As Orion used the upgrade card, a powerful surge of energy erupted from Ying Mo's body. Startled at first, she quickly realized the source of the change in her aura—it had to be the Lord's doing.
"My Lord…" Ying Mo's heart raced, a mix of gratitude and reverence swelling within her. Usually silent and as cold as ice, her emotions rarely surfaced. On the outside, she was composed, but deep within, Ying Mo carried complex feelings—particularly for Zhou Linglong, a sentiment no one else knew.
But now wasn't the time for such thoughts. Ying Mo needed to stabilize her cultivation. Without hesitation, she sat down, closed her eyes, and focused on refining the overwhelming energy coursing through her.
Across from her, Zhou Linglong, bound and bruised, hung in a pitiful state. Her body was battered, save for her delicate face, and she was on the brink of collapse after enduring Orion's torturous methods. Yet, as Ying Mo's aura intensified, even Zhou Linglong couldn't help but notice the transformation.
"How... how is this possible?" she muttered, her pain momentarily forgotten. A promotion? Just like that? Zhou Linglong's mind struggled to comprehend what was happening. Could it be that the torture somehow triggered this?
Unbeknownst to her, the true cause was a simple upgrade card, completely beyond her grasp.
Meanwhile, Orion was relieved that the upgrade card had taken effect. He opened the system interface and saw a small reminder.
"Ah, I forgot to sign in yesterday," he said, smacking his forehead. The previous day had been intense, with battles stretching from dusk to dawn. In the chaos, signing in had slipped his mind. Thankfully, the system saved his opportunity.
A smile spread across his face. "Does this mean I have two chances to sign in now?" he wondered, feeling his mood lighten. Without wasting time, he activated the system.
"I want to sign in! Twice!"
The system responded:
[Ding! Sign in successful. Congratulations! You've obtained the top-grade imperial weapon, Mountain and River Seal!]
[Ding! Sign in successful. Congratulations! You've obtained the heaven-level martial art, Prajna Touch Honey Palm!]
Orion looked at the rewards, slightly disappointed. "Still no direct boost to my cultivation," he muttered. Though powerful, his need for stronger personal abilities weighed heavily on him.
The Mountain and River Seal, however, piqued his interest. As a top-grade imperial weapon, it could rival even the Emperor-killing Spear. More intriguingly, it could bind to a dynasty and draw upon its luck, making it stronger over time. In the right hands, it could even compare to the legendary Dao Treasures.
The martial art, Prajna Touch Honey Palm, didn't excite him as much. Although impressive, Orion had already mastered several higher-level techniques. Still, the fact that it came as a direct system download meant no need for tedious training.
Satisfied for now, Orion turned his attention to more pressing matters. Xu Chu had news about the man in black robes—the mysterious figure from the Upper Domain whom Orion had been investigating.
Orion arrived at the temporary cell where Xu Chu had been holding the prisoner.
"How's it going with the man in black robes?" Orion asked.
Xu Chu, looking weary, sighed. "My Lord, I've been interrogating him since yesterday, but... there's a problem." He explained that the prisoner was from the Yuhua Immortal Dynasty, a vast empire in the Upper Domain. The man, a high-ranking commander, was restrained by powerful soul restrictions. Any attempt to pry into his memories would trigger a deadly backlash, rendering him brain-dead.
Despite Xu Chu's best efforts, the man in black revealed nothing useful. His silence, enforced by the restraints on his soul, made extracting critical information impossible.
Orion glanced at the battered figure of the prisoner, who barely resembled a human after the torture. "You did well. There's not much more we can do if his soul is locked like that."
Just then, Xu Chu handed Orion a jade slip found on the prisoner. "My Lord, I discovered this on him, kept close to his body. I couldn't decipher it, though—there are many restrictions on it."
Intrigued, Orion took the jade slip. A faint glow emanated from it, and spiritual energy pulsed from its surface. Clearly, it was protected by some powerful seals.
"What could be inside this slip that it's so heavily guarded?" he mused aloud. The complexity of the seals piqued his curiosity. As he examined it, the man in black robes, barely conscious, flashed a strange smile.
Orion frowned. Something wasn't right.