Chapter 321 - 316: Dawn Ancient Demon Jilian

Jilian's body was in a prone position, so Qin Xiaoxia was located on its left shoulder, slightly toward its back—a spot some women choose for tattoos.

Spreading out like a blooming flower, the pattern, coordinated with the inlay points of the four Magic Energy Crystals, grew ceaselessly under the influence of Magic Power.

At the same time, the purple hue that had suffused its skin began to converge along the markings, gradually forming the main pathways of the pattern.

Soon, the Magic Patterns extending from his palm merged with those spreading from the four corner Magic Energy Crystals. The design gradually became a single, whole image and began to radiate outward.

By now, the area of the Engraved Technique had far surpassed the space Qin Xiaoxia himself occupied, expanding to several meters in size. It resembled a flower on Jilian's left shoulder, slowly unfurling its petals as it prepared to bloom.

"HUFF… HAH… HUFF…"

Qin Xiaoxia had to regulate his breathing. He had anticipated the cost, but the drain on his Magic Power was still absurdly high. 'Even with my current reserves, it's this difficult to perform the Engraving on Jilian's unconscious, unresisting body.'

And this was on a Jilian that had been sealed for an unknown number of years. It was even possible that its soul had disintegrated long ago, leaving only a body with stubborn vitality, which had then been weathered by the passage of untold time.

This just went to show the sheer scale of the gap between himself and an "Ancient Species."

His recently inflated ego was brought back down to earth, giving him a more sober assessment of his own strength.

As the Engraving deepened, the Technique Array's pattern grew larger and more complex, consuming more and more Magic Power.

However, the process was surprisingly smooth. None of the potential problems he had anticipated occurred. There wasn't even a tremor from Jilian's residual Magic Power, and the resonance from the surrounding environment kept his mind at ease.

To any onlookers, the dazzling purple pillar of light on Jilian's shoulder persisted for over an hour before slowly receding and finally disappearing.

Qin Xiaoxia remained in a half-kneeling position, his right hand still braced against Jilian's skin. It wasn't that he was trying to look cool—he simply couldn't stand up.

He could only feign a profound silence for the time being.

Still, the masterpiece beneath him was certainly worthy of his admiration.

An iridescent purple, alluring yet restrained, beautiful yet mysterious, it covered an area roughly twenty meters in diameter.

The dense Magic Pattern Technique formed a unique yet familiar design.

The Day of Dawn!

Like a beautiful floral tattoo on Jilian's shoulder, the seal of Dawn complemented the surrounding skin perfectly, adding another layer of color to Jilian's already wicked aesthetic.

As the light faded, this special symbol of Dawn became visible to all.

The hearts of the Dawn Association members pounded in their chests. With the associative thinking typical of modern people, they all arrived at similar conclusions.

The figure half-kneeling on the shoulder of Jilian's massive body seemed, in that moment, even larger than Jilian itself.

This was the Dawn Sage, the embodiment of Dawn's wisdom from antiquity to the present day.

A warmth flowed from the surroundings, soothing Qin Xiaoxia's exhaustion. A moment later, he had recovered enough strength to stand.

He rose from his position on Jilian's shoulder, surveying the masterpiece he had created with the aid of the Power of the World. Though the warmth was now fading, it had left a deep and tangible impression, lending more weight to certain theories he held.

"Mentor… is this a Secret Realm Array?"

Su Su drew near again, staring in disbelief at the exquisite masterpiece at her feet. 'My Mentor has created a work of art!'

The sight of the Day of Dawn symbol was exhilarating. The other members didn't dare to overstep their bounds and ask questions, but Su Su did.

"Does this mean that Jilian… from now on, she'll be…"

Before she could finish, her Mentor answered.

"Heh, these two little ones already swore their allegiance to Dawn, didn't they? Right, Axi and Ai You?"

The two Little Ancient Demons, who had already re-emerged from Su Su's sleeves, nodded their heads furiously, not daring to entertain a single rebellious thought.

"Yes, good. In a little while, I'll help you 'inherit your legacy.' Of course, I'll have to heal you first. Scars on your backs wouldn't be good for you girls."

As he spoke, Qin Xiaoxia gently poked Axi and Ai You on their foreheads. The two little ones put on their cutest faces to curry favor, clinging to his finger without letting go and using the opportunity to scramble from Su Su's palm into the Master Sage's hand.

This made Su Su a little jealous and envious—of her Mentor, and of Axi and Ai You.

After a moment, Mo Shaoge, wielding his Alloy Magic Steel Longsword, sprinted up Jilian's enormous arm. He bounded up with incredible speed, landing on its left shoulder.

"Master Sage, the battlefield has been cleared, and the wounded have been treated."

In truth, everything had been settled half an hour ago. But the Master Sage had been at a critical juncture, and no one dared to disturb him. It was only now, seeing him stand up and chat with the Witch, that Mo Shaoge hurried over to report.

"Good. Have everyone gather all the materials and place them on Jilian's body. Yes, its hands or back will do."

As the highest-ranking member of the Dawn Association on this mission, Qin Xiaoxia felt obligated, out of mutual respect, to personally go to the perimeter. He needed to explain the situation to the French and the observers from various countries, and to bid them farewell.

Kodell and the others had been observing the situation from afar through binoculars, and they saw the Dawn Sage approaching their position.

They had barely lowered their binoculars when the distant figure was already standing right before them.

"Thank you for your patience. The crisis has been averted, and we will be leaving shortly."

Qin Xiaoxia got straight to the point.

"The Dawn Association's assistance has helped our country resolve this threat. On behalf of France, I thank you for your efforts."

The official praise was a necessary formality. Kodell offered this gesture of goodwill, then moved on to his real concerns.

"I was wondering, will Jilian continue to be a threat in the future? And will the Curse on the land around this village remain?"

Su Su, standing nearby, shot him a look. 'These political types always speak in riddles.'

"Mr. Kodell, you can be more direct. The Otherworldly Ancient Demon Jilian is no more. If you ever see her again, it will be as the Dawn Ancient Demon Jilian. Of course, let's hope that day never comes!"

"As for this village, you might consider establishing a training base here. It would be beneficial. And with that, we'll be taking our leave."

Having said his piece, the exhausted Qin Xiaoxia had no intention of dragging out the conversation. He and Su Su performed a salute by placing their fists over their hearts, and their figures slowly vanished from sight.

Less than five minutes later, Jilian's colossal body abruptly vanished, leaving behind only a deep, body-shaped crater and the countless corpses of Demons.

For France, the half-year-long watch had been worth it!

This was the first thought that flashed through Kodell's mind.

"Mr. Minister, Hua Country possesses advanced technology and extensive practical experience in the supernatural domain. Our cooperative relationship with the Dawn Association is also quite close. We are willing to provide technical and material support to help France jointly develop this training area!"

Du Peipei had a keen political sense and immediately made a friendly proposal.

Prompted by her words, the observers from the other nations quickly chimed in, also expressing their willingness to help.

Even Kodell couldn't help the corner of his mouth from twitching. On the other hand, they genuinely needed the technical support. Beyond that, their obligations as part of the World Alliance also had to be considered.

...

「Qingzhen Secret Place」

Jilian's body appeared, covering a vast expanse on one side of the area. Fortunately, Mumu had received word ahead of time and herded the Magical Plants to another location, avoiding the tragedy of them being crushed.

Viewed from high enough above, Jilian looked like a winged Elf lying in a sea of tiny flowers. In some places, airborne rivers washed directly over its body, sending up countless splashes.

A good number of the three hundred-plus Association members had never been to headquarters before. They stood atop Jilian's body, gazing out at their surroundings.

These members were, at the very least, Knight Order reservists or Celestial Traveler Disciples, and they constituted the current backbone of the Dawn Association. This battle had not only given them experience but also a grand story to boast about to their juniors and those who couldn't attend.

Most of the members departed through the headquarters' Secret Realm, returning to Dawn Silent Moon Island, where they had assembled for battle preparations. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

There, their equipment and supplies would be replenished, and their contribution points would be tallied.

Soon, the headquarters fell silent once more.

PS: Chapter one for Monday.

A cameo for reader 'Su Yan Jin Se'—Ai You makes her official debut.