Chapter 61: The Target Is the Lesser Lord Kusanali!? The Great Sage Panicked!

Azar couldn't comprehend what was happening.

How could Setaria, a rebellious desert woman who had supposedly been forced into submission by a Khaenrin, end up siding with him instead?

It was utterly unbelievable.

In Setaria is eyes, both Azar and Ye Xi should be objects of hatred Azar for his control and Ye Xi for his foreign origins.

The instructor standing beside Azar looked equally baffled. "Master Sage, if Setaria has revealed our plans to Ye Xi, including our intent to seize the inheritance of the Kingdom of Khaenri'ah, then Ye Xi will undoubtedly turn against us entirely!"

"If that happens, Setaria and Ye Xi will seize this opportunity to expose our plans within the dream world!"

"We're finished!"

The Holy Order had previously refrained from showing outright hostility toward Ye Xi. But if their plans were exposed, Ye Xi would use it to utterly ruin them.

Thinking about this, the instructor's face paled with panic.

Azar, however, was filled with rage. His vision darkened as he spat out his words: "Fool! I've already thought of that! The question now is, why did Setaria sabotage our ability to suspend the plan?"

"True!" The instructor stroked his chin, deep in thought. "If the goal was to expose our plans, Nilou in the dream should have already informed everyone in Sumeru and ended the dream herself."

"So why prevent us from shutting down the void system?"

"If the Dreamland Mass Production Plan continues, won't the infusion of divine power into the God of Opportunity be completed?"

Suddenly, Azar raised his head, realization dawning on him. He shouted, "No! Their goal is to rescue the Lesser Lord Kusanali!"

The instructor gasped, his face turning pale.

"This is terrible, Master Sage! Sumeru City is defenseless right now! It's practically an empty city!"

"The guards at Jingshan Palace are also very few!"

"But it doesn't make sense!"

"Ye Xi is a foreigner how could he know that the Lesser Lord Kusanali was hidden away on April 51? And why would he even care to help her?"

These questions baffled Azar as well.

Logically, Ye Xi had no motive.

But Azar couldn't afford to gamble.

If the imprisonment of the Lesser Lord Kusanali were exposed, combined with the revelation of their God-Making Plan, the Holy Order's reputation in Sumeru would be utterly destroyed.

Azar rushed to the entrance of the main hall and barked orders at the nearby Fatui operatives.

"Call your executive officer!"

"No need. I'm already here," came a voice.

Dottore stepped out from the shadows, his tone mocking. "Why the urgency? What's happened?"

Azar frowned. He despised the Fatui exile but had no choice now.

"There's a traitor within our experimental team. The Lesser Lord Kusanali may be rescued. I must suspend the [Dream Mass Production Plan] immediately and return to the city!"

"We need to awaken the Thirty-Person Squads right now and reinforce the guards at Jingshan Palace!"

Dottore, however, remained unnervingly calm.

He stepped into the main hall and gave a chilling order: "Continue with the plan. Increase all energy output and push the computing power to its limits."

"What did you say!?"

"Are you insane?!" Azar roared. "We're already operating at the upper threshold of what the human body can handle!"

"Increasing energy output will damage the brains of all dreamers!"

Several scholars froze, their hands trembling as they paused their work. Their eyes were filled with anger.

Azar vehemently opposed Dottore: "If we increase the energy output, everyone in Sumeru City will become brain-dead!"

"We will never sacrifice the city's residents for the sake of the God-Making Plan!"

Dottore sneered. "The problems with this experiment are your fault. The traitor is also your failure to manage personnel.

"This has nothing to do with us Fatui!"

"If you make mistakes, you must pay the price! Or do you think the Fatui are your Akademiya's servants?"

"Do as I say, and I will dispatch the Fatui to guard the Lesser Lord Kusanali."

"Otherwise, you'll all die here."

The scholars paled at Dottore's threat.

No one wanted to die.

Azar gritted his teeth and reluctantly gave the order: "Increase the energy output!"

The scholars hesitantly adjusted the equipment, their hands trembling.

Soon, the data on the side screens began to accelerate.

The system replayed the Flower God's Birthday Festival at double speed, day after day.

Meanwhile, the divine power infusion gauge jumped rapidly from [12%] to [13%].

Suddenly, Azar remembered something and muttered through gritted teeth, "That woman Setaria!

"Even if they rescue the Lesser Lord Kusanali, as long as we capture his women, we can use them to threaten him!"

"We know where Ye Xi lives in!"

"Oh?" Dottore tilted his head with interest, his tone thoughtful. "Fascinating."

After finishing his orders, Dottore clapped his hands lightly, and several Fatui agents entered the hall, kneeling on one knee.

"Master Doctor! Awaiting your orders!"

Dottore instructed, "Gather everyone and divide them into three teams.

"The first team will head to Jingshan Palace and eliminate anyone who approaches.

"The second team will search the Khaenrin is residence. Capture his women. If they aren't found, search door-to-door.

"The third team will patrol the city. Deal with anyone encountered on the streets immediately."

"Understood!"

The Fatui operatives quickly left the hall to carry out their missions.

Azar questioned, "Aren't you going to Jingshan Palace yourself?"

Dottore smirked. "There's no need."

For him, the entire god-making plan was merely an experiment, with two objectives:

1. To verify whether humans could successfully create a god.

2. To determine whether the new god or the existing gods were stronger.

The Dendro Archon would inevitably emerge, whether rescued by the blonde traveler or taken away by the Khaenrin. Either outcome was acceptable to him.

His primary focus was to channel as much energy as possible into the God of Opportunity.

This was the ultimate goal shared between him and the [Jester].

---

*Lidu Valley*

Three figures slipped away from Jingliuli Workshop.

After navigating through the forest, they used the Dendro Archon's Eye of God to summon vines and climb up to the crown of a massive tree.

"Collei, what's our next move?"

Hearing Setaria is question, Collei replied, "The Master's mission and mine were to rescue you successfully and then cause as much trouble for the Fatui as possible."

"Miss Setaria, what's the situation inside the workshop?"

Tighnari, curious about the developments, inquired about the state of affairs.

A few days ago, Collei had returned suddenly, sharing Ye Xi's plan and revealing the Holy Order's [God-Making Plan].

Tighnari had been utterly shocked.

The Holy Order had frequently attempted to recruit him, using his mentor Nafis's name as leverage, but he had refused every invitation.

He had always suspected that the Holy Order was scheming something significant.

However, he had never imagined it would be such a reckless and dangerous venture to create a god!

Now, he was desperate to know just how far the sages and their cohorts had advanced this project.

Setaria briefly explained the entire plan to Tighnari, detailing what she had witnessed of the God of Opportunity in the workshop.

"You're saying they've already completed the body of the God of Opportunity!?"

"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes!"

Setaria nodded urgently and continued, "The great sages are currently infusing divine power into the God of Opportunity."

"Master Ye Xi predicted that, upon realizing we've come to rescue the Lesser Lord Kusanali, the sages would increase the energy output."

"If we move too slowly, not only will the God of Opportunity absorb a substantial amount of divine power, but many people in Sumeru City could end up brain-damaged from the process."

Hearing this, Tighnari is expression grew grim.

This type of threat, endangering the people of Sumeru, was beyond anything he could tolerate.

And the one who rescued Sumeru from danger was actually a foreigner!

Tighnari felt helpless for not realizing the full extent of the situation earlier.

What he could do now was use all his strength to complete the task assigned by Ye Xi.

"Master, look quickly, someone's coming out!"

On the tree canopy, Collei pointed to the secret door of the Jingliuli Workshop.

They saw Fatui agents emerging in groups, moving quickly as if they were in a rush to carry out orders.

Setaria lowered her voice and said, "The Master predicted this. These Fatui agents are likely heading to Sumeru City to capture people. We need to delay some of them!"

"What? Are we setting up an ambush?"

Hearing this, Tighnari prepared his bow and arrows. "We'll fight guerrilla-style, harass them, and then lure them into the Avidya Forest!"

"In the forest, we know the terrain better than anyone, and there are plenty of crocodile-infested areas to help disperse our pursuers!"

"Good idea!"

Collei also readied her bow and arrows.

Under the cover of night, the green elemental power of Dendro condensed, and two arrows pierced through the air, striking down two Fatui agents.

"There's an ambush!"

"Enemy attack! Stay alert!"

"Don't panic! A few of you come with me to locate the attackers. The rest, speed up and head to Sumeru City!"

A squad leader led a group of agents into the forest.

Spotting their movements, Tighnari fired a few more arrows and then guided Collei and Setaria down from the treetop to hide in the dense woods.

---

*Ye Family Courtyard*

The group of Fatui cautiously surrounded the property.

Several agents leaped over the fence and into the yard.

A Fatui Electro Cicin Mage tiptoed to a window and peered inside, only to find the room empty.

"They're not here! They must have gone into hiding!"

"The Doctor instructed us! If they can't be found here, search door-to-door!"

"But won't people notice?"

"No! All of Sumeru's citizens are controlled by the Void System and are fast asleep. As long as no one removes their Void Terminals, they won't wake up!"

Hearing this, the Fatui agents dispersed and began searching house by house in the city.

---

*Shazaman's Residence*

The spacious rooms were dark and quiet.

As usual, even the servants seemed to be in bed, sound asleep.

However, a faint sound came from the basement of a storage room.

"Daughter, is Master Ye Xi going to do something important tonight?"

"Shh! Father, keep your voice down!"

"Oh… oh…"

Shazaman hastily lowered his voice, though his curiosity remained.

Earlier, his daughter had returned home with a few companions, saying that something significant was about to happen that night.

She instructed them to hide, remove their Void Terminals, and stay out of sight.

At first, he thought Dunyarzad was simply playing around. After all, she was still quite young.

But when she mentioned it was an order from Ye Xi, Shazaman took the matter seriously.

He gathered his wife, Dunyarzad is companions, and himself into the cellar to hide.

Ayexia, standing nearby, began explaining the situation regarding the Great Sage.

As she recounted the details, Shazaman and his wife were stunned.

"The Holy Order dares to conceal such a thing from the people!"

"Are you saying the streets outside are filled with Fatui agents right now!?"

"And if anyone goes outside, they'll be killed!?"

Seeing Ayexia nod, Shazaman gasped in disbelief.

He couldn't fathom that foreign troops would infiltrate Sumeru City and openly commit murder in the streets.

His wife, visibly shaken, asked nervously, "Is Jeht still outside? Will she be safe?"

"Don't worry," Ayexia reassured her. "Jeht is incredibly skilled. The Fatui are no match for her!"

"She's also keeping watch outside to ensure our safety."

Hearing this, Shazaman and his wife breathed a sigh of relief.

They both knew that Ayexia and Jeht were Ye Xi's trusted companions.

However, instead of objecting to their daughter's close association with them, Shazaman and his wife treated Ayexia and Jeht as family, even worrying about their well-being.

With a quiet sigh, Shazaman murmured, "Master Ye Xi is truly remarkable. To have a brilliant scholar like Ayexia and a skilled warrior like Jeht by his side…"

Ayexia blushed and scratched her head, smiling modestly. "Actually, we're the lucky ones to have earned the Master's favor."

"By the way," Shazaman asked, lowering his voice, "I've heard that children born of Khaenri'ah are cursed to turn into monsters. Is that true?"

Since they were hiding anyway, Shazaman saw this as an opportunity to chat.

In truth, he still hoped to have grandchildren who could inherit the family business.

Ayexia shook her head. "The Master told us that he has lifted the curse. Any children born in the future will be perfectly healthy."

"Wonderful!"

Dunyarzad is mother's eyes lit up as she clasped the hands of Dunyarzad and Ayexia.

"Then why not work harder to have more children?"

"Mom, what are you talking about?"

Dunyarzad is face flushed with embarrassment.

They had been working hard these past few days, but this wasn't something that would yield results overnight.

It would take at least a month before they could expect any signs.

Shazaman suddenly asked, "I heard in a letter from Kusayla that Dehya knows about the desert..."

Dunyarzad nodded. "Yes, now Dehya is also a master like me, and we're so happy to be together every day."

A few days ago, Dehya had felt a little awkward around her, but after serving Ye Xi together, the tension between them disappeared entirely.

Shazaman nodded with satisfaction. "That's good, that's good. Now I can be at ease."

The group continued talking quietly in the basement.

---

*Outside Humayi's House*

Jeht crouched cautiously in a tree, waiting in silence.

Suddenly, she noticed several figures swaying under the moonlight at the far end of the street.

'They're here?' 

Jeht gripped her twin blades tightly, her gaze growing icy and sharp.

She glanced toward the Holy Order building and murmured, "Dehya, I hope things go smoothly on your end."

---

*Outside the Holy Order's Gate*

"I never thought I'd enter the Holy Order like this," Dehya remarked.

"Do you think there are any scholars still awake and researching, Candace?"

Hearing Dehya si question, Candace shook her head. "Master Ye Xi said that everyone wearing Void Terminals will fall into a deep sleep regardless of whether they're tired or not, due to the activation of the [Dream Mass Production Project]."

"That's great! Then there's nothing to worry about!"

Dehya breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the unguarded Holy Order building, she couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement.

"Why isn't that guy here yet? I can't wait any longer!"

Before she could finish her thought, a voice came from the shadows.

"Are you the helpers Tighnari mentioned?"

A figure emerged from the darkness, stepping into the moonlight.

He held a long spear and wore a distinct dog-head helmet that made him easily recognizable.

"Are you the disciplinary officer Cyno? I've been waiting for you!"

"My apologies," Cyno replied. "I've been in the desert avoiding the great sage's pursuit, so I arrived a little late."

"Alright, alright, stop chatting and get moving, both of you!"

Dehya impatiently urged them on as she pushed open the gate to the Holy Order building.

"What's our mission?"

Hearing Sano's question, Candace responded, "Master Ye Xi said two sages from the Holy Order have been imprisoned.

"Our mission this time is to rescue those two sages!"

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