Can't move!
Unable to think! It was as if everything around him had fallen into some kind of incredible stagnation! Bernard finally understood why the guard at the door did not stop the intruder, but stood there like a statue.
It’s not that they don’t want to, but they really can’t move at all.
In particular, the air in the surrounding environment seemed to suddenly become extremely heavy and dense, just like water with gel added.
The brain had clearly given orders to the legs, but they were firmly restrained by the huge invisible resistance.
The only thing to be thankful for is that the breathing that sustains life is still normal, otherwise the person would suffocate to death within a few minutes.
Just as Bernard was gradually losing his awareness of everything around him, an even more powerful force suddenly descended from the sky, dispersing the invisible resistance that had originally enveloped his body, causing him to fall to his knees on the ground with a plop, gasping for breath. His expensive suit was soaked with sweat in less than ten seconds.
fear!
The intense fear that could not be described in words! For the first time, he intuitively experienced what gods and demons meant to mortals.
Although Bernard was not clear about the identity of the Princess of Hell, he understood that she had not been targeting anyone from the beginning to the end. She had only released a little insignificant energy and power to suppress the guards who might prevent her from entering the room.
"You should go out to the party first. I have something more private to say to this lady. Remember, you didn't see or hear anything just now."
Zuo Si directly issued an expulsion order to the merchants.
After all, no matter how much Gracia is despised by the lords of other levels of hell, she is still a unique form of the great devil and the only offspring of Asmodeus.
You should know that many mortals who go to the sixth level and are charmed and controlled by it, or simply want to prolong their lives and have to have relationships with it, will often have their vitality drained away within a few seconds and turn into a dried corpse.
Therefore, even if she comes in the form of a possessed body, it is enough to cause unimaginable mental and physical impact on mortals.
Not to mention that Bernard has no professional level at all, and his physical and spiritual strength is at best only slightly stronger than that of ordinary people.
If one is exposed to the gaze of the Princess of Hell for a long time, one will either involuntarily become her loyal slave, or gradually transform into a half-human, half-devil form in purgatory.
"Understood! Thank you for your protection."
Bernard didn't even dare to wipe the sweat off his face. After giving Zuo Si a look full of gratitude, he turned around and rushed into the corridor outside without saying a word. The fat all over his body was shaking uncontrollably.
As soon as the businessman walked away, the door was quickly slammed shut by the guards who were under the control of the charm.
Zuo Si calmly poured a drink for the uninvited guest, then stared at the other's charming eyes and asked with interest: "Excuse me, honorable queen of lust, what do you want to do by coming all the way from Baator to the material plane to see me? It can't be just for the letter of authorization, right?"
Gracia raised a finger and gently placed it in front of her small nose and shook it: “No, no, no, dear Soth, it’s not just a piece of authorization.
Instead, my father placed a huge threat over my head out of thin air that could usurp power at any time.
Think about it, if it were you or any other lord, would you accept such a result? The answer is obviously no.
For the devil, nothing is more hateful and disgusting than a superior suddenly appearing out of nowhere.
So I have every reason to talk to you about this in private.
What's more, this is just one of the many reasons why I came to see you.
In addition, I am particularly interested in the little moves you made on the fourth level.
Especially the pleasure demon named Glamir, what is her relationship with Firna? Why did the originally calm situation suddenly become tense as soon as this guy arrived at the fourth level?
Even the cunning and sly Bilel began to lose his temper because of this?"
“Hahahaha! I have to admit, your simplicity and directness makes me feel very uncomfortable.
If only all the big devils in hell could be like you.
That way I don't have to spend a lot of time and effort making various gestures to hint so that all the lords and their staff can clearly understand what I want to express. "
Zuo Si couldn't help laughing.
He now finally understood why Asmodeus wanted to leave his daughter to him to teach for a period of time.
Compared with several other hell lords who have been struggling in conspiracies and intrigues for hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of years, Gracia is really a little silly and cute.
In particular, this lack of patience, which may have been inherited from the nature of the succubus, always likes to solve problems in a simple and rough way, resulting in almost all of Gracia's plans not having very good confidentiality measures.
It is obviously a conspiracy that needs to be hidden, but it will soon become known to everyone.
For example, her actions against several other level lords were actually well known to the other side, and they even knew who the spies planted in their court were.
The reason why they chose to remain silent and not take action was not because they were afraid of the reckless rookie in the political power circle of hell, but Asmodeus, the man behind her who was in charge of everything.
But this silence and tolerance cannot last forever.
If Gracia doesn't learn to be a qualified player before the opponent explodes, she will be kicked out mercilessly.
Either he would follow in his mother's footsteps and become a tragic political victim, or he would be severely punished and lose his position as lord.
Anyway, in hell, fools and weaklings are not worthy of climbing to high positions and gaining power and status.
Their failures will only become negative examples in textbooks, serving as a warning to other devils.
"What do you mean? Are you making fun of me?"
Gracia frowned subconsciously, and her expression became obviously ugly.
This was undoubtedly her second immature flaw.
That is to show one's joy, anger, sorrow and happiness, and seriously lack the forbearance and insidiousness of smiling but hiding a dagger.
This aspect was fully demonstrated when she was still the lover of Viscount Mamman, a third-level lord.
Whether it is openly rebelling against Asmodeus, the lord of hell, or criticizing the existing system and power system.
To be honest, if Gracia didn't have the identity of the Princess of Hell, if she were any other devil, she would have died countless times.
Looking back at the long history of Baator, no one who disobeyed Asmodeus could survive.
Basically, they were either dealt with quickly or inexplicably appeared on the list of casualties in the bloody battle.
As an extremely lawful evil plane, you want to launch a bottom-up coup in Hell? Don't make trouble! Such behavior itself is a challenge to the existing order, and will also cause rejection from the entire Hell plane.
Therefore, it is extremely difficult for a low-level devil to usurp the position of his superior.
If you want to succeed, you will need the support or acquiescence of a higher-level devil without exception.
This is just like the feud between Bayer and Zariel, which seems to be two devil dukes competing for the position of the first-level lord.
But in fact, it is the big boss behind the scenes, Asmodeus, who chooses the most suitable leadership talents according to the needs of the situation.
Zuo Si was undoubtedly one of the few people who really understood the rules of hell. He responded with a smile: "No, this is not a mockery, but a compliment.
Because there is a sincerity in you that other demons seriously lack.
This is a very precious and rare quality.
If possible, I hope you can keep it up.
Compared to those lords who always like to beat around the bush, I prefer you the way you are now.
As for the relationship between Gramiel and Ms. Felna, didn't you find out from the latter? If I remember correctly, you and Ms. Felna should be very close allies, right? "
moment!
Gracia's face became extremely gloomy. She raised her head and stared at Zuo Si's deep black eyes. She wanted to explode several times, but when the time came, she forced herself to endure it.
Because she knew that in her current possessed state, it was impossible for her to defeat the other party.
What's more, Zuo Si, the crown prince of hell, has never been alone, but has several subordinate lords whose strength is not inferior to that of the real lords.
Among them, the succubus queen Mecanthust and the former first-level lord, the Angel of Khorne Zariel, are not easy characters to deal with.
After several minutes of silence, Gracia suppressed her anger and said, "Do you have any misunderstandings about the alliance between lords? In hell, the so-called allies are just using each other to maximize their own benefits.
If something involves core secrets, no matter how close the relationship is, no one will reveal a word.
Unless I provide concrete support when a conflict breaks out between Fierna and Bilel, she won't give me an answer easily.
But if I did so, it would be equivalent to interfering in other levels of internal affairs and risking severe punishment, which would violate at least three hundred laws. "
"But how do you explain that Ms. Fierna was willing to tell me this secret?"
Zuo Si asked back with a smile.
This sentence was like a sharp sword, instantly piercing through Gracia's last fig leaf, causing her to growl in anger and shame: "Enough! I came to the material world to talk to you, not to be humiliated!"
“Don’t get me wrong, this is not a humiliation.
I just want you to understand a most basic truth, which is also what Asmodeus wants to convey to you through my mouth.
In the game of politics, strength is the root of everything.
When you are strong enough, you don’t need to spend too much time and energy to find out those unknown secrets.
Because there will be countless people who will bring their secrets to your door in order to please you and borrow your power.
But if, on the other hand, you are not strong enough, even if you build an intelligence system that covers the entire hell, how can you ensure that those spies and agents will not be bribed and used by the enemy? In fact, ever since Asmodeus helped you to the throne of the lord of the sixth layer, you have been a thorn in the eyes of other lords.
After all, the devil hates people who have no achievements or experience to sit in high positions out of thin air.
This will cause them to uncontrollably develop a series of negative emotions such as envy, jealousy, resentment, etc. in their hearts, and they will have the urge to bring you down.
But you did not choose to keep a low profile and accumulate strength in advance, but instead kept expanding your influence by violating the unspoken political rules, frantically provoking and testing the bottom line of other lords.
So all these factors combined together are the motivation behind Asmodeus signing that authorization document.
He doesn't want to reduce your power, but he is using me as an insurance.
Once other lords start to make trouble, I can just take out this authorization and pretend to imprison you, then others will lose their legitimate reason to take action.
When the storm is over, you can regain your previous identity and status and become the lord in charge of the sixth level again."
Zuo Si directly told all the arrangements made by the Lord of Hell.
Because in order to properly handle this matter, we first need to establish at least a trusting relationship with the Princess of Hell.
Otherwise, he would rather treat the authorization letter as waste paper than get involved in such trouble.
Gracia squinted her eyes and savored the words carefully, trying to analyze what was true and what might be lies to deceive herself.
After about ten minutes, she finally raised her cup and drank the drink. She cautiously asked, "How do I know that after you use that authorization to imprison me, you will take this opportunity to usurp the ruling power of the sixth floor, or even turn me into a puppet and plaything under your control?"
Zuo Si replied meaningfully: "It's very simple! We can sign a legally binding contract.
You may not believe it, but I actually don't have much interest in continuing to expand my influence in Hell.
So there is absolutely no need for you to regard me as an enemy.
Just the opposite!
I think we could be good allies.
They even joined forces to interfere in the power struggle taking place on the fourth level, supporting Ms. Filna to defeat her father and become a true lord.
By then, the Ninth, Fourth, and Sixth Planes will form a close alliance and become a powerful force that cannot be ignored in the complex political game of Hell."
There is no doubt that Gracia was very excited by this proposal.
After all, she has been causing troubles everywhere since she came to power, and one of her main goals is to kill the lord of the fifth floor, the Ice Prince - Levistus.
It was this guy who killed Asmodeus' wife, the previous Queen of Satyrs, during the Great Purge.
As punishment, he is now imprisoned in a giant block of ice and can only maintain his rule through proxies.
But soon, the Hell Princess realized that there was a huge loophole in this proposal, that is, how to help Firna defeat Grand Duke Bilaier. She raised her head and asked, "Did you plan it from the beginning to use the authorization letter to control me and then use me to intervene in the power struggle on the fourth level?"
“Smart! Ever since I got the authorization letter, I have been waiting for your visit and have prepared more than one backup plan.
After all, in this cooperation, you can not only gain a close ally, but also escape punishment for violating laws and rules by exploiting loopholes afterwards.
The most important thing is that through this event all the lords will realize that you are not alone and helpless, thus getting rid of the previous bad situation of being surrounded by enemies.
As for the price paid for being controlled by others, it is nothing at all, right?
At least I won't want to pull you down from your position as Lord of the Sixth Level."
After saying that, Zuo Si took out the legal document granted to him by the Lord of Hell and gently shook it in front of the other party.
Seeing the clear terms and her father's signature, Gracia's expression suddenly became very gloomy.
But soon, she put on a charming smile, stretched out her right hand to touch Zuo Si's cheek, ears and hair, and kept twisting her body like a snake and whispered in his ear: "You are right, dear Soth. But I think our relationship should not be just that of allies, but can be closer."
As the last word came out of her mouth, Gracia controlled the half-elf tiefling body to kick off the boots on her feet, and then her clothes, skirt, and shorts fell to the ground one by one.
After a while, she was naked.
But the experienced Zuo Si remained unmoved and reminded: "I suggest you not to continue, otherwise a certain goddess will be unhappy."
"Goddess? Who is it? Tell me about it."
Gracia obviously did not take the warning seriously, but instead pressed her whole body forward and bit open the buttons one by one with her bloody red lips and white teeth.
After all, gods are not rare in hell, and there are many kingdoms of gods in almost every level.
Especially the second level - Dis, there is an entire street where all the gods live.
There are literally as many gods as there are dogs.
And they are all very weak gods.
Therefore, the top demons generally have no fear of God, and only regard it as an intelligent creature and potential partner that is as powerful as themselves.
But just as Gracia leaned over and was about to bite his waist, a terrifying and powerful divine power gushed out from Zuo Si's body.
The next second...
She felt that her consciousness was being squeezed out of this world by divine power. Her face was filled with horror, and she asked loudly, "What...what on earth is going on?"
But before he could hear the answer, his consciousness returned to his body on the throne on the sixth floor.
Several bewitched mortals who were crawling in front of the throne had not yet realized the danger. When they saw the Queen of Devil react, they immediately rushed forward and wanted to lick her toes.
As a result, as soon as he got close, he was whipped all over the head and beaten into a pulp.
Not to mention a few mortals, even the snake, scorpion and lust demon servants nearby might not be able to dodge the violent attack.
Needless to say, they all became victims of Gracia's venting of her inner dissatisfaction and anger.
Because unlike succubi, lust demons have no patience at all.
Especially when using beauty to seduce a target, a succubus is usually very patient, wearing down the target's vigilance and alertness little by little, eventually making the target crazy and obsessed with her.
But the lust demon does the exact opposite.
As long as seduction fails once, they are very likely to choose to force themselves on the other person.
Therefore, when mortals resist the temptation of lust demons, they are often much more dangerous than when they resist succubus.
Of course, Zuo Si had obviously anticipated Gracia's expulsion. After the other party's aura completely disappeared, he couldn't help but laugh and teased: "Look, what did I just say? You don't understand how closely Talona is staring at me.
Anyway, I have said everything I need to say.
The rest depends on your choice..."
话音未落，之前受到格莱西雅控制的半精灵提夫林终于从浑浑噩噩的状态中恢复意识。
她先是茫然的巡视了一下四周，当发现自己衣服全部脱光、正一丝不挂暴露在陌生男性面前时，立刻吓得蹲下来蜷缩成一团，用无比紧张的声音质问：“你……你是谁？对我做了什么？这是哪？”
“冷静点，小姐。开动你的脑子好好回忆一下，你在失去意识之前都发生了什么，然后就会明白自己出现在这里并不是我的原因。”
左思弯下腰捡起地上那些衣物、裙子和靴子丢了过去。
半精灵提夫林来不及多想、也顾不得在陌生人面前更衣的害羞，以极快速度重新穿戴整齐。
透过挂在房间里的镜子，她清晰的看到了自己身上穿的并不是平日里的便装和皮甲，而是一件漂亮的低胸露背礼服。
脚上不仅穿着昂贵的丝袜，同时靴子也明显经过时尚镂空设计，不仅有很高的后跟，同时还镶嵌了珍珠作为点缀。
通过搜索混乱的记忆，女孩很快回想起自己被那群邪教徒俘虏、献祭的事情，同样也明白是某个强大而又邪恶的意识控制身体走进了这个完全陌生的地方。
至于衣服，明显也是对方脱掉的。
不然如果是被强暴，那么极其容易损坏的丝绸裙子和上衣绝对不可能保持完好。
想到这，她不由自主的打了个哆嗦，感觉就像做了一个又长又恐怖的噩梦，紧紧的抓住手臂抱着自己，抬起头用略带生怯的声音问：“是您赶走了那个可怕的恶魔救了我吗？”
“不，是塔洛娜女神赶走了对方救了你。顺便纠正一下，占据你身体的并不是恶魔，而是魔鬼。”
左思随手冲了一杯热可可递了过去，示意这个被吓坏的小家伙喝下去。
“谢谢……”
在意识到眼前的青年没有什么恶意，半精灵提夫林这才双手接过杯子，小口小口的喝了起来。
伴随着可可碱与咖啡因的摄入，那种宛如噩梦一样的感觉终于逐渐消退，瑟瑟发抖的身体开始变得越来越暖和。
等全部喝光之后，她这才鼓起勇气追问道：“您知道那些疯子为什么抓我，又对我做了什么吗？”
“他们抓你，是因为你的炼狱血统非常方便让魔鬼附身，仅此而已。”左思漫不经心的回答道。
“炼狱？魔鬼？所以我并不是恶魔的后代，而是魔鬼的后代？”
半精灵提夫林长大嘴巴里露出难以置信的震惊表情。
因为在此之前，不管是她自己还是收养她的人，都以为尾巴、犄角这些特征是源自于恶魔的血统。
不过这也难怪。
毕竟不管是恶魔混血还是魔鬼混血，之所以都叫提夫林，主要就是大部分凡人根本分辨不出其中的区别。
左思笑着点了下头：“是的。而且如果我没猜错的话，你要么是巴托地狱第六层领主格莱西雅在凡间留下的子嗣后代，要么是先祖中有人与她签订过契约。否则一般的炼狱血统很难承受那么庞大的意志与力量。”
“那……您打算怎么处置我？”
半精灵提夫林一脸紧张的问出了最关心的问题。
在她看来，自己被控制擅自闯入这样的地方，明显是来搞事情、找麻烦的，生怕受到牵连跟迁怒。
毕竟女孩早就已经不止一次有过被当做出气筒、背黑锅的经历。
作为社会最底层受到排挤、压迫的群体，提夫林在大多数城市里都被视作犯罪、灾祸和一无是处的垃圾。
很多城镇抓住提夫林之后，甚至会像对待黑暗精灵一样，不经过任何审判、调查直接扔进监狱关到死，亦或是干脆杀掉。
“你又没有犯错，我为什么要处置你？事实上，你现在随时可以离开，去做自己想做的事情。”
左思摆出一副十分大度的样子耸了耸肩膀。
“真的？那我可就走了？”
半精灵提夫林喜出望外，提起裙子缓缓开始后退。
能看得出，她明显接受过一定的盗贼训练，不管是步伐还是平衡感都非常的好。
丝毫没有因为脚上那双高跟靴子而导致动作变形。
左思没有说话，只是抬起手做了个请的动作，目送对方退到入口处推开紧闭的大门，紧跟着转身便消失在走廊的拐角处。
半精灵提夫林前脚刚跑掉，左思后脚就对隐藏在房间角落里待命的魔裔精灵刺客下达了命令。
“跟上她，搞清楚她的身世和家庭背景。”
“如您所愿，主人。”
菲德从阴影中走出来单手抚胸鞠了一躬，随后便化作一阵风消失在原地。
经过一段时间的锻炼跟培养，她现在已经是安姆地下世界令人闻风丧胆的杀手，而且还收拢了一批不想再继续参加公会战争的影贼。
俨然是一副要另立山头建立新组织的做派。
最开始的时候，雷诺尔·血头还想要通过威胁、恐吓跟打压的手段收服菲德，让其继续为公会卖命。
但很快便菲德就用鲜血和死亡让这位习惯了高高在上发号施令的“老大”明白，她已经不再是从前那个自己了。
一个星期之内，八名高层先后遭到刺杀，而且眼球都被极其残忍的挖了出来摆放在尸体旁边，只留下两个血淋淋的恐怖眼窝。
或许别人不明白这是什么意思，但雷诺尔·血头却瞬间明白，这是对方在骂自己有眼无珠。
为了防止这个可怕的魔裔精灵刺客加入到敌人的阵营，他最终也只能选择和解默认了对方的存在，并任由其不断地招兵买马壮大自身。
现如今的菲德，手下已经有大概四十人左右，无一例外都是原本影贼公会中的精锐，最低也有LV7的盗贼等级。
很显然，长期看不到胜利希望的血腥公会战争，导致双方内部都明显出现了强烈的厌战情绪。
毕竟公会战争可不是正大光明的两军对垒，而是暗杀、投毒、偷袭、破坏对方的生意和运输线。
由于根本不知道攻击会从何处而来，因此所有人都必须绷紧神经保持高度警惕。
这种状态或许维持几天还可以，但时间一长肯定会受不了。
直接体现就是中下层都非常容易出现叛变、被收买的情况。
在无法确认周围究竟谁是敌人、谁又是盟友的情况下，投靠保持中立的菲德自然就成了一个不错的选择。
对于阿斯卡特拉乃至整个安姆的公会战争，左思始终是抱着不断给双方放血的想法，要通过让他们自相残杀彻底把这群社会中的毒瘤连根拔起。
而且他画出了清晰的红线，谁敢越界就会立刻遭到降维打击，所以局势从始至终都处于可控范围。
格莱西雅的出现就像是一个小插曲，并没有对加冕典礼造成任何影响。
仅仅两天之后，左思就在无数使者和代表的注视下，戴上了那顶象征至高无上权力的皇冠，正式成为安姆帝国的皇帝。
同一天，夏恩七世以夏恩帝国皇帝的身份，当众宣布退位并把位置传给自己指定的继承人——阿依莎。
紧跟着两个接壤的帝国最高统治者宣布缔结婚约。
夏恩帝国和安姆帝国正式合并成为西海岸帝国。
虽然很多人对这件事情早就有所耳闻。
但当它真的发生时，还是如同一颗重磅炸弹，引发了一系列的连锁反应。
尤其是那巨大无比的体量，就连远在坠星海另外一边由红袍巫师统治的塞尔都感到了紧张。
不过好在合并之后，左思一丁点也没有想要向外扩张的意思，反倒是把重心转移至对内的改革跟建设。
伴随着大量基础建设和水利工程被启动，整个国家就如同一台正在不断加速的列车，迸发出前所未有的生机跟活力。
之前跟工匠之神教会合作开发的一些工具，这会儿全部都拿出来大规模投入使用。
其中就包括可以让船只不受风力限制的螺旋桨技术，动力自然是靠遍布在这颗星球上的魔网。
由于让螺旋桨转动并不需要太多的能量，因此只要做一个魔法装置即可。
所有船只只需要花不到一千五百金币的改装费，就能让自身速度大幅度提升。
如此一来，即便是与飞艇竞争也能不落下风。
除此之外，一种恒定漂浮术的超大型马车也开始投入使用，极大提高了乡村与城镇之间的运输效率。
这种马车大概有超过十二米长，一次可以运输几十吨货物和上百人，只需要两匹马就能轻松拉动，根本无需担心会因为下雨而陷入烂泥坑里爬不出来。
因为在漂浮术作用下，不管里边装了多少货物都没有什么重量，所以非常适合用来连接乡村和城镇。
城镇之间则会使用飞艇与船只进行大规模的运输。
唯一的缺点是，这种作用类似于卡车的大型马车每一辆都造价不菲，根本不是普通农夫能买得起的。
Therefore, it can only be centered on towns and cities, with the government being responsible for unified operation.
There is a saying that goes, if you want to be rich, build roads first.
Public transportation system is as vital to a country as blood vessels to the human body.
Under the powerful transportation capacity of this two-tier system that far exceeds that of other places in the entire continent of Faerun, both agricultural and pastoral production and the flow of goods are accelerating at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The most intuitive feeling of the civilians is that travel has become easier, various agricultural products can be easily sold, finding a job has become easier than before, and income and living standards have been significantly improved.
Most importantly, as subjects of what is probably the most powerful empire on the continent of Faerun, they feel very safe and no longer have to worry about the wars that might have broken out in the past, nor the threats from monsters in the wilderness.
Because they believed that according to Zuo Si's usual style of treating enemies, if there was anyone who was not afraid of death and dared to cause trouble, the emperor of the empire would lead his invincible army to wipe out the enemy without leaving a single one alive.
Compared with the backward feudal and parliamentary systems, the benefits of centralization and unification are undoubtedly easy to feel.
Although at the beginning, many people were worried about whether Zuo Si could really handle such a vast territory, population and completely different customs and habits in different places.
After all, no one in the continent of Faerun has ever established and ruled such a large country.
But Zuo Si proved with his actions that this was a piece of cake for him.
With a population of less than 20 million, it is a small country that cannot even make a splash among modern countries on Earth.
There were neither land conflicts nor class conflicts within the country, and all resources were abundant. Even national consciousness had not been awakened.
Perhaps the only things you need to pay attention to are religious conflicts and the threat from monsters in the wilderness.
Is it difficult to rule such a country? After being busy for a while and confirming that the bureaucratic system could operate on its own, Zuo Si quickly delegated power to the cabinet and accepted the invitation to go to Dragon Spear Castle to attend the opening ceremony of this underground city.
He was looking forward to seeing what kind of gift the dark maiden Eilistraee would give him as a token of gratitude.
As night fell, a ray of bright moonlight shone through the excavated skylight toward the main entrance of the temple.
Kui Lu, who had already taken off all her clothes, raised the silver sword in her hand high and began to dance with a very elegant and beautiful movement.
With her, there were about thirty high-ranking priests.
Some of them looked very young, and it was unclear whether they were malnourished or underage.
After all, the dark elves are much shorter than their surface compatriots.
Others are obviously over 600 years old, with many wrinkles on their faces and skin.
But no matter whether they were old or young, they were not wearing any clothes and they all held silver swords in their hands, which was quite like a group square dance.
Lirael Baenre, as a chosen one, is obviously one of them.
The rest of the believers who came to participate in the ceremony were basically wearing nothing or very little, and at a glance, the entire field of vision was blurred.
Needless to say, this environment and atmosphere made Zuo Si feel very embarrassed.
Because he was the only fully dressed person there, and he had no intention of taking it off.
It's nothing else, it's just that he can't be like other dark elf men and remain completely unresponsive when faced with so many curvy women.
To be honest, Zuo Si had no idea what kind of torture, abuse and humiliation these poor fellows had endured in order to be able to completely get rid of their physiological and instinctive desires and not have the slightest fantasy about the opposite sex.
On the contrary, as the dance and ceremony continued, many men held hands and even hugged each other.
Just when he was about to count how many pairs of good friends there were among the dark elves present, the dark girl Eilistraee finally arrived.
Just like the last time they met, she was still naked and began to dance in front of countless believers. The shining silver light was like a curtain that kept changing with the rhythm.
As the band of more than a hundred people played the goddess' favorite music with all their efforts, they tried their best to avoid any mistakes under the coordination of the conductor.
There is no doubt that for the followers of the Dark Girl, music and dance are the most sacred and inviolable parts of all religious ceremonies.
This process lasted for a full ten minutes, and Iristri finally ended it with a gorgeous farewell.
But her stopping didn't mean the celebration was over, it just began.
When the believers saw the goddess stop, they immediately began to dance in pairs around the ray of moonlight shining through the temple entrance.
There are normal male-female combinations, as well as many male-male or female-female combinations.
It is not difficult to tell from their intimacy during the dance that they are basically lovers.
Such a high proportion made Zuo Si start to worry whether the population of this underground city would experience negative growth in the future.
Just as he was keeping quiet and trying not to attract the attention of people around him, a playful smile suddenly appeared on Iristri's face. She walked towards him with dance steps, extended her right hand and made an invitation.
"How about dancing with me?"
"Uh - forget it. You know, I'm not used to this kind of occasion."
Zuo Si decisively chose to refuse.
On the one hand, he is really not good at or likes dancing, and on the other hand, he really can't accept dancing without clothes.
"What about fencing?"
Iristria raised her exclusive artifact, the Moon Sword.
"I can accompany you for a while."
Zuo Si slowly drew out the dog-killing sword he carried with him and performed a pleasing sword-holding salute according to the movements he learned from his cheap teacher, Solin.
Seeing this, Iristri's eyes lit up slightly: "I didn't expect you also learned swordsmanship?"
"I was forced to learn it by others, and I seldom practice it on weekdays. I hope you won't laugh at me later." Zuo Si said self-deprecatingly with a smile.
Then he took the lead in launching an attack at lightning speed.
After all, the other party is a master of the swordsmanship, and you can tell without even thinking about it that you will not be able to win.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Just as Zuo Si expected, his attack was easily parried, blocked, and dodged by Eilistraee.
Although there was a hint of surprise and joy in the latter's eyes, the gap between the two sides was visible to the naked eye.
After a while, under the guidance of the dark girl, the fencing gradually evolved into an alternative and graceful sword dance.
Zuo Si obviously noticed something and began to learn by following the other party's pace.
(End of this chapter)