Chapter 819: Entering the Half-Plane

The Earl of Glamorgan is auctioning the Fu Kong Cheng!

This explosive news swept the Empire like a storm at breakneck speed, erupting like a massive bomb and instantly raising towering waves. Earlier, people were still envying Lei En for acquiring the Fu Kong Cheng; now everyone is stunned into a daze.

Anyone who heard of it had almost the same first thought in mind.

Has the Earl of Glamorgan gone completely mad?

Especially since, shortly afterward, another rumor spread: Lei En, despite the resolution already being passed, refused to enter the Supreme Council.

This made people even more certain that the Earl of Glamorgan is definitely insane!

In an instant, the whole Empire seemed to grind to a halt; whether on streets and alleys, noble courtyards, or the Fu Kong Cheng, every inn, hotel, and entertainment venue, in public or the hidden underworld, everyone was talking about it.

The Empire's newspapers scrambled to add extra prints, filling entire pages with reports and commentary, while countless rumors flew everywhere.

Some speculate that the New Village Fu Kong Cheng has serious issues, perhaps it can no longer lift off, so Lei En wants to sell it.

Some think Lei En is being blackmailed.

Others believe Lei En must have ulterior motives; selling the Fu Kong Cheng could bring greater profit.

All kinds of speculation and rumors spread like a virus, a cacophony of opinions, even the transcendents and the Wizards of the various Fu Kong Chengs eagerly joined the discussion. Especially the Wizards, who have never in their lives imagined anyone would sell a Fu Kong Cheng, and like most people, cannot comprehend Lei En's actions.

As for participating in the auction…

A guarantee of five million Gold Shields is terrifying to contemplate; only a handful of people in the entire Empire could muster that much money.

The overwhelming majority dare not hope to attend, but a few do step forward.

All factions across the Empire turned their eyes to the Earl of Glamorgan, even beginning to raise funds, willing to spend five million Gold Shields just to watch the spectacle, since there's no loss anyway.

Meanwhile, more people swarmed from all over the Empire to watch the Fu Kong Cheng that had landed on the ground.

Some who have history with Lei En, or high‑ranking transcendents, even some Holy Soul Wizards, wanted to meet Lei En before the auction, but the butler Fabian told them Lei En is not at the Earl of Glamorgan, the auction's rules have been set, and anyone wishing to join must submit the guarantee and can appear three days later.

Lei En, who sparked this storm, teleported away half an hour ago.

Gotham City.

Viola, after two teleports, found herself brought by Lei En to a teleportation hall, guarded on all sides by four Extreme Warriors and a squad of Holy Lance Knights.

The layout here is similar to the Earl of Glamorgan's castle teleport hall, and she has already guessed where she is.

"Want to go out and tour my city?" Lei En asked with a beaming smile.

Viola gladly replied, "Sure!"

Leaving the teleport hall, outside stood a tall, sturdy fortress, and looking up one could see a Wizard Tower already built to about three or four stories high.

The tower's foundation is laid, with hundreds of dwarf craftsmen working feverishly, and a dozen or so transcendents clad in golden armor directing the dwarves to lay rune arrays; construction is extremely efficient, and it should be finished in less than a year.

Viola had once wanted a Wizard Tower of her own, so she paused to watch.

She knows these transcendents are Thundercast Celestial Soldiers, mysterious in origin and mighty, and no one besides Lei En has ever seen their true faces.

Soon, Viola discovered the Thundercast Celestial Soldiers possess exceptionally advanced magical knowledge, sometimes personally laying rune arrays that blend perfectly with the tower's materials—she couldn't find any flaw. Moreover, some of the rune arrays she couldn't immediately decipher.

"This… "

Viola was shocked and wondered whether these Thundercast Celestial Soldiers are all legendary Wizards.

It seems Lei En commands over a hundred Thundercast Celestial Soldiers!

"Let's go, there's nothing much to see now; when the Wizard Tower is finished I'll take you inside for a tour." Lei En sensed Viola might have uncovered something significant and didn't want to reveal it yet, smiling, "Gotham City has many who have heard of your fame, admire you greatly, and are eager to meet you."

Viola's attention was instantly diverted, and she retorted, "They're all just waiting to mock me, right?"

"No way."

Lei En laughed heartily, pulling the Half-elf into the fortress hall; the Extreme Warriors stationed there sensed the original body's arrival and shouted, "Boss!"

The Holy Lance Knights also greeted in unison.

The Extreme Warriors were all familiar to Viola; some had even rotated at Marlinge Manor, serving as her guards, so they weren't surprised.

The Holy Lance Knights, for the most part, were seeing Viola for the first time; they were immediately stunned by her breathtaking beauty, glanced a few more times before recalling she is the lord's companion, hurriedly lowered their heads, yet her image lingered in their minds.

Viola, accustomed to such reactions, maintained a dignified demeanor, lifted her head, gently linked Lei En's arm, and walked out of the hall.

The highland fortress is the only high point in Gotham City.

In an instant, the whole city unfolded before their eyes.

After almost a year of construction, Gotham City is no longer a vast wasteland; the magical district and inner city nearest the fortress boast sizable buildings, and wide streets criss‑cross everywhere. Farther out, dwarf, elf, and Imperial styles rise side by side, bustling with humans, blood elves, Tauren and dwarves—a thriving scene.

Even though less than a tenth is completed, one can glimpse the city's scale and splendor, destined to become the brightest pearl of the New Continent.

"What a huge city!"

Viola gasped in amazement; her keen eyesight saw vast fertile lands stretching east of the city, endless to the horizon.

Lei En, looking smug, waved his hand and a bronze warhorse descended, clasped the Half‑elf's waist, and both mounted the steed.

The bronze warhorse surged into the sky, circling above the city.

Lei En leaned close to her delicate ear, pointing out the city below—each district's function, past battles, future plans, and so on.

Viola's ears flushed slightly; as she listened, her mind drifted away unconsciously.

All of this was created by Lei En!

She still recalled the day she met Lei En five years ago, as vivid as yesterday, when Lei En had just completed the Soul Transformation test, not yet a transcendent but showing great potential. At the time she had no grand designs, merely invested in this handsome, extraordinary youth, adding a potential client to the Violet House, and also marketing the Soul‑Melding Seed she'd been holding for years.

Back then, Viola already knew Lei En's future would be extraordinary.

Yet she still underestimated Lei En.

In her mind, Lei En might reach Legend before thirty, but that would be less than one percent, even one ten‑thousandth, of his actual achievements!

Every time she thought of the present Lei En, Viola felt it was unreal—could a mortal truly accomplish this in five years?

Yet everything she saw and felt reminded her that it was real.

"What are you thinking?"

Lei En's voice pulled Viola's thoughts back; she turned, glanced at the man behind her, then leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, leaving a faint lip mark.

The beauty's kiss was, of course, thoroughly enjoyed by Lei En.

He simply embraced the Half-elf, lowered his head to kiss, and let the bronze galloping horse carry them soaring over Getan, the two staying together for a long while.

Until a patrol of Holy Lance Knights flew in ahead, saluting from a distance in the air.

Lei En sensed a sharp gaze.

He let go of Viola, looked and saw that the Holy Lance Knights were led by Li Feilin, the Holy Blood Angel's eyes flickered, she glanced at Viola, her face slightly changed, waved a hand, and led the Holy Lance Knights to fly off in another direction.

"Uh…"

Lei En oddly felt like he was being caught in the act, and could only pretend nothing had happened.

Viola looked toward the direction Li Feilin departed and asked puzzled, "Did that beautiful blood elf just now seem to have an issue with me?"

"How could that be? She doesn't even know you," Lei En replied calmly, "She is Li Feilin, the leader of the Holy Spear Knight Corps."

"The Holy Blood Angel?" Viola had heard of her.

"Yes." Lei En nodded.

Viola looked at Lei En, a half‑smile on her face, and suddenly said, "If you like her, I don't mind you having another woman, but you must manage your time so you don't let me meet her. If she turns against me, I'm no match for a Holy Blood Angel."

"Don't talk nonsense," Lei En said, helplessly laughing and crying.

He truly felt a bit wronged; his relationship with Li Feilin was perfectly clean, yet even if he explained, Viola wouldn't believe.

"I'll take you to see your birthday present," Lei En could only change the subject.

Viola, being considerate, didn't bring up Li Feilin again.

Lei En opened a portal and returned to the highland fortress, led her onto a teleportation array, and the scene shifted to a spacious, bright hall.

Viola looked around, surprised, "Wizard Tower? Where are we?"

Another Wizard Tower!

"The upper region of the Dark Realm," Lei En explained, "This is the Obsidian Tower; I seized it from an eye demon, and it now belongs to Reslin."

"Do eye demons also build Wizard Towers?" Viola asked curiously.

Lei En roughly recounted the origin of the Obsidian Tower; the Half-elf suddenly understood, secretly startled, realizing Lei En had silently claimed another Wizard Tower. Yet she was only mildly surprised; Lei En's many deeds had long left her numb.

Even if Lei En conjured another Floating City, she wouldn't be very surprised.

Obviously, this Wizard Tower was Lei En's secret base; Viola only walked around the hall and made no request to tour.

"Reslin is meditating inside the tower, so I won't let him come out to meet you," Lei En said with a smile, "I've stored many good things in this high tower; your gift is on the ninth floor."

As they spoke, the two were teleported to a secret chamber on the ninth floor.

The secret chamber was tightly protected by a formation; in the empty middle stood a half‑high platform bearing a strange gem.

Viola's gaze was immediately drawn to it.

"What is this?"

She didn't recognize it at first; upon close inspection she saw the platform engraved with a rune formation, channeling energy into the gem, apparently maintaining some condition.

"Origin Stone!"

Viola's eyes widened as she let out a low exclamation; before her was an Origin Stone capable of creating a half‑plane, one of the few precious gems whose value ranks just below Divine Flame.

"This was originally Korstted's Origin Stone, installed in the Floating City; I cut it out and placed it here," Lei En explained, "Korstted hid all his wealth in this half‑plane; I haven't had time to inventory it, there should be plenty of good stuff."

He paused, then continued, "All I need is the Origin Stone; everything in the half‑plane will be your birthday gift, all yours."

Viola shook her head repeatedly, "It's far too valuable."

"Hahaha, maybe it's not worth much," Lei En laughed, "Korstted doesn't seem that rich; don't be formal with me."

He was speaking the truth.

When he previously stole the Soul Box and entered the half‑plane, he hadn't examined those items closely; there were many, valued anywhere from hundreds of thousands to several million Gold Shields, possibly. He wasn't short of that money now, so he gave it to Viola as a return on her past investment in him.

An angel investor, a higher return rate is only natural.

Viola still wanted to refuse, but Lei En said, "It's a blind‑box gift; whether you make a fortune depends entirely on your luck."

The Origin Stone emitted a fluctuation, opening a portal.

Without waiting for a word, he dragged Viola into the half‑plane; the scene changed dramatically, the surroundings grew dim, beneath their feet lay a hard plain, flat terrain, and a few hundred meters away a semi‑transparent high wall blocked the endless void.

In the void, countless stars twinkled.

In the half‑plane, the sun was invisible and there was no moonlight, as if a solitary island floated in darkness, its area an irregular circle less than a kilometer in diameter.

The air was somewhat dry and stifling, like a basement sealed for centuries, yet barely breathable.

Viola, entering the half‑plane for the first time, curiously observed her surroundings.

Then, at a glance she saw a massive dragon corpse in the middle of the half‑plane, over fifty meters long from head to tail, its entire body of bone exuding cold chill and malevolence.

Ancient Frost Dragon!

It was already dead; judging from the dissipating energy, it had likely died recently.

"This frost dragon guarded Korstted's Soul Box; I took it down," Lei En said lightly. In fact, when he and Viola were touring Getan, Sheng Jilesi entered the half‑plane and killed it, less than ten minutes ago.

The ancient dragon's soul was polluted by death's power, rendering it useless; Sheng Jilesi directly absorbed the soul, converting it into electricity.

Viola nodded, her gaze falling on the area beside the dragon corpse.

There, hundreds of iron chests—designed for storing treasure—were piled into three or four small hills; the surrounding multiple layers of rune formations that once protected them had been broken, allowing them to be opened directly.

Lei En smiled, "Let's take a look."

The two arrived before the chest hill; Viola summoned eight angels, who lifted the chests and opened them swiftly one by one.

Instantly, light radiated from the chests.

Soon, hundreds of chests were opened, golden light illuminating the half‑plane; most of the chests contained gold, roughly three to four million Gold Shields. The remaining chests held vast amounts of magical metal, gems, and precious alchemical materials, many unique to the Kannonde Icefield, with total value not less than the gold, perhaps even more.

These riches together surely exceed ten million Gold Shields!

Lei En hadn't expected Korstted to be so wealthy, but he showed no intention of reneging; having decided to give them to Viola, there was no reason to take them back.

Viola was dumbfounded, taking a long moment to recover.

She was about to refuse when Lei En shook his head at her, his attitude resolute, and said seriously, "What I give away is never taken back; congratulations on getting rich."

Thank you. Viola felt moved in her heart, hard to describe.

A man who could casually give himself ten million gold shields was enough to show his feelings toward himself.

Viola embraced Lei En's strong body, feeling aroused; only a passionate lovemaking with Lei En could vent her feelings.

Her hands roamed over Lei En's body, loosening his clothes, moving downward, when she suddenly found Lei En had ceased to respond, motionless.

What's wrong? Viola felt a bit strange.

Lei En never refused her requests, and he had some peculiar fetishes, liking to seek stimulation in places not meant for sleep, such as offices, quiet gardens, temples, high-altitude cloud layers, balconies, cars… he had never tried a half-plane, which also suited his taste.

She raised her head and saw Lei En gazing at a treasure chest; turning her head, she saw the chest held several soul stones, each already containing a demon soul.

Lei En's gaze fell on one of those soul stones.

Viola took a close look; her years of experience in appraising souls let her quickly spot the clue, and she exclaimed in surprise: "Legendary Element!"

(End of chapter)