Free Web NovelChapter 288: Chapter 169: Persuading a Holy Crown to Surrender
「Two days later.」
Within a certain canyon.
A Level 14 Divine Mage, his face filled with fervent devotion, was reporting to Zorn.
"The Guslai Legendary Demon City on the West Coast has been attacked several times in recent months."
"Those intruders from the Exotic Realm are astonishingly powerful. Many of the Demon City Lords have chosen to focus on defense."
"Our Southern Domain is in the hinterlands, so we have not yet been disturbed by the forces from the Exotic Realm."
"But the entire region of the Guslai Legendary Demon City has already been thrown into turmoil."
...
"What’s the situation with the Dark Gate near Black Teeth Demon City to the south?"
Zorn asked after a moment of thought.
"After Black Teeth Demon City was destroyed, it’s said that several powerful figures joined forces to guard the Dark Gate. For now, it’s difficult for the enemy to break through."
After making several more detailed inquiries,
Zorn had pieced together a clear picture of the current situation.
’A portion of the Secret Wilderness’s forces entered the Dark Cosmic Realm from the Sea of Dead Stars and Demons to the west.’
’The strength of their incursion is likely at the Legendary Level. It poses a significant threat to Guslai City, which has a Middle Rank God, but it’s not enough to truly annihilate it.’
’After all, there’s still a considerable gap between a Legendary and someone who has reached Divinity Ascension within the Legendary Realm.’
’What’s more, Guslai is also a Legendary Demon City, and it has quite a few formidable Legendary Powerhouses of its own.’
’Since my area isn’t a key defensive point for Guslai, then... this plan has a high chance of success.’
This time, Zorn’s main plan was to help the Calamity Court Divine Kingdom seize the Dark Gate.
But within this plan, Zorn could also seek out more resources and benefits for himself.
Whether it was using the [Evil Spirit Calamity] to "graffiti" inside those Demon Cities and obtain the Immortal Calamity Sacred Mark,
or burning down one or two Dark Demon Trees,
these were all lucrative rewards for Zorn.
As these thoughts passed through his mind, Zorn looked at the [Divine Mage] he had enslaved.
"You should be quite familiar with the nearby Holy Crown Demon Cities, right?"
"Replying to Master, I often led merchant caravans through these Demon Cities. I wouldn’t say I know them like the back of my hand, but I am very familiar with their various ins and outs."
"If Master wishes to infiltrate one, I naturally have a way to help you get inside."
Hearing this, Zorn chuckled lightly.
"Excellent, excellent. That’s exactly what I have in mind!"
After some discussion, Zorn disguised himself and followed behind the Level 14 [Divine Mage] merchant named Kalu. One after the other, they headed toward the nearest Demon City.
...
Several days later, during a time of quiet rest in the Extremely Dark Demon City,
the [Evil Spirit Calamity] abruptly erupted.
At the same time, the Dark Demon Tree of Extremely Dark Demon City was once again ignited by the Ritual Fire.
And the creator of all this was, naturally, Zorn.
After a brief battle,
Zorn didn’t flee after doing all this.
Instead, he concealed his aura.
He made his way to a tall inn located in Extremely Dark Demon City.
He watched from afar, in secret.
’In any case, I’m disguised and entered [Extremely Dark Demon City] through legitimate means.’
’As long as I don’t reveal my identity or aura, the Holy Crown powerhouses won’t be able to find me.’
Over the past two-plus years,
his [Divine Kingdom] had absorbed more and more of the source from the [Cosmic Demon Pool].
The concealment characteristic from his Divine Kingdom Skills had also grown stronger and stronger.
In less than half an hour,
as the fire began to spread,
led by a Holy Crown of the [Wanderer Sequence], two Holy Crown powerhouses arrived at high speed.
One of them was the Holy Crown powerhouse from Extremely Dark Demon City itself.
After the three arrived, they searched for the "Arsonist" to no avail and immediately began to extinguish the fire.
Watching the three of them join forces to fight the fire outside,
Zorn fell into thought.
’First, the personnel in this Demon City have significantly increased their guarding and observation of the Dark Demon Tree.’
’I was nearly detected the moment I started the fire.’
’Although those Upper Rank Level masters are no match for me, they are numerous and have a clear division of labor.’
’Some came to drive me away, some went to put out the fire, and others used a ritual to activate the Dark Demon Tree’s power to attack me.’
’Their entire system for protecting the Dark Demon Tree is very complete.’
’It’s obviously impossible for me to burn down a Dark Demon Tree on my own.’
’Also...’
Zorn rubbed the bridge of his nose.
’These Holy Crown powerhouses arrived remarkably quickly.’
’I had only just retreated, and the fire had barely spread when they arrived. They clearly have a contingency plan for this.’
’And they have someone from the [Wanderer Sequence] helping them travel. They’ve obviously realized that if I start a fire here and they can’t arrive in time, the blaze might actually spread out of control.’
’Of course, even without the Wanderer Sequence, they have ways of returning quickly through this city’s tree.’
’It’s just more convenient with the Wanderer Sequence.’
Zorn rubbed the bridge of his nose.
’Their methods for extinguishing the fire also seem to have been prepared in advance.’
’They must have tested methods to extinguish that flame back when the Dark Demon Tree of Black Teeth Demon City was burned.’ freёwebnovel.com
’That’s why they were able to use a more effective method to put it out.’
After a moment of careful thought,
Zorn shook his head, giving up on the idea of igniting the Dark Demon Tree of a Holy Crown Demon City by himself.
If he were also a Holy Crown, it would naturally be no problem.
But he had only just advanced to Level 15 and was still a long way from the Holy Crown rank.
This was naturally difficult.
’Igniting this Dark Demon Tree was just a test. The real purpose... was to send a signal to Bai Esi!’
According to the intelligence he had gathered,
the Shadow Assassin Bai Esi was stationed near the Dark Gate.
Zorn couldn’t just go and find her directly.
But if Zorn set off a few more Evil Spirit Calamities and set fire to more Dark Demon Trees,
then Bai Esi would naturally return to her own White Calamity City and try to make contact with him.
Two or three days later,
Zorn and the merchant Kalu left Extremely Dark Demon City.
Over the next few days, Zorn put his plan into action.
Several days later, Zorn headed north and ignited the Dark Demon Tree of Ancient Gray Rock Demon City.
This time, the Wanderer Sequence expert and the masters from Ancient Gray Rock Demon City reacted even faster.
Zorn had just concealed his aura when three Holy Crown experts arrived at Ancient Gray Rock Demon City.
If Zorn had been any slower, he would have been hunted down by the three Holy Crown powerhouses.
Igniting two Dark Demon Trees in a row was like going straight for their lifeline.
Those Holy Crown powerhouses naturally hated Zorn to the bone.
If they ever found a trace of him, it would undoubtedly be a fight to the death.
Fortunately, Zorn didn’t let them find any trace of him.
After two attempts, Zorn followed the merchant Kalu and leisurely arrived at White Calamity Demon City.
As soon as he arrived in White Calamity Demon City,
Zorn sensed the Holy Crown Shadow Assassin, Lady Bai Esi, who was personally standing guard on the Dark Demon Tree.
Seeing that she was already prepared, Zorn settled into White Calamity Demon City, then conducted a careful investigation. After confirming there were likely no ambushes in the city, he silently approached the Dark Demon Tree.
Deep within the leafy branches of the Dark Demon Tree,
when Zorn revealed a slight trace of Evil Spirit power,
the Holy Crown Shadow Assassin Bai Esi, her figure shrouded in shadow, abruptly opened her eyes and looked toward the spot where the faint Evil Energy had blossomed.
’It’s the aura of an Evil Spirit, no doubt, but it’s much stronger than before.’
’Has his strength increased so much in just two years?’
She frowned slightly.
She had, after all, made almost no progress in those two years.
But that guy, who was only Level 14... no... who was now Level 15, seemed to have undergone a qualitative transformation!
’For more than two years, we’ve tried everything, but we still haven’t been able to track this guy down.’
’If he really manages to advance to Holy Crown, all the Demon Cities in the surrounding area... will probably be destroyed!’
As she thought, she gently stroked the Dark Demon Tree beneath her.
This Dark Demon Tree was the place her father had spent his entire life protecting with his own, and it was also his final resting place.
Her mother’s body was also buried beneath the tree.
Besides her parents, a cenotaph for her younger brother and her older brother—who had died covering her escape, leaving not even a body behind—was also built among the roots of the Dark Demon Tree.
When she carefully felt the Dark Demon Tree and immersed herself in it, she could occasionally see the faint, blurry silhouettes of her mother and father.
She could even see her younger brother playing beside them.
No matter the cost, she had to protect the Dark Demon Tree.
It was her family’s only resting place.
She slipped alone into the depths of the darkness.
Arriving at the location where the faint Evil Energy had blossomed, Bai Esi saw the silhouette of a figure.
"If I were to submit to you, can you guarantee my Dark Demon Tree won’t be cut down and dismembered?"
Regarding the story of the City Lord "Bai Esi" who guarded the Dark Demon Tree,
Zorn was naturally crystal clear on it.
"You want to guard your family here forever?"
Zorn asked slowly.
Hearing this, Bai Esi’s body trembled slightly.
She didn’t know how this person from an Exotic Realm had learned such a secret.
But this was her bottom line, one that no one could cross.
"Yes! I want to guard my family forever. If you cannot guarantee the protection of the Dark Demon Tree, then I would rather die fighting!"
She took a deep breath, clenched her jaw, her tone more resolute than ever before.
"No problem, I can guarantee it!"
Zorn thought for a moment and nodded slightly. This was something he could accomplish.
"Are you sure?"
Bai Esi’s jet-black eyes narrowed slightly.
Zorn replied calmly.
"Those guys from the Secret Wilderness to the west, they won’t negotiate with you when they come to kill."
"And... more and more of their experts are coming in."
"How long can Guslai hold out?"
"You can choose not to join us."
"But I can guarantee that if you surrender to those guys from the Secret Wilderness, you will be of no value to them!"
"Right now, if you help our Calamity Court Divine Kingdom open the Dark Gate, you will earn great merit. This is also your only chance to protect this Dark Demon Tree."
The Shadow Assassin Bai Esi’s expression flickered.
What Zorn said was indeed the truth.
The [Calamity Court Divine Kingdom] would absorb and occupy certain areas for long-term development.
But those top-tier major factions were coming solely to plunder resources.
From the looks of it, Zorn had already guessed.
They must have discovered the special secret of materials like the [Dark Demon Tree] in this Dark Cosmic Realm.
And!
Zorn could already feel that people were beginning to make sacrifices through the projections he had established long ago.
Siding with the Calamity Court was the only way for these native kingdoms of the Dark Cosmos to survive.
After all, the Dark Cosmic Kingdom was itself a battlefield and a killing ground for many powerful Star Realm Divine Kingdoms to compete over. They were destined for destruction from birth.
