Chapter 563: Burying the Spirit

"There's no need to keep dragging this out. Have everyone on State Highway 35 withdraw! The Fifth and Sixth Legendary Groups will provide cover. Be careful not to let the enemy grab your coattails—"

Inside the Smith Estate in Houston, in the underground operations command room, John Adams rubbed his head in distress.

"The situation is very troublesome now. They've completely abandoned defense and focused their manpower on offense. It's like if I lose a freight train, they'll make you pay three times, even ten times the price. The problem is, they can go all in anytime, and we don't dare."

He swiveled his office chair to face the elderly men behind him: "You know, Father? The strategy the National Progress Association is taking now, to me, is like a pack of jackals besieging a rhinoceros. Knowing they can't win, they still run up to provoke, only feeling satisfied when the rhino flips them over and crushes them."

"What else? Their Rising Sun Media is attacking us like mad. If we do nothing, how will outsiders see us, Adams?"

A white-haired elder spoke first with sarcasm, then smiled bitterly: "Of course, it's no different now, even more embarrassing. Speaking of which, is there really no way to deal with that sniper and the Sky Scepter?"

"The sniper is easy to handle—just prepare enough so he can't fire. The problem is still the Sky Scepter, Lucky Andre, the Void Night King, and that sniper's combination. In terms of spatial abilities, unless a deity wielding high divine authority steps in, it's hard to suppress them. We've prepared three methods, but the expected results aren't ideal."

"Our two magisters are already designing a magic array. If we can lure them to a specific battlefield, it can completely seal off the Sky Scepter and most void abilities. But how to lure them is a problem, and completing the array design takes time."

"Obviously, their goal is to exploit the time gap. Before we have effective countermeasures, they want to weaken the National Progress Association as much as possible and sabotage the 'Beast Blood Potion' project. In the past two days, nearly 200 members from seven families have left the organization. In the coming days, more will follow."

At this moment, the white-haired old man sitting at the head of the table also frowned deeply.

"Has Tarossi Public Consulting not replied yet? What did they say?"

"Not yet, Father!"

John Adams shook his head: "I personally suggest not to pin too much hope on these lobbyists. The opponent's strategy is clever—they've tied themselves to the National Progress Association and our three families. If Congress wants to investigate the Atlanta Massacre and sanction the Wiltonshire Group, they must also sanction the National Progress Association. That means they only need to control a few congressmen to resist our offensive in Congress. Moreover, the President seems unwilling to see this proposal pass and is blocking it openly and covertly. So, although Tarossi Public Consulting is the top lobbying firm on Abraham K Street, I think they can't do anything either."

"Has he forgotten who put him in power?"

The old man snorted lightly, then gripped his cane: "So, he didn't take our hint to heart, did he?"

"As far as I know, the President did make some efforts. He contacted the Wiltonshire family. But that Andre refused our olive branch."

John Adams sighed softly: "I told you, Father, don't treat others as fools. He knows this is a good opportunity—the National Progress Association has no choice but to seek peace with them. But if they delay ten days, most of the association's members will leave. And the Wiltonshire family only needs to bear a small cost—"

"So what's your opinion, John?" asked another spirited old man: "Are you planning to stop the war against the Wiltonshire family?"

"Yes! At least stop using force."

John Adams nodded slightly: "From my understanding of them, if we stop the armed attacks, they won't actively provoke us. After all, they are still inferior in manpower and war potential. But if the family insists on saving face or retaliating, I think the day Anthony advances to Legendary would be an excellent opportunity. That should be soon, within ten to twenty days. It will be a battlefield where they can't use spatial abilities to escape—"

"You seem to have an idea, John?"

The white-haired old man at the head looked thoughtfully at John Adams: "Let's hear it. If it's feasible—"

...

In the alchemy room of the 'Destiny' magic tower, both the main body and the clone of Li Mochen were watching the furnace at the center. A necklace was floating out from within.

The pendant was made primarily from the heartwood of 'Blue Swamp Magic Vine', which Li Mochen had refined and condensed to the size of two fingers. In its center, a blue gem was embedded on the front, and a black horn-like substance on the back.

The gem was a mythical treasure called 'Dictaean Life Stone'. Legend has it that after the second generation Titaness Rhea and King Cronus gave birth to five children in succession, Cronus devoured them all.

So when Zeus was born, Rhea wrapped a stone in swaddling clothes and tricked Cronus into swallowing it. That stone was the 'Dictaean Life Stone'—of course, a stone that could deceive a king of gods would be of a higher grade.

The black horn came from a demigod-level underworld creature, the 'Underworld Dragon'—not a bone dragon or a dracolich, but a dragon living in the underworld with a wyvern-like appearance. Their horns are rich in death energy. Li Mochen took a segment, which perfectly matched the 'Dictaean Life Stone'.

The chain was made from 'Magic Gold No. 7' alloy provided by Anthony, woven into the shape of olive leaves. Li Mochen engraved dense magic patterns on it, but from the surface, it looked no different from an ordinary hollow gold chain. This was because the patterns were nearly nanoscale, embedded within the overall carving, and ordinary people couldn't find them even with a magnifying glass.

It's worth mentioning that 'Magic Gold No. 7' alloy is a mixed metal smelted from seven or more mythical metals in a specific ratio using a special process. While retaining the properties of these mythical metals, it also eliminates their weaknesses. Thus, 'Magic Gold No. 7' is not only very sturdy but also has good magic conductivity and can enhance divine authority and domain power.

Thanks to this, the refining process of this necklace went very smoothly. Li Mochen could easily engrave the massive magic array he designed inside and outside the necklace without worrying about it being damaged by the pressure of the magic energy array. The heartwood also retained most of its abilities, even greatly enhanced.

Even the loss of merit was minimal, costing only a little over 15,000 strands—an amount Li Mochen could now accumulate in just over a month.

"Finally finished!"

When the flame power under the alchemy furnace completely subsided, Li Mochen extended his mana and drew the pendant, which he named 'Burying the Spirit', before him. As he gently stroked it, a hint of complexity appeared in his eyes.

This mythical artifact was originally intended as a substitute for the 'Yin-Yang Life-Death Mirror' and a trump card against Philip I and his allies. But by the time it was completed, Philip and his followers were already dead, leaving only the magister Ron Edmund lingering in his divine kingdom.

In terms of power, it seemed already outdated upon completion.

Li Mochen now possessed the 'Scarlet Dragon Armor', 'Sky Scepter', 'Ring of Strength', and 'Dragon's Might', along with the bracelet Estantine was forging. Their power and effects all surpassed this pendant.

Yet, this item still held great significance for Li Mochen.

First, it was the first 'divine artifact' he had refined. In the Primordial Sky Realm, due to thin spiritual energy, even with tens of thousands of strands of merit, Li Mochen couldn't complete a quasi-divine artifact, let alone a divine-grade treasure. This was at least an experience that deepened his understanding of magic arrays and alchemy.

Second, it allowed Li Mochen to master a stronger 'Life-Death Divine Authority'. Though it couldn't be used on Philip I and his ilk, his enemies were not limited to them. After Philip's death, there were still the National Progress Association, the vampires, and others.

Especially when dealing with beings between life and death, this necklace would be more useful than any mythical artifact.

When the two vampire princes, Uhtred Gemichel and Clotaire Ventrue, intervened again in his war with Philip and his allies, Li Mochen had considered teaching the vampires a severe lesson. But because his life-death authority wasn't yet powerful enough to sweep all, he postponed it.

However, Li Mochen had already set the counterattack time for the day the 'Burying the Spirit Pendant' was completed. As the name suggested, he believed it would be the 'burier' of all undead creatures.

He had to make these bat monsters feel pain, just as he had told Clotaire Ventrue: either stay away, submit, or die.

"What a pity—"

After caressing and sensing for a while, Li Mochen sighed and put the 'Burying the Spirit Pendant' around his neck.

He confirmed again that the successful completion of this mythical artifact was not due to his high alchemy skills, but because of the excellent quality of the 'Magic Gold No. 7' alloy Anthony had half-sold, half-given, which greatly increased the success rate.

If the same material were handled by a true master alchemist, this artifact would surely be even more powerful.

Li Mochen also coveted the formula for 'Magic Gold No. 7' alloy, but it was a joint development by Anthony and several master alchemists from Light Magic Industries. Although they were close allies, Anthony had no right to disclose the complete formula to him.

When Li Mochen, wearing the 'Burying the Spirit Pendant', a suit of Light Magic No. 8 armor, holding the 'Sky Scepter', and with the 'Ring of Strength' on his finger, stepped out of the magic tower, he found 'Enemy of Death' Thomson Beowulf already waiting there.

As soon as Li Mochen appeared, the man fixed his gaze on him.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Mr. Wiltonshire? Just the two of us storming St. Desi? I have to say, that's a very courageous idea. That's the blood capital of the Ventrue clan in the New World."

"Of course, I'm sure. I wouldn't have paid a five hundred million deposit for an uncertain idea, would I?"

Li Mochen asked calmly: "Or are you scared, Beowulf?"

"Scared? How could I be?"

Thomson Beowulf crossed his arms and laughed loudly: "They think my blood stinks, and they can't kill me. I'm not afraid of those guys."

"If I were them, I'd catch you and seal you in a coffin for a few hundred years."

Li Mochen's words made Thomson Beowulf's face stiffen noticeably. But Li Mochen pretended not to see and reached out to summon his bonded pet, the little dragon vein.

"That's a good way to deal with you, isn't it? So, Mr. Beowulf, if you decide to give up this mission, I can understand, as long as you return the deposit."

"Why? With a total commission of two billion shields including the deposit, why would I give up? Such a lucrative job is rare even in a few years."

Thomson Beowulf glanced at the scepter in Li Mochen's hand and regained some confidence: "If things go wrong, you'll use it to get us out, right?"

"That depends. As the employer, you're supposed to ensure my safety, not the other way around."

"OK, I just need you to apply the 'Void' divine authority of the 'Sky Scepter' to me. But Mr. Wiltonshire, I heard your people are at war with the National Progress Association, attacking from three directions simultaneously. Acting now, aren't you afraid you can't handle it?"

"Your information is outdated, Mr. Beowulf. Those three battles are over. They didn't have the confidence to fight me decisively, did they?"

Li Mochen thought this guy was indeed as talkative as the rumors said.

At that moment, his mind moved, and he guided the 'Dragon Vein' beneath him to break through the space barrier and slide into the Astral Plane.

Thomson Beowulf shamelessly stepped onto the dragon vein's back, which annoyed the little pyre dragon. After several twists failed to shake him off, it had to let him be.

It mainly worried that too much twisting would discomfort its master.

But Li Mochen knew that no matter how hard the little dragon vein tried, it couldn't shake off Thomson Beowulf. This guy's vitality, life divine authority, and swordsmanship were exceptionally strong, and he also had decent void abilities as a part-time 'Void Sorcerer'.

He couldn't compare to 'Void Night King' Delfinia or the 'Star Agent' who died at his hands, but he still surpassed most demigods, with outstanding teleportation abilities that even exceeded the little dragon vein in this regard. Only when working together could they rival the 'Void Night King' in void abilities.

About forty minutes later, they opened the space barrier again and entered the material plane.

The Ventrue clan's blood capital 'St. Desi' was located in Washington State on the West Coast of America, 17,000 kilometers from Atlanta.

If they used the 'Destiny' magic tower to travel, it would take at least one to two days. But just the two of them and the dragon, with the dragon vein's current abilities, forty minutes was enough.

This was with Li Mochen deliberately restraining the little dragon vein from going all out. If not considering mana consumption, fifteen minutes would suffice.

By this time, Li Mochen was nearly driven mad by Thomson Beowulf. The guy had been chattering incessantly in his ear during the journey, and even when Li Mochen blocked his hearing, it didn't help. Thomson Beowulf knew soul communication, using his divine thoughts to bombard Li Mochen with various ideas, which was even more headache-inducing than before he blocked his hearing.

When they communicated with sound, Thomson Beowulf at least spoke sentence by sentence, but after switching to soul communication, he could bombard Li Mochen with hundreds of different thoughts simultaneously, making his scalp tingle.

Li Mochen couldn't completely shut off his six senses, as that would be very dangerous in the Astral Plane and leave him vulnerable to attack by powerful beings.

"So this is St. Desi?"

After entering the material plane, the two stood at an altitude of 20,000 meters, looking southward.

On the surface, St. Desi was just an ordinary small town with a population of about 20,000, peaceful, tranquil, and leisurely, no different from most American towns.

However, this was the original stronghold of the Ventrue clan of the Camarilla in America. Nearly 70% of the upper-level vampires of the Camarilla Ventrue gathered here. They adhered to the six traditions of the Camarilla—Masquerade, Domain, Progeny, Accounting, Respect, and Destruction—coexisting with some humans in this small town, hiding within American society to this day.

"See?"

Thomson Beo pointed downward: "Beneath those hills are all the tombs of vampires. This town looks ordinary, but the magical energy arrays around it are at a mythical level. I heard that in the early years, the CIA planned to capture a member of the Ventrue clan who had committed murder, but they were blocked outside this town and couldn't get in. It wasn't until these bloodsuckers, considering social repercussions, voluntarily handed that guy over. And now, we're about to kick a steel plate."

Just then, his expression turned serious: "Look! Those old fellows have sensed it; they are awakening."