"By the way, how's everything going with the Spiritual River?"
the woman clad in purple curiously asked.
"It's still very calm.
However, I still can't get close to it and I'm stuck looking at it from afar.
Seems like I have to become the chief first and go through the baptism in the ancestral temple before I
get the qualifications to enter the Spiritual River,"
sighed the young man.
"Everyone says that only the chief of the spiritual race can enter the river, no one else is allowed.
Seems like it's true,"
she murmured softly.
"Yes.
What's most annoying is that we can't just break into it by force.
Otherwise, it'll self-destruct and everything in it will vanish as well,"
the man groaned.
"Alas, I feel terribly guilty for causing you so much trouble. I'm just a humble woman, after all. Not once
did I expect that my spiritual soul would be hurt so badly that I'd need the spiritual lotus to heal me.
However, it only exists in the Spiritual River.
You wouldn't have to try so hard to fight in order to be the chief otherwise.
We could have left together and lived a simple but happy life. That's the happiest ending I can
imagine."
Unspeakable sadness and melancholy darkened the woman's voice.
"Don't worry, Ariana. I'll do anything to become the chief. And then I'll go to the Spiritual River and fetch
the spiritual lotus for you. I'll make sure you'll recover.
Besides, I, Kerwin, am the eldest prince who's supposed to be the next chief anyway. I won't let anyone
else get it!
Humph! I'm destined to be the next chief!
Anyone who tries to get in my way will die!"
As the prince spoke, a hint of cruelty flashed through his eyes.
"Ha-ha! My prince, what I like most is how you never give up. You're so charming that I just can't resist
you. Come here, darling. Let's do something more interesting..."
Every word that left Ariana's lips was full of temptation. As she strode closer to Kerwin, her scent filled
the air.
Since Kerwin had long been deeply attracted to her, how could he resist it when she was throwing
herself into his embrace? He immediately stepped closer to her and tugged her in his arms.
"Ha-ha!"
Sweet laughter left Ariana's lips.
At that moment, within a secret chamber in Rondo's mansion, Austin was silently sitting with his legs
crossed.
During this time, he was busy practicing and managed to master several powerful secret skills related
to the spiritual soul.
Additionally, Rondo also sent some advanced methods derived from the Puppet Strings. Although the
method that Austin wanted the most, which would have allowed him to use his slaves' spiritual soul
energy, still wasn't there, he still gained a lot.
Most notable one was that he was now capable of subduing divine gods and turning them into slaves at
least a hundred times faster than before.
Based on his estimation, it would only take just a few breaths for him to subdue an ordinary genuine
premium-grade divine god.
'Ha-ha! I planned to help Rondo become the chief and then find an opportunity to turn him and Elder
Payne into my slaves.
Seems like there's no need to wait that long.
I can turn divine gods into my slaves faster now. That means I can take control of Elder Payne in a
short period of time.
First, I have to subdue him, '
Austin pondered for a moment and quickly made up his mind.
"Prince Rondo, I have something to discuss with you and Elder Payne."
Determination thrummed in his veins and he immediately sent a message to Rondo.
"Oh?
Gio, you have something to discuss with us?"
Rondo asked, a bit stunned.
"Yes, it has something to do with an astonishing treasure of our spiritual race.
To be frank with you, I came back to the Spirit Cosmos because of it."
As Austin spoke, he deliberately released the aura of the spiritual tree so that Rondo could sense it and
trust in his words.
"Wait! What?!
This... Could it be..." When he felt the aura of the spiritual tree, Rondo couldn't help but be momentarily
stunned, but it quickly gave way to his elation.
"Gio, is the treasure you're talking about the spiritual tree, a long lost holy treasure of our spiritual
race?"
Trembles racked through his voice.
"Yes, I managed to gather some clues about the spiritual tree, but I need your help.
I can't handle it on my own."
Austin purposefully kept his words vague.
There was only one goal here; and that was to use the spiritual tree to lure Rondo and Payne into his
room.
"Elder Payne and I will go there right now!"
Rondo could barely stop himself from trembling with excitement when he heard Austin's positive
response.
It was the spiritual tree, one of the most precious holy treasures of the spiritual race!
In the past, the spiritual tree was hidden in the Spiritual River for eons.
However, something happened that resulted in the spiritual tree disappearing from the river. It had
remained missing ever since and none of them could find a clue about its whereabouts.
Although the spiritual race never stopped searching for it, their efforts were in vain.
"What? Gio has clues about the spiritual tree? No way!
It's been lost for countless years. No matter how much manpower and time we spent searching for it,
we end up with nothing.
How could he possibly have any clue about it?
That's impossible!"
Payne couldn't help but quickly disagree. A feeling in his gut told him that it must be a lie.
It was too good to be true.
"Elder Payne, please try and feel it,"
Rondo urged and he immediately teleported the aura of the spiritual tree to the elder.
It was only possible because Austin already sent the aura to Rondo earlier.
"The spiritual tree's aura!
I can't believe it!
Since I sensed the aura of the spiritual tree in the ancestral temple once, I can't be wrong. It really is
the spiritual tree!
No matter how powerful Gio is, it was impossible to fabricate the spiritual tree's aura!
He really does know where it is!
Do you think he saw the spiritual tree with his own eyes? How else would he be able to accurately
simulate this?!"
A red flush spread on Payne's face and he couldn't stop babbling in excitement when he felt the
spiritual tree's aura.
"Let's go to him right now!
Your Highness, we must get the spiritual tree!
If we did, we'll gain unimaginable benefits!
If we can get our hands on it, it'll be a walk in the park to become the Spirit Cosmos's ruler.
No matter what method we use, we must find out its whereabouts even if it meant arresting Gio and
torturing the answer out of him!"
It was impossible for Payne to remain calm in the face of the possibility of getting his hands on such a
valuable treasure. In a flash, he left his room and appeared in front of Rondo, roaring to meet Austin as
soon as possible.
"That's right.
Elder Payne, I must get the spiritual tree!
Ha-ha! Lady Luck must be smiling down on me!
In this chaotic era, I suddenly met Gio, and he happened to know the spiritual tree's whereabouts!
Seems like I'm the chosen one who would find the spiritual tree!
Once I get it, I'll soar higher than everyone else and dominate the Spirit Cosmos!"
Loud laughter burst out of Rondo as he imagined his future as the chief of the spiritual race.
"Stay calm, Your Highness. We must treat Gio politely first.
He's rather powerful and there's no need to cut ties with him yet. We can just get his help to make you
the chief first.
Afterwards, we'll control him and make him lead us to the spiritual tree.
In other words, our goal is to become the chief and then go find the spiritual tree,"
Payne instructed, living up to his reputation as a sly old fox. Although he was very excited, he quickly
regained his sanity and figured out what they should do.
"You're right. Let's do your plan.
Let's go meet with Gio now!"
Rondo nodded in agreement.
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