Chapter 266

"Moo——"

Just as they reached the underground area of the ship graveyard, a bull's roar shook the entire wall.

It seemed that the giant thing had fallen into a rage.

It seemed that something was violently pounding the earth.

"Do they have any chance?" Clearly, the slave market's warriors were once again serving as cannon fodder—they had already begun slaughtering each other.

"Then we'll see how much high-level support those few Good God Churches can provide." Li En estimated that if they could really summon a few high priests, they might actually defeat the monster.

"Then they're dead."

"I think so too."

In this time of turmoil, every faction will prioritize their own survival.

Another sudden incident has forced those orthodox churches to reconsider their options.

"Right now, all underground ruins are infested with mirror spirits. If the livestream shows slave market fighters alongside Good God priests and temple guard knights, it'll be a massive blow to their reputation."

Priests can hardly hide their identities under normal circumstances—even if they truly desecrate by removing their holy symbols, the moment they cast divine magic, their true nature is revealed.

"And if we strip away the influence of their behind-the-scenes patrons, just how much are these elite core fighters from the slave market worth?"

Fallen high-level warriors do exist, but to sink so low as to become enforcers for slave traders is simply too disgraceful.

With such strength, even becoming a bandit would be more honorable than being a "human trafficker."

Ultimately, those who serve as slave market combatants are either discarded rejects from major factions, stripped of their identities,

Or mercenaries hired for money and pleasure.

Don't expect much from their ability or loyalty.

In essence, the slave market is a "toilet"—those above enjoy using it, but in public, they avoid it at all costs.

Anyone who openly associates with it forfeits their reputation and future prospects.

Even if one occasionally hires a powerful warrior, enjoying comfort for a few years in such an environment means no further advancement—just being spared total ruin is already lucky.

In the end, the "evil" a small kingdom like this can produce has its limits.

"Here it comes!"

With another bull's roar, the underground labyrinth trembled violently.

Beneath Li En's party, faint black waves began to rise.

It seemed that something was emerging from below.

It seemed that reality itself was being rewritten.

"Is this a domain? A divine being?"

Hela asked, though she already knew.

Behind her, the little mirror spirit was broadcasting these words outward.

Since entering this area, the mirror spirits' livestream had activated, naturally becoming the broadcast zone of the opposing great mirror spirit.

"Very likely… it appears to be an Ulda Niu Mo, a creation born from the corruption and distortion of the World Tree sapling."

Li En's squad continued advancing steadily; the data had already been transmitted, and multiple tactical plans were prepared.

But since this was "publicity," they naturally needed to show the outside world just how powerful the enemy was—and make those unfortunate slave market fools die with perfect justification.

Of course, if they truly couldn't win, having this "explanation" as groundwork would make retreat perfectly reasonable.

The other knights hadn't thought of any of this, but Li En had already prepared his lines and script, even tested the others' acting skills—ultimately assigning Hela and Claire, as Heroine candidates, as the "lead actors" with dialogue.

"Here it comes!"

The ground trembled and cracked faintly, oozing countless toxins.

More deadly were the bizarre plants crawling out from within.

Man-eating flowers, venomous thorns, beating willows—these famed "plant monsters" were merely the most recognizable of the strange flora.

The earth also erupted with various "war machines": fir trees firing strange poison spines, twisted vines resembling giant serpents.

This was an utterly incomprehensible scene—reality itself had been graffitied, with plants Li En couldn't identify spontaneously emerging from nothing.

"Don't waste time—they can regenerate infinitely."

The World Tree inherently carries its own world, even considered an embodiment of the forest; even as a corrupted sapling, it can still forge its own "Black Forest."

"Elder (Furnace Flame)"

Li En didn't hold back—he suddenly unleashed concentrated flame, burning a path through the rapidly grown forest of plants.

Li En held fire in one hand, played with flame in the other, charging to the front.

In terms of elemental advantage, Li En held the upper hand—he used the plants' "natural enemy," the transcendent flame, to forcibly carve a way forward.

This was both a battlefield necessity and a demonstration of Li En's own power—being a dragon-blooded in this world was inherently sensitive; Li En needed a suitable moment to "reveal" himself.

He would never admit he was a dragon-blooded—even the pseudo-dragon path was despised by many in the kingdom.

But if this power was used to "rescue abducted citizens," the resentment born of misplaced blame would naturally diminish.

Later, he could even use official channels for further promotion.

"Boom!" A sudden tremor shook the ground, as if signaling the Ulda Niu Mo had entered its next phase.

A towering "tree" suddenly erupted, its limbs and trunk pressing against the ceiling's rock.

Its tendrils were too numerous, completely covering every direction, their forms twisted and grotesque.