Chapter 170: The Finale is About to Begin

Although there were some doubts about whether the contract truly existed, Miss Vilyric was not one to be a snitch. Since she had promised Tiyelu, she certainly wouldn’t go around blabbing about it.

After all, this matter was indeed far-reaching. If handled poorly, the entire Mountains of Ten Thousand Demons could be thrown into chaos, or even face dire consequences.

Next, it was time to head to the true “Holy Land.”

According to Tiyelu, the places she summoned elsewhere were merely projections of the Holy Land, and the location buried with immense secrets was actually not in this world.

Indeed, the core area of the Mountains of Ten Thousand Demons—the Holy Land—was fundamentally built upon the divine realm of the Demon God, serving as a portal between the “Illusory Realm” and the real world. The barrier seen by outsiders was actually an indestructible wall between the two worlds.

And there were two doors.

One was guarded by the Gatekeeper, Min Chen, who guarded the external door to the Holy Land that Tiyelu referred to as the outer gate, located in a special space between the “Illusory Realm” and the real world.

The second was the Holy Land itself. This space was already within the “Illusory Realm,” but it sealed the actual passage between the two worlds. That was what Tiyelu was protecting—the inner door, distinctly separated from Min Chen’s responsibilities.

Thus, the hidden passage at Spirit Butterfly Peak could bypass the “Gatekeeper” and directly enter the true “Illusory Realm.”

Of course, under normal circumstances, even if one entered this way, they would have to face the powerful Holy Land manager, Tiyelu’s true form, which was not defenseless.

These details were what Min Chen had previously disclosed to Miss Vilyric at the Mountains of Ten Thousand Demons, and with Butterfly Miss’s additions, she gained further clarity.

“This is it! Below here is the hidden passage to the Holy Land.”

Under Tiyelu’s guidance, the three reached the edge of a towering cliff on Spirit Butterfly Peak. Miss Butterfly pointed to the dizzying drop obscured by clouds and mist, indicating the other two girls to come closer and take a look.

“The entrance… really exists in this form? Uh… Lady Tiyelu, there’s something I’ve never quite understood. Since the external door guarded by the Gatekeeper is unbreakable, why did you leave such a backdoor here on Spirit Butterfly Peak, allowing thieves to take advantage of it?”

After saying this, Miss Slime instinctively took a couple of steps back. After all, no one knew if the passage beneath the cliff required triggering some special condition. If she were to accidentally fall, even a being like Xiao Lan, who had extraordinary resistance to physical damage, would definitely end up a splatter on the ground if she couldn’t fly.

Upon hearing this, Tiyelu simply smirked without changing her expression.

“Well… it’s not a big deal. To put it simply, I just can’t fully trust him. Min Chen is a half-demon, and this ‘demon’ doesn’t refer to magical beasts but rather a devil. His origins are quite suspicious, and while I don’t have any racial bias, assuming he were to sever all four doors connected to the Holy Land, if this guy had ill intentions, wouldn’t that put both me and the Holy Land in a precarious position?”

“Just like that guy always says, ‘Never underestimate someone’s malice, but don’t be without caution.’ It’s something we all understand implicitly.”

“Hey, wait a minute… Tiyelu, did you just say Min Chen is a half-demon? Are you sure?”

Miss Butterfly turned her head in confusion, glancing at Vilyric, who had suddenly exclaimed, “Holy cow!” without any attempt to conceal or deny it.

“Yeah, Min Chen is a half-demon. Didn’t I tell you to meet him? Didn’t he mention it to you?”

“Cough… Maybe he forgot.”

Half-demon… Transmigrator… Tear of the Moon Goddess… Swordsman…

So it was him, it really was him…

“Alright! Let’s stop dawdling! While nothing is likely to happen in the meantime, with the Dusk Council involved and Sylvester plotting, we can’t guarantee what might occur, so let’s hurry and get moving!”

After a few loud urgings, as if suddenly remembering something, Tiyelu quickly added.

“Oh right, only Miss Vilyric can enter alone. The Illusory Realm is different from the real world; its harsh environment is unbearable for ordinary beings, even Xiao Lan. So you should stay with me outside and prepare for the worst that might come.”

“What… does Miss Vilyric think?”

Not answering Tiyelu immediately, Xiao Lan directed her questioning gaze at the Priestess, who nodded in response.

“Let’s do as she says. The Illusory Realm does pose many dangers, and I’ve learned from some sources that entering alone facilitates combat. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

“…Alright, I will heed your wishes.”

Seeing the concern in Miss Slime’s eyes despite her words, Vilyric smiled and gently ruffled her uniquely jelly-like long hair.

“Don’t worry; I’m very strong and won’t recklessly act. Even if I fail, I’ll at least be able to preserve my life. How could I not trust the one I believe in?”

【Oh, and after I leave, you…】

Feeling the divine message from the objects of her faith, a glimmer of golden light flashed in Miss Slime’s eyes, her head bowing obediently and reverently.

“Okay… I understand, Miss Vilyric. Then, Xiao Lan will wait outside for your triumphant return.”

“Haha, that’s more like it! Off I go!”

Waving goodbye with a smile, the black-haired, white-robed priestess took a bold stride forward against the chilling wind on the mountain and leaped deep into the clouds, her figure quickly disappearing into the mist.

……

In another realm.

“The Illusory Realm… Haha, I’ve finally returned here. Everything will come to an end here.”

Sylvester Burwell, known as the Summoner Alchemist, stood up, brushing off some dust from his robe, revealing a lavish smile obscured by a peculiar mask.

“Mm…”

A soft whimper came from beside him. The girl named Aileen, who had also fallen, gradually picked herself up, looking around in confusion.

“Are we… Ah! Syl, have we arrived?!”

Sylvester turned around and extended a hand toward the girl.

“Indeed, Aileen. After much effort, we have finally stepped to the threshold. Come, let’s seize that power buried for a thousand years and achieve our respective long-held desires.”

“Though you say that… Syl, do you really think I can do it, even if…?”

Without saying much, the Summoner simply embraced the girl’s delicate form, offering her warm encouragement.

“You definitely can. I believe in you.”

“But before we reach there, remember not to stray too far from me. The rules in the Illusory Realm differ from the real world, and countless horrors abound. Only within the range of the Demon God’s relic can I guarantee your safety.”

“Of course, I remember.”

Supporting each other, two lonely figures took their steps across the desolate land.

……

“Um… have we arrived yet?”

A white figure, falling from an invisible door in the sky, gracefully unfurled its brilliant snow-white wings mid-fall to maintain balance, slowly descending while curiously surveying the surroundings.

This was a desolate land.

Familiar emptiness surrounded her, devoid of life or human presence, except for a high mountain in the distance, remarkably similar to Spirit Butterfly Peak, standing firm like a guardian stone.

On the other side of the mountain, toward the horizon, the sky exhibited a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of colors.

Vilyric knew that this astounding scenery could only manifest when magical elements reached their peak.

That’s right, this is the Holy Land, and it has safeguarded the “Illusory Realm” for a thousand years.

   

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