TOP SECRET: Adventures in the Dark Continent Chapter 498: Ten Years

The years dragged on languidly ...

Nearly a decade had passed with Liu Yang, Alwine, June, Fantina, and the beasts trapped inside the challenge. They remained oblivious to all the events unfolding beyond its confines.

Should they witness the changes among the dryads, shock and delight would overwhelm them.

One by one, dryads began reverting to their normal states, though the process unfolded at a glacial pace.

The moment the curse lifted from the first dryad, purifying her completely, she let out a joyous scream before rushing to see the empress, joined by Rhexia and their nine children.

The sight of a curse-free dryad stunned the two women, yet their shock turned to understanding upon learning she had been freed from the affliction.

Realizing Liu Yang was fulfilling his end of the bargain filled them with immense joy, even if the timeline remained uncertain.

Thankfully, the purified dryads aided the empress in sustaining the tree's verdant glow for an extended period. Their energies also bolstered her own strength.

As a result, the empress endured far beyond the original five-year limit.

Thus, their anticipation for Liu Yang to uphold his promise grew ever more feasible.

Meanwhile,

While time progressed for the dryads, construction of the grand city by the continent's elite factions pressed forward relentlessly.

Just one year into the build, the city stood fully realized.

Nearby settlements buzzed with excitement over the emerging metropolis and its rich mithril vein. Consequently, millions upon millions flocked there like swarms of ants.

Within mere days, the population swelled to tens of millions, all eager to mine riches or snag prime real estate.

Regrettably, the most dominant powers of the Wild Region had already carved up the city. Outsiders could only lease properties from these overlords.

Most astonishingly, a cadre of stunning women oversaw the city administration, as their shared lover held true dominion. This sparked waves of envy and jealousy among men and women alike.

Each woman radiated breathtaking beauty and allure; some possessed looks potent enough to topple empires. The sheer marvel was their devotion to one single man.

Other women envied them fiercely for securing such a wealthy, mighty partner poised to rule this colossal urban hub—a prize many coveted yet never attained.

Beauty often invites calamity, drawing covetous gazes from haughty young masters of Wild Region dynasties. Yet claiming any proved arduous, bordering on impossible.

Formidable guards shielded each one rigorously.

Liu Yang had compelled those clans to safeguard his women, a clause etched into their binding contracts.

In return for this duty, they gained perks like prime mining spots. That incentive alone ignited universal avarice.

Assigning protectors to these extraordinarily mighty women was a simple task; they merely stationed watchers at a distance.

The real headache stemmed from their own kin—family scions who, upon glimpsing the women, burned with desire to seize them, sparking endless complications.

Hence, stern warnings issued to all, regardless of rank: any disruption involving these women would invite harsh retribution, contract-bound as they were.

Liu Yang wielded riches to lure these allies and thwart such incidents.

The Wild Region brimmed with kingdom-toppling beauties aplenty, so why court trouble over those already claimed? Profiting proved far simpler than woman-induced woes.

Even so, troubles abounded. Luckily, their strength allowed them to manage most crises. Tragically, some perished, preferring death over another man's touch.

Numerous youths met fatal ends as the system triggered, executing them en masse.

Liu Yang's wives and paramours—like Lida, the trio of Valkyries, Zily with her three daughters, and others—received the heaviest safeguards. Their royal sway summoned armies of soldiers for protection.

Clasha and her cohort relied on their own formidable might for defense.

Liu Yang's sprawling mansion offered ample luxury for every woman. No grievances arose over living quarters.

The sole void in their lives was Liu Yang's prolonged absence, spanning nearly ten years, with no sign of his return.

Back in dryad lands ...

After nearly ten years, the landscape had transformed utterly.

Once a barren wasteland devoid of greenery, haunted by aimless cursed dryads, it now teemed with vibrant life—lush trees, soaring grasses, and myriad elements that brightened every corner.

Regrettably, pockets of darkness lingered alongside remaining cursed dryads, signaling the curse's incomplete eradication.

Yet, strangely enough, no cursed creatures appeared aside from the dryads. This was highly unusual.

At the giant tree's location, the empress no longer had to exert herself as much as previously, since the dryads were collectively channeling their powers to bolster her.

Gazing upon the tree revealed it was no longer enveloped in darkness like before; only a few areas remained shadowed, while numerous sections had turned lush green and brimming with vitality.

Rhexia lingered in a corner, aiding the empress with nine children by her side. Each resembled the others, chuckling with delight as they offered their limited powers to assist her.

All of them had reached level 201, enabling them to contribute something, however small.

Every so often, Rhexia cast affectionate glances at the nine children. They had matured, yet Liu Yang never witnessed that growth. It brought deep sadness.

Rhexia felt a blend of joy and sorrow simultaneously, knowing Liu Yang remained alive because the dryads' curses kept getting purified. This proved he was still carrying out his duty. Yet sorrow lingered too, from not knowing how much longer it would continue.

The sole factor maintaining her optimism was the nearly exhausted count of cursed dryads, with fewer than ten left.

Thus, his time to depart approached.

But things weren't so straightforward.

Months later, the final dryad underwent purification, but Liu Yang didn't depart. This indicated some complication was afoot, though nobody knew the details.

Rhexia grew more uneasy each day, as her man still hadn't left.

That period of waiting extended several more months, until a complete decade had passed.