"Morality Points aren't that important?" Diana paused in surprise. She moved closer and wrapped her arms around the President's waist. Even as she took liberties with him, she asked in a businesslike tone, "Why?"
Morality Points were a vital mechanism constraining Spirit Realm walkers, an anchor that preserved order and stability.
The President sighed. "The mechanism of Morality Points is to broadcast the target's location to the entire city—or even the entire world's Spirit Realm walkers—and offer a massive bounty for the kill. But what if the wanted target is a demigod?"
Diana said, "Then the incident with the Twin Gods of Wind and Thunder would repeat itself."
"No, you're mistaken." The President drew a glass of red wine from the void, swirling it gently. "The Twin Gods of Wind and Thunder were an accident—an unexpected mishap that caught the orthodox demigods off guard. Back then, neither the orthodox nor the evil faction had any intention of fighting to the death; they only wanted to hunt down the Twin Gods of Wind and Thunder and claim a massive bounty.
"But now it's different. If a demigod of an evil class were placed on the Spirit Realm's wanted list right this moment, do you think the evil faction's demigods would choose to protect them or hunt them down?"
Diana thought for a moment and said, "In the past, the evil faction's demigods would have chosen to hunt them. Now... I believe they would choose to protect them."
The President sighed.
"So Morality Points are no longer useful. The demigods of both factions would directly trigger a decisive final battle in the real world, and the entire world would be destroyed as a result. Who would care about Morality Points then?
"The peace we have now exists because both sides are biding their time, building their strength, thereby maintaining a delicate balance."
In fact, it had been the same in the past. Back then, both factions were waiting for Taiyin and the Stars to return to their rightful places. It had not yet been time to flip the table, which was why they were constrained by Morality Points.
Diana pondered for a few seconds, puzzled. "If that's the case, why has the Lord of Taiyin from the Dark Night Rose been persistently trying to conquer the Merit Roster?"
The President scoffed. "Concealing Morality Points to sow chaos in the real world is merely a side benefit. What Ling Tuo truly wants is the Merit Roster itself. That is a causality-type item wielded by the Lord of the Sun. Only by obtaining it can Ling Tuo compete for the Sun Throne against the Taiyi Sect Master, who possesses a fragment of the Bright Compass."
Diana gazed at him, curious. "Ling Tuo wants to seize the Morality Points, while the Taiyi Sect Master has the Bright Compass fragment. Then what about the Lord of the Sun we're backing—what does he have?"
The President swirled his wine glass and gazed out the floor-to-ceiling window at the city, remaining silent.
***
The Grand Marshal's study.
Fu Qingxuan sat in a plush armchair, her long, boot-clad legs propped on the edge of the desk. Her gaze drifted into empty space, her pupils out of focus.
She was looking at the guild interface.
"Cleared six B-rank dungeons and two A-rank dungeons. That kid Fu Qingyang is progressing fast," Fu Qingxuan murmured around a chocolate candy, somewhat surprised.
It seemed the Shushan South Courtyard and Fallen Monarch dungeons had allowed him to build up considerable reserves. Combined with that Swordmaster Cloak that even she coveted, A-rank dungeons might still be fraught with danger for Fu Qingyang, but they were no longer insurmountable.
"His current experience is around fifty percent. If he wants to advance to Level 9 in half a month, his only option is an S-rank dungeon." Fu Qingxuan scrolled through the dungeon names until the interface stopped on an S-rank dungeon: [Fighting an Uphill Battle Alone].
This was the final dungeon Fu Qingyang had arranged for himself before entering this series of instances.
It was not arrogance on the Money Prince's part, but the result of rigorous calculations.
First, "Fighting an Uphill Battle Alone" was a large-scale war dungeon. Deploying formations and commanding armies was what Puppeteers excelled at, allowing ample time to confront the enemy, maneuver, and formulate strategies.
It was unlike gauntlet-style dungeons like Shushan South Courtyard, where all the difficulty was compressed into just two or three stages.
Second, after acquiring the Immortal Slaying Flying Dagger (consumable), the Seven Star Lamp Array (consumable), and the Golden Dragon Sword, Fu Qingyang, clad in the Swordmaster Cloak, possessed the combat prowess to battle and kill early-stage Level 9 opponents.
Furthermore, unlike Fallen Monarch with its chart-topping difficulty, an S-rank dungeon would at most increase the number of early-stage Level 9 enemies; it was impossible for a mid-stage Level 9 boss to appear.
Therefore, if Fu Qingyang skillfully employed tactics to divide the enemies within the dungeon and defeat the bosses one by one, there was a real chance he could clear the S-rank dungeon.
However, Fu Qingxuan felt not the slightest joy over her younger brother's growing accomplishments. Chewing on her chocolate candy, she muttered, "Even advancing to Level 9 only makes him cannon fodder. Once he's drawn into the final battle, his mortality rate will skyrocket. It would be better to remain an outsider and wait for the outcome; at least his odds of survival would be higher."
She sighed internally, but that brother of hers, who had strived to be strong his entire life, would never back down.
His life had only two possible outcomes: either emerge as an illustrious victor, or return wrapped in a horsehide shroud after a glorious demise.
Just then, a Spirit Realm prompt sounded by her ear:
[Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion requests entry to the study!]
"Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion" was the Spirit Realm ID of the White Tiger Soldiers' First Elder—Elder Jiange, the only one among the former Ten Elders who held a favorable view of Yuanshi Tianzun.
Fu Qingxuan's heroic brows furrowed. She quickly grabbed a tub of milk tea, gulped down several mouthfuls to rinse the chocolate from her mouth, and gave a wave of her small hand.
The snacks, desserts, milk tea, novels, and manga on the desk flew toward the bookshelves.
The bookshelves took them in and rotated with a click, turning those casual, miscellaneous books into lofty volumes on the humanities, science, physics, politics, and military strategy.
Straightening her posture, Fu Qingxuan approved Elder Jiange's request.
In the next second, Elder Jiange appeared in the vast, boundless white expanse of the study. His hair was snow-white, carrying both the gentle demeanor of a senior and the austere air of a veteran commander.
Fu Qingxuan asked with practiced ease, "What is it?"
She spent most of her time holed up in this study dungeon, treating herself to high-calorie sweets. When she grew tired of novels and manga, she practiced her swordplay and comprehended the sword.
Whenever there was a major internal decision within the official organization or a major event in the outside world, Elder Jiange would enter the study to report.
Now that he had come, it meant an event requiring the alliance leader's decision or involvement had occurred outside.
Elder Jiange said in a deep voice, "In three days, the Taiyi Sect Master intends to convene an orthodox demigod conference of the Second District."
***
Pangxie City, Xie family gardens.
Returning from a stroll through the gardens with her mother, Xie Lingxi headed straight for her father Xie Su's study.
Inside the study, framed by latticed windows, hung with calligraphy and paintings, decorated with celadon vases, and filled with the scent of burning sandalwood, she saw Xie Su wielding a brush, writing across an open sheet of xuan paper:
"Clouds rise over the creek as the sun sinks behind the pavilion; wind fills the tower before the mountain rain comes."
"Dad~" Xie Lingxi darted in like a fledgling swallow swooping into a grove, clinging to Xie Su's arm as she wheedled, "The tigress of your house bullied me again and stole my Charm Perfume."
Xie Su gazed at his calligraphy. "Is it from the Musician class or the Desire class?"
"The Desire class," Xie Lingxi replied.
Just a moment ago, she had been showing off the Charm Perfume to her mother. It was an item Brother Yuanshi had gifted her; spraying it would cause members of the opposite sex nearby to develop strong favorable impressions toward her.
It was a treasure every woman dreamed of.
Upon hearing that, her mother had exclaimed, "Aiya, it really is a fine treasure—hand it over!"
"You're still young. It's best not to touch items from the Desire class," Xie Su said flatly.
"What happens if I touch them?"
"You'll be corrupted."
"Hehe, then I'll go get corrupted with Brother Yuanshi."
"Heh. The Old Ancestor told me just a few days ago that in the entire Xie family, you're the most useless one. When a Xie family girl crooks her finger, which man isn't swayed?"
"Hmph! If I were a demigod, I'd crook my finger and Brother Yuanshi would take the bait too," Xie Lingxi wrinkled her nose, then prudently moved on from the subject. "Which dungeon is Palace Master Sister tackling right now?"
She had come to her father mainly to inquire about Palace Master Sister's recent progress.
Her father, Xie Su, was the patriarch of the Xie family and also the vice leader of the Xie family guild, granting him permission to view dungeon clearance details.
"After one more A-rank dungeon, she'll reach Level 8. As for the following half month, she'll accumulate as much experience as she can, which will improve her chances of accommodating the Body of Sovereign Wa." Xie Su said calmly, "The Palace Master chose her dungeons prudently. There won't be any great danger."
The Palace Master of Halting Slaughter had not been in the early stage of Level 7 to begin with. After passing through Shushan South Courtyard and Fallen Monarch, she had amassed substantial experience, so breaking through to Level 8 smoothly came as no surprise.
However, advancing to Level 9 would be impossible.
On the one hand, time was limited; on the other, her foundation was insufficient.
Her level of existence could not yet unleash the true power of the Demon Refining Pot; at most, it served as a resurrection item. And in high-difficulty dungeons, reviving was merely dying one more time.
"Level 8 already~" Xie Lingxi was full of envy. How wonderful it would be if she were a Dominator! Brother Yuanshi would surely rely on her, depend on her, and confer upon her the title of Noble Consort or something.
***
The northwestern Gobi!
Inside a single-story brick house, the Fear Heavenly King sat at a table, propping his head on one hand, resting with his eyes closed.
Presently, he appeared in a dream and saw a colossal black-robed figure reflected across the sky, looking down on him from above.
The black-robed figure spanning half the sky uttered a grand, ethereal voice:
"In three days, the Taiyi Sect Master will convene the orthodox demigods to deliberate."
The dream shattered.
Fear Heavenly King opened his eyes and muttered under his breath, "That old fellow is finally making a move?"
His expression grew solemn.
Within the orthodox and Freedom factions, each had a demigod jokingly mocked as virtually invisible: one was the Night Sovereign of the Eternal Night Church, and the other was the Taiyi Sect Master.
The former had been asleep for decades.
As for the latter, twenty years ago when Asura was awakened by a nuclear bomb and marched on the capital to settle scores with the official organization and the government, he had joined forces with the Fire God to stop Asura.
Afterward, he entered prolonged seclusion, elusive and rarely seen.
Yet the evil faction's demigods all knew that this Lord of Stars placed his pieces silently. It was not that he never made moves; rather, few could discern his game.
And now, the Lord of Stars was finally making a move.
"Thud! Thud!"
Vigorous knocking sounded at the door. Fear Heavenly King gathered his thoughts and called out, "Enter!"
The one who pushed the door open and stepped in was Demon Eye. Dressed in black pajamas, an athletic headband wrapped around his forehead, he still looked somewhat fatigued, but his eyes were bright and piercing.
Demon Eye Heavenly King had just emerged from an A-rank dungeon, heavily wounded. Upon leaving the Spirit Realm, he had slept for three whole days straight.
His current experience was at 64%, still a long way from Level 9.
Fear Heavenly King smiled. "I just received word. In three days, the Lord of Stars will convene the orthodox demigods. Heh, after sixty years of playing chess, he can finally hold back no longer."
Demon Eye Heavenly King scrutinized him. "Why tell me this? Rejoining the Soldier Master sect was just teasing you. I have loftier ideals and a loftier organization now; I look down on you bunch of northwestern geezers."
Fear Heavenly King curled his lips. "My point is that you're leveling up too slowly. What can a Level 8 Dominator do? You're mere cannon fodder. Your so-called lofty ideals are worthless in our eyes, because the ideals of the weak can be overturned by the strong with a wave of a hand."
"So?" Demon Eye Heavenly King bristled with anger.
"So, are you interested in entering an S-rank dungeon?" Fear Heavenly King said. "You know I was once a Swordsman, but in a high-difficulty multiplayer dungeon, I was influenced by a Great Being and switched classes to become an Enchanting Fiend.
"The Great Being's influence on the Spirit Realm is limited; its power only seeps into a handful of dungeons. Once a walker of the Freedom classes comes into contact with His power, they will benefit boundlessly."
Demon Eye Heavenly King felt a stir in his heart. "What are you trying to say?"
"In the Soldier Master sect's S-rank dungeon, the Battle of Zhuolu, remnants of that being's power linger. If you gain its recognition, you can become a true Enchanting Fiend," Fear Heavenly King tempted. "Interested in going in?"
Demon Eye Heavenly King fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly chuckled coldly. "You want to trick me into an S-rank dungeon so I die inside."
Before Fear Heavenly King could speak, Demon Eye grinned widely.
"Yet what reason do I have to refuse? To refuse someone who voluntarily offers me a butcher's blade?"
Chapter 930