Chapter 400 - - 397 Negotiation_1

—————✧✧✧✧—————

Holley?

How could it be him?

Duke Linqi could never have imagined that the commotion outside his ducal mansion would be caused by Holley, a minor piece he could crush with one hand.

How could he possibly possess such a powerful Martial Spirit?

With such a powerful Martial Spirit, why had he been keeping a low profile for so many years, and even made himself into a scumbag?

Was it targeting him?

A myriad of doubts flashed through Duke Linqi’s mind in an instant, and he even thought of King Lucerne’s conspiracy that specifically arranged for someone like Holley to target him.

After all, he held too much power and was the only duke in the Kingdom of Lucerne who was not of royal blood…

But all these doubts fell apart upon closer scrutiny…

Duke Linqi was a Great Sorcerer, with considerable strength, he could feel the surging spiritual power in Holley’s Martial Spirit which was hardly inferior to his own, so naturally, he would not think that Holley’s Sea God was an illusionary Martial Spirit.

Was the Martial Spirit of the Sea God really a genuine ten-star Martial Spirit?

Why?

Why?

Duke Linqi’s mind was so crammed with questions that he completely overlooked Old Gao by Duge’s side.

…

“Duke Linqi, no worse for wear, I see,” greeted Duge with a smile, looking up at Duke Linqi in the sky, and without stopping his hands, he imposed spiritual cages on the two Martial Artists with nine-star Martial Spirits.

Duge was always cautious, maintaining an upright image, he couldn’t just kill people at will, but he wouldn’t be foolish enough to let his enemies go either.

Two nine-star Martial Spirits, what if they tried a sneak attack while he and Duke Linqi were fighting?

Indeed, in this world, Duge’s spiritual power was high enough, but without a suitable place to farm keywords, his attributes were not very high.

The enhancement to physical fitness purely through the Martial Spirit was ultimately limited, bypass the Martial Spirit, hit his body directly, and it was possible to kill him.

Duke Linqi was a Great Sorcerer, who knew if he would go mad and use a forbidden-type spell. It had been proven that Martial Spirits could not intercept spells, as magic and samurai are mutually complementary and mutually exclusive.

In short, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Sealing a Martial Artist was different from a Magic Mentor; when imposing the spiritual cages on them, it could be visually reflected on their Martial Spirits, and each elemental lock hammered into their acupoints would nail a wedge into their Martial Spirit.

Once several acupoints had been hit with elemental locks, the Martial Spirit, as if chained, was forcibly pulled back into their bodies…

…

Having dealt with two nine-star Martial Artists and a mage, Duge looked up again at Duke Linqi in the sky and asked with a smile, “Duke, can we talk?”

“Yes.”

Duke Linqi had witnessed Duge putting spiritual cages on the three.

The spiritual cage was cast at close range; he couldn’t see which element Duge was using, but whatever the element, it proved that Duge had studied magic while possessing a ten-star Martial Spirit.

His curiosity about Duge was at its peak.

Before unraveling the conspiracy behind Holley, Duke Linqi did not want to fight with a Martial Artist who possessed a ten-star Martial Spirit.

Now that Duge had demonstrated his strength, any plot against him had completely collapsed, so negotiation was the best option.

Duge retracted his Martial Spirit, and Duke Linqi descended from the sky, standing in front of Duge. He examined Duge from head to toe with a probing gaze, glanced at Old Gao, and said, “Let’s go.”

“After you, Duke,” Duge replied with a smile, maintaining his manners.

Looking at Holley, who seemed like a different person from before, Duke Linqi hesitated for a moment, then returned to the ducal mansion, dispersing the guards outside. In the presence of a ten-star Martial Spirit, these guards were meaningless.

When Duge entered the Duke’s mansion, he saw Saima Lynch, the magic girl who had contributed to Holley’s imprisonment, and even nodded and smiled at her.

It had to be said.

Saima Lynch was indeed a top-tier beauty, no wonder Holley had been intoxicated by desires beyond his wits.

At this moment, Saima Lynch saw Holley, but her expression was completely one of seeing a ghost.

She couldn’t associate the courteous fellow with a ten-star Martial Spirit in front of her with the drunkard who had barged into her room and laid hands on her that day.

…

In the sitting room of the Duke’s mansion.

As everyone took their seats according to their status, servants served tea and refreshments.

Saima Lynch sat next to Duke Linqi, casting occasional glances at Duge, her eyes full of both disgust and perplexity.

Duke Linqi ignored Old Gao, instead looking at Duge, he asked, “Who are you, really?”

“Holley Alaus,” Duge replied, bowing slightly.

“Holley, you are a clever man.” The Duke frowned, he picked up his teacup, took a gentle sip, then set the cup back down, “You know that’s not what I’m asking. I want to know who is behind you, or rather, whom do you represent?”

“Duke, I represent no one,” Duge said with a smile.

“Is it the Lucerne King, or the Pope?” The Duke’s gaze was sharp, pressing, “Your intrusion into Saima’s room, was that also deliberately arranged? Starting with my reputation? Are they so impatient that they want to make a move against me, employing someone who has awakened a ten-star Martial Spirit to sacrifice his own reputation to partake in their plans?”

Old fellow, what on earth have you concocted in your mind!

Duge shook his head discreetly, “Duke, you are overthinking…”

“Holley, we can collaborate.” Duke Linqi interrupted Duge, “Tell me, who is the person behind you? What benefits have they provided you? I can offer you more. A powerful ten-star Martial Spirit like you should have your own pride and dignity, you should be shaping the destiny of this world, not being a pawn in their hands.”

… Old Gao glanced at Duke Linqi, suddenly finding the situation somewhat amusing. Power drives people mad; such individuals only think in terms of deceit and cannot understand the proud nature of Holley.

Looking at Duke Linqi, who had come up with a string of conspiracies, Duge couldn’t help but laugh wryly, “Duke, there really is no one behind me pulling the strings. If we must pinpoint a manipulator behind the scenes, I guess it would be ‘justice’ and ‘fairness’.”

… Duke Linqi.

… Saima Lynch’s eyes widened.

“Holley, that statement isn’t humorous,” said Duke Linqi.

“Duke, my ten-star Martial Spirit was awakened last night. Stephen and everyone in the prison can testify for me,” Duge replied with a smile, “Before that, I was a failure in awakening my Martial Spirit, possessing only a partial ability of a Martial Spirit, a worthless being. The me at the banquet that day was also the real me, without any disguise.”

Duke Linqi turned his gaze towards Old Gao.

“He is speaking the truth,” Old Gao said coldly, looking at Duke Linqi with undisguised contempt. “Last night, Holley was even prepared to face death, it was a minor incident that changed his mind, and then, Holley awakened his ten-star Martial Spirit—the entire prison bore witness to the awakening process.”

“Impossible.” Duke Linqi’s brows furrowed even deeper, “Perhaps someone can awaken their Martial Spirit twice, but even a ten-star Martial Spirit wouldn’t be able to wield such strong combat power right after awakening.”

“Duke, in this vast world, there are all sorts of marvels,” Duge smiled, “Whether you accept it or not, that is the truth. Duke, my visit today is not to argue with you about the Martial Spirit, but to seek clarification of my reputation.”

“Very well,” Duke Linqi looked at Duge and agreed instantly, without a second of hesitation. He knew that even if he didn’t clear things up, it would be impossible to send a ten-star Martial Spirit, a formidable being not weaker than himself, to the guillotine.

“Does that mean, Duke, you are willing to admit to the public that you framed me?” Duge looked pleasantly surprised.

“Framed?” Duke Linqi froze.

“Yes, framed.” Duge nodded affirmatively, turning to Saima Lynch, “It was I who stumbled upon Saima Lynch’s affair, and you, Duke, worried that I would be indiscreet and affect the marriage between Saima and Prince Nelson, decided to dump this slander upon my unworthy head…”

“You’re talking nonsense.” Before Duke Linqi could speak, Saima Lynch had already shouted angrily, her face flushed with rage, “Holley, you shameless wretch, it was clearly you who barged into my room at the banquet…”

“Saima, did I disrespect you?” Duge asked.

“How could a drunkard ever lay a finger on me?” Saima Lynch said with disdain.

“Saima, would you like to hear my story?” Duge shook his head, not waiting for their response, he began to narrate, “It all started with the Martial Spirit I failed to awaken, a prescient type of Martial Spirit…”

✦ ✧ ✦ ✧ ✦