Chapter 431: New News

"Your Majesty, an urgent telegram from Gaoyuanbao! It is encrypted."

With the affairs of the Gold Bank arranged, Sinuoli was just thinking about whether to go to Jiliuguan to check on the maintenance progress of the Rune Colossus when his personal telegraph operator ran in nervously.

"What major event could have forced Balin to send an urgent encrypted message?" Sinuoli took out the codebook from his pocket and began to decipher it; soon, his tension eased, and a playful expression appeared on his face.

"It seems my news of breaking through to Demigod has made Arkhan anxious. I wonder if it will be angered back to life when it runs back only to find an empty box."

That Lich King Arkhan drove its terrifying Kuluozhanche, bringing with it only a squad of elite Tomb Knights blessed by the serpent goddess Asafu in their lifetimes, killing or evading its way until it managed to sneak into Kalake-Zuen.

Sinuoli claimed that he had suppressed two of the Nine Scrolls of Nagash within the Holy Fire in front of the statues of the gods in the landmark building of Gaoyuanbao—the Xianzu Dating—and the Leviathan Butcher Rogov, having found the end of his journey, volunteered to lead a team to garrison the hall and maintain order.

No matter how battle-hardened these warriors were, they were powerless against the sudden assault of a Demigod holding a staff bestowed by the Lord of Undeath; they could not even get close before Arkhan snatched the box from the Holy Fire.

"Balin handled it well. Treat and place the witnesses under house arrest until I decide their fate. He has matured over these years."

Sinuoli tapped the table and sighed. Although nothing was lost, there was no guarantee that Arkhan would not be shamed into anger and launch a full-scale invasion. If that happened, without someone in charge of the Southlands, whether the Orion Arrow Group and Khemri could cooperate to withstand the fury of the Undead was a minor problem.

"Transmit your orders: depart now. If there is anything left to pack, do it slowly. There are no ships coming or going at Haimenguan every week."

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty. You have a plan in mind."

However, things had changed in the last hundred years. Baise Yaosai seemed to have completed its construction, and the Azoge Legion had gradually extended its tentacles outward, having been discovered clashing with the Lizardmen on the Dragon Isles several times.

The merchant caravan from the Southlands seen that year did not travel through Baian Zhidi, and Zou Qilin knew very little about them. It was only in Fuzhou City that Settra learned more information about this land from the files.

Sinuoli was, by calculation, the Grandmaster of Nagash. It awakened Arkhan to quell the death struggles of the dynasties, but because of this, it was exiled by the Undying Emperor—until it found a way for the Tomb Kings to truly resurrect.

"Besides this, I intend to entrust one of the magic books to your safekeeping. If the nine volumes are not complete, that unfilial descendant will find it hard to return to the mortal realm."

"Flap, flap!"

Sitting on the ship, Settra inspected his God-Ascension System. The Wealth Authority had already achieved gratifying growth. The twelve Apostles assigned to areas near Everpeak had already begun their work, and requests to project power were transmitted to Settra one after another through the statues.

"I have heard both pieces of news. Congratulations, Dwarf. However, I must remind you that the path to godhood cannot be delegated to others."

The host and guest took their seats, and Arkhan took off the Petra Sword at its waist and sighed. Settra knew this was a well-intentioned reminder from someone who had been there before. Settra had stepped into the extraordinary realm under the joint blessing of the desert gods before his death, successfully unifying Nehekhara with the great power of a Demigod, but now, as they fell into Twilight, he too had been stripped of his status.

The fleet's navigators tried to communicate and trade with them, but unfortunately, the Chaos Dwarf expedition team at the time was only interested in acquiring slaves. Yin Yin was furious and led a large army on a long voyage to raze the nascent Baise Yaosai to the ground, and subsequent merchant caravans took detours.

"I am all ears!"

When the ship arrived at Khemri, Settra stood on the chariot of the gods to welcome him. The four Kuluoma galloped rapidly in front of the pyramid without stopping much, going straight to the entrance of the tomb. Settra was still worried; he drove the two Sphinxes under the throne to move aside and opened a secret door.

Settra was not clear about what those Chaos Dwarfs were after, but with the current power of the Southlands and his own strength, he did not fear any challenge. After discussing further joint defense of Khatep, he returned to the ship with the firmly sealed grimoire.

"Khatep is a big threat. It is deeply bound to Nagash and will not give up until the nine volumes are collected. But even if we take the initiative to defeat its team, we cannot keep its true self. How can an old-school Lich Lord be so easy to kill?" Sitting on the train, Settra tugged at his beard lightly. "I know, the Lich Lord, your former Priest."

The Cathayans discovered that peninsula thousands of years ago, but it was not until the last thousand years that a fortress called "Baise Yaosai" was gradually completed in the coastal area opposite the Dragon Isles. The troops stationed there called themselves the "Azoge Legion," and their leader was known as the Ash Lord.

Beyond the highest-level alchemy, a magic system similar to the Wind of Metal had appeared. High-level spells would gradually unlock as faith increased; the day it was maxed out might be when the Wealth Authority was condensed.

The Contract Authority was still locked, and the proportion of the Wealth Authority had increased from the original one percent to three-point-something. It seemed that shiny gold was still the most intuitive and attractive.

Just as they entered the Great Underworld River, a skeletal vulture with blue fire in its eye sockets landed on the bridge, its claws clutching papyrus from the Undying Emperor.

At Red Cloud Mountain and Zhuwangshan, Settra issued continuous orders to mobilize his subordinates. Telegrams were also sent to the newly built Jieshishan fortress; although there were no aircraft stationed there, they could operate gunboats to search along the river.

"Refreshing! I never like to owe favors. I just received a piece of intelligence that is of great value to you, which should be enough to offset it."

"I will be back soon!"

"Increase the frequency of Helicopter sorties. The Tomb King's news has high credibility. No matter what the treasure is, we must snatch it before those fallen ones."

"Tsk, interesting. I will pay attention. Please order Sinuoli and Wahaf to continue tracking their movements."

"It says a group of Dwarfs came from the Nagash Strait, and they are clearly not the same kind as yours. Their eyes are blood-red, and they have horns on their heads. It sounds like they are looking for some kind of Artifact."

"Zhar Dwarfs? If I don't go looking for trouble with them, they dare to come to my door!" The King of the Southlands frowned. He had seen the sea charts of the Dragon Fleet, and there were detailed descriptions of the so-called "Baian Zhidi" where the Chaos Dwarfs lived.

Settra raised an eyebrow. If Arkhan valued it so much, it was probably truly extraordinary.

"No problem. Just as I said when we first met, Nagash is the enemy of all the living." Settra raised an eyebrow. Arkhan was worthy of being a great emperor; it could let go of what it held and was not arrogant or confused in major matters.

"You know Sinuoli, right? The news was sent by him from the east. Although that servant is foolish, he should not dare to deceive me."