Chapter 251

Using a special method, Ailin forged a secret passage.

In the passage, Luosen and Zhuo Ya can converse directly.

More precisely, they are negotiating.

Luosen, your actions are too big, driving my grandfather mad. To launch a full-scale war against the Natural Alliance, and even ally with the Elves.

Zhuo Ya's tone was very calm, but her words were frightening.

Luosen naturally knew her purpose, nothing more than using it as a bargaining chip to gain greater benefits in the upcoming cooperation negotiations.

Thus, he immediately rebutted.

"This news is truly disappointing. But I must say, I hold in my hand the irrefutable proof of your alliance with the Elf foreigners."

"The reason it hasn't been released is not that I can't do it, but that I don't want to push things to a point of no return."

Zhuo Ya had prepared in advance.

"This matter can indeed greatly affect our popular reputation, but it's not fatal. As long as we secure final victory on the battlefield, we can still recover."

She replied thus, and Luosen agreed with this point.

Everyone is imperfect, national leaders included; they may have a thousand flaws and myriad defects, but as long as they hold the strongest violence in hand, they can still maintain their position.

And the best means to display the strongest violence is to win an external war.

The reason Lion King Dange was so easily forced to step down is mainly because he lost the naval battle against Weilan.

Thus, Luosen played a card with genuine deterrent power.

"Over the past half year, I haven't been idle."

"I not only massively reinforced the Giant Fortress with troops, but also fully produced a huge quantity of combat weapons, including thousands of unmanned exploding-flame aircraft, millions of exploding-flame shells, and 100 warships!"

"At the same time, in the sea area where the Liujin Strait meets the fengbao yang, I tossed countless trigger exploding-flame bombs into the sea, enough to block the Radiant Fleet."

"Around the Giant Fortress, on the various uninhabited mountains, I also buried countless pressure-triggered exploding-flame bombs in the mud, enough to block any ground infiltration."

"I know you are developing large numbers of anti-air weapons, but I am doing so too!"

"Detection arrays, sniper devices, concentrated attack arrays, and I have also dug large numbers of air-raid shelter caves in various cities."

"If war truly breaks out, I might lose, but you must also prepare psychologically for the loss of a million soldiers."

Obviously, these results are not far off from Zhuo Ya's war strategists' simulations, and such an outcome is something the Radiant Empire cannot bear.

Without even waiting for the war to end, the empire's domestic livelihood will surely decline, resentment will rise everywhere, large anti-war waves will appear, and even inevitably chaos will erupt.

If there were hope of victory, it would be fine, but obviously this is a war with no hope of victory.

Because Zhuo Ya knows that once the Radiant Empire falls into such a war mire, its strength will be greatly damaged, and the Holy Elf Empire will surely stab it in the back, directly sending the empire into the abyss.

So she remained silent.

As the builder of the secret passage, Elrin naturally could also hear both sides' conversation.

She urged, "Cousin, what are you hesitating about?"

"The Natural Alliance wants to unify; we can intervene, but we definitely cannot launch a full-scale war, because this has nothing to do with our empire."

"I know you will certainly say it is related; grand strategy indeed says so, but for the vast majority of people domestically, even if our nation closes its gates and minds its own business, we can live well; why meddle in the Alliance's trivial affairs?"

This also makes sense, and it also broke the negotiation deadlock.

Zhuo Ya sighed and spoke the most crucial words.

"I must obey my grandfather, or else I will die."

Elrin fell silent at once.

She certainly knew the final answer, but she dared not speak it.

As an outsider, Luosen had no such scruples.

He bluntly said, "Then let him die."

"It's currently impossible; the First Shadow Guard has expanded to thirty thousand. I took advantage of the expansion to slip in some spies, but they occupy only peripheral positions."

"My influence over the First Shadow Guard is very limited, and they are my grandfather's loyal hounds; with just one order from him, they can tear apart anyone in the palace, including me."

Although she already possesses legendary power, this power is only strong in one-on-one combat.

Facing a troop equipped with the most advanced thermal weapons and well-trained, if she wants to survive, she can only run.

Moreover, she cannot even escape, because they are also equipped with many legendary arcane devices, and her grandfather is watching.

Luosen immediately said, "Then let's launch a sneak attack and decapitate; as long as we quietly kill the Radiant Lord, without his master the First Shadow Guard will naturally be at your mercy."

Zhuo Ya took a deep breath: "This should be the only way, but I can't do it alone; I need help."

Luosen knew the other party would say that, and he also knew they hadn't finished speaking, so he patiently waited.

"Luosen, if you are willing to help, as soon as I succeed in taking the throne, I will immediately order an end to this mad total war, let the two countries resume normal trade, and return Levinde's three River Counties."

"But I need your help not only to kill my grandfather; there are also other conditions, and these conditions are also very crucial."

"Speak."

Zhuo Ya asked in a solemn voice: "Tell me, have you mastered the synthesis method for super-large-capacity legendary crystals?"

Luosen knew this couldn't be hidden: "Correct, I have mastered it; I call it the Endless Crystal, capable of storing up to 5000 Luosen mana."

Zhuo Ya certainly understood Luosen's practice of using his own name as a unit of measurement, but she had no intuitive grasp of 5000 Luosen.

"Give me a benchmark."

"It's roughly equivalent to 6500 times your current total mana."

Zhuo Ya and Elrin together inhaled a breath of cold air: "So much."

Elrin merely sighed in awe, while Zhuo Ya deeply understood the terror of the Endless Crystal and keenly felt the enormous gap between the two sides.

Because the empire can at most synthesize legendary crystals with a capacity of 300 times mana, the gap between the two sides is a full 20-fold! She immediately asked: "So, outside Lain City, did you use this trick to repel the combined attack of the legendary mages?"

"Correct."

Luosen then added: "Of course, I have also developed some supporting spells, such as a technique for super-large mana capacity, a steady transmission technology for super-large mana flow, and a spell to conceal extra mana flow."

But no matter what, infinite crystal is the foundation of everything.

Zhuo Ya then said: "Then my second condition is that you must share with me the alchemy for synthesizing infinite crystal."

Luosen snorted: "Miss Zhuo Ya, you're being greedy."

I don't think so, because without my cooperation, you definitely couldn't kill my grandfather.

That's fine; since Luosen has already revealed it, he actually had no intention of refusing, and his current attitude is merely negotiating terms.

Thus, he half-truthfully said: "Our nation's alchemy for synthesizing infinite crystal has been developed over five generations. The latest two generations I cannot possibly share with you."

But I can share the third generation with you, and that third-generation alchemy can synthesize infinite crystal worth 2,000 Luosen.

Zhuo Ya pondered briefly and asked: "Can multiple infinite crystals be arranged into a formation?"

Yes, but the formation will affect magic power transmission speed, greatly impacting casting speed.

Zhuo Ya then asked: "With so much legendary magic power, how is it filled?"

She immediately added: "I don't believe it's filled by everyone together; you must have mastered some charging secret techniques."

The charging secret technique is naturally the Soul-Burning Ring. Thus Luosen said: "It's charged by everyone together, more precisely, by the power of faith."

I don't believe it!

Having said that, Zhuo Ya played a favor card in a pleading tone.

Luosen, speaking geopolitically, my Radiant Empire is a natural shield for your Natural Empire against the Holy Elf Empire. I think that since you intend to share infinite crystal, you shouldn't hide such a crucial method.

That statement is also correct.

Especially with the Lord of Truth's imminent return as the backdrop, the Radiant Empire under Empress Zhuo Ya will surely become an ally of the Natural Empire.

Ailin, however, felt quite surprised: "Older cousin, are you pleading with Luosen?"

She had never seen her older cousin speak to anyone in such a tone before.

Zhuo Ya sighed: "I suppose so. Luosen, what do you say?"

Luosen naturally had his own plan: "I can give it, but not for free. The Radiant Empire must also share with me an equal amount of arcane achievements, such as the technology of the Superpower Destructive Light."

Zhuo Ya agreed without hesitation: "Yes."

Then she added: "But I still have a third condition, and it's the most crucial one."

Luosen couldn't help but sigh: "There are so many conditions, but go ahead and say it."

Zhuo Ya then said: "Everyone says Mother Nature is a true god, but I don't believe there is a true god in this world; this is certainly one of your arcane achievements."

I need you to share this arcane achievement; otherwise I would rather follow my grandfather, risking national destruction, to assist him in launching a full-scale war.

Luosen countered: "Is this really important?"

Very important, even the most important.

If the citizens of my Radiant Empire were gradually infiltrated by you into becoming Nature cultists, how could I still rule this empire?

This statement didn't surprise Luosen at all.

Since he began training Laifu to manage followers' faith, he has known this day would come.

Because as long as one's eyes aren't blind, one can see the differences between the Nature Sect and other sects, and also see the immense power of a church controlled by a 'True God'.

A mortal kingdom cannot possibly oppose a True God.

Just like on Earth, a modern world that relies on radio communication absolutely cannot oppose an information-age world.

In terms of organization, cohesion, governance stability, and reaction speed to change, the gap between them is truly enormous.

The former is a slow-witted fool who often makes mistakes, while the latter is a nimble, swift, and accurate powerful warrior—there's simply no way to fight.

Since Zhuo Ya has spoken to this extent, and Luosen also believes that since she said it, she will indeed do so.

This is also human nature.

When a person knows they are destined to fail, they lose all sense of security and become hysterical.

The Lord of Radiance is in such a state; Zhuo Ya's situation is somewhat better, but that doesn't mean she can always maintain her sanity and principles.

Luosen also has a limit to his madness.

For example, when he felt he couldn't deal with the Lord of Truth using conventional means, he began secretly preparing a fission nuclear bomb.

Therefore, to give Zhuo Ya a sense of security and to give the Natural Empire another strong ally against the Lord of Truth, he nodded in agreement.

Because helping others is helping oneself.

Luosen then said: "Same old method—exchange of achievements."

I want three of the Radiant Empire's top-secret achievements. In return, I will offer you the 'True God' achievement.

The Radiant Empire's Arcane Department has many good things, especially its research on light, which has reached an extreme.

Among them, some achievements are of great use to Luosen.

This statement shocked Zhuo Ya greatly: "'True God'—did you really create it?"

Although she had always suspected this, after the news was confirmed she still felt extremely shocked.

Ailin was equally shocked: "How could a 'True God' possibly be created?!"

The two women's arcane common sense was almost completely shattered.

It felt as if the opponent's wisdom was truly unfathomable!

Luosen gave a faint smile: "Empress Zhuo Ya, do you agree?"

Zhuo Ya nodded without hesitation: "I agree!"

Very well, then I will hurry to Mei Da Xilin as soon as possible to carry out the decapitation plan.

Zhuo Ya was surprised again: "Luosen, you're coming in person? You—you aren't afraid I'll change my mind?"

If you come in person to Mei Da Xilin, she could just kill you outright, eliminating all threats, right?

Luosen neither confirmed nor denied, but instead shared a piece of news.

Empress Zhuo Ya, don't you know that the Lord of Truth, De Rui Tan, is about to return?

What!!

Zhuo Ya shuddered violently: "Where did you get this news?"

She naturally knew what this news meant.

"It was pried from the mouth of the Elves' legendary mage, and confirmed by multiple sources. And this is also the biggest reason I am willing to share this major arcane achievement with you."

"We mortals simply cannot endure any internal strife."

Zhuo Ya fell into a long silence.

Ailin was somewhat puzzled: "Is the Lord of Truth that scary?"

Answering her was Zhuo Ya: "Very scary, extremely scary!"

"He is the absolute ruler of the old world, and also the greatest shaper of today's world."

"If he returns, the Elven Empire will repeat its glory, oh Creator, you are too cruel to mortals!"

Obviously, Empress Zhuo Ya, knowing countless secrets, immediately realized the gravity of the problem.

Then she let out a long sigh, speaking in a tone of extreme resolve and extreme disappointment: "My grandfather surely already knew this important news, but because of his private desires, he concealed it from me."

"He considers himself the master of mortals, has always regarded himself as the world's savior, and constantly claims to be the world's sole savior."

"I once thought he was sincere in that, and I wholeheartedly assisted him, helping him strengthen the empire's power."

"But I never expected that, when faced with a truly terrifying crisis, he would care only about his status and glory."

"Despicable! Selfish! Shameless! Greedy! Cowardly!"

"I am deeply disappointed, a disappointment unlike any before!"

"I feel immense shame for having his blood flowing in my veins!"

"He must die!"

The disgust in her words almost congealed into substance; then, she spoke in a calm tone that saw through fate: "Luosen, come over here, I will do my utmost to guarantee your safety."

"If any uncontrollable accident occurs, it will definitely not be because of my betrayal, for I will surely die before you."

(End of Chapter)