Chapter 63: The Weight of the World

Finally, Yan Tong turned her head and faced the tall youth, saying, “Feila, no matter how many times you ask, there is only one answer: No.”

Feila’s face instantly froze, his cheeks twitching as anger flared. He tried to maintain a bit of composure, forcing a grimace, but the twisted lines only made him look more menacing.

Yan Tong turned her head back, continuing to gaze out of the window. Her aloof coldness was more like contempt, and she casually shifted slightly, moving away from him.

“You bitch!” Feila roared. Yan Tong’s small gesture ignited the last spark, and he suddenly stood up, extending his large hand to grab her.

A flash of cold light appeared in Yan Tong’s eyes. The two short blades at her waist unsheathed themselves, leaping into her hands. A vivid red glow enveloped the blades as they shot towards Feila’s chest, while her pupils reflected his image.

The sound of clashing metal echoed in the room. Feila’s right arm blocked Yan Tong’s twin blades. The sharp blades, which had once sliced through countless enemies, now struggled against his seemingly indestructible form, finding it nearly impossible to penetrate further.

Yan Tong let out a clear cry, and Feila’s reflection in her eyes shattered. However, Feila merely grunted, his face paling as his blood energy stabilized after a momentary tremor. The blood mist coiling around his left hand thickened rapidly, pressing against Yan Tong’s protective blood aura.

Thick, almost tangible blood energy surged from both of them, quickly filling the entire room. Two different types of blood energy formed their respective domains and fiercely clashed.

Feila’s dark red blood energy transformed into various land beasts—lions, tigers, bears, and wolves—roaring as they charged at Yan Tong. These were not mere illusions; each attack carried the power to tear flesh, even more vicious than ordinary beasts.

Suddenly, an unusual roar echoed, and a double-headed beast appeared among the land beasts, exuding a powerful presence. Creating such a beast within one’s domain was a sign of a true genius, and this kind of domain was far more potent than ordinary ones.

Feila, having pushed his domain to its limits, had calmed down, shifting to the coolness required for battle. He was curious about the special abilities of Yan Tong, who was highly regarded by many powerful figures. Both he and Yan Tong were primogenitors, but he received far less attention from the higher-ups.

Yan Tong also activated her blood energy, a bright red with golden specks. She was enveloped in a dense, blood-colored mist, her form flickering in and out of sight. Suddenly, a giant bird rose from the mist! It resembled a peacock, with a golden line running from its beak to the tip of its longest tail feather.

Feila’s pupils constricted sharply; it was a Golden Line Peacock, a beast capable of controlling dark primal force. In comparison, the double-headed beast in his domain paled in significance.

The Golden Line Peacock, ignoring the land beasts attacking Yan Tong, dove straight for the double-headed beast, delivering several vicious pecks that punctured its left head, causing it to writhe in pain. The other head of the beast retaliated, biting into the peacock’s body.

But the peacock held on, no matter how the beast thrashed. More pecks, and the other head of the beast exploded, turning into tendrils of black smoke that dissipated in the blood-red domain.

Victory was clear.

However, the victorious peacock was soon overwhelmed by the multitude of land beasts. Each flap of its wings sent beasts flying, returning to black primal force. But their numbers were too great, and the peacock’s wounds continued to increase.

In the blood mist, Yan Tong opened her eyes, her cold gaze unusually bright. Another large, gray eagle with snowy white wingtips ascended, charging forth.

A Snow Winged Golden Eagle! Another formidable beast, though not as powerful as the peacock, still a significant threat.

Feila finally changed color. Yan Tong’s domain had produced two beasts, both mid-to-high ranking flyers, demonstrating a far greater talent in domain creation.

Creating formidable beasts in one’s domain was typically a feat of noble blood lords. Feila, being able to summon land beasts as a count, was already proud, but compared to Yan Tong, who was just a newly promoted viscount, he fell short.

No wonder Monro was hesitant in negotiations, and the high-ranking figures of the Evernight Council were so attentive to her. But being under too much scrutiny could be a mixed blessing.

Feila grinned savagely; the higher Yan Tong’s displayed talent, the more determined he became.

In his domain, beasts poured out like a black tide, relentlessly attacking the Golden Line Peacock and the Snow Winged Golden Eagle. Though each of their strikes tore a land beast into black smoke, their numbers were overwhelming, and one death was immediately replaced by another.

Feila, far superior in rank, ultimately won by sheer quantity, suppressing Yan Tong. The Snow Winged Golden Eagle faltered first, disintegrating.

Yan Tong’s face turned pale, and she spat out a mouthful of blood, her movements slowing. The Golden Line Peacock soon vanished, and another mouthful of blood, her actions greatly slowed.

Feila found his opportunity, his left hand piercing through her protective blood aura, grasping her throat and lifting her off the ground.

With Yan Tong subdued, Feila looked around, seeing only a few battered beasts remaining in his domain. His expression darkened, realizing he had only narrowly won.

He was three ranks higher than Yan Tong, yet the fight was so close. If they were at the same rank, he would likely not have lasted ten minutes.

Feila glared at Yan Tong, his eyes flashing with madness. “You truly are the primogenitor that caught the old fogeys’ fancy. Your talent is indeed far above mine. But so what? Your talent will only drag you down.”

Yan Tong’s pale face showed a flush of suffocation. She gazed back at him, her eyes calm, undisturbed by the situation.

Feila’s voice grew low and menacing, “I know you look down on me, but this is not your choice. Be my woman… or perhaps, I should taste you now!”

At that moment, a cough sounded in the room.

Feila’s movements paused, and he forcefully turned his head, glaring at an elderly man who had appeared out of nowhere.

The old man, dressed impeccably, exuded the demeanor of an ancient clan elder. He stared at Feila, saying slowly, “Sir Feila, your current actions are inappropriate.”

“Appropriate?” Feila sneered, his hand tightening on Yan Tong’s neck, tearing her collar.

Another cough from the old man, and a drop of blood appeared on Feila’s neck.

“Are you going to stop me?” Feila roared.

“If you mean now, then yes,” the old man replied calmly.

Feila’s eyes burned with rage, and he snarled, pushing Yan Tong away.

Yan Tong crashed into the wall, spitting out another mouthful of blood. The domain battle had drained her, leaving her weaker than a newborn blood kin.

The old man’s eyes twitched, but he remained still, watching Feila intently.

Feila paced furiously, waving his arms, “Very well, Lord Earl Chaos. I’ll remember this. I hear your descendants are numerous, but they are all weaklings. They’d better stay in their castles and coffins. The Evernight has always been dangerous, and it will become even more so!”

The old man’s expression changed, then returned to normal.

Feila strode up to the old man, jabbing his chest. “Old man, listen up. Even if you can stop me today, you won’t stop me tomorrow! She is destined to be mine, whether it’s today or tomorrow. But because of your actions today, when I take her, I’ll play with her until she’s half-dead, in front of all your descendants! And that’s because of your meddling, understood?”

The old man’s expression remained unchanged, as if a gentle breeze had passed. “It’s late, you should rest.”

Feila’s chest heaved, but he eventually calmed, sneering, “Fine! I’ll go! But I’ll see what Monro has to refuse me! Tell Gar that the original terms are void, and we start over!”

After roaring, Feila stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

The old man helped Yan Tong up, giving her a blood crystal. Only after she absorbed the energy did some color return to her face.

The old man gazed at Yan Tong with love and pity. “Though you awakened the blood of the ancestors, you are still my child.”

Yan Tong’s icy expression softened, whispering, “You’ve always been my father, never changing.”

The old earl sighed deeply, his wrinkles deepening. “I didn’t expect Feila to be so bold. It seems they are determined.”

Yan Tong’s eyes flashed with a resolve, “Nothing in this world is guaranteed.”

The old earl smiled bitterly, “I fear the higher-ups might not withstand the pressure…”

Yan Tong’s gaze lowered, silent.

The old earl, after a moment, said, “Leave. Go far away.”

Yan Tong was startled, then shook her head. “But what about you? If I leave, they’ll take it out on you.”

“I am old, waiting for eternal sleep. So, what does it matter?”

Yan Tong gently held the old earl’s hand, placing her cheek against his, as she had done in childhood.

Meanwhile, Qian Ye led the elite troops, raiding two more mines, looting everything and setting them ablaze. The Spider Demon Earl’s territory remained quiet, but Qian Ye was not worried. The longer the delay, the stronger Black Ridge’s defenses became. Qian Ye even brought in an airship.

If the Spider Demon Earl truly did not plan to attack, it was not a bad thing. With control of Black Ridge, the connection between the eastern territories and the earl would be severed, and Qian Ye could deal with the local viscounts one by one, completing his westward advance.

Zhuo Yuying had disappeared, leaving word that she was surveying the terrain. Qian Ye trusted her to return before any conflict, and with her skills, she could handle herself in the earl’s domain. After the easy victory at the mines, Qian Ye intended to train, but as he entered his tent, a familiar, unshakable fatigue overcame him.