Chapter 743: Dangerous Region—Where the Pope Once Walked!

The southern frontier of the Eternal Day Empire is a vast region bordering untamed, ancient perilous lands.

Legend says this was once one of the final battlefields of the primordial war between gods and demons; its spatial structure is fragile and unstable, often fracturing into twisted rifts, with the laws of heaven and earth chaotic and disordered—sometimes flames scorch the sky, sometimes ice blankets the earth.

Yet danger often coexists with opportunity; this chaotic land nurtures rare treasures, scarce mineral veins, and mutated spiritual plants unseen elsewhere, drawing countless outlaws, explorers, and opportunists to seek their fortune.

Along the edges of this land dwell many special ethnic groups formed by historical circumstances.

Among the more common are the hybrid descendants of humans and elves, who typically possess elfin pointed ears and a partial affinity for nature, combined with human resilience and reproductive capacity, recognized by the Eternal Day Empire as one of its official minority groups.

They primarily reside in an ancient city named Silverglow City.

Silverglow City derives its name from the special stone used to build its walls, which glows with a faint, elfin silver sheen under moonlight.

The entire city blends the grandeur of human fortresses with the elegance of elven architecture—tall towers rise alongside glowing vines that coil around them, streets are paved with polished white stone, and buildings along them feature intricate reliefs and arched windows.

Besides elfin hybrids, the city occasionally harbors a few rare human-demon hybrids, whose features are often subtle, yet their eyes frequently hold a barely perceptible streak of defiance and solitude; they are few in number and typically well-hidden.

At this moment, a figure clad in an old but meticulously cleaned dark gray cloak stepped through the fading twilight toward the grand city gate of Silverglow City, carved with elven patterns and human battle-axe motifs.

The hood of the cloak was pulled low, obscuring most of his face, but the collar and cuffs beneath revealed he wore a simple, unadorned dark robe of a traditional church bishop.

This man was Li Chen, having altered his appearance and concealed his aura; he used superior disguise techniques to pose as a wandering, unassuming ascetic bishop.

The pure sacred power he simulated flowed naturally, radiating an aura of orthodox church authority that brought calm to those nearby.

The city guards were a mixed unit of elfin hybrids and human soldiers.

Seeing Li Chen’s attire and sensing the pure sacred resonance, they skipped the routine inspection entirely.

The squad leader merely nodded slightly, touched his left chest with his right hand in a simple salute, then signaled his men to let him pass.

In the Eternal Day Empire, church clergy—especially bishops who appear as ascetics—hold exalted status; few dare to obstruct or question them.

Li Chen gave a slight bow in return and silently entered Silverglow City.

The scene within differed greatly from elsewhere.

Streets were wide and thronged with people of all races; elfin hybrid merchants called out, selling enchanted crafts and rare herbs.

Tall, boisterous human mercenaries drank heavily outside taverns, boasting of their gains along the perilous frontier.

Even short, bearded mountain dwarves with braided beards could be seen assisting in blacksmith shops, their hammer strikes ringing out.

The air carried a unique blend of spices, ale, metal, and faint magical energy.

Prosperity was the surface appearance.

But Li Chen keenly sensed the undercurrents beneath.

Though different races appeared to coexist peacefully, their glances occasionally flickered with distance and caution.

In the shadows of alleyways, sharp-eyed individuals watched every passerby, as if hunting for easy prey.

Some lavishly decorated carriages, escorted by knights, sped past with closed windows, radiating mystery.

This was a city brimming with vitality, yet hiding countless deals, conspiracies, and dangers.