Chapter 227: Farewell, Entering the Skeleton Realm (2)

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

The appearance made Monica unable to hold back her laughter as she covered her mouth with a smile.

“Your Excellency, if you say that, 1 might actually get angry!”

After some joking laughter, Ji Chen glanced at the almost-ready warships and smiled.

“Alright, it’s about time. Monica, you should board the ship now.”

Monica also knew it was time to leave, looking at the tall and handsome Ji Chen before her. A hint of affection flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it deep in her heart, bowing and performing a knee salute.

“Your Excellency, if we successfully overcome this challenge, then you’re welcome to visit the Lienhardt Grand Duchy. We will definitely receive you as an honored guest.”

Ji Chen didn’t say much, just nodded and replied, “If I have the time, I will consider it.”

As the warship slowly sailed out of the harbor, Monica waved goodbye towards Ji Chen’s figure at the stern. Her figure gradually grew distant until it disappeared on the horizon.

Standing at the harbor for a moment, he shook his head and returned to the Lord Manor.

At this time, Alice and Anina, who had been missing for several days, as well as Benbo, Daro, and a group of heroes, stood in the hall.

“How is the situation with the Illusory Realm Crystal?”

“Reporting, my lord, the Illusory Realm Crystal is currently stable, but there’s still a risk of it being forcefully opened.”

At this news, his expression grew more serious.

Ever since he had led the army to defeat the invading skeleton army and skeleton heroes from the gate two months ago, and promptly closed the Illusory Realm Gate, the Illusory Realm Crystal had remained silent.

Until the second day when Monica and her group arrived at the New Moon Islands, the Illusory Realm Crystal suddenly experienced intense fluctuations.

Several indications suggested that on the opposite side of the Illusory Realm Gate, within the Skeleton Realm, there was an ongoing effort to forcefully reopen the gate.

As expected, it should be the work of the Skeleton King within the Illusory Realm.

The Skeleton King still held the ambition to invade.

However, if a couple of months ago he might have been afraid.

But today, the strength of the Crown of the Ocean, in terms of both the quality of his troops and his heroes, was incomparable to that time.

Their strength had increased by far more than just tenfold.

Back then, he was able to crush the skeleton army with around a hundred units of his own troops, and the same would hold true now.

Since the Skeleton King was so ignorant of his own limitations, he might as well solve this problem once and for all!

With this thought in mind, Ji Chen’s expression grew solemn, and he said in a serious tone.

“Monica and her group have already left, so there’s no need to conceal anything.”

“Pass on my command. The entire army should begin preparations. 1 intend to attack and conquer that Illusory Realm!”

“Understood!”

With the order given, the entire Crown of the Ocean began to mobilize once again.

The army assembled, and various supplies were transported to the frontlines.

The warships set sail, anchoring around the island where the Illusory Realm Crystal was located, ready to provide firepower support once the Illusory Realm Gate opened.

Ji Chen came to the military recruitment camp and recruited all the accumulated units over the past two weeks.

After this recruitment, the number of units surged once again, as follows:

Naga Berserkers: 202 —► 482, Tier Four, 5 stars.

Dragon Blood Murlocs: 207 —> 487, Tier Four, 3 stars.

Elemental Sea Pixies: 224 -> 518, Tier Four, 3 stars.

Lobster Riders: 210 -> 490, Tier Four, 1 star.

Murloc Rangers: 266 -> 350, Tier Three, 5 stars.

Self-Detonating Water Spiders: 350 -> 1400, Tier Three, 3 stars.

Elite Pirates: 270, Tier ‘Two, 4 stars.

Deep Sea Roamers: 20

40, Tier Four, 1 star.

Tidal Sea Spirits: 3 -> 5, Tier Four, 1 star.

Giant Octopuses: 10 -> 20, Tier Four, 8 stars.

Ruins Guardians: 780, Tier Three, 8 stars.

Ocean Guardians: 2020, Tier Three, 9 stars.

Sky Guardians: 40, Tier Four, 8 stars.

Half-Orc Warriors: 1080, Tier Three, 8 stars.

A total of 7982 units.

While this number was considerable, according to Ji Chen’s estimation, the Skeleton Realm within the Illusory Realm probably lacked aquatic creatures.

Only a portion of the units would be able to participate in this campaign.

The planned forces consisted of Naga Berserkers, Dragon Blood Murlocs, Elemental Sea Pixies, Self-Detonating Water Spiders, Murloc Rangers, and the Half-Orc Warriors with enhanced strength.

A total of 4317 units.

Although the number of skeleton monsters in the Skeleton Realm was surely much greater, Ji Chen believed that these forces would be enough to handle them.

Two days later.

Ji Chen led his army and a group of heroes to the front of the Illusory Realm Crystal. As time passed, the energy fluctuations of the crystal grew increasingly intense. This indicated that the Skeleton Realm was trying to forcefully open the Illusory Realm Gate.

The Illusory Realm Gate was two-way, so after repairing the crystal to instantly open the gate, as long as it wasn’t destroyed, the portal would remain open.

Therefore, upon their entry, he strategically stationed hundreds of Ruins Guardians here to prevent any stray skeleton creatures from escaping.

With all preparations in place, Ji Chen arrived at the Illusory Realm Crystal and began the repairs.

“Ding- Repairing the Illusory Realm Crystal requires consuming 3000 units of crystal.”

A mere 3000 units were already insignificant for him at this point. Without a moment’s hesitation, he invested the required amount.

The solid crystal gradually turned liquid, merging into the Illusory Realm Crystal. The visibly damaged surface began to repair itself.

Half an hour later, all the crystal had been absorbed, and the surface of the Illusory Realm Crystal became smooth and flawless, radiating transparency.

“Ding- Repair of the Illusory Realm Crystal is complete. The Illusory Realm Gate can be opened.”

Seeing this, Ji Chen didn’t waste any time. He reached out and touched the crystal, his mind focused.

The Illusory Realm Crystal trembled suddenly, causing the ground to shake slightly.

He took a few steps back.

A stream of red energy shot out from the Illusory Realm Crystal, forming a slowly enlarging red vortex at a distance of dozens of meters.

Perhaps due to the complete repair of the Illusory Realm Crystal, this red vortex was much larger than before, with a diameter of fifty meters. Faint lightning flickered on its surface, brewing a somewhat terrifying energy.

“Move forward, everyone!”

The army, already arranged in formation, bypassed the Illusory Realm Crystal and marched in an orderly fashion towards the Illusory Realm Gate.

As they came into contact with the red vortex, they vanished behind the gate with a faint flash.

Ji Chen and the group of heroes were situated in the middle of the formation, and they too stepped into the gate without hesitation.

A flash of white light.

The environment before their eyes had suddenly changed.

The sky was black and red, radiating an eerie color.

Layers upon layers of red gravel extended from beneath their feet to the distant horizon, not a single stone in sight.

Within the gravel, some dark, leafless trees grew, but their twisted and bizarre shapes gave off an unsettling feeling.

A faint but pungent smell of rust immediately filled their noses, causing discomfort.

Gloomy and dim.

This was the initial impression the Illusory Realm gave them.

Ji Chen sighed inwardly. It was truly deserving of a realm inhabited by undead

skeletons. It was clear that this environment was unsuitable for human survival.

Looking around left and right.

They were currently standing on higher ground, providing an easy view of the surroundings for several kilometers.

However, a glance around revealed that aside from the red gravel and the peculiar trees, there was not a single skeleton in sight.

Weren’t they supposed to be trying to forcefully open the Illusory Realm Gate from the Skeleton Realm?

Logically, there should be a ready-to-invade skeleton army waiting behind the gate.

Ji Chen was puzzled.

After some contemplation, a thought struck him.

Could it be that the Illusory Realm Gates opened from the outside are randomly generated within the Illusory Realm?

If that was the case, it presented them with an opportunity to regroup.

With Ji Chen’s guidance, their own army continued to emerge from the Illusory Realm Gate, reassembling in a valley below the high ground.

Although the Illusory Realm Gate was not small, it still took considerable time for several thousand troops to pass through.

After half an hour, over three thousand units of the army had passed through.

Now their task was to find the Skeleton King.

Skeletons were a mysterious race with a hierarchical structure resembling that of a beehive.

Higher-ranking skeleton monsters commanded lower-ranking ones.

For example, a Skeleton Vanguard would command several dozen regular small skeletons.

A Skeleton Squad Leader would command several dozen Skeleton Vanguards.

A Skeleton Battalion Leader would command several dozen Skeleton Squad Leaders.

And so on, with control over all the skeletons eventually concentrated in the hands of the highest-ranking Skeleton King.

Therefore, by killing the Skeleton King, most of the lower-level skeleton monsters would lose their control, becoming scattered and easy to defeat.

Looking left and right, Ji Chen found himself surrounded by endless, uniform red gravel.

Only the distant rocky mountain drew some attention.

Similar to a fly buzzing around one’s head in the desert, wandering aimlessly here would only drain their energy in vain.

After careful consideration, Ji Chen decided to first head towards that rocky mountain to assess the situation..

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