Chapter 068: Allocation of Resources

However, Feng Jun was completely unaware of the perilous scene unfolding on the other side. Shen Duo’s expression grew tense as she forced herself to raise her sword before her chest. Suddenly, the scroll within her dantian erupted with brilliant light; the silvery, gentle glow instantly condensed into a dense surge of sword energy around the blade.

With a resounding crash, the River-Turning Crocodile was hurled backward. Shen Duo stared in astonishment at her own arm—the faint green sword energy that had always lingered there now appeared even deeper in hue. When she had used the “Swift Technique,” her sword energy had been utterly depleted. She’d believed that when the River-Turning Crocodile ambushed her, she would either perish or be gravely wounded. Unexpectedly, her strength recovered so quickly; not only that, she even felt her power had grown! Was this, perhaps, the breakthrough that comes after destruction?

Judging by the color of her sword energy, she had clearly broken through the barrier of the Seven-Star Sword Spirit!

Within the beast space, Yusha let out a long sigh of relief. “Xiao Duo, if you’d hesitated even a second longer, I’d have set that beast ablaze myself!”

Shen Duo replied swiftly that she was unharmed, her sharp gaze already fixed on the River-Turning Crocodile, now sprawled violently on the ground. Composing herself, she commanded, “Benyi, press the attack!”

The Iron-Winged Silver Wolf and Shen Duo launched themselves at the wounded River-Turning Crocodile. At this point, the beast was already severely injured, incapable of resisting. Within moments, it lay on the verge of death, utterly defeated.

Meanwhile, Feng Jun had subdued the other beast as well. Both skirmishes ended almost simultaneously. Feng Jun hurried over, asking anxiously, “Shen Duo, are you all right?”

Shen Duo offered a faint smile and shook her head, finally easing Feng Jun’s worry.

With both One-Star Divine Phantasmal Beasts subdued, the lesser beasts scattered immediately. At last, the fierce battle to subdue the River-Turning Crocodiles was over, and the remaining freelance phantasmagists still felt lingering terror.

Though the casualties had been heavy, the spoils were considerable. Capturing two living One-Star Divine Phantasmal Beasts would be a notable achievement even among the Four Great Clans of the continent. Consider: even Feng Jun, famed as the continent’s foremost genius, had only a One-Star Divine Phantasmal Beast as his contracted companion. For freelance phantasmagists with no clan backing, such prizes were beyond imagination.

After dividing the corpses of the fallen beasts among themselves, all eyes turned enviously toward the two high-ranking River-Turning Crocodiles. Jealousy and longing burned in every gaze.

By now, Benyi had reverted to the form of an ordinary white wolf, standing quietly by Shen Duo’s side. Feng Jun, too, had released his armored transformation. To those present, the two who had displayed such formidable power now seemed utterly ordinary.

Had they not witnessed it with their own eyes, no one would have believed these two had subdued a pair of One-Star Divine Phantasmal Beasts.

Power is authority—everyone understood that, at this moment, only Shen Duo and Feng Jun had the right to decide the fate of the two high-level beasts.

“My lords, what is to be done with these River-Turning Crocodiles?” the Nine-Star Spirit Phantasmagist, Xie Dong, inquired respectfully.

Before Shen Duo or Feng Jun could respond, Princess Doris leapt in front of them, casting a haughty glance over the freelance phantasmagists. With an air of superiority, she declared, “What is there to discuss? Of course they’re both mine! My father paid for their services—they’re here to serve me! You wretches had best forget about the River-Turning Crocodiles! Be careful, or I’ll command them to kill you! If you know what’s good for you, get lost!”

Both Shen Duo and Feng Jun frowned in unison. This Princess Doris was shameless beyond belief. They hadn’t even spoken a word, and already she’d appointed them as her lackeys. It was staggering how thick-skinned she was to speak so thoughtlessly.

“Doris! Mind your manners!” Zoe, trembling with anger, glared at her. The elderly man then turned to Shen Duo and Feng Jun with an apologetic smile. His arm was injured, and his wrinkled face was drained of all color. Kang Cheng supported him as they walked to the center of the crowd.

Zoe pulled Doris behind him, warning her sternly, then turned and bowed to Shen Duo and Feng Jun, his demeanor dignified yet humble. “My lords, I must ask your forgiveness for the princess’s youth and ignorance. All here long for powerful phantasmal beasts—this old man understands well enough that if not for you two, we might all have perished today. Allow me to offer my thanks on behalf of us all.”

Zoe was, as expected, a seasoned diplomat; his words soothed the crowd’s indignation considerably.

In the beast space, Yusha rolled her eyes and retorted, “That gaudy, vulgar princess is thirty already, and yet she’s called ‘young’! Xiao Duo, by that measure, wouldn’t you still be in your egg?”

Shen Duo could only sweat inwardly. By the standards of the Sacred Radiance Continent, Princess Doris breaking through the Spirit Phantasmagist barrier at thirty was indeed considered young, but she was hardly a child.

“However, before you arrived, my lords, we did reach certain agreements, and I trust you are people of great honor. If I recall correctly, you even swore an oath,” Zoe pressed on, his words hinting at the threat of a Heaven and Earth Pact.

Zoe was not without integrity or insight, but as one close to the King of the Bakra Empire and tutor to Princess Doris, in the face of such tremendous interests, his first loyalty was naturally to his pupil and nation, not to irrelevant outsiders.

Princess Doris cast a triumphant look their way. Though her words differed from Zoe’s, the meaning was the same.

The freelance phantasmagists stared at the pair in confusion, awaiting confirmation of the facts.

Shen Duo stepped forward, offering Zoe and Doris a gentle smile. “We did indeed promise the Lord of Shak City not to covet the advancing River-Turning Crocodile. Now, with two here, how about this: we honor our oath and give you the one that just completed its advancement, and the other shall be ours.”

Zoe frowned, thinking it over. When the pact was made, that was indeed the agreement; they’d only expected a single advancing River-Turning Crocodile, never imagining a second would appear. Of the two, the variant that had advanced was certainly the greater rarity, but given the circumstances, obtaining even one was a stroke of fortune—how could they demand more?

A wise man knows when to yield; Zoe realized this was the greatest concession Shen Duo and Feng Jun could offer.

Yet when Doris heard that the pair would be keeping one of the River-Turning Crocodiles, she instantly erupted in protest, ready for a scene, only to be silenced by a single glare from Zoe—who, despite Doris’s arrogance, still commanded her respect.

With a conciliatory smile, Zoe said, “Your distribution is most reasonable, my lords. Thank you for your generosity.”

Shen Duo nodded. Zoe, dragging the indignant Doris, quickly took the wounded River-Turning Crocodile away, leaving the crowd behind as swiftly as possible.

No sooner had they left than the crowd began to curse furiously, calling Princess Doris and her entourage shameless opportunists reaping where they had not sown.

Some, still seething with indignation, approached Shen Duo and Feng Jun to demand, “Did you truly swear an oath, my lords?”

Shen Duo and Feng Jun nodded honestly, and only then did the freelance phantasmagists disperse in resignation. A Heaven and Earth Pact is merciless—regardless of your strength, if you break your oath, you are doomed to hell.