Days passed, and Alexia went from being full of hope to gradually despairing.
"By all rights, the Knights Order should have been mobilized days ago, so why is there no movement at all!"
At this moment, the researcher walked over, having overheard Alexia's muttering.
He forcibly fed Alexia.
"The Knights Order will never find their way here!"
"There's no need to hide it from you now; it was the Knights Order who kidnapped you. If you cooperate, I might just let you go!"
Alexia just stared blankly at the other person, looking as if she didn't believe a word he said.
"Believe it or not!"
The researcher no longer paid any attention to Alexia.
That night, Alexia stared blankly at the ceiling.
"Do you desire power?"
A mysterious and ethereal voice echoed in Alexia's mind.
This was an effect Xi Nuo created by using magic to mimic a voice.
Only Alexia could hear it; the guards at the door wouldn't hear anything inside.
"I do!"
Alexia replied with a 'let's see' attitude.
"Then I shall bestow power upon you!"
Xi Nuo appeared before Alexia as a phantom, and a blue-purple magical power converged on Alexia's body.
The anti-magic chains instantly broke.
"Why are you saving me?"
"Do you remember Milia? I am her master. Milia told me you wanted to become my disciple!"
Alexia felt a surge of immense and dense magical power within her body that didn't belong to her, and it was rapidly integrating into her.
Alexia suddenly remembered that she had previously asked Xi De to convey her message to Milia through Xi Nuo.
"She actually agreed!..."
Milia had always refused Alexia's request to become her disciple, but a simple message through Xi Nuo had succeeded.
Alexia didn't think it was Xi De's doing; she knew Xi De very well.
He was average-looking, weak, not very smart, and completely unrelated to excellence.
So, the one who helped her could only be Xi Nuo.
"But I don't just take anyone as a disciple! I dislike betrayal. Since you wish to gain power, you must pay the so-called price!"
"What price must I pay?" Alexia asked.
"Your soul!"
"The price of becoming stronger is to give up your soul. You can think of it as a contract with a demon!"
"With soul as contract! With blood as book, from now on you will forever be my servant!"
Alexia thought for a moment.
To become a respected strong person, but with an extra master, or to be an unknown weakling, forever at the mercy of others.
It seemed she would have to listen to others either way; the difference was that in the first option, she only had to listen to one person.
"I am willing!"
"Stretch out your hand and let's sign our contract!"
Alexia extended her hand, and Xi Nuo took it.
A black Slime Suit covered Alexia's body. At the same time, a vivid red spider lily mark appeared on the palm of Alexia's left hand.
Suddenly, Alexia felt a sharp pain throughout her body.
Black patterns emerged in multiple places all over her.
"This is Demon Possession!"
"What did you do?"
"This is a demon's contract. If you betray me, Demon Possession will be your fate."
Xi Nuo had prematurely activated the Demon Possession on Princess Alexia.
Demon Possession was a blessing from the Three Heroes, and also a test.
Simply put, it was a magic power riot; as long as one could subdue it, their strength would increase significantly.
It was the same for everyone in Shadow Garden; after their Demon Possession was treated, their strength would noticeably improve.
Alexia clearly saw the black patterns on her body disappear, replaced by powerful magical energy.
She could feel a vast amount of magical power suddenly appearing in her body, all at her command.
"Go! Avenge those who kidnapped you!"
On the other side, at the entrance of the Knights Order headquarters, Xi De was thrown out. He returned home with a look of melancholy.
A light rain began to fall. As soon as Xi De arrived home, someone blocked his path.
The person threw a shoe at him.
"Why do you have Princess Alexia's shoe? You're the one who kidnapped Princess Alexia, aren't you!"
It was the two henchmen from Jeno's side.
"So that's how it is. You never intended to let me go from the beginning!"
"How could we let go of you, the true culprit who kidnapped Princess Alexia!"
The two men revealed cunning smiles.
Xi De saw them smile and started laughing with them.
"Haha! Hahahahahahaha!"
The smiles of the two Knights Order members abruptly stopped.
They didn't understand why Xi De was laughing even happier than them.
The two suddenly felt a chill down their spines.
Turning around, they saw more than a dozen black-clad figures behind them.
"Who are you, daring to act mysterious in front of our Knights Order!"
"Let me tell you!"
At this moment, a vast magical power surged from Xi De's body, covering him. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into Shadow.
"I am Shadow Garden!"
Xi De held a slime sword, looking coldly at the two Knights Order members.
"Lurking in the shadows, hunting those in the shadows!"
The more than a dozen female black-clad figures spoke in unison.
At this moment, three corpses fell from the sky.
"Lord Shadow, The Order's hidden surveillance personnel have been dealt with by me!" Beta said.
"Very good, now it's your turn!"
"No, don't kill me, please don't kill me, I..."
Xi De's magical power materialized into a giant spike that directly pierced the man's chest.
The other person turned to run, but as soon as he turned, Shadow appeared before him.
A single sword strike decapitated him.
"Lord Shadow, Shadow Garden now has a total of 1264 members. We plan to establish a branch base in the royal capital. Where is Phantom?" Beta asked.
Beta could contact Xi Nuo, but she wanted to give Xi Nuo a surprise.
Shadow sensed Xi Nuo's magical fluctuations and had already located Phantom.
"Follow me!"
Shadow flew into the sky.
Beta glanced up and followed Shadow's direction.
The other dozen or so followed closely, not a single one falling behind.
Those dozen or so were all outstanding individuals in Shadow Garden. Beta had brought them to meet Shadow and Phantom of Shadow Garden.
Neither Xi Nuo nor Xi De had ever discussed who was the true master of Shadow Garden.
The Seven Shadows all knew about this.
Shadow and Phantom were of equal rank.
However, in reality, Phantom had much greater control over Shadow Garden than Shadow.
After all, Shadow didn't manage anything, completely acting as a hands-off boss.
After Phantom built the most fundamental aspects of Shadow Garden, he then became a hands-off boss, claiming he needed to wholeheartedly focus on improving his own strength.
This, of course, was approved by the Seven Shadows; strength is respected everywhere.
After all, Phantom had been both father and mother from the beginning. Although their ages were similar, Phantom took care of them, guided them, and arranged everything for them. Most importantly, Phantom also treated their Demon Possession and taught them hand-in-hand how to treat Demon Possession.
Compared to this, Shadow's role was much less significant.
However, Xi De was also very happy about this, as he just wanted to show off and didn't want to deal with any other troublesome matters.
Unless the matter was so troublesome that he had no choice but to act.
When the Seven Shadows needed help, Shadow would definitely assist them.