Xia Ling Must Never Become Like Otto! / Xia Ling: You... Can't Do Anything

Amidst the shocked and bewildered gazes of the three, Xia Ling's voice came from above. At that moment, she was wearing the hood of the Scale Cloak she had just removed, and was leaning lazily against a stone pillar, her jade-like legs swinging lightly and playfully in the air.

"It's been a long time, Sirin, Fu Hua, Kiana... and Theresa."

"So... hi, how's it going?"

"Xia Ling?!"×4

"It seems you're a little surprised, Theresa. What, aren't you happy to see me safe and sound?"

"Don't imitate Grandfather's tone; it's too forced..."

Theresa sighed; Xia Ling's sudden appearance eased the tension considerably.

"If time weren't so pressing, I would definitely have questioned you properly on the spot... but it's probably too late now. I'll just ask you one question: you... are you really on Grandfather's side?"

Really?

Xia Ling Linghao didn't hesitate to say something that sent a chill down Theresa's spine, "And I promised him that I would stop Theresa here today."

"So, Kiana, you can go now."

"Sister Xia Ling?"

"Don't be surprised. You were trained by me. Theresa might have a chance, but if you fight me, you definitely can't beat me."

Xia Ling shrugged. "And even if you and Theresa team up and manage to beat me, so what? If I want to stall for time, it might take twelve hours to finish the fight. My stamina is excellent."

Reimu first posted "But..."

"Alright, Kiana." Theresa took a deep breath. "Do as she says."

"Xia Ling is right. We do need someone to first probe Otto's capabilities, and also..."

The Judas' Vow was immediately put into action, and the weapons that Xia Ling had fought alongside in the past were now aimed at her body.

"Over this long period of time, I have indeed had many questions that I need Xia Ling to answer for me."

"I understand, but, Sister Xia Ling, Headmistress, please don't be too..."

"Don't worry, Kiana, we're both reliable adults. We know how to handle dangerous things like fighting."

Xia Ling waved her hand gently. "Then, remember to be careful of Otto's schemes, and be safe~"

Looking at Xia Ling, who seemed as relaxed and casual as if she were being taken to school, Kiana didn't know what to say. She glanced at Xia Ling helplessly and then vanished from the spot.

"Grand Master, and this one... uh, the Herrscher of Consciousness?"

Sushang extended her hand. "This way please, after all, I promised Xia Ling that I would make room for her."

"Okay." Fu Hua nodded, then glanced hesitantly at Theresa and Xia Ling.

"You two... sigh, never mind, don't go too far."

Watching Fu Hua and Sushang leave, Xia Ling finally turned her gaze back to Theresa.

"So, what follows is... our time together as a couple?"

Chapter Twenty-Three: We absolutely cannot let Xia Ling become like Otto!

"Although you've been making jokes and changing the subject since we reunited, you still haven't answered my most crucial question."

A golden spear emerged from Judah and slowly circled around Theresa. Theresa crossed her arms and looked up at Xia Ling.

Why are you siding with Grandfather?

"Because I agree with his plan, it's that simple."

Xia Ling answered without hesitation.

"Really... is this the only reason?"

Theresa was still unwilling to give up; her eyes showed a pleading look, which made Xia Ling waver for a moment.

"... Oh really."

"Or does Theresa think I might have some other reason? Like some unavoidable predicament, or being coerced by Otto, or maybe it's actually a feint, and I actually have other purposes?"

"I really... I really hope that's the case." Theresa's tone was somewhat forlorn.

"Unfortunately, that's not the case... Perhaps my actions made you feel betrayed, but the blueprint Otto presented to me was too grand."

Xia Ling gently shook her head, her tone serious.

"To turn back the world by five hundred years... Theresa, the temptation is too great. A capitalist would risk his head and everything for a 300% profit..."

"And a surplus of five hundred years, let alone three hundred percent, would probably be more than thirty thousand percent. With my current rate of strength improvement, as long as I leave my Intrinsic World to develop, given five hundred years, I would be able to easily defeat Kevin."

"What about the rest of the world? Are they destined to be an abandoned future? Or do you simply not see them at all?"

"Theresa ...you should know my past. In my eyes, the individual has always been more important than the world. Most of my efforts have been for the benefit of one or a few specific people."

"As for our other friends, you don't need to worry. Remember? Ain should have told you that a few cores were left at the Salt Lake Base for research."

A phantom of a theater appeared in Xia Ling's hand. "I only need to use those cores as a medium, just like when the Thousand-Man Herrscher invaded, to cover the Salt Lake Base with the Theater of Domination, and I can easily bring them here and return to five hundred years ago together."

"So, Theresa, wasn't I very thoughtful?"

"Thoughtful... Hehe... Xia Ling, you've disappointed me a bit."

Theresa took a deep breath. She stopped trying to dissuade Xia Ling because she understood that Xia Ling would never easily change her mind about what she had made up her mind.

Just as she stubbornly placed her own life as the lowest priority, even though Theresa tried several times in various circumstances to get Xia Ling to change her mind, Xia Ling never complied with her.

Typical "I was wrong, but I'll do it again next time" attitude.

So... things that can't be solved with ideas can only be solved with fists. This was something she had secretly decided after talking to Ain.

If Xia Ling remains obstinate, then she must wake her up. This time she was able to easily abandon five hundred years of history and all of humanity, and next time she will do even more shameless things. She cannot let Xia Ling slide into such an abyss.

Otherwise, given time, Xia Ling will eventually become more and more like Otto, and may even cause a tragedy similar to what happened to Kiana.

"Your eyes have become more determined..."

Although Xia Ling didn't know what Theresa was imagining, she could sense that Theresa seemed to have become serious.

That's good. Although Otto's method is a bit underhanded, it has to be said that it is quite effective. At least Theresa is seriously trying to wake herself up.

I just don't know what will happen when Theresa finally discovers that Otto's plan wasn't to sacrifice the world, but to sacrifice herself for one person.

And when her own plan also didn't involve sacrificing the world, and was even for Theresa's sake (or perhaps, sacrificing herself?), what kind of expression would she show...?

Well, getting a good beating should be considered a sacrifice, right?

Thinking about this, Xia Ling felt an irrepressible urge to smile.

"Xia Ling... I really shouldn't have let you have the opportunity to get in touch with Grandfather in the first place."

Seeing Xia Ling's barely suppressed, joyful smile mirroring Otto's, Theresa's resolve to wake her up only strengthened.

Suddenly, her body began to move.

"So impatient... Theresa, this isn't like your fighting style."

As the cross crashed down upon her, Xia Ling vanished from her spot, leaving only the shattered stone pillar beneath the golden cross.

"Well then, I'll retaliate too, won't I?"

With a casual gesture, Xia Ling produced not the Seven Thunders of Retribution, but her former weapon, the Crescent Rose.

Although Theresa genuinely wanted to fight her, she didn't want to actually hurt Theresa... The damage from the Seven Thunders of Retribution was still a bit too difficult to control.

Moreover, after obtaining the core of the Herrscher of Domination, Xia Ling's Crescent Rose underwent some adaptive modifications.

Now, her weapon can be equipped with different Domination Core at will, thereby triggering different effects... Although it is far inferior to Heavenly Fire or Seven Thunders of Retribution in terms of damage, it is indeed superior in terms of functionality.

For example, Xia Ling is currently equipped with a core that enhances physical constitution.

After all, Theresa's superhuman strength should not be underestimated. If she doesn't give herself some buffs, she probably won't be able to catch even the most basic Theresa flying kick, let alone collapse and restraint.

"You... you enhanced the weapon with the core?"

"After all, I don't want to become that ugly mob, and Otto's method of using the Domination Core has also given me a lot of inspiration."

The crimson scythe spun once, breaking free of the tangled chains, and Xia Ling's face revealed a confident smile.

"Theresa, if you want to beat me, this kind of monotonous attack won't work. Others may not understand, but do you think I don't know how to use your chains?"

"Hmph... You're still the same as always, always acting like you're in complete control..."

After a few rounds of probing, Theresa indeed stopped attacking.

"Since that's the case... are you prepared with methods to counter my Power of Restraint?"

As she spoke, Theresa reached out her hand and pulled at the void.

A golden chain suddenly appeared on the necklace that Xia Ling had been wearing.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Xia Ling: You... can't do anything.

"It's this thing again..."

Xia Ling's face flushed slightly as she looked at Theresa with a mixture of reluctance and acceptance.

"Theresa, this... this is still outside... isn't it a bit daring to bring this out like this?"

Looking at Xia Ling's alluring eyes, Theresa couldn't help but feel an urge to cover her nose.

Well, this little vixen is always so unreliable... Ignoring Xia Ling's "seduce," Theresa gave a sharp, merciless tug, and the chain on her collar snapped straight.

At the same time, the Power of Restraint spread along the chains, directly enveloping Xia Ling's body.

As far as Theresa knows, even Schicksal itself probably has no way to deal with the Power of Restraint in the current world, and even Previous Civilization did not have one.

While Xia Ling possessed many strange and unusual items, she likely didn't have any that could directly exert Power of Restraint; otherwise, she would have already taken them out, instead of being...

Setting aside any thoughts that might be inappropriate for children, Theresa confidently pulled the chain gently, intending to reap this tempting prey.

Then...

Her chains remained motionless. The Power of Restraint that had always been effective in the past did not elicit any response from Theresa this time. The taut chains had no luster whatsoever, as if nothing was attached to them at all.

"Keep going, why aren't you pulling anymore, my dear Theresa?"

Xia Ling looked at Theresa with a smile.

"The Power of Restraint has disappeared... You've found a way to deal with the constraint?"

Theresa stared blankly at Xia Ling.

"Of course not, how could there be a way to deal with the Power of Restraint... If there were, it wouldn't be called constraint."

Xia Ling shook her head and said, "But no one said I can't possess the Power of Restraint."

As she spoke, a golden light, identical to that on Judah's spear of light, emanated from Xia Ling's hand.

"Grandfather gave you the Void Archive? No, the Void Archive can't mimic this realistically..." Theresa's tone grew increasingly horrified. "Xia Ling, you... you've become the Herrscher of Restraint?"

"You guessed half right. There is indeed a Herrscher of Restraint in the current Kolosten."

"However... it wasn't me."

Xia Ling smiled knowingly, "So, guess who it is?"

Theresa gasped, a look of panic flashing in her eyes for the first time. "Grandfather? He lent you the Power of Restraint through the Domination Core?"

"That should be right. There's no one else in the entire Kolosten who could become the Herrscher of Restraint at this critical juncture, but if that's the case..."

It must be said that when it comes to Xia Ling, Theresa's mind is always unusually Theresa. By taking advantage of Xia Ling's Domination Core, she quickly guessed the real answer.

"It's probably even more troublesome than that. A mere constraint isn't worth Otto going to such lengths for..."

"Is this the important thing right now? If Grandfather becomes a constraint, are you just going to let Kiana face him alone?"

"Yes, my dear Theresa, you finally understand the seriousness of the matter."

Xia Ling met Theresa's angry, deep blue eyes without flinching.

"This isn't flirting; it's a full-blown war. If you can't take me down quickly, you should understand the consequences of a single Herrscher against the constraints."

"After all, among Theresa's side, you are the only one with the means to counter and restrain her."