《Harem Building Incubus System》


 -1 Ranks

    @@


    System Host Ranks:


    Harem Seeker


    Harem Builder


    Harem Expert


    Harem Master


    Harem Grandmaster


    Harem Lord


    Harem King


    Harem Emperor


    Harem Sovereign


    Harem God


    ¡­


    Knights:


    Initiate Knight: 100 years


    Adept Knight: 150 years


    True Knight: 300 years


    Grand Knight: 500 years


    Arch-Knight: 1000 years


    Transcendent Knight: 3000 years


    Semi-Holy Knight: 5000 years


    Holy Knight: 10000 years


    Divine Knight: 100000 years


    ...


    Priests (same lifespans, weaker than knights in the early stages, stronger in the later stages)


    Initiate Priest


    Adept Priest


    True Priest


    Grand Priest


    Archpriest


    Transcendent Priest


    Semi-Holy Priest


    Holy Priest


    Divine Priest


    ...


    Demonic Beasts:


    Lesser Beast


    Intermediate Beast


    Voracious Beast


    Superior Beast


    Monstrous Beast


    Accursed Beast


    Decadent Beast


    Restoration Beast


    Infernal Knight


    ...


    Spells (Usable starting with the True Priest Rank)


    First to Seventh Circle


    Mid-grade Third Circle Spell: Inverted Light Mirror: Swallows offensive spells, transforms them into spells of an opposed attribute and return them back to the caster.@@

 1 System Initialization

    "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. 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 bit. So, it wasn''t just me?"


    Their gaze was then lowered toward the youth''s beautiful face, and they were horrified to see his eyelids trembling.


    His eyes then opened!


    "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 suddenly 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 fell onto the ground, and slight pain ran through his feeble body.


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


    He then 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 was given no opportunity to fulfill that dream.


    Worse, he was cursed 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 attack 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 canned 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 canning 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.


    Timeframe 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.

 2 You Can Only Be My Woman R-18

    "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 muscle. 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 appearing 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 on completing the first quest. Reward time!"


    "Host''s spiritual cultivation is increased to tenth 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!"

 3 Restoration and Upgrade

    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: tenth 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."

 4 Conquer the Few to Conquer the Many

    "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!"

 5 Good Girls Get it, Bad Girls Beg For It R-18

    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!"

 6 Terrifying Subjugating Power

    "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*

 7 Infiltrating the Embroidery Departmen

    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!"

 8 Bargaining for a Date

    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.

 9 Daddy Konrad Makes Money

    "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!

 10 Symphony Under the Moon

    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.

 11 Complete Blood Awakening

    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?!"

 12 Blissful Punishment R-18

    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!

 13 Are You Afraid of Me?

    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 na?ve 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?

 14 Schemes

    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.

 15 The Thing I Will Never Dread

    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.

 16 The Fog Thickens

    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 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?

 17 Awakening the Sleeping Beauty

    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*

 18 Taming the Beast R-18

    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.

 19 The Effectiveness of the Method R-18

    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."

 20 My Worth to You

    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.

 21 Break!

    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.

 22 Always Be Wary of the Oriole

    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.

 23 Smash Them All!

    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!"

 24 Then Teach You I Shall R-18

    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.

 25 The Purple Flame Mark Awakens

    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.

 26 First Demonic Contract: Partnership of Equals

    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 body 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 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.


    "Touch¨¦. 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.

 27 Go Get Your Milk Elsewhere!

    "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.

 28 When Five Words Crash All Your Plans

    "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 anywhere."


    "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?"

 29 I Respectfully Decline

    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?

 30 Bargain

    "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 way 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 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 picked 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!"

 31 Man-Breaker!

    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.

 32 Hidden Dragon

    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.

 33 I Am Your Son-In-Law

    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!"

 34 If You Can Receive My Fis

    "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!

 35 Did You Prepare the Dower?

    "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 context 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 pilling 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!

 36 Iliana鈥檚 Night R-18

    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 tsunami 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!

 37 Mother-In-Laws Migh

    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 mybravery 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."

 38 Miniature Skeleton

    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!

 39 Are You Willing?

    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!"

 40 Solidifying the Deal

    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.

 41 Subduing the Former Chieftain R-18

    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 desc 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.

 42 Surprise Visi

    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?"


    ...


    ...


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    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 opposite 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!

 43 The Holy Consort鈥檚 Breathtaking Gifts

    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.

 44 All Must Surrender to Daphne

    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 fianc¨¦? What''s wrong with you?!"


    "Fianc¨¦? 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!"

 45 Wolfgangs Disgrace

    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?"