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Chapter 18: The Journeys of Each Departing

As the two rivals were about to start arguing again, without waiting for the meeting’s elderly host to speak up, the Black Cloak individual, Exmont, took the initiative. He slowly spoke in a voice that completely overshadowed both parties but remained low and ominous.

“This Vilyric, I’ve gathered some intel through certain channels. To be honest, with the standards of those experiments in the ordinary world, I can’t temporarily judge what kind of divine power she possesses… Frim, since you’ve personally faced her, do you have any concrete impressions?”

“…”

The crimson flames flickered a few times before the reply came.

“Hard to say. At the time, I only exchanged a move or two with her summon; she herself did not engage. But just from the intensity of divine power alone, even at my peak, facing that bright god, I doubt I could secure a steady victory.”

“Tch…”

The burly beast-headed councilor, Bistell, scoffed derisively. Though they were enemies, he knew Frim’s character exceedingly well and could discern the implications behind those ambiguous words.

To translate all that—it simply meant: I definitely can’t win.

Otherwise, even with just a 10% chance of victory, this hot-headed, face-saving God of Blazing Flame would have certainly phrased it as “the outcome is still uncertain.”

After all, when he had previously quarreled with the God and was about to duel, he had used a similar expression to describe the strength disparity between them, and the results… well, we all saw what happened.

Exmont easily caught the drift of Frim’s implication. With a surge of energy, wisps of gray mist leaked from beneath his hood.

“Could it be… a divine rank? Where did this one come from?”

Then he slightly raised his head and spoke in a deep voice towards the ceiling of the assembly hall.

“I propose we pause any further actions and try to secretly make contact with this mysterious being. Once we clarify her identity and origin, we can discuss countermeasures.”

“Agreed.”

“Agreed.”

“I also concur.”

In a flash, several councilors voiced their support. Even the seemingly cold yet powerful Miss Hen slightly nodded to show her agreement.

At this moment, the elderly voice echoed once again in the main hall.

“Seven votes in favor, the God of Blazing Flame opposed. Now, Wanshang, what’s your opinion?”

The Black and White Mask seemed overly excited, spinning around on the stone seat for a while before settling back down with a wide, cheerful grin.

“Hee hee hee hee, since it passed by such a high vote, I suppose our opinions don’t matter, right? But… this Vilyric sounds quite interesting! If possible, I’d love to meet her ~”

The silver-haired woman, Hen, furrowed her brow subtly, while Exmont immediately responded.

“There’s no issue with that. Although the world barriers are bothersome, if it’s just for contact, I happen to have a few suitable test subjects. Conveniently, I have similar plans; how about we join forces?”

“Oh my, oh my! The experiment fanatic actually has a reliable moment! Then it’s settled; we’ll discuss this privately later! Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee!!!”

The sharp laughter rang out like a jester’s, but this mysterious meeting unfolding in the shadowy hall… seemed few could ever find out.

…

Outside Moonshadow Valley, Vilyric and her group were bidding farewell to the friends who had come to see them off, including Chief Vanessa.

“Well then, we’re off! By the way, Iriush, are you really sure you don’t want to come with us?”

The Priestess, mingling in the crowd, was momentarily taken aback before grinning mischievously, looking up and down at the Black-haired Girl, rubbing her hands together.

“What’s wrong? Can’t bear to part? You know how convenient my inventions are, right? Actually, if you earnestly begged me, I could consider it ~”

“Give it a rest. I was just asking out of routine. If you don’t want to come, that’s fine; I’d be glad to have some peace… So what’s your plan next? Heading straight back to Puppeteer Forest?”

Iriush shook her head.

“I won’t be returning just yet. I’ve heard there are many new things on the human side, and our relations have improved a lot recently. I plan to wander around like Sister Iwen and see what’s up until I tire of it… then I’ll think about going home.”

“I see…”

The Priestess smiled slightly.

“Well, wish you a safe journey then?”

“Hey, you too ~”

After officially bidding farewell to Iriush, Vilyric turned her gaze to the beautiful woman cradling a white wolf cub beside her.

“Chief Vanessa, thank you for your care recently. The Mountains of Ten Thousand Demons and Moonshadow Valley are both wonderful places. I hope your clan can thrive.”

The chief smiled and nodded.

“Then we accept Miss Vilyric’s blessing. We owe you a debt of gratitude for everything. Should you need help in the future, feel free to seek out our Moonshadow clan.”

“Aw…”

Then, the white wolf cub in her arms let out a whimper towards the Priestess, seemingly sensing what was about to happen and reluctant for the Priestess to leave.

To this, the Black-haired Girl merely smiled and patted Noviya’s smooth, soft little head.

“Don’t be like that, all good things must come to an end… Though I’m not sure if you can understand this, today’s parting doesn’t mean it’s forever. You must grow up well and become a qualified new wolf king. Don’t let everyone’s care and the bloodline within you down.”

At this point, Vilyric turned to speak again.

“Of course, being joyful and safe is the most important thing. I believe your mother shares the same hope, but next time we meet, I hope to see you’ve learned how to talk, alright?”

“Grr!”

As if truly agreeing on a promise with the girl, Noviya seriously nodded, her little tail spinning like a fan on full speed, looking particularly comical and adorable.

Next, the Priestess looked to the other side at the blue-gold slime girl.

“Xiao Lan, I’m entrusting the Divine Tree to your care. This responsibility might weigh heavily on you, but its benefits are immeasurable. You are an unprecedented slime, and one of my most trusted friends here…”

“After three years, when the agreement is up, if you don’t wish to remain confined in the portal area, just let me know. I’ll arrange for new personnel to take over. Don’t feel burdened; this was the agreement we made. Regardless of whether you continue or not, I’ll be looking forward to your future, after all, you’re my first… umm ~”

With a knowing laugh, Vilyric trusted that the other would understand her implication, and that cleverness is precisely why she decided to leave the task of guarding the Divine Tree division to Xiao Lan.

“Rest assured, Miss Vilyric, I… will do everything to protect the Divine Tree with my life. I won’t let you down.”

Feeling the steadfastness in the slime girl’s words and the deliberate avoidance of the three-year limit, the Priestess nodded slightly without saying much more.

Some things don’t need to be explicitly stated.

“Well then, everyone, the mountains remain green and the waters flow! It’s time for us to part ways!”

Leaping onto the broad backs of the wolves, the Priestess and her group gradually disappeared into the distant mountains amid farewell voices.

In the sky, above the clouds.

“What’s wrong, aren’t you going to say goodbye?”

The youth in gray robes hovered in the sky, his robe fluttering in the wind, glancing at the pink-haired butterfly girl beside him.

She shot him an annoyed look.

“Say what goodbye? It’s not like we won’t see each other again in the future, and besides, it wouldn’t be good to keep borrowing this child’s body to meet them. After all… she’s not truly me.”

Min Chen chuckled helplessly.

“Well, what can we do? You’ve been without a physical body for a while now, you need something to lean on when you go outside, right?”

“Hmph, as if you’re saying I’ve died and turned into a ghost? It’s just that my will has merged with the Holy Land! From a certain perspective, the Holy Land is now my body!”

“Alright, alright, as you say…”

“Tch, so dismissive…”

The two suddenly fell into silence. After a while, Tiyelu spoke quietly.

“Min Chen, are you leaving?”

The young man did not turn around; he simply looked toward the distant mountains and lands, nodding slightly.

“There are some things I must do. I owe them too much; at the very least… I need to make some compensations.”

“You’re leaving? What will happen to the portal area?”

Min Chen smiled.

“Isn’t there that little slime Miss Vilyric left behind? Don’t let her current legendary level fool you; should opponents arise that are hard to handle, she can play a significant role, probably not less than I could. And with Shi Er and Aileen around, those two kids are inherently good-natured, plus they have the contract and the Divine Tree’s assistance. Are you still worried they won’t put in effort?”

Seemingly left speechless, the butterfly girl could only pout in dissatisfaction.

“Looks like you’ve made up your mind… Fine, hurry up and leave, so I don’t have to see you pretending all day long. Where do you plan to go first?”

“Hmm, I think I’ll head to Demon Town in the south first. Miss Vilyric left me some… commissions before her departure. After I finish that, I’ll probably search for the descendants scattered around the world to take care of them, then go to my daughter’s grave and fulfill my duty as a father, though I’ve been rather unqualified.”

After a long moment, the gatekeeper, unburdened by his duties, gazed again at the mountains, his gaze filled with a profound and distant nostalgia.

“And there’s Haomiao and Mofuman… Where in the world have they gone after three hundred years?”