Lilian knew the ins and outs leading to the formation at the palm of her hand. She was the princess of the entire sect and her character so far has shown the sect master and elders that she was a capable person, as such, they did not hide anything from her.

After leading Seth and Caizhi through the Royal Phoenix Palace gates, Lilian chose to avoid any unnecessary trouble and took a discrete way around the palace, heading directly to a forest behind.

Some guards that were patrolling the way saw them, but Lilian made it clear that she was just accompanying some important guests in a trip around the castle. They didn’t doubt it and did not bother them any further.

In fact, it was a natural and calm trip. Lilian left Yuyin at Meiyi’s house. If she was brought along, she would inevitably attract every single person’s attention, so she gave Yuyin some candies and treasures to fool her while they were away.

Deep inside the forest, Seth and Caizhi followed Lilian in a complicated pattern that led to the Secret Formation. When they finally arrived there, they just saw a door at the center of a small hill. It took the shape of a bunker.

Lilian approached the door and a crystalline and thin red light came into view. It was the concealed formation protecting the door.

Seth felt that the formation ahead was incomparably stronger than any other he has seen in this sect so far. This one was probably built with a lot of Mana Realm cultivators as pillars. To break this barrier, one would need to be at that realm at least and at the cost of expending a lot of time and resources.

Lilian lightly touched the thin layer of red energy and silently channeled her Phoenix bloodline. It took about a minute and the barrier shook, opening right after.

“Let’s go, it will close again soon.” Lilian opened the door and entered.

Seth and Caizhi followed her inside. After entering, they saw a neat and clean room with some chairs and a wooden table at the center. At the end of the hall there were two other doors and Seth could faintly feel that there was a special life saver measure lying there.

Lilian again, approached the door at the right side and opened the formation. This time however she just eyed Seth and Caizhi as they were entering inside that room. She would be waiting outside.

Caizhi entered first and just as Seth was passing through the door, Lilian held his wrist in an attempt to warn him over again.

He calmly gazed at her and said: “Don’t worry, nothing will happen with me there.”

He then, entered inside and closed the door.

“What do you take me for? A caring wife?” Lilian mumble to the already closed door. She was exasperated by his ability to joke even at this time.

Just after entering, Seth started to talk.

“Sigh… I’ll go directly to the point.”

Seth had two main reasons behind his request for Lilian to bring them here.

First; he was gauging how much did Lilian know about her own sect. He was already pretty confident that she wasn’t just some clumsy princess.

Second; Seth knew he was being watched. He didn’t know what Valic was doing at the human country, but he was a demon and there must be a reason for him to appear here. It was better for Seth to do things safely. Here, inside this powerful formation, it was impossible for Valic to watch what he was doing.

Now then, he was free to do as he pleases.

“Caizhi, I’ll offer you two possibilities. To tell you the truth, I would never do this for anyone, but I have realized that I need you, so, we can do this the easy way and get your situation under control, you will just need to follow me closely.”

Seth took his bracelet off and released a bit of his pressure. His eyes started to release a blue hue, just like there was a blue flame burning on his irises.

Caizhi felt like she was being stared by a predator that would devour her at any moment.

“The other way, would not be so good for you, so I advise you to choose the easier way.”

She knew that it was a threat and that either possibility she would end up losing something. Her life wasn’t as important for her now, so she would rather lose her life than her dignity.

But…

“You said that… You, need me?”

“Hm? Yeah, I need you.”

Drip. Drip.

Silent tears started to fall and wet her robe. It was uncontrollable, she has experienced a lot in her life, but never before has she ever been told that.

‘What?’ Seth was actually the one who got lost.

“Why are you crying?”

“Why… Why do you need me?” Caizhi seemed to give more importance to it than anything else.

‘What the fuck.’ Seth could only tell the truth then, as it seemed that his threats were useless.

“You are useful to me. I need you the same way that you need me.”

Her tears intensified.

“I choose the easier way. You can do whatever you want.”

Seth realized that there must have been some circumstances that affected her deeply.

Caizhi closed her eyes and waited for what was about to happen.

Seth was not the type to let an opportunity pass. His mastery over darkness was impressive, but it was not his specialty.

He could be labeled as a pure devil if you consider his purity of darkness element, but his soul power was greater. Seth opened his hands and somewhere in time a book has appeared there. On its cover there was a name.

Hades. The Soulstealer.

Seth opened it and saw that there wasn’t a single word written. This book could not be read, only felt.

And he felt it.

The strongest soul is not the one that chose to be indestructible yet bound within hell, but that which broke free from the abyss and now moves freely among men.

Seth felt his soul more tangible than ever.. His eyes were now gazing at Caizhi, admiring what lay beneath her beauty, the soul that would soon be bound to him.