West Lake.

Even after nightfall, the lakeside was packed with a dense crowd—most of them High-Tier mages—all gathered for the massive skyscraper serpent in the lake.

That skyscraper serpent was precisely the Totem Black Serpent!

"Take it down!"

Looking at the Black Serpent in the lake, Zhu Meng shouted.

"Activate the Thunder Ring Punishment Array—we must not give it any chance to escape!" Luo Mian commanded loudly as well.

With their orders, the surrounding mages rapidly arranged themselves into formation.

"What?!"

Tangyue looked at Zhu Meng and Luo Mian in complete disbelief—they were actually working together!

Mo Fan was likewise astonished—everything was far beyond his expectations.

In front of such big shots, his strength was simply insignificant.

"Thunder Punishment Ring, activate!" Luo Mian bellowed again.

The next moment, a surge of violent lightning elements gathered over West Lake, followed by dazzling purple lightning.

In an instant, an incomparably resplendent Star Palace unveiled itself.

Immediately after, nine heavenly halberds formed from lightning appeared in the sky.

Each halberd was condensed from countless purple lightning bolts—their length and thickness like colossal pillars supporting the heavens.

The nine Thunder God Halberds descended one after another around the Black Serpent, forming a Nonagon Star Pillar Array. Terrifying chains of lightning crackled around the halberds.

In the next instant, the Black Serpent was directly imprisoned within this lightning cage.

The Black Serpent rammed the Punishment Array in fury, but the flaying thunder of the bindings caused it immense pain—its roar powerful enough to shake an entire city.

This Nine-Ring Prohibition was activated by a magic array, far more powerful than a Super Mage casting alone.

Even so, it could only imprison the Black Serpent during its molting phase.

If the Black Serpent were in peak condition, this lightning punishment array wouldn't even be able to break through its defenses.

"Even in its molting phase, it's still so tenacious. Truly a security threat." Zhu Meng sneered.

"That's why we must capture it in one fell swoop—if it gets past molting, it'll be troublesome." Luo Mian said urgently.

"Mm, you're right."

Zhu Meng nodded and was about to make a move personally when a tall woman hurried over.

"Councilman Zhu Meng, please wait a moment." Leng Qing called urgently.

Zhu Meng paused slightly, not turning his head. "If you've come to persuade me to stop, you might as well save your breath. I will slay this demon serpent today."

Leng Qing did not doubt Zhu Meng's resolve and quickly said, "We've discovered the true cause of the plague—it isn't the Black Serpent!"

Hearing this, Luo Mian's heart skipped a beat.

Could the Blood Serum have been discovered?!

If they really found out, even dying ten thousand times wouldn't be enough!

Zhu Meng frowned. Though half doubtful, he still halted the spell he was preparing.

Seeing Zhu Meng's hesitation, Luo Mian immediately said, "Councilman Zhu Meng, opportunity waits for no one. Right now we should eradicate this threat first!"

Zhu Meng ignored Luo Mian and instead looked toward Leng Qing. "You say the plague source isn't this Black Serpent—then what is it? Do you have definitive proof?"

Zhu Meng had long seen the Black Serpent as a security hazard, but without this plague he wouldn't have had a reason to take action.

Leng Qing took a deep breath, handed some test documents to Zhu Meng, and said solemnly:

"These are test results from a batch of Blood Serum in Baizhen—it contains infected blood from Rending-Claw Plague Rats. It looks no different from normal serum, but it's the real culprit behind this plague."

"Blood Serum?!"

Zhu Meng was shocked—someone actually dared tamper with Blood Serum? That was something the military relied on to save lives!

But Zhu Meng did not just trust Leng Qing's words. He quickly verified the authenticity of the data.

Once he confirmed it was real, a raging fire surged in Zhu Meng's heart.

"What enormous audacity—to dare carry out such an inhuman act right under my nose!"

Seeing the furious Zhu Meng, Luo Mian instantly grew panicked and uneasy. With Zhu Meng's personality, he would definitely pursue this to the end.

At that moment, a Court guard ran over and delivered news that the western fortress had been invaded by the White Magic Hawk Legion.

Zhu Meng's expression shifted dramatically—why was everything happening all at once?

"The Rending-Claw Plague Rat is the White Magic Hawk's favorite food. They're launching a massive assault on the western fortress precisely because of the infected." Zhou Haoyu, who had been standing behind Leng Qing, spoke up.

"Zhou Haoyu, why are you here?" Zhu Meng asked, puzzled.

As a Councilman of the Magic Court, Zhu Meng naturally had some impression of Zhou Haoyu, this chief disciple.

[Activation condition: Defeat Zhu Meng head-on.]

"Councilman Zhu Meng, it was he who discovered the diseased blood inside the Blood Serum." Leng Qing added from the side.

Zhu Meng was dumbfounded—was Zhou Haoyu really this capable?

Even more capable than him, a councilman?

It was already impressive enough that he was so talented—yet he had managed to uncover the plauge's origin in such a short time. No wonder the Chief wanted him as a disciple!

"Just good luck." Zhou Haoyu said calmly.

"Then have you found a solution?" Zhu Meng asked anxiously.

"According to my investigation, Eagle Red Grass is effective against this plague." Zhou Haoyu replied.

"Eagle Red Grass?" Zhu Meng looked puzzled and continued, "Where can this Eagle Red Grass be found?"

"In the Xiling Range." Zhou Haoyu said indifferently.

"Xiling? That's Silver Gaint Eagle's territory—that's practically suicide." Luo Mian suddenly interjected.

Zhu Meng seemed to sense something and shot a glance at the slightly abnormal Luo Mian.

Zhou Haoyu gave Luo Mian a meaningful smile.

That smile made Luo Mian suddenly uneasy—had this brat really found something?

Zhou Haoyu took out the evidence he had already prepared. It recorded Luo Mian's collusion with Deputy Inquisitor Wang Yi.

After carefully reviewing it, Zhu Meng's expression changed dramatically and he immediately grabbed Luo Mian by the throat, bellowing in fury, "You bastard—how dare you commit such heartless deeds! I ought to tear you to pieces right now!"

What angered Zhu Meng most of all was that this man had used him as a pawn.

After subduing Luo Mian, Zhu Meng suppressed the fire in his heart and looked to Zhou Haoyu. "Do you have any way to obtain the Eagle Red Grass?"

According to Zhou Haoyu, as long as they found the Eagle Red Grass, the White Magic Hawk Legion attacking the western fortress would retreat and everything would be resolved.

"I have my ways, but could you dismiss the Lightning Punishment Array first?" Zhou Haoyu pointed toward West Lake.

Zhu Meng hesitated for a moment, then instructed the Court guards to deactivate the punishment array.

The corner of Zhou Haoyu's mouth lifted, and his gaze shifted toward Tangyue by the lakeside.

[Activation condition: met.]

[Activating.]

[Obtained Candle Dragon Totem Vessel.]

....

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