Aria's eyes flicked to the marks on the wall, which abruptly ended at the corner."These marks are weird." She tapped her left hand lightly on the ground, and a hollow sound echoed in response. The floor beneath was hollow!"Ms. Carver, what is it?" Nyx asked curiously.Aria was searching for the switch to open the door. "There's a hidden chamber."A hidden chamber?Just as Nyx was pondering, Aria noticed several books on the shelf. She adjusted them back and forth according to the marks. When the final book was in place, a click was heard.The wooden floor revealed an opening, and a chilly gust of wind emanated from it.Aria wasted no time lifting the wooden panel and gesturing for the duo to enter first.It was important for her to go last as this was the heart of the manifestation. Even if one tried hard to conceal the location, it was almost impossible for them to get rid of the smell.Aria had left a Charm Coin outside the panel to ensure a retreat path for the Earthboun
Tobias had taught Aria to guard her emotions against the influence of vengeful spirits in the Earthbound Manifestation. The events within this realm were remnants of the past, and compassion was essential when dismantling the formation.Yet Aria struggled to extend any empathy toward the Krowonians. Her expression remained dark as she stared at the syringes arranged on the trolley.Unaware of the looming threat, the Krowonians continued to laugh heartily.Aria walked to a corner of the laboratory and released the twins. "An eye for an eye," she mumbled.Immediately, the Krowonian who apprehended Bree felt a chill around his neck. It was as if someone was breathing down on him. He asked his colleagues, "Does it feel like the wind is stronger today?""Nope," the person replied while scratching his arm. He seemed unaware of the strength he used.This was until someone reached out. "Hold on. What's that?"Blood? Why would there be blood?The three of them froze instantly, their fac
Aria's eyes darkened as she recalled the unsettling events since her arrival. Meanwhile, the Krowonians in the laboratory were driven to the brink of madness by fear.Aria urgently needed to get Bree out of the laboratory. Bree was in critical condition, teetering on the edge of death from severe blood loss. However, Bree was frightened of Aria because of her white coat and wanted to flee.Aria gently grasped Bree's hand and spoke in a soothing tone. "Your elder sister and mother sent me to rescue you. They are very worried about you."Bree's eyes widened with desperation as she clung to Aria. Noticing that Bree could only whimper, Aria realized she had lost her ability to speak.After a brief pause, Aria asked, "Did you see anyone not wearing a white coat besides the Krowonian soldiers? Nod if you did."Bree hesitated as she sifted through her memories.Just then, Nyx appeared with Riley behind him. "Ms. Carver, we're running out of time."When Bree saw Riley, she gripped onto
After Nyx led Bree away, Aria checked the time on the laboratory clock before picking up an iron rod.As she ventured deeper into the corridor, the metallic tang of blood grew stronger.Riley, visibly shaken, called out to Aria with each step, but she ignored him, her gaze fixed ahead. She flicked on the light switch and said, "Just as I suspected, it's an Eight Trigrams Manifestation."From the moment she arrived, Aria had found the laboratory's layout unusual. It was circular on the outside, with energy converging at a single point. The paintings on the walls were deliberately placed, and the terrain was uneven.Determining the lowest point of the terrain wasn't difficult for Aria. After pouring a solution from a wooden rack and following its path, she discovered a well not far off. Although the water was collecting on the surface, it trapped souls beneath.Aria raised her eyebrows. This was it.Riley grabbed her hand. "Are we really going over there? It looks so scary.""It
Aria chuckled when she heard that. "God's blessing?""I'll overlook your ignorance," Riley replied, her tone cold. "Perhaps you're unaware of my origins. I am a vessel of God from Krowo. People revere me, praying for blessings and peace. And I possess the power to bestow it."She raised her left hand slightly as she spoke, causing the devices around her to lift into the air. Her long hair flowed as if stirred by an unseen breeze, glowing with a soft light.At the same time, Barron, who was drinking with Viktor, seemed to have sensed something amiss and shot up from his seat.Riley! Something happened to Riley!However, Viktor didn't believe anyone in the Carver family could pose a real threat to Riley. He assumed she was simply displeased with the latest batch of children he provided.After straightening his clothes, Viktor said, "You guys keep Mr. Carver Senior company. I'll be back soon."Barron quickly stood up and wanted to stop him. He knew Aria had been discovered, and it
"You're just a Krowonian doll, yet you claim to be a god?" Aria lifted the iron rod, her voice laced with disdain. "I'm sorry, but our mythology textbooks must not align. I don't play with dolls, and I definitely won't be a slave you cherish."Just one question—are you going to spit out the spirits you've swallowed, or do I have to force them out of you?"As she spoke, Aria bit her finger and smeared her blood across the iron rod, imbuing it with her energy.Riley narrowed her eyes at Aria's defiance. Pure malice ignited in her gaze, the resentment palpable."You Farshyans are clueless. Since you won't submit, you can stay and keep me company. Your body is much more suitable for me. The blood of a cultivator has a sweeter scent."Riley licked her lips before she suddenly vanished.She wasn't just a lingering soul—once she left a body, it would decay immediately. The little boy's form from earlier was nothing more than a discarded shell.The entire laboratory echoed with Riley's
A tall figure emerged from the blood mist, standing unaffected by the malevolent spirits that swirled around him.The spirits couldn't even approach him; they recoiled as if repelled by an invisible force. It wasn't due to any protective charm—his very presence instilled fear in all souls.Aria's fuzzy mind cleared up. Not only did the annoying chanting disappear, but the spirits under Riley's control also stopped in their tracks. Though their eyes remained bloodshot and their forms grotesque, they averted their gaze upon seeing the newcomer, even parting to create a path for him.The tall, lean man wore a pure black wool coat. As he moved forward, his graceful, gentlemanly demeanor was reminiscent of a businessman from Ludwiten, perhaps one educated abroad, with a touch of 19th-century elegance.His face, handsome yet cold, was unmistakable. Only Aria's fiancé could possess such a complex spiritual presence.However, it seemed that the version of him 100 years ago didn't have s
The phenomenon known as Hundred Ghosts Weeping usually emerged during times of war when countless ordinary lives were lost. These spirits harbored numerous unfulfilled desires and grievances, making it nearly impossible to resolve the situation. Spirits who had died unnaturally couldn't be exorcised by force.However, Tobias had reassured Aria that Hundred Ghosts Weeping wouldn't appear in times of peace, as the natural cycle of life and death generally prevented such occurrences.Aria once asked Tobias what she should do if she ever encountered one, and Tobias had been blunt—she should run as fast as possible. There was no shame in fleeing when faced with a hundred spirits.Aria looked up and saw Riley hovering mid-air, nearly driven mad, with no intention of running. Riley had summoned the spirits of Farshya, exploiting their grievances against Aria.Aria narrowed her eyes. This was the first time she felt like killing a God.Riley wasn't entirely lying, though. In Krowo, wood
Aria needed to identify all the "buyers". Missing even one buyer could mean one more student was sold. "Do the selected applicants have anything in common besides their family situations?" Aria asked, and Eden shook her head. But she then added, "Everyone had good grades, so nobody ever questioned why they were chosen for scholarships. Nothing seemed fishy about it." Aria made a mental note about the good grades, then scrolled through Judy's Facebook feed. This kind of investigation was pretty straightforward for her. Even without being accepted as a friend, she could hack in easily. From her posting habits, Judy seemed like an optimist. She was a nice girl who rarely posted anything negative. But one post made Aria scroll back and look twice. The post was cheerful, with a sunny photo and a cup of chocolate. But the text caught her attention. It read, "About to start my new life! All my hard work has paid off. The interview was kind of weird, but no big deal. Let's go!" Ar
The person on the other end of the call didn't speak. He just nodded with a pouty little face from behind a computer screen. It was actually Sam. He'd been working behind the scenes all along, especially when investigating the Wagner situation. Having him tail Philip was the least suspicious option. Simon was available too, but his presence would definitely attract unwanted attention as a beast of fortune. Since they were dealing with an arcane seeker, bringing Simon would be like handing them a treasure. So Aria made the call to have Sam follow Philip, while Simon stayed with Landon. Aria was not worried about her handsome fiancé being in danger. It was only because Simon would be safest with him. The Yorks carried heavenly fortune. As long as there was no fated ordeal in play, anyone who tried to harm Landon would likely meet a bad end. After all, that purple energy surrounding him wasn't just for show. With Simon staying near him, Simon could mask Landon's aura while also
"Yeah, that's right," the rest of the burly men chimed in. The whole scene was painfully forced and fake. In reality, they just wanted to leave. But Aria wasn't about to let them off so easily. She figured she would return the favor since they'd been asking about her. She asked, "Oh, so the Draycotts owe your company money? Which company is that?" Viggo had not expected this question. He froze momentarily, then quickly replied, "Our company is small, so it's not worth mentioning. It's nothing compared to yours." "It's admirable how your company can sponsor students despite being a small one." Aria's compliment was delivered flatly. Viggo's scalp tingled with unease. "It's actually our investor. He doesn't just fund us but many companies. He came from a small town himself and wants to help these students get better learning conditions." "Now that's a rare and kind soul. I'd love to meet him sometime." Aria said casually, "Since we've had such a fortunate encounter, let's exc
The three men Aria had knocked to the ground were hurting all over, yet she had the nerve to talk about following the law. Viggo knew his men were losing their cool. After all, they'd never been humiliated like this in Ludwiten before. He quickly moved to block them, forcing a smile. "Yes, you're absolutely right. "Well, they say you never really know someone until you trade a few punches. You look unfamiliar, though. You're not from Ludwiten, are you?" Viggo was fishing for information about Aria. He needed to know who she was and why their operation had suddenly derailed today. But someone as shrewd as Aria instantly caught his meaning, so she smirked. Since things had already escalated this far, it did not matter whether she revealed her identity or not. Whoever was behind these men would investigate her anyway. It was better to draw all the attention to herself now while her senior and the Public Integrity Task Force gathered evidence behind the scenes. That way, they cou
Viggo tried to explain, "You've got it all wrong—we don't mean any harm. We were just told to pick Ms. Bohmer up for paperwork. "Ms. Bohmer's a top student, and her school recommended her for study abroad. Just ask her if you don't believe me." Viggo shifted the spotlight to Eden. He figured a student like her wouldn't know how to speak up. Indeed, Eden was terrible at lying. Under Aria's watchful gaze, she nodded. She then added, "But something about them felt off. Maybe I was just being paranoid when I asked for your help." She couldn't very well tell this stranger that everything was based on a hunch, that these people gave her the creeps. They hadn't crossed any lines yet, but something felt wrong. She just couldn't put her finger on what. Eden struggled to explain, but Aria cut right to the chase. "So are you saying you need eight beefy men to escort a girl like her just to fill out some study abroad forms? Can't the teachers or the proper agencies handle it? "Looking
Hearing this, Viggo frowned. The burly men exchanged glances too as they sized up the person in front of them. They'd been in Ludwiten so long but had never met anyone as bold as Aria. They all figured that she must be some out-of-town wealthy heir who didn't know the rules here. She was practically asking for trouble when she blocked their way. These people didn't follow the stock market much. If they had, they'd know that a certain young lady had arrived in town not long ago. And she was someone who was good at dealing with those who crossed her. "You should ask around about who runs things here before acting so cocky. Since you like it here, stay right here with your bike!" As they spoke, one of them walked toward Aria aggressively, raising his arm to throw a punch. The rest moved in at the same time. But before the man could touch Aria, his hand was suddenly caught. Aria moved fast. With one leg braced against her motorcycle as a pivot point, she lunged forward and droppe
After finishing her sentence, Aria ended the call. She trusted her senior would take action on that end. Besides, nobody at the Public Integrity Task Force would dare ignore her message after hearing the way she spoke. Lucas had received his transfer orders. Just after arriving, people were already waiting for him at the train station before he had even attended any meetings. None of them were low-ranking, which matched his own status. The phone call came at an oddly perfect time. It rang right as he left the station, and it was from the Public Integrity Task Force. He hadn't forgotten why he was transferred here, so he glanced at his secretary. His secretary, Douglas Nixon, told the others, "Mr. Murray has some personal business to attend to." Douglas handled things smoothly. He immediately blocked a few people from approaching, though they were all prominent public officials from Ludwiten. Lucas did not want to delay the matter for too long. After hearing the problem, he
Besides, this spot was a perfect blind spot for surveillance. The school's security cameras couldn't reach here, and a tree blocked the view from across the street. If anyone reviewed the footage later, they would only see Eden exit the school gate and disappear after heading to the opposite side. This was exactly what Miguel and the scholarship committee wanted. Miguel had already walked away. He acted as if he'd just been out for a casual stroll, chatting with security while escorting a student along the way. Right then, Aria rode up on her motorcycle and caught the whole scene. Though she had planned to enter the school, she immediately spun her bike around and tailed the van as it drove off. Nobody noticed her because everyone in the van had their eyes fixed on Eden. The attention made Eden's skin crawl. The driver named Viggo Moseley chuckled. "You'll get used to it. The people you're meeting later are the ones handling your paperwork for going abroad." It was just a s
"Don't be silly, your grandmother and I can take care of each other just fine," Brent said. Despite the fact that he came from a village, he never thought of women as any less than men. Eden was an orphan, but her grandparents gave her all their love. "Once you go abroad, your grandmother and I will move back to our hometown. We'll farm a little land and do some other jobs while waiting for your return!" Brent's laughter put Eden much more at ease. As Miguel walked ahead, he felt nothing but mockery when he overheard her conversation. Indeed, the apple didn't fall far from the tree. If there were really such great opportunities to study abroad, the school would surely give them to children of investors and business people who supported the school. Who would choose to send a bunch of poor kids overseas? Not understanding how social class worked was just plain stupid. Eden was walking behind him, so she couldn't see his expression. When they reached the gate, the security g