Chapter 152 Sincere Goodwill

“Taman…is willing to surrender.”

The elderly Taman cooperated perfectly with Qin Mo's show of bravado, leaving the surrounding wizards and native warriors looking at each other in bewilderment. Although Taman had always opposed fierce confrontations with the Dayuan people, he had never shown any willingness to submit. His current submissive behavior caught them completely off guard.

"Well, I am not an unreasonable person, but since you have surrendered to me, you must abide by my rules. Blood sacrifices and such evil things are not allowed in my territory. Do you understand?"

“Your Highness, blood sacrifice is a branch of the sorcerer’s tradition, and not everyone needs it. I practice ancient methods and do not need blood sacrifice.”

"Oh? Then what's the deal with the altar in your lair?"

"...It was done by my apprentice. He has never been favored by the gods and could not learn divine arts, so he had no choice but to use the blood sacrifice technique."

Listening to old Taman's narration, Qin Mo learned about the origin of the altar and also discerned Taman's attitude towards the Turao people. Although Taman did not use blood sacrifices for cultivation, he also showed little care for the Turao people, and was unlikely to become a figure like Gandhi or Delaware.

“Tell them that those who do not wish to continue following you may leave. I do not need too many wizards; I do not keep idle people.”

Qin Mo waved for Taman to say goodbye to the others, but made a subtle gesture to Aya. The latter nodded in understanding, and the several elven archers hidden around them naturally followed.

Soon, Taman selected ten young followers, two of whom were dressed as wizards. The rest disappeared into the dense forest to find their own way out.

"That person, stay." Qin Mo pointed at Chagu Dao, who was also about to leave. Aya shot an arrow straight through his thigh, making Taman and the others shudder. How could such a beautiful woman be so ruthless?

"A country has its laws, and a family has its rules. Traitors must be severely punished! Taman! I am very interested in your black magic. Now, demonstrate it for me!"

Qin Mo pointed to Chagu, who was lying on the ground clutching his thigh and groaning softly, signaling to the wizard Taman to begin his performance.

Taman looked at Chagu on the ground, sighed, and stepped forward. Regardless of Chagu's intentions, he had served him for many years, and Taman had originally intended to give him a way out, but unfortunately, he still couldn't escape.

Taman took some of Chagu's blood, then retrieved a set of tools from his luggage, terrifying Chagu. He frantically jumped up, trying to escape into the jungle, but Aya pinned him to the ground again. He could only look at Taman in despair, his eyes filled with pleading.

After Taman sighed, he showed no further expression and focused on tinkering with his bottles and jars. As a low, obscure incantation rang out, Qin Mo actually felt a slight fluctuation in the surrounding earth elemental energy.

Taman's incantation strangely resonated with the blood of Chagu and the earth's elemental energy. As Taman's incantation grew deeper, the resonance intensified. Qin Mo focused intently on sensing this strange fluctuation of energy, intending to determine the nature of this black magic.

Chagu's blood no longer resonated with the earth's elemental energy, but the energy instead sought out Chagu on the mountain. Qin Mo clearly felt a wisp of extremely volatile earth's elemental energy being introduced into Chagu's body.

Cha Gu began to scream in pain. Qin Mo knew all too well what it felt like for Yuan Qi to enter the body. If there was no cultivation method to purify the Yuan Qi and remove most of the impurities from the body, even a cultivator with abnormal physical strength would not be able to withstand the erosion of the violent Yuan Qi. Moreover, this Yuan Qi was not the one that the cultivator had found and matched with himself using his cultivation method.

Blood began to flow from Chagu's mouth and nose, and fine beads of blood seeped from his skin. The arrow in his thigh firmly pinned him to the ground, causing his body to pulsate in a strange position.

The wizards and believers around them all lowered their heads, not daring to look at Chagu, let alone Qin Mo and the others. They hadn't stopped Chagu when he had defied them, and no one knew if they would be held accountable now.

Chagu finally fell silent. His skin was torn, and his mouth and nose were crooked, making him unrecognizable from his former self. The gruesome effects of the curse sent chills down the spines of the sorcerers and their confidants, but Qin Mo fell into deep thought.

The mysterious methods of Earth Realm cultivators using Yuan Qi to attack their opponents are not comparable in power to the sorcery of wizards, but both are simply forcing the violent Yuan Qi that is unsuitable for the human body into the opponent's body. If one's Nirvana Flame is strong enough and powerful enough... then one will no longer be afraid of these methods.

Qin Mo led Taman and the others back to the seaside, leaving the others in Liu Renguang's care, but taking Taman alone aboard the Kai. The old wizard was once again awestruck by the sight of the massive war machine up close.

"With such a powerful weapon in Your Highness's possession, the pacification of Southeast Asia is just around the corner!"

“Taman! I have never thought of conquering Southeast Asia. I am here to do business. In order to enable the people of Southeast Asia to live a good life, I have brought the most sincere goodwill.”

“His Highness is kind and benevolent, which is truly admirable. Taman is willing to follow His Highness for life and contribute to the prosperity of Southeast Asia.”

"Hahaha! Not bad... Haha!"

Taman's mindset shifted very quickly; he soon assumed the role of a lackey. More importantly, he understood the culture and etiquette of Great Xia, making Qin Mo feel comfortable and at ease.

“Taman! There are still large uncivilized areas south of Luzon Island, where the natives are mostly ignorant and foolish. I wish to enlighten the people and educate them. I wonder what good ideas you have?”

"Taman is willing to be the vanguard, following the army alone to share the prince's burdens!" Taman was straightforward and unreserved, directly expressing his willingness to be a traitor.

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