237 The Enemy's Scheme

"Fret not, this is just a temporary state. It is a bit complicated to explain. Basically, I did not lose my cultivation. I just cannot use it temporarily. But you both do not need to worry about this. I can still defend myself." 

Leon said with a smile as he enjoyed their concerned looks. Seeing that they were unconvinced by his words, he suggested, "How about this, Lynne, you draw your sword and give me your best strike. I will show you."

Lynne's eyes began to turn red at his suggestion. "How can you be so cruel? How can you make me do such a thing?"

In her mind, Leon's suggestion was no different from borrowing her hand to send him off.

Not being able to use one's cultivation was as good as being crippled.

The loss of one's cultivation was a big blow to any cultivator, and some would rather end their life than to continue to suffer hardship and public scrutiny.

Leon did not know whether to laugh or cry. He could only scratch his cheek with a helpless smile.

"It's not what you think. Fine, let me show you myself."

With that, he quickly drew the magisteel sword from Lynne's sword sheath and retreated some distance from them before raising the sword high with his left hand.

"What are you trying to…"

Aria and Lynne were both startled before they proceeded to scream in their mind when they Leon dropped the blade on his own arm!

Noooo!

That is a magisteel sword! Its sharpness was incomparable to an ordinary steel sword, but even then, it was not something that the human flesh can withstand!

Leon was very quick. They had no chance to stop him at all. They could only close their eyes with despair.

Pang!

The ringing sound of metal hitting metal was heard as the two ladies slowly reopened their eyes with doubts. That was not the sort of sword cutting flesh sound they were had anticipated, not that they were expecting it either.

Under their gaze, Leon's right arm was perfectly intact, and the remnant blue afterglow of the Body Rune being activated could be seen. 

The Body Rune looked very fascinating. It was like some sort of strange stigmata-like tattoo that suddenly appeared. 

Under normal circumstances, it could not be seen and only appear when triggered like a face that only turns rosy after being flushed.

Nevertheless, their minds did not linger on this as they both rushed forth to check his arm in detail. Only after they had made sure that nothing was wrong, they sighed with relief.

"How's that? Convinced now?" Leon grinned. 

He was not proud that only his right arm was currently like this but having this degree of defense made him almost invincible against all weapons.

Aria and Lynne were relieved that Leon's right arm was okay, but when they heard his tone, they became rattled and smacked him on the shoulders.

Leon felt like he was being wronged. 

He tried to explain, okay? It was you two that believe me!

Aria had a crimson flush on her face as her eyes darted between his arm and face intermittently. She moved some loose strands of hair behind her ears as her gaze seemed to lose focus and mumbled, "Such a powerful right arm… Was it really that lonely down there?"

"Aria! I-It doesn't work that way!" Lynne exclaimed in shock, but a red hue could also be seen on her face. Obviously, she was not too confident either.

Aria's eyes widened upon the realization that she had just voiced her thoughts and ended up covering her face with both hands in shame for having such thoughts.

Leon wanted to scream hysterically in his mind while on the verge of a mental breakdown. He felt incredibly depressed that even his women had the same misunderstanding.

At the same time, he felt he had sinned, believing the source of Aria's corruption was his handiwork.

…

"Hi."

"Hello."

"My name… is… Green Forever."

"Name… Li… Lit."

Back at the outer perimeters of the foot of the World Tree, Lilith and Elder Evergreen continued to practice their introduction. 

Their passion for learning was incredible, but it appears that they still needed to freshen up on their knowledge before they speak.

Learn to walk before learning to run was the way things should be.

It was unknown what sort of miscommunication would be carried out at the rate these two were going. If Leon were present, he would find it too painful to watch.

Further away from their group was Elizabeth along with the palace guards and the soldiers.

After receiving the full report from the palace guards, the atmosphere had suddenly dropped to a freezing point, as everyone felt hard to breathe with still hearts.

Chilling rays of killing intent flickered across Elizabeth's eye. 

It was even possible for a captain of the palace guards to betray them, who else could not be possible? 

Due to her negligence all these years, it really was starting to bite back at her. She had almost lost her son!

Not from the dangers of the underground, but from within their own ranks!

Everyone had always felt pressured in the presence of the Queen, but after reaching Transcendence, this pressure had even increased by folds. 

Just based on the pressure of the Queen's aura, they felt their battle efficiency dropped by half. 

If the Queen wanted their life, they would be like fishes on the chopping board, utterly helpless and unable to put up a shred of resistance. 

Thankfully, the bellowing killing intent emanating from the Queen was not directed at them.

Otherwise, the soldiers, who had yet to even break past the entry 6th step Awakener realm, would all be frothing on the ground.

Even the amicable Elder Evergreen was alarmed in the distance. 

'Such a dense murderous aura! How many humans have died to cultivate such killing intent?!'

Elizabeth momentarily closed her eyes. Right now, she just wants to return the battlefield and start a massacre.

She reopened her eyes with chilling calmness and said, "We rest for another hour. If there is no news, we return to the Eastern Borders!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The soldiers answered uniformly. 

They were waiting for news from the scouts that have been sent out earlier to search the distant areas surrounding the World Tree. 

The alarming appearance of the World Tree would draw people towards, whether they were friends or foes. 

But disregarding that, they were not so stupid to believe that the Azure Verdant Plains would be the only battlefield against two kingdoms. 

The Tri-bridge within the Azure Verdant Plains region that connected the Crawford Kingdom to other kingdoms, but it was not the only bridge there was. 

In the other regions along the Azure River that divide their borders, there also other bridges. 

For example, much further down south along the Azure River and between the Crawford-Valaran Border was the unaffiliated Aqualeaf Town that exists within the small Aqualeaf Region. 

The Azure River that flows through this town was one of the narrowest parts of the great river.

In the north, there was also the Extreme Misty Forest they also had to guard against. Who knows if the enemy had plans to invade their kingdom through the cover of the forest or not?

In truth, the Queen was right to have her precaution, but things never go according to plan. Bad news arrived abruptly.

"Your Majesty! I come bearing bad news from the southeast!" 

A shadow guard rushed forward in an extremely sorry state. Soaked in blood and covered in severe cuts and bruises, it was questionable how the shadow guard was even still alive, but his determination and conviction to make it this far was noteworthy.

Elizabeth had an extremely bad premonition, but she did not immediately ask for the report. If the shadow guard died on her now, it would all be for naught.

"Someone come and tend to the wounds of this brave soul!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" 

A medical soldier stepped forward emergency first aid kit and low-quality recovery pills easily found on the Upper District market.

However, the shadow guard had more concern for the delivery of the news than his own life.

"Y-Your Majesty! Eastfell Border Region has fallen! The 5000 garrison troops had been completely wiped out! It is now being occupied by an army of 20000 soldiers and more are pouring in from Aqualeaf Region!"

Everyone thunderstruck by the news. 

Although Eastfell Border was a day's journey away from Azure Verdant Plains regional border, there should have been ample time for the news to reach them and allowed them to send support to East fell. 

How could Eastfell Border fall before the news even reached them?!

"Where's the rest of the shadowguards? What about Eastfell City?" Elizabeth asked with frightening calmness. She did not blame shadowguard as she sensed something fishy.

At the mention of Eastfell City and the rest of the shadowguards, the rims of the shadowguard's eyes turned red.

"Dead! All dead! The Lord of Eastfell City had been hiding powerful masters within his city. He was the one who ordered them to kill all my brothers to seal the news! We were caught off guard before the enemy troops even appeared before our borders! You must avenge them, your Majesty!" 

The shadowguard pleaded with desperation before violently coughing up blood and taking his last breath.

"He's dead…"

The medical soldier said helplessly after checking the body for a pulse. The surrounding soon fell silent with a heavy mood.

What sort of willpower was required for a 6th step shadowguard to not only avoid the onslaught of pursuing enemy masters but stick around long enough to determine the numbers of the attacking enemy troops before bringing the news back to them? 

The soldiers could hardly imagine the untold hardship the shadowguard had gone through in order to succeed, but this was a person worthy of their utmost respect! 

Every soldier present felt their own eyes turning red with gripped fists.

A commander took one step forward and saluted to the corpse, "Thank you for your service!"

The rest of the soldiers followed suit in unison.

"Thank you for your service!"

Elizabeth never felt so uncomfortable after witnessing the death of one of her subjects. She gripped her fist with a vicious gleam. 

Illusory Butterfly Sect! Bloodfiend Sect! These two sects must be eradicated at all costs!

'Oh, no!'

Suddenly, she realized something and barked, "We return to the Eastern Borders immediately!"

…

Azure Verdant Plains, Tri-bridge, Enemy Camp.

An Inner Sect Elder of the Bloodfiend Sect stood respectfully before another elderly person from his sect and reported with a wily smile, "The giant tree's appearance was unexpected but by now, news of the south should have made their way to the enemy and drawn away their Transcendent. Right now, the enemy in front of us is without a master. Everyone is now ready and just waiting on your command, Grand Elder."

When the Crawford Kingdom's side had a Transcendent present, the Grand Elder of the Bloodfiend Sect did not dare confront the enemy despite being a Transcendent himself. He did not like to partake in endeavors with elements of uncertainty. 

But now that the Transcendent was gone, he had no apprehension about personally charging into the battlefield to slay mortals despite his status.

They only had one mission from the Sect Leader. Take down the Capital with lightning speed!

The Grand Elder revealed a set of jagged black teeth and waved his hand. 

"Begin the attack!"