Chapter 366: The Dilemma of the Arcane Empire

"People from the Arcane Empire are worth making contact with; I am quite interested in their Arcane Eye."

After Aunt Winnie and Charlie left, Lin Chao said to Heiniu and the others.

"Is the Arcane Eye very powerful?" Beside him, the level-eight Little Tough revealed a curious expression.

Golem Puppets originate from the Arcane Empire.

Furthermore, because the Kunan Orc Tribe was driven out by people from the Arcane Empire, the players had all heard of the Arcane Empire.

"Very strong," Lin Chao began. "The Arcane Eye is known as the Imperial Rampart; it is the Arcane Empire's ultimate foundation."

The Arcane Eye is also known as the number one defensive weapon fortress in the world today.

It is rumored that when all the Arcane Eyes of the empire open their gazes, even gods will tremble.

In Lin Chao's words, there was an expression of admiration.

It must be said that the three human empires are truly worthy of being the three strongest nations in the world.

The Bauhinia Empire has exceptionally developed commerce, its economy being the greatest on the God Continent, and its chambers of commerce are spread across the God Continent.

There is a saying that two-thirds of the wealth of the God Continent is gathered in the Bauhinia Empire.

The Arcane Empire is completely different from the other nations on the God Continent.

This nation does not worship gods, has no aristocrats, and has established a perfect military merit system.

Most importantly, this nation possesses powerful Arcanists and has built a powerful arcane civilization.

Golem Puppets and flying warships are products of the Arcane Empire.

Precisely because they do not worship gods, the Arcane Empire is considered an anomaly in the eyes of other nations.

The third empire comes from the distant East and is known as the Ancient Tang Empire.

This empire is too far from the Shaya Kingdom, and even Lin Chao does not know much about it.

He only knows that the Ancient Tang Empire has many wandering monks, Daoists, and swordsmen.

These professionals have wills that are unexpectedly strong, all comparable to the professionals here.

However, being able to be ranked alongside the Bauhinia Empire and the Arcane Empire as the three great empires of the God Continent shows that this empire's strength cannot be underestimated.

"So powerful! If we learn the production method and install it in our Iron Stone City, those Demon Race invaders will be courting death if they attack again!" said the level-eight Little Tough.

Lin Chao nodded; he held the same view.

However, he felt that the Arcane Empire sending envoys to the Wangcheng was not that simple.

He had a feeling in his heart that a storm was coming.

At this moment, inside the assembly hall.

The white-haired old man chuckled and drained the tea before him in one gulp.

"It seems the Shaya Kingdom does not welcome us very much."

The old man was a Great Arcanist of the Arcane Empire and also the envoy who had come to the Shaya Kingdom this time.

Beside the old man was a young girl; there was a scar on the girl's face that ruined her exquisite features.

The girl was very simple and calm, her eyes resolute: "The Shaya Royal Family worships the God of Song; naturally, they will not welcome us, the faithless."

The Arcane Empire envoys present were not surprised by this.

The Arcane Empire is famous for its Arcane.

And the first requirement to study Arcane is that one cannot worship gods.

This group of the faithless naturally suffers exclusion from those who believe in gods.

Moreover, most importantly, the Arcane Empire passed a bill one hundred years ago that abolished the aristocratic system.

This offended the Old Aristocrats even more.

If it were not for the Arcane Empire's strength being overly powerful, other kingdoms might have even expelled the Arcane Empire from the ranks of humanity.

"Anwa, you are from the Shaya Kingdom and have even stayed in the royal palace. What percentage chance do you think there is that the Shaya Royal Family will agree to sell us the Star Sand?" The Great Arcanist chuckled, his expression kindly.

"Less than thirty percent." The girl named Anwa had some hesitation in her eyes.

She was once a palace maid in the Shaya Royal Palace, eventually fled the Shaya Kingdom, entered the Arcane Empire, and became an arcane apprentice of the Arcane Empire.

In the Arcane Empire, she felt like she had been reborn, feeling as if she had lived in vain before.

"Less than thirty percent, huh!" The Great Arcanist stroked his beard, frowning. "Currently, the empire is full of internal crises, and external enemies are at our side; the Arcane Eye must be expanded."

The Arcane Eye is the empire's final rampart.

At the same time, its symbolic significance is also great, capable of giving the populace great confidence.

It can be said that the commoners of Shaya Wangcheng do not worry about Shaya Wangcheng being breached because the God of Song they worship will cast its gaze upon this city.

The populace of the Arcane Empire does not worry about the empire being breached because the Arcane Eye gives them confidence.

"Which cities in the Shaya Kingdom are rich in Star Sand?" the Great Arcanist asked.

"There are seventeen cities in total, namely Chestnut City, Pingyuan City... Longdong City... Koya City..."

Anwa recited the seventeen cities as if she knew them by heart.

"Hmm." The Great Arcanist nodded, wondering what he was pondering.

Just then, a noisy sound suddenly came from outside the door.

The Great Arcanist narrowed his eyes slightly: "What is going on?"

At this time, a young man who looked like a student walked in, his face wearing an angry expression: "Teacher, there are people outside... throwing rotten eggs... I will take people to drive them out now."

The more the young man spoke, the more agitated and angry he became.

The Arcanists in the room all had their expressions change slightly, while also feeling helpless.

The Arcane Empire is incomparably powerful, and its populace is united as one; it can be considered enlightened.

However, in the eyes of humans from other kingdoms, the Arcane Empire is just a group of the faithless.

There is even a rumor that the Arcane Empire, this group of non-believers who do not worship the gods, has already provoked the gods' resentment toward humanity.

In recent years, disasters have occurred frequently precisely because the Arcane Empire does not worship the gods, triggering the gods' wrath.

Therefore, many followers of the gods are very resistant to the Arcane Empire, believing that the people of the Arcane Empire are colluding with the Abyss and are a group of devils.

"Pay them no mind," the Great Arcanist sighed.

Beside him, Anwa's face was full of anger: "Abominable! These ignorant masses, believing in gods and becoming slaves to the gods, having no self—is this something worth being proud of?"

Nearby, other Arcanists were also indignant: "Coming to the Saya Kingdom, everything I have seen along the way is poverty and ignorance.

Their subjects are sallow and thin, able to eat only one meal a day, unable to even satisfy their hunger, yet they still pray devoutly every day.

Their houses are dilapidated, unable to even block the rain, while the nearby Temple is built magnificently, with a single tile worth more than the houses of those believers.

This group of people, ignorant and unenlightened, still worships that group of high and mighty gods in the sky; what can the gods possibly bring them?"

"Exactly, believing in gods is nothing more than becoming slaves to the gods.

But as long as we hold firm to the Arcane in our hearts, one day, we too can become gods.

Gods are merely powerful creatures, after all!"

The Arcanists present had firm gazes.

The education they received from childhood was different from that of other kingdoms.

They believed that gods were merely slightly more powerful creatures.

Therefore, they did not worship gods, but instead worked hard to become stronger and become gods themselves.

The Great Arcanist looked at the young people in the room, revealing a gratified smile: "With you, the Empire possesses endless hope.

Those commoners outside have different concepts from us, but we should not feel that they are wrong.

Truth is held in... one's own hands; just strive to do one's own part well."

After the Great Arcanist finished speaking, the Arcanists present all nodded, and the anger and dissatisfaction from just before slowly dissipated.

At this moment, a slightly frivolous voice came: "Great Arcanist Kong Ping, hearing of your reputation is not as good as meeting you in person."

Following this voice, a young man entered the courtyard.

The young man had a handsome face, but his eyes were somewhat gloomy, looking just like a venomous snake.

Seeing the visitor, the Arcanists present were all somewhat confused and puzzled, not knowing who the visitor was.

Only Anwa's pupils constricted slightly, a trace of imperceptible hostility flashing in her eyes, though the hostility was instantly hidden away by her.

"His Highness the Third Prince has graced us with his presence; I apologize for not welcoming you sooner," the Great Arcanist said with a chuckle.

He always wore a smile on his face, as if he were a kindly old man; seeing anyone, he was full of smiles and very amiable, making it impossible for others to harbor hostility.

The visitor was none other than the Third Prince of the Saya Royal Family.

His gaze swept quickly over the Arcanists present and finally landed on the Great Arcanist, with not a hint of reverence in his eyes: "Why has Great Arcanist Kong Ping suddenly come to my Saya Kingdom?"

Toward Legendary-level powerhouses, the Third Prince had always been very respectful.

However, the person opposite was a Great Arcanist of the Arcane Empire, and the Third Prince had recently formed an alliance with the Flame Temple, so naturally, he would not be respectful to people from the Arcane Empire.

"Star Sand," the Great Arcanist was still chuckling, but he was somewhat sparing with his words.

"If the Great Arcanist wants to buy Star Sand, I fear you will return empty-handed.

Just the day before yesterday, envoys from the Four Great Temples met with my father the King; they also want the Star Sand," the Third Prince said with a smile on his face.

The expressions of the Arcanists present changed slightly.

The Four Great Temples are the Light Temple, the Death Temple, the Mother Earth Temple, and the Dark Lady Temple.

These Four Great Temples are also the most powerful temples on the God Continent.

These Four Great Temples are the true enemies of the Arcane Empire.

Contradictions and conflicts often occur between the two.

Especially with the Light Temple.

The Light Temple is one of the most aggressive temples, often engaging in holy wars with other temples and dispatching expeditionary forces.

Thirty years ago, the Light Temple dispatched three thousand Light Arbiters to attack the Arcane Empire.

The Light Temple claimed that the glory of their Lord should also descend upon the Arcane Empire.

Unfortunately, the Light Temple's three thousand Light Arbiters were defeated by the Arcane Empire.

The Light Temple suffered a crushing defeat, and this is also the greatest shame of the Light Temple.

And three days after the defeat, the Light Temple even dispatched a Seraph to air-raid the imperial capital of the Arcane Empire.

However, that Seraph, comparable to a High-Grade Legendary, also died at the hands of the Arcane Eye.

This caused the grudge between the Arcane Empire and the Light Temple to grow deeper and deeper.

Now, the Four Great Temples have arrived at the Saya Kingdom before the Arcane Empire to purchase Star Sand; there may be hidden malice in this.

The Great Arcanist was still chuckling: "Since the Four Great Temples want it, our Arcane Empire will not interfere."

This sentence made the Third Prince slightly stunned, though he quickly adjusted and spoke slowly: "However, it is not that there is no way for the Arcane Empire to purchase Star Sand.

I have a good relationship with the City Lord of Tiegeer City, and Tiegeer City is rich in Star Sand; if I were to write a letter to the City Lord of Tiegeer City, the City Lord of Tiegeer City would naturally sell the Star Sand to the Arcane Empire.

Of course... all of this has conditions."

The Third Prince chuckled, his eyes filled with smiles.

"What does the Third Prince want?" the Great Arcanist chuckled.

"There is a list here, recording the names of some people.

As long as the Great Arcanist helps me kill these people, then..."

Before the Third Prince could finish, the smile on the Great Arcanist's face vanished, and for the first time, a cold expression appeared on his face.

"See the guest out." Clearly, the Great Arcanist did not agree to the Third Prince's deal.

The Third Prince's expression did not change; the slip of paper slid from his hand and landed on the tea table: "I will not take the slip of paper with me; whenever the Great Arcanist thinks it through, the deal remains valid."

After the Third Prince finished speaking, he wore a smile and left the courtyard, surrounded by a group of adventurers.

In the courtyard, a young Arcanist said indignantly, "What does this Third Prince take us for? Assassins?"

"Barbarians!"

"Hmph, our Arcane Empire has been too low-key these years; I fear they have forgotten the Mier annihilation war from twenty years ago!"

Mier was a small country supported by the Light Temple.

This country was an island nation, not large in area, with a small population and very weak strength.

However, this country was very provocative.

Relying on the power of the Light Temple, it frequently provoked the Arcane Empire with its words.

In the end, the Arcane Empire dispatched ten Great Arcanists and directly annihilated Mier.

This battle shocked the whole world.

It also allowed other countries to witness the might of the Arcane Empire.

Of course, there were downsides as well.

The Four Great Temples secretly formed an alliance to resist the Arcane Empire together.

The Four Great Temples united with other countries ruled by theocracy to suppress the Arcane Empire and impose economic blockades.

Under the joint suppression of the Four Great Temples, the Arcane Empire's prestige has not been what it once was over these past twenty years.

"Alright, why bring up the past?" The Great Arcanist paused the current topic, "We shall find another way regarding the Star Sand."

Nearby, the other Arcanists nodded, not dwelling on this topic.

Nearby, Anwa picked up the note the Third Prince had dropped, and a string of names appeared before her.

Among them, one name was exceptionally familiar.

That name was none other than the Nine Prince Lin, who had once saved her sister's life.

Back then, her sister had offended the temperamental Third Prince at the Jishi.

The Third Prince had wanted to send her sister to the Renshi to become meat.

At that time, it was the Nine Prince who stepped in to save her sister.

It was precisely because of this incident that rumors spread that the Nine Prince had offended the Third Prince, and the two had formed an irreconcilable conflict.

Now, the Third Prince actually wanted to hire assassins to kill the Nine Prince.

How could Anwa not be anxious?

Given the Third Prince's personality, even if he did not let them kill the Nine Prince Lin, he would have others do it.

Nearby, the Great Arcanist noticed Anwa's unusual behavior and asked kindly, "Anwa, what is wrong?"

"Teacher, on this list is my benefactor, the Nine Prince Lin, who once saved my sister's life." Anwa was somewhat agitated.

She told the Great Arcanist about the matter regarding the Nine Prince Lin.

(End of this chapter)