She had grown up under the national flag.
She had received nine years of compulsory education.
So even after coming to this cutthroat Cultivation World where the strong preyed on the weak, she still had her own moral bottom line.
She might not be a good person, but she couldn't just stand by and watch tens of thousands of people here die in a sea of fire.
Perhaps not understanding why Celeste Grant was doing this,
Nerida poked her own head.
"Madam, what is all this for?"
'What a strange hobby.'
Celeste Grant didn't explain.
She just said, "You'll know in two days." Even if she explained now, the other woman probably wouldn't believe her.
Nerida didn't press the issue and simply agreed. "Very well. I will have my people get it done immediately. I guarantee not a single person will be left behind."
The two walked through the streets for a while longer. After Celeste Grant boarded her carriage to return to the courtyard manor,
Nerida immediately sent out a signal to summon her subordinates. As Demon Cultivators, they never needed anyone's opinion to get things done. With brutal efficiency, they drove everyone in town ten miles away and posted guards to watch them.
Anyone who wouldn't leave was simply picked up and carried off.
Just then, the streets were filled with countless Bloodfiend Den disciples in black, tight-fitting clothes, ordering the townspeople to leave.
If anyone refused to cooperate, a whip would CRACK against their back.
"Our madam said you can't stay here today, and that means you can't stay! If you don't want to die, hurry up and follow the group ahead!"
Just as Celeste Grant had said, anyone who didn't cooperate was given a beating. The whole scene was tragic—a sight that would make anyone who saw or heard it weep. The townspeople loathed the Demon Cultivators to the bone, but they could only seethe with anger, not daring to speak out.
'Who? Who is trying to harm us? And who is this 'madam' the Demon Cultivators keep talking about?'
'We've lived here peacefully for generations, and now we're being driven away for no reason and put under guard. Is there no justice in this world?!'
'What in the world are these people from The Demonic Sects planning to do?'
'Are they going to use us for some Evil Technique? The more they thought about it, the more terrified they became, each of them feeling as if they would never see tomorrow's sun.'
"All of you, hurry up!"
"Stop dawdling! It's almost dark!"
"I'm not leaving! This is my home! Why should we leave? Is there no justice in this world?!"
"Who says your home is your home? It's not yours anymore. Go on, call out to it. See if it answers. Cut the crap. Say one more word and I'll break your legs."
"You Demon Cultivators, don't get too arrogant!"
"You soulless monsters! What are you planning to do?! I wouldn't let you off even if I died and became a ghost!"
Hearing this, one of the Demon Cultivators in a black robe and a veiled hat cackled sinisterly and looked up. With a raise of his hand, a green flame flared high in his palm.
"You wouldn't let us off even as a ghost? Heh. I'd advise you not to entertain that thought. Old man, seeing as you've lived a long life, I feel it's necessary to remind you that we Bloodfiend Den disciples are quite well-versed in the art of Soul Refining."
"You... you people..."
The man fainted on the spot.
Nerida walked over.
"His constitution is too weak."
"Someone grab him and take him away."
The Cultivators who were passing through town were furious. "You Demon Cultivators! I'll report this to the Immortal Sects and have you punished!"
But the Demon Cultivators were far greater in number and strength, so those people could only be driven out of town with tears in their eyes. Some other Cultivators tried to go for help but were caught, tied up, and tossed into the crowd just like everyone else.
"All of you, behave yourselves!"
One had to admit, their efficiency was remarkable; they had exceeded their mission objectives. They didn't even spare the dog from Old Man Warren's family. It was grabbed by the scruff of its neck and carried off, its miserable yelps echoing all the way.
After clearing everyone out, Nerida sent her people to plunder all the grain and valuables in town. With a wave of her hand, all the bundled goods flew through the air and were dropped by the roadside outside of town, forming a mountain-like pile.
In an instant, the entire Breezewind Town fell silent.
The wind blew through.
It was as if a swarm of locusts had passed, leaving nothing behind.
Sometimes, explanations are useless. A few necessary measures are the fastest and most effective way, just like now.
Once Nerida had handled the matter, she went to report back to Celeste Grant.
"Madam, the town has been completely cleared out. We didn't even spare Auntie Lawson's chickens."
The corner of Celeste Grant's mouth twitched.
She gave a thumbs-up.
"Such efficiency. Very impressive. It almost makes me want to hire you as my personal secretary."
'She's a born go-getter, the kind who can see the big picture from a single instruction.'
'I have to say, these people are quite useful.'
Celeste Grant was very satisfied with this.
Hearing Celeste Grant's words,
Nerida fell into thought.
'What is Madam talking about? I don't understand a word. Oh well, as long as she's satisfied, that's all that matters.'
「Another day passed without incident.」
Celeste Grant continued to wait in the courtyard manor.
She was waiting.
'According to the book's plot, the female lead and her other man, that True Form Sect elder Magnus Wynn, are about to arrive. This really is a trashy Cultivation novel. The female lead is never short on men.'
'Even if I wait here in advance, I won't be able to get the opportunity here. It seems like the 'female lead' is the key to triggering the Forbidden Spell in this place.'
'So annoying.'
She had calculated the time.
To prepare for the night's events, Celeste Grant slept all afternoon to conserve her energy, so she was wide awake when evening came.
At this moment, the entirety of Breezewind Town was deathly still, eerily quiet. Only the Bloodfiend Den disciples stood guard nearby.
They were all Core Disciples with strength at or above the Foundation Establishment realm. With their level of Cultivation, they wouldn't be affected by the fallout.
'I, on the other hand, will have to be careful.'
「When the time was near,」
she arrived early at a deserted courtyard at the edge of town. Following the book's description, she found the well in the backyard.
The place was abandoned.
It was the middle of the night and pitch-black, but thankfully, there was a moon out, so she could still see.
She hadn't come alone. Nerida was with her, along with several brothers from the Bloodfiend Den following from the shadows.
Nerida, who was following her, was curious.
"Madam, what are we doing here at this hour?"
'In the middle of the night, no less.'
"To seize an opportunity. I received word that a Divine Beast will appear here."
This time, she didn't hide it from her.
"What? A Divine Beast?"
'In this little dump?'
Nerida's jaw nearly hit the floor. She looked around, scanning the area with her Spiritual Power, but didn't sense anything unusual.
"Madam, we've heard no news of any Divine Beast appearing in this place. If there were any rumors, the Bloodfiend Den would have certainly found out by now."
'Can't be helped.'
'I'm the one holding the script.'
"Just trust me on this."
Nerida, however, perked up.
"If there really is one, I will snatch it for you."
Celeste Grant was taken aback when she heard this.
'This Left Protector actually wants to help me snatch it.'
'All I can say is, these people are blindly loyal to their Exalted One.'
'Now that I'm carrying Javier Sinclair's son in my belly, they're treating me as his wife.'
For a moment, Celeste Grant actually felt a pang of guilt.
'But I'm definitely stealing the female lead's opportunity.'