Green Monster Epic

Chapter 1019: 316 Centaur Holy Land

Allen politely declined the others' offers to stay, and finally flew north alone at high speed, initially heading towards Mansha City, but after reaching the edge of the grasslands, he suddenly turned left, heading towards the Centaur Church's holy land deep in the grasslands –臥馬嶺 (Wo Ma Ling/Crouching Horse Ridge).

Allen told others that he was going to Mansha City, but in reality, his true destination was Wo Ma Ling, to visit the Centaur Church's Pope and his entourage.

His reasoning was simple: in his current extremely weakened state, even if he reached Mansha City, he could not guarantee that he would not be schemed against. Allen did not have much confidence in the character of the ruling figures in the Natural Church camp.

On the contrary, the Centaur Church, which had unexpectedly shown him goodwill during the cooking competition and conveyed congratulations and friendship from the deity 碦戎 (Ke Rong), whom he had only met once, was a better place for Allen to stay and recuperate.

Moreover, Allen had never personally visited Wo Ma Ling to formally visit the Centaur Church. Now was a good time to return the other party's friendly gesture, and perhaps there might be other unexpected gains.

The centaur race, who live by following water and grass, have always favored nomadic life. There are very few large settled cities in the vast grasslands. All that can be seen is a beautiful scene of lush water and grass, and cattle and sheep everywhere.

Often, Allen could also see tens of thousands of horses galloping, followed by a centaur militia chasing and playing, which always made him feel a little yearning. If his tribe could have such a fertile and suitable environment and land, they would probably be able to develop a civilization like humans and beastmen.

It wasn't that Allen looked down on the centaur race's long-standing way of life. He just believed that such lush and fertile land should not only be used for grazing, but should also be used to plant more food and magic plants, so that the land could be used effectively and more tribesmen could be raised.

Only when the tribe is strong enough, the population is large enough, can more outstanding talents be born, more excellent technologies be developed, and a stronger war foundation be accumulated, and finally stand in this social jungle.

As a natural cavalry race, if the centaurs had a large enough population, and the war machine and resources behind them could keep up with the expansion, then they should have had the opportunity to become a civilized force like humans and beastmen, but now they can only eke out a living in the Centaur Grassland, fighting alongside the wilderness against the human civilization.

Of course, this was just Allen's feeling in the face of the surrounding rolling lush grassland scenery. He also knew how difficult and dangerous it was to transform a race into a civilization. Even the Green Field Tribe has not yet established an effective and reasonable power inheritance system, let alone the continuation and development of a powerful civilization.

A gradually rising mountain range appeared on the undulating horizon. As the entire outline of the mountain range emerged and came into Allen's eyes, it was like a handsome celestial horse lying on the earth, but also stretching out a proud head and roaring to the sky. At the highest peak on the top of the celestial horse's head, a magnificent man-made circular tower building pierced straight into the sky. With a height of at least five hundred meters, it should be the tallest man-made building Allen has ever seen.

The closer he got to this mountain range, the more Allen had to admire the centaur race's grand scale. He originally thought that he had led the Green Field Tribe to spend more than a hundred years excavating the Mansha Mountains in the western border, which was already a great perseverance and determination. Now, seeing the centaur race building such a magnificent and tall cylindrical tower building on the top of the mountain, he also had to admit his inferiority.

He originally thought that this tower was only five or six hundred meters high, but who would have thought that after actually arriving near the mountain range, he realized that his previous estimate was too far off. This tower was at least a thousand meters high, like an arrow shooting towards the sky. The spire of the cylindrical tower could not be seen clearly at all, because more than half of the tower body was hidden above the clouds. The clouds, which flickered with bursts of thunder, did not leave the tower body even when a strong wind swept through, which was obviously the protective magic of the tower itself.

Before he even approached the mountain range, several powerful figures had already risen up in front of Allen. They were wearing uniform armor and holding a special riding spear with a hook, forming an attacking phalanx and quickly flying towards Allen.

Allen stopped, standing in the void, with his hands behind his back, making a friendly gesture, quietly waiting for the other party to arrive.

Welcome, distinguished guest from afar.

There was no expected hostility. When the other party came in front of Allen, the overly long riding spear in his hand was raised high, and the leading knight smiled and saluted Allen, apparently already knowing Allen's identity.

Your Majesty has been waiting for you on the Holy Mountain for a long time, Chief Allen.

Oh?

Allen returned the appropriate etiquette, smiling and said: "Thank you for coming to greet me."

Thinking about it carefully, it was not surprising. Although he did not tell Randolph his true destination, after all, this road passed through the territory of the centaur race. It was not surprising that the other party could understand his whereabouts.

There were eight legendary centaurs who came to greet Allen. They were wearing uniform knight armor, obviously powerful men under the Centaur Church. Their professional collocation and fighting spirit did not fall behind even when facing Allen, who faintly revealed a bit of saintly aura, which showed the deep foundation of this Centaur Church.

A magnificent and prosperous city was built on the mountain, with overlapping building complexes with domes and spires, quite a bit of exotic style, unlike the centaur settlements that Allen had passed along the way, which were only as simple as felt tents as a place to stay and rest.

Because of Allen's arrival, a copper bell rang one after another in the sky above this city, and then a melodious and pleasant sacred song came from the top of the mountain. Led by four centaur strongmen on each side, Allen slowly landed in front of a square on the mountainside, where there was a mountain trail leading directly to the top of the mountain, and there were rows of centaur children dressed in pure white divine robes on both sides of the trail. The song was coming from their mouths.

Welcome, strong man from the Northern Territory, wilderness leader recognized and appreciated by my Lord.

Allen had not expected that the Centaur Church would make such a big show. I am afraid that looking at the entire Mansha Wilderness, only the church leaders of the Natural Temple's main camps would receive such courtesy.

In particular, the Centaur Church's Pope, who was one thousand seven hundred and thirty-three years old, was spotless in snow-white clothes. Even his hair and the long beard on his chin were white without a trace of stray hair. He held a scepter made of mithril as the main material and colorful precious metals as auxiliary materials. His eyes were as bright as the stars twinkling in the night sky, and he looked at Allen kindly.

May God's grace be with you always, Solomon Richards!

Alan stood solemnly and bowed his straight back with utmost sincerity, greeting the other party. Since the other party valued him so much, he had to show his most sincere demeanor.

The grand welcoming ceremony put on by the other party would surely spread, and when other forces saw this scene, they would inevitably harbor doubts and be more cautious when facing Alan. This was the deterrent force Alan needed most right now. He didn't expect the other party to offer it proactively without him even asking, which stirred up waves in Alan's heart.

However, amidst the joy, Alan was also wary. There was never a free lunch in the wilderness. The Centaur Theocracy had been showing goodwill to him since the incarnation of the Centaur God Chiron decades ago, without ever asking for any conditions or returns. Perhaps they had even greater schemes and pursuits.

"I came in a hurry this time and didn't inform the church. I didn't expect you, Your Eminence, to worry and put in the effort to welcome me. I'm truly ashamed."

"Chief Alan has consecutively challenged two human saints on the front lines within a few days, winning against them one by one, with one opponent dead and the other injured. Such a glorious achievement is probably the first in the history of the Mansha Wilderness for ten thousand years, worthy of the highest courtesy from our church to a warrior!"

"Now I understand why our Lord is so fond of you, continuously sending down divine decrees to have our church befriend your tribe."

"Now it seems that merely welcoming with an intangible chain of friendship is not enough to bear the relationship between us. Perhaps the next step is for both of us to develop towards forging an alliance."

The voice of Solomon, the Centaur Pope, was loud and full of vitality and majesty. What he said in front of so many eyes and ears was probably not just a momentary impulse.

Hearing this, Alan's heart stirred slightly. The divinity consciousness and the main consciousness in his mind intertwined and communicated. In less than a breath of external time, they made a decision in their hearts: "That is the honor of me and the Greenwood Tribe!"

Indeed, it was the Greenwood Tribe's honor. Even if the Crow's Claw and Snow-Mi tribes, which had already become substantive members of Greenwood, were added together, the gap between them and the Centaur Theocracy was still enormous. Just the number of experts present to welcome Alan could probably destroy the three Greenwood tribes, even with Alan, a saint, among them.

The strength between the two forces was not on the same level, so there was originally no possibility of forming an alliance. Don't look at the Mansha Alliance having more than a hundred official members. Among them, only the Pale Night Tribe, where the Kobold Saint Da Vinci was located, had signed an equal treaty with the Oak Theocracy hundreds of years ago when they befriended each other, allowing them to communicate and coexist peacefully.

And at the time of signing this treaty, the camp power that Da Vinci maintained through his methods had already been stabilized. At the same time, the Father of the Oak, that broad-minded deity, had not yet fallen. But even so, in daily actions, except when Da Vinci was present, the Oak Theocracy would maintain enough respect. In events where he did not appear, the priests and knights under the Oak Theocracy still acted superior as usual.

"Then it's settled. Let's work together and move towards this direction step by step!"

Solomon had long known that Alan would agree. The courtesy he had given him had exceeded that of any other tribe or force in the wilderness. As long as this goblin wasn't stupid, he would definitely not let go of this great opportunity. But Solomon was still slightly surprised. He didn't expect this goblin to respond so quickly and decisively.

Since Chiron's incarnation instructed the Centaur Theocracy to befriend the Greenwood Tribe and Alan, they had secretly searched for any information related to Alan. There were also specialized scholars who deduced his personality and habits through his various deeds. Alan was almost completely seen through without his knowledge.

According to the Centaur Theocracy's analysis of Alan's personality and abilities, he could often maintain extremely strong rationality, being cautious and restrained, when facing huge temptations. But this time, his decision was so quick and decisive, which was already different from the Theocracy's character portrayal.

"I will definitely live up to Your Eminence's expectations!"

Alan followed closely behind the Centaur Pope, without any complacency due to the noble courtesy given by the other party, still maintaining a strong self-awareness.

The group climbed the mountain step by step with their bodies. Although the location for welcoming Alan was already halfway up the mountain, it still took them more than two magic hours to finally reach the core hub of the Theocracy at the top of the mountain—the Centaur Main Temple. The sides of the road climbing to the top of the mountain were densely lined with rows of half-centaur children, and Alan estimated in his heart that the population mobilized by this formation alone was almost ten thousand.

The top of the mountain was flat, and apart from a row of temple buildings around the huge mountain top plain, there were no other artificial buildings.

Looking around, nearby were lush green grasses reaching the waist, with groups of handsome pegasus and excellent cattle and horse livestock freely galloping among them; in the distance was a forest, with the figures of majestic griffins, ferocious two-legged dragons, and other powerful creatures rising and falling in the sky from time to time…

The Centaur Main Temple was also very magnificent. The height of the main hall alone exceeded two hundred meters. In front of the main hall, in the center of the huge square grassland in front of Alan, stood a statue of Chiron's heroic posture during his early years of worldly battles. The pure white marble and dark obsidian used simple colors to outline the statue as if it were alive. A solemn and invincible aura swept over him, and even Alan himself couldn't help but be moved.

But these tall buildings could not become the focus of attention of the mountaintop building complex. The cylindrical tower, thousands of meters away from the temple building complex, was impossible for anyone to ignore its existence. The buildings of other Centaur Temples could be considered magnificent outside, but in front of this cylindrical tower, they were like the difference between a child and an adult.

"I had heard of the name of the Trial Tower a long time ago. This is the first time I have seen its existence with my own eyes."

Unlike other churches of the Natural Temple, which also have demiplanes and hide them tightly, the Centaur Church directly presents its demiplane in the public eye, just to be able to use this magnificent building to unite the hearts of the centaur race and let them unite under the Centaur Theocracy to multiply and develop.

I didn't expect that I haven't had a break this month so far, tsk tsk.