Chapter 164 Wang Hao Discussion With The Butterfly Spirit Queen
Initially, Emperor Wang, along with several other powerful Emperor Realm experts, had intended to journey to the sacred domain of the Butterfly Spirit Race with the intention of vanquishing the demonic forces and claiming the coveted Butterfly Spirit Queen's Mark.
However, their plans were abruptly disrupted when a message arrived from the Jade Sea Empire.
Startling news revealed that the Royal Family of the Jade Sea Empire had struck a controversial agreement with the Oceanic Tempest Storm Devil Clan.
In this clandestine deal, they threatened to unleash an assault on the Everlasting Mystic Empire should any Emperor Realm expert dare to confront the demons within the sacred dominion of the Butterfly Spirit Race.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, a formidable array had been erected within the region, specifically designed to detect the presence of Emperor Realm experts.
This technological barrier served as a deterrent, ensuring that no powerful cultivator could trespass upon the sacred domain.
In an unexpected turn of events, however, the Royal Family of the Jade Sea Empire sought to appease Emperor Wang and the Everlasting Mystic Empire.
They offered a valuable compensation in the form of three lifeless corpses of Emperor Realm beasts, each infused with a trace of the revered Dragon Bloodline.
This generous offering carried tremendous significance, as defeating a beast bearing even a fraction of the Dragon Bloodline was an arduous feat.
The corpses possessed immense value, particularly for cultivators who practiced the revered Soaring Dragon Cultivation Technique.
These remains presented a unique opportunity for rapid advancement, allowing cultivators to expedite their progress to the next stage of the revered cultivation method.
Given the invaluable nature of this gift, Emperor Wang ultimately chose to accept the offering.
Consequently, he issued a decree prohibiting any Emperor Realm expert from trespassing into the sacred dominion of the Butterfly Spirit Race.
This agreement would stand as long as no Emperor Realm expert breached the boundaries of the Everlasting Mystic Empire. Any such intrusion, for whatever reason, would instantaneously dissolve the pact, paving the way for potential conflict and chaos.
As Wang Jian embarked on his journey towards the sacred dominion of the Butterfly Spirit Race, news of the prohibition for Emperor Realm experts to enter the region reached his ears.
Reacting to the information, a wry smile curled upon his lips, accompanied by a soft derisive snort.
'Ah, the World Essence truly spares no expense to ensure Ye Chen won't face any significant disadvantages,' he mused to himself, his thoughts tinged with a mix of amusement and calculation.
'But, interestingly enough, this turn of events works in my favor as well. With the absence of Emperor Realm experts, it provides me with a better opportunity to maintain control over the unfolding situation.'
…
The vanguard of the sacred dominion of the Butterfly Spirit Race was graced by the arrival of the Crown Prince's faction, the first among the major forces to reach its edge.
Their swift and elegant entry was befitting, for they rode atop the magnificent and agile Mystic Azure Rocs, known to be the swiftest beasts in the entire Empire.
Mounted upon these graceful creatures, the members of the Crown Prince's faction surged forward, their presence commanding and their speed unmatched.
Meanwhile, the other factions, including those led by the Second Princess, the Third Prince, and Wang Jian, were not far behind.
They too approached the sacred dominion, but their choice of steeds differed.
Astride powerful and majestic griffins, they soared through the skies, their wings beating in perfect harmony with the wind, as they closed the distance to the hallowed grounds of the Butterfly Spirit Race.
Upon reaching their destination, the Crown Prince's faction rendezvoused with the delegation of beasts that had come to meet them.
To their surprise, they learned that the physical presence of the revered Butterfly Spirit Queen was not among them.
Instead, she employed a remarkable artifact through which she created a Spiritual Illusion Construct.
This extraordinary creation, intricately linked to the essence of the Butterfly Spirit Queen, enabled her to project an illusionary form of a beautiful butterfly that would serve as her conduit, facilitating communication with the visiting faction.
The Spiritual Illusion Construct was a manifestation of the Queen's mystical prowess, allowing her ethereal essence to be present and engage with the human representatives as if she were physically there.
Crown Prince Wang Hao's voice was measured as he addressed the beasts, "We require a comprehensive understanding of these demons. What are their strengths and weaknesses? Every detail is crucial and will help us make informed decisions."
"…There is not much we know about these demons. It's just that they are completely different from the demons we have fought before. They seem to come from a different place," responded the Butterfly Spirit Queen.
"What about their appearance? Any ability that you might recall," Wang Hao asked with a frown.
The Butterfly Spirit Queen pondered the question for a moment, her ethereal voice resonating with a tinge of sadness.
"Most of those demons possessed an ominous and primal aura, their physical forms twisted and grotesque. Their appearance alone evoked a sense of dread. They bore jagged horns jutting from their heads, while their skin, resembling weathered leather or dark scales, exuded an unsettling shade of ashen gray or obsidian black. Their eyes, ablaze with an eerie malevolence, pierced through the very soul."
She continued, her voice tinged with concern, "However, amidst their ranks, there are a select few who possess a mesmerizing opalescent skin. Their ethereal hues mimic the tranquil surface of the sea, ranging from the depths of sapphire to the iridescent hues of turquoise. These particular demons are of unparalleled strength, effortlessly dismantling our carefully constructed arrays and defenses. They wrought havoc upon us, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake, as they mercilessly slaughtered our comrades, ultimately reaching the heart of our domain."
Her words painted a vivid picture of the demons' sinister nature, their distinct appearances, and the devastating impact they had inflicted upon the beast races.
A frown creased Wang Hao's face as he listened to the vivid description of the grotesque and twisted demons.
He couldn't help but recall the encounters his forces had faced with similar creatures in the northern regions. While acknowledging the power of these formidable foes, Wang Hao remained confident in his forces' ability to overcome them.
However, it was the demons adorned with opalescent skin that posed an unprecedented and formidable challenge.
As per the detailed account provided by the Butterfly Spirit Queen, these particular demons surpassed the strength and ferocity of the ones previously encountered by Wang Hao's forces.
After engaging in a prolonged conversation with the enigmatic Butterfly Spirit Queen, Wang Hao and his assembled forces set forth, their determined strides leading them towards the very heart of the forest now under the grip of these menacing demons.
Shortly after Wang Hao's departure, the Second Princess arrived at the scene, her arrival marked by an exchange of words with the ethereal Butterfly Spirit Queen.
Driven by her unwavering resolve to reclaim the forest from the clutches of darkness, she charted a distinct path, ensuring that her forces would enter the forest through a separate entry point, intentionally avoiding any overlap with Wang Hao's contingent.
Amidst the unfolding events, Ye Chen had deftly penetrated the dense forest, utilizing his tactical acumen to hunt down the demons with surgical precision.
His unwavering determination propelled him forward, incessantly pushing towards the heart of the forest where the demons held the captive beasts.
Like all other experts, Ye Chen was also driven by an insatiable desire for the coveted Butterfly Spirit Queen's Mark.
But that wasn't the only motivation behind his actions. Ye Chen had seen the Butterfly Spirit Queen once and had been enamored by her ever since.
However, the Queen remained elusive, hiding inside a concealed hideout protected by an illusion talisman array.
Ye Chen believed that by liberating her race from the clutches of the demons, he would earn her admiration and pave the way for a possible meeting.
Alas, his aspirations were dealt a severe blow as the relentless waves of demons surged forth from the central region, fiercely repelling his advances time and time again.
Despite his tactical prowess and valiant efforts, Ye Chen was forced to retreat, unable to breach the formidable defenses of the demons guarding the heart of the forest.
As Ye Chen contemplated his next move, a distant commotion reached his ears—a battle was raging nearby. Intrigued and perplexed, he swiftly made his way towards the source of the tumult.
To his astonishment, a sizable contingent of humans was locked in combat with the demons. The clash between the two factions was fierce and chaotic, with spells and weapons colliding in a whirlwind of violence.
In the midst of the tumultuous scene, Ye Chen caught a glimpse of Crown Prince Wang Hao, a commanding figure leading the charge against the demonic horde.
The sight left Ye Chen both surprised and curious, wondering what circumstances had brought the Crown Prince to the forefront of this conflict.
'The allure of the Butterfly Spirit Queen's Mark must be truly captivating for the Crown Prince to venture all the way to this forest and engage in such an arduous battle with such fervor and urgency.'
Ye Chen was aware of the Butterfly Spirit Queen's Mark's value and importance, but he remained oblivious to its specific properties and capabilities. Despite this, he knew that possessing it would undoubtedly bring him significant advantages.
Additionally, a shrewd deduction formed in Ye Chen's mind.
If Crown Prince Wang Hao had made his presence known, it was highly likely that Second Princess Wang Ying was also partaking in the unfolding events.
With determination in his heart, Ye Chen set out on a quest to locate the forces led by Second Princess Wang Ying.
He surmised that she must have strategically chosen a different entry point into the forest, deliberately avoiding direct confrontation with the Crown Prince's faction.
Thus, Ye Chen was forced to go around the outer section of the woods to find Wang Ying's faction.
In the meantime, Wang Jian's faction met up with the beasts outside the butterfly spirit race's sacred dominion.