--- Chapter 120 ---
Huo Yuhao felt a little bad for Venelana because rejecting her advance toward him was the only way to wake her up. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, lying on the bed with a complicated expression.
"Have you scanned the seal, teacher?" He called over Eluxia, the necromancer.
Eluxia nodded and replied, "Even though this world had a fundamental difference from ours, the seal isn't more complex than my spiritual codex. I could sense the ill intent behind it."
"Counting your research on this world's magic, I could copy the method of the Slave Seal within a few breaths." She proudly added, lifting her nose slightly.
Huo Yuhao laughed a little and asked, "How adorable. Since when did you become this prideful? Don't tell me sister daydreams have been influencing you?"
"RUDE!" Tian Meng interrupted Huo Yuhao's comments on her.
"I didn't teach her anything, hmph!"
"This sister only acts natural all her life. My motto is "Life is too short for my beauty!" So you heard that right!"
Bing Di couldn't help but roll her eyes because this worm's narcism had grown too much. "Now I'm regretting ever meeting with you." She cursed while freezing the worm in ten-inch ice.
"What-!" Before Tian Meng could respond to Bing Di, the ice had sealed her. With that depth of ice, she wouldn't be able to move for a few hours or possibly half a day.
Eluxia chuckled and said, "I only picked one or two habits from Tian Meng and Bing Di. It's not that bad."
"What do you mean it's not that bad?" Bing Di was speechless.
Huo Yuhao shook his head and commented, "Okay, stop arguing with each other. Even though we aren't in the Douluo Dalu Universe, I have started to sense a slight change in the air."
"This world hasn't been fully conquered yet, but the Spirit Energy started to generate in the atmosphere. It was faint the second time we arrived in this world, but now it's around 6.9% thicker than before."
"Ah." Now that Huo Yuhao commented on this, Tian Meng and Bing Di feel the sudden change in the atmosphere. There is a slight Spirit Energy in the air, which seems faint compared to their homeworld. Still, it's praiseworthy, considering this place didn't have any weeks ago.
Spirit Energy's concentration between the Underworld and the Human World is also different. As the human world is neutral, the Spirit Energy within the Underworld is contaminated with demonic energy, making it suitable for devils and other dark creatures.
It doesn't mean the devils could wield the Spirit Energy freely because they had to awaken their martial soul to utilize it. They could feel and even use it, but with this concentration level, even becoming Spirit Grandmaster is hard. Not to mention, Spirit Masters need Spirit Rings to increase their realms.
Without Spirit Rings, even a person who somehow awakened a martial soul couldn't achieve much.
Only beast-like creatures benefitted from these changes because they could become Spirit Beasts and grow more powerful than before. Since bloodline matters in Spirit Beast's cultivation, Dragons could possibly reach the 100.000 years mark in a few years.
'I might have to visit the familiar forest later. Who knows that I was lucky enough to encounter poke-! I mean, familiar monster to get bound as my Vampire's servant.' Huo Yuhao recalled a person. Specifically, a guy parodied as Ash Ketchum or Satoshi in the familiar forest.
Huo Yuhao shook his head because the matter of Venelana wandered to another topic. He sighed and contacted Kuroka through their spiritual link, telling Nekoshou to visit his bedroom.
Grayfia was busy arranging the Lucifuge Mansion because she was the only Lucifuge alive. Her father and mother passed away one hundred years ago, leaving this place dusty.
She also has a younger brother, but his location is unknown. Huo Yuhao heard Grayfia banished her younger brother somewhere else years ago, not allowing the foolish man to tarnish Lucifer's Will.
"Did you call me Darling nyaa~!"
A black cat jumped from the window and landed on Huo Yuhao's bed, wiggling her body slightly. She blinked a few times because of the female devil's scent lingering in the room.
This sweet yet alluring scent could make men's hearts melt instantly.
However, seeing Huo Yuhao's complexion. He seems fine.
She rubbed her cat's chin and asked, "Venelana Bael tried to seduce you a while ago, right?"
"Yeah." Huo Yuhao nodded his head.
"She's desperate and not in the right state of mind. I cannot help her yet because it wouldn't be good for her later. Venelana has more than enough strength to destroy the Bael Clan. Nonetheless, she got shackled like a loyal dog by the lord bael using the Slave Seal."
"Wait, Slave Seal?? Huh?!" Kuroka was shocked.
"Not even a peerage contract, but a Slave Seal?"
Even though Kuroka hasn't been in the Underworld for years, Slave Seal was "strictly." banned after the peerage system created by Ajuka Beelzebub. After all, the peerage system is considered a master-servant relationship already, but Slave Seal is even lower than that.
Victims of Slave of Seal are nothing but animals waiting for someone to take their lives. With a simple order like, "Kill yourself." the victim would attempt suicide instantly. And There is no such thing as fighting back.
"How despicable one could be..." Kuroka mumbled to herself.
The nekoshou couldn't help but feel pity for Venelana Bael. The Ruin Mistress of the Underworld is a slave of Lord Bale.
Kuroka recalled Venelana's dreamy look before checking the Naberius Laboratory, 'No wonder she always makes that expression when looking at Darling.'
"Hmm, this isn't the right time."
"But you'll save her eventually, no?"
Huo Yuhao wryly smiled when hearing Kuroka's remark and replied, "Yeah. I'll try my best to help Venelana."
"I've planted my blood mark on her body and soul before so that danger wouldn't touch her."
He patted Kuroka and added, "Anyway, I'm calling you here to awaken your martial soul."
"Eh?" Kuroka was surprised. Her eyes glittered in excitement because she had been waiting for this. She rubbed her face on Huo Yuhao's thigh and yelled, "Then, what are you waiting for, Nyaa?! I want to awaken my martial soul now!"
Looking at the frantic cat, Huo Yuhao warned her that the procedure would be a painful experience. Weirdly, Kuroka didn't mind and even breathed heavily for some reason when listening to his warning.
"Hehe~!" Kuroka cheekily grinned and turned to her human form, lying her head on Huo Yuhao's lap. She stuck out her tongue adorably.
Huo Yuhao sighed and said, "I warned you already."
[Do you want to awaken Kuroka's Martial Soul?]
[Yes/No]
'Yes.' Huo Yuhao pressed the invisible system panel.
"NYAAA~!!"
A lewd moan echoed in the room, making Huo Yuhao cough nervously.
"MM~! AAAAHHH~!!!"
[Kuroka has awakened "Elementals Beads." Martial Soul]
"IT'S SO PAINFUL, YUHAO~!!!"
Huo Yuhao flicked Kuroka and commented, "It's over, stop playing around."
"EHH~! But you haven't pampered me yet." Kuroka pouted and wiggled her twin mountains at Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao slapped her rear and returned, "Don't be a naughty kitty now. Bring out your martial soul so I can assess your future cultivation."
Kuroka blushed when he slapped her buttocks and brought out five beads from her chest. Each represents fundamental elements of this world.
[Name: Elemental Beads]
[Type: Martial Soul/Tool-Type]
[Grade: SS+]
[Description: Elemental Beads. It's a tool-type martial soul manifested beads of fundamental elements. Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood Elements]
"Oh, so this is a martial soul." Kuroka played around with balls. No, she played around with beads of elements.
Huo Yuhao pondered briefly because Elemental Beads was quite a versatile martial soul. "Kuroka, which elements do you want to master first?" He asked calmly.
Kuroka remembered the technique Huo Yuhao used when training sage energy. She looked at him and answered firmly, "Wood, Nyaa~!"
"So I can handle wood like you~!"
'This cat is a fucking pervert!' Tian Meng yelled from the spiritual sea.
Bing Di rolled her eyes and sneered, 'Pots calling kettle black.'
Huo Yuhao ignored Kuroka's innuendo and picked a Rune Stone from his inventory, throwing it to her.
"Absorb this. You awakened to level 10 immediately like Grayfia and Gabriel." He said while stretching his neck. Huo Yuhao checked his shoulder and saw a hickey mark left by Venelana.
He looked at the ceiling and mumbled, "Please bear it for a moment there, Venelana."
...
...
Bael Mansion.
"Useless!"
Kacha!
Kromael Bael threw a vase at Venelana and scratched her cheek, making blood drip to the floor. However, the brunette devils appeared to be emotionless, like a doll.
"You can't even seduce that goddamn bastard?"
"You useless bitch, no wonder father ignored your trashy slut of a mother."
Venelana stared at her brother silently and remembered Huo Yuhao's words an hour ago. 'Who's Venelana Bael?' She thought to herself.
'Who am I?'
'I am nothing but a slave...'
Kromael squinted his eyes and groaned, "Why did you cry?"
"Stop crying, for fuck sake."
"Yes, brother." Venelana stopped crying abruptly, but her dim purple eyes remained moist. Even though Slave Seal has taken over Venelana's body, her emotion can resurface a little.
Kromael looked at his non-existent leg and broken hand, gritting his teeth in humiliation. He was furious.
How could a noble blood like him get treated like this?
'I have to use another pawn. A useful puppet that could help me eradicate the Blue-Eyed Dragon God.' He thought while looking at Venelana.
"Bitch, heal yourself and clean the floor."
Venelana grazed her cheek and used healing magic on herself, kneeling to wipe her blood.
"Use your tongue. Lick the floor clean." Kromael has a bright idea when seeing this to satisfy himself.
Venelana trembled slightly but followed his order. The sight of Ruin Empress turning into a dog-like creature makes Kromael laugh loudly.
He grabbed a bottle of wine on the table and said, "HAHAHA~! Yes, this is the way. And This is how people should act before me!"
Venelana stayed in her position with blood stains ruining her beautiful face. "Done, brother." She replied monotonously.
Kromael finished his wine and continued, "Venelana, this is your new order."
"You'll seduce the Daihauser Belial tonight. Get his seed and bore a child with your trashy blood."
"A combination of Bael's Power of Destruction and Belial's Worthless should be a good pawn against the Blue-Eyed Dragon God. That annoying dragon shall die in my hand in the future."
"Do you understand?" He lowered his gaze.
"Yes..." Venelana answered flatly.
After getting dismissed by Kromael, Venelana walked out of the office and mindlessly stared at the long path ahead. She could see a gloomy future waiting for her.
"Freedom isn't something one could grant without cause..." Huo Yuhao's voice appeared in her head.
"Appreciate yourself more, Venelana."
"You're a beautiful woman with talents..."
"Do you really like me?"
She cried with tears running from her eyes but maintained a flat, emotionless expression.
"Venelana-sama..." David, the butler, was standing with a saddened look.
Looking at Venelana's miserable expression makes his old heart ache.
Venelana smiled at David and replied, "I'm okay, prepare the carriage to the meeting place. I have to settle something first."
David looked at Venelana's back and mumbled, "You're not okay, Venelana-sama. Your eyes are crying for help..."
"You deserved better than this."
Even though David wants to help, he is just a mere butler with limited strength. He clenched his fist and said, "I have to confront the Blue-Eyed Dragon God about this."
"He's the only one who could lift Venelana-sama from Bael Clan's curse."