Chapter 330: Tremors, The Craziest Ritual?

A cold voice rang out in the room.

Remedios’s fair cheeks tightened, appearing somewhat annoyed.

As the captain of the Paladin Order and one of the highest-ranking individuals in the entire Holy Kingdom, she had never encountered anyone like Tang Zheng who dared to show her such disrespect, or even speak to her with such cold words.

Kelart was very calm, her friendly-looking face always wearing a faint, elusive smile.

The two were not wearing their combat attire at this moment.

Kelart wore a white formal gown cinched by a light blue sash, adorned with pearls and tiny diamonds, making her waist look visually no larger than a palm’s width and making her upper body’s proportions appear astonishing!

Remedios’s attire was clearly more unconventional or androgynous compared to standard noble formal wear; her upper body was modest, with a white shawl.

On her lower body, she wore black hunting trousers and brown animal-hide boots; perhaps due to her sitting posture, her long legs appeared somewhat rounded and powerful through the taut fabric.

The same brown hair and nearly identical faces!

Having the two sit together possessed a unique, stunning quality.

"My purpose in coming to the Holy Kingdom is to obtain the blood of demi-humans."

Tang Zheng stood up and looked at Kelart and the other sitting opposite him:

"Now that the matter has concluded and the Abelion Hills are much safer, with better ways to obtain it, it is about time to leave."

"If there is progress regarding the 'Integration Potion,' it will not be too late to send someone to the hilly region to contact me."

"Leaving?"

Kelart spoke in surprise; she had indeed guessed that "Free Will" intended to leave the Holy Kingdom, and this meeting actually held the intent of persuading them to stay.

Yet she had not expected the other party to head toward the Abelion Hills, which remained a dangerous zone even though the demi-humans had suffered heavy losses.

Was it the confidence brought by that "Martial King" Go-Jin and the demi-human members who could remain in the hills with the other party?

No.

Based on the other party’s own strength alone, not even a handful of the current demi-human powerhouses could threaten him.

"Obtaining demi-human blood may not be a lie, or perhaps there is something in the Abelion Hills that attracts the other party." Kelart’s eyes flashed.

"Would Team Leader Tang consider it again? We..."

Kelart stood up as she spoke.

"I have no intention of defecting to your Holy Kingdom." Tang Zheng waved his hand casually and headed toward the door.

In the process of turning, his gaze glanced toward the wall on the north side of the room.

Huh?

Eavesdropping?

It shouldn't be people from the Holy Kingdom; the Silianjiaoguosuo?

Moving so quickly, or did they already have spies stationed in the Holy Kingdom?

Tang Zheng pondered briefly, his white priest’s robe fluttering slightly, and he left the room without caring about Kelart’s attempts to persuade him to stay.

Tang Zheng was indeed interested in the "Saintess Sword."

Not to mention anything else.

The appearances of Kelart and Remedios were already of the stunning variety, 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 is just interest.

Pure appearance might make Tang Zheng curious at most, but it was not enough to make him waste time doing things that were meaningless to him.

At this moment.

On the other side of the north wall.

A youth dressed as an attendant had his ear pressed against the wall, his ear appearing like an elephant’s palm; this was the second-tier magic "Elephant Ear."

It could significantly enhance hearing to detect even the most subtle movements.

Hearing Tang Zheng’s footsteps gradually fade away, the attendant youth also dispelled the magic and quietly left.

"Kelart, was this your goal?" Remedios pointed at the potion on the table.

"It was not."

"But this result is indeed not bad." Kelart smiled as she looked at Remedios:

"You don't usually like to target someone like you did just now, sister."

"You, what are you saying!" Remedios’s tone became agitated.

"Come to think of it, sister, you are getting a bit old; you really should find a marriage partner. There are no suitable ones among the outstanding youths in the country."

Kelart pretended to talk to herself, muttering in a low voice: "Just like a story about a noble lady and a commoner."

"He is not a commoner!"

"Indeed not, but a genius in alchemy and magic." Kelart said with a smile.

Remedios only then realized, her face flushing red: "You intended to use me as a bargaining chip!"

"Is that not allowed? 'Free Will' is very valuable."

"Bastard!!"

Upper Moon.

April 7th, early morning.

The Evil Spirit Dog pulled the carriage away from "Karinsha," driving out of the Holy Kingdom toward the Abelion Hills.

On the carriage.

Enri was somewhat happy; she could see Miss Nfirea.

Tang Zheng closed his eyes to rest, feeling somewhat surprised in his heart; he had originally thought that after leaving the guest house, people from the Silianjiaoguosuo would come knocking, but there had been no action at all.

"So, the one eavesdropping yesterday was likely just an ordinary spy who couldn't make decisions."

"And the people from the Silianjiaoguosuo probably haven't arrived yet."

Tang Zheng shook his head imperceptibly.

The value of the "Integration Potion" to the Holy Kingdom was actually limited, but it held true, immense significance for the Silianjiaoguosuo.

However.

Since the people from the Silianjiaoguosuo had not arrived, Tang Zheng would not spend time waiting for them.

The words he said to Kelart last night were not just for the Holy Kingdom, but also for the people of the Silianjiaoguosuo.

"If the Silianjiaoguosuo doesn't get the potion, they might come looking again, but it is more likely they will try to take the finished product directly."

Tang Zheng’s lips curled up, and he let out a light chuckle.

The subsequent itinerary was much simpler!

Tang Zheng needed "Free Will" to fade from view for a while, and the Integration Potion and materials he provided would require time for both the Holy Kingdom and the Silianjiaoguosuo to research.

And this period was enough for him to carry out some covert actions.

After entering the Abelion Hills.

The long-waiting Witch of the Green Leaf came to pick up Enri.

Tang Zheng was not in a hurry to raise Enri’s level; he needed Enri to first learn how to lead troops from the "Beast General" Hekterwis and attempt to acquire a class in the "Commander" system.

Next.

Tang Zheng used the excuse of searching for alchemy materials to bid farewell to Enri and the Witch of the Green Leaf, heading to the manor where he had previously settled the dwarf craftsmen.

He transported all the dwarf craftsmen to the hilly region to make contact with the Dark Dwarves.

Arranging this series of plans took him two days.

And during this time.

A major event occurred in the Holy Kingdom: Kelart and Remedios, who were leading the Paladin Order and the Priest Order back to the capital "Hoburns."

While camping in the wilderness, they were suddenly subjected to a mysterious attack; rumors said it caused no casualties, but it seemed some important item had been lost.

The Holy Queen Calca even ordered a thorough investigation and arrested quite a few spies.

At the same time—

The incident in the hills spread completely with time, causing shock across various countries; the first to take action.

Was the Baharuth Empire, which revoked the bounty on "Free Will."

Re-Estize Kingdom.

Royal Capital.

Deep within the "Francia" princess palace.

Princess Renner held a steaming cup of black tea, her eyebrows curved, her face full of a gentle smile, watching the front very quietly.

Although Climb maintained his composure, he was still somewhat agitated as he recounted the rumors he had heard from the Adventurer’s Guild and outside.

"Lord Tang is too amazing!"

"To be able to work with the elites of the Holy Kingdom and the Silianjiaoguosuo to resolve tens of thousands of undead."

"The leader of [Zuranon] is as evil as the rumors say; if those undead had been allowed to..."

Climb’s emotions were somewhat high, as if he himself had been in that dangerous situation, facing that boundless sea of undead.

After finishing what he had heard.

Climb saw Princess Renner listening to his words with a constant smile and immediately realized his previous behavior had been somewhat impolite.

"I have overstepped."

Climb hurriedly lowered his head, his body bent at a ninety-degree angle.

"Ah?"

Princess Renner set down the teacup in her hand and said softly and gently: "No need to be so restrained; I also enjoy hearing about these things."

"I never expected that Tang Zheng's 'Free Will' would become an Adamantite-ranked adventurer so quickly, even faster than Blue Rose of Lakyus."

Climb kept his head lowered, his two rugged eyebrows knit tight; he knew this was not the time to speak.

Lady Lakyus was a friend of the Princess, and a servant like him naturally had no right to pass judgment.

"Climb," Princess Renner said.

"Yes!"

Climb stood straight immediately, his face bearing a will as firm as steel, as if he would execute any order Princess Renner gave him at once.

"You are the only one I have who can go out."

"Could you help me find out more detailed information about 'Free Will'?"

Princess Renner wore an innocent expression and whispered, "Oh, and have Renas come see me as well."

Climb nodded quickly in response and respectfully exited the hall.

"Is it not the Holy Kingdom?"

"It is the Abelion Hills... demi-humans... [Zuranon]..."

Princess Renner's naive smile became even more radiant, her deep blue pupils flickering with something strange as she raised a fair, delicate finger to her lips and gently bit her nail.

The lava zone.

Tang Zheng’s eyes held a look of exhaustion as he looked at the "Spiral of Death" ritual laid out on the ground; he had already been here for five days, constantly testing his hypothesis.

"Negative energy" is a form of power for the undead!

Then, in theory, "Holy energy" should naturally be a form of power for the living as well.

If the "Spiral of Death" ritual can channel negative energy into the body, then it can just as easily channel other energies.

However!

While it sounds simple, putting it into practice is an entirely different matter.

"It's not working."

"There is still a problem with the ritual."

Tang Zheng frowned, constantly inspecting the ritual he had laid out and making adjustments from time to time.

"Summon Angel"!

A fourth-tier Monitor Angel was summoned.

Tang Zheng waved his palm to cancel the summon, and the angel that had just appeared turned into white specks of light and began to dissipate.

"Ritual activation!"

"Strange, why is there still no reaction?"

Tang Zheng’s brow furrowed even deeper.

He had already modified it dozens of times in a row, not only using the standard "Spiral of Death" ritual but also incorporating the "Sacrifice: Spiral of Death" ritual used by the Guild Leader when creating Death Knights.

He had even referenced the energy absorption path of the "Wild Transformation Ritual."

"Logically speaking, even if it failed, there shouldn't be absolutely no reaction." Tang Zheng raised both hands to rub his temples, lost in thought.

Possessing the passive ability "Magic Master" allowed his perception and understanding of such complex rituals to be extremely clear and simple.

That was why he could easily detect problems and changes in the ritual.

"Perhaps it is not a problem with the ritual."

"Is it the summoned angel?" 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 themselves.

The angels he summoned all appeared through the standard "Summon Angel" spell, which was no different from the angels summoned by "Final War (Good)."

"No!"

"There is indeed a difference; the angels summoned by 'Final War (Good)' are neutral monsters."

Thinking of this!

Tang Zheng stopped hesitating and used his class skill to cast a tenth-tier spell without consumption.

A brilliant white light covered the lava zone!

A dense crowd of angels radiating a holy aura appeared in the sky above Tang Zheng.

"Dismiss."

A thought stirred in Tang Zheng’s mind.

Although he could not directly control these angels, as the caster, he could choose when to end the spell.

*Whoosh—*

Hundreds of angels turned into white specks of light in an instant, creating a magnificent and holy scene.

Tang Zheng narrowed his eyes and quickly activated the ritual.

In an instant!

The originally scattered holy light seemed to be pulled by some force and began to gather toward the ritual, but it soon collapsed and dissipated.

It failed!

A look of excitement appeared on Tang Zheng’s face; having researched for so long, he didn't fear failure, only a lack of any response.

If the ritual had a reaction, it meant it was feasible!

"That position is wrong."

"The energy flow path is restricted; no, this material needs to be replaced as well."

Tang Zheng recalled what had happened during the ritual and made adjustments as he went.

Next.

He cast "Final War (Good)" two more times in succession; it was still a failure, but Tang Zheng now had a clear direction.

Unfortunately.

He could only cast this spell three times a day, so Tang Zheng had to wait until the next day to continue his experiments.

Another three days passed.

The entire ritual still looked like a "Spiral of Death" ritual, but in reality, many details had been completely changed.

"Hoo—"

Tang Zheng took a deep breath and stood at the very center of the ritual: "There shouldn't be any problems now. If it still doesn't succeed, then it only proves my previous hypothesis was wrong."

"—'Final War (Good)'"

*Boom!*

A massive white bubbling vortex appeared overhead.

Angel after angel flew out from the vortex, eventually gathering into an army of angels in the sky.

"Dismiss!" Tang Zheng commanded in a low voice.

*Whoosh—*

*Whoosh—*

The numerous angels decomposed into a vast amount of white holy light, which began to dissipate in the air.

"Ritual activation!"

Tang Zheng held his breath and quickly injected mana into the "Spiral of Death" ritual beneath his feet.

*Thump—*

Faint blue magical patterns spread rapidly in all directions from Tang Zheng as the center, forming an invisible gravitational force that attracted the holy energy preparing to dissipate in the air!

The fine specks of light were pulled by the mana and began to converge into the ritual.

In an instant!

The white light turned into a holy torrent that poured into the ritual, then converged toward the center, dyeing Tang Zheng’s entire body snow-white.

*Hum—*

The status panel vibrated and appeared before his eyes.

『Obtained 1 Experience Point』

『Obtained 1 Experience Point』

『…………』

『Obtained 1 Experience Point』

『Obtained 1 Experience Point』

Tang Zheng widened his eyes slightly, looking at the experience gain information scrolling rapidly across the status panel, a look of pleasant surprise appearing in his eyes:

"It worked!"

A full 5 minutes passed.

The light specks from the hundreds of angels finally vanished completely.

【Experience Bar: 658,160/510,000】

↓

【Experience Bar: 1,158,160/510,000】

"A full 500,000 experience gained?"

"For anyone else, this would truly be a losing trade!"

Tang Zheng looked at the experience points gained in the bar, the corners of his mouth curling into a radiant smile.

Casting "Final War (Good)" requires 80 mana and 1.5 million experience points; by using the Spiral of Death ritual, he could harvest 500,000 experience points.

Under normal circumstances, this would be a massive loss.

However, Tang Zheng could use the profession skill "Mad Meditation" to cast this magic without consumption, effectively earning 500,000 experience points for free.

It could be activated three times a day, which meant he could obtain 1.5 million experience points!

(End of chapter)