Reaper of the Martial World

Book 8: Chapter 161: Cages (2)

Lilith sighed as she signed yet another soul contract. She felt an inexplicable annoyance whenever Dyon did something that made it clear he didn’t trust her, but she had learned her lesson about vocalizing such feelings. Plus, she saw the hypocrisy in them even if she didn’t want to admit it.

Once they had all signed it, Dyon silently looked at the devil cultivator geniuses.

There were fifteen of them, split among the five power that made up their alliance: Nightmare Palace, their leader, the Infernal Beasts, the Fulgur Clan, the Eclipse Sect and Asyna’s Mathilde Clan.

The oldest among them all took their roles as leaders. Lilith and her two brothers represented Nightmare Palace. Baccar and two teenage girls represented the Infernal Beasts. Sokzac and two younger males represented the Fulgur Clan – Dyon believed they were cousins and sons of the Clan Head and Grand Elders. Rolrol lead two older girls, she was the only one who was the youngest of her faction who was still seen as a leader. Finally, Asyna led to Mathilde Clan dark elves, one male and one female.

The Mathilde Clan trio seemed the most docile, they showed no dissatisfaction at signing the contract, likely because Ri was by Dyon’s side.

Dyon would be lying if he said Ri’s power over the elves didn’t make him feel uncomfortable. If he, himself was an elf, would he lower his head like this to an Elvin Queen too? Did he feel anything like that when he tapped into Ri’s Primordial Yin?

There were so many things in this martial world that tested his moral code. He had felt absolute confidence in his own compass before, but more and more things were happening recently that caused a storm within him.

It was odd. Just when he felt he had reached an equilibrium of calm with himself after the immense pressure Aritzia’s actions put on him, he suddenly found outside forces trying to tear that calm apart.

Dyon took a deep breath, shaking his head to regain his focus.

“I know you might feel dissatisfied now, but in about ten or seconds, I feel that your minds will most definitely change.” Dyon said confidently.

The fifteen geniuses looked toward Dyon as though he had said something completely ridiculous. What nonsense was he spouting? Did he think that their feelings were so chea –.

“Now that you’ve signed this contract, I can tell you a top grade secret of our Mortal Alliance, one that will make you all very happy…” Dyon paused with a light smile. “… We are in possession of likely the last remaining Devil Vein in existence.”

BOOM!

The explosions that went off in the mind of the devil path geniuses were so violent that many of their eyes nearly rolled back to the point on losing consciousness.

“For the duration of time you spend under my mortal alliance, you can use the Devil Vein as you please. I’m sure that with your talents, you’ll make great use of it.”

“Do… Do you understand what you just said?” Asyna, who was just as scantily clad as usual, could no longer avoid Dyon as she had been before. “Do you know what this means? Even if I decided to believe that you weren’t lying to us… This is worse than giving wings to a tiger.”

Dyon suddenly started laughing.

At first, thinking that he was just playing a joke on them, they frowned. Why did he get their hopes up this way? But, when Dyon spoke again, they suddenly understood that Dyon would never do anything like that…

“You believe that I should be afraid of you fifteen becoming too powerful, right? After all, my Mortal Alliance does have a rule that anyone within 50 years of my age can challenge me for my position…” historical

Dyon’s laughter disappeared, a light so sharp taking over his gaze that the air itself seemed to split.

“… You can have all the help you want in the world. I can prop you up with the whole of my ability. I can provide you with pills, resources, techniques, and even treasures. But defeating me isn’t something any of you can succeed in.”  

Arrogance.

They had forgotten… They had forgotten that this was a man who faced an army of celestials as an essence gatherer… They forgot that they watched it all unfold before them…

Asyna could remember it. The day she fought Dyon in the Soul Rending Peak’s disciple tournament. That was the first time she had ever lost to someone in her generation… Someone who was sealed and unable to use their soul and qi, no less…

He was the very same man from back then.

It was then that battle intent blazed within the eyes of the devil path geniuses. They felt Dyon’s disdain and it fueled a fire deep within their souls. But, no fire was greater than that of Lilith, Sokzac, and Asyna’s.

“With a devil vein, I’ll break into the dao realm in less than 20 years. If you concoct us devil path pills, maybe even just ten years is all it would take.” An amused light shone within Lilith’s eyes. “I hope you won’t regret your decision then.”

Dyon smiled. “I look forward to it.”

With the help of the Devil Vein, Dyon really was giving these geniuses the wings they needed to soar past the Heavens themselves. The strength they would gain in just a short time was nothing just anyone could fathom. However, Dyon had no plans to sit idly by.

First, though, he had to head back to Soul Palace. It was time to wrap up the matters of the middle tier.