Chapter 198: Quick, Take It Off, Let Me See
"Xiao Bai, what would happen if the crystal was destroyed?"
"Without the crystal's seal, the abyssal demon would return to this world."
Xiao Bai's response caused Li Meng's heart to sink.
He stopped momentarily but then continued walking forward.
"So the ultimate goal of the demon race is to release the demon!"
As he walked, Li Meng pondered silently.
Xiao Bai's answer was within Li Meng's expectations.
Li Meng had long suspected that the demon race's intent in destroying the human crystal wasn't simple.
It was far more than just weakening humanity's power.
"Xiao Bai, are demons strong?"
"Very strong, but not invincible. Demons are rejected by this world, so they can't wield their full power here."
"Demons cannot be completely killed. Once slain, they will resurrect in the abyss after some time."
"Because of their immortality, demons cannot be eradicated; they can only be sealed away."
What should I do now?
Li Meng furrowed his brows, lost in thought.
While goblins lean toward evil, they are also creatures of this world.
If the abyssal demons invade, how could goblins remain uninvolved?
"Xiao Bai, do you know why the Sea of Death appeared?"
"Master, the appearance of the Sea of Death is related to the 'deities' of this world. After the 'Dragon God' was born, deities began emerging one after another in this world. Deities fall into three categories. The first type, known as 'Authority Deities,' are born from the natural evolution of the world and wield innate powers. They have the least influence on the world and are born from the will of the world itself."
"The second type of deity arises from the faith of countless beings and is called 'Faith Deities.' They are born of sentient beings and sustained by belief. Their followers gain strength through their faith."
"The third type is the Savage Deity, born from the world's malice."
"Regardless of the type, deities must absorb the life force of the planet to sustain their existence."
"Once the life force they absorb exceeds the world's limit, the planet begins to lose vitality, all things perish, and it eventually returns to nothingness."
So Vanessa deceived me?
Li Meng distinctly remembered Vanessa claiming that the appearance of the Sea of Death was related to the human crystal.
Now it seemed that was entirely untrue.
And this information was given by the angels to the dark elves.
If demons were truly the angels' enemies, how could the angels lure the dark elves into destroying the crystal?
"No, Vanessa wouldn't have lied to me back then."
Li Meng was confident that Vanessa hadn't lied to him at that time.
On this, Li Meng was certain.
If Vanessa's words were true, then the problem must lie with the angels.
"System, start Life Simulation."
Having acquired so much information, Li Meng refused to believe that the future remained unchanged.
Although no events to alter the future had been triggered—
No, encountering Xiao Bai was itself a future-altering event.
[No changes in the future. Simulation invalid.]
Li Meng was stunned, halting his steps again.
No changes in the future?
Li Meng furrowed his brows, deep in thought.
Could meeting Xiao Bai have already occurred in the previous timeline?
It's just that the previous timeline hadn't revealed the encounter with Xiao Bai.
After all, the Life Simulation's predictions of the future were always incomplete.
"What was the me in the future aiming for?"
A trace of doubt and confusion flashed in Li Meng's eyes.
What purpose would there be in aiding the demon race to destroy the crystal?
No matter how he thought about it, Li Meng couldn't see how releasing the demon could be beneficial.
Lost in his thoughts, Li Meng absentmindedly walked back to the Throne Palace.
Even after returning, he was still brooding.
In the days that followed, Li Meng seemed almost possessed.
No matter where he was, he appeared lost in thought.
"What's wrong with the King?"
That afternoon, on the balcony of the royal sleeping quarters—
Basking in the sunlight, Li Meng lay on a recliner, staring blankly into space.
Seeing the King's vacant demeanor worried the lizardwoman maids.
"I don't know. It's been for days, hasn't it?"
"Who isn't saying the same?"
"Could it be because of that ghost beastwoman?"
"Ever since she left, the King has been ."
Just then, a female maid hurried into the sleeping quarters.
Finding no one inside, the maid asked the others.
The other maids pointed toward the balcony.
The maid quickly made her way to the balcony.
Arriving there, she saw the King lying on the recliner.
"King, a centaur messenger has arrived!"
Li Meng's expression shifted slightly.
He turned to look at the lizardwoman maid.
"I don't know, King. I couldn't understand her language."
The lizardwoman maid quickly left.
The arrival of the centaur did lift Li Meng's spirits a little.
Whether it was Margarita or not, he had to satisfy his curiosity this time.
Before long, Li Meng heard the clip-clopping sound of hooves ascending the stairs.
Moments later, a tall, graceful figure appeared in his view.
It was Margarita. She had finally arrived.
"Margarita, take it off quickly! Let me see!"
Hearing such a rude demand upon arrival, Margarita grew slightly angry.
After all, she was a queen.
But when she thought about the consequences of refusal, Margarita hesitated.
Resigned, she began removing her leather armor.
Realizing that Margarita might struggle alone, Li Meng ordered the maids to assist her.
The lizardwoman maids hurried forward to help.
"No, I... I'll do it myself."
The maids couldn't understand what Margarita was saying.
They thought she was just being polite.
With the maids' help, Margarita's leather armor was removed piece by piece.
Before long, her snow-white, delicate body was fully exposed to Li Meng's gaze.
Rising from his chair, Li Meng curiously approached Margarita.
The maids, too, were fascinated as they examined Margarita's bare form.
Standing beside her, Li Meng scrutinized Margarita's body closely.
Her face turned crimson, and she hugged her ample chest with both arms.
"It looks good, but something feels off."
As he observed her snowy, equine body, Li Meng murmured internally.
Margarita's form resembled a bent-over woman, though her waist and hips were noticeably sturdier.
Moving behind her, Li Meng curiously lifted her black tail.
Margarita's body trembled, her face flushed.
The sensation of someone staring at her most private area made her want to kick out.
But she restrained herself.