This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 186

Chapter 186: The Third Puzzle Lock

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It was evident that Matthew couldn't grasp it.

In theory, a necromancer seemed to be the best profession for triggering traps with their physical bodies. However, in practice, it wasn't as straightforward. Both skeletons and zombies were too fragile; a low-level undead could trigger at most one trap. In a trap-intensive area like the Spider Tunnel, using summoned creatures to explore each one would demand an immense amount of effort.

As for higher-level undead, regular necromancers were reluctant to expose them to the trap's harm physically. Hence, Margaret's strategy didn't suit Matthew at this stage.

With that in mind, it seemed more cost-effective for him to recruit a skilled thief adept at disarming traps rather than relying on Margaret's approach.

However, for Margaret, the power of 4.6 million gold coins rendered her completely impervious to any traps below legendary level. The role of an engineer was grossly underutilized in this context.

At present, Margaret led the way while Matthew followed behind at a distance. He only caught up with Margaret's pace after they passed the area dense with triggered traps.

Navigating the Spider Tunnel wasn't particularly challenging, and the two walked side by side. Time ticked away, and amid the dull journey, they unknowingly engaged in conversation.

When Matthew inquired about Margaret's knowledge of the Blood Flag Kingdom, she promptly delved into it:

"The history of the Blood Flag Kingdom is extensively documented within the Alliance. There's even a dedicated section in the Grand Library solely for books related to the kingdom.

The earliest founder of this realm can be traced back to a figure named Meng Feiste. He hailed from the third layer of the Abyssal Prison, the 'Interminable Hollow,' a high-ranking devil and the lover and guardian of the Desire Demon Queen, Glarisha.

After the Ascension of the Heavenly Palace, the Cataclysmic Sorcerer visited the Abyss once, and in a sudden turn of events, banished the then Lord of the Nine Prisons, Bato, to the ninth layer of the Abyss, beneath the 'Bridge of Sentients,' where he was sealed alongside deities.

Bato's partial downfall led to distortions and fractures within the Abyssal plane for centuries. Each layer became highly unstable, creating numerous folds between layers, thus branching out into many subsidiary planes within the relatively unified Nine Layered Abyss, akin to an abyssal abyss.

These subsidiary planes quickly moved from an initial gestation phase to a 'fracturing period,' rapidly expanding and extending outward.

The plane where we currently reside, Eskana, was formed during this phase. It's a sub-material realm born from the fusion of folds from the ninth layer of the Abyss and a certain layer of the boundless abyss.

However, during the initial fracturing of the Abyss, Meng Feiste, the high-ranking devil who witnessed the Ascension of the Heavenly Palace and Bato's sealing, harbored immense ambitions.

He sought to convince Glarisha to grant him a devil army through persuasive words. Meng Feiste told Glarisha that he would lead this army across the nascent planes, vanquish all adversaries, and retrieve three drops of 'Bato's Blood,' lost in the Abyss when Bato was injured by the Cataclysmic Sorcerer.

It's crucial to note that Glarisha is Bato's biological daughter. With these three drops of Bato's Blood, she could potentially become the new Lord of the Nine Prisons.

Coupled with Glarisha's tremendous trust in her lover, she consented to Meng Feiste's request.

Thus, Meng Feiste arrived in the nascent Eskana with the devil army. Initially, Meng Feiste diligently worked toward Glarisha's conquest. He engaged in decades-long battles with the demon legions that arrived here from the abyss, slaying millions of demons under his hand.

But demons were inexhaustible. Furthermore, under the leadership of a grand demon lord named Blu, the demons united, resisting the incursion of the devil army.

Consequently, the influence of the Abyss within Eskana's warfare became extremely precarious. Faced with no choice, Meng Feiste had to compromise. He struck an agreement with the Abyssal Human Race, whose origins were unknown.

Both parties pledged non-aggression and mutual aid for the next millennium.

The results of the treaty were apparent the day after it was signed."

In the depths of the Abyssal race's leadership, a woman whose name was lost to history displayed before Meng Feiste the blood of Bato she had obtained.

It turned out Meng Feiste had been desperately searching for the blood of Bato for over a decade, and a drop of it had fallen into the hands of the Abyssal race's leader.

Meng Feiste was absolutely covetous of the blood of Bato.

However, the two had just signed a contract.

Moreover, it was the most severe kind of contract for a demon, forbidding him from coercing the other party to surrender the blood of Bato.

Not only was Meng Feiste unable to find a way, even the other demons behind him in the Third Purgatory couldn't violate the alliance with the Abyssal race.

Unable to find a solution, Meng Feiste reported this matter to the Desire Demon Queen.

The response from Glarisha, the Desire Demon Queen, was straightforward: Use a handsome man's plan.

Glarisha hoped Meng Feiste could coax the race leader into voluntarily offering up the blood of Bato.

Initially resistant to the idea, Meng Feiste eventually relented under Glarisha's persistent persuasion.

Fully prepared, Meng Feiste planned to seduce the race leader.

The agreement was reached in no time.

In the following spring, the race leader bore a pair of dragon-phoenix twins for Meng Feiste.

Interestingly, these twins were actually the ancestors of your friend, Rhaegar, and the true founders of the Blood Flag Kingdom.

Returning to the tale, observing Meng Feiste's growing rapport with the race leader, Glarisha urged him to swiftly retrieve the blood of Bato.

However, the human heart is a mysterious thing.

After having children, Meng Feiste's ambitions waned. The endless wars had wearied him, and he didn't want his children under the dominion of demons.

When the race leader did hand over some of the blood of Bato to Meng Feiste, he didn't give it to the Desire Demon Queen. Instead, he split it in two, integrating it into the bodies of the twins.

This explains why the Blood Flag Kingdom stands unshakable in Eskana; they carry the blood of the previous ruler, the great Lord Bato!

Matthew listened eagerly, surprised by the origins of the Blood Flag Kingdom.

"What happened next?" he inquired.

"Surely the Desire Demon Queen, Glarisha, didn't let Meng Feiste and the race leader off easily?" Matthew pursued.

Margaret nodded, continuing, "Of course not. When the blood of Bato fused with the dragon-phoenix twins, the Desire Demon Queen sensed Meng Feiste's betrayal.

"Demons are fearsome creatures, highly organized with a strict hierarchy. Meng Feiste's treason incensed Glarisha.

"She sent legions of demons across dimensions to war. Although Meng Feiste had reached a peaceful agreement with the great demon lord Brudd, his demon army and the elite of the Abyssal race were no match for the Desire Demon Queen's forces.

"After a devastating annihilation, the recently delivered race leader fell on the battlefield. Meng Feiste was captured and imprisoned in the depths of the Third Purgatory's Interminable Cavern.

"Meng Feiste entrusted the twins to a mysterious monk for upbringing."

For decades thereafter, there were no records within the alliance regarding the dragon-phoenix twins. Instead, Meng Feiste suffered incessant torment at the hands of the Desire Demon Queen.

Rumor had it that the Queen's favorite pastime was to assume the guise of the race leader and taunt Meng Feiste with other demons, engaging in verbal and physical battles. She'd even inquire about a mortal woman, asking, 'How splendid could she be?' or 'Can she perform as I do?' and 'Here's another chance; show me how you and she did it!'

It was beyond excessive..."

Upon hearing this, Matthew couldn't help but wonder, "Could the library within the alliance actually contain such detailed accounts?"

Margaret shrugged off the doubt, saying, "Absolutely. The author of 'The Secret History of the Interminable Cavern' witnessed everything firsthand as another one of the Desire Demon Queen's personal guards."

Later, due to a fortuitous encounter, he became Mr. Fei's contract devil and joined the Seven Saints Alliance, assuming the role of the Grand Librarian.

If you head to the Grand Library now, you might chance upon meeting that gentleman.

This particular gentleman has authored many works, all renowned for their authenticity.

What's even rarer is that not only are his works highly professional, but they are also incredibly readable. I strongly recommend grabbing a few when you have the time!

Curious, Matthew asked, "Why refer to him as 'that gentleman'? Isn't there a specific name?"

Margaret shook her head and explained, "He wrote too many secret histories of influential figures, making him susceptible to animosity. Consequently, his name has been erased, and we can only refer to him as 'that gentleman.' As far as I know, the personal attendant of the Desire Witch Queen is actually just one of his manifestations.

He has countless avatars.

Some suspect he's a powerful devil close to another lord of the Nine Hells.

But there's been no concrete evidence to date."

Matthew felt reflective after hearing this.

It seemed imperative for him to frequent the Alliance's Grand Library. Apart from studying spells, he realized the importance of acquiring diverse knowledge in various fields to avoid future setbacks.

"And what happened afterward?" he inquired further.

"Did the Desire Witch Queen spare Meng Feiste's children?"

Margaret continued, "Certainly not. Subsequently, the Desire Witch Queen dispatched forces in Eskana to relentlessly hunt them down. However, despite severe torment, Meng Feiste remained resolute, never revealing the whereabouts of the twins.

It wasn't until three hundred years later.

In Eskana's lands, emerged a pair who wielded control over lightning, frost, and a blood curse. They were the Tiflin siblings, both lovers and kin.

They were the devilish offspring born of the blood of Bato.

With their immense power, they swiftly conquered all adversaries.

Within a mere two years, they established the Blood Flag Kingdom in these lands.

At the height of its power, the siblings even led armies into the third layer of the Inferno.

Following a fierce battle with the Desire Witch Queen,

it was only after this conflict

that people recognized the exceptional nature of the Tiflin race.

This race not only possessed inherent devilish strength but also evaded lifelong bindings to order, unlike typical devils.

The elite among the Tiflin held evolutionary potential akin to humans.

The Blood Flag Kingdom, established by the siblings, immediately attracted Tiflin from other parts of the multiverse.

During its apex,

they could even contend with the mightiest layer within the Nine Hells!

However, the Tiflin didn't inherit the extensive lifespan of devils.

Hence, today, over a millennium later,

the rule of the Blood Flag Kingdom in Eskana isn't as steadfast as it was initially.

After enduring several tumultuous events,

the current state of the Blood Flag Kingdom can be described as beset by internal and external troubles."

Matthew began feeling perplexed as he listened, "Hold on, over a millennium later? The scattering of Bato's blood in the Inferno happened after the Ascension of the Tianlun Palace, right? The Ascension happened only a few hundred years ago..."

Margaret patiently explained, "That's due to the phase of fissure.

Remember when I mentioned that after Bato's sealing, the Inferno underwent a prolonged phase of expansion and extension outward?

During that phase, time within the Inferno accelerated significantly.

While in the primary material realm, the Ascension of the Tianlun Palace happened only a few hundred years ago, for the Inferno, it's been over a millennium.

It wasn't until fifty years ago that the fissure phase concluded, aligning the time flow of the Inferno back to that of the primary material realm."

From that time on, once again, the malevolent gaze of the devils was fixed upon the Aendu continent."

"Time, you see, it's a rather delicate concept, not as stable as one might think."

"For instance, in our minds, the Ascension of Tian Lun Palace happened hundreds of years ago. But can you be sure of exactly how many centuries ago it was?"

Matthew paused.

Indeed!

How many centuries ago could it have been?

Why isn't there a clear account?

He hadn't really considered this question before.

It seemed like his understanding of this matter had been entirely blocked out.

Margaret smiled faintly:

"This isn't just your confusion. In truth, no one knows the exact time the Ascension of Tian Lun Palace occurred. Even powerful mages like Suerel and Isabelle don't have a precise answer."

"It's because the Ascension of Tian Lun Palace had such a profound impact. The Cataclysmic Mage released an excessive amount of energy during the event that distorted the realm of time, making the era indistinct."

"Even now, the alliance's mages have estimated the time of the Ascension of Tian Lun Palace to be between two hundred and four hundred years ago. That's already a remarkable advancement."

"According to my teacher's speculation, if we want to pinpoint the exact time of this historical event, we'd probably need power on par with that of the Cataclysmic Mage."

"That's clearly quite challenging."

"So, as long as we grasp the concept, there's no need to dig too deeply."

"Similarly, the three great enigmas imposed on the Aendu continent by the gods follow the same logic."

"We merely need to understand their concepts and existence; delving into their specifics is unnecessary."

Matthew's interest was piqued:

"Right, about the three enigmas, I only know of two so far."

"One is the Intellect Enigma, blocking knowledge and history related to the gods;

another is the Civilization Enigma, obstructing the development of civilization in the Aendu world;

what about the third?"

Margaret looked surprised:

"You mean you haven't completely figured out the three great enigmas?"

Matthew scratched his head sheepishly:

"We rural mages are like that."

Margaret frowned slightly, concerned:

"I can't just let you go to Purgatory like this."

"You really need to grasp the basics firmly!"

"As for the third enigma, it's the 'Chaos Enigma'!"

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