Deep within the ruined and decaying palace.
Various messy items were scattered everywhere. Some were precious alchemical materials imbued with mana, while others were the dismembered bodies of low-level undead, carelessly chopped up.
At first glance.
It was a terrifying place, exactly as one would imagine a place associated with the undead, filled with a sense of dread that would make a child cry.
Thump thump!
Roar!
The sound of iron cages rattling and guttural roars echoed in her ears!
Iville Ai stepped on the relatively smooth and clean stone slabs, standing before two large cages. Inside each cage was a stronger undead individual.
Looking at these two undead, Iville Ai felt a tearing pain within her heart, but more than that, an inexpressible sense of self-reproach.
"Crystal Short Sword!"
Iville Ai's voice was hoarse as she raised her arm and aimed forward.
Swish!
A semi-transparent crystal short sword materialized in mid-air and shot towards the iron cage in front of her. However, just as it was about to touch the cage.
The Crystal Short Sword suddenly stopped in mid-air!
Iville Ai's palm faced forward, trembling slightly, before she finally clenched her fist with a snap.
With a "crack!"
The Crystal Short Sword, which had stopped before the iron cage, shattered in mid-air, turning into fine powder and dissipating.
Iville Ai gazed deeply at the two undead within the cages, then abruptly turned and headed back towards the outside of the palace.
When she returned to ground level.
She looked at the numerous undead wandering aimlessly and slowly around her, and the empty sky.
"Dragon Lord," Iville Ai said loudly, her emotions somewhat agitated but still respectful.
Not far away.
On a sturdy outer wall amidst the remaining ruins.
Tang Zheng stood quietly, looking at her with interest. "Oh? What is it?"
Iville Ai pursed her lips and lowered her head. "Regarding the 'Sanctuary,' I actually know nothing."
After saying this.
Iville Ai waited in silence, anticipating the wrath of the crimson Dragon Lord. She had originally thought that with her strength, she could escape even if she couldn't defeat the crimson Dragon Lord.
The more she interacted with him!
The more Iville Ai could feel his power, as well as the mysterious [Abyss Body] that had appeared.
He had existed for over 400 years, and perhaps had information about the "Sanctuary" that the crimson Dragon Lord mentioned. Therefore, before Cassius Habakkuk returned, she had to take action.
At the same time.
Iville Ai also sensed that as an undead being, she might soon have to interact with the [Abyss Body] on behalf of the crimson Dragon Lord.
She still had value, and even if she angered the crimson Dragon Lord, he wouldn't immediately attack her.
"I know."
A faint voice came from mid-air.
Iville Ai was stunned. She raised her head in disbelief, looking in the direction of the voice, though she couldn't see anything.
"I can see the essence of things, Iville Ai."
Tang Zheng said calmly, "Just like your identity, you are not an ordinary noble of this fallen kingdom."
The air grew quiet.
"Deception is meaningless."
"Your identity and your false name are the same. From beginning to end, what I valued was your inherent worth."
Tang Zheng's imposing voice caused the air to vibrate and hum:
"As someone who has stepped into the realm of 'Demon Gods,' you have the qualification to speak with me as an equal. For your deception, filled with hope, aimed at saving your companion, I can grant forgiveness."
"This is my goodwill, Iville Ai!"
An entirely unexpected response.
Iville Ai had not expected to not only avoid the crimson Dragon Lord's wrath but to receive this answer instead.
Recalling her experiences during this time.
The crimson Dragon Lord had indeed shown no hostility towards her. On the contrary, she had been full of caution and ulterior motives from the very beginning.
A sense of shame welled up in Iville Ai's heart. For the proud dragon race, such deception was clearly beneath them.
"I praise you, your magnanimity that burns like flames."
Iville Ai bowed her head and curtsied to the empty air in front of her.
A smile appeared on Tang Zheng's face. His efforts hadn't been in vain. He knew Iville Ai was quite wary and cautious of him.
There was no helping it; after all, he was currently impersonating a Dragon Lord.
"My true name is Keno Faslis Imperia, the princess of this ruined 'Imperia Kingdom'..."
Iville Ai straightened up, her voice filled with sorrow and grief as she recounted everything that had happened. Towards the end, her voice grew agitated:
"Dragon Lord, is there really any hope for everyone?"
She had long since given up.
It wasn't until she met the Dragon Lord before her and returned to the homeland of this kingdom that the hope hidden in her heart began to take root and sprout anew.
But...
Iville Ai was no longer the weak person she once was. Having lived through what felt like an eternity to ordinary people and accumulated vast knowledge, she understood very clearly.
No matter how hard she worked or how much effort she put in, faced with a reality that offered no clues, her power was simply insufficient to save everyone.
And now... at least... at least she finally knew that the power that had transformed everyone into this state was something called *[Origin Magic]*.
Iville Ai looked forward, a certain resolve flickering within the red pupils behind her mask. It wasn't "hope," but a kind of "determination."
This question.
Tang Zheng had given the answer "I don't know" last time. Now that he had come to the 'Imperia Kingdom' and seen these undead with his own eyes, Iville Ai clearly wanted a more definitive answer from him.
"Keno... or should I call you Iville Ai? I'm more accustomed to that."
"In the Fifth Tier of faith-based magic, there is a spell called 'Raise Dead',"
Tang Zheng spoke softly and calmly. "In fact, at higher tiers, there exist equally powerful resurrection magic."
"'Resurrection' at the Seventh Tier, and 'True Resurrection' at the Ninth Tier."
Tang Zheng didn't mind sharing this knowledge, which people from this different world would never encounter. It also served to demonstrate his power.
It would give Iville Ai the impression that he possessed knowledge far beyond what ordinary people understood.
"There are... even higher-tier resurrection spells!"
Iville Ai's voice trembled. She found this level of information almost unbelievable, but then she quickly thought of something and exclaimed excitedly:
"Does this mean, Dragon Lord, that using higher-tier magic can revive everyone?"
Ninth Tier!
Just hearing those words made Iville Ai's head spin.
"No!"
Tang Zheng denied it with absolute certainty. "Based on what I know, even Ninth Tier resurrection magic cannot achieve it."
He didn't give Iville Ai a definitive answer, but it also implied that it was almost impossible.
Iville Ai lifted her head. There was no disappointment in her heart; perhaps she had already accepted such an outcome.
"Thank you, Dragon Lord."
Iville Ai's shoulders drooped, her crimson pupils flickering slightly.
Everything she had said and the emotions she had displayed were not entirely false, but they also concealed a purpose: to gauge the Dragon Lord's "goodwill" through his response.
The result completely put Iville Ai at ease.
The crimson Dragon Lord indeed harbored no ill will; he had even deliberately used the prospect of reviving everyone as leverage to gauge her intentions.
Iville Ai wondered if her own thoughts were too "dirty," but such probing was necessary. She had seen too much deceit and manipulation.
"Now that I have this answer,"
Tang Zheng quietly observed Iville Ai. "What do you, the last royal of the 'Imperia Kingdom,' intend to do?"
Iville Ai gave a wry smile but quickly composed herself.
"I once only wanted to save everyone."
"And now, if everyone can truly never return to being human..."
Iville Ai's voice grew resolute. "As the last remaining royal of this country, the only thing I can—and must—do."
"Is to find the True Dragon Lord who turned everyone into undead. For that, I am willing to be driven by you in any way, Dragon Lord."
"This is the only—the only repayment I can offer!"
She didn't mention seeking revenge on the Kutushana Dragon Lord.
Instead, she only spoke of finding the Kutushana Dragon Lord who had destroyed the country and turned its people into undead.
Tang Zheng heard the unspoken intention in Iville Ai's words, that she wanted to face it alone. He opened his mouth and let out a light chuckle from between his teeth:
"—Driven?"
"You've used the wrong word. Only weak ants need to be 'driven,' and weak ants are meaningless to me."
"However, as someone who has reached the Demon God's Domain and has the qualification to speak directly with me, if you were a friend, I wouldn't mind assisting."
"Speaking of which, I'm not on very good terms with those True Dragon Lords either."
Iville Ai's shoulders stiffened, and she looked at the empty space ahead with stunned confusion. "Friend?"
The dense dark clouds in the sky grew grayer as the sun set in the west.
Evening.
Only a sliver of crimson, obscured by thick fog, remained in the west.
Cassius Habakkuk, who had been gone for a long time, returned to the ruined Royal City through ripples that appeared in the air.
Upon seeing him, Iville Ai flickered and appeared before him, asking, "How did it go?"
"It took me quite some effort to contact an inner circle member through several outer circle members of the organization."
Cassius Habakkuk raised his bony hand and patted the gray robe he was wearing, looking relieved.
Fortunately, he hadn't encountered any accidents during the process. He didn't want to become a subordinate of that terrifying Dragon Lord who controlled the organization.
"The result?"
Seeing his rambling, Iville Ai's tone grew sharper, and she tossed his Magic Belt over.
Snap!
Cassius Habakkuk quickly reached out and caught it, then rapidly checked the Magic Belt. He found that these two mysterious Undead had indeed kept their promise and hadn't opened it.
"An inner circle member is willing to meet with you after hearing that there's a strong individual among you who has mastered Eighth Tier magic."
"However, it will be in three days. It seems they are currently tied up with some trivial matters."
Cassius Habakkuk carefully put away the Magic Leather Bag and then spoke, his gaze sweeping around, still finding nothing.
"Three days later, then."
"Thank you for your help," Tang Zheng's steady voice suddenly echoed in the air.
"It's a fair trade."
Cassius Habakkuk quickly looked in the direction of the voice and said, "Then... then, the Sixth Tier Magic Knowledge?"
"As an exchange, I will naturally give it to you."
"But not now. We need to confirm if we can truly meet the inner circle members of the Abyss Body in three days."
Tang Zheng replied.
Cassius Habakkuk's scarlet pupils flickered, as if his surging flames had suddenly weakened, and he looked quite disappointed. "Alright."
Although he couldn't obtain the Sixth Tier Magic Knowledge immediately, he only had to wait three days.
For an Undead, time had no meaning.
Cassius Habakkuk touched his decaying cheek, thinking with anticipation.
——Lower Wind Moon.
June 5th.
[Experience Bar: 30.38M / 1.88M]
Watching the spot where Iville Ai and Cassius Habakkuk had disappeared using Teleport magic.
A hint of solemnity and depth flashed in Tang Zheng's eyes. If the plan went smoothly, acquiring the next job would be much easier.
The Abyss Body itself didn't need to be worried about; the key was the True Dragon Lord hidden behind it.
If he remembered correctly.
The Abyss Body had already begun preparing to resist that True Dragon Lord's rule. He only needed to give it a push to achieve what he desired.
However, before that, the Abyss Body also held considerable value.
"I hope Iville Ai's side goes smoothly," Tang Zheng muttered to himself.
During his previous exchange with Iville Ai, he had gained her trust, and they shared the same objective.
Time passed little by little.
As noon approached.
Tang Zheng was the first to sense a Mana Fluctuation nearby. He looked over, and Cassius Habakkuk's figure appeared.
Seeing that he had returned alone.
Tang Zheng felt a sense of certainty.
This meant that Iville Ai had already made contact with the inner circle members of the Abyss Body.
"Your Excellency, Your Excellency."
"Can we exchange the Sixth Tier Magic Knowledge now?"
As soon as Cassius Habakkuk teleported back, holding a Magic Staff in one hand, he turned his head and looked around, eagerly asking.
"Of course."
A faint voice sounded from behind Cassius Habakkuk.
Before Cassius Habakkuk could happily turn around, a formless power suddenly descended.
"Ninjutsu: Immobile Binding Technique!"
Cassius Habakkuk's body instantly stiffened, standing motionless in place, unable to move at all.
"Wh-what is this… You—"
Cassius Habakkuk was first bewildered, then his crimson pupils flickered like flames as he looked at the ground in disbelief:
"You, you're a dragon!"
As if on cue!
The shadow of a colossal dragon had completely enveloped him.
If a target under the effect of invisibility suffers an attack from an opponent or initiates an attack, the invisibility effect will automatically be dispelled.
"Your Excellency Cassius Habakkuk, I'll need your cooperation for a few experiments next."
Tang Zheng grabbed Cassius Habakkuk from the ground, his faint voice reaching the latter's ears.
The next moment.
Tang Zheng, holding him, soared into the air and disappeared.
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