Chapter 130: Severe Damage to Silver Star

The night did not hinder Lei En's vision.

Below the tower, not even half of the Silver Star District could experience a subsidence of the same magnitude.

The worst collapse was on Brent Street, the most bustling street of the Silver Star District; the entire street sank, and at its deepest point, the shop housing the Sword of Oath dropped dozens of meters, forming a huge pit.

From the pit emerged a straight trench extending directly toward Wu Shi Ta.

Lei En instantly recognized that the trench was the passage Ying Ren had dug, aiming to tunnel beneath Wu Shi Ta, but it was discovered early and failed to achieve its intended goal.

The trench's end had already entered the Silver Star Academy, less than a hundred meters from the tower's base.

Ying Ren detonated the far end of the passage, blasting a hole in the plaza beneath the tower, clearly attempting to topple the tower but failing.

Nevertheless, Wu Shi Ta was affected; its base was damaged and the ground shifted slightly.

For centuries, the Silver Star Title: Duke had been planning the construction of Fu Kong Cheng.

Fu Kong Cheng did not appear out of thin air; it was built step by step, first establishing foundations on the ground, centering on Wu Shi Ta, digging deep underground to lay a massive array, using the Iola Core as the power source to activate the array and lift the entire city into the sky.

The Silver Star Title: Duke's Fu Kong Cheng framework encompassed the entire Silver Star Academy.

Now, with such a huge crater blasted out, the academy's underground was also damaged; a lengthy restoration will be required before the Fu Kong Cheng can continue to be built.

The losses to Wu Shi Ta and the academy were not the worst.

Lei En saw that from the southern half of the Silver Star District below the tower, chaos reigned everywhere; five to six square kilometers were affected, at least a quarter of the buildings had collapsed, the ground cracked, streets twisted, and countless residents fled their homes in panic, staring bewildered at the scene.

People shouted desperate cries for help while manually digging through the rubble, trying to rescue buried family and friends.

The collapse lowered the terrain of the Silver Star District; to the east lay the Ferregun River, and a massive influx of river water surged in.

Fortunately, a group of Secret Fire Guard Wizards arrived in time, working together to freeze the river with spells, forming a several-hundred-meter-long icy dam that halted the flooding.

Within the collapsed zone, squads of knights clad in silver armor conducted carpet‑style searches.

They were the Silver‑Armored Knight Corps, the largest armed legion under the Silver Star Title: Duke, each member an Exalted, most of them entry‑level Iron Guard.

One portion of the Silver‑Armored Knights hunted fleeing enemies, while another assisted residents in rescuing people.

The Secret Fire Guard Wizards also took part in the operation.

With Exalted power and spells, rescue efficiency was high; a single divination could locate buried victims, and as long as they hadn't been crushed on the spot, they could be saved quickly.

Almost every minute, someone was pulled to safety.

Seeing this, Lei En nodded inwardly.

Fortunately, this is a world with supernatural powers; if the ruler is willing and the organization capable, losses can be minimized.

Social order did not collapse under the disaster; it remained sound.

Lei En estimated that this man‑made disaster caused two to three thousand casualties. The Silver Star District is Longshande's wealthiest area, with low population density, so casualties would not be especially severe.

If it occurred in a slum, the casualties could increase by dozens of times!

Casualties are lower, but economic loss is certainly enormous; rebuilding the collapsed structures alone will take years.

The entire Silver Star District, and even all of Longshande, suffered severe damage.

Without three or four years, recovery will be difficult.

The Silver Star Title: Duke's Fu Kong Cheng project will certainly be affected, though how many years it will be delayed is unknown.

Lei En glanced at the Holy Soul Witch; her complexion appeared calm, yet an oppressive aura could be felt, her gaze deep, thoughts unreadable.

After a long pause, she said slowly, "Over three hundred years ago, when I chose Longshande as the Title: Duke's domain, I already knew of a dwarf fortress underground and had investigated it, gaining little. When constructing Wu Shi Ta, I avoided the fortress's location, yet it was still not far enough, and Ying Ren seized the opportunity."

Lei En couldn't help but be enlightened.

The Silver Star Title: Duke had entered the Iron Must Fortress before, which did not surprise him.

As a wizard pursuing knowledge and wisdom, ruling Longshande for centuries, if she were unaware of such a massive underground fortress within her own realm, she would be unworthy of being a Holy Soul.

"Title: Duke, how did Ying Ren accomplish this?"

Lei En asked curiously.

This world lacks blasting technology and does not possess high‑power explosives.

Combustible elements can forge bullets, but they require corresponding soul‑energy activation to create stronger explosions; even draining a legendary wizard's soul power would be insufficient for such a massive blast.

"Eight‑Ring Earthquake Technique."

The Silver Star Title: Duke said calmly, "In addition, some Explosion Rune arrays placed at critical points destroyed the first‑layer key points of the fortress, triggering its collapse, which produced a small‑scale earthquake."

Lei En clicked his tongue in amazement.

Eight‑Ring Spell can only be mastered by high‑tier legendary or above wizards, evidently originating from Black Wizard Tinos.

Spells above Five Rings are far fewer, none can be cast easily; each casting requires meticulous preparation.

When legendary wizards fight humans, they mostly employ mid‑ to low‑Ring spells.

Even Holy Soul wizards cannot casually unleash high‑Ring spells; they also rely on mid‑ to low‑Ring spells, rarely exceeding Six Rings.

The Eight‑Ring Earthquake Technique requires at least several days of preparation, array placement, consuming vast casting materials, and with the Explosion Rune array, costs tens of thousands of gold or perhaps more.

Ying Ren spared no expense this time to deal with the Silver Star Title: Duke.

Fortunately, Wu Shi Ta was relatively distant, on the edge of the collapsed area; otherwise it would have already fallen.

Luo Jue asked concernedly, "The Iola Core wasn't seized, was it?"

"Of course."

The Silver Star Title: Duke gave Luo Jue a charming smile, regaining his former mysterious aura, and said, "I must thank you for the warning, which let me relocate the Iola Core in advance. Especially Lei En..."

She turned, smiling, leaving Lei En slightly startled by the favor.

"That day at the Basil Inn, the demon swordsman you attracted made me suspect Ying Ren was lurking in Longshande. I've been covertly investigating lately, uncovered some clues, even identified a few Luo Xi followers, but I didn't want to alarm them, hoping to wait, yet you told me everything outright."

Lei En quickly gestured, humbly saying, "I just happened upon it by chance."

"One time might be accidental, two times I can barely believe, but three times or more..." the Silver Star Title: Duke's eyes flickered, "Do you think I would believe?"

Luo Jue and Zuo Er Tan were puzzled, asking, "What do you mean by three consecutive times?"

The Silver Star Title: Duke saw that Lei En seemed reluctant to admit it, so he merely chuckled lightly, gave a meaning‑laden glance, and said no more.

Lei En was watched by her, cold sweat welling up.

He knew exactly what the Silver Star Duke was referring to: once it was destroying the Abyssal Gate, counted as an accidental encounter; another time it was killing the magic swordsman Wei Er Te; today was the third.

She said, "That's all," clearly knowing there were more than three.

It may also include that covert report, and the early‑crossing case involving Ai Si Bo Ge, all of which she had traced.

If those are counted, that makes five.

Lei En thought that if he hadn't sabotaged the Shadow Blade's plan several times, he could never be the Shadow Blade's insider; just from these connections, without any evidence, the Silver Star Duke would have seized him for interrogation.

Fortunately she seemed to have no malice; at least regarding Luo Xi's believers, everyone shared the same stance.

At that moment, a massive dragon eagle swooped down from above.

Lei En used his Soul Eye and saw that it was a shape‑shifting wizard of the Soul‑Guiding school, with a professional rank as high as sixteen!

A sixteen‑level wizard has already entered Legendary High-rank.

The teal dragon eagle was slender, its body covered with a layer of hard scales; its eagle‑like head bore a curved beak, beneath its belly a pair of sharp talons, while its wings were feather‑shaped, broad and large, spanning nearly thirty meters when fully spread, generating fierce gusts that lifted it to the top of Wu Shi Ta in less than ten seconds.

It was a dragon eagle with green‑dragon blood!

The Silver Star Duke saw the dragon eagle but showed no combat reaction at all.

The dragon eagle swooped onto the balcony, its form blurring in midair, and in an instant became a lone figure that landed on the balcony.

He was a youthful man, exceedingly handsome and delicate in appearance, with long black hair tied at the back with silk cloth, wearing a plain magical robe, tall and elegant, unforgettable at first sight.

Lei En's gaze fell on this person's ear.

The other's ear tips differed from ordinary people, slightly pointed, like Viola's—he was a Half-elf!

"Lady, the Secret Fire Guard has already swept the Silver Star District, killing a total of thirty‑five Shadow Blade assassins, and so far no more evil‑god believers have been found."

The Half-elf landed and immediately reported to the Silver Star Duke.

The Silver Star Duke slightly frowned and asked, "Fulin Ke, didn't you kill Ha Erken completely?"

"No," Fulin Ke's face showed a hint of remorse as he shook his head, "I inadvertently fell for his trick, only killing three of his clones; the main body should have escaped."

The Silver Star Duke was silent for a moment, then sighed, "Tricksters have many clones and are always the hardest enemies to kill. Ha Erken was intent on fleeing; even I couldn't be sure of eliminating all his clones. You've done enough."

Fulin Ke felt a bit dissatisfied with himself, his eyes showing frustration.

Lei En, the other two, exchanged glances; Ha Erken hadn't died, which was certainly bad news.

Roger spoke up, "Ha Erken escaped, what about Ti Nuo Si?"

Compared to Ha Erken, Ti Nuo Si was more dangerous; the black wizard was at level nineteen, just one step away from Holy Soul.

"Ti Nuo Si is already dead."

The Silver Star Duke replied lightly, "He was Luo Xi's Divine Chosen. Earlier, Luo Xi invoked a Divine Descent; the goddess promptly granted me divine power, and I killed him with Silver Fire."

Divine Descent!

Lei En was shocked to hear that a Divine Descent had occurred not long ago, with two deities using Divine Chosen as vessels to wage a battle.

Obviously, the God of Magic claimed victory.

However, Lei En found it odd why Ti Nuo Si chose to seek death rather than flee.

Similarly, a Divine Descent, the Divine Chosen's own strength is a crucial factor; Ti Nuo Si was only level nineteen, never a match for the Silver Star Wizard. The gap between Legendary High-rank and Holy Soul wizards is a chasm; a Divine Descent alone cannot bridge it.

Ti Nuo Si surely knew this; his coming to Longshande wasn't to kill the Silver Star Duke, and he should have prepared an escape route, yet he died on the spot.

A notoriously famed Legendary black wizard came to meet his death; there must be something fishy.

I wonder what the Silver Star Duke thought about this?

(End of Chapter)