In the forest wilderness outside Hangzhou.
Yu Shishi was surrounded by a blazing golden sea of fire. Scorching heat rushed toward her, causing fragrant sweat to stream down her body, while her plump, moist red lips grew dry and cracked.
She clenched her teeth and endured the pain, shouting angrily, "You dogs of the Research Council, I will never reveal any information about the Totem!"
Hearing this, the canine-faced man sized her up from head to toe. His gaze lingered on Yu Shishi's sweat-soaked clothes, which clung tightly to her body, turning faintly translucent and outlining her graceful, alluring curves. He let out a lewd chuckle and said, "Even if she's an aberrant, she still has a unique kind of flavor."
At those words, Yu Shishi's face drained of color. She understood that falling into the hands of the Research Council meant not only inhuman experiments, but also wanton humiliation.
She had already made her decision, she would rather die than be captured alive by these two. She would not even leave behind a corpse.
Buzz—buzz—buzz!
Just as Yu Shishi was preparing to fight desperately, a massive disturbance suddenly came from the distant horizon. An enormous swarm of green moths surged in, blotting out the sky, endless in number.
"This is…" Yu Shishi panicked, instantly realizing what the moth swarm intended to do. She tried to stop them, crying out, "Green moths… you?!"
But the moment the green moth tide reached the forest engulfed in golden flames, they plunged in without hesitation, wave after wave, endlessly.
Boom—boom—boom!
Instantly, countless moth corpses fell from the golden sea of fire. Each moth ignited the moment it entered, blooming into a small flame. Golden firelight scattered across the sky like fireworks—beautiful, dreamlike, like a fairy tale.
Moths flying into the flame!
"No—!"
Yu Shishi's emotions collapsed. She wept in agony, her body staggering as she fell onto the ground littered with countless charred insect corpses. She looked up at the sky, where innumerable golden-flamed insects drifted down like falling snow, and carefully lifted one trembling cluster in her hands.
She watched helplessly as the moth in her pale palm was wrapped in golden flames, gradually carbonizing as its life aura faded away.
"Why?! Why?!"
Before long, under the fearless onslaught of the green moths, more than half of the forest fire was extinguished. They used their very lives to forcibly carve out a safe path.
On the other side, Zeng Guanglie and the canine-faced man from the Magic Association's Research Council were also trapped amid the brave harassment of the moth swarm. Spell after spell was unleashed, annihilating vast numbers of moths.
Even so, Zeng Guanglie grew increasingly irritated and said angrily, "These damned annoying insects."
Yu Shishi had no time to mourn. She forcibly steadied herself, then turned back to look at the two men surrounded by the green insect tide. With hatred in her eyes, she muttered, "One day, I will tear you into pieces."
She regarded the moths as her own kind. Though their lives were short, she was unwilling to let them die in such a way.
Even so, Yu Shishi dared not waste the moths' sacrifice. She decisively spread her wings, shot straight into the sky, and fled far away.
Seeing this, the canine-faced man shouted, "Zeng Guanglie, stop her! The moth woman is escaping!"
Hearing this, Zeng Guanglie looked toward the distant figure of Yu Shishi disappearing into the horizon. He frowned, then sneered. "Forget it. Let her go. We'll follow behind her and wait for a chance to find clues about the Totem."
"A mere aberrant moth woman may be valuable, but she clearly doesn't interest Lord Su Lu, the ruler of Asia. But a Totem is different, rumor has it that it involves the might of an Emperor. That should definitely interest Lord Su Lu."
The canine-faced man nodded thoughtfully and said in a low voice, "Don't worry. I've already marked her with my curse aura. She won't be able to escape."
The two exchanged a knowing smile. The canine-faced man suggested, "How about we report this to Lord Su Lu first? A Totem has at least Monarch-level strength, like that towering Black Serpent in Hangzhou. It's not something we can handle alone."
"It would be best if Lord Su Lu could send some capable subordinates."
Zeng Guanglie pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Very well."
Dubai, Asian Magic Association Mage Tower.
In the Sky Conference Hall, radiant sunlight poured down through the sheer curtains, softening as it illuminated the entire hall in brilliant clarity.
This place had always served as the highest meeting chamber of the Asian Magic Association. Many major decisions were discussed here by the councilors, eventually reaching a consensus.
At this moment, a fierce argument had broken out.
At the head seat, Su Lu spoke calmly. "In my view, not all regions of Asia border the ocean. Therefore, I do not support having the Asian Magic Association step in to handle this plan. Don't individual countries have their own guardians? Let them deal with it themselves."
A councilor nodded in agreement and said, "Since Councilor Su Lu has chosen to veto it, then the coastal defense plan will be put on hold."
As the words fell, Shao Zheng finally could no longer endure it. He retorted sharply, "When the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold. I hope everyone here understands this principle."
"The oceans have always belonged to international territory, yet it is us coastal nations who bear the burden of defending the seas for more than two hundred countries."
"The Sea Demon calamity has always been humanity's greatest hidden danger. If we cannot unite all of Asia, or even all five continents, then one day everyone here will pay the price!"
Su Lu smiled faintly and said, "Shao Zheng, aren't you simply trying to use the power of international mages to guard the Eastern Coastline for your Jiuzhou? If you truly believe the ocean is too dangerous, you can hand over those sea territories to other countries. I believe Yingzhou and the Southern Ocean nations would be more than willing to help you take over."
A murderous glint flickered in Shao Zheng's eyes. "What do you mean by that?!"
In the end, the argument concluded without resolution. Shao Zheng stormed out angrily, leaving behind his final words.
"Our territory—we will, of course, defend it with everything we have. But to those representatives who signed the veto, remember this well. If one day your countries are besieged on all sides, and you find yourselves in need of Jiuzhou's support, you'd better remember today's cold indifference toward us…"
The leaders of the various nations present were unconcerned. They were all major figures who knew many hidden truths and clearly understood the true target of the Ocean Empire's resurgence.
This was an old feud.
The long-standing enmity between the Jiuzhou Totem Empire and the Sea Demon Empire.
After the Totems collapsed, the Ocean Empire was gravely wounded and retreated to recover for thousands of years before rising again from the perilous seas. Carrying hatred, they vowed to take revenge on the descendants of Jiuzhou's Totems.
At the same time, they sought to expand their empire and swallow vast stretches of land.
Most Asian countries would not be heavily affected.
After the council session ended, Su Lu sat in his office. A female subordinate assistant stepped forward to report.
The female mage said in a flattering, ingratiating tone, "Your Majesty, news has come from the Eastern Sea Magic Association. They claim to have discovered concrete information regarding a Totem. However, since it is within Jiuzhou, they hope you will send reinforcements."
"Oh?" Su Lu paid no mind to her form of address and instead revealed an interested expression.
Within the Asian Magic Association, Su Lu's ambitions were common knowledge, he wished to become humanity's emperor and hold dominion over everything.
Su Lu believed that although a system of mutual restraint could maintain a certain balance, corruption and decay would inevitably follow. Such a system could never unite all of humanity's strength to conquer and expand. A dictator was necessary—someone who could ensure the race maintained efficient and decisive wartime command.
Many believed in this ideology, which was why they privately addressed Su Lu as "Your Majesty."
Su Lu closed his eyes to rest and said, "Interesting. But since it's ultimately Jiuzhou's territory, just send some international mercenaries. For example, a few from the Dirlang Association."
"Oh, right—something seems to have gone wrong at Parthenon. We can take this opportunity to have those medicinal mountains expanded."
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Fairy Tail{30 Chapters}
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