The Glory of Noxus

"Whoa! Whoa!"

The snow-white Poro waved his claws and cut through the air, trying to resist.

But he still couldn't avoid having his plush face wiped with a wet towel.

When Huo Jixing saw the little guy struggling, a smile appeared on his lips.

He likes this feeling.

After wiping, he started to wash himself, leaving the little guy lying on his shoulder and sulking.

After everything is dealt with.

Huo Jixing walked down the wooden stairs with the snow-white Poro, his eyes swept across the hall, and settled on a familiar tall figure.

The smile on his lips spread and he said hello.

"Katrina!"

At this moment, Catalina was waiting in the hall. When she heard this, she looked up. When she saw it was Huo Jixing, a rare smile appeared on her cold face.

This smile was like the warm spring sun, melting her usual coldness.

Huo Jixing walked up to Catalina and looked at her carefully.

He had too many experiences on this mission to Piltover, and he unexpectedly ended up in Bilgewater, which made him feel like some time had passed.

So now that I saw Catalina, I noticed that she seemed to be much more beautiful.

Her long crimson hair was spread over her shoulders, adding a bit of charm to her.

The bloody scar on his left eye looked slightly fierce, but his face became more delicate.

She wears dark purple armor with smooth and elegant lines, which accentuates her extremely sexy figure.

"You're back." Catalina said softly, with a hint of tenderness in her tone that she could not easily detect.

"Yeah, I'm back."

Huo Jixing responded, his eyes never leaving Catalina's face.

Catalina seemed to be unable to bear the gaze of the person in front of her, and turned her face slightly.

"Lord Swain has sent an order for you to go to the audience hall to meet him."

Catalina also felt the changes in herself during this period, some of which were unfamiliar to her, but she allowed these changes to happen.

"Okay, I'll be there in a moment."

Huo Jixing withdrew his gaze, as if the previous mental fatigue had disappeared.

At the same time, the arrival of Katarina made him deeply aware of Swain's all-pervasive control over the Noxus Empire.

Although Huo Jixing did not hide his whereabouts too much.

But Swain still knew his location accurately through the Reese garrison.

As soon as he came back, he received the order and specially sent Catalina here.

"Let's have breakfast together?"

Huo Jixing opened his invitation, seemingly not afraid of Catalina's rejection, and walked straight to the restaurant on the left.

Hainie had prepared a sumptuous breakfast early, and the aroma of food filled the air.

After a moment of hesitation, Catalina followed Huo Jixing into the restaurant.

After breakfast.

Huo Jixing and Catalina got up and prepared to go to the Immortal Fortress.

Before leaving, Huo Jixing seemed to think of something, and his eyes fell on Heini, who had been secretly looking at this place.

When Heini saw Huo Jixing looking at him, he quickly showed a bright smile to hide his purpose.

Huo Jixing smiled and passed by, grabbing the snow-white Poro from his shoulders and throwing it into Heini's arms.

Then he took off the [Spirit Wind] from his waist and threw it over.

"It's under maintenance. It's a bit sharp, so be careful."

All of a sudden.

Heini was a little confused, but he still caught the snow-white poro and the sheathed sword.

As a sword boy, Heini is very good at maintaining extraordinary sword weapons, with deep understanding and proficient skills.

This was the knowledge taught to him by the Empire after he became a sword boy.

However, when he took the [Spiritual Wind] handed over by Huo Jixing, a hint of surprise appeared in Mo Che's eyes.

There was something extraordinary about this sheathed sword, the most perfect blade he had ever seen.

When Huo Jixing opened the door and left.

Hainie gave Huo Jixing a cheering gesture in a naughty manner.

Then he hurried to the back of the room with the Snow White Poro and [Spiritual Wind].

Huo Jixing helplessly looked at Heini's fleeing back, shook his head slightly, and went out with Catalina.

Early morning hours.

Golden light shone across the capital of Noxus, covering every building with a layer of solemn armor.

Although the cold wind is getting colder, the prosperity of this city has not been reduced by half.

On the streets and alleys, early-rising vendors have opened their doors and are busy with their lives.

Huo Jixing and Catalina walked along the street, looking at the surrounding scene from time to time.

The two walked side by side and occasionally talked softly, but most of the time, the atmosphere seemed relatively silent.

Huo Jixing is not a person who is good at creating topics, whether in his previous life or in this life.

His character is reserved and deep.

As the ominous blade of the Noxus Empire, Katarina often performs dangerous missions, so she has developed the habit of speaking less.

Although the atmosphere was a bit cold, the two of them did not feel embarrassed.

They can still find some topics to chat about and avoid prolonged silence.

For example, the latest battle situation, news about the capital, or discussions about weapons and combat techniques.

As we approach the Immortal Fortress.

Catalina slowed down, turned her body sideways, looked into Huo Jixing's eyes, and spoke softly.

"Beware of the Scarlet Secret Society."

"They made a lot of noise in the empire earlier, trying to find traces of you."

"When you come back this time, they will surely receive the news soon."

Huo Jixing nodded slightly when he heard the words.

He was also quite afraid of Vladimir's strength, especially the weirdness of blood magic, which was extremely troublesome.

However, it is not easy for the Scarlet Secret Society to treat Katarina, the daughter of a great general, with such seriousness.

The Du Cecao family was already the leading warlord in the Noxus Empire, with a large number of war groups under their control.

He also has close relationships with several imperial generals.

After Swain's coup, he did not take action against the Du Kecao family. Instead, he recruited Caterina to join the Reese garrison.

From this comparison, it seems that the hidden forces of Vladimir and the Scarlet Secret Society within the empire are more powerful than they appear on the surface.

Huo Jixing was immersed in his own thoughts and came to the Immortal Fortress.

"Go up by yourself." Catalina stopped.

"OK."

Huo Jixing nodded slowly and climbed the stairs of triumph.

On both sides of the steps, soldiers of the Trifali Legion in straight uniforms stood.

Huo Jixing raised his head and crossed the triumphal staircase and entered the audience hall.

The bright yellow candlelight lit up, reflecting the majestic and spacious hall.

The thick and solid pillars formed a sharp angle, with black crows standing on them, their red eyes staring at the incoming Huo Jixing.

On the high platform.

Simple marble table.

Swain was sitting upright, working on the matters at hand at his desk, and seemed quite busy.

On the wall behind him, there were countless flags hanging down, representing the many family warlords and vassal forces in the empire.

After a while.

Swain folded up the letter paper in his hand, stuffed it into a cylinder, and placed it on the edge of the table. He looked up at Huo Jixing below, his eyes filled with wonder.

"I heard that you made quite a name for yourself in Bilgewater, helping those pirates survive the Night of Soul Haunting."

"I also fought against several ancient beings from Shadow Island in the black mist."

As a member of a noble family who was the founding father of Noxus, he knew exactly what the Shadow Island represented.

This was also the reason why he didn't take action directly after Planck stole the Leviathan.

The power involved between Bilgewater and the Shadow Isles was far beyond the reach of the Noxus Empire, which was in a dark and turbulent period at that time.

Therefore, Swain was a little in disbelief when he heard the news from Yosip.

Now, after seeing Huo Jixing in front of him, he has confirmed that the news is true.

It had only been a few years, but it had already grown to a point where it now made him slightly afraid.

"Is this the growth rate of protoss geniuses?"

Swain thought of the empire's secret collection books describing the strength of the protoss in ancient times, but he took it for granted.

"Perhaps we can use more of the empire's resources on Huo Jixing." Swain thought to himself.

Earlier, he had invested a lot of resources in Huo Jixing, and the empire also welcomed such a terrifyingly gifted extraordinary person to join.

But Huo Jixing's time to integrate into the empire was too short.

Even though Darius and Kled valued him, Swain still had certain reservations about him.

"At that time, I couldn't help myself and couldn't leave Bilgewater, so I had to go with the flow."

Huo Jixing bowed and replied.

The Soul-eating Night came suddenly. He wanted to leave Bilgewater, but found that it was already too late.

Bang bang! Bang bang!

Swain clapped his hands, stood up with a black cane, walked down the steps, and came to Huo Jixing.

"What do you think of Vladimir's strength?"

Swain's voice was a little low, but the words he spoke shocked Huo Jixing.

He knew in his heart that Yiswein's position was definitely not unreasonable, and this question must have profound meaning.

After thinking for a while, he said in a deep voice.

"Very strong, I am no match."

He recalled the fight between himself and Vladimir's clone during the Stillwater Prison incident, and he could not hide it from anyone who wanted to do it.

Although he won at that time, he was also deeply hurt.

Later, Huo Jixing broke through in strength in Bilgewater and opened the White Tiger Constellation. No one knew about these things.

Including Swain!

Another key point is that he has never really fought against Vladimir, so he cannot know the specific strength of this ancient existence.

Based on the above circumstances, Huo Jixing feels that his strength can be considered weak.

When Swain heard this, his eyes were deep, as if he could see into people's hearts, making Huo Jixing feel invisible pressure.

"Vladimir is one of the oldest beings in the Noxian Empire, and his power is unfathomable."

"But you don't have to underestimate yourself. Your growth and potential shocked me. Given time, you might be able to compete with Vladimir."

He turned to look at the empty throne and the flags on either side.

"I heard that you need magic runes to strengthen yourself."

"There are still many collections in the imperial treasury. You can use my warrant to pick out three pieces."

After that, Swain took out his token from his arms and threw it to Huo Jixing.

Huo Jixing caught the black token. The front was engraved with the symbol of the Noxus Empire, and the reverse was a lifelike black crow.

Swain has high hopes for me!

Huo Jixing raised his eyebrows, took a deep breath, and said solemnly.

"I will do my best to contribute all my strength to the prosperity and prosperity of Noxus."

He stared at Swain's enigmatic back, and there was an imperceptible red-gold light in his pupils.

The dark clouds rose up and slowly changed in the air, turning into a black crow shape, with strange eyes flashing, as if telling a secret.

At this moment, Huo Jixing saw the hidden strength in Swain.

The feeling of threat was no less than that of the two gods he had faced, Iris and Illaoi.

However, compared with the Spider God, the Despicable Throat and Nagakabouros, it was much inferior.

"Demon power?"

Huo Jixing thought of some records about Swain in his previous life.

As the former strategist commander of the Noxian Empire, Swain almost died because of conspiracy in the Ionian War.

But he miraculously crawled out of the pile of dead bodies.

Not only did he survive, but he also relied on his wisdom and courage to climb to the pinnacle of power in Noxus step by step, becoming the far-sighted Noxian commander today.

Huo Jixing bowed and left the audience hall, heading to the imperial treasury deep in the fortress.