Chapter 326: Chapter 299: I Like This Name

The Dark Nether Realm has no day or night, but the fluorescent moss deep in the vaulted ceiling brightens and dims over time, mimicking the day-night cycle of the surface world.

It was now the deepest part of the "night."

The fluorescence was as dim as dying embers, casting only a faint, shallow green glow upon the ground.

Deep within the Red Soul Cave, a cluster of Blood Soul Crystals emitted a strange, scarlet light, dyeing the entire space a dark red.

The cluster’s "petals" were layered one over another, their edges as sharp as knives. With each pulse, a visible ripple of pale red light spread out from the base of the cluster, like a heartbeat.

This was the neutral territory of the Red Blood Fertile Soil.

Normally, the thirteen city-states would send people here every month to collect Blood Soul Crystals according to their agreed-upon quotas.

The various factions had set up temporary camps around the cave’s perimeter, maintaining a tacit distance and keeping to themselves.

Today, however, the atmosphere at the cave entrance was completely different from usual.

Large numbers of troops moved in and out of the various temporary camps, clearly sharpening their blades in preparation for war.

But everyone was tacitly exercising restraint; not a single army rashly left its camp to approach the cave.

It was as if an invisible line lay between the camps and the cave, a line that no one dared to cross.

At the cave entrance, a rough stone table had been temporarily placed on a flat rock platform.

Thirteen stone chairs were arranged around the table. Their backs were of varying heights and their materials differed—some were covered in animal hides, some inlaid with bone fragments, and others were covered in carved runes.

At this moment, all the stone chairs were occupied.

Thirteen lords sat around the stone table, the atmosphere as heavy as lead.

Seated at the head of the table was a Dark Elf.

Her features were so exquisite they were almost sharp. She had high cheekbones, a strong jawline, and thin lips pressed into a straight line.

Her long, silver-white hair was meticulously tied back, revealing long, pointed ears. A row of tiny silver rings ran along the cartilage from her earlobe to the tip, glinting with a cold, faint light.

Her skin was a deep gray, like weathered granite, yet it was smooth without a single wrinkle.

Only a few extremely fine lines at the corners of her eyes silently bespoke the passage of time.

Marais Vion.

First Queen of Vion City, the most powerful being in the Red Blood Fertile Soil.

She leaned back in her chair, her right elbow on the armrest and fingertips pressed to her temple. Her eyes were slightly closed, as if she were resting.

Her composed posture was utterly at odds with the stagnant atmosphere around her.

"Marais, why did you call us all here?"

Gulag, the Gleystone-man lord seated to her right, was the first to break the silence, his voice booming.

His coarse, rock-like face was set, and his murky eyes stared directly at the Dark Elf Queen, filled with obvious impatience.

Marais opened her eyes and shot him a scornful glance.

"Stop playing dumb, Gulag. I don’t believe you haven’t noticed the movements of our new neighbor."

At her words, the eyes of all twelve lords, including the Gleystone-man lord, flickered.

Of course, they knew.

The faction called "Nine Nether City" had been expanding at an alarming rate in recent years, constantly sending out people to occupy vast swathes of land.

The key was that they had also carried out outrageous transformations on that land.

They had bathed the land in light, making it resemble the surface world, completely devoid of the gloom and oppression of the Dark Nether Realm.

The sheer scale of the operation and the wealth it implied left the subterranean races, accustomed to the barrenness of the Dark Nether Realm, utterly dumbfounded.

But at the same time, worry was spreading in their hearts.

That faction was getting closer and closer to the Red Blood Fertile Soil. Sooner or later, it would reach their territory.

Marais’s gaze slowly swept over everyone present. "I have called this meeting to discuss how to deal with our new neighbor."

As soon as she finished speaking, the Mushroom-man lord spoke up. "Marais, they haven’t invaded our territory. Is it really necessary to take action?"

Marais shot the Mushroom-man lord a disdainful look and scoffed coldly.

"Naive."

"Their sphere of influence is constantly creeping toward the Red Blood Fertile Soil. They’ve sent out numerous spies in secret to gather intelligence on us. It’s obvious they’re targeting us. Are you planning to be an ostrich and wait until a blade is at your throat to feel regret?"

She paused, her voice suddenly turning cold.

"This is the Dark Nether Realm. This is our home. Those damned surface dwellers dare to come here and compete with us for land. You may be able to tolerate it, but I certainly can’t."

The cap on the Mushroom-man lord’s head contracted slightly, but he didn’t speak again.

Among the city-states present, his Mushroom-man city-state was the weakest.

He didn’t want to get into any unnecessary conflicts with this Dark Elf Queen, who was famous for her ruthlessness.

Besides... deep down, he couldn’t deny having the same concerns.

Instead, the Di Luo Dwarves lord sitting beside him sneered.

"Marais, don’t make it sound so noble."

"Everyone knows you Dark Elves and the surface Elves are mortal enemies. It’s obvious you want to deal with Nine Nether City and are just using us as your weapon."

Marais’s expression didn’t change at his words.

"I don’t deny that I want to wipe out those surface Elves. But how am I using you as a weapon?"

"If they truly intend to invade the Red Blood Fertile Soil, do you think they’ll live peacefully with you after they’ve destroyed Vion City?"

"Those surface Elves aren’t just the enemies of Vion City."

The Di Luo Dwarves lord froze. The fierce light in his one eye flickered a few times before he finally snorted and turned his head away.

Silence fell around the stone table for a moment.

This time, it was the Kuo-toa Fishman lord who spoke.

"Marais, what’s your plan?"

Marais narrowed her eyes, a cold glint flashing in their depths.

"Nine Nether City is clearly preparing for war. Once they’re ready and launch an attack, we’ll be on the defensive."

"What we need to do is strike first, seize the initiative, and at the same time, move the battlefield outside the Red Blood Fertile Soil. We can use the complex terrain to wage guerrilla warfare against them."

"Those surface Elves... why have they invested so much manpower and resources into terraforming?"

"Isn’t it because they can’t adapt to the environment here?"

"If that’s the case, then of course we must make good use of this advantage."

"We will make those surface Elves experience the true terror of the Dark Nether Realm and understand that this is no place for them."

The lords looked at each other in dismay.

The Di Luo Dwarves lord frowned. "How will the spoils of war be divided?"

Marais said lightly, "It will be distributed based on the proportion of casualties each city-state suffers in this war. The city-states with the heaviest losses will receive a larger share of the spoils."

All the lords present were startled, turning to look at Marais with uncertain and suspicious eyes.

’When did the Dark Elves become so accommodating?’

According to their original expectations, the Dark Elves would surely make an exorbitant demand, asking for a fifty or sixty percent share.

After a round of haggling, it would be pushed down to forty percent.

Just like the distribution ratio for the Blood Soul Crystals from the Red Blood Cave.

Who would have thought Marais would propose such a ’fair’ method of distribution?

For the Dark Elves, who had a smaller population, this method was not particularly advantageous.

Facing everyone’s suspicious gazes, Marais’s expression remained unchanged. She said calmly, "I have one condition. All Elves captured in this war must be handed over to Vion City for disposal."

Hearing this, the lords all showed expressions that said, ’I knew it.’

’Knew those damned dark-skins wouldn’t be so kind.’

’It seems their hatred for their surface kin runs deep. To think they’re willing to give up profits for the sake of revenge.’

The lords exchanged glances, each weighing the pros and cons with their own schemes in mind.

Some spoke in low voices, while others pondered in silence.

In the end, it was the Gleystone-man lord, Gulag, who was the first to nod.

"Fine. I agree."

With the Gleystone-man taking the lead, the other lords also voiced their agreement.

The few who remained silent—like the Di Luo Dwarves lord—merely snorted but did not speak out against it.

Though they disliked the Dark Elves, they couldn’t deny that Marais had a point.

It was better to strike first than to sit and wait for death.

Besides, the terms of this alliance were indeed much better than they had expected.

Marais took in everyone’s reactions, the corners of her lips curling up slightly.

"Then it’s settled. The alliance is formed."

"This war concerns the very survival of the Red Blood Fertile Soil. I hope no one tries to play tricks behind our backs and drag the alliance down. Otherwise, I will be the first to come for them!"

Hearing this, the lords said nothing, but inwardly they all sneered.

’What gives you Dark Elves the nerve to say something like that?’

’Doesn’t everyone know that backstabbing and infighting are what you do best?’

The impromptu meeting ended, and the lords departed one by one.

The armies in the distant camps also withdrew for the most part.

In the blink of an eye, the cave entrance became much quieter.

Marais sat alone on her stone chair, watching as the last lord’s figure disappeared into the depths of the tunnel.

She twitched her lips slightly, revealing a cold smile.

’A bunch of fools!’

’So what if I made a big concession on the spoils of war?’

’Do you really think you’ll get your hands on any of it in the end?’

’You’re nothing but a group of idiots being used.’

Silently, a dark shadow appeared behind Marais.

It had no physical form, like a solidified shadow rising slowly from the darkness on the ground. Its outline was blurry, with only two dark red points of light flickering faintly where its eyes should be.

Marais narrowed her eyes but didn’t turn around.

"The plan is proceeding smoothly," the shadow said in a hoarse, deep voice.

Marais said lightly, "As expected. They never had a choice to begin with. In this situation, you just need to add a little sweetener, and their reaction becomes predictable."

A hint of a smile entered the shadow’s tone. "It seems cooperating with you was a wise choice."

Marais stood up, glanced at the shadow, and said indifferently, "I hope you will keep your promise."

"Rest assured. Even if you don’t trust us, you should trust the power of the Nether Soul Oath."

The shadow chuckled lowly.

"As long as Vion City helps us collect enough death qi, we will certainly help you take both the Red Blood Fertile Soil and Nine Nether City."

"By then, Vion City will be the sole hegemon of this region."

A bright gleam flashed in Marais’s eyes, and a seductive, enchanting smile finally appeared on her face.

"Hegemon... I like the sound of that."

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