Chapter 829: Departed
“Willen, you are right, but I am not you, how can I resist the temptation of that power? Immortal King, since you’re called the Immortal King, why did you leave a crippled arm behind to harm others…” Rodhart murmured, sounding rather resentful and regretful.
Lin Li initially didn’t want to bother with what Rodhart said, and he felt that it would be enough to see Rodhart getting thoroughly purified with his own eyes. However, when he heard Rodhart saying those words out of nowhere, Lin Li’s heart suddenly jumped. Did Rodhart really choose to become the Retribution Knight because of the Immortal King’s broken arm?
Legend had it that although the Dragon of Destruction Azardas was killed at the end of the battle between the Immortal King and the Dragon of Destruction, the Immortal King was also injured by the counterattack launched by the Dragon of Destruction before his death. One of his arms then landed in the Breezy Plains. The piece of news was actually confirmed by Nefa and Rogge when Lin Li was in the big rift. It was said Rodhart had obtained the severed arm of the Immortal King, and thus chose to embark on a completely opposite path from Willen by becoming the Retribution Knight.
When Rogge watched the intense battle between the Immortal King and the Dragon of Destruction, he ended up in a horrible state just because he had suffered the erosion of the Immortal King’s death aura. Rodhart obtained the Immortal King’s arm that contained the infinite death aura which made it easy for him to become the Retribution Knight.
Regarding the arm of the Immortal King, Lin Li was suddenly reminded of something that happened a long time ago. Back then, the Syer Bandits attacked Black Clouds Town, all for the sake of the Immortal King’s arm that Willen had sealed in the chapel. However, Lin Li did not manage to find the Immortal King’s arm in their lair; it seemed to have been taken away by some other force.
Lin Li didn’t really care about the arm of the Immortal King. He mainly heard from Nefa and Rogge that when the arm of the Immortal King was blasted off by the Dragon of Destruction, the Immortal King seemed to be holding a weapon which Lin Li reckoned to be the Stars of Fury which he had been trying hard to find.
Since Rodhart had obtained the Immortal King’s arm, where did the weapon in his hand go? Lin Li finally couldn’t help asking the Retribution Knight who was already on the brink of death about it. “There was a weapon that was left together with the arm of the Immortal King. Where is it now?”
Even without any debris of the stars, the Stars of Fury was still a very powerful weapon. According to the standards of Anril, it would probably not be an exaggeration to call it a divine weapon. Lin Li didn’t think that Rodhart would ignore such a powerful weapon when he obtained the arm of the Immortal King.
“Hah…” Rodhart laughed painstakingly, while the soul fire in his eyes flickered like a candle in the wind as if it would be extinguished at any time. There was not a single race of death aura at all.
“You must have seen that weapon, right? Where is it now?” Seeing the condition that Rodhart was in, Lin Li couldn’t help but feel a little anxious. Obviously, the Retribution Knight was already drained, and if Lin Li were any slower, he might not be able to ask anything in time.
However, the corners of Rodhart’s mouth curled up in a strange smirk, and he struggled to speak. “It… It left the Ice and Fire behind, and departed…”
“What do you mean departed? Where did it go!?” Lin Li darted forward and reached out in a bid to grab Rodhart’s shoulder. However, as soon as he touched Rodhart’s armor, the latter’s tall body collapsed like a sculpture made of sand.
Damn it! Make yourself clear before you die, bastard! Looking at the pile of ashes on the ground and the Eternal Frost Blade that was driven into it, Lin Li was filled with grief and anger. He didn’t show any joy of victory at all. He had finally gotten a clue about the Stars of Fury, and yet he had to watch it slip away right in front of him. Damn it, is this a joke!?
Lin Li stretched out his hand to pull the Eternal Frost Blade out from the ground. Without even taking another look, he threw it into the Eternal Snow Storm. Although it was a rare and legendary magical weapon, it was worlds apart from the Stars of Fury, and Lin Li was in no mood to appreciate it now.
Lin Li put away the debris of the stars Holy Light and the divine ring. He then recalled the majestic Divine Power in the palace immediately, and even the power that had purified the Sanctuary powerhouse disappeared in an instant. Standing still, Lin Li looked at the original position of the skeleton throne, followed by the ashes on the ground, which made him feel rather emotional.
A joyful shriek sounded in the palace, and a petite figure appeared in front of Lin Li immediately afterwards. It was sticking its tongue out and licking Lin Li mindlessly.
After being licked by Xiao Hua, Lin Li felt a lot better. He used a magical crystal to lure Xiao Hua to come down before turning around to look in the direction Xiao Hua came from. Connoris, Norfeller, Ujfalusi, and the Holy Death Knights that were following them from behind entered from outside.
Seeing that Lin Li was standing in the middle of the palace without any injuries, Norfeller and Ujfalusi hurriedly strode towards Lin Li and exclaimed in unison, “Master, it’s wonderful that you’re alright!”
Lin Li nodded and shifted his gaze onto Norfeller.
In the previous battle, Lin Li witnessed the scene of Norfeller unleashing his potential, and he only knew that his Vampire servant was not feeling as good as he seemed on the surface. Hence, he took out a potion that was full of Dark Force, and said, “Drink it.”
The potion was a by-product of Lin Li’s formulation of the Tribute of Darkness. Although its effects were inferior to the Tribute of Darkness, it was rather effective for creatures of Darkness. Norfeller didn’t ask any questions, and simply grabbed the potion with both hands, unplugged the cork without hesitation, and poured the potion into his mouth immediately.
Although the Soul Contract, like the Blood-oath, had conditions that would bind the servant to the master until their deaths, and didn’t seem to involve any loyalty, Norfeller chose to take the initiative and risk his own life during the hopeless battle. On the other hand, Ujfalusi chose to wait passively. That was the difference in their loyalty. Although Lin Li did not intend to punish Ujfalusi for that, he felt that it was also necessary to reward Norfeller for his loyalty.
Seeing the Dark Force erupting and surging in Norfeller’s body after he consumed the potion, Ujfalusi was instantly green with envy and jealousy. He was filled with regret, and wished that he had also risked his life to put up a fight.
Although the 40 Archmages were physically and mentally exhausted after the intense battle, they were still looking at Lin Li with gazes that were filled with awe, worship, and admiration. The Retribution Knight was a true Sanctuary powerhouse, a powerful, god-like existence. Yet, he was killed by their President, Lin Li. The problems that the Tower of Dusk was facing now were considered nothing at all compared to this!
Dang, dang!
Connoris walked up to Lin Li, threw half of the Holy Light Cross Spear that he was holding onto the ground, and lamented in displeasure and disgruntlement, “Look, this is the elaborate and luxurious product of your forging workshop, yet it’s inferior to a fire stick. I don’t care. Since you refuse to give me Osric’s weapon, you have to make me a decent weapon when we go back.”
The Holy Light Cross was a magical weapon that Lin Li had personally designed. Of course, it wouldn’t be as weak and pathetic like Connoris described. It was just that they had faced the siege of 20 Death Knights this time, and the fact that the spear could last until the end was already rather impressive.
In fact, Lin Li of course knew that Connoris was still coveting the spear that was used by the perfect body back then, which was a transformation of the debris of the stars, Nothingness. However, Connoris’ strength and abilities were now considered the most important combat power of Lin Li’s subordinates. Indeed, Connoris needed a better weapon to allow the power of the perfect body to be fully exerted.
Of course, it was impossible for Lin Li to give Nothingness to Connoris. He happened to recall the Eternal Frost Blade that Rodhart had left behind after being purified, and thus said, “The Eternal Frost Blade is with me. Once I study it, you may use it.”
Connoris humphed and remained silent. Although the Eternal Frost Blade could not be compared to the Spear of Nothingness, it was also considered a very powerful legendary weapon which was somewhat similar to Nothingness in terms of Space Power.
After packing everything up, Lin Li decided to leave because there was nothing worth wasting his time on in the underground palace. Lin Li led everyone out of the cave and arrived at the opening where Archbishop Englos of the Brilliance Shrine was waiting for him. He knew that Lin Li had plenty of Undead creatures, and thus didn’t bring any believers of the Holy Light with him.
“Archbishop Englos, thank you very much for your help this time,” said Lin Li, who let his subordinates go first while he walked towards Englos and expressed his sincere gratitude to him.
Englos smiled, and said, “I’m sure you know what happened to Rodhart. I can’t say that it has nothing to do with the Brilliance Shrine. Besides, we were just praying outside the battlefield. Judging from the way you are now, the matter has probably been resolved, eh?”
“Well, although things unexpectedly did not go according to plan, we still managed to resolve it smoothly with the help of you and your believers. Let’s talk while walking.” Lin Li was not modest at all. If it weren’t for the Holy Light Mageweath array that Englos and the believers of the Holy Light had put up, the result would have been completely different.
The two of them slowly walked out, and Lin Li briefly told Englos about the battle in the underground palace. Although it was all over, Lin Li couldn’t help but shudder and feel a lingering sense of fear at the thought of Rodhart’s menace. Englos was also shocked after hearing it. At the same time, he also felt rather awed and emotional about Rodhart’s death. After all, he was also a mythical character.
When he was about to leave the Dragon Mountains, Lin Li invited Englos to the Tower of Dusk as a guest to express his gratitude. However, Englos was an archbishop of the Brilliance Shrine, and had plenty of concerns, especially since there were many believers of the Holy Light who had come on this trip with him. In the end, he had no choice but to regretfully bid Lin Li goodbye.
Watching Englos leave, Lin Li reunited with his subordinates, and they set off together to make their way back to the Tower of Dusk.