Chapter 456: Goddess of a Hundred Flowers

Chapter 456: The Goddess of a Hundred Flowers

Li Wei stepped out of the Mages' Association, unseen by anyone.

He tightened the invisibility cloak around his body and headed toward the outskirts of the city.

As he walked, he split apart—becoming two figures. One made for the Mage Tower, while the other continued toward the city gates.

The Mapleleaf City Mage Tower could not remain without a leader for even a single day.

Martin and Komas had been unable to contact their Lord for over half a month now, both deeply worried.

This unease soon spread among the lower-ranking mages as well.

The entire tower was shrouded in anxiety.

On this particular day, Martin ascended to the third floor as usual, requesting an audience with the Tower Lord through the magical steward.

He held no hope at all.

It had already been more than two weeks since the Tower Lord last responded.

Perhaps he had vanished long ago.

After making his request, Martin waited several minutes before turning away, preparing to leave.

Suddenly, the steward spoke up, "Master Martin, the Tower Lord has agreed to see you."

Martin froze mid-step, spinning around sharply, disbelief written across his face.

"What did you say?"

The steward repeated himself.

Martin turned once again and saw that the golden door leading to the sixth floor had opened.

A surge of indescribable excitement welled within him.

"The Tower Lord... the Tower Lord is back!"

Without hesitation, Martin rushed toward the gleaming doorway.

Passing through it, he found himself on the sixth level where he beheld that familiar silhouette from behind.

Torestta always faced away from everyone else.

No one knew what he truly looked like.

But there was no mistaking the overwhelming aura emanating from the figure before him—it belonged only to the Tower Lord.

Martin felt certain; this was indeed their master.

"Tower Lord!" he called out excitedly.

"I thought you were..."

"Do not panic," came the calm reply. "I have always been here."

Hearing those words, Martin quickly composed himself and asked hurriedly, "What happened fifteen days ago? Who was that red-robed archbishop?"

"He merely sought me out to discuss certain matters. I accompanied him away for some time," answered Torestta.

Understanding dawned upon Martin immediately.

That explained why none of them could reach Torestta during these past two weeks—he must have left with the archbishop.

Yet something puzzled him slightly—he hadn’t seen any sign of either man departing together. But then again, someone of such high standing would naturally conceal their movements skillfully.

With no further suspicion, Martin proceeded to report everything that transpired during the recent fortnight.

"Hmm, you've done well," praised the Tower Lord.

"Thank you for your kind words, my Lord."

"If nothing else troubles you, I shall take my leave first."

Martin exited the sixth floor.

Only after confirming the safety of the Tower Lord did his posture straighten noticeably, his spirit lifting visibly.

Torestta served as the spiritual pillar of the Mapleleaf City Mage Tower.

So long as this cornerstone endured, so too would stand the tower itself.

Li Wei exhaled inwardly in relief—the role of impersonating Torestta proved no easy feat.

This was but an illusionary form crafted by himself.

Since Torestta originally existed as a legendary lich's phantasmal projection, Li Wei reasoned logically that he might sustain the guise using his own illusory self.

He did not wish to witness the decline of the Mapleleaf City Mage Tower.

After all, it represented his very first home.

"I pray things go smoothly."

Meanwhile, the real Li Wei had already departed from Mapleleaf City.

He journeyed northward toward the Arctic ice plains.

Suddenly, hundreds of kilometers distant, a colossal pillar of light pierced down from the heavens above.

Li Wei halted abruptly, pivoting swiftly to gaze in its direction. Even across such vast distance, he sensed unmistakably the immense power radiating forth.

His expression shifted dramatically.

"This sensation feels like… divinity?"

Eyes narrowing slightly, Li Wei murmured, "Over there lies Flowerypetal City—is that truly a god?"

"Baihua Shen—the Goddess of a Hundred Flowers!"

Shock rippled through his heart.

Pondering briefly, he spun about decisively and sped rapidly toward Flowerypetal City.

At least before leaving entirely, he wished to catch sight of Baihua Shen—to discover precisely what manner of being she truly was.

Such curiosity had lain dormant deep inside him for quite some time.

Now finally presented with opportunity to behold her true visage,

Naturally, Li Wei refused to let it slip past him.

Little did he know at that moment that the Church of Light had already learned of his arrival in Mapleleaf City.

Still believing the Elemental Tower remained engaged in negotiations with the church regarding whether to hand him over—or instead surrender Tears of the Goddess.

For indeed, the artifact had met destruction somewhere amidst the Northern Reaches.

And though the Elemental Tower stood rooted firmly within the Western Desert Wastes, thousands upon thousands of miles separated it from those northern lands.

Li Wei thought the Light God Church should arrive so quickly.

Regardless, he only intended to take a quick glance and then leave.

It wouldn’t waste much time.

Whoosh!

Li Wei’s figure streaked rapidly across the sky.

Soon, he arrived outside Flying Petals City.

Following traces of divine light in the heavens, Li Wei located the place where Alice and the others were conducting the Flower Goddess ritual.

The sacrificial altar was enveloped in dazzling white light, making it difficult to see clearly what lay within.

All Li Wei could make out were the soldiers from Flying Petals City stationed around the altar.

Over a thousand fully armed soldiers surrounded the sacred platform.

Standing at the forefront of all the troops was Kira, the current lord of Flying Petals City.

Li Wei swept his gaze across the scene but did not spot Alice or Bella. He surmised they were likely upon the altar, shrouded in that blinding divine radiance.

Seeing this situation, Li Wei did not rush forward.

He tightened his invisibility cloak, concealing his form mid-air as he observed the unfolding developments from afar.

At present, it was still unclear which side held the advantage.

Though Kira appeared to have many men, only high-level practitioners could truly determine the outcome of battle.

No matter how numerous ordinary soldiers might be, they posed no threat to powerful supernatural beings.

Yet Kira had still brought so many troops.

On one hand, he sought to pressure Alice.

On the other, he hoped to hinder Alice and Bella from fighting freely.

Alice and her companions had never wished for excessive bloodshed, fearing great damage to the foundation of Flying Petals City.

They only wanted to deal with Kira and his loyal followers.

Those common soldiers who were kept in the dark and manipulated by Kira were not among those Alice considered enemies.

Before long, Li Wei saw a figure emerge from within the divine light.

Four ethereal elven wings sprouted from Alice’s back. Beams of floral light swirled about her body, while floating ribbons of multicolored luminescence drifted behind her—each ribbon blooming with countless varieties of flowers.

At that moment, the Flower Goddess descended upon Alice.

She had gained the power of the Flower Goddess.

But judging by appearances, she hadn’t lost herself entirely, nor become a puppet of the deity.

She remained Alice.

Alice took a step forward, stepping on empty air, blossoms springing beneath her feet.

Everyone present was stunned by her majestic presence. Many soldiers instinctively lowered their weapons, afraid to aim them at Alice.

Doing so felt like committing a sacrilegious sin.

Kira stared at Alice, flames of intense desire burning in his eyes.

That was the power he had long yearned for—

The power belonging to the Flower Goddess.

And now, finally, he beheld it.

Alice looked toward Kira, her gaze as cold and pure as a snow lotus atop a lofty mountain peak.

“Kira,” she said calmly, “surrender.”

(End of Chapter)