Pillar of Yita

”You mean,” he asked, ”that before the high-ranking officials of your guild disappeared, they had contact with the people of the Immortal Life, but how did you recognize them?” Fang Hong certainly knew that the Immortal Life was actually a branch of the Dragon Worship Sect, and they were likely to be the faithful believers of the Dark Giant Dragon.

”Because of an emblem.”

Elisa sent over the emblem via a picture.

It was the first time Fang Hong had seen this emblem as well, which bore no resemblance to the pin used by the followers of Nikopolas, and did not display any dragon-related elements.

It was a pattern made of interwoven lines, forming a non-humanoid shape; if Fang Hong had to liken it to something, it somewhat resembled the Construct puppet he had seen in Kapuka.

This thing was truly strange; it did not seem like something that belonged to Eteliria at all, for its artistic style resembled more the concept of modern abstraction prevalent in contemporary aesthetics, clashing somewhat with the world’s native aesthetics.

Elisa continued writing, ”These people all had such an emblem on them, and I faintly remembered having seen this object before. Upon investigating, I discovered it was related to the Seventh Prohibition, and further, I unveiled their identities, understanding that they were likely the masterminds behind the Battle of Bain years ago.

She paused, then continued writing, ”Mr. Ade, please do not blame me for not telling you about this earlier, as Vice-Chairman Grant had forbidden any of us from discussing such topics. It is understandable, as who would believe that our club’s higher-ups were privately contacting these people?”

”Had you not asked, I would have never mentioned a word of this to outsiders, so please, you must keep this confidential.”

Fang Hong nodded and wrote, ”I will.”

He was not one to indulge in idle gossip, using others’ secrets as bragging capital. Although this might involve the Seventh Prohibition, those who had really violated the decree had already mysteriously disappeared.

He did not think that Elisa and her colleagues needed to take the blame for others.

But he fell silent for a moment, having never expected the answer to the mystery of the Rain Listener Club executives’ disappearance to be connected to the Dragon Worshippers and even tied to the thirteen-year-old Battle of Bain.

But why were the Immortal Life seeking the Elf Holy Grail?

And was it related to the Blood Oath Alliance?, the Night Lizard People? — The Immortal Life are Dragon Worshippers, and it seems that the Blood Oath Alliance also held the power to summon the Dragon’s Servant — not to mention their joint search for the Spire in this area.

If it were a coincidence, there seemed to be far too many coincidences.

Yet if it was not a coincidence, how could the hostility between the Blood Oath Alliance and the Rain Listeners be explained, or was it that the Immortal Life and the Night Lizard People were actually not allies, but competitors?

Fang Hong felt somewhat overwhelmed for a moment, as the information he possessed was too scant, and it seemed that they had re-entered a deadlock once again.

Elisa seemed to sense Fang Hong’s confusion through the lines, and she asked if there was any trouble here, to which Fang Hong didn’t know how to respond to his twin sister’s query.

After all, most of these were just speculations, so he skipped the most ambiguous part and simply described to Elisa the relationship between the Immortal Life and the Dragon Worship Sect, warning her to be cautious of the power of the Dragon’s Servant held by the Blood Oath Alliance.

Elisa was quite calm about this answer, which Fang Hong found somewhat surprising: ”Aren’t you worried at all?”

”Fenris Isle is just so big, and since the Immortal Life had contact with our guild’s high-ranking officials, it’s not strange that they would reach out to the Blood Oath Alliance,” Elisa responded, ”In fact, I should have thought of this sooner.”

Fang Hong was somewhat surprised that she understood the question in this way, but it also gave him a new idea, ”Then you don’t plan to expose the Blood Oath Alliance, which might be an opportunity for your Guild?”

”It could also be a trouble,” Elisa answered, ”I don’t plan to think about it that much. If Mr. Ade doesn’t mind, I might tell the Vice Chairman and let them make the decision. However, Mr. Ade, you should also be careful. The Blood Oath Alliance is backed by the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team, and getting involved in these Grand Guild conflicts is actually disadvantageous for you.”

Fang Hong’s heart warmed, but he also shook his head.

Because in reality, he had no control over it; he had already been enveloped in the conflicts between the Descendants of Flor and the Rainbow Alliance. Now, his feeling was that with more lice he couldn’t itch, with more debt he couldn’t worry.

It seemed, imperceptibly, he had also become a seasoned veteran who had nothing much to care about anymore.

...

The sixth layer ruins, the wilderness was an unending stretch of wilderness.

Without any vegetation, bare rock shells, torchlight dimly illuminating occasional tall pillars. But lifting the head, one could not see the top of the rock columns; in the caverns underground, devoid of any light, it felt as if only darkness and depths remained.

The footsteps of the group sounded somewhat hollow, echoing softly. Looking at Xi who approached—she was a rare Enlin mountain person from Colin, people of the Ancient Tower, naturally also called Eldron People. These Hunter descendants were slender and dark-skinned, possessing a wild beauty.

When this manifested in an Invoker, it intermingled the beauty of civilization and wildness. These two qualities were distinctly visible in the girl, both strong and calm.

The Little Princess of Silver Weslan—this was the title people gave her years ago, but now they more commonly referred to her along with the other two female Commanders as the Rose Madams, one of which was her mentor.

That is to say, she had gradually inherited the mantle of her predecessors and had truly become a pillar among the next generation of talents in this top Guild.

Sophie took the water bottle from Xi’s hand, smiling gently at her, and took a gentle sip.

She knew her partner’s habits; she wouldn’t come here without a reason. Indeed, the mountain girl quietly watched her finish drinking before she spoke, ”The scouts have returned, Sophie.”

”Oh?”

”They’ve found some people.”

”Is it the Blood Oath Alliance?”

”No, it’s those people we’ve seen before.”

”Ah, you mean the Alchemist named Xiaya,” Sophie seemed slightly surprised, ”They’ve made it here so quickly?”

Xi stole a glance at her, wanting to speak but stopping herself, eager to tell her the truth—that on the fourth level, they had actually not moved quickly at all, even being slow, delaying countless times.

...