143: Chapter 143 Escaped?

Arrow rain like locusts rained down on the city walls and the Black Dragons patrolling the air first!

"No!!"

Long Ao's eyes were splitting with rage. Although he had anticipated this, seeing his home under attack was still heart-wrenching.

He saw the remaining Black Dragons struggling and falling under the arrow rain, and saw the city walls cracking under the enemy's long-range firepower...

But there was nothing he could do. He didn't even dare to look any longer.

"Teleport! Teleport immediately!"

He used his last bit of strength to roar, pressing the [Emergency Teleport] option heavily.

[Subordinate Lord 'Long Ao' requests to teleport to your main territory. Do you accept?] Karl's system prompt appeared.

Almost at the same time Lin Tian's army's first wave of arrows landed on the walls of Long Ao's territory, Karl, who was far away somewhere unknown, clicked accept in a second.

Hum!!!

A grander, more stable pure-white magic circle suddenly shot up from the core of Long Ao's territory!

The pillar of light rapidly expanded, transforming into a massive, milky-white light shield that covered the entire territory!

Complex and mysterious spatial runes flowed over the surface of the light shield.

The subsequent arrows from Lin Tian's army, and even several tentative "Flame Bombs," bombarded the light shield, but only caused ripples before vanishing into nothingness.

Inside the light shield, the remaining buildings, the thirty or so surviving Black Dragons, and the core Lords Mansion and altar all began to blur and become transparent.

"This is... overall teleportation?"

Lin Tian squinted, watching this astonishing scene.

The opponent actually had this kind of ability, to uproot an entire territory and teleport away?

"My Lord, should we force an attack? This shield's energy is strong, but not unbreakable."

Lin Feng rode his horse forward and said in a deep voice.

The phantom of the Crimson Sun Battle Soul flickered behind him.

Lin Tian shook his head, his sharp gaze sweeping over the fading light shield, then looked toward the center of the shield, where he could vaguely see a disheveled figure looking back with resentment.

He sighed, his tone filled with some regret, but mostly calmness:

"Forget it, we can't stop it. This scale of directional overall teleportation is well-prepared and has a high energy level. The cost of forcing a break is too high, and... it's easy to trigger uncontrollable danger."

He paused, watching the light shield disappear completely, leaving only a bare, massive circular pit that looked as if all traces had been wiped away by an invisible force, and rubbed his chin:

"It really is hard to kill... To actually be able to move an entire territory away. It seems that behind this guy surnamed Long, there really stands someone extraordinary. This kind of move isn't something an ordinary person is capable of."

He pondered for a moment.

The enemy situation was unclear, especially that mastermind capable of "territory overall teleportation," whose true strength was unknown.

Although he had won a great victory, his soldiers had just experienced a fierce battle and had traveled a long distance via teleportation, so they were not at their peak.

To rashly follow potential leads would be too risky.

"Forget it, I'll let him go. The main thing is... I don't know what kind of dragon's den or tiger's lair this brat has been teleported to."

Lin Tian shrugged, making a rational decision.

"Do not chase a desperate enemy, especially one that can use 'spatial teleportation'. Let's collect the spoils of war in front of us first."

He waved his hand to signal.

The army immediately stepped forward to collect the carcasses of the twenty or so Black Dragons that had been shot down.

These were all treasures—dragon scales, dragon blood, dragon crystals... the whole body was treasure.

Although the quantity wasn't large, they all came from a legendary unit, so they were very valuable.

After collecting all the dragon corpses, Lin Tian said to his soldiers:

"Retreat, let's go home!"

No more lingering. In this battle, 120 Black Dragons were annihilated.

Beating the arrogant legendary Black Dragon lord until he fled in a sorry state, nearly losing his life—the strategic goal had been exceeded.

As for that stray dog who escaped and the master behind him... there would be plenty of time in the future.

Time returns to shortly after the server merger announcement rang out, before the regional channel was completely detonated by Long Ao's provocation.

Long Ao was feeling smug as he counted the harvest from the beast tide, imagining the scene of reigning supreme after the server merger.

A friend request popped up abruptly; the ID was Eternal Night Monarch - Mo Yu, with a note that read, "Let's discuss cooperation, regarding becoming stronger."

Long Ao raised an eyebrow and accepted the request.

The other party was that lord who possessed a legendary Death Knight; his strength was decent, and he was qualified to talk to him.

Mo Yu: "Black Dragon Lord, I've heard much about you. Your Black Dragon legion's reputation has been heard of even in my region."

Long Ao: "Oh? Eternal Night Monarch, what do you want with me?"

Mo Yu: "I won't speak in riddles. I know your units are powerful, but... do you want to obtain even stronger power? Or even, the power to rule this newly merged region?"

Long Ao: "Stronger power? Heh, I can become stronger on my own. Rule the region? Once my Black Dragon army sweeps through, it will naturally be mine. Why should I cooperate with you?"

Mo Yu didn't mind and said: "Fighting alone always has its limits. I know a shortcut that can allow you, and even your Black Dragons, to break through existing quality shackles and become stronger. For example, from legendary, stepping towards something higher."

Long Ao's heart stirred, but he remained suspicious, and then asked vigilantly: "Is there really such a good thing? Why don't you use it yourself? What is the cost?"

Mo Yu: "I am exactly a beneficiary. To be honest, my Death Knight was initially just an epic-grade 'War Knight'. As for the cost..."

"It requires you to become a Subordinate Lord under that person."

Long Ao exploded the moment he saw that: "Subordinate Lord? Impossible! How could I, Long Ao, submit to others!"

Mo Yu seemed to have anticipated this, his tone remaining calm:

"Don't be in such a hurry to refuse. This person is different. The contract signed will guarantee your high degree of autonomy; it's more like a deep cooperative alliance."

"He provides resources and a path to advancement, and you provide military support when necessary. It's just a win-win situation. You should think about it carefully. Here is that person's information."

Then he sent the contact [Necromancer Lord - Karl].

After saying this, Mo Yu's avatar dimmed, and he said no more, leaving room for Long Ao to think.

Long Ao looked at the newly appeared contact [Karl], which was labeled "Legendary Necromancer Lord."

He curled his lip, didn't take it seriously at all, and casually closed the interface.

Let him be a Subordinate Lord? That was simply a huge joke!

He, Long Ao, was destined to stand at the peak. Only others would depend on him; how could there be any reason for him to depend on others?

However, there is no greater irony in fate than this.

Just one day later, reality dealt him the heaviest and most humiliating blow.

In order to survive, he had to actively contact that Karl whom he had scoffed at.

He signed that Subordinate contract he had once sworn to death not to touch, handing over a part of his freedom and dignity.

Such is the impermanence of the world.

Yesterday's arrogance became today's stepping stone for escaping;

The "shortcut" he once disdained eventually became the only straw he relied on to save his life.