The Alliance System, but with the Taiwan Server System

A T1-level physique is not too shabby, after all.

The mountain path spanned several miles; a normal person would take at least half an hour to traverse it, but for Chen Ce, it took only a few short minutes.

The moment the gale condensed upon his broken blade, he arrived at the rear of the Noxian Legion.

Looking at this vast legion, he smiled sincerely.

"Who are you?" A Noxian crossbowman spotted the sudden arrival of Chen Ce, and in an instant, dozens of bolts were aimed at this uninvited guest.

But the latter merely raised his hands above his head with indifference.

"Someone here to farm some favorability from you lot."

As the words fell, his spear began to spin.

Dozens of crossbow bolts were fired simultaneously, yet they all fell to the ground under the deflection of the spear shaft; the clinking and clattering sounds were utterly surreal.

The crossbowmen were momentarily stunned.

But their captain still refused to believe that one man could stand against a hundred—this arrogant act of charging into an army camp alone felt like a personal insult. It infuriated him.

"Axemen! Cut him down!" he bellowed. "He's only one man! Don't be afraid! Does he think he's that monster who killed Sion?!"

Hearing the latter half of the captain's sentence, Chen Ce nearly stumbled.

How should one put this... what a coincidence, isn't it?

"Sorry, but I actually am," he smiled, then swung his greatsword forward.

The Black Stone Rune Greatsword reorganized under the reinforcement of the gale, releasing the powerful energy contained within.

In a single exchange, dozens of men were sent flying, their agonizing wails mixing with the sound of weapons hitting the ground.

And then...

Sweeping Blade!

Three Talon Strike!

Steel Tempest!

Wind Wall!

Chen Ce mastered these various skills, and dealing with these Noxian soldiers, who possessed almost no magical power, was like a wolf among sheep.

He could even observe the situation at the monastery while slaughtering his enemies.

The monks were all gathered around the wooden gates of the monastery, guarding this sacred temple with their lives, preventing any Noxian invaders from entering to defile it.

Chen Ce fought valiantly in the rear, quickly disposing of most of the Noxian soldiers using ranged weapons, but it would still take time to fight his way to the monastery gates.

He turned his head and saw Ahri, who had been moving a bit slower, finally catching up.

But just as he prepared to shout for her to support the gates first, a blur of extreme speed flashed before his eyes.

Immediately after, a loud crash erupted from the direction of the gates.

A tall, muscular giant had arrived on the scene.

He was clutching a Noxian soldier by the neck—the latter looked so frail before him, like a pathetic little chick.

He was as strong as a savage. He was dressed like one, too.

And his thick Freljordian northern accent confirmed it:

"Our fury, you cannot control!"

Chapter 67: Lillia Has Been Captured!

The moment he saw Udyr, Chen Ce felt a great sense of relief and comfort.

On one hand, this Spirit Walker from the Freljord was immensely powerful; with his help, the Hirana Monastery would surely survive this crisis.

On the other hand...

Since Udyr was here, it proved that Lee Sin was here as well.

Oh, wait—perhaps at this point in time, Lee Sin could not yet be called the "Blind Monk"—

Chen Ce looked back and, sure enough, saw another lean figure at the end of the mountain path.

It was a man dressed as a monk, roughly thirty years old. He wasn't old, but his face was etched with the marks of time, revealing a deep sense of world-weariness.

His head was shaven, with only a long braid hanging down his back. His clothes were simple and worn, the loose trousers already faded from many washes.

His overall image was identical to the "Blind Monk Lee Sin" of The Rift; there was no major difference.

The only thing that was completely different was his eyes.

He was not blind at all right now; a pair of brown eyes that had seen countless joys and sorrows of the world were weary yet spirited, giving off an air of wisdom and indifference, yet laced with a hint of regret and pain.

Yes, at this point in time, he had not yet blinded himself.

And according to the original timeline, the time he would go completely blind was...

Tonight.

In the original timeline, in order to coordinate with Udyr and help the monks repel the Noxian invaders, he was forced to use the Dragon Spirit Power that he could not yet fully control.

That night, a formidable power defeated every enemy, but it brought with it devastating consequences—the monks of the monastery were unharmed, yet the buildings were razed, leaving the entire temple in ruins. His own eyes, caught in the wake of that raging Dragon Spirit Power, lost the ability to perceive light forever.

Without the Dragon Spirit Power, he could not protect the monks in need; using it, he could not control the manic energy that had leveled the monastery.

It seemed to be a fated tragedy.

But... Chen Ce, who had already "foreseen the future," might just be able to break this seemingly unbreakable curse.

"Lee Sin! Leave this to us; get those wounded monks to safety!"

Hearing his name called, Lee Sin hurriedly looked toward the source of the voice. He saw a young man fighting valiantly alone amidst the sea of soldiers, wielding a spear in one hand and a sword in the other. His fluid, lightning-fast strikes ensured he never lost the upper hand.

He did not recognize the man, but he could tell from his attire that he was not a monk of the Hirana Monastery—or perhaps not a monk at all. After all, no monk would wear battle armor.

Regardless, as long as he was an ally, it was enough.

"Understood!" Lee Sin shouted back. He rushed toward the monastery gates, used his masterful ancient martial arts—devoid of the Dragon Spirit Power—to beat back several Noxian soldiers, and then departed with the wounded.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Had this powerful outsider not appeared, he likely would have hesitated before choosing to unleash the Dragon Spirit Power—he could not stand by and watch his kin be slaughtered, especially when he had the ability to protect them.

"Lee Sin?" Some of the monks at Hirana Monastery recognized their former brother. They remembered the sins he had committed, but they said nothing.

For one, this was no time to dwell on such things; for another... after all these years, his penance had been more than enough to repay that debt.

Seeing him here again proved that he had cast aside his former arrogance and pride, finding true inner peace.

Desire is the enemy of the practitioner, and he had clearly abandoned his infinite craving for power.

"I am so glad to see you again... truly..." an injured elder said sincerely.

"I am also glad that Shojin has accepted me once more." Lee Sin pressed his palms together in a bow; forgiveness and being forgiven passed in the brief moment their eyes met.

No words were needed.

While the atmosphere here was harmonious, the battle outside remained fierce.

Fortunately, with the addition of Chen Ce, Ahri, and Udyr, the Noxian soldiers who had nearly breached the monastery gates were driven back, and the tide of battle was rapidly turning.

Seeing this, Lee Sin felt a sense of calm—he would not need to use the Dragon Spirit Power he had yet to fully master.

Of course, not using the Dragon Spirit Power did not mean he would stand by like a cripple and watch the show.

He was a master of Ionian ancient martial arts.

Even before he had been favored by the Dragon Spirit Power, his martial prowess had always been exceptional.

In the past, he had used this skill to compete and humiliate his peers, a fact he deeply regretted.

And now, it was time for atonement.

"Hiku—!"

Against a Noxian Legion that lacked "secret weapons" and possessed almost no true powerhouses, they would remain invincible as long as Chen Ce's stamina and spirit did not run dry.

Coupled with the replenishment of Corrupting Potion, the aid of Ahri and Udyr, and the desperate resistance of the monks, the scales of victory tipped rapidly.

In less than an hour, the Noxian Legion that had sought to occupy Hirana Monastery was in full retreat.

By this stage of the war, many of them no longer had the heart to fight—seeing no hope of victory and being sent by their mad High Command to attack such a remote temple, anyone would lose their will to fight.

As soon as their general gave the order, they retreated faster than anyone.

It was just like white-collar workers slacking off at the office hearing their boss say they could leave early for the night.

Watching the backs of the fleeing soldiers, everyone finally embraced the joy of victory.

Chen Ce brushed the dust and blood from his clothes and walked straight into the Hirana Monastery with Ahri.

Before they could even ask, the monastery elders came out to meet them—everyone had witnessed their heroic performance, and naturally, they would not be slighted.

Chen Ce did not beat around the bush; after exchanging pleasantries with the elders, he stated his purpose directly:

"I come from the Placidium of Navori, seeking the help of those in this monastery."

As he spoke, he took the hairpin Karma had gifted him before his departure from his pouch. "This is a token from Karma."

"Oh, you are an honored guest of Karma." Upon hearing that name, the already respectful elder became even more formal. "We are deeply grateful for your help. Please, come inside; we will do everything in our power to repay you."

"I am most grateful."

During the conversation, they walked into the monastery.

In truth, Hirana Monastery was not the name of a single building, but a collective term for several temples. The outermost temple was [Shojin]—the place where Lee Sin had once undergone his training.

The monks sat on the floor, with the most venerable elders and mentors seated beneath the statues. Everyone's attitude was friendly and respectful.

Chen Ce returned the bows one by one, and was then invited to approach a paralyzed old man—the latter sat in a wheelchair, his lower body completely immobile, with only one hand and his head capable of movement.

"Greetings, Mr. Chen Ce." The paralyzed old man reached out his only functional right hand with great effort. "My name is 'Ming.' If you do not mind, allow me to help you resolve the confusion in your heart."

"It is my honor." Chen Ce shook his hand respectfully.

At the same time, he quietly sized the man up.

Most of the muscles on the old man's body showed varying degrees of atrophy, but the calluses on his palms suggested he had once been a martial monk.

Yet, the elder from before had said he was the wisest monk in Shojin.

A martial monk, yet the most wise and learned... this strange combination reminded Chen Ce of someone.

He stole another glance at Lee Sin, who was sitting in the corner of the great hall.

He noticed the latter's gaze was somewhat evasive.

As expected...

This paralyzed old man was none other than Lee Sin's former master.

And the reason for his paralysis... was naturally that kick Lee Sin had delivered while showing off during a martial arts lesson back in the day.

After being left paralyzed by his severe injuries, the monk Ming could no longer continue to study martial arts, so he had no choice but to pour his heart into scholarship.

After so many years, it was no surprise that a man already brimming with talent had become the wisest and most learned of monks.

"Please, tell me the confusion that weighs upon your heart," Ming said softly. "I will do my best to resolve your doubts within the limits of my ability."

"Thank you." Chen Ce didn't waste any time, rolling up his sleeve right there in front of everyone.

The strange magical sigil on his right arm was instantly exposed to the air.

"I want to know what this is, and how I can remove it."

"Hmm..." Ming examined it carefully for a moment before asking in return, "Is this a magical brand of black magic?"

Hearing the words "black magic," Chen Ce was immediately overjoyed. "Yes, black magic. A sorcerer from Noxus left it on me."

"I have some impression of this kind of magical brand," the old man nodded thoughtfully. "But because there are so few records regarding black magic, my memory is not deep; I will need to consult some ancient texts—you understand, Mr. Chen Ce, such things have always belonged to the realm of the obscure."

"I understand." Chen Ce was in no rush; he returned the gesture and extended his arm, allowing Ming's students to sketch the magical sigil from his skin.

Once the matter was discussed, Ming signaled that he was ready to return to his studies, but Chen Ce called out to him once more. "I have one more favor to ask..."

"Hm? Please, speak." Ming had his student turn the wheelchair back around.