Trust

"To think Feng Laixian isn't at the martial arts hall after all." Niman appeared beside Yu Xian, looking at the ruins ahead with a furrowed brow. She glanced around and reasoned, "We've explored most of Mingzhu City. There are only a handful of places we haven't entered yet. Since Feng Laixian isn't at the martial arts hall, he's most likely in one of those places." Over the past year, she had visited almost everywhere that was easy to access; only locations monitored by superpowers had she avoided. The Castellan Manor, the treasury, the patrol headquarters... In truth, it was merely these few locations. Yu Xian pondered for a moment and guessed, "Niman, do you think Feng Laixian might be at the Castellan Manor?" "What are you thinking?" Niman asked, looking at him. Yu Xian analyzed, "The Castellan Manor is the true center of Mingzhu City. We can't view this place through the lens of the real world—after all, this is the Sun Emperor, Feng Laixian's memory world, and a chaotic one heavily colored by his own personality at that. We analyzed Feng Laixian before. He's extraordinarily arrogant and proud. How could he ever tolerate someone sitting above him? So if Mingzhu City has a castellan, it's most likely Feng Laixian himself." "We'll know once we test it," Niman said with a smile. Today's heavy downpour had arrived so opportunely; it would be a complete waste not to make full use of it. Now that they had already struck Beast King Martial Arts Hall, Feng Laixian was bound to be on his guard. For safety's sake, the best move was to ride the momentum, cut the Gordian knot, and charge straight for the Castellan Manor. If they couldn't win, the rain gave them a way to escape; if they won, they could leave this damned world today. Either outcome was acceptable to both of them. *** The Castellan Manor. In the darkness, Feng Laixian sat in the main seat of the council hall. Sensing Bai De's death, he muttered to himself, "Bai De is dead. What a pity." "He was merely a minor figure. Surely someone of your stature wouldn't care, My Lord?" a woman's voice came, followed by Margaret walking in through a side door. Feng Laixian stood up and said calmly, "Why would I care? As long as I can leave this world, what does it matter even if all of Mingzhu City is destroyed?" "My Lord is wise. However, whoever killed Bai De is likely coming for you, My Lord. I fear they might severely disrupt our plans," Margaret said, frowning. Ever since she entered this world, she had immediately noticed something was wrong with it. Fortunately, Mingzhu City was filled with monster-like residents, so her appearance had not drawn any hostility. After observing for a while, she had determined that this place was merely a small world. Only with martial power that exceeded this world could one shatter the void and escape from it. Unfortunately, this world suppressed her supernatural power. Although she still retained some innate abilities of the Insect Race, escaping this world on her own was simply impossible. To this end, she had gathered a great deal of intelligence, ultimately setting her sights on the castellan of the Castellan Manor. By bribing the gate guards, she secured an audience with the castellan and revealed the "truth" of this world to him. With her silver tongue capable of talking black into white, she had indeed swayed him. And so, the two had conspired to sacrifice all of Mingzhu City in order to shatter the void and head toward a vastly wider stage. Naturally, during the process, Margaret had painted an exceptionally rosy picture of the outside world, as though Feng Laixian would rise to meteoric success the moment he left this small world, becoming an immensely influential figure across the myriad realms. For ambitious people, the greatest vulnerability was being fed a grand illusion. Evidently, Feng Laixian had swallowed that pie whole—and found it delicious. "They're here," Feng Laixian said to Margaret, sensing an aura outside the Castellan Manor. Margaret hurried to hide behind Feng Laixian. She did not know who the enemy was; if not for the sheer commotion of Yu Xian destroying Beast King Martial Arts Hall with a single punch, she wouldn't even have known enemies were attacking. Boom! A terrifying punch struck from afar through the air, sending the entire Castellan Manor teetering on the verge of collapse. Fortunately, the manor had been constructed from exceptional materials and was reinforced with superpowers, which kept it from being pulverized in one strike. Still, it likely couldn't withstand many more blows. "Lord Castellan, are you certain you can defeat them?" Margaret asked worriedly, thoroughly unnerved by that punch. Had she been at the peak of her strength, she naturally wouldn't fear such an enemy. The problem was that she was currently very weak; any slightly stronger Awakener could kill her. She didn't want to die so pathetically. Even if she had to die, she wanted to recover her strength, battle an evenly matched rival, and go down in a blaze of glory. Feng Laixian smiled with confidence. "Just a mere brat. I'll be right back." With that, he strode away. Margaret let out a sigh of relief. Yet right after, she sneered inwardly. In truth, she found Feng Laixian rather irritating—he was just a slightly beefier weakling. Had she possessed her original strength, she could have crushed him like a bug between two fingers. Talking so big was truly sickening. Once they left this world, she would kill him. Taking a deep breath, Margaret quickly turned and left the council hall, heading straight up to the second floor to watch the show. Outside the Castellan Manor, Yu Xian stood in the rain, preparing to throw a second punch. Suddenly, he saw the main gates swing open, and a tall figure slowly walked out. "What in the..." Yu Xian's eyes widened the moment he laid eyes on the newcomer. It was the first time he had ever seen such a sickening creature. Only after collecting himself did he mutter, "Could that be... Feng Laixian?" Standing at the entrance of the manor was a four-meter-tall golden fox. The fur on its front, however, formed the silhouette of a human, the coat shaped into the likeness of human skin. It looked roughly as if a person had been painted onto the fox—or as though a human had been embedded directly into its body. "This shouldn't be Feng Laixian," Niman said, appearing beside Yu Xian. Feng Laixian was a Mighty One of the human race, after all. How could he possibly look like this? Just then, Zhang Buyao, who had been hiding under a nearby tree, ran over. Staring in shock at the fox before the Castellan Manor, she said, "Uncle Feng has grown onto a fox! And why does this fox look a bit like a Tianchang Fox?" "What the hell is a Tianchang Fox?" Yu Xian asked, wiping rainwater from his face. Zhang Buyao created two Contract Gems and said urgently, "No time to explain! Swallow these gems first!" "Alright!" Yu Xian glanced at the Contract Gem and agreed through gritted teeth. In fact, this wasn't the first time he and Niman had seen a Contract Gem. But every time they laid eyes on one, an intensely revolted feeling welled up within them. To put it simply, they had zero appetite to eat it. Yet he knew full well Zhang Buyao had no reason to screw him and Niman over. She certainly had a reason for doing this, and all he had to do was choose whether to trust her or not. [Contract Gem: Consumes Stamina and Spirit to condense a Contract Gem. Once a target willingly accepts the Contract Gem, their life, soul, and consciousness will be dominated by the Summoner, but they will simultaneously gain the blessing of the Summoner's potential and luck. After taking it for the first time, subsequent ingestions will slightly increase one's potential and grant a 10% chance to awaken a new talent.] Yu Xian took the Contract Gem Zhang Buyao handed over. What she had previously said about the ability flashed through his mind, and in the next moment, he opened his mouth and swallowed the gem. He took the gamble. Trust.