Chapter 233 - 213: This Is That Baron Vili?

Chapter 233: Chapter 213: This Is That Baron Vili?

"Someone’s here?"

Budar, who had been leaning against a tree trunk, shot to his feet almost instinctively at Colson’s words, his hand tightening around his longsword.

Vili’s guard went up in an instant, and he looked to Colson for confirmation.

"Someone’s actually here..."

Colson’s brows were knitted, his expression grave.

Just a moment ago, he had clearly sensed that the Natural Energy markers he’d placed on the nearby trees had been disturbed by another Extraordinary Power.

This was an exclusive ability of a Two-Engraving Silence. Colson had used it to ensure no other creatures in this dreamlike blue forest could threaten their group’s safety.

But what Colson found strange was that the Extraordinary Power that had just disturbed his Natural Energy markers seemed to be human Fighting Spirit.

Unless a Knight could completely conceal their Fighting Spirit, some of it would inevitably leak out.

Colson had detected the newcomers through this very leakage of Fighting Spirit.

"Someone is coming. Yes, they’re human."

Colson added, his tone deliberately grave, "Based on which of my Natural Energy markers they’ve triggered, it seems they’re fumbling their way toward us."

"Humans?"

A complex look flickered in Vili’s eyes. He pressed on, "How strong are they?"

"I can’t say for sure, but they shouldn’t be weak."

With his current abilities, Colson couldn’t yet determine the newcomers’ exact strength using only his Natural Energy markers.

"Could they be other Treasure Hunters?"

Vili raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected this.

"Hide. Conceal your auras. Don’t let them spot you."

Vili gave the order after a moment’s thought.

Two groups competing for the same prize could never coexist peacefully.

Vili knew with certainty that a fierce clash between his group and the newcomers was inevitable.

...

"Midton, could something like this underwater forest truly be built by human hands alone?"

Philina asked as she walked through the blue forest.

Midton shook his head. "It’s possible, but the builder must have been a terrifyingly powerful Transcendent. They might have been a Seven-Engraving or even an Eight-Engraving Silent, or perhaps a master of magical botany who defied logic itself."

"Seven-Engraving... Eight-Engraving..."

A gleam lit up Philina’s eyes when she heard this.

Powerhouses at the Seven-Engraving and Eight-Engraving levels must have existed before the fall of the Cold Lion Duchy.

They would have been the most prominent figures on the Southeast Continent, commanding the worship and reverence of countless people.

The former Cold Lion Royal Family, the Sivall Family—its glory and splendor must have brought countless people to their knees.

Philina suddenly sighed, her thoughts turning to the Sivall Family of today.

The strongest member of the Sivall Family now was Fidala, who only possessed the strength of a High Grand Knight—a far cry from their ancestors. For over three hundred years, the family’s status had fallen to a level that shamed their forebears.

"My lady..."

Sensing Philina’s dejection, Midton took a small step forward to walk beside her. "My lady," he said in a low voice, "please rest assured. Young Master Fidala will reclaim the supreme glory of the old Cold Lion Duchy and restore our kingdom."

"I believe in him."

Philina was taken aback for a moment, then nodded firmly, a warm smile touching her lips.

"He will be an excellent Monarch."

Philina’s voice was soft, as if she were speaking to Midton, but also to herself.

"My lady, Lord Midton! We’ve found a Black Copper Giant Gate up ahead!"

A Senior Knight scouting ahead returned, his face flushed with excitement.

"The Black Copper Giant Gate?"

Philina and Midton’s brows furrowed in unison. They both quickened their pace. Behind that Black Copper Giant Gate might lie the very thing they had come for.

Soon, the group arrived before the Black Copper Giant Gate.

Philina rushed forward to touch it, feeling the temperature of the Black Copper Giant Gate with her palm and fingertips.

When she saw the word "Bloodline," a relieved expression washed over her face.

Philina knew full well that her own blood was the key to this Black Copper Giant Gate.

The resources needed for the first stage of helping Fidala restore their kingdom were just a single step away.

"I, a descendant of the Sivall Family, will inherit the legacy of our ancestors and realize the former glory of the Cold Lion Duchy!"

This time, Philina did not lower her voice.

She drew an exquisite dagger from her waist and gently slid it from its sheath.

Just as she was about to slice her palm to draw blood, Midton suddenly stopped her.

"My lady, wait!"

Midton was squatting under a large tree with bright blue leaves.

A puzzled expression was on his face as he stared at a clump of aqua-blue grass beneath the tree.

The grass was strangely shaped, as if it had been crushed.

Midton suddenly recalled that there was supposedly another group of people in this treasure-filled ruin.

A group from White Bear Town in the Lanton Duchy, led by a man called Baron Vili.

He was about to stand and say something to Philina when he suddenly felt his body tremble violently.

"Damn it! My lady, look out!"

Acting on pure instinct, Midton threw himself in front of Philina.

In the next instant, a figure leaped down from a nearby leafy tree, a sword flashing in their hand as they slashed toward Philina.

Philina’s attention was entirely on the Black Copper Giant Gate; she had completely failed to notice someone lying in ambush to assassinate her.

Only when Midton suddenly threw himself in front of her did Philina realize the imminent danger.

SCHLICK!

A beam of Frost Sword Qi descended from the sky, radiating a chilling killing intent.

"Die!"

Midton drew the sword at his waist as fast as he could, but he was still a fraction too slow.

The biting, frost-infused Sword Qi, like the sharpest blade in the world, hacked directly into Midton’s shoulder.

Though it caught for a moment on hard bone, the blade’s unstoppable momentum carried it through, severing Midton’s entire shoulder.

Midton gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out, but the spray of blood and the cold sweat drenching his face betrayed his condition.

"Protect my lady! Kill the enemy!"

Midton shouted, enduring the searing pain.

"Midton!"

Philina finally snapped back to reality. Seeing Midton’s severed arm, tears welled in her eyes.

Aside from her brother, Fidala, Midton was the person Philina cared about most. Ever since their parents passed away, Midton had cared for her with the devotion of a father. Now, to protect her, he had just had his arm severed.

Overwhelming guilt washed over Philina.

Soon, the guilt in her heart ignited into a burning rage.

She looked up at the person who had unleashed the Frost Sword Qi.

’Is this... the Baron Vili those Pirates mentioned?’

Profound shock flashed in Philina’s eyes.

He looked as though he had only just reached adulthood. He might not have even been an adult yet.

And yet, this young man possessed the cultivation of a Junior Grand Knight.

’Could he not be that Baron Vili?’

A flicker of doubt crossed Philina’s mind. According to the two Pirates, the Baron Vili from the Lanton Duchy was only a Senior Knight.

’A pity...’

As Philina was watching Vili, Vili was sizing her up as well.

The vow Philina had just muttered to herself before the Black Copper Giant Gate, as she prepared to draw blood, had exposed her identity.

A descendant of the Sivall Family. She was the key, delivered right to his doorstep!

Vili had originally planned to wait for Philina to open the Black Copper Giant Gate with her bloodline, then follow her inside.

But he hadn’t expected the old attendant to notice the patch of grass Budar had been sitting on.

On the verge of being exposed, Vili chose to strike first.

From their auras, Vili sensed that both the gaunt woman and her old attendant were Middle Grand Knights.

However, perhaps due to old injuries and advanced age, the old man’s aura was only slightly stronger than that of a Junior Grand Knight. Following the principle of eliminating the strongest enemy first, Vili decided to take out the gaunt woman.

But to Vili’s surprise, the old attendant reacted with incredible speed, trading an arm for the gaunt woman’s life before Vili’s assassination could succeed.

’If I can’t take out the strongest enemy, I’ll deal with the weakest first...’

Seeing Philina’s Fighting Spirit flare as she prepared to attack, Vili spun around, swung his Cross Sword, and unleashed a biting wave of Frost Fighting Spirit that instantly decapitated two of the Senior Knights.

Philina and Midton were both stunned. They hadn’t expected the young man to switch targets so quickly.

Furthermore, judging by his flawless, masterful combat techniques, he must have been a Junior Grand Knight for a long time.

Who was this young man, to possess such strength and such refined combat skills?

’Could there be another power in this ancestral treasure site, besides Baron Vili’s group?’

But Philina had no time to think. She immediately shouted to the three remaining Senior Knights, "Quick, get away from him!"

But she was a step too late.

Vili sidestepped, and in the blink of an eye, two more streams of Frost Sword Qi shot out, claiming the lives of another two Senior Knights.

This wasn’t Vili being soft-hearted. In a place like this, if the other party had discovered him first, he likely would have been the one assassinated.

Besides, this group radiated palpable killing intent. If he guessed correctly, they had likely slaughtered all the Pirates he had stationed outside before they even entered this treasure site.

"Damn you!"

Philina lunged forward, the blade of her dagger flashing as she charged at Vili.