"W-We are going to kill him tonight?" Stella stuttered as she felt a pain in her chest. They had slaughtered the Voidmind family to fake her death, used the last divine beast egg to create the amulet to hide her bloodline and Qi from the world, and she had hidden away for weeks.
Yet it was all for nothing?
Stella was struggling to breathe. Everyone will die because of me—Vincent is near the Monarch Realm with three affinities and can track me down through the threads of fate? If I stay here, Tree, Diana... Stella looked down to her side at Jasmine, who looked up at her with those big, innocent yellow eyes filled with youth and hope. Stella gulped as she imagined Jasmine, a bloodied paste on the ground below Vincent's feet. They are all going to die trying to fight him for me.
"We aren't ready to fight him," Stella said resolutely as she looked into Ash's eye. "It's my bloodline he wants, not all of you or anyone else here." She clenched her jaw, and her whole body tensed. This was the right decision. "I'll go—"
"What in the nine realms are you talking about? Think Stella, what would that achieve?" Ashlock thundered—his voice filled with a churning wrath of emotions that crashed against the Soul Protection fruit enveloping her consciousness. Stella almost fell to her knees beside Valandor as the mist encircling her consciousness pulsed an enraged red, and spatial Qi crackled through the air all around the demonic spirit tree. Stella had never seen Ash so angry... was her way of seeing this situation so wrong?
"I just don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me." Stella choked on her own words. "You have all done so much for me, and all I've done in return is cause problems. How could I possibly agree that we all fight against a foe so powerful that even if we win..." Her expression hardened as she surveyed everyone's faces. "There will be casualties. Deaths. All because he wants my bloodline—"
Diana came out of nowhere and stole the breath from her lungs with a crushing hug. "You silly girl," she whispered in her ear before putting her down. The Demoness had a sad smile as she looked deeply into her eyes, "We are cultivators who defy the heavens and fight every day for survival. How many times have we almost died together? Do you truly believe any of us fear death at this point? Besides, if we die, we can simply rise again as a tree." Diana smirked, "What we truly fear is what that lump of wood would do if we lost you." Diana pointed a thumb over her shoulder at Ash. His Qi was out of control as it radiated off his trunk, and divine energy arced between his branches overhead. "I don't think any of us are ready to deal with that headache," Diana joked and patted Stella on the shoulder. "So do your best to live and keep him happy, okay?"
Stella absentmindedly nodded. It was as if her brain had stopped working. Nothing made sense. Why was everyone nodding at Diana's words in the background?
"Also, it's not your fault you have a delicious bloodline that some old creep wants a taste of," Diana winked at her, "If not for you, I'm sure he would be after me. He needs to go, and sacrificing you isn't the answer. That's just silly, and you know it. We will tackle this together, as we have always done."
Stella breathed as Diana's words lifted a weight from her shoulders. "Thank you, Diana," she said, returning a weak smile. "I just... got confused and scared for a moment. I'm fine now."
Despite never meeting Vincent or knowing much about him, the man had somehow cast his deathly grip on her life, and sometimes, she felt like a puppet desperately dancing in his hand. She only wanted to live and enjoy life alongside Tree while discovering new and exciting things with her friends and Disciple. I have so much to live for; why did I instantly want to fold and forfeit it all because Vincent demanded it? I really am stupid.
The Qi swirling around Ashlock relaxed, and the pressure on her consciousness lessened.
"Sorry for making you worry... Dad." Stella said. Her mind rumbled as Ash sighed deeply.
"Stella, surely you can understand that I would rather fight to the death than watch you be devoured by that bastard," Ashlock said coldly as his rage faded. "I need you to be focused here. Time isn't on our side as dusk approaches, and believe it or not, you are the only one here capable of killing him. Quite the twist of fate, wouldn't you say?"
"Me?" Stella pointed at herself. I know I'm one of the stronger ones in the sect, but wouldn't Khaos, Maple, or even Grand Elder Valandor, who shares the same affinity as me while being half a step into the Nascent Soul Realm, be a better choice for the job?
"Yes, I just checked on Vincent Nightrose in his castle. I only proposed the crazy plan of killing him in a single day because I saw an opening. You are correct; fighting him head-on will be difficult—if not outright impossible, depending on this third affinity—and likely result in casualties."
Grand Elder Valandor hummed at Stella's side and didn't seem convinced. "I'll have to hear this plan of yours, but I would like to go on record saying it's unlikely to work. So many attempts have been made on Vincent's life and failed at this point that I'm starting to suspect the man is actually immortal."
"We have to try," Ashlock said. "The summit will be the start of an all-out war once Vincent learns of our presence and the downfall of his sect. It's either we kill him now or prepare to fight an angry cultivator who might as well be a living god hellbent on eating Stella."
"Okay," Grand Elder Valandor said thoughtfully, "Let's hear this plan of yours. I should be able to tell you if it has a hint of success or not."
Ashlock explained his plan to the group, and Valandor offered his own suggestions throughout. As the sun dipped below the distant mountain range, Grand Elder Valandor sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"You know what, this might actually work. You have two advantages that no other attempts have had. Okay, I will assist with this plan to the best of my abilities, though ultimately," Grand Elder Valandor glanced over at Stella, "It will be up to you to silence this tyrant once and for all."
Stella nodded, "I can do it."
"Great," Valandor said with a smile as he rose from his chair and looked at the sunset. "Tonight may be one for the history books. Stella, get ready, and we will head out together at dusk."
"What did I need to do first again? The Spatial Anchor, right?"
"Yes. Go and visit Quill. He will get you sorted out." Ash helpfully reminded her. She snapped her fingers, and after briefly phasing through the aether realm that ran parallel to reality, she reemerged in the library.
The ink lake surrounding Quill rippled and parted as Kaida's large body emerged from the darkness. His golden eyes swirled with curiosity, and the last streaks of sunlight through Quill's canopy caused his inky body to shimmer.
"Hey Kaida, sorry to bother you." Stella glanced around the library and noticed Maple was also here, sleeping on one of Quill's branches with a half-eaten acorn in his paw. Despite the storm outside, it was peaceful here beside the rain drumming on the stone walls. That is when Stella noticed Quill had thrown up a spatial bubble around his canopy to block the rain. I guess that's why Maple is hiding in here. Ash hadn't bothered to block the rain until we arrived earlier today.
Kaida leaned in closer, his tongue flickering out, and he let off a low, non-threatening hiss.
Stella smiled wearily. She and Kaida had never gotten along that well. There were too many pranks done between them, and the snake liked Diana way too much. It wasn't fair!
"It would be best to get changed first," Ash said as what could only be described as a maid outfit fell through a portal alongside a few fruits. "The clothes were provided by Valandor. Apparently, they are standard issue attire for the maids in the Nightrose castle and should fit you. After that, eat the Void Protection fruit, and we can get started on the spatial anchor."
This was by far the part Stella disliked about the plan the most.
"Open the door, guardians; I've brought a new maid for Vincent that I'm sure he will find delectable, and she also has a message to give him," Valandor said, putting some Qi into his voice. The three Nightrose cultivators exchanged a dull look before stepping aside and opening the door.
Stella almost wanted to laugh. It turned out to be just as easy as Valandor had claimed it would be earlier. While Vincent was a cautious man, he was also the strongest in the region. They had no reason to put up their guard over allowing a random mortal maid into his chamber.
All three guardians inserted some of their blood into an ominous formation that glowed with power. Multiple clicks sounded before the defensive formations relaxed, and the doors began to part. Stella waited with bated breath, eager to find out what lay beyond. She soon found her answer as a wave of bloodlust and pressure erupted from the gap, followed by the drum of two spiritual hearts. With each beat, she felt a wave of force hit her body.
"Get inside, mortal, and tend to the Ancestor," Valandor said, pushing her roughly inside before turning to leave. Stella didn't care if it was an act. She would get him back for that someday. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the low lighting in the room. Shadows shifted around, and she soon realized they were other mortal maids. They moved strangely, and their eyes were unfocused as they worked.
Most of them were retrieving buckets of blood marked with labels that Stella didn't understand and pouring them into channels in the stone floor that were all leading to the centerpiece of the large chamber—a coffin of stone filled to the brim with blood that smelled strongly of iron.
It wasn't until she took a few steps forward that Stella saw a person bathing in blood. The scarlet liquid rippled along with his powerful heartbeats.
This must be Vincent Nightrose. Stella felt her own heart pounding at the sight of a man who had haunted her dreams for far too long and tried to calm down. His eyes were closed, and he seemed unmoving. It's okay. He's cultivating or sleeping. Stella double-checked and then triple-checked that her amulet was still active before moving deeper into the chamber. Remember, you're just a mortal maid. There is nothing to see here...
Stella felt her heart leap out of her chest as the door to the chamber behind her clicked closed. The room glowed with silver light as the defensive formations activated once more. The mindless naked maids paid her no attention as Stella stalked around the room, circling the coffin.
Standard attire, my ass. Stella thought as she saw a naked maid who had dried blood all down her leg as if someone had spilled a bucket on her walk past. If anything, her wearing the maid outfit made her stand out.
Stella did a few more rounds around the room and confirmed that Vincent wasn't paying attention. Stop stalling, Stella. She brandished herself, recognizing exactly what she was doing. Just do it. A quick stab to the head and heart, with a twist and dosage of cursed sap for good measure. If he lives through all that, you did your best.
Taking a deep breath, she approached the coffin and looked directly at Vincent's sleeping face. The man was disheveled and sickly with sunken cheeks, skin so thin it clung desperately to his bones, and cracked lips. His body looked a few years past death as if he had risen from a grave just this morning.
Stella quietly pulled two daggers from her pockets, which she had hidden earlier because she didn't want to use a spatial ring so close to Vincent and wake him up. Valandor had identified two things that they had that no other attempt had.
First, Valandor's help getting someone so close to Vincent, and second, the Phantom Veil Amulet that allowed Stella to appear as a regular mortal. Nobody as strong and capable of killing as Stella had gotten this close to Vincent before.
Cultivators were strong, but if Stella wasn't shielding her body with Qi, she could die in her sleep from someone stabbing her heart and brain. At the end of the day, without a vessel, her soul had no place in this world and would drift off to the afterlife... well, until she reached the Nascent Soul Realm.
Stella loomed over Vincent, still asleep in his coffin. Just how deeply does this man cultivate? Even I would notice a mortal this close to me. It was strange, but she wasn't one to complain. If he was so arrogant as to leave himself unaware of the mind-controlled 'weaklings' around him, then she was going to take full advantage of that and end him.
Taking a breath, Stella exploded with aether Qi as she rammed both daggers into Vincent's body. There was some resistance as the man's body was far tougher than it looked, but there was soon the crunching noise of cracked bone as she impaled his skull and ribcage.
Vincent's eyes snapped open, and they glared up at her. He mouthed something as he seemed to recognize her, but the life vacated his eyes before he could say a word. Stella twisted her daggers, creating even more damage before ruthlessly pulling them out and plunging them down repeatedly. She kept going, lost in the slaughter for a while.
It wasn't until her daggers met nothing but blood that she stopped and frowned. The body was gone. All that remained was a murky coffin of black blood.
"Is he... dead?" Stella panted as she looked around. All the mindless maids simply stood there, eerily staring at her like living statues. None offered an answer to her question. Stella spun back around and plunged her hand into the coffin, digging for anything like clothes or bone, but came up empty.
"Gather the blood and leave," Ash's voice echoed in her mind, "There's no sign he survived. I was watching the whole time; it seemed his life force was nearing its end, and your attack was enough to cause his body to disintegrate into the blood."
"Really?" Stella bit her lip, she wasn't so sure. Either way, this place was creepy, and she had no intention of sticking around. Waving her hand, she absorbed all of the blood into a spatial ring.
The door to the room clicked open, and Stella's eyes went wide as the three Nightrose family guardians strode inside with blood-red power crackling around them. She didn't even have time to know what hit her as the void shield vanished, and she felt an immense pull on her soul and body. The Spatial Anchor activated, and she was pulled through reality back to Quill.
Stella collapsed on the rocky shore, unable to process what happened. Had she really killed Vincent Nightrose, a cultivator nearing the Monarch Realm? Ashlock said she did, but it all felt too unreal. Shouts echoed as Diana, followed by Jasmine and the others, ran inside the library.
"You did it, Stella!" Diana hugged her from behind, "Ashlock told us Vincent is dead."
"Yeah..." Stella trailed off as she felt all the strength leave her body, "I suppose he is."
"The summit tomorrow sure is going to be something," The Redclaw Grand Elder chuckled, "I can't wait to see the faces of the families loyal to him when he doesn't show up."
***
Vincent Nightrose frowned as he emerged from a coffin in the darkest depths of the castle. "To think Stella Crestfallen, of all people, would have the skills to kill me," he mused as he stepped out, blood dripping from his body onto the cold stone below. "Well, that wasn't me, but close enough. How interesting... I can't wait to taste her even more now." He stretched his back for the first time in decades, and it cracked a dozen times. "Such incredible growth in cultivation. The Crestfallen bloodline never fails to amaze and to think it would appear in the ninth layer of creation this time. Lucky me."
Losing that body had been a significant loss. Vincent licked his lips as his eyes flickered around the room at the channels of blood heading off to different parts of the castle. "Cursed blood with divinity?" he muttered as he ran his finger through one of the channels dyed black by foreign blood. A savage grin appeared on his face as he effortlessly absorbed and isolated the blood within his body.
"I wonder if they will be foolish enough to still show up now that they think I'm dead." Vincent mused as he coated his fingers in the black blood, "Tomorrow sure is going to be interesting."