Chapter 379: Glory Is My Destiny

"Significant magical research?" Lei En's spirit jolted.

Holy Soul Wizards have already stood at the pinnacle of mortal spellcasters, each possessing countless magical insights. In their eyes, a study that can be called significant magical research must wield power beyond ordinary imagination.

From Duke Hong Shi's words, this research must last at least ten years!

Lei En also frequently interacts with Holy Soul Wizards; the teachers occasionally conduct magical research, but it usually takes only a few days or weeks, and anything over half a year is rare, let alone ten years.

"What is Duke Hong Shi researching?"

Lei En was very curious.

He flipped back through the diary, confirming the date Duke Hong Shi began his magical research, which was just a few days after Feilis returned from Longshande to ParrasFloatingCity.

Feilis did not know that Duke Hong Shi had also gone to Longshande and had disguised himself as her teacher Winslow; evidently, she was also kept in the dark.

Lei En pondered briefly and formed a rough conjecture: "It seems that Duke Hong Shi's objective in Longshande was achieved, perhaps he obtained some crucial item, so after returning to ParrasFloatingCity he began the magical research."

This study is very likely not merely superficial.

Otherwise, given Duke Hong Shi's proud nature, he would never restrain Feilis from provoking other Holy Soul Wizards.

Lei En has never formally met Duke Hong Shi, but he heard from his teachers that this first prodigy in human history is extremely self‑confident, vindictive, and almost never regards anyone outside Holy Soul Wizards, even Holy Soul Wizards themselves, sometimes mocking them to the face.

"Fine, this is none of my business."

"As long as Duke Hong Shi doesn't find me, that's all that matters."

Lei En stopped worrying, tossed Feilis's diary back into the ring, and counted the other items.

After the Windrider crossed the Stano Mountains, it flew northeast, landing to rest a few times to recover stamina; half a day later it was already near the Deep Mud Swamp.

Lei En sensed the steel ring he had given Ai Milisi; it had remained in one spot for several days, making him suspect something was wrong.

He calculated the distance; Ai Milisi was at the edge of the Deep Mud Swamp, already close.

Using his Soul Eye, he gazed ahead and could vaguely see a massive dark swamp appearing on the horizon, endless to the eye.

"Down."

Lei En patted the seated bipedal wyvern, landed on a stretch of frozen ground, jumped down, and said, "Good luck, farewell."

The Windrider nuzzled him reluctantly before finally taking off.

Frankly, the Windrider is an excellent mount, extremely valuable, and Lei En would love to keep it, but the risks are too great.

The reason he chose the Windrider back then was that the Windrider often appears as the mount of powerful orcs before the world.

The orc tribe has a famed army called the Voriel Guard, independent of any clan and loyal only to the tribal Great Chieftain. Members of the Voriel Guard are the elite one‑in‑a‑hundred orc warriors, possessing a complete method for taming Windriders, never shared.

When people see a Windrider mount, they think of orcs.

If Lei En, in human form, rides the Windrider before others, it will inevitably draw attention; if the news reaches the Great Plains, it will likely be linked to Brocksgah.

Lei En has not broken the Windrider's taming bond; its status still appears on his device interface.

If ParrasFloatingCity locates it, they could also anticipate it in advance.

He still dressed as a human ranger, wearing leather armor, a sword at his waist, and after confirming no one was nearby, he drew his Arcane Torrent Staff and opened a portal.

Stepping out of the portal, he found himself amid a wasteland.

This was not far from Ai Milisi's location; after walking a short while, Lei En found a path and was instantly surprised.

The Deep Mud Swamp lies at the far east of the orc tribe, extremely remote and harsh; even with an orc's resilience, long‑term settlement is difficult, with only a few tiny settlements, so few should pass through. Yet the road ahead bore many dense footprints—orc, human, horse hooves, and traces of various magical beast mounts—clearly left recently, no more than ten days old.

Lei En looked toward the direction the footprints extended, which led straight into the Deep Mud Swamp.

"Did something happen?"

He muttered, then began a slow jog along the road; shortly after he ran a short distance, a burst of horse hooves sounded behind him, and turning he saw a cavalry unit on towering warhorses charging.

Lei En halted and stepped aside onto the roadside.

The cavalry comprised a dozen or so humans, all super‑naturals, most clad in enchanted iron armor; each looked weary as if they had been on the road for days. Spotting Lei En by the roadside, they approached cautiously, slowing their pace from a distance.

The leading cavalry captain lifted his helm and faceplate, revealing a weather‑worn middle‑aged man's face; Lei En's Soul Eye identified him as a senior Iron Guard, quite formidable.

He guided his horse to a halt a dozen paces away.

Then, politely, he said, "Brother, how far is it to the Ice Thorn Clan?"

Lei En had heard Ai Milisi mention the Ice Thorn Clan, an orc tribe living on the edge of the Deep Mud Swamp; they know the swamp well, and anyone entering should hire an orc guide from their tribe.

From the ring's location, Ai Milisi should be near the Ice Thorn Clan.

"Not far ahead," Lei En indicated a direction.

"Alright, thanks!" the cavalry captain beamed, thanked them, and without lingering, waved his hand, leading his companions onward.

Lei En gazed at their backs, and the Voice of All Things caught a few snippets of conversation.

"Captain, what's this guy's background? He dares to run alone into the Deep Mud Swamp, truly reckless."

"Why are you meddling so much?"

"Mind our own matters; hope we can still make it in time, otherwise this journey will be for nothing," the cavalry captain scolded.

The voices faded, and Lei En heard no more useful information.

He still discerned something.

These cavalrymen came from the Blantania Knight Kingdom, a realm situated between the Empire and the orc tribes, worshipping the lake nymph, valuing virtue, courage, and glory; from the noble royal family down to common farmer, all revere knights, and the king is titled the Knight King.

Blantania has three great knight orders, all sharing the creed: "Glory is My Destiny!"

The knight orders have strict hierarchies; every knight is of noble birth.

The group just passed were merely cavalry, not knights; their armor lacked shield insignia and shoulder epaulettes, showing no affiliation with the three great orders, at most wanderer knights or mercenaries, considered commoners in Blantania.

Lei En kept running, puzzled.

Shortly after, a settlement built on a hillside appeared, surrounded by wooden fences; its houses were of stone and logs, housing at most two thousand people, barely a town.

However, at the foot of the hill outside the settlement lay a large encampment.

"What's going on?"

Lei En was greatly astonished; his gaze swept the area, revealing dozens of tents, squads of mercenaries, wandering knights, super‑naturals, and even adventurers of other races, gathered in small groups, either resting, sparring, or chatting—a lively scene.

The band of wandering knights we just met on the road also joined them and are setting up camp.

This is nothing like the remote tribe he had imagined.

Among the tents, a group caught Lei En's eye: knights clad in exquisite armor, swords at their waists, standing upright as they moved, bearing a fierce and dignified aura, with a red rose etched on the chest of their armor, very conspicuous.

They have over a dozen tents, neatly arranged together, and beside them a simple stable made of cloth, housing several splendid white warhorses tended carefully by a few grooms.

Lei En recognized them at a glance; they are from the Rose Knight Order, one of the three great knightly orders of Blantania, true knights indeed.

The Rose Knights dare to enter the tribe's territory, venturing into the deep mud swamp.

Lei En felt curious.

Blantania's relationship with the orc tribe is not that of mortal enemies, but there are occasional frictions; it is far from a friendly neighbor.

The Rose Knights' intrusion into the orc tribe inevitably carries great risk.

Lei En's arrival drew little attention; lone adventurers like him are not uncommon, and after a brief sense, he located Ai Mi Li Si.

Passing through a few tents, he saw Jia La De Luo Si on the camp's perimeter.

The copper-red dragon was animatedly chatting with several mercenaries, occasionally letting out a booming laugh; his gaze fell on Lei En, and he exclaimed with delight, "Lei… you finally arrived!"

"Everyone disperse, everyone disperse."

Jia La De Luo Si dismissed the mercenaries, stepped up to Lei En, and said with a smile, "We've been waiting for you for several days; Ai Mi Li Si has been worrying about you, and I knew you wouldn't have any problem."

"Hmm, sorry to keep you waiting." Lei En nodded.

The two entered a tent and immediately saw Ai Mi Li Si and Xin Da La; one was sitting on a blanket, scribbling what seemed to be Kangjiatuo's battle map at a fleeting glance, while the Frost Sea Dragon lay in the corner, hugging a blanket and snoring.

"Lei En!"

Ai Mi Li Si put away her paper and pen and came forward happily.

Lei En gently slipped his arm around her shoulder, "How's your matter going?" Ai Mi Li Si couldn't help but ask.

"Smoothly." Lei En replied with a smile. "In a few more days, you'll hear news." He didn't elaborate, then asked, "Why didn't you enter the swamp to search for the giant dragon? What's going on here, why so many people? What are they here for?"

Xin Da La also woke at this moment, glanced at Lei En, and muttered a few words.

"This story is long," Ai Mi Li Si's expression was complicated as she replied, "They, like me, also came to find the giant dragon."

People truly cannot slack off; I almost let myself go… sorry to everyone, there's a second chapter tonight.

(End of chapter)