Chapter 61: The Consequences of Three Defeats

Upon hearing the news, the members of Magic Feather Fantasy erupted in cheers.

This was a banquet hosted by Shadowmoon Manor, an opportunity rarely available to ordinary people.

For most members of Magic Feather Fantasy, who weren’t particularly wealthy, attending such an event was a rare privilege.

Now, thanks to their collaboration with Magic Feather Fantasy, they could attend the banquet at Shadowmoon Manor. 

At the very least, they’d get to enjoy a lavish meal-how could they not be thrilled?

“Wow, I knew the evening gown I bought would come in handy someday!” Amy grabbed Lise’s hand beside her, bouncing excitedly.

“I know, I know. Here’s hoping some tall, handsome young tycoon asks you to dance at the banquet,” Lise teased, though her expression betrayed her own interest in the event.

Dressing in their finest attire and attending such a prestigious banquet promised a wonderful evening.

However, only one person seemed less than enthusiastic.

Lise noticed immediately.

“Miss Su Nian, are you feeling unwell?” Lise asked.

Amy, pausing her celebration, turned to Su Nian with concern. 

“What’s wrong? Are you sick? Does that mean you can’t go to the banquet tonight? That’d be such a shame…”

“Mm… I’m fine,” Su Nian replied, not wanting to worry them.

Damn it, she wished she could skip it!

But this bastard demon’s banquet invitation was clearly aimed at her…

“Matthew, did my… cousin mention anything specific about this banquet?” Su Nian tried to sound casual.

Matthew scratched his head, thinking back.

“Mr. Mo Yuan only said he hoped all members of Magic Feather Fantasy could attend to strengthen their collaborative bond. He didn’t mention anything in particular.”

“Though… he did seem especially eager for you to be there. Said it’s been a while since he last saw you,” Matthew answered.

Been a while?

Was the person she saw last night a ghost?

She needed to figure something out…

While her original plan involved infiltrating Shadowmoon Manor to retrieve the crystal orb, that was under the premise of her taking the initiative.

This sudden invitation from the bastard demon felt suspicious.

It gave her the same unsettling premonition of losing control-just like yesterday.

Su Nian slipped into a corner and opened her magic phone.

Now that the investment conference was over, this device had officially been dubbed “magic phone,” just as she’d casually suggested.

Surprisingly, the bastard demon hadn’t objected…

Maybe the name was fitting enough. 

Heh.

[Su Nian]: I can’t attend tonight’s banquet. Not feeling well.

[Demon Lord]: Sure.

Su Nian’s heart leapt at the reply.

See? 

Courage pays off. 

But then another message followed.

Su Nian grinned.

[Demon Lord]: If you don’t come, the others from Magic Feather Fantasy will still attend. They might get to see another side of you, Miss Su Nian.

Su Nian stopped grinning.

[Su Nian]: You… you’re vile!

[Demon Lord]: Heh. If you don’t show up, should I have a little… chat with your dear friends? Amy, Lise, and everyone else in Magic Feather Fantasy?

[Miss Su Nian]: Understood, I’ll be there.

She truly didn’t want to return to that place, Shadowmoon Manor.

What’s so great about that place anyway!

Fortunately…

Magic Feather Fantasy had reached a cooperation agreement with Shadowmoon Manor. 

That bastard horned demon still needed Magic Feather Fantasy to promote his “magic phone,” so he probably wouldn’t harm anyone from their side.

Moreover, this included the collaborating merchants, and with so many people from Magic Feather Fantasy going over, if anything went wrong, Shadowmoon Manor would easily be caught red-handed.

Their safety wasn’t something she needed to worry about.

The threats from that bastard horned demon were likely just bluffs to intimidate her.

What she really needed to worry about was her own safety… and her…

Before heading to Shadowmoon Manor again, she had to prepare. 

This time, she might just have a chance to find the crystal photography orb.

She flipped back to an earlier system notification…

“Ding! Task completed: Facilitate cooperation between Shadowmoon Manor and Magic Feather Fantasy.”

“Reward: 30,000 Humiliation Points.”

“Current Path of Resolve: 81%”

“Current Humiliation Points: 127,247”

Damn it!

Her Path of Resolve had dropped again.

This meant that every time she completed one of her “master’s” tasks, it signified another act of submission to that bastard horned demon, which affected her mental resilience.

As for the task itself, it had been much simpler than expected.

A 30,000-point task, completed so easily.

Thinking about it this way, reaching a million points to ascend to Saint-tier didn’t seem so impossible after all.

But this time, she would be extra cautious. 

Even if she could advance to Saint-tier, she wouldn’t let her guard down. 

She wouldn’t act unless she was absolutely certain.

She would feign submission, letting the horned demon think she was completely under his control and too afraid to resist while waiting for the right opportunity.

“System, purchase the S-rank spell-Phantom Flame Aqua Breaker.”

[Phantom Flame Aqua Breaker] S-rank:

This spell forcibly merges the power of water and fire elements. 

Through precise mana control, it overcomes their natural repulsion, allowing them to interpenetrate and restructure each other, ultimately forming an entirely new form of energy attack.

(Prerequisite: Master-tier affinity for both fire and water elements.)

Purchase Cost: 100,000 Humiliation Points

[Status]

Name: Su Nian

Gender: Female

Charm: 100 (Peak human level)

Historical Peak Combat Power: A 

(Average Archmage level)

Current Combat Power: A (≈Average Archmage level)

[Equipment]

Weapon: None

Head: Bow Hairband

Upper Body: White Gold-Trimmed Dress

Lower Body: White Gold-Trimmed Dress

Hosiery: White Stockings

Footwear: Silver Crystal Heels

Accessories: Mentor’s Badge

Accessories: Black Bow Tie

Accessories: Gilded Earrings

Accessories: Lace Bracelet

[Skills]

Master-tier Fire Affinity

Master-tier Water Affinity

Master-tier Wisdom

High-tier Agility 

Mid-tier Vision Enhancement

[Spells]

Phantom Flame Aqua Breaker (S-rank)

Abyssal Flame Barrier (S-rank)

Fireball, Water Orb, Explosive Flame, Frost Mist, Water Escape, Flame Serpent…

After checking her status, Su Nian realized her strength had taken another leap forward. 

The moment she learned Phantom Flame Aqua Breaker, countless new applications for combined water-fire attacks flooded her mind.

The power of an S-rank Phantom Flame Aqua Breaker was terrifying. 

If she could land a direct hit on that bastard horned demon, she might just have a chance to defeat him.

If she had known this spell last night… maybe she wouldn’t have lost.

However, even with this S-rank offensive magic now at her disposal, she couldn’t recklessly attack the horned demon.

She had to wait for the perfect opportunity!

Since becoming a girl, she had already suffered two defeats.

After her first defeat, she was imprisoned for ten days. 

Following her second defeat, she was first forcibly kissed, then made to kneel and beg for mercy-only to have nude photos taken of her, leaving her with no choice but to outwardly submit to the horned demon.

If she were to strike a third time and fail again… she couldn’t even begin to imagine what horrors might await her.