Chapter 442: The Effect Was Outstanding

Chapter 442: The Effect Was Outstanding

So why were all you witches, who usually remained unmoved by external matters, now bursting with curiosity?

“Since when can’t witches be curious? We didn’t go out much before simply because we didn’t want to expose our identities. Being tracked down by the Sanctuary Church would be troublesome,” Annie said to Zheng Yichen. “You might not know this, but while you were away, we went out quite a few times.”

“This… what did you go out for?”

Annie rolled her eyes slightly. “In your eyes, are witches all just shut-ins?”

Zheng Yichen nearly nodded subconsciously. Except for Dan Marina, other witches really gave him that impression! Even Qin—Zheng Yichen rarely saw her go out, especially after her bar business was fully established. He truly hadn’t seen her leave the bar even once.

“Forget it, you don’t need to worry about our matters. I’m just giving you a heads-up so you won’t slip up once we’re there,” Annie said. Everyone attending the gathering was human, but they weren’t ordinary people either. If Zheng Yichen made any strange expressions at the gathering, he would definitely be noticed.

After all, Zheng Yichen’s Alchemical Avatar had been improved, eliminating many of its stiff movements. Though Annie mentioned that with her help, a fully bionic avatar could be created, such an avatar wouldn’t be able to conceal the Witch’s Power like Zheng Yichen’s could.

Only by retaining enough alchemical structures could Zheng Yichen’s power traits be fully preserved, granting them the ability to ignore the characteristics of witches. As for Dan Marina’s avatar, that was a true avatar and didn’t have such issues.

“I think if something happens at the gathering…”

“Qin would definitely be furious,” Irene said seriously. Qin wasn’t like them, living alone. She had been managing her business for a long time. If something went wrong at the gathering, it would greatly affect her development. However, with a witch overseeing things, unless something particularly targeted occurred, would there really be a problem?

“What would happen if she got angry?”

“It depends on the extent,” Irene shook her head, not explaining further. “Alright, we’ll leave first.”

Seeing that Irene had no intention of elaborating, Zheng Yichen stopped asking. He left his residence and headed toward the gathering location. Since Loris and the others had their own ways of handling things, why should he overthink it? If they could solve something more elegantly, there was no need for unnecessary actions on his part.

The gathering venue was also inside the Purple Vine Guild. The Purple Vine Guild owned quite a few properties in Kaja City, and the venue was decorated exquisitely. However, for someone like Zheng Yichen, who had no appreciation for such things, it was like showing off to the blind. No matter how the attendees praised it, it just sounded impressive without him truly understanding why.

Just as Qin said, even though he arrived at the venue, the attendees didn’t seem intimidated by his identity. On the contrary, they acted very naturally, full of confidence. That shouldn’t be the case—even if they weren’t scared, they wouldn’t act so… arrogant, right?

After observing his surroundings, Zheng Yichen quickly realized where their confidence came from. Wasn’t it because members of the Sanctuary Church were also attending the gathering? And wasn’t the Saintess of the Church here too? Let him tell them, compared to relationships, he and the Saintess had some little stories between them. Would they believe it?

He really wanted to ignore those who were watching him, whether openly or discreetly. For Zheng Yichen, who relied on mana to replace physical sensations, he was very sensitive to these stares, especially those that felt unfriendly. Like in some stories where someone could sense another’s presence just by their stare.

This wasn’t impossible or just a plot device. Stares could carry a person’s intentions—for example, the simplest and clearest hatred. Hostile intent could be contained in a stare, so strong that even ordinary people could sense it. If hidden well, there would still be a faint hint of intent within.

The principle… well, eyes were the windows to the soul. Was that reason enough?

Anyway, being stared at by so many eyes made Zheng Yichen very uncomfortable. Moreover, these people were all of high status, and their presence was strong enough that Zheng Yichen couldn’t ignore them as easily as he could with ordinary people. What a hassle. He needed to find something else to do quickly. Right, Loris and the others should have arrived by now. Where were they?

Suppressing the flood of thoughts in his mind, Zheng Yichen stared blankly at a waiter dressed as Loris. He blinked quickly and silently, making sure he wasn’t seeing things. This wasn’t a waiter arranged by Qin who just looked like Loris’s Alchemical Avatar—it was her!

Her petite figure naturally attracted many people’s attention. Although there weren’t strict height requirements for waiters, she seemed way too short. Could she even serve drinks to guests by holding a tray? Though the thought seemed amusing, still…

When they saw who Loris’s target was, the attendees understood and even acknowledged it. Well, the Purple Vine Guild’s big boss really knew how to cater to people. This waiter was specially arranged for Zheng Yichen. Thinking about it, this arrangement made perfect sense. After all, Zheng Yichen had a history—as a Little Dragon, it seemed the Dragon Clan’s aesthetic sense was a bit off, showing interest in humans.

But even if he used an adult-like appearance, he was still a Little Dragon at heart. Since he was a Little Dragon, he would generally be more interested in people his own age rather than adults. By arranging such a waiter, wasn’t the Purple Vine Guild hitting right at Zheng Yichen’s soft spot?

How cunning. But this was fine too. At least it would put Zheng Yichen in a better mood, making the discussions after the gathering start more smoothly. They could also learn a lot of new information from him. If he was in a bad mood and acted coldly toward everyone, how could they even talk?

Once they guessed the Purple Vine Guild’s arrangement, they stopped paying attention to the young waiter. Child labor? Sorry, there was no such concept in the Otherworld!

Zheng Yichen continued to look around and soon spotted another familiar figure—Irene. She was also using an Alchemical Avatar, but she wasn’t disguised as a waiter of the Purple Vine Guild. Instead, she was posing as a guest. As for Annie, Zheng Yichen didn’t see her.

“Don’t bother looking for me. I’m here too.” Zheng Yichen’s lips twitched as Annie’s voice sounded in his ear, clearly coming from Loris’s Alchemical Avatar.

“You two are sharing one avatar?”

“Can’t help it. I regret not asking you to make an Alchemical Avatar for me earlier,” Annie said softly. “This avatar of yours doesn’t have enough capacity. It’s a bit cramped with both of us using it.”

“It was originally meant for one person. How many did you expect? Go get me a glass of juice.”

“Get it your—huh?” Annie was about to retort when her body moved on its own. Obviously, Loris was controlling it. Watching Zheng Yichen contentedly pick up the juice from the tray Loris was holding, the Mayor of Kaja sighed inwardly. Indeed, a Little Dragon…

Among all the fine wines available, he chose juice. Although juice tasted better than alcohol… that was just the surface. Otherwise, why would so many people enjoy drinking?

Standing beside a loli, sipping specially made juice—though relying on mana to replace taste wasn’t as satisfying as the real thing, it was still quite good. Zheng Yichen kept an eye on Irene’s situation. He had thought Irene wasn’t good at socializing, but the reality surprised him. At this moment, Irene was nothing like her usual reserved self. This trait overlapped with Loris!

She wore a faint smile on her face, chatting back and forth with several attendees. There was no hint of perfunctory behavior—it couldn’t be more genuine. Zheng Yichen even wondered if he had mistaken her identity. But no, this was definitely Irene.

So… what that person’s mother said was really… wait, no! Looking at Irene’s current position, the people chatting with her clearly knew her beforehand. Weren’t they always staying at home? When did she get to know so many people?

“Friends from the forum,” Loris whispered beside him.

“So that’s it!” Zheng Yichen clapped his hands, suddenly understanding. The Magic Weapon Forum could also help make friends. They could even video chat, so they could get to know others without leaving home.

“If you have any other requests, feel free to mention them here.”

“Wow, hearing you say that makes me a little excited,” Zheng Yichen chuckled. Loris rolled her eyes. Wait! She would never make such an expression. It was Annie!

“Don’t forget, you’re just a dragon.”

“Ah-ha~ Once my research on Transformation Magic succeeds… hmph,” Zheng Yichen grumbled uncomfortably. Did they really think he particularly liked being a dragon… especially an Otherworld dragon, and one that couldn’t even transform?

Alright, alright. Thinking about it now, this Dragon Body did bring him a lot of conveniences. Unfortunately, it was a fake dragon without Dragon’s Aura. Even if he could do whatever he wanted, he couldn’t run around recklessly unless the Dragon Realm, where almost all dragons in this world lived, suddenly collapsed and all the dragons vanished. Then what would he have to worry about?

“That would be truly wonderful. Your idea involves not only knowledge of the Life Domain but also the Magic Domain. Researching both simultaneously—with your current abilities, it might take a few hundred years,” Annie didn’t rule it out completely. Zheng Yichen’s abilities held too many possibilities. If she spoke too definitively, she might end up being proven wrong someday.

“A few hundred years… I can’t even wait a few decades…” Zheng Yichen’s lips twitched slightly as he rubbed his head helplessly. However, he didn’t think Annie was exaggerating too much. If it were about secondary professions like alchemy, magic potions, or engineering, Zheng Yichen was quite skilled now, and he practiced all three simultaneously. As long as he had enough energy, there were many complementary aspects. Even if it affected his learning speed, it wasn’t as exaggerated as needing three times the effort.

But for the Life Domain and magic? Forget it. Those were his weakest areas, especially magic. And to think that was one of the earliest forms of knowledge he had come into contact with! Yet it had turned cold. Oh, and there was that elusive Battle Qi. No matter how hard Zheng Yichen tried, he still hadn’t made any progress. Even though his physical strength kept increasing, Battle Qi seemed to be drifting further away.

“Hmm~ Maybe after I make a breakthrough, I can help you in this area,” Annie said.

“So, what exactly do you mean by a breakthrough?”

“A level beyond the Life Domain. What I want is creation.”

Creation… Zheng Yichen’s lips twitched involuntarily. He had learned quite a bit about the Life Domain and understood what Annie meant. Things like cloning were still within the Life Domain. But creation, which was beyond the Life Domain, was like normal childbirth, yet it could skip the process of male and female union. It was truly appearing out of thin air, not just creating a flesh aggregate with a human body and organs.

“That small person created by the Undying Witch was a half-step into creation.”

“Sounds impressive without understanding.”

“Hah~ Let me put it this way. My abilities are the opposite of hers, so either of us could step into this level. It’s just a bit uncomfortable that I was beaten by a junior by half a step.”

“I thought you’d be ambitious enough to break through on your own.”

Annie rolled her eyes and glanced at Zheng Yichen. “Do I look stupid to you?”

Of course not. Just as Zheng Yichen was chatting animatedly with Loris and Annie, the atmosphere in the gathering venue quieted down slightly. The main guest had arrived.

When they received the invitations, attendees were given an extra piece of news: the President of the Purple Vine Guild would also attend this gathering. There had been many speculations about the guild’s President, with analyses of several internal members who might be the President. Later, after verification, their identities checked out—they weren’t the hidden President.

So, the identity of the Purple Vine Guild’s President had always been a mystery. And today, that mystery would be unveiled. When the President finally revealed their true appearance, the voices in the venue grew even quieter, as if afraid of disturbing the beautiful newcomer.

“Clothes make the person… hmm, and so does aura,” Zheng Yichen muttered as he looked at Qin, who had become the center of attention. To be honest, the Alchemical Avatar she used was made by his own hands, with every detail perfected by him. Of course, he knew about its charm, but this time, her entrance was truly stunning.

It gave Zheng Yichen the feeling of seeing her for the first time, leaving a deep impression. Not to mention the others, especially the young men and women attending the gathering. She captivated everyone, regardless of gender. Did the Alchemical Avatar he created have such great potential?

So why was he inexplicably excited? Zheng Yichen blinked, propped his chin on his hand, grabbed the juice from the nearby tray, and took a big gulp. The sour-sweet taste helped him calm down.

“You felt it, right? This is the passive effect of Qin’s abilities. Even though the Alchemical Avatar you made can block it and ignore the witch’s traits, as long as she wants to achieve a similar effect, she can mimic it without using her abilities. Since it’s not purely her power, it can bypass individual resistance, including yours.”

“Really terrifying…” Zheng Yichen said sincerely, placing the glass back on the nearby tray. He glanced at Annie, who was still holding the tray. “How long are you planning to hold that?”

“Huh? I’m only responsible for the head part now. The other movements aren’t me,” Annie said innocently. Zheng Yichen blinked, his lips twitching. He directly took the tray Loris was holding and placed it on the table.

“Is this… charm? It’s almost like charm magic.” Compared to the others who were captivated, Saintess Deya quickly regained her composure. She subconsciously glanced at Zheng Yichen, who was at that moment sipping juice and muttering something to the little girl waiter beside him. Well, he was indeed part of the Dragon Clan. Even if, as the intelligence said, his aesthetic sense was off and he was more interested in humans,

He still had characteristics of an Alien Race. Qin’s entrance was captivating, but for non-human races, it was probably like playing the lute to a cow… right?

Thinking back to how she herself had been captivated earlier, Deya wasn’t so sure.

“It’s not magic. It’s just a combination of aura, behavior, and attire. It also has something to do with the venue here. In other places, even if she repeated the same actions, the effect wouldn’t be as strong,” Achille said, his expression somewhat conflicted. He had also lost his composure earlier. By the time he finished speaking, the others had mostly recovered. After all, this was a special skill, not magic, so people wouldn’t become overly immersed in it. To put it simply, it was a clever little trick.

A trick that could give her an advantageous position at the start. Later, when she wanted to discuss something with someone, they would remember the stunning impression she made during her entrance, and their bottom line would lower slightly.

Even if it wasn’t by much, it was still a potential benefit. No one was disappointed by the Purple Vine Guild President’s first appearance. However, one thing couldn’t be ignored: no matter how beautiful she looked or how refined her aura was, she was still a merchant. As the President who made the Purple Vine Guild one of the top major guilds, could her methods be simple?

In fact, her charm was seen by some as a unique asset. A beautiful President was far more attractive than those middle-aged, portly Presidents. Not to mention, her figure, aura, and methods were all top-notch. Well, even if all the above factors were ignored, one thing couldn’t be overlooked: she was a woman!

Being a woman, she would definitely be looking for a partner, right? Wasn’t this an opportunity in the eyes of some? Now, those who had offended the Purple Vine Guild too severely deeply regretted it. If they had known this earlier, they wouldn’t have gone so far. Offending someone wasn’t terrifying—competition in business naturally led to offending others. As long as it wasn’t malicious and some leeway was left, there might be opportunities for collaboration in the future. But if they had gone too far… tsk!

They regretted it deeply!

Qin’s entrance this time had an outstanding effect!