Chapter 860: One Hundred People

Duke Silver Star and the Storm Queen teleported onto the high platform beside the plaza.

"I've met Lady Silver Star."

"I've met Her Majesty the Queen."

The Wizards of Fa Lan Ni Si bowed in succession, offering their respect to the two Holy Soul Wizards.

In the Empire, Holy Soul Wizards rank far above other Transcendent professions; even Saint Rank elites cannot compare. They dare to confront Lei En directly, yet they do not dare any disrespect toward Holy Soul Wizards.

Tim*Kenan's stern face softened a bit as he greeted the two sisters.

"Master Kenan."

"Lei En."

Duke Silver Star responded first, then immediately stood beside Lei En, appearing very close and paying no heed to anyone else.

The Storm Queen did the same.

This left the Fa Lan Ni Si Wizards exchanging glances, truly perceiving Lei En's weight; the Duke's earlier demeanor toward Lei En was also distinct, as if the Holy Soul Wizards regarded him as a member of the Supreme Council, making them instantly uneasy.

Lei En himself felt nothing; he was already accustomed to it.

On the plaza, the two Holy Soul Wizards' Transcendent Armies were rapidly assembling. Lei En knew Duke Silver Star's forces well: primarily the Silver Armored Knight Corps, who rode silver‑scaled horses out of the portal, followed by the Secret Fire Guard mounted on demon leopards.

The Silver Armored Knight Corps numbered two thousand, and the Secret Fire Guard deployed over a hundred elite Wizards.

Among the ranks were many legends.

Combat Wizard Keli Feisi, Ten Thousand Spirits Wizard Andelo, Head Guard and Consort Fulin Ke, Demon Swordmaster Feiliang, Great Swordmaster Tien*Hoburede, Elf Mage Alamia, and so on—they were all familiar faces of Lei En from Longshande.

There were also five or six unfamiliar legends, each possessing remarkable strength.

Aside from the newly renamed "Ai La Si Zhuo" New Village Floating City, this represented seventy percent of Duke Silver Star's Transcendent power, showing how much she valued this revenge operation.

However, compared with the Storm Queen's army, it was still slightly inferior.

The Storm Queen's army gave the first impression of "flame‑red"; over two thousand Transcendent beings, all clad in red magical robes and leather armor. Their Transcendent classes were distinctive: Fire Elemental Conjurers, Flame Warlocks, Flame Demon Swordmasters, and Fire Elemental Archers, riding various fire beasts!

This is the Empire's famed "Red Robe Corps".

This half‑casting corps, specialized in fire spells, is equipped superbly; each member bears at least three to four magical items, radiating intense fire element. The air is filled with a visible red haze, swirling and churning, causing nearby people to feel the temperature rise as if early winter had turned to midsummer.

One can imagine that when they fight, flames fill the sky—a relentless barrage!

Lei En's Soul Eye swept rapidly.

Leading the Red Robe Corps were several legendary Elemental Conjurers, all fire‑specialized, who had mastered a technique similar to the "Weizelan Soul‑Gathering Formation," allowing them to concentrate the entire corps' soul power, casting at higher tiers and dramatically increasing lethality!

In both strength and momentum, the Red Robe Corps firmly suppressed the Silver Armored Knight Corps.

This is the power of money!

The Storm Queen presides over the prosperous Huohawen Kingdom, collecting millions of Gold Shield taxes each year, enabling her to vie for the title of world's richest and easily forge a powerful Transcendent army.

"De Lei Er Sha, you still need to work harder..." the Storm Queen boasted smugly at Duke Silver Star.

"Hmph!" Duke Silver Star turned his head, sneering, "Isn't it just that you have a few stinky coins?"

She protested verbally, but her retort lacked confidence.

It is a fact that the Silver Armored Knight Corps is weaker than the Red Robe Corps, and moreover, the two thousand present are not the Red Robe Corps' full strength; the Storm Queen brought only half, leaving the other half stationed in the Huohawen Principality and Agelalon Floating City.

The Storm Queen felt very pleased seeing Duke Silver Star's guilty demeanor.

These past two years, each time she met her sister she could easily suppress her, always pulling out the creditor identity whenever they quarreled, never failing, so she was always in a good mood.

"Hehehe..."

The Storm Queen lifted her chin but said no more mockery. With outsiders present, she needed to save face for her sister and not over‑stimulate.

At that moment another army emerged from the portal.

Leading it was also a witch, of medium build and ordinary looks, whose eyes harbored immense psychic power.

She was Duke Hong Shi's student Lindian.

Behind Lindian followed over thirty psychics, including five legends, and further back a thousand‑plus Crimson Flame Sword Guard.

This Transcendent profession, created by Kaisitong, is modeled after the Flame Demon Swordmaster and Iron Guard: a sword at the waist, wearing specially enchanted armor that blends the Iron Guard's defensive strength with the Demon Swordmaster's offense, making it extremely powerful.

The Storm Queen glanced over, saying in a deep voice, "I knew Kaisitong must have hidden many Crimson Flame Sword Guards; this time they couldn't stay concealed."

Duke Silver Star also nodded.

The Crimson Flame Sword Guard is highly renowned, yet in the past, ParrasFloatingCity publicly fielded at most five hundred of them.

Now, just here, there are over a thousand.

Clearly, the number is not merely a thousand; given ParrasFloatingCity's wealth, it could double to two thousand, or even three thousand.

Parras Wizards marched the Crimson Flame Sword Guard in formation on the plaza; Lindian's spirit leapt onto the platform, saluting the three Holy Soul Wizards: "I've met Master Kenan, Lady Silver Star, Her Majesty the Queen."

Then her gaze swept over Lei En, but she said nothing.

Lei En was also observing her.

Lindian is a nineteenth‑level Legendary Peak psychic, whose strength rivals Montalin, yet she is over six hundred years old, older than her master Kaisitong.

Before apprenticing under Kaisitong, she was already a novice‑stage Arcane practitioner of legendary rank; she switched mid‑career to a psychic, surged quickly to Legendary High‑rank, but her potential waned. After many attempts to fuse the Nine‑Ring Law Seal, she succeeded only once, making her hope of Holy Soul Ascension very slim.

Lindian's personality is rather low‑key; she rarely leaves ParrasFloatingCity. This time she ran for Consul, likely at Kaisitong's behest.

After the salute she stood aside.

Next came the Aien Floating City troops; their numbers were few, just over three hundred, but almost all were dressed as spellcasters.

Lei En used his Soul Eye to observe: half of the three hundred were Wizards, half Warlocks; each wore two badges on the chest—one for Aien Floating City, the other for the Alchemical Association—indicating they were all Alchemists.

Moreover, senior Alchemists comprised a high proportion, exceeding twenty percent.

This is the Golem Legion!

KangJieladeGreatSage founded the Empire Alchemical Association; the vast majority of the Empire's Alchemists are his disciples or hail from Aien Floating City.

The GrandSage used this as a foundation to forge a Transcendent army of Alchemists; they never fight alone, carrying numerous Golems and constructs. With only a few dozen Alchemists, they can instantly summon a massive Golem army.

Leading the Golem Legion this time was Alchemical Sage Cha En Ni.

Cha Enni looks very young, appearing just over thirty, though his actual age exceeds two hundred. Compared with the impressive title of Alchemical Sage, his Wizard rank is not outstanding, being only an eighteenth‑level Elementalist.

However, an alchemist's strength has never been judged solely by Wizard rank.

An alchemist's promotion path starts as an "Alchemical Apprentice", then, after assessment, becomes an "Alchemist", followed by "Senior Alchemist". Above that is "Alchemical Master", which is already extremely rare, ranking higher than a legendary Wizard and generally very wealthy.

The Empire's Alchemical Association certifies dozens of Alchemical Masters; Weizelan's Chairman Darlan Deng is one of them.

One must make a monumental contribution to alchemy and have at least one groundbreaking invention to qualify as an Alchemical Sage.

Since the Alchemical Association was founded over a thousand years ago, only nine individuals have earned the title "Alchemical Sage".

At present, only five Alchemical Sages are still alive.

Cha Enni is one of them, and the youngest Alchemical Sage.

Even if he never ascends to become a Holy Soul Wizard, his status as an Alchemical Sage alone lets him stride across the Empire, receiving honors comparable to those given to Holy Soul Wizards.

Cha Enni steps forward to bow; the three Holy Soul Wizards respond formally, their treatment clearly far superior to Lindian's.

At this point, the extraordinary legions under the five Holy Soul Wizards have all arrived.

The Eight‑Leaf Hand, Silver‑Armored Knights, Red Robe Legion, Crimson Flame Sword Guard, and Golem Legion exist; the other Holy Soul Wizards either have not created one or do not wish to expend effort building a private force.

The Wizards leading the legions compete with one another.

In the plaza, the extraordinary legions also hold a tension, displaying their presence while watching the surrounding legions, each refusing to concede to the other.

From the towering portal, armies continue to pour out.

The ground trembles slightly.

A fully armed group of knights gallops, their hooves clattering; they resemble Steel Knights, riding tall warhorses, both knights and horses clad in thick black plate, wielding spears over three meters long, exuding vigor, numbering two thousand.

The leading knight radiates the aura of a Saint Rank strongman.

He is Marquis Zeli Mu, former commander of the Steel Knight Legion, a twenty‑seven‑level Steel Knight—Batula*Yunaitas!

Behind Batula stands the "Black Edge Iron Cavalry" he has spent over forty years and countless wealth building, from knights to gear to warhorses, all modeled after the Steel Knight Legion.

The Black Edge Iron Cavalry halts on a vacant spot in the plaza, moving in perfect unison, displaying exceptionally high training.

Marquis Zeli Mu leaps from his horse, rushes onto the platform, removes his helmet and holds it at his waist, performs a standard noble greeting, half‑kneeling with his right hand on his chest, and declares loudly, "Batula has seen the esteemed Duke, Lady Silver Star, and Her Majesty the Queen."

"Rise," Tim*Kenan replies calmly, "Your Grace the Marquis need not be so formal."

"Yes, my Lord Duke," Batula says, rising as instructed.

Lei En sees the Marquis for the first time; Batula is towering, nearly two meters tall, his black armor thick and heavy—at least two thousand pounds—but fits him perfectly, showing no bulk, and does not hinder his agile movements.

Behind him is a massive round shield, beneath which a broad sword is sheathed, its huge hilt exposed.

Both shield and sword are magical items, and of epic grade!

Batula's appearance is unremarkable, with short brown hair, yet his demeanor is extremely resolute, giving an impression of calm reliability; his eyes are steadfast, as if nothing could shake his will. His skin reflects an odd pale sheen, his neck muscles are heavily developed, containing terrifying power; his whole body seems forged of metal, indestructible.

Steel Body!

Lei En is all too familiar with this trait, and it is a fifth‑level Steel Body.

The Soul Eye cannot perceive the elements of a Saint Rank strongman, so it cannot confirm Batula's Steel Body level; it may have already advanced to a legendary‑element Golden Holy Body!

Moreover, Batula's power exceeds the fifteenth level.

Lei En silently evaluates, "No wonder he is the highest‑ranked Iron Guard in the world, a Saint Rank Steel Knight, immensely powerful."

Facing such a defensively astonishing iron turtle, even a Holy Soul Wizard would find it troublesome.

Batula senses Lei En's gaze, looks back, his eyes linger on Lei En briefly, nods slightly and offers a friendly smile, yet says nothing.

Lei En's face shows no change.

The Soul Eye detects Batula's hostility toward him; the smile on his face is merely a disguise.

Behind Batula's Black Edge Iron Cavalry is a barbarian legion, the private force of Governor Hete Si of Sulan Ye Province. Sulan Ye Province borders the Sein Plateau, frequently interacting with the plateau's barbarians, so it is unsurprising that Hete Si forged a barbarian legion.

Afterwards, a dozen more extraordinary legions passed through the portal and ascended to Fu Kong Cheng.

They belong to the Empire's nobles and senators' private forces, all registering for the Consul election and joining the vengeance operation.

These extraordinary legions are far smaller and weaker than the Empire's army, at most one or two thousand, sometimes only two or three hundred, yet each has its own traits and strengths.

Viscount Stoinde of Mo Du also dispatched a five‑hundred‑person Gryphon Knight unit, standing out among the private forces, second only to Batula's Black Edge Iron Cavalry.

After the Gryphon Knights landed, Vili En stepped onto the platform to pay respects to the Holy Soul Wizards.

"Lei En."

Vili En knows Lei En well; since his promotion to Sword Saint last year he has been full of vigor, but now, seeing Lei En, he looks helpless and says quietly, "Had I known you were running for Consul, I would have withdrawn, not waste this effort."

Lei En pats his shoulder and laughs, "Anyway, you have nothing to lose."

"That's hard to say."

Vili En shakes his head, scanning the Eight‑Leaf Square, and wonders, "Where is your legion? Why haven't I seen it?"

At this moment, nearly eighty thousand people have gathered in the square, half Empire troops, half noble private armies.

Few extraordinary beings are emerging from the portal now.

Even though Vili En lowered his voice, everyone on the platform—at least legends—heard him, and they are curious why Lei En's legion hasn't arrived; the scheduled departure time is near, and it cannot keep so many waiting.

"They're arriving shortly," Lei En replies.

"Good, any later and they'd be late," Vili En nods. Having seen the Extreme Brigade and the Holy Spear Knight Corps, he knows their strength and asks casually, "How many are you bringing this time?"

Lei En laughs, "One hundred."

"One hundred?"

Vili En thinks he misheard; even the smallest legion in the square has two or three hundred people—how can Lei En compete with only a hundred?

Duke GreyEagle turns his head.

He assumes Lei En has struck a deal with him to pre‑select the next Consul, planning to hold back in battle to reduce casualties, and his mind instantly grows resentful.

He frowns and says, "Lei En, if you intend to avoid combat, I will revoke your Consul candidacy."

Some candidates' faces cannot help but show delight.

Lei En is the Consul's most powerful contender; if he is disqualified, his own chance of winning greatly increases.

Otiluk, Batura, Lindian, Chaenni and the others seemed outwardly calm, yet all their attention was focused.

Lei En heard Tim*Kenan's implication: his own performance in the revenge operation was poor, he could not win the vote in the Empire council, so the agreement between the two would not count, and moreover this was his responsibility, unrelated to the other party.

"Title: Duke, I have no intention of avoiding battle…" Lei En stopped halfway through his words, looked up toward the distant horizon.

"My legion has arrived."

Immediately, a massive thunder‑like roar echoed from the sky!

(End of chapter)