A Blighted Frontier

Standing at the border between the Purple Blood Confederacy and Reno, one gazed upon a colossal mountain range that bisected these two nations, nestled on the same continent beneath the same azure sky, into two starkly different worlds! To the north, verdant mountains loomed, their vibrant emerald expanse stretching for thousands of miles, teeming with life. Yet, to the south, a pallid, ash-gray sky hung heavy, the landscape a charred and desolate ruin, even the very air suffused with a sickly, lurid green hue!

Amidst this sickly green, distant specks of crimson and ghastly white dotted the landscape. Closer inspection revealed them to be gruesome human limbs, dismembered and disemboweled, brain matter and blood clots clinging to withered trees. A little closer still, a small village, once belonging to Reno, lay razed to scorched earth. Within it, the villagers—eyes dangling, bodies askew, brains exposed and guts spilled—staggered in groups of three and five, mindlessly devouring uninfected humans on the ground. At the village entrance, several Undead officers roared stern commands.

“Assemble! Quickly, assemble! Listen closely! From this day forward, you are the thralls of Marshal Bonis and Grand Speaker Philip! Those among you who can lift a hundred-jin stone, report immediately to the conscription office behind the mountain. As for the ‘old, weak, sick, and crippled’ who cannot… charge forward! Tear apart everything living, and spread the Undead Scourge across the entire Azure Heaven Continent!”

The dazed pupils of the newly turned Undead instantly cleared. The strong reported to the back mountain, and soon after, they would either fuse with Huhuhu Beasts to be forged into the most potent Netherbeasts, or join ordinary Undead legions. Yet, their ultimate fate was to appear on the Western Plains, destined for a battle to the death against the Red-Bloods’ allied forces! Those Undead deemed unworthy of the battlefield, their stomachs hollow with hunger, scrambled over the mountains and surged northward into Reno’s territory. Along Reno’s defensive lines, many a veteran gritted their teeth, tears welling as they slapped green recruits. “Kid, don’t be a coward! We’ll fight The Undead all the same… Damn their rotten souls! That village was my home! The Undead coming over are my own mother and father!”

Similar scenes unfolded along the entire border between Reno and the Purple Blood Confederacy; almost every inch of the frontier was breached by Undead incursions. In the sky, the blighted, lurid green haze slowly but inexorably advanced. Though Reno had amassed a formidable army, and Du Chen had forcefully commanded the Wind God family to assist the Skylands people in dispersing the Spirit Seed’s toxic smoke at any cost, human effort had its limits. The smoke, however, seemed to gush forth ceaselessly, relentlessly pushing forward!

After leaving Reno’s territory, Sophia transformed into her human guise: a beautiful young woman in her early thirties, though her face was veiled. She purposefully chose obscure wilderness paths, heading directly for the heart of the Purple Blood Confederacy. Du Chen, shadowing Sophia, silently calculated that just by his own observation, no fewer than two hundred thousand humans had already been converted into The Undead… and with the advance of the Spirit Seed’s toxic smoke, that number was increasing at a terrifying rate each day!

Eight days later, Sophia finally arrived at the Purple Blood Royal Capital, a colossal city amidst the throngs of The Undead. When Sophia, using her spy connections, requested an audience with Bonis, she received this reply: “My apologies, Marshal Bonis has just departed to inspect the Scourge Citadel and is expected to return in about a week… You wish to seek the Marshal at the Scourge Citadel? I must gravely inform you—the Marshal’s command dictates that his inspection of the Scourge Citadel takes precedence over all else. I advise against disturbing him!”

As an elite spy, Sophia naturally sensed an unusual undertone in the “information.” She mused, ‘Number One’s matter isn’t urgent, so I might as well wait a few days here in the Purple Blood Confederacy!’

Sophia wasn’t in a hurry, but Du Chen was! He had assumed that by following Sophia to the Violet-Bloods’ den, even if directly stealing the Tear Source was impossible, he could at least obtain The Clues to its location. But now… wait a few days? How many people would perish in just a single day!

Thus, Du Chen instructed Andy to continue shadowing Sophia, while he himself covertly infiltrated the Purple Blood Royal Capital’s various critical government departments that very night. He even ventured into Bonis’s empty bedroom, yet found no The Clues related to the Tear Source! Upon his return, Du Chen concealed himself within the Precious Lotus Scripture, hanging from Sophia’s person, his brow deeply furrowed.

Beibei asked, “Papa, did you not manage to steal anything?”

Du Chen nodded. “In our line of work, there’s a saying: ‘Prized treasures are often lightly guarded!’ It means that those who possess valuable items usually prefer to hide them in inconspicuous, unexpected places. But tonight, I searched every suspicious nook and cranny of the Purple Blood Royal Capital and found no The Clues… Therefore, the Tear Source is, more likely than not, not in the Royal Capital, but in the Scourge Citadel!”

Beibei blinked her large eyes. “Papa, are you certain?”

As an exemplary practitioner of the thieving arts, analyzing the psychology of treasure hoarders was an essential lesson. Du Chen patted his daughter’s head, patiently guiding and instructing her. “Sweetheart, think about it! The intelligence Sophia received yesterday clearly stated one thing—Bonis intends to ‘slay the donkey after the grinding,’ eliminating Philip! So, what should Bonis be most worried about next?”

Beibei was a diligent student. After pondering earnestly, her big eyes flickered as she looked at her thieving Papa. “Beibei knows! Bonis eliminating Philip isn’t the problem, but the issue is that the Undead Legion must not lose control after Philip dies! So, Bonis must be especially wary of the Tear Source, which controls The Undead. He’d either hide it in his safest abode, or keep it on his person, watching it at all times…”

Du Chen smiled, greatly pleased with his daughter’s progress, and dotingly said, “Exactly! That’s why Papa just said, the Tear Source is, more likely than not, with Bonis at the Scourge Citadel!”

Beibei truly was a good student. She queried, “But, but is it possible that the Tear Source isn’t with Bonis, but rather in Philip’s hands?”

Du Chen shook his head, blurting out, “That touches upon the psychological analysis of co-hoarders—valuable items are always held by the big boss. Bonis wouldn’t possibly entrust something as crucial as the Tear Source to Philip for safekeeping!” He chuckled, “Understood, Beibei?”

The little one nodded vigorously, muttering, “Understood, analyze the opponent’s psychology before making a move…” She tilted her head, chuckling slyly, having thought of who-knows-what. However, it was abundantly clear that many years from now, the little one would undoubtedly inherit Du Chen’s mantle, becoming the new generation’s Queen of Thieves! Meanwhile, The Master Alex disdained listening to such matters. He squinted his eyes, his lips pursed coolly, but his small hand clutched tightly, oh so tightly, at the large pocket on his belly…

Just then, Du Chen commanded, “Alright, Dus, continue shadowing Sophia. The children and I will head to the Scourge… Dammit, what is Sophia doing?”

Even as Du Chen lectured his daughter, no one noticed Sophia suddenly break into a rapid sprint. The unprepared Du Chen nearly tumbled from her person. Sophia ran with astounding speed, exiting the Purple Blood Royal Capital in the blink of an eye. Immediately afterward, she transformed into her wolf form on the sparsely populated Undead-ridden plains, racing towards the tallest peak near the Royal Capital!

This sudden action left Du Chen utterly bewildered. However, Andy lazily opened his eyes. “Master, tonight is a full moon. Both branches of the Wolf Clan, descendants of the Moon Goddess, feel the urge to howl at the moon, tsk!” Andy bared his gums. “It’s like they just don’t feel right if they don’t let out a few howls!”

So, it was a physiological instinct of the Frost Saint Wolves Clan. Du Chen asked, intrigued, “Then why do you never feel the urge to howl at the moon?”

Andy rolled his eyes. “I, Chris Andy, am a noble Snow Wolf with an appetite and aspirations! The time spent howling at the moon… wouldn’t it be more cost-effective to eat two steaks instead?”

Even as they spoke, Sophia let out a low wolf-howl, yet it wasn’t directed at the moon. Instead, she cried out behind her, “Who are you?! Why have you been pursuing me?!”

Du Chen started, his Divine Sense immediately fanning out to search. It turned out Sophia had been marked the moment she left the Royal Capital. Currently, she was evading pursuit from someone in the sky—and that person was none other than… Du Chen’s heart lurched. Damn it! The Rebellious Dragon Constantine had been released! He needed to promptly warn Dud, as Adams’s loyalty might become an issue!

“Sophia… is it truly you?!”

Constantine spread his wings to their full extent, his speed far surpassing that of the Wolf Clan. He also seemed more powerful. His twin dragon wings soared overhead, casting the entire mountain peak into shadow, devoid of moonlight. Sophia had nowhere to escape. Watching Constantine drive her into a corner, she deliberately hardened her expression, feigning ignorance of him! Du Chen watched, curious, thinking, ‘What reason could Sophia have for refusing to acknowledge Constantine? They shouldn’t have any burdens between them!’

The Rebellious Dragon landed before Sophia, crouching. He reached out to touch the Frost Wolf’s cheek, but she evaded him. His eyes welled with tears. “Don’t lie to me! You *are* Sophia! Why won’t you acknowledge me? Why?!”

Sophia, flustered, feigned composure. “What nonsense are you spouting? I’ve never seen you before!”

Constantine stared intently at Sophia. “Fine, you can refuse to acknowledge me, but… can you tell me what our child’s name is, and what they look like?!”

At the mention of their child, Sophia’s mental defenses crumbled in an instant. Sophia shook her head, tears in her eyes. “Don’t ask. I don’t know you!”

Constantine stomped his foot in fury. “You’re crying! You’re crying and yet you say you don’t know me! Ha, haha! Sophia, I am Constantine, your husband!” Seeing Sophia still only shaking her head, the Rebellious Dragon said heartbrokenly, “Why?! Why won’t you acknowledge me?! Back then, you accidentally killed Dragon God Samuel’s sister, and I bore the burden for you. What now could possibly be something we cannot face together?!”

Du Chen and the others exchanged glances. So, it was Sophia who had killed Dragon God Samuel’s sister back then! For all these years, Constantine had been taking the blame for his wife, shouldering all the crimes himself!

“Why?!” Constantine pressed Sophia, his voice sharp. After several attempts, he gave a bitter laugh. “You won’t say, will you? Then I will…”

Sophia looked up at Constantine, her expression a mix of surprise and sorrow.

Constantine stared at Sophia and slowly said, “Back then, you accidentally killed Dragon God Samuel’s sister, and I, without questioning the reason, took the blame for you and fled across the lands with you! You vanished at Turam’s Lifeline, and I, alone, searched for you across the Three Continents for over a decade. Afterward, I merely wanted to find our child, but that scoundrel Francis exploited my desperate search… striking me down in the Great Wilderness and selling me to the Papal Curia!”

“Later, I was rescued by an organization called the Scarlet Army, but then I became trapped deep within the City of Penance in the Labyrinth of Life. Do you know, there’s no food in the City of Penance, only murky water? A whole year! I survived that entire year by drinking foul water! If the Scarlet Army hadn’t remembered I still had some use and traded with the Life Tree to rescue me, I’d still be drinking that sewage in the City of Penance!”

Constantine, emotionally distraught, glared intensely at Sophia. “All of this, I did only to find you and our child! But you… Sophia, I don’t care why you won’t acknowledge me anymore. I only ask you to tell me, what does our child look like? And is that Andy, who betrayed me, truly my biological son?!”

Sophia suddenly burst into tears. “It’s impossible! Our child… I buried them with my own hands!”

“Dead?! Our child is dead?!” Constantine stood stunned!

But Du Chen wasn't surprised by this. Sophia had ruined Bonis's plan and was captured by the Fiendkind during her pregnancy. How could her and Constantine's child possibly have met a good end?

Constantine suddenly seized Sophia. “Tell me, who killed my child!”

Sophia cried, repeatedly shaking her head. Constantine, cunning as he was, immediately pressed further, “Is someone controlling you? Who?!”

Sophia gave a bitter smile. “I can only tell you that, in the past, I was a spy for the Violet-Bloods. Back then, I didn’t ‘accidentally’ kill Dragon God Samuel’s sister; rather, Marshal Bonis ordered me to sow chaos at your wedding. But… but then I met you, and for your sake, I betrayed the Fiendkind and fled across the lands with you, thereby ruining Marshal Bonis’s plan. I didn’t go missing back then; I was captured by Bonis and tortured…”

Constantine paid no mind to Sophia’s identity as a spy. He merely muttered incessantly, “The Fiendkind killed my child, the Fiendkind killed my child…” Sophia hadn’t explicitly stated it, but with the Rebellious Dragon’s intellect, he quickly, like Du Chen, realized who the murderer of his child was!

Sophia continued, “As for whom I obey now… I truly cannot say. I can only tell you that she is a figure whom both you and I would willingly serve!”

“A figure whom both you and I would willingly serve?” Not only did this stun Constantine, but Du Chen was also somewhat bewildered. What connection could the woman behind the Lionheart King possibly have with the Rebellious Dragon!?”

But Du Chen was not of the Dragon Clan and couldn’t grasp it. Constantine, however, had a sudden glimmer of realization. He nodded. “I understand. Your following her is beyond reproach!”

Sophia continued to plead, “This is all I can tell you. You… are you serving the Scarlet Army? Constantine, I can only tell you that the person behind me is secretly plotting to destroy the Scarlet Army. If you don’t wish to clash with me, then… then by no means should you continue with the Scarlet Army!” A flash of inspiration struck Sophia, and she urgently pulled Constantine. “Oh, that’s right! You can come with me! We can pledge allegiance to her. As an internal member of the Scarlet Army, you could provide our mistress with much insider information!”

Du Chen mused, ‘That woman is getting more and more intriguing. If she’s an enemy of the Scarlet Army, then in a sense, isn’t she my ally!?’

Interesting. Once I’ve stolen the Tear Source, I’ll go back and have a frank discussion with that woman!

Constantine let out a bitter laugh. He genuinely wished to be with Sophia, and he wasn’t opposed to pledging allegiance to that woman either, but… he gently tugged at a chain around his neck. Half of this chain was visible, while the other half was concealed beneath Constantine’s robes.

“This is a shackle forged by the Scarlet Army using alchemy-based 'Weapons Clandestine Circles' and a Secret Technique of the Deed of Ownership! Its mechanism is linked to my heart. As long as I wear it, I cannot betray the Scarlet Army, nor can I even utter forbidden words concerning the Scarlet Army’s core secrets. Otherwise, the Deed of Ownership embedded within this thing will kill me on the spot! Sophia, you, I, we…”

The Rebellious Dragon suddenly burst into an unwilling, maniacal laugh. Separated for decades, they had reunited today, but with one controlled by the woman behind the Lionheart King, and the other unable to betray the Scarlet Army, how could Constantine possibly be content!?

Constantine refused to concede defeat just like that. His long, cold eyes shifted, and he sneered, “Sophia, do you still remember the Secret Technique for communication we agreed upon back then? Today, we shall part ways for now, but remember the Secret Technique. One day, I will make it so no one in this world can stop us from being together!” With that, Constantine gently kissed Sophia’s forehead. “By then, we’ll have a few more children, won’t we?”

Sophia didn’t believe Constantine could achieve this, but she also offered a bitter smile. “Alright, I’ll listen to you. You… what are you going to do? Please, don’t threaten my mistress! Her current state of mind is quite… terrifying!”

Constantine pointed to his chest. The meaning was clear: his mission was a core secret of the Scarlet Army, restricted by the Deed of Ownership, and he could not speak of it! Sophia nodded in understanding, bidding Constantine a melancholic farewell!

Du Chen rubbed his nose, thinking, ‘This is troublesome. Stealing the Tear Source is paramount; for every day delayed, who knows how many more will die. Yet, Constantine clearly carries a mission for the Scarlet Army, urgently requiring investigation. So… which path should I follow!?’

Just then, Fifth Brother lazily remarked, “Don’t overthink it. Constantine’s direction aligns with the path to the Scourge Citadel. Let’s follow him for now, and decide who goes with whom when he reaches a fork in the path!”

Du Chen looked and indeed, they were heading in the same direction. Could Constantine’s target also be the Scourge Citadel!?

Alas, this time Du Chen was mistaken. As Constantine flew, he furiously cursed the Scarlet Army in his heart, even pondering, ‘Hmph, should I deliberately botch this mission and cause some trouble for the Scarlet Army? After all, the shackle only activates if I harbor rebellious thoughts or utter forbidden words concerning its secrets. So, if I remain loyal to the Scarlet Army in name, but put in no real effort, that shouldn’t trigger the shackle, right!?’

Constantine continued to ponder with a sneer. This time, the Scarlet Army had bestowed upon him a Thirteenth-rank Battle Qi Inheritance, tasking him with finding two individuals for Margaret—Adams and Brockman—and ensuring they were delivered to her alive, no matter the cost. Though he didn’t understand the true meaning behind this peculiar command, it was evident that Margaret highly valued these two brothers. So, if he were to set a trap and harm them, would that not greatly vex Margaret?

This was merely a fleeting thought, one that Constantine quickly dismissed. He sought a long-term strategic advantage and would not act impulsively on such “minor tasks.” Moreover, he wasn’t sure if destroying the mission targets would trigger the shackle and kill him, thus he absolutely dared not take the risk! The Rebellious Dragon, still relying on intelligence gathered recently, proceeded towards Susanna’s camp of shattered remnants to find Brockman and “protect” him until he met Margaret!

Du Chen didn’t know Constantine’s thoughts. He simply rubbed his nose, clinging to the dragon, while simultaneously recalling the map provided by Huhuhu Beast King Changxi and Arthur’s intelligence, thus confirming whether Constantine was still heading in the direction of the Scourge Citadel. After flying for about ten minutes—at the speed of a dragon and Du Chen, they should have been over a hundred li from the Purple Blood Royal Capital—just then, Andy suddenly clutched his nose, complaining loudly within Du Chen’s Battle Soul.

“I’m suffocating, Master! Someone nearby is burning and slaughtering! This stench is unbearable!”

Fifth Brother Dus spoke almost simultaneously. “Francis, a great massacre is unfolding in the Mountain Hollow ahead. One individual is slaughtering thousands, and that killer’s energy signature is almost on par with your own!”

Beibei, however, pouted indignantly. “Beibei’s Spiritual Power didn’t sense anything! Oh dear, the opponent’s Spiritual Power level must be much, much higher than Beibei’s…”

As they spoke, the Rebellious Dragon didn't possess such extensive detection methods. Unaware of the perils ahead, he accelerated his flight, drawing Du Chen, who was clinging to him, rapidly closer to the massacre zone. Soon, Du Chen also caught the scent: a heaven-reaching reek of blood permeated the valley before them. However, unlike the putrid, bloody stench of Undead massacres, this was a faint, bloody aroma mingled with the acrid smell of burning corpses!

Just then, a sharp, Overbearing woman’s voice commanded, “Who goes there? Begone! I am conducting business here and dislike being disturbed!”

It was Constantine who had been discovered. Du Chen, concealed upon the Rebellious Dragon, surveyed the Mountain Hollow. His heart suddenly trembled. All those slaughtered were beastmen, and judging by their attire, they were the long-missing shattered remnants of Susanna's camp. The killer was a red-haired middle-aged woman, and from her appearance… she was precisely The Master whom Arthur had described the other day—the terrifying expert who had forced the Lionheart King to mobilize nearly a hundred thousand troops and employ the ninth tier of the three Fallen Gods' Secret Formations to merely repel her, not defeat her!

The woman coldly snapped at Constantine, then ignored him, her disdainful, arrogant gaze seemingly conveying a single message: “I’ve warned you. If you don’t leave, or dare to meddle further, I’ll kill you too!”

The red-haired woman’s gaze swept across the Mountain Hollow once more. She sneered, “Do you think you can escape by turning into water? Brockman, I’ve refined and scorched a hundred li radius of these mountains. Let’s see how you flee. Fire Domain…