Chapter 287: The Unavoidable

The cleric then cut off the noble's head with her own hands and repeatedly cut into the noble's body with that blade until his body was completely shattered. Only then did the white-robed cleric stop her frenzied behavior, crouching down and weeping softly.

The Seventh Tier Mage who had fought against Shaoke ultimately did not escape death. Under Shaoke's rapid spellcasting attacks, Shaoke and several other Sixth Tier Mages forcibly dispelled the mage's defensive spells, and he eventually turned to ash and vanished into the air. Most of the remaining archers and low-level practitioners fled, but some mages and warriors stayed, fighting Shaoke and his group madly until their lives ended.

Leaving three female spellcasters and other mages to comfort the white-robed cleric, Shaoke led the mages into the ruined estate. Drawing on their past battlefield experience, they skillfully found precious assets hidden by the estate's owner.

Large quantities of valuable magic materials, a chest of common gold coins, a small hill of high-grade crystals. Finally, Shaoke discovered a small vial of Snow Bee Queen blood and a bucket of elemental water, both precious magic materials. More importantly, they had taken control of this large estate and the territory the mercenary group had previously dominated. Here, they could collect goods from merchants as taxes, and other organizations had no right to gain anything from this area. However, in return, the mages had to provide some of their members to patrol at night to protect the local residents.

"Mage Xueye, a Seventh-order Practitioner, has escaped from here," said the white-robed cleric, who had recovered, accompanied by Mage Roman and Mage Yisier, as Shaoke was clearing items and searching for surviving servants. "He is a warrior. If he hides here, we will be in great danger," she added, looking at Shaoke nervously.

This news made Shaoke uneasy. He took out a transparent crystal ball to aid in detection, but after several attempts, he found no sign of other High-order Practitioners in the estate. He then comforted the cleric, telling her not to worry. However, Mage Roman, who was leading the child, gestured for Shaoke to come out with her for a private conversation. The child was left to the care of the white-robed cleric and Mage Yisier.

"A letter from the Orpheus Family," said Mage Roman, frowning slightly as she took a letter from her magic bag and handed it to Shaoke. "The noble who just died was a subordinate of the Orpheus Family." She gently rubbed her head, having deduced from the Blizzard Legion's information and Shaoke's account the potential relationship between the Orpheus Family and Shaoke.

"Killing one is the same as killing two. What difference does it make?" Shaoke glanced at the letter, then burned it with Arcane Fire. After all, the Orpheus Family's power was beyond what ordinary mages could withstand. According to records, within ten thousand years of the Blue Feather Empire's founding, the family had produced a warrior and two mages who advanced to the thirteenth tier, Legendary. Since then, every few tens of thousands of years, a thirteenth-tier mage had emerged. If other Sixth Tier Mages knew this, they might not be so happily collecting loot.

"I hope they won't find out," whispered Mage Roman, holding Shaoke tightly as if to give him safety. "Let's leave the Blue Feather Empire," she said softly. "I think the Blizzard Legion cannot withstand the Orpheus Family's retaliation." She glanced at the silent Shaoke.

"The Death Mage Corps," Shaoke suddenly raised his voice. "The Death Mage Corps' letter didn't tell me to hide." He reasoned that if the Death Mage Corps had advised him to leave the Blue Feather Empire or return to them, that would prove the Orpheus Family's strength was beyond the Corps' ability to resist.

"You're no longer truly part of the Death Mage Corps," argued Mage Roman worriedly. "You have no idea of the power of a family with Legendary Masters." She added, "For an ordinary mage family, raising an Eighth Tier Mage is extremely difficult. But for the Orpheus Family, it's no problem, as they possess high-level advancement methods to reach the eighth tier." At that point, she fell silent because Lan Wei'er had run out of the room.

"I'm still executing missions for the Death Mage Corps," Shaoke quickly comforted her, then waved to the excited Lan Wei'er, telling her to act like a proper young lady. After being reminded, Lan Wei'er bowed to Roman and Shaoke, then grabbed Shaoke's cloak edge, asking about the recent battle, especially the powerful spell he had cast at the end. The white-robed cleric and Mage Yisier had told her that spell had no magical fluctuations, which piqued her curiosity as it defied the magical knowledge she had learned.

After a brief explanation, Lan Wei'er shook her little white-haired head, not fully understanding. She only knew that the man she should call father used some spellcasting technique to achieve that spell release, making her even more eager to learn magic.

Gently comforting the child, Shaoke had Mage Roman take her inside to talk with the white-robed cleric and Yisier to alleviate her boredom. He continued searching the estate with other mages, planning his next moves. Given the news, he decided not to occupy this place, intending to lead the mages back to their purchased estate.

Shaoke's group killed the surviving servants but kept some young maids, as they still needed special services. The mages did not force the maids, paying gold to obtain any special services they wanted—an experience they had accumulated over long years.

By dawn, after clearing everything from the estate, they followed Shaoke's order and quickly returned to their residence. They would inventory the loot and distribute it. Shaoke had priority in selection, not only as the leader but also because he had contributed the most in the battle.

Once back at the estate, the young Lan Wei'er, tired, lay down and slept using a special sleeping method taught by Mage Roman, which helped quickly restore energy and strengthen the body.

Due to her age, Lan Wei'er couldn't maintain this practice for long, but Shaoke was pleased with her progress, as she did better than he had at her age. He didn't tell her this to avoid making her proud.

After the child fell asleep, the three female spellcasters gathered in Shaoke's room. The night's battle required much discussion. To avoid disturbing Lan Wei'er's sleep, they met here, though they also had other thoughts not yet voiced.

The three women quickly removed their boots, covered themselves with a blanket, and curled up on Shaoke's large bed. At their request, the four sat cross-legged on the bed.

"Mage Xueye, please tell us about the spell you cast at the end of the battle," said Mage Yisier somewhat resentfully. Last night's events had made her uncomfortable, feeling Shaoke had drifted away. "If I heard correctly, the incantation was chanted in Ancient Magic Language," she added, glancing at Mage Roman, regretting not joining him earlier.

"A spellcasting technique learned from the Death Mage Corps," Shaoke quickly replied. He did not tell the truth, however, as he had used not just a technique but also some unique knowledge of ancient spellcasters to release it. This also represented a path for a spellcaster's class advancement.

With this topic, conversation quickly expanded. After eating meals brought by the maids, they meditated and then slept on Shaoke's bed, a trick to keep skin from aging. Lan Wei'er was temporarily set aside. Shaoke took out a small writing desk and began documenting his spellcasting from the night, using Chinese characters to prevent others from deciphering or copying his spell record.