Chapter 109: Shadows

After three days of stifling tension, Sun Licheng finally received good news: Mr. Skillful reported that the central control system had provided a biological formula capable of enhancing a person's beauty.

Sun Licheng found these biological formulas quite similar to the gene drugs on Earth, only infused with magical power. It was precisely this infusion of magic that meant the formulas had virtually no side effects.

“If only I could bring these back to Earth, transforming into Sun Ali would be a matter of moments,” he mused, feeling a pang of longing. Thinking of the billions of women on Earth who cherished beauty, his heart ached deeply—yet he was trapped here, unable to return.

“By the way, can this formula make me more handsome?” he asked Mr. Skillful with hopeful anticipation.

After a moment’s thought, Mr. Skillful nodded but added, “This formula can indeed enhance your looks, but it cannot increase your height, and it can only be used once in a lifetime. Are you certain you wish to proceed?”

Sun Licheng considered for a moment and then declined. Although the potion could make him more handsome, he reasoned that a good-looking third-class cripple was still a cripple. Remembering his nearly 1.9-meter stature on Earth, he decided to wait for a better formula. After all, no matter how refined an essence might be, it could never surpass the original.

Abandoning that vain hope, Sun Licheng resolved to create a special potion for Little Cabbage. Since he lacked some materials, he dispatched mechanical puppets to search for them and sent messages to other tribes, hoping to gather all the ingredients through exchange.

To surprise Little Cabbage, he instructed Mr. Skillful to keep the plan secret, to which the latter readily agreed.

...

The morning fog was thick today, and the Star-Moon Tribe’s hunting party halted their expeditions. All the minor chiefs gathered in Adolf’s room for a meeting, where one pressing topic was the recent developments in the Flower Planting Tribe.

According to reports from various areas, Sun Licheng had largely ceased producing ordinary goods, especially bronze wares, and was instead intensifying the purchase of copper ore and other materials.

“What do you all think the Flower Planting Tribe intends by this?” Adolf asked slowly after Martin finished his briefing, scanning the room.

The chiefs exchanged glances, silent for a moment until one ventured, “Perhaps they’re preparing for war?”

The others nodded in agreement. With their years of experience in warfare, they quickly pinpointed the likely issue.

But when it came to why they would wage war, everyone shook their heads in confusion.

The pointless meeting concluded, and Adolf returned to his quarters, troubled. He had a lingering suspicion that Sun Licheng’s actions were closely tied to that half-elf envoy, though the exact reasons eluded him.

At that moment, a subordinate knocked and entered upon permission.

“Great Chief, the half-elf has returned,” the goblin warrior reported.

Hearing this, Adolf hurried out to meet him. Soon, the two returned to Adolf’s room, chatting and laughing. The half-elf, Xipus, no longer looked disheveled from his previous escape attempt. He wore an elegant half-elf ceremonial robe, his radiant face drawing admiring glances and whispers of “handsome man” wherever he went.

Once inside, after the maid served tea, Adolf smiled and asked, “Honorable Envoy, what brings you back this time? Are you here to see Sun Licheng again?”

Xipus smiled and replied, “I’m not here for Sun Licheng this time. I’ve come to pay respects to the Star-Moon Tribe’s High Shaman and seek your esteemed introduction.”

Half an hour later, in the Silver Moon Goddess Temple of the Star-Moon Tribe, the usually stern High Shaman received Envoy Xipus.

Gazing at the exquisite statue of the Silver Moon Goddess, Xipus bowed deeply.

The statue depicted a human woman draped in white veils, with a delicate oval face, slender eyebrows, and a serene expression. In her right hand, she held a crescent moon harp at her waist; her left hand was raised as if to bless the world with divine light. The flickering shadows cast by the temple’s firelight gave the statue a lifelike, ethereal quality.

As an envoy, Xipus was treated with great courtesy. After offering fragrant tea produced by the Flower Planting Tribe, the High Shaman inquired about the purpose of his visit.

“Heh, I recently found something extraordinary that I believe Her Majesty the Silver Moon Goddess would greatly cherish, so I brought it as a gift,” Xipus said, smiling as he set down his cup and produced a dagger from his cloak, placing it gently on the low table between them.

The High Shaman examined the dagger, noting its delicate craftsmanship but seeing nothing particularly unusual. Just then, Xipus’s voice whispered in his ear, “This dagger is called the Heart of Freedom.”

“Heart of Freedom? That’s an odd name,” the High Shaman murmured, nodding as he lifted the dagger and rose, walking toward the altar.

...

In the Divine Realm, within the Silver Moon and Spring Water Goddess’s domain, Archangel Olavia noticed the sacred hall glowing with a pure white light and swiftly flew toward it. A high priest was offering prayers to the goddess.

The Silver Moon and Spring Water Goddess was not powerful; her divine power barely reached the lower tier of the divine scale. Hence, she diligently sought to expand her followers. The prayers of such a high priest drew considerable attention within the divine domain.

Olavia arrived promptly, waving her hand to summon a vision into the sacred hall's central spring. It revealed a primitive goblin-style temple. The Archangel’s lips curled into a sneer, but then she was stunned—before her appeared a dagger.

The dagger’s blade gleamed silver-white, its handle black, and its curves elegant. As a Divine Realm archangel, Olavia immediately sensed the dagger’s extraordinary nature, especially the intricate inscriptions carved along its blade—written in the script of the Goblin Empire.

The goddess had once decreed that any discovery of Goblin Empire script must be reported to her immediately. This strange dagger might well be the very artifact Her Majesty had long sought.

With no time to waste, Olavia flapped her great wings and flew toward the main temple.

At the highest peak within the divine domain, nestled among the sea of clouds, stood a magnificent palace—the temple of the Silver Moon and Spring Water Goddess. The goddess herself was bathing.

Amidst melodious music, countless red petals drifted through the temple, their rich fragrance intoxicating. At the center lay a gemstone-encrusted grand bath, where a cherubic fountain sprayed milky white water.

The great Silver Moon and Spring Water Goddess, Elfrida Sprey, luxuriated as the spring’s waters caressed her golden locks. The shimmering droplets highlighted her tender, flawless skin, which sparkled like stars—an exquisite vision. Even Olavia, herself a female angel, found herself momentarily entranced.

“My child, what brings you here?” the goddess asked softly, pausing the music as she noticed her archangel’s urgent arrival.

“Your Majesty, a vision just arrived from the goblins—a dagger inscribed with many Goblin Empire characters,” Olavia reported, projecting the image of the Heart of Freedom.

Upon seeing the dagger, the goddess’s once serene face darkened instantly. She asked coldly, “Heart of Freedom! What is the meaning of this? Report to me at once!”