Above The Sky
Chapter 1025 - 1025 113 No More Troops to Fight in Xiawei Territory!

1025: Chapter 113: No More Troops to Fight in Xiawei Territory!

(Second update, asking for monthly votes!) 1025: Chapter 113: No More Troops to Fight in Xiawei Territory!

(Second update, asking for monthly votes!) “No problem, I’ll definitely share it with you when the time comes.”

Ian solemnly promised.

In truth, he already had some conjectures.

Dragons, Fae, Elemental Lifeforms, and even Hive Mind-like organisms…

In simple terms, these were beings adapted to all environments: Void Domain beings, Origin Quality beings, and the pinnacle of Flesh and Blood lifeforms.

The innate gifts behind the Four Civilizations practically encompassed almost all lifeforms that existed on Terra.

If one also included Elf Dwarfs and various kinds of Demihumans (who adopted features of other species), Terra Humans could even claim that their race embodied the traits of most lifeforms in the universe.

Clearly, this was a biology experiment conducted on a racial scale…

The pre-Civilization likely had already prepared for interstellar migration, designing various races to adapt to the conditions of different planets.

However, this conjecture has a flaw.

“The pre-Civilization was seemingly prepared in nearly every aspect except for one—the spacecraft to venture into the far reaches of the cosmos…”

Ian muttered to himself, “That doesn’t make sense.

Look, they perfected the Crystal Dragons, modified their own race, refined various technologies to perfection—even surpassing many alien civilizations from the Sparks of the cosmos, those species capable of traversing the universe.

Yet, in certain aspects, they couldn’t rival the pre-Civilization’s accomplishments.”

“This isn’t surprising.

Before the Calamity of Heavenly Fall, the pre-Civilization already assimilated numerous Sparks and signed contracts with True Dragons, gaining plenty of knowledge from them…

In essence, they were a cosmic civilization, just one that hadn’t left their homeland yet.”

“But why?

Why focus on researching technologies only useful ‘after migration’ instead of prioritizing spacecraft development?”

There are two possibilities.

First: Regarding that ‘Creator’s spacecraft’ responsible for the Calamity of Heavenly Fall.

Ian speculated that the pre-Civilization might not have needed their own spacecraft to leave the Terra Starfield because another civilization would transport them away.

It was this belief that led them to neglect spacecraft development and instead focus all their efforts on excelling in other areas.

Second: Based on the information Ian obtained from the Qing Steel Dragon’s memories and the words of the Ancestral True Dragon…

Ian hypothesized that the Terra Starfield was a specially chosen domain.

The Creators and Ancestral True Dragons had a grand plan here, and Terra people, as the indigenous residents, signed contracts and cooperated with the True Dragons, hence eliminating the need to migrate away.

Yet, both possibilities had numerous flaws…

Ian pondered these deeply and felt many aspects didn’t quite add up.

Take the former, for instance.

If Terra Humans truly had contact with the Creators, how could they possibly be unaware of the arrival time of the spacecraft and be caught completely off-guard by the Heavenfall?

As for the latter…

The main issue was that the True Dragons’ ‘plan’ was simply too unclear—who could possibly discern what their intent might be?

Ian had too little information to reach a definitive conclusion.

“Perhaps the Terra Dragon knows something.”

Thinking about this, the memory of the Terra Dragon’s actions and thoughts during its retrospection surfaced in Ian’s mind.

Evidently, it knew about the contract and the plan, but the Calamity of Heavenly Fall prevented it from leaving behind anything before perishing.

Still, if its Spark…

[Terra Spark] remained—then Ian could use the ‘Glimmer Cradle System’ from the Qing Steel Dragon to analyze and uncover the truth!

There are far too many unsolved mysteries on Terra.

But one thing is certain.

The pre-Civilization designed so many races in order to merge the strengths of all accessible species into themselves.

This, in essence, was the true intent behind the “Sublimation Path”…

Or rather, the current Sublimators of Terra embody this philosophy by absorbing the advantages and powers of Magical Beasts into themselves.

It’s no different from the pre-Civilization utilizing technological means for universal genetic modification—they simply achieved it faster through the Magic Potion System, attaining the Fifth Energy Level.

Ian believed that given Terra’s current circumstances, attempting a revival of the ancient universal genetic modification for sublimation was impossible…

During the Lost Epoch, the human genetic pool was heavily polluted by various aliens, alien forms, and Magical Beasts—each individual’s genetic makeup was different, making purity restoration extremely challenging.

Still, this isn’t absolute…

Ian had a hunch that the plan behind the Four Civilizations wasn’t as simple as it appeared.

He documented these thoughts and then chatted with Yisen Gard a while longer.

Recently, Yisen Gard and Master Gossay stayed put in the Eastern Plains, engaging with local alchemists to exchange techniques and partake in multiple academic symposia.

They immersed themselves in Alchemy research just like any teacher-student pair ardently pursuing their expertise in the field.

However, Yisen Gard’s identity predetermined that he couldn’t pass his days so peacefully.

[There’s a secret observation task from the Imperial Capital inviting me and my teacher to participate—it’s said to involve Canaan Moore,]

Yisen Gard remarked, [It concerns a slew of classified information.

My teacher and I might be unreachable for a while…

But once I return, I’ll definitely tell you all about it!]

“Hm…

Canaan Moore, huh?”

Ian furrowed his brow instead; the Empire and Canaan Moore’s intensifying collaboration wasn’t surprising—it was inevitable.

But mention of secrecy and observation tasks…

naturally led one to associate it with the Great Void beneath Canaan Moore concerning the Qing Steel Dragon juvenile.

(Could it be that even Master Gossay might participate?)

Ian thought it over and deemed it highly likely.

Yet, he couldn’t reveal the idea outright…

After all, maintaining an air of anticipation and mystery was key.

Concluding his communications with Master Gossay and Yisen Gard, Ian felt he had gleaned much.

One could not deny that the scope of knowledge any individual could learn was limited.

But if someone had enough friends and collaborators, they could uncover plenty of information and knowledge previously beyond their reach.

“Next, it’s time to find the Foreseeing Bifoliate…

and meet with the Retrospection Sect’s people.”

Rising to his feet, Ian stretched lazily, adjusted his weapons and gear, then headed for the door.

To be honest, he was deeply curious…

The fabled Forest Sea blessing of the Great Redwood Forest—the Foreseeing Bifoliate, which could grant glimpses of the future—what kind of miraculous object could it be?

And such an artifact possessing prophetic abilities, when faced with him, a true Prophet, might it have additional effects?

…

Meanwhile.

The Fiery Flame Land’s Dragon Worship Cult core member, codenamed ‘Mojian,’ a master swordsman, was now Ian’s captive, imprisoned at Harrison Port.

Restrained by specialized equipment designed to detain Sublimators, his entire body was immobilized to the extent that even breathing required immense effort.

On top of that, he was subjected to the dissociative alchemical toxins of dispersed Origin Quality—once capable of slicing through iron with a gesture or splitting city walls with a single sword stroke, the Sublimator was now incapable of even blinking easily.

As though his misfortune wasn’t enough, two fully armed knights stood on either side of him, while a white-haired, white-bearded, sturdy yet slightly short elder confronted him for interrogation.

“Your two accomplices have already confessed.”

Elder Pude stood before the Dragon Worship Cult assassin, who had attempted to murder Ian but ended up defeated by Ian’s Green Tide and Viscount Grant’s joint efforts.

With a cold voice, he questioned, “They admitted to being pawns of the Elven Councilors, with no personal grudge against Ian…

But you, Mojian.

While you’ve had run-ins with Ian, risking your life for an assassination still seems somewhat irrational.”

“Tell me the truth.

You might have a chance to escape this alive.”

Elder Pude didn’t apply torture—any punishment inflicted couldn’t possibly surpass the agonizing, body-wrecking sensation of consuming Magic Potions, which felt akin to internal organ destruction via horrid, burning contortions.

It was simply futile to expect Sublimators to yield under ordinary bodily or psychological pain.

They would speak merely when they wanted or were permitted to.

Thus, Elder Pude aimed to make Mojian reveal what he deemed permissible.

After all, the more detailed the report to the Empire when requesting compensation (even though no lives had been lost), the likelier it was to be approved.

As for Mojian’s future?

Being a prisoner with ties to the Dragon Worship Cult, possessing remarkable Bloodline and talents, there were various profitable avenues available: he could be handed over to the Empire for ransom negotiations with Fiery Flame Land or sold directly to institutions like the Spirit Wisdom Institute for experimentation—pure gains, no losses.

Even being a lab subject for the Spirit Wisdom Institute was still considered a path to survival.

How could such a kind elder like Pude possibly be lying?

Mojian raised his eyelids.

He had wanted to sneer but lacked the strength: “I am a person of the Fiery Flame Land.

Do Fiery Flame Land people need a reason to kill Imperial People?”

“Give it a rest.

You aren’t one of the Nemasases Bloodline.”

The elder, who had firsthand experience of that era, waved dismissively as though he had heard something laughable: “You’re one of the Abassalom Bloodline—where’s your great animosity against the Empire?

Besides, from your appearance, you clearly did not grow up in impoverished circumstances requiring you to risk your life as a soldier.”

“That said, if you truly refuse to cooperate, that’s fine too.

Tell me—is there a rescue force coming for you?

Don’t think concealing their whereabouts protects them.

Before they strike, negotiations can still resolve matters and minimize losses.

If they move forward with action…

you prisoners will certainly be the first casualties.”

“Stop probing.”

Mojian wasn’t fazed by Elder Pude’s tactics—he knew the elder was bluffing, trying to gauge whether they had reinforcements and, if so, roughly when they might arrive.

All this could be deduced from his expressions and responses.

But in reality, Mojian didn’t need to hide his thoughts.

“Let’s not even mention that the headquarters wouldn’t bother sending troops to rescue a group of failures like us.”

The swordsman, who had already resigned himself to death, slowly lifted his head and sneered, “Even if reinforcements existed, they certainly wouldn’t directly attack Harrison Port…

Our target is to wreak havoc in Xiawei Domain.

If we can’t kill the Lord, then we cause chaos in the cities.”

“Right now, the Lord of Xiawei Domain and its strongest forces are absent, leaving Xiawei Domain defenseless…

Old man, where do you think our reinforcements might be?”

“Don’t tell me…”

Elder Pude’s expression revealed astonishment.

And Mojian sneered coldly, “That’s right—that’s exactly it!”

“At this moment, they’ve probably already infiltrated the interior of Xiawei Domain and begun their sabotage!”