Chapter 290: The "Spiral of Death" Ritual, the Mysterious "Alliance Leader"
2025-03-29 Author: Amnesty L
Tang Zheng wasn't surprised that Khajiit had guessed the method used to summon multiple angels back then was a magic scroll. The mysterious Alliance Leader who had resurrected Khajiit should have been able to figure it out.
"You're also aware that third-tier magic scrolls are quite precious," Tang Zheng said with a shrug of his shoulders.
To use magic from a magic scroll, one must possess a corresponding magic system. For example, for Tang Zheng to use an "Angel Summoning" scroll, he must have a faith-based class.
Being a dual-system caster wasn't anything astonishing.
The Khajiit before him was one such case. He was originally a faith-based magic caster but later abandoned that power to switch to the mana-based system. However, his class composition still included a faith-based class.
Tang Zheng had long since considered the possibility of Khajiit's resurrection and used an "Angel Summoning" magic scroll as a disguise. This was to make Khajiit and the Alliance Leader behind him more convinced that this mysterious spellcaster, Tang Zheng, had only used "Angel Summoning" as a pretense and wasn't actually proficient in it. This would distinguish him from the adventurer persona of "Tang, the Genius Alchemist," who was known for being skilled at "Angel Summoning."
This was also why Khajiit showed no surprise when Tang Zheng revealed his mana-based magic abilities.
"Damn you!"
Khajiit stared intently at Tang Zheng, whose casual and dismissive attitude made him grip the staff in his hand so tightly it creaked.
The fury of being killed was not so easily quelled. Even after so much time, he still couldn't forget the coldness of death's arrival, the powerlessness of struggling in the darkness.
But more than any of that!
What Khajiit resented even more was that the man had destroyed everything he had worked for—that profound wish for "death."
"It was you, you!"
A dense aura of negative energy emanated from Khajiit's entire body as his suppressed rage and resentment finally erupted in a roar, "You destroyed everything I had!"
His teeth-grinding snarl echoed through the graveyard in the dead of night, carrying a hair-raising chill.
Facing the enraged Khajiit, Tang Zheng calmly uttered four words: "Spiral of Death."
Khajiit's contorted expression froze. His breathing quickened, and he stared at Tang Zheng with a face full of disbelief.
"How could you possibly know!"
The "Spiral of Death" was an evil ritual controlled by their Zuranon. Their Alliance Leader had once turned an entire city into a place overrun by the undead.
A true city of the dead!
This was also why Zuranon's name was infamous among the nations, causing them to be viewed as an enemy and feared by many countries.
But only the internal members of their organization were supposed to know the name of the "Spiral of Death" ritual.
"Are you surprised?"
Tang Zheng's right arm emerged from his red robe, revealing a pitch-black, dark orb that looked like an ordinary stone in the palm of his hand.
"Of course, it was 'it' that told me."
Khajiit knew all too well what "it" referred to. His cold eyes stared at his former treasure, his gaze filled with both fear and desire.
It was a terrifying magic item possessing its own consciousness. The Orb of Death naturally knew everything he had done before.
"That's mine!"
Khajiit took a step forward, then stopped, shouting his claim emphatically. A complex mix of emotions flickered across his already pale and sallow face, but what remained dominant was greed and desire.
Only after his resurrection, without the Orb of Death, did he gradually realize that his mind had long been unconsciously influenced by it.
Even so!
Without the Orb of Death, his desire to truly transform into an undead had become far more difficult, perhaps even impossible.
In a daze!
Khajiit suddenly snapped out of it. He wasn't a fool; he knew Tang Zheng hadn't lured him here just to "reminisce."
After all, he wanted nothing more than to kill the man!
Although Zuranon's core members consisted of only twelve High Disciples, aside from a few true recluses, each High Disciple had a group of disciples who had sworn allegiance to them.
Even someone with Khajiit's personality had a group of subordinates.
During this time, a rumor about the suspected birth of a special undead in the Common Cemetery had spread. His disciples hiding in E-Rantel passed this information to him.
Ever since his resurrection, Khajiit had been serving by the Alliance Leader's side.
Originally, he was only supposed to stay for a few months, but after witnessing that great existence who could be called the "King of the Undead"—the legendary Night Lich known as "Terror"—
Khajiit had overstayed his welcome in the City of the Undead, basking in that greatness and the beloved embrace of negative energy.
As a result, after he reported this news to the Alliance Leader, the Alliance Leader sent him away, telling him to investigate E-Rantel and see if a special undead had truly been born.
In reality, this was a polite way of kicking him out.
Khajiit felt some resentment, but he could only obediently follow orders. After returning to E-Rantel and gathering some information, he faintly sensed that the person who killed him might be behind this.
Therefore, after entering the Common Cemetery, Khajiit deliberately made a commotion to test the waters, never expecting it to really be him!
Speaking of which.
This was supposed to be his territory, and this bastard had destroyed everything!
Another blood vessel appeared in Khajiit's eyes, yet his gaze became much clearer. He quickly contemplated Tang Zheng's true purpose and said coldly:
"You should know my identity, right?"
If he could learn of the "Spiral of Death" ritual from the Orb of Death, then knowing he was a High Disciple of Zuranon should be no problem.
In fact, the man might have known his identity from the very beginning, which was why he was able to kill him with such preparation and even snatch away his Orb of Death.
"I do know a little."
Tang Zheng let out a calm, unhurried chuckle, his head, concealed by a red hood, tilting up slightly.
"According to rumor, Zuranon is an evil secret society that relies on the undead to take radical actions, possessing immense power."
"Besides the organization's ruler, the Alliance Leader, there are also twelve High Disciples of terrifying strength. Oh, what a fearsome power indeed."
The man was clearly praising their organization.
Yet Khajiit felt it was a taunt. He, a High Disciple, had died at this man's hands, and now there were only eleven of them left!
"A pity."
Tang Zheng glanced around, seemingly shaking his head in resignation. "It's been so long, yet no one else has appeared. I was hoping to meet the Alliance Leader of your Zuranon and propose a collaboration."
"I'm quite interested in the 'Spiral of Death' ritual. To transform from a human body into an 'undead,' obtaining a state of near eternity."
"A long life, power bordering on longevity—this is a domain that even the legendary Six Great Gods failed to step into."
"The 'Curse of Death'? No, no, this is the Blessing of Death!"
As Tang Zheng spoke, his voice grew somewhat excited, yet his eyes remained perfectly calm, even revealing a hint of pity.
He had just used "Ninjutsu: Detect" to scan the surroundings. Besides Khajiit, there was indeed no one else.
Tang Zheng's original plan was to lure out the Alliance Leader of Zuranon. By displaying his own strength, he would use it as proof to join their ranks.
The pretext? The "Spiral of Death" ritual and the magic item, the Orb of Death.
If he could join successfully, the matter of the Abelion Hills could be perfectly pinned on Zuranon.
If joining wasn't possible, he could still propose a collaboration and shift the blame to Zuranon all the same.
Throughout the entire process, there was a possibility of conflict with the Zuranon Alliance Leader, but as long as Tang Zheng displayed the power of fifth-tier magic and summoned a few bone dragons, combined with the location of the Common Cemetery, the likelihood of a violent conflict escalating into a life-or-death battle would be reduced.
Furthermore!
There was another, more genuine reason. Tang Zheng wanted to confirm the identity and strength of the Zuranon Alliance Leader.
This was an extremely mysterious individual.
So mysterious that even with Tang Zheng's current strength, he had to use the word "wary."
Analyzing the limited information he had, there were quite a few High Disciples in Zuranon who had reached the Heroic Realm.
The one Tang Zheng had killed in the Great Wetland was one of them. The fact that the Alliance Leader could firmly suppress this group of people indicated that the Alliance Leader's strength was, at a minimum, in the "Heroic Realm."
If it were only that, Tang Zheng wouldn't need to describe him as "wary." Based on the limited indirect information, Khajiit had once arrogantly claimed that "a magic caster can never defeat a bone dragon." But if their leader were to ask, "Can you say that again in front of me?" he would lower his head with all his might.
From this point, it was clear that the Alliance Leader possessed the power to defeat a bone dragon—seventh-tier magic?
Tang Zheng wasn't sure.
Besides using magic higher than the sixth-tier, one could also defeat a bone dragon by attacking it with summoning magic.
After all, a bone dragon was merely a level 16 monster, with a base strength equivalent to that of a Platinum-rank adventurer.
"So that's your goal?"
Khajiit's head was half-lowered. The shadow cast by the Ruinous Temple obscured his expression, and only his constantly trembling shoulders were visible.
Suddenly.
Khajiit raised his head again, his decayed and aged face twisting. "Hahaha! You conceited fool, who do you think you are!"
"Hmph, as if you are worthy of collaborating with the Alliance Leader! After provoking Zuranon, you still dare to show your face before me, you bastard!"
"Your very existence infringes upon the majesty of Zuranon! If those are your last words, then let this be the end!"
At this very moment!
Khajiit felt he now completely understood Tang Zheng's objective. The man coveted the eternal lifespan of the undead.
It was most likely due to the influence of the Orb of Death.
As the former owner of that magic item, Khajiit knew all too well the influence and temptation the Orb of Death had on its wielder's mind.
Facing the hysterically laughing Khajiit, whose aura of negative energy was growing ever denser, Tang Zheng watched him quietly, his eyes calm.
According to his Ninjutsu detection, the man's power level was even lower than before, yet he was now acting with overflowing confidence.
(end of chapter)