The trace of the snake rune stone, the diligent Cao Xing

Chapter 697: The Trace of the Snake Runestone, the Diligent Cao Xing

"Kane is only at Level 75 right now, and his base strength isn't high, yet the boost is already this powerful."

"If he breaks through to Legendary in the future, he can undergo another qualitative change!"

"From the looks of it—the other eleven runestones are also quite powerful!"

"If I can grasp all of them in my hands, it might allow the strength of the territory members to skyrocket by a huge margin once again." Cao Xing had even thought of the corresponding territory members for these runestones.

The Dragon Runestone could be given to Bing Lan.

Massive amounts of novels are waiting for you to search.

The Snake Runestone could go to Ilena or Lana.

The Horse Runestone could go to the Centaur Harati.

The Rooster Runestone could go to the Light Feather Chicken Buoyancy, and so on—

Aside from a portion of runestones that didn't have suitable candidates, most of them could be put to use.

Of course, imagining it is wonderful.

The difficulty of collecting these eleven runestones is also quite immense!

Shaking his head, Cao Xing muttered in a low voice, "Forget it, the main task for next time is still constructing the Giant City."

"As well as tomorrow's operation, heading to the Orchid Kingdom to explore that Lost Royal City."

Thinking of this, he continued to stroll around the territory.

One or two hours later.

Cao Xing stood on the city wall once more, paying attention to the situation outside the territory.

Under the command of Cao Yi and Joren, tens of thousands of staff members were enthusiastically constructing temporary camps, cafeterias, toilets, and other areas.

The scale of the camp was already taking initial shape.

At this speed, it could pretty much be completed within today.

Once these preparations were done, the construction of the Giant City could begin tomorrow.

After observing for a while longer and confirming there were no problems,

Cao Xing returned to the territory.

Time flew by hastily—

By the afternoon, the Black Lion Chamber of Commerce transported over a batch of food according to their agreement.

This batch of food added up to a full 150,000 kilograms, which could be said to have replenished a wave for Cao Xing's territory once again.

However, Cao Xing moved this entire batch of food into the temporary camp outside.

After all, there were over 50,000 people outside, and they consumed at least 70,000 to 80,000 kilograms of food a day.

These 150,000 kilograms of grain were only enough to support them for two days.

When night fell,

cooking smoke also rose from this temporary camp.

Edward selected a full five hundred plus people to specifically serve as a cooking squad, supplying the diet of these tens of thousands of people.

Although so many people looked somewhat cumbersome,

but under the cooperation of the three, it still appeared orderly.

In the blink of an eye, it was nighttime—

Whether it was the outsourced workers outside the territory or the staff inside the territory, they had all finished their meal and returned to their rooms to rest.

Cao Xing had also just finished his meal at this moment.

Just as he was preparing to return to the Lords Castle to rest, he suddenly realized something.

"Right—Muxue seems to still be in the Dream Library."

"Sleeping alone is still a bit cold; let's see whose room to squeeze into tonight."

In his mind, the perfect bodies of one female after another in the territory continuously surfaced.

After a moment, he resolutely stepped into the Tailor Shop.

"Clang!"

Along with the closing of the Tailor Shop's doors, Cao Xing once again embraced Xia Yanni and Elena, that pair of mature women, and cultivated diligently.

The entire room of the Tailor Shop was filled with an aura of carnal desire.

Meanwhile,

within the territory of the distant Ostia Kingdom, inside an unknown underground palace, a dark and eerie ritual was currently staging.

Deep within the palace, dim firelight flickered, illuminating a group of figures wearing black robes with dark auras.

They knelt prostrate on the ground while simultaneously chanting obscure and difficult-to-understand incantations.

"O.."

"3H.."

"OO"

The chanting sound was low and hoarse, as if coming from the depths of hell.

And along with their chanting, a large amount of black aura appeared out of thin air in the air.

This aura looked like powder, and also like some kind of active particles, looking exceptionally evil!

At the very front, an existence also wearing a black robe stood proudly on a high platform.

His aura was even deeper and more evil, resembling a fierce beast dormant in the darkness!

In front of him, there was also a square pool of water.

The pool accumulated a certain kind of black liquid.

That liquid was as thick as ink, emitting a pungent, fishy stench,

as if mixed from the blood and internal organs of various animals, and it was still bubbling with a "gurgling" sound.

"Rustle—Rustle—"

Along with the sound of clothing falling, the black robe on this person's body fell off, revealing a body covered in scars.

Those scars crisscrossed, as if they had experienced countless whips and tortures.

The most eye-catching thing was beneath his right wrist, that special symbol's imprint.

Beside this man, there also stood a figure shrouded in some kind of pink smoke.

The smoke drifted around, making it impossible to see the specific face of this figure.

But from the faint silhouette, one could vaguely tell that this was a woman.

Meanwhile, a soft and seductive voice came from within the pink smoke: "Theodore, you can go in now~"

Her voice seemed to carry endless fascination, like a half-hidden peerless beauty whispering gently to you by the bedside.

This naked man shuddered all over.

Just as he turned his head to look, he saw little bits of pink smoke floating towards him.

After his body inadvertently came into contact with these dust particles, his eyes instantly turned blood-red, as if filled with some terrifying desire.

Making him want to rush over, tackle this woman in the smoke, and press her down beneath him fiercely!

But very quickly, he suppressed that impulse.

Looking at that figure shrouded in pink smoke, a trace of lingering fear surfaced in his eyes.

He nodded, his voice hoarse: "I know."

Words falling, this man stepped into the black pool in front of him in one stride.

"Gurgle—Gurgle—"

When his body was completely submerged by the black liquid,

this pool seemed to begin undergoing some eerie change.

Fine ripples appeared on the surface of the pool, looking like the sign of a pan of oil gradually being boiled to a boil.

Or like countless small bugs in the pool swimming within the liquid.

They were all impatiently drilling into the man's skin, devouring his flesh and blood and soul!

In an instant! This middle-aged man's eyes widened, and his whole body began to tremble violently!

"Hoo—Ha——"

Right now he was panting heavily, as if enduring extremely intense pain!

Veins bulged on his forehead, and sweat dripped down like rain.

As time passed, his skin became pale and transparent, and his blood vessels were clearly visible beneath the skin, as if they could burst at any moment!

After a few minutes, this middle-aged man turned his head with difficulty and looked at the figure beside him.

He asked in a weak and hoarse voice: "Is it really feasible according to your method?"

"As long as I absorb all the dark power into my body, I can step into the Legendary realm?"

At this moment, that figure shrouded in pink mist emitted a crisp laughter, carrying endless temptation and danger. Just this laughter alone caused the hearts of that group of black-robed mages kneeling prostrate on the ground below to churn restlessly, as if some desire was directly hooked and difficult to suppress!

"Hehe—Of course it's true~"

"My method can guarantee that you break through your limits one hundred percent and become a Legendary Black Mage."

A trace of hesitation flashed in this middle-aged man's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by firmness.

He said: "But my body has already been on the verge of being completely eroded due to the frequent use of black magic."

"Now, if I absorb so much power of black magic all at once, won't it cause the magic power inside my body to go out of control prematurely and then erupt?"

"Of course not~"

The voice in the pink smoke chuckled and said: "Don't forget, I am—the God of Desire~"

"I still need you to help me develop more believers~ How could I bear to let you self-detonate?"

Hearing this, the middle-aged man slowly shook his head and said: "No, you have already lost your divine persona and are no longer the original God of Desire."

"Moreover—for unknown reasons, the current you is even inferior to an ordinary Legendary."

"Your words make me a little suspicious—"

Hearing this, the figure shrouded in pink mist paused slightly.

As if the middle-aged man's words poked her sore spot, her shoulders began to tremble violently.

Resembling an accumulated volcano about to erupt, causing everyone in this underground palace to feel a tightness in their chests. But she didn't flare up, instead saying coldly: "Theodore, you borrowed the power of black magic, and this taboo power has long caused a severe backlash against you."

"Even if you do nothing, you won't live much longer."

"My method indeed has risks,"

"But if you can break through to the Legendary realm in one go, you will become a rare Black Mage across the entire world!"

"Not only will you be able to suppress the backlash of the black magic within your body, but you will also gain incomparable power."

"Now, make your own choice~"

The middle-aged man was silent for a moment.

Then, a trace of madness and greed gradually flashed in his eyes.

He gritted his teeth, his voice carrying a sense of resoluteness!

"Fine! Then I will trust you for once!"

"Help me step into the Legendary realm, and then together, we will join forces to seize the throne of the Ostia Kingdom!"

"By then, I will be the new king of this country, and make all the subjects of the kingdom begin to worship you!"

Hearing this, the figure in the pink smoke giggled.

"Hehe——. Theodore, it is very good that you have this realization. I will make you succeed~"

Her laughter carried a strong charm and pleasure.

Just at this moment, a young man also wearing a black magic robe rushed into the underground palace with a panicked expression.

Seeing the scene before him, he was slightly stunned.

Then he quickly knelt down.

"Lord Theodore, I have something to report!"

"It is about the matter you asked me to investigate last time."

At this moment, the middle-aged man soaking in the pool raised his head and said coldly, "Speak."

This young mage quickly reported his intelligence.

After listening, the middle-aged man in the pool was silent for a moment, and a smile gradually appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Unexpectedly————after so many years, this woman has finally appeared·————"

"You are the only person who knows my secret. As long as I eliminate you, no one in this world will ever know my past again."

In his eyes, a hint of ruthlessness gradually flashed.

Just at this moment, a little bit of pink smoke drifted over,

The ruthlessness in the middle-aged man's eyes disappeared, and a trace of greed and desire gradually emerged.

"No, that woman is a stunner. I must capture her and properly train her."

"Make the former Renova Queen, who stood above ten thousand people, kneel and surrender at my feet!"

On the other side·—

That tattooed young man stood on the city wall of a Survivor territory.

Behind him, a large snake covered in black scales coiled its body.

Half of its body hung on the city wall, while its tail continuously swept across the snow below.

Compared to some time ago, this large snake seemed to have become stronger!

"Hiss hiss!"

As its crimson tongue flickered in and out, it actually carried wisps of black mist.

The young man turned his head, the indifference in his eyes gradually fading away.

A rare trace of a smile appeared on his cold face: "Not a bad little fellow, you actually successfully integrated the power of the Snake Rune Stone."

"Next, as long as you digest it a bit more and borrow the power of my origin, you will be able to break through to the Legendary realm in one go!"

Hearing this, the compound eyes of the large snake suddenly constricted.

"Hiss——!"

The large snake abruptly raised its head, and the black mist spewed between its fangs instantly corroded half of the city wall.

It affectionately rubbed its head against the young man, but was gently pushed away.

"Don't rush—. You still have to wait for me to recover some more strength—"

He turned his head and swept across the territory below.

This territory was roughly of medium scale, containing a large number of residential houses, watchtowers, and a level 18 large blast furnace.

The facilities were relatively well-equipped.

But if one looked closely, they would find that this territory was somewhat different from others.

This was the headquarters of a legion!

Dozens of Survivors lived within the territory, along with their subordinate territory residents, totaling more than two thousand people.

However, this territory was currently in a bizarre silence.

Regardless of the staff inside, the combatants, or the animals raised in the cowsheds and chicken coops.

At this moment, they were all in a quiet state of deep sleep, as if controlled by some invisible power.

"Heh——it seems they have all fallen asleep."

"Let me taste the flavor of the dreams of you little fellows from another world."

The young man's mouth hooked up slightly, revealing a cold smile.

He stretched out his right hand and beckoned casually.

In an instant, thousands of purple light spots floated up from various parts of the territory, converging towards him like fireflies.

Then——–. He took a deep breath, inhaling all these light spots into his body.

"Hoo—" His body trembled violently, as if enduring some extremely intense stimulation, and he subconsciously closed his eyes.

A moment later, he abruptly exhaled a breath.

The young man slowly opened his eyes, a mildly interested smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"The dreams of these little fellows are really interesting—"

"Blue Star, technology, and the system."

"Is this the reason why your speed of becoming stronger is so fast?"

He muttered in a low voice, a look of bliss gradually appearing in his eyes.

As if he had discovered some startling secret!

A moment later, this young man seemed to have sensed something, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"Among them, there are indeed some little fellows whose wills are quite firm, and they haven't been invaded by nightmares until now."

"However, it is merely a desperate struggle; after all, you cannot escape the control of the dream."

"Now—let me help you out!"

The smile on the young man's mouth grew increasingly intense.

The next moment, a large amount of dark purple aura emanated from his body, shrouding the entire territory!

Among them, some members were still frowning tightly, their bodies trembling violently, seemingly wanting to wake up from the nightmare.

However, when that dark purple aura enveloped them, these members completely stopped struggling.

Their bodies also gradually grew calm—

"Clang! Clang!"

The sounds of doors crashing open rang out one after another.

All the doors of the entire territory were pushed open, and figures walked out from inside.

These people had hollow eyes and stiff movements, as if controlled by some power, slowly gathering towards the direction where the young man was.

Then, more than two thousand people knelt down in the middle of this deep night.

Seeing this scene, the young man nodded with satisfaction.

"Very good, starting right here, I will create my Nightmare Court."

"These ants will become my first step into the divine throne!"

It was not just these two areas.

In some remote villages, towns, and even small cities,

those guys who had escaped from the Abyssal Land and were hiding in the shadows began to act again.

The next day·

When the dawn's light shone upon the snowy white earth,

the system prompt appeared on time.

[All Survivors please note, you have successfully survived the 29th day of the turbulent period]

[Distance to event: Dream Fragment Layer opening is in 44 days, distance to the opening of the Golden Skratt's treasure is in 45 days]

[Weather Forecast: Overcast today, minimum temperature -58°C ~ -63°C, suitable for going out and developing the territory.]

When the prompt ended, Cao Xing suddenly opened his eyes.

Then his gaze swept around his surroundings.

In the warm quilt, two plump women with mature faces snuggled in Cao Xing's arms.

The faces of this pair of mature women both carried a ruddy expression.

Cao Xing just extricated himself from the siege of the mature women.

And Xia Yanni also opened her eyes, a soft call coming from her mouth, "My Lord—"

Cao Xing did not speak.

A moment later, Xia Yanni also closed her eyes.

Elena on the side seemed to have also been awakened by their movements.

She stood up, her beautiful eyes constantly sizing up Cao Xing and Xia Yanni.

The corner of her mouth also curved into an arc.

Elena said coquettishly, "My, My Lord is really diligent toward Sister Yanni."

"When it came to me last night, it wasn't like that—"

At this moment, Xia Yanni's face was flushed red, completely unable to respond.

He chuckled and said, "Don't rush, I'll let you experience it in a moment too."

Hearing this, Elena licked the corner of her mouth.

She said softly, "I am looking forward to it, oh~ My Lord~"

One hour later.

Cao Xing tidied up his clothes and walked out of the room.

On the large bed behind him, the pair of mature women snuggled together, gazing at the man's back with loving expressions.

Cao Xing pushed open the doors of the Tailor Shop.

He looked at the sky.

At this moment, not a cloud was in the sky, and gentle breezes blew toward his face.

A trace of a smile appeared on Cao Xing's face, and then he whispered, "The weather is not bad; it's a good day to go out."

"Today, I'll take people to the Orchid Kingdom to explore that ancient ruin!"