CHAPTER 324: CHAPTER 220: THE FALLEN MAIDEN

Two sensational gossip news quickly spread throughout the Governor’s Territory, even spreading wildly to every corner of the Rodinia Continent.

In this era without entertainment celebrities, gossip about high society elites, imperial family, and noble ladies is the best entertainment after meals.

Especially when the involved parties are the pure and virtuous Saintess and the infamous Roland.

This kind of naturally hot gossip news swept through the entire public opinion field instantly.

The news of an affair between Governor Roland and Saintess Christine, passed by word of mouth in taverns and caravans, hadn’t occupied the headlines for a few days before it was overshadowed by more explosive rumors.

According to reliable sources, the recently highly sought-after Governor Roland does not favor the pure and beautiful Miss Saintess.

The real reason is astonishingly because Lord Governor has very high standards for his female companions’ figures.

The Empress Sylph and Count Sif, who were rumored to have an affair with Roland, both possess a perfect figure, further indirectly confirming the truth of the rumors.

As the rumors continued to ferment, the "angry" Miss Saintess, filled with shame and rage, left Hansa City and returned to the Holy Hall of Light in Val City.

Some schadenfreude people hoped this rumor would damage Roland and Christine’s relationship, even causing a rupture in their cooperation, but that did not happen.

Although the damned rumor made Christine and Roland actively keep their distance, her cooperation with Roland continues.

She still travels around the Governor’s Territory collecting orphans, selecting Temple Warriors, helping Roland train the army and manage the Samaritans.

Her anger needed an outlet, and the Samaritans became her venting outlet.

She implemented harsh religious policies on the Samaritans.

Rejecting boring preachings, she directly raised her scepter, announcing to them according to the tradition of religious reform.

Convert or die.

This was the most authentic religious policy, original and unaltered.

While the whole world watched the fun, some discovered a blind spot, the other party involved Count Sif never appeared.

Where had she gone?

No one knew she was walking barefoot on the vast plains.

Her footprints stretched from the northern Flower Sea all the way south, albeit slowly, yet with extraordinary determination.

She was headed to the White Mountain, to step on its peak, and leave her mark on every corner of the White Mountain.

When she left the northern valley, the once lush central tree quickly withered.

The giant tree in the Flower Sea was very special; the tree was just a facade. The true essence was the Tree Spirit.

Sif judged that the future battlefield would be in Val City, so she simply gathered up the Flower Sea Tree Spirit and took it with her.

She intended to place the Flower Sea Tree Spirit at the peak of White Mountain, allowing the range of the Flower Sea to envelop the entirety of Val City and the surrounding land with a diameter of hundreds of kilometers.

It was a difficult journey, but she was not alone.

Roland, after quickly handling the main affairs in the Governor’s Territory and delegating various matters to officials like Ados, immediately set off to catch up with Sif.

When he caught up to Sif, Sif’s footprints had already crossed Hansa City, moving southward all the way.

Seeing Sif’s somewhat disheveled hair and blood constantly oozing from her feet, Roland was stunned.

No need for much explanation, he certainly knew what Sif was doing, he was just a bit surprised that Sif could truly persist.

Upon seeing Roland’s figure, the always expressionless Sif finally smiled.

"You came."

"I’ll accompany you." Roland didn’t waste words, this was his bottom line.

Of course, Sif would not refuse, she nodded and walked side by side with Roland.

Her pace wasn’t fast; she wanted to scatter the Flower Sea’s information along the way, leaving marks.

These marks would not sprout prematurely.

They would remain quietly dormant until Sif awakened them.

Walking side by side, Roland couldn’t help but ask, "Does it hurt?"

"It hurt a bit when I first set off, now I feel like they aren’t my feet."

Roland was silent.

Walking barefoot in this era, it’s not necessary to worry about stepping on glass shards or nails, but various thorny plants and uneven surfaces are still unsuitable for walking barefoot.

He felt a bit distressed, but he couldn’t substitute for her.

Sif smiled and continued forward.

She knew Roland thought she was complaining her feet hurt so much they became numb, but only she knew, upon stepping into the Flower Sea, her memory awakened, and she realized something was wrong with her feet.

Men like to describe young girls’ feet smooth as jade as jade feet.

It’s an adjective, but Sif’s jade feet are a noun.

Her feet have a problem, and a significant one.

Although she didn’t understand where the problem lay, the feet that should have been hers did not exist; instead, they were replaced by actual jade feet.

These jade feet were perfect and flawless, fully functional, but they should not have belonged to her.

On some future day, she must find her own feet, but not now.

These jade feet were so perfect that the always perfection-seeking Sif had never noticed anything unusual.

If she hadn’t stepped into the Flower Sea, if it weren’t for the blood seeping out, she wouldn’t have realized now.

She dared not tell anyone about this matter, she could only bury it deep in her heart.

She didn’t know who the mastermind was, she could only silently take note of it.

She finally understood why the Magic Mirror only scored her ninety-nine out of a hundred.

After all, she was an imperfect footless girl.

Fortunately, these jade feet were crafted extremely delicately, aside from giving her a seemingly imperceptible crack in her otherwise flawless soul, they were no different from real ones.

Walking alongside Sif, Roland always felt a strange feeling. Sif seemed the same as a few days ago yet appeared different somehow.

Perceiving Roland’s unspoken doubts, Sif smiled and teased, "Luckily, with your help, I broke through to Tier Seven smoothly. The aura does naturally change after the breakthrough."

Though he felt something was amiss, this indeed was the most reasonable explanation.

Perhaps feeling it was too dull, Roland then began to talk about the trivial matters in the Governor’s Territory.

As he talked, he still could not avoid Christine’s matters.

After Roland finished talking, Sif held back for a few seconds and couldn’t help but laugh.

The ascetic-like torment she suffered these days made her somewhat dazed, but Roland was still good, always bringing delightful good news.

"That’s nice."

"Is that really nice?"

Roland was a bit speechless. To divert attention from Christine, his rumored affair with Sif was now taken as fact by others.

Seeing Roland’s odd expression, Sif slowed her pace and half-jokingly asked, "What, does the rumor about us make you feel down?"

"Of course not, you’re the most beautiful. It’s my honor."

The compliment came from the heart.

Seeing Roland’s sincere expression, Sif laughed happily.

She tugged on Roland’s sleeve and whispered:

"Roland, let me tell you a little secret. The Magic Mirror can show the most beautiful girl in the world."

Could it be Snow White?

Roland felt a bit tense; he didn’t quite believe there was any girl more beautiful than Sif in this world.

"The most beautiful girl in the world is the Queen of Sussex."

Sif spoke earnestly.

Roland was stunned for half a second, then he and Sif burst into laughter simultaneously.

The Queen of Sussex was none other than Sif.

He finally understood why the Magic Mirror was considered a Divine Artifact. Although it had no combat power and no useful auxiliary capabilities, it was indeed a Divine Artifact.

Unfortunately, the combat power of a Divine Artifact weapon and that of a Divine Artifact mirror meant for daily use are not on the same level.

The Magic Mirror must have other wonderful uses, it’s just that Sif’s strength was too weak to develop them.

The two walked slowly, but fortunately, White Mountain wasn’t too far away.

After five days and nights of trekking, they finally reached White Mountain.

Thinking of the events that happened here, Roland always felt a sense of alienation as if it were a lifetime ago.

Sif softly reminded, "This journey has been too smooth, and I’m worried the White Mountain trip won’t be as calm. I’ll find a suitable tree later and transfer the Tree Spirit over, you protect me."

Roland nodded silently.

The two drew their weapons, walking towards White Mountain in single file.

In autumn, White Mountain’s temperature was much cooler than at the base, with snow at the summit never melting throughout the year.

Numb bare feet stepped on the hard soil, and Sif couldn’t feel the presence of her own feet.

She walked heedlessly, leaving bloodstains in every corner.

Another day and night passed like this.

Roland and Sif were on edge, constantly guarding against the potential emergence of a demonic giant bear.

The giant bear was the fiercest beast on the Rodinia Continent.

In an era when lions and tigers were extinct, the giant bear was the top predator. Beasts near the Magic Crystal Ore Vein were more prone to becoming demonic, so they couldn’t be ignored.

When dawn of the second day arrived, Sif finally stopped in her tracks.

"This is it."

Sif pointed her slender finger at a large tree.

Roland was a bit surprised, "This tree isn’t the tallest, not even in the top three. Why choose it?"

There were at least seven or eight trees taller than this one along the way, some towering trees even twice as high, making this choice quite illogical.

"What you can’t think of, others can’t either."

Sif’s reasoning was solid.

Roland understood, but soon furrowed his brows again.

Even for concealment, the tree chosen wouldn’t have to be so small.

Seeing Roland’s puzzled gaze, Sif gently reminded, "Look closely."

Roland moved closer to the giant tree in the Flower Sea that Sif had selected and had an epiphany.

This tree didn’t seem special at first glance, yet it was a type of ginkgo.

According to ancient texts, this type of Hidden Moon Ginkgo was particularly adept at disguise, capable of masquerading as a redwood or even a conifer.

Ginkgo trees thrived most during the era of Elf Race dominion, being the elves’ best friends.

Sif approached the ginkgo tree, caressing its wrinkled bark, her lips curved into a smile.

"Lucky fellow, you’ve been chosen."

Just as Sif was about to extract the Tree Spirit and inject it anew, the ginkgo tree suddenly started to tremble.

Sif swiftly retreated as its needles transformed into a storm, crazily stabbing towards her.

If Sif had dodged a bit slower, she would have been skewered, if not killed.

"Attack!"

Sif drew her long spear, glaring angrily at the ginkgo tree.

Damn it, this was a Tree Elf’s partner and the Blood Elves’ foe.

No time to consider why the Tree Elf’s tree partner would awaken, Sif channeled full strength into a fierce thrust at the trunk.

Blood splattered everywhere.

Roland took several jars out of his pocket and hurled them directly.

Since it was a Tree Elf’s tree partner, there was no need to hold back.

Last time, Norton had researched many special potions to deal with the Golden Tree Demon, and after testing their effectiveness, he improved them. Roland requested many, all hidden in the Moonlit Silver Armor’s secret compartment.

In direct confrontation, the rabid force of the ginkgo tree was unstoppable, but it wasn’t facing Roland; it was facing the black technology from the top human alchemist.

Although the ginkgo tree was incredibly tough, unable to move, once tortured by special potions, it couldn’t withstand the repeated attacks of the two Tier Seven powerhouses.

It resiliently held on for an extended period but was eventually sliced through its life core, falling unconscious.

Sif was panting heavily, her face pale and devoid of any color.

She had been traveling non-stop for days, her energy utterly depleted.

In the fierce battle with the ginkgo tree demon, she had relied solely on sheer willpower. Seeing the ginkgo slain, she could no longer hold on and collapsed into Roland’s arms.