Chapter 156: We Must Obtain the Divine Artifact, No Matter the Cost!

Words : 1360 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

Stanley glanced at the estate before him, its thick walls made of bluestone resembling a fortress. He nodded slightly, his shadowed eyes reflecting deep contemplation. Even in the crime-ridden slums, there were wealthy merchants. In fact, the wealth generated in this land of sin was no less than that of other districts. It was just that most people had the means to earn gold pucks but not the chance to spend them. A group of guards clad in full dwarven armor immediately opened the iron-reinforced gates upon seeing Stanley and the guide, ushering them inside. "Good evening, Lord Nasen. Welcome." The guide nodded without speaking, giving a slight gesture. Two nearby guards stepped forward to lead the way. Stanley silently observed everything, his eyes sharp like a hawk's from within the shadows. The expansive estate resembled a palace, starkly contrasting with the dilapidated slums outside. Rare underground plants, magical fountains, elven-crafted angel statues, and various luxurious structures were everywhere. Compared to the outside, this place felt like a serene divine realm. It was hard to imagine it shared the same land as the crime-filled district outside. Soon, Stanley and the guide arrived at the main hall. After two guards pushed open the doors carved with angel reliefs, they turned and left. Stanley followed the guide into the room. The moment the guide entered, he stepped back into a corner—this was not a place for him to stand. A lavishly decorated hall illuminated by magical lamps appeared before Stanley. His face, hidden beneath the shadow of his cloak, became faintly visible. In his early forties, with classic Nolan features—a hooked nose, blue eyes, and freckles on his face—the long scar running down his forehead gave him an indescribable air of terror. But what stood out most were the cold, calculating eyes, like a venomous snake ready to strike at any moment. Inside the room, over a dozen figures turned their heads toward him simultaneously. Some revealed their faces, while others remained hidden beneath cloaks. Stanley narrowed his eyes slightly. This wasn’t his first time attending such gatherings, but it was his first since reaching Level 15. The seemingly ordinary participants now exuded an aura that sent shivers down his spine. Aside from a few normal humans, the being on the left with eight arms and a snake-like lower body posed the greatest threat. An abyssal fiend—an Eight-Armed Snake Demon, Level 16. Its combat power was extraordinarily formidable, and even as a Level 15, Stanley had no desire to make it an enemy. The Eight-Armed Snake Demon noticed Stanley’s gaze, its long green eyes narrowing slightly. Its forked tongue flicked out, and a cold smirk appeared on its lips. Stanley quickly averted his gaze, shifting it elsewhere. Next to the Eight-Armed Snake Demon stood a pale-faced mage radiating decay and death, causing Stanley to furrow his brows. A Necromancer, Level 14. Though not yet Level 15, this abomination posed no less of a threat than the Level 16 Eight-Armed Snake Demon. Additionally, the auras of those who concealed their identities also filled him with unease. Only after reaching Level 15 did Stanley begin to comprehend the horrors lurking in the shadows of Green City. This largest city in the south was indeed far more complex than it appeared on the surface. And the crime-infested land of the southern district was not as easily understood as it seemed. "Good evening, Lord Stanley." An elder sitting in the main seat, hair streaked with gray and dressed in a black tailcoat, greeted Stanley with impeccable noble etiquette. "Good evening, Viscount Berna. It is an honor to be a guest in your estate." Stanley returned the courtesy with a respectful bow. This was the master of the estate, Viscount Berna. No one knew his surname; everyone simply called him that. As for Viscount Berna’s strength, the fact that he presided over this gathering of terrifying beings spoke volumes. Stanley removed his hooded cloak, revealing his face clearly to everyone in the room. His prominent hooked nose, gaunt cheeks, and the scar running diagonally across his forehead, paired with those gloomy eyes, gave off an eerie and menacing aura. However, none of those present were naive youths, and their expressions remained unchanged. Viscount Berna smiled graciously, exuding noble charm, and spoke aloud. "The representatives of the Evening Bell Church have arrived. Thus, this meeting of the Dark Pact shall now commence." The Dark Pact—if Li De had heard this name, his eyes would have widened in shock. Because Emi’s attribute panel listed him as the Vice President of the Dark Pact, though he had never paid much attention to it. "As you wish." "Viscount Berna, please proceed." The murmurs in the crowd quickly fell silent. "This time, we are discussing the Crimson Mage Tower." At the mention of this name, the Eight-Armed Snake Demon perked up, shifting its gaze from Stanley to Viscount Berna. "The Crimson Mage Tower has sold a large number of scrolls recently. By my calculations, the quantity exceeds ten thousand. Moreover, they have reached cooperative agreements with five major merchant guilds in Green City, promising to provide even more magic scrolls in the future. Yet, the Crimson Mage Tower has only been producing these scrolls for less than half a year. Given the tower’s limited resources, it is impossible for them to achieve such production efficiency. Even with the backing of the White Tower and Grand Mage Spark, this level of output is inconceivable. Therefore, I suspect they have obtained the Twelve Magic Scrolls." Viscount Berna’s words sent a chill through everyone present. "The Twelve Magic Scrolls?! Aren’t those the legendary supreme artifacts created by the Creator himself?!" A figure hidden in the shadows expressed astonishment. "It is said that there are twelve parts to the Twelve Magic Scrolls, each possessing infinite power. Could the Crimson Mage Tower really possess such an artifact?" The Necromancer’s eyes lit up with intense interest. Magic was what truly fascinated him. Viscount Berna’s eyes flickered with an emotion difficult for others to decipher. "The Twilight of the Gods approaches. The great evil gods will once again become the rulers of this world. The emergence of divine artifacts is no coincidence. To produce thousands or even tens of thousands of magic scrolls in such a short time, only the power of a divine artifact could explain it." His tone was resolute. "We must obtain the divine artifact, no matter the cost!" "But the Crimson Mage Tower is under the protection of the White Tower. And this is Green City. As long as that Transcendent Mage exists, no one can disrupt the peace here." The Eight-Armed Snake Demon’s voice carried a chilling coldness that made one’s hair stand on end. In this city, only that overwhelmingly powerful existence who had achieved transcendence over a century ago instilled fear in him. No one understood the might of transcendence better than he did—no one! "I have already devised a method to deal with the Transcendent Mage," Viscount Berna declared with unwavering confidence. Though the Transcendent Mage was nearly invincible, direct confrontation was not the only option. "But what if the Crimson Mage Tower doesn’t possess a divine artifact?" Stanley couldn’t help but ask. "If they have another method, wouldn’t our efforts be in vain?" "Not a divine artifact? Lord Stanley, obtaining a method to mass-produce magic scrolls would suffice. Do you truly believe that the benefits of producing hundreds or even thousands of magic scrolls daily would be less than that of a single divine artifact?" Viscount Berna’s tone exuded absolute confidence. Even the strongest professionals needed sufficient gold pucks to purchase what they desired. The crowd paused for a moment upon hearing this, then their eyes filled with insatiable greed. Magic scrolls represented wealth and power. Obtaining the means to mass-produce them would allow their strength to grow exponentially. No one could resist such temptation. Silently and imperceptibly, a dark meeting targeting the Crimson Mage Tower was underway. Among them were devout followers of the evil gods, leaders of underground organizations, Necromancers hidden in the shadows, and malevolent alien races. Everything was heading toward an unknown direction.

Chapter 156: We Must Obtain the Divine Artifact, No Matter the Cost!

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