Chapter 354: The Ancient Rebellion Has Not Yet Subsided (22)

Seven days later, the party arrived at the southern outskirts of Silver Sand City.

Going north another twenty-plus li brings you to the urban area of Silver Sand City.

Here, the fine silver sand turned into a gravel-strewn Gobi beach, and many drought- and heat-resistant plants appeared.

To be safe, the party did not advance further but found a hidden valley, set up a temporary camp, and sent some Holy Scouts into the city to gather information.

Luosen also opened Laifu's void vision to assist in the scouting.

Besides that, he used this opportunity to treat Tilalin's injuries, helping her regain strength.

Inside the tent, Tilalin lay flat on a shifting stone platform, while Luosen sat on a chair beside the platform, placing the Natural Scepter on the forehead of this Time-Insight Mage.

He did not treat randomly; instead, following her guidance, he gradually repaired the damage.

Tilalin was very relaxed, using her magic to guide Luosen while also being able to speak.

"Your Majesty, your healing art is astonishing; even in the Dawn Empire, one could hardly find a few healers who could rival you."

Most of Luosen's healing work was done by Laifu, so he naturally relaxed as well.

"Probably just talent, but Madam, your guidance speed is quite fast; aren't you worried about making a mistake?"

"Actually, right or wrong doesn't matter; I'm just following the guidance of the Thread of Time, choosing the best possible recovery path at present."

Luosen was somewhat surprised: "Madam, aren't you worried that precious memories in your soul might be destroyed?"

"No need to worry, because my memories are not stored in the soul."

"Or more accurately, what exists in my soul is merely a memory index, while the true knowledge I have hidden in a special way within the river of time."

"When my strength is sufficient, I will be able to retrieve it."

This sounds somewhat mystical, but in fact there are many ways to achieve it, and some of those methods are not actually difficult.

For example, storing memories in an optical disc as an elemental medium, then properly preserving the disc.

If storing just one is unsafe, just store several more.

As long as the quantity is sufficient, there will always be someone lucky enough to cross the river of time.

Thus, Luosen didn't ask further details but instead discussed the specifics of perfecting the law ring.

"So, perfecting a 23-layer law ring is difficult to do all at once; it must be upgraded layer by layer?"

"Exactly, and the later stages require more power, so the difficulty naturally increases."

"How many layers did the Dawn Empire ultimately reach?"

"Twenty-two layers; the twenty-third layer hadn't yet been consolidated, but we have already found a way to advance."

"What about the Abyss?"

"The Abyss is one step ahead of us, having successfully forged a 23-layer law ring."

Saying this, Tilalin let out a soft sigh: "Your Majesty, I know you want to ask for details, such as what kind of energy is used."

"But I'm sorry, the relevant memories are lost; the only thing I can be certain of is that it is not solar essence."

"Alright."

Luosen felt this wasn't a good time to ask, so he lowered his head and focused on treatment.

According to his estimate, with his assistance, at most one month and she would regain legendary power.

But although Tilalin is a scholar, she has a mouth that can't stay idle.

"Your Majesty, I've noticed that you frequently seek amusement with your followers."

Upon hearing that tone, Luosen immediately thought of the moralists at home, those fellows who especially loved to admonish him; to avoid trouble, he simply made Emperor Luosen into a perfect moral paragon.

But that was the sin of the puppet stand-in; his true self does not want to be a gentleman.

"Madam, this is my personal affair."

"I know, but an emperor has no private affairs; every move of yours involves the fate of countless citizens."

Luosen smirked inwardly; he had long been used to such admonitions and had plenty of retorts.

He immediately said: "Madam, are you using all these formalities to bind His Majesty Safennuos?"

"No, His Majesty Safennuos possesses a morality as perfect and pure as a saint's; he is a holy emperor."

"Whether or not he is a holy emperor aside, a ruler of a fallen state is undoubtedly so."

Tilalin frowned, speaking seriously: "Your Majesty, your words are perhaps overly harsh; the empire's destruction is not solely your fault."

Luosen cracked a smile: "But at least this shows one fact: an emperor's greatest virtue is not perfect morality, but the achievement of expanding territory."

"If an emperor loses his empire, then even with a thousand virtues, he is merely a flower decorating corpses and ruins—meaningless."

Tilalin pursed her lips, unable to rebut.

Luosen won the argument, but felt no pride, as he could see at a glance that she was not skilled in debate.

After roughly half an hour of treatment, the day's treatment was declared over.

"Madam, let's leave it at that for today; please rest well."

Having said that, he rose and left the tent.

As he reached the curtain, Tilalin's voice came from behind: "Your Majesty, you and Safennuos have completely opposite personalities."

Luosen chuckled: "Since you've seen that, from now on don't apply to me the standards you use for him."

After leaving the tent, the Holy Scouts sent to Silver Sand City had not yet returned; after thinking, he went to find Beilu Dandi to pass the time.

Compared to Adiela's gentleness like water, Beilu Dandi is passionate like fire—just two extremes.

Relatively speaking, Luosen prefers the former, because he likes to keep the situation under his own control.

But he also often changes pace, enjoying the leisure of passively receiving service.

Just as he and Beilu Dandi were getting along well, the Holy Scouts returned.

The report was given to Adiela, who then came to find him.

Luosen lay flat on the ground mat, letting Beilu Dandi have her way: "What exactly is the situation inside the city?"

Adela has grown accustomed to Luosen's deviant, almost absurd behavior; anyway, he never neglected his duties because of it, and after many times she just turned a blind eye.

The city is bustling, with many expedition teams from other planes arriving.

Besides the witch and Gaomile'er, all the other Great Ones have come personally leading their teams.

Beilu Dandi immediately asked: "Has my father come too?" "He has."

Beilu Dandi shrugged: "Seeing me now, he must be quite surprised; he might even envy me."

After all, she possesses a divine body with limitless growth potential.

Adela continued: "Besides the teams of the Great Gods, there are many solitary planar traveling mages."

These people basically just come to try their luck.

Luosen nodded to show he understood, and gestured for Adela to continue.

Moreover, the city has discovered a full twenty black spellhunters, who serve as guards protecting the lord's manor and the strategic points of Silver Sand City.

Luosen had already seen them through the void vision, so he wasn't surprised: "Black spellhunters, they probably belong to some rebel warlord faction."

Quite likely; everyone in the city says that the lord of Silver Sand City, Baril, is a slave of the black death god Sanluo, and the city's residents usually call the spellhunters 'death angels'.

No sooner had the words fallen than Tiralilin in a purple robe walked into the tent.

Her gaze swept over Luosen and then immediately dropped.

Your Majesty, Sanluo was once a count family of the Dawn Empire; Sanluo is their surname.

Moreover, a soul in normal state can exist for about 8000 years at most; taking into account accidental loss, this could be the third-generation Count Sanluo after the empire's collapse.

This is serious business; Luosen immediately patted Beilu Dandi's arm, signaling her to pause her service.

So, how strong is this Count Sanluo's power?

Back then it was merely an insignificant little warlord faction; I don't know what it's like now.

Adela immediately added: "The current black death god Sanluo is no simpleton; reportedly he controls over a dozen cities like Silver Sand City, with a radius of 1500 kilometers as his territory."

Even the Gate of Creation lies within his territory.

Intelligence also says the black death god commands at least 2000 death angels.

Luosen listened attentively, at the same time interrupting Beilu Dandi's little movements.

In that case, the once minor player has grown into a major player.

He looked at Tiralilin: "Lady, as far as I know, synthesizing solar essence requires building a large high-energy factory. Do you think there still exists a factory with similar function on this plane?"

Tiralilin shook her head bluntly: "None, not a single one."

You're sure?!

Yes, I'm sure. The tremor of the Thread of Time has fully proven this.

Moreover, before the empire's destruction, His Majesty the Emperor nearly exhausted the store of solar essence in order to perform the Time-Stagnation Technique.

Luosen understood: "In that case, the power of these death angels must be nearly depleted, even close to exhaustion."

Adela nodded: "Quite likely. Because the death angels in the city are completely motionless, in a dormant state."

Any other important intel?

Adela nodded: "There's one more piece of intel, likely related to Lady Tiralilin."

She paused, her face turning somewhat grave.

The lord of Silver Sand City, Baril, has issued a new bounty: to seek the so-called ancient Sage's blood.

The bounty gives little description of the ancient Sage's blood. Just two points: purple hair, and strange eyes with purple starlight specks.

Luosen glanced at Tiralilin: "Lady, this is aimed at you."

Tiralilin frowned slightly.

How could it be that after all these years, they can still sense me?

Could there still be old acquaintances alive?

Luosen felt a stir in his heart and immediately asked: "Lady, back then you were under a wanted order; why were you hunted?"

Tiralilin hesitated a bit, but eventually spoke.

I hold the complete secret key to the empire's supreme arcane mysteries.

This is the important mission entrusted to me by His Majesty, aimed at finding an opportunity to restore the empire's glory.

Luosen understood: "This information was inadvertently leaked and reached the ears of the rebel warlord faction."

"Yes." Tiralilin nodded.

Luosen suddenly felt the gravity of the problem increase: "Lady Adela, is the bounty reward generous?"

The reward is a death doll; obtaining it just requires providing a clue, and its effect is to ward off a single instance of fatal misfortune.

The city has responded enthusiastically, showing that the death doll is quite useful.

Luosen turned to Tiralilin: "Lady, it seems you need to disguise yourself well; perhaps I should help you change the color of your hair and eyes."

Tiralilin nodded: "That would be troublesome, Your Majesty, but this can only fool ordinary people. For my enemies have already sensed my return."

She paused, then said: "Your Majesty, my greatest enemy is likely the chief of the seven Sages who once betrayed Safinonos, Xicelo Safinonos."

He is the cousin of the Safinonos emperor.

Hearing this, Beilu Dandi couldn't help but scoff: "Is the emperor stupid? Actually bestowing such great honor on his potential rival!"

Tiralilin's face showed a hint of sorrow.

Xicelo is a peerless arcane genius, while Your Majesty's arcane ability is mediocre; this is an unavoidable move.

Luosen chuckled: "In the empire's twilight, imperial authority weak, ministers powerful, all sorts of strange phenomena arise; it's hardly surprising."

Immediately afterward, his expression turned serious.

Thus it seems the ancient rebellion has never been quelled; the wildfire in the hearts of the ancient traitors could at any moment spread into a raging inferno across the entire planar world.

One obvious fact is that we cannot remain aloof.

As long as you master Ti La Lili, you will become the mortal enemy of the treacherous warlord.

You may also abandon Ti La Lili, but that also means giving up the qualification for the Contending Star Realm, and you will inevitably become a slave enslaved by others in the future.

Since there is no way to retreat and settle, we will strive in the Bolang Contention.

He stood up and made the final decision.

"Madam Ti La Lili, I have decided to join the Royal Creation Bureau!"

(End of chapter)