Above The Sky
Chapter 438 - 438 408 Dragon Worship Cult Am I taking the blame this time

438: Chapter 408: Dragon Worship Cult: Am I taking the blame this time?

(3/3) 438: Chapter 408: Dragon Worship Cult: Am I taking the blame this time?

(3/3) Ian thought of Baron Leyan.

This nobleman, who was popular with the domain residents before his exposure, would have enjoyed a high reputation locally if it weren’t for his madness in capturing people for experimentation.

Because the Baron would use the money he earned from the sale of Radiance Grass and other Sublimation and Spirit Energy Plants to subsidize the local residents, allowing them to grow normal crops, import food for storage, and ensure stable food prices, so that everyone could settle down with peace of mind within his territory.

Why?

Because even if he gave the entire domain a hundred years’ worth of subsidies, it wouldn’t be as profitable as the sale of a cartload of Radiance Grass from a fire dragon burning a warehouse.

The nobility, the ecosystem of Sublimators, had become disconnected from ordinary people.

The resources needed by the former were unattainable for the latter, who could not possibly hunt Beast Demons frequently, while the former, even if they accumulated food in a dozen granaries, could not use it to transcend themselves.

But this disconnection caused a concern to rise in Ian’s heart.

For a civilization system that is skewed towards the primitive, such ‘decoupling’ is essentially a rift on the level of life…

it’s not even about the solidification of social classes.

The ecologies had become completely misaligned.

“A Fifth Power Level Sublimator…

can’t even engage in battle on the planet, a dragon passing overhead at twenty times the speed of sound is enough to destroy ten cities.”

Watching the joyful scenes among the residents of Twin Trees Town, Ian harbored a very complex emotion: “The only value ordinary people have for Higher Ascenders…

is to select new Sublimator seeds.”

“Nothing more.”

After a silence, Ian shook his head and no longer pondered over this issue.

He bid farewell to Mr.

Silver Workshop and entered Twin Trees Town.

It took him about five minutes to find his target in a tavern.

The green-haired Elf sat contentedly in a noisy corner at the edge of the tavern, where although it was still very noisy, one was at least less likely to be noticed.

But because of his appearance, it was a bit difficult to be low-key.

Anfa politely declined three groups of people who invited him to drink with them, and one of those groups was even men.

Whether the others were male or female, Anfa was always exceedingly polite.

His upbringing was definitely not ordinary, not the demeanor that a typical scholar possesses, but Ian didn’t care about this.

If the other party was indeed related to the Dragon Worship Cult and could draw a dragon to find him, then such behavior, in his own view, must seem quite ordinary and common.

“I don’t drink alcohol; I hope you don’t mind if I have tea instead.”

Ian strode over, then stood in front of the surprised Anfa and said intriguingly, “Scholar Anfa, your whereabouts are quite enigmatic.”

“Guide Knight, I didn’t expect to meet you here,” replied the Elf Scholar with a smile, clearing away the wine bottles from Ian’s side of the table.

“I’m not really fond of alcohol either, but blending in with the local atmosphere is clearly the more rational approach.”

Ian sat down with a smile, seriously sizing up the other party, and Anfa returned the courtesy with a polite smile.

However, the next statement from the young man caused the scholar’s expression to stiffen: “Your friend found me yesterday, asking where you were, and I thought you had already returned to the mountain, so I suggested he look for you there.”

“I did not expect to see you in town today, which is somewhat embarassing.

I’m afraid that guy made a trip in vain—I didn’t mean to deceive him.”

“He…

actually came out to ask you where I was?”

The Elf Scholar also seemed bewildered as he swirled his wine glass, blinking, with disbelief in his golden eyes: “This is ridiculous, too ridiculous…

I am sorry, Guide Knight, it is definitely not your fault.”

Regaining composure, Anfa stood up and bowed courteously to Ian: “This is a communication error between me and my friend.

Your guess was correct; I would not have returned to Twin Trees Town if it hadn’t been for an accident.”

“It’s not a big deal.” Ian didn’t lie and directly informed Anfa of the fact: “We set out tomorrow morning to find your friend; in a few days, you should be able to meet him.

He’s riding a pony; it shouldn’t be fast…”

This trip to specifically find Anfa was deliberate on Ian’s part.

He had already noticed that he was being followed since leaving Leyan Territory, and not by just one person.

One of them was Sio, the disguised dragon.

And the identity of the other was unclear.

It might be for the Dragon Worship Cult, hence related to Anfa; it could also be related to the interests of Leyan Territory and the Spirit Wisdom Institute.

Although Sio volunteered to help resolve this, how could Ian agree?

He was not foolish enough to let a dragon help to chase away the pursuers.

If discovered, wouldn’t that also inexplicably tie him to the Dragon Worship Cult?

If he were just an ordinary knight, investigating would be over, as dragons like to play tricks on humans, which is not unusual.

But Ian could not withstand scrutiny.

He truly possessed an Ancient Dragon Heart Core!

Because there really was a bull, the situation was getting complicated.

Ian even speculated that the dragon had, like the Red-haired Mountaineer Elder he encountered at the Indigo Mountain Gorge Entrance, detected a trace of dragon essence on him, and had thus come to test and court him intentionally.

Ian was indeed quite interested in the Dragon Worship Cult, especially information related to Ancient Dragons, which from normal channels would doubtlessly require a long wait to acquire.

But given his current identity, it was clearly unwise to become involved with the Dragon Worship Cult for no reason.

But that didn’t mean that Ian couldn’t use the other party’s power.

For instance, by hinting at Anfa to set off and leave Twin Trees Town to find Sio.

In doing so, if the second person following him detached and went after Anfa, it would indicate that the person was targeting the Dragon Worship Cult—this would save a lot of trouble, as Sio would certainly have a way to deal with them.

And Ian could find an opportunity to lend a hand, and subtly investigate how those people were able to detect the dragon-related essence on him, so he could keep it under control.

This matter was of great importance.

Ian believed that the reason he saw blood-red fate upon entering Nauman City in the Foresight View was highly likely because he hadn’t managed to conceal the dragon blood essence in his body and was discovered by forces still searching for the Dragon Worship Cult.

And the reason the danger would diminish after waiting for a while was because the ones sensitive to the dragon blood had left.

But leaving was just temporary; the real issue was the rest of his life.

Without resolving the issues regarding Dragon Blood, how could Ian possibly be at ease going to the Imperial Capital?

It hardly mattered in a rural place like South Ridge, but the Imperial Capital definitely had related powerhouses.

And the second possibility.

If the enemy wasn’t coming for Anfa, but for himself…

Then, things would be much simpler.

Ian’s gaze lowered; he had several methods to get the Dragon Worship Cult to actively help him with his troubles and owe them a favor.

Then naturally, without any doubts, tell them how to conceal Dragon Blood.

He might even proactively earn his way into their ranks!

Offering himself to join the Dragon Worship Cult and being invited to join by the Dragon Worship Cult were two entirely different concepts!

“I’m sorry, we may not be able to wait until morning.”

Anfa was also a smart person, but precisely because he was too sharp, he realized Ian wasn’t lying.

The descriptions were very real and rational.

Moreover, he vaguely sensed the aura of that unreliable friend on Ian, so he quickly surmised the potential course of events.

Nights bring too many dreams; he had to set off immediately and find the other party as soon as possible.

“Please forgive me, Guide Knight, and I thank you for your help and reminder.

I must leave immediately.”

Having packed his books and clothes, Anfa still said his farewells to Ian politely: “Wishing you a pleasant night.”

“No need to thank me; I’m also compensating for the trouble my random guess has caused.”

And Ian smiled as he said goodbye to Anfa.

Some time later, after finishing a plate of meat at the local tavern, he left the tavern with an unsurprised expression and casually glanced outside of Twin Trees Town.

The purple mist was still there, and even a malicious red glow had begun to spill out.

It seemed they planned to make their move against him tonight, after all unexpected factors were eliminated.

“Good, it looks like it’s targeted at me.

A Second Energy Level wants to take on the First Energy Level?

That’s too easy.

Whether I leave Twin Trees Town or get attacked in my sleep, he’s confident he can ‘stun and kidnap’ the First Energy Level in an instant.”

Unsurprised, Ian had a countermeasure: “Since that’s the case, I’ll grant him his wish.”

If he was going to be ambushed anyway, he might as well create an opportunity for the other party to attack him.

Ian wanted to see who exactly it was, whether it was the Spirit Wisdom Institute or some mysterious organization that was making a move against him!

He acted on his thoughts, disguising his intent by feigning an interest in watching the night sky, and walked towards a quiet corner of the town.

The young man gazed up at the moonlight and soon arrived at the edge of the town.

The guards at the gate wanted to stop Ian—those who leave or enter the town at night need to report, after all, Twin Trees Town used to be a fortress, and now it’s an important material transit hub; security was naturally tight.

But after Ian showed his Knight’s Crest, it all became simple.

With the guards’ salutes, he left Twin Trees Town and arrived at the moat beside it, as if taking a leisurely stroll around the city.

Such an action wasn’t surprising for a young knight who had just left his hometown after a long journey to arrive at another bustling town; it was to be expected.

Ian slowly walked into the fields, his silver-white Armored Clothing blending with the moonlight, even removing his helmet to fully breathe in the fresh air around him.

And at that moment, a shadow silently approached the young man.

The shadow didn’t find all this very easy.

In fact, he had been following the young man shortly after Ian left Leyan City.

Perhaps because they were in the wilderness, Ian was very cautious.

Although he was confident he could subdue the other party instantly, Holy Hall Enforcers Redemption Light and Glorious Sword were on duty within Leyan Territory.

The slightest anomaly could bring two fighters almost at his level to the scene.

There was no need to take such a risk.

But who would have thought that once a little further from Leyan Territory, the shadow was alarmed to discover that someone else related to the Dragon Worship Cult, just like him, had their sights on Ian.

—What was going on?

Full of doubt, the shadow decided to wait patiently, then watched, perplexed, as the Red-haired Mountaineer from the Dragon Worship Cult had a simple dinner with Ian before parting ways.

Although he could have acted, a Dragon had just flown by, and he was not eager to provoke the Dragon Worship Cult alone.

Thus, he continued to observe the situation after the Red-haired Mountaineer had left.

That’s when things got complicated.

The next day, Ian spent the whole day walking on the main road teeming with people; it was daytime, and an attack would likely be discovered—there was no way to keep it silent.

He waited until Ian entered the city; he couldn’t find an opportunity.

Until now, this troublesome yet lucky young knight had finally foolishly run into the open fields all alone!

Like a gentle breeze, the shadow approached silently.

His body amassed power, reaching out stealthily toward Ian’s Armored Clothing.

But a hand was placed on his wrist.

Then, Ian turned his head, looking toward the momentarily stunned figure with a solemn expression, yet he was subtly smiling undetectably.

Immediately after, a cry echoed throughout the town.

“Enemy attack!”

“Dragon Worship Cult!

Enemy attack!”