..." To be precise, this memory came from his original self, when he was a librarian at the Mage Academy, where there were always one or two people shouting loudly in the library while he was on duty. As a result, his original self had reprimanded them a few times expressionlessly, and had been troubled by the students not adhering to library order. But now, from Kaels perspective, it wasnt merely ack of adherence to order but rather intentional provocation. His original self did not know who their teacher was and had no interest in investigating or collecting their information; had it not been for Lily mentioning their teacher directly, Kael might have not made the connection Mainly because he truly wasnt motivated to squash ants. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om These students were not deficient, but the fatal w of academy types was too littlebat experience, as they wouldnt have much time to fight on the front lines to quickly umte knowledge of spells. For someone like Kael, who possessed unique skills and substantialbat experience, killing them wouldnt be much harder than ughtering chickens. Would you care about kids even his original self didnt care about? After all, Kael couldnt remember, let alone recall them unless they kept showing up. Kael raised an eyebrow and coldly said, "I dont remember Szar teaching you such rude behavior." He knew this professor, Szar. Within the academy, he was known for his extreme human supremacist views and, speaking of which, Kael had some disagreements and conflicts with him. After all... he was the teacher of Harry D. Charles, and also the Academy Mage who had supported Harry at the Noble Council earlier. It was confirmed, an enemy. Upon hearing Kael directly address his teacher by name, the expression on the students face could no longer hold back as he angrily said: "How did you even pass the Noble Councils scrutiny to be allowed in the Royal Capital in the first ce, who gave you the courage to address the teacher directly by name?!" Kaels gaze turned cold, before the student could react, the Magic Silk Thread snapped taut and, to the shock of the bystanders, he was suddenly hanging from a crooked tree at the entrance of the academy. Kael said coldly, "Who really is clueless here? In terms of position, Szar and I both belong to the faculty of the Academy, different systems, there is inherently no hierarchy. In terms of magical achievement, we are both registered mages of the Mage Association, practically colleagues. In terms of status, I have inherited my fathers title, stationed at the frontier,bating Monsters from the Dungeon. Szar has taught students for many years, cultivating a core force for the Duchy. Although our strengths differ, if we really have to measure it, no one can fault me for addressing him by his name directly. On the other hand, you first question the councils scrutiny and then spout outrageous ims... what are you even?" With a flick of Kaels finger, the man hanging cried out like a pig being ughtered, screaming hoarsely, "Let go, quickly let me down! What are you watching, what use are you guys... stop him, hurry up!" Kael nced at the servants rushing toward him with hesitant expressions, but without making it too difficult for them, the Magic Silk Thread flew out again and hung them up on the crooked tree before he dryly said to the student: "Since you like assigning me so much, keep quiet when the hat is on your head. If you want to y with respect and stature, you should have addressed me as Sir at least for knowing a little better. Now, just hang there on the tree and learn your lesson." His fingertips pulled and released, and the spreading Magic Silk Thread instantly tightened, silencing the other partys mouth. As quiet returned to the entrance of the gate, an awkward voice spoke up, "Kael, that was perhaps a bit too much." Kael turned his head to look in the direction of the voice, a young man with striking blonde hair that shone in the sunlight walked straight toward him. "Harry D. Charles, like that person, is also a student of Szar, and the top student of the sixth year," Miss Lily added softly. Kael felt a slight stir in his heart, but his face showed no change, only calmly looking at this nominal cousin. And to tell the truth, although not as handsome as himself, his appearance was quite upstanding and handsome, though the smile on his face seemed somewhat forced, as if he didnt quite know how to face himself. He seemed like a good person, which quite contradicted the image of the arrogant noble offspring Kael stereotypically imagined. But does his goodness have anything to do with Kael? Kael immediately retorted, "Harry, my cousin, he stood up for you! And you, for whom are you making such proposals at the Noble Council?" Harry seemed taken aback by Kaels remark, showing a surprised expression and after a moment of silence, he sighed and said: "Kael, we have never met, and you might have some misunderstandings about me, but I still stand by my view, you should know, the Duchy of Engnd was established more than two hundred years ago. Over these years, as the federal power has grown increasingly strong, Engnd has also reaped the benefits of development, but how many people have paid attention to those emerging nobles who fell through the cracks as the Duchy developed? Most of them were elites or geniuses in various professions, they could have gone much further on their own paths. I think its fine to grant them noble status, but sending them to the frontier when they needed protection the most... Kael, not everyone is you, not everyone has the ability to withstand risks, you have the protection of Sword Maniac, not every emerging noble can boast that." Kael nced at his sincere expression, his lips curling into a smile as he said, "You, are quite interesting." Harry paused, not expecting Kael to say that, scratched his face, seemingly a bit embarrassed. Only, he had no idea that Kael, sometimes liked to speak in reverse. Chapter 55 - 53 Ignite, My Rage! "You, are quite interesting," Kael said with a faint smile on his face, his voice light yet his artiction crystal clear: "But I need to remind you that I am speaking to you now in my capacity as a Border Lord. All the soldiers in the Lancaster Territory, myself included, are ready to face the challenge from the Dungeon. My purpose is to protect the heritage that nurtured my father, to protect the people under my rule, and to protect my dignity as well as the honor of being a Border Lord. Yet now, there are those who wish to seize the banner of my forefathers and are even more eager to erode the dreams of all pioneers beyond the Lancaster Territory to nothingness. I cannot ept such an oue, therefore... By the name of Kael D. Helois, Lord of the Lancaster Territory, I swear that my anger will ignite anyone who attempts to snatch thends from my hands, until either I am burnt out or all the invaders have been reduced to ashes." Kael dered in a soft voice, silence falling over the venue. The way his smirking face conveyed such a chillingly ruthless tone sent shivers down everyones spine. There was no venting of anger or gnashing of teeth, his mere presence felt like a sacred and icy trial. It should be known that even the harsh critics of future generations had to admit, the delicately featured Ning Ruyu on the World League had an intense style very different from his outward appearance and signature skills. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om He was the Magic Assassin who, in the semi-finals, faced the defending champion of that season, exhausted from a prolonged fight, powerless to turn the tables, yet still dared to stake his professional career and charge toward the monstrously strongest yer of that patch in a deathly sprint. To embrace death, steadfast until the end! This was the impression he left on many yers when he first stepped into the League. Its difficult to say that hister surge in poprity had nothing to do with that event. "Im not really afraid of being the scapegoat, I just dont want to lose" Ning Ruyu said with a smile when asked about that match by Lao Caiter. Since then, he had always been the de facto leader of the Strange Power Chaos God Guild. And now, once again, someone felt Kaels determination. Harrys expression changed subtly; he instinctively took a half step back, and when he realized what he was doing, he was shocked to meet those murderous eyes, feeling a wave of coldness enveloping his body. In his previous life, Kael was indeed one of the yers most susceptible to the influence of virtual games, having killed numerous NPCs and yers. Afterpleting the fusion of spirit and flesh from the system panel, he, who was usually gentle and noble like a regr lord, was now as calm as the drifting clouds, seemingly indifferent to everything. But at this moment, the trials and tribtions from his previous life came rushing back, startling Harry so much that he wanted to summon the attendants who were secretly protecting him. The ones struggling on the crooked neck tree exchanged nces, no longer daring to say another word. The cold sweat on their backs sobered them up quite a bit; as the anger in their hearts was suppressed, a sense of fear began to emerge. The other students hiding in the corner and watching the excitement also showed fear on their faces. They couldnt help but recall the ruler of the Duchy of Ennc, Duke Lion Heart, with rumors saying that anyone who looked into his eyes would feel as if a Golden Lion was roaring at them. Read thetest on ?? Now looking at Kael, they couldnt help but think that although he was of mixed blood, within his chest throbbed a vigorous Lion Heart. And there was no need to mention Lily standing aside. Having seen many graceful nobles and the children of knight families at the academy, she had never witnessed such a nearly frantic scene, and she was so astounded that she could only stare open-mouthed. "Kael..." Harrys expression wasplicated; he opened his mouth, struggling to say something. "Wow... its been many years since Ive seen a descendant worthy of Lion Hearts bloodline! How timely of a day to return." Just then, the sound of apuse came from a distance, and one could see a Mage in a white robe striding forward with a double-pronged Magic Wand, making a metallic thud every time the bottom of the wand struck the ground. Behind him, two other Mages in white robes exuded an air of vigor, following him with curious stares fixed on Kael. Harrys face became even more awkward when he saw those Mages, and he said with a bitter tinge, "Good day, Dean Luxius." Upon seeing that person, Lily also put on a brilliant smile, jumped up, waved to Luxius Parker, and shouted, "Teacher!" As a teacher from the academy approached, Harrys face went from pale to flush, and he seemed even more distressed as he went over to exin in a low voice, "Mr. Luxius, Im sorry for causing amotion at the school gates." Luxius was not at all annoyed after listening, and onlyughed, saying, "Thats it? If this is what you call amotion, youll be in a real mess when you head to clear out the Dungeonter. However, its not proper to make a scene at the academy gates, especially concerning matters of the Charles family. Youd better restrain yourself a bit." As he said this, he winked at everyone, and in an uncharacteristic move for a powerful figure, he made a pleading gesture. He said, "You are all still very young, and as time goes by, you will also learn to forgive those who have hurt you in the past." Kael gave a nonchnt smile, snapped his fingers, and the Magic Silk Threads binding the few individuals instantly withdrew. While Luxius looked on in admiration, Kael gave a Mages salute to Luxius and said with a lightugh: "Since its a request from the Monarch of the Transfiguration faculty, Ill let it go this time. But this isnt forgiveness, its merely letting it slide." Luxius was not angry either. He rather liked such youthful arrogance; such children always reminded him of his younger self. That mix ofplex and nostalgic feelings was a rather nice spice in his increasingly monotonous life. "So, let me guess, youre here to see me, arent you, Kael? Would you like to sit in my office?" Luxius, along with three students, extended the invitation. Kael did not hesitate and immediately followed suit. ... [Mage Academy - Outside Dean Luxiuss Office] The Monarch of the Transfiguration faculty, who was without airs, dismissed the three students and then pushed open the door to his office, inviting Kael inside. "This should be our first formal meeting, right?" He took out a jar of colorful candy balls from a cab, ate one himself, and then ced the jar on the coffee table in front, saying: "Want to try? Fruit-vored rainbow candies. Although asionally you may get some odd vors, most of the time, theyre quite tasty." Kael didnt refuse and took a candy ball from the jar and put it in his mouth. It had a bit of a soursop vor, indeed quite nice. "Since youre sitting here, you must have many things you want to ask me, right? For example, about the letters your maid in the Royal Capital forwarded to me. To be honest, the contents were a big surprise to me and, as expected, the path of the Transfiguration faculty was extended even further. Whats the price, Kael? Mages are a group who follow the exchange of knowledge. Youve given a gift of immense value, so what do you want to get from me?" Kael looked at Luxius andughed, speaking frankly, "I hope, through your help, to get the opportunity to work as a Scroll Schr. After all... the name of the Mage Academy is derived from the Scroll Schrs of the past, and I have long admired the Scroll Schr." "Scroll Schr, huh?" Luxius pondered for half a second, then nodded, "Thats certainly no problem, but... I suppose what you need is more than just a part-time profession, right?" Luxius scratched his head, looking a bit vexed, and said, "I can probably guess what youre going to trouble me with, but I think, maybe you should listen to my advice first?" ... Please save to your collection, cast your rmendation vote, cast your monthly vote, follow the story! All kinds of requests! Chapter 56 - 54: The Indestructible Alliance "Alright, go ahead, Im listening," Kael said with a lightugh. Luxius truly lived up to his reputation among yers from the past life. As an NPC with a more righteous style, the positive feedback he gave to yers was among the highestpared to other NPCs. In his previous life, Kael had also exchanged some advanced magic models of the evocation school from him, so he naturally knew Luxiuss strength. Luxius took a book from a shelf in his office, ced it in front of Kael, and said, "Since youvee to consult me about transitioning to a Scroll Schr, you must have some understanding of the profession. This profession is not a secret even in the Academy; actually,pared to regr mage professions, its just more flexible and varied. But limited by the inherent ws of Scroll Schrs, theoretically, its very difficult for an ordinary person to fully exploit the potential of this profession." Kael nodded. After all, he had been a yer before and had a certain understanding of Scroll Schrs. Scroll Schrs originated from priests, and quite a few of them came from the priests of various major churches. They are researchers of scrolls, seekers of many ancient texts. Most of the time, they are dedicated to tracing ancient traces and restoring the distant history of the "Gate of the Nether." Therefore, the majority of Scroll Schrs are followers of the God of History. But... the profession promotion of natives is through automatically assigned attribute points, far less diverse than yers, who can strategically allocate points to fit specific career development directions. In other words, a natural promotion would hardly allow a Scroll Schr to fully exert their power. But what did this have to do with Kael, who had a system panel? "Have you understood the core abilities of a Scroll Schr?" Luxius opened the book that discussed the history of Scroll Schrs and pointed to a sentence on the title page. The text read: "Shh, be quiet. These scrolls hide historyAnatema Yier." This person was one of the more famous members among Scroll Schrs. "Are you referring to Dark Knowledge? Thats precisely why I want to be a Scroll Schr," Kael said with a lightugh. For ordinary yers, Scroll Schr was considered a rtively easier profession to get started with. The core skill "Dark Knowledge" allowed natives to learn knowledge that priests generally couldnt. He could study his enemies before the battle to inflict greater damage. Stay updated with ?? Of course, this effect was mainly for the natives. For yers, it meant they could more easily learn certain skills from NPCs and more efficiently gain skill experience points. Even for PVP yers, it allowed them to inflict additional damage on opponentsthis effect existed in a way simr to stacking buffs, and yers obviously didnt understand the specific principle nor had any interest in it. However, when Kael absorbed the Holy Sanctuary Crystal that night and activated his exclusive skills for the first time, he noticed something was off. After activating "Magic Silk Thread" and "Silk Thread Maniption," consuming general experience points, he could obviously feel memories of past uses of exclusive skills constantly surfacing in his mind. Not the kind of memories of a yer controlling an ount character, but those that included the specific principles of creating Magic Silk Thread and how to use it, and how to skillfully use Magic Silk Thread after activating Silk Thread Maniption to control the body for stronger damage. It even included a vast amount ofbat experience from his game ount in his previous life! Going from merely knowing how to use the skill to understanding the principles of its creation and the mechanics of real-worldbat constituted two different dimensions. It seemed like the boundary between the game and reality was blurred within him. Realizing this possibility, a wild idea grew in Kaels mind. When he knew he could quickly level up using the system panel, he didnt immediately choose to dive into dungeons crazily to level up, nor use free attribute points, and he certainly didnt dare to easily consume the hard-earned ordinary skill points and gold skill points. All of this was to verify his thoughts. Scroll Schr was a good profession, whether for yers or natives alike. If this profession adhered more closely to reality on the system panel, it meant Kael could very well be the most unique Scroll Schr. With exclusive skills and the Incubuss bloodline bonus, he inherently possessedbat power far beyond his actual level. With safety pretty much guaranteed, he naturally thought about securing a good future for himself first. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Thus, after handling matters rted to his territory, and hearing about the small maneuvers of the Charles family, he immediately had Old White send a letter to Luxius. And now, he was somewhat impatient. "My suggestion is that bing a Scroll Schr is fine, but would you consider bing my student? Although you pursue the Magicians path, youre quite young, yet capable of modifying the spells youve mastered, indicating your talent in this aspect. By bing a Scroll Schr and acquiring Dark Knowledge, you can to some extent make up for theck of intelligence bonuses thate with advancing but not enjoying them from the Mage profession. Perhaps as a Scroll Schr, you could have considerable development space in the path of magic." Kael felt his heart tremble at these words. Such generosity! Such a magnanimous approach! It must be noted that the reason Kael left an impression on Luxius was purely because the letter he sent to Luxius systematically outlined the future development direction of evocation mages. It even included a rather straightforward and brutal training method for evocation mages for war. This style ofbat mage began to emerge in the post-yer era, a training method developed by novice yers who didnt seek long-term development, to quickly catch up with mainstream professional groups. While it had some limitations, considering that during this period, the magemunity among the natives wasnt as numerically booming as in version 5.0 of the Arcane Age, releasing such a future training and development system for evocation mages ahead of time would indeed significantly increase the number of spellcasters, especially evocation spellcasters. Undoubtedly, it was a grand gift. Just for this, many middle and lower-level evocation mages in the future with insufficient talent would benefit from this gift sent out by Kael four versions ahead. He originally hoped that with this gift, he could exchange for the opportunity and resources to transition to a Scroll Schr from Luxius, and pull him onto his own chariot, finding a rtively trustworthy backer for his future foundation in the Royal Capital. Even... it wasnt out of the question to use the tform of this Evocation Monarch to force the Charles family into a corner. After all, reaching the position of an Evocation Monarch mage didnt mean he had to beg the Scroll Mage Academy. If he were willing, he could even be a guest at the Royal Court in the power center of Yibel Federation,pletely ignoring the Charles familys power, and provide Kael with immense protection. He originally thought that if he could form subsequent cooperation with Luxius, this matter would have significant potential. But he never expected his killer move to be so extraordinarily powerful. Perhaps Luxiuss interest was piqued after seeing Kaels unassuming yet kill-filled exclusive skills at the academy gates, leading him to offer an olive branch without a second thought. Given the perspective of natives, dual-ssing in two professions, especially as a Magician and Scroll Schr, and aiming to develop towards Luxiuss voluminous and plentiful evocation mage path was highly unlikely, and willing to ept a Magic Monarch into their fold was even harder. What reason did he have to refuse? What rtionship was closer than mere mutual interests? Bound by a mentor-student rtionship, chained by interests, guided by amon vision of exploring the path of magic, ultimately forming a rtionship far superior to a simple exchange of benefits, one could even call it an "unbreakable alliance!" Thinking of this, the corners of Kaels mouth slightly lifted, and he said, "In fact, I have long admired you, Mr. Luxius!" ... Please collect, rmend, vote for monthly tickets, and read along. All kinds of requests! Chapter 57 - 55: Treatment Starkly Different from Players "Very well, trust me, child, you have made the right choice. Trust me, in the Duchy of Ennd, no one can surpass me, your teacher, in the art of shaping energy spells." Luxiuss eyes softened considerably, and he had higher expectations for this child. Scroll Schrs originated from the gods, and upon formallypleting their job change and advancing to a certain level, they could acquire the ability to copy spells from different divine systems. There are rumors that in the days before the brilliance of magic had emerged, Scroll Schrs cultivated historical materials, read through ancient church scriptures, and based on countless epochs of Dark Knowledge, explored a pathway for mortals to replicate a profession from divine arts. That might have been one of the earliest origins of the Mage profession. To those who heard about Scroll Schrs at a low or mid-level, their first impression of the profession was that it was overpowered. They couldnt understand why Scroll Schrs could copy vastly different divine spells from different deities, as if they were inherently privileged to do so. Regarding this im, Luxius scoffed. A simple truth, divine arts originated from deities, and without the permission of the deities, priests, even if they shouted themselves hoarse, couldnt use divine arts smoothly. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Divine arts were inherently a power system developed by the gods to interfere with regions outside their divine realms, showcasing their divine might. The fact that Scroll Schrs could obtain permission from all deities to copy and use rted divine arts without being punished was already a question to all What kind of existence holds such great power that it could make all deities oblige, allowing Scroll Schrs to directly use their divine arts? The answer is clear. Even those powerful deities, mythical remnants, Abyss Lords, or Elemental Monarchs, who have enemies, would not allow their rivals subordinates to use their own divine arts to please an enemy. If there truly were such an existence, it could only be the world itself. Only the world itself, having split its authority into countless rules, could make all deities, however reluctantly, grant this special privilege to Scroll Schrs. This was indeed a profession that could only be assumed with the worlds permission and was also Luxiuss part-time profession. Your journey continues on ?? Thus, the moment Luxius met Kael, having been a part-time Scroll Schr for many years, he realized that this child had the potential to be a part-time Scroll Schr as well. The knowledge that his client had passed on to him was indeed of great value, but without this premise, Luxius wouldnt have extended an invitation to him. He was long past the time when he needed to unt his schrly achievements through students of special status and identity. "Since you are willing to be my student, I willter grant you ess to my magic testing area and Mage Tower," Luxius continued. Kael noddedmagic testing areas and Mage Towers were great assets. For most yers to gain simr ess, it usually happened long after the public test had started. "In a few days, when I have some time free, I will go to the Royal Capital Mage Association and change your academic affiliation for you, and at that time, all the relevant channels of information at the Royal Capital Mage Association will be open to you." Kaels eyes lit upthere was such a good deal? Information was time-sensitive. Being able to ess the relevant channels of the Royal Capital Mage Association right away could greatly make up for theck of external intelligence from the Lancaster Territorythis was indeed a timely benefit! "Additionally, those Dungeons under the Mage Association in Ennd that you automatically gain ess to, you can bring up to 5 guests who do not exceed the Dungeons challenge level limit, as long as you register them in advance. If you have the time, you should fulfill our professional duty of clearing the Dungeons. Of course, before you head to the gate to the lower realms, you can let me know in advance. Dungeons arent very safe, and Ill prepare some protective gear for you to explore them." Kael was silent for a moment, if he remembered correctly, hadnt he just verbally agreed to be Mr. Luxiuss student? Now, not only had his future fighting and leveling areas been sorted out, but he could even somewhat solve the difficulties that yers would face in their subsequent fights and leveling? He smacked his lips, pondering on the many strategies prepared to fleece the yershad they alle to an end before even starting? "Oh right, I just checked and saw that you have a position hanging at the Grand Library of Secret Tomes, along with a record of long-term leave, which will affect your sry adjustment and internal promotion at the end of the academic year. Ive just applied to the dean to change the record to Outside Testing of the New Stream Shaping Ability System for Mages Training, and the dean has also approved it. After all, the training program you submitted does have a great potential for sess, doesnt it?" "The browsing rights at the library Ill also keep open for you, barring a few taboo books, the entire librarys collection will be avable to you, and its not a bad thing for a Scroll Schr to read more books." At this point, what could Kael do except numbly nod his head? Rumors had it that earlier on, when the game was first made public, many natives who had juste into contact with the yers were amazed by the yers learning abilities, thus making many of the early internal and publicly tested yers their students. It was said that during that time, every yer could receive benefits from NPCs. However, this so-called rapid learning of various job skills was merely the effect of yers directly using skill points. Most yers, once they ceased relying on skill points, quickly deteriorated into ordinary people. No, in some cases, even worse than ordinary people. The ordinary natives who became professionals in their fields had at least gone through a rtively long learning and training phase, but yers were differentwith the assistance of a system panel, most of them didnt even consider stopping to learn. Furthermore, detached from the skill points andpared to the normal growth curve, it felt much like the multitude of students who, upon entering university, quickly became overfed and useless, and upon approaching graduation and joiningpanies, found that these fellows knew nothing at all. The yers might be even worse than that. After all, those overfed university students, at least, would settle down to learn when they entered the job. But the yers? Asking them to seriously study in one ce was basically impossible. So by the time yers like Kael, who were part of the third batch of public testers, enteredthe stage of the Undead being scorned by the natives with cries of "RNM refunds" was already under way... Thinking back on that now, its really tearful! Latter yers, although the overall environment was somewhat better, found it much rarer to be taken on as students and personally trained by natives, not to mention receiving the many implicit benefits from teachers. Speaking of which was indeed sad. Having been a person in two lives, he was somewhat moved by Mr. Luxiuss machinations. For a while, he even called him "Mr. Luxius" with much eagerness, causing Luxius to inadvertently touch his nose, beginning to wonder if he should offer more benefits to this new student whose speech was so pleasing to hear? After all, hearing all kinds ofvish praise from a good-looking student was quite... *cough*very satisfying. Good child, if you can speak well, say more! Chapter 58 - 56 Wow! Teacher, you are so tall and tough! Seeing Kael so cooperative, Mr. Luxius, pleased, couldnt help but say a bit more, "Latere with me to the Earth Mother God Sect in the Royal Capital; the Cardinal there has just been changed. He is among the highest ranks of the Church, having just arrived in the Royal Capital, you can probably guess his purpose. The matters concerning the children of Shamjia are currently spreading only on a small scale, but those who need to know are already aware." For a long time, you will inevitably deal with the people from the Earth Mother God Sect. Today Im taking you there to secure a position as an external priest. Even if you do not formally serve as a priest, you can gain the authority to use low-level divine arts, which will help you pry open the doors of the Scroll Schrs." Kaels pupils shrank, and he quickly realized what was happening. Normally, to hold the position of a Scroll Schr, one must have the prerequisite of using divine arts, and the quickest way is, of course, to serve as a priest in some Church. But where there is a usual method, there naturally exists an unusual one. Like Mr. Luxius directly going to the Earth Mother God Sect to arrange for him to be an external priest and gain qualification to use low-level divine arts. Even in his previous life as a professional yer, he had not heard of such a thing. However, as he suspected, the Earth Mother God Sect had already informed the necessary people quite early. The many natives surprise at the appearance of the Undead was simply because they were not the ones who needed to be informed. Kael smelled something unusual and said, "The Cardinal responsible for all matters of the Earth Mother God Sect in the Duchy was intentionally changed at this point in time?" Mr. Luxius nodded and said, "I heard that you even brought the Undead to the Royal Capital. These creatures are just as we expected, truly a group without reverence But I can understand. If I had the power of immortality like them back in the day, the chaos Id create would probably surpass theirs, like how Ive wanted to burn the Academy Heads beard for a long time." Kael couldnt help but give a wry smile and asked, "Has the Cardinal of the Earth Mother God Sect already been reced by His Excellency Teto?" Mr. Luxius hummed affirmatively. Among the yers, this Cardinal named "Teto" was probably the highest-ranking NPC they dealt with for a long time, with many powerful yers receiving many rewarding tasks from him. Lately, because of his significant merits, he was quickly identified as the next pope of the Earth Mother God Sect. Ordinarily, casual yers could never meet this Cardinal, and even professional yers like Kael rarely got an audience with such a native leader unless the Earth Mother God Sect required the assistance of the yers guild. But now, Mr. Luxiusah no, my dear Mr. Luxius, are you really just openly cheating? Cant you handle the game? Wait a second? Am I the cheater? Then its fine, Mr. Luxius, a little more, even more! I wontin however much it is! This misalignment of dual identities made Kael ecstatic inside and out, while simultaneously igniting a me in his heart. It was something from his previous life, long suppressed within his heart for many reasonssomething known as ambition! Suddenly, he remembered something and said with a lightugh, "Teacher, I heard that the Earth Mother God Sect hasnt yet reached a conclusion about the sudden emergence of the children of Shamjia?" After all, the Undead harbor immense potential within their bodies and possess the Goddess Shamjias Undying Blessing, destined to stir up significant turbulence. Their first stop on the continent has appeared right on the students territory. If you and His Excellency Teto allow, I wish to establish an official Mage Association in the Lancaster Territory for the conversion of the Undead, as well as a branch of the Earth Mother God Sect, to build prestige among the Undead for everyone in advance." This time Mr. Luxius pondered longer, his fingers tapping his chin as he thought for a minute before saying with interest, "Do you have confidence in controlling the children of Shamjia? The Undead are not so easily controlled." Yes, of course. Although those people are somewhat difficult to control, most of the time, the yers thinking is actually very simple and often, sincerity is enough. "Regarding this, I do have some unique personal insights. In fact, after the first batch of children of Shamjia arrived in my territory, I got along quite pleasantly with them," Kael responded. Mr. Luxius nodded in understanding and said, "Is that so? I can ask for you, but you better not have too many expectations. After all, visitors from the divine realms havent appeared for many years. Even dealing with them might involve risks, but this inherently represents a huge interest." The two did not say much more. On the carriage ride to the Earth Mother Goddess Church, both tacitly avoided mentioning the affairs of the Charles family. After the conversation with the shaping Mage monarch, Kael had distinctly sensed the enormous resources a native powerhouse could mobilize. Those who were not natives could hardly see the huge gap between yers and natives. It was an invisible barrier called "exclusion," separating people from two different worlds into two distinct groups. Now, looking back from his own perspective, he could perceive that the natives had cleverly mitigated the crisis from the Fourth Cmity to some extent. Indeed, they were all clever people! His expression was somewhatplex. Was this the yers manipting the NPCs, or the natives manipting the yers? Regardless, any small ns from Earl Rezhe seemed to havee to nothing. You invited a mentor from the Scroll Mage Academy to support you? I am not hiding anymore, Iy my cards on the table! My teacher, Mr. Luxius! "The words you said at the academy gate should have already reached the ears of those concerned by now, a good response, but not enough." After confirming their mentor-student rtionship, Luxius began to give Kael some necessary guidance: "The words you spoke, were intended for that youngster Rezhe and also for the emerging nobility. You want to unite those who should be united, make as many friends as possible, step forward, and be the spear for those Lords who might be stripped of theirnds, right?" Kael nodded, not hiding anything. Luxius said, "Your personality is much stronger than mine was, and cleverer too. But this world does notck clever people, and many can see what you are thinking. Wanting to be the spear will inevitably lead to taking hits, although your initiative will give you a certain advantage, and if handled well, might even make you the leader of this group. In that case, whether the proposal from the Charles family seeds or not, you could leverage this group to carve out a future. But you clearly have better cards to y, dont you?" "Are you referring to... the new shaping mage discipline?" Kael raised an eyebrow, instantly grasping his meaning. Luxius pped his hands andughed, "I love your cleverness, kid. Bing that persons spearhead is far inferior to using brute strength, conquering with force. N?v(el)B\\jnn The method promoted by the Charles, which hinges on the inability of some emerging nobles to defend their border territories, simply falls apart once their argument is invalidated, no matter what Charles did in between, it all counts for naught." Kael grasped what Luxius meant, but still yed dumb cleverly, saying, "Teacher, please instruct me!" "Tomorrow, I will speak with the academys dean, then take a trip to the Lion Hearts ce, mix your proposal with two others,y them on Lion Hearts desk, and tell him that this is the solution provided by the Scroll Mage Academy due to the emerging noblesck of defensive capabilities. Guess whether Lion Heart will risk inciting a massive uproar among the emerging nobles by choosing Charless proposal, or agree to ours, providing funding for spell research, and then experiment in your territory to see if this discipline is feasible?" Kael "suddenly realized," pped his thigh, and eximed, "Brilliant, Teacher! Your move is both high and strong!" ... Request for favorites, rmendations, monthly passes, and follows, all requests wee! Chapter 59 - 57: The Deceased XX Suddenly Attacked Me (Seeking Follow-Up) Just as the bustling wind blew through the Royal Capital, in reality, the Losers Eat Dust chat group was suddenly filled with frantic voice messages. "Brothers, from now on... I am a dog of the Gate of the Underworld!" In real life, early in the morning, this voice message in the Losers Eat Dust group immediately grabbed everyones attention. The speaker was "Nai Feitian," a professional esports yer from AS Club. This pig-squealing voice message caused a few lurkers to emerge from the shadows. God of Wealth arrived, "What are you howling about at five in the morning? You scared me to death!" Qing Ya over the Cold Pool, "Boss, youre up so early!" God of Wealth arrived, "Up early my ass, havent slept, just logged off for a breather, battle till dawnter!" Other Peoples Little Kitten, "God of Wealth, your schedule is so screwed up, arent you afraid of sudden death?" God of Wealth arrived, "Im actually okay... Its mainly because this game is too immersive. Before you know it, the suns almost up." Nai Feitian, "You guys arent still catching deer, are you? Whats fun about that task? Lets go sliding on the Corrupted Tree-man together!" Honeydew, "The game youre talking about, is it legit?" Nai Feitian, "Oh, its that game Cat God got a huge wave of short-video traffic from recently. You must have seen it. Even those third-rate browser games are stealing the incubus battle footage, its gone viral." Honeydew, "Oh, that one. It was pretty popr some time ago, but I was preparing for the summer tournament and didnt pay much attention. Whats going on with it now? Our club seems to be preparing to set up a division for that game." Guarantor Human Soul, "Well... Although Im just a newbie, I want to say, if possible, apply to transfer your work to the Gate of the Underworld as soon as possible. This game is really special..." Honeydew, "Riddle talker, want me to smack your head crooked!" n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om At this moment, a group admin poked their head out quietly. Sister Xiao Yu, "How about I exin? Im pretty confident in intelligence gathering." Guarantor Human Soul, "Sister Xiao Yu, you go ahead. Ill stop talking." This small group was mainlyposed of esports industry professionals, including esports yers, coaches, famous virtual game streamers, and game review streamers, even a couple of advertisers sneaked in. In short, it was a very mixed bunch! Most of the time, these people didnt talk much; only chatterboxes like Nai Feitian could have a thousand-word chat in the group all day long. But now, with the lingering poprity of the Gate of the Underworld, some curious yers began to notice the game. Esports yers working in virtual games had noticeably different experiencespared to old-school esports projects, most notably the convergence of selection criteria for esports yers. Due to the poprity of virtual games, esports yers from different virtual games could switch games and rise again quite smoothly. Therefore, some club yers, though affiliated with the same club, could frequently jump between different virtual games. The promotional video for Gate of the Underworld had been out for a while. Seeing an esports media tycoon about to exin the game, the lurkers stopped typing and quietly waited for the analysis. "Lets talk about the basic situation of the Gate of the Underworld first." "This game focuses on a Western fantasy setting, and its era background is significantly different from any historical era we know." "Now, Im in the Royal Capital of the Duchy of Inglis, promoting books in various brothels on Joy Street. Ive gathered quite a bit of information from orcs, half-orcs, elves, demons, and even intelligent monsters." As soon as he said this, the previously quiet group became lively. Enjoy new chapters from NovelBin.C?m Other Peoples Little Kitten, "Are those brothels legit?" Honeydew, "Listen to me, Sister Xiao Yu, should I apply to join the new game division right now?" Soaring Lemon, "Sister Xiao Yu, I have a friend who wants to see the brothel details, not for any reason, just to criticize it." ...Soaring Lemon was muted by the admin for 1 minute... Everyone fell silent in fear, not daring to make another inappropriatement. Seeing this, Sister Xiao Yu continued: "ording to rted information, in the current internal test, we are in the Lancaster Territory, part of the superrge country Yibel Federation dominated by humans." "About 300 years ago, the ninergest human city-states that had mastered the path of ascending as cursed swordsmen embarked on a protracted war." "This war ended with the victory of the human city-states and, more than 200 years ago, the nine major city-states built the original Yibel Kingdom around the central Royal Court." "Over the past 200 years, by breaking through numerous dungeons, the nine city-states have grown into duchies with vast territories, and Yibel Kingdom, due to the massivend it governed, was renamed Yibel Federation." "The Lancaster Territory where we are located is a territory under the Duchy of Inglis, developed by the Lionheart Lord." "Interestingly, I heard from an incubus prostitute that a while ago, a region under Inglis showed signs of an Evil God blood sacrifice, and a top-tier Lionheart Knight led his knights to eliminate the Evil God before it descended." "Whats more interesting is she mentioned a piece of information that caught my attention. That Lionheart Knight is a coteral rtive of the Lionheart Lord, and is highly valued by him. His biggest blemish is having a half-blood incubus child." "His name is Kael.D.Helois!" "To maintain his fathers honor, its said he never absorbed anyones essence since birth, thus gued with illness all his life." "On the night of his fathers death, fearing persecution from his fathers family, the old housekeeper led him to his fathers territory to seek refuge overnight." "Yes, that ce is called Lancaster, which is the Newbie Vige for internal test yers." "Lastly, that incubus prostitute told me that the Holy Knight Fox of the Bronze Cross, when bringing Anthonys relics to the Lancaster Territory that night, Brother Kael asked him, Father, was he brave on the battlefield up there?" ... The group fell silent. At this moment, freshly released from his mute penalty, Soaring Lemon said something inappropriate: "Whos that, why does this name sound a bit weird?" ...Soaring Lemon was muted by the admin for 20 minutes... After half a minute, an internal test yer finally spoke up in the group. The first to speak was Nai Feitian, as always: "The dead promo video suddenly stabbed me?" Other Peoples Little Kitten couldnt help but remember that phrase from the promo video "My son." "You grew up in Yibel." "You ate the grain grown on thends of Inglis." "Drank the water from the southeastern rivers." "Your life is inseparable from humanity, from the people of Yibel." "You are a Yibellian, a citizen under Yibels human rule." "Your blood knows where youe from, your heart knows where you are headed." "Dont be toyed with by power itself, and dont reject it. Gather the courage to master it." In a daze, he seemed to hear the voice of that man who died smiling, endlessly calling "Kael." For some reason, he felt like smoking. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. Immediately, he asked: "Sister Xiao Yu, can I use the material? Ill pay!" ... Seeking collections, rmendation votes, monthly tickets, and most importantly, continued reading. This is the closest Ive ever been to that rmendation, please help me! Chapter 60 - 58: Official Invitation (Please Follow) Little Kitten from someone elses family was a game review vlogger, or at least he considered himself to be one. Having graduated from a prestigious university, he enthusiastically joined the ranks of virtual yers aftering into contact with his first virtual game during university. As a neer to virtual games, he was unfamiliar with eSports events and didnt know about eSports yers; he simply had a passion for gaming. Unfortunately, fate did not favor him, and in his first year of ying virtual online games, he became one of the initial victims of the "virtual disaster incident." At that time, the well-known virtual game developer RECT developed a virtual game called "Global Invasion" which, with its unprecedented realism, shocked the entire Human Federation and drew the attention of a multitude of game enthusiasts. Little Kitten from someone elses family was one of them. "Global Invasion" was undoubtedly a good game, but it fell into the hands of a game developmentpany with questionable professional ethics. In order to make "Global Invasion" even more popr, the developer RECT fabricated an outrageous lie. They began to set the stage during the games closed beta test period. First, they orchestrated a massive campaign on the dark web, iming that "top hackers trying to crack Global Invasion were horrified to find that the game had no code." Then, they arranged for a group of people to pose as experts who often visit the dark web" on various virtual social tforms. This group would asionally post rted information they allegedly saw on the dark web to increase their credibility. Once the public beta test of "Global Invasion" started, they had this group, alreadybeled as "inte tech experts" by a small portion ofizens, begin spreading anxiety. Thus, in a small circle, the message that "Global Invasion is actually a real Otherworld" began to quietly spread. Industry experts and rational individuals naturally wouldnt believe this, but there were young kids who truly did. "Join Global Invasion, protect the Human Federation from invasion!" Under such a simple notion, the virtual gamermunity, represented by students, began to spiral into madness. Some among them genuinely believed that the game was a real Otherworld. In an atmosphere of frenzy that even the developers at RECT could not have anticipated, even someone as rtively sensible as Little Kitten from someone elses family could be swept up by the hysteria. Even when some believers failed in their raid attempts, they became depressed. They believed that because of their failure, somewhere in the world, creatures from Otherworld might quietly infiltrate a corner of our world and unleash an unknown killing spree. Such a naive thought, isnt it? Yet under this "false" pressure, there were indeed student groups who were unable to cope andmitted suicide. Explore more at NovelBin.C?m Once the media reported this incident, it undoubtedly unleashed massive public outrage. The culprit RECT was immediately penalized and dered bankruptcy, and even the global virtual gaming industry was impacted to some extent. Consequently, the yers of "Global Invasion" that year became the victims of the "virtual disaster incident." However, Little Kitten from someone elses family was different; his way of "victimhood" was a bit special. Perhaps due to his innate talent, Little Kitten achieved in-game feats like a god, and it was from that time that he got the nickname "Cat God." You couldnt expect a freak who, after other yers teams failed in the raid opening, went in solo and cleared the entire dungeon, to feel that kind of pressure. Moreover, he had always been clear-headed, unaffected by the frenzied atmosphere of the time. He just thought those noisy kids, as well as the teachers and parents who were worried about distinguishing between reality and virtual, were quite bothersome. That probably also counts as another kind of victimhood. Of course, that incident back then still had a rather adverse effect on him. After all... Who would have thought that just starting out in virtual gaming, one could exhaust all their enthusiasm in a single game? As a result, despite having the talent of a top eSports yer, he never entertained the thought of pursuing that path again. ying professionally was out of the question. He was never going to y in eSports; he couldnt just make easy money without the skills. Only by doing reviews and live streaming could he make a living. Livestreaming was much more entertaining than having a girlfriend; everyone there was talented, spoke pleasingly, and he loved that ce. Little Kitten took a bite of a crawfish and looked towards the gaming pod, a hint of gloom passing through his eyes. "Thinking back now, thest time I felt like this while ying a game was that time." "This game is even more excessive than Global Invasion was back then; the reality of the game nearly reached the limit of all types of virtual games. Whether its the simtion of all five senses or the NPCs intelligent interactions, its all top-notch." "And theres no need to mention the freedom it offers. If it were not for the fact that the pants-droppers and Bug exploiters would inevitably be sanctioned, this kind of unrestrained interactive experience, with dynamically changing NPCs, wild monsters, and scenes, has surpassed any game Ive reviewed in the past. To call it a second world wouldnt be an exaggeration." "Is this pain block mechanism really legal? Recovering from the stimulus of dying once requires longer time. It seems that the rumor about military technology being adapted for civilian use is mostly true. Such a scale is definitely beyond what normal virtual games can achieve." "Even if its about making a quick buck, this game also has its value. The traffic from thest short video was unlimited, all thanks to its dramatic effect." "This time, I still need to focus on the short video content. Ha, my promotional video suddenly cuts me? A qualified yer not only has to cut themselves but also needs to give a cut to all those bastards who havent been cut!" When he saw Kaels past, he felt a bit mncholic, but then a spark of inspiration struck his mind. After getting the consent from Little Fish, he logged off to have breakfast. He wiped his hands and immediatelyy back in the gaming pod to start the video editing. He searched through his old ylist and dug out three somewhat old songs, "White Reflection," "May Rain," and "Flicker" These were all music found from the ruins after the war, from the time after the establishment of the Human Federation, their origins unknown. "White Reflection" started ying, its mncholic and reminiscent guitar tones mixed with AI-generated illustrations of a young Kael sitting alone on a bench, watching other children y. Without a word, the video started with a knife to the heart. Little Kael, shunned by others with cold looks. Little Kael, crying in hiding. Little Kael, frail and clinging tightly to his father Anthonys leg. ... Oh no! Little Kitten was shocked. He was a sucker for looks, couldnt bear to see AI-generated illustrations of Little Kael getting hurt, and for a moment felt a coldness in his chest. But... it kinda felt good? Ha, cutting myself, huh! sh! sh everyone! They all must die! As for whether this really happened in the game? Little Kitten didnt care. All he wanted now was for everyone to feel the pain together. After creating 1 minute and 52 seconds of video full of shes with various AI-generated illustrations, the mood suddenly shifted. The promotional video showed Anthony fighting desperately to the sound of "May Rain," resonating with the bells of Kagura, violin, shamisen, shakuhachi, and drums thundering in. If the musical instruments were the main ingredients cooking up the emotions, then Anthonys soliloquy during battle, his unshakable concerns and longing, was the me that fully ignited those emotions. Ouch! It hurts so much! Why did I edit a MAD? Have I gone mad myself, hammering my own head into stupidity? But as it hurt... it seemed that my body got used to it and numbed. Even imagining many others sharing the pain with me, I couldnt help but curl my lips into a sly smile. When he came back to his senses, he realized that in a burst of inspiration, he had only spent half the morning and had already roughly cut out the framework of the MAD video. Huh? When did I, someone who loves cking off, be so efficient? He instinctively went to save the roughly edited video, but suddenly, without thinking, his hand moved faster than his brain, he opened the gateway to Otherworlds yer Forum and clicked to upload the video. "Oh no!" Little Kitten was startled, ready to delete the upload, but he found that the video had failed to upload. That scared me! Little Kitten breathed a sigh of relief, about to close the forum, but then he noticed a system message popping up in the background. He clicked on it and was slightly taken aback. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Otherworld" Official Operation Invitation Dear yer: Hello, "Otherworld"s AI "AO" has detected that you have posted relevant videos rted to this game on the yer Forum, with excellent quality, meeting "AO"s operational promotion standards. Do you agree for "AO" to correct the video and use it as an official promotional video for operations? If you agree, you will receive the followingpensation: 1, "AO" will autonomously optimize the video and send the improved video to your personal email. You will own all rights to the video outside of the official use by the games operations; any profits derived from the video will belong to you; 2, "AO" willpensate you with a supeputer optimization in the game, which will automatically unlock after you reach a certain level or meet specific requirements; 3, "AO" will gift you an exclusive and non-tradable, non-droppable costume, which will be bound to your game ount. Do you agree to "AO"s operation invitation? Yes/No "This is such good news? Yes, definitely yes! Today, even if Nai Feitian himselfes, it would still be a yes!" Chapter 61 - 59: A Viral Phenomenon (Begging for Followers) After agreeing to the "AO" request, Little Kitten soon discovered a new video uploaded to their personal inbox. They didnt pay much attention to it. After all, in this era, with the widespread adoption of AI, many middle and low-level professions had declined or even disappeared to arge extent. For example, basic ounting work, entry-level artist work, and the like. But clearly, this wasnt why the Human Federation didnt use AI. Just like the short video Little Kitten made this time, the series of AI-generated illustrations at the beginning of "White Reflection," if it were in the era before the Human Federation was established, it would have cost thousands just to hire artists to create these illustrations. The most important thing was that many illustrators with poor skills couldnt produce good work. Not only would it be a waste of money, but it would also consume a lot of time and effort, failing to achieve the desired effect. But now, with just a click of the mouse, one could meet their needs, so why not? They had heard that there was a batch of advanced AI in the Human Federation, which, after upying enoughputing power of supeputers, could almostpletely abandon routine and repetitive tasks, achieving ultra-highpletion in the shortest time. The "AO" that could support "The Gate of the Nether World" was obviously one of them. After all, not every advanced AI could call itself an "Intelligent Brain." Only when the AIs supported supeputing power met the standards could it be given the title of Intelligent Brain by the Human Federation. For example, in Kaels country, the most famous Intelligent Brain was "Heavenly Pool Spirit Light." There were also other Intelligent Brains that many Little Kittens didnt understand, deeply rooted in more secret andplex domains. A game like "The Gate of the Nether World," which could almost be called epoch-making, having an Intelligent Brain to control it was perfectly normal. Even if it didnt have one, it could be understood. It was normal for products converted from military to civilian use to disy ck technology. But... All thissted until they saw the video sent to their personal inbox. After watching thetest version of the video, Little Kitten slowly took off the games connector. The semi-transparent hatch slowly lifted, and after getting up, they leaned quietly against the hatch, unable to calm down for a long time. "What is this promotional video? Does it have any inevitable connection to the one I made before?" They sighed lightly, looking out the floor-to-ceiling window at Fanhu City. "Todays wind is a bit noisy!" Usually indifferent to emotional work, Little Kitten now felt a void in their heart. They slowly opened several websites such as Xiaopo Station, and after a series of operations, uploaded thetest video corrected by the Intelligent Brain to ounts on various tforms. After thest tform had sessfully uploaded the video, Little Kitten first sighed and then showed a sickly smile: "Hehehe, from now on, let the world feel the pain!" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ... Nasilia slowly took off the connector and leisurely got up from the custom game pod. Feeling a bit sleepy, she yawned and took a can of coffee beans from the closet. Experience tales at NovelBin.C?m The spacious living room had a small bar counter, and the manual coffee grinder on the counter looked somewhat retro. Maybe because of long-term friction and touch, the wooden handle of the coffee machine had a unique sheen, and the delicate, small speakers beside it yed soothing and melodious music. Nasilia enjoyed this slow-paced lifestyle in a fast-paced era. Listening to old songs ying from the speakers, tasting the smooth and slightly bitter vor of freshly brewed hand-made coffee between her lips, she showed a look of contentment. "The UP host you follow, Little Kitten, has updated!" Nasilia, who was drinking coffee, paused for a moment and got up to turn down the sound of the speaker next to her. She was a fan of Little Kitten and had started following this UP host quite some time ago, As a faintly sad guitar melody with a touch of nostalgia began, the camera froze on little Kael sitting on the swing, looking at the backs of other children at school. The Incubus little tail drooped spiritlessly on the ground, making its owner look very dejected. The afterglow of the setting sun fell on the academys ground, coloring the grass and wooden stakes red. The perspective shifted to a frontal view of Little Kael. He hung his head, his eyes looking somewhat gloomy and pitiful, his fingers tightly grasping the swings ropes, with an unspoken sense of loss in his eyes. Nearby, parents could faintly be heard speaking in low voices while pulling their children. "What are you doing? Didnt I tell you not to y with him? He will drain you dry!" "Hey, isnt that the kid?" "Yeah, he is the one..." Kael on the swing had slightly red eyes. The scene shifted to Kaels home, where the little Incubus tugged at his fathers clothes without any shadow: "Hey, Anthony, hurry and take me to practice magic!" "Dont keep calling Hey, Hey! Dont you know that your father is a very remarkable person?" Anthony said to Kael with a small proud expression on his face, as if expecting praise from his child. The scene was heartwarming to watch. But the increasingly mncholy and deep guitar melody made the corners of Nasilias mouth twitch and then tten again. After all, she knew that this was not a happy story. The scene continued, ignoring Nasilias mncholy. Like the drum of time, it continued. Chapter 62: Chapter 59: Viral Sensation (Seeking Follow-up)_2 Anthony quietly asked someone to sew a mage''s robe with a lion emblem Anthony, who secretly ced the mage''s robe into Kael''s wardrobe, had a smile on his face. He always wanted that child to be a little happier, even if it was just a bit of happiness. Time seemed to have passed again, and Kael looked a bit older. "Father, apany me to the Magic Association next time! I want to practice Freezing Aura again!" When the weary Anthony came home and saw Kael''s expectant eyes, he knelt down without even taking off his armor, and gently ruffled his little head: "Forgive me, Kael, next time!" "Okay! Next time, you must take me with you." The music paused, "May Rain" started at 00:16, the Kagura Bell swayed, and the violin, shamisen, shakuhachi, and drum sounds chased the past relentlessly. "Kael, there are still so many things I want to tell you..." "I want to live with you so much..." "Thank you for making me a mother, and thank you for making Anthony a father..." In a burst of ck screen, a gentle female voice with a sobbing tone sounded, the voice growing weaker, not even giving Nasilia time to savor it, the scene switched to Anthony, who was fighting the Evil God when the Saint descended. Blood-stained armor, broken ruins, and corpses everywhere as far as the eye could see. Nasilia could only see the blood-red magical energy spreading from the gaps in Anthony''s armor, covering his entire back. The zing sun was angry, the broken greatsword, the exhausted knight''s lion-like golden hair was blown by the strong wind,unching the final charge of his life. "Cough, cough~"N?v(el)B\\jnn "My son." "You grew up in Yibel." "What you ate was the grain grown on Yngnce''snd." "What you drank was the water from the southeastern rivers." "Your life is already inseparable from humans and the people of Yibel." That blood-red sr disc sank heavily into the mountain of flesh and blood. The divine blood of the Evil God descended and at that moment was eroded by the scorching magical energy. When everything returned to silence, the dazed Anthony watched as snowkes fell on his armor, dragging his heavy body to climb onto the griffin. The grieving cry of the griffin taking flight, carrying him across snowfields and mountains, rivers, and seas. Until he finally fell in front of hisrades. "Anthony?" The Lion Heart Battle Group''s Magic Energy Rifle''s muzzle lifted, aiming at the formerrade. "The encirclement... failed, they~ cough, cough, got polluted." Anthony, whose memory was hazy, his eyes wandering, this was a symptom of his mind being highly contaminated. "What about you?" "I~ brought the information back, the intel is..." Before he could finish, Anthony lost his sanity with a muffled grunt, a burst of electricity exploded from his helmet. Then, an iron fist grabbed his head and smashed down, the armor-piercing drill bit into him, and in the roar of the Magic Energy Rifle, apanied by the sadness on the knight''s face, the white cape was stained red with blood. The camera gradually panned out, a drop of blood sshed outside the Spiral Tower, passing through the moonlight and falling continuously in the air. As the camera captured this, a glimpse of the iceberg of the Royal Capital of Yngnce was revealed. Low houses, slums... Castles, Baroque buildings, Spiral Tower... In the mourning tunes, the conversation of the Lionheart Knights could vaguely be heard. "The encirclement failed?" "No, Anthony and the others seeded, before the Lionheart Duke arrived, the Exotic Realm Evil God that hatched had already been sent backat the cost of the death of the entire Iron Cross 11th Army''s Lionheart Knights." "ording to the Lionheart Knights Treaty, when he realized he might have been infected, he shouldn''t have returned to the territory, he should have waited at the location." "Because of his child..." "Hmm?" "The child brought by the Little Incubus, the one who is now a librarian at the Secret Scroll Mage Academy." "No wonder... waiting at the location for the evil transformation to erupt, his Holy Sanctuary Crystal would be directly polluted,ing back to let us kill him, at least he could leave something for the Little Incubus..." The sound of the flesh being torn echoed, as if someone had dug out something, Nasilia felt a sharp pain in her chest, her face showing sorrow. "He was a qualified father!" "And also a qualified knight. Go, Fox, give the item to the child, let him absorb it as soon as possible..." "Wait, Captain, where are you going?" "Today, I particrly want to kill, especially those Evil God Believers. Fox, you must safely deliver Anthony''s Holy Sanctuary Core to that child." "What''s his name?" "Kael, Kael.D.Helois, a good child." That drop of blood fell on thewn, as the wind blew, dispersing the flowers. The scene shifted to a spacious living room, the face of the Fox Knight turned red, wanting to say something but couldn''t, and the familiar lord Kael, known by countless yers, said: "Father, was he brave on the battlefield?" Nasilia only felt her breath catch, a severe heartache. Before she could think more, the sad background music began to rise and fall, in the moonlight-flooded room, the Little Incubus''s heart-shaped tail opened and swallowed the Holy Sanctuary Crystal. His eyes lost their luster, like a hollow puppet. "Father..." A tear quietly slid down, his pale face gradually returning to normal. Nasilia suddenly realized one thing: if she could, Kael might be the person most unwilling to see his body recover. She opened her mouth, feeling a profound heartache. Fortunately, the sad music gradually faded, reced by light and lively music, pulling Nasilia, whose eyes had almost lost their luster, back. In the tavern, the young lord stood in front of his loyal knight, loudly proiming: "Jonathan, lift your head." The loyal knight raised his head, looking at the young lord. "Then let me ask you, are you my subject?" The knight lifted his neck, his voice resolute: "Serving Lancaster is my honor, without a doubt, yes." "Have you evermitted a crime that vited the public order and morals or thews and regtions of the territory?" "Never." "Then why do you bow your head!" That lord said seriously: "You have never erred and have offered your courage and faith to your lord, never deviated, never forgotten, what crime do you have?" Nasilia didn''t know why, she suddenly felt a bit envious of that knight for a moment. As the cheerful and lighthearted music gradually entered the final chorus, the scene suddenly brightened. Lancaster''s idyllic countryside. The amiable residents of Titan Town. The rangers working hard on the border. He even saw many yers, including a fleeting glimpse of himself darting through the alley. The final scene froze on Kael controlling Magic Silk Thread, weaving through the forest, gracefully like walking in the air, harvesting Corrupted Tree-man and Shadow Wolf. That scene, as beautiful as a painting! [Wee to the Gateway of the Underworld, My Warrior] A line of text appeared, Nasilia looked bewildered at the scene. "That''s it? That''s it? What''s next! Little Kitten, you''re too mean, what''s next!?" ... In fact, now like Nasilia, there were many yers screaming, as this video, once released, quickly spread at an astonishing rate, bing a sensation online in a short time! Chapter 63: Chapter 60 Meeting the Cardinal (Please Follow) If you kill someone, they die. If you stab someone, their heart aches. But Little Kitten has no heart. As a top 100 UP host with a multitude of followers, when the video went live, of course, many loyal fans discovered the treasure immediately. They had no idea what they were about to face. That was a knife, a cold and merciless knife! Instantly, thement sections and bullet screens of major tforms were conquered. Viewers, stunned by the knife, began to vent their dissatisfaction in thement sections like crazy. "nner, you have no heart!" "Little Kitten''s imitation of BABY is spicy!" "First off, I didn''t bother any of you!" "Kael: My pain is greater than yours." "Knife! Seriously freakin'' sharp!" "Can someone fill me in on what game this is? I want to give it a try!" "You still want to try? Internal test ounts have been gone for centuries, not even 30,000 Human Federation coins can buy you an unverified ount." "Pain, too much pain!" "Breaking news, the MAD that Little Kitten initially made didn''t have the final, more calming segment of the story; it was all knives! It was only after uploading it to the gaming forum that the artificial intelligence responsible for the Nether''s Gate modified it, adding thatst segment." "???" "Even AIs know not to overstimte the audience, but Little Kitten doesn''t understand. What does that tell you?" "Little Kitten, you really deserve to die!" The human inte is such a noisy ce, but it does not affect Kael''s current agenda in the slightest. These days, he hadn''t paid much attention to forum messages, for he had more important matters to attend to. He was about to face an essential choice on the path of bing a professional. Yesterday, under Mr. Luxius'' guidance, Kael arrived at the Earth Mother Church Headquarters in Lancaster Territory and met the legendary Cardinal Teto. After being introduced by Luxius, he effortlessly obtained the permission for an auxiliary Priest''s status from the Cardinal. These past two days, he had been receiving baptism at the Royal Capital''s Earth Mother God Cathedral until today when he officially acquired a new skill. [Divine Arts I (Sha Tyar)]: You can use the first-level Divine Arts of the Goddess Sha Tyar. A simple skill, yet it signified that Kael, after much preparation, had taken a critical step forward. Because only by mastering Divine Arts could he meet the prerequisites to be a Scroll Schr. "Did you seed?" Knowing that his student would take an important step today, Mr. Luxius, who had originally nned his day, specially interrupted his spell experiments to witness his student''s "new birth." Kael nodded. Everything had gone incredibly smoothly. In his memory, even yers who could simplify the Priest''s promotion ceremony into foolproof steps via the system panel, couldn''t acquire the skill [Divine Arts I] this quickly. He looked up at the other novice Priests around him; most of them were still holding the Holy Scripture of Sha Tyar, adorned in the Sacred Radiance, earnestly sensing the power from Sha Tyar. The domain of professionals has always been like this; often, the most troublesome part is the initial stage of perceiving Extraordinary Power. The guiding Priests in the Great Cathedral''s backyard were heartbroken over this, for the emergence of new talents with potential is crucial to the future growth of any Transcendent force. Hearing the words between Kael and Mr. Luxius, the novice Priestess who had tried to talk to Kael in the morning involuntarily asked, "Can you already feel the Priest''s power?" Kael looked at the young priest and nodded. During the baptism at the church yesterday, he had seen several young people who also participated in the priest awakening ceremony, surrounding this apprentice priest, clearly also a "social butterfly." He naturally noticed the female priest''s desire to speak with him. If it had been another time, with his usual social anxiety, he might have considered chatting with the apprentice priest to expand his connections, but now he had no such desire. Of course, he had no intention of entertaining any additional thoughts either. After all, his burden was quite heavy at the moment, not to mention ordinary girlsing over to chat, anyone who dared disrupt his progress in bing stronger would be seen as his enemy. "You are so amazing, not like me, too clumsy. I''ve been guided by the mentor for so long without any progress," the girl said with some envy. "It''s okay, I believe that if you keep at it, you will soon feel the power of divine arts," he replied and then turned his gaze towards Luxius. Realizing that Kael had no desire to continue the conversation, the atmosphere around the apprentice priest who had mustered her courage to speak up visibly deted. "Mr. Luxius, I am ready," Kael said to him. Luxius smiled and said, "I''ve asked Tetu to prepare the prayer room, let''s go. I think you have been waiting a long time already; someone has been waiting for you there for quite a while." Kael: ??? Mr. Luxius, please don''t say such misleading things in the sacred Great Cathedral! But momentster, he realized this was not like the "priest, church, prayer.jpg" scenarios often found in risqu apps. The person waiting to see Kael today should be Cardinal Tetu, after all, this was his home ground. True enough, upon entering the prayer room, he once again met the top-ranked figure who was about to be the bishop of the Earth Mother Goddess Church in his previous life. Compared to the Tetu in Kael''s memory, the current one appeared younger and more spirited. Seeing Kael and Luxius approaching, Tetu put down the Holy Scripture in his hand and said, "Old friend, long time no see, although it''s only been a day since west met. And Mr. Kael, congrattions in advance." Kael nodded to him respectfully. "It''s been twenty-one hours and thirty-four minutes, not quite a day." "Yes, you''re right," Tetu said. Cardinal Tetu smiled faintly, turned to look at the statue of the Goddess Shangyiya in the prayer room, and murmured a prayer before turning back to say: "Ease your mind, you''ve been allowed to use the divine arts of Shangyiya, which must mean you have the Goddess''s promise. The Goddess Shangyiya has always been like that, showing more attention and expectation toward those willing to protect the peace of the earth." Keldor took a moment to observe Cardinal Tetu''s attire. He barely made the connection to the Tetu he remembered from his memories. Priests of the Goddess Shangyiya often favored white or sun colors as their primary color scheme, and Tetu was no exception. Clothed in a white robe with green patterns, Tetu held a staff in his hand that had been treated multiple times until it was smooth and naturalKael thought that nobody would really consider this staff to appear both rudimentary and fragile. Especially Kael, after all, this guy had seen Tetu wield that staff in his past life, using it to crack open the skull of the Balrog me Demon in two strikes. Even if he wasn''t as strong as he had been inter years, he was still an extraordinarybat force of the church. "Compared to priests who advance through the normal channels, auxiliary priests do not need to study agriculture and the prayers to the Goddess, this is a blessing we bestow to those who protect the children of the earth," Cardinal Tetu said gently.N?v(el)B\\jnn Kael chuckled, instantly grasping Cardinal Tetu''s meaning. No wonder everything seemed so effortless; it turned out this waspensation for the Lancaster Territory bing Newbie Vige for yers. "I''ve heard from the regional bishop that you''ve done a very good job in dealing with the children of Shangyiya. For a small church like ours, there''s not much we can really help you with. We can only offer a littlepensation in these small ways. After all, even after the God Shangyiya has bestowed a divine decree, the Earth Mother Goddess Church would not let them be... the prerequisite is that they do not go against the decree of the Goddess." Kael: You refer to a church worshiping a powerful deity with extensive followers, ranking top five in overall strength on the continent, as "small"? ... Please save to favorites, vote for rmendations, monthly tickets, and most importantly, follow the storythe closest I''ve ever been to a rmendation. Help me out! Chapter 64: Chapter 61 May Chang Ti Ya Guide You Bishop Tett raised his head to look at the statue of Sange Asia and said in a low voice, "The Scroll Schr is a fine profession. Generally speaking, it can be considered a special type of spellcaster among the Priest profession. If you have some understanding of the Priests from various churches, you should somewhatprehend that we are not just healers hiding in the back." Kael nodded. In traditional virtual games, Priests are primarily seen as pure healers, but in "The Gates of the Netherworld," a Priest can bestow numerous Divine Arts upon themselves. Although Priests often be ustomed to hiding behind various frontline professions and enjoying the protection given to healers, once they realize that the front-line warriors can no longer withstand the enemy''s damage, they will put aside the dignity of healers, pick up the Nail Head Hammer, andunch an attack with the Holy Scripture that has a ramming horn affixed to it. Healing is the reason that those willing to respect the God I believe in stop to listen to the preaching of the divine teachings. Violence is the fundamental way to make those who are unwilling to respect the God I believe in kneel and listen to the preaching of the divine teachings. This is true for Priests and even more so for Scroll Schrs. With a smile on his face that brought ease and pleasure, Bishop Tett said, "I hear from Mr. Luxius that you are willing to be a pioneer for our God and establish the Earth Mother God Church''s cathedral in Lancaster?" "Indeed, the main reason is to guide the followers of Sange Asia in a structured way to perceive the Goddess''s radiance. Even the children of the Goddess, without proper guidance, will gradually forget the glory of the Goddess over time. I always feel that it''s not good to let things be that way. I resonate with the philosophy of the Earth Mother God Church, and I yearn for the power of the Undead. Tentatively... It could be said that our interests align!" Kael did not y any pretentious tactics in front of this Cardinal. Since Luxius was willing to bring Kael directly to him, it indicated that a consensus had already been reached between the two. Engaging in a verbal sparring match is meant for specific asions. In this situation, it''s most important to be honest and open. "Since you have this intention and are a Lord of Lancaster, as well as an honorary Priest of our Earth Mother God Church, indeed, you are the most suitable person to propagate the teachings of Sange Asia in Lancaster. It is indeed in line with the expectations within our Church to grant you, exceptionally, the qualifications to preside over the Church''s affairs in your domain. On this point, I have already agreed in advance on behalf of His Holiness the Pope." The two exchanged nces and smiled at each other. "I swear to the merciful Sange Asia Goddess!" both said. After recognizing the look in each other''s eyes, they knew they were suitable partners for coboration. Bishop Tett ced his hand on a crystal pendant in front of him, a faint white light shed, and an ancient book appeared in his hands, he said with a smile, "This is an ancient Church text given to me by the previous Pope during his tenure, recording many contributions Sange Asia has made for this world. Within it are many interpretations of the Divine Arts, annotated by myself and the former Pope. This book has been by my side for over seventy years, basking in the glory of Sange Asia. Today, I hand it over to you, in the hope that you will find the suitable children of Sange Asia and allow our Goddess''s benevolent gaze to fall upon them." Kael nodded. There was no doubt that this was a grand gesture. The Divine Arts of a Priest are a gift from the God, but naturally, the gift from the Godes with a high price. Offer your loyalty, and in return, you shall receive power; that is the fundamental exchange. Scroll Schrs who wish to transcribe Divine Arts need at least to have a source to transcribe from, right? It ismonly said that apetent Scroll Schr travels the world, seeking various ancient relics, studying the knowledge upon them, and delving into the secrets of the past. A Scroll Schr who stays fixed in one ce is deemed ipetent; this is a prejudice held by outsiders. In truth, the real reason is, if you don''t travel widely, how can you obtain the relevant Divine Arts to transcribe from the Priests of the vastly different major churches of your active region? Just as people believe that a Mage who has mastered enough Spells is the strongest, so too is the Scroll Schr who has mastered enough divine Divine Arts considered a powerful being in the usual sense among Scroll Schrs. Now, a Cardinal has presented Kael with the ancient books of Divine Arts he has studied over the years, which is tantamount to giving Kael all the Divine Arts below the rank of Pope within the Earth Mother Goddess Church. As long as Kael''s professional level increased, he could soon transcribe the relevant Divine Arts and unleash their corresponding might. "You are a good child, Bronze Cross Fox Glory Knight, you''ve been talked about quite a bittely, may the Earth Mother God protect you, who are sincere and kind, and may you walk further on the path of a Border Lord." Tertullian showed an expression that could be described as gentle and, under Kael''s slightly surprised gaze, took off the Holy Emblem from his body and gently pinned it on Kael, saying: "What we discussed earlier was an exchange and cooperation not convenient for exposure; now, this is a sincere blessing from an elder to a junior who aspires to light, so please do not refuse." Luxius looked at Tertullian with an expression almost too shocked for words. The Holy Emblem of the Earth Mother God, an image of a budding flower surrounded by the rising sun, had Tertullian the Cardinal''s name inscribed upon it. Essentially, this Holy Emblem told all the priests of the Earth Mother Goddess Church that Kael had earned his true friendship. It could be said that, with this Holy Emblem alone, Kael could receive help from countless priests and nuns of the Earth Mother Goddess within Tertullian''s missionary region. "May the Earth Mother God guide you, who are lost, to find the way back to life, my child, you are still very young, most kids your age are still under the protection of their parents. But you have to grow up and face even more challenging difficulties; I cannot stop you from taking up the banner of your forebears, but I think with this thing, those people won''te to trouble an old man like me." After you''re at the Royal Capital,e and sit with me when you have the time; maybe this old man can unravel some of your confusion." Kael nodded his head. The atmosphere in the Prayer Room became much more cheerful, and the group began discussing ns for the near future, but much of the focus remained on Kael.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om After Luxius took Kael out of the Earth Mother God Cathedral and got on the carriage headed to the academy, Luxius suddenly said: "That Tertullian fellow, he''s thinking of vying for the position of the next Pope." Kael nodded again. When handing over the ancient books to Kael, Bishop Tertullian had said, "Within them lie many interpretations of Divine Arts made by me and the former Pope." cing "me" before "former Pope" indicates that Tertullian sees himself as surpassing the previous Pope. Whether it is out of anticipation for his future career, or devotion to the Goddess, or to lead the imminent arrival of the Earth Mother God''s followers in the Duchy of Lancashire, it''s clear that Tertullian has set his sights on that higher position. "I acknowledge that Tertullian fellow''s conscience, but that doesn''t mean there''s no calction involved with regards to you. You can be more rxed when dealing with him, but you must always maintain your own judgment. Keep that Holy Emblem safe, do not recklessly use the power it represents. The Church''s waters run deep, much more so than with us Mages." When Luxius advised his student like this, he paused subconsciously, saying in a subdued tone: "The Mage Association in the Royal Capital has alreadypleted the changes to your Mage academic affiliation; from now on, in the legal sense, you are officially my student." Luxius said this with a hint of sourness, muttering in a voice that Kael "just happened" to be able to hear: "Don''t worry, after you be my student, I''ve prepared everything for you, Holy Emblems... Holy Emblems, how could they possiblypare to what I''ve prepared!" For a moment, Kael didn''t know whether tough or cry. This Mr. Luxius, why was he getting jealous? Chapter 65: Chapter 62: Advancement, Scroll Scholar! [Luxius Mage Tower - Scroll Mage Academy] "[Dark Knowledge] is a special ability that needs to be activated in a specific way. If you have carefully studied various professions before, you will find that they did not first be professionals and then master the relevant abilities of their profession. Instead, they first mastered the relevant abilities and then became professionals." Kael nodded. In terms of modern science, the process of bing a professional is the process of recognizing and perceiving extraordinary powers. All kinds of expertise, passives, and skills that emerge in this process are essentially by-products of exploring extraordinary powers. For example, Kael''s profession as a magician was also essentially the excavation and mastering of his bloodline''s power before he could unleash the extraordinary power of a magician. Of course, there are many ways to be a magician, not necessarily by excavating bloodlines. There are many different types of magicians, which will not be detailed here. "Teacher, what extraordinary power did Dark Knowledge originally derive from?" Kael had never been curious about suchmon knowledge among natives before. For yers, it was far more worthwhile to spend time understanding how to quickly level up their professional and skill levels and take on more high-quality tasks than to delve into the hidden details behind various extraordinary professions. But after entering "Gate of the Netherworld," he began to be interested in the information behind the rted professions. Perhaps this meant he was bing more integrated into this world? Luxius was undoubtedly a qualified Magic Monarch, with a tremendous reserve of knowledge. He immediately gave Kael a clear reply. "Have you ever seen a barbarian?" "I''ve taken down a small team of unidentified barbarians." "Then you must have heard that another name for barbarians is berserkers." "I''ve heard of it." "The so-called barbarian is actually someone who controls frenzy. On this continent, many concepts are themselves a form of extraordinary power, like the frenzy of barbarians, the spiritual power of mages, or the extraordinary charm of the incubus... These things are influenced by the world itself, manifesting from concepts into tangible, controble forces. The universal methods for controlling these forces then became the origin of the major mainstream professions in the current world." "I see. Teacher, do you mean that Dark Knowledge is also a manifestation of some knowledge-rted concept?" Kael frowned. It was indeed understandable if you put it that way since there were deities among the gods of this world who wielded the divine arts of knowledge. However, for natives to be scroll schrs was evidently much harder than for yers. For a yer, they only needed to master the Divine Arts I skill in advance, have sufficient level experience points, and possess the necessary learning tools. Then, with the system panel''s support, they could smoothly acquire this ability and get promoted. But natives still needed to learn andprehend it. Before he could ponder further, Luxius replied, giving Kael''s question an answer that stunned him. "No, it''s not knowledge." Luxius''s voice was very calm, but in his excessively tranquil eyes, somethingy hidden that Kael could not understand. "Kael, knowledge is just a means. The power of Dark Knowledgees from shame. Some say that interest is the best teacher, but another major source of human motivation is shame. The boundless anger and desire to be stronger born from shame will drive all the oppressed weaklings to find any means to be stronger. This is Dark Knowledge, a counterattackunched by those in darkness to seek a glimmer of hope." Kael was slightly surprised, as he discovered that the moment Luxius spoke these words to him, a progress bar for Dark Knowledge quietly appeared on the system panel''s skill bar. The next moment, he felt a bit dazed, as if he sensed the intense resentment of countless weaklings oppressed through the long river of time. That force, as Luxius narrated the history of the Divine Radiance Continent, coalesced from something intangible into a tangible form, bing a power Kael could directly control. What did it mean to be favored without fear? Thebination of a native''s body and a yer''s panel created such a monstrous existence. Initially, Luxius, who had been earnestly imparting knowledge about scroll schrs to Kael, had not noticed the anomaly around Kael. But as time passed, the experienced scroll schr soon realized in astonishment that Kael started emanating a simr power fluctuation. "Monster!" This was the first thought that shed through Luxius''s mind. "No wonder he''s my student!" But the next moment, he was thrilled with pride. "No doubt, I, Luxius, never misjudge anyone!" Very quickly, he epted it, continuing to inundate Kael with knowledge about scroll schrs without stopping. Though he couldn''t quite grasp how Kael, without any guiding objects, had begun to coalesce Dark Knowledge, who was he? Standing before you was Luxius, the Honorable Vice President of the Mage Association of the Duchy of Ingilence and Vice President of Scroll Mage Academy, a powerful evocation mage monarch. What scenario had he not seen? ... He really hadn''t seen such a scenario! Feeling the power coalescing around Kael surpass a critical point, forming an intangible mental storm around him. A power of the same source and origin appeared within Kael, making Luxius instantly understand that he had indeed sessfully coalesced Dark Knowledge. Had the little gift he prepared for his student been too humble? First, he was beaten by Bishop Tetu, then silenced by Kael''s unreasonable breakthrough. Luxius began to seriously reflect on whether he had prepared sufficiently. When Kael''s eyes regained their brilliance, what he saw was the severe face of his teacher, Luxius, staring at him. "Well done, but do not be impatient. This world is vast, and you have a long way to go." "Yes, Mr. Luxius!" Kael''s face lit up with a brilliant smile. This was perhaps the happiest moment he had since arriving in this world, apart from obtaining his exclusive skill. Luxius touched the brooch on his hand, a sh of light passing through:n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "This is the Historical Text Stone te, which records certain undocumented histories from the Divine Era. Take it! The historical profundity on it shall be your first resource for bing a scroll schr." Kael nodded, taking the moderately sized stone te. It was quite heavy, to be honest. [Detected that you have obtained an advanced learning tool, "Historical Text." With sufficient level experience points, would you like to take on a second profession as a scroll schr?] Yes! He muttered in his heart! Mr. Luxius, now let me show you my limits! System, promote me! The Historical Text Stone te in Kael''s hand began to emanate a faint glow, linking with his aura. His body paused for a moment, and the faint pink deep in his pupils was repressed. A pair of blue eyes, as dazzling as the stars, suddenly appeared, seemingly about to devour everything. A mutation urred! Chapter 66: Chapter 63: Life Treasury, get√ [Warning! Warning! Due to the influence of Dark Knowledge, the Incubus bloodline has been stimted and entered an active state] [Camp determination is on, your camp leans towards neutral good, the demonicponents in the Incubus bloodline are suppressed] [Under the interference of "Dark Knowledge," "Magic Aroma-Queen Jasmine," and "@# (Unidentified)," the extraordinary power you draw from the Incubus bloodline will lean more towards goodness and order] [Your Magician bloodline skills "Power Absorption," "Tail Injection," "Seductive Demon Eye" begin to shift] [Dark Knowledge cannotpletely bnce the demonic nature of the Abyss, detecting that you possess a high-level learning tool "Historical Text," Dark Knowledge activates...] [You have extracted the knowledge from Historical Text, gaining the lost ult text thurisaz...] [Detecting thurisaz can serve as a container for diffused demonic nature, detecting the synthesis pathway rted to "Life Treasury," fusion begins...] [You have gained the exclusive skill "Life Treasury"! Please upgrade "Life Treasury" as soon as possible to contain demonic nature exceeding the bearing range...] "Kael~ Kael~ Do you still feel ufortable?" As he came back to his senses, Kael looked at Luxius, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, Mr. Luxius, for making you worry." Kael rubbed his burning forehead, unsure whether to cry orugh. "That''s strange, in all these years among Scroll Schrs, nothing like this has ever happened. Is it because of the Incubus bloodline? It shouldn''t be, though. Even though there''s no record of an Incubus among Scroll Schrs, I do remember, there are indeed Scroll Schrs in the Bottomless Abyss who worship the Evil God. So it must be due to other factors... No, perhaps it''s more to do with multiple conditions interacting." Luxius mumbled beside Kael. The abnormal changes that urred in Kael''s body after job transition piqued this inquisitive Mage''s interest. Kael didn''t let Luxius continue guessing and directly said, "It''s because the adaptability of my Incubus bloodline came into effect with the advancement of my career level." In the letter previously mailed to Luxius, Kael had specifically described the future development direction of the Enchantment Mage School, emphasizing a cultivation n for a branch of Enchantment Mages from scratch. That n included methods to obtain a certain type of ordinary feats and metamagic feats at rtively low costs, which, whenbined, could maximize damage in a single spell category. An unavoidable, repeatedly emphasized point was that the adaptability of the professional package itself to abnormal behavior and extraordinary power would directly influence the generation of rted feats This theory had actually gained quite a bit of recognition among various extraordinary forces in the past one or two centuries. However, aprehensive, logically clear summary like Kael''s, showcasing various feats, major cultivation methods, and application contexts, was still a first. Kael even sprinkled the letter with Magic Aroma "Queen Jasmine" as a reference item to enhance the uracy of his theory for Luxius. "Mr. Luxius, if this condition is established, it means I obtained a specific bloodline magic promotion direction through external guidance, and this action is highly likely to have a reverse effect on my bloodline itself. Maybe, given time, I will be able to develop a path of extraordinary system developmentpletely different from traditional Incubus." Those were Kael''s concluding words in that letter. As for why Kael was so certain... this research had always been one of the scientific projects led by Luxius before Kael came across it. Of course, with a yer''s mentality, it was unlikely to investigate every experiment conducted by the natives. But this experiment was different. Because the final result of this experiment directly led to the birth of a professional yer. The owner of the Incubus ount sessfully gained many highly practical exclusive skills through this experiment, practically spoon-fed by the heavens. For any yer who could be apetitor in professional leagues, Kael''s cautious nature made it impossible not to understand their relevant circumstances. Yes, it was the Little New Star with a series of Incubus exclusive skills [Queen Jasmine/Life Treasury/Awakening Potion Injection...] Having understood the content and results of this experiment, Kael now re-proposed these theories to Luxius, which was without a doubt, a case of reasoning backward. Luxius listened with astonishment, sighing: "This really is... it''s further validation of your interpretation of ''the conditions for various feats generation and the mutual synchronization impact on the extraordinary essence of the professional'', isn''t it?" Kael nodded. He had no doubts about such changes urring in himself. After all, to be frank, owning the Historical Text in Luxius'' hand undoubtedly meant a long period. There was no reason why he could learn it through Dark Knowledge, but Luxius couldn''t. Rather than saying he obtained an exclusive skill developed by the System, it was better to say that this exclusive skill was originally a product developed by Luxius through a long period,bining ult text thurisaz and the traits of the Incubus. This was evident from the fact that the Little New Star had to go to the Enchantment Mage Academy every now and then to "donate" rted Magic Aroma and Awakening Potions, indicating the great cost of acquiring these exclusive skills. Rumor had it that the guy was as weak and "energy-depleted" as a girl for a few days every month. And in rted products of the Enchantment Mage Academy flowing into the ck market, items like familiar "Magic Aroma" and "Awakening Potion" would unavoidably appear. Those who understood would understand, and those who didn''t, there wasn''t much to exin. "Kael, if you have time, let me study whether your Magic Aroma can be replicated, to be honest, if this thing could be poprized, it would greatly help us Mages stay energized while researching at night." Kael nodded in agreement. From the beginning, he hoped to attract Luxius with his unique circumstances, forming a deep bond and cooperation between them. But now, after bing his student, there was no need to carry on that n anymore. Thinking about this, he looked at his panel. ...Personal Panel... Name: Kael.D.Helois/Ning Ruyu Gender: Male Race: Human?Incubus?Unknown Bloodline? Anchor: Version 1.0 "Chaos of Factions" Beta Countdown: 281 days Level: 4 Profession: [Main Profession-Magician LV3 (14020/5000)/Scroll Schr LV1 (0/1000)] [Sub Profession: None] Free Attribute Points: 6 Health: 3000/3000 Essence: 310/310 Mana: 1200/1200 Attributes: Strength 4.2, Dexterity 6.0, Endurance 3.4, Perception 7.3, Intelligence 5.9, Willpower 2.4 [Tip 1: Perception attribute exceeds 5, entering transcendent stage 1, please choose perception attribute development branch:] [You chose the perception development direction "Magic Element Vision" - you will more easily sense the flow of magic elements] [Tip 2: Dexterity attribute exceeds 5, entering transcendent stage 1, please choose dexterity attribute development branch:] [1. Agile Hands- your hands will be more flexible, able to perform actions beyond normal human capabilities] [2. Neural Response- your neural response speed will be faster] [3. Muscle Burst- you will more easily burst muscle power to increase your movement speed] [You chose the dexterity development direction "Neural Response"- your neural response speed will be faster] [Tip 3: Intelligence attribute exceeds 5, entering transcendent stage 1, please choose intelligence attribute development branch:] [You temporarily choose no relevant option] Feats/Passive Bar: [Magic Affinity LV4/Magic Control LV7] - omitted [Incubus Bloodline LV1 LV2] - your Incubus bloodline further activated, gaining Incubus Bloodline LV2 bonus, Strength +1.6, Dexterity +2.2, Endurance +0.8, Perception +2.8, Intelligence +2.2, Willpower +0.2 [Elemental AffinityIce] (Progress: 24/45) [Magic Element Sensitivity/Passive] (Progress: 10/22) [High-level Charm (Changed)] - your temperament and appearance greatly enhanced, temperament inclined to holy sanctity. This will make you more likable among good-aligned beings, and also, more prone to trigger pollution desires among evil-aligned beings; When facing the Human Race (including sub-races) and Elf n, your high-level charm effects will enhance to transcendent charm LV1. (Damn, how is there another deviant Incubus aside from Ellotia in this world?) [Dark Knowledge] - through studying various scrolls, the Scroll Schr learned knowledge often inessible to Priests. He could research his enemies before a battle to gain greater damage. (Carving wood to form gs, raising banners!) Skill Bar: [Magic Aroma +1/Greasy Technique +1/Water Gun Shock +4/Freezing Aura +2/Magic Silk Thread (Exclusive)/Silk Thread Maniption (Exclusive)] [Power Absorption] - affected by thurisaz, you obtained the mutated exclusive skill "Life Treasury"! (A lie within a lie, turning truth and falsehood upside down instantly!) [Tail Injection] - you can secrete a special fluid that slightly enhances the body (Grow bigger, stronger, sweeping everything before you!) [Seductive Demon Eye] - Passive: slightly increase charm, making others indulge in your star-like clean eyes Active: consuming a certain amount of mana, trapping the person who meets your eyes in a desire/mental judgment illusion (Be holy when not needed, be filthier when needed) [Life Treasury] (New): increase the absorption speed of foreign energy and store it in the special pattern on your forehead. Current Life Treasury: 100 (demonic nature) /100 (Evaluation: Maybe you need to try storing more filth, you know, I''m talking about demonic nature) n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Free Skill Points: 2 Gold Skill Points: 1 Evaluation: Version limited super rare holy Incubus, click to receive, you deserve it! ... Seeing histest attribute panel, Kael smiled softly and said to Mr. Luxius: "Teacher, these days I want to test the changes after the promotion more, the Church and Lion Heart House might need you to help a bit more." Chapter 67: Chapter 64: I, Kael, Librarian Kael had always considered himself a cautious person. In fact, he wouldn''t fall into a semi-mad state like those Ppany gamers unless things were irreparable. He always highlighted the word "stable". For example, the previous incident when he made a deration to his nominal cousin Harry in front of the Mage Academy. If he had known early on that he could be Luxius''s student, he wouldn''t have made such a fierce response when there were better options avable. At that time, the oue at the scene would likely have been like this A noble student who still didn''t deserve a name shouted, "The academy is really letting anyone in now!" Kael felt something was off, frowned, and then retreated behind Luxius. ... Be cautious when you need to be, and show no mercy when it''s time to act, like the autumn wind sweeping away the fallen leaves. Bing a sessful Scroll Schr brought him more positive feedback than the happiness from the umted data of being a yer. It felt like he truly had power in his grasp. Luxius didn''t say much, for a young man who had just obtained a new profession always wants to feel the power of his new role immediately. He had felt the same way at that time. Moreover, to maintain the self-esteem of a Magic Monarch, he hoped that Kael would now direct his attention to other matters. Is a legitimate Mage a wealthy person? Without a doubt, yes. As the profession with the highest overall functionality, they can always find plenty of ways to make money and umte wealth. Does a Magic Monarch and Deputy Dean possess extensive assets? Without a doubt, they do. Then, does Luxius have money? Enough for small expenses, but not for significant ones. A Mage is only called a Mage Lord if he is wealthy; a penniless Mage Lord isn''t much different from a sewer worker. Not to mention a true Mage Lord, who, more or less, has some talent for research, dedicated to exploring the unknown and transforming the world, requires significant funds for numerous research projects.N?v(el)B\\jnn This is especiallymon among higher-level Mage Lords. Luxius was considered to be quite well-off among Mages, and the gift he prepared for Kael when they first confirmed their mentor-student rtionship was rather generous. But now he only felt like he was in a tight spot. He seriously suspected that his old friend Tetu, by giving Kael the Holy Emblem, had not only wanted to form a good rtionship, calcte his moves, or really touch him a bit, but also to trap him. He was utterlycking in martial virtue! Fortunately, he was still quite capable, and even if he couldn''te up with a suitable gift for Kael right away, he could make do with what was avable around him. If need be, he could just take a trip to a higher-level Dungeon as an advance purchase. With these thoughts, the somewhat disheartened mood of Luxius improved quite a bit. It was a good time since he hadn''t been dealing with many matters and had developed a set of impressive new Spells; he could consider it a test of the new Spells'' power in the Dungeon. Meanwhile. After leaving Luxius''s Mage Tower, Kael headed towards the library. But as soon as he left the Mage Tower, he saw Lily standing to the side of the entrance, clutching a Magic Wandpletely mismatched with her height, looking around with a tense expression as if she didn''t want to be seen waiting there. Noticing the sound of the Tower Spirit activating the Mage Tower passageway, she turned around in a fluster, facing Kael emerging from the passage. "Ah, Kael..." As she turned around, her slightly fluffy hair swayed, as if carefully probing the air. When her gaze met Kael''s eyes, what she had meant to keep hidden slipped out unintentionally, "I was waiting for you." Kael nced at Lily but didn''t burst her little bubble; instead, he asked, "Don''t you have to attend those magic theory sses today?" "Those things are quite simple to learn; it''s more about delving into them and understanding them on your own," Lily whispered in reply. For a moment, Kael didn''t know whether to praise her intelligence or tease her for being a bit of a Versailles. The pair didn''t say much else, but as Kael headed towards the library, the girl followed closely behind him like a little tail. Unlike the ordinaryeven mundaneappearance Lily had when seen in the territory, here at the academy, she was the kind of girl who seemed even more radiant and youthful, enjoying the prime of her student days... at least at first nce. The silent pair walked through the academy, and as they got closer to the library, students d in academy uniforms or mage''s casual attire could be seening and going in groups, entering and leaving the library. "Are youing up with me?" Kael finally asked. "Ah... I just happen to have some basic books I need to borrow; shall we go up together?" Lily said softly, almost as if asking for his opinion. "Let''s go up together then; I have some matters to attend to myself," Kael responded. Kael looked up at the library and slightly straightened his expression. As the strongest training ground for mages in the Lancaster Duchy, the Scroll Schr Mage Academy might have a rxed atmosphere, but it isrgely an institution for producing double-threat powerhouses. ces like the library, which house a vast amount of materials and research findings from various schools of thought, are actually not allowed to be essed at will. Even the library''s exterior is guarded by high-level mages adept at detecting stealth and simr skills. The two presented their staff and student cards, respectively, and entered the library. Walking along, one could see a wide variety of books and manuscripts neatly arranged on oak bookshelves, the air rich with a historical depth that seemed ancient and venerable. In such an atmosphere, it even surpassed the rich schrly ambience of the university libraries from my previous modern life There''s no mockery intended;pared to the cold metal bookshelves of most modern libraries, wooden shelves just have a more ssical allure that always gives one the feeling of being transported to the past. Not to mention that the academy was established at the same time as the founding of the Lancaster Duchy, and these well-preserved shelves are consistently enchanted with the spells of old mages. In a way, they could indeed be considered antiques. Unfortunately, in this era, only antiques with special extraordinary powers are more valuable. No... perhaps in the eyes of mages, such shelves are even less valuable. After all, in this age, the mining and smelting industries aren''t developed enough; metal is valued over wood, as both armies and professionals have a great demand for metals. "What kind of books are you looking for? I''ll help you find them," Lily said, almost dering her dominion over the library as if she had juste home, making grand gestures at Kael. Kael saw how she was taking everything upon herself and felt awkward admitting that he actually worked here and knew the library better than she did. But after a moment of consideration, he decided to amodate Lily''s feelings. After all, he could vaguely tell that Lily wasn''t the type of girl who appeared to be overtly cheerful. The nervousness she showed in Lancaster was more in line with her hidden character traits. She was a sensitive girl, eager to gain the acknowledgement of others. He casually mentioned a few books that the original owner of his memories hadn''t finished reading and gave her a "please do" look. Satisfied, Lily then went off to find the books with contentment. As for Kael He found a nearby seat and sat down. He had some pressing hypotheses that he wanted to confirm, and he needed this library to achieve that. Chapter 68: Chapter 65: Keep drinking, keep playing, the sky wont fall down. Before he knew it, night had fallen and entered the room. Returning from the library, the sound of flipping through papers resounded continuously in Kael''s study, when suddenly there was a knock at the door. Knock knock knock~ "Come in." "Sorry to bother you at thiste hour, Mr. Kael." "Hmm? I didn''t expect you to be the first to seek me out. I must say, the speed at which youplete missions is beyond my imagination." "Because I cannot bear to wait a second longer." "Oh? Have you set your sights on a target?" "Yes. Are you going to stop me?" "You must be joking, I can''t wait for these people to die. Tell me, what profession do you wish to switch to?" "Priest, and also, Mr. Kael, please forgive my presumptuous request." "Speak." "I need a weapon." "A weapon... How about a Nail Head Hammer? To be honest, I''m not too fond of seeing their corpses intact." (A faintugh can be heard) The person standing in the study was momentarily stunned, their tone somewhat strange: "That would be perfect." After the individual had left, Kael''s muttering voice rose in the study, "The verification of Attributes points during the day was essentially consistent with what I had thought, now it''s time to probe... ''it'', I suppose." ... The next day, at noon. [Royal Capital - Outskirts of Joy Street - The Bountiful Hostess Tavern] Lan Xiao Yu sighed and called out to the maid in the tavern, "Miss Hil, another beer, please!" The tavern was noisy, and a staff member dressed in a in green maid''s outfit came over and filled Lan Xiao Yu''s wooden mug. She took the mug and downed half of it in "gulp gulp gulp" gulps, then turned to Sister Astate and Nan Ke sitting across from her and asked, "How have your quests been going these past few days?" Although Lan Xiao Yu did not know these two yers before their trip to the Royal Capital, that didn''t matter. After all, yers be familiar with each other after running a few quests together. However, it was quite clear that Lan Xiao Yu was not in the best of moods at the moment. Or rather, it should be said, all three yers sitting in the tavern seemed to be in a somewhat foul mood. "We''ve been making good progress with the mission, but frankly, Joy Street is not a ce that pleases me," Nan Ke said with a touch of mncholy on his face. He wasn''t someone who often yed virtual games, so he was quite indignant about many things in the game, even though he knew it was all just a backdrop for the story. He was a normal man, and after entering Joy Street, he too was affected by the enchanting atmosphere of that environment.N?v(el)B\\jnn But after the initial excitement had subsided, what reced it was mncholy and emptiness. It was not the messy scenario some might imagine. The game''s ability to maintain harmony was quite impressive. Up to now, the hordes of yers attempting to exploit bugs on the forums have yet to breach the "Holy Light" barricade set up by the game. Nan Ke didn''t even think about trying to break through that barrier. What really unnerved him was when, on the second day in Joy Street as he was promoting his novel, he encountered a prostitute whom he had met the previous day while promoting his story. The prostitute was a Half-Orc with small horns on her head, and her legs, not fully bare of fur, had a certain exotic charm. When they met again, the prostitute thanked him with a surprised look on her face, leaving him puzzled. After talking with her a bit more, he learned that because she got a book from Nan Ke, she had casually chatted with a client about its content after servicing him that night, enticing the adventurer to stay in the brothel all night for additional fees, just to have her tell the story. If it had been any other night, she would face over a dozen vigorous adventurers and bepletely worn out by the end of business hours, making even rest a challenge. Now that she had these captivating novels, her life had indeed improved a little. Truth be told, when he first heard the news, his instinctive reaction was to find it "ridiculous," but upon seeing the smile on the prostitute''s face, he suddenly felt a bit saddened. "Nan Ke, don''t overthink it; this is just a game," Sister Astate said indifferently. Lan Xiao Yu nced at Sister Astate but didn''t say much. On the way to the Royal Capital by carriage with Kael before, this person kindly reminded Nan Ke to seize the opportunity with Kael''s side. At that time, Lan Xiao Yu thought this person had a decent personality. But now it seems, different people indeed have different thoughts. She did not have much to say, after all, trying to win an argument on the inte is hardly a realistic approach. If she had to listen to others'' sarcastic remarks like "ssic" or "jhoy," she''d probably get so angry she''d be on fire. So she just said nonchntly, "After Iplete the task given to me by Kael, I''ll think of something to do." After all, she came from the media industry, how could she not notice the darkness hidden within Joy Street while promoting novels? She was actually discontented. Blue Star OL is just a terrible game. There is no positive feedback; instead, there are always some hellish and crappy event nning. Sometimes she would wonder, is life always this painful? Or is it only like this when you are little? Her heart answered heralways. The more discontented people are with reality, the more they turn their attention to the online world. A virtual disaster event a few years ago could have normally struck a severe blow to the virtual gaming industry, even to the point of shackling subsequent content production and game releases with heavy restrictions. But within the Human Federation, aside from the additional restrictions imposed by her own country, the turbulence in the global virtual gaming industry was quickly quelled in a short time. In its ce, esports events were thriving like never before. Chapter Find: As for the logic behind it... Lan Xiao Yu did not want to think about it, dared not think about it, did not wish to think about it. Already pressured from all sides in reality to the point of wanting to give up, should she endure the annoying things she encounters in the game too? Endure her foot! "You two just finish the task first," Sister Astate said very calmly. "Have youpleted it?" Good upbringing prevented Lan Xiao Yu fromunching a personal attack on him, but she still muttered somewhat dissatisfiedly. "Me? I''ve already finished my task," Sister Astate stated lightly. Nan Ke, who was sipping juice, spat it out with a "pfft." "When did that happen? Howe I have no recollection at all?" Nan Ke stared nkly at this "virtual friend" he had known for nearly two years in the House of Dog Empire group, feeling as if he was meeting him for the first time. "While you two were still ''gathering intelligence'' within the Royal Capital..." Sister Astate''s words threw both their faces into an embarrassed expression. Lan Xiao Yu coughed and said, "You''ve seen my posts on the forum, you should know this game is not just a game for me, it''s to some extent work. I need to gather more intelligence. Anyway, how can work... how could work be considered cking off?" Seeing this, Nan Ke rubbed the back of his head innocently and muttered softly, "I''m just here for the scenery! Isn''t that what casual gamers do in this game, wandering around to enjoy the scenery and look at pictures?" "It doesn''t matter, I''ll drink as usual, and y games as usual; the sky isn''t going to fall," Sister Astate chugged the beer from her wooden mug, setting it down forcefully on the table before standing up to head out of the tavern. The sharp-eyed Lan Xiao Yu immediately noticed a Nail Head Hammer that had appeared at Sister Astate''s waist at some point. "Wait, did you change your ss?" Lan Xiao Yu reacted immediately, eximing instinctively. "I did change sses. Is there a problem?" "No... I just didn''t expect you to have gone to Brother Kael for the task reward so quickly." "..." Sister Astate gave them a nce without a flicker of emotion and said, "Where I went to do promotions, there was a ve Trader who also trafficked in human lives, and it pissed me off; I couldn''t stand it for a minute." "..." "Wait, how have you leveled up already?" Nan Ke, after using a scout skill on hispanion, spoke with a face full of question marks. "Like I said, I can''t bear it for a second, to hell with human traffickers!" Sister Astate didn''t look back and turned to walk into the fierce noonday sun. Chapter 69: Chapter 66 Boredom, I Just Want a Bloodbath! "First, let me make it clear to you that whatever you choose to do is your own decision, not something I arranged for you to do. Is that alright?" In the carriage, Kael was heading towards Joy Street with Sister Astate. Sister Astate nodded, thought for a moment, and then added, "But if you let me ride your carriage directly to Joy Street like this, will they believe it?" "Why wouldn''t they believe it?" Kael looked at Sister Astate in surprise and said, "Whether you ride my carriage or not, when you get to Joy Street and ''make a fuss,'' what does that have to do with me?" Kael paused for a moment, then continued, "If a thug kills someone with a weapon bought from a shop employee, isn''t it ridiculous to me the shop employee for selling the weapon instead of ming the thug for causing trouble?" Sister Astate''s mouth twitched slightly. The NPCs in this game surely lived up to their reputation for intelligence. Take Brother Kael, for example; the innocent expression on his face when he said this looked so real. One could say he had a thick skin and a dark heart. Shameless, utterly shameless! ... I just like you this way! Well, it was widely known that Kael was actually a thin-skinned person. Don''t believe it? Just look at his face. Chapter Your: Joy Street was located between the lower town and themercial district, with some areas ovepping with residential zones. Walking along the road, the first impression was that it looked no different from a normalmercial district... except for the goods they sold. Of course, that was only during the day. During the day, these ve traders would put restraining rings on a small number of well-groomed, obedient ves, change their clothes, and disy them in shop windows likemodities. These ves, to a certain extent, could earn the right to rest earlier at night. In this way, the prostitutes wouldn''t have to be under the pink, ambiguous glow of the magic stonemps at night, posing seductively and waiting to serve one patron after anotherprovided they weren''t specifically named by a big golden master. Some ves who ended up on Joy Street for various involuntary reasons would try every possible means during the day to attract more business for the ve traders, so they wouldn''t have to attend to those brutal adventurers who only sought to vent their ''rage'' at night. "It seems the lord despises those ve traders?" Sister Astate asked tentatively. "Do you like them?" "Of course not." "Then now open the carriage window, look outside, and see those ves in the shop windows?" Kael''s expression was calm, but there was a slight fluctuation in his voice. Sister Astate looked out the carriage window at the shop windows, where she could vaguely see the well-dressed ves. Kael revealed a mocking smile and said, "A significant number of them were forced into very for reasons difficult to trace. This small group of people, to maintain thest bit of their dignity, would strive to attract guests during the day, so they wouldn''t be treated as prostitutes and sent to entertain adventurers at night. But if a big client specifically requested a particr ve to serve them at night, the ves had no right to refuse. Once they stepped in here, they were tagged asmodities. And absurdly enough, sometimes those ve traders would even make them dream, trying to immerse them in their dreams, gradually giving up their struggles." Sister Astate nodded. It was because he had witnessed such trampling of humanity that he felt an urgent need to act. Those actions that had already crossed his threshold of tolerance, Sister Astate couldn''t bear to see them for even a moment more, so he said: "This indeed is an inherent drawback of very. If possible, once we the Undead acquire enough power, a lot of people will stand up to abolish this systempletely." "Then you''ll be surrounded and killed by many powerful figures before you even start to rise," Kael said calmly. "Hmm? Are there not a few top-tier figures who would stand against such a system?" Kael didn''t know what he was thinking of, but he smiled helplessly and said, "There are, but they can only achieve such changes within their own domains, for example... Lancaster Territory." He wasn''t too surprised to hear this from Sister Astate. After all, yers had long been enthusiastic about new maps and had already explored that Lancaster Territory had once swallowed a rtively small dungeon and turned a significant number of its Snow Wolf n, Foxman n, and Mountain Cat n half-orcs into its citizens. This had just happened ten years ago, and many people within the territory still remembered it vividly. It was said that the inhabitants of that dungeon had integrated into the territory''s life without much resistance, and the Snow Wolf n had even, as a whole, chosen Anthony, the former lord, as their leader. Thinking of this, Sister Astate was stunned and suddenly realized something, feeling a chill running up his spine, making his scalp tingle for a moment. Kael knocked on the armrest and said, "It seems you''ve realized... The core reason why ve trading on the continent cannot be eradicated lies in the continuous emergence of dungeons. You cannot ensure that all the inhabitants of every dungeon that gets swallowed are friendly." Sister Astate sighed and said, "Those who threaten the territory''s safety are likely to be exterminated, while those rtively harmless and useful may be epted depending on the situation. And those numerous races that could potentially dominate the territory''s poption in the future are either restricted or sold, am I right?" Kael nodded and said, "That''s about right. This creates room for ve traders to survive and develop but also makes the seed of evil in the gray areas even more uncontroble. For instance, with multi-angled ve trade, they reach into fields they shouldn''t, and engage in actions that severely vite human nature..." "Let''s leave the question of whether ve trade is justifiable aside for now. Those who have seriously vited my standards of cognition, I will show no mercy to them," said Sister Astate firmly. Which meant the ve traders often acted without any legal basis... Heh, turning the gray area of ve trade into outright illegal human trafficking? Then there''s nothing more to say. I just want to see rivers of blood!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Well... good luck with that," Kael said with a light chuckle. No wonder he was the future "Mad Shepherd," always quick to act. "However, even if you improved yourself through intense bloodshed in the lower town gangst night, you''d still be no match for ve traders protected by professionals," Kael said with a lightugh. "I believe you were prepared for this, weren''t you?" Sister Astate said, suddenly smiling, just as the carriage suddenly stopped. They had arrived. Kael looked out the carriage window, then turned back with a radiant smile and said, "What you said, what does this have to do with me? I''m just an ordinary mixed blood incubus!" As soon as he finished, his tail stiffened, and the heart-shaped tail suddenly opened, revealing small teeth, which lunged at Sister Astate''s artery. Sister Astate''s smile turned into a grimace, and amidst his daze, he thought he heard someone say: "You''ve been strengthened, deliver it quickly!" Boring! Today, I just want to see blood flowing like rivers! ... Please collect, rmend, and vote for monthly tickets, all kinds of requests! Chapter 70: Chapter 67 Black, truly black! [You have been injected with an "overdose of hormone drug," receiving a 30min "Frenzy" buff.] [Frenzy: During the buff duration, you gain a 5-point strength bonus, a 3-point endurance bonus,sting 30 minutes. After the time ends, you will fall into a weakened state, all attributes will decrease by 70%, and the maximum health value will drop by 40%,sting for 10 days. This effect can be reduced to removal by treatment methods such as spells/divine arts/magic potions/death rebirth, etc.] "To be honest, I really like the scene design of this game; it''s like I''ve truly run into that scum again..." Sister Astate took a deep breath. "Not going to say something about remembering history? You''ll be the first Undead to bully the natives Oh, wait, you already did thatst night," Kael responded indifferently. "I prefer to do the talking with my Nail Head Hammer." Sister Astate, with bloodshot eyes, sneered and pushed open the car door, heading straight towards a sizable ve Trading House nearby. ... "The weather''s pretty good today!" At the entrance of Talent ve Trading House on Joy Street, a Barbarian guard, adjusting his loose trousers, stepped out of the Trading House. He had just climbed out of a rocking bed, looked up at the sky, and silently cursed the Trading House owner who usedpany goods as payment. Damn it, if he could keep his pants on, he would definitely look for a better-paying job instead of enjoying such ''benefits'' at the Talent Trading House. Chapter Explore: As a guard, the work hours were long and tedious, and it was no big deal if nothing happened. But if there was a one in ten thousand chance something did go wrong, it was usually a huge problem that he couldn''t handle. As far as this Barbarian guard was concerned, with long working hours and short rest periods, not even holidays, the one upside probably was that the Talent Trading House owner''s supply channels were quite special, and the ves were far fiercer when they resisted than those from other Trading Houses... The Barbarian guard quite liked this feistiness and savagery; when he got physical, he was less concerned about repercussions. It wasn''t like when he worked at other Trading Houses, where people were over-cautious, and one could get in trouble for scolding or hitting. On the other hand, here at the Talent ve Trading House, he could get tougher with resistance. The owner was ruthless himself and allowed the guards to discipline the ves well, to make them cry and beg more... This made it hard for him to refuse. "Damn it, who the hell pays their employees with such things!" the Barbarian cursed, his expression bing stern as he pulled up his trousers. A nearby Human warrior guard rolled his eyes, recallingst night''s gossip, and said to the Barbarian: "Aowei, did you hear about that Elf situation yesterday? The Talent boss really knows how to y; I was dumbfounded when I heard the supervisor talk about it." The Barbarian named Aowei rolled his eyes in annoyance and said, "You mean that Half-Elf who was disyed in the shop window a few days ago? What''s so surprising about that? You haven''t seen much." "Hmm? Wasn''t it an Elf? I heard she tried hard to not end up in the backyard with those prostitutes, putting in a good effort during the daylight in that disy window." "Hah, she merely has the same pointed ears and stubborn nature that resemble an Elf, nothing more. You know what kind of man the boss is; if he actually got his hands on a real Elf, he would be bragging from one end of Joy Street to the other." "Yeah... you''re right. If it wasn''t forcking the power, they wouldn''t have to sneak around doing that." Aowei''s eyes widened in rage as he bellowed, "What''s all this nonsense? Stop talking rubbish." After intimidating the new guard, he whispered, "You don''t know shit. That half-elf was already booked by some big shot from the rising nobility." "She''s stubborn and unmanageable. If she went directly to that big shot''s ce, it could cause trouble." "Hmm? What happened, tell me more?" The young guard became interested. "That woman was trying so hard in the disy window a while ago just to avoid ending up like a prostitute, right? The boss let her enjoy a fewfortable days first. Then, more than a week ago, while she was preparing to rest at night, she was suddenly told that a Big Golden Master wasing specifically for her, and that Big Golden Master had been a noble who saw her when she was previously on disy. You don''t know, that night, the backyard almost turned into a scene." The young guard showed a bit of sympathy and said quietly, "That''s just too tragic, isn''t it? To hold onto herst shred of dignity, only to lose it because she fought to keep it... that''s just..." The barbarian Aowei snorted, "The noble on that day was the one who had booked the half-elf with the boss." The young guard was startled and suddenly felt cold sweat trickle down, his voice stammering a bit, "And the second Big Golden Master who chose her after that..." "That Big Golden Master used something strange, unnoticeable, heard that the half-elf was saved from trying to seek death." "Hiss, the Big Golden Master who came after and got into a dispute with the other Big Golden Masters over the half-elf..." "It was all an act, having his own guard use some magic to pose as a new Big Golden Master. Then, when the half-elf was about to despair, he showed up to take her time for that evening. Maybe because he was the first client, she at least didn''t make more of a fuss, tsk tsk..." "..." "When the Big Golden Master came for the fourth time, he casually mentioned to the boss that he was considering buying the half-elf and taking her back. Ha ha, wasn''t the expression on the Big Golden Master''s face much more satisfied after he left that night? Right, instead of facing dozens or hundreds of men in the future, it''s better to serve one person wholeheartedly. That idiot must''ve thought so! Whether the visitors were actually Big Golden Masters, it was still up to the boss to decide."N?v(el)B\\jnn "..." "Believe it or not, once that wealthy rising noble lordes outter, that half-elf will obediently follow the noble lord back to his residence, contract-free. Then, as long as he''s a little nice to the half-elf, in the future she''ll likely do anything for the noble lord. Our boss Talent calls this ''taming''~" "... This, this, is dark, seriously fucking dark! Are they even human?" Barbarian Aowei, as if reminded of something, said with a sigh, "Hey, kiddo, wee to Joy Street, where it''s heaven for the rich and hell for the enved. If you can''t stand to see this, you''d better leave as soon as possible." "But haven''t you been hanging around Joy Street too?" The young man felt underestimated, his voice rising slightly. "This is my fifth year in Joy Street, I can''t get out anymore, kid." Aowei spoke indifferently. Just then, he noticed someone approaching the direction of the Talent ve Trading House. "Perk up,d, we''ve got a visitor." Aowei pounded the young man''s shoulder hard, signaling him to stop cking off and start working properly. Chapter 71: Chapter 68: Its just a game, wheres the fun without causing some trouble? Aowei forcefully hammered the young man''s shoulder, signaling him to stop cking off and get back to work. At that moment, Sister Astate walked straight up and asked, "Hello, do you have any female halfling ves?" "Yes, we do, sir. Please,e inside," the young guard said, bending over to usher the visitor inside. But the cautious Aowei immediately stepped forward, saying, "Priest, our establishment doesn''t allow weapons inside; you see..." Sister Astate paused, scratched her head, and said, "Then keep my weapon safe. If you lose it, your establishment will have topensate me." "Of course, of course, we really appreciate your understanding," Aowei said, bending his back and showing an ingratiating smile.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The young warrior opened his mouth, almost saying "The establishment doesn''t have such a rule," but he held back his words and kept silent. "Well, trouble yourself..." Sister Astate removed the Nail Head Hammer from her side and handed it over. Aowei breathed a sigh of relief, feeling he had been overly concerned. The next second, the hammer that was handed over suddenly picked up speed. "Die first!" Bent over, Aowei only managed to open his mouth but before he could react, his head was sent spinning by the whooshing Nail Head Hammer. The young guard let out a shriek, preparing to draw the Longsword at his waist when he saw Sister Astate suddenlysh out, kicking him in the stomach. He didn''t even have time to curl up and retch before the merciless Nail Head Hammer pierced his chest. He opened his mouth, his eyes looking confused as he fell, staring at the Priest who had struck without warning, her face holding a smile like a malicious spirit iming lives. "No need for pity, no need for regret, no fear!" Sister Astate shouted, gripping the Nail Head Hammer and striding through the gates. Faintly, his maniacalughter could be heard from the street, "This Nail Head Hammer is much more useful than Divine Arts!" Amidst a wave of panicked criesing from the street, he controlled his body, seemingly with endless strength, and directly stormed into the ve Trading House. In the backyard, some of the staff had noticed something was amiss outside and were preparing to escort some clients who had been touring the facilities out through a side door. But at that moment, a series of piteous cries came from the front desk. It was the agonized wailing of the manager responsible for receiving visitors outside. The voice was cut short before it could call out a second time; the manager''s head had been smashed by Sister Astate into the front desk''s wooden cab, from which could be faintly heard his muttered remark: "Huh, turns out your head isn''t much harder than the cab!" At that moment, in the backyard. A merchant dressed in luxurious clothes, hands tucked in and bent at the waist, his face covered in cold sweat, said to a Noble beside him, "Mr. Hansen, my apologies, deep apologies, it was our oversight, a failure to provide adequate protection." As he spoke, he couldn''t stop cursing Aowei and the new young warrior for being ipetent. One of the guards standing beside the Noble looked towards his own boss and said, "Mr. Hansen, do you need me to take care of it for you?" "No need, no need! Just stay here and watch over things, how can we let a client quell the disturbance for us?" ve Merchant Talent wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. If a client were to do such a thing, there would be no more opportunities for him to grow on Joy Street. No customer would like to deal with a ve Trading House that cannot even protect its own safety. "Both of you go, I''ve kept you for so long, it''s time for you to show your worth," Talent said, turning to two guards inside, adding through clenched teeth, "No need to spare any of them, anyone who dares to cause trouble in the establishment, just kill them." As for the wrongful consequences of killing someone outside? Please, what could possibly go wrong! His own livelihood was almost gone, and he might even lose his shirt, who cared about any potential fallout! After saying this, the two warrior adventurers who had been following him exchanged nces, drew their weapons, and headed towards the front desk. The adventurers who rushed over faced the front hall, reacting swiftly. One of them, wielding a One-handed Sword,unched a series of three shing strikes. Sister Astate, confronted head-on, didn''t even have time to react much, and instantly two bone-deep wounds appeared on her body. In the blink of an eye, she didn''t have time to think about how to dodge; as the warrior aimed for her head, sheughed viciously, exchanging injury for injury, hammering her Nail Head Hammer into the warrior''s chest. "Madman!" That warrior had never seen anyone so willing to risk their own life just to tear a chunk of flesh from the enemy. He decisively took a step back, affording the opportunity for another warrior beside him tounch an attack. The two had obviously been cooperating for years, as the moment the sword-bearing warrior retreated, the other seized the chance to close in. Wearing brass knuckles, he took advantage of the moment Sister Astate''s Nail Head Hammer lost control after swinging through empty air, and delivered a heavy punch straight to her chest. Apanied by a clear sound of cracking bones, Sister Astate grunted, her upper body caving in as the spikes on the brass knuckles left four deep holes in her chest. "Charge, Death, silent as a swan!" Sister Astate, without any pause and despite the peril of death, leaned forward, driving her knee upward with force. The Longsword warrior, who caught up and sliced off his left hand, achieved the desired resultthe face of the brass knuckled warrior who had closed in on him instantly turned the color of liver. "Hey, look here!" The brass knuckled warrior, having suffered a brutal attack to the groin, trembled on his feet. He smashed the small wooden chair thrown at him into pieces, and with bloodshot eyes, looked towards the two jobless adventurers charging at him and let out augh filled with rage and disbelief. That crazy dog who didn''t care about his life is one thing. But you, not even a professional adventurer, dare to attack me, a Level 6 novice warrior? Just as the two warriors were about to unleash heavy blows on the three fools who dared to assault the Trading House, the brass knuckled warrior suddenly felt tearing pain and a tugging sensationing from his shoe. ncing down, he saw the Priest who had lost an arm and had a broken leg, still using his remaining arm to grab his leg, ferociously biting at the sole of his foot with his teeth. What deep hatred is this?! He felt a shiver down his spine and, instinctively, he kicked the madman, sending him flying. He didn''t want to be near this madman for another second. "Priest Priest!" The Priest, sent spinning into the air, was caught by a somewhat frantic Nan Ke. Sister Astate, with her mouth full of blood, looked at Nan Ke and the carefree little fish who had rushed over, her face twisting into a fierce grin: "You two... cough cough, why didn''t you finish the mission and came here instead?" "Mission, mission, I can go to hell with the mission. I came here to y a game, not to be yed by a game. Screw the mission! We''ll help you kill this guy, let them see what the Fourth Cmity is!" The careless little fish, gripping a long-footed stool and wildly swinging it around, wore an excited expression on her face. The stool that had flown over was her doing. It''s a game, what''s the fun if you don''t stir up some trouble! Sister Astate''s gaze shifted slightly, her mouth opening as if to say thanks, but what came out was a vicious taunt instead: "You two sure took your sweet time getting here, cking on the mission is one thing, but do I need to shout ''123 start the fight'' for you to join a battle?" But in the next moment, their shadows began to writhe, and their expressions froze instantly. Chapter Continue: "Don''t move, my control of Shadow de isn''t that great, so if you don''t want to die, stay perfectly still!" The Wanderer adventurer who had been lurking by the side of the newly risen Nobles slowly rose from the shadow, baring his teeth at the three yers, "Shh, keep quiet, witnessing a Wanderer dance in the shadows is quite an experience." All of a sudden he reached out and grabbed the restless little fish, who was trying to make a sneaky move, by her hair. Feeling the pain of her hair being pulled, she let out a sharp scream. Before he could gloat any further, he suddenly felt his scalp go numb and turned his eyes to see pale blue energy threads, which had mysteriously wrapped around his hands and feet, causing his hair to stand on end. When had this happened? A dispassionate voice rang out: "May I take your actions to mean... you are trying to provoke me?" ... Please support this story with your collections, your rmendation tickets, and your monthly votes. I''m earnestly asking for your support! Chapter 72: Chapter 69 If You Can Find a Way to Satisfy Me "Should I interpret your actions as... you attempting to provoke me?" Kael stepped into the trading house, his footnding on the Shadow Realm path that extended into the lobby. The pervasive realm aura that seeped from the fissures of the Shadow Realm entwined around his white boots like ink. "A follower of Max (Thief God/Shadow King), not hiding in the dark corners guarding against others stealing your wealth, how dare you lift your head and speak to me." Kael walked over nonchntly, stepping right onto the boot that Sister Astate had just been biting. "Ah" The infiltrator released their grip on the little fish''s hair. Or rather, he had no choice but to let go. The Magic Silk Threads that had unknowingly spread throughout the entire lobby connected the ceiling and floor, entwining anyone who dared to step inside as if woven into a web. At the end of the web was the master and weaver of all the Magic Silk Threads. Kael lightly tugged on the thread, making the infiltrator cry out in pain, his arm and fingers twisted in a deformed way by the magical tension. He endured the pain, trying hard to keep his expression calm, his voice tinged with submission as he said, "Sir, I had no intention of attacking you." "Then apologize," Kael said coldly, not even looking at the infiltrator. "I said, apologize." These nearly unreasonable words enraged the infiltrator, who retorted angrily, "Sir, do not go too far. Why should I apologize to them?" Kael chuckled lightly and said, "No, you should apologize to me. You ruined my schedule today, irritated me with your noise, and might even have dirtied my boots." The absurdity of his wordsalmost as if a person had been sentenced to death for stepping into a room with the left footsomehow carried an inexplicable sense of conviction. "How is this my fault? Obviously, it''s these lunatics Ahhh!!!" The infiltrator''s attempt to argue was cut short by another scream. A colorless, transparent mage''s hand had grabbed his hair and yanked forcefully, making his scalp twistically under the pull. "Oh my God!!!" The guests and prostitutes who rushed out from the backyard after hearing themotion eximed in shock. The scene turned into chaos. "See, being grabbed by the hair makes you scream too, doesn''t it?" Kael said with a cold smile, his gaze devoid of warmth. Sensing the tense atmosphere, the ve merchant, Talent, forced himself to step forward and said: "Sir, isn''t this a bit too much? These lunatics stormed into my trading house, and we only did what was necessary to protect the ce." Kael asked in surprise, "Have you registered as a priest with all the churches?" Talent, still scared, replied, "No." "How about the Royal Capital''s Healing Association?" "N-no." "The National Medical Hospital?" "You must be joking. Those masters are beyond my reach." "So, you''re neither a mage nor a pdin? Can you heal minor injuries? If not, can you at least treat weak injuries?" "You must be joking. There are very few mages in the Duchy of Engs, and pdins wouldn''t pay attention to a simple merchant like me." Kael paused for a moment, puzzled, and then asked, "Then how did you know they were lunatics when you are nothing?" "That''s because" Talent''s fear was evident as he avoided Kael''s gaze. The young man standing before him, so radiant yet cold-eyed like the stained ss windows of a church, made him feel as if he were nothing but a corpse before those eyes. Stammering and nearly unable to speak coherently, Talent finally blurted out, "You see, when they stormed in without any reason and didn''t even try tomunicate, it seemed really odd!" The infiltrator, still agonized by the Magic Silk Threads, paled, realizing the mistake and cursing internally:n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "You brainless fool, you sewer-digging pig! %@#@#" Kael''s face twisted into a derisive smile as he turned to look towards the backyard and softly said, "Lunatic." "What did you say?" "Nothing, just that when people stammer and don''t give any reason for their actions, I wondered if you might be a lunatic too." Talent: Knowing that Kael was not to be trifled with, Talent forced a smile: "Mage, we are just a small trading house that can''t afford such trouble. If you name your price and if it''s satisfactory for both sides, let''s consider today''s troubles settled." Dumb and wicked as Talent might be, he surely knew the youth before him, whose beauty seemed almost inhuman, was not someone to antagonize. Mages were rare, and one who could control magic so well at such a young age was certainly no ordinary mage. A proficient young mage often had older and more powerful mages behind him. This much talent at such a young age revealed a lot. Kael smiled and walked up to Talent, saying, "That''s simple. If you can satisfy me, then all the better. Demons like Incubus are very greedy creatures." His thumb and forefinger lightly pinched a thread, and the sound of metal scraping and the whistling of wind filled the lobby. Kael smiled as he watched the twenty or so weapons, drawn by the Magic Silk Threads, aimed towards Talent and the infiltrator, stopping just inches away. The one closest to Talent was less than two centimeters from his eyeball. The two let out a cry of terror. Kael carelessly said: "When Father was still around, he supported an orphanage in a small town on the outskirts of the Royal Capital. A while back, when I arrived in the Royal Capital, the orphanage''s head came to me, saying several orphans had recently gone missing and couldn''t be found no matter how they searched. I had my housekeeper look into it. Even though your people were cautious, the traces weren''tpletely clean. Eventually, we found their whereabouts within the Royal Capital Several children who''d had their legs broken, begging at amercial street corner." Talent opened his mouth to exin, but when he looked at Kael, fear shed in his eyes. "Shh, don''t make a sound. I don''t want to hear your wailing; it''s not amusing at all. Thews of Engs do not allow ve merchants to do such things. I can''t openly break the Duchy''sws to punish you. So, I can only follow the Noble Council''s rules and, as a poor lord who''s lost his wealth, give you a small punishment. For example, something like this" In Talent''s panic-stricken eyes, the Magic Silk Threads sprang forth. ... Please bookmark, vote for rmendations, and support with monthly votes. All kinds of support are appreciated! Chapter 73: Chapter 70: Its difficult to master the strength to step over an ant without killing it. Magic Silk Thread is a fantastic thing, extremely versatile. Whether it''s used to restrain and control opponents, control one''s own body, level upbat and micro-maniptions, or control puppets and golems, it is quite handy. But it wasn''t without cruder uses. With Magic Affinity LV4, he more easily mobilized the magic elements in the air and quickly restored his own magic power. With Magic Control LV7, he could cast spells quickly and reduce mental energy consumption. If the materials and rare items rted to Mage weren''t so absurdly expensive, Kael could have built a fairlyplete tactical system around just the Magic Silk Thread. At this stage, Kael mainly used the Magic Silk Thread to restrain enemies, but the main reason was "no need." Yes, no need. If a bit of strength could solve the enemy, there was no need to do extra things, just ensuring the enemy could be dealt with was enough. "I advise you not to make a move." Thin strands of Magic Silk Thread pierced through Talent''s lips like needles, stitching his mouth shut and sealing his fear and pained cries inside. Kael casually flicked the small tail in front of him, saying, "Stepping over an ant without killing itthat''s a difficult power to master." Thud, thud, thud~ A series of leisurely footsteps came from outside the tradingpany. The visitor was the old housekeeper who had been missing for a while, Old White strolled leisurely to Kael and said softly, "Lord, the evidence has been submitted, here is the cloth from those privateer groups, all collected." He handed over a closed iron box as he spoke. Kael stepped back slightly, away from Talent, and opened the box for a look. A faint smell of blood emanated from the box, and as Talent struggled, the fear in his eyes grew more intense. This lunatic wouldn''t have just killed all the privateer groups he controlled, would he? Madman, truly a madman who acts without restraint! Unprecedented fear showed on the face of this ve merchant who had been operating in the ck sector for years, uncontrobly showing a breakdown. A plundering group of over fifty people, this guy really dared to kill them all! "Very good. Privateer groups within Ennd have no humanitarian protection. I like that rule!" Kaelughed wildly, casting a zero-level trick [Mage''s Hand]. The generated spectral hand directly took out the blood-stained cloth pieces from the box and flicked them toward the backyard in one swift motion. As the blood-stained cloth fell, Kael looked wantonly at the middle-aged nobleman in the backyard who was ring at him with gloomy eyes, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth: "Whoa, let me see who this is. Isn''t it Baron Bernard? It''s rare to see such a big figure here. I was nning on visiting Bernard Commerce to take a look, didn''t expect to meet you here so soon. That truly is... a rare asion!" Baron Bernard, who had been quietly watching in the backyard, struck the ground with his cane heavily, saying coldly: "Incubus bloodline, extraordinary looks, and such arrogant behavior... So it''s Baron Helois, much more insolent than the rumors." "Sorry, sorry, I haven''t been out much these years, perhaps giving you a strange misconception... Speaking of which, a group of barbarians infiltrated my territory a while ago. It was really scary." Baron Bernard snorted in dissatisfaction: "With Baron Helois''s nature, you would never sleep soundly anywhere. After all, there are few like you who cause trouble as soon as you return to the Royal Capital. Oh right, since you still carry the blood of the Charles family, even if you got into some serious trouble, Count Rezhe out of courtesy would find a way to save you anyway!" Kael, hearing this, mockingly sped his hands, feigning a worried look: "I indeed haven''t slept welltely, always fearing a barbarian might suddenly jump in while I sleep and tear me into pieces. Maybe in a few days, the Royal Capital''s tabloids will report: ''A Border Lord found dead at home, multiple investigations ruled out foul y''who knows! Truly frightening!" He wiped away nonexistent tears at the corner of his eyes, sighing: "Speaking of which, after that incident, I sent a ranger unit to the northern wastnds to escort some goods unexpectedly attacked by a small tribe. My men couldn''t hold back and killed them in return, and guess what I found at the scene of that small tribe?"N?v(el)B\\jnn Baron Bernard gripped his cane tighter, his face showing almost no change in expression. Completely unperturbed, Kael leisurely walked over to him, plucking a piece of blood-stained cloth from Baron Bernard''s shoulder and said: "Your son and the trade caravan were actually hijacked by such a small tribe. There were lots of Bernard Commerce''s supplies, the kind with the logos removed; ah, this world is getting more chaotic. It''s unsettling to see Bernard Commerce, a leading new noble, face such issues while trading outside. Lord Bernard, I have already sent your child and themerce''s supplies to the Noble Council, you needn''t worry. It''s quite funny. The barbarians that attacked me seemed to think we couldn''t understand tribalnguage, shouting a name ''Bone Chewer'' before dying, but the Monarch''s student from the Enchantment Department heard it. Turns out the tribe happened to have a wandering barbarian named ''Bone Chewer,'' quite a coincidence, isn''t it, Baron? I''ve told the Noble Council members all about it; how they will view such matters remains to be seen." Ha, tightening fists, the old man who had just looked indifferent now clenched his fists tight! Conversely, Kael felt an overwhelming satisfaction, an indescribable joy, giving him a feeling of reciprocal retribution. "Hmm, you go ahead and lean on Lion Heart''s bloodline to cause trouble..." No more words, Baron Bernard relied on his cane and headed toward the front hall. Then he saw the web of Magic Silk Thread spread across the hall, hesitated for a moment, and took a step forward. Suddenly, a strand of Magic Silk Thread snapped andshed out, slicing the oak reception desk in half. Cold sweat trickled down Baron Bernard''s face as he huffed, shouting at the Infiltrators in the hall: "Useless swine, disturbing my mood in broad daylight." He then turned toward the small back door, and perhaps in his haste, the cane striking the ground sounded louder. A few yers with expressions of amusement and curiosity showed excitement, one of them, Lamb Small Fish, crazily took pictures with the system camera. Material, these were all materials! Nan Ke held a small stool, awkwardly standing there, unsure whether to sit or stand, looking like a clueless oaf at a party. Sister Astate, with a mouth full of blood, her health bar close to empty due to blood loss, grinned. This Brother Kael, so sarcastic, was truly annoying. But she liked it. Thinking of this, a cruel smile appeared on her face. Since Kael had shown him this courtesy, she had to return the favor. So she opened her mouth and said, "Lord Kael..." Chapter 74: Chapter 71: It seems like we’re popping champagne! One could see the Sister Astate grinning and saying, "Lord Kael, today you were not angry because of my reckless behavior, but instead chose to stand by me. How can I endure you encountering possible injustice because of me? Today, I will repay you with this life, sacrificing my life to seek justice. It is the tradition of the people of Shangtiya, and now is the time for me to prove the Lady Goddess''s choice." After she finished, Sister Astate dragged her broken body towards the Infiltrator, snatched the dagger from his waist, then crawled to Talent''s side. With a swift motion of her hand, arge pig''s head flew high. "It''s like popping champagne!" The gleefully pping Fish nearbyughed, but the scene was utterly silent. She loved this straightforward approach to dealing with those she found unpleasant. Unfortunately, her work required her to uncover more secrets within the game, necessitating some restraint. Hmm... just a little! Having dealt with the ve Trader, Sister Astateughed. The next moment, she raised her hand again and fiercely cut at a Magic Silk Thread. As the Magic Silk Thread snapped, it rebounded instantly, slicing her body into several pieces. The sttering blood covered the front yard, and the fallen Sister Astate, with only her upper body crawling on the ground, had a sinister and frenzied smile as she looked coldly at the departing Baron Bernard: "This is just the beginning. Though one of me falls, thousands and thousands of us will rise. The edge of the Undead will kill every single trafficker in the world! It has nothing to do with Lord Kael. It''s only rted to our Undead''s concept. I believe that all you big figures can understand. For me, to exchange my life for one of you is definitely a gain. Please be prepared to fight to the death with us. Your heads will not rest safely on your necks for long." After speaking, the breath on Sister Astate''s body started to fade, and soon, she was motionless. She was dead! But her chilling words before death loomed like a haunting wail, lingering over the heads of everyone in the front hall. For some reason, in a moment of trance, they seemed to recall the champions of the God of Torture three hundred years ago, who once stirred up various wars on the continent. That era, filled with corpses, was once a nightmare for all races. Now history had taken a turn, and this nightmare seemed to have returned to their side. Were these the legendary people of Shangtiya? With his back to the crowd, Baron Bernard stood at the small back door. They couldn''t see the expression on his face. But he knew his heart must be filled with pallor and fear. He had a premonition that, by ident, he had provoked an extremely terrifying existence. Baron Bernard naturally had heard about the people of Shangtiya descending on the continent. The news came from a powerful noble who couldn''t be named directly. ording to him, the people of Shangtiya hadn''t brought the power of the divine kingdom to the continent. At least in the short term, they would not directly affect the entire continent''s situation. But now, it seemed that things were not as optimistic as he had thought. He was a smart man. Frenzy was power, knowledge was power, and a resolute will and the courage to face death were also power. Unlike the transcendent forces that could directly influence reality, the power of the mind seemed not to affect the world structure directly. But that was undoubtedly a more insidious hidden dagger, capable of exploding with terrifying power at any moment. Overturning a country was not impossible in his view. It was necessary to investigate the situation of these Undead. ording to that person, these beings seemed to have an Undead Body. Ugh, Undead Body, what a blessing! If that were true... Baron Bernard felt a cold sweat break out on his back. This guy wouldn''t just keep watching him andunch crazy suicidal attacks, would he? Even if the Bernard Commerce had decent defensive personnel, facing these beings that couldn''t be killed, they would still be exhausted to death. He wondered how these beings were resurrected and if there was a way to limit or disrupt it. At this thought, he tapped his cane more forcefully on the ground. Da*n the Charles family! Da*n Baron Helois! Wait and see. If I find an opportunity, I will... A sinister thought crossed his mind, but for some reason, the image of Kael shed through his head, and his anger subsided considerably. But the next moment, as Baron Bernard stepped out, he felt even more ashamed and angry, snorting coldly. He had heard that Baron Helois never absorbed others'' essence, indicating he had strong principles. For someone like him, it would be best to have those Maniption mages toy with his will cruelly. Ha, you don''t like the nature given by your Incubus lineage, do you? Find a real Incubus to let him experience awakening and defilement. That would be more painful than killing him! But then Baron Bernard remembered that his son had been sent by Kael to the Noble Council. What a bother! A thought shed through his mind. If he wanted to get his son out, he''d have to offer considerable benefits to those greedy wolves. Despite his numerous grievances, he didn''t dare stay at the scene. He was scared. He did not want to face Kael, a madman, especially with a group of fearless Undead around him, which made him more uneasy. Moreover, he always had a feeling that this guy''s way of thinking wasn''t like that of a typical Yibel person. He didn''t really value those so-called rules and regtions. Following the rules was just a fa?ade over something even more frightening. Such a person was undoubtedly the most feared ouw. Da*n! I should not have listened to that person and arranged for Talent to meddle in ve trade affairs. Now I''m stuck and can''t get out. "Visit Earl Campbell immediately, and make it quick." He urged the coachman to speed up as soon as he boarded the carriage.N?v(el)B\\jnn Things were urgent, and he couldn''t wait any longer. ... Twenty minutester ... When the coach stopped in front of a magnificent building, Baron Bernard wiped the cold sweat from his brow. Before getting off, he adjusted his attire, then said to the sentry: "Please inform Earl Campbell that Fitch Bernard from Bernard Commerce has urgent matters to discuss." ``` Chapter 75: Chapter 72 Half-Elf: But Hes Really Amazing Upon entering Count Cambier''s mansion and settling in the parlor, Baron Bernard was trembling in fear. He looked at the man who, like Count Rezhe, had the Lion Heart bloodline and bowed his head, stammering and at a loss for words. "What are you here for? I told you, this isn''t the time for you to seek me out; the Royal Court is sending someone over soon. We have no official business together recently, and your sudden visit might lead to some misunderstandings." Baron Bernard wiped his cold sweat and said in a low voice, "Lord Campbell, there has been an incident. Previously, I had arranged for Wells (Bernard''s son) to go to the tribe for a trade deal, but now it seems that things have gottenplicated. The baron from Lancaster Territory, Helois, sent people to take over that small tribe and discovered the trapped caravan and Wells; now, they have been handed over to the Noble Council. Given the current situation, this misunderstanding is significant, and I''m afraid Wells will not be able to get out easily. My heart is pounding with anxiety, and I came to seek your advice?" Count Campbell, sitting at the mahogany table, tapped on the table surface, a hint of sternness in his eyes. He gently stroked a crystal ball on the table, and an invisible ripple quietly unfolded before he spoke coldly: "You can''t even handle this properly and got Wells and the Chamber of Commerce''s team involved, Bernard. Don''t make me question yourpetence." Baron Bernard wiped the sweat from his face and said softly, "But I''m afraid the Noble Council has already begun their investigation into this matter. What response should I give next? The Council is no pushover; they''ve been eager to seize anything they can on the nobles for quite some time. Wells is your child. If you don''t intervene, it will be difficult for me to withstand the pressure from the Council." Dressed in a white Western-style robe, Count Campbell snorted and said, "What ''my child''? Wells is your child, what does he have to do with me? However... being his father, you should know best what kind of person he is. I won''t get too involved in this matter, but I believe it must be thoroughly investigated, regardless of who is implicated. Wells is now in the Noble Council''s custody, and such matters should be left to the professionals to assess." Baron Bernard didn''t understand immediately, but after a moment, it was as if an electric current suddenly ran through his body. He trembled slightly and said in a low voice: "You are right; there''s no real issue with what Wells has done. His only offense is having economic dealings with unsuitable clients." Count Campbell nodded, aware that Baron Bernard had understood his meaning, and continued, "With this matter exposed, the people at the Noble Council will certainly take it very seriously. You need toe to a definitive conclusion as soon as possible, so I can exin myself." "Yes, I will handle this matter immediately upon my return." Count Campbell seemed to remember something else and said casually, "There''s a very reputable merchant among the big Chamber of Commerces in the western part of the city, named Sa, Sa..." "Oh, his name is Sack, Sack Florence, the owner of the Florence Chamber of Commerce." "I''ve heard that this person is very capable and seems to have some familial ties with you." "Ah, he is my son-inw, indeed a man with a business mindset, but recently, he seems to have gotten quite close to that group of wealthy merchants." "Ah, indeed a man with a business mindset," Count Campbell said with an inscrutable smile on his face. "Understood, I''ll be sure to handle it well," Baron Bernard said, exchanging a meaningful smile with him. Leaving the Count''s mansion, the carriage sped away towards the Florence Chamber of Commerce, hastened by Bernard''s urging. Sitting inside the carriage, Bernard''s face only now revealed a hint of dissatisfaction and jealousy. In truth, he never liked Wels; in his earlier years, to secure a connection with Earl Cambier, he had offered his own wife to the Earl quite early on. As a woman with Elf bloodline, even after a decade had passed, hisdy still possessed the countenance of a young girlbined with the charm of a married woman. This had once been a source of pride for him, but now it was all gone. Of course, to say so wasn''t exactly right; it was he who, ignoring his wife''s plea, had chosen to present her to Earl Cambier himself. Although nobody acknowledged it openly, in private, his wife became more alluring due to the Earl''s repeated attentions. Especially after she bore Earl Cambier a child, his wife, who used to look at him with eyes filled with pleading or even hatred, now had no trace of him in her eyes. Whenever Earl Cambier announced a private banquet, she would always dress herself in the clothes she couldn''t bear to wear in their early days, meticulously making herself up before heading out early to attend the feast. Only after a dozen hours, when the banquet was over, would she return home, dragging her weary body but with an unprecedented satisfied smile on her face. Sometimes she would even look at him with pity, saying "The bloodline of the Lion Heart is truly magnificent, indeed much stronger than the likes of you," and as she spoke, a lovestruck smile would spread across her face. Thinking of this, his expression turned even uglier. This despicable woman, I offered you to someone else to pave our future. Now that you''ve cozied up to him, it''s bing intolerable. Clearly, Baron Bernard was not about to reflect on his past actions; on the contrary, he was now entertaining new ideas. For example, having a ve Merchant find him another Half-Elf girl. The girl that the ve Trading House had arranged before was good: younger than his wife, with a simr appearance and a pleasant voice. Thinking about it now, when he had her beneath him, it seemed he could relive the experience of being with his wifeafter all, he had acquired her in a simr fashion back in the day.N?v(el)B\\jnn Ha, what does it matter if you''ve climbed thedder with Earl Cambier? A younger version of you still obediently crawls beneath me. Even though he knew such thoughts were pathological and delusory, he would still try to console himself that it was all because of that traitor''s betrayal. Then, he would seek out those bygone days when they were a loving couple in a new woman. There might have been regrets in his heart, but it didn''t matter anymore. Life is always a matter of gains and losses, such as now: he had gained wealth and lost troubles. Soon, as the carriage came to a stop, he had arrived at the Florence Chamber of Commerce. Chapter 76 - 73 Dirty PY Deal Not long after entering the Chamber of Commerce, he saw his son-inw. Speaking of his daughter, she was actually born when his rtionship with his wife was still decent, at least carrying a bit of his own blood. N?v(el)B\\jnn But now the son who remained by his side was of anothers lineage, and his daughter had married someone else and hardly ever returned home. Thinking of this, his dissatisfaction grew even denser. How could he have been so busy only to find that, in the end, there wasnt a single person rted to him by blood by his side? He and the hastily arriving Sack entered a meeting room to discuss matters. As he entered, he suddenly remembered that his son-inw was now earning more and more and had begun to disregard his words. Now having this fellow take over the me for his sons crimes at Earl Campbells ce, wasnt this in itself a form of revenge? Thinking this, he felt slightly less troubled. Earl Campbell was undoubtedly a careful and prudent noble. When it came to his son born of a lover, he professed reluctance to speak further, yet his true intent was to avoid suspicion, but how to handle it still required the Baron to personally take action. Such as finding someone to take the fall for his son, so he could absolve himself of some suspicion. After all, as a grand noble, he had to appear pristine, able to withstand the scrutiny of the council, so how could he possibly have dealings with barbarians on the frontier? The channels that his son-inw had managed in the early stages, in fact, also used the pathways of Earl Campbell; now that hed spoken, it would be difficult to refuse. Thus, upon seeing Sack Florence the moment he arrived, he began to y the emotional card, saying, "Sack, setting aside the fact that youre my son-inw, you should know how Ive treated you." The young Sack, somewhat puzzled, replied with a beaming smile, "Indeed." "You are the head of the Chamber of Commerce, in possession of countless resources. I am a rising noble, merely relying on a stipend from the council. At least economically, between you and me, things have always been transparent." "Of course, you are the most incorruptible rising noble I have ever seen," Sackplimented, his lips involuntarily revealing a faint sneer. But he was a business prodigy who had taken control of a Chamber of Commerce at a young age and managed to keep his expression well in check. Baron Bernard nodded in approval and said, "Ive heard that there have been some financial exchanges between you and my son." Sack responded, "These are just normal trade dealings between the chambers." "But I suspect that normal trade might also involve some practices that dont quite follow the rules!" "That depends on who sets the standards of what doesntply. At least in terms of the Ducalmercial uses, our transactions have been clean," Sack smirked inwardly, cursing, "Old fox," suspecting that Bernard was trying to entrap him, perhaps because something had gone wrong with his own illegitimate issue and he wanted Sack to take the fall. Ha, who do you think you are? I dont know you! Facing the Earl, Baron Bernard was trembling with fear, but in confronting his son-inw, he came out swinging. Pretending not to notice Sacks refusal, he continued, "Wills is suffering in detention, while you enjoy praise from your peers in the Chamber of Commercein the eyes of outsiders (Earl Campbell), this creates a very different impression. Some of the issues confessed by Wills will inevitably be linked to you; Im sure theres no mistake in saying this." His son-inw, who in earlier years often spent time with Wills and was considered of simr character, he knew all too well, was also partially responsible for the "fine goods" the privateers had been sending over thesest few years. It wasnt so easy to break free from that. "As Ive said, between your son and me, theres been nothing but normalmercial dealings," Sack kept his face unchanged, emphasizing those three words slightly. Resigned, hed never skimped on giving up wealth to those two leeches, and now when it was time to take the me, they thought of him first? Not a chance! Baron Bernard sighed and said, "Do you remember, some days ago, how the price of meat had risen throughout the Royal Capital?" Your journey continues at NovelBin.C?m "Of course, the Chamber of Commerce also suffered considerable loss." "The Royal Capitals meat supply primarilyes from the five surrounding territories that regrly transportrge quantities of meat to ensure supply meets demand. Recently, one of these territories experienced an outbreak of animal gue, and the entire territory had to bury arge number of the animals for consumption, leading to issues with meat production. Consequently, the responsibility for the meat supply shifted to the other territories, which because of the excessive load, started importing arge number of young animals, inadvertently spreading the epidemic that was confined to one area to the other territories, As a result, the epidemic spread through several territories, drastically reducing meat production, and a significant number of people in the Royal Capital and those territories... starved to death. Do you know how to handle such a situation?" "I dont." "The simplest method is to shift some of the burdens to state-owned enterprises andrge private firms with substantial stock, having them bear the additional costs after the sharp decline in meat production and elerating the turnover rate of meat. By sacrificing a small portion of the profits of some enterprises, we can achieve greater stability on arger scale, thus any crisis in meat production can be suppressed swiftly, preventing further spread. Looking at the long term, it wont be an issue if there is a problem with one meat production pathway; the supply and demand of products will adjust over time and recover. But if the entire meat production channel faces issues, then the time and money needed to recover will be significantly more. This is what we nobles often say: its only by retaining the people and thend that we can ensure our families dont fade into oblivion. Do you understand?" "Let me think a bit more," Sack replied after a long silence, having listened to what he said, "After all, to make such a decision would require many arrangements." Clearly, he understood the barons implication. The matters involving the state-owned andrge private enterprises had been dealt with by Earl Campbell. If he disagreed with them, he was very likely to be the one to be abandoned. Baron Bernards meaning was clear; either you take the responsibility yourself, or, after Earl Campbell is avable to deal with it, you will be taken care of and then forced to take the responsibility. Sack Florencespany was itself founded on the current noble system, specializing in products such as legitimate trade of duchy resources, as well as import and export of merchandise that could be led by official endorsements. Without Earl Campbells support, the Chamber of Commerce would quickly find itself in a position of powerlessness. Competition among the Royal Capitals enterprises was intense; for most firms without irreceable products, there were none that couldnt be reced. And so, the next day. When Baron Bernard met Sack again, the smile had vanished from Sacks face, his eyes red with bloodshot veins. After a moment of eye contact, Sack said coldly, "I agree in principle to this matter, but we must have an agreement between us; the issue with Viels might actually have something to do with me. I wouldnt like to see my friends imprisoned because of this matter. But even if I surrender myself, the normal operations of Florence Trading Company must be assured. Otherwise, my dear Baron Bernard, as you are aware, we all hold something on each other, and no one is more innocent than the others." Upon hearing Sacks willingness to take some of the responsibility for Viels, Baron Bernards face revealed a satisfied smile as he patted his shoulder and said: "Why didnt you just say so earlier? Rest assured, we have oversight from everyone involved, and no one will infringe upon your rights. The sanctity of private property is invible; it is a rule set by the federation, so you can rest easy. Even without you, we will still protect yourpany. And when youe out from the inside, you will surely receive even more support." Of course, whether Baron Bernard truly meant what he said was another matter entirely. But Sack was aware he had no choice; apany that had grown with the aid of others power couldnt withstand the onught of the storm when faced with one. Chapter 77 - 74: Where There Is a Church There Should Be an Inquisition Meanwhile, on the other side. In Kaels study. Upon receiving news regarding Baron Bernard, a smile of anticipated satisfaction crept onto his face. Truly a pack of old foxes! Even when theyre caught red-handed, their first instinct is to cut their losses and save themselves. But if my guess is correct, there are surely others behind this. Kael had mostly figured out the situation with the Charles family; Count Rezhe was a man who could be dealt with within the confines of the rules. However, just because Count Rezhe adhered to the rules, it didnt mean others would. He knew well enough that within the Duchy of Engnce, there were plenty of people who were at odds with the Charles family. Especially during the period when the conflict erupted within the duchy in the original timeline, the Charles family was judged thoroughly by another family, led by the Federation Noble Councils Vice President and Conspirator, Marquis Gransham. If memory served, the family leading the charge against them was another branch of the Lion Heart bloodline. Remembered, was it Earl Campbell? Interesting! Seems everyone wants a piece of me, dont they? No, thats not quite right; they havent even looked my way yet. While Baron Bernard had his own enterprises, he was seated with the burgeoning nobles who werent traditional merchants. Not that he particrly favored this faction of new nobility, but because Earl Campbell, his supporter, needed their strength. With that in mind, a subtle smile appeared on his face. How fitting! To support such arge group of yers, Id also like to gain those peoples support; getting those who voluntarily or involuntarily support you to turn to my sidewhats that if not a form of NTR? Ha, using me as a tool to incite internal strife within the Charles family? These old foxes really underestimated me. "Master, do you need me to handle this?" Old White hesitated, then said: "Since someone is creating problems, we might as well directly solve the problem maker; though its crude, its a viable solution." "No, theres no need; tangled with the Undead, theyll have their own troubles to deal with." All schemes and conspiracies boiled down to things that couldnt be exposed to the light. Nobles had their own games; right now, the Charles family had no obvious movements, and the same situation applied to the Campbell family. This was why hed been so determined to gain Luxiuss help at the time. Someone like Luxius, who remained unaffected even by changes in the kingdom, was the kind of cornerstone Kael aspired to be. If he hadnt yet fortified his status enough, hed have no time for ying these intricate games with those old foxes. Did heck money to earn, territory to expand, or yers to amuse? Madman... Kael subtly circled the name in his notebook. This yer was a risky move by Kael. Sister Astate was undeniably a tragic figure. It was said that in real life, Sister Astate had gone out with her younger sister at a young age, only for her sister to be abducted by traffickers due to a moment of carelessness. This event became a lifelong grievance for Madman. More ironically, the thing that brought Madman some degree of closure was, astonishingly, a game. As expected, Sister Astates actions must have drawn attention from those madmen (Church version). The only question was which heresy tribunal from the official church woulde after him this time? The very essence of any church is bound to include a heresy tribunal. In some respects, the folks from the heresy tribunal were even madder than Madman. But when used correctly, they could still be cooperative partners. Seeing you great aristocrats so idle, and with Madman needing an outlet, surely you wouldnt mind letting the heresy tribunal sh with heresy, would you?! Just a pity... "That guy sure can stay put!" Kael sighed. With such a penchant forplicated schemes, wouldnt he step in when he chanced upon an unpleasant situation? But when it came to gray market chains spanning the entire continent, why stir up trouble and make himself a target? "Master, where did you hear rumors about the Queen of Joy Street?" Old White asked, surprised. Considering that such mentions had been rare in recent years due to their historical context, he was taken aback. Your next chapter is on NovelBin.C?m "Well, maybe some goddess whispered it to me," Kael replied righteously. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om He had no idea how to exin his source of information otherwise. The Queen of Joy Street was rumored to be the true ruler behind the scenes, holding an item important to Kael [Seductive Demon Eye]! From the name, it was clear that this artifact, sharing its name with the Incubus racial skill, had deep ties with the Incubi. In his previous life, that Little New Star caused quite a ruckus in Joy Street leveraging the secrets of the Mage Academy, which led to a visit from the Queen of Joy Street herself that very night. In exchange for using the unique effect of the [Seductive Demon Eye], the Little New Star agreed not to stir trouble in Joy Street. Then... The news spread, and soon it became a routine for yers on the Incubus ount in the fourth pandemic to disturb Joy Street, triggering the Queens appearance, taking on the quest not to cause trouble, and receiving a one-time use of the [Seductive Demon Eye] as a reward. This eventually became a hallmark task for yers visiting the Royal Capital of Engnce Duchy. In the process, the economic loss inflicted on Joy Street substantially impacted its gray market operations, and subsequently stymied the development of ve multteral trade. It was truly absurd. yers always had a knack for steering events into bizarre territories with their reckless actions. Madman? Fighting traffickers and ve trade? Pure childs y, no serious yer would entertain that! All "muda muda." Only the destruction wrought by yers pursuing fun was a true lethal weapon, "ora ora" at will. Unfortunately, whatever went awry, the pureblood Incubus Queen of Joy Street was nowhere to be seen. "Never mind, let it be. The chaos they bring, theyll just have to swallow it. Grandpa White, be prepared, someones stirring up trouble in the Royal Capital; we dont need to join but can gain dividends by going with the flow. Oh, right, how are things on the Undeads side?" "Everythings progressing well. Likely influenced by your actions at Joy Street yesterday, many ve Trading Houses are now well aware of your reputation. Now when the Undead go down to promote, they no longer need to do it themselves. The brothels even proactivelye to collect your free novels and brochures." Kael nodded, understanding their behavior. After all, Kaels books wereplimentary, giving some face and gaining minor benefits without affecting their core interestsno reason to refuse. "This way, the initialyout in the Royal Capital takes the first step." Kael sighed softly. Were he to hold enough strong cards, he wouldnt resort to such fancy tactics; grandly steamrolling everything would be much more exhrating. The gray-area industries like Joy Street couldnt be eradicated entirely in this period. Hecked the power and position to uproot Joy Street fundamentally. "Next, lets take those few Undead to the Church! After promising pies for so long, its time to share some cake." "Church? You mean the Earth Mother Goddess Church?" Old White paused, not having been in the Royal Capital recently, unclear on some matters. "No, not that." Kael shook his head, smiling. Chapter 78: Chapter 75 The Cabinet Moved! "No, the Church we''re heading to is the Church of the God of Literature, Dinel," Kael said with a smile. "The Church of the God of Literature?" Old White showed a puzzled expression, then pped his hands and said, "Young master, did you n to cooperate with the Church of the God of Literature from the beginning?" "It''s the simplest way to y." "Just by those novels and illustrated books, you can gain the support of Dinel''s followers? This sounds a bit..." Old White spoke frankly, he couldn''t see why the followers of the God of Literature would have any reason to cooperate with Kael. "Grandpa White, the feasibility of cooperation does not depend on the novels and storybooks, but on our nning. What we need to do now is present a clear case to the Church of the God of Literature, proving that this n is possible to implement. The pope of this generation''s God of Literature has been troubled for a long time due to their god''s gradually declining reputation on the continent. Presenting them with a gift now is far better than after we''ve already achieved results. It gives them more sense of participation and favor from the god," Kael said, pausing for a moment before adding more: "No, rather, if we had already perfected the entire industrial chain, why would we need to ask for help from the Church of the God of Literature? It''s precisely because we need to use every ounce of strength we have to cut to the heart of the matter that we need entities like the Church of the God of Literature to pave the way for us. It''s inherently a mutually beneficial choice." Old White nodded in understanding and said, "Do you need me to make contact with those Undead now?" "Go ahead. Sooner orter makes no difference, and we must also show the Church of the God of Literature our capital, or else how will we maintain a dominant position in theter cooperation rtionship?" ... The story split two ways. On the other side, the two yer characters, Lanyu Fish and Nan Ke, were also in an overly excited state of fidgeting. Especially Lanyu Fish. Although she wasn''t known for being a yer with bad skills but an intense addiction to the game, she was indeed not a soul-series gamer. She imed to focus on the intelligence work in the Royal Capital, but in truth, besides some promotional and intelligence tasks, she wasn''t very suited to intensebat. That''s why, in Lancaster Territory, when she received a task from the Lord Mansion, she was so happy. She had had enough of sweating it out in the Twisted Jungle, locked in a battle of wits and bravery with shadow wolves. She was really not cut out for this, especially when she encountered the shadow wolves'' green-glowing eyes peering at her in the dark, then pouncing towards her with wide-open jawsthat always made her jump and scream, "My closet''s moving!" Work like this investigative task was much better for her, where she could fully utilize her experience. After all, thebat skills required in puzzle-solving games are far less than those needed in soul-series games. Standing beside her, Nan Ke was also a bit excited. When he saw Old White preparing to take them to the Church, he knew that the Lord Mansion''s task they had been given wasplete. He just didn''t know what kind of profession the boy who talked of idle dreams under the warming sun would offer him. Seeing the youth again, reading at the mahogany table inside the carriage, they felt a touch of sentiment. No wonder there were so many supporters for Brother Kael on the forums. How many times was it now? They didn''t know when it started, but whenever they saw Kael, he was always engrossed in a book. Some might be about the history of the continent of myth. Others could be professional knowledge books about magic principles and Spell theory. Of course, as shameless a woman as Lanyu Fish even had the nerve to directly take these books from Kael''s table and flip through them. Kael didn''t stop her. Unfortunately, after a quick look, it seemed that these were of no use to them. With a nce over the dense text and with the system''s automatic trantion feature, they could understand the words. But put together, they turned into knowledge that was foreign and hard toprehend. Recalling theints on the forum from yers who had embarked on the path of changing professions, it seemed that yers were also able to learn relevant professional skills without using skill points. But so far, only one yer had sessfully learned the basic swordsmanship by self-study.N?v(el)B\\jnn She happened to know hima swordsmanship genius with a good reputation in the martial arts circlewho, with his years of intensive training in swordsmanship, quickly mastered the skills of a curse swordsman after entering the game. If the difficulty for an NPC to master basic swordsmanship was the same as that genius, then undoubtedly, Brother Kael was also a genius in this field, able to grasp Spells that were considered exceptionally difficult by many professionals. Fortunately, yers could still directly acquire rted skills through skill points after leveling up. Otherwise, if they had to advance ording to the natural method of this world''s natives, many would have been tormented to death before sessfully acquiring their professional skills. She just didn''t know whether Brother Kael was a Mage or a Magician? Haha, just jokinghow could he possibly be a Magician! After all, she could tell that when Kael cast spells, he had very clear coping techniques and methods of use, not like the instinctual use of professional skills described for Magicians on the official website. Such experience in spellcasting was clearly due to umted knowledge and not merely instinctive performance. "I called you here today mainly to discuss your profession arrangements," Kael said warmly. "Hi, hi, hi! I want to change my profession to an Infiltrator, can I, Brother Kael?" Lanyu Fish waved her hand and said, already decided in her heart. "Of course, there''s no problem." "What about my arrangement then?" Nan Ke asked softly. "Druid, are you interested?" Kael said with a revealed smile and a hint ofughter. "Huh?" Nan Ke was taken aback for a moment, then scratched his head and said, "Druid? That does match my personality, and it''s perfect, I''ve been wanting to have a pet and roam around. For someone with a personality like mine, being a Druid is indeed fitting." Nan Ke didn''t react, but Lanyu Fish, who was always sensitive to information gathering, suddenly looked up. "Druid?" She eximed. Wasn''t this profession said to be off-limits during the closed beta? "Yes, the Druids often traverse through forests, so for someone like Nan Ke with such a personality, there''s no doubt that being a Druid is the best option. But don''t forget our agreement," Kael said, looking out the window as the carriage slowed down. They had finally arrived at the Church of the God of Literature. Chapter 79: Chapter 76 Version 1.0 Beta Update Announcement Having dismounted the carriage upon arriving at the Church, Nan Ke was brimming with excitement as he patted his chest and vowed,N?v(el)B\\jnn "Of course, I have quite a bit of confidence in my integrity. Feel free to trust mepletely in this regard." Kael nodded and said, "His Eminence the Cardinal from the Earth Mother Goddess Church once told me that you Undead have a very convenient way ofmunicating with each other. I suppose even if you are far away and unable to contact me immediately, you can still pass on the information of some special ingredients you''ve collected to me through other Undead." "That would indeed be a good way," Nan Ke said with a smile. "If that''s the case, then let''s begin," Kael said, just as a nun approached him and handed him a book, saying: "Baron Helois, this is the book youmissioned our Church to find." "Thank you for your trouble. Also, do you have a spare Prayer Room that I may use? I am willing to pay." The nun, with a rosyplexion, said as she stroked her chin, "You are too kind, sir. There''s no need to pay for such a trivial matter. Please, follow me this way." Kael nodded and did not refuse. Once they entered the Prayer Room, he handed them two books and said: "These are the Job Change Certificates required for two professions, which contain some knowledge on skill acquisition. With these, you both should be able toplete the skill job change properly." Both of them showed surprised and delighted smiles, taking the books from Kael''s hands. The next moment, they both heard the system''s notification. [System Notification: You have acquired the Job Change Certificate ''Druid Travel Diary,'' and your Level Experience Points are sufficient. Do you wish to change your job to the Druid profession?] [System Notification: You have acquired the Job Change Certificate ''Shadow Manual,'' and your Level Experience Points are sufficient. Do you wish to change your job to the Infiltrator profession?] The two had already umted a portion of experience from tasks regrly issued in their territory and, now having received the Job Change Certificates, were eager toplete the job change immediately. However, the moment they agreed to the job change, they suddenly heard a system-wide announcement. [System Update: Netherworld Gate, Version 1.0 Beta Update Announcement.] [The update uses are as follows:] [1. Detection of certain yers initiating Druid profession job changes ahead of schedule; now modifying the use that prohibits initiating Druid profession job changes during the beta period.] [2. Detection of the indigenous Lancaster Lord, Kael.D.Helois, acquiring the permission to promote the Earth Mother Goddess Church in Lancaster and obtaining the relevant certificates for the job changes to Priest/Holy Knight; now modifying the use that prohibits initiating Pdin profession job changes during the beta period.] [3. Detection of certain yers'' activities extending beyond the confines of Newbie Vige Lancaster Territory; now unlocking the beta map for the explored areas, revealing the fog over those regions.] [4. Release of the expansion pack ''Shadow Wolf Totem.'' Background: In the depths of the Twisted Jungle, the Shadow Wolf pack has be more vicious and bloodthirsty due to the influence of an unknown force. They will breach the outskirts of the Twisted Jungle andunch an assault on Lancaster Territory. Expansion gamey tips: Please assist the territorial Rangers and Sentries in their defensive tasks during the continued onught of Shadow Wolves against Lancaster Territory. Survive for 24 hours or eliminate 20 Shadow Wolves to receive the beta-exclusive title ''Kill Zone.'' Additionally, the Artificial Intelligence ''AO'' will grant special costumes to the top 15 ranked yers based on their performance in the ''Shadow Wolf Totem'' expansion pack.] [5. Hall of Fame system is activated. yer Sister Astate is the first to kill an NPC of certain social status in the game, activating the achievement ''First Blood''; yer Lan Xiao Fish is the first in the game to collect over 40 different species in the Monster Girlpendium, activating the achievement ''Monster Girl Compendium Collection''; yer Coconut Milk Mixed with Green Tea has wandered in the forest for 15 days and sessfully consumed 77 types of unusual racial diet ingredients, earning the achievement ''Wilderness Survival''; yer Guarantor Human Soul is the first to sessfully eliminate over 50 of a single Dungeon race, earning the achievement ''Destruction de: Shadow Wolf'' yer White Shirt Years Cold as Water is the first to activate the Holy Light Protective Shield System 500 times consecutively, earning the achievement ''Cheater''] [Friendly Reminder: 15 minutester, yers will be under system protection, teleported back to the surrounding town and logged off for secondary optimization of the game system. The optimization details are as follows: 1. Further update the Holy Light Protective Shield System, and penalize yers who continuously activate the Holy Light Protective Shield System by lengthening the resurrection time after death; 2. Provide a richer array of NPC interaction options; 3. Enhance freedom furtherbugs reported by yers during the beta phase regarding bodily controls not matching reality will be improved. 4. Optimize certain game details. All yers should prepare in advance, check their items in time to prevent loss of game property, details of the announcement will be sent to the game forum, please move there to watch] As soon as the announcement was made, arge number of yers immediately took notice. Even Kael, who had always kept an eye on the game forum for any rted announcements, noticed it right away. Kael knew that "Portal to the Underworld" was not going to promote all base sses during the beta phase. Or rather, standing from the conditions currently avable in Lancaster Territory, the four sses [Druid/Martial Monk/Pdin/Ranger] that could not be chosen during the beta are exactly the ones that Lancaster Territory does not have the prerequisites to offer for ss changing. The primary activity zones for Druids are deep in the ancient forests, but although there arerge forests in Lancaster Territory as well, there are no corresponding Druids stationed here, not even a ss change mentor. Martial Monks, Pdins, and Rangers are also in the same situation. Realistically, the core reason why yers can''t change to these sses is because Lancaster itselfcks the conditions for these ss changes. But what if Kael took the initiative to intervene? If he followed the normal yer ss change procedure and gave the yers the corresponding ss change credentials, was there a chance to trigger a bug in the promotional video? The facts now proved that it was indeed possible. However, even the fact that I had already mastered the way to help yers change to Priest and Pdin was exposed along with the announcement... A hint of a smile appeared on his face. When Kael assigned missions to the yers, leading them to the Royal Capital, on one hand it was to fulfill his ns for promoting his novel andying groundwork for future business. On the other hand, he wanted to probe whether the game system would undergo some changes due to his subjective actions within "Portal to the Underworld" For example, enabling yers to preemptively take on Druid jobs that were otherwise unavable during the beta phase. "Brother Kael, we''ve received new instructions from the Earth Mother God; some matters require our offline attention. It seems we might have to leave early today," Nan Ke said hurriedly as time ticked by and they were about to be kicked offline. Feigning surprise, Kael sighed after a moment, "If that''s the case, the matters at the Earth Mother God Sect are more important. Address them promptly; we don''t want to keep them waiting anxiously." Both nodded, and without a chance to say more, a beam of teleportation light caused them to vanish from the Prayer Room. Kael calmly watched as they were teleported away, his emotions bing somewhatplex. He once again turned his attention to the forum where the yers were surely having many opinions about the game update. His actions could directly influence the game''s progress and even version updates, which would surely attract a great deal of attention. True to his expectation, as he clicked on thetest announcement in the forum, he could see from thement section below that the yers had already started bustling about it. Especially as the focus of this update, the yers located in the Royal Capital who had activated three Hall of Fame achievements, had decidedly be the center of everyone''s attention. Necessarily, as a person of interest on the forum and nearly seen as an unofficial game operator by the yers, Nan Ke already began updating the information he collected during this period in thement section. As someone determined to be the paparazzo of "Portal to the Underworld" C Nan Ke, how could he possibly skip this opportunity to be in the spotlight? He decisively started a new thread, "Various Matters About the Version Update (With Kael''s Beautiful Pictures for Floor Control)!" Click to send! Chapter 80: Chapter 77: Eating Melons and Encountering My Own Work "Hello everyone, I''m your beloved intelligence merchant Lazy Fish." "Thanks to our recent trip to the Royal Capital, we sessfully gathered more intel rted to ''Gate of the Netherworld,'' including the highly anticipated guide to the races (crossed out)" "Of course, the darkness surrounding Royal Capital Joy Street, which we already covered extensively in the previous post, won''t be borated here." "Seeing as many of you have already read various alpha testers'' reviews on the game, you should realize that ''Gate of the Netherworld'' is incredibly close to what we typically understand as a second world, and there''s a rumor that this tech was originally military-grade." "Not to brag, but this version update reveals a little secret about the game: our yers'' significant influence over the plot can directly affect the entire game''s progress." "It''s not like those fake-choice games where it seems you have freedom, but actually follows a few pre-set paths by the developers." "Just now, I received a message from yer ''I Love Xiao Yi'' saying that several previously locked sses in the promo have now been included in the Druid and Holy Knight''sbat styles. The operators of Gate of the Netherworld really dare to update in real-time!" "Such an approach is engaging for yers, but it can easily burn out developers. After all, developers have limits too; they can''t just eat a banana and suddenly code faster. I bet the back-end is a battlefield right now!"N?v(el)B\\jnn "Yes, perceptive friends may have noticed that by normal game logic, sses that cannot be transitioned into are content the game did not intend to unlock yet, and should not be affected by the yers'' decisions." "Unless there was a mass leak like ''GiveHimLoveX,'' it would be very challenging to influence the developer''s game design." "But ''Gate of the Netherworld'' is different. What moves us is that, during our time in the Royal Capital, we not only gathered substantial intel on the big map for the new version but also got to engage more deeply with our [Puppet, Kael]." "[Puppet, Kael] Showcase!" "My dear Kael, as the version''s favorite, whether in the promo or in-game, has given us expectations that far surpass any other NPC." "I guarantee with my reputation as Lazy Fish, Baron Helois, even in the Royal Capital, is famously known for his looks; this is undisputed!" "Back on topic, the core of this version update: the interactions between yers and NPCs in the game directly impacting the game''s progress and updates." "How many of you remember the ''Dream of Rest under the Rice'' that I mentioned in the forum between Kael and yer Nan Ke?" "For instance, this version update is likely influenced by the Druid ss transition by Nan Ke." "Perhaps it was precisely Nan Ke''s transition to Druid that affected the game''s original AI-controlled progression, triggering this version update." "As for the Hall of Fame system... my take is that more insane alpha testers will push this game''s boundaries." "Calling out ''White Robe in Winter Stream,'' how many days has it been and still just a few hundred attempts? Come on, doggie!" "Saying so much still can''t fully express my feelings for this game, ''Gate of the Netherworld'' is undoubtedly a very high-degree freedom game, reminiscent of the early days we started gaming." "Strangers helping each other by chance, scenes long lost in typical virtual games still ur daily here." "Yes, as a game against the times, ''Gate of the Netherworld''s design is not beginner-friendly. No quest guides, no auto-pathing, no idle leveling, no weapon enhancement pet point resettingit aims to recreate a world." "Perhaps this is why the yers staying here seem like a primitive tribe in today''s virtual gaming world, isted from the fast-paced, high-spending cancer but retaining the pure joy of gaming''s beginning." "Maybe this also exins why Guarantor keeps answering forum queries selflessly, hoping to gain astingpanion in this new world." "We alpha testers are just tiny drops; perhaps in beta, more yers will bring new changes to this game with our choices." "Immerse in the game, experience the game, enjoy the game! Every choice you make could affect the game''s future, so remember to lower your guard, calm your mind, and plunge into the Netherworld, to savor its joys and sorrows." "Maybe one day when we look back, we will have already be part of its history, for the rtionship between games and yers is always mutual. May this virtual world forever flow with great love!" Below Lazy Fish''sment section, it had already be lively. Emperor Ha: "Damn, just thinking about how I always end up feeding Shadow Wolves while sliding past them irritates me so much!" White Robe in Winter Stream: "When will they widely unlock job transitions? The kids can''t take it anymore, getting bullied badly by the Shadow Wolves." Guarantor: "Chill, let me handle things here first. Once the game maintenance isplete, I''ll take you to hunt Shadow Wolves and teach you an easier way to kill these monsters." White Robe in Winter Stream: "Ah, thank you so much, Guarantor!" Guarantor: "No need for thanks, it''s all about mutual help, haha, and to be honest, I''m gaining out of it too." Nai Feitian: "Not fair, why did the version update now? I haven''tpleted my quests yet!" Nai Feitian: "I can''t handle it! What''s going on? Why was I kicked offline so quickly?" Nai Feitian: "This game justunched a few days ago, why do I feel like a day without it is like a year?" TokenMeToType: "Moderator, mute Nai Feitian. This guy posts too many murals." Visitor1551: "Why are there more and more people on the forum recently? Where did you guys hear about this game?" Visitor4396: "Where''s that greasy sister from the browser game ads?" Visitor7777: "Funny, I got attracted by those ''Clueless Incubus click to get'' ads on browser games." Visitor10086: "Am I the only one who saw puppets'' books appearing in the pink app already? Lots of big sisters there." Somebody Else''s Little Kitten: "Hiss! What you said cured my gout!" Everyone gasped. Weren''t these artists struck into seclusion by AI drawings? Howe they''re so quick to jump on trends? Jiu Yue: "Bro, let me borrow you for a word." Visitor7777: "Is this game really legitimate? I heard there are many incubi inside!" Jiu Yue: "Legit or not, everyone knows. Anyway, I heard that someone''s already eyeing Kael''s little tail recently." Lazy Fish: "Who is this sick? Brother Kael''s tail isn''t fun? Don''t let me not see Brother Kael''s tail; I''d tear apart! Puppets are the best!" No, books? What on earth is happening here? ... Seek bookmarks, rmendation votes, and monthly tickets! All kinds of seeks! Chapter 81: Chapter 78 Kael who longs to be filled with knowledge Kael was scrolling through thements section and, to his surprise, stumbled upon gossip about himself. Where did all these foreign visitors with non-local IP addressese from? From America, Neon, and even a few smaller countries. Obviously, this game wasn''t just breaking boundaries; it had gone viral in other regions of the Human Federation. However, the topics of chat from these foreign visitors were somewhat strange. "I heard you can take off your pants in this game." "Holy Light and Dark Priests must die!" "I heard the game''s modeling finally resembles actual humans!" "Ppany yer reporting in. Quick question, can I hang the nobles from streetmps in the game?" "Failed to get into art school this year, preparing for another try, heard this game has the best mind eleration tech in the Human Federation. When is the public beta?" Clearly, the influx of foreign visitors had turned beta testers into a minority on the forum. Not many people were discussing actual game content; instead, the overall vibe of the forum had gone askew. One could only say that chaos seemed to be the driving force behind the forum''s development. Kael, seeing these yers chatting so happily about gamey, was a bit puzzled. Were there really that many beta testers? Why hadn''t he noticed before? He took a nce at the yer tags... Well, visitor temporary ounts. These people were just role-ying game developers. However, what Kael was more concerned about was the new expansion, "Shadow Wolf Totem." Even the expansion''s timeline had changed? Kael felt a sense of urgency. In his past life, the "Shadow Wolf Totem" expansion hade out muchter than now. If he remembered correctly, it was the first andst expansion before the game went into open beta after the beta test server was activated.N?v(el)B\\jnn After that, "Gates of the Netherworld" officiallyunched with a massive wave of yers. But now, history seemed to have taken a twist, with the expansion appearing earlier, causing some unease in his heart. In his past life, as a professional yer, he had thoroughly studied many expansion versions and had a pretty good impression of this particr one. The expansion''s background was rooted in the Twisted Jungle, whererge-scale relocation of flora and fauna by yers caused significant ecological changes. The survival needs of the Shadow Wolf pack were affected, prompting the pack leader, who had gained intelligence, to guide the wolves in organizing an assault on Lancaster Territory. It was better to be prepared early. Kael nned to have Old White arrange some defensive measures for the territory as soon as he left. At the very least, the Rangers needed to be more vignt. Dealing with Shadow Wolves shouldn''t be too hard for them with a mature system in ce. But arge gathering of Shadow Wolves would still pose a great threat to the territory. They needed to find a way to drive them back. After all... although the wolf packs made it difficult for Lancaster''s Rangers to explore dungeons, they were also a barrier preventing monsters from the deeper parts of the Twisted Jungle from stepping out. This dungeon in the Twisted Jungle was actually muchrger than yers imagined. This instance would remain open until nearing the end of the first version of the open beta, where yers and NPCs would eventually clear it and integrate it into the territory through coborative efforts. It was also the first dungeon led by yers to be fully integrated. At this point, neither Kael nor the undead-bodied yers had truly explored it. Fortunately, Kael had prepared everything in advance. From the beginning, he never nned to rely on yers as the main defense of the territory. He firmly believed in self-reliance. Now that the dungeon monster outbreak hade early, even if he had to grit his teeth, with adequate preparation, he could carve out a path. He just didn''t know when the yers woulde online. Would it be at the height of the expansion''s activity, or before the wolf packs officially started their attack? They certainly wouldn''t wait until the expansion was almost over to hop in and scavenge, would they? Just as he was about to exit the forum, Kael''s pupils suddenly constricted. As he unwittingly nced at his personal tab on the system panel, he noticed a special data change Open Beta Countdown! The text which previously showed over two hundred days was gradually bing blurry, and a new time read: only 100 days left until the open beta. Kael''s mouth twitched, feeling a bit embarrassed. The pace of this historical progression was more than just a little bit faster! He was still in the Prayer Room of the Church of the God of Knowledge. He looked up at the statue of Dinel in the center of the church, thinking to himself, "This time I was careless, but it won''t happen again." The reason he was still at the church was that he had previously asked the bishop in Royal Capital for help from the Church of the God of Knowledge in providing skill-learning manuals for Druid ss change, to help Nan Keplete the transition smoothly. After all, this bishop used to be a well-traveled Universal Schr who collected knowledge of flora and fauna from all over the world and was also a part-time Druid. He was the first person Kael thought of in Royal Capital who could most likely help a yer with ss change. Using an early strongman''s legacy to enlighten Nan Ke was both a testament to his high hopes and a way to break through the system''s restrictions more easily. Of course, Kael now urgently hoped to coborate with this bishop further. "Such a rich aura of knowledge, I didn''t expect that in this era, a noble like you would still be willing to worship the God of Literature. I can feel the charm of words and images in you." An elderly voice resonated, and Kael turned around, bowed to the slowly approaching Old Bishop, and said, "Being young is my most valuable asset for learning. Apanying knowledge at the time of greatest need is a responsibility to myself." Kael, known for tailoring his words to please the listener, spoke earnestly this time. After all, he was genuinely studying. A few days ago, he attempted to allocate attribute points on the system panel in the academy library. Naturally, to maximize the effect of exclusive skills, he opted to increase his Intelligence. ording to the official "Gates of the Netherworld" website, different attributes yielded different results when leveling skills. Strength determined physical power; Agility determined reaction speed; Endurance determined the duration and amount of energy forbat; Perception determined environmental awareness; Intelligence determined spell strength and, to some extent, influenced skill learning speed, with no direct corrtion to wisdom or problem-solving capabilities; Willpower rted to one''s firmness of belief and, for some sses, could convert into strength. Among these, Kael''s exclusive skill clearly heavily favored the Intelligence attribute. For yers, even if they maxed out their Intelligence, they wouldn''t experience it the way Intelligence itself felt. Firstly, Intelligence in this context didn''t equate broadly to IQ but leaned more towards the concept of "Spell Strength." Secondly, yers couldn''t directly increase their Intelligence to feel enhanced memory or logical capabilities. If they could, the first thing "Gates of the Netherworld" yers would do is max out Intelligence to build supeputers by hand and craft mushroom bombs. Real-world schrs wouldn''t need to rack their brains; they''d enter the game, crank up their Intelligence, and fast-forward the Human Federation to conquering the stars in a hundred years. But that''s clearly impossible. yers, after all, are just yers. No matter how much they increase their stats, at most, their skill upgrade speed would be faster. But what if I were an Incubus with a system panel, blurring the lines between virtual and reality, and having the constant effect of Queen Moli? What if I were a Scroll Schr mastering "Dark Knowledge" that maximized its potential based on Intelligence attributes? ... I want all your favorites, rmendations, and monthly votes, hand them over! ?^?^? Chapter 82: Chapter 79 Your idea is very good, but now its mine! Why is it that the native inhabitants who take on the role of Scroll Schrs are generally unable to maximize the power of this profession? There is a simple reason: the natives cannot control the direction in which they assign attribute points. Their attribute allocation after leveling up is influenced by both the profession they have chosen and their routine training direction, resulting in different directions for assigning points. But Kael is different.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The attributes he gains upon leveling up can be controlled and directed by himself. This means that he is theoretically capable of maximizing the power of "Dark Knowledge". For instance, he has now put all his attribute points into intelligence, instantly boosting it from 5.9 to 11.9. This signifies that Kael''s intelligence attribute has entered the second phase of transcendence, allowing him to choose two intelligence attribute development branches. His first transcendence phase in intelligence refreshed the following branch options: [1. Tunneling Effect - Your spells and spell-like abilities will to some extent ignore the enemy''s defense] [2. Enhanced Casting - The effects of your spells and spell-like abilities will be somewhat enhanced] [3. Thought eleration - Your thought processes will speed up, allowing you to cast spells faster inbat] Of course, since he chose to be a Scroll Schr, Kael wouldn''t miss any branches that could strengthen the Scroll Schrs. [Thought eleration]get And in the second transcendence phase of intelligence, the refreshed branch options are: [1. Enhanced Casting - The effects of your spells and spell-like abilities will be somewhat enhanced] [2. Mana Touch - When you use spells and spell-like abilities that require mana as aponent, the skill effect will be strengthened] [3. Wide Learning and Strong Memory - Your memory will improve, and upon acquiring corresponding knowledge, your skill experience points umtion speed for rted skills will elerate] Without a word, [Wide Learning and Strong Memory]get To most yers, this entry, [Wide Learning and Strong Memory], is somewhat superfluous. After all, directly adding points to intelligence doesn''t typically improve yers'' memory, and the only particrly useful aspect is the ability to elerate the rual of skill experience points through learning rted knowledge. In the early stages of the game, many Mage yers who chose this branch felt as if they had been swindled. That was until a genius gamer emerged among the Mage yers... Gamer Wutong, in Kael''s second year participating in the professional league, shattered the championship dreams of another club, the Strange Power Chaos God. He was also one of the strongest contenders for the title of "World''s Number One Mage" among the yers. This yer, who barely made an effort in reality yet got into a prestigious university, was virtually unknown in the first two versions after the game''s public beta. But starting from version 3.0, he rose to prominence with unstoppable momentum, rapidly bing one of the top Mages in the game, for a time even without equal. All this was due to the entry [Wide Learning and Strong Memory]. Thinking of this, Kael''s tail shook with irritation! yer Wutong was odd. While others were ying monsters, he was in the library reading books. While others werepleting quests, he was in the library reading books. While others were going through dungeons and following the plot, he was in the library reading books. Other yers simply flip through books and tend to forget what they''ve read as soon as they turn their heads, but this guy really dares to take the time to remember it! After Wutong, like a Sweeping Monk, delved into learning magic knowledge in the library for two years (real-world time), the one who emerged again could be said to be "achieved great mastery"! "Vast Knowledge, Strong Memory" The effect of enhancing memory was useless for him? No worries, his memory was exceptionally good to begin with. Normally, even if a yer''s professional skills could gain Skill Experience Points by constantly casting, once the skills reached a certain level, they couldn''t be leveled up without using skill points. Even yers engaged in intensebat had to invest multiple skill points into their main skills in order to elevate theirbat power to higher levels. But Wutong was different! An extreme focus on Intelligence attributes + his own incredible memory + enduring the loneliness of memorizing magic knowledge for two years created a chemical reaction that resulted in an earth-shattering transformation of Wutong''s professional skills All skills had just one skill point added, and the rest of the skill levels were all due to his exceptionally high Intelligence value and the automatic triggering effect of "Vast Knowledge, Strong Memory." In anyone else''s case, this Mage character would have been yed into copse. Theoretically, if he were to continue learning in this manner, one day he would possess a number of skills that could only be described as outrageous. Keep in mind that in his previous life, because he constantly triggered the effect of "Vast Knowledge, Strong Memory" due to his memory, even his worst skill levels were on the heels of the top-tier yers. The yermunity even joked at one point that the limit of the blue bar was the limit of Wutong. Upon this Kael smiled faintly. Your idea is good, but now this idea is mine. Can''t improve learning speed with all-Intelligence attributes? "Dark Knowledge" can''t y to its fullest? "Vast Knowledge, Strong Memory" can''t enhance memory for yers? Those are the yers'' problems, what does that have to do with me, Kael? For the natives, an increase in Intelligence doesn''tpletely equate to enhancing memory and logical capabilities, but it still has an impact, to some extent, and it goes without saying for someone with extreme points in Intelligence and selected specific entries like Kael. Is having a System panel that impressive? Sorry, having a System panel is indeed impressive! So, when faced with the bishop, he dly agreed. That''s right, you''re correct, from now on I am a loyal and reliable knowledge enthusiast, a hundred times more passionate than those with addiction! It seemed as if the Old Bishop sensed Kael''s greedy desire for knowledge in his eyes, and his smile became even more amiable, saying, "It''s truly gratifying to have a newpanion join us on this path of seeking knowledge." Kael chuckled lightly and told him, "No, being bathed in the brilliance of knowledge is actually an honour for me. Whether as a Scroll Schr or someone desiring a breakthrough on the path of spellcasters, knowledge is the loyal partner that will apany me all my life. I''vee today also for this matter, tomunicate further with you." The Old Bishop nodded and said, "I have looked at the proposal you sent through a messenger before, and it is indeed a project worth trying. However, I still need time to wait for the conclusion of the investigation. If this model can be replicated in Joy Streets everywhere, that would indeed be wonderful..." "Of course, I look forward to your good news, and if the investigation results are pleasing, does that mean we have reached a consensus between us?" The Bishop of the Church of the God of Literature revealed a smile that seemed to say that was as it should be and extended his hand towards Kael, saying, "Then, Mr. Kael, from here on we will be allies in the same camp." Kael nodded in agreement and brought up another matter: "Speaking of which, I wonder if Your Grace is aware that the Earth Mother Goddess Church is nning to join forces with the Mage Academy tounch a series of recruitment efforts for the Undead on my territory soon. If the Church of the God of Literature is interested, I can act as a bridge formunication between you and both parties." Kael''s mouth curled up slightly, revealing his true intentions. Chapter 83: Chapter 80: Burning Again and Reluctant to Find You Upon hearing Kael say this, the Bishop frowned and asked, "It is indeed a good choice, but aren''t you worried that such an action might anger the Earth Mother Goddess Church?" "Not at all, Your Excellency. Currently, the Earth Mother Goddess Church has reached a consensus on how to treat the Undead. They can guide their development but will not interfere excessively. This seems to be the intention of the Harvest Goddess." Yes, in the previous life, the Earth Mother Goddess Church actually did not impose too many restrictions on the yers. They basically had an attitude of "Believe if you like, or don''t if you prefer. Come and go as you wish, the Earth Mother Goddess Church wees all." Perhaps the bigwigs of the Earth Mother Goddess Church also knew that they could not dictate the beliefs of the yers. This fourth cmity group was like "Schr?dinger''s Cat"; you never knew their state until the box was opened. Caviar enthusiasts from the Coral Pce... Loyal customers of the coconut sheep... These were still considered the better ones. After the game''s open beta in the previous life, there were even yers who sincerely shared stories about their rtionships with fish while praying with a nun from the Earth Mother Goddess Church... In short, the scene at the time was chaotic. The nun left the prayer room crying like a child, saying she had been tainted by the Evil God and her spirit was unclean. Fortunately, at this period, the yers'' crazy antics had not yet exposed these simple clergy members to the truth. Now, he could still obtain a lot of information about the Earth Mother Goddess Church from Tetou, and he knew their internal attitude toward the Undead had settled and became the same as in his previous life. But Kael still raised an eyebrow and reminded once more: "You should know, the number of Undead entering Lancaster Territory now is very few, and after some time, arger group of Undead will surge into my territory. How to guide the development direction of these divine kingdom visitors is a huge challenge. No one wants to cause a disaster affecting the continent, like the champion of the gods once did." Of course, when Kael said this, he felt somewhatcking in confidence. He was very aware of the mental state of the yers in his previous life; it was absolutely correct to say they were the root cause of future continental turmoiluncontroble ones at that. The old Bishop, looking at this young man who was gradually bing a significant figure in the Royal Capital, squinted and said: "If the Earth Mother Goddess Church has no objections, then the Church of the God of Literature will have even fewer issues. But what benefit is there for you, Mr. Kael?" "While influencing the Undead with the cooperation of many parties, I can also manage my territory. Does that count?" Kael smiled. The Bishop asked, "Is that all?" Kael nodded and said, "At least for now, that''s how it is. I don''t like schemes and conspiracies, nor do I enjoy noble airs. My greatest wish is the peace of my territory and myself. But it seems many do not wish for this." He paused and continued: "Moreover, for the Church, whether the Undead are willing to be followers of the God of Literature is not that important. What matters is whether, following the dissemination of this n, more ambivalent or believers of other gods and some bards can be turned into followers of the God of Literature, whom you revere, isn''t it?" "Are you so confident that the Undead will have a significant impact on my God''s domain?" Clearly, this Bishop, like their Pontiff, was not someone who would take a moderate approach to avoid conflicts with other deities. On the contrary, after hearing Kael say this, his ambition almost overflowed from his expression. Kael smirked slightly and then said, "Your Excellency, you might not know that among the many Undead in Lancaster Territory, quite a few are willing to be bards. In the novel and pamphlet dissemination n I previously mentioned to you, they will be the core force driving Dinel''s glory further into niche areas. You can think about it. These Undead from the divine kingdom have customs and cultures vastly different from the maind''s dominant civilization. There will certainly be those among them who will trante the uniquendscapes of the divine kingdom into elegant words to spread worldwide. If it were you, would you rather understand the writings of visitors from the divine kingdom or the already worn-out tricks told by bards? The Bishop squinted his eyes and suddenly understood why this cunning yet beautiful little incubus had caused so muchmotion. Ultimately, experienced elders quickly grasp the true meaning Kael wanted to convey. For the bards already on the maind, what they wrote were mostly adventure stories that have been over-read by themon folk. From the plot to the writing style, it gave many people a feeling of "Hey, I''ve seen this somewhere before," which could notpare to the exotic charm of the Undead. From nobles tomoners, everyone loved the concept of "elusive yet enticing," and the Bishop could already see people being both wary of the Undead while wanting more contact with them. "Perhaps you are right. Even the Undead would not reject normal interests'' exchange. The legacy they carry from the Shangtiya Divine Country destined them to stir up storms on the maind." Clearly, the Bishop had been persuaded by Kael. The God of Literature, Dinel, that he believed in, had left the sight of various races for so long that many no longer regarded him as the Guardian of Seekers. Though Kael''s n sounded a bit outrageous, as someone who had long cultivated the path of knowledge, the Bishop knew very well Many times, the spread of literature and knowledge depended not merely on quality butrgely on whether it met the needs of the broad popce. Literary works had a threshold for reading; you could not expect everyone to understand the beautiful words on the paper. So, sometimes, the exotic charm brought by the Undead could more effectively expand his deity''s domain. So he squinted and said: "Our God of Literature and the Magic Goddess have a very close alliance, and the Magic Goddess has a good rtionship with the Harvest Goddess. From this point, we indeed stand in the same camp. Why not let me contact the Archbishop of the Magic Goddess? Since we seriously intend to push this n, calling more people can ensure adequate funding. If well executed, it might even be possible to open a teleportation passage between your territory and the Royal Capital''s satellite city. You know, building a stable teleportation passage requires resources far beyond what a territory can bear." "If you can help, that would be great!" Kael did not refuse. The infrastructure of Lancaster Territory was indeed too poor, and he needed to use the Undead to draw various forces into y. If handled well, this could allow Kael to make a significant leap for his domain. The Bishop also showed a gratified smile. In his eyes, whether the Undead were divine kingdom visitors or not was secondary; what mattered was whether they could bring more benefits to his god. "For this matter, I need to have a detailed discussion with the Pontiff. If this n is sessfully implemented, believe me, both my god and his followers will certainly give you the rightful reward. I swear by the name of Dinel''s follower." "Then, a pleasant cooperation." Kael''s smile broadened. The old Bishop suddenly gently stroked the ring on his finger. A sh of light passed, and an obviously well-worn Holy Scripture appeared in his hand. He smiled warmly and said: "It has been many years since I''ve met such a likable youngd. You''re nning for my god''s future. I think my god won''t me an old man for having small expectations of a child. This Holy Scripture contains my years of thoughts and understanding of Divine Arts. Let this small gift be the beginning of our cooperation. As a Scroll Schr, I don''t think you would mind having a few more Divine Arts you can transcribe, right?" As he said this, he showed a mischievous smile. Kael suppressed a trace of embarrassment on his face, having been seen through... These old folks were all wise beyond their years. ... Once a day, I need you to submit your collections, rmendation votes, and monthly votes, all of them!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om ?^?^? Chapter 84: Chapter 81: I Said Im Going Into the Game to Gather Material, Is That Alright? As the yers logged off, the entire Lancaster Territory gradually returned to its usual calm, but offline, more yers began to be active. Due to the sudden arrival of this version update, arge number of offline yers lingered on the forum, venting their emotions that had nowhere else to go. Some even took the initiative to shift the battlefield outside the forum, such as the yer [Remind Me to Write]. [Remind Me to Write], as an author, still had a certain level of fame among the yers. This guy, as one of the two great literary figures on the forum, enjoyed quite a reputation in certain yermunities. As for why he was called a great literary figure... this guy serialized quite a few "Little Uncle" stories about "Gate of the Lower Realm" on the forum, known for their picky tastes and a penchant for pushing the envelope. Especially the recently serialized "Kael Was Never Meant for This," which began with "Kael''s performance was less than ideal." The content inside roughly tranted to one sentence: Mrs. XX, you wouldn''t want your husband/son to lose job/admission opportunities, would you? As a result, [Remind Me to Write] had repeatedly been warned and banned from the forum. Today was the first day he was back from his most recent ban. Hmm? You ask me who the other great literary figure is. You might not believe it, but that yer is called [Sister Astate]. Recently, Sister Astate seemed to have transformed into Kael''s number one fan, serializing more than fifty short stories about "Kael Battles Monster Girls" on the forum. One more thing, the Alien Species Girl stories were linked with the Monster Girl database of [Lazy Fish] from the Royal Capital Trio, ensuring that there were prototypes in the game. While reading, yers would howl with excitement and more frequently urge Lazy Fish to release the Monster Girl Illustrated Handbook. At this moment, [Remind Me to Write] posted a thread on the forum: "Brothers, chatting on the forum always has dys and risks bans. How about we create a group chat?" The first to respond was Nai Feitian, a high-intensity forum user: "Sounds good, Remind Me. You create a group; let''s bring more yers in." This guy didn''t know when he unlocked the skill of fighting monsters while posting on the forum, but it made him increasingly hard to deal with. Now, because the version update forced him out of the game, his forum activity level had increased even more. Seeing this, [Remind Me to Write] quickly posted the new group number and corresponding QR code on the forum. Soon, arge number of yers joined the group. There were even some boredizens who joined as well. After opening the group chat, he immediately added lots of personal ount friends. One could say this guy had a business mind. Recently, he took many custom short story requests from yers, which helped to partially fill his wallet. Additionally, he met some game friends in "Gate of the Lower Realm." His ount actually had quite a few "Gate of the Lower Realm" yers. [Remind Me to Write]: "@Everyone Wee to the Gate of the Lower Realm fans group. Upholding the principles of friendliness, openness, and mutual tolerance, let''s first talk about the group rules: If you blow up the group because of criticizing GS, we''ll think you''re a fool. But if you blow up the group by posting lewd images, my friend, you''re a true hero. Of course, the above is just a joke. As a qualifiedizen who strictly follows public order and good customs, we must protect the group''s safety. That''s all!" However, when [Remind Me to Write] said this, he apparently didn''t notice that during the process of pulling in game friends, he identally pulled someone who wasn''t a yer into the group. At this moment, in an office somewhere, Novel Editor No. 2 stared nkly at the group message. When did he join such a strange group chat? He nced at the group creator and noticed it was one of his authors. He silently lurked in the group, observed its main content, and quickly determined it was a gaming group. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om No. 2 was taken aback, then became furious. Good heavens, so this is the reason you told me that you couldn''t update normally recently because of health issues and needed a break? You''re gathering material from a game, aren''t you? As a fan of MOBA games, No. 2 usually didn''t focus much on games. Choosing MOBA games was also because these games didn''t take long and wouldn''t easily affect his daily life and work They could be interrupted at any time, as long as you endured the Scythe of Judgment and teammates'' curses. Of course, even though he didn''t y many other games, he still kept an eye on them. Most of the time, he preferred to watch anime and dramas to satisfy his spiritual needs and to see if there were any hot topics that could be new writing directions for his authors Helping authors grasp trending topics was also part of his job. Naturally, when he saw "Gate of the Lower Realm," he thought of the recently popr Incubus Tail Waving meme. He had an epiphany. This game had been genuinely on fire recently. Even though it was only in closed beta for a short time, it stirred up a huge wave on the inte. Even the "I''m Craving the Incubus Body, I''m Honest" meme had been added to No. 2''s meme library. This game was quite popr, and it would be a good direction for fan fiction writing. This was the first thought that shed through No. 2''s mind. He carefully checked if there were any familiar names in the group and found five premium authors among the two hundred people. They not only posted lewd images but also happily discussed how long they would gather material once the game update ended. Great! Just great!! Got you red-handed!!! Instead of focusing on boosting your excellent editor''s performance, you''d rather privately share lewd images and neglect updating your works, even preferring to ck off in other games instead of earning money by updating your novels! Uneptable! Such bad behavior must be corrected! Pigeon Demons must go! No. 2 silently made a decision in his heart After the open beta, he must choose a ss that wields a Nail Head Hammer and smash the heads of these ckers, teaching them what real love and discipline from an editor feels like. The group gradually became lively. Jiu Yue: "Guys, I tried it out. We can be middlemen in this game. There are many abandoned resources now that can be recycled and reused. I''m nning to apply to the Lord Mansion after the gamees back online to collect daily livestock products considered waste and use them as production materials." Nai Feitian: "What''s the deal? Tell us more!" Chapter 85: Chapter 82: Everything Can Be Farmed Jiu Yue: "Aside from everything else, just take the Huge Hoofed Deer that everyone''s frantically hunting right now. The bones of these beasts are an important raw material for producing phosphatic fertilizer and various chemical products. The hooves and antlers can be used as basic materials for some hands-on crafts, and the fur can be turned into cushions, bedding, dusters, and decorative items. Even those iplete furs can be used to produce gtin, which has a certain market in the Royal Capital. From what I''ve gathered, it seems like nobody in the Underworld Gate cares much about this kind of base waste material, and the prices are incredibly low. Is anyone nning to get into this business?" Military God of Heaven''s Wings: "Wow, just wow! Sis, what do you do for a living in the real world? Howe you''re still hustling in the game?" Jiu Yue: "I have no choice. Being broke limits ambition, and this game''s demand for money will clearly grow as we progress. Right now, the reason there isn''t much demand is mainly because we haven''t be professionals. Have you seen those bosses on the forums who have managed to switch jobs sessfully? What''s their situation now? They''re so broke they have to do brick moving work at the river port outside of Titan Town." Military God of Heaven''s Wings: "No way, that''s just too sad! They always seem so calm and collected on the forums, acting like everything''s easy as long as you have hands!" Nai Feitian: "When I''m not being calm and collected, I wouldn''t let you know about it." And there it was, someone came out revealing their shorings amidst the conversation. But clearly, the topic brought up by Jiu Yue had caught the attention of many yers. Such interesting mattersattracting screwball yers to participatehow could they not? Jiu Yue thought for a bit and decided to share her general thoughts with them: "If we''re really going to do this, we''ll have to choose a factory site in advance andmunicate with the Lord Mansion to see if we can build a small workshop in an area that''s high and dry, with plenty of water sources, and some distance from the towns. We need a boiler room and workshops dedicated to steaming, washing, breaking, drying, and crushing bones. However, getting these kinds of equipment semi-automated will likely involve some materials rted to Mages. If the costs turn out to be too high when we start, that would be problematic, and I haven''t figured out how to deal with this yet." At this point, Qing Ya past the Cold Pools jumped in, saying, "What''s the problem? I need to farm Skill Experience Points recently, so I can offer my services at lowbor costs to provide the Fatal Strike skill for crushing bones. Don''t worry, the price is very low, just a token." Sister Xiao Yu: "Eh, Xiao Ya, aren''t you doing Dungeon tasks anymore?" Qing Ya past the Cold Pools: "No more, those tasks are basically done over there. When the officialunch happens, I want to switch up my ystyle. I''m already sick of hunting deer all this time. Plus, the club has already decided to transition to strategizing for a new game, and I need to try out new gamey and development models." Military God of Heaven''s Wings: "Actually, if you all can wait a bit, the series of Bone Shredders, shredders, bone steamers, and cleaners Jiu Yue mentioned can be pretty easy to handle. Titan Town has basic metal smelting technology and it''s not troublesome to make, requiring no high precision. Concentrating, bleaching, and condensing equipment can be made using traditional methods; there''s no need for semi-industrialization, we don''t have those conditions. Let''s forget about safety equipment since we yers can''t die anyway." Sister Xiao Yu: "Gosh, we''ve really got some talent in our group! With that said, you guys could try asking Brother Kael, because if we''re just making products and want to handle production and sales all-in-one, we inevitably have to go through them." Nai Feitian: "Aside from your trio of yers, no one else has managed to leave the Lancaster Territory, right?" Sister Xiao Yu: "True, there likely isn''t anyone else." Want to Eat Ice Pops: "How big is this game''s map, anyway? Kael is just a Baron, yet his territory is so vast that yers can''t even traverse it all." Coconut Juice with Green Tea: "Don''t talk about it; don''t talk about it; don''t talk about it; it just makes my heart ache! I''m so embarrassed it''s all over the public chat." Coconut Juice with Green Tea whimpered. By now, even bystanders online knew that there was this fool in the game who got lost in the forest for fifteen days, ate a bunch of terrible stuff, and even unlocked a new achievement. People have started to call him Lord Bei instead of his nickname. "Talk about ying coy after scoring a deal! There are many people who want achievements and can''t get them!" "You say that, but it still must be pretty embarrassing!" "Damn it, this is a game group, a game group! What are you guys discussing if not the game? You''re neither driving nor sharing risque picturesare you waiting for love or what?" "But I really just want to y games now!" "Without the portal to theherworld to y, I''m gonna die!" "Jokes aside, guys, don''t you think seeing Sister Xiao Yu should remind us of something important to do?" "Hug a big leg?" "Of course, it''s to appreciate the different races'' styles in this game! Sister Xiao Yu, hurry and post the racyoops, I mean the race illustrations so we can all take a look!" ... As the chat group started to be chaotic, Xiao Yu didn''t respond for a long time and just slowly typed out an ellipsis. Xiao Yu: "..." "Sister Xiao Yu, don''t stay silent!" Xiao Yu, feeling helpless, could only tell everyone the truth: "It''s not that I don''t want to post, but I just realized something. If you guys report me, I might get banned for a few days.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om For the safety of my ount, I thought about it and decided not to post them directly." Braised Donut: "Is it that risqu, Sister Xiao Yu? I have a friend..." Xiao Yu: "Is that ''friend'' actually you?" Upon hearing this, Braised Donut immediately changed his tune: "I''ll be honest, I''m craving the body of a monster girl." Jiu Yue: "We agreed to discuss how to set up factories, get out of poverty and strive for prosperity. How did our conversation end up on racy pictures again?" Nai Feitian: "Just tell me if you''re going to look or not." Jiu Yue: "Look, look, look, of course I''ll look! If we don''t, wouldn''t we be letting down Sister Xiao Yu''s kind intentions?" Military God''s Heaven''s Wings: "Didn''t someone go exploring in the swampy areas of Lancaster on the forum before and ran into problems because of poisoning?" Xiao Yu: "I vaguely remember, what about it?" Military God''s Heaven''s Wings: "@Jiu Yue, please, you''ve started using bones to produce stuff. Haven''t you thought that bone carbon might be the byproduct in this industrial chain? After degreasing the misceneous bones and adding an extra step, burning the waste in fire, we can make activated carbon. With activated carbon, we can create some simple anti-poison tools. Then we could sell them to other yers so they can explore the swamps more safely, without getting poisoned so easily. Who knows, they might even open up a new area for farming." For a moment, yers in the group had a hard time responding. Is this what they call racial talent of our own people? We came to y the game, so why did it turn into farming again? Hm? Why again? Military God''s Heaven''s Wings: "Everything can be turned into farming; when has theherworld''s gate ever stopped us from doing so? But beyond that, I''m more interested in some even more intriguing industrial systems. Things I can''t do in real life but who says I can''t try them out in the game?" Braised Donut: "Hold up, dude, what do you mean by ''doing'' exactly?" Donut was quick to spot the vital point. "What else could I be referring to? Obviously things like metal smelting, forging cold weapons,pound bows, firearms! Basically, it''s a case of firepower deficiency phobia; what did you think?" ... Every day, I want your favorites, rmendation tickets, monthly ticketsall of it, hand them over! ?^?^? Chapter 86: Chapter 83, he cant just rely on his little tail, can he? Heaven''s Wings clearly wasn''t joking and replied seriously, "I''m seriously serious! Items like the Pressure Belt Hammer, soil mping hammer, and simple press machines can still be hand-crafted, even in an era where industrial foundations are rtively weak. With these, making a semi-automatic simplethe, though somewhat troublesome, isn''t impossible, not even if it involves slightly deteriorated Leyang steel pipes. These things aren''t hard; you just need hands." The other yers, watching this discussion unfold, felt an old surge of blood spurt out. The epitome of having hands! Donut: "Bro, I think you guys should report to the police station. What exactly do you do?" Heaven''s Wings: "A gluer? A DIY video creator? Interpret it however you like, but why report? Things like Hundred-forged Steel, Thousand-forged Steel, as long as you can create basic devices, manufacturing them is easy. If you could make a press machine, making firearms and ammunition isn''t out of the question either. It might be tricky in reality, but it''s worth a try in the game. Wait, you guys aren''t thinking of reporting me, are you?" Immediately, the chat group became lively as yers started to enthusiastically discuss how to shake things up in the uing session. "Fast forward to dwarves bing unemployed, angrily hunting down the Undead." "Since you''ve all started preparing to smelt iron, it shouldn''t be a problem for me to be Levin Hook of the underworld gate, right? Hand-grinding microscope lenses and studying a bit of Necromancy Magic, fast forward to bio-technology transforming the world!" Lol, I''ll soon have you heretics burned at the stake." "That aside, I also run a small workshop in reality, I''ve made some unopened swords and such that I''ve sold online, and I''m pretty confident about it. Now, in the game, I''ve found a cksmith and am in talks with him to see if there''s a chance for me to take on cksmithing as a side job. Group members, sign up and get a discount with your name!" "Stop it, stop it, all of you are already ying the game while we, the melon eaters, are still eagerly waiting on the forums. Damn, this is too cool!" "Actually, converting t-nose pliers into punching machines and such really isn''t impossible, and backyard steel refining isn''t something unheard of, right?" "Those who know, know; those who don''t, no need to exin it! Speaking of which, does the other world really have something like gunpowder?" "There definitely are substances with simr functions to gunpowder, but whether it''s ck powder or some kind of liquid explosive, that''s hard to say." "But haven''t we seen something like firearms used by Anthony''srades in a promo video before?" "I''ve heard about that thing," Luxius chimed in, "It belongs to the weaponry that only the captains and above of the Lion Heart Battle Group can possess: the Magic Rifle." There were also yers who had started exploring subsidiary upations speaking up: "Including the Dwarves and such, they also have certain forging techniques, which although cannot be poprized, are not as weak as you might think. So, stop thinking about making major modifications. Bullying the in-game civilians isn''t fun. Ordinary firearms facing those developed NPCs may just take a couple of hits, and if that''s not enough, then one more strike." ... Time flows. By now, in "Gates to the Underworld," some things had subtly changed. Time stops 77 days before the public beta in Titan Town, Lancaster Territory. By then, this small border town had already undergone significant changes from when the yers had left. It must be said that the potential unleashed by the major powers in action far exceeded Kael''s imagination. Although he knew that this statement, like "When a policewoman leads the enemy AD with an Infinity de, the damage is particrly high," belonged to the category of nonsense, he was still shocked by the actions of the major forces in this world. The situation changed so rapidly that Kael had not expected so many forces to participate in the infrastructure development of Lancaster Territory this time. Due to Kael''s actions, the Royal Capital was abuzz, and Lancaster Territory suddenly became the focus of attention for all major powers in the Duchy. A group of people could not understand how Fox, a Border Lord, had managed to persuade so many forces to support him on the matter of the Undead. It couldn''t just be because of his restless little tail, could it? ording to Kael''s original n, he was to bring Luxius in first, and then see if there was a chance to get the top Mage Academy in the Duchy involved, securing the initial capital.N?v(el)B\\jnn Then, based on this, he would contact the Church of the God of Literature. With these two forces stepping in personally, he could evade most dangers. But now, he was no longer just bringing Luxius into the picture; he had be the director of the "New Energy Shaping Mage Training Program," which Lion Heart Duchy had high hopes for. Apparently, upon hearing about this n, the Lord of Lion Heart had hardly hesitated before immediately confirming the approval of the n, and a batch of funds, a substantial sum for Lancaster, for mage training was handed over to him, to be managed jointly with the Mage Academy and Kael. The main purpose was to solve the Border Lords'' need for stability and ack of overall defensive power, and a facility would be established in Lancaster specifically for the rapid training of new Energy Shaping mages. Later, with Luxius persuading the Earth Mother God Sect toe forward, and the Church of the God of Literature quickly following suit and announcing their participation in the territorial infrastructure development, all Kael needed to provide was a ce for them to set up a church for the priests and nuns to preach. Kael naturally agreed to this. Although various forces could not understand what exactly the long-dormant Church of the God of Literature was up to, they were not too shocked. But what followed soon after began to seem quite surreal. Not long after, the Archbishop of the Magic Goddess Church, who originally led a team to a very high-level Dungeon for exploration, suddenly returned to the Royal Capital half a month ahead of schedule, and the next day announced joining in the development of Lancaster alongside other forces. The behavior of the two churches, which had already conducted a dirty transaction behind the scenes, suddenly caused an uproar in public opinion in the Royal Capital. And whatpletely ignited all these events was a force that Kael had not initially intended to rope in... The Lion Heart Battle Group! This organization, once headed by his father, was the most powerful institution in the Duchy of Lancastrian, and had already quietly sprung into action. On the night that the Magic Goddess Church issued its notice, Fox, one of the main leaders of the Bronze Cross, who had not been seen for a long time, came to visit Kael''s home. The general message was that with so many forces openly gathering in Lancaster Territory, it had attracted the attention of the Bronze Cross, which was responsible for the security of the main towns of the Duchy. ording to Fox, to ensure that there would be no disturbances in various aspects of the Duchy, it was necessary for the Bronze Cross to send people to participate in this joint cooperation of the forces. That night, Kael and Fox talked for a long time, and as he was leaving, the smirk on Fox''s face made Kael realize that all the previous talk had been just for show; essentially, this was a small benefit that Fox had secured for him. After all, from the perspective of the Bronze Cross, the gathering of so many top forces in one ce and the emerging signs of their cooperation were something that the Bronze Cross, responsible for the stability of the towns, naturally needed to be wary of and focus on. Participation in this cooperation was only natural. As for whether this process would bring certain benefits to Lancaster Territory, that was another matter entirely. Chapter 87: Chapter 84 Is this the result of neglecting your senior sister? "Have the viges around the Huge Hoofed Deer been dealt with?" Kael looked to Old White, who followed by his side. Old White nodded and said, "During this period, the Huge Hoofed Deer have migrated and gradually settled in nearby viges with grasnds, where we had previously arranged for the Undead to fence off the area." "These deer are a very docile breed by nature, and now that they have settled in the vicinity, they have begun to reproduce and flourish." "With this, the Lancaster Territory now has a rtively stable livestock product." With that, Kael burst intoughter. The industries of the Lancaster Territory were quite rough and savage. They were basically limited to the basic iron ore development industry and the agricultural and forestry economy, and they mostly operated at a humanbor development level, with low efficiency and poor output, making it difficult to achieve a leap in the territory''s economy. It''s not that his father hadn''t managed well, of which Kael was well aware. On one hand, his father didn''t have much time to manage the territory back then, and on the other hand, he couldn''t, like other Lords, spend arge amount of money to purchase livestock to develop the animal husbandry industry. The expansion of Lancaster had happened too quickly. At first, it was but a small domain, not much different from the neighboring Newman Domain. But who would have thought that its lord was a Holy Land powerhouse; as a top-tier warrior, Father had once led a small team of Rangers and almost single-handedly swept clean the entire Dungeon, won recognition from the aborigines, and integrated it into Lancaster. However, this led to a problem The vast space of the Dungeon, after being incorporated into the territory, caused thend to rapidly expand and also resulted in vast areas where no one lived and which were beyond control. As the lord of thisnd, who also hadbat group duties, Anthony couldn''t always stay in the territory to recruit talent, and for a long time, the entire territory was left in aissez-faire state. Originally, Lancaster didn''t have many residents, and after the territory expanded, it became even harder to manage those yet-to-be-utilized areas. So much so that now, the entire territory seemed rather deste.N?v(el)B\\jnn The scattered viges could only rely on a small poption to guard near the settlement, allowing for very basic exploitation and use. The sizeable funds previously umted were invested by Kael into building basic infrastructure for the domains, leaving scarcely any surplus. With his modern mindset, he believed that it was essential to improve the infrastructure first, so that a better foundation could elerate the economic development of the territory and attract migrants. But this inevitably caused him to fall into the same predicament as his teacher Enough for small change, butcking substantial funds! Poor, poor, poor!!! Indeed, Anthony had left behind substantial assets, but they couldn''t be used indefinitely; ultimately, he needed to find a new industry for sustainable growth. And just like that, the Huge Hoofed Deer nownded on his doorstep. Of course, this was not what delighted Kael the most. By chance, on the roadside, he saw residents clearing decayed fences; he nodded to the town''s residents and, under their slightly anxious gaze, cast a level-zero spell "Mage''s Hand." The spectral hand that hovered in midspace floated smoothly; the adjusted Magic Model had further strengthened themon Mage''s Hand, significantly enhancing its grabbing power and agility. Based on the original Magic Model, Mage''s Hand could at most remotely move items of non-magical substance that weighed up to 5 pounds. But that was merely Mage''s Hand under the normal Magic Model. Kael controlled the Mage''s Hand, and with a gentle sp, he instantly pulled out fence posts deeply embedded in the soil and neatly ced them in a corner of the house. He smiled at the resident and said, "Go on, I hear your child calling you." Then he walked away into the distance under the grateful gaze of the man. "After the upgrade, adjustment, and optimization, the Mage''s Hand, although still a zero-level spell, has significantly enhanced versatilitypared to the prototype. You''ve been growing rapidly recently, young master!" Old White eximed with admiration. Indeed, he was worthy of being his young master. Kael wasn''t surprised at all. After all, he had the System Panel, and to some extent, his skill growth rate was more akin to that of a yer. For yers, as long as they have the patience, even the mostmon Mage''s Hand could evolve into apletely different direction by continuously grinding Skill Experience Points, upgrading the spell. Ordinary spells, when developed down this path and reaching the limits of what the Magic Model can achieve, allow yers to create further breakthroughs on the original foundation by using skill points, thereby gaining stronger characteristics. The spells developed in this way are what the natives consider personalized spells. What''s more interesting is that if yers wish to advance these kind of skills further, they can attempt to reach the limit again and then use Golden Skill Points to optimize, enhance, and reshape the entire skill model. The resulting rted skills would be more powerful, more targeted, and often even stronger. Once such personalized spells are developed to a certain extent, yers can choose whether to invest arge amount of General Experience Points to elevate the skill to a higher level. This path, if followed to the end, will eventually have the chance to form the yer''s exclusive professional skill, which is also the method most yers can most easily achieve to unlock exclusive skills. Of course, with people umting experience differently and having varying degrees of luck, the resulting skills can differ wildly. To acquire satisfactory skills depends on both luck and the yer''s own umtion of knowledge and experience. Thus, in the recent period afterpleting his domain arrangements, Kael embarked on a frenzy of power leveling, or more precisely, incessant grinding. The effects produced by stacking multiple buffs far exceeded Kael''s expectations. 15 days ago, he spent most of his time immersed in the Mage Academy''s library of the Lancaster Territory, extensively perusing the experimental records and spell development thoughts of past mages. Even without beginning to read the specific manuals on the optimization and improvement of certain spells by different mages, he still managed to substantially advance his understanding of spells by studying a vast amount of basic magic theory. "Dark Knowledge" allowed him to absorb the essence of different spells en masse, breaking through his own limitations in learning these skills and tapping into some of the most core development thoughts behind these spells. Under the effects of the "Exceptional Memory" entry, these pieces of knowledge reinforced each other, further elerating Kael''s umtion of spell experience, which was also constantly aggregated through the System Panel. And with "Queen Jasmine" and intelligence Attribute points acting like potent elerators, they continually sped up the learning process, shortening the time and energy needed to learn and improve skills. As a consequence, he felt that his energy was running somewhat low during this time. Humans have their limits. The presence of Queen Jasmine allowed him to focus more during his studies but inevitably also brought an additional burden. The sensation of repeatedly corrting the acquired knowledge with spells was indescribably subtle; he could almost sense that with every minute, he was gaining a deeper understanding of magic, giving him the feeling that he was truly bing stronger. "So this is the result of your recent studies in the library, and then neglecting your senior student sister?" A slightly teasingugh sounded. ... Every day, I want all of your favorites, rmendation tickets, and monthly tickets, give them all to me! ?^?^? Chapter 88: Chapter 85: Unlike an Incubus, More Like a Saintess Guarding Her Chastity for God Kael turned around to face Luxius, who was walking slowly from the fields with his cane, and smiled: "Mr. Luxius, please don''t say such things in a way that causes misunderstandings. Senior Sister Lily and I have a purely junior-senior rtionship." Luxius propped his chin and said regretfully, "Ah, what a pity. Back in my day, it didn''t matter if she was a senior sister or not. If we liked each other, a big carriage didn''t matter. Actually, the bigger, the better. You, boy, are too restrained in this regard. You don''t y enough, not at all like an incubus but rather like a Saintess who has taken a vow of chastity." Kael rolled his eyes. Knowing his teacher was a bit of a flirt and didn''t mean any harm, he could only say helplessly: "Teacher, I''m a real man, the kind that would start a war and take out the mindless goody two-shoes first. Yourparison is really off. If a real Saintess heard this, she''d definitely beat you up badly." Luxius nodded and smiled approvingly, showing no shame, and said: "Why do you think I haven''t fought a real Saintess? Moreover, if you''re shameless, you must be able to bear the consequences. I had already prepared myself mentally when I said it. Why do you think your teacher had to be so strong?" Luxius''s words left Kael speechless. Is this the ultimate version of "What doesn''t kill me makes me stronger"? Where did this Saiyan monkeye from! Facing the ever-smiling Luxius, Kael could only shake his head and said: "I don''t have any thoughts of causing trouble. Most of the time, I prefer to focus my limited energy on infinite unknowns. I didn''t expect things to turn out like this." "Alright, alright~ I''m not forcing you, after all, young people nowadays care about romantic freedom. But sometimes, you''re too mature for your age, and it pains me to see that. Sometimes, relying on others a bit more might not be a bad thing. At least, let your teacher enjoy the pleasure of standing up for a student." Talking about this, Luxius mumbled a few more words: "Starting from scratch to nurture an incubus, what a pleasant experience! But it seems that experiencing this with Little Kael will be very difficult." Kael didn''t argue further. He skillfully changed the topic, smiled, and said: "If that''s the case, teacher, could youmunicate with the academy to allow me to copy more magic books and bring them to Lancaster? After all, it''s a bit difficult to obtain enough study resources here in Lancaster." "For this matter, I need to discuss it with the headmaster. The academy''s books belong to everyone willing to dedicate themselves to the future of the Duchy of Engns. It can''t be copied just because you say so; we must be cautious." "How about this: if I can periodically return the books, can I borrow more books from the library for various professions?" "That''s much easier. I can represent the academy to agree to that," Luxius found his new disciple increasingly interesting. First, he proposed an outrageous request, not allowed, then suggested something more reasonable. It''s rare for such requests to be refused.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om He remembered the real matter and, with a more serious expression, asked Kael: "How are the new Enchantment students doing?" Kael shook his head and said, "The basic skill training is going rtively smoothly, but the main issue lies in their mindset. These kids obviously have too many of their own ideas about the unfamiliar magical domain and can''t realistically develop ording to my requirements." Luxius sighed, "You could just say these kids are not obedient enough. But you should also empathize with them a bit; after all, to be fair, it''s difficult for them too." Kael nodded. He understood what Luxius meant. For these kids, the biggest problem now wasn''t whether they could climb to great heights on the path of mages, but their unstable mindset. He had long heard that there was a prevalent notion at the academy that the new Enchantment line he was leading required arge number of mages with average talent to make mistakes. The development of a new system often apanies the sacrifice of many who make mistakes, causing some of the mage apprentices dispatched by the academy to feel abandoned in this situation. Even though Kael clearly knew his system was a product of numerous validations from his previous life, with a very detailed cultivation n, the apprentices neither knew nor were willing to believe! As long as they thought of themselves as the abandoned ones, their mindset would copse, and it would be even harder to calm down and study the spells. Unless Unless right now, a "genius" emerged who could validate the feasibility of this path at an extraordinary speed. Otherwise, whatever Kael said would just be empty promises to these mage apprentices. Motivation? Mages weren''t bookworms; they couldn''t possibly believe in promoting wolf-like culture but feeding them grass like corporate ves. If they did, they would be foolish and brainless. The reason wolf culture is called wolf culture is that you must provide sufficient meat to achieve wolf-like unity andbat effectiveness. If they haven''t gotten a bite of meat, talking about wolf-like behavior is pointless. Those who eat grass aren''t wolves; they''re cattle or horses. "Huh, why has the territory changed so much recently?" Kael heard a slightly cheeky voice, and when he turned around, he saw it was Nai Feitian. He was surprised. The yers were back online? Kael chuckled softly to himself. The timing was really perfect. This time period just happened to be the busiest time in Lancaster Territory, and recently, the shadow wolf pack had already organized an invasion, causing the rangers quite some trouble. However, Kael had brought in many allies from the Royal Capital, so they weren''t just idle. With the help of multiple forces, they repelled the wolf pack with almost no losses. Hmm And it allowed Kael to gain some serious fame. Now that things were stabilizing and yers were reappearing in the territory, it was indeed a very clever timing. Nai Feitian, this guy, was a sociable character. Upon seeing Kael, his eyes lit up, and he enthusiastically waved his hand, saying, "Lord Kael, long time no see." Kael smiled and nodded at him. Then, Luxius nced over and casually said, "Is this the undead you mentioned?" "He''s one of the undead. I think he has quite a talent on the path of a sword sorcerer, a young man with potential." Luxius poked Kael''s head and said, "Talking about others being young, aren''t you a young man yourself?" Hearing their conversation, Nai Feitian looked at the middle-aged man with somewhat messy hair. Instinctively, his hands moved faster than his brain, and he immediately used a reconnaissance skill. Huh? A new evaluation? Why was there only a skull icon showing?! Not good, danger! Luxius raised an eyebrow and looked at Nai Feitian in surprise: "If you behaved this way in front of the masters who specialize in necromancy, they wouldn''t be as amiable as I am." Luxius moved his finger slightly, and a pair ofrge, sturdy, ghostly blue hands immediately flew out, grabbing Nai Feitian like a chick. "I''m kind-hearted, so I''ll just give you a small punishment. You undead should learn to maintain basic respect; reconnaissance skills aren''t always to be used casually." With that, Nai Feitian was thrown a hundred meters into the air by Luxius. Kael helplessly looked at the mage hand that his teacher had modified who knows how many times. At this power and distance, it was probably equivalent to an ordinary third-level spell. God knows what Luxius had turned this mage hand into. The effort he put into this could have been enough to develop an entirely new third-level spell, right? Chapter 89 - 86 Standing in Front of You Is… Watching his own teacherugh heartily amidst Nai Feitians screams, Kael once again felt that the theory of "bing stronger" his teacher had talked about before was very serious indeed. A tiny bit of punishment... Kael looked at Nai Feitian, whose face was being distorted by the wind as he fell freely and spiraled upwards. Teacher, its really lucky you werent beaten to death for that demonic personality of yours in the past... No, to be precise, its thanks to your rapid growth, otherwise, it might be a different scene by now. And then theres that Nai Feitian... He twitched the corner of his mouth. From the perspective of natives, could yers really be so foolish? Instead of being repulsed by this behavior, Nai Feitian went from shouting and screaming at the start of the tossing to even learning to strike all kinds of inexplicable poses in the airter on. Looking so silly... To be honest, the embarrassment level was off the charts. Seeing that his move to scare the Undead seemed to have failed, Luxius, who had beenughing merrily, appeared slightly disappointed as he caught Nai Feitian from the air, resting his hand on his forehead, he said: "I thought I was neurotic enough, but it turns out the citizens of Tivat are even more so. Do these guys even walk normally?" You guessed it, the yers are all scared of hot floors... Kael opened his mouth to say something but in the end, he could only suppress his desire to make a snidement. Once back on the ground, Nai Feitian wobbled for a while before finally regaining his bnce and ran over with a face full of surprise, saying: "Big shot, big shot, what was that skill just now? It looked really cool." "An improved version of Mages Hand, if youre interested in the future, I... Ill teach Kael, and if hes willing to teach you guys, you guys can learn it as you like, its just a little spell anyway." Subconsciously wanting to brag a bit, Luxius almost spoke up but then felt it beneath himself to do so, so he raised an eyebrow and tossed the responsibility onto Kael, and continued: "You group of Undead are really quite interesting. Ordinary people wouldnt have such a good mentality as you guys." "Because we cant die, right..." said Nai Feitian with a chuckle, "Besides, look who I am!" "Oh? Do you have other identities in the Goddess of Tivats divine nation?" "Thats right, standing before you is" The has-been hero of de; The old admiral who led ship girls to guard the peace of the seas; The Great Yin Yang Master revered by Shikigami; The Doctor of Rhodes Ind; Themander of Mechanical Bodies; The blond prodigal of Tivat; The director of the Minos Crisis Management Bureau! How about that, am I not impressive?" Kaels mouth twitched. Youve really shot your own horn, havent you? Arent they all antique games that have been swept into the dust of history and then refurbished into virtual online games?! Are you whats called a second-generation relic? But he still suppressed his desire to mock and, sticking to his character role, said, "When you guys suddenly disappeared, I was a bit worried. Now seeing you like this, it seems youve had quite a pleasant time back in the divine nation." Nai Feitian scratched his head and said, "Actually, it hasnt been that pleasant. Ive been wanting to y more on the maind, but unfortunately, circumstances havent allowed for it. Speaking of which, Lord Kael, who is this gentleman?" "Luxius Parker, my teacher, and the vice-principal of the first Mage Academy of the Duchythe Secret Scrolls Mage Academy, and one of the few Magic Monarchs in the Duchy." "Oh oh oh, Ive heard Sister Xiao Yu mention that academy, it sounds really powerful!" His eyes whirled as he contemted a n. "More or less. Right now in Lancaster Territory, counting outside help, there wouldnt be a second person who could arouse my teachers interest in a fight," Kael said nonchntly. Luxius looked as if he hadnt a care in the world, but he felt even better. "My good student, taking the initiative topliment your teacher like this, you are much better than those senior students of mine. Keep theplimentsing!" And upon hearing this, Nai Feitians eyes lit up even more, thinking to himself that this person was indeed a high-level NPC! Thats right, logically speaking, those who dare to call themselves the Magic Monarch either get beaten to death for being too arrogant or they are the ones who beat others to death. After all, in a world where the monarchial system was the mainstay, this title really wasnt something to be taken lightly. He needed to find a way to suck up! ... After saying goodbye to Kael and his group, Nai Feitian also began to stroll around the territory. During this period, the inner beta yers like them led a life in the real world where days felt like years without the ability to y the game, a fact that left them itching for more. N?v(el)B\\jnn Not all games are created equal. The degree of openness between virtual games was even greater than the gap between the girl next door who had never dated and a juice machine underneath pink street lights. A game like "Underworlds Gate," which was nearly fully open apart from strictly punishing those who dropped their pants, was a rarity indeed. It wasnt that the developers didnt want to create such a game, but rather theycked the ability to do so. Although many yers wouldin about the "primitive" gamey of Underworlds Gate, as a professional gamer, Nai Feitian was very aware that it was inevitable for this game to go viral. It almost satisfied the game needs of the majority of yers on the market. Farming, adventuring, raiding, traveling, socializing, experiencing another world,munity development, Monster Girls (crossed out)... yers who liked base building and farming started from scratch, building new viges outside Titan Town and had the time of their lives doing so. I heard that among the first batch of yers, Sister Jiu Yue had already started plotting with the Military Gods Heavens Wings to build factories. It just so happened to coincide with the second batch of inner beta yersing online, who immediately began calling over friends, attempting to rope the newbies fresh from their 996, 007 work schedules, now resting in their gaming pods, into the not-yet-established factories. The game was now at its starting phase, and any action taken by the yers could bepleted at a speed visible to the naked eye. Coupled with the high interactivity of the natives (referring to the appreciative looks, the admiring nces, and the small change falling into the pouch), it brought the yers a kind of joy in realizing their self-worth. When a person feels needed, he can truly be awesome! Especially after many yers have served as workhorses for too long in the real world, getting nauseated from being force-fed motivational drivel with no joy in realizing their self-worth They find themselves increasingly feeling that Blue Star OL really sucks, while their love for Underworlds Gate grows stronger. As Nai Feitian wandered around the territory, he discovered that Titan Town had really undergone significant changes. This version update brought not only more upation mentors and several rebuilt church buildings but also something unknown to the NPCs, yet it caused a huge uproar among the real yermunity The second batch of inner beta yers had entered the game earlier! Unlike the first batch of yers, the second batchs inner beta ounts were mainly distributed randomly through yer reservations. yers would receive the inner beta ounts via email after binding their rted identity proof, and only by using this proof to activate the invite code could they officially enter the game. Suddenly, the eagerly awaiting forum visitors exploded in excitement. A flood of yers rushed into the reservation channels, and in just half a day, the number of reservations surged to over 5.7 million. A depth charge had exploded, causing utter chaos in the entire virtual gaming circle. ... Every day, I want your favorites, rmendation tickets, and monthly tickets, all of them! ?^?^? Chapter 90 - 87: Only Kael Can Warm the Heart The first batch of selected yers was just shy of twenty thousand. But the second batch of selected yers shot this number up to one hundred thousand! As a result, a massive influx of new yers swarmed into the Lancaster Territory, making even Titan Town lively. Nai Feitian was someone who couldnt sit still. He hadnt yed his sliding game with the Corrupted Tree-men for a while, and now that hed finally logged in, his first thought was to trouble his old adversaries. Now he could dodge the tree-whip attacks amidst one or two tree-men, employing all sorts of donkey-rolling battle tactics, which was a significant improvement. Plus, hed sessfully changed sses to a Cursing Swordsman before the update, theoretically acquiring some spellcasting abilities. Ive be stronger! Thinking this, he felt his DNA stir. The high-level NPC Luxius hed just met was clearly a boss worthy of being a tool. As a Cursing Swordsman, he had the potential to use magic. Although it wouldnt be asprehensive or advanced as a Mages, sometimes what mattered waspatibility and whether one could receive the correct guidance from others. For a profession with spellcasting abilities like his, spells were meant more toplement the sword techniques of a Cursing Swordsman rather than rely solely on the magic damage. After being toyed with by Luxius in a disy of mid-air strolling, he realized something In this world awash with material desires, only Brother Kaels tail could warm ones heart. The high-level NPC being Kaels mentor, it was certain that Kael would be adept with many of the spells his teacher knew. At least for now, while yers were still neers, it was improbable that Kael didnt know the majority of spells they could grasp. Receiving skills from a high-level NPC was a different ball gamepared to getting them from Brother Kael. Those who had been to the Royal Capital and talked about it on the forum said that it wasnt just difficult to get missions from high-level NPCs there, but often it was hard to even approach them. But Kael was different. Kael was one of the rare natives in the Nobility willing tomunicate with yers. Perhaps it was a hidden benefit of Newbie Vige, or maybe it was Kaels easygoing nature, or perhaps other reasons unknown to yersregardless, Nai Feitian felt his interactions with Kael were rather pleasant. Anyway,municating with a more approachable NPC like Kael was much easier than with those high-level NPCs that were difficult to deal with, and the chances of acquiring skills were much higher. After all, Kael was always generous. Speaking of which, could the level-zero spell Mages Hand in the hands of a truly top-notch NPC be upgraded to such a form? With this on his mind, he developed some ideas. If Mages Hand could pull him up to a height of a hundred meters, then did that mean if he prepared a greatsword and mastered this skill, he could use Mages Hand to grip the greatsword and fly through the air? Good Lord, if that could really be done, then the games mechanics would be much more versatile. When you guys are walking, Id be stepping on a flying sword. While youre engaged in closebat, Id y with swordsmanship using Mages Hand. When you get up close to me, even more Mages Hands would grab a bunch of iron swords for a grand Sword Calling! Evolve at full speed into a Sword Immortal! Kael had no idea what was going through Nai Feitians mind. He now focused more on the forums and quickly confirmed that the second and final wave of beta testers from his previous life had entered the game. Perfect timing! Lancaster Territory is in dire need of revival, and arge number of fresh yers are needed to participate in basic tasks. Previously, he had discussed with Luxius about selecting some reliable individuals from the first batch of Undead to join the early training program for new Shape Energy Mages. Now that the second batch of beta testers had also arrived, the pool of candidates he could choose from had grown. His ideal choice was to recruit from that group of yers in his previous life who had some talent for the Mage profession. He didnt necessarily need them to reach professional yer level, but it would be best if they had the potential of skilled high-level yers. So he turned to Luxius and said, "Teacher, Ive mentioned this matter to you before, about allowing me to select some dependable individuals from the Undead to join our training program. How many free training spots has the Duchy promised to provide? This will affect whether this batch of kids can seriously implement our training n." Luxius said, "Lord Lion Hearts idea is that since the number of Undead will increase, each training session will open 10-15 slots for the Undead, and you need to apply in advance. Of course, if they are justing to learn about the new Mage training curriculum, the dean has already made amitment that as long as there are seats avable, they cane and listen for free. But resources and such, they will need to procure on their own." Kael was amazed. 10-15 slots per session was quite a lot. Previously, out of more than ten thousand yers, only 37 managed to sessfullyplete their ss change, and counting those still undertaking ss change quests, the total wouldnt exceed 100. With the second batch of beta testersing in, they benefited from a significant increase in ss change slots from the start. If they had the ability, they could also quickly gather the necessary resources for the ss change. After all, where else would demon crystals be spent if not on themselves? Investing in oneself is definitely the right choice. Kael had long anticipated this scenario. Recently, with the establishment of Teleportation Gates between Lancaster Territory and the satellite cities of the Royal Capital, he had managed to acquire a batch of resources needed for various professions ss changes at a low price. He was targeting the yers wallets. With their nature, as soon as they discovered they could increase their strength on the System panel with just a few clicks, they would do everything possible to obtain the necessary resources to level up quickly. Kael was honest; he wanted to keep all the demon crystals earned by these yers within Lancaster, thus creating an internal economic cycle for the territory. As for the cost... the cost was already being borne by the yers, who werepletely unaware they were being harvested like crops. "Not only Mages, I n to further open up ss change pathways for them in the near future. The representatives for the ss changes of non-spellcaster rted professions have mostly arrived. N?v(el)B\\jnn By that time, they should also be able to alleviate some of the pressure from the wolf cmity," he continued. Luxius nodded and said, "Youve thought this through well, thats good. The paths to advancing into Extraordinary Professions are not as difficult to obtain as one might think, but by slightly restricting ess, we can effectively limit the rampant growth of the Undeads power." As expected... Following not charged... Once a day, I want all of your favorites, rmendation tickets, and monthly votes! ?^?^? Chapter 91: Chapter 88: Information Isolated Island, The Stubborn Little Incubus Sure enough... Kael''s face darkened as he remembered how yers in their past lives had to put immense effort into ensuring rapid growth. In contrast, it seemed like the original inhabitants achieved various growth opportunities without much cost. Back then, yers with conspiracy theories suggested that the entire group of Undead might have fallen into an "information ind" constructed by the original inhabitants through the gate to the lower world. Information inds weremon in the world before the Human Federation, where major real estate marketing departments loved to create a sense of urgency using information asymmetry, making homebuyers feel that houses were in short supply and would soon be gone. Often, once a real estate advisor confirmed your intention to buy a house, they would immediately ce your name on the candidate list. When you thought you had found the right property, they would contact you that evening, saying, "Many people are rushing to buy houses now, you can''t hold onto this one." If you said, "I was first to get it," the advisor would tell you, "They have paid a deposit or down payment. If you want to outbid them, you need to pay XXX yuan and quickly sign the purchase contract." Then they would use phrases like, "You''re my first client, I will do my best to meet your requirements," to urge you to sign the purchase contract under their supervision quickly. Some more underhanded advisors would even offset the client''s discounts against the parking space purchase fees, then tell you they gave you a huge discount, suggesting you could refer friends to them.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om What''s worse, when you asked other real estatepanies, they uniformly imed, "No more houses are avable," creating the illusion of a housing shortage across the city. Whether it was truly tight was known only to them internally. Inside the walls and outside the walls, it was twopletely different worlds of information. Although the continent didn''t have the concept of an information ind, it didn''t mean the original inhabitants didn''t know how to use this method. Major forces still controlled the main resources. Once the major forces were informed, it became much more difficult for yers to break through. Not to the extent ofpletely setting a trap for yers; after all, if the yers were aggressively trapped, they weren''t fools. After being trapped, one would still guard against those who wouldn''t die quietly,unching revenge actions. But just like going through processes in an enterprise, if every process node were strictly followed, it was enough to slow down the yers'' growth speed. However, Kael had his considerations too. Considering the current internal testing environment, the number of yers wasn''t rming, still manageable within his control. If he didn''t establish a mutually satisfactory order system among yers now, once the public testing started, with all sorts of characters appearing, whether they could manage it would be left to chance. "Teacher, I will take this into ount." Kael said to Luxius. Previously, yers couldn''t quickly change jobs because there weren''t many professionals on the territory who could act as career mentors, making it hard to promote job changes extensively. Another reason was that the most numerous professionals, the Rangers, had their tasks, making it impossible to dedicate a lot of work time to training this group of yers. So, generally, only a few yers who had gradually adapted to the Twisted Jungle environment and could patrol the surroundings with the Rangers were better able to follow the Rangers and receive their rted experience as spell swordsmen. But now things were different. Major Duchy forces invested and exerted effort, and Kael, being the nominal lord of thisnd, was also the appointed representative of the Mage Academy and the Earth Mother Goddess Church. The Earth Mother God Church wasn''t an aggressively strong church. As coborators with Kael, theyrgely adhered to Kael''s rules in Lancaster Territory. As for the Lion Heart Battle Group, it seemed unrted to him... But anyone with some self-awareness knew that this time the Lion Heart Battle Group came to support Kael. In the Bell Federation, the noble and knightly systems were two very distinct developmental paths. One required staying in one ce, being responsible for the territory and their duties, and nobles didn''t form legally binding control over each other. Simply put, my vassal''s vassal is not my vassal. Besides knights like Jonathan, who were enfeoffed under Kael as "guardian knights of the lord," officially enfeoffed knights by the Anglo-Rance Duchy only had one true responsible party: the leader of the Duchy, the Lion Heart Duke. Among them, the most revered by all knights was the Duchy''srgest violent institution, the Lion Heart Battle Group. The knightly system, built on beliefs of guarding the Duchy, knightly honor, and camaraderie, was highly exclusive and opposed to the nobles'' violent structure. Previously, the Lion Heart Battle Group had exerted considerable effort on Kael''s affairs. However, the knights'' attempt to interfere in the noble system sparked intense bacsh within the entire noble system. If they continued this way, it could have adverse effects. In the end, the Lion Heart Battle Group had to pause their efforts, but the matter had already caused a significant stir in the Royal Capital. "The Lion Heart Battle Group, especially the Iron Cross where your father was and the Bronze Cross where Fox was, were running around a lot for your sake. You need to remember this favor." Though Luxius knew Kael was mature for his age, as a teacher, he always worried about him. Kael nodded and said, "Teacher, I am aware of this. When Uncle Fox came to find me before, we already discussed this matter. The knights sent to the territory will not be mistreated." Luxius nodded in satisfaction, thinking to himself how self-reliant and overly independent this child was, not knowing what had happened to him before. It was a good quality, but seeing such resilience in a child not yet of age pained him a bit. A stubborn little Incubus needed him as a teacher to take on more responsibility. So he said, "The earliest batch of wizard training materials has already been sent over. If you need to screen the Undead on your side, do it quickly but be mindful." He continued, "It''s better to choose those who are honest and reliable rather than those who are talented but always prefer to go against you." "After all, you know that for wizards, once they get past the initial fatigue period and establish themselves among the novices, the resources they receive will be significantly more than other professions. At that point, wanting to dominate will not be easy anymore." Kael nodded. Luxius clearly knew a lot about the inner workings of the Undead. Although it was unclear how the Undead ascended ranks, he at least understood their high potential and ability to level up faster than the original inhabitants with sufficient resources. This allowed the Lion Heart Duke to permit the Undead to use the Duchy''s resources to ascend, considering that the Undead''s initial growth speed far exceeded that of normal wizards. They were innately suited to explore new paths. Chapter 92: Chapter 89 Titan Town Expansion Plan (Owed Chapter Progress 1/65) Luxius smiled gently and said, "Kael, strive diligently. Once those Undead grow rapidly, the value of this school of training will be the best proof of the correctness of your project. By then, the thing you long for will also be in your hands." Kael''s eyes lit up, and he eximed in surprise, "Teacher, has the matter mentioned by Baron Lion Heart already been confirmed?" Luxius nodded and smiled, "That is inevitable; after all, if your training system can be verified, you will be the creator of a new branch in the Mage school. By then, whether it is within the Mage Academia or the interiors of the Duchy, no one will hinder you from being directly granted the title of Baron and inheriting Anthony''s territory. It is likely that arge number of emerging Nobles, looking to the future of the territory, wille to you. By then, whether the Charles family will act against you will also depend on whether they have the audacity." He paused, tapped Kael''s head, and continued: "I know you have your own thoughts, but my advice to you is to achieve a breakthrough as soon as possible. After all, although a Level 7 beginner profession holder has a certain status within the Duchy, it is only those with Extraordinary Professions that truly step onto the stage of the Duchy. It is more important to advance to Transcendent as soon as possible." Kael nodded in understanding; he had been killing extensively in the Dungeon recently, precisely to break through the pivotal strength barrier of LV10 as soon as possible. However, before that, he still had to make some arrangements for the second batch of internal test yers who had just entered Lancaster Territory. As Luxius went to check on the construction of the training base, Kael turned his gaze to the game panel. [Would you like to issue tasks to the yers?] [Note 1: The daily refreshed task experience points depend on aposite value of the territory''s prosperity and the individual''s level and status.] [Note 2: You can decide on the extra task rewards for yers, including but not limited to unused level experience points, unused general experience points, profession skill teachings, territory, items, money, etc.] [Your current territory prosperity: 4+ (depending on the size and bustling conditions of the territory)] (Infrastructure construction upgrade +, added a major livestock "Huge Hoofed Deer" +) [Your current personal level: 3+ (every 2 levels count as +1)] (Level advanced to LV7, +3) [Your current personal status: 9+ (determined by theprehensive judgment of the world will)] (You represent the Mage Academy, bing responsible for the Mage training project set up in the territory by the Duchy, +3; You be the actual person in charge of the Earth Mother Goddess Church in the territory, +3; You have real influence over the Church of the God of Literature within the territory, +1; Your influence among the emerging Nobles has been enhanced, +; You have attracted the attention of the Magic Goddess Church and hold some influence, +) [Total: 17+] [Level Experience Pool unlocked, current experience points = 100017+500=17500. Experience Pool capacity: 17440/17500] From a daily expendable 4500 level experience points to now a massive 17500, such a vast span has given Kael a delightful predicament for a while. How should he distribute this wealth? If only this experience pool could be transferred to himself, he could level up. Speaking of which, he had just seen on the forum that some yers wanted to develop industry and reim swamps within Lancaster Territory, so perhaps... Before long, a notice appeared on the bulletin board of Titan Town. [Titan Town Phase 1, 2, and 3 Road Reconstruction and Town Expansion Recruitment Announcement] [Titan Town Industrial Development "Pioneer" n (with Industry Details)] ["Twisted Jungle" Dungeon Fully Open Announcement, cordially inviting professionals to participate in dungeon exploration (with professional mentor contact information)] With the three announcements released, the whole Titan Town became bustling. ... "Road expansion, huh? Construction work is my old line of business, but I''m not sure if the Lord Mansion will acknowledge the work I do in reality. I''d like to take on such a task too." "Man, when do you construction guys even have time to y games?" "What are you talking about? What makes you think construction workers can''t y games?" "Don''t you construction dogs spend your days slinging cement and your nights hopping from one project site to another? Where do you find the time to hop into a gaming pod?" "Ah, don''t mention it. The Human Federation isn''t demanding as much in housing construction as it used to. The days of rotating three shifts on projects are long gone." It wasn''t long after the announcement had been released that yers began discussing how to get involved in the road construction.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om After all, based on the experience of seasoned yers, tasks directly issued by the town usually could be converted into tasks that came with system experience points. Sure enough, once someone tried to sign up for the town expansion, they quickly found themselves receiving the system task of [Town Expansion nPhase One]. This news quickly gained the attention of new yers on forums, who gathered towards the bulletin board. The new yers entering the game were different from the first batch. The first batch of yers had long adapted to a rugged life without tasks, but this new group of neers wasn''t quite the same. Still following the traditional online game mindset, they quickly took on and started their bricying journey in the game upon seeing the task announcements from Newbie Vige. And this was just the beginning. After all, there were still many more yers who hadn''t automaticallynded near Titan Town. Many more yers from other towns were being sent to Titan Town in batches, guided by each vige. One could imagine that the area around Titan Town was about to be even more bustling than it currently was. The next day... [Outside Titan Town] A group of rookie yers crowded around each other, gathering around a Mage dressed in a white robe. The Mage nced at the rocky ground outside the town, lifted his magic wand, and began to cast a spell. "Turn stone to mud." A ssic spell used for constructing positions and trapping enemies was cast, and in an instant, a patch of protruding rocks turned into a pool of sludge. "ohhhh~" The yers let out an awed cry, unustomed to the sight. Although other virtual games frequently featured magical elements, they relied more on particle effects and light pollution enhancement. Like "Netherworld Gate," in yet more realistic spells were quite rare. Some restless yers even hopped over to the pile of mud, reached out to touch the muddy ground, and then eximed: "It''s just like swamp soil, this stuff could make a fine building material if properly mixed." Chapter 93: Chapter 90: I Dont Understand, Im Greatly Shocked! (Supplementary update 2/65) The Mage sent by the Mage Academy rolled his eyes and said, "There''s no need for precise mixing; special mud that transforms fossils into mud mixed one-to-one with ordinary sand will solidify into quite hard bricks. This is something all Mages on the continent know. Haven''t you seen any Mages in the Goddess''s realm?" "Mmm, sounds pretty convenient. But in our ce, we don''t use spells for such foundational construction," a yer standing beside him said with augh. The Academy Mage seemed to want to ask more about the situation in the divine realm but felt awkward about inquiring, scratching his head and finally said helplessly: "Lord Kael hasmunicated with us. Now, Titan Town is really too small, and the expansion work must be prioritized without dy. If you Undead are interested, try to perform a bit better during this period. I heard that some residents in town have been attracted by the work benefits, after all, the rewards Lord Kael offers are quite good." Saying this, the Mage''s face also wore a slight smile. He had thought thating to this border domain meanting to endure hardships and brush up on his credentials, but unexpectedly, upon arriving here, the living conditions were not as bad as he imagined, and he could even make some extra money asionally. It was probably the psychological satisfaction that came from lowered expectations not being so disappointed in the end. While he thought this, the yers beside him were whispering among themselves. "Damn, ying a game isn''t aboutpeting with yers for quests, butpeting with NPCs, this is just crazy!" "Now that you mention it, I think I understand why Mages have such a special status in the game. Look at those who work as warriors; aside from fighting, they only have brute strength left, unlike Mages, who are truly a jack of all trades." "That''s right, those Universal Workers hired by Human Federationpanies, at the same skill level, earn two to six thousand more Human Federation credits than workers specialized in a single domain!" "Isn''t that normal? Mages can handle moreplex environments within the same profession, capable of doing foundation work as well as transforming intobat forces, no wonder they are called ''lord of spells''!" The Academy Mage listening beside them was speechlessly amused. These guys had no inclination to avoid speaking their minds, openly evaluating Mages right in front of him. As a Supervisor sent by the Academy, he had been, under themission of the Lord, leading the town residents in some basic construction work during this time. To be honest, it was somewhat boring, if not for the money... But these Undead were not wrong; Mages on the continent are like a swiss army knife, often summoned discreetly for tasks that seemed impossible to tackle. They hoped Mages, with their myriad of spells, could turn the impossible into the possible. Perhaps it was this demand that led to the various Mage sects developing many strange and unique spells. Like him, not strong enough to excel or too weak to be dismissed, he might specialize in spells that quickly establish positions on the front line. Although this would, to some extent, diminish hisbat capabilities as a Mage, there were still many potential directions for his future. Whether it was joining a domain''s city construction team or bing a logistics member in a team exploring Dungeons, there is a significant need for Mages capable of rapidly constructing positions. Of course, if he wanted to directly construct houses like now, it''s not just about spells, but also about a lot of basicbor to move materials and bricyers using steel, wood structures, and other materials to build a stable framework for the house. That''s exactly what he was doing now. He had not expected that the visitors from the divine kingdom would be so willing to take on such basic work. Not only did they not mind the fatigue, they were now thoroughly enjoying ying with mud. I don''t understand, I''m utterly shocked! It was beyond the understanding of the Academy Mages, who usually liked to ck off. How could they relish such a boring task? Seeing them looking utterly exhausted yet still striving hard to sweep and carry bricks, he began to wonder ifmanding the Undead to build the town might exhaust those seemingly less tired Undead. Although it was rumored that these Undead possessed the ability to resurrect, rumors were just rumors. Without having seen it himself, he couldn''t possibly joke about these people''s lives. After his repeated advice failed to persuade the yers, he couldn''t help but start worrying about his own safety. Sorry, Lord Kael, these guys really seem to be aiming to work themselves to death, I need to ensure my own safety first. Seeing the Mage''s perplexed expression, a yer by his side quickly seized the opportunity, put down the cart, and approached to ask, "Mage sir, you seem troubled. Is there anything I can help with?" The clever Mage patted his shoulder and said, "You''re a smart man. Since you''ve offered, from today you''ll be in charge of arranging tasks for the Undead in this area. Let''s work together to help Lord Kael build his domain!" The Mage finally made a choice in his mind. These Undead were so intensely devoted to their work that they indeed vaguely resembled those fervent worshippers from the divine kingdom, as the rumors suggested. If he continued tomand these Undead himself, any problem could lead the Undead to point their fingers at him, the "supervisor." He didn''t want to suffer any consequences and decided to simply pick one of the seemingly less troublesome Undead to manage the others. This way, if something did go wrong, the Undead would first me that particr individual managing them, and it wouldn''t have much to do with him, the minor Mage.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Humph, I really am quite clever. The yer appointed by the Academy Mage as the supervisor was thrilled, and said loudly, "I''m very willing to serve you, Mage sir." After saying this, he eagerly went off to find the other yers to assign tasks. The distribution of tasks among yers was simple. After epting a team task, sharing it with others would quickly organize the group. The little Mage didn''t realize that his act of distributing tasks unwittingly enhanced the yers'' potential even more. After all, only yers knew how to better coordinate with other yers. Even though the newbies didn''t know the value of Demon Crystals or what their sry might be, an inexplicable enthusiasm still spurred them to take proactive and swift actions. But even so, some yers still found themselves in troubling situations. For example, Cat the Non-Sleeper, a female yer who joined the game from the first beta round, was now facing a very awkward dilemma. Chapter 95: Chapter 92 I Thought We Would Be Friends yers below were whispering to each other... well, they were actually talking loudly! Kael pretended not to hear and continued: "However, I also need to inform everyone of some unfortunate news, even bing a bard, which has rtively lower barriers to upational change, is a major consumer of resources. Indeed, I and everyone in Lancaster truly hope that you all can grow quickly, but the reality is that we cannot possibly invest all our limited resources in everyone. For this reason, we have chosen apromise approach." Someone below then brought up a huge diagram, and Kael, pointing at the image of Dinel and the Holy Emblem on the diagram, said: "King of Texts and Images whom the Church of the God of Literature worships, Oghma''s ScribeLord Dinel. Believers are primarily bards. The main groups that make up the church include historians, universal schrs, schrs of records, truth-seekers, and students. And the profession of bards can precisely extract corresponding power from texts. Writing texts, reciting stories, you will be able to draw more power from knowledge, and transform it into the foundation for professional advancement. The Church of the God of Literature now ns to recruit arge number of professionals willing to change their profession to bards, to create new narratives that are distinct from the continent''s novels. These narratives, after being reviewed and copied, will be sold in the Royal Capital, with sales channels handled by the Lord Mansion and the Church of the God of Literature, and 20% of the rted revenue will be handed over to the bards whopile these narratives. In this way, you can all draw the power to advance your profesions from the texts, and also earn some Demon Crystals, thereby alleviating to some extent the concerns of those who wish to progress in the bard profession, yet worry about insufficient resources." Some yers, who really liked the slightly pretentious tone of the bards, brightened up, bing excited and leaning slightly forward. Seeing that everyone''s attention was held by the notion of money-making potential, Kael smiled and said, "Also, to provide more assistance to everyone, we will be opening up some foundational administrative positions in certain towns in the near future. We will open positions such as text record officers, deputy managers, and foundational administrative personnel to the Undead willing to take up the profession of bard." Interested participants may contact the Church of the God of Literature in advance; the Church has already developed a reliable and practical training n." Unexpectedly, every time yers joined the territory thereafter, he had people recite this speech until the rtionship with several coborating forces changed, he did not n to change it. Of course, hising here to give a presentation was not just for the ns of the Church of the God of Literature. He paused for a moment, then continued: "In addition, we will further open the upational change permissions for various professions, lowering the requirements for the Undead to change professions. For Holy Knights and Priests, if yers have sufficient interest in the Gods venerated by the Earth Mother Goddess Church, the Magic Goddess Church, or the Church of the God of Literature, they can try to sign up and change professions. The major Churches will periodically release rted upational training missions, and bypleting these missions, you can obtain a certification for the profession change. The person to my right is a Priest from the Magic Goddess Church." At this moment, a yer from below shouted, "Lord Kael, what about the Earth Mother Goddess Church?" Kael paused for a moment, then said, "The profession change for the Earth Mother Goddess Church will be specifically handled by me. In addition, the new guild premises in the newly established area of the territory have been opened, and anyone with career aspirations can go there. Additionally, the Ranger Camp in the Twisted Jungle will serve as a fixed ce for changing into a Cursed Swordsman. Our young Rangers, besides handling the profession change, will also teach you thebat skills of a Cursed Swordsman." For the newly arrived residents of Lancaster in recent times, I also hope that everyone obeys the territory''s rules and regtions and checks the notice board for prohibited activities in a timely manner. For residents who vite the regtions, we will supervise, expel, and list them on the territory''s unwee list. For those who severely breach our regtions..." Kael blinked, but did not continue. The yers from below went on for a while, yet someone asked, "What will happen?" Kael nced at them irritably and said, "I thought we could be friends, but you rather think about causing me trouble? Can we still be friends then?" Following this, a breezy, cheerfulughter arose from the group of yers below. The neers who had just entered the game looked curiously at this good-looking NPC, and this reinforced their resolve to work under this Lord.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Before they entered the game, many veteran yers had already briefed them about some of the requirements of the Lancaster Territory. The content was not overly excessive, mainly centered around prohibiting the Undead from unnecessarily harassing the residents within the territory, disrupting the daily work of the territorial staff, damaging town and vige facilities, trampling on farnds, and uwfully invading private homes, which would be restricted. Most of the rules were within the yers'' allowable range, but what the yers valued most were some of the penalties detailed under a particr special provision. For instance, "Forcing others into improper rtions or being found by territorial managers publicly engaging in improper transactions, based on the negative impact brought by the incident, measures such as Magic Potion castration will be implemented." This elicited sighs from a group of new yers who were enthusiasts of undressing and party-loving. Damn, why is apletely open world so unfriendly to open-minded yers like us? ... The following matters were then delegated by Kael to other responsible personnel in the territory regarding what specific content to handle and how to do it; he would not take responsibility. A qualified Lord needs to delegate responsibilities that should be dispersed, otherwise, he would be overwhelmed by these trivial matters beforehand. He still had more important things to do. Meanwhile, on the yers'' side... After bing familiar with the specific situations, part of the yers went to the town outskirts, joining the vigorous construction of roads and city expansion. Another part could not wait even a second and immediately went to guilds and churches to seek profession changes and prepared to head to the Twisted Jungle to begin their grand adventure in the game. Thest batch of yers, who had less desire for power, went to the industrial area designated by Kael, participating in the construction of industrial nts and the transportation of some basic materials. It seemed that it would still take some time for them to truly get those semi-automatic workshops up and running. Watching everyone getting busy, the cat that didn''t sleep in felt somewhat dazed. The game and the first phase of internal testing really seemed different now! Chapter 95: Chapter 92 I Thought We Would Be Friends yers below were whispering to each other... well, they were actually talking loudly!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Kael pretended not to hear and continued: "However, I also need to inform everyone of some unfortunate news, even bing a bard, which has rtively lower barriers to upational change, is a major consumer of resources. Indeed, I and everyone in Lancaster truly hope that you all can grow quickly, but the reality is that we cannot possibly invest all our limited resources in everyone. For this reason, we have chosen apromise approach." Someone below then brought up a huge diagram, and Kael, pointing at the image of Dinel and the Holy Emblem on the diagram, said: "King of Texts and Images whom the Church of the God of Literature worships, Oghma''s ScribeLord Dinel. Believers are primarily bards. The main groups that make up the church include historians, universal schrs, schrs of records, truth-seekers, and students. And the profession of bards can precisely extract corresponding power from texts. Writing texts, reciting stories, you will be able to draw more power from knowledge, and transform it into the foundation for professional advancement. The Church of the God of Literature now ns to recruit arge number of professionals willing to change their profession to bards, to create new narratives that are distinct from the continent''s novels. These narratives, after being reviewed and copied, will be sold in the Royal Capital, with sales channels handled by the Lord Mansion and the Church of the God of Literature, and 20% of the rted revenue will be handed over to the bards whopile these narratives. In this way, you can all draw the power to advance your profesions from the texts, and also earn some Demon Crystals, thereby alleviating to some extent the concerns of those who wish to progress in the bard profession, yet worry about insufficient resources." Some yers, who really liked the slightly pretentious tone of the bards, brightened up, bing excited and leaning slightly forward. Seeing that everyone''s attention was held by the notion of money-making potential, Kael smiled and said, "Also, to provide more assistance to everyone, we will be opening up some foundational administrative positions in certain towns in the near future. We will open positions such as text record officers, deputy managers, and foundational administrative personnel to the Undead willing to take up the profession of bard." Interested participants may contact the Church of the God of Literature in advance; the Church has already developed a reliable and practical training n." Unexpectedly, every time yers joined the territory thereafter, he had people recite this speech until the rtionship with several coborating forces changed, he did not n to change it. Of course, hising here to give a presentation was not just for the ns of the Church of the God of Literature. He paused for a moment, then continued: "In addition, we will further open the upational change permissions for various professions, lowering the requirements for the Undead to change professions. For Holy Knights and Priests, if yers have sufficient interest in the Gods venerated by the Earth Mother Goddess Church, the Magic Goddess Church, or the Church of the God of Literature, they can try to sign up and change professions. The major Churches will periodically release rted upational training missions, and bypleting these missions, you can obtain a certification for the profession change. The person to my right is a Priest from the Magic Goddess Church." At this moment, a yer from below shouted, "Lord Kael, what about the Earth Mother Goddess Church?" Kael paused for a moment, then said, "The profession change for the Earth Mother Goddess Church will be specifically handled by me. In addition, the new guild premises in the newly established area of the territory have been opened, and anyone with career aspirations can go there. Additionally, the Ranger Camp in the Twisted Jungle will serve as a fixed ce for changing into a Cursed Swordsman. Our young Rangers, besides handling the profession change, will also teach you thebat skills of a Cursed Swordsman." For the newly arrived residents of Lancaster in recent times, I also hope that everyone obeys the territory''s rules and regtions and checks the notice board for prohibited activities in a timely manner. For residents who vite the regtions, we will supervise, expel, and list them on the territory''s unwee list. For those who severely breach our regtions..." Kael blinked, but did not continue. The yers from below went on for a while, yet someone asked, "What will happen?" Kael nced at them irritably and said, "I thought we could be friends, but you rather think about causing me trouble? Can we still be friends then?" Following this, a breezy, cheerfulughter arose from the group of yers below. The neers who had just entered the game looked curiously at this good-looking NPC, and this reinforced their resolve to work under this Lord. Before they entered the game, many veteran yers had already briefed them about some of the requirements of the Lancaster Territory. The content was not overly excessive, mainly centered around prohibiting the Undead from unnecessarily harassing the residents within the territory, disrupting the daily work of the territorial staff, damaging town and vige facilities, trampling on farnds, and uwfully invading private homes, which would be restricted. Most of the rules were within the yers'' allowable range, but what the yers valued most were some of the penalties detailed under a particr special provision. For instance, "Forcing others into improper rtions or being found by territorial managers publicly engaging in improper transactions, based on the negative impact brought by the incident, measures such as Magic Potion castration will be implemented." This elicited sighs from a group of new yers who were enthusiasts of undressing and party-loving. Damn, why is apletely open world so unfriendly to open-minded yers like us? ... The following matters were then delegated by Kael to other responsible personnel in the territory regarding what specific content to handle and how to do it; he would not take responsibility. A qualified Lord needs to delegate responsibilities that should be dispersed, otherwise, he would be overwhelmed by these trivial matters beforehand. He still had more important things to do. Meanwhile, on the yers'' side... After bing familiar with the specific situations, part of the yers went to the town outskirts, joining the vigorous construction of roads and city expansion. Another part could not wait even a second and immediately went to guilds and churches to seek profession changes and prepared to head to the Twisted Jungle to begin their grand adventure in the game. Thest batch of yers, who had less desire for power, went to the industrial area designated by Kael, participating in the construction of industrial nts and the transportation of some basic materials. It seemed that it would still take some time for them to truly get those semi-automatic workshops up and running. Watching everyone getting busy, the cat that didn''t sleep in felt somewhat dazed. The game and the first phase of internal testing really seemed different now! Chapter 96: Chapter 93 Alarm! Alarm! The cat who didn''t sleep in vaguely remembered that, during the first stage, yers who came in were more focused on independent exploration, and there weren''t as many NPCs willing tomunicate with them. Unlike now, where upon entering, there are different gamey categories avable, allowing yers to freely choose and explore their preferred gaming experience. She brought a faint smile to her lips; this busy yet heartwarming feeling seemed quite nice. "Did you need something from me just now?" The cat who didn''t sleep in looked towards Sister Jiu Yue standing beside her, this girl of somewhat short stature, with a subtle seriousness on her face. It might sound a bit strange to say, but if one had to draw aparison, she would be like an adult version of a one-meter-fifty petite Lolita, though her aura was more like that of a mature woman. Despite her small stature, she exuded a full sense of authority. Lazy Cat often suspected that if she went over and punched her, this somewhat cute serious face would instantly be streaked with tears, switching to a head-hugging crouch defense mode. Thinking this, Lazy Cat felt somewhat tempted to act. Sister Jiu Yue, however, didn''t notice the wicked thought in her heart and simply said with a smile: "Miss, judging by your attire, you''re probably not a novice just entering the game. Since you haven''t chosen a role rted to a job yet, I guess you probably don''t like thebat route. So, I wanted to ask, are you interested in a coboration?" "Oh? How do you want to coborate?" the cat who didn''t sleep in asked, her curiosity piqued. "You just heard what Brother Kael said; he ns to select some people from the bards to be recorders, assistants to the managers, and basic administrative personnel. The Industrial Zone has just been established, and not many people havee back topete for positions here. As an experienced yer, you''re more familiar with Titan Town and should be able to start working quickly..." Lazy Cat chuckled, "You want me to change my job to a bard and then be a grassroots manager in the Industrial Zone, right?" Sister Jiu Yue said seriously, "That''s right, you could also serve as the record officer for Jiu Yue Heavy Industries. After all, Jiu Yue Heavy Industries doesn''t have the excess funds to invest in building factories, and the current construction of the Industrial Zone is based on loans from Lord Mansion in demon crystals. It''s sort of a semi-official enterprise now. I''ve discussed it with everyone at the factory, and we think it''d be better to find an administrative staff member who canmunicate with us than to hire a native directly." Having said that, she seemed to worry that the cat who didn''t sleep in would refuse, so she quickly added, "There''s extra sry, and I''m not talking about in the game, but in real life. I wonder if you''re willing." The cat who didn''t sleep in was stunned for a moment. This game hasn''t even gone into public beta, miss. Are you already investing cash to operate industries in the game? "No need to doubt it. Not just me, but many clubs have already started buying demon crystals from other yers. After all, in everyone''s eyes, the Doors to the Underworld is indeed a project worth investing in, so now that there''s an opportunity, I also want to give it a shot! Maybe a gamble will switch a bicycle for a motorcycle!" Sister Jiu Yue spoke sincerely, which made the cat who didn''t sleep in fall into deep thought. If possible, to improve one''s life while ying a game seemed like a good choice. With this in mind, the cat who didn''t sleep in made up her mind and said, "Getting a managerial position in the Industrial Zone could indeed be a good choice.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om It''s quite a coincidence; I''m an online writer in real life, and the main purpose of ying this game now is for inspiration." The cat who didn''t sleep in said so with an unashamed smile on her face. Sister Jiu Yue fell silent for a moment. She enjoyed reading novels too, and upon hearing this, she knew she had encountered a wild Pigeon Demon. After all, who doesn''t know that the calls of pigeons are never-ending in the circle of online writers? With a plethora of elderly people in Meng Ya Chinesework, short of stamina, one might easily retreat to gather material under the pretense of inspiration. The Hedgehog Mouse subsection of Chinese literature was filled with eunuchs from the Western Factory. As they wrote, it abruptly ended below. Zhui Lu''s Chinese work seems to show an addictive burst of updates, but in reality, it is just four cuts a month, with poor results. Then ghostwriters step in, switch ounts, and begin all over again. Tomato Chinese is popted by numerous elementary school students, probably because parents are a bit stricter, leaving only legends remaining in the martial world. As for Jin Hu Chinese... That ce that produces pce dramas, good or bad, is not the question here, but the number of daily updates can be described as the stic Cai Wenji of the national service. However, when Lazy Cat said this, Sister Jiu Yue was not surprised but delighted, and said, "Isn''t that perfect, Brother Kael''s work won''t drain every bit of your energy, and you can even write novels while ying games, just like the Church of the God of Literature said!" Lazy Cat was startled and looked at her with the eyes of someone looking at a capitalist, "Sister Jiu Yue, you''re asking to be strung up on the streetlights for this!" Sister Jiu Yue shook her head, about to offer a rebuttal, when suddenly a loud boom was heard from afar. "Monsters! We''re under monster invasion!" A panic-stricken voice came, shattering the peace of the small town instantaneously. Kael, who was just about to head into the Dungeon for a monster grinding session, reacted even faster. He had just seen the kind of re that would only be sent up in an emergency exploding in the sky. Immediately, he mobilized the Magic Silk Thread to pull himself along, using the retracting force to fly across the town streets like a bird at a terrifying speed, toward the outskirts of the town. Old White frowned, looking down at his tailcoat. He put it away to reveal the white shirt underneath. He didn''t want to dirty his coat and embarrass Kael. The next moment, a blood-red spell power flickered around him. The entwined spell power turned his expression ferocious, and with a stomp, a gust of wind howled, propelling him after Kael, who was already weaving through the air, catching up to him instantly. Before long, the two of them arrived at the edge of the town where the re had been sent from. What appeared before their eyes were several enormous Double-headed Demon Wolves, encircling a group of yers outside the town with a fierce glint in their eyes, drooling from their open mouths. They looked like a kind of Shadow Wolf variant, their dark fur exuding faint glowing light, a sign of some spell effect enhancing them. The expression on a Mage nearby was rather ugly. He gripped his Magic Wand tightly, defending the Undead behind him, but his trembling legs betrayed how panicked he really felt. The yers, who were originally outside mixing cement in preparation to pave the road, were also in disarray. Amidst the strange sounds of crunching bones, the Double-headed Shadow Wolves brutally tore apart a yer''s body. However, before they could swallow the flesh and blood, it turned into a stream of light and disappeared. Clearly, the yer they had killed was already on his way to resurrection. ...A few minutes earlier... The expression on the Mage''s face was truly horrific. Earlier, when a Double-headed Shadow Wolf lunged at him, an Undead beside him suddenly leapt out and began battling the Shadow Wolf. Before he could cast a spell to save him, the Undead had its neck torn by the Shadow Wolf and toppled to the ground. At that moment, the Mage felt his mind go nk, but what rose swiftly afterwards was intense anger. Someone had died protecting him! With that thought, he, who still retained some rationality, almost immediately unleashed the strongest spell he could Fireball Technique!! Chapter 97 Chapter 94 They’re All Some Unsettling Characters (Extra 4/65) As a signature and most distinctive spell among third-level spells for mages of the energy-maniption school, the expanding Fireball Technique engulfed the Shadow Wolf that had just bitten off the head of an Undead, much like the fury in the mage''s own heart. Searing heat waves sent the Shadow Wolves retreating in fear, but it wasn''t long before the fierce light in their eyes grew even more intense. "So cool!" "Hiss, it looks as powerful as a small bomb!" "Protect C, protect C! Surround the Mage, don''t let the Shadow Wolves get close to him!" The panicking Undead shouted loudly, and despite the chaos in their actions, they used their bodies as a human wall, shielding the Mage in front. The Academy Mage found it hard toprehend his feelings at that moment,first being saved by the Undead, his kin, then seeing this group, clearly weaker than himself, stand in front of him. At that moment, he couldn''t distinguish whether this was reckless ignorance or the shining glow of courage. But he knew, now wasn''t the time to hide behind others; he was a proud Mage. Allowing the weak to die in front of oneself was a disgrace to a Mage. So, even though his heart was still filled with fear when he came back to his senses, he cautiously moved in front of the group. There was something off about that group of Double-headed Demon Wolves; the Mage realized this immediately after casting the Fireball Technique. Although he hadn''t explored the Dungeon for the past year or two, in earlier years, he also ventured into the Dungeon with hispanions C a time he reminisced fondly. Until that night, when they encountered a surging beast tide that nearly wiped out the entire team The Mage, who henceforth lost any desire for adventure, staggered back to the Royal Capital with a few items left from his teammates, and since then lived as an aimless Academy Mage. Past experience told him that the power emanating from these monsters did not originate from themselves. This wasmon. Many Dungeon races, beforeunching an attack, usually had a few special beings known as monster leaders, who would strengthen their kin with unique methods,manding them tounch a death charge. That was the case with the beast tide he faced back then. His face contorted in pain as if returning to that nightmarish night, but fortunately, he still retained his rationality. He must report this to the Lord at once. That was the first thought that came to the Mage''s mind, and he decisively ignited the fuse he had on him. With a burst of me, the fuse shot into the sky, creating an explosion. The territory was rmed! A few minutester Two-headed Shadow Wolves, huh? So, it''s almost that time now. Kael understood and nced at the Academy Mage, showing an appreciative expression on his face. Death always favors fools. If this Mage had chosen to avoid the Two-headed Shadow Wolves at the start, then given the wolf pack''s nature, upon sensing these people as easy prey, they would have swarmed them and devoured all the yers present in an instant. But if someone chose to stand up, things would be different Wolves are smart creatures, and as monsters, even more so. Even when hunting prey, these Two-headed Shadow Wolves would consider the cost of battle. "Alright, leave this to me," Kael told them. However, Kael forgot one thing, that he wasn''t dealing with indigenous folk who would obeymands, but yers who didn''t mind making a fuss. The moment Kael stepped forward, the yers, who had suppressed their fear, bore excited smiles on their faces, howling as they charged towards the Two-headed Shadow Wolves. With an NPC to take the lead, it was now time to vie for the kill. Kael sighed helplessly at the sight. From the native''s perspective, he finally understood why so many NPCs in games would have that indescribable look when mentioning yers. This bunch was truly chaotic when riled up. Fortunately, they had numbers on their side and upon rushing in, they weren''t instantly dragged down and bitten like the earlier yer. On the contrary, the Dark Night Wolves'' ferocity was subdued by this group of fearless individuals. The Two-headed Shadow Wolves, also battle-hardened within the pack of Shadow Wolves, had never seen prey that got more excited when itsrades were killed. It was as if they were the prey, and the yers were the actual hunters! Far from being intimidated by the ferocious action of the wolf pack, the yers instead revealed gratifying smiles, as if ready to go on a killing spree. For a moment, the wolves became clumsy in their attempts to bite and tear at the yers. But after all, they were just a group of ordinary yers who had just entered the game,ckingbat experience, and were not professionals. The Shadow Wolves, having regained their senses after knocking a few yers back and forth soon realized... huh, why do these guys look so damn weak? They are the weak ones, the ones that can be bullied!N?v(el)B\\jnn Their faces, though belonging to a pack of wolves, suddenly became much more ferocious. The yers saw everything clearly and felt provoked. A few yers who stepped forward first wanted to knock one of the Two-headed Shadow Wolves to the ground and then use a shovel to rip a huge gash in its belly. However, they hadn''t expected that a sweep of the wolf''s tail would send one of them flying to the side. Seeing how weak and powerless the yers were, the Shadow Wolves pounced directly onto them. And so, the yers scattered in shock once again. "Get him, get him." "We can''t beat them, can''t beat them ah!" "Save, save, save, save, save..." "Don''te over here!!!" "Idiot, run!" Some yers who bullied the weak but feared the strong realized their attacks didn''t inflict significant damage on the Shadow Wolves; instead, they attracted a mob. Experience exclusive tales on empire As they saw yers being taken down, everyone started running for cover, sprinting away. A look was all it took to confirm they were facing monsters they couldn''t beat. The mages who happened to be nearby were dumbfounded. What''s going on? Weren''t you all so brave? When saving yourselves, you looked so gant, but when your own kind were taken down, you couldn''t care less. Shangtiya Goddess, what species do your childrene from? Just as another yer was about to be sacrificed, Kael could no longer stand by and charged forward. He raised his hand, and a searing ray shot forth. At this distance, which wasn''t too far, he, with his years ofbat experience, urately poured the me Ray into the vicinity of the Two-headed Shadow Wolf''s eyeballs. A shrill scream erupted. But before it could finish its cry, Kael''s second spell attack quickly followed... Energy Maniption Spell: Siege Hammer! With swift casting, the special force field created by the spell was almost immediately unleashed following the searing ray. The Shadow Wolf''s howl was cut short as its body was catapulted into the air. "Can you all be a little more mindful of your safety, always making people worry..." Kael''s slightly exasperated voice echoed around. A hero always arrives when you need them the most! Chapter 98 Chapter 95 The Omen of the Beast Tide (Additional 5/65) Kael sighed and walked in front of the yers. Feeling as if they had caused trouble for Kael, the yers were at a loss for words.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om It was so weird! It was like being scolded by their ss teacher face to face, and they felt inexplicably anxious. But upon seeing Kael''s face, which showed slight concern, they felt a mix of shame and a strange thrill. True to his reputation as the top pick from the world below in terms of looks. Kael, unaware of what the yers were thinking, had no intention of wasting time with the Shadow Wolf pack. He turned back and immediately cast a second-level Shape Power Magic he had prepared for several seconds. The "Gedri Electric Shock Circuit" shot out. The jumping electric light struck back and forth among the Shadow Wolves, causing some of the smaller ones to whimper as their fur caught fire instantly, while the rest of the wolves went rigid with their eyes rolling back, paralyzed. Taking advantage of their weakness. Without another word, the Magic Silk Thread shot out, its movement speed enhanced by a stronger intelligence attribute, making it faster than before. The threads quickly attached to the electrified Shadow Wolves, drawing Kael closer to them. In a gust-like mid-air pull and swerve, Kael traced a beautiful arc through the air, like dancing on the de of a knife, and the immediately released "Frost Flying de" pierced through the throats of several Shadow Wolves. Those that couldn''t resist the electric shock fell one by one as Kael passed by, each dispatched with a single sword thrust It was like a hunter identally getting the super soldier ADC while trying to chase down a support. "Wow, so cool!" "I dere from now on, I am Kael''s dog." "Line up, line up, I was first!" "No way, why is the Mage so strong? Feels like it''s a different game from other sses, how about we nerf the Mage a bit?" "Do you think this is de Sister?" A group of excited yers crowded around the fallen Shadow Wolves. The yer who had almost been bitten to death by a Shadow Wolf earlier walked over and picked up a rock from the ground, poking it at the fur of the Shadow Wolves. The shiny fur almost instantly repelled his rock. That yer eximed, "Incredible, it''s just ordinary fur, but its toughness is alreadyparable to those wild boars that have rolled in the forest mud pits." "Young master, there are traces of Magic Enhancement," Old White said. Kael nodded and said, "That''s normal; although regr monsters do have a desire to hunt, they wouldn''t have a particrly strong motivethese Two-headed Shadow Wolves clearly intended to stealthily sneak around us to scout out the environment of Titan Town." "That''s right, Lord Kael," said an Academy Mage standing nearby in a soft voice. "It was the Undead who discovered these Shadow Wolves. They possess the Divine Arts bestowed by the Earth Mother God, which indeed are unique in reconnaissance." Old White nodded. If that''s the case, it makes sense. He had witnessed the scouting abilities of the Undead before. Given that group''scough, "cautious" nature, it''s indeed typical of them to throw out a scouting Divine Art whenever they see something. The Divine Arts given by the Earth Mother God indeed have their unique aspects, and the discovery of these Shadow Wolves is understandable. Stay connected with empire "Besides the Undead that just died, how many were injured?" Kael asked. "There are 15 with minor injuries and 2 with severe injuries. The Priest is already on the way," answered a nearby Ranger. Kael nced at the Ranger and asked, "Have traces of the Shadow Wolves been found in other controlled areas as well?" The Ranger nodded, "Quite a few. Many of our warriors stationed near the Lower Realm Gate got injured in this assault. These few must have hidden themselves during the recent turmoil." Kael appeared thoughtful upon hearing this. It seemed that the Wolf King in the Twisted Jungle was bing impatient. He looked up at the sky, where the horizon was suffused with red clouds. Such a troublesome autumn! He thought of the time, realizing it was almost winter. In the deep autumn of Lancaster, the air was cool and fresh. A faint, translucent mist floated outside the town, intermittently pierced by the melodious chirping of birds and the sparse pping of wings emanating from within the mist. The disaster of the Shadow Wolf Totem in his previous life had unfolded as Lancaster was on the brink of deep winter. All was silent, the cold wind interspersed with snowkes, turning the Twisted Jungle into a vast expanse of snow. The scarcity of food made the Shadow Wolves increasingly intolerable, so after a winter snow, theyunched an attack on the Lancaster Territory, shing tumultuously with the yers who were beta testers at the time... Oh no, it should be said they were decimated. But this time, the situation had clearly changed. Perhaps owing to the increasingly colder weather, the Huge Hoofed Deer had altered their range of activity. Moreover, since Kael and his people had relocated arge number of these deer to the ins of the territory, it indirectly led to the deer herds, already difficult to catch due to their changing paths, being unable to meet the hunting needs of the Shadow Wolves, prompting the packs to start their assaults on the territory before the depths of winter. It looked like the hallucinogenic Magic Potion he had secreted was aiding the yers in cleverly dismantling the resistance of the Huge Hoofed Deer, while also causing a shift in the situation. Fortunately, everything was still under control. Kael thought for a moment then looked towards the yer who was still stroking the fur of the wolves and asked, "You must be a divine visitor newly entered into the territory. I don''t recall seeing you before." The yer stood up upon seeing Kael looking at him and said, "Yes, I am the White Dove, an Undead who just arrived in Lancaster yesterday." He touched the back of his head, somewhat embarrassed, "I have a habit registered back in the divine realm of going to the mountains to hunt. Is there anything I can help with?" This was a clever yer. Though he looked honest enough, seeing Kael''s query, he immediately realized that he might have triggered some kind of hidden mission. Kael nodded, "The wolves from the Twisted Jungle asionally breach the Lower Realm Gate and invade the border. Our defenses in the border area, although capable of withstanding the wolf attacks to some extent, might still have some weaknesses. The Two-headed Wolves we are now dealing with are ones that have sneaked out from the Twisted Jungle." "I need you to organize a team and investigate whether these Two-headed Shadow Wolves have just entered our territory or have been lurking in the surrounding forests for a long time." The White Dove was thrilled inside, certain of a mission at hand. He patted his chest confidently, "You can count on me. Not to boast, but I am quite experienced in this regard." Kael nodded, knowing already who this yer was. He was another yer with a modicum of fame in his former life. It was said that the White Dove lived around Anling, often venturing into the mountains to pick mushrooms, herbs, and to hunt wild animals that encroached on human settlements. In terms of tracking wild animals, Kael knew that this guy''s experience might not be much inferior to that of professional hunters. This experience had all been umted through actual, hands-on challenges! Chapter 99 Chapter 96 Harvest Festival, Someone from the Lord Mansion Arrives (Additional 6/65) Afterward, the priests hurried to treat the injured yers, and Kael brought those Twin Headed Shadow Wolves, cing them on the supply carts the rangers had dragged along, having them pulled back into town. As they neared the town, he suddenly remembered something and turning his head to look at Old White, he asked, "Grandpa White, when I came out today, I thought I saw a lot of activity at the Earth Mother Goddess Church. Is there a festivaling up soon?" Old White nodded and said, "Yes, the Earth Mother Goddess Church has been preparing for the Harvest Festival. Tonight, the priests and nuns have cleared a space in front of the newly built church to have a small celebration, and I have agreed to it as well."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Hearing this from Old White, Kael recalled that, indeed, it was the time of the Harvest Festival. This was one of the most important festivals for the followers of the Harvest Goddess. They held a festival to celebrate the harvest on the third week ofte autumn every year. If the year''s harvest was good, the worshipers of the Harvest Goddess would buy a batch of grains, fruits, and meats for the residents to consume until all was eaten. If the year''s crop yield was poor, the Harvest Festival would involve prayers to the Goddess for a full granary next year. After the prayer ceremony, people would go to the fields to condition the soil, using extraordinary power to restore the fertility of the soil, reduce pest and nt disease outbreaks, and thus improve crop yield. Therefore, the nonpetitive Harvest Goddess Church always had a good reputation among themon people. emmm~ This situation had continued until the yers arrived, which then saw a slight decline. As soon as Kael and his group entered the town, the nearby residents and yers were drawn to the cart that Kael had brought back, which was piled high with Twin Headed Shadow Wolves like small hills. "Damn, those are some big wolves, and why do they have two heads each?" "What''s going on?! I just heard someone yelling that monsters had broken in, and I was about to go out and take a look!" "Shh, what have these wolves been through? They''re either throat-slit or scorched." The uninformed residents and yers spoke irrelevantly, with one yer, who boasted of being a social ghost, running up to the ranger on horseback and shouting, "Big brother, where did you catch such a huge wolf?" The ranger nced at him, mped his legs around the horse''s belly, leaned slightly forward, and said, "It ran out from the Dungeon, it killed an Undead outside, and several people were injured." "Is this thing that fierce?!" "Hey, I heard that there might be a beast wave happening soon, Lord Kael will probably make some arrangements after that, but for now, just killing them will do." ... Kael did not prevent the ranger from telling the yers this information, on the contrary, it was exactly what he wanted. After disying these wolf corpses around half of the town and attracting many people''s attention, Kael finally pped his hands together, gathered everyone''s attention, and dered loudly to those crowding around, "Everyone, recent times have seen frequent wolf disasters, which have already threatened the safety of Titan Town. For some time now, the rangers will narrow their patrols to the outskirts of the small town to prevent monsters from entering the town. Everyone should also be more cautious during this period, and avoid going out at night unless necessary. As you can see, today outside the town we have captured a batch of what can definitely be considered monsters, the Two-headed Shadow Wolves. It was only with thebined efforts of the Academy Mages and the Undead from the Royal Capital that the invasion of the Twin Headed Shadow Wolves was stopped, and these are the fruits of their battle." Kael said, pointing to the wolf corpses that were still bleeding. After coughing once, he continued, "Considering that it is the harvest season, and appropriately tonight, the Earth Mother Goddess Church will hold a Harvest Festival, the Lord Mansion will arrange for cooks to handle the wolf meat. "I will have the wolf pelts skinned in advance as one of the rewards for tonight''s Harvest Festival, and hand them over to the Earth Mother God Church to handle." "Before Titan Town enters a state of martialw, let us celebrate this year''s harvest with a joyous celebration." "Oh!!!" As soon as they heard there was an event, the yers got excited. The residents of Titan Town gave the Undead a look as if they were seeing a madman for the umpteenth time, until one of the natives unconsciously howled along. Then somehow, gradually, more natives started to howl along as well. It was as if blogger Pandora opened a lousy box, spreading the atmosphere to more people, and soon the streets were filled with joyful shouting. Residents of Titan Town: I don''t know who I am, I don''t know what I''m doing, but anyway, just shouting along seems right! Watching this lively scene, Kael felt somewhat dazed for a moment, as if, for a split second, he had returned to a previous life when he was still a yer. Reflecting on it now, it truly was a strange and lengthy period! It''s just a pity... after all, there is no going back. Recalling those times still feels a bit lonely. After all, speaking of now, he is probably neither a native nor a yer anymore. He shook his head. Why think so much? Having such messy thoughts really is just boredom. He didn''t dwell on it further but instead spread his arms in an embrace andughed loudly: "Everyone, there is no true justice in the war between us and the dungeon races; regardless of whether we win or lose, the side that survives will have to embark on a long journey of continuous resistance against the aliens. This will also be our second time as citizens of Lancaster to embrace the invasion from the dungeon. Before we officially start our counterattack against the dungeon, let us wish for our martial prosperity with this harvest festival. That''s all!" ... As the crowd gradually dispersed, Kael had the Rangers take a cart to the life professionals who could deal with the monster pelts, while he himself returned to the Lord Mansion. "Grandpa White, have all the people been notified?" Kael turned to look at Old White. Old White nodded and said, "I had the nimble-footed youngds go and notify them, but those on the borders probably haven''t arrived yet. You know, Lord, although that side is being held back, the situation is quite troublesome." Kael nodded and walked into the courtyard. Soon, seeing two horses tethered in the stable of the courtyard, he knew someone had already arrived. Indeed, upon entering, Kael saw two knights in light armor sitting there, their eyes still carrying an unsettled fierceness. Upon seeing Kael approach, the two immediately stood up, wanting to salute him. "That''s enough, we''re all friends here, there are no outsiders present. Sit down first, I''ll go change. You two also rx a bit; someone who doesn''t know might think we''re about to duel here." "Sorry, Lord Kael." The two knights took a deep breath and bowed their heads. Kael nodded and then called Hassaka to head to the changing room. Chapter 100 Chapter 97 Knights Gather By the time Kael changed his clothes and returned downstairs, five people were already seated in the living room. He looked towards the two Knights who had arrived earliest, they were Dan and Willfo. Willfo was the more familiar one, primarily responsible for the deployment of Rangers and sentries within Titan Town; including the routes leading into Titan Town, there were around 80 personnel under hismand. As for Dan, he was the one among the four Knight inducted by Anthony with whom Kael had the least interaction. He was mainly responsible for the roaming patrol missions and supply transports across the entire Lancaster Territory. In those more barren areas, scattered viges would asionally suffer attacks from wild beasts or even Monsters lying in wait. Smaller, less formidable beasts were usually manageable by the able-bodied in the vige. But there were invariably some thorny issues that required professional Rangers to handle. Therefore, as a result of his extensive travelling, Dan had the fewest encounters with Kael. Jonathan, who had arrived at some point, was in the midst of a lively conversation with the two of them. Off to the side, Old White was also showing a rare smile. This was a side of Old White Kael seldom saw when dealing with anyone other than Kael himself C rxed and jovial. However, it was understandable, since they had been subordinates to his father all along, not to mention that back when the Rangers were first formed, it was Old White who had personally trained them. As Kael approached, everyone stood up and performed a Knight''s greeting. Kael waved his hand to indicate everyone could sit down, then took his seat and said seriously, "It''s about the time we estimated before; the beast tide has indeede early. It''s better early thante, since if they continued to umte strength in the Twisted Jungle, they would be harder to deal with." "The early arrival of the beast tide is a certainty now, and as it appears, these Shadow Wolves, who don''t possess much intelligence, are showing increasingly strong cooperative fighting abilities. They are even attempting to mimic the Rangers'' assault rhythm, and there''s one thing that''s particrly unsettling..." Jonathan sighed and was about to say something but was interrupted by Kael, "Are you talking about the fact that the Mana reactions on their bodies are getting stronger?" "Yes, Lord Kael." Kael sipped his tea calmly and said, "Today, the Shadow Wolves spotted outside of the town would not normally appear at the edge of the Twisted Jungle, but would stay in much deeper and more dangerous areas. There, they face natural predators and far more formidable opponents C they wouldn''t normally leave theirir unless necessary. It looks like our recent actions have put considerable pressure on the Wolf King!" Kael tapped on the table at an unhurried pace, pondering how to drive the wolf pack back or even exterminate them at the lowest possible cost. Suddenly, a frantic sound of horse hooves came from outside the door. Among the bellowing of horses, the sound of heavy metal dropping could be heard, followed by the ng of armor hitting the ground, and a middle-aged Knight strode into the door. "Kael!" The Knight in heavy armorughed loudly as he entered the door and came over to embrace Kael. He still wore bloodstains on his armor that had not been wiped clean, clearly having been through intensebat before arriving here. "Uncle Barry," Kael addressed the armored Knight, "Everyone has been waiting for you." The Knight took off his helmet, revealing the dense beard underneath, and said with a smile, "Hahaha, a lot has happened in the territory recently! It''s been years since I left the Dungeon for an adventure, and it''s been a long time since I''ve felt this kind of blood-pumping excitement!" "Did you encounter something on your way here?" Kael rose to catch his helmet, his hands wrapped in a magic radiance, gently cing it on the small wounds that appeared on his body. Alteration Magic Second Level Spell - [Mend Minor Injuries]. It was also a choice Kael made when studying second-level spells, preferring to learn a spell model from another system over the shaping spells that Luxius was expert in. Rather than purebat power, what Kael needed now was spells that would work well with the Ranger''sbat system. "Just minor injuries..." Barry said with an unconcerned smile, "The main thing was to see you as soon as possible. By the way, I ran into three Shadow Wolf Guards on the road; their strengthening magic was quite interesting, but no worries, I was stronger, and I''ve already cleared them out for you." Barry casually mentioned the big deal he had just handled as if it was nothing, but the expression on his face was as if he were saying, "Aren''t you going to praise me for dealing with three Shadow Wolf Guards?" Kael raised an eyebrow and asked, "Where did you encounter them?" "Just ten kilometers out from the town in that big jungle. You know, your Uncle Barry is quite sensitive to this kind of jungle warfare; those pesky little creatures can''t escape my eyes. After I found them, I chopped them down right away. If you''re interested, you can send someone to collect their bodies and distribute them to the town. They were quite sizable, after all." His tone sounded as though he was saying, "Ah, you know, the supermarket next door just put their fries on sale," casual with a hint of domestic life, yet given the context of what he''d done, it had an air of Versailles about it. Kael nodded, nning to have someone search the nearby areater. As one of the oldest knights conferred by Anthony, Barry, now middle-aged, clearly had something that no other knight could match: sheer strength. He was the only one of the four knights who had advanced to Transcendent (LV10 and above). Even Jonathan, who had enough talent for the path of transcendence, still had a long way to go to catch up to him, making Barry the strongest known person among those around Kael. Of course, why say ''known''? He nced at Old White, whoseplexion showed no change. HIs old housekeeper was, in fact, the strongest in Lancaster territory among his own people.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Barry looked at Old White and said, "Old pal, that thing you asked me to bring back was quite a hassle. Do you know how much effort it took me to fetch it? Remember to join me for a good drink tonight! I heard that the Harvest Festival is about to start, and those priests must have brought plenty of fine wines. Don''t tell me you''re going to refuse." Old White reluctantly stepped forward, took off the blood-stained cloak from his body, handed it to a nearby maid, and asked them to clean and dry it before saying, "The item is prepared for young master Kael, what, do you have any objections?" Barry, somewhat taken aback, said, "I thought you were just missing your old me, sending me to fetch something from her. Do you know I nearly got killed by those Shiva? If you had told me it was for Kael, I wouldn''t have carried this burden for you; after all, they couldn''t kill you. It should have been thrown at you instead." Seeing Kael''s curious gaze, Old White coughed and said, "Just some old affairs of the young master, no need to delve into them." Then he turned to Barry and deliberately adopted a haughty tone, "Where''s the item? Bring it out quickly!" "It''s not for you." Chapter 101 - 98 Shiva is Really Awesome "Its not for you." Barry waved his hand dismissively and pulled out something that resembled a crystal tear from the backpack behind him, handing it to Kael and said, "Oh, Kael, look, I havent seen you for so long and the moment I return, I bring you a gift." While saying this, he also gave Old White a look that said, "What do you think? If youre not happy,e at me." Kael seriously suspected that if his teacher, Luxius, got any older, he would probably share the same personality as Old Barry, which was somewhat deserving of a beating. Old White simply shook his head, feeling helpless for a moment. How many years had it been, and this guy was still so childish? For him, it didnt matter who personally handed the item to Kael; what mattered was that Kael had received it. "Hmm, whats this?" Kael held the tear-shaped crystal, sensing a pure Frost Cold Power emanating from it, clearly an excellent magic material. Experience more tales on empire "Shivas Tear, a special resource from the Shiva n," exined Old White dryly. Barry, without any regard for decorum, bluntly added, "Resource my ass. When a Shiva suffers from heartache, theres a certain chance shell leave behind a tear that congeals her own mana essence. White here refused to follow that Shiva back to her vige to settle down, which brought her to tears. Shes been swearing for years that shell find an opportunity toe out and kill him. This time, I almost got caught in the crossfire. If Id known it was for Kael, I would have told them that White had found a new love on the outside and had another child, and that child needed Shivas Tear to nurture their Extraordinary Physique. No need to endure an assault of ice magic from a bunch of those women. They would have just given me the tear ande straight over to kill you." "Alright, thats not the point," interjected Old White, sensing his image in the young masters mind was about to crumble, his mouth twitching as he looked at Barry, his face bearing what could be described as a "warm" smile. "Barry, have you not been beaten enoughtely?" Kael ignored the exchange between the two, more interested in the information Barry had inadvertently revealed. What does "had another child" mean? Kael paused, giving Old White aplex look. So the housekeeper had had children all along, and he had beenpletely unaware. "Grandpa White, you could have brought the children to Lancaster Territory. That way, it would be easier for you to arrange their upbringing with them being close by, right?" Barry snorted, "Would he dare? Hes only managed to attract wild women. The Shiva who insists on chastity or else will freeze her partner to death. The female chief of the Amazon Tribe from the northern ins. And even a centaur warrior who has received Divine Favored. If he really were to bring them over, it would be fortunate if our territory didnt turn upside down." Kaels first reaction was "one-third Grandpa White"... He was momentarily shocked. Who could have imagined that the stern-faced Old White had once yed the field so dangerously? But he quickly came to his senses, which was quite expected. After all, from some of Old Whites actions, one could already guess many things. In the end, Barry waved his hand to bring an end to the discussion that had slightly irritated Old White and asked: "Alright, lets not talk about these unhappy matters. The main reason for my visit is to ask if we need to start preparing?" Kael nodded and said, "Shadow Wolves are a great threat to civilians. In open areas, they can burst forth swiftly over short distances and specifically target the weak spots of others. If ordinary civilians encounter them, they will either die or be injured. We can no longer allow them to continue wreaking havoc." Barry interjected, "Kael, winter ising. It would be best to thoroughly subdue them before the heavy snow falls, otherwise, once the snow spreads, the rangers will be hindered by the snowy terrain."N?v(el)B\\jnn Kael looked towards Jonathan and asked, "Jonathan, have the rangers detected any traces of theirir?" Jonathan nodded and said, "We can probably pinpoint a general area, but if we get any closer, theres a high likelihood that the wolf pack will detect us. They move much faster than we can find them." "Do you need me to recall the Gray Eagle Team?" asked Barry after a moment of silence. If Jonathan was to guard the Dungeon, Dan to patrol the surrounding viges, and Willfo to protect Titan Town, then the Gray Eagle Team led by Barry, although also called rangers, was actually equipped with heavy armor andrge horses. They followed the most traditional cavalry path. Their heavy iron hooves gave them an overwhelming impact every time they charged, but such a squad was obviously not well-suited for Lancaster Territorys mountains and swamps. Still, Anthony had insisted on Barry forming this team because it was not magic beasts they were originally meant to guard against... "Uncle Barry, the Gray Eagle Teams main purpose is to guard against the mountain tribes who worship the Storm God and the surrounding lords. Its not yet to the point where the Gray Eagle Team needs toe back," said Kael. Indeed, the Gray Eagle Team was a squad specifically formed tobat humanoid entities, with all its equipment designed to make small-scale charges effective against the troops of other lords. For them to fight against the nimble Shadow Wolves would be somewhat challenging for these iron cans. Oh, by the way, the ones Kael had sent to eradicate the tribes behind the invading barbarians were indeed this surge of steel. "Thats fine, the Gray Eagle Team is not suited for long journeys. Bringing them back would also be torture for theds precious ones (referring to the horses)," said Barry. The Gray Eagle Teams camp is a direct-line distance of neen kilometers from Titan Town, which wouldnt be considered far in a modern society with maglev cars. But in this region without proper roads, in dense woond areas, making the trip could exhaust the horses carrying the heavy cavalry to the point of foaming at the mouth. "In fact, when ites to fighting the Shadow Wolf pack, we probably wont need to call in so manyds. Others couldpletely take the lead on the battlefield. That means youll have to work a bit harder during this time, Jonathan," Kael said with a smile. "Hm?" Jonathan blinked, puzzled if he had received any tasks from Lord Kael recently, but after thinking it over he couldnt figure it out and involuntarily furrowed his brows in confusion. "Stop thinking, Jonathan. This matter was only recently decided. Do you remember how I cooperated with the academy to train a batch of new system Mages?" Kael said with a smile. "Hm? Ive heard about that. Some Mages have been using your pass to go train in the Dungeon recently, but they..." A look of embarrassment appeared on Jonathans face. Could you expect a group of young individuals, who take half a day to cast a spell, to be of any use? Chapter 102 - 99 White-Haired Olivia (Extra 7/65) Jonathan admitted that upon entering the Extraordinary Stage, mages of the same level were quite a bit stronger than those of other professions. But at the Foundation Stage, where a great deal of knowledge and experience still needed to be umted, even the geniuses could not demonstrate significantbat strength until the middle orter phases of the Foundation Stage. To expect them to defend against the wolf cmity was really too hard on those children. "No, not them, the Undead," Kael said indifferently. "I n to invest some resources in the Undead, to enable them to advance rapidly. They are more suitable to be the vanguard in eradicating the Shadow Wolf packs." He paused, looked at everyone, and with a subtle smile on his face, said, "You should know that the Undead have a much stronger desire to conquer dungeons than we do." "But can they grow rapidly? Not everyone is a genius." Kael shook his head and said, "Every visitor from a divine country has something special about them. When that champion chosen by the gods first arrived on the continent, they werent nearly as strong as theyter became." Dan asked, "Dont they possess the ability to never die?" Kael replied, "Yes, but thats not all. Jonathan, didnt you notice that the Guarantor Humans you mentored along with Qing Ya through the icy pools were growing too fast?" Jonathans face soured slightly as he said, "I saw that they mastered some of the abilities of the cursed swordsmen quite easily and thought it was just because they were geniuses." "Its not just that... more fearsome than the Undeads immortality is their ability to grow stronger quickly through battle.N?v(el)B\\jnn Although when ites to handling certain things, they show strong resistance and dissatisfaction, like the incident that happened at the Royal Capital. But when facing certain issues, they have quite a flexible moral baseline..." Kael wasnt blunt about the twisty paths of the Undead, because these guys, in every sense, truly are the fourth disaster. "So, in the uing period, once Ive selected the personnel, Jonathan, they will be under yourmand." Kael said with a smile. "Yes! I will definitely live up to your expectations." Although Jonathan did not fully understand the specifics, he was still resolute in executing Kaels n. Kael did not say much more. He knew that Jonathans assessment of things was an extension of his world view, and it is as fruitless to make him believe in the n from the bottom of his heart as it is trying to win a fight with a keyboard warrior on the inte Until you follow the cable to punch them in person, its pointless. Therefore, Kael chose to let Jonathan witness with his own eyes, witness just how rapidly this group of fourth disasters could spiral, upon receiving the support of the natives. "Lets go, judging by the time, the Harvest Festival will be starting soon. Its probably the biggest event that the town can hold before the end of winter this year." ... [Limited-Time Event: Harvest Goddesss Celebration Festival] [Event Details: With Shadow Wolves lurking all around, Lancaster Territory is about to enter a state of readiness. Before starting the defense and counterattack, the priests from Titan Town have received permission from Lord Kael to hold a festival in the town center tonight, celebrating this years bountiful harvest of the territory. System Reminder: Enjoy the festival, but dont overindulge in drink!] As yers around Titan Town received the system prompt, they began heading towards the town center one after another. In the training grounds near the Lord Mansion, a vast and twisted Teleportation Gate, under the pull of an invisible force, opened in an instant. Not long after, a group stepped through the Teleportation Gate and onto the soil of the training grounds. "Its me." Seeing a Rangering over to check, one person from the group that had teleported stepped forward. The Ranger performed a knightly gesture and said loudly, "Sorry, Lord Luxius, duty calls." With a faint smile on his face, Luxius looked towards his old friend and said, "You guys really, instead of attending the Harvest Festival in the Royal Capital, you follow me to the border for what?" After saying this, he added with a hint of jealousy, "As a Cardinal of the Earth Mother Goddess Church, shouldnt you stay in the Royal Capital and give the festival speech properly?" The one following Luxius was none other than the Cardinal of the Earth Mother Goddess Church in the Duchy of Ennd. He spoke seriously, "My main reason foring to Lancaster is to have a look at those Undead. Dont forget, I especially requested toe to Lancaster for the foundational control of the Undead." "Alright, alright, I know you take those Undead very seriously," said Luxius, sounding slightly impatient, his gaze inadvertently drifting towards the somewhat anxious Lily. His student, upon hearing that he wasing to Lancaster Territory to find Kael, hade up with ame excuse to follow along. All her intentions were already clear, as for why she seemed so shy... He looked towards the red-haired female knight, who wore a rxed smile and donned a student uniform of the Royal Knight Academy. If one were to observe it closely, they would realize that, in terms of quality and attention to detail, it differed drastically from the already exquisite uniforms of the Knight Academy. Being a top Mage, Luxius saw at a nce that the outfit was made of materials only obtained from high-level Dungeons, clearly not something a normal family could afford... Even if this girl named nna was indeed a scion of an emerging Noble family. There are some resources that only can be essed with sufficient strength. So thats it, its Kaels doing, isnt it? Understanding the essence of the matter instantly, Luxius sighed. Id warned this blockhead not to follow, why cant the kid understand? Kael and his fiance obviously have great understanding between them, and neither seems to dislike this marriage arrangement. Lily, I think nna is supremely confident, even if you are a Mage, with your personality... It reallycks a certain ir; I cant lead you there! And moreover... Luxiuss attention turned to the white-haired woman who was drunkenly draping her arm over nnas shoulder, poking nnas face like a lecherous old man. nna, looking helpless, said to the woman, "Teacher, stop messing around, I still need to go find Kael!" "Boring..." The woman waved her hand dismissively and grabbed a bottle of liquor, gulping down several mouthfuls in session. Trouble, why would this woman follow her student here. Dont stir up any trouble now, will you?! Luxius took a few more looks at the white-haired young woman and said, "Long time no see, Miss Olivia." "Yo, isnt this Luxius? You havent been killed by the Saintess of Losanda yet? Thats really something!" The white-haired young woman spoke so bluntly that several of the younger ones dared not speak. Especially Lily, who tilted her head with a somewhat vacant expression, looking at Luxius. Does Mr. Luxius have such a fierce past? Wait a minute, it couldnt be one of those illogical knight novels stories, with the dramatic feud involving a Saintess, could it? Thinking this, Lily, once traumatized from being kidnapped and now somewhat paranoid, quietly took half a step away from Luxius. In case a Saintess wielding a Holy Light Greatsword suddenly appears, with a face showing shes been toyed with by a scoundrel and charging at the teacher, please at least dont let her be caught in it first thing. Discover stories at empire Fortunately, the crowd didnt prolong their jesting and simply moved on with an odd atmosphere, heading towards Kaels Lord Mansion. Chapter 103 The Goddesss Blessing "Strange, why haven''t we seen that old man Tetu since just now?" Olivia, standing by, frowned and then said, "Forget it, who cares about him. I''ll drink my wine and eat my meat." She picked up the big piece of roast meat, bit down, and a joyful expression appeared on her face. Clearly, she too was someone who truly enjoyed the festive atmosphere. Leaning on his cane, Luxius gazed at the twinkling fireworks in the sky, momentarily lost in thought. It seemed like many years ago, he too had frolicked at a celebration like this with a group of people. Back then, beside him were the beautiful girl he liked and the adventurouspanions who fought alongside him. Looking back now, time had unknowingly passed by a lot. Forget it, he thought, I should find a chance to meet those guys, wondering how they are now. ... In a dark corner, the outside was bustling with noise. Three people hidden in the shadows, looking outside, swallowed hard as they asionally caught whiffs of delicious scents, gritting their teeth in frustration. "Bishop Allen, what should we do?" the infiltrator in the shadows said with a near-crying face. "Currently, I can sense more than ten transcendents outside, and some even more terrifying entities that I dare not probe into. If you don''t want to die, just hold it in," said the person referred to as the bishop, grinding his teeththey hadn''t even had the chance to eat today. The ones speaking were Bishop Allen and the infiltrator Chris from the Dark Sun Church. Alongside them was another individual, his head covered with a hood, his mouth gagged, making muffled noises. Judging by therge build, he seemed to be... a barbarian? The Ka people''s speeds were incredibly fast; they hadn''t even had the chance to evacuate when they found that numerous professionals had already settled in the vacant homes nearby. "Trouble, the professionals from Lancaster have been increasing recently!" Bishop Allen snorted coldly. If it wasn''t for... if it wasn''t for the sake of the god he revered, he wouldn''t be hiding like this. He wanted to see his beloved god, but too many threats surrounded the deity. Without a way to distract these threats, he couldn''t get close to His Grace. "Just wait a bit longer!" he could only say this in his heart. Hiding in the shadows, Chris felt utterly wronged; he had been extremely stifled these days. First, the Earth Mother Goddess Church sent a group ofpetent priests and nuns who directly moved into the house next to theirs. Before they had a chance to leave while those priests and nuns were away at church, a Transcendent Mage from the Magic Goddess Church arrived on the right side. The pressure was already high enough, who could have expected the Church of the God of Literature to also step in. They suddenly sent out nearly 30 core members, clearly poised to make a big move in the territory. All this time he had been consulting Bishop Allen for advice, which was actually hinting to Lord Allen that it was toote to leave now. And now, even the knights from the Lion Heart Battle Group had appeared in the town. Trying to slip away directly would definitely be spotted by these stern, great iron cans. In terms of anti-infiltration, the Lion Heart Battle Group had a lot of experience, all learned through blood and tears. After all, in the Royal Capital of the Duchy of Ennd, many infiltrators had already been beaten by the group''s members to the extent that they dared not roam freely in the shadows anymore. In the end, an usation of "suspicion of infiltrators stealing the privacy of Royal Capital residents" might get someone sent directly to the Royal Capital prison to ''enjoy'' the pleasure of solitary confinement in a dark cell. Resist? How could they dare resist! Lose and end up in the hospital, then jail; win and be beaten by even stronger knights, ending up in a longer jail term. Only fools would fight those group members! They get to be happy, it doesn''t concern me. This was the real portrayal in Chris''s heart now. Smelling the aroma of the roast meat drifting in from outside, he felt even more covetous at the moment. He thought about it for a moment and finally couldn''t help but say, "Lord Allen, since the celebration is so lively, I''m going to slip outter to find something to eat. I doubt anyone will notice..." He hadn''t finished speaking when Allen gave him a beating. "This serves you right for being greedy! Who else but us could be Infiltrators in Lancaster! I even saw that the Magic Monarch had already arrived at the territory. Didn''t you hear the inside information from the Church, that His Majesty''s reincarnation was forced to be Luxius''s student? All you care about is your own mouth. Aren''t you afraid of being beaten to death for causing trouble for His Majesty!" Chris let out a wail of misery. How unlucky, why did he have to encounter such a situation? At that moment, a slowly moving cart gradually came to a stop at the end of the road. Unbeknownst to anyone, Bishop Terry had joined the line of carts, pulling one cart with one hand, his eight-pack abs and robust biceps especially noticeable. It seemed every detail was telling others that one punch from him could be deadly. He jumped onto the stage at the end of the road and spread his arms, eximing: "Ladies and gentlemen, as winter approaches, we once again share the joy of harvest, giving thanks to the world for the earth and vitality it offers us, and for our own hard work and the Lord''s guidance. In this time of celebration, I on behalf of the priests of the Earth Mother Goddess Church make a vow We will learn and teach our peers and parishioners about horticulture, herbology, nt ssification, and nt diseases, and we encourage all brethren to restore the fertility of thend not just through grazing and mining but by using crop rotation,posting, and irrigation. We shall offer food to strangers and those in need, freely sharing the blessings of thend. May the Harvest Goddess bless thisnd with evesting peace and prosperity!" The moment Bishop Terry finished speaking, the sky brightened, and everyone seemed to see a brilliance cascading from the heavens, scattering like wheat grains upon the earth. Discover hidden stories at empire The nts and trees under this brilliance began to burst forth with even more vitality, and as the golden wheat-like sparkles fell upon them, an unprecedented warmth enveloped their bodies and souls. The residents and yers of the town were shocked by this scene. Kael was rendered speechless, not expecting that in a situation involving numerous Undead and Bishop Terry officiating, the Church would actually consent to use a blessing.N?v(el)B\\jnn If he remembered correctly, this must be the High-level Divine Skill of the Harvest Goddess, "Spring Fertility of the Earth." Although it wasn''t an attack type Divine Art, it was capable of enhancing the fertility of thend being spellbound and promoting more vigorous and disaster-resistant nt growth. Moreover... He looked toward the golden wheat-like radiance seeming to spread all the way to the horizon. Such a wide-ranging blessing obviously wasn''t something Bishop Terry could have released. Divine Arts are gifts from the deities, and to see such a vision... So it is, the Goddess Shamcia participated as well? The scattering brilliant wheat grains were the remnants of Her grace. Typically, the members of the Earth Mother Goddess Church only holdrge-scale rituals in certain areas experiencing widespread famine, hoping for the Harvest Goddess''s power to protect thend. But now, the Harvest Goddess had bestowed Her grace in a non-special circumstancewhat did this mean? Was this a reward for his coboration with the Undead? Kael looked up at Bishop Terry, realizing he owed this man a huge favor! Chapter 104 What are you doing, Little Incubus (Extra update 10/65) The harvest celebration was nearing its end. Watching the alchemical fireworks gradually fade, Kael couldn''t help but feel a sense of time slipping away. The lively, asionally troublesome yers beside him also looked much more agreeable now. nna supported Olivia. Her burgundy hair mixed with Olivia''s loose white hair. Olivia, reeking of alcohol, held her beer mug high. Beer foam sshed out as she waved it around, clearly she had just got anotherrge mug of beer. "The taste... It''s quite good. Another one, let''s drink up!" The flush on her face was almost the same color as nna''s hair. She swung the beer mug dramatically, her knight clothes outlining her graceful curves. The sttering beer petals were like a sudden summer afternoon rain, passing swiftly, leaving pale yellow stains in the roadside gutters! Watching her struggling teacher, nna felt somewhat embarrassed but seemed quite used to this kind of scene of dragging her teacher around. She nced at her shawl, initially intending to cover her teacher with it but then remembered it was a gift from Kael. Thinking of this, she was reluctant and had to look at Kael with pleading eyes. Kael stepped forward, took off his jacket, and gently draped it over Olivia. "What''s this, Little Incubus? I''m happy today, very happy! Just drank a bit too much!" Olivia struggled a bit, but nna was quick. Without a word, she fastened Kael''s jacket, shrouding the high peaks. Kael admired her drinking capacity. If he remembered correctly, she had fetched ten beers from the wagon in his sight. Such a big wooden mug, ten mugs down, could bloat a person''s stomach. But looking at Olivia, there was only one rise and fall as usual, and her belly didn''t look like it had consumed ten cups at all. Just as nna said, she could really hold her liquor. He took the beer mug from nna''s hand, drank it all in one gulp, and his eyes grew hazy. He quite enjoyed this atmosphere. However, he wasn''t a yer anymore and possessed an Undead Body. Just drinking this cup today to experience the harvest festival atmosphere was enough. Then he said to nna, who looked a bit embarrassed, "nna,ter you still have to escort everyone back, so don''t drink too much." Luxius smiled knowingly. This little rascal, what "escort everyone back"? Among the people present, you youngsters were the least capable, ying tricks like a pro. But he didn''t expose them. Drunk? Impossible! Back when he had just stopped being an adventurer, he used to drink less frequently. After all, alcohol would numb his brain, and he didn''t like the feeling of losing control over his body. He always worried that it would make him less clear-headed during his spell research. But now with his increased strength, evenrge amounts of alcohol could be resolved through spells. Seeing nna still trying to support the slightly drunk Olivia, Luxius said helplessly: "Alright, leave her be. This fellow has no problem no matter how much she drinks." He carefully chose his words and added, "After all, that''s Olivia, the star teacher of your Royal Knight Academy." Sharp-witted, Kael noticed Luxius'' subtle expressions when facing Olivia and concluded she had some special identity that Luxius hadn''t revealed. But since Luxius didn''t seem eager to exin, he didn''t dwell on it. He maintained a calm outlook on the matter. Kael nced at everyone and said, "Why don''t we call it a day?" Just then, Archbishop Tetuwu came over with an ears-of-wheat-like golden rope on his arm and a gentle smile on his face, saying: "Sure, I''ve learned most of what I wanted to know today. These Undead are even moremunicative than I imagined, they just need some minor guidance. The liveliest part of the harvest festival is over now, heading back at this time won''t miss out on much." Kael nodded. He didn''t think Archbishop Tetuwu would harm the yers. In hisst life, although the bishop seldom met yers, his overall stance was to protect kind and neutral Undead. So he looked at the others. Luxius shrugged and said, "You take care of it. I''ve eaten quite a bit at the celebration today, a good rest would help digest the food. Besides, apart from the Undead, the nearby residents following us to celebrate seemed a bit reserved. It''s better to go back early. We''ve experienced it, the remaining fun can be left for them." Kael nodded, then nced at the several knights still toasting each other, and walked over to arrange some staff for festival vignce before leaving. But the few knight captains didn''t return with them. Kael chose to leave the festivities to them. These guys hadn''t met for a while, let alone today''s celebration gathered many people. Kael was also worried about any unexpected changes if they returned too soon. In fact, if it wasn''t for meeting Kael first, at least one of them would have stayed to assist the Rangers and sentries in maintaining order to prevent any idents. On the way back on horseback with nna, Kael shook his tail to sober up using Queen Jasmine''s effect, while also ncing at the game forum on the system panel. As he expected, the forum was bustling too. Chen Xin: "Jealous, my eyes are turning red. I''m still in the vige below doing tasks, can''t make it back in time, missed the game''s first celebration, heartbroken!" This Man Isn''t Very C: "Pain, too painful!" Travelling the Empty Mountains: "What''s so painful? Just do some sliding tackles on a few Shadow Wolves, and you won''t feel the pain!" Push Me to Write: "Damn it! Do you think that''s why my heart aches? My heart aches because of this! Look at the picture!" Push Me to Write posted a picture. It showed Kael feeding nna during the alchemical fireworks, with a cute girl beside them looking envious and pitiful. Comments exploded below: "Damn, where did these two beauties standing next to Kaele from?" "Shocking! The version pet, Incubus, already has one beauty on each side!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Stay tuned for updates on empire "Boohoo, Kael! My Kael!" "I said, stop flirting here!" "Just flirting right here!" Chapter 105 Newcomers of the Twisted Jungle (Additional 11/65) "Damn it, I didn''t even have the chance to be Lord Kael''s dog!" "Do you really want to be his dog? I''m not about to burst your bubble." "Which girl wouldn''t drool over Lord Kael''s looks?" "Forget about girls, even the guys find him pretty drool-worthy." "At first, I thought I only liked pretty girls, but then I realized I just liked pretty." "But that tail of his is really awkward." "Holy shit, guys, check out the picture!" Another photo was uploaded, showing Kael and nna riding on the same horse. nna was in front, and Kael was behind, their bodies close to each other. When Kael held tight to the reins, nna''s body would involuntarily press back a little, making it look as if she had fallen into Kael''s embrace. Thement section was once again filled with cries of despair. Your next read is at empire Kael nced around stealthily and soon spotted a yer in the corner sneakily snapping photos. Heh, quite the gutsy one! "What do we do? I feel like Brother Kael is going to drift away from us!" "As if you ever owned Kael." "Stop it, I''m already drafting an article. Tonight''s story will involve the red-haired female knight maxing out her riding demon skills!" "Hold on, make sure to share it in the group immediately after you''re done!" "Is this something I can enjoy without spending a dime?" "Aren''t you guys worried? What if someone snitches to Brother Kael, won''t you be in trouble?" "Doesn''t matter, I''ll step in when the timees!" Watching this group of goofy yers talking more and more absurdly, and some even starting to use the word "charge" on the forums, the smile on Kael''s face became even more genial. Maybe he had been giving the yers too much in rewardstely, for they seemed to have plenty of time to make up stories about him on the forum. Of course, there were many more yers who weren''t caught up in this. After all, the Harvest Festival was really bustling, and those yers who couldn''t make it to Titan Town right away were wailing in desire to join in. Some yers evenined that the game was too realistic, finding the drunkenness experience to be quite unpleasant. However, perhaps the biggest hot topic of the night wasn''t any of these but the sudden death of a yer, triggering a new achievement. Want Ice Pop had now risen to the top of the forums'' hot search. This guy had eaten so much in the game that his stomach ruptured, leading to continuous blood loss, and in the end, he had no choice but to run back to his corpse for resurrection. Thus, he unlocked the achievement [Glutton Ghost]. "Ice Pop, you''re freakin'' awesome." "We''ve not had few yer deaths recently, but you''re the only one I admire." "Can I ask what it feels like to die of overeating?" Want Ice Pop popped out to reply, "It feels kind of like being pricked by Brother Kael''s tail, forcefully stuffed with a ton of potions until you burst." Nag Me to Write: "Nothing needs to be said, I already have the imagery in my head, and I''m about to update my fan fiction." Braised Donut: "Tell me, who was it that hit me on the head while I was drinking? I got kicked offline in an instant!!!" Of course, with the yers on site messing around like this, those who couldn''t make it were indeed pitiable. ``` Many yers who had left the vige for various reasons to undertake quests or who had stayed in the vige without heading to Titan Town were now beating their chests in frustration. Of course, the inevitable frenzy of the yers also sparked dissatisfaction among some visitors in the forum. "Aren''t you guys behaving as if you''ve never yed a virtual game before, daring to call any game a masterpiece?" "But this game is really fun though!" "Who knows if it''s actually fun? It might just be like Primordial Magic, opposing original PvP but not opposing original demons, beep" "Wake up, this game is realistic in every aspect; the only thing that should probably be led by our country is the risqu content." "Without the fun of the game, it''s like Brother Kael''s tail can''t be described in detail." "Damn it, speaking of which, I haven''t heard of anyone obtaining Brother Kael''s Beacontely."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Kael shook his head. What were these folks so concerned about him for? They should just enjoy the Harvest Festival. Not seeing any need to pay extra attention, Kael didn''t bother to look any further. The more he read, the more irritated he would be... But speaking of which, these yers were going crazy on the forums every day, and he was actually getting used to it! How degrading! ... The next day. In Twisted Jungle Camp, the knights were about to wee a group of neers. At the moment, Kael was already resting inside the camp''s big tent. Unusually, nna and Lily had alsoe along. "Have they arrived?" Kael looked towards Jonathan, whose face wore a solemn expression, seemingly anxious about the yers who were about to arrive. "Jonathan, rx a little. They''re at least Undead, no matter how you torment them, it won''t really hurt them physically." Kael''s words eased Jonathan''s tense expression a bit, but he still said seriously: "Lord Kael, no matter what, as children of Shangtiya, they require more of my attention. Moreover, this matter is rted to your future ns. Regardless, I won''t allow it to fail." Unlike other knight captains, the Dungeon territory expansion and conquest n was mainly overseen by Jonas, who had started to take charge on his own. If yers wanted to advance quickly, they would inevitably need to hunt monsters in the Twisted Jungle. All of this was impossible without the support of Jonathan and his team. Having or not having a corresponding base in the forest meant twopletely different concepts for the yers'' sustainablebat readiness. So Kael, after some thought, decided that the task of leading the yers into battle must still be handed over to Jonathan. Moreover, he was well aware that outside Titan Town, there were even more yers who wanted toe to Titan Town for quests and to increase the fun of the game, and they were continuously flocking here. For a long time into the future, they would be filling up the ranks of those expanding Titan Town. Meanwhile, on the route to Twisted Jungle Ranger Camp. On the supply wagon headed to the camp, a group of yers looked around curiously. "Is this the Twisted Jungle?" asked a yer with a curious expression. "Isn''t it stunning to see those hundred-meter-tall Golden Trees?" Leading them, Sky Mountain Wanderer replied with a smile, then turned his head to a woman who appeared very young yet exuded azy, aristocratic air and said: "What do you think, Nasilia? I told you, this game won''t disappoint us." Nasilia smiled softly and said, "I''ll listen to you, as I don''t have much of an idea about the future direction of the game. If you guys think bing a Mage will be more helpful to the team, I''ll try my best to do well, but don''t scold me if it doesn''t work out in the end." ``` Chapter 106 - 103: The Goddess’s Blessing "Strange, why havent we seen that old man Tetu since just now?" Olivia, standing by, frowned and then said, "Forget it, who cares about him. Ill drink my wine and eat my meat." She picked up the big piece of roast meat, bit down, and a joyful expression appeared on her face. Clearly, she too was someone who truly enjoyed the festive atmosphere. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Leaning on his cane, Luxius gazed at the twinkling fireworks in the sky, momentarily lost in thought. It seemed like many years ago, he too had frolicked at a celebration like this with a group of people. Back then, beside him were the beautiful girl he liked and the adventurouspanions who fought alongside him. Looking back now, time had unknowingly passed by a lot. Forget it, he thought, I should find a chance to meet those guys, wondering how they are now. ... In a dark corner, the outside was bustling with noise. Three people hidden in the shadows, looking outside, swallowed hard as they asionally caught whiffs of delicious scents, gritting their teeth in frustration. "Bishop Allen, what should we do?" the infiltrator in the shadows said with a near-crying face. "Currently, I can sense more than ten transcendents outside, and some even more terrifying entities that I dare not probe into. If you dont want to die, just hold it in," said the person referred to as the bishop, grinding his teeththey hadnt even had the chance to eat today. The ones speaking were Bishop Allen and the infiltrator Chris from the Dark Sun Church. Alongside them was another individual, his head covered with a hood, his mouth gagged, making muffled noises. Judging by therge build, he seemed to be... a barbarian? The Ka peoples speeds were incredibly fast; they hadnt even had the chance to evacuate when they found that numerous professionals had already settled in the vacant homes nearby. "Trouble, the professionals from Lancaster have been increasing recently!" Bishop Allen snorted coldly. If it wasnt for... if it wasnt for the sake of the god he revered, he wouldnt be hiding like this. He wanted to see his beloved god, but too many threats surrounded the deity. Without a way to distract these threats, he couldnt get close to His Grace. "Just wait a bit longer!" he could only say this in his heart. Hiding in the shadows, Chris felt utterly wronged; he had been extremely stifled these days. First, the Earth Mother Goddess Church sent a group ofpetent priests and nuns who directly moved into the house next to theirs. Before they had a chance to leave while those priests and nuns were away at church, a Transcendent Mage from the Magic Goddess Church arrived on the right side. The pressure was already high enough, who could have expected the Church of the God of Literature to also step in. They suddenly sent out nearly 30 core members, clearly poised to make a big move in the territory. All this time he had been consulting Bishop Allen for advice, which was actually hinting to Lord Allen that it was toote to leave now. And now, even the knights from the Lion Heart Battle Group had appeared in the town. Trying to slip away directly would definitely be spotted by these stern, great iron cans. In terms of anti-infiltration, the Lion Heart Battle Group had a lot of experience, all learned through blood and tears. After all, in the Royal Capital of the Duchy of Ennd, many infiltrators had already been beaten by the groups members to the extent that they dared not roam freely in the shadows anymore. In the end, an usation of "suspicion of infiltrators stealing the privacy of Royal Capital residents" might get someone sent directly to the Royal Capital prison to enjoy the pleasure of solitary confinement in a dark cell. Stay connected via empire Resist? How could they dare resist! Lose and end up in the hospital, then jail; win and be beaten by even stronger knights, ending up in a longer jail term. Only fools would fight those group members! They get to be happy, it doesnt concern me. This was the real portrayal in Chriss heart now. Smelling the aroma of the roast meat drifting in from outside, he felt even more covetous at the moment. He thought about it for a moment and finally couldnt help but say, "Lord Allen, since the celebration is so lively, Im going to slip outter to find something to eat. I doubt anyone will notice..." He hadnt finished speaking when Allen gave him a beating. "This serves you right for being greedy! Who else but us could be Infiltrators in Lancaster! I even saw that the Magic Monarch had already arrived at the territory. Didnt you hear the inside information from the Church, that His Majestys reincarnation was forced to be Luxiuss student? All you care about is your own mouth. Arent you afraid of being beaten to death for causing trouble for His Majesty!" Chris let out a wail of misery. How unlucky, why did he have to encounter such a situation? At that moment, a slowly moving cart gradually came to a stop at the end of the road. Unbeknownst to anyone, Bishop Terry had joined the line of carts, pulling one cart with one hand, his eight-pack abs and robust biceps especially noticeable. It seemed every detail was telling others that one punch from him could be deadly. He jumped onto the stage at the end of the road and spread his arms, eximing: "Ladies and gentlemen, as winter approaches, we once again share the joy of harvest, giving thanks to the world for the earth and vitality it offers us, and for our own hard work and the Lords guidance. In this time of celebration, I on behalf of the priests of the Earth Mother Goddess Church make a vow We will learn and teach our peers and parishioners about horticulture, herbology, nt ssification, and nt diseases, and we encourage all brethren to restore the fertility of thend not just through grazing and mining but by using crop rotation,posting, and irrigation. We shall offer food to strangers and those in need, freely sharing the blessings of thend. May the Harvest Goddess bless thisnd with evesting peace and prosperity!" The moment Bishop Terry finished speaking, the sky brightened, and everyone seemed to see a brilliance cascading from the heavens, scattering like wheat grains upon the earth. The nts and trees under this brilliance began to burst forth with even more vitality, and as the golden wheat-like sparkles fell upon them, an unprecedented warmth enveloped their bodies and souls. The residents and yers of the town were shocked by this scene. Kael was rendered speechless, not expecting that in a situation involving numerous Undead and Bishop Terry officiating, the Church would actually consent to use a blessing. If he remembered correctly, this must be the High-level Divine Skill of the Harvest Goddess, "Spring Fertility of the Earth." Although it wasnt an attack type Divine Art, it was capable of enhancing the fertility of thend being spellbound and promoting more vigorous and disaster-resistant nt growth. Moreover... He looked toward the golden wheat-like radiance seeming to spread all the way to the horizon. Such a wide-ranging blessing obviously wasnt something Bishop Terry could have released. Divine Arts are gifts from the deities, and to see such a vision... So it is, the Goddess Shamcia participated as well? The scattering brilliant wheat grains were the remnants of Her grace. Typically, the members of the Earth Mother Goddess Church only holdrge-scale rituals in certain areas experiencing widespread famine, hoping for the Harvest Goddesss power to protect thend. But now, the Harvest Goddess had bestowed Her grace in a non-special circumstancewhat did this mean? Was this a reward for his coboration with the Undead? Kael looked up at Bishop Terry, realizing he owed this man a huge favor! Chapter 107 - 104: What are you doing, Little Incubus (Extra update 10/65) The harvest celebration was nearing its end. Watching the alchemical fireworks gradually fade, Kael couldnt help but feel a sense of time slipping away. The lively, asionally troublesome yers beside him also looked much more agreeable now. nna supported Olivia. Her burgundy hair mixed with Olivias loose white hair. Olivia, reeking of alcohol, held her beer mug high. Beer foam sshed out as she waved it around, clearly she had just got anotherrge mug of beer. "The taste... Its quite good. Another one, lets drink up!" The flush on her face was almost the same color as nnas hair. She swung the beer mug dramatically, her knight clothes outlining her graceful curves. The sttering beer petals were like a sudden summer afternoon rain, passing swiftly, leaving pale yellow stains in the roadside gutters! Watching her struggling teacher, nna felt somewhat embarrassed but seemed quite used to this kind of scene of dragging her teacher around. She nced at her shawl, initially intending to cover her teacher with it but then remembered it was a gift from Kael. Thinking of this, she was reluctant and had to look at Kael with pleading eyes. Kael stepped forward, took off his jacket, and gently draped it over Olivia. "Whats this, Little Incubus? Im happy today, very happy! Just drank a bit too much!" Olivia struggled a bit, but nna was quick. Without a word, she fastened Kaels jacket, shrouding the high peaks. Kael admired her drinking capacity. If he remembered correctly, she had fetched ten beers from the wagon in his sight. Such a big wooden mug, ten mugs down, could bloat a persons stomach. But looking at Olivia, there was only one rise and fall as usual, and her belly didnt look like it had consumed ten cups at all. Just as nna said, she could really hold her liquor. He took the beer mug from nnas hand, drank it all in one gulp, and his eyes grew hazy. He quite enjoyed this atmosphere. However, he wasnt a yer anymore and possessed an Undead Body. Just drinking this cup today to experience the harvest festival atmosphere was enough. Then he said to nna, who looked a bit embarrassed, "nna,ter you still have to escort everyone back, so dont drink too much." Luxius smiled knowingly. This little rascal, what "escort everyone back"? Among the people present, you youngsters were the least capable, ying tricks like a pro. But he didnt expose them. Drunk? Impossible! Back when he had just stopped being an adventurer, he used to drink less frequently. After all, alcohol would numb his brain, and he didnt like the feeling of losing control over his body. He always worried that it would make him less clear-headed during his spell research. But now with his increased strength, evenrge amounts of alcohol could be resolved through spells. Seeing nna still trying to support the slightly drunk Olivia, Luxius said helplessly: "Alright, leave her be. This fellow has no problem no matter how much she drinks." He carefully chose his words and added, "After all, thats Olivia, the star teacher of your Royal Knight Academy." Sharp-witted, Kael noticed Luxius subtle expressions when facing Olivia and concluded she had some special identity that Luxius hadnt revealed. But since Luxius didnt seem eager to exin, he didnt dwell on it. He maintained a calm outlook on the matter. Kael nced at everyone and said, "Why dont we call it a day?" Just then, Archbishop Tetuwu came over with an ears-of-wheat-like golden rope on his arm and a gentle smile on his face, saying: "Sure, Ive learned most of what I wanted to know today. These Undead are even moremunicative than I imagined, they just need some minor guidance. The liveliest part of the harvest festival is over now, heading back at this time wont miss out on much." n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Kael nodded. He didnt think Archbishop Tetuwu would harm the yers. In hisst life, although the bishop seldom met yers, his overall stance was to protect kind and neutral Undead. So he looked at the others. Luxius shrugged and said, "You take care of it. Ive eaten quite a bit at the celebration today, a good rest would help digest the food. Besides, apart from the Undead, the nearby residents following us to celebrate seemed a bit reserved. Its better to go back early. Weve experienced it, the remaining fun can be left for them." Kael nodded, then nced at the several knights still toasting each other, and walked over to arrange some staff for festival vignce before leaving. But the few knight captains didnt return with them. Kael chose to leave the festivities to them. These guys hadnt met for a while, let alone todays celebration gathered many people. Kael was also worried about any unexpected changes if they returned too soon. In fact, if it wasnt for meeting Kael first, at least one of them would have stayed to assist the Rangers and sentries in maintaining order to prevent any idents. On the way back on horseback with nna, Kael shook his tail to sober up using Queen Jasmines effect, while also ncing at the game forum on the system panel. As he expected, the forum was bustling too. Chen Xin: "Jealous, my eyes are turning red. Im still in the vige below doing tasks, cant make it back in time, missed the games first celebration, heartbroken!" This Man Isnt Very C: "Pain, too painful!" Travelling the Empty Mountains: "Whats so painful? Just do some sliding tackles on a few Shadow Wolves, and you wont feel the pain!" Push Me to Write: "Damn it! Do you think thats why my heart aches? My heart aches because of this! Look at the picture!" Push Me to Write posted a picture. It showed Kael feeding nna during the alchemical fireworks, with a cute girl beside them looking envious and pitiful. Comments exploded below: "Damn, where did these two beauties standing next to Kaele from?" "Shocking! The version pet, Incubus, already has one beauty on each side!" Stay tuned for updates on empire "Boohoo, Kael! My Kael!" "I said, stop flirting here!" "Just flirting right here!" Chapter 108 - 105 Newcomers of the Twisted Jungle (Additional 11/65) "Damn it, I didnt even have the chance to be Lord Kaels dog!" "Do you really want to be his dog? Im not about to burst your bubble." "Which girl wouldnt drool over Lord Kaels looks?" "Forget about girls, even the guys find him pretty drool-worthy." "At first, I thought I only liked pretty girls, but then I realized I just liked pretty." "But that tail of his is really awkward." "Holy shit, guys, check out the picture!" Another photo was uploaded, showing Kael and nna riding on the same horse. nna was in front, and Kael was behind, their bodies close to each other. When Kael held tight to the reins, nnas body would involuntarily press back a little, making it look as if she had fallen into Kaels embrace. Thement section was once again filled with cries of despair. Your next read is at empire Kael nced around stealthily and soon spotted a yer in the corner sneakily snapping photos. Heh, quite the gutsy one! n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "What do we do? I feel like Brother Kael is going to drift away from us!" "As if you ever owned Kael." "Stop it, Im already drafting an article. Tonights story will involve the red-haired female knight maxing out her riding demon skills!" "Hold on, make sure to share it in the group immediately after youre done!" "Is this something I can enjoy without spending a dime?" "Arent you guys worried? What if someone snitches to Brother Kael, wont you be in trouble?" "Doesnt matter, Ill step in when the timees!" Watching this group of goofy yers talking more and more absurdly, and some even starting to use the word "charge" on the forums, the smile on Kaels face became even more genial. Maybe he had been giving the yers too much in rewardstely, for they seemed to have plenty of time to make up stories about him on the forum. Of course, there were many more yers who werent caught up in this. After all, the Harvest Festival was really bustling, and those yers who couldnt make it to Titan Town right away were wailing in desire to join in. Some yers evenined that the game was too realistic, finding the drunkenness experience to be quite unpleasant. However, perhaps the biggest hot topic of the night wasnt any of these but the sudden death of a yer, triggering a new achievement. Want Ice Pop had now risen to the top of the forums hot search. This guy had eaten so much in the game that his stomach ruptured, leading to continuous blood loss, and in the end, he had no choice but to run back to his corpse for resurrection. Thus, he unlocked the achievement [Glutton Ghost]. "Ice Pop, youre freakin awesome." "Weve not had few yer deaths recently, but youre the only one I admire." "Can I ask what it feels like to die of overeating?" Want Ice Pop popped out to reply, "It feels kind of like being pricked by Brother Kaels tail, forcefully stuffed with a ton of potions until you burst." Nag Me to Write: "Nothing needs to be said, I already have the imagery in my head, and Im about to update my fan fiction." Braised Donut: "Tell me, who was it that hit me on the head while I was drinking? I got kicked offline in an instant!!!" Of course, with the yers on site messing around like this, those who couldnt make it were indeed pitiable. ``` Many yers who had left the vige for various reasons to undertake quests or who had stayed in the vige without heading to Titan Town were now beating their chests in frustration. Of course, the inevitable frenzy of the yers also sparked dissatisfaction among some visitors in the forum. "Arent you guys behaving as if youve never yed a virtual game before, daring to call any game a masterpiece?" "But this game is really fun though!" "Who knows if its actually fun? It might just be like Primordial Magic, opposing original PvP but not opposing original demons, beep" "Wake up, this game is realistic in every aspect; the only thing that should probably be led by our country is the risqu content." "Without the fun of the game, its like Brother Kaels tail cant be described in detail." "Damn it, speaking of which, I havent heard of anyone obtaining Brother Kaels Beacontely." Kael shook his head. What were these folks so concerned about him for? They should just enjoy the Harvest Festival. Not seeing any need to pay extra attention, Kael didnt bother to look any further. The more he read, the more irritated he would be... But speaking of which, these yers were going crazy on the forums every day, and he was actually getting used to it! How degrading! ... The next day. In Twisted Jungle Camp, the knights were about to wee a group of neers. At the moment, Kael was already resting inside the camps big tent. Unusually, nna and Lily had alsoe along. "Have they arrived?" Kael looked towards Jonathan, whose face wore a solemn expression, seemingly anxious about the yers who were about to arrive. "Jonathan, rx a little. Theyre at least Undead, no matter how you torment them, it wont really hurt them physically." Kaels words eased Jonathans tense expression a bit, but he still said seriously: "Lord Kael, no matter what, as children of Shangtiya, they require more of my attention. Moreover, this matter is rted to your future ns. Regardless, I wont allow it to fail." Unlike other knight captains, the Dungeon territory expansion and conquest n was mainly overseen by Jonas, who had started to take charge on his own. If yers wanted to advance quickly, they would inevitably need to hunt monsters in the Twisted Jungle. All of this was impossible without the support of Jonathan and his team. Having or not having a corresponding base in the forest meant twopletely different concepts for the yers sustainablebat readiness. So Kael, after some thought, decided that the task of leading the yers into battle must still be handed over to Jonathan. Moreover, he was well aware that outside Titan Town, there were even more yers who wanted toe to Titan Town for quests and to increase the fun of the game, and they were continuously flocking here. For a long time into the future, they would be filling up the ranks of those expanding Titan Town. Meanwhile, on the route to Twisted Jungle Ranger Camp. On the supply wagon headed to the camp, a group of yers looked around curiously. "Is this the Twisted Jungle?" asked a yer with a curious expression. "Isnt it stunning to see those hundred-meter-tall Golden Trees?" Leading them, Sky Mountain Wanderer replied with a smile, then turned his head to a woman who appeared very young yet exuded azy, aristocratic air and said: "What do you think, Nasilia? I told you, this game wont disappoint us." Nasilia smiled softly and said, "Ill listen to you, as I dont have much of an idea about the future direction of the game. If you guys think bing a Mage will be more helpful to the team, Ill try my best to do well, but dont scold me if it doesnt work out in the end." ``` Chapter 109 - 106: If Humans Want War, Give Them War! (Additional Update 12/65) While wandering through the deste mountains, Xiao Yous eyes carried a hint of exhaustion. As just one of countless regr yers, she had been mingling with the club memberstely, which drained her energy daily, almost like a full-time job. Had it not been for the vast experiences this game offered her, she even felt she might have given up. The club yers were really harsh on themselves. One must admit, the dedication of professional gamers differed hugely from that of casual yers, tough on NPCs and even tougher on themselves. After a while, this trip was so unevently that it made her remark, "This is surprisingly peaceful indeed! There havent been any Shadow Wolves chasing us on the road today." Xiao You chuckled softly. Nasilia nced at her curiously and asked, "Were there a lot of Shadow Wolves during your quest in the Twisted Jungle?" Xiao You shrugged and said, "If I remember correctly, Sister Nasilia, you were just doing some basic daily tasks before, right?" Nasilia smiled sheepishly and admitted, "Thats true, Im not really into fighting and killing." "So youre not very familiar with the Dungeon situation. This jungle is nothing but ughter, with every species seeking a chance to survive. For us, representing Lancaster Territory to conquer the Dungeon, things are somewhat better as we have a definite advantage in battle, especially when organized humans of the same level fight." Remembering something, Xiao Yous face bore a hint of weariness as she sighed, "Speaking of which, you might not believe this, but the fights in the Twisted Jungle always remind me of when I followed my dads advice and joined a training team. The pain of being drained during training still gives me cold sweats when I think about it." "That bad?" Nasilia looked surprised. For people in the chats of the House of Dog Empire, it wasmonly known that Xiao Yous family was somewhat special, and she had been sent to that team to toughen up and hone her skills against enemies. Even so, she didnt miss out on the rigorous training she needed. Nodding, Xiao You added, "You might remember when I came back from there, went back to grad school, and floored a guy who harassed me with just one punch." Recalling that incident, Nasilia covered her mouth and snickered, "Because of that, you sure got teased a lot in the Empire chats!" "Yeah, now they use my punch to define stages of how robust they are." Xiao You mentioned this with augh and a cry. Initially it was just mentioned in jest, suggesting some beneficial results from her training, but unexpectedly, it turned into a unit of measurement for toughness in the group chat. Those jokers even categorized the stages of toughness from low to high One punch and theyre begging me not to let them die; One punchnds them severely wounded and down; One punch and theyre still alive; The ability to endure more than one and a half punches As for anything higher, the so-called tough guys in the group all imed they couldnt take two punches. Poor Nan Ke, for instance, belonged to the "one punch and begging me not to let them die" category. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Of course, there are the more cowardly ones, like I Love Yi, who ims, "Id lie down pretending to be hurt even before Xiao You throws her punch." "Damn it, Im not like they describe. Im also a cute and gentle girl." Xiao You let out a marmot-like howl. Is Sister Xiao You really that scary? The novice yer listening to the conversation imagined a grotesque figure with three heads and six arms, boasting 40 abdominal muscles, and shuddered in fear altogether. Seeing this, Kong Shan Yi You disyed what could be described as a warm smile and said, "Dont worry, you are newbies, how could I possibly trick you?" The crowd nodded repeatedly. Exactly, youre right! Everything you say is right! Seeing their skeptical looks, Kong Shan Yi You gave a few more pieces of advice and said, "Enough talk, I wont say much more, but actually, you are the lucky ones among this batch of yers. Before you entered the game, NPCs in the Lancaster Territory scarcely had the chance to turn yers into Mages. Now, it seems that Brother Kael, in order to deal with the pack of Shadow Wolves in the Dungeon, has chosen to nurture a batch of Mage yers ahead of schedule. You now not only have ess to new resources for learning the Magic Schools but also receive continuous missions from Brother Kael. I dont know how many yers envy you, so cherish this opportunity." The crowd nodded, most of whom were neers from various clubs, and a few were advanced yers who had already made a name for themselves in other games. Being selected by Kael this time was certainly a cause for joy for them. ... Deep in the Twisted Jungle. Atop a vast and dense Golden Tree, withered leaves were spread all over the branches, curiously not just one tree was like this, but therge patch of forest around it was the same. The brilliantly shining leaves of those Golden Trees seemed to be eroded by some force, massively withering away. "Have they started to act?" atop a leveled tree canopy, a five-meter long white-furred giant wolf coldly said in wolfnguage to its subordinate, "King, the activities of those humans have been increasingtely, and many of our kind who have not yet awakened their Spiritual Wisdom have been hunted." "Thats true, after all, to them, we are outsiders." It lifted its head looking towards the sky, seemingly feeling the ominous power enveloping the entire Twisted Jungle. It was a tentacle of whats known as the Will of the World, tightly kneading the fragmented world it was in. A deep resentment shed in its eyes! Why! Why was their world shattered! Why hadnt they died along with the copse of their world, instead of being treated like toys by another world, thrown into the world fragments reshaped by It. Thinking this, its narrow eyes gleamed with brutal scheming it was hard to imagine such rich expressions on a wolfs face. It knew when it arrived in the Twisted Jungle that if it could defeat the lord outside, it and its kin had a definite chance to carve out a significant portion of the territory as a new habitat for their Shadow Wolf pack. The Twisted Jungle was vast and barely met the survival needs of it and its children, but to expand their pack and re-establish the glory of the Shadow Wolves, it was far from enough. What it wanted was war! Even if this war might lead to the decline of its own kind, as the Wolf King of the Shadow Wolves, it would never allow the future of the Shadow Wolves to be controlled by others. Thus, it jumped onto the tree canopy and howled to the sky. "Cubs, if the humans want war, lets give them war!" The wind, changed!!! Chapter 110 - 107: Paving the Road to Victory with Death! The Shadow Wolf King looked down at his kin converging toward him, his eyes shing with dangerous light. From amon Shadow Wolf, it had grown to where it was today because of its ability to make decisive choices at critical moments. It bared its teeth, emitting wisps of ck fog through the gaps, which spread out and touched the Golden Trees, causing them to wither instantaneously, transforming their shimmering golden leaves into a decayed hue. Beside it, the Shadow Wolf Guardsy prone, emitting whimpers of fear from their throats. If someone were standing here now, they would notice a dirty gemstone embedded in the flesh beneath the white fur on the Shadow Wolf Kings cheeks. It was a gift left by the former Shadow Wolf King, and also a curse. The world of the Shadow Wolf King was dominated by a myriad of beast Totems and their tribes in the Beast World. The Totems waged a war against each other for tens of thousands of years for more power and dominance over more tribes. Of course, all of this was what the Senior Wolf King told it. When it was born, their world was already torn and shattered due to the long wars among the Totems. In the end, for reasons unknown, one day the continent began to copse, the sky ripped open with innumerable dark fissures, and the forests rang with the mournful howling of various beasts. By the time the creatures of the Twisted Jungle came to their senses, they saw a cracked earth and endless cold winds sweeping the edge of the forest. The light of the sky was gradually dissipating, and this continued for over a thousand days and nights. It was born amidst such circumstances. The Totem that Shadow Wolves believed in had already decayed, and before the world was destroyed, although their species overall strength could be considered strong, they ultimately couldnt match those tribes backed by Totems. Moreover, as the Totem vanished, the wolf pack discovered in horror that more and more of the newly born no longer retained their original Spiritual Wisdom. They appeared to be more like the wild beasts before the Totems appeared. This fearful mood persisted for a very long time, until one day, at the barely discernible glimmer in the Twisted Jungle, a pair of terrifying hands suddenly tore it open. Those hands passed over the sky, and the sky was stitched back together, a fierce sun quietly arising. Those hands touched the earth, and the crackednd was filled once more, with vegetation regaining vitality. It seemed as if everything was going to improve... Until on the other side of the forest, thest remaining Totem in this shattered world attacked those hands. It was the Moon Howling Lion Groups Totem, which for some reason turned into a mad lion covering the sky, fought with those hands, and then... was shattered by a single finger from those hands, turning into a cascade of light. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om That terrifying power was reflected in the eyes of the then-young Shadow Wolf King, bing an unfathomable fear. While they were still hesitating, raining blood trickled from the sky, and a massive piece of flesh, embedded with a strange gemstone, fell from the heavens, crashing onto the wolf packs territory. It was half the head of the Moon Howling Lion Totem, its eyes filled with disbelief and the fear of Death, as its presence slowly faded. At that moment, the Senior Wolf King made a decision,mitting an act of great defiance... It devoured the flesh of the Moon Howling Lion Totem, then immediately led the wolf pack to flee far away. The decision proved to be exceedingly wise. Although the Senior Wolf King had not integrated the power of the Moon Howling Totem very well, with the help of its flesh and blood, after some time, he finally managed to utilize the Totems power to begin enlightening the simple-minded tribespeople with Spiritual Wisdom. But... the good times did notst long. The flesh and blood of the Totem, along with the malice that had not yet entirely dissipated within it, constantly eroded the Senior Wolf King. It became increasingly powerful, and just as increasingly tyrannical. Under its leadership, the Shadow Wolf tribe sessfully developed from a small group of merely a few hundred individuals on the brink of extinction to once again flourish. They even sessfully hunted arge number of other tribes that still survived within the Twisted Jungle, acquiring a vast amount of territory and gradually ascending to the top of the Twisted Jungles food chain. However, as the Totems flesh and blood influenced the Senior Wolf King more noticeably, his body began to mutate, and his actions became abnormal. With the power elicited by the Totems flesh and blood in his body, he repeatedly subjected the pregnant she-wolves to the Totems power, ultimately giving birth to a litter of bizarre double-headed wolves. Even more so, he began attacking his own trusted aides who tried to refute him. As the internal environment of the tribe became increasingly tense, the entirety of the Shadow Wolf tribe vaguely showed signs of disintegrating, with the more intelligent Shadow Wolves below growing increasingly dissatisfied with the Wolf King. Those who were still bereft of intelligence, along with the Two-headed Shadow Wolves, werepletely dominated by the Senior Wolf King. Until it sessfully "defeated" the Senior Wolf King. Or rather... the Senior Wolf King realized that he, in his old age, could no longer suppress the corrupt Totem Power within him, and in hisst lucid moment, chose to bet everything on a new era. Thus, after a night of rain, when he emerged victorious and blood-drenched from the battle and consumed the Senior Wolf King, he was the king of the wolf pack! But, it was not enough! "Wolf cubs, it is not enough! We are outsiders; the world beyond the door has no ce for us to live. If we want to earn respect and fear from the world beyond the door, we need war!" The wolf pack roared! The Totem Power on the Wolf Kings body spread continually, with sullied traces of spells flickering over the wolves that cowered at his feet. Although very rudimentary, it was plentiful and more than enough! The Shadow Wolf King knew that if it wanted to have a say in that world, it would need a gratifying victory, or to put it another way... Death!!! With the deaths of countless living beings, he would pave a blood-drenched throne for his tribe! And now, the time hade! During this time, by controlling the poorly rational Two-headed Shadow Wolves with that unclean power and infiltrating them into the territory beyond, he had essentially mastered the state of thatnd. Every Two-headed Shadow Wolf was an embodiment of his will, spying on the movements of the strangely-furred upright apes beyond the door. Tsk, a weak race, not evenparable to the group of red-beaked geese that he had eradicated in his earlier years. Although there were also troublesome opponents who could wield meager Totem Power (spells), he felt he could teach them a lesson in blood. So amidst the rising and falling roars, more than three hundred intelligent Shadow Wolves slowly advanced, followed by thousands of ordinary Shadow Wolves who had not awakened to Spiritual Wisdom but could follow the packsmands. Further back, drooling unintelligently but still mightily powerful were the Two-headed Shadow Wolves. In the distance, in the Twisted Jungle, were thest three adversaries he still dared not guarantee to defeat. Chapter 111 Come Play with Your God of Wealth Daddy "Kill!" God of Wealth charged and swung his weapon, releasing spell power that instantly turned the falling rain into a great mist with his forceful expulsion. One stab! Two stabs! Three stabs! He had not chosen the moremon Cursed Swordsmanship profession; instead, he had directly be a Cursed Knight. After spending some time farming experience points, his basic spear skills had leveled up to LV3, unlocking an associated skill "Combo Spear." He broke the line of the Two-headed Shadow Wolf''s defense with pinpoint strikes, instantly sending one flying. "These creatures really do have tough hides!" Drenched in a mixture of sweat and rain from the intense effort, it was impossible to tell them apart as he moved closer to have a leisurely stroll in the empty mountains. "Very troublesome, we simply can''t inflict effective damage on them." Even considering the frenzied leveling of our group recently, Guarantor with the highest level and strongest Human Soul could not inflict any serious wounds on the pack of wolves. "Eat my hammer first!" Honeydew knew she was only in a position to assist, so from time to time, she controlled Luxius''s Magic Grip to pound down a fierce punch. And the other Luxius''s Magic Grip firmly grasped the short spear, flitting around the periphery of the wolf pack. Actually, while a Double-headed Demon Wolf was still attempting to attack Jonathan, he quietly followed it trying to stab its eyeball.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Obviously, his aim was too poor, and the attack failed. But those few seconds of disrupted rhythm when the Double-headed Demon Wolf attempted to strike gave Jonathan the opportunity to shake off the Shadow Wolf Guard and bare-handedly hammered the Two-headed Shadow Wolf. With one fisting down, he smashed across the Shadow Wolf''s nose, causing it to bleed profusely and lose a chunk of flesh. Any creature would feel pain and fear or show ws when attacked, but the Two-headed Shadow Wolf... well, it onlycked brains, yet pain was indeed real for it. One of its heads seemed to have opened a soy sauce shop under that fistsalty, tangy, spicyall burst forth at the strike, unable to raise its head for a long while. Remembering Kael''s words, Jonathan stayed ruthless towards the enemy, aggressively closing in andnding another punch with his gauntlet-covered fist on its other head. The blow shattered its supraorbital ridge and spewed white fluid, a mighty skill that cracks skulls. In a breath, he had taken the life of the LV7 Two-headed Shadow Wolf, enraging the chasing Shadow Wolf Guards. "Well done!" Jonathanughed loudly, "Come, battle!" He swung his short spear and charged again, his ferocious fighting stance sending ripples through the hearts of onlookers. Those choreographed action movies were nothingpared to this bare-knuckle battle. Witnessing Jonathan''s strength, our party immediately adopted the strategy of sticking close to support him. Qing Ya let out a loud shout as she crossed the frosty pool, thrusting her longsword at a Two-headed Shadow Wolf near Jonathan as if her life depended on it. The Shadow Wolf roared in an attempt to retreat but found that just as it was about to dodge, two Luxius''s Magic Grips simultaneously swung at it. Had it been an ordinary time, such an attack equivalent to that of a LV1 Barbarian''s Frenzy might have been easily withstood by a Two-headed Shadow Wolf, but with a powerful humanoid ape eyeing it menacingly nearby, it was unwilling to get entangled and immediately tried to dodge. But its body still stiffened for a moment, as Honeydew had silently sneaked up behind it and aimed a punch at its vital weak point. The Two-headed Shadow Wolfcked intelligence, but the distant Wolf King controlling it did not. From afar, it felt a phantom pain beneath its loins and flew into a rage. "King! King! Let it go!" A Shadow Wolf Guard diligently tried to stop the furious Wolf King and received a heavy p in return. But seeing the situation below, the Wolf King''s anger continued to burn. It had never before suffered such a malicious insult. These upright apes were even more nauseating than their close monkey rtives in the Totem World! Yet even so, it still felt fear emanating from those creatures. And it knew where that fear stemmed from. These upright apes were stronger than it had imagined andpletely shameless! Exhausting every bit of its willpower, it finally calmed the restlessness in its heart and watched indifferently as the crowd was gradually overwhelmed by the Shadow Wolf pack''s attack. Its own child was about to die, and it would witness it with its own eyes. Although it was not its only child, it indeed cherished this one the most. But... all was for the glory of the wolf pack; whether it was the Senior Wolf King or itself, both were ready to sacrifice everything for the rise of their kind. So it ultimately suppressed that thought in its heart. What it failed to notice, however, was that the pitch-ck gemstone before it had grown even more tainted. ... Apanied by surging magical power, the falling rain was sted away, creating a vacuum. Jonathan''s pistol pierced through a Shadow Wolf Guard, nailing it to the ground before he turned and bellowed toward the jungle: "What are you hiding for? If you want to kill, be ready to pay the price of death!" More and more Shadow Wolves emerged from the shadows. "Sister Nasilia,e a little closer..." Kong Shan Yiyu sighed and pulled her closer to protect her. "Hey, keep it up, don''t die so fast." God of Wealth appeared from nowhere, holding an equipment bag from the camp; he started loading it with the remaining gear. Especially the pistols. yers who had already spent skill points to learn "Luxius''s Magic Grip" were equipped with several pistols each, while the rest, even if they only knew the Mage''s Hand, were armed with iron swords. They knew it was time to fight for their lives. "Protect Mr. Jonathan well; if an attack is truly unavoidable, just take it head-on." Cai Ketongshen discarded the dog''s tail grass from his mouth, smiling grimly, "Hey, idiots,e y with your God of Wealth daddy." Then he charged forward with a gun without any hesitation. The Shadow Wolf King snorted coldly; the tainted gemstone embedded in its flesh flickered slightly, and veins popped around the gemstone as if some power was being drained from its body continuously. It bared its teeth in a grin, spraying a tide-like ck mist from its throat, withering every nt in its path. By the time God of Wealth reached the Wolf King''s side, his face looked as if it had been repeatedly stabbed and ripped by needles, blood beads seeping out from all over, a truly gruesome sight. One that would cause anyone with a fear of densely packed patterns to drop dead on the spot. "There''s something... cough cough, if you''re not convinced, then kill your great God of Wealth, damn it!" God of Wealth continued to curse, regardless of whether the wolves could understand him. The Shadow Wolf King''s icy gaze fell on God of Wealth, revealing a cruel smile. It gestured to the Two-headed Shadow Wolves, their mouths still drooling, as they slowly approached God of Wealth. One of them,cking patience, pounced in an instant, pinning him to the ground in a ghastly scene of dismemberment that unfolded before everyone''s eyes. The scene was so brutal that everyone suddenly realized the images they were looking at had be shrouded in faint shadows. Damn, what''s going on, even the Holy Light Shield is triggered! If the trigger for Holy Light Shield was because of something lewd, then the trigger for the shadow is due to extreme gore and cruelty. After the wolf pack had finished feasting on God of Wealth, the Wolf King kicked the ground; it could hardly wait to savor the screams of these upright primates. Apanied by the curses andughter of God of Wealth, everything soon returned to silence. ...no charge for the following... Once a day, I want all of your favorites, rmendation votes, monthly votes, and auto subscriptions, hand them all over! ?^?^? Chapter 112: Raid, Drawing Lots to Call People When the Wolf Kings cold eyes turned to them, everyone felt a chill run down their spine. Those eyes held not the slightest warmth, and with a long howl to the sky, the mournful sound of the wolf cry seemed toment and plead, silencing even the torrential rain in the night. As it lowered its head, countless ck lights bubbled forth from its mouth, tendrils creeping from the tainted gemstone pulsed faintly. Its throat swelled violently, and in the next moment, a wave of filthy tide, like ck mes, swept toward them. "Those with curse power, release all your curse power!" Jonathan shouted, and the permeating curse power spread outwards once more. He pushed through the crowd, stepped in front, and held his spear across his body like a solid fortress. This Wolf King, how can it be so much stronger than a few years ago! "No, Mr. Jonathan, the fight is ours now." Cai Ketongshens death had shifted the yer teams leadership to the Guarantor with the Human Soul. He stepped forward, bellowing, "All those with curse power, to the front!" After dropping that line, he was the first to stand in front of Jonathan,ughing heartily as he said: "Mr. Jonathan, dont underestimate us! Dont forget, we are the Undead. Its no big deal to give up our lives here. But youre different, you have people to protect, Lord Kael is waiting for you, you cant die here..." Before he could finish speaking, he saw Honeydew rushing past him, running andughing: "Guarantor bro, why say so much, just do it and its done!" "Wait a minute, dont go yet!" The Guarantor didnt even have time to stop her, and the group could only follow her lead and charge forward. Honeydew charged ahead with a roar ofughter, quickly drawing the pack of wolves into the range of Luxiuss Magic Grip. Perfect pitch! The short spear in his hand, under the control of the Magic Grip, was thrown fiercely, shooting towards the Wolf King like an arrow, only to be caught midair by a Shadow Wolf Guard. The short spear broke into two pieces instantly, but the strong momentum still caused the Shadow Wolf Guards body to be pulled back slightly in midair. "Enjoy the justice of my punches, ora! ora! ora! ora!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Under the control of Spiritual Power, the Magic Grip, charged with full force, pummeled the Shadow Wolf Guard with punch after punch... Within a couple of seconds, he was sent spinning by a p to the head from another Shadow Wolf Guard. As Honeydews head slumped, the grip of Mana in midair slowly dissipated. Frustratingly, even the Shadow Wolf Guard that he had attacked was merely shaken off the rainwater upon hitting the ground, seemingly unharmed. Clearly, even a direct attack on a Shadow Wolf Guard was, at Honeydews level, essentially like scraping therapy. After a long battle with little blood lost, it clearly enraged the Wolf King. "You guys need to find someone to notify the others!" The Guarantor with the Human Soul shouted frantically. Kong Shan Yi You said on the side, "Whats there to fear? Do you think Lao Cai willingly went to his death for nothing? He logged off to call for reinforcements!" Hearing this, the Guarantor didnt say another word and followed right up, the iron sword in his hand flickering with a faint enchanting glow as he fiercely stabbed at a nearby Two-headed Shadow Wolf whileughing and swearing: "You should have said so earlier, then I wouldnt have been so torn!" "Youre just too slow to react!" Kongsan Yoyou screamed as a Shadow Wolf Guard that had just pounced over pped her left hand, causing the bones to protrude. "Duck your head." A dull voice sounded, and Kongsan Yoyou subconsciously ducked down. A hurricane whipped past, and the twisted curse power carried a short spear that blew away nine Shadow Wolves in the vicinity and nailed a Two-headed Shadow Wolf to a tree. "I should be the one saying that..." Jonathanughed heartily, "What a joke, whether theyre Undead or not, a Ranger doesnt abandon theirrades and run away like a coward. Come on, wolves, lets fight!" Instead of choosing to hide behind others, whether they were Undead or not, Jonathan still carried the determination to fight alongside them to the end. The howl of curse power enveloped his body, instantly tearing apart the corrosive ck me sprayed by the Wolf King, scattering a dozen continuous curse power sts through the air. He had just recently reached Beginner level 8, but the memories of fighting in the Dungeon for many years seemed toe flooding back at this moment. With each strike of his long spear, it was like a cannon firing, and for a moment, he was fighting off the pack of wolves all on his own. But even so, human strength has its limits. After the frenzied sweep of curse power, they gradually began to fall into decline under the wolves tugging, and it seemed like they were about to be pushed into a desperate situation when the yers on the side couldnt help but smile instead of getting angry. After all... the longer they dragged out the time, the more advantageous it was for them. The pack of wolves was feeling especially troubled now, especially the Shadow Wolf King. It had thought that this ce would only have those weak upright apes that it had seen before, but it never expected that because of some of Kaels ns, there had been some changes at the Rangers main camp. Continue reading at empire The biggest change was that as the originalmander of the main camp, Jonathan would sneak away with a group of newbie Undead to start a monster-clearing journey in the Dungeon. Coming here today was also a coincidence. After all, Jonathan, someone who had spent many years in the Twisted Jungle, realized at a nce that it was impossible to get back to the camp before it started raining today. So he decisively chose to change routes ande to this supply point organized by the Rangers. As a result, they encountered some of the earliest members of the Undead here. It seemed like they had just been through a battle and were resting at the supply point. Speaking of which, this group had a prettyrge number. A squad of more than a dozen people in this jungle usually wouldnt have any issues as long as they didnt encounter arge pack of wolves. Well, thats right, usually means there could still be problems. Just like this, an unexpected rainy night, the Wolf King led his trusted aides in an attack. If they hadnt brought just a small part of the wolf packs main force, all the people present probably wouldnt havested until now. No, thats not quite right either, everyone knew that if it werent for Jonathan and this group of yers who had just changed their job to be professional Mages, dying here would have been inevitable for them. At best, the Undead could have used their resurrection to pass the message on to the Ranger camp. The only thing to be thankful for was that they had not anticipated this event, and neither had the Wolf King. To some extent, both sides had unwittingly rushed towards it. Judging by the time, the Rangers should have also realized whats happening by now. Thinking of this, a crafty smile emerged on the yers face. Chapter 113: Action Plan of the Cruel Incubus (4000 words big chapter, supplementary update 16/65) On the other side, the man did not C immediately attempt to contact his teampanions after logging off. Soon, he received a reply from Kong Shan Yi You. However, they did not anticipate that there would be so many wolves outside, so the man did not C chose not to inform the ranger camp about it. But Cai Ketongshen was different. Cai Ketongshen was undoubtedly a shrewd person. Upon seeing so many wolves, he realized that there might be more wolves in the forest. Sure enough, after scouting the perimeter, he quickly discovered they were surrounded by wolves. In other words, if they didnt think of another way, they would all be wiped out here. But this guy did not immediately choose to confront the wolves. He wielded a long spear, fighting the wolves around Jonathan, and quickly asked if Jonathan still had Lord Kaels beacon. After receiving an affirmative reply from Jonathan, he said without hesitation: "Give me the beacon, Captain Jonathan, let me show you how we undead fight." Jonathan had a puzzled expression. But on the battlefield, there was no time to think too much, so he chose to trust the undead and threw the only beacon he had to him, saying: "You cant use Lord Kaels beacon for something strange!" Jonathan widened his eyes, seemingly warning him. Cai Ketongshen was shocked. Why did the NPCs know that Lord Kaels beacon had skyrocketed in value in the market among female yers and some male yers? But this just proved Cai Ketongshens ruthlessness. Realizing that it was a lost cause, his first reaction was to log off and call for help, his second was to counter the wolves with the current situation. The beacon was his choice. He was not a brainless person, but in this situation, he still chose to provoke the wolves in the most direct way. Obviously, the Wolf King was enraged, revealing one of its attack methods, serving as a failed example for the survivors. The wolves way of retaliating against him was simplertearing him apart and devouring him. This was exactly what Cai Ketongshen wanted to achieve. Because before being devoured, he had already swallowed the beacon. The purpose was for the effect of the beacon oil [Beacon Oil-Queen Moli]n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om [Use: A blended solution made from grease produced by the Greasy Technique, native potions from incubus, and special magic aroma. When sprinkled on others, it leaves a traceable magic aroma thatsts for 12 hours and is difficult to dissipate. It is the product ofbined multiple skills...] Cai Ketongshen didnt care about the buffs for yers that followed. What he wanted was to leave a trace of the beacon on the wolves that devoured him. Since the beacon inexplicably triggered some yers XP, some who obtained the beacon had conducted experiments on it. One important conclusion was that the magic aroma produced by [Beacon Oil-Queen Moli] was not just a smell, but a special effect that was hard to disperse. Even in a heavy rain, a very clear scent trail would remain. Enjoy more content from empire Compared to the Snow Wolf n maid, even humans with less sensitive noses could detect the scent trail if they sniffed carefully. This information was conveyed offline to the yers who remained at the ranger camp and was immediately known by Kael. "Lord Kael, Lord Kael, something bad happened! Our temporary camp in the jungle is being besieged by wolves!" Although he felt the NPC might not believe his words, the rookie yer still rushed outside the camp tent and shouted to Kael, who was reading spell theory books under themp. "Lord, I will immediately evict this unruly undead," said the nearby guard who saw the undeading out of the tent and heading straight to Lord Kaels camp. "No..." Kael put the book down, looking at the new first-level spell skill added to his skill bar, rubbed his temples, and said: "There might really be an issue among the undead. Bring him in!" The guard did not argue further and led the undead in. Soon, after confirming the situation, all yers in the camp suddenly received a new mission. [Emergency Mission: The shadow wolf pack deep in the Twisted Jungle attacked Captain Jonathan and the undead at the camp. Lord Kael now issues an urgent mission, requiring all undead to follow the rangers to the camp and rescue their fellowrades in danger.] [Mission Reward: A substantial amount of level experience points and the qualification to learn certain zero to first-level skills.] [Mission Failure: Captain Jonathans death.] [Mission Victory: Repel the attacking wolf pack, and ensure Captain Jonathans safety. The more undead that survive, the greater the shared experience pool will increase.] Chapter 114 Life Treasury, Kaels Demonic Seduction (4000 words, update 18/65) "It looks like I haven''t arrived toote." As Siria stood there, dumbfounded, numerous grips of Luxius''s spell materialized beside Kael. No, they didn''t seem to be the "Grips of Luxius''s Spell." These spell grips looked even more solid than theirs, as real as any physical object, with even the textures clearly visible.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om A Moon de, tugged by the Magic Silk Thread, instantaneously snapped back to Kael''s side, and the next moment, a pale blue arm burst forth, sending a gust of wind and propelling the Moon de forward. Under the enormous force, the sound of the Moon de slicing through the air swiftly changed from birds chirping to a snake''s hiss. A cold wind howled past, and three Two-headed Shadow Wolves that were hidden in the tree trunk fell abruptly, splitting the thick trunk in two. Nasilia didn''t even realize when they had lurked so close to her. Soaked in a cold sweat, she wanted to say something to Kael, but he didn''t pay her any attention and instead pulled the Magic Silk Thread and rushed towards the battlefield outside the forest, vaguely leaving behind a sentence: "Just stay put, almost all the wild wolves around here have been killed off." In the end, all she saw was Kael''s receding figure, fostering a strong sense of security within her. No wonder he''s called Brother Kael! She praised in her heart. At this rate, she felt she might be just as infatuated with Kael as those little fangirls and fanboys among the yers. "Jonathan." When Kael''s voice came from the woods, Jonathan trembled slightly and immediately sent the Shadow Wolf Guard flying. He hurled his pistol out, aiming directly at the Shadow Wolf King, before turning to look towards the direction from which Kael''s voice had emanated. "Lord Kael, why are you here? It''s dangerous, just sending the Rangers would have been sufficient!" "I am not someone who lets his knights fight at the front while I hide and merely point fingers from the rear." Kael stood by Jonathan, looking towards the Shadow Wolf King with a slight smile on his lips. "I''ve waited quite a while, didn''t expect to encounter it here, and it sure held out well." Kael had made ample arrangements within the Ranger Camp. It''s fair to say that if the Shadow Wolves really had nned an attack on the camp, they would have suffered unprecedented severe damage. Your journey continues with empire Unfortunately, the Shadow Wolf King wasn''t purely a beast; with its intelligence, it had more to consider. But no matter, if the mountain won''te to me, I''ll go to the mountain. Initially, he had only intended to train some of these new apprentices, but unexpectedly ended up hooking a big fish instead. "Grandpa White, stop that Wolf King." Kael squeezed out a chilling intent from his teeth. "At your will." Old White emerged, drawing his longsword. With the longsword in hand, he appearedpletely different from the usual gentle, albeit slightly stern, old man; a chilling murderous intent permeated the air. The nearby Two-headed Shadow Wolves, thoughcking true consciousness and not under the Wolf King''s control, instinctively whimpered and stepped back. "Let''s sound the horn for a counterattack here in advance!" Kael took out a fuse, lit it, and sent it flying into the air. Kael took a deep breath, clearing his lungs; he felt as if he could hear the beating of his heart, slow and deliberate, marked by a clear rhythm. Unsurprisingly, under such conditions, he became even moreposed. Without a doubt, this was enjoyment! He was reveling in the battle! Indeed, he was smiling. Although since arriving in this world, he had been led by the nose by threats from others for quite some time, he neverined about it. Weaklings think aboutining. A true strong person should not only possess strength but also a resilient heart. He felt it was, and indeed, it had always been! "Although it''s Grandpa White''s strength that''s keeping you in check, borrowed courage is still courage," he said as he looked at White, who was overflowing with abative spirit, andughed: "Grandpa White, fight with me in the most dangerous ces!" "It is my honor to serve you." Old White epted Kael''s request with a smile. Kael then turned to the knight beside him, saying, "Jonathan, I''ll join the Housekeeper in holding back the Wolf King. In the meantime, you guys clear the remaining wolves. In a few more minutes, the Rangers will also arrive, and that''s when the real fight will start." "But what about you? How will you manage to hold it back? Mr. White can''t unleash his full strength in a Dungeon of this level; the World Will doesn''t allow it!" Jonathan''s voice sounded anxious. "How to attract it? Quite simple, just like this." The tail suddenly swung forward, rigid at the tip, and snapped open, revealing tiny cute fangs, biting down on his own neck. His gaze slightly scattered, he felt a warm liquid being slowly injected into his veins. It was tingling and numbing, but simultaneously, it seemed as if the hidden strength within his body was being activated. In a daze, he heard his own heart beating intensely. "Want to release more power? Then unshackle yourself, break free from the cage that binds you." It seemed someone whispered in his ear, yet when he calmed down to listen again, it felt like an illusion. He opened his eyes, suppressing all extraneous thoughts, and those starry eyes now turned a soft pink, with a small heart emerging within. Chapter 115 Kaels Little Canine Teeth (and the Incident with Luoluo) Kael''s mind games hit right on target. It is said that what you never forget will surely have a response. But whether that response is filled with love or a death trap woven by Kael with threads of love, it''s hard to say. Does it hurt your heart? If it does, then that''s right. When the Shadow Wolf King tried to save another Two-headed Shadow Wolf, Kael once again used the Magic Silk Thread to entangle its body amidst its chaotic steps. "Despicable! Can you upright apes not fight honorably!?" the Wolf King roared in anger, but it knew the Human couldn''t understand. "Does it matter if we can or can''t? Who cares?" Kael coldly replied. The Shadow Wolf King was stunned for a moment. It had just been venting its rage thoughtlessly, not expecting a reply from Kael. Enjoy exclusive content from empire It didn''t know there was a spell called Language Comprehension. It only felt that since these guys couldmunicate, why didn''t they try tomunicate and insteadunched a fatal attack directly? Hmm, whether it was the one to attack first or not... does it matter? What matters is that too many of its trusted aides had died! But in that instant of hesitation, Kael did not use Luxius'' Skull Shattering Gauntlet to pull the Magic Silk Thread and wound it, but suddenly pulled himself toward the direction of the Wolf King. Quick! Quick! Quick! At a velocity nearly invisible to the yers, Kael, wielding the Moon de, instantly advanced. The Wolf King wanted to dodge directly, but met those pink eyes emitting demonic seduction. For a moment, it thought of the first she-wolf it had... but unfortunately, that she-wolf waster corrupted by the Senior Wolf King. No! What am I thinking! The Shadow Wolf King snapped back to reality, but it was toote. Kael changed his direction lightning-fast, passing by the side of its head and swiftly retreating. A deep gash ran through one of the Wolf King''s eyes, making it howl in heart-wrenching pain. True or false, false or true, Wolf King, you didn''t think I was here to y support, did you... your flesh, your power? Kael opened his mouth, his tongue gently brushing his small canines. At this moment, he indeed resembled an Incubus. The next moment, the cold and ruthless spell strike closed in again. With its vision momentarily impaired, it let out an ear-splitting roar, seemingly trying to scare off Old White. But Old White''s sword had no emotions, only a thirst for ughter. This strike felt entirely different. The Shadow Wolf King couldn''t tell where exactly he targeted, and the ck me on its body couldn''t concentrate in one ce, leaving it unable to avoid or escape. It only heard the sound of flesh being torn apart, the flickering sword light illuminating the darkness, with spell power thicker than blood pouring down. In an instant, flesh was scattered, and a Shadow Wolf Guard fell to the ground, its blood sttering and staining its fur. "Humans" The Dark Night Wolf King howled, addressing Humans for the first time without calling them upright apes. The burning ck me once again mended its wounds. It let out a near-despairing roar, not because it was gravely injured, but because everything it valued was being taken by these terrifying upright apes. They were the future of their wolf pack, cubs it had nurtured for years. And now, everything was gone! "King! King!" The clouds that had obscured the moonlight unbeknownst to them had scattered; clear moonlight shone upon thend. Suddenly, the sound of a charge echoed from afar, ringing through the forest and waking up the already restless night. The crisp and continuous sound of hoofbeats kept rising. The wolf pack turned towards the source of the sound, discovering Rangers holding torches charging in their direction. "Everyone, on alert" Several leading Rangers shouted, and the Rangers following behind them scattered, forming a charging formation. The surge of thousands of people created a stifling sense of shock, and the wolf pack began to panic. The Wolf King felt waves of death''s shadow from the thunderous hoofbeats of the charge; it started to curse its ownck of foresight. It shouldn''t have confined itself here for the sake of avenging a group of weaklings, affecting the entire wolf pack''s attack n. Following the Rangers was another group of Rangers, facing off against a group of shadows from a distance. That was part of the wolf pack it had dispatched, but not the entirety. Evidently, there was a breakdown inmunication among the wolf pack. Only a portion of the wolf pack realized that the Rangers had left the territory they had been upying, heading in the direction of the Wolf King. A significant portion of them might still be staring dazedly at the still-warm campfires in an empty camp... Leading the charge, Dan held his breath, making the following Rangers understand one thing: they needed to concentrate their forces and break through these wolves. The only thing required was waiting for their captain''s order. "All troops" Dan shouted, "scatter!!!" The Rangers, initially charging like an arrowhead, suddenly dispersed, revealing a group of yers behind them. This group consisted mainly of spell swordsmen, all holding wooden short spears. Their levels weren''t high, making it difficult to harm the wolf pack. But they had their own ideas, such as pouring all their spell power into the short spears in their hands, disregarding everything else, just to cause the maximum damage in the shortest time. Short wooden spears shot into the air like meteors, descending like raindrops with the force of their fall. Spell power was a rtivelymon force but differed from normal magic; it had a strong corrosive nature. This was a profession specially selected by Humans in the past to pierce the skin of otherrge species that were difficult to injure. Though most of these yers were Lv1, the spell power infused was not an illusion. The storm of spell-covered short spears ignited the grassy area where the wolf pack stood. The crimson spell power spread, forming a special scarlet field. Dan''s Patrol Team had already rendezvoused with Jonathan''s Steel Teeth Team. The two groups split into 10 Extermination Teams, each consisting of 10 to 13 members. The number of yers was even higher. The number of yers who had been wandering the Dungeon for a long time had exceeded 30,000.N?v(el)B\\jnn Though due to time constraints, only about six hundred yers could keep up, once the numbers reached a certain level, the peculiar reaction between spell powers urred. Most of the time, numbers meant strength, bricks flyingrge! The colliding spell powers merged within a small range, sticking to the wolves like viscous liquid. Although it didn''t harm the wolves immediately, visibly, the special Protection-enhanced fur began to flicker, and the Magic Radiance was corroded at an observable rate. "Hit and run, don''t get close to the wolves!" someone in the yers'' ranks shouted. If anyone had paid close attention to what this group of yers was riding on, they would have smiled knowingly. Chapter 116 The Power of Devilry, Kaels Craving (4000 words, make-up 19/65) It''s a Huge Hoofed Deer! In terms of stature, the size of these Huge Hoofed Deer was enough to bepared with the horses from their original world, whether it was their bodies, speed, or stamina. Of course, the yers hadn''t really tamed this group of deer. If one paid close attention, they would see that in the far distance, a deer of a much bigger size than the ordinary Huge Hoofed Deer was wandering around the edge of the battlefield. That was the Deer King of the Huge Hoofed Deer herd, specially captured by Kael. Just like the Shadow Wolves who had lost their totem, the Huge Hoofed Deer had gradually lost their Spiritual Wisdom many years ago after losing the protection of their totem, bing like wild beasts. But at least a few existences like the Deer King still retained some intelligence. So, after being found by the yers, Kael personally visited and employed the traditional tactics of the Strange Power Chaos God He beat the senseless Deer King with a bizarre barrage of punches until its senses returned, and it agreed to cooperate on the spot. It dly agreed to join the Lancaster Territory, but it requested that the Humans help the deerplete their migration and ensure the prosperity of its species and the safety of its beloved "harem." At this moment, a young female Priest from the Earth Mother Goddess Church, a Druid, was riding on its back. After the Priestess and the Deer Kingmunicated, she hastily summoned a group of deer. At this time, the Priestess riding on the Deer King''s back shouted out in panic: "Ah, slow down, I''m going to fall... Why have all the wolves from the Twisted Junglee out tonight!" With a look of panic on her face, the Priestess had just arrived in Lancaster not long ago and was unaware of the current situation. It was simply because she thought Lord Kael was handsome, and when someone asked her to inform the Deer King, she subconsciously followed along. Now on the battlefield, with the multitude of wolves, even the swift-running Deer King had to make way. Not to mention the Priestess riding on the Deer King. Without a saddle, the rough ride was causing her legs to start cramping with pain. But if you asked her if she was moved, of course, she dared not make a move, not even a bit. The Priestess, who had mastered the Spell for understandingnguage, had nomunication barrier with the Deer King. It rolled its eyes while running at full speed and said: "Or you can get off now? I do not have the Protection of a totem, and I don''t want to get bitten by those pesky wolves." What could it do? It was just an innocent deer, willing to carry a person but never expecting to lead its kind into battle against the Shadow Wolves with totem Protection, not even in its wildest dreams. It didn''t say anything further, but it simply ran even faster. ... Your journey continues at empire "You''ve arrived just in time," said Kael, looking up at the Rangers and yers who were rushing over, his Seductive Demon Eye seeming to grow redder. The Rangers at the very front had already charged forward, with one of them, riding a horse,ughing wildly: "Jonathan, it''s not easy to see you in such a sorry state!" Jonathan didn''t argue and justughed in response, "You came just in time, otherwise you''d have to drink at my graveter." "Kael..." A clear voice called out, and Kael turned in surprise toward the direction of the Rangers. He saw a Ranger with a helmet gallop up to him, dismount, remove her helmet, and reveal wine-red, slightly curled long hair draping over her shouldersit was nna. "You came too? It''s dangerous here!" "Your fiance is not the type to hide behind and watch you fight in the front," the spirited girl winked yfully at Kael, her expression revealing a touch of mischief. He exhaled a warm breath and sighed, "We''re in the middle of a battle, I can''t afford to focus too much on protecting you... If something happened to you, I would get worried." Those words were as good as hoping nna would stay back.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om It might sound selfish, but that was indeed Kael''s genuine sentimenthe did not want anything to happen to this girl before his eyes... Even though he knew he couldn''t respond to the girl''s hopes for support, his heart involuntarily warmed at the thought. "Really, Kael, it will upset me if you behave like this." "...I apologize, I just don''t want anything to happen to you." "I''m teasing you, I''m d to hear you worry about my safety." "..." For some reason, Kael felt like he had just been yfully teased by nna. But the girl''s passionate sentiments tranted into clear words still made his heart skip, and a faint blush passed over his pale face, though theplexity in his heart was quickly suppressed. If I were to battle now, such an inexplicable emotion would probably be very noticeable to others. "Let''s go, it''s time for our showdown with the wolf pack!" He instinctively grabbed Alena''s hand as he passed by her, the hands armored with a slight chill. "Ah!" nna eximed softly when suddenly caught, but she immediately kept up with Kael''s movements. Her cunning gaze lingered on the handsome profile of the boy who wasn''t looking at her. nna suddenly smiled and said, "Kael, your charm is truly great." As she said this, the sword in her hand showed no sign of pausing, striking out with two consecutive bursts of magical power in a shing formation. Chapter 117 - 113 Action Plan of the Cruel Incubus (4000 words chapter, make-up update 16/65)_2 "Damn it, a timed mission!" "Lao Hu, put on your gear, put on your gear. How can you sleep in the game? How can you sleep so easily at your age?" "Form the team, form the team, someonesunching a surprise attack!" "Who the hell dares to mess with our Captain Jonathan? Brothers, for our instructors honor!" "Stop talking crap, someone log off and go to the group, have the admin ping everyone. Those in Titan Town, get up quickly and do the mission." "Exciting! Ive just entered the game a few days ago, and were already ying a team mission?" "Form a team, get a strong assault mage, add a priest, no warriors, quickly form the team!" "Are you looking down on warriors?" The camp was in a state of chaos. But under the organization of the rangers, they quickly advanced toward the temporary base. Of course, they moved in batches. The strongest rangers, confident in their abilities, mounted their fast horses and galloped towards the temporary base. But some moved even faster. Kael could boldly im that in this forested area, with his magic silk thread, he was practically a half-Transcendent Rank. The strength and speed of the magic silk thread depended on Kaels intelligence attribute. In his current state, with his intelligence attribute maximized, it undoubtedly surpassed that of ordinary novices. The power of his exclusive skill was fully exhibited. The Golden Tree was the best anchor. As the thread pulled, Kaels speed through the forest nearly reached the speed of sound. His intelligence attribute was so extreme that his perception couldnt keep up, giving him a sense of time eleration. Luckily, this only affected movement. In normalbat, his perception was still sufficient. However,pared to Kaels lightning speed, Old White, who was always by Kaels side, was even more terrifying. The old butler, d in a suit and tailcoat, matched Kaels rapid pace in the forest with sheer leg power, even asionally surpassing him. N?v(el)B\\jnn Can you imagine an old butler in a suit and tailcoat moving at such speeds without tearing his coattails? Kael, at least, was thoroughly amazed. The two rapidly advancing figures soon heard the sounds of battle from the direction of the temporary base. In the dim moonlight, Jonathans short gun swung like firecrackers, continuously unleashing a series of rapid strikes. yers faces lit up with excited smiles. The visceralbat sent their adrenaline surging. Unfortunately, most of the time, they were just scratchers, providing distractions and protection for Jonathan. In some cases, Jonathan even had to fall back to defend them. "Demacia!" "Take this punch from your dad!" "Blood will flow like a river!" "Ah, I died!" "Hold the line, dont let that guy get close. If the newbies cant handle it, use the mages hand to yank its balls." "Heh heh, got a dumb one" The newbie yerughed excitedly, only to have his head crushed by an enraged Shadow Wolf Guard. But it was worth it. The mages hand had sessfully hit. In the moment that the Shadow Wolf Guard fought Jonathan, it seized an opening. The pain made the Shadow Wolf Guard turn to attack him. But as it killed him, Jonathan grasped the opportunity, grabbed its neck, and twisted it, snapping it instantly. The frenzied wolf pack grew even more agitated with the sudden appearance of Jonathan and a group of novice mages. Especially Nasilia, who had gained a lot of experience points and skill points. Though not adept atbat, Nasilia was a very clever girl. She asionally practiced archery at a club offline and had decent aim, so she mostly stayed out of closebat, moving around the periphery. She would use Luxius Spell Grasp to throw short guns and rocks, not to injure the Shadow Wolves, but just to harass them, preventing them from surrounding Jonathan. Now, two Two-headed Shadow Wolves, under the Wolf Kings control, were hunting her. Nasilia slyly used her wits with Luxius Spell Grasp. She didnt release it to attack like a misced turkey leg, but rather attached it to her back like spider legs, gripping tree trunks, moving between the Golden Trees. She seemed to be casting Spider Climb. The powerful magic hand wrist allowed her to climb far faster than the Shadow Wolves, adjusting her angles at will. This was the innate advantage of Humans and why Kael chose this mage development path. It allowed a yer to gain good mobility and warrior-like attack early on with minimal skill points and simple training. In guilds with their own territories, such a skill development system met the early-to-mid-term skill cultivation needs. It ensured that mages had strongbat power early on and could steadily improveter. Many yers chose this growth path. After all,ter on, exclusive skills could be used to make up for gaps, which was very friendly to free-to-y yers. But this was the end. Against absolute power, fancy skills wouldntst long. Out of magic, Nasilia, standing on a tree trunk, watched Luxius Spell Grasp fade away as it drained her energy bar. Oh no, she couldnt run anymore. It was over! Seeing her situation change from being chased by two wolves to being surrounded by five, Nasilia wondered how to ensure her death wasnt too painful. This game had severe pain penalties for death... Luckily, yers were used to pain after years of virtual gaming. Otherwise, suddenly increasing pain intensity would have led to manyints. Even so, Nasilia still hated pain. As the fight seemed about to erupt, a solid line in the night connected to the tree next to her. A Shadow Wolf leapt at it but was split in mid-air by a sharp weapon. Nasilia only saw the moonlight reflect silver-white light on the weapon, like a warped mirror. Then the Shadow Wolves turned from her to a corner in the forest, lunging toward it. They emitted twisted shadows, seeming to step on some tform mid-air, jumping rapidly to a spot in the forest, spewing filthy ck mes. But quicker than their mes was a shadow darting through the forest. The second Shadow Wolf fell from the air without a sound. Continuous mournful howls followed. The dim forest blocked moonlight, and dozens of shadows darted between the Golden Trees, shrieking like birds. Calm returned, and Nasilia noticed it wasnt bird calls... The sky cleared of clouds blocking the moonlight, casting a soft glow on the forest, reflecting the cold moon des. Metal moon des spun wildly in the forest, the bird-like criesing from their slicing through the air. Dim magic threads formed dense webs in the air. Kael, standing at the webs center, was backlit by the cold moonlight, like draped in a veil. She thought she heard him chuckle. Chapter 118 - 114: Life Treasury, Kael’s Demonic Seduction (4000 words, update 18/65) "It looks like I havent arrived toote." As Siria stood there, dumbfounded, numerous grips of Luxiuss spell materialized beside Kael. No, they didnt seem to be the "Grips of Luxiuss Spell." These spell grips looked even more solid than theirs, as real as any physical object, with even the textures clearly visible. A Moon de, tugged by the Magic Silk Thread, instantaneously snapped back to Kaels side, and the next moment, a pale blue arm burst forth, sending a gust of wind and propelling the Moon de forward. Under the enormous force, the sound of the Moon de slicing through the air swiftly changed from birds chirping to a snakes hiss. A cold wind howled past, and three Two-headed Shadow Wolves that were hidden in the tree trunk fell abruptly, splitting the thick trunk in two. Nasilia didnt even realize when they had lurked so close to her. Soaked in a cold sweat, she wanted to say something to Kael, but he didnt pay her any attention and instead pulled the Magic Silk Thread and rushed towards the battlefield outside the forest, vaguely leaving behind a sentence: "Just stay put, almost all the wild wolves around here have been killed off." In the end, all she saw was Kaels receding figure, fostering a strong sense of security within her. No wonder hes called Brother Kael! She praised in her heart. At this rate, she felt she might be just as infatuated with Kael as those little fangirls and fanboys among the yers. "Jonathan." When Kaels voice came from the woods, Jonathan trembled slightly and immediately sent the Shadow Wolf Guard flying. He hurled his pistol out, aiming directly at the Shadow Wolf King, before turning to look towards the direction from which Kaels voice had emanated. "Lord Kael, why are you here? Its dangerous, just sending the Rangers would have been sufficient!" "I am not someone who lets his knights fight at the front while I hide and merely point fingers from the rear." Kael stood by Jonathan, looking towards the Shadow Wolf King with a slight smile on his lips. "Ive waited quite a while, didnt expect to encounter it here, and it sure held out well." Kael had made ample arrangements within the Ranger Camp. Its fair to say that if the Shadow Wolves really had nned an attack on the camp, they would have suffered unprecedented severe damage. N?v(el)B\\jnn Unfortunately, the Shadow Wolf King wasnt purely a beast; with its intelligence, it had more to consider. But no matter, if the mountain wonte to me, Ill go to the mountain. Initially, he had only intended to train some of these new apprentices, but unexpectedly ended up hooking a big fish instead. "Grandpa White, stop that Wolf King." Kael squeezed out a chilling intent from his teeth. "At your will." Old White emerged, drawing his longsword. With the longsword in hand, he appearedpletely different from the usual gentle, albeit slightly stern, old man; a chilling murderous intent permeated the air. The nearby Two-headed Shadow Wolves, thoughcking true consciousness and not under the Wolf Kings control, instinctively whimpered and stepped back. "Lets sound the horn for a counterattack here in advance!" Kael took out a fuse, lit it, and sent it flying into the air. Kael took a deep breath, clearing his lungs; he felt as if he could hear the beating of his heart, slow and deliberate, marked by a clear rhythm. Unsurprisingly, under such conditions, he became even moreposed. Without a doubt, this was enjoyment! He was reveling in the battle! Indeed, he was smiling. Although since arriving in this world, he had been led by the nose by threats from others for quite some time, he neverined about it. Weaklings think aboutining. A true strong person should not only possess strength but also a resilient heart. He felt it was, and indeed, it had always been! "Although its Grandpa Whites strength thats keeping you in check, borrowed courage is still courage," he said as he looked at White, who was overflowing with abative spirit, andughed: "Grandpa White, fight with me in the most dangerous ces!" "It is my honor to serve you." Old White epted Kaels request with a smile. Kael then turned to the knight beside him, saying, "Jonathan, Ill join the Housekeeper in holding back the Wolf King. In the meantime, you guys clear the remaining wolves. In a few more minutes, the Rangers will also arrive, and thats when the real fight will start." "But what about you? How will you manage to hold it back? Mr. White cant unleash his full strength in a Dungeon of this level; the World Will doesnt allow it!" Jonathans voice sounded anxious. "How to attract it? Quite simple, just like this." The tail suddenly swung forward, rigid at the tip, and snapped open, revealing tiny cute fangs, biting down on his own neck. His gaze slightly scattered, he felt a warm liquid being slowly injected into his veins. It was tingling and numbing, but simultaneously, it seemed as if the hidden strength within his body was being activated. In a daze, he heard his own heart beating intensely. "Want to release more power? Then unshackle yourself, break free from the cage that binds you." It seemed someone whispered in his ear, yet when he calmed down to listen again, it felt like an illusion. He opened his eyes, suppressing all extraneous thoughts, and those starry eyes now turned a soft pink, with a small heart emerging within. Chapter 119 - 114: Life Treasury, Kael’s Demonic Seduction (4000 words, update 18/65)_2 "Next time, dont push yourself so hard." No, this time wasnt a mutter. It was as if someone was truly inside his heart, speaking to him with a tender and caring voice. The voice was very familiar, yet he couldnt recall it at all. But his body felt as if it had been infused with arge amount of fresh blood. His heart pounded, his blood boiled, and it seemed everything began to burn. When he came to his senses, power had already filled his entire body, and a tear involuntarily slid down from the corner of his eye. Kael felt a sense of loss, with a strong impulse to find that voice. The life protection on his head burned brilliantly, like a zing fire. It was the demonic nature he had umted over time, now agitated! That gentle call, like meeting an old friend after many years, seemed to suddenly drift away at this moment, leaving an incredible feeling of emptiness in his heart. "So warm." He clung to the mages simple robe in front of him, still able to feel his chest pounding furiously. His expression was somewhatplicated for a moment. He didnt realize that his body was beginning to undergo some small changes. The illusory incubus wings condensed behind him, slowly spreading. He bit his finger, his expression somewhatzy, with a seductive demonic charm on his face. It seemed as if just looking at his face could make ones consciousness sink deeply. If he usually resembled a chaste and abstinent beauty guarding the Holy Hall, then at this moment Kael seemed to have fallen from the clouds into the mire. The corrosion of the acidic muck eroded his clothes, revealing patches of his fair yet somewhat frail body. At first nce, he evoked the image of the howling wind after a violent storm. It was the shattered pleasure of pure white being defiled. "Die for me... properly!" In the next second, several transformation spells stacked onto his body. [Bears Endurance], Constitution increased by +4, gaining a temporary health bar. [Bulls Strength], Strength increased by +4. [Cats Grace], Dexterity increased by +4. [Owls Insight], Wisdom increased by +4. [Eagles Radiance], Charisma slightly enhanced. To be faster, to be stronger, to be... fearless! The entwined magic silk thread shot out instantly, binding around the Shadow Wolf Kings leg. With his strength enhanced, he didnt choose to pull the magic silk thread immediately with his hands. Instead, a bronze metal hand appeared behind him. [Luxius Skull Shattering Gauntlet] A spell exclusively taught by his dear teacher Luxius and the only 4th-level spell Kael had mastered during this period. Although time was limited, and he wasnt yet capable of mastering 4th-level spells at level 7, he forcibly broke this limit relying on dark knowledge, a vast amount of spell knowledge, and his intelligence beyond his current power. The already thinner and more precise magic silk thread, under immense force, instantly caused the Shadow Wolf King to stumble. The difference in size between them was like a human and an elephant. However, the sudden burst from the Skull Shattering Gauntlet truly burst forth with the effect of a powerful warrior. The leg entangled by the magic silk thread was instantly twisted, causing flesh to fly and revealing spots of white bone under the fur. Such aceration would be lethal to most creatures. Explore stories on empire But not to the Shadow Wolf King. The Wolf King howled, spitting out foul ck mes that instantly burnt the magic silk thread. It fearfully discovered that the half-white-haired upright ape had somehow moved beside it. The in iron sword in Old Whites hand made the Wolf King feel a more deadly threat. It retreated rapidly, but the iron sword relentlessly followed. The spell power condensed on the sword left the de in an instant, carving out several deep wounds on its body, visible in the darkness. He finally didnt spend more energy controlling the two-headed shadow wolf. "Not bad reflexes. As a creature of this level in the Dungeon, reaching your extent is quite fortunate. Is it because you absorbed power that doesnt belong to you?" Old White spoke while his sword didnt stop at all. Torrential spell power gushed out incessantly, leaving enormous wounds on its body. The Wolf King raised its head high, seemingly excited, letting out low growls from its throat, and the bloodthirsty light in its eyes intensified, making its attacks increasingly desperate. The ck mes and the waves of spell power shed, scattering sand and dust everywhere. The Wolf King revealed a cruel yet joyous grin. Since devouring the flesh of the Senior Wolf King, it had not felt such a near-death crisis for a long time. It seemed strange that just this few upright apes couldnt change the battles oue. Did they think they could kill it this way? It had absorbed the totem power! The filthy crystal in front of it shone with ck light again. The veins beneath its fur bulged, and its blood and flesh wriggled slowly, filling the broken wounds on its body. Injuries? What it feared most wasnt wounds but enemies far stronger than itself torturing it. Seeing the Dark Night Wolf King restore its flesh within just a few breaths, Old White was slightly surprised. "High-grade monster flesh, at least above Holy Land. I see. No wonder I felt that those two-headed wolves and the power within you share the same source. Now it seems the essence of those two-headed wolves leaked from you." Old White naturally didnt know that the totem power within the two-headed shadow wolves was injected filth from the Senior Wolf King into the mother wolves about to give birth. Nor did he know that by consuming the Senior Wolf King raw, the new Wolf King inherited control over the two-headed shadow wolves. All he could do was continuously release powerful spell shocks, leaving streaks of blood-colored marks on the Shadow Wolf King. It seemed to sense that he was cheating by borrowing higher-level power. Its limbs were restrained by entangling golden chains, but Old White didnt care at all. "Though suppressed by the worlds will, a strong man, even when his power is reduced, remains a... strong man." Ignoring the Dungeons restrictions, Old White wielded his iron sword like a de storm, tearing the ground apart. As for Kael, he showed even less mercy. After injecting himself with his secret magic potion, his closebat abilities greatly improved. While Old White tangled with the Shadow Wolf King, he used the magic silk thread to restrain the Shadow Wolf Kings movements, forcing it to repeatedly spit out ck mes to break free. On the other hand, he began controlling those cold moon des. Starting from his position, aiming at the bodies of the Shadow Wolf Guard, he threw them with Luxius Skull Shattering Gauntlet. Fierce winds howled! The moon des, sweeping in like a storm, left terrifying scars on the Shadow Wolf Guard. Their fur imbued with protection couldnt stop the sheer violence, causing flesh to fly everywhere. As for the two-headed shadow wolves,cking muchbat experience and losing control from the Wolf King, they were even more miserable under the moon des assault. A moments carelessness, and a head flew off. Some were even tragically sliced in half on the spot or split in two through the fork between their heads. The Shadow Wolf King grew increasingly anxious,unching attack after attack, only to be calmly deflected by Old White with his iron sword. Kael watched the Shadow Wolf King coldly. ording to normal circumstances, he should have gone directly to help Grandpa White suppress the Shadow Wolf King together. But Kael noticed that the Shadow Wolf King never took its eyes off the wolf pack. Even those two-headed shadow wolves, which had be nearly like ordinary beasts after losing the Wolf Kings control in the past life, would inevitably divert some of the Shadow Wolf Kings attention during a crisis, trying to control them directly to evade, avoiding death. N?v(el)B\\jnn If it were a human, Kael would respect its care for its kindprovided it didnt provoke him. But it was a Wolf King. Kael had no sympathy for such a monster. This natural world was just like that. Either the weak sheep were bitten to death, or the weak wolves starved to death. He would allow himself no pause here. He would climb step by step, step by step to the top of the food chain! For this, he didnt mind using a bit of trickery. You care about your wolf pack, dont you? Then try to stop me. Chapter 120 - 115 Kael’s Little Canine Teeth (and the Incident with Luoluo) Kaels mind games hit right on target. It is said that what you never forget will surely have a response. But whether that response is filled with love or a death trap woven by Kael with threads of love, its hard to say. Does it hurt your heart? If it does, then thats right. When the Shadow Wolf King tried to save another Two-headed Shadow Wolf, Kael once again used the Magic Silk Thread to entangle its body amidst its chaotic steps. "Despicable! Can you upright apes not fight honorably!?" the Wolf King roared in anger, but it knew the Human couldnt understand. "Does it matter if we can or cant? Who cares?" Kael coldly replied. The Shadow Wolf King was stunned for a moment. It had just been venting its rage thoughtlessly, not expecting a reply from Kael. Enjoy exclusive content from empire It didnt know there was a spell called Language Comprehension. It only felt that since these guys couldmunicate, why didnt they try tomunicate and insteadunched a fatal attack directly? Hmm, whether it was the one to attack first or not... does it matter? What matters is that too many of its trusted aides had died! But in that instant of hesitation, Kael did not use Luxius Skull Shattering Gauntlet to pull the Magic Silk Thread and wound it, but suddenly pulled himself toward the direction of the Wolf King. Quick! Quick! Quick! At a velocity nearly invisible to the yers, Kael, wielding the Moon de, instantly advanced. The Wolf King wanted to dodge directly, but met those pink eyes emitting demonic seduction. For a moment, it thought of the first she-wolf it had... but unfortunately, that she-wolf waster corrupted by the Senior Wolf King. No! What am I thinking! The Shadow Wolf King snapped back to reality, but it was toote. Kael changed his direction lightning-fast, passing by the side of its head and swiftly retreating. A deep gash ran through one of the Wolf Kings eyes, making it howl in heart-wrenching pain. True or false, false or true, Wolf King, you didnt think I was here to y support, did you... your flesh, your power? n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Kael opened his mouth, his tongue gently brushing his small canines. At this moment, he indeed resembled an Incubus. The next moment, the cold and ruthless spell strike closed in again. With its vision momentarily impaired, it let out an ear-splitting roar, seemingly trying to scare off Old White. But Old Whites sword had no emotions, only a thirst for ughter. This strike felt entirely different. The Shadow Wolf King couldnt tell where exactly he targeted, and the ck me on its body couldnt concentrate in one ce, leaving it unable to avoid or escape. It only heard the sound of flesh being torn apart, the flickering sword light illuminating the darkness, with spell power thicker than blood pouring down. In an instant, flesh was scattered, and a Shadow Wolf Guard fell to the ground, its blood sttering and staining its fur. "Humans" The Dark Night Wolf King howled, addressing Humans for the first time without calling them upright apes. The burning ck me once again mended its wounds. It let out a near-despairing roar, not because it was gravely injured, but because everything it valued was being taken by these terrifying upright apes. They were the future of their wolf pack, cubs it had nurtured for years. And now, everything was gone! "King! King!" The clouds that had obscured the moonlight unbeknownst to them had scattered; clear moonlight shone upon thend. Suddenly, the sound of a charge echoed from afar, ringing through the forest and waking up the already restless night. The crisp and continuous sound of hoofbeats kept rising. The wolf pack turned towards the source of the sound, discovering Rangers holding torches charging in their direction. "Everyone, on alert" Several leading Rangers shouted, and the Rangers following behind them scattered, forming a charging formation. The surge of thousands of people created a stifling sense of shock, and the wolf pack began to panic. The Wolf King felt waves of deaths shadow from the thunderous hoofbeats of the charge; it started to curse its ownck of foresight. It shouldnt have confined itself here for the sake of avenging a group of weaklings, affecting the entire wolf packs attack n. Following the Rangers was another group of Rangers, facing off against a group of shadows from a distance. That was part of the wolf pack it had dispatched, but not the entirety. Evidently, there was a breakdown inmunication among the wolf pack. Only a portion of the wolf pack realized that the Rangers had left the territory they had been upying, heading in the direction of the Wolf King. A significant portion of them might still be staring dazedly at the still-warm campfires in an empty camp... Leading the charge, Dan held his breath, making the following Rangers understand one thing: they needed to concentrate their forces and break through these wolves. The only thing required was waiting for their captains order. "All troops" Dan shouted, "scatter!!!" The Rangers, initially charging like an arrowhead, suddenly dispersed, revealing a group of yers behind them. This group consisted mainly of spell swordsmen, all holding wooden short spears. Their levels werent high, making it difficult to harm the wolf pack. But they had their own ideas, such as pouring all their spell power into the short spears in their hands, disregarding everything else, just to cause the maximum damage in the shortest time. Short wooden spears shot into the air like meteors, descending like raindrops with the force of their fall. Spell power was a rtivelymon force but differed from normal magic; it had a strong corrosive nature. This was a profession specially selected by Humans in the past to pierce the skin of otherrge species that were difficult to injure. Though most of these yers were Lv1, the spell power infused was not an illusion. The storm of spell-covered short spears ignited the grassy area where the wolf pack stood. The crimson spell power spread, forming a special scarlet field. Dans Patrol Team had already rendezvoused with Jonathans Steel Teeth Team. The two groups split into 10 Extermination Teams, each consisting of 10 to 13 members. The number of yers was even higher. The number of yers who had been wandering the Dungeon for a long time had exceeded 30,000. Though due to time constraints, only about six hundred yers could keep up, once the numbers reached a certain level, the peculiar reaction between spell powers urred. Most of the time, numbers meant strength, bricks flyingrge! The colliding spell powers merged within a small range, sticking to the wolves like viscous liquid. Although it didnt harm the wolves immediately, visibly, the special Protection-enhanced fur began to flicker, and the Magic Radiance was corroded at an observable rate. "Hit and run, dont get close to the wolves!" someone in the yers ranks shouted. If anyone had paid close attention to what this group of yers was riding on, they would have smiled knowingly. Chapter 121 - 116 The Power of Devilry, Kael’s Craving (4000 words, make-up 19/65) Its a Huge Hoofed Deer! In terms of stature, the size of these Huge Hoofed Deer was enough to bepared with the horses from their original world, whether it was their bodies, speed, or stamina. Of course, the yers hadnt really tamed this group of deer. If one paid close attention, they would see that in the far distance, a deer of a much bigger size than the ordinary Huge Hoofed Deer was wandering around the edge of the battlefield. That was the Deer King of the Huge Hoofed Deer herd, specially captured by Kael. Just like the Shadow Wolves who had lost their totem, the Huge Hoofed Deer had gradually lost their Spiritual Wisdom many years ago after losing the protection of their totem, bing like wild beasts. But at least a few existences like the Deer King still retained some intelligence. So, after being found by the yers, Kael personally visited and employed the traditional tactics of the Strange Power Chaos God He beat the senseless Deer King with a bizarre barrage of punches until its senses returned, and it agreed to cooperate on the spot. It dly agreed to join the Lancaster Territory, but it requested that the Humans help the deerplete their migration and ensure the prosperity of its species and the safety of its beloved "harem." At this moment, a young female Priest from the Earth Mother Goddess Church, a Druid, was riding on its back. After the Priestess and the Deer Kingmunicated, she hastily summoned a group of deer. At this time, the Priestess riding on the Deer Kings back shouted out in panic: "Ah, slow down, Im going to fall... Why have all the wolves from the Twisted Junglee out tonight!" With a look of panic on her face, the Priestess had just arrived in Lancaster not long ago and was unaware of the current situation. It was simply because she thought Lord Kael was handsome, and when someone asked her to inform the Deer King, she subconsciously followed along. Now on the battlefield, with the multitude of wolves, even the swift-running Deer King had to make way. Not to mention the Priestess riding on the Deer King. Without a saddle, the rough ride was causing her legs to start cramping with pain. But if you asked her if she was moved, of course, she dared not make a move, not even a bit. The Priestess, who had mastered the Spell for understandingnguage, had nomunication barrier with the Deer King. It rolled its eyes while running at full speed and said: "Or you can get off now? I do not have the Protection of a totem, and I dont want to get bitten by those pesky wolves." What could it do? It was just an innocent deer, willing to carry a person but never expecting to lead its kind into battle against the Shadow Wolves with totem Protection, not even in its wildest dreams. It didnt say anything further, but it simply ran even faster. ... n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Your journey continues at empire "Youve arrived just in time," said Kael, looking up at the Rangers and yers who were rushing over, his Seductive Demon Eye seeming to grow redder. The Rangers at the very front had already charged forward, with one of them, riding a horse,ughing wildly: "Jonathan, its not easy to see you in such a sorry state!" Jonathan didnt argue and justughed in response, "You came just in time, otherwise youd have to drink at my graveter." "Kael..." A clear voice called out, and Kael turned in surprise toward the direction of the Rangers. He saw a Ranger with a helmet gallop up to him, dismount, remove her helmet, and reveal wine-red, slightly curled long hair draping over her shouldersit was nna. "You came too? Its dangerous here!" "Your fiance is not the type to hide behind and watch you fight in the front," the spirited girl winked yfully at Kael, her expression revealing a touch of mischief. He exhaled a warm breath and sighed, "Were in the middle of a battle, I cant afford to focus too much on protecting you... If something happened to you, I would get worried." Those words were as good as hoping nna would stay back. It might sound selfish, but that was indeed Kaels genuine sentimenthe did not want anything to happen to this girl before his eyes... Even though he knew he couldnt respond to the girls hopes for support, his heart involuntarily warmed at the thought. "Really, Kael, it will upset me if you behave like this." "...I apologize, I just dont want anything to happen to you." "Im teasing you, Im d to hear you worry about my safety." "..." For some reason, Kael felt like he had just been yfully teased by nna. But the girls passionate sentiments tranted into clear words still made his heart skip, and a faint blush passed over his pale face, though theplexity in his heart was quickly suppressed. If I were to battle now, such an inexplicable emotion would probably be very noticeable to others. "Lets go, its time for our showdown with the wolf pack!" He instinctively grabbed Alenas hand as he passed by her, the hands armored with a slight chill. "Ah!" nna eximed softly when suddenly caught, but she immediately kept up with Kaels movements. Her cunning gaze lingered on the handsome profile of the boy who wasnt looking at her. nna suddenly smiled and said, "Kael, your charm is truly great." As she said this, the sword in her hand showed no sign of pausing, striking out with two consecutive bursts of magical power in a shing formation. Chapter 122 - 116 The Power of Devilry, Kael’s Craving (4000 words, make-up 19/65)_2 The two-headed shadow wolves under the Wolf Kings control were forced back. This impact was far more lethal than Kael had anticipated, and he instinctively nced at the sword in the girls hand. "Magic relic?" Kael was stunned. He didnt expect the girl to possess a magical relic; such things werent cheap and were difficult to craft. "The Decree Sword. It was my birthday present from my teacher this year. Its said to be a weapon she used to wield." The girl showed a proud expression; after all, she was a genius of the Royal Knight Academy. Kael could only sigh inwardly. That white-haired drunken female teacher was really wealthy, giving away a magical relic just like that. The perceptive nna had also received formal knight education. When she saw Old White standing opposite the Shadow Wolf King from afar, she couldnt help but admire the pure and stable magic power. Such a calm and pure magic power, and such precise and killing swordsmanship. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om One day, I too will reach such a domain. "If I could have that kind of power, I wouldnt need Kael to be distracted by protecting me and could stand by his side without hesitation," nna thought sincerely. "Ill help you defend against the other wolves, Kael. Focus on fighting the Wolf King!" nna said with a smile. "Although it feels like youre attracting more girls attention now, isnt that right?" Kael didnt have time to think deeply. Suddenly, the almost dissipated [Luxiuss Grasp of Spells] reappeared on the battlefield. The arms generated by the Grasp of Spells were more agile than the yers, reaching a level close to Kaels speed and even faster. Moreover, they cleverly targeted the eyes and lower parts of the shadow wolves. So its Senior Sister Lily? Kael didnt think much about it. After confirming nnas ability to protect herself, he charged forward again. Reinforcements had arrived. This was the best moment to eliminate the Wolf King. He vaguely felt that his current state, although his strength had improved, his emotions seemed to have be more unstable. He almost flew away from nnas side, not because of shyness, but because he noticed that after the activation of the Life Treasury and the arousal of his demonic nature, his mentality had changed subtly. Under usual circumstances, even closer contact with nna wouldnt cause such significant emotional fluctuation. But now, when he looked at nna, her exposed white wrist, her slender and charming neck, the small part of her lower abdomen revealed by the wind lifting her knight clothes... And then involuntarily thinking about her thighs, thinking about the beautiful scenery of Dawns light on the undting mountains, thinking about the vitality in the spring season, and finally, that natural scenery transformed into the slight redness on the girls cheeks. This did not align with his usual character... Ah, so this is the demonic nature of an Incubus. Essentially, its an intense desire for lust? With his greatly improved spell knowledge, he quickly understood the cause and couldnt help butugh and cry. He didnt know if the Little New Star had this kind of situation, but after thinking it over, he concluded that as a yer, he wouldnt be directly confused by the intense emotions attached to in-game skills. In some ways, that Little New Star might have thus avoided the biggest "hidden danger" of the Life Treasury. He didnt dislike this feeling, but... But it seemed that he could no longer suppress the desire in his body! He bit his lip to calm himself down. Now was not the time... Yes, after it was over... At this moment, the explosions and conflicts on the battlefield had reached their peak. Rangers against wolves, yers against wolves, knights against wolvesall fought fiercely, and the sounds of battle echoed through the surrounding woods, startling birds into silence. Those wolves in the distance were blocked by another group of Rangers. yers who knew the core battlefield was too dangerous didnt all stay on-site for the Wolf Kings siege but, led by a few yer leaders, turned to attack the teams trying to assist the Wolf King. "Even if they can resurrect, do these undead have no fear of Death?" Barry, who was experiencing a real yer encounter for the first time, looked surprised. As a transcendent rank Sword Sorcerer, he naturally became themander of the Rangers intercepting this group of wolves. He didnt expect these yers, whose strength was still far from adequate, to be so effective in attacking the wolves. They fearlessly attacked the wolves, even if they were about to die, just to leave a few more wounds on the wolf pack. From time to time, he could hear those undeadughing heartily "Awesome, I just finished off three two-headed shadow wolves in a row!" "Damn, I worked hard to cripple that guy, who finished him off???" "Goggles, bad!" "Who stabbed me in the butt? Im a human, not a wolf, look carefully!" Surprisingly, the overly chaotic yers dragged the originally orderly attacking wolf pack into the same chaotic state. This was probably the true embodiment of "dragging you to the same low level and then defeating you with experience." On the other side, the Wolf King was also in a dilemma. Kaels intention was clear: to wear it down. It was said that in the early keyboard era of MOBA games, many game clubs liked to y the wearing down strategy inpetitions. By prolonging the game continuously, the older yers would be exhausted and their state would decline, exposing more ws, thereby scoring a decisive victory. And now, he was ruthlessly applying this wearing down strategy on the Shadow Wolf King. "Argh!" Amidst the sttering blood and flesh, the Wolf Kings hoarse roar of fury kepting out. Just moments ago, in the blink of an eye, Kael unexpectedly bit it with his Incubus tail as he passed by. The power of ck me allowed the Shadow Wolf King to heal its physical injuries well. But the special demonic elements injected by the tail were different... umting on it, various adverse conditions kept surfacing on it. [You activated Tail Injection, sessfully piercing the Shadow Wolf Kings skin; the Shadow Wolf King received the buff "Strong Hallucination," reducing dynamic vision capability] [You activated Tail Injection, sessfully piercing the Shadow Wolf Kings skin; the Shadow Wolf Kings buff "Strong Hallucination" duration extended to 15 minutes] [You activated Tail Injection, sessfully piercing the Shadow Wolf Kings skin; the Shadow Wolf King received the buff "Enhanced Tactile Sensation," pain intensified!] [You activated Tail Injection, sessfully piercing the Shadow Wolf Kings skin; the Shadow Wolf King received the buff "Rationality Burning," rationale gradually descending into chaos!] ... A series of dense negative states stacked on it, making it feel its physical strength draining rapidly. It couldnt stop Kaels pace of eliminating its kindred; the wolf pack that couldnt get reinforcements on the battlefield was unable to save this main force team back. Gradually, even the steadfast Shadow Wolf Guards began to panic. This rainy night was like a nightmare. The wolf cubs in the pack with spiritual wisdom perished within such a short time; they shouldnt have been the main force fighting at the forefront. But now, they suffered heavy losses because they followed their foolhardy king. "King, we will fight with you..." A blind Shadow Wolf Guard stood in front of the Wolf King, its limbs trembling as it spoke shakily. It wasnt because of fear but due to severe injuries and massive blood loss. Looking at the severely injured Shadow Wolf Guards, the Wolf King felt as if a bone it couldnt crush was stuck in its throat, a scene reminiscent of the time when it was weak and saw its totem being crushed by an enormous hand from the void. Fight? No, fighting no longer made sense! It howled long and loud, and the ck me bursting from its body instantly burned away the Magic Silk Thread intermittently entwined around it. It wanted to take its wolf cubs and leave this ce, head to the Twisted Jungle, and move to the deeper darkness. But in the next moment, something happened that made it rage beyond measure. Chapter 125 - 117 Kael, Don’t Play with Heart in Your Eyes! (4200 words, additional 21/65)_3 "Two days from now, we will engage in the final battle with the wolf pack, but before that, let us fully enjoy the joy of victory!" Themanding voice rose from the front of the tent in the temporary camp, causing the resting yers and rangers to look up involuntarily. Their eyes fixed on the young man riding the horse, who remainedposed and serene. His golden hair was disheveled from battle. His damaged Mages attire was rather unsightly, stained with the blood of wolves and his own, tarnishing his face, leaving it less than glorious. Yet, the enchanting aura about him was still reflected in everyones eyes, shining brighter than ever before. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The yers, marveling quietly below, felt that Brother Kael had grown even more handsome. And to the natives, this feeling was even more potent. Especially the rangers, if personal charisma determined a leaders worth, then undoubtedly, Kael was the one they would kneel before in loyalty. Among the eyes of the crowd, the formidable Kael lifted the ceremonial sword in his hand, gazing up at the sky, and said: "Now let me report on this campaigns battles, status, and losses. This battle was initiated by the Shadow Wolf pack, aiming to attack our temporary quarters at the surrounding camps, to reduce our numbers in advance and support the subsequent wolf pack invasion. Our Undead detected this maneuver in advance, conveyed the message back to the camp, and stood firm at the temporary site, without wavering. Undoubtedly, they are the heroes of this campaign!" yers like Honeydew, who had been resurrected, and other surviving Guarantor Human Souls stood together, meeting everyones gaze, feeling a surge of emotion. Whew, once I confirmed it with my eyes, it felt like a revtion. The crowd below, upon hearing Kaels voice, erupted into cheers. Jonathan epted the cheers and congrattions from the crowd with a smile. Other yers seemed a bit more disheveled, perhaps unustomed to such scenes, and for a moment felt as if they were facing genuine adtion, resulting in a mix of embarrassment. "Of course, we will not forget the aid of many rangers and Undead who rushed to our assistance. But as we have seen, where there is war, there are sacrifices. Despite their utmost efforts, some of ourrades inevitably fell forever in the wolves siege. The number of rangers who participated in the battle was 311, and the number of Undead who joined the battle was 2633. We eliminated 114 Shadow Wolf Guards, 343 Two-headed Shadow Wolves, and 540 ordinary Shadow Wolves. The death toll 22 rangers, 733 Undead, and 3 missing." Kael took a deep breath before continuing: "Ladies and gentlemen, as a Border Lord, my duty is to defend thend beneath our feet and clear all threats. However, I must say that death in war is never a necessary sacrifice. Your lives were not mine to im, but when you offered me your loyalty, the bonds of honor and brotherhood forever linked us. I will lead the charge until we burn out together, and this is my promise to you as your lord. Now, raise your sses, forget your troubles and sorrows, drink generously and feast on the meat, and relish this joyful moment. Heres to the sacrificed, to the brave, and to you and me!" The people lifted their cups, freshly supplied from the camp, and the atmosphere gradually rxed. The people of this world were such, facing constant struggles with the Dungeon, they ced more emphasis on enjoying the moment while they were alive. Chapter 124 - 117 Kael, Don’t Take Your Chances With Your Eyes! (4200 words, additional 21/65)_2 He always believed that strength and elegance were not in conflict; the ultimate swordsmanship should possess extreme beauty, which in itself is another form of elegance. Now he admitted that young master Kaels elegance surpassed his own. "Trouble!" he muttered to himself as he looked at the phantom chain that had pierced through his arm. If it hadnt been for the dungeon challenge level, a rule set by the will of the world that limited his power, he would have rushed forward to disy the beauty of extreme ughter. On any battlefield where life and death were at stake, no opponent of the same level had ever surpassed Old White. In every confrontation with a formidable enemy, he was thest one standing. The anguished Wolf King knew the oue and did not look back, leading the pack into the forest. Just as they were about to disappear into the woods, he sensed a lethal threat behind him. The Wolf King jumped aside without hesitation but was still a half-step too slow. The glowing sword, wrapped in a thick curse, tore through the Wolf Kings fur and flesh. It whimpered, dared not look back, and limped into the thicket with a broken leg. "Grandpa White, lets stop here, dont provoke them any further," said a voice. Old White gently wiped his sword. The cold look in his eyes softened a bit as he turned to Kael. At this moment, the ground around him was full of corrosions, marks of a highly corrosive curse. Unavoidably sttered with blood, he stepped back slightly as Kael approached and lowered his head, saying: "Lord, I apologize, but I am currently unable to serve you. Please wait while I clean the dirt and bloodstains from my body..." Kael ignored Old Whites expression of refusal and simply cast a spell on him. The dirt and dried blood were swept away from Old Whites body, and he once again assumed the demeanor of a courteous housekeeper. Looking at his sharp gaze and vigorous stride now, one couldnt see any sign of injury. The surrounding yers shouted loudly, and the scene erupted in jubtion. Obviously, they had already received the message that the mission wasplete. Although the Wolf King had escaped into the forest, Kael knew the battle would notst much longer. The scale of victory had already tipped in his favor. Sensing the faint aroma of magic in the air, he turned to Knight Dan, whose garment was stained with blood, and said: n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Has Hassaka been notified?" Dan nodded. "Leave some people to stay here, the rest head to assist Hassaka. Although the Blood Wolf n is strong, that child is far from being ready," he instructed. Bloody, Barry approached: "Dont worry too much, kid, haha, Kael, that move you made just now was quite something! If you had used it back in the Border Battles with those pretty Elven heads, it wouldve been wildly popr." Did this guy truly deserve to be called an Extraordinary Knight? His armor had barely any serious dents, a minimal woundpared to being surrounded by the Shadow Wolf Guard earlier. To him, an ordinary wolf pack was essentially meant to be ughtered, evidenced by the strong smell of blood now saturating his armor as he approached. "Uncle Barry, did you ever fight the elves before?" Kael asked with a smile. Seeing the blood and flesh from the wolf pack still clinging to his own body, Barry abandoned his intention to pat Kael on the shoulder and said: "Of course, those pretty heads in the Supreme Forest are not as naive as you think. The way they glorify themselves in books sent out to the worldpared to their actions on the battlefield make one feel quite disgusted." Kael nodded in agreement. In his previous life, having dealt with elves, he knew all too well that those pretty heads were not as beautiful and peace-loving as the nobles of the federation imagined. What a joke, those folks onceid the Dragon Frenzy Lock, driving countless Metal Dragons and Colorful Dragons into a frenzied war. If they truly loved peace, how could they have been the rulers of the continent in thest era? Saying they were peace-lovers was like America calling itself the worlds policeyou just listen and if you believe it, others will think you a fool. Kael looked up at the increasingly bright moon. yers were still excitedly cleaning the battlefield of various post-war traces. These trash collectors, embodying the spirit of missing no opportunity, almost plowed the field three feet deep, clearing out a vast number of leftover corpses and weapons. Of course, Kael had already instructed the Rangers to tell them that these items were not theirs alone, but belonged to the entire Lancaster Territory. The yers had no right to keep these items for themselves; they needed to wait until after the battle to tally up and distribute the materials based on everyones merits on the field. Even so, this still left many yers overjoyed, as Kael had issued them a mission to clean the battlefield. With a mission in hand, what more was there to say? They wouldnt even skip it in their sleep; even if a beautiful woman d in red from the Western regions approached them, swaying seductively, they would dare p her away, eximing "Dont slow down my leveling speed!" ... Afterward ... " Gentlemen, after this battle, the disruptive Shadow Wolf pack has beenrgely eliminated. We have found traces of the wolf packs retreat deep in the forest and have set up surveince." Chapter 125 - 117 Kael, Don’t Play with Heart in Your Eyes! (4200 words, additional 21/65)_3 "Two days from now, we will engage in the final battle with the wolf pack, but before that, let us fully enjoy the joy of victory!" Themanding voice rose from the front of the tent in the temporary camp, causing the resting yers and rangers to look up involuntarily. Their eyes fixed on the young man riding the horse, who remainedposed and serene. His golden hair was disheveled from battle. His damaged Mages attire was rather unsightly, stained with the blood of wolves and his own, tarnishing his face, leaving it less than glorious. Yet, the enchanting aura about him was still reflected in everyones eyes, shining brighter than ever before. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The yers, marveling quietly below, felt that Brother Kael had grown even more handsome. And to the natives, this feeling was even more potent. Especially the rangers, if personal charisma determined a leaders worth, then undoubtedly, Kael was the one they would kneel before in loyalty. Among the eyes of the crowd, the formidable Kael lifted the ceremonial sword in his hand, gazing up at the sky, and said: "Now let me report on this campaigns battles, status, and losses. This battle was initiated by the Shadow Wolf pack, aiming to attack our temporary quarters at the surrounding camps, to reduce our numbers in advance and support the subsequent wolf pack invasion. Our Undead detected this maneuver in advance, conveyed the message back to the camp, and stood firm at the temporary site, without wavering. Undoubtedly, they are the heroes of this campaign!" yers like Honeydew, who had been resurrected, and other surviving Guarantor Human Souls stood together, meeting everyones gaze, feeling a surge of emotion. Whew, once I confirmed it with my eyes, it felt like a revtion. The crowd below, upon hearing Kaels voice, erupted into cheers. Jonathan epted the cheers and congrattions from the crowd with a smile. Other yers seemed a bit more disheveled, perhaps unustomed to such scenes, and for a moment felt as if they were facing genuine adtion, resulting in a mix of embarrassment. "Of course, we will not forget the aid of many rangers and Undead who rushed to our assistance. But as we have seen, where there is war, there are sacrifices. Despite their utmost efforts, some of ourrades inevitably fell forever in the wolves siege. The number of rangers who participated in the battle was 311, and the number of Undead who joined the battle was 2633. We eliminated 114 Shadow Wolf Guards, 343 Two-headed Shadow Wolves, and 540 ordinary Shadow Wolves. The death toll 22 rangers, 733 Undead, and 3 missing." Kael took a deep breath before continuing: "Ladies and gentlemen, as a Border Lord, my duty is to defend thend beneath our feet and clear all threats. However, I must say that death in war is never a necessary sacrifice. Your lives were not mine to im, but when you offered me your loyalty, the bonds of honor and brotherhood forever linked us. I will lead the charge until we burn out together, and this is my promise to you as your lord. Now, raise your sses, forget your troubles and sorrows, drink generously and feast on the meat, and relish this joyful moment. Heres to the sacrificed, to the brave, and to you and me!" The people lifted their cups, freshly supplied from the camp, and the atmosphere gradually rxed. The people of this world were such, facing constant struggles with the Dungeon, they ced more emphasis on enjoying the moment while they were alive. Chapter 126 - 118 The Girl’s Confession "Lily, Lily, wake up, its time..." Dizzy and disoriented, Lily slumped in a chair in front of the temporary quarters, her little head nodding off. Her face didnt grow rosier from the drunkenness; instead, it seemed somewhat drained of color. In a daze, she caught a whiff of a faint aroma and instinctively leaned toward its source, then suddenly felt emptiness in front of her and crashed into someones embrace. For a moment, she snapped to attention, and her mind cleared up considerably. Kael looked helplessly at Lily, who had toppled into his arms. Unable to let go and let her fall, he soothed the horse beside him before stepping forward to steady her as she lost her bnce. "Senior Sister Lily, were preparing to head back now," Kael said softly. The horse that Kael was leading gently nudged his Mages simple attire with its ck muzzle. Perhaps due to the calming effect of Queen Jasmines Magic Aroma, Lily quickly regained her senses, somewhat reluctant to leave Kaels side. "Sorry, I drank too much yesterday, and just now I wasnt fully sober..." She felt her face heat up and couldnt lift her head in front of Kael. Damn it, why did I do something so embarrassing? Getting drunk and crashing into his arms like some lush, will he think Im an indecent woman? Actually, she still felt a little weak in her limbs. This was her first time entering the Dungeon to battle, and the intensity far exceeded her imagination, the gore was enough to cause nightmares At least, part of the reason she drank so muchst night was the scare she got on the battlefield. It certainly wasnt because she saw nna and Kael fighting side by side, while she could only hide under others protection and sneak in hits. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om But on that battlefield, the fear of dodging the wolves assault, hearing the agonizing or horrified screams of some Rangers before they died, those piercing noises prated her ears and left her somewhat panicked. This was her first time participating in the Dungeons battle! "Senior Sister Lily, do you feel a bit better?" Hearing Kaels voice again, Lily struggled to prop herself up and patted her face, saying, "Sorry, I lost myposure." She was a Mage, a Mage who had reached this point through her own strength and effort, but now she felt there was still so much to learn. "Kael, I really am grateful to you," Lily didnt refer to him as Lord this time. Perhaps it was the shared identity as Luxiuss students that allowed her to momentarily forget Kaels status as a Lord and mademunicating with him less constrained. "Hmm, whats wrong? Why do you say that?" Kael asked, curious. Looking a little dejected, Lily said, "The war in the Dungeon is much crueler than I imagined. For a moment, it felt like when I first went to the Royal Capital. Just as powerless and unable to make much change, I could only choose to be protected by others. Back then, all I could do was learn as much as I could, absorbing knowledge I didnt particrly enjoy, to arm myself with the power of knowledge. But after I became Mr. Luxiuss student, that drive seemed to disappear all at once" Lily lifted her head to look at Kael, her eyes flitted with emotion, and finally, her lips curled into a brilliant smile as she murmured softly: "I once had a crush on a super cute boy. Although our meeting was full of coincidences, it certainly was a wonderful memory. It might be abrupt, but sometimes I try to gather the courage to confess to him, so at that time I told him" Her expression still bore the pallor of alcohol consumption, but the usually aggrieved little face no longer showed the panic and fear of when she had been kidnapped. "I like you!" Kael clearly froze, for he could naturally see the way the girl looked at him. Prior to this, in her attempts to lean towards Kael, she was like a gluttonous feral kitten, cautiously gauging his expression, trying to obtain sweet sustenance from him. Kael even felt that if he outright rejected her, she would bolt at the first opportunity, teenage girls are always like that, tentatively getting close to someone for the first time, wanting to get closer, yet fearing rejection. In that moment, Kael finally realized a damn fact He didnt have Mind Reading Technique and could never clearly see others feelings for him. He thought he had just been carefully maintaining rtionships with others, that through some suggestive actions, he could get others to give up. Back then, Lily would probably wear an unconcerned expression on her face, or turn and run away crying. But now, with a brilliant and relieved smile, as if confidently stating a fact to someone else, it was strong... No, it wasnt confidence and strength, but rather that the previously bewildered girl seemed to have found a new direction to strive for. This was an admission from a lovesick young girl, and Kael felt obliged to give a proper response. So he offered a gentle smile and said, "Confession should really be initiated by the boy, its not good for the girl to do the confessing." Lily had merely been relieved in voicing her feelings and had already braced for rejection, nning to embrace the new challenges with a fresh stance. It was like the time she dared to venture to the Royal Capital alone; she preferred that version of herself, filled with courage despite her fears. But Kaels response had thrown her carefully settled heart back into disarray. She even thought Kael might say something like "I like you, so should we try being together?" But instead... "So Ill pretend I didnt hear your confession today, sorry, Senior Sister Lily, I wont let others know about what happened today." Lily sighed; indeed, as she thought, Kael was very polite and sincere in his rejection. Butpared to such a boring response, she felt even less able to let go. Everything was as if it had never happened; the two silently went on to pack up their things, preparing to return to the Ranger Camp. When Kael saw nna, he was all smiles andughter, as if nothing had happened. But for a moment, Kael sensed something was amiss. Just then, a yer passed by him, and Kael remembered this person, as the one who most enthusiastically called on the forum for Please hurry up and write! and Sister Asta when updating the fan fiction about him. If he remembered correctly, the name was Yi An, right? Rare for a yer, the nickname sounded quite normal and more like a real persons name. Chapter 127 - 119: If it’s the young master, Hassaka is ready (4000, extra update 22/65) Yi An was rare amongst yers for having a rtively normal name that could even be considered a human name. Unfortunately, his behavior on the forum was far from normal; he was a typical LSP. Kael sighed, called out to him, and asked, "Have you noticed anything different about me today?" Yi An, who was already looking to get closer to Kael, paused and scratched his head, saying, "If I had to say, Brother Kael, you seem a little bit... Hmm, how should I put it? You seem a bit more seductive today." It was a miracle this guy dared to speak the truth; either way, his words left Kael speechless. Kael was a proper man, after all, where on earth did he look seductive? Okay, so he did have a face that was both pure and alluring, a small incubus tail, and with the Life Treasury opened, there were corrupt markings on his forehead, and his sea-blue eyes had heart shapes sparkling in them... What was wrong with these features individually? Alright, Kael knew his words didnt make much sense. But there was nothing he could do; while he wasnt particrly utilitarian, he was acutely aware that humans wereplex beings. After yers transitioned from a brief moment of joy into Wise Mode, those who had just put their pants back on would immediately criticize the unseemly conduct of an incubus. This wouldnt be conducive to Kaels long-term ns for the yers. After leaving that yer, Kael pondered another issue. He had realized that the influence of the incubuss allure was even greater than he had imagined. Previously, when the Life Treasury wasnt activating its demonic nature, he hadnt felt it as strongly. But during his recent chat with Lily, he clearly felt the impact of the seduction. Normally, with his usual character, he would have straightforwardly and decisively rejected Lilys goodwill. Or perhaps when he felt more settled and not worried about external threats, he might have transformed into a true incubus on the spot, dragging Lily to a room to let her experience the affectionate care of an incubus. But right now, when rejecting Lily, he provided a response that seemed rather gentle. Having been through many experiences, Kael knew very well that such a high-emotional-intelligence response wouldnt easily make others feel rejected, but in the long run, it would make it harder for Lily to let go of her faint affection for him. Often, a gentle rejection was like adding fuel to the fire, and if he wasnt careful, that small me of affection could grow into an overwhelming ze. This wasnt the oue Kael wanted to see. "Could this incubus allure actually influence my own choices to some extent? That makes sense. After all, an incubus is the epitome of seductive charm. By suppressing the natural instincts of my bloodline with my personal will, the longer I suppress it, the more intense the outburst will be." n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Kael immediately understood the root of the problem. Just as Lily had left, he instantly realized he had made a grave mistake. Rejecting Lily was undeniable, but in his current state, he hadnt noticed his own subtle cunning in the reply. That was the intense possessiveness inherent in the bloodline instincts of an incubus, targeting the prey it had set its sights on. Oh well, if worsees to worst, he could always resort to using his incubus powers; he wasnt exactly a model of virtue anyway. "Kael!" A joyful scream suddenly rang out. As Kael was about to mount his horse, he stumbled, feeling something soft and bouncy crash into him from behind. When he regained his senses, he saw that a husky had somehowtched onto him. Explore stories on empire "Hassaka, get off me!" Kael tried to push the wolf maid off him, feeling that his current state wasnt suitable for being close to others. But perhaps because recently, Hassaka had been interacting more with Kaelpared to the other maids at the Lord Mansion, she had started to show more of her true nature. Hassaka preferred the current Kael to the often aloof master of the past. Not because the master smelled really good! It was just that she liked this feeling of being controlled by Kael. The man who seemed to care about nothing actually had a strong desire for control, something that the clever Hassaka had noticed as their rtionship grew closer. This allowed her to try things she wouldnt have dared to do before, like attempting to increase the frequency of physical contact. "Alright, get down quickly. Did you find those wolves that strayed away with everyone else?" A magically generated hand grasped the scruff of Hassakas neck, lifting her slightly before setting her down. Kael turned to look at her, and at this moment, Hassaka was giving him a look of puppy-like affection, her tail wagging as she waited for his response. Kael was annoyed to realize that his cravings were surfacing again. What was more troubling was that he had just realized an ufortable fact: Unlike nna, who hadnt truly married him yet, Hassaka, as his maid, was obligated to serve the lord at any time. From her expression, it looked like she would let him do whatever he wanted without resistance. "If you keep acting like this, youll pay for it once we get back to the Lord Mansion tonight." Kael, struggling to suppress the increasing restlessness within him, red at the wolf maid, aware of the terrifying side effects of opening the Life Treasury to reinforce himself. Chapter 128 - 119: If it’s the young master, Hassaka is ready (4000, extra update 22/65)_2 Hassaka, after being caught, showed an innocent expression and said, "Young Master Kael is too cunning, always using me whenever he needs me. I was exhausted the whole night without getting a good rest. Now that Ive finally finished my tasks ande back, I cant even recharge my Kael energy while on break!" Hassaka, without concern, indicated her craving for Kael, yep, she was this honest and hungry in every sense! "You, it seems Ive been too good to youtely, making you even bolder." Kael said coldly. Unexpectedly, Hassaka didnt show any fear. Instead, with a face full of confusion, she approached Kael again and circled around him, sniffing. Sniff, sniff... Huh? The scent on Young Master Kael today is just like those boys in the tribe who be exceptionally flirtatious during a certain period. Thats the scent of spring. Though unclear about the operational mechanism of the Life Treasury, this didnt prevent Hassak from immediately sensing the truth. Oh dear, the always pure young master now actually wants to vite a girl? Hassaka, being clever, rolled her eyes and got even closer. "Master, master..." She gave a cute smile, her previously drooping long ears now perked up. While helping Kael tidy up nearby things, she whispered quietly, "If its for the master, even using chains like those nasty humans isnt impossible! From what people in the tribe say, when some lost tribespeople were found, those human nobles particrly liked to do this. Hassaka doesnt like it, but Hassaka is the masters maid, mentally and physically prepared!" Dammit, Kael cursed inwardly, Hassaka was taking this chance to stir up trouble. The problem was that he was now under the influence of demonic seduction, making his moralpass temporarily skewed. Damn, how treacherous could this wolf maid be... "If youre worried about Miss nna, Hassaka can keep it a secret. After all, the master is the lord; Hassaka is a maid; shes not going topete with Miss nna! But lets be clear, master. If you really have to use chains, pull them lightly! Some rescued tribespeople say it hurts a lot, and Hassaka doesnt like pain." Those words made Kael pause and realize that in his current state, his vulnerabilities had increased. His head began to feel heavy. He needed to upgrade the Life Treasury to a higher level quickly; otherwise, whether it was nna, Lily, or even Hassaka, he would expose his weaknesses. But Kael was an honest man. This growing feeling of entanglement was something he admitted he didnt entirely dislike. So while heading back today, he couldnt stop the wild thoughts in his mind. The feeling was too unbearable. "Kael..." nna walked over and said, "How are you getting along with things here? Hmm? Hassaka, have you finished checking things over there?" Noticing the little snow wolf maid, nna looked surprised. Discover hidden content at empire Last night, during the third watch, when Hassaka came over, more than twenty excellent rangers began following her into the forest to track the wolf pack. These people were from the Steel Teeth Team. As rangers who fought in the Twisted Jungle for years, they were different from the team led by Dan. This group had rich experience in moving and fighting in the jungle, though their overall attributes for mountedbat were inferior to other teams. Originally, when Hassaka and her team went off tracking, nna thought it might be when they returned to camp that Hassaka woulde back. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om But now, it seemed that Kaels subordinates were more capable than she had imagined. "Hehe, we had already explored the direction those guys escaped to and their hiding spots early this morning. Recently, one Undead had just transitioned into a druid, and we assigned that guy to follow nearby. Rest assured, once the Undead receive their tasks, they tend to be very reliable." "Lord Anthony has truly left you with a valuable legacy, Kael!" nna couldnt help but exim. As a border lord herself, the situation in Newman Domain was starkly different from that in the Lancaster Territory. For a moment, she felt both admiration and envy. Kael lightly said, "Its actually not a big issue. Once these Undead mature, we will deliver a satisfactory report to the Royal Capital. By then, Newman Domain can start cultivating its own mages too." Kaels words were the truth. After all, these mages benefiting from special resources were meant to enhance the defensive power of border lords territories At the very least, to give them adequate self-preservation capabilities! The overall strength difference between Newman Domain and Lancaster was still significant. With new resource support, nna should be slightly more at ease when she returns. The three of them led their horses back toward the direction of the troops. As nna turned around, Kael noticed the little maid winking at him with a mischievous smile. Her swaying tail asionally brushed against Kaels thigh. Although Hassaka could clearly sense that Kaels condition wasnt right, she couldnt help but tease her young master a bit more. She was unaware of exactly how much the demonic influence had grown, only instinctively feeling that the scent of spring emanating from her master had intensified. She sniffed a bit, thinking, But even in this state, the master still looks good. Its just like a once-unripe fruit now matured, even more tempting. Unfortunately, Hassaka didnt realize that she too had fallen into a sort of cognitive blindness. If Kael had her keen sense of smell, he would have reacted immediately. After all, he was no fool; he understood the principle of "familiarity breeding contempt," unlike Hassaka. She never pondered that not only was Kaels body having issues, but Queen Moli, connected to Kael, had also undergone changes. An incubuss very presence was a synonym for demonic seduction. The result of long-suppressed desires led to Kaels demonic seduction far surpassing the normal peak value for an ordinary incubus. Even Queen Molis once-pure aura couldnt withstand this demonic lead. For ordinary humans, this might only make Kael appear more alluring. But for someone like Hassaka, with a keen sense of smell, the altered influence of Queen Moli had substantially affected her. The deep blue in her pupils began to faintly show a tinge of pink. "Master, the Snow Wolf n is a species that never easily lets go of its prey. Now, Hassaka is struggling to control her hunting instincts." ... The dungeon had no proper roads, so naturally, Kael and his group couldnt take a carriage back to camp. Thus, they rode their horses, making a grand procession towards the camp, finally arriving after about an hour. Notably, unlike their urgent rush to the temporary camp before, everyone was much more rxed this time, leisurely enjoying the scenery along the way. "Wow, this hurts like hell. Those Shadow Wolves really bite hard..." a yer nearby, being treated by a priest, howled in pain. Chapter 129 - 120: Eat Kael as Dessert? (4000 words, additional update 24/65) When the battle began, in the heat of the moment, they overlooked many of the injuries that appeared on their bodies and didnt initially feel the pain. But once the battle was over and the drunkenness had worn off, as the numbing effects of the alcohol faded, they still felt a slight difort on their bodies. After being healed, the yer nodded to the nun from the Earth Mother Goddess Church, expressing gratitude. Speaking of which, the nuns from the Earth Mother Goddess Church were quite impressive, especially that youngdy just nowshe was good-looking and spoke softly, which was quite pleasing to hear. Unfortunately, after healing his wounds, she rode away on a Huge Hoofed Deer. That left a few yers there making a racket as if they were heckling. "It feels like its been a while since Ive seen a promotional video from the Underworld Gate. Today, with such a big fuss, it must be the busiest time since the games beta test, right?" "Indeed, the turnout of natives and yers today was like a grand assembly. I have a feeling that after we log offter, we might be the stars of a new promotional video. Wouldnt that be like being on camera?" "For real, this game is truly exciting to y. With so many people brawling, theres nog at all. It can certainly be called top-tier." "Honestly, thats true. There are only yers who love Underworld Gate and those who havent yed it yet ." "Brother Kaels new look is really nice!" "Why dont you just say hes too sexy? The pattern on Brother Kaels head, when it starts burning, always makes me think of something intriguing." "Seriously, having seen the ascetic Brother Kael for so long, suddenly seeing him like this is really thrilling." "Woohoo, you guys better check out the game forums quickly, you guys are really slow on picking up the trend. All you do is babble about Brother Kaels pretty pictures in the game. Look, someone directly posted Brother Kaels new form on the forums, see how many likes its gotten now." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "So much for giving you a chance!" Kael nced at this group of yers from afar, hoping his current state would disappear soon. With the battle over, the energy wings behind him had dissipated, but for some reason, he couldnt turn off the pink Seductive Demon Eye yet. Looking at the situation, it seemed like it wouldst for quite some time. He nced at the forum, and sure enough, this battle had instantly be the focus of the entire game forum. "Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!" "So thrilling, this feeling of facing death!" "Honestly, when that Two-headed Shadow Wolf bit at me, I almost slid away sessfully." "Nonsense, I was right behind you, I saw everything clearly, you slid right into the Shadow Wolfs mouth!" "Maybe he thought he was as delectable as Brother Kael?" "Tsk, I thought there was a woman who wanted to eat Kael as a dessert, but then I checked the title, and it was just two tourists" "Look at me, look at me, Im the yer at the scene, and I can only tell you that if you got a chance, you would definitely want to get a whole new Mage training path from Brother Kael, the experience is pretty good!" "I wish I could get it! But s, Kael wont ept me!" "Daily routine, Puppet Kael anchors the thread (with delightful Kael photos)" "Oh my, now even Kaels eyes are emitting hearts?" "No being naughty, naughty gets a spanking!" "But its Kael!" "Honestly, isnt Kaels tail controble? Does that mean" "Enough, theres no need to continue, drag him away!" "Sorry, busy hands, but now I have to ask everyone a question, if our human desires are just physical stimtion" "Sorry, got busy again, what will our future be, here I have to ask" Continue your adventure with empire "Sorry, got busy again, what are the secrets of the universe" "Sorry, got busy again, what is the meaning of life" "Sorry, got busy again, whatpels us to live in this universe?" "Honestly, all of you focusing on such random stuff, has no one noticed Kaels skill of firing thousands of des? Damn, it looks so damn cool!" The forum was buzzing with excitement as many yers who had taken part in the battle shared their experiences of either bravely fighting or being ughtered. Although Kael knew that most of them hadnt actually gone against the pack of wolves, in other words those bragging about their bravery on the forum might as well go wash up and go to bed. They could dream on. At this stage, even yers who hadpleted their job change found it difficult tobat the Shadow Wolves. A bunch of level 1-2 newbies were only somewhat useful in that their concerted effort to throw enchanted javelins slightly weakened the Protective charms on the Shadow Wolves. Soon after returning to camp, Kael went to the quarters left for him by the Rangers to rest a bit. He began to review the details ofst nights battle. The overall casualties had already been ounted for; there was nothing more to say about that. The more troublesome were the inevitable personnel damages from the battle. Those dead yers needed no further discussion. Kael could only redistribute some task rewards to them; no need to invest too much into the aftermath. Chapter 130 - 120: Eat Kael as Dessert? (4000 words, extra update 24/65)_2 But a number of people still sustained substantial injuries in this battle, and I didnt bring it up immediatelyst night so that everyone could enjoy themselves. However, after returning to the camp, it was necessary to start handling the aftermath. The number of rangers injured this time reached 73, with 11 of them severely wounded. Although their lives were saved by their own spells, with missing arms and legs, they were indeed no longer suitable forbat roles. These individuals needed to receive sufficient wealth and then retire from the rangers. Beyond that, there were also the exploitable Shadow Wolf packs. The number of Shadow Wolves killed this time was indeed quite high. Although their meat needed processing before use, it was still a significant gain in Lancaster Territory, where meat was rtively scarce. Their hides would be given to professional skinners for treatment, and those that were rtively intact could be sold in the Royal Capital via the teleportation array after processing. The misceneous hides and discarded bones could be handed over directly to Jiu Yue Heavy Industries for secondary processing and production. As for the injured wolves that couldnt escape, Kael was pondering how to deal with them. After all, the shockwave of weapons heunched after opening the Life Treasury had indeed heavily injured many Shadow Wolves. But his power was still far inferior to his past life; with insufficient control over precision, some wolves were merely injured and not killed outright. Whether it was meaningful to kill those with lighter injuries, he was still considering. Its better to let the wounded people return to the town and stay there for now. Kael made this decision and then looked at the system. Not long after. ... [Emergency Task: A pack of Shadow Wolves from the depths of Twisted Jungle attacked Captain Jonathan and the Undead in the camp. Lord Kael has now issued an emergency task, requiring all Undead to follow the Rangers to the camp to rescue their brethren in danger] [Task resolution in progress... Judgement passed, the attacking wolf pack repelled, Captain Jonathan safe and sound, 7 surviving Undead.] [Beginning reward distribution...] The natives returning from the war wore solemn expressions. Some of them were heavily wounded in this conflict, others were killed outright during the skirmishes, leaving no remains. But yers and this world were separated by a veil; after receiving their rewards, many yers began running around excitedly in the camp. The rewards were simple, mainly consisting of Level Experience Points and a small portion of special resources obtained from the wolves. Of course, yers could also choose to surrender their share of the rewards to the Lord Mansion. The Lord Mansion would convert it into corresponding special contributions, allowing them to exchange for certain resources currently held by the Lord Mansion. The happiest were those novice Mages who had just participated in the battle and achievedmendable sess. Honeydew: "Eek, I won!" Honeydew joyously saw that she had sessfully obtained the qualification to learn a new spell, excitedly dashing around the camp. Especially after seeing Kael just wandering by, she immediately approached him and blurted out: "How did you know I received the qualification to learn a second-level spell?" Before Kael could say more than "My contribution is even higher," Honeydew turned and ran off to another yer who seemed very familiar with her, saying: "Yes, just like youve heard, I now have the opportunity to learn the Sword of Fear and Suffering!" Some praised her, some rolled their eyes, and some even punched her, telling her to calm down, causing a chaotic scene. But soon, as car after car was pulled back into the camp from outside, The yers merriment gradually subsided. Those carts were covered with grey cloth, but the human shapes outlined beneath the cloth let them know instantly that these were rangers who had died in the battle. Kael did not ask the yers to participate in the rangers funerals. Instead, he led by gently lifting the grey cloth to remove something from each rangers body, cing it into a small iron box nearby. Now dressed in a fresh white robe, Kael looked at his subordinates and said softly, "You must have gone to recognize your teammatesst night, hadnt you?" The crowd nodded. "Are we still choosing to say farewell with the wind?" Kael asked again, "Does any Ranger have a special request?" Jonathan stood out and said, "Lord Kael, Aslu was a believer of the Earth Mother Goddess Church. He wished to have his ashes spread over the farnd to nurture thend with all that he was." "That can be done." "Ludi enjoyed drinking; he even said before we marched that he hadnt had enough drink in his lifetime..." "Then lets pour the finest wine for him at the ce where we will rise with the wind! Anyone else?" "..." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The scene fell silent. "If thats the case, then let us proceed with the final step," Kael said softly. At this moment, a Ranger used thergest tbed cart to drag a huge furnace from the back of the camp. The Rangers, covered in gray cloths, were sent into the furnace by theirrades. As a long battle horn sounded, a magic wand appeared in Kaels hand, the first time he had taken up a Mages equipment in front of yers. Second-level shaping magic, "Burning Exhaustion Technique", 22 consecutive casts! Even with the magic wand reducing the casting cost, casting a second-level shaping spell 22 times in a row still turned Kaels face a few shades paler. When a Ranger died, they were usually cremated with firewood, but Kael denied Jonathans "tradition". "Lord, theres actually no need to go to such lengths; we are used to it," Jonathan sighed from the side. Kael spoke calmly, "Jonathan, you dont understand what it means when I say sacrifice is inevitable. What I truly fear is not how many of us died in this battle, but that the battle numbs our reason, making us grow ustomed to the loss of life, which is what I do not wish to see." As the mes in the furnace burned out, the people stood by in silent vigil. After the furnace cooled, someone swept the ashes out. Kael turned and walked toward the camps entrance, where there was a five-meter-tall stele. The front of the stele was a wooden board that perfectly ovepped with the cut-open back, treated with special craft to maintain its smoothness and cleanliness despite weathering. Over a hundred small ques were embedded on it, and Kael took out metallic ques one by one from a recently filled iron box. He personally embedded the ques into the board while a part of the onlooking yers followed, watching his actions quietly. Among them was Honeydew. He no longer appeared as lively as before and, looking towards the Guarantors, said: "If Im not mistaken, this game doesnt have a respawn mechanism, right?" The Guarantor nodded. Honeydew looked stunned at the first iron que Kael had fixed and suddenly said: "I recognize the name on that iron que..." "Hmm?" "The first day I came to the Ranger Camp, it was that old soldier named Ludi who showed me around." "Lord, he said he liked to drink, and I have a bottle of wine here that I bought while running a quest," the Guarantor sighed, "Its the best wine you can buy in the whole of Lancaster Territory. I was thinking that if there were some NPC who likes good wine, I could use it to trigger a hidden quest..." As he spoke, he took out that bottle of wine from his backpack and handed it to Honeydew, saying: "Do you want to pour it in front of his stele?" Honeydew nodded and said, "How much? Ill transfer the magic gold coins to youter." "No need for money, or rather, lets hope for world peace!" the Guarantor raised his hand as if toasting with a drink and handed the bottle to Honeydew. Honeydew didnt say much, just took it directly and said, "May war forever remain only in games!" Chapter 135 - 122 Punishment: Snow Wolf Little Maid (28/65)_2 Yes, he needed to be stronger, in every sense of the word. Whether it was his own level, his territory, or advancements in spell and divine arts, he needed it all. Just wait until he cleaned up this wave of Shadow Wolf packs. When the teacher saw him again, he would surely be surprised! Not quite, though. Given the teachers personality, he would probably tease Kael and say a bunch of nonsense before expressing his surprise. For example, "Kael, my good student. As our strength grows, our bodily structure bes more subtle andplex. From the perspective of life propagation, it definitely has some impact. I suggest you" Such bizarre nonsense was exactly the type of thing Mr. Luxius would say! Although Kael didnt quite understand why Mr. Luxius was so keen about his students future partners progress. He didnt seem like the kind of person who enjoyed matchmaking! Whatever, overthinking wouldnt help. Wasnt it just a situation where it might be hard to win the lottery or something? He didnt know about other races, but lets not forget, he was an Incubus! Just in terms of propagation, Incubi inherently had a great advantage over other races. Still, Kael wondered what kind of environment Incubi originally lived in to develop such racial talents. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ... The next day. Near the Ranger Camp, more and more yers were gathering. Last nights grand skirmish had be a hot topic on the forum, and while some people werementing missing out, many others began eyeing the rewards for the uing grand counterattack task. Continue your journey on empire They didnt believe the ensuing battle to encircle the wolf packs would have no yer involvement; thus, those who could get there first were already swiftly convening nearby. Perhaps due to the pre-war morale-boosting activities, the entire Ranger Camp atmosphere had be lively. Yesterdays funeral now seemed like a distant memory. Only those truly heartbroken understood that scars wouldnt disappear entirely with time. They would resurface unexpectedly. It might be an unwashed dish in the camp, a local delicacy brought from home to share but never opened, or a familiar but now absent voice at a moments nce. At such times, someone might remember a long-lost friend who had been gone for a very long time. Meanwhile, Kael and nna roamed near the Ranger Camp. With the yers arrival, more supplies were transported to this ce. For the yers, every major battle was like a grand celebration. They paid no mind to the strange looks from other Rangers, as they spontaneously formed a small marketce outside the camp. They exchanged stories of their recent experiences and brought out various junk collected from who knows where, engaging in wild haggling with other yers. Kael even saw Jiu Yue Industries setting up a stall nearby, disying many small handmade items. Upon closer inspection, it mainly sold gas masks, fertilizers, swords, and some ivory carving products. Surprisingly, these items were selling quite well in the mini-market. Most interestingly, the yers had seemingly transitioned into the Iron Age early thanks to their real-world skills. Although the swords were still far from those crafted by the cksmiths in the town, they were already good enough to serve as basic weapons for professionals. "Their mobilization ability is fast," nna said with a lightugh. "With these helpful Undead assisting you, Lancasters future development speed should improve even more." In fact, although many Rangers didnt understand the yers mindset, the bustling atmosphere had drawn quite a few to check out the market. With no battles, they had nothing to do besides training. After wandering around, many indeed found some things worth buying. "How do you feel? Where they are, theres never ack of vitality and energy," Kael said with a smile to nna. nna nodded. It was true. Such lively and cheerful scenes were usually only seen during special Church holidays or major federated festivals. But with these Undead, this lively and bustling atmosphere seemed like the norm. Passing by, Kael noticed a stall selling coconut milk mixed with green tea and various deep-fried insects, which had a considerable crowd despite their initial apprehension. Kael suspected that the poprity of the stall was likely because the yers knew they werent eating real insects, thus easing their fears. Finally, the two decided to sit at a noodle stall. It was run by a yer selling ramen. The ce was quite busy, and the food looked decent. Chapter 136 - 122 Punishing Snow Wolf Little Maid (28/65)_3 It wasnt long after I had sat down when I heard the yer beside me cursing and swearing: "Colorful Paper, you scoundrel of a merchant, where did you find such a skilled cutter? This wolf meat is so thin its almost see-through!" "Whats the problem, Yi An? You dont have to buy it if you dont like it. No need toin. Isnt Demon Crystal meant to be spent on things like this?" Suddenly, a big head popped out from the busy shop, cursing back at the yer. "Damn it, youve got to give me a discount or else dont think ofing to me for the best services next time I go to the night market!" "Who needs it, huh? Dont you know Ive been broke recently? I dont have extra money tovish on a raggedy miss." "So thats why youre selling ramen at such a high price!" "Got a problem with that?" "Even if I were nailed inside a coffin, I would still shout out that youre a scoundrel of a merchant!" "Boss Dan, someones saying you cut the meat too thin!" the yer known as Cool Colored Paper cried out loudly. Amid Kaels surprised expression, he actually saw his own Knight, Dan, emerging from the small gate of the stall. "Hmm, Lord Kael, Miss nna, when did you two get here? I didnt even know you were around!" With his sharp gaze, Dan immediately spotted Kael and nna sitting near his stall. The two exchanged a smile, and nna teased, "Mr. Dan, arent you taking the day off? Why have youe to run a stall with the yers?" Dan chuckled and said, "Cant help it, had to show this guy some respect. Hes a subordinate I took on during a patrol, has a good personality, and some skills to boot. N?v(el)B\\jnn When he was with us on patrol, he could whip up decent meals anytime with just a single pot. I heard its amon technique from their side called, um" "Caramelizing sugar, Boss Dan, its called caramelizing sugar! Ive told you several times, its the basic skill!" Cool Colored Paper stuck his head out again to shout a reminder. "Ah, right, right, caramelizing sugar it is." Kaels face darkened as he realized that themunication between the Rangers and the yers was much more frequent than he had expected because of his arrival. But then again, it made sense. If Kael, as a Lord, didnt reject the Undead, his subordinates were even less likely to do so. This was a direct reflection of the adage "As above, so below." Damn it, with the yers rowdiness, they werent going to lead his Rangers astray, were they?! Of course, Kael didnt stop his Knights mischief. Instead, he smiled and said: "Then today, let me have a taste of your craft." "Of course, Lord Kael! Today, let me show you the pride of our squads superb meal!" Dan turned and walked back to the stall and soon came out with two wooden bowls, which he set down in front of them, saying: "Please enjoy!" Upon looking at his serving, Kael joked, "Why do I feel like the portion in my bowl is somewhat different from what the other yers got?" Dan raised a thumbs up, shing a silvery smile, and said, "Of course, the serving for Lord Kael has to be the best!" yers nearby eximed admiration, thinking that this Knight really knows how to curry favour, going straight for Brother Kaels arm without hesitation; perhaps its no wonder hes known as Brother Kaels loyal Knight? Loved it, loved it! Kael, however, looked at the enormous wooden bowl with the surprisinglyrge head size, topped with 8 hand-made meatballs floating at the top, slices of neatly arranged meats ced behind them, and a few fish fillets made from some kind of fish meat, which took up the rest of the space on the soups surface. Without a doubt, this was a mammoth bowl of ramen that could fill a person up on meat alone. "I actually cant finish this much," Kael said, looking at Dan, "You know that. My health wasnt good before, and though it has improved quite a bit, my appetite hasnt changed much." After all, he wasnt one of those fighters who needed to eat a lot to meet their daily exercise needs. Compared to them, a Mages food consumption was rtively low. Moreover, considering his frail health in the earlier years, even though his body had recovered a lot, it would probably still take a long time for his appetite to catch up. Dan said very seriously, "Its okay, then just eat a little more than usual, just like our youngds do. They didnt eat much before either, but as they trained more, they gradually got used to consuming more food every day, and their bodies grew healthier." Kael paused for a moment, looking at the genuine smile on the face of this infrequently seen Knight, and suddenly understood why Dan, who knew he couldnt eat so much, would still serve up nearly double the amount he could finish. He smiled and said to nna, "Then nna and I wont be shy." After saying this, he began to eat the ramen heartily, and seeing Kael eat well, Dans expression brightened considerably. Kael inwardly sighed, considering the four Knights his father had left him, each with their own individual personalities. If the young Jonathan thought only of how to serve his Lord more faithfully, then the elder Barry preferred to leave the future entirely in the Lords hands, simply carrying out Kaels ns with firm resolve. The other two Knights, Willfo and Dan, were about the same age. Maybe due to years of guarding the town, Willfo was more cautious in nature, serving not so much the Lord as the duty itself... even though the duty could be altered by the Lords decision. Dan was a special case. Perhaps because he didnt stay in one ce for long, his interactions with Kael were indeed sparse. But that didnt mean their rtionship was poor. The rtionships among men were different from those among women. Girls might call each other best friends shortly after meeting, but whether they truly be best friends depends more on the test of time. Guys might know each other for four or five years online, sending countless messages and voice chats, yet always refer to each other by their screen names... Stay tuned with empire But when actual help is needed, these guys wouldnt necessarily stand by; they might even do things so extraordinary you wouldnt believe it. Kael knew that Dan was actually the earliest to make contact with him. He seemed to remember that back when he first arrived in the territory with his father, the main person in charge of the towns defense was Dan. In his memory, this bearded uncle especially liked to lift him up high in his arms. Perhaps because of those past experiences, even after seeing Kael grown up, Dans feelings for him were more like those of an old nannycaring like an elder. Sometimes it might be a bit troubling, but... it wasnt bad! He smiled and kept eating the ramen until he really couldnt take another bite. Then he started cing the meat pieces from the top into nnas barely touched bowl and tucked her red hair behind her ear, saying: "Go ahead and eat, we had an agreement, didnt we? In front of me, you can be the most authentic version of yourself." Chapter 133 - 121 Kael: Snow Wolf, I Need Your Help In Cultivation (5000 words, update 25.5/65)_3 Although he had only advanced to Level 8 after the small-scale conflict, when he was only Level 7, he could already feel that the barrier between him and the Transcendent was about to be broken. Just as he had discussed with Old White before, the growth process of a professional was essentially the process of adapting to exceptional environments. The various specialty passive entries that arise from this process could be said to be a feedback from the reality of the professionals own resistance to exceptional situations, rather than the merit of the systems panel. Why do beings like Demons or Elves have certain enhancements in their Attributespared to other races? The simple reason is that they, in order to adapt to extreme environments, have to advance more quickly to develop Attributes and specialties that can better resist these environments during their growth process. Over time, this experience of struggling with all things bes etched in their bloodline, turning into what is known as racial traits. He spread his hand and looked at his pale palm, a trace of a smile appearing on his face. For yers, there is basically no such thing as natural Attribute growth. However, Kael simply needed to continue training, and his Attributes would improve. Although such increases might not be so apparent and would be more difficult to achieveter on, this could still create a significant gap between him and the yers. "Young Master Kael..." Hassaka walked in, looking at Kael who had his back to her, and softly called out. Kael turned around, his eyes flickering as he said, "Are those things ready?" With a lift of her skirt, Hassaka bowed slightly and replied, "Yes, the materials you need for body strengthening have all been prepared. Shall I bring them in now?" "Then bring them in..." "Okay, okay..." Hearing that Kael had no further words, Hassaka felt a tinge of disappointment. She had already sensed the scent of spring on the young master, so strong it was almost overwhelming. If it were her, she would already be wagging her tail and incessantly rubbing against the young masters warm body. Woo, that doesnt seem right to say, because she indeed wanted to cling tightly to the young masters body. Eh, could it be that I am... Hassaka, who realized it btedly, suddenly understood; it was almost that time ording to the calendar. This made her feel even more uneasy. Although the Snow Wolf n possessed their own intelligence, they were still a race with unextinguished beastliness. When it came to these bodily instincts, they couldnt help but think a bit more about it. For a moment, she felt a bit hot and instinctively lifted the hem of her dress, revealing her slender waist that was sweating lightly, pale and carrying a faint wild charm. She still looked rather petite, but now she exuded the scent of ripeness. Noticing that Hassaka had yet to act, Kael turned to look at her, his gaze identally falling on the pleasant scenery at the front of the little maid. He turned his head away, looking into the distance, and thought he caught sight of egrets dotting the undting mountains in the distance, the pink in his eyes growing deeper. His voice a bit hoarse, he said, "What are you still doing here? Go and get the things ready." His voice almost sounded like a reprimand. Hassaka felt a strong sense of grievance but still nodded, prepared to leave. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Wait..." Kael suppressed his emotions and huffed, "Turn back and look at me." Hassaka turned back, looking at Kael with the coldness in his eyes. With her eyes brimming with tears, she felt her breathing almost stop under his gaze. His eyes were like whirlpools, seemingly pulling something from within her body away. Woo woo, my body feels strange! All she could muster to say weakly was, "Young Master Kael, is there anything else youd like to order?" Kael, as if oblivious to her reaction, stated coldly: "Have the hot water ready, and deal with the materials in advance. After youve prepared everything in the room, stay, and process all the materials for warming and nurturing the body." Hassaka was taken aback, but didnt this go without saying? Usually, when the young master needed these things taken care of, she was the one who did it. "What, youre not happy about it?" Kael snorted, "You have indeed been a bit presumptuoustely. After youre done dealing with things, stay there and ept your punishment." Hassakas nose twitched, the red in her eyeballs became sharper, as if she suddenly understood something and joyfully left the room. But now the grievance on her face had turned into a bright smile, her cheeks flushed like rosy clouds, and even her ear tips turned red. For a moment Kael was lost in thought, watching Hassaka wag her tail cheerfully as she ran out, subconsciously licking his canine tooth. He didnt intend to exin deliberately; a Werewolf n maid who was cute yet slightly wilful, if not properly disciplined, would forget the difference between master and servant. It didnt take long for Hassaka to finish dealing with the things and then push them into the room again. She yfully said, "Young Master Kael, your small room next door is ready." That ce was a bathing area arranged exclusively for Kael by the Rangers, with no one else allowed to enter. Once inside the steam-filled small room, Kael, now in a bathrobe, stepped directly into the heated pool. The light cast by the flickering Magic Lamp projected the intertwined shadows onto the bottom of the pool. Hassaka, who had approached quietly, had somehow entered the pool and drew near to Kael, who had his eyes closed, gently massaging his shoulders to relieve the soreness and the scars left by the Magic Silk Thread. Kael seemed to be in a bad mood, his voice suppressed as he said: "You have been increasinglycking the decorum of a maidtely..." Hassakas voice trembled, but her hands never ceased their movement. She looked with some distress at the faint purple marks on Kaels body and said: "Young Master, do you always end up with such scars after using those silk threads to bind your body?" Chapter 134 - 122 Disciplining the Snow Wolf Little Maid (28/65) "Young master, do you always get these scars when you tie yourself up with those threads?" "More or less. You get used to it after a while." His voice remained calm. He intentionally used this method to constantly activate his bodys ability to adapt. No one could speak of the harsh environments powerful races lived in, but Kael could consciously create a rtively harsh survival environment for himself for example, this long-term exposure to dense magic power eroding his body and the injuries sustained. Maintaining this consciously, as long as he ensured various body-nourishing materials and career level advancements, it was entirely possible to forcefully enhance his Attributes and some rather special skills. Hassaka gently stroked those scars, feeling a heartache, her heart pounding like a drum. Kael turned his head to see her face, flushed red from the steam. This silly girl was using her tail as a towel, dipping it in hot water and gently cleansing his body. Amidst the fog, he could vaguely see her curved eyshes, her lower lip biting as if enduring something. Her somewhat awkward movements seemed a bit forced. Noticing Kaels gaze, she whimpered, realizing that her young master already held two blooming flowers which had scattered in the pool. "Hassaka..." "Im here, Young Master Kael." "All these years, you havent learned any talents in the Lord Mansion, have you?" Kael said softly. Hassaka felt a bit confused, nodding, "As long as I can take care of the young master when needed, thats all a maid needs to do!" "Youre far from that," Kael said, his tone carrying a hint of teasing as he looked at her. The beautiful eyes surrounded by a pink glow made Hassaka feel warm. She didnt dislike this feeling but thought that the young masters eyes were so beautiful that just looking into them made her feel weak. She blushed deeply under his gaze Afterwards Kael walked out of the small room feeling refreshed. What has the Incubus bloodline done that has anything to do with me? He hadnt really done anything; although he almost made a big mistake and had a strong urge tomit an act of springtime, he fortunately restrained himself. At most, he had just seen the little maid lose control, then blocked the mouth of the uncontroble Wolf Maid with an Ice Arrow. She was bing increasingly disrespectful, clinging to him without permission and being ridiculously clumsy, repeatedly disobeying his teachings. When he told her to stop, she was still disobedient, performing a set of "light touch, careful twist, wipe, and tease". It was anything but fitting for a maid, something Kael could not tolerate. Spells were particrly meant to discipline these disobedient individuals. After a long time, they finally entered the aftermath phase. He looked at the silly maid pathetically handling her clothes by the pool, coughing asionally. He felt a bit of pity for her. Though Kael had been very careful when using the Ice Sword to block her insolent mouth, the Wolf Maid still ended up dazed, her cheeks sore from the Ice Sword. Watching her struggle to put on her maid uniform, her trembling small skirt and hands, he felt hed overdone the punishment this time Kael went over and fastened her skirt, then said: "If you have any more of those thoughts next time, I wont let you off as easily as this time." She seemed to regain some rity, licked her lips, and rather than retreating in fear from his scolding, she started thinking of ways to make Kael punish her even more. "Young Master Kael, next time you can bully Hassaka even more. Hassaka is always ready..." She had somewhat recovered and was now standing behind Kael, carefully tending to his disheveled hair. "Oh, young master, your eyes have returned to normal!" In front of the mirror, Hassaka quickly noticed Kaels eyes had returned to normal. Kael didnt say much about this, as it was within his expectations. After all, following the session, even the magic values umted in the Life Treasury had been slightly released. After Hassaka helped him tidy up his clothes, they stepped out. Continue reading at empire N?v(el)B\\jnn She was left in the room, pondering whether she should asionally buy some ice pops made by the Undead. Those cold, refreshing ice pops were quite tasty and, with practice, could bring her a sense of happiness and fulfillment. Thinking of this, her ears grew hot again. The young master was truly over the line...but Hassaka liked it! At this time, Kael, who felt recovered, felt a bit of regret. He didnt like this loss of control, thankful he hadnt made a mistake in the end. But he did think that Hassaka should learn some talents properly. The special materials melted in the pool had gradually seeped into Kaels body, umting a new progress bar on the System panel. It seemed as long as he could continue to obtain resources, he could be even stronger. Chapter 135 - 122 Punishment: Snow Wolf Little Maid (28/65)_2 Yes, he needed to be stronger, in every sense of the word. Whether it was his own level, his territory, or advancements in spell and divine arts, he needed it all. Just wait until he cleaned up this wave of Shadow Wolf packs. When the teacher saw him again, he would surely be surprised! Not quite, though. Given the teachers personality, he would probably tease Kael and say a bunch of nonsense before expressing his surprise. For example, "Kael, my good student. As our strength grows, our bodily structure bes more subtle andplex. From the perspective of life propagation, it definitely has some impact. I suggest you" Such bizarre nonsense was exactly the type of thing Mr. Luxius would say! Although Kael didnt quite understand why Mr. Luxius was so keen about his students future partners progress. He didnt seem like the kind of person who enjoyed matchmaking! Whatever, overthinking wouldnt help. Wasnt it just a situation where it might be hard to win the lottery or something? He didnt know about other races, but lets not forget, he was an Incubus! Just in terms of propagation, Incubi inherently had a great advantage over other races. Still, Kael wondered what kind of environment Incubi originally lived in to develop such racial talents. ... The next day. Near the Ranger Camp, more and more yers were gathering. Last nights grand skirmish had be a hot topic on the forum, and while some people werementing missing out, many others began eyeing the rewards for the uing grand counterattack task. Continue your journey on empire They didnt believe the ensuing battle to encircle the wolf packs would have no yer involvement; thus, those who could get there first were already swiftly convening nearby. Perhaps due to the pre-war morale-boosting activities, the entire Ranger Camp atmosphere had be lively. Yesterdays funeral now seemed like a distant memory. Only those truly heartbroken understood that scars wouldnt disappear entirely with time. They would resurface unexpectedly. It might be an unwashed dish in the camp, a local delicacy brought from home to share but never opened, or a familiar but now absent voice at a moments nce. At such times, someone might remember a long-lost friend who had been gone for a very long time. Meanwhile, Kael and nna roamed near the Ranger Camp. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om With the yers arrival, more supplies were transported to this ce. For the yers, every major battle was like a grand celebration. They paid no mind to the strange looks from other Rangers, as they spontaneously formed a small marketce outside the camp. They exchanged stories of their recent experiences and brought out various junk collected from who knows where, engaging in wild haggling with other yers. Kael even saw Jiu Yue Industries setting up a stall nearby, disying many small handmade items. Upon closer inspection, it mainly sold gas masks, fertilizers, swords, and some ivory carving products. Surprisingly, these items were selling quite well in the mini-market. Most interestingly, the yers had seemingly transitioned into the Iron Age early thanks to their real-world skills. Although the swords were still far from those crafted by the cksmiths in the town, they were already good enough to serve as basic weapons for professionals. "Their mobilization ability is fast," nna said with a lightugh. "With these helpful Undead assisting you, Lancasters future development speed should improve even more." In fact, although many Rangers didnt understand the yers mindset, the bustling atmosphere had drawn quite a few to check out the market. With no battles, they had nothing to do besides training. After wandering around, many indeed found some things worth buying. "How do you feel? Where they are, theres never ack of vitality and energy," Kael said with a smile to nna. nna nodded. It was true. Such lively and cheerful scenes were usually only seen during special Church holidays or major federated festivals. But with these Undead, this lively and bustling atmosphere seemed like the norm. Passing by, Kael noticed a stall selling coconut milk mixed with green tea and various deep-fried insects, which had a considerable crowd despite their initial apprehension. Kael suspected that the poprity of the stall was likely because the yers knew they werent eating real insects, thus easing their fears. Finally, the two decided to sit at a noodle stall. It was run by a yer selling ramen. The ce was quite busy, and the food looked decent. Chapter 136 - 122 Punishing Snow Wolf Little Maid (28/65)_3 It wasnt long after I had sat down when I heard the yer beside me cursing and swearing: "Colorful Paper, you scoundrel of a merchant, where did you find such a skilled cutter? This wolf meat is so thin its almost see-through!" "Whats the problem, Yi An? You dont have to buy it if you dont like it. No need toin. Isnt Demon Crystal meant to be spent on things like this?" Suddenly, a big head popped out from the busy shop, cursing back at the yer. "Damn it, youve got to give me a discount or else dont think ofing to me for the best services next time I go to the night market!" "Who needs it, huh? Dont you know Ive been broke recently? I dont have extra money tovish on a raggedy miss." "So thats why youre selling ramen at such a high price!" "Got a problem with that?" "Even if I were nailed inside a coffin, I would still shout out that youre a scoundrel of a merchant!" "Boss Dan, someones saying you cut the meat too thin!" the yer known as Cool Colored Paper cried out loudly. Amid Kaels surprised expression, he actually saw his own Knight, Dan, emerging from the small gate of the stall. "Hmm, Lord Kael, Miss nna, when did you two get here? I didnt even know you were around!" With his sharp gaze, Dan immediately spotted Kael and nna sitting near his stall. The two exchanged a smile, and nna teased, "Mr. Dan, arent you taking the day off? Why have youe to run a stall with the yers?" Dan chuckled and said, "Cant help it, had to show this guy some respect. Hes a subordinate I took on during a patrol, has a good personality, and some skills to boot. When he was with us on patrol, he could whip up decent meals anytime with just a single pot. I heard its amon technique from their side called, um" "Caramelizing sugar, Boss Dan, its called caramelizing sugar! Ive told you several times, its the basic skill!" Cool Colored Paper stuck his head out again to shout a reminder. "Ah, right, right, caramelizing sugar it is." Kaels face darkened as he realized that themunication between the Rangers and the yers was much more frequent than he had expected because of his arrival. But then again, it made sense. If Kael, as a Lord, didnt reject the Undead, his subordinates were even less likely to do so. This was a direct reflection of the adage "As above, so below." Damn it, with the yers rowdiness, they werent going to lead his Rangers astray, were they?! Of course, Kael didnt stop his Knights mischief. Instead, he smiled and said: "Then today, let me have a taste of your craft." "Of course, Lord Kael! Today, let me show you the pride of our squads superb meal!" Dan turned and walked back to the stall and soon came out with two wooden bowls, which he set down in front of them, saying: "Please enjoy!" Upon looking at his serving, Kael joked, "Why do I feel like the portion in my bowl is somewhat different from what the other yers got?" Dan raised a thumbs up, shing a silvery smile, and said, "Of course, the serving for Lord Kael has to be the best!" yers nearby eximed admiration, thinking that this Knight really knows how to curry favour, going straight for Brother Kaels arm without hesitation; perhaps its no wonder hes known as Brother Kaels loyal Knight? Loved it, loved it! Kael, however, looked at the enormous wooden bowl with the surprisinglyrge head size, topped with 8 hand-made meatballs floating at the top, slices of neatly arranged meats ced behind them, and a few fish fillets made from some kind of fish meat, which took up the rest of the space on the soups surface. Without a doubt, this was a mammoth bowl of ramen that could fill a person up on meat alone. "I actually cant finish this much," Kael said, looking at Dan, "You know that. My health wasnt good before, and though it has improved quite a bit, my appetite hasnt changed much." After all, he wasnt one of those fighters who needed to eat a lot to meet their daily exercise needs. Compared to them, a Mages food consumption was rtively low. Moreover, considering his frail health in the earlier years, even though his body had recovered a lot, it would probably still take a long time for his appetite to catch up. Dan said very seriously, "Its okay, then just eat a little more than usual, just like our youngds do. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om They didnt eat much before either, but as they trained more, they gradually got used to consuming more food every day, and their bodies grew healthier." Kael paused for a moment, looking at the genuine smile on the face of this infrequently seen Knight, and suddenly understood why Dan, who knew he couldnt eat so much, would still serve up nearly double the amount he could finish. He smiled and said to nna, "Then nna and I wont be shy." After saying this, he began to eat the ramen heartily, and seeing Kael eat well, Dans expression brightened considerably. Kael inwardly sighed, considering the four Knights his father had left him, each with their own individual personalities. If the young Jonathan thought only of how to serve his Lord more faithfully, then the elder Barry preferred to leave the future entirely in the Lords hands, simply carrying out Kaels ns with firm resolve. The other two Knights, Willfo and Dan, were about the same age. Maybe due to years of guarding the town, Willfo was more cautious in nature, serving not so much the Lord as the duty itself... even though the duty could be altered by the Lords decision. Dan was a special case. Perhaps because he didnt stay in one ce for long, his interactions with Kael were indeed sparse. But that didnt mean their rtionship was poor. The rtionships among men were different from those among women. Girls might call each other best friends shortly after meeting, but whether they truly be best friends depends more on the test of time. Guys might know each other for four or five years online, sending countless messages and voice chats, yet always refer to each other by their screen names... Stay tuned with empire But when actual help is needed, these guys wouldnt necessarily stand by; they might even do things so extraordinary you wouldnt believe it. Kael knew that Dan was actually the earliest to make contact with him. He seemed to remember that back when he first arrived in the territory with his father, the main person in charge of the towns defense was Dan. In his memory, this bearded uncle especially liked to lift him up high in his arms. Perhaps because of those past experiences, even after seeing Kael grown up, Dans feelings for him were more like those of an old nannycaring like an elder. Sometimes it might be a bit troubling, but... it wasnt bad! He smiled and kept eating the ramen until he really couldnt take another bite. Then he started cing the meat pieces from the top into nnas barely touched bowl and tucked her red hair behind her ear, saying: "Go ahead and eat, we had an agreement, didnt we? In front of me, you can be the most authentic version of yourself." Chapter 137 - 123: Holding It In Too Long Can Break a Person At this time, while Kael and nna were enjoying a brief rest together, a post on the "Gate of the Underworld" game forum gradually heated up. "Goodbye, My Friend, May You Find Your Worth in the World of Death" [Poster: Honeydew] "I always thought I was a qualified gamer, since the day I joined the club, making every choice based on bing stronger in the game." "I love killing, I love adventuring, and I love taking on all the tense and exciting challenges that make me stronger." "I once regarded this personality trait as the fundamental reason I could be a professional yer because, oftentimes, you need to be numb and calm to be stronger." "It was the same in Gate of the Underworld. As a yer from the second batch of beta testers, I set my sights on the new Mage development path project led by Brother Kael right after entering the game." "As expected, with a clear goal, I smoothly secured this opportunity." "While other neers were joyously reveling in their hidden ss-change missions, I just found them noisy." "Everyone has this thought, right? Unlike some yers who just happened to receive this hidden ss-change mission, you clearly recognize that youre methodicallypleting your n to be stronger." "That was also the day I first came to the Twisted Jungle." "It was my first encounter with an ordinary NPC, Ludi." "At first, I really didnt care about the names of those guards, just like in previous generation online games, where NPCs were quickly forgotten after being bypassed." "After all, he didnt have Kaels attractive appearance nor was he a powerful Ranger captain. On the day I entered the Twisted Jungle, he blended in with a group of Rangers, repeating the same drills over and over again... just like any regr Ranger." "Maybe he noticed that I was watching them practice spears, Ludi approached me during a break." "Hey, young Undead, are you interested in the Rangers? Why dont you try joining us? You can call me Ludi, he said to me then." "His opening was unremarkable, my first impression of Ludi, but since the NPC initiated conversation with me, I had no reason to refuse." "I just told him that I had already agreed to participate in Brother Kaels Mage project, and then I saw a hint of surprise on his face." "A Mage then? Thats an enviable talent. In that case, it indeed isnt suitable for you to join the Rangers; you have a better life to im, he said excitedly, pulling me around the camp for a tour." "Do you like the wind? he asked me with a smile, after giving me a good sense of the camps structure andyout." "I could only tell him that I had no particr liking or dislike for the wind." "He nodded, telling me, To vanish into the wind is the destiny of a Ranger. Perhaps one day, youll enjoy the sensation of journeying with the wind. "Perhaps because he talked too much, I unusually started discussing the difficulties I encountered in the club, like the tragedy of no Chinese clubpeting in this years global finals." "I even rarely voiced my feelings, saying that considering our regions focus on the game, it was destined not topete with a neighboring small country that viewed the industry as a pir." "He didnt understand specifically what I was talking about, but every time he saw me depressed, he would pat my shoulder andfort me, saying that the Rangers also faced many challenges, but they always managed to ovee them." "The day I returned from my first Dungeon leveling, he even gave me a bottle of wine, those friends who have drunk in the game might understand that feeling, its just the most ordinary wine that could be bought in the town." "Heughed and handed the wine to me, saying that its really tough to drink more while in the camp, as Captain Jonathan doesnt allow drinking during missions." "I nodded and had a sip of the wine before putting it into my backpack." "I dont like alcohol; it numbs my nerves, making it harder for me to control characters in the arena." "I used to think that Ludi and I were like two parallel lines that would never intersect, moving away from this map as I grew and ultimately disappearing into the crowd." "But our parting came earlier than I had imagined..." "That day, after resurrection, I went to the temporary residence to enjoy the lively celebration until dawn." "I suddenly remembered Ludi, that guy who liked drinking; such scenes must have been the best for him." "But I couldnt find him. The next day when I returned to the camp, the bodies of Rangers covered with grey cloth were brought back, and Kael collected some items from them." "Watching them send each unrecognizable body into the cremation furnace, burning away in magic mes, I suddenly felt uneasy." "The Rangers had a small iron tag on them; it was said that when they died beyond recognition, this iron tag served as their identity proof." "The first iron tag nailed to a tombstone in front of the camp was Ludis; I didnt even know which number he was among those sent into the furnace." "But I knew a passerby had left me then, the Guarantor had given me the best wine, and I poured it in front of the tombstone before returning to the town." "Seeing the wine bottle Ludi gave me in my backpack, I suddenly wondered, do the things we lose also feel sad and want to find us back?" "There was a moment when I suddenly felt that starting wars recklessly is so absurd, so when the Guarantor again said to me, I wish the world peace, I replied " "May war always exist only in games!" "With this post dedicated to you, whether you have yed this game or not, respect the game, revere life, and do your best." The post was long, and yers responded a lot, with some just watching the excitement, and others feeling a deep connection; subsequently in the responses, some even noticed small details. For instance, a yer revealed that the gs representing Lancaster in Titan Town remain unfaded no matter how much they are exposed to wind and sun. The secret hidden here isnt that the gs are made with some special dye. Instead, the gs are changed every day, and each day a new g is raised over the town. The reced gs are then washed, sealed, and sent off to their designated ces. Beneath thisment someone asked, "Where do they go?" The yer replied, "They have a more important mission, apanying each warrior who has sacrificed themselves for Lancaster in their eternal rest." The post went viral and more people started replying below it. Guarantor Human Soul: "Honeydew, pull yourself together, theres a big battle ahead." Jiu Yue: "There there, dont cry,e to Jiu Yue Heavy Industries and Ill give you the best quality weapon for free." Imprudent Sister Yu: "Seems like I missed something big, but no worries, its about to get lively around here too." Sister Yu Act Fast: "Sister Yu, are you still over by the Royal Capital?" Imprudent Sister Yu: "Yes, we have an important matter to deal with right now." Cool Colored Paper: "Is it still about that ve trade matter?" Imprudent Sister Yu: "Pretty much, Brother Kael previously exposed the main traffickers behind the ve Trading House. There was supposed to be a sentencing, but it seems something has changed over there." Emperor Ha: "Dont tell me its another situation where the mastermind gets off scot-free." Continue your adventure with empire Sister Astate: "Its quite possible that could happen." A wave of righteous anger swept through the group, but suddenly Emperor Ha sent a message "No worries, Ill take action." With just seven words, countless yers bowed down to his majesty, dubbing it an endless swagger. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Even Emperor Has nickname took on the air of an imperial ruler of the Human Race. Perhaps it was this peak of swagger that instantly shattered the brewing somber mood. Thats how yers are as a group; they tend to revert to buffoonery from time to time. However, maybe there was still something that had changed, like their attitude towards NPCs, which seemed to have shifted subconsciously. ... Meanwhile, within Titan Town. The ck Sun Bishop and Chris emerged from the town looking disheveled. Upon leaving the town and seeing the great outdoors, Chris burst into tears. How long had it been since he had felt such a sense of freedom? After being cooped up in the houses of Titan Town for so long, he felt he was nearly breaking down. Finally out, his first thought was to run away with the Bishop, so he said, "Bishop Allen, should we leave Lancaster right now?" Actually, by asking, he meant they should grab their things and run immediately, but he still symbolically sought Bishop Allens opinion. After all, Bishop Allen might be a vegetarian, but his Nail Head Hammer definitely wasnt. Unexpectedly, n Ackham looked up and snorted, then said: "Lets go. Well visit the Twisted Jungle to meet with that person before leaving. Lancaster is too dangerous right now, staying here would only expose him." "Do we have to go?" Chris grimaced with reluctance. The red light in Bishop Allens eyes flickered slightly as he smiled and said, "Chris, do not forget the oath you took before God to heed His voice!" "Thats a must, I constantly think about listening to Gods teachings," Chris replied immediately. Its not that he was scared or anything, its just that when Bishop Allen was speaking, his fingers on the Nail Head Hammer were clicking. So he decisively chose to heed Bishop Allens teachings (physically). The two did not say much else. Currently, the Rangers main focus was on the camp nearby, preparing for the final battle against the Shadow Wolves. Far away, they passed the portal emanating terrifying tidal energy from the underworld and finally reached a ce just over 300 meters away from the Ranger Camp. As they approached closer, he glimpsed Kael sitting next to nna at a stall outside the camp. "Ah! Ah! It truly is You, our Heavenly Father and Savior, what an honor it is to see Your face again!" Chapter 138 - 124: Saintess Uffemia and the Incubus Girl (Extra update 28/65) "Ah! Ah! It really is you, our Heavenly Father and Savior, what an honor it is to see your face again!" "But your dark side is so terrifying and merciless, like the ocean that shelters fishermen and nurtures life, yet can summon storms that devour everything..." Bishop Allen, after all, was a bishop, though he had attained his position through the power of the Shire Scripture Draft, power was still power, enough to make him surpass the majority of people in this camp. His gaze first fell on the Snow Wolf n maid, who was lightly sweeping up the aftermath in a small hut. "Ah, such a feeble life, that frail and lowly orc descendant, it truly cannotprehend the greatness of that Lord." Bishop Allen snorted coldly. Chris, unable to prevent their bishop froming here, nced at him and asked somewhat puzzled: "Bishop Allen, are you referring to that Snow Wolf n maid?" "Is there a second one? That mixed-blood orc, how could it possibly resist the power of that Lord?" "The closer you are to that Lord, the more easily you are influenced and controlled by his allure. Do you know why so many people in the world say that incubi are adept at manipting minds?" "Isnt it because they naturally possess a demonic charm?" "Chris, you are too naive. Do you know the greatest stain on the Holy Brinia Papal State since its establishment?" Bishop Allen said coldly. "I dont know." "About 300 years ago, the Holy Brinia Papal State actually had the qualifications to be the representative state of humanity, but now the only one that can represent the human camp is the Yiber Federation." Chris was taken aback, he really did not know about this, but seeing Bishop Allens eagerness to share, he still said: "Is this knowledge you are willing to impart to me?" "Theres no such thing as imparting knowledge, now you and I are both followers of that Lord..." In Bishop Allens steady voice, he began to recount a little-known history. ... It was a story that took ce over 300 years ago. The Holy Brinia Papal State, established with theocracy as its core, undoubtedly ced the holy and radiant deities in the highest position. Through divine oracles, they guided the entire Holy Brinia Papal States development direction, until that unforeseen event urred. Saintess Uffemia, who was serving at the time, saved a little girl during a battle to eradicate the invasion of Abyss Demons. At that time, thatnd had been upied by Abyss Demons for over ten years, forcing many major powers to withdraw more forces from the dungeons and invest them in suppressing the demons in that upied area. The humans who originally lived on thosends were almost entirely dead or injured, and most of the survivors were put into human ranches, treated as livestock and breeding bases for mixed-blood demons. To prepare for that battle, Saintess Uffemia organized thergest force in the Papal State at the time to engage in a life-and-death struggle with the demons. They seeded, sessfully driving the demons back into the Bottomless Abyss. On that wastnd, Uffemia met a girl who would influence her life profoundly. That extremely weak mixed-blood subus was supposed to be destroyed on the spot by the Pdins of Losanda, but Saintess Uffemia couldnt bear to see those children, who had been used as tools for so long, be killed directly and chose to protect them. She vowed that she would never allow these demonic offspring to grow freely, she would restrain them and train them to be warriors willing to fight for the protection of humanity just like the Pdins. And that excessively weak subus girl grew up under the many years of care from Saintess Uffemia. Saintess Uffemia was very powerful, most of the time, she didnt even need to use Divine Arts. She only needed a weapon blessing in one hand, a lighting spell, and then she would swing the cross granted to her by God at the demons head, allowing it to experience what it meant to have its soul ascend. This strong yet unconventional saintess, although she was an outlierpared to other priests who used Holy Light to repel demons, was just as devoted to God as the other priests. One day, on her way back to the temple, Uffemia noticed that the subus girl, who no longer needed her care, was thrown off a carriage by a group of Papal State nobles whoughed and insulted her. Her clothes were tattered, and her eyes radiated a despairing and deathly light. The subuss tail, seemingly without any more strength, drooped to the ground, filthy and dripping. The group of noblesughed and said they would purify this evil subus, iming that such a filthy bloodline was unworthy of standing on thend of the Papal State. ... Chris was full of disbelief and said: "Isnt she the child raised by the saintess? How dare those noble kids? What, did they have pig slop in their heads?" Even the priests of the ck Sun, who loved to y tricks and schemes the most, would not be foolish enough to do something asking for death like this. "Chris, if you were the saintess, would you choose to continue adhering to the order of the Papal State that you swore to uphold in that situation and choose to ignore that girl..." "Or would you discard your oath, pick up the cross in your hand that could smash those fools heads, and rush up shouting God, please forgive me?" Allens voice seemed to float from the depths of hell, causing Chris to shudder involuntarily. His expression was somewhat stiff, and he said: "If it really came to that, I would definitely choose to kill all the witnesses, as long as no one saw it, no one would know I did it." Bishop Allen raised an eyebrow and said: "Exactly, Uffemia made the same choice as you. She smashed those fools heads in, and afterward, that subus girl was sent to the cross for various reasons. In the zing inferno, she was sessfully purified." Chris sighed and said: "That is indeed something those guys from the Holy Brinia could do. What happened next?" "That subus girl possessed beauty that captured the hearts of both men and women alike, being top-tier in charm, otherwise, she wouldnt have been adopted by Uffemia. In that raging fire, Saintess Uffemia felt her heart burn to ashes alongside the subus girl. That day, holding the corpse of the subus girl, she wailed uncontrobly. In her rage, she chose tomunicate with the Abyss Will, hoping to revive the girl in the Abyss by sacrificing everything, even if it was not what she desired." Chris opened his mouth, wanting to marvel at the saintesss love for the subus girl, but unconsciously said: "But even encountering such a situation, she shouldnt make dealings with the Abyss, right? From what I know, dealing with the Abyss never ends well." "Yes, thats why she fell. That day, ck mes burned on the Holy Mountain of the Holy Brinia. Mekanshut, the Subus Queen, was reborn in the Abyss Fire, dragging the Fallen Saintess with her, and destroyed more than half of the Papal States high-ranking officials at the time. N?v(el)B\\jnn Since then, the priests of the Holy Brinia Papal State have used Holy Light to purify demons without mercy when facing them. It was also due to their increasingly extreme actions that they became more and more distanced from the human mainstream. So, the story ends here. What did you understand?" Gazing at Bishop Allens solemn expression, Chris pondered for a moment and said: "Dont trust the incubuss words?" Bishop Allen shook his head and said: "Do you think so? When the Subus Queen disguised herself as that frail little girl, she indeed lost all her power. During the years of being raised by Uffemia, she also developed a deep longing for the saintess, who was like a sister and mother to her, which was not something that could be changed by her will as the Subus Queen." Chris opened his mouth and said: "But why..." "Why did the saintess ultimately fall under her allure? Is that what you want to ask?" "Yes, I cannot understand, I am deeply shocked..." "Because even if she wasnt Mekanshut, the Subus Queen, the Abyss Lord-level demonic nature in her was real. Even though she had deep feelings for the saintess, her demonic nature instinct still could influence a being of the saintesss level, without either of them even noticing." Chris gasped and looked at Hassaka, who was cleaning the room, with fear in his eyes. "Do you understand? That is the dark side of our God, even without any malice, the demonic nature can only suit that foolish maid... Perhaps she even harbors a secret wish to offer herself? But the allure of demonic nature is like this, hard to detect, and once theres a crack in your heart, it will pry open the walls in an instant, plunging you into the Abyss of corruption." Chris looked at Bishop Allen with some concern. He had not dared to look directly at him before, but now he looked up and studied him for a moment, feeling as if he sensed the chaotic demonic nature erupting from the depths of Bishop Allens eyes. He instantly realized the truth, carefully saying: "Bishop Allen, is there a possibility that one of us has also been charmed and controlled." Allen snorted coldly and said: "Are you suggesting that the one being controlled is me? Fool, I revere the Radiant One because he helped me escape the deceit of the Prince of Lies, allowing me to live with my own will." Chris dared not speak further. Although he had his suspicions, he now understood what true demonic nature meant. Even a bishop, with such strength, would not know if he was being controlled once he was captured. "What about the others? Were the others not controlled?" "The undead souls are protected by the Harvest Goddess and remain unaffected. Those rangers have already devoted their loyalty to the Lord. Only a few people are at risk of being controlled by this demonic power again." Chapter 139 - 125: The Wolf King Fights to Death, The Final Battle Has Arrived (Bonus Update 30/65) "The souls of the Undead are protected by the Harvest Goddess, and they are not directly affected. Those Rangers have already offered their loyalty to that lord. Only a few people have the chance to be controlled by this demonic force again. Among those I just observed, Luxiuss female disciple seemed to have briefly broken free from the Incubus, but for some unknown reason, she was influenced again. Now she seemed to be in a rtively rational state; should I say, as expected of Luxiuss genius student? But that Snow Wolf n member is indeed strange. The lord didnt seem to intend to control her, but judging by how long she has been affected by the demonic force, it has been at least a few months. How did she manage to be influenced by the demonic force for such a long time?" Chris remained silent for a moment, pondering over the information he had secretly gathered about the Undead recently, then said: "I heard from those Undead that the lord seemed to have made some potion using the secretion from the Incubus. Could it be the effect of that?" Bishop Allen thought for a moment, then pped his hands and said: "That must be it. Now the lord hasnt yet separated the demonic force from her body. Even if it appears harmless, long-term usage will inevitably have serious consequences. However, that Lady Knight who is engaged to the lord is quite interesting. She resisted the demonic force with her will. Thats good. At least when the lord has stored too much demonic force and eventually needs to release the dark side, she can still withstand the influence. As a container, she is qualified. Lets go. Weve seen the lord and fulfilled our wish. Next, we need to go to farther, less noticeable ces to spread the lords bright and radiant beauty." Readtest stories on empire Originally thinking they could at least leave to have some fun in the big city, Chriss face turned bitter. s, he wondered when Bishop Allen would wake up. Why did he feel like he saw the gloomy future of his own life? n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om ... At the stall, nna suddenly turned her head and sneezed lightly. Choo! "Are you feeling unwell?" Kael handed over a folder of tissues. nna shook her head and said, "Its nothing, just felt like someone was cursing me behind my back." "Isnt that the saying of the Undead? How did you pick it up too? Because it makes sense, right? Im a first-rate cursed swordsman among academy students, not so easy to get sick." nna said with a mischievous smile. She quite liked the feeling of being cared for by Kael. ... Not far away, Lily, who was also wandering around the market, suddenly remembered the boys gentle rejection. Although originally feeling a bit relieved, she now felt even more worried. "Kael..." ... In the room, Hassak contentedly finished handling all the posthumous affairs for the young master. Pursing her lips, she savored the lingering taste of happiness in her mouth, with her eyes gleaming with a trance-like light. "Young Master Kael..." she murmured, her ears gradually turning red as she felt her beastly instincts surging again. ... Unknowingly, more and more Undead who had rushed to the Ranger Camp began setting up temporary tents around the area. At dawn, as the sun rose, many Rangers, afterpleting their morning routines, started conducting routine equipment checks. The sadness from the funeral had somewhat dissipated. The Rangers, akin to the wind, never stayed stuck in the past. Now they were ready, prepared to head to the next battlefield worthy of their struggle. Just not knowing how many would fall on the path of battle this time. For Kael, indecision was impossible. With a strong enough heart, though he might feel hurt, he wouldnt be hindered, harboring weak thoughts in this chaotic world was difficult for survival. After all, not everyone was an Undead. With the issuance of a mission order, all yers staying at the Ranger Camp received notifications. ... [Emergency Mission: In a previous battle, Rangers and Undead cooperated to achieve a significant victory. Now, Lord Kael has discovered the location of the wolf pack and intends to eliminate the threat of the Shadow Wolf pack at its onset.] [Mission Rewards: Arge amount of Level Experience Points and qualifications for learning a zero to second-level skill, numerous qualifications for career transitions] [Failure Conditions: Wolf pack survival rate higher than 5% or wolf pack not under Lancasters control] [Victory Conditions: Wolf pack survival rate lower than 5% or wolf pack under Lancasters control] At this moment, many unfamiliar faces had appeared within the camp. The number of yers gathered here astonishingly reached tens of thousands, making the Rangers seem like a minority. The majority of them came from nearby viges. Upon learning about the uing final battle, they unhesitatingly chose to rush here overnight. At the camp gate, Emptymountain stretchedzily, yawned with a tired face, and said to Honeydew beside him, "Today, dont just rush to your death again." Honeydew curiously nced at Emptymountain. Being among the sharper individuals, he naturally noticed that God of Wealths attitude towards this girl was somewhat peculiar. """ Chapter 140 - 125 Wolf King’s Bloodbath, The Final Battle Has Arrived (Supplementary Update 30/65)_2 Of course, its not that kind of ambiguous rtionship, but rather one mingled with a feeling of respect, fear, and a desire to engage... Hmm, like the feeling when you first get a cat ancestor for your home and you want to pet it but fear getting scratched. "Damn it, I yed way tootest night, almost couldnt get up with the rm..." God of Wealth arrived, yawning and stretching as he stepped out, followed by several professional yers from Strange Power Chaos God club. Honeydew greeted a few of them she was more familiar with. One of them happened to be a yer who, like Honeydew, had participated in Kaels training program. "Dada dada dada~ Your lord Nai Feitian has arrived!" A cry too cheerful for its own good rang out, causing everyone present to frown. Turning around, they saw Nai Feitian hopping over. "So, how have you all been, missed me after the World Championship?" Nai Feitian said with a fearless grin. Guarantor, who had just walked over, twitched his mouth, ncing at the sword in his hand and pondering whether to cut down that fellow. "Hiss, Guarantor, why the fierce look~ Its not like I intentionally knocked your team out, who told those old Lao Jiangs in your team to be so ipetent, cowering in battle, its only normal they got decimated!" Nai Feitian, unbothered,unched into his taunts, pretty much riding them hard and putting them down in person. Guarantor sighed and said, "Cant help it, the club hasnt had any good results in recent years, lost their fearless courage, plus your AS side indeed has some stuff, getting overwhelmed is normal." "Right, right, I always said, if you dont have the intention to win the championship, dont y in esports, the feel we need is that all-in adrenaline rush!!!" His expression was calm, yet his tone carried a clear and strong contempt for the cowards. Guarantor had every reason to suspect that if his teammates other than the seniors heard what Nai Feitian had said, theyd be itching to strangle him. But it didnt have much to do with him, he was just an average substitute. God of Wealth, who was standing by,ughed and scolded, "I heard about your antics, warming up with The Door to the Underworld during the global professional league, and reluctantly quitting when it was time for the actual matches. Youve really got guts, if you had lost, you probably wouldve been nailed to the pillory of shame at the Atomic Signal Club." "Stare all you want, that game isnt as fun as The Door to the Underworld. Whats wrong with ying The Door to the Underworld in the final arena for a while (groundhog call)!" After finishing his statement, his carefree demeanor slowly turned serious, "Brothers, Ive already sent the application to switch to The Door to the Underworld after the games public beta and to form a corresponding team. Ive achieved fame and sess in the previous game, and this time, Im nning to carefully manage Atomic Signals team in The Door to the Underworld. My friends, no matter what choice you eventually make, I will bet everything to attain glory in this game once again." Everyone paused, then showed subtle expressions. "Can I take that as a deration of war from Atomic Signal to us?" God of Wealth showed an interested gleam in his eyes. Nai Feitian spread his hands and said, "That depends on how you want to interpret it, Lao Cai." "How fitting, Ive alsopleted the application with the Virtual Game Club Alliance and am ready to build a The Door to the Underworld team." God of Wealth revealed his ambitious glow, he wasnt the type to sit back and coast. He had a feeling that if he could gain enough attention in this game, he might even be able to recoup the money invested over the years in his club, "You all say that... I indeed feel like taking up the challenge." Guarantor, currently the top-ranked yer in the game, showed a bitter expression, "Its a pity I cant make decisions on behalf of the club." Indeed, including his current ount, which officially belonged to the club, though it had been directly gifted to him by a senior, he always felt a bit uneasy about it. "If Im not mistaken, the style of the club youre with isnt very good, is it?" A You Xinshan frowned and said, "If something really happens, do you need our help?" Guarantor shook his head and said, "No need, let me handle it. Its not good for you guys to get involved in this." ... [Deep in Twisted Jungle] A stench of decay pervaded the air, as Shadow Wolf King gasped heavily, red eyes flickering, gazing at the surrounding wolf cubs wailing in pain. His heart ached like it was being sliced with knives. ``` "Im so tired... I used too much Totem Power, I feel like my body is being drained." Your next read awaits at empire Wolf Kingy before its pack, head held high, giving off an air of serenity and safety. But only it knew that this time, in order to defeat those Humans, it had drawn too much from the power of the Totem. Now, as the Totem Power spread through its body, it felt increasingly exhausted. "Child, be wary of the Totem Power. Even if its just the remnants of the Totem, it remains an inherently mighty force we cannot resist. Use this power sparingly unless faced with an insurmountable disaster, as it will drag us into the Abyss." In a daze, Shadow Wolf King seemed to hear thest admonition from the Senior Wolf King before its death. Saliva dripped from the side of its mouth; it felt extremely hungry. It had believed it could reign over the Twisted Jungle, making it an eternal paradise for the Shadow Wolves, and perhaps even upy the vastnd outside the gates, turning it into a second homnd for the pack outside the Twisted Jungle. With ample living space and food, it could seize forests hegemony and save more of its wolf brethren. To achieve this, the pack needed strength... The pack needed more strength... I need strength... I need more flesh and blood, more abundant energy to replenish the Totem Treasure Pearl... Although I feel sorry for the pack, only by bing stronger can I... Hmm, it seems theres something... The Wolf Kings eyes grew increasingly dim, and the gemstone embedded in its flesh emitted a strange red light. N?v(el)B\\jnn Waves of twisted power converged inside it, as if a voice whispered in the ears of Wolf King, telling it to devour, to kill, to revel in Death! But in the next moment, with a clouded look in its eyes, Wolf King let out a roar and suddenly lowered its head, biting hard into the gemstone before it. In reality, that was no gemstone... Only after witnessing the Senior Wolf King devour the totem flesh did it know that object was the eyeball of a dead Moon Howling Lion Totem. It was as if it had taken root in its own flesh, constantly drawing power from it. But what a joke... I am the king of the Shadow Wolf pack! Crack... Apanied by the sound of breaking ss beads, the "gemstone" storing Totem Power in front of it shattered instantaneously, unleashing copious tainted forces. Unexpectedly, Shadow Wolf King forcefully suppressed it. That power filled its flesh, forcefully swelling its body up a size. The overwhelming power even caused red glowing cracks to appear all over its body. "Pups, the enemy has discovered our location. Stand up; those who can still run, start running. Go anywhere but before the eyes of Humans. All those injured and slow... Stand up, my nsmen!" The Totem Power spreading from its body wrapped around its severely wounded kin like tentacles. With a sh of dark light, their wounded limbs spewed forth swathes of ck fire, making the already fearsome wolf pack appear even more vicious. "Its that guy..." Shadow Wolf Kings somewhat blurred consciousness instantly snapped to rity. The maximum power threshold allowed by this forest seemed to be limited by the entity behind those great hands, and even that more dangerous old man could only exert the limit of power permitted by the Twisted Jungle. Compared to him, Shadow Wolf King was more concerned about another being under its protection It smelled a chaotic power on that individual, akin to the disorderly Totem Power after Death! ``` Chapter 141 - 126: Lightning Warfare in the Forest Pale blue silk threads twisted in the air above the surrounding woods, pulling a shadowy figure tond on a tree trunk. The neer was Kael. Not far from them, yers were gradually encircling the area. Kael didnt expect the yers to achieve much in terms of effectivebat results. At this stage, without external assistance, the yers were still too weak. Apart from a small portion who had reluctantly developedbat capabilities through frenzied monster hunting, the only use for most of the remaining yers in the forest was probably to exhaust the wolf pack to death... Well, that was a bit too harsh, at least they could swarm up and not all of them would be killed before the wolf pack exhausted its energy. That was enough. After this battle, those lucky yers who feasted on the wolf pack corpses would likely meet the requirements for automatic promotion. Kael didnt dwell on it much. He stretched out his hand and tapped his forehead, activating the spell "Hearing eleration Skill". "Hearing eleration Skill" "Prophetic second-level spell" "Effect: You can hear sounds from farther away and gain a sense of blindness." As the spell took effect, Kael, with his enhanced hearing, heard the distant panting and roaring of the wolf pack. Further away, he could faintly hear that the outer circle of yers had already started the first round of confrontation with the wolf pack. The battle seemed quite intense. "Listening to the sounds, the wolf pack seems to have retreated in different batches," said Old White, who was also enhanced by the Hearing eleration Skill. Obviously, the battle between humans and the Shadow Wolf pack had already started right after they entered the forest. Suddenly, Kael noticed a new movement within the distant wolf pack. A cruel smile appeared on his lips as he said, "Gentlemen, prepare for battle, theyve found us." The many Rangers standing around Kael looked solemn. They were organized into assault teams of three, nine-person units forming abat module, with multiple units stationed on the surrounding tree trunks. Long before they had covertly entered the forest, Kael and his team had already arranged everything that could be arranged. "Come on, let me see just how strong the Shadow Wolf King from my past life really was" When the Shadow Wolf King was eradicated in his past life, Kael had not yet entered the game, so he was not very clear about its capabilities. But he knew that the strength of the Shadow Wolf King originated from Totem Power, which was of high quality. If it werent limited by the challenge level of the Twisted Jungle, the threat level of the Shadow Wolf King would be even higher This could be seen from the fact that it managed to barely hold its own against Grandpa White, who was also limited by the Dungeons challenge level. Of course, if the challenge level could be higher, Kael would be even more pleased. Because that meant the restrictions on Old White would also be reduced, and in that case, it would be more likely to overwhelmingly crush the Wolf King during their fight. Judging from the previous encounters Kael and his team had with the Wolf King, perhaps the threat of the Shadow Wolf King was not as great as he had imagined. "Hmm?" In the spread Magic Silk Thread, he sensed a huge source of magic power charging toward him at an extremely fast speed. "Here ites!" Apanied by the thunderous copse of the enormous Golden Tree, a colossal figure stepped onto the broken trunk, its cold gaze fixated on Kael and his group, radiating a desperate frenzy. Theer was none other than the Shadow Wolf King. It moved too quickly and, relying on the jungle which suited it better for battle, had charged ahead first. At that moment, its gaze towards Kael was murderous, without even a roar, it charged directly at the people. "Attack!" At themand, several Rangers who had already umted a considerable amount of curse power on their short spears threw them, piercing the flesh of the Wolf King. However, for the Wolf King, now muchrger than an elephant, though the sttered flesh pained it to the point its eyes turned red, the ck me wrapped around it, regenerating its flesh, still within its tolerance. It relentlessly attacked Kael, seemingly knowing that only when this person was in danger could it first divert the other Humans attention. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "What are you looking at, fool?" Old White met it head-on, standing in front of everyone, his sword sweeping continuously, a tidal wave of curse power pouring down. The increasingly massive Shadow Wolf King roared, and steam-like ck me burst from its cracked flesh. Kael, who had secretlyunched a Moon de hoping to strike a finishing blow, squinted as he watched the de dissolve instantly in mid-air. How is this guy still getting stronger? "No matter, we are stronger now!" Kael was clearly not about to let the beast attack freely. Raising his hand, he cast "Monster Stun Technique" on the Shadow Wolf Kings head, causing it to stagger for a moment, its fierce gaze then turned to Kael. "Hey, look here, see this thing? This, does it remind you of the weapon that just killed your kin?" Suddenly, a Magic Silk Thread pulled back a Moon de, cutting in half the fastest approaching Shadow Wolf Guard; with the fresh blood on it, the eyes of the Shadow Wolf King grew even more fierce. "Thank goodness this creature doesnt use Totem Power, just takes it as a physical enhancement, otherwise it would be really troublesome to fight," The whole wolf pack now used the Protection gathered from the Totem Power emanating from the Wolf King, which acted like an invisible armor, enhancing bodily conditions and defensive capabilities. Their tactic was in but effective, simple yet highly suited for the wolf pack. in it might be, but Kael had many tricks up his sleeve. The wolf pack was not to be feared, but that Wolf King was the most dangerous entity of all. Kael had long realized this and had specially prepared for it. As the Shadow Wolf King and other Shadow Wolf Guards attacked, the Magic Silk Thread pulled Kael back in an instant, retreating from their assault. Old White relentlessly pursued, and though several Shadow Wolf Guards tried to engage him, they quickly sustained severe curse power injuries. But this time, these Shadow Wolves were unlike before; they did not retreat in pain but stubbornly blocked in front of Old White, allowing no wounds deter them from their guard Although this was all in vain, as Old White swiftly decapitated them with a few strokes. But those one or two seconds were enough for the Shadow Wolf King to catch up to Kael. "Die, Human! Perish for my kin!" The Wolf King, knowing Kael understood itsnguage, roared as it approached, igniting the surroundings with its mes. Suddenly, a pervasive forest fire enveloped the environment, turning it into a hell. Chapter 142 - 127: Power Absorption, Tail Feeding (4000, Extra Update 31/65) The ck mes that extended out were like tendrils, curling toward Kael with the roar, ready to engulf him at any moment. Jonathan, who had been waiting for a long time, didnt give it an opportunity. He rushed over right away, wielding his long spear with great force, tearing through the mes with a whirlwind, and struck the Wolf King heavily. Visibly, arge dent appeared in its fur. But in the next second, its cracked body puffed up again as if inted. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Its huge w ultimately did not catch Kael; instead, Kael, pulled by the thread,nded safely on its forepaw. Kael smiled without showing his teeth, lowered his head, and an illusory tendril in his hand whipped directly at the Wolf Kings paw. Then, lights of magic glowed from both of his hands. The Wolf Kings eyes appeared confused for a moment but quickly became clear again. It tried to grab Kael. But by this time, Kael had already been pulled away again by the magic silk thread. The Wolf King let out another furious roar. This little thing had escaped again! "I am already beyond furious!" Ignoring the attacks of several knights, it endured the pain in its body and charged at Kael. Several hundred-meter-tall Golden Trees were knocked down by its great strength, and the filthy ck mes turned the leaves into a withering ck color. The Wolf King trampled on the forest, and each footprint left behind a path formed by ck mes. Several knights were forced to retreat, watching as the obstacles cleared away, and it ran straight at Kael. Facing the Wolf King, Kael, being pulled back by the thread, showed a subtle smile on his face. As he passed by a Golden Tree, he didnt fly forward anymore but used the magic silk thread to connect himself to the top of the tree crown. The thread suddenly shortened, and at the moment the Wolf King pounced, it pulled him into the air. The Shadow Wolf King, having missed its pounce, didnt have time to attack Kael in the sky when it suddenly felt a chill. It turned its head and saw numerous humans hidden in that area. "Hi, hi, Big Fur, hello. Now let me formally introduce our first civilian equipment from Jiu Yue Heavy Industries! Modified to catch wolves!" Jiu Yue-chan stood in front,ughing heartily. Behind her, the weapons that were originally hidden by the bushes exposed their true form. It was a thing that looked somewhat like a crossbow carriage, with ten iron arrows already loaded on it. "Fire!" The Military God, Heavens Wings,ughed heartily, and the yers near each crossbow carriage adjusted the direction andunched the attack. The Wolf King, startled and confused by why he had followed without thinking, nced around and finally noticed the dense array of crossbow carriages. The only thought in its mind was that something was about to go wrong. But it was toote! Dense iron arrows were shot out, each attached to a rope, embedding into its body. At this point, it looked like a butterfly deeply trapped in a spider web, unable to escape. It struggled mightily to break free, ck mes igniting on its body, but this time, the iron arrows didnt burn away instantly. Kael slowly descended from the sky, stepping on a rope. He knew he had cornered it. These iron arrows, made from special metal, were not easily burned away, and Kael had all the ropes coated with a high-temperature-resistantyer. The material cost of making these things alone was enough for a yer to buy a house in town. Of course,missioning Jiu Yue Heavy Industries to make these things wasnt for freebor. Kael had paid them, a total of 50,000 demon crystals for twenty crossbow carriages capable ofunching iron arrows. Just to make these things, the yers at Jiu Yue Heavy Industries worked three shifts around the clock, rushing toplete them before the final battle. Though they were still somewhat crude, as a one-time product to restrain the Shadow Wolf King, they were undoubtedly qualified. Watching the proud ck mes fail to burn through the iron arrows and ropes, the Shadow Wolf Kings enormous body started to struggle. But every crossbow carriage was pre-positioned here. Each carriage was staked to the ground with massive iron bars, holding them all firmly in ce. The ropes extending from theunchers were taut, and despite struggling for a long time, the Wolf King could not tear them off. Where in the world was all this explosive seed?! Kael chuckled softly. He, of course, knew why the Wolf King had suddenly attacked him impulsively earlier. "Maybe youve never fought with an Incubus before" There was still a faint pink hue remaining in Kaels azure eyes. "Although Mr. Luxiuss Destruction Magic is powerful enough, Im still" Kael didnt finish his sentence. His figure crossed in the air, his finger pointed at the Shadow Wolf King, infusing a spell glow, before darting away. "...better suited for Enchantment Magic!" What a jokehe was a Magic Assassin! An Incubus Magic Assassin, always thinking about getting close to the enemy? That was something hed only do earlier with the little werewolf maid. Perhaps due to his Incubus heritage, his progress in Enchantment Magic was even faster than the Destruction Magic taught by Mr. Luxius. Just mentioning Enchantment Magic, many might not understand what it is. But if you use a more familiar term, youll know why Kael was innately good at this type of magic. Chapter 143 - 127: Power Absorption, Tail Feeding (4000, Extra Update 31/65)_2 Maniption! The most famous spell in this school might be [Charm Human], and due to the long-standing infamy of maniption spells that y with peoples minds, in recent years, mages specializing in this spell dare not im to be of the maniption school anymore. Enchantment is the new facade they present to the public, though how long they can deceive the uninformed remains unknown. From the initial [Monster Stun Technique], to the [Touch of Waste] used in closebat, to the [Fury Technique] and [Mercy Binding] cast before departure, all possess strong abilities to interfere with the spirit body. The former caused the Shadow Wolf King to hesitate momentarily, abandoning its attack. Of thetter three. [Touch of Waste] could weaken the targets cognitive abilities, causing varying degrees of decline in their intelligence, perception, and charisma. [Fury Technique] would make the target furiously approach you, blindly attacking, unable to perform other actions. The most ruthless was [Mercy Binding], which, once effective, could force a being to fight in a more merciful manner, such as only inflicting non-lethal damage, avoiding the use of harmful spells, or refraining from delivering a fatal blow to helpless creatures. So even when engaging with Kael in that brief skirmish, enraged as it was, it couldnt fully vent its anger on him. Each time it struck, gazing into Kaels beautiful eyes, it subconsciously restrained its fierce attacks. By the time it regained consciousness, Kael had already led it into a trap. And now, the Shadow Wolf King felt its body growing increasingly heavy. It knew this wasnt an illusion; after that human touched it, it had felt its strength draining away, continuously flowing out. At this rate, it wouldnt even have a chance to resist. That was [Energy Drain], an effective spell that sapped the targets stamina relentlessly. A hint of pain shed in its eyes, but it quickly turned into resolve, and a mournful howl resonated. The nearby wolf pack, engaged in battles with yers, immediately abandoned their targets, dragging their injured bodies towards the Wolf King. "Trying to use the wolf pack to save your life? Isnt that a bit too much?" Kael raised his hand, not bothering with words, and in a spell-casting state, he hurled the Moon de with all his strength. With a thunderous roar, the restricted Shadow Wolf Kings head hit the ground the moment the Moon de struck. "This ends everything..." Feeling the power stripped from the Shadow Wolf King upon its death, Kael experienced the process of energy extraction for the first time so clearly. His body, like a vortex, absorbed something essential from the Shadow Wolf King, integrating it into himself. This was his first time, since arriving in this world, acquiring the most level experience points from battle through killing. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om In almost a single breath, he umted enough experience to break through to level 9, with the amount still climbing towards level 10. Watching the wolf pack approaching the Wolf King, he shook his head. Toote, the experience was already gained. The Shadow Wolf King couldnt possiblye back to life, could it? But the next second, an event that shocked everyone urred. The fallen head of the Shadow Wolf King slowly turned towards Kael, and in the next moment, a wolfs paw stepped on what was once its kings head. It was a severely injured Shadow Wolf Guard, letting out a pained howl as it mercilessly devoured the Wolf Kings head. Not only it, but all the wolves that approached, whether Shadow Wolf Guards, Two-headed Shadow Wolves, or even lesser Shadow Wolves without spiritual wisdom, frantically tore apart the Wolf Kings flesh. "Take action, stop them!" Even before Kael finished speaking, Old White had already charged forward, chopping down two Shadow Wolves instantly. Those Shadow Wolves, split in half, whimpered as they fell, but soon after, their bodies began to swell. Despite severe injuries, they struggled to attack nearby people. Just moments ago, Jiu Yue, who wasughing heartily with hands on hips, got swallowed by a wolf without notice, though given herughter, it seemed she had gained a significant amount of experience points from this skirmish. However, the nearby Rangers did not allow the wolves to devour the Wolf King, quickly taking down those consuming the Kings flesh. Yet, many of the wolves that had tasted the Wolf Kings flesh fell into a frenzy, causing great trouble for those around them. "Leave no mercy for the enemies, kill them all!" Kaelmanded, but quickly realized more wolves were rushing over. He instantly understood the Wolf Kings final ploy. The creature intended to sacrifice its flesh to empower all the wolves, allowing them to absorb the Totem Power from it. "What a joke, if you seed, therell be no need to develop the territory, only to fight the Shadow Wolves!" Kael had wanted to take away the Wolf Kings body, but seeing the situation now, it seemed impossible. The corpse of the Wolf King was still radiating massive energy waves of Totem Power. Clearly, with the Wolf Kings death, this Totem Power was bing unstable. While he did have items like a space backpack, storing such an unstable energy mass inside would certainly cause it to explode instantly. Knowing that during his time as a yer, space backpacks exploding had often sent him to resurrection points. "Grandpa White, protect me." Decisive, Kael dashed forward. Retrieving all the Moon des from his space backpack, the Magic Silk Threads shot out, and a cacophony of thunderous sounds echoed around the battlefield, causing blood to spatter from the wolves that rushed in unawares. yers, mesmerized by the scene, instinctively took a step back, fearing being mistakenly cleaved into pieces. Amid the battle, Kael drew closer to the Wolf Kings corpse. Without mercy, under the astonished gaze of everyone, the small tail at Kaels back glowed faintly and swelled up, bing asrge as a dragons tail. The expanded tail mped onto the Wolf Kings corpse, which, though ravaged by wolves, still retained over 70% of its remains. "Want to absorb Totem Power?" Kael snorted coldly, activating the Power Absorption Skill in the next instant. The pain made him instinctively let out a pained cry. Though his tail had erged, it now felt as if it were being torn apart, the intense pain making his legs weak, causing him to kneel on one knee. An enormous mass of essence was drawn continuously from the base of his tail, leavingrge patches of dry marks on the Wolf Kings corpse. Knowing that the battle had reached its final stage, the yers around Kael charged forward, confronting the wolves in the vicinity. This time, though, they kept ncing at Kael in the back. "Geez, this Incubus eating method is a bit stimting!" "Damn, if Kael wants to eat, I wouldnt mind trying out being drained by the tail!" "Can we watch such a scene for free?" "Wonderful, this Incubus sure knows how to go through the review process." "Though Ive heard those who try touching Lord Kaels tail end up on the territory ck list, I kind of feel its worth it." "Cant help it; some just love it naughty, plus doesnt that tail seem versatile?" "You perverts, Im ashamed to be associated with you! But that tail... arent you worried it might choke you?" "Wait, wheres Kael?" Chapter 144 - 128 Twisted Jungle Stage One, Subjugation Success (4000, Additional Update 33/65) A group of Rangers were at their wits end. They had no idea why the diligent Undead had suddenly started cking off, so they could only increase the intensity of their attacks, attempting to cover up any gaps in the yers defense. Meanwhile, Kaels condition wasnt much better either. This was his second time using the Power Absorption Skill, and when the essence of strength that was drawn out from the Wolf King entered Kaels body through the tip of his tail, he only felt pain. It was different from using his fathers Holy Sanctuary Crystal. The Totem Power hidden within the Shadow Wolf Kings body, along with its own strength, was even more fric, or to put it another way, there was an exceptionally strong rejection against Kaels body. When that energy was massively poured into his body, it created a tearing-like pain. Unbeknownst to him, the once dimmed Seductive Demon Eye lit up again, and the Life Treasury began to flicker with an obscure light. It seemed that with thebination of multiple skills, the eroding effect of the Totem Power on his body was slightly alleviated. The original sensation of pain gradually turned into a tingling numbness that was hard to bear. As time went on, the tingling turned into a surge of pleasure that permeated his entire body. When Kael pulled his tail out, the previously expanded tail had shrunk a little, butpared to the narrow tail that was as thin as a water pipe, it was still about ten timesrger. It seemed that he hadnt adapted to such power, and he found it difficult to control his tail. The open petals of the Heart could not close, and a special solvent capable of dissolving scales dripped slowly from the protruded teeth at the back. "Has, has, has..." "Hang on, a friends looking for me, Im going to log off for a bit." "No way, youre logging off just like that? Are you guys out of your minds?" "Adorable! I cant take it; Kael like this, with those misty eyes, I just want to take him to bed and make him pleasure me a hundred times over!" "Where did this seductive wild mane from!" "Ah, look, the Wolf King has been drained dry." "The entire corpse has withered by more than half, thats it, I feel like if a normal girl stays with Kael like this, she might really get drained dry!" ... At this moment, Kael had no interest in listening to the yers nonsense. He struggled to gather the power within his body; he now felt a new strength surging through him. Seeing their king being drained dry by a Human, the pack of wolves charged in fury, but s, standing in front of Kael was Old White, the most formidable wall. No matter how they charged, they couldnt stop Kael from draining thest of their Lords strength. "Does it feel good?" Kaels voice was somewhat hollow, and he didnte back to his senses for a long time. When he looked at the wolf pack again, the Seductive Demon Eye was shing red. He licked his lips lightly; the Life Treasurys pattern lit up, the Totem Power within him was drawn out. He looked coldly at the wolf pack as a red light spread outwards. The wolves still in a frenzy painfully howled as the fully unleashed Seductive Demon Eye,bined with Enchantment Magic "Seduce Human," underwent a fundamental change after absorbing the Totem Power. The power of domination spread throughout his body, and Kael felt as though he could freely control the wolf packnot just a feeling... Especially the Two-headed Shadow Wolves that werepletely dominated by Totem Power, they almost immediately turned sides andy prostrate under Kaels Mage robes. And the Shadow Wolf Guard with Spiritual Wisdom covered their heads in agony and wailed. They only felt the respectful and self-sacrificing image of the Wolf King in their minds gradually fading, and all memories of fighting alongside the Wolf King were twisted into the image of another blonde Human youth. This pain of losing everything, along with their anxiousness, made them try to rebel, but the moment they looked up at Kael, they were baffled and subconsciously gave up resisting. At that instant, the spell "Seduce Human," under the enhanced state of the Life Treasury, twisted into a Mass Wolf Pack Charm specifically targeting the Shadow Wolf pack. "Stop it, theres no longer any need to fight," Kael said coldly as he nced at the wolf pack. "Lord, how are you doing?" Old White, who stood by Kaels side, looked at him with some concern. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Kael shook his head and said, "Im fine. In fact, thanks to the efforts of the past two Shadow Wolf Kings, the Totem Power has nearly been digested and is about to condense into a true Shadow Wolf Totem... These wolf packs cant resist the control of the Wolf Totem, or rather, they really have a qualified king." "Hm?" Old Whites question went unanswered by Kael, who just quietly observed the wolf pack; his voice instantly entered the ears of all the Shadow Wolves present: "All Shadow Wolves that have savored Human flesh, Imand you... to take your own lives!" Even though he spoke in Humannguage, at that moment, all the wolves understood the content of those words. Almost instantly, over 70% of the Shadow Wolves began to self-ughter on the spot, shocking the onlookers, and in almost an instant, the threat of the wolf pack was lost. The remaining wolf pack couldnt resist Kael either;yered states and the mental imprints nted in their minds meant that whenever they tried to rise up with rebellious thoughts, those thoughts would instantly twist into a devotion to Kael. Chapter 145 - 128 Twisted Jungle Stage One, Subjugation Success (4000, Additional Update 33/65)_2 This rule was rooted deep within the very essence of all beings from that world, a dominance imposed by what was known as the Totem. They could not refuse, nor did they dare to refuse. "As agreed, we havepleted the exchange," Kaels gaze shifted towards a faintly dissipating figure in the void, which was the soul of the Shadow Wolf King about to disperse. "Human, you now possess everything of the Shadow Wolf. Our n cannot resist your power, so use them as you please! The only requirement is to let them survive... even as lowly as ants, at least they are still alive." Freed from the physical constraints and no longer under the influence of the Totem Power, the Shadow Wolf Kings entire being seemed to have undergone some changes. "The power of the Totem is dangerous and hard to control, and after so many years of exploration, we still havent managed to harness it properly. Eventually, I understood that we could never truly be the Shadow Wolf Totem, for Totems are always natural, while we are merely remnants clinging to the Totem for protection. No matter how hard we try, we can only borrow this power, never truly be the Shadow Wolf Totem... I am very envious of you, your world, where the weak have the chance to rise to the pinnacle..." Kael said indifferently, "A loss is a loss, why so many words? Now it is I who have won, I am the true predator. What you have learned in exploring this power? No one cares, now everything of yours is mine." "...True, its despicable, but it is indeed you who have won, so devour myst remnants and be the true Wolf Totem! Fully integrate the power of the Shadow Wolf Totem, and from today, you will be the new Wolf King." The voice of the Shadow Wolf King grew weaker, its soul about to dissipate. But the next moment, Kael lifted his head. He chose not to use the power of the Shadow Wolf Totem to devour the soul fragments of the Wolf King, but instead, he crushed its soulpletely. "Thinking of using your filthy soul to defile me? Thats delusional." "A clever new Wolf King, its okay, this is also good." A sigh sounded, and after it finished speaking, its soul shatteredpletely. Kael looked at the dissipating Shadow Wolf King, looked at the wolf pack still showing fear on their faces, raised his head towards the sky, and said: "I request the first Dungeon settlement!" [Request approved, the first phase of the Dungeon Twisted Jungle settlement begins] N?v(el)B\\jnn A loud bang caused everyone present to stop. Old White had a nostalgic expression on his face. How many years had it been since he had heard the sound of a Dungeon settlement. Thest time he heard this sound was the previous time. A beam of light descended from the sky, enveloping Kael, and just then, the day suddenly darkened, a calming power arrived. Kael felt his consciousness blur for a moment, as if he were suddenly pulled into the air. Incredibly, he heard the voice of the Shadow Wolf King. "I need to continue fighting, I cannot fall yet, I must protect my kin, I must be the Shadow Wolf Totem!" "I cannot lose, absolutely cannot lose, for the Senior Wolf King who was devoured by me... this deep sin, only by securing redemption for my kin can it be erased!" "So no matter what..." "So you might as well just die peacefully..." Kael coldly replied, "Wake up, mere words are useless, survival of the fittest is just this way, now I have won." "You won?" "Yes, everything you desired has been devoured by me, you are just a remnant... "I still have my kin to save." "Your kin dont need your redemption, this world has only self-help, as long as they dont seek death, with or without you, its all the same." "Is that so?" "Absolutely, so go in peace, rest assured, at least for me, your Shadow Wolf n is a very useful tool." "Tool... thats a harsh description!" "How would you like me to describe it? Ill try to choose the opposite." "Alright, youre right, at least as a tool, they still have value to be used." "Since youre at ease now, just die honestly!" "Perhaps youre right, this way I can... finally rest for a while!" [Ding~ Detected that the soul of the Shadow Wolf King ispletely shattered, you now preliminarily control the Totem Power, creatures you canmand: Shadow Wolf] [You have obtained arge amount of Level Experience Points, a small amount of Skill Experience Points, and a small amount of General Experience Points] In an instant he felt a great brightness around him, and a gentle voice cast its gaze upon him. He knew that this was the strongest existence in this world, known as the World Will, which is the root of the phenomenon of the Dungeon materialized on this continent. [Detected that you havepleted the first phase of conquering the Twisted Jungle, world settlement begins] [Detected that you have mastered one of the root powers of the Twisted Jungle, Totem Power, significantly increasing settlement evaluation] [Detected that you control the Shadow Wolf n and three ns of Huge Hoofed Deer, 75% of mainstream intelligent creatures have submitted, significantly increasing settlement evaluation] [Detected that you are a Border Lord, and as the leader in this Dungeon conquest, the rewards of this raid will be directly distributed by the Border Lord] "Thank you, World Mother, for your nurturing and support, serving the growth of the World Mother is the duty of a Border Lord, Lancaster will not let down the World Mothers favors, and will fulfill a young lords responsibilities!" Kael offered a slight smile, speaking towards the source of the voice. Originally, this part didnt need much talking, but Kael had heard in his previous life that some yers, by saying this, could slightly increase the rewards granted by the World Will. Its probably like the World Mother liking you more and giving you a bit extra. However, in the past, situations like conquering the Dungeon usually involved Cai Ketongshen for receiving and distributing rewards. Its the first time for him to directly receive the World Wills rewards as its happening now. Just as the orb of light that was descending from the sky was about to merge into Kaels body, it suddenly shed and jumped back up. After a while, arger orb of light floated slowly down from the sky. Kael: ... So adding an extra "thank you World Mother" can actually y out like this? Decided, from now on, every time at settlement, he will add such a phrase. Earning rewards, after all, is not awkward! By the time he regained his senses, he realized he was still standing in the same spot. Just as Cai Ketongshen had described, during the reward settlement, the entire world seemed as if it had halted. It seemed like a long time had passed, but it was actually just in the blink of an eye. He looked up at the people around him, noticing everyone was waiting for his decision. "Pack up, clean up the area, prepare to return to the city. Tomorrow afternoon, we will start distributing the rewards of this campaign at the town center." The scene was silent until Kael made such a victorious deration, and suddenly cheers came from the Rangers and yers. The Shadow Wolves lying nearby had faces of loss, heads bowed, not daring to witness such a scene. They knew their dream of howling through the Twisted Jungle was shattered. The biggest crisis concerning the Shadow Wolf Totem hade to an end, the remaining scattered groups of Shadow Wolves were not a concern. Kael had no intention of controlling them. On one hand, the strongest of the Shadow Wolves were mostly here, either controlled by Kael in one fell swoop, or had self-destructed. On the other hand, he needed these scattered wolf packs as resources for yer growth, and... He nced at the system panels prompt for Moon Howling Lions, these creatures were the main foes of the Shadow Wolves. The Totem Power he had absorbed originated from the Totem previouslymanding the Moon Howling Lions. The current group of Dark Night Wolves under hismand was strong enough, but to raise them and form a group of Wolf Cavalry would undoubtedly consume a lot of resources. Not to mention, just the daily meat required to sustain them alone was a significant figure; if they were immediately brought in, they couldnt be neglected, so it was better to just leave them in the forest to proliferate on their own. He could use them anytime he wanted, after all. This way, on one hand, he could prevent the invasion of the Moon Howling Lions that were not yet under his control, and on the other hand, it could lighten his current load. But when he returned that day, the situation had changed somewhat. Chapter 146 - 129 Dad, I Found Someone Willing to Have His Little Wolf (10600, 36/65) Inside the Lord Mansion. Kael looked at himself in the mirror, feeling somewhat dumbfounded for a moment. "Can anyone tell me whats going on?" he said, bewildered as he looked at the upright golden ears reflected in the mirror. nna watched Kaels appearance, hiding to the side and giggling. "Kael, has anyone ever told you that the moreplex and awesome the elements on you be?" Curious, nna reached out to touch the ears on top of Kaels head. It was a wolfs ear, with pale gold fluff that looked adorable. After nna stroked it, his tail instinctively stood up. But then, as if feeling a bit down, it drooped listlessly. Seeing him like this, nnaughed without saying a word. "Is it because of the influence of the Totem Power? I think the Wolf King only has a rudimentary grasp of this power." "It should be..." Just like the previous Demonic Seduction, Kael had used the Life Treasury as a vessel to store the Totem Power, releasing it to enhance himself was the simplest way to use the Totem Power. N?v(el)B\\jnn But perhaps because the Shadow Wolf had sessfully reshaped the Totem to its own form, there were still some other reactions when using the power. Thinking of this, he grew envious of yers who werent affected by skill statuses. Some powerful skills, when used, required paying a price. If he were a yer, he wouldnt even need to mind the strain on his body from the Magic Silk Thread pulling at him; at worst, you just die on the spot and resurrect to continue fighting. But he didnt have the ability to resurrect right now. "Dont make that face. Those golden ears are quite cute too," nna said. Gently rubbing his little ears, the pleasant sensation made Kael unconsciously reveal a contented smile on his face. But quicklying to his senses, he looked at nna somewhat discontentedly and said, "Dont mess with my ears!" Although nna hadnt interacted much with Kael, she could tell his words didnt match his true feelings. It was rare for her to see Kael like this. Compared to his usual seriousness, Kael seemed yful now because of the ears. Kael heaved a sigh and said: "Ive spent so much time building up an image of sufficient authority, it would be really frustrating if these damned ears were to ruin all that." While giggling and fiddling with his ears, Kael squirmed restlessly, then he heard her say: "The people who truly revere you dont care if you have these ears or not. Its probably like when you were possessed by the demonic state, it will naturally fade after a while." "Thats also true..." Kael nodded. He was far past the stage he was at when he first arrived in the domain. Leading the Rangers to conquer the Dungeon, eradicating and assimting enemies, having sessfullypleted the first phase of reward distribution, was already enough to greatly boost the morale of the Rangers who had lost their former lord. Solid aplishments were the source of prestige. "Never mind, lets leave it at that for now," Kael sighed, looking at nna, and quietly asked, "Whats the situation in the Newman Domain now?" Kael hadnt forgotten that there was also a Dungeon in the Newman Domain. Limited by the defensive forces andnd size of Newman Domain itself, they needed fewer troops to arrange. If he remembered correctly, that Dungeon was located at the edge of three territories. With the cooperation of the three domains, resisting the Dungeon was rtively easy. Or perhaps its domains like Lancaster that are the odd ones out right now. One domain guarding a Dungeon on its own is indeed bold. "Its going quite well. Father is very cautious in his affairs, and my uncles from back then know each other well. There wont be many conflicts," nna said with a lightugh. "Hmm? The lords of the other two domains are also close to Uncle Newman?" Kael really didnt know this. "Yes, they were allpanions who went to sea with father before, trustworthy enough to rely on each others support," she replied. After pondering a moment, Kael spoke softly, "About the domain, I n to rearrange it a bit. The original Titan Town expansion n will continue. Besides that, well add a new construction n for a Twisted Jungle township. Unlike Titan Town, the primary builders there will still be Undead, but well allow them to build their own houses. Or rather, to fill the gap in the town infrastructure." "You got town infrastructure in this stage of the rewards? Isnt this just the first phase?" nna was startled; getting such an item in the first phase was extremely rare. As the name implies, town infrastructure is a special framework rewarded by the World Mother. Once a lord chooses the deployment area for the town infrastructure, it will directly consume nearby resources to create a town with basic functional areas. Of course, since its basic areas, many detailed civic functions will certainly not be covered. But anyhow, simply snapping your fingers to generate a town on an emptynd still saves a lot of construction time for a Border Lord. "Perhaps the World Mother is looking out for me?" Kael said calmly. Chapter 147 - 129 Dad, I Found Someone Willing to Have His Little Wolf (10600, 36/65) _2 "Now that the town base has emerged in the first phase, there should be more things toe, since such things only appear for Border Lords who perform well," Although nna had never experienced such events, she came from the Royal Knight Academy and thus understood these matters a bit better. After all, to some extent, the ss of Knights is one of the main sources for conquering Dungeons. "Indeed, theres quite a lot of stuff... the equipment avable for professionals alone is already nearing half of Lancasters current inventory. There are also many resources unique to the world of the Twisted Jungle. You shoulde over when you have time," Kael said, but then he suddenly realized nna had gone quiet. Looking at her with a touch of confusion, he asked, "Whats the matter? You seem somewhat unhappy." nna shook her head and said, "No, Im actually very happy; its just that sometimes I feel its not fair to you." Kael was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Are you talking about the things Ive prepared for you? If you feel you owe me too much for it, then just spend more time with me!" nna nodded, but internally she made a decision. She wasnt the kind of person who was ustomed to enjoying the care of others; even though they were not married yet, she didnt think Kaels efforts for her should be taken for granted. It just so happened that she knew the Dungeon of the Royal Knight Academy was about to start another challenge soon, organizing the young students to venture into the Dungeon. "I need to make a bit more effort! Ill try to prepare a new gift for Kael between the two conquests!" nna had always been like this. "I heard youre going back to the Royal Capital again soon?" Remembering something, nna looked at Kael with hesitant eyes. "Thats right, I need to tidy up some loose ends from previously," he said. What Kael referred to was the recent conflict with the ve Trading House. He was more aware than anyone of the storm that would ensue once an Earl took action. "I wonder how much it cost Baron Bernard to fish his son out." nna became indignant as she thought about these matters. The issue had caused quite a stir in the Royal Capital. Many students with a sense of justice were outraged by the situation, but beingw-abiding, they felt loopholes had been exploited and there was no possibility of legal recourse. "Baron Bernard really went too far this time; in a way, hes tainted the reputation of the rising Nobles in the Royal Capital," nna said with a hint of emotion. How could she not be emotional? The Charles family had been pressuring aggressively, even uniting with the wealthy Nobles to exert pressure on other rising Nobles. Now, not only had the rising Nobles failed to unite, but Bernard had emerged as a drag on the rest of them. In the ranks of traditional Nobles, such an incident could easily transform an unbreakable alliance into a fragile one. "The one pulling strings behind the scenes might not be Bernard; he doesnt have the clout for that," Kaelmented dryly. "You mean" nna, sharp as she was, paused before saying, "You mean Earl Campbell? But it doesnt make sense. Why would he drag himself down for a new Noble? What is Earl Campbell thinking?" N?v(el)B\\jnn "Have you ever looked into Baron Bernards path to wealth?" Kael nced at nna subtly. She shook her head. Her focus at the Academy had been more on her training, and she hadnt bothered to delve into the feuds and grievances of the Nobles, so naturally, she was unaware. "Baron Ber had almost no connection to Earl Campbell before he made his fortune. Later, he married a Half-Elfdy. Afterward, the Baroness often attended the Noble soirees hosted by Earl Campbell. Eventually, they had a child named Wills, the criminal I sent to the Noble Council this time. He has blond hair, by the way," Kael said while running his hand through his own hair. His golden hair glistened in the sunlight, looking smooth and beautiful. nna sometimes wondered if Kael used some particrly good hair care products, though he always denied it. The next second, she felt her face flush and she began to stutter: "Thats, thats shameless! How could she do such a thing? Would Bernard not mind? Its too, too indiscreet!" "Isnt there a possibility that it wasnt the Baroness who had a problem, but that someone willingly sent her there?" Kael said with a smile. Gossip among NPCs was top-tier entertainment for yers, especially affairs like that of Earl Campbell and Baron Bernards shared wife. At the time, several erotic tales were written about it on the yer Forum. Even photos of Baron Bernards wife, who indeed possessed a mature and alluring charm, paired with embellished stories, had reached a level of fame akin to the Shiva. Even Kael, a leveling fanatic, had heard about it. There were rumors that an unscrupulous yer had intercepted a Magic Letter exchanged between the two, and the content was nothing short of astounding. Chapter 148 - 129 Dad, I Found Someone Willing to Have His Little Wolf (10600, 36/65) _3 It was just around the time of Baron Bernard and hisdys wedding anniversary. To craft an image of an emerging noble family, Baron Bernard had hisdy apany him to find the best bard in the Royal Capital to create a realistic magic painting. Emmm For this asion, he even had the baroness change into a bridal gown usually worn by nobles at their weddings. Was he perhaps trying to use this courteous behavior towards hisdy to enhance his personal image among the nobles? Unexpectedly, the baroness went and told Earl Campbell about this affair. Then, on the evening the baroness donned the bridal gown, preparing for the painting, she initiated a vigorous fight with Earl Campbell while she was still without makeup. Before painting for Baron Bernard, the bard first created a Titanic-style romantic action painting for the earl and his pet. In those intercepted magic letters, the back-and-forth conversations, paired with that years masterpiece, had allizens eximing cleverly handled. Later a yer, charged with spreading prohibited content, ended up detained for a considerable time, causing many yers to cry out that if the game could produce such stories, why not manage the poor nners instead of arresting their loyal and dedicated contributors. The issue eventually blew over, but thanks to that warriors sacrifice, Kael also got a thorough understanding of the secrets involved. Obviously, nna was a sweet girl unfamiliar with theplexities of nobility, and she felt extremely embarrassed yet somewhat curious about the inner stories. Unable to resist Kaels temptation, she was persuaded to deeply explore and toy with the narrative. Listening to it made her blush and her heart race, and she couldnt help but spit in disgust, shaking her head, indicating she couldnt listen any more. Kael enjoyed watching nnas changing expressions, observing her emotional fluctuations with a pleased smile on his lips. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om This girl, she was truly fascinating. Thought Tsk, must be the aftereffects of "Demonic Seduction." Kael assured himself he was not the type to be easily overwhelmed by lust, unlike some who not only act flirtatiously themselves but also provoke others to do the same. "In any case, going to the Royal Capital is inevitable now, I dont care what dealings they have behind the scenes, if they meddled in my affairs, they must pay a price, Not punishing them severely now, who knows what troubles they will causeter." he said. nna said nothing more, having chosen to stand by Kaels side, she harbored no regrets. She loved because she loved, no one could stop her, and perhaps she might not feel the same in a couple of days, and no one could win her back. If Kael loved her too, they would be together properly, no one had any rules, they would take it one day at a time, and if they identally grew old together, they would support each other in their old age. For now, at least, their rtionship seemed quite joyful. The two looked at each other, not saying much, but for a moment, Kael felt somewhat guilty. ording to the situation in this world, nna might not care much about Hassaka. But Kael knew very well that he was quite fond of this girl, whose character vastly differed from the noblewomen of this era in the Underworlds Gate. Her bold and passionate nature was endearing, but if he didnt seize the chance, he might never grasp it again. Yet he also knew he was someone who couldnt let go easily. Hassaka hade this far, and he couldnt say it had nothing to do with him at all. If nothing had happened, Kael would have been willing to offerpensation and then make a clean break between them. But now, for whatever reasons, except for the final step, Hassaka had done almost everything that needed to be done. To just let go of her now would also be irresponsible of him. Looking at the beautiful face of the young girl, rare feelings of guilt arose within him. Then this guilt quickly turned into determination, and he sighed and said to nna, "nna, actually I" "You dont have to say so much," nna said with a smile. For a moment, Kael felt puzzled, unsure what she meant by not having to say so much. But in the end, all his many words coalesced into one "Im sorry." A few dayster. "Wow, what is this? Are you sure this thing is meant for monster hunting, not dragon ying?" Around the Ranger Camp, a new yer from "Cai Ketongshen" looked baffled at the enormous object. That thing was indeed the Crossbow Carriage, produced by Jiu Yue Heavy Industry, which had ambushed the Shadow Wolf King. In the battle that killed the Shadow Wolf King, these weapons had performed exceptionally well. But now, perhaps due to the unboxing influencer Kael unleashing these yers ambitions, after receiving Kaels craftsmanship fees, they actually recycled the used Crossbow Carriages from Kael. Kael was also surprised that such weapons werent always effective. For races not sizeable enough, just aiming with this device was difficult. Not everyone had as extensive Maniption Skills as him. And while the damage of this weaponry was significant for those below the Extraordinary Rank, for those at or above Extraordinary Rank, unless taken by surprise, it was just a fixed target. But Heavens Wings from the Military God pped the Crossbow Carriage andughed loudly, "Are you guys underestimating what weve made here? Given the current situation, let me ask you, dont we still have to strategize in Twisted Jungle for a good while longer?" Chapter 149 - 129 Dad, I Found Someone Willing to Have His Little Wolf (10600, 36/65) _4 Cai Ketongshen nodded and said, "Now that the public test is getting closer, conquering those lions isnt as simple as dealing with a pack of Shadow Wolves." Cai Ketongshen truly believed that. ording to the current alignment, the three main species in the first phase of the Twisted Jungle, the Huge Hoofed Deer and the Shadow Wolves, had basically defected. And Humans were originally dispatched by Kael, thus also counted among the Twisted Jungles species... This was like indirectly lowering the difficulty of conquering dungeons. In this situation, the Twisted Jungle had essentially been controlled by Kael and his group. Those remaining were basically creatures unable to resist world control. Even though Kael was still exploring Totem Power, even without fully developing the wonders of this power, he could still maximize his control over the beasts. After using Totem Power, he began to believe the world background interpretations of the Twisted Jungle by the decryption yers from his previous life Some yers firmly believed that the creatures of the Twisted Jungle hadnt naturally evolved but were directly modified by the Totems using themselves as temtes. They even suspected that the Totems might have had the same origin at some point. After all, ording to many discoveries from yers in his former life, Totem Power could directly control any beast from this world; it was only a matter of the extent of the influence. Even those groups that were difficult to control, through long exposure to Totem Power, would gradually transform into species entirely under his control. Instead of calling them creatures, they were more like some kind of manufactured weapons made to obeymands, most likely those Totems. Otherwise, it was hard to exin why, once possessing Totem Power, the majority of the beasts in the Twisted Jungle would lose their power to resist him. Of course, the yers didnt know these things at the moment. But they knew one thing, that was, after the first phase of expansion, Lancaster would soon delve deeper into the lush jungle. A new town had already been built in the Twisted Jungle, although it was still barrenpared to Titan Town, but that ce was exactly where the yers could easily start. Indeed, buying a property in Titan Town was still quite difficult. "Boss Cai, its not that Im criticizing you, but theres no need to hesitate so much. If you like it, just buy it directly. We can sign a contract, and after the official public test starts, you can then transfer the money to me. The most important thing now is to seize the opportunity. Dont forget, the Moon Howling Lions are currently the best wild monsters, each one guaranteeing that your members can directly advance to level two. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Without such weapons that can inflict substantial damage onrge creatures, with our current situation as yers, it would be impossible to kill Moon Howling Lions. After all, those are monsters with an average challenge level of 9, you might as well just buy a Crossbow Carriage; its like spending money to boost your rankings." Cai Ketongshen was moved by what Military God said. So he said, "Our Guild wants to organize a team to go kill some Moon Howling Lions, preferably guarantee a clean sweep, then everyones level can go up to level two or higher." Military Gods Heavens Wings sighed and said, "That condition is a bit tricky, even if we sell these items to you, its hard to aplish, so..." Cai Ketongshen interrupted him, "Apart from paying for these things with Demon Crystals in the game, Ill transfer an additional 200,000 in real life." Military Gods Heavens Wings changed his tune immediately, "Then youll need to give us two more days to prepare." Cai Ketongshen responded, "Deal." Military Gods Heavens Wings, "10" Cai Ketongshen, "10 what?" Military Gods Heavens Wings, "9... If you really can offer that much, I can decide to pull out some products weve been trying to make this time. It was time to test them somewhere anyway!" A passing yer almost burst outughing. What is this? Does the power of Jiu Yue machinery depend on how quickly payment is made? Speeding up dreams with money? What kind of desert camel is this? Then they looked at their own empty wallets and walked out of their midst, faces flushed with shame. This wasnt a ce for them to stay. As beta testers, they still had some Demon Crystals, but instead of listening to these wealthiest yers chat, theyd be better off trying to stake out a plot ofnd in the newly built town. After all, yers who had yed this game knew that once the game went public, it would very soon cause a major uproar. By then, trying to enclosend wouldnt be so easy. Capital umtion is always like this; once the snowball starts rolling, it speeds up more and more, leaving those behind to chase far beyond reach, almost without any possibility of catching up. Not everyone is a genius. When you see an opportunity, naturally, you want to ensure youre continuously propelled by the strong wind. Meanwhile, havingpleted their sleazy RMT deal, the two, both with a look of "weve made a fortune," started to chat casually about the recent changes of the past few days. "I heard that your Jiu Yue manufacture had received a new order?" "Yes, from the Lord Mansion as well, we need to quickly produce a batch of basic agricultural and logging tools. I heard Lancaster Territory is going to experience a rush of personnel expansion soon." Chapter 150 - 129 Dad, I Found Someone Willing to Have His Little Wolf (10600, 36/65) _5 "When could this game ever refresh NPCs?" Cai Ketongshen was about to say that if NPCs could be refreshed, then Honeydew wouldnt have such a hard time. But the Military God, who seemed to know what Cai Ketongshen was thinking, shook his head and said: "No, I heard from a sentry at the Lord Mansion that some time ago, there was a firefight near a city-state involving a few major powers. After some fighting, they stopped quickly to avoid losses, but that unfortunate city-state that got caught in the crossfire waspletely destroyed, with countless casualties. Now, the Earth Mother Goddess Church is trying to relocate those refugees. After Brother Kael found out about this, considering that Lancaster has been short on handstely, he agreed to the Churchs n to relocate those refugees to Lancaster Territory." "Im going to ask if they arent ni..." "Wake up, Boss Cai, it seems such creatures dont exist in this game." "Military God, your thinking isnt very correct! If people outside heard this, you might get med!" "Hey, I cant help it, when I see them, I always want to catch those illegal immigrants and make them pick cotton." ... A carriage slowly turned, Kael lifted the curtain at the window, chuckling softly as he nced at Cai Ketongshen and the others fiercely bargaining at the market just outside the Ranger Camp gate, then dropped the curtain. He now had new tasks to attend to. Like heading to the Royal Capital. ... With the brightness of the Teleportation Array and the speed of a fast horse, Kael finally arrived in the Royal Capital before nightfall. Now the yers had gradually gotten into the right track. Those yers attempting to be simple and reliable handcraft uploaders in the game, predictably, began pulling off their little tricks. Organizations like Jiu Yue Heavy Industries were rtively decent, at least they were actually making lethal weapons. But some yers had started trying to make golden juice to deal with weaker monsters. After all, aside from the few major species in the Twisted Jungle, there were also a considerable number of wild animals, which were weaker by a factor of three in terms of both size and intelligence. Oh, you ask what golden juice is... those who know, know its a particrly fragrant lethal weapon. Kael now found it increasingly difficult to look his trained Mages straight in the eye... Apparently inspired by Kael, they had started to y with the tactic of "Mages carrying buckets of golden juice to extinguish the arrogance of their opponents." Where the golden juice went, there truly was chaos. Kael always thought these people were crazy in his previous life, and looking at them now in this life, he felt the same way. How was this any different from those future Summoners who contracted filth maggots as Arcane Pets? There was no difference! He was ashamed to be associated with them! Thinking about the things he had experienced recently made Kaels forehead pulsate. Afterpleting the first phase of his strategy, he had obtained a staggering 1,300 pieces of equipment suitable for beginner adventurers, and although most were only transitional for the early stages, they were still quite valuable. In addition, he gained a number of beginner-level Growth Potions, which Kael estimated could bebined into more than three hundred different potions, able to slightly enhance the Attributes of both natives and yers, or create passive traits. The best potion could even generate a specialty, which was invaluable. Furthermore, Kael obtained three new specialty training ns that were not avable in Lancaster Territory, as well as thirty bottles of special potions directly created by the World Will. He even acquired aplete set of Totem Power training and promotion methods He once suspected that this was a gesture of care from the World Mother towards her most beloved child, which just happened to solve Kaels biggest problem. In any case, the first-phase strategy was a huge victory! Training ns for new passive/specialty like these usually required specific materials and a particr location to generate new ns. For example, one of the three training ns he had received would, uponpletion, allow someone to infuse others with Protection through Totem Power in a specific form, thereby providing Protection to others. This n required materials from Primordial Creatures of the Twisted Jungle or other new species that possessed the Twisted Jungle creatures bloodline to take effect and unleash the power of the Protection System. Kael gave it a cursory try and was basically sure that this system was somewhat simr to Transformation Magic; although the developmental approach was different, it was undoubtedly a rtivelyplete system. Just imagine, being able to stack Protection buffs on yourrades at any time duringbat, maximizing the teams destructive force in battle. Such rewards were not just one of a kind; the others, though not as refined as the Protection System, still had visibly great benefits. Just this new knowledge alone was enough to make Kael extremely satisfied. After all, both natives and yers were immensely passionate about any system that could enhance their ownbat abilities. But of course, lets not dwell on that. Kael hade to the Royal Capital on urgent business. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Shortly, as the carriage came to a halt, Kael finally returned to his home in the Royal Capital. "Young master, your room has been prepared" Hearing the sound of the carriage and rushing out eagerly, Hassaka paused for a moment, looking at the ear swaying above Kaels head, his expression bing gradually bewildered. Chapter 151 - 129 Dad, I Found Someone Willing to Have His Little Wolf (10600, 36/65) _6 Who am I, where am I, and what do I want to do... Oh, I know what I want to do... With a sh of red in his eyes, Hassaka stood on tiptoes as Kael approached. His ears perked up, and it seemed like he was about to rub the top of Kaels head. So pretty, I want to bite! This was a natural instinct for a member of the Snow Wolf n when it came to ears. Previously, in the small room, she had wanted to bite Kaels ears, but then she remembered, Mister Kael and their Snow Wolf n were different; they didnt have tall, standing ears. Thus, when her tongue was watering and her fingers itching, she could only begrudgingly let Kael grab her wolf ears without being able to nibble back gently. For Hassaka, deeply influenced by the Snow Wolf culture, this was indeed a big hit. But now... "Mister Kael, Mister Kael..." Hassakas voice was sweet as she eagerly said to Kael, "Ears, ears!" Her tail wagged excitedly behind her, her body leaning forward slightly, showing a look of expectation. Then Kael directly punched her on the head, causing pain that made her ears stand up straight. "Didnt you just a few days ago..." Kael nced at Old White, who seemed to hear nothing, then he grabbed this fellow and ran upstairs. Apanied by a series of "Im sorry, Mister, I was wrong," "Mister, it hurts, my tail! I wont dare again!" "Im sorry, Im sorry, Im sorry!"... Finally, with a sharp scream like a cats wail, when Kael walked out of the door feeling refreshed, the ears on Hassakas head following behind him had already drooped down. "I just wanted to touch Misters little ears, whats wrong with that? Clearly, theres no problem!" Hassaka murmured softly behind Kael. Having been dragged by Kael just now for a practical lesson, all those messy thoughts of the little maid were thoroughly chastised with a touch of a good-for-nothing, sessfully transforming her into a silly state, extinguishing any extraneous thoughts. Now she was the Hassaka with an IQ of only nine! Of course, it was mainly because this guy had recently be increasingly clingy, which Kael found somewhat hard to get used to. Although deep down, he quite liked the situation where the little maid thought of sticking close to him everyday, he was too proud... At least publicly, he couldnt always be thinking about getting close to himself. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om As for privately... that would depend on the situation. "Mister, whats the deal with your ears?" Finally a bit more normal, Hassaka curiously looked towards the ears on top of Kaels head, which seemed jittery due to the unfamiliar gaze and unconsciously twitched. Hmm? Hassaka showed an alert expression. Momentster, even though she had just been schooled by the touch of a good-for-nothing, she instinctively tiptoed and said beside Kael: "Mister Kael, Hassaka has been practicing welltely..." Then, under Kaels murderous re, she suddenly jumped back, dodging Kaels hand. Kael said harshly, "I remember I just exined to you inside what the situation was then..." Hassaka, watching as Kaels ears began to stand and the tips reddened, hid to the side and giggled. He shook his head and said, "You, sometimes you y too much... Of course, this is also rted to myck of willpower. All in all, in the future, I will exin things, if you dont mind." These words made Hassaka pause for a moment, turning her head to look at the expressionless Kael. Then her gaze returned to Kaels wolf ears. Those erect golden wolf ears kept twitching restlessly, and the white inner ear had somehow turned as red as the autumn sky. She looked somewhat bewilderedly at Kael, who after finishing his speech, turned sideways, almost with his back to her, the pink aura deep in his eyes suddenly subsiding significantly. As the demonic power deeply entangled with her was suppressed, she felt as if her state of mind had undergone some changes. She began to regret her impolite behavior towards Young Master Kael earlier. At home, she had received the most thorough maids education, but when she actually faced the young master... Why had she behaved so improperly? However... She instinctively ced her hand on her increasingly frantic, snow-like skin. This feeling... seemedpletely different from before. It was a feeling as if her heart had beenpletely filled. When she lifted her head again, she wasnt shouting anything anymore; instead, the fervor in her eyes had be so tender at that moment. She quietly "hmm"ed, trying to suppress her heartbeat as she always felt it would let Kael hear her, making her feel somewhat... But the more she tried to suppress such thoughts, the more uncontrobly the images of the not-so-long moments she had spent with Kael shed through her mind. A sense of overflowing happiness made her, smiling tenderly, so captivating at that moment. "Dad, I think I really found someone willing to bear his little wolves!" Unfortunately, Kaelpletely missed the charming demeanor of the girl at that time. Since he had already made up his mind to give someone an exnation, he would do his utmost to fulfill this promise. He had always been like this, not making promises lightly; but once a promise was made, he would desperately strive to keep it. He had promised nna that in front of him, she could always be her truest self. But now, he had once again made a new promise... He didnt exactly regret it, but the main thought was how he would perfectly exin things to nna in the future, which made his head feel like it had grown a sizerger. He couldnt help but look towards his brother, who he relied on for survival. Damn brother, its your inability to control yourself that has brought trouble that now I need to clean up. Forget it, I wont think too much about it now... "nna, whats the situation with the investigation youve been conducting these past few days?" Kael turned his head to look at nna. He had asked her toe to the Royal Capital a few days earlier just to help investigate what was currently going on at the Noble Council. It was tough for the yers to grasp the inside story in the Royal Capital trio. Those guys in the Noble Council were all local great nobles, and they werent interested in discussing matters with yers at this stage. Those great nobles were fully aware of the attitudes of the children of Shang Taiya towards the Earth Mother Goddess Church. Without Church support, they wouldnt spare a nce for yers. Naturally, they wouldnt think of getting entangled with these undying characters either. Hearing Kael ask about the news from her recent investigation, Hassakas expression became a bit more serious and said: "The news has been fully gathered. Its because someone took the me for Baron Bernards son this time. It was a well-known major businessman in the Royal Capital, the head of the Florence Chamber of Commerce. He turned himself in voluntarily, iming publicly that he wanted to cooperate with those newly-promoted noble merchants to prepare for the uing changes in the border system in order to control morend and resources in the future... That he couldnt resist the merchants temptations at thest moment and chose to act against you." ording to him, the vastnds of the Lancaster Territory are rare among the border lords, and he was unwilling and couldnt afford to give up thisnd that could be farmed for hundreds of years, as there were too many exploitable benefits. The Noble Council had investigated in that merchant firm, and indeed found some supplies provided to the Barbarians that hadnt beenpletely cleared out yet." Kael nodded, sneered, and said, "So eager to exonerate his own child, huh? It seems Earl Campbell is not only a yful seed but also ces great importance on the bloodline he has sired!" Hassak solemnly nodded his head. Such actions would definitely lead to many people criticizing Baron Bernard. At that time, it would surely be... hmm? "Earl Campbells seed?" Hassak paused, this was the first time she had heard of such a matter. Chapter 152 - 130 Kael: Don’t Interrupt Me When I’m Speaking (10600, 39/65) "This is normal, after all, if it werent for his own child, Earl Campbell couldnt possibly have put in so much effort." Kael chuckled lightly, not saying much more. But he knew in his heart that this man, Earl Campbell, could not be saved; no one could keep him. He had always believed in repaying kindness with kindness and revenge with vengeance. Since you, Earl Campbell, dared to make such arrangements to harm him, then you must bear the consequences of having your hands cut off. "Lets go, lets see the witness who will be brought to court." The witness Kael mentioned was one of several rtives of victims who had lost contact with their children in a human trafficking case at the ve Trading House. With Kaels intervention, some of the trafficked individuals were sessfully rescued and returned to their parents. But there were also others who died in suppression in the ve Trading House, or in some noble families before they could be rescued. These witnesses were the ones willing to testify in court against the human traffickers. Truthfully,pared to the number of people who were kidnapped and trafficked, the number of these victims or their rtives was notrge, at least not even 1/10 of those Kael had rescued. Of course, Kael did not insist on their testifying in court; often, choosing to act as if the incident never happened was less likely to suffer bacsh from public opinion. Once public opinion heated up and became widely known, ensuringplete disassociation became quite difficult. Returning home quietly might still secure them some peaceful time, but such matters would always leave people indignant. Kael wasnt saintly enough to want to help everyone, but for an enemy who just happened to provoke him and whom he had decided to hit back, he wouldnt mind lending a hand to others and dragging the enemy into the Abyss. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om ... Soon, under Hassakas guidance, he arrived at the temporary residence of the families who had lost their children. Getting off the carriage, Kael frowned slightly and watched a young man emerging from that dwelling. He was dressed in brocade and walked with broad, confident strides. Upon hearing the sound of hooves, he nced warily in their direction, quickly bowed his head, and hurried away. "Hassaka, remember that man. Later, investigate which family in the Royal Capital he belongs to," said Kael, a slight curve to his lips as he spoke coldly. Entering the cottage, Kael met several civilians sitting in the hall, their faces marked by unease. When they saw Kael enter, their panic seemed to grow. Hassaka, sensing the anomaly, stepped forward and exined Kaels identity. The people instantly recognized him as the noble seeking justice for them. The leader, a middle-aged man, hesitated before speaking, "I am already quite old, and getting involved in the conflicts of nobles is somewhat beyond what I can endure. The Florence Chamber of Commerces employees came to see us just now, hoping to reach a reconciliation. I thought, since the people are already gone, whats the use of seeking revenge? Even if we seed, we ordinary people couldnt withstand the revenge that those behind the scenes could exact." "They just came to negotiate?" "Yes, the child of the head of the Florence Chamber of Commerce. He is now managing the chambers affairs on behalf of his father. He immediately began by bowing his head and admitting his mistake with extreme sincerity and even inquired about our current family situation," the middle-aged man said, his expression somewhat strained. Kael responded calmly, "How muchpensation did they prepare for you?" "One million, one million Demon Crystal coins to be divided among us who are serving as witnesses." "Quite generous of them!" Kael scoffed. "Yes, my lord, I saw that they also showed a lot of sincerity, and I was thinking, maybe we should just let this matter go," another witness murmured softly, not daring to look up at Kael. Kael, without wasting words, rose and left. Seeing that Kael did not pursue the matter further, the people sighed in relief. An old man sighed, saying: "Thats better. There are things in this world more important than money, and we have to consider our families." Kael, who had already reached the doorstep, paused and slowly turned around, his face bearing a conventional smile: "Look at your content expressions. Thats precisely why I really hate seeking out witnesses. Most of you never think of digging to the root of the matter, not even willing to fight back. Your children are lost or even die at the hands of others before being found, and yet you can console yourself with, Theres nothing that can be done because we cant fight back against the nobles. You all see yourselves as ves controlled by the nobles, mere parasites, quieted by a bit of favor from them, feeding off their scraps. Ive investigated you all. Since arriving here, Ive also interacted with some nobles and chambers ofmerce during this time as a witness,forted by a bit of money. You might even reside freely in suchrge rooms now; perhaps you find this life quite pleasant, huh?" Chapter 153 - 130 Kael: Don’t Interrupt Me When I’m Talking (10600, 39/65)_2 Some of your children are still lying in hospital beds receiving treatment, some of you have had families shattered by this catastrophe, and some dont even know where their loved ones have died; youll need to erect the gravestones yourselves But its okay, youve now received the gifts theyve given you, got the condolence money, and felt their sincerity towards you! That should be enough, its truly rare to encounter such good nobles, really too good! Your children wille back, your broken families can be restored, and those struggling on their sickbeds can get up and walk around normally again! Even if after you, these people continue the same actions, inflicting pain on others just like you, surely there wont be any more problems, right? Because you have already received a satisfactory oue!" His voice shifted from a faintly mockingughter to one of indifference and ridicule, the sharpness in his words silencing them, while many others became enraged under these circumstances. Two people, unable to contain their fury, rushed forward, intending to attack Kael, but before even getting close, Hassaka blocked them in front of Kael, baring her teeth and exuding a dangerous aura. She would not allow anyone toy a hand on her Kael. Seemingly awakened by Hassakas fierce aura, those who had advanced retreated several steps. Seeing their reaction, Kael sighed and said, "I thought you truly did not dare to attack nobles, but it seems you are just not angry enough. I wont force you to do anything, but Im telling you, if you want to reim a life worth boasting about, then you must confront the unpleasant realities you dont wish to see, and seek retribution with the resolve to bear grievous wounds. That is what it means to resist. If you harbor grievances, take them to the grave with you. Do you know why I chose toe to your aid?" Kael scanned the crowd, the sharpness in his eyes making people unable to meet his gaze directly. "Among you, theres a former town clerk who worked diligently for half a lifetime and felt blessed with just one daughter. Some owned a small Chamber of Commerce, but due to poor investments leading to bankruptcy and heavy debts, you continued to strive to pay off, not giving up on the spot and hiding in another city. There are single mothers raising two children on their own, mothers who can be proud. So here I am... But be clear on one thing, its not that Im begging you toe and testify; Ive seen your anger and chosen to stand by you. But now, expecting you to show the courage of a parent seems to have been too presumptuous of me." None had ever seen someone with a smiling face, speak in such a cold tone. The anger contained within seemed so clear it could burst at any moment, giving a chilling and horrifying sense. Kael, without caring for their thoughts, delivered the final verdict coldly: "Listen well, it doesnt matter to me what you do, but when you return home and see your childs unwashed dishes, the withered flowers in the vase that she picked, the ringing of the bell at the door, turning around and calling her name, only to never see that person again I hope you kind-hearted people can lick each others wounds, moving steadily and peacefully towards the end of your lives, and not rise again with nameless anger, running to me saying: Please, Lord Kael, help us get justice! If such a thing happens again, I will directly drive you out." At that moment, a noise came from the door, which opened to let in a man with sparse, graying hair. "Lord Kael..." Kael turned his head and instantly recognized the man. He was the reason why Kael actively got involved in the case of the ve Trading House. It was a man who diligently managed an orphanage and, due to the disappearance of several orphans, had run day and night for three days to the Royal Capital, beseeching Kael and others to search for the missing children. "What happened, did something happen?" The old man said with a heavy tone, "Ayena couldnt be saved." The Ayena mentioned by the old man was one of the children who had been abducted. When she was rescued, her body was severely damaged; it was said that a noble had locked her in a kennel to fight with dogs. By the time she was rescued, she was on herst breath, and even the Mages and Priests called by Kael could not fully heal her body. The atmosphere in the room became heavy. "Did she leave anyst words?" "Make those who deserve punishment pay, that was the childsst words." There was silence among the crowd, the anger that had been repressed in their hearts for various reasons seemed to be no longer containable. They were someones children, sisters, grandchildren... When born, they were held high by them, but now, like ants, theyve been trampled underfoot, unable to raise their heads. This unprecedented frustration, if suppressed for too long, would lead some to call it "epting reality," and over time, this bes "let it be." n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om But they still have the option to live differently: that is to release their anger. "Forget it, that little bit of money is of no use for living out the rest of our lives." Chapter 154 - 130 Kael: Don’t Interrupt Me When I’m Speaking (10600, 39/65)_3 "Didnt we n to seize this opportunity from the start, to send those scoundrels to hell?" "Anyway, Im already old, I just want to take that group down with me!" "We must prove theyre lying, or Lord Kael wont have any leverage to strike back!" Seeing the determination in their eyes, Kael shook his head. Even though he knew they might be speaking sincerely now, Kael didnt like the idea of changing ns at thest moment. So, the moment these people started showing signs of hesitation, he decided they would no longer be the key to his counterattack against Earl Campbell. He needed to find a new method to strike back. ... Meanwhile, in the Royal Capital, in the nobles district. A few nobles gathered to discuss their strategies. "Have you heard? Baron Helois has returned to the Royal Capital." "Youre behind the times. Today, the people we sent out were already spotted by Baron Helois." "Tsk, filthy incubus blood. Why doesnt the Noble Council just kill this fellow already!" "Kill him? What a shame that would be. I saw that child from afar before, quite attractive. Arent you tempted?" "Doesnt your family already secretly keep an elf? I heard that you let the child the elf gave birth to be raised outside, then brought them back home as your concubine. Youre quite a yer. If the elves found out about this, thered be trouble." "Enough, stop talking nonsense. I never did such a thing. Dont say that, or itll attract those pretty heads, which would be troublesome." "Isnt it already knocking on your door?" "Alright, stop talking. The Count is here." With a series of clear footsteps approaching, the voices quieted down. Earl Campbell stood at the top of the terrace, looking down at the group of nobles. He turned to Baron Bernard beside him and said: "Your son shouldnt have any problems this time. He onlymitted some economic errors. Handle it well, and there wont be any issues." Baron Bernard nodded, subconsciously avoiding the gaze of his wife, who was clinging to his arm. This subtle discontent he felt turned slightly pleasing as Earl Campbell and his wife exchanged nces. "Youve interacted with Baron Helois. What do you think of him?" Earl Campbell asked indifferently. In some way, he and Baron Helois had a distant familial connection, though he would never acknowledge it. The lowly incubus bloodline filled him with shame. How could Lion Heart Blood be tainted by incubus lineage? "That person is very dangerous..." Baron Bernard said, biting his lip. "Dangerous? Hes far from reaching the Extraordinary Rank! How dangerous can he be? Theres no way such a young child could already strategize with unique insight, right?" "Its hard to exin. I just feel that opposing him is like being watched by a cunning spider. You never know when youll be caught in his web, unable to move. I always feel it would be a huge problem being his enemy... Of course,pared to you, hes still far inferior!" "Tomorrows matter is already settled. Even if he tries to drag your son into it, the chances are almost zero. The Noble Council still has many dissatisfied voices. You need to work on calming things down; dont wait for me to intervene." Baron Bernard opened his mouth to speak but eventually swallowed his words, only nodding in the end. ... The next day. [Royal Capital - Noble Council - Courtroom] A few yers sat uneasily in the courtroom. They werent witnesses, just ordinary attendees. N?v(el)B\\jnn At this moment, Nan Ke looked at the nobles seated above, the jury and other attendees including many nobles. Since entering the Royal Capital, this was the first time they saw so many members of the ruling ss in one ce. Normally, they would try everything to get tasks from these nobles that offered great rewards. But considering the information they had recently received, they now felt nothing but difort looking at these people. Indeed, only Brother Kaels jeans could warm their hearts. The NPCs in this game were all too wicked. Before the trial began, Nan Ke, and Sister Astate finally saw Kael again after a long time. Kael rarely wore a nobles outfit in ck and white with gold embroidery. The tailored outfit exuded a faint air of mystery as he walked in. He was always like this. Those who met him would be deeply impressed by Kaels appearance, often overlooking his personality to some extent. Only those who frequented forums and knew Kaels character well understood thetent power hidden within this Incubus Baron. Of course, these inner qualities werent easily seen. Now, everyones eyes asionally nced at the calm Kael as he moved to the observation seat. Chapter 155 - 130 Kael: Don’t Interrupt Me When I’m Talking (10600, 39/65)_4 Kael was unfazed by such things; there were too many of them. If he took every one seriously, he felt hed be annoyed to death. Soon, as the iron gates on both sides were pulled open, several different individuals were brought to either side of the courtroom. To the left stood the used, to the right were the intiffs and victims. Of course, once the intiffs and their witnesses had assembled, Kael rose and made his way to the stand. Yes, he was also one of the intiffs today. With several members of the Noble Council of high aristocracy settled in their seats, soon the noble in the very center began to announce the various circumstances of the investigation. It was essentially a deration of the details rted to the investigation concerning the dispatch of personnel to the tribes by Wels and the hiring of barbarians to attack Lancaster Territory. Throughout this, Wels, standing to one side, did not speak from beginning to end, neither rebutting nor admitting anything. After the Noble Council had finished reading the rted findings, Sack, the representative from the Florence Chamber of Commerce standing beside Wels, indifferently said: "Concerning this matter, I acknowledge that the basic facts are true. The Florence Chamber of Commerce chose a wrong path in order to garner more sponsorship and support from other magnates. Subsequently, it lured Wels with high prices, proactively borrowing its own assets to provide channels of support for this personnel movement. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om For this, I, Sack, confess without denial." Watching this group of people making up stories in the dock, the dissatisfied Fish muttered, "They really can spout any nonsense." Nan Ke rubbed his head, also looking unhappy, "These NPCs ability to spout nonsense with their eyes open is really strong. Arent they afraid of the repercussions if they provoke someone they cant afford to?" Sister Astate sneered mockingly: "What trouble could they face? If they ever encountered someone more powerful than themselves, their attitude wouldnt be like this. Theyd have already been groveling on the floor begging for forgiveness; such is the inherentpromise in noble politics." They turned their eyes to the intiffs seat on the side, where Kael said with a t tone: "Respected members of the Noble Council, there also sits a noble on the intiffs side now. This noble, after inheriting his fathers title, not only refrained from misusing noble powers andmitted no wrongdoing, but he is also an excellent border lord. Lancaster Territory is the only among the emerging nobility that haspleted the first dungeon assault and sessfully opened the first stage of the second dungeon. The Noble Council investigated thoroughly and found no issues with me, and since I inherited my fathers title, not a single matter Ive dealt with has been protested after being investigated by a Federation secret agent. Until now, there has been no objection from the council regarding my inheritance of my fathers title; therefore, I am still an emerging noble, the border lord of Lancaster Territory. I believe this matter would be recognized by the nobility anywhere and I would be regarded as a qualified border lord. But the current situation is that I have been threatened not just once from the outside. The investigation of the Noble Council has adequately proved that within my territory, I have indeed suffered fatal attacks arranged by others. I will make a few brief, supplementary points here. First, from the perspective of the elements required for a crime, I, Baron Helois, have notmitted any actions that break the noble code. Second, there is also the factual existence of major personal and property losses, which are elements of a crime, and even the results from the first round of the councils deliberation clearly affirmed that I have been personally threatened. Third, there is no evidence to prove that our defendant Wels did notmit the crime intentionally. In terms of criminal activity, the proceedings of Wels and Mr. Sacks nned case do not conform to the councils procedures, and the judgment is erroneous, with Mr. Sacks admitted facts being unfounded. Now, the overturning of the second trial has dismissed the numerous pieces of evidence we presented in the first trial; the core problem is that persons who are not nobles have not assumed critical responsibility. Gentlemen, let me restate a fact once more, the attack is certain, but the reasons given by Mr. Sack are unreasonable. If what he said were true, then the ones standing here now should not be just Sack and Wels; there must be other noble members involved in making the fatal decision, but clearly, they are not present. I would like to know which piece of evidence proves that it was the magnate nobles who used the Florence Chamber of Commerce, forcing Mr. Sack to make a move against a young lord with whom he had no association whatsoever to obtain further benefits. How can you say that it was Mr. Sack who made such a choice? Following this logic, the hat of murder could be ced on the head of any party." Kaels speech sparked a buzz among the attendees. The council members above showed looks of admiration; truly a descendent of the Charles family, clear and logical. Regrettably, he was still too young; it was impossible for Earl Campbells side to leave such an obvious loophole. As expected, after Kael finished his statement, Sack revealed a radiant expression and then said: "I, Baron Helois, offer my sincere apologies for the error we have caused this time. In light of this matter being impossible to conceal any longer, I contacted the magnate who had presented this proposal to me. He expressed his willingness to ept punishment and volunteered toe forward and disclose the truth." Chapter 156 - 130 Kael: Don’t Interrupt Me When I’m Talking (10600, 39/65)_5 When he had finished saying this, a bulky noble slowly emerged from behind the iron bars of the defendants area. The noble shed a provocative smile at Kael. Kaels expression remained indifferent as he looked at the Noble Council and spoke again, "If he is willing to pay the price for this, then I have nothing more to say." Wels, who had been silent until then, finally showed a hint of a smile on his face, knowing that the most troublesome part was over for him. With three people sharing the responsibility, the punishment allocated to each was severe but no longer lethal. With some operation, it was not impossible for them to get out early. "But..." Kael spoke up again, "I protest that Wels and the other two not only posed a threat to my personal safety but also vited my property." "Youre spouting nonsense!" Wels shouted loudly. "Didnt you hear what I said? Do not interrupt me when I am speaking," Kael raised his head to look at Wels, his deep blue eyes gradually undergoing a change. "Baron Helois, please restrain your power. The Noble Councils session is a solemn and serious asion. Of course, Mr. Wels, I also ask you to shut up, otherwise, I will consider your behavior as disrupting the councils proceedings," said an elderly noble with graying hair, tapping his cane and snorting coldly. Hearing the old nobles warning, Wels could only lower his head, not daring to speak further. Would he dare? To Kael, that was because he had already be Kaels enemy, without any room for maneuver. But if he provoked the old judges of the Noble Council further, he would suffer in the future. Seeing this situation, a smile finally appeared on Kaels face, "Judge, since my father Anthony was alive, we have been continuously supporting several orphanages in the neighboring towns. ording to the nobles regtions, these orphanages are my property. Concerning this recognition, dont you agree?" "Agreed, the orphanages are the sacred and invible property of Baron Helois." "Given that, not only was my property directly abducted by Mr. Wels, but it was also sold to other nobles through his own business. Doesnt this constitute a substantial encroachment on my property and directly cause me loss?" Kael did not choose to speak directly for the peasants whose children had been trafficked because he did not hold such a position. However, the orphanages belonged directly to his own industry, and someone had been abducted from there, which fell within his realm of direct intervention. "Judge, the girl who was abducted by him was identified by us as a genius, who could go far on the path of a mage if she were to receive extensive training. Over the years, we have invested a great deal of effort in training the girl, who now, along with another abducted child, has lost her life. They could have received the best education during the happiest times and be knights of Lancaster, but now they can only lie in the Ice Coffin, an overwhelmingly painful oue!" Sack, realizing something was amiss, red at his ineptrade. What was he talking about that has now led others to catch a fault? Therefore, he spoke up, "Baron Helois, what evidence do you have to prove that you made a substantial investment in that deceaseddy?" Kaels lips curled up in a slight smile, saying, "On this matter, our Lancaster ounts have recorded every funding for the orphanage and the expenses of such funding. Just the education investments alone have cost us over 240,000 purple gold coins over the years, not to mention some special materials supplied internally by Lancaster itself. Now I can show the relevant records to the judges for examination, and there is a detailed description also on the list of the hired teachers. You are free to learn more about this, as it includes several high-level teachers from the Mage Academy. Moreover, let me add, Mr. Sack, do not doubt our support for geniuses, restore that dead genius girls innocence." This record of providing education for the orphanage children, this act was a kind gesture left by my father. But now, with the "fact" that a great number of teachers had been hired for teaching, this could lead to many maniptions. Welsughed angrily. If, as it was said, this ount book could be produced and withstand investigation, then he was essentially used of viting a nobles significant property. The pressure this carried wasparable to a direct vition of a nobles personal safety. N?v(el)B\\jnn He scoffed angrily, "That girl might not have truly been a genius; youre spreading rumors, and youck evidence!" Several nobles belowughed, pointing out his hypocrisy in disregarding evidence when it suited him but loudly challenging it when he found himself in trouble. However, Kael sneered and said, "You attempted misconduct against mest night, and I use you of viting a nobles safety." "Produce the evidence then!" "You might not have truly attempted to vite me, justcking evidence. Its embarrassing to say, but I, Kael.D.Helois, seem to always appear in some indecent clips of the Royal Capital. Although this displeases me, doesnt it also suggest that many are coveting my tainted body?" Chapter 157 - 130 Kael: Don’t Interrupt Me When I’m Talking (10600, 39/65)_6 "You say you dont like it, but you always let your mind wander. This troubles me greatly." Kael squinted his eyes, a hint of sadness and helplessness in his voice, causing everyone to instinctively look at his face. Although some people genuinely despised the Incubus race, they couldnt help but be enchanted by Kaels appearance. Experience tales at empire For many in the audience, this was the first time they had seen Kaels features, and the previously sporadic gasps of shock suddenly became conspicuously audible. Indeed, Baron Helois lived up to his reputation. Kael looked at Veris again, letting out a coldugh, and said, "Unlike you, who have no evidence, the ount books I have, as well as the witnesses whose children were abducted, are here now." After he finished, a few civilians willing to testify stepped forward. One of them furiously pointed his finger at Veris and used him: "I remember you! You knocked me down in the street and snatched my daughter from beside me. I will never forget your face for the rest of my life." The two civilians beside him nodded in agreement, a smile of vengeance on their faces. But then, something unexpected happened. When the fourth civilian stepped forward, he hesitated, looked apologetically at Kael, shook his head, and said: "Judge, this child died from an idental fall, and was not abducted. Its all because Baron Helois asked me to testify." Then the fifth civilian stepped forward, giving the same response, and the following civilians also imed that their children had not been abducted but had died in idents. The three civilians looked at them in bewilderment, unable to understand why, when they had all agreed yesterday to use the viins, the situation had changed so drastically today. Several civilians sighed inwardly. They also wanted to seek justice, but on one hand, the Chamber of Commerce had offered too much, shaking their resolve. On the other hand,test night, an Infiltrator had visited their bedrooms to "discuss" and bluntly told them that Veris had the support of an Earl. Should they choose a young baron who looked inexperienced, or an earl with vast connections and power? It was up to them to decide Simply put, they were told that Baron Helois was no match for an Earl. They thought the same. After much contemtion, they concluded there was noparison between an Earl and a Baron. They became more afraid. Moreover, thepensation from the other side was substantial. In the end, between life and money, they chose money. Even though they were genuinely moved by Kaels words yesterday, they couldnt help but think that he was no match for an Earl! Seeing the situation descending into chaos, the corners of the mouths in Veriss camp curled into inexplicable smiles. Victory was assured! That was what they thought. Veris stepped forward and said loudly: "Judge, you see, with so many witnesses refuting the evidence, doesnt it suggest that other testimonies are very likely fabricated?" "Damn!" One of the originally entertained onlookers cursed. These nobles were so dirty! At that moment, they deeply realized how cunning NPCs in the game could be. No matter how smart the yers were, without a high alertness to NPCs, they would likely be duped. Feeling worried, they looked at Kael, sensing he was in trouble. However, Sister Astate beside them slightly smiled. Kael cast a mysterious nce at the two, and the old headmaster of the orphanage behind him stepped forward, his face filled with anger, loudly testifying to the council about his grief from the death of the children he had raised. His voice pulled at the heartstrings of those who heard it, but the smile on Veriss face only grew more pronounced. They understood it would take a long time for the grieving civilians to prove anything, especially with the witnesses faltering. False usations could easily create confusion. N?v(el)B\\jnn Thinking they could mess us up? What a joke, dont even think about it! Seeing the atmosphere grow more serious, the two yers couldnt bear to watch any longer. This was a moment when justice was desecrated, and the maniptive wielded their power with abandon. But the ones on stage were not the clowns, the real clowns were those watching below. They immediately nned to rise and intervene, but Sister Astate calmly said: "Sit down, raise your heads, watch carefully, and learn. Brother Kael is the example you should follow in the game for resolving issues correctly." Sister Astate said this, then chuckled softly. "Dont you feel any guilt for harming others this way?" the old headmaster used in anguish. Veris stood still with his arms crossed, a taunting smile on his face. He refrained from opening his mouth to jeer, knowing it would be easy to provoke an outburst if pushed too far. What he did say, however, was rather heartless: "I sympathize with your situation, but this issue is still up for discussion. I dont know why the children you adopted ended up in our convoy; perhaps they went willingly?" Chapter 158 - 130 Kael: Don’t Interrupt Me When I’m Talking (10600, 39/65)_7 "So this is what you believed?" the elderly dean sighed, hisposure returning, but his voice carried a strong bitterness, "I only wanted a fair oue; why did you have to do this?" After speaking, the old dean reached into his pocket and pulled out a small scroll. The pupils of those present constricted sharply. "Soldiers! Stop him!" But the old dean reacted swiftly, and the scroll emitted a faint glow that coalesced into a fiercely burning dagger, which he hurled with lightning speed. Twelve consecutive short-range Divine Arts in the form of daggers were released one after the other until the scroll shattered. Throughout, the old dean had not put down the scroll. "I came to the tribunal in respect of life. I did not weep in sorrow, in respect of myself. I believed that you would deliver a just oue, in respect of justice. I did not harm others, in respect of the innocent. And now, I choose to kill you, in respect of humanity. This tool can only be used twelve times, but this doesnt mean my anger has but twelve bouts. Perhaps now you should learn how to respect others." No one had expected that the situation would take such a drastic turn. The moment they were dumbfounded, the thrown daggers became a reaping de, entangling Vels and Saka on the defendants bench into a mess of flesh. Bright red blood stained the floor, rendering the scene momentarily silent. The old dean put down the now ineffective tool, raised his hands allowing the soldiers rushing from the council to bind them, and burst into loudughter. Sister Astate also clutched her stomach andughed, pointing at the several corpses, "Hey, hey! Im turning myself in, Dawn Lord Church, Heretic Tribunal, Sister Astate, the one who supplied the weapons, greeting you all." Just the night before, Kael had found him, asking whether he had been invited by any other churchs heretic tribunal. Sister Astate dly admitted and genuinely thanked Kael. He hadnt lied; the scroll indeed came from the heretic tribunal. Even his actions were supported by the inherently extreme upper echelons of the tribunal. More precisely, without this determination to oppose other forces, executing the tasks of the heretic tribunal would have been impossible. Now, he had effectively burnt all his bridges, only able to survive with the support of the heretic tribunal. But this was fine, Sister Astate never minded taking the me; he was more afraid of witnessing injustice and being unable to report it. Now, seeing the main culprits dead beyond recognition, he picked up his weapon and swung it towards their heads, vanishing into light. And Kael, with a slight smile, stood at the scene and addressed the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is a tragedy that should not have happened, with two civilians brutally killed here. I dere the Orphanage head of Rocks position revoked, topletely follow the directives and arrangements of the council. Only to say, words that fool the dead should not be carelessly spoken. As his employer, Im quite helpless and self-reproachful; concerning Rocks act of killing two civilians, I am willing to offer amplepensation, and I beseech the Judge, considering he is an old man and there were reasons for his actions, to mitigate his punishment... After all, the deceased were not nobles, and so should be judged ording to sanctions applicable to civilians, right?" Kael detested this world where nobles were esteemed, but... at that moment, he felt the thrill of acting at his own will. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Kaels gaze swept toward the audience gallery, where Baron Bernard was turning blue with anger, and next to him, the Baroness had already fainted. Your journey continues on empire Chapter 159 - 131: The Activation of the Seductive Demon Eye, the Puppet’s Guardianship Kaels gaze fell on the baroness who had fainted, his heart exulted in silentughter, but his face bore a heavy expression. The infuriated Baron Bernard stood up, his finger pointing at Kael trembling slightly, "How dare you... How could you dare do such a thing?" Kael frowned and said in a deep voice, "Baron Bernard, mind your words, do not make others suspect that you bought your title." Kaels words made him shudder, instantly sobering him up. Yes, he was different from Kael. Like Anthony, who could bnce the Royal Capital and his territories as a lord, there were few who managed to gain internal approval within the duchy because of his strong abilities. In principle, if the descendants of merit nobility did not have the corresponding territories, they could not sustain the inheritance of their forebears titles. Title revocation wasmon unless the heirs earned merits before session. Under thebination of inheriting the title and merits, it guaranteed normal lineage continuation. When Baron Bernard was ennobled, he did not choose to go to the border but stayed in the Royal Capital for its prosperity and wealth. Therefore, though he was newly ennobled, he could not get the corresponding territories smoothly. This meant that Kael fully inherited his fathers title, which was legally sanctioned within the duchy. As long as Anthony had him as the only legitimate heir, in principle, even if he had not yet inherited the title, he would still be treated as a noble by the Noble Council in relevant matters. Discover more stories at empire This was also the case with nna. But Baron Bernard was different, withoutnds, his child Wels would not be judged as a noble by the Noble Council like Kael. They would treat him as amoner, at least in appearances, followingmonw for rted matters. The severity ofmonwpared to nobilityws was entirely different. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Kael looked at Baron Bernard with cold eyes, seemingly hiding a blood-stained swords edge, making him dare not meet Kaels gaze. He understood now, this guy was a killer, not merely abiding by the duchysws, but because thesews coincided with his own way of dealing with criminals. But if there were deviations in actual execution, this refined and beautiful Baron Helois would show what it truly meant to cease being human. This guy truly dared to act! If Kael knew Baron Bernards inner turmoil, he might have smiled approvingly. He guessed right, Kaels thinking still retained some traits of a yer, for instance, if you were willing to talk sense, we could sit down in open honesty and talk principles. But if I talk sense, and you y rogue, dont try to talk sense when I start ying rogue. Isnt it just flipping the table? I am quite adept at this as a yer. If you dare to act, let me cut off the hand you reach out with. Whichever hand you extend, that hand gets cut off. Reach out both hands, and both get cut off. If you stay quiet and do nothing, you might just go to jail and serve your term. If you do a little more, then, like now, there is no need to wait for prison; the sin should be purified on the spot, no retreat left. Watching Kaels eyes, Baron Bernard felt utterly helpless. What was he thinking at the time, to mess with this guy... Earl Campbell, its not that I wont help, but this incubus brat is tricky. He even had a terrifying thought, that the numerous efforts Earl Campbell made over the years to inherit the Duke Lion Hearts title might be wasted on such a small baron. With such heavy thoughts, he did not stay any longer, rising and taking his wife out of the courtroom. He needed to inform Earl Campbell right away, Kael.D.Helois must not be taken lightly. To defeat him, it required a full effort! Nan Ke and Madmans expressions were also subtle now; this Sister Astate, just how many deals had she made with Brother Kael these days! It had worried them so much! "This sister, truly has some madman traits, she really isnt afraid of trouble!" "What is there to fear, after all, we are the Undead, no matter what, its worth it to exchange a life for happiness." Madman was quite excited, taking screenshots of the scene through the system panel while whispering: "Ive recorded everything. Ill edit it tonight and get the news out immediately, tonights headline is mine!" Nan Ke nodded and then said in a low voice, "Since we know the oue, I wont stay in the Royal Capital any longer." Madman wasnt surprised, seeing that this person was a leisure yer fond of nature, uninterested in dealing with mainstream NPCs. Chapter 160 - 131: The Activation of the Seductive Demon Eye, the Puppet’s Guardianship_2 If not for the fact that this matter infuriated him so much, Nan Ke would have already left the Royal Capital and headed out into the world. "Then Ill wish you a safe journey, but you might not be the first person eager to explore beyond the Newbie Vige map," Lan Xiaoyu said with a smile. "Are there others with the same interest?" Nan Ke asked, showing a look of interest. N?v(el)B\\jnn "Yes, and its quite a coincidence. Like you, this person is also a Druid yer. If I remember correctly, his name is White Dove. This guy invested all his early-level skill points into Shape Transformation, and somehow found a skill that allows him to transform into a white pigeon. I heard from Yuyu that during the assault of the Shadow Wolf Totem, this Druid yer transformed into a pigeon and scouted the wolf pack from the sky for a long while. Hes a first-ss scout. In pigeon form, hes fast, small, and hard to catch. I heard that after learning how to fly, he flew out of the territory right after participating in the first battle. Arent you interested in learning that?" Nan Ke fell silent for a moment, then said gravely, "I feel that yer is going to be in trouble." "Oh, why do you say that?" Lan Xiaoyu asked with a meaningful smile. "Even though I dont y games often, I know that in this type of game, every Hunter yers biggest dream is to contract with a Druid Arcane Pet. What Arcane Pet could be better than a shape-shifting Druid yer? Im afraid some Hunter yers are already secretly tracking him." Lan Xiaoyu burst intoughter. This guy was smart. She originally thought he was simply uninterested in those skills; turns out, he avoided them on purpose. As sheughed, her gazended on Kael, who was quietly gathering his things in the judgment court. He acted as if he hadnt seen the gruesome scene at the defendants seat, calmly chatting with other nobles. As the soldiers in the judgment court began to disperse irrelevant people, she could only take a reluctant nce at Kael, then left. She had a premonition that this matter would have a significant impact on the game. After leaving the judgment court, she was about to say goodbye to Nan Ke when she suddenly remembered something and said to him: "Why dont you stay in the Royal Capital for today? If you leave in the evening, itll be dark by the time you head out. Why not wait until tomorrow and leave under a sunny sky? Lets go out for a bite to eat, and I can see you off properly." Nan Ke thought for a moment and decided to listen to Lan Xiaoyus suggestion. "By the way, how are book sales going on Romance Street recently?" Nan Ke asked casually. Lan Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow, her words tinged with a bit of teasing, "Thanks to Brother Kaels decisions, the pathways there are basically cleared. Whats this? About to head out and already missing the Fox Woman sisters on Romance Street?" Nan Ke shook his head furiously. He couldnt admit to that; he was a pure and simple young man, always eighteen at heart, though he turned eighteen several months ago. Lan Xiaoyu just teased him without saying anything too harsh. She could more or less guess what Nan Ke was thinking. If given the chance, who wouldnt want to destroy such a cesspool? But given the current circumstances, yers probably need a much longer time to be strong enough to sweep through Romance Street. "Lets go, well take another look. After all, its a good start. Our actions have already made those scum (ve Trading House) in Romance Street take us seriously. Whether they choose to retain a bit of humanity in their business or indulge in their dirty desires and face our punishment in the future, they will judge for themselves." Chatting away, they unknowingly arrived at Romance Street again. Lan Xiaoyu grew interested and gave Nan Ke a heavy pat on the shoulder, saying: "Look, the Tand ve Trading House has been shut down. Seems our efforts are paying off!" Just as Lan Xiaoyu said this, a figure suddenly caught her attention. "Hey, isnt that the Incubusdy I met before?" Lan Xiaoyus exmation drew the attention of the Incubus prostitute. She turned to look at them, her eyes carrying an indescribable look. Lan Xiaoyu nudged Nan Kes shoulder and whispered, "Thats the Incubusdy I saw before. She told me about Brother Kaels situation in the Royal Capital." (See Chapter 57 for the detailed speech by Lan Xiaoyu) Hearing Lan Xiaoyu, Nan Ke looked at the Incubus prostitute... Wow, those legs were amazing, that skin so fair! Impossible, how could there be such a creature that makes you think of the bed at first nce? But soon, their expressions changed. The Incubus prostitute swayed seductively toward them, her eyes glowing faintly pink, looking both fragile and bewitching. As she looked at the two of them, her scarlet lips parted slightly, revealing small fangs. Her tongue caressed one of the fangs, exuding a seductive charm as she spoke to them: Chapter 161 - 131: The Activation of the Seductive Demon Eye, the Puppet’s Guardianship_3 "You must be the undead that has been spreading throughout the Royal Capital!" "Since you are quite familiar with Baron Helois, could you please help inform that kind-hearted baron that there is an incubus here who is roughly considered one of his kind and hopes to receive his rescue?" The two were stunned for a moment and sensed that something was wrong. But the next moment, the systems notification sound made them freeze. [You are affected by the "Queen of Romance Streets" "Seductive Demon Eye," willpower check begins...] n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om [You failed the "Seductive Demon Eye" check, your level of subjugation deepens] [You are influenced by "Extraordinary Charm," control effect continues to increase, your rationality decreases, your actions will be manipted by the "Queen of Romance Street"] [The "Queen of Romance Street" has imposed a mental suggestion on you. You failed to break free from the mental suggestion; you will automatically follow hermands...] A faint red light shed in their eyes, and they revealed intoxicated expressions, saying in unison: "At your service, mydy!" Then they turned and headed toward the direction of the noble districts mansion. On the system panel, in the yer friend list. Nan Ke: "What the hell is this? How did I get directly controlled!" Lao Liu: "Im done for. This Lao Liu! I cant control my game character now." Nan Ke: "How are we supposed to keep ying the game? We cant even control our characters anymore!" Lao Liu: "We need to figure out how to rescue ourselves. I dont want to end up directly heading to find Brother Kael. That would be humiliating when the charm effect wears off!" Nan Ke: "Lets try contacting our friends and get them to spread the word immediately!" Lao Liu: "Whats the use of contacting friends now? Right now, only a few of us are in the Royal Capital. I just asked; the nun has already been taken out of the Royal Capital!" Nan Ke: "If the nun cant help, tell someone with good rtions with the Lord Mansion to inform the Lord Mansion. They seem to have a way to contact the Royal Capital directly! Before we arrived at the Royal Capital, people from the Lord Mansion had already arranged rted affairs here; they should have their ownmunication methods!" Lao Liu: "Didnt expect you to be so smart for once. Alright, Ive contacted the guarantor!" ... A few minutester, this message reached Lancasters Lord Mansion. Soon afterward, the Lord Mansion used the mage-developed remotemunication method to send the information to the Royal Capital. By this time, the sun was setting, casting a red glow across the sky. Kael quietly looked at the message in his hand and then gazed at Old White, saying, "I thought that person wouldnt show up, but it turns out she appeared after things settled down." "Do you want to meet this Queen of Romance Street? Its been years since theres been any news of her." Old White was very calm and didnt stop Kael from meeting the Queen of Romance Street. He knew Kael had been looking for this person, but he didnt know much about the Queen of Romance Streets situation to be helpful. But he certainly wasnt afraid. The Duchy of Inglis documented people who might pose a threat to the duchy. Or rather, powerful professionals would usually have a traceable background. In that case, this person not revealing her roots could only mean she hadnt grown strong enough to warrant attention. Not worth it... If that were the case, then there was nothing more to say. After all... he himself was on that list and naturally had a reason to ignore the various dangerous individuals below. At worst, he would just bring an extra sword. Kael said, "Lets go have a look. I have a feeling her seeking us out isnt necessarily a bad thing; I also happen to need to borrow something from her." "Young Master, Ill prepare the carriage for you." Old White went downstairs to arrange the relevant things. Soon, as two yers arrived, Old White, who hadpleted the departure preparations, walked upstairs. "Young Master, those two undead have arrived." Old White reported. Kael nodded and said, "Ill go down now." Upon descending the stairs, Kael took one look at the two yers whose expressions seemed normal, showing no signs of being controlled, and walked over helplessly. Lao Liu was just about to say something when Kaels eyes turned from sea blue to a light pink. He was an expert in manipting minds, but rather than using spells to remove control, he preferred simpler methods Using a new charm effect to rece the old one, then actively canceling his own charm effect would directly free the two yers from control. Soon the pink in the two yers eyes turned into a faint blush: "Imand you not to ept anyones control other than mine." Apanied by Kaels kindlyughter, the two yers shivered and instantly regained their senses. "Back to normal?" Kael chuckled lightly and said again, "Do you dare to casually interact with incubus anymore? One careless move and youve lost control of your bodies." The two nodded like little pecking chicks, showing expressions of "Abba Abba Abba." What could they say? Could they say they got captivated by the incubussrge and warm chest and identally got lost in it? Chapter 162 - 131: The Activation of the Seductive Demon Eye, the Puppet’s Guardianship_4 So they had no choice but to nod in agreement! "Alright, let me lift the control effect on you!" Kael shook his head, knowing these yers wouldnt listen to him. Even though they said this now, the next time they saw an Incubus, Fox Woman, Shiva, or anything with high charm or allure, theyd still rush in. He had long realized this about these guys. This was the so-called "With Heaven as my witness, I will never indulge in gambling or drugs" in real life. "Wait, Lord Kael! Theres no need to lift the control effect!" It was rare for Nan Ke to regain his senses, but he froze for a moment before screaming out. Kael: ??? He felt these yers might have some serious issues. Not just Nan Ke, even Lam Xiaoyu nodded earnestly, strongly indicating he didnt want the control effect to be lifted. But Kael didnt care about any of that. His face darkened, and without another word, he dispelled the enchantment. Although he couldnt see what was prompted on the yers system panels, he instinctively felt that if he didnt lift it, something he wouldnt want to see might happen. Heaven knew what kind of socially disastrousments might pop up in the system panel evaluation of his skill. He still had some dignity and didnt want to flee the Shenhua continent at light speed. The two yers, feeling a sense of loss after being freed from the control, exchanged nces with wry smiles on their faces. Just moments ago, while under Kaels control, the system panel had generated new prompts. [You are influenced by Kael.D.Helois "Seductive Demon Eye"] [You failed the Demon Eye check, breaking the original control effect, and generating a new control effect] [You gained the positive buff "Puppets Psychic Guard"] [Buff Effect: The caster controls your psyche and chooses a special direction of control, transforming the hypnotic power into protection for the yers spirit and soul. In this state, the yer is guarded by the Puppets spirit and is immune to most low-level psychic control effects. This effectsts up to one year, with its duration shortening upon being psychically controlled. If Kael lifts the control of the Demon Eye prematurely, this buff will also dissipate ordingly. Evaluation: This is an expression of love from the Puppet. Or maybe he just pities your weak will and is trying to protect the vulnerable.] This was the first time theyd seen such a powerful positive buff since entering the game, directly stacking a very good positive state on them. Unfortunately, Brother Kaels good intentions werent meant for them to enjoy. Just as they began to feel it, the control effect was canceled. In hindsight, they still felt a bit of a loss. N?v(el)B\\jnn Nan Ke even secretly messaged Lam Xiaoyu, saying, "I dont know why, but at that moment when I made eye contact with Brother Kael, it genuinely felt like a heart-throbbing illusion." Then Nan Ke controlled his game character to roll his eyes dramatically and replied to Lam Xiaoyu: "How many yers wouldnt have their hearts skip a beat when they see Kael? Till now, thements in the 3D Zone replicas Kael model are unanimous: Doesntpare to my Kael even one bit!" Lam Xiaoyu opened his mouth, realizing what he said made perfect sense. After all, who wouldnt drool over Kaels body and little tail? What he didnt know was that Nan Ke also felt a bit puzzled. At that instant of eye contact, it seemed Kael became a ck hole, drawing all attention to its center, to himself. That indescribable subtle feeling was almost like being truly enchanted. He began to doubt his own orientation again. It took recalling many graceful poses of his teachers in his mind before he felt his aesthetic senses return to normal. "Where did you encounter that woman?" Kael walked up to them, sitting down as he spoke. "It was near the Detrant Trading Company on Romance Street. She mentioned some things about you before... about Lord Anthony, Im sorry, its my fault for prying into your private matters." Lam Xiaoyu felt a pang of guilt, suddenly realizing that prying into secrets Kael hadnt shared with others might also hurt him personally. Kael shook his head without pursuing the issue, saying, "This matter isnt a secret in the Royal Capital anyway. Dont worry about it, lets go. Ill take you to Romance Street. I want to see what game the Queen of Romance Street is ying." ... It waste at night when the galloping hooves slowly halted at a corner of Joy Street. Compared to the silence of other residential areas, Joy Streets nights were the liveliest. In the pink lights, the air seemed filled with the scent of raging hormones. Aside from Kael, the group included Old White and two yers. "Is this the ce?" Kael looked at the two yers, who both nodded. "Yes, it was here that we saw her, and then she took control of our bodies with her enchantment." Lam Xiaoyu felt a bit indignant at the mention of it. She, a proper maiden, was enchanted by a woman. How could she ept that? If it were Kael who enchanted her, thatd be another story. After all, he was genuinely good-looking, striking right at the heart. But how could a mere woman dare?! Chapter 163 - 131: The Activation of the Seductive Demon Eye, the Puppet’s Guardianship_5 "Oh my, little sister, how can you say such things? I only teased you a little because I couldnt resist how adorable you are. Incubi are quite picky, you know!" A slightly amused voice came, apanied by the sound of high heels striking the stone te. A woman dressed in provocative attire, exuding endless charm, sauntered over. Perhaps because the outfit was too stimting, the already shy Nan Ke couldnt even lift his head to look at her. He felt it would be somewhat rude to do so. As for Kael, he nced at the subus with a nonchnt air, his eyes devoid of any expression. He had seen the world and was not seeing this subus for the first time in his life. He was not easily enchanted. He was no saint and not entirely uninterested in women. After all, he let the Snow Wolf Little Maid have a taste of some meat, not like a lustful ghost... Besides, he had seen her books. He was used to it and naturally fearless. "Stop. Donte any closer." Old White stepped in front of Kael, ring at her with a look that said he would chop her pretty head off if she moved another inch. "Sword Maniac? Ive heard you retired for years. So, youre working as a housekeeper now?" The subus clicked her tongue in surprise. She remembered the Sword Maniacs reputation from years past. Never would she have thought that after so many years, hed be willing to serve someone else. After all, being a housekeeper was hardly a morous profession. "You should be grateful that youre useful to the lord. Otherwise, given my old temper, youd be begging me to let you die right now." Old White disyed a cruel smile, his sharp eyes assessing her weak points. Over the years, he had worn down his temper, not his strength. This was Sacred Light Maind; there was no suppression from the worlds will. The subus instinctively took half a step back, realizing her reaction. A look of shame and anger crossed her face. But she was ultimately a subus, her expression changing almost faster than the styles of paintings. In the next second, she adopted a delicate, fragile demeanor, timidly saying: "Dont be so fierce. Although I may seem suspicious for using these two undead, I called you out to propose a mutually beneficial deal." Kael gave her a nce, without any interest. He merely said, "If you truly intend to make a decent deal, tone down your fake demeanor a bit." "Thats quite hurtful. I genuinely want to cooperate with you," the subus said coyly. Kael snorted and said, "Your actions only make me wonder if someone paid you handsomely toe find me. Im talking about the person who hired you from the brothel to mess with me." "Are you taking me for a prostitute?" The subus feigned an angry look. "I cant, in good conscience, pretend youre a nobledy," Kael shrugged, letting out a derisiveugh. "Im just a poor subus who has survived since Joy Street was built, with just a little bit of privilege." "So whats the difference between you and a prostitute?" Kael asked casually, delivering a sharp jab. He wasnt worried about offending the subus, knowing she might even take it as apliment. "Prostitutes entertain guests. I came here willingly..." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "So, by your logic, prostitutes are forced, but you are being self-degrading?" The subus giggled and said, "If Anthony heard you saying that, hed be sad." "From what I know of my father, hed never get involved with someone like you. Hed find you particrly unclean," Kael stated bluntly. His words left the subus feeling at a loss. But she didnt realize that as a subus, Kael could sense the purity of ones aura, whether he admitted it or not. The subus carried a strong murderous aura; even "a thousand yer" might not be urate to describe her. She could be considered an enemy of thousands. Instinctively repelled by such an aura, Kael had little interest in conversing further with her. If they were to discuss a deal, then theyd just stick to the deal. Their coboration would likely be a one-time affair, so there was no need to save face for her. Or rather, when she had yers look for Kael in control, she had alreadynded herself on his cklist. Especially since she now intended to take advantage of Kael. Everyone knew he had the Blood of Incubus. And yet, she wanted to im some connection to Anthony? Kael was certain she wasnt his mother. Given what he knew of Anthony, if he truly had a subus for a mother, she would likely be a major grievance, an "all chopped and eaten" type, not an ordinary subus. "We can be more honest with each other. Dont try to gain an advantage with your words; consider if you can bear the consequences of speaking carelessly. State your business with me. I can tell you my goal upfront. I know you have the Seductive Demon Eye. I need to use it, so lets talk terms." Kael, unaffected by her emotions, got straight to the point. His imprable attitude made the subus sigh and say: Chapter 164 - 131: The Activation of the Seductive Demon Eye, the Puppet’s Guardianship_6 "I admit, I directly manipted others to seek you out, which caused your displeasure. But, there is still some connection between us. Although I havent met Anthony, I barely know your mother, so..." "What does that have to do with me?" Kael raised his head. Under the moonlight, his clean and pure sea-blue eyes looked so beautiful and breathtaking. "I didnt lie to you about that. After all, just by looking at your eyes, I can confirm that you truly are her child." The Incubus sighed, showing a hint of mncholy. Kael was somewhat curious about her backstory, but he knew now wasnt the time to ask. "What does this have to do with why you seek me out this time?" "It doesnt. I was just trying to tell you that theres no need to reject me so strongly. About the Seductive Demon Eye... We can discuss this transaction. This time, the main reason I sought you out is to talk about the recent farces that have been going on in Joy Street. If possible, let the Undead restrain themselves a bit, and you should also tone it down. If its you, you should understand that Joy Street itself has an extremely important role. At least at this moment, the Royal Capital indeed needs a ce like this to amodate the dark side of the city." Kael spread his hands and smiled: "I understand what you mean. After all, when there are more people, conflicts and chaos are inevitable. Sometimes, it might really be necessary to have a ce to serve as a dump, where people can throw their trash. Although this clearly is a lower-level decision made by the ipetent who seek no change, just because its not well-done doesnt mean it cant be done well. Many things arent inherently right just because they exist." The Incubus, in a clipped voice, said: "Your words are too absolute. There is no absolute justice in this world, neither pure white nor sheer ck. There is more gray in between. From your appearance, you dont look like one of those Pdins from the neighboring Papal State of Brinia, who pursue absolute justice. Why put on such a front?" "I indeed dont pursue so-called absolute justice. Of course, if I did pursue it, there wouldnt be much you could do about it. I dont have the power to overturn Romance Street right now, so I can only say that currently, Ick the strength to clean up what I find unpleasant. But I wont always becking in power, so you should be mentally prepared." The meaning behind Kaels words was clear. He could leave things alone for now, but once he truly possessed the strength and the desire to act... they shouldnt me him for settling ountster. "Thats sufficient. Ill also arrange for some people to properly discipline those ve Traders. Over the past few years, I havent been in the Royal Capital, and some people have indeed overstepped." "Besides that? Did you control the Undead to find me just to discuss this?" The Subus licked her lips and said: "I can help you further promote those novels and storybooks. Any amount is possible, but I require a twenty percent share." Kael wasnt surprised. Seeking profits? That was normal. Those wealthy merchants and nobles wanted Lancastersnd for the same reason: to make money. However, he didnt expect that his newly established business, which hadnt even begun to develop, was already being targeted. "Twenty percent is too much. Currently, I have sufficient funds. I dont need your support. Expanding the market is something that can be done with money as well." "I will require all prostitutes to familiarize themselves with and promote your storybooks. If you dont mind Joy Street lowering the value of your storybooks, I can even act as a middleman and directly sell the books to those clients." N?v(el)B\\jnn "Not enough. The effort and reward arent proportional. The cost youre contributing doesnt justify us giving you twenty percent of the profits." "When I speak of Romance Street, Im not just limiting it to the Royal Capital but covering most rted industries throughout the Logan Duchy. You understand, we can really cover them all. The Incubus is a core resource. Though Elves seem more popr, the demand-for-supply Incubus is the true hotmodity." "Still not enough. Those novels and storybooks will eventually move out of this small niche market and reach more public ces. In those areas, you cant provide any assistance. Taoles, state the highest price youre willing to pay. What youve said so far is all trivial to me." Taoles was indeed the true name of the Queen of Romance Street, which yers in previous lifetimes had long known. Now, hearing Kael call out her name directly, Taoless expression shifted slightly, but she quickly regained herposure and said: "You know more than I imagined, and youre more greedy than I thought." "In business, I entered this industry with the goal of making a profit. By securing external funds, I ensure my territorys internal operations can continue running. I wont agree to anything that might hinder me from achieving that goal unless you can offer greater benefits. But can you?" "What a greedy youngster. Rather than saying you possess the Lion Heart bloodline, its more appropriate to say you have the appetite of those serpents from the west. Lets do it this way, Ill offer my bottom line..." "Go on." "First, within the Duchy, all the Joy Streets under my reach will be entirely promoted and publicized by me. Chapter 165 - 131: The Activation of the Seductive Demon Eye, the Puppet’s Guardianship_7 Second, we also have some of our own publishing enterprise, and in terms of supplementing books, we can provide some resources as well. Third, apart from the Duchy of Ennd Lance, we also have our own Chamber of Commerce channels. I can give you an inside scoop, the three Tulip families have close cooperation with us. So after satisfying the internal needs of the duchy, for external market expansion, I believe we can also lend a hand. Are you satisfied with these terms? You cooperate with the three Tulip families? This time, it was Kaels turn to show a surprised expression. It seemed a rare sight to see Kael with such an expression, and Taoles had a proud smile on her face. The three Tulip families referred to threemercial alliances formed by old nobles of the Federation royal court of Yibel. Theirmercial alliances covered the entire Federation, reaching even into alien territories. How could such a rtionship be linked to a mere Incubus? I swear by the Abyss Will, I didnt lie a bit about the Tulip families, Taoles added with a smile. Kaels expression became much more serious. For an incubus born of the Abyss, swearing by the Abyss Will is a very serious matter. Its not that they respect the Abyss so much, but the Abyss itself controls all demons true names. Viting an oath is desecrating the Abyss. If they vite their oath and face the bacsh of the Abyss, causing their soul to be ground into gems serving as Abyss currency, it would be quite normal. If what you say is true, I need to discuss with the Church of the God of Literature. Their stake in this industry is considerable and not something I can decide alone. Kaels meaning was clear. He agreed to the deal but needed tomunicate with the Church of the God of Literature. Hearing Kaels response, the incubus Taoles finally smiled and said, In that case, happy cooperation. She extended her hand towards Kael, who also reached out and lightly grasped her fingers before releasing them after a moment. He stared at the person silently. A lot of little gestures, even using his pinky to scratch her palm. Tsk... Since the cooperation is set, I can hand this over to you now. She looked like she had made a great profit, reached into her bosom, and fished out a lead-gray eyeball with a faint milky fragrance, saying: From now on, you are its master. She ced the golden eyeball into Kaels hand. Kael suppressed his emotions, kept his face neutral, and curved his lips into amercial smile, nodding. But in his heart, he thought: I have hit the jackpot! He began recalling what he had just said, and his good memory quickly brought back his words. I know the Seductive Demon Eye is in your possession, and I need to use that item, so lets negotiate a deal! Goodness... it seemed his statement had not explicitly told her he only wanted to use the Seductive Demon Eye once. To him, the effect of this unusually named artifact, matching the Incubus racial skill, was very useful. But now, it seemed she had misunderstood him to mean Kael needed outright ownership of the item. The intensive bargaining he just went through was for merely using the Seductive Demon Eye once, which wasnt worth her high price. Though the effect was indeed miraculous, had he been unable to get it, he might have considered additional conditions to secure the chance. N?v(el)B\\jnn Of course, he wouldnt generously concede a lot because gaining a foothold in the novel and literature industry was crucial to him. If Taoles had initially offered to sell the Seductive Demon Eye outright, Kael might have epted her original terms without further ado. The items high value, as a unique artifact, is best realized when wielded by yers. In his previous life, Taoles had used this item to somewhat bind numerous yers with Incubus bloodline. Now, this item was in his hands. As for giving away two percent shares, Kael didnt mind. He didnt seek absolute monopoly over an industry, but rather sufficient cash flow. He saw more clearly than anyone that true monopoly in this world equated to power Only with power could he ensure his future survival. He had no interest in clinging to a single industry, investing immense effort, time, and manpower for mere mary gain. He had more fields to develop and invest in, so it wasnt necessary. To him, time was the most valuable treasure. Chapter 166 - 132 Kael: Hassaka, why are you burying your head? (11,000, 45/65) "Deal made, I await your good news." Taoles smiled slightly. Kael nodded and said, "What I have promised, I will do my utmost toplete. The artifact, Seductive Demon Eye, I will temporarily hold for you. Once the Church of the God of Knowledge confirms the relevant matters, we can further decide its fate." "You kid, you really follow the rules, quite like your mother." Taoles chuckled lightly, her eyes flickering. Kael nced at her and said coldly, "Is there anything else to discuss? If not, I have other matters to attend to, so forgive me for not staying." "Arent you curious about your mother?" Taoles sighed and shook her head. "Theres nothing to be curious about. If you really wanted to talk, you would have done so already. If you dont want to talk, even if I force you, I may not get genuine information. Instead of saying so much, its better not to ask." He waved his sleeve, turned, and took two yers onto the carriage. As he was about to enter the carriage door, he looked back at her and said, "Ill wait for the day when you voluntarily tell me about it." With that, they drove away, leaving Taoles standing there in deep thought. In the end, she could only chuckle softly and say, "This little brat has quite a temper." Amidst the lights and revelry, the lights of Joy Street fell on Taoles face. Thedys hat on her head cast a faint shadow, making it difficult to see her expression. ... At the topmost level of the White Bone Tower, the wind howled fiercely in the sky. As winter quietly arrived, it became increasingly difficult to stand at such heights. Yet now, at the top of the tower, two scantily d figures stood. "How is it? The boys character isnt bad, right?" Luxius, d in his neat Mage Robe, smiled faintly, looking at the distant scenery. Standing beside him was a tall, burly middle-aged man who appeared to have far more body hair than usual. His golden long hair and beard were neatly groomed. His robust physique made Luxius seem like a small member of the Human Race inparison. The middle-aged man nced at Luxius with an emotionless expression and said, "In terms of audacity, you two are quite simr." Luxius sped his hands together, wearing a "please dont say that" expression, and said, "Look at what youre saying, as if my student and I are heinous criminals. Arent we all working for the Duchys benefit?" The middle-aged man snorted coldly and said, "The boy might be working for the Duchys benefit, but you certainly arent." Luxius twitched his mouth, pissed off. What kind of double standard was this? You cant treat him better just because he has Lion Heart Blood! But he couldnt say much, so he spread his hands and smiled, "Theres nothing I can do about it. After all, I am a Monarch of the Enchantment Department. You cant expect a top Mage, who requires vast wealth to ensure continued academic research, to care about nothing, right? Lets not change the topic. Just answer me, is my student exceptional or not?" Luxius nose almost tilted upward, making him appear somewhat arrogant. The middle-aged man grumbled, "In terms of ability, he is indeed top-notch potential. But his character... his character is too rigid, which could lead to trouble." Luxius clenched his fists, his fury turning into a smirk. "Lord Lion Heart, what youre saying is preposterous. You, with that same rigid nature, are criticizing my students firm character. Thatspletely unreasonable!" "Its because I know my temperament can lead to trouble that I hope my descendants learn to think calmly. As it stands, they havent learned the good traits but have inherited the bad ones fully." Hearing such an evaluation of his student from the Duchys true top figure, Luxius was visibly unhappy. He himself hadnt scolded Kael! Thinking of this, the more he pondered, the angrier he got. He spread his hands and shamelessly said, "If you dont appreciate him, I wont let my Kael endure this. Finding an opportunity to show him the world wouldnt be a bad choice." Lord Lion Heart squinted slightly, a sliver of killing intent emanating from his narrowed eyes. He said coolly, "I refuse. Why should the talents of our Ingranus Duchy benefit other duchies?" Luxius was infuriated, reluctant topliment but unwilling to let go. N?v(el)B\\jnn He tapped his staff on the ground and snorted, "Just answer me: do you agree or not?" "Agree to what?" Lord Lion Heart nced at Luxius and said slowly. "What else? This boy has great potential. He should naturally receive what is rightfully his. We must not let him feel disheartened." Luxius came straight to the point; he wanted to bestow a noble title upon Kael, solidifying his identity as Lord of the Lancaster Territory. Lord Lion Heart crossed his arms, widened his eyes, and snorted, "This boy imed I hired an Incubus to trouble him and called Joy Street a low-grade decision for the ipetent. If someone said such things to you, youd have already blown their head off before they finished speaking. So, what are you barking about?" Luxius raised an eyebrow, feeling no shame. In fact, he said, "What does that have to do with how you handle things? You are the ruler of Ingranus Duchy, unlike me, a wanderer." "You could settle down; you just dont want to." Chapter 167 - 132 Kael: Hassaka, what are you burying your head in? (11000, 45/65)_2 Lion Heart grunted in retort and continued, "Havent I helped him? As soon as I saw that novel industry, I knew it was bound to cause trouble in the future. If I hadnt stepped in to protect him afterward, not to mention getting in touch with those three obstinate old men from Tulip, it would have been quite an aplishment to not end up yed to death by the hostile Church." "Alright, fine, youve done a lot to help, and now after youve slotted Anthony in, you want to slot in a second one? Dont end up having to personally intervene to stop trouble, Lord Lion Heart. Interfering at will can disrupt the order, you should understand this better than I do!" "I have clearly told you that this child should be able to go further on the path of Spellcasters than I did; whether you want to grasp this opportunity is up to you, and as for the rest, its out of my hands." Luxius spread his hands in a manner that suggested he was leaving the matter up to Lion Heart. "I have no intention of rejecting the idea; I just think he is still young and could use a bit more experience. I am willing to delegate authority to the young. If a young person knows exactly what he wants to do from a young age and pursues it without regret, no problem, I will support him. But such a decision shouldnt be made during ones youth for most people. At that time, their worldview isnt fully formed, life is constantly changing, and their knowledge is limited. With the situation on the continent rapidly changing, its very possible that what he wants now is not what he will adapt to and enjoy in the future, and it may even be something that will cause him to be weeded out by the times." N?v(el)B\\jnn Lion Heart spoke these words in one breath without so much as a blush or sign of breathlessness while Luxius, with a slight upturn of the mouth, did not argue back. He only gazed at the twinkling lights of the Royal Capital below and said softly: "Perhaps the fundamental problem between us lies in our different understandings of this era. Today, Im not speaking for Kaels future happiness and development, but for a new generation of emerging strength. Lord Lion Heart, when young people are expanding the possibilities of their life boundaries, they are also expanding the potential dimensions for valuing human life. Since you consider yourself diverse and inclusive, and since you also believe that one should act with youthful audacity because there wont be another chanceter, then you shouldnt naturally think of recklessness as a pejorative term. They are all young people. What is the only precious thing at this stage in their lives? Isnt the only thing that cant be taken away time itself? You are unwilling to give this opportunity, unwilling to provide this possibility, so what are we discussing now? You are talking about the settled happiness you think he should have, a mundane happiness, which obviously is not the happiness my student desires." Luxius extended his hands, filling the sky with the hands of a multitude of Mages, and behind him ghostly figures emerged, making him appear like a towering colossus with a thousand hands. Lion Heart even paused at the immense sense of power. "See? This is the path that child has explored. When he chooses to take up the banner from the older generation, it means he doesnt need you to arrange his future. He has his own ideals and desires and the capacity to make his journey ever broader. Lord Lion Heart, our generation grew up listening to stories of you following Emperor Caesar, fighting battles in the east and west, and building the Bell Federation from the ruins. Dont you think this child is like you, like I was back then? Fearless of the powerful and daring to innovate! Just as you once believed in yourself, try believing in the young. Its only natural for the youth to have the courage to shout out loud, While Im young, I will defy odds!" Upon hearing Luxiuss utterly serious tone, Lion Heart fell silent for a long while, then burst into raucousughter: "Luxius, you always amuse me. Alright, since you are set on fully supporting thatd, I wont y the viin. I agree to your request. I have had the fortune today to witness the performance of Mages from this new school, and indeed, its a promising new option. The spellcasting materials required arent much, and from what Ive heard, the Magic Model is not as difficult as imagined. At least, its sufficient against the numerous first-tier creatures in the Dungeon, and Ive heard the kid has proposed many interesting Magic Models too? It seems what you just showed us is one part of those, right?" Luxius made a Mages gesture and spoke in a hushed tone, "Thats also why I hope youll let him be a true trailzer, worthy of the Duchys pride. In this period, hes proposed the specific direction for development and the desired results, and I have assisted inpleting the rted Magic Models, which have been progressively finished. I swear on my honor as Mage Luxius of the Sculpting School, this is indeed a decent developmental path, although its adaptability is somewhat weakerpared to traditional Mages. However, it paves the way for the growth of Mage Apprentices, allowing them to enhance their strength before solidifying their foundation, offering a good option for many Mages who may not be able to go much further on this path. To be frank, if I were to act despicably and im all the credit for these Magic Models... Do you believe that then, there would be a group of Mages who, because of this path, would hail me as a pioneer of the reform in the Sculpting Mage School?" Chapter 168 - 132 Kael: Hassaka, what are you burying your head in? (11000, 45/65)_3 ``` "By that time, I shall be the legend of this era." Although he had heard Luxius say this before, Lion Heart still felt a strong sense of absurdity. "Luxius, do you know what youre saying? Such a title is not something a child about to turn 17 can bear." Luxius smiled lightly, saying, "So Lion Heart, do you still not understand? This is the difference in understanding between us Mages and you! To us, age doesnt matter, status doesnt matter, and even to some extent, strength doesnt matter either, only knowledge does; and knowledge alone is the ultimate driving force that we Mages pursue! Although the proposal brought up by Kael will inevitably face a substantial amount of skepticism, as time goes by, it will assuredly attract more and more attention. Not everyone is blind, even if it takes a bit longer, but with this achievement, Lion Heart, lets make a bet!" Lion Heart looked at Luxius and said, "What do you want to bet on?" "On the future!" Luxius was more serious than ever, his hands sped tightly in front of him. "You have that much confidence in him?" "No, I never have absolute trust in anyone, but knowledge alone does not deceive. In the next 50 years, he will be the new crafting energy Monarch! I am utterly certain of this!" "Good, I like your resolve, kid. Since you are so determined, why should I hesitate in the slightest?" Lion Heart snorted coldly, walked to the edge of the White Bone Tower, and looked down at thends below, where, as if in a trance, he seemed to see those thrilling times, the murderous aura of iron horses and frozen rivers, which had never left thisnd. "Then well leave it for tomorrow," he said gruffly. Lion Heart felt he was increasingly unable to see the current situation clearly. Just as Luxius had said, perhaps it really was time to give the young people a chance? ... Late at night. The moonlight spilled into the room. All was silent. Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves broke the quiet of the night, and the bell at the gate of Kael Mansion rang. "Who is it? Who could it be at thiste hour?" A small head popped out from behind the door, Hassaka opened the door and looked outside. She paused for a moment, stepped forward, and greeted with a slight bow, "Lord Fox, long time no see!" The visitor in thete night was the Fox Knight of the Bronze Cross. "Oh? Its Kaels little maid!" said Fox, nodding at her, "I have something to discuss with Kael tonight, is he at home?" "Yes, Lord Fox, I will go let Young Master Kael know right away." Hassaka had seen the Fox Knight before and naturally knew that Kael and Fox had a closer rtionship. Shortly after Hassaka went inside, Kael also came out. "Long time no see, Uncle Fox." "Haha, youd are indeed making us proud!" Seeing the radiant expression on Kaels face, Fox looked a bit more pleased. "Uncle Fox, whats the matter? Whats brought you all this way to see me sote?" Upon mentioning the matter, Fox looked at Kael, with a hint ofplexity in his eyes, and said in a low voice, "Kael, today your mentor Luxius went to visit Lion Heart. When asked about the new Spell project, in the end, Luxius did not hide anything and heaped praise on the achievements you made in this project. Now, on the Lancaster side, an Undead has sessfully advanced to Initiate Level Four using the new Mage path. This news reached the Royal Capital, and I heard that Lion Heart spent the day and night poring over this new Mage Systems intelligence, especially the performances of those new Mages in the first phase of the Dungeon conquest youpleted earlier. I heard from friends who guard Lion Heart that today, while he was looking over the rted investigation reports from below, he was so excited that he didnt even have time to eat." Kael, maintaining aposed expression, paused for a moment then invited Fox into the house. He began to assess the impact this situation might have on him. Truth be told, his previous idea was to form a cooperative organizationprised of emerging Nobles, backed by this new training method and a series of Magic Models, to further his own development in the Duchy of Englisnd. He entertained a subtle spection and said in a soft voice, "So, your visit today means?" "Tomorrow, Lion Heart requests your presence. I will escort you to the castle where Lion Heart resides. You need to present yourself well in front of him, for the great man has a liking for young people." Indeed, the situation was as Kael had anticipated. However, despite his confidence in the professional path he had proposed, Kael did not take it for granted that he could rise so rapidly from this meeting. After all, when ites down to it, cing a person in a position of power within the Duchys system is not solely based on achievements and strength; itrgely also considers whether the person is suitable. Sometimes, its not just about being strong, but about being appropriate that is most suitable. As for whether he could gain Lion Hearts attentiveness, Kael could not be sure. N?v(el)B\\jnn Fox patted his shoulder and said, "Dont look so nervous, Lion Heart has never used youthful allegiance as a reason to punish anyone; I can assure you of that. ``` Chapter 169 - 132 Kael: Hassaka, what are you burying your head in? (11000, 45/65)_4 "So, when you go over tomorrow, you just need to disy your talent and advantages," Kael nodded, but he wondered in his heart, was he being too presumptuous in presenting his career path like this? After all, many things look entirely different from the perspective of the nativespared to that of yers, and he had not yet fully ustomed to viewing these issues from the natives perspective. But he didnt say much, just chatted andughed with Fox about recent events. ... Lets turn back time by a few hours. [Northwest of the Royal Capital - Lion Heart Castle - Central Hall] At this time, the sky was growing dark, and the Magic Lamps inside the castle had quietly lit up; a dozenposed and reliable maids and guards stood by quietly, waiting for the arrival of the Duke of Lion Heart. On the long dining table were ced various exquisite tes, with delicious dishes giving off a hint of steam. The Runes etched on the tes, charged by the Magic Stones, kept the delectable food at a suitable temperature. Next to the dining table, a distinguisheddy named ndre, dressed in a ck-and-gold gown etched with a clear depiction of mountains and valleys, sat by the Dukes side, apanying him during the meal. The Duke of Lion Hearts meals were known for beingrge and meaty, befitting a powerful Lancer who wielded an altered enchantment. He needed copious amounts of food daily to sustain his rigorous training regimen. The massive chunks of meat, asrge as an ostrich, would be cleanly consumed in just two or three bites before him. After continuously eating threerge portions of meat, the Duke of Lion Heart seemed toe back to his senses and, with a dissatisfied grunt, turned to the woman next to him and said: n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Lately, that fellow Luxius has be increasingly disobedient. Before, he tried to promote his students academic achievements through some tricks, even sneaking in two worthless projects to boost the value of his students work. Today, he came looking for me again, and I almost kicked him out. Ive already given him face by offering support, but instead of reflecting on how to properly use that financial aid, he wants to advance that project even further. That young man doesnt strike me as one who would file reports carelessly for the sake of funding; how did he change so much in just two years?" remarked the Duke of Lion Heart coldly. ndre, at the age of 33, had the ripe allure of maturity without the traces of aging on her. Her face was as pristine as cold jade, marked by fully matured charm. Below her delicate and fair neck, her appealing corbone was distinctly visible. She was the younger daughter of the Duke of Lion Heart, but without a doubt, in the Briania Duchy that carried Lion Heart Blood through five or six generations, she was considered one of the elders Of course, age doesnt directly rte to generation. Being the youngest born, although she was a bit older now, she was undeniably a beauty rewarded by tender years, whose graceful figure could captivate the fancy of many seasoned men. Unfortunately, she had no interest in men, and the Duke of Lion Heart, with his many children, did notck her contribution to the duty of procreation. Over time, as she aged, she lost the emotional investment of her younger years. The beautiful woman slightly furrowed her eyebrows, her red lips lightly lifted, and her clear, resonant voice filled the air: "Lord Luxius is a top-tier genius in the Mage World. Although he has some character ws, it seems out of character for someone who became a Mage Monarch at his age topletely disregard the rules of the Duchy. Father, a few years ago I visited Mr. Luxius, and I could tell that he is a conscientious and responsible mage. I think there might be some misunderstanding between you two." ndre said softly. Her words made the Duke of Lion Heart pause, and he stopped eating, looked up at her, and shook his head, saying: "I dont understand much about your mages matters. Ill have someone fetch that item from the study." After the Duke of Lion Heart finished speaking, the housekeeper beside him promptly bowed and went upstairs. Seeing her father stop eating, the daughter moved her chair a bit closer to him and said in a soft voice: "Father need not worry too much; there are plenty of talents within the Duchy. Someone will help resolve the concerns you have." The Duke of Lion Heart shook his head with a somewhat worried expression and said in a grave voice, "Its not as simple as that. In recent years, other voices have begun to surface within the federation. The Papal State of Brinia has always been regarded as the most likely leader for humanity, and even after all these years, it still holds a prestigious reputation within the Duchy. The Caesar Governor wishes to sweep away forces aligned with the Pope Country from the major duchies, but clearly, even some old friends have begun to disagree... I know Caesar too well; he doesnt tolerate situations that could pose a hidden danger to the federation. If things dont give him the chance to intervene, well and good, but once he makes a move, it will be a thunderous strike! At that point, regardless of the influence of powerful families or factions, he wont consider past rtionships." ndres eyes flickered; she waved her hand, and the maids and attendants stepped back, leaving the hall. She rested her chin on her hand and looked at her father, her face showing increasing concern, silently listening to this man who had fought for humanity for over two centuries talk about the various difficulties he had encountered in recent years. As the Duke of Lion Heart told his tale, her emotions surged; her eyes filled with admiration and conflict, flickering back and forth. Chapter 170 - 132 Kael: Hassaka, what are you burying your head in? (11000, 45/65)_5 She was the kind of woman whose personality was more like a mans: she didnt care for lovey-dovey stuff; instead, she was obsessed with the grandeur of the nations affairs and the glorious battles on icy rivers. The sincere look in her eyes made the Lion Heart speak even more eagerly, but he couldnt help but sigh and say, "Actually, you could have chosen not to give up the session to the title. Despite the fact that you still have a lot to learn in terms ofbat skills, when ites to vision, yours is far better than those fools. Instead of letting them overthink, it would be better to put you in this position. By the time that happens, with my help, there wouldnt be any fatal problems in dealing with the duchys affairs." ndre shook her head and said, "Father, since humans established the federation, there has never been a precedent for a woman to inherit a title of marquis or higher. I dont care much for power, and I dont want topete with my brother or the younger ones. So please dont press me on this matter anymore." Lion Heart had long-range strategies for managing the duchys important affairs, but when it came to choosing his heir, he was still quitecking... one could even say somewhat unqualified. He had not yet decided on a future sessor to the duchy, causing rtives both near and distant, who could im some rtion to Lion Heart and had a theoretical chance at seeding the duchy, to startpeting over the issue. For instance, her eldest brother and third brother, as well as the Charles family and the Campbell family from the branches, were the more obvious representatives. ndre guessed that several families probably hadints about her father because of this. There were some things she still needed to remind her father about, continuing like this wasnt a solution either. These rtives controlled the important forces of the Engns Duchy. If they really started fighting, the duchy would be the one to suffer the most damage, something she didnt want to see. At this moment, the housekeeper hurried in and ced some documents on the table. Lion Heart nodded, and the housekeeper then withdrew. "Take a look, ndre. This is the detailed information about Baron Helois and the rted projects hes leading." In the investigation from the duchys level, Kaels public situation was almost immediately brought to light. ndres beautiful eyes moved slightly as they hovered over Kaels magically inscribed face for two seconds, and she said with emotion, "He really is handsome. I wonder which noble daughter he will bring misfortune to in the future." Continuing to read, she saw the deration of the Fox Knight when he met Kael, the young mans words, "Father, did you fight bravely on the battlefield above?" She unconsciously showed an admiring smile. And she said, "This is the spirit that our Lion Heart bloodline should possess." She couldnt help but p her hands in approval; among these generations, there were also distant rtives who died protecting the duchy. Some distant rtives, after the death of their parents, wallowed in the pain,cking even the courage to be professionals, simply living on their parents inheritance. ndre did not dare to say that this was wrong, but without a doubt, she looked down on such people. She continued to flip through the pages. The sound of pages flipping briskly filled the air. Then, she saw Kaels cold and almost resolute speech at the academy, "Burn until nothing is left." She didnt think the boy was too cruel; on the contrary, she felt he was somewhat pitiful. Thinking of this, she lifted her head and said, "Father, Knight Anthony also exhausted hisst drop of blood for the duchy. How can we tolerate his descendants receiving such treatment?" Lion Heart shook his head, signaling her to keep reading. While ndre was speaking, she turned to the next page and discovered that Kael had only started his association with Luxius after these events. N?v(el)B\\jnn Wait, had the child only be Luxiuss student at this time? She flipped back, taking a closer look at the events before and after, and then realized that before bing Luxiuss disciple, Kael had already written down the pathway for a mages training and many theoretical details, sealed them in an envelope, and sent them to Luxius. The report obtained by Lion Heart even included the details of that letter. ndre pored over the section of the letter on the training system, and the more she read, the more surprised her expression became. Unlike Lion Heart, as a sessful Dragon Vein Mage, she had a much deeper understanding of spells than Lion Heart. After a few more nces, she realized the great benefits this advancement pathway offered to the current mages. As her excitement built up, she couldnt help but bow her head, her voice soft and lively as she read the information highlighted by the light of the Magic Lamp word for word. Eloquent and charming, if such words were uttered near Kael amid his struggle with magical contamination, it might have invited lingering thoughts and nightly yearnings. However, this was a father and daughter; naturally, there was no such atmosphere. Once ndre was about done reading, Lion Hearts voice rumbled like a distant thunder, "Well, ndre, do you think this training pathway is truly feasible?" "Father, I dont believe you cant see the obvious: this spell pathway represents a tremendous advantage to enhancing the overall strength of our human mages. Why would you" Lion Heart said indifferently, "If this was something Luxius had offered himself, I might not have any objections. Whether for the duchy or the federation, this path represents great fame and fortune" Chapter 171 - 132 Kael: Hassaka, what are you burying your head in? (11000, 45/65)_6 "Then why?" "But this spell path was written by a child who wont be 17 for another fifteen days, ndre. Do you really believe that a 17-year-old child could have written this?" The Duke of Lion Heart looked at the lovely woman with slightly parted red lips before him, ndre, and once again began to question the judgment of this generation of nobles in the Duchy. Why was it? Why couldnt there be someone who would run off with his daughter? Clearly, the Duke of Lion Hearts reputation as "one who can silence a childs night cries" wasnt deeply understood yet. The nobles of ndres generation werent uninterested; they were clearly more afraid of having their heads smashed by the Duke of Lion Heart after making a move. When it came to it, life was indeed more important than desire! n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om As he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard ndres stifledughter. The Duke of Lion Heart: ... With a light chuckle, ndre said, "Father, had you not shown me this thing, Im afraid the joke would have gone too far." "Hmm, whats the problem with that?" ndre, trembling withughter beneath her snow-white delicate features, covered by a ckce surging like waves, finally calmed down and said: "Father, although the data given in this report is very professional, many of the theoriese from basic Mage teachings. Of course, I cant me you for not realizing it, as even the foundational knowledge used to construct the foundation for Mages, if researched like Baron Helois did, is extremely rare. It can even be said that to have such knowledge at this age is to be a real genius. What a wonderful idea, to use this simple Mage knowledge to create a magnificent and directdder to the high floors. While thisdder still has many areas that need to be strengthened, without a doubt, this kind of Magic Model analysis is not an approach that a High-level Mage would use. Father, I suggest you pay more attention to this content, and also prioritize our connection with Baron Helois." ndre made it clear, perspectives differ with each era, and if that werent the case, works like "Farewell My Concubine" wouldnt be suspected by many of being shot by stand-ins or being products of credential polishing. Its truly the case that what you exhibit depends on the knowledge you have and the age you are in. The oues can often be fundamentally different at their roots. The Duke of Lion Heart nodded. If that was the case, hisst reservations vanished. He always dared to admit his own mistakes; previously he had just been making a show of it because he thought it impossible for the work to have been written by a youngster. Having seen much of human nature, he even suspected that this was a ploy by Luxius, or perhaps someone hiding even deeper, to put forth a pawn in their game. But the Duke of Lion Heart liked when others tried to scheme against him, only to find their so-called ns were nothing but castles in the air, utterly useless. Wasnt that kind of psychological defeat of enemies another aspect of his "Lion Heart" identity? He had originally nned to reveal the problems in the middle of this project with a thunderous approach, exert slight pressure on Luxius, then transfer the initiative of the project to the control of the Duchy. That way, under the supervision of the Duchy, no matter what undisclosed nsy behind, as long as the project stayed in his hands, there would not be any mistakes. He had enough confidence in himself. But now it seemed there was no conspiracy; instead, he had almost missed a true genius. Fortunately, these events had not yet begun. Even to lull Luxius intocency, he had even disyed a very keen interest in the project. Now it would be easy to go with the flow and implement the project, avoiding any awkwardness or conflict between them. No, I never really doubted Luxius or Kael, that good child. Havent you seen how Ive been fully supporting his Magic research project? The Duke of Lion Heart nkly erased his previous inner thoughts. If something hadnt happened, it meant there truly was no mistake. I am the Duke of Lion Heart, after all! How could I possibly be wrong? Seeing that her father had understood the situation and his stern face had softened, ndres mood also improved. But in the next moment, the Duke of Lion Heart spoke again: "My daughter, now that weve found such a genius, what do you think I should do with him?" He looked at his daughter with a contemtive gaze. ndre furrowed her brows slightly, pondered for a moment, her lips parting gently, and said: "..." ... Time returns to the present. Luxius was still busy in the office of the Mage Academy, looking over the numerous Magic research reports submitted recently by the teachers below. He couldnt help but think of the meeting with the Duke of Lion Heart that evening. The exchange with the Duke of Lion Heart had gone rather smoothly in the past few days, and now Kael had caught the eye of the bigwigs in the Duchy. He had great confidence in that kid, and when the Duke of Lion Heart met Kael tomorrow, with the boys wit, he would surely leave that golden-haired old man speechless and finally admit that Luxius had an eye for talent! But thinking about it now, something felt off about the conversation with that old fox, the Duke of Lion Heart, tonight. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 172 - 132 Kael: Hassaka, what are you burying your head in? (11000, 45/65)_7 Clearly, it was ndre who unintentionally asked about the progress of the spell project recently, and then he remembered that he hadnt gone to Lion Heart Duke first to show his achievements. Luxius was well-versed in the art of securing funds and knew that hard work meant nothing unless the investors saw immediate results. That was the only way to strengthen their resolve to invest more. Who would have thought that when he went to meet the Duke, he ran into the Duke nning to have someone meet with Kael regarding the increasingly chaotic situation on Romance Street. Thinking that since they had run into each other, he couldnt just watch his student get taken advantage of, so he followed along immediately, nning to provide onsite support for Kael. If Kael and the Incubus Taoles sent by the Duke had any unpleasantmunication, or if any embarrassing incident urred, like identally being charmed by the Incubus and ending up having an odd encounter at a sausage stand in a corner, he could divert the attention by saying things like "Hes just a kid," or "Putting the facts aside, isnt the female Incubus somewhat at fault too?" If worse came to worst, he could im that his beloved student was suffering from severe depression due to Anthonys death. Anyway, stacking buffs was the name of the game. The more buffs, the stronger the shield. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om But who knew his Kael would really make him proud! Kael didnt do anything drastic; he calmlypleted a major transaction with the Incubus, and without even realizing it, showed his resolve to fight against the Duchys corruption to the Duke. Luxius couldnt stop smiling. But now that he thought about it, why did it all seem a bit too coincidental? It shouldnt be. That old Duke had always valued Kaels research projects. Arranging for the Queen of Romance Street to meet Kael was likely to better support Kael, right? Forget it, why overthink it? As long as the goal was achieved, it was fine! Luxius stopped thinking further and continued to look down at the documents in his hands. "Damn it, why are there so many documentstely? Wheres the Academy Head, that old fart? Why did he leave me with so many tasks? I dont want to read reports until the second day!" Luxius let out a wailing sound,ining verbally, but eventually, he still opened the documents and started reading them seriously, one by one. You could question his twisted sense of humor, you could question his attitude towards love, but you could never question his devotion to knowledge. This was the very foundation that supported Luxius on his journey to bing the Monarch of the School of Evocation. Thus,te into the night, in a quiet academy, a solitarymp burned brightly for a long time. ... On the other side, Kael bid farewell to Fox Knight. Reflecting on what the Fox Knight had recounted, he returned to his room, fell silent for a moment, and thenughed quietly: "So it was you. If thats the case, then it exins why things felt off earlier." Hassaka was tidying up the table in the hall. Hearing Kaels words, he looked up curiously and asked: "What happened, Master Kael?" Kael shook his head and said: "Nothing, I just suddenly figured out something I hadnt understood before. Like, why would an incubus be coborating with the Tulip families...? Tsk, is this an early test?" Hassakas eyes flickered, though he remained silent, but his wolf tail began to wag furiously, his expression one of intense curiosity. Seeing Hassakas curious expression, Kael chuckled: "If you want to know,e over here. Dont make me spell it out for you." Upon hearing this, Hassaka instinctively responded, moving closer to Kael and lowering himself until his head was bowed down. Thwack A karate chopnded on him. The incubus tail behind Kael wavered uneasily. He grit his teeth and said: "Why are you lowering your head?" "What... what was I doing again?" Hassakas expression was confused. He didnt know why he had moved so oddly just now. It felt like this had happened to him before under simr circumstances. As for Kael, he leaned back, showing a helpless expression on his face. What could he do? It was a problem he had caused himself, so he couldnt me Hassaka. Next time... next time he definitely needed to be more careful. This dumb wolfs head was nearly ready to be molded in his image. Chapter 173 - 133: Hassaka Cleaning Up Traces and the Sweeping Craze Across the Duchy (12000, 48/65) The next day, early in the morning, Kael was woken up by the faint noiseing from his home. Hassaka slowly raised his head, gently cleaned the stains remaining on Kael, and then carefully helped him change into clean clothes. It was only after they had descended the stairs that he began to clean up the scene. As soon as Kael went downstairs, he saw his teacher Luxius, who was presently drinking tea in the hall with Old Whitespany. He was somewhat surprised and looked towards Luxius, saying, "Teacher, are you also going with me today?" Kael looked at his teacher with curiosity. He truly did not expect Luxius to n on apanying him today. "I heard you are meeting the Lion Heart today. I couldnt possibly let you go alone. It has been a while since Ive properly chatted with this big boss. Today well go as if to catch up on old times," Luxius said calmly after taking a sip of his tea. He didnt voice his concerns about Kael but silently offered his support. Luxius was undoubtedly a good teacher,pletely devoted and diligent with his students. Honestly, Kael was moved. But what he didnt know was that Luxius intended, after Kael had made the opening remarks, to personally take over and engage in debate with the Lion Heart. This method was familiar to him! During the Spell degree debates led by his students, it usually started with the students, followed by the old mages pointers here and there. Then Luxius would step in, guide the discourse, and persuade the contradictors until they could no longer voice their disagreement. Now, it was simply a change of setting from old mages to the Lion Heart, basically no difference... Well, he admitted there was still a difference. Thinking of the Lion Heart, Luxiuss expression became solemn. Do not be fooled; although he chatted happily with the Lion Heart on the rooftopst night, it was partly because their rtionship was not exactly that of subordinate and superior but more akin to that of an investor and investee. He only needed to be ountable for his results. At worst, if the results were poor, the investor would flee. There was no real control between the two. Furthermore, his strength was indeed formidable. In such circumstances, theirmunication was more equal and normal. But it was different for Kael. Strictly speaking, the Lion Heart was his monarch. Although he was articte when arguing with the Lion Heart, in reality, he was extremely worried about Kael. Kael dly epted Luxiuss kindness. For matters like these, which clearly needed the teachers assistance to achieve better results, he was not about to reject Luxiuss help due to undue pride. When he could reciprocate his teachers help in the future, he would make an effort to repay it. The teacher-student rtionship could be more straightforward and pure. "Lets go. Get ready. The real person to pick you up has arrived," Luxius said with a smile at the corner of his mouth, as he heard the carriage outside. He stealthily nced at Kael, silent, yet his mood began to thrill. My student, today there will indeed be a real spectacle. Lets see if you are worthy of breaking the deadlock! It wasnt that he wanted to be cryptic, but rather, he simply did not want his actions to jeopardize that fierce old lions ns. After all, in the Bell Federation, aside from that ruler seated on the Golden Throne for over 200 years, the Lion Heart was the very embodiment of the federations violent extremes. Even as a Magic Monarch, when he spoke with this middle-aged man who always smiled, he inevitably felt a stunning sense of oppression. He would help his student, yes, but he didnt want to personally experience what it was like when the furious old lion took action. If he identally sacrificed himself in the process, he could die from sorrow. What Kael did not know, after carefully reflecting on recent events, was that he could almost confirm he had entered the Lion Hearts radar. The incident at Romance Street still sent chills down his spine when he thought about it. He had guessed that a great noble was shielding this gray zone behind Romance Street, but indeed, he had not expected that the person who advocated for the establishment of Romance Street would be the true ruler behind the Duchy. "At least from the current situation, the Lion Heart does not have any significant objection to my actions. I initially thought that with the backing of my teacher and several figures from the Church, even if there were dissenters, they would be turned away immediately. Little did I expect that the first to be attracted were not a bunch of ineffectual dross but indeed the Iron King himself. Now it appears that just the promotion and publicity of the novel industry had probably caught the attention of this ruler of the Duchy early on. Damn, although I had overestimated the natives vignce, it now seems, the one who trulymitted the sin of pride was me!" n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om With this slightly uneasy mindset, he left the house and saw the Fox Knight at the door. After nodding to each other, Kael got into the carriage under Old Whites guidance. Throughout the journey, he remained silent, asionally listening to Luxius mention some things to be cautious about: "My boy, when you interact with the Lion Heart, remember, its better to misspeak than to attempt to lie. However, I must admit, you have a good housekeeper; many details have already been sorted out for you in advance."