155: Chapter 156 Chiba Ruri's Shock

Before long, Lin Muyang rose from the wooden bench by the lake. He turned and began walking back toward the pristine white villa, which looked especially tranquil in the morning light, his pace unhurried and measured.

Following closely behind him, maintaining a distance of just one step, was the Japanese girl, Chiba Ruri. Her head was bowed, her long black hair obscuring most of her face, making it impossible to discern her exact expression.

However, if observed from the side or front, one could see that deep within her sapphire-blue eyes, a tempest of terror, confusion, and profound self-doubt was raging. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her lips, pressed tightly together, had paled.

She could never have dreamed that her confident arrival, fueled by what she believed was the

What kind of ability was that? It was absolutely not simple mental control or charm! She had never heard of any skill or talent that could so tyrannically and unreasonably twist her will without any physical contact, without any medium, and even bypass her high mental resistance and the keen intuitive warnings granted by her spatial talents. It made her feel like a marionette, utterly incapable of mustering any desire to resist his commands. Even the very thought of

This completely exceeded her understanding of power systems! What kind of terrifying abyss lay hidden beneath that young man's calm gaze as he sat on the bench?

What made her heart palpitate even more was that as he issued those calm yet indisputable commands, a twisted, complex emotion—a mix of fear, awe, and an indescribable, subtle yearning—began to uncontrollably take root deep within her. It was as if a seed named worship had been forcibly planted in the soil of her soul and, under the nourishment of some bizarre power, was stubbornly trying to sprout against her own will!

She wanted to scream, to demand answers, to immediately use Spatial Leap and flee to the ends of the earth... But her body, her will, and even her talents seemed to have betrayed her. She could only follow the upright figure ahead of her in silence and obedience, like an exquisite doll.

Stepping into the villa's front garden, walking along the meticulously trimmed lawn path, pushing open the heavy oak door... Chiba Ruri's heart sank little by little. She knew that from the moment she stepped through this door, many things would likely be irreversible. This place might become the beginning of her cage, or perhaps the starting point where her entire understanding of the world would be completely overturned.

In a sense, she was the first outsider to set foot in Lin Muyang's core residence within Ziyun Mountain Villa. Of course, in another sense, under the absolute control of the Absolute Command Aura, she was probably closer to the definition of

'From now on, regarding any information about me, unless it is already widely known and impossible to conceal, you are absolutely forbidden to mention any other details to anyone without my permission,' Lin Muyang said as he led her through the simply decorated yet tasteful entryway and living room, issuing new instructions without looking back. His voice was not loud, but it carried a certain imprint of rules, deeply engraved into Chiba Ruri's consciousness.

'You are not permitted to leave the area of this villa by more than one hundred meters without my explicit permission.'

'You must not, by any means, actively or passively transmit information about this location, the people inside, or daily activities to the outside world.'

'When someone contacts you, you must immediately and truthfully report it to me and respond according to my instructions.'

'Within the villa, you must observe basic etiquette and not disturb the lives or training of others.'

'Unless given explicit instructions, you are not to use your talent abilities without authorization.'

...

One by one, clear, specific, and logically stringent restrictive commands were systematically woven into Chiba Ruri's cognition and behavioral code by Lin Muyang, like the most precise programming. These commands interlocked, almost completely sealing off all possible avenues for her to leak information or cause trouble, firmly and safely 'binding' her to his side, while also ensuring her identity as an envoy would not immediately arouse suspicion from the Oracle organization.

By the time they reached the villa's spacious and bright living area, Lin Muyang had already issued dozens of similar commands. Chiba Ruri listened silently, feeling those commands wrap around her like invisible chains, layer by layer, firmly locking down her once-free soul and future.

Strangely, however, aside from the initial fear and resistance, as each command was laid down, the notion that she 'must obey' grew clearer and clearer in her heart, even... bringing a twisted sense of security?

Meanwhile, Lin Muyang's mind was also working at high speed, processing the intelligence he had just obtained from Chiba Ruri.

The Oracle organization, three known possessors of Sub-God Rank Talents, and one enigmatic Gods Chosen One capable of locating such individuals...

Chiba Ruri had never seen the true face of that Gods Chosen One; even their voice was specially processed, making it impossible to determine their identity, nationality, or even gender. However, she had briefly met the other two 'colleagues' last year during an extremely short secret gathering arranged by the Gods Chosen One.

One was a middle-aged man from the Western world, codenamed 'Eagle.'

The other was a Xia Kingdom youth who looked a year or two younger than Lin Muyang, codenamed 'Dragon.'

Apart from their codenames and vague impressions, the three knew almost nothing about each other's information. This was a deliberate result of the Gods Chosen One's control, preventing members from becoming too closely connected and slipping from their grasp.

'To be able to accurately locate Sub-God Rank Talent holders right after awakening...' Lin Muyang narrowed his eyes slightly. This Gods Chosen One's methods were indeed intriguing. Either they possessed an extremely special, God-rank or quasi-God-rank talent related to fate, causality, or soul perception; or they held some unknown ancient secret art or forbidden knowledge.

Whichever it was, it indicated that this Oracle organization was far from a child's game of make-believe. What lay hidden behind it was likely much deeper than it appeared on the surface.

'It seems the commotion I caused in the Provincial Tournament has attracted more 'attention' than anticipated, and from a higher level,' Lin Muyang thought to himself. The Oracle organization had clearly misjudged him as a special existence possessing a 'Sub-God Rank' talent, which was why they had sent Chiba Ruri to make contact. Their goal was Nothing more than to recruit fresh blood, strengthen the organization's power, and serve their so-called 'save the world' or some other grand objective.

Unfortunately, they had miscalculated. Lin Muyang had no interest in joining any organization, let alone a secretive society with a mysterious leader. Controlling the world? Leading change? If he wished, with himself and the young ladies by his side, they might very well achieve that in the future. Why would he need to rely on others and be constrained?

As these thoughts crossed his mind, they arrived at the villa's spacious living room. Warm sunlight streamed in through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the interior brightly. Elf Princess Lilia sat quietly on a cushion by the window, reading a thick ancient tome that emitted a faint magical glow. Feng Ling stood before a potted plant, tiny golden flames dancing at her fingertips as she seemed to practice some form of delicate energy control. Night Elf Seraphina leaned against the wall in a corner like a shadow, resting with her eyes closed. Nine-tailed Fox Maiden Su Daji sat obediently on the sofa, taking small bites of the exquisite pastries that Head Maid Elena had just served.

Seeing Lin Muyang enter with an unfamiliar, tense, and frightened-looking black-haired girl, the gazes of the young ladies naturally turned toward them, filled with curiosity and a hint of appraisal. They could sense that this newcomer emitted a not-insignificant power fluctuation, especially the faint, rippling spatial sensation, indicating her extraordinary talent. But what drew their attention more was the absolute control their master/Muyang-ge seemed to have over her, and the complex look in the girl's eyes spoke volumes.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

"Master, you have returned." Angel Maid Elena was the first to greet him. She was wearing a neat, pure white maid dress, her long golden hair pinned up, revealing a graceful swan-like neck. A gentle and appropriate smile rested on her stunning face. She elegantly took the coat Lin Muyang had casually removed, then looked softly at Chiba Ruri behind him. "And this is..."

"A guest who will be staying here for a while." Lin Muyang gave a simple introduction without saying much more. He looked at Elena, suddenly remembering something, and said, "Elena, come here for a moment."

"Yes, Master." Elena bowed slightly, walked to Lin Muyang with light steps, and lifted her sky-blue eyes to look at him gently. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, appearing somewhat shy about being called aside in front of the young ladies.

Lin Muyang extended his hand, and with a flash of light in his palm, ten milky-white crystals—which looked like they had been condensed from the purest water droplets, with soft, holy light flowing inside—appeared in his hand: 【tears of the angel】.

"Take these ten tears of the angel and use them to upgrade your talent to Demigod Level." Lin Muyang handed the crystals to Elena, speaking in a calm tone.

Upon hearing this, not only was Elena slightly stunned, but all the young ladies watching curiously from the side—including Chiba Ruri, who had just been controlled—focused their gazes, especially on the 【tears of the angel】 that were emitting alluring energy fluctuations.

"Master... this..." Elena was somewhat overwhelmed by the favor. She took the ten warm crystals with both hands, feeling the massive and pure holy light energy contained within. She felt both moved and somewhat uneasy. "This is too precious... Elena is only responsible for logistics and support; combat is not my strength. This opportunity to upgrade talent should be given to Sister Lilia, or Sister Qingyan, or Seraphina first... They need powerful talents more to deal with battles."

Elena was always like this: gentle, sensible, and putting others first in everything. Even Elf Princess Lilia, who had an excellent relationship with her, merely blinked her large emerald eyes and watched curiously at this moment. She felt no jealousy or displeasure at all; instead, she thought Sister Elena made a valid point.

Lin Muyang looked at Elena's beautiful face, which was filled with shyness and sincerity, smiled slightly, and reached out to gently wrap his arm around her slender, soft waist. This intimate gesture caused Elena's body to stiffen slightly, and her fair cheeks were instantly dyed with a moving blush, like a ripe apple.

"Your talent, 'Maids Light', has the effect of increasing the attributes of the entire team. To me and everyone else, this is a crucial core buff." Lin Muyang explained gently; his voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"In the future, we may face more and stronger opponents, or even mysterious organizations like 'Oracle' that are hidden in the shadows. An overall increase in attributes is the most solid foundation for our combat strength. And you are the creator of this foundation. Therefore, your talent upgrade is also of high priority, and perhaps... in some respects, even more important."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the other young ladies. Seeing that they all wore expressions of realization and agreement, he continued to say to Elena in his arms, "Besides, after the talent upgrade, there might be new changes, which could bring unexpected enhancements to your support abilities and even yourself. Be good, use it first."

Held in Lin Muyang's arms, feeling the reassuring Aura coming from him and listening to his logical and trust-filled analysis, the slight unease in Elena's heart gradually dissipated, replaced by a warm current of being valued and needed. She nodded gently, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum but firm. "Mm... Elena understands, thank you, Master."

She no longer hesitated, gripped the ten 【tears of the angel】 in her hand, and with a slight movement of her mind, began to guide the pure holy light energy within to merge into herself.

Soft white light bloomed from her palms and quickly enveloped her entire body. She seemed to transform into a jade statue emitting holy radiance. The light was not blinding but carried a strange power that cleansed the soul and sublimated one's essence. A faint, refreshing fragrance permeated the air.

The villa was quiet; everyone was watching Elena. Lilia had blessings in her eyes, Feng Ling and Seraphina looked calm, and Su Daji opened her eyes wide with curiosity. As for Chiba Ruri, who was standing to the side controlled by 【Absolute Command】, the shock in her heart at this moment could no longer be described in words!

Talent... upgraded to Demigod Level?! This short sentence exploded in her mind like a thunderclap!

In her understanding, and even in the concepts instilled by the "Gods Chosen One", talent was a fixed, unchanging gift bestowed by the rules of the world upon class advancement! SSS-rank was already the peak for mortals, and sub-god level was a miracle favored by the gods, a ladder leading to the realm of gods! How could the grade of a talent be upgraded post-natally?! This was simply a fantasy, violating the most basic rules of this world!

And Demigod Level? What level was that? Was there such a grade between sub-god level and god-level? Why had the "Gods Chosen One" never mentioned it? Or was it that even that mysterious "Gods Chosen One" did not know that talent could be upgraded, or did not know of the existence of "Demigod Level"?

If what the young man in front of her said was true, and he really had mastered the taboo method of upgrading talent... then the power and secrets he possessed were probably a thousand times more terrifying than the "Oracle" organization, or even the combat strength of the summons he had displayed! This could no longer be described as "genius"; this was simply a walking "miracle" itself!

Chiba Ruri felt her worldview, like glass struck by a heavy hammer, shattering inch by inch. Her pride, her faith, and her certainty in the mission of "Oracle" all seemed so ridiculous and fragile at this moment. Compared to the secrets mastered by the young man in front of her, her meager sub-god level talent and so-called "Apostle of God" status were simply not worth mentioning!

She stared fixedly at Elena, who was wrapped in holy light, a storm raging in her heart. If... if she could also obtain this kind of upgrade... No, even if she just learned of this possibility... would her betraying "Oracle" and completely pledging loyalty to the young man in front of her not be completely unacceptable? After all, following a true existence capable of creating "miracles" seemed far more promising than following a "Gods Chosen One" who hid their head and showed their tail, only capable of empty talk about "missions"?

Once this thought appeared, even she was startled, but it was quickly accepted and amplified by the "worship" and "obedience" intent spawned by the 【Absolute Command】 Aura. Her gaze toward Lin Muyang's back became even more complex. Fear remained, but deep within, a flame named "fanaticism" and "anticipation" was quietly igniting.

A moment later, the holy light enveloping Elena slowly receded and converged. Her Aura did not seem to have become sharp or overbearing; on the contrary, it was more restrained and gentle, like a polished piece of uncarved jade, containing its own luster. She slowly opened her eyes; her sky-blue eyes were clearer and deeper than before, as if they could reflect the human heart.

"Master, it was a success." Elena's face held surprise and a trace of disbelief. She felt the source of power flowing within her, which was completely different from before. Her voice was soft but carried a trace of excitement. "My talent... it really upgraded!"

With a thought, the information about her new talent appeared in her mind and was transmitted clearly to Lin Muyang through their soul link.

【Talent: Gift of the Divine Servant (Demigod Level)】

【Effect 1】: When you are in a party state, all teammates gain a 400% increase in all attributes, as well as a 200% boost to all skill effects (including but not limited to damage, healing, shields, control duration, buff effects, etc.).

【Effect 2】: The cooldown time for all skills you cast is reduced to zero (including the "tears of the angel" crafting skill).

【Current maximum number of teammates that can be affected: 12】

【Note: A servant who serves the gods, whose blessings also contain divine power.】

"Cooldown reduced to zero? Including tears of the angel?" Lin Muyang's eyes flashed with a sharp light upon receiving the information. This was an unexpected surprise! Originally, he thought it would just be attribute bonuses and doubled skill effects. He hadn't expected that after Elena's talent was promoted to Demigod Level, the core qualitative change would actually be this "no-cooldown" special effect!

What did this mean? It meant that Elena could mass-produce 【tears of the angel】 like an assembly line without interruption! As long as the materials and energy kept up, theoretically, he could have a never-ending supply of tears of the angel.