The three figures stepping into the forest.
At the front, a middle-aged Level 78 Sword and Shield Warrior in black armor, the leader of the Dragon Soul Guild:
Dragon Soul Aoshi!
The other two.
Dragon Soul's vice leader and strategist, the Level 78 Light Wizard Dragon Soul Whisper!
Dragon Soul's vice leader, the Level 78 Soul Archer Dragon Soul Dusk!
Seeing the three arrivals, Zhao Lingyun got a little nervous and said in a low voice to Ning Fei, "The Dragon Soul Guild has always followed the Divine Nation Guild. Now that Divine Nation is controlled by Lonely Island's people, could Dragon Soul have gone over to Lonely Island too?"
But Ning Fei felt no worry or doubt at all. Instead, he said with certainty, "No!"
"It's true that Lonely Island had Chen Feng, Divine Nation's current leader, try to turn Dragon Soul against us. But not only did Dragon Soul refuse to join their dirty business, these past two days they've also helped plenty of solo players who got attacked, and they've hit back at the killer guilds under Lonely Island!"
"Dragon Soul really is a breath of fresh air among the guild powers of Inferno City!"
"So no matter how things change, Dragon Soul's stance will always stay firm!"
And in fact, Dragon Soul Aoshi and the others had traced this place by following the drift of the soul power born from players' deaths.
Their goal was also to find out the secret behind this massacre in Inferno City!
With Lonely Island and Shuangwu and the rest about to get away, Dragon Soul Aoshi wasted no words and got straight to the point with Ning Fei. "You follow Shuangwu. We'll follow Lonely Island."
Ning Fei, who trusted Dragon Soul absolutely, nodded. "Good!"
With that, Ning Fei and Zhao Lingyun quietly followed in the direction Shuangwu had gone.
Dragon Soul Whisper watched Lonely Island slowly fade into the distance on the other side and said to Dragon Soul Aoshi, "Chief, Chen Feng, the current president of the Ling Group, has promised us that as long as we keep things as they are, he'll keep investing in our Aoshi Group the way Ling Xue, the Ling Group's former president, did."
"There's no turning back once the bow is drawn."
"Once we decide to make an enemy of Lonely Island, we have no way back, and Chen Feng will certainly pull his investment from Aoshi."
"Have you decided?"
Resolve showed in Dragon Soul Aoshi's deep gaze.
"The ones who helped Aoshi were Ling Xue of the Ling Group and Ming Yuexin of Divine Nation."
"It was never that Chen Feng."
"Dragon Soul recognizes only Ling Xue."
"Now that Divine Nation has fallen, the only thing Dragon Soul can do is stay true to our original purpose."
"A person has to be able to face their own conscience."
"And what we have to do is repay Ling Xue for the help she gave our Aoshi Group in the past."
"A drop of kindness deserves a gushing spring in return!"
Dragon Soul Whisper nodded, pleased. "I knew it. I've never followed the wrong chief!"
Dragon Soul Dusk poked Dragon Soul Whisper with an elbow. "You little punk, are you testing the Chief here?"
After a pause, Dragon Soul Dusk went on to Dragon Soul Aoshi, "Chief, I've already told the guild members to come."
"Should we follow them first?"
"Mm."
As they spoke, the three quietly followed in the direction Lonely Island had left.
...
The Divine Kingdom.
Having passed trial after trial and broken through obstacle after obstacle, Ning Xi had finally reached the last gate.
Stepping into the imperial city of the Divine Race, Ning Xi was completely stunned by the scene inside.
Within the vast imperial city, waves of divine aura drifted all around.
What met her eyes was endless luxury and prosperity.
Countless people of the Divine Race lived in this city, getting along happily with one another.
'So this is the Supreme Race of Divine Oracle, the core domain of the Divine Race?'
Ning Xi's heart instantly filled with longing.
Of course, Ning Xi didn't lose herself in it and forget the purpose of her trip.
After entering the imperial city, the first thing she did was find the leader of the Divine Race.
The only Supreme God of the Divine Race:
[Divine Emperor · Ying] (Lv255 Dual-Type · Supreme God)!
Level 255!
The highest level in Divine Oracle!
Physical and magic dual type!
A Supreme God!
An incomparably powerful aura enveloped the whole imperial city.
Holy!
Majestic!
Inviolable!
Ning Xi could feel it deeply.
All it would take was one glance from him, and she would be killed instantly!
Yet at this moment, the Divine Emperor, a being of such power, wore a face that was plainly full of worry.
Knowing that Ning Xi had come in place of Divine Advent Seraph · Siya.
In this moment, the Divine Emperor · Ying seemed to see Ning Xi as his daughter.
Overcome by longing, golden tears even welled in his eyes.
He walked up to Ning Xi and gently stroked her head.
He said:
"My dearest Siya, I hope you won't blame Father!"
"Ever since the Divine Relic began to decay for some reason, our Divine Race has been eyed hungrily by powers on every side, and we've fallen into dire straits."
"If you stayed with the Divine Race, you'd face danger at any time and anywhere! It's safer for you to stay away from the Divine Kingdom!"
"Father never wanted to drive you away. I had no choice!"
Hearing this, Ning Xi wasn't very surprised.
After all, before reaching the imperial city, through the trials of the Divine Race's princes, Ning Xi had already learned that all their efforts to drive Divine Advent Seraph · Siya away and keep her from returning to the Divine Race were, in a roundabout way, to protect Siya!
It couldn't be helped.
Who had made Siya the Divine Race's most beloved Seventh Princess, the apple of her six brothers' eyes?
So Ning Xi guessed that no matter what the Divine Emperor had done, his original intention must also have been to protect Divine Advent Seraph · Siya!
Still, one thing puzzled Ning Xi. "What place is the Divine Relic that you spoke of, Divine Emperor?"
Seeing that Ning Xi's status was also that of a divine being.
The Divine Emperor · Ying kept nothing from one of his own, and sighed softly. "It's the birthplace of our Divine Race, and the only place where the Divine Water that nurtures the entire Divine Race is born."
Ning Xi understood:
'The Divine Water is the Divine Race's lifeblood.'
'And the decay of the Divine Relic is drying up the Divine Water bit by bit, which is causing the decay of the whole Divine Race...'
After a pause, Ning Xi asked, "Is there any way to stop the Divine Relic from decaying and restore it?"
After all, Ning Xi's status was now that of a member of the Supreme Race, the Divine Race.
From the moment she stepped into the Divine Race.
The rise and fall of the race was bound up with her too.
But then the Divine Emperor · Ying sighed softly. "There's no way!"
"Never mind, let's leave that for now."
"Siya's mother, the Empress, once lost a gift she meant to give to Siya, called the Holy Wings."
"I've already had people find out where the Holy Wings were lost. Go and bring the Holy Wings back for me, and give them to Siya."
"That way, with the Holy Wings protecting her, Siya will be much safer in the Divine Kingdom in the future."
Hearing this, Ning Xi said happily, "In that case, Divine Emperor, you're willing to let Siya come back to the Divine Kingdom?"
The Divine Emperor · Ying nodded. "The Divine Kingdom will always be Siya's home, and always yours."
The moment he finished speaking.
A system prompt panel popped up in front of Ning Xi.
[Ding~ You have accepted the A-Rank hidden quest · Find the Holy Wings!]
Ning Xi's heart leapt with joy.
'The last trial.'
'It's finally here!'