Why must the devil be Defeated?

The High Priest's compromise hadn't come as a surprise to Shane.

This necromancer might have some tricks up her sleeve, even managing to conjure such unheard-of things as the "Death Grand Spirit Body," but in Shane's view, the High Priest really wasn't someone he needed to be on guard against.

For, in looking back over her life's deeds, she had always been in search of shortcuts.

In pursuit of immortality, her thoughts were not on solidly enhancing her own strength and breaking through the limits of life to achieve Transcendence, nor, like others, adventuring around the world in search of the legendary Magic Potion which could grant immortality, but rather on transforming herself into an undead creature, a grotesque blend of human and ghost.

To conquer the world, her thoughts were not on developing forces, recruiting troops, and conquering others with her own strength to grow in power, but rather on ruthlessly turning millions of lives directly into her own Undead Army, using inhumane violence to ravage everything.

Finally, upon witnessing the power of Life Goddess Anima and realizing the true impact of Transcend Level, she still didn't think to enhance her own strength, but instead came up with some "Death Grand Spirit Body" that could naturally break through the Life Limit, then transferred her soul into it, doing something that was no different from soul usurpation.

All these were but shortcuts sought by the High Priest, none of her goals achieved step by step through solid progress.

It was precisely because of this that, after thousands of years, this necromancer's level was only ninety-two.

Had it been someone else, with thousands of years and provided they weren't as detached from worldly affairs as the Elf Clan or as indifferent to time, leisurely passing their days, they definitely wouldn't have been merely Level ninety-two.

If it hadn't been for the High Priest's truly substantial collection of Death Qi over thousands of years and a quite formidable Undead Army, she would have been at the very bottom among those of Legendary rank.

Such a person, always seeking shortcuts, even if she had some means, Shane didn't think she could amount to much or be any remarkable character.

So, her compromise, her plea for clemency, none of it was beyond Shane's expectations.

"I ask you."

Shane then stared at the Crystal Ball in his hand and questioned aloud.

"What is the purpose of this base? It can't just be to imprison a bunch of captives, right?"

Shane's question was met with the High Priest's affirmative answer.

"Yes, yes! This base isn't for imprisonment!"

The High Priest hurriedly responded.

"Then what is it for?" Shane narrowed his eyes and asked, "Why gather so many people here? What exactly are you trying to dig up?"

"This..." The High Priest hesitated.

Shane imperceptibly lifted the Holy Sword in his hand.

"I'll speak! I'll speak!" Immediately, the High Priest's heart trembled, and she hurriedly said, "We are here to excavate the treasures that lie beneath this land in deep sleep!"

Hearing this, Shane knew that the Legend Cappelen had told him was true.

Indeed, these people had come for that legendary treasure.

"Related to the Supreme God and the Demon King... huh?" Shane pondered for a moment, then continued to inquire aloud, "What kind of treasure is it exactly? What do you intend to do with it?"

Upon these words, a strange change suddenly appeared on the High Priest.

"I... We..."

The High Priest's voice trembled, as if struggling and hesitating.

"You don't feel like speaking anymore?" Shane's eyebrows rose as he said, "It seems your secrets are quite significant."

Shane had thought the necromancer was scared to reveal it because it was of great importance.

"Speak." Shane's grip on the Crystal Ball tightened slightly, as if trying to crush it, and his tone was pressing, "What are you really trying to do? And what is your relationship with that Imperial Concubine Moro?"

These were vital pieces of intelligence Shane was eager to know.

As long as the High Priest could answer, his trip would be deemed a complete success.

Even if he hadn't encountered Moro or managed to permanently destroy this base and rescue Harvis's sister, eradicate Lymco, and extract this necromancer to uncover Moro's secrets here, it would still be a worthwhile venture.

Thus, seeing the High Priest struggle and hesitate, Shane was already considering giving her a taste of her own medicine.

Who would have thought...

"I... I...!"

Apart from struggle and hesitation, the High Priest's voice unexpectedly carried a hint of pain.

"Hmm?" Shane finally sensed something off and asked subconsciously, "What are you playing at?"

The High Priest didn't answer this question.

Instead, the green light clinging to the Crystal Ball inexplicably began to fluctuate and tremble violently.

"I... Ahhh... Ahhhhhhh...!"

The High Priest's voice gradually turned into agonized screams.

Seeing this, Shane's expression changed.

And in that instant, within the Crystal Ball, the High Priest's screams filled with pain and hatred echoed loudly.

"This... This is a soul curse...! Damn that Poisonous Consort ahhhhhh...!"

When such agonized screams were emitted from within the Crystal Ball, an accident occurred.

"Bang!"

The green light cluster attached to the Crystal Ball, after the most violent fluctuation and trembling, burst explosively, turning into countless specks of light, dispersing into the air.

The High Priest's voice came to an abrupt stop.

The Crystal Ball too returned to its normal state.

All sounds and movements disappeared.

Shane watched all this, his face gradually sinking.

"Bang!"

The next second, Shane's hand holding the Crystal Ball suddenly exerted force and crushed the Crystal Ball.

Massive amounts of Death Qi emerged from the shattered Crystal Ball, mixed with serpentine green glows writhing within.

That was the Death Qi and Spirit Essence that the High Priest had collected over thousands of years.

"Pfft!"

With a flash of brilliant golden sword light, all the erupting Death Qi and Spirit Essence were instantly cleaved by the Holy Sword and rapidly purified and dispersed by its golden radiance.

Thus, everything that the High Priest left in this world finally dissipated into nothing.

Standing atop the ruins with his sword, Shane felt incredibly frustrated.

He could still make out what had happened.

"That Poisonous Consort, she had tampered with the High Priest long ago, hadn't she?"

Shane couldn't help but call Moro the Poisonous Consort.

No helping it.

"She's a true villain who loves to play with assassination and prevention of betrayal," Shane murmured, tossing the remnants of the crystal ball in his hand aside, letting them scatter on the ground.

He knew that by destroying this base and annihilating the High Priest and the others, Moro might already be aware.

A curse on the soul, since it had been triggered, Shane didn't believe that Moro would sense nothing.

"That's fine."

Shane's expression softened.

"Knowing that you have a plan here, I'm not afraid you won't come back."

Previously, Shane had been worried that if his identity were exposed and Moro learned of his arrival, would she flee for good.

Now it seemed that her schemes in the Empire were significant, targeting treasures related to both the Supreme God and the Demon King; she certainly wouldn't leave willingly.

She wouldn't just not leave; knowing that Shane had destroyed this place and that the Lefirut Family had been annihilated, Moro was sure to rush back.

By then, it would be crystal clear what she was plotting.

With this in mind, Shane stopped worrying about the High Priest and looked around before turning his gaze toward the direction where the stone chamber was.

There, many Knights, servants, and slaves had timidly run out, trembling with fear.

Shane had an idea, and with Instant Movement, he disappeared.

"Roar!"

You Lin also received some instruction and, after a roar, her Dragon Wings flapped, lifting her into the sky, disappearing into the clouds, leaving no trace.

The site was left with nothing but a chaotic mess of ruins.

The people who had come out of the base saw all this, and they were staggered, shocked, and stunned.

"Oh my God!"

"What... what happened here!?"

"Where is Young Master Lymco?"

"Where is the High Priest?"

"So many meteor craters, so many corpses, it's terrifying...!"

"God..."

The crowd of Knights, slaves, and servants stood dumbfounded, shuddering in fear.

It took a while before many exchanged glances and quietly slipped away.

Of course, they weren't returning to the base; without saying a word, they began escaping outside.

Seeing this, the rest reacted.

"Run… run for it!"

"Let's take this chance to escape from here…!"

"I... I finally have the chance to escape from this hell…!"

"I don't want to stay here anymore; I don't want to...!"

Everyone seemed to glimpse some hope, screaming frantically as they fled desperately.

This included the slaves and servants.

They had been captured and brought here to work as rightless laborers, digging through the underground for Moro and the High Priest.

Even the Knights were treated this way; those with some skills were used as patrol guards and overseers of laborers, while the less skilled were treated as slaves and servants, completely bereft of rights.

Moreover, the High Priest ruled this place with terror, killing on a whim or feeding people to Corpse Dragons if they displeased her — this place had long been hell for its inhabitants.

Now that an opportunity to escape had presented itself, they naturally ran for their lives.

However, some couldn't escape.

For example, some Knights had sold themselves to the High Priest for life and privilege, transformed by her Death Magic into half-dead beings, becoming the most powerful of her lapdogs.

Now that the High Priest was dead, these half-living creatures all fell and never rose again.

Just like that, this secret base unknown to the world was left completely empty.

Shane took a look around but found nothing of note.

However, he did discover in one of the stone chamber storerooms a considerable collection of the High Priest's personal gold and silver treasures and various Magic Tools.

"Well, better than nothing."

Taking these items with him, Shane returned to the Imperial City.

Leaving behind the ruins, devoid of any life.