Chapter 344: The Great War Approaches, Return
Buzz!!
A grand city lies a thousand miles away.
Almost at the same instance that the heavenly vision appeared over the Black Blade Tribe, the Holy City trembled fiercely, and the runes on the city wall spontaneously activated.
The enormous blue barrier light screen almost covered the entire sky above the Holy City.
Everyone instinctively stopped their actions, and the guards in the palace collectively came out, looking up towards the sky.
"An illusion?"
Someone spoke in confusion, the sky was obviously clear, why did the Holy City's great array autonomously activate?
Similar thoughts continuously arose, eventually the giant blue barrier slowly dispersed.
Many related discussions arose inside and outside the city, the young man on the throne looked downcast, glancing at the golden-armored man who appeared.
"Adams, is there an anomaly with the Star Disk?"
He was puzzled too.
"No, Your Highness."
Shaking his head, Adams' expression was somewhat serious.
"There's nothing wrong with the Star Disk...."
With these words, the young man on the throne instantly understood.
His expression became heavy, causing the atmosphere in the palace to fall silent briefly.
"It seems, the Snake God and His Angel... are truly awakening."
.....
Buzz!!
That day, at the ruins of the Black Blade Tribe.
Seven or eight giant Flying Eagles made a brief physical rest, and one by one, elite warriors barely came to their senses, having already escaped the previous gaze of the Snake God.
The White Gray Giant Statue slowly landed, Chen Feng appeared calm, but felt a hard-to-describe agitation and restraint.
A heavy malice reappeared, yet again the Power of the Holy Sword couldn't shield against the consequences, along with the more intense rejection of the Secret Realm.
The Snake Spirit Power maintaining the Black Dream Mark surged exponentially with consumption, and continuously drained.
Moreover, a strong rule suppression emerged, as if limiting his strength.
As if an inexperienced swimmer had fallen into the water, extremely stifling, as though suffocating.
"Was it because of before?"
Recalling the previous situation in his mind, Chen Feng suspected interference from the Snake God.
This feeling was very awkward, and he knew he might not be suited to remain in the Snake Spirit Secret Realm.
Immediately, he turned his head to look around.
"Master."
Molly and Oron walked over, their faces filled with deeper reverence.
Chen Feng glanced at everyone, seeing the blood on their armor and the weary faces of other warriors.
Leaving the Holy City, they barely rested for fear of alerting the snakes, always in full haste.
This time, having experienced a great battle, slaughtering nearly a thousand snake-men, naturally consumed quite a bit.
Nodding lightly, he then looked towards the destroyed center of the Black Blade Tribe.
"Do not be afraid, we come from the Holy City!"
"The snake-men have all been slain by us, no need to worry...."
Several elite warriors spoke out to remind, maintain order, while thousands of figures in linen clothes stood there.
Either terrified, worried, confused, or fearful.
Both men and women, mostly young and adults.
Most had been enslaved by the Black Blade Tribe, while some were slaves brought together from other tribal armies.
The reason being, the snake-men considered themselves a higher form of life, leaving many mundane and dirty jobs, as well as food and livestock, to those they called slaves, disdainful to touch themselves.
Nearly a thousand snake-men needed thousands of ordinary humans to support them, long becoming a symbol on the Snake Spirit Continent.
And for this, these ordinary humans without a trace of snake spirit have also, in their suffering, become accustomed to such a low lifestyle.
Most looked confused, filled with worry about the future.
"The Holy City will settle them." Oron followed suit, explaining gravely that they would send escorts to take them to the Holy City.
Chen Feng nodded in agreement.
He knew the Holy City saved these people not only out of kindness, but also partially for self-interest.
The scales of the previous snake-men wars were vast, consuming not few resources and strength from the Holy City.
These people would be the perfect replenishment.
For this, he couldn't quite say if it was good or bad.
After all, without the Holy City's intervention and assistance, there's a great chance these people would be captured by other snake-man tribes later, or even traded as commodities.
"Then we should head back directly." Chen Feng said, feeling the suppression of the world's rules growing heavier, intending to expel him from this Secret Realm.
Oron paused upon hearing this, unaware of Chen Feng's situation.
Opening his mouth, he felt regret, expressing a desire to lead a team to further annihilate some tribes.
After all, the Black Blade Tribe here was only one among their territories.
Despite destroying many core tribe members, it didn't mean the Black Blade Tribe was entirely extinct, with other branches still existing.
There were also the Huo Rong and Silver Wood Tribes, weakened due to their Saints' falls.
Undoubtedly now is the best time to lead a hunt.
"I'm not suited to stay longer." Chen Feng shook his head, causing Oron, Molly, and the other two Fifth Rank Commanders nearby to react, with expressions slightly changing.
They probably guessed the situation and instantly knew the seriousness of the matter.
"Understood, let's return to the city quickly!" Oron nodded immediately, not daring to ask further.
Anyway, this mission killed three Saints, and also slaughtered nearly a thousand snake-men at once, greatly thwarting the snake-man coalition army, achieving the expected goal.
Immediately, as he passed the word around.
One by one, elite warriors began to sheathe their swords and longbows, preparing to return.
And those thousands of ordinary humans also began their migration in a grand procession.
....
In the distant Northern, within the Snake God Temple.
In the hollowed-out palace, a giant circular statue stood unfalteringly, holding thousands of years.
There were additionally seven giant snake statues of various shapes, clustered around, as if invincible warriors under its command.
[You are omnipotent, one of the origins of chaos....]
[You are the creator of the Star Realm's cycle, the initial point of all civilizations...]
[You are the ruler of the world, the supreme god mastering rules...]
[....]
The solemn and devout voices echoed continuously within the Divine Temple, where black-robed figures were seen kneeling in front of statues, beginning their prayers as usual.
Looking closely, one could see that the place where they kneeled was a massive altar built of gray stones.
Before each statue, there was a corresponding enormous Blood Pool, especially the centrally positioned circular stone statue, which symbolized uniqueness.
Gurgling blood bubbles continuously emerged, and the water in the Blood Pool seemed to boil with life.
"Great Elder, the sacrifices have all been brought."
A black-robed figure hurriedly arrived, walking to the side of an aged Snake-man Elder kneeling at the front.
"Hmm."
An ancient voice seemed to give consent, followed by the sound of footsteps.
Snake-man warriors dressed in Dark Gold Armor came forward, bringing nearly a hundred bound ordinary humans.
There were both men and women, most of whom appeared terrified and fearful, their faces showing despair.
Unable to produce any sound, they could only be led to the altar like cattle and sheep awaiting slaughter.
Then.
Plop!!
Splashing waves of the Blood Pool arose as ordinary humans were thrown into the Blood Pool.
It seemed as if some rule enveloped the place, where they couldn't let out any screams, only able to sink within the Blood Pool, as if being dissolved and devoured.
In a trance, a bizarre light appeared.
The stone eyes of all the statues emitted specks of scarlet or pitch-black light, and those kneeling were even more devout and fervent, believing they had received the response of Gods and Angels.
Moreover, some snake-men were occasionally enveloped by the bizarre light emanating from the statues, seemingly blessed with greatly enhanced aura.
Such movements continued for a long time, until finally.
Buzz!
A black light shot out from the circular statue, instantly entering the forehead of the aged Snake-man kneeling at the front.
The atmosphere quieted as black-robed envoys and saints of the Divine Temple cast looks of envy and reverence.
"The Snake God has issued new divine instructions."
With a voice full of age, the aged Snake-man opened his snake eyes and stood up, surveying everyone.
"The Huo Rong, Black Blade, and Silver Wood Tribes have encountered heavy damage. In a month, the Five Great Tribes of the Northern territories must cross Heavenly Tragedy Mountain and continue attacking the Holy City."
As the words landed, all the black-robed snake-men were shocked.
But before they could recover and digest this information, the aged Snake-man spoke once more.
"Additionally, the Angel of Lava Master has revived, setting the anchor point of its return, and the Winged Serpent King will also descend with some power."
"We must prepare enough sacrifices within six months, complete the ritual, and welcome Their return!"
....
....
Hualala!!
After several consecutive days of traveling, heading south.
The massive Flying Eagle chose a detour, as Chen Feng stood on the eagle's back, only accompanied by Molly and another Silver-armored Warrior.
After pondering for a moment, he finally parted ways with Oron and others.
The first reason was that the migration of several thousand people southward was too slow.
And he was now constantly encountering rejection and suppression from the Secret Realm, with the maintenance of the Black Dream Mark consuming energy at an alarming rate; he could not afford to delay or spend more Snake Spirit Power.
The second reason was his uncertainty if the Snake God would continue to mark him.
Acting separately could allow Oron and others to evade the pursuit of the Snake God Temple, as a precaution.
"We're almost at the Holy City, my lord."
"By that time, someone will go and assist Oron and the others."
Molly commented while on the road, and Chen Feng nodded lightly.
The migration of several thousands of people is no small matter, requiring substantial food and water resources along the way, which also necessitated sending messages to the Holy City for help and support.
They returned ahead to cater to such needs.
Yet....
The heavy burden from the Black Dream Mark was felt by Chen Feng, sensing an impending return.
Each moment, the Snake Spirit Power was being consumed at a significant rate, diminishing quickly.
He suspected he might not last until reaching the Holy City.
As the thought crossed his mind, he gazed northward.
Along the way, a sense of intense malice seemed omnipresent.
However, with the sublimation of Extreme Intent, he sharply perceived that most originated from the Northern territories of the continent.
Whether from the Snake God or the vengeful Winged Serpent King under it.
"Snake God Temple...."
Chen Feng mused as he recalled reading the Holy City's annals, which documented the location of the Snake God Temple in the Northern territories.
Because of this, the Holy City was founded at the distant southern end.
"The Southern Snake-man Tribe has suffered heavy damage, making it temporarily difficult to assemble the Snake-man Army."
"However, the Snake God Temple certainly won't give up so easily..."
He offered a cautious reminder, hoping Molly and the others would remain vigilant.
Both as a gesture of goodwill to fellow humans, and because the Holy City still owed him a transaction's remuneration.
"Rest assured, my lord."
"I will deliver the secret order obtained by Oron to the Holy City, and the Legion Commanders will definitely remain vigilant."
Molly nodded emphatically, as the small stone statue on her shoulder was dozing off.
Upon closer inspection, she had a cloth bag at her waist, which contained a secret order obtained from the Black Blade Tribe.
The Holy City had specialized elites that studied the snake-men language.
Thus, even without Chen Feng's deciphering, they understood the contents, knowing it included two Holy Powers from the Divine Palace Saint and reinforcements from the Five Great Tribes.
"Hmm."
Chen Feng nodded, then continued gazing northward.
In a trance, he seemed to see, through layers of space, a giant mountain in the north.
It overshadowed the sun, towering like clouds, nearly ten thousand meters high.
That was the natural barrier separating the north and south - a mountain named Heavenly Tragedy Mountain, rumored to have originated from the Star Realm, a giant marvel fallen from the outer world.
Due to this obstruction, rugged and difficult to traverse, the Five Great Tribes have yet to appear.
The thought passed, as he eventually glanced at the panel of dwindling Snake Spirit Power.
He shook his head.
Ultimately, he was not of this world...
Buzz!
Suddenly, a breeze blew through.
The small stone statue on his shoulder abruptly awoke, subtle stone wings trembling slightly.
Her heart stirred, as Molly turned her head to look.
A black-armored Mr. Feng Chen unexpectedly disappeared unnoticed.