The Kingdom of Figgis, in the eyes of outsiders, is a country built on forests.
But the royal family of the Kingdom of Figgis knew that this was a country built on alchemical minerals.
The royal family of this country controls a plant called the Crystal Tree. The fertile land of the kingdom allows the Crystal Tree to grow rapidly, and this kind of tree can condense a large number of magical crystals.
The types of crystals vary, but each one is an extremely precious alchemical material.
After the Kingdom of Figgis became a vassal state of the Far South Empire, a large portion of its crystals became tribute to the Far South Empire.
And today... this country will become one of the sacrifices for the Far South Empire to rule the world.
“This used to be a beautiful city.”
Helauren sat on a step and looked at the royal city of Figgis City...Gray Feather City.
He is the commander of the Far South Empire Expeditionary Knights and one of the strongest knights in the entire Far South.
This was not the first time that Helauren visited this city. The last time he came here was ten years ago, when he planted the flag of the Far South Empire at the highest position in the city's palace.
He still remembered the first time he visited this city ten years ago. Every building in the city was covered with a large number of vines. The residents of this country were completely integrated into the forest and could live in harmony with these plants.
But today, the vines on the buildings in Helauren's eyes had disappeared, replaced by a scarlet and sticky liquid.
"Isn't it beautiful now?"
A spellcaster dressed in a gray robe whispered to the leader.
"That depends on whether your little pet can satisfy the emperor in the end." Helauren glanced at the two huge creatures crouching beside the caster.
Those were monsters called blood crystal beasts. The two blood crystal beasts had a wolf-like appearance and were three meters long... Scarlet liquid slid from their bodies onto the ground.
When these legendary monsters saw humans, they should have opened their bloody mouths and tore them to pieces, but these wolf-like blood crystal beasts lay beside the spellcaster like dogs.
"As long as we obtain enough nutrients from the core of the earth veins, the army of blood crystal beasts nurtured will definitely satisfy the emperor." The voice of the spellcaster sounded very humble.
"I hope so."
The surface of Helauren's hand, which was covered with black arm armor, emitted dark black inscriptions. The moment the inscriptions lit up, the spellcaster covered his chest and let out a low groan of pain.
"I don't think you will pledge your loyalty to the Far South, but don't forget that these little pets can't shake our rule at all."
Helauren did not like this spellcaster. When a blood crystal beast disaster broke out in the far southern wilderness, Helauren was ordered to go and wipe out the blood crystal beasts.
The blood crystal beasts were a group of tough opponents. Although the enchanted swords of the Far South Empire could easily cut them in two, some giant blood crystal beasts could also crush Helauren's soldiers.
In addition, the blood crystal beast can use magic power as its own food, which puts the soldiers under Helauren at a disadvantage in the initial battle with the blood crystal beast.
And in the process of exterminating the blood crystal beast...a group of spellcasters appeared. They claimed that they had tamed the blood crystal beast and successfully pleased the emperor.
Helauren thought it was a conspiracy, but the emperor still conscripted them...
Because the Far South Empire is such a country. It never asks anyone about their origin. No matter where in the world you come from, as long as you have the ability, you can get recognition and status in this country.
Moreover, they have indeed made the Blood Crystal Beast as obedient as a dog. If they can tame this creature, it can indeed become a powerful force for the Far South Empire to conquer the world.
"Captain! The king of the Gray Feather Kingdom has been found!" A soldier came to Helauren who was sitting on the steps and reported.
"Take me there, he is an important breeder."
Helauren brushed off the dust behind him and quickly caught up with the soldier.
The emperor used the core of this country's earth veins as bait for the blood crystal beast, but the people of this country are not bait for the blood crystal beast.
Helauren had informed the king of the country a month ago to evacuate the residents of the capital to other cities.
But the king's attitude was naturally to resist, because the core of the earth vein was the lifeline of the entire country, and no one was willing to give this lifeline to a group of monsters as food.
The rebellion did not last long before it was crushed by the army of the Far South Empire, and the king and the entire royal bloodline went into hiding.
In a dilapidated house on the edge of the city, Helauren met the old King Infini, who looked a little down and out.
"Your Majesty Infini, please stop making things difficult for us. Yuannan has already prepared a palace for you that is much larger than this one... It's just a change of place to live, why are you so persistent?"
Helauren performed a solemn ceremony towards the old king. The old king and his royal bloodline possessed the ability to cultivate crystal trees, which was something that no one else could do except their bloodline.
This king and his descendants also have characteristics similar to elves, but the old king always considers himself human.
It doesn’t matter whether they are humans or elves, the key is their ability to cultivate crystal trees... This is an ability that cannot be found anywhere else in the Far South Continent.
This alone is enough to make them the "talents" respected by Helauren.
“Persistent...persistent? You lunatics! You fed our country to a bunch of monsters!” The old king pointed at Helauren’s arm and trembled.
"You are still the king of this country. The residents of this city are just sent to other cities. It will be enough to change the capital to another one." Helauren said this expressionlessly. He knew that what he said was all sarcasm, but he had to bring the old king back, as well as his descendants.
"I know what you want!"
When the old king heard this, he suddenly showed a crazy smile. At the moment when the old king pulled out the dagger from his waist and wanted to commit suicide, Helauren reached out and grabbed the other's wrist.
"I'm here to ask you to return to Far South, Your Majesty Infini! Please don't make things difficult for me." There was no respect in Helauren's voice. He couldn't think of any way to eliminate his hatred for Far South at this time. "Before you leave, please think about your children and citizens!"
When the old king heard what Helauren said, the dagger in his hand slipped and he sat down on the ground in a daze.
Helauren looked at the ragged king. He must have suffered a lot during this period in order to avoid the hunt in the far south.
"Where are my children?" the old king asked in despair.
"Your six sons and three daughters are waiting for you in the far south. They are doing well... but your eldest prince is also missing." Helauren told the old king the news. The old king didn't know whether it was good news or bad news.
"Don't worry, we will get them back as soon as possible," Helauren added.
A gleam of light gradually appeared in the old king's eyes. He propped himself up and wanted to walk out of the cabin, while Helauren respectfully made a gesture of invitation.
After he walked out of the wooden house slowly, what appeared before his eyes was a city covered by scarlet liquid.