Chapter 766: Floating City Forms a Coalition

A few blood elves stared intently at Lei En, their faces full of the words "I don't believe it".

Just half a day ago they had just witnessed the terrifying nature of Fu Kong Cheng; four Saint Rank strongmen teamed up, one of whom was a rare titan demigod, and none could break Fu Kong Cheng's protective barrier, yet Lei En claimed he could bring down Fu Kong Cheng within half a year—it was a joke.

If Anxiwodasi weren't present, they would have already mocked him.

However, Lei En didn't seem to be joking.

Asqiongge, the regent, unlike most blood elves who are cut off from information and know almost nothing of the outside world, had already heard of Lei En's name. Meeting Lei En in person today, the reputation proved well‑deserved; he no longer dared to look down on this young human.

He rose slowly and asked, "Speaker Lei En, are you sure you can do it?"

"Everyone, you can go inquire within the Empire." Lei En replied with an arrogant smile: "I, Ryan Augustus, have always kept my word. If within half a year the Naxas Floating City has not been brought down and can still threaten Yongge City, I will not only give the blood elves a year's supply of Sunlight Blood for free, but also grant each blood knight a brand‑new model assault rifle."

When the blood elves first heard the name "assault rifle", they mistakenly thought Lei En was referring to the Extreme Warrior's Bolt Gun.

They had already witnessed the power of that peculiar soul gun.

Its range is long, its firepower strong; the bullets fly like a raging storm, and when they explode, each projectile's power is no less than a three‑ring spell!

If every blood knight were equipped with an assault rifle, the overall strength would increase dramatically.

At once, the blood elves all showed delight on their faces.

Ranger General Haduren, fearing Lei En might renege, impatiently said, "Speaker Lei En, this is what you said, Master Anxiwodasi also heard it, you must keep the promise after half a year."

In his view, Lei En could never bring down the floating city.

Lei En saw through his thoughts in a glance, and simply nodded: "Teacher can be a witness. Of course, the premise of this promise is that the blood elves agree to my condition and become allies with Gotham City."

He certainly isn't that foolish to give the blood elves benefits for free.

The real purpose of this promise is to increase leverage, enticing the blood elves to sign an alliance.

"Um…"

Haduren was choked off; this wasn't something he could say, so he turned his gaze to the regent.

Asqiongge showed a hesitant expression, clearly finding it hard to decide. After exchanging a look with Grand Mage Romans, he said, "Speaker Lei En, please give us some time to consider."

"Sure."

Lei En readily agreed, but before the blood elves could breathe a sigh of relief, he added, "I'll give you only half an hour; after that, I won't wait."

"Half an hour is too short," Asqiongge immediately shook his head, trying to gain more time. "Forming an alliance isn't a trivial matter; it concerns the blood elves' future destiny and must involve more people, not just a few of us deciding. Moreover, the alliance terms still need further discussion…"

"You still have 29 minutes," Lei En cut him off directly, not relenting at all.

He didn't believe a word about "listening to public opinion", which he considered nonsense.

Ai Lun E Si's world is not Earth; almost all the superiors are the strongest who wield all power themselves, absolute dictators, and no one ever cares about the voices of the common folk.

Lei En's dominance left the blood elves with no recourse.

Asqiongge could only smile wryly and agree, sending people to escort Lei En and Anxiwodasi to his regent palace to rest.

When the anti‑magic guard withdrew, Anxiwodasi waved his hand and instantly generated a Soundproof Force Field, then whispered, "Lei En, the guarantee you gave the blood elves isn't real, is it?"

"Of course it's real, Teacher," Lei En replied with a smile.

Anxiwodasi was startled, eyes wide, his long white eyebrows trembling, and immediately recalled last year when Reslin ambushed Duke Hong Shi's ParrasFloatingCity, forcing Parras to land, prompting him to blurt out, "Was it Reslin who acted?"

"Yes," Lei En nodded slightly.

"How did you do it?" Anxiwodasi could not hide his curiosity. "What's your plan?"

Lei En explained, "When Teacher and Elder Sorin attacked Naxas, I let Reslin take advantage of the moment to transmit a small item into the floating city. It contains a spiritual imprint; as long as the floating city returns to the Prime Material Plane, Reslin can sense its location."

Anxiwodasi's face cleared. "Last year Reslin's attack on Parras used the same method, right?"

Lei En nodded silently.

"That's your secret; you don't need to tell me," Anxiwodasi said seriously. "Just answer me one question: is this method of breaching spatial isolation unique to you? Could it spread?"

Lei En sensed the concern the Teacher had.

If it were easy to breach spatial isolation and send objects or enemies into the floating city, that would be terrible news for the Empire.

The Empire's current strength stems from those seven floating cities.

Floating cities that forever soar in the sky are not only symbols of the Empire but also give countless Imperial citizens great confidence. If even the floating cities become unsafe, the Empire's foundation will be shaken, and its people's resolve will falter.

"Teacher, rest assured, this is a very unique method and cannot spread," Lei En replied resolutely.

The Key of Doors is extremely rare, even rarer than a legendary Element.

Besides himself, Lei En has only encountered one other person possessing the Key of Doors, Augulevi Master.

And Augulevi Master likely wouldn't act against the Empire; with his terrifying power, even without the Key of Doors he could probably still bring down a floating city.

Although the Book of Thousand Souls records this Element, Master Aman Dora lists it as the first among the supreme Elements, providing a very detailed and lengthy introduction. However, judging from the book, Master Aman Dora's understanding of the Key of Doors is rather superficial and has not grasped its true power.

Lei En speculated that across Ai Lun E Si, no more than five extraordinary beings possess the Key of Doors, and perhaps only he and Augulevi Master have it.

Moreover, the Key of Doors must be upgraded to the eighth ring before it can master the ability to pierce spatial isolation.

That is actually a very difficult task.

Such a low‑probability possibility does not threaten the safety of the floating cities, so Lei En feels there's no need to worry excessively.

"That's good," Anxiwodasi said, slightly relieved.

He was still a bit puzzled, "Since you can transmit into the floating city, why didn't Reslin act, breaking in directly from inside Naxas?"

"Actually I thought the same at first, but then changed my mind," Lei En replied honestly. When he and his legion teleported to Yongge City, Reslin had actually followed covertly, waiting far from the battlefield for an opportunity.

Anxiwodasi asked, "What reason?"

"I discovered that the controller of Naxas is Korstted," Lei En said with implication. "I originally thought that when the Xinxiang Floating City fell into the hands of the Heavenly Disaster Legion, its controller would be the chief Lich of the Dead Knot Sigil, Sazastan, but it wasn't. That's a perfect opportunity."

"You want the Iola Core?" Anxiwodasi's eyes flashed as he blurted out.

Lei En did not hide his ambition: "Yes, Teacher."

The Iola Core is a soul‑bound magical item; only by killing its previous owner and re‑imprinting a soul seal can one truly possess it.

That is almost impossible to achieve.

Since the first floating city was created, no city's master has ever been slain, thereby losing control of the floating city. The Teacher also inherited the floating city after the previous GrandSpeaker died, being elected by the Weizelan Council, not by seizure.

If the master of Nakxas is Sazastan, Lei En has little confidence in succeeding.

The chief Lich is one of the world's top spellcasters, above Thirty-level; the reason he always ends up at a disadvantage when dueling the teacher, being suppressed miserably, is that the teacher's power is overwhelming, his fighting style is countered, and the two have been rivals for over a thousand years.

In fact, Sazastan is one of the oldest Liches, extremely powerful, perhaps slightly weaker in damage, but in survivability methods likely only second to Augulevi Master.

If it controls Fu Kong Cheng, it would ascend in a single step.

This is likely why the Death Lord handed Fu Kong Cheng to Korstted.

Korstted has been a Holy Soul Lich only a few years; both his survivability and power are far inferior to Sazastan. Even if he becomes the master of Fu Kong Cheng, he must still obediently obey the Death Lord, forever a faithful lapdog.

And that gives Lei En a chance to seize Fu Kong Cheng.

It doesn't have to be Fu Kong Cheng; the Iola Core inside it is enough.

At that time, during the battle, the Death Lord, Sazastan, and Grand Mage Radashir were present, along with countless Undead Army; the situation was urgent, and if Reslin acted, he would have to destroy the Iola Core outright, leaving no time for the enemy to counter.

This does not align with his own interests.

So Lei En immediately changed his mind; while Korstted's attention was drawn by the enemy, Elder Sorim threw Thunder God's Spear, piercing the barrier, and at that instant quietly teleported three brain‑split crystals into Fu Kong Cheng, scattered at different locations.

The three brain‑split crystals were disguised, only nail‑sized, looking like an inconspicuous metal fragment.

Each fragment contains a spirit imprint of activated metal.

Then Lei En coasted the whole way, letting Nakxas's Fu Kong Cheng leap away.

So far, the three brain‑split crystals are all unharmed; they possess some mobility, and Lei En can sense their psychic vision. One crystal has already quietly attached to a Death Knight, observing the surroundings.

Because they are separated by a plane, Lei En cannot pinpoint the location.

The crystals also cannot see outside Fu Kong Cheng; the only certainty is that they have not yet returned to the Prime Material Plane.

Next, Lei En plans to have the crystals probe Fu Kong Cheng's interior, preferably entering the control room where the Iola Core resides.

The key is to uncover Korstted's background.

Especially its Soul Box!

The Soul Box is the Lich's most vital item, also its weak point. It must be destroyed; only then can Korstted truly be killed and Fu Kong Cheng be seized.

Lei En speculates that Korstted's Soul Box has two possibilities.

One is that it is in the Death Lord's possession, which is why Korstted obeys him; the other is hidden somewhere secret within Fu Kong Cheng, for it, there is no place safer or more reliable than its own Fu Kong Cheng— even if killed, it can instantly resurrect there.

The odds of the two possibilities are fifty‑fifty.

If it's the former, Lei En can only abandon the fantasy of the Iola Core and destroy Fu Kong Cheng outright.

Anxiwodasi listened to his plan, expression somewhat complex, then let out a sigh: "Korstted…"

The sigh was filled with boundless regret and helplessness.

Lei En can understand this.

He and Korstted are both the teacher's students; he has only spent less than five years with the teacher, while Korstted has, over the past eight hundred years, always been the teacher's most trusted person; the two are both master and student, and also friends.

The eight hundred‑plus years of friendship are countless times deeper than five years, indestructible for a lifetime.

Even though Korstted has reached this point, betrayed by all, the teacher still harbors some hard‑to‑let‑go feelings for him.

"Teacher."

Lei En was about to offer a few comforting words.

Anxiwodasi, however, with a solemn expression, said, "You need not worry; I will personally slay Korstted, avenge the dead Weizelan Wizards, and help you obtain the Iola Core."

"Thank you, teacher." Lei En was delighted, "When I have probed Nakxas's situation, and it returns to the Prime Material Plane, I will find a moment when the Death Lord is absent and launch a surprise attack on Fu Kong Cheng."

Anxiwodasi nodded in agreement, reminding, "The interior of Fu Kong Cheng is equally dangerous. If it's just the two of us, it may be difficult. You'd better bring Ouroin and Elder Sorim; as for Yuyan, forget it—I fear the dragon might develop inappropriate thoughts about the Iola Core."

"I understand." Lei En had actually already considered it.

The Iola Core's value is beyond mention; the ancient red dragon Yuyan gets along well with me, but I cannot guarantee that before the priceless Iola Core, I can maintain a good mindset.

"I am not preparing to let Master Ouroin participate."

"Elder Sorim only agreed to act once before I fulfill my promise; it will be hard to get him to act again," Lei En said.

Anxiwodasi said with a half‑smile, "Are you afraid that Ouroin would learn that Reslin can teleport into Fu Kong Cheng and discover that the incident at Paras last year was your doing?"

Lei En awkwardly admitted.

At that time, Master Ouroin testified before the Supreme Council in his own capacity, claiming he was unrelated to the Paras attack. If he discovered he was deceived, he couldn't say, "What does Reslin's wrongdoing have to do with me, Lei En?"

If Master Ouroin were to rage and swing a sword, my life would be over.

Lei En changed the subject, saying, "I will invite Lady Kuilu, Yizite, and Kestajin to act together, as well as His Majesty the Regent or one or two blood‑elf champions; with so many Saint Rank heroes, it should be enough to deal with Korstted."

Their strength naturally pales compared to Master Ouroin and Elder Titan, but the advantage is they won't compete with me for the Iola Core.

In a past‑life game shout it would be: "Fu Kong Cheng, assemble the team; the Iola Core is undivided."

Black gear must be openly black; I've decided on "Mao Lei En".

Anxiwodasi, unaware of Lei En's tangled thoughts, considered seriously for a while, then nodded, "The plan has no problem; with me present, actually we don't need so many people."

Lei En smiled, "More people, greater strength."

The teacher and student continued discussing details; as half an hour approached, a portal opened before them, and Lei En and the teacher passed through, seeing Regent Asjong and several high‑ranking blood elves waiting.

With a sweep of the Soul Eye, Lei En knew they had already made the decision he wanted.

(End of Chapter)