The Villain Saint is my secondary account

“Like other nobles, your arrogance and ignorance make you regard only the upper class as everything in Loren, while the millions of people oppressed by the royal family and nobles are not Loren.”

"But I'm different."

Chapter 205 The Dud

"I know that everything on this vast land constitutes the true Loren."

“I watched as all of this withered away under the ravages of evil, heading towards the abyss of decay.”

"However, I know that even the king is merely a privileged figure supported by the nobles. Once outside the capital, the king's orders are nothing more than a beautiful piece of waste paper, unable to change this decaying empire."

“That’s what makes us different, Skadi. I’m not the heir to the throne; I’m a reformer.”

"Your conservatism may seem mild, but in reality you are just lying in your comfortable cradle, weighing the pros and cons with those nobles, and allowing the empire to head towards its destruction."

"I wield bloodshed, which may seem cruel, but only in this way can I lead the empire to true greatness!"

"Only by eradicating its rotten foundations can Loren be reborn from the ashes and radiate new life!"

"...What exactly do you want to do?" Skadi's throat bobbed slightly as she watched Ken's face gradually contort in the moonlight.

Ken took out a dark, tree-like object from his hand. "For lowly and savage humans, a higher will is ultimately needed to control everything for them."

"The root cause of the empire's crisis lies in the corruption of people's hearts. Greed corrupted the souls of the royal family members, causing them to kill each other in the struggle for imperial power; desire drove the nobles to oppress the people endlessly."

"Just like Sauron and Bazeir in front of you, these two have never joined hands for many years due to various conflicts of interest, but now they are fighting side by side for the same goal."

"It is clear that only by eradicating the flaws in people's hearts and making everything obey a supreme will can true glory be achieved!"

Skadi looked at Ken's contorted face, her throat bobbing slightly, and uttered only two words: "Madman."

After following Ye Xiao to personally deal with the nobles and observe the people's suffering in order to reform the government, Skadi, as a princess, also realized that there were indeed many deep-rooted problems beneath the vast and glorious appearance of Loren.

Eradicating these things will certainly not be easy, but it cannot be achieved by violently unifying them into a single supreme will.

“I understand that with your current perspective and understanding, you probably cannot agree with my grand ideals.” Prince Ken smiled coldly, his words revealing disdain and arrogance. “However, the ideals I pursue do not need the approval or recognition of a loser.”

"These words are my last words, offered out of pity for you, in an attempt to illuminate your confused and bewildered mind. After all, truth is often only understood by a few."

"Judging by the time, the sprout should be almost fully mature by now."

"Now, it's time to bring this grand celebration to a close!!!"

Prince Kenn's frantic roars echoed through the hall like a demon's hymn. He raised his hands high above his head, like a dark prophet in a sacrificial ritual, celebrating the prelude to the impending apocalypse.

Behind him, the sacred tree, which symbolized the power of life, sensed the fluctuations of his will and began to tremble slightly. Its originally withered and dark branches gradually spread and stretched out, as if awakening from a slumber, as if preparing to welcome magic.

Those life sprouts that the Church of Life spread out today have actually been secretly replaced by him with products belonging to the new Tree of Life behind him.

When he issues the command, those ignorant believers, blinded by the Life Cult and claiming to be "messengers of God," will meet with misfortune. The life buds they carry will silently invade their flesh and blood, instantly transforming them into miniature versions of the "Trees of Life." These saplings will use their sprawling branches to capture all life around them, converting it into nutrients that the mother tree greedily absorbs.

As the horde of zombies surges in, it would be ideal if they could directly devour the life force of the living; if that fails, once millions of innocent refugees gather beneath the western city, the life buds that have quietly blossomed among them will seize the opportunity to harvest them, massively extracting their fresh life energy.

This is Ken's plan, and everyone who could potentially affect Ken's plan has now been eliminated.

Samuel's Hermitage, the Cult of Life, Ella Hayville... the guards were all concentrated on the inner walls fighting the zombie horde, and even the out-of-town swordsman favored by Ella was led by him to Greygold Town to deal with that troublesome old tree.

Now, no one cares about the budding life that will quietly bloom among the massive refugee population.

But all of this is just Ken's speculation.

He held his hands up until the echo of his loud shout gradually faded in the empty hall, and nothing happened.

The branches of the Tree of Life swayed and trembled, like a drunkard dancing wildly.

"why?"

Ken was surprised. He once again issued the command to activate the bud of life through the spiritual link with the Tree of New Life, but after the command was given, it disappeared without a trace.

Outside the main hall, the brightly lit western city remained quiet, lacking the magnificent sight of countless towering black trees he had imagined.

The buds of life that sprouted today have been destroyed again!?

How could this be! Everything was clearly under his control: the movements of the Samuel Hermitage, the plans of the Cult of Life, even Ella Hayville was successfully restrained, and the swordsman from out of town had been led to Greygold Town... Who or what force could possibly overturn his meticulous plans?

“What a ridiculous performance, Brother Ken.”

Skadi looked at the bewildered Ken and chuckled.

"Damn it, what did you do?!" Ken roared.

"God knows where your little tricks went wrong. Like you said, I know nothing about any of this stuff."

Skadi curled her lip. “The conspiracies brewing in the shadows, the battles between gods… In some ways you’re right. I do have so much to learn, and I’m far from being worthy of becoming a true king who can protect the empire.”

"But no matter how powerful a person is, they will always only see what they know. I believe that true greatness lies in always maintaining awe for everything."

"Because of reverence, we seek companions with whom we can rely on each other. With companions, we learn to protect in unity, and courage and wisdom are born from protecting."

"So I understand that I can't defeat you on my own, Ken Betis."

"But I won't be the only one. Even at the end of my life, I will do everything I can to stop you."

Skadi slowly rose and pulled the rapier stuck in the ground.

"And even if I die, countless people like me will rise up and put an end to your insane and tyrannical ambitions!"

The remaining members of the Seven Stars Society who were still able to act also struggled to their feet and picked up their weapons.

They are once again facing two extraordinary beings from the Empire, and this time, they may very well be completely annihilated.

“A bunch of insignificant mortals, since you’re so eager to die, then I’ll grant your wish.”

Ken angrily waved his arm.

He didn't understand what caused the sprout of life he had planted to fail to bloom, but that didn't stop him from sending the insects before him to hell.

Bazel raised his staff, and Sauron swung his greatsword, preparing to deliver the final, devastating blow to the remaining soldiers.

But just then, a deep, resounding lion's roar suddenly rang out.

A gigantic figure flapped its wings and crashed into the hall, sending dust billowing everywhere.

It was surprisingly a massive scorpion lion.

"Thank you for your long and tedious speech, Your Highness Ken, I finally made it."

A tall, thin figure nimbly leaped off the manticore, landed, waved his hand, and brushed away the dust surrounding him.

"But don't worry, I'll try my best to make your epitaph as concise as possible."

Chapter 206 Unstoppable Momentum

"Holy crap, Brother Ye!"

Upon seeing the person approaching, Li Cheng immediately shouted excitedly, "If you hadn't come, I would have been dead!"

"Ye Xiao...!"

Skadi's voice trembled slightly. Having endured so much, Ye Xiao's appearance was like the dawn breaking, and she didn't even realize that tears of excitement were sliding down her cheeks.

However, when the smoke cleared and she could see the other person's face clearly, Skadi's initial excitement immediately turned into complicated thoughts: "...Um, why don't you rest for a bit?"

There was no other reason than that Ye Xiao had just fought a great battle at the Tree of Life and had traveled all the way back from Lyra Peak on a scorpion-tailed lion. He had no time to tidy up his appearance. At this moment, his trench coat was now a tattered rag hanging on his body, his face was covered in bloodstains and mud, and he was only holding a cloth bag that was barely clean. He looked like a wounded soldier who had just crawled back from the battlefield in Libya.

"Don't make such a fuss. I'm not a two-dimensional being. My hairstyle doesn't even change when I'm fighting."

Ye Xiao, on the other hand, was used to it and didn't think there was anything wrong with her image at all.

"You... are you that swordsman from out of town??"

Prince Kenn seemed to finally recognize Ye Xiao at this moment, and his face showed surprise.

"It's an honor, Your Highness, that you still recognize me." Ye Xiao smiled. "It wasn't for nothing that I helped you pick up the trash you carelessly left behind."

After saying that, Ye Xiao threw the cloth bag in his hand to the ground.

With a clatter, the contents of the cloth bag rolled out—a series of dark, dry tree branches.

"My life bud!!? You...do you even know what you're doing!!!"

“Of course I know, I’m the environmental ambassador for Loren.” Ye Xiao pointed a thumb at Skadi, “She was personally appointed by Her Highness the Princess.”

"Go to hell!!!"

Ken roared in fury, and Bazel and Soren launched an attack on Ye Xiao at the same time.

The rolling thunder, imbued with the supreme power of an extraordinary mage, struck Ye Xiao, while Sauron's figure moved with lightning speed, leaving Skadi with no time to stop him.

Because of this birdman, Ella Haviell refused to remarry and even beheaded her own puppet; and also because of this birdman, she failed to seize the fragments of the Ring of Fate...

Now, because of this idiot, all the life buds I spread out have been taken back!

Ken's originally pale face flushed red like a pig's liver; his impression of Ye Xiao was far too deep.

He must tear that damned bastard to pieces!!!

But then countless brass-colored threads fell from the sky, weaving into a large shield that blocked the heavenly lightning that seemed capable of destroying everything.

A deep red magic circle opened up from the floor, revealing a black hole that seemed to lead to hell. Scalding gold surged out from it, forcing Sauron to stop in his tracks and swing his greatsword to cleave through the surging metal wave.

"Wait, Greta, you're not using my money for this attack, are you?"

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm trying to help you!"

A childish voice rang out, and on the other side of the manticore, a blonde girl in a robe landed on the floor. A golden-haired kitten with puffed-up cheeks was perched on her shoulder, meowing incessantly: "Do you know how much effort it takes to find these broken branches to observe the Line of Fate? And you didn't even say thank you!"

"I didn't think our relationship was so close that I didn't need to thank you verbally," Ye Xiao shrugged. "This is a crucial task that only you can accomplish, which is why I entrusted it to you."

Ye Xiao's words were not wrong. Because of the divine power contained in the Sprout of Life, the fate lines of those who approach it will be slightly disrupted, and only Greta has the ability to directly observe the fate lines here.

"Oh, is that so!" The kitten's mouth dropped open, then its face fell. "But don't think I'll let you off the hook just because you said that!"

"Ahem, let's fight first." Ye Xiao saw that Sauron in the distance had already raised his sword and was preparing for the next attack, so he quickly reminded him, "You two just need to provide support. Don't use too many divine spells and get backlashed. I don't want another cat stuck on my head later."

Freya covered her mouth and chuckled softly upon hearing this, but the kitten on her shoulder grew even angrier. "What do you mean! You don't like cats, do you?!"

"No, it's just that I still prefer you the way you were before, rather than as a cat."

Greta was slightly taken aback, but unfortunately, her furry face didn't blush.

"That one has big breasts."

"Ye Xiao, go to hell!!!"

Amidst the kitten's loud screams, Ye Xiao drew his sword to meet Sauron's slash.

Skadi cried out anxiously, "Be careful! He's a transcendent..."

Before he finished speaking, Ye Xiao's arm suddenly expanded into a white wolf claw, and the fierce force bursting out poured into the blade, the clang of metal against metal instantly resounding throughout the entire area.

"Keng"

An invisible impact suddenly erupted the moment the two clashed, and Sauron, who had been unstoppable all along, was actually forced to take a few steps back.

Skadi's eyes widened in shock upon witnessing this.

Is Ye Xiao really that strong?!

She knew all too well the power contained in Sauron's greatsword. She had taken a hit with her own dragon bloodline and only survived by sheer luck.

And Ye Xiao was actually able to deflect it?!

Soren staggered a few steps, holding his greatsword horizontally in front of his chest, his empty gaze devoid of joy or sorrow. The knight commander, whose mind was now manipulated, showed no emotional fluctuation at the opponent's strength; it was likely that the presence of Ken in the distance had led him to adopt a more conservative fighting style.

Balzer, who was standing guard beside the throne, finished chanting the second round of incantations. This time, the earth elemental that stood in the hall turned its massive body, and its gray surface was simultaneously ignited with dazzling flames.

The fiery rock fist descended like a meteorite, heading straight for Ye Xiao's head. However, Ye Xiao caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye and sheathed his sword. He crouched down, and a black flame spread from his arm to the blade.

The next moment, a flash of light appeared, and a black flame was unleashed, slicing a straight line that instantly pierced the night sky.

The unparalleled blade force instantly cleaved the enormous fist in two, its undiminished power piercing through the earth elemental's massive body.

The black flames surged upwards, tearing through the dome of the main hall and carving a deep crack into the thick trunk of the Tree of Life.

The earth element, split in two, collapsed with a crash, shattering into a pile of rubble.

Ye Xiao flicked his longsword to shake off the dust, stood up from the rising smoke, and looked over Soren's shoulder to fix his gaze on Ken, whose face was full of astonishment.

He was clearly some distance away from Ken, but being looked at like that by the other man, Ken felt an inexplicable and uncontrollable panic.

"Damn it! Kill him! Kill him now!!!"

Ken immediately gave the order, and Erica, who was in his arms, began to tremble.