Phoebe sat alone after Andrew left, frowning in thought. It seemed that the crisis facing the Boozt Merchant Guild was indeed very serious. Otherwise, Phoebe wouldn't have chosen to strike with a gambling method, given her cautious nature.
Han Shuo walked in slowly without a sound, his eyes shining as he looked at Phoebe as soon as he entered the door. After a moment of silence, Phoebe was suddenly surprised. Looking up to see Han Shuo, she smiled and said happily, "You're back?"
"Rest assured, Leah Cain will die by my sword tomorrow, no doubt!" Han Shuo smiled and walked over to Phoebe. He reached out and smoothed the area between her wrinkled eyebrows before speaking softly.
"I believe you. Our Boozt Merchant Alliance took seven hundred thousand gold coins this time. Cameron will have to pay us five times that amount, based on the current odds, as long as you kill Leah Cain. Cameron won't be able to pay, no matter how much money he has. After this victory, our Boozt Alliance will have an enormous amount of gold coins and the danger from Cameron's group will naturally disappear! Phoebe enjoyed Han Shuo's tenderness very much. Relaxing her body, she leaned on his chest and said softly.
"All right, go to rest early. I'll meditate here tonight. Tomorrow, I'll go to the Garden House to challenge Leah Cain and solve this problem as soon as possible!" Han Shuo patted Phoebe's shoulder and urged her on.
Phoebe nodded meekly as she heard Han Shuo's words. Her expression relaxed into a smile as she said, "Rest assured, I'll come with you tomorrow and watch you kill Leah Cain for myself. I know you'll definitely win!"
Phoebe didn't stay after she finished. She walked into the back room with a chuckle and said quietly, "After you win, join me for a nice chat!"
Han Shuo sat cross-legged in the hall after Phoebe left. He silently circulated his magical yuan, gradually regaining his mental strength and adjusting the state of his body.
Inside Han Shuo's body, the demon infant was surrounded by a bloody vortex. Each drop of blood essence was like a precious ruby, shimmering translucently as each drop formed a red, shining crystal shape. The drops of blood essence swirled into a vortex, nourishing the demon infant at its centre. The layers of bloody-red mist, the killing intent gathered in the Bloodlust Realm, surrounded this vortex and also nourished the demon infant.
The demon infant was a copy of Han Shuo, except for its fist size. A black spot appeared between its eyebrows, where the Demonslayer Edge was stored. The enormous amount of killing intent that had been absorbed during this time had been stored in his body and condensed into a black spot on the demon infant's glabella.
In this way, the link between Han Shuo and the Demonslayer Edge was constantly maturing. The Demon Infant and the Demonslayer Edge could also support each other to absorb even more energy. Once the Demonslayer Edge successfully developed its own soul, its connection with Han Shuo would be one step closer. Slicing off a human's head from a thousand miles away with a single thought wouldn't be an impossible feat.
In the past few days, Han Shuo had gone to war everywhere and killed many experts. Han Shuo had swallowed and absorbed their killing intent and resentment to improve himself bit by bit. In particular, he'd already absorbed an enormous amount from his trip to the forbidden land, which had helped both him and the Demonslayer Edge improve immensely.
Han Shuo had slowly gained control over his nature in the bloodlust realm. Once the killing intent had accumulated to a certain degree, it would gradually change from quantitative to qualitative. Only then would he be able to break through to the separated Demon Realm, and his strength would take another step forward. Not only would Han Shuo be able to practice higher level secret demonic skills, but he would also be able to separate his consciousness from his body. He would possess some unimaginable miraculous abilities.
After a night of meditation, Han Shuo was in high spirits the next day as he and Phoebe left the Boozt Merchant Guild and went to the Garden House where Leah Cain resided.
Over the past few days, news of Han Shuo's challenge to the mad Leah Cain had spread throughout Ossen City, thanks to the deliberate work of Candide and Lawrence. Many aristocratic spies were lurking around the Garden House. Aside from them, experts from all walks of life were eagerly awaiting Han Shuo's arrival.
Han Shuo dismounted from Phoebe's carriage and was walking alone towards the Garden House when someone recognised him. Amidst the whispering and discussion, the spies of each house quickly sent reports of this news. The whispering turned into a hubbub in an instant. More and more people gathered at the Garden House as they heard the news.
Leah Cain was known among the aristocrats and power brokers as the Crazy Great Swordmaster of the Brut Merchant Alliance. Such a character had caused a storm when he had appeared in Ossen City and defeated three of the city's Great Swordmasters. It was a pity that Leah Cain was a foreigner, otherwise the civilians of the Lancelot Empire wouldn't have been so upset.
Han Shuo's fame had also blossomed during this period. Of course, his reputation wasn't that good either. Since he had been killing his opponents all the time, his infamy had spread far and wide. Even though Han Shuo's reputation was bad, he was still a citizen of the Lancelot Empire, so everyone hoped for his victory.
The nobles and civilians cheered as they sent him on his way to the courtyard. These people had known to come here early because Lawrence had revealed to them that Han Shuo would be coming this way within the next two days. They tried their luck whenever they had nothing to do and waited in this place. Everyone was dancing happily because they didn't expect Han Shuo to actually come today.
Han Shuo was one metre ninety centimetres tall. He wore a simple and capable looking black warrior's outfit, his figure handsome and masculine. After a long time of cultivating demonic magic, cultivators would possess a strikingly evil temperament. When the noble ladies saw Han Shuo for the first time, they already had good intentions towards him, regardless of right and wrong. At first, they would whisper in discussion, but later, they would all scream in unison as they glanced at Han Shuo's blazing eyes.
"Huh! I'm going to die of rage! He has disappeared for so many days in one go, making me wait again this time. If it hadn't been for the commotion this time, I'm afraid I wouldn't have known when I'd be able to see him again!" On the way to the garden house, Fanny was leading a group of people from the Babylon Academy of Magic and Strength. She looked at Han Shuo from a distance and whispered her complaints bitterly.
"Master Fanny, what did you just say? Look, it's really Bryan. When I first heard this news, I thought it was fake! I didn't think it was really Bryan. He has unexpectedly challenged that evil Leah Cain, everyone's so excited! Amy, the necromancy major, waved her fists excitedly as she watched Han Shuo walk towards the garden house. She turned to Fanny and shouted loudly.
"I, I didn't say anything!" Fanny smiled and said, "I didn't expect that brat to be so calm in front of so many people. He seems to have really matured!"
"Bryan really is very powerful. His deeds have spread all over Ossen City. Even our necromancy school has gained some new students. These new students actually chose our weak necromancy major as soon as they entered Babylon Academy. The tide has turned!" Athena was still excited. She looked at the proudly walking Han Shuo and exclaimed.
Lisa was with them this time, but she was silent compared to the past. No longer chirping, she simply followed the distant, dashing Han Shuo with her eyes. Seeing him act so relaxed, even in the presence of so many people, Lisa suddenly felt that he should have been so dazzling from the beginning.
"I am Bryan, I have come to see Mr Leah Cain!" Upon reaching the gate of the Garden House, Han Shuo spoke to the guard with a smile.
A large number of nobles and civilians had crowded into the alleys and pavilions surrounding the Garden House. Word of Han Shuo's challenge had spread quickly. Leah Cain had also left an order earlier, so the guard naturally knew what to do.
"Mister Leah Cain is currently training. He has been expecting your arrival and has made arrangements. You may enter as soon as you arrive. The guard said respectfully.
"Great, then please lead the way!" Han Shuo said with a smile.
Han Shuo followed the guard's lead and entered. All the onlookers were blocked outside. After all, this place was private property, so no one could enter without the owner's permission.
"Let us in, let us in!"
"That's right, we've been waiting for this for a long time! Please let us in!"
"I am Count Asi of the Lancelot Empire, I wish to see Mr Leah Cain!"
After Han Shuo entered, the nobles and civilians outside tried various methods to enter the Garden House. Not far from the place, several carriages slowly lined up. The decorations on these carriages were extremely luxurious. One glance was enough to know that they belonged to the nobility.
First, Prince Charles led a group of aristocrats in a slow approach. The group included Mr Hahn and Emily of the Betteridge family, Finance Minister Eevee, along with Lawrence, Boris of the Northern Guard and many other nobles.
Candide also appeared in a viewing pavilion opposite the Garden House, along with the tall, handsome Amyes, who had a refined presence and was one of the three heavyweights of the Dark Mantle. All were watching the interior of the Garden House with rapt attention.