CHAPTER 465: The Dark Dragon's Plea

Time seemed to fly as Han Shuo revelled in the joy of having multiple partners at his full disposal. His innermost desires were completely liberated. There was no longer any sign of his cultivation deviating from his practice of the demonic arts. On the contrary, it improved with each passing day.

As for the reason why Han Shuo had returned to Ossen City, no one except King Lawrence and certain members of the Dark Mantle had been given any information about it. As a result, over the past few days, as Han Shuo sought pleasure with his three women in his mansion, no bigwigs came by to interrupt his indulgence.

Good times apparently never last. When Emily came by this time, she informed Han Shuo that Lawrence had completed preparations to invade the seven grand duchies. Han Shuo had no choice but to leave Ossen City once again.

Fortunately, the space-magical transportation matrix between Ossen City and Brettel City had been completed. Since all three ladies were of honourable status, they could use the transportation matrix to visit Han Shuo without any trouble. Therefore, Han Shuo's departure did not cause the three ladies any intense melancholy.

After a final briefing with Lawrence and Candide, Han Shuo left Ossen City for Brettel City.

When Han Shuo arrived in Brettel City, he learned from Dorcas and the others that Brettel City was basically ready. As soon as the reinforcements from the Empire arrived, they could go straight to the seven grand duchies.

Since military warfare was not Han Shuo's forte, he handed over all military power to Dorcas to do what he did best. For so many years on the arena that was Brettel City, Dorcas had amply demonstrated his talents in military strategy. Every single soldier of Brettel City willingly accepted his leadership.

"Senior Brother!" Bollands greeted Han Shuo respectfully at the door as he returned to the city lord's mansion.

"Huh? Why are you here?" Han Shuo was startled when he saw Bollands and couldn't help but size him up.

After three years, the killing intent and the stench of blood that had always lingered around Bollands were all gone. Han Shuo understood that this was not a sign that Bollands hadn't made any progress of God-Slaying Devil Path, but quite the opposite. From the aura that Han Shuo sensed emanating from Bollands, he guessed that Bollands had successfully cultivated in the God-Slaying Devil Path to the realm where he could hide his killing intent.

In this realm, Bollands could skilfully use his killing intent. Whenever he was not fighting enemies, there was no trace of killing intent in his body. Compared to his previous state of intense killing intent from head to toe, his well-concealed killing intent indicated that he had made lightning progress.

"Senior Brother, for the past three years, I have been going back and forth to various battlefields, secretly absorbing the killing intent that wafted through the air using the martial art you taught me. After that, I digested the energy according to the method you taught me. Since Senior Brother has been cultivating without leaving a trace for the past three years, I have not had the chance to meet you. Some time ago, I heard that Senior Brother had appeared in Brettel City, so I rushed over. When Bollands came face to face with Han Shuo, he wore a very humble, respectful expression, even more diligent than when he served his former master Karel.

Han Shuo knew this was because he could give Bollands what Karel never could.

After three years, Han Shuo could be sure that his cultivation of the God Slaying Devil Path had been fruitful, based on the substantial yet restrained aura emanating from Bollands. Compared to the strength of a great swordmaster of the past, Bollands' strength must have been considerably more formidable now.

"Come in with me!" Han Shuo nodded before instructing Bollands and marched straight into the city lord's mansion.

After they arrived at a training ground inside the mansion, Han Shuo stomped his feet and with his eyes on Bollands, he instructed, "Attack me with all your might. I want to see how much progress you've made in the last three years!"

"Yes!" Bollands slowly drew back his longsword. As he unsheathed the fine sword, a powerful, concentrated killing intent was released. With every inch he drew out, the killing intent solidified on his body, becoming sharper and stronger. Indistinctly, a wicked look of ferocity appeared in Bolland's eyes.

The God Slaying Devil Path was a type of demonic art that was only meant for massacres. The deeper a cultivator immersed himself in the field, the more terrifying his killing intent became. So much so that it could even affect the cultivator's body.

Han Shuo had a deep understanding of the God-Slaying Devil Path. The reason he taught Bollands this demonic art was so that Bollands would become an additional weapon at his disposal. So when he saw the madness in his eyes, Han Shuo wasn't frightened but delighted. He understood that Bollands had almost reached the finest stage in his cultivation of the God-Slaying Devil Path.

Under Han Shuo's watchful gaze, the long sword that Bollands had been pulling out bit by bit suddenly unsheathed like lightning. At the same time, a sharp killing intent that could seemingly tear the air apart erupted violently from Bollands' body.

Hundreds of thousands of phantom sword images, like pythons breathing with ferocious killing intent, slithered towards Han Shuo.

Han Shuo opened his left hand, his Demonic Yuan circulating and forming a ghostly face. At first, it was only the size of a palm. But as the mass of sword phantoms driven by killing intent arrived in front of him, the ghostly face had grown so large that it obliterated the sky and hid the earth. Suddenly, it opened a huge bloody mouth and swallowed all the phantom swords.

The five fingers on Han Shuo's left hand twisted into a hook. It was as if his five fingers were connected to the ghostly face by millions of disembodied strings, with the movements of his five fingers controlling the sinister ghostly face. Like a hungry wolf, the ghostly face lunged at Bollands. Before he could react, the huge bloody mouth had swallowed Bollands.

As Bollands went mad with fear, the ghostly face suddenly exploded. In an instant it vanished into thin air. It was as if all that had just happened was Bollands' own imagination, with the exception of Han Shuo, who was still standing in the same place, unperturbed, with a serene and calm smile on his face.

Once he had recovered from the shock, the madness in Bollands' pupils had faded. He respectfully kowtowed to Han Shuo and said, "Senior Brother's martial arts have indeed reached perfection!"

"You have done very well. To be able to progress to such a stage in the space of three years shows that you have indeed worked very hard!" From the blow Bollands had just dealt, Han Shuo could tell that his strength had improved rapidly. Currently, with the benchmark of the Profound Continent, he should be able to compete with an expert who had advanced to the level of Sacred Swordmaster.

"Master, you have returned!" Elizabeth's voice suddenly sounded from afar. A moment later, Elizabeth appeared directly in front of Han Shuo.

"Senior Brother, what was that martial art back there? Was that sinister ghostly face real?" Bollands was astonished by the attack Han Shuo had just made on him. Paying no attention to Elizabeth, he stared at Han Shuo as he questioned persistently.

"This is formed by solidifying demonic yuan. Haha, whether it was real or not, you can find out for yourself. When you reach a certain realm in your killing intent manoeuvre, you will also be able to congeal it with killing intent. Then you will understand!" Han Shuo explained with a faint smile. He paused for a moment and suddenly moved to Bollands' side. Before Bollands could react, Han Shuo suddenly placed his hand on Bollands' head.

From Han Shuo's palm, certain knowledge of the basics of the demonic arts flowed into Bollands' brain.

After reaching the Demon Separate Realm, Han Shuo was able to divide and organise his memories. The knowledge that Han Shuo poured into Bolland's mind was only some of the most basic information for those cultivating in the demonic arts, such as explaining the teachings on the topic of cultivation deviation, some bizarre remarkable abilities of demonic cultivators, and certain cultivation malpractices.

This knowledge was information that every demonic arts cultivator should understand. Han Shuo was afraid that Bollands would be so eager for quick results that he would not realise the discipline required to practise the demonic arts, and that he would fall into an irreversible state of madness. That was why Han Shuo passed on this basic knowledge to him, lest he lose self-control and turn into a monster who only knew how to slaughter.

"Alright. Digest this knowledge thoroughly!" Han Shuo said looking at Bollands after withdrawing his hand.

"Thank you, elder brother. I will never forget this great favour from you for the rest of my life!" Bollands was moved to tears and crawled towards Han Shuo with sincere gratitude.

"That's enough, you just need to practice well!" Han Shuo said with a smile.

Out of nowhere, the Dark Dragon Gilbert begged, "Honourable Master, help me, you must help me!" Gilbert showed an unprecedented fear.

"Dark Dragon, what's wrong?" Han Shuo stared at Dark Dragon Gilbert in confusion as he scurried towards them, not knowing what was making him so nervous.

"Master! My most honourable, most admirable Master! You must help me! Otherwise, my grandfather and perhaps the entire race of dark dragons will be finished!" Gilbert was frantic. When he arrived in front of Han Shuo, he dropped to his knees, completely unlike his usual slovenly manner.

Han Shuo furrowed his brow. With a heavy voice, he said, "Stand up. Tell me what's really going on?"

Gilbert had a determined look on his face. Looking deeply into Han Shuo's eyes, he pleaded, "Master, if you do not agree to help me, I, I will not get up!"

For so many years, Dark Dragon Gilbert had gone through fire and water with him and never imagined betraying him. Especially during the time in the forbidden land of the Dark Forest, he almost died for him.

And now, Dark Dragon Gilbert must have been in some kind of trouble to behave in such an unusual way. When Gilbert finally finished, Han Shuo did not hesitate and nodded, "Get up, I promise you! Whatever it is, I will help you!"

"Thank you Master!" the dark dragon cried gratefully as he stood up. Then he hurriedly explained, "My grandfather left me a Dragon Speech Bone made from a piece of his own bone. Through this piece of Dragonspeech Bone, even as I kneel before you, I can still hear my grandfather's instructions.

For a long time, my grandfather told me that one day my race of dark dragons would face a great catastrophe, and if our race couldn't avert it, we would be wiped out from the underworld forever. I always thought my grandfather was just being alarmist. However, just this morning, my grandfather sent me a message through the Dragon Speech Bone, saying that this great disaster was approaching, and asking me never to return to the underground world, and that the farther I stayed away, the better.

Not only that, but he even left me his last words! I know that something terrible is about to befall our dark dragon race, or perhaps it has already happened! Master, I beg you, please save our dark dragon race!

The Dark Dragon Gilbert kneeled down at Han Shuo's feet again, his eyes pleading with Han Shuo.

"I already promised you!" Han Shuo helped Dark Dragon Gilbert to his feet and continued, "I don't know if I can help you, but I will take a trip to the underground world with you!"

"Thank you master! Thank you, Master! I know that with your help, our dark dragon race will surely turn danger into safety and avert disaster!" Gilbert assured.

"Bollands, you take Gilbert's place temporarily, follow Dorcas in the dark and protect him. Elizabeth, stay in town. Support Dick in his mission to protect Brettel City!" Han Shuo instructed.

With a war on the horizon, Han Shuo logically shouldn't go far away. However, the relationship between Han Shuo and the Dark Dragon Gilbert wasn't just that of master and servant. With the dark dragon race possibly facing extinction, and with such a plea from Gilbert, Han Shuo really couldn't find an excuse to refuse.

Fortunately, the protector of the Seven Grand Duchies, the old monster Stratholme, was powerless to defend himself at the moment and would therefore not appear in the Seven Grand Duchies for some time to come. In such a large-scale military campaign, the absence of Han Shuo, who was not exactly good at the art of war, would not have had much effect on the overall situation of the war.

Therefore, with the decision made, Han Shuo once again summoned Dorcas, Jack and the others and gave them a detailed overview of certain matters.

"My lord, be at ease. With the full support of the Empire, in addition to the secret cooperation of the Duchies of Helon and Boulet, I am certain that I can overthrow the Seven Grand Duchies!" Dorcas said with full confidence. In the presence of Han Shuo, the wild ambition in his eyes was hard to hide.

"You haven't been in Brettel City for years anyway. In fact, Brettel City would function as usual even without you!" In Brettel City, there was no one other than Jack who would dare to speak to Han Shuo so bluntly.

Han Shuo was stunned. Soon after, he flew into a rage of humiliation and said, "You damned little fat guy. If you can't make Brettel's economy grow, don't doubt for a second that you'll get exactly what you deserve!"

"Hahaha , look at how glorious and prosperous Brettel City has become under my rule! You won't have a chance!" Jack burst into smug laughter.

"Oh, right!" Han Shuo suddenly remembered something and immediately instructed Dorcas, "When you attack the seven grand duchies, treat every citizen well. Be careful not to kill indiscriminately!"

"Rest assured, my lord, I know what to do!" Dorcas promised.

"Then I can rest easy!" Han Shuo glanced at the impatient dark dragon Gilbert and said, "Let's go to the underground world!"

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