Marvel: Godhood Unlocked, I Choose Sci-Magic Dual Cultivation

The old clerk eagerly stepped forward, ready to try another new method.

But just then, the cell door suddenly opened, interrupting the old clerk's enjoyment.

He turned around irritably, wanting to see who was ruining his fun. But the moment he saw the visitor, his expression changed. He immediately dropped to his knees ingratiatingly to welcome her.

"Forgive this old servant for failing to welcome the Holy Maiden from afar..."

The old clerk had learned the old ways left behind by his ancestors and accepted the whole feudal system. Groveling before his superiors was an instinct carved into his bones.

"Leave. Give me some private space with this man."

"But Holy Maiden, this place is filthy. I fear—"

"Out."

"Yes!" The old clerk did not dare say another word and hurriedly bowed his way out of the cell.

After he left, Xu Xialing stepped closer to the Winter Soldier.

Bucky raised his head to look at her. She was a very young woman, Asian in appearance like the old clerk from before.

He did not remember ever offending people like them.

"James Barnes."

"Who... are you people?" Bucky's voice was hoarse, like that of a desert traveler who had gone an entire day without a drop of water.

"Have you heard of the Ten Rings?"

The Winter Soldier's expression changed.

Xu Xialing smiled. "It seems you have."

"The Ten Rings are merely an armed organization in the Middle East. They should have been wiped out years ago..."

After leaving Hydra, Bucky had lost his greatest source of intelligence. Steve was hardly a competent agent, and the two of them had focused most of their attention on Hydra, so they had inevitably paid less attention to other forces.

All they knew of the Ten Rings was that it had once kidnapped