The plain after the war was in a state of chaos.
The red flag of the Lion lay in a pool of blood and frost, with fallen warhorses and soldiers scattered everywhere, along with large quantities of discarded armor and weapons.
Inside Eagle Fortress.
Wu Ming had changed out of his blue armor, now stained with filth, and donned a silk robe, silently listening to reports.
“We have defeated the enemy’s army of twenty thousand and captured five thousand, including the heir of the Wellington family, Viscount Arthur…”
Viscount Balle’s voice was filled with excitement, while knights like Soros looked at Wu Ming with admiration and awe.
The scene today on the battlefield, when Wu Ming summoned the blue dragon, was simply too shocking, solidifying their belief in Wu Ming’s identity beyond any doubt.
“Although the war potential of the Highlands is considerable, with five thousand killed, five thousand captured, and ten thousand scattered, even the Duke Wellington will find it hard to make a comeback…”
Wu Ming mused slowly.
Today’s legendary spell, summoning the blue dragon’s illusion, had consumed more than half of his internal strength, leaving him somewhat mentally exhausted.
But without a doubt, its effect was extraordinary, helping him win the war decisively. More importantly, it changed the balance of power between the two sides.
“My vassals!”
Wu Ming spoke again, his voice rising. “From Talle onward, the Blue Bloods who have occupied the Windfly Plains, is this all the courage you possess?”
He continued with a voice full of courage and incitement: “Before… the red lions from the grasslands stormed into our homes like robbers, stealing our wealth and killing our people. Now, Eagle Fortress has returned to our hands, and their army has been defeated. Do you have the courage to follow me to the Highlands? To conquer, to plunder, to gain glory and endless wealth!”
“Great Conqueror King! Wherever your will points, our swords shall follow!”
Viscount Balle and others immediately knelt down, cheering: “Conquer! Conquer!”
Wu Ming looked at the scene and finally nodded in satisfaction.
His risk in fighting against Arthur was not merely to stop the enemy; the most important goal was to deplete their forces and prepare for future wars.
The current effect was even better than he had expected.
A mere Windfly Plains naturally could not satisfy his ambitions; he needed at least the same level of dominance as Conqueror King Talle.
The Highlands were unfortunately caught in the crosshairs.
Even if they had not previously shown any aggressive intent, Wu Ming would have found an excuse to attack them anyway. Now, it was even less of a question.
…
After treating his vassals to a feast, it was late at night before Wu Ming had time to examine the spoils of war.
Other items such as armor, warhorses, bows and arrows, lances, and prisoners were naturally inventoried by specialized scribes.
With former workers and accountants who could read and do arithmetic overseeing the process, it was actually the nobles who had to worry about being cheated.
What truly interested Wu Ming, however, was what was taken from Arthur.
“Is this… the holy sword of King Lionheart from those days?”
In the bedroom, Emma Lys stared at the rough-looking broken stone sword placed on the rosewood table, her eyes shining with amazement.
“It’s said that this holy sword was originally embedded in a sacred stone on the Highlands, and only a true king who had gained recognition could pull it out. Countless knights failed before it until the appearance of King Lionheart!”
She murmured, her delicate fingers reaching out to touch the blade.
Boom!
A flash of golden light startled Emma Lys, who immediately pulled her hand back as if electrocuted, her fingertip slightly charred: “Even now, it still carries such power, having chosen Arthur…”
She looked at Wu Ming, her gaze suddenly becoming very strange: “My King, you are the heir of the Conqueror King and have gained the recognition of King Lionheart. You will surely rule the entire Seer continent!”
“It is inevitable!”
Wu Ming said in a very mystical manner, though in reality, he knew his own business.
This supernatural weapon, by the standards of his previous life, would at least be a high-level legendary magical item, or even a divine artifact, in the Western world!
It was also wrapped in curses, or rather, conditional restrictions, only those who met the requirements could gain its recognition, allowing it to be touched and its power utilized.
He had simply forced it into submission, breaking through its restrictions.
“Perfect, since the Dragonheart Sword is damaged, this Stone Sword will serve as Arthur’s compensation!”
Wu Ming picked up the stone hilt and swung it casually a few times.
“Hehe… the Wellington family must have suffered a huge loss indeed!”
Emma Lys giggled behind her hand.
Although the Dragonheart Sword was not bad, compared to the Holy Sword of the Stone, it was like comparing heaven and earth. Not to mention, at the moment when the Blue Bloods were about to invade the Highlands, if the Highland knights saw that the sword of King Lionheart had recognized the conqueror, what expressions would they have?
Just by seeing the impact of the Blue Diamond Crown on the Windfly Plains, the deterrent effect of the Stone Sword on the Highlands would certainly not be small!
“Probably Arthur kept it secret, intending to reveal the proof of kingship at once when establishing the principality to intimidate all directions… Of course, now it’s purely a case of shooting oneself in the foot…”
Wu Ming thought with a sense of schadenfreude.
After Lady Emma Lys left, his expression turned serious as he looked at the broken sword in his hand.
Strictly speaking, he had only broken through the first layer of seals on the Sword in the Stone, allowing him to hold it in his hand without resistance.
As for developing other enhancement functions, making it an unmatched sword and weapon on the battlefield, and even summoning heroic spirits, those were still distant goals.
However, Wu Ming was patient and had plenty of time to work on it slowly.
After all, the sword was imbued with an abundance of sealed power, essentially representing the portion of the power rules of the Seer world that was under the control of King Lionheart.
Through research, each new discovery would mean a deeper understanding of the entire universe.
At this moment, the Sword in the Stone was, in Wu Ming’s eyes, the key to unlocking the power rules of the universe.
…
As the news of the Battle of Eagle Fortress spread, the entire continent was stirred.
The Windfly Plains were particularly agitated, with many nobles and knights beginning to prepare weapons and join the punitive expedition under Wu Ming’s call, ready to start the conquest and plunder of the Highlands.
Even a large number of commoners and escaped slaves took the opportunity to join the army for training, as Wu Ming had issued a decree that as long as they achieved merit, they could gain the status of free citizens and receive amnesty, with no one allowed to pursue their past crimes.
Faced with the ever-growing army of the Blue Bloods, the Highlands were filled with a sense of impending doom.
The Wellington family no longer had the previous vigor, and discussions about establishing a principality ceased entirely.
Many already-conquered nobles began to have other thoughts, quietly discussing the topic of the Conqueror King and the Sword in the Stone, which was said to have fallen into the hands of William Wallace I.
“Viscount Garcia, congratulations on making the right choice!”
While preparing for war, Wu Ming was also busy undermining the resistance in the Highlands.
“There are other small families in the Highlands that have already been conquered, but their submission is recent. If a sufficiently powerful external force stirs them up, they might rebel again! You go to the Highlands and tell them that if they submit to me, kneel and swear fealty, I will recognize their original lands and titles, as well as all their rights within their fiefdoms!”
Wu Ming looked at Viscount Garcia, who was kneeling at his feet, along with servants like Merlin, and spoke coldly with an implied meaning: “Even the Wellington family itself, if they are willing to defect to us and help us fight against the Duke Wellington, can receive the same treatment!”
As soon as these words were spoken, Viscount Garcia felt his heart sink.
He clearly knew that even within the Wellington family, there was not complete unity, and there were many ambitious individuals, just like himself before.
Now, in order to obtain the original lands of the Wellington family and the title of duke, it was not impossible for them to rebel, especially now that Arthur had lost twenty thousand elite troops, significantly weakening the main branch, while the collateral branches were beginning to rise.
“Under the Conqueror King’s schemes, the entire Highlands might fall into chaos even before the Blue Bloods launch their campaign?”
Garcia thought to himself, shaking his head. He felt that compared to the Blue Mountain Earl, the Blue Blood in front of him seemed like a completely different creature.
In truth, this might be the true demeanor of the former conqueror, Talle!
But by this time, the oath of allegiance had already been performed, and his sworn pledge was in Wu Ming’s hands. To rebel again would only lead to his disgrace and even execution by the Duke Wellington—the current Duke knew this well: a family member who repeatedly failed and showed disloyalty had no value.
“Understood, my liege!”
Therefore, Garcia could only bow humbly and assure: “Your will shall be carried throughout the Highlands. With the flight of carrier pigeons, the entire Highlands will hear this news within half a month!”
“Very good, there’s one more thing…”
Wu Ming turned his gaze to Merlin the mage, who was wearing a gray robe and hood behind Viscount Garcia.
“You have a mage among your vassals, right? Would he be interested in joining the Watchers organization to serve me?”
His voice was heavy, filled with unwavering confidence: “My rewards will certainly satisfy you!”
“It is his honor to serve the liege!”
Although Merlin was still somewhat hesitant, Viscount Garcia immediately agreed.
It was clear that he understood the situation well, knowing that his side had no room for negotiation at this point.
“Very well, once these matters are accomplished, your viscountcy in the Windfly Plains will still be yours!”
Wu Ming assured him: “Those who serve me will be rewarded!”
At these words, a flicker of intense desire flashed in Viscount Garcia’s eyes…
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