Molten Ruins, Inner Corridor.
A team of fewer than fifty was frantically retreating deeper into the ruins while fending off two Level 106 High Great Lord-rank Guardian Giants.
Though the team numbered fewer than fifty, they had a full eight Tier 3 experts among them. Chief among them was a female Guardian Knight standing over six feet tall, clad in silver armor with dark patterns, wielding a dark-engraved magic shield and a two-handed greatsword. She single-handedly held both Guardian Giants in place without giving an inch.
Thanks to her performance, the other Tier 3 professionals were free to deal with the dozen-plus Great Lord-rank Guardian Mechanical Puppets swarming forward, protecting the team's orderly retreat.
This valiant Tier 3 female Guardian Knight was none other than Zi Wei — the captain of the Blade of the
"Captain, I received a message from Fan Muran offline. Muran says he's found
The moment this Tier 3 assassin spoke, the entire team fell silent.
"Zero Wing's got some nerve!" a Level 102 Tier 3 Berserker snarled in fury. "We're in here fighting tooth and nail to stay alive, pushing deeper into the ruins — all to protect that main branch. And they turn around and ask for the whole trunk? Then what have we been doing all this for — all that work for nothing?"
"Exactly. If we're going to give up the main branch anyway, we might as well trade with Warblood. Or even deal with one of the other major powers — at least they'd be more reliable." A Tier 3 Elementalist nearby nodded in agreement.
Everyone present felt the same way.
They had fought tooth and nail to obtain the Tree of Life's main branch and had held onto it all this way. To have Zero Wing simply waltz in and claim it was简直 a joke.
They would be far better off trading with one of the real superpowers. Given the value of a Tree of Life main branch, those major powers would be more than willing — and at least they'd be far more dependable than Zero Wing.
"Shen Ying, what's your take?" Zi Wei, wearing a silver helmet, asked the Tier 3 assassin even as she continued to fight.
Her voice cut through the clamor like a divine melody, carrying an ineffable sense of righteousness and sanctity, instantly silencing the team's heated discussion as everyone turned to listen to their vice-captain's thoughts.
"Captain, if you ask me, we probably can't hold onto the Tree of Life's main branch no matter what. And for the other major powers, a single branch isn't that attractive — none of them would be willing to go to war with Warblood over it." The male assassin known as Shen Ying, his face entirely hidden, spoke slowly. "But if we're willing to put the main branch on the table, then we'll have far more options."
"What are you suggesting?" Zi Wei asked calmly.
"Giving it to Warblood is obviously out of the question. Zero Wing can be dismissed entirely. Even the major powers aren't that reliable. I received a message offline from the Thirteen Royal Courts — I don't know how they got the information, but they know we have the Tree of Life's main branch. They've expressed willingness to help us: as long as we agree to trade the main branch, they'll not only come to our rescue, but they'll also provide the Blade of the Firmament with protection and assistance on Dragon Heart Island going forward." Shen Ying finished.
Everyone listened to what Shen Ying had said. Unwilling as they were, they had to admit he made good sense.
The Molten Ruins were extraordinarily dangerous. While every major power on Dragon Heart Island had come searching for hippogryph eggs, most of them were confined to the ruins' outer zone. Very few had managed to set foot in the inner zone, and the team had only managed to enter it through special means.
Zero Wing might rival those superpowers in terms of top-tier combat strength, but whether the other major powers could even reach the inner zone was questionable — let alone mount a rescue. The only ones with both the strength and the reliability to pull it off were the Thirteen Royal Courts.
Zi Wei fell silent. Everyone watched their captain quietly, awaiting her final decision.
Because whatever Captain Zi Wei decided, they would carry it out without hesitation.
"Fine. We'll do it your way," Zi Wei said.
"I'll go notify the Thirteen Royal Courts right away." Shen Ying moved to log out.