Chapter 1454 - 1451: Burning

Igor was still following the old beggar, heading towards the secret sanctuary of Romanvis.

This sanctuary was undiscovered by the Soul Devourers, a place the Vero People reserved to preserve their power.

As for who was inside this sanctuary, Igor wasn't quite sure. His intuition told him he must meet these people, for they were now the target of the hidden Soul Devourers.

Although he wasn't sure if the Soul Devourers could find these people before him, he was certain that he could use them as bait.

Unknowingly, Igor gradually lost his previous innocence, slowly turning into someone who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

Igor found himself detestable in this aspect, but he had no other choice. The Soul Devourers would return eventually and would seek revenge on him sooner or later.

In the body of a Soul Devourer, there was no concept of submission; they were all about conquest and more conquest, using any means necessary to achieve their goal, a fact Igor understood very well.

The things he lost were forced upon him by the Soul Devourers. This was somewhat a comfort Igor gave himself.

The old beggar walked ahead, finishing his account. The changes in Romanvis were like a blooming flower, occurring quietly.

Igor realized that the old beggar's identity was unusual after observing his surroundings and making a clear judgment.

In places occupied by Soul Devourers, the appearance of a non-adventurer was indeed abnormal. Yet, this elder seemed indifferent to his hunger, staying there with a very different mission indeed.

He knew he was old, and his body was of no use to the Soul Devourers. However, his eyes could still see, and his ears could still hear, which was sufficient for him to do things here.

The Resistance Force couldn't be quelled instantaneously. Even in the Border Realm where the Soul Devourers could dominate, a strong and large resistance force could emerge, let alone in the world they invaded.

Even an elder would stand up when changes occur in his homeland, doing what he should do.

Such things might seem meaningless to the enemy, but to them, it was utterly crucial.

Igor respected this elder greatly. He felt that such individuals were the true key to a Empire's survival.

"Sir, could you tell me how many companions you still have?" Igor suddenly asked, feeling it necessary to understand better.

"I don't know the exact number; they are a mysterious group to me. I don't know where they came from, but they protected the original inhabitants here."

"So, they are outsiders too?" Douglas inquired, intrigued by this group and wanting to uncover their secrets as much as possible.

"To be honest, they are more like refugees; they were quite destitute when they first arrived."

"Were your companions who protected the original residents here those who arrived earlier?" Igor asked again.

"That's right; these people came first, but not too long before. At that time, the authorities of Romanvis were engaged in severe negotiations with them."

The old beggar's response enlightened Igor, showing that this group was pursued by the Soul Devourers to this place, seeking refuge only for the Devourers to chase them here.

"Your sanctuary is really well-hidden; the enemy hasn't discovered any trace for such a long time," Amoon remarked, curious about the sanctuary's concealment.

"I don't quite understand; perhaps you'll understand when you get there," the old beggar said, not too elaborate because he didn't fully comprehend. After all, he was just observing events without grasping the true essence, being a non-adventurer himself.

Igor sort-of understood the implication. He had encountered concealment back on Guru Mountain; maybe this place was hidden using the World Setting Technique.

Everything would be revealed upon arriving there.

The journey wasn't far, but due to its concealment, they spent a considerable amount of time.

Soon, they arrived in front of a small cave that could only fit one person at a time.

"Do we need to pass through this cave?" Igor asked.

"No, you need to cross that waterfall; then we climb into this cave," the old beggar replied.

"Hmm?" Douglas felt very peculiar, wondering if the old beggar was deceiving them.

"Because we can't cross that waterfall," the old beggar pointed to the steep waterfall.

The waterfall cascaded from a great height, ending in a rocky gorge with only a narrow path leading to the waterfall. One wrong step could result in a fatal fall.

Igor observed the waterfall, the cave, and then chuckled knowingly.

"Why are you laughing?" Douglas hadn't yet recovered from his earlier doubts, sensing an unfamiliar air about Igor.

"I didn't expect to find a practitioner of World Setting Technique here!" Igor stated.

His words left Amoon dumbfounded, while Douglas was completely perplexed.

"The concealment is due to this illusionary scenery!" Igor continued to explain.

"Where is this scenery?" Douglas asked curiously, seeing no paintings there!

"Look closely, elder; why is there not a single drop of water beneath the waterfall? Is that normal in the Vero Realm?"

Douglas followed his gaze downwards; indeed, there were no signs of water.

"The cave and waterfall are one and the same; someone crafted this illusion without Spirit Power, achieving a level indistinguishable from reality." Igor's explanation was thorough.

"Absolutely right!" Suddenly, a voice emerged from the waterfall's side, indicating someone had been waiting there for them.

Igor and Douglas looked towards the voice, eager to uncover who's speaking.

They saw a man standing in the middle of the waterfall, his robust physique resembling a perfect sculpture.

"That's the Iron League Guard of Wensi Empire; apparently, these refugees are not ordinary," Amoon said.