Chapter 236: The Schism of the Floating City

Pili Nuo*Aiden struggled to get up.

When he saw clearly where he was, and the cold, indifferent gazes surrounding him, his body couldn't help trembling.

Those gazes came from people who had once flattered and catered to him, now filled with disgust and hatred, entirely different from before, as if looking at a disgusting street rat, showing no mercy.

Decades of dignity and millennia of noble reputation vanished in a single night, left for others to trample.

This made the long‑standing elite Pili Nuo extremely embarrassed, wishing he could crawl into the ground.

"Pili Nuo*Aiden."

Anxiwodasi's voice rang out, his tone flat, revealing no emotion, yet it made Pili Nuo shiver all over.

The strength he had just mustered seemed drained, and he collapsed again, voicelessly shouting, "GrandSpeaker..."

Anxiwodasi's face was expressionless.

"You have committed three major crimes."

"First, worship of an evil deity. In the Empire and the entire Ai Lun E Si world, this is the most unforgivable crime; this alone warrants a death sentence."

"Second, killing innocent civilians, numbers uncountable; investigation shows at least 1,200 victims."

"Third, attempted to create a larger‑scale plague and massacre."

With each charge announced, Pili Nuo bowed his head lower, finally crawling on the ground, his heart ashen.

"Your crimes are unforgivable," Anxiwodasi continued, "the Supreme Council has decided, granting me authority to try you."

"Here, in the name of VijesCui, I, Anxiwodasi, sentence you to death."

"And strip you of the Count of Atlanck title, revert the Atlanck lands to Empire jurisdiction; all lands, assets, companies, cash under the Aiden family within the domain are to be handed over to the Empire, revoke the Aiden family's noble status, erase the Aiden family surname."

"Effective immediately."

Anxiwodasi recited each decree.

At first, Pili Nuo showed little reaction, knowing death was certain. But hearing the revocation of the Atlanck Count, the reclamation of the lands, and the erasure of his family name, he broke into tears, his remorse a swarm of poisonous insects tearing at him, nearly fainting.

He did not sacrifice the entire family; secretly he sent a few direct descendants as seeds, relocating them to hidden places as a backup.

If the plan fails, provided he covers it well, his descendants can still inherit the count title and fief.

This lucky mindset sustained him until now.

But now it is impossible.

The ancient nobility passed down since the Empire's founding now ceases to exist.

Pili Nuo wailed loudly, his mournful cries echoing across the Ruin Square; even though people knew his crimes deserved punishment, some could not bear seeing a once‑high lord meet such an end.

Especially several other noble families of Mo Du, who had once been on good terms with Pili Nuo, felt a crisis of "if the lips fall, the teeth feel the cold."

With Mo Du losing another noble house, how many more years could their own families endure?

However, they only thought about it; they would never dare speak in defense of Pili Nuo*Aiden, as that would be courting death, with no time to draw a line.

At this moment, the legendary Mid-stage Holy Sword Knight standing below the platform stepped forward slowly.

The Justice Church's role in the Empire is equivalent to law enforcement.

Normally, trials are presided over by Holy Sword Knights; in the eyes of the Empire's subjects, the Justice Church is also called the Justice Court, each Holy Sword Knight serving as both judge and executioner.

With the trial concluded, the Holy Sword should now take the stage.

Anxiwodasi, as the Supreme Council's representative, could not execute the criminal in full view; that would stain the Holy Soul Wizard's hands and violate Empire law.

As the highest‑ranking Holy Sword Knight present, he is obliged to serve Master Anxiwodasi.

He walked to Pili Nuo's side and drew a silver longsword.

"Heins, hold on."

Suddenly someone objected, startling everyone, who realized the speaker was Master Anxiwodasi himself, who had just delivered the verdict.

"Yes, GrandSpeaker," the legendary Holy Sword Knight Heins replied, surprised but still bowing and stepping aside.

The crowd in the square whispered, unable to guess Master Anxiwodasi's intention.

Only Lei En felt a tightening in his heart.

He knew the most crucial moment was about to arrive.

Anxiwodasi stood, not looking at Pili Nuo; instead his gaze swept the platform, then scanned each Wizard below.

The Holy Soul Wizard's stare turned many Wizards' faces pale, as if they harbored guilt.

Lei En noticed many Wizards trembling, daring not to face Anxiwodasi, bowing their heads like ostriches.

These were almost all Wizards who, on the day of their apprenticeship ceremony, bore hostility toward him.

Anxiwodasi let out an almost inaudible hum, then said, "I have sentenced Pili Nuo for his crimes, but he also acted secretly in other matters."

"According to his confession, over the past twenty‑plus years he and the various lords..." At this point Anxiwodasi looked toward the platform below, at the old‑established Mo Du nobles led by Marquis Ji Liu.

Each of them broke out in cold sweat, cowering as if ready to flee on the spot.

"He and the lords funded the construction of another Fu Kong Cheng in the Shield Island region of the New Continent, is that correct?" Anxiwodasi's words thundered like a stone shattering the heavens, casting a massive rock onto the sea and stirring colossal waves.

The square erupted in a roar.

"Goddess!" someone shouted in shock.

Others wore expressions of disbelief, shaking their heads and sighing, "Build another Fu Kong Cheng, and on the New Continent at that—are they mad?"

Lei En also found it unbelievable.

Then, looking back, the Mo Du nobles' various actions and their covert scheming seemed to have a reasonable explanation.

First, the funding issue: Mo Du lords are wealthier than nations, yet they couldn't produce a cash compensation of one million Gold Shields because they had spent the money building a Fu Kong Cheng.

That money bought vast amounts of alchemical materials, shipped out from the port.

Through a portal on that barren island, they were sent to Shield Island of the New Continent; the large crates the workers carried were filled entirely with alchemical materials, serving as evidence.

Master Ruin, a legendary Wizard who shunned fame and profit, inexplicably withdrew from Weizelan, yet did not wish to oppose Master Anxiwodasi, also for the purpose of building a Fu Kong Cheng.

Empire law does not stipulate that only Holy Soul Wizards may construct a Fu Kong Cheng.

This is not illegal.

Moreover, the Mo Du aristocracy chose to build the Fu Kong Cheng on the New Continent, which does not threaten the Empire; therefore, Anxiwodasi, when judging Pili Nuo, did not add this charge.

But there is a problem: constructing the Fu Kong Cheng requires manpower, and even after completion it cannot exist without Wizards; the number of Wizards needed is not small.

Then, where will the Wizards for this new Fu Kong Cheng come from?

The answer is self‑evident.

Relying only on the Mo Du aristocracy's power, their wealth is insufficient; they must enlist many Wizards to cooperate, and those Wizards cannot serve both sides, so they inevitably have to withdraw from the Weizelan Fu Kong Cheng.

This undoubtedly weakens the strength of the Weizelan Fu Kong Cheng.

Or rather, this is betrayal!

Even with Anxiwodasi's most merciful and magnanimous nature, such a thing would not be allowed to happen.

"Wizards who participated in the construction of the new Fu Kong Cheng, step forward yourself," Anxiwodasi said indifferently, "I give you only one chance."

Although he did not deter with powerful spells, the reputation of the Holy Soul Wizard still made everyone in the hall tremble.

Especially those participants.

Some Wizards showed hesitant expressions, glanced at each other, and finally someone gritted their teeth and led the way out of the crowd.

With the first, there came a second, a third…

"Kai Erwen!"

"Jili, you also betrayed the Fu Kong Cheng!"

"Mei Bulin, I misjudged you."

"Why? Landefu, why did you do this?"

Many Wizards could not help but shout angry accusations, but the number of Wizards stepping forward to admit their betrayal kept rising by dozens, chilling the heart. They realized that among their close friends, more or less, some had chosen betrayal, leaving them speechless, feeling both terrified and powerless.

A minute later, the Wizards who had stepped out numbered eighty.

If we include those who left under various pretexts, the Wizards actually building the Fu Kong Cheng on Shield Island could double that, exceeding one hundred fifty.

That is one‑third of the Weizelan Fu Kong Cheng's strength, and it includes members of the Wizard Corps!

Moreover, the increase of humans has not stopped.

A Wizard standing at the front, of extremely high status, also joined their ranks. His action left everyone astonished.

"Walaiga, Your Excellency!"

Many could not help but call his name, for he is a Legendary Wizard.

Walaiga's expression was steadfast, unafraid; he was not alone—three more Wizards immediately stood by his side, all Legendary, and one was a Mid‑stage Legendary!

During the exodus of the many Wizards, Anxiwodasi remained silent.

When the four Legendary Wizards stepped forward, he then looked toward the platform; evidently, there were also Wizards on the platform who had betrayed the Fu Kong Cheng.

Seeing this scene, the people in the square felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.

The sunlight overhead remained warm, the breeze gentle; the Fu Kong Cheng was spring‑like year round, yet at this moment everyone felt as if standing in a frigid, icy valley, chilled to the bone.

Under the gaze of the crowd, a Speaker rose slowly.

It was Speaker Mo De La.

Anxiwodasi's eyes finally changed, but without excessive surprise or anger, instead showing a hint of relief.

The other three Speakers changed color together.

The youngest, Kaidejia, could no longer hold back, and asked in a deep voice, "Speaker Mo De La, why?"

Mo De La gave no response.

Speakers Kelaoaosi and Roni's faces seemed relatively calm, yet they unconsciously clenched their fists, revealing fluctuating emotions.

"Mo De La, I need an explanation," Anxiwodasi said softly.

Mo De La, with long jet‑black hair, fish‑tail lines at the corners of the eyes, dull skin, and a gloomy aura, finally broke the silence: "GrandSpeaker, I can live at most another ten years."

Upon hearing this, many were first shocked, then sighed.

Because of the Blood Soul Curse, ordinary humans can hardly live past seventy; becoming a Transcendent allows one to cultivate and strengthen the soul, resist the curse, and extend lifespan, yet Transcendents below Legendary still find it difficult to reach over a hundred years.

Pili Nuo turned to the Lord of the Dead precisely because he could not ascend to Legendary, his lifespan ending, thus committing a mad act.

Ascending to Legendary allows one to live at least three hundred years.

Each rank ascended by a Legendary Transcendent adds another three hundred years to lifespan; upon reaching Legendary High‑rank, living to nine hundred years is no problem.

With additional longevity artifacts, demonic elixirs, or spells, a Legendary High‑rank can live up to about a thousand years!

But this is already the limit of Legendary.

To live longer, the best method is naturally Holy Soul Ascension.

No one knows how long a Holy Soul can live; to date, the longest human lifespan record belongs to the Augulevi Master, known as the "First Wizard," whose age exceeds the Empire's history, over two thousand five hundred years, a living fossil.

But Holy Soul Ascension is too difficult!

Throughout history, countless prodigies have halted here; despite the Empire's hundreds of millions of people over two thousand years, only a dozen Holy Soul Wizards have been born.

At this point people recalled that Speaker Mo De La is actually a contemporary of Anxiwodasi, their ages close, less than twenty years apart.

GrandSpeaker's Holy Soul Ascension nears a thousand years, while Mo De La remains Legendary High‑rank.

They were born into a Mo Du noble family, but that clan had vanished long before they entered the Six‑person Council; such a long span made them the Speaker in the Fu Kong Cheng with seniority only second to Anxiwodasi.

Below the Holy Soul are all mortals.

In such a long span, they have already reached the end of Legendary life.

Mo De La's expression was gaunt, no longer the former majesty; yet the voice remained icy, pointing at the Pili Nuo on the ground, saying: "My pursuit differs from his; I do not wish to become a putrid, disgusting Lich; Holy Soul Ascension is my only hope."

"My innate potential is exhausted; relying only on myself, success is impossible."

"Therefore, I need to control a Fu Kong Cheng, using the massive energy of the Iola Core to conduct a Soul Transformation ceremony, allowing me to ascend to Holy Soul."

Many people, upon hearing this, were suddenly enlightened.

The Iola Core is one of the greatest magical creations in the world of Ai Lun E Si, rumored to possess endless energy and many incredible functions, its power not inferior to a divine artifact!

However, Anxiwodasi remains unmoved.

He shook his head and said, "The Iola Core can indeed assist the Holy Soul ceremony, but the key to advancing the Holy Soul does not lie in it; at most it can raise the success rate a little."

"Even if it's only a one‑percent success rate, I will strive for it," Mo Dela said resolutely.

Anxiwodasi fell silent for a few breaths, his expression regretful.

If it were possible, he would gladly lend Mo Dela the Iola Core of Weizelan Fu Kong Cheng, but that is impossible.

The Iola Core is the core of Fu Kong Cheng; mastering it means controlling Fu Kong Cheng.

Extracting its energy for the Holy Soul ceremony would deprive Fu Kong Cheng of its power source, causing it to inevitably collapse; even letting Fu Kong Cheng land temporarily carries too great a risk.

Not to mention, the Iola Core is soul‑bound.

Once possessed, unless the soul is killed and perishes, it cannot be taken nor can its energy be drawn.

If Mo Dela borrows the Iola Core and by chance succeeds in advancing the Holy Soul, will they return control of Fu Kong Cheng?

That is an unsolvable question.

Even after a thousand years of friendship, Anxiwodasi would not trust them.

No one else would be so generous.

Mo Dela's only way out is to possess their own Iola Core; they do have reasons for betraying Fu Kong Cheng, but Anxiwodasi is not satisfied with that answer.

Relying solely on Mo Dela's reputation and ability, it is impossible to lead so many Wizards away.

Not every Wizard faces the predicament of an imminent end of life.

Anxiwodasi looked toward the Wizards lined up below the platform and asked, "What about you? And for what purpose?"

(End of chapter)