The Federation of Hope's group was heading toward the General's Office, intending to meet the Fearless General.
Upon entering this area, the surrounding scenery changed significantly.
Most striking were the towering stone reliefs lining the road leading to the General's Office.
These stone reliefs seemed to narrate a mythical tale.
In the first scene, a small fox stood at the edge of a deep pit, gazing at a glowing figure within.
In the second, the glowing figure clashed head-on with a silhouette engulfed in flames.
In the third, beside the glowing figure appeared a small flame, and he was speaking kindly to many emaciated, starving people.
In the fourth, amidst endless waves, countless figures dashed across the scene, bringing hopeful expressions to the wounded lying on the ground.
It felt like mythology, yet also like a historical record.
These reliefs stood along the road to the General's Office, visible to anyone who approached it.
In total, there were six reliefs. The first four appeared to form a simple narrative.
But upon reaching the fifth, the relief's imagery abruptly changed.
The elements depicted in this fifth scene were overwhelmingly complex.
In this carving, two factions stood divided by a towering mountain.
One side showed countless werewolves enveloped in black mist, their fur bristling aggressively.
Their scarlet eyes radiated intimidation, and their muscular forms exuded unmistakable cruelty.
Facing these ferocious werewolves was a solitary figure rendered with minimal, vague strokes.
Those simple lines barely outlined a human shape, leaving even the face indistinct.
Compared to the wolves shrouded in dark mist, his figure was diminutive.
Yet, behind him soared dragons, a giant fox, and countless followers.
As for the sixth relief, it remained entirely blank, as if it had never been carved at all.
"Why was this final relief never finished?"
Seeing this, someone from the Federation of Hope curiously asked.
Obviously, the sixth relief was meant to summarize the previous five images.
Yet, the crucial final piece was left incomplete.
The feeling was as uncomfortable as finding an engrossing novel that suddenly stopped updating at its climax.
Judging by the weathered surfaces, these reliefs had existed for centuries.
Rough estimates placed the fifth carving's age at several hundred years.
No matter how lazy an immortal might be, even they wouldn't procrastinate for centuries without finishing one carving.
Clearly, something unusual had delayed this sixth relief.
"Did something happen behind the scenes?" Fenille asked.
"I didn't expect anyone would actually take interest in these carvings."
The Foxian guide leading them paused when she noticed everyone stopping to examine the reliefs, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes.
"These reliefs describe, in a sense, the origins of our Xianzhou…"
"As for why the sixth relief remains unfinished, perhaps it's because everyone is still waiting for an outcome."
The Foxian guide sighed deeply, hinting at some hidden story.
But his words were far from clear to everyone else.
"So, what exactly happened?" Titania pressed impatiently.
She had no idea what had occurred—this guide's cryptic riddles were practically begging for divine punishment.
"What exactly? Of course, it's all because of this one…"
The Foxian guide's eyes rested on the fifth relief.
Though it appeared mythological, it depicted actual events from long ago.
Especially regarding those black-flamed werewolves.
"Hundreds of years ago, this one was notorious throughout the galaxy."
"Judging from its appearance, it looks like a Borisin," Fenille noted, observing its features.
The Foxians of the Xianzhou Alliance bore deep grudges against the Borisin, so seeing them as villains made perfect sense.
"That's true, but this wasn't an ordinary Borisin. This one was scholarly—dangerously intelligent, in fact…"
The Foxian guide's eyes darkened slightly.
"It was a Borisin who joined the Intelligentsia Guild, graduating with perfect scores across all subjects."
"It possessed terrifying intellect, called 'The Strategist' among the Denizens of the Abundance. After returning to its people, it orchestrated thousands of Abundance disasters."
"It's even rumored across the galaxy to have interacted with Dr. Primitive, Seat 64 of the Genius Society."
"Eventually, it was captured during one of its operations and imprisoned within the Cangcheng…"
"And judging by the disciplined way they attacked Fangyuan, took what they wanted, killed, and swiftly retreated…"
...
In Xianzhou Jiulan, the Sword Champion of the Cangcheng was explaining the mastermind behind the Borisin raid on Fangyuan:
"This Borisin has clearly escaped captivity and trained its followers into a powerful army."
As he spoke, the Sword Champion's eyes seemed to return to the distant past, hundreds of years ago.
Back then, the Cangcheng had been at its zenith. Sword Champion of the Cangcheng, Fangyuan Dragon Lord, and General Futian had stood firmly as guardians of the Xianzhou.
Together, they had successfully imprisoned the Borisin mastermind responsible for countless Abundance disasters.
Yet, centuries passed. The Dragon Lord had shed her scales and reincarnated; Futian signed a contract with the Heliobi for the sake of the Xianzhou's survival.
Now, of the three legendary figures, only he, the Sword Champion, remained. How could he not feel nostalgic?
"Oh great, another high-IQ enemy," someone muttered nervously.
It wasn't powerful enemies that scared them most—it was intelligent ones. That was an ironclad truth of war.
Powerful enemies could be weakened through various tactics. But how did you counter sheer intelligence?
You could never guess how many contingency plans lurked in the enemy's mind.
You never knew which move you made would land you right in their trap.
"How did something like this get loose!" Jin Xing, leader of the Vidyadhara, growled through clenched teeth.
Why was this thing roaming freely across the Four Realms? It should have been securely guarded.
The Sword Champion's gaze shifted pointedly toward Xi, floating calmly beside Sora.
This question, of course, had to be directed at the former guardian of Cangyan.
His stare held nothing back, instantly letting everyone present know exactly who was responsible for this mess.
"When Futian signed the contract with me, he asked me to protect all the surviving lives. That's exactly what I did."
Xi replied calmly, her emotions unwavering.
And among those who survived on the ruined Xianzhou naturally included the prisoners held within the Isolation Prison.
She had perfectly fulfilled her part of the contract without any deception.
"I won't interfere with your internal disputes. That's your own problem."
Xi spoke firmly; regarding internal clan conflicts, she had no reason to favor any side.
Since she'd never involved herself, bias was impossible.
"That's right. Those prisoners tried causing chaos once released, so I beheaded every one of them."
At that time, the severed heads and blood of the prisoners had even stained the earth red, forming pools of crimson.
To avoid suspicion afterward, the Sword Champion relinquished command of the Xianzhou, retreating behind the scenes.
Still, he remained peerless in martial prowess; the Fangyuan Dragon Lord held control of the Bitao tides, guarding her people as well.
"But what about the Foxians?"
His sudden question caused everyone's gazes to shift directly onto Ahri.
True, other clans had protectors.
Yet the Foxians, whom Xi had assigned their own separate realm, seemed to have no one like that.
"The Borisin wander only in the forests. As long as we Foxians don't leave our towns, nothing bad usually happens."
Ahri quickly waved her hands, insisting life in the Tushan Realm was fine.
"Then why were you out in the forest behind the mountains when we first met?" Sora asked suspiciously. If Ahri truly meant what she said, why did he find her in the backwoods?
"Because we had to gather herbs!" Ahri beamed proudly, describing what she was good at. "Those medicinal herbs were the taxes demanded by the Upper Gods. My father and I went out every day to pick them."
But her words immediately provoked Xi's displeasure. "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Startled, Ahri trembled and quickly hid behind Sora.
What just happened?
"Since when have I ever collected taxes?"
Hearing this, both Yu Qi and Jin Xing shook their heads, denying such a thing had ever occurred.
"Moreover, our bodies are made purely of energy. When have we ever needed medicinal herbs?"
This was the crux of the matter: the Heliobi were purely beings of energy. Even when injured, what they required was energy, never medicinal herbs.
"But our family has always gathered herbs. A few years ago, when we couldn't pay enough herbs, they even took a lot of my father's blood…"
Ahri's voice trembled on the verge of tears. She never imagined telling the truth would be met with suspicion.
"Sora-gege, I'm really not lying!"
Sora quickly shielded the little girl behind him, his eyes already understanding everything.
No wonder when he'd brought Ahri out of her home, her mother hadn't just allowed it, but had even seemed relieved.
Even Ahri's father had stayed silent, offering no objections.
"I once read something in Vidyadhara records," Jin Xing spoke up, "Borisin were known to use Foxian blood in their medicines…"
Jin Xing's statement instantly confirmed Sora's suspicions.
Safe towns, dangerous forests filled with Borisin, herbs collected as taxes, and blood drawn when quotas weren't met.
An outrageous idea formed in his mind.
"Ahri."
"What is it, Sora-gege?"
"Go find Feng Liqi. I left something important with her."
"Huh? Alright, I'll get it for you."
With that, Ahri happily trotted off on her short legs, leaving everyone behind.
Everyone watched Ahri's departure carefully, recognizing this as an ominous prelude.
Something big was about to drop.
Only after Ahri was fully out of sight did Sora finally voice his guess.
"Perhaps…" Sora's gaze swept gravely over everyone present. "The Foxians are currently being raised as livestock."
Exactly—he didn't say controlled, but raised.
Because the safe towns and perilous forests clearly resembled animal pens.
And the Borisin roaming outside were acting exactly like sheepdogs or cattle dogs, preventing Foxians from wandering too far.
If a Foxian wandered out of town, these Borisin "guards" would herd them back in like animals.
Sora's conclusion was bold yet perfectly matched the present reality.
Otherwise, why hadn't the Foxians, who had previously been closest to the Xianzhou, shown any goodwill after Xi's defeat?
With this revelation, everything suddenly became clear.
"How could this be happening here…" Yu Qi couldn't believe it.
But it was the only explanation matching reality.
"Then that means the Borisin who nearly wiped out my clan are currently in Tushan, correct?!"
Jin Xing didn't care about details now—she only wanted to vent the rage bubbling inside her.
She cracked her knuckles, the sharp sounds echoing menacingly.
If she could, she'd rush over right now and tear those Borisin apart!
"Dragon Lord, these enemies have hidden themselves too long. We must approach carefully!" the Sword Champion advised hastily. They couldn't afford to be reckless, not knowing their enemy's full strength.
"But every time I think about this, my fury only grows! How can I endure it—"
"Settle down," Sora interrupted firmly.
"Okay."
Then, under the Sword Champion's shocked gaze, the previously fierce and aggressive Jin Xing obediently retreated behind Sora.
The mighty Fangyuan Dragon Lord—subdued with just a single word from Sora?
Huh?!
No, wait—Lord Dragon, this isn't right…
Was something wrong with him, or had the world itself gone mad?!
The Sword Champion's gaze flickered between Sora and Jin Xing, desperately trying to discern their relationship.
Noticing his stare, Jin Xing merely raised her fist threateningly:
Keep staring, old man, and I'll deck you!
Ah, this temper was indeed classic Fangyuan Dragon Lord style… Then what exactly just happened…?
As the Sword Champion puzzled endlessly over their relationship, someone suddenly rushed into the room in a panic.
"Commander, we have trouble!"
Yu Qi immediately stood up. "What happened?!"
"Tushan! Something terrible is happening in Tushan!"
The messenger gasped for breath, quickly describing the situation:
"A mountain suddenly appeared, and it's still rising higher!"
"A mountain? Could it be…the Abundance Relic—Buzhou?!"
Jin Xing immediately recalled the Abundance Relic that had been sealed by the Vidyadhara:
A towering Abundance construct known as Buzhou, appearing as an immense mountain piercing the sky.
---
T/N: was gonna update earlier but got lazy, so im just doing 4 chapters for today's update, should be an update tomorrow too maybe 4 maybe not
RANDOM RIDER COUNTS AS 2 BECAUSE ITS LIKE DOUBLE THE LENGTH OF OTHER CHAPTERS!!! the upcoming chapters is even longer :sob:
Hello. I'm Enkidu.
Before you start… thank you for coming this far. Stories are strange things—once they leave the hand that wrote them, they become part of the world, like water joining a river. If this chapter keeps you company for even a moment, I think that is worth something.
If you'd like to support the translator (only if you truly want to), you can find them at patreon.com/wisetl. Early access is included as a small bonus. Also—starting tomorrow, there will be a 25% discount code for 12 days, lasting until the end of Christmas.
And if you enjoy a clear exchange—rewards are simple here: Every 100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter
(100ps = 1 chapter, 200ps = 2 chapters, 300ps = 3 chapters, and so on.)
If you'd rather talk than simply read, you can also join the translator's Discord: discord.gg/wisetl. It's easier to share thoughts when you're not speaking into the void.
That is all. Please enjoy the chapter.
guys say thank you to enkidu or i kill you