Chapter 185: Catching Them All in One Net

Chapter 185 Wiped Out Clean

Li Wei walked within the small manor.

Though the manor was small, it possessed all necessary functions.

Gardens, a small pond, lawns, a small plaza.

All manner of things were present.

Lyle sat upon a redwood grand chair, before him stood the manor's owner, a fallen noble.

"Mage Lyle, I truly have done my utmost this month."

"People are investigating everywhere; last time I was nearly discovered, fortunately I knew the patrol captain, bribed him, and covered it up."

The noble displayed a thoroughly submissive attitude before Lyle.

Lyle did not even glance at him, saying, "Give you two more days, bring me at least three living humans."

"I do not care what methods you use, the ritual must be completed this month."

"You do not wish for the power within your body to spiral out of control, do you?"

Hearing this, the noble gritted his teeth and said, "Very well, I will definitely find a way."

Li Wei stood outside the door, hearing their conversation, and narrowed his eyes.

It seemed Lyle had not used human sacrifice for the first time.

Li Wei did not rush to act.

Acting now would be meaningless.

Only by catching them red-handed can Lyle's crimes be substantiated.

Lyle stayed in the manor for a while, then rose to leave.

Li Wei followed along, growing increasingly alarmed the further he went.

Lyle had actually controlled so many nobles to work for him.

This was a major event.

Li Wei pondered for a moment, then turned back toward the Mage Tower.

He found Gu Ze.

Gu Ze was about to depart from Maple Leaf City.

Before he left, bestow a grand gift upon him.

At least ensuring he wouldn't worry about cultivation resources for some time after leaving Maple Leaf City.

"Teacher Gu Ze, I have made a great discovery, come with me."

"Remember to bring a recording crystal."

Moments later, Gu Ze arrived at Li Wei's location with the recording crystal.

He asked somewhat strangely, "What are you talking about?"

Li Wei said, "I discovered a clue involving evil cultists from three noble families."

Gu Ze exclaimed, "Such a big matter, why didn't you report it upwards?"

Li Wei said, "Too many eyes and ears; if the Mage Tower has their spies, the news will leak."

"There is no evidence yet, we cannot convict them."

"At the latest within these two days they will hold an evil ritual; once the recording crystal captures their crimes, we can make our move."

Gu Ze heard this and nodded.

"Then let us proceed as you say, what shall we do now?"

"Follow them first, see exactly how many people are involved."

"Teacher Gu Ze, you go track Fite of the Jorsman family."

Li Wei took out a portrait created by an illusion spell for Gu Ze to see.

Let him memorize the target.

Gu Ze glanced at it and said, "I know this person, rest assured, leave it to me."

The two parted ways, Li Wei continued following Lyle.

Fite was one of the more powerful nobles under Lyle.

The other two noble families were fallen nobles.

They submitted to Lyle for survival.

Fite was different; he sought power to lead his family further forward.

The Jorsman family and Lyle were more like partners.

Fite had quite a few subordinates, all of whom needed to be found.

Then wipe them out clean.

Li Wei followed Lyle, having no time to track Fite, so he let Gu Ze track him.

August 30th.

Lyle, whom Li Wei had tracked for two days, finally made a move.

He headed toward the city outskirts.

At the same time, Li Wei received news from Gu Ze.

Under Fite's leadership, the Jorsman family transported some unknown goods toward the city outskirts.

Fite had bribed the city gate guards.

The goods were not strictly inspected and were allowed through directly.

The other two noble families also began their actions.

Some independent individuals cultivated by Lyle also rushed toward the city outskirts.

Li Wei tracked Lyle all the way, arriving at a cave outside the city.

"Here of all places." Li Wei was somewhat surprised.

The cave was just outside the Dark Valley.

Inside the Dark Valley, tens of thousands of half-orcs were imprisoned.

Already over ten thousand half-orcs had been transformed into various slaves.

But still a large number of half-orcs remained within the Dark Valley.

Li Wei had just entered the valley when he smelled a faint scent of blood.

"Even here one can smell blood, inside it must already be rivers of blood."

Li Wei twitched the corner of his mouth, feeling something was not right.

He pondered briefly, his phantom form manifesting to hide within the woods outside, ready to rendezvous with the arriving Guze.

Li Wei, however, followed Lyle's steps into the cave.

Deep within the cave, the ground was littered with corpses.

Some were beasts, some humans, and others half-orcs.

All the remains were dried out, their blood long exhausted.

Li Wei hid behind a rock, quietly observing Lyle set up the sacrificial ritual.

A recording crystal rested in the corner, silently capturing the scene before it.

Soon enough, others arrived bearing the sacrifices.

"Mage Lyle."

Lyle said nothing, offering only a glance.

The man dragged the sacrifice over, tossed it to the floor, and slit its throat.

Leaving the blood to flow freely.

Under a mysterious power, the wound kept bleeding until every drop was drained from the sacrifice.

More and more sacrifices were brought forth.

Lyle's men had mostly gathered here as well.

Li Wei's gaze sharpened slightly, "Just right to sweep them all up."

The last batch of sacrifices arrived.

Over thirty half-orcs, brought by an officer stationed at the Dark Valley.

Li Wei was inwardly shocked; he hadn't expected Lyle had already corrupted Maple City's army.

Outside the cave.

Li Wei's phantom had already intercepted Guze.

Guze looked at Li Wei, failing to see he was a fake.

He spoke anxiously, "They have all gone in, are you not coming?"

Li Wei replied, "No hurry, wait a moment longer."

Inside the cave, Li Wei waited for the opportune moment.

He pitied those chosen as sacrifices.

Yet, acting rashly would only place himself in peril.

There were too many enemies.

They must be caught in one net, struck down in one kill.

Otherwise, relying just on him and Guze, they could not face so many.

Li Wei closed his eyes, refusing to witness the grim deaths.

Red light flared in the cave; the ritual commenced.

All knelt within the ritual array, foreheads pressed to the earth.

Lyle sat amidst the river of blood, presiding over the rite.

As the ritual proceeded, everyone felt power pouring into their bodies.

That sensation was intoxicating and captivating.

Compared to day after day, accumulating slowly, raising strength bit by bit.

This feeling of rapid power growth made one unable to pull away.

Once begun, there was no return to the past.

Lyle, as the rite's conductor, received the greatest share of power.

His figure was swallowed by the crimson glow.

Suddenly, a fierce magical fluctuation erupted within the cave.

Lyle's expression shifted.

The ritual was halfway done, impossible to halt now.

The only option was to accelerate the ceremony.

In this crisis, he ignored hoarding power, distributing more to the others.

Some could not endure it, screaming in agony.

"Ahhh!"

Unable to withstand the force, bodies tore apart, blood instantly sucked dry by the array, becoming dried husks.

Li Wei watched these people with cold indifference.

He hurled the Super Fireball from his hand, speeding outward without looking back.

(End of Chapter)