https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-748-Lanchi-Compromises-on-Titles/12585240/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-750-Lanchi-s-Night-Out-in-the-Capital/12585242/
Chapter 749: Lanchi Doesn't Want to Watch a Play
Chapter 749: Lanchi Doesn't Want to Watch a Play
The ticking of the pendulum was especially clear in the quiet space, each mechanical gear teeth meshing in time with the beat.
The candlelight on the long table flickered gently, the flames flickering, casting ever-changing shadows on the silver and white stone carvings on the wall.
Yifa Tiya's conversation with Tallia and Lanchi was sometimes relaxed and sometimes serious.
"How strong are you now?"
Lanchi asked Yifa Tiya.
Before leaving this underground palace, he wanted to get a clear answer to this question.
Most of the time, inquiring about the true strength of some of the top powerhouses was considered impolite, like asking the age of an unmarried woman—it involved prying into their privacy. But now that they were teammates who would entrust their lives to each other, it was necessary to understand each other thoroughly.
Tallia glanced at Lanchi but didn't comment on the appropriateness of his analogy.
In the past, she thought it was a little abnormal for Lanchi to think about her a hundred times a day, but now she felt relieved.
"I don't know how to describe it," Yifa Tiya said. "I only started cultivating seriously in the last year or so. There should be several breaks in the eighth rank. After a hundred years, I'm not sure if I can match the strength I had as a Demon General back then. But if I were to compare myself to someone of the same rank today, the first time I faced a Vampire Marquis, I almost didn't escape. The second time, I could barely hold my own, but I still couldn't win..."
Yifa Tiya lowered her eyelashes, her voice growing softer as she seemed to feel dejected at the thought of that formidable foe she couldn't overcome.
If she had the strength she possessed back when she was a Ninth-Rank Demon General, she could take on not just one, but two Vampire Marquises and still come out on top.
She hated the fact that she had wasted so many years. When she truly needed her strength, she felt that she didn't have enough time.
Lanchi gazed into Tallia's eyes, sharing his thoughts with her efficiently, and they jointly analyzed Yifa Tiya's strength.
It seemed she was at the Quasi-Bishop level, and according to the conversion of ranks, she was probably around levels 85 to 86, stronger than Perlman but not as strong as the ten standard peak powerhouses, the Cardinal Bishops, of the Resurrection Church.
"That's not right, sis."
Tallia suddenly realized something, averting her gaze from Lanchi's and looking at Yifa Tiya in astonishment.
According to Lanchi's ranking theory, she had advanced from level 81 to 82 in a hundred years. With her specialized equipment, she barely managed to reach the level of an 84 for three minutes.
But in just over a year of hard work, her sister had gone from level 80 to the mid-80s?!
"Ah, after all these years of effort, I finally found the formula for that divine curse potential elixir and managed to make and consume it," Yifa Tiya said, counting with her fingers. "Now my lifespan is similar to that of a human, but my cultivation speed has increased significantly."
However, if she hadn't slacked off and had truly dedicated herself these past hundred years, even without this potential elixir, she could have reached the peak of the eighth rank.
If the Demon Kingdom still existed, she could have acquired the power of faith, and breaking through to the ninth rank would have been a breeze.
In her opinion, the ninth rank wasn't that difficult. She just hadn't been interested before.
She didn't quite understand why everyone thought that the eighth and ninth ranks were incredibly hard to attain.
"...”
Tallia witnessed Yifa Tiya's nonchalant expression, and for the first time, she could read her sister's thoughts.
She felt the cruel gap in talent for the first time.
Once revered as the perfect princess by the demons, who praised her talent, she now felt like a joke compared to her sister.
It was only because her sister had slacked off during those years that she had survived.
Lanchi struggled to maintain his composure but couldn't help admiring Tallia's expression at that moment.
Back in the Kingdom of Posen, Tallia had proudly boasted to Lanchi that she was definitely not the weakest among the old generation of powerful demons. Now, it seemed that she might indeed be at the bottom.
"Go ahead and laugh if you want to..."
Tallia felt Lanchi's gaze and said with reddened eyes, her tears flowing uncontrollably.
"Wait, are you really crying?"
Seeing that Tallia was truly crying, Lanchi became flustered and quickly moved closer to her, observing her tear-stained cheeks.
He had never imagined that the icy and aloof master would become so emotionally fragile after coming to this underground palace, experiencing human emotions so readily.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Tallia. Please don't cry."
Lanchi took out a handkerchief and gently dabbed at the tears on Tallia's cheeks, apologizing to her.
He paused, considering that while Tallia had a strong sense of pride, she also had a resilient spirit. She had endured various difficult situations, and her mental fortitude was stronger than most. This minor setback wouldn't defeat her.
Perhaps what truly saddened her was the thought of her sister consuming that elixir that shortened her lifespan.
For a long-lived demon like Yifa Tiya, that elixir was undoubtedly a poison. From a human perspective, it was as if her lifespan had been reduced to just a year or two, and she would soon die of natural causes. It was a trade-off—her life span in exchange for power.
Tallia didn't want her sister to die in a few decades.
"Tallia, are you thinking that Yifa Tiya will have to part ways with you again soon?"
Lanchi's voice softened as he asked this beside Tallia.
"Boo hoo..."
Tallia's tears flowed even more at Lanchi's words.
"Look on the bright side, Tallia," Lanchi continued. "I won't live past a hundred years either. A few decades from now, I'll be gone too, and then no one will be around to make you angry.
Lanchi patiently tried to cheer her up, like coaxing a child.
"...'
Tallia stopped crying and lowered her hand, which had been wiping away her tears, staring blankly at Lanchi.
Lanchi could only live for a few more decades as well.
Why hadn't she ever thought about this before?
But now, hearing Lanchi's words of comfort, she couldn't bring herself to feel happy.
She just felt a sense of loss in her heart.
"It's alright, sister. It's nice to be like a human, and I was looking for this divine potion for its side effects anyway."
Yifa Tiya seemed to realize why her sister was sad, and she smiled innocently.
"...'
"Yifa Tiya... you silly sister..."
Tallia pressed her lips together and shook her head.
If it were up to her, she would have chosen to turn Lanchi into a familiar beast, carrying him with her and sharing her near-eternal life.
"...'
Lanchi heard Tallia's thoughts and smiled helplessly.
Tallia now seemed to understand humans a little, but she still didn't fully get it.
"Tallia, everything in nature has its own rules. Trying to change it arbitrarily may not be a blessing but a punishment."
He tried to explain to Tallia.
"I don't understand. I don't understand," Tallia shook her head, rejecting Lanchi's unreasonable words.
She was the one who should be teaching Lanchi, not the other way around.
"Ai, sister is still quite traditional when it comes to the demon race."
Seeing that Tallia had stopped crying and that Lanchi was still comforting her, Yifa Tiya gave up on the idea of comforting her sister.
With a good man by her sister's side, she felt relieved.
She quietly propped her chin in her hand and waited, along with the little black cat, for Lanchi to finish wiping away Tallia's tears and restore her to her usual beautiful self.
"Alright, Yifa Tiya, we should be leaving as well."
Lanchi glanced at the pendulum clock in the silver palace and spoke to Yifa Tiya, who was sitting across the table.
He had planned to rest by the lake in the afternoon, but since he had to rush home from St. Cryxis Abbey due to Elsa's situation, he had to make up for the work he had planned for the evening. Otherwise, he would have to keep pushing it back day after day.
Injured Yifa Tiya also needed a long rest every day.
Although chatting here was pleasant, they had already discussed most of the important matters, and they couldn't afford to stay stagnant.
"Hm..."
Yifa Tiya looked at them reluctantly, pouting as she leaned on the table.
Lanchi and Tallia couldn't help but smile at her adorable expression.
They believed that if Yifa Tiya could leave this hidden underground space, she would definitely follow them.
"Yifa Tiya, we'll come visit you again soon."
Lanchi reassured her.
"When?"
Yifa Tiya asked immediately.
"Probably within a week, at least once?"
Lanchi said, a bit uncertainly.
As Professor Landri, he was currently under a lot of attention from various parties in the Empire. If he interacted too frequently with the Bruyer Dark Guild, it might raise some unreasonable suspicions.
"Then I'll wait for you!"
Yifa Tiya immediately brightened up and happily raised her hands.
She stood up and returned the little black cat to them, then led them toward the door.
"Who built this place?"
Tallia turned back to look at the space barrier, admiring the craftsmanship. She had been impressed by it since she first entered, wondering if there were still magic artisans in this era capable of creating such an independent space.
The dome's radiance gradually changed over time, with golden and blue light and shadow flowing back and forth on the crystal pendants, like stars moving in the universe.
Lanchi slowed his steps and looked at Yifa Tiya as well.
He was actually quite curious about this question.
He had intended to ask Barton, the hardworking leader of the dark guild, after leaving, as it was obvious that this project couldn't have been overseen by someone as carefree as Yifa Tiya.
"It was built by someone Barton knows, have you heard of the Imperial Royal Artisan, Abigail?"
Yifa Tiya replied.
She was eager to answer their questions.
"I've heard of her," Lanchi said after a moment's thought.
Abigail was rumored to be one of the most notable magic artisans in the Empire, known as the "Imperial Magic Artisan Genius." However, due to her lack of interest in magic engineering and her strong aversion to military applications, she had refused all invitations from the Imperial Army.
"Is she a magic artisan with a space attribute affinity?"
Tallia asked in surprise.
She recalled that in the courses Lanchi taught, there was an extremely talented student named Nathaniel. As one of the professors' most favored students at St. Cryxis Abbey, he was also considered a strong candidate to win the Grant Award, the highest honor in magic engineering in the Cryxis Empire, within the next decade or so. Nathaniel already held the title of Royal Magic Artisan.
For Lanchi, Nathaniel was less like a student and more like a partner. If Nathaniel was willing, he could graduate from St. Cryxis Abbey at any time, and most of the Empire's academic institutions would be eager to hire him as a professor in the field of alchemy. Lanchi sincerely hoped that this outstanding young man of the Empire would directly assist him in completing this century-spanning project, leaving an indelible mark of glory in the Empire's academic world.
From Tallia's perspective, a magic craftsman who could attain the title of Royal Craftsman in the Cryxis Empire would be considered a top-notch professional in the Allied Forces, comparable to a Platinum-level craftsman. However, the Cryxis Empire does not categorize magic craftsmen into various classes.
"Yes, so even if she's willful, the Empire treats her as a unique treasure and won't force her."
Yifa Tiya also understood the ranking system of the Allied Forces' Joint Council.
Platinum-level was an extremely high level of certification in the field of magic craftsmanship, but with the addition of the space attribute, the nature of the talent changed entirely.
In the attribute periodic table, the fourth row was close to divine authority, and among the rare attributes, space was second only to divination. Possessing such an affinity was a one-in-a-million occurrence.
"I heard that Principal Violet's first choice for the new professor at St. Cryxis Abbey was Miss Abigail, but since she refused, they ended up selecting Landri."
Lanchi added.
Unlike Tallia, who paid little attention to the outside world, he made an effort to stay informed about the Cryxis Empire.
"After all, Miss Abigail isn't really interested in magic engineering. Her sole focus is on composing a masterpiece opera. I heard that one of her directed operas is currently sold out at the Imperial Opera House. It's a pity I can't go out to watch it and see what it's all about."
Yifa Tiya could empathize with the feeling of having one's interests and talents not align.
Tallia: "..."
Being caught between two geniuses and listening to their conversation made her feel miserable.
Oh well, as long as she accepted her actual life, she could be a sunny and cheerful princess.
"So, where can we find her?"
Lanchi felt it was necessary to meet this magic craftsman of the Empire as soon as possible.
Since she was willing to support Barton's project, it meant that she could be a powerful ally.
Just her ability as a space-attributed magic craftsman would be a huge blow to the Blood Tribe.
Ideally, he wanted to convince her to join his magic engineering research project.
With the support of a heavyweight like Miss Abigail, the Empire would be more likely to confirm him, Lanchi, as the project leader.
"I'll go find Barton; he and Miss Abigail are old acquaintances."
Yifa Tiya said as she opened the door of the silver-white palace, which was covered in space barrier runes.
Barton had strong connections within the Empire.
Although Yifa Tiya didn't inquire about the specifics of Barton's intelligence and resource acquisition methods, she trusted his capabilities and integrity. She knew that he would always do his best to fulfill any request, and both of them shared a deep hatred for the Blood Tribe, making them strong allies.
Upon hearing Yifa Tiya's words, Lanchi and Tallia also felt that it made sense.
The leader of the black society and the magic craftsman genius of the Empire were partners. The magic craftsman provided technical support to the black society, while the black society offered her a way to operate in the shadows. It was indeed a mutually beneficial relationship.
The low, rumbling sound of mechanical transmission filled the air as the thick anti-magic steel door slowly opened, gradually revealing all the hustle and bustle hidden underground.
Barton, cloaked in his black windbreaker, stood outside. His figure seemed to merge with the shadows, his expression clearly surprised.
He had been waiting outside and naturally sensed the extremely intense battle fluctuations that defied common sense.
Apparently, Lanchi was even stronger than he imagined, as he could actually survive a direct confrontation with the boss.
However, when he heard no sounds for a long time, he guessed that one party had been defeated and was being interrogated by the other.
Unexpectedly, the outcome was that both sides had chosen to negotiate instead.
"Barton, from now on, he's our partner. Do your best to assist him."
Yifa Tiya briefly explained to Barton.
She couldn't step out of the space barrier door.
"Understood."
Barton nodded in response.
Then his gaze shifted to the gray-haired, golden-eyed woman beside Lanchi.
One person had gone in, but now there were two coming out. He had never detected the presence of such a powerful being when Lanchi entered.
Barton wasn't sure if this was a lapse in his inspection duties.
"Er, Mr. Barton, this is my Epic Summon, and she has her own consciousness."
Lanchi pointed to Tallia as he introduced her.
"Mhm."
Barton didn't ask further questions.
Some Epic Summons did indeed possess wisdom and might even possess different skills. There were also cases of friendly summons that treated magic cards as their wives, so it wasn't unprecedented.
The fact that this Epic Summon could stand up to the boss was clearly extraordinary.
Therefore, asking too many questions might make the other party uncomfortable.
"... "
On the contrary, Barton's lack of curiosity made Lanchi and Tallia feel a bit awkward.
He seemed to understand everything, and they didn't know how to initiate an explanation.
"Wait for my message."
Lanchi waved goodbye to Yifa Tiya.
He would try his best to help Yifa Tiya obtain the medicine to remove the Blood King's divine fire and bring her out of there.
"Please."
She smiled, her hands clasped behind her back, her eyes filled with anticipation as she bid Lanchi farewell.
Barton watched their farewell with a puzzled expression.
How had this violent eighth-rank demon boss turned into someone as gentle as a little sister next door?
What was going on here?
(End of Chapter)
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