Upon witnessing the immense shadow of the ancient dragon, the golden-haired beauty was momentarily stunned, her heart gripped with fear.
That dragon's silhouette signified the reactivation of the opposing dragon blood to a new level; as a dragonborn, Losta could cow the majority of her kin merely with her draconic might!
Moreover, the temperature in the air plummeted sharply.
Snowflakes began to fall, gathering upon the dragon's shadow, outlining its formidable physique with increasing clarity.
The difference between S-class and A-class lies in the realm of **domains**.
A mages of A-class can easily unleash extensive spells, but those of S-class can transform the surrounding environment into a battlefield perfectly suited to their needs.
"You've stealthily and effortlessly broken through to S-class; how remarkable! Not a single word of celebration within our clan."
Aefaline's eyes narrowed, her stunning features now shrouded in gravity.
"I am unlike you; I won't squander my energy proclaiming, 'I will achieve S-class in a few years.'"
"Then why are you obstructing me at this moment, Losta?"
"Once you serve that child, he will enlighten you."
As for the present, Losta, out of kinship, had already exchanged pleasantries with Aefaline; further debate on right or wrong was futile.
Clarifying doubts was not on Losta's agenda for the day.
"Let's see if you, a newly ascended S-class woman, truly possess formidable power!"
Aefaline nearly instantaneously completed her incantation, unleashing her most potent spell, **Dragon's Lament**!
From the ground erupted a tornado, fierce winds howling as if an invisible giant dragon was lamenting.
Nearby mounts and tamed beasts, succumbing to terror, bowed their heads in submission.
The colossal ice storm tore through the ground, rushing towards the cold, indifferent dark-haired woman.
Losta made no move, not even a whispered incantation; there were no signs of magic being cast upon her.
This puzzled Aefaline; even an S-class should not simply withstand her strike without any form of resistance.
While Losta remained still, the ancient frost dragon did not; its sharp claws descended from the heavens, crushing the tornado into oblivion.
The howling winds abruptly ceased—
Aefaline's magic was rendered a mere joke.
The devastation wrought by **Dragon's Lament** was immense, leaving the once-smooth road in disarray, strewn with shards of earth and stone.
Yet, all chaos halted five meters before Losta, where she stood in tranquility, gentle snowflakes cascading, as if it were a serene first snowfall.
Losta snapped her fingers, and icy chains ensnared Aefaline's voluptuous form.
"Let us go; I shall escort you to the Dead Sea border, as you are also bound for that destination."
...
In the Outer City of Paradise,
The battle raged on, both sides ensnared in a frustrating stalemate.
Every second of Lanwei's struggle burned thousands of gold coins; a wealthy and extravagant mage revealed all his trump cards, deploying explosive, summoning, and defensive magic scrolls and stones in abundance.
He anxiously awaited his wife's arrival, but her absence lingered beyond his expectations.
After years within the affluent Black Ice Dragonborn clan, Lanwei's treasury was nearly depleted.
Meanwhile, on Chu Yan's side, despite having a distinct advantage, they struggled to gain the upper hand, burning with frustration.
Though Nancy possessed the ability to negate magic, it did not render her invincible; she too needed to cast spells to dispel others, or else there would be no practitioners left.
As for the formidable taboos surrounding them, Chu Yan hesitated to draw upon their strength, as their recovery time was excessively long.
Instead, it made sense to let his aunt bear the burden a little longer; after all, she had ridiculously forgotten about his safety the last time, and this was an opportunity to rectify that oversight.
"Chu Yan, use your lordly authority to command the taboos inside to take action!"
Nancy's impatience began to surface.
"Just a moment; when the Sirens attacked last time, their depletion was severe, and they are still in recovery. Aunt, please hold on a little longer and see how much more gold Connie's father can burn!"
"..."
Nancy's eyes sparkled with rare energy, silently glaring at Chu Yan, making it evident she was venting her frustrations internally.
At that moment, a wave of spatial magic rippled through the air.
Chu Yan turned his gaze to see a rift in space opening.
A woman with golden, wavy hair tumbled out, her curves accentuated, her waist slim and hips wide, reminiscent of a sensual enchantress.
This was none other than Aefaline!
And her secretary, Eve, also emerged.
Upon witnessing this scene, the beleaguered Lanwei collapsed!
He had fought and delayed at any cost, desperately waiting for Aefaline's arrival; how could this have happened...?
"Aefaline, what on earth happened?"
Lanwei's bewildered expression provided an opportunity for Nancy; six or seven Demon Slayer holy cross swords merged as one and penetrated his body in one fell swoop.
Boom!
Lanwei was pinned to the ground, the power of the Demon Slayer coursing through him, sealing all his magical pathways; he was utterly devoid of the ability to resist.
Chu Yan gazed at the mysterious newcomer, not recognizing her, but surmising that if she could bind Aefaline, she must be an ally, right?
At that moment, Nancy approached, whispering in his ear:
"The one bound on the ground is Aefaline, Connie's mother; the woman beside her is Eve, the youngest elder of the Black Ice Dragonborn clan and Losta's attendant."
"Is this a civil war within the Black Ice Dragonborn...?"
Chu Yan was bewildered by the situation.
Eve then stepped forward, extending an invitation to Chu Yan, her demeanor respectful yet formal, as if engaged in business.
"Mr. Chu Yan, might you spare a moment to discuss a few matters with me?"
"Certainly."
Eve lifted the furious noblewoman from the ground, leading the way into the spatial rift with Chu Yan following.
As the rift closed, they found themselves in a temporary conference chamber.
Eve retrieved a notepad, methodically stating the matters at hand:
"First, I will convey my master's directives and commissions. Lady Aefaline will become Mr. Chu Yan's personal servant; as long as her life is spared and the reputation of the Black Ice Dragonborn remains intact, you may use her at your discretion."
"Ah...?" Chu Yan was taken aback.
"Secondly, I would like to clarify certain facts, primarily concerning Lady Aefaline."
Losta had inexplicably struck Aefaline, leaving her confused.
Eve then proceeded to relay the various intelligence obtained, including but not limited to "the Aefaline couple embezzling family assets," and "Lanwei secretly aiding his son Connie in contacting the Dead Sea nobility," and so forth.
Assigning Aefaline to serve Chu Yan was a punishment for embezzlement, yet it also catered to Losta's ulterior motives—given Aefaline's A-class standing, any reprimand from the clan regarding the embezzlement would likely be mild, without severe penalties.
"As for why your son frequently visits Extreme City, I request an explanation from Mr. Chu Yan."
Eve passed the narrative to Chu Yan, who was still unsure of the current situation but chose to comply.
He removed the gag from the noblewoman and recounted Connie's actions.
Connie would periodically travel to the Dead Sea border seeking a unique woman to satisfy his desires for conquering monsters.
Ultimately, Connie met his demise here while attempting to elevate the status of the Dead Sea nobility.
Accompanied by his steward and guards to ambush, he was completely annihilated in the counterattack.
"...What I know comes from an incident during the Blood Moon; you need not dispute it, for you may choose not to believe it."
As he spoke, Chu Yan remembered something and added:
"By the way, your husband must die, for he has destroyed this small town and plotted to eliminate the civilians here. This matter is non-negotiable; prepare to be a widow!"
Aefaline's emerald eyes flared with rage, but this fury was not solely directed at Losta and Chu Yan.
She was aware that the truth aligned closely with Chu Yan's assertions.
In the past, she had harbored doubts regarding her son's behavior, but her indulgence and leniency prevented her from investigating deeply. Each time she prepared to question him, her husband Lanwei had easily deflected her concerns.
Now, as she sought revenge for her son, it was clear that Lanwei knew the culprit resided at the Dead Sea border; the rumors of the Crystal Forest were mere fabrications!
Lanwei aimed to destroy evidence, ensuring she remained oblivious that Connie had indulged himself here, avoiding his own cowardice.
Chu Yan observed the flicker of emotions in Aefaline's eyes, the simmering rage beneath, but he chose not to engage further, instead addressing Eve:
"Hello, why don't you take Aefaline back to your Black Ice Dragonborn? I can't dare to keep her as a servant; my current strength is insufficient to control her; this woman could eliminate me at any moment."
To put it bluntly, Chu Yan genuinely had to thank Lanwei.
Had he not sent his wife away, the forces here would likely have been inadequate to confront them both.
Currently, the direct enmity lay with Connie and Lanwei, while Aefaline had done nothing wrong; her purpose here was for her own flesh and blood.
Despite being at odds with Chu Yan, if the Black Ice Dragonborn could imprison her, he preferred to avoid antagonizing Aefaline.
"There is no need to worry about safety; my master has already placed a slave contract upon Aefaline. Simply infuse it with your magical essence, and ownership will be established."
Eve had evidently prepared for this matter; she then elegantly unbuttoned several of Aefaline's fastenings.
The mature, voluptuous allure of her form instantly captured the eye, the full contours filling the air with a delicate scent.
A magical mark materialized on a section of Aefaline's skin, though its color remained dim as it had yet to be activated.
Chu Yan was momentarily stunned, his mind spiraling into chaos, suspecting a ruse.
Could the internal strife within the Black Ice Dragonborn clan have reached such depths?
"Am I allowed to refuse? Can't you just take her back?"
Eve nodded, her demeanor robotic and devoid of emotion:
"That is permissible, but should Lady Aefaline harbor intentions for revenge upon her return, my master will not intervene.
You must either temporarily accept her as a slave servant or face her vengeance head-on."
Chu Yan's lips twitched; this was the strangest demand he had ever encountered; how could they so readily hand her over to an outsider?
"Then, would it be acceptable for me to take advantage of Aefaline while she is powerless and eliminate her?"
Eve shook her head, "That is not allowed; my master does not wish for Lady Aefaline to die, as it stands in the interest of kinship."
This indicated that if Chu Yan attempted to strike a lethal blow, Eve would inevitably intervene.
It seemed as though Chu Yan had options, yet in reality, he had none; however, utilizing Aefaline's power would alleviate the everyday inadequacies of Extreme City— the limitations of the taboos were too significant.
Especially as the suppression formations were being raided by the Church's vermin, their powers had to be used sparingly.
If Aefaline's strength could be harnessed, their chances against the Church would significantly improve!
"Am I truly about to proceed?" Chu Yan hesitantly sought confirmation.
"Please," Eve gestured nonchalantly, welcoming him.
Aefaline was entirely paralyzed, devoid of any strength.
As the power of the red dragonborn infiltrated her consciousness, Aefaline's delicate body trembled, her beautiful eyes widening, her pupils constricting in shock.
She could hardly believe it, yet was compelled to accept this reality.
Chu Yan treaded carefully throughout, and upon realizing the potent contradiction, he felt a sense of betrayal, foreboding calamity!
"She... didn't she have children? How can she still be pure?" Chu Yan stared blankly at Eve.
Eve, standing by, replied expressionlessly:
"The Black Ice Dragonborn exhibit a rather indifferent view towards procreation. Moreover, at that time, Lady Aefaline was engaged in a contest of strength with Lord Losta, leaving her with little inclination to squander over a year preparing for offspring; therefore, she resorted to certain magical techniques."
Chu Yan had indeed heard of methods like "surrogacy" and "cellular dragon spawn." The dragonborn had explored numerous means for reproduction, yet "surrogacy" led to a significant dilution of dragon blood.
Thus, it was generally viewed as a "feasible but foolish" method for anyone to utilize.
If one could not even maintain the superiority of the dragonborn lineage, it would be better to adopt a child from another clan and raise them as one's own kin.
Yet, Connie managed to retain a high blood concentration, recognized by the Black Ice Dragonborn; he must be a fortunate and rare exception.
"Due to the strength of the dragonborn, the binding effect of the slave mark will weaken within a month, and as Lady Aefaline approaches S-class, I advise Mr. Chu Yan to maintain the mark's strength every fortnight."
Eve continued to elucidate, casually producing a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Chu Yan's brow.
"I mean, if such frequent maintenance leads to Lady Aefaline accidentally becoming pregnant... what then?"
"The child belongs to the Black Ice Dragonborn and cannot be transferred to your current family!" Eve replied sternly, leaving no room for negotiation.
"..."
Chu Yan clearly hadn't intended to inquire about that, but it seemed unnecessary to pursue the matter further.
As Chu Yan focused on the tasks at hand, Eve delivered her master's final directive:
"This magical contract will automatically dissolve in one year. Please, Mr. Chu Yan, strive diligently, and do not slacken your cultivation.
You must acquire the strength for self-defense as soon as possible.
Otherwise, after one year, Lady Aefaline will regain her freedom, and her vengeance will no longer be restrained by my master."
"?!" Chu Yan was filled with trepidation.
He knew it was a trick!
*
The spatial fluctuation returned as Chu Yan emerged with Aefaline from the rift.
Oddly, Aefaline bore no restraints, her exquisite gown merely disheveled and drenched in sweat, her expression somewhat dazed.
She glared fiercely at Chu Yan, yet could not muster even a shred of power.
Throughout this period, Lanwei had remained imprisoned; upon seeing his wife appear safe and sound, he rejoiced as if reborn.
"Aefaline, quickly, kill these people! They are responsible for the death of our child!"
Aefaline's gaze turned to her husband, her mental state teetering on hysteria, a strange, cold smile escaping her lips.
"Fool!"
A massive, pitch-black dragon claw materialized, its sharp talons glistening like ice crystals.
Sensing the overwhelming draconic magic, Nancy felt an imminent threat.
Yet, the claw merely aimed at Lanwei, obliterating his body with a single strike.
An A-class male mage was reduced to a grotesque mess in the blink of an eye, a puddle of crimson splatter.
Lanwei died without ever understanding why his wife had turned against him.