Ch 10 Gaining a slave. Alchemist association.

Shen Xui quickly finished her meal, her graceful movements contrasting with the irritation simmering in her expression as she endured Shen Fei's relentless harassment. Her patience finally wore thin, and she stood abruptly, her piercing glare locking onto him before she turned and left the dining hall without a word.

Shen Fei watched her leave, a smirk playing on his lips. Once she was out of sight, he shrugged and returned to his meal, eating leisurely before heading to his room.

Inside his chamber, Shen Fei sat cross-legged on his bed, his posture straight as he began meditating. The room fell into a hushed stillness as he closed his eyes, channeling his focus inward. Quietly, he began to cultivate, his hands forming precise seals as he recited the mantra of his cultivation technique. The flow of energy in the room became palpable as he circulated his soul force.

Time passed, and the hours melted away. After more than four hours of relentless effort, a soft, resounding "pop" echoed within him, marking his breakthrough. A rush of power surged through his body, and he exhaled slowly, his blood-red eyes snapping open.

"Finally," Shen Fei murmured, his voice low but filled with satisfaction. He could feel it—the surge of strength that came with reaching the 3-star Silver Rank. Yet, beneath his triumph lingered a sense of frustration.

"My cultivation technique grows more profound, evolving constantly," he muttered to himself. "But the more it perfects itself, the greater the demands it places on me. My soul realm keeps expanding, requiring more soul force to advance. Is this truly a blessing, or a curse?"

He paused, his gaze thoughtful. "Even the existing soul force in my realm becomes more refined—purer—before I can progress to the next stage. It's as if my technique forces every drop of potential out of me, stretching the process longer with each breakthrough."

Rising from his bed, Shen Fei stretched, the tension in his body releasing as he prepared to move. "I wonder… is this technique also improves the color of my soul realm? I'll need to test it soon."

The night was dark, the sky above the mansion veiled by a blanket of stars. Flickering torches lit the pathways, casting long, wavering shadows against the grand walls. Guards patrolled in steady intervals, their footsteps echoing softly in the stillness.

Shen Fei moved through the mansion with purpose, his eyes gleaming with a predatory edge. He soon reached Shen Xui's room and slipped inside, quietly closing the door behind him. The soft glow of the moon filtered through the curtains, illuminating her figure on the bed. She lay still, her body draped under a thin blanket, her breathing even.

But Shen Fei wasn't fooled. He smirked knowingly. Activating his divine sense, he confirmed what he suspected—she was wide awake, pretending to sleep.

"Still playing games, are you?" he muttered, a chuckle escaping him. Without hesitation, he discarded his clothes and slid beneath the blanket, wrapping his arms around her slender frame. Her body was warm and soft against his, but she didn't react, maintaining her act.

Then, he removed all her clothes and threw them on the ground, but she still pretended to sleep.

After making her body completely naked, just like his, he hugged her tightly from behind. His hands moved to her breasts, grabbing her mounds, squeezing and deforming them under his playful touch.

His hard dick below poked at her heart-shaped ass. While squeezing her mounds, he humped his hips, massaging his dick against her soft and plump ass.

"You can keep pretending," he whispered into her ear, his voice a husky murmur laced with amusement. "But I know you're awake, Aunt. Is it fun to act asleep while enjoying this?"

The warmth of his breath against her ear sent a visible shiver down her spine. At his words, her charade faltered. Shen Xui's eyes fluttered open, and she turned her head to glare at him, her expression a mixture of anger and embarrassment.

"Shen Fei," she hissed, her voice low but sharp with warning.

But her silence spoke volumes as she made no move to resist, letting his actions unfold with an unspoken tension that hung heavy in the room.

Shen Fei didn't go too far with Shen Xui that night, only taking occasional liberties. Eventually, both of them fell asleep.

The next morning, Shen Fei woke up to an unexpected sensation. Looking down, he noticed Shen Xui's delicate hand wrapped around his hardened cock as she slept peacefully beside him. A sly grin spread across his face.

Reaching out, he placed his hand on her chest and twisted one of her nipples sharply. A soft cry escaped her lips as her eyes fluttered open in surprise.

"Aah."

"Aunt, if you want it, just ask me," he said mischievously, his tone dripping with mockery. He gestured toward her hand, still clutching his dick. "I can give it to you anytime, anywhere."

Shen Xui's eyes widened, and she let out another startled cry.

 "Ahh!"

Flustered, she quickly withdrew her hand, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson from embarrassment and shame.

Shen Fei chuckled, clearly amused. He stood up confidently, his naked body on full display, before heading to the bathroom. Moments later, the sound of water echoed through the room as he began bathing.

By the time he returned, water droplets clinging to his sculpted form, Shen Xui had already dressed. She had retrieved her discarded clothes from the floor and sat stiffly, avoiding his gaze.

With deliberate ease, Shen Fei grabbed a towel and dried himself in front of her, unabashedly showcasing his physique. Once satisfied, he retrieved fresh clothes from his spatial ring and dressed swiftly. Without another word, he left the room.

Shen Fei arrived at the dining hall, where his maids attended to him with practiced care. After finishing his breakfast, he departed from the Sacred Family mansion.

As he strolled through the streets of the city, his leisurely pace drew the attention of passersby. Many looked at him with thinly veiled fear and disgust, but their expressions were quickly replaced by forced respect as they greeted him.

"Lord Shen Fei," they murmured, bowing their heads.

A sudden shout interrupted his thoughts. "Lord Shen Fei!"

Turning around, Shen Fei saw a boy a few years older than himself running toward him, panting heavily. Recognizing the figure, Shen Fei stopped. His initial instincts to attack faded as memories of the original Shen Fei surfaced. The boy was one of his lackeys, Chi Bong.

"Huff... Huff..." Chi Bong finally reached him, bent over and breathing hard. After catching his breath, he straightened up and laughed idiotically. "Lord Shen Fei, I've found a pair of beautiful twin sisters. If you were to bless them with your divine grace, they'd be overjoyed!"

A lascivious grin spread across Chi Bong's face as he continued, "After not seeing you leave the mansion for several days, I even asked Shen Tei if he'd seen you. But even he hasn't seen you lately."

Shen Fei recalled Shen Tei from his inherited memories—a branch family member and another one of his lackeys. A wicked smile tugged at his lips as he turned to Chi Bong. "Follow me," he commanded.

As they walked, Chi Bong eagerly described the twin sisters' beauty, oblivious to Shen Fei's true intentions. Shen Fei led him into a deserted alley, where the air felt heavier, charged with an ominous energy.

Shen Fei turned abruptly, his eyes glinting dangerously. Without warning, he sent a slavery inscription toward Chi Bong's forehead. The mark glowed briefly before sinking into Chi Bong's head.

Chi Bong's eyes flashed white for a moment before returning to normal. Then, as if driven by instinct, he dropped to his knees before Shen Fei. His face was emotionless as he spoke in a monotone voice. "Master."

Shen Fei's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. While he felt joy at his success, he wasn't overly impressed. "This trash is only a Bronze-ranked fighter, not even a Demon Spiritualist," he muttered. "Still, my slavery inscription has evolved enough to enslave even a Silver-ranked Demon Spiritualist. At least it works perfectly on humans, unlike those beasts who resisted even after being enslaved."

Looking down at the kneeling Chi Bong, Shen Fei issued his next command. "Get up and follow me. Act as you normally would."

Instantly, Chi Bong stood, his cheerful personality snapping back into place as if nothing had happened. But both of them knew the truth. One was now the master, and the other was a loyal servant who would willingly give his life for Shen Fei without hesitation.

Shen Fei used his divine sense to examine Chi Bong thoroughly. However, after an extended search, he found no trace of the slave inscription pattern and murmured to himself, "I wonder if Nie Lie will be able to detect it. If he can't, it'll be all the more fun toying with him. And if he can… haha. It doesn't matter. By the time he reincarnates again, my slave inscription will have evolved further toward perfection."

He frowned slightly as his thoughts shifted. 'Still, I'm a bit disappointed with my divine sense. It couldn't even detect the slave inscription. It seems I need to use it more frequently so it can evolve into a more perfect version under the influence of my talent. God rewards hard work, after all.'

Lost in his thoughts, Shen Fei quickened his pace, with Chi Bong trailing obediently behind.

Soon, Shen Fei reached the Alchemist Association, a grand structure that radiated prestige and history. However, it appeared somewhat deserted, with only a few apprentices busy in the courtyard and a small number of customers lined up at the counter, purchasing pills.

Before entering, Shen Fei handed Chi Bong ten thousand demon spirit coins and instructed him, "Buy every type of poisonous plant and herb available in the city. Don't miss anything." Chi Bong bowed respectfully and quickly departed to fulfill the task.

Shen Fei then entered the Alchemist Association building. Just past the entrance, a reception desk stood at the forefront, manned by a woman in an alchemist apprentice robe. Her polite demeanor masked a hint of nervousness as she noticed his approach.

With a confident smirk, Shen Fei leaned on the counter and addressed her, "Hello, beautiful lady. May I ask how one becomes an alchemist?"

The receptionist recognized him instantly. Suppressing her disgust, she bowed respectfully, her face a mask of professionalism despite her inner turmoil. She had heard the rumors of Shen Fei's notorious reputation—how he ruined countless girls' lives. Even though fear gripped her, she dared not show it.

"Young Master Shen Fei," she began, her voice steady, "to become an alchemist, you must first pass the Alchemist Apprentice Exam. Once you qualify as an apprentice, you may advance to higher ranks, such as Alchemist, Alchemist Master, and eventually Alchemist Grandmaster, provided you have the necessary knowledge and experience."

Shen Fei scratched the back of his head, feigning awkwardness. "But I don't know anything about alchemy. How can I even start?"

The receptionist blinked, momentarily surprised by his candid admission. She quickly composed herself and replied patiently, "Young Master, you can rent a library token and study the beginner's section for a year or two. When you feel confident in your theoretical knowledge, you may take the apprentice exam. The apprentice exam primarily tests theory, so you can pass it through diligent study. Once you qualify, you'll learn to refine pills."

"Alright, then give me a library token," Shen Fei said casually.

The woman rifled through several drawers, her hands trembling slightly, before producing a white token engraved with a cauldron symbol. She handed it to him with both hands, bowing as she explained, "Young Master Shen Fei, it costs one thousand demon spirit coins to rent the token for a week. The token grants access to the beginner's section of the library only. If you're found in any restricted section, the token will be revoked without a refund, and if an elder catches you, there may be consequences."

Shen Fei took the token and handed her a bill worth a thousand demon spirit coins. After asking for directions to the library, he left the reception desk.

Once he was out of sight, the receptionist muttered under her breath, "Damn scum." She exhaled heavily and added bitterly, "Still, considering his background, I should be grateful he didn't drag me into some corner…"

Shen Fei arrived at the library, where two silver-ranked Demon Spiritualist apprentices stood guard at the entrance. Recognizing him immediately, they bowed and stepped aside without even checking his token.

As he stepped inside, Shen Fei's eyes widened in awe. The library was colossal, its rows of shelves stretching into the distance. The sheer scale of the book collection was breathtaking. He spread his divine sense to grasp the full magnitude of the space, marveling at its grandeur.

'This library is almost a hundred times larger than the Sacred Family's library,' he thought, his gaze sweeping over the countless volumes. Books of varying conditions lined the shelves—some pristine and new, others worn, torn, or decayed, their pages bearing the weight of centuries.

"This is indeed worthy of being the Alchemist Association's library in Glory City," Shen Fei muttered to himself, a sense of excitement bubbling within him.

He reflected on the history of the city. During the Age of Darkness, when demon beasts ravaged the world and countless kingdoms and empires fell, Glory City became a sanctuary, drawing refugees from all corners of the continent. Many brought with them their knowledge and books, enriching the city's archives. However, much of the collection was written in ancient languages, now lost to time after generations had passed.

'What's a waste to others is a treasure to me,' Shen Fei thought, his eyes gleaming. Learning new languages was merely a matter of minutes for him. The knowledge hidden within these forgotten tomes could elevate his alchemical prowess far beyond that of Nie Lie, who was nothing more than a half-baked alchemist in Shen Fei's eyes.

But as his gaze swept over the vast collection, he realized the enormity of the task. 'This will be a long-term project,' he admitted to himself.

"Perhaps there are even cultivation manuals, inscription techniques, or treasure-related texts hidden among these books," he mused, formulating a plan. "Almost no one in Glory City understands the lost language. Even the few who claim to know it only grasp fragments, often mixing accuracy with error. That means all of this… is mine to explore."

Shen Fei's lips curled into a confident smile as he devised a strategy to unlock the library's secrets systematically.

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