Chapter 90: Grasp
[Misfortune Domain Charging: —]
[Misfortune Domain (Releasable)]
Xia Feng abruptly retreated.
"Master, could you slow down next time? I might break down." The princess's voice, icy and trembling, echoed in his mind.
"I know. I'd break down too." Xia Feng bent over, gripping his knees as he gasped for breath.
"Why did you stop? Keep going!" Black Crow's mocking shout came from behind. "Can't handle it?"
"..."
Xia Feng could still push forward—after all, the bulk of the evil spirit liquid's burden fell on the princess. But he wasn't sure how much more she could endure.
Before anything else, he needed to release Misfortune Domain. The princess had reached her limit, completely saturated.
Xia Feng planted the Ancient Warblade into the ground and focused his mind.
The ink-black hilt erupted in a dark glow, the ※ symbol at its center spinning counterclockwise as waves of black energy rippled outward.
In an instant, an invisible 30-meter radius field unfurled.
After a few seconds of waiting, Xia Feng glanced around, puzzled. Nothing seemed amiss.
"Brat, what are you up to now—?"
Whoosh! A massive tree plummeted from the sky. Black Crow barely dodged as the trunk cratered the ground—BOOM!
The wood wasn't ordinary. Fragments ignited upon contact with evil energy, filling the air with embers that immediately set Black Crow's feathers ablaze.
Bathed in flames, she became a literal fire crow.
With a casual flick of her feathers, the fire snuffed out—only her eyes still burned as she glared at Xia Feng.
"Was that your doing, brat?"
Xia Feng averted his gaze guiltily. He meant to raise his hands in innocence but forgot he still held the blade. The weapon sliced a long gash along Miss Evil Dragon's starry skirt, revealing pale skin from her slender calf to her rounded thigh.
Xia Feng froze mid-motion. Face stiff, he carefully retracted his hand and stood statue-still.
"Damn it, this ability affects the user too?!" He checked the details again, horrified.
[Misfortune Domain: When malevolent energy peaks at 100% Misfortune Domain can be released. All lifeforms within 30 meters suffer equal misfortune.]
All lifeforms. A double-edged sword—harm the enemy, harm yourself.
Still, Xia Feng wasn't too disheartened. Even if everyone in the domain died, his Vermilion Bird Armor guaranteed resurrection.
"You're doomed," Black Crow said flatly.
"What?"
"That 'Starry Night' skirt is Lady Di Si's favorite. You're finished." Her tone was almost amused.
Di Si? So that was Miss Evil Dragon's name. Wait—no! Xia Feng stared blankly at the ruined skirt, baffled.
"She's a god. How did I even cut her clothes?"
"Normally, you couldn't. But that blade of yours is... special."
Xia Feng had no rebuttal. He hastily deactivated the Misfortune Domain, then cupped Miss Evil Dragon's chin to resume charging—this time slower, more controlled, ensuring neither of them passed out.
Soon, the princess's frantic protests signaled another full charge. The Misfortune Domain was ready for release once more.
"So you can cycle like this indefinitely?" Black Crow's vertical pupils gleamed with interest.
Seeing the dangerous glint in Black Crow's eyes, Xia Feng retreated beyond the throne's range, blade still in hand, and coughed awkwardly. "Ms. Black Crow, I should take my leave now. Goodbye."
With that, he turned toward the teleportation platform.
"Brat, stop!" Black Crow's voice sharpened, regal yet strained.
Xia Feng paused, glancing back with feigned innocence. "Hm? Was there something else, Ms. Black Crow?"
"Enough games!" She hissed. "Wake her. Now."
Xia Feng sighed. "I'm not an idiot. If Lady Di Si wakes up, I'm dead. You said she'd skin me alive."
"..." Black Crow stiffened, regret flashing in her eyes. Shouldn't have scared him.
Forcing calm, she softened her tone. "A jest. Lady Di Si is... gracious. I exaggerated."
Xia Feng's silent smirk said it all: Liar.
"Brat, don't you want the Dragon God's legacy?"
"Wake her to get it?"
"Obviously!" She flicked her wings indignantly.
"Heh. Think I'm three years old, Crow?"
"Listen." Her voice dropped, earnest. "Awaken Lady Di Si, and you'll ascend as her earthly envoy—a God-Walker. Do you grasp what that means?"
"Not a clue."
Xia Feng had never heard of any "Dragon God" in this world.
Black Crow lifted her chin, pride seeping into her voice. "As her envoy, every Star God, every deity's agent—even the foulest Evil Gods—will kneel before you. Fear you. Worship you."
(Evil Beasts tier from one to nine eyes; eight-eyes and above ascend as Evil Gods—the dread deities whispered of in mortal tongues.)
Xia Feng's brows rose. "That... powerful?"
"Undeniably."
"Still doubt it." He crossed his arms. "One question: Is becoming her envoy guaranteed if I wake her?"
"No." Black Crow's blunt honesty was almost refreshing.
"Then it's bullshit."
(God's Envoy—a mortal chosen by a Star God, blessed to channel their will. Like the "Black Moon Saint" Cha Naxue craved to become.)
Tempting? Yes. But Xia Feng wasn't naive. A sleeping Dragon God was harmless. An awakened one? Unpredictable.
"So?" Black Crow purred. "Still refusing?"
"...No."
"You hesitated."
"That's called thinking!"
"Mm. Your gamble, brat~" She stretched lazily, feathers rustling. "Or will you fold?"
"Tch." His eye twitched. Damn crow played me.
"Wake her... or not?"
He sank into silence.
(End of Chapter)