Chapter 332: Plague: A Spiritual Root-Based Genetic Weapon

An unknown plague swept through the entire Yunhan Dynasty at an incredible speed.

Commoners merely fell ill, showing symptoms of a common cold, and were not in any immediate danger.

The Mages, however, were much worse off. First, their Lower-Grade Spiritual Roots began to wither. The affliction soon spread to the mid-grade roots, and eventually, even the high-grade ones were affected.

Fortunately, as Mages possessing Extraordinary power, they were able to hold on for the time being.

But they estimated that they would undergo a transformation within three days, and for a time, many Mages desperately searched for a cure.

But before they could find a cure, they received devastating news.

The truth behind the Spiritual Root sickness.

The first to be affected by the plague were not the Human Mages, but the group of Spirit Root Insect People who had possessed them and fallen into a deep slumber.

To commoners, this plague was like a cold.

To Mages, it was a terminal illness, but one that gave them enough time to react.

But for the Spirit Root Insect People, it was an outright poison with an extremely rapid onset.

The Mages learned that those afflicted with the Spiritual Root sickness had actually been silently hollowed out, their bodies worn like skins by Insect People who then hid among them in disguise.

If there had only been one or two, it naturally wouldn’t have caused much of a stir.

But the numbers were absurdly high; it had even reached the point where a Third-Grade Mage had been replaced by one of the Insect People.

This revelation sent shockwaves through the community.

The Yunhan Dynasty, the Mage Families, and others immediately began screenings. They didn’t want to wake up one day to find they had been silently devoured by an Insect Person, leaving nothing but a layer of skin behind.

At the same time, they also began to investigate the origin of the Insect People.

Their primary suspects were, naturally, the Spirit Demons. As for the Spiritual Roots themselves? They would never have considered such a possibility.

In the eyes of a Mage, a Spiritual Root turning into an Insect Person was something that defied all logic and common sense.

The unknown plague, meanwhile, was relegated to a secondary concern.

The reason was simple: after learning about the plague, the Mages still had ways to deal with it. Before infection, they could use protective spells and treasured artifacts for isolation, and by employing screening and purification methods, they could effectively avoid being infected.

As for the Mages who were already infected, there was nothing to be done. They could only wait for death.

The commoners’ cold-like symptoms were of little concern. Even if many died, there would always be survivors, and the population would eventually recover.

The Yunhan Dynasty did arrange for personnel to actively carry out disaster relief, but the results were abysmal, as they didn’t know what kind of plague they were dealing with.

Fortunately, the commoner population was large, and it quickly recovered.

Afterward, they continued to treat it as a normal plague.

The aftermath was that many commoners and Mages turned into monsters resembling living corpses.

The commoners were manageable; beheading them and tossing them into a fire took care of the problem.

The Mages-turned-living-corpses, on the other hand, retained their Extraordinary power and also gained the ability to infect others. It took considerable resources to bring the situation under control.

Of course, not everyone turned into a living corpse; a good number of people managed to survive the ordeal.

But the Yunhan Dynasty also understood that things were far from over.

So, while investigating the Insect People, they were also tracking the source of the plague.

Unfortunately, they had no leads on either front.

Because of these two incidents, the Yunhan Dynasty and the Mage Families, once rivals, were suddenly forced into a honeymoon period of close cooperation.

In the past, even if they weren’t engaged in open strife and veiled struggles, they would still constantly scheme against each other.

Resources and benefits were limited, so their distribution always involved a great deal of political maneuvering; you couldn’t get what you wanted just by asking.

"It’s not just the people who are affected. The most critical disaster area is the Spiritual Roots themselves," Luo Yu said, his brow furrowed as he read the report in his hands.

The Spiritual Root market had begun to decline, while the value of Spiritual Roots was skyrocketing.

Mages had barely survived the plague, but its true target was the Spiritual Roots.

It wasn’t just that the production of Spiritual Roots cultivated by the major Mage Families had dropped by thirty percent; the industries of the Yunhan Dynasty’s Royal Family had suffered the same fate, and this percentage was still growing.

In addition, the number of wild Spiritual Roots had also begun to decline.

If this continued long-term, the entire Mage population would inevitably face a crisis.

Spiritual Roots were not only the foundation of a Mage’s power but also a resource for their cultivation.

Essentially ninety percent of all cultivation resources were produced from Spiritual Roots.

"Increase the protective measures, and remember to keep this matter confidential," Luo Yu said, setting down the report. "Go and handle it."

Although he was the Counselor, he was, in reality, managing the entire Yunhan Dynasty.

Luo Geng had not made a single public appearance since ascending the throne. He had been in seclusion, refining the Immortal Spiritual Root, a process that would likely take several decades to complete.

As for the other Princes, upon learning of Luo Geng’s situation, they immediately abandoned any thoughts of vying for the throne. They all gave up and started living the carefree lives of idle royalty, becoming Prince Xiaoyaos.

Anyone who tried to incite them to seize the throne was summarily beheaded and their heads delivered to Luo Yu.

If Luo Geng were merely a First-Grade Mage, they might still have harbored some ambitions. But as an Immortal Mage, the gap between them was as vast as that between an immortal and a mortal.

He had restored the Yunhan Dynasty with a single move—a feat they could never hope to accomplish.

’I still have to report the matter of the plague to His Majesty for his decision,’ Luo Yu knew. This matter required Luo Geng’s help.

The Insect People could be ignored for the time being. After all, now that the truth was known, there were ways to identify them, and they hadn’t yet caused excessive damage.

The plague, on the other hand, was affecting the Spiritual Roots. If it wasn’t resolved, even if the Mages didn’t go extinct, their numbers would be drastically reduced, and even their potential for growth would plummet.

He, a First-Grade Mage, had no way to solve it; he could only implement protective measures. His only hope was Luo Geng, the Immortal Mage.

After handling the affairs at hand, Luo Yu went to the place of Luo Geng’s seclusion.

"Your Majesty, I have a matter to report. A great plague has broken out among the people..." As he spoke, Luo Yu reported on the plague, presenting some of the facts and reports.

After he finished, a voice finally came from the secret chamber.

"I am already aware of the matter concerning the Spiritual Roots. Find a way to bring me a diseased Spiritual Root or Mage. I will find a solution," Luo Geng’s voice echoed out.

However, Luo Yu felt that Luo Geng’s tone and voice seemed a little strange.

But the thought passed in an instant, and he paid it no mind. He simply assumed it was due to the immense energy Luo Geng was expending to refine the Immortal Spiritual Root.

"Remember, take proper precautions and do not let it leak. The origin of this plague is likely far from ordinary," Luo Geng added.

Luo Yu understood this without needing to be told.

If an outbreak were to occur in the Imperial Palace, even if it were quickly extinguished, it would be a stain on the Royal Family’s reputation.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. I understand," Luo Yu replied hastily.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had been afraid that Luo Geng would be unwilling to help.

He could tell that Luo Geng held little affection for the Yunhan Dynasty. The only reasons he had agreed to restore it and take the throne were out of gratitude for being raised by the Royal Family and for the sake of the Immortal Spiritual Root.

That was why he didn’t involve himself in any of its affairs.

Therefore, it would have been perfectly normal for Luo Geng to refuse to help.

"Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?" Luo Yu asked again.

"Nothing. You may leave." After Luo Geng spoke, the chamber fell silent once more.

Seeing this, Luo Yu could only bow and take his leave, then hurry away to make the arrangements.

Before long, several diseased Spiritual Roots and Mages were brought over and sent directly into the secret chamber where Luo Geng was in seclusion.

Through the darkness, he could see that the secret chamber was filled with numerous cracks in space.

The oppressive aura they emitted made his heart pound with fear.

’This power... it’s even stronger than before. His Majesty’s progress in refining the second Immortal Spiritual Root is astounding,’ Luo Yu thought, feeling a surge of joy.

The stronger Luo Geng became, the more advantageous it was for their Yunhan Dynasty.

Unfortunately, the spatial rifts within the chamber were too powerful, preventing him from seeing Luo Geng’s appearance clearly. He could only make out a vague silhouette.

’His Majesty... seems a bit fatter?’ Luo Yu wondered, finding the silhouette strange.

Logically, that shouldn’t be possible. After all, he was already an Immortal Mage; there was no reason for him to be putting on weight.

But before he could get a closer look, the door to the secret chamber swung shut.

He found this quite regrettable.

"Come back to me in ten days," Luo Geng’s voice echoed out again.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Luo Yu replied quickly, his expression visibly relaxing.

In his mind, if Luo Geng was confident enough to give a ten-day deadline, it meant he had a solution.

Once the plague was dealt with, the turmoil gripping the Yunhan Dynasty would finally subside.

As for the Insect People? They were no real threat.

Wiping them out was merely a matter of time.

Even if they couldn’t be completely eradicated, in the face of the Yunhan Dynasty’s power, they would ultimately end up like the Spirit Demons, incapable of causing any significant trouble.

-----------------

Inside the secret chamber, Luo Geng’s body was covered in a layer of viscous secretions. These secretions were coupled with space itself, forcibly restraining him.

"Heh, you ambitious beasts, you actually dream of overthrowing the Human Race? Do you pathetic insects think you’re worthy?"

As he looked at the diseased Spiritual Roots and Mages, a mocking expression appeared on one half of Luo Geng’s face.

The other half of his face, however, was perfectly calm, showing no emotion whatsoever.

Not long ago, he had refined the second Immortal Spiritual Root at an incredible speed. Then, a sudden, bizarre transformation had begun.

The Spiritual Root within his body had turned the tables, rapidly seizing control of Luo Geng and beginning to refine the third Spiritual Root.

He had originally thought it would take one hundred and eighty days, but he had been proven wrong.

Through his deep fusion with the Spiritual Root, he had naturally obtained the Immortal Spiritual Root’s memories, learned the truth, and had been resisting ever since.

Of course, the Immortal Spiritual Root within him had also obtained his memories, which was how it was able to imitate his speech.

"Someone is deliberately targeting us. That unknown, mysterious person," a dual voice spoke. It quickly judged that the so-called plague was harmless to humans but a cataclysmic disaster for Spiritual Roots.

"The Human Race has a capable champion! HAHAHAHA, excellent!" Luo Geng couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

His mind was connected to the Immortal Spiritual Root’s, so he knew just how troublesome this plague was.

Solve it in ten days? It would be difficult to solve even in ten years.

The Spiritual Roots couldn’t last ten years. If the plague wasn’t resolved in a short time, it would directly affect the Spirit Root Race’s vassal transformation ritual.

"It’s a pity I don’t know who it is. Otherwise, even if I die, I’ll make sure you all die without a burial place." Luo Geng’s hatred for the Spirit Root Race was so profound that he wished them the most miserable death imaginable.

He had been turned into a puppet, neither human nor ghost. How could he possibly swallow such a humiliation?