– STORY –

Government intelligence agencies realized that Konrad, the

world’s number one wife robber, was endowed with a supreme
weapon allowing him to turn the purest of maidens into
hungry beasts: The Golden Rod!

Eager to obtain that marvelous weapon for their own nefarious

purposes, powerful politicians send their teams after him,
hoping to capture and analyze the rod. Konrad was chased
from one corner of the world to another and ultimately
cornered. But in a fit of fury, he chose to destroy what they
worked so hard to obtain!

“Screw your ten thousand ancestors! Only I can wield the

golden rod! Since you want it so badly, then fetch its remains!”

He howled as he aimed a gun at the golden rod. But suddenly,

the sky darkened, and purple lightning struck him from above.

“Fool! This is a national treasure! Who gave you the right to

harm it?”

The Happiness God roared in indignation while sending

Konrad into reincarnation.

“This time put the treasure to better use. Complete all the
quests, and I might even let you enjoy the sweet fruits of
paradise!”

“God, I won’t disappoint you!”

Happiness God even gave him a tailor-made system. But there
was one problem, he was reborn in the body of a half-incubus
eunuch caned to death for offending the emperor’s favorite
consort!

*YIKES*

Empresses, imperial consorts, princesses, daughters of

powerful families. Within the confines of the Holy Flame City,
no beauty is safe from Konrad’s demonic clutches.

“Finally, a body matching my demonism.”

“To all the beauties of this world, I announce that your

conquest now begins!”

– GENRE / TAGS –

Fantasy, Harem, System, R-18, Mature, Reincarnation, Anti-

Hero, Shameless Protagonist, Overpowered Protagonist,
Immoral Protagonist, Dual Cultivation, Demons, Politics,
Comedy, Face-smacking
"Really, the life of a palace maid is nothing but sorrow. Why is it that we're the one
tasked to dispose of the body?"

"The holy consort's orders cannot be violated, so let's just get this over with."

Two palace maids lamented while dragging the dead body of a slender youth toward
the sewers in the dark of night. He looked no older than eighteen with short black
hairs stopping at the nape of his neck and a gorgeous, finely chiseled face that would
stand out within any crowd.

Alas, the pale and coldness of his body indicated that he was no longer of the living.
The two palace maids quickly reached the inner court's sewers and were about to
throw the body into it when they felt it tremble within their hands.

"Huh? Did you feel something?"

"Yes, I felt it shake a little. So, it wasn't just me?"

Instantly, their gaze lowered onto the youth's beautiful face, and they were horrified
to see his eyelids trembling.

His eyes sprang open!

"Wooh, waking up to two beauties holding me is always a pleasure, but maybe you
should introduce yourselves first?"

The youth jested.

"AAAAAAAARGH!"

"Ghost, undead, undead ghost!"

"Run away!"
A dead body had begun talking. Of course, they were getting the hell out of there.
Promptly, they dropped the body and ran at the speed of cheetahs!

In a thud, Konrad tumbled onto the ground, and jolts of pain wreaked his feeble
body.

"Bitches! Did you have to be so brutal? See how I deal with you in the future."

Rising from his vexing position, he sat cross-legged and began reorganizing his
thoughts. His memories were fuzzy, and the last thing he recalled was a god sending
him into reincarnation after he got cornered by various secret services and
attempted to destroy his golden rod.

The memories of the previous body's owner then flooded his body, and in three
seconds, his eyes widened in disbelief.

Apparently, he was now in a completely different world ruled by strength, status, and
magic. The Holy Flame Empire's inner court was where he stood, and he was a
seventeen years old eunuch who had been sold to the palace by his birth parents.

His father was a drunk, his mother was a whore (in all senses of the term), and they
chose to sell him to the palace to pay off their many debts. He had always been a
quiet child who dreamt of exploring the vast Holy Continent but had received no
opportunity to fulfill that dream.

Worse, destiny chose to curse him with something he didn't know how to deal with:
Beauty!

From infancy to maturity, he had always been too beautiful. As a human being, he
could compete with the Paragon Spirits in terms of looks and was surrounded by
excessive jealousy. Men wanted to gut him. Women to bed him, but he was too shy to
take advantage of that.

Being sold into the palace and made a eunuch was a form of relief, but who would
have expected that fate's cruelty would again assault him. While tending to his duties
in the imperial kitchen, he was spotted by one of the Holy Consort's maids and not
long after, summoned to her chambers.

The Holy Consort was known as the most beautiful woman of the empire and the
emperor's favorite. So, when she ordered him to "service" her, he was horrified,
refused, and tried to respectfully take his leave. And offended, the Holy Consort had
him caned to death!

"Yo, in what kind of bitchboy did I reincarnate? The country's top beauty wants you
to give her head, and you refuse? Serves you right!"

"But man, that is one nasty hoe. If the boy doesn't want you, just let him be. What's
the need of caning him to death? Oh well, I suppose I will have to properly thank
your insides in the future."

"Bye, bye twenty-first century. Hehehehe!"

Konrad chuckled and stood up. But only then did the realization struck him.

"Wait, wait, wait! Eunuch? Nooo, don't tell me…”

He cupped his groins, looking for his most cherished weapons but…

"NOOOOOOOO!"

Thankfully there was no one in a hundred-meter radius because his howl could wake
up even the dead.

"Rod without balls? What the fuck is this bullshit? I didn't sign up for this shit! God
give me back my balls!"

But God didn't answer. Instead, it was a hoarse, robotic voice that echoed within his
head.

"Harem Building System initialization…”

"Initialization complete…”

"Matching the host's voice…”

"Match completed…”

"Yo man what's up?"

Konrad's eyes widened. Why was a voice suddenly echoing within his head? He
looked left and right for a person to blame, but there was no one to be found.

"You can't see me, dumbass. I'm in your head."

Konrad wondered if he had gone insane. But considering that he had been
reincarnated into a world of sword and magic by a god… anything was possible.

"Okay, okay, what purpose do you serve?"

"I'm your system. You will have to follow the quests I give you to complete your
mission and receive the Happiness God's reward."

"Huh? Oh yeah, he did mention something like that. Okay, what's the deal?"

"Main Quest: Build a harem of ten thousand beauties."

"Ten thousand…”

Konrad's legs trembled, and he collapsed on his butt.

"In my past life, my record was only five hundred. I'm in!"

"Good spirit, yo! I will now connect you to the Harem Building System."

A purple screen with various information then appeared within Konrad's mind and
the nature of the system was clarified.

"So let me get this straight. I gain exp for every girl I fuck depending on their quality
and cultivation."

"The main quest is divided into ten levels, each with its set of rewards and I also have
side quests I can complete for extra boons. I can use my exp to purchase various
boons like treasures, cultivation manuals, special abilities, etc. And I have attributes I
can check and upgrade."

"Yeah, simple right? Wanna get to work?"

"Sure, but one question. What about my balls and golden rod?!"

"Oh yeah, you have to rebuild them."

Konrad was astonished. How was he supposed to rebuild something he was
originally born with? But then the system carried on.

"Main quest, level 1: Screw one girl.

Main Rewards: Harem Seeker Rank, golden rod restoration, cultivation base
breakthrough.

Ability Rewards: Ecstasy Fingers and Body Regeneration.

Time frame three hours.

Failure equals system removal."

"Huh? Three hours?"

He had just arrived in this new world and was still reorganizing his thoughts. Now he
was given three hours to screw one girl?

"You're on! But wait, wait. How do I do that without my balls?"

"Ignorance. Post-puberty eunuchs can have erections and orgasms. They just can't
produce sperm and lose their sexual urges over time. Now go get laid!"

"Oh. By the way, aren't you supposed to be some kind of robotic bullshit? Why do you
speak like such a cunt?"

"I'm programmed to speak like the host. That means you!"

Konrad had nothing more to say.

“…Alright, show me my attributes."

"Name: Konrad

Rank: Unranked

Cultivation level: No cultivation

Race: Half-Incubus
Physique: Mortal"

"Half-Incubus?"

"It seems the previous body's owner was actually the son of an incubus demon. Good
for you."

"Finally, a body matching my demonism! Alright then, let's get laid!"

Time was of the essence and so following his newly gained memories, Konrad first
made his way back to the kitchen eunuchs' living quarters for a bath. Following that,
he set out for prey.

The main issue was that considering the time, most palace maids would be sleeping
within their beds. Therefore, it was difficult for him to get his hands on one.

Ten square miles wide, the inner court was a city in its own right and housed far too
many people for him to be noticeable. Transportation from a sector to another was
mostly done through teleportation circles.

Using his identity token, Konrad used a teleportation circle to go from the eunuch
chambers to the palace maids' central courtyard. He originally wanted to target one
of those on night duties, but as he made his way past the flower garden, the figure of
a dainty young woman appeared within his sight.

Long black hairs falling on a slender waist, a shapely body brimming with the appeal
of youth, and a bewitching figure that immediately grabbed attention. As she sat
amidst the flowers with her fair skin glittering under the moonlight, Konrad knew
that he wanted her.
"Do I have access to any resources besides your attitude?"

Konrad asked while analyzing the girl from afar.

"I can boost your cultivation to fifth step Initiate Knight which will automatically
activate your half-incubus bloodline abilities."

"Why didn't you do that earlier?"

"You didn't ask."

"…”

Others received helpful systems that would properly lay down all their functions. But
he received some asshole with a high-school prom queen attitude.

"God, who did I offend?"

"All the husbands whose wives you stole."

“…just work your magic."

"Host's Cultivation increased to fifth step Initiate Knight."

"Bloodline Abilities Unlocked."

"Transformation Skill"

"Female Dream Theft"

Immediately, Konrad could feel a warm stream of energy spreading from within his
body into his every organs, bones, and muscles. His entire body was refined, and he
went from a feeble youth without the strength to truss a chicken to an arm strength
of two hundred kilos.

He then aimed his index at the daydreaming girl and caused an invisible white
thread to fly from her forehead and reach his mind.

"To roam the world within the arms of a gentle prince, free and unrestrained."

As the girl's most cherished dreams and desires dived into his mind, Konrad arched
his eyebrows.

"That girl would have been a perfect match for the previous body's owner."

He then used his transformation skill to turn his ordinary blue eunuch robe into a
lavish golden robe embroidered with nine stars swirling around a winged serpent.
The robe of an imperial prince!

The Holy Flame Empire possessed a very strict hierarchy with nobles of different
ranks being afforded different privileges. The right to wear gold and embroider nine
stars on clothing was reserved for the imperial family.

The winged serpent was the highest totem of the Paragon Spirit race that dominated
the Holy Flame Empire.

To disguise oneself as a member of the imperial family was punishable by death.

But Konrad didn't give a damn.

To avoid future problems, he also changed his appearance to that of a breathtaking

six-foot-tall, silver-haired youth with glistening, porcelain-like skin. Those were the
prominent features of the Paragon Spirit Race.

Armed to the teeth, Konrad silently stepped toward the girl.

"Why bask under the shadow of the moon when your beauty transcends it?"

A gentle voice came from the girl's back and pulled her from her trance. She turned
to face its origin and was shocked to see a mesmerizing paragon spirit youth dressed
in the attire of an imperial prince.

"Your imperial highness!"

The girl's first reaction wasn't to blush under his comment, but to curtsy in greeting.
Although she was a new palace maid, like all the others she had undergone rigorous
screening and training processes. His attire was like a beacon that triggered her
training.

"You may rise."

Konrad said, and she obeyed. However, she dared not look him in the eyes. He then
lifted her chin with his index and peered deep into her eyes.

"What's your name?"

There was something strange about that man's presence, an aura, and charm
different from the usual paragon spirit. A sexually charged aura that slowly crept on
the soul and overpowered the senses.

He was dangerous.

"Jasmine."

She replied, quietly.

"The pure white flower yearning for love. Befitting."

Konrad said with his eyes locked onto hers and his face approaching an inch closer.

"May I ask what your highness is doing in the palace maids' quarters so late at
night?"

She wanted to run yet didn't and stared back without fear.

"I originally wanted to admire the waning moon. But now, I just want to admire you."

His face went even closer, and his nose almost brushed hers.

"Your Highness is jesting. How can a servant girl like me be worthy of your
admiration?"

But she was betrayed by her rosy cheeks and thumping heart.
Konrad extended his hand toward her, she knew it was her last chance to run, but
still, she took it.

He then led her to sit by his side and pulled her into conversation. Time flew by at
breakneck speed, and before she knew it, her head rested on his chest while his arm
was wrapped around her.

"Do you resent your parents for offering you to the palace?"

"In the Holy Flame Empire, humans are no different from slaves. There isn't much a
daughter without any cultivation talent can ever bring to them. Beauty without
strength or status is no different than a curse.

They gave me my life, and now they sold it. I only feel that I've repaid what I owed."

"But I wish to thank them. If not for them, I would not be holding you."

He flirted. And as Jasmine stared into his eyes, she felt like she meant the world.
More extraordinary, it was the first time a man's eyes had never left hers.

He leaned in, his lips locking on hers, and breaking the last of any barrier she had
left. She kissed back, his tongue dived into hers, and they intertwined in a passionate
struggle of rising heat.

Gently, he drove her onto the ground, his sexually charged aura pulling out the
desires and fantasies she tried to suppress.

"Let me take you away."

With those five words, she collapsed and pushed her lips onto his in a blazing kiss.
Her hands fiddled with his clothes while he masterfully pulled open her cyan dress.
His tongue then trailed onto her neck with one hand cupping her breast and the
other unfastening her undergarments at a measured pace.

As he passionately kissed and bit her neck, her last fabrics were quickly laid on the
ground and her erect nipples brought to his mouth and fingers.

"Aah…”

She moaned with her nether regions overflowing with juice. Konrad's tongue slid
down, trailing on her body while his hands played with her erogenous zones.

And when he reached her mound, he went ballistic. His tongue dived in, devouring
her vagina with no restraint whatsoever. Her clit wasn't spared, and the combination
of creative attacks on far too many fronts caused her to drown in pleasure and plead.

"Mhm!"

"Yes, right there!"

"More… I want more! More!"

While she moaned and died within his hands, Konrad's rod had risen to attention. He
got rid of what little clothing he still wore and pressed his hardened shaft against her
fold.

"Only stare into my eyes."

Her foggy mind didn't prevent her from nodding like an obedient kitten. Her dreamy,
pleasure consumed eyes stared into his own, and he dived in.

"Aaaaargh!"

She groaned as a jolt of pain struck her, and blood trailed from her broken hymen.

"Stare into my eyes."

He repeated, and his strong but tender voice pulled her from the pain. She tightly
wrapped her arms around his neck to brace herself against future assaults and
stared into his eyes with a mixture of passion and fear.

"It's alright. Breathe in, relax, and let your body do the rest."

Following his hypnotic voice, she relaxed and so did her vagina. Feeling her walls
readjust around his shaft, Konrad lifted her legs and pushed deeper inside, at first
taking her slowly to let her adjust and then gradually increasing the pace as she grew
more accustomed to him.

The grimaces of pain soon disappeared, and only tormenting pleasure remained.
"Ohh… F-faster!"

*Pah* *Pah* *Pah*

He didn't need to hear it twice, and the pace shot up. The sloppy sound of fast
penetration combined with uncontrolled moaning soaring toward the night sky and
her trembling legs tightly wrapped around his waist.

*Pah* *Pah* *Pah*

His shaft moved alongside his waist, seeking and digging her pleasure spots one
after the other, and her juice drenched the flower field.

"Ohhh… Ohhh… OOHHH!"

He flipped her onto her front, and with his chest pressing her back and his hands
toying with her breasts, kissed and took her from behind.

*Pah* *Pah* *Pah*

Technique mixed with primitive instinct, her shapely ass slammed on his rod, and
both abandoned themselves to their pleasure driven thrusts.

"S-something… something weird… and big… is coming!"

"Aaaaaah!"

She groaned and orgasmed on his shaft. But he gave her no mercy and kept driving
into her until his own orgasm took him.

"Now, for the rest of your life, you can only be my woman."

He pulled out, rocked her into sex induced torpor, dressed up, and left.

"Yo, host! Congratulation for completing the first quest. Reward time!"

"Host's spiritual cultivation is increased to ninth step Initiate Priest.

Host's martial cultivation is increased to first step Adept Knight.

Host gains the abilities of Ecstasy Fingers and Body Regeneration.

"The Golden Rod's restoration begins!"

New, vaster streams of energy spread within Konrad's body and intertwined below
his navel. They clashed, swirled, and combined into a small rotating yellow tower.

Meanwhile, dark yellow misty fog grew from within his chest and shot toward his
brain, spreading across his mind in seemingly disorganized movements.

Within his pants, his flaccid shaft burst with golden light, and the missing "rocks"
below began reforming at breakneck speed. In less than five seconds, a new sac of
firm large dual balls had grown right where they belonged, and Konrad's shaft rose
to attention.

As if possessed with a mind of its own, it trembled and shook while pulsating with
boundless golden energy. Its light rose and spread across Konrad's entire form,
coating him in a radiant, golden glow. It was announcing its return!

Konrad stood up, his pants torn by his elongated shaft which now stood proud
within the world at massive girth.

"I have returned!"

"The almighty Konrad, woe of all useless husbands and heaven of all yearning wives
has returned!"

He balled up his fist and raised it toward the starry sky with determination and
proclaimed.

"To all the beauties of this world, I announce that your conquest now begins!"

But as he basked in excitement, the system's voice echoed.

"Alright, alright, let's not get ahead of ourselves."

"Taking all the beauties of this world? Did you consider your own weight?"
"How many of those "useless husbands" can squash you with one finger?"

"Really think that because you possess a powerful dick, you're unapparelled in the
world? Get back to reality, yo! Otherwise, you might not keep your balls for another
week."

And all of Konrad's excitement died in a heartbeat.

His forehead creased with veins popping up and threatening to explode while his
clenched fists trembled from indignation.

"I'm sick of your bullshit!"

"Couldn't you even let me enjoy this memorable moment?"

"Who the hell designed your bitch ass?"

"If you have the nerves, come out of my head and fight me you fucking cunt!"

Konrad spat while throwing his fists at an invisible opponent. But the complacent
system only struck harder.

"I was designed by a god! A true, unparalleled background!"

"If you have the nerves, come inside your head and fight me, dotard!"

"See how I beat you black and blue!"

"By the way, you love fucking cunts! What does that mean? Hehe…”

And the fight escalated, with Konrad and the system spouting as many curses as they
could think of.

"How does it feel to only be able to watch and not touch?"

"I don't feel, you harebrained dumbass!"

Konrad staggered and fell on his butt, finally defeated.

"By the way, why is your normal personality so different from when you were with
that gal?"

"Oh, that was one of my "I wanna get in her pants" profiles."

For an instant, the system remained silent.

"You have profiles for those?"

Satisfied by the system's reaction, Konrad puffed out his chest with complacent glee.

"Naturally! You have to know that girls of certain mindsets are more likely to fall for
certain profiles. In my past life, I mastered the art of profile making at the tender age
of fifteen!"

"As long I can get enough intel, there is no girl I cannot screw!"

“…if you say so. Let's get back to business. Enter the system and let me show you
your gains."

Regaining his focus, Konrad closed his eyes, and a purple screen appeared within his
mind. On display was a case in which he could see his name, face, and attributes.

Right below his face was his rank and exp levels.

"Name: Konrad

Rank: Harem Seeker

Cultivation level: ninth step Initiate Priest<>first step Adept Knight

Race: Half-Incubus

Physique: Mortal

Acquired Abilities: Body Regeneration<>Ecstasy Fingers

Bloodline Abilities: Female Dream Theft<>Transformation Skill<>Arousal Aura

Exp: 15"
"Wait, what? Exp 15? How is that possible? You're telling me that Jasmine was only
worth fifteen exp?"

Konrad questioned with indignation evident within his tone.

"Well, although she definitely had top-notch looks, she was, after all, a mortal girl
with no cultivation whatsoever. Mortal girls give 1 to 10 exp depending on looks and
other factors. Add to that a bonus of 5 exp for cherry popping and the count is right."

Konrad was speechless, but thinking again, it was rather sensible.

One to ten?

Wasn't that the usual grading system?

If anyone asked him how he would have graded Jasmine, he would have indeed said
"A solid ten!"

Moving on…

"So say I had sex with her tomorrow. Would I get 10 exp?"

"Yep."

"Just like monster farming huh?"

"Except you're farming beauties."

Suddenly, Konrad thought that the system was very likable.

"By the way, I still don't know how to use the two acquired abilities you mentioned."

"Oh yeah, forgot to update that. Update!"

Never mind, he was truly unreliable.

Lines of glittering code spread on the purple screen, and new batches of information
were imprinted into Konrad's mind.

"Ecstasy Fingers: The ability to turn any part of a woman's body into sensitive
erogenous zones through touch. More drastic use at higher harem ranks.

Body Regeneration: Passive ability granting the host fast healing and body
regeneration abilities. The speed is increased based on the host's harem rank."

Seeing the descriptions, Konrad was overjoyed. His sexual techniques had already
reached a bottleneck, making it difficult for him to attain a higher level. But now with
that finger alone, he had broken through a higher realm!

As for the body regeneration ability, it was evident that the inner court was a
dangerous place full of hidden tribulations. It would certainly come in handy.

"Show me the different things I can purchase with exp."

Konrad ordered and immediately, the scenery around him changed. The purple
screen expanded into a full-blown purple world within which five large boards
appeared.

"Cultivation Method Board"

"Artifact Board"

"Pill Board"

"Physique Board"

"Bloodline Board"

Each of those boards displayed an exhaustive list of things and their exp
requirements.

"Holy Energy Nullifying Sword-100000000 exp

Holy Primal Ancestor Physique-300000000 exp

Holy Quintessence Pill-150000000 exp

…”

Seeing the prices of some of the names listed at the bottom of the boards, Konrad's
forehead soaked in sweat. He looked for things within his range and realized that
even the lowest of tools were out of his league.

"I'm a poor devil."

"Yep, you better hurry up and screw some high tier girls to make good exp money.
Otherwise, you're never gonna make it."

The situation was grave, and Konrad's resolve to bed high cultivation beauties was
strengthened.

He then took a closer look at some of the bloodlines and methods and saw two
things that grabbed his attention.

"Bloodline: Pureblood Incubus- 500000 exp

Bloodline Upgrade: Half to Pureblood Incubus-50000 exp"

The Incubus Bloodline was originally an Arch Bloodline in the range of 100000 to
900000 exp. However, for those who came with Half-Incubus blood, there was a ten
times cheaper upgrade option. Better, they were also higher tiers of evolution that
could be upgraded to at a much lower price than their real value.

He also saw dual cultivation methods which could be used to not only train himself
but also train mortal girls like Jasmine.

"Alright, I've seen what I wanted to. Let's get out of here."

The scenery once again changed, and this time Konrad had returned to the real
world. A purple ray sprang from his forehead, and a silver ruby ring appeared, then
dropped into his palm.

"This is the harem ring. You must place it on the woman's finger to properly add her
to your harem. It allows you to know about their mood, safety, etc."

Konrad frowned.

"Why didn't you give it to me earlier?"

The system remained silent for a rather long moment before replying.
"Well, I want to say that you didn't ask but huh… in all honesty, I forgot!"

And black lines crept upon Konrad's forehead.

"Useless piece of shit!" Konrad roared while throwing his fists at the invisible enemy.

"Alright, alright. No need to be so dramatic. Main Quest, level 2 initialization."

"Main Quest, level 2: Add five beauties of the Initiate Rank to the harem.

Quest completed when the host puts a ring on their fingers.

Main Rewards: Cultivation Base Breakthrough, Grand Level Physique Choice, Grand
Level Cultivation Method Choice

Ability Rewards: Ecstasy Cloud

"

Hearing the content of the second quest, Konrad was taken aback.

"Wait, so it's not just about obtaining beauties? As the quest level increases, the
requirement on the beauties' cultivation level also rises?"

"Yep. With each new level, the number of beauties you gotta add to the harem
increases alongside cultivation requirements."

"So, when you said ten thousand beauties to complete the main quest, you meant…”

"Ten thousand Divine Rank beauties. Ten thousand goddesses, yep."

Konrad's body bent into a bow shape, and he almost fell onto the ground.

"It is well known that the Holy Rank is the highest within the empire and even the
entire world. Let's not even talk about fulfilling that requirement. Where am I
supposed to find goddesses?"

He bawled.

"That's your problem man. I'm just the one giving tasks, rewards, and punishments."
What was bullying?

This was bullying.

Quickly Konrad mapped up the requirements that all levels of the main quest would
probably have and was quickly deterred by the potential numbers.

But the system wasn't done with him.

"Timeframe: Three days.

Failure equals castration and system removal."

This time, Konrad could no longer stand firm, he tripped and fell with his back on the
ground.

"For real?"

"For real."

"In any case, I have a body regeneration passive ability."

"Cause you think I won't take that away?"

"…”

Only now did he realize that the almighty system really held him by the balls. In the
future, he would have to be more polite. Of course, the difficulty only made the game
more interesting.

"Without challenges, how can there be entertainment? I have a feeling this game will
be the most entertaining I've ever played."

"Wanna get your side quests?"

"You bet."

"Side Quest Initialization…

Side Quest: Have a threesome.

Rewards: 3000 exp, Random True Rank Item

Timeframe: Infinite"

With the info dumping now out of the way, it was time to devise a plan. At the early
stages of the main quest, going from a woman to another might be a viable plan, but
quickly, considering the given timeframes, that would become unviable.

And as he dug through his acquired memories, Konrad found the solution to his
problem.

"Conquer the few to conquer the many!"

The inner court was a place dominated by the imperial concubines. Each possessed
outstanding personal attendants who in turn could command larger numbers of
maids. Taking the lowest ranked concubines, for example, they were allowed two
personal attendants and one head eunuch. Personal attendants each controlled ten
maids. Head eunuchs each had ten subordinate eunuchs.

That was already a hefty sum.

Likewise, head palace maids held, in theory, a status similar to the personal
attendants' and were each in charge of ten maids.

That being the case, as long as Konrad could conquer one head palace maid, getting
his hands on five maids was simple.

But there was one problem. He had no guarantee they would satisfy the cultivation
requirements.

The cultivation of the low-ranked palace maids was heterogeneous, going from zero
to the Initiate Rank. Mid-ranked palace maids were usually at the Adept Rank while
head palace maids were at the True Rank. A suitable target had to be picked.

He stood up and walked back into his quarters. There were still a few hours left
before the sun reared its head. Hours he could use to get some well-deserved rest.

His room was shared with two other young eunuchs who currently snored within
their beds.
Not paying them any heed, Konrad pulled off his boots, changed into his sleeping
attire and slipped into his bed.

Meanwhile, Aliki and Faidra, the two maids tasked with disposing of Konrad's body
were engaging in a heated debate.

"How can you not want to report it? He was canned to death under the orders of the
holy consort. Him being alive expressively goes against her will. He either used some
method to fake his death or the beating wasn't sufficiently brutal, but in any case, he
is alive!"

Upon sobering from their initial bout of hysteria, the two maids inferred that Konrad
had just not died. But now that he had "come back to life," the question of what to
report had risen.

"Stupid. We were tasked with disposing of the body. The moment he woke up, we
should have executed him and carried on with our task, but instead, we ran and
came back here. If we inform the holy consort and she asks us why we didn't just end
him… what are we supposed to say."

"Knowing her, she won't even ask us anything. She will just have us executed."

That was indeed the core issue. The holy consort was known to be cruel and
unforgiving. There was no difference between getting on her nerves and death.

"There is only one thing left to do…”

"Kill him!"

At the fifth step of the Adept Knight Rank, Aliki and Faidra were not just beautiful
vases and could snap an average grown man's neck in one move. Thus, they never
thought they could have any issue in silently dealing with a low-ranked eunuch.

Simultaneously, they dashed toward the kitchen eunuchs' eastern courtyard at a

speed of more than eighty meters per second!

…
With all the recent events and the whole reincarnation deal still weighing on his
shoulders, it wouldn't be long before Konrad fell asleep.

But he wasn't even given a ten-minute break before the system's alarmed voice
echoed within his head.

"Alert, alert! Man quickly get up!"

Konrad ignored it and tried to wander into some sweet dreams.

"DUDE GET THE FUCK UP! PEOPLE ARE COMING TO KILL YOU!"

"Woooooh!"

Konrad rolled from his bed and fell onto the ground in a brusque thud.

"Who? Where? How do you know that?"

"I can sense any malicious intent aimed at you within a hundred meter radius. Its
two women and they are moving fast. You have less than two seconds."

Konrad wasted no time, and at a speed of eighty meters per second, he shot toward
the exit, slammed the door open, and rushed south far from prying eyes.

"Cultivation?"

"Fifth Step Adept Knight"

He was aware that his transformation skill could not deceive people with higher
cultivation bases, so he didn't bother trying.

If they were men, he could only try to make as much noise as possible to force them
into fleeing. But since they were women…

"Since you brought yourselves into my demonic clutches. Allow me to officially

welcome you to my harem!"
At the Adept Rank, knights could move at more than eighty meters per second and
possessed an arm strength of at least five hundred kilograms. Of course, the higher
the step, the greater those numbers were.

Konrad had just reached the first step Adept Knight Rank and was thus much slower
than the maids whose speed already approached a hundred meters per second. It
wouldn't be long before they caught up to him.

"Humph! We have been deceived. That guy is clearly at the Adept Knight Rank! No
wonder he could survive the canning."

"It matters not. Once we get him, off with his head!"

The distance between them shrunk at breakneck speed with Konrad apparently
struggling to increase the gap. But when they only stood a few steps away from him,
he abruptly spun to face them and released the full power of his half-incubus aura.

As his cultivation base increased, so did his control over his incubus abilities. And his
innate skills were also substantially growing in power. Against a female in the same
realm, if there only was a difference of a few steps, he could bridge the gap with his
skill set!

Formless power burst from his body and invaded Faidra and Aliki. They staggered,
stopping dead in their tracks with a sense of alarm spreading within their eyes.
Before they could react, a strange titillating sensation spread within their bodies and
their pearl white cheeks were flushed red.

"W-what?"

But before they could make sense of the sensation, Konrad attacked.
"Ecstasy Fingers!"

Pink colored flames rose from and coated his fingers. He struck out, respectively
grabbing Faidra and Aliki's left and right breast and causing the pink flames to move
past their pores and invade their bodies.

"Sha-shameless!"

"Mhm!"

Staggering some more, they attempted to use their cultivation to suppress both the
nefarious fire spreading within them and the moans about to escape their lips.

Bang

Konrad showed no mercy and threw a double punch. His fists crashed into their
sternums and sent them flying backward.

The impact caused their last bit of strength to crumble and the mixture between
Konrad's sexually charged aura and pink flames to smash their last defenses into
smithereens.

"What kind of evil art is this?"

"The art of taming unruly bitches. Invented by your daddy Konrad!"

Konrad complacently replied while cracking his flaming fingers.

Taking a better look at them, he had to admit they were particularly striking. They
were both blond with long hairs tied in stylish braids, full cherry red lips and sky-
blue almond eyes that sparkled like gems. The spacious cyan robes they wore failed
to hide their large breasts and pear-shaped bubble butts which could lit sinful fire in
any man, and at first glance, it was clear that they were sisters.

"Heheheh, let's play!"

Seeing the evilness within his eyes, the sisters were overwhelmed with dread.

Konrad's criminal hands shot toward them and ruthlessly massaged every corner of
their luscious bodies. Turning even the most ordinary part into a titillating
erogenous zone.

"Aaah, stop!"

"Shameless! Shameless bastard! Get your dirty hands off us!"

"No… more! I want… more!"

"Ohhh…”

"Anh… Don't stop… please don't stop!"

"Yes, right there!"

"Mhm!"

"Ohhhhh…”

In less than a minute, they went from angry muffled moans to full-blown pleasure
gasps and drenched their pants in sex craving juice. They now laid on their bellies
with their robes on the ground and their bubble butts being massaged and played
within Konrad's firm hands.

Like a chef, Konrad kneaded their breasts and butt cheeks while cooking them into
orgasm only to deny them when they approached the edge.

He then retracted his hands and stood up to stare down on them. They were a mess,
lying in a pool of their own juice with their undergarments ready to fall at any time.

"W-why? Why did you stop?"

"You… must continue!"

Their voices were both forceful, confused and pleading. But Konrad paid them no
heed and only maintained his stare.

Their attention then drifted toward the large bulge within his pants and their eyes
glazed with lust.
"I… want."

"Good girls get it. Bad girls beg for it."

The overpowering sexual desires setting their luscious bodies ablaze was leading
them by the nose. They crawled toward Konrad's thigh and wrapped their arms
around his legs while staring at his bulge with greedy eyes.

"P-please, we beg you. Give it to us!"

"Who am I to refuse the plight of the common people?"

Without further ado, Konrad rid himself of his pants and released his elongated shaft
which glittered in golden light.

"Is that normal?"

Aliki asked while poking the rod with her index.

"Maybe… this is the power of… true might?!"

"The highest realm of virility!"

"It must be!"

Nothing he hadn't heard before…

The hardened rod was ready for assault, Konrad shredded their undergarments and
effortlessly raised Aliki into the air while aiming his shaft at Faidra's lips.

"Do you know what to do?"

It didn't take a genius to understand what he wanted, and driven by hunger, although
inexperienced, she still said…

"I will do my best!"

…and pounced onto him. In the meantime, Konrad tugged on Aliki's erect nipples
while his right hand held her waist and his left teased her ass.
"Ahn…”

Soft moans escaped her lips while he toyed with her flaming body and caused her
juice to overflow on Faidra's head.

Konrad then held her by the thighs and lifted her above his head to press his lustful
tongue against her clit.

"Ohhh!"

Slurp Slurp Slurp

The slurping sounds of the licking above and the sucking below mixed with Aliki's
unrestrained moans in a delightful symphony that caused Konrad's engorged rod to
swell within Faidra's hungry throat. Her arms wrapped around his waist and she
sucked him with every ounce of vigor she possessed. More than making up in
enthusiasm what she lacked in skill.

Aliki's legs clamped around Konrad who relished in the juice flowing into his mouth
and feeling the trembling of her limbs around his head, he knew she was reaching
her peak.

"Ooooohhhh!"

She groaned and squirted on Konrad's face. But he didn't stop. Keeping her pussy
pressed against his face, he leaned back and dropped onto his rear, sitting to give
Faidra a new angle while he renewed his teasing of Aliki's delicious body.

"I can't take this anymore…”

Faidra muttered as her tongue coiled around Konrad's shaft.

Without warning or permission, she stood up and impaled herself on his rod.

"Aaaaargh!"

But when the jolt of pain caused by her broken hymen should have ripped her
asunder, golden light spread from the rod and not only erased her pain but
heightened her sensitivity to a nigh debilitating state.
"Bold girl! Who gave you permission?"

But although Konrad used angered words, his face was full of smile, and his tone of
amusement.

"Sorry… you can punish me… later."

She said and immediately began riding him in reverse cowgirl.

Pah Pah Pah

The sound of her ass slamming on his balls rose and competed with her furious
moans.

"Aaaahhh! More, master give me more!"

"This is soo… good!"

Aliki was no better and quickly, the sisters abandoned their bodies to primal lust and
a succession of orgasms.

Then they switched, with Aliki now getting her chance to ride a new paradise while
Faidra tasted the delights of Konrad's tongue.

Positions shifted, sweaty bodies intertwined in a carnal dance with technique giving
way to primitive instincts.

Faidra was now lying on the ground with her mouth in Aliki's pussy and Konrad
hammering her with firm thrusts.

Then it came.

"Ooooooooh!"

"Co-coominng!"

And they came.

Aliki wrapped her arms around Konrad and kissed him with intense fervor while
squirting on her sister's face.
Konrad's shaft shook and nutted in Faidra whose legs were spread wide with her
body shuddering from the massive orgasm.

And the three rolled on the ground with the girls falling into Konrad's arm.

"Congratulation host for completing the side quest."

"Reward time!"
"Host Gains 3000 exp."

"Host can pick a random True Rank Item in the wheel of fortune."

"Man, saying "host" "host" "host" is so annoying. But we gotta look official right?"

Konrad's mind had drifted into the system in which a silver lottery wheel now
swirled in front of him.

"Stop!"

The wheel stopped with its arrow pointing toward the fated item.

"No… way…”

It was a palm-sized purple bead that on all accounts, looked quite ordinary. But the
description beside it caused Konrad's eyes to widen with disbelief.

"True Suppression Bead: Within a hundred meters radius, it can seal the cultivations
of those in the True Knight Rank or below.

Within a hundred meters radius, it can cause the spiritual power of True Priests and
below to work in reverse.

If the owner is of incubus blood, it can hide the presence of their aura and increase
the sexual frustration of targeted females.

Twice Upgradable…

"

Seeing the information unfolding in his eyes, Konrad could not help but stare slack-
jawed.
Cheat!

Bullshit Cheat!

Bullshit Tailor-Made Cheat!

Luck!

Bullshit Luck!

In what world could such a good thing happen.

"The world is my oyster…”

But then he saw the fine print, and his excitement died down in a heartbeat.

"Must be fed True Rank female juice once every seven days. Otherwise, it will suck
the host's cultivation. And before the host reaches the True Priest Rank, each ability
can only be used once a day."

"Well, I suppose that can only be more motivation…”

He then checked his total experience points and was surprised to see a whopping
"5515."

His total experience points had increased by more than five-thousand?

How was that possible?

"How is exp reward calculated?"

"Depends on the girl's cultivation level. At the Adept Rank, for example, it goes from
100 to 900 exp. Then you have a bonus of ten percent for each beauty grade, and
another fifty percent for virginity."

"Those girls were each virgin, grade ten beauties, at the fifth step Adept Knight Rank,
so you get 500*2.5 for each one of them."

"Stop, stop, stop, enough math I get it!"

"You asked!"

Konrad no longer wasted breath on the System and returned to the real world.
Although there were some things he could buy with his current exp points, it was
definitely better to save and accumulate for what really mattered: The bloodline
upgrade!

And as he opened his eyes, the purple bead alongside two harem rings appeared
within his hands.

Meanwhile, Faidra and Aliki were sleeping within his arms with the look of satisfied
kittens.

"Time to mark them and move on with the next stage of the main quest."

While Konrad enjoyed the sensation of the two beauties resting on his chest, dawn
was rearing its head, and soon, activities would resume within the inner court. It was
time to leave.

Gently, he tickled them into awakening, pushed them to the side and stood up.

As they woke from their sex induced torpor, he got dressed in the usual blue eunuch
garments and tossed them their robes.

"What do you plan to do now?"

As if by previous agreement, the girls fell onto their knees and pledged.

"Master, from now on, we will serve only you."

The effects of incubus shagging and the golden rod were a delight to the eyes.

With his back facing them, Konrad clasped his hands beneath his back and adopted
the stance of a lofty expert.

"I can accept your devotion and reward you accordingly, but that will depend on
your contributions."

"Master, what do you want us to do?"

"Give me a list of the head palace maids of the clothing and embroidery departments.
I want names, habits, birthplaces, everything of relevance."

The clothing and embroidery departments were the closest to the kitchen
department and housed a great number of beauties. It was said that besides the
Dancing Department, their girls were the best.

Naturally, Konrad would target them.

In just a few minutes, the sisters quickly drafted a list which they respectfully passed
to Konrad.

Satisfied, he gave them a pat on the heads and presented them with the two ruby
harem rings.

"Wearing those rings mean that you forever belong to me. Are you willing?"

"We're willing!"

Their clear tone showed no hesitation whatsoever, and although he let nothing
transpire on his face, Konrad was inwardly shocked.

He had not expected that the combination of the golden rod and his new powers to
prove so devastating!

"I suppose you only work under one of the holy consort's personal attendants?"

"Usually that is the case, but for this task, she asked us personally."

"I see. If you're asked, say that you've disposed of the body. If you're not asked, say
nothing. I will make sure this lie lasts long enough for the truth to become
irrelevant."

"Now come here."

They stood up and walked toward him with eyes full of expectations. He grabbed
them by the waists and one after the other, invaded their lips and necks with his
tongue. Kissing and covering them in more hickeys than they could ever handle.

"Mhhmh!"
…

After parting from the blond sisters, Konrad returned to his quarters and was
surprised to see his eunuch roommates still snoring.

"Really you could kill them in their sleep, and they would never know. What a useless
bunch."

"Weren't you about to be killed in your sleep too?"

"…”

Having learned from past mistakes, Konrad didn't try to counterattack. The system
was the king of low jabs. He would have to practice some more to be his match.

"I still have two hours before the sun rises huh? Better than nothing…”

He fell face first into his hard pillow and passed out on the bed.

Two hours passed in a flash and the footsteps of thousands of individuals rising to
attend to their respective duties in orderly manners soon echoed within the inner
court.

Konrad was no exception and rose to dive into the fray alongside his eunuch
roommates.

"Hey Konrad, didn't you get summoned by the holy consort? What happened?"

"Yeah, did you get a reward or some secret assignment?"

Asked Ralph and Alan. Those two had joined the palace at around the same time as
Konrad and had been assigned to the same quarters and duties. If their relationship
with the original Konrad was not bad, it was also not too close.

"I did receive a secret assignment and will soon report back to the holy consort with
large, deep and overwhelming results!"

The two eunuchs were taken aback. That assignment must have been of vital and
paramount importance, and from Konrad's tone, they could hear that he would
hammer it with firm, piercing thrusts, not stopping until it laid conquered on the
floor!

So to speak…

Author's note: Hey reading friends. It's your demonic author here. As you can see, I
update frequently and am taking this story seriously. I entered it in context #60, but
because I'm so late to the party, there isn't much hope for success… unless…

Unless you help! So help me by giving me powerstones and reviews, and I will help
you in return. I'm on vacation at the moment and can do a lot of writing so here's the
deal.

Give me ten reviews by March 24, I give you two extra chapters on the following
Monday.

And for every fifty powerstones, you give me, I give you one extra chapter. Yep, give
me five hundred powerstones and ten reviews, and I will give you twelve chapters on
Monday cause I'm a freakin machine gun!

Valid until March 24. Capped at fifteen chapters. Now gotta go write… yikes
Ralph and Alan were convinced that Konrad would soon be promoted and were
resolved to suck up to him while they still could.

"Hahaha, the first time I saw you I knew you were bound to distinguish yourself. At
first glance, it's clear that you're an outstanding young man endowed with countless
skills and great abilities."

Konrad clearly remembered Ralph saying that his days in the inner court would be
full of hardships.

"Well said, Ralph. It is clear that Konrad is a sharp, witty guy capable of fulfilling
great tasks. To be able to spot such a talent so quickly, hehe, the Holy Consort's
eyesight is truly extraordinary!"

Didn't Alan call him a "dullard" just three days ago?

Good sycophants. It almost seemed like they had been trained in "How to suck up
like a boss 101, 201 and 301" in their mothers' bellies!

"In the future, you must take good care of us?"

Konrad almost vomited.

"Who is going to take care of you? Son of a bitch, your daddy Konrad only takes care
of beauties!"

He wanted to say but kept those words within his mind. Instead, he adopted the lofty
stance of an expert and graced them with a confident smile.

"That is natural. We're after all brothers who entered the palace together. If we don't
take care of each other, who will?"
"I can even give you an opportunity to make some contribution!"

Immediately, their eyes lit up. Although they were human beings from low
backgrounds with no cultivation, if they could make some contribution for the Holy
Consort, they were sure to have a bright future within the inner court!

In theory, the Holy Empress had the highest official rank after the Empress Dowager,
but just like there was only one empress, there was also only one Holy Consort.

The Holy Consort's status was for all intents and purposes, equal to the Empress'.
Better yet, she was much more adept at political intrigues and controlled more than
half of the inner court and concubines. Meanwhile, the empress rarely appeared and
often didn't meddle in such machinations.

"What is it that we're supposed to do?"

"Nothing special. Just give me detailed information on Iliana."

"The head palace maid?"

"Yes!"

Unlike the previous body's owner who only did his work, those two had upon arrival
began building a solid network and ingratiating themselves with their superiors to
make their lives easier. They were quick and efficient and gathered a lot of
information on the surrounding departments to be aware of how and who to please
and not offend.

They would be excellent goons.

"Well, there is a lot to say actually. Head Maid Iliana is a rather special case among
the head palace maids. She's the illegitimate daughter of an Uradel count and should
belong to ancient nobility. But because of her illegitimate status, she was sent into
the palace at the age of sixteen."

"However, her cultivation talent is far above average, and despite the suppression
she faced, she was able to become a head palace maid in less than fifteen years. Now
she's almost forty, and it's rumored that her cultivation has reached the higher end
of the True Knight Rank. Even if she hasn't reached the ninth step, she's probably not
too far from it."
True Knights and Priests had a lifespan of three hundred years so although Iliana
was close to forty, she still looked like a ravishing twenty years old beauty.

"Thanks to her cultivation, she managed to obtain the right to choose a family name.
But because of her half-human blood, she still faces a lot of difficulties."

"Still, as a half-lamia, she commands great respect within the embroidery

department and takes her work very seriously. It's also said that she desperately
seeks high-grade True Spirit Restoration Pills. Definitely a person not to offend…”

Anyone who reached the True Knight Rank could be given the "Imperial Knight" title
and ennobled. Nobles were the only ones allowed to own land and possess family
names. But even though he came from the twenty-first century, Konrad paid little
mind to that. Family was a concept that always eluded him. He grew up without one
in the most ordinary of orphanages after being abandoned by his birth mother.

Was that why he found so much enjoyment in spreading a woman's legs?

"Nope, it just feels fucking good."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing…”

Soon the trio reached the branch of the inner court's kitchen they had been assigned
to. Like a little city with three hundred thousand inhabitants, it was impossible for
the inner court to only have one kitchen. It was a large complex of hundreds of large
kitchens each tasked with serving different departments.

Naturally, the concubines' meals were always a top priority.

Comparing and contrasting the information he had gotten from his eunuch goons
with what Aliki and Faidra had provided him, Konrad decided to make his move.

"I need to deal with a matter. Would you mind taking my shift?"

He asked, and they didn't disappoint.

"We naturally don't! You can go take care of what you want. We definitely won't let
anyone notice that you're gone."
Both Ralph and Alan found it strange that the Konrad who loved cooking more than
his life and would usually never waste an opportunity to get his hands-on
ingredients was so eager to shrink from his duties.

Surely, that was proof of the task's importance!

"I will not treat you unjustly. Who knows, you might soon be able to get your hands
on cultivation methods."

The duo's eyes sparkled. Cultivation methods were treasure jealously kept by the
nobility, and only the most ordinary manuals were spread among commoners. But
even then, their prices were not affordable.

Now their resolve to work for Konrad was only strengthened!

Without further ado, Konrad sneaked out of the kitchen and shot toward the
embroidery department. Eunuchs going and coming was commonplace, and most
people would just mind their own business to avoid being punished for slacking off
on their duties, so Konrad drew no attention.

The best way to draw attention, however, was to stay idle which is why Konrad used
the purple bead to conceal his aura and hid from prying eyes while observing the
eunuch pavilions of the embroidery department for a suitable target.

It wouldn't be long before he found an ordinary looking low-ranked eunuch who

seemed to be heading toward Iliana's embroidery house to deliver fabrics. Konrad
tailed him until there was no one in a clear radius and struck out!

Bam

A swift chop to the neck knocked the eunuch unconscious. Konrad carried him into a
dark alley, bundled him with robes and gagged his mouth to prevent him from
screaming upon waking up.

"No hard feelings man."

He then used his transformation skill to assume the eunuch's appearance, robbed his
token, and took custody of the fabrics which he was now bringing to Iliana's
embroidery house.
"Damn, the things a man gotta do to build a harem and protect his balls…”

He complained while humming a tune he particularly enjoyed back on Earth.

"But wow, I impress myself sometimes. Uncle James would be proud."

"Iliana, it's time for us to meet. Get ready for the time of your life!"

"So you say. But don't forget that people with higher cultivation bases can easily see
through your disguise. That means any head eunuch or head palace maid. That
means the Iliana gal too."

Of course, the system wasn't going to let him get too comfy and struck at his
enthusiasm without a shred of mercy. This time, however, Konrad was undisturbed.

"Don't worry. The only person I will expose myself to today is Iliana, and I can
guarantee you that she won't reveal my disguise."

"What makes you so confident?"

"I calculated with my fingers!"

There were three central parts to a eunuch's attire. The blue robe, the red hat, and
the box. The box was tied to their belt and contained their "removed part" which
they always carried on them due to the common belief that dying without a complete
body would prevent reincarnation.

The hat was large enough to cover most of their forehead and was in itself a
reminder that they should often lower their heads and look toward the ground.
Eunuchs were not treated as men and were not expected to act like men. Although
they wielded significant power within the inner court, they often walked and ran
with slouched backs, except when dealing with individuals of equal or lower
positions.

Strict hierarchy was the heart of the Holy Flame Empire.

At fast pace, Konrad carried the fabrics through the streets of the inner court and
arrived in front of Iliana's embroidery pavilion. At the door, two maids stood guard.

"What's your purpose?"

"Delivery of embroidery fabrics."

"Identity token?"

Their robotic tone was commonplace among palace maids tasked with guard duties
and inspections. Konrad presented the eunuch's token, and after inspecting it, they
recorded his name and time of entrance, then let him in.

"Head Palace Maid Iliana has been waiting for the supplies. Hurry in."

"Yes!"

Konrad adopted a deferential tone, maintained his back slumped to match the
eunuch whose identity he stole and walked in.
The road left no room for ambiguity, and in less than a minute, he reached the
central office in which several maids dutifully handled their embroidery tasks.
Threads and needles intertwined and moved at breakneck speed, with the maids'
focused eyes never shifting from their work. Order, discipline and efficiency drove
the workshop.

They were led by a tall palace maid dressed in a close-fitting cyan robe that perfectly
highlighted her well-proportioned curves. There was no excess in them, and they
couldn't be compared to the likes of Faidra and Aliki. However, they only served to
enhance the remarkability of her face.

A beauty that eclipsed a field of blossoming flowers. Her silky green hairs were held
in the traditional bun allowed for head palace maids, and her slit emerald eyes
contained inviolable pride and dignity which when combined with her lamia
bloodline and cultivation base, gave her a natural, compelling aura that would lead
normal men astray without them ever realizing it.

In his past life, Konrad had seen many beauties. But they were after all mortal
without any striking aura to boost their presence. With time, all of them became
mundane, and it was nigh impossible for him to stare due to a woman's appearance.
But for an instant, he stared.

"A woman not to be trifled with."

That was his first assessment, and playfulness stepped aside for seriousness.

"This world is different from the Earth you came from. The powerful races often all
possess their own unique charm while those with high cultivation bases also boast
preternatural presences. That woman is at the eighth step of the True Knight Rank,
and very close to the ninth. That matched with her natural assets, it is normal for you
to feel dazed. In the future, you will have more surprises."

Informed the system in a relaxed tone.

Maintaining his slouched posture, Konrad stepped toward her at a hurried pace and
presented the fabrics' container.

"The head eunuch sends his regards."

And at the moment she laid her eyes on him, Konrad used his Female Dream Theft
ability and peered into her core, most primitive fantasy.

What he saw didn't startle him. But the system which shared his visuals was
perplexed.

Iliana's slit eyes glanced at the eunuch for an instant, but before they bypassed him,
she spotted an anomaly that arched her rounded eyebrows.

"The head eunuch mentioned that the head maid was graced with good fortune and
would soon see her wish fulfilled."

And in a flash, her face contorted into a deep frown which then vanished as if
nothing had happened.

"Is that so? Is the head eunuch flattering me to make up for the quality of the fabric?
I need to review them to make sure you're not trying to swindle us. Come with me."

She ordered and led the way toward her private quarters.

In silence, Konrad followed, never letting his gaze rise until they passed the entrance
toward her bedroom. Unlike their inferiors, head palace maids and eunuchs
possessed their own private quarters which they could set up to their liking.

"Daring to use such parlor tricks to disguise yourself in the inner court. Is it bravery,
or is it stupidity?"

Her sharp, chilling tone carried a threatening vibe that would put most ill at ease.
But knowing full well that this was nothing more than a test, Konrad remained
unfazed.

"The difference between the two is the likelihood of success. If you dare, you must
have some confidence in your odds. Otherwise, it is indeed stupidity."

"And since I dare, I am of course fully prepared."

"Is that so? Well, I care not about your appearance. What I care about is the words
you spoke of before. Can you really provide me with a high-grade True Spirit
Restoration pill?"

From the words spoken earlier, she had deduced that he brought with him the
promise of a True Spirit Restoration pill. For the sake of that item, she could look
beyond his disguise.

"I can indeed. In fact, I can guarantee, you will obtain them by tomorrow evening."

Having slouched for too long, Konrad sat within the rattan chair in the corner of the
room and exhaled a long breath.

Iliana paid no heed to his rudeness.

"How many can you obtain?"

"How many do you need?"

"Two!"

"Then I can get you two."

"What do you want for it?"

Anyone that did some digging would know that she could not afford those pills so if
he came to her, it couldn't be for money.

"What are you not willing to give me?"

Konrad inquired while locking his piercing gaze on her to observe any potential
change.

"As long as it doesn't go against my conscience, there is nothing I cannot give you."

The determination within her voice made her statement look irrevocable.

Inwardly, Konrad was startled. It seemed he had underestimated the value she
attached to those pills.

"It seems you care deeply for the person you want to save."

Once more, a brief frown flashed by her eyes. But it didn't escape Konrad's attention.

"Don't look at me like that. Spirit Restoration Pills only have one use. You want two, it
doesn't take a genius to figure out why. One is for you, the other is for someone likely
to have been injured by a spiritual attack."

The correctness of his assessment played no part in the negotiation, so she didn't
bother replying.

"Very well, I will not make things too difficult for you. What I want is simple."

He began, and his lips curled into a mischievous grin.

"I want to go on a date with you."

"What?"

This time, Iliana couldn't prevent surprise from showing on her face.

"Are you not aware that romantic relationships between eunuchs and palace maids
are punished by death."

There were many cases of eunuchs and palace maids losing their lives for simple
trysts. He seemed like a sensible person, and she didn't believe that a sensible
person would dive into such a risky path.

"I am well aware. But I do not care. What, are you afraid?"

"It seems like you really are a stupid person."

Iliana concluded with her eyes wide open.

"Stupid or not, I will make you mine."

Unbridled confidence rippled within his words. Confidence that made Iliana wonder
where his assurance came from. With the purple bead concealing any trace of his
incubus aura, and the theft of the eunuch's appearance, Konrad looked no different
than an ordinary human youth.

But even then, as he sat cross-legged on the rattan chair with his profound gaze
peering into hers, the light shining within them made her unwilling to underestimate
him.
"Very well, I agree. Come find me tomorrow night with the True Spirit Restoring
Pills, and I shall entertain you."

There was nothing more to say. Konrad stood up, bridged the distance between them
in three short steps, and brought his face an inch away from hers. She didn't evade,
meeting him with coldness and defiance.

He said nothing and walked toward the exit with his hands clasped beneath his back.
"What an odd woman."

Observed the system as Konrad walked out of the pavilion.

"When you think of it, it's nothing surprising. Those women are trapped in the
palace for years without the chance to have a relationship or to even see a real man.
Developing some odd fantasy is only natural. In any case, it's not like I haven't seen
worse."

"To be roughly taken from behind every night by a man I yearn for, yet, can never
see." That was her core fantasy. Needless to say, it didn't quite match the aloofness
with which she usually portrayed herself.

"Women are natural dreamers. The more you try to restrain them, the more their
thoughts wander."

"That aside, why didn't you use the purple bead on her? That would have made
everything a lot easier for you. It's very likely that you could have even taken her on
the spot."

To this, Konrad smiled with his usual touch of mischief.

"And miss out on such a fine challenge? It is not every day that I find worthy
opponents. I should at least give her a chance to fight her way out of my clutches."

For three seconds, the system was rendered speechless, but afterward, it burst into
laughter.

"Bwahaha! Did you think yourself cool and fancy?"

"You have less than three days, and you want a challenge?"

"Hehehe, you better believe that when the time comes for me to administrate
punishment, you will have no chance to find your way out of my clutches."

Black lines crept on Konrad's forehead, and all his excitement went to the gutters.

"That aside, how do you plan to obtain the High-Grade True Spirit Restoration Pills."

High-grade True Spirit Restoration Pills were priced at "8000 exp" in the system.
Konrad couldn't afford one, to say nothing of two.

While he could gain exp with intercourse, Faidra and Aliki were, on one hand
standing too close to the Holy Consort and on the other hand, he wasn't about to go
burst six nuts into them just to get the required exp.

All good things required some moderation, right?

"Naturally, I will go make money!"

The official currency of the Holy Flame Empire was crystals. One purple crystal was
worth a thousand red crystals which were, in turn, each worth a thousand blue
crystals.

The average commoner household's yearly income was one hundred blue crystals.

A True Spirit Restoring Pill was priced at one hundred red crystals. As for High-
Grade True Spirit Restoring Pills, they were between seven and eight hundred red
crystals.

Even imperial knights couldn't afford that.

Konrad first regained his real appearance and made his way back to his quarters.
Once inside and sure of being far from prying eyes, he sat cross-legged and entered
the system to look for the cheapest low-ranked True Spirit cultivation method he
could find.

"Clear Heart Scripture: low-ranked True Spirit Cultivation method, 1000 exp."

He exchanged it for the "1000 exp" and exited the system. His exp count then
dropped down to 4515.

The system made no distinction in prices between martial and spiritual cultivation
methods, so their costs were similar. In the outside world, however, that was not the
case. Spiritual cultivation methods were by far rarer than their martial counterparts
and were thus priced much higher.

They were two reasons for that. The first was that for every ten martial cultivation
methods, there was only one spiritual method. The second was that just like nobility
monopolized martial cultivation methods, the Holy Flame Church monopolized the
spiritual counterparts.

Placing the "Clear Heart Scripture" within a bag, Konrad exited his quarters and
went back toward the kitchen were Alan and Ralph tended to their duties.

"Done with your task?"

They asked as they saw him sneak back inside.

"Not quite. Who among you is the most familiar with the auction department?"

"That would be me."

Ralph replied with soaring pride. And seeing Alan gritting his teeth but not
contending, Konrad carried on.

"Do you have contacts known for their greed? The greedier, the better."

At first glance, one might worry about the trustworthiness of greedy business
partners. But in some cases, they were the best option. Konrad needed someone
with an eye for opportunity who would be willing to ignore the "odd" for the sake of
profit. Greedy people were perfect for that.

Moreover, they always controlled much more wealth than their rank could usually
afford.

"Yes, I have the perfect man. His name is Hans. Although he's just a mid-ranked
eunuch, he has a lot of connections to the head eunuchs of the auction department.
As long as there is a profit to be made, there is nothing he's not willing to do."

That was precisely what he needed.

"Lead the way!"

"R-right now?"

"Yes!"

Through Konrad's commanding tone, the importance of this matter and its impact on
future work and cooperation was made clear. That being the case, Ralph didn't dare
delay and led the way toward the auction house.

"Two can cover for three, but how can one achieve that? Hopefully, they will soon be
back."

Alan lamented while getting back to work.

The road toward the auction department was shortened by a succession of

teleportation circles. The inner court's auction house was a massive golden mansion
that screamed wealth and opulence for all to see. Ralph carried Konrad inside and
then went to fetch his connection.

Soon, he returned alongside a short, pudgy, middle-aged eunuch whose prominent

belly giggled with every step.

"Is this the "honored guest" you mentioned? Isn't that just another low-ranked
eunuch? Ralph, are you wasting my precious time?"

The eunuch inquired with an increasingly threatening tone.

"Cut the crap. I don't have time for your bullshit. I give you one chance to buy this
thing from my hands. What you do with it afterward is your problem."

He said while throwing the Clear Heart Scripture at Hans. Auctions took time to
organize. Time Konrad didn't have. The best option was to use pressure to get the
best deal possible from Hans.

At first, when he grabbed the manual, Hans was merely intrigued. But as he browsed
through its content, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"T-rue… True Spirit Rank cultivation method?"

Treasure! True Treasure!

Ralph was horrified. But Konrad gave them no time to get over their emotions.

"I give you three seconds to give me a satisfying price. If I like it, it's yours. If I don't, I
leave. No bargain, no bullshit."

The initiative was within his hands. There was no reason to hold back.

"1…”

"Five purple stones!"

Konrad was stopped dead in his tracks. The market value of a low-grade True Spirit
method was one purple stone. Was that eunuch led astray by the pressure? He didn't
think so.

"Deal!"

But a deal was a deal, so there was no reason for him to probe further. And hearing
his approval, Hans exhaled a sigh of relief. In fact, he hadn't gone astray. The value of
an auctioned True Spirit method for him was way beyond what he just gave up
because those who would bid for it were mostly the pawns of the Holy Flame
Church!

Adept Knights could live for fifteen decades so although Hans was already eighty
years old, he still had many years ahead of him. However, there was no hope for him
to break through the True Knight Rank in a lifetime… unless he obtained a True
Flame Baptism from the church. It was something that money alone could not buy so
he didn't hesitate to give up the result of decades of shrewd management in one
purchase.

Was he a greedy hound? Certainly. But to be greedy across centuries, he first needed
the matching lifespan.

It was totally worth it!

The exchange was made. Konrad received his five purple coins which he pocketed
before exiting the auction house alongside a dazed Ralph.

A transaction of one purple stone was something he didn't believe he could witness
in a lifetime. But now, five had exchanged hands right in front of him.
Some time was needed to adjust.

"Ha, you've returned. Quick, quick. The supervisor is about to make his round."

And the trio resumed their work for the rest of the day.

By the time they completed their tasks the moon hanged within the sky.

"You have served me well. What do you want? Money or cultivation methods?"

Konrad asked as they returned to their quarters. If they wanted cultivation methods,
he would bring one out of the system. If they wanted money, he would take it out of
his pocket. It was also an excellent opportunity to see what kind of people they really
were.

"Money! Money! Money!"

They sang like a choir.

Men of low vision yearned for wealth. Men of high aspirations craved power. Konrad
didn't need men of high aspirations; therefore, he was satisfied.

"Very well. This is your reward. Split it evenly."

He then tossed them a purple crystal and slipped into his bed. But the poor guys
were left speechless. At first, they didn't know what to do and poked the purple
crystal with their indexes as if to test its authenticity.

"Mom… dad… I'm rich."

"Sis… I can now afford you a dowry…”

Ralph and Alan respectively said while staring at the purple crystal on the ground
with trembling bodies.

They then turned to face one another with eyes set ablaze by the prospects brought
by their newfound wealth and pulled each other in a warm, not so manly hug!

"We've made it!"

The average commoner household's yearly income was one hundred blue crystals.

They now had five hundred thousand each.

Their families' days of struggles were over.

They were rich!

Within the night, the indiscernible shadow of a woman appeared and motionlessly
stood by Konrad's side. For an hour, she did nothing but stare at him, before
vanishing as silently as she had appeared.

The sunrays spreading within the sky marked the end of the night; the first full sleep
night Konrad had experienced since his arrival in this world. He stood up, asked for
his two goons to handle his shift and shot toward the marketplace.

The inner court marketplace was a bustling location that rose and slept alongside
the sun. It was mostly run by eunuchs who traded goods and services in exchange for
coins or items of value. The only things not sold were weapons for those were
forbidden by palace laws.

Palace maids and eunuchs alike were welcomed as customers. Palace maids,
however, were not allowed to do business here. This was the eunuchs' turf!

Konrad stepped into a pill shop and exchanged one purple crystal for two high-grade
True Spirit Restoration pills as well as six hundred red crystals of change, then
returned to his shift.

"I have been meaning to ask. You said all the influential races of this world possess
some kind of natural aura while powerful cultivators also possess preternatural
presences. Right?"

"Yes."

"That being the case, why did the previous body's owner not feel anything special
from the Holy Consort?"

Although Konrad had never met her, he still held the memories of his predecessor.
But from those memories, he couldn't sense any extraordinariness from the Holy
Consort. And although outstanding, her beauty definitely wasn't enough to be
dubbed as the country's number one.

"And what makes you think that the one he met was the Holy Consort?"

Indifferently asked the system.

"Would anyone dare usurp her appearance in her quarters?"

"That I do not know. But what I do know is that the highest-ranking members of the
imperial family such as the Holy Emperor, the Holy Empress, and the Holy Consort,
are all saints. There are ways to hide the bloodline aura, but the natural presence
and pressure brought by cultivation cannot be hidden. And theirs can force any
mortal to his knees."

"…”

The rest of the day was uneventful. And upon finishing his shift, Konrad cloaked his
face and directly strode toward the eunuch he had hidden earlier.

"Hm! Hm! Hm!"

The eunuch struggled through muffled screams, but there was no one to come to his
aid. If left unattended to, it was not impossible for him to die of starvation or thirst
before someone discovered him.

Konrad once again knocked him out, then untied his bindings and tossed the stolen
identity token back toward him. That settled, he changed his appearance to that of
an ordinary youth and stepped toward Iliana's embroidery pavilion.

Climbing the walls, he sneaked in, moved toward her private quarters in light steps,
and dived in.

She was sitting on her bed with her legs stretched and her back resting against her
pillow to read a book when the sound of footsteps reached her ears, and the
unknown man dived in. But considering timing and the disguise which was obvious
to her eyes, she reckoned it was her brazen eunuch suitor.

"You're here."
She coolly stated, once more ignoring his impoliteness.

"I am indeed. Are you ready to go on a date?"

Konrad inquired will gliding toward her in silent steps.

"If you can hold up to your end of the bargain."

A winning smile was painted on Konrad's lips as he pulled out a bottle containing
two nail sized sky-blue pellets.

Upon seeing them, Iliana's eyes lit up, and she almost struck out to snatch it from his
hands but resisted the temptation.

Without a word, she stood up and walked toward her wardrobe.

"Are you also dissolute enough to stand there as I change my clothes?"

"I am dissolute enough. I'm even dissolute enough to help you change."

Seeing her silky green hairs cascading below her waist, Konrad inwardly cursed the
palace customs that prevented her from releasing them during the day.

"Y-!"

"I will be waiting by the stream."

But Konrad didn't wait for her to snap and left. He moved past the doors, exited the
residence, and walked toward the stream. Watching the undulating waves, he stood
there with his arms clasped beneath his back.

He would not have to idle for long to see her form appearing by his side.

She was dressed in the same format of the close-fitting cyan robe, but her hairs were
unbound, fluttering at her back without restraints. Within her hands, she held a
brown lyre which she carried with apparent affection.

"The lyre is my family's ancestral instrument. I learned to play it from my father at

an early age. Allow me to play you a tune."
Konrad nodded and sat at the edge of the stream. She did the same, adjusted the lyre
within her grasp, and began playing.

The methodical brush of her fingers against the strings created a soothing melody
whose notes snatched Konrad from the woes of the world.

Yet, as those notes went beyond his ears and strode toward his heart, Konrad could
sense the melancholy hidden within them. It was a form of yearning, yearning for
distant memories, yearning for those moments she didn't know to cherish in times
now past.

Yearning for the love and protection of elders once taken for granted.

Yearning for the simplest of pleasures now forever beyond her grasp.

Yearning for that moon hanging in the sky, whose watchful eyes enlightened her in
the dark of night, revealing her dreams, simple, yet, unattainable.

The melody carried on, and Konrad lost tracks of time, his eyes had moved from the
strings to stare into Iliana's as he sought an understanding of her through the notes
she played.

Then she stopped, her misty eyes moving from the lyre to stare back at him.

"How would you title this?"

She asked without much expectations.

"As I Yearn for Regrets Under the Waning Moon"

Simple yet grabbed the essence of the tune.

"I didn't think you would have an ear for music."

"I don't. I have an ear for a woman's woes."

He honestly replied and laid onto the ground with his head resting on her lap.

"Are you not afraid of me pushing you into the stream?"

"Have you forgotten? You said it yourself, I'm stupid."

She considered slamming the lyre on his face but advised against it and chose to set
it aside.

"What do you really want from me?"

Konrad wanted to say that adding her to his harem was imperative to keep his balls
but advised against it.

"I want you to be mine in body and soul. To possess and own you, from this day, until
you draw your last."

"That in life, you belong to me. And that in death, your ghost still belongs to me!"

The overbearingness within his words took her by surprise. She had not expected
that youth's level of boldness to reach such heights.

"Are you qualified to say such words? Let's not even consider your cultivation that is
still far from the True Knight Rank. Let's not even consider your status that is likely
to be of common origin. As long as I wear the dress of a palace maid, beside the
emperor, any man that extends his hands toward me is punishable by death."

"Or do you think that I would be interested in a common tryst?"

She had not lain. All the females of the inner court belonged to the Holy Emperor.
Only the Holy Emperor could grant them to those of his liking, and while it was not
rare for them to be used as political tools, any man caught getting too close without
permission would face a brutal ending.

But Konrad didn't care.

Because he had already decided that since he was given the unique opportunity of
reincarnation, the entire world would belong to him!

The beauties of this world didn't need emperors. They only needed Konrad!

"You want more than a tryst. You want someone to sweep you off your feet, and in
broad daylight carry you out in the open for all to see."
"Someone who dares brazenly take your lips."

"Someone to hold the sky when it threatens to collapse."

"Someone like me."

And before she could say anything else, his lips flew toward hers.

She knew him bold but had not expected his boldness to reach such heights.

Unruly…

His overbearing kiss pushed her into his arms, and together they fell onto the
ground.

But in the distance, the floating shadow of a woman observed that scene with a
frown.

The shadow vanished, and in an abnormal timing, dozens of arrows flew from
behind the nearby trees and shot toward the kissing pair.
The whistle of arrows streaking through the air divided the pair in a heartbeat. Iliana
was the first to sense the danger. Using her arm-strength of nearly two thousand
kilos, she pushed Konrad into the air and somersaulted to avoid the incoming bolts.
They flew past the area she previously laid in and lodged into the distance.

"What's the meaning of this? Why didn't you warn me?"

An outraged Konrad asked the system.

"Hum… about that… I can only warn you against malicious intent aimed at you… and
you're not the target…”

"Son of a bitch!"

But Konrad didn't have any time to waste on the unreliable system as ten figures
flew from the shadows and shot toward Iliana.

By the time they landed back on the ground, the ten figures had surrounded them.

The moon flashed, revealing ten masked forms whose only discernable
characteristics were the bodies that made their genders evident and the cultivation
base that rippled from them.

As the duo's eyes swept them, they were alarmed. Iliana, in particular, couldn't
believe her eyes for she could clearly see details that Konrad couldn't.

Six high-level True Knights!

Three mid-level True Priests!

One Grand Knight!

Such a formidable lineup was enough to shred anyone below the Grand Rank in a
heartbeat.

And such a formidable lineup was aimed at her.

"Could it be…”

But distraction wasn't permitted so, Iliana cast her thoughts aside and focused on
the incoming onslaught.

It didn't come. Instead, the leader, a tall masked woman with an overbearing aura
that carried one's gaze away from her engrossing curves, switched her attention to
Konrad.

"You can leave."

The words were simple and looked amiable, but they carried a forceful power that
commanded obedience. Konrad was perplexed. It was common sense to dispose of
witnesses when conducting assassinations. Why then was that woman allowing him
to leave?

Was it because of his otherworldly charm and fantastic bearing?

Nah…

The woman's words had a drastic effect on Iliana. Her eyes grew cold, and any
goodwill she might have felt toward Konrad instantly turned into rancor. Seeing that,
Konrad was annoyed but couldn't blame her. To say nothing of her, even he was
finding the situation incomprehensible. To any bystander, it would look like Konrad
had been tasked with distracting her for the assassins to strike!

His next words, however, replaced her growing resentment by a tinge of warmth.

"After I shove my cock down your throat."

"Break his legs!"

The Grand Knight assassin roared and in tandem, the six high-level True Knights she
commanded shot toward the duo.

At their back, the remaining three mid-level True Priests conjured scalding jets of
pure white flames that rushed toward Iliana.

"Energy Sword!"

Iliana extended her right hand, and dazzling blue light gathered within to morph into
a dark-blue longsword. Both knights and priests cultivated spiritual energy. But
knights would use that energy to refine their bodies while priests would use it to
empower their minds.

And although True Knights and above could transform their spiritual energy into
weapons of all kinds and shapes, they often chose swords.

Dark-blue sword aura swirled around Iliana, and despite the odds clearly being
stacked against her, she was unafraid. With a sword stroke, she divided the flames
rushing toward her. At that time, Konrad's voice echoed.

"True Suppression Bead!"

Konrad tossed the purple bead into the air, and it released six purple glyphs that
slammed into the incoming True-Knights' foreheads.

Instantly, the energy weapons they had summoned vanished into thin air, and their
cultivation base was sealed by the glowing glyphs.

"W-what the hell is going on?"

"My… my cultivation?"

The six assassins crashed onto the ground and were now no different from mortals.
The brutal change took all the gathered warriors aback. And using the element of
surprise, Konrad pounced onto the crippled knights with bared claws.

Crack

He grabbed two by the throat and wrenched their necks before tossing them onto
the ground like heaps of trash. But by now, the gathered warriors and priests had
snapped out of their torpor.

"Hateful!"
The Grand Knight woman scolded while sky-blue energy waves burst from her form.
She condensed an energy broadsword and shot toward Konrad. But at that time,
Iliana struck.

Her sword drew an ordinary arc, and blinding sword aura shot in a half-moon shape
and beheaded the remaining four knights. Afterward, she stomped her foot and
barreled into the Grand Knight with a diagonal slash.

Clang

The Grand Knight received her with a rightward sweep of her broadsword, and their
weapons met in a metallic clash.

In a flash, the assassins had lost more than half their numbers. But the situation still
wasn't optimistic. The three True Priests resumed casting their spells and fired flame
arrows at Konrad.

"System, exchange a thousand exp for a low-grade True Rank Shield."

"Alrighty!"

The system completed the exchanged, and a bronze shield appeared within Konrad's
hands. Without hesitation, he directed it toward the incoming flame arrows and
stopped their onslaught.

His cold eyes then swept the scene, and his face contorted into a frown. Iliana was
currently being pushed back by the Grand Knight whose sword strokes suppressed
hers in every way. Meanwhile, the three True Priest resumed casting spells to assail
Konrad.

Of the still breathing people, all were females. But their cultivations were too high for
Konrad to take great advantage of that. Only Iliana could tip the scales.

"Is there a way to control who is targeted by my aura?"

"You can do it with your spiritual power. But with your current level, it will be
exhausting."

Without hesitation, he released the full power of his half-incubus aura and used his
spiritual power to direct the formless force toward the four female enemies.
Immediately, they staggered.

The spellcasting was interrupted, and the Grand Knight lost her balance.

Although she didn't know what was going on, Iliana didn't let go of the opportunity
and drove her sword toward the Grand Knight's heart!

"Energy armor!"

She roared, and the sky-blue light swirling around her body turned into a blue battle
armor that coated her entire body and repelled the sword strike. The energy armor
was the privilege of Grand Knights and drastically increased their defensive abilities.

Bang

An overbearing cleave sent Iliana flying backward with internal damage that caused
her to spurt blood.

Konrad caught her mid-flight while increasing the pressure on the four opponents.
Droplets of sweat began streaking down his cheeks at breakneck speed as he felt his
strength declining by the second.

"It's you again! Damn degenerate!"

The Grand Knight spat.

If it weren't because her orders forbade her from killing him, she would have already
sliced him in two!

She didn't know what kind of disgraceful ability he was using that caused her entire
body to burn with unholy desires and her nether regions to get moister by the
second.

At her back, the three True Priests were struggling to keep her bodies under control
and didn't have the time to fire more spells.

Iliana was puzzled. What kind of ability was that eunuch using to cause such
damage?

"Degenerate? Aren't you the one struggling with a cock craving body? What right do
you have to call me… degenerate?"

"But never mind. I really am a degenerate. A degenerate that's going to fuck you
bloody."

Konrad retorted with a complacent smile, and Iliana who was readjusting herself,
couldn't help but stare at him with eyes open wide.

Was there nothing he dared not say? Truly incomparably shameless!

What Konrad had not expected was that his words had triggered a violent reaction
within the Grand Knight.

"I… will… kill… you!"

Initially, she didn't dare disobey. But in a fit of fury, the sound part of her mind was
thrown out of the window, and she charged him with naked killing intent!

"Careful!"

Konrad pushed Iliana to the side and brandished his shield to resist the incoming
blow.

Bang

The broadsword smashed the shield into debris, and the impact sent Konrad
spiraling into the air while spurting a large mouthful of blood. With that single blow,
his internal organs had suffered severe damage. And although his body regeneration
ability kicked in, it wasn't fast enough to repair them in time for what was to come.

The Grand Knight swept her broadsword toward Konrad's neck, but Iliana slammed
it away with a full-force blow. Due to Konrad's half-incubus aura, the Grand Knight
had been significantly weakened and was no longer much stronger than her.

But with her energy armor still standing, Iliana couldn't obtain any advantage. The
blow threw the Grand Knight off balance. She leaned her body weight onto her left
leg and struck Iliana's chest with a violent kick.

Iliana was sent rolling by Konrad's side with more blood dripping from her chest.
"I didn't think that our date would turn into an episode of Bloody Valentine."

Konrad jested with a bloodied smile. But although she didn't know what he meant by
"Bloody Valentine," she still returned his smile.

"Do you regret chasing me now?

"Regret is not a word of my vocabulary, and I always thought that if I was to die, it
should be by the side of a beauty."

And unbeknown to her, Iliana began finding that brazen eunuch rather interesting.

"Give me your life!"

The Grand Knight drove her sword into a frontal thrust, aimed at Konrad's heart.

With her last bits of strength, Iliana somersaulted to send a kick into the blade's
blunt edge, hoping to throw it off their assailant's grasp. But to no avail.

The sword pierced through Konrad's chest and his blood gushed forth.

"Is this how my life ends?"

Konrad wondered as all strength left him and his body succumbed to the sword
stroke. But thanks to Iliana's last-ditch effort, the blow missed his heart.

"No… I am… unwilling!"

Konrad's trembling hands grasped the sword within his chest, and he fought to pull
it out.

"I cannot die… not like this! Not again!"

His blood boiled, and his entire shook, driven solely by the power of his will. And as
if to echo his words, violet flames burned within his eyes.

"Only I can step on the world… the world cannot step on me!"

"Get… LOST!"
He roared, and his entire body was set ablaze by violet flames that pushed out the
broadsword and sent the Grand Knight reeling. The gaping wound she had left
within his chest was mended in a heartbeat, and Konrad stood with his body coated
in the violet flames.

Within his chest, three energy sources he didn't know he possessed were being
absorbed by his body and increasing his cultivation at breakneck speed!

Second Step Adept Knight.

Third Step…

Fourth Step…

Only when he reached the fifth step Adept Knight level were the sources of energy
fully digested.

Those energy sources were the primal essences of the three girls Konrad had
deflowered. Incubi fed and grew on sexual energy and could innately absorb the
primal essence of virgin girls to bolster their powers. Unbeknown to him, Konrad
had collected the three primal essences. But because his bloodline had yet to truly
activate, he couldn't sense or digest them.

Bam

The Grand Knight slammed into the ground, and when her gaze returned on Konrad,
it held nothing besides pure, unconstrained dread.

"How can this be? You… are… a demon?!"

Without a shred of doubt, the energy signature within those flames was of demonic
origin.

Not only was the Grand Knight woman horrified, but Iliana's eyes were also full of
terror. Within the Holy Continent, demonism was a forbidden practice punished by
death, and demons of all kinds held the status of "kill on sight."

Across the hundred thousand years long history of the Holy Flame Empire, there had
been countless witch hunts and exterminations of people related to demons in any
way conceivable. Possessing demonic blood was a surefire road to hell.

"How can he be… of demonic blood?"

One of the main reasons why demons were so reviled, beside the teachings of the
Holy Flame Church, was that they were innately driven to acts of sin and depravity.

Regardless of the demonic bloodline, there was always one defining deadly sin that
could be used to represent them. Lust for incubi, wrath for ashuras, greed for drudes,
gluttony for vampires, etc…

Most creatures of the holy continent considered them to be harbingers of calamities,

and she was no exception.

But thinking of Konrad's words, and how he bravely stood by her side against
impossible odds, she couldn't find the strength to scorn him.

Konrad's body bathed in swirling violet flames while pink colored fog erupted from
his pores and spread through the atmosphere. That pink fog carried with it the scent
of orchids and in a heartbeat, indiscriminately invaded the gathered females.

Iliana who had been up until now the only one not targeted by Konrad's powers was
finding herself overtaken by rising fires and hidden desires. The fantasies she kept
deep within her heart crept on the surface and clouded her vision.
The others were not better off.

They had been targeted by Konrad from the very beginning, and now, the pressure
had risen to a monstrous level. The three True Priestesses collapsed in a loud thud,
their eyes shining with a pinkish glow while they moaned and frantically rubbed
their inner thighs.

Their bodies were set ablaze by an abundance of nefarious fires, and within their
eyes, engrossing worlds of fantasies were being drawn.

The Grand Knight woman who directly faced Konrad's ability suffered the most.
Although her cultivation was leagues above the rest, she had always been short
tempered. A disposition that made her more vulnerable to Konrad's pink fog.

Thud

She struggled to stand up only to fall on her knees. Sweat dripped from her forehead
as she tried to resist the demonic power's effects on her body. But it was to no avail.
Her body burned, her cheeks were flushed red, and she quivered on her knees while
her own fantasies turned against her.

"Sha… me… less…!"

The difficulty with which she spoke was apparent for all to see.

Konrad stretched his right hand, causing purple flames to gush from his palm and
soar toward her.

"Aaaaaaah!"

The fire engulfed her but didn't sear her body. Instead, it obliterated her energy
armor, sealed her cultivation, ruined her clothes, and caused the desires she was
suppressing to erupt.

Her eyes rolled back, her inner thighs were drenched by her squirting juice, and she
fell onto her back with an earsplitting moan. But Konrad wasn't done with her. He
stepped toward her and with her mask now gone, her face was available for him to
appraise. And it indeed was praiseworthy.

She had mid-long vermillion hairs that stopped below her neck, and golden eyes that
would in normal days glitter with ferocity but now glazed with lust. Still, there was
defiance in there. Her eyelashes, her nose, her long legs, and voluptuous curves,
everything about her was perfect. Everything about her rippled with an indomitable
spirit that was collapsing at fast pace.

Seeing Konrad stand so close to her, defiance, dread, and lust intermingled within
her golden eyes. But when his rod rose to attention and tore an opening through his
pants, lust began suppressing the rest.

The golden, holy light swirling around it contrasted with its massive girth and sinful
nature. A contrast that made it look captivating.

She tried to resist the enticement, but it was growing by the second, and her pussy
had already turned into a greedy fountain.

The three True Priestesses at her back were lost in furious masturbation, but when
they witnessed the rod, they snapped out of their trance, and instinctively crawled
toward it with hunger and deference.

But although they wanted to seize it and shove it down their pussies, Konrad's
overpowering presence controlled even their most carnal desires. If he didn't call for
them, they could only stare, and in silence crave him.

"What's your name?"

"Freya…”

She initially didn't want to answer, but as she stared at his violet eyes, all resistance
faded in the oblivion. The compulsion they provoked was too strong. She had to
obey! And unbeknown to her, she was rubbing her inner thighs from expectation.

Konrad's hand flickered upward, causing a surge of telekinetic power to lift Freya
from the ground and pull her toward him. She floated nine inches above the ground
with her cantaloupe sized breasts pressed against his chest, his scalding shaft on her
leg, and her craving eyes peering into his compelling gaze. Her heart spiraled out of
control, beating at an alarming rate, and causing her breathing to grow more
pronounced.

Her cheeks were flushed by an incarnadine red. Konrad's disguise fell, revealing his
Adonis figure to the gathered beauties. And if his gaze was previously compelling, it
was now irresistible.

"What should I do with you?"

Hearing that sultry voice snake into her ears, Freya's last bastion of defense
crumbled.

"P… punish me."

She whispered.

"I didn't hear you."

"Punish me."

"Louder."

"Punish me!"

Every time she answered, her juice dripped stronger, her body burned harder, and
her breathing grew more ragged with a sense of freedom flooding her mind. The
thought that he was her savior, that his rod would free her of all her shackles was
quickly being imprinted within her mind.

"Spread your legs."

She obeyed, revealing the wet mess her sex had become.

"That eager?"

Konrad's lips curled into a devilish smile, and he grabbed her pussy within his left
hand. First caressing it from bottom to top, then inserting his index.

"Mhm!"

She moaned, feeling a jolt of electricity spreading through her body. Konrad's index
poked around, teasing and pleasuring her in ways she didn't know existed, then he
inserted his middle finger, and increased the pace.

"Ohhh!"
Her moaning intensified, and she became more active, bringing his hand deeper into
her fold, and practically fucking herself on it. But then he stopped, pulled his hand
out of her, and patted her cheek with his drenched palm.

"What is it that you want? Tell me."

Desperation overtook her gaze which went back and forth between Konrad's eyes
and the scalding shaft that pressed her leg.

"I want you to… fuck me!"

"Louder!"

Commanded Konrad while lifting her right leg.

"I want you to fuck me! To make a mess of my insides, to paint my walls white with
your sperm, to mark every inch of my body with your cock!"

She roared!

And Konrad obliged, driving his cock into her vagina with one clean stroke.

"Aaaaah!"

She bit her lower lip, but as expected, she was no virgin, and her pussy greedily
sucked him in. Golden light spread within her insides, heightening her sensitivity by
a hundred folds while Konrad raised her left leg and held her in suspension by her
firm buttocks. He gave her walls a second to appreciate and adjust around his shaft,
then started pounding.

Pah Pah Pah

His cock drove into her like a car on an empty highway, finding and conquering her
sweet spots while hitting places she didn't know could be hit. His waist danced in
serpentine arcs that sent his cock wreaking blissful havoc within her insides, while
her gasps and moans entangled in a furious display of pleasure.

"Aaaahh… ohhh… yess… yesss!"

She didn't need to guide, she didn't need to direct, she only needed to moan, moan,
moan, and moan.

To lose herself in the pleasure only he could offer her.

"Master… yess… master… you're sooo good! Heaven… this is… heaven!"

Konrad took her lips into his, silencing her in muffled moans while his cock and balls
slammed into her and hammered scalding, electrifying pleasure into their bodies.

Then he flipped her onto her right leg, while still holding her by her left in a scissor-
like position and bending her in an impossible arc to keep her lips into his.

Pah Pah Pah

The pounding resumed, with Konrad's cock hitting and creating new pleasure spots
for Freya to drown in.

Unbeknown to her, however, with each thrust and moment of kissing, her hard-
earned cultivation leaked from her body and slipped into his. Like a true sex demon,
Konrad devoured her essence while instilling soul-consuming pleasure into her body
and turning her into a slave of his carnal powers.

The position once again changed, with Freya now standing on her hands, and
drawing an acute angle with the ground while Konrad held her by the waist and
shagged her from behind.

Pah Pah Pah

After the umpteenth orgasm, Freya completely abandoned herself to Konrad's

clutches. Her hands gave in, and to avoid her dropping, Konrad reverted her into her
initial position with one hand holding her waist and the other pressed on her back to
maintain her in balance and took her until his cock trembled to announce its release.

"Cumming… again… again"

"Aaaargh!"

He groaned, releasing his warm cum inside her vagina, and painting her walls in a
purple shaded white.
"Did I… die… is this… paradise?"

Her eyes had rolled back, her lips contorted into a silly smile, and her cultivation had
shrunken from the second step Grand Knight to first step True Knight, but she was…
happy!

But Konrad didn't stop there, and immediately grabbed the three priestesses whose
masks and clothes had long since fallen onto the ground, split them onto his cock,
and drew them into a demonic world of pleasure ruled by none other than him.

Pah Pah Pah

"Master… oh yes… my master!"

Pah Pah Pah

"Take me! Defile me!"

Pah Pah Pah

"I died… or am I… dying?"

Their bodies writhed and intertwined with his in wondrous positions and bouts of
ecstasy, and their cultivations dropped at breakneck speed. Going from the middle of
the True Priest Rank to the first step Adept Knight!

But as the final wave of orgasm overtook them and each received copious jets of his
purple shaded semen within their pussies, they had no complaints, because they
were… happy!

Author's note:

This day marks both the end of the contest and of our deal. Thank you all for your
fantastic support, I was surprised to see us reaching almost three hundred
powerstones in such short a time. I don't know how my competitors fared, but I
think we have a serious shot at victory.

You also gave me ten reviews which means that I owe you seven bonus chapters due
on Monday. Chapters you shall have.

I now invite you all to join the Holy Cultural Sect! Founded by me Patriarch
Devil_Paragon in the year 2019.

https://discord.gg/tucy4kc

(Will also post it on my front page in case webnovel censors the link like they seem
to do a lot these days)

Mwahahaha!
Meanwhile, Konrad's martial and spiritual cultivations were soaring!

Sixth step Adept Knight…

Seventh… eighth… ninth…

First step True Knight… second… third… all the way to eighth step True Knight!

As for his spiritual cultivation, it went from the ninth step Initiate Priest to first step
True Priest before stabilizing.

But it wasn't over.

"Host! Congratulations for completing the second level of the main quest. Reward
time!"

"Host's martial cultivation is increased to fourth step Grand Knight.

Host gains the ability Ecstasy Cloud.

Host's spiritual cultivation is increased to sixth step True Priest.

Host obtains the rank of Harem Builder.

Host can choose one Grand Level cultivation method and physique.

Harem rings distribution."

Vast blue streams of energy spread within Konrad's body and merged with the
yellow tower. Its color was altered, becoming the same sky-blue while his mind was
also flooded by blue waves of energy that coalesced into a dark-blue spring.

His arm strength had risen to more than three thousand kilos, while his bodily speed
had surpassed that of sound. But he wasn't satisfied. There was a significant problem
in his cultivation. It had risen too fast and without the help of a cultivation method.
While the cultivation boosts given by the system were flawless, the same could not
be said for the energy he harvested from his assailants.

A suitable cultivation method was needed to purify the flaws and enhance his
strength. But that was something to be dealt with at a later time.

Konrad turned heels and stepped toward Iliana who had already shredded her
clothes to play with her drenched sex. But although her naked body laid bare for him
to contemplate, and she was at her most vulnerable state, Konrad didn't intend to
take advantage of her.

He made a grasping motion, and the pink fog that had invaded her body and threw
her into such disarray exited through her pores and disappeared within Konrad's
palm. With its consuming effects gone, she quickly regained lucidity.

"Why not take her on the spot?"

"She deserves a better first time. Something that truly fulfills her fantasies. That's
what I will give her."

Konrad replied to the system's inquiry.

"By the way, you're not initializing the third level of the main quest?"

"Oh about that, the happiness god reckoned you should be given a break every now
and then so every two levels, you get a vacation."

"Oh?"

"But after you claim your reward, I'm going to undergo a one week update to bring
you new features so you won't be able to count on me during that time."

Konrad wanted to say that the system was in any case too unreliable, but opted to
just focus on Iliana who was slowly adjusting to the scenery. Her slit eyes had
avoided Konrad to stare at the four women that now laid bare on the ground with
semen oozing from their vaginas, drool dripping from their lips, and rolled back eyes
that made them look brain-damaged.
The scene was terrifying, to say the least, and in comparison, her own nakedness and
disgraceful behavior appeared too trivial.

"Are you afraid of me?"

It was a rhetorical question. With Konrad's demonic blood fully awakened and
overpowering his human bloodline, Konrad was now more beast than man and could
sense the fear emanating from her body.

The sound of his voice sent a shiver down her spine. She was terrified.

Slowly, she forced herself to return her gaze onto him and meet him eye to eye.
Konrad stretched his hand toward her, and clicked his fingers, causing purple light to
enshroud and reform her torn clothes.

She said nothing, picked up the garments and got dressed in less than a minute, then
turned back toward him.

"Is this your real appearance?"

She asked while staring at that perfectly chiseled face and glittering violet eyes.

"So, it seems."

The flames slipped through Konrad's pores and returned into his body, causing his
eyes to revert to their usual black color. The only trace left of his transformation was
a purple flame shaped mark that was now visible on his right arm.

But even without all the supernatural display, his presence was captivating. Thanks
to his new cultivation level and bloodline sublimation, his natural charm had risen to
inhuman heights, causing Iliana to only find him more dreadful.

Subconsciously, she stepped back.

But then the sight of him standing up and almost dying for her to face that deadly
crisis together resurfaced, and she stepped back toward him.

"Don't you always have something to say? Why are you not saying anything?"

"You want me to lie. I don't want to."

He was right. Iliana wanted him to say that there was a rational explanation to all of
this, that she was mistaken, maybe that he had cultivated some kind of eldritch
power that gave him demon-like abilities. Anything, except that he truly was of
demonic blood.

But he wouldn't.

And strangely, those words soothed some of her fears.

"You clearly are a womanizer. Don't you people deceive women on a daily basis? Why
the restraint?"

She had not realized it yet, but she was steadily getting more comfortable.

"You deceive a woman you just want to sleep with. I've said it before, I don't merely
want to sleep with you. I want to own you, body and soul."

The ease with which he spoke made it sound like the most natural of things, but to
her, it felt like she had been marked by a great beast for a hunt she could not escape
from.

"Who are you? Why did you infiltrate the imperial palace?"

Iliana's eyesight and knowledge were good enough to spot some things Konrad
himself wasn't aware of. Half-demons were generally much inferior to pureblooded
demons due to the impurities of their bloodlines. However, she had no doubt that
Konrad's innate demonic powers were far beyond the league of the average
pureblood incubus.

This could only mean one thing. His demonic parent was, without a shred of doubt, a
terrifying existence!

"In all honesty, I was sold to the palace by my parents and used to be a eunuch until
recently. It hasn't been long since by demonic powers awakened, so I truly do not
possess the answer to your questions and fears."

Konrad replied with his eyes staring directly into hers, and she could find no trace of
lies within.

"Is being of demonic that bad?"

"Bad? It seems you don't have a clear understanding of what demonism represents
in the Holy Continent."

"It's not bad. It is terrible!"

In a faraway palace, a man with long jet-black hairs, violet eyes and a long pair of
goat horns played with several beauties within a steamy, crimson pool when
suddenly, his violet eyes shone with dazzling light.

"Oh?"

He let go of the beauties within his arms and glanced at his right arm where a purple
flame shaped mark glittered.

"What's the matter, your majesty?"

"It seems the third child has finally awakened."

The man leisurely said with an amused grin.

"Does your majesty want us to bring them back?"

"No need. I'm curious to see who among them will find his way back first and in what
shape or form."

Iliana then proceeded by explaining the implications of demonism to Konrad. And

indeed, it was much worse than he had anticipated. Perhaps it was naïve of him to
think that in a world with so many different races, one couldn't be facing too much
hatred.

But he was wrong. This was way worse than the inquisition back on earth.

By decree of the Celestial Church, the feeblest suspicion of a relation to demons no

matter how shallow was punished by family extermination.

What was the meaning of "excessive?"

This was the meaning of "excessive."

And if that was the fate of those merely suspected to consort with demons. Konrad
failed to fathom what would be done to him, were they to ever figure out that he was
for all intents and purposes of demonic blood.

Yet, none of that really mattered at the moment. He strode toward Iliana and seized
her waist.

"What are you doing?"

She complained while struggling to get out of his tight grasp.

"I know I said dying by your side was fine, but I'm glad we didn't die. Otherwise, I
wouldn't be able to hold you like this."

He said while gently stroking her hairs and keeping her face pressed against his
chest.

And for an instant, Iliana thought that insolent unruly youth was no longer that
hateful. Perhaps he even was a bit likable.

Just a little bit… right?

Time held its breath, allowing the pair to enjoy the fleeting moment for what seemed
like an eternity.

Konrad then freed her from his grasp, and although she let nothing transpire on her
face, Iliana felt a small sense of loss swirl within her abdomen.

"Let' get to proper business. I'm sure you must have an idea as to why they wanted to
kill you right? Maybe you even know some of them?"

The inquiry pulled Iliana back to seriousness, and Konrad could see the shadow of
sorrow hidden within her eyes.

Following a brief silence, she sighed and stepped toward the three priestesses lying
on the ground.

"The dead males are head eunuchs, and those three women are among the Holy
Consort's personal attendants."

She then moved toward Freya and indexed her drowsy face while casting a
perturbed gaze at Konrad.

"As for her, she is Freya Stein, the daughter of baron Niklas Stein of the golden-eyed
lion race. She used to be a court lady working under the Holy Consort, but thirty
years ago, she was married to viscount Thorsten Schoner by the Holy Emperor's
decree."

Court ladies were the superiors of the head palace maids and theoretically were not
under the jurisdiction of any consort beside the Empress. However, many chose to
join the different factions to pave a better future for themselves. Some of them were
promoted head palace maids, but the majority came from noble families and entered
the palace with the title.

The house Stein was a feeble noble house, but Freya was a woman of high talent and
incredible beauty, so her father sent her into the palace at a young age to serve the
Holy Consort and weave connections.

She didn't fail his expectations and managed to marry into the Uradel house Schoner
which greatly improved House Stein's status and brought them countless benefits.

"You may not understand the meaning of "Uradel" so allow me to explain. Nobility
titles may not be hereditary, but nobility is. There are two kinds of noble families.
The Uradel that constitute the ancient nobility, noble houses with more than ten
thousand years of history, and the Briefadel, noble houses with less than ten
thousand years of history."

"Uradels wield enormous power and prestige within the Holy Flame Empire and can
all trace their lineage back to a saint. Viscount Thorsten Schoner is a five hundred
years old second step Transcendent Knight with an army of more than fifty thousand
troops. He endured public criticism to divorce his previous wife and beg the emperor
for an opportunity to marry Freya. That alone shows how much he loves her. But
look at what you've done to her…”

"Careful, I might think that you're actually worried about me."

"Who's worried about you? I'm just warning you in good faith."

But she was indeed worried.

"That aside, I suppose the reason why they're targeting me is because of the Holy
Consort's political games."

Again with the Holy Consort. Although he had never met her, Konrad was starting to
find that woman particularly annoying.

"Else, the Holy Consort is the country's number one talent. She is less than three
hundred years old but has already broken through to the Holy Knight Rank. But
although she's the emperor's favorite consort and admired as the empire's number
one beauty, she's not satisfied."

"In the last decades, she's been amassing an increasing amount of political power,
and already has a hand in many government institutions. She also gathered the
support of many Briefadel houses. This has alarmed many powerful nobles who now
attempt to thwart her influence. Among them is my father, Count Wolfgang Kracht."
She paused, her eyes drifting into the past.

"The reason why my father sent me to the palace is not because of my illegitimate
status. He was forced to do so by the emperor due to Else's intrigues. Ten years ago,
as a warning to my father, she had me and my cousin sneak attacked by a ninth step
True Priest. As a result, my spiritual cultivation was sealed while my cousin fell into
a coma."

"In fact, was it not for me always hiding my spiritual cultivation, I would probably be
in the same state."

There was nothing more terrifying than a power-hungry woman. The level of cruelty
they could reach often went far beyond men in the same positions. Thinking about it,
that was only natural. After all, their rise was often more challenging and required an
abundance of ruthless decisions early on.

"Who's the cousin you mentioned? Is she the one you needed the other high-grade
True Spirit Restauration pill for?"

The reason why Konrad was confident in the cousin being a "she" was simple. Since
she could be used to threaten count Wolfgang, she was undoubtedly her paternal
cousin and belonged to the Uradel house Kracht. That being the case, it was
impossible for her relatives to not have True Spirit Restauration pills at disposal. The
only explanation was that just like Iliana, she had entered the palace.

As for her status, Konrad recalled the rumor of Iliana being related to a consort.

"Her name is Daphne, an imperial consort and the daughter of one of my uncles.
Although my father always doted a lot on us, he could not resist the emperor's
decree to send us into the palace. Fortunately for me, my illegitimate birth allowed
me to avoid the miserable fate of becoming a consort."

Challenging the emperor's decree was treason. Oddly, a commoner committing

treason would only get himself beheaded while nobles caught doing so would drag
their entire bloodline alongside them. This had something to do with commoners
not possessing family names.

And now that Konrad knew the full story, he couldn't help but pity those women
caught in the crossfire of political games.
"It is necessary to give them a lot of penetrating love."

"What did you say?"

"Hum, hum, nothing, nothing…”

He needed to stop that nasty habit of thinking out loud.

"Regardless, I do not think the Holy Consort is the one who sent them after you."

"Why is that?"

Iliana was puzzled. Who besides the Holy Consort could dispatch those ladies within
the inner court? Freya was especially known to only obey Else's will.

"From what you've told me, the Holy Consort is callous but shrewd. You and your
cousin are her political hostages. Meaning that as long as your father doesn't go
beyond a certain limit, she will keep you alive. She can harm you, but she cannot kill
you. Otherwise, she not only loses her advantage, but she also gains your father's
unrestrained retaliation. It makes no bloody sense. Even if she wanted to kill one of
the hostages to send a powerful message, she would first start with your cou…”

At that time, Konrad's eyes widened in realization.

"Not good! Quickly lead the way, your cousin is in danger!"

Only now did Iliana become aware of her own neglect. If she was being attacked,
then wasn't it almost certain that her cousin also was?

Without another word, she turned and shot toward Daphne's palace with Konrad
right by her side.

Meanwhile, at Daphne's palace, the only attendants left with her, servants carefully
handpicked by house Kracht to assist and protect her, were now fighting tooth and
nails with a group of masked assassins. But their resistance was coming to a brutal
end.
Just like the team sent to deal with Iliana, the assassins in Daphne's quarters were a
combination of maids and eunuchs that either directly worked for the Holy Consort
or belonged to her faction.

They numbered twelve in total, with ten high-level True Knights and two Grand
Knight court ladies. The reason for such a formidable lineup was Daphne's skilled
entourage.

Imperial consorts were allowed to possess six personal attendants that could be
handpicked from their families, so house Kracht had chosen six loyal ninth step True
Knight ladies to protect her. Those women all came from lesser houses subordinate
to the Kracht. But unfortunately, they weren't able to detect the sneak attack carried
on by Else's priest.

Since then, they had dutifully taken care of the comatose Daphne. Little did they
expect that after all those silent years, they would meet a full-blown assassination
attempt.

The twelve emerged from the shadows with no warning and immediately shot
toward them. They fought hard to repel the assailants but were quickly suppressed
and repelled by the Grand Knights leading them.

"Why? How young lady has already been comatose for more than a decade and did
nothing to offend the Holy Consort so why must you be so ruthless toward her?!"

Roared one of the attendants with indignity. In the past, her relationship with
Daphne was the best, and she always blamed herself for not having been able to
protect her.

But to her outrage, the Grand Knight pair burst into laughter.

"If you want to blame someone, blame count Wolfgang for being unruly. He actually
castrated his son to remove his succession rights and managed to obtain an imperial
decree to not only legitimize that bastard daughter of his but also make her heir to
his estates! Since he doesn't care about your lives, why should we?"

Count Wolfgang only had two children. His son Alex born of his legal wife and his
daughter Iliana born of his beloved concubine. While men were not allowed to have
more than one wife, nobles held the right to possess concubines should they desire
to. The higher their nobility title was, the more concubines they could have. But only
rarely would they actually go through with it.

The reason was simple. Their wives were no pushovers. To maintain the loftiness of
their noble blood and forge alliances, noble males only married highborn ladies.
Those ladies often came from houses on the same level and thus possessed
significant backgrounds.

Taking a concubine was not only an insult to them, but it was also an insult to their
houses. More than one noble had been threatened with divorce for entertaining the
thought of a concubine. Thus, only those mighty lords could genuinely afford to do
so. At the peak of the Transcendent Knight Rank, Wolfgang Kracht was one of the
most powerful Uradel counts, but even he could not do such a thing without
consequences.

The day he brought in Iliana's mother was the day his wife left him to join the Holy
Flame Church as a priestess.

Since then, Alex had always resented him and sought to oppose him in any possible
ways. Thus, when Else's agents approached him with the promise of helping him
take over his father's estates before due time, he readily joined her faction. Not
knowing that his father had been monitoring his every move and recording his
misdeeds.

But no one had expected, that three days ago, Count Wolfgang would walk into court,
kneel in front in front of the emperor and say.

"I Wolfgang Kracht only have one daughter whom I love dearly. But for two decades
she has been in your majesty's care, and I've not been able to see her ever since. Now
my only wish is that your majesty grants me the right to legitimize her so that I can
add her to the family registry. On account of all my contributions on the battlefield, I
hope your majesty will agree!"
He was not only a powerful noble but also a mighty general with many contributions,
and it was rumored that he would soon break through the Semi-Holy Knight rank
and be promoted to the position of margrave!

Taking into consideration the fact that he had never asked for anything, the Holy
Emperor granted his request which caused Alex to fly into rage and vehemently
curse his father in public!

In retaliation, Count Wolfgang beat him into a bloody pulp and crushed his balls to
the shock of all the present nobles! He then announced that his daughter would be
his heir and returned to his mansion.

And it would seem that act caused the incensed Holy Consort to order the execution
of Iliana and Daphne.

"How could this be…?"

The attendant didn't believe that Count Wolfgang would go so far as to destroy his
only male descendant. Wasn't that no different than proclaiming his will to challenge
Else to the end?

"I also want to know why. But with that move, he made it clear that he cared not for
your lives. That being the case, you can die!"

The court lady bellowed and shot toward the maid with her brandished sword. But
at that time…

"HALT!"

…a voice thundered from behind, and she stopped dead in her tracks.

"Who?"

And alongside the gathered individuals, she turned toward its origin and was
surprised to see Iliana who should on all account be dead standing with a
breathtakingly handsome black-haired youth by her side.

"Yo, you really are an idiot. In the middle of your attack, someone says "halt," and you
actually stop?"
Said Konrad with a disappointed elder's tone.

And immediately, black lines crept on all the gathered individuals' foreheads.

"Kill them!"

"Lady Iliana? Why are you here?"

The attendants weren't relieved. On the contrary, their hearts were full of
apprehension. With the present lineup, there was nothing Iliana alone could do to tip
the scales. She could only follow them to the underworld. As for that pretty boy,… he
seemed to fit the "too handsome to be reliable" type.

The ten high-level True Knights shot toward the duo at close to the speed of sound.
But seeing their incoming forms, Konrad was unafraid. He extended his right hand
and muttered.

"Ecstasy Clouds."

Pink colored clouds rose from his fingertips and shot toward the assailants. The
eunuchs among them felt nothing, but the remaining five ladies immediately
dropped limp onto the ground with their pupils dilated.

The cloud then spread toward the Grand Knight court ladies, and they too soon
collapsed in the very same fashion.

"What the hell is going on?"

Seeing their companions and leaders collapsing without any form of damage or
resistance, the eunuchs were too shocked to carry on with their attacks. Meanwhile,
Daphne's attendants were taken aback.

"Hahahaha!"

The downed women then began giggling and wriggling on the ground with their
faces showcasing soaring euphoria, causing even more confusion within the
gathered individuals/

"A wise man once said that there was nothing more dreadful than a woman's fury. I
disagree. If there is anything in this world I will never dread, it is a woman's fury."
Konrad complacently said and caused Iliana's forehead to further crease.

He then pounced onto the eunuchs at close to twice the speed of sound.

BAM BAM BAM *BAM BAM*

And sent them crashing into the opposite walls with a violent series of punches.
The eunuchs' chests were marked with the firm imprint of Konrad's fists. Blood
dripped from the corners of their lips, and their unconscious but still breathing
bodies remained encased within the walls.

Now the only active presence of the assailants were the palace women that still
foolishly giggled on the ground. Konrad entered the system and checked his exp
count which had gone from 3515 all the way to 124015. As a second step Grand
Knight of extraordinary beauty, Freya had brought 80000 exp while the three virgin
priestesses had added a total of 40500.

Konrad exchanged 9000 exp for a programmable high-grade True Spatial Pouch with
ten thousand square meters of space and set it up into a five stories tall twenty-first-
century style white luxury mansion occupying a thousand square meters, a garden,
and a massive swimming pool.

He then created a basement set up in jail cells and exited the system with an exp
count of 115015.

Konrad tossed the spatial pouch into the air, causing it to fly over the defeated
assailants, swallow them within, and group them in the jail cells.

Meanwhile, Daphne's personal attendants were staring slack-jawed while wondering

where the lady found such a fierce creature.

"Is he lady Iliana's secret lover?"

"It must be so!"

"Only such a handsome and outstanding man is worthy of the lady."

They concluded out loud, causing Konrad to feel even more self-satisfied and Iliana
to lose her composure.
"Come on, don't be shy. Keep praising me. It is only right for the outstanding to be
praised. Go, go, go…”

He inwardly thought while adopting the stance of an expert.

"Who is whose secret lover? That scoundrel has nothing to do with me!"

Iliana roared while aiming her quivering finger at Konrad's complacent face.

"Hum, hum. How could you say that? We've already done so many deeds together
that calling you my wife wouldn't be exaggerated."

Those shameless words took Daphne's attendants aback.

"The deed has already been done? Then doesn't that mean…?"

"I didn't think lady Iliana would be so brazen."

"I'm afraid Count Wolfgang is not going to take this kindly."

"What can he do? In any case without his son, lady Iliana will have to soon carry on
the bloodline. Might as well start now."

Iliana was assaulted by phantasmal blows, staggered, and almost fell onto the
ground.

Konrad silently recorded the merits of those attendants to make sure he could
properly thank them in the future.

But now it was time to return to seriousness.

Iliana stepped toward the attendants to ask about Daphne's condition and was
relieved to know that the assassins had not managed to get to her.

"Now do you still think that the Holy Consort is not the one behind this?"

Asked Iliana while leading the way toward Daphne's chambers. The news of her
father's recent deeds had shocked her to the core of her soul, and although her
relationship with that elder half-brother of hers was no good, she still felt sorry for
him who in the end only wanted to defend his mother's dignity.
Her father had gone too far.

"On the contrary, I'm now convinced this has nothing to do with the Holy Consort."

"Huh?"

They had just reached the doorstep when Konrad said those words that caused
Iliana to blankly stare at him.

"Your father's move might have looked rash, but in fact its sharpness is terrifying. He
not only disposed of the main pawn the Holy Consort had prepared within his house,
and thus removed a concealed threat, but also drastically increased your status and
value within the consort's eyes."

Although not adept of political machinations, Iliana was a sharp woman and quickly
understood what he meant.

"Before I was the illegitimate daughter of Wolfgang Kracht. Although that status is
not negligible, it wields no true significance or implication. Now I am the heir to the
Kracht name. If anything was to happen to me…”

"Yes, it would be an offense again the entire Uradel house of Kracht and its allies.
Thus, if the Holy Consort is really a woman of wisdom and vision, I have no doubt
this has nothing to do with her."

Konrad concluded in her stead.

"But… the people dispatched are all closely related to her."

"That is the confusing part. It can only mean two things. There is someone in the
Holy Consort's entourage with a high enough position to make decisions in her
name, who either tried to escalate the contradictions between Else's and Count
Wolfgang or was genuinely angered and only wished to blindly strike back at him."

"We can get more information by interrogating Freya and the rest, but there is one
thing that makes no sense. Those court ladies earlier were certain of the Holy
Consort's fury. Has if they had personally witnessed it…”

"That is impossible. Most do not know this, but aside the emperor and her closest
relatives, no one has ever seen the Holy Consort's face. And since she broke through
the Holy Knight Rank decades ago, she has been cultivating in seclusion. All her
orders are sent through proxies."

Iliana replied to his confusion.

"What? That being the case, how do you know she's the empire's number one
beauty?"

"Because man or woman, every single person that's been in her presence says the
one same thing. "A transcendent beauty that holds no rival under the blue sky!""

"…”

The system was right. He had never been in the presence of the Holy Consort. The
woman who had ordered the previous body's owner canned to death must have
been her proxy.

Faidra and Aliki had been swindled, and for some reason, Konrad was starting to
think that there was more to this story than mere lust.

Meanwhile, within the Holy Consort's palace, a blue-haired woman was walking in
circles. If Konrad were here, he would have recognized her as the one that had his
predecessor canned to death.

"Why have they not returned yet? They should have completed their tasks by now.
Or did something happen to them? But how could that be?"

But as she pondered the reasons for the delay, golden light flashed within the room,
and the riveting silhouette of a masked woman appeared in front of her.

Seeing that woman, the blue-haired lady immediately fell on her knees.

"Greetings your grace!"

The holy consort's glance fell on the kneeling woman and caused her to be overtaken
by dread.

"Again? What is this, the second time?"

Droplets of sweat trickled on the lady's forehead while her entire body shook.

"Your grace has given me full authority to handle matters of political nature while
your grace focuses on breaking through the next step. So, I…”

"So you had Wolfgang Kracht's only bloodline, the girl whose value has just
skyrocketed, assassinated?"

The holy consort's tranquil tone only caused more dread within the blue-haired
lady's unsteady heart.

"I know this may look rash, but if Wolfgang Kracht dares destroy his son for the sake
of opposing your grace, then it is very likely that he wouldn't mind abandoning his
daughter should the need arise. That being the case, why not push him into making
the first move? He is not aware of the depth of our forces and thinks his faction can
contend with us when we have more than enough resources to crush him."

"Fool. Wolfgang's threat doesn't stem from himself but from house Kvass at his back.
They have always been looking for an opportunity to push him into all-out war with
me. And you've almost given them that opportunity. I can only imagine how
Thorwald Kvass would have mocked me… should you have been successful."

House Kvass was one of the three princely houses of the Holy Flame Empire. But
unlike the other two, they were a junior house of the Von Jurgen, the imperial family!

And their head, Sovereign Prince Thorwald Kvass was not only a saint but also the
Holy Empress' father!

"Your grace I…”

"Do you know why you're still breathing?"

"Because your grace is…”

"Because I remember your family's sacrifice to save my life. I remember your father's
warm blood on my face. That is why I forgave you before. That is why I also forgive
you now. But there will be no third time."

Though she spoke calmly, her voice carried an irresistible force that commanded
obedience and reverence.
"Your grace I… understand."

After the last debacle, she had only barely escaped with her life and was eager to
make some contribution to redeem herself. Who would have thought that in haste,
she would only worsen her situation?
Led by Iliana, Konrad stepped inside Daphne's chambers. Despite her status of
imperial consort, her room was plainly decorated, which made Konrad assume that
just like Iliana she was more on the reserved end.

On the queen-sized bed, the figure of a pale green haired woman could be seen. She
was of slender built with long eyelashes and a perfectly carved, Greek goddess-like
figure that left no room for nitpicking.

But with the seriousness of the situation, Konrad didn't have time to appreciate her
beauty. Iliana stepped toward Daphne with one of the two True Spirit Restauration
pills in her hand and unceremoniously forced it down her throat.

In a heartbeat, the pill dissolved within her system, causing dark blue light to
envelop her body and attack the seal affecting her mind. At the same time, Iliana
swallowed the other pill and sat cross-legged to restore her spiritual power.

"I didn't have a chance to obtain my cultivation method and physique until now. Let's
get to that."

"Finally! I have a vacation to take!"

Said the exasperated system.

Konrad entered the system to cash in his cultivation method reward. He was now a
fourth step Grand Knight and sixth step True Priest. That combined with his incubus
bloodline gave him great potential for both the martial and spiritual paths.

But while browsing through the many Grand Level cultivation methods, he was
dissatisfied. There were many excellent cultivation methods available, but none that
fit his requirements. And he was about to switch to the physique category when he
spotted a certain method near the end of the Grand level list.

"Hundred Flowers Scripture: High-grade Grand Martial and Spiritual dual cultivation
method.

Description: Dual cultivation is often looked down on as a fast but unsteady road to
power. The creator of this scripture aimed to remedy that by forging a method
allowing the user to simultaneously cultivate the martial and spiritual paths to
perfection through dual cultivation.

Sexual intercourse done through the use of the Hundred Flowers Scripture also
enables the user to spiritually connect with his partner and maximize the benefits
obtained by both.

Special Abilities: Perfect Energy Foundation<>Extreme Speed<>Empowered

Senses<>Empowered Regeneration Abilities<>Light, Lightning and Nature Triple
Affinity.

Upgradable Four Times.

Creator: Talroth, fourth king of hell, lord of lust, ruler of all sex demons."

A perfect fit!

Without hesitation, Konrad picked that cultivation method, causing the mnemonic to
fly and appear within his mind.

He then turned his gaze toward the physique category which brimmed with many
appealing techniques. However, only one could snatch his attention.

"Grand Primal Physique: Dual cultivation physique that maximizes the benefits of
dual cultivation for both sides. The higher the gap in power, the more benefits the
lower one receives.

Special Ability: 50% bonus in strength and 100% bonus in resilience.

"

This physique would be of paramount importance for training his army of beauties.

As far as the system was concerned, the end game was to establish a harem of ten
thousand goddesses. Konrad didn't believe he could actually go out and swindle ten
thousand goddesses into his harem to fit the requirement.
What he could do, however, was to train them all from scratch. The picture of
Jasmine then flashed within his mind, and although it had only been a few days since
their encounter, he was eager to "bring her into the fold." So to speak…

He then exited the system and sat cross-legged formally start cultivating. As the
owner of the system, Konrad didn't need to spend time in comprehending the
mnemonics and could directly start his cultivation.

White light burst from his body, flower petals emerged from within and danced
around his form while pinkish mist sprang from his pores.

Rapidly, his unsteady sky-blue streams of spiritual energy were refined with his
muscles and bones being tempered and brought to a state of absolute perfection.

His shoulders grew broader, and his abs were toned to perfection while his height
went from 1.78 meters to a full 1.85 meters with his entire body brimming with
power and masculinity. This was the merit of the Grand Primal Physique being
activated.

Thirty minutes of silent cultivation passed in a heartbeat. But Daphne and Iliana had
yet to complete their recuperation.

Konrad now had an important decision to make.

Whether or not to upgrade his bloodline?

As seen in the system beforehand, although the pureblooded incubus bloodline was
of the Arch Rank and cost five hundred thousand exp, The upgrade from half to
pureblooded incubus only required fifty thousand exp. With that upgrade, his power
over women and fighting abilities overall were likely to soar to a terrifying level.

At the very least, he believed that below the Transcendent Rank, there was no
woman he wouldn't be able to subjugate and that within the Grand Rank, men would
also have to surrender their lives.

But with that great boost in power came an even greater risk. Wasn't the likelihood
of his bloodline being exposed going to rise?

But as he pondered what to do, the system's voice echoed within his mind.
"You don't have to be worried. Contrary to popular belief and other demonic races,
the purer the blood, the harder it is to detect incubi. Pureblooded incubi, in
particular, are masters of deception. Your transformation skill will be able to trick
anyone below the Holy Rank while your demonic energy signature will only be
visible if you lose control of yourself… like you did before."

"So hurry up and let me go on my vacation!"

"Aren't you a robot? What kind of vacation can you take?"

"Sleeping is my vacation! All those crazy women screaming in your hands are driving
me crazy! Fuck! Why did Happiness God not give me a mute button? This is
outrageous!"

"Can a system go crazy?"

Konrad was starting to think that the system was getting more "human" by the
second. Perhaps one day he would pop out of his head with a body of his own!

But having been reassured by him, he no longer had any hesitation and traded the
required fifty-thousand exp to upgrade his bloodline rank to pureblooded incubus.
His exp count then dropped to 65015.

And a shocking change occurred.

His eyes permanently turned purple, long goat horns emerged from his forehead
while his nails turned into sharp claws sharper than most swords and a pair of large
bat-like wings sprang from his back.

Fortunately, Iliana was still in a trance; otherwise, he would have a lot of explaining
to do. He drew a deep breath, and his body reverted to normal. But he could now feel
that his senses had been sharpened and his body enhanced in every conceivable
manner.

He was faster.

Stronger.

Tougher.
And possessed preternatural instincts leagues above that of the average predator.
Now everything about him had reached true perfection. Oddly, however, the scent of
orchids lingered around his body.

He stood up, and at that time, the situation of the two women changed. Iliana's eyes
sprang open with vast spiritual power springing from her mind.

Her spiritual power had been sealed for more than a decade, but she had never
stopped cultivating it. Now, all that accumulation was about to explode in a large
breakthrough!

And from the ninth step of the True Priest Rank, she directly reached the third step
Grand Priest Rank!

Iliana's true talent had always resided in spiritual cultivation which was why her
father had her deeply hide it to avoid the reprisals of the envious.

Meanwhile, Daphne's eyelids trembled, and her slowly, her eyes also opened. The
paleness of her skin had vanished and was replaced by a pearl white that brimmed
with lifeforce.

With her body still slightly trembling from the recovery, she stood and swept the
room with her emerald slit gaze.

"Horrendous! Who decorated my room so plainly? The galls!"

"Daphne!"

Iliana beamed and leaped toward her with open arms. Daphne had no notion of the
lost time but didn't resist her favorite cousin's embrace.

But then, her attention fell onto the tall Adonis standing at the center of the room,
and her eyes lit up.

"What a fine piece of work! Iliana, where did you find that tasty hunk? Do you mind
giving him to me? I promise not to break him."

And for the first time since he had arrived in this world, Konrad was struck
speechless by someone other than the system.
Yikes
Only now did Iliana recall her cousin's terrifying personality. She was a pureblooded
lamia and thus possessed a strong libido, to begin with. But beyond that, she was a
full-fledged man-eater who got off on playing handsome men and pretty boys till
they begged for mercy.

Her track record was horrifying, and many of her male servants had been forced to
resign due to her insatiable thirst for domination. Worse, her viscount father
indulged all her excesses as long as she maintained the promise of not losing her
virginity to one of her victims.

This only made her more tyrannical, and ultimately, a new policy was established to
just hire ugly men!

Daphne slipped out of Iliana's arms and darted toward Konrad, sizing him from head
to toe through her bewitching eyes. She was glowing from the satisfaction she felt
when his eunuch clothes finally caught his attention.

"Wait… he's a eunuch?"

She asked toward Iliana with teary eyes.

The answer was an obvious no. But for some reason…

"Yes! He's one of the palace's eunuchs. Don't get any strange idea. At the end of the
day, you're now an imperial consort. Some things need to cease."

…she blurted out. Also, why was Konrad getting more handsome by the second?
Totally outrageous!

But seeing Iliana's unexpected reaction, the sweet scent of opportunity reached
Konrad's nose.

"Actually, I'm not a eunuch. I'm a perfectly constituted man with all the tools in the
right places."

He seriously declared.

"Oh really? Let me check."

Daphne's teary gaze was replaced by excitement, and she cupped Konrad's balls
within her right hand.

"Mhm… nice girth. You and I are going to get along just fine!"

She didn't care about why a man had snuck into the palace. She only cared about him
looking like a demi-god and being available for her to toy with.

Seeing her brazen behavior, Konrad frowned. But when he saw the rising anger
within Iliana's eyes, he restrained himself.

"Harlot! Shameless harlot! Do you really have no sense of propriety?!"

But Daphne was unfazed, and complacently replied.

"What's propriety? That word doesn't exist in my vocabulary. Is he yours? Did you
claim him? Even if he's yours, sisters should be able to share everything!"

"Also I'm a harlot! That's nothing new!"

Brazen!

Shameless!

The definition of those two words had now appeared within Konrad's gaze. Iliana
didn't know what else to say, and for an instant stood dazed. Was Konrad hers?
Definitely not. Yet, she couldn't help but feel great discomfort.

But seeing her floundering, Daphne struck harder.

"If he's not taken, I will take him. If he's taken, I will still take him! What? Not
satisfied? Bite me!"

"You!"
Iliana aimed her trembling finger at Daphne's smug face but didn't have the words to
turn this around. She then switched her attention to Konrad who had remained
silent throughout.

"Are you not going to say anything?"

"What do you expect me to say? Life is too short to miss out on such a golden
opportunity. In any case, it's not like you and I have anything special going on right?"

Konrad innocently shrugged while appreciating the feeling of his balls getting
cupped through the fabric of his clothes.

"You! If you don't come with me right now…”

Iliana began, and then stopped, horrified by what she was about to say.

"Forget it! I'm sick of you lecherous bastards! You truly are a pair made in heaven!"

She then stomped her feet and stormed out.

"Wow, I never saw her getting so worked up for a man. What is your relationship
with her?"

Daphne asked with her alluring gaze staring into Konrad's and her hand still rubbing
his crotch.

"Soon to be lover."

And the calm, nonchalant reply caused Daphne to stop her tantalizing movement for
a second.

"Wow, confident. I like it!"

"Enough is enough. If you want to purchase something, now is your last chance!"

"Three random low-grade Grand Level spiritual methods. Place them in my special
pouch."

The system executed the exchange and roared "Update Initialization! See you in one
week!"
Then cut its connection to Konrad.

Konrad's undivided attention then returned onto Daphne who had already begun
unbuckling his belt.

"Every tried bdsm? I don't have many instruments here, but I'm sure we can work
out something… delightful. I warn you though, I'm always doing the guy. Not the
other way around!"

Even bdsm! Truly unredeemable! Konrad flew into rage and threw Daphne onto the
bed.

"Aaargh!"

"Bdsm your mother!"

"Already did…”

Konrad staggered, and felt like his "Patriarch of Shamelessness" title was in danger.
He had finally met his match!

"Damn lass! The patriarch of the unruly and the shameless stands in front, of you,
yet, you have the nerves to act so shamelessly? See how I deal with you!"

"Ecstasy fingers!"

Pink colored flames enshrouded Konrad's fingers, and he pounced onto Daphne.

"Wait, wait…”

But there would be no mercy for the wicked. Konrad shredded her clothes in a
heartbeat and began toying with her body through his immoral hands.

"Ahhh!"

She moaned while his flaming finger trailed her body and turned her into a ball of
erogenous zones. Her shapely breasts, in particular, were not spared, causing her
nipples to stand erect within Konrad's massaging hands, and her sex to get moister
by the second.
"Oooh yes! Ooooh yes! I had yet to meet a man that could use his hands in such a
brilliant manner. I will definitely add you to my harem as my primary consort!"

She roared while Konrad's right fingers pulled on her nipples and his left rubbed her
clit.

"Harem? Your… harem? Enough of this shit!"

Konrad flipped her onto her stomach and dragged her into his lap.

"Wait… what do you want to do?"

She asked in a terrified tone while her plump butt wiggled under Konrad's gaze.

"Punishing the wicked! Past today, the name of Daddy Konrad shall be the only thing
your lecherous mind can drool on!"

Pah

Konrad's raised palm descended onto Daphne's plump rear in a resounding slap. But
due to his ecstasy fingers, what she felt was an unknown mixture of pleasure and
pain!

"Oohhh…”

Pah Pah Pah Pah

Without mercy, Konrad began spanking the insubordination out of her ass, and soon
the only thing that could be heard within the room was a mixture of Daphne's moans
and spanking.

"Oh yes, more, please spank me more!"

"Who am I?"

"Daddy Konrad!"

Pah Pah Pah

"Again!"
"DADDY KONRAD!"

Her voice shafted through the night and spread toward her personal attendants who
had just brought the still dazed Freya and her lot as per Konrad's request.

"The miss has awakened?"

"But what's going on in there?"

"Could it be…”

"Yes more! Daddy Konrad, please spank me more!"

"Aaaaaaah!"

The attendants were horrified by the words they heard and rushed toward the room.

What they saw upon walking in was a scene that would be imprinted within their
minds for centuries to come.

Daphne's reddened buttcheeks giggled under the spanking of the man who had
previously rescued them. His scalding palm had firmly been imprinted onto it, and
the ground beneath her thighs was flooded by her dripping juice while her tongue
hanged from the corner of her mouth in a debile expression of bliss.

Meanwhile, within a simple room of the palace maids' central courtyard, Jasmine
held her face against within her legs and with a misty gaze, silently reminisced the
dashing paragon spirit prince who had taken her body and snatched her soul.
Seeing by the maids barging into the room, Konrad stopped mid-spanking to cast a
blinking glance at them?

Daphne, however, was annoyed. The time of her life had been interrupted by those
noisy women that only knew how to cause trouble. She had yet to admonish them for
decorating her room in such a bland manner, and they dared deliver themselves?

"Young lady you… even for you this is… too much?"

Said Melina, the attendant closest to Daphne. Like all the gathered maids, she
seemed to be in her early thirties and possessed a flawless figure matured by time.

But in the cultivation world, appearances were deceiving, and she was already close
to a hundred years old.

"Since you're so interested in our game, why don't you join us? Bring your asses over
here!"

The overbearing young lady had returned and seemed even crazier than before. But
as those six attendants were trained victims of her sexual domination, they stepped
toward the pair in an orderly fashion.

Daphne turned a gleaming gaze toward Konrad.

"Daddy, have you ever been pleased by six women at the same time?"

Konrad's eyes moved between those attendants and Daphne, and inwardly, he was
impressed.

Good woman!

In any dynasty, you could have been the most favored consort!
In the future, I can delegate a lot of training to you!

But of course, he could not let his satisfaction show on his face… yet.

"Nothing I haven't felt before."

The attendants were speechless. Did all seventeen years old boys nowadays majored
in boastful talk?

"Well, I want to watch you play with them. Would you let me?"

"Hum, hum. If you insist!"

Daphne stood up and scurried over to a rattan chair in the leftmost corner of the
room.

"What are you waiting for? Take good care of my daddy."

The attendants didn't delay, unfastened Konrad's belt and freed him from his clothes.
As they dropped onto the ground, and his godlike figure was revealed, they felt their
lady had given them quite the good bargain.

Without further ado, they dropped their dresses onto the ground, revealing their
mature, voluptuous bodies to Konrad's greedy eyes. Now a fully-fledged incubus,
Konrad's sexual urges had risen to a terrifying level, and the sight of women about to
be plucked by his shaft particularly aroused him. The golden road then rose to
attention, and its holy light illuminated the room.

"What kind of sorcery is this?"

"Could this be the legendary divine lance?"

"It must be!"

But although arousal quickly spread through their bodies and humidified their
nether regions, they couldn't neglect the task of pleasing the new master.

One attendant sneaked into Konrad's back and warped her arms around his neck,
taking in the arousing orchid scent that emanated from his body. Another one took
his cheeks into her hand and pulled him into a fiery, passionate kiss while spreading
her legs to allow the third one to crawl between and take Konrad's burning shaft into
her mouth while keeping her arms on the back of his legs.

And just like that, all spots were taken. So, the remaining three had to be more
creative. Two attacked his shaft by the left and right. Teasing its pulsing veins with
their tongues while the one at the front licked the underside.

Then she sucked him in, her mouth acting like a vacuum that pulled him down her
throat in deep slurping sounds.

Slurp Slurp Slurp

A pleasure gasp escaped Konrad's lips as he broke the kiss connecting him to the
attendant directly facing him. But she disagreed and so retook them, her tongue
intertwining with his in rising fervor.

The one at the back didn't stay idle, massaging Konrad's butt within her hands, and
cupping feels that caused her eager body to drip juice onto the ground.

The sixth attendant was starting to feel frustrated by the lack of room for her, but
then an idea sprang within her mind, and she leaped past all the girls to strap her
long legs around Konrad's neck; pushing her wet pussy into his lips.

"Oooh!"

She moaned when his tongue entered her, and he sucked on her sex with masterful
proficiency.

Konrad's incubus pheromones spread through his orchid scent and drove the
women into higher levels of excitations. Their limbs wrapped around him in an
exchange of position that carried on until each had gotten a taste of his deadly
tongue and shared their juices through his mouth.

That spectacle caused Daphne to spread her legs and insert her fingers into her
vagina with one hand while cupping and sucking on her breast with the other.

The overwhelming scent of Konrad's body had already spread throughout the room,
causing the noble ladies to yearn for only one thing.

His cock!
The maid caressing his chest stepped back alongside those sucking on his rod and
Melina who currently was having her pussy played by his tongue slid down to impale
herself onto his cock!

"Ooooooh! Full! I feel so full!"

And that most pleasurable move of her life dragged her into a fairyland.

Immediately, Konrad channeled the Hundred Flowers Scripture and began the dual
cultivation!

Pah Pah Pah

The penetration force was too strong for her to handle, so she tightly clung on his
neck while wrapping her legs around him. But those legs wouldn't hold on for long.

The hammering that checked all the pleasure spots hidden within her pussy and
created new ones where none had existed beforehand, soon caused her mind to go
blank and she abandoned herself to the pleasure.

"Yes! Fuck me harder! Plunder my insides!"

She growled, and Konrad obliged, grabbing her waist within his powerful hands and
fucking her into a succession of deafening orgasms that caused her legs to give in
and her mature, voluptuous body to turn into a toy within his demonic clutches.

Then she was replaced, and the same treatment administrated to her successor with
the only difference being the position Konrad chose to bend her into.

Thus in two long, surreal hours the six maids were fucked one after the other, with
their mind turned blank by Konrad's skills and the overpowering physical, and
spiritual connection engraved into them by the Hundred Flowers Scripture.

"Coming!"

Groaned the last one who was currently being spooned by Konrad, and she came all
over his cock.

And only then did Konrad release. Dual cultivation ended when both parties released
their juice, so he had to perfectly control the intercourse to maximize the results.
Unbeknown to them the six maids who had been stuck at the ninth step of the True
Knight Rank for decades without hope for further breakthroughs, all ascended to the
Grand Knight Rank in swirling sky-blue light!

Konrad then stood up and walked toward Daphne who had long since stopped
masturbating and only stared dazed at the spectacle she had engineered with
starving eyes!

"I can smell that your pussy is still intact. Why is that? You don't seem to be the type
to keep your maidenhood for so long."

"I… promised my father to keep it for marriage."

She replied in a foggy state of mind to his question.

"Oh? But I want to plow you. What should we do?"

"Then… plow me!"

Seamless violet light flashed within Konrad's eyes as he pulled Daphne into his
embrace and plowed every inch of her field.

"Ooooh, divine lord!"

And soon, only the free sound of Daphne's all-out moaning could be heard within the
building.

By the time the sun reared its head, Daphne was still impaling herself on Konrad
who laid stoic on the bed that was now drenched in a mixture of their fluids. He had
already lost track of how many times he came inside her and her on him. Each
exchange of orgasmic fluid marked the end of a dual cultivation session which meant
that for roughly seven hours, they had completed innumerable sessions.

Pah Pah Pah

Daphne's legs trembled as her ass slammed onto Konrad's cock for one last stroke
and they released their last wave into and onto one another. She then collapsed on
his chest and allowed his softening cock to slip out of her.
"You are… a god. My… god…”

She had been in a coma for a decade, and her cultivation had not improved.
Remaining stuck at the fifth True Knight Rank. But in one night of dual cultivation,
she made up for all the lost time and directly broke through four steps, reaching the
ninth True Knight Rank.

Meanwhile, Konrad had also profited. His martial cultivation reached the fifth step
Grand Knight and was very close to the sixth while his spiritual cultivation reached
the eighth step True Knight Rank.

Satisfied by the results, he laid Daphne onto the side, showered, got dressed and
exited her palace after collecting Freya and her lot into his spatial pouch. With the
system currently updating, he couldn't get any ring or check his exp count. But
according to his calculations, it should have reached 144215.

"Time to bring Jasmine into the fold."

The Central Maid Department was responsible for daily needs such as washing
clothes and cleaning buildings, so their lives were some of the roughest if not the
roughest within the imperial palace. But also due to that responsibility, they had
more chances than the other maids to go beyond the inner court and enter the other
parts of the palace.

Today was one such occasion, and Jasmine alongside a group of nine maids had been
tasked with cleaning the imperial library. There was nothing particularly thrilling
about this duty, but many were excited because there was a chance they could come
across an imperial prince!

Jasmine, however, felt this chore to be no different than all the others and didn't
experience any excitement. During the day, her hairs were kept in the braid style
allowed for low and mid-ranked palace maids. But tied hairs or not, she was the
same captivating beauty that could lit depraved flames within the heart of any man.

"I heard the sixth prince will be around today!"

"The sixth prince? Really? I heard he's the most handsome of the imperial princes!"

"Not only is he the most handsome, but he's also one of the most talented. He's less
than forty years old, but his cultivation has already reached the ninth step Grand
Knight Rank. If he was born earlier, perhaps he could have competed for the right of
succession with the crown prince!"

Being able to reach the ninth step Grand Knight rank in less than forty years meant
that he was very likely to become a Transcendent Knight in less than three hundred
years. That being the case, the sixth prince indeed was a fantastic talent, but calling
him capable of contending with the crown prince with that alone was foolishness.

Blinded by thirst, they didn't know what they were talking about.

"Jasmine, aren't you a bit curious about him?"

"Not in the slightest. The sixth prince is well known to be a womanizer and cause
countless sufferings to his wife. I have no interest in a man like him."

She flatly replied and stepped up the pace toward the imperial library.

"What an odd girl."

"Let her be, she has been antisocial since she arrived. Who does she think she is?"

Unlike those who had been in the palace for decades, those maids were young and
had not experienced its winds for long. Thus, they still lacked in certain manners and
discipline.

Jasmine arrived first in the imperial library and began cleaning the shelves she had
been assigned to. The other maids came soon afterward and tended to their own
areas. The day was mostly uneventful with a lot of dust and splashing water. But
Jasmine didn't complain.

From time to time, the figure of that Paragon Spirit Prince would spring within her
mind and cause her to stop in her otherwise sharp movements to stare blankly for a
few seconds.

"I wonder when he will revisit me."

She wondered with an endearing smile. She didn't doubt that he would hold his
promise and come to take her away from all the palace's woes to travel across the
world, free and unrestrained. Like he had said, she was his woman!

After three hours of hard work, she completed her shift and carried the bucket of
water by her side toward the exit. But as she kept her gaze down and stepped toward
the doorway, a tall figure barred her path.

It was a tall, handsome man with translucent porcelain skin and long, windblown
silver hairs hanging below his waist. His eyes were of the same silver, and those eyes
had locked onto her with obvious interest.

At first, when she saw the golden robe and the design of nine stars swirling around a
winged serpent, Jasmine vainly hoped that it would be her man. However, the face
that appeared within her sight was not his. It was a foreign look that carried the
usual thirst she didn't want to entertain.
"My apologies your highness for blocking your path."

It was clear that this man was an imperial prince and so Jasmine curtsied as she was
taught, apologized and stepped aside to allow him to carry on his way before
resuming her exit.

"What's your name?"

The same thing asked by different people often had different results. Especially
considering the lack of premises. Jasmine simply didn't wish to answer him.

"I am just a servant. My name is of no importance and would sully the ears of one
such as your highness."

She politely declined. But although it was clear that she was playing with words to
avoid him, the prince wasn't offended. On the contrary, he felt amused, and his eyes
shone with stronger desire. He was the sixth prince, Wenzel Von Jurgen.

The Holy Flame Empire followed strict primogeniture succession, so the princes
were referred to by their number and not their names with the eldest usually named
crown prince.

Of course, there had been times when tradition was breached with a younger son
wrestling the crown from his elders' hands.

Wenzel Von Jurgen had no such ambition. He only wanted to oppress all the beauties
he could get his hands onto.

It was a hobby of his. A hobby that had made him infamous in the nobility cycles. He
often neglected his princess consort for the sake of finding new beauties to oppress.
Some chose to deliver themselves to him in hopes of a better future, those he
accepted but quickly abandoned. But the rare few that resisted would be devastated
until there only was one inch of life left within them.

This girl had chosen to resist. So, he had already decided to make her beg for mercy.

"Hahahaha!"

He laughed, turned, and left.

Jasmine heaved a sigh of relief and carried on with her day. After using a series of
teleportation circles, she returned to the central maid courtyard, disposed of the
bucket and returned to the flower field where she had met her long-awaited prince.

Her duties for the day had been completed, and with the little bit of time she had for
herself, she sat amidst the flowers and replayed the meeting within her head with
her cheeks flushed red.

But then, a shadow crept on her back, and a tall, muscular silhouette towered above
her body.

"Aaah!"

She squeaked, leaped onto her feet, and spun to face that man.

For a brief instant, she was dazed. He was without a shred of doubt the most
beautiful creature she had ever met and put those arrogant paragon spirits to shame.
However, his body wasn't what caused her to feel dazed.

Although they looked completely different, she felt in his eyes a light that perfectly
matched that of her prince.

And as his lips curled into a smile, although the faces had no similarities whatsoever,
that smile still reminded her of her prince.

How could two people have such similar dispositions?

No!

There was a difference. Her prince was a charming and admirable man whose smile
could put the world at ease and whose eyes effortlessly saw through the woes of
those surrounding him.

But that man in front of her… was nothing more than a hoodlum. A true, unruly,
womanizing hoodlum!

"What do you want from me?"

She flatly asked after completing her assessment.

And Konrad who stood opposite to her was currently in a dilemma. How was he
supposed to say what he had to say?

"Whose appearance do you prefer? My disguise or my real one?"

Hearing those words, Jasmine stared blankly for a long moment while being
overtaken by the sudden realization.

"It's… you?"

To this, Konrad only nodded.

"What? Stunned by my true self?"

He jested because he knew what was to come wouldn't be easy to deal with.

Still, it would seem he had underestimated the consequences of his previous actions.
Tears quickly reached Jasmine's eyes and her entire body quivered with trepidation.

"Why did you need to change your appearance that night? Why could you not just
appear as your true self? Is it possible that you thought using the status of a prince
would make me easy to swindle?"

And here it came.

Konrad sought ten thousand ways to answer that question within his mind, but none
could make up for his previous lie. Without another lie, he could not flawlessly get
out of this hurdle.

But he didn't want to lie. No functional relationship had ever been built on lies. The
trap of the sand castle was something he definitely wanted to avoid.

"I had no other choice."

He just admitted. But his words were far from being satisfactory.

"No other choice? Did someone put a knife at your throat and ask you to deceive
me?"

It was really something along those lines, but when the truth was not believable and
only served to raise more questions, it was better left unsaid. So, he said nothing.

"Is there anything about that night that was true? Or was it all… a lie?"

She asked with a deep breath and her heart thumping from rising discomfort.

"All I told you was true. I have not lied to you. Is the form I used to appear to you that
important? Am I still not here today?"

But hearing his words, the bitterness Jasmine suppressed exploded in a self-
deprecating laugh. She aimed her trembling index at him, and with her wronged eyes
staring directly into his, she wept.

"Not important? I suppose for you it isn't right? For you, I'm just another one of the
cheap women you conquered in a night. How could it be… important? But for me, it
tells me exactly what I meant in your eyes. That is… not a lot."

She was convinced that he was one of those men that got off on deceiving women
and had a talent for it. It was likely that he had been observing and analyzing her to
come up with a perfect strategy. And perhaps he even used some despicable ability?

But how could she know?

She was only mortal.

And the thought that her first time, that her body and soul had been given to a lie
shredded her mind and daggered her heart.

She was right. Across all the others he had experienced, that night didn't mean much
to him. But to her, it was not just her body that she gave him. Through it, she gave
him her heart and now felt like he threw it onto the ground and ruthlessly trampled
it.

For the first time in two lives, Konrad was hurt by a woman's gaze.

His body moved without his consent, and he pulled her into a tight embrace.

"I'm sorry."

"Forgive me."
Those were the four words he had sworn never to say. But now he had to say them,
pushed by a drive he failed to comprehend.

But could Jasmine who had already been swindled once let herself be played so
easily?

"There is nothing to forgive. If I have to blame someone, I can only blame myself for
being a fool. Please let go of me."

"Unless you can swear to never again deceive me, please let go of me."

"Unless you can swear that I occupy in your heart the same place you occupy in
mine, please let go of me."

"Unless you can swear that in your life there will only be me… please let go of me."

Her words hammered at Konrad's heart, while her warm tears streaked down her
cheeks. But he couldn't give her what she wanted.

"I can swear to all except the last."

He said while withdrawing his arms and staring back at her with an apologetic gaze.

"Hahaha…”

Jasmine's eyes fell onto the ground, and her tears overflowed while she struggled to
wipe them off her cheeks.

"Thank you for your honesty. May everything that happened that night disappear
within our memories. I hope you have a good life. Let us never meet again."

She then turned heels and aimlessly ran as fast as she could. She only wanted to do
one thing, to get away from the dream that in a flash had turned into a horrendous
nightmare.
Space. One of the deadliest traps of any relationship. Give them too much, and they
will forever slip out of your grasp. Don't give them enough and you weaken your
appeal as a man thus leading them to lose interest and get away all the same.

Jasmine was currently at the border of a breaking point. A point that was likely to be
reached if he pushed too hard. So, Konrad decided to give her time to cool down
before working to regain her trust.

Dusk announced itself with the darkening of the sky, and chilling rain trickled onto
the ground. Odd, it wasn't the season for it. Perhaps it echoed her feelings and
wished to further sour his mood?

He used to enjoy the rain. But on this particular occasion, it felt really misplaced. He
raised his eyes to the dark sky, and when he returned it onto Jasmine's earlier
position, she was gone.

The rainfall didn't alter Jasmine's course. She ran until she no longer had any
strength left. Until her legs gave out and she fell face first while gasping for air.

Suffocated… she felt suffocated. And the maid courtyard she often wished to escape
from seemed like the only amiable location at the moment. So, she dragged herself
back to it, hoping that the usual chatter and bickering of the new maids would snatch
her attention.

But it didn't.

When she passed the entrance of the building, the same feeling of loss followed her
tracks. The same oppressing sensation that squeezed her heart and reminded her of
having been nothing more than a plaything. The words spoken by her side could not
reach her ears, and she sat dazed with her eyes staring into nothingness.
"What's wrong with her?"

"Did she finally lose it?"

"Who cares about her? Let's play a game!"

The maids clamored in the vicinity.

And seeing that this place could not help her cope, Jasmine stood up and left.

It still rained. The cold quickly spreading through Jasmine's body and invading her
bones, but she still carried on at a slow, wavering pace, not knowing that in the
shadows, she was being observed.

Ultimately, she reached a desolated pathway occupied by nothing but the high walls
of the inner court.

Night had fallen, and the rain slowly subsided. But her drenched clothes outlining
her body and the tragic beauty within her face only made her look more appealing.

At least, that's what Wenzel, the sixth prince thought has he trailed her alongside a
group of head eunuchs.

"Is she the one your highness fancies?"

"Your highness' tastes are truly refined. It will be that girl's honor to become your
highness' woman."

The eunuchs bootlicked.

Although they were head eunuchs, they had exhausted their potential, and their
future prospects were not high so, they sought a sturdy tree to rely on. Wenzel Von
Jurgen was the perfect tree. Easy to please, and always providing abundant rewards.

In the last three years, they had captured many low-ranked and mid-ranked palace
maids for him to enjoy.

This time would be no different.

"Don't forget to give her the opportunity to struggle. You know what to do. Give me a
good show but remember that I must bed her tonight."

"Yes, your highness!"

Being of a high position with distinguished status, there were some things he didn't
need to personally do. He only needed to hang some reward at the nose of well-
trained dogs, and they would carry out the task for him.

Still, he was eager to see how she would squirm in vain struggles. It was a sight not
to be missed for sure.

Using six head eunuchs to capture a low-ranked palace maid was overkill. So only
one actually shot toward Jasmine while the others stood watch to prevent any
outside interference.

The shadow flashed in front of her, too fast for her mortal eyes to follow.

"Are you the low-ranked palace maid Jasmine?"

The sudden appearance of the head eunuch was not spotted by Jasmine who carried
on with her walk while still being lost in thought.

The head eunuch thought she was purposely ignoring him and so was enraged.

"I'm talking to you!"

He snapped, and the pressure of the seventh step True Knight Rank came crashing
onto her.

She staggered, and a thin line of blood trickled down her lips.

"My apologies, head eunuch. I didn't see you."

Was he that hard to notice? Was that girl purposely trying to enrage him?

"Regardless, you are in luck. The sixth prince fancies you and requests your
presence."

"No thanks."
Jasmine directly replied and carried on with her walk.

The reply was so spontaneous that for an instant, the eunuch was taken aback. Even
Wenzel in the distance felt his cheeks burn. Was he truly that unappealing? He would
definitely ravage her until even the strength to beg for mercy would vanish from her
body.

"Lowly maid you better listen carefully. Being graced by the sixth prince's attention
is your greatest honor. You better comply with haste and serve him well. Otherwise,
don't blame me for being merciless. In any case, you will be in his bed tonight!"

Life really was cruel to the feeble. Was a moment alone too much to ask for?

"He can have my dead body."

She category refused.

"That's not for you to decide!"

The eunuch's hand formed a claw that snatched Jasmine's neck and hauled her into
the air.

"Needing to send his goons to obtain a woman. The sixth prince is really… brilliant!"

She spat, and although her neck being squeezed caused her to quickly lose strength,
she fought hard to free herself from the eunuch's grasp.

But to no avail.

The eunuch sneered, spun and tossed her onto the ground. Jasmine tumbled in a
loud thud, and her entire body ached.

"Since you don't cherish yourself, why should I?"

"Hahaha… is the emperor really that much of a cuckold to allow his son to act unruly
in his harem?"

"You!"

The Holy Emperor was the only man allowed to touch the women of the inner court.
What they were doing was not only illegal but punishable by death. Naturally,
nobody cared about the disappearance of a low-ranked palace maid every now and
then.

In any case, within the inner court, people disappeared all the time…

Jasmine dragged her body from the ground and stood up straight with a defiant stare
and fists balled up for a fight.

"Me what? Did they not only remove your balls but also nail your tongue?"

Although she was weak and unable to escape. Although the situation was hopeless,
she would fight with all she had!

Her teeth were now planted on her tongue, and she was ready to bite it off if the
need arose.

"Impudence!"

The eunuchs' pressure once again directed at her. She was about to stagger when
suddenly, the pressure vanished and was replaced by a warm hand at her back.

The tall figure of a jet-black haired godlike man appeared at her back, and a warm
stream of energy spread from his hand to alleviate her pain and mend her wounds.

"Y… you?"

She stuttered in surprise.

"Shush. Now is not the moment to talk. Let me first treat you."

Konrad gently replied with his gaze solely focused on her, as if unaware of the
eunuch's presence.

"Boy, this isn't a matter you should meddle with. Seeing that we both are eunuchs,
and I am your superior, I advise you to step aside!"

The eunuch inferred Konrad's status from his clothes. But Konrad spared him no
glance which only served to infuriate him.
Why was it that all those low-ranked peons were looking down on him today?

"Since you don't value your life, die!"

The eunuch snarled as he pounced toward Konrad with his bared claws.

CRACK

Konrad's left fist crashed into his face, causing his bones to crackle, his skull to
fragment, and his body to fly through the night sky and crater the faraway ground.
His blood spurted from both the front and the back of his shattered face, and life no
longer existed within his body.

"Are you feeling better now?"

Konrad asked in the same gentle tone with his right hand still pouring energy into
Jasmine as if nothing had happened.

"Y… yes. Thank you."

She replied, with a blank stare. It was the first time in her life she had seen such a
terrifying punch. The ferocity contained within was too stark a contrast with
Konrad's gentle gaze.

But immediately, a group of five figures dressed in head eunuch clothing encircled
them.

"Who the h…?"

"Wh… AAAAAAARGH!"

BANG

Before they could finish their inquiry, Konrad made a grasping motion, and vast
telekinetic power wrapped them, compressed their bodies and bones, and ground
them into meat paste in a feast of blood and gore.

"That's good. Fortunately, we both have good fortune. Otherwise, the rest of my life
would have been full of regret."
He declared while stroking her cheek. And he wasn't lying. While crossing the alleys
back to his den, a female sounding mental message echoed within his mind, only
saying a few compelling words.

"She might not survive the night."

Then it gave him a direction, and he shot toward it.

But although he looked at her with a gentle, reassuring gaze, his heart boiled with
rage.
The change was too fast and brutal for Wenzel to respond in time. By the time his
goons had opened their mouths, the telekinetic power had already trapped them,
and before he could intervene, they were obliterated.

Now he was annoyed. Finding goons within the harem without drawing attention to
himself was not an easy task. And all his efforts had been ruined by that eunuch!

Worse, seeing the way through which they stared at each other, he could bet there
was an illicit relationship going on!

And the feeling of having his meat spoiled by a commoner soured his mouth.

In a flash, he appeared in front of the pair and cast a fierce gaze at Konrad.

"Was life so sweet that you had to throw it away to play the knight in shining armor?
Fool!"

Although he was dressed as a low-ranked eunuch, it was clear that his cultivation
had at least reached the Grand Knight Rank. That being the case, the situation was
severe.

Just like head palace maids had court ladies above them, head eunuchs also had their
superiors. Grand eunuchs, royal eunuchs, and imperial eunuchs. Who respectively
were at the Grand, Arch, and Transcendent Ranks. The main difference, however, was
that unlike court ladies who belonged to the Holy Empress and the Dowager's
jurisdictions the grand eunuchs and above belonged to the Holy Emperor's!

This was the type of witness he absolutely could not afford to leave.

But Konrad's gaze still didn't move from Jasmine.

"Why is it that tonight, my ears are full of the barking of dogs?"

He inquired with a mischievous smile.

"Maybe because they are missing their kennel."

She laughed, a delightful laugh that could effortlessly lift the spirit.

"Bastards!"

Wenzel's bloodshot eyes would have fired daggers if they could.

But they could not so he opted for a more practical approach.

"Energy sword!"

Sky-blue energy condensed within his palm and morphed into the textbook
longsword used by most knights of the Holy Flame Empire.

Meanwhile, his eyes glittered with silver rays, and like a meteor, he shot toward
Konrad.

Konrad grabbed Jasmine by the waist and turned into dozens of afterimages to
escape Wenzel's sword stroke.

As a paragon spirit prince, Wenzel was no pushover. Worse, his cultivation was
higher by four steps. However, Konrad was unafraid.

He dropped Jasmine by his side, and his eyes finally fell upon his foe. But the smile
with which he stared at him made Wenzel feel uncomfortable.

"I will break you."

Konrad calmly pledged and stretched out his hands.

Sky-blue light gathered within his palm and turned into a two meters long war
hammer.

The fool wanted to be fancy with his sword? Let him be fancy.

He then stomped his feet, and at more than thrice the speed of sound appeared at
Wenzel's front.
BANG

A leftward sweep of his hammer crashed into Wenzel's shoulder and sent him
spiraling into the adjacent wall. Konrad gave him no respite and immediately
pursued.

"Hateful!"

The energy signature was clearly of the fifth step Grand Knight so why was that
eunuch so powerful?

"Energy armor!"

Wenzel adorned his sky-blue energy armor and drove his sword into a diagonal
slash.

The silver rays within his eyes turned into a silver mist that spread within a thirty-
meter radius and assaulted Konrad's mind with phantasmal blows.

"Insignificant parlor tricks!"

Violet light flashed within his eyes, and the illusions assailing him instantly
collapsed.

He curved his back to let Wenzel's sword slash fly by his nose and sent his hammer
right into his chest!

BANG

Wenzel flew into the air with blood spurting from his lips. Konrad stomped his feet
and flew after him with a maniacal laugh.

"Why is my spiritual mist not affecting you?!"

"Ask my hammer."

BANG BANG* BANG

The flurry of hammer blows came crashing onto Wenzel at breakneck speed,
oppressing him and sending an increasing number of cracks to spread through his
energy armor.

Konrad vanished, appeared above him, and trampled his face with a series of violent
kicks!

And in an earsplitting explosion of dust, Wenzel cratered.

"I heard paragon spirit princes were the most outstanding juniors of the empire. But
I suppose that as it often is the case with the imperial families, your reputation is…
overrated."

Wenzel's energy armor shattered alongside his dignity, and his bloodied teeth were
clenched to near collapse.

If he could see the foot imprints on his face, he would have probably suffered a heart
stroke.

"How d…”

BANG

In a golf swing that scattered broken stones across the field, the war hammer bashed
Wenzel's unprotected chest. It caved in, causing his bones to snap and his blood to
drench the cold ground as he once more flew into the air.

"I expected breaking you to be a tad bit harder. Oh well, last swing."

BANG

Positioning himself like a baseball player, Konrad waited for Wenzel's falling body to
align itself with his hammer and batted him far into the distance with another swing.

"I think that's a… homerun! Maybe I should go up there and check the state of the
"ball?""

Wenzel's body was perched on top of a high wall with all his bones shattered, his
orifices dripping with blood, and his pupils dilated.

Meanwhile, Jasmine had observed the battle with astonished eyes.

What battle?

This was butchery!

"Actually, I forgot I could just pull it back. Return!"

He made a grasping motion and pulled by the telekinetic power, Wenzel's limp body
flew back toward him.

"Daring to lay your filthy hands on my woman? Tss, tss, tss, say goodbye to your
balls."

BAM

A brutal hammer blow battered Wenzel's groins, destroyed his family jewels, and
caused his already unconscious self to awaken due to the horrendous pain.

"AAAAAARGH! Heeeelp! Meeeercy!"

His mournful howls spread within the night sky. But thanks to his own planning,
they currently were in a deserted area with no one across several miles. The bloody
mess he had become writhed on the ground, in loud wails, causing Jasmine to
instinctively recoil and close her eyes.

But at that time, two arrows carrying a weigh of close to ten thousand kilos in
succession flew toward Konrad.

He managed to avoid the first one with a backflip, but the second one lodged into his
right leg, threw him off balance, and forced him to tumble onto the ground.

Two masked forms wielding bows and arrows then appeared on the scene. They had
been observing everything from the very beginning. But Konrad included, no one
could feel their presence.

"You have done well. Now you can die."

Said the man on the left while conjuring his sword and shooting toward Konrad with
the tyrannical aura of a mid-level Arch-Knight exploding from his body!

Inwardly, Konrad cursed. How was it possible to have so many twists and turns in
one day.

"The mantis stalks the cicada unaware of the oriole behind. I never thought that in
that idiom, I would one day be the mantis."

And seeing his injured leg, Jasmine subconsciously rushed toward him. She was,
however, far too slow and by the time she took one step, Konrad had already pulled
out that arrow and was exchanging blows with the Arch Knight.

With one damaged leg, the fluidity of his movements should have been greatly
hampered. But his body regeneration abilities kicked in and treated the wound at
fast speed.

That, however, couldn't prevent him from being suppressed by the Arch Knight.

His sword slashed Konrad's right leg, further harming his mobility while another
kick sent him spiraling into the air.

"Forget about me and run! You're so strong, I'm sure you could escape them!"

Jasmine screamed as she reached his side.

"Run? I'm afraid it's… useless. The only thing I can do is try to buy you time to escape
so… run… fast…”

A smile still hanged on his lips as he stood up and stared at the Arch Knight assassin
with contempt.

The assassin didn't like that stare, and so drove his sword toward Konrad's heart,
failing to see the contempt become a demented glint.

Konrad didn't move but contracted his demonic muscles to deflect the sword from
its trajectory and cause it to miss his heart. His muscles then clenched around it and
maintained it within his body while suppressing his blood flow.

"What?"

The assassin blurted out once he realized the situation. But by the time he wanted to
abandon the weapon, Konrad's hammer had lopped off his sword arm.
"Aaargh!"

The assassin howled, and as blood gushed from his wound, Konrad spun with
irresistible momentum and in a thunderous blow, smashed his hammer into the
assailant's skull.

Bang

He flew into the adjacent wall with his mask shattered, revealing the bloodied, half
broken effeminate face of a eunuch most likely cut in infancy. A face that still
breathed.

"Fuck."

Konrad cursed while losing control of his muscles and letting the blood he
suppressed gush from his wounds.

"Nooooo!"

Jasmine screamed as she rushed toward his collapsing body.

"Konrad… my name is… Konrad."

His vision blurred and he was close to passing out from the blood loss. But as his
eyes were falling back onto each other, the blurry, yet still riveting silhouette of a
woman appeared within his sight.

And then he passed out.

The woman wore a silver mask that kept her entire face hidden and only allowed the
sight of her slit sky-blue eyes. She was dressed in a provocative crimson dress that
stopped above her knees and fully revealed her long, enthralling legs while her
heart-shaped neckband showcased her ample bosom.

Yet, in her presence, those attributes were often disregarded for the sake of the
innate aura of grandeur that shrouded her form.

And even though she could not see her face and her long ink-like hairs wore no
ornaments, Jasmine couldn't help but feel that this woman was the most beautiful
she had ever met. That under the vast blue sky, she was unrivaled.

The woman's back faced the assassin duo who stared at her with a growing sense of
terror.

"Could it be…”

They began, but with her back still facing them, they didn't dare make guesses. In
fact, they didn't dare be right. Even the eunuch whose arm had been lopped off and
whose mangled face still dripped blood, could pay no attention to the pain. His eyes
were solely focused on that woman's back.

But hers were on Konrad who had already passed out and could no longer see any of
the ongoing events. There was no warmth in those eyes. The only thing hidden
within were mixtures of annoyance, frustration, and suspicion.

"Who are you?"

Asked Jasmine while clinging on Konrad's unconscious body.

But the woman gave her no answer.

"Konrad…”
She whispered gentleness flashed within her eyes, and she turned to face the
assassins.

"Olrich's cruelty truly knows no bounds. Even sending two royal eunuchs to cripple
his son. But while that has nothing to do with me, you've harmed someone I care for.
Thus, I cannot spare you."

The Holy Flame Emperor Olrich Von Jurgen had nine sons, but none were born from
the Holy Empress. While legitimacy was never an issue for the children of the
emperor, due to not being pure imperial descendants, they all de facto bore a stigma.
In times like these, it was easier for a younger son to snatch the eldest's right to rule.

Wenzel may not have had any desire for the crown, but his mother, the Noble
Imperial Consort Yvonne Voight, had a different opinion and had been relying on her
father's support to build a faction for him. This caused the emperor to become wary
of the Voight and what he now saw as their pawn within his house.

Alongside the Kvass and the Metze, the Voight were one of the three princely houses,
and even the emperor had to treat them with courtesy. Thus, he dispatched two royal
eunuchs to monitor Wenzel's actions and at the first opportunity, cripple him as a
man to not only ruin his ability to compete for the crown but also obtain a secret that
could be used to suppress the Voight's unruliness.

He didn't mind the news of Wenzel's "accident" being "secretly" spread. But for
Yvonne whose status within the harem relied on her having a prince… that was
another story.

As for the two royal eunuchs. They had navigated court politics for hundreds of years
and knew well that there was a critical difference between having personally
crippled an imperial prince and having arrived too late to stop it from happening.
Therefore, they had been racking their brains to find a way to push Wenzel into his
own destruction.

Never did they expect that he would do it on his own! Now they could execute that
eunuch boy with great pomp and report the situation to the emperor.

At least that was the plan…

But when the woman turned to face them, they immediately dropped onto their
knees!
"Your… your… we… his majesty… we co-couldn't…”

They stuttered. From the current situation, it wasn't hard to deduce that the eunuch
had a deep connection to her! That being the case, they could only beg for mercy.

"Your grace… we didn't know… please… mercy…!"

"They say ignorance is bliss. I disagree. It is a crime all the same. One I punish by…
death."

In a seemingly ordinary walk that tempered with principles of space and time, she
moved past the eunuchs and vanished from the scene.

They were astonished, thinking that ultimately, she was giving the emperor face and
sparing them. But then a shocking scene appeared, and the two eunuchs saw their
bodies quickly turn into dust. From their feet, all the way to their heads, until
nothing of them remained within the world.

Jasmine stared slack-jawed at that awe-inspiring display of might.

"I hate nothing more than whiny women. If you want to keep him for yourself, why
not fight for him? A woman should never be afraid of fighting for what she craves
and snatching it… from whoever stands in her way."

The red dressed woman's voice echoed within Jasmine's mind.

Konrad's eyes opened to an unfamiliar room with his chest and legs cleanly
bandaged. The lilac scent permeating the air leading him to assume that this was a
female's quarters.

"You've awakened."

Jasmine's voice came from his right, and he turned toward her sitting form with an
incredulous gaze.

"We're neither dead nor in a torture room?"

"Why should we be?"

She chuckled to his inquiry.

"I seem to recall us being in a hopeless situation. How is it that…”

Only then did the blurry silhouette he perceived before passing out return to his
mind and his face contorted into a frown.

"I thought you would be the one enlightening me. Wasn't that woman a friend of
yours?"

Konrad also wished to positively answer that question, but beside confusion, there
was nothing he could offer. It wasn't difficult to realize that the mysterious woman
was the one that warned him about Jasmine's crisis. But as for what connection she
had to him, he could find none whatsoever.

His mind browsed through the previous body host's memories to seek an answer to
those troubling issues, but nothing matched that figure.

Yet, he was convinced of their mysterious savior having something to do with the
previous Konrad.

As for what exactly, only time would tell. And since no viable answer could be found,
Konrad would not waste any more time on the issue.

"Forget it, being alive and well is all that matters."

But then his eyes swept the perimeter and spotted the two other occupied beds in
the vicinity.

"You brought me back to the maids' quarters? Isn't that illegal?"

"You also know that it is illegal? I thought the notion was foreign to you."

"But what else could I do? I do not know where you live. And I could not abandon
you. Fortunately, at this time of night, most people are sound asleep."

In any case, as far as Konrad was concerned, the maid courtyards were no different
than swimming pools. Keeping the situation under control required no effort.

"Still, I should take my leave."

As his regeneration abilities had already mended his wounds, there was no
significance in staying any longer.

But before he could stand up, Jasmine's firm gaze met his, and she stopped him by
grabbing his shoulders.

"Thank you again for saving me. I don't know what would have happened without
your interference."

"That is only natural. I said it before, for the rest of your life, you can only be my
woman."

His categoric tone was too brazen for Jasmine to handle without a small blush.
However, she didn't intend to let him go that easily.

"Me excluded, how many women do you currently have in your life?"

Konrad lifted his chin with his index while doing the quick math then replied.

"It really depends on the token you're assigning them. If you mean partners, I have
thirteen. If you mean actual relationships, only one person potentially qualifies."

That was the truth. At the current point of things, the women he had conquered
could only be used to fill in the blanks. He felt no genuine attachment to them and
crudely said, they could be labeled as dual cauldrons. Iliana was the only exception,
but he had yet to seal that deal.

So to speak…

"Of course, that can change in the future."

There were some promising seedlings among his recent conquests that could
perhaps be given more prominent positions within the harem.

Meanwhile, Jasmine was speechless. How was it possible for a man to dally with so
many women at the same time? Wasn't he afraid of early impotence?

"Huh, you really are a gaping hole. Anything can fit inside. "

Those words didn't have the same meaning within their minds.
Upon hearing them, Konrad's lips twitched, and an abundance of black lines
appeared on his forehead.

Tolerate! A great man should be tolerant!

However, what followed almost caused him to lose balance and fall face-first.

"But for me, it's all but the same. Whether you only treat them as mere "partners" or
have some budding feelings for them, it doesn't matter."

"I will smash them all to pieces!"

Her fighting spirit soared, and her eyes burned with a fervor Konrad didn't know she
possessed. A fervor that propelled his body temperature to dangerous heights and
caused droplets of sweat to drench his forehead.

"I'm not sure I heard that right. You will what?"

"Smash them all! For far too long I've let myself get pushed left and right. It is time I
take the reins of my life. And that begins by snatching you for myself, and showing
you the wonders of monogamy while you lie broken under my skirt."

"Also you're going to help me smash them by teaching me how to cultivate!"

Was this one of the wondrous mysteries of night? Had the little animal turned into a
lioness in such short a time? There was a mixture of incomprehension and awe
within Konrad's eyes as he stared into Jasmine's.

His silent stare carried on long enough for discomfort to settle within her.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

She asked after a moment. But Konrad only tilted his head to the left and maintained
his silent stare.

"By any chance, are you a newly reincarnated soul?"

"What?"

"Nothing…”

He cleared his throat, discarding his doubts and reorganizing his thoughts.

"I already wanted to teach you. You needed not ask. The problem is I have no idea of
what you're suited for? The martial path? The spiritual path? Both?"

"So, let's first return to my chambers. I will bring you to a special place and teach you
some mnemonics. If you can comprehend them, it will make everything else much
easier for the both of us."

Aptitudes for the spiritual and martial paths could only be tested in two ways. The
straightforward way of being given mnemonics to comprehend or being checked for
a special physique that favored a path over the other.

If the comprehension level was sufficiently high, both paths could be cultivated.
However, there was only so much time, so unless there also was a special physique to
facilitate cultivation, most people would just focus on the one they were best at.
"I'm warning you though, the mnemonics I will teach you are of a high standard so
don't be discouraged if you fail to comprehend them."

The resolve within Jasmine's eyes was unchanged. And seeing that undaunted side of
her, Konrad's appraisal of her rose to a higher level.

Without delay, he brought her back to the quarters he shared with his two
roommates and pulled out his spatial pouch.

"Don't be afraid."

He reassured before tossing the spatial pouch above their heads. It enlarged,
released boundless suction force, and swallowed them both within its world.

They landed in the miniature world right in front of the mansion that caused
Jasmine's eyes to widen with disbelief. She wasn't as surprised by the space treasure
as she was by its content.

This lavish five-story tall building was styled in an architecture that seemed
completely foreign to her and inwardly, she wondered if her vision was too narrow
or she'd been brought to another universe.

"Come."

Konrad extended his hand toward her, she accepted it, and together they went inside.
The sky-high walls, damask ground and towering chandeliers that covered the
ceiling were initially hard to digest. But quickly, she got used to the mansion's
luxuries, and by the time they reached the room Konrad had chosen for them, her
eyes no longer moved left and right.

The queen sized bed and velvet sheets standing in the middle of the room, the flame-
red decorations that breathed passion, and the lack of unnecessary furniture made
clear the room's purpose.

Jasmine's cheeks were flushed red, something that didn't escape Konrad's watchful
eyes.

"Don't let your thoughts drift. That will only happen if you can comprehend the
mnemonics."
He laughed. An unbridled laugh that caused a sense of shame to flash within
Jasmine's eyes. But quickly, she set it aside. In any case, wasn't the plan to press him
hard enough that he wouldn't have any energy left for the others. That being the
case, there was no need to be bashful!

In tandem, they sat cross-legged on the bed and Konrad imparted the mnemonics of
the Hundred Flowers Scripture onto her. While changing cultivation methods wasn't
too great an issue, it usually harmed the foundation. For that reason, most people
would stick with one method for a lifetime and directly go for the highest they could
afford.

However, methods within the system that could be upgraded didn't have that issue
since the upgrades were for all intent and purposes a higher version of the same
technique.

For that reason, Konrad felt at ease cultivating and imparting the Hundred Flowers
Scripture onto her.

Jasmine kept her eyes closed, cleansed her mind of any distraction and focused
solely on comprehending the first mysteries of the scripture. Meanwhile, Konrad
revolved it and silently cultivated.

This miniature world wasn't just a glorified storage room. As a high-grade Grand
Artifact, it possessed rich enough spiritual qi for someone to train to the peak of the
Grand Rank. However, it held very little use in the cultivation department for
someone beyond that level.

Strands of white light emerged from his body, flower petals rose from his pores and
danced around him while pink mist oozed.

An hour of soundless cultivation passed in a flash. An hour after which Jasmine's

eyes slowly opened with the same phenomena of light and flowers now emerging
from her body.

Konrad was alarmed. As the owner of the system, he didn't need to comprehend the
methods, but he still had a good understanding of their difficulty. The Hundred
Flowers Scripture wasn't your run in the mill method. To comprehend it meant
talent in both the martial and spiritual paths. And to comprehend it at such speed
could only mean that Jasmine was a rarely seen talent.
Alas, if not for meeting him, that talent would have never been put to good use.

"Thus a good birth is in itself a talent, and good fortune shall make even the lowest
ascend to greatness."

His lips curled into a gentle smile. A smile Jasmine took as a sign of approval. An
approval that delighted her.

"What? Impressed? Slack-jawed? Speechless?"

"Am I not better than all those other gals? Unrivaled among my peers? With a woman
like me, what else do you need?"

"It's not too late to swear off mistresses. Otherwise, when I start dealing with them…
heh."

The smug display caused Konrad's eyes to roll back. But he could sense the comedy
and lack of seriousness within her tone. She would indeed fight to make him hers
alone, but she certainly didn't plan to bring harm to anyone to achieve that.

At least not physical harm…

Or maybe just a little?

"Hum, Hum. I give you a passing grade."

"Just a passing grade?"

Having grown on stories of cultivators spending weeks and months to comprehend

spells and methods, she believed she had done well enough to be dubbed
outstanding.

Never did she expect that his appraisal would be so low. And suddenly her mood was
soured. But at the same time, her fighting intent was kindled. If this weren't enough,
she would only need to try harder!

Seeing that she wasn't discouraged, Konrad was pleased.

"The method I've given you is a dual cultivation technique. Do you know what that
means?"
The stories of rogues using females as cauldrons to empower themselves were not
unfamiliar to Jasmine. But knowing Konrad wouldn't harm her, she assumed they
would both benefit from the intercourse.

"I know."

She nodded, trying to appear unfazed despite the rosy tint of her cheeks. In any case,
how different could it be from "that time?"

"Then let's cultivate. Don't forget to draw in spiritual energy and revolve it using the
method. It's important that you pay attention to that to maximize the benefits."

Konrad taught with a mischievous grin.

"Hum… so we start… just like this?"

"How would you want us to start?"

She reminisced their first time that was full of tenderness and rising passion. In
comparison, this seemed too… abrupt?

But before she could say anything else, Konrad vanished and appeared at her back,
his arms wrapped around her neck while his lips approached her left ear.

"Would you want me to tell you that your beauty transcends the sun and moon?"

"That it is in your scent that I find the delights of life?"

"Would you want me to press my lips against your ear and whisper my admiration?"

The feeling of his warm body enlacing hers caused her heart rate to shoot up.

"Or rather…”

He laid her with her back on the bed and his face standing above hers. His sweet
breath grazed her nose, and the mesmerizing scent of orchids rippling from him
assaulted her senses.

“…just show you?"

Then he leaned in, taking her lips in a passionate kiss.

"Good. This is… good."

She thought as the feeling of their intertwining tongue, and rising heat cleansed her
mind of any extra thoughts.

Words became superfluous, unnecessary ornaments that would distract them from
the task of bringing one another to paradise. So, they no longer bothered with them.
Konrad freed her of her robe and undergarments while she did the same to him. He
broke their kiss, moving down to her nether regions with his tongue bared and his
shaft hardening against her face.

Instinctively, she pressed it firmly within her hand, extending it with gentle strokes,
before taking it into her mouth.

At the same time, his tongue latched on her clit, and his fingers teased her fold,
causing the holy nectar she contained to drip without restraint.

And quickly, a tantalizing slurping sound was the only thing available within the
room.

Their rising moans stifled by their "mutual service" duty.

White light burst from their forms, pink mist rose from their pores, and hundreds of
flowers bloomed and shrouded their tangling bodies as they revolved the Hundred
Flowers Scripture and dual cultivated.

Then they spun, lying on their shoulders with their legs collaring each other's necks
and their faces still in each other's crotches.

"Mhm!"

Jasmine couldn't help but let out as Konrad's masterful play of her drenched fold
caused jolts of electricity to spread through her body.

His hands rested on her buttocks and hers on his. But as he sensed her impending
orgasm, he stopped, removed his tongue from her sex and caused her to gasp in
frustration.
She didn't have time to complain before he spun into sitting and motioned for her to
dive into his arms. Which she did, wrapping her arms around his neck and rubbing
her sex against his throbbing rod that now glittered in golden light.

A benefit of their cultivation? She didn't care, too occupied with her furious
masturbation on her lover's shaft.

"Anh…”

Her moans and rubbing teased Konrad's rod. He embraced her slim waist and let her
slip onto his cock.

"Ahhh…”

Cultivate! She shouldn't forget that the entire purpose of this was to cultivate.

But when pleasure reached such fantastic heights, how could she focus. She laid on
his cock, legs outstretched with her hands holding his cheeks and kissed him
impetuously to suppress her moans while moving down his shaft and causing his
balls to slap her butt cheeks.

Pah Pah Pah

The sound of deep lovemaking soon filled the room. With more intense moans
replacing their predecessors while the two moved their waists and brought each
other to heaven.

The initial tender moves soon became instinct driven thrusts that carried the two of
them to the so desired peak.

"Mhhhhhhh!"

Jasmine groaned in Konrad's mouth as her body clenched on his and her orgasm
took her. He followed suit, unloading his large stream of semen within her.

The scripture caused their minds to intertwine, sharing the feelings and bliss they
felt within one another's arms.

But they were only getting started and switched to other positions to better explore
their sexuality, and bring out all the boons of the Hundred Flowers Scripture.
…

The intense dual cultivation session came to an end with Jasmine collapsing in the
mermaid position while panting for breath.

"Fifth… it is the… fifth. May the divine lord have mercy on me… I can't continue."

"Admitting defeat?"

"Admitting defeat!"

She conceded with her back resting on his chest. It seemed the plan of making him
lie broken under her would need to receive some tweaks!

But in the meantime, large streams of spiritual energy flooded her body and mind,
taking her from a mortal with no cultivation base to the fifth step Adept Knight and
first step Adept Priest in one go.
Even for Jasmine who still had a shallow understanding of the cultivation world, the
sudden breakthrough in cultivation brought by the dual cultivation sessions seemed
too large to be normal.

She attributed that quick rise to Konrad's method and sat cross-legged to digest her
gains.

Meanwhile, although Konrad had profited very little in terms of cultivation

advancement, his understanding of the Hundred Flowers Scripture had reached a
new level.

He sat in the lotus position and channeled it to explore his new discoveries. The
Hundred Flowers scripture was divided into three layers. Each bringing with it an
attribute. Attributes should not be confused with the elemental spells priests could
conjure. They were ingrained in the spiritual energy and brought with them
countless benefits.

Mastering an attribute before the Arch Rank was a challenging task that most talents
failed to accomplish. But as long as Konrad could reach the first layer of the Hundred
Flowers scripture, he would unlock his first attribute: Light.

Pink mist moved across his pores, and within his body, his sky-blue pagoda was
shrouded by a growing purple haze. That purple haze then merged with the pagoda
which subsequently released blinding light that caused Konrad's body to sparkle.

And just like that, he had reached the first layer of the Hundred Flowers Scripture.
But at that time, the purple flame mark on his right arm shone, and by the time he
opened his eyes, he was no longer sitting by Jasmine's side, but floating within a
world of clouds.

"The hell?"

Konrad's eyes widened in disbelief as he swept the perimeter.

"You wish. Hell is a much more entertaining place than this."

A voice echoed from the back of his head.

He turned to face it and was surprised to see a tall, handsome man standing at
almost 1.9 meters with long jet-black hairs, violet eyes, and a large open coat that
showcased his muscular, bare chest.

But those attributes paled in comparison to the pair of goat horns that protruded
from his forehead.

"Who the hell are you?"

Konrad asked warily. While he couldn't see his own appearance in his demonic form,
the goat horns were attributes he also possessed. And if it weren't for him being
unable to feel any energy signature from the man standing in front of him, he would
have assumed him to be of demonic blood.

"You can think of me as your tutor and guardian. I helped you take down the woman
that was trying to kill you before. Remember?"

The sight of Freya driving her sword toward him in an almost fatal blow resurfaced
within Konrad's mind.

"Or rather, you helped me help you. Was it not for your strong will to live, it would
have taken more time and energy for me to awaken."

The man stated with a devilish grin.

Konrad rose from his seated position, and the clouds below him were like an
ethereal ground that allowed him to walk toward the demonic man.

And if anyone witnessed the two face one another, they would be surprised to see
the striking resemblance of their faces.

"Since you brought me here, I assume you have important things to say?"

"Not say, teach. All highborn demons possess birthmarks that grant them a
preternatural understanding of the world and their duties. Call it wisdom of the
ancestors if you will. But as a half, yours took a lot of time to activate. In fact, was it
not for the previous Konrad dying and being replaced by you, I'm afraid I would have
never been able to rise."

"You… know that?"

But quickly, Konrad's initial shock was erased. If that thing had been present within
his predecessor, then it was likely to have witnessed everything that happened.

"Of course I do. I know everything about you. But that is of no consequence. In fact,
it's better for everyone. Your predecessor was a good kid. But as far as demons are
concerned, he was a complete and utter failure. For the mighty house of Talroth to
have produced such an offspring would have probably been his majesty's greatest
shame."

"But let's not step away from our intended purpose. I'm here to teach you two things.
All that is to know about your bloodline and abilities, and your duty in this mortal
plane."

Hearing the word "duty," Konrad's face contorted into a frown.

"I have no interest in taking part in the schemes of bored elders."

"You can choose not to care. But others will not let you… not care."

"To make things simple. The Ancient Crystal World you currently reside in is like all
the other mortal worlds a proxy battlefield between the deva ruled Celestial Realm
also known as Heaven, and the demon ruled Infernal Realm also known as Hell."

"In immemorial times, the ruling gods of the two realms decided to use mortal
worlds as proxy battlefields instead of directly engaging each other. This Ancient
Crystal World is divided into two continents. The Holy Continent ruled by the
Celestial Church and the Barbarian Continent ruled by the Infernal Cult. Those two
forces have been directing wars and conflicts for hundreds of thousands of years,
causing countless genocides and almost bringing the sentient beings to extinction."

The sea of new information took Konrad aback. He already knew that the Holy Flame
Church was only one of the five branches of the Celestial Church, but he still had no
idea of how powerful of an entity it really was.

But quickly, his eyes revealed doubt.

"This world's human history is not that long. The Holy Flame Empire is the oldest
recorded country but has not existed for more than a hundred thousand years."

"That is because every time the sentient beings come close to extinction, those two
forces sign an armistice, erase all recorded information of the past civilizations, and
let what remain of the different races breed and produce new generations."

"They have been repeating that process for quite some time. And it is very likely that
a new war of extermination will happen very soon. At the earliest, several months. At
the latest, several years."

Konrad was alarmed. What kind of power was required to so seamlessly control the
history of all those races across such a terrifying amount of time?

"But why? Why engage in such bloody slaughter? Just for the sake of distant gods? It
makes no sense!"

"It makes perfect sense. Those two forces each possess their own divine altar that
records merits. The more they kill of the other side's believers, the more merits they
accumulate. Although they could also gain the same amount through conversion, it's
much easier to just kill the opponent.

"Merits can be exchanged for mighty boons granted by the gods themselves. And if
one side can ultimately triumph over the other, its leaders can receive the privilege
of ascending to the higher realms and being ennobled in the courts of their chosen
deities. It's not even impossible for them to become gods in their own rights."

No wonder they were willing to go to such lengths.

"Most established saints are aware of these realities. Which is why they often leave
the secular world to join the churches as high-ranking officials. Now I hope you
understand why you can't escape. You can try, but it will not end well."

"The blood of Talroth marks you as a prime target for the Celestial Church. I believe
they gain more merit by killing you than by killing a barbarian saint."

"What?"

Konrad staggered, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets, and his entire body
was shaken by violent tremors.
Worth more than a saint?

How could he breathe?

But then the description of the Hundred Flowers Scripture echoed within his mind.

"Creator: Talroth, fourth king of hell, lord of lust, ruler of all sex demons."

Could it be…

"Who or what is the Talroth you mentioned? And what is my relationship with him?"

"His majesty the Southern King of Hell. A million years ago he enslaved Asmodeus
and took ownership of the southern domain as its new king. None has managed to
shake his position ever since."

"Most noble houses in hell bear their founder's name."

"As for the relationship… he's your father."

"Come again?"

Cheap! Too cheap!

How could it be possible for him to gain such a cheap father?

"After endless preparations, your mother managed to forge a Master-Servant

contract with him and received the privilege of carrying one of his offspring. You
were supposed to be a cutting-edge weapon in the upcoming war, but your
predecessor's lack of talent and frustrating disposition caused her to lose faith. She
hoped sending him into the palace would cause traumatic enough experiences to
awaken his bloodline. But even in death, he failed to man up."

"I recommend you find an opportunity to escape the palace as soon as possible and
contact her."

It was easier to kill incubi than to harm their genitalia. If the previous Konrad had
managed to awaken his bloodline, he would have quickly recovered his "rocks."

But he didn't.
Konrad was overwhelmed by all the things he had just learned. Having a mighty
father might seem appealing to most, but in the heart of the Holy Flame Empire, that
lineage could only bring him harm.

"I heard identifying incubi is impossible if they don't reveal their demonic energy
signature."

"That is incorrect. "Nigh impossible" is the correct answer. There is an ability called
Origin Sight that allows its user to not only spy on people from a distance but to also
figure out all their innate characteristics. And if I'm not wrong, the Holy Flame
Church has more than one person wielding that ability. If for some reason they use it
on you, you're done for."

Konrad was puzzled. Was it possible that Origin Sight was the real reason behind his
predecessor's death? But if that was true…

"In any case, what you do in the future depends solely on yourself. As for me, my
second task is to teach you what you have yet to learn about your abilities. Especially
lineage weapons and demonic contracts."

The man would then carry on with instructing him on how to use certain abilities
like the incubi's innate illusion powers, and the different types and functions of
demonic contracts.

"When you return to the real world, you can stimulate your blood to summon your
lineage weapon. Wielding it, your strength will drastically soar, and fighting across
an entire rank will be simple. But remember, it possesses a clear demonic signature.
Thus, if you unleash it, make sure no undesirable witness remains."

"Never forget that the primary drive of powerful incubi is not lust. It is domination.
Be wary of the Celestial Church."

"All that needed to be said has been. I will be available if you have any future
questions but for now… get the fuck out."

And so Konrad was expelled.

Konrad's eyes opened to the sight of Jasmine processing her gains at his front with
her body stilled bare, and refined by her improving cultivation. It appeared the flame
mark altered his perception of time and he had only left for an instant.

He stopped his cultivation, got dressed and waited for her to finish while pondering
the critical issue of whether to reveal his true parentage or not. He wasn't concerned
about her freaking out as he could effortlessly modify her memories if he so wished.

But doing so would denaturalize a relationship he was starting to find rather

entertaining. And as he tackled the issue within his mind, Jasmine's eyes opened.

"How long have you been staring at me like that?"

Konrad had not realized that while lost in thoughts, his eyes had locked on her naked
form with a blank stare.

Disgraceful…

"Hum, hum. I have been meaning to tell you something relatively important."

"I'm a demon."

"What?"

"I'm a demon."

"I heard the first time."

"It didn't seem like it."

The fast exchange caused Jasmine's eyes to blink at breakneck speed while droplets
of sweat formed on her forehead.

"What kind of demon?"

"An incubus. Wait… that's what you're worried about?"

Seeing her eyes shine with a sense of awareness, Konrad realized she was more
concerned about the nature of his demonic heritage than with him being a demon.

"No wonders… the first time we met, I knew there was something off about you, but I
couldn't put my fingers on it. Afterward, I thought it was just a result of your
cultivation, but now it doesn't seem to be the case."

Back then, he used his demonic aura to make her more "open to suggestions."

"Why aren't you… frightened?"

He could smell no fear from her body, a reaction vastly different and more irrational
than Iliana's when she first learned of his true nature.

"All I know about demons is hearsay. Paragon spirits are supposedly the noblest
creatures of the Holy Continent, but Wenzel is a true degenerate. In other parts of
the world, serpents are supposedly symbols of sneaky and untrustworthy behavior.
Yet, in the Holy Flame Empire, they are among the highest-ranking noble races. As
for us humans, we are branded as slaves whose sole worth is to serve. Who cares
about you being a demon, as long as you're not the type that needs to kill and torture
to grow… it doesn't matter."

"The "who" is more important than the "what."

"Demon or not, I will still conquer you!"

Konrad was speechless. He had not expected her to be this broadminded and
somehow felt ashamed of his initial apprehension.

"That being the case, what would you say about signing a contract?"

"A contract? An actual demonic contract like in the legends?"

"Not quite. What I offer you is the Partnership of Equals. If you accept it, you will
become a true member of my household, and we shall share mind and blood. Among
other things, your cultivation speed will soar."

"In a nutshell, you will always have a slice of my pie and I of yours."

Jasmine's eyes lit up. She didn't care about all the mentioned cultivation benefits.
What truly grabbed her attention was that the terms were very similar to a marriage
contract!

Hehe, she had yet to put a ring on his finger that he was delivering himself to her
doorsteps? Of course, she would not let him go!

"I agree!"

In theory, forcing a demonic contract was impossible. Both parties had to be willing
for it to occur. Of course, there were ways to force willingness.

Konrad cut his lips, causing blood to trail down his chin and paint his mouth in red.

He then waved his sleeves and conjured five purple pentagrams that hovered around
the two of them.

"Jasmine, step forward."

She didn't hesitate, stood up and walked toward him.

"Are you willing in all conscience to abandon your humanity for my demonic blood?"

"I am willing."

"Are you willing in all conscience to forsake your lineage and ancestry for the right to
join my household?"

"I am willing."

"To forever brand your soul with the mark of my lineage?"

"I am willing!"

"Then I, Konrad of the house of Talroth welcome you to the fold of demonkind as my
chosen kin and bind myself to you through spirit and blood!"

Massive purple light exploded from the pentagrams and shrouded the two of them
while Konrad took Jasmine within his arms and kissed her with his bloodied lips.
Parts of his demonic essence flew past his mouth, dived into her and mixed with her
bloodline, turning her from a pureblooded human being to a half-succubus.

Her cultivation base experienced another breakthrough, going from the fifth step
Adept Knight to the first step True Knight and from first step Adept Priest to the
sixth step Adept Priest.

Meanwhile, her innate comprehension level and cultivation talent were added to
Konrad's and a part of his to hers.

Thus, the pact was sealed.

Konrad then placed the harem ring on her finger and left her to adjust to her new
self.

In the meantime, within a pavilion of the Holy Empress' palace, two breathtaking
women were engaging in a chess match.

One was dressed in an elegant backless white maxi dress that outlined her perfect
hourglass figure and possessed curly silver hairs and eyes that made her paragon
spirit heritage evident. She was the Holy Empress, Verena Kvass.

The other was a crimson dressed woman with long ink-like hairs and slit blue eyes
that were the only thing discernable beneath her silver mask. She was the Holy
Consort, Else Metze.

And with the Dowager in seclusion, those two were the most powerful women of the
Holy Flame Empire.

"Your last move was not bad. Reshaping Wenzel's memories to make him forget who
truly harmed him and then using him to turn Yvonne against the emperor and gain
her support. I must say I'm impressed."

"But are you not afraid that when his majesty comes looking for answers, I will
reveal the little stunt you pulled?"

Although she rarely intervened in matters of the inner court, the Holy Empress was
fully aware of the various consorts' daily moves. That night, she had been monitoring
Else and was surprised to see her intervene in a matter directly related to the
emperor for the sake of a eunuch boy.

More surprising was that despite knowing that she was being monitored, Else didn't
hesitate to act. And while she subsequently used that matter as a tool to obtain the
support of Wenzel's mother, it was clear the original intent was to save that boy.

Verena was perplexed as to why Else who never made any rash move would risk
offending the emperor for the sake of a seventeen years old eunuch.

"As the leader of the inner court, your majesty is by right my older sister. That being
the case, I don't see why I should be afraid of my older sister revealing my secrets.
Also, if there is something, we can all agree on, it's that antagonizing the emperor is
your favorite activity."

Else nonchalantly replied while moving a black pawn.

"Touche. I do not care about any of that. I'm more interested in the eunuch boy you
seem so fond of. Could he be a man you snuck into the palace to be your little lover?
Or is there a deeper story here?"

Verena teased with her lips curled in a mischievous smile.

"I didn't know your majesty had such an interest in gossiping."

"Don't all bored women love spicy gossips? As the country's most unentertained
woman, it is only natural that I also have some interest in them."

Verena replied while moving a white pawn.

"If you're that interested, why not make a full inquiry? Investigate as you wish and
see what you can find out. I have nothing to hide."

"Will you really not mind?"

"As long as your majesty doesn't go beyond a certain point, I will of course not mind."
Verena's interest was only heightened.

But looking at the chessboard, it seemed Else's pawn was about to reach promotion.
As for what it would turn into, she didn't know.
"Well then, I shall take you up on your offer."

And so the chess match was brought to a halt. Else left the empress' palace and
returned to hers where the blue-haired lady, Konrad could have easily recognized as
the one that sentenced his predecessor to death, awaited with a deferential stance.

"Welcome back your grace!"

She greeted upon seeing Else step into the main hall.

"Tamara? What are you waiting here for? Don't you have tasks to attend to and
connections to weave?"

"Your grace I was wondering, why didn't you hide your recent moves from the
empress' sight? With your current cultivation, it would have been impossible for her
to monitor you if you didn't allow her to."

The world only knew that Else was a martial arts genius and had reached the Holy
Knight Rank decades ago. But only a scant few knew that she was also a spiritual
genius and had reached the Holy Rank in both paths.

Her silver mask was a holy artifact that made her spiritual cultivation completely
untraceable.

"Why hide? If Verena wants to play with fire, let her burn."

"Your grace this is far too reckless. If the empress ever realizes the bloodline of that
boy, we're doomed!"

Tamara panicked in front of Else's indifference.

"Wasn't your initial plan to use him as a tool to tame the consorts and ultimately
target the empress? Why is it that now that he can achieve that, you seem so
terrified?"

Tamara possessed the rare Origin Sight ability and thus quickly became aware of the
previous Konrad's incubus nature. Back then, Else had asked her to keep watch on
him while she left the palace to seal an important deal in person.

But although she tried to let nothing transpire, it was clear that boy caused Else to
act in strange manners. Thus, Tamara chose to test him. If they could use him, she
would train him into a weapon to subjugate the resisting consorts. If they could not,
she would take matters in her own hands and get rid of that time ticking bomb that
could at any time be used against her mistress.

The previous Konrad proved himself useless, and it was clear that his bloodline
would never awaken in a lifetime. Yet, that blood was still there. So, she no longer
hesitated and had him canned to death!

But what she had not expected was that by the time Else returned and learned of the
events, she beat her until she was half an inch away from death. Only when signs of
Konrad's lifeforce miraculously reappeared within the inner court did she spare her
life.

She had always believed herself to be the closest person to Else within the inner
court. But she was ready to brutally execute her to avenge that boy? It was
impossible for their relationship not to be extraordinary.

And that was a grave issue because even now, thanks to her Origin Sight, Tamara
could see that Konrad's bloodline had risen from a half to a pureblooded incubus!

How he achieved that, she didn't know. But the fact of the matter was that a
pureblooded demon now resided within the inner court and was being sheltered by
Else.

"Your grace, I do not understand why you care so much for that boy, but I implore
you to act with lucidity. The Holy Empress is the Dowager's niece. The Dowager is
one of the leading priestesses of the Holy Flame Church that has always been looking
for ways to exterminate us. The chance of this ending with our heads rolling on the
floor is way too high! For the sake of the souls we must avenge, please reconsider!"

…
Meanwhile, Konrad now stood within his dungeon in front of his gathered female
captives. Those he had already conquered looked at him with yearning while the rest
stared onto the ground with evident dread.

"I'm giving you all an opportunity to sign a contract of eternal servitude with me.
Agree, and henceforth, you shall join my household as servants and receive the
benefits that implies. Refuse… and I have no further use for you."

He coolly declared.

Freya and the priestesses that had tasted the golden rod had already fallen on their
knees in submission.

"We agree!"

Quickly, the two court ladies and remaining palace maids followed suit. Although
unlike Freya they didn't have a clear understanding of Konrad's true nature and
didn't know what the contract really implied, they didn't want to die.

Unlike the Partnership of Equals that had limited quotas, the number of allowed
Master-Servant contracts was infinite.

Konrad executed the ritual and imprinted their chests with the Mark of Servitude of
House Talroth: A pair of purple butterfly wings.

Overall, their cultivations rose, those at the Adept Rank saw their cultivation rise by
two steps. Those at the True Rank by one and the two court ladies at the Grand
Knight rank were close to breakthrough another level.

And as Konrad's cultivation rose, so would theirs. As for himself, he had obtained all
their cultivation talents as well as their absolute obedience. Not only that but with a
thought, he could decide their life and death.

Their minds were also open books for him to browse through.

"Freya, step forward."

"Yes, master!"

Freya didn't hesitate and stepped toward him.

"How much access do you have to house Schoner's finances?"

Freya was puzzled as to why her master was now interested in the finances of her
husband's house but still replied.

"My husband greatly dotes on me and gives me full access to his bank accounts and
assets. But those only represent a third of house Schoner's finances. The remaining
two-thirds are within the hands of my brother in law, count Wilhelm Schoner."

Wilhelm Schoner was the contemporary head of house Schoner and Thorsten's elder
brother. He was said to be a sixth step Transcendent Knight.

"At how much can you estimate the part your husband controls?"

"About fifty to sixty millions purple crystals!"

"I give you one week to put it all in my hands."

"What?"

Freya believed she didn't hear him right, and so gave him an incredulous stare.

"Need I repeat myself?"

"No… Master I will deliver!"

"Good. Execute this task, and I will help you quickly return to your previous level and
even go beyond."

Hearing that, Freya was overjoyed. Her cultivation loss had been a great blow to her
self-esteem, and she was eager to regain it.

As for why Konrad was targeting house Schoner, it was because they were the easiest
fat sheep to target. Initially, he planned to auction the three low-grade Grand Level
Spiritual methods he had exchanged from the system to make a solid profit and
establish himself financially.

However, with the recent developments, it was obvious he would need to prepare
himself to escape from the palace!
And not just escape but escape with enough resources that he could effortlessly
establish himself elsewhere and build his own faction.

"Thorsten Schoner, I have nothing against you. But for the sake of my survival, I must
use your wife to screw you over!"

"Sorry!"

The eunuchs still in cages observed this scene with horror. How was it possible for
them to have fallen in the hands of a pureblooded demon? Was there still hope for
survival?

And as if he aware of their thoughts, Konrad turned toward them.

"There is still hope for you. Condense your entire cultivation bases into pills, and I
will erase your memories then allow you to leave."

They were five high-level True Knights with the weakest being at the seventh step
and the strongest being at the ninth step. If they condensed their entire cultivation
bases into pills, Konrad could use them to improve the cultivation of his women.

But the price would be the loss of a lifetime of hard work.

Still, they didn't hesitate.

After collecting the pills they produced, Konrad used his incubus abilities to erase
their minds and implant some false memories within before sending them on their
way.

He then brought Jasmine and Freya out of the miniature world.

After obtaining a half-succubus bloodline, Jasmine's innate charm had risen to a

brand new level. Still, she looked at Freya with wariness.

Clearly, that mature vixen was one of the thieves!

"Remember, you only have a week. Act fast."

Freya nodded, but then, a nefarious thought flashed within her corrupted mind.
"Will master also give me "that" kind of reward?"

"Certainly."

Freya beamed, but Jasmine's eyes burned with fury. What kind of reward could
"that" be?

Obviously, it was the sexual kind!

She wrapped her arms around Konrad's neck to signify ownership and glowered at
Freya.

"Look, bitch, he's taken! Go get your milk elsewhere!"

And instantly, Konrad's forehead was full of black lines.

"The nerves! Who the hell are you?!"

Submitting to Konrad was one thing, being verbally abused by a nobody was another.
As a pureblooded golden-eyed lioness, if there was one thing Freya didn't tolerate, it
was being disrespected by those she deemed inferior. And while Jasmine's
cultivation had risen to the first step True Knight Rank, Freya didn't put her in her
eyes.

"Your new mistress!"

Jasmine announced with complacent glee. But at that time, Konrad chose to bring
her back to earth.

"Actually, if Freya can complete her task, I might promote her."

"I'm the master of the contracts and can adjust them however I wish to."

"Meaning that I can also modify yours if I wish to."

"Do I wish to…?"

Konrad murmured while rubbing his beardless chin, and his words caused Jasmine
to unfasten his neck and stare at him with stupor.

"You… tricked me!"

She complained while aiming her now wobbling index at his self-satisfied face.

"I am a demon!"

"Tricking is my birthright!"

That girl was too brazen. If he didn't start putting some shackles here and there,
wouldn't she try to overturn the world?

Wanting to deprive me of my beauties? In your dreams!

I will have you, and I will also have them!

"Now that you've joined my household, you cannot escape. So, you might as well
make the best of it. Think of this as a test of virtue. If you perform well enough, who
knows what will happen in the future?"

Initially, Freya had been incensed by Jasmine's rude and possessive behavior. But
now all discomfort had been replaced by deep satisfaction. A woman's status in a
polygamous husband's house often depended on the dowry she brought.

She was going to bring more than fifty million purple crystals!

Could that little maid compare?

"When I'm promoted and my cultivation restored, I will properly deal with you!"

She inwardly swore with a radiant smile.

And Konrad who had unobstructed access to her thoughts couldn't help but blink.

"Hum, hum. Back to proper business. For how long is your pass valid?"

The reason why Freya could come and go within the palace was that thanks to Else,
she had obtained an imperial pass. That pass was only granted to women that had
strong connections to the inner court and could only be used for a certain amount of
time.

Past the deadline, renewal was necessary.

Freya had been using hers for some time already and should be close to its
expiration date.

"I still have three weeks."

"That's more than enough."

While she completed the task, he would make some additional arrangements and
gather as many resources as he could.

"It's unfortunate that I have to leave this female paradise so soon… oh well, to enjoy
beauty, you first need to breathe."

Although he managed to keep his neck so far, Konrad didn't want to take extra
chances. Even if he held no interest in the faraway Barbarian Continent, he wasn't
going to sit and wait for the Holy Flame Church to come knocking on his doorstep.

How was that different from courting death?

He could return with great pomp when he was powerful enough!

The girls were sent on their respective ways with Jasmine still fuming and pondering
her future course of actions.

Konrad then woke Ralph and Alan, his two eunuch subordinates and gave them
errands.

"Ralph, your job is to contact Hans for a new business opportunity. This time, tell
him to get ready for an auction. But the goods are not things he can take
responsibility for so he should prepare accordingly. Just tell him that we're going a
full grade higher and insist on the plural of "the goods." I give him four days and will
send someone to deliver them when he's ready."

"As for you Alan, I want you to obtain a complete map of the imperial palace as well
as the hierarchy and cultivation levels of guards at key locations. The more you can
find the better. You have three days."

The imperial palace was not a mill. You couldn't get out because you wanted to. And
even with Konrad's current cultivation level, escaping it would be no simple feat.

Hearing his task, Alan was puzzled.

"Are you trying to smuggle something in or…”

But the glower he received from Konrad shoved the rest of his words back down his
throat.
"I hope I do not need to remind you of the importance of discretion. Execute these
tasks well, and I will handsomely reward you."

It seemed he attached extreme importance to those tasks. That being the case, there
surely was great wealth to obtain!

"Rest assured that we will not fail you!"

They proclaimed and immediately went on their ways to tend to the tasks. As for the
kitchen shifts… to hell with that!

For the sake of great wealth, they could certainly endure some punishment! In any
case, the weather was not that good recently. It was time to call in sick!

And seeing them disperse, Konrad no longer wasted another second and headed
toward the embroidery department to meet Iliana.

With the news of her new status having spread, her treatment had undergone
drastic changes. The title of maid was removed and replaced with that of Honored
Palace Guest. She also received an entire courtyard and several maids to attend to
her daily needs.

But although on the outside it appeared this change was out of consideration for her
changed status, it was nothing more than a new way of monitoring her.

If they truly wished to show consideration, they could have just sent her back to her
household.

But they didn't. And perhaps until the day her father died, she would have to stay
within this mockery of a golden cage.

From times to times, the figure of the unruly Konrad would flash within her mind to
improve her otherwise sullen mood.

But today, as she sat at the edge of the spring where they had wrestled for their lives,
it wasn't in her mind, but in the spring that she saw his figure manifest itself.

"Really? Am I now starting to hallucinate?"

She wondered with a frown.

"Not quite. But then again, I suppose I am the physical manifestation of all female
fantasies."

A smug voice came from her back.

She spun, and her eyes widened to the sight of Konrad who looked at her with his
usual mischievous grin.

"Don't flatter yourself. Beside Daphne, no one fantasies about you."

She retorted. Daphne had not wasted any time to corrupt her ears with Konrad's
"exploits." Something she most definitely didn't want to be aware of.

"Why is it that I sense the unique smell of jealousy?"

"Because you're a conceited manwhore."

"Flattery will get you everywhere."

"Unredeemable!"

But through that small exchange of words, her mood had already been lifted.

"Since I've nothing better to do, I might as well listen to all the nonsense you have to
say…”

From her tone, it looked like she was doing him a mighty favor. But Konrad was well
aware that should he now turn heels, the quality of her day would only worsen.

He sat by her side, and for the next hour, brightened her mood through stories and
pleasantries.

They were now lying on the ground by each other's side, and unbeknown to her,
Iliana's head was getting increasingly closer to his.

"Do you want to leave the palace?"

"Of course I do. But that's impossible."

She replied to his inquiry.

"That might not be true. If you want to leave, it's not difficult. Kiss me, and in a week
when I'm ready to leave, I will come to fetch you."

"What?"

Iliana turned toward him with incredulous eyes.

"You want to flee the palace?"

"Flee is such a terrible word. I'd rather say I want to go sightseeing."

And hearing the confirmation from his lips, concern replaced Iliana's initial shock.

"Don't be rash. If escaping the palace was that simple; many would not have died
trying to do so."

Not everyone was willing to spend a lifetime within the confines of the imperial
palace, and many had died trying to escape it.

"I will naturally not do something I'm not certain of. If I say we're ready to leave, then
we are ready."

While his confidence had alleviated some of her fears, Iliana still wasn't convinced.

"If you can really pull it off. No need to say one. I can give you a thousand kisses."

"You got yourself a deal! See you in a week."

With that said, he stood up.

"Leaving so soon?"

Iliana blurted out, then realized she had betrayed herself.

"Oh? Is that longing I feel?"

"Humph!"

But as she turned her gaze away from his, he planted a soft kiss on the right corner
of her lips, then vanished in a haze of light.
"Unruly…”

She cursed with her cheeks flushed red.

Following that little escapade, Konrad returned to his assigned kitchen duties and
handled both his work and his errand boys' to avoid raising too many questions. But
while he prepared the last radishes, a trio of eunuchs walked into the small kitchen.

From their attire, it was clear they were head eunuchs.

"Are you the low-ranked eunuch Konrad?"

Asked the one at their helm.

"I am indeed. What can I do for you?"

"The Holy Empress summons you!"

The radishes he held within his hands dropped onto the ground while his black eyes
widened and droplets of sweat formed on his forehead.

"Are you sure there isn't another Konrad?"

So fast? How was that possible?

Konrad was not just taken aback by the head eunuchs' sudden words. He was
horrified. The timing was too perfect for this to be a coincidence and made him
reminisce how his predecessor had been sent to his maker.

"You know, I'm sure there must be a misunderstanding. With such a vast inner court,
an innumerable amount of Konrads must exist. Surely, you've mistaken me for
another one but fret not, I won't take offense."

"By the way, Konrad is not even my first name. It's just a nickname used by the
buddies. My real name is… Darnok. Yes… Darnok."

"Have a good day."

He politely replied while picking up his radishes. For the first time in his life, he
clung onto legumes with greater passion that he would a woman!

The head eunuchs exchanged confused glances. Why was that boy having such a
strange reaction? Could it be that they'd really gotten the wrong person?

Impossible!

They had especially been instructed to come to this place, and his face perfectly fit
the "Konrad's" description.

"Are you challenging the Holy Empress' verbal decree?"

The most senior of the three asked in a threatening tone.

"How could I dare, but I'm only a small fry within a sea of giants. I have no
connections and only tend to legumes and cooking within this small kitchen. How
could the empress have ever heard my name? To say nothing of my name, how could
she be aware of my existence? That's why I say you must have found the wrong
person."

"My life is not important, but if you accidentally offend the Empress… the
consequences…”

His voice trailed with a long, sorrowful sigh that caused the trio to question the
accuracy of their information. His words were logical. Only one with significant
background could enter the empress' sight. Who was he to receive the honor of
being summoned by her majesty? It made absolutely no sense.

For an instant, they didn't know what to do.

"Should we first go back to verify the information?"

"Go back empty-handed? How are we to explain the failure of such a simple task?"

"If we have to fail the task, at least let's have something to show. Also, that boy looks
fishy."

"Yeah, Darnok? Isn't that Konrad in reverse? Does he really think we were born
yesterday?"

"Sons of bitches! Was it not for me not wanting to risk getting ahead of myself, I
would have already slapped you to death!

Damn!"

Konrad silently cursed while being dragged toward the empress' palace. And
following a series of teleportation circles, he was brought to the entrance of a
massive residence that stretched across two hectares with tall supporting pillars
evoking ancient Greek architecture.

Without ceremony, the eunuchs pulled him inside and brought him over to two
personal attendants that awaited their return.

During all this time, Konrad adopted the meek and submissive attitude befitting a
low-ranked eunuch while silently cursing all the ancestors of his "guides."

Soon, they reached a white marble door in front of which the two attendants
stopped.

"Your majesty, the eunuch has been brought over."

In a creak, the door opened, and the two attendants led Konrad inside a brightly lit
room where thirteen other attendants played card games alongside a silver-haired
woman whose eyes had yet to meet Konrad's.

"You can all leave."

She declared and instantly, the attendants by her sides as well as the two that
brought Konrad over, all exited the room.

The woman then rose to her feet, but Konrad who kept his eyes locked onto the
ground below couldn't appreciate her beauty.

"Why the sudden display of bashfulness? As I recall, when you shattered Wenzel's
"jewels," you didn't have such reservations."

"End! My life ends!"

But then Konrad recalled the blurry sight of the woman that saved his and Jasmine's
lives and vainly hoped that the one standing in front of him was his mysterious
savior.

"Hum, hum. Your Majesty must be jesting. How does a little servant like me dare
harm the belongings of the sixth prince? I do not have that courage."

Even at the pillory, he would not admit to it! But his words caused a light chuckle to
escape Verena's lips.

"Look at me."

Konrad's gaze rose and fell upon a sight that forced him to stare dazed for a few
seconds. In terms of beauty, beside that mysterious, blurry figure, the woman in
front of him effortlessly eclipsed all those he had ever met. But that beauty didn't
just come from her natural charms.

It came from her unfathomable cultivation that caused every strand of her body to
ripple with subverting force. And although she spoke gently, the irresistible might of
a ruler surrounded her ever words.

"Stand straight. I want to take a good look at you."

Driven by her irresistible voice, Konrad let go of the submissive display and stood at
full height.

Verena's hands were clasped beneath her back as she walked circles around him
with nods of approval.

"Not bad. Seventeen years old, fifth step Grand Knight, eighth step True Priest. Sky-
high innate strength, speed, and resilience. I can even see a perfect dual cultivation
physique."

"Outstanding."

He was like an open book for her to browse through. Nothing could escape her gaze.

The situation was terrible.

"I can see why Else is so fond of you. You can be trained into a true powerhouse."

The Holy Consort was fond of him?

Verena stepped away from Konrad and sat in the middle of a blue velvet armchair
with her mesmerizing legs crossed and her right cheek resting on her fist causing
her curly silver hairs to cascade on the right.

But with those words, Konrad realized she couldn't see through his bloodline.

"It's rare for such an outstanding human being to exist outside of the Barbarian
Continent. Where are you from?"

Her following words confirmed it. But although Konrad's apprehension had
drastically shrunken, his vigilance remained intact.

"I was born and raised in this Holy Flame City. Your majesty can easily verify this by
checking the records of the eunuchs."

"I've already done that, but I don't believe it. You entered this palace as an ordinary
eunuch boy without any cultivation and in a matter of a few months, your cultivation
skyrockets to the current level?"

"Not possible. You either deceived your examiners or someone helped you deceive
them."

"Or perhaps, I'm looking at this the wrong way, and you're a completely different
person from the one that entered the palace?"

Horrifying woman!

Konrad fought hard to control his heart rate and prevent body movement from
betraying him.

"Your majesty is jesting. The imperial palace is a well-known place of opportunity.

There is no rule stipulating that those of high cultivation cannot enter as eunuchs. I
merely believed I could build myself a grand career within these walls and concealed
my cultivation from my examiners to avoid trouble. It's not like they had the means
to see through it."

"No need to justify yourself. I do not care about your identity. About your origins and
connections to the outside world. I do not care about Wenzel. None of these are the
reason for your presence here."

"I want you to serve me. To abandon all allegiances, you might have to anything or
anyone else, and serve me wholeheartedly. Become my pawn if I want you to, and my
knight if I so command you. Agree, and I guarantee that within five years, I can make
you a Semi-Saint."

"And before you turn thirty, I will help you achieve sanctification."

Verena offered with her silver eyes locked on Konrad and observing his every move.

Odd. Why was there no fluctuation within his mood?

"I respectfully decline!"

His explicit rejection caused her to stare blankly for a few seconds.

"Did you not hear what I said?"

"I heard. And I respectfully decline!"

His words intensified Verena's suspicions.

"Did you not say you wanted to build yourself a career? A once in a lifetime
opportunity now stands in front of you. Why do you reject it?"

"My apologies your majesty, but I'm only a small fry. I have no intention of becoming
a pawn in the inner court's political intrigues. Please forgive me!"

What a joke! Wanting to turn me into a tool for your political warfare? Are you out of
your mind?

I am always the one to play women. When was it time for the roles to be reversed?

Wanting to bait me with the hope of sanctification? In your dreams! I, your father,
will become a god!

Who cares about sanctification?

"Just because of your fears, you are going to forgo such an opportunity?"

"Don't you know that in danger lies great reward?"

"I didn't peg you for the spineless type."

Verena admonished with a disappointed tone.

However, Konrad was unmoved.

"Your majesty, may I ask you at what age did you become a Saint?"

"At the age of four-hundred."

She replied without blinking.

"Four-hundred… at what age did the emperor achieve sanctification?"

"Six-hundred."

"The Holy Consort?"

"Two-hundred."

"Good… very good."

Konrad murmured while restraining the abundance of curses within his throat.

"Even the country's number one talent took two centuries to achieve sanctification.
That being the case, what makes you think you can help me achieve it in… less than
thirty?"

Konrad slowly spoke to prevent himself from flying into rage. Was she openly
making fun of him?

When even she took four-hundred years, she had the nerves of claiming she could
help him reach that altitude before he turned thirty?

What a joke!

But naturally, Verena was prepared.

"You can't do it with traditional cultivation, but if we combine your talent with an
appropriate dual cultivation method, you still have a chance."

"Usually, no matter how gifted, and regardless of their method's level, dual
cultivators cannot go beyond the Transcendent Rank. That's because the holy path
requires "purity."

Dual Cultivation is fast but mixes the spiritual energies of its practitioners thus
creating imperfections and a gradual lack of purity that forever blocks them at the
peak of the Transcendent Rank."

"The answer to that is for the partners to practice the same method from the cradle
while regularly going through Spiritual Harmony Rituals."

Just like Konrad's Hundred Flowers Scripture, Spiritual Harmony Rituals allowed the
participants to establish and perfect a spiritual connection.

"Not many people are willing or able to expend the resources required to train a pair
in such a way, but I can. If you now submit to me, I can give you a high-grade Holy
Rank Dual Cultivation Method and provide you with the perfect partner. We will
waste some time to have you retrain from scratch, but before long, you will return to
your current level."

That Holy Rank Dual Cultivation Method was one of Verena's secrets and a gift from a
formidable high-ranking member of the Celestial Church. Thus, although she had
never used it, she was well aware of its might.

But while this was all very pleasant to the ears, Konrad was unmoved. As a
pureblooded incubus, the problems of dual cultivation didn't apply to him.

"That is only the first issue. The second issue is, you obviously want me to play a
certain role in your contest with the Holy Consort. A harmful role."

Offering a dual cultivation method meant that she was already aware of him not
being a eunuch. At this point, there was no need to pretend otherwise.

"I do not have the boldness required to stand between the Holy Emperor's most
beloved women. That is, at best, suicidal."

"And forgive my frankness but although you're still the most favored, the future
doesn't seem to be holding anything good for you."

Those last words caused a frown to appear on Verena's face.

"What makes you think I'm the most favored?"

To the outside world, it was common knowledge that Else was the Holy Emperor's
favorite consort. Why then was that "eunuch" claiming otherwise.

"Honestly, it's obvious to anyone that dares ponder the question. The Holy Consort's
background is not inferior to yours, but it is well known that she surpasses you in
terms of beauty. That her cultivation talent is leagues above yours, and that her
influence stretches far beyond your reach. That being the case, with the Holy
Consort's vast ambitions, why do you still bear the Empress' crown?"

"Because the Dowager is your aunt? No, the Dowager has long since stopped caring
about matters of the court. The answer is that your majesty is the Holy Emperor's
most beloved. Thus, he's unwilling to demote you."

Konrad confidently analyzed, causing Verena's interest in him to rise.

"Not bad. Wood that can be carved."

She clapped with amusement.

"Since you know that…”

"But that is only for the time being."

Konrad dryly cut.

"No matter how resilient, the tree will ultimately be dislodged by the unrelenting
storm. Your majesty is the tree and the Holy Consort the storm.

Ten years? Fifteen years? Six months? Time matters not, if her current rise is not
stopped, she's bound to overturn the sky!"

There was one last thing he hadn't said. What was the need to pledge allegiance to
someone that would ultimately belong to him?

But instead of getting offended, Verena's smile grew brighter.

"Are you not afraid of your words upsetting me?"

"Your majesty claims I've harmed the sixth prince. Yet, my head still hangs on my
shoulders. What is there to be afraid of?"

"Good, you've relaxed."

It was true. Konrad's initial apprehensions had vanished, and he faced her straight
and unafraid.

"Your analysis is correct. I've been lying dormant for too long, and things are starting
to get out of hands. I do not care about what Else does beyond the walls of the inner
court, but within, it is time she learns moderation."

"Although you are not interested in the power I can offer, there must be something
you desire."

"What is it? As long as it is something within my ability to grant, I will grant it."

Konrad's first thoughts went to the bountiful cleavage beneath his eyes. But quickly,
that thought was set aside.

All things in due time!

However, it was now clear the empress' desire to obtain him was too strong to be
brushed off by a simple refusal. And perhaps, too strong a rejection was a surefire
road to an early death?

There seemed to be something, a relationship to the Holy Consort that made her
target him. Therefore, it was time to bite.

"I do have one dear wish. Iliana Kracht, please return her to her family."

Hearing his request, incomprehension flashed within Verena's eyes.

"Is that all you want? I can give you a lot more than that."

"That is all I want. If your majesty can accomplish that, I do not mind serving you for
a year."

Because in one year, I have no doubt that you included, the entire imperial harem
shall fall under my absolute control!

If I cannot escape, let's reverse the game and turn the inner court into the fortress
and weapon that shall protect my secret and repel my enemies.

Since you women so desperately want to play with me, let's play and see who burns!

"Very well, your wish will be granted. Tonight, Iliana Kracht can return to her family."

"Do you not need the emperor's permission first? After all, isn't he the one that
placed her under house arrest?"

Although it was due to Else's intrigues, it was the emperor that promulgated the
decree that forced Iliana to enter the inner court.

But Verena's next words caused Konrad to reevaluate her.

"Within the inner court. I am the emperor!"

Beneath that mask of elegance and gentleness hid an overbearing creature waiting
for the opportunity to soar.

Perhaps the most ambitious one had yet to show her fangs?

Konrad couldn't help but feel some pity for the Holy Emperor whose most beloved
women most likely only had his destruction in mind.

"I wish to escort her back to house Kracht."

"Suit yourself. I will provide you with a special pass to freely go in and out of the
imperial palace."

Verena's immediate agreement took Konrad by surprise. But then, he realized it was
not carelessness but naked confidence.

She was a Saint. If she didn't want him to escape, within the six thousand square
miles of the Holy Flame City, he couldn't escape.

"But I still have one question. Why did you choose me? The answer will not affect my
future course of actions, but it will allow me to lower what remains of my guard."

"In all honesty, I was at first merely curious. Very few can receive anything other
than disdain from Else. But you actually seem to have… her affection?

That piqued my curiosity and made me wonder what was so special about you. But
now I have a different idea. I believe you can help me tame all those unruly consorts
and in time, even help me achieve an old dream of mine."

From those words, the masked woman's identity was clear.

As it turned out, the one to whom he owed his life was the Holy Consort. But that
didn't make Konrad feel at ease. He wasn't conceited enough to believe such a mighty
woman so easily smitten by his appearance. Thus, although he could not find her in
his memories, she must have had a profound relationship with the previous Konrad.

That being the case, what if she found out the truth? What would her reaction be?
Hopefully, by that time, he would be prepared.

"Damn lesser Konrad you are already dead. Why are you still creating so much
trouble for me?

"I promise you that when I get my hands on the bitch that caused you such harm, she
will beg for death, yet be unable to obtain it!"

"So just rest in peace!"

Afterward, Konrad was relieved of his kitchen duties, promoted to the rank of head
eunuch and given new quarters. Verena also promulgated a decree allowing Iliana to
return to her household on the very same day.

That decree spread within the inner court like wildfire and alarmed all its
knowledgeable denizens.

But while they expected Else's immediate counterattack, they were disappointed to
hear nothing of her side.

Meanwhile, at Else's palace.

"Your grace, now that the Empress ordered the release of Iliana, shouldn't we… take
the opportunity to strike?

Tamara cautiously asked.

But Else who laid on her side within a grey velvet sofa remained unfazed.

"What is there to gain?"

"We could lure out and ambush Wolfgang Kracht to remove that trouble once and for
all!"

Tamara exclaimed, but seeing the lack of reaction from Else, she quickly became
confused.

"Since you can think of it, others also can. We are not the only ones wishing for
Wolfgang Kracht's demise. Why dirty our hands, when many are already planning to
use the opportunity to butcher him?
This is an excellent opportunity to see if we have a full measure of the man."

Tamara believed Else overcautious but didn't dare comment any further.

"But why would the Empress suddenly override the Emperor to order such a thing?"

And although the answer was clear to her, Else didn't reply.

As the center of the news, Iliana was naturally the most astonished and
incredulously stared at the complacent Konrad now standing in front of her.

"How did you pull that off?"

"I was born with divine charm and irresistible appeal. The Holy Empress was moved
by my presence and conceded to my every demand!"

He shamelessly boasted while puffing out his chest.

"Utter nonsense!"

Iliana naturally didn't believe that the empress had fallen for his tricks. Could a Saint
be so easily swindled?

"In any case, you now owe me a thousand kisses so go prepare your lipstick to cover
me with red!"

"Shameless!"

But a deal was a deal so she would have to comply.

"I am shameless! Mightily shameless!"

"What, do you know any great, bashful man? No!"

"The first characteristic of a great man is shamelessness!"

"And I am beyond the boundaries of greatness!"

Iliana stared slack-jawed at that outrageous display of impudence. And seeing her
waste time in pointless staring, Konrad decided to take the bull by the horns, hauled
her on his shoulder, and pulled her back toward her quarters.

"What are you doing?"

"I know I'm a fantastic specimen, but I can't afford to have you waste time in
bewildered stares when I have smooches to get."

"Since you're so concerned about face, I will have to rearrange our deal to receive
and give!"

"Wait, wait…”

But wait he would not. And so, Iliana was dragged back to her bed and pulled into a
consuming session of smooches!

"Mhm… not there…!"

Time flew by in a flash, and Konrad's body was now covered with red lipstick marks
while Iliana's was full of hickeys at unchaste spots.

"How can I face my dad like this…”

She complained with her flushed cheeks held within her palms.

"Just tell him that you've been marked by his future son in law."

Defeated, Iliana could only rearrange herself and prepare for the imminent
departure.

The Empress had granted them an escort of four royal ladies at the middle stages of
the Arch-Knight rank. Naturally, that escort wasn't meant merely for her protection,
but also as an additional show of goodwill toward Count Wolfgang, her father.

With the descent of night, the group departed from the imperial palace through a
teleportation circle. At the gate, a luxurious red and gold carriage driven by a head
eunuch awaited.
They embarked, with Konrad making sure to keep the flushed Iliana pressed against
his chest.

"We… are not… alone."

She whispered in a mental message.

"Glad to see you know where your priorities lie."

He replied in kind.

"In any case, once we get to your family's mansion, you won't have to worry about
my misdeeds for quite some time."

Hearing that, a stinging sense of loss burst within Iliana's chest and her struggles
collapsed.

With forty million citizens and six thousand square miles, the Holy Flame City was
the largest of the Holy Continent and perhaps even of the entire Ancient Crystal
World. Yet, not everyone had the means to put a roof above their heads. In fact, with
commoners being unable to own land, they had to rent whatever dwelling they
possessed from either nobles or the imperial court.

The latter being the primary source of commoner lodgings within the Holy Flame
City. Commoners and slaves constituted the two lowest social classes and had
drastically different statuses. Commoners could choose to be servants, but slaves
only had that option.

Humans were the primary source of slaves within the Holy Continent. Their status
within the three empires and twenty-eight kingdoms that composed the Holy
Continent was meager. They were either waiters, housekeepers, farm workers or
prostitutes.

With the latest being the most lucrative option. Commoners, on the contrary, had the
right to own a business which they could operate by renting space from the
authorities or some noble.

For that reason, having a half-human bloodline had always been a source of great
mockery for Iliana among children of nobility.

As for human nobles… in the hundred thousand years long existence of the Holy
Flame Empire, while more than one powerful human eunuch or maid had appeared,
not one human noble house had managed to establish itself.

All potential in that area was squashed in the cradle. But within the Barbarian
continent, the situation was radically different.

The carriage moved past the streets at moderate speed, the horses carrying it spared
of rough handling.

But while Iliana subconsciously snuggled against Konrad's chest, large scalding
spears of golden flames flew from the shadows and shot toward the carriage!
Konrad's demonic instincts kicked in, pulling him into awareness and causing him to
kick open the door to carry Iliana out of harm's way in a rapid leap.

The four Arch-Knight royal ladies were faster, summoned their energy swords coated
in a variety of elemental powers, and flew to meet the flame spears.

BOOM

The deafening noise created by the collision sent the carriage spiraling into the air
and the poor horses and head eunuch to violently crash onto the ground with
eruptions of blood and a fatal fate.

"Again? Negligent. I was negligent."

Konrad rebuked himself as they landed on the ground. The situation had just settled
within Iliana who stared at the repelled court ladies with horror.

"Golden flames… the second division of the Holy Flame Knight Order? I don't
understand… Why?"

As the highest power of the Holy Flame Empire, the Holy Flame Church was
composed of more than priests. They possessed their own personal knight order
trained in four different elemental flames that made up for four divisions. The White
Flame, the Golden Flame, the Blue Flame, and the Innate Flame. Each possessed its
own unique ability, and each represented a division of the Holy Flame Knight Order.
Without a shred of doubt, the attack came from the second division. But why? This
time Iliana didn't believe that the Holy Consort had anything to do with this.

But she would get no answer. Five armored figures emerged from the shadows,
illuminating the night sky with the golden flames swirling around their forms, and
carrying great flaming swords which they hurled at the royal ladies baring their
paths.

The elemental affinity and aura bursting from their form made their Arch-Knight
status evident. More precisely, three were mid-level Arch Knights while two were of
the high-level. Konrad wasted no time to bolt alongside Iliana.

It was impossible for the royal ladies to hold them back for long… if they could even
hold them back.

And although they were confused by the sudden, harmful appearance of members of
the Holy Flame Church, the ladies didn't waste time in idle chatter and met their
assailants with their elemental swords.

Alas, one of the two high-level Arch Knights managed to slip through and pursued
the pair at breakneck speed.

They didn't have time to cross two blocks before the blazing figure of the two meters
tall Arch-Knight stood in front of them.

Konrad quickly assessed the perimeter, as far as the eye could see, there was no
living soul. There never was in cases like these.

At his back, the royal ladies had already fallen, and the remaining Arch-Knights were
breaching the distance toward them. That was to be expected. Although their
cultivation was high, those ladies spent all their time within the inner court while
those men were trained warriors used to work in tandem. The power gap was
enormous.

"My family doesn't have any enmity with the church. Why target me?!"

Iliana snarled with soaring rage and hatred. She was almost there, so close to
returning to the warmth of home. But those hateful creatures had reared their heads
and shattered her dreams.
Why?

"You don't need to know. You only need to follow us, and no harm will befall you."

"As for the pretty boy by your side, he can only blame himself for being at the wrong
place, at the wrong time."

The knight facing them stated, and his words caused Iliana to despair.

Konrad, however, was surprisingly calm. His gaze went beyond the knights at their
back and locked on the four royal ladies that now laid lifeless in a pool of their own
blood.

Once he confirmed they were indeed dead, and that no undesirable witness
remained, he heaved a sigh of relief. But to Iliana's ears, it seemed more like a
sorrowful one.

"Konrad I'm… so sorry."

"Sorry for what? If anyone should be sorry, it's them."

All traces of apprehension vanished from his gaze, and he stared at his assailants as
if facing dead meat.

"You really should have just let us leave. But hey, we should all be free to choose the
date of our deaths. And since you've so crudely chosen yours, I absolutely don't mind
seeing you off."

His words caused the surrounding knights to wonder if he had gone insane from
fright, but when he released Iliana from his grasp and overwhelming demonic
energy burst from his body in a whirlwind of violet flames, they were alarmed!

"Awaken and bring them all to their knees, Man-Breaker!"

He stretched out his hand, and from the whirlwind of violet flames emerged a
terrifying jet-black war hammer engraved with purple veins that glittered with
extreme demonic might.

And as soon as it appeared, boundless suppression force crashed onto the Arch-
Knights, and as if gravity had increased by a thousandfold, it pressed them all onto
their knees in a resounding thud.
Konrad clasped his hands around Man-Breaker, his lineage weapon and locked its
enormous suppression force on the assailants. His eyes shone with purple light while
his body bathed in violet flames. But although the scene was akin to the one that
marked Freya's subjugation, this time, Iliana felt neither lust nor enticement.

A crushing force carrying the unconstrained desire to dominate was the only thing at
play here. Worse, that purple veined weapon seemed to beat with a will of its own
and corrupt Konrad's eyes with its eldritch force.

As for the Arch-Knights, the three at the mid-level could not resist Man-Breaker's
horrifying power while the two at the high-level struggled to get back onto their feet
with clear dread within their eyes.

"How can this be? What is a pureblooded demon noble doing in the heart of the Holy
Flame Empire? Who summoned you?!"

Regardless of their might, lineage weapons were a privilege of the noble houses of
the Infernal Realm, and it is was usually impossible for members of such houses to
appear within a mortal world without being summoned by powerful cultists.

To say nothing of the Infernal Realm's nobility, even lesser demons needed
summoning rituals.

Thus, the knight assumed Konrad had been brought straight from Hell by some
barbarian cultist and snuck into the Holy Flame City for a nefarious purpose.

"As if any of that mattered now."

Konrad whirled Man-Breaker into the three suppressed knights, dislodging and
shattering their skulls in one deft circular motion, then shot toward the two high-
level Arch Knights that had managed to regain their motion abilities.

But although Man-Breaker didn't entirely suppress them, their fighting capabilities
had been severely weakened, with their strength somewhere around the first step
Arch-Knight Rank. A level Konrad paid little attention to.

The two knights exchanged a glance and saw confidence in each other's gaze.
Although the situation had experienced a drastic change, they could see Konrad's
energy signature of the fifth step Grand Knight rank. Thus, although they were now
stuck with the battle power of first step Arch Knights, they didn't believe they
couldn't handle him!

Executing demons was a great merit! Perhaps they could use it to obtain high-level
baptisms and have their cultivation soar!

In tandem, they shot toward him, the golden flames coating them burning brighter,
and the flaming broadswords they dragged searing the ground below.

"Die!"

Their broadswords came crashing on Konrad in dual cleaves. But he didn't evade,
standing still like an unmovable mountain.

Clang

Spinning Man-Breaker above his forehead, he deflected the two incoming blows and
caused the knights to fall off balance. They somersaulted to get away, but how could
he allow them to retreat without a price?

White-purple light erupted from his body, a perfect replica of himself appeared, and
the two Konrad shot toward the falling knights.

Bang

Two identical hammer blows crashed into the knights' chest, shattered their chest
plates, and sent them spiraling into the air with blood spurts.

But Konrad gave them no time to regain their foothold and pursued with his hammer
brandished.

"Hateful! How can a Grand Knight possess an attribute? And such a powerful one at
that?!"
They could see that Konrad hadn't just created a doppelganger. His light attribute
just made him so fast that he seemed to be at two places at the same time. For his
cultivation level, that was inconceivable.

"Healing Flame!"

Their golden flames kicked into gear, healing their wounds at breakneck speed. The
golden flame of the second division could not only be used to destroy; it could also
mend physical wounds and increase the body's vitality.

"Oh? Interesting. Let's see how many blows you can repair!"

The two Konrad became four, and each rained hundreds of hammer blows down the
still healing knights.

Crack Crack Crack

Their armors collapsed, their bones cracked, and they flew backward with hundreds
of overlaying blood red hammer imprints covering their bodies.

"Aaaargh!"

The knights howled as they tumbled onto the ground. Again, they exchanged glances,
but this time, despair was the only thing they saw in the other's gaze.

"This is not something we can handle! Retreat!"

"Too late."

The four Konrad once again became two, turned into purple beams of light and
appeared by the fleeing knights' side.

"Shortening my cuddle time is a cardinal sin."

Two precise hammer blows that shattered his knees crippled the left knight's legs
while a descending smash crushed the right one's head.

He didn't even have time to wail before life left him.

As for the left knight, his screams pierced the night sky.
The extra Konrad then vanished in a purple haze.

All this happened in the span of a few breaths and shocked Iliana to the very core of
her soul.

"What kind of horrible weapon is that?"

She didn't have a clear knowledge of the infernal hierarchy and didn't understand
what a lineage weapon was. However, if the Arch-Knights of the Holy Flame Church
considered it enough to brand Konrad as a pureblooded demon, then he indeed was
one.

But wasn't he just a half before?

What was going on?

Konrad had yet to pay attention to her thoughts as he stepped closer toward the
disabled knight who desperately crawled away from him.

"S-spare me… I can tell you who wants to capture her. This isn't worth my life!"

He pleaded, but Konrad was unfazed.

"I'm sure the ladies you slaughtered wished they could have seen the morrow. Since
you didn't grant them that courtesy, why should I give it to you?"

"As for figuring out who is behind this, that is simple."

Konrad slammed Man-Breaker onto the ground, causing a screeching sound to

spread within the air and purple flames to dive into the knight's forehead.

His pupils dilated, and he stopped struggling.

"Who wishes to harm Iliana?"

"A joint force between a Semi-Holy Priest of the Holy Flame Church and house
Leitner."

The knight flawlessly answered.

Hearing this, Iliana's eyes widened with a mixture of enlightenment and
incomprehension.

House Leitner was the maternal family of Alex, her elder half-brother. For them to
make a move on her was something she could understand. But what did any of this
have to do with a Semi-Saint of the Holy Flame Church?

Could his mother have pulled some strings? But with her status and strength, how
could she?

"Where were you supposed to bring her. Is there another ambush lying ahead?"

"House Kracht. We were supposed to bring her to house Kracht to force count
Wolfgang to abdicate his lands, assets, and estates to his son, Alex Kracht."

Iliana was horrified while confusion grew within Konrad's eyes.

"Regardless of birth, eunuchs cannot inherit lands. How could an exception be made
for him?"

"The Semi-Saint promised house Leitner that he would help restore Alex as a man
should this endeavor succeed."

BANG

Having found out all he wanted from the knight, Konrad crushed his head and
brought all his demonic forces back into his body. Man-Breaker then vanished
alongside the purple flames.

In the meantime, Iliana no longer had time to worry about Konrad's increasingly
demonic nature and rushed toward her family's mansion.

But he wasn't going to let that suicidal move happen under his watch and pulled her
back within his arms with a surge of telekinetic power.

"Let go of me!"

"Don't be irrational. Your father is said to be at the peak of the Transcendent Knight
Rank. What help can you be in matters even he cannot solve?"
His words were logical, but logic was not what she wished for at the moment.

"Maybe if I surrender myself, there will be room for negotiation. If I don't, maybe
they won't hesitate to kill him before coming for me!"

"I know this sounds stupid to you, but he's my father, I'm not going to hide while
knowing full well that my family is in danger!"

But Konrad still didn't let go of her.

"Calmly think for an instant. A man who dares openly go against a saint such as the
Holy Consort either possesses enormous hidden strength or terrifying backing. Most
likely even a mix of both.

That being the case, how could he fall so easily to a Semi-Saint's schemes? If they
were certain of being able to overwhelm his house, why would they need to keep you
alive? You are not the only hostage that can be used to pressure him. Your family
mansion probably has more than one."

His words caused Iliana to snap out of her erratic behavior. He was right; if she was
the apple of her father's eyes, then her mother was his heart. For her, there probably
was not much he could not give up.

"Let's first observe the battle fluctuations from a safe distance and assess the
situation. If something goes wrong, I can let you throw away your life."

He lied. Should house Kracht show signs of defeat, he would knock her out and leave.

……

Meanwhile, within a courtyard of the lavish mansion belonging to house Kracht,

count Wolfgang was being surrounded by a quintet of ninth step Transcendent
Knights and a dozen of fifth step Transcendent Knights led by two people he was all
too familiar with: His "son" Alex, and his "brother in law" Viscount Hannes Leitner.

Although house Leitner was of Uradel descent, they had declined and had not
managed to produce a count in the last three generations.

Nobility may be hereditary, but the titles were not. Without a cultivation of at least
the sixth step Transcendent Knight, one could not become a count.
"Father, you brought this all to yourself! You are cruel and merciless, not only
favoring that bastard daughter of yours over me but also making me suffer a fate
worse than death! That being the case, don't blame me for not taking the blood we
share into account!"

"Today, I will avenge my mother, avenge myself, and pay you back for all those years
of misdeeds!"

Alex snarled with a face distorted by hatred. As a child, he had always wished for his
father's affection, but though gifted in the use of pen and sword, the only thing he
received was a cold, unfeeling stare.

That he could have tolerated, but what he could never swallow, was the sight of his
mother choosing to enter priesthood to avoid the humiliation of sharing her
husband with a human maid!

And with his father's recent show of cruelty, all love he ever felt was replaced by
uncontrollable rancor. His blood craved revenge!

But seeing his outburst, and the gathering meant to corner him, Wolfgang was
amused.

"With just this sorry lot? Once a disappointment, always a disappointment. Even in
rebellion, you fail to excel."

He scorned.

Viscount Hannes by Alex's side took his attitude as a last show of dignity.

"Wolfgang, although you're one of the mightiest Uradel counts and close to the Semi-
Holy Rank, you're still, after all, a ninth step Transcendent Knight. Today we have five
like you trained in battle arrays. What can you do?

You might as well be sensible and abdicate your lands, wealth and estates to Alex."

The plan was that once Alex received the assets of house Kracht, he would marry
into house Leitner and change his surname to theirs. That way, they could swallow
all the Kracht's power and sharply rise.

But as the cold wind blew his long green hairs, Wolfgang burst into derisive laughter.
"My father repaid the lifesaving debt he owed yours by marrying me to your
wretched sister. I have fulfilled all my filial duties to him and have nothing more to
give you.

But since you dare collude with the worm of the Holy Flame Church to assault my
house, all of you can die!"

Three pairs of golden light wings sprang from his back while a battle-ax appeared
within his hands.

Slash

He swirled the battle-ax in a dazzling arc of light that sent the heads of the fifteen
Transcendent Knights flying toward the starry sky in an eruption of blood!

Then he stepped into the air, hovering above the crouching forms of Alex and Hannes
who looked at the illusory ring above his head and the six golden wings with horror.

"Incomplete Ring… three pairs of golden wings… T… third step Semi-Saint? How…
why? I don't understand."

Alex blurted out with sweat and disbelief twisting his face.

"Why hide such powerful cultivation? What is there to gain? You would now be a
margrave, ranking among the highest nobles of the empire with peerless prestige
and glory!"

Hannes roared more out of bitterness than anything, realizing that he had been
duped.

"I am an Uradel. The nobility of my blood is proven by the deeds and history of my
house.

It needs no ornaments such as trivial titles to demonstrate its loftiness.

Only inferior ants such as yourself find delight in such vainglory. Wolfgang's highest
honor will always be… the surname Kracht!"

His battle-ax descended upon Hannes, splitting him in half from the top of his head
all the way down his groins.
Hannes' blood, gushed forth, drenching the still confused Alex red. He still couldn't
understand why the flawless plan had so suddenly turned into such a debacle.

But seeing the clear disdain within his father's green slit eyes, Alex's terror was
replaced by a new bout of fury.

"Why look down on me?! Why despise me so?! What's the difference between her
and me?! I am your son!"

But to that heartfelt roar of indignation, Wolfgang only replied by crushing him
under the pressure of his Semi-Holy force, then further humiliated him with a
contemptuous laugh.

"My son? Look at yourself, sprawling insect. How could you ever be qualified to be
the son of Wolfgang Kracht?"

"I have never touched your mother. How could you be… my son?"

And in less than five seconds, Alex's world collapsed.

A lie, it had to be a lie. Alex didn't believe the words to be anything more than cruel
lies.

"Don't lie to me! You have already disowned me, what's the need of inventing such
lies!"

"What need is there for a giant to deceive an ant?"

"My father ordered me to marry the daughter of the previous Viscount Leitner to tell
the world that house Leitner could still count on the support of house Kracht.

That was all so that he could repay the man for saving his life at the cost of his own.
Their camaraderie was heartwarming but brought my noble name untold disgrace.

Because your mother… is nothing more than an arriviste whore! I knew it from the
start, every man of high nobility knew how easy it was to spread her legs in
exchange of benefit.

All my peers knew how she fawned on the mighty and disdained the feeble. But I had
to wed such a creature… because such was my father's wish."

There was evident resentment within Count Wolfgang's voice as he reminisced the
past.

"We are all free to live our lives as we choose. Therefore, while promiscuity is not
something, I'm particularly fond of, I do not outright despise it. However, those who
see others as nothing more than tools to advance their social standing and sex as a
mean of entrapment, profoundly disgust me. Thus, while I did marry her, I have
never touched her."

"As we walked into the bridal chamber, I recall that she was overjoyed. But when she
realized she could be nothing more than my wife in name, she started looking for
new, better options. And fifty years ago, she found your father, a Semi-Holy Priest of
the Holy Flame Church."

Alex staggered and fell onto his rear with his trembling legs spread and disbelief
consuming his eyes.

"It's not… possible. A lie… it has to be a lie!"

"Please… stop!"

He clenched his hands around his head, his nails digging past his hairs, and almost
drawing blood from his skull.

"Believe if you want to. Do not believe if you don't want to. But know that no matter
how evil, a tiger will not eat its own cub. Were you my son, were you my only male
bloodline, I would rather kill you than cripple your manhood."

"Your life is a lie. A devilish ploy orchestrated by your repulsive genitors to take over
my house. A mixture between an opportunity for promotion and the mean to satisfy
their greed. But I pitied you, the whelp that asked for nothing. So, I gave you an
education, hoping you could be upright. I taught you martial arts, hoping you could
defend yourself. But most importantly, I gave you… my name!"

"Yet, you dare consort with evil to bring harm to the hand that raised you?
Ungrateful worm! Even if you were my son, I would still butcher you!"

Wolfgang's battle-ax cleaved the air, aiming for the stupefied Alex's neck. But as the
blade approached his flesh, droplets of tears streaked down his cheeks. Tears that
caused Wolfgang's ax to stop and his face to contort into a frown.

"What? After decades of existence, you cannot even die with a minimum of dignity?"

But those weren't tears of fear. They were tears of sorrow and regret. For Alex who
had always craved his father's love and a united family, Wolfgang's revelations were
too much to bear. Thus, unbeknown to him, warm tears drenched his face.

"F-father… I'm… sorry…”

Wolfgang may never see him as his son, but for him, he would always be his father.
That no blood connected them couldn't change that fact. And although he had never
received his love, at least there was a time when he could count on his care. A time
he clung on.

"Unbecoming."

But Wolfgang's ax didn't go further. Instead, his mind, for an instant, drifted to
memories he wished to suppress, and his frown grew deeper.

"Dad, dad, look at the words I wrote! Did I do well?"

"Dad, dad, I have mastered the sword stance you taught me! Are you happy?"

"Dad, dad, why do you never smile when you look at me? Did I do something
wrong?"

"Dad, dad…”

BAM

With a kick, Wolfgang sent Alex flying across the air to crash beyond the walls of his
mansion.

"Let this be my last show of leniency. In your lifetime, never appear before me again;
otherwise, I do not mind executing you!"

Following those words, Wolfgang's battle-ax vanished, and in a twister of golden

light, he flew into the distance, trailing the path Iliana's carriage should have taken
while spreading his holy sense to watch out for her presence.

As for Alex, he dragged his trembling, bloodied form and vanished into the distance.

"The truth… I must find out… all the truth…”

But it wouldn't be the last time they met. And in time Wolfgang would come to
acknowledge that what he now saw as an inexcusable act of weakness, would prove
the best choice of his entire life.

……

Meanwhile, Konrad and Iliana had barely departed for the Kracht mansion when a
beam of golden light flew across the sky and stopped above their heads. The light
vanished, revealing a tall, handsome man that seemed to be in his late twenties. He
was dressed in a long black robe, with windblown green hairs, sharp slit emerald
eyes and a stern, restrained stance that showed an outwardly rigid demeanor.

Naturally, he was Iliana's father, Wolfgang Kracht. And when his eyes met Iliana's, the
sternness of his face was replaced by boundless love.

"D-dad?"

She muttered, stopping dead in her tracks and staring at the floating form with
incredulity.

Wolfgang descended onto the ground, landing in front of Iliana with his six golden
wings vanishing into light particles.

"Little girl, Dad must ask for your forgiveness. Dad is useless and could not take
better care of you."

Wolfgang's apologetic tone and eyes caused Iliana's already misty gaze to be
overtaken with tears. Tears of joy that freely trickled down.

"Dad!"

She threw herself into his arms and let her warm tears moisten his clothes.

"I'm here. This time, Dad will never let you go."

Wolfgang pledged while stroking the back of his beloved daughter's hairs. Ten years
ago, he was indeed at the ninth step of the Transcendent Knight Rank. But the pain
and helplessness caused by the loss of his only child caused him to drown himself in
torturous cultivation.

Torturous cultivation that allowed him to go all the way from the ninth step of the
Transcendent Knight Rank to the third step Semi-Saint in just a decade. He was now
two hundred years old, and if his breakthrough speed didn't dwindle, he was very
likely to become a saint before the age of three-hundred. Something few in the
history of the Holy Flame Empire could accomplish.

As for Konrad who observed this scene from the sidelines, his heart was full of
grievances.
"Is fate playing a joke on me? How could the first father in law be a third step Semi-
Saint?"

"I say you might have hidden strength, and you appear with a hundred times the
expected might?"

"In the future, how can I bully your daughter?"

"Fuck!"

However, shock was one thing. Demeanor was another. Konrad stood straight with
his arms crossed beneath his back, giving an air of extraordinariness and nobility
that…

"Who might that eunuch be?"

…was entirely ruined by his head eunuch clothes.

Konrad staggered, and hearing her father's inquiry, Iliana couldn't prevent a chuckle
from escaping her lips.

"He's…”

"Hum, hum… allow me to introduce myself."

Konrad cut, seizing the initiative.

"I'm your son-in-law. Nice to meet you… father-in-law."

He greeted with a polite bow.

BANG

"AAAAAARGH!"

But as soon as those words left his mouth, Wolfgang sent Konrad flying with a palm
strike.

"The galls!"
Then roared in indignation.

Iliana yelped and rushed toward Konrad's side to check his pulse.

"Father! How could you be so brutal?! He's your fut… no… my savior!"

She exclaimed with her cheeks slightly reddening as she finished her words. And
seeing the care with which she pressed Konrad's head against her chest, Wolfgang
frowned.

"Huh?"

To count Wolfgang's experienced eyes, this scene oddly seemed like an episode of the
conquered daughter taking the party of her love in a familial clash.

And as for Konrad who simulated unconsciousness while feeling the softness of
Iliana's chest, he inwardly jubilated.

"Hehe, father-in-law, we've just met that you helped me take another mighty step in
my relationship with your daughter?

Why didn't I meet you before?

Thank you!"
"I give you five seconds to cut the act. Otherwise, I will split you in half!"

Wolfgang's roar caused Konrad to open his eyes in a heartbeat and sweep the
perimeter with astonishment.

"What? What? What happened?!"

"Oh, my head! I'm being assailed by monstrous headaches. Help!"

Konrad howled while clenching his head and pressing it harder against Iliana's chest.

"For real? Let me check."

The evident concern within her eyes caused him to further push the act with strong
nods and false demonstrations of pain.

Count Wolfgang flew into rage! When did the daughter he carefully raised become so
easily deceived?

That boy had to be butchered.

"Boy, I warned you. You can die!"

He summoned his energy battle-ax and was about to drive it into a fatal arc when
Konrad promptly rose from the ground and stood straight like an arrow.

"Hum, hum!"

"No need to be so dramatic. After all, as in-laws, we should first learn more about
each other and establish the foundations of a healthy familial relationship."

"As an elder, you should be the one taking the lead in such matters. Yet, since your
arrival, you've only been causing trouble. You should reflect on yourself."
He admonished with the stance of a disappointed senior lecturing a junior on his
many failures.

"Trickster!"

"Impudence!"

Iliana and Wolfgang roared like a choir, but Konrad remained complacent and
unfazed.

"Humph!"

Iliana snorted, stood up and walked back toward her father's side. With the two now
eying Konrad with a mixture of rage and vigilance.

But seeing that he had lost his dignity as an elder, Wolfgang straightened himself,
turned his attention back to Iliana and asked.

"Where did you find that mobster? You said he's your savior?"

Wolfgang's inquiry caused Iliana to snap out of her exasperated state.

"He saved my life at multiple occasions. Once within the palace, and another one
today. He also saved Daphne's and helped me reawaken her from her coma. And he's
the one that managed to convince the Holy Empress to allow me to return home."

She explained with warmth flashing within her eyes.

Wolfgang didn't need to hear more. And although he couldn't comprehend how a
young eunuch ( that probably wasn't a eunuch) managed to convince the Holy
Empress to cancel the Holy Emperor's decree and return his daughter to him, he still
was grateful.

Thus, his view of Konrad underwent a 180-degree change.

But the words that followed caused him to almost spurt blood and all goodwill to
turn into fury.

"She is omitting a lot. Like our many embraces under the moonlight, or all the
smooches within her bed, and even the cuddles on the way here. Speaking plainly,
although she tries to put up a strong front, she's my wife in everything but name. We
might as well sign the papers and move on to consummation."

"Father-in-law, do you agree?"

Iliana's cheeks burned with a flaming red while her eyes widened in shock. She
hadn't expected Konrad to be bold enough to retell those events in front of her
father!

And seeing her reaction that showed shame but no rejection, Wolfgang drove his
battle-ax in a ferocious cleave, turning air pressure into blades that shot toward
Konrad.

"Aaaargh!"

He turned into purple light particles and narrowly dodged every single one of them.

"You even dare dodge? Today if I do not beat you half an inch into death, I am not
surnamed Kracht!"

Wolfgang snarled and shot toward Konrad, replacing his ax with his bare fists that
threateningly approached Konrad's face.

"Catch me if you can!"

Konrad once again turned into purple light particles, intangible particles immune to
physical harm.

In that form, he bypassed Wolfgang's fists and instantly reappeared by Iliana's side!

"So fast? Is that truly just a Grand Knight? Also, why have I never seen that kind of
light attribute?"

Attributes were not all of the same level. Some inherently ranked above the others
while there were also opposite attributes that mutually canceled each other out.

Light had always been a mighty attribute, possessing great regeneration properties
and endowing its user with enormous speed. However, Wolfgang had never seen
anyone able to turn into intangible light particles or being able to deploy such speed
in the Grand Knight Rank.
"Is he possible that he's a secret disciple of the Holy Empress?"

He wondered. But at that time, his thoughts were interrupted by another display of
insolence.

"Hum, hum! Killing me will not change reality. Your daughter's heart has already
been snatched by me. And in any case, you need a man to carry on the male
bloodline right. I promise you top-notch genes and dragon-like descendants!"

"Satisfied or reimbursed!"

He complacently declared while wrapping his arm around Iliana whose mood
fluctuated between bashfulness, shame, and rising fury!

But when she opened her mouth, her words caused both Konrad and Wolfgang to
stare blankly.

"He slept with Daphne and all her attendants as well as many other palace maids."

"Dad, please beat him senseless!"

Konrad, Konrad, you have the nerves of proclaiming me yours when you have been
fooling around with so many women?

Even shaming me so wantonly?

See how I rectify your misdeeds!

"End. My life ends…”

Konrad turned heels and was about to make a run for it when Wolfgang's tall figure
reappeared in front of him.

"Even though Daphne is more hostage than consort, she's still… an imperial consort.

Before the emperor could touch her you… slept with her?"

Wolfgang asked in a slow, grave, and increasingly terrifying tone.

"Hum… it appears I did."

Konrad didn't evade, preparing for the worse. But to his and Iliana's astonishment,
Wolfgang burst into laughter!

"Hahahahaha! Good son! Good, good son!"

"Serves that dog emperor right! In the future, you must bed more consorts! The
more, the better!"

"Damn son of a bitch!"

His thunderous laugh pierced the sky and hammered Iliana and Konrad's ears. But
although the change was brutal and sudden, Konrad took the bull by the horns.

"That was always the plan."

And with those five words, Wolfgang's appraisal of him rose to another level!

"Good! Very Good! I can see that you are a man of high virtue and talent. My
daughter's eyes are truly outstanding. You will definitely have a bright future."

"So I give you an opportunity. If you can repel ten of my moves at the same level, I
don't mind betrothing my daughter to you. In any case, it's clear that she's already
lost."

Konrad's eyes lit up, his lips formed a radiant smile, and he immediately complied.

"Agreed! Agreed! I hope you won't renege on your promise."

"I am an Uradel. My word is my bound."

As for Iliana who had suddenly turned into the price of a sparring match, she failed
to adjust to the situation. But then she recalled something, and worry appeared
within her eyes.

"Konrad, my dad is a pureblooded Nature Serpent King. His speed, flexibility,

strength, and resilience are all top notch. If you are not careful, you can easily be
grievously wounded!"

She believed that Konrad's terrible strength mostly came from his demonic weapon
and that without it, he couldn't receive a blow from her father at the same level.
And the thought that he could end up unwittingly injuring himself because of her
caused discomfort to spread within her chest.

"Hey weren't you the one asking him to pummel me a moment ago? Now the
opportunity has arrived. Why hesitate? Could it be… that you can't bear to see me
harmed?"

"Unredeemable! I am just warning you in good faith. Since you don't appreciate my
goodwill, you're on your own!"

Even at the gate of hell, she would never admit to it.

"In all honesty, it's your dad you should be worried about. The world is vast, but
within the same level, across the entire Holy Continent, I fear no one."

The self-assured declaration that contained no hint of arrogance caused Iliana to

doubt her previous assessment.

Their mental exchange ended, the contenders put a suitable distance between one
another, and Wolfgang lowered his cultivation to the fifth step Grand Knight.

"If you're not feeling confident, you still have time to concede."

"Father-in-law, worry not. I won't go too hard on you."

"Conceited!"

Wolfgang channeled his stainless spiritual energy within his right fist, controlling his
power to perfection, and shot toward Konrad at breakneck speed.

Konrad stood still, revolving his own spiritual energy within his fist while preparing
for the collision.

While he had no doubt his body was much more powerful than Wolfgang's his
control of spiritual energy was after all lacking when compared to the experienced
warlord.

This was also an opportunity to test how outstanding that body of his truly was.

Wolfgang aimed at Konrad's chest and threw a full-force punch which Konrad met by
hurling a blow containing the entire might of his bloodline, physique, and spiritual
energy!

BANG

Their fists met in an ear-splitting boom.

Konrad staggered, taking three steps backward with a blood trail falling from the left
corner of his lips while Wolfgang flew across the night sky like a meteor and crashed
into the distance!
"Dad!"

Iliana yelled as Wolfgang's body crashed into concrete. Alarmed, she rushed toward
him, but by the time she reached his side, he was already standing up.

Unlike Konrad, however, besides dust and a trembling fist, there was no visible
damage on his body.

"Your name?"

"Konrad."

"Good. Very Good. You are by far more outstanding than I believed. With such battle
power and cultivation talent, you are bound to become a mighty saint in the future.
Entrusting my daughter to you, I have no worries."

But although he let nothing transpire on his jubilant face, Wolfgang was horrified. In
the ways of the Holy Flame Empire, he was of the previous generation. In that time,
his bloodline and physique ranked among the best within the entire country, and
only a rare few such as the crown prince could surpass him.

Never did he expect that in a contest of ten blows, he would be sent flying with a
single one! And while he didn't sustain as much physical damage as Konrad, that was
because his true cultivation was leagues above his. Was he truly at the same level, his
current state would have been… unimaginable.

As for Iliana, only now did she realize how much she'd underestimated Konrad's true
might.

Odd, she could swear he didn't possess such a tyrannical physique when they were
first attacked!

"Is demonism that powerful?"

She wondered while her father straightened himself.

Konrad, on the other hand, didn't feel like there was anything wrong with this. He
was piling up bonuses upon bonuses with his bloodline, physique, and cultivation
method. A different result would have been odd.

"Let's return to the mansion, a feast awaits!"

Wolfgang gave none of them time to complain, warped them in golden light and flew
back toward the Kracht mansion.

With a Semi-Saint leading the way, the trip would only take a few seconds. They
bypassed the gates and landed at the doorsteps of the main hall.

Unceremoniously, Wolfgang opened it, bringing the two inside the hall lit by artificial
white light orbs that hanged below the high ceiling and on ivory pedestals.

As soon as they stepped past the door, Iliana and Konrad were greeted by a
procession of aligned butlers and maids forming two perfect lines on the right and
left while in the distance, a small group of individuals whose body features
reminisced of the usual Kracht's stood with radiant smiles.

Leading them was a beautiful woman with auburn hairs held in a high chignon, and a
pair of eyes that would seem identical to Iliana's was it not for hers being the normal
circular pupil of the human race.

She was Iliana's mother, Zamira.

"Iliana, welcome back!"

"Young lady, welcome back!"

Led by her mother, the relatives and servants warmly welcomed her, and their voices
caused her eyes to once again be overrun by warm tears.

"Mom!"

And without restraint, she ran into her mother's grasp. The painful decade of
isolation had finally come to an end.
She was home!

"It's alright. Now everything is going to be alright."

As for Konrad who witnessed the scene, he, of course, had nothing to say.

A moment afterward, Zamira's eyes rose from Iliana and locked onto him, at first
taking him for Iliana's escort, then reckoning that knowing her husband, the escort
would not have been able to go beyond the main gate on this particular occasion.

"Who might that young man be?"

Although he was dressed in eunuch clothes, she didn't wish to strike at his dignity by
reminding him of that.

But Wolfgang's immediate reply caused her and the entire hall to fall silent.

"Your future son-in-law!"

The procession was quickly reduced to a scant few close relatives that alongside the
main protagonists entered the dining hall.

At the firm insistence of her father, Iliana was given the honor seat. A position that
allowed her to keep all the gathered individuals within her eyesight.

What no one had expected was that Wolfgang also arranged a seat for Konrad to stay
by her side.

The servants were quick to serve the wine, and Wolfgang to raise his cup for a toast.

"To the return of my beloved daughter and the arrival of her betrothed!"

But the relatives who still were digesting the news could not reply struggled to give a
prompt reply.

"Dad, please stop!"

Iliana interjected, not knowing where to put her face.

"Stop what? I didn't hear you reject the gambling match. In fact, you seemed to be
more concerned about his safety than mine?"

"Ahh, the sorrow of raising a daughter!"

Wolfgang's words only caused more confusion within the gathered relatives, with
Zamira not being able to keep her mouth shut any longer.

"Could you explain the situation?"

She asked with apparent confusion.

"That is simple. Your good daughter came back with Konrad who presented himself
as our son-in-law, which she didn't deny. I have tested the goods, and it is fine
material. The next generation of house Kracht should be outstanding!"

Even at the pillory, he wouldn't admit that he had been sent flying with one fist at the
same cultivation level.

Puh

But his words caused Konrad to spit the wine he was leisurely sipping and the
gathered individuals to show strange expressions.

You have tested the goods?

What do you mean by that?

But no one dared call him out. Instead, they let their odd stares do the talking.

And quickly, Wolfgang realized the error.

"Hum, hum! I mean to say that I've tested his cultivation. Truly outstanding. He
should not be older than seventeen but has already reached the fifth step Grand
Knight Rank. His foundation is also rock solid and can certainly compete with the
ninth prince."

The ninth prince was the youngest of the imperial princes and the most talented
after the crown prince. He was eighteen years old, and his cultivation had already
reached the ninth step Grand Knight Rank and was rumored to be very close to the
Arch Knight Rank.

But although they all knew Wolfgang wasn't a man to speak lies, they had a hard time
believing that out of nowhere appeared a man capable of rivaling with the second
most outstanding imperial prince.

Zamira, however, cared very little about any of that. Her eyes moved between Iliana
who fidgeted within her chair and took furtive glances at a Konrad who nonchalantly
held the empty wine glass within his hand.

"Why do I have a feeling that my daughter is being sent into a lion's den? Or is it a
wolf's? Also, why is it that Wolfgang so readily agrees? This is fishy…”

But as she looked at Konrad, his eyes suddenly rose to meet hers, and he greeted her
with a radiant smile that seemed to be saying.

"Hello, mother-in-law!"

Zamira came from the barbarian continent. Her temper was wild and unrestrained. If
something annoyed her, she would punch it. And Konrad's face gave her punching
urges.

Tolerance! She had to be tolerant.

"Very well, arranging the daughter's marriage is the father's duty. I have nothing to
say. However, I have two questions."

"First, how is a eunuch fitting to wed… anyone."

"Second, did he prepare the dower?"

Those two questions brought everyone back to seriousness. Regardless of Konard's

status within the inner court, he came out with the clothes of a eunuch. That being
the case, how could he turn into house Kracht's son-in-law.

But to this, Konrad was prepared.

"My real status is kept secret by the Holy Empress and will be revealed in a year. By
that time, there will be no issue in marrying Iliana."
Using the empress as his backer, he suppressed the apprehension within those
people's hearts.

But Zamira wasn't done with him.

"Very well. The marriage is delayed for a year. Now let's discuss the dower. Can you
afford a count's daughter?"

Before marriage with nobility could take place, unless something else were agreed,
an exchange of gifts should take place.

The future husband would provide a dower, and the lady's family the dowry. The
dower was a constitution of assets granted to the lady by her husband upon
marriage. Assets that would remain under her name and could be used for her to live
comfortably should anything befall him.

In a nutshell, it was security.

But for Konrad whose entire wealth was composed of two purple crystals and six
hundred red crystals, he couldn't afford that security.

At least not until Freya returned in success.

Iliana didn't want such things to tamper with their relationship, so she was about to
speak up when Konrad's voice echoed.

"How much would the dower be?"

"A fair price would not be less than five million purple crystals."

Cough Cough Cough

Konrad's body was thrown off balance, and he almost fell from his chair. Robbery,
this was robbery!

But seeing no one, Wolfgang included, bat an eyelid, he realized the crux of the issue.
Iliana was now the heir to house Kracht's estates. Whoever married her would one
day control a substantial share of the entire Kracht's wealth.

Thus, how could her dower be cheap?

"You will receive it in a week."

His words caused all the Kracht to stare at him with wide eyes. Could he really put
out such a sum?

However, Wolfgang had something else in mind.

"Actually, I do not want a dower from you. My daughter will never need to rely on it.
There is, however, something she needs. Something you can obtain for her that is
worth more than a billion purple crystals."

"But know that there is substantial danger involved. Danger because you stand to
offend many powerful parties."

All eyes instantly fell on Wolfgang.

"What would that be?"

Konrad asked without blinking.

"This year's quota for a Holy Flame Baptism. If you can obtain it, we can sign the
contract right away. I can even ensure half of my family's estates will directly fall
within your hands."

Konrad was astonished. House Kracht was leagues above the likes of house Schoner,
and their net worth was absolutely close to a billion purple crystals. Half of it was a
monstrous wealth.

What kind of benefit could that Holy Flame Baptism bring that Wolfgang would be
willing to give up half his house for it?

"You may not know this, but children of nobility receive flame baptisms from the
church. The higher the father's nobility rank, the more quotas they can obtain. Those
flame baptisms enhance spiritual energy, physique quality, and cultivation talent.

As the daughter of a count, Iliana should have been eligible for four flame baptisms.
But due to her previous status, that was impossible.

Now, although she's perfectly eligible, she's past the age limit."
One quota could be used every three years up until the age of twenty.

"However, that is inconsequential. If you can obtain that one Holy Flame Baptism,
her cultivation and talent will skyrocket. The opportunity comes only once in a
hundred years. And the date is approaching. Many outstanding children of high
nobility will fight for that quota. And it's not impossible that imperial descendants
will be present.

Therefore, if you choose to fight for it, you will definitely offend many people.

What is your choice?"

"Agreed!"

With the Transformation Skill to hide his true identity, Konrad wasn't afraid of
smacking some pompous nobles. And if they annoyed him, he would just take the
opportunity to snatch their women and expand his harem!

Maybe even if they didn't, he would still snatch them!

The rest of the night was eventful, with Konrad working on taking down the
vigilance of his mother-in-law while not forgetting to tease Iliana.

As the feast came to an end, and the servants started removing the dishes, Konrad
brazenly followed Iliana back toward her chambers.

In the meantime, Wolfgang walked into his study with Zamira by his side.

"Tell me the truth. Why did you choose that boy? Was it only for the Holy Flame
Baptism?"

Having known him for decades, she didn't believe Konrad's cultivation was the only
thing that grabbed his attention.

And indeed, she wasn't wrong.

"What is Iliana's greatest challenge at the moment?"

"With the rise of her status, many sons of margraves and dukes that do not stand to
inherit land will try to woe…”

And suddenly, Zamira's eyes shone with enlightenment.

"Right. In the past, they disdained her and didn't wish to bring her lack of legitimacy
into their households. But now that she's my heir, many of those that don't stand to
inherit land will be willing to court her and marry into house Kracht for the sake of
our lands, assets, and wealth.

This is a rare opportunity. Thus, among those nobles, even the younger sons of
margraves and dukes will be willing to fight for her. But if it were only that, I would
not be afraid.

The problem is… that the Von Jurgen will also want a slice of the pie. In fact, I have no
doubt that the ninth prince will be ordered by the Holy Emperor to obtain her hand!

The law protects the sons of nobility against imperial marriages. But the same
cannot be said for daughters. If we do not arrange something soon, the ninth prince
will knock on our doorsteps with a marriage decree. At that time, house Kracht's
tens of thousands of years of accumulations will fall into the hands of the Von
Jurgen!"

Wolfgang gravely explained.

"That being the case, we might as well quickly let her marry a man of her own
choosing. That Konrad's talent is earthshaking and he seems to have a profound
connection to the Empress. House Kvass has always been our backer, so there is
nothing wrong with that. Moreover, I have no doubt he's someone that dares go
against the imperial family. This is the kind of son-in-law we need.

Else cannot be allowed to rule the Holy Flame Empire, but neither can Olrich Von
Jurgen! The longer he reigns, the greater the danger this country faces!

Thus, he must be overthrown!"

Meanwhile, Iliana was sitting on her well-preserved bed, and enjoying its warm
touch. A touch she'd almost forgotten. However, a certain intruder prevented her
from thoroughly relishing the moment.

Naturally, that intruder was Konrad. He was currently lying with the back of his head
on Iliana's lap and humming a twenty-first-century tune.

"Do you really not know the meaning of propriety? How can you so brazenly walk
into a lady's room and rest on her lap?!"

"If the lady allows my presence, and let me rest on her lap, how can I refuse?"

He nonchalantly replied.

"Are you not afraid that I will push you down?"

"Nah, I know you don't have the heart to do it?"

"Conceited!"

"You prove my conceit right."

Their brief exchange ended with Konrad extending his right hand toward Iliana's
face and stroking her cheek with his bent index.

"I will come to visit you tonight. I reserve myself the time. If you leave your window
open, I will take it as an invitation. If you keep it closed, I will take it as a no. The
choice is yours."

"Who will leave th…”

But she didn't have time to answer before he rose from her lap and walked past the
door, leaving her alone and annoyed.

"Hateful!"

She cursed and rolled back into her bedsheets.

Activity within the mansion soon died down, with the sound of footsteps being
replaced by the quiet of night. But Iliana couldn't sleep. She walked back and forth
within her bedroom, dressed in a frilly black nightgown while gnawing her right
thumbnail.

"What am I hesitating for? I should just go to sleep."

She muttered but still couldn't stop circling the room.

"That hateful boy can't be allowed to keep having his way. Otherwise, in the future,
how can I breathe?"

Still, she didn't stop.

"Hum… it's a bit warm in here. Maybe I should leave the window open… just a little…
just for fresh air…”

And so she opened the window, leaving a large enough gap for a cool breeze to sip in,
then slipped back into her bedsheets.
Still, she couldn't sleep. Her heart drumming with a mixture of expectation and
apprehension as the minutes passed and no sign of intrusion could be heard.

Like that, an hour went by. An hour that turned Iliana into an emotional
rollercoaster. But when she still saw no sign of Konrad's form, her heart soured.

"Maybe he was just playing a prank on me…”

She bitterly wondered.

But as she laid with her face against her pillow, purple light particles approached the
window from the outside and went past the narrow opening.

Sneaking in, the light particles silently moved toward Iliana's enchanting figure,
stopped by her side, and condensed into the form of Konrad.

When his now too familiar orchid scent reached her nose, she knew he'd arrived.
Still, she didn't turn, expectation and apprehension still contending within her
abdomen.

The unexpected then happened. Konrad pulled out a piece of cloth and wrapped it
around Iliana's eyes. Blindfolding her in a deft motion.

Abruptly, she spun to face him, but face him she could not. Her hands reached for the
blindfold, but his stopped hers.

"Why… why are you blindfolding me?"

"Because I know that deep down, what you crave is the excitation produced by
having your lover press you, yet not being able to see him."

"Therefore, tonight, I won't allow you to look at me."

"Desire me, feel me, but do not glance at me."

His pupils turned violet, goat horns rose from his forehead, and a large pair of wings
emerged from his back as he drew her into an embrace.

And feeling his arms wrapped around her waist, and his warm, bare chest against
hers, Iliana gave in to temptation, and guided solely by instinct, pulled him into a
fiery kiss.

Her energetic tongue sought his, her arms collared his neck, and her legs straddled
his waist as if her sole thought was to forever keep his body pressed against hers.

Konrad's hands moved up her back, caressing her silky green hairs while he lowered
her back onto the bed and the sloppy sound of their intertwining mouths and
tongues was carried by the wind.

"From the day I laid eyes on you, you were meant to be mine. Henceforth, you are the
woman of Konrad."

Iliana's heart drummed against his own, her body heated by his words and touch.

"I am… yours."

She whispered with her sweet breath brushing his lips. Lips that once again pounced
onto hers while their hands tore the other's clothing, revealing their bare bodies to
the silent night.

Konrad's wings acted as cushions for Iliana's back, keeping her tight within his
overpowering demonic presence as he removed the last piece of fabric and cupped
her soft breasts within his hands.

Their lips remained interlocked, too hungry to break.

Konrad kept one hand on Iliana's right breast and moved the other down her
moistening nether regions that clearly craved attention.

"Mhm…”

She moaned through his lips, feeling his elongated fingers enter her unexplored holy
land, and teasing her in ways she'd never known existed.

Her excitation caused Konrad's shaft to harden against her thigh, something she
immediately felt. And instinctively, she grabbed his rod within her hand, giving it
gentle inexperienced strokes while Konrad's fingers masterfully teased her clit and
nipples.

"Mhm… mhm…!"
Her muffled moans grew stronger, the raw pleasure proving too much for her to
remain focused on the passionate kiss. But Konrad didn't let go of her lips, keeping
her suppressed within his mouth as he played with her mesmerizing body and
caused her to shudder again, and again under his ministrations.

He then revolved the Hundred Flowers Scripture, establishing a spiritual connection

that allowed them to bask in the other's pleasure, then moved her onto her side with
her left leg kept straight and her right one bent in an acute angle while he stood
behind her rear with his fully awakened shaft ready to take her.

And take her he did! Driving his lance home with a slow, gentle thrust that broke
through her hymen and caused a jolt of pain to spread through her body. A jolt of
pain that was immediately pacified by the golden light released by his rod.

"Aahh…”

She freely moaned, breaking the connection of their lips. But Konrad couldn't allow
her moans to alarm her household, so he seized her lips back into his, gave her a
moment to adjust to his girth through gentle thrusts, and when it was clear she was
ready to receive him, he began pounding.

Pah Pah Pah

Like a tidal wave seeking to break through the dam, his gentle thrusts turned into
fierce hammering that caused Iliana's inexperienced body to collapse under the
rough pleasure and her buttcheeks to give hundreds of kisses to Konrad's balls.

"Mhm… mhm… mhm!"

She kept moaning through his lips, but never did he let go of them, maintaining
perfect control of his body while building his lover's pleasure to a high climax.

Pah Pah Pah

The intensity of the mating reached new heights, with Iliana feeling both Konrad's
pleasure and her own. A sensation that drove her mad with bliss, and caused her to
lose all restraints to claw onto his neck to push him deeper, faster, into her!

Which he did, pounding that raw pleasure into the both of them, and sending her
rolling into heaven with a succession of orgasms!
His lower body and the bedsheet were now drenched in her juice, but neither cared.
Konrad stood up, pulling Iliana into his arms like a butterfly and pressing her against
the opposing wall while not forgetting to keep driving his rod into the pleasure spots
he found and created.

And after her umpteenth orgasm, he let go of his fetters and erupted inside her!
Marking every corner of her holy land with his warm semen.

"Ooooohhh! Divine son of a bitch!"

Their kiss broke, and Iliana's freed mouth could finally groan with the full might of
her throat! A groan that sounded more like a guttural howl, and probably woke more
than one person.

But she didn't care. The only thought within her mind was that she should have let
him in sooner!
The Hundred Flowers Scriptures kicked into gear, pushing the duo's cultivation to
new levels. Iliana's martial cultivation went from the eighth step True Knight Rank to
the first step Grand Knight Rank while Konrad's spiritual cultivation directly reached
the first step Grand Priest Rank.

As for his martial cultivation, while there was some substantial improvement, he had
yet to break through the sixth step Grand Knight Rank. Although Iliana's main asset
was her spiritual cultivation of the third step Grand Priest Rank, having a perfect
balance between the martial and spiritual would allow her battle power to soar.

But Instead of sitting and digesting his gains, Konrad stared at his new conquest with
an amused gaze.

"Divine… son of a bitch? I've heard many things, I've heard the two separately, but
together? This is a… first."

Iliana didn't have time to worry about any of that as her mind still drifted in its
newfound plane of ecstasy. She just laid on the bed with her arms outstretched and
released a deep, contented sigh that reminisced of a glutton sated with food and
wine.

Meanwhile, alongside Zamira, Wolfgang rested within his bed. As a Semi-Saint, sleep
was for him optional, and he would usually spend his nights in silent cultivation.
However, he always reserved two nights during the week to remain with his beloved.
This was one such night.

A night that was interrupted by a deep growl that couldn't escape his sharp senses.

"What? Who? Who's harming my daughter?"

But before he could rush out of the bedroom, Zamira's hands pulled him back into
the bed.

"What do you think? Who do you think? After bringing the wolf into the fold, you
should not be surprised to hear the sheep squeal."

As a Transcendent Knight, Zamira's senses were sharp enough that the noise didn't
escape her attention.

"You mean…?"

Wolfgang's eyes widened with the sudden realization, and he went red from fury!

"Under my roof? The gals! Butcher… I must butcher him!"

He summoned his energy battle-ax and was about to free himself from Zamira's
grasp when…

"Are you sure you're mentally prepared for what you're about to see?"

…her sleepy words echoed within his ears and stopped him dead in his tracks with
droplets of sweat soon trickling down his forehead.

"Tomorrow… I will butcher him… tomorrow!"

The rest of the night was uneventful, Iliana rested nude within her bedsheets while
Konrad sat cross-legged in silent cultivation. He was initially very close to the sixth
step, and upon refining Iliana's primal essence through his incubus blood, he was
ready to break through!

The sky-blue spiritual energy swirling around his body took a lighter shade while his
bones and muscles were remolded to a higher level. The density of his spiritual
energy also rose to new heights, and he finally broke through the sixth step Grand
Knight Rank.

As the breakthrough came to an end, he drew a deep breath, then relaxed his
muscles in a long exhalation before resuming silent cultivation until dawn
announced the end of night.
And so his cultivation came to a halt. Unwilling to interfere with Iliana's sleep any
further, he stood up, walked out of her room, and took the road back to his assigned
quarters.

With the arrival of the sunlight, activity resumed within the Kracht mansion.
Servants carried on with their daily tasks while the Kracht kinsmen assembled for
breakfast.

Konrad who pulled off an all-nighter was quick to prepare himself and join the
others in the hall. Iliana would soon awaken and join the gathering, but as soon as
Konrad's eyes locked on hers, she turned to avoid his gaze while not being able to
prevent her cheeks' temperature from reaching an unhealthy threshold.

But how could he allow her to escape that easily? In the blink of an eye, he crossed
the distance separating them and brought his face dangerously close to hers while
staring deep into her eyes.

"What? Going to pretend nothing happened?"

The feeling of his breath grazing her lips, and the proximity of their faces caused her
heart rate to accelerate, and her already reddened cheeks to burn brighter. During
that night, she had said too many things and produced too many sounds that caused
her to feel like she had no face left.

If possible, she wished she could find a place to bury herself and hide for a lifetime!

However, seeing that pair of eyes that openly teased her, Iliana found a new source of
courage and brazenly puffed out her chest.

"Hum, hum! What is done is done. I am not so weak as to try to evade reality. Since
we've already done the deed, you need to take responsibility for me."

"The first step is to swear off mistresses. You are now my man and future husband.
Daphne included, there is no way in hell you can keep having all those women
swirling around you."

"Huh?"
For an instant, Konrad's eyes widened with incessant blinking.

"Even you don't believe what you just said. Knowing full well the nature of my blood,
you know that's not going to happen."

And that was precisely what she was waiting for.

"That being the case, we must sign a contract. Last night was not bad, but there are
more experiments to do. You ought to reserve me at least four nights a week. Five
would be optimal."

"Don't misunderstand, this is all for the purpose of research and… cultivation!"

"As for the others, as long as they don't forget my status of the first legal wife, I can…
tolerate them."

She elaborated with courage neither of them knew she possessed, causing Konrad to
stagger and be overtaken by violent coughing.

Cough Cough Cough

But at that time, an ear-splitting roar thundered within the vast Kracht mansion.

"Unruly lecher, surrender your life!"

Wolfgang's roar alarmed the entire household, and before he could reach the
bewildered Konrad, his two younger brothers were blocking him by the waist.

"Aargh, elder brother, what is wrong with you? Yesterday night you announce their
betrothal and the next morning a funeral?"

"Do you want to make your daughter a widow?

Viscount Wulf, the eldest of Wolfgang's two younger siblings and Daphne's father,
asked in consternation while blocking his older brother by the waist.

"Quick, quick, we need more manpower!"

Konrad realized that the situation was taking a turn for the worst, and was prepared
to make a run for it.
"Wulf you damn son of a bitch, let go of me!"

"We have the same mother!"

"Im… Impudence!"

Wolfgang sent his two brothers flying with slaps and kicks, and was about to pounce
on the runaway Konrad when suddenly, an authoritative voice silenced the
commotion.

"Enough!"

Zamira walked in, locking her stern gaze onto Wolfgang who in her presence didn't
dare take another step.

"Wolfgang, I warn you. Since the rice has already been cooked, that boy is now my
son-in-law. Should you harm him in any shape or form, I will never let you in my bed
again!"

The threat was too much for the mighty Uradel count to bear, and instantly, he went
from tyrant to chicken.

"Yes… my lady…”

As for Konrad who witnessed the scene, his eyes went back and forth between
Zamira and Wolfgang.

"Father-in-law, I have lost all respect for you."

"A man who doesn't wear the pants, fully subjugated by his woman and oppressed
under her skirt!"

"What a disgrace!"

With Wolfgang pacified, Zamira led her daughter and son-in-law into a private study
and motioned for them to sit.

"Unlike the people of the Holy Continent, we from the Barbarian Continent care very
little about the so-called rules of "propriety." Since you've already taken Iliana as
your woman, as per my tribe's rules, I've something to give you."

She then pulled out a bronze box adorned with strange markings and pushed it
toward Konrad. From it, Konrad could feel a strange but potent energy signature.

However, before he received it, Konrad first tackled the question that sprang within
his mind.

"You're from the Barbarian Continent?"

While he had heard of Zamira initially being a human maid of house Kracht, he didn't
believe that Count Wolfgang would be so bold as to take a barbarian woman as his
consort within the heart of the Holy Flame Empire.

But Zamira's next words confirmed it.

"That is no secret. I was the chieftain of the Borxan tribe. In a battle opposing the
Northern Tribes to the Holy Flame Empire, we were defeated by Wolfgang's armies
and my entire tribe was subjugated."

The casualness of her reply made Konrad question the nature of her feelings toward
her original land.

"Apparently, Wolfgang was impressed by my bravery and honor on the battlefield

and brought me back to house Kracht to avoid me turning into some malicious
nobleman's toy."

"And then, I subjugated him."

Iliana fidgeted within her chair with shame clear on her flushed face and not
knowing where to hide. The fact that last night's events had failed to escape her
parents' attention and were likely to spread within the mansion through rumors and
gossips caused her to feel like she could no longer keep her back straight within
house Kracht!

Konrad, however, was too focused on what he had just heard to spot her unease. To
think that Wolfgang truly had the audacity to take a former Barbarian Chieftain as
his consort without destroying her cultivation, within the capital of the Holy Flame
Empire, was simply astounding.

Even those margraves and dukes would probably think twice before making such a
move.

But Wolfgang dared.

This alone was testimony to how much he cherished Iliana's mother.

Still, there was something odd in the way Zamira told the events. Outwardly, it felt
like she was past her tribe's subjugation, but within her eyes, Konrad found a glint
that seemed to be saying otherwise. A glint that worried him.

"There is something I've meant to ask. How exactly did the previous lady take your
arrival?"

It was well known that the day Wolfgang took Zamira as his consort was the day
Elvira Leitner, Alex's mother left to join the Holy Flame Church as a priestess. But
Konrad felt there was likely more to the story. And indeed, Zamira's next words
confirmed his suspicions.

"She never cared. That woman had always been looking for an excuse to righteously
enter the Holy Flame Church while at the same time turn her puppet bastard son
against Wolfgang. You can say that no one was more pleased with Wolfgang's
decision than her."

Zamira replied in an indifferent tone. But her words shocked Iliana who previously
wasn't aware of those facts.

"The Semi-Saint Priest that took her under his wing wanted to use Alex to take
control of house Kracht from the inside. They bet Wolfgang would never dare reveal
Alex's true parentage to the outside world due to the great embarrassment that
would bring to his name. After all, the higher the rank, the more sensitive one is to
scandals. And to keep Alex's rage unspoiled, they hid the truth from him."

Konrad was taken aback, and his eyes shone with doubt.

"Can a Semi-Saint of the Holy Flame Church truly brave such a scandal for the
uncertain possibility of taking over this ancient house?"

"This is nothing new. The Holy Flame Church has always been looking for ways to
take control of the empire's assets and nobility. In fact, many powerful noble houses
are in the shadows ruled by them. The methods they used over the years vary, but as
long as they can obtain what they want, there is nothing they are not willing to do."

"And according to Wolfgang, since Olrich Von Jurgen became emperor, the church's
infection of the empire has been rising at breakneck speed. If the trend is not
stopped, another century will be all it takes for the precarious balance to collapse."

Those words caused Konrad's doubt to turn into incomprehension. And before he
could voice it, Iliana spoke his mind.

"That being the case, why is dad so opposed to the Holy Consort's rising influence? I
don't think him narrowminded enough that the thought of a woman taking over the
empire would trigger such a reaction from him."

To this, Zamira replied with a helpless sigh.

"Truth be told, given a choice, your father truly wishes a person of Else's caliber
could take the reins of the empire. But that cannot be allowed to happen."

"Anyone can do it; the church will not care. Anyone except house Metze. There is
great conflict between the church and the Metze, for it appears the Metze possess a
secret artifact that has been eyed by the church for thousands of years."
"In fact, for centuries, they have been fighting in the shadows, and at more than one
occasion, Else was almost abducted by the Holy Flame Church. Was it not for the
many hidden Saint Ancestors of house Metze, her current fate would at best be
ghastly."

"Wolfgang even mentioned that ten years ago, while Else was visiting her relatives
with the emperor's permission, the church brazenly dispatched its troops in an
attempt to abduct her. Many died, and she was grievously wounded. It took a whole
eight years before she reappeared within the palace."

"Thus, if the Metze are allowed to overthrow the Von Jurgen, the Holy Flame Church
will immediately use it as an excuse to deploy the full might of its forces and drench
this country's soil with its citizens' blood."

Those were shocking news. But within them, Konrad found a reassuring piece of
information. If in the nearby future he was forced to clash with the church, at least
there was a chance he could count on Else's support.

"But those are boring things you can learn about on your own. Why don't you take a
look at my gift?"

She asked with her lips curled into a radiant smile that made her captivating figure
look more enticing.

Iliana and Konrad's eyes fell upon the bronze box from which they could both feel
that strange, eldritch power that seemed to belong neither to the spiritual nor to the
demonic.

"What is it?"

Iliana asked, unsure of what that gift could be.

"It's a defensive artifact refined by the chieftains of my tribe for their sons-in-law as
a wedding gift. I refined this one decades ago when I became chieftain."

She explained as Konrad pulled the box closer toward himself and opened its lid.
Instantaneously, dazzling light gushed forth, revealing the palm-sized miniature
skeleton of a lion-headed bird around which fire, water, and storm clouds swirled.

"What kind of creature is that supposed to represent?"

Iliana asked perplexed.

"It's an Anzu demonic beast. My tribe worshiped the demon god Anzu and took the
demonic beasts bearing his name as its totem. We refine the bones of deceased Anzu
beasts into totems to protect ourselves. This one can ward off any attack, martial or
spiritual, beneath the Transcendent Rank."

Demonic beasts were the lowest echelon of the Infernal Realm. They were not
"demons" in the proper sense, but creatures endowed with demonic blood and
abilities often derived from a specific lineage. And unlike demons who could only be
summoned from the Infernal Realm, demonic beasts had populated some areas of
the Ancient Crystal World since the beginning of times.

And for the barbarians who worshiped the Demon Gods, those beasts were seen as
totems and sometimes even used as companions and protectors.

But Zamira's words didn't reach Konrad. As soon as his eyes laid on the miniature
skeleton, his pupils turned violet, and his purple flame mark was set ablaze.

Purple flames burst from his body, his violet eyes glittered with demonic light,
fiendish glyphs swirled around him, and the miniature lion-headed bird skeleton
flew right into his chest, bypassed his clothes and disappeared into his body.

The sudden eruption of demonic energy took both Iliana and Zamira aback. Iliana
was horrified, not knowing why Konrad suddenly revealed his darkest secret while
Zamira looked at him with a mixture of bewilderment and excitement.

"You are… a demon?"

But Konrad still couldn't hear her. He stared dazed into the box where his gaze had
remained locked while within his body, the miniature skeleton merged with his
bones, and its power spread through his flesh, blood, and mind.

Three new sources of energy then spread within him to refine his bones, flesh, blood,
and spirit!
The reason why Zamira did not doubt the purity of Konrad's demonic blood was
simple. Only pureblooded demons could resonate with totems, absorb, and refine
their powers into their own.

While totems usually served as defensive artifacts, that wasn't their only purpose.
Their mainstream use was to serve as offerings for the Demon Gods worshipped by
the barbarians. They were also used to earn the favor of summoned demons who
could then grant them rewards and wishes matching the totem's quality.

Thus, Konrad who currently was refining the Anzu Beast totem could only be a true
demon.

"But how can this be…?"

Zamira couldn't understand how her newly received son-in-law had suddenly turned
into a pureblooded demon. Even within the Barbarian Continent, successful demon
summoning was a rare sight requiring countless preparation. As for the Holy
Continent, with the control of the Celestial Church, it had been millennia since a
demon appeared in its midst.

"Konrad, Konrad!"

Iliana who didn't understand what was going on desperately shook the dazed
Konrad, but to no avail.

She then turned a gaze filled with puzzlement and worry toward her mother who
didn't seem too concerned by the strange situation.

"What's going on?!"

To Iliana's apparent apprehension, Zamira replied with a dismissive wave of her

hand.
"Leave, and make sure no one steps inside this study until we walk out of it."

Zamira ordered, and Iliana didn't dare delay. Her father might be tolerant toward the
barbarians, but should he become aware of a demon's presence within his
household, he would execute him before asking any question.

As soon as Iliana went past the door, Zamira released an energy field to restrain
Konrad's overflowing demonic energy. Preventing it from leaking to the outside, then
observed his transformation in silence.

Flame, water, and storm clouds swirled around him as the tattoo of a lion-headed
eagle beast appeared on the right side of his chest. The refinement of his bones,
flesh, and blood was coming to an end, causing his entire body to glitter within the
elemental clouds like a sublime gem.

The clouds then merged with his tattoo, coloring it into a mixture of red and blue.
After which all the phenomenon disappeared, and the only proof left of Konrad's
demonic nature was his still glowing violet eyes.

He had now obtained a Transcendent Level Anzu Beast Physique and three new
attributes. Thus, although his cultivation had not risen, his strength underwent a
qualitative leap. Beneath the Transcendent Rank, not many could injure him.

And when they turned toward Zamira, his eyes no longer appeared blank. However,
for some reason, she felt like it wasn't Konrad that was staring at her, but an ancient,
lofty creature awakened from its slumber.

"Why are you not kneeling?"

The voice seemed very similar to Konrad's, but the tone carried a regal air and a
dictatorial power that forced obedience.

It was the Flame Mark's voice. And as soon as it echoed, within the entire Kracht
mansion, time stopped fluctuating.

Instinctively, Zamira fell on her knees with her eyes locked onto the ground, not
daring to look into Konrad's.

"Greetings Infernal Master! My apologies for my lack of courtesy!"

Within the Barbarian Continent, demons were known as the Infernal Masters whose
will all should obey. Naturally, Zamira, a former barbarian chieftain, held them in
awe.

"You may rise. I have accepted your offering. State your wish. As long as it is within
my ability to grant and the scope of your gift, grant it I shall."

Hearing those words, Zamira's entire body trembled from excitement. This was an
opportunity, the type of opportunity she had been yearning for across all those
decades.

"I only have one wish. That is to rescue the enslaved people of my tribe and rebuild it
within the Barbarian Continent!"

She proclaimed while remaining on her knees. But the Flame Mark possessed
Konrad negatively shook his head.

"That wish is far beyond the scope of your gift. If you want me to grant it, you must
offer more. Much more."

"For the sake of restoring all you lost, what are you willing to give?"

The Flame Mark's overpowering voice caused a new bout of tremors within Zamira's
body. Slowly, she lifted her gaze from the ground and locked it on that shimmering
violet pair that produced unexpected reactions within her body.

"First, may I ask what caste and house your excellency belongs to?"

Before making a contract, in the rare cases where the demon was of unknown origin,
such a question was common knowledge, and among the few things, demons were
obliged to answer to honestly. They would not take offense.

"Demon Prince, House of Talroth."

And although she already had her doubts, Zamira's almond eyes widened with
disbelief. Nigh instantaneously, she pressed her forehead onto the ground to
prostrate herself in a kowtow.

"It would be my greatest honor to enter a contract of eternal servitude with your
highness! I hope my soul will be enough to obtain your blessing!"
She exclaimed with her heart thumping from excitement. Although a Master-Servant
contract meant the loss of her freedom and soul, she had no hesitation. Although she
was initially a worshipper of Anzu, she still had no hesitation.

This was no longer merely an opportunity to rebuild her tribe, but a chance to enter
the house of one of the Four Kings of Hell! Barbarians would drench heaven and
earth with blood for the sake of one such opportunity!

However, the Flame Mark couldn't make that choice for Konrad, and so, it reverted
control of the body to him.

"I thought your only purpose was to offer guidance. Since when were you entitled to
take over my body?"

Konrad snapped in apparent fury, and within his mind, he entered a heated exchange
with the Flame Mark.

"This was a special case. Because you have not fully matured as a demon, your body
automatically deferred to me to accept the servant's offering."

Although he couldn't intervene in the refining process and the following discussion,
Konrad was fully aware of everything that transpired.

"Regardless, this makes me question your trustworthiness and wonder if the

Barbarian Continent is that good a destination."

"Don't be so dramatic. If not for me, you would have wasted two great opportunities.
The opportunity of obtaining a new physique, and the opportunity to subdue this
good woman."

"Although this woman's cultivation is only at the sixth step Transcendent Knight
Rank. Her potential is fairly high, and you can train her into a powerhouse."

"Moreover, she possesses strong ties to the Barbarian Continent, ties you will need in
the future."

The Flame Mark did not doubt that Konrad was doomed to establish himself within
the Barbarian Continent. Pushing the date was only delaying the inevitable.
"Last but not the least, dual cultivate with her, and your cultivation will increase by
leaps and bounds. I can use the power I've accumulated to stop time for a day to let
you fully enjoy her."

But hearing those words, Konrad's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"Screw Wolfgang Kracht's woman?"

"What? Afraid?"

"Hahaha! Who am I to reject the call of destiny?

It is a great man's duty to plant his seed within the outstanding women on his path.
If she dares deliver herself, I dare accept her! In any case, since the daughter has
been taken, we might as well add the mother!"

The Flame Mark approved.

"Well said! You are the blood of Talroth. If you want something, it is by right yours to
snatch!"

"And in time, all within this world shall belong to you!"

The fast mental exchange ended with Konrad pulling his attention back on Zamira
who still prostrated on the ground, unwittingly outlining her curvaceous rear for
Konrad's demonic eyes to feast on.

"I will ask you only once. Knowing what entering my house implies, are you willing
to abandon the ownership of your body and soul for the sake of me fulfilling your
wish?"

His voice had changed from the overpowering dominator to that of a charming
scoundrel, but Zamira didn't care. If anything, she felt more at ease.

"My people didn't deserve the fate they suffered under the armies of the Holy Flame
Empire. And I as their chieftain not only failed them miserably but got to enjoy a life
of peace and opulence while they and their descendants are being humiliated within
this country!
For the sake of giving their freedom back to them, for the sake of rebuilding my tribe
and honor my ancestors, there is nothing I cannot give up!

So yes, I am willing!"

Fury and unwavering determination drove her every word.

"Then I, Konrad of the house of Talroth, welcome you into my household!"

Konrad stretched his hand toward Zamira to release five light purple pentagrams
that encircled the two of them.

"Are you willing in all conscience to unequivocally abandon your body and soul to my
absolute will?"

"I am willing!"

"To forsake any claim to freedom and enter a lifetime of servitude within my house?"

"I am willing!"

"To allow your life and death to forever remain in control of I, your lord-master?"

"I am willing!"

"Lastly, do you pledge to devote the remaining of your existence to the satisfaction of
your master and the empowerment of his house?"

"I so pledge!"

An amethyst haze soared from the pentagrams, locking the two in its midst while a
violet lock rose from Konrad's fingertip and dived into Zamira's chest.

Violet light flew from her cleavage and imprinted her breasts with house Talroth's
Mark of Servitude: A purple pair of butterfly wings.

"Henceforth, and for the rest of eternity, you are my servant and shall count among
the lesser members of my household."

"In return, I guarantee that you shall regain your tribesmen within three months.
Moreover, when I march into the Barbarian Continent, I shall grant you the
opportunity to reestablish yourself."
Thus, the contract ended. Dark-purple threads flew from the kowtowing Zamira to
dive into Konrad's chest and forehead. Her talent was added to his. Her mind became
an open book for him to browse through, and her life was his to do with as he saw fit!

However, due to the vast gap in their strength, she would see no improvement in her
cultivation base. At Least not for now.

And browsing through her mind, Konrad realized why despite having the
unconditional affection of Wolfgang, she could not rescue her tribesmen. Following
the victory against the Borxan tribe, the leading nobles split the spoils through
contribution. Wolfgang who accumulated the most merit in the war used his to take
her, the chieftain, as his reward.

As for the rest of her tribe, they fell into the hands of other noble houses who either
abused or auctioned them to the highest bidder.

Now, after fifty decades, not many of the original captives remained. There was no
use for barbarian men, so their lives quickly ended. As for the women, the lucky ones
saw their cultivation bases destroyed and became servants within noble households
while the unlucky ones were turned into dual cauldrons and sold to two houses.

House Schoner, and House Henlein.

Dual cultivation was frowned upon, but it was not illegal. As for why two Uradel
houses would rely on it, the answer was simple.

Although without massive preparation, the limit for ordinary dual cultivators was
the peak of the Transcendent Rank, that was a limit many were perfectly fine with.

After all, within the immensity of the Holy Continent, Semi-Saints were few and far
between while Saints were as rare as holy crystal mines.

Moreover, nobles needed heirs with certain cultivation levels to inherit their titles.
House Schoner and House Henlein were facing the same dilemma. They had
declined, and their descendants were not outstanding enough to reach the sixth step
Transcendent Knight or Spirit Rank in a lifetime.

This meant that they would go from Count Level houses to Viscount Level Houses. A
shame Uradel families couldn't accept. Thus, they decided to trade quality for
success and used vast resources to obtain those Borxan women above the Arch Rank
for their heirs to dual cultivate with.

Upon processing that information, Konrad quickly formulated a plan. Fortunately,

Freya would soon return with great wealth to grant him the means to strike.

Also, even before that, wasn't Wolfgang about to sign off half his properties for the
Holy Flame Baptism?

"But that's something to be dealt with at a later date. Meanwhile…”

Konrad's eyes fell upon Zamira who had yet to rise from the ground.

"Rise."

His irresistible command echoed within her ears, and she stood up. But the eyes
with which she looked at him no longer contained the dignity of a superior
cultivator. That dignity had been replaced by the ardent need to serve.

"How will you serve your master?"

Konrad asked in a sultry tone carrying invisible pheromones that caused a slight
tremor within her body.

"Naturally, in ways that will bring you absolute delight."

Zamira brazenly replied with her lips curled in a seductive smile. She didn't dare
belittle Konrad because of his youth. However, she was confident in her skills to
pleasure; skills that turned Wolfgang into her obedient little man.

"Is that so? There is a price for not being able to live up to your boasting. Are you
sure you can afford it?"

The sexual dance had already begun. Konrad's shimmering eyes didn't conceal their
urge to dominate Zamira, while hers met him with the confidence that she could take
all he had to offer.

That confidence pleased him.

For he knew that soon, the only thing within her eyes would be debilitating pleasure.
"Undress."

He ordered, and she obeyed, pulling down her white dress, and revealing her
hourglass figure for his eyes to feast on. A predatory glint shone within his amethyst
globes as he stood up and stepped toward her. She was tall, but he was taller,
surpassing her by fifty centimeters he used to peer into her eyes from above while
cupping a feel of her delicious, motherly breasts.

"Mhm…”

She stifled a moan, feeling a jolt of electricity course through her body when his hand
grabbed her breast through her lace undergarment.

"You need no fabric. Tear off your undergarments."

Konrad didn't realize that in moments like these, his tone would become very similar
to the Flame Mark's and carried a regal air that commanded obedience. Thus,
although her cultivation was leagues above his, Zamira felt that it was only right to
obey.

Snap

In a sharp move, she tore off her bra, then did the same to her lace panties.

Lace underwear was the current trend within the Holy Flame Empire's nobility. A
trend Konrad found quite pleasing. However, for Zamira, those adornments were
unnecessary.

"This day marks a new beginning for you."

He declared while circling her and taking all her assets into his eyes.

"Past today, regardless of your feelings for your husband, he will no longer be able to
please you."

"Past today, the dominating thought of your mind will be to shove my throbbing rod
within your hungry snatch."

"In your many sleepless nights, it is my touch that you will crave. A craving that will
unmistakably lead you back into my arms to "die" a thousand times."
Thin purple flames swirled around his form, desire flames born from his demonic
powers that alongside his words, set Zamira's trembling body ablaze.

"I will put nine loads into you. One down your throat, and Eight in your cunt. As for
ass, I reserve it for another day."

Konrad copped another feel. This time of her supple ass cheeks, channeling his
Ecstasy Fingers and causing a jolt of electricity to surprise Zamira.

"Ohh…”

She failed to stifle her moan, and as her excitation shot up, and her sexual juice
moistened her inner thighs, she realized that perhaps, she was biting off more than
she could chew!

Still, could a former chieftain be willing to be played that easily?

"We shall see about that."

There was defiance, a combative spirit that refused to submit to his domination
easily.

"Good. Very good."

Konrad moved back toward his seat, pushing the chair away from the table to sit
with his legs outstretched.

"Then come. Let's fight and see who first breaks."

"Take down my pants, and work for your first load."

Purple mist spread within the study, carrying with it an aromatic orchid scent that
caused Zamira's eyes to glaze with lust. In normal times, with her much higher
cultivation, she should have been able to suppress it. But now, she could not. It drew
her in!

And before she could realize it, she was kneeling in front of Konrad, unstrapping his
belt, and pulling down his pants.
As if animated with a mind of their own, Zamira's hands freed Konrad of
unnecessary clothing and revealed his still flaccid cock to her eyes.

"Why is it not hard?"

She was annoyed. Her thighs were currently soaked with her juice while her entire
body burned with desire. Still, despite her nakedness being out for Konrad to enjoy,
there had been no reaction.

"Lust doesn't control me. I control it. It is my friend and toy.

Thus, if I do not want my rod to rise, it shall not. If you want it, work for it."

She didn't need to hear more, and dripped her saliva onto his meat rod, moistening it
through her oral secretions before giving it gentle strokes. She could feel its positive
response, the heat climbing within, the veins popping out, and the shaft slowly but
surely rising to meet her lustful eyes.

Slow, methodical strokes soon became fierce pumps as Zamira brought Konrad's
cock to full length and unceremoniously impaled her throat onto it.

The sloppy sound caused by her sudden pull of his cock into her mouth caused
Konrad's lips to curl into an amused smile.

Slurp Slurp Slurp

Zamira first pulled up, using her tongue and lips to play with the shaft, then quickly
went back down and began sucking on Konrad's rod as if her life depended on it,
causing provocative slurping sounds to spread within the study.

He stretched out his right hand with pinkish flames burning at his fingertips, and
gently stroked her auburn hairs while she worked him with all her savoir-faire, the
sensation of her hungry throat gliding on his shaft drawing great pleasure from him.
The pinkish flames covering Konrad's hands infiltrated Zamira's system, causing her
body temperature to rise further and her heart rate to spiral out of control as she
turned into a subdued cat within his palm.

But how could she allow herself to be trounced when he had yet to put anything into
her? Where would her face be?

In a deft motion, she lifted her voluptuous pair of motherly breasts and wrapped
Konrad's rod in-between. Trapping him within those beautiful assets, and stroking
him in a tit-job while still sucking him with fast throat moves.

"It appears I underestimated you."

Konrad exhaled a contented sigh, relishing the pleasure produced by the

combination between Zamira's breasts and her vacuum like throat. Yes, this was
vacuuming.

She vacuumed his precum, vacuumed his dick and while her breasts compressed
him, she was about to vacuum his milk!

"Aaargh… enjoy your first load!"

He groaned and released a large jet of purplish semen down Zamira's throat. She had
not expected the amount that burst into her mouth and almost choked on it. The
sperm leaked from the corner of her mouth and nose causing a rather comical scene.

Gulp

With determination, she swallowed it all and raised her complacent gaze toward
Konrad.

"I hope Master enjoyed my treatment."

"Oh? Is that overconfidence I smell? Good. The higher you rise, the harder you fall. I
shall make you fall completely."

Without notice, Konrad pulled up Zamira by the waist, hoisting her above his head
while leading her toward the mahogany table.

The brisk move caused her heart to threaten to burst from her chest. But although
she had already reached a breaking point, she still held onto her gaze remained
challenging.

Konrad pressed her back against the table and roughly spread her long, shapely legs
to reveal her cunt whose juice now flowed onto the table. He revolved the Hundred
Flowers Scripture, unleashed his goat horns and bat-like wings, and exposed himself
in all his demonic glory, causing his overflowing sexual energy to strike at Zamira's
mind.

Her eyes glazed with lust, and her lips parted to form the first syllable of "Take me…”

However, before she could finish the words, she stopped, looking at him confused
and in awe with her legs still spread and waiting for him to claim her.

"Too soon… I must first taste you."

He didn't plan to rub her clit, but to directly take her cunt into his mouth and savor
her juice while allowing his tongue to explore.

Which he did.

He went down on her wonderful snatch, kissing the entrance of her nether regions,
then spreading open her pussy for his lips and tongue to dive in.

"Oooh! Ohhh! Ohhh!"

She moaned once, then again, and again, until the sound of Konrad's oral job died,
superseded by her deep moaning.

"Cumming! Cumming!"

She groaned as her juice overflowed within his mouth and splashed his face. But he
didn't stop, letting her now heightened sensitivity drive her into new realms of wild
pleasure, and preventing her from clenching her legs around his neck.

"Now, I can take you. And I shall pound you till you die, then bring you back to life
only to kill you once again."

"Yesss! Do with me as you please!"

That was the plan.

Konrad stood up, brought the crown of his shaft to the entrance of Zamira's fold and
rocked himself into her with a sharp thrust.

"Aaaahh…”

She whimpered, and her walls tightened around his meat rod whose light spread
within her insides. He pulled back, sheathed himself straight to the hilt of her cunny,
then began pounding!

Pah Pah Pah

With firm thrusts, he hammered. Plowing Zamira's motherly field with none of the
restraint he showed to the likes of Jasmine and Iliana.

The former chieftain wasn't the type to want it slow. She only wanted it hard, and
fast; so hard and fast Konrad went!

The sounds of her whimpering within his arms with her tongue lolling out as he
pounded her cunt, superimposed with that of his balls slamming her butt cheeks to
produce a profane melody that delighted the two devils on Konrad's shoulders.

With reckless abandon, he kept hammering her until orgasm took him and his seed
gushed into her cunt.

Then once again, without warning, he pulled out bent her over the desk to once more
aligning his cock with her fold and resumed plowing that heavenly field of hers.

Pah Pah Pah

Zamira had lost the strength to speak. Her subconscious pleasure cries ragged
breathing and hot, vibrating body the sole reminders that she was still of the living.

Her orgasms replaced each other, and if in the beginning, she kept track, soon she
lost count of them.

Vanquished. Zamira had been completely, and utterly vanquished by the barbaric
demon at her back.
Holding her firm by the waist, Konrad kept ramming her in faster until finally, he
released another load within her cunt.

"Six more to go!"

This was indeed a day Zamira would never forget. A day forever etched into her
mind. And as she laid bare on the table with copious purplish sperm dripping from
her pussy, and Konrad cleaning his rod with her mouth, she reckoned she could
never be pleased by a normal man again.

Naturally, the spiritual connection established by the Hundred Flowers Scripture

allowed Konrad to feel firsthand how much of an effect he had on her.

The dual cultivation session came to an end, and Konrad felt huge waves of spiritual
energy soar within his body. However, at that time, the Flame Mark's voice echoed.

"Quick, concentrate the spiritual energy within your pagoda, and suppress your
breakthrough!"

Although Konrad didn't know why the Flame Mark was asking such a thing, he still
executed himself and concentrated all his gains within his sky-blue pagoda which
trembled from the invasion.

"Your cultivation has been rising too quickly, and although you have no problem of
purity, your foundation is shallow.

Your control of spiritual energy is far below your cultivation level. If not for your
physique and bloodline, you would have never been able to fight across your level.
Hell, fighting those of your level would have been difficult.

Thus, you need to suppress further breakthroughs and tamper yourself through
more battles to get accustomed to handling spiritual energy. When you have reached
enough proficiency, or if a dangerous situation calls for it, you can let your cultivation
skyrocket."

Those words made perfect sense. While Konrad had not been feeling them due to his
many assets, it was clear that his cultivation was flawed, and his foundation
unsteady.
The competition for the Holy Flame Baptism would be the perfect opportunity to
tamper himself by smashing those nobles unlucky enough to fall within his clutches.

He then sat in meditation to perfectly suppress his breakthrough, and allow Zamira a
few hours to recover.

Time passed by in a flash, with a more composed Zamira now getting dressed and
picking up her torn undergarments. The study had become a mess and needed
immediate cleaning. She would tend to it in a bit.

For now, her eyes remained locked on Konrad who had just awakened from
meditation.

"I have heard many things about incubi, but this is the first time I've seen one in
action."

"I really can't believe they are all like you because you… are nothing less than a sex
machine!"

She exclaimed, still feeling sore from the hammering she'd taken.

"That is natural. I am supreme!"

Konrad boasted with infinite self-satisfaction.

The Flame Mark then restored the time flow, and the two left the study to return to
the main hall.
Thanks to the Flame Mark's manipulations, what awaited them in the main hall was
the sight of Iliana who had just begun pulling her father into stories of what she'd
experienced in the inner court. Wolfgang who had not been able to take care of his
daughter for a decade, listened to her with rapt attention while sighing at various
moments due to emotion.

It was in one of those sighs that alongside Konrad, Zamira walked into the hall.
Instantaneously, Wolfgang's eyes locked on her while Iliana concealed her surprise
at seeing the two return so quickly. Did her mother manage to handle Konrad's
worrying condition with such ease?

"Aaah, my lady, quick, quick. You must listen to the tales of our daughter. Surely, they
will make you want to pamper her more in the future."

He chortled, half serious, half looking for a random excuse to pull her by the hand
and bring her to his side. However, as he stepped toward her, he spotted an
unsteadiness in her gait that caused a mixture of confusion and concern to flash
within his eyes.

"Since when did Transcendent Knights fail to walk straight? What's wrong with her?"

Although she concealed it well enough to deceive most with her bearing, as a Semi-
Saint, Wolfgang's eyes were too sharp to not spot the small inconsistencies in her
footsteps. It was almost as if there was something between her thighs, a soreness
that caused her to slightly lose balance at various intervals of time.

All credits to Konrad's pounding, and knowing she could not hide her weakness from
Wolfgang's sight, Zamira opted for a low approach.

As he stepped toward her, she leaned against his chest in a subtle but sudden move
that caught Wolfgang off-guard.

"It seems I didn't have enough last night… it wants… more."

That whisper electrified the Kracht Count and brought a broad smile on his lips.

"Hahaha, then more I shall give!"

He yelled without constraint, not knowing that as he held his lady by the waist, there
was a drizzle of cum trickling down her thigh.

The scene caused Konrad who stepped aside and walked toward Iliana to display an
impish smile.

A smile Iliana found problematic.

"Why are you smiling like that? Still up to mischief?"

"Me? Oh no, I've done enough for the day, no further mischief intended. If you need
to blame something, blame your beauty for smiting me, and causing illicit thoughts
to leap within my mind."

He teased, pulling her against him by the waist, and pressing his forehead against
hers while placing a soft kiss on top of her nose.

"Unruly rake…”

Still, she didn't escape his grasp; instead, she pressed herself tighter against him and
warped her arms around his back.

That affectionate scene quickly grasped the attention of the household who looked at
the pair's display with mixed feelings.

Wolfgang's mood went from heaven to hell in a heartbeat, enormous red veins
popping from his forehead.

"Even in my presence, that lecherous boy can't restrain himself? Good, very good,
today, I must teach him a hard lesson and remind him of I, his father-in-law's might!"

But then Zamira's warning resurfaced and caused him to bite his lower lip in
frustration.

"First, I must pull him away from prying eyes!"

A twenty-first-century migrator, Konrad didn't find anything wrong with their show.
In fact, he believed he was showing great restraint. However, they were breaking
every rule of propriety set by the high nobility and the church.

Nobility courtship had precise rules, rules he'd been stepping on since his arrival.
Thus, many of the male Kracht nobles were displeased. As for the females, they tried
to make a show of indifference, while secreting yearning for such brazen romance.

"Hum, hum!"

Wolfgang loudly cleared his throat to grab the pair's attention.

"Konrad, since you will represent house Kracht in the upcoming competition, there
are some things you need to learn to prepare accordingly. Follow me to my personal
study so that I can teach you all there is to know about this competition and your
potential opponents. No one is to disturb us!"

Without waiting for his approval, Wolfgang began leading the way toward his study,
and poor Konrad who truly wished to learn more about the competition to maximize
his chances, followed him without a second thought, not knowing what was waiting
for him.

As soon as they walked past the door, Wolfgang lifted his right hand, causing a surge
of spiritual energy to slam the door shut, and released a holy force field that
suppressed Konrad's cultivation and blocked all noise within the study!

"Damn philanderer! Today, in the name of both our ancestors, I must teach you a
lesson!"

He roared, rolled up his sleeves and walked toward Konrad at a slow, threatening
pace.

"Wait, wait, weren't we supposed to talk about the competition? What's wrong with
you?"

"There will be time to talk about the competition after I beat you black and blue."

"Have you forgotten your lady's warning?"

Wolfgang floundered, but soon afterward carried on with his aggressive approach.
"Even if she finds out, I will find a way to coax her. I prefer her wrath to not venting
my anger! Prepare yourself, scoundrel!"

Wolfgang leaped toward Konrad with his bared fists, ready to give him the beating of
a lifetime, and Konrad whose cultivation was suppressed by the holy force field,
could not dodge the bullet.

"Nooo! Not the face…”

Bam Bam Bam

A solid punching session followed, after which a satisfied Wolfgang readjusted his
collar, and stepped toward the main seat while humming a jovial, victorious tune.

"Serves you right. In the future, let's see if you dare misbehave."

As for Konrad, he laid bruised on the ground with his teeth clenched in indignation.

"Wolfgang Kracht, you can smash me in the morning, I will smash your wife in the
evening! When her belly is swelling with my seed, see who bullies who!"

He roared inwardly, but then, the Flame Mark's voice echoed within his mind.

"This cannot be allowed to go on any further. A son of his majesty cannot be

pummeled days and nights by a peon! Taking his woman isn't enough. It's time we
strike back!"

Hearing those words, Konrad's eyes sparked with a demonic glint.

"What do you propose?"

"There is no way we can make him accept a Master-Servant contract in the

traditional manner, but if you can make him sign a written version with his blood,
you can reverse the tables and turn him into your lackey!"

Konrad's eyes lit up, but soon, his excitement died down.

"Let's not even talk about how I will accomplish that. Wouldn't a written version of
the contract brand me as a demon?"
"Written demonic contracts are only conducted in the Infernal Realm. Knowledge of
them in the mortal planes is nigh inexistent. Even within the Celestial Church, only a
scant few should be aware of their existence, and none should have been exposed to
them."

The Flame Mark reassured, causing Konrad's apprehension to vanish.

"Then let's look for an opportunity to take the father-in-law down a peg!"

Knock Knock Knock

But at that time, a hurried knocking sound spread from the door and echoed within
the study, causing puzzlement within Konrad's eyes and fury in Wolfgang's.

"Didn't I say no one was to disturb us?!"

His bellow caused the knocking to stop, but soon afterward the trembling voice of a
male servant came from behind.

"M-my apologies my lord! A convoy of palace ladies just arrived at our doorstep.
They say the Holy Consort is sending you gifts!"

The words transformed Wolfgang's rage into confusion in the split of a second.

He strode toward the door, flung it open, and yanked the servant inside, firmly
holding the trembling man by the shoulders.

"You said what? Else… of house Metze… is sending me, Wolfgang Kracht… gifts?"

Author's note: I've returned a few hours ago and managed to squeeze in a chapter.
Yay!

More seriously, I've seen comments preferring a return to the previous cover, but on
the discord channel, I have opposing views. The cover is for the readers' enjoyment. I
personally care very little about which one stays, so I will let you guys compete for
the one you prefer!

I will post two comments. "Current cover" and "Previous cover." The one that gets
the most likes by tomorrow 11 am will be the cover until I can commission
something belonging only to me.

Go nuts!
The male servant who struggled to remain on his feet gave a quick, fearful nod, then
lowered his eyes to the ground.

"You can leave. Have them bring in the… gifts."

Wolfgang took a second to register the situation then let go of the frightened man
who deeply bowed before rushing out of the study.

"I'm quite curious as to what Else finds fitting to send us the day following Iliana's
return. This cannot be simple. Let's go. We can discuss the competition afterward."

Konrad managed to stand back on his feet and follow the puzzled count toward the
main hall where more than one Kracht noble stood with similar confusion. Needless
to say, they were aware of the current situation.

Viscount Wulf, in particular, ran circles. His daughter was still within the hands of
Else; thus, more than anyone else, he dreaded the possibility of further clashes
between the two parties.

His evident concern didn't escape Wolfgang, who now eyed him with an apologetic
gaze.

"Rest assured that as long as Daphne is within Else's hands, I won't go beyond a
certain limit."

He guaranteed while clasping his brother's shoulder with his large hand.

"Thank you… elder brother."

Wulf nodded. At that time, the hall's door opened, revealing a procession of eleven
palace ladies followed by the Kracht servants who pulled in several hefty coffers. Of
the eleven palace ladies, nine were veiled, leaving only the two at their helm to show
their face.
Konrad's gaze ignored those coffers and locked on two of the veiled palace ladies
who stood at the back of the procession. The reason for that sudden show of
attention was that within his mind, he could feel the presence of two harem rings,
and their owners immediately appeared within his mind: Faidra, and Aliki!

"What's the meaning of this?"

He wondered. Naturally, all the gathered folks showed various degrees of

puzzlement. Especially when the coffers' contents were revealed to be nothing more
than luxury fabrics and jewelry, the Kracht household stared with wide eyes.

"Is this a joke?"

While those fabrics and jewels were worth a substantial wealth, they were nothing
for an Uradel house like the Kracht's. Unless she was making fun of them, for Else to
send such trinkets as "gifts" was incomprehensible.

However, to Wolfgang's words, the two leading ladies gave a profound bow before
replying.

"My lord, please do not misunderstand. Those gifts are not for house Kracht, but
ornaments for the actual gifts."

They then motioned toward the nine ladies at their back who one after the other
removed their veils, revealing faces that caused the entire mention to turn deathly
silent.

"How… how could this be? Daphne?"

Wulf broke the silence while staring at his daughter who stood among her
attendants with a mischievous grin.

"Dad, I'm back!"

But as the Kracht focused on Daphne, Konrad's gaze moved between her and the two
blue-eyed bombshell blondes behind her attendants.

Indeed, they were his two early conquests, the sisters Faidra and Aliki, and right
now, their shimmering gaze also locked on him.
Their presence gave a different meaning to the "gift." This wasn't a gesture for the
Kracht; it was a gesture for him, Konrad.

"The Holy Consort really treats me well, doesn't she?"

Meanwhile, the initial stupor had vanished, replaced by looks of shock, worry, and
disbelief.

Wolfgang stared at Zamira who stared back at him while Iliana's eyes went back and
forth between Daphne, her attendants, and the two maids at her back.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Wulf aside, not many could take this scene without some measure of apprehension.
Unlike Iliana, Daphne was an imperial consort. From the moment she stepped into
the palace with that title, she was destined to die within its walls, never to return to
the outside world.

Only on rare occasions were high ranking consorts allowed to step outside of the
imperial palace's walls to visit their relatives. Even then, tight escort would follow. In
the last centuries, only Else had received the privilege.

However, if the palace ladies' words were taken at face value, this wasn't merely a
visit. They were sending Daphne back to house Kracht for good!

To say nothing of the Holy Consort, even the Holy Empress and the Dowager couldn't
order such a thing.

This was the Holy Emperor's jurisdiction!

The palace lady at the left then pulled out a golden parchment from which words of
golden light shone.

"Count Wolfgang, receive the Holy Emperor's decree!"

Thud

Immediately, the entire house Kracht fell on its knees to receive the emperor's
decree.
"Daphne of house Kracht is returned on this day unspoiled, but her status
unchanged. Once a consort, always a consort. We allow her to spend the rest of her
days within the warmth of her familial home, but never will she be able to marry, and
we reserve ourselves the right to at any time, recalled her to the palace."

"Count Wolfgang, do you accept the decree?"

"Your vassal accepts!"

Whether to accept or not was merely a formality. When the consequence of refusing
an imperial decree was family extermination, who dared not accept them?

The palace lady then folded the parchment, and alongside her "coworker," made way
for Daphne to step toward her relatives.

Now, apprehension had vanished in the hearts of most people, but in Wolfgang's
discomfort was rising, and filling his mouth with an acidic taste.

"She's saying three things. First, she is telling her that although the empress still
controls the inner court, her influence on the emperor is rising and will soon replace
the empress'. Second, she is giving us an opportunity to bury the hatchet and move
on with our lives. Lastly, she's warning us that what she can give, she can take and
that what she can take, she can return in a whim. We are hers to toy with as she sees
fit.

Damnable woman!"

However, Wolfgang could only say those words within his heart, and even as he rose
from the ground, untold frustration shook his powerful body.

Was the emperor this much of a fool? Where was the talent that wrestled the throne
from the hands of his elders with inferior forces? Did putting the crown on his head
make him muddle-headed?

The two palace maids excused themselves and left with haste, leaving only Daphne,
her six attendants as well Faidra and Aliki to stand in front of the Kracht household.

As soon as the palace ladies were out of sight, Daphne's eyes glittered with joy, and
she strode toward Wulf who was taking trembling steps toward her.
"Daddy!"

"My girl!"

Wulf stretched out his arms, ready to embrace her, but then, the unthinkable
happened.

Daphne ran past him, and leaped into a surprised Konrad's chest, wrapping her arms
on his back.

"Sniff Sniff Daddy Konrad, I missed you!"

The scene returned to a deathly silence, broken only by an incredulous Wulf who
turned to see his daughter tightly hugging his future "nephew" and call him "daddy
Konrad."

"What is the meaning of this? Daphne, are you confused? Your father is here!"

He snapped, but to his great dismay, Daphne didn't even turn toward him.

"Sorry, you've been demoted to little dad. Konrad is now my big daddy!"

Black lines spread on the many gathered foreheads like wildfire. Konrad's was no
exception.
It was well known that Daphne had always been the little tyrant of house Kracht,
afraid of neither heaven nor hell. Still, no one expected that upon her return, she
would cause such a shocking scandal.

Poor Wulf teetered, struggling to not fall on his butt while seeking help in his elder
brother's eyes.

There was no help to find.

"Wolfgang, say something! What sorcery did your son-in-law use to bewitch my
daughter?!"

To Wulf's ire, Wolfgang really didn't know what to say. Thus, he opted for silence and
started looking for an opportunity to disappear.

It was then that a furious voice thundered within the hall!

"Slut, let go of my man!"

Iliana roared and yanked Daphne away from Konrad's chest with a pull of her hairs.

"Aaaargh! Let go of my hairs. What's wrong with you?"

Daphne's aggrieved words only heightened the soaring wrath within Iliana's chest.
Her slit emerald eyes burned with the rage of ten thousand furies as she held her
cousin by the hair.

"What's wrong with me? You've not even been here for fifteen minutes that you're
shamelessly snuggling against my fiance? What's wrong with you?!"

"Fiance? What, since when?!"

Outraged, Daphne sought answers within the eyes of the gathered kin, and only now
did she register her father calling Konrad Wolfgang's son-in-law.

It seemed that since their night in the palace, Iliana had been working on keeping
Konrad for herself, but how could that stop her?

"So what if you first got a legal status? I screwed him first!"

"Can you compare?"

"I gave him an orgy with six gorgeous mature ladies!"

"Can you compare?"

Instantly, the Kracht were in an uproar. Even Wolfgang who was already aware of the
events stared slack-jawed at Daphne's boldness. As for Wulf, his jaw trembled and
cold sweat trickled on his forehead.

"You… said what?"

To her father's dismay, Daphne freed herself from Iliana's grasp and rushed back to
Konrad's side, wrapping her arms around his right one and leaning on his shoulder.

"Yes! Also, I must add that we've done it more than once. Konrad has so much to offer
that the party just never ends…”

Her words and the sight of her rubbing her head against Konrad's shoulder like a
docile cat caused the already trembling Wulf to lose balance and collapse on the
floor. It seemed he was having a stroke!

As for Konrad, the events had evolved too fast for him to react. He knew the girl
brazen, but brazen to this extent he could not imagine.

This was already beyond the realm of shamelessness. Daphne was insane!

However, with a reputation to maintain, he could not display his shock to the outside
world and simply adopted an aloof, indifferent stance.

Daphne's overbearing words had shattered Iliana's attempt to retake the initiative
and for an instant, she didn't know what to say so like many others, she turned
toward Konrad, hoping to hear him make a statement, but was enraged to see him
turning his gaze toward the ceiling as if none of this concerned him!

"Konrad! You…”

"You what? You yourself! Stop making things difficult for my daddy. He's thinking
about what kind of scenario we will enjoy tonight."

Konrad's forehead creased, but he didn't dare lower his gaze. Meanwhile, Faidra and
Aliki who stood silent behind Daphne's attendants were astonished by what they
were hearing. Did their master really dare mess with that lunatic of a woman?

Truly brave! They wanted to come to his aid, but with their low status and
nonexistent right to speak, they knew they could only hold their tongues.

"Iliana, in any case, I've already said that as sisters, we should share everything. I'm
not a greedy woman. As long as you obediently follow me, you will have your share
of the big daddy."

"Follow you? You should follow me! I'm older and prettier than you!"

Still, Daphne remained undaunted.

"So what if you're slightly prettier? My boobs are bigger, and my butt is curvier. At
night when the lights are out, what is he going to care about? The face he cannot see,
or the large mounds within his mouth? To say nothing of the soft buttocks pressing
him!

You lose!"

Zamira was impressed, Iliana staggered, Wolfgang's knees gave out, and Wulf passed
out from shame.

"Aaaargh! Dad, annul! You must annul the engagement!"

To Iliana's indignation, Wolfgang roared back in rage.

"Annul what? After what happened last night?

We have not even cemented the engagement that you've already given up the fort
and allowed the invader in!
Now beside him, who can you marry?!"

"Ouiiiiin!"

Iliana burst into a mixture of shame and tears and ran back toward her room!

Victorious, Daphne snuggled tighter against Konrad who hummed all the random
tunes that flashed within his mind while staring at the ceiling as if his life depended
on it.

The commotion came to an end with Wolfgang storming out and locking himself in
his cultivation abode. Wulf was carried toward his chambers while Daphne followed
Konrad like a good little puppy with her attendants and the silent sisters at her back.

Once they reached his chamber, Konrad asked for the attendants to arrange the
"gifts" and their mistress' lodging and brought Daphne, Faidra and Aliki into the
room.

"What is the meaning of this? Why did the Holy Consort send you back? Also, what
are those two doing with you?"

Hearing his words, the sisters believed he doubted the purpose of their presence and
immediately fell on their knees.

"Master, please don't misunderstand. We've obeyed your words scrupulously and
never revealed a thing! But suddenly, one of the Holy Consort's attendants ordered
us to follow lady Daphne back to house Kracht. We don't know what happened!"

The clear apprehension caused Konrad to realize his choice of words had caused the
two of them to misunderstand him.

"Stop that, rise and come sit on my lap."

He gently ordered, causing their nervousness to fall. The sisters stood up, stepped
toward him and respectively sat on his left and right thighs.

"So, you aren't doubting us?"

"Of course not. I'm merely puzzled as to why the Holy Consort would order such a
thing. Though, I suppose it matters not at this point."

Seeing him tenderly stroke their hairs, although Daphne wasn't one for jealousy, she
felt she was losing ground to those newcomers.

"Hum, hum, I have no idea why either. The ladies just came to my quarters and
announced the emperor's decree. I didn't waste time to ponder the reason, packed
my things and left."

Daphne wasn't one to get involved in the usual plotting that infested the nobility
circles. For her, those were uninteresting things that brought nothing but trouble.
There was no enjoyment to have in such boring matters.

"All right, there is no point in further investigating. If that woman wants to reach me,
she will. You can leave."

The "you can leave" made Daphne believe that Konrad was sending the sisters away
to spend some quality time with her. She was already puffing out her chest and
adopting a victorious stance when she saw them rubbing their heads against
Konrad's like favored little pets.

He wasn't rejecting them.

"Wait, are you talking about me?"

"Of course I am. I have some catching up to do with my girls. Maybe I will visit you
when I'm done."

"What?"

The bewildered stare with which Daphne stared at him caused him to go further
down that road.

"Dissatisfied? I was already having problems with that damnable father-in-law, but
in less than fifteen minutes, you've made sure I would become the public enemy of
all the males within house Kracht! It would be a miracle if I can live until tomorrow!"

To say nothing of the Semi-Saint Wolfgang. Wulf alone was a fifth step Transcendent
Knight and not what the current Konrad could deal with. If he came knocking on his
door for accounts, how could he breathe?

Was it possible that he would have to hide behind Zamira during his entire stay in
this mansion?

Harmed, she'd truly harmed him!

"But… but… I missed you so…”

Sniff Sniff

She complained with droplets of tears in her eyes, like a child in a woman's body.

However, Konrad wouldn't submit to the tearful play!

"All right, all right, tonight I will punish you for your misdeeds. Happy?"

Instantaneously, Daphne's eyes lit up with joy.

"Happy, happy! Daddy, please punish me well!"

Like a delighted little deer, Daphne strutted out of Konrad's chambers and returned
to hers, not forgetting to sway her hips back and forth to give him a good show. He
was now free to deal with Faidra and Aliki whom he pulled into his spatial pouch to
reveal his true nature.

When the pair of vat wings and goat horns respectively sprang from his back and
forehead, the sisters' eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"Demon… master you are a… demon?"

"How could this be?"

The two turned their eyes to face one another and reaffirm the truth through their
mutual shock before returning their gaze onto Konrad who stared at them with a
smirk.

"Terrified?"

It would be a lie to say they were not alarmed. Although unlike the nobility and the
clergy who treated matters pertaining to demons with severity, commoners and
slaves saw them more as distant bogeymen, they were still known as terrifying
creatures of sin and depravity who brought countless woes to the mortals that fell
prey to them.

However, thinking about it more carefully, the sisters realized that Konrad's
revelation was a show of trust and their only opportunity to truly join his ranks.
Should they step back now, there would be no future for them by his side.

For the sake of that cock, could they not handle a bit of demonic blood? A new wind
of resolve carried them onward, and they knelt with reverence.

"Master, regardless of your origin, we swear to serve you across all lifetimes!"
The pledge caused Konrad to nod with approval. The sisters had not disappointed
his expectations!

Indeed, the key to a woman's submission was always a good shag!

"Very well, we shall cement your pledge in a Master-Servant contract. Henceforth

you belong, body and soul, to my household."

The pentagrams were summoned, the demonic glyphs brought forth, and in a twister
of purple fog, Faidra and Aliki signed the demonic contract to officially become
servants of Konrad's house. The terms were, however, more generous than what
Freya and the other servants received, causing their talent to significantly increase.

Their cultivation should have only risen to the seventh step Adept Knight Rank, but
using a thin part of the energy gained from Zamira, Konrad brought it to the eighth,
following which he gave them two of the high-grade True Rank cultivation pills he
possessed to make further breakthroughs.

After refining them, their cultivations jumped by another five steps and reached the
fourth step True Knight Rank.

Such progress in a single day was beyond their wildest dreams.

"Thank you for your care, master!"

They exclaimed in deep bows with their bodies trembling from emotions. They had
not expected that as soon as they returned to his arms, Konrad would work so hard
on promoting their cultivations and allowed them to save years, if not decades of
hard work in a single day!

Who didn't want to follow such a generous master?

"This is no big deal. I still need to find a new cultivation method for you. I will try to
find the most suitable, but after changing, we can't prevent your cultivation speed
from stagnating a little bit. You will need to take some time to adjust and solidify
your foundation."

Changing cultivation methods was no small matter and, in most cases, did more
harm than good unless the person was willing to destroy their foundation and start
anew. However, Konrad was confident that within the system, he could find
something perfectly suitable for his two beauties.

"Tonight, I will return to take you to an entertaining gathering and give you a more -
proper- reward."

The mischievous grin with which he said those words convinced them of the
gathering's licentious nature. As for the "proper reward," what could it be beside the
shag they desperately craved? The simple thought of what was to come sent jolts of
electricity through their supple bodies.

Afterward, he settled them within quarters to their likings and left the spatial pouch
to return to the Kracht mansion.

Now it was time to deal with serious matters. Konrad was sitting cross-legged on his
bed in silent meditation when the Flame-Mark's voice echoed within his head.

"Thinking about how to completely take over this house?"

"Naturally. While I never cared about such matters, it goes without saying that I've
antagonized all the male members of this house. They might not be taking action
now, but who knows what will happen tomorrow or the day after?

People are fickle, I cannot sit and wait for death. Even that father-in-law is not
necessary that trustworthy. Who's to say that after obtaining the Holy Flame Baptism
quota, he will not find a way to put me to death and find himself a son-in-law to his
liking?"

Although Wolfgang had secluded himself in his cultivation abode and Wulf was
recovering from his massive shock, things still didn't bode well for Konrad. He had
spotted more than one angry stare from some of the younger male nobles of house
Kracht. Stare experience told him would bring nothing but trouble.

The best way to solve all this was to trick Wolfgang into signing a written Master-
Servant contract.

But how?

"You may not need to do anything. Be patient, be yourself, and the opportunity will
most likely deliver itself. The events have already been set in motion."
The Flame Mark assured, causing confusion to flash within Konrad's eyes. However,
as he wondered how such an opportunity could just offer itself, Zamira's figure
flashed within his mind and brought him immediate enlightenment.

"Hahaha, I understand!"

Konrad burst into laughter, thinking that tomorrow morning would be remarkably
entertaining.

Without further bluster, the rest of the day was uneventful. Wolfgang spent the entire
day locked in secluded cultivation, after which he returned to Zamira's bed intent on
warming it.

He found her resting on a pillow with a nightgown that caused blood to flow to his
groins.

"My love, here I am to fulfill your needs!"

He roared and pounced onto her. Although she didn't sound particularly thrilled,
Zamira didn't reject him. But soon, Wolfgang was forced to realize that all his teasing
and caresses were bringing no reaction from his partner.

"What's wrong, are you not in the mood?"

He asked worriedly. It was odd, her earlier words clearly implied that she expected
him tonight. So why was she so different from her usual fiery self?

However, Zamira's next words almost caused him to spurt blood.

"I was, but hum… how can I say this? I'm starting to feel like you got rusty…”

The mighty Uradel count almost fell off the bed, the blow too hard to bear.

"Come again? Last time was less than a week ago, and back then you were obviously
much more responsive! How could I've gotten worse in the span of a few days?!

I don't believe it!"

He then tried to subdue her with oral work, but all his accumulated skills failed to
excite and moisten her even a tiny bit. It was like trying to get a moan from a doll.

"Stop, you've tried your best. It's not your fault.

Perhaps all those years spent in arid cultivation caused you to slowly lose your
touch? Maybe you're not just attuned with the current trends? Or perhaps the
problem lies with me. In any case, I'm not feeling anything. Sorry."

Zamira would of course never reveal that Konrad was to blame for this. Even at the
gate of the netherworld, she wouldn't. She slowly but firmly pushed the bewildered
Wolfgang away from her and turned on her pillow to fall asleep.

"How… how could this be?"

Wolfgang stared slack-jawed at his beloved consort who soon fell into deep slumber.
Never in his life had he suffered such a heavy blow!

"Did I only manage to make her fall asleep?"

But at that time, throaty moans bypassed the walls and reached his sharp ears,
causing his dazed eyes to turn toward their origin.

"Again? Does he dare?"

"Wait… why am I hearing so many different female moans?

One… two… three… four… how could this be?

He's playing with four at the same time?"

Some time before Wolfgang stepped toward Zamira's chambers, Konrad strode
toward Daphne's.

Unceremoniously, he shoved the door open, and as expected, Daphne was waiting for
him. She was dressed in a sheer, transparent navy-blue negligee and lied on her side
with her eyes expectantly locked on the door.

Konrad wondered how long she'd been in that position.

"Well? Never have I ever seen someone so eager for punishment."

"It's because I'm a docile girl that knows her wrongs. So, I've been patiently waiting
for daddy to administrate punishment!"

Daphne exclaimed with glee, but Konrad who had seen her perform at her highest
level was no longer alarmed by anything she had to say.

"Unfortunately, I'm not here for that. Come with me."

"Huh? Where?"

"You will see, just follow me."

He ordered and without waiting for her reply, spun and walked out.

"Wait, wait!"

Daphne yelped while rushing after him. However, as she followed him through the
alleyways, she couldn't help but realize they were heading increasingly closer toward
Iliana's chambers.

"Why are w-?"

"Shush."

Konrad cut before she could finish her words and led her straight toward Iliana's
bedroom which he also shoved open.

Iliana who was having a hard time falling asleep due to her earlier disgrace was now
lying on her back with her eyes staring at the ceiling when the sound of her door
springing open alarmed her ears.

"Who!?"

She snapped and rose to meet the intruder who happened to be Konrad with Daphne
at his heel.

"It's You? With her? What are you doing here!?"

A palpable mixture of anger and dissatisfaction rose alongside the "with her,"
causing Konrad's lips to curl into a smile.

He ignored her interrogation, stepped toward the chair lying in front of the desk in
the corner, turned it to face the two puzzled ladies, and sat.

"Daphne, sit by Iliana's side."

Obediently, and to Iliana's dismay, Daphne stepped toward the bed and sat by her
side.

"Did you bring her here to bully me?"

"Shush."

Konrad silenced and canted his head as if to take a better look at the pair of warring
cousins.

"I've come to make something clear. When you sign up for me, there is no
expectation of monopoly. I will treasure you all equally, but if you can not treat each
other with the courtesy of sisters, I might let go of you… entirely."

"I do not like rubbish."

The coldness of his voice made the seriousness of his threat evident, causing both
Iliana and Daphne to stare in shock.

Losing the Konrad?

How could this be permissible?

"Wait, wait, I can share! If not for her being so greedy, there would have never been
any issue to begin with."

Daphne blurted out, causing Iliana to almost flip the bed.

"Who's greedy? The two of you are greedy!"

"Why can't you be like my dad and satisfy yourself with one woman?"

"Because I am Konrad. If I want you, I shall have you. That is my rule."

The confidence echoing from his reply caused Iliana to not know what to say.

So he helped her…

"Men who can satisfy themselves with a single woman do so out of fear of losing the
one they already have. But I'm not afraid, never have been, never will be, because
once you had me, there is no way you can escape my clutches.

For me, you will compromise. For me, you will obey. For you can do nothing else.
This is my household, and I set the rules."

His mild but penetrating tone dressed his words as divine commands they could not
resist.

Thus, although Iliana still wished to challenge the status quo, she dared not go
forward and could only turn a frustrated glare toward Daphne who just shrugged in
powerlessness.

"Don't worry, I know this is a substantial change for you Iliana, so I've come to make
it easier on you."

He pressed his palm against his spatial pouch, causing two beams to flare-up. From
them emerged Faidra and Aliki.

Without needing Konrad's command, they stood by his side.

"Let us all bound in mind and flesh. I promise that past tonight your eyes will open to
a brand-new world."

He pledged, his pitch-black eyes shimmering with dazzling violet light.

Purple mist rose from his pores and soon covered the entire room. As she breathed
in the mist, the tension within Iliana's body vanished, and was replaced by growing
aching need and desire.

The same thing happened to the other females, and soon, they were all panting.

"Master…”

The sisters complained while turning their yearning eyes toward the sitting Konrad
who then wrapped his arms around their slender waists and pulled them into his
lap.

As for the Kracht cousins, their hands threatened to move without their consent.

"Scoundrel…”

Iliana whispered, knowing the devil was making his move.

"Kiss."

The word carried with it a compelling force that caused the Kracht cousins' body to
flare-up. Their eyes met in a brief exchange that allowed them to see the heat rising
in one another.

Daphne licked her lips.

"Don't you d-…”

However, before Iliana could finish, Daphne took her lips into hers and pressed her
on the bed!
"Mhm…”

Quickly, Iliana submitted to her soaring lust, and her tongue intertwined with
Daphne's.

"Good, very good. Give yourself up to debauchery and embrace the heavenly
pleasures of my harem."

"Mhm!"

Pink flames of ecstasy coated Konrad's fingertips as he fondled the breasts of his two
devoted servants.

"Ohh… master… yes, just like that…”

From playing with their ample breasts, Konrad then went down to teasing their
lower lips through their clothes. Their moans soon filled the room.

Meanwhile, the Kracht cousins had already discarded one another's clothes and
passionately kissed with their bare bodies pressed against one another.

They only broke for small intervals of breaths, before restarting their heated
connection. They now recklessly rolled on the bed with trails of sexual juice
streaking down their thighs and blessing the bedsheets.

The sight of Daphne's breasts squashing Iliana's while their tongues intertwined,
brought another smile from Konrad.

Unable to endure his touch, Faidra and Aliki got rid of their stifling clothes and
kissed as much of his face, neck, chest, and lips as they could snatch from one
another.

"Share, learn to share. To each her part and then you switch."

But driven by the licentious greed caused by his demonic touch, heeding his words
was nigh impossible.

Without another word, Konrad lifted them by the waist and carried them toward the
bed where Iliana and Daphne were still lost in passionate embracing and mutual
fondling.
However, seeing his shadow appear by their side, they let go of one another and
pounced onto him! Faidra and Aliki respectively held his right and left arm while
Daphne grabbed his waist to press her face against his crotch, and Iliana collared his
neck.

The scene would drive any male bystander mad with jealousy.

"I want you!"

"I want you!"

"I want you!"

"I want you!"

"We want you!"

They exclaimed in unison, eager to abandon themselves to his rod.

"Relax, my beauties, you will all have an equal share. But first, you must serve me
well."

Their eyes glazed with passion and lust. Nothing else remained. In a flash, they
shredded his clothes and latched onto various parts of his body.

Faidra sneaked into his back, straddled his waist, and wrapped her small feet around
his hardening shaft for a footjob.

Iliana went under him and pressed her moistened lips against his balls, kissing and
suckling them while trailing the middle of his rod with her tongue.

Daphne rose to bring her drenched cunt to his lips, while Aliki kissed all the available
parts of his body and brought his fingers to her cunt.

All needy! All hungry! All passionate and wild!

"Aanh!"

Daphne moaned as Konrad flicked his tongue across her clit and kissed her labia.
"Oohhh!"

Aliki groaned, losing control of her kissing pace when Konrad's deft fingers sneaked
into her and teased her insides.

Meanwhile, his fully hardened cock was being played within Faidra's rubbing feet
while getting moistened by Iliana's saliva.

Her tongue teased the tip of his urethra, then licked the underside and glided all the
way down to his balls which she cupped within her inexperienced hands.

Konrad's head now rested against Faidra's breasts while Daphne's juices flooded his
mouth and streaked down his throat.

Even for him, this was rare delight.

He revolved the Hundred Flowers Scripture, causing a whirlwind of petals to shroud

their debauched quintet.

The spiritual connection was established, and they all shared in the pleasure they
were providing him while he shared in theirs.

"Yes… right there! Right there! That's the spot!"

"Ohhh… coming… I'm… coming!"

Like beings of one mind, Daphne and Aliki groaned. One in his mouth and the other
on his right hand.

Konrad's throbbing shaft shook, and he released his spunk on Iliana's face, inducing
a contented sigh from her lips.

"We're only getting started."

He pulled up the cum soaked Iliana and impaled her on his rod, all the way down to
his balls, in one go.

"Ooooh!"

The soft cushion of her butt cheeks hugged his balls, he then pulled one of her erect
nipples into his mouth, and the pounding began.

……

Meanwhile, Wolfgang had stormed out of his room to track the noise, but as he
approached Iliana's room, he no longer dared step forward. Yet, he also didn't dare
step backward, and so he stood there in awe, listening to the crescendo of four
different moans that assaulted his ears, as well as the smashing sound of flesh
against flesh that made evident the stage they were currently at.

"How can he draw such volume from them? Even at my best, I could not get a tenth
of this from Zamira… is it possible… that I have to learn from him?"

The entangled bodies moved in various positions and switched spots on Konrad's
rod to experience the full flavor of its heat.

Iliana was the first to fall and receive his spunk within her cunt. Daphne then swiftly
followed, after which Faidra and Aliki each got their turn.

Then they started all over again, repeating the rotation of mating until all had been
creamed at least four times in a session that lasted for three-quarters of the night.

The girls now laid on the bed, passed out from exhaustion with silent cultivation
base breakthroughs of various magnitude while Konrad sat cross-legged and stored
the generated energy.

Faidra and Aliki reached the eighth step True Knight Rank.

Daphne reached the first step Grand Knight Rank.

As for Iliana, she was very close to the second step and could break through at any
time.
Wolfgang whose ears bore witness to this feat of debauchery was confused on what
to do. The volume Konrad managed to get out of the four ladies was enough to attest
to his formidable "battle" skills. Thus, the mighty count was tempted to ask for his
help!

However, how could he?

Was he going to bring his two centuries old self to ask a less than twenty years old
junior how to please his consort? Was there a more straightforward way of throwing
his face? He couldn't do it.

Alas, Zamira's calm, ferocious words still echoed within his mind and hammered at
his male dignity.

"Maybe I can coerce him into keeping it a secret? How difficult can it be to tie the lips
of a Grand Knight teenager?"

"And in any case, I'm not asking for his help. We will just be exchanging pointers.
Yes… exchanging pointers…”

His voice trailed, and he left for his chambers. Soon afterward, Konrad did the same.

The sun quickly rose, its rays shafting through the windows and burdening Konrad's
sight.

He stood up, ready to enjoy a relaxing bath when a knocking sound echoed from his
door.

Knock Knock Knock

"Already? He couldn't wait any longer? Tss, tss, tss, with such impatience, no wonder
he fails to excel in the bedsheets. I probably don't even need to take the blame."

Konrad inwardly joked and moved toward the door. Leisurely, he opened it, revealing
the presence of a short male servant who bowed in greetings as soon as he met his
eyes.

"Greetings sir. His lordship is requesting your presence in his study."

"Understood, you may leave."

Konrad then leisurely crossed the distance toward Wolfgang's study and stepped in.

Wolfgang was currently standing with his arms crossed below his back and his gaze
directed toward the window, like a lofty expert gazing into the distance.

Seeing his stance, Konrad was forced to stiffen a laugh.

"Do you need to put up such pretense when you're about to ask for bedchamber
lessons? Tss, tss, tss."

Naturally, he didn't say that out loud and steadily walked toward the main desk.

"Greetings father-in-law, I was told you requested my presence?"

"Indeed. Have a sit."

Konrad didn't reject and sat within the wooden chair facing the desk.

"I have summoned you for an important discussion.

First, do you know for how long has house Kracht existed?"

"Tens of thousands of years?"

Konrad called a random number. As an Uradel house, house Kracht possessed at

least ten thousand years of history. As for how long exactly, he had no idea.

"Fifty thousand to be more accurate. In past eras, our ancestors received great deeds
of lands from past Holy Emperors for their innumerable contributions on the
battlefield and established house Kracht.
Since then, we've accumulated countless merits, but it is not merit, alone, that
allowed us to stand firm within the nobility of this country. No, what truly preserved
us is our care for our established traditions."

Wolfgang began in a tirade that caused confusion to flash within Konrad's eyes.

What was he getting to with all this irrelevant nonsense?

"We've established and observed many traditions across the ages, but chief among
those, and one of our most cherished is… The Talk!"

"The… Talk?"

Konrad repeated Wolfgang's solemn words.

"Yes, The Talk. An opportunity for the father-in-law to test his future son-in-law's
understanding of the pleasure arts to ensure his daughter's happiness."

The seriousness with which Wolfgang spoke those unbelievable words caused
Konrad to stare at him slack-jawed and reappraise that father-in-law of his.

"Loads of horseshit. Even in my previous life, I've never heard such righteous
bullshitting."

Wolfgang paid little attention to his astonishment and finally turned from the
window to face Konrad with his grave emerald eyes.

"And now it is time for us to have The Talk. Are you ready for this important test?"

Wolfgang believed the battle won and that Konrad would soon reveal all his secrets.
However, his next words caused him to fly into rage.

"No thanks. I'm a proven veteran in the -pleasure arts- and need no confirmation
from someone as untested as you are. No offense."

BAM

Wolfgang's palm slammed the table with large veins protruding from his temple.

"Are you looking down on our traditions or are you looking down on me?!"
Toward his fit of fury, Konrad remained unafraid.

"If anyone is looking down on someone here, it is you. Am I a three years old kid that
you think you can swindle me with such a bullshit story? Even the most gullible of
fools wouldn't believe it!"

Konrad's retort caused Wolfgang's face to contort into an awful grimace.

"Do you think I would invent traditions for nothing? I just want to make sure my
daughter is in good hands, so I'm making the moral sacrifice of discussing such
matters with you! How dare you insult my good intentions?!"

Shameless! Completely and utterly shameless! Was Daphne really Wulf's daughter
and not Wolfgang's?

"Hum, hum. You don't need to worry about Iliana; in fact, I believe a quick talk will
reveal that I am more than she can handle. However, I wonder if upon asking her
about the truth of this -tradition- she will hold the same speech as you."

Wolfgang staggered, hesitation flashing within his eyes, but soon, he recomposed
himself.

"Hum, this is a tradition passed on from father to son and only known by the male
line. Naturally, she is not aware."

"Oh? Very well, then let's check with Wulf. Matter of fact, let's bring in all the male
members of house Kracht and ask them if they know The… Talk."

The thought of being made a fool in front of all the male members of his house made
Wolfgang wobble; and as he sought countermeasures, Konrad carried on.

"Actually, never mind. I have no interest in it, regardless of it being true or not. Bye."

With that said he turned heels and was about to leave when a Holy Force Field
released by a fuming Wolfgang blocked his steps.

"Do you believe that I will beat you senseless?"

The threat seemed to fly over Konrad's head, and he burst into laughter.
"Beat if you must. In any case, you need me for the Holy Flame Baptism contest. Until
I bring you that quota, no matter what, you cannot harm me. That being the case,
who's afraid of who?"

"You!"

Deceit did not work; coercion also failed. Right now, only honesty remained.

"I'm not an unreasonable man. If you honestly tell me why you want my input, I
might just help you out of the kindness of my heart. What's the problem?"

Knowing that he had no other alternative, Wolfgang sighed and fell into his seat.

"You cannot reveal this to anyone. If you do, baptism or not, I will kill you."

"Sure."

"I… can no longer please Zamira."

Once again, Konrad prevented himself from bursting into laughter. For perhaps if he
did, Wolfgang truly wouldn't hesitate to behead him.

"Hum, hum. That's a… serious issue that requires… special handling. But I can help
you."

Hearing those words, Wolfgang's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Of course, I have all the degrees and certifications in the bedroom department."

"You have what?"

"Nevermind…”

Konrad returned to his seat, grabbed paper and ink, then pushed it toward Wolfgang.

"What are you doing?"

"Preparing a provision to save my ass in case you turn to your blade after receiving
my help. Something written by you to hold against you."

Wolfgang was startled. Did the boy have to be so overcautious? He wanted to argue
but seeing the seriousness within Konrad's gaze, he knew this part was non-
negotiable.

"First, what do you want me to write?"

"Nothing much. Just something to put you to great shame should it spread to the
outside. I will keep it somewhere safe, but if you adopt a threatening stance, have no
doubt that it will first spread within your house, and then within the entire Holy
Flame City."

"Alright, alright, dictate."

Wolfgang no longer wished to inquire on Konrad's need for protection. The sooner
he was done with this, the sooner he could regain his dignity!

"I, Wolfgang of house Kracht, in exchange for obtaining the means to please my
consort, submit my life, my body, and my soul, to the great demon prince Konrad.

I hereby, irrevocably pledge to enter and loyally serve him and his household now,
and forever."

Wolfgang's forehead creased as he heard those humiliating words.

"Are you messing with me? Who would ever write such drivel?"

"To write or not to write depends on you. Don't forget to sign your name at the end
with your blood. We gotta look official."

The casualness of Konrad's words reminded Wolfgang that he had long since lost the
initiative. So, he could only comply.

He wrote every single one of the words, cut open his finger, and signed the paper in
his blood name.

"Done…”

"Now repeat what you wrote so that I know you did it right."
Exasperation was rising within Wolfgang's heart, but he still obeyed.

"I, Wolfgang of house Kracht, in exchange for obtaining the means to please my
consort, submit my life, my body, and my soul, to the great demon prince Konrad!

I hereby, irrevocably pledge to enter and loyally serve him and his household now,
and forever!"

He exclaimed to show his annoyance, but as he ended the words and returned his
gaze onto Konrad's, he could see that a demonic glint had replaced the previous
casualness.

Konrad's eyes glittered with violet light, pentagrams and demonic glyphs soared, and
a whirlwind of purple fog surrounded the two of them.

"Then I, Konrad of the house of Talroth, welcome you into my household!"

The surge of demonic energy that soon filled the room caused Wolfgang's eyes to
widen with fright.

"The Divine Lords preserve us. You are a demon spawn!"

As soon as he grasped that reality, Wolfgang summoned his energy battle-ax, but
before he could hurl it at Konrad's neck, the demonic glyphs dived into his body and
finalized the contract.

"Kneel."

Thud

A force beyond his ability to resist burst from within Wolfgang and forced him onto
his knees. He dropped his battle-ax which soon vanished in light particles.

"What sorcery is this? Vile creature, what have you done to me?!"

He roared with bloodshot eyes and soaring hatred.

Deceived! He had been deceived and led the world's most atrocious creatures into
his house!

Like Iliana feared, there was no way Wolfgang could accept a demon within his
household. Before asking anything, he would first try to execute them. Unfortunately
for him, he no longer possessed the ability to contend with Konrad.

"No need for such an outburst. You signed a contract to obtain the means to please
your woman. Means I shall grant you."

Konrad extended his index toward the kneeling Wolfgang and fired a purple beam
that dived into his body and surrounded his crotch with violet mist. Soon, glittering
demonic glyphs appeared on the count's little brother.
"What's… this?"

While it wasn't detectable from the outside, Wolfgang clearly felt the strand of
demonic energy swirling within his groins. Odd changes were occurring within his
cock, and even his libido was being heightened.

"My end of the bargain. I can't speak for your oral skills, but at least I can guarantee
that you can pleasure your consort, or any woman really, with your rod. Happy?"

What he had yet to mention was that although Wolfgang now had the means, he
would never get the opportunity to use his new tool on Zamira in a lifetime.

Meanwhile, Wolfgang felt no delight and only now did the realization of what had
occurred settle within his mind.

"You… made me sign a demonic contract? That was an actual… demonic contract?"

"Finally catching on. Yes, indeed. From now on, and until your dying breath, you are a
servant of Konrad and his household. Congratulations.

But don't worry, I won't make things too difficult for you."

Konrad rose from his seat and cracked his knuckles while flashing a wolfish grin.

"Wait… why are you looking at me like that?"

"Did you have fun pummeling me? Was it sweet? Did it satisfy your vanity?"

Konrad's words caused Wolfgang to realize that retribution for his earlier actions
was approaching at breakneck speed.

"Don't… step closer!"

"Oh, I'm stepping closer. I'm going to beat the living shit out of you! Damn fucker, it is
always I who bullies people. When was it your turn to bully me?"

His right fist flew straight into Wolfgang's face.

BAM BAM* BAM* BAM

A ferocious punching session began, a session Konrad used to vent all his
accumulated frustration, Wolfgang style.

"Boss, I apologize, mighty boss, please stop punching me!"

For the first time in his life, Wolfgang had been beaten black and blue, losing all the
dignity of an Uradel count.

Satisfied, Konrad returned to his seat.

"Hum, hum. I hope you can understand the situation for what it is. You no longer
have any means to challenge me. Your life and soul are within my hands, and I could
reprogram you if I wished to. But this doesn't have to be a sour relationship. As
Iliana's father, I will certainly not mistreat you. In the future, I can even improve the
terms of your contract.

Also, don't be swindled by the Celestial Church's brainwashing. I may be a demon,

but I bring only joy wherever I go. Granted it's only meant for women… but huh… in
a nutshell, I'm a good guy, and you will bring no harm to the common people by
serving me wholeheartedly."

"Bullshit! You are clearly a terrible wolf in sheep clothing! Why did the Divine Lords
allow me to get swindled by you?"

Wolfgang inwardly cursed, not knowing that his thoughts were also within Konrad's
grasp.

"I can read your mind."

"W-what?"

A servant's sole comfort was the ability to curse his master within the shadows of his
mind. Couldn't he even obtain that privilege?

"Fret, not. I can allow you to curse me once a week and in your sleep. But otherwise,
it's forbidden."

Surely, a show of generosity was necessary?

"Huh?"
Wolfgang couldn't believe his ears. Was he truly being given a cursing quota?

"Hum… thank you. I suppose?"

"Thank you? Didn't you forget something?"

"Oh… apologies. Thank you… boss."

Wolfgang struggled to say through his teeth.

"Congratulations Count Wolfgang, you have officially joined the mob."

Konrad chortled, causing Wolfgang to collapse in shame.

"Wait, wait. You can't faint yet. Now that we've established the nature of our new
relationship, there are some things you must become aware of, and some plans we
have to set into motion."

Clap Clap Clap

Following Konrad's three claps, purple fog condensed by Wolfgang's side, and from
it, Zamira emerged.

Seeing his beloved consort appear out of thin hair, Wolfgang was overtaken by
confusion and an ominous stinging feeling.

"Master, you summoned me?"

A unique advantage of the Master-Servant contract was that like familiars, the
servants could be summoned by the master at any time. As a former Barbarian
Chieftain, Zamira was well aware of that, and so wasn't startled.

But her four words caused Wolfgang's apprehension to blossom into dread.

"M-master? What is the meaning of this? You can't be…”

Before he could finish his words, Zamira turned a puzzled glance toward him, then
alternated between Konrad and him.

Konrad read the question within her eyes.

"You don't need to be startled. Just like you, Wolfgang is now a servant of my
household. Though, I cannot say he wisely traded his freedom."

The confirmation only caused more confusion within Zamira who couldn't
understand how Wolfgang could ever sign a demonic contract.

It would already be miraculous if he didn't butcher Konrad upon learning of his true
heritage. However, it wasn't her place to inquire on the "how" and "why," so she just
stepped toward Konrad and silently stood at his right.

"Zamira… is it possible that he also got to you? No wonder… I was played."

Wolfgang finally realized why he suddenly became unable to please her. The problem
didn't lie with him. She'd just discovered a new realm of ecstasy within the hands of
her demonic master.

The uncomfortable feeling of a green, glossy hat on top of his head caused him to
gnaw his lower lip.

There was no fluctuation within Zamira's face. She merely remained stoic by
Konrad's side with neither worry nor shame.

"You can't blame her Wolfy. After all, she has duties to fulfill. Or did you think that
just by treating her well, you could make her forget about her tribesmen and
tribeswomen, about the fate they endured and are enduring within this empire?

That was slightly unrealistic of you. Fortunately, the first demon to show up to fulfill
her wishes is me. Otherwise… heh."

Konrad softly pinched Zamira's left butt cheek, causing red to flash on her face as she
stifled a yelp.

Wolfgang's heart was now a wrecked mixture of sorrow and fury. Half toward
Konrad and half toward himself, for he soon realized he had deceived himself.

He believed the decades spent together and the affection shared could make Zamira
forget about her tribe's fate and its remnants. Deep down, he knew it was
impossible, but he still clung onto the vain hope that time and the warmth of a new
family would wipe off the past and allow her to truly put her barbarian life behind to
just be his lady.
But he was wrong. She'd never forgotten and was always looking for an opportunity
to recover what she'd lost.

"Do you… resent me?"

He asked in barely audible words. As the leader of the army that saw the end of
Zamira's tribe, if there were a list of people to loathe, he would probably be at the
top. Thinking of that possibility, his mouth soured.

Her next words, however, alleviated some of his bitterness.

"Back then, we merely were of two opposing sides. Had we been victorious, your
army would have been cleanly slaughtered. I can't blame you for what happened
because although you defeated us, you didn't humiliate us. At least not of your own
volition.

What followed was beyond your ability to control. I understand your plight and do
not resent you, thus, I hope you won't resent me for doing what I must."

A sigh escaped his lips, and he had nothing more to say.

"Now that we've made our stances clear. I have good and bad news for you, Wolfy.
Bad news, now that Zamira is mine, you can never touch her again. I don't share with
anyone besides myself so you can be her man during the day, and I will be her man at
night."

Wolfgang almost spurted blood.

"Good news, I have a fair number of female targets for you to snatch. You might even
be able to make your own mini-harem of married ladies."

Now Wolfgang's eyes widened in confusion and disbelief.

"What?"

"You heard me right. I initially planned to use money and some manipulations to
recover the Borxan tribeswomen within house Schoner and house Henlein, but I've
changed my mind. Since you created the problem, it is only right you solve it.

As we speak, house Schoner's wealth is dwindling, and in about three days, they
should lose a third of it. I want you to use that opportunity and the resources at your
disposal to take over their house. Start with Count Wilhelm's beloved wife no doubt
the mixture of their dwindling assets, your mighty name and cultivation will make
her more… open… to suggestions. Make her yours and use her as an insider to seize
the rest of her husband's assets.

House Henlein will be a tad bit more difficult since you will need to create all the
opportunities. However, I have no doubt that a third step Semi-Saint can easily
subjugate a house whose strongest cultivator is but a seventh step Transcendent
Knight.

When their houses are ours, whatever we want, we can take."

The ease with which Konrad ordered those corrupt deeds took Wolfgang aback and
made him reevaluate the callousness of that boss/son-in-law of his. Yet, although he
didn't wish to stoop to such low actions, Konrad's words echoed like supreme
commands he could only obey.

"Yes, boss."

"Don't forget to act with discretion. Anything is fine as long as you alarm neither the
von Jurgen nor the Holy Flame Church. We're not ready for their attention… yet.

Oh, and of course, honor my name and fuck their women senseless."

Afterward, Konrad obtained Wolfgang's talent and browsed through his memories to
learn all he needed to regarding the competition.

It was divided into two parts. The preliminaries conducted within a spatial world of
the Holy Flame Church, and the actual battle contest between the young nobility.

There was an age limit of fifty which in the Holy Flame Empire's high nobility could
only be regarded as the youth and a certain number of quotas depending on the
family's highest-ranking noble's title.

The rest of the days were mostly uneventful. Konrad used Wolfgang to make the rest
of house Kracht fall in lines and become its true master while days and night, he
would enjoy the company of his various beauties, both in the outside world and
within his spatial pouch where another part of his harem resided.

And on the night preceding his departure for the competition, a voice boomed within
his mind.

"Yo, host! I have returned! Missed me?"

"Update Completed."

"Now that the host has proven his dedication to the quest of harem building, it is
time we turn to a supporting role and grant him ample time to make his choices
while giving him tasks meant to not only build a harem but establish his dominance
over this world."

"Main Quest: Level 3 Initialization!"

"Main Quest: Level 3 Initialization!

Part 1: Conquer ten beauties of the Adept Rank.

Part 2: Obtain a net worth of 100.000 purple crystals.

Part 3: Establish a partnership with a low-ranking (or higher) member of the Holy
Flame Empire's nobility."

Main Rewards: Harem Expert Rank, Cultivation base breakthrough, Fortune Wheel
quota.

Ability Reward: Origin Sight, Flesh Healing Kiss.

Timeframe: One month.

"Status: Completed."

"Wait. C-completed?"

For an instant, the system believed its data erroneous, but quickly it recalled Konrad
was not far from completing the first part of the quest before it went on vacation, so
it was no longer startled.

"Alright, alright. Not bad, host. You live up to the name of Harem Expert! Want me to
distribute the rewards first or just initialize the next quest?"

Within his mind, Konrad observed all this with a weird look.

"Hum just carry on. I'm not sure you're ready to distribute rewards yet."

"Haha, don't underestimate the might of the main quest!"

Main Quest: Level 4 Initialization.

Part 1: Conquer twenty beauties of the True Rank.

Part 2: Obtain a net worth of 1.000.000 purple crystals.

Part 3: Establish connections with at least five low ranking members of the Holy
Flame Empire's nobility or one mid-ranking member.

Part 4: Plant at least one spy within a low-ranking noble house (or higher).

Main Reward: Harem Master Rank, Free Grand to Arch Physique Upgrade, Two-mid
grade Third Circle Spells.

Ability Rewards: Invisibility, Heart Mending Kiss.

Timeframe: Three months.

Status: Completed."

"See? Completed! Wait, wait, completed? Again? What the fuck?!"

Knowing this was going to take some time, Konrad lied on his bed to hum one of his
favorite Earth tunes while ignoring the system's outburst.

"This makes no sense. It has only been a week. What sorcery did you use to complete
all those tasks? What purpose do I serve if you can finish the main quest without me
even telling you what it is?"

The system wanted to cry, but as a system, it truly had no tears to shed.

"Stats. I must check the stats!"

Name: Konrad

Rank: Harem Builder

Cultivation level: First Step Grand Priest<>Sixth Step Grand Knight

Race: Pureblooded Incubus

Physique: Grand Primal Physique<>Transcendent Level Anzu Beast Physique.

Attributes: Light, Fire, Water, Storm.

Acquired Abilities: Body Regeneration<>Ecstasy Fingers<>Ecstasy Clouds.

Bloodline Abilities: Female Dream Theft<>Transformation Skill<>Arousal

Aura<>Desire Flames<>Bewitching Fog<>Telekinesis.

Harem number: 23.

Exp: 12.373.225."

"Holy moly… you've been working… hard."

As a top-level beauty of the sixth step Transcendent Knight Rank. Zamira alone was
worth 12.000.000 exp. Therefore, the numbers didn't surprise Konrad.

It was now time for the fifth level of the main quest and this time Konrad didn't
believe he could complete it with his current achievements.

"Very well."

The system's voice turned serious.

"Main Quest: Level 5 Initialization.

Description: Congratulations on becoming a Harem Master and making the

preliminary arrangements to establishing your faction within this world. At this
point, you probably have enough women and resources to enjoy a life of luxury and
ecstasy. However, that is not what we want.

We want the supreme altitude! Unless you are supreme, unless you rule the entire
world, how can you truly protect your beauties?

Therefore it is time you embark on the road to not only build the world's greatest
harem but also establish your dominion over the entire Ancient Crystal World.

Level 5 Objectives:
1: Conquer forty beauties of the Grand Rank.

2: Obtain a disposable income of 100 million purple crystals.

3: Take full control of three mid-level noble houses (or higher).

4: Conquer a Noble Imperial Consort.

5: Obtain the full support of two influential figures (or more) within the inner court.

6: Establish a black market both in the inner court and in the Holy Flame City.

7: Achieve all these without letting the name "Konrad" spread within the Holy Flame
City.

Main Rewards: Harem Grandmaster Rank<>Cultivation Harmonization (if

applicable) <> Free Physique Upgrade.

Ability Rewards: Harem Tolerance Programming or Perfect Polygamy Art.

Timeframe: Six months."

"Now that's a tad bit more difficult."

The first three parts of the quest were the easiest to fulfill. In six months, Konrad had
no doubt he would be way beyond the first two requirements. As for the third one,
he already set Wolfgang on the path to complete it. By the time house Kracht
successfully took over the Schoner and the Henlein, that condition would be
satisfied.

However, the remaining four parts were much more problematic. Unlike the other
imperial consorts, Noble Imperial Consorts ranked very high, just below the Holy
Consort and were among the few to frequently receive the visit of the Holy Emperor.
There were only two of them, and each possessed great backgrounds.

Yvonne Voight, the sixth prince's mother and the daughter of Sovereign Prince
Hubert Voight.

Anke von Jurgen, mother of the Crown Prince, and cousin of the Holy Emperor.
They were both high-level Semi-Saints and possessed at least one Saint as backer.

Konrad's power wouldn't have much effect on them. So, he could only do it the old-
fashioned way, and he would still need to avoid getting caught by the emperor!

"If I can complete part four, Part five should not be difficult. Part six will rely both on
house Kracht and on my connections within the inner court. As for part seven, you
can say it's simple, or you can say it's difficult. In a nutshell, I must do all these from
the shadows without obtaining any fame linked to the name Konrad."

This time, although it finally had grounds to feel elated, the system didn't take the
opportunity to tease him.

"When I return to the inner court and obtain more information on those two, I can
choose my target. In any case, you can distribute the rewards!"

The system didn't delay, distributed the harem rings, and new abilities, then caused
Konrad's cultivation to go from the first step Grand Priest to the sixth step Grand
Priest. As for his martial cultivation, it didn't budge.

"Why did my spiritual cultivation experience such a large leap when my martial
cultivation didn't improve even a little bit."

"Starting with the sixth step of the Grand Rank, you can't get any cultivation boost
from me. I used your martial quota to make your spiritual cultivation equal to your
martial one. I know it's difficult, but in the future, try to keep it even. It's important
to set up your Divine Foundation."

"On a side note, if you choose to accumulate spiritual energy, I can now split it evenly
between your martial and spiritual cultivation if you so wish. With that new tool, you
shouldn't have to worry about staying even."

Konrad had nothing else to say and began weighing his options.

First, his physique, then his bloodline.

Konrad stepped into the system and assessed the costs.

"Grand to Arch Primal Physique Upgrade: 1/3 the Original price, 100.000 exp.
Pureblooded Incubus to Dream-Weaver Upgrade: ½ the Original price, 2.500.000
exp."

It seemed the discounts given for having the previous level were getting lower with
the upgrade's rank. Fair enough.

Konrad was about to make the exchange when the system's voice echoed within his
mind.

"After the update, one of the features unlocked is the ability to improve those
wearing the harem ring. I recommend you first assess the costs of training your
harem before making the purchase. A few days of preparations will do no harm.

The stats of the ring bearers will also become available."

There were many harem rings to give, and many girls to plan for. It would be a lie to
say Konrad had it all figured out. Thus, he chose to step back.

"Very well, I will just do the free physique upgrade for now. After I get a better sense
of what my girls need in terms of upgrades, I will spend all that exp."

"Exp hoarding is never a bad option. You can also try to find out what thing you can
trade that would give you a serious economic advantage in the outside. For example,
rare alchemy recipes that don't exist in the outside but are readily available here if
you can pay the cost."

"Alright, show me the Fortune Wheel."

As soon as Konrad gave the instruction, a gargantuan jade wheel appeared before
him. On it was displayed the names of every cultivation method, artifact, and item
available within the system. There were different symbols depending on the object's
nature which made classification simple. In the middle of the wheel stood a vertical
arrow ready to spin at Konrad's command.

"Go!"

He ordered, causing the arrow to rotate, at first slowly, and then picking up the pace
to reach a speed normal eyes couldn't follow.

Konrad let it spin for thirty seconds before steeling himself to halt its course.
"Stop!"

The arrow slowed down, and gradually stopped in front of a case that caused Konrad
to fly into rage.

"A fucking recipe? Damn System, why did you curse me?!"

His eyes stopped at the herbal illustration used for recipes, and he didn't even bother
checking the name before getting enraged.

However, when his eyes rose and fell onto the recipe's name, he staggered and
almost fell on his rear.

"No… way. Those actually… exist?"

As for the name that caused such shock within Konrad…

"Recipe: Semi-Holy Elemental Baptism."

It was common knowledge that the five branches of the Celestial Church each
possessed their own baptism that stemmed from the original Elemental Baptism.
Not only did those baptisms drastically improve constitutions and innate
comprehension skills, but they also unlocked matching attributes.

However, only in the main seat of the Celestial Church could a full Elemental Baptism
be obtained. Alas, those with the qualifications to receive the blessings of the
Celestial Church were few and far between. At the very least, having a Saint as
immediate relative was necessary.

Thus, although it was only a Semi-Holy Elemental Baptism, Konrad couldn't hide his
surprise. Didn't this mean that he could exchange the recipe of a Holy Elemental
Baptism from the system?

The recipe flew into his mind in light particles, showing all the required ingredients
to set up the baptism, but he paid it no heed.

"Summon the Recipe Board. I must check costs."

The system executed his order; the Fortune Wheel vanished and was replaced by the
board recording all the recipes as well as their costs.

Konrad directly went down to the Holy Rank Recipes and after browsing its content
for an instant, locked his eyes on the name he'd been looking for.

"Holy Elemental Baptism Recipe: 150.000.000 exp."

"150.000.000 exp… I would need to sleep with Zamira for thirteen nights to get that
much exp. I don't have that much free time…”

To prevent abuse, there was a cooldown of one day for exp farming through sexual
intercourses. Therefore, no matter how many nuts he burst within one of his
beauties, she would only count for one exp gain until the reset.
His eyes then moved toward the Semi-Holy Recipe section for a brief stop then went
up to the Transcendent Recipe part.

"Semi-Holy Elemental Baptism Recipe: 15.000.000 exp.

Transcendent Element Baptism Recipe: 1.500.000 exp.

Arch…”

The final stop was the True Rank. Below that, there was no baptism available.
Konrad was both delighted and annoyed. Delighted because he had no doubt that
with those recipes, he could flip the Holy Flame Empire's economy upside down, and
annoyed because there was no way he could do so without challenging the church.

Obviously, the plan would be to sell the baptisms and not the recipes. However, the
appearance of non-church-controlled baptisms was bound to trigger in-depth
investigations that would ultimately lead back to him.

To say nothing of the faraway Celestial Church. The Holy Flame Church alone
possessed a large number of Saints and Semi-Saints that could effortlessly trample
all his planning.

He frowned, faced with the frustration of having obtained a treasure but not being
able to make full use of it.

"The only option now is to find a scapegoat. A mighty Saint in opposition with the
church willing to shoulder the pressure and split the profits evenly. But where can I
find such a person?"

The best option was someone that had nothing to do with the imperial family or
bore little grudges toward it and the church. Beside the von Jurgen, only the three
Sovereign Prince houses possessed Saints. Of the three, Konrad directly excluded the
Kvass. They were a cadet branch of the von Jurgen with many of their elders within
the church. The Dowager was the perfect example of that.

Then there was the Metze who stood in total opposition with the church.
Unfortunately, the grudges were too deep. If such a baptism appeared controlled by
the Metze, the church would show no consideration for face and use all its resources
to exterminate them in one go.
The only option left was house Voight. Although his daughter was a Noble Imperial
Consort, Hubert Voight was known not to have great affection for the Holy Emperor
and prevented the church from meddling with his house's matters.

He was the best partner for this particular business. Alas, to say nothing of
discussing terms, Konrad didn't even have the qualifications to meet him.

He sighed, used his free upgrade quota to improve his Primal Physique to the Arch
Rank, grabbed his two free mid-grade third circle spells and left the system.

Returning to the comfort of his bed, he spent what remained of the night in silent
cultivation and at dawn, stood up to join the convoy heading toward the
competition's location.

The leading members of house Kracht had already gathered at the mansion's gate.
Among them were three youths with the usual green hairs and slit eyes of the Kracht
kinsmen who patiently waited for Konrad's arrival.

Those three were house Kracht's other champions. They were almost fifty years old,
and two had reached the seventh step Grand Knight Rank while the last one had
reached the eighth step.

They were house Kracht's most outstanding juniors, but today their only purpose
was to fill in the blanks.

As a count level house, the Kracht were entitled to four participants. But in Konrad's
view, the other three served absolutely no purpose, so he initially didn't intend to
take them with him, but Wolfgang managed to convince him of doing otherwise.

"Although those three cannot be of great use when confronted with the children of
margraves and dukes, they can at least alleviate your burden during the first part of
the competition. More importantly, they help us avoid the massive loss of face that
comes with having only one contestant.

Said coarsely, they are necessary fillers to preserve our house's dignity. We can't
afford to give the impression of decline to the other high-nobility houses!"

"Fine, but they are on their own."

"Worry not, although their chances of getting to the second round are slim, they
should have no issue protecting themselves."

Konrad understood the man's plight and didn't bother with the trifles.

As for the three, hearing that brief exchange, they almost spurted blood. Their
cultivation was above Konrad's; however, it now seemed like he was the one having
to babysit them!

Outrageous!

They couldn't understand why their house head had suddenly become so deferential
toward that teenaged boy. It was almost as if he'd become his servant!

So what if he was gifted? Could talent alone command such respect from an Uradel
Count? Preposterous!

However, anger was one thing. Acting upon it was another. Even if they possessed ten
times the courage, they still wouldn't dare oppose the will of Wolfgang Kracht.

Iliana and Daphne stood by the main carriage's side with clear annoyance in their
eyes.

"Why do those needle dick wastes get to go while I don't? It's unfair! I want to go!"

Daphne yelled, causing the gathered folks to lose balance and the three concerned to
fall face-first.

"Daphne! How dare you?!"

"What? I'm only telling the truth. Not only are you three needle sized, but you also
have zero endurance. It only takes a few thrusts in your butts to make you cum like
inexperienced little teens.

Decades of existence and only worth so much. My strap-ons were wasted on you!"

Their cheeks burned, and their wives nearby looked at them with disdain. Those
three were among Daphne's victims back when she terrorized house Kracht and
received her "deep affection" at more than one occasion.

Initially, they believed they could control the situation, but she subdued them with
powerful narcotics and had her way with their rears!

That deep shame was engrained within their hearts, but they didn't think that before
they could find a way to retaliate, she would expose that dirty secret!

From now on, they could no longer stand straight within house Kracht! Alas, there
was no place for them to hide; otherwise, they would have already vanished from the
scene.

"Daphne, restraint!"

Konrad commanded, causing Daphne to stop her bullying and turn into an adorable
pet with beady eyes.

"Yes, daddy!"

"You two can follow me to the competition's site. But your cultivation is far too low
to participate. You can only support me from the sidelines."

Konrad then used his Transformation Skill to turn into a green-haired youth with
similar features to the Kracht and stepped into the main carriage.

His words caused the Kracht cousins to clench their fists in frustration. The
realization that they didn't have the skills to share his burdens causing discomfort
within their chests.

Iliana, in particular, found it hard to swallow as she was the reason for his
participation in the competition.

Still, no matter how harsh, it was the truth. In this competition, Grand Knights like
them would be all over the place. As for the leading characters, it would be the less
than fifty years old Arch Knights of the margrave and duke level houses!

However, as they brooded over their lack of skills, Konrad pulled them into the
carriage and enlaced them against his left and right.

"It's alright. Why do you even want to participate? Since you have me, you should
forget about struggling to enjoy a life of bliss and prosperity. Let me become your
sun and moon and hold the sky should it threaten to collapse."
Daphne found those words very pleasing to the ears and pressed her head tighter
against Konrad's chest with a contented smile.

Iliana, however, was of another mind.

"Humph! There is no way in hell I will ever settle for that. If my man must go on the
battlefield, I must follow him to slay his enemies!"
"Well, you better work hard. Your path to greatness starts in the bedroom, and I must
say you still have a lot to learn."

Konrad chortled, causing Iliana's cheek to redden in shame.

"Don't worry, I will teach her all she needs to know."

"Who needs to learn from you?"

"Hey, after all the bonding we did last time, you still have the face to act so high and
mighty? Sorry, it's no longer credible."

"You!"

Once again defeated, Iliana had nothing left to say.

Konrad then pulled out two harem rings and placed them on their fingers. Naturally,
their reactions wildly differed. While Daphne was elated, Iliana…

"Why do we have the very same ring?"

…couldn't stomach having the same model.

"It's my show of equal love. How can I say I love you all equally without giving you
the same rings? Naturally, they are not just ornaments. They also allow me to stay
connected to you and will alert me if anything happens."

Daphne cared very little about the ring's extra abilities. Rather, it was the thought of
receiving her first gift from her Konrad that caused butterflies to flutter within her
stomach.

Iliana wasn't so easily coaxed.

"Isn't that a spying device? I knew you shameless, but I didn't know you possessive."

"Why not just call it security?"

"If you don't want it, you might as well give it to me. Two is better than one."

Daphne offered, causing Iliana to firmly grasp her ring finger as if to protect it from
thievery.

"When did I say I didn't want it? Scram."

Efficient! Daphne's efficiency truly knew no bounds!

Impressed, Konrad gave her a pat on the head. She took that as an invitation and
started unbuckling his belt.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting my daily dose of milk. I don't know how long that contest will last so I must
make some provisions!"

Her clear, righteous tone caused Konrad to burst into laughter, and Iliana to wonder
where she got all that shamelessness from.

"Hahaha, alright, make as many provisions as you want."

"Wait, wait… I must help her to huh… make sure she doesn't huh… let it spill… yes."

Iliana soon joined the fray, and the Kracht cousins attacked Konrad's rod on two
fronts. The rest of the trip was action-packed.

The contest took place within the Holy Flame Temple. As the main seat of the Holy
Flame Church and core of the Divine Flame Lord's faith, the temple was a massive
edifice that stretched across several square miles and stood at almost three
thousand feet.

Supported by sky-high white pillars that reminisced of antique Greek architecture,

its entrance was open to all, but not many dared step inside.
Today, however, a crowd had gathered at the bottom of the staircase leading inside
while many others approached at breakneck speed.

More than one commoner was almost squashed by those rushing carriages that paid
no heed to the lives of the lowborn.

In fact, among the many carriages heading toward the Holy Flame Temple, beside the
Kracht, very few advanced at moderate speed.

Soon after they reached destination, the trio descended from the carriage. The first
thing to seize Konrad's attention was, of course, the Holy Flame Temple. In his past
life, he had never seen anything like it.

Dazzling white flames coiled around the high pillars in serpentine arcs while a large
white ball floated on top of the massive domed roof, emitting pure white mist and
light that swirled around the temple and gave it an air of divinity.

To say nothing of Konrad who witnessed it for the first time, even Daphne and Iliana
who'd already seen it before were awed.

It was the tallest building within the Holy Flame Empire, and it was rumored that on
its highest floor hid the country's greatest powerhouses!

But as they basked in the temple's glory, a mild voice echoed from their side.

"Isn't this house Kracht's team? Could it be lady Iliana I see from here?"

Nobility carriages all bore the emblems of their respective houses. Thus, they were
easily identifiable.

The voice came alongside tranquil steps and caused the trio to shift toward its origin.

It was a silver-eyed, handsome youth whose shoulder-length black hairs were held
in curls. Dressed in a lavish brocade robe, he possessed the cultivated air of
superiority that swirled around most children of high-nobility and did nothing to
conceal it.

"Koloman Slesinger?"

Having met him more than once, Iliana first recognized him. Instantaneously, her
gaze chilled.

Behind the youth was an ordered group of five people who tailed his footsteps with
deference.

Konrad activated his Origin Sight and swept the team with his gaze. The results were
impressive.

"Forty-six years old, second step Arch Knight, winged serpent race. The rest are all
between the ninth step Grand Knight and the first step Arch Knight Ranks."

Konrad excluded; this lineup was enough to crush the Kracht's team with confidence.

However, Koloman's gaze never glanced toward Konrad, remaining locked on Iliana
as if eying a prized possession.

"It's been a while lady Iliana. Once I heard of your return, I instantly wished to
welcome you with warm gifts. However, I had to delay my visit due to my father's
insistence on joining this competition. I hope you can understand."

His words would cause bystanders to believe there was a long-standing relationship
between them. Or at the very least, a form of friendship. But in Iliana's eyes, Konrad
saw only annoyance and disgust.

As for Daphne, after seeing the group's emblem and making a quick calculation, she
knew who they were dealing with.

"Who is he?"

Konrad asked her in a mental message.

"He is the fourth son of the Slesinger Duke. Although his father is a seventh step
Semi-Saint with vast lands and armies, he is an honorable man with clear morals. In
the past, when uncle was looking for potential matches for Iliana, he settled on house
Slesinger, believing that with the father's level of virtue and integrity, the child
couldn't be far behind.

And indeed on the outside, that man maintains an excellent disguise. Inwardly
though, he is nothing more than an obnoxious cunt."
"When asked about his opinion regarding marriage with Iliana, he first refused to
comment. Then in front of her and in the middle of a gathering of nobles, he…”

“…proclaimed that thanks to her appearance, he could forget his status and take her
as his concubine. However, a human half-breed could never be his wife…”

"But I guess that now that house Kracht's estates are at stake, a -human half-breed-
can become his wife. Despicable."

Daphne replied with rising disgust, and her words caused Konrad's eyes to glitter
with callousness.

"There is no relationship between us. Thus, there is no need for you to welcome me.
Don't cause unnecessary misunderstandings."

Iliana replied, her tone dry and filled with discomfort. Seeing the Slesinger and
Kracht emblems, a crowd had quickly gathered around them. Within was a mixture
of Briefadel and Uradel nobles who observed the scene with great interest.

"Hey, Koloman is really thick skinned. I still remember how he shamed the poor lass
in the middle of dozens of Uradel nobles for no reason whatsoever. Now today, with
his wife close by, he has the nerves to approach her and act as if nothing happened?
Impressive."

The one who spoke was a purple haired man with pitch-black eyes that seemed as
deep as the night sky. Snuggled against him was a beautiful woman of similar
features who observed the scene with disinterest.

"What about you Lars? Aren't you also looking for an opportunity to make a move? I
suppose that was I not here, you would already be over there."

"Haha, how could you say that…”

But they both knew she was right.

Undisturbed by Illiana's words and tone, Koloman stepped toward her, completely
ignoring the three "Kracht Champions" nearby and the green haired youth by her
side whom he assumed was another one of her kinsmen.

"There is, of course, a relationship. And a rather deep one at that. Weren't we almost
married? In fact, if it weren't for ill-intentioned people sowing discord, we would
now be husband and wife. I'm here to rectify…”

"Enough with the drivel. Your disgraceful presence irritates us all."

Koloman stopped dead in his tracks and fired a furious glare toward the origin of
those words.

Beside Konrad, who else could it be?

"You said what?!"

"I don't repeat myself to worms. You have three breaths to get lost."

"The galls! How dare you insult the son of a Duke?! Who the hell are you?"

Konrad sneered and channeled his spiritual energy within his fist.

"The one who will make you fly."

Those words caused Koloman to fly into rage and throw a palm at Konrad's face. But
before he could reach it, Konrad sidestepped, letting the palm graze his cheek while
sending a full-force punch right into Koloman's face.

Crack

His fist crashed into the nobleman's nose, shattered his nasal bones and like a
meteor, sent him flying through the air in a mesmerizing arc.
"Koloman!"

The remaining members of house Slesinger's team yelled as they witnessed

Koloman's flight. Before he could crash onto the ground, the two first step Arch
Knights among them rushed to catch him mid-air, managing to prevent further
damage.

A deathly silence imposed itself on the scene as the gathered nobles fell to stupor.

Although despicable, Koloman ranked among the most outstanding of the Holy
Flame Empire's nobility beneath the age of fifty. Even when taking the sovereign
prince houses and the imperial family into account, he was still in the top one
hundred.

To see such a character sent flying with one punch by a nobody was
incomprehensible.

Koloman's body trembled, not from pain, but from humiliation as he pressed his
hand against his broken nose and wiped off the blood trickling from it.

"It appears I underestimated you."

His eyes now ignored Iliana and focused solely on Konrad who stared at him with
naked condescendence.

"You are not worthy of estimating me."

Konrad's conceited words caused Koloman's lips to curl into a bone-chilling smile.

"Really? Let's see about that."

He freed himself from his teammates' grasp and slowly stood up. As he did, the wind
surrounding him seemed to blow faster, swirling around his body at soaring speed.
He stretched out his palm, summoning a long silver energy spear which he clasped
within his two hands and brought into a fighting sense.

"I officially challenge you to a duel. This is your last chance to kneel and beg for
mercy. Past this point, regardless of how much you wail, I will cripple you."

The wind seemed to echo his words and coiled around his spear in hissing sounds.

Worry flashed within Iliana's eyes, while Daphne was mortified.

Although she had seen Konrad crush higher level enemies at more than one
occasion, and defeat her father within the same level, she couldn't help but feel some
apprehension when the opponent was Koloman whose mastery over spiritual
energy and battle skills had long been proven.

As for Daphne, having never seen Konrad fight before, she was overwhelmed by
anxiety.

"Relax. There is nothing to worry about."

Konrad reassured, smelling the fear oozing from their bodies.

Light purple orbs burst from his form and swirled around him as he took a leisurely
step forward and cracked his knuckles.

"Duel accepted. Don't worry, I'm too kindhearted to let you beg for mercy. I will settle
for crippling you."

Koloman said nothing else and shot toward Konrad with his spear raised and thrust
toward his glabella. Konrad spun to let the blow pass him by and grabbed the pole
with his left hand while throwing a purple light charged fist straight toward
Koloman's cheek.

The wind currents swirling around the spear repelled Konrad's left hand, Koloman
crouched to evade the blow and drove the back-end of his spear toward Konrad's
lower abdomen.

He tore through Konrad's abdomen, only to realize that what he'd struck was
nothing more than an afterimage. The real Konrad had already reappeared behind
him with a kick toward his skull.
Bam Bam Bam

Like that, they exchanged dozens of blows in the split of a second, causing ripples to
spread through the air and crackle the ground.

But none could take advantage.

Bang

The wind force swirling around Koloman turned into sharp blades, Konrad's double
punch met the pole, and the two recoiled from the impact, respectively taking five
steps backward.

"What is his body made of?"

Koloman had expected his wind blades to cut through Konrad's fist like a knife
through butter. However, from start to now, he had yet to put a dent within that steel
like physique.

In fact, he had the uncomfortable sensation that Konrad was only dodging his blows
to not reveal the full extent of his resilience. That even if his spear thrusts did
connect, he couldn't harm him.

However, from that exchange of blows, he learned something valuable.

"You are a green-horn. I don't know how long you've been cultivating and who taught
you your skills, but something is clear."

"As far as controlling power, spiritual energy, and martial skills are concerned, you
are nothing more than a toddler still learning how to walk. Like a low-level demonic
beast, you move solely on instinct."

Koloman confidently declared, seeking to strike at Konrad's self-confidence.

However, he was disappointed to see Konrad's lips curl into a radiant smile.

"As for you, you are a weakling."

The calm statement caused annoyance to flash within Koloman's eyes. Due to the
Transformation Skill, he was unable to accurately judge Konrad's cultivation level;
however, he had a hunch it was lower than his by more than one level.

If that was true, he was currently struggling against an inferior. The thought was
sickening.

Worse, while he'd summoned his energy weapon from the get-go, Konrad was
fighting him barehanded!

The bystanders who failed to see the subtleties of the exchange could only stare
dazed. As for those who perfectly followed the confrontation, their thoughts were
similar to Koloman's.

"When did house Kracht breed such a talent? How come we've never heard of him
before? Could he be a weapon trained by Count Wolfgang?"

The woman within Lars' arms asked him in stupor.

"Possibly. However, if that's all he can offer, he will still get the short end of the stick."

Koloman and Lars had been rivals for decades. Therefore, he knew him better than
most.

And indeed, he was about to kick things up a notch.

"Whirlwind!"

The invisible winds swirling around Koloman expanded and morphed into a clear
white whirlwind from the base of his feet all the way to his head. Carried by the
whirlwind, he floated above the ground, but it didn't just serve as decoration.

Boom

Koloman merged with the whirlwind and barreled into Konrad at breakneck. Vast
white-purple light erupted from Konrad's form, he turned into a violet beam and
once again clashed with Koloman.

This time, he didn't seek to evade, meeting blow with blows, and power with power.
All the while, he studied Koloman's movements and fighting skills with his Origin
Sight.
Origin Sight's worth wasn't just in analyzing a person's body or spying from a
distance. Its true utility was to establish patterns. By observing the behavior of an
individual for a prolonged amount of time, the user could determine all their habits,
from how they rose from sleep to how they ate when they knew no one was
watching.

Of course, that included all their fighting stances and skills.

Unbeknown to Koloman, Konrad was drawing a clear map of his fighting style and
using it to perfect his own.

In the blink of an eye, they exchanged a hundred blows, but while it seemed like the
stalemate perdured. Apprehension was rising within Koloman's heart.

"Playtime's over."

The map was complete.

Konrad soared into the sky and descended onto Koloman's face with a knee blow.

Bang

The collision dispersed Koloman's whirlwind. Konrad's knee crashed into his face
and further mangled his already broken nose.

Koloman flew into the ground and cratered with blood gushing from his nose and
mouth. But before he could return to his feet, Konrad appeared by his side and threw
a vicious kick onto his chest!

"Energy armor!"

Koloman didn't want to summon his energy armor when Konrad had yet to bring out
his weapon, but right now, he could no longer care about any of that.

A jet-black scale armor covered his body and reduced most of the damage received
from Konrad's kick.

With a somersault, he returned onto his feet.

"Oh? Are you that desperate about becoming my punching bag? Alright, I will help
you."

Instantly, Konrad vanished from Koloman's sight, causing confusion to spread within
his eyes.

"Where… is he? How come I can no longer keep track of him?"

Unlike the space attribute, the light attribute couldn't be used for teleportation. No
matter how fast and instantaneous it looked, it was still speed. Therefore, Koloman
had full confidence he could follow Konrad's trails.

However, now he couldn't.

"Here."

Bam

A punch came from Koloman's left, dislocated his jaw, and sent him rolling onto the
ground.

"Here."

A kick struck him from the back of his head and propelled him forward.

"Here."

"Here."

"Here."

Konrad's voice echoed within the air with dozens of afterimages as he beat Koloman
black and blue.

Thanks to the energy armor, Koloman avoided severe injuries, but his dignity had
been crushed into nothingness.

"AAAAARGH!"

He howled as Konrad's foot stomped his head and nailed him onto the ground in a
humiliating position.
"Shut up."

Konrad flipped Koloman onto his back with another kick and smashed his foot into
his teeth.

"MHM!"

More than one tooth broke, the disgraced nobleman's blood now covering Konrad's
heels.

Silence once again reigned within the crowd.

"How could this be? Why did the table turn so suddenly… and so brutally?"

Lars wondered as he witnessed his long-time rival crushed beneath the newcomer's
heel.

Boom

Berserk force burst from Koloman's body and pushed Konrad away from him.

"I… will… kill you!"

Koloman's eyes shone with killing intent, a gigantic illusory winged serpent
appeared at his back and lifted him onto his feet.

He was about to use his race's innate ability to end Konrad's life. But before, he could
make use of it…

"HALT!"

A voice thundered, carrying with it boundless might that suppressed both Konrad
and Koloman.

All switched attention toward its origin, which turned out to be a middle-aged man
dressed in a spacious yellow cassock, and seeing the white flame emblem
embroidered on its chest, the gathered nobles bowed in reverence.

"Greetings your Excellency!"

The man was a bishop of the Holy Flame Church and therefore, a Semi-Saint. Be it in
status or in cultivation, he was leagues above any of them.
"What is the meaning of this? At the doorstep of the Holy Flame Temple, under the
watchful gaze of the Divine Flame Lord, you dare act unruly?!"

The bishop's words carried formless holy force that further oppressed both Koloman
and Konrad.

The illusory winged serpent at Koloman's back vanished, and he fell onto his knees.
As for Konrad, the level of strength used was only enough to make him tremble,
however, to avoid provoking the Semi-Saint any more, he feigned weakness and
knelt.

"Bishop Alto, this…”

"Silence!"

Bishop Alto cut Koloman in his attempt to justify himself. He was relatively short,
standing only at a modest 1.65 meters. However, his aura refined through a thousand
years of cultivation caused most to be unable to look down on him.

"Your reasons are irrelevant, and I will warn you all only once. Regardless of your
background, when you reach the temple's staircase, the only things in you should be
humility and reverence. Otherwise, no matter how mighty, your elders cannot save
you. Now, follow me!"

Bishop Alto spat, flung his sleeves and led the way toward the temple's inside.
Without hesitation, the contestants followed him, crossed the stairs and walked into
the Holy Flame Temple.

Marble white walls painted with humanoid flame winged creatures awaited them
within. Some couldn't help but let their gaze drift onto the paintings, representations
of the elemental beings serving the Divine Flame Lord's will, while others cared very
little and remained focused on the road ahead.
"The spiritual energy here is hundreds of times purer than in the outside."

Konrad appraised, and soon, they reached an altar surrounded by four fifteen feet
tall pedestals each lighted by bright white flames. Above the altar floated a white orb
alike the one hovering above the temple's roof.

"This is where the chosen of the winning team will receive the Holy Flame Baptism."

Bishop Alto flatly said before leading the way toward another location. This time, he
brought the troop across a corridor through which they reached a spacious room
where another bishop awaited by the side of a human-sized blue prism.

"And this is where the first part of the competition will be conducted."

Alto's index aimed at the human-sized prism floating by his fellow bishop's side.
Incomprehension flashed within some of the contestant's eyes, but soon, it was
replaced by enlightenment.

"It should be a space treasure."

Konrad explained toward Daphne and Iliana.

Even among the nobility, space treasures were few and far between. The main
reason was that they were not produced within the Holy Flame Empire, but mostly
came from the Space Temple within the Great Void Empire. Therefore, many of the
gathered individuals had never been exposed to one beforehand.

"First, we will register your names, assess your age, number of teammates and
cultivation levels to make sure you fit the requirements before officially starting the
competition. By the way, in case you possess one, you're not allowed to bring in
space treasures or anything besides what we provide you with.

Another team is already waiting at the testing location. Follow me."

The bishop standing by the floating prism's side never said a word, and his gaze also
never seemed to fall onto the contestants as if none of this had anything to do with
him.

Clearly, he'd rather be someplace else.

Alto brought his troop through another corridor and reached the testing hall where
the team he mentioned was standing in front of a sky-blue tower. Alto stepped
toward a nearby desk and sat while pulling out a paper list and ink.

Meanwhile, all the contestants he brought with him stared at the present team with
dread.

There were nine of them in total, and all were contestants. Such a quota was
reserved solely for the imperial family!

Each possessed the textbook translucent skin, silky silver hairs, and eyes of the
paragon spirit race.

Each brimmed with power and confidence.

At their helm were two people dressed in the golden robes reserved for the imperial
princes. Seeing them, Konrad's eyes shone with confusion.

"Who are those two?"

"The fifth prince, Holger von Jurgen and the ninth prince Nils von Jurgen."

Iliana replied to Konrad's inquiry.

Konrad's eyes ignored the fifth prince to focus on the ninth. A slender youth with a
piercing, sword-like gaze, he held himself with a military discipline that seemed out
of place on one so young.

In fact, was it not for the long silver hairs that fell below his waist and the enchanting
face whose beauty rivaled that of Iliana's, he would have given the impression of a
young military general.

But the more Konrad looked at him, the more he felt something amiss, so he used his
Origin Sight to clarify the ninth prince's characteristics.

"Are you sure he's a prince?"

"Of course, he is well known as the most outstanding imperial prince with talent
rivaling the current Crown Prince. Why such a question?"
Konrad turned a confused glare toward Iliana, a glare that made her wonder if there
was something wrong with her face.

"What's wrong with you? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Why? What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you! This is obviously a princess.
How does such beauty pass off as a prince?! Are you all blind or retarded?!"

"Huh?"

Iliana stared blankly for an instant, then switched her gaze toward the "ninth prince"
to observe him more closely.

"Hum, I know his face is deceiving, but you shouldn't get swindled by it. Why would
the imperial family pass off a princess as a prince when they are already eight before
him? Regardless of his looks, he has to be a prince."

At times, the confidence within her tone wavered as the ninth prince's fairy like face
seemed to say otherwise.

“…yes. It wouldn't be the first time an androgynous man with beauty eclipsing
women's appears within the world. Why make such a fuss?"

Konrad was astonished. Was he truly the only one seeing through this farce?

"Daphne, what do you think about the ninth prince?"

"Hum, he's prettier than most women I've met in my life."

"So? Doesn't that tell you he's probably a she?"

"How could that be possible? He's probably just one of those rare men born with
female faces. Don't tell me you got trapped."

"Aaaargh!"

Konrad would have flipped a table if one stood in front of him. Unfortunately, none
did.

It was then that Bishop Alto's voice echoed within the hall.
"I will now call the registered houses. When I do, the concerned contestants should
line up in front of the tower, give their names and press their hands onto it."

"As for the spectators, they can stand on the side. Later, they will be sent to the
lodgings assigned for them."

"House Spitzer!"

"Here!"

The concerned group stepped forward. There were only three people, showing that
house Spitzer was of the viscount level. Viscount level houses had three quotas,
count level houses had four, the margrave level had five, and the duke level had six.

As for sovereign prince level houses, they had eight, but none was present.

One after the other, they gave their names and had their age and cultivation level
tested by the tower.

"House…”

Repeatedly, the groups went forward to register names and go through the
assessment. First, it was the viscount level houses. Then it was the count level
houses. This went on until finally…

"House Kracht!"

Alongside house Kracht's three fillers, Konrad stepped toward the sky-blue tower.
Having witnessed the thrashing Koloman received at his hands, the three fillers
stood behind him with politeness and deference.

"Name?"

"Anselm Kracht."

Konrad called the name he'd settled on with Wolfgang and stepped toward the tower.

As soon as he pressed his hands onto it, the tower shone with sky-blue light that
condensed data on top of Konrad's head.

"Age: 17."

"Cultivation level: Sixth Step Grand Knight, Sixth Step Grand Priest."

Without delay, the Semi-Saint recorded the information. However, the gathered
individuals who still recalled the previous battle were terror-stricken.

"Se-seventeen… just… at the Grand level? Five… five levels below me? Impossible…
impossible!"

Koloman struggled to say through his teeth while staring incredulously at the data
above Konrad's head.

The eyes of his peers then turned toward him, and all looked at him with a gaze that
seemed to be saying.

"Dude, you have lived in vain."

Even his wife by his side had lost all respect for him. And seeing all those unbearable
stares, Koloman staggered. His cheeks burned, and his mouth was filled with the iron
taste of blood he almost spurted.

The testing carried on until only one group remained. Naturally, it was the von
Jurgen. And after they registered, Konrad realized the competition was fierce. The
ninth prince aside, even the weakest among them were second step Arch Knights. As
for the strongest, it was the fifth prince.

"Forty-five years old, fourth step Arch Knight."

Without further breakthroughs or the use of his lineage weapon, Konrad couldn't
defeat him.

As for the ninth "prince," he was both at the ninth step Grand Knight and Grand
Priest Ranks. However, the pressure he gave Konrad surpassed that of many of the
present Arch Knights.
Following the assessment, it was time for the contestants to bid farewell to their
supporters.

"Take care of this spatial pouch for me."

Konrad said while putting his space treasure into Iliana's hand.

"As for you Daphne, don't cause trouble while I'm gone."

Both looked at him with worried eyes.

"You must be careful. We don't know what kind of creatures you will encounter
within that space world. Also, you may have to worry about the other teams' plotting
too. Please remain prudent."

Iliana urged with a trembling voice. As for Daphne, she grabbed Konrad's arm and
leaned onto his shoulder.

"I can't bear to leave you…”

"It's only for a few days. Just wait for my good news."

"Mhm."

The supporters were led to their assigned quarters, and the contestants brought
back to the prism holding room.

The ninth "prince's" gaze locked onto Konrad for an instant, a hint of interest
flashing within. Judging by the numbers, they were both the youngest and most
outstanding contestants. Therefore, paying attention to him was natural.
"Nils are you interested in that boy?"

Asked the fifth prince in a mental message.

"Just a bit curious. Why have we never heard of a martial and spiritual dual talent
emerging from house Kracht in the last decade?"

"Who knows? Maybe the Kracht fox wished to train him in secret for this very
competition? In any case, it matters not."

A light chuckle escaped the fifth prince's lips as his gaze passed by Konrad.

"Do you want to befriend him? He's only one year younger than you, and his talent
isn't far behind. Maybe you could finally make a friend."

"Fifth brother, please don't tease me. My sword is the only friend I need. That said,
shouldn't you show more concerns? He seems awfully close to the woman you're
supposed to woo."

Unlike what Wolfgang believed, it was the fifth and not the ninth prince that had
been selected to get Iliana's hand. However, hearing Nils' words, Holger merely
curled his lips into a smile.

"Let them be. We want her house, not her heart. All pretenses of courtship and
courtesy are unnecessary.

Regardless of who she may yearn for, the day I present myself with father's marriage
decree, what can she do besides giving herself to me?"

To this, Nils had nothing to say.

"Why did father allow you to take on this task? Wouldn't it be appropriate to choose
among our seventh and eighth brothers?"

The fifth prince, Holger, the ninth prince, Nils, and the crown prince Elmar were all
born of the same mother. Their relationship was also the closest among all the
imperial princes. Elmar and Holger, in particular, were bound by unequaled
brotherly love. For the sake of helping his elder brother achieve his dreams, there
was nothing Holger couldn't do.
Thus, allowing him to take Iliana was no different than giving the crown prince a
new pair of wings.

"Father is not afraid of Elmar having too much power. He's afraid of him not having
enough."

The contestant groups now stood in front of the blue prism waiting for bishop Alto's
instructions.

"There are twenty-seven groups and one-hundred-eight contestants in total. After

the first trial, only thirty will remain."

"We will transport you to the lowest level of the prism world. You have three days to
collect the skulls of as many demonic beasts as possible. The top thirty point earners
will go on to the second round.

"However, there is an additional requirement. By the end of the third day, there must
be no living demonic beast left within the first and second levels of the prism world.
If there are any, you all fail!"

At first, the contestants were only mildly surprised, but by the time Alto's final words
settled within their minds, unease took over. They exchanged glances, seeing the
same apprehension within each other's eyes.

"Are you asking us to both compete and cooperate? How is that viable?"

One contestant couldn't help but ask the question trotting within everyone's mind.

"How you do it is up to you; we only care about the end result. If by the end of the
third day there are still demonic beasts left within the first and second level,
regardless of accumulated points, you all fail. It's that simple."

"All things connected to demonkind deserve slaughter. It is your right and duty to
bring them the righteous sword of our Divine Lord and pass judgment onto their
damned souls.

Today it is those demonic beasts, tomorrow it will be the barbarian heathens!"

Konrad was impressed. He had not expected the church to make use of the
competition to further indoctrinate the nobility's youth.

Bishop Alto then motioned toward the table by the prism's side. On top of it was a
collection of brown rings.

"We will now check for any unnecessary item you might have before loaning you a
space ring. They each possess ten cubic meters of space, and you can use them to
store the skulls. Right now, they contain nothing besides a map, and the number of
points you receive depending on the beast's rank."

"Any question?"

"What about the third and fourth levels? And how do we know when we go from a
level to another?"

"The limits of each level are drawn on the maps. You can try the third level if you feel
confident in your strength. As for the fourth, go if you seek death."

"If there is nothing else, step forward!"

One after the other, the groups were checked for items, then received their allocated
space rings. It was time for the competition to start.

The gaze with which the contestants looked at one another was now full of complex
thoughts.

They were no longer merely competitors. It was now imperative to consider when to
compete and when to join hands. Some alliances were most likely already being
formed through mental messages.

In the span of a few seconds, Konrad received several offers of alliance from the
viscount and count level houses and even a few from the margrave level, but he
rejected them all.

His main goal within this competition was to temper himself through battle with
fierce beasts. He didn't wish to get burdened by unnecessary help.

"We will now send you to the prism world. Best of luck and may the Divine Flame
Lord guide your blades during this journey."
Alto and his fellow bishop pressed their hands onto the blue prism, causing dazzling
rays to spread within the room and blind all the contestants. By the time they
recovered their sight, they stood at the entrance of a dark-green forest from which
they could feel vast, beastly energy signatures emanating.

The weaker among them still looked for support and alliances, the strongest groups,
however, didn't hesitate to dive in.

Led by Holger and Nils, the von Jurgen were the first to step inside. Following them
were the Slesinger, with Koloman not forgetting to glower at Konrad for good
measure.

"Before we start tracking down the beasts, we should first assess the perimeter. I say
we take a few hours to do this so that the next days are easier to handle."

One of the three Kracht fillers began, seeking Konrad's approval. He, however, had
other plans.

"Fair enough, but there is no 'we.'"

"Good luck."

Konrad turned into a purple beam and vanished within the forest, leaving the three
dumbstruck.

"Wait… boss please wait!"

They tried to run after him but were far too slow to catch his trail.
The extensive, dark green area of trees breathed in a cold, silent breeze that would
put most inexperienced folks ill at ease.

"Interesting, the time here flows differently than in the outside. There should be time
shards powering this world from the inside."

"If you can collect them, you can turn a space treasure of your choice into a space
and time treasure."

"What's the ratio?"

"Three days here equals one day in the outside."

Konrad negatively shook his head.

"The risk is too high for such a low reward. Let's not even mention that I can
probably obtain a time treasure in a different, more straightforward way. Even if I
couldn't, what's the point of snatching something I most likely can't keep upon
returning to the outside?

This is clearly asking for trouble."

The Flame Mark had nothing else to say.

Konrad activated his Origin Sight and scanned the area for demonic beasts. His sight
could cover a three kilometers radius and detect all life within. Thus, the task was
simple.

There were many scattered low-level demonic beasts within the first level, but most
remained out of plain sight.

Konrad pulled out the point chart and did a quick calculation.
"Lesser Beast = 1 point

Intermediate Beast = 5 points

Voracious Beast = 10 points

Superior Beast = 50 points

Monstrous Beast = 200 points"

The cultivation system for demonic beasts was naturally different from the other
sentient races. However, the number of realms were the same.

Lesser Beasts were equivalent to the Initiate Rank, while Monstrous Beasts matched
the Arch Rank.

Unlike humans, demonic beasts naturally grew into magic. Starting with the
Voracious Beast Rank, they unlocked spells specific to their own lineage which made
them stronger than normal humans of the same level.

"According to the given information, the first level contains Lesser and Intermediate
Beasts. The second level contains Voracious and Superior Beasts. As for the third
level, it's only Monstrous Beasts."

"Then I suppose the fourth level contains Accursed Beasts."

Equivalent to the Transcendent Rank, Accursed Beasts were not something Konrad
could deal with. They were not only powerful creatures, but intelligent and capable
of speech.

Therefore, he had no intention to rush into the fourth level and court death.
However, he also didn't want to waste time farming low-level monsters when his
goal was to tamper himself.

"I will first spend two days within the third level to amass as many points as
possible. Then I will return to the first and second to assess the situation. If there are
still beasts to hunt, then hunt them I shall."

He rushed toward the edge of the first level, and dived into the second, before
making his way toward the third.
If within the first and second level, beasts were aplenty and lurked behind all
corners, within the third level, they were much more difficult to spot. However, there
still was a fair amount of them.

And they all craved fresh meat.

Konrad's silent arrival at the third level raised no alarm. He lurked within the
shadows and used his Origin Sight to choose his prey.

"Found you!"

He smiled upon spotting a beast that perfectly fit his current requirements and shot
toward it.

The Scarlet Pangolin had just finished tearing his prey to shreds and feasting on its
carcass when something emerged from the shadows and struck it with a ferocious
kick.

Bam

The pangolin was sent spiraling into the air and crashed on a nearby tree. Its stupor
didn't last for long, and in a flip, it was back on its limbs with its fuming red eyes
locked on the assailants.

Naturally, that assailant was Konrad.

"Not even a dent."

Scarlet Pangolins were known both for their astounding resilience and formidable
destructive power. This one was a low-level Monstrous Beast with a battle power
similar to a second level Arch Knight. However, even a third level Arch Knight would
have a lot of trouble breaking through its hide.

The pangolin made a menacing huff and bared its claws.

It pounced onto Konrad, aiming for his throat at speed inconsistent with its massive
build.
"Energy Weapon!"

Konrad bent to avoid the blow, summoned a two meters long war hammer, and sent
it crashing into the pangolin's face.

Bang

The beast flew into the air from the impact. Still, the damage was minimal, and
before Konrad could get any time to breathe, it was back onto him.

"Your energy is dispersed. Learn to focus it at the edge of your blow, to gather
everything within a single point to deliver maximum damage."

The Flame Mark's voice echoed within his mind.

Konrad swirled on one side, causing the pangolin to crash into the ground in a loud
explosion of dust, and channeled his spiritual energy within his hammer. His energy
overflowed from every pore of his body, wild, and unrestrained.

But now it was time to learn how to restrain and entirely focus it within his blows
and moves.

He breathed in, holding his hammer within his hands, and drawing input from his
previous battles against the likes of Wenzel, Koloman, and even his small match with
Wolfgang.

In particular, Wolfgang's knowledge and experiences were now all within his mind.
Knowledge and experiences he could tap in to build his own understanding of
spiritual energy control.

However, the pangolin gave him no time to do so.

Red and brown light swirled around its body as it rushed back toward Konrad, intent
on tearing him to shreds with terrifying claw strikes.

Using his superior speed, Konrad dodged blows after blows, but staying on the
defensive, he kept losing ground and was quickly getting cornered. Droplets of
sweats trickled on his forehead.

The pangolin sensed its advantage and threw an all-out frontal blow toward
Konrad's chest.

But as the blow approached dangerously close to his heart, Konrad's lips curled into
a smile.

"All current can flow backward, all force can be reversed."

He raised his hammer in a counter. The metallic edge colliding with the pangolin's
claws in a silent clash.

Yes, no noise spread from the collision. And instead of going berserk, the energy
released by the pangolin was absorbed by the hammer and returned with ten times
the might.

The Scarlet Pangolin's claws shattered, and it flew backward with blood spurting
from its maw and its body shivering from internal damage.

Having regained the initiative, Konrad wasn't going to let it catch its breath. He
condensed his spiritual energy at the metallic edge of his hammer and flew at the
pangolin to deliver a fatal blow.

Sensing death approaching with great strides, the pangolin slammed the ground
with its tail.

Three brown circles appeared around its body and rippled with magical power.

The earth cracked, walls rose to protect the pangolin and resist Konrad's onslaught.

"A third circle spell?"

Spell levels were divided into circles. Before the True Priest Rank, humans couldn't
use spells and magical power was more of an embellishment than a useful tool.

Starting with the True Priest Rank, however, they could use first circle spells. At the
Arch Priest Rank, third circle spells were the standard. Therefore, Konrad wasn't
surprised to see the pangolin able to use one.

He struck the earthen wall with his hammer, shattering it in an ear-splitting blow.

Three new circles appeared around the pangolin, red ones this time. It opened its
maw and released massive, scalding pure red flames that caused the surroundings'
temperature to skyrocket and flew toward Konrad at breakneck speed.

"Third Circle Spell: Inverted Light Mirror!"

Three white-purple circles emerged by Konrad's side, and in a purple haze, a white-
purple light mirror appeared in front of him.

The mirror swallowed all the pangolin's flames and spit them out in a stream of
icicles that pierced through the pangolin's scales and nailed it into a tall tree.

Its blood gushed forth, it struggled to free itself, but resistance was futile, and life
soon left it.

"No hard feelings."

Konrad collected its skull and left for another prey. But as he got a better grasp of
spiritual energy and his Energy Reversal Technique, the third level of the Demonic
Beast Forest was turning into hell for those creatures unfortunate enough to fall into
his radar.
While Konrad's hands bathed in the blood of the third level's Monstrous Beasts, the
other contestants were not staying idle.

The weaker nobles at the low and mid-level Grand Knight Ranks formed
Extermination Teams to slaughter all the beasts at the first level while those of the
high-level Grand Knight Ranks did the same at the second level. All clung on the hope
that they could replace quality with quantity and at least send one of them to the
competition's next step.

However, among the Arch Knights of the margrave and duke-level houses, many
chose to try their luck within the third level.

As for the imperial family's team, they, of course, did the same.

The fifth prince had just returned from dealing with a low-level Monstrous Beast
when he realized someone was missing within the team.

"Where is Nils?!"

His bark almost caused his subordinates to jump from fright.

"Huh… he was here not long ago…”

“…we… don't know when he left…”

"Imbeciles!"

The two who'd just spoken were sent crashing onto the ground by two violent slaps
that left burning red marks on their cheeks.

Holger's eyes were bloodshot, and veins beat on his temple.

"You better find and bring him back within the next hour. Otherwise, should
anything befall him, none of you can escape with your lives!"

The seriousness of his threat was evident. Therefore, they didn't dare delay and
scattered in two groups to look for the ninth prince's whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Nils had decided to test her skills in a solo hunt. Although she still was at
the Grand Rank, she was confident in her ability to defeat low-level Monstrous
Beasts and avoid coming across stronger ones.

However, she knew her overprotective brother would never grant her the
opportunity to truly test herself. So, she could only sneak out!

At the moment, she was lost in a fierce battle against a Nether Leopard, unaware that
from the shadows, several gazes were locked on her.

"Koloman, do you really want to do this?"

Asked one of the Arch Knights among Koloman's teammates.

They'd unwittingly come across the scene of the ninth prince fighting a Monstrous
Beast and initially planned to ignore it and carry on with their business. However,
who would have thought that Koloman would order them to stop and observe the
scene from the shadows, then wait for an opportunity to strike the ninth prince
down!

"What? Afraid?"

The coldness within Koloman's tone made it clear that if they showed hesitation,
their future was in jeopardy.

"Before the paragon spirits appeared, we winged-serpents ruled this land! However,
a hundred thousand years ago they appeared out of nowhere and with their false
holy church leading them, slaughtered us en masse and forced all the noble serpent
clans into submission!

But not content of taking away our lands, they had the audacity to take the 'tamed
winged-serpent' as the symbol of their house!"

Koloman snapped with deep rancor, his words causing fury to suppress the
apprehension within his fellows' hearts.

"Look, look at his robe, look at that symbol! That glaring shame! Even today, in spite
of our allegiance, they still openly scorn us as if reminding the world of how they
subjugated our ancestors was their most ardent desire! Our elders may be able to
swallow this shame, but I cannot!

A good von Jurgen is a dead von Jurgen!

All paragon spirits should die!"

However, not everyone had lost their minds.

"This is something even your maternal grandfather, Sovereign Prince Huber Voight
would not dare. Let's not even discuss the consequences of an imperial prince's
death. We have no way to hide our identities! What if he manages to escape and
reports back to the fifth prince? My life is not much, but I will not see my entire
family exterminated for such petty, misguided revenge!"

Immediately, the outraged men were cooled. However, Koloman's next words gave
them no way back.

"You only have two choices, either come with me or kill me if you can. In any case,
today I must slay an imperial prince!"

Nils was wrapping up her battle and delivering a fatal blow to her prey when she felt
a distortion within the air coming from her back.

“…shit."

After slaying his seventh Monstrous Beast, Konrad chose to rest and meditate on his
gains.

He found himself a secluded spot beneath a tree and sat cross-legged to refine his
discoveries and solidify his foundation.
"You're a fast learner. It's evident that his majesty's blood runs through you."

"Hey, don't blame my awesomeness on that distant seed-planter I will most likely
never meet in a lifetime.

You can just blame it on me."

"D-distant… seed-planter? Bold! How dare you disrespect his majesty? Do you know
how many demon gods would kill for the privilege of being his blood?"

To the Flame-Mark's outrage, Konrad paid little attention.

"I don't know, and I don't care. Why would I give a damn about some random demon
gods' daddy iss-?"

But before he could finish his words, the sound of heavy footsteps approached at
breakneck speed.

Konrad cast his gaze toward its origin and was surprised to see the ninth "prince"
fleeing a group of six assailants with two gaping wounds. In a flash, Konrad vanished
into the shadows.

With two gaping wounds, one of which was at her thigh, Nils' speed had been
shrinking all along. However, she couldn't afford to slow down and mustered all her
strength to escape from Koloman's team.

But to no avail.

Taking advantage of her speed loss, the six team members of house Slesinger
encircled her, blocking all paths of retreat.

Koloman stood at her front with a victorious smile.

"Ninth prince. I'm afraid this is the end of your struggle. Just obediently surrender
your life."

The self-satisfaction within those words made Nils' blood boil and caused fury to
shine on her outraged face.

"Why? Why plot against me? I have no grievance with you. House Slesinger has been
for generations a loyal vassal of the imperial family. For what reason do you wish to
take my life?"

Her clenched fists trembled, and blood dripped from her lips, chest, and thigh.

"Hahahaha! Reason? He's asking for a reason?!"

Koloman went from elated to infuriated in a heartbeat and aimed his index at the
slouching winged-serpent embroidered on Nils' robe.

"This! This is the reason! Every step you take insults my people's dignity. What? Did
you think the mighty winged-serpent race was content being used as the banner of
your house?!"

"A day will come when we take back what is ours. But for now, I will satisfy myself by
spilling your wretched blood! If you want to blame something, blame your lineage!"

There was a deep, personal hatred in Koloman's voice that clearly went beyond what
he seemed to be targeting.

However, Nils could pay no attention to that.

"Hahaha. So, this turns out to be nothing more than the struggle of the defeated ant.
Disappointing…”

"Say what you will, the result is set in stone."

Feeling that he was about to take the life of one of those von Jurgens he hated so
viscerally, Koloman was wild with joy.

Although Nils managed to run across a short distance, from the sneak attack till now,
everything went relatively smoothly.

He could now vent some of the hatred within his heart!

He aimed his spear at Nils' heart and was about to deliver the final blow when a slow
clapping sound echoed from his back.

Claps Claps Claps

Instantaneously, all the gathered individuals turned to face the clapping's origin and
Nils' aside, all were mortified to see the green haired teenaged youth standing with
his back leaning against a tree.

"You? What the hell are you doing here? How come we didn't see you before?"

Toward Koloman's stupor, Konrad replied with a mild laugh.

"Haha, I'm afraid someone of your level can only see me if I allow him to."

He took a step forward and appeared by Nils' side.

"You? Alas…”

At first, when she heard the clapping sound, Nils had expected the sight of her elder
brother, or at least someone able to bring the news back to him. But seeing that the
interruption came from Konrad, she lost all hope in survival.

With his cultivation level, there was no way he could reverse the situation.

"Heaven is really helping me today. Go, kill them both!"

Koloman roared, causing his teammates to pounce onto Konrad with weapons
drawn.

However, Konrad remained undaunted.

"Helping you? Tss, tss, I'd say I don't know how many times you have been cursed by
heaven to come across me at this critical moment.

Third Circle Spell: Judgment Lotus."

Konrad lifted his palm, causing three white-violet circles to appear around him.

A violet lotus rose from his palm, it bloomed, releasing dazzling rays of white light
that spread across a hundred-meter radius.

"AAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

The five assailants howled as their eyes burned into nothingness and life left their
collapsing bodies.
Konrad made sure to focus his spell's offensive power on the five to avoid harming
either Nils or Koloman.

"A mid-grade Third Circle Spell? This… how could it be?"

Koloman staggered and fell on his rear. Although he possessed no affinity for magic,
as a nobleman of a duke's house. He was well versed on the topic. Using a spell
whose level surpassed the caster's cultivation was in theory not impossible, but the
results were often disastrous.

Spells first drained the mind, and when it didn't have enough to offer, they siphoned
the body, sucking as much life force as necessary to power the circles.

Konrad's spiritual cultivation was only at the Grand Priest Rank. To use a third circle
spell of the lowest grade should at best cause him to cripple himself and at worse to
die from exhausting his lifeforce.

However, he was safe and sound.

To say nothing of Koloman, even Nils, a spiritual cultivator, had a hard time
comprehending the current scene.

"Unless… his physique is powerful enough to completely ignore the strain. But how
could that be?"

Konrad paid no heed to their stupor and shifted his attention back onto Nils.

"Apologies."

Before she could register his voice, he struck the middle of her forehead with his
index, causing a stream of spiritual energy to infiltrate her mind and knock her out.

His eyes then fell back on Koloman.

"Do you want to live?"

Those five words restored the gravity of the situation within Koloman's mind.

Sweat quickly spread on his forehead while his limbs trembled, and his eyes
widened from fright.

"I already told you, I don't like repeating myself."

"Yes, yes I want to live! Please spare me!"

Konrad's lips curled into a radiant smile.

"That will depend on your performance. My offer is simple. Your freedom in

exchange for your life."

The pentagrams and demonic glyphs of the Master-Servant contract flew into the air,
carrying with them clear demonic energy signature. Sensing it, Koloman almost
soiled his pants.

"Demonic… demonic energy… you are… of demonic blood. The Divine Lords have
mercy on me."

"Hahaha, mercy is in short supply. Only my will can save you.

If you choose to willingly sign a contract of eternal servitude, I can spare your life
and take you as my servant. That is your only road to survival."

Konrad's nonchalant stance and indifferent tone further oppressed Koloman who
didn't doubt his desire to behead him.

Instinctively, he crawled toward Konrad's feet and kowtowed, keeping his face firmly
pressed against the ground in a show of deference.

"I… just want to live. Whatever you want from me, I will give without a second
thought."

His lips quivered, fear coating his every word. In the face of death, there was no trace
of dignity left within his body.
Seeing his pathetic display, Konrad sneered.

"Tss, tss, tss. Where is the might and arrogance with which you portrayed yourself?
What about the dignity of an Uradel noble? You won't even try to resist?"

If his words caused discomfort within Koloman's heart, he showed none of it.

"I won't take the chance. To be dignified, you first need to breathe. All is smoke and
ashes once you're dead. And I cannot die… at least not until I slake my thirst for von
Jurgen blood."

The hatred within the last words was as clear as a waterfall.

"Very well then, let's sign the contract."

The words were spoken, the pledges made, and the Master-Servant contract
established.

"Now, I will not take your life, but considering that you've humiliated my woman in
the past and harassed her in the present, you can't escape punishment.

Castrate yourself, remove everything and scram. When I need you, I will let you
know."

Koloman's eyes widened in disbelief. The thought of losing his manhood filled him
with dread. However, Konrad's words echoed like divine commands he couldn't
resist. He summoned an energy dagger and sliced off both his balls and rod.

"AAAAAAARGH!"

Blood gushed from his groins and his scream pierced the sky. Without another word,
Koloman dragged his bloodied, emasculated body and left.

"Why not just kill him?"

The System's voice echoed within Konrad's mind.

"Dead he serves no purpose. Alive, the possibilities are many. Since I can make us of
him, why waste his worth? Planting a spy within a duke's house is not easy.
Moreover, dying is simple. It is living that is difficult. Fret not, I have plenty of
hardships in stores for him."

"You truly are a demon."

"Naturally."

Konrad placed Nils on his shoulder and left for a more secluded location.

Nils woke up to the sight of Konrad half-kneeling by her side. His face stood
dangerously close, and his lips almost brushed hers.

"What are you doing?"

She yelped and tried to step away but realized she was far too weak to make a move.

"Relax, I'm just admiring beauty."

His serious tone and lack of apparent ulterior motive caused Nils to blink for a few
seconds.

"You're admiring a man's beauty? I didn't think you'd swing that way."

Konrad lightly chuckled and shook his head from left to right.

"Shouldn't you first thank me for saving your life?"

"Humph! If it wasn't for those despicable worms using my fight with a Monstrous
Beast to sneak-attack me, I could have butchered them in less than ten moves!"

Nils snorted, but seeing the skepticism within Konrad's eyes, she was outraged.

"What? You don't believe me? Let's fight! Today I must show you my might!"

She tried to stand up, only to fall back on her butt due to her wounds and current
weakness.

"Ouch! Why didn't you stop me? When the ill try to stand, shouldn't you as the
caretaker coax and keep them down? Useless…”

She complained while rubbing her sore butt.

Konrad was speechless.

"Hum, hum. In any case, I must thank you for saving me. Your merits are not small,
you just saved the Holy Flame Empire's number one treasure. Don't worry, when we
return to the outside, I will ask my father to properly reward you!"

"Brat-Prince."

Konrad didn't know what to say and thus, spoke the first few words that crossed his
mind. It had been a long time since he came across someone who thought so highly
of themselves!

Wasn't this the perfect example of a spoiled brat?

"What did you say? By the way, aren't you the one that knocked me out? Also, what
did you do with the bastard serpent?"

Konrad ignored the questions and turned his attention to the severely wounded left
thigh.

Without warning, he tore off the fabric around the wounded part and lifted Nils' leg.

"What are you doing?"

Confusion flashed within her eyes as she saw his face approach increasingly closer to
her wounded thigh.

"Healing you. Don't worry, it's not going to hurt."

Without another word, Konrad planted a kiss on the wounded part of Nils' thigh.

"What the hell? Damn sexual deviant let go of…”

But before Nils could finish her complaint, pink mist spread from Konrad's lips and
dived into her wound. A gentle, soothing force spread through her body and warmed
her from the inside.
"Ahh… that feels good… really good. Don't stop…”

The Flesh Healing Kiss was one of the rewards Konrad obtained from the system and
allowed him to heal external wounds with a kiss.

The kiss carried on for a minute before the wound fully healed, and Konrad retracted
his lips.

"Wait… why did you stop?"

"You're healed."

"Are you sure about that? I can swear I still feel sore. You should double check."

Nils waved her leg at Konrad's face with doe eyes, causing his lips to curl into a
mischievous smile.

"Don't worry. We still have your chest wound to deal with. Let's focus on that first."

Instantaneously, Nils snapped out of her little delusions. And wrapped her arms
around her chest in a defensive stance.

"No need. It can't be that serious. I'm sure I will recover with some rest… yes."

Her silver doe eyes seemed terrified at the notion of him seeing her chest.

"How could that be? You've been seriously wounded and might die from blood loss if
left untreated. Who knows, maybe there is even poison in the wound. We need to
make sure all eventualities are checked.

In any case, we're both men. What are you afraid of?"

However, the wicked smile plastered on his face made his words sound
untrustworthy and filled her doe eyes with fright.

"It's exactly because we're both men. You seem to have… unique tendencies…”

"Don't worry, my intentions are pure."

"Why can't I believe you?

With one hand, Konrad grabbed Nils two wrists and forced them against the tree at
her back, then grabbed her collar with his free hand.

"The situation is urgent, sorry but I must offend you."

"Anselm Kracht, don't you dare!"

She struggled but to no avails. With his one free hand, Konrad pulled her robe all the
way down to her waist, revealing her wounded, bandaged chest that hid two small
mounds.

"No wonder you're so shy. The goods really do need some buffing. But don't worry,
I've never determined a woman's value based on her chest."

Nils tightly clenched her teeth and exploded in an outburst of rage.

"Son of a bitch! You are small! Your ancestors are small! All the men in your family
are small! How dare you make fun of me?!"

Right now, she no longer cared about her identity being exposed and instead focused
on fighting for her dignity!

Alas, Konrad's next words rendered her speechless.

"Why are you so sure? Wanna check?"

Deep-seated confidence shone within his eyes as he stared into hers.

"You… said what?"

She trembled, flustered and unsure of having heard him right.

"I can let you check the size if you want. Don't worry, my intentions are pure. It's just
to make sure you get your facts right and to make us even."
Although she posed as a prince and acted in a brash and arrogant manner, Nils was
after all a sheltered teenaged princess with little experience of the world. Konrad's
retort took her by surprise, her cheeks were flushed red, and she didn't know what
to say.

So she did the only thing she thought sensible in such a situation.

"Help! Help! I'm being harassed by a lecher! Help!"

She cried for help.

"Are you that eager to reveal your assets to the world?"

Konrad's words brought her back to earth, reminding her that getting help in the
current situation wasn't such a good idea.

"Hum… okay, I will trust you… but please don't take too much advantage of me. Also,
stop bullying me…”

Once again, Konrad was speechless. Where was the military discipline and might
that girl initially displayed? Was it just a decoy? Or did getting exposed force out the
"dainty lady" side of her?

"Alright, I promise not to take too much advantage of you."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Ok…”

Nils' struggle ended, and she closed her eyes to wait for the impending "offense."
Seeing her body tense up, Konrad couldn't help but let out a mild chuckle.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Nothing, I just find you very cute."

He then unstrapped the cloth covering her chest and placed a soft kiss above her
right breast where the wound resided. The same soothing force spread from his lips,
causing tingling warmth to tease Nils from the inside.

"Anh… damn, why does it have to feel so good?"

She writhed against the tree, fighting the growing urge to press him harder against
her chest as her heart furiously beat against his lips.

But when she was finally unable to resist, Konrad's lips left her breast, ending the
magic, and causing a sense of loss and emptiness to fill her belly.

"Why is your work so fast? Can't you learn to take your time and not end things
prematurely?"

"You're healed. What else do you want me to do? It's starting to feel like you're the
one taking advantage of me and not the other way around."

He shrugged while wiping off the blood from his lips, and intensifying her shame.

"Hum, hum. Stop tooting your own horn. Who wants to take advantage of you? I was
just… hum… confused for a bit."

She tied the cloth around her chest, fixed her robe, and after making sure her two
wounds no longer had any issue, stood up.

"Thank you again for all your help. If there is something I can do to repay you, I won't
hesitate."

Her serious, straightforward tone left no room for doubt.

"Koloman is still alive. If you want to do something for me, don't report him to
anyone. Your family included."
Confusion flashed within her eyes.

"Why not kill him? If you don't get rid of him today, he will bite you with twice the
might tomorrow!"

"Don't worry. I have other plans for him. Just do me this favor, alright?"

Konrad had risen from the ground to stand at her front. His eyes locked onto hers
with an intensity that made her feel oppressed.

Subconsciously, she took three steps backward.

"Alright, alright. Just stop staring at me like that…”

"Like what?"

"Like a wolf… you make me feel like a lamb…”

What an honest reply. Hearing it, Konrad couldn't help but flash a wolfish grin and
stride toward her.

As he advanced, she retroceded, until her back pressed the tree and he cornered her
with his arms. Anxiety filled her in a heartbeat.

"What… what are you doing?"

She stammered. Konrad's face drew increasingly closer to hers while his arms and
proximity left her little room for escape.

"Debating whether to eat you or not."

"Ah! Hel-"

But before she could finish, Konrad silenced her with his lips. His warm tongue dived
into her mouth, and in that electrifying instant, she forgot her cultivation.

The world fell into a deathly silence where even the sound of breeze became
inaudible. Konrad pulled her from the tree, bringing her into his arms to trap her
within his strong embrace.
Taken off-guard and overwhelmed by sensations she'd never experienced
beforehand; Nils didn't know what to do.

Therefore, she did nothing, letting his lips toy with hers and his tongue assail hers.
Her heart beat erratically, drumming against his chest in a thundering concerto that
echoed her wild, wavering emotions.

But then she snapped out of it, bit his lips and shoved him away.

"How dare you be this impolite to the emperor's daughter? Are you tired of living?
Unruly lecher!"

She fumed. Blood trailed from Konrad's lower lip, but the wound itself was already
healing due to his innate self-regeneration abilities.

"Says the one that wanted me to keep kissing her breast. Obviously, I'm only finding
a way to satisfy your needs without disrespecting the emperor. I'm a loyal citizen."

"You… shameless bully!"

She aimed her index at his face, but seeing the naked insolence with which he looked
at her, she wobbled, unsure of what to do.

Clearly, she had been heavily sheltered from birth, and aside from using her sword,
she didn't know how to deal with rogues.

So, she summoned her sword.

"Give me back my innocence!"

"Don't be so dramatic. I have yet to actually pin you down…”

"Aaargh! Stop bullying me!"

Nils swung her sword at Konrad's neck only to see him vanish and appear by her
side. She spun to slash his chest, but only cut an afterimage. This went on for dozens
of moves through which Nils realized that unless she went all-out, she couldn't touch
a corner of Konrad's clothes.

"Huh… so fast."
She panted with her knees half bent and her hands pressed on her thighs.
Meanwhile, Konrad was standing right in front of her with a victorious smile and his
arms crossed beneath his back.

"Alright, I know you don't really want to harm me. What do you want to do now?"

Only now did Nils realize that she had nothing left to do here and should take her
leave.

"I guess I should try to find my fifth brother. He must be worried sick."

Although Konrad was an insolent bandit, he effortlessly took the boredom away from
her heart. It was a rare, refreshing sensation as within the imperial palace, she was
trapped between fawners and silently warring factions. There was no opportunity
for genuine friendship.

"Does your fifth brother care that much about you?"

"Naturally! In this world, the people that dote on me the most are my father, my
eldest brother and my fifth brother. They could burn the country for my sake!"

Nils boasted, but her innocent words had different implications within Konrad's
mind.

"Why don't you stick with me for a while. We can hunt Monstrous Beasts together as
we seek your brother."

Konrad offered, feeling the hint of reluctance within her earlier words.

Immediately, her eyes lit up.

"For real?"

"For real."

"Alright, if you insist!"

She sounded quite magnanimous as if Konrad was the one in need of company and
not the other way around.
"But I warn you, we need to have a clear rule."

"What rule?"

"You need to stay at least three steps away from me."

Puzzlement shone within Konrad's eyes as Nils' words echoed within his ears.

"Why?"

She straightened her back and looked at him with seriousness.

"Because you're a wolf out of his sheep clothing, and make me feel like a lamb."

Konrad burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Girl, I like you."

"Who's a girl? I am one year older than you! You should call me Nils or… big sister!"

"Also, I know I am fantastic, exceptional, unrivaled under the heavens with beauty
transcending fairies and goddesses but… be careful of not falling in love with me.

I would just break your heart!"

Speechless, Konrad shook his head, turned heels and used his Origin Sight to seek
new prey.

"Wait, Anselm, wait!"

Meanwhile, within the fourth level, a particular Accursed Beast had grown restless.

"How can this be? Was that demonic energy I felt? Is there a true demon within the
third level?"

It was an owl beast endowed with terrifying sensory abilities and could feel all
energy signatures across hundreds of miles.
Many foreign energy signatures had appeared within its range, but it paid them no
heed.

It had lived for more than a thousand years, and new that every one hundred or so
years, foreigners would dive into the Prism World to slaughter demonic beasts or get
slaughtered in the process.

Although they were fully aware of it, most Accursed Beasts wouldn't leave their
territories to attack the invader because, on one hand, they knew the event was
controlled by much more terrifying existences that could butcher them at any time,
on the other hand, there was not much to gain by doing so.

However, now it was different.

"Judging by the energy signature, that demon must be young and weak. If I can
swallow him, I can drastically improve my bloodline. Perhaps reaching the
Restoration Beast Rank in this lifetime is not impossible. I must seize the
opportunity!"

The Accursed Beast spread its wings and flew toward the third level.
With his Origin sight serving as guide, Konrad had no issue locating the surrounding
Monstrous Beasts. He spotted a Two-Headed Rhinoceros three kilometers away from
where he currently stood and decided to make it his prey.

Nils who stayed close behind was starting to wonder if he possessed a tracking
method when his voice echoed.

"Three kilometers north-east. Don't fall behind."

He then turned into a purple beam and shot toward the destination.

"That's my line! Let's see who gets there first."

Carried by a hurricane, she rushed after him.

Their short race led them to the Two-Headed Rhinoceros, a demonic beast of pitch-
black skin and two heads each possessing a pair of crimson eyes and adorned with a
thirty-five centimeters long horn.

"Wow, you were actually right. Could you be an Origin Sight wielder?"

To be able to spot the beast's position from several kilometers away was not
something someone of the Grand Rank could pull off. Only those born with Origin
Sight could achieve such a thing.

However, Origin Sight was an exceedingly rare ability whose users were often
brought into the church at a young age. Finding one outside of the church was nigh
impossible.

Yet, it seemed one currently stood by her side.

"Shush."
Konrad ignored her question by silencing her with his index while keeping his eyes
locked on the beast's every move.

"Tch, it's just a low-grade Monstrous Beast. What is there to be afraid of."

In a whirlwind, Nils summoned her energy sword and shot toward the demonic
beast.

She gave it no warning, swinging her sword at its neck in a swift, clean move that left
no room for waste or excesses.

Clang

As if protected by a metallic shell, her sword rebounded against the beast's neck in a
clang. She spun backward, landing back on her feet, but now, it was alarmed.

The Two-Headed Rhinoceros bellowed, stomped its feet, and hurled itself at Nils.

With a sword in hand, her previous immaturity was replaced by sharp, focused eyes
that scanned her foe for all openings.

Wind and lightning swirled around her form, merged with her sword, and
empowered it with the wind and lightning attributes. The wind sharpened its edge
while the lightning made sure that every blow would carry explosive, devastating
force.

Sidestepping, she let the beast move past her then cut it from below in an upward
cleave.

Its blood gushed forth, and its scream pierced the air.

Nils then leaped above the Two-Headed Rhinoceros and locked her eyes on the
intersection between its two heads. She slashed at that point, her sword effortlessly
splitting the beast in two from the spot between its two heads all the way down to its
tail.

It couldn't even release another grunt before its blood drenched the ground and life
left it.

With a somersault, Nils landed back on her feet and turned to face Konrad with a
winning smile.

"How was it? Impressed?"

But as she said those words, she saw Konrad's eyes widen.

"Careful!"

In a flash, he appeared by her side, seized her waist and turned into light particles
that reappeared a few steps away.

Two horns had just passed by the spot Nils was previously standing in and impaled
themselves in the tree ahead.

Had Konrad not acted with haste, she would have probably gotten skewered.

"That creature possessed the ability to automatically fire its horns at its opponent
upon its death. Had I not been there, the Monstrous Beasts of the third level would
now have a Nils' brochette on the menu. How could you be so careless?"

He admonished with a disapproving glance.

"Humph, had you not been there, I would not have been so careless."

She wouldn't repent!

"Oh? Does that mean my presence snatches all your attention? I didn't think I
possessed such mesmerizing charms. Thank you for the compliment."

"Shameless!"

It seemed she was more preoccupied with calling out his shamelessness than asking
him to let go of her. But as they bickered, dark-green fog spread within the
previously clear sky, covering everything across several miles.

Konrad let go of Nils, and together they shifted their attention toward this
unexpected phenomenon.

"Sorry, it was too fast. By the time it entered my detection range, it was already here."
The system's voice echoed within Konrad's mind, confirming his fears that a
terrifying enemy had reared its head. And if that wasn't enough, an enormous
pressure comparable to the Transcendent Rank descended from the dark-green sky
and crushed both Konrad and Nils beneath its might.

"What the hell is going on?"

The Monstrous Beasts of the third level upon feeling that pressure all began
scattering toward distant directions, running as far and as quickly as they could. As
for the few noble teams within the third level, they were all alarmed by the sudden
appearance of this formidable power and believing the reason to be their slaughter
of the demonic beasts, they all rushed back to inferior levels!

All except one.

The von Jurgen team had been looking for Nils for some time but to no avail. Now,
with the sudden appearance of this force, even they couldn't afford to spend more
time within the third level. However, Holger's orders didn't change. On the contrary,
his tone carried more urgency.

"Keep looking! Nils must be in the surroundings. Before we leave, we must first find
him! I will execute anyone that attempts to sneak to safety before my little brother is
found!"

Meanwhile, from the dark-green fog bloating the sky, a shadow descended. It was a
strange looking brown owl with large green eyes, a fifty centimeters long body
standing on a pair of two 1.5 meters long legs.

Those large green orbs that served as its eyes locked on Konrad and shone with
greed.

"A demonic beast descending from house Stolas."

Not all demonic beasts could trace their lineage back to a demon god and his noble
house. Those linked to the nobility of the infernal realm usually stood above the rest
with powerful physiques, abilities and higher cultivation speed than their peers.
However, like all demonic beasts, they faced the same problem: Bloodline.

Unlike humans who greatly depended on their physique and bloodline level until the
Arch Rank, then relied on their comprehension skills, the progress of demonic beast
hinged on their bloodline level from the lowest to the highest rank.

Without a sufficiently powerful bloodline, they couldn't go beyond certain ranks.

This demonic beast of the Accursed Rank had exhausted its bloodline potential and,
in this lifetime, had no hope to reach the Decadent Beast Rank and above.

Unless of course, it committed Demonic Restoration.

Demonic Restoration was the act of lower level demons devouring higher level
demons to swallow their bloodline in order to improve their own.

It was a well-known practice among the demonic beasts above the Accursed Rank
but was rarely put to use as those of higher bloodlines were usually a lot more
powerful.

Unless of course they'd yet to mature.

And as it laid its eyes on Konrad, the Stolas Accursed Beast realized this was one
such case.

"A young and feeble pureblooded demon. Jackpot! I've hit the jackpot!"

The Stolas Accursed Beast thought as it descended from the sky.

As for Konrad, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

From the very beginning, this creature only had eyes for him. Clearly, it came for him.

"Can you explain what's going on?"

"House Stolas is well known for its sensory abilities. This Accursed Beast must have
sensed your demonic energy when you signed the contract with that serpent waste
and smelled opportunity."

"This is good. It is time to release the energy you've stored from Zamira in a massive
breakthrough. In another location, I'd recommend taming, but since we can't bring it
back to the outside anyway, just butcher it!"

"With a breakthrough and your lineage weapon, this shouldn't be too difficult. I will
teach you how to refine it into a totem to absorb its physique and innate abilities."

However, Konrad was annoyed.

With Nils right by his side, how could he summon Man-Breaker? The only thing he
could do now was to knock her out to prevent her from discovering his demonic
powers.

However, before he could act on his thoughts, Nils stood in front of him.

"I will try to buy you some time!

You saved my life before, now it is my turn to pay you back.

Run!"

As soon as she said those words, vast silver light erupted from her body alongside
heavy grey fog. Her long silver hairs erratically fluttered at her back while her skin
glowed like a full moon within the dark sky and a formidable force emerged from her
body.

Her cultivation skyrocketed, going from the ninth step Grand Knight and Grand
Priest to the third step Arch-Knight and Arch Priest.

"Oh? A Pureblooded True Spirit?"

Both Konrad and the Stolas Beast's eyes now locked on Nils. Lifted by the grey fog,
she floated above the ground, holding a silver sword in her right hand and a dark-
blue one in her left.

Within the Celestial Realm, spirits were the servants of the Deva Gods and were
ranked differently depending on their bloodline levels and innate strength.

From lowest to highest, they were the Inferior Spirits, Elemental Spirits, True Spirits,
and Greater Spirits.

Paragon Spirits were the weakest among the True Spirits and often appeared within
the mortal worlds to carry out the will of their deva masters. The ancestors of the
von Jurgen were summoned straight from the Celestial Realm. However, although
they used intermarriage to maintain the purity of their bloodlines, over the countless
years since their appearance within the Ancient Crystal World, there had been many
breaches.

In today's generation, among the nine children of the Holy Emperor, the only
Pureblooded True Spirits were the Crown Prince, the fifth prince, and Nils.

"I didn't expect her to be a Pureblooded True Spirit. Although her bloodline and
yours are not on the same level in terms of strength and potential, within this world,
it should stand at the top.

Her battle power should also be quite outstanding."

The Flame Mark remarked within Konrad's mind. However, with his eyes fixed on
Nils whose long hairs danced in front of him, Konrad paid it no heed.

Although he couldn't see her face, he could feel her steadfastness from her straight
back.

This was the first time he witnessed someone fighting a hopeless battle for him, and
it would be a lie to say he wasn't touched.

Loyalty, honor, and dignity all were evident within Nils' every move and contrasted
with Konrad's scheming, egotistic, and callous heart.

He may always stand up for his beloved, but never would he risk his life for someone
who didn't hold a significant position within his heart. Such a pure individual was a
rare sight and put him to shame because he knew that in the future, he was bound to
harm her.

Her most cherished relatives, the Holy Emperor, the Crown Prince, and even the fifth
prince; who among them wasn't meant to crumble under his hand.

Even if he didn't kill them, it was impossible not to suppress them to take over their
power, land, and beloved.

Even if they didn't offend him, he would still take all they had, because he was just
that greedy. And wouldn't be satisfied if the world wasn't his to do with as he saw fit.

Did this girl really deserve to get trapped within his schemes? To be used for the
sake of his rise and one day forced to choose between her closest kin and himself?

But as Konrad floundered, the fight broke out.

"Even if you're a Pureblooded True Spirit, with your current cultivation level, there is
no way you can contend with me."

The Stolas Beast scoffed, assured of its control of the situation.

"Fourth Circle Spell: Noxious Spear Rain!"

The dark-green fog bloating the sky turned into hundreds of green lances that
descended from above and dived toward both Nils and Konrad.

A terrible poisonous force rippled from every single one of them and threatened to
suck the life out of the earth below.

Besides its sensory abilities, House Stolas was well-known for its control over
various poisons. Their magical abilities were all linked to them.
Nils brought her two swords together in a cross shape. They merged, turning into a
blue-silver bow rippling with the power of storms.

"Third Circle Spell: Storm Volley!"

She pulled the bowstring, firing a succession of lightning squalls that slammed into
the incoming poisonous lances.

Boom Boom Boom

The collision caused an explosion of noxious fog and lightning to spread within the
sky and alarm all within dozens of miles. However, Nils' Storm Volley was clearly
overpowered by the Noxious Spear Rain whose remains moved unhindered toward
the two on the ground.

Her eyes burned with fighting intent, her bow split into the two original swords, and
she flew to meet the remaining spears in a frontal assault.

Slash

Each of her swords blows fired wind and lightning blades that clashed with the
incoming poisonous spears and scattered the Stolas Beast's offensive.

It frowned, then turned into a dark-green beam that descended upon Nils at
breakneck speed.

Bang

Its long, clawed legs struck Nils from above. Sword energy swirled around her, but
she still recoiled from the impact and plummeted toward the ground with a blood
spurt.

However, before she could crater, a pair of hands caught her from behind, stopping
her mid-flight and softly brought her onto land.

Naturally, those hands belonged to Konrad.

"Why are you still here?!"

Seeing that he had yet to depart, Nils was anything but content. Wasn't it to provide
him with an escape chance that she was struggling so hard?

The situation was hopeless. Even in her True Spirit Form, she couldn't contend with
that Accursed Rank demonic beast. At best, she could delay it for some time.

Still, she hoped that at the very least, that time would be enough for him to run and
thus return his lifesaving grace, but now, all her efforts had been wasted.

However, as her eyes locked with Konrad's, she saw no trace of fear or apprehension.
Only a warm, gentle smile.

"Foolish girl. Who said anything about running? How could I, as a man, forget my
dignity to save my life at the cost of a woman's. If anyone should shelter anyone, it
should be me sheltering you."

There was a soothing force within his words that alleviated her fear and made this
hopeless situation suddenly seem manageable.

However, she quickly regained her wits and negatively shook her head.

"Do you think this is the time for manliness? Even if we join hands, we might not be
able to fight our way out…”

She sighed, turning her gaze toward the dark-green sky where the Stolas Beast had
spread its wings to condense a massive dark-green ball of pure poisonous force.

"Afraid?"

Konrad asked while keeping his hands around her.

"Nils von Jurgen fears nothing under the vast blue sky!"

"Good, a dauntless heart leads to greatness."

Konrad let go of her and shifted his attention toward the Stolas Beast.

"System, equally spread my accumulated energy between my martial and spiritual

cultivation."

"Understood."
Without further ado, the system evenly split the spiritual energy accumulated from
the dual cultivation with Zamira between Konrad's martial and spiritual cultivation.

The sky-blue pagoda within his lower abdomen glittered with dazzling light and split
into two identical towers while within his mind, the spring within his sea of
consciousness turned into a large river.

His body was refined to brand-new heights, and his cultivation soared, going from
the sixth step Grand Knight and Priest Ranks to the second step Arch Knight and
Priest Ranks in one go!

The breakthrough ended, and he revolved the Hundred Flowers Scripture to stabilize
his cultivation leap and energy foundation.

Nils who bore witness to the breakthrough couldn't understand why his cultivation
received such an enormous boost in an instant.

Could he have been hoarding spiritual energy? But why?

Still, her optimism didn't increase one bit.

The opponent was an Accursed Demonic Beast with power equal to the
Transcendent Rank.

Regardless of their battle power within the Arch Rank, they couldn't jump a whole
rank to challenge it. Especially considering that the higher the cultivation, the more
difficult it was to fight above one's level.

"Foolish girl, how high is your current battle power?"

"I could defeat an ordinary person of the fifth step Arch Rank, and possibly fight
someone of the sixth to a standstill, but that would be my limit.

Also, stop calling me -foolish girl!-"

"Good, my cultivation method allows me to establish spiritual connections. If you're

willing to let me use it on you, I can connect our two minds and cause our combined
battle power to soar."

Nils' eyes widened in disbelief. Where did a member of a count level house get such a
treasure?

However, she had no time to dwell on the question.

"Alright!"

"You're not afraid I will play any tricks?"

"With the current situation, I don't think you dare."

She leisurely replied.

Konrad took a new glance at her, her glittering skin and ethereal aura giving her a
beauty that transcended the mortal world.

A pink rose petal rose from his index and flew into Nils' forehead.

Instantly, their emotions and sensations intermingled, and their minds became one.

They could peer into one another to see the truth of their respective hearts if they so
wished. And even if they didn't want to, some things became evident.

Nils could see that Konrad was a scoundrel, a man of little morals whose only
redeeming quality was the affection he bore for the women around him.

Konrad could see that behind the veil of the brat-prince/princess hid a lonely soul
shackled by the weight of her birth and forced to fake an aloof, military-like
personality for the outside world to see.

In reality, all she wanted was to leisurely play, free of concerns and woes. However,
born within the imperial family, such things were impossible to have.

More relevant; however, they could see their strengths and weaknesses and tap into
the other's fighting instinct and attributes.

"Ready?"

"Ready!"

"Surrender your lives!"

The Stolas Beast fired a terrifying ball of toxic energies that descended from the sky
like a meteor.

The duo turned into two beams of light, evaded the green ball that transformed the
ground into a poisonous land, and flew toward the Accursed Demonic Beast.

"You're the only one surrendering his life!"

Konrad stretched out his hand, summoning his energy war hammer. Revolving his
Hundred Flowers Scripture to the extreme, dazzling white-purple light swirled
around his form as he flew toward the Stolas Beast.

Nils tapped into his light attribute to envelop herself in the same white-purple force.
Her speed skyrocketed, surpassing all she could accomplish with her wind and
lightning attributes.

Their eyes burned with the same fighting intent, and although separated by a
distance, they were of one mind.

Surprised by Konrad's sudden breakthrough, the Stolas Beast's large green eyes
shone with puzzlement. However, it quickly shrugged off any rising apprehension.
Even with that increase of strength, could they contend with him?

"You are merely delaying the inevitable."

It spread its wings, and dark-green fog descended from the clouded sky to enshroud
them. It then turned into a green beam and shot toward Konrad.

Konrad had always been its primary target. Nils was just extra. Its thirst for his
bloodline drove its every action.

The fog surrounding its wings corroded the air, turning every spot in its wake into a
poisonous zone. Breathing in such a gas would be lethal for most people below the
Arch Rank. As for those of the Arch Rank, they would feel a rapid loss of strength and
see their bodies wither until they no longer possessed the power and will to resist.

Unfortunately for it, it wasn't facing ordinary people.

"Anzu Beast Manifestation!"

Behind Konrad, the tall, illusory form of a lion-headed eagle appeared. It was a
manifestation of the Transcendent-level Anzu Beast Totem he absorbed. Thanks to
the totem, he could resist any blow beneath the Transcendent Rank and possessed
the Anzu Beast's three attributes. Fire, water, and storm.

However, his cultivation was insufficient to make use of them and fully control the
power of the Anzu Beast Physique. Still, it was now more than enough to release a
part of the totem's power for a short time.

In its life, that Anzu Beast was at the mid-level of the Accursed Beast Rank and could
look down on this low-level Stolas Accursed Beast.

Even in death, its power wasn't to be underestimated.

The illusory Anzu Beast spread its wings; a conflagration rose from its left, a tidal
wave from its right, and from its beak, a terrifying storm flew, and all three forces
soared toward the Stolas Beast.

"How could this be?"

Taken off-guard, the Stolas Beast couldn't respond in time. The conflagration, tidal
wave, and storm crashed into it and sent it reeling mid-flight.

As if aware of Konrad's move before he made it, Nils was already waiting for the
Stolas Beast's failure. She didn't waste the opportunity and hacked at its neck with
her wind and thunder sword.

"Impudence!"

The Stolas Beast roared and flung its battered wing at Nils' swords.

Clang

As if metal composed its feathers, the wing met Nils' swords in a ringing boom and
propelled her backward from the impact.

But the Accursed Beast wasn't given any time to breathe. Konrad was already upon it
with his hammer brandished and the Anzu Beast Totem empowering and protecting
him.

Bang
He brought his hammer down in a crushing blow that forced the Stolas Beast back
from the impact.

Sharing Konrad's light attribute, the duo turned into dozens of afterimages that
delivered blows upon blows on the retreating Accursed Beast. Oppressed, it could
only keep going backward.

"Hateful! Have they been trained as a duo from the womb? How could their
coordination reach such a level?"

It didn't feel like it was fighting one person. Instead, it was getting the feeling that
dozens of individuals united in a battle formation were upon it and spotting any
weakness within its guard.

And unbeknown to it, the Stolas Beast was quite close to the truth. Thanks to their
spiritual connection, Konrad and Nils weren't just two people. Instead, they were
two overlapping forces, and the result was several folds what they could have
accomplished together was the connection not present.

Better, Konrad's Origin Sight allowed him to draw a pattern of the demonic beast's
moves, and as the fight went on, every single flaw and habit within its fighting form
was becoming evident to the both of them.

Because people beneath the Transcendent Rank couldn't fly (unless they possessed
some special skills allowing them to do so), the duo would return to the ground, in
small intervals, before leaping higher to hack at the beast.

Although that inconvenience allowed it some breathing space, at this rate, it was
bound to get slaughtered.

"I didn't think I would have to go this far for two toddlers. Fourth Circle Spell:
Mystical Essence Poisoning Ring!"

The Stolas Beast opened its beak, four green circles appeared by its side and
coalesced into a dark-green dome that encircled the three of them.

Poisonous force spread from within the dome dived into the duo's pores and
infiltrated their bodies.

"Fuck…”
There were several poisons at play. A poison to cause pain and paralysis, a poison to
cause flesh withering and bone-melting, and a poison to cause hallucinations.

Konrad was well equipped against the problems of the mind. However, when it came
to physical poisons, it was a whole other matter. Incubi had no extra defense against
such venoms.

The Anzu Beast Totem's power wasn't enough to resist, and he was quickly falling
prey to the Stolas Beast's poison spell.

On the contrary, although her situation was still troublesome, Nils was having a
much easier time. As a Pureblooded Paragon Spirit, she possessed innate
purification abilities that allowed her to resist such poisons. However, her cultivation
was after all insufficient. Thus, although she could suppress the toxins, she could
barely move.

Only by releasing his lineage weapon could Konrad reverse the situation. But if he
did so, after the battle, he would be forced to modify Nils' memories. And for some
reason, he found the thought frustrating.

However, Nils who felt his frustration, unease, and decaying body, had different
plans.

Without hesitation, she mustered all her strength to float toward Konrad and press
her hands against his chest.

She said nothing, but with their united minds, he felt everything.

"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you."

"You can count on me!"

Those were the words that sprang from her mind and echoed within his. Her mind
was fairly simple. Since they were comrades in arms, he was her responsibility as
much as she was his.

And since she owed him her life, she had to give it her all to ensure his survival.

Those were her principles.

Within her, Konrad didn't find the usual selfishness that defined all creatures. Or
perhaps selflessness was her kind of selfishness? In any case, it was a rare,
disturbing sight.

She felt his puzzlement which caused her lips to curl into a radiant smile.

"Don't be so surprised. I know that although you are a terrible person, even you have
your selfless moments.

That being the case, how could I as a genuine, good person not be better?

Hopefully, you can break free of that dome and carry both of us to safety.

If you can't, I must say that being one with you was both the most frightening and
most mesmerizing moment of my life. I never knew a scoundrel's mind could be this
complex and entertaining.

It almost makes me want to forget myself and wish to forever be one with you.

One in mind, one in heart, one in soul."

Her True Spirit energy flew into his body and suppressed the toxins. Blood streaked
down her lips, and her face turned to a deathly pale, but still, her radiant smile
remained.

And as the last ounce of poison was purified, she lost all strength and passed out
within Konrad's arms.

His face showed no expression, but his heart beat slightly faster and a sensation he'd
played with, but that remained foreign to him brewed within.

Upon seeing Nils faint, the Stolas Beast believed the game won and burst into hearty
laughter.

"Hahahaha! With that pesky little creature out of the way, your life is mine!

Even if our lineages are different, the benefits I will gain from swallowing you will be
immense!

Past today, my bloodline level will soar, my cultivation speed will skyrocket, and my
future shall be limitless!

This is fate!"

Elated by its future prospects, it was losing itself in self-gratification.

Konrad didn't spare it a glance, holding Nils body firmly against his chest.

"Awaken, Man-Breaker."

Vast demonic energy erupted from Konrad's body, a jet-black spiked war hammer
engraved with vein-like purple lines appeared within his right hand, releasing a
horrible force that dispelled all toxins and shattered the green poison dome.

Seeing that weapon, the previously elated Stolas Beast was terror-stricken.

"A… lineage weapon? You are… a noble?"

Konrad gave it no answer.

Tremendous suppression force crashed on the Stolas Beast, causing it to tumble and
crater in a resounding explosion of dust. Fred of its spell, Konrad softly landed onto
the ground with his eyes still focused on the passed-out Nils wrapped by his left arm.

The weight of mountains crushed the Stolas Beast. Its movements became sluggish,
and it struggled to straighten itself on its obnoxiously long legs.

The vast demonic energy spreading from Konrad swept all its toxins, and turned the
area into an infernal land.

"I didn't know I faced a superior and offended your lordship… my deepest
apologies…”

It stuttered. Still, there was no answer. The heavy silence only heightened its unease.

"Please… say something…”

Konrad flung his hammer at its face. Man-Breaker smashed its beak, bashed its skull
in, and shattered its facial bones.
It flew backward and crashed against a distant tree.

Konrad gently placed Nils on the ground, and with a grasping motion, Man-Breaker
returned to his hand.

He then turned to face the Stolas Beast whose body was sliding onto the ground and
said:

"It's time to die."

Inwardly, the Stolas Beast cursed its ten thousand ancestors, fate and all the deities
of the universe. Most importantly, it also cursed itself. Never in its wildest dreams
did it expect Konrad to be a direct descendant of a noble demon house. Had it been
aware of that, it would have never dared open the hostilities.

"Overreach… I overreached myself…”

It complained with green blood gushing from its half-broken face. Konrad took a
leisurely step forward and appeared before it. His hands tightly clenched around
Man-Breaker while his cold, unfeeling eyes rested on the Stolas Beast.

"It's too late for such words. Don't worry, I will make sure your body doesn't go to
waste."

Konrad lifted Man-Breaker and lowered it in a crushing blow that bashed the Stolas
Beast's head in, and crushed the life out of its body in a macabre concerto of
breaking bones.

The Stolas Beast's lifeless body limply fell onto the ground.

"Do you want to start the refining process?"

The Flame Mark asked.

"Let's wait for one moment. We still have someone to deal with."

A berserk force approached at breakneck speed. It moved past the trees and
appeared by Nils' side.

Naturally, it was her brother, the fifth prince, Holger. He had first been alarmed by
the flurry of spells that streaked across the sky. Spells he recognized as his sister's.
Reckoning that she'd gotten entangled in a battle with the Accursed Beast that
caused all to flee toward the lower levels, Holger decided to leave his team behind
and rush toward this place.

However, when vast demonic energy buffeted his face, he knew the situation dozens
of times worse than he expected. Therefore, he used the full might of his cultivation
to cover the distance at his fastest speed.

By the time he arrived, the Stolas Beast had just perished; leaving only Konrad, Nils
and the plethora of demonic energy.

Holger's blazing eyes moved between the unconscious Nils and Konrad whose body
seemed to be the source of the demonic energy.

His mind reeled, his thoughts went wild, and assumptions ran rampant.

"What have you done to my sister?"

He bellowed in a frenzied tone upon kneeling by Nils' side to check her pulse and
realizing the frailty of her current state.

Konrad glanced at him with a sneer.

"Regardless of what I did or did not do to her. What can you do?"

He had no intention to waste time pleading innocence when his status as a demon
clearly meant an inevitable battle. And with Man-Breaker in hands, he simply didn't
put Holger in his eyes.

Holger stood up, his scorching, silver gaze daggering Konrad while he stretched out
his arms.

"True Spirit Form!"

Just like Nils before, silver light and grey fog burst from Holger's body while his hairs
and skin glittered in a light akin to the moon's.

In a heartbeat, his cultivation rose from the fourth step Arch Knight to the seventh
step Arch Knight and his battle power soared.

However, Konrad still didn't take him seriously. Wielding his lineage weapon, even a
low-level Accursed Beast was no match for him.
Could he possibly dread Holger?

He tapped the ground with Man-Breaker, releasing vast suppressing force that
smashed into the unprepared Holger and lowered his cultivation by half a rank.

He went from the seventh step Arch Knight to the second step Arch Knight. The same
level as Konrad.

"What sorcery is this?"

Holger blurted in stupor. He wasn't well-versed on the topic of demons as they

seemed like a distant enemy that served a greater role in justifying the church's
power rather than pose an actual threat.

Thus, although he could identify Konrad as a demon, he possessed no understanding

of his weapon and its abilities.

Suppressed by Man-Breaker, he now had to fight against his own body to maintain
control and display a minimum of fighting power. The fight had not even started, that
it was already lost.

Konrad gave him no verbal answer, appeared before him in a flash, and threw a
punch straight at his chest.

Bam

It caved in, and he flew backward with blood gushing from his mouth, staining his
lips and golden robe in its red. He then crashed onto the ground.

"Puh!"

Konrad once again appeared by his side and kept him pinned down by pressing the
full weight of Man-Breaker on his chest. He was entirely at his mercy.

"I'm confused. What did you hope to accomplish by coming here? On one side you
had an Accursed Beast and on the other side a pureblooded demon. Regardless of
how you look at this, you were rushing toward your death.

What was the point?"

Though he knew himself defeated and unable to reverse the situation, Holger still
didn't give in to fright and kept his unyielding eyes locked on Konrad's.

"Since my beloved sister is in danger, I must, of course, come to her aid. Regardless of
the cost, regardless of the result, the first thing to do is naturally to support her.

But I suppose one of demonic blood cannot understand that principle."

He spat, causing Konrad to burst into laughter.

"You're right, I can't understand. You speak about brotherly ties with such vigor that
I'd almost taken you seriously. However, was Nils replaced by say… your seventh
brother, would your reaction still be the same?"

To this, Holger turned his eyes and didn't answer.

"Yeah, I thought so. Such selective, hypocritical family ties. The imperial family is
truly a joke. But it's alright, this all suits me well.

Submit to me, and I can spare both your lives. How does that sound?"

Holger could exchange his life for his princely dignity, but he could never gamble
Nils'. Therefore, he immediately softened.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Simple, accept a contract of perpetual servitude. Pledge to do my bidding for an

eternity, and you can both go scot-free. Are you willing?"

As an imperial prince, the implications of surrendering his life and soul to a demon
were clear within Holger's mind. However, his eyes remained firm, and he didn't
hesitate.

"I am willing! As long as you can spare her, I can do whatever you want."

Recalling how Nils proudly said her father, eldest brother and fifth brother could
burn the country for her sake, and how Holger brazenly charged to rescue his sister,
Konrad had no doubt that he could coerce him into submission.

A new pawn had been obtained.

Unlike Wenzel, the unfavored sixth prince, Holger was greatly valued by his father,
the Holy Emperor. Moreover, he was the closest man to his eldest brother the Crown
Prince.

He would be an excellent pawn within the imperial family.

Konrad summoned the pentagram and glyphs and conducted the contract with
Holger's compliance.

Like all the others, his talent became Konrad's, his mind became an open book while
his life and will now belonged to Konrad.

Konrad lifted Man-Breaker from Holger's chest, making it vanish in a purple haze.

"In the next part of the competition, you will feign injury and not participate.
Understood?"

Clear unwillingness appeared within Holger's eyes. This competition was his once in
a hundred years opportunity to obtain a Holy Flame Baptism. His only hope to reach
the Holy Knight Rank in a lifetime. Without it, unless he received great opportunities,
he was likely to never go beyond the Semi-Holy Rank. How could he give it up?

However, thanks to the contract, Konrad's will was now a supreme force he couldn't
challenge.

"Understood…”

"Good. Now take your sister and scram. When she asks, you joined the battle at a
critical time and managed to tip the scales. Together, we fought off the Accursed
Beast and forced it back to the fourth level."

Konrad ordered, and Holger didn't delay. In silence, he placed Nils on his shoulders
and left the scene.

Konrad then walked back toward the deceased Stolas Beast.

"Why didn't you keep the girl? I can feel that you want her."

The Flame Mark's inquiry produced no emotion within Konrad's eyes.

"With that girl, there are only two ways things can go. Either I forcefully rewrite her
memories to suit my needs and slowly deprive her of her free will, or I let her be. I
am not conceited enough to believe I can cause that kind of girl to disregard the fate
of her cherished relatives for the sake of my pretty eyes. I won't comment on the
others, but if her father and eldest brother treat her with the same love her fifth
brother does… if the day comes when she must choose between them and I, what do
you think she will do?"

"I have no certainty about the future, and since I do not plan to modify her, I might as
well let her be. As for what we will be in the future, be it friends or enemies, let fate
run its course."

"You have too many considerations. If you want a woman, you should just take her.
The consequences be damned. With the rising power of your demonic blood, what
can you not handle?"

"To each its own. I may be self-serving, greedy and conceited, but knowingly pulling
a woman I like into such a furnace for the sake of temporary pleasure or false
emotions is something I'd rather not do."

The Flame Mark had nothing else to say and began instructing Konrad on how to
refine the Stolas Beast into a new totem.
Refining a totem required a complete skeleton. Therefore, Konrad skinned the Stolas
Beast of its useless parts and carved the ritual circles as instructed by the Flame
Mark before placing the skeleton at the center.

He then powered the ritual circles with his demonic energy, causing the skeleton to
shrink until it could fit within a palm while eldritch glyphs rose and embedded
themselves within it.

The ritual carried on for some time. Green light shone from the miniature skeleton's
empty eye sockets, and finally, the ritual came to an end.

When conducted by the barbarian tribes, such rituals required blood sacrifices.
However, thanks to his demonic energy, Konrad didn't need to resort to such means.

He then erased all traces of the ritual and took the Stolas Beast Totem within his
palm.

Not everyone could possess more than one physique. The number of physiques one
could bear was directly linked to the bloodline's level and might.

As a Pureblooded Incubus, Konrad's limit was three. When he increased his

bloodline level to Dream-Weaver, he could unlock another slot. He sat cross-legged,
placed the totem against his chest, and absorbed it within. His eyes shone with violet
light while the refining process began.

Just like with the Anzu Beast Totem, he entered a trance-like state during which he
seemed oblivious to his surroundings.

A green stream coursed through his veins, transforming his insides to accommodate
the Stolas Beast's power. By the time the refining process ended, the poison attribute
was added to his list. Be it sight, smell or hearing, his sensory abilities drastically
improved and he obtained formidable resistance against poisons beneath the
Transcendent Rank.
However, just like with the Anzu Beast Physique, his cultivation wasn't enough to
fully control his new abilities.

He stood up and resumed hunting. The Monstrous Beasts in the surroundings no

longer fit his appetite. Therefore, he headed deeper into the third level to challenge
mid-level Monstrous Beasts. By the end of the first day, his kill count was twelve low-
level Monstrous Beasts and eight mid-level Monstrous Beasts. As for high-level
Monstrous Beasts, he avoided them.

Although demonic beasts beneath the Accursed Rank couldn't harm him thanks to
his Transcendent Rank Physiques, destroying high-level Monstrous Beasts without
Man-Breaker or a fourth circle spell was a nigh impossible task.

Worse, assuming he did manage to bring them down, bringing such trophies to the
outside world would do him more harm than good. How was he supposed to explain
his ability to slay such creatures with his current cultivation level?

Questions would rise, and investigations would follow. Nothing good would come
out of it. As the first day came to an end, Konrad went down to the second level to
check the situation.

There were hundreds of Voracious and Superior Beasts within the third level and
thousands of Lesser and Intermediate Beasts within the first. Exterminating them all
within three days using one-hundred-eight contestants who mostly were at the
Grand Knight Rank was no mean feat.

To speak bluntly, it was impossible.

Upon realizing what they were dealing with, those who became aware of the
seemingly endless number of demonic beasts quickly sent words to the higher levels.
However, their worries were neglected by the stronger teams eager to accumulate
points.

This all changed when the Stolas Beast's appearance within the third level forced
everyone to return to the lower levels.

They were now all desperately seeking and slaughtering the demonic beasts en
masse.

Feeling the extermination cloud looming over their heads, driven by their higher
intelligence and stronger survival instinct, the Superior Beasts of the second level
banded together in packs and went down to the first level to meet the foreign
oppressors.

Beasts of various races lined up within the first level under the leadership of the
Superior Beasts for a brutal counterattack.

At the beginning of the second day, the roars of the beast legion pierced the sky,
alarming all contestants.

"What the hell is going on?"

"Why is the earth trembling?"

Dawn was barely announcing itself when confusion began spreading within the
contestants.

Indeed, as the beasts gathered, the earth trembled, and the sky darkened, bloated by
incoming flying beasts.

It was thanks to those winged creatures that the contestants realized the avalanche
of problems coming their way.

And witnessing the scene, even Konrad had to take the situation seriously. He
activated his Origin Sight to scan the whole beast army from a distance. What he saw
almost made him panic.

"This can quickly turn into a carnage."

Around three hundred Superior Beasts, five hundred Voracious Beasts, two thousand
Intermediate Beasts, and five thousand Lesser Beasts stood together.

Originally, due to the limited range of his Origin Sight, Konrad couldn't get an
accurate estimation of the three levels' population.

After all, each level stretched across dozens of square miles and the beasts were
scattered with the strongest occupying larger territories.

But now that they all banded together under the leadership of the strongest Superior
Beasts, their might became evident. If a battle really broke out, the only people facing
extermination were the Holy Flame Empire's nobles.

The cloud of almost one thousand winged beasts alarmed all of them. No matter
where they stood, they could clearly witness the scene.

The demonic beasts were not willing to sit and wait for death. Thus, now the hunters
became the preys.

Of the one-hundred-eight contestants, Konrad excluded, there were forty-four Arch

Knights and among those, twenty at the second step or above.

Individually, there was no superior beast those Arch Knights couldn't slay. However,
even if they all joined force, they couldn't slaughter the three hundred leading
Superior Beasts.

"This is nothing like the previous competitions. The numbers are abnormal. Is the
Holy Flame Church trying to get us all killed? Knowing these numbers, why is it that
this time they specifically asked us to slaughter all beasts within the first and second
level? Even if it were only the first, it would be impossible. Now we've antagonized
all the Superior Beasts of the second level, leading them to gather this army."

Koloman despaired. It was impossible for the Holy Flame Church not to know the
current composition of the Prism World. It was also impossible for them not to know
what would happen.

A trap. Like sheep, they'd driven themselves into a deadly trap. But what was the
church's goal?

"If we can slaughter the leading Superior Beasts, their army will disperse. The
problem is that we're scattered while they're all together.

And even if we formed one group… slaying I don't know how many Superior Beasts
within that army is… impossible."

Holger concluded upon assessing the situation.

At that time, a stampede of thousands of demonic beasts marching in one unit began.
And the earth shivered.

"Run! We must flee the forest!"

That same thought swirled through the minds of all the contestants. A barrier
surrounding the forest prevented the demonic beasts from escaping it regardless of
their cultivation level. Therefore, as long as they managed to exit, they were out of
danger.

Most of the contestants only used the competition as an opportunity to temper

themselves and challenge their rivals. Not many truly hoped to seize the Holy Flame
Baptism quota.

They were not going to throw away their lives for a simple competition. Alas, even
fleeing came at a price.

The nearly one thousand "man" strong horde of flying beast flew to survey the limits
of the Prism Forest, and although it was too vast for them to completely cover, they
could at least pluck some of the fleeing contestants.

The advantage of flight quickly showed itself. Spells from Voracious and Superior
Beasts came crashing from above and tore through a dozen of the fleeing
contestants.

"AAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

However, even their screams were muffled by the advance of the army.

Even the von Jurgen team readied itself for a getaway. Although they couldn't change
the situation, they would have no problem fighting their way out if need be. In any
case, Holger had been ordered by Konrad to feign injury for the next round.
Therefore, he had no misgivings.

It would be best if they all failed.

However, he was bound to be disappointed.

…
"With your bloodline level, you can use your demonic energy to directly subdue
beasts beneath the Accursed Rank. You can directly brand them with the mark of
servitude. Unfortunately, you don't have a reliable space treasure at hand to hide
them."

"Why didn't you say that sooner? That's easily solved."

Konrad entered the system and exchanged 150,000 exp for a low-grade Arch level
space treasure whose shape could be changed at will. He also used the opportunity
to trade 270,000 exp and promote his Hundred Flowers Scripture to the Arch level.
His exp count dropped to 11,953,225.

He then sat cross-legged to wait for the chaos to subside.

Soon enough, all the contestants fled the forest, leaving only the still vigilant
demonic beasts to patrol the surroundings.

Satisfied, Konrad stealthily stepped toward the center where the leading Superior
Beasts gathered and emerged from the shadows.

As soon as he appeared, their ire fell upon him. But before they could make a move,
vast demonic energy erupted from his body alongside demonic glyphs that barreled
into them, subverted their minds, and forced them onto their knees. Without a
sound, three hundred Superior Beasts lowered their heads and chose submission.

Using them, Konrad lured in the thousands of patrolling beasts and subdued them all
the same. The scene was a marvel.

He then packed all of them into his new space treasure which he shaped into a mini-
paper talisman and hid within his sleeve.

Afterward, he returned to the third level to carry on recruitment.

Since he'd already started, he might as well do it thoroughly.

Following his cleaning of the first two levels, Konrad stepped into the third and
hunted down all the remaining Monstrous Beasts to do the same. There was a total
of eighty-seven Monstrous Beasts left, and they all fell into his hands.

With this army, he could probably take down any viscount level house or below and
make most count level houses tremble. For such massive gains, he absolutely
wouldn't hesitate.

Of course, if he weren't sure he could conceal his involvement in the sudden

disappearance of the demonic beasts, he wouldn't have dared.

"It's time to leave."

Konrad reckoned upon packing up the last Monstrous Beast. He then turned heels
and promptly exited the Prism World's Forest.

At the outskirts, the expelled teams had already gathered, and all shared the same
fury.

"We've been deceived! Obviously, the church never intended for anyone to obtain the
quota! They were even content hurrying us to our doom!"

"Do they really think they can suppress the world? That the nobility has grown so
weak that we must tolerate this level of bullying?"

"Right! Those damnable, depraved despots have been looking down on us for far too
long. When we return to the outside world, I must ask my father to give me justice.
The Holy Flame Baptism to hell!"

Of the initial one-hundred-eight contestants, thirty had lost their lives trying to flee
the forest. Something that should have been a reasonable hunting competition had
suddenly cost them lives. How could they not be infuriated?
However, although they shared the same anger, the more lucid of them made no
comment.

Konrad quietly snuck into the gathering, acting as he'd always been there and
listened to the rising complaints.

His eyes swept the perimeter, localizing the Kracht fillers, Koloman, and the von
Jurgen. Nils had already regained consciousness and silently stood by her elder
brother's side.

Seeing her safe and sound, a wave of relief swept his chest.

"Why is it that the imperial family is here, but none of the sovereign prince houses
sent representants?"

A lucid man finally asked, causing all to realize the crux of the problem. Even if the
younger children of the Sovereign Princes could obtain Holy Baptisms in different
ways, what about their nephews and grandchildren. No one would believe that those
three houses had no interest in the quota.

That being the case, why were they not here?

"Truly, a greedy man will seek his own demise. We blindfolded ourselves."

No one dared look at the one who said those words. Earlier when they saw none of
the sovereign prince houses present, they were all secretly elated and didn't care
about the reason.

After all, less competition meant greater opportunities. Now, however, it was clear
that the sovereign prince houses had gotten wind of something and purposely chose
to prevent their juniors from rushing toward an uncertain fate for no gains
whatsoever.

Holger, in particular, burned with fury. Was his father and grandmother not currently
in seclusion, how could he let himself get swindled into participating in this
masquerade?

Better than anyone, he knew the numbers of the previous competitions. There was
never more than a few hundred beasts with at worst less than a dozen Monstrous
Beasts and dozens of Superior Beasts.
But now the numbers had inflated to a clearly murderous level.

They were not just trying to deprive them of the quota. They were trying to get
people killed!

And now all would look at the imperial family as a joke. For they fell for something
even the sovereign princes didn't. This was a complete loss of face!

Nils' thoughts were more straightforward. Playtime was over, and it was time to go
home.

Earlier, she sought Konrad within the crowd but couldn't find him anywhere.
However, Holger had told her that he was safe and sound, and she didn't doubt his
ability to escape the forest, so she just assumed he didn't want to be seen.

She was right. Even now, Konrad didn't let their gaze meet. Using the crowd of
seventy-eight people to cover for him.

He pulled the Kracht fillers aside to use as decoys.

"Boss, fortunately, you're alright. This time, the Holy Flame Church truly, intolerably
bullied us. I don't know who the crook hidden behind this competition was, but he
can be sure that things won't end nicely for him."

Konrad, however, was of another mind.

"Improbable. The only people likely to lose their lives in this scheme are those of the
viscount level houses. The juniors of the margrave and duke level houses are strong
enough to escape with minimal damage. Therefore, there isn't much cause for
outrage. As for those viscounts, what can they do? Cry? Wail? So what if they lost
children? Can they challenge the church? Of course not."

"They will have to shut up. Right now, those people are outraged, but when the time
comes to fire complaints at the church, it would be great if ten people stood up."

The Kracht fillers were brought back to earth. Even if the church tormented them,
what could they do?

Time quickly passed, and by the end of the third day, blue light descended from
above to carry the contestants out of the Prism World.
They returned to the room where the Blue Prism was located with Bishop Alto and
his colleague standing at the prism's left and right to wait for them.

As soon as they arrived, Bishop Alto's voice echoed.

"We will first check what remains of the beasts within the first and second level, and
if you passed, we shall make the count to select who goes on to the next step."

Many of the weaker houses had initially chosen to swallow their anger. However,
when they heard those words, they felt like they were getting purposely harassed.

Especially, those who lost relatives from the demonic beasts' counterattacks couldn't
contain themselves.

"Load of horseshit! What is there to check?! How could we possibly slay so many
demonic beasts with our manpower? It is already good that we weren't cleanly
slaughtered. You're actually talking about making counts? Are you making fun of
us?!"

The one who spoke was a low-level Grand Knight from a viscount's house. He'd lost
his two companions and relatives in the escape and barely came out with his life.

How could he contain his fury? His words echoed with the hearts of all the nobles,
and many were ready to speak up. However, Bishop Alto's voice rose.

"Dissatisfied? Alright."

His semi-holy force erupted and pinned the protester onto the ground.

"I've already told you that within the Holy Flame Church, regardless of background,
you had to behave. Failure to do so results in only one thing.

Death!"

The low-level Grand Knight didn't even have time to squeal before getting squashed
into meat paste under Bishop Alto's semi-holy force. Immediately, all were terrified.

They didn't even have the right to complain. Complaining meant death.

What was overbearing?

This was overbearing.

However, not all were willing to swallow their fury.

"Hehe, did you think yourself impressive? Fucking dotard!"

Absentminded eyes turned to the source of those words who turned out to be the
fifth prince, Holger.

Subconsciously, except for a scant few, all took several steps away from him.

Bishop Alto turned a scorching gaze toward Holger, who met his eyes with greater,
unconstrained rage.

"Fifth prince, do you think yourself exempt to the rules? Do you think I don't dare kill
you?"

Hearing Bishop Alto's chilling words, Holger burst into laughter. As for the remaining
von Jurgen, they all sneered.

"Kill me? Just you? I stand here. Kill me if you dare."

Holger spread his arms as if to welcome Bishop Alto's blow. But the blow never
came. Instead, Bishop Alto trembled with veins beating on his temple.

"Right. You don't dare. Allow me to remind you why.

I am the son of the Holy Flame Emperor, Olrich von Jurgen, the grandson of the
Dowager, High Exarch Amalia Kvass. The great nephew of High Exarch Adalbert von
Jurgen. To say nothing of them. Even my elder brother, the crown prince, can squash
you with one finger.

Therefore, how dare you kill me? You don't have the galls. You can only spout
nonsense and bully the weak while fearing the mighty, like all other second-rate
trash!"

Those words ruthlessly hammered Bishop Alto's dignity. His cheeks burned, his face
reddened, and he staggered.

However, Holger wasn't satisfied.

"What thing are you? A low-level bishop. Nothing more. You're more than a thousand
years old, yet, are still at the first step of the Semi-Holy Priest Rank. In this lifetime,
you can never cross the second sublimation to reach the second step.

Exhausted potential, meager status, no background. So what if you're a Semi-Saint, I

can insult you, spit on your face, and you can do nothing. Because for my house,
people like you can be killed at will!"

"So kneel! Kneel at my feet and grovel for your worthless life! Do a good job, and I
might show leniency. Otherwise, when I report this matter, not only will I have you
killed, I will drag your entire family to hell with you! Fucking son of a bitch! How
dare you harm imperial princes?!"

All the contestants were astonished. However, what none of them knew was that
Holger, the new pawn, was merely following Konrad's directives.
Konrad wasn't one to let himself get toyed with by greater power. His last life had left
a bitter enough taste for him to let that happen again. Therefore, he chose to use the
imperial family to vent his frustration.

Holger was known as a calm, calculating prince that carefully weighed all actions he
took. Therefore, including Nils, none understood his extreme outburst.

More than seventy pairs of eyes had now locked upon Bishop Alto who had
subconsciously taken a step backward. Trapped between fury and shame. However,
no matter how wrong, he could never kneel in front of a junior.

"Bold! In this country, do you really think anyone can make a bishop of the church
kneel? I don't even have to kneel in front of your father. To say nothing of you! What
are you going to report? Your failures to complete the competition's requirements?
How is that our fault?

Clearly, this is the result of your own ineptitude!"

Bishop Alto roared back, supporting himself with the Holy Flame Church's name.

"Rotten imbecile. My forty-five years of existence easily trump your one thousand.
Since reason is not enough, let's talk law!

Even if a member of the nobility sins against the church, punishing him is not just up
to you. It first requires a trial approved by the imperial court!

But not only have you not sought a trial; all can testify that he committed no sin
whatsoever. Therefore, your first crime is the arbitrary murder of a nobleman!

Secondly, we also have the crime of the clergy stepping in the jurisdiction of the
imperial court!

Thirdly, you have been shouting in front of all present about how you needed not pay
any attention to the emperor. Very well, this is the crime of contempt toward the
Holy Emperor!

Fourthly, publicly threatening an imperial prince! A capital crime within the court.

Fifthly, publicly threatening a High Exarch's direct descendant! A capital crime

within your church!"

Four of the five are enough for direct execution. The second one when tried will still
result in your death to preserve the relationship between the church and the
imperial court.

Therefore, you are five times condemned to death! I am not sure you have enough
heads for what's about to befall you.

In this country, no one can save you!"

Holger had truly gone mad with rage. In other times, he would have contained his
anger and first reported to his elder brother.

However, this useless, rigged competition had almost cost his beloved little sister's
life. Even if Konrad didn't pull strings, with the bishop openly berating them, how
could he restrain himself?

At first, Bishop Alto was confident in suppressing dissidence with his cultivation
level, but only now did he realize that there was no way for intimidation to work and
that the other party wasn't in the same league as he was.

If it were just about dealing with a powerful noble, he would have no fear. The
problem was that the Dowager, Holger's grandmother, and his great uncle were both
High Exarchs of the church, three ranks above him with dozens of people like him
serving them.

Right now, like many of the high-ranking members of the church, they were in
seclusion. However, if forced out by this matter, his life and his family's would come
to a brutal end.

The instructions regarding the competition had been given by a Saint of the church.
Therefore, he couldn't resist. Yet, if push came to shove, that Saint would force him to
shoulder the blame and leave him no way out.
In a bind, he sought help within the eyes of his colleague who'd remained silent from
the start, but there was no help to find.

The man was more astute and chose to let him deal with the whole thing right from
the beginning.

Inwardly, Bishop Alto was full of grievances. It was clear someone had purposely
covered the news of the real nature of the event to prevent the von Jurgen from
becoming aware of it and still send a team.

At first, when he saw their team, he'd sent a message to his superior, but only got one
answer.

"Carry on."

Therefore he couldn't exclude them.

But as he floundered and racked his brain for solutions, a frustrating noise reached
his ears.

Clap Clap Clap

A man clapped while walking into the room.

"Who dares?! What is there to cl-?!"

Bishop Alto began, but when he turned and saw the tall, silver-haired man who'd just
walked in, he realized that things had gone from bad to worse.

Besides him, his colleague included, all those present bowed and declared in unison:

"Greetings Crown Prince!"

The Crown Prince stood at around 1.85 meters with short silver hairs sitting on a
finely chiseled face. As he stepped in with his perfect gait and radiant smile, the
simplest way to describe him was "handsome and refined."

However, the astute could see that within those outwardly gentle eyes hid a
terrifying, callous tiger.
"Dispense of ceremony. I just came to welcome back my siblings. Never did I expect
that I would come across such a beautiful scene."

"Elder brother!"

Nils forgot her proper and dignified military stance to throw herself toward Elmar.
He welcomed her with open arms, and gently pat her head.

As it was well-known that the ninth "prince" was the apple of the crown prince's
eyes, none of the gathered individuals found anything strange with that.

"Elder brother, you must seek justice for us! We were conned into participating in
this rigged competition where thousands of beasts lurked ready to slaughter us all!

Worse, an Accursed Beast appeared out of nowhere, and almost caused Nils to lose
his life!"

"What?"

Bishop Alto trembled. Why was there suddenly talk of an Accursed Beast? A lie, it
had to be a lie!

"Stop twisting truth and falsehood! Unless you went to the fourth level, no Accursed
Beast would descend upon you!"

He howled, but undaunted, Holger pointed his finger at those behind him.

"You can ask all those gathered. That's the reason why none of them dared stay in
the third level for half a day. A few hours in, an Accursed Stolas Beast came from
nowhere and began terrorizing the third level, almost causing Nils to lose his life,
and injuring me in the process of escaping!"

"It's the truth! We almost became food for a rampaging Accursed Beast. To say
nothing of the demonic beast horde afterward!"

Bishop Alto saw the indignity within all the contestants' eyes and knew his good
days were over.

Blunder! An enormous blunder had occurred!

"Nils is this true?"

Elmar asked while still patting Nils' head.

"Yes, elder brother. It was such a close call that I was afraid I'd never see you again!"

Nils complained within Elmar's arms.

"Alright. Elder brother will give you justice."

Elmar set Nils aside and leisurely stepped toward Bishop Alto.

"Remind me, what is the empire's crown prince's status within the church?"

The imperial family and the church possessed an extremely close relationship. So
close that the Holy Emperor, the Holy Empress, and the Crown Prince all possessed
an equivalent rank within the church. Of course, the higher their cultivation, the
better that rank would be.

Bishop Alto teetered, but still, he answered:

"A… arch-bishop."

"Good. Then as Arch-Bishop of the church and as the crown prince of this empire, on
account of your five felonies, I sentence you to death."

With a backhanded slap, Elmar tore Bishop Alto's head from his neck, sending it
flying across the room with a massive gush of blood.

He then pulled out a handkerchief to wipe off his hand and turned toward the
remaining bishop who dropped onto his knees and kowtowed in fear.

"Your highness, mercy!"

"So your lot still knows that a prince should be referred to as -your highness.-

I thought you'd forgotten."

The contestants were terror-stricken. Although the Crown Prince's cultivation was
deep and unfathomable, the sight of a Semi-Saint beheaded in a single slap was hard
to accept.

Since when did Semi-Saints turn into cabbage?

"Your highness, Bishop Alto was besotted and for personal gains plotted against the
imperial family. He deserved ten thousand deaths! Your highness upheld justice on
behalf of the lord and deserve only praise."

That bishop didn't talk a lot, but when he did, his words didn't disappoint. Suddenly,
Bishop Alto had become the sole mastermind, and his death solved everything. Was
this the script from the start?

"Is that so? For this to become the official version, we will have to see your master's
skills.

Now go on, carry on. I'm curious to see how many beasts remain."

Elmar had no interest in the remaining beasts. He just needed an exact number for
when he submitted his report to his father the emperor.

Without delay, the bishop dived into the Prism World, and after half an hour,
returned with flabbergasted eyes.

"What took you so long?"

As a Semi-Saint, Elmar was well aware that such a task should not have taken more
than a few minutes. However, that bishop wasted half an hour of his time.

Was he also courting death?

But to his question, the bishop remained dazed for a few seconds, then his eyes
swept the scene, going from a contestant to another as if to find the culprit of a prank
played on him.

"Well? Do you need me to repeat myself?"

Elmar's voice echoed within his ears, carrying with it a pressure that brought the
bishop back on earth.

"Your highness… it's… empty. The first three levels are all… empty."
A deathly silence fell upon the scene. Elmar included, all stared at the bishop. But
even with those dozens of pairs of eyes locked upon him with confusion, he
maintained his dazed, flabbergasted look.

"Empty? What do you mean by empty?"

A blinking Elmar asked, thinking that he misunderstood the statement.

"Empty… as in nothing left. Not a single beast across the three levels. They all
vanished… thousands of beasts… all gone… without a trace… aargh!"

The bishop wailed. This wasn't the plan. Capturing demonic beasts en masse, even
those of the lowest ranks was a challenging task because it required diving deep into
the Barbarian Continent.

Even for the church, that was no small trouble, and usually, teams of Semi-Saints
were dispatched to handle the poaching. Centuries ago, that bishop had been a
member of the team tasked with poaching the beasts that currently composed the
Prism World's forest.

Although reproduction allowed for the forest's self-sustenance, many of the

Monstrous Beasts were still those creatures personally brought by his hands.

But now, Accursed Beasts aside, nothing remained!

All his hard work gone without an explanation!

How could he accept this? But that was only secondary. Those beasts were never
meant for extermination. That was only a tactic used to force the contestants into
either failure or surrender. No one expected them to succeed.

As for potential deaths, their group estimated that only those of viscount level
houses were weak enough to lose their lives. Therefore, the deaths would be
irrelevant.

The real purpose of those beasts was to fuel the development of the church's Anti
Barbarian Totem weapons. But now, they were all gone!

"How is that possible?"

Elmar asked with the kind of puzzlement he had not felt in decades. As a matter of
fact, in his more than two hundred years of existence, he couldn't recall coming
across such an odd matter.

Could thousands of beasts disappear without a trace? Who would believe that?

However, the clear dismay within the bishop's eyes showed that this was no joke.

"I don't know! You ask me, but who am I supposed to ask to?"

The bishop almost cried, not knowing what else to say. He also wanted to know what
was going on.

His neck was at stake!

Both Elmar and the bishop turned toward the contestants, their Semi-Saint eyesight
seeking answers within them. However, the only things they saw were blank stares
and rising astonishment.

Clearly, they also knew nothing.

However, a scant few had an idea. Both Koloman and Holger inferred that the only
variable capable of producing such a result was Konrad. As a demon, only he was
equipped with the tools to possibly subdue the beasts. How he hid them, however,
they couldn't comprehend. After all, the church had made sure none of them stepped
into the Prism World with space treasures.

Instinctively, they were about to turn inquisitive gazes toward him when his chilling
voice boomed within their minds.

"Don't look at me! Keep staring at the bishop."

The order stopped them dead in their tracks, forcing them to maintain blank stares
on the bishop.

As for Konrad, he feigned the same confusion as all the others. Neither Elmar nor the
bishop could find anything wrong with the contestants. However, there had to be
something. Someone among them had to be guilty. Someone capable of taming those
beasts and bring them away in a space treasure.

But all their cultivation levels were clear to their eyes. Therefore, unless someone
powerful enough to deceive them was present, their guess made no sense.

"The only possible explanation is that among them, a barbarian Saint gifted in
camouflage and space control is hiding. However, this makes even less sense. Why
would that kind of powerhouse only poach the beasts beneath the Accursed Rank?
He should have emptied it all."

"The matter is strange, but unless all the people present are captured, not much can
be gained from it."

"What to do?"

"I need to report this matter to His Eminence, ask for punishment and listen to his
instructions."

The bishop was about to excuse himself and leave the room when Elmar's voice
echoed.

"Outstanding. Then let's carry on."

All trace of the initial stupor had vanished from his face. The only remaining thing
being clear satisfaction.

The bishop was once again struck by confusion. Obviously, what he should now do
was to cancel the competition, keep all the contestants under house arrest, and
report to the higher-ups. What did Elmar mean by -carry on-?

"Your Highness, what do you mean by that? I must submit a report to my superiors
and wait for orders."

Elmar turned toward the bishop with a calm, but chilling gaze.
"What do I mean? What do you mean?! Obviously, those contestants succeeded in the
impossible task given to them, and we should normally carry on to the competition's
next part."

Those words took the dozens of people by surprise, and they all exchanged odd
glances.

They'd succeeded? Why were they not aware of that?

Hearing Elmar's words, Konrad inwardly gave him ten thousand praises.

"Outstanding! An outstanding man!"

The bishop didn't know what was going on anymore.

"Your highness what do you mean by that? There is clearly no way those contestants
could h-…”

But before he could finish his words, he stopped, terrified by what he was about to
admit.

"Oh? What? Were you about to say that there was no way for them to succeed? That
the church purposely gave them an impossible task and caused the vain death of
nobles?

Is that what you were about to say?"

Elmar inquired with a radiant smile that only brought coldness to the bishop's heart.

"O-of course not but…”

"But what? Earlier you claimed bishop Alto was the sole mastermind. However, you
clearly expected to find thousands of demonic beasts inside. Meaning that you knew
very well what you were throwing them into. Therefore, this should be a reasonable
competition with high chances of success. Right?"

Sweat trickled on the bishop's forehead as he realized his mistake.

"Of… c-course."
He stuttered.

"Very well. The requirement from what I've been told was for them to clear the first
two levels. And now the first two levels are cleared, aren't they?"

"Yes, they are."

"That being the case, they completed their task. What do you want to investigate
when you should be discussing the competition's next stage?"

All the contestants awoke and cast elated gazes toward the crown prince.

"His Highness is right! Regardless of the method, we've fulfilled the requirement."

"Right, didn't you say that we would make the count after checking the two levels'
condition? They are cleared. It's time for you to count and select the contenders for
the next stage!"

"Right!"

"Right!"

The bishop wanted to cry but had no tears. If this weren't stopped, he would be
forced to carry on with the competition.

However, the Holy Flame Baptism quota had already been reserved for someone
else? How could he let this carry-on? His head would roll!

"Your highness there are many questionable parts we need to investigate."

Elmar's smile remained, but vast Semi-Holy force erupted from his body and
oppressed the bishop who dropped onto his knees.

"Are you trying to argue semantics to prevent those valorous contestants from
obtaining the fruit of their labor? Is it possible that you're trying to rig the
competition and prevent any one of them from obtaining the quota? Was that your
plan all along?"

Each word carried with it immense pressure that assaulted the bishop's bones.
"I… wouldn't dare."

"Good. That being the case, what are you waiting for?"

The pressure vanished, and the inwardly wailing bishop stood up to collect the
granted space treasures and check every contestant's points. Elmar stood by his side
to wait for the result.

Due to the sudden beast horde, the contest didn't carry on for more than a day.
Therefore, the results weren't that outstanding. However, as he examined Konrad's
bag, the bishop frowned.

"Twenty Monstrous Beasts? Twelve of the low-level, eight of the mid-level? How
could this be?"

He clearly remembered that before the competition, Konrad's cultivation was of the
sixth step Grand Knight and Priest Ranks. However now, it had shot up to the second
step Arch-Knight and Priest Ranks. The only reasonable explanation was that he had
been storing his spiritual energy for a massive breakthrough during the competition.

In his long existence, the bishop had seen many such occurrences. Therefore, he
didn't take it to heart. However, the kill count was a bit too high considering his
cultivation level. And with their strength, his three other teammates couldn't help
him achieve it.

"This means that he can fight above his level. However, without a high-tier
cultivation method, powerful bloodline, and physique, that is impossible. When did
house Kracht breed such a talent?"

The bishop was impressed, but ultimately didn't think much of it. After all, across all
those centuries, he had seen many talents. Especially since he personally witnessed
the most exceptional talent in the history of the Holy Flame Empire in battle, nothing
could surprise him.

In front of her, Konrad's deeds were not worth mentioning.

"Unfortunately, there is no way for him to defeat Holger… alas."

If house Kracht won the quota, he was confident in his ability to force them into
backing down. However, if the von Jurgen did, his life was over.
But at the very least, he found great delight in announcing the results.

"Number 30…

Number 29…

Number…

Number three, Nils von Jurgen: 900 points.

Number two, Holger von Jurgen: 1500 points.

Number one… hehe… Anselm Kracht: 4400 points."

The last words didn't sit well within Elmar's ears and caused all to wonder if they'd
heard wrong.
Konrad had remained buried within the dozens of contestants, causing most to
overlook his existence. Especially with the presence of the crown prince and his
handling of the recent events, his name had vanished from the contestants' minds.

However, hearing the two words "number one" paired with the name "Anselm
Kracht," all began looking for him. Dozens of pairs of eyes locked upon him while
those around him took several steps back, unknowingly forming a circle around him.
The crown prince followed those eyes and spotted the green haired Kracht youth
Konrad was currently disguising himself as.

Puzzlement flashed within his silver eyes as he observed Konrad. Why was it that
with his Semi-Holy eyesight, he couldn't understand the nature of a youth's
physique? The only thing he could see was the cultivation of the second step Arch
Knight and Priest Ranks. Even then, he had to pay close attention.

Clearly, that youth possessed an ability or artifact that allowed him to evade the
scrutiny of even Semi-Saints, and although his features matched the usual members
of house Kracht, Elmar couldn't help but feel something amiss. Their eyes met, and
although, at first glance, those eyes seemed awed by his presence, Elmar could feel
no fear ingrained within them.

Konrad tried his best to give a flawless display, but the two centuries Elmar spent
dancing with court politics allowed him to spot the imperfections others would not.
If Konrad showed blatant insolence, Elmar wouldn't have paid him much attention.
However, he was clearly trying to conceal his true feelings and thoughts from the
eyes of those around him.

Elmar concluded that he had something to hide. A background check was necessary,
but that was only secondary.

"Seventeen years old, but already at the second step of the Arch Knight and Priest
Ranks. In raw spiritual talent, he surpasses Nils. Perhaps, he also surpasses me.
According to what happened, he got his score in only one day. Therefore, it is very
likely that he can defeat mid-level Monstrous Beasts.

Meaning that in battle power, without his True Spirit Form, Holger is at best able to
contend with him. With such a descendant, why would Wolfgang let his daughter
marry outside? He will most likely have them married before we can bring the
imperial edict. If they are not already.

Troublesome…”

Holger taking Iliana's hand was an essential tool for Elmar to expand his control of
the Uradel nobles. Initially, they planned to present the edict after the competition,
but now it seemed they were a step late.

As for Konrad, he was slightly annoyed. That his score made him the center of
attention was nothing surprising. However, the crown prince was not supposed to be
here. His presence messed with all the plans previously laid out. Holger could no
longer fake injury, and from the insistence he saw within Elmar's eyes, Konrad could
bet his fingers that before the competition ended, the crown prince would have a
report on him.

Fortunately, he carefully selected his identity among the many Kracht descendants.
The real Anselm Kracht had always been a loner who focused solely on cultivation
and never mingled with nobles of his age. His status within house Kracht was
meager, and none paid him much attention. To top it all, he was an orphan.

To say nothing of outsiders, even the members of house Kracht found it difficult to
know his current progress and true nature. Besides his birth certificate and lineage,
Elmar couldn't find anything. House Kracht wouldn't be the first training talents
from the shadows. Best of all, Konrad had made sure Anselm was somewhere "safe,"
away from prying eyes to avoid complications.

But as their silent exchange carried on, killing intent aimed at Elmar rose, causing
him to shift his attention toward its origin. His eyes fell upon Koloman who didn't
disguise the hatred within his gaze, and the desire to kill.

Taken by surprise, Konrad didn't have time to react. Although he knew that there
must have been a deeper reason to his new servant's hatred of the von Jurgen, he
didn't expect him to so brazenly fire killing intent at the crown prince.

Was he courting death?

"I should have taken some time to browse through his memories. However, this is
not necessarily a bad thing. Let him draw the crown prince's attention. It would be a
pity if he died, but he can only blame himself."

Konrad didn't intervene, but surprisingly, when Elmar's eyes locked on Koloman's
face, a frown flashed by his face, but he took no further action.

The bishop who awaited an explosion of tension was disappointed by the lack of
reaction. As for the remaining contestants, with Elmar present, they didn't dare
comment on the rankings.

Joke, a Semi-Saint of the church just lost his head for offending the imperial family.
Did they not cherish their lives?

"Now that the rankings have been announced, we will lead you to your assigned
quarters where you can rest until the beginning of the second round. Those you
came with are waiting there.

The second round starts in two days."

Those who didn't qualify didn't feel much disappointment. From the beginning, all
had a rough idea of who could make it to the second round.

Unlike the first round, the second was a public event during which the nobility
gathered to observe the battles of the most promising youths of the various houses
and witness the birth of the next Holy Talent.

Regardless of how low their talent initially was, whoever obtained the Holy Flame
Baptism possessed great chances to reach the Holy Rank in a lifetime. In the future,
that person was destined to stand at the peak of the Holy Flame Empire.

Elmar pulled Holger and Nils toward the quarters assigned to the imperial family
and led them into his chosen room. Incomparably vast, the church dedicated entire
wings with several rooms to the competing families.

"The combined points of all the members of the imperial family didn't equal that of a
single youth of house Kracht. I believe this is the first time I feel the name -von
Jurgen- echoing with -shame-
Care to explain how exactly this happened?"

Although Elmar kept a level tone, Holger could feel the displeasure hidden within.

"I have no excuse."

Holger bowed, saying nothing further.

Nils who stood by Elmar's side knew that her fifth brother was about to get punished
for her misdeeds, and so took his defense.

"It's all my fault, you can't blame him! I snuck out of the group to go on a solo hunt
and ended up coming across that Accursed Beast. Holger had to drop the hunt to
come to my aid, and then leave the third level to make sure I could heal in peace.

Was it not for that, our scores would have never been so low!

Sorry!"

"A simple sorry is not enough to make up for this loss of face. We are the imperial
family. At the very center of our empire, how can we allow lesser houses surpass us?
What message are we sending? Decline?

Holger, do you understand your mistake?"

"As the team leader, I've failed to get my priorities straight and damaged the dignity
of the imperial family. Please punish me."

Elmar nodded and fell into his seat.

"Since you know your wrongs, it is your duty to fix them. As long as you trample all
contestants and snatch the quota, all is well.

By the way, how did you manage to repel an Accursed Beast?"

Elmar knew his younger brother's strength better than anyone else. Although in his
True Spirit Form, Holger would rarely find a rival beneath the Transcendent Rank,
escaping from the clutches of an Accursed Beast was something he could not
accomplish.
However, before Holger could answer, Nils stepped forward.

"It was thanks to Anselm! He was fighting that demonic beast by my side and held
out long enough for Holger to come to our aid."

Elmar felt a strange exuberance within Nils' voice as she mentioned "Anselm." If his
sharp ears weren't betraying him, she seemed quite fond of him.

"Yes, it's true. When I arrived, Nils had just lost consciousness from the beast's blow.
I teamed up with that Kracht boy, and together we managed to escape.

Holger repeated the version imprinted in his mind by Konrad. Hearing this, Elmar
simply nodded. However, at the same time, he sent a mental message to Holger.

"The Holy Flame Baptism quota is of paramount importance to you. Without it, even
if you manage to reach sainthood, you can't do it in less than two thousand years. We
don't have that much time.

There must be no mistake.

As for that boy, he's likely Wolfgang's chosen son-in-law. After the competition, I will
dispose of him to pave the way for you."

Nils remained unaware of the brief mental exchange. As for Holger, no trace of
surprise appeared within his eyes. Inwardly though, he was full of complaints.

Meanwhile, Konrad who, from a distance, observed the scene through Holger's mind
curled his lips into a smile.

"Crown Prince, it is way too early to say who will dispose of who."
Led by priestesses, the contestants headed into their respective quarters. Afterward,
among the bored daughters and wives of noble that came to support their kin, gossip
ran amuck.

"Did you hear? That boy from house Kracht got first rank in the first round."

"The one that beat Koloman senseless?"

"Yes, that one!"

"I heard he's only seventeen. Do you think he can win the competition?"

"How is that possible? The fifth prince is a Pureblooded Paragon Spirit several levels
above him. There is absolutely no way that boy can win."

"I guess you're right. Hey, he should be unmarried right?"

In his room, Koloman was running circles with his wife by his side. Having not
witnessed the previous events, she couldn't understand where all his unease and
apprehension came from, and she didn't care.

Since he made clear his intention to woe Iliana, their relationship had soured. Was it
not for her family being subservient to house Slesinger, she would have already
requested a divorce.

However, not caring was one thing; having to deal with the incessant noise of his
clattering steps was another. She stopped her nail polishing session and turned her
gaze toward that disgraced husband of hers.

"Could you not make this much noise? What's wrong with you?"
Koloman ignored her. Right now, his worry filled mind had no time to spare for his
wife. He'd shoved himself into a terrible situation, and he knew it. How could he be
so foolish as to fire killing intent at the Crown Prince? If Elmar chose to press
charges, even his father couldn't save him.

"I must leave this place and request an audience with maternal grandfather. At this
point, only he can keep me safe."

He reckoned. However, at that time, a knocking sound echoed from his door.

"Who?!"

He snarled. Why did people always choose the worst of times to disturb him? But
when the intruder's voice echoed within his head, he almost soiled his pants.

"I."

Naturally, it was Konrad's. Koloman rushed toward the door, opened it, and
welcomed him inside with deference.

Konrad swept the room with a glance, and his eyes locked on the dainty young
woman sitting beside a marble table with her legs crossed.

With his Origin Sight, Konrad recognized her as another winged serpent. However,
one with a much lower bloodline purity than Koloman's. Still, she was an
outstanding beauty whose alluring figure left no room for nitpicking. At the seventh
step Grand Knight Rank, her cultivation level also stood out.

As soon as Konrad stepped in, her eyes fell upon him, recognizing him as the boy that
thrashed her husband when they'd first arrived. According to the gossips, he also got
first place in the previous round. What was he doing here?

Stranger still, Koloman stood by his side with deference she didn't know he
possessed. Their eyes met, and she saw within his gaze a predatory glint that made
her feel like vulnerable prey. Like with that simple glance, she'd been marked, and
could no longer escape his palm.

An orchid scent spread within the room, infiltrated her nostrils, and spread
throughout her body, causing her to heat up and clench her legs like an alarmed little
pet.
"Koloman, Koloman, aren't you a greedy one. With such a fine lady by your side, why
did you need to chase my woman? Tss, tss, tss. Oh well, I guess I'm in no position to
criticize you."

He chuckled and stepped toward the woman whose green slit eyes stayed glued on
him. Pink mist spread from his fingertips, dived into her pores and turned her rising
heat into full-blown lust.

Feeling the profane force overtake her, and the debauched thoughts running wild
within her mind, she bit her lower lips, but unbeknown to her, only produced a more
alluring picture.

"What's your name?"

"Irmhild."

Konrad stretched his hand toward Irmhild, she took it, allowing him to pull her into a
warm embrace that caused her heartbeat to accelerate. He then took her seat,
instead, placing her on his lap.

Unsure of how to handle the situation, Koloman floundered, stood still, and did
nothing.

Konrad kept one arm around Irmhild's waist while the other held her hand. He then
returned his attention onto the dazed Koloman.

"Are you wondering why I'm here? I came to reward you."

"Reward me?"

Koloman hesitated. Although a radiant smile remained plastered on Konrad's face,

his words chilled him to the bones.

"Reward, yes. Thanks to your insubordination and overflowing killing intent aimed
at Crown Prince Elmar, I managed to avoid scrutiny. Doesn't that deserve a reward?"

He asked while stroking Irmhild's back and making her lean against his chest.

Understanding the crux of the issue, Koloman fell onto his knees and kowtowed.
"Master, apologies! I was muddled for one second and lost control of myself!"

Konrad briefly browsed through Koloman's memories and saw the true reason for
his hatred for the crown prince. There was indeed boundless enmity between them.
In a nutshell, Koloman's sister had died because of him. This made Elmar's reaction
more incomprehensible.

Still, Konrad wouldn't let him off that easily.

"I don't really care about your grievances. However, you've put yourself in his radar
when I needed you to lay low and directly provoked him. Although they chose to
remain silent, more than one person must have felt that killing intent. This makes
your future worrying and jeopardizes my plans.

Annoying…”

Irmhild didn't understand what was going on, and the word "master" spoken by
Koloman caused more confusion to spread within her mind. However, the enthralling
scent and energy released by Konrad freed her of all those needless concern, leading
her to rub herself against him as if only the two of them were present.

Sweat filled Koloman's face, but seeing his wife acting like a whore within Konrad's
hands, his fear was replaced by a new wave of indignation.

"Displeased?"

Konrad's voice echoed, forcing Koloman to swallow his anger.

"I… wouldn't dare."

"Good. Because your reward for all those good deeds is to enjoy the sight of your
wife getting plowed by me. In any case, now that you're only a man in appearance,
someone must take care of her needs, right?

It might as well be me."

"What?"

Koloman protested, but before he could stand up, Konrad's eyes nailed him onto the
ground.
"Stay still and do nothing besides watching. I do not want you to miss anything."

Irmhild had already forgotten about her husband, blowing her hot, panting breath
against Konrad's cheeks with aching need clear within her eyes. Konrad lifted her
chin, bringing her lips close to his, and brushed his forehead against hers.

"What do you want me to do?"

He asked, his eyes glittering with violet light, and his overpowering presence filling
her.

"I want you to fuck me."

She replied without hesitation, and hearing this, Koloman collapsed. Despite being a
cultivator, he was on the verge of having a stroke!
"How can I not oblige?"

There was false helplessness in his voice. He grabbed Irmhild's thigh with one hand,
maintained the other around her waist, and teased her lips with his. Brushing, but
not kissing while she tried to catch him within hers. The teasing game carried on for
an instant before Konrad planted a kiss on Irmhild's neck, suckled on her flesh as his
tongue drew an arc all the way to her shoulder.

The heat consuming her from the inside erased all form of rationality she had left.
She wanted to throw herself onto Konrad, to force him onto the ground and ride him
until he exploded within her, but strangely, she felt a foreign force trapping her
within certain actions and forbidding others.

She was at his mercy, and the thought caused a moan to escape her lips.

"Mhm…”

She shuddered, watching him hickey her upper body while lowering her dress to
below her ample chest with one finger. Her bust sprang free, bouncing in the air by
Konrad's face. He cupped one breast within his hand, teasing one pink nipple with
his fingers while pulling the other into his lips and tugging onto it.

She couldn't suppress her pleasure gasps.

"Aaahh…”

Irmhild wrapped her arms around his neck, burying him within her chest while he
sucked and played with her tits. The sensation moistening her inner thighs at
breakneck speed.

Konrad's hand slid below her dress and snuck between her legs, spreading them
apart, to rub his fingers on her erect clit.
His shaft hardened against her thigh, the fabric unable to suppress its warmth. And
knowing that this rising piece of meat would soon hammer her, caused another
pleasure wave to course through Irmhild's veins.

Clearly, she was reaching the end of her endurance and needed more.

"More… I want more… take me!"

She pleaded, and Koloman's bloodshot eyes almost cracked. Since when did his wife
become so proactive, and why was she so brazenly throwing herself at a man she'd
just met? Was this her true nature? Or was some other force at play?

"Incubus… he must be an incubus."

The realization then struck Koloman, and he despaired. Due to Konrad's order, he
couldn't shift his attention and was forced to watch every detail of the two getting it
on. The imprint of this nightmare would forever remain within his mind.

"If you insist."

Konrad replied in an amused tone that showed no consideration for his suffering
servant, lifting up Irmhild's dress to reveal her drenched inner thighs, then freed his
shaft from his pants.

The mixture of holy and demonic force that seemed to burst from it heightened
Irmhild's lust and kindled her greed. In a heartbeat, she pulled her undergarments to
the side and grabbed that dazzling meat-rod within her hands. Her eyes seemed to
only have the cock within them.

Irmhild gave the rod a few pumps, then pressed it against the entrance of her pussy
lips.

"Don't… do it."

Koloman pleaded through his teeth while biting his lips to blood. This was too much
to bear!

Even if he didn't treat her well and wouldn't hesitate to divorce her to obtain a better
marriage deal, she was still his wife! She belonged to him!
What man could endure the sight of his spouse about to eagerly impale herself on
another man's rod? He couldn't!

However, his feeble words couldn't reach her. It was as if whatever Konrad did to her
had utterly consumed her judgment, leaving no place for anything besides the need
to satisfy her hunger.

"Don't be so dramatic. It's not like I'm stealing your wife. She'll still be Madam
Slesinger tomorrow. I'm just doing my civic duty and providing her with the service
she needs."

You should be thanking me."

A metallic taste filled Koloman's mouth and he spat blood.

Still, he couldn't lose consciousness.

The greedy Irmhild didn't have many considerations. She speared herself onto
Konrad's large rod, welcoming his warmth into her snatch with one descent.

"Aaah…”

She gasped, feeling her butt cheeks kissing his full balls, and his wonderful cock
settling itself within her.

The simple act of taking his cock in electrified her. Her lips formed an "O" shape, and
a small orgasm hit her.

The deed was done, Koloman was now officially a cuckold. Of course, the game was
far from its end.

Irmhild planted her feet firmly on the ground, wrapped her arms around Konrad's
neck, and without further ado, began riding him.

Pah Pah Pah

The sound of her cushy rear slamming against his balls soon filled the room. Driven
by her lust, she showed no restraint, impaling herself as hard and fast as she could
with no consideration for pain.
Fortunately, the golden rod's abilities kicked into gear, allowing her to enjoy the
hardest pounding of her life without an ounce of pain. Konrad's hands held her
waist, supporting her while bringing her up and down with greater strength and
speed.

Her tongue lolled out, and she danced on his cock with reckless abandon, letting it
reach places she didn't know could be reached, and hit pleasure spots that had never
been triggered beforehand.

"Aaah… yess… ahhh!"

Her moaning intensified as her brutal handling of Konrad's dick carried on, and
waves upon waves of ecstasy flooded her mind. Soon, the pleasure proved too much
for her to handle. The succession of orgasms depleted her strength. Her legs gave
out, but fortunately, Konrad's reliable hands were there to keep things going.

Holding her by below her thigh, he lifted her from the ground, and stepped closer
toward Koloman, then resumed hammering her right in his face.

"Ooooh… Divine Lord!"

Like a constrictor coiling around its prey, Irmhild locked Konrad tighter against her,
using every bit of strength she had left to cling onto him and that extreme pleasure
he brought her.

His cock tensed within her, announcing its release. Konrad groped her butt cheeks
firmly within his hands and drove in for one last thrust.

"Aaargh!"

He groaned, his white-purple seed erupting within her, and sliding onto the ground
in small droplets.

Exhausted, Irmhild passed out within his arms.

Konrad laid her on the bed, and returned his attention onto Koloman whose body
trembled, while his lips had turned red from blood.

"Well, well. Is that defiance I see here? Don't worry, it won't stay for long."
Konrad stretched out his hand and placed it onto Koloman's face.

Violet mist burst from it and spread within his Koloman's mind.

"What… are you going to do?"

"I can't have your personal grievances standing in the way of my plans. I must
rewrite your thoughts so that from now on, you can only behave as a useful servant."

"Don't worry, you won't feel a thing."

Koloman's eyes widened with fright, the pain of being cuckolded replaced by the
danger of losing his personality, all that made him who he was, to turn into Konrad's
puppet.

He wanted to struggle, but due to the previous order, he couldn't move a muscle.

"Please… no…”

But it was too late, the purple mist colonized his mind, modified his thoughts and
very nature, to turn him into a docile, obedient man whose life's purpose was to
serve Konrad wholeheartedly.

From now on, he would no longer care about anything besides his master's orders
and would act according to his needs.

If he needed him to pose as the previous Koloman, he flawlessly would.

If he needed him to act as a braindead pet, he flawlessly would.

This was the power of the Master-Servant contract!

"Who are you?"

"Your servant!"

Koloman replied without a shred of hesitation.

"Good. You didn't necessarily have the wrong idea. It's time for you to leave.
However, if I'm not mistaken, the crown prince will pay you a visit before you can do
so.

Either he wishes to keep your feud quiet, or he has some misgivings about killing
you. Let's test the waters. Pack your things and leave. When he intercepts you, act
like you always did. If he tries to kill you, I will summon you by my side and hide you
within my space treasure for a few days.

If he doesn't, I will use the opportunity to get a better understanding of that new
opponent of mine."

After laying down the directives, Konrad left, heading toward his own quarters.

The wing reserved for house Kracht was currently full of bluster. The Kracht fillers
had returned with news of Konrad seizing victory in the first round, which caused
both Iliana and Daphne to beam with joy.

However, for more than an hour, Konrad was nowhere to be seen. All the contestants
had already returned to their camps. Only he failed to show up. Apparently, once the
priestesses came to lead them to their chambers, he silently vanished.

At first, they didn't think much of it. However, when the time count was approaching
the two hours, worry started filling their minds.
"Where is that bastard?"

Iliana wondered while fidgeting with her fingers. Meanwhile, Daphne combed her
hairs in front of a mirror. Seeing her dedicated hair-brushing, Iliana's nervousness
worsened.

"You've been combing your hairs in front of that mirror for more than an hour. Can't
you do nothing else? You're making me nervous!"

Daphne didn't spare her a glance, carrying on with her hair-brushing.

"You've been fidgeting with your fingers for more than an hour. Can't you do nothing
else? You're making ME nervous!"

She retorted while keeping her eyes glued on her reflection within the mirror. Both
shared the same nervousness, they just had different ways of showing it. Iliana
wanted to yank those damnable hairs but restrained herself.

"Should we go look for him?"

She asked after a short sigh.

"Where would we go? It's not like he's lost right? He's probably diddling a priestess
or two."

Daphne replied to reassure herself.

"Not a priestess, actually. Just another man's wife."

A brash voice echoed within their minds. Instantly, they turned to seek its source,
only to see light particles bypass the walls, and dive into the room. In a twister, those
light particles reformed in Konrad's shape.

He stood at the center of the chamber, with an impetuous smile plastered on his face.

"Daddy!"

The first to react, Daphne cast her comb aside and threw herself into Konrad's arms.
He welcomed her, with open arms.
"Aren't you overreacting a little bit, it has not been that long. Did you really miss me
that much?"

"Of course, every day not spent by your side makes me feel trapped in a bitter sea."

She flattered. Meanwhile, Iliana who never lost her priorities crossed her arms
beneath her chest and daggered Konrad with her eyes.

"Others rushed back to their quarters as soon as they go the opportunity, but you…
you… were actually diddling someone? Couldn't you even wait after seeing us? How
can you be so heartless?"

She complained.

"So, I take it you also missed me? Don't worry, she doesn't mean anything."

"You!"

Iliana indexed Konrad's forehead with her trembling finger, suppressing the urge to
castrate him.

"If you don't change your ways, I swear I will make you a cuckold!"

Fearless, Konrad patted Daphne's head while she rubbed her face against his chest.

"Now that I know you have the thought, the problem is easily solved. I will just take
you days and nights to make sure you don't have the strength to go look elsewhere.
Come, come, let's start your new regimen."

Iliana who knew the might of her beloved demon was terror-stricken.

"Wait, wait, I was just talking nonsense."

She blurted and tried to run toward the door. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't
surpass Konrad in speed. He grabbed her waist with his left hand and pulled her
onto his left shoulder while keeping the docile Daphne within his right.

"Licentious bastard, let go of me!"

"As a licentious bastard, I absolutely cannot let go of you. To bed, we go."

"Help!"

But it was to no avail, her clothes were dispatched, and Konrad made right on his
promise to leave her no strength to look elsewhere.

Actually, by the time he was done with them, neither Iliana nor Daphne had the
ability to stand.

News of the first round's end spread throughout the nobility circles, with the
appearance of the Kracht underdog none had expected beforehand. However, not a
soul believed the Kracht youth capable of defeating Holger and coming out on top.
The quota already belonged to him.

Still, as per custom, many noblemen and women began making their way toward the
church in anticipation for the second round. Busy with the tasks Konrad had
entrusted to him, Wolfgang wasn't joining the fun. Instead, Zamira and Wulf replaced
him, attending the competition in his stead.

The first day was coming to an end, and as per Konrad's orders, Koloman prepared
to flee back to his house. He left behind Irmhild and the supporting members that
didn't participate in the first round and made his getaway.

However, by the time he stepped out of the church's range, a towering, silver-haired
figure appeared in front of him.

Naturally, it was Elmar.

Seeing the crown prince appear out of thin air, Koloman's eyes shone with a mixture
of anger and fright.

"I don't know why your highness is meeting me today away from prying eyes. Have I
done something to deserve your attention?"

There was defiance within Koloman's tone as if regardless of Elmar's might, he

couldn't bring himself to show him deference.

Strangely, Elmar observed his face in silence with his eyes void of emotions.
That long, silent stare triggered a wave of discomfort within Koloman's heart.

"You are Emilia's little brother?"

Elmar asked, breaking the silence, and hearing that name caused Koloman's eyes to
burn with anger and killing intent. Of course, this display was nothing but an act
controlled by Konrad's will.

"I am indeed. Your highness really has a good memory. I didn't think that after all
those years, you would still remember a small fry like me."

Emilia Slesinger was the only daughter of the Slesinger duke. She was a warm and
gentle soul loved by all that made her acquaintance. She was also a mesmerizing
beauty.

Unfortunately, almost forty years ago, she committed the terrible mistake of falling
for the crown prince Elmar. Unbeknown to Emilia, he used her to obtain inside
information on her house, steal and sabotage many of their businesses within the
capital, all while keeping her under the illusion that he loved her.

He also used the information he gleaned from her to prepare the assassinations of
many key members of house Slesinger.

By the time she realized what he'd been up to, it was too late. She personally
witnessed her Semi-Saint uncle butchered by Elmar during a dreadful night.

The realization that she'd been stupidly contributing to her family's demise was too
hard to bear.

Out of shame and grief, she committed suicide, only leaving behind an apologetic
note. When they realized what had transpired, many of house Slesinger lost all
affection for her and cursed her name for their losses. Her own father didn't mourn
her, blaming everything on her "stupidity."

At the time, Koloman was eight. Yet, the events remained firmly engrained within his
mind and fueled his hatred of the imperial family.
Winged serpents and paragon spirits had been at odds for more than a hundred
thousand years. Although the winged serpents had been feigning submission for the
last thousands of years, the von Jurgen firmly believed they were just biding their
time. Therefore, they would suppress them at any given opportunity.

Elmar's position as crown prince wasn't always as secure as it was now. He was the
first of eight sons, the strongest and most outstanding in cultivation talent. However,
he wasn't always the craftiest.

The best at scheming, his second brother used to cause him a lot of trouble and
almost led their father into deposing him. Back then, he'd genuinely fallen for Emilia.
However, when the second prince got wind of it, he stealthily informed their father,
the holy emperor.

He flew into rage and left Elmar with only two choices. Either using the situation to
his advantage to deal severe blows to the winged serpents or abandon his title of
crown prince.

Elmar chose the crown prince title.

"You are a fool. I could legitimately kill you, and none would blame me for it.

However, for the sake of your sister, I will spare your life this once. In return, you
must never leave the confines of house Slesinger in a lifetime.

If you do, your life ends."

Elmar then vanished as silently as he'd appeared.

"A sentimental crown prince? Unexpected. However, I can use that to my advantage."
Knowing that Elmar meant to dispose of him after the competition, Konrad couldn't
sit like livestock awaiting death. The original plan was to disappear and return to the
palace after the competition with his eunuch status and the empress' token.
However, now that he'd entered Elmar's radar, more caution proved necessary.

Another problem was how to defeat Holger. In the wilds, with Man-Breaker in hands,
he obviously didn't fear him. In the competition, however, it was a whole other
matter.

In his True-Spirit Form, Holger was almost invincible beneath the Transcendent
Rank. To defeat him, Konrad would either need to master the powers of his
physiques, increase his cultivation, or learn a fourth circle spell.

The last option, he could do with the system. However, this was bound to raise
questions he didn't wish to answer.

Fourth circle spells and above were all controlled by the Holy Flame Church. Besides
the sovereign prince houses and the imperial family, none could access them without
submitting to the church.

Even the dukes were no exception. How then could he explain his ownership of one
of them?

However, as he pondered his options, a knocking sound came from his doorstep.

Iliana and Daphne were currently resting by his sides. Unwilling to disturb them, he
silently snuck out of bed, got dressed in a large blue robe open at the chest, and
stepped toward the door. At the same time, he activated his Origin Sight to see who
he owed the visit to.

What he saw caused puzzlement to flash within his eyes.

Pulling the handle, Konrad stepped outside and closed the door behind him.

There, two palace ladies were waiting for him.

"What are you doing here? And what do you want with me?"

The palace ladies looked at him with a smile, and each pulled out a box they
extended toward him.
"Congratulations, her majesty, the holy empress is offering you a treasure. With it,
victory is yours."

"Congratulations, her grace, the holy consort is offering you a treasure. With it,
victory is yours."

"However, you can only pick one of the two."

Konrad who hadn't anticipated such development stared flabbergasted at the two.

"Come again?"

Meanwhile, within the imperial palace, Verena and Else were meeting for their
weekly chess match.

"Which one do you think he will pick?"

Verena asked while moving her chess piece.

"Yours is too eye-catching. There is also no certainty he can use it. He should pick
mine or none at all."

"I tend to think yours is the most eye-catching."

Regaining his wits, Konrad lowered his gaze to the two boxes presented to him and
opened their lids.

Within the holy consort's box, he saw a golden pill rippling with terrifying force,
while within the holy empress' box was an ordinary looking dark-blue scroll.

Using his Origin Sight, he analyzed the nature of the two items.

"Saint-Origin Pill."

"Low-grade Fourth Circle Spell: Lesser Storm Elemental."

Two bombs had just landed into his hands. A rare item, Saint-Origin Pills contained
the essence of deceased Saints and were naturally condensed upon their death.

Swallowing it, he could bring his physiques to higher levels even without the help of
the system. It would also be of great use when he reached the Transcendent Rank
and needed to unlock his meridians.

Better, it also granted him a chance to unlock a special physique linked to the
deceased Saint's constitution. However, for a few days after swallowing it, holy
essence would swirl around him like a beacon.

As for the fourth circle spell, due to its storm element, even among low-grade fourth
circle spells, it was extremely powerful and could contend with most mid-grade
fourth circle spells.

The problem was that in the Holy Flame Empire, only two houses had access to that
spell.

House von Jurgen and house Kvass. Outsiders were never allowed a glance. The
implications made it arguably worse than the Saint-Origin Pill. How were these gifts?
Obviously, they'd sent time-ticking bombs to his doorsteps!

"You can thank her majesty and her grace on my behalf. However, those gifts are too
heavy, and I dare not accept them."

He then turned heels and was about to leave when Else's representant's voice
echoed.

"Her grace wanted me to tell you that there will be at least one Saint present during
the next round. Your disguise cannot fool him. However, the protection of the holy
essence left by the Saint-Origin Pill can help you pass that hurdle."

Konrad hesitated. With his current bloodline level, he could indeed not deceive
Saints. Only by reaching the next stage could he fool them.

That Saint-Origin Pill clearly was the most sensible choice. However, his debts
toward the holy consorts were pilling up, and soon, he wouldn't be able to pay his
due.

More importantly, her motives and the nature of her relationship with the previous
Konrad remained unknown. At this point, getting too close to her was unwise.

"Tell her grace that her concern is appreciated but unnecessary. If I cannot win
depending on my own strength, then I can only blame my uselessness."

He declared, walked back into his chambers, and shut the door into their face.

Knowing that they'd failed their mission, the maids sighed, turned heels and left.
Thankfully they would both return without success.

As soon as he locked the door, Konrad stepped into his new space treasure where
he'd been hiding the demonic beasts. The system's voice then echoed within his
head.

"Are you going to do it now?"

"Yes. I wanted to wait and make further plans first, but I suppose there is no other
way for me to win and evade scrutiny.

Exchange 2,500,000 exp to promote me from Pureblooded Incubus to Dream-

Weaver!"

"As you wish!"

The third level of the incubus bloodline list, the Dream-Weaver stage unlocked many
wondrous abilities. Most importantly, in terms of bloodline level, it was already the
limit of what one could see in a mortal world. Outside of places like the main seats of
the Celestial Church and the Infernal Cult, there was probably no knowledge of it.

At this stage, the incubus became a true master of the ethereal, capable of sending
his mind into others' through astral projection and rewriting all their innate wishes
or desires. He could also transform dreams into reality and summon nightmares to
shred his foes.

There were many other abilities. Among other things, his speed and strength would
skyrocket while his flexibility reached inhuman levels.

In the Infernal Realm, Dream-Weavers were born at the Semi-Holy Rank, and all
belonged to the nobility. This alone was proof of their might.

Within the space treasure, Konrad sat in the middle of an empty grassland with his
original appearance, waiting for the system to complete the exchange. The system
traded the 2,500,000 exp for the bloodline upgrade, and Konrad's exp count dropped
to 9,453,225.

Then the transformation began. His white skin turned into a pale grey while long
claws sprang from his fingers and toes. His eyes turned into a full violet, leaving no
space for white, and his short black hairs extended to fall all the way down to his
waist.

Violent demonic energy swirled around his body, larger goat horns emerged from his
forehead, and from his back grew a pair of grey flesh wings large enough to
enshroud his form.

He stood up, and although his height remained at 1.85 meters, his muscular build
rippled overbearing energy and newfound might. In the distance, the demonic beasts
that felt the outburst of demonic energy shivered in fright. Their instincts telling
them to keep their heads pressed against the ground to avoid offending the lord.

Konrad stretched out his arm, feeling that besides his new abilities, even his old one
became a lot more powerful. His telekinesis could now accomplish mightier feats
while his Transformation Skill could deceive even Saints.

As for his physical abilities, he could feel himself:

Harder.

Better.

Faster.

Stronger.

His speed, in particular, had already reached the Transcendent level.

"Good. I should now have no trouble winning the competition."

He reckoned, used his Transformation Skill to return to Anselm Kracht's shape, and
left the space treasure.

By the time he returned to the outside world, Daphne and Iliana were still resting.
However, he received news that Zamira and Wulf were on their way and therefore
got dressed to welcome them.

But as he stepped out of the door, a shadow shot from his side, and bared its claws at
him!

"AAAAARGH!"

The shadow roared, and instinctively Konrad threw a palm at its face.

BAM

The "shadow" spiraled into the air and crashed onto the ground. Konrad shot a
vigilant gaze at the figure he just sent flying, but when he saw who was lying on the
ground, his eyes went from furious to puzzled.
"I just wanted to surprise you! Why did you have to be so brutal?!"

Nils wailed as she readjusted her position on the ground and stroked her right cheek
where Konrad's handprint now remained.

Konrad blinked for a few seconds, not knowing what to do.

"Vigilance is key to survival. You can only blame yourself for being so silly."

He replied after a moment of silence. Nils couldn't help but agree. However, her heart
was still full of grievances. Why did the slap have to be so hard?

Sniff Sniff

"You're always bullying me. And here I was coming to do my good deed of the day."

"Not interested."

Konrad dryly cut.

"You don't even know what it is."

"Not interested."

Nils was struck speechless. What did she do to offend him?

"You're not even going to help me up?"

"You have functional feet and legs. Use them."

Without further ado, Konrad left. Nils could no longer pay any attention to the pain
of her right cheek and leaped back on her feet.

"Anselm Kracht, stop right there!"

But Konrad ignored her and carried on with his way, so she crossed the distance
between them, and seized his arm.

"You've been avoiding me since that time in the forest. What did I do to you?"
Considering her unique position in the imperial family, it wasn't easy for Nils to
make a friend. In fact, she didn't have any. To say that she was content spending her
days alone with her sword would be a lie.

She'd finally managed to make a meaningful friend. Why was he suddenly trying to
put distance between them? She couldn't understand.

It was fine if there was a reason. But to be snubbed out of the blue after a life and
death event that should have brought them closer?

What nonsense was this?

Konrad stopped, his eyes brimming with frustration. Inwardly, he was currently
struggling with two thoughts. One telling him to use Nils to deal with the crown
prince's next attack, another telling him to leave her out of it, and carry on with their
respective lives.

Both thoughts clashed within his mind, failing to obtain victory on one another.

He yanked his arm free of her grasp and turned to face her with cold, piercing eyes.

"Who says I'm avoiding you? There needs to be something between us before I need
to do so.

But there is nothing.

We're just acquaintances, people who met by chance and whose futures bear no
connection whatsoever. I helped you, you helped me, and now we're through.

So stop acting as if I was your bosom friend because I am not."

Konrad's callous words took Nils by surprise, causing a stinging feeling to grow
within her chest. Did she hear things well, or did his words get distorted within her
mind?

Konrad's eyes held no compassion. He turned heels and was about to leave when
once again, her voice stopped him.

"You're lying. I know you must be. I've been in your mind and you in mine. With the
link we shared, you cannot deceive me!
I certainly mean more to you than the… nothing… you're trying to say."

Konrad chuckled.

"Nonsensical. Who is to say that what you saw wasn't just what I allowed you to see.

I initiated the link and controlled it throughout. All that happened was within my
grasp.

But since you seem so desperate for a reason, let me give you one. Iliana is my
woman and betrothed, but you're surnamed von Jurgen. Is that enough?"

With those words, he left.

Nils stood behind, staring dazed at his departing form with a wave of phantasmal
blows assaulting her chest. Tears filled and blurred her eyes, but she remained there,
like a statue.

"Perhaps I was just being foolish."

"Guiding the young ones is truly a daunting task. Why did you do that? That girl was
the perfect shield to deflect the crown prince's blows. You've wasted a golden
opportunity."

"I don't need her for that."

Konrad replied to the Flame Mark's indignation.

"Hahaha, the more you try to push her away, the more convinced I am that you will
soon take her."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"You never wondered why does a princess need to pose as a prince? The answer is
quite simple."

"…”
…

Afterward, Konrad welcomed Zamira and Wulf at the church's entrance and brought
them to the Kracht wing to select their lodgings. Of course, Zamira first headed
toward Iliana and Daphne to inquire on their stay.

The rest of the day was uneventful.

Konrad isolated himself and sat cross-legged to cultivate, deepen his mastery of the
Hundred Flowers Scripture, and further analyze his new abilities. The second day
passed by in a flash, and it was now time for the second round to begin.
Today, the Holy Flame Church was full of bluster. Hundreds of nobles flooded its
halls, eager for the competition to start. Many had already taken their seats in the
arena, awaiting the competitors' entrance.

Meanwhile, said competitors were completing their last arrangements.

"Take those two Saint-Origin Pills."

Elmar ordered while extending two golden pills to Nils and Holger.

Holger looked at them with confusion while Nils appeared slightly detached.

"Elder brother, is that really necessary? This is… such a waste."

Even for the imperial family, Saint-Origin Pills were in short supply. Their worth
didn't fully exert itself before the Transcendent and Semi-Holy Rank. Beneath those
ranks, using them was a waste.

Arch-Knights and Priests could not absorb even one-tenth of the pill's power. For
Elmar to pull out two required considerable resources. Thus, Holger really couldn't
bear using them at his current level.

"Better be safe than sorry. I ran a background check on your opponent and failed to
find anything of interest. But the less we find, the more suspicious he is. With house
Kracht's resources, they absolutely cannot train such a talent. I suspect a Saint
behind the scenes.

Who knows what resources he has at his disposal? We must not act sloppily. Don't
worry, I will help you two refine the pills and minimize the losses. What you cannot
digest, you can store and use in the future.
Other benefits aside, the sheer holy power should be enough for a breakthrough. In
any case, those pills belong to you."

Holger said nothing more. However, he was inwardly full of apprehension. The more
assurance he had in victory, the more uneasy he felt.

His life was in Konrad's hands. How dared he defeat him? However, if he showed
flaws, Elmar would definitely spot them and cause more trouble. Even if he didn't
want to, he had to try his hardest!

Meanwhile, Nils maintained an absentminded look. Spotting the abnormal behavior,

Elmar frowned.

"Nils' what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing."

She instantly replied and shifted her attention back to him.

"According to you, what level can I reach after taking this pill? And how much more
powerful will my physique be?"

Elmar's frown deepened. Although dedicated to cultivation, Nils usually didn't pay
much attention to her battle power. If anything, her immersion in cultivation was
more of a tactic to avoid loneliness.

"At least two levels. As for your physique, you only have a one percent chance of
unlocking a holy constitution. However, I can guarantee your flesh will at least reach
the Transcendent Rank.

Beneath the Transcendent Rank, nothing will be able to injure you."

Most physiques were innate and improved with the cultivation. People born with
special physiques far beyond their levels were few and far between. And with time,
unless nurtured by powerful pills and elixirs, cultivation would always catch up to
the physique level.

Elmar for example currently possessed a Holy Physique. However, with the imperial
family's resources, he could not bring it to the next level. Unless he grasped new
opportunities, his cultivation would one day catch up to it.
"That should be good enough. Elder brother, please help me refine it."

Meanwhile, house Kracht was getting anxious.

"He's in a trance? Now of all times?

What should we do?"

Daphne complained while standing outside Konrad's chambers. The competition

was starting in one hour, and the contestants were all expected to gather at least half
an hour beforehand. However, Zamira was now telling them that Konrad had entered
a cultivation trance?

How could she not get worried?

"Perhaps that's for the best. We're already treading on thin ice. Offending the
imperial family for this quota is not worth it."

Iliana secretly heaved a sigh of relief. However, Zamira was of another mind.

"Let's check the situation."

Following Zamira's lead, the three Kracht women stepped in. What awaited them
was the sight of Konrad sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed.

Purple light swirled around him while rose petals appeared and fluttered by his side.

"He's been like this for ten hours already. At this rate, he will really miss the next
round."

Although annoyed, there was nothing Zamira could do besides watching and hoping
that the trance would soon come to an end. If they missed the second round like this,
why did they bother attending in the first place?

However, as worry began filling her face, a strange phenomenon occurred.

Violet sparks glittered around Konrad's form while berserk, purple lightning burst
from his body. Carrying with them energy waves that almost sent Daphne and Iliana
spiraling into the air. Fortunately for them, Zamira was there to deflect the
lightning's effects.

Crackling sounds thundered within the air as the purple lightning rose and drew
dozens of arcs around Konrad's form. The terrifying power emanating from within it
caused even Zamira to feel some apprehension.

"What kind of cultivation does he practice for his attributes to be so overbearing?"

It wasn't the first time this question sprang within her mind. Konrad's light attribute
was already strange enough, but this lightning one seemed even more dreadful. If his
light attribute seemed to emphasize speed and flexibility, this lightning one was all
about destruction.

Konrad's eyes opened with purple lightning rotating around his irises.

"No need to get worried. Wait for me outside, we will soon set out."

That said, he once again closed his eyes. Zamira didn't dare delay and carried the two
still dazed girls outside.

"The Hundred Flowers Scripture contains three attributes. Light, Lightning, and
Nature.

The first gives you unparalleled speed, the second unparalleled strength, and the last
unparalleled resilience. Now that you've unlocked the lightning attribute, combined
with your bloodline level, I dare say that even without your lineage weapon, you can
fight across an entire rank."

"So what? As I reach higher ranks, those advantages will shrink. If I don't improve, by
the time I reach the Semi-Holy Rank, how many levels will I be able to skip?

What about the Holy Rank? The Divine Rank? Ultimately, those advantages are just
more pronounced in the lower ranks. Among those Divine Rank powerhouses, who
wasn't the titan of an era?"

Konrad replied, not letting the Flame Mark inflate his head.

"That may be true, but in this world, how many Divine Children are they? As long as
you don't slack off, your future is not comparable to theirs. Even the meridians you
will unlock in the Transcendent Rank are not what they can aspire to."

Konrad said nothing more and dispelled the phenomenon surrounding him.

His mind then drifted to several locations.

"Freya, how did your task go?"

"I've managed to deplete a third of house Schoner's wealth, a total of sixty-five

million purple crystals, and shift it to bank accounts solely on my name. Whenever
master wishes, I can put them under your name.

Right now, I'm hiding within the inner court, in the holy consort's palace."

"Well done, you will soon have your reward."

"Wolfgang, how are you handling your task?"

"Boss, thanks to the vulnerability left by your arrangements, house Schoner has
already fallen in our hands. As for house Henlein, it's a bit more difficult. I should get
it done in half a month."

"Good."

Konrad shut the connection and stood up.

"Then it's time to settle things here."

He then stepped out of his chambers and alongside the Kracht women, headed
toward the arena.

The bishop handling the competition was currently kneeling in front of a middle-
aged man dressed in a long white cassock bearing the church's emblem.

"Your eminence, how should we proceed?"

That man was an exarch of the church, and therefore, a Saint. He was also the
mastermind behind the first round's events.
"Man proposes, heaven disposes. Now that things have come to this, we can only
proceed with the second round. A pity…

However, it's inconsequential. The leaders of the Celestial Faction have already given
their consent. Even if the von Jurgen win, we can still make them give up the quota.
We will just have to pay some prices."

The Holy Flame Church wasn't a united group. It was divided into two factions. The
Imperial Faction that served the interest of the Holy Flame Empire, and the Celestial
Faction composed of members directly appointed by the Celestial Church. Naturally,
they served its interests.

Although the Imperial Faction tried its best to counterbalance the outsiders, the
difference in power was too large, and often, they had to bend the knee.

This time would be no different.

Full of bluster, the arena's seats were currently filled by thousands of nobles, ranging
from imperial knights to viscounts. As for counts and above, they occupied more
honorable VIP seats enclosed above the stadium, from which they could see
everything that occurred below.

The twelve dukes each possessed their own luxury booths. However, they chose to
gather in a single one to observe the competition together.

They were all high-level Semi-Saints with the youngest being more than seven-
hundred years old, while the oldest approached the twelve-hundreds.

Therefore, their interest in the competition was minimal. However, it was an event
organized by the church, with invitations sent to their doorsteps. They had to show
up.

"Old man Slesinger, wasn't your son among the contestants. Why is it that I'm not
seeing him today?"

The one who'd spoken was the youngest of the twelve dukes, the Kringel duke. He
was also the most unbridled and paid little attention to decorum. His bearing was
more like a mobster than a noble's. He was also quite fond of taking pleasure in
others' misfortune.

Having heard of Koloman offending the crown prince, how could he not tease that
old fogey?

"My son was injured and is recuperating at home. He cannot participate."

The Slesinger duke casually replied and paid him no more attention.

"Is that so?"

Meanwhile, the twenty-nine remaining contestants had all gathered to listen to the
second round's rules.

"You will get split into four groups. Since you're now twenty-nine, we will have three
of seven and one of eight. The last man standing of each group will advance to the
next stage.

Now, you can come to pick your group numbers."

One after the others the contestants drew their numbers, and soon enough the four
groups were established. As fate would have it, Konrad, Holger, and Nils all ended up
in different groups.
"How could I be this, unlucky?"

This was the thought of those that ended up in Holger's group. They were all Arch-
Knights; however, none had any illusion regarding the battle's result.

"The only way to tip the scales is to join forces against him."

They silently exchanged mental messages and readied themselves for the battle.

On the contrary, Nils' competitors were thanking all the Divine Lords for their mercy.
Of the twenty-nine contestants, she was the only one beneath the Arch Rank.
Therefore, most of them felt relieved, assuming that even in her True Form, she
wasn't out of their league.

For the spectators' enjoyment, the groups would fight one after the other from A to
D.

The arbitrator, the surviving bishop they were all so familiar with, hovered high
above the ring, ready to intercept any misdemeanor.

"The rules are simple. The fight ends when only one man remains conscious. You can
concede if you wish to and save yourself needless trauma. Artifacts are forbidden. As
for injuries and death, you are responsible for your own safety. If you fear death,
there is still time to step down."

The church had no intention to restrict the contestants by sanctioning killing and
maiming. In any case, they were quite content seeing new grudges form within the
nobility. Many members of Holger's group considered surrender. After all, even if
they'd all came to an arrangement, chances of victory still appeared slim.

No one wanted to gamble his life on such an uncertain outcome. However, with their
relatives, elders, and thousands of nobles eying them, they ultimately didn't dare
concede.
"Since no one wishes to concede, may the battle royal begin!

Group A, on the stage!"

High above the twelve dukes was a floating, invisible booth concealed by high-level
magic.

Not many possessed the qualifications to seat in that area and those who did often
disdained attending. Currently, two women were seated on throne-like chairs and
observing the events below.

With their eyesight, not even the tiniest detail escaped them. Naturally, those two
were Verena and Else. As for the reason of their presence, it was to observe Konrad's
results.

As they silently observed the scene below, the middle-aged Exarch in charge of the
competition made his entrance.

"Your majesty, your grace. Had I known that you would bless us with your presence, I
would have prepared accordingly. Please forgive my negligence."

His face displayed a friendly smile. However, neither of the two felt any good will
toward him. Else flat out ignored him, not sparing him another glance.

"Exarch Heinrich, long time no see. Please do not stand on ceremony. This was an
impromptu visit, and we've just arrived."

Although Else clearly didn't plan to greet him, Heinrich didn't appear offended and
took his seat beside Verena who stood at the middle.

"It's rare for Saints to gather to witness this kind of event. To what do I owe the
honor?"

"We're just curious about the progress of the imperial family's young generation."

"Is that so? Her grace the holy consort also bears such an interest?"

Toward that two-sided question, Else didn't bat an eyelid. And still, without turning
toward Heinrich, she replied:

"I heard your eminence suffered severe setbacks during the previous round, and
your position is now unsteady. While having difficulty protecting your burning
house, are you sure the time is ripe to inquire on my… interests?"

A frown quickly flashed by Heinrich's face, but the change was too fast for anyone
without holy eyesight to notice.

"I don't know what's more sorrowful. That you've been outplayed by someone you
might never find, or that you cannot even openly investigate the… disturbance.

I wonder, should you fail to recover the beasts, how are your high exarchs planning
to deal with you?"

This time, Heinrich had to suppress the urge to stand up and throw a palm at Else's
mouth.

"Holy Consort, you're out of line!"

The debacle had indeed cost him a lot of prestige within the church's upper level,
and if he failed to recover the lost beasts, considering that his failure thwarted the
church's Anti-Demonic Beast program, harsh sanctions were inevitable.

"Out of line? Since when is the truth out of line? In any case, if you feel stung, then
stop blabbing your mouth like a bored, neglected wife in need of gossip, and let me
watch the competition in peace.

Otherwise, I don't mind -entertaining you-"

Despite his high self-control, Heinrich couldn't prevent the grimaces from showing
on his face. Still, he said nothing more.

House Metze and the Holy Flame Church were nemeses. Else would never give him
face. As the bystander, Verena couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

Group A was the least eyed since no extraordinary character was present. However,
it was also the most balanced. With its seven contestants all at the second step Arch
Knight Rank. In fact, it was too balanced. Every single one of the seven felt like they
had a shot at victory. Therefore, no faction formed, and all fought indiscriminately.

The battle was long and arduous, and seeing such a fierce competition, the crowd
loudly cheered. However, one man stood out of the lot. It was a purple haired man
with pitch-black eyes that seemed as deep as the night sky. His features were eighty
percent similar to the Kringel Duke's. He was his third son, Lars.

Lars's eyes shone with dark rays, and the shadow of a three-eyed purple serpent
appeared at his back. In the middle of his forehead grew a third, pitch-black eye from
which vast black fog emerged and spread to all his remaining opponents.

"AAAAAARGH!"

The three-eyed serpent race excelled at controlling poisons. Although theirs weren't
as brilliant as Stolas Demonic Beast's, their innate skill was enough to shatter the
battle power of most unprepared foes.

Lars' opponents quickly felt their vision darken, and their strength leave their
bodies. They fell onto their knees, and couldn't resist his next blows that knocked
them all out.

"Group A's victor: Lars Kringel!"

The bishop announced, causing a wave of applause to rise from the crowd.

With a self-satisfied smirk, Lars stepped out of the ring.

"Good boy. A pity that Koloman is missing in action. Otherwise, perhaps they could
have had a good showdown."

Said the Kriegel Duke upon witnessing his youngest son's performance.

The Slesinger Duke didn't bat an eyelid, keeping a disinterested gaze on the platform.

"Group B, on the stage!"

This time, there wasn't much excitement within the crowd as the result seemed too
obvious. Indeed, this was Holger's group. As soon as the bishop announced the
match's beginning, the seven other contestants formed one group and encircled
Holger.

However, he didn't seem troubled in the slightest. Seeing the disregard within his
gaze, the seven felt humiliated.

"Holger, don't be too conceited. Although your cultivation is way above ours, with
our combined strengths, we might not lose to you!"

"If you say so."

Nonchalantly, he stretched out his palm and summoned his energy sword. Pure
white light burst from his form, shrouding his entire body. And feeling the lofty,
immaculate power emanating from that light, the seven shivered.

"This is… holy quintessence. You took a Saint-Origin Pill? Why?"

The seven complained. This was no different from using a butcher's knife to kill a
chicken!

To say nothing of them, the dukes included, not a single person present understood
this sudden change. They could also see that Holger's cultivation had risen from the
fourth to the sixth Arch-Knight Rank.

"You're asking the wrong person. Do you concede, or do I still need to butcher you?"

The seven simultaneously took a step back. However, surrendering at this junction
would follow them for a lifetime. Therefore, they unanimously chose to press on.

"True Form!"

Without hesitation, every single one of them assumed their True Forms. Some
assumed tigers-based shapes, others eagles, and there was even one red python.
However, none maintained a human form.

All the noble houses possessed True Forms in which their battle power soared.
However, because their True Forms often looked so similar to demonic beasts, they
rarely used them.
In their seven gigantic forms, they towered above Holger, making him look like a tiny
pet.

Konrad who'd never witnessed members of the nobility using their True Forms was
taken by surprise. His eyes widened, and assumptions flew within his mind.

"Why are they so similar to demonic beasts?"

"Because those so-called nobles all descend from Restoration Beasts. At the
Restoration level, demonic beasts can assume human shapes, and the children they
give birth to at that stage also possess innate human forms.

The current nobility of the Holy Continent is composed of the descendants of ancient
Restoration beasts who surrendered to the Celestial Church eons ago. However, with
time, the Celestial Church made sure that knowledge would disappear, creating the
belief that those beast descendants belong to entirely different races.

And even though many doubt their ancestry, none dare acknowledge it. Truly an
inferior breed. In the Infernal Realm, they're called False Demons."

The Flame Mark replied, dispelling Konrad's doubts.

In front of the seven towering beasts, Holger remained unfazed.

His sword drew a dazzling energy arc, his spiritual energy turned into sword energy,
and slammed into the seven beasts in a hissing sound.

The sword energy tore their flesh, cutting large, gaping wounds within. Their blood
gushed forth, and they limply fell onto the ground with the noise of their massive
bodies crashing onto concrete.

"Group B's victor: Holger von Jurgen."

Holger dispelled his energy sword and walked out.

Silence reigned among the spectators who weren't given enough time to react to the
scene before them. Although Holger's victory was a given, no one expected him to
make use of a Saint-Origin Pill to increase his cultivation and strengthen his
physique. Was there still any point to this competition?

They might as well directly proclaim him the victor!

However, shortly afterward, among the younger females of the lesser nobility, a
commotion rose.

"Kyyya! So cool!"

"Holger, Holger, Holger!!!"

In an instant, Holger's performance turned him into the idol of the airheaded lasses
filling many of the stadium's seats.

As for the contestants lying in a pool of their own blood, aside from their relatives,
no one paid them any mind. A priest team dragged them off the stage, bringing them
to the healing center.

"I didn't expect the imperial family to be this extravagant. Granting a Saint-Origin Pill
to an Arch-Knight junior? Isn't that a tad bit too… excessive?"

Heinrich commented in the Saints' booth. However, neither Verena nor Else paid him
attention.

"This must be Elmar's doing. But I wonder, is Holger the only one?"

Verena's eyes moved toward Nils, and following a brief assessment, she frowned.
"I'm afraid Konrad no longer has any shot at victory."

She told Else in a mental message.

"Oh? What do you say about a bet, then?"

"Why are you still that confident in him?"

The tables had changed. If Konrad had accepted their gifts, Verena wouldn't be that
pessimistic about him. Now, however, victory could only elude him.

Her eyes then fell upon Konrad for a new analysis that soon left her dumbfounded.

"I can no longer see through his disguise. Not only that, but even the nature of his
physique eludes me. How can this be?"

"Are you accepting the bet or not?"

"I'd… rather not."

"Group C, on the stage!"

Nils' group went on the stage. Just like the first group, it was well balanced, with a
few first step Arch Knights while the rest were at the second step. Nils, however, was
the oddball as she was supposedly at the ninth step Grand Knight and Priest Ranks.

Still, if she unleashed her True Spirit form, it would become a whole other matter.

Konrad felt something different from today's Nils and used his Origin Sight to
analyze her body.

What he saw caused his eyes to widen in amazement.

"Having a good background is truly the foundation of success."

On the stage, Nils' eyes swept through those surrounding her, and disappointment
flashed within her gaze.
"Begin!"

On the bishop's order, the battle began. The two first step Arch-Knight formed a team
to contend with the rest. Besides them, no one joined hands, and for an instant, no
contestant made a move. All paid close attention to the rest, hoping to spot flaws,
and unwilling to leave openings for others to exploit.

"What a bore."

Nils whispered, but her words didn't escape the other six who took it as a direct
provocation.

"Well, if you're that annoyed, perhaps we can dispatch you first, and return to our -
boring- fight."

"Well said, we shouldn't let an imperial prince remain unentertained. That would
truly be a dereliction of duty!"

"Hahaha."

Without scruples, the six banded together to surround Nils. Their spiritual energy
gushed forth, and weapons drawn, they shot toward her.

Immaculate light burst from her and enshrouded her body as she summoned her
energy weapon. All could now clearly see that her cultivation had risen to the third
step Arch Knight and Arch Priest Ranks.

"Not… you too."

This was clearly holy quintessence. For Holger to receive a Saint-Origin Pill was
already strange enough, but for Nils to obtain the same treatment at the peak of the
Grand Rank?

Absurd!

However, they didn't have time to complain.

Nils drove her sword in a frontal thrust, elemental wind force erupted from its tip
and turned into dozens of wind blades that hacked at her assailants' defenses.
"AAAARGH!"

They howled as their blood soared from their torn flesh, and just like the previous
group, limply fell onto the ground.

"Group C… victor: Nils… von Jurgen."

Even the bishop couldn't believe his eyes. Since when did Saint Origin Pills become
cabbage casually thrown to babies?

The initially promising fight had turned into unilateral slaughter. The spectators no
longer knew what to say.

"Well, I suppose the final will be von Jurgen vs von Jurgen."

Heinrich concluded upon seeing Nils' performance. Group A's victor would fight
group B's, and group C's group D's.

Therefore, unless someone could topple the von Jurgen siblings, the final would be a
showdown within the imperial family.

"It's too early to say. Why don't we have a bet?"

Verana's voice seized Heinrich's attention, and he shifted his eyes toward her.

"I believe you're well aware that betting is forbidden within the church."

"Oh, don't be such a bore. It's not betting, it's… divining the future. If you guess right,
it proves you're blessed by the Divine Lord. If you fail, maybe you should give up the
cassock."

Heinrich pulled in a deep breath to suppress the anger within his belly.

"In any case, rules are meant to bind the feeble. Does an exarch also need to worry
about church rules for a simple wager? I believed your position stronger than that."

"Fine. What are the stakes?"

Verena's lips curled into an enchanting smile.

"A hundred holy crystals."

Holy crystals contained pure, holy energy and were often used by Saints to cultivate.
Some Semi-Saints from hegemonic families such as the three sovereign prince
houses and the von Jurgen also had access to them.

A holy crystal was worth one million purple crystals. However, even if one possessed
the money, buying them was nigh impossible.

"Very well."

As she went down the stage, Nils' eyes fell upon Konrad. However, seeing that his
never glanced toward her, she turned her gaze away from him and walked back
toward Holger's side.

The defeated contestants were quickly brought off the platform.

"Group D, on the stage!"

With the previous round's winner within it, group D was initially one of the most
eye-catching. However, with the von Jurgen siblings' performance, many had lost
interest in it.

"Well, at least we won't get sent flying in one blow."

"That Kracht boy cannot pull off the von Jurgens' tricks. The True Form of Nature
Serpents is also not that tyrannical. Once we join hands, he cannot resist."

"Isn't that what the ones before us thought? I'm no longer that confident…”

"Fool! The situation is different! We can definitely put up a fight and avoid public
disgrace."

"Should we use our True Forms?"

"Of Course!"
The six stepped onto the stage like a well-trained battalion that'd been through life
and death together. Clearly, they were ready to battle for their dignity, and avoid the
sorrowful fate of the "one move execution."

Following them, Konrad stepped onto the stage.

They made no attempt to hide their intentions, forming one line opposite to him.

"Begin!"

The bishop's voice echoed, and the six assumed their True Forms.

A golden-eyed lion, a devouring serpent, a twin-headed snake, and three other

towering monsters appeared before Konrad who observed them with great interest.

Thousands of eyes locked on the platform with rapt attention. Many were curious
about how Konrad would handle them if he could handle them. Could he live up to
his number one title, or reveal his previous performance to be nothing more than a
fluke?

Headed by the golden-eyed lion, the six beasts pounced onto Konrad with their
massive bodies hissing against the wind.

BAM

A single smacking sound thundered, echoing within the ears of the thousands of
spectators.

The six massive figures flew off the platform, crashed against the invisible magical
barrier protecting the public, and dropped onto the ground, unconscious.

"Group… D… victor: Anselm… Kracht."

There was no holy quintessence, no outlandish display. From beginning to end,

Konrad stood in the same spot with his arms crossed beneath his back.

And as leisurely as he'd arrived, Konrad stepped off the stage.

The stadium once more fell to silence and stupor. However, unlike with Holger's case,
it wasn't due to shock. Instead, confusion was to blame. Among the thousands of
spectators, less than a tenth comprehended what had just occurred.

"Interesting. Each got knocked out with a single slap. However, it was so fast that
most people could only register a single sound. As for the move, it was even more
challenging to follow.

That boy's speed already reaches the mid-level Transcendent Knight Rank. Among
those present, only the counts, margrave and dukes can follow him effortlessly."

Heinrich analyzed.

In the Holy Flame Empire, high-level Transcendent Rank cultivators could receive
the title of counts. Low-level Semi-Saints of margrave, and high-level Semi-Saints of
dukes.

As for Saints, they were eligible for the sovereign prince title. Therefore, among the
nobles below, only the counts or above flawlessly witnessed Konrad's move.

Seeing his performance, Heinrich couldn't help but reevaluate him. Although he'd
received news of Konrad's previous results, he didn't place many hopes on him. After
all, his cultivation level was by far insufficient.

But now it seemed like he'd severely underestimated him, and that this lack of
foresight was about to cost him money.

"No wonders the von Jurgen resorted to the Saint-Origin Pill. His performance must
have frightened them."

Still, Heinrich wasn't optimistic. If speed was the strongest tool at Konrad's disposal,
perhaps he could seize victory from Nils, but defeating Holger was impossible.

He shifted his attention to Verena and Else and saw pleasant surprise flash within
their gaze. Clearly, they also didn't have a full grasp of his abilities.

Of the two, Verena's surprise was the highest. After all, she had no knowledge of
Konrad's demonic lineage. The only thing she knew was that the last time she saw
him, he was a mid-level Grand Knight. Now he had reached the Arch Rank in both the
martial and spiritual path.

Better, his physique and battle power seemed even more outstanding. She couldn't
believe that this was merely the result of hard work and suspected that some hidden
expert was dedicated to training him.

Her suspicion fell on Else for an instant, but she soon rejected the thought.

"I'm curious of how much progress he actually made."

The unknown often terrified the many. Konrad received no ovation. Instead, terror-
stricken eyes observed him from afar. Of course, there were a few exceptions.

"WOOOHOOO! See this? This is my daddy! My big daddy! No one can compete with
him!"

Daphne yelled from her seat. Iliana threw her a disapproving glance, but for once,
she said nothing. Although she didn't agree with Daphne's "unique" word choice, she
was just as elated by Konrad's performance.

Of course, she also knew that the real challenge had yet to come.

Wulf who sat by Daphne's side almost spat blood, and seeing the odd gazes of the
spectators in the vicinity, he didn't know where to hide his face.

"Unfilial daughter, shut up at once!"

"Good. Very good. The stronger, the better!"

Holger's heart overflowed with joy. No one could imagine that right now, the person
who most desired Konrad's victory was him. The more outstanding his performance,
the more relief Holger felt.

As for Nils, her eyes brimmed with fighting intent.

Held by important matters, Elmar wasn't among the spectators. However, he would
appear during the next round.

"We will take a one-hour break, then carry on with the semi-finals."

The battle royal had come to an end, with only four contestants remaining. Of the
four, only one had shown the full extent of his skills and clearly didn't belong to the
party.

As for the rest, they still held immense hidden strength. The spectators were full of
excitement, and when the semi-finals' matchup appeared, they almost leaped from
their seats.

"Nils von Jurgen vs. Anselm Kracht!"

Most believed that this would be the last match with suspense, a clash that would
leave profound memories within their minds. Some, however, were more skeptical.

"Who do you think will be the victor?"

"Hard to say. My money would be on the ninth prince, but that Kracht boy looks like
one hell of a freak."

"Yeah, who knows what else he has up his sleeve?"

The hour passed by in a flash, it was time for the semi-finals' beginning!

"Nils von Jurgen, Anselm Kracht, on the stage!"

As the bishop's voice echoed, Konrad stood up. This time, he could no longer evade
Nils' gaze. There was no point trying to do so. As the two walked toward the stage,
their eyes met, and he could see the burning determination shining within hers.

Eyes interlocked, they stopped three paces away from one another. Tension was
palpable between them. Tension most attributed to the upcoming clash. The most
astute, however, felt something odd. As if there was old enmity among them.

Nils, especially, could hardly constrain her soaring emotions.

"You should concede."

Konrad declared. His tone calm, and indifferent.

His words, however, sparked the outrage within Nils' heart.

"Oh? And why is that?"

"Because you and I both know that you are not my match."

Although they maintained a level tone, all the spectators were cultivators and thus
possessed great hearing. In particular, Transcendent Knights and above could hear
everything, and they all felt Konrad was conceited.

Nils' lips curled into a smile. Yet, there was no joy on her face.

In her eyes, Konrad could only see bitterness and resentment.

"I've been thinking about what you said, and it makes a lot of sense. I was most likely
being muddled.

However, the more I think of it, the more I want to beat you up. And now, I just want
to beat you senseless to vent the frustration within my heart.

That's the only reason why I am here, so why would I concede?"

That straightforward reply took Konrad aback and caused the eyes of those capable
of hearing to widen in astonishment. The more they looked at the stage, the more
they felt like Nils was adopting the stance of the rejected young lady seeking revenge
on a disloyal partner.

Was there a secret relationship between the two?

But weren't they both men? Could this be… one of those instances?
"Nils, remember that under no circumstance, you can use your True Spirit Form."

Holger reminded in a mental message. He could clearly see that Nils was taking the
battle to heart and feared things getting out of hand. In her True Spirit Form, because
of the otherworldly charm and dreamlike appeal she would exert on men, Nils' male
disguise would collapse.

Therefore, their father, the holy emperor, had forbidden her from using it in public.

"…”

Her lack of words heightened the worry within Holger's heart.

"The first round of the semi-finals now begins!"

As soon as the bishop's voice echoed, holy quintessence erupted from Nils body
alongside vast spiritual energy.

She stretched out her hands, summoning her silver and dark-blue energy swords
while maintaining her eyes locked on Konrad.

"Why be so stubborn? It's not like I impregnated you and refused to take
responsibility."

Nils replied by swinging her sword at Konrad's neck. He leaned back, letting the
sword tip bypass him while throwing a palm strike at Nils' chest.

Bam

She met his palm with the pommel of her other sword. A wave of spiritual energy
burst from the collision, causing disturbances within the wind.

Nils took several steps backward before stabilizing herself. However, Konrad
remained where he initially stood without any damage.

With that single exchange, Konrad's superiority was revealed. In her human form,
Nils could easily defeat an ordinary fourth step Arch Knight. However, although
Konrad was a level below her, she still wasn't his match.

Was it not for the Saint-Origin Pill and her new physique, she would have suffered
internal damage.

Thanks to his Origin Sight, Konrad was well-aware of Nils' new physique. Beneath
the Transcendent level, she feared no blow. However, to him, that was
inconsequential.

"Learn to quit when you're ahead. My next move might not be this merciful."

Alas, Konrad's words only renewed Nils' smile.

"Careful, one would think that you deeply care about my well-being. I don't think this
is how you treat -mere acquaintances.-"

Konrad frowned.

"Aren't you going to summon your energy weapon?"

"That's unnecessary."

"Good. The more you look down on me, the more opportunities I have to take you
down a peg. Maybe when I leave a sword mark on your face, you'll start taking me
seriously."

Although it seemed like Nils was acting on fury, her heart was devoid of wrath. If
Konrad really wanted to have nothing to do with her, she would of course not bother
him.

However, she firmly believed that it was out of concern that he tried to push her
away. If she were right and could pull out that concern within this fight, then she
would never let go of him.

If she was wrong, then as farewell, she at least she wanted a hearty sword dance.
And since she couldn't contend with him in her human form, she could only go all
out. Consequences be damned!

"True Spirit Form!"

Just like in the forest, vast silver light erupted from her body alongside heavy grey
fog. Her long silver hairs sprang free and erratically fluttered at her back while her
skin glowed like a full moon within the dark sky, and a formidable force emerged
from her body.

Her natural beauty and charm skyrocketed, reaching an otherworldly level that
compelled the entranced gaze of both men and women.

Her cultivation rose from the third to the fifth step Arch Knight and Priest Ranks.

Seeing this, Holger's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"Nils, what is wrong with you? Stop this at once!"

But it was too late, seeing the mesmerizing war goddess hovering on the stage with a
pair of swords in hands, no one had any doubt regarding her gender.

In the Saint's booth, Heinrich beamed with joy as if a long-lost gem had finally
appeared before him. Meanwhile, Verena deeply frowned.

Nils paid no attention to the commotion she'd triggered and shot toward Konrad.
"Well, well. What do we have here? Your majesty, don't you think you have some
explanations to give?"

A joyful Heinrich asked Verena.

"I don't understand what you're talking about?"

"Is that so? It appears the ninth prince is actually the first princess. That being the
case, as per the Celestial Church's will, she should now be the crown princess of the
Great Void Empire.

However, for eighteen years the imperial family kept her locked within the palace
and had her cross-dress as a man to avoid her engagement, and you still say you
don't understand what I'm talking about?"

Verena's mood soured. The three great empires of the Holy Continent were all ruled
by Paragon Spirits. However, those Paragon Spirits initially all came from the
Celestial Church and remained under its control.

The Celestial Church didn't intervene in the governance of the various empires.
However, there was one thing it always regulated: Marriage.

Pureblooded True Spirits were the foundation of the Celestial Church. Making sure
that the purity of the main lines was preserved, one of its sworn duties. Therefore,
the marriage of every single Pureblooded True Spirit on the continent was
determined by officials of the church.

Just like how Verena was made the holy emperor's main wife by the church's decree.
Or Amalia Kvass, the dowager who also suffered a similar fate.

Because Verena failed to have children, the church selected Anke, Nils' mother as the
emperor's noble imperial consort, and she didn't fail them. Once their husbands died
or retired, they would then enter the various branches of the Celestial Church while
the most outstanding would join the Celestial Church itself.

Therefore, those arranged marriages by themselves weren't that hateful, and no one
would attempt to go against them. The only exception was marrying into the Great
Void Empire as empress or crown princess.

In the Great Void Empire, the eldest son of the empress always became the crown
prince and then the great void emperor. If the empress couldn't have children, she
was deposed and replaced by someone who could.

However, their imperial family had one simple rule. When the crown prince came of
age, his mother had to be put to death. There had never been one exception.
Therefore, becoming the Great Void Empire's crown princess was not a blessing, but
a death sentence. If Nils gave birth to a son, then that son would one day be the
reason of her death.

Because of its Space Temple which guarded Heaven's Gate, the Great Void Empire's
status was unique, and it enjoyed much more freedom than the other two empires.
Moreover, the situation over there was much less complicated since the ruling family
was also the ruling party of the Space Temple. The two were one entity.

Of the three empires, The Holy Flame Empire was the most powerful, the Great Void
Empire the least restrained, and the Prosperous Wind Empire, the most submissive.
Still, even the Prosperous Wind Emperors went to great length to prevent their
daughters from becoming crown princesses or empresses in the Great Void Empire.
To say nothing of the Holy Flame Emperors.

Unfortunately, when Olrich von Jurgen became emperor, because of how he took the
throne, the court, the nobility and the country were all in chaos. At the time, even his
mother wasn't willing to support him. Therefore, to stabilize his throne, he had to
offer the church many concessions.

One of them included marrying his first daughter to the Great Void Empire's crown
prince. Promising was one thing, delivering was another. Although Olrich had been
emperors for centuries, it took him countless hardships to have this one daughter.
With his throne now secure, and his foes suppressed, how could he bring himself to
send her to her doom?

Especially since the current Great Void Crown Prince was well-known for having
personally put his mother to death. With such an unfeeling heart and the
background of disciple of a Celestial Priest, marrying him, only a tragic future
awaited Nils. Therefore, for eighteen years, Olrich raised her as a prince, keeping her
locked in the palace.

Besides a select few, everyone aware of her true gender was murdered.

"If your eminence feels any grievance, you are free to report to the high exarchs.
However, you are not qualified to impeach the imperial family."

Heinrich smiled and said nothing more. In any case, since this matter was exposed,
the imperial family would bleed. Even if they won the quota, they would have to give
it up.

He sent a few mental messages, then returned his attention onto the platform.

Since Else's face remained hidden beneath her mask, no one could see her thoughts.

Wind and lightning elemental power erupted from Nils' form, coating her swords as
she shot toward Konrad. With her current cultivation and battle power, even the
ordinary eighth step Arch Knight wouldn't be her match.

In a whirl, she slashed her two swords at Konrad's side.

Clang

An invisible wall repelled the swords, sending her flying backward. Landing back on
her feet, Nils brought her swords together, transforming them into a blue-silver
longbow with the wind and lightning merging to become a storm.

Violent winds rose alongside lightning bolts that caused cracks within the platform
while three elemental circles appeared by Nils' side.

"Third Circle Spell: Storm Volley!"

She pulled the bowstring, firing a succession of lightning squalls that flew toward
Konrad.
Konrad stood still, the lightning squalls barreled into him, causing an explosion of
wind and dust.

"Konrad!"

Daphne and Iliana yelled from the tribunes, but as the dust dispersed, Konrad's
perfect figure reappeared. He didn't even have a scratch.

"If this is all you got, even if I stand here and present my neck, you cannot injure me."

"Fortunately, I got much more."

The bow split back into the two swords, the storm surrounding Nils grew even more
violent, while the grey fog at her feet spread across the platform and surrounded
Konrad. The grey fog assaulted his senses, attempting to subvert his mind or
destabilize him long enough for Nils' incoming blow.

However, mind-altering abilities were the thing he feared the least. With his Origin
Sight activated, he observed every single one of Nils' moves, drawing her unique
pattern.

Blue-silver wings spread from her back, carrying with them the wild power of
storms.

In that form, her blue sword became a long lightning bolt while her silver sword
turned into a greyish wind blade.

She aimed the two at Konrad, releasing dozens of lightning bolts and tornados that
shot toward him.

He stretched out his hand, then flipped it upward, releasing a terrifying surge of
telekinetic power that raised large chunks of the platform as walls to collide with
Nils' blows.

BOOM

A deafening explosion echoed as the lightning bolts and tornados crashed onto
Konrad's makeshift walls.

Nils turned into a lightning bolt, and in a flash, appeared before Konrad. She thrust
her two weapons toward his abdomen, skewering him.

However, his body became intangible, leaving only a dissipating afterimage.

Thirty-six Konrad simultaneously surrounded Nils. Although she knew that this was
merely the result of extreme speed, she also knew that every single one of those
afterimage's represented Konrad at different spots.

Therefore, their moves were real.

The thirty-six Konrad descended onto Nils with flurries of blows. At first, she could
block a few of them, but quickly, she was overrun by their sheer quantity and strafed
on the ground.

Bang

Even her powerful physique couldn't resist the onslaught, and Nils was sent flying
backward with blood spurting from her lips.
Using her storm wings, Nils stopped mid-air, stabilizing herself before returning onto
the ground. The thirty-six Konrad gave her no time to breathe before rushing back
toward her.

"Not even one bit of mercy."

Nils bitterly remarked, then joined the two pommels of her swords, turning them
into a double bladed sword.

"I've been studying this for a while but didn't have the power to use it beforehand.
Today, we might as well inaugurate it."

Four circles of power appeared by her side as she sank her sword into the ground
while falling on her right knee.

"Fourth circle spell: Lesser Storm Elemental!"

A horrifying storm burst from the sword, morphing into a large summoning circle
from which emerged a flying grey giant surrounded by wind and lightning. The giant
slammed his hands together, sending a storm wave to crash against the thirty-six
Konrad.

Thirty-five vanished in an instant, leaving only the original who turned into light
particles to avoid the blow and rematerialized a few steps back.

With a winning smile, Nils stood up.

"Storm Elemental, bring him down."

Nils ordered, and the storm elemental threw dozens of punches at Konrad. Each
blow seemed to carry tremendous storm power, but no matter how powerful, they
couldn't touch Konrad.
The storm elemental joined his hands, dark clouds gathered, and from the center of
the ring, a violent storm spread, trapping both Nils and Konrad within. Of course,
Konrad was the only one in danger.

Within that storm, even his light attribute couldn't save him.

"So, still saying that I'm not your match? It seems that you're right. I'm out of your
league."

Nils teased; however, Konrad's focus remained on the storm elemental.

As for the spectator, they'd already become slack-jawed. Even those at the
Transcendent Rank couldn't help but shiver. This fight had already transcended the
Arch Rank's limit!

"I admit that you've surpassed my expectations. However, you still fall short."

Purple lightning erupted from Konrad's body, carrying with it enormous power that
caused many Transcendent Rank experts to feel threatened.

He turned into a purple lightning meteor, and slammed into the lesser storm
elemental, effortlessly digging a gaping hole within its chest and moving unhindered
toward Nils.

Boom

The storm elemental crumbled in a thundering explosion, and before Nils could
react, Konrad barreled into her. The berserk power of his purple lightning shattered
her physique's defenses and propelled her off the platform to fly toward the invisible
barrier.

"Careful!"

Holger howled but incapacitated by the purple lightning, Nils couldn't heed his
warning.

If she crashed into the barrier at her current flying speed, at best all her bones would
shatter. At worst, her life wasn't guaranteed.

Instinctively, Konrad turned into a light beam, moved past Nils, and before she could
crash onto the barrier, stopped her mid-flight, holding her tight against his chest.

However, the impact was so strong that his internal organs received some damages,
and a thin blood line fell from the left corner of his lips.

"I guess you care… if only a little."

Satisfied, Nils grinned, then passed out.

Astonished by the ferocious battle, the bishop failed to react in time. However, he
soon regained his composure.

"First Semi-Final's winner: Anselm Kracht!"

Konrad softly landed back on the ground and dropped Nils onto the platform.

This time, the crowd didn't hesitate, and although they couldn't understand why the
ninth prince had suddenly turned into a princess, they still burst into an
earthshaking ovation.

However, many couldn't smile.

Heinrich stood up, and in a single step, appeared on the stage. Holger, who was
rushing toward Nils' unconscious form was stopped by Heinrich's holy power and
could take no other step forward.

Seeing the exarch's appearance, Konrad frowned, and feeling the holy power exuding
from his form, he knew the man way beyond his league.

Heinrich ignored him, and with a grasping motion, pulled Nils toward him.

"What is the meaning of this?!"

Holger roared; however, Heinrich didn't spare him a glance.

"The princess is wounded and in need of immediate care. I will have her tended to.
Your Highness needs not worry."
The situation had taken a strange turn. Although Konrad couldn't see malice within
Heinrich's eyes, the feeling of holding a golden goose was clear within.

"Aren't you going to stop him?"

Else asked Verena. Although Nils wasn't Verena's daughter, she was particularly fond
of her, and always took great care of the girl.

However, when Heinrich stepped on the stage, she didn't pursue.

"I don't need to."

Verena's flat reply caused Else to remember someone else, and beneath her mask,
her lips curled into a smile. Clearly, things were bound to become extremely
interesting.

As Heinrich was about to pull Nils into his arms, a silver light beam descended from
the sky and fell upon the platform, separating Nils from Heinrich.

The light vanished, revealing Elmar's shape.

Seeing his sudden appearance, Heinrich frowned but remained undeterred. To him,
although Elmar possessed an honorable status and was the country's future ruler, he
currently posed him no threat. However, unless necessary, he didn't wish to sour
their relationship.

"Crown Prince, I believe you're well aware of your sister's importance in maintaining
the relationship between the church and the imperial family. In this generation, the
Great Void Crown Prince is one of the few Pureblooded True Spirit males not to have
a pureblood spouse. Regardless of your opinion on the matter, your sister must wed
him.

This is the Celestial Church's will. If you stand back now, I'm sure the high exarchs
won't make things too difficult for you. After all, you are one of the few selected to
join the Celestial Church in the future. However, if you dare meddle…”
Heinrich's voice trailed, not finishing his sentence. However, Elmar knew precisely
what he meant. Still, he didn't hesitate, his cold, piercing eyes remained locked on
Heinrich, not allowing him to make another move. Fortunately, he'd finished his
report early and returned in time to see Heinrich make his move.

Elmar made a grasping motion and pulled Nils into his arms.

"As long as I breathe, no one can take my sister away."

The unyielding will, within his words, forced a frown on Heinrich's face.

"Very well, then you can't blame me for what's about to happen."

Heinrich lifted his hand, gathering his holy power for a blow. However, instead of
fright, he saw Elmar's lips curl into a smile.

What was there to smile for? Did he have anything up his sleeve?

But before he could finish his thoughts, the sky darkened, overtaken by grey clouds
lighted only by the occasional lightning ray.

"Measly ant. How dare you?"

A mild yet deafening voice thundered from within the clouds, and hearing it,
Heinrich stopped his move with eyes full of confusion. Then, a name appeared within
his mind, and confusion turned into fright.

But it was too late.

A massive grey lightning bolt descended from the clouds, striking Heinrich from
above, in an oppressive explosion of holy power.

Chapter 78: How Dare You?

"AAAAAAAARGH!"

Heinrich's guttural howl pierced the sky. As the lightning dispersed, he fell onto his
knees with his charred body oozing smoke, alarming the thousands of spectators.
Although they didn't know his cultivation level, from his cassock alone, they could
see his exarch rank, which clearly marked him as a Saint!

But such a powerhouse, a rarely seen individual standing at the summit of the Holy
Flame Empire with the church as his backing, was struck down in a single blow
without the ability to resist.

As for the bishop hovering in the air, while he wasn't targeted by the lightning bolt,
the horrible energy emanating from it was enough to shred half of his body. He
dropped from the sky, crashing on the ground, lifeless.

Protected by a wave of holy power, Elmar who stood right in front of Heinrich with
Nils within his grasp remained unscathed.

All eyes rose to the sky, seeking the origin of the terrifying blow. Grey fog gathered,
coalescing in the form of a silver-haired, slender man whose features were seventy
to eighty percent similar to Elmar's.

The overpowering aura of a monarch rippled around him, and although he seemed
to be in his mid-twenties, the weight of centuries shone within his eyes.

He was the holy emperor, Olrich von Jurgen.

Seeing him, the thousands of nobles rose from their seats, and without exception fell
on their knees. The twelve dukes were no exceptions.

"Greetings your majesty! May your reign last an eternity!"

On his knees, Heinrich who clung onto his life stared at Olrich's form with a mixture
of fury and horror. Horror because from this blow alone, he felt the depth of Olrich's
cultivation. This made no sense. Although he knew the Holy Emperor's cultivation
way above his, the gap couldn't be this vast.

After all, Olrich achieved sanctification at the age of six hundred. It had been less
than three hundred years since that moment; therefore, according to logic, it would
be great if he broke through one level. However, from what he could see…

"He completed the Third Cycle of Purity…”

Heinrich inferred, and as if to answer his unspoken question, Olrich released his vast
holy power. Nine pairs of white wings spread from his back while a large ring of the
same color appeared above his head.

Within that ring, three spotless lotuses blossomed, releasing a formless, immaculate
power that swirled around Olrich's form.

Was it not for his bone-chilling eyes nailing Heinrich from above, he would have
looked like the holiest of angels.

And seeing his fears confirmed, Heinrich despaired. However, with his strength, if
Olrich wanted to kill him, he would already be dead. Therefore, he assumed that the
church's name still brought him no small amount of scruples.

The belief emboldened him.

"Your majesty, what is the meaning of this? Are you trying to rebel?"

Heinrich roared while attempting to rise from his knees. However, Olrich's vast holy
power kept him nailed on the ground, unable to make the tiniest move. In front of a
crowd of thousands, he was being suppressed like a child. The feeling of humiliation
welling up within his heart threatened to shred Heinrich from the inside.

"Rebel? I am this country's master. Against who must I rebel?

As for you, under my gaze, you attempted to harm my crown prince and kidnap my
daughter. Are you trying to rebel? Or did you think that your measly Rising Saint
cultivation was enough to run amok within my realm?"

Every word carried with it formless holy power that stabbed Heinrich's organs and
caused him to spurt blood. Was it not for the force maintaining him in the same
kneeling position, he would have already collapsed on the ground.

He couldn't understand why Olrich who in the first century of his reign always
catered to the church's wishes before slowly withdrawing from the court scenes to
focus on cultivation, was now adopting such an oppressive stance.

Instead of bringing gifts and asking for forgiveness, he was actually raising his
sword! Had he gone insane?

To say nothing of him. None of the knowledgeable nobles didn't find the scene
bizarre. Exarchs ranked third within the church, right below the twelve high exarchs
who themselves stood beneath the head exarch. With the high exarchs mainly
focusing on cultivation, the exarchs were the church's face within the empire.

Was the emperor going to openly clash with the church?

"Your right to rule comes from the church. It is by its will that you hold your throne,
and by its will, you can also lose it. Do you think that just because you became a True
Origin Saint, you can go against it? You are courting death!"

The Holy Rank was divided into three great stages, each with their own three lesser
stages for a total of nine stages. Because of the sheer power gap between each stage,
they all possessed their own name. The three great stages were the Purity Stage, the
Tribulation Stage, and the Star Taming Stage.

Within the Holy Flame Empire, the strongest was the church's head exarch who
stood at the third Tribulation Stage. As for the high exarchs, nine were at the first
Tribulation Stage while three were at the second.

Therefore, Heinrich firmly believed that Olrich, who had just reached the third Purity
Stage, couldn't challenge them.

"Is that so?"

Olrich stretched out his hand.

The darkened sky crackled with roaring thunder and endless grey lightning rays that
sent shivers down the spines of all the gathered individuals.
"You… dare, kill me? In front of all those people? In the middle of the church's
domain? Are you out of your mind?"

Heinrich's confusion peaked.

"In this country, the people I dare not kill are not many."

Olrich lowered his hand in a seemingly slow, yet fluid motion to fire another
lightning bolt onto Heinrich.

But at that time, three voices boomed from a distance.

"HALT!"

However, it was too late. The lightning bolt descended and turned Heinrich into a
pile of ashes. Even at the point of death, he still couldn't believe that his millennia of
existence would end in such a wretched way.

Three new figures appeared at Olrich's front, all dressed in the golden cassock of
high exarchs. Each one of them was an ancient character that dominated the Holy
Flame Empire for thousands of years. And during that timeframe, never had they
seen such blatant rebellion.

Just like Olrich, they possessed nine pairs of white wings and a large white ring
above their heads within which three spotless lotuses hovered. However, in their
presence, the feeble could feel the very essence of their fate being stifled; proof that
they'd already reached the first Tribulation Stage.

Still, Olrich was undaunted.

"Olrich, did you lose your mind from cultivation deviation? Or is it possible that our
long silence made you forget to who you owe your allegiance?"

The one at the middle of the three asked with veins beating on his temple. They'd
arrived a step late and failed to prevent the death of a Saint. There were roughly
thirty exarchs within the church, all of which required countless training. The loss of
a single one of them was a non-negligible blow. To say nothing of the tremendous
loss of face.

Although Heinrich ranked among the weakest, his death was still intolerable. Worse,
he was a member of their Celestial Faction. How could they tolerate the insult?

"I hear a lot of the "did you go crazy?" nonsense today. It's odd, I believe you're
taking the situation in reverse. Allow me to bring you back on earth.

All across the north. All across the south. From east to west. All things within this
empire belong to me!"

Olrich released the full might of his cultivation, and although the mysteries of fate
weren't contained within, the overbearing strength he displayed didn't lose out to
any of the three. Individually, he even surpassed them.

"Third Cycle of Purity, True Origin Saint. Olrich made another breakthrough."

Else stated in a flat tone that prevented any grasp of her true feelings.

"Isn't it because of that accursed cultivation method? Was it not for that forbidden
art, with his limited talent, how could he grow at such pace?"

Verena spat in a clearly displeased tone.

"Forbidden Art or not, there are not many people left capable of suppressing him. If
the trend is not reversed, it won't take a thousand years for him to become unrivaled
within this country."

As she spoke, Else stood up and alongside Verena, vanished from the booth to
reappear by Olrich's side. Although they couldn't contend with the high exarchs if
only for the sake of appearances, they had to stand by him.

Just like with Olrich, nine pairs of white wings sprang from their back while a ring of
the same color appeared above their heads. However, only two lotuses stood within
theirs.

"I was wondering when you'd show yourselves."

"Your majesty clearly has the situation under control. We're just extra."

"Since this is about putting the church in its place, how can I not join?"
Verena and Else replied to Olrich's words.

"No need. You should just stay put and enjoy the show."

Seeing the six figures hovering in the air, for once, Konrad felt the profundity of his
weakness. While he tried to remain cool-headed and not let success get over his
head, it would be a lie to say his unrivaled battle power didn't make him feel
conceited.

However, no matter how high the battle power, his cultivation was ultimately
shallow.

In front of the average Saint, he was an ant. And in front of powerhouses such as the
holy emperor, he wasn't qualified to call himself an ant.

The thought was both unbearable and stimulating.

Dear readers and fellow men of culture, I have a few announcements to make.

A: Since the Holy Rank is more complicated than the previous ones, I've updated the
"Ranks" chapter to include all its stages. You can check it if you feel confused.

B: I've been contracted for about one and a half month now, and after discussion
with webnovel staff, it is time for me to go premium. Starting tomorrow, we're going
premium.

C: In consideration of that, the release rate will increase to 10 guaranteed chapters

for the first two weeks, and as I free up more time for writing, we will move onto 14
per week. I think by June, I should have finished all the required preparations to do
14 per week.

D: Mass release next Friday.

Thank you all for being so supportive. I hope we will keep producing good content in
a healthy environment together!
The appearance of the two highest ranked women of the imperial harem only
heightened the tension. While in other times, many would revel in their beauty, with
the situation at hand, none dared lose sight of the priorities. Of the three high
exarchs standing against them, two were paragon spirits while the last one was a
flame spirit.

Although in the spirits' hierarchy, Elemental Spirits ranked below True Spirits,
because of the unique connection between elemental spirits and their respective
Divine Lord, their status within the Celestial Church was sky-high.

In the Holy Flame Church, four of the high exarchs were flame spirits. The rest were
all paragon spirits.

Hearing Olrich's overbearing words, the high exarchs let go of their last bits of
restraints.

"-All things within this empire belong to me.- Good. Very good. It seems the centuries
made you forget how you took your throne and why you were able to hold onto it. To
think that one day you would dare say such words in my face, Olrich, I
underestimated you.

But since we made you, we can also crush you!"

Killing intent bloated the sky, alongside terrifying waves of magical power as the
three high exarchs drew their magical circles.

"Sixth Circle Spell: Searing Sky!"

Each of the high exarchs summoned six red magical circles which revolved around
their form and coalesced into three gigantic pentagrams that stretched across the
sky.

The three pentagrams glittered in red light, turning half of the darkened sky into a
crimson red furnace from which rained a deluge of fire.

The heavenly firestorm descended at breakneck speed, threatening to obliterate

everything beneath the sky across a hundred miles. If Olrich fell under its might, the
lives of the thousands of contestants below would be forfeited.

"Run… run away!"

It was unknown who said it first, but thousands of the spectators unanimously began
running for their lives, shooting from their seats to rush toward the nearest exit. The
more lucid, however, remained still. They knew that no matter where they went, the
descending firestorm wouldn't follow them. There wasn't enough time to escape its
reach.

The only path to survival was to stay below the emperor, hoping that he could avert
the catastrophe.

Seeing the descending fire deluge that stretched across several miles, Olrich was
unfazed. He stretched out his palm, summoning six red magical circles.

"Sixth circle spell: Devouring Flame Gate."

A large red gate emerged from between his magical circles and flew toward the
descending firestorm. The gate opened, releasing boundless devouring power that
swallowed the raining firestorm whole before vanishing within the clouds.

The reddened part of the sky returned to a dark grey color.

The three high exarchs immediately changed tactics. Using their fate power to
suppress Olrich's cultivation. Ethereal fate chains flew into Olrich, and in an instant,
he could feel his very destiny being plucked by them.

Still, the same disdainful smile remained plastered on his face.

Olrich raised his left palm, and a pearl white imperial seal appeared within. Upon
seeing it, the three high exarchs frowned.

"And here I was wondering where your courage came from. Do you think that useless
Holy Flame Seal of yours can even the playing field?"
Initially, the Holy Flame Seal was a high-grade Holy Artifact. In the past, it was the
foundation of the holy emperors' domination of the continent, and an artifact their
ancestors carried out of the Celestial Church.

However, more than fifty thousand years ago, a head exarch of the Holy Flame
Church managed to place a powerful lock onto it. That lock made refining the Holy
Flame Seal impossible. Since then, it only served as the imperial seal, a symbol of
authority without actual might.

This was a well-guarded secret known only to the high level of the church and the
imperial family.

Olrich said nothing, tossing the Holy Flame Seal into the air. Dazzling white flames
erupted from it, shattering the fate chains and sending the three terror-stricken high
exarchs flying backward.

"You… broke the lock?"

"The times have changed. I'm no longer the feeble third prince or the newly
ascended emperor who desperately needed your help to cling onto his throne.

I am Olrich von Jurgen, the holy emperor!"

Olrich cupped his hands, causing the Holy Flame Seal to release three dazzling white
flame arrows that pierced through the High Exarchs' chests, and sent them tumbling
onto the ground, vanquished.

With charred chests and blood gushing from their throats, the three high exarchs
struggled to return to their feet. Since he possessed a natural resistance to fire, the
flame spirit had it better. However, even for him, the fire grade was too high to cope
with.

A full power high-grade Holy Artifact was comparable to a Star Taming Stage Saint.

Although Olrich couldn't make use of its full power, he could effortlessly defeat Fate
Wrestling Saints, and fight Fate Destroying Saints to a standstill. In the vast Holy
Flame Empire, one hand was enough to count the number of people capable of
suppressing him.

It was incomprehensible. Not only did his cultivation speed become abnormal, but
he also managed to destroy the lock implemented by a previous head exarch?

How?

Olrich gave them no time to dwell on their thoughts, ready to execute one as a
warning to the others.

The palm-sized Holy Flame Seal expanded, reaching thirty meters in width, then
dropped onto one of the two paragon spirits.

Seeing death approaching with great strides, the high exarch despaired, but at that
time…

BOOM

A dazzling grey lightning bolt came from afar, striking back the descending Holy
Flame Seal. With a grasping motion, Olrich pulled it back into his hand before lifting
his gaze toward the blow's origin.

Two streams of grey fog approached from the distance, and from them emerged two
individuals.

One of them was a paragon spirit woman with short silver hairs stopping at the nape
of her neck and a chilling silver gaze that seemed to disdain all things under the
heavens.

Her features were somewhat similar to Verena's. The same hourglass figure, the
same small nose, and a generous bust her high exarch cassock couldn't hide.

Although she'd lived for more than a thousand years, her face still remained that a
mesmerizing fairy and carried no hint of her ancientness.

Seeing her, Olrich retracted his Holy Flame Seal and clasped his hands in greetings.

"Mother, your son greets you."

"Greetings empress dowager!"

Verena and Else followed suit, paying their respects to the dowager as the custom
demanded.
At her left was a middle-aged man wearing a gold and white cassock with a large
white hat sitting on top of his head. While he didn't emit any kind of extraordinary
force, the sheer pressure emanating from his eyes was enough to suppress all
dissidence.

He was the head exarch, Gerhard Herberger, the Holy Flame Empire's number one
expert. And seeing his mother standing by his side, a sour taste spread within
Olrich's mouth.

As expected, the first words that came out of Amalia's lips weren't pleasant to hear.

"Olrich von Jurgen, today you not only trampled the dignity of the church but slew an
exarch and almost caused the death of high exarchs. You are rebellious and impious.
Even emperors must answer to heaven's will. For your crimes, the lightest sentence
should be abdication and lifelong imprisonment.

However, his beatitude, the head exarch, is merciful. If you now repent, beg
forgiveness, and renew your oath of allegiance to the church. We can forgive your
misdeeds.

In any case, three months from now, Nils von Jurgen will wed the Great Void
Empire's crown prince."

Besides the five hovering in the air, of the people gathered, Elmar and Holger
included, not one wasn't bewildered.

How could such words come from the dowager? Wasn't she Olrich's mother and Nils'
grandmother?
"What if I refuse?"

Olrich asked without a hint of his frustration.

"Then, I will personally execute you. I suppose you know that your toy isn't enough
for you to challenge me, right?"

The indifference with which Amalia said those words further startled the onlookers.
Witnessing this scene, Konrad felt something amiss.

Either the dowager was a heartless, callous woman that put her own benefit above
everything else, or there was terrible enmity between mother and son. Perhaps a bit
of both?

"Mother, Do you think I don't have anyone capable of suppressing you? Don't worry.
Since I dare come here, I, of course, came prepared.

My daughter will not wed the Great Void Crown Prince. Not in three months, not in
three years, never, ever.

If you're dead set on sending her to her doom, then… it is war!"

Olrich declared with a determined gaze that left no room for compromise. The head
exarch frowned, while a strange light flashed within Amalia's eyes.

If the church and the imperial family truly went all out, the imperial family was
bound to get destroyed. However, the church would experience non-negligible
losses. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it might lose half of its power.

At that time, the Metze and the Voight would without a shred of doubt rebel, perhaps
even join hands with the barbarians north to destroy the Holy Flame Church once
and for all.
If things indeed reached that stage, only an intervention of the Celestial Church could
save them. This was a gamble the head exarch, Gerhard wasn't willing to take.

"Olrich, I admire your fatherly love, but a man of high aspirations should know when
to advance and when to retreat. Since what you fear is the Great Void Crown Princess
title, these are my offers.

She can marry the seventh prince instead. They are similar in age, and unlike his
older brother, he doesn't practice the Supreme Void Art."

There were two reasons for the Great Void Empire's unique tradition. The first was
that their ancestors had seen too many instances of mothers of crown princes and
emperors seizing power from the shadow and wreaking havoc in the court which
made them fearful of such things occurring in their own country.

The second and most important was that Great Void Emperors and Crown Princes
practiced the Supreme Void Art, a cultivation method that bred an empty, unfeeling
heart. To successfully complete it, they had to sever all emotions to become their
"perfect selves."

The mother's execution was used as a stepping stone to cultivating the Supreme Void
Art to the pinnacle. If that weren't enough, either more drastic methods would come
into play, or the crown prince would lose his life. A new empress would then be
selected, and her eldest son would undergo the same training.

For that reason, many empresses and crown princes of the Great Void Empire used
sterility medicines to prevent pregnancy. Those caught doing so were summarily
executed and replaced.

All this made the Great Void Imperial Family a terrible place to live in where
emperors and crown princes were dreaded like the plague by every single one of
their relatives.

"Your other option is the Prosperous Wind Empire's third prince. Coincidently, he
also ranks third on the list and is of high priority."

Mild and peaceful, the Prosperous Wind Imperial Family was without a shred of
doubt the warmest imperial family on the globe. As for their third prince, although
he was already more than three hundred years old, he was well-known for his
tolerance and gentle heart. If Olrich had to pick a son-in-law for his cherished jewel,
it would definitely be him.

However, once she left for the Prosperous Wind Empire, he would never see her
again. The thought that across the centuries to come he would never see his
daughter's smile again was simply unbearable. Still, it was the best option, and a
concession he was willing to make.

For now at least…

"Very well. Then in three months, we will escort her to the Prosperous Wind
Empire."

"No need. Knowing him, the third prince will come to fetch her personally. With that
settled, how do you plan to pay for the damages sustained today?"

"Heinrich deserved to be damned. As for the rest, feel free to send the bill. I will not
be stingy."

Olrich didn't mind letting them squeeze some benefits to let the matter end as it was.
In any case, this was only a temporary arrangement. Whether each side would hold
up to it was still unknown. All the Saints then vanished from the scene, leaving only
the dumbstruck folks that remained.

As for the competition, they'd all put it out of their minds.

"Your Beatitude, why didn't you execute or at the very least capture him?"

Asked one of the charred high exarchs toward Gerhard.

"Several reasons. Firstly, there is still one hidden expert within the imperial family
who can contend with me. Although he's been hiding for thousands of years, the day
we threaten their very existence, he will emerge. Secondly, we must investigate how
Olrich managed to destroy the lock and why his cultivation has been improving at
such breakneck speed.

And lastly, while Amalia seemed to be on our side, what she will really do when push
comes to shoves is still a matter of debate. When our preparations are sufficient, I
will naturally dispose of him."
Among the church's high level, Amalia's loathing of Olrich was well-known. However,
at the end of the day, regardless of what he did in the past, he was still her son.

Therefore, Gerhard didn't believe that at the critical juncture, she would choose them
over him.

Following the Saints' departure, a strange silence reigned on the scene. A new bishop
soon came in to handle the situation. Elmar gave Holger a mental message, after
which Holger stepped toward the new bishop and loudly declared.

"I concede!"

Without another word, he walked back to Elmar's side, and the three von Jurgen
siblings vanished from the scene, leaving only Konrad and the new bishop on the
platform.

The two eyed one another for a moment before the bishop shrugged and stepped
toward him.

"Well, I guess you're the winner. Congratulations, this century's Holy Flame Baptism
quota belongs to you."

At the same time, he sent Konrad a mental message.

"However, I would advise you to forget about using it and surrender it back to us. Do
so, and the exarchs promised that you could directly join the church as one of their
apprentices and receive vigorous training. We know you don't plan to use it for
yourself, so why waste it?

We will also not let you give it up in vain. You will obtain massive cultivation
resources and wealth in exchange."

Perhaps to others, the prospect of becoming a Saint's disciple held irresistible

appeal, but to Konrad, it was of no interest.

"Thanks, but I decline."

The bishop's eyes grew cold, but with the recent events, he knew he'd have to
restrain himself, less others used the opportunity to impeach him.

Today, even a Saint had lost his life. This wasn't worth gambling his for.

"As you wish."

"Just like that, it's over?"

"How could it not be over?"

The new bishop had announced the end of the competition and proclaimed Konrad
the victor. Thus, giving house Kracht the Holy Flame Baptism quota, and causing
some of the spectators to feel a sense of loss for not getting to see the last battle.

Although the confrontation between Saints was awe-inspiring, it was by far too
dangerous for the likes of them to enjoy. With a single mistake, the entire city could
be razed. Such battles only produced fear and no appreciation.

Compared to them, the competition between the younger generation was much
more appealing.

The twelve dukes exchanged glances that shared the same confusion.

"His majesty made another breakthrough. Cultivation becomes harsher in the later
stages. The higher your realm, the more difficulties you experience in making
progress. So why is that his speed has only been increasing since he reached
sainthood?"

Of the twelve dukes, the majority were either of Olrich's generation or from the one
preceding him. Only two were younger. Therefore, they had a clear understanding of
his life before ascending to the throne.

Of the seven princes of the previous generation, Olrich ranked third and was far from
being the most outstanding. Compared to other families, he was, of course, an
exceptional talent. But when compared to his two elder brothers, he fell far short.

However, in a shocking blood-storm, he took the crown as the first Semi-Saint

emperor in history, and since then, his cultivation had been improving by leaps and
bounds. If someone said there wasn't trickery involved, they wouldn't believe it.

Konrad returned to the Kracht kinsmen's side to prepare for the upcoming baptism.
According to the church officials, the baptism would take place on the following day.
However, Konrad still felt that precautions were necessary to avoid getting taken by
surprise.

After all, the church may not be willing to force them in public, but what they would
do in the shadows was totally unknown. Especially now that they'd lost an exarch
and most likely needed to promote a new talent.

As they returned to their chambers, he kept Zamira, Daphne, Iliana, and even Wulf by
his side, then laid bare his concerns.

"Life is more important than glory. If they already threatened you, why didn't you
just give it up?!"

Iliana yelled at Konrad. Her concerns weren't without merit, although the holy
emperor could challenge the church, that was because his own cultivation was
terrifying, while he also wielded the Holy Flame Seal and the imperial family's forces.
Even then, he still had to make concessions.

No one doubted that if a war between the two parties truly erupted, the imperial
family would get the short end of the stick. In front of such a terrifying enemy, was
there a need to act headstrong? If they didn't back off, who knew what method the
church would resort to?

"We did not come so far to go back empty-handed. Don't worry, since I dare reject
them, I, of course, have countermeasures planned.

Since they've already announced that the baptism would take place in the main altar
room tomorrow morning, regardless of what they do, they will have to act in the
following hours.

They will avoid any obvious move like murder. At worst, they will choose kidnapping
and blackmail.

Whether we can make use of the quota, will depend on your nerves, and of how
much you can endure.
Daphne, Zamira, Wulf, Wolfgang, and I, any key member of house Kracht whose
presence isn't necessary tomorrow will most likely get abducted. We will get
tortured, and using our lives as threats, they will ask you to publicly reject the
baptism."

Hearing this, Iliana and Daphne's eyes almost popped out of their sockets, while Wulf
and Zamira's held a mixture of understanding and concern. Not necessarily for
themselves, but for the other people involved.

"The more reason why we should give it up! I'm not going to stand there and watch
you all suffer just for the opportunity of reaching the Holy Rank!"

Iliana exclaimed, but Konrad dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

"Daphne, Wulf, and Zamira, will vanish tonight, leaving Wolfgang and I the only
worthy targets. Wolfgang will rush back to his fief and trigger their pursuit. They still
don't know his real cultivation level; therefore, they will only send low-level bishops
after him. With his third step Semi-Saint cultivation, in half a day, he should be able
to rush back to his fief. At that time, they will be forced to back off.

I will also try to escape. However, mine is meant to fail. When they capture me and
bring me back to the church, you will receive an ultimatum. Asking you to publicly
renounce your quota for the opportunity to join the church as a priestess.

You must not flinch.

Because of all the eyes staring at the baptism, and the imperial court looking for
opportunities to cause trouble, they won't dare touch you. The best way for you to
help me is to not waver."

Iliana vigorously shook her head.

"This is not worth it. Why be so stubborn? I will go reject it now."

"I forbid it."

Konrad calm, but authoritative order nailed Iliana onto the ground.

"I didn't come here to get bullied into submission by a bunch of men and women in
cassocks. Succumbing to coercion is something I don't know how to do. If they dare
touch me, I naturally have my ways to make them pay a bitter price."

The domineering force echoing from his words forced the four to let go of their
apprehension. His stern face then softened, and he adopted a gentle tone.

"Don't worry, I'm not masochistic. I have my ways. Also, since you're my woman, I
naturally must make plans for you."

Iliana drew in a deep breath, dispelling the apprehension within her heart and
reassuming a firm, unyielding stance.

"Very well, let's defend this quota!"

The other three nodded in firm approval. Konrad retrieved his space bag from Iliana
and hid Daphne, Zamira, and Wulf inside. He then hid the space bag into the space
talisman and transformed it into a grain which he hid between his molars.

He then sent a mental message to Wolfgang, alerting him of the events, before
rushing out of the church to run back to house Kracht at full speed.

There, Wolfgang was waiting.

"Let's go. At first, you will stay at my speed. When they give chase, you will unleash a
large enough part of your third step Semi-Holy Knight cultivation to escape them and
leave me behind. Remember, don't kill anyone of them. Otherwise, even after the
baptism, they will not let you off."

"Understood, but why are you trying to get captured?"

It was entirely possible for Wolfgang to carry Konrad to escape alongside him.
Konrad knew that very well but still wanted to get left behind. Therefore, Wolfgang
inferred that he genuinely wanted to get captured.

To his inquiry, Konrad smiled.

"Naturally, it's to make them bleed from inside."

Wolfgang couldn't understand how the tiny Konrad could deal a blow to the giant
church from the inside. However, recalling his demonic origin and extraordinary
means, he asked nothing more.
And together, they sprinted out of the Holy Flame City!
"He refused?"

The Celestial Faction exarch who took over the direction of the events frowned upon
hearing the bishop's report. Soon, however, his frown was replaced by a disdainful
snort.

"Then they can't blame us for being ruthless. Receive my order. You will lead a team
of three bishops, and six abbots to capture the key members of house Kracht. When
their lives hang in the balance, I really want to see how they dare reject submission."

The bishop excused himself and as per the exarch's order, gathered the team to hunt
down the Kracht kinsmen. One bishop was dispatched to the Kracht chambers
within the church to arrest Zamira, Wulf and the rest.

However, besides Iliana, only the not worth mentioning members of house Kracht
remained.

"Not good. They already escaped!"

The bishops put Iliana under house arrest, then rushed toward house Kracht, and
when they realized that not even Wolfgang remained, they flew out of the Holy Flame
City, using their Semi-Holy sense to track down the runaway pair.

Alongside Wolfgang, Konrad was rushing past the outskirts of the Holy Flame City
when the pressure released by three flying forms assailed their backs.

Although the three bishops were still miles away, they were catching up at breakneck
speed.

It wouldn't be long before they put their hands on them.

"Resistance is futile. You might as well stop struggling."

One of them said in a mocking tone.

"Now!"

Even without Konrad's mental message, Wolfgang was already ready. He increased
his speed to a first step Semi-Holy Knight's limit, soared into the air, and bolted out
of sight, leaving Konrad far behind.

"What?"

Taken by surprise, the three bishops giving chase failed to comprehend why the
ninth step Transcendent Knight Wolfgang was suddenly exhibiting a cultivation level
that seemed slightly above theirs.

"Damn, we were tricked! Quick, after him!"

But as two of the three were about to accelerate and give their all to corner
Wolfgang, their team leader stopped and shifted his attention onto Konrad.

"No need to bother chasing him. At his speed, we may be able to keep him in sight,
but we can never catch up to him. If we blindly follow him, by the time he reaches his
fief, we will still be at his back. At that time, we're intruding on a landed noble's fief.
He can legitimately dispatch his army to face us within his domain and blow things
out of proportion.

Let's first bring that kid back and report to the exarch. Hopefully, it will be enough to
make the Kracht girl waver."

The Semi-Saint's pressure crashed on Konrad, immobilizing him on the ground.

"What is the meaning of this?"

He roared in a false show of indignity.

The three bishops eyed him with a mixture of scorn and amusement.

"Since you refused our goodwill, we can only use strong methods. Did you really
think the likes of house Kracht was qualified to enjoy the fruits of the church's
labor?"
For them, although Konrad was an outstanding youth with latent far above theirs, he
was, after all too young with a limited background. Unless they found a "towering
tree" to rely on, such talents were usually short-lived.

Therefore, they didn't have much hope for him.

"If you never intended to let others have it, why organize a competition for it?"

"The hundred years competition is the will of the Celestial Church. We can't resist it.
However, that doesn't mean we can't play with it. Besides the imperial family and the
three sovereign princes houses, very few ever managed to snatch a quota from us.

You won't be one of them."

Inwardly, Konrad sneered.

Afterward, they packed him in a space treasure and returned to the church. They
then tossed him into a dungeon where an empty cell had been prepared for him.
Soon afterward, several priestesses came in to "prepare him for display."

Iliana's door was currently guarded by two church knights to prevent her from
escaping.

As if overtaken by worries, she paced back and forth, alone within her room. The
door then sprang open, revealing the form of a stunning bishopess whose
condescending gaze didn't conceal her sense of superiority.

"Come with me."

She ordered, then as if certain that Iliana could only obey, she turned heels and
walked out.

Though appearing hesitant, Iliana still followed her, and as they crossed the church
halls, she asked in a trembling voice:

"Where are you taking me?"

To which the bishopess answered:

"You'll know when you're there."

They went down one level, reaching the underground where the church held its
prisoners.

The bishopess then led Iliana to the torture chambers where several individuals
were currently receiving "great care."

One man was trapped within a brazen bull and getting slowly roasted to death, while
another was tied on a large chair whose every corner were filled with spikes. The
thousands of spikes dug through his flesh, nailing him at more than a thousand spots
and causing his blood to drench the chair in red while scalding heat waves seared
him.

Many others were suffering just as terrible fates, and their soul-rending howls filled
the room.

Seeing the ghastly spectacle, Iliana teetered, almost falling on her rear.

Her eyes then fell on Konrad who was currently hung upside down with two young
women standing by his side, each holding the other end of a saw. Instinctively, she
tried to rush toward his side but was held and pushed back by the bishopess.

"There is a saying, that the most terrifying women of the empire gather within the
church. That is because we're in charge of the inquisition department. Over the
years, we've devised countless ways to make the most honorable of men abjure his
parents, frame his children, and plead for the destruction of all he ever cherished if
we so wished him to."

"You are… an inquisitress?"

"Indeed."

The affirmative reply caused Iliana's already floundering heart to surrender to dread.

In the entirety of the empire, there was no group more dreaded than the inquisition
department of the church. It was said that whoever got subjected to their
"questioning" would never again be a functional member of society. That department
was chiefly composed of women, each trained from infancy to possess a heart of ice.
They could saw a baby in half and feel no remorse. For Konrad to fall into their
hands, she couldn't help but feel the situation's gravity to have escaped their control.

However, when she recalled what kind of demon Konrad was, a wave of
understanding spread within her mind. Still, with all the variable involved, this was
no different from gambling with the devil.
Iliana's face shone with fear, causing the inquisitress' lips to curl into a smile. Turned
upside down with his blood flowing to his head, Konrad observed the scene in
silence.

The chains suppressed his cultivation but didn't affect his bloodline abilities.
Therefore, the situation didn't impact his plans. As long as Iliana played along, the
church would soon feed his purse and growing army.

However, he could feel her rising hesitation threatening to foil the plan.

"What is the meaning of this? Just because you can't get us to surrender the quota,
you want to torture my close ones to force me to concede?!"

She roared, but her indignation didn't even cause a ripple in the inquisitress' face.

"Indeed."

The straightforward answer took Iliana aback.

"Don't look at me like that. At this point, do you really think there is a need for us to
put up an act? Let me clearly tell you that you only have two roads ahead of you.

First, tomorrow, under the gaze of the public, you will profess your love for the
Divine Flame Lord, and surrender the quota in exchange for the chance to join the
church as a priestess. Overwhelmed by your zeal, we will agree and welcome you
into our fold. You will instead receive a Semi-Holy Baptism and get vigorously
trained.

Second, you refuse, accept the baptism, and let this boy become a lab rat for my new
torture devices. By the way, although your father tricked us and managed to return
to his fief, a master of the assassination department has already been dispatched and
can at any time bring back his head. Therefore, I hope you can make a sensible
decision."
If she was already prepared for the first two parts, the knowledge that her father's
life was already at the mercy of an assassin made Iliana flounder.

However, Konrad's bloodshot gaze locked on hers, and although he said nothing, the
insistence within clearly exclaimed: "do not falter!"

"Oh? It seems you need some more convincing. Bring in the essence devouring bugs."

"NO!"

The three words "essence devouring bugs" triggered a massive reaction, from Iliana
who grabbed the inquisitress' shoulders with a pleading, desperate look.

"Essence devouring bugs have been outlawed for centuries. You can't do this!"

With a light tap on her shoulder, the inquisitress sent her flying against the adjacent
wall. Her body then slid onto the ground.

"Nonsensical. What the church can and cannot do is not yours to decide. Are you
retarded? Kidnapping and blackmail are also forbidden, right? But here you are."

A young priestess brought in an iron cage within which a group of thumb-sized dark-
green centipedes crawled in circles.

Seeing those centipedes. Iliana shivered.

"Boy, your lack of reaction makes me think that you are not aware of what those little
treasures can do. Allow me to explain. Essence devouring bugs are a rare breed of
low-level Monstrous Beasts. Individually, they don't amount to much, even the
average Grand Knight can defeat one.

However, they usually form packs, each with dozens of centipedes and can sneak into
wounds or vulnerable orifices to lodge themselves in your internal organs. They
target the brain, the heart, the lungs, the liver, and gnaw them from the inside. Not
only that, but as they eat, they release a violent poison that causes bouts of
horrendous pain and shreds you from the inside out.

It is a slow, consuming process that lasts for an entire week. Most go insane from the
poison alone, to say nothing of the pain of having your organs slowly devoured from
the inside.
When they're done devouring those five organs, they gnaw their way out of your
head, chest, and abdomen. Indeed, terrifying creatures."

As she spoke, the inquisitress took the cage from the priestess', hands, and stepped
toward Konrad.

Despite the disturbing explanation, Konrad didn't lose his composure. On the
contrary, it was Iliana who had lost her cool. Once they were installed within the
organs, removing essence devouring bugs without harming the host was nigh
impossible, and at least required the help of an experienced Semi-Saint.

Even then, repairing the damage they'd already caused was a daunting task. By the
time they released Konrad, his days would be numbered. Since things had reached
this point, no matter what Konrad said, she was ready to concede.

But then, for the first time since his arrival within the dungeon, Konrad's voice
echoed.

"Don't disappoint me."

The weight of those three words pulled Iliana out of her stupor. She firmly believed
that Konrad wasn't the type to forsake his life out of pride. If he was willing to
shoulder this, then he must have the means to control the situation.

However, she couldn't show her confidence to the inquisitress and kept her eyes
lowered on the ground in a show of submission.

"I… will concede."

A delighted laugh rose from the inquisitress' lips.

"Hahaha, good. But as insurance, I will still infect him with the bugs. Don't worry, if
tomorrow you do your part, I will personally remove them, and leave no lasting
damage."

The inquisitress assured then pulled out a dagger to slowly cut open Konrad's lower
abdomen and release the dozens of centipedes into the wounds. She could have just
shoved them down his throat. However, a born sadist, she couldn't let go of the
opportunity to gash his body.
Unfortunately for her, she didn't get the slightest sound from him. The centipede
crawled through the wound, infesting Konrad's abdomen. Iliana kept her eyes shut
close, unwilling to witness the scene.

As for Konrad, the discomfort caused by having his body infested by dozens of bugs
distorted his face.

This was another lesson. If his cultivation had reached the Holy Rank, what need
would there be for all those plans and schemes? What need would there be to
endure this kind of treatment? He could just flatten the church and be done with it.

Within him, his growing demonic hunger for power reached new heights,
suppressing some of the feeble human scruples that remained.

His Transcendent level Stolas Beast Physique kicked into gear, and from within,
spread a poison that locked the centipedes within his abdomen, and slowly eroded
them.

Naturally, the self-satisfied inquisitress had no knowledge of this.

"I… want to go back."

"Of course, you should prepare for tomorrow. Don't worry, I will take good care of
your friend."

With that said, she dispatched two priestesses to bring the shaken Iliana back to her
room and remained standing before Konrad, with the two, silent saw holding girls
still by his side.

"You are truly muddled-headed. How many people get rejected every day, trying to
join the church. But you not only received that opportunity but could have also
become an exarch's disciple. Yet, you chose to cling onto meat too large for your
throat?

Tss, tss, tss, you can only blame your arrogance. I hate conceited boys like you the
most."

She declared while digging her nails through Konrad's wound. His Body
Regeneration ability had already kicked into gear, closing the wound around her
finger. Seeing this, she beamed.
"Impressive, I've rarely seen such an astounding regeneration ability. Good, very
good. You and I will have a lot of fun."

"You're taking the words from my mouth."

Konrad's reply didn't sit well with the inquisitress.

"It seems that you still aren't aware of the gravity of the situation. It's alright, I don't
need much time to take you down a peg. Girls untie him."

The immobile saw holding girls didn't understand why Konrad was trying to provoke
the one holding his fate within her hand. Was he that eager to meet his ancestors.

Naturally, they felt no pity for him, and as instructed by the inquisitress, set the saw
aside to remove Konrad's biddings, first his hands, then his feet. Being previously
tied upside down, Konrad dropped onto the ground with his skull first crashing on
concrete before the rest of his body followed.

"Cuff his hands beneath his back and bring me the pear of anguish."

"Yes, inquisitress."

One of the two priestesses placed the new biddings while the other stepped toward a
shelf and picked up a pear-shaped iron tool composed of four leaves capable of
expanding upon pulling the screw at the bottom of the instrument.

The priestess presented the instrument to the inquisitress who eyed it with
unconcealed glee.

"Do you know why I'm not having them bind your feet?"

She asked while taking hold of the "pear" and heating its leaves with magical power.

Konrad, whose eyes remained glued on the pear of anguish, didn't have the mind to
reply.
"Because I want you to feel like you can escape, I want to see your struggling legs
thrashing to escape my grasp. I want to give you a small opportunity to challenge
your fate as you squeal under my pear. Then I shall suppress all your futile attempts
and rip you asunder. Hahaha!"

The inquisitress burst into laughter while pulling on the screw, causing it to expand,
then pushing the screw back in to end the demonstration. Having read about the
pear of anguish on earth, Konrad wasn't that surprised by the instrument and knew
very well what its purpose was.

What surprised him was that so many earth torture devices were appearing within
the Holy Flame Church's dungeons. Were the universe's nutcases all connected by a
collective consciousness?

The lack of reaction within Konrad's eyes prompted a wave of frustration within the
inquisitress who didn't understand why he stayed so calm. Although not many were
exposed to it, the pear's purpose was clear.

Upon seeing it, anyone would know it was meant to go in an orifice. The thought
alone usually caused most to shiver. However, Konrad remained unfazed. Even the
essence devouring bugs that should have brought him intense pain and horror didn't
seem to affect him much.

She was about to have him bent over on a table and aligned for the pear of anguish
when his voice finally echoed.

"Tell me, what is it that you really want?"

Konrad's eyes stared directly into hers, and alongside his voice created a compulsion
that unbeknown to her, brought out her deepest desires.

"I want to oppress all the outstanding men of this world, make them grovel at my
feet and beg for salvation to fulfill my need for power and domination while soothing
my hatred of the unjust status quo."

The words felt natural, however, as soon as she was done saying them, the
inquisitress' eyes widened in disbelief.

The priestesses by her side also felt confused, feeling that some of those words
should have never escaped her lips. However, they could relate. After all, although
outwardly the church didn't discriminate, it was at its core a patriarchal society with
the highest positions usually reserved for men.

The reason why the inquisition fell into the hands of women is that it was considered
a dirty job unfit for the church's true elite. One would never see a paragon or flame
spirit serving as an inquisitor. To thrive as an inquisitress, there were only two paths:
To become cold and unfeeling or to relish in sadism.

However, at least the church granted them opportunities. Outside, it was much
worse. In the Holy Continent, even with outstanding cultivation talent, women were
often barred from positions of power. The titles they held were directly related to
their husbands', and their rights to inherit lands came after every single male heir
regardless of seniority.

Ultimately, their cultivation only served as ornaments to heighten the husband's

prestige. There were few exceptions.

Naturally, many of them bore hidden grudges.

Still, they would never openly admit it. Which made the inquisitress' words startling.
She turned toward the priestesses, daggering them with glowers that shoved all the
words on their tongues down their throats, then shifted her attention back onto
Konrad.

His lips had now curled into a smile, while his deep, piercing gaze violated her mind,
and a faint orchid scent spread from his body.

Her sadistic desire to dominate men by inflicting atrocious pain upon them was
slowly transformed and turned into an aching need to mount Konrad right there. To
take his entire length down her pussy and ride him until he exploded within her.

Erotic images of the two of them in various positions sprang within her mind in
succession, causing her body to shiver, and her inner thighs to rapidly moisten. She
wanted to step back, to pull her gaze away from Konrad's, but she couldn't.

His eyes nailed her right where she stood and transformed her inner desires into a
craving for him.

As for the two priestesses, they were only of the Arch Rank. Therefore, the orchid
scent alone was enough to overwhelm them.
They fell onto the ground with their hands clutching their tingling lower abdomen
and their legs tightly clenched.

Konrad ignored them, his focus remaining on the priestess.

"Are you sure that's what you want? I will ask again. What is it that you want?"

"I want to mount your shaft and ride you until you explode within me."

She directly replied. Terrified by her own words, she floundered, not knowing what
to do. Konrad's Dream-Weaver powers once again kicked in, again transforming her
inner desires.

Now she didn't just want to mount him. She wanted him to mount her, to oppress
and dominate her until she was nothing more than his slave. The thought was getting
engraved within her mind, becoming her raison d 'etre. All her needs to dominate
vanished, and from a haughty, sadistic dominator, she turned into a masochistic
hound yearning for pleasure and pain.

"Now, now, tell me one last time. What is it that you want? Tell me your deepest
desire."

Konrad's irresistible voice echoed within her mind, consuming her whole. To this
stage, she still had no understanding of what had been done to her. It was almost as
if her nature had changed from a moment to another without any apparent reason.

"I want you… to humiliate, oppress, degrade me until I'm nothing more than a toy to
sate your lust."

"Well said."

Konrad chortled. With his Dream-Weaver bloodline level, women beneath the mid-
stage Semi-Holy Rank could no longer resist him. Seamlessly rewiring them was
simplicity itself.

He stood up, his eyes still locked on the inquisitress and oppressing her with profane
thoughts.

"I can't do that with my hands tied, can I? So, what should you do now?"
Within the inquisitress' mind, Konrad's words made perfect sense. It was illogical to
have him tied if he was meant to dominate her. Was it not?

"I must untie you."

She declared, then with a wave of her hands, shattered Konrad's cuffs.

"Good girl."
Nonchalantly, Konrad stood up, stretching his arms and neck while heaving a
contented sigh.

He then returned his attention onto the inquisitress whose yearning eyes were still
locked on him.

SMACK

"AAAAH!"

The blow came out of nowhere. One moment Konrad was still giving the inquisitress
a gentle smile, the next he was giving her a violent slap across the right cheek.

Taken by surprise and thrown off balance, she was about to fall onto the ground
when he pulled her by the collar and brought her close toward him for another
resounding smack across the other cheek.

This time, he let her drop onto the ground.

The inquisitress looked at him with a strange gaze where a mixture of pleasure and
pain intermingled. Odd, getting slapped by him felt so natural, so good, yet so painful
at the same time. She offered no resistance, feeling that there was no meaning to it.

"You know, I really don't like harming women. Even when they wrong me, I rather
just fuck them. The sight of an injured beauty truly hurts my soul, for it is such a
waste.

Especially the face, so heartbreaking…”

Konrad sighed while grabbing a tuft of the inquisitress' hairs.

"However, you really got on my nerves. I dare say this is the first time I've been this
annoyed by a woman. Tying me upside down while keeping a saw at my back?
Infecting my body with essence gnawing bugs? Readying yourself to shove a pear-
shaped torture device into my rear? What do you think this is? The Spanish
Inquisition?"

"The… Spanish? There is a Spanish Inquisition? Why did I never hear of it?"

Smack

"Aaaargh!"

Konrad shut her up with another well-timed circular palm strike, then cleared his
throat.

"Hum, hum. Never mind… fortunately, I have some use for you. Otherwise, I'd beat
you until your broken flesh and blood littered the ground."

For some reason, the nefarious thought produced a titillating reaction within the
inquisitress' abdomen. Konrad, who could clearly see her imagination kindled by his
words, wondered if he hadn't gone a tad bit too far.

"In any case…”

He pressed her onto her knees, bound her hands with the cultivation suppressing
cuffs before pushing her face against his crotch while still tugging on her hairs.

"Mhm…”

The scent of the meat-rod hidden beneath his pants spread to the inquisitress'
nostrils and heightened her hunger. But held within his hand, and eager to receive
his unrestrained oppression, she didn't dare make a move.

"Use your teeth to untie my belt and take down my pants."

Konrad ordered, and immediately, the inquisitress executed. Awkwardly, she bit the
corner of his belt, tugging onto it and dragging with the full might of her jaw to pull it
down in one stroke. When that stroke failed, she went at it again, disregarding the
safety of her neck in her attempt to unstrap the belt.

Having her arms bound beneath her back didn't make it any more comfortable, but
after the seventh attempt, she did manage to pull it down. With the belt holding
them out of the way, Konrad's pants were ready to slide down his thighs.

"Pull them down."

Still with her teeth, she bit the waist and with a strong pull dragged the pants down
in one clean stroke, causing Konrad's large, hardening shaft to spring free and lightly
slap her face as she raised her head.

She didn't move, keeping her cheek pressed against his still hardening member as
her eyes glazed with lust. The sight and scent filled her with the need to swallow it
all in one go.

Now fully erect, Konrad's rock-hard dick pushed the inquisitress' cheek aside to
tower above her face.

An indiscreet gulping sound echoed from her throat as she stared at the unholy
marvel in front of her and restrained her saliva from escaping her lips.

Konrad flashed a wolfish grin, clasping his hands around her head.

"Open wide."

Answering his command, she opened her lips as wide as she could while sticking out
her tongue to invite and accommodate her "new friend."

Konrad pressed his shaft against her tongue, then shoved it down her throat in one
brisk hip stroke. Since this was punishment, he would naturally make her suffer.

The inquisitress gagged on his dick, struggling to gasp for air, but he paid her no
consideration, holding her head firm within his hand to hammer her throat with firm
thrusts.

Slurping and gulping sounds soon filled the air as her saliva dripped on the ground,
and her eyes went wide from fright. Although her nose still allowed her some
breathing space, the speed at which Konrad drove his large rod down her throat
threatened to knock her out.
At the same, the pain of being so recklessly abused further moistened her inner
thighs. Konrad then pinched the inquisitress' nose, causing her to lose all breathing
space and to instinctively gasp for air, thus, sucking him deeper, faster down her
throat and gagging harder on his dick.

"MHM!"

His pace shot up, her eyes rolled back, her hands wrestled against her cuffs while his
ball slapped her chin, and his rod ravaged her throat.

Konrad peaked, releasing abundant white-purple spunk down the inquisitress'

throat, forcing her to swallow it all.

At the same time, her pussy had turned into a broken dam from which water freely
gushed, soaking her garments as she came from the abuse and passed out on the
ground.

However, before she could lose consciousness, Konrad yanked her hairs,
administrating another merciless slap to wake her up through pain.

"Who said you were allowed to pass out. We're only getting started."

He turned toward the shelf from which the priestess had taken the pear of anguish
and found a leather whip perfectly suitable for the next stage.

Stretching the leather whip, he walked toward her back, and without warning,
cracked it on her back.

"AAARGH!"

The inquisitress groaned in both pleasure and pain as the whip left a clear red mark
on her back.

"I really can't understand people that delight in getting abused. But then again, I
guess I'm to blame."

The Stolas poison had finished consuming the centipedes within Konrad's abdomen,
turning them into nothingness.

Konrad then tossed the whip on the side, and with his now free hands, shredded the
inquisitresses' clothes to reveal her naked body.

"I want to hear you squeal, not of pain, but of delight. To hear your moans screaming
how you surrender yourself to me, body and soul to become my willing toy.

That is true pleasure."

Konrad took a moment to appreciate the inquisitress' beauty. With long sky-blue
hairs falling below a slender waist, a pair of feline golden eyes shining with appeal,
and an alluring hourglass figure that left no room for nitpicking, she was without a
shred of doubt a riveting beauty. However, even with the natural charm created by
her Semi-Saint cultivation, she was definitely a step below the empress.

As the inquisitress turned to face him, her previously condescending pair of eyes
now stared into his with fear, deference, and submission while still begging him to
take her hard and fast.

"On all four."

It was coming, she knew it, and unable to hide the excitation within her eyes, she
once again turned her back toward Konrad, and lowered her chest to the ground
while lifting up her plump rear and wiggling it at Konrad's face.

Smack

"Ahh!"

He smacked her left butt cheek hard, leaving a red handprint onto it. Her ass giggled,
and her already dripping wet fold soaked the ground.

Konrad fell onto his knees, aligned his hardened rod with the inquisitress' entrance,
and shoved it all the way to the hilt.

"Ooh!"

She groaned as her hymen broke and her tight pussy clenched his rod like a narrow
glove, and when another slap struck her rear, she held him in even tighter.

"I expected at least an archbishop or two to have their way with you. How is it
possible that you're still unspoiled?"
"The high-level male priests disdain my twisted personality… they prefer claiming
those outwardly cold and unfeeling young priestesses and abbesses. Also, I'm half-
human…”

"Good for me…”

Konrad said nothing more, activating his Hundred Flowers Scripture while slowly
dragging his dick down her walls and pulling close to the entrance before slamming
it all the way back in and sending tremors throughout her body.

With her large breasts pressed on the ground and her hands cuffed beneath her
back, the position was relatively painful and profoundly humiliating. The feeling of
getting debased to this extent made her drool.

With one hand pulling on her hairs and the other holding her waist, Konrad pounded
his lust and rage into her, hammering her with reckless abandon until the sound of
her groans and his body slamming against hers rivaled that of the prisoner getting
roasted to death within the brazen bull.

The two priestesses who'd long since lost their minds to lust and shoved their hands
into their pussies crawled toward Konrad to rob him from the inquisitress with
kisses and caresses. However, it was to no avail.

He gave her his undivided attention, plowing that gripping field of hers until her
mind fell to the mind-boggling orgasms. His rod trembled, announcing its release,
and he unleashed large streams of demonic spunk within her.

This time, the cultivation was centered on him and using the system, Konrad split the
gains between his martial and spiritual paths. Going from the second to the sixth
step Arch Knight and Priest Ranks.

As the inquisitress dropped onto the ground, Konrad readjusted his clothes and sat
in one of the few available chairs that didn't contain a torture device.

"Now, now, let's talk about business. By the way, what's your name?"

“…Hel."

Only after doing all this was he asking her name? What a son of a bitch!
"Well, congratulations, Hel. You will now help me subjugate all the inquisitresses
below the mid-level Semi-Holy Rank."

Within the church, the inquisition department may not possess an honorable status,
but it was a force to be reckoned with. Although looked down upon due to their line
of work, inquisitresses wielded non-negligible power and possessed vast resources
at their disposal.

Especially in times of wars against the barbarian continent, their standing and
power skyrocketed. Not counting the trainees, there were more than two thousand
inquisitresses within the church, and among them, more than four hundred at the
Transcendent Rank or above.

In particular, the low-level Semi-Saints, Konrad's current targets, added up to fifty

and represented more than a fifth of the church's total low-level Semi-Saints.

How could Konrad let go of such a formidable force?

Obviously, subduing them all by tomorrow was a pipe dream. However, even if he
could get his hands on five, it was already a victory. After all, the only Semi-Saint
currently at his disposal was Wolfgang.

Konrad's ambition took Hel aback. Subduing all the inquisitresses below the mid-
level Semi-Holy Rank? Who did he think he was? The god of lust and domination?

"That's impossible."

"It is, of course, possible. However, that depends on your connections."

Konrad waved his hands, causing the two furiously masturbating priestesses to lose
consciousness. In the process, he didn't forget to rewire them into slaves.

"How many of those inquisitresses can you gather in one place tonight?"
Hel did a quick calculation before giving her reply.

"I have three good friends I can gather without problems, and three others that
would most likely accept an invitation provided that enough incentive is offered."

Although Hel was born from a human concubine, she came from a prominent duke's
family and was herself a Semi-Saint. Therefore, her connections weren't shallow.
Still, her impure lineage made it difficult to access the higher echelon.

"That's already more than I expected. What level of authority do you need to access
the church's treasure vault?"

"That depends on the vault in question. Each department possesses its own vault.
The inquisition department's vault requires at least an archbishop level token for full
access while the research and faith defending departments require an exarch level
token."

The research and faith defending departments were the two most powerful
departments of the church. Their wealth was also the highest, and the resources at
their disposal added up to three-fifths of the church's. Meanwhile, the inquisition's
only added up to one fifth. Still, the loss of that one fifth was enough to make the
church bleed.

"Use whatever excuse and incentive you need to gather those six inquisitresses in
your quarters, and I will take care of the rest."

"As you wish."

Konrad used the invisibility skill he'd gained from the system to fade from the scene.
Although in that form he couldn't use the tiniest bit of spiritual power, even Saints
couldn't track him down. Moreover, his bloodline abilities were still available.

Following his order, Hel sent mental messages to the six inquisitresses, asking them
to meet within her chambers to discuss an urgent matter regarding the Kracht case,
and after offering some benefit to those reluctant to "leave their duties," she left for
her chambers alongside Konrad who remained invisible at her side.

The six inquisitresses soon gathered within Hel's chambers. Instead of chambers, it
was more appropriate to call it a wing for she possessed both a greeting hall to meet
the guests and several rooms for her servants as well as abundant space for various
activities.

As the six were welcomed in by Hel's servants, they directly moved toward their
assigned seats and comfortably sat within.

"Hel said she was worried about the Kracht girl's submission and was having
difficulties breaking the Kracht boy."

"Indeed, she wants us to jointly devise a torture regimen to break the boy as soon as
possible and discuss additional means to coerce the girl should the need arise."

While the original plan was to have Iliana publicly reject the quota for a chance to
join the church, having Konrad, the original quota owner, do it would send a stronger
message. However, the church's high-level inferred that Iliana would be easier to
break.

"I think our superiors are being overcautious. Why not directly use torture on the
girl? We can use methods that leave no external damage to make sure no question
arises."

"Sometimes, it is by targeting the loved ones that you obtain the fastest confession.
According to her profile, that girl pays enormous attention to kinship. If she didn't,
she wouldn't have spent the last decade trying to muster the resources for her
cousin's cure. I believe this approach is the best. Don't forget that her father is also
under threat."

"You never know, with the once in a lifetime opportunity to reach sainthood, who is
to say she won't change her priorities. I say we jointly torture the two of them to
maximize our chances. After all, should they not surrender to coercion, we would be
at our wit's ends."

If the celestial faction managed to keep the quota, those instrumental to the
operation's success were bound to receive great benefits. Therefore, those
inquisitresses took the situation to heart.

As they discussed, Hel stepped into the greeting hall.

"Thank you for joining me on such short notice, if the matter weren't of such capital
importance, I wouldn't have bothered you."

Hel began while taking the honor seat, she then joined the discussion, and as the
seven discussed the most effective ways to make Konrad beg for salvation, he silently
moved behind them, using his Dream-Weaver abilities to rewrite their core needs
and desires, and turn them into slaves whose entire existences revolved around
serving him.

Unbeknown to them, in less than five minutes, they'd gone from ruthless, unfeeling
women to docile puppies eager to please their master.

"What we're saying is wrong. I instead think that we should free master and help him
evade persecution."

"Right, how could we allow master to suffer such harm? He's been down there for
too long already. It's our duty to rescue him."

"Well said, what are we waiting for? Let's immediately go down there to free him and
beg for punishment!"

They all agreed, and in unison stood up. Hel found the scene quite disturbing. One
moment they were still talking about the best ways to pull out Konrad's guts and the
next, they were suddenly eager to rescue him?

Even calling him master?

What the hell was going on? Then Konrad made some adjustments to her mind, and
she realized that serving him was the primal duty of all women in the world. Of
course, those inquisitresses were no different.

Why should they be?

Before the loyal inquisitresses could make another move, Konrad appeared out of
thin air, standing right in the middle of them. As soon as they saw his face, although
they were meeting him for the very first time, they still unceremoniously dropped
onto their knees.

"Greetings, master!"

They exclaimed, not caring about how he escaped captivity. After all, as the master,
he was an omnipotent existence. Surely, escaping a torture dungeon wasn't that
challenging.

And seeing the depth of his Dream-Weaver powers, Konrad was a tad bit terrified.
After making adjustments to his new servants' views on demonism, Konrad took
them into his space treasure to sign Master-Servant contracts. With that out of the
way, he brought them back to the outside world for the next phase of his plan.

With seven Semi-Saint inquisitresses, his reach greatly expended. Using their
connections, across several hours, he enslaved another seventeen Semi-Saint
inquisitresses and more than one hundred Transcendent level inquisitresses.

The church's low-level Semi-Saint force was barely over two-hundred-fifty. Now,
almost ten percent of it had fallen into Konrad's hands, but this was only the
beginning.

From the start, his target had always been the inquisition's vault. With the
abundance of wealth and treasures it contained, Konrad could establish a firm
foothold within the empire. However, with high-level Semi-Saints being the only ones
eligible to access it, he had no hope of plundering it.

And assuming he did, the church would soon fall into chaos. There were two non-
negotiable requirements to successfully leave the church with those resources: A
solid plan that accounted for all variables, and someone to frame. A non-obvious
target with a peculiar enough background that the raised doubts wouldn't come
back to bite him in the rear.

"Who's the grand Inquisitress with the least roots within the church?"

Konrad asked his new slaves. In the inquisition department, low-level Semi-Saints
were titled high-level inquisitresses while high-level Semi-Saints bore the title of
grand inquisitresses.

Within the church, the status of Grand Inquisitress was comparable to archbishops',
and among other things, their duties consisted of overseeing large operations to
crack down on heretic groups and even frame innocent nobles with heresy to seize
their assets and extinguish their houses if need be.
There were fifty of them in total.

"If we're talking about the grand inquisitress with the least roots, it would be Grand
Inquisitress Margo. She's the aunt of the Kriegel Duke."

"Oh?"

Taken by surprise, Konrad didn't immediately respond. Although the church didn't
discriminate against talent, it was after all chiefly controlled by paragon spirits and
was therefore prejudiced against the serpent race that once ruled the land now
composing the Holy Flame Empire.

For that reason, unless not given another choice, most serpent nobles would avoid
sending their children into the church, and those who could make it to the high level
were few and far between.

"Cultivation and time spent within the church?"

"Sixth step Semi-Holy Priest. She's been in the church for more than a thousand
years and rarely contacts her family. A social disaster, she has no friend or anyone
that can boast knowing her well. What she does in her spare time is a mystery.
However, she's very diligent in her work and never leaves rooms for reproaches. "

"How hard would it be to obtain an audience with her?"

"Impossible, unless there is a rock-solid reason. Although our exarchs tasked her
with supervising the rest of the operations. She merely sends us directives through
servants and mental messages.

She doesn't meet with us."

"Send her news that I attempted to commit suicide. If she's as diligent as you claim,
she should have you lock down the news and personally investigate. Also…”

Konrad gave the inquisitresses his directives. Afterward, he returned to the dungeon
cell to "commit suicide." When the preparations were enough, the tortured prisoners
who'd gotten glimpses of his session with Hel were disposed of. In any case, those
folks were not meant to live through the night. Like the one in the brazen bull who'd
already burned to death.
…

Grand Inquisitress Margo Kriegel was focused on silent cultivation when news of the
key Kracht prisoner's failed suicide reached her ears.

"Why didn't you gag him?"

"Hel wanted to hear him squeal…”

The one who'd reported the news muttered in a mental message. Although very
creative in her handling of prisoners and with an excellent track record, Hel was
well-known for the extreme pleasure she took from her work. This outcome was
within reason.

"I expect you already handled the tongue loss?"

"We've stopped the bleeding. However, the essence devouring bugs are sapping his
vitality and giving us trouble in handling the aftermath."

"Very well, prevent the news from spreading. I will personally deal with those."

Disposing of essence devouring bugs without fatally harming the subject was of
extreme difficulty and required at least an experienced Semi-Saint. Hel's previous
claim that she could handle it was a blatant lie.

Margo stood up and in a flash crossed the distance toward the dungeon where two
high-inquisitresses were currently surrounding a nervous Hel who stood before
Konrad's unconscious body.

Margo bypassed them, directly stepping toward the unconscious Konrad.

"Effective immediately, Hel is demoted to low-level inquisitress and banished to

Ansfurt."

Ansfurt was a small, barren village in the southern parts of the Holy Flame Empire
while low-level inquisitresses were usually of the Arch Rank. Such a terrible
demotion took Hel aback. Was the next step to take her life?

Fortunately, this was all a play.

Margo never glanced at Hel, stretching her hand toward Konrad's chest. At that time,
twenty-one high-level inquisitresses appeared out of thin air, and alongside Hel and
the other two by her side, fired two-dozen offensive fifth circle spells at Margo.

"Not good…”

Margo's instinct kicked in, in the blink of an eye, she raised defensive wards around
her. However, the distance was far too short, and the timing too precise for her wards
to change the outcome.

BOOM

The wards shattered, and the dozens of fifth circle spells hammered Margo from all
sides, sending her flying in the air and crash on the ground in a pool of her own
blood, barely clinging on her life.

Although the highest among the twenty-four were two fourth-step Semi Holy
Priestesses and the gap between each Semi Holy step enormous, this was after all a
sneak attack carried out by twenty-four Semi-Saints. For Margo, the result was
disastrous.

"What… is the meaning of this?!"

She barked with warm blood gushing from her mouth. At that time, Konrad's eyes
opened, and he rose from the table he'd been lying on to sit within an available chair.

Upon seeing him safe and sound, Margo's mind made hundreds of assumptions, but
none of them made sense. Unfortunately for her, to prevent the screams of the
countless prisoners from disturbing those above, the inquisition's dungeons were
enchanted with powerful wards preventing any noise from escaping.

"The meaning is… framing."

Konrad answered and raised his hand.

The twenty-four inquisitresses shot toward the grievously injured Margo with
soaring killing intent.

This time, Margo, although badly battered, had the opportunity to respond with a
high-grade fifth circle spell. Another deluge of magic erupted. The twenty-four
inquisitresses were pushed back, while Margo again flew and crashed on the
adamantine walls.

"AAARGH!"

If before she could still cling on her life, Margo was now unable to do so. All strength
left her body, and she passed out. Three of the inquisitresses then bound her with
anti-cultivation locks and dragged her unconscious form toward Konrad.

"Suppress her injuries. She might still be useful in the future."

"Yes, master!"

The inquisitresses used healing spells to pull Margo out of a life-threatening

condition. Konrad then robbed her grand inquisitress token and used his
Transformation Skill to assume her shape.

"Resume your activities."

Konrad ordered before taking Margo into his space treasure. As for the
inquisitresses, they'd all been contracted. Therefore, he could summon them at any
time.
With the foundation laid down, it was time for Konrad to carry out his plan. Without
further ado, he, under the guise of Grand Inquisitress Margo, stepped out of the
dungeons and headed toward the inquisition department's treasure vault.

Right now, his status was directly below the exarchs'. Therefore, no one dared stand
in his way. Soon, he reached the treasure vault's doorsteps. The treasure vaults were
some of the few places inside the church to be under the surveillance of recording
mirrors. Therefore, as soon as he arrived, Konrad's, or rather, "Margo's" presence
had been registered.

He pulled out her token. Bright yellow light rose from it and dived into the towering
gate, unlocking it. The gate then slowly opened.

"Tss, tss, tss. Holy Flame Church, Holy Flame Church. When you send such a fierce
invitation to my doorsteps, of course, as a guest, I must honor you by devouring all I
can."

Konrad stepped in, and the door closed at his back.

The treasure vault was organized in various compartments, each holding different
items.

From alchemy ingredient and pills to artifacts, all were present. Konrad even saw a
chest full of holy crystals. After count, it held about two-hundred thousand.

"Whoever said that hard work is the price of success deserves a good beating. What
nonsense is hard work? Clearly, banditry is the most reliable road to a life of wealth
and opulence.

Rich. I'm rich!"

Although this was only the reserve, and there was more in circulation, it was already
enough for Konrad to establish his own kingdom. Such wealth already surpassed any
duke's house and competed with the sovereign princes'!

Konrad wasted no time to swallow all this wealth into his space treasure, then
straightforwardly walked out.

Returning to his dungeon cell, he reassumed Anselm Kracht's shape and had his two
guards set him back into harsh prisoner conditions.

It was now past midnight, the moon still hung high in the sky, and for the first time in
a long while, though his conditions were the poorest since he'd arrived in the
Ancient Crystal World, Konrad slept like a baby.

Iliana had not slept for the entire night. At dawn, she was still pacing back and forth
within her room, unsure of whether to follow through with the plan or not. Konrad's
"Don't disappoint me" had left a profound imprint on her mind, but although she had
full confidence in him, she didn't wish to gamble his future on this.

As for her father, she knew there was nothing to fear since at best, the church would
again underestimate him and send someone unable to take his life, while at worst,
they would wait for after the competition's end to make their move. If only to avoid
suspicion. Even then, besides venting petty anger, there was nothing to gain from
killing him.

"What to do? What to do? What to do?"

But as she wondered what course of action to take, a knocking sound came from her
doorsteps.

"It's time for the ceremony."

The sun had now reared its head, sending its dazzling rays to illuminate the vast blue
sky. Yet, it failed to reach Iliana's heart which overflowed with apprehension and saw
even the clearest of skies as a dark omen.

Because she'd professed her desire to surrender the quota, the church officials didn't
bother teaching her about the various stages of the ceremony. Of course, it was
relatively simple. As long as she could walk straight and speak clearly, all would flow
nicely.
It was now time to make her choice.

To obey Konrad's will and risk all their necks or submit to a greater force and not
only lose the hard-earned quota but also all modicum of respect he held for her. To
say nothing of him, though they might not have made a different choice, those
children of nobility would once again use the opportunity to jeer, blaming her lack of
courage on her human lineage and shaming her house as wantonly as possible.

She pulled in a deep breath, recalling Konrad's previous words.

"I didn't come here to get bullied into submission by a bunch of men and women in
cassocks. Succumbing to coercion is something I don't know how to do. If they dare
touch me, I naturally have my ways to make them pay a bitter price."

Since she'd promised him to defend the quota, then it was time for her to do her part.
Taking another breath, Iliana dispelled the negativity within her mind, calmed her
anxious eyes, and with a gaze full of resolve, stepped out of her chambers.

Outside, two priestesses awaited, and without a word, they escorted her down the
hall, heading toward the altar room where the ceremony would be conducted.

As they moved down the hall, a woman dressed in abbess level cassocks went past
them, and furtively sent Iliana a mental message.

"The situation is under control. Master asked me to tell you that you don't have to
worry about anything."

If Iliana still held a bit of apprehension, then with that confirmation, all vanished into
nothingness. Relaxed, she confidently stepped toward the altar room. Inside,
hundreds of individuals were currently seated. From counts to dukes, all belonged to
the high nobility and were eager to see the birth of a fledgling saint.

Most didn't come empty-handed, bringing with them many congratulatory gifts they
would present after the baptism to build connections while they still could.

Iliana's gaze swept past them. People eager to seek connections in the sunny days
and prompt to distance themselves when dark clouds gathered were the type she
despised the most.

The seats were cut at the middle by a massive alleyway draped in gold. At the end of
it, Iliana currently stood with the two priestesses by her side. She was garbed in an
elegant cyan dress matching her mesmerizing, slit emerald eyes, and didn't bother
putting on any makeup.

After all, with beauty like hers, such things were both unnecessary and excessive.

She held herself straight, with her eyes staring directly at the altar beneath which a
tall flame spirit exarch awaited. The altar was surrounded by four fifteen feet tall
pedestals each lighted by bright white flames, and above it floated a pure white orb.

White flames swirled around the orb, brightening the room and dazzling those who
dared directly stare at it.

"Iliana Kracht, step forward!"

The priestesses remained still, and Iliana began a slow, steady walk toward the altar
under the mixed gazes of the nobility and the clergy.

She stopped right in front of the bishop who lifted his hand above her head.
Understanding the sign, she fell on her knees.

"Are you willing to accept the divine lord's grace, to receive his purest baptism and
be reborn in his holy flames as a pure, immaculate creature to forever serve his
glorious will?"

Not one of the clergymen and women expected a yes. Now, according to plan, she
would refuse on account on not being worthy, of such honor and instead beg for the
opportunity to join the church as a priestess. And moved by her piety, and humility,
they would agree.

However…

"Yes, I am willing!"

…her next words didn't follow the script.

The flame spirit exarch who'd been assured that everything would proceed smoothly
felt like he was experiencing some form of human hearing problems. But flame
spirits didn't have human ailments. Therefore, he believed a powerful cultivator was
playing tricks with his mind and distorting what he heard.

Of course, it must be it.

Convinced of the accuracy of his judgment, he carried on as if the script remained

unchanged.

"What devotion, what piety! Iliana Kracht, you are a heartwarming example for the
faith, a beacon of virtue! In my thousands of years of existence, never have I seen
such a humble, graceful human being! Surely the divine lord will bless you with
countless graces, no, he's already blessed you!

Oh, to so unpretentiously reject what so many would aspire to with unconcealed

greed? Oh, it is my greatest honor to…”

Confused, Iliana felt like the exarch wasn't hearing her words right, and so repeated
stronger, louder, for all to hear.

"Your eminence must not have heard me right. I'm accepting the divine lord's
baptism!"

The exarch stopped dead in his tracks and lowered his gaze onto the still kneeling
Iliana. Either the mighty, hidden cultivator playing tricks on him was truly an
unparalleled existence, or he was hearing things right, and the girl was accepting the
quota?

How could this be?

Did she dare?

His eyes sought confirmations in the hundreds of pairs staring at him, and seeing the
odd, confused looks aimed at him, he realized his hearing was perfect, no one was
playing tricks on him.

She'd really just accepted the baptism.

Flame spirits were short-tempered beings. Even thousands of years of existence

didn't teach that exarch self-control. His flame red hairs wildly blew at his back, and
his similarly colored eyes daggered Iliana below him.

He was about to release his holy pressure and cause an unfortunate incident when a
voice echoed within his mind.

"Stop making a fool of yourself. Carry on with the baptism."

That voice was one of the few capable of making him shiver, and upon hearing it,
though begrudgingly, the flame spirit immediately carried on with the ceremony.

"Well,… then receive the divine lord's grace!"

Dazzling white flames erupted from the altar, soared into the air and descended onto
the kneeling Iliana. The flame lifted her from the ground, carrying her onto the altar
where the pure white orb flew toward her forehead and vanished within.

Holy light and flames swirled around her, giving her an ethereal look that rivaled
celestials.

The flames snuck into her body, refining her veins, bones, blood, flesh, and spirit to
the pinnacle.

Her spiritual cultivation directly reached the third step Arch Priest Rank while her
martial cultivation reached the first step Arch Knight Rank, but that was only a
secondary effect.

In a flash, her physique quality reached the top level of the Holy Flame Empire,
rivaling the likes of the crown prince. Although her bloodline didn't change, it
became a lot more refined and powerful. As for her innate constitution. Previously,
she didn't have any. Now, however, she possessed an Innate Flame Physique.

With time, even without training, as her cultivation improved, it would naturally
reach the holy rank.

Seeing all the benefits that half-human insect received, the flame spirit exarch
despaired. Those benefits should belong to his Celestial Faction! Why did those
damnable inquisitresses swindle him?!

If it weren't because inquisitresses didn't belong to his jurisdiction, he would have

already had them exiled to the deepest recesses of the empire!

For the first time in his long, dignified life, there was one word he ached to scream
with all his might: FUCK!

The baptism ended, and alongside it, all the supernatural phenomenon surrounding
Iliana. The white orb escaped her forehead, going back to floating above the altar
while a mild force returned her onto the ground.

"Thank you, Divine Flame Lord, for your grace!"

Hearing this, the exarch wanted to spurt blood, but because his flame spirit body was
chiefly composed of fire, he didn't have blood to spurt. So, he just drew in a deep
breath and barked:

"The ceremony is over, and now I must return to prayers! Disperse!"

And with a sweep of his long sleeve, he stormed out of the altar room, leaving some
of the still dumbstruck noble to wonder what was wrong with him.

The baptism's end quickly spread throughout the Holy Flame City, carrying alongside
it the news of the birth of a new holy talent!

"What dog-level intimidators is your department producing that you can't even
coerce count-level nobility children into submission? Are you sure you've not been
bribed by house Kracht? Is that why your results were this pathetic? Lost to a trivial
count! Fuck! Do you even understand the importance of this quota?

On the young, it represents a potential saint, but on established peak-level Semi-

Saints, that's an immediate ticket to sainthood!
With it, we could have instantly replaced Heinrich's loss. With those damned
barbarians showing signs of action. What is the current worth of a Saint? Damn
Olrich and damn your useless worms!"

The Flame Spirit vented his anger on one of the two exarchs in charge of the
inquisition department.

"Our people followed the instructions to the letter. If you want to blame something,
blame yourself for getting outplayed by the "trivial count." You not only failed to
gauge his real strength but provided him with the opportunity to conceal all his close
relatives.

Now you want to put the blame on us?!"

The argument was getting increasingly more heated. Meanwhile, others were
discussing what to do with Konrad.

"Have the inquisitresses cleanse all his wounds and release him."

"Just like that?"

The flame spirit couldn't accept such an end. Due to his lack of cooperation, Konrad
was one of the chief culprits of this debacle. If he didn't beat him senseless, he could
never vent the hatred within his heart.

"Of course, just like that. What? Have you not created enough doubts? Must we also
answer for the sudden disappearance of the country's new number one talent right
after his victory? Or are you that eager to give others the opportunity to cause
trouble?"

"This…”

Two inquisitresses came down Konrad's cell to clean and prepare him for release.
Afterward, they led him back up and brought him all the way toward the church's
exit, where Iliana had been waiting for hours.

As soon as Konrad's eyes laid on her, he activated his Origin Sight to see the
baptism's results. What he saw didn't disappoint him. If she could digest all her gains
and build on them, Iliana's battle power wouldn't be inferior to Nils' in human form.

It would even be a step above.

As for her, as soon as she saw him, Iliana leaped onto his chest, collaring him in a
tight embrace. She pressed hard around his neck, as if afraid of again losing him.

"I… can't… breathe."

"Good. Why does a scoundrel like you deserve to breathe? Just die within my arms."

As usual, the words didn't match her heart where relief now overflowed.
"If you insist…”

Without warning, Konrad swept Iliana off her feet, carrying her bridal style into the
Kracht carriage.

"What are you doing?!"

"Didn't you say you wanted me to die in your arms? Good. I'm going to -die- in your
arms, alright.

But in my world, that means coming inside you… again… and again… and… again…”

"You… Dissolute!"

But she offered no resistance, surrendering to him wholeheartedly in a heated

session that shook the initially steady carriage at various intervals.

The return trip to the Kracht mansion went without a hitch. At the doorsteps, the
Kracht kinsmen currently within the capital awaited in organized lines.

When Iliana descended alongside Konrad, they all stepped toward her to exclaim
their congratulations and present gifts. If before, her status came from her father's
name, now that she bore the title of "future saint," the situation was different. They,
of course, wanted to show more goodwill.

Though polite in her words, Iliana's aloof demeanor clearly showed that she didn't
wish to get bothered. The kinsmen took the hint and scattered.

In the reception hall, a plethora of gifts from various houses both from low and high
nobility awaited. Seeing them, Konrad sighed.
"Aaahh… I worked myself half to death, challenged innumerable dangers, even went
into the tiger's den, all to seize this baptism quota. But now, now… no one
remembers my contributions. All can only think of the main beneficiary."

"Aaah… fairness… unfairness… the heart of the people!"

Konrad sighed in an exceedingly dramatic way as if to complain about the unfairness

of the situation.

Iliana nodded in approval.

"This is why we say that men are suckers for beauties. Clearly, even you turned out to
be a big sucker. Now the question is, should I abandon you now that I've made full
use of you?"

Ilana asked with false seriousness.

"Oh? Are you sure you've made full use of me? I dare say that I've still many tricks
you have yet to taste. Perhaps I should immediately undress you to reaffirm my
worth!"

"Yes, yes… wait, no!"

Like an alarmed fawn, Iliana stepped away from Konrad, backing off to the nearest
wall. She was just recovering from the previous session. How could she allow him to
wreak havoc so soon afterward?

However, it was, of course, to no avail. Before she could take three steps, Konrad had
already placed her on his shoulder and carried her to the master bedroom for
another epic lovemaking session.

Meanwhile, in the Holy Flame Church, blame was still being assigned.

"Regardless of what you say, the inquisition department is the main reason of this
operation's failure. Since you can't do your job properly, it is only right for us to cut
down your fundings!"

The flame spirit exarch declared in a self-righteous tone. That exarch was of the faith
defending department and had been eying the inquisition's resources for a while.
Today, using their failure to obtain house Kracht's submission, he would definitely
suck them dry!

Knowing fully well what he was after, the exarch who served as one of the two vice
chief inquisitresses boiled with rage. Was it not for the other side's deep roots within
the church, she would have already let go of all restraints and drawn her sword!

However, the situation wasn't in her favor, and they'd indeed failed in their duties.
Worse was that they reported false success and inadvertently caused the church to
lose face.

"Don't go too far! I will send you the grand inquisitress in charge of the operation to
deal with as you see fit."

She conceded. However, she'd underestimated the flame spirit's appetite.

"Don't think you can weasel your way out of this one by just cutting off one of your
fingers. I want the entire arm! The head exarch has already given his approval."

Knowing that the situation was under control, the flame spirit was feeling proud and
elated. Who told that bitch to offend him? Always acting in a condescending manner
as if she was part of a superior breed?

Was she the spirit, or was he the spirit? Impudence!

Now that the head exarch had given him the pass, he would not pull any punch.

Hearing this, the vice chief inquisitress was at a loss, she'd indeed received a warning
from her superior that the head exarch was likely to have them bear all the
responsibility. However, she didn't expect him to do it in such an uncouth,
humiliating manner by sending that flame spirit out of all people.

As if to put greater emphasis on his words, the flame spirit pulled out a written order
signed with the head exarch's seal. Seeing it, there was nothing else the vice chief
could say or do. Defeated, she lowered her head, gritting her teeth while her nails
dug within her palm.

The dejected look on her face only made that flame spirit feel more ecstatic.
"Hehehe, now that things are clear between us, you not only must hand over the one
in charge but also personally lead me to the vault to carry out a third of your
reserves!"

This was indeed what the head exarch ordered and was no different from dealing a
crippling blow to the inquisition department. The reserves were used to fund the
training of the entire department from Saints to Arch Priestesses. Its current wealth
was the result of years of accumulation. To lose one third overnight, the inquisition
department's growth space was in jeopardy.

Clearly, the head exarch was getting worried by the inquisition's increasing power
and wanted to use this opportunity to curb them.

Without another word, the vice chief turned heels, leading the way toward the
treasure vault where the bulk of the inquisition's wealth remained.

As they reached the door, the flame spirit's mood was reaching the heavens while the
vice chief inquisitresses' was at hell's gate.

She pulled out her token and aimed it at the lock. Yellow light rose from it, removing
the lock and causing the door to spring open.

The flame spirit's excitation had reached its peak, and as the door finally opened, he
could no longer restrain himself. Without any consideration for his colleague, he
leaped into the treasure vault!

"Hahaha. You've been hoarding so much wealth across the years. What do you even
need it for? It's only right for you to give up a share to the most valuable department!

Defending the faith is such a daunting task that our resources are never enough.
Don't worry, we will put this wealth to good use. Hahaha!"

The flame spirit burst into laughter while the vice chief's indignation reached its
acme.

"Haa the wealth, the wealth, the… where is the wealth?!"

The flame spirits' eyes looked left and right, but in the massive treasure vault large
enough to fit a house, there was nothing but empty shelves and unfilled coffers.
Not even grass remained!

In a flash, he went from the peak of elation to the limits of astonishment and rage!

"Damn slut! Are you messing with me? Fuck? What is the meaning of this? Big galls!
Are you trying to rebel?!"

The flame spirit exploded and instantly blamed the empty vault on the vice chief.

Seeing such a sudden change and wondering why the elated flame spirit was now
spouting profanities, the vice chief stepped inside the vault, only to see that
absolutely nothing remained.

Even paper and ink were not spared.

"Quick… the recording mirror room!"

Unlike the flame spirit, the vice chief didn't lose her mind and directly rushed toward
the recording mirrors' room to investigate the situation.

Not willing to let her off, and still thinking that this was all a prank, the flame spirit
followed her. But when they reached the recording mirror room, and he saw her pull
up the scene of "Margo" using her token to step into the vault and empty it of all it
contained, it soon became evident that this was no joke.

The inquisition department's reserves. One-fifth of the church's total reserves had
been plundered overnight by a grand inquisitress. Not counting the wealth already in
circulation, this was one-fifth of their total assets!

Both the vice chief and the flame spirit felt like their world was spinning. However,
they were after all Saints, and after a moment of confusion, both sent out the same
order to their respective departments.

"Send my order, capture Grand Inquisitress Margo Kriegel at once!"

The church was put under lockdown, high-level Semi-Saints were dispatched, and in
a flash, every corner of the church was put under examination.

However…
"Your eminence, we've looked everywhere. She's no longer in the church!"

Those words rung in the flame spirit's ears like a gargantuan bell announcing the
world's end.

His eyes went red. The scenery around him swirled, his body vacillated, and he
dropped face first onto the ground in a resounding thud.

BAM

"Your eminence, your eminence!"

But it was to no avail. The flame spirit seemed to have entered a comatose state
where nothing could move him.

After a moment of unconsciousness, he regained his senses, but when he realized the
scene was still the same, he banged his head against the floor. But the scene had still
not changed, they'd still gotten robbed blind!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

His roar shook the entire Holy Flame City, alarming all its denizens.
"Ahhh…”

Iliana was in the process of having her pussy licked by Konrad's masterful tongue
when the flame spirit exarch's earthshaking roar spread through the Holy Flame City.

"What the hell?"

Konrad pulled his tongue out of her snatch to seek the roar's origin. However, Iliana
could care less and pushed his lips back onto her pussy.

"Don't speak with your mouth full…”

Soon, the news that the church's inquisition department had been robbed of all its
reserves spread throughout the Holy Flame City, causing the jubilation of many. After
all, among the several departments of the church, the inquisition was one of the most
loathed due to its overbearingness and the sorrow it brought the citizens.

The imperial family was full of smiles, the high nobility exchanged cups of wine, and
the commoners thanked the divine lord for his justice.

This was a day of celebration!

In the church, however, chaos spread like wildfire. The flame spirit exarch blamed
the theft on the inquisition department as a whole, claiming that they'd prepared
this scam beforehand to avoid having to pay reparations for their failures. No matter
what argument was brought to the table, he still insisted on pushing the blame on
them and asked for extreme punishment.

The leading exarchs of the inquisition could no longer endure the insult, and a fight
broke out!
In the end, the head exarch had to personally show himself to mediate the situation,
and while he outwardly didn't appear biased, he still heavily punished the
inquisition department. He had them surrender some of their responsibilities to the
faith defending department and even had several of the Semi-Saint inquisitresses
involved in the Kracht case exiled to various corners of the empire.

Initially, the matter should have ended there. But who could think that hours after
setting out, under the escort of experts from the faith defending department, the
seven exiled inquisitresses would suddenly vanish from sight?

Their location unknown.

The inquisition's leaders quickly assumed the worst.

"The faith defending department is bullying us intolerably! Not content of

encroaching on our jurisdictions, they even dare blatantly assassinate seven of our
high-level inquisitresses!

How can we tolerate the insult?"

Those words began spreading from many of the Semi-Saints that remained, further
infuriating the leading exarchs.

The situation reached such a point that the chief inquisitress, a high exarch of the
church came out of seclusion for a bold statement.

"The faith defending department must give us a reasonable explanation. Otherwise,

henceforth, a life and death enmity stands between us!"

But how could the overbearing faith defending department accept the charge? Not
only did they not lower their stance, but they even claimed that this was all a ploy
from the inquisition to appear as victims while secretly swallowing the church's
resources.

Fights broke out, blood was spilled, and although the head exarch managed to
contain the internal war, from that moment onward, there was a clear division
within the church. All pretense of unity shattered, and the Imperial Faction who
silently observed this struggled to hide its satisfaction.

…
At that time, within the Kracht mansion, the seven inquisitresses missing in action
were kneeling at Konrad's front.

"Greetings, Master!"

Iliana, who stood by his side, couldn't understand the meaning of this scene. One
moment she was still cuddling with Konrad, the next, he waved his hand, and the
seven high-level inquisitresses appeared in front of them.

Out of nowhere, seven Semi-Saints were kneeling before them. How could she
conceal her astonishment?

Her wide eyes went between the kneeling Hel and Konrad whose lips now flashed a
wolfish grin.

"You've done well. Rise."

Naturally, the "sudden disappearance" of the seven inquisitresses was Konrad's

doing. On the one hand, he could use them to create more chaos within the church,
and on the other hand, he could bring seven Semi-Saints back to his side. By
themselves, they were not only a formidable force but also top-notch cultivation
resources!

How could he let them waste away in some barren land?

With another wave of his hand, he pulled them into his space bag, and with a clap,
summoned Wolfgang.

"Dad?"

The form of her father appearing out of nowhere caused the already confused Iliana
to no longer know what was going on.

What was the meaning of all this?

"Your father and I have a kind of contract allowing me to summon him regardless of
where he stands.

That's why I can bring him right from his fief."

Wolfgang had indeed been teleported from his fief back into the room. And seeing
his daughter in flimsy clothing snuggled against Konrad, it would be a lie to say he
didn't want to punch a hole in his face.

However, he could only endure.

Within Iliana's mind, the words "contract" and Konrad rung with all kinds of
demonic connotations, neither of which boded well for her father.

"What the hell is going on?"

She asked, perplexed and unsure of how much had been concealed from her.

"Hum, hum. This is a truly disgraceful matter, so for the sake of your father's dignity,
I wanted to conceal it from you for as long as possible. But I guess it's time to reveal
the truth."

Konrad began and cleared his throat for emphasis and dramatic flair. His words
caused Iliana's confusion to turn into a frown and Wolfgang's face to contort with
rage.

"Your father signed a demonic contract of eternal servitude with me in order to

become better in bed."

"What?"

Iliana and Wolfgang both asked in unison.

Realizing he was being slandered, Wolfgang aimed a wobbling index at Konrad who
kept sighing as if to show his helplessness in the matter.

"Despicable liar!"

Facing Wolfgang's outrage, Konrad remained unfazed.

"What? How am I a liar? I initially wanted to save you some face, but since you don't
know how to cherish my good intentions, I can only be ruthless."

"Did you or did you not come to seek my help when you realized you could no longer
please your woman?"
"I… did."

"Did you or did you not accept to sign a Master-Servant contract with me for the sake
of obtaining the means to please her?"

"I… did… but"

"Did you or did you not get what you wanted?"

"I did… but…”

"But what? The situation is as clear as daylight. This was all a willing trade, and you
have nothing to say in your defense!"

With conclusive evidence, Konrad had nothing to fear.

And hearing the exchange, Iliana's esteem for her mighty father hit rock-bottom. It
was one thing to seek another man's help in bedroom issues, but another to
surrender his soul for the sake of such short-sighted benefits.

How sorrowful!

Seeing the disappointment in his daughter's gaze, Wolfgang wanted to better explain
the situation.

"There is…”

But as he began, Konrad's voice echoed in his mind.

"You better cooperate; otherwise, I either make you a more agreeable servant, or I
spend the night making sure both Zamira and Iliana bear my demonic offspring."

"Ugh…”

Wolfgang choked on his words.

"There is what?"

"I… was desperate."

Wolfgang lowered his head and admitted defeat.

Konrad was satisfied while Iliana's disappointment deepened.

"Now, now. Let's move on to the operation's next step. Father-in-law, meet your
secret helper."

With a wave of his hand, Konrad summoned Freya.

"Greetings, Master!"

Although perplexed about how Konrad could summon her out of the blue, Freya still
didn't lose decorum and promptly gave her greetings. Seeing her, Iliana's eyes
contorted into a frown.

"Her?"

Considering how she'd tried to take her life; Freya's face was hard to forget. Quickly,
however, Iliana recalled how she'd been suppressed by Konrad. When even Semi-
Saints could surrender, Freya was indeed not surprising.

Although he'd contacted her to check her progress, Freya had not seen Konrad for
almost two weeks. The lack of his presence and rod leaving her with a profound
emptiness she didn't know how to cope with. So, she dedicated herself to her task
and successfully robbed her husband's house of sixty-five million purple crystals, all
of which would now fall within Konrad's hands.

With such merit, surely, he would properly reward her, right? She pulled out a purple
card which she presented to him.

"Master, this purple card is currently on my name and contains the sixty-five million
purple crystals I robbed from house Schoner. We can open an account on your name
and transfer the money onto it if you so wish."

Konrad pushed the purple card back toward her while shaking his head from left to
right and vice versa.

"No need. What is yours is, of course, mine."

A bank account that could be directly traced back to him wasn't something Konrad
wished at the moment. It would bring more harm than good.
Taking his words as a show of trust, Freya felt elated.

"You robbed sixty-five million purple crystals from house Schoner? Isn't that your
husband's total wealth?"

Iliana asked in stupor.

House Schoner's wealth was divided between Viscount Thorsten, Freya's husband
who controlled one-third, and Count Wilhelm who controlled the remaining two-
thirds.

Was Freya truly ruthless enough to make her doting husband go bankrupt, or was
she compelled by Konrad? In any case, house Schoner had suffered a crushing blow.

"It's Thorsten's honor to serve as Master's steppingstone."

Wolfgang who'd used Freya's robbery to subjugate house Schoner wasn't surprised
in the slightest. Still, remembering how Thorsten wept and cursed upon realizing his
wife's deeds, he couldn't help but shiver.

The cruelty of an infatuated woman was truly beyond imagining.

Konrad then brought out Daphne, Zamira, and Wulf from the space pouch.

"Daddy!"

Needless to say, Daphne was keen on showing her affection while the sorrowful Wulf
was still getting accustomed to house Kracht's new realities.

Of all those gathered, he was the only one not aware of Konrad's demonic nature.
And when the truth was slammed into his face, he almost collapsed. However, with
Wolfgang to suppress him, and his daughter already within Konrad's grasp, there
was nothing to fear.

"Now that we've settled this let's move on to house Henlein. Father-in-law's sudden
return is bound to raise questions within the church. Especially since he was being
monitored by one of their assassins.

Therefore, they will put his every move under close observation. It's no longer viable
for him to handle house Henlein. Instead, I will have some of my new connections
within the church take care of this from the shadows.

As for you, father-in-law, your task, for now, is to lay low, and wait for the wind to
pass. When the church lowers its awareness, you will begin preparations to open a
black market to deal in forbidden goods."

There were many cultivation resources within the empire. From forbidden pills to
forbidden cultivation methods. Most came from the Barbarian Continent and were
banned purely due to their origin. Others indeed possessed terrifying effects and if
not kept in check, could bring disasters.

After looting the inquisition's vault, Konrad had obtained many goods among which
a substantial amount of forbidden materials were present. With even the recipes in
hands, setting up shop wouldn't be difficult. The problem was evading law
enforcement.

After all, there was already an established black market within the city with deep
connections to the authorities. Should they show up as competition, they would
surely receive a lot of trouble.

But that was something to deal with at a later date. The most pressing matter was to
make sure Konrad could return to the imperial palace's inner court while not leaving
any loose end on the outside.

And currently, there were many. According to Holger, the emperor's marriage decree
was coming soon. Moreover, the crown prince was planning to have Konrad
assassinated in three days.

Another issue was that he couldn't just vanish. The name "Anselm Kracht" had
received too much limelight for him to disappear out of the blue. His disappearance
would raise too many questions and prompt an investigation on house Kracht.

They could do without that.

"Father-in-law, what are the rules on widowhood within the empire?"

Though perplexed by the question, Wolfgang still answered.

"Well, regardless of gender. Widows are not allowed to remarry before a mourning
period of three years has passed."
"Three years mourning period, huh?"

A mischievous smile appeared on Konrad's lips as he did a quick calculation.

"What are you thinking about?"

Iliana asked, knowing that such a smile meant he was up to no good and would make
someone suffer.

"I was just wondering if you were willing to become my wife and widow."

Those words threw all the gathered individuals into confusion. Iliana was, of course,
the most perplexed.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I received news that the crown prince will have me murdered in three days to
prevent a potential marriage between us. So, let's beat him to it. Let's get married in
two days."

"And on that day, we shall make sure Anselm Kracht dies under the blows of the
crown prince's assassins."
More experienced in court intrigues, Wolfgang was the first to realize Konrad's ploy.

"This is undoubtedly an efficient way to shift the wind and get rid of the emperor's
pressure. But I have two concerns.

If we cannot show ironclad proof that the crown prince is behind the assassinations,
this will at best delay the inevitable.

Unless of course, you're confident in subjugating the empire in this three-year

timeframe?"

Wolfgang showed valid concern. After all, as the heir to the throne, the crown
prince's status was below one and above the rest. Attempting to frame him without
ironclad evidence was a pipedream.

"Indeed. Although at first, we might manage to get all the fingers aimed at him,
without ironclad evidence. Three years is more than enough for the imperial family
to suppress all rumors. Even if we can get testimonies from the assassins, the court
will overrule it as someone attempting to smear the crown prince's reputation."

Seeing that Konrad's thoughts were the same as his, Wolfgang moved on to his
following point.

"My second concern, and probably the most pressing issue, while the plan sounds
good, how do we implement it? Let's not even discuss how we will have you
murdered under the gaze of innumerable experts with the -crown prince's
assassins.- How exactly do we fake your death?

Such an event is bound to alarm the nobility and trigger a profound investigation. At
the very least, the dead body will be examined to determine the cause of death. How
do you plan to pass that hurdle?"

Faking Konrad's murder and pushing the blame on the crown prince was indeed
easier said than done. Resources weren't the only problem.

But unlike Wolfgang who showed no optimism, Konrad appeared rather relaxed.

"For your second concern, I not only have the perfect assassins in mind, but I also
have a flawless way to die. You just need to cooperate with me. We will later take
care of the details.

As for your first concern, yes, I have absolute confidence that it won't take three
years for this country to belong to me."

The six surrounding Konrad were dumbfounded. To so boldly claim that the
hundred-thousand years old von Jurgen dynasty would be toppled in less than three
years, across the entire Holy Continent, perhaps only Konrad could make such a
declaration.

Wulf, in particular, was both disapproving and terrified. Disapproving because he felt
Konrad's youth filled him with conceit, and he still lacked a genuine understanding
of the imperial family's might.

Terrified because their talk had already stepped into the realm of rebellion! How
many noble families were exterminated for less? But when he recalled Konrad's
demonic nature, he realized they were already too far gone. This boat they'd settled
on would either lead them to unparalleled glory or eternal damnation.

A deep sigh escaped his lips as he weighed his house's future.

"Please excuse me."

Afterward, Wulf took his leave.

"Your younger brother's nerves aren't solid enough."

"On the contrary, it's yours that are way too big."

Wolfgang replied to Konrad's assessment of Wulf. Although he didn't have as many

misgivings as his younger brother, clearly, he understood his distress. If because of a
moment of selfishness, they led their house into destruction, how would they face
their ancestors?
However, Wolfgang didn't care. For the sake of his daughter, there was nothing he
wasn't willing to do.

Konrad counted on that.

"I plan to submit the real Anselm Kracht to a Master-Servant contract and have him
substitute himself to me when we step into the bridal chamber. Then, a group of
assassins of house Slesinger led by a paragon spirit of house von Jurgen will break in
and tear him to shreds."

Konrad explained in a mental message. Causing Wolfgang's eyes to widen in

disbelief. The girls who heard nothing but saw his sudden change of expression
understood they were being kept out of the main plan.

"Isn't this too evil?"

Anselm Kracht may not be one of Wolfgang's close relatives, but he was after all a
Kracht youth. Moreover, he was a lonely orphan who focused solely on cultivation.
They'd already mistreated him enough. He didn't deserve being turned into a
scapegoat.

"Those who enter a Master-Servant contract with me belong to me in life and death.

When Anselm dies, his soul will return to me, and as long as we have an available
body, we can help him resurrect on the spot. I plan to capture the paragon spirit
assassin, and have Anselm take over his body."

Those under Master-Servant contracts were barred from the normal reincarnation
cycle. Usually, unless they were particularly outstanding, demons didn't bother
bringing their servants back to life. They would rather just absorb and refine their
souls, forever erasing them from the world. However, since the boy could be put to
use, Konrad didn't mind sparing him.

Wolfgang struggled for a bit, but after consideration, Iliana's future still trumped any
morality within his heart. With a sigh, he agreed.

"That being the case, why do you want to keep this hidden from them?"

By the "them," Wolfgang, of course, referred to the ladies by Konrad's side.

"I don't think I need to remind you of your daughter's temperament. I think we best
keep her out of the evil scheming."

Coarsely said, Iliana was still too good. She would never agree to the sacrifice of the
real Anselm to ensure the success of their scheme. If they involved her in the
planning, she would spend three-quarters of the time trying to dissuade them.

Therefore, Konrad would rather have her face the accomplished deed and coax her
into forgetting about it.

As far as he was concerned, no means were evil enough to make sure no one could
touch his women.

"Very well, what do you need me for?"

"Help me do the convincing. I will take care of the rest."

The mental exchange ended. With a nod, Wolfgang was about to take his leave when
Konrad's voice echoed.

"Father-in-law, wait. I have gifts for you."

This time, not one person didn't feel like the sun wasn't rising west. In particular,
Wolfgang and Zamira who among those gathered knew Konrad best, couldn't believe
his words.

"Why are you all looking at me like this? As a son-in-law, it is natural for me to show
some filial piety, isn't it?"

Konrad replied to the five pairs of eyes staring at him.

"Anyone can say that and be taken seriously. You are the only exception. Sorry, but no
one here is stupid enough to fall for such a blatant lie. Tell me, what is your ploy?
Poisoned food, exploding treasures? How do you plan to make my dad's life
miserable?"

Konrad had never felt so wronged in his life. Why was it that when he tried to
swindle, no one could resist him, but when he was being kind and honest, all raised
arms against him?
The sorrows of being a gentleman!

Wolfgang had taken seven steps away from him, keeping a safe distance to avoid
anything he might throw at his face.

Konrad sighed, and with a wave of his hand, a medium sized box appeared before
Wolfgang.

"Open them."

Konrad ordered, and though full of apprehension, Wolfgang couldn't disobey.

He opened the box on the ground, releasing its content for all to see. Dazzling light
spread from within, illuminating the room. And upon seeing what the box contained,
the Semi-Saint Wolfgang included, all were terrified.

"T… three… three hundred holy crystals. Three… Sublimation Pills… merciful lord…
this…”

Holy crystals were both invaluable currency and cultivation resources controlled by
Saints. For a Semi-Saint to have access to them, he would at least need to belong to a
Saint's house. As for Sublimation Pills, they were Semi-Saints' most cherished
resources, and drastically lowered the time required for breakthroughs.

It was rumored that with enough talent, two-thousand holy crystal and twenty-five
Sublimation Pills were enough to go from the first step Semi-Holy Rank to the Rising
Saint Rank!

With the resources at his feet, Wolfgang had full confidence that by the time he
finished refining those holy crystals and pills, his cultivation would increase by three
steps, reaching the sixth step Semi-Holy Knight Rank.

How could he not feel ecstatic?

"Hahahaha! Good son-in-law. Father-in-law always knew that only a man with your
generous heart and impeccable bearing was fit for Iliana! Truly, Father-in-law wasn't
wrong about you! Don't worry, father-in-law will organize the most lavish wedding
for you!"

Wolfgang snatched the box, wrapping it around his chest and protecting it like a bird
would its little ones.

His eyes seemed to take anyone around him as the enemy, as potential vultures
about to seize his treasures. Thus, without further ado, he bolted out of the room and
locked himself in his cultivation abode.

For some reason, Iliana felt like a girl being sold to a brothel by her father for a few
pieces of silver.
With Wolfgang gone, Konrad was now alone and surrounded by four beauties whose
thoughts drifted to the same direction: his rod.

Pleasure aside, it was necessary for him to dual cultivate with them and devise ways
to promote their cultivation at the fastest pace possible. With seven Semi-Saints
waiting for him in his spatial pouch's mansion, his needs for spiritual energy had
drastically reduced.

Moreover, the Arch Rank was the last cultivation rank in which accumulating
spiritual energy tremendously mattered. Starting with the Transcendent Rank, it was
all about the nature and number of meridians the cultivator could unlock. For that
reason, there were many individuals with initially shocking cultivation speed who
upon reaching the Transcendent Rank saw their progress dwindle until they became
ordinary and lost themselves within the sea of talents.

Although Konrad didn't fear such a fate, the same couldn't be said for all his ladies.
With his new exp gains, he would need to browse the system and find the best
physiques for them, improve their bloodlines and cultivation methods while also
setting aside cultivation resources for their use. A quick calculation showed that
given them all the same treatment was at best, a fantasy.

Another more pressing issue was…

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Iliana questioned upon seeing the odd gaze Konrad cast on her.

"No reason…”

Although thanks to Wolfgang's "cooperation" Konrad managed to make Iliana accept

the contract's situation, he was now facing another dilemma.

How would he make her accept Zamira as one of his harem members? The Daphne
case had been trying enough and even required some incubus manipulations.
However, Konrad clearly understood that even if he could make her accept Zamira
through an overbearing stance, having to share her man with her mother would
inevitably create a knot within Iliana's heart.

"Unless she proposes it herself, or I rewire her, this can never work out. I will, of
course, not rewire one of my most cherished ladies. What to do…

If she proposes it herself…”

Konrad's eyes shifted toward Zamira, who stood by Freya's side with a distant look.

"I know!"

"I need you to act a little play for me."

He told Zamira in a mental message. Though perplexed, she knew that the mental
message indicated a need for secrecy, so she didn't let her face show her surprise.

"What can I do for you, master?"

"While I "reward" Freya, I want you to feign dejection and lead Iliana into a girls talk.
When she asks you what's wrong, tell her that…”

Konrad imparted his new Machiavellian plan onto Zamira, who struggled to not
show her bewilderment.

"It really seems to be the only way to make her welcome the new situation. Worry
not, I will properly handle this."

With his evil ploy set into motion, Konrad returned his attention onto Freya.

"You've done well. Not only did you substantially increase our resources, but thanks
to you, father-in-law was able to take down house Schoner in record's time. You
deserve ample rewards."

The word "reward" rang the same in every single one of the ladies' ears. Clearly,
Freya was about to get the spear.

"It's not fair! What about me?"

Daphne pouted while rubbing her head against Konrad's left shoulder.

"I, of course, haven't forgotten about you. However, I need to help Freya get back to
her previous cultivation level as soon as possible. This will take some… personal
guidance. Don't worry, we will have a big celebration tonight."

Quick-witted, Daphne understood "celebration" in Konrad's licentious vocabulary

meant "orgy." Therefore, she no longer pressed him. As for Iliana, she, of course, had
no interest in staying to watch the show. She'd not reached that level of moral
degradation yet!

"Humph! Mom, let's leave this debauched bastard to his "rewarding" and discuss the
recent events."

She snorted, stood up, and left with great strides, bringing Zamira alongside her.
Believing Daphne could also help in the convincing ploy, Konrad brought her into the
plan.

"Do a good job, and I will also give you plentiful rewards."

Daphne's eyes lit up with mischief. She leaped onto her feet and ran after the
mother-daughter pair.

"Hey, wait for me!"

In the bedroom, only Konrad and Freya remained. The sight of that ravishing pair of
golden eyes devouring him with hunger and lust, caused Konrad's lips to curl into a
devilish smile.

"Come here."

He beckoned with his right index, causing a surge of telekinetic power to wrap Freya,
lift her from the ground, and carry her into his arms in the blink of an eyelid.

Not startled, she wrapped her arms around his neck and sat on his lap with her
bubble butt comforting his thighs, and her cushy chest pressing his. Konrad dispelled
the Anselm disguise, reassuming his true form. The return of his matchlessly
handsome face set Freya ablaze.

Her heart wildly beat within her chest, making her gasp for breath as she took in his
spectacular sight. At the same time, she remarked striking changes that only
enhanced Konrad's appearance.

In his human form, Konrad initially possessed a pair of pitch-black eyes, but now,
although the left was still black, the right one had permanently turned purple. He no
longer needed to use his demonic powers to cause the change. As for his body, it was
even taller. If before he stood at around 1.85 meters, now he easily approached the
1.9.

His already well-defined muscles now rippled with supernatural power and
mesmerizing charm, his face had transcended the limits of human beauty, becoming
an artwork surpassing any Greek God fantasy.

In short, his entire body was a marvel, and the orchid scent overflowing from it only
heightened his overwhelming presence. In his current form, he didn't even need to
use his powers to make the average woman lose her mind in craving for him, and
swoon within his arms.

The transformation was astonishing.

"Like what you see?"

Just by sitting there and breathing in his scent, Freya could feel her mind
surrendering to desire.

"I don't like, I love. I feel like a god is about to fuck me silly."

She replied without a hint of bashfulness while bringing her face closer to Konrad's
and brushing his nose with hers while debating if she should just devour his lips or
wait for his next move.

Konrad chuckled, brushed aside strands of red hairs falling over her left eye, and
pulled her lips onto his for a passionate kiss.

His tongue was like a furnace swallowing Freya's spirit for a rebirth in an
incandescent world of lust and debauchery.

Her heart rate had already reached a life-threatening level on mortal standards. And
though it seemed like it could explode at any time, Freya didn't care. Passion
overwhelmed reason, as she abandoned herself to Konrad's touch.
As he trailed his tongue down her neck and teased her sensitive nipples through the
fabric, her moistened snatch soaked his clothes, announcing her body's eagerness to
take him whole.

Konrad lowered the straps, causing Freya's dress to fall below her chest, all the way
down to her waist. Her bare breasts sprang free, and as she gasped due to Konrad's
tongue, and rubbed herself on his thighs, they bounced against his chest.

"No, undergarments?"

Konrad remarked, seeing that below her dress, Freya wore no underwear.

"I want to be ready to take you at all times, so I don't wear any…”

An excellent reply.
"Good girl."

Konrad used the system to upgrade his Hundred Flowers Scripture to the
Transcendent level. At this stage, even if they possessed no foundation in one, his
partners would see their cultivation increase in both the martial and spiritual path.

He then activated his Hundred Flowers Scripture and established a spiritual

connection with Freya for a perfect dual cultivation session.

Their minds intertwined, and her fresh passion spread within Konrad, electrifying
him as her body succumbed to her aching need for him.

Freya rubbed herself harder on Konrad's lap, causing his shaft to harden beneath his
clothes, and poke her entrance from below.

"Aahh…”

She moaned while still breathing in his scent. Konrad pressed her breasts against
one another, and took her two nipples into his mouth, tugging on them as he stood
up, and causing new moans to escape Freya's lips. Her slender legs enlaced his waist
while his arms held hers, making her appear like a butterfly folding its wings around
sweet nectar.

Keeping her in balance, Konrad brought her against the adjacent wall and dropped
onto his knees. Lifting the bottom of her dress, he rubbed two fingers against her
flower entrance, using her own love juice to lubricate them, before pulling them
away and kissing her lower lips.

While flicking his tongue on Freya's clit and swallowing her juice, Konrad poked her
butthole with his moistened index, testing the territory before slowly inserting it
inside.

"Ooooh!"
The unexpected intrusion brought a groan from Freya's moaning mouth. She
straddled Konrad's neck, making him shoulder her body weight with it alone, while
he attacked her on two fronts and brought waves upon waves of orgasms out of her.

After his index explored the many corners of the new territory, Konrad pulled it out,
replacing it with his middle finger, while his tongue dived deeper into Freya's snatch
and brought more blissful moans from her honest lips.

Soon, his face and neck soaked in her juice. If the abundant wetness wasn't enough
signal, Freya's voice made her needs clear.

"Enough… I… I… want to feel your cock inside… please, fuck me!"

She begged, and faced with such a straightforward partner, Konrad could only oblige.

Holding Freya's waist with one hand, he stood up, keeping her lifted in the air while
he unbuckled his belt and caused his pants to drop onto the ground. His golden rod
had already risen to attention. However, an unexpected event occurred.

Right beneath Konrad's rod, another one was rising, this one possessed no golden
light, but was instead surrounded by a violet mist and rippled with demonic energy.

Seeing the second dick appearing with no warning, Freya knew this day was bound
to turn into one of the most memorable events of her life. As Konrad aligned his rods
with her two holes, her eyes glazed with lust.

"Ready?"

"Always…”

Konrad pressed Freya's back against the wall and drove his rods into her prepared
tunnels.

"Oooh… yess… aahhh!"

Her tight pussy, and tighter butt clenched hard on his spears, adjusting to their
lengths as their supernatural powers spread within her.

Once he felt her ready, Konrad dragged his rods all the ways down to the entrances,
then pushed back to the hilt, settling into a rhythm, and thrusting into her hard, fast,
and to both their hearts' content.

The Kracht walls had little barriers. Freya's pleasure cries spread throughout the
mansion. Alarming all its denizens and causing many blushing cheeks.

Meanwhile, Zamira, Daphne and Iliana were sitting within the latter's room, failing to
engage in productive talks.

Initially, Iliana merely wanted an opportunity to chitchat with her mother and
discuss her father's contract with Konrad. However, it soon became evident that
Zamira had no interest in doing so, and once Freya's cries reached her, she also lost
the desire to do so.

A faint wave of jealousy undulated within her chest.

Zamira waved her hand, using her spiritual energy to isolate the walls and prevent
the noise from reaching them.

Iliana was about to give her thanks when she saw the gloomy look within her
mother's eyes.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

A long sigh escaped Zamira's lips as she lowered her head.

"This is… no never mind."

The apparent reluctance within Zamira's tone only aroused Iliana's interest and
suspicion.

"Aunt, there are only us girls here. You don't need to hide anything."

"Right mom, if there's something wrong, you can just freely speak. I'm here for you."

Iliana reassured while holding her mother's slumped shoulders.

Another deep sigh escaped Zamira's lips.

"It's your dad. It seems he no longer has the same regard for me…”

She spoke slowly, putting a strong emphasis on her words.

Iliana was startled, it was well-known that Wolfgang only had eyes for Zamira. How
was it possible for him to no longer desire her?

"How can this be?"

Facing her consternation, Zamira shook her head from left to right.

"It's my fault. Recently, I've not been feeling the same in bed, maybe the many
decades spent together have finally dulled our lives, but the pleasure waned. Your
dad sought help from Konrad, and received it through a demonic contract."

Having heard something similar from the exchange between Konrad and her father,
Iliana wasn't surprised.

"I know."

She nodded to show her understanding of the situation.

"However, it seems that after he got Konrad's boon, your father's sexual appetite
vastly increased. In the three days he spent dealing with them, he seduced and took
Wilhelm Schoner's wife and many other beauties of house Schoner as his
concubines, lying with them days and nights.

With all this fresh passion, and his new ability to tame women through his rod, he no
longer has eyes for me…”

That wasn't a total lie. Wolfgang had indeed taken many of house Schoner's women
into a small harem of his own. But what Zamira forgot to mention was that he did so
on Konrad's orders, and while he certainly took great pleasure in the task, that didn't
mean he no longer had eyes for Zamira.

However, since she was now part of Konrad's harem, he could only let go.

"Men are really all the same! Relishing in the new and forgetting the old, how
typical!"
Iliana burst in rage.

"Now… I don't know what to do. I'm losing confidence. Perhaps I should just accept
that I can no longer attract him."

Seeing her mother's distress, Iliana's heart soured. It was imperative for her to find a
way to soothe her anguish, but how?

"Humph, uncle is really excessive! Aunt, any man, would feel delighted having a
ravishing beauty such as you by his side. If he can no longer appreciate you, many
others will!"

Daphne proclaimed. But while Iliana inwardly agreed, the thought of a new man
stepping into her household's affairs didn't sit well with her. Moreover, most men
couldn't enter her mother's eyes.

At that time, Zamira purposely dispelled the sound barrier, causing Freya's pleasure
cries to once again reach them.

"Sorry, I was distracted."

She apologized, but now, the sound of Freya's bliss brought a new thought within her
mind.

"Why do we need others? Isn't Konrad here? Let him take care of you, when dad's
head wears a green and glossy hat, I want to see how exactly he can disregard you!"

There was also a bit of selfishness within Iliana's motives. As Konrad's harem
multiplied, keeping those women in check would get increasingly difficult. However,
with her mother by her side, the situation would get easier to manage.

"ACHOO!"

Wolfgang sneezed within his cultivation abode.

"Strange… I have not sneezed in decades. Is someone talking about me?"

He wondered, but quickly dismissed the thought and focused himself back on
cultivation.
Pah Pah Pah

Within the master bedroom, Freya's reward carried on. She laid with her back on the
bed, her legs spread wide and her fingers clawing at Konrad's back. As he hammered
his hips faster, pounding demonic orgasms into her, his balls rhythmically kissed her
ass cheeks, while her clenching holes drained him of all the juice he had to offer
them.

Freya's snatch and ass were already filled to the brim with white-purple semen.
However, driven by insatiable lust, she refused to let go, allowing Konrad to pound
her without restraint.

"Master! MASTER! MAAASTER!"

What remained of their clothes had long since been shredded onto the ground, and
as their warm entangling body met in passionate squeals and groans, Freya fell to
the umpteenth orgasm. Her body went limp, and her tongue lolled out. Feeling her
complete defeat, Konrad sheathed himself to the hilt of her holes and blasted his two
loads deep inside with a thunderous roar.

The dual cultivation session ended, Konrad pulled two his rods free of Freya's cum
drooling holes, and the second one vanished in purple mist.

With his cultivation being much higher, Konrad didn't get many benefits from this.
However, for Freya, it was another story. In those four hours of dual cultivation,
Freya's martial cultivation shot up. Going from the first step True Knight Rank to the
third step Grand Knight in one go. One step above her previous cultivation level.

Previously she didn't possess any spiritual cultivation. But now, her magical power
flowed within her body, and from zero, she directed reached the fourth step True
Priest Rank.

"Thank you… master… for your reward…”

Satisfied, Konrad stood up, got dressed in a simple full-length blue robe, and sat
cross-legged on the bed.

"It's time to make the inventory. System, show me my current stats."

"At once."

Konrad stepped into the system, and his stat sheet appeared within.

"Name: Konrad

Rank: Harem Master

Cultivation level: Sixth Step Arch Priest<>Sixth Step Arch Knight

Race: Incubus Dream-Weaver

Physique: Arch Primal Physique<>Transcendent Anzu Beast

Physique<>Transcendent Stolas Beast Physique

Attributes: Light<>Fire<>Water<>Storm<>Poison<>Lightning

Acquired Abilities: Body Regeneration<>Ecstasy Fingers<>Ecstasy Clouds<>Origin

Sight<>Flesh Healing Kiss<>Invisibility<>Heart Mending Kiss<>Totem Manifestation

Bloodline Abilities: Female Dream Theft<>Transformation Skill<>Arousal

Aura<>Desire Flames<>Bewitching Fog<>Telekinesis

Exp: 30,555,225"

Improving the Hundred Flowers scripture to the Transcendent level cost 4,500,000
exp while Hel brought 25,000,000, Freya 2000, and Iliana's recent session 600,000.
Therefore, Konrad wasn't surprised by the count.

Even with the discount, his next bloodline upgrade cost 600,000,000 exp. Therefore,
he didn't even spare it a glance. He would need a two days orgy with all his Semi-
Saint women, both those in his space mansion and those still inside the church to
afford the cost.

Currently, that wasn't viable.

"Improve my Arch Primal Physique to the Transcendent Primal Physique."

As a top-notch physique, even with a 50% discount, the upgrade still cost 4,500,000
exp. Konrad's exp count shrunk to 26,055,225.

"And this is only for Transcendent Rank upgrades. When I do Semi-Holy, and Holy
Rank upgrades en masse, how much am I going to need? Must I first screw all the
female cultivators of this country?

Truly, the life of a philanderer is not easy."

Konrad exhaled a frustration-filled sigh, before regaining his composure.

"I'm more curious about how you plan to split your resources. Will you strive for
equality, or will you show clear favoritism?"

The system's voice echoed within Konrad's mind.

"Obviously, equality is impossible. In fact, your word choice is incorrect. It is either

favoritism or fairness.

If I want to be fair, I should reserve the top resources for those with higher
cultivation and/or talent."

"However, you won't do that, am I right?"

The system asked in an amused tone.

"Of course not. I'm a by nature biased. In a world where even talent is subject to
change. Why should I care about fairness? The more I care for someone, the more
resources I will put at their disposal. The less I care, the less I will give. It's that
simple."

"Great men were never known for nepotism."

To the system's remark, Konrad burst into laughter.

"I don't want to be great. I want to be supreme!"

For an instant, the system turned silent. If it had thoughts, Konrad could make
nothing of them. At times, it felt more like an observer than a robotic aide. Perhaps
the Happiness God was watching his every step through the system? Or perhaps he
was overly concerned.

"If you want, I can help you organize the repartition."

The system offered, following the moment of silence.

"How so?"

"I can draft a chart separating your ladies in various categories depending on how
much affection you have for them. You are free to choose the categories' names."

"Oh? Very well, let's do it."

A new blank screen appeared before Konrad.

"From lowest to highest, what are the categories you want, and who do you want to
put inside?"

"Mhm…

Maids: Most of my brainwashed harem members will fall here, and might rise to new
ranks with time.

Loyal Lovers: Harem members who proved their loyalty and worth through deeds.

Trusted Lovers: Those I can entrust with great tasks, and who would not abjure me
because of my demonic nature.

Treasured Lovers: Those few, I will eventually make my official consorts. Women I
genuinely care for and treat as my equals.

That should be enough."

The system immediately filled the screen with different categories.

"It's not bad, but I feel like you should add one."

"Oh? And what would that be?"

"True Love: The one who owns your heart."

Konrad blankly stared for a few seconds before stifling a laugh.

"It seems you have not been following me well. The cardinal sin of any philanderer is
falling in love. I do not fall in love."

"I never did, and I never will. Don't mistake my shows of affection for a loss of my
self. Those who fall in love surrender themselves to the whims of another. How could
I let such a thing happen to me? It can only work the other way around. In any case,
my heart is too broad to belong only to one person."

Konrad stated, causing the system to let out a mild chuckle.

"I am not saying it needs to be filled. Why not keep it as a blank category, and as a
reminder of your own words?"

"Have it your way."

The system then filled the various categories with the corresponding names, leaving
the "True Love" case blank.

Jasmine and Iliana fell into the "Treasured Lovers" category, Zamira and Daphne in
the "Trusted Lovers" category, Faidra, Aliki, and Freya in the "Loyal Lovers" group.

The rest belonged to the "Maids" group.

Meanwhile, within the holy consort's palace, a riveting young woman that outwardly
seemed to belong to the human race, but whose eyes concealed a mesmerizing,
demonic charm, played the lyre for Else.

That woman was Jasmine.

Else was lying on her side within a large, blue velvet sofa and silently enjoying the
tune.

As it ended, Jasmine set the lyre aside and gave Else a polite bow.
"Good, you've improved."

What Konrad didn't know was that from the moment he left the palace, Else took
Jasmine in as her new personal attendant, and had been training her in various arts.

As for the purpose, only she knew.

"It's all thanks to your grace's guidance."

Jasmine politely replied. Not only was Else giving her a top-notch education in
various arts, but she was also guiding her cultivation. In less than two weeks,
Jasmine's cultivation had reached the third step True Knight and the first step True
Priest Ranks. Although in front of the likes of Else such cultivation was not worth
mentioning, her progression speed remained outstanding.

However, there was no free meal in this world. The more Else gave, the more uneasy
Jasmine felt. Still, considering the fact that both Konrad and she owed Else their lives,
and her paramount status within the inner court, she could only obey.

"Come here."

Else beckoned, motioning for Jasmine to step closer toward her. Without delay, she
stepped forward, stopping by Else's side.

"Are you wondering why I've been grooming you?"

That was indeed Jasmine's primary concern. She'd heard too many stories of young
women being trained by various factions to obtain the emperor's favor to not dread
Else's purpose.

As there was no point concealing her thoughts, she nodded.

"First, I want to ask you. Can a person have two masters?"

"No, they cannot."

"Good. Since a person cannot have two masters, between Konrad and me, who would
you choose?"

The question came out of nowhere and took Jasmine by surprise. However, there was
no hesitation within her mind as she replied:

"Konrad."

The direct rejection didn't seem to bother Else whose slit sapphire eyes peered into
Jasmine's.

"Why is that? With the resources and guidance I can provide you with, your
cultivation is bound to skyrocket. Under me, the sky is your limit. Are you really
willing to give up such an opportunity for one philanderer?"

Else's words weren't without merit. As a Saint and the daughter of a mighty
sovereign prince, the Celestial Church excluded, her strength, background, and
resources were all at the summit of the Holy Continent.

To obtain such a backer was undoubtedly the dream of billions.

"Even if he's a philanderer, he's my philanderer. Glory, splendor, wealth, and rank do
not interest me. As long as I can own his heart, I own the world."

Beneath her mask, Else's lips curled into a smile.

"Even if I know the true nature of your bloodline?"

Jasmine remained unfazed. Although the knowledge of her new demonic blood could
bring unimaginable harm, she was confident the revelation would never come from
Else.

"Since you are aware of it, you also know where it came from. That being the case, I
believe worries are unnecessary."

"Good, you are quick-witted, not easily swayed, and determined. Moreover, you strike
me as the type to always repay a debt. It's because of those qualities that I decided to
train you. There are many talents within this world, but those with a sharp mind,
iron will, and honorable heart are few and far between.

I believe that when I make my bid for the world, you will not stay idle. That is the
first reason why I'm spending time training you.

The second reason is for your own sake. When Konrad returns, and he will soon do
so, I want you to take all you've learned to dazzle him, if before he liked you, now he
must adore you. Stand out in his eyes and do the three of us a great favor."

Jasmine's face contorted into a frown. The holy consort's startling ambition wasn't
what annoyed her. Instead, it was her evident desire to use her to influence Konrad
that caused her displeasure.

"Don't look at me like that. Like I said, it's not just for you or me. Most importantly,
it's for him. From what I understand of him, when he returns, he will certainly
attempt to conquer a new woman that can help him cement his foothold within the
inner court.

It's very likely that woman will be Yvonne Voight. You absolutely cannot allow him to
do so. Anyone is fine. He can even go for the empress if he feels himself capable
enough.

Anyone except Yvonne."

Puzzled, Jasmine stared into Else's eyes, looking for answers. At the moment, one of
the hot topics within the inner court was how much closer the holy consort had
gotten to the noble imperial consort, Yvonne Voight due to the sixth prince's
"accident."

How the matter spread within the court, no one knew. However, it was clear they
now formed one camp. Why then was Else so wary of her?

"Why? Although her grace, Yvonne Voight is the daughter of Sovereign Prince Hubert
Voight, and herself a Quasi-Saint, she cannot compare to the empress. Why can you
tolerate the empress, but not her?"

Else's next words caused Jasmine to reevaluate the gravity of the situation.

"It's not about strength or background, it's about implications. With Yvonne, even if
Konrad wins, he will lose, and he cannot win.

Meanwhile, within house Kracht, Konrad set his plans into motion.

"Holger, who's your most trusted subordinate?"

"The captain of my personal guards. He's been by my side since I was a child, and
across all those decades showed me absolute loyalty."

As an imperial prince, a pureblooded paragon spirit, and the only full brother of the
crown prince, Holger didn't lack able subordinates. More importantly, he possessed
his own guard, personally selected by the emperor, and sworn to protect him.

The captain of his guard especially was a seventh step Transcendent Knight and a
paragon spirit, albeit of impure blood.

"Very well, he will be your assassin."

“…understood."

Although Holger understood that since Konrad was using him to frame his elder
brother, that loyal guard was bound to lose his life, he couldn't resist the orders.

"Koloman, are your assassins ready?"

"My mother's hatred for the crown prince is as deep as the sea. If an opportunity to
frame him appears, she'll never hesitate. Master doesn't have to worry."

"Good. When the time is right, Holger's team and yours will conduct a joint attack
and murder me within the bridal chambers. Wolfgang will then eliminate the
assassins and use Holger's servant as evidence of the crown prince's involvement."

In the Holy Flame Empire, who didn't know that Holger was the crown prince's most
loyal subordinate and only acted on his orders? Once his guard's captain was
discovered among the assassins, Elmar couldn't escape the blame.

Now came the most crucial part: Convincing Anselm Kracht.

Konrad sent Wolfgang a mental message, stepped into his space mansion, and
directly headed into the underground's jail cells where the real Anselm had been
trapped.

He found him sitting cross-legged within the cell, in meditation.

Though diligent in his cultivation, Anselm had always been proud, cold, and
detached. Naturally, he had no friends. And without his parents to watch over him, he
basically didn't have anyone to rely on.

As a Kracht noble, he received a monthly stipend from the house and didn't have to
worry about living expenses. However, his cultivation resources were meager. House
Kracht had too many mouths to feed. Without at least an Arch-Knight elder to vie for
resources, finding one's foothold was a daunting task.

Moreover, Anselm's talent was average. In his lifetime, reaching the Grand Knight
Rank was the limit.

"Anselm, long time no see."

"For you it's milord."

Anselm replied while keeping his eyes shut close.

"Oh?"

Commoners and slaves were indeed obliged to address noblemen as "milord."

Therefore, as a "human" and de facto slave, by law, Konrad should have referred to
Anselm as "milord."

"You've already fallen to this state, and instead of begging for mercy and release, you
want me to call you… milord? I don't know if I should feel impressed or amused."

"Did I say something wrong? Even in evil, you should not lose decorum. Since I am a
lord and you a slave, it is right and proper for you to refer to me as such."

Anselm replied while still not sparing Konrad a glance.

"Wrong, very wrong. First, you are not a lord. You would need to at least be at the
Grand Knight or Priest Ranks for that.

Second, what makes you think I'm not a demon lord in disguise."

"Humph!"

Anselm scoffed at Konrad's words. But at that time, a vast surge of demonic energies
erupted from Konrad's body and barreled into the sitting Anselm. Feeling the
infernal force, his eyes sprang open and alarmed, he stood up.

"You are… a demon?"

"Duh."

The realization that he was dealing with more than the typical kidnapper suddenly
hit Anselm. At first, when he was knocked out and captured by an unknown
assailant, he'd believed himself in the hands of a blackmailer of sorts or some enemy
of house Kracht. The days spent alone within his cell made him lean on the former.
However, it seemed he'd underestimated the gravity of the situation.

"What do you want from me?"

"How about, a contract of eternal servitude?"

"What?"

Anselm's eyes widened for an instant, but soon afterward, he glowered at Konrad.

"I'd rather die."

"Dying is simple. It is living that is difficult. There is no glory in freely being able to
say -I'd rather die.- Especially when we consider that you don't have much to live for.

Average talent. No elders to watch over you. No background, title, or responsibilities.

You don't have friends, significant others, anyone who would mourn your loss. So
why would you not rather die?"

"You!"

It seemed Konrad had struck a nerve. Veins beat on Anselm's temple as he grabbed
the bar and yelled at him.

If his eyes could Kill, Konrad would have died a thousand times.

"Me what? Sit."

Telekinetic power surged from Konrad's form and pressed Anselm onto the ground.

"Is the truth not pleasant to hear? If it was, why would people lie? Instead of boiling
with pointless rage and putting up a front of false bravado, why don't you listen to
my offer?"

"In exchange for your services, I will increase your cultivation talent tenfold and
guarantee you a bright future under me. What do you say?"

Anselm couldn't understand why an unremarkable youth such as himself could

obtain the attention of a demon.
Clearly, there must be something only he could accomplish. Something related to
house Kracht in one way or another.

"If you think you can use me to harm my house, think again. If my hard work isn't
enough to amount to anything, then I can only blame myself for being useless. I will
certainly not surrender my soul to demonkind and endanger my house for the sake
of personal growth!"

Anselm proclaimed in righteous indignation.

"Huh."

Konrad didn't need more to understand that this Kracht youth was an honorable
blockhead. Regardless of what he said, he couldn't bring him around. Fortunately, he
was only the appetizer.

"Well, if you won't listen to me, perhaps you will listen to him."

Konrad clapped, and Wolfgang appeared by his side in a purple haze. Seeing his
house head appear out of nowhere, Anselm stared slack-jawed.

"House head? How can this be? Have you also fallen to this demon spawn?"

To the Kracht youths, Wolfgang was a legendary existence, the mightiest of all Uradel
counts, and a celebrated war veteran. Anselm couldn't believe that even he had fallen
to the demon's evil clutches. However, if he didn't, how could Konrad make him
appear with a few claps?

Sigh

Wolfgang released a deep sigh and stepped closer toward the bars behind which
Anselm floundered.

"Anselm, house Kracht is in dire straits. The imperial family is overbearing and is
attempting to coerce us into surrendering our assets. Faced with no other choice, I
surrendered my soul to this demon to fight for our house's survival."

"How could this be?"

Although disconnected from the world, Anselm believed that if the imperial family
were making moves on the Kracht, there would definitely be rumors and gossips
here and there. How was it possible for him to not have heard anything. However,
who was Wolfgang? A man of unparalleled character, honor, and steadfastness.

Why would he deceive him?

With Wolfgang's words ringing, Anselm now firmly believed that house Kracht had
reached such an abyss that only infernal forces could save them.

"But, I am not enough. Our counterattack plan requires your cooperation. Without
you, we cannot proceed. However, the demon is unwilling to deal with someone not
bound to his will. Therefore, only if you choose to submit will our house obtain a
glimmer of hope."

Wolfgang repeated the words instructed by Konrad while using the image of Zamira
kneeling at Konrad's feet to showcase profound sorrow.

It was incomparably effective and swindled Anselm through and through!

"But I'm just a small fry. My cultivation has not even reached the True Knight Rank.
How can I be of use?"

"You only need to know that your sacrifice will allow us to deal a severe blow to
imperial prestige and thwart the imperial family's plan."

Konrad interfered.

"My… sacrifice?"

"Yes. Your sacrifice for house Kracht."

Family honor and virtue seemed to be Anselm's guiding principles. For someone like
him, sacrificing oneself for the future of the house was glory.

Therefore, Konrad didn't doubt that he would cave in. And indeed, he didn't
disappoint him.

"All I have come from house Kracht. If there is something I can do to help it pass this
hurdle, I will never hesitate.
I… agree. Henceforth, I am your servant."

Anselm surrendered with his eyes shut close.

"Then I welcome you to my household. As long as I, Konrad, breath, you shall be

immortal."

Konrad waved his hands, summoning the demonic glyphs to cement the contract.

With Anselm subdued, all was set in stones.

Alongside Wolfgang, Konrad stepped out of the space pouch. Wolfgang gathered key
servants to prepare the festivities and send the invitations. Getting married on such
short notice was bound to raise scandals.

That was precisely what they wanted. The world should think that the Kracht were
rushed into this by external forces for the next events to go smoother.

In the Holy Flame Empire, marriage was handled by the elders and sanctioned by the
court. The church took no part in it.

Before the ceremony, the future couple would sign the marriage contract, including
details of dowers and dowry and send an official copy to the department of justice. If
one party wished for a divorce, as long as the spouse consented, they only needed to
submit a joint petition to the department of justice and their marriage would be null
and void.

If one disagreed, it was a bit more complicated.

Konrad left the organization to Wolfgang and headed toward the three Kracht ladies.
With neither invitation nor warning, Konrad barged in. His sudden appearance took
the three ladies by surprise. However, upon seeing his face, their stupor vanished.

"Do you always have to do this? Can't you knock for once in your life?"

Iliana rose and yelled in outrage.

"I can't. What if you were in the process of doing something illicit? For example, what
if you were about to explore one another? I need to catch you red-handed."

"Scoundrel!"

"In any case, I'm about to become half this house's master. We might as well skip the
formalities."

Hearing the "become half this house's master" part, Iliana softened while her cheeks
turned red.

Zamira, who sat by her side, shook her head in disapproval. If she was always this
easily coaxed, wouldn't she suffer untold bullying in the future?

"Actually, I came to check on you. How are you getting accustomed to your new
physique?"

The question made Iliana regain her composure, and she returned to her seat.

"It is still in the Dormant Stage. I don't think I can awaken it before a very long time."

Regardless of ranks and nature, physiques were classified into three stages,
Dormant, Awakened and Mastered. At birth, the physique usually was in the
Dormant Stage and would awaken after a certain cultivation requirement was
fulfilled.
As for the Mastered Stage, few could reach it before their cultivation matched their
physique.

For example, Elmar possessed an Awakened Holy Physique which made it nigh
impossible for those below the Holy Rank to injure him. But before he ascended to
sainthood, he couldn't reach the Mastered Stage and make use of its full power.

Similarly, Konrad's three Transcendent Physiques were currently in the Awakened

Stage, but to reach the Mastered Stage before the Transcendent Rank was at best
challenging, and at worst impossible.

As for Iliana, her Innate Flame Physique was still in the Dormant Stage and was
unlikely to reach the next level before the Transcendent Rank. Yet, even in the
Dormant Stage, there were many benefits such as higher cultivation speed, greater
battle power, and new attributes.

Moreover, physiques belonged to various categories. Nils and Elmar's physiques

were of the balanced types, solid in both offense and defense. Konrad's first two
physiques were also balanced; however, his Stolas Physique didn't provide much
physical strength or resilience. Instead, it focused on magical potency, poison
control, and immunity.

"That's no issue. When we dual cultivate to the Transcendent Rank, you will
naturally awaken it."

Konrad reassured with his usual shamelessness.

Iliana's whose face wasn't as thick as his, turned red from embarrassment, almost
wanting to dig a hole to hide herself.

Quick, a distraction! She needed a distraction!

Her eyes went left and right, seeking something to take the attention away from her.
She then recalled her mother's predicament.

"We have an important matter to discuss. Because of you, my dad is now a wanton
philanderer without a care for his long-time consort. My mom is suffering from
injustice, and you must take responsibility!"

Konrad arched his eyebrows and prevented a laugh from escaping his lips.
"Oh? And how would I do that?"

"Hum… you must… hum…”

The words were more difficult to say than expected. Therefore, Iliana sought help
from the shameless Daphne, poking her side for support. Daphne didn't disappoint.

"Isn't that simple? You must use your rod to make her feel whole again."

"Daphne!"

"What? Wasn't that the plan?"

"But how could you say it like that?"

Even the not easily disturbed Zamira was startled by Daphne's words. That girl truly
reinvented the limits of brazenness on a daily basis.

"Hum, hum."

Konrad cleared his throat in a bid for attention.

"Are you sure this is what you want?"

Feeling the question aimed at her, Iliana took a moment to reevaluate her priority.
Then she recalled Freya, the Semi-Saintesses, and all those women who would now
vie for Konrad's favor and felt herself too isolated.

She desperately needed support! With her mother's cultivation and talent, as long as
the right resources were provided, she could quickly reach the Semi-Holy Rank. At
that time, those new lasses would have to fall in line!

Wasn't this the perfect plan?

"Since father made his choice. It is only right for mother to obtain her own
happiness."

"How about you, mother-in-law, what do you think of this… arrangement?"

"Hum, I need some time to think…”

Jumping on the offer would make the whole thing look too suspicious. Therefore,
Zamira chose to exercise restraints.

"I think you need to experience him firsthand before making your choice. You won't
have any misgivings after that."

Daphne guaranteed, but Zamira still "hesitated."

"Just like that? It seems a bit… abrupt?"

Iliana was about to say something when Konrad's voice echoed.

"It's alright, I will help you."

He stretched out his hand, and the orchid scent he suppressed spread within the
room alongside violet mist. Breathing in the fragrance and mist, Daphne, Iliana, and
Zamira felt their body heating up with flaring lust.

Since none of them were experiencing this for the first time, they didn't feel much
surprised.

"Konrad… the world has never seen… a more shameless man than you…”

Iliana mumbled while succumbing to Konrad's scent.

"I totally agree. That is why I am living such a good life."

Konrad approved, before carrying the three into his space mansion.

There was no time to waste. Konrad brought them to his favorite room and laid them
on the spacious bed. Zamira lied in the middle, with Daphne at her left and Iliana at
her right.

Konrad made short work of their pesky clothes, revealing his desired prizes, their
luscious bodies, and dripping cunts. He fell onto his knees, stretching his left and
right hands respectively toward Daphne and Iliana while his lips descended onto
Zamira.

Softly, he rubbed their labia while his lips brushed Zamira's flower bud and his warm
breath snuck in. His demonic scent soon overwhelmed their minds, and as the fire of
lust reached its acme, Konrad lips locked onto Zamira's snatch while his fingers
slipped into the Kracht cousins'.

"Aaah…”

They moaned in perfect tandem, unleashing tantalizing sounds that could kindle the
lust of the most honorable of men.

While Konrad's tongue ran wild within Zamira, his fingers played the pleasure spots
he was already so familiar with, causing the three's moans to reach new pleasure
thresholds.

Desire flames burst from his form, filling the mother-daughter-cousin trio, and
causing their last bits of rationality to vanish into nothingness.

Daphne was the first to react, and while still experiencing the touch of Konrad's
fingers, lifted up the upper half of her body and took Zamira's left nipple into her
lips. Iliana followed suit, attacking the right while Zamira's hands caressed their
bodies, causing a picture both marvelous and scandalous.

Konrad stepped back, retracting his mouth and hand to allow the three to succumb
to their new, forbidden desires while he disrobed.

As soon as he withdrew, their play reached a new level.

Daphne aligned Zamira's legs with hers and lifted one to position herself like a
scissor and rub her cunt on the Kracht matron's.

Meanwhile, Zamira's fingers were replacing Konrad's within Iliana's while their lips
locked onto one another.

By the time Konrad's clothes had fallen onto the ground, the sound of Daphne's
pussy rubbing against Zamira's and Iliana's lips intertwining with her mother's had
already filled the room.

"Easy, leave some room for me."

Konrad laughed before pulling Zamira into his arms to break the trio and impaled
her on his rod.
"Oooh…”

"Not… fair!"

The girls complained, but at that time, another rod rose beneath the one entertaining
Zamira, and without a second thought, the Kracht cousins leaped onto it, attacking it
from all angles and causing their slurping sounds to mix with Zamira's unrestrained
moans.

Naturally, Konrad hadn't forgotten to activate his Hundred Flowers Scripture for an
epic dual cultivation session.