"...So you're saying you acted strictly on Senior Judge Tang's orders, as she threatened to cut off your livelihood; did I get that right and record it from your words?" – The clerk asked me with a twitching eye, clearly doubting his boss wouldn't use this paper for ass-wipe, since all three and a half pages I dictated were basically just about that.
"Yeah." – Picking my ear with a finger, I replied dryly, watching clouds drift across the sky.
Oh, that looks like a horse. Maybe take the girls to a petting zoo? Feed animals, relax. Wonder if you can buy a rabbit you like for lunch? Probably, if you pay enough. Zoo rabbits are fattened on natural visitor handouts, no chemicals. Wonder if the girls would quarter me for such thoughts? Well, then they'd have to offer me their 'rabbits' for 'lunch' instead, heh-heh.
"Khm!" – The clerk tried for the umpteenth time to interrupt my inner monologue while the girls muffled their laughter with their hands in the background. Eh, always me taking the heat for everyone.
"Do you even know who my patron's uncle is?" – I tried another angle. If I'm playing the 'sweet boy,' act the part.
"No idea." – The clerk tried to stay professional, but a smile flashed on his face for a second. Magical Court workers probably get threats with connections all the time. Go on, smile while you can.
"He's the head of the Magical Court." – My lips stretched into a foxy grin, my gaze shifting to Tang Yue arguing with one of the students.
The clerk followed my gaze, realized who it landed on, recalled the rumors around Tang Yue, looked back at me – probably matching the verbal description he'd heard – paled, and stammered:
"S-sorry for the bother." – And bolted to the next person to interview. Should've done that from the start instead of pouring from empty to empty for almost two hours.
"Mu Bai, why scare people? Now he'll think he'll get fired or exiled somewhere." – Jiao Jiao asked after laughing it off.
"Well, why's he prying? I told him everything; let him wipe his tears with that paper when he cries into his pillow at night; I don't care." – I shrugged, mentally noting I wouldn't complain to Tang Yue about the clerk. It's just his job, and he does it diligently. But it doesn't stop annoying me.
"Fine, you spoiled major. Let's head to the Three-Step Tower, hide there from all the public uproar in the coming days." – TuTu hooked my elbow, and Jiao Jiao took the other. Eh, how lucky I am with them.
The walk to the tower took over an hour; we strolled leisurely from one end of the city to the other, chatting idly. I also managed to convince TuTu on light. Had to assure her that plants plus Jiao Jiao's would make them 'sisters' enough. Without that, all other arguments crashed against merciless female logic.
When we reached the Three-Step Tower, naturally no one was at the entrance. Emergency state still in the city. Though as I overheard on the street, the Warlord was pulling back from Shanghai bit by bit, letting everyone breathe. But High-level mages were still on the city walls. To prevent incidents, so to speak.
Nothing stopped us entering without escort; we'd seen the entrance open tons of times. And if caught, so what? We have passes; we passed. Director Xiao won't sweat small stuff, I'm sure. Might scold once, but that's it; safe to enter.
This time, no need for spiritual shields on the girls. We were all High-level mages with fifth-sixth spiritual boundaries; the trial stairs' pressure barely affected us. So climbing to the third floor was easy.
"Well, here are your Galactic Veins for this breakthrough. Spend freely." – I pulled a pouch with ten from my spatial ring. Considering TuTu's last spend, better safe.
"Thanks; good luck on your breakthrough." – Taking the pouch, the girls kissed my cheek and went to their corners. Time for me to boost cultivation too. What's next? Space and time elements?
This time I learned from my mistake and first improved the White Tiger pendant a bit more before breakthroughs. Got a mid-tier Warlord in mind ready to share his soul; thanks Master Mo Shu.
For two days, I stubbornly genocided one tigress. Kept at it till the pendant swelled from digested souls, capping cultivation speed boost at x8.5.
Can only improve further with better Warlord souls. Do I even need it? Wait till I kill a Warlord with a soul later, upgrade to jump High limit to x9. No need to grind extra 50% for perfection... Said that, but still want to; what's wrong with me?
Pushing the thought aside, I sat cross-legged and tuned for breakthrough. Pendant maxed for my resources; no regrets this time.
Casting "Time Acceleration x7" on myself, I absorbed ambient magic at a furious pace, channeling the mad flow to the space element barrier blocking High level.
In my hands for extra effect and guarantee: a Galactic Vein, its energy also slamming the barrier. Which quickly yielded under the assault, bumping my space stars from 49 to 343, vastly expanding the galaxy for more magic reserves.
Space done, then time. Spent remaining accelerated real-time hours upgrading poison, breaking straight to Intermediate. Solid result; thanks to improved pendant.
Stretching post-breakthrough, I checked the still-cultivating girls and date. Four days till Three-Step Tower exit; fine. I'll farm souls of various levels to upgrade space stars.
Then before leaving, show my old pal Vilyuk why the peak Ice Soul Seed he's guarding belongs to me.