bacchusnovels Chapter 824 - 375: Magic Energy Network
Chapter 824 - 375: Magic Energy Network
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The Duke of Ancient Wood paused slightly, somewhat hesitant.
Luo De looked at his expression and smiled,
"Earlier, you said you’d pledge your loyalty to me."
"Are you already questioning my orders now?"
"No, Your Majesty,"
The Duke of Ancient Wood hurriedly said, "It’s just..."
He glanced at the giant dragon spiraling in front, then at Luo De, hesitating to speak.
"Do you think I would take the sapling of the Life Tree and leave, abandoning you all?"
Luo De said with a smile, "The Emperor’s credibility is far more important than your life."
"Even if those ghouls attack again, I can take you away safely."
Luo De paid no heed and turned to look at the figures in dark green robes beside him.
"Are you all followers of the Life and Nature Church?"
"Great Emperor of the Flame Dragon, may nature bless you."
The members of the Church bowed slightly in salute.
Luo De nodded slightly, having a good impression of them.
From their words, it seemed they indeed did not worship any deities.
"Koralia told me, you are different from other church members."
"If any of you are willing to serve the Empire,"
Luo De said unabashedly, "I will also ensure your safety."
The robed individuals exchanged glances, and an elder stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, we will follow the Life Tree sapling,"
The elder said respectfully, "If you can protect the Life Tree sapling, we are willing to serve the Empire."
"Are you a priest or a bishop?"
Luo De asked the elder.
"Forgive my impudence, Your Majesty, I am Macao-Ke Deepwood, merely considered an elder."
The elder saluted again, explaining, "Our Life and Nature Church has no hierarchy, everyone serves nature equally."
No wonder they haven’t joined the Holy Council, without even the basic structure of a church, the church’s ideology is lost.
Luo De didn’t dwell on it much, looking towards the Duke of Ancient Wood,
"Stop wasting time and go check on that sapling."
Luo De naturally wanted to first verify the authenticity of the so-called Life Tree sapling.
If it’s a hoax, some people will suffer, if not perish.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Flame Dragon,"
The Duke of Ancient Wood nodded and led the way.
Lucas and Lusen were the first to follow.
Luo De and Vivian followed behind.
The Duke quickened his pace, leading everyone into the main building of the castle.
Almost all noble castles are built with underground chambers.
The treasure room of Ancient Wood Castle was no exception.
The Duke led Luo De through the hall, directly to the innermost room.
He raised his hand to twist the candlestick on the wall, triggering a mechanism.
The bookshelf slowly moved aside, revealing a dark tunnel.
"Please follow me,"
The Duke stepped into the tunnel first.
Lucas and Lusen followed closely, going all the way down.
After a long while, ensuring there was no anomaly below, Lusen came up.
"It should be real, Your Majesty," Lusen reported.
Luo De nodded, following Lusen into the staircase tunnel.
The tunnel was narrow, only wide enough for two people to walk side by side.
The end of the staircase was a heavy stone door, already open when Luo De arrived.
Inside was the treasure vault of the Ancient Wood Clan, filled with various chests.
Luo De paid little attention to these, merely glancing over as he proceeded.
Luo De had seen many such treasure vaults, growing numb to them.
Wealth no longer stirred him.
Luo De’s gaze passed through the treasure vault, landing on the innermost room.
The room had no door, but a faint blue barrier obscured its contents.
The Duke approached, slashing his palm and pressing the bloodied hand on the barrier.
The barrier’s light gradually dissipated.
Only then did Luo De see the room’s contents.
The room was small, less than five square meters, with runes drawn all over the floor and walls.
A flower pot sat in the center of the room.
The pot reflected the firelight, seemingly metallic, carved with intricate patterns.
The patterns occasionally flickered with a faint green light, clearly wizard runes.
In the pot, besides the black soil, lay a dozen life gems.
The gems shone brightly, like fireflies in the night.
In the pot’s center was a small branch the size of a palm, with withered yellow leaves.
"Is this the Life Tree sapling?"
Luo De looked puzzled at the Duke, then at the followers of the Life and Nature Church and Lusen.
Compared to the pot and extraordinary gems, this Life Tree seemed too ordinary.
It looked like a fallen branch picked up from the roadside in autumn.
The only remarkable thing was, despite its yellowed leaves, they remained intact, unblemished.
It seemed almost fake.
"Yes, Your Majesty,"
The Duke nodded, "It’s just wilted, with nothing peculiar to show."
"It’s their way of self-preservation," Macao-Ke of the Church added.
Luo De nodded slightly, "Take it with us, we’re leaving."
"I’m sorry, Your Majesty,"
Macao-Ke said, "We can’t move it."
Macao-Ke looked at the sapling within the array, eyes filled with sorrow,
"This array forcibly instills a trace of the Power of Life into it, keeping it from dying completely."
Macao-Ke sighed, "If we leave here, it won’t survive more than half a day."
"In half a day, we can’t build a new array."
"It needs the Power of Life..."
Luo De stepped forward, gazing at the withered sapling within the pot.