Chapter 748: Don

The tree trunk was silvery-white, its branches and leaves emerald-green and translucent, countless specks of light fluttering and swirling like fireflies among the canopy, radiating an overwhelming life force as if brimming with boundless vitality.

This was a vital branch of the Life Ancient Tree, the sacred relic of the Windwhisper family.

Around the ancient tree grew countless rare flowers and herbs, emitting alluring fragrances and spiritual glimmers.

Rare ores sparkled like stars scattered across the grass; even a few ancient magic treasures, enshrined on stone pedestals and glowing with radiant aura, could be seen!

Sylvie’s eyes grew dizzy, her breathing quickened.

Each of these items, if leaked outside, would spark bloody chaos—treasures she had never dared dream of possessing!

Li Chen observed her longing and shock with perfect clarity.

As a leader who deeply understood the art of commanding subordinates, he knew that intimidation alone was insufficient to win loyal service; tangible rewards were essential.

With a casual wave of his hand, a “Moonlight Youlan ” capable of nourishing the soul and enhancing elemental affinity, along with several pieces of pure wind-energy-infused “Riftwind Crystals,” flew to Sylvie’s side.

“For you,” Li Chen said, his voice as flat as ever.

After all, they weren’t his—his gifts were given with casual indifference.

Sylvie could hardly believe her eyes; trembling, she reached out and took the treasures, so overwhelmed she nearly fainted. “Th-thank you, my lord, for your boundless grace!”

Li Chen knew well: once Sylvie accepted these treasures, originally forbidden relics of her family’s sacred grounds, she had effectively submitted her loyalty oath.

If caught stealing these family heirlooms, her fate would be worse than death.

From now on, she would have no choice but to be irrevocably bound to Li Chen’s chariot.

Coupled with the guidance and power he would later promise or bestow, her allegiance would be utterly transformed—from a negligible adopted daughter of the Windwhisper family to a critical pawn planted by Li Chen in this very place.

Li Chen carefully scoured the forbidden realm, his spiritual sense flowing like liquid mercury over every corner.

The branch of the Life Ancient Tree indeed radiated immense life energy, a rare heavenly treasure; for ordinary people, its life-extending effects might be significant, but for a figure like the Pope, it was negligible at best.

Aside from these heavenly treasures and the ancient tree, the entire realm held no other peculiarities—no threats, no traps capable of endangering the Pope.

What had the Pope originally come here for? Li Chen had no clue for now.

Since there were no further clues here, Li Chen quietly departed the forbidden realm with Sylvie.

His next destination: the vicinity of Chief Lothema’s chambers.

Merely approaching the core residential zone of the chief made Sylvie turn pale, her breaths growing faint.

She timidly tugged at Li Chen’s sleeve, hiding behind a stone pillar, her voice a whisper barely audible:

“My lord, ahead lies Chief Lothema’s residence. His power is terrifying—many say he is a Saint Realm cultivator; even if not, he is far stronger than any peak Heaven Abyss cultivator! And his movements are unpredictable—no one knows where he’ll appear next.”

Here, she fell silent—yet the implication was unmistakable: this place was perilous beyond measure, and intrusion was unthinkable.

Beneath his cloak, Li Chen let out a faint, almost inaudible laugh—filled with supreme arrogance and disdain: “Hmph. Don’t say he’s merely a ‘suspected’ Saint Realm cultivator—even if he truly were one, he wouldn’t dare show the slightest insolence before me.”

A casual remark, yet it exploded like thunder in Sylvie’s ears!

Her violet-crystal eyes widened in shock as she stared at the cloaked figure beside her.

That tone—clearly that of an equal, or even a superior! This mysterious “Holy Cleric” was truly a Saint Realm cultivator—a top-tier powerhouse of the continent!

After the shock, an indescribable surge of excitement and deeper reverence rose within her.