Chapter 219: Upheaval in the Territory

Through his “inquiry” of Otto—more accurately, Jie Ming’s one-sided intimidation and Otto’s trembling confession—Jie Ming gained a rough understanding of what had transpired in his territory over the past fifty years.

The process was largely as he had suspected.

His absence had been so prolonged, outlasting the lifespan of most mortals, that many of the original servants believed their “godlike” master had perished in some unknown world.

The second and third generations, never having witnessed the terror and grandeur of wizards or related beings, gradually lost their reverence for the tales of their “master” passed down by their ancestors.

Over time, the human race, within the semi-isolated confines of his territory, naturally formed a new social order.

After Otto finished recounting these basic circumstances, he abandoned all pretense of royal dignity, scrambling down from his throne to kneel heavily on the cold stone floor, his forehead pressed against it, his body shaking with fear.

In a near-pleading tone, he defended himself:

“

Great Master! I… I swear, at first, I faithfully managed the human race as you commanded! But later… the population grew too large, and the food you left behind was simply not enough…

”

“I… I had no choice, so I took the risk of leading some people into the outer forests to search for edible plant seeds and sent others to cultivate the land…”

“Over time… those newly born humans, grateful for the food, began to… to revere me as… their king…”

“Master, please believe me! I never had any intention of betraying you!

Please… please forgive my sins!

”

Meanwhile, the soldiers who had barely recovered from Jie Ming’s overwhelming pressure and rushed into the hall stared in stunned silence. Their once-majestic king now groveled like a lowly worm, leaving their minds blank, unable to comprehend the scene before them.

Jie Ming neither confirmed nor denied Otto’s words.

He knew full well that Otto was likely concealing some personal ambitions—like reveling in the thrill of power or tacitly allowing his descendants to forget their true master’s existence.

Still, judging by the faint contract resonance in Otto’s soul, his words were mostly truthful.

And, in terms of results, Otto had done a decent job.

After all, Jie Ming had only intended to be “away” for a decade or two, long enough to gather sufficient

Mortal Dust Qi

before returning.

Before leaving, he had prepared resources and arrangements based on a twenty-year timeline.

Who could have foreseen an anomaly like the “living plane,” stretching his absence to over fifty years?

This region was Jie Ming’s private territory.

Without his permission, other wizards wouldn’t dare intrude to investigate another wizard’s domain.

This led to his territory undergoing the most primitive form of natural development.

When Jie Ming had first taken in these people, his plan was to subject them to multiple rounds of genetic and soul modifications to transform them into “qualified” humans of the wizarding world.

Thus, he hadn’t imposed a “racial contract” on the entire group, only binding the first generation with individual servant contracts.

With such a long time and no bloodline contract to enforce loyalty, it was only natural for the descendants to undergo such changes.

Still, two questions lingered in Jie Ming’s mind.

Bypassing Otto’s groveling excuses, he asked directly, “What’s the situation with the elves and dwarves? Why are they fighting? I can understand humans, with their short lifespans and rapid reproduction, having descendants unbound by contracts.”

“But the elves and dwarves have long lifespans. Most of the original generation should still be alive. What’s going on with them?”

At the mention of elves and dwarves, Otto’s aged face showed confusion, as if he knew little about it.

Cautiously raising his head, he explained, “Master… I’m not entirely clear on the details. All I know is that about twenty years ago, the elves and dwarves managing the core of the Golden Garden suddenly announced that the human population had grown too large, consuming too many resources, and they could no longer provide enough food.”

“I had no choice but to lead the surplus population out to cultivate the land and seek survival.”

“But not long after we left… the elves and dwarves suddenly sealed off the Golden Garden, completely shutting us out!”

“Later… for reasons unknown, the dwarves and elves fell out, leading to fierce conflicts. The dwarves then took their people and a core ‘Resource Converter,’ forcibly leaving the Golden Garden to establish a stronghold in the mountains.”

“Since then, tensions between the three races have escalated, with constant friction, and… it’s become what it is now.”

Jie Ming listened, nodding expressionlessly.

He already had a rough guess in his mind. The problem, it seemed, lay within the Golden Garden itself.

“Get up. Follow me,” Jie Ming ordered Otto.

Without sparing another glance at the stunned soldiers in the hall, he shot out of the castle, speeding toward his Golden Garden.

Though aged, Otto was still a second-tier legendary warrior, capable of moving through the air with his own strength.

Relieved that Jie Ming likely wouldn’t kill him, he mustered his limited energy and hurriedly followed.

Soon, the Golden Garden, built around Jie Ming’s mansion, came into view.

But the sight before him made him let out a cold sneer.

The entire garden was enveloped in several massive, emerald-glass-like green barriers!

Natural energy flowed gently across the barriers, radiating a powerful repulsive force.

Beyond the barriers stood a group of elves, armed with wands made of vibrant flowers, standing in formation with vigilance and hostility, clearly treating Jie Ming and Otto as intruders.

Jie Ming ignored their hostility.

He had no intention of asking them to open the barrier, instead raising his hand.

Over the past fifty years in the Frostflame Plane, though he hadn’t advanced in rank, Jie Ming had never stopped accumulating knowledge.

In the later stages, due to a lack of assistants, senior wizards had issued tasks at the camp for logistics wizards to process the vast amounts of data and theories recorded from studying the living plane.

Through this tedious data processing, Jie Ming had deepened his understanding of his knowledge, and the fragments of high-tier knowledge he’d glimpsed had proven immensely beneficial.

As Mentor Clark had said, the current Jie Ming finally resembled a true “wizard,” no longer just an “apprentice” relying on brute mental strength and violent methods.

Fifty years ago, Jie Ming might have needed a massive energy blast to break through these powerful natural energy barriers. But now…

He only needed the most basic

Analysis Technique

.

Jie Ming extended his index finger, gently pressing it against the emerald barrier.

Buzz—!

An invisible wave of mental energy rippled out from his fingertip.

With the aid of his formidable mental strength and

Analysis Technique

, the barrier’s complex energy structure, flow circuits, and nodes were instantly laid bare.

Then, wielding his mental energy like the finest scalpel, he effortlessly targeted the weakest energy nodes.

Under the shocked gazes of the elves, the green barrier beneath Jie Ming’s hand cracked like brittle, overbaked bread. With a slight push—

Crack! Crack! Crack!

A series of crisp shattering sounds rang out as the layered defensive barriers spiderwebbed with cracks and collapsed into a shower of green light particles, dissipating into the air.

The dozen or so elf guards behind the barrier raised their wands to resist, but a frantic voice suddenly called out from behind them:

“Stop!

Do not disrespect the Master!

”

An elf rushed out from the depths of the garden, shouting hoarsely at the guards.

When he saw Jie Ming’s familiar yet terrifying face, his own drained of color.

Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees, performing the elves’ most reverent salute. “

Great Master! Please forgive us!

”

Jie Ming recognized this elf.

He was familiar—Alvin, the elf he’d appointed as one of the three administrators to manage the elf race.

Alvin was utterly deferential, his head pressed into the grass, not daring to meet Jie Ming’s gaze.

However, the younger elves, forced to kneel by Alvin’s command, were less compliant.

Their movements were stiff and perfunctory.

Jie Ming could clearly see the defiance and contempt on the face of one leading elf.

Judging by Alvin’s position when he arrived, that defiant elf was likely the leader of this guard squad.

—