Chapter 73 Control Him
"Your Excellency."
Two black-robed figures emerged slowly from the dark corridor. One wore a mask marked with the number 4, the other with the number 7.
"Where is Old Eight?" the man with the number 4 mask asked in a low voice.
The prince didn't turn his head, his gaze still fixed on the woman in the red dress as he replied casually, "Mr. Eight went to help me kill two people. He'll be back soon."
"Help you kill people?" The number 4 man's tone darkened. "Your Excellency, that was not part of our agreement."
"Don't worry," the prince said, finally turning to face them. "They're just two first-level brats. There's no need for concern."
The number 4 man nodded and fell silent.
Though Old Eight had the lowest spiritual level among them, his twisted B-grade spirit weapon was more than enough to handle two first-tier spirit masters.
Tap… tap… tap…
The sharp click of high heels echoed suddenly. Unnoticed, the woman in the red dress had turned and was now walking toward them.
The three men stiffened, quickly retreating several steps back into the corridor.
The woman lifted her fox-like face slightly, her veiled eyes—shimmering behind the black lace—seeming to pierce through them. "Where is my daughter?" she murmured softly.
The prince smiled. "Don't worry, my princess. I've already sent someone to find Little Red. She'll be home soon."
The woman tilted her head as if processing his words. After a long pause, she gave a faint hum and resumed her aimless circling around the glass coffin.
The prince watched her flickering spirit with a frown. "Over the years, I've gathered countless historical records, yet aside from the earliest mentions in the Glass Pavilion archives, I've found nothing about her. It's as if she's been completely erased from the river of imaginary numbers."
He lowered his voice. "But from the Glass Pavilion's fragments, I've deduced that her power is likely tied to the laws of causality."
Turning to the two robed figures, he asked, "Tell me—does your Divine Evil Society know of any great calamity whose power involves causality?"
"A great calamity?" The number 4 man blinked in surprise, glancing at the woman. "Isn't she a divine messenger?"
The prince shook his head. "That's the strangest part. She carries the divinity of a Star God, yet falls far short of one. The most plausible explanation is that she's a divine messenger—one standing close to a god. But something unusual happened yesterday."
"Oh?" The number 4 man's interest sharpened.
"At around six in the morning, ten hours before the birthday banquet was to begin," the prince continued, "I attempted, as usual, to connect with the princess through dreams using Meng E's assistance. As expected, the connection failed. The river of imaginary numbers still bars all access to her, spirit included."
"But then, unexpectedly, a mark of the Abyssal Ones appeared between her brows." He extended his palm, flames twisting into the shape of a ※ symbol.
"You recognize this, don't you? It's the sigil of an Abyssal One above the Six-Eyes tier."
The number 4 man frowned. "And then?"
The prince's voice grew quieter. "Then she whispered, 'I have a husband,' and fell into a deep sleep. She didn't wake until the banquet was about to begin."
The two Divine Evil Society members exchanged glances.
"It seems her identity is even more complex than we thought," the number 4 man muttered. "Not just tied to the Star God, but also to the Abyssal God."
The number 7 man, silent until now, chuckled. "No matter. Your Excellency, we simply hope you haven't forgotten our arrangement."
The prince smiled faintly. "Rest assured. Once the birth ceremony is complete, I will personally unseal the Infinite Realm to welcome your Society's forces."
After dealing with their pursuers, Xia Feng and Mu Qingtong wasted no time, pressing onward toward their destination.
Now ascended to the second tier, their spiritual pressure had multiplied, and they no longer rationed its use. Activating Twin Tails and Thunder Sky Steps, they streaked through the dark forest like twin bolts of black and white lightning.
Spiritual pressure functioned as mana. Normally, even a few C-tier spirit arts could drain the two of them dry.
This was why many second-generation spirit masters—even those inheriting B-tier or A-tier spirit arts—started by learning D-tier techniques. No matter how gifted, a novice simply lacked the spiritual pressure to sustain high-tier arts.
And this, too, was why so many craved awakened spirit weapons. Regardless of grade, spirit weapons consumed far less spiritual pressure than N-tier arts—sometimes almost none at all.
As they raced forward, Xia Feng's voice suddenly echoed in Mu Qingtong's mind. "By the way," he asked idly, "what's your spirit weapon's activation condition?"
The woman in the black skirt glanced at Xia Feng and sighed helplessly, "Are you trying to catch me off guard?"
"Might as well try—no harm done."
"Mr. Xia, I suggest you ask something more substantive. Then I might answer."
"Fine. New question—when will you advance to third-tier spirit master?" Xia Feng asked.
Mu Qingtong side-eyed him. This junior had grown increasingly preoccupied with her cultivation progress lately, constantly probing about her spiritual pressure and spirit weapon capabilities through roundabout methods. His curiosity about her was becoming blatant.
She understood his mentality well. Faced with a true peer at last, he couldn't help fixating on her—to comprehend her, challenge her, and ultimately conquer her! Until he dominated her completely!
This was the duel between the strong: simple, unadorned.
Even if they were of the same breed, only one would remain standing in the end. The fallen didn't deserve to reach the summit.
"Third-tier? About three months to complete the advancement," Mu Qingtong replied lightly.
"Three months?!" Xia Feng's mental voice rang with exaggerated surprise laced with scorn. "You actually need three whole months to reach third-tier?"
"..."
Mu Qingtong recognized his deliberate provocation, yet still bit: "How long would it take you?"
"Me?" Xia Feng's tone oozed smugness. "One month tops."
"..."
"Miss Mu, is this really your limit?" Xia Feng's smirk practically dripped through their mental link.
"Tch." Mu Qingtong gave a resigned chuckle. "Keep boasting, I'll keep humoring you."
Truthfully, she could peak her spiritual pressure for third-tier advancement within two weeks. The real bottleneck was gathering the spiritual materials—three months was a conservative estimate.
When the Evil Heart showed no synchronicity data, Xia Feng nearly groaned. This Witch of Destruction lacked all ambition! Lazy—utterly lazy!
With an exaggerated sigh, he prodded, "Ah, someone didn't believe I could advance without materials. Wonder how that turned out?"
"..."
"Well? What happened?"
Mu Qingtong ignored the bait. Advancement without materials involved too many unknowns and risks. Even if successful, it proved nothing.
Yet Xia Feng's infuriating smirk stoked her competitive fire higher.
In that case, only one path remained:
Understand him.
Fight him.
Crush him.
Until this annoying man knelt utterly conquered—under Mu Qingtong's complete control!
(End of Chapter)