Above The Sky
Chapter 1178: 176: Ian and Others Lacking Common Sense (5800, Happy New Year's Eve!)_2

Chapter 1178: Chapter 176: Ian and Others Lacking Common Sense (5800, Happy New Year’s Eve!)_2

And finally…

“Huh?”

Seeing the last one, located to the south of the camp, the Fourth Level powerhouse, Ian couldn’t help but be a bit stunned: “Both dragon and fae… both living and dead… what is that? My intelligence doesn’t have its name either…”

[It’s the Emissary from the Nation of the Dead Mountain, a friend of mine]

The King of the Mountain looked up, the silver-haired beautiful woman revealed a somewhat nostalgic smile: [Afeiboya learned a lot under the Dragon King of Death, I wonder how things are going for her lately…]

Afeiboya was clearly the representative of the ‘Nation of the Dead Mountain’. Ian recalled briefly and understood the other party’s faction.

The Nation of the Dead Mountain is located to the east of Azure Sky Royal Court, south of the Fae’s nest Falling Star City, a small country within the Heavenfall Wasteland, ruled by a Fifth Level Dragon King, [Destructor Mech Dragon] Timothael.

This Dragon King once joined forces with the fae and the Four Great Orthodox Churches to combat the Swarm proliferating in the Inner Sea of Heavenfall and, using his own body as a coordinate, assisted the fae in exterminating the Swarm Mother—grateful for His contribution, the fae recast a ‘Dead Mech Dragon Body’ for the Dragon King whose body had died.

Contrary to his name, the Dragon King of Death Timothael is a very good-tempered Dragon King, additionally fond of Demihumans and fae, those furry and adorable beings. He has good relations with the fae, with some Silver Fairies under his wing studying the relevant Sublimation Path.

This time, the Nation of the Dead Mountain is not just representing itself, it is here representing the fae, Spiritual Tool Church, Embrace Light Church, and Retrospection Sect. Its emissary is very special; besides [Skeletal Dragon] Afeiboya, there is also a Silver Fairy.

[I’ll go say hello] The King of the Mountain’s true body already made its way to the side of the camp, but that was clearly not a posture fit for easy visiting, so the silver-haired beautiful woman smiled and nodded slightly: [Take care of yourselves]

“Understood, Mother.” And Sio bid farewell warmly, almost as if he had become another person.

The King of the Mountain’s avatar left, but the question was not answered.

“They are a couple.”

Anfa noticed Ian’s confusion, she whispered beside the young man: “Afeiboya and Sio had similar experiences… But She directly relinquished her Dragon Body, studied under the Dragon King of Death, and crafted her own Mechanical Dragon Body. During this process, She met her lifelong love, a Silver Fairy who came from Falling Star City to the Nation of the Dead Mountain for study.”

“Their relationship isn’t very clear, but generally speaking, these two are inseparable and have a very potent method of combined fighting. Even though the Silver Fairy is only at the Third Level, paired with Afeiboya she can demonstrate nearly Fourth Level peak power… No wonder she became the representative of various Orthodox Churches, becoming the ‘Observer’ in this exploration mission.”

“Eye-opening.”

Ian and Yisen Gard both wore expressions of bewilderment, the young man truly felt amazed by Terra’s wonders: “Dragons and fae can indeed be… Now, I feel not a bit surprised by the marriage between humans and fae, and humans and dragons.”

These eight Fourth Level powerhouses are the backbone of the entire Exotic Species Research Institute exploration team.

As for other forces, such as Far Shore Island, Fiery Flame Land, Gantreignum, and Steep Ridge Fortress… Most are either tense due to Terra’s situation or simply sent a symbolic exploration team without bringing powerhouses, but offered some protective artifacts.

For example, the Seven Cities Alliance exploration team essentially merged with the Empire’s exploration team. They are planning a maritime military operation against Fiery Flame Land with the Empire in the Tranquil Sea. Fiery Flame Land didn’t send powerhouses because of this… Now the two countries are in full-scale war, no one would be foolish enough to believe an agreement right? Breaking the agreement at worst leads to sanctions, but actually can injure a Fourth Level from the Empire!

Regarding Gantreignum and Steep Ridge Fortress, they face threats from Azure Sky Royal Court and the Empire respectively… Far Shore Island is simply too far. They also have some geological issues needing adjustment, leaving no time to send powerhouses here.

The main exploration team is just these eight, plus the scattered ‘tour groups’ from other countries and forces.

“Interesting.”

Knowing the current situation, Ian became even more interested, he lowered his gaze, contemplating: “This way you can roughly tell the national power and factions… The Seven Cities Alliance and Steep Ridge Fortress, these two nations with only one Fifth Level, don’t have much strength to meddle with the outside world, while Far Shore Island and Fiery Flame Land, although possessing two Fifth Level powerhouses, face interference from the Empire, Seven Cities Alliance, and City of Knowledge, unable to project power.”

“Azure Sky Royal Court and Gantreignum are mutually confronting each other, the latter holds significant strength with two Fifth Levels, yet hasn’t planned to gamble by sending powerhouses across borders under war conditions.

As for Whale Song Cliff, they always refrain from such ‘external affairs,’ as the human barrier against Sea Beast; they are content holding their ground to receive support from various countries.”

As for others, such as Nine Cold Quiet Mountains, Far Sword Port, North Barren People, and Dark Mountain Fortress Nations, they currently don’t have Fifth Level, or are dependent on some Fifth Level powerhouse. They know they lack the right to do anything about the grand relics of the pre-era civilization, and thus simply didn’t even send a tour group.