Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1775 Plague wealth

”Die, please!!”

Serine shot upward into the air with a sharp burst of energy, then unleashed a specialized, precision-shaped attack from her open palm straight downward toward the largest, most grotesque Black Plague creature.

The attack flared brilliantly, lighting up the monsterʼs entire body from head to toe in a blinding flash-but despite the dramatic illumination, it caused almost no real damage at all. It looked as though Serine hadnʼt even intended to harm him seriously, as if this strike was merely a test or a probe.

Rumble Rumble

Yet it was painfully obvious that the colossal creature did not appreciate this new technique being used on him. With violent force, he tore himself out of the ground, ripping apart his massive, root-like tendrils-roots thick as ancient trees-just to drag himself free and launch a furious attack toward Serine.

Sitting calmly on the side, legs crossed and posture relaxed, Richard watched the unfolding battle with a faint, almost amused smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Serine had no intention of vaporizing this massive one the way she effortlessly annihilated the smaller ones earlier. Instead, she was deliberately trying to keep his body as intact as possible even after killing him.

To her, to them, it was a priceless treasure.

The Black Plague species possessed a bizarre, almost nightmarish digestive system-one that allowed them to consume literally anything they touched. Alive or dead, soft or solid... even diamonds and the hardest, most reinforced metals in the minerals would crumble to dust inside their stomachs as if they were nothing more than brittle sand.

That was why the corpse of a fully grown Black Plague individual was considered treasure chest waiting to be opened. Even their leftovers-their byproducts-were treasures in their own right. No one truly understood what each creature had consumed throughout its life, nor how such a massive blend of countless resources accumulated inside them and seeped through their entire bodies. They were, in a strange way, similar to bees that transform diverse nectar into honey-but with the Black Plague, the process was darker, more chaotic, and infinitely more dangerous.

It wasnʼt rare to hear of legendary, high-quality weapons forged from the flesh or bones of the Black Plague; or of alchemists using their remains thanks to the astonishing variety of materials blended inside them; or of their blood being harvested as ready-made enchanted ink; or of their souls being extracted and used as reference material to study corruption in all its forms. Certain body parts were often cut off and sold on the black market to demonic factions willing to pay fortunes.

Every adult Black Plague creature capable of standing upright on two legs and spreading their infectious seeds was, quite literally, a wandering, self-moving treasure vault.

In fact, many demonic forces actively captured these creatures and deliberately planted them on distant planets, letting the cycle continue so they could harvest more of them later. Entire organizations across the universe specialized in this cultivation process, turning it into their sole source of

revenue and every single one of them was obscenely wealthy.

Realistically, the fact that Serine casually destroyed several of them at the very beginning of the battle suggested one of two things: either she was so

impulsive and carefree that she didnʼt understand the value she was destroying... or she was so unimaginably wealthy that she had absolutely no need for the obscene profits these creatures could provide.

The battle continued for a few more extended minutes-

Additional Black Plague individuals erupted from beneath the ground to assist their elder, but every one of them was swiftly killed. And at last, the colossal elder himself collapsed.

Serine landed gracefully atop his massive, externally-damaged head. With a series of swift, practiced motions, she sliced out a large chunk from the torso and stored it neatly inside her ring.

Dusting off her hands with a bright, satisfied smile, she called out behind her, ”Richard, Iʼm done! Iʼll start attracting a few more of the Plague for you to kill, just like usual.”

”No need. I already have plenty of corpses.” Richard waved lightly for her to come closer. ”I think what weʼve collected will be enough to supply Sky Opening City for several thousand years. Are we done with this planet now, or are you planning another combat round?”

”Hmm,” Serine shook her head while floating smoothly toward Richard, ”I only take one sample from each environment, as you already know. Taking more wonʼt benefit anything at this point.”

”Goog,” Richard stood up slowly and brushed off his hands, wiping away the dust. ”Letʼs head to our new destination then. Make sure you pick a good location this time-seriously, this place isnʼt even decent enough for a quick lunch break.”

”Hehe, of course-” Serine descended lightly in front of him with a smile so warm and enchanting it looked capable of melting entire worlds. ”But unfortunately... our little trip will have to be postponed for a short while.” ”Oh?” Richard raised his eyebrows, genuinely surprised. ”Youʼre postponing a Black Plague-hunting trip? That never happens. What exactly occurred?” ”Hmm... I think the entire world is on the verge of losing its sanity,” Serine murmured as she stepped closer to Richardʼs side. She gently wrapped both hands around his arm, tugged him forward, and the two began walking at a calm, unhurried pace, leaving the devastation caused by the Black Plague behind them like a fading nightmare.

She continued, her tone more serious now, ”There are major changes happening all around us-big movements, dangerous ones-and theyʼve finally begun to affect us in unpleasant ways. This time... Iʼm afraid we really need to take matters far more seriously.”

”You mean the cosmic war against Lord Hedrick?” Richard tilted his head. ”Yeah, itʼs definitely affecting us. Weʼve had to change our destination multiple times already because of it.” He then turned toward her sharply, eyes narrowing. ”Wait... donʼt tell me-the Radiance Galaxy actually made a move against Lord Hedrick?!”

”Hehe, no, no.” Serine placed a hand delicately over her lips as she laughed. ”The Radiance Galaxy doesnʼt attack openly. The Fundamental Purity Law doesnʼt excel at raw offensive power, and besides, striking directly would damage their carefully maintained reputation as a neutral force.” Her laughter faded, and she redirected her gaze forward again. ”The Radiance Galaxy prefers subtler approaches, quieter ones done behind veils. Especially their eldest son, Lord Orion-heʼs absolutely not the type to draw a blade.”

”Oh...” Richard nodded slowly. ”Then what changed so quickly? Did the Cursed Behemoth armada or the Savage Behemoth armada enter the sector?”

In truth, neither Richard nor Serine cared deeply about the sectorʼs political machinery. They wouldʼve happily ignored it forever if they could. But because of their constant wandering, they were essentially forced to keep up with the major developments.

Each time some large-scale news erupted, most travel routes shut down instantly, blocking their movement. Sometimes they had no choice but to take absurdly long detours-or even live on a random planet for years-until the cosmic turbulence settled enough for them to continue their adventures. ”No fleets have entered; that would be a direct insult to the Radiance Galaxyʼs prestige,” Serine explained. ”But two Guardians have infiltrated the sector, and itʼs believed at least one additional Monarch might sneak in as well. Hehe... ugh, how much I despise these political games.” She tapped her forehead lightly with a small sigh. ”Everyone knows exactly whatʼs going on, but no one can point a

finger at anyone!”

”Heh~” Richard smirked with a teasing tone. ”You sound like youʼre cheering for Lord Hedrick, even though you yourself wield the Fundamental Purity Law...”

”I donʼt know him personally,” Serine replied with a soft exhale, ”but I honestly donʼt think he deserves whatʼs happening to him.” She lifted her shoulders in a small, helpless shrug.

”All right then,” Richard said, shifting his focus ahead once more. ”Letʼs leave politics aside. What exactly is stopping us from moving on?”

”Itʼs news about the Cosmic Elder,” Serine answered, her voice dropping as concern tightened her expression. ”Heʼs appeared again... and his condition is extremely worrying!”