Chapter 73.73 Control Him
In the dim corridor, two figures in black robes slowly emerged. One wore a mask with the number “4,” and the other wore a mask with the number “7.”
“Where is Old Ba?” inquired the man with the number 4 mask, his voice deep.
Without turning his head, the Earl continued to gaze enraptured at the woman in the red dress. “Mr. Eight is helping this King kill a couple of people. He’ll be back soon.”
“Helping you kill people?” the man with the number 4 mask’s tone grew slightly somber. “Earl, this wasn’t part of our deal.”
“Don’t worry,” the Earl shook his head and turned around. “They’re just a couple of insignificant First-stage brats. You two don’t need to concern yourselves.”
The man with the number 4 mask nodded and said no more. Although Old Ba’s Spirit Rank was the lowest among them, he possessed a rather formidable B-class Spirit artifact, more than enough to deal with two First-stage Spirit Masters.
*Tap, tap, tap…*
Just then, with a crisp sound of high heels, the woman in the red dress turned around and walked towards them. The three men’s expressions changed drastically, and they quickly retreated several steps back into the corridor.
The woman in the red dress gracefully tilted her exquisitely beautiful, fox-like face upwards. Her eyes, veiled by a black chiffon on her luminous nose, seemed to fix on them as she softly murmured, “Where is my daughter?”
The Earl smiled. “Rest assured, my Princess Consort, I have already sent people to find Hongdou. She will be home soon.”
The woman in the red dress tilted her head, as if trying to comprehend his words. After a moment, she nodded and hummed, then continued to wander around the Glass Coffin.
Watching the woman in the red dress’s Spirit Body occasionally twist, the Earl’s voice deepened. “Over the years, I’ve searched through a lot of historical records. Besides the initial text inscribed on the Glass Coffin, I’ve found almost no other information about her. This indicates that she has been thoroughly erased by the Imaginary River.”
“However, from the information on the Glass Coffin, I have roughly inferred that her Authority might be related to the law of causality.”
“Gentlemen, does your God’s Calamity Society know of any Great Calamity whose Authority is related to the law of causality?”
“Great Calamity?” The man with the number 4 mask was startled and looked at the woman in the red dress in surprise. “Isn’t she a divine messenger?”
The Earl shook his head. “This is the strangest part. She possesses the Divinity of a Star God, yet she is far from reaching the level of a Star God. She is most likely a divine messenger who has approached godhood. But yesterday, something peculiar happened.”
“Oh?” The man with the number 4 mask became interested.
“It was around six in the morning, about ten hours before the Birth ritual began.” The Earl looked at the woman in the red dress. “As usual, with the help of Nightmare, I conducted a dream connection experiment, allowing me to meet my Princess Consort directly in dreams. Without any accident, the dream connection failed again. The Imaginary River had sealed off everything about her, including her spirit.”
“But what was unexpected was that this time, a Nightmare Clan symbol appeared on the Princess Consort’s forehead.” As he spoke, the Earl opened his palm, and a ball of flame appeared, transforming into a symbol. He looked at the two members of the God’s Calamity Society. “You two should be familiar with this symbol, the mark possessed only by Nightmare Clan members of Six-eyed Level or higher.”
“And then?” the man with the number 4 mask asked, puzzled.
The Earl shook his head. “Then the Princess Consort mumbled, ‘I have a husband,’ and fell into a deep sleep until just before the banquet was about to begin.”
Upon hearing the Earl’s account, the men with the numbers 4 and 7 exchanged glances.
“It seems her identity is even more complex than we imagined. Not only is she related to a Star God, but also to a Nightmare God.” The man with the number 7, who had been silent until now, chuckled lightly. “But it doesn’t matter anymore, Earl. I just hope you still remember our agreement.”
The Earl smiled faintly. “Rest assured, after the Birth ritual is complete, I will personally open the seal of the Boundless Realm to welcome the army of the God’s Calamity Society.”
***
After dealing with their pursuers, Xia Feng and Mu Qingtong did not linger and continued towards their destination. After advancing to Second-stage, their Spirit Pressure strength had multiplied several times. They no longer held back when using Spirit Pressure, directly unleashing their Two-tails mode and Thunder Sky Step, soaring through the dark forest like streaks of black and white lightning. Spirit Pressure was equivalent to mana. In normal circumstances, a few C-class Spirit Robes could drain them completely.
This was also why many second-generation Spirit Masters, even with family heirloom B-class or A-class Spirit Robes, had to learn D-class Spirit Robes in their early stages. Because even if a Spirit Master, however talented, learned a high-level Spirit Robe, they couldn’t use it due to the limitation of their Spirit Pressure capacity. Of course, this was also why so many Spirit Masters longed to awaken Spirit artifacts, as any Spirit artifact, regardless of its level, consumed less Spirit Pressure than N-level Spirit Robes, practically negligible.
As they flew, Xia Feng’s voice suddenly appeared in Mu Qingtong’s mind, as if asking casually, “By the way, what was your Spirit artifact’s trigger condition again?”
“…” The black-dressed woman glanced at Xia Feng, her tone helpless. “Are you trying to trick me into revealing information in a surprise attack?”
“Let’s try, there’s no harm done~”
“Mr. Xia, I suggest you change the subject to something more substantial. I might answer then.”
“Alright then, let’s change the question. When will you be promoted to Third-stage Spirit Master?” Xia Feng asked.
Mu Qingtong glanced sideways at Xia Feng. This junior recently seemed overly interested in her cultivation progress, probing her Spirit Pressure status and Spirit artifact abilities in various ways. His curiosity towards her was becoming increasingly evident. She could somewhat understand Xia Feng’s mindset; upon encountering a rare peer, one couldn’t help but pay more attention to them. Thus, to understand her, contend with her, and defeat her! Until finally, to control her! This was the duel between the strong, simple and unadorned. Even among peers, in the end, only one would stand; the fallen were not worthy of the right to stand at the apex.
“Third-stage Spirit Master? About three months should be enough for the promotion,” Mu Qingtong said calmly.
“Three months?!” Xia Feng’s voice echoed in her mind again, his tone of surprise tinged with a hint of disdain. “You actually need three months to be promoted to Third-stage Spirit Master?”
“…”
Mu Qingtong knew very well that this annoying fellow was deliberately provoking her, but she couldn’t help but retort, “How long would you need?”
“Me?” Xia Feng gave an arrogant smile. “One month is sufficient.”
“…”
“Miss Mu, you can’t even do that, can you?” Xia Feng’s lips curled, his expression filled with confusion.
“!” Mu Qingtong offered a helpless smile. “Keep bragging, I’ll keep listening.” Reaching the peak Spirit Pressure required for Third-stage promotion could be done in two weeks for her. However, the real issue in advancing to Third-stage was the collection of Spiritual Materials. Three months was her conservative estimate.
Seeing that no synchronization information had appeared regarding the Calamity Demon Heart, Xia Feng felt that this World-Ending Witch was utterly unmotivated—lazy, very lazy! Thinking this, he sighed. “Alas, some people didn’t believe I could advance without Spiritual Materials before. And what was the result?”
“…”
“What was the result?” Mu Qingtong ignored Xia Feng’s provocation. Advancing without Spiritual Materials was inherently fraught with unknown risks. Even if successful, it didn’t prove anything. However, Xia Feng’s annoying demeanor only further ignited the fire within her. If that’s the case, then there was only one way! To understand him, contend with him, defeat him! And finally… make this annoying peer completely submit to her, Mu Qingtong, and then control him!
