Chapter 911

"How long ago was this map drawn?"

General Zak asked.

"Your Excellency, this map was drawn ten years ago by one of our survey teams. His Majesty intended to expand westward, so he first dispatched the survey team to map the region. But once we learned the western edge of the Endless Desert was near the Eternal Night Empire, His Majesty abandoned plans for western expansion."

A well-dressed official beside General Zak said.

"But ten years ago, this was still desert."

General Zak said.

"General, the survey team's mapping could not be wrong. Could it be that this oasis appeared within these ten years? To form such a vast oasis in a decade—only divine intervention could accomplish it."

A deputy general on General Zak's other side said.

"Press forward. See what this oasis really is."

General Zak said grimly.

The massive fleet swiftly penetrated deeper into the oasis.

Around the fleet, mages constantly flew out to scout the path ahead.

The fact that they could use mages as scouts alone proves the strength of the empire this army belongs to.

It must be at least a dozen times stronger than the former Purple Gold Empire!

The fleet's flight speed was not fast—only two to three hundred kilometers per hour.

Yet after flying for three or four hours, the oasis still showed no end.

As far as the eye could see, the view was filled with vast stretches of lush vegetation, as if the desert marked on the map had never existed.

On the flying ships, countless warriors gathered at the edges, leaning out to gaze around.

General Zak's expression grew increasingly solemn.

This sudden oasis filled him with deep unease.

"General, the north is also entirely oasis. I personally landed to inspect—the ground beneath these oases is still sand, proving this area was once desert."

A mage flew back and reported.

"General, the south is also entirely oasis."

Another mage said.

"How far did you fly?"

General Zak asked.

"Your Excellency, at least five hundred kilometers. When I ascended to high altitude, I saw endless oasis to the north. Based on my estimate, the north-south width of this oasis may reach ten thousand li!"

The northern mage said.

Ten thousand li!

This number made General Zak's eyes narrow.

Because on the map in his hand, the western desert of the Endless Desert was an irregular shape roughly ten thousand li north-south and ten thousand li east-west.

According to this mage's estimate, does that mean the entire vast desert west of the Endless Desert turned into oasis within ten years?

But how could that be possible!

Yet the fleet had already flown nearly one thousand kilometers—two thousand li—into the Endless Desert, and still saw nothing but vast stretches of oasis.

This made General Zak believe the Seventh Rank mage's speculation was likely true!

"Have you seen any humans in the oasis?"

General Zak asked again.

"Your Excellency, none so far."

The two mages replied.

It was normal they had not seen humans.

Although the western section of the Endless Desert had become a vast oasis,

the area Lucine, the Medusa chieftain, had focused on cultivating was still the western region.

In the eastern region, months ago, Lucine had only brought a million captives and, with magical assistance, carved out a single river—nothing more.

After all, the Desert Province had too few people.

Only a few tens of thousands of Medusa women lived there permanently, and they still couldn't fully cultivate the land.

Moreover, the Desert Province was unsuitable for excessive cultivation.

"General Zak, why has such a vast area of oasis appeared here?"

At this moment, the Hongyizhu Sect prelate on a nearby flying ship could no longer hold back—he flew over to General Zak's sandship and looked down at the oasis.

General Zak unrolled the map and said: "My Lord, look—this is the map drawn ten years ago. At that time, this entire region was still desert. His Majesty's survey team would not have made an error. Moreover, twenty years ago, an imperial bard visited this area and described in his poem having encountered Medusas."

Here, General Zak's tone shifted slightly, carrying a note of solemnity, and said:

"But now, this desert—an area equivalent to ten of our provinces—may have entirely turned into oasis!"

Upon hearing General Zak's words, the Hongyizhu Sect prelate drew a deep breath:

"Such a vast area of oasis?"

General Zak said: "Yes, My Lord. To transform such a vast desert into oasis within ten years—even our entire empire, if it poured all its strength into it, could not accomplish it. Unless… our God intervened…"

"Even our God could not do it!"

The Hongyizhu Sect prelate said solemnly.

Then he felt his wording was inaccurate and added:

"Our God has little mastery over water and life principles. He would not expend such immense divine power on such a meaningless act. But without divine intervention, achieving this in ten years would require dozens of Saint Domains, all experts in water and life principles, working together."

"Dozens of Saint Domains? That's impossible. So this oasis must be the work of some god!"

The Hongyizhu Sect prelate concluded.

"Could this place then be a god's realm?"

General Zak said.

Hongyizhu Sect said: "No people, what realm is there? General Zak, do not worry so much. Truly powerful gods would never be so bored as to do such things. Besides, matters of gods are for gods to resolve—we are here to conquer the Eternal Night Empire. If this one green oasis frightens you, how will you face the mighty Eternal Night Empire? Will you retreat without a fight?"

General Zak's expression hardened: "My lord speaks truly. Your servant was indeed frightened just now."

"Report, General! We've discovered Medusans ahead. They demand we leave this oasis immediately, claiming it is the territory of the Flame Empire!"

At this moment, a Magician flew over and reported.