Marietta was seized by a wild obsession. “Where do I even find someone like that?”
The black mist cackled. “That’s for you to figure out. People like that are one in a million, far rarer than those born with a Sovereign Core. But if you manage to track one down, your journey to immortality might have a real shot.”
Ascension to immortality.
Marietta gripped the Metal Affinity tightly, her tone unwavering. ‘I’ll find it‘
“The Spiritbone must be taken from a living body. If they’re dead, it’s worthless,” the black mist cackled. With that final warning, carrying the skull, it sank into the ground and disappeared.
Marietta was left all alone, fusing the Metal Affinity right where she stood.
“Ambitious, coupled with the drive to act. Even if talent’s lacking, still useful,” the black mist muttered, its voice dripping with temptation.
After a moment, a finger slipped out of the black mist and tapped gently. Spiritual energy surged into the skull’s forehead, and the outline of a face began to take shape, only to dissolve and disappear in an instant.
“Still… Not enough,” the black mist whispered, a trace of longing in its voice.
Far from enough.
Geniuses…
The more, the better.
*****
At the First Unity Coven, Linda’s heart suddenly started pounding wildly. She pressed a hand to her chest, but it didn’t help at all.
As her face grew paler by the second, the others‘ expressions changed instantly.
“Linda,” Claudio called out, worry etched across his face.
Claudio frowned, staring at the space above her head. He reached out and made a grabbing motion in the air. The others watched him, a bit taken aback by his strange gesture.
Claudio kept a straight face. “Just waving away bad luck for her.”
The three of them were speechless.
“Does that even work?” Craig asked, a hint of doubt in his voice.
But when they saw Linda’s face start to color up again, the three of them rushed over and started waving their
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hands frantically above her head, chanting, “Go away, bad luck. Come on, good luck.”
Linda just stared at him, lost for words.
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Claudio, however, lowered his head and smiled, idly twirling a black thread between his fingers, his eyes dark and unreadable.
A curse.
Only the lowest of the low would use such dirty tricks.
Claudio rolled the black thread between his fingers, and the curse snapped apart instantly.
Claudio kept his cool, then glanced up to find Linda watching him. He flashed her a smile. “What’s up, senior?”
“It’s junior, not senior,” Linda shot back.
“Alright, senior. Got any orders for me?” Claudio grinned.
Linda stared at his hand. Claudio offered his palm. “What, you want to read my fortune now? Tell me, am I doomed to die young?”
Linda studied his palm, then looked him in the eye. “Nope. Because I’ll be the one to go before you.”
Claudio’s smile vanished.
His palm tightened.
Claudio muttered, “Shut up.”
But before he could finish, Craig jumped in, “Knock on wood. We’re all going to live long, long lives.”
Linda grinned. “Yeah, Claudio and I are going to live long, long lives.”
Claudio nodded. “Yeah, all of you.”
Craig caught it and protested, “Hey, what do you mean by ‘all of you? You’re part of ‘us‘, too.”
Claudio laughed. “Alright. We’re all going to live forever, and keep causing trouble for centuries.”
Rafael chuckled. “Then I’m definitely going to be the richest guy in the whole cultivation world.”
“Good luck with that,” Linda said with a grin.
They joked around for a bit, and soon the earlier tension was forgotten. Once they saw that Linda was alright, Craig led Rafael, Laura, and the others out of her place.
“Get some rest, Linda. We’ll drop by to see you in a couple of days,” Craig said.
“Don’t forget what I asked you, Rafael,” Linda reminded him.
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Rafael grinned. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered.”
:
Rafael thought, ‘Just need to get a few Mystic Exchange tokens? Easy enough.
‘What did Linda call it again?
‘Oh, right. Alt accounts.’
Rafael thumped his chest, promising, “Leave it to me.”
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Once they left, Linda was alone. The discomfort had faded, but the weirdness from before still lingered in her mind.
It didn’t feel like simple discomfort. It was more like something was clinging to her, refusing to let go.
‘It’s a curse, Linda realized, her thoughts growing cold.
The Spirit Pearl rolled out from the Amethyst Band, and the voice of the Dream–Weaver Elder, who’d been hiding inside, spoke up. “Someone used their blood essence to put a curse on you.
“The level wasn’t high, and Claudio already took care of it for you.”
Linda frowned, ‘A curse?‘
The Dream–Weaver Elder explained, “To cast something like that, they’d need your birth date and time, plus something personal of yours.
“Normally, it wouldn’t bother a cultivator, but since you’re still weak from your injuries, it managed to affect you for a while.”
Linda snorted, “Not much harm, but maximum disrespect?”
The Dream–Weaver Elder replied, “Exactly.”
“Typical Marietta. Pathetic,” Linda muttered, rolling her eyes.
But since Marietta had pulled that stunt, Linda wasn’t about to let it slide. Time to return the favor.
With a flick of her wrist, Linda produced some Vellum of Inscription. Using water as ink, she quickly sketched out three Vellum Sigils.
The sigils hovered in midair as she formed a quick series of seals. The Fire Gilded Core she’d recovered earlier materialized.
The Vellum of Inscription wrapped around the Fire Gilded Core, drawing out its aura, zeroing in on its
source.
The Dream–Weaver Elder watched, completely absorbed. “What exactly are you doing?”
“Ever heard of Qi Locking?” Linda asked.
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The Dream–Weaver Elder snorted, “Qi is the energy that flows inside the body. Come on, do I look like some rookie to you?”
Even the newest disciples knew that.
Linda smirked, tapping the Fire Gilded Core from a distance. “This Gilded core still holds her unique Qi signature. It’s definitely hers.
“I’m using the Vellum Sigil to tamper with her Qi flow. So, what do you think Marietta’s gonna go through over at the High Sanctum of Archmagi?”
The Dream–Weaver Elder jerked in shock. “Oh, shit.”
‘This is way nastier than a curse and way more high–level, too,‘ thought the Dream–Weaver Elder.
Linda said coolly, “She’s not gonna die, but every time she tries to train, it’ll be twice the effort for half the payoff. Whatever she does, something will trip her up.
“It won’t last forever, but it’ll be enough to drive her nuts for a month or two.
“Consider this my payback.”
‘Fair’s fair. If Marietta wants to play dirty, she’d better be ready for how nasty I can get,‘ thought Linda.
The Dream–Weaver Elder, Emmett, and Dermot were all crouched behind a pillar, peeking at Linda from a distance. The Dream–Weaver Elder muttered, ‘Man, this girl…‘
Dermot warned, “Seriously, if you ever want to pick a fight, make sure it’s not with her!”
Emmett chimed in with his baby voice, “No way I’m leaving her side.”
Then Emmett suddenly paused, glancing at the other two spirits. “Wait a sec. Why am I even hiding with you guys? I’ve got a master now.”
Showing off, Emmett turned into a stone and proudly rolled himself straight over to Linda.
“Master…” Emmett called out, laying it on thick with that fawning voice.
Dermot just stared, totally at a loss for words.
The Dream–Weaver Elder blinked, speechless.
‘What a little bootlicker,’ they both thought.
Linda never put any restrictions on them, but Dermot was still stuck inside a tiny elemental cage, and the Dream–Weaver Elder was confined to the Spirit Pearl.
Only Emmett could roam freely around the Hermit’s Sanctum by inhabiting a little stone, and it even got to keep tabs on the other two, a companion spirit and a remnant soul with memories.
After reminding Emmett not to sneak out of the Hermit’s Sanctum, Linda started channeling her energy to
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check herself over.
…
After checking herself over, she concluded: things were a little rough.
But not a complete train wreck.
This time, she’d had no choice but to take that hit from Enrique head–on.
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All five of her Gilded Cores were damaged, but at least none of them had shattered. With a bit of patching up, they’d still be usable.
It was way better than she’d feared. Honestly, she’d thought she’d lose all five right then and there.
But to patch them up, she’d need some Fortifying Draughts.
Matthew had given her one out of guilt before, and she could use it, but it wasn’t nearly enough. If she wanted to fix all five, she’d need at least five Fortifying Draughts.
‘Fortifying Draught isn’t strong enough. I should look into something else,‘ Linda thought.
Linda was still racking her brain over what herbs she’d need, but when her eyes landed on the Dream–Weaver Elder, she suddenly remembered those inherited memories.
She dove right in, digging for any tricks to patch up her Gilded Cores.
Sure enough, she found two methods. One was called the Raindew Nourishing Pill.
And another called the Mystic Crystal Fortifying Powder.
But both of these pills needed two Fourth–Class Spirit Herbs as their main ingredients. She’d managed to grab some Third–Class Apothecary Greens from the Dream–Weaver Fens, but not a single Fourth–Class one.
The Dream–Weaver Elder let out a sigh. “Back then, Fourth–Class herbs were everywhere in the Veil. Heck, even Fifth, Sixth, or Seventh–Class ones. But now…”
They were already picked clean by scavengers.
Linda thought, ‘I need to figure out a way to get those herbs or pills.
“These injuries have to be fixed, no matter what.
“They are five Gilded Cores, after all!
Suddenly, the Dream–Weaver Elder hissed, “Someone’s coming.” In a flash, he and Dermot darted back into the Amethyst Band, and Linda quickly pulled Emmett close.
Linda looked up to find Mack standing in the doorway.
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Chapter 77
Mack lingered alone in the courtyard by the door.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
