Chapter 069: The Pact of the Immortals

Because this course of action involved some level of shifting blame, it was necessary to dispatch a few immortals to negotiate with Guizoli and discuss the feasibility of this matter.

Even if they couldn't join Guizoli, securing Guizoli's assistance would be an excellent outcome.

"Very well. Since this immortal has the best rapport with the God of Geo, I shall take on this task."

"With this immortal here, no mishap shall arise," said Cloud Retainer confidently.

"Haha, then I shall join you!"

"How could such an important matter exclude this immortal?"

"My relationship with the God of Geo is also quite good."

"Let us go together."

Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, Skybracer, and Ocean Calm spoke in turn.

These were all immortals who had established a connection with Morax, the God of Geo, during his visits to the adepti.

Thus, they were the most suitable candidates for this task.

None of the other immortals raised objections.

True to their nature, once the immortals made a decision, they wasted no time. Cloud Retainer and the other immortals transformed into their beast forms, taking flight or traversing the skies as they sped away from Jueyun Karst toward the Guizoli Plains.

Before long, the group passed through the former domain of the God of Swamp, entering a vast marshland.

The marsh exuded a black, foul-smelling miasma, a clear byproduct of the God of Swamp's influence. This swamp gas was far from a natural occurrence.

Not only was it suffocatingly pungent, but it also contained lethal toxins.

Even as immortals, a moment of carelessness could allow the miasma to cling to them, potentially harming their immortal bodies.

As they approached the area, the immortals summoned their adeptal energy to form faint white barriers around themselves, temporarily isolating their bodies from the outside environment to prevent the miasma from infiltrating.

"What a magnificent sight. It's hard to imagine what the battle between the God of Geo, the God of Manifestation, and the God of Swamp must have been like," said Moon Carver, marveling at the view as they flew over the boundless swamp.

The God of Swamp had long since fallen, yet the marshland created by them retained remnants of its destructive power—enough to threaten the immortals themselves.

It was unfathomable to imagine the scene when the God of Geo and the God of Manifestation faced such a foe.

"On that day, this immortal happened to pass nearby. From the outskirts, I caught a distant glimpse. The swamp stretched from the ground to the skies, engulfing an entire expanse of land," Cloud Retainer recounted.

"As for what occurred within, this immortal cannot say."

Cloud Retainer had been gathering materials for crafting mechanisms in the vicinity when she sensed the massive disturbance from afar. Curiosity compelled her to stop and observe the awe-inspiring scene for a time.

"Gods naturally wield the power to shape heaven and earth, let alone when two supreme Gods clash."

"The God of Geo and the God of Manifestation, possessing such formidable strength, make Guizoli an ideal sanctuary to align ourselves with."

"In this era of rampant wars between Gods, we immortals have been swept into the chaos, unable to control our own fates," said Mountain Shaper with a sigh.

This further solidified his resolve to seek refuge with Guizoli.

With two such powerful Gods at its helm, Guizoli could have easily expanded to encompass most of the God territories had it not maintained its neutral stance.

The immortals moved swiftly.

Before long, they had traversed the vast marshland. Once out of the miasma-filled domain, the immortals dismissed their protective barriers to conserve their adeptal energy.

Sustaining such barriers required a constant expenditure of power, and no one could predict whether they might encounter further dangers on their journey to and from Guizoli. It was wise to preserve as much strength as possible.

"So, this is the Guizoli Plains? This immortal finds it rather unremarkable—an endless expanse of flatland, far less intriguing than the mountains," said Cloud Retainer, setting foot on the plains for the first time.

The immortals, being somewhat reclusive by nature, typically confined their activities to the vicinity of Jueyun Karst. Wandering into territories dominated by other Gods was a dangerous gamble, as it risked being mistaken for an invasion.

"Hahaha, mountains have their charm, and so do plains. Why compare the two?" Ocean Calm remarked.

Having grown accustomed to mountain scenery, the sight of the plains evoked a fresh, distinct emotion within him.

"Hmph, does this immortal not understand such a shallow principle?" Cloud Retainer retorted, turning her bird head aside.

The group chuckled and continued their flight deeper into Guizoli.

Before long, the patrolling Millelith stationed on the Guizoli Plains noticed the aerial approach of the beast-like figures. Mistaking them for monsters crossing from the marshes, the Millelith immediately prepared for battle.

They relayed the message swiftly, and thousands of Millelith soldiers formed ranks along the flight path, ready to intercept.

The immortals, flying high above, soon spotted the human figures on the ground.

"Look closely! Those formations used by the mortals—aren't they the Seven Star Formation that this immortal once gifted to the God of Geo?"

"Why are these mortals arrayed like this? Could it be that they've recognized our identities and are here to welcome us?" Sky Builder mused.

"Hmph. This immortal thinks they intend to obstruct us," Cloud Retainer replied.

"We are now in Guizoli's domain. As Millelith soldiers, they are tasked with defending Guizoli. We must not underestimate these mortals simply because we are immortals."

"Let us descend and reveal our identities. They should not make things difficult for us," Ocean Calm suggested.

When the adeptal arts were gifted, the God of Geo had mentioned plans to form a human military force, later sharing the name of this army—the Millelith.

Thus, the group now faced the very defenders of Guizoli.

Though the Millelith's adeptal techniques shared roots with the immortals, the immortals themselves were not part of Guizoli. Any misstep leading to conflict could doom their plans to join Guizoli before they even began.

"You are entering Guizoli! No demons or monsters shall pass!"

The soldiers stood firm, their voices resounding with unyielding resolve as they watched the approaching beasts. Not an ounce of fear showed in their ranks, and they stood ready to strike at the slightest provocation.

"No matter the cost, this is our Guizoli to protect!"

"We are the immortals of Jueyun Karst. We have come to Guizoli to discuss matters with the God of Geo. Why do you obstruct our path?" Cloud Retainer called out, addressing the Millelith.

After hearing the news, the Millelith exchanged confused glances.

These beast-like creatures indeed didn't have the ferocious and menacing appearance of demons, but it was still possible they were disguises for other demons.

Immortals of Jueyun Karst?

They had only heard stories about a group of Adepti living in Jueyun Karst, who were said to share a deep bond with their Lord Rex Lapis.

Since Morax formed the Millelith, the title "Lord Rex Lapis" had gradually gained traction among the populace. Over time, it grew more beloved than the earlier title, "Lord of Geo."

Even though the Adepti were closely associated with their lord, the Millelith had never met them, leaving them uncertain about their identities.

If they couldn't confirm their identities, how could they rule out the possibility that these Adepti were actually demons in disguise?

Cloud Retainer noticed the hesitation in the mortals' eyes and took a step forward, revealing an immortal art.

It was none other than the "Seven Star Array," a formation gifted to Morax by Cloud Retainer.

The Millelith were startled! At first, they thought the Adepti might attack, but no such move came. Upon closer inspection, the formation appeared familiar—no, it wasn't just familiar.

It was undoubtedly the Seven Star Array, an art gifted by the Adepti themselves.

Could these beast-like forms indeed belong to the Adepti?

"This matter is of great importance. We humbly ask the Adepti to allow us some time to report this to the Lord of Geo," said Yan Jun, the captain of this Millelith unit, clasping his fists with a tone of respect.

The display of immortal arts by Cloud Retainer had convinced them about seventy percent of their identities as Adepti.

"Very well, this immortal will wait here for a while," said Moon Carver.

Yan Jun quickly tore apart a Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Talisman to report the situation succinctly.

This talisman wasn't something created by Vorthis; he had been too busy training to spare the effort. Instead, it was Guizhong who had studied the runic structure of the talisman and simplified it, using her divine power to mass-produce a batch for the Millelith's communications.

After all, in the face of powerful demons, relying on messengers running on foot would be futile.

Although this simplified version wasn't as powerful as the one manifested by Vorthis, it worked fine within the range of Guizhong's domain.

Meanwhile, the Millelith headquarters swiftly relayed the message to the Guizoli Palace.

"Why have they come here? Could something have happened in Jueyun Karst?" wondered Morax upon receiving the report.

The Adepti of Jueyun Karst rarely left their domain. Their arrival suggested an urgent matter.

With a golden flash, Morax transformed into a beam of light and headed toward the Adepti.

Moments later, a golden radiance illuminated the sky as Morax appeared.

"Lord Rex Lapis!" The Millelith saluted with clasped fists.

Morax gave a slight nod before approaching the Adepti. "Has something happened?"

The Adepti nodded, and Moon Carver explained the current situation in Jueyun Karst.

After listening, Morax understood their plight. However, he remained uncertain about the purpose of their visit to Guizoli City.

If they sought assistance, Morax wouldn't refuse, given their shared history, but providing aid alone wasn't a lasting solution. Could they possibly deal with all eight Archdemons at once?

"I understand. This is not the place to discuss such matters. Come with me to Guizoli City," said Morax.

The Adepti had no objections. Many of them were curious about the fabled prosperity of Guizoli City, a city of mortals.

Guided by Morax, they soon reached the skies above Guizoli City.

Decades of development had turned the city from a place once ravaged by the Archon War into a bustling hub. The scars of war—economic depression, public despair, and failing trade—had been addressed. Guizoli City had grown even more prosperous.

Though the Archon War was far from over, the city had shifted from external reliance to self-sufficiency, building a thriving internal economy.

"This is the prosperous Guizoli City they speak of. Indeed, it lives up to its reputation," remarked Moon Carver.

"Impressive, though the clamor of mortal life is somewhat... overwhelming," noted Cloud Retainer. "How could one cultivate amidst such noise?"

"The mortal world has always been like this," Morax said calmly. "Please, follow me."

Having visited the Adepti numerous times, Morax was accustomed to their remarks and didn't take them to heart.

He then led them into the sky, sparking curiosity among the Adepti. Was he planning to discuss matters in the air?

Their questions were answered when Morax brought them to a floating pavilion built by Vorthis.