Chapter 900: Recovery

“Believe me, the entire Eastern Region is now affected by the curses developed by the Five Forbidden Zones. Only I can lead you into the altar to change the stability of the cursed energy formations.”

“In reality, the energy you see the Ancestral Witches of the Five Forbidden Zones wielding, including the energy required to maintain those fixed traps, all relies on an endless supply of runes, which progressively release their stored power according to specific rules to support their energy output needs. In other words, all creations developed by the Five Forbidden Zones cannot function without a core energy supply and circulation system to support them, and this entire system is established within the altar.”

“As long as I can lead you into the altar and destroy the stability of their energy supply system, all problems will be solved. Once the altar is destroyed, the Five Forbidden Zones' entire power output will be cut off at its source, and they will become like eagles with broken wings, unable to soar through the sky again.”

Xu Yang gently waved his hand, then gracefully landed back on the ground, casting a cold glance at Karl, whom he had just saved.

“Don't assume that just because I saved you from the hands of the Storm Ancestral Witch, I will believe everything you say. You need to prove your worth and capability to earn my further trust.”

“Of course, unless you're prepared to abandon your physical body at any moment, you'd best not try any tricks on me. Such attempts would be futile and would only lead to you losing everything you currently possess.”

“I cannot guarantee how the major powers of the Eastern Region will deal with you after this battle. I can only promise to spare your life. As for what hardships and sanctions you will face, I alone cannot decide. This matter must be jointly discussed and decided by the leaders of all major powers in the Eastern Region.”

“The better you perform, the more lenient treatment I can naturally help you secure.”

Karl suddenly sneered, “Stop pretending. With your power, if you strongly advocate for me in front of the leaders of the Eastern Region's major powers, who would dare to object? Aren't you just planning to use me to enter the altar, then abandon me when I'm no longer useful?”

Xu Yang burst into laughter. “I have no need to do that. Even without you, I can still enter the altar. I'm merely offering you a chance for self-redemption. Besides, in my presence, do you have any other choice? Even if you choose to submit to me and atone in this manner, in my eyes, you are nothing but a worthless ant. Don't overestimate your importance.”

It must be said that Karl was stubborn; even though he was fine, he insisted on provoking further, leading to the powerful figure's unprovoked humiliation of him. Ultimately, the situation remained unchanged. As Xu Yang said, Karl had no right to bargain with him. In this land, without sufficient power, one can only be manipulated and live by the will of others.

After expressing his intentions, Xu Yang didn't hesitate further. He immediately led Karl, who seemed like a walking corpse, back to the storage room of the Cloud Tong Ancestral House.

Using primal power, Xu Yang sealed all the energy release systems within Karl's semi-soul body, effectively blocking his meridians as if he were a living person, rendering him utterly useless.

When Big Dog and the Winter Goddess saw that Xu Yang had successfully brought back Karl, the traitor, they rushed forward and began punching and kicking him.

“You backstabbing bastard, how dare you show your face here alive! I wish I could sit on you and squash you to death!”

The Winter Goddess, being fiery-tempered, suddenly snapped her fingers and summoned her dearest wild boar companion. “Sit on him and squash him to death! Make him understand how cruel this world is!”

The wild boar was most obedient to the Winter Goddess, considering her the sole master of its life. Upon hearing the Winter Goddess's command, it immediately let out an excited grunt, then frantically lifted all four hooves and charged madly towards the paralyzed Karl on the ground.

Fortunately, Xu Yang acted in time, stepping in front of Karl and stopping the enraged boar with a single slap.

“Listen, now is not the time to dispose of him freely. He is the only one who can help us enter the altar. Apart from Karl, only a few Ancestral Witches from the Five Forbidden Zones know the way to enter the altar. However, for those Ancestral Witches, the civilization passed down through their forbidden lineage is more important than life itself, so it's absolutely impossible to learn the secret of opening the altar's portal from them. Therefore, Karl is our only lead right now. Given his importance, you cannot do whatever you want with him.”

After stopping Big Dog and the Winter Goddess, Xu Yang turned to Karl, a chilling smile on his face.

“You should be very clear about your situation now. Without me, the people of the Eastern Region would crush you to dust in minutes. So from now on, your sole purpose for survival is me, Ayang. If you want to live, you will obey.”

Karl nodded resignedly. He knew his life and death were completely in Xu Yang's hands. His only criterion for survival was how to please Xu Yang and make him satisfied with his actions.

“Then it's time to prove your unique value.”

With a gentle wave of his hand, Xu Yang pulled a seemingly sophisticated war machine from the warehouse in front of Karl. “Use your methods to imbue this war machine with mobility, allowing it to function.”

This was a massive mechanical war bear, currently unmoving on the ground due to a lack of power supply. Its docile, almost lovable expression was quite endearing.

Karl glanced at it and, without a second thought, immediately began forming hand seals. At that exact moment, Xu Yang discreetly dissolved the restraints on him imposed by primal power, restoring his ability to form seals.

Soon after, Karl condensed a portion of his internal energy into a delicate yellow rune pattern. He then opened a clamped cover on the war bear's upper back. Sure enough, there was a mechanism specifically designed for runes inside. After embedding the energy-infused rune set, Karl mumbled a few incantations. The war bear instantly roared, as if imbued with powerful life, quickly stood up, entered a combat-ready stance, and obediently lay beside Karl, awaiting his commands.