When the plot-skips players into the game world

"The sky cracks open, the King of Indigo breathes fire, descending from the sandstorm."

"The savior behind the curtain whispers: 'I am the fabric of the heavens and earth, I bring forth the inexhaustible clear spring.'

"I kiss its shadow, sip its blood, and taste the honey amidst the sand grains."

"The child of doom is finally strangled by the umbilical cord of tomorrow."

— "Parthia," Chapter One "Holy Spring Prophecy," First Stanza.

This book that almost all Parthian free people have read is exactly the foundation upon which Holy Spring City was built.

In the early days of the Parthian Ancient Country, a Winged Ones prophet wrote thirteen chapters of prophetic poetry titled "Parthia," describing thirteen prophecies that were destined to come true. Consequently, the first Parthia King divided Parthia's territory into thirteen provinces, each named after a chapter of the prophetic poetry.

Throughout the long passage of time, twelve of these prophecies have already been fulfilled. Coincidentally, these twelve provinces no longer exist, reduced to ruins, devoured by the desert. Only the "Holy Spring Prophecy" remains unfulfilled... Perhaps for this reason, only Holy Spring City still exists.

This is also why the name of the Benevolent Lords of Holy Spring City is different from the format of the other Oasis City States' Benevolent Lords—

The name "Ayimar Nur" of Holy Spring City's Benevolent Lord, when literally translated into Avalonian, means "Spring of Light," which can also be translated as "Holy Spring."

This does not mean that the original Benevolent Lord lived until now... Rather, every generation of Holy Spring City's Benevolent Lord must abandon their original name, rename themselves "Ayimar Nur," and inherit the name of the Holy Spring.

And now—

"O Benevolent Lord..."

A black-robed priest, carrying a long staff and wearing a raven mask, whispered softly, gazing in astonishment into the distance.

In the distant horizon, a menacing and ferocious yet majestic indigo dragon beast soared in the sky.

Its wings were ablaze with thin strands of blue fire, and behind it dragged a splendid and extravagant carriage.

Much like a meteor as deep as the ocean, falling from the firmament.

— This scene was also witnessed by other black-robed priests.

They lifted their heads in shock, gesturing and pointing in that direction. Some knelt to the ground on the spot, while others hurriedly returned to the city.

At this moment, the slaves being dragged behind them, about to be buried in the shifting sands, as if receiving divine insight, let out a thunderous wail simultaneously.

The cries overlapped at the same moment, instantaneously resembling a thunderous roar.

Time seemed to halt in its flow at this moment.

The high-ranking priests, though wearing masks that obscured their expressions, appeared to clearly feel the visible panic in each other's eyes as the cries shook the heavens, with bodies rigid and limbs trembling.

Indeed.

The menacing and slender dragon beast heard the damned slaves' cries and turned its scarlet gaze over!

The lead priest was already at a loss, trembling all over.

"—Roar!!"

Amidst the sound of breaking through the air, accompanied by an angry roar, the supposed "King of Indigo" from the prophecy arrived.

Not knowing which priest started it, trembled and knelt down. As soon as one knelt, the others couldn't avoid it, all forced to kneel together.

"What's going on?"

Inside the carriage, a majestic and luxurious voice echoed from afar: "Why kill these slaves?"

The mere sound of the voice made their hair stand on end.

They were ritualists from the "Muddy Sect" who frequently interacted with Dream Realm creatures. They easily detected the divine essence of the owner behind that voice—almost like their own Benevolent Lord, transcending the ordinary, becoming a demigod on earth.

"This is..."

The black-robed priests looked anxiously at their leader, whose expression beneath the mask had turned pale.

As he racked his brain to craft a reasonable explanation.

Another elderly voice came from inside the carriage: "They are making thirst stones, my lord.

"This is the taboo magic passed down by the Benevolent Lords—collecting burnt camel dung, that grayish-white salt crystal in the walls of houses, smear it on the skin of living sacrifices, then bury them in shifting sands. While the cursed sands draw water from their bodies, the ritual extends their pitiable lives…

"After that, these completely dehydrated yet still living pitiful ones mixed with Sin Thorn in black iron can create thirst stones… just like the material you saw before."

The thirst stone bell used to summon city-dwellers, and the thirst stone hand bells used by Adil's priests—they are manufactured using this cruel taboo magic.

The black-robed priests wearing bird-faced masks stared in horror at the carriage, wishing they could stop that damned old man.

Yet he didn't stop, continuing, "Aside from making people extremely thirsty, thirst stones can also serve as energy storage stones for the caster's strength. Parthian priests' magic wands, magic artifacts, and amulets are all made with thirst stones. It is Parthia's most significant Transcendent export product, also a specialty of Holy Spring City, a secret held by the Benevolent Lords of Holy Spring City. Only priests serving Ayimar Nur know about this ritual.

"Goblins can offer considerable prices to buy a thirst stone, yet they have no idea... the cost of a thirst stone is merely a human life."

The old man said sarcastically, "By tormenting a slave, you obtain several hundred times its value in gold—a profit margin threefold suffices to entice merchants into risk; what about three hundredfold?"

And the priests turned cold all over.

—Who exactly was he? How did he know such secrets?

"I see."

The elegant and mysterious voice carried a hint of disgust: "Stop now, you're not allowed to make thirst stones from now on."

"But, but... my lord..."

The lead priest lay prostrated on the ground, stammering, "This is... 'Forgiver's' command..."

— "Forgiver," also known as Clear Spring City's Benevolent Lord Ayimar Nur's title.

"No need to listen to him. I will bring you a new order."

The voice inside the carriage said without hesitation: "He grants you the clear spring, while I will provide you with the inexhaustible clear spring—"

Hearing this, the priests' hearts nearly jumped out.

This isn't exactly like the words from the prophecy book!

They didn't dare say more, simply kneeling in worship, deeply bowing.

The deep blue, unknown dragon beast glanced at them, letting out a lion-like roar that shook the hearts.

In the next moment, the dragon beast once again leaped high, jumping over their heads and into the city-state.

And the priests remained kneeling on the ground for a long time, no one dared to lift their heads, nor did anyone dare to say anything further.