On the Brink

The Time City auction had ended, but the Saint Realm powerhouses among its most formidable attendees seemed to have reached an unspoken agreement: for now, none of them would leave.

A young man and an old man had taken rooms at an upscale inn.

"Third Uncle, the others all seem to have their eyes on the Golden Crow Blood. I'm afraid they'll strike when we leave," the young man said grimly.

"Golden Crow Blood is no ordinary thing. Its uses go far beyond what you imagine. But if they want to attack us, they'll find they aren't up to it." The old man was entirely at ease, without a trace of nerves. He looked at the young man. "Your Highness, you can enslave the God-Eating Bee first. Give the Bee Emperor a few treasures afterward, and recovering its strength will be simple. It should still have plenty of Bee Soldiers you can use. They could even handle a Ninth-Origin Saint Realm opponent."

The young man nodded slightly.

He had the strength of the Eighth-Origin, and his will had reached the Saint Realm Limit. Enslaving the sleeping God-Eating Bee's Bee Emperor was not difficult. He planted a Soul Mark with ease.

"Wake up."

"Wake up." The young man sent the command into the Bee Emperor's soul again and again.

Several other Saint Realm powerhouses had also taken rooms elsewhere in the inn. They were keeping a close watch on the human who had won the Golden Crow Blood.

A few more had settled nearby, likewise drawn by the Golden Crow Blood.

"We're all ancient monsters who've lived this long, yet here we are, testing each other's patience. How amusing." The Saint Realm powerhouse with a water-gourd-shaped head was unruffled. In another room of the inn, he leisurely sipped his wine.