novelraw Chapter 175 - 173: Your Favorability Actually Went Up?
Chapter 175 - 173: Your Favorability Actually Went Up?
Hecate listened to Duke Qinghui’s assessment and said with some amusement:
"Are you also dissatisfied with the [Circle of Clear Skies]? My apologies. Compared to the Law of a Celestial God, our Anti-Chaos System can indeed only be described as barely adequate."
Westheid shook his head. "No, my overall assessment is one of praise. But to put it bluntly, your method also relies on external forces. Demons, like Celestial Gods, are existences that are difficult to rely on."
"The [Circle of Clear Skies] is certainly usable, but my point is that you can’t rely entirely on Demons. How long has it been since you last modified this system?"
"That’s easy for you to say."
Hecate shook her head. "The current [Circle of Clear Skies] system is a stable channel we only achieved after countless trials. It can only be maintained with the utmost care; modifying it is far too risky."
The Ring of Clear Skies was able to dominate the Borderland precisely because of their mastery of the [Circle of Clear Skies] technology.
Through their studies, the Witches establish contact with Demons, draw upon their power, and use it via various complex rituals, allowing them to erect a stable Order Barrier.
Demon Power is, in essence, a low-grade Sub-Deity Power. And Divine Power is the highest tier of Order Energy—the sharpest blade against Chaos!
The settlements in the Borderland lack the ability to be integrated into a Realm of Order. If they don’t wish to be devoured by Chaos, their only choice is to take refuge under the Ring of Clear Skies, becoming vassals and servants to the Witches.
This just goes to show the importance of controlling core technology; they have the people of the Borderland by the throat!
Just by feeding on the scraps that the Realms of Order look down upon, the Ring of Clear Skies has been able to develop quite comfortably.
Westheid said meaningfully, "Stealing Demon Power is not something to be complacent about."
Most Demons don’t care that their power is being stolen. In fact, they prefer it—the more that’s taken, the better. This is especially true for the Celestial God’s Shadows dispatched by Emperor Qianlu, who spare no effort in spreading their power across the Mortal World. The more contracts they sign, the greater their chance of escape.
Like prisoners, all the Demons desire is to break free from their cages and regain their freedom.
However, in the future Westheid knew from the Poem of Destiny, the Demon that the Ring of Clear Skies used as the source for their rituals eventually breaks free from its prison after Emperor Qianlu severs contact. It then immediately discards its demonic form, transforms into a physical entity, and goes off to party and enjoy life, leaving all the mortals who signed contracts with it completely in the lurch.
The same happened to the Ring of Clear Skies. Only after a period of chaos did they manage to recalibrate the [Circle of Clear Skies], but by then, they had missed out on many early advantages.
If the Witches could recalibrate this system ahead of time, their future potential would be even higher. And indeed, Westheid already saw the Ring of Clear Skies as a force under his command.
Westheid couldn’t just come out and explain the reason. After all, knowing about the [Circle of Clear Skies] was one thing, but if he also knew exactly which Demon the Ring of Clear Skies had a contract with, he would seem to know a little too much.
As a professional Demon Practitioner, Hecate naturally knew the drawbacks of using Demon Power and didn’t need him to point them out. In fact, she felt Westheid was being a bit overly concerned.
So, the Red-haired Witch said with great interest:
"Duke Qinghui, for you to so fervently seek an Anti-Chaos System that can be controlled by mortals... your ambitions are hardly small."
Westheid didn’t hide his ambition, nodding as he said:
"I am indeed not satisfied with the current size of the Qinghui Territory. I have ambitions to expand my domain, and I also wish to help the displaced return to their homelands. If you cannot walk on lands bathed in sunlight, then you shall bask in the Light of Qinghui."
Miss Witch was taken aback by his words.
"You... Duke Qinghui, are you serious?"
Westheid smiled. "I believe my actions have already proven it."
Hecate’s eyelids lowered slightly as she gazed meaningfully at Westheid’s brilliant, handsome profile.
Her bewitching eyes seemed to have lost some of their iciness, now holding a spark of fervor.
[The web of affection you have woven is showing results.]
[You have shared the Talent [Evil Magic Vein] from "Hecate Qianhong".]
[Evil Magic Vein]
[A mortal’s body struggles to adapt to Demon Power. Over long ages, Demon Practitioners, in their efforts to contact the Celestial God’s Shadows, constructed a unique system of veins and techniques that permeates the entire body.]
[Greatly enhances adaptability and capacity for Demon Power; Casting strength is increased.]
Hm?
’What’s going on? How did her affection level go up?!’
Westheid did have his eye on Hecate, but he hadn’t even started trying to "conquer" Miss Witch yet!
Casually saying a few nice things that resonated with someone was a passive skill as natural as breathing for a super "conquest king" like him.
’But that shouldn’t be enough to complete the first stage of the conquest, right? Weren’t you the one who said you wouldn’t be moved by sweet talk?’
But after thinking about it for a moment, Westheid felt it was understandable.
Most of the Witches of the Ring of Clear Skies were refugees from nations that had been devoured by Chaos in the past.
To the Realms of Order, which are protected by Divine Ancestors, Chaos is a rather distant threat. But for the settlements, city-states, and small countries formed purely by mortals, the threat of annihilation is ever-present. The surging Chaos Tides that appear periodically don’t just batter the borders of the Celestial Gods.
Tens of thousands of refugees were created as a result. The vast majority flooded into the Realms of Order and were assimilated, but a small minority refused to give up on their old homes and wanted to return.
However, aside from the Country of Yonglan with its unique Laws, no Realm of Order would proactively attack the Chaos Domain. Left with no choice, these refugees had to fend for themselves, trying all sorts of methods. In the end, only the Witches who studied Demons persevered and achieved results.
The Ring of Clear Skies is an organization of displaced people huddling together for warmth. For the Witches, the story of the Qinghui Territory’s reclamation was like a dream come true.
And among the Witches, Hecate was an extremist of the "returnist" faction. It was only natural that she would be deeply moved by Westheid’s words and deeds.
Miss Witch had no idea that her fluttering heart had been laid bare by [Heart and Soul’s Gift]; her beautiful and bewitching face showed no sign of it.
Hecate pondered for a moment before saying:
"Duke Qinghui, you’ve dealt with the Devourer, haven’t you? I heard you fought him and drove out the Dirt World Desolate God."
Westheid clicked his tongue. "Ah, that bastard. I’ve never seen a Chaos Creature that plays at conspiracy and deceit. He even specializes in psychological attacks!"
Hecate: "Do you think the Devourer is strong?"
Westheid gave his sharp assessment, "Because he possesses high intelligence, that Desolate God is very difficult to deal with. But precisely because he’s been tainted by so much of Order’s ’poison,’ if he doesn’t unleash his Desolate God form, he’s a total pushover."
No joke, in his normal state, Westheid and Mivana could beat him up together.
Hecate’s dark violet eyes stared directly at Westheid as she nodded.
"The Devourer is the one who destroyed my home. I know that bastard is in Purity Forest, yet I keep numbing myself with the excuse that the time isn’t right... Heh, how laughable. The one who dreams of reviving her homeland can’t even dare to face her nemesis!"
"Duke Qinghui, I will help with the coming reclamation campaign. Although I can’t speak for the entire Ring of Clear Skies, I have some resources of my own and should be able to provide significant help. At the very least, when it comes to the battle with the Devourer, I must take part."