Chapter 329: The Return of the White Dragon Lord

The passage led straight down, its walls built from cyan stone blocks. Magical braziers hung along it, burning without wind, yet the air felt somewhat damp. The White Dragon Lord could hear the sound of flowing water but smelled no sewer stench, likely due to a Magic Barrier like an air purification array.

After turning a corner, a large open space appeared. Under the dim lighting, the area was packed with small stalls. Customers, who hid their identities just like the stall owners, wandered between the setups, selecting goods and conversing in hushed tones.

The White Dragon Lord also began searching among the stalls.

Before long, he found what he was looking for. It wasn't Abomination Blood, but another of the thirty required materials—the Star-bearing Herb.

Rich shadow elements lingered around the stall owner selling the Star-bearing Herb. Sitting there, the owner was incredibly easy to overlook and did not exude much killing intent, likely belonging to a rogue or similar class.

Making his judgment, the White Dragon Lord remained impassive. He crouched in front of the stall, pretending to scan the items on display.

There were over a dozen items: a shattered sword, an ancient wooden idol, several distinct ores and gems, and a few plants. Without exception, every piece contained a dense concentration of magical energy.

"Look, don't touch. Just make an offer."

The voice was hoarse and cold.

The White Dragon Lord didn't mind. He cast a cantrip to conceal their movements and voices, pointed at the Star-bearing Herb with its star-like light lines along the stem, then tapped three precious ores and raised two gloved fingers.

"These four. Two hundred thousand!"

The stall owner hesitated for a moment.

"Deal."

The price the White Dragon Lord offered was about ten percent below market value, but the origins of black market goods were always unknown. They were highly likely to carry troublesome burdens like blood debts, and the stall owner wanted them off his hands as quickly as possible.

If such stolen goods couldn't be fenced promptly, the owner would have to either keep them or sell them directly to the black market's handlers, which would drive the price even lower. This was why the White Dragon Lord remained confident.

With one hand, the White Dragon Lord pulled out his Purple Gold Card, and with the other, a potion. The potion was called a Shadow Affinity Potion, capable of enhancing the user's affinity with shadow elements. Its market value was also around two hundred thousand Divine Power Gold Coins.

The stall owner handed over the three ores and the Star-bearing Herb directly, taking the Shadow Affinity Potion from the White Dragon Lord's hand.

The corners of the White Dragon Lord's mouth, hidden beneath his cloak, curled up slightly.

Although the Shadow Affinity Potion was worth two hundred thousand, to the White Dragon Lord, it only cost ten thousand Divine Power Gold Coins in materials and a bit of time.

The White Dragon Lord stowed the items and continued inspecting the other stalls.

However, his good luck seemed to have run out. He didn't find anything else he needed, though he did manage to trade for several rare magical materials.

After browsing the mobile stalls in the clearing, the White Dragon Lord walked toward the shops circling the area.

These shops had no signboards, but the goods displayed at their doors gave a general idea of their business. Because they were built underground, the black market shops had rather low ceilings, which, combined with the dim lighting, gave them a highly secretive atmosphere.

The White Dragon Lord stepped into a material shop and casually browsed the wares. He found that while there weren't many items, they were all of high quality. In terms of pricing, they truly lived up to the 'black' in black market—generally thirty percent higher than market value, with some prices even doubled.

If the stall owners in the clearing were eager to fence stolen goods, these shops were committing flat-out highway robbery. If anyone could buy what they needed through normal channels, they would never come to this black market!

At that moment, apart from the White Dragon Lord, there were two other customers in the shop. One of them, a figure in black robes, gave the White Dragon Lord a feeling of déjà vu, though he couldn't quite remember where he had seen him before.

Suppressing his doubts, the White Dragon Lord walked up to the shop owner. The owner wore no hood because he was wearing a Human-Skin Mask.

"Abomination Blood."

"Don't have it."

Clean and efficient. Conversation over.

The White Dragon Lord turned and headed outside. Since he couldn't buy it at this shop, he would just have to try another. If there was truly no other way, he would have to go to the black market tavern in the very center of the shops and post a bounty quest.

"Wait."

The black-robed figure who felt familiar called out to stop the departing White Dragon Lord.

The White Dragon Lord turned around, instantly alert. Even though the master of the black market provided enough deterrence, there were always a few who broke the rules every year.

"I have Abomination Blood."

Understanding dawned on the White Dragon Lord.

"Let's talk outside."

The black-robed figure followed as the White Dragon Lord turned and left.

The two arrived at an empty corner and cast an illusion to conceal themselves.

"Speak. What are your terms?"

The black-robed figure's face was shrouded in shadow, making it impossible for the White Dragon Lord to see his expression.

"Hehehe, I want the Void Nether Stone you have on you."

The White Dragon Lord frowned. Sensing the familiar killing intent the black-robed figure unconsciously leaked, he finally recognized the person as the hidden High-Tier Legend who had fought him for the Void Nether Stone.

"Impossible. The Void Nether Stone is very useful to me as well. Pick something else."

His voice was decisive, leaving no room for negotiation. The black-robed figure seemed to have expected this response.

"I don't need much. Just five hundred grams will do. That Void Nether Stone of yours weighs at least a dozen catties."

The White Dragon Lord gave the black-robed figure a deep look. 'You should have just said so earlier.'

"Fine. Based on the value of the Abomination Blood and the Void Nether Stone, I'll trade five hundred grams of the Void Nether Stone for three crystals of Abomination Blood."

"Deal."

The White Dragon Lord took several steps back to maintain a safe distance from the black-robed figure. He took out the crystal-cluster-like Void Nether Stone, snapped off two pieces of roughly equal size, and looked at the black-robed figure. The meaning was self-evident.

The black-robed figure took out three blood-red crystals, each the size of a fingertip. Sensing the ominous, eerie aura radiating from them, the White Dragon Lord knew this was exactly the Abomination Blood he needed.

Both parties completed the exchange while maintaining their guard. The White Dragon Lord turned and left. Deep down, he had a feeling that this would absolutely not be his last encounter with the black-robed figure.

Retracing his steps out of the black market, the White Dragon Lord returned to the Demon Hunter's Hut and met Mage Miphen.

"Did you buy it?"

"I did."

"That's good."

After bidding Mage Miphen farewell, the White Dragon Lord strolled through the commercial district of Grey Tower City, bought a few more materials he needed, and then used a teleportation platform to travel to another bustling city in the Star Realm.

After half a month of back-and-forth travel, the White Dragon Lord finally gathered all thirty missing materials.

Leaving the city, the White Dragon Lord stood on a piece of rubble suspended in the void. After sweeping the surroundings with his mental power and confirming no one was around, he rapidly chanted a spell.

The light of teleportation flared. When the White Dragon Lord opened his eyes again, he had arrived at the long-unseen Elemental Plane of Ice.

The Elemental Plane of Ice looked just as it had over a decade ago. The gray sky scattered goose-feather snow that danced in the freezing wind before falling onto the endless glacier.

The White Dragon Lord reverted to his true form, flying to the top of an iceberg to look down at the scenery below.

"Winter Temple!"

Upon the endless glacier sat a majestic temple.

The temple's architectural style was quite novel. It had no roof, only an extremely vast ice foundation and towering, massive pillars rising from it. The pillars were arranged neatly, seemingly harboring some hidden pattern.

At the center of these towering pillars stood a colossal statue of a female deity, its true face obscured. Even standing on the iceberg, the White Dragon Lord could only look up at it. The divine statue was majestic and mysterious, evoking an irresistible urge to worship.

The White Dragon Lord swallowed hard. Suppressing the urge to bow to the statue, he flapped his wings and took off from the iceberg, gliding into the towering temple with his wings fully extended.

Flying between the colossal pillars, the White Dragon Lord felt as if he had turned into a small bird flitting through a forest. At the same time, a pressure bore down on him, trying to crush him into the ground.

The closer he drew to the central area of the temple, the heavier the pressure on his body became. In the end, the White Dragon Lord felt as though he were carrying a mountain on his back, unable to flap his wings at all.

Catching sight of several familiar figures beneath the statue, the White Dragon Lord relied on sheer stubbornness to endure the pressure. Stretching his wings to their absolute limit, he glided straight to the front of the statue.

The moment he landed, the pressure vanished, and the White Dragon Lord let out a sigh of relief.

Walking to the circular mark in the center of the temple, the White Dragon Lord folded his wings in front of him, forming a sphere, and slightly lowered his head.

"Good day, Commanders! Your Excellency, Legion Commander!"

The upper echelon of the Winter Legion, the Winter Empress—Lisandra—observed the White Dragon Lord.

"Not bad!"

It was unclear whether the Winter Empress was referring to his attitude or his growth in strength. Perhaps it was both.

One of the three commanders—Motznovi—also showed a look of satisfaction.

"Why did you come back again? It's not time for the trial yet!"

"It's like this. Due to the plane I am in, I am about to enter the Abyss Blood War Battlefield. I want to take this opportunity to scout the plane where the Winter Crown is located."

Motznovi's face immediately fell, Fernando wore a mocking sneer, Catalina frowned, and Lisandra remained expressionless.

Fernando was just about to speak when Motznovi cut in first.

"Little White Dragon, with your current strength, you are far from ready to touch that plane. Wait until you step into the Abomination Rank."

"Commander, I only intend to send a few puppets to scout the way. I won't joke around with my own life."

"I see."

Motznovi's expression softened as he looked up at the Winter Empress beneath the divine statue.

"I am very pleased that you care so much about this matter."

A white orb of light emerged from between the Winter Empress's brows and flew toward the White Dragon Lord, sinking into his forehead.

The White Dragon Lord immediately realized he had gained many unfamiliar memories. These were the memories of the Winter Empress, which included intel gathered by previous white dragons, various speculations made by the Winter Legion about that plane, and most importantly, the planar coordinates.

"Tell us your plan."

Hearing the question from another commander—Catalina—the White Dragon Lord snapped out of his daze.

"A while ago, I obtained some Abomination Rank bones. I plan to use my own flesh and blood along with these bones to create a flesh puppet, and then split off a sliver of my soul to create a puppet connected to my main body's consciousness."

Fernando nodded in approval.

"That is indeed a good method for scouting. It's just that the soul is something even the three of us wouldn't dare split lightly, and you..."

The White Dragon Lord raised his claw, and an invisible energy emerged from it, spiraling around his talons. Fernando's words came to an abrupt halt.

"Hahaha!"

Seeing Fernando choked up like he was severely constipated, Motznovi burst into laughter.

"Excellent! I certainly wasn't wrong about you!"

The Winter Empress's eternally unchanging expression also showed a hint of surprise, though it vanished a moment later.

"You are indeed qualified to do this."

With that, a potion appeared in the Winter Empress's hand, though the bottle appeared to be completely empty.

"This is a Soul Nourishing Potion passed down from ancient times. Drink it after splitting your soul, and it will help you recover rapidly."

"Thank you, Your Excellency, Legion Commander."

The White Dragon Lord caught the flying potion. He still couldn't see anything inside the bottle, but holding it in his hand, he could feel the mysterious energy swirling within.

After putting away the unexpected windfall—the Soul Nourishing Potion—the White Dragon Lord bid farewell to the higher-ups of the Winter Legion and teleported back to the Nordhill Plane.

He had been gone for a month. When the White Dragon Lord returned, Oqi City hadn't changed much. If there was any change to speak of, it was only that winter was fast approaching the Overseas Archipelago.

Due to the absence of his crucial assistant, the White Tower, the White Dragon Lord couldn't immediately begin his experiments even though he had gathered all the materials.

Inside White Castle, the White Dragon Lord coiled atop his throne, with numerous high-ranking officials of White Castle standing in the hall.

"Gurgalu, from today onward, the golem production lines are to run at full capacity. These puppets will become the main force on the Blood War Battlefield. If there aren't enough..."

The White Dragon Lord gave Gurgalu a deep look.

"The Ogres will have no choice but to stand on the front lines."

Gurgalu's expression tightened, but at the same time, his heart warmed, knowing these puppets were being produced to reduce Ogre casualties.

"I will personally oversee their work. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."

"Mm. I trust your capabilities."

The White Dragon Lord turned to the gnoll on the other side.

"Hogger!"

The gnoll looked up at the towering figure on the throne, his eyes burning with fanaticism.

"This grand war cannot be fought without the gnolls."

"The gnolls are always ready to lay down our lives for you!"

"Excellent!"

The White Dragon Lord then looked to the de facto administrator of the Afiaiv Kingdom.

"Hobbes!"

"Here, my lord!"

"This war is not just a matter for White Castle's army. We also need to mobilize adventurers from various nations."

According to Nordhill's years of experience participating on the Blood War Battlefield, the regular armies confronted the main Demon forces, while adventurers hunted down scattered Demons.

"Understood, my lord. Next month, the White Castle Royal Theater will split into groups and tour the world, performing the epic tale of the great war between heroes and Demons from ten thousand years ago."

The White Dragon Lord nodded in satisfaction.

"As long as you understand. But remember to take it step by step."

The White Dragon Lord pondered for a moment and decided not to bring the trolls. Demons were the progenitors of playing with fire, so trolls wouldn't be of much use on the Blood War Battlefield. The Murlocs were out of the question, too; the Abyss was far too dry, and they would constantly need to worry about keeping them moisturized.

"Hobbes, notify the Harpy Tribe. Have them specially train a batch of warriors to participate in the Abyss Blood War."

"Yes!"

"Not just the Harpies. The Ogres and gnolls must also undergo adaptation training in advance."