Badge in Azure

Saleen did what he did in order to strike fear in the Sikeqinyans and also to lure more Holy Masters into descending. Without the blood soul tower, what could he use to lure Holy Masters?

A blood soul tower would need to contain at least 10,000 souls in order to be effective.

Sharman’s gaze was dim. She wanted to become a general, not because she wanted to kill, but because she thought it would be an impressive thing to do. She wanted to lead countless soldiers into battles. In her heart, battles were games that noble families played, where both sides exchanged prisoners and money.

When she had first arrived, she came with the armies bringing up the rear, so she did not get to see the terror outside of Lonestar City. Later she managed to witness everything, and she could not take it.

“Sharman, the Qins have a saying that those that are kind at heart are not fit to lead armies. If you feel that what I have done is wrong, then return to your sister.” Saleen did not intend to change nor lecture Sharman. If she was unable to carry out his order, then she was not fit to become a general for him.

The ability to fight was one thing, but the determination to execute strategies was an entirely different thing. Many people might be able to strategize better than their generals, but they never understood the real meaning of battles.

“But Brother Saleen, they don’t deserve to die like this!” Sharman pointed into the distance, where light-armored knights were going around and making sure that all the injured enemy soldiers were properly killed. Saleen did not need prisoners, so the soldiers were merely carrying out his order.

“They should not have appeared here either!” Lex said coldly. “Sharman, you must know that there are two million citizens of Metatrin Kingdom behind us. If the enemy had managed to pass through Lonestar City, it would have been Metatrin Kingdom that ended up like this.”

Sharman stopped arguing. She realized that all the people around her were looking at her in the same way. It was exactly the way her parents looked at her when she was young. There was no sympathy or sarcasm. They were just looking at her as if they were looking at a child.

“There is another saying in the Qin Empire, that the best way to end a war is to make sure all your enemies are killed.” With that, Lex and her bodyguards charged ahead.

She could sense that Sharman was fond of Saleen, but it was not quite love. That affection would only deepen as she grew older. Lex did not wish for Saleen to have any other women. There was nothing she could do about Sika since they already had children before Lex and Saleen were married.

Sharman aside, even if the Goddess of Myers was revived, Lex would never allow Saleen to get close to her. She really hoped that all the women that might be fond of Saleen would get away from him.

There were tears in Saleen’s eyes as Lex left. He stopped himself from chasing after her. When Lex charged past a burning tentage, a human figure suddenly attacked her with the stab of a sword.

This human figure was lightning quick. Before the hooves of Lex’s warhorse landed, the sword had already appeared while being shrouded with golden sword aura.

The golden grand swordmaster had been hiding in this burning tentage while waiting for any important people in the Metatrin army to pass by. Hundreds of bodyguards were following behind Lex and she was dressed like a mage of importance, hence the golden grand swordmaster decided to take his chance.

In a situation like that, where a golden grand swordmaster ambushed a grade-9 mage at close range, the outcome should not surprise anyone.

Sharman shouted and was about to charge ahead with her sword drawn. Saleen stopped her just as a rainbow shield appeared in front of Lex. There was a clear and crisp sound as the golden grand swordmaster’s long sword pierced through the shield. There was a cold smile on his face. How could a grade-9 magic shield possibly block golden sword aura?

Lex grinned. She had already raised her left hand with the God’s Ring. A small shield drifted in front of the tip of the golden grand swordmaster’s sword.

Ting…

The golden grand swordmaster’s attack was blocked by the small shield. He was taken aback and realized that he had fallen into a trap. This sorcerer had already discovered his presence long ago. There was no way she would be killed by his attack.

The golden grand swordmaster tried to withdraw his sword, only to see the corners of the sorcerer’s mouth curl up. All she said was, “Dissipate!”

With that, the golden grand swordmaster felt as if the sword aura in his body has really dissipated and his powers were disappearing.

The bodyguards behind Lex unleashed hundreds of arrows from elf crossbows.

The golden grand swordmaster was so weak that, when he tried to withdraw his sword, it was stuck in the rainbow shield. By the time he decided to give up on his sword, half a second had already passed.

Amidst the rain of arrows, his golden sword aura dissipated out of his body. None of the arrows, that were dipped with purple-gold fluid, hit his body.

Lex smiled and shouted again, “Dissipate!”

She was not loud, but the golden grand swordmaster could feel the sword aura in his body resonate with her voice and dissipate for real. The golden grand swordmaster suddenly remembered a myth about the Grukos clan, but it was too late. The bodyguards behind Lex kept shooting their arrows. His golden sword aura had completely dissipated, so the crossbow arrows finally managed to pierce through his armor and into his body.

Lex pulled back her warhorse and retreated slowly. The golden grand swordmaster’s long sword as still stuck in her rainbow shield.

With hundreds of arrows in his body, the golden grand swordmaster knew that he was not going to live. There was shock and hatred in his eyes. He pointed at Lex, as if there was something he wanted to say. Unfortunately, a new batch of crossbow arrows rained down on him, half of them piercing his head and causing it to explode.

A golden grand swordmaster has just died in a very strange and unfortunate way.

After making sure that the golden grand swordmaster’s head has completely turned into dust, Lex put away her magic shield and the golden grand swordmaster’s long sword. Weapons wielded by golden grand swordmasters were of high quality, or they would not be able to handle the power of the golden sword aura.

Saleen was finally relieved when he saw Lex returning. He had realized that the golden grand swordmaster was lying in ambush in that tentage and could barely stop himself when Lex had charged forward. Even though Saleen knew that Lex had her God’s Ring, he was still very nervous.

This was different from him taking the risk himself. Saleen was not in the position to deal with the golden grand swordmaster on Lex’s behalf.

When Lex returned, she threw the golden grand swordmaster’s long sword to one of her bodyguards and walked towards the nameless river while making sure to avoid eye contact with Sharman. Saleen and Lex made eye contact along the way. He frowned and urged his Nightmare warhorse to catch up with Lex.

“Lex, what happened?”

“What Sharman did is going to affect you.”

“How can that be?”

“How will it not?” Lex looked back at Saleen. Her blue eyes were like a flowing river.

Saleen followed Lex as she walked along the frozen river. He did not understand why Lex would ask that question. He did not desire Sharman in any way and he did not even treat her as a younger sister. Sharman was just the sister of Duchess Guya, not his.

Amongst the four Dukes and Duchesses, Aini specialized in death magic and was also very proficient in lead troops into battles. That was his talent. The three Duchesses had to rely on buying troops and horses but gave most of their attention to construction.

While Saleen had been fully focused on expanding his military power, the three Duchesses had been expanding his constructions. Quite a number of medium-scale cities could be found in Metatrin Kingdom and most of them were modeled after Phoenix. Most of the credit had to go to the three Duchesses.

Seeing Saleen become speechless, Lex said, “Saleen, I don’t have the time to help you groom a general.”

Saleen laughed bitterly. “Lex, Sharman’s sister…”

“She’s very pretty. I like Guya too,” Lex continued, leaving Saleen speechless.

“Let’s send her to Daliang City,” Saleen said finally. He vaguely understood where Lex was coming from. Since Sharman could not understand the rationale behind the things they did, then she should not stay and become the commander of the elite army, even if she might be strong and talented. She would be a burden to the military if she could not carry out the tasks of the king.

Lex had wanted to reject the idea, but she thought a bit more about it. If Sharman continued to stay by Saleen’s side, it was only a matter of time before she became a problem. If Sharman was sent to Daliang City, she would only have to guard the city. Within the next three to five years, Daliang City should not be involved in any battles.

Sharman was kind-hearted, so she would definitely do her best for the people in the city.

“Alright, Saleen. A king shouldn’t behave like you…” All of a sudden, Lex regretted what she said and stopped herself immediately. Saleen was right beside her. “Rulers should have sympathy and not care about one’s personal feelings.” Momentarily, Lex did not know how to soften the atmosphere, so she brought up a common saying of the Grukos royal family.

“Saleen repeated it softly, “Rulers should have sympathy and not care about one’s personal feelings. Who said this?”

“A Grukos did.”

“Well said. I think ending the war of the Mainland as quickly as we can is the way we can sympathize and be merciful. If we allow ourselves to be side-tracked during the war, then it must be due to personal feelings. Lex, am I right to say that?” Saleen asked seriously.

“Something like that.” Lex was relieved that Saleen did not seem to mind her tone in the beginning. She did not wish to guide Saleen in any way. He was doing well and would continue to do so even without her urging him. It was just that she felt very uncomfortable with the way Sharman was talking to Saleen.

“Alright, I will send Sharman to Daliang City so that she can take her time to gain more experience. I will not see her again until she changes her mindset. I’m afraid this war will continue on for a long time.” Saleen’s tone became solemn.

“Hmm, as you wish, your Highness,” Lex said softly. Saleen’s heart was filled with joy but they were too near to the battlefield and the smell of blood still filled the air. He was in no mood to be intimate with Lex.

“Lex, I’m a bit worried about what we have to do next. I really don’t know how tomorrow will turn out.” Saleen changed the subject.

“What’s there to worry about? If we don’t succeed, we will either die or become sacrificial items of the bond. When you have no other way out, you just have to do it.”

“Sacrificial items?” Saleen repeated softly as he recalled the tablet left behind by the Goddess. If he tried to destroy it with a grade-19 Star Gathering Needle, would the bond still take effect? The idea quickly began to take root in Saleen’s head. The thousand-year bond had been a great burden to him and all his actions were forced by the bond.

He regretted signing that damned bond just for the seeds of the divine tree. Nevertheless, the grade-19 Star Gathering Needle had given him hope.