Forbidden techniques.
These are the ones considered devil-like, relying on killing and depleting one's lifespan to achieve greater power. The techniques in my possession are all top-notch, which can virtually remove any side effect it poses.
One of my prior plans is to devour the honkai beasts' mental power. It can be ingested into oneself through the forbidden techniques' ways. Only, there is mental pollution caused by the honkai. Previous analysis showed an influence higher than [Divine Laws].
I was unwilling to take a huge risk and discarded this plan.
Things changed with the honkai's fragments in this Bubble World. It did not pose the dangerous above [Divine Laws] power. It is only on the level of [Dharma Laws].
Just like Seele's time loop simulations that lacked many things, this Bubble World did not fully recreate the Cocoon of Finality's power.
This is more viable now, more so with [Ten Direction Body Art]'s [Great Accomplishment]. The mysterious space it gave is now an invincible furnace, capable of turning everything into the purest essence suitable for cultivation.
Once I use it along with the forbidden technique, [Soul Stirring Netherworld Blade], I might be able to succeed. I will absorb the strong mental will alone and revert their soul back to normal.
For now, it is best to simulate its process in my mind.
Sou-!
A faint breeze came from behind. The familiar sweet yet mellow scent filled my nose. A soft pair pressed on my back as her arms locked me in a hug. This change startled Veliona as she looked at us with widened eyes.
I looked behind and saw the evolved Tuna. Looking at her face can send someone in a daze. Her subconscious emission of lazy yet ethereal fairy-like temperament could not be hidden at all. Her eyelashes trembled as she lazily closed her eyes, greedily inhaling my scent.
Only I know how perverted she is.
I gave Veliona a helpless look.
She, just like Kiana, emitted a unique temperament. Veliona feels sharp and lethal. Mixed with it is her own peerless beauty, creating a contrasting aura that captivates everyone around her.
"I will go out first."
Veliona said with slight dissatisfaction. She did not say anything else and returned to her own abode—a low fourth grade palace I won during this year.
"I will destroy you later."
Hearing this fairy-like woman whisper such dirty phrases made my mouth twitch. She saw this and retorted:
"What? Can't I get some revenge? It's always me who gets bullied!"
Thinking of the past year…
Kiana is right.
My physical body alone is at Golden Core Realm. Kiana's rest intervals increased sharply, simply because she could not handle me before going unconscious.
The Golden Core breakthrough made her more confident in exacting her revenge.
In the end, I let her act like this. My sense of satisfaction enjoyed seeing Kiana's domination loss every time.
Kiana acted rather tame after this. She hugged my right arm as she played around my hand. She placed her chin above my shoulder. Her soft breaths carried itself to my ear.
"...I love you."
I was startled by her sudden words. Her voice could melt anyone, including me.
"Getting cheesy now?" I asked.
"Hm. I really do love you."
"..."
My heart could not take so much. I lowered my head and focused more on playing with Kiana's fingers. I know I could not hide my weakness from her. I wholeheartedly accepted it. Her gaze narrowed in satisfaction, like a cat who achieved her goal.
Like this, we flirted for quite a while…
*****
The sixth Herrscher's reappearance shook the world. She went against four Herrschers in the span of ten minutes, defeating them all. It was yet another heart-testing trial to the Fire MOTH officers.
For once, why would the sixth Herrscher attack her kind?
Second, how strong is the sixth Herrscher to defeat four Herrschers at once?
There are way more questions than answers. It prompted the highest-level of meeting amongst Fire MOTH's councilors.
Most of them blamed the current situation on MEI. The ones who supported her, however, expressed their unreasonableness. No matter who is sitting on the Director position, they wouldn't be able to react properly against the now infamous sixth Herrscher.
They ended up settling on a compromise: MEI will have to work for a year without any salary. Her authority over budget allocation was temporarily reduced to five hundred million, a sharp decrease compared to her previous billions' worth of budget allocation authority.
Nonetheless, it was a light enough punishment for her. If those die-hard and radical councilors haven't suddenly turned themseves in, if not committed suicide due to unfathomable reasons, things would have been harder for her.
"Huh. What goes around comes around."
A woman with long green hair emphasized her sarcastic tone over MEI's dilemma. She is one of Fire MOTH's founders, Mobius. Ironically, her authority was suppressed severely the moment these world leaders arrived. She was relegated to MOTH's research institute, experiencing severe budget cuts annually. MEI was partly responsible to her predicament.
"That may be the case."
Seeing MEI's noncommittal look, Mobius soon lost interest. She moved the topic to her agenda.
"The anti-honkai factor produced good enough results. The simulated success rate is around half."
"...Anti-honkai factor."
That was what they called the mysterious substance they found in the atmosphere a year ago. It is invisible from the naked eyes down to the most sophisticated instruments. Only when they used the devices to read the Sea of Quanta did they "see" the effects brought by the mysterious substance.
"Reports came in. Nobody suffered from honkai corruption within those four cities."
"See."
Mobius shrugged her shoulders. She is aware of the anti-honkai factor's absurd effects. Curing honkai corruption is but one of its shallow applications.
Her eyes narrowed into slits as she pondered upon her great discovery.
The factor's greatest strengths lay in…
Immortality.
MEI looked at the self-absorbed Mobius and decided to tell her something.
"An operation will take place tomorrow. We found traces of the sixth Herrsscher and the source of the anti-honkai factor."
Hearing the latter part, Mobius' interest was piqued.
"About a year ago, two intruders came to the Fire MOTH headquarters. Nobody saw them, not even me." She paused before continuing, "It was Kevin who saw them. A girl and a man."
MEI told her the entire story. Kevin's apprehension, the staffs' abnormality, and the appearance of the absurdly strong sixth Herrscher could be tied to these two.
"Only you and Eli know about this. She will come over to the girl tomorrow for a talk."
"Then why mention this to me?"
"In case something happens to us."
"..."
Seeing MEI's seriousness, Mobius acknowledged it with a nod.
"If you happen to die, do not worry. I will settle your posthumous matters."
"..."
The snake's lethal mouth worked in full swing.