Chapter 283: Fifth-Circle Necromancer

Inside the Icefield Temple's council hall, it was solemn and grave.

The ice walls made of solid ice were thick and smooth, isolating the noise and cold of the outside world.

The ice walls were also carved with complex religious symbols, shimmering with mysterious light.

Several magic lamps hung high, emitting a soft and bright light, illuminating the entire hall like daylight, yet without being dazzling.

Because it is a council hall, those who come here are to discuss and decide on major matters of the sect, so confidentiality is highly valued. It is a completely enclosed room without a single window, and there is only one door leading to the outside.

In the center of the hall is a long ice table.

The two rows of chairs beside the ice table are arranged neatly, waiting for every magic user to take their seat.

And in the main seats, there are three positions, representing the three leaders of the Guardians of the Snowfield: the Archbishop, the Saint Xi En, and the Chief Guardian.

At this moment, the high-circle magic users of the Guardians of the Snowfield who are at headquarters have all gathered here, taking their seats in the chairs beside the ice table, their expressions varied.

"Saint Xi En, is there something important that you are in such a hurry to summon us to the council hall?"

Of the three main seats, two are currently occupied.

The one who asked the question was one of the two in the main seats, Archbishop Lu En.

In fact, the power structure within the Guardians of the Snowfield was originally led by the Archbishop, with the Saint Xi En in charge of hunters and the Chief Guardian in charge of guardians as deputies.

It was only after the previous Archbishop, Gari, failed in his forced rank advancement and died of illness shortly after due to the backlash damaging his vitality, that this structure was broken.

Because Lu En, who succeeded to his position, although also a Fourth-Circle, was clearly not as powerful as Archbishop Gari and was not enough to convince Saint Xi En and Chief Ximo.

Therefore, the Guardians of the Snowfield became the current tripartite council.

Hearing Lu En's inquiry, the hunter leader sitting in the other main seat, Saint Xi En, slowly swept his gaze from Archbishop Lu En's face to the faces of the others who were equally curious, and spoke slowly in a low voice:

"I summoned everyone here today because there is a major matter concerning the life and death of our sect that needs to be discussed."

"You may not know yet, but the War Mother of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe, Su Su Su Nai Fa, is currently leading five thousand ice-descendant magic users from her tribe and is rushing toward our Icefield Temple."

As soon as Saint Xi En's words landed, the council hall, which had been immersed in a solemn atmosphere, instantly exploded like a giant rock had been thrown into it.

"Ah?!"

"Is this true? How is this possible?"

"Is she crazy? What is she trying to do?"

"We have always kept to ourselves with the Enduring Zhenbing tribe; why would she do this?!"

"..."

Various sounds of shock, doubt, and anger intertwined, and inside the completely enclosed council hall, it was as if an invisible storm was raging.

Saint Xi En sat there quietly, letting everyone discuss and vent; there was not the slightest fluctuation on his face.

It was not until a moment later, when someone present noticed that his expression was wrong, that they began to quiet down.

"Saint Xi En, what exactly is going on? We, the Guardians of the Snowfield, have no enmity with the Enduring Zhenbing tribe; why would Su Su Su Nai Fa lead her tribesmen to rush toward us for no reason? And where did you get this news?" Archbishop Lu En represented everyone present in asking the question they cared about.

Everyone's gaze in the council hall was now focused on Saint Xi En, waiting for him to answer.

Saint Xi En is already over four hundred years old this year; at this age, even for the 600-year lifespan of a Fourth-Circle magic user, it can be considered entering middle to old age.

But he is very well-maintained; there are not even many wrinkles on his face, and not a single gray hair can be seen, and his entire person reveals a sense of majesty.

"Naturally, it is not for no reason." Saint Xi En seemed to think for a moment before speaking slowly.

As soon as his words fell, everyone in the hall was stunned; so what is the reason?

Saint Xi En looked around at everyone and spoke again in a low voice: "Everything is because of me."

"Because of you?"

Saint Xi En said slowly: "The Enduring Zhenbing tribe found the person in the prophecy left by War Mother Oretia who would bring them the hope of revival, and supported him as the new King of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe."

Archbishop Lu En, in addition to being surprised, subconsciously said: "In Oretia's era, the ice-descendant bloodline had just begun to decline, and Oretia was still a Seventh-Circle ice-descendant magic user, and the ritual magic she held was quite grand, so the Enduring Zhenbing tribe has always been very faithful to the prophecy she left behind."

"Even in the northern realm, there are some tribes that believe in this prophecy and look forward to the appearance of the person in the prophecy."

"So, it is not strange that the Enduring Zhenbing tribe would support this prophesied person to the position of new King; after all, they have lived guarding this prophecy for so many years."

Listening to this tone, it was clear that Archbishop Lu En did not have much faith in this prophecy.

"And this new King of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe has some friction with me..." Saint Xi En looked at Archbishop Lu En, chuckled, and changed his words: "Perhaps more than some."

"Friction? What kind of friction would make this new King directly lead a large force to attack our Icefield Temple?" Archbishop Lu En said incredulously, while also dissatisfied with Saint Xi En's current nonchalant attitude.

For the tribes of the northern realm, the resources required for a long-distance large-scale troop rush are actually very difficult to afford.

It is only because the Enduring Zhenbing tribe has such a foundation, but even then, they can only come once or twice at most, otherwise, they would collapse from within first.

So how much friction would it take to make the Enduring Zhenbing tribe go to such lengths? And having caused such a big thing, Saint Xi En still had this attitude of downplaying it, which indeed made him unable to accept it.

It was not just Archbishop Lu En; the sect's high-level members present were equally confused.

But Saint Xi En did not answer Lu En's question, but changed the subject: "After that new King was supported to the throne by the Enduring Zhenbing tribe, the first thing he did was to behead Elder Tang Nade, who had always had different intentions in the tribe, completely erasing the voices of opposition within the tribe."

"He said, this is what he thinks of as unity."

"Because the only choice is the best choice."

Speaking of this, Saint Xi En's face revealed a sense of appreciation: "This matter was indeed done beautifully, and for me, it was even a great inspiration."

"Why are you saying this?" Lu En frowned.

"So, the reason I summoned you here in such a hurry today to discuss matters is to learn from the actions of this new King of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe." Saint Xi En still did not answer Lu En's question, but looked at everyone and smiled.

But Saint Xi En was clearly smiling, yet everyone in the hall felt an inexplicable chill, their spines turning cold.

"Learn from the actions of this new King? Saint Xi En, what do you mean by this?" Archbishop Lu En also sensed something was wrong, almost wanting to slap the table and stand up on the spot. "Archbishop, you are still as impatient as ever."

Facing Archbishop Lu En's rage, Saint Xi En's face still maintained that unfathomable calmness and indifference, as if no sound could touch his heart in the slightest.

However, at this moment, a violent mana fluctuation, completely opposite to his calm expression, suddenly rose from Saint Xi En's body.

An unprecedented sense of deathly silence suddenly arose in the enclosed council hall.

Immediately following, a heart-palpitating phenomenon suddenly appeared before everyone's eyes.

Behind Saint Xi En, ink-colored dark tentacles, like the massive tentacles of an octopus in the deep sea, extended out!

These tentacles twisted and swirled, baring fangs and brandishing claws, carrying an ancient and evil aura, like living things, dancing flexibly in the air, directly wrapping around Archbishop Lu En beside Saint Xi En! The power of those tentacles was too great; although Archbishop Lu En was a Fourth-Circle magic user, he appeared insignificant in front of the power of the tentacles, directly being hard-controlled on the spot and unable to move.

With the tight wrapping of the tentacles, wisps of blood mist emanated from Archbishop Lu En's body.

As soon as these blood mists surged out of Lu En's body, they were sucked into the tentacles, and then through the veins of the tentacles, like conduits transporting life, they surged into Saint Xi En's body.

Visibly, with this surge of blood mist energy into his body, Saint Xi En's complexion became ruddy, even revealing a kind of sickly luster.

In contrast, Lu En's complexion had already turned deathly white, and his eyes also flashed with deathly gray white; his entire person looked like an old man who had been squeezed dry of his vitality, on the verge of death.

"Forbidden necromantic magic, Energy Drain!" A terrified shout rang out.

Someone in the hall recognized the meaning of the terrifying phenomenon before them.

These tentacles are the embodiment of the Fifth-Circle necromantic magic 【Energy Drain】, an evil magic that can directly extract the target's vitality to heal oneself and replenish one's own vitality.

And being able to cast Fifth-Circle necromantic magic means that Saint Xi En had actually quietly advanced to a Fifth-Circle magic user! The moment they recognized this magic, everyone present also realized the meaning of it, looking at Saint Xi En with a gaze of disbelief.

The fact that Saint Xi En is already a Fifth-Circle magic user is far more shocking than his casting of necromantic magic.

In the northern realm, ever since the ice-descendant bloodline has increasingly declined, there hasn't been a Fifth-Circle magic user for many years.

"This is what I mean." Watching Lu En's complexion become paler and paler, his vitality fading away, Saint Xi En's voice sounded calm and cold in the council hall.

"Spare... spare me." Lu En's eyes were filled with fear and despair at this moment; he struggled, using his last bit of strength to squeeze out intermittent pleas for mercy from his parched throat.

He is still young, and his magic user level is only at the early Fourth-Circle.

And for magic users, the higher the level, the greater the gap in strength, so Lu En, in front of Saint Xi En who is already a Fifth-Circle, couldn't even withstand a single spell.

Facing Lu En's plea for mercy, Saint Xi En was completely unmoved.

In the face of absolute power, Archbishop Lu En could only despairingly watch his vitality fade away bit by bit.

Finally, his fire of life was completely extinguished, leaving only an empty shell, sliding powerlessly from his seat and lying on the floor of the council hall.

However, even so, Saint Xi En was still not prepared to let Lu En go.

He extended his right hand, and a black line, as deep as ink and extremely evil, extended from his fingertips, carrying endless cold and the aura of death, directly piercing Archbishop Lu En's corpse, which already had no signs of life.

Amidst the horrified gazes of everyone, Archbishop Lu En's body, which should have lost all vitality, actually began to tremble slightly, and then, in an incredible way, tremblingly climbed up from the ground.

His movements were stiff and strange, his eyes empty and godless, like a puppet controlled by some evil force, mechanically standing up, and then silently standing behind Saint Xi En.

Although he stood up, he was no longer the noble Archbishop who once possessed the power of a Fourth-Circle magic user, but a walking corpse controlled by necromantic magic.

There was not the slightest expression on Lu En's face, and there was only deathly silence in his eyes.

Still forbidden necromantic magic.

After cruelly killing Lu En, Saint Xi En still wanted to manipulate his body, turning him into his own pawn and puppet.

This is the terrifying aspect of necromantic magic.

This scene made everyone feel a chill down their spines.

"As you can see, because I practiced forbidden necromantic magic, I became enemies with that new King."

Saint Xi En clapped his hands lightly, and immediately following, the door of the council hall was pushed open violently, and Luo Yiqi, who had been let go by Gao De, was actually rudely pushed in by two hunters.

He looked up at Saint Xi En sitting in the main seat and Archbishop Lu En who had become a puppet behind him, his face full of terror.

"Archbishop..."

Saint Xi En didn't even look at Luo Yiqi, saying to himself: "That new King let Luo Yiqi bring a message: either hand me over, and they will withdraw their troops and no longer disturb the peace of our Icefield Temple;"

"Or, they will lead a large army to trample this place and come to capture me themselves."

A cold smile appeared on Saint Xi En's face. He looked around at everyone in the council hall and continued: "I know that after learning this news, many of you must be inclined to hand me over to avoid this war for the Guardians of the Snowfield, especially Archbishop Lu En, who cares about the sect and certainly would not want to fight the Enduring Zhenbing tribe."

"But I certainly cannot just surrender like this, and my people will not agree either."

"This is not good; with such a disagreement, our sect will fall into an atmosphere of disunity."

"So," Saint Xi En smiled slightly, "I have already made the choice for you. Now Archbishop Lu En supports me unconditionally. I believe you should not have any other opinions either."

This sentence made everyone present feel a chill—Lu En had become a zombie manipulated by Saint Xi En; how could he not support him unconditionally? But what could they do?

Archbishop Lu En of the Fourth-Circle could not resist in front of Saint Xi En and became a zombie; could they, these Third-Circle magic users, possibly contend with Saint Xi En? "We shall naturally honor the Saint Xi En's orders." A hoarse voice sounded in the council hall, and subsequently, more voices began to echo.

Although their hearts were filled with unwillingness and helplessness, in the face of absolute power, submission became their only choice.

Saint Xi En nodded with satisfaction, his gaze as sharp as a hawk, scanning everyone present.

"Rest assured," he spoke slowly, his voice carrying unquestionable firmness, "Although the Enduring Zhenbing tribe is powerful, in front of a Fifth-Circle necromancer, they really don't count for much."

"I will solve this matter personally, and those from the Enduring Zhenbing tribe who attempt to invade our Icefield Temple will absolutely not be able to step half a step into the Icefield Temple."

His tone was full of confidence and dominance, as if everything was under his control: "As for the sect, under my leadership, it will certainly embark on the path of glory once again."

"The hope of revival... hehe."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 284 =====