Volume 4, Chapter 19 – Alice’s Current Situation

In a certain hidden space within the Divine Kingdom.

A handsome purple-haired man in a suit with an extraordinary temperament was leaning against his office chair, silently reading through experimental reports one by one.

“The soul essence belonging to Moande has been almost completely absorbed… This data feedback seems to show pretty good results.”

The purple-haired man murmured with interest.

Just as the man was reviewing the reports, a communication message quietly flashed on the screen beside him.

Then, a young woman’s face appeared on the screen.

“Lord Duan, I have important matters to report.”

“Moyun? What is it?”

Putting down the report in his hand, Duan glanced indifferently at this secretary who had served him for many years.

“Akrovan’s life signal has disappeared.”

“…”

As soon as these words were spoken, Duan’s tea-drinking motion came to an abrupt halt.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Duan put down his teacup and let out a somewhat unexpected cold laugh:

“Hehe, even that guy who was so skilled at infiltration failed? Even though Xi Xuan has disappeared, it seems the Lingyuan family is much more troublesome than I imagined. I’m really curious how that guy was discovered.”

“What should we do now, Lord Duan? Should we continue sending people to infiltrate and investigate?”

“No need.”

Duan calmly shook his head:

“Akrovan was the most skilled expert in covert operations under the Second Ancestor. If even he failed, then sending others would be meaningless—just sending them to their deaths.”

“Then, that Divine-Graced Maiden and the Sacred Stone, we’re just going to leave them alone?”

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Moyun on the screen asked in confusion.

“How could that be possible?”

Duan smiled coldly:

“Both a Divine-Graced Maiden and Xi Xuan’s descendant—how could we possibly let them go? It’s just that there’s no need to specifically send people to their territory to carry out missions. There will be plenty of opportunities to get intelligence on that Divine-Graced Maiden, or even capture her personally.”

“Plenty of opportunities?”

“Yes, don’t forget… the investiture ceremony in two weeks. I believe Ailiya-Lingyuan won’t skip that ceremony.”

“The investiture ceremony? I understand, Lord Duan.”

Although Duan didn’t elaborate, as someone who had served the Fifth Ancestor for a long time, Moyun instantly understood his intentions.

After a simple bow, Moyun cut off the communication.

The study returned to silence at this moment, leaving only Duan alone, thoughtfully gazing at the scenery outside the window.

Akrovan… accidentally got Isabelle’s person killed.

Hehe, I really need to think about how to explain this to that venomous woman… I don’t want to be fed to the insects…

Never mind, let’s not think about that for now. Let me go see an old friend.

With a ghostly smile, eerie white-purple spiritual power flowed out from Duan’s body, completely enveloping this handsome man.

When the spiritual power dissipated, Duan’s figure had vanished without a trace.

At the same time, in Paradise Manor’s hidden laboratory.

Accompanied by a terrifying surge of spiritual power, Duan appeared directly in an experimental chamber with his hands in his pockets.

“Lord Duan.”

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Upon seeing Duan’s arrival, except for the black-haired girl standing motionless in the corner, all the guards and researchers bowed their heads respectfully.

“Except for Xing Wu, the rest of you can leave.”

“Yes, Lord Duan.”

Soon, the guards and researchers who received the order left the room one by one, leaving only the black-haired girl, Duan himself, and a blonde woman bound and suppressed by heavy shackles in the center of the laboratory. If Bai Lianyue or Xi Xuan were here, they would probably be shocked to discover… this blonde woman covered in blood with a weak aura was their former colleague, the Fifth Seat of the First Celestial Augur Knights.

Alice Roth.

Looking at this once-imposing top-tier powerhouse reduced to such a state, Duan’s lips couldn’t help but curve upward slightly, a trace of unusual excitement quietly overflowing from his eyes.

“Miss Alice, honestly, why must it be like this? If you would just tell me Xi Xuan’s possible hiding places, there would be no need to suffer such torment daily. Not only that, but we would receive you with the highest ceremonial treatment.”

Duan said lightly.

To collect all the soul fragments of the first savior, all the First Celestial Augur Knights were their targets.

As the Second Seat of the Celestial Augur Knights, Xi Xuan-West was naturally a priority target for Paradise Manor.

Although Xi Xuan had been missing for two years, and rumors suggested this First Second Seat had died at the hands of the Vassals of Sky, Duan didn’t believe this claim.

The reason was simple: if a First Celestial Augur Knight died, the soul fragment of the first savior within them would be drawn by the main body’s power, float back into the first savior’s body, and be slowly absorbed. Just like with Moande before. Although they didn’t know where that traitor died, the soul fragment he possessed had already returned to the savior’s body.

Since the soul fragment within Xi Xuan had never returned, Duan naturally didn’t believe he was dead.

That guy must be hiding somewhere.

As Xi Xuan’s closest companion in this world, Alice might know something.

This was why Duan repeatedly had people interrogate Alice.

—”How are you considering it, Miss Alice?”—

Half-crouching and reaching out to grab Alice’s chin, Duan spoke provocatively.

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However, this time’s result was no different from the dozens of previous interrogations.

Although Alice’s physical condition was extremely weak at the moment, her eyes still burned with resolute light, showing no intention of surrendering to Duan.

“Tell you? Hehe…”

Alice whispered disdainfully.

Whether she actually knew Xi Xuan’s location or not, she would never tell Duan.

Even if it meant death, she wouldn’t betray her comrade.

“Hehe, as expected…”

Duan seemed to have anticipated Alice’s response.

He was only asking tentatively anyway.

“Since you still refuse the toast and insist on the penalty drink, I have no need to keep you anymore. After all, the soul fusion on Moande’s side is almost complete—time for the next one.”

As for Xi Xuan? Once they destroyed the Lingyuan family and used the bloodline power of Luo Fei or Ailiya for tracking, they would find him eventually.

“Xing Wu, take Miss Alice to the Sixth Ancestor and ask him to help strip away her soul. It’s time to begin the next fusion.”

After giving this simple instruction, Duan slowly rose and left, while the black-haired girl who had been leaning against the wall for a long time with empty eyes walked step by step to Alice.

When the black-haired girl half-knelt and reached out to touch Alice’s forehead, light purple Augury Force quietly bloomed, constructing a massive teleportation array that enveloped Alice.

Alice, shrouded in purple light, couldn’t help but show a complex expression as she weakly gazed at the girl before her.

Xing Wu, why did the White Sovereign’s daughter end up like this…

Although the girl’s appearance was different from the lively yet violent girl in her memories, the aura of her Augury Force was identical.

Appearance could be changed, but as long as the soul remained unchanged… the Augury Force aura wouldn’t change.

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Therefore, gazing at the black-haired girl’s empty pupils, Alice couldn’t help but clench her fists in anguish, overwhelmed by a strong sense of powerlessness.

She desperately wanted to tell the Alabaster Sovereign everything that was happening here… but with all her spiritual power sealed, she had no strength to escape and could only be slaughtered.

The Sixth Ancestor?

Recalling the previous conversations between researchers, a trace of bleakness flashed in Alice’s eyes.

That pervert who plays with corpses?

She never expected to die at the hands of such a person… it would have been better to be killed by an evil god.

Alice wearily closed her eyes.

However, just as Duan turned to leave and Alice closed her eyes, this weak Celestial Augur Knight’s mouth was suddenly pried open?!

??!!

“Mm?!”

Alice’s eyes snapped open. Under her bewildered gaze, Xing Wu’s two fingers suddenly entered her mouth. Of course, what entered Alice’s mouth wasn’t just fingers, but also a special metal object.

After sensing the general shape of the metal with her tongue, Alice’s pupils suddenly contracted.

This, this is?!

A key to the spiritual power shackles?!

The next moment, when Alice met Xing Wu’s eyes again, she was shocked to discover… in this brief instant, the light had returned to Xing Wu’s empty pupils, revealing a meaningful gleam…

Alice: ???!