Chapter 519 517: Going Home, Escalating Situation

With the sudden large-scale deployment of the Law Enforcement Knight Order, it wasn't long before the Lion Heart Kingdom condemned the Blue Dragon Empire for allowing the Tower of Descent to harm the residents of Dragon Island. Then, using an excuse, they claimed to prepare to lead a team to help the Blue Dragon Empire extinguish the Tower of Descent, subsequently leading their army to the border.

The situation here quickly spread across the entire Starfall Continent via the Star Spirit Network.

The other three major empires, Elf Race, and Beastman Empire, were all closely watching the escalating tensions at the Blue Dragon Empire's border.

In response to the Law Enforcement Knight Order, the Blue Dragon Empire released news that Hilia and Encore were well-treated and 'protected' on Dragon Island, along with photos of Hilia and Encore smoothly leaving Dragon Island, thus denying that they had captured the Holy Daughter and refusing the Law Enforcement Knight Order entry.

Then they 'politely declined' the enthusiastic Lion Heart Kingdom, refusing their entry to 'assist'.

The Holy Court claimed they hadn't seen the Holy Daughter return, suggesting she was secretly detained by the Blue Dragon Empire and so on.

Diplomatically, through newspapers and minstrels, all sides engaged in verbal battles as the situation gradually grew tense.

In some border areas, confrontations even occurred.

In secret, delegations from various sides gathered for round after round of negotiations.

Before reaching a negotiation result, no news would be released, only carried out in secret.

As tensions seemed to rise, Hilia had already arrived at Huijin Divine Hall, and after receiving the remaining materials given by Encore, returned to Star Ash Town, listening to news from the border while watching Rose mix various messy materials in the Starfall Divine Hall.

Not even reaching fourth stage, she had no influence over the situation; Hilia felt urgency for the first time.

Thus, while Rose was mixing the materials, she set personal goals, training her magic and meditating every day.

While using magic, she diligently tried to sense the external magic power, attempting to invoke it on her magic to enhance its power.

Fourth stage is a comprehensive upgrade for the third stage.

Besides self-improvement, there's also the development of the Heart of the Magic Puppet, but Rose didn't let Hilia develop it, as it was unnecessary; with him there, the development of the magic puppet could always reach Hilia's control limits.

To avoid Hilia being too deeply affected by Divine Format fragments, Rose didn't plan to let Hilia excessively contact them.

Merely using Divine Format to enhance herself.

In the midst of tense situations, time always passed both slowly and quickly.

A week after Hilia returned, the Law Enforcement Knight Order and the Blue Dragon Empire border guards had their first conflict.

This conflict resulted in a single-digit number of deaths and dozens of injuries.

Soon after, a second conflict occurred, after which the Blue Dragon Empire guard team retreated to Fanar City, securing it as their base.

Simultaneously, unexpected events occurred on Dragon Island; someone saw cracks appear on the glacier outside Dragon Island.

Although the cracks soon disappeared.

Yet soon another issue arose; an accident occurred on the construction site of the array, causing injuries to dozens of workers building the array.

This news didn't garner much attention amidst the major situation, but it caught Hilia's attention.

As an Array Master, her perception was sharp, and she quickly realized this wasn't an accident, but someone causing delays in the completion of the Dragon Island array.

As for whether it was the Holy Court or the Tower of Descent, it remained unknown.

The border happenings didn't affect Star Ash Town; it remained peaceful here.

Nothing stirred on the Elf Race's side either.

But both Hilia and Vanessa were concerned about the border's movements.

Vanessa touched Hilia's head.

"If a large-scale battle breaks out, I might be summoned to the front lines. Hilia, during those times, the divine hall will be entrusted to you. When you return to study, go to Southern Border City and seek assistance from Southern Divine Hall, asking them to send a High Priest over to manage in my place."

Hilia resolutely stated, "That time will certainly not come."

Vanessa smiled gently, without speaking.

...

Dragon Island.

A certain tavern.

Raphael sat at a table, looking across at Ashugar.

"Is there something you want?" Raphael's expression was indifferent.

"Just heard you plan to leave, thought to chat with you." Ashugar took a sip of his drink, saying, "Raphael, I think you must know about the situation of that Fire Spirit. Can't you really disclose it to me?"

Raphael shook his head, "I'm not certain, besides, do you truly intend to assist that succubus in advancing?"

Ashugar shook his head, "Of course not, if they don't advance, I can control everything."

Raphael said, "Your layout is too extensive, simultaneously targeting the main gods behind twelve heretical sects. I don't think you can succeed. If it ends up as a bridal gown for their descent, I will intervene."

Ashugar replied, "More accurately, it's eleven. That Abyssal Religious Group truly worships the 'Evil God', though it's just some fraudster borrowing the name."

"Has nothing to do with me." Raphael replied indifferently.

"I know, you now only wish to call him, just as you always carried out the tasks he once assigned you. But... why persist in such meaningless small matters? How many of those people you funded can truly become an asset? Most are merely slightly stronger cannon fodder."

Raphael remained silent, only coldly watching Ashugar.

Invisible pressure transmitted forth; Ashugar raised his hand, "Alright, suit yourself. The Fire Spirit incident ends, even if you don't speak, I can guess some things. Next, the situation in the Blue Dragon Empire is a bit tricky; I plan to stay here for some time, cause a bit of trouble, then seek out our old friends for a reunion."

Raphael said, "I will go to the Land of the Far North to find Alina. Your actions within the Polar Blood Alliance have already failed. If I discover you still extracting Alina's blood..."

"It's already over, those bases there have been destroyed... Besides, to clarify, only the Polar Blood Alliance failed, I have not. Alina's blood has already weakened the multiple protections of the Ice God. Once I advance to eighth stage, I can seize the Ice God's Divine Format.

"By the way, I also found a suitable candidate for descent. Although she's female, she's of the Ice Element, matching the Ice God's Divine Format. If Lord Rose can descend upon her..."

Raphael's expression shifted.

A female version of Lord Rose, in that case?

Sounds somewhat... intriguing.

She asked, "Where is the Ice God? I can assist you."

Ashugar shook his head, "You cannot help. The Ice God is already dead, the Land of Sleep is fully polluted, and combined with the Ice God's authority and the Goddess of Destiny's dream protection, you are of the Fire Element, so you can't go."

"Can you enter?"

"I've prepared for so long and extracted years of dream essence, I certainly can, though I may die in the Ice God's Land of Sleep, I will bring the Divine Format out."

Ashugar stood up, heading outside.

"I will call Jonathan to help receive the Ice God's Divine Format and complete unfinished tasks."

Raphael watched his back, "Everything of yours revolves around the dead Ice God. Why still aid the pawns of other main gods?"

"Of course it's to... prevent them from interfering with the plan."