The young woman, Elara, possessed delicate and elegant features, her entire being enveloped in an aura of cold, peerless beauty. A silver crescent moon pendant, crafted by human silversmiths, dangled from her earlobe, emitting a clear, crisp sound with every slight movement, adding a touch of noble delicacy. A pure-blooded human, she was also a core disciple personally trained by the Holy Sword Mountains. Although the energy fluctuations around her weren't outwardly released, they concealed the solid foundation of the Late Qi Refining Stage.
Alaric pretended to be simple and rustic, slightly lowering his head as if intimidated by Elara's presence. In reality, his eyes sparkled—he had clearly heard the words "break off the engagement." This was a classic plot device in Western fantasy that often spurred the rise of an overpowered protagonist!
The silver-robed youth beside Elara, Kael, had a heroic and upright stature. The energy波动 around him clearly indicated a tenth-layer Qi Refining cultivation. He glanced at Alaric's faded, coarse linen clothes, then turned his gaze towards the cliff face shattered by the "Northrend Meteor-Iron Thunderblade." Frowning, he said, "We hurried as fast as we could. In theory, the energy traces Soren left behind shouldn't have dissipated this quickly."
"Gone is gone," Elara replied indifferently. Kael immediately wrapped his voice in thunderous energy, transmitting it secretly: "Junior Sister Elara, legends say that Soren was once a lightning affinity genius. Later, for some unknown reason, he lost all his spiritual power and became a good-for-nothing. Are you really going to break off the engagement? People in Silvermoon City might laugh at us, at the Holy Sword Mountains."
Elara frowned. "There's an outsider present. Let's not discuss this." Kael chuckled lightly. "He's just a mountain peasant. There's no way he can hear my transmitted message—besides, being bound by a marriage contract to a good-for-nothing is an insult to you."
Alaric stood motionless, his fingertips subtly clutching the hem of his clothes, but inwardly he was overjoyed: "She's decisive! That's exactly how it should be. Don't be tied down by an old engagement!" He privately deduced that Soren's setup—"genius fallen to ruin, turned good-for-nothing"—most likely fit the "Supreme Faction Leader System's" high requirements for core disciples. After all, Thor was chosen by heaven; Soren might be of the same kind. If he could recruit him, the faction's initial core combat strength would be secured.
But then Alaric reconsidered. If Elara went to Silvermoon City now to break off the engagement, Soren might trigger a "setback-induced awakening" plot—either finding an ancient lightning codex or meeting another mage mentor, leaving no room for Alaric to intervene. "The engagement must be broken, but absolutely not now." He made up his mind, a perfectly measured, gentle smile appearing on his face, making him look like an honest man eager for help.
"Since we can't find the energy traces, let's head to Silvermoon City first. We shouldn't delay the matter of breaking off the engagement," Kael suggested. The silver-robed elder, Eldar (an elder of the Holy Sword Mountains, a Spirit-Forging Stage Mage), who had been silent until now, finally spoke: "Elara, you are a once-in-a-century talent of the Holy Sword Mountains. Don't waste time on a mortal marriage contract. However, breaking it off outright lacks propriety. Remember to offer Soren some compensation—perhaps a bottle of Basic Thunder Potion—to honor the past relationship between our families."
Elara and Kael responded in unison, "We heed Elder Eldar's guidance." Satisfied, Eldar nodded and raised his hand, preparing to cast a Lightbody Technique to take them on their way. Throughout, he didn't give Alaric a second glance—the system's hidden benefits were too overpowering; even a Spirit-Forging Stage expert like him couldn't detect the Late Qi Refining spiritual power within Alaric.
Alaric chose that moment to step forward, feigning fear and shrinking back slightly, but his voice was clear enough: "Honored masters, could you be the legendary mages who can control holy swords?" His tone held seventy percent admiration and thirty percent timidity, perfectly fitting the identity of a "mountain village peasant."
Elara frowned without speaking. Kael, however, revealed a look of arrogant pride, tilting his chin up. "You have a good eye. What do you want?"
Alaric immediately put on an expression of ecstatic joy, stepping forward twice but not daring to get too close. "This humble one's village, Oakwood Town, has been plagued by a monster! I beg the immortal masters to save us! That monster has killed many people. If we wait any longer, the entire town might be wiped out!" Kael let out a dismissive snort, assuming it was just a common rumor about "savage beasts causing trouble" in the wilderness.
Alaric's voice trembled with urgency. "This humble one saw it with his own eyes! The gloomy withered willow at the town's entrance, dead for ten years, suddenly sprouted new branches yesterday, even growing silver-green leaves..." Kael waved his hand to interrupt. "A dead tree coming back to life? What's so strange about that?"
"But the willow leaves kill people!" Alaric emphasized, gesturing with his hands. "Those leaves fly like daggers! They stick to people's foreheads and drain them into dried-up corpses in the blink of an eye, then fly back and reattach to the willow! People from the Blackrock Tribe, and several savage beasts—all killed by it!"
Elara and Kael exchanged a glance, finally shedding their dismissive attitude. Willows that could control leaves to kill and absorb flesh and blood were no ordinary savage beasts. "Describe the process in detail," Elara pressed. Alaric recounted the details of how the leaves shot out, absorbed their victims, and finally returned to the willow, omitting only the key information that "the willow could instantly kill Qi Refining Stage mages."
Kael's eyes sharpened. "From the description, this willow has gained sentience and even comprehended an innate magical ability. It has most likely formed a monster core. Killing it would yield considerable cultivation resources. It's worth a trip." Elara turned to Eldar. "Elder Eldar, let's go. We should prevent the tree demon from harming more people, and it would also uphold the Holy Sword Mountains' reputation of 'eradicating evil and defending the righteous path.'"
Eldar stroked his long beard, repeatedly confirming the details of the willow's killings with Alaric—from the color of the leaves to the speed of their flight, even asking if "the petals changed color after the victim was drained into a dried corpse." Seeing that Alaric's answers remained consistent (all truth, just hiding the key combat strength information), he finally nodded. "Eradicating evil and defending the righteous path is the sacred duty of the Holy Sword Mountains. Young man, lead the way."
Alaric's face lit up with uncontrollable joy, and he repeatedly bowed in thanks. In his heart, however, he sneered: "Your arrival is perfect—not only will you help me deal with the willow threat and protect Thor, but you'll also buy time for Soren. You are Soren's 'engagement-breaking antagonists.' If I don't use you, who should I use?"
He maintained his carefully constructed facade of rustic awe, bowing deeply as the three cultivators followed him toward the town entrance. His steps were hurried and anxious, perfectly playing the part of a terrified villager. Each detail he had provided was true—except for the crucial, hidden lethality of the willow. The image of the Black Raven Gang members being instantly drained into husks flashed in his mind, but he buried the thought deep. Let them discover that particular surprise for themselves.
As the gnarled, sinister form of the Gloomy Withered Willow came into view, its new silver-green leaves shimmering with an unnatural light, Alaric subtly slowed his pace, letting the cultivators move ahead.
Let's see how your 'sacred duty' holds up against a real threat, he murmured under his breath, his fingers briefly brushing the hilt of the Northrend Meteor-Iron Thunderblade concealed within his robes. The game was in motion.
✅ SYSTEM:
Faction Points: 250
New Objective: Utilize the confrontation to eliminate the threat [Gloomy Withered Willow] and secure the territory. Monitor the outcome for future strategic planning regarding potential disciple [Soren].
Note: External variables [Holy Sword Mountains Group] successfully engaged. Analysis suggests a 78% probability of the group neutralizing the primary threat. Maintain observation protocols.