Chapter 89: Female Paladin

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Female Paladin

"M-My lord..."

Orkot I trembled slightly. His heart was filled with an overwhelming dread, but he didn’t dare let it show on his face. He hurriedly explained, "I just... the Holy Hall surrendering to the Demon King is such a massive event. I wanted to notify the other countries as quickly as possible. My Black Iron Country is already assembling its troops."

"Then let’s go together," Xiaojie said, lifting Bill in his hand. His tone wasn’t as cold as before. "That is exactly what I am going to do."

"...Yes."

Orkot I actually felt a wave of relief, almost flattered by the leniency. Normally, an ordinary Saint Realm expert wouldn’t be so pathetic in front of a Great Saint. However, Xiaojie had instantly killed a Paladin of the Holy Hall the moment he arrived, leaving behind terrifying traces of destruction. Paired with his large bald head and completely deadpan face, he exuded an aura of someone who would unleash absolute havoc at the slightest disagreement. It was enough to scare Orkot I out of his wits.

Now that Xiaojie’s expression had softened, he gathered his courage and asked, "May I ask why we are assembling the army in Violet? The Holy Temple Headquarters is in the south. Even if they invade, they must cross the Keka River first. It would be best to establish a defensive line in Tabu Country."

Over the past two years, he had fought several battles against the beautiful Queen of Violet. Furthermore, since he was just a blacksmith who had ascended to the Saint Realm, he lacked refinement and often hurled foul insults during their clashes. The relationship between the two countries was nothing short of abysmal. Now, a mysterious and powerful faction with an unknown Great Saint had suddenly emerged. He couldn’t help but feel a very bad premonition...

"My lord is Prince Violet." Xiaojie turned his head, instantly turning the king’s premonition into a harsh reality.

Orkot I’s expression stiffened immediately. For the first time in his life, he wanted to slap himself twice. He really should have noticed! She was the most dazzling treasure the continent had seen in thousands of years. Even back when she was just a princess, her renowned beauty as the "Treasure Princess" had spread across the entire continent. Finding a powerful man would be the easiest thing in the world for her. Was it too late to apologize now? Orkot I genuinely wanted to cry. He had already made up his mind—once he got back, he would force his idiot great-grandson to return all the kidnapped women and prepare lavish gifts for a formal apology. But perhaps even that wouldn’t be enough...

The burly, rugged man was currently as indecisive and hesitant as a timid young woman. That was, until he saw how Xiaojie obliterated a Saint Realm Paladin with a single punch. Oh my God! How was this a Great Saint? He might even be at the Half-Step Divine Realm!

"In this entire world, I’m afraid only you—no, your master has the ability to resist the Demon King!" Orkot I felt his legs go weak, though fortunately, he could fly. "My Black Iron Country has decided to merge our entire nation into Violet! I will abdicate the throne, and we shall become a mere province of the Violet Empire!"

A kingdom with a Great Saint was more than capable of establishing an empire! If he didn’t show enough tact, it definitely wouldn’t take a second punch to obliterate him too.

In contrast, Nick Furu, the King of Fulu Country where they currently were, was much more straightforward.

"My Fulu Country will do the same!"

He was a Saint Realm expert over three hundred years old with a large grizzled beard. Having ruled as King himself for a long time, he possessed a level of refinement that an uncultured man like Orkot I couldn’t compare to. At this moment, he wasn’t just shocked by Xiaojie’s strength, but especially appalled by the depravity of the Holy Hall. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed that the Saint Realm Paladin stationed in his country could become so greedy and corrupt. In just two short years, the Paladin had amassed countless mountains of gold and wealth within his kingdom, yet he had never seen the man spend a single coin! Such an incomprehensible feat could truly only be the work of the Demon King!

"Only my lord can decide these matters," Xiaojie replied, solely focused on his mission. He lifted Bill and took to the sky once more. "I am going to the next country."

"I’ll go with you!" Orkot I hurriedly said. For some reason, after making the decision to submit, he actually felt a secret thrill. He wanted to see it again. He wanted to watch how this incredibly powerful man before him would obliterate those usually high and mighty Paladins.

Nick Furu stroked his large grizzled beard and nodded in agreement. He wanted to confirm whether every Paladin had fallen into the same depravity. Ideally, he wanted to ascertain the exact process of their corruption.

Ultimately, every time Xiaojie arrived in a country, he would dispose of a Paladin and bring along a Saint Realm expert to the next nation. This continued until they reached the final nation bordering Violet: Tabu Country. Located at the southernmost tip of the eastern region, it bordered the Keka River. However, the situation here was somewhat different. Standing before him was a Female Paladin clad in silver armor. Gripping a greatsword, she stared fixedly at Vice Hall Master Bill, who was dangling from Xiaojie’s grasp.

"Vice Hall Master Bill, why?"

Surprisingly, her gaze was exactly the same as the Paladins of the past—selfless, desireless, and fearless. A long scar ran from between her brows, across her nose, and down her cheek, completely ruining her otherwise beautiful face but adding a seasoned, battle-hardened aura to her presence.

"You haven’t succumbed to your desires?" Nick Furu voiced his surprise.

"..." The Female Paladin then noticed Bill’s shattered throat and realized he couldn’t answer her question. Her gaze swept across the faces of the Saint Realm experts before finally locking onto Xiaojie.

"Two years ago, the headquarters sent over a Cultivation Technique meant to be used alongside a Magic Potion, claiming it could help us recover our lost emotions." Without any hesitation, she slowly explained, "For personal reasons, I didn’t use it."

"What reasons?" Nick Furu immediately asked.

"Pain."

The Female Paladin knew that if she didn’t provide a reasonable answer, she would undoubtedly die today. "Although my emotions have become dull, I still remember that my past feelings only brought me pain. In fact, I became a Paladin specifically to escape that pain."

She possessed a past that had brought her immense agony. Cultivating the Holy Light and suppressing her emotions and desires had, ironically, been a form of salvation for her.

"But from what we’ve seen along the way, the Paladins haven’t just recovered their emotions. They’ve also developed incomprehensible desires, falling entirely into the darkness." Nick Furu stroked his beard and suddenly asked, "Are the Magic Potion and the Cultivation Technique you mentioned still here?"

"Yes." A clean, decisive answer.

Nick Furu’s eyes lit up. He bowed respectfully to Xiaojie and said, "Mr. Xiaojie, in that case, I suggest we take her back. Perhaps we can find some Information related to the Demon King through the method used to corrupt the Paladins."

"Indeed, she is also well-versed in the power distribution of the Holy Hall."

"It would be better to spare her. We would gain a rare Saint Realm combatant."

"With so many of us here, we don’t have to worry about a single person like her."

The other Saint Realm experts chimed in one after another. It was the logical conclusion any normal person would draw.

However, Xiaojie hesitated slightly. Shen Yun’s orders were to destroy the Holy Hall and Paladins in every country. He was even a bit surprised by his own hesitation. He should have executed his mission cleanly and decisively the moment he arrived. After all, he was merely a weapon, and orders were everything to a weapon.

Ultimately, Xiaojie chose to ask Shen Yun in his mind.