Chapter 497: Meeting

“Alright, is everyone over there arranged properly? Are there any issues?” To avoid continuing this topic, Rod had to change the subject and ask about something else. If he kept pressing it, he’d really be at a loss for words, and that would bring trouble.
“Mm, everyone has returned after finishing their tasks. Brother Rod, you don’t know this, but after seeing the strength of the Troll Ancestor and yours, those people on the continent have all shut up. Now they have nothing to say. Let’s see if they’ll still act so arrogantly as before. I think if they see you and the Ancestor again, they’ll even worship you. Haven’t you noticed the look in their eyes when they talk about you? You’ll understand when you see it!” Before anyone could respond, Lucy started chattering again.
This made Rod and the others exchange glances, smiling wryly. This little girl had indeed brought about quite a change since arriving on the continent.
“Mm, the matter with the Demon Marshal is now settled!” Nodding, Rod let out a long sigh. With the Demon Marshal dealt with, the biggest threat was gone, making the remaining tasks much easier. He believed that after witnessing the Demon Marshal’s strength, the warriors on the continent would no longer have any excuse to oppose the alliance. They probably even hoped to form the alliance sooner. Having seen the power of the Demon Souls, how could they fail to realize the gap between themselves and them? The gap was simply too vast. If the Dark Source Alliance didn’t act, and they continued developing on their own, it was certain that a hundred years later, it would be their downfall.
As for the other two Demon Souls, he believed his father and the others would handle them well. Maybe by the time he returned, they’d already be dealt with. There was no need for his group to worry about that. If they couldn’t even handle such a simple matter, then the Troll tribe couldn’t truly be called a troll tribe.
Calculating the time, he had been on the continent for over a month, almost two now, and the gains had been significant. The Vampires and Werewolves were settled, and the Dark Duchy was stable. Now that the Demon Marshal was confined, once the alliance was formed, it would seem like everything was taken care of.
“You guys should start practicing hard now too. Don’t slack off!” After thinking for a moment, Rod gave instructions to the girls.
Especially when looking at Aida, she seemed to be the weakest among them. She had just reached the beginning stage of the divine level, and that was only after breaking through recently; otherwise, she would still be at the quasi-divine level.

At this moment, Lucy had already reached the later stage of the Yin Yellow Realm, just one step away from entering the Yang Mysterious Realm. This step might be huge for others, but not very difficult for Lucy. After being tempered by the flames of the Nether Hell, the power of her soul had fully kept up, and her body had also been refined. Most importantly, both her soul power and physical strength had increased, making the remaining cultivation much simpler. For her, entering the Yang Mysterious Realm was merely a matter of time—and it was certain that this time would not be long. She still had two magical beast cores from the Yin Yellow Realm in her arms; if she could sense that barrier, these cores would surely be of great help to her. Then there was Lilith. Reaching the Yin Yellow Realm was just the beginning; there was still a long way to go. Rod’s requirement was simple: at the very least, these two should obtain divine status. Both of them had excellent talents, and with proper cultivation, achieving divine status shouldn’t be too difficult. As for Nightingale and Ada, Rod didn’t hold much hope—after all, their talents were only above average and not outstanding enough. Even compared to Viski, they were slightly inferior. “Don’t worry, we’ve discussed it. After this matter is settled, we’ll return to the Ten Thousand Mountains of the Dark Source to cultivate. Then we’ll all find a quiet place together. We won’t bother with those trivial matters outside!” Nightingale said to Rod with a smile. This was the result of their discussions over the past few days. As they spoke, a faint blush appeared on each of their faces, undoubtedly signaling to Rod that they intended to live in seclusion with him—what that meant was obvious to anyone. Rod also showed a hint of embarrassment but didn’t refuse. This outcome was probably the best for him as well. “Take these two cores; they might be quite useful!” After thinking for a moment, Rod took out the two cores from his arms and handed them to Lilith and Lucy. They were placed in a simple white jade box, hiding what was inside, exuding great elegance. “Magical beast cores from the Yin Yellow Realm!” Once they saw what was inside the jade box, Lilith and Lucy exclaimed in shock.

The magical core at the Yin Yellow realm level shocked both of them. Ada and Nightingale on the side were clearly stunned as well. They knew very well what a magical beast at the Yin Yellow realm meant—it was something even ordinary experts at that realm dared not provoke. More importantly, such magical beasts were extremely rare; it was hard to find one, yet Rod had two.

Each of these cores was invaluable. Even the four major families had only a few, yet Rod alone possessed two!

“I got them last time at the Death Battlefield!” Rod said with a wry smile upon seeing their astonished expressions. That trip to the Death Battlefield had been full of peril, and these two cores were the only things he managed to obtain.

“For us?” Lucy asked, somewhat incredulous.

“Yeah, for you. You might need them when trying to reach the Yang Xuan realm!” Rod replied calmly with a smile. Though such magical cores were powerful, they weren’t very useful to him at the moment—unless it was a core from a Yang Xuan realm magical beast. It would be better to give them to the two girls.

Of course, so-called Yang Xuan realm magical cores were as rare as Rainbow Ice Essences! He had sensed such a presence in the Death Battlefield, but with that supreme being around, how could Rod even think of challenging it? Even without that being, magical beasts at the Yang Xuan realm weren’t easy to deal with.

“Nightingale, you and Ada don’t need this for now. If you really do need it, we can go back to the Death Battlefield and get a couple more. It’s not a big problem,” Rod comforted them, seeing their disappointed expressions.

After all, anyone would feel disappointed in such a situation.

“Yeah, it’s okay. Sister Lilith and Sister Lucy need it more!” Nightingale replied with a gentle smile, showing understanding.

The two girls carefully placed the cores in their arms, their faces filled with excitement. This was definitely a great gain.

The members of the Reaper Scythe Squad couldn’t help but feel envious, but when they looked at the two girls, their envy disappeared. Their status was beyond comparison to theirs. It was obvious that Rod cared deeply for them, and unless anything went wrong, they would become their masters in the future.

The group chatted animatedly in the room all afternoon, with Lucy being especially talkative. It was a lively scene.

In the evening, the two girls reluctantly left Rod’s room to let him rest.

…
Three days later, Rod’s condition had improved to about 70-80%, with no serious injuries left. In fact, he had made significant progress and taken another step toward the Xuanhuang realm.
That day, Qiushui City remained as usual, but the imperial palace was filled with tension and excitement.
In the grand hall, the powerful figures from the continent and those from the Source of Darkness gathered here, each with a serious expression on their face.
When Rod and the Wolf Emperor stepped out, they immediately caught everyone’s attention, with most focusing their gaze on Rod—the man who had fought like a war god against the Demon General that day.
The Ancestor also received widespread attention. The astonishing strength he and Rod had displayed that day had deeply shocked everyone. Their unparalleled power inspired genuine respect and admiration. Strength meant respect—a truth that never changed. At this critical moment, who cared whether someone was from the Source of Darkness or the continent?
The Pope and the elder in the Yangxuan realm sat down with the members of the continent and Rod’s group. The atmosphere wasn’t very formal; it turned into a kind of banquet!
“Your injuries have healed over these days, right?” The Pope asked, his expression complex. He had witnessed Rod’s strength once again and realized just how big the gap between him and Rod was—far beyond what outsiders could imagine, given that they were both in the Yangxuan realm.
“The Church’s holy water is truly a miraculous healing substance. Its effect is excellent. Heh, I’m almost fully recovered now—no problem at all!” Rod nodded in satisfaction.
The holy water indeed brought unexpected benefits to him. After using it, it began repairing his body from within. More importantly, under its influence, Rod felt as though his bones and marrow had been refined, giving him a sense of renewal. Subtly, he had made further progress.
“That’s good!” The Pope nodded in approval, clearly having absolute confidence in the holy water.
They exchanged a few words, and the Ancestor’s complexion also improved significantly, indicating that his injuries had healed to about 70-80%. The trolls’ medicinal pills were certainly not just for show.
After the small talk, they got down to business. Rod cleared his throat, and the atmosphere gradually quieted as everyone prepared to hear the important matters at hand. They all pricked up their ears and turned their attention fully to him.