Chapter 142 - 141: Mud Bodhisattva of the Otherworld

Chapter 142: Chapter 141: Mud Bodhisattva of the Otherworld

Where there is power, there is wealth!

Cedar City was originally just a border city.

But after the Capital City was relocated here, it transformed into the most prosperous city in just three short years.

When Li Ye and his Holy Guard Team arrived in Cedar City, the Tri-Race Alliance had arranged a reception of the highest order for him.

King Angus, Elf Queen Lucia, and Beastman King Grom welcomed Li Ye twenty li outside the city.

The road was covered with a red carpet, and an honor guard lined both sides.

When the two parties met, the royal orchestra played a welcoming fanfare. The Saintess of the Elf Race presented fine wine, and the High Priest of the Beastman Race personally led a performance of their war dance.

A ninety-nine-gun salute was fired.

Such a ceremony surpassed the reception for kings of other nations; it was the kind of welcome reserved for the fabled arrival of a Divine Spirit.

The sides of the road had long been packed with common folk, each one eager to be the first to see Aragon’s face. All eyes were fixed fervently on the Purifying Cloths draped over the members of the Holy Guard Team...

...

"Your Eminence Aragon, welcome to Cedar City." Angus placed a hand on his chest and bowed humbly to Li Ye, putting on a full display of deference.

Beside him, the elegant Elf Queen and the burly Beastman King also bowed to Li Ye.

Ever since the astrologers confirmed that Aragon truly came from another world and had demonstrated immense power, the Royal Families of the three races had begun to see him as the world’s savior and had planned their strategy accordingly.

At the very least, they could not let him bring disaster to the world.

The rapid spread of Aragon’s fame was, in no small part, thanks to their efforts behind the scenes.

If Aragon could drive out the Undead, then whatever he demanded would be his. They would even be willing to deify him as a new Divine Spirit.

"Your Majesties." Li Ye smiled and returned the gesture. "I thank the three of you for coming so far to welcome me."

"Your Eminence, it is our duty," Angus replied. "We have prepared a grand banquet in Cedar City to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey..."

As Angus spoke, Lord Ling’s voice echoed in Li Ye’s mind: ’There’s no Demon Qi. It seems the other two sources of Demon Qi are either with the Elf Race or the Beastman Race, or they’ve hidden themselves out of fear of us.

’Li Ye, besides the Skeleton King, nothing else has risen to prominence in this world. Without influence, it’s impossible for them to grow. As for me, Lord Ling, I am now at the height of my power. It’s only natural they wouldn’t dare show themselves before me.’

Sources of Demon Qi could sense each other when in close proximity.

Since Lord Ling said there was no Demon Qi in Cedar City, then there was nothing in the city that could threaten him.

Angus had gone to all this trouble, so he surely wasn’t planning to kill him.

Li Ye set his mind at ease. He looked at the three royals and smiled. "Please, lead the way. As it happens, there are some matters I wish to discuss with Your Majesties."

...

The banquet was on a grand scale.

Dukes, princes, Elders of the Elf Race, and chieftains of the Beastman Race—the upper echelons of all three races attended this banquet held specially for Aragon.

Nearly everyone came to toast Li Ye, eager to exchange a few words with him.

It couldn’t be helped. Aragon was simply too generous.

Anyone who met him received at least a meter of the Purifying Cloth.

One doesn’t slap a smiling face. Even those who had previously held reservations or doubts about him wouldn’t cause trouble on this occasion, if only for the sake of the Purifying Cloth.

Moreover, a rumor had long been circulating in private: that a secret left by Gandalf was hidden within the Purifying Cloth, and finding it could lead to inheriting his legacy.

Everyone wanted to be that lucky person and find Gandalf’s secret. And how could they do that without a Purifying Cloth?

No one could refuse such a temptation!

...

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill,

the crowd of nobles and royals departed, content with their Purifying Cloths in hand.

Angus and the others, however, asked Li Ye to stay behind.

Angus got straight to the point. "Your Eminence, our astrologer, Floyd, has divined your origins. You are indeed not from the Ancient Era, but from another world—what you call a parallel world.

"However, we hope you will not expose your true origins. After all, the populace has already accepted the story of your return from the Ancient Era, and this narrative will only strengthen their faith in you.

"As you know, the fear brought by the Undead Calamity has lingered for too long. The people need hope to dispel the gloom in their hearts..."

"Floyd divined my origins?" Li Ye asked in surprise. "The same astrologer who divined the location of the Angel’s Heart? May I meet him?"

"Of course. Floyd is waiting outside." Angus smiled and had a guard summon him.

"Greetings, Your Eminence." Supported by another person, Floyd bowed to Li Ye with great trepidation.

After all these days, he looked even older than before. He was gaunt and withered, as if a gust of wind could knock him over. Even the light in his once-bright eyes had grown dim and cloudy.

Li Ye frowned as he looked at him, then waved a hand, sending a ray of Holy Light into his body.

The Holy Light enveloped him, but it did nothing to improve Floyd’s condition.

"Thank you for your benevolence, Your Eminence, but you need not waste your energy." Floyd managed a weak smile, but after just a couple of chuckles, he broke into a violent, heart-wrenching coughing fit.

It took him a long moment to recover. Gasping for breath, he said, "I tried to peer into more of heaven’s secrets. This is fate’s punishment. My life is nearly spent; Holy Light will have no effect on me... COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."

He started coughing again after just a few words, wiping away a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. "But I can see that Your Eminence is benevolent. Even if I die now, it will have been worth it."

Looking at Floyd, who seemed on the verge of death,

Li Ye took out a Nourishing Essence Pill. A gentle current of Wind Element lifted the pill and carried it before Floyd.

’This old fellow actually managed to divine my origins,’ Li Ye thought. ’Even if he wasn’t completely accurate and nearly killed himself in the process, he’s still a capable person.’

’The whereabouts of the other two sources of Demon Qi might depend on him. I can’t let this old guy just keel over and die.’

"What is this?" Floyd asked.

"An Elixir Pill left to me by my master that can replenish Life Energy," Li Ye said.

The Nourishing Essence Pill’s purpose was Strengthening the Foundation and Nourishing the Essence, so it wasn’t wrong to say it could increase Life Energy.

The eyes of Angus and the others lit up.

"..." Floyd looked at the Nourishing Essence Pill and shook his head. "Thank you for your generosity, Your Eminence, but I know my fate. There is no need to use such a precious Elixir Pill on me."

"Just take it. I have more important things to ask you!" Li Ye frowned, then flashed to Floyd’s side and popped the pill into his mouth.

Watching Li Ye vanish and reappear in an instant, the pupils of both the Beastman King and the Elf Queen constricted. They hadn’t even been able to follow Aragon’s movements. His legendary power was clearly no exaggeration.

The Nourishing Essence Pill dissolved the moment it entered his mouth.

It was a Healing Elixir refined by cultivators.

Floyd was just a Mortal, and the potent effects of the medicine brought a visible flush to his cheeks.

He subconsciously clenched his fist, feeling the strength return to his body. He trembled with excitement. "Such surging, powerful Life Energy... This... this truly is an elixir of the Divine Spirits..."

Seeing the porcelain bottle in Li Ye’s hand, Angus subconsciously pursed his lips but didn’t have the nerve to ask for one.

Nourishing Essence Pills replenished Life Energy, which meant they could extend one’s life.

There wasn’t a single monarch who did not yearn for longevity.

Compared to the Elves and Beastmen, human lifespans were far too short. Holy Light could heal injuries, but it couldn’t extend life...

’No matter what, I must keep Aragon here. He holds too many treasures,’ Angus secretly resolved.

"Your Eminence, what is it you wish to know?" Floyd asked, his energy restored.

"Besides the Skeleton Monarch, are there any other special existences in this world?" Li Ye asked directly. "After arriving here, I sensed at least three auras that do not belong to this world. But the only one I can identify is the Skeleton Monarch. I don’t know what the other two are..."

"The Skeleton Monarch isn’t from this world either?" Angus asked.

"There are two other outsiders?" the Elf Queen said in surprise.

"Your Majesty Lucia, what do you mean by that? Why did you say *’two other outsiders’?"* Li Ye turned sharply to the Elf Queen and asked.

"Your Eminence, this is what we were about to tell you before Floyd interrupted," Lucia said. "Besides you, Floyd also divined the presence of another outsider. She arrived in our world a month ago."

A month ago?

She?

Li Ye fell silent.

’I had considered that the other two sources of Demon Qi might be Time Travelers, or what was left behind after a Time Traveler died.’

’But I’ve caused such a huge stir with no reaction from them, so I gradually dismissed the idea.’

’Who knew there really was another Time Traveler, and one who arrived just a month ago!’

’Is that Time Traveler an idiot?’

’The Skeleton Monarch could destroy the entire world at any moment, and instead of seizing the time to grow stronger, she’s just... hiding?’

Well!

’When I first became a Time Traveler, I also had the idea of just lying low for a year. It was only after being forced to grow through one emergency after another that I gave up on that notion.’

’Many Time Travelers do indeed survive the year by relying on pure luck.’

’It’s understandable for a newcomer to think that way, but I’ve already revealed myself. Shouldn’t she have come to join me so we could face the Skeleton Monarch together?’

’A Western Time Traveler?’

’Is she afraid I’ll kill her, or is she secretly plotting to kill me?’

’But without power, it’s all just bullshit!’

’Look at me, it’s so much better this way. In just over ten days, I’m already sitting at the same table as the world’s supreme rulers, deciding its fate.’

’Still, a living Time Traveler is easier to deal with than some rogue Demon Qi!’

A series of thoughts flashed through Li Ye’s mind. He inwardly sneered at the other’s naivety and asked, "How much information did you divine about this other outsider?"

"Your Eminence, the outsider is shrouded in a thick fog. All I could see from her was an intense desire, but I do not know who she is," Floyd said. "These past few days, I have tried to divine more information about her, but even after exhausting my life force, I could find nothing. Your Eminence, perhaps you could provide me with some information..."

Desire?

Li Ye paused for a moment, then looked at Floyd with curiosity. "What did you see from me?"

Floyd hesitated, then said, "Hope."

Li Ye looked at Floyd and smiled. "Floyd, I’d prefer to hear the truth."

Floyd glanced at Angus, troubled.

Angus sighed. "Hope and disaster, coexisting. Your Eminence, that is the message Floyd saw from you..."

’Hope and disaster, coexisting?’

Li Ye looked at Floyd in surprise. ’This guy is actually pretty accurate!’

’In the last two worlds, when I fought against the Demon Qi...’

’Xiang Ying slaughtered everyone for a hundred li, and the Puppet Silk killed so many commoners that no one dared wear a watch. Before I arrived, both worlds had been relatively peaceful.’

’Come to think of it, it seems like I was the one who brought the disaster...’