Chapter 336 1 Sword

People finally grew cautious. If it was just a Ghost Initial, they could still fight with the combined strength of a group of super geniuses, but a mid-tier ghost... especially such a dexterous one, this clearly exceeded the scope of what they could handle by surpassing levels.

Swish, swish, swish... An increasing number of people didn’t even need to think, they directly turned and fled back into the collapsing cave passage behind them. Retreating into the cave meant they would vanish with the collapsing cave, returning to Dragon City, which was equivalent to giving up, but it was still better than meaninglessly throwing their lives away.

"Ah Xi, Winnie, Kela, Zhiyu!" Old Wang barked. The people from Rose and Ice Spirit were all here, and behind him was the cave passage: "Let's follow them!"

Making wise decisions is a captain's duty.

"Hurry up and go, hurry up and go, I'm not leaving!" Mo Tong yelled, his eyes shining. Facing such an intriguing challenge, how could he bear to leave! Actually, he also couldn't bear to let others leave. If everyone left, who would watch him, the hero, fight the monster? But... forget it, forget it, next time. This foe seems too formidable to handle, better not let Old Wang and the others die.

"Zhiyu, let's go!"

Aota acted without hesitation and pushed Xue Zhiyu to jump in first. The princess could come on an adventure, but she absolutely couldn't come to die. Not just here, everyone else also made their decisions. Nine Gods and League of Blades were the same, all elites with basic judgment. There was no reason to die for nothing.

An increasing number of people retreated. Although Naga Luo was still in a stalemate with Long Feixue and the others without taking action, just the power and pressure emanating from her were already more than these expendable troops could bear.

The team, which had nearly a hundred people just moments ago, now only had about a dozen or twenty left. From Rose, the first to leave was Fan Te Xi. Ah Xi was nearly scared out of his wits, all thoughts of honor abandoned. It was better to go back. He didn't want to stay in this dark cave for even a minute. Unexpectedly, Feng also saw reason. From the cave came Ah Xi's trailing voice: "Feng, hurry, hurry!"

"Captain!"

"Ladies first!" Old Wang let Kela go first. Winnie, who had just half her body back in the cave, glared, seeming to realize something. But the next second, Old Wang pushed her from behind: "Bye!"

The cave passage had actually already collapsed. It seemed like just an entrance, but once inside, it directly entered a returning vortex, impossible to come back from.

"Damn it!" Winnie's body fell straight down, only then did she suddenly react, cursing in anger: "Wang Feng, you bastard! Are you crazy? You'll die!"

Old Wang simply waved her off from the entrance.

Turning back now, only a handful of people remained on the altar's open ground.

Behind Old Wang stood the silent Mapeier. Wherever Wang Feng went, she followed, without question.

Beside them were Hei Wukai, Mo Tong, and Xiao Bang.

To the right stood the Holy Sanctuary's quintet: Ye Dun, Jiaoxi, Maxwell, Gule, and Zhao Ziyue. To the right was the Dark Demon Island's duo.

Opposite were the people from the War Academy. Caesar Mo had left; his severed arm needed immediate treatment, and there was still a chance to reattach it. Old Wang saw that guy was the first from the War Academy side to jump back, leaving without hesitation. This decisiveness made quite an impression on Old Wang.

Still standing there was Long Feixue, clad in snow-white garments, Shadowblade Fazang who had just fought with Hei Wukai, Blood Demon Manku, Blade Dancer Aitaliya, Spiritualist Fu Yu, Princess Snow Cang, and Ghost Witch Elena. These seven were the renowned figures. Behind them stood a few faces Old Wang wasn't very familiar with, but judging by their calm demeanor and hands behind their backs, facing Naga Luo's pressure without any change, they were probably also top-tier experts within the top twenty, clearly unwilling to give up just like that.

A dozen against a dozen, after entering the illusion, this was the first time the Holy Sanctuary and War Academy had equal numbers.

Wait...

Thud! A rugged, large hand reached up from the collapsed cave entrance,

Followed by a figure leaping up, holding a large blade, landing beside Old Wang. "Hehe!" Aota grinned at Old Wang. Bros understand bros. Just now, seeing Wang Feng's expression, he felt that he wasn't really planning to leave. Otherwise, with his big brother's wisdom, wouldn't he have been the first to jump down?

Aota slung the large blade over his shoulder, proudly saying: "Big brother isn't leaving, so I'm not leaving either, I'll accompany you! Am I a good enough friend? This brotherhood means something, right?"

At this time in Aurora City, Karida's departure suddenly highlighted the Eight Tribes remaining at Rose Holy Sanctuary.

As is widely known, the reason the Eight Tribes left Mandala to come to Aurora City was due to Karida's invitation. Now that Karida is no longer the principal of Rose Holy Sanctuary, will the Eight Tribes continue to stay?

The entire Aurora City is watching the future direction of the Eight Tribes. For Aurora City, the arrival of the Eight Tribes is complex. Overall, it filled the people of Aurora City with pride. Look, the geniuses of the Eight Tribes from the Mandala Empire are also coming here to study! Our Aurora City is just different.

However, while the people of Aurora City feel proud, they can't help but secretly wonder, was it really the Rose Holy Sanctuary of Aurora City that attracted them? It's said that Indra has feelings for Karida, so the likelihood of him sending his sister to woo her on his behalf seems increasingly plausible.

Now that Karida has been taken away, does Lucky Heaven still need to stay?

Aurora City aims to stabilize the Eight Tribes, not just for appearances, but also because they have brought significant benefits to the city in various ways. Due to Lucky Heaven's special status, the League of Blades has had to provide a large amount of manpower and resources over the past few months to ensure Aurora City's safety, not to mention the various collaborations from the Mandala Empire...

At this moment, inside the Rose Holy Sanctuary.

Lucky Heaven is reviewing the battle reports from Long City. Hei Wukai isn't a concern, though perhaps we should worry about his temper; making too many enemies isn't wise... Mo Tong needs some training.

For the Eight Tribes, life and death are part of the cycle, and they do not fear challenges. Wang Feng... after all, there is a half-acquaintance, Lucky Heaven cannot ignore him, but to say she cares is a bit too much. Even if Wang Feng saw her full face, it would only be a mistake; nothing would come of it. The marriage of a Mandala princess is a significant matter for the empire, and by Lucky Heaven's standards, Wang Feng falls far short. However, it's undeniable that he is a unique individual with genuine talent in runes, but that's all.

To others, Karida's resignation seems sudden, but Lucky Heaven knows the deeper context. The council's decision wasn't sudden but a compromise after various forces clashed. Karida was also prepared.

However, the opposing forces were extremely determined this time, even agreeing to several reform proposals long sought by the reformists but previously suppressed, as a compromise. Moreover, the increasing pressure from the Nine Gods Empire would dissipate with Wang Feng's death, a move that kills multiple birds with one stone.

Furthermore, Wang Feng's identity remains under suspicion. The Blade Council has uncovered some information, greatly implicating Karida, which is one of the main reasons for her resignation. Additionally, the Nine Gods Empire provided a dandelion loyalty letter bearing Wang Feng's fingerprint as evidence...

As for evidence, regardless of its authenticity, the reformists could ignore it, but in this deadlock, it still tipped the scales.

However, with Thunder Dragon's behind-the-scenes protection and Wang Feng's case not being ironclad, the main reason for Karida's swift resignation was her taking the initiative to shoulder the responsibility—in short, she wanted to protect Wang Feng.

But in Lucky Heaven's view, Karida had no need to do so, and even had the impulse to drag the reformists to Wang Feng's side, which made it difficult for Thunder Dragon, her greatest support, to intervene effectively—a move that was unwise.

From a ruthless political perspective, sacrificing Wang Feng is indeed the choice that maximizes benefits for the reformists. As long as Karida stayed at the Rose Holy Sanctuary to stabilize the situation, she would remain untouchable. When the dust settled, whether Wang Feng was alive or dead, with a little effort from Thunder Dragon, Karida would not only remain unscathed but could also gain more power. On the battlefield, a general charging out may seem brave, but it's actually a major taboo in military strategy.

At this level, many things aren't about right or wrong, but about advantages and disadvantages.

Karida obviously knows this, but she still acted impulsively. Is Wang Feng... that important? Lucky Heaven couldn't help but recall his face, not handsome, a bit roguish, and his strength is insignificant. His biggest highlight is his talent and inspiration in runes...

Lucky Heaven smiled slightly, her fair wrist turning lightly, and in an instant, it seemed as if stars were attached to her fingertips. The intelligence on the table burst into white flames in the faint light, quickly destroyed without a trace of smoke or ash.

Lucky Heaven is not unwilling to help, but this is an internal affair of the Blade. As a princess of the Mandala Empire, she can express her opinions but can hardly intervene directly. Of course, nothing is absolute... after all, Hei Wukai and Mo Tong are also in Long City...

"Your Highness, the king's messenger requests an audience."

Longmoer's voice came from outside the door.

Lucky Heaven's eyes brightened slightly, "Enter."

The door opened, and the king's messenger in a red cloak followed Longmoer with a slight bow, stopping ten steps away from Lucky Heaven. From start to finish, the messenger dared not look at Lucky Heaven, not just because of Mandala's etiquette, but also because of Lucky Heaven's celestial charm, which is not just external beauty but a bloom from the soul. Even with a mask, it is enough to make people lose their souls, especially for the Eight Tribes with insufficient soul strength, regardless of gender, the attraction is almost fatal. For humans who are not sensitive to souls, it is not as severe.

"Greetings, Your Highness!" The messenger knelt immediately, holding out a letter sealed with runic wax above his head, "The king's messenger, Golden Wings, delivers a letter of water and fire by royal command, please review it, Your Highness!"

Longmoer took the letter and examined it carefully, "It is indeed the king's water and fire seal."

"Present it."

Longmoer broke the water and fire seal, confirmed its safety once more, and then presented the letter.

Lucky Heaven glanced at it, her brother's letter was as concise and powerful as ever, with just two words—"Return quickly."

"Your Highness, the king's intention is that since Karida is no longer at the Rose Holy Sanctuary, please return to Mandala for the annual ritual, which cannot lack Your Highness's blessings."

After delivering the letter, the messenger knelt even lower, his face almost touching the ground. Even without direct eye contact, just being ten steps away, he could still feel the gravitational pull of Lucky Heaven's soul, which made him feel as if bathed in spring breeze, yet also filled with fear. He has only one master, Emperor Indra, but if Lucky Heaven were willing, just one gentle glance from her would... no, he must not think, must not think, Emperor Indra is his only master! The messenger took a deep breath, his nose touching the carpet, a faint fragrance suddenly wafting into his nostrils, and he suddenly thought that this carpet might have been stepped on by Lucky Heaven's bare feet...

Longmoer's eyes narrowed slightly, staring straight at the messenger. Since Lucky Heaven came to the Rose Holy Sanctuary, her soul, which had been suppressed in Mandala, has grown much stronger. It seems that a ten-step distance is no longer sufficient; in the future, Eight Tribes members must maintain at least fifteen steps when attending to Her Highness. Of course, having Her Highness suppress herself as she did in Mandala would have the same effect... Longmoer sneered inwardly, how could a slave who cannot even cultivate his soul to perfection be worthy?

Longmoer turned his gaze to Lucky Heaven, the halo of her soul's charm in his eyes, Lucky Heaven was more radiant than all colors, a beauty only those with a perfect soul among the Eight Tribes could see. Even with a mask, Lucky Heaven remains the most beautiful person in the world! It was only after meeting Lucky Heaven that Longmoer truly understood what it means to be bathed in divine radiance!

"What about the others?" Lucky Heaven asked.

"Of course, it's to ensure Your Highness's safe journey," the messenger said, holding his breath.

"Then we shall wait for Hei Wukai and Mo Tong to return, and go back together."

"His Majesty also said..."

"What did he say?"

"Under no circumstances should we interfere in human affairs."

Lucky Heaven blinked, catching the underlying message. The letter urged her to return quickly, which was a matter of public duty. Not interfering in human affairs was the foundational policy of the Mandala Empire. Having the king's messenger deliver this message was a hint that her brother, Emperor Indra, would not completely stand by and watch Karida fall into trouble.

Her brother always kept public and private matters separate...

Lucky Heaven felt slightly relieved. Regardless of her brother's feelings for Karida, she had a close personal relationship with Karida and did not wish to see her truly fall.

Longmoer shot a glance at the messenger and said coolly, "Alright, you are dismissed. You may leave."

"Yes, may Your Highness be well."

The messenger felt as if a great weight had been lifted. He stood up, bowed, and quickly retreated from the room with small, hurried steps. From start to finish, his eyelids were half-closed, not daring to look at Lucky Heaven.

After dismissing the messenger, Longmoer hesitated, his words caught in his throat.

"Longmoer, it's not like you to hold back your thoughts."

Longmoer spoke gravely, "Your Highness, pardon my excessive concern, but Aurora City is currently fraught with danger. The Holy Sanctuary teeters on the edge of ruin, and the Nine Gods are reconstructing their spy network. Many of these threats target you directly. With Karida no longer at the Holy Sanctuary, I suggest recalling Hei Wukai immediately to escort you back to Mandala, leaving Mo Tong in Dragon City."

Lucky Heaven offered a faint smile. She was well aware of the dangers. The Nine Gods Empire had been plotting an "accident" to disfigure or severely injure her in Aurora City, aiming to damage the relationship between the League of Blades and the Mandala Empire. Over the past decade, the Nine Gods Empire had cultivated many hidden opposition forces within Mandala. The Eight Tribes were far from the united front they appeared to be; even if they were, there were likely some rusted spots that needed cleaning...

Therefore, she lived reclusively, only venturing out when necessary.

"Your Highness, allow me to say a few more words. Over the past few months, we have shown sufficient goodwill to the League of Blades. The diplomatic objectives have been achieved, and there is no need for closer relations. Overdoing it is just as bad as not doing enough. Maintaining this current relationship is most beneficial for the Eight Tribes, allowing us to adjust our strategy according to the situation."

Longmoer's voice was heavy with concern. He and his family were actually opposed to Lucky Heaven coming to Aurora City and were against having too close contact with humans, but the king's commands were not to be disobeyed.

In fact, most of the Eight Tribes in Mandala shared Longmoer's view, believing that it was best to maintain a friendly but distant relationship with humans.

Lucky Heaven's smile was faint, her silence speaking volumes. If it were truly that simple, she would not have needed to accept the invitation to come to Aurora City.

Three years ago...

Her teacher, Yu Shetian, Mandala's Supreme High Priestess, finally realized her impending death. On the day of her death, her teacher used the cost of her life to make a final prophecy about the future fate of the Eight Tribes at the Fate Altar.

This was the fateful gift bestowed only upon the greatest prophets—seeing more and clearer prophecies than ever before at the moment of death.

"Within seven years, the apocalypse will descend. Terror and blood will reign over the skies, land, and seas. The first place will be Aurora City. Aronso will collapse, and then Mandala will also fall into the apocalypse. The mighty union of the Eight Tribes will crumble into the dust of history..."

Yu Shetian's prophecy had just begun when she suddenly stopped, blood gushing from her mouth and nose, her blood-red eyes almost shedding tears of blood.

Lucky Heaven's heart raced with shock and anxiety, watching her teacher, whose chest was soaked in blood. Her teacher stood at the Fate Altar's center, illuminated by the final prophecy's fateful light. Her once radiant skin was now covered in the gloom of death. She moved to support her teacher, but a swift motion of the staff barred her way!

"Stay back! I am already among the dead. It is the gift of fate that allows me the chance to say what needs to be said!" Inside the altar, Yu Shetian waved her staff while speaking in a chaotic manner about everything she had seen: "Lucky Heaven, my treasure, the future of the Eight Tribes, listen to me. Time is running out. We must act quickly. If the Eight Tribes continue to cling to the idea of self-preservation, everyone will surely die. I have seen this apocalypse. The sky pours down meteors like a deluge, the five seas are burning, the deep-sea cities of the sea people are boiling away into nothingness. The wind blows the clouds deep into the continent, floods swallow villages, and in the light and flames, all the souls of the dead are devoured by a giant mouth... endless... The final flicker of hope in the apocalypse rests with humanity. Only by joining hands with humans can we survive. Remember, the most important and crucial thing is..."

But at that moment, a night eagle suddenly swooped down from the sky and landed on the altar. Her teacher instinctively turned to look at the night eagle. Just an unconscious glance, but her mouth, about to utter the "crucial" words, suddenly froze, as if her time had been fixed at that moment. Her once fiery gaze now softened, like a child lulled to peace...

"Caw!"

The night eagle flew away, and her teacher fell backward...

"Teacher!"

Lucky Heaven rushed into the Fate-Viewing Altar without hesitation, her eyes brimming with grief and anger as she watched the night-hawk flying further and further away. Was this fate? Even the final prophecy of the greatest prophet, shielded by the light of the Gift of Fate, could not allow the teacher to reveal the key to the future.

The light of the Gift of Fate on the teacher's body was slowly dissipating. At that moment, the teacher suddenly opened her eyes again, and the dissipating light of the Gift of Fate vanished rapidly. This was the effect of the teacher's final secret art, giving her the chance to say one last sentence. She tightly grasped Lucky Heaven's wrist: "My child, no, do not tell the prophecy... to anyone... Only you can find the key, to secure a thread of hope for our people..."

Before she could finish, the light of the Gift of Fate had completely dissipated, and the teacher reluctantly released her grip on Lucky Heaven's hand.

In the end, she failed to reveal the key.

Lucky Heaven knew it was not that the teacher didn't want to say it, but that she couldn't. The night-hawk, the abnormal speed of the Gift of Fate's dissipation, were all warnings from fate. To go against fate might bring disaster faster and more fiercely, and the first target might well be the entire Eight Tribes...

Since the teacher couldn't say it, Lucky Heaven had to rely on herself to discover the key from the fragments of what the teacher had already said.

The only certainty was that within seven years, a cataclysm that would destroy everything would descend... Whether it was the Eight Tribes and humans living on the continent, or the Sea People secluded in the deep sea, all would be swept into it.

And the first place it would begin would be Aurora City...

Therefore, when Lucky Heaven received Karida's invitation, she made her way to the Rose Holy Sanctuary without a second thought. Since humans were the thread of hope, the key the teacher spoke of was most likely in the hands of humans.

But after being at the Rose Holy Sanctuary for over half a year, Lucky Heaven had collected countless pieces of intelligence, no matter how trivial, and even personally visited Krobos, the League of Blades' greatest prophet. Her discussion with Krobos had been enlightening for Lucky Heaven, but it also left her more confused. Krobos was undoubtedly a great prophet with immense power, yet even he had no premonition of the disaster that would come in a few years. Krobos believed that the world would remain stable for the next decade.

Not only had she failed to find the "key" the teacher mentioned, but there was also no trace of the apocalypse the teacher had prophesied.

Now, she had been in Aurora City for months, interacting with humans, yet she had achieved nothing.

What should she do? Could it be that the teacher's prophecy was wrong?

The onlookers quickly cleared the area, and the surroundings became much quieter. Mo Tong stared wide-eyed at Wang Feng, almost doubting if he had gone mad.

Wang Feng, who was always the most afraid of death, wasn't running? Could this spider-woman monster have some connection to him?

Mo Tong looked at Wang Feng and then at the spider-woman, suddenly realizing something and nodding repeatedly.

Look at that spider monster, even if it's a monster, it shouldn't be walking around naked! It's so embarrassing that I can't even look at it properly. It's just as shameless as Wang Feng! If these two aren't related, no one would believe it!

In the center of the arena, Nagaroth was in no hurry. Her body continued to undergo subtle changes, her upper body becoming fuller, her spider legs growing thicker and stronger. What was even more peculiar was the top of her head, where countless thin, spider-like appendages were densely growing, cascading down to the back of her head, with black arcs of electricity constantly flashing through them, like her hair!

That was no ordinary hair; it was a vessel for dark energy, one of the sources of her power. The hearts she had consumed earlier were gradually releasing their power, allowing her to continuously restore herself to a more perfect state.