Chapter 336: Let the Great Dragon Be Great Again

On an inconspicuous edge inside the black mask, the word "Shadow" is carved in draconic.

"Is that its name, Shadow Mask?"

Lei En gently stroked the icy mask, carefully identifying its enchantments: there are five effects—Shadow Incarnation, Strong Acid Dragon Breath, Dragon Might, as well as Shadow and Arcane Resistance and Soul Power Recovery Speed Doubled.

Undoubtedly, the strongest of the five enchantments is Shadow Incarnation.

It is a supreme Element, granting super Shadow affinity; all Shadow Magic damage is doubled, casting speed is increased, and when activated it merges with the Shadow Plane, becoming shadow energy that cannot be detected by enemies, achieving self‑concealment.

"No wonder we couldn't find him earlier," Lei En thought, suddenly clear.

Shadow Incarnation is an extremely powerful supreme Element; it is a Black Dragon's innate ability, on par with a Green Dragon's Mind Enchant.

The other two—Strong Acid Dragon Breath and Dragon Might—are clearly also from the Black Dragon.

"Boss!"

"Your Excellency, the Earl."

At that moment, the Extreme Warrior and Shiweifute closed in, and Kangbas limped over as well; still trembling, he said, "Sir, thanks to you we killed the enemy."

"I didn't kill him," Lei En shook his head, glancing at Kangbas.

The slave trader was lucky; protected by magical gear, he escaped injury. Earlier, while battling the Dark Mage, he produced a Dispel Magic scroll that removed the oily spell from the ground, allowing the Extreme Warrior and Shiweifute to get up in time and slay those Horned Demons.

Otherwise, he couldn't have faced the Dark Mage without hesitation.

"Ah… Sir, is he not dead?" Kangbas trembled, scanning anxiously, fearing the terrifying Wizard might appear again.

Lei En stroked his chin and said gravely, "It was only a projection; the Dark Mage's true form is hidden somewhere, but surely within Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng, perhaps even in Skull Harbor."

"Seven‑Ring Projection!"

Kangbas let out a scream; he recognized the technique, stammering, "M‑Master, what… what should we do?"

"A legendary Mid‑stage Wizard trying to hide is beyond my reach," Lei En shrugged, indicating there was nothing he could do.

The Dark Mage's target was himself; ordinarily he wouldn't trouble Kangbas, but who knows the Dark Mage's temperament—he might be a lunatic who, frustrated by Lei En's inability, would kill Kangbas out of spite.

Kangbas sighed heavily, yet dared not complain.

He produced several Cleansing scrolls, using them to strip the oil from the Extreme Warrior, Shiweifute, and his own guard; they had wallowed in the oily spell for rounds, each filthy as if crawled out of a sewer, reeking terribly.

Lei En's body was also soiled by Corrosion Magic and Strong Acid Dragon Breath; the minor wounds had healed, and a single Cleansing spell left him spotless.

He suddenly sensed something, turning his head toward a spot.

After a half‑second, a portal opened.

A figure cloaked in black robes and wearing a mask stepped out; at first glance, it resembled the earlier Dark Mage.

Kangbas was half‑frozen with fear, nearly screaming.

When he saw clearly, he bowed and said, "Honored to meet you, Masked Lord."

Lei En also discerned the differences from the Dark Mage: the mask's shape and material differed, and there was no chilling, dark aura about him.

Under this disguise was a living person, not a projection.

The onlookers who had been shouting on the street stopped watching; when the Masked Lord appeared, they instantly dispersed, not daring to linger even a second.

Thus the Masked Lord's reputation in Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng is evident.

Ordinary people cannot see through the Masked Lord's disguise, but in Lei En's eyes nothing hides; through the mask's twin eyes he pierces deep, instantly perceiving the Masked Lord's soul clearly, everything laid bare.

"Hm?" Lei En thought, surprised.

Beneath the mask was an unremarkable human male face, yet his soul differed from ordinary cultivators—it was that of a fourteenth‑level Dragon Vein Sorcerer!

Lei En instantly realized this man was Baron Diken*Sel's, also the Masked Lord of Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng.

What a coincidence!

Baron Diken*Sel's didn't realize he'd been seen through; hearing Kangbas's greeting, the eyes beneath his mask lit up, though he gave no outward reply.

His gaze swept around, landing on the assassins' and Horned Demons' corpses, then finally on Lei En's hand; after a pause, a gender‑ambiguous voice said, "You killed a Dragon Priest?"

Behind the disguise, even the tone shifted, revealing no trace of emotional fluctuation.

Lei En read from the soul's hue that Diken's emotions were shifting rapidly.

"Just his projection," he replied simply, flashing the mask in his hand, "Lord, do you recognize this?"

"It's a Dragon Priest mask of the Dragon Worship Cult," the Masked Lord nodded slightly, "It is a relic of the cult, only ten exist, each an epic‑level artifact forged with several Arcane Elements of a Great Dragon's soul, granting part of the dragon's spellcasting power."

"Anyone wielding such a mask is a Dragon Priest of the Dragon Worship Cult."

"Each Dragon Priest is at least a legendary Mid‑stage caster; you managed to kill his projection—who are you?" The Masked Lord's tone was flat, yet his surprise was evident.

Before Lei En could answer, Kangbas hurriedly introduced, "Lord, this is the Earl of Glamorgan."

"So it's you, pleasure to meet."

The Masked Lord kept a calm façade, though his soul's hue shifted rapidly, clearly in great surprise.

His emotions fluctuated so fast he couldn't stop scanning between Kangbas and Lei En, evidently having heard the news Kangbas spread at the trade fair about a Green Dragon's soul and having taken the bait.

Yet, due to his position as Masked Lord, he could not reveal any hint of thought.

Lei En pretended ignorance, cooperating with the Masked Lord's inquiries while opening his phone's library to search for information on the Dragon Worship Cult.

He quickly obtained numerous results.

The Dragon Worship Cult is classified as a heretical sect in the Empire; its followers are chiefly human, worshipping Great Dragons, believing the mighty dragons will rise again to rule the Ai Lun E Si world.

Their doctrine is summed up in one phrase: Let the Great Dragon be Great Again!

Most cultists worship the Mother of Evil Dragons, Ti Ya Xi Si, and operate covertly within human cities, organized in cooperation, running numerous illegal enterprises—smuggling, selling intelligence, taking assassination contracts, kidnapping for ransom, or laundering money on the black market—ultimately to serve the dragons, supplying them with treasure and information, making them the dragons' most loyal hounds.

Some evil dragons also join the cult, gaining the aid of its followers and holding high positions within it.

The Green Dragon King Zhanqing is one of the cult's leaders, worshipped as a god.

Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng, the city most rife with smuggling trade, has long shown the cult's presence; rumors even claim the Dragon Worship Cult's headquarters lie hidden somewhere within Skull Harbor.

"We've entered the enemy's lair!"

Lei En was instantly at a loss for words.

No wonder that just a few days after Kangbas released the news, the Dragon‑worship Cult arranged the assassination.

Diken Sel's didn't stay long; the Masked Lord generally doesn't interfere in Skull Harbor affairs, and since Lei En killed a member of the Dragon‑worship Cult, it was not illegal and even benefited Thus: Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng, so after a few words of praise he opened a portal and left.

Kangbas waited until the portal closed and let out a long sigh.

Lei En asked, "Are you very afraid of the Masked Lord?"

"Anyone who lives in Thus: Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng is afraid, aren't they?" A layer of shadow fell over Kangbas's eyes.

"I grew up hearing stories of the Masked Lord; they represent justice and order, yet they possess supreme authority and power, able to kill or deal with Thus: Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng's residents at will without bearing responsibility or giving explanations."

"Although the Masked Lord always enforces the law fairly and is beloved by ordinary people, for nobles and transcendent beings the Masked Lord is like a sword hanging over their heads, ready to fall at any moment."

Kangbas calmly voiced his feelings.

Lei En seemed to understand.

The Masked Lord is actually the personification of Thus: Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng's law and order; they conceal their identities and always appear as powerful enforcers. For centuries, relying on strength and fairness, the Masked Lord has gradually established a clear and deeply rooted image in the minds of Thus: Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng's residents.

Whenever people see the Masked Lord, anyone who has committed an illegal act feels guilty.

The more offenses a person has, the more they fear the Masked Lord.

Generally, the illegal acts of ordinary people are certainly less than those of nobles and transcendent beings, so ordinary people always support the Masked Lord, while nobles and transcendent beings naturally resist and dread it.

Of course, all this is built upon a foundation of great power.

This can be considered a system with extraordinary characteristics born in a world of extraordinary powers.

Lei En glanced at Kangbas and said lightly, "If you don't do anything guilty, you needn't fear the Masked Lord; you know best what you've done."

Kangbas's complexion froze, and they could only smile awkwardly.

Lei En didn't continue, "Lead the way; the Trade Hall is still waiting for us." The carriage was already destroyed, so the party could only proceed on foot.

On the road, he pondered how to deal with the shadow mask in his hand.

This magical item is top‑tier in the epic; its five attached effects are all highly practical, and just the "Shadow Incarnation" alone is enough to make every dark mage chase it madly.

However, it has little use for him, and carrying it is a nuisance.

Better to sell it.

Lei En made a decision; he had been spending money recklessly lately and had little Gold Shield left, and this shadow mask could restore his health.

The minimum price for an epic item is already over 100,000 Gold Shield, and with the shadow mask's top‑grade quality, selling it for 300,000 Gold Shield should be no problem, possibly even higher.

As for whether the mask will eventually end up back in that dark mage's hands, Lei En didn't care.

One projection that can kill him once can kill him a second time!

If this Dragon Priest's lingering spirit won't disperse and dares to chase to Mo Du, once I ascend to legend, I'll take out his true body as well.

(End of chapter)