A cold voice echoed in the room.
Remedios's fair face tightened, seemingly annoyed.
As the captain of the Paladin Order and one of the highest-ranking individuals in the entire Holy Kingdom, she had never encountered someone like Tang Zheng who dared to disregard her so openly, even speaking to her with such coldness.
Quartet was very calm, a faint smile always lingering on her seemingly friendly face.
Neither of them was wearing their combat attire at the moment.
Quartet wore a white gown, cinched tightly with a light blue sash, adorned with pearls and fine diamonds, making her waist appear visually only palm-sized and making her upper body seem astonishingly ample!
Remedios's attire, compared to normal noble gowns, was distinctly unconventional or neutral. Her upper body was standard, with a white shawl.
Below, she wore black hunting trousers, and on her feet were brown beast-hide boots. Perhaps due to her sitting posture, her long legs, visible through the taut trousers, appeared somewhat rounded and powerful.
The same brown hair and almost identical faces!
Having the two of them sit together created a unique and striking impression.
"My purpose in coming to the Holy Kingdom was to obtain demi-human blood."
Tang Zheng stood up, looking at Quartet and the other person sitting opposite him:
"Now that the matter is concluded and the Abelion Hills are much safer, with a better way to obtain it, it's about time I left."
"If progress is made with the Integration Potion, it won't be too late to send someone to the Hills to contact me."
"Leave?"
Quartet spoke in surprise. She had indeed guessed that Free Will intended to leave the Holy Kingdom, and this meeting was actually meant to persuade them to stay.
However, she hadn't expected the other party to go to the Abelion Hills. Even though the demi-humans had suffered heavy losses, it was still a dangerous area.
Was it the confidence brought by the Martial King, Go Gin, and the demi-human members who could stay in the Hills with the other party?
No.
Considering the other party's own strength alone, among the current demi-human powerhouses, there wasn't even one hand's worth who could threaten him.
Obtaining demi-human blood might not be a lie, or perhaps there is something in the Abelion Hills that attracts the other party. Quartet's eyes flashed.
"Team Leader Tang, would you reconsider? We..."
Quartet also stood up and began to speak.
"I have no intention of joining your Holy Kingdom," Tang Zheng waved his hand casually and walked towards the door.
As he turned, his gaze swept towards the wall on the north side of the room.
Heh?
Listening in?
It shouldn't be people from the Holy Kingdom. The Slane Theocracy?
Such quick action, or were there already spies left in the Holy Kingdom?
Tang Zheng briefly pondered, his white priest robe swaying slightly. He paid no mind to Quartet's attempts to keep him there and left the room.
Tang Zheng was indeed very interested in the "Holy Maiden Sword."
Leaving aside other things.
Quartet and Remedios were already stunning in appearance, but they were still a notch below Princess Renner and Lakyus.
The Holy Queen should be on the same level as Princess Renner in terms of appearance.
However, interest was just interest.
Mere appearance could at most make Tang Zheng curious, but it wasn't enough for him to waste time on things that were meaningless to him.
At this moment.
On the other side of the northern wall.
A young man dressed as a servant, with ears pressed tightly against the wall that resembled large elephant ears, was using the Second Tier magic, "Elephant Ear."
This magic could greatly enhance hearing, allowing one to hear even the slightest movements.
Hearing Tang Zheng's footsteps gradually fade away, the servant youth also dispelled the magic and quietly left.
"Quartet, was this your goal?" Remedios pointed at the potion on the table.
"No."
"But this result is indeed good." Quartet smiled as she looked at Remedios:
"You're not usually this focused on targeting one person, sister."
"You, what did you say!" Remedios's tone became agitated.
"Speaking of which, sister, you're getting a bit old. You really should find someone to marry. There aren't any suitable excellent young men in the country."
Quartet pretended to talk to herself, muttering softly, "It's like the story of a noble lady and a commoner."
"He's not a commoner!"
"Indeed not, but a genius in both alchemy and magic," Quartet said with a smile.
Remedios finally reacted, her face flushing red: "You're planning to use me as a bargaining chip!"
"Why not? 'Free Will' is very valuable."
"Bastard!!"
Upper Moon.
April 7th, early morning.
The Evil Spirit Dog pulled the carriage away from "Calinsha" and headed out of the Holy Kingdom, towards the Abelion Hills.
In the carriage.
Anri was a little happy, she could see Miss Cui Ye.
Meanwhile, Tang Zheng closed his eyes to rest, feeling a bit surprised. He had thought that after leaving the guesthouse, the people from the Slane Theocracy would come looking for him, but there had been no action.
"So, the eavesdroppers yesterday were likely just ordinary spies who couldn't make decisions."
"And the people from the Slane Theocracy probably haven't arrived yet."
Tang Zheng subtly shook his head.
The value of the Integration Potion to the Holy Kingdom was actually limited, but it held truly significant meaning for the Slane Theocracy.
However.
Since the people from the Slane Theocracy hadn't arrived, Tang Zheng wouldn't waste time waiting for them.
The words he spoke to Quartet last night weren't just for the Holy Kingdom, but also for the people of the Slane Theocracy.
"If the Slane Theocracy doesn't get the potion, they might come looking again, but it's more likely they'll just take what's already available."
Tang Zheng's lips curved slightly, letting out a soft chuckle.
The rest of the journey was much simpler!
Tang Zheng needed Free Will to fade out for a while, and the Integration Potion and materials he provided, whether to the Holy Kingdom or the Slane Theocracy, would require a certain amount of time to research.
This period was enough for him to carry out some covert actions.
After entering the Abelion Hills.
The Emerald Witch, who had been waiting for a long time, came and took Anri away.
Tang Zheng was not in a hurry to raise Anri's level. He needed Anri to first learn how to lead troops from the Beast General, Hector Weiss, and try to acquire professions within the "Commander" system.
Next.
Tang Zheng bid farewell to Anri and the Emerald Witch under the pretext of searching for alchemical materials and headed to the manor where the dwarven artisans had been placed before.
He transported all the dwarven artisans to the hills to make contact with the dark dwarves.
This series of planned arrangements took him two days.
During this time.
A major event also occurred in the Holy Kingdom. Quartet, who had led the Paladin Order and the Shrine Priest Order back to the capital, Hebans, encountered a mysterious attack while camping in the wilderness. According to rumors, there were no casualties, but it seemed a certain important item was lost.
Holy Queen Calca even ordered a thorough investigation, arresting many spies.
At the same time—
The events that occurred in the hills also spread completely over time, causing shock in various countries. The first to take action was the Bahharuth Empire, which revoked the bounty on Free Will.
Re-Estize Kingdom.
Royal Capital.
Deep within the Princess's palace in Francia.
Princess Renner held a cup of black tea steaming slightly in her hands, her eyebrows curved, her face full of gentle smiles, watching quietly ahead.
Though Climb remained composed, his voice was still somewhat agitated as he recounted the rumors he had heard from the Adventurer's Guild and elsewhere.
"Your Excellency Tang is too amazing!"
"To think he could work with the elites of the Holy Kingdom and the Slane Theocracy to resolve the issue of tens of thousands of undead."
"The Alliance Leader of Zuranon is as evil as the rumors say. If those undead were allowed to..."
Climb's emotions were running high, as if he himself had been in that dangerous situation, facing that endless horde of undead.
After finishing the news he had heard, Climb saw Princess Renner, who had been listening to him with a constant smile, and immediately realized his actions just now had been somewhat impolite.
"I overstepped."
Climb quickly bowed his head, bending his body ninety degrees.
"Ah?"
Princess Renner put down the teacup in her hand and said softly and gently, "There's no need to be so reserved. I also enjoy hearing about these things."
"I didn't expect Team Leader Tang's 'Free Will' to become an Adamantite Rank adventurer so quickly, even faster than Lakyus's 'Blue Rose'."
Climb still kept his head down, his thick eyebrows furrowed. He knew this was not the right time to speak.
Miss Lakyus was a friend of the Princess, and as a subordinate like him, he naturally had no right to comment.
"Climb," Princess Renner said.
"Yes!"
Climb immediately stood straight, his face showing a will as strong as steel, as if no matter what command Princess Renner gave, he would immediately execute it.
"Only you among my attendants can go out."
"Could you help me inquire about more detailed information regarding 'Free Will'?"
Princess Renner's face was full of innocence as she spoke softly, "Oh, and also ask Renners to come see me."
Climb quickly nodded in response and respectfully withdrew from the great hall.
"Not the Holy Kingdom?"
"It's the Abelion Hills... Demi-humans... Zuranon..."
Princess Renner's innocent smile became even brighter, her deep blue pupils flickering with something unusual. She raised her fair hand to her lips and gently bit her fingernail.
...
Lava Zone.
Tang Zheng's eyes held a weary look as he gazed at the "Spiral of Death" ritual array set up on the ground. He had been here for five days, constantly testing his hypothesis.
"Negative energy" is a power for the undead!
Then, theoretically, "holy energy" is naturally also a power for the living.
The "Spiral of Death Ritual" can guide negative energy into the body, so it should also be able to guide other energies.
However!
While this sounds simple, executing it is another matter.
"No."
"There's still a problem with the ritual."
Tang Zheng frowned, constantly examining the ritual he had set up, making adjustments from time to time.
"Angel Summoning"!
A Fourth Tier Surveillance Authority Angel was summoned.
Tang Zheng waved his hand to dismiss the summon, and the angel that had just appeared turned into white specks of light and began to dissipate.
"Ritual activated!"
"Strange, why is there still no reaction?"
Tang Zheng's frown deepened.
He had already modified it dozens of times, not only the normal "Spiral of Death Ritual" but also using the "Sacrifice · Spiral of Death Ritual" that the Alliance Leader used when creating Death Knights.
He even referenced the energy absorption path of the "Wild Transformation Ritual".
"Logically speaking, even if it fails, there shouldn't be absolutely no reaction," Tang Zheng raised his hands and gently rubbed his temples, deep in thought.
Possessing the passive ability of "Magic Master" made his perception and understanding of such complex rituals very clear and simple.
Therefore, he could easily detect problems and changes in the ritual.
"Perhaps, it's not a problem with the ritual."
"Could it be the summoned angels?" This thought suddenly flashed through Tang Zheng's mind.
He had been fixated on the ritual during this time and hadn't focused on the angels.
The angels he summoned were all through normal "Angel Summoning", and there was no difference between them and the angels summoned by "Final War (Good)".
"No!"
"There is indeed a difference. The angels summoned by 'Final War (Good)' are Neutral Demon Creatures."
Thinking of this!
Tang Zheng simply stopped dwelling on it and used his Class Skill to cast a Tenth Tier Magic without consuming Mana.
Brilliant white light covered the Lava Zone!
Dense angels radiating a sacred aura appeared above Tang Zheng's head.
"Dismiss."
A thought flashed through Tang Zheng's mind.
Although he couldn't directly control these angels, as the caster, he could choose when to dismiss the magic.
Whoosh—
Hundreds of angels instantly turned into white specks of light, forming a magnificent and sacred scene.
Tang Zheng's eyes narrowed, and he quickly activated the ritual.
In an instant!
The originally scattered holy light seemed to be pulled by something, beginning to gather towards the ritual, but it quickly collapsed and dissipated.
It failed!
A hint of excitement appeared on Tang Zheng's face. After studying for so long, he wasn't afraid of failure, only of nothing happening at all.
Movement in the ritual meant it was feasible!
"That position is wrong."
"The energy flow path is restricted. No, this material also needs to be replaced."
Tang Zheng recalled what happened during the ritual just now, making adjustments as he did so.
Next.
He cast "Final War (Good)" twice more consecutively, and it still failed, but Tang Zheng now had a clear direction.
Unfortunately.
He could only cast this magic three times a day, so Tang Zheng had to wait until the next day when he could cast magic again to continue the experiment.
Another three days passed.
The entire ritual still looked like the "Spiral of Death Ritual," but in reality, many details had completely changed.
"Hoo—"
Tang Zheng took a deep breath, standing at the very center of the entire ritual: "There should be no problem now. If it still doesn't succeed, then it can only prove that the previous conjecture was wrong."
"—'Final War (Good)'"
Boom!
A huge white bubbling vortex appeared overhead.
Angels flew out of the vortex one by one, finally gathering in the sky to form an angelic legion.
"Dispel!" Tang Zheng low-growled.
Whoosh—
Whoosh—
The numerous angels disintegrated into a large number of white holy light points, beginning to dissipate in the air.
"Ritual activated!"
Tang Zheng's breathing hitched, and he quickly injected mana into the "Spiral of Death Ritual" under his feet.
Dong—
Faint blue magic patterns spread rapidly outwards from Tang Zheng as the center, forming an invisible gravitational pull that attracted the holy energy preparing to dissipate in the air!
The fragmented light points were pulled by the mana and began to converge into the ritual.
In an instant!
The white light transformed into a sacred torrent that poured into the ritual, then converged towards the center, dyeing Tang Zheng's entire body snow-white.
Buzz—
The attribute panel vibrated and appeared before his eyes.
Gained Experience Points 1
Gained Experience Points 1
...
Gained Experience Points 1
Gained Experience Points 1
Tang Zheng's eyes widened slightly as he watched the experience gain information rapidly scroll across the attribute panel, a look of pleasant surprise appearing in his eyes:
"It worked!"
A full 5 minutes passed.
The light spots from the hundreds of dissipated angels completely vanished.
[Experience Bar: 658160/510000]
↓
[Experience Bar: 1158160/510000]
"A full 500,000 experience points gained?"
"For others, this would truly be a losing business!"
Tang Zheng looked at the experience points gained in the experience bar, a slight grin spreading across his lips as he smiled brightly.
Activating "Final War (Good)" requires 80 mana and 1.5 million experience points. Using the Spiral of Death Ritual, he could gain 500,000 experience points.
Under normal circumstances, this would be a huge loss.
But Tang Zheng could use the Class Skill "Mad Meditation" to activate this magic without consuming anything, effectively gaining 500,000 experience points for free.
He could activate it three times a day, meaning he could gain 1.5 million experience points!
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