188: gossip

The massive small mountain landed steadily in Dora's garden, merging with the surrounding earth, leaving only a few meters of its height above ground.

Looking at the stone life flower, which was perfectly intact and undamaged, Rein felt a sense of relief.

Although both are gold grade magical plants, the stone life flower's utility is much greater than that of the rosy cloud tree.

Both the stone flower fruit and the stone flower juice have excellent effects, and their yield is not low. The rosy cloud tree, however, falls short; the yield of rosy cloud tree leaves is not high, and the future medicinal effect is still uncertain.

Therefore, Rein valued the stone life flower much more than the rosy cloud tree.

After the stone life flower was settled, Dora immediately began her blessing, making the stone life flower significantly stronger than its state at Magic Wolf Peak, with a much richer vitality.

The portion of stone flower juice produced by the stone life flower this year was still sitting in the small pool, and Dora, having finished her work, looked at the stone flower juice with drool running down her face.

"Rein, let's split this delicious drink half and half, okay?"

Looking at the sincere little Dora, Rein smiled and rejected her proposal.

"No need. You did the most work today, Dora. This stone flower juice is your reward. Drink it!"

"It's all for Dora to drink?"

Dora looked at the delicious stone flower juice and started drooling again.

"Rein, you truly are a great person! Then Dora won't be polite!"

Saying that, Dora squatted near the small pool and drank the stone flower juice in one gulp, then showed a very satisfied expression.

"It's so good! stone flower juice is the best."

"I'll be leaving now. Dora, take good care of the stone life flower. Cecilia is waiting to use the future stone flower fruit and stone flower juice to concoct magical medicine!"

"Don't worry, don't worry. Dora will definitely take good care of it."

Dora guaranteed Rein.

Leaving Dora's garden, Rein toured the Territory.

He observed the farmland and villages along both banks of the Red River, the construction of several new cities like Bright Moon and black iron, the newly reclaimed fields in the wilderness, and the construction of new settlements.

Rein also saw the legion warriors constantly suppressing and eliminating Alien Tribes throughout the Territory.

The farmers diligently working the fields, the warriors fighting fiercely, and the Red River vassals fulfilling their duties made Rein feel very gratified and satisfied.

Returning to Red River Fortress, Rein also began to focus on cultivation to enhance his own strength.

Recently, he felt that his Mage class had reached a breakthrough bottleneck; advancing to Gold Rank Mage would happen in the next few days.

His mana core and the magic power within his body had already met the requirements for a breakthrough. Now, he only needed to supplement some foundation, and breaking through would not be difficult.

Given Rein's talent and his current spiritual power intensity, learning theoretical knowledge was extremely easy.

A few days later, he successfully broke through to Gold Rank Mage. The reason for such smoothness was thanks to the enlightenment he experienced before the Sub-plane collapsed.

"If only I could have a few more experiences like that, reaching Legendary wouldn't be difficult after a few more enlightenments."

Rein also knew that such opportunities were rare and unpredictable; he didn't know when he would encounter one next.

Just then, Rein sensed Klimp's aura approaching, and immediately understood that the other party had important intelligence to report.

Getting ready, Rein waited for Klimp in the study.

"Come in!"

Before Klimp could speak, Rein preemptively told him to enter.

"Lord, I have important intelligence to report."

"What is it?"

"Two days ago, a large spatial rift appeared in the northern area of Rage Bear City, leading directly to the Chaos Demon Abyss. A large number of Chaos Demons poured out, causing immense destruction."

"A spatial rift leading directly to the Chaos Demon Abyss? Is it as large as the one that appeared in Stag Territory?"

Rein stood up in surprise. If this suddenly appearing spatial rift was as large as the one in Stag Territory, then Rage Bear Territory would be in serious trouble.

"No, My Lord. Currently, no Legendary Chaos Demons have been observed emerging from that spatial rift!"

"Furthermore, His Highness Volrigard of Rage Bear Territory personally took action, defeated the Demon Legion, and sealed off that spatial rift."

"However, because Rage Bear City's military strength was insufficient to annihilate the scattered demons, large numbers of Chaos Demons dispersed everywhere, causing massive destruction."

"In addition, small, temporary spatial rifts have frequently appeared across the Northern Region recently, and these spatial rifts all lead directly to the Chaos Demon Abyss. Large numbers of low-level Chaos Demons are pouring out from these temporary spatial rifts, destroying many noble territories."

"Because the appearance of these spatial rifts is extremely unstable and unpredictable, they are difficult to defend against. Rage Bear Territory is aware of eight such small spatial rifts; five have sealed themselves, and three remain open."

"According to the Shadow Guards' intelligence, a small spatial rift recently appeared in the southern area of Blackstone Territory, where a large number of low-level Chaos Demons are currently gathering."

"Clarkson hasn't gone to resolve it?"

"Blackstone Territory currently lacks the strength to dispatch a legion to defeat these Chaos Demons in the wilderness. Based on the current situation, Blackstone Territory intends to hold Blackstone City staunchly and wait for that small spatial rift to seal itself."

Rein felt how quickly the situation had changed. Just a year ago, Blackstone Territory was strong and well-equipped, having plundered many resources from Red River Territory to bolster its strength.

Now, Blackstone Territory has weakened to the point where it is powerless against external enemies, forced to staunchly defend its city, just like Red River Territory once was. The situation between the two sides has undergone a 180-degree reversal this year.

"Have the Shadow Guards clearly ascertained the strength of those Chaos Demons? Can Blackstone Territory withstand the Chaos Demon attack?"

Klimp pondered for a moment before replying:

"Currently, the strength of that group of Chaos Demons is insufficient to capture Blackstone City, but the small spatial rift is continuously spewing out demons, replenishing the Chaos Demons' strength. If they are not contained, the power of the Chaos Demons will soon be enough to threaten Blackstone City."

"Furthermore, these spatial rifts have a strong attraction for Chaos Demons. Scattered Chaos Demon stragglers will converge toward the spatial rifts."

"There are quite a few remaining Chaos Demon forces in the southern wilderness. If these Chaos Demons are drawn in, Blackstone City will surely fall."

"I understand!"

Rein pinched his chin and looked at the map hanging on the opposite wall. The map contained information about various locations in the Northern Region. Rein had expended considerable effort to complete this map.

"Is the impact of this wave of Chaos Demon invasion significant for Rage Bear City?"

"According to the intelligence gathered by the Shadow Guards, the Rage Bear City Guard Army suffered heavy losses, nearby noble territories were severely damaged, and a large number of refugees flooded into Rage Bear City."

"It is rumored that the Grand Duke of the Raging Bear, who was fighting on the border, has already led his main army back."

The massive appearance of spatial rifts connecting to the Chaos Demon Abyss in the Northern Region made Rein feel somewhat puzzled. In the history he knew, such a situation had never occurred before.

The appearance of things like spatial rifts and spatial passages should normally be extremely rare, yet they have been appearing in large numbers recently.

Moreover, without exception, all those spatial rifts connect to the Chaos Demon Abyss. This abnormal situation forced one to speculate.

"Is there any other news regarding these spatial rifts connecting to the Chaos Demon Abyss?"

"No, My Lord. Currently, all we have received are rumors about the spatial rifts, without any basis."

"Rumors? What rumors?"

"There are many rumors, My Lord. The most widespread ones are being spread by the Demon God Cult Believers. They say that the Four Demon Gods of the Chaos Demon Abyss are about to awaken, and the demon army is about to sweep across the entire world!"

"Due to the frequent appearance of spatial rifts, the activities of Demon God Cult personnel within Rage Bear City have also become frequent recently. Not long ago, they even incited some secretly developed believers to cooperate with the Chaos Demons and attack the City Defense Army stationed in Rage Bear City."

"The Rage Bear City Guard Army was caught off guard, but at the critical moment, a group of Ordinance Knights appeared, slaughtered all these Demon God Believers, and helped Rage Bear City quell the rebellion."

Rein heard a name that made him frown.

"Ordinance Knights?"