Chapter 164: I wouldn’t say it was someone’s doing, but it’s the truth
Chapter 165: I wouldn’t say it was someone’s doing, but it’s the truth
Well, well, what a great harvest.
Yonglan hadn’t expected attribute increases. Based on his understanding of Sams, stomping on weak opponents usually didn’t yield rewards. Typically, only by challenging strong enemies and breaking through oneself would one gain attribute points, thus growth would slow down significantly in later stages.
Yonglan even suspected these stats were arbitrarily assigned, with each point offering exponential explosions in power.
However, on second thought, Sams’s leveling system never stated that one absolutely had to defeat the strong by being weak. All that mattered was embodying the concept represented by the “stats.”
Even if it wasn’t a self-breakthrough, this astonishing massacre could be considered an epic victory, and Yonglan had forged such a miracle… After all these battles, I deserve this reward!
After the fighting concluded, the expeditionary force began treating the wounded and replenishing supplies. The Floating Fortress slowly descended for repairs.
These tasks wouldn’t take long, but the battlefield cleanup posed a problem for the expeditionary force. The hundreds of thousands of Savage Beast corpses, some intact, others shattered, completely blanketed vast plains, making them impossible to sort.
Ignoring them wasn’t an option, not because of the unbearable stench, but because the leaders of the Fiend Kin couldn’t wait for natural decomposition. Such a dense concentration of death would undoubtedly form smaller curse domains, making them much more troublesome to resolve later.
Therefore, after establishing the forward base, Luqia and the other Knight commanders approached Yonglan, stating they would need some time to clean the battlefield and requesting his permission to mobilize the Casterly Court for assistance.
In terms of technical capabilities, the Alchemical Dolls of the Casterly Court were the true backbone of the expedition; the Knight armies were, to put it mildly, of limited use.
They were more like operators of machinery than warriors charging into battle.
It was unavoidable. Compared to the Fiend Kin that had infested the entire world, the population of the Knight Kingdoms was simply too small. The reason Yonglan didn’t personally command was that if he were to micro-manage even a little, the Knight Order could genuinely go extinct.
“Should I have Doria help you?”
Yonglan lowered his eyelids and said, “That’s not a problem. However, it must be tough for you all to deal with so many corpses in a timely manner.”
“It’s our duty. As long as we can contribute our meager efforts, that’s enough.”
The blue-haired Knight first bowed to Yonglan. Then, glancing at the mountains of Savage Beast corpses, she pouted in disgust.
“These Fiend Kin reek of their masters. From spirit to flesh, they are but puppets of their lords. So lowly, yet they unreservedly flaunt their cruelty and malice.”
“These invaders from beyond the stars will never understand what freedom is. How pitiful are beings manipulated by their creator!”
Hearing this, Yonglan couldn’t help but twitch his brow.
If memory served, wasn’t the Primal King also considered a “creator” of modern races? He felt a bit mocked.
However, when Yonglan shifted his gaze to his companions, he found that none of them showed any unusual reactions.
Yonglan recalled carefully and suddenly understood. Although the Primal King had shaped all beings, he hadn’t left any hidden influence. The modern races were not the Primal King’s Kin, and the so-called “First King’s offspring” was merely a self-proclaimed title, not implying any deep blood relation.
Otherwise, Yonglan would be in trouble.
The widespread and profound worship of the Primal King was purely voluntary… well, there were also “blessings” involved. Otherwise, the fervor of faith wouldn’t have lasted so long.
What? You ask why Yonglan, like a succubus, could make the noble elites of the mortal world unable to resist his mere presence, like sliding on ice?
Hey, what’s wrong with adding a little personal touch? Just slide, just slide! I think this is an irresistible force!
In his heart, Yonglan no longer felt estranged or resistant towards the identity of the Primal King. He immediately said to Luqia,
“There’s no need for such trouble. I’ll help you.”
He then raised his hand, activated the Remnant Smelter, and unleashed flames upon the sea of blood and corpses in the wilderness.
Boom! A fiery red flame erupted, spreading at an extremely rapid pace, greedily devouring all the corpses it touched.
This was something even Dragonflame couldn’t achieve. Although the Authority of Dragonflame was powerful, it wasn’t even a true area-of-effect ability, so it naturally lacked high scalability. It was more suited for pure destruction, annihilation, and Purification.
In contrast, the Talent of the Remnant Smelter seemed far more versatile. It offered area-of-effect, buffs, and sustain. Truly worthy of a True King’s lineage!
“This should make things much easier for you.”
Yonglan turned to Luqia and said.
Although the Embers’ fire was unlikely to burn all the corpses to ash, after this great fire passed, there wouldn’t be much left.
“Yes… Yes, thank you for your mercy!”
The Knight commander was stunned for a moment. She then clasped her chest in ecstatic reverence. Immediately, tears streaming down her face, she pulled out a small notebook from her pocket and quickly began writing something.
As for what she was writing, Yonglan didn’t want to know; he could guess they were some ridiculously exaggerated and abstract remarks.
The white-haired wolf-kin harbored the same thoughts as Yonglan.
Muge quietly approached Yonglan and whispered,
“Is she writing the ‘Collection of Ten Thousand Flames’?”
The ‘Collection of Ten Thousand Flames’ was a chapter in ‘The Ballad of the First King,’ describing the fiery prowess of the Primal King during his invasion. The wording was extremely saccharine, filled with praise and songs of glory.
The later moral education implemented by the Pillar of the Holy, in its origin, was led astray by ‘The Ballad of the First King,’ this primordial scripture.
If even the oldest and most authoritative epics aren’t believed, what else is there to refer to?
However, was ‘The Ballad of the First King’ truly authoritative?
The so-called ‘Ballad of the First King’ was merely an ancient legend passed down orally by the early people of ancient times.
If the ballad hadn’t contained so much excessive praise for the First King, how could the doctrines compiled by the Pillar of the Holy, based on it, be so absurd?
And who was the author of ‘The Ballad of the First King’? Yonglan wouldn’t directly accuse Luqia, but the fact was so. Even if Luqia wasn’t the chief author, she definitely had a profound influence on the compilers of other epics.
Hakiru, you scoundrel…
All the retorts Yonglan had previously thrown at the abstract nature of the Holy Church’s faith and the nonsensical legends of the First King had now boomeranged back at him.
“Perhaps.”
The Man replied blandly to Muge, offering no confirmation.
Hearing this, Muge wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and laughed,
“I like the chapter ‘Collection of Ten Thousand Flames,’ and I like the other chapters too. ‘The Ballad of the First King’ is the prototype for all poetry and drama of later generations.”
Following that, the white-haired wolf-kin closed her eyes ecstatically, extended her arms, and softly recited a passage of poetry.
Yonglan didn’t know if she had composed it herself or if it had an origin, but he was indeed infected by this heartfelt joy and laughed,
“You seem very happy?”
