Sovereign of the Ashes

The guardian of Verdant Wilderness World was a large white bird.

Sein had heard about it from Green Spikefur King before, but after meeting it in person, he realized that it was a serene creature that could soothe one’s heart and soul.

One of its wings was still bent, not from the suppression by the otherworldly Gorilla Gods, but because the guardian had used its own body as a shield. It had protected hundreds of thousands of ordinary beings at the heart of the forest from the devastating effects of a forbidden spell unleashed by Gregory.

It was a truly selfless creature.

Through such actions, it was clear that White Spirit would not hesitate to trade its life for the lives of the creatures of Verdant Wilderness World if necessary.

This self-sacrificing nature seemed to be a common trait among the guardians of various worlds.

“Actually, I’ve already noticed you not long after you descended into this world,” the big white bird said to Sein upon their meeting.

“Oh?” Sein responded with a raised eyebrow. With his elemental power, he conjured a tree stump to sit on across from the big white bird.

This meeting was formal, involving three other demigod-level mages besides Sein, each representing one of the other three divine towers participating in this interplanar war.

Master Stefano was among them, but based on prior discussions, Sein was designated as the primary spokesperson for the negotiations.

The other demigod-level mages were essentially there to observe, listen in and sign the agreements with their magic seals at the end.

Aside from White Spirit on the Verdant Wilderness World’s side, the Rank Four Verdant Wilderness God was also present.

Interestingly, the negotiations took place on one of the Verdant Wilderness God’s flat branches.

The weakened and severely injured god did not manifest any energy projections of itself, but it could hear everything discussed during the meeting.

In a way, the presence of Master Stefano and the others served as a protective measure for Sein.

Besides, the severely wounded Rank Four Verdant Wilderness God was further constrained by a hexagram array.

Even without the array, Master Stefano was confident in his ability to handle the creature alone.

While challenging an opponent of a higher rank might be daunting for ordinary mages, it was nothing for the true geniuses of the Astral Realm.

Master Stefano’s strength was on par with a severely wounded Rank Four being.

Despite the inherent tension of such a meeting, the atmosphere during the negotiations was surprisingly cordial.

On the Magus World’s side, Master Stefano and the others remained silent, having already briefed Sein on all the necessary details, including their bottom line and conditions. They trusted Sein fully, confident he would not betray his own people.

On the Verdant Wilderness World’s side, the Verdant Wilderness God remained silent throughout, just like an ordinary giant tree.

Meanwhile, White Spirit, the large white bird, evoked a sense of familiarity in Sein, who in turn showed no signs of aggression toward it.

His typical indifference and ruthlessness were reserved for dealings with the enslaved creatures devoid of rights.

At heart, Sein was approachable and even gentle—traits that Tourmaline found endearing.

After all, the dragon turtle was not one to be easily swayed by mere flattery.

If Sein were truly sinister, Tourmaline would not have befriended him, nor would White Stella have entrusted her younger sister to his care at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Had Sein been a malevolent mage, Tourmaline would have dealt with him in the Boundless South Sea, just as she did with other black mages.

Even Sein’s possession of a demigod-level Viridescent Seed would have been futile against Tourmaline’s might.

The negotiation, crucial for both the interests of the four divine towers and the future of the low-level Verdant Wilderness World, proceeded smoother than anticipated.

This was not merely due to Sein winning White Spirit’s favor; the native creatures of Verdant Wilderness World simply had modest demands.

The failures of previous negotiations by Master Stefano and his colleagues were primarily due to the native creatures’ distrust of the mages who had endangered the Verdant Wilderness God.

The Magus World mages, known for their adherence to contracts, were respected throughout the Magus Alliance and beyond.

However, how could these native creatures, who had never ventured beyond their home plane, be expected to trust such claims?

Even a burly man convincing a much smaller, wary individual of his strength would first have to demonstrate it.

So far, the creatures of Verdant Wilderness World had only witnessed the Magus World’s use of a forbidden spell and the deployment of millions of powerful combat troops—not their adherence to promises.

White Spirit was a pragmatic creature, and the Verdant Wilderness God—evolved from a tree—was neither naive nor foolish.

They understood that beggars could not be choosers.

Eventually, an elemental contract swirling with the power of laws was signed, bearing six signatures each imbued with the distinct aura of the signatories.

Five signatures radiated with the power of laws, but Sein’s fiery signature was devoid of it. Instead, it appeared ethereal and refined, indicative of a deeply cultured and noble mage.

Access to the power of laws was generally reserved for at least demigods, and Sein was still some way from reaching that level.

Having finalized the details that the Tower Master had laid out, Master Stefano left the meeting in high spirits, laughing jovially with the other two demigod-level mages.

Sein was the last to leave; he picked up the magic contract and reviewed it several times.

“We, the Magus Civilization, promise to compensate Verdant Wilderness World with one and a half million magicoins for post-war reconstruction. This figure is subject to adjustment—if your losses are greater, we will increase the amount accordingly,” Sein said to the large white bird.

“The Magus Civilization genuinely fosters mutual cooperation and development. You’ll get to know us better over time, and perhaps also use this opportunity to engage with other world civilizations within the Magus Alliance,” he suggested.

The big white bird smiled and nodded in response.

While it had yet to fully comprehend the value of magicoins, it understood that it represented significant compensation, based on the explanations from the group of Magus World’s mages.

Even Sein and the other demigod-level mages seemed slightly overwhelmed by the amount.

“You are a creature with a good heart,” White Spirit addressed Sein, lowering its head.

“Beneath your icy exterior, I can see a touch of sincerity and kindness that has never been lost, which is why I have firmly chosen you as the representative for this negotiation. Thank you for all you have done for the creatures of Verdant Wilderness World,” the guardian added sincerely.

Sein paused briefly before leaving, offering no response.