Chapter 389: The Last Arcane Eye, The Last Splendor

"Your Highness?"

Shivana stood to one side, and seeing Lin Chao lost in thought, she called out softly.

Lin Chao came back to his senses, departing from his previous state.

"Has any special person arrived in Iron Stone City recently?" Lin Chao asked.

For some reason, he had a premonition that something major was about to happen.

Perhaps this major event was related to the Ancient Relic, or perhaps it was unrelated and happening elsewhere.

"If you mean important people, there is only Guangming Xiu, who came a while ago.

If you mean others, there is Anwa from the Arcane Empire?" Shivana replied.

Iron Stone City had indeed attracted many adventurers recently.

However, most of these adventurers were not very strong, and even High-level Professionals rarely appeared, so they could not be considered big figures.

"Hmm." Lin Chao nodded.

After reporting the matters, Shivana left the room, though the gaze she cast toward Lin Chao was quite reluctant to part.

Returning to the City Lord Mansion, Shivana looked at the documents on the table, an inexplicable expression flashing in her eyes.

"Sister Shivana, in a few more months, it will be His Highness's coming-of-age ceremony. Which noble's daughter will be granted in marriage to His Highness?" a young woman nearby asked.

This woman was from the family of Count Kaixiu and had been staying by Shivana's side, helping her handle government affairs.

Nowadays, the Nine Prince was the person to whom Count Kaixiu and a group of other nobles pledged their loyalty; their lives and fortunes were bound to the Nine Prince, so they naturally cared about the Nine Prince's marriage.

"I... do not know; this must wait for the King's decree of marriage.

According to past experience, perhaps it will be the daughter of a Duke." Shivana felt somewhat dejected when mentioning this.

"Could the daughter of a Duke be arrogant and domineering?" The young woman frowned, feeling somewhat worried, fearing it would affect the family's interests.

After all, in such family marriages, there might even be the possibility of power annexation.

"That is unknown." Shivana did not know either.

She did not know much about those Dukes within the kingdom.

"Sigh, if His Highness the Prince married you, Sister Shivana, how good that would be. Our several great families would certainly support it very much," the young woman said, a look of regret appearing on her face.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Shivana's face turned somewhat red.

"I am speaking the truth. Sister, you are a High-level Professional, the City Lord of Koya City, and His Highness's Guardian Knight; you are enough to be a match for His Highness, and the King would not refuse.

If His Highness wrote a letter to the King, the King would not grant a marriage." The young woman argued persuasively.

She was quite right.

The King would grant a marriage.

However, if the Prince had someone he was moved by, he could also report it to the King, and the King would conduct an investigation; if they were qualified, he would not grant a marriage.

Shivana's conditions were absolutely qualified.

In the Saya Kingdom, there were also quite a few princes who married their own Guardian Knights.

"His Highness has not been moved by me." Shivana sighed.

"Sister, you are so beautiful, where is there a man who could refuse you? Unless, His Highness likes men!"

"That is not it." Shivana shook her head. "In the Wangcheng, His Highness was always very low-key and ordinary; it was only after coming to Koya City that he revealed his own strength.

I can see that His Highness has his own grand ambitions.

I do not know what his ambitions are, but I understand that he has not placed his heart on romantic entanglements for the time being.

Moreover, His Highness the Prince seems to have someone in his heart."

Shivana recalled the scene she had seen that day; it was the first time she had seen longing and tenderness in the eyes of His Highness the Prince.

"Sister, I think it is still that you are too reserved.

Although you have listened to me these past few months, applying makeup and dressing up, you are still too restrained toward Prince Lin.

If I were you... I definitely would have captured Prince Lin long ago!

Men, after all, are all the same.

No matter how extraordinary His Highness is, he is still a man.

You are His Highness's knight; if I were you, I would go find him directly at night, wear some revealing clothes, chat about some ambiguous topics, have accidental physical contact, and then look at His Highness affectionately—could he still hold back?

Guardian Knight, right? Among those princes, if their Guardian Knight is a great beauty, which one could resist not riding her?" The young woman was quite bold.

After all, being among the nobility, she had seen too many things.

Moreover, in a kingdom like the Saya Kingdom, which is known for its art, it goes without saying how open the nobility is.

These young nobles often gathered to discuss art and ended up discussing it in bed.

People like Shivana and Prince Lin, who had very clean private lives, could be said to be very rare in the Saya Kingdom.

"Alright, Tasha, do not say any more." Shivana shook her head, ending this topic.

Yet, her heart was somewhat uneasy; if she really followed what Tasha said, would it be possible for her... to really capture His Highness the Prince?

She was uneasy and hesitant, ultimately unable to make up her mind.

The changes in the Ancient Relic continued for a full three months.

Lin Chao had also gone to explore the Ancient Relic once, but he had not discovered any useful information.

In the Ancient Relic, he only saw some treasures and did not even discover any monsters.

After exploring for a day, his harvest was just a large pile of treasures, with no other gains.

Then, he was teleported out of the relic.

Everyone could stay in the relic for at most one day.

Later, Lin Chao was unable to enter the relic.

Therefore, his harvest was not much, and he also did not understand why the Ancient Relic would keep glowing.

However, he did not pay it any more attention.

After all, the changes occurring at the Ancient Relic were beneficial to Iron Stone City.

Nowadays, Iron Stone City attracts many adventurers, most of whom come for the Ancient Relic.

At this moment, Lin Chao and Anwa are standing on the city walls, looking down at the area outside the city.

On the main road outside the city, there is an endless stream of caravans, and many adventurers are riding horses, rushing toward Iron Stone City.

These adventurers are all wearing heavy coats, and their faces mostly show expressions of majesty, or they are laughing loudly.

In stark contrast to this is a long line of refugees; these refugees are all in rags with numb expressions, only revealing a look of hope in their eyes when they look up and see Iron Stone City.

The fact that Iron Stone City accepts refugees and provides them with relief has already spread, and many displaced people who have lost their homes due to war are all rushing toward Iron Stone City.

There are also impoverished people who cannot afford to eat due to natural disasters, all rushing toward Iron Stone City.

Because of this, people in other cities jokingly refer to Iron Stone City as a refugee camp.

"There are more and more refugees," Lin Chao sighed.

It is true that Iron Stone City lacks people, and these refugees fill the population gap in Iron Stone City, which is a good thing.

But behind it, it makes Lin Chao sigh.

After all, for every refugee who manages to reach Iron Stone City, three refugees died on the road, and another three died in the war.

"Anwa, how is the war between the Arcane Empire and the Four Great Temples going?" Lin Chao asked.

Although he has been following the war between the Arcane Empire and the Four Great Temples, the information he obtains is certainly not as good as Anwa's.

Anwa is, after all, from the Arcane Empire and has quite a high status within the Arcane Empire.

"Four days ago, at Dragon Phoenix Valley, the Arcane Empire soundly defeated the Light Temple; within the Light Temple, three Legendary figures were buried there.

In this nearly year-long war, the Four Great Temples have lost more than they have won, and I believe that before long, the Arcane Empire will be victorious.

It's just that, those refugees... damn the Four Great Temples!"

Anwa harbors deep hatred for the Four Great Temples.

"The Four Great Temples are the true cancer of this world!"

While the Four Great Temples are attacking the Arcane Empire, they are also attacking many small nations.

These refugees are mostly people from those small nations.

The Four Great Temples cannot defeat the Arcane Empire, but dealing with those small nations is easy.

Lin Chao nodded, acknowledging Anwa's words: "I wonder when the war will end."

Hearing that the Arcane Empire still has the upper hand, Lin Chao feels quite good; he has a favorable impression of the Arcane Empire and does not wish to see the Arcane Empire fall.

Moreover, he even brought back the Arcane Eye from the Arcane Empire to improve it.

Nowadays, in Iron Stone City, twelve Arcane Eyes have already been secretly installed.

Only a few players and Lin Chao know about this matter.

The improved Arcane Eye is powerful; even the current Lin Chao could not forcibly take a hit from one.

This ensures the safety of Iron Stone City.

Of course, Lin Chao also does not hope for the day when the Arcane Eye has to be used.

"The Four Great Temples are attacking our Arcane Empire and suffering heavy losses; I estimate they cannot afford the consumption, and in another year, they will retreat, and I will be able to return to the Arcane Empire."

Speaking of this, Anwa's face carries an expression of anticipation.

She has been away from the Arcane Empire for a long time; she is homesick.

Although Iron Stone City is very similar to the Arcane Empire in many aspects, her home is in the Arcane Empire.

"When you return to the Arcane Empire, please give my regards to Master Kong Ping," Lin Chao said with a smile in his eyes, but in the next second, the smile on his face froze; he looked up toward the Heavenly Vault in the southwest direction.

He saw a brilliant, gorgeous, and unforgettable sight.

Light, endless light.

Countless pillars of light are rushing toward the Heavenly Vault!

That scene is like modern warfare in a movie, with endless artillery fire and flashing lights; it seems as if the sky is about to be torn apart.

Those pillars of light appear from nothing, flashing into the sky, as if shells were being launched into the air and then exploding.

The entire Heavenly Vault is filled with the dense sound of explosions.

Even from a thousand miles away, what can be seen is like a gorgeous fireworks display.

Following that is the sound of the earth shaking.

It is as if the earth itself is trembling.

In Iron Stone City, everyone feels something and looks up toward the southwest.

Anwa also looks toward the southwest; the expression on her face freezes, and her eyes reveal an expression of endless fear: "Arcane Eye..."

Lin Chao's heart also turns cold.

He has tested the improved Arcane Eye.

He knows that it is the Arcane Eye of the Arcane City that has been activated.

Even though he is a thousand miles away from the Arcane City, that dazzling daylight still falls into his eyes.

The Arcane Eye has actually been activated at this moment!

The Arcane Eye is known as the most powerful defensive weapon in the world and humanity's greatest masterpiece.

The Arcane Eye is also the final bastion and the last line of defense for the Arcane Empire!

Once the Arcane Eye is activated, it means... the Arcane Empire has encountered an invincible enemy and has reached the point of exhaustion.

But in this world, who could possibly threaten the Arcane Empire?

And who could force the Arcane Empire to use all of its Arcane Eyes?

Arcane City, what on earth has happened!

"Impossible, impossible!" Anwa's eyes were filled with tears, "I want to go back, I want to go back to Arcane City!"

Lin Chao looked at the brilliant pillars of light and the endless explosions, golden light flowing in his eyes.

Pure white wings and a soft radiance fell into his eyes.

Seraphs!

Above the Heavenly Vault, it was shockingly... Seraphs.

Arcane City.

The former city in the sky, the Arcane Hall that represented truth, had already collapsed.

That magnificent, awe-inspiring city wall, capable of holding back a million-strong army, also began to fracture.

In Arcane City, cries and roars were mixed together.

Countless pillars of light shot into the sky like cannonballs, striking the enemies above the Heavenly Vault.

Night slowly descended, but the pillars of light never ceased; the entire night was like the Heavenly Vault.

Many citizens of Arcane City looked up at the Heavenly Vault, their eyes filled with despair, anticipation, anger, and fear.

Above the Heavenly Vault, those pairs of winged Seraphs were prowling and slaughtering.

As their wings swept down, flames and explosions immediately fell into the city.

The Great Arcanists of the past could no longer save their citizens or their companions.

Only the Arcane Eye continued to emit light, attacking the dense swarms of Seraphs in the Heavenly Vault.

That was a number of over a thousand Seraphs!

"Mom, I'm scared." A young boy looked at the terrifying figures in the sky, a look of fear appearing in his eyes.

Beside him were collapsed houses and a corpse—it was his father's.

The Seraphs' indiscriminate attack had killed his father.

The young mother hugged her son, tears still in her eyes; she looked at the sky and gritted her teeth, saying: "Don't be afraid, the Arcane Eye... is humanity's most powerful weapon, it is the sturdiest barrier of our Arcane Empire, it will protect us!"

In the hearts of the citizens of Arcane City, the status of the Arcane Eye was comparable to the Arcane Hall.

The Arcane Hall was home to hundreds of Great Arcanists.

However, suddenly, a pair of terrifying giant hands appeared, destroying the Arcane Hall; space was torn apart, and all the Great Arcanists vanished without a trace.

Following that, thousands of Seraphs descended upon Arcane City.

Every single Seraph had strength comparable to a Legendary, and not just an Ordinary Legendary at that.

At this moment, the only thing left that could protect the Arcane Empire was the Arcane Eye.

Yet, those Arcanists understood that in the face of thousands of Seraphs, no matter how strong the Arcane Eye was... it was useless.

The war continued for three hours, and it was now deep into the night.

Above the Heavenly Vault, Seraphs fell from time to time.

However, Arcane City was being destroyed even more severely.

Almost one-third of the buildings were completely destroyed.

Those Seraphs were still attacking incessantly.

The Arcane Eye was still tirelessly emitting its most powerful attacks, guarding those it was meant to guard.

Seraphs were falling continuously.

One, two, three.

Ten, twenty, thirty.

The entire Arcane City suffered heavy losses; everywhere there were broken walls and ruins, everywhere there was fire, a scene of desolation.

The entire city had been reduced to ruins.

Yet, the Arcane Eye was still attacking, striking the enemies that had destroyed their home.

Unfortunately, those it guarded had all met their end.

But not a single Arcane Eye stopped its counterattack, still operating at maximum power to kill the incoming enemies.

All invading enemies were met with its most severe strikes.

Outside Arcane City, countless people looked up at the sky, watching the pillars of light as brilliant as fireworks, deeply moved.

That day, 1,200 Seraphs invaded, and the Arcane Eye illuminated the entire firmament.

Thanks to the big boss 【Hui Mou Jian You Xiang】 for the tip! (No need to tip, it costs too much money, I feel quite embarrassed!)

(End of this chapter)