Chapter 224: Lord of the Mourning Dead—!

After the Eternal Night descended, the human territories on the western side of the Central Mountain Range also began to stir. Soldiers, slave laborers, and farmers, emerging from nowhere, carried well-made or crude weapons and equipment, dragging large carts, small carts, and hand-pushed carts, converging from all directions.

The teleportation array seemed plugged into a charging circuit; the glow of teleportation never ceased. Countless griffins shuttled back and forth in the sky, ferrying people in or out.

The only ones who were idle and didn't know what to do were Seeing Ange and his group.

Selina held the big cat, Shamara held a washbasin, and Luther ran out to steal three white robes. He wore one himself, while the little zombie and the little angel each put one on.

To be honest, with that white and tender, cute appearance, once the little angel put on the white robe, she looked exactly like a pure saintess.

Seeing Ange donned a scarecrow hat, let the little angel ride Lightning, and the group instantly transformed into an escort party taking the saintess to Shengbicheng. Such a party was not conspicuous at all during these times of military chaos; on the contrary, many people saluted them.

They found the place where Brando and the others were staying and had the three of them lead the way ahead.

Little Brando was somewhat dazed; how could it be that after the my lord went out once, so many people returned? Just as he wanted to ask, his father dragged him aside: "As you command, my lord." Brando said this while dragging his son and nephew forward to lead the way.

Nai Ge Li Si was stuffed back into the Palace of Rest; among this crowd, it was the most conspicuous as a malnourished bronze dragon.

Projected onto Seeing Ange, Nai Ge Li Si clicked his tongue in wonder: "These church folks are all shrewd; they really know how to read the room."

Shamara felt this deeply: "They are no longer pure. Everyone's faith has been blinded by various desires and obsessions. Everyone has learned to scheme, forgetting their original mission. There are no believers in their hearts, no people... The purest holy light, I have only seen it on you, yet you are immortal heretics..."

"Oh, so that's why you completely turned dark after meeting us. I see, it was because of that." Nai Ge Li Si said, suddenly realizing.

Under the guidance of Brando and the other two "elite" paladins, and with the little angel riding a unicorn setting the tone, Seeing Ange's group entered Shengbicheng without any difficulty.

However, once inside the city, everyone was confused again, looking at Shamara: "Where to now?"

Shamara was also confused. The voice in her heart told her to come to Shengbicheng, but it didn't tell her where in Shengbicheng. Perhaps the time hadn't arrived, so she couldn't sense anything right now.

Nowadays, Shengbicheng was a large military camp; all activities had to yield to the military. Those coming and going on the roads were all groups of well-trained soldiers, priests, clerics, and archers.

Their confusion was soon noticed. A knight rode up, shouting from afar: "Are the my lords ahead the saintess party? The saintess party goes to the city wall; only position number four on the city wall is available now. This way, please."

Nai Ge Li Si muttered quietly: "Why is it like watching a play? Do they even need an available spot?"

Once they got up on the city wall, they knew what the available spot was: a defensive position.

Below the straight city wall lay an endless expanse of dead silence. Nowadays, the ground was covered with undead creatures. Looking down from the city wall, one could only see countless blue glows like stars; those were the eye sockets of skeletons.

The city wall was divided into sections every hundred meters. Each section must have a saintess guarding it. A saintess could do so many things: blessings, prayers, encouragement, and when necessary, even possess the Holy Spirit to serve as the main combat force.

In addition, each section would be allocated an equal number of priests, clerics, swordsmen, shield-bearers, archers, catapults, and crossbows, with a balanced configuration.

However, Nai Ge Li Si couldn't quite understand: "Aren't there only a dozen or so saintesses in your church? Why does it seem like no one knows us? Moreover, it's random assignment; don't you need training and coordination? Can you just find an empty spot and stuff a saintess in?"

"What else could we do? We are already very busy, and we can't be sure who will definitely come, so naturally, whoever comes fills the spot. And who told you the church only has a dozen or so saintesses? There are only a dozen or so active ones like me; those still learning, the young ones, the retired ones, and those already married add up to over a hundred. As long as one can possess the Holy Spirit, they belong to the saintesses."

"Oh, I understand. A dozen active ones, several dozen reserves, but still only about a hundred. It shouldn't be that we can't recognize them all."

"Because we are not on the same plane. Some people have never been to the Land of Ruin in their entire lives. Every saintess, cleric, and Divine Knight with their own team has their own badge. The badge has a highest mobilization order. Whenever the highest mobilization order flashes, everyone must put down what they are doing and be ready to accept conscription at any time."

"But since seven hundred years ago, the undead offensive has weakened year by year. Before, they had a Purple-Gold Skeleton commanding the whole field. The church had to go all out just to resist the undead offensive. Every battle of offense and defense resulted in heavy casualties for the church."

"Purple-Gold Skeleton? There's a Purple-Gold Skeleton on the other side? Why didn't Anthony mention this?" Nai Ge Li Si screamed in fright.

"Yes, Purple-Gold Skeleton. Maybe he didn't know either. Juliani told me this. He said that since the church's scriptures frequently caught fire for no reason, some important matters are no longer written in the scriptures but passed down orally. Some things, even the bishops of each diocese don't know. Moreover, the Purple-Gold Skeleton hasn't appeared for seven hundred years."

Seeing Ange and Nai Ge Li Si exchanged a thought; neither spoke. Why would the scriptures catch fire for no reason? It seemed that hundreds of years ago, someone realized this point and started preparing against him.

That makes sense. After burning so many of their scriptures, if they didn't prepare, the church people would truly be fools.

Seven hundred years ago, Anthony was still struggling and laying out plans on the main plane; he hadn't come to the Land of Ruin. But the more important reason was that he also didn't want the undead to attack back.

Hundreds of millions of undead creatures flooding into the main plane would cause the main plane to collapse.

Because of this mindset, Anthony avoided the Land of Ruin in the early stages, to the extent that when someone broke through Mourning and became a Purple-Gold Skeleton, he didn't even know.

"Until seven hundred years ago, that Purple-Gold Skeleton suddenly disappeared for some unknown reason. From that time on, the intensity of the undead offensive declined year by year. Nowadays, it has almost become a routine. The highest mobilization order doesn't require full mobilization; those willing to respond respond, and those unwilling to respond don't have to come."

"But everyone is still very willing to respond. This is not only an opportunity to establish merit but also a venue to expand connections. Look."

Following Shamara's gesture, they looked into the distance. On the city wall, there were indeed people coming and going, holding cards made of gold and silver. Seeing a suitable target, they would walk up to chat, exchange, and quickly become familiar.

Just then, someone spotted Seeing Ange's group, walked over to pay a visit, and was skillfully handled by Brando. In no time, several cards were collected.

Suddenly, there was a commotion near the stairs not far away. People quickly gathered around, followed by bursts of exclamations: "Oh my god, people from the Eastern Diocese have arrived."

"What? Anthony's people actually dare to come? Didn't he declare independence?"

"He did declare independence, but he didn't proclaim himself emperor. He is still just an Archbishop, regarding the Holy See as the orthodox authority, but before eliminating the evil god forces lurking within the Holy See, he refuses to obey the orders issued by the Holy See."

"Who is leading the team?"

"Duke Heishan. He is the new Duke Heishan, the master of the new generation of the Earth Holy Hammer."

"Eh? Isn't the Heishan Duchy part of the Western Diocese? How did he become Anthony's man?"

"This... this... Lord Anthony has excellent methods."

"Eh? You just called him Anthony, but now you address him as 'Lord'?"

Seeing Ange and Nai Ge Li Si exchanged a thought and both realized who had arrived.

Sure enough, at the city stairs, an elite team marched up. Leading them was the illegitimate son of Duke Heishan, whom they had seen once in Loran back then, the fellow who styled himself Heishan.

Compared to his down-and-out state back then, Heishan had completely changed now. He wore luxurious equipment, full of noble bearing.

Behind him, a team of elite soldiers marched up. The armor on their bodies made everyone gasp: "Elven Magic Armor? Oh my god, did Duke Heishan rob the Mage Guild? Does he have enough money to equip his soldiers with Elven Magic Armor?"

"Having money isn't enough. If you don't have connections, where would you buy so much Elven Magic Armor? The elves won't sell to you."

Perhaps hearing or anticipating such whispers, a goblin trotted over with a warm smile on his face, saluted, handed out cards, and said: "I have this equipment. If you need it, find me."

Everyone else's cards were made of gold or silver, but this goblin's was wooden, and very thick, like a wooden plaque. When he first handed it over, many people showed disdain and disgust on their faces: "These goblins are truly stingy enough."

Only because of the goblin's enthusiasm did everyone reluctantly take it. But as soon as they held it, everyone's expressions changed instantly.

Those with strong power could feel pure life force from it, while those with weak power could feel a cool aura. Looking closely, the edge of the wooden plaque had a ring of dodder grass, alive.

This grass loves to climb and symbiotically live on plants with strong life force. Does this wooden plaque possess powerful life force?

Recalling the Elven Magic Armor on those warriors, everyone instantly realized what kind of wooden plaque this was: "World Tree wooden plaque? Oh my god, you use the World Tree as a business card?"

"Hehe." The goblin showed a simple smile on his face: "We have a lot of this stuff at home. It's not valuable, not valuable."

Everyone felt they had been outdone. There is only one World Tree, and it is the elves' treasure, yet this goblin dares to say 'we have a lot at home, it's not valuable'?

But regardless, being able to use the World Tree as a business card proved this goblin's power, and everyone couldn't help but become enthusiastic.

Not long after, the goblin walked over this way; from afar, it saw people forming a circle there. How many there were was unclear, and who was inside was also unclear. Only the hindquarters of a horse looked somewhat familiar, but the head was not visible.

White horses were everywhere; the goblin didn't overthink it, exchanged business cards with Brand and a few others, and then left.

After the goblin had gone far away, the crowd forming the circle dispersed. Selina and Shamala, who had been forcibly dragged over to block the view, asked in confusion: "What's wrong? Do you know that goblin?"

Nai Ge Li Si was too lazy to explain much and casually replied: "Yes, I owe him quite a bit of money."

"Oh." Selina suddenly understood, hugged the large cat, and quietly, quietly moved a distance away.

Instead, Shamala took out two Holy Crystals and stuffed them into Seeing Ange's hands: "This is all we have left."

Seeing Ange tilted his head in confusion; what was the point of giving him Holy Crystals for no reason?

Just as he was about to give them back, the little wraith coiled around his fingers flew out and tightly embraced one of the crystals.

Nai Ge Li Si felt so awkward; he had just been too lazy to explain and said it casually, yet Shamala actually took out money to repay their debt for them. Were all the people Seeing Ange knew so single-minded? Couldn't they even distinguish between a joke and reality?

Taking the money was no big deal; encountering an equivalent skeleton like Seeing Ange, they would definitely have to give something back.

"Take it; you can repay her with something else later," Nai Ge Li Si said helplessly.

Not taking it wasn't an option either; the little wraith had already melted away one-tenth of a Holy Crystal, shrunk a bit, and then collapsed there, letting out a huge "Ha."

"So it eats Holy Crystals?" Shamala said curiously. She had seen the little wraith before but did not understand its mode of existence. A holy wraith? Just thinking about it felt absurd.

"Woooo~~~~" The sound of a horn suddenly rang out, coming from far away across the Dead Silence outside the city walls. The entire earth began to stir. Undead creatures, like a carpet, slowly parted along with the horn sound, opening a path that pierced through the earth and pointed straight at the Holy Wall.

The Shengbicheng had no gates; there was a pass where the mountain ranges on both sides converged, forming a gap. The Church of Light built a city wall seven or eight hundred meters long directly at the gap, erected numerous defensive towers and protective shields, and firmly controlled this location.

That parted path pointed straight at the city wall here, and also at the other end; there, everyone saw a purple-gold figure.

"The Lord of Mourning—!" A voice, hoarse and desperate, like a castrato whose precious parts had been cut off, shouted this name with unprecedented sharpness and terror.

Instantly, silence fell upon the city wall, followed by confusion. The vast majority did not know what the Lord of Mourning represented; they looked at one another and whispered among themselves.

On the high platform behind the city wall, Dai Sen, the Archbishop, flew out. His eyes held holy light as he stared at the purple-gold skeleton at the end of the 'path.' His whole body trembled, and he murmured: "Why has it come? Why has it come? It hasn't appeared in seven hundred years; why does it appear during my tenure? I %#￥@*#!"

After cursing a few times, Dai Sen shouted in a voice no less sharp than a castrato's: "Pull the protective shields to maximum, maximum! Soul Tower and Defense Tower to maximum power! Add Magic Crystals, quickly add Magic Crystals! All weapons and equipment, everyone prepare, be ready for Holy Spirit Summoning at any time! Quickly, quickly, quickly! If you don't want to die, hurry!"

Everyone heard endless panic and unease in Dai Sen's voice.

Just as Dai Sen was shouting and screaming, that purple-gold skeleton moved.