The Eight-legged Sky Horse, as tall as a little hill, followed closely behind. Its figure, large to small, landed lightly by the grassy shores of the Holy Lake.

The two girls wore long chiffon dresses, one blue and one white, and stepped down from the broad back of the horse in white rubber flip-flops.

Seeing the scenery before them, different from the coastal views, they couldn’t help but let out a cheer.

They kicked off their flip-flops in Byron’s direction, and their two small, crystal-like bare feet that resembled works of art dipped into the lake, their jewel blue and silver pink toenails gently stirring the water.

Recently, the Grand Wizards of the Bloodthirsty Cult had cultivated a high-yield dandelion variety using genetic information marking technology, enabling rubber extraction from dandelion roots.

After testing, the performance and quality of the rubber extracted from dandelions were indistinguishable from natural rubber, and the dandelion-derived rubber proved to be stronger and more abundant.

Compared to natural rubber, rubber from dandelion roots is less dependent on climate, with lower planting conditions and costs.

They have already planted rubber dandelions in large quantities around the designated industrial hub, significantly improving logistics costs and environmental burdens.

There should soon be no need to import natural rubber from the rainforest of the Southern Continent. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

As the yield soared, besides critical uses like steam engines and various sealing components, of course, other fields could benefit from its application as well.

"Catherine, the colony is truly too hot. How about we build a vacation villa here? We could come and stay for a few days every summer,"

"Just as Byron suggested as a summer resort the other day."

"Sure, I’ll allocate the funds,"

Byron shook his head helplessly while holding his sisters’ shoes, pointing to the side:

"At least show some respect for the Holy Lake and the Zero-Level Sacred Relic [Sword in the Stone]."

On the lakeside stood a rectangular boulder, weathered with the marks of time, with a gray, sheathless long sword embedded in its center. The sword’s hilt and blade appeared to have turned to stone over the ages.

They couldn’t even display a fraction of the glamour of a Zero-Level Sacred Relic.

However, clearly inscribed on the stone were sprite runes: "Whoever draws this sword from the stone shall be the king all over the realm."

In legend, the [Sword in the Stone], also known as the [Sword of Selection], was an unparalleled holy sword forged from all precious metals conceivable.

This sword not only symbolizes royal power but also represents the earliest metallurgy of the Old Continent.

The reason it has the "sword of selection" ability is that whoever can pull this sword out will be the destined sovereign of the entire realm.

Much like the Imperial Jade Seal of another world, it represents the undeniable "mandate from heaven," the supreme assertion above all others.

Regrettably, throughout history, every member from figures like the Pirate Emperor [Blue Dragon King], later the Golden Flower, Lancaster, York, and even Byron himself tried, yet no one could pull it out.

Byron has always suspected the holy sword is not meant for selection but for only the true ruler acknowledged by this land, who would then have the rightful chance to take it out.

He thus decided to try again once he became the true Fifth Order Legendary Pirate King.

Yesterday, after Byron uncovered the secrets of the Oak Sage, he boasted that he would enslave all these colonizers who had smuggled over from the Corridor of Truth.

However, he also realized that if every sect has one or two Fifth Order Pseudo-Gods, it would exceed his capacity to handle the situation, even with the Kingdom’s Guardian [Master of the Fishing Spot] Hawkins’s help.

Even if he gathers the [King’s Left Hand] Guardsmen, he might only confidently handle one against two, but if it comes to three, he might end up getting ganged upon and beaten to death.

Especially upon discovering someone had long set up plans in secret, accelerating the division of the Old Continent and thwarting any possibility of unification.

He felt as if an elusive pair of eyes was watching over him, sensing immense pressure.

The unknown adversary left a particular uncertainty in his heart.

So the next day, he decisively charged over here.

His three aspects, body: expanding believers in the divine system; mind: racing towards 1% in the Mind Realm Unity of All Things; spirit: seizing Kalmar’s Royal Iron to complete the "Pirate Royal Iron" ritual to ascend as Storm King, all require time.

Aside from these, he can only rely on external means, and [Sword in the Stone] is precisely the first choice.

Having once failed before, Byron wasn’t overly anxious, maintaining a calm mindset; success would be fortunate, failing would be his fate.

He stepped forward, standing before the rectangular boulder and the holy sword, placing his right hand on the sword hilt.

Catherine and Violet joined him, not just simply for fun.

They exchanged a glance, and Spiritual Radiance burst from their bodies.

Silently—!

Two gigantic creatures flanked Byron, with the Mithril Dragon Wings shading the sky and the Leviathan Whale causing the lake to surge.

Most treasures’ emergence often accompanies anomalies, and the two of them mainly wanted to be prepared in case of contingencies.

In the past, nobody coveted it because no one could take it away. If the sword truly were pulled out now, who knows how many would be jealous over a Zero-Level Sacred Relic.

Byron first cast an [Echo of History] on the [Sword in the Stone], making new discoveries beyond the mythology:

"As everyone knows, [Sword in the Stone] was the weapon of the Mythical Era Knight King.

However, few know that in essence, it is actually a fragment of the holy sword [Sword in the Tree] from the Gulf Divine Lineage.

According to legend, on the wedding day of a certain ancient Bayfolk King Sieger with Signy, a ragged, one-eyed man wearing a hat visited the great house.