As the monster sacred land of Feistanzer fell, the annexation of the Orbis Empire and its affiliated nations by the Rex Alliance went smoothly in the following days. Although stubborn nobles harbored discontent and made many clandestine moves, they were unable to stop the Orbis Empire from becoming a new territory of the Rex Empire.
Bai Ye paid no mind to these covertly disruptive opposition factions. If others jumped out to resist, all the original royal families would undoubtedly have their own agendas. But as long as Bai Ye remained, the Orbis Empire could never be restored.
More than ten days later, Little Meatball, in his capacity as Emperor of the Rex Alliance, issued declarations of war to the surrounding empires: Tempest, Yuris, and Warner.
The declarations were simple: submit to the Rex Empire, or face annihilation…
Upon this news, the entire Tetas world was once again in an uproar, and even within the Rex Empire, people were shocked and incredulous. How long had the new empire been established before it was already set to expand externally?
The Tempest, Yuris, and Warner Empires were immediately on high alert throughout their nations. The moment the Orbis Empire fell, they had sensed a grave crisis. The Orbis Empire was comparable to them in strength, with the top-tier combatants within the empire also being only Three-star Emperors.
Feistanzer had dispatched four Four-star Ancient Emperors to surround and kill them, but in the end, they were all counter-killed. How could these empires resist? Even if the three empires united, they would not be a match. This was no longer a matter that could be solved by numbers. Under duress of fear and helplessness, the three empires hastily dispatched envoys to the Rex Empire to negotiate…
In the Yuris Empire, on the eastern border, there was an affiliated great kingdom called Shirella. This was a kingdom founded by humans whose world had been destroyed by demons. The Yuris Empire had been declared war upon by the Rex Empire, and Shirella would also face a crisis, but its higher echelons were currently preoccupied with more important matters.
In the Shirella Royal Palace, the King and the kingdom’s most core figures, two Two-star Emperors and several One-star Emperors, were engaged in a secret discussion.
“In ten more days, the Elven race’s Sacred Spirit Trial will begin again…” the King of Shirella said with deep worry.
The Sacred Spirit Trial was the most significant event in Shirella every three years. Every young person in the kingdom who had awakened magic had to go to the Elven secret realm for trials. The Sacred Spirit Secret Realm contained many rare treasures, and anyone who successfully emerged from it would experience a significant leap in strength.
However, the death rate of those who entered the trial was too high; only a little over half returned alive each time. Keep in mind, those who entered were the young, rising powerhouses of the Shirella Kingdom.
“Last year, a total of 310,000 young people entered, and only a little over 50,000 returned. This was already a relatively good result in past trials. If this continues, our Shirella Kingdom will eventually face a generational gap…” one of the elderly Emperor-level figures below said in a deep voice.
“Indeed! Although the young men who return improve in strength, the number of casualties is far too high. Even in wars between nations or inter-racial conflicts, we do not suffer such heavy losses…”
“Elder Li.” The King turned his gaze to the old man beside him and said, “The children who died in the Sacred Spirit Secret Realm all seem to have had their flesh and blood completely devoured by those demon plants; not even their corpses were found. This has been the case every year. The late King mentioned that there was something peculiar about this matter. Do you know the details?”
Upon hearing the King’s words, the Emperors present all lowered their heads in thought, and a strange atmosphere filled the air. These humans, the first batch of survivors, had left behind a warning: the Sacred Spirit Secret Realm was not a treasure trove for survivors, but a blood-soaked land!
An elder on the other side of the kingdom also looked at Elder Li with a very serious gaze. They were the trấn quốc (nation-guarding) powerhouses of the Shirella Kingdom, Two-star Emperors. “Brother Li, you have previously emerged from the Sacred Spirit Secret Realm successfully ten times, even reaching the deepest parts several times. Furthermore, you were once trapped inside for three years. Did you not discover any secrets within?”
Elder Li looked at everyone, lost in thought, as if hesitating about something. After a long pause, he finally spoke, “Yes, I once entered the deepest part of the Sacred Spirit Secret Realm. There, I witnessed a terrifying scene that, even now, continues to haunt my nightmares at night.”
The King of Shirella and many others gazed at him silently, no one speaking, but their eyes were full of curiosity, urging the elder to continue.
“You should have all heard that the Elven race has a very ancient Emperor. Legend has it that he existed when the Tetas world first appeared.”
“I can tell you with certainty that this is not a legend. The Sacred Spirit Secret Realm is actually the hidden abode of that ancient Elven Emperor.”
“What? He truly exists?”
“This is surely a core secret of the Elven race! Why would such an important place be opened for us survivors to trial?” Finally, someone could not hold back and asked.
“I do not know the specifics, but what I saw was boundless terror…” Elder Li seemed to recall something, and in his eyes, besides fear, there was also a hint of anger.
“Those demon plants that drained the blood and flesh of our deceased warriors, they transported the blood, flesh, and energy of the children to the depths of the Sacred Spirit Secret Realm. Combining this with the warnings left by our predecessors, we are very likely the sustenance for something!!!”
“What!!” Hearing Elder Li’s speculation, many powerful figures felt their scalps tingle with fear! “No wonder their secret realm only allows us survivors to enter for trials!”
“So, the Elven race’s protection of us settling in the Tetas world back then was for such a purpose! Utterly detestable!”
“The hatred of genocide, the vengeance of world destruction, we shall be irreconcilable with the Elven race!!”
“Then… what is that thing? To the point that it needs our blood and flesh to nourish?”
Elder Li continued, “At first, I thought that ancient Emperor was practicing some terrifying spell, nourishing himself with our bodies. But if that were the case, why did he not directly appear during the ancient war of annihilation and devour our hundreds of millions of kin?”
“Afterward, when invading other worlds, he did not act either, so I highly suspect my guess is wrong.”
“However, he must be using us to nourish something, and this something is likely related to us, or our former world?”
The King of Shirella and the many Emperors felt immense terror and curiosity. “What exactly is it?”
Elder Li could not answer. “That fellow is too terrifying. Although he is slumbering, I cannot get close, nor do I dare to pry too much…”
“In that case, we survivors are temporarily safe, but sooner or later, after being used up, we will still be destroyed by the demons… How can we survivors continue?” The Shirella Kingdom became even more worried.
The expressions of everyone changed, and they sighed. The Elven race was too terrifying, and besides them, there were also monsters, half-demons, and many other strange and powerful races. Any single race was beyond their ability to resist. Although they had not been at war for a long time, they had never truly been safe, much like lambs raised in a pen.
“If it were in the past, we would have had no opportunity. However, the recent fall of the Orbis Empire has given me a chance.” Elder Li’s words immediately caused the bowed heads to look up.