Chapter 421: The River Returns

Darian was stronger. Unfortunately for him, Nessa was much quicker on her feet.

He failed to catch her.

The Origin Gold vein in the Ninefold Sanctum had finally supplied what they needed for another Fountain of Life. It now stood in Darian’s Domain.

Their arrangement was simple. Cassian supplied the Blueprints and resources, paying for construction through the same native Evolution Path he had used for his own Fountain. Darian supplied the land. Cassian received priority in the distribution of Life Essence and Life Water.

For Darian, the great benefit was being able to reconstruct his fallen Golden Behemoths. He had prepared the necessary Life Energy reserves, and each recovery still consumed resources and Battle Essence. But with their strength, a Behemoth could earn ten times its own reconstruction cost before it fell.

He no longer had to dread every casualty.

Less than half a day later, Cassian finished clearing his eighty-first Bull Demon Region.

An announcement sounded, one reserved for the Nation’s Sovereign.

[Lords of Divine Nation have destroyed Hundredblossom Palace. National Fortune gained: 11.]

After founding a Nation, its Lords could obtain a portion of another nation’s Fortune by destroying its Palace. The amount varied, generally no more than twenty percent of the defeated nation’s holdings. It could also be zero, leaving them with nothing beyond the Palace’s destruction.

That hardly compared with seizing the Fortune of slain officeholders through his Aether Vein. Still, it was welcome extra income.

Millions of Divine Nation’s Lords had fought for those eleven points. Cassian took them without hesitation and committed the entire amount to his own Sovereign office.

"Next Region."

——

Ten more days passed.

The greater Human Realms possessed methods that could still astonish Cassian. The communication artifact Lucan had left him was a good example.

It allowed a video call across Realms.

The cost was appalling. Every second consumed Aether, and the device accepted only premium Crystals. Cassian kept them supplied while Lucan’s image spoke to him.

"Junior brother, you’ve bought more than ten million drops of Legendary Blood Essence already."

Lucan wore a helpless smile.

"I’ve almost emptied the Ninefold Sanctum’s markets. The other schools have to keep something for their potions and talismans."

Cassian believed him. He also knew the best way to encourage another effort.

"You’ve worked hard, senior brother. How about this? For every ten thousand drops you collect, I’ll give you an additional Spiritlink Sword."

Lucan’s eyes lit up.

Even in the Sanctum, those swords possessed exceptional attributes and skills. Over the past month, they had become some of its most sought-after Legendary equipment. Even many true disciples could not obtain one.

Cassian’s promise of paid upgrades made them more valuable still.

The swords were currently Level 100. Once a buyer reached Rank XX, ten million Aether would pay to send the blade back to the Swordgrave and raise it to Level 105.

A fine weapon that could keep pace with its owner was worth a great deal.

Lucan resisted the urge to accept immediately.

"I’ve noticed something about your swords," he said carefully. "Some have Enchantment. Some have Divine Favor. Some have neither. Those effects must depend on chance."

Cassian waited.

"I agree to the supply arrangement. But would you also let me exchange a hundred ordinary Spiritlink Swords for one with both effects?"

Double the attributes of a poor weapon, and it remained a poor weapon. Add another ten percent to a weapon already among the finest of its kind, and its value could rise tenfold or more.

Cassian fell silent.

Lucan watched him with open anticipation.

At last, Cassian nodded.

"Agreed."

"Excellent! Wait for my news. If I have to put aside my dignity and visit the other Human Realms myself, I’ll find the blood you need."

He ended the call in high spirits.

Cassian let out a breath. He had agreed to part with some truly outstanding blades, but that was acceptable as long as Lucan kept working.

For now, expanding the Mythic legion came before everything else.

With the call over, he looked into the distance.

He stood outside Firecloud Region, at the heart of the Court.

"My lord," Seven reported, "most of the Regions within tens of thousands of kilometers have been emptied. By our initial estimate, at least half the Court’s War Lords have gathered here. No fewer than two hundred thousand, with more than two hundred million main combat troops."

Cassian’s eyes brightened.

"Two hundred million. Good."

He turned toward his army.

"We’ll concentrate on one entrance and force our way through. Blood Emperors, prepare the Blood River Formation."

Over the past month, he had destroyed a hundred and fifty-six Regions. Few had held truly outstanding enemies, but quantity had made up for that. The campaign had brought him more than seven hundred billion Battle Essence.

Raising a single new Blood Emperor to Level 100 required 4.2 billion. With costs like that, even such a harvest did not leave much to spare.

At last, he had forced the Firecloud Court to gather its strength around its Palace.

A quick estimate was enough to make him eager. Destroy the army defending those two hundred thousand War Lords, and he would have the Battle Essence needed after advancing to Rank XX. There might even be enough to raise another two hundred Blood Emperors.

Leaving Vargul himself out of the comparison, this was a hundred times the force he had faced at the Bloodmaw Court.

But Cassian had grown stronger too.

His Sovereign office now granted a thirty-seven point six percent increase to all attributes. Another seven Blood Princes had completed their paid preparation and advanced through the Chalice’s Emperor Blood Essence. His permanent Blood Emperor corps stood at a hundred and twenty.

Ten full squads.

Still, he wanted more protection for the attack.

"Burn one trillion Aether. Bless the main attribute of every Hero and troop. Duration: one day."

The payment went through.

Divine Dragon Amber erupted with dazzling light. An immense wave of blessing swept over his main force. Nothing he had spent on a single blessing before compared with this.

He sealed the Region with a Spatial Lock Scroll. Premium Aether Crystals continued feeding Godslayer as the troops advanced.

Aurelia and One led the way, with the Crystal Maidens close behind them.

The moment they passed the entrance, attacks engulfed their position.

Had Darian and the others seen that barrage, they would have understood how small Hundredblossom’s defenses were by comparison. It might not even have occurred to them that Cassian would take on a Court like this with his own army alone.

He had come straight to its capital and attacked in full view.

Aurelia spread Folded Sky Ward to its limit. Beside her, One and the physical Crystal Maidens took the forms of enormous spiders, shielding the troops entering behind them.

[Your troop Crystal Maiden — Physical has fallen.]

[Your troop Crystal Maiden — Physical has fallen.]

[Your troop Crystal Maiden — Physical has fallen.]

Three notices arrived almost at once.

More followed.

These were Extreme troops whose Physique could rival ordinary Mythics. They carried Cassian’s many enhancements and the great blessing he had just paid for. Even so, the concentrated fire was killing them.

Their sacrifice bought the others enough room to enter.

The Blood Emperors swept through behind the Maidens.

Katrienne raised her voice.

"Sisters. Blood River Formation!"

Back in Swordheart, a single Blood Prince’s formation had caused Cassian’s party considerable trouble.

This time, a hundred and twenty Blood Emperors were casting together, each strengthened by layer upon layer of enhancements.

A deep roar rolled through the air.

Beneath it came another sound—the thunder of a great river.

Space split. From somewhere beyond uncounted layers of the void, a vast crimson current surged toward them.

The River of Blood.

An Eternal Wild Troop Building, ranked alongside the Nether Spring, Skyroot, and the Gate of Genesis.