Manfred's team fled.
The Desert Sword Attendant did not pursue, as his power favored explosive bursts and lacked endurance.
He quickly summoned a skeletal shaman.
"Adjust the monster deployment in that direction and continue to wear them down."
"Yes, Lord Desert Sword Attendant."
The skeletal shaman quickly took the command.
At this time, Purple Hammer ignored the wound on his face and approached the Desert Sword Attendant.
Among the purple-skinned blacksmith tribe, Purple Hammer was considered large, but he seemed extremely small in front of the massive Desert Sword Attendant.
"Lord Desert Sword Attendant, I offer my greetings and respects."
The Desert Sword Attendant looked down at the Purple Hammer before him.
"This is not a floor where you belong, purple-skinned blacksmith."
"What business do you have coming to the Desert Stratum, leaving the floor you are meant to guard?"
The Desert Sword Attendant was not polite.
After all, his status was one level higher than that of the purple-skinned blacksmith tribe.
"I wish to seek an audience with Guardian Zeno. I seek the Forbidden Fire and hope to receive Guardian Zeno's permission."
"Hmph."
The Desert Sword Attendant turned around.
"Follow me. Do not show the slightest disrespect in front of Lady Zeno, purple-skinned blacksmith."
The Desert Sword Attendant seemed to know Zeno's location.
Purple Hammer hurried to keep up.
The Desert Sword Attendant showed no consideration for Purple Hammer, his massive strides forcing the blacksmith to jog to stay close.
However, the stamina of monsters was beyond question, and Purple Hammer did not fall behind.
They crossed the night desert and arrived at a place where a sandstorm raged.
The sandstorm swirling in the dark night obscured the environment, making it impossible to see within.
The Desert Sword Attendant walked directly into the sandstorm.
Purple Hammer followed hastily, fearing he might lose his way.
Within the raging storm, the Desert Sword Attendant precisely identified the direction, crossing the entire sandstorm area to reach its center.
And here, there was an oasis.
Looking toward the oasis, the Desert Sword Attendant respectfully knelt on one knee.
In the entire dungeon, besides the supreme Lord, only the existences by the Lord's side could make the Desert Sword Attendant so respectful.
"Lady Zeno, this purple-skinned blacksmith has a request to see you."
"Mhm. Continue to fulfill your duties well, Desert Sword Attendant."
"Yes, Lady Zeno."
The Desert Sword Attendant respectfully withdrew.
Lady Zeno had already promised him that once he fulfilled his duty of guardianship and fought until the final moment, he would receive another opportunity to serve the Lord alongside the Exiled Sentry.
As the Desert Sword Attendant retreated into the desert, Purple Hammer felt somewhat at a loss.
After all, the one before him was an existence by the Lord's side, a pedestal guardian.
He struggled to steady his mind and prostrated himself toward the oasis.
"Lady Zeno, I seek the power of the Forbidden Fire. The purple-skinned blacksmith tribe boldly wishes to borrow the power of the Forbidden Fire to better serve the Lord with loyalty."
To them, serving the Lord with loyalty was the highest reward.
Only after saying it did Purple Hammer realize his words were too presumptuous, actually praying for a reward like serving the Lord.
However, the greedy words had already been spoken, and he only hoped Lady Zeno was not repulsed or felt he was being too grasping.
He felt a sense of apprehension.
"Anyone can seek the Forbidden Fire. Adventurers can, and so can you."
"But to be too weak is to seek the Forbidden Fire like a moth to a flame."
Zeno's calm voice came from the oasis before him.
Purple Hammer quickly lowered his head. Even though he never sweated in the high temperatures of the Lava Stratum, beads of sweat now seeped from his forehead.
"Even if it is like a moth to a flame, if I do not even have that resolve, how could I dare to pray to serve the Lord?"
After speaking, he remained prostrated, trying to calm the fear in his heart.
After all, the pressure from a guardian was simply too strong.
That incomparably powerful and noble aura coming from the Lord was the very proof of the Lord's favor, trust, and recognition.
"My Lord once said..."
Zeno's voice and words made Purple Hammer's body tremble.
Did he have the right to hear the words the Lord spoke to the guardian? Before he could hesitate, that supreme blessing was already pressed into his ears.
"The weakness of the flesh is not terrifying. What is terrifying is the weakness of the soul."
"You have the qualification to seek the Forbidden Fire."
As she spoke, a vine burst from the sand and deeply pierced through one of Purple Hammer's arms.
A piercing pain radiated from his arm, but Purple Hammer remained pressed tightly to the ground, gritting his teeth without making a sound.
When the pain subsided, Purple Hammer looked at the arm that had been pierced.
There was no wound on the arm, only a diamond-shaped mark left on the inner side of his wrist.
"This mark will grant you the ability to heal rapidly and absorb vitality."
"To seek the Forbidden Fire, you must seek the Forbidden Fire Blessing Marks."
"Only those who possess the Forbidden Fire Blessing are qualified to touch the Forbidden Fire without being burned to ashes."
"There are still two Forbidden Fire Blessing Marks in the ninth floor. Find them on your own."
Zeno's words echoed in his ears, and Purple Hammer pressed his head deep into the ground, showing his respect and obedience.
Lady Zeno had not only granted him permission but also given him a blessing.
What an immense honor this was. Did he truly have the qualification?
Purple Hammer would now never allow himself to fail. Otherwise, even death would not be enough to atone for such a heavenly sin.
"I am forever willing to offer my loyalty to you, Lady Zeno."
Having received the guardian's permission, Purple Hammer began his journey to seek the Forbidden Fire.
First, he had to find those Forbidden Fire Blessing Marks in the ninth floor and obtain the Forbidden Fire Blessing.
At the same time, he was not yet strong enough.
To seek the Forbidden Fire, he would naturally have to compete with those adventurers.
And with the strength of the adventurers, he was currently no match for them at all.
Only by obtaining the Forbidden Fire Blessing Marks, gaining the power of fire, and developing that power would he have the ability to compete with those adventurers.
On the cold desert, Purple Hammer strapped the Purple Treasure Mallet to his back, and bathed in the starlight and moonlight, he wandered the desert alone, searching for traces of the Forbidden Fire Ruin.
Meanwhile, deep within the Well of Eternal Imprisonment, Dalun Li came before the Life Casket.
After this period of non-stop digestion, all the valuable knowledge and information from the mage's soul had been squeezed dry by Dalun Li.
The value within the mind of an entire fifth-rank mage was in itself a massive treasure.
Beyond the value of the magic knowledge itself, as a peak of human power that did not rely on external objects, some of the secret information in this mage's mind was something Dalun Li had never even heard of.
Rate on N.U.
