Chapter 505: Participation and Fusion

Lily the halfling's hair had been dyed chestnut brown and slightly curled, likely done by the witch Dimia or some girl from the forest.

Now tied into a neat ponytail, she looked even more like a girl than before.

Luo De smiled, propped up his pillow, and sat up.

——Early this morning, when the arachnid elf Yuna came to deliver breakfast, she untangled the silk threads and took the tree spirit Vivian away too.

"Coincidentally, I need your help with something equally impressive."

"Oh? How so?"

Lily's eyes sparkled, her feet dangling from the chair swinging rapidly.

Luo De didn't speak aloud; instead, he sent five words through the 【Far-Speech Chain】: "The dragon's treasury."

The halfling girl paused, then her excitement burst forth.

But she immediately followed up with a question through the 【Far-Speech Chain】.

【Lily: Why say it here? 】

【Luo De: Someone's hiding in the shadows listening. There are eavesdropping silk threads under the bed, along the doorframe, and near the windows. Outside, a light spirit is sneaking around on the roof.】

Lily silently scanned with magic—and indeed, it was true.

But she detected nothing in the shadows.

She was instantly alarmed, as if facing a deadly foe.

【Lily: Has the dragon's influence extended into the forest?】

【Luo De: Not exactly. Just a repentant troublemaker, and two girls worried I haven't fully recovered and might go out causing trouble again.】

"."

Lily gave him a curious glance and quietly cast a spell to conceal the eavesdropping devices.

Only then did she sigh and speak:

"You make it sound like I'm just some enabler of your recklessness."

"So, are you in or not? I'll remind you—there's more than one location. I know exactly where the two dragons in Coral Bay keep their treasuries."

"Mmm!"

Lily's clear, bright eyes began to shimmer with excitement.

But she quickly calmed herself.

"First, Luo De, I need to know where your information comes from. I'm not doubting you—just that in Deepwater, rumors like this constantly surface. That cunning, bloodthirsty old green dragon deliberately spreads tales of his treasury to lure greedy adventurers to their deaths."

"You can rest easy. My source is these very eyes."

Luo De activated the 【Insight Magic Eye】.

There was no need to hide it from his comrade; besides, it was just a domain skill—anyone with the aptitude could obtain it.

It wasn't something like a slavery spell or a cheat-tier ability.

"Domain."

Lily exclaimed in surprise.

Then she immediately praised him: "No wonder it's you, Luo De. I always knew you'd master more than one domain."

During their earlier trip through the open labyrinth, Luo De had already shown her the use of the 【Maintain Domain】.

"Hahaha—"

Luo De, gazing into her pure, wide eyes, felt his spirits lift. "This domain's derivative is called the 【Insight Magic Eye】. It can pierce through magical disguises, high-level darkness, illusions, and more."

As he spoke,

his gaze fell upon Lily. The power of the Magic Eye instantly pierced through her dark red leather breastplate.

Beneath the plain magical armor, two enormous rabbit-like forms pressed against her thin black undershirt, in stark contrast to her petite frame.

Luo De's eyes widened.

Lily had been smiling, pondering his words, when she suddenly caught the man staring fixedly at her chest.

"Mmgh!"

Recalling all the capabilities of his Magic Eye, she instantly understood—and her face flushed crimson.

She crossed her arms to shield herself and spun away.

"Luo De!"

"Ah, sorry!"

Both turned their faces away.

The atmosphere grew awkward.

Luo De broke the silence first.

"So, are you in or not?"

Lily hesitated.

Then she capitulated instantly: "Wait until you're healed. I don't want Little Ko and Yuna glaring at me behind your back."

"You don't get it—Little Ko's bad enough; even when she glares, she looks like a pitiful, harmless little deer. But Yuna's different. In front of you, she's sweet and gentle, but when she faces a threat, her gaze turns as cruel and predatory as a spider watching its prey."

"Hmm, fine. These are just surface wounds anyway—it'll only take a day or two. By the way, remember to come with me to pick someone up later. The one Dimia mentioned—her dog-person sister."

The emerald tree near Sharon the dog-person's side should be finished in these next few days. After robbing the dragon's treasury, we can check on the situation.

"Alright. Faye is the origin and stronghold of plague mages—I'll use these two days to prepare."

Now that they'd settled it,

and after the awkward incident just now,

Lily didn't linger, quickly taking her leave.

Luo De, bored, began studying the refinement of 【Yudian's Ice Blade Domain】.

After all, he'd gained 【Frost Affinity +1】 from forging the ancient white dragon's battle spirit. Letting such an eighth-rank ice spiritual technique stagnate would be a waste.

Luo De's current use of 【Yudian's Ice Blade Domain】 was blunt and mindless—just spreading frost and freezing.

Since its name includes "Ice Blade," it must relate to sharpness.

During testing, he naturally coordinated ice crystal spirituality with sharpness spirituality.

Against enemies of seventh rank or lower, its power was certainly effective.

But now, the enemies Luo De faced were climbing in rank—and this technique was starting to lag behind.

It needed improvement.

Unlike 【Giant Slash】 and 【Aetheron's Flash】, which, though low-ranked, were both types of enhanced basic attacks.

The stronger Luo De's normal attacks, the stronger they became.

He'd even considered fusing them together.

Twenty-four strikes of 【Giant Slash】 with 【Strike Burst】—just hearing it sounded terrifying.

But the spiritual energy cost was terrifying too.

So for refining 【Yudian's Ice Blade Domain】, Luo De also wanted to pursue fusion with existing skills.

He'd already decided on the targets.

【Plague Domain】 + 【Yudian's Ice Blade Domain】.

"No time to waste."

With no one else in the medical station's treehouse, he spread his hands.

In one hand: a sickly yellow-green stench of plague. In the other: a brilliant blue vortex of ice crystals.

【The Myriad Furnace】.

Yes, the Myriad Furnace was a wondrous thing that could fuse even energy.

Yes, the Ten Thousand Forms Smelting Furnace is a wondrous device that can melt even energy.

Hours passed.

Luo De shifted from half-reclining to sitting upright.

On the left side of the floor lay a large puddle of sludge-like, ice-chunked semi-Newtonian fluid.

Above, a cloud of plague-green mist drifted, dripping ice spikes crawling with emerald thorns.

In the corner stood several twisted corpses, their heads severed, formed of ice and bound by plague-grown vines.

They were even living magical creatures.

Luo De scratched his head, deep in thought.

It hadn't worked.

"Feels contradictory…"

If the Plague Domain's power was too strong, the ice spirituality lost its form.

If the ice spirituality was too strong, the Plague Domain lost its vitality.

It seemed the two clashed.

(End of Chapter)

(End of Chapter)