Chapter 83: Complementing Each Other

Shao never imagined that this woman would start a fight so suddenly, without a single word of warning. Before the broadsword even touched him, its searing heat already made his skin feel uncomfortable. With a cold snort, the Demon Slayer Blade abruptly appeared in Shao’s left hand. He infused it with his demonic energy and activated it using the "Mystic Ice Demon Flame Technique." Instantly, the dark red Demon Slayer Blade emitted a faint violet chill, altering the temperature in the room—blistering heat where Candice stood, icy coldness where Shao was.

Before their swords met, the opposing forces of heat and cold clashed in the air, swirling white mist billowing between them. What surprised Phoebe was that Shao’s violet chill was unlike any ice magic she had ever seen; it seemed almost alive, twisting as it advanced.

When Shao and Candice’s swords finally collided, a fierce force mixed with fighting energy crashed against Shao’s Demon Slayer Blade like a sledgehammer. Shao staggered back several steps, but the fighting energy, once infused into the Demon Slayer Blade, could not advance any further—it was utterly blocked, unable to harm him.

Instead, it was Candice who suddenly cried out in alarm. As the white mist dissipated, Shao saw that the broadsword in Candice’s hand had a jagged notch, clearly cut by the Demon Slayer Blade.

Candice was clearly a high-level swordswoman, her prowess further enhanced by her mastery of fire magic, making her strength unfathomable. The broadsword she wielded was an exceptionally fine magical weapon, amplifying her fire magic. Yet such a good sword now bore a mark of damage from Shao’s blade.

As Candice stared angrily at her broadsword, seemingly ready to attack Shao again, Phoebe spoke up, “Enough, Candice. Bryan’s greatest strength isn’t brute force. I’ve always said his marvel lies in his extraordinary sensitivity.”

“He… He ruined my magical sword!” Candice glared first at Shao, then vented her complaint to Phoebe.

“You deserved it! You brought it on yourself. If you don’t curb your reckless temper, you’ll suffer losses again and again.” Phoebe glanced at Candice helplessly, offering her advice. Her beautiful eyes swept over Shao, lingering on the Demon Slayer Blade in his hand with keen interest. “Is this the weapon you wanted to forge? May I see it?”

“There’s nothing special about it—just a bit sharper than the average weapon,” Shao replied calmly, putting the Demon Slayer Blade away with a smile.

“Hmph, stingy!” Phoebe exclaimed, then pointed at Candice, introducing her to Shao: “This is Candice, vice-captain of the Flame Mercenary Corps, an old friend of mine. She’s a bit reckless, but she’s a good person—don’t take it to heart!”

Shao nodded, glanced at Candice, and smiled. “I don’t mind. I just hope she won’t hold a grudge against me, haha.”

“It’s just a magical sword—and besides, it’s not completely ruined. I’m not that petty. Phoebe, you two talk over your private matters. I’ll guard the door outside. Hopefully that damned Grover will know better.” Candice shot Shao a disdainful look, gazed at her broadsword with heartache, and strode out.

Watching Candice leave, Shao thought that although she was reckless, she wasn’t small-minded or vindictive—otherwise, she wouldn’t have left so easily.

“I’ve come to buy some food from you and ask for your help in finding a hidden place to stay. It doesn’t need to be large, just somewhere I won’t be found,” Shao said to Phoebe, straightforwardly.

“No problem. How much food do you need?” Phoebe agreed without hesitation, then asked about the quantity.

“Enough for a hundred people to last through the winter,” Shao replied.

At this, Phoebe gave Shao a peculiar look, sizing him up until he felt uneasy, then asked, “What are you planning? Food for a hundred people for a whole winter—are you planning to leave the Empire?”

Shao shook his head with a bitter smile, knowing she’d be suspicious. “Don’t overthink it. I’m helping some friends solve a problem. Unless Grover is dealt with, I won’t be leaving the Empire anytime soon.”

“There’s no issue with the food, but you’ll need to give me a few days to prepare it. As for a hidden place, I advise you not to stay alone outside for now. Grover and the ‘Shadow’ assassins see you as a thorn in their side. If I find you a place, Grover might catch wind of it. If you don’t mind, you can stay here for now—this way, we can look out for each other. Once Grover’s threat is gone, you can have this house. Then we can return to the Boost Trading Company. What do you think?” Phoebe considered and looked Shao in the eye.

Shao pondered her suggestion and found it reasonable. Still, he was reluctant to accept the house, for even if Grover was eliminated, "Shadow," as a vast assassin organization, would always pose a threat if they knew his hiding place.

“I know what you’re worried about. Rest assured, once Grover is gone, I have a way to keep ‘Shadow’ from bothering us again. I’ve officially taken charge of the trading company and am gathering evidence of Grover’s crimes. Grandfather Andrew is fully supporting me—even Grover’s mistress has been tracked down by Uncle Andrew, who’s sent people to retrieve what she has. I think Grover is probably more afraid of us than we are of him now,” Phoebe comforted Shao, seeing his furrowed brow.

Shao nodded. “Alright, I’ll stay here for now. Once Grover is dealt with, I’ll leave.”

“Wonderful! With you here, those damned assassins won’t dare try anything!” Phoebe said happily when Shao agreed.

Phoebe then had Fubin arrange a spacious room for Shao, equipped with everything needed for daily life, separated from Phoebe’s room by only a wall.

That night, Shao sat cross-legged on his bed, continuing his usual practice of magical cultivation.

His mastery had now reached the “Soul Sculpting” stage—a phase focused on unlocking the brain’s potential. If he could endure this stage, his memory, comprehension, and observational abilities would leap dramatically, making him far sharper than ordinary people.

Yet, because this stage involved unlocking the brain’s potential, it was especially dangerous; a single misstep might leave him in a state of confusion, acting solely on instinct. In severe cases, even after recovery, he could suffer amnesia or split personality.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Shao’s head was shrouded in a dark aura, as if a mass of black lightning enveloped his skull, releasing thunderous energy within.

He maintained this state for an unknown length of time, finally exhaling softly and withdrawing his power, still somewhat anxious. After learning the terrors of the Soul Sculpting stage, Shao practiced only in absolute quiet, never allowing anything to disturb him.

After finishing his magical practice, Shao felt mentally refreshed and cautiously began to meditate again, hoping to further strengthen his spirit. Suddenly, his mind shook, and his spiritual power gathered much faster than usual.

He could now distinctly sense the necromantic aura pervading the world. Through his spiritual power, Shao was able to gather this aura gradually and even perceive the way it coalesced—something that ordinary magic could never achieve.

This meditation seemed to usher Shao into a mysterious realm, where his spiritual strength grew much faster than usual. Although it wasn’t as beneficial as training with the “Dark Eye,” the spirit gained through meditation was pure and natural, free from any pain.

When Shao emerged from meditation, he realized the first two levels of his magical training focused on refining his meridians and bones, but this “Soul Sculpting” stage was entirely about unlocking the brain’s potential. Magicians relied solely on their brains to concentrate spiritual power, never training other parts of the body.

Thus, if Shao’s brain potential was greatly enhanced, his meditation would gather spiritual power much faster, promising boundless benefits for his future magical training.

“Indeed, these two evil techniques from different worlds can complement each other. It seems that, even without the ‘Dark Eye,’ my meditation will yield far more spirit than ordinary magicians,” Shao thought joyfully, murmuring to himself.

“Phoebe, have you fallen for that brat?” Just then, faint voices drifted from the adjacent room.

The house’s soundproofing was decent; ordinary people could never hear conversations through the wall. But Shao was no ordinary man—his hearing was unnaturally sharp. In the dead of night, he could catch the women’s whispered conversation clearly.

“Candice, what nonsense are you spouting? Bryan has helped me several times. We’re just comrades fighting side by side,” Phoebe replied in a low voice, defending herself.

“Really? If you’re just comrades, why do you always stand up for him and praise him so highly? I feel you have something special for him. Did something happen between you two? As an experienced mercenary, my intuition tells me you treat him differently from others!” Candice’s tone was full of skepticism, sounding remarkably professional.

“There’s nothing between us. We’ve been friends for years—would I lie to you? Oh, by the way, what do you think of Bryan?”

“In what sense?”

“In every sense.”

“In a word—strange! His skills, his odd sword, even his background—all very peculiar. I think he’s hiding a secret, and you’d best be careful around him!”

“I’m not asking about those things—I already knew them, no need for your warning. I just want to know what you think of him as a person,” Phoebe’s voice was odd as she pressed further.

“Hmph, so much for being ‘just friends.’ You’re far more concerned than usual. He looks decent, but not handsome, and from what you’ve said, he doesn’t seem too special—greedy, lecherous, opportunistic, doesn’t seem to have many virtues!”

Shao heard their conversation clearly and was silently cursing Candice when three distant demonic sentinels suddenly detected the approach of assassins.

Ten assassins were coming, one leading in black robes, floating in midair—apparently a magical master. Through the sentinels’ vision, Shao saw Grover in the distance, his face tense and wary, accompanied by Ellis and several other experts. This time, all of Grover’s elite were mobilized; it seemed he was making a desperate move, determined that Phoebe would not escape.

The three sentinels, under Shao’s command, carefully adjusted their positions, avoiding the magical master’s spiritual surveillance and probing the newcomers’ strength and numbers. It was the dead of night, and the northern city’s guards were changing shifts—a few minutes when defenses were at their weakest. Clearly, the attackers had studied the situation thoroughly.

Assessing the strength on both sides, Shao felt for the first time a sense of impending doom. He could no longer pay attention to Phoebe and Candice’s conversation. He rushed out of his room, kicked open Phoebe’s door, and burst into her inner chamber without hesitation.