Chapter 115: Source Essence Sovereign, Emperor of Taiwei Jade (Seeking Collection)

Chapter 115: Source Essence Sovereign, Emperor of Taiwei Jade (Seeking Collection)



In a certain tavern, a Kolon Noble, intoxicated with laughter, reached out and embraced a tall woman, pulling her into his arms.

"Keep going!" he exclaimed, waving his hand dismissively. He then lifted the woman and staggered towards the second floor with her in his arms.

As they made their way upstairs, the woman screamed loudly, attracting the attention of those below, who laughed and jeered.

"Bang!" The sound of the second-floor private room door closing echoed through the tavern.

For a long while, the patrons below continued their drinking and revelry.

"Why is the Count taking so long upstairs?" someone muttered.

"He usually comes down much sooner," another added.

"He must have fallen asleep," a man at the end of the table frowned, setting down his drink. "We have to receive General Hunt tonight. He should know that playing with women is one thing, but we can't afford to neglect our duties."

"I'll go and check on him!"

"Be careful," the man at the end of the table warned, raising his head slightly. "Don't provoke the Count."

"I know!" came the reply.

A man, unsteady on his feet, made his way upstairs and gently knocked on the door of the private room. "Count?" he called out. "Count?"

A moment of silence followed, and then—

"Bang!"

His heart tightened with unease. He kicked the door open, and the scene before him caused his eyes to widen in shock.

"Count!" he roared, alerting those below. They rushed upstairs and were met with the same horrifying sight.

The Count, who had been drinking with them just moments ago, now lay in pieces, his body brutally dismembered, blood pooling across the room.

The woman, too, had met a gruesome end, her head severed from her body.

The tavern's soundproofing was not exceptional, and such a brutal slaughter would have undoubtedly been heard.

Unless...

There was some sort of special power at play, blocking the sounds from escaping!

"Who did this?!" The tavern echoed with his furious roar.

...

Signo City.

Several years ago, the city fell to Kolon's forces led by the Thunder Spear, Tack.

With Kolon's military might, the once-frontline city of Signo gradually became a rear base.

It was primarily used for transporting supplies.

The former Noble Parliament Hall now served as the headquarters for General Leighton, who oversaw various logistical matters.

"Report!" A messenger's panicked voice interrupted Leighton's thoughts.

"The granary is on fire, and the Firearm Camp is under attack by rebels. The situation at the gunpowder depot is reported to be critical!"

"Oh!" Leighton looked up, his eyes flashing.

"The resisters in Signo City don't have this kind of strength. Is this another one of Bob's encounters?"

"If it were a few days ago, I might have fallen for it. But now..."

"Pass the order!" Leighton stood up, drawing his sword with a serious expression.

"Everyone, follow me! Let's eliminate the rebels!"

"Yes, sir!"

The messenger responded, and nearby soldiers quickly mobilized, rushing towards the gunpowder depot.

On a nearby rooftop, several Wizard Apprentices frowned as they observed the scene below.

"What should we do now?" one of them asked in a low voice.

"General Leighton didn't send his guards to assist the troops. Instead, he personally led the soldiers, and there are still many guards with him," another apprentice noted.

"Damn it!" one of them clenched his teeth in anger. "The Kolon forces must have learned that the Alliance has joined the war, which is why they're being so cautious."

"So what?" Among them, a man with strange eyes and disheveled hair smiled. "Does that mean we can't kill them?"

"Gaga..."

"This will be even more interesting!"

"Johnson!" One of the apprentices exclaimed, their face changing color. "What are you doing?"

"Of course, I'm completing the mission," Johnson grinned, his figure flickered, and he pounced towards a street below.

Herb Market.

Once the most bustling market in Signo City, even under Kolon's occupation, it remained a bustling hub.

"Here I come!"

Johnson descended from above, his face contorted with madness. He crushed a rune seal in his hand.

First Circle Spell - Release Chaos!

Invisible psychic waves emanated from him, spreading in all directions and assaulting people's minds.

The next moment—

"Roar!"

A man howled, his eyes turning crimson. He charged into the crowd like a madman.

He wasn't alone.

Others affected by the spell, unable to escape its judgment, had their minds consumed by insanity.

They became rabid dogs, attacking the crowd, tearing at flesh and blood without regard for friends or family.

Sharp teeth ripped through skin, accelerating the spread of chaos.

"Ah!"

The crowd descended into madness. Those who retained their sanity fled, and the chaos reached the nearby army.

"What's happening?"

"Be careful!"

"Fire!"

"Quick, fire!"

...

"This madman..." One of the apprentices on the rooftop turned pale.

"Release Chaos is a forbidden spell of the Nightmare Wizard. He doesn't know how many people he'll kill with this!"

"But it does give us an opportunity." Another apprentice's eyes flickered. "There are at least a thousand people in the Herb Market. Even Kolon's army will be thrown into disarray by this."

"Hmm..."

"The target is retreating."

"Let's go!"

One of them waved. "Let's complete our mission first. This mess Johnson created has nothing to do with us."

"Right!"

"Move out!"

The apprentices each cast their spells and rushed towards their target.

Soon after, the news spread that Kolon's top Grand Knight, General Leighton, had fallen to Johnson's hands.

...

The Manor.

Located in the outskirts of the city.

The tranquil and secluded environment was undisturbed.

"Squeak..."

As the heavy door was pushed open from the outside, blinding sunlight streamed through the cracks, illuminating the grand hall.

Several Apprentice Wizards gathered around a map on a long table, gesturing and discussing intently.

"Poison Wolf Geoff is a top general in the Kolon military. He was once as renowned as Thunder Spear Tack," one of them said.

"He may not be a legend, but among the Grand Knights, his strength is undoubtedly among the strongest," another added.

"Strength is one thing, but the key is his cunning nature and ruthless methods. Who knows how many have died by his hand," a third wizard spoke up.

"Hmph!"

"To achieve his goals, he once poisoned over a hundred people, including women and children."

"What?" A female Apprentice Wizard exclaimed in surprise, her eyes widening. She clenched her teeth and said, "This man deserves to die!"

"Indeed, he should," someone agreed.

"The problem is, how do we kill him?"

"Geoff never acts alone. He's always accompanied by Apprentice Wizards from Kolon, especially lately. He hasn't left the military camp, anticipating our assassination attempts," another explained.

The female Apprentice Wizard said, "Then we'll find a way to lure him out. I don't believe..."

"What was that sound?"

A deep howl interrupted her, causing everyone to instinctively look towards the source of the sound.

The howling grew louder as it drew closer.

"Not good!"

"It's a cannonball!"

"Boom!"

A flaming cannonball smashed through the roof, landing in the center of the hall and exploding upon impact.

There was more than one cannonball.

"Boom!"

"Boom, boom, boom..."

The continuous bombardment of cannonballs turned the manor into a sea of fire, with the core area bearing the brunt of the attack.

In the distance, a middle-aged man with a sinister expression lowered a device he had been using to survey the area and waved his hand.

"Send the Apprentice Wizards to clean up the battlefield."

"Yes, sir!"

Several Apprentice Wizards immediately rushed towards the manor, manipulating flames to sweep through the area.

The intense heat was enough to melt metal, and the gathered Apprentice Wizards from the Alliance had no chance of survival.

...

At a banquet, a Wizard, disguised using Transformation Spell, infiltrated the event as a guest and delivered a fatal blow to a Kolon Noble.

On a battlefield, several Apprentice Wizards concealed themselves among the soldiers, and upon getting close to their target, they struck, killing a Kolon General.

In a room, several Kolon Nobles coughed up blood, their bodies convulsing as they collapsed to the ground.

Within a short span of a month, similar scenes played out in various locations.

Apprentice Wizards from the Swamp Alliance, aided by mysterious Spells, launched assassination attempts on key figures in Kolon.

Illusion Spells!

Poison!

Puppet Control!

Trap Crafting!

...

The Apprentice Wizards' methods were bizarre and unpredictable, making it difficult to defend against even with preparation. As a result, the assassination attempts continued to succeed.

The battlefield dynamics shifted accordingly.

Black Swamp.

Island.

Saber, returning from a mission, held Karl's golden token, examining it with awe and envy.

"You're the first from the entire Swamp Alliance to single-handedly earn the credit for killing a legendary knight."

"Just luck," Karl smiled faintly. "I'd say I was lucky, or my companions were unlucky. Didn't you also assassinate a legendary figure?"

"There were six of us. One died, two were severely injured. In the end, we divided the credit among the five of us." Saber returned the golden token, "To get a token like this, we'd need to kill five more legends!"

As she spoke, she shook her head lightly.

How could it be so easy to kill a legendary knight?

Moreover, the legends in Kolon were all top military generals, surrounded by numerous guards and Fire Thieves at their disposal.

Currently, only four legends had been successfully assassinated, including Bob, who fell to Karl.

It was challenging to kill them even without precautions, let alone with heightened vigilance.

"I heard you took on another task?"

Karl put away the token.

"Why are you pushing yourself so hard?"

"It seems you haven't heard," Saber sighed. "The promised portal to the Divine Realm has arrived, but it's not in perfect condition."

"Each time it opens, it can only transport a small number of people to the Wizard World."

Hmm? Karl raised an eyebrow.

He wasn't surprised that the portal was incomplete; after all, Angel Remiel had stated that the portal given to the Alliance could only transmit one-way.

But there was no mention of a time limit.

"So..." Saber began, "The Archwizards have taken up some slots, and the remaining Apprentice Wizards all want to be in the first batch. For fairness, the Alliance has provided a ranking system based on merit, and you're definitely in a secure position."

Karl touched the token on his chest, a smile on his face.

No wonder everyone said this token was important, even Saber looked envious. It seemed a spot in the first batch was his.

Excellent!

The two discussed their views on the journey ahead. Compared to Karl's cautiousness, Saber exuded confidence.

In her opinion, with the Swamp Alliance's involvement, Kolon's generals and nobles were falling one after another. The survivors were desperately trying to protect themselves from assassination attempts. The Allied Forces had already recaptured several cities, and the prospect of ultimate victory looked promising.

As for firearms and cannons...

Although they were powerful, they were accessible to the common folk. The Allied Forces had already acquired firearms.

Once firearms became widespread among the Allied Forces, they would match Kolon.

After seeing Saber off, Karl pondered for a moment before dismissing his thoughts. He walked towards a secluded chamber.

Fire Seal!

With a gentle wave of his wide sleeve, the torches in the four corners ignited, illuminating the entire room.

The floor of the room was adorned with a large image, featuring a small Taiji at its core, surrounded by the Bagua.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

This painting, if seen by any time traveler from Earth, would seem familiar, yet with subtle differences in the details.

Take the Taiji diagram, for instance.

Instead of the common fish-head Taiji, it depicted a small-headed fish, and the surrounding Bagua was also more abstract.

A vague resemblance, yet distinct.

Karl took a deep breath and stepped into the center of the image, placing an offering on each of the two cores of the Taiji diagram.

He closed his eyes and began to chant.

"Source Essence Sovereign!"

It was normal to use such a title when the Divine Realm fragment could transform source essence into one's power.

"King of Many Forms!"

As Karl was embarking on the path of a bloodline wizard, he might need to change forms, hence the addition of the title, King of Many Forms.

"Lord of Fear!"

His body possessed an Abyssal Bloodline, characterized by the iconic Fear Aura, but the title of a deity had to be more grandiose.

"Emperor of Taiwei Jade!"

This title was purely due to his lingering attachment to his past life.

The reason for giving himself so many 'titles' was not only for their pleasant sound but also to prevent 'duplication.'

"I dare say, there won't be another deity with the same 'symbol' and titles as me."

After completing this, Karl held his breath and waited silently.

Would there be a response? Today's preparations were the culmination of his efforts after organizing a wealth of knowledge about deities.

If it didn't work...

Then, it truly meant there was no other way!

Suddenly, the room, which had been filled with faint sounds, became eerily quiet, as if the air had stopped flowing, and a surreal feeling washed over him.

This was...

Karl's eyes snapped open.

But he was no longer in his dwelling; instead, he had arrived at the Divine Realm fragment! At the center of the fragment was an image identical to the one he had drawn in his room.

Success!

Without relying on the 'golden finger' deep within his soul, he had entered the Divine Realm fragment in an entirely new way, relying solely on his knowledge.

No! Karl shook his head lightly.

"Others could only be sensed by the Divine Realm fragment, but they couldn't come here. I am, after all, a special case."

The Other World.

Rushing River City.

This was the name given to the new settlement by the populace.

Not far from the city was a rushing river leading straight to the Endless Sea, a notable landmark.

"Elder Karl."

An executive from the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce approached, sounding anxious:

"I'm sorry to trouble you."

"Lead the way." Karl's expression turned solemn. "Where is the person?"

"This way!" The executive hurried ahead, leading him to a courtyard heavily guarded by soldiers.

"Inside."

He seemed hesitant to enter, as if fearing what was within.

Karl nodded and stepped inside.

Several familiar faces were already waiting in the courtyard—Su, Conn, and Quincy.

Along with them was a pale-faced patient.

"Karl!"

Upon seeing Karl, the group nodded in acknowledgment.

Karl approached and nodded to them, then swiftly moved to the patient, placing his hand on their chest.

Analysis Spell!

A moment passed.

He retracted his hand, his expression darkening.

"What's wrong?" Su asked.

"Is it...?"

"Yes!"

Karl sighed.

"It's a Servitor of Water!"

"Ah!"

"Is it truly a Servitor of Water?"

"Could it be that they couldn't escape and have come here?"

"..."

His words were not only heard by the people in front of him but also by those guarding the courtyard outside.

A sense of panic began to spread.

"Ah!"

"I don't want to die, I don't want to die!"

The patient, terrified, hugged his head and trembled, his voice distorted by the fear of death.

Sighing, Karl shook his head helplessly.

Even with his proficiency in bloodline wizardry, he was powerless against the Servitor of Water.

Servitor of Water,

A creation of divine power, was beyond the capabilities of a mere wizard apprentice like him.

"Come."

Conn gestured:

"Let's talk inside."

News of the Servitor of Water patient in Rushing River City quickly reached Lara and the others, and they soon arrived.

"We are hundreds of miles away from Freedom Port, yet the Servitor of Water hasn't spared us," Lara sighed.

"The watchtower on the mountain also sent word that traces of merfolk have been found nearby. Could Rushing River City be facing relocation?"

"The will of the Dark God is reviving in the Endless Sea, and we can't avoid being affected as we get closer," Conn said. "This is a bad thing, but from one perspective, it might not be all bad."

"Oh!" Lara turned. "How so?"

"The Endless Sea nurtures many people, not just the subjects of Duke Ferdinand and Duke Vastard," Conn explained. "So, the envoys of the dukes, who might not have cared much about the construction of Rushing River City or the conquest of Freedom Port before, will surely take action now."

Lara's eyes lit up.

Indeed, without the Endless Sea's seafood, the nobles might miss out on some culinary delights on their tables.

But many commoners would starve!

The dukes couldn't possibly stand by and watch this happen.

"Absolutely!"

Kun Wu clapped his hands. "I know the ways of those envoys. If they're being honest, they might not take it to heart."

"As long as we exaggerate the consequences and make them afraid of taking responsibility, they'll definitely report it to the Duke and send someone to deal with it!"

Lara turned to Susan, "Where's the Duke's Envoy?"

"He should know by now, right?"

The Duke's Envoy had already been stationed in Rushing River City for several months, but he rarely made public appearances.

The Merchant Guild had no choice but to cater to his every need, providing him with the finest food and drink.

"He definitely knows," Susan replied.

"I sent someone to report immediately after it happened," she added.

Lara stood up, "I'll go and hurry them along." She instructed, "Keep an eye on the Servitor of Water patient, take good care of him until he leaves his position, and after that...cremate him!"

"Yes!" the crowd responded.

Building this Rushing River City had required a great deal of effort from everyone. If they announced another relocation, no one could guarantee what would happen, and public resentment would surely boil over.

Therefore, they had to protect the city at all costs.

Regaining Port of Freedom would be ideal, but that required the Duke's Envoy to exert more effort. The others couldn't accomplish it on their own.

...

"There are mermen nearby!"

After the group dispersed, Quincy approached Karl.

"It seems Rushing River City isn't as safe as we thought," he said.

"Not so fast," Karl shook his head. "Only a tiny fraction of mermen possess rationality; the rest act on instinct alone."

"Rushing River City is a few hundred miles from Port of Freedom. A few stray mermen can't cause much trouble, as long as it's not an army of them."

"True," Quincy nodded. "So, do you think the Duke will send troops?"

"You should know more about this than I do," Karl smiled. "Apart from Black City and Port of Freedom, I haven't been to other places. I'm here to seek your guidance."

"Haha..." Quincy burst into laughter. "You're so humble."

"But I have traveled to many places, even to the lands of other Dukes. I've witnessed many sights."

This Grand Knight, recruited by Lara, had a flawed personality, prone to arrogance, pride, and stubbornness.

However, he was remarkably modest when facing those stronger than him.

Especially in front of Karl, he was almost obsequious.

Through Karl, he gained a deeper understanding of this world, including the titles of the Dukes.

In the legends...

In ancient times, deities occasionally left the Divine Realm to wander the mortal world. Sometimes, in a moment of sentiment, they would leave behind their bloodlines.

The Dukes!

That's how they came to be.

Long ago, the Dukes were also known as Demigods, possessing a portion of divine authority.

It was said that some powerful Demigods even held the power to slay gods.

"Duke Ferdinand possesses the bloodline of the God of Eternal Sleep, so he spends most of his time asleep."

"Or perhaps..."

"Resting?"

"The Duke isn't keen on sharing his bloodline. He doesn't have many children, but Princess Myvia is one of the more outstanding ones. She inherited the power of death, and her city is known as the City of Death."

"I've been there once, and I never want to go back," Quincy shook his head, aghast. "Mayor Sodan doesn't seem to have inherited the divine power from the Duke's bloodline. He's just an ordinary Legend."

"But he loves to sleep. Maybe he possesses the power of the God of Dreams?"

"Who knows?"

"The current Mayor Sodan is most likely dead. Even a Legend wouldn't stand a chance against those mermen."

At dusk, Quincy left Karl's residence.

A satisfied smile spread across his face, and his eyes sparkled with anticipation as he hurried back to his room unnoticed.

"Phew!"

He pulled out a thick book from his chest and placed it on the table.

"If something is hidden so well, could it be related to Karl's strength and the contents of this book?"

"Hehe..."

"He's not that old, and he hasn't been a Grand Knight for long, but he possesses the strength of a peak Grand Knight. If I say there's nothing strange about it, who would believe me?"

His eyes gleamed as he slowly opened the book.

"Deities?"

"Source Essence Sovereign? Emperor of Taiwei Jade?"

Quincy's expression turned peculiar. "What are these things?"

The next day...

Conn came knocking on his door.

"Anything wrong?"

Kun opened the door, his eyes bloodshot and his voice devoid of energy.

"Yeah."

Conn frowned, "This morning, Elder Karl said a book from his room went missing. Have you seen it?"

"What do you mean by that?" Quincy's face changed, and he shouted angrily, "Are you suspecting me of stealing his belongings?"

"Would a Grand Knight like me steal something? Karl often disappears, and no one knows where he goes. His residence isn't exactly a secret, and theft is a normal occurrence there."

"Calm down," Conn said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I didn't mean anything else. Elder Karl just asked me to look into the theft of a book about deities. This kind of knowledge is harmless to look at, but if we try to follow the instructions in the book, we might attract trouble."

"What kind of trouble?" Quincy's eyes flickered. "What could possibly go wrong?"

"Don't assume I don't know. When the Moon Goddess fell, all the deities were sealed away. In theory, that's how it is."

"But as you know, this world might hide the will of some Dark Deities. If that's the case..."

"In any case, it's useless. But if it works, it's very likely to establish a connection with a Dark Deity, and once that connection is made, it will haunt you forever."

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(End of Chapter)

Chapter end