Rod gazed ahead.
Before him was an imnse battlefield, swarming with countless demons, their piercing screams echoing continuously, and transparent ripples constantly expanding in the air.
Engaged in battle with this horde of demons was a group of fewer than a hundred people.
They were well-equipped and fully prepared, with front-line warriors forming a circle while the mid and rear ranks continuously exerted their long-range attacks, staunchly holding back the tide of demons.
Rod spotted her imdiately at the center of the team—it was Aro, kneeling on the ground, her whole body enveloped in a thick fog of Spiritual Energy. This pale-blue, dense fog spread outward, restoring the Spiritual Energy of every warrior.
Compared to the last ti, her characteristic had grown stronger.
Rod felt a surge of excitent; she was one of the teammates he most wanted, a pity she was in Qingyu’s team, wondering if there was a chance to have her switched over in the future.
Just then, the sky brightened intensely, the flas soared, and the black fog was instantly dispersed, making the oppressive space much more expansive.
"It’s Lord Guardian!"
"Lord Qingyu has arrived!"
The warriors cheered in unison.
With Qingyu’s arrival, they returned to the primary field of fire, significantly boosting their combat efficiency, while the demons’ fighting strength drastically decreased.
Aro opened her eyes and shouted in surprise, "Miss, you’ve co!"
"Charge!"
White Wolf roared and took the lead in charging forward, his stick-shaped weapon flying out, swelling in the wind to beco a massive cudgel ten yards long and three yards wide that crazily struck every demon in front of him.
The warriors also rushed forward, with only Rod standing in place and shouting loudly.
"I want!"
With a flick of Qingyu’s finger, a streak of firelight raced over and entered Rod’s body.
Rod’s long sword vibrated, gray vapor swirled up, and a Phantom appeared.
"The slaughter has begun!"
The two figures, each with the sa mouth movents, rushed towards the horde from left and right.
——
——
This round of battle lasted a long ti, at least four to five clock hours.
Initially, Rod was not the most dazzling, even though the Phantom doubled his combat efficiency.
But slashing with a sword was, after all, less effective than using large weapons or area attacks.
Their battle was ferocious, with rows of demons falling before them.
Those who could fight outside the defensive circle were all elite combatants, the weakest being Sixth Level warriors, the stronger ones Fourth or Fifth Levels, while White Wolf was even a Third Level combatant.
Naturally, Qingyu, being a Guardian, was a First Level combatant.
Though Aro was only Fourth Level, her role was no less crucial than a high-rank combatant.
However, as ti passed, their movents gradually slowed, their Spiritual Energy weakened, and their destructive power greatly reduced, while Rod sustained his pace, even speeding up due to increased proficiency.
By the final clock hour, everyone was visibly exhausted, except for Rod, who remained as ferocious as at the beginning, charging wildly and leaving no demon unscathed.
In the last quarter hour, with few demons left, everyone stopped fighting and watched Rod, as if admiring his perfect movents and sharp swordsmanship.
One person exclaid, "So strong, it’s like watching art."
"Yes, this is the art of slaughter."
"His movents have an indescribable feel, smoother and more fluid than ours, even though we are supposed to be the sa!"
"Soul Combat" is a very profound skill, not taught below high-rank combatants.
But warriors who primarily engage in close-range physical combat, over long battles, will each have so degree of self-realization, just to varying extents.
Few people recognized this skill, but White Wolf was one of them. With his discerning eye, he quickly realized Rod’s exceptional skill; his technique was far beyond re entry-level.
"This guy, he has such high perceptiveness?"
White Wolf’s expression changed as he intently watched Rod wielding his sword light to clean up the remaining demons.
After killing the last resurrected demon, everyone sat down, the dual exhaustion of spirit and body forcing them to rest, with many entering deep ditation, trying to restore as much Spiritual Energy as possible during this ti.
Qingyu did not end the field of fire. ditating in the Dark World was extrely dangerous; the spirit could be eroded, and the soul could be polluted.
One must be near fire to use ditation to restore Spiritual Energy.
This was an ironclad rule.
Rod wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, sheathed his sword, dispelled the Phantom, and looking at his gains, his face nearly split with joy.
The Book of Knowledge began to laugh wildly in the Dream Realm, "So many! So many! Hahaha, so many!"
Though the puppet remained quiet, its actions in repairing the Dream Realm’s buildings noticeably sped up.
At that mont, White Wolf approached.
"You’ve won. Your stamina exceeded my expectations. I’ll keep my promise, reduce Qingyu’s future mates to under ten, and advocate for you to take charge, for Qingyu to have your child."
Pfft!
Upon hearing the latter half, Rod almost spat out.
He stared dumbfounded at White Wolf and asked incredulously, "You, you were just opposing... Isn’t this a too sudden turn? Aren’t you afraid of crashing?"
White Wolf knitted his dense eyebrows, "What crash? Since you’ve demonstrated your talent and ability, I naturally acknowledge this, and breeding more superior offspring is a duty every Trolian must fulfill. I won’t deny your excellence because of personal sentint; that would be irresponsible to humanity."
The words sounded right, but Rod felt sothing was off.
"But, but isn’t it a bit improper to decide like this? Moreover, if that’s the case, why does Qingyu still accept so many prospective spouses?"
White Wolf stared intently at him and said in a deep voice, "Boy, listen well, Qingyu is a King Candidate. She is justified in doing so, though I don’t agree, it isn’t her true intention, but this is Trolian’s ancient tradition."
"As for prospective spouses, that is rely a title. Before marriage, you are but nominally related."
"The words I just said are my greatest acknowledgnt of you, think it over carefully."
Rod wanted to say more, but White Wolf had already turned and walked away.
Really? Are you all so casual about this?
Although Qingyu seed great, her status was too high, and the competitive pressure was intense, Rod actually didn’t particularly care about this marriage arrangent that appeared out of nowhere.
It would naturally be best if it were only him, but if not, dissolving it would also do.
He couldn’t accept these ancient traditions.
Before he could clear his thoughts, Qingyu, carrying a fierce blaze, swooped down again and embraced him.
"Aweso, little Rod."
A huge fireball engulfed him, but the surging flas did not scorch him, instead gently licking his skin.
Driven by so inexplicable urge, Rod asked, "When shall we have children?"
A faint blush swept across Qingyu’s beautiful face. She pondered and said, "Let’s wait until I beco king. Under the protection of the Holy Fire, the child will be even stronger."
"Can we try in advance?"
Qingyu smiled and said, "Ah, that’s not possible. Intimacy before marriage is forbidden, it’s Trolian’s ancient tradition... keep your hand from moving further down, or my spiritual energy will blow it away."
Rod awkwardly withdrew his hand, "Sorry, my hand seems sowhat uncontrollable..."
Before he could finish speaking, another person lunged into the fireball.
"Little Rod, we et again!"
A gentle figure crashed into his embrace. By the touch and form, it was undoubtedly Alora.
Rod glanced at Qingyu and coughed, "Hello, Sister Alora."
Alora laughed, "I’m fine, but I’m not sure about you. Let your sister check it out."
Rod signaled with his eyes that Qingyu was still nearby, but suddenly the light of the fire drifted away, and Qingyu flew back into the sky.
"This also works... Didn’t you say intimacy wasn’t allowed?"
Alora pouted, "That antiquated rule, who cares? Only Sister Qingyu would follow it."
"Really?"
Alora’s touch was becoming too much for Rod, her slender hand covered in a layer of blue mist. The cool and sharp sensation seed to penetrate his skin and delve into his soul.
"Gently... ahh!"
Alora let go, stood up, and gleefully said, "Great, you’re not hurt, not eroded, your tissues are intact, your functions normal."
The cool spiritual energy spread through Rod’s body, easing his physical fatigue and the weariness of his soul.
"Will your sister Qingyu get angry over this?"
Alora giggled, "I’m examining your body, restoring your spiritual energy. Why would Sister Qingyu be angry? Besides, rules are ant to bind oneself, not others. Before you marry Sister Qingyu, I’ll co specially to guide you."
Is this a stroke of luck?
Rod finally understood one of the driving forces that enabled humanity to persist in such a despairing environnt.
With such beautiful sisters (and brothers) around, what’s there to fear from the Black Fog and monsters, right?
A fleeting thought passed through Rod’s mind as he refocused on Soul plundering.
Due to the need to repair the Dream Realm, souls without spirit drastically increased in importance, and he needed to gather enough souls before the invasion.
Dead Land was unquestionably an imnsely valuable area, possessing groups of demons, yet devoid of more dangerous creatures.
Given the vast area of the Dead Land, there was no need to worry about causing alarm to unknown entities, allowing for secure battle engagents.
There simply wasn’t a more suitable place than this.
The only issue was that the demons were difficult to kill.
They would resurrect, at least three tis, and up to four or five tis, making it challenging to exterminate them entirely at once.
Their numbers were large, demanding high endurance.
The best strategy against them was to attack them with just enough power to kill, no more, no less.
After training with Galen, Rod’s control over spiritual energy had advanced several levels, and "Soul Combat" also significantly reduced his energy consumption, further enhancing his endurance.
Combined with the blessings from Qingyu and the effects of the Phantom, Rod’s efficiency soared to levels that astounded everyone.
"I could go even higher...like picking up the ones others have already killed a few tis."
Rod pondered as he entered the Dream Realm, settling into the rocking chair in the House of God.
This was his fastest thod of recovery, not only replenishing his spiritual energy to so extent but also relieving the fatigue of his soul and body.
The personnel repair did not last long, as the battle did not permit it.
The warriors briefly treated their wounds, took potions, ditated to restore spiritual energy, and digested potions, then set off again.
However, such recovery was very limited.
Indeed.
In the subsequent battles, everyone weakened progressively, except for one person who seed to grow stronger as he fought.
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