"Understood, sir!" Ricky, Ashley, Hayes, and Guillermo nodded at Lloyd before they all turned
expectantly at Mordechai, waiting for further instructions.
"Guys, I just want to let you know that this mission has something to do with me, and our vice leader
has graciously done me this favor," Mordechai said.
"Don't worry. I will give you a handsome reward in return after we are done with this.
I can't reveal too much for now. But I promise that I'll tell you everything I can once we get there, so
don't feel hesitant or uncomfortable.
Of course, you can also refuse to accept this mission. It's all up to you. I will respect your decision
whether you choose to go or not."
"Ha-ha! What are you talking about? You are now our holy son, and you've given us a direct order. How
can we defy you?"
Hayes responded with a kind smile.
"Hey, if you don't stop making fun of me, I'm afraid that we can't be friends anymore,"
Mordechai muttered lowly as a small frown marred the stark features of his face. But as a matter of
fact, he did not really get upset.
Hayes didn't seem to take his words seriously, as he let out boisterous and joyful laughter in response.
"Ha-ha!"
At this point, Guillermo cut into their conversation.
"I'm sorry, guys, but I have already agreed to explore a secret land with some others. I'm afraid I can't
come with you this time," he said.
"No, no, it's okay. Since you set that appointment ahead of time, you should attend to it,"
Mordechai responded lightly.
Ricky, Ashley, and Hayes decided to continue with Mordecai's mission, and they agreed to meet each
other outside the wood branch in two days.
Before they took their leave, Lloyd said to Ricky through telepathy, "Your mission is to help Mordechai's
family. I hope that you can try to befriend the Desolate Sorcery tribe's members and get to know them
as much as you can.
Maybe you can't change the fact that they would become cruel once they activate their blood power.
However, it would be best if you can dissuade them from hurting other creatures."
"I understand, sir. I'll try my best,"
Ricky sincerely promised.
And then, two days later, Ricky, Ashley, Hayes, and Mordechai met outside the wood branch. Of
course, Amelia and Tina joined Ricky.
"Mordechai, do you mind if I bring my friends with me?" Ricky asked politely, knowing that it was the
tactful thing to do.
"Ha-ha! Of course, I don't mind at all!" Mordechai replied with an amused smile, while Hayes chuckled
quietly.
They felt equal parts envious and entertained because they thought that Ricky couldn't bear to part with
his lovely girlfriends. On the other hand, Ashley threw a cold sneer and snapped at Ricky.
"Huh? Did someone forget that we are not going on a vacation but an important mission? Tsk. It seems
like the weak ones cannot help but be a burden to us," she said sarcastically.
But Ricky simply ignored her outburst, and Amelia and Tina opted to follow his example.
That only made Ashley more furious because Ricky didn't even acknowledge her insult, which
embarrassed her.
Before long, Mordechai and the five of them set off for the edge of the Middle Land.
The endless mountain came into their view soon after they had reached the edge, a vast and
picturesque sight.
"Mordechai, does your family live in the endless mountain?" Hayes asked curiously while gazing at the
mountain in front of them.
"No. We live in the Sealed Land," Mordechai immediately replied.
"What?! You live in the Sealed Land!" When Hayes heard Mordechai's words, confusion and
astonishment flashed in his eyes.
"The Sealed Land?" Ricky repeated, for he was also quite perplexed.
"Is there some connection between the Desolate Sorcery tribe and the so-called Sealed Land?" Ricky
asked the Dragon Intent Grass in his bafflement.
"It looks like the Desolate Sorcery tribe's members had been sealed somewhere. That is probably why
no one had seen them for eras.
Well, let me explain the Sealed Land a bit more. The Sealed Land refers to the invisible floating world
among the continent and there are many of such worlds.
However, these worlds have been sealed by ancient top warriors through the most potent arrays. Once
those ancient arrays have been activated and begun to work, no force can break them.
The floating worlds sealed by the ancient arrays are commonly known as the Sealed Lands.
As far as I know, there are two types of Sealed Lands. The first type is the common worlds that were
cut off from the continent, and the creatures living there can't reach a higher realm.
The creatures trapped there are ambitious, cruel tribes that want to rule the continent. An example of
them is the Desolate Sorcery tribe.
The second type resembles hell on earth. It has an exceedingly bad environment, so any creature who
will set foot in that kind of Sealed Land will undoubtedly suffer a lot.
Those stranded there often are the captives from the devil race, and since the captives are too
numerous, it's not realistic to slaughter them all. Instead, the captives are kept prisoner in those worlds,
so that they will live in pain for the rest of their lives.
In addition, the creatures that betrayed us and conspired with the devil race are also imprisoned there,"
the grass explained.
"I see. It sounds very intimidating," Ricky replied with his eyes narrowed in thought.
"It should be impossible for the creatures inside the Sealed Land to come out. So how did Mordechai
escape from there?" the Dragon Intent Grass asked almost to itself in bewilderment.
Mordechai noticed that his words had rendered his companions speechless, so he broke the silence
himself.
"Guys, I understand that you may have a lot of prejudices against the creatures from the Sealed Land.
So if you don't want to proceed with this mission, you can leave now.
I promise that I won't stop you," he reassured his companions.
Of course, despite his understanding demeanor, he was desperately hoping for the opposite. He
prayed that they wouldn't leave because he sorely needed their help.
"Stop overthinking, Mordechai! I can befriend anyone except those from the devil race. I don't care if
you are from the Desolate Sorcery tribe. In fact, I already consider you my friend," Hayes told him
earnestly.
Ricky and Ashley both agreed, fervently nodding their heads to show that they had the same thought
as Hayes.
"Thank you, guys," Mordechai answered gratefully.
He had initially expected the worst from his companions, but he was glad to be proven wrong. It
seemed that they did see him as their friend.
"But as far as I know, no creature from the Sealed Land could escape because it is impossible to break
those arrays. Even holy beings have trouble breaking them. So, how did you get out of there? I heard
that no creature could reach the Sage Level in there, for their realms were weakened when they were
trapped inside.
They are exceedingly limited, to the point that all living creatures are prohibited from reaching high
realms,"
Hayes blurted out in confusion.
"You are right. It is indeed impossible for the creatures in the Sealed Land to leave that place,"
Mordechai responded.
"However, ten years ago, a tiny rift appeared on the dome that the arrays had formed."
"What?!"
Everyone was stunned by what Mordechai had revealed.
At this point, Mordechai admitted his real identity to his companions, and he also filled them in on how
he managed to leave the Sealed Land.
They learned that he was actually the young master of the Desolate Sorcery tribe.
And since Ricky and Ashley were already familiar with the Desolate Sorcery tribe and Mordechai's
connection to them, Hayes was the only one caught by surprise when he found out Mordechai's real
identity. Actually, Mordechai had no intention of keeping them in the dark. He thought it would be a
good gesture to tell them everything about him since he was the one who asked for their help.
The Desolate Sorcery tribe was the most powerful tribe in the past starting when the world was
created. All its members could still remember the glory of their tribe, and they dreamed of restoring
their tribe to its former glory.
Unfortunately, they had been imprisoned in the Sealed Land for eras and couldn't get out. As a result,
they had gradually forgotten their dream.
But a big change suddenly took place a decade ago, in the area where the Desolate Sorcery tribe were
trapped, and a rift appeared on the array.
This fissure opened the way to the continent.
And its appearance rekindled the fire in the hearts of the Desolate Sorcery tribe's members. They
believed that they could help their tribe rise again once they returned to the continent.
However, to their disappointment, they discovered that it was a lot harder to pass through the rift than
they had previously thought.
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