Casually, Aengus tossed the small jar back to the Saintess.
"Sorry, Saintess, but I'm not interested in this deal."
The Saintess looked stunned.
Why is the Young Emperor refusing? Wasn't the offer tempting enough?
"Young Emperor, you don't have to be in such a hurry to refuse. If one jar isn't enough, we can offer you ten. Though I'm not sure if you can handle that much—it would mean gaining nearly 50 levels in such a short time. The chances of failure are high."
Aengus shook his head lightly, still appearing uninterested.
"I still have to refuse, Saintess. Perhaps you should leave now if you're done with your 'important' peace talk," Aengus said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
He could have revealed that he wasn't yet capable of fulfilling her request, but it wouldn't have been appropriate. She could be a potential threat to his ultimate goal. Keeping this information hidden might serve as valuable leverage for a future deal, potentially making things easier for him later.
The Saintess' brows twitched in anger, but she forced herself to remain composed.
"That's rude, Young Emperor. You're hopeless and far too arrogant... Perhaps I should return another time."
The Saintess rose from her seat, clearly displeased.
"You're welcome here anytime, Saintess," Aengus replied with a sly smile. He knew that next time, he might be able to subdue her with his power alone.
Though her calm facade barely wavered, Aengus saw through her frustration. He cared little for her anger, displeasure, or disappointment.
Aengus, however, wanted to test something else.
He activated his Dragon Claws and gripped the God Slayer Aegis tightly, boosting his stats fivefold.
"Swoosh!"
In the blink of an eye, he attacked the Saintess, catching her off guard.
"Huh?"
The Saintess instinctively turned back, but the God Slayer Sword was already inches from her face.
She instantly closed her eyes, which snapped open moments later, glowing with a holy radiance.
Aria's beauty was undeniable—easily on par with her own, which was a rare occurrence. But what truly astonished her was the faint aura emanating from Aria.
It was unlike anything she had encountered before, as though Aria herself embodied True Divinity, the essence of a Primordial Goddess.
The aura seemed so pure and vast that it might even rival the power of the Goddess of Light—or perhaps, it surpassed it altogether.
The Saintess couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
Aengus stood as a figure of destruction—calculating, ruthless, and fearsome. Yet, beside him, Aria exuded an aura of kindness, holiness, as if nurturing the true essence of Mother Nature.
The contrast between them was striking. They look opposites in every way, yet somehow, they stood together, complementing one another perfectly.
It was impossible to miss the intimacy in their relationship, and it didn't escape the Saintess' sharp gaze.
"Hmph... May we see each other again, Young Emperor... Farewell."
Saintess Lumenaria cast a lingering gaze at Aria before disappearing like a flash of light.
Aengus, however, could still see her tracks clearly but chose not to interfere for now. Who knew what her "Goddess" might do next?
It was slightly meddlesome, but he needed to cope with it for now.
"Ethan, we should have stopped her. I didn't like the look on her face," Aria spoke with concern.
Aengus touched her face gently.
"No worries, she won't do anything stupid. She's just a religious freak. We're not involving ourselves with the Gods for now. But if they interfere, I will not be kind," Aengus said, his gaze turning cold.
"Your Emperor, look what you've done to my hard work?" General Martin spoke, exasperated.
"Don't complain, Martin. Just make another one," General Felix chimed in from the sidelines with a smirk.
Martin sighed and began creating a new, bigger, and sturdier house for the Emperor and Empress. The previous one had crumbled like a paper toy, something that should have been impossible even for a Transcendental to destroy.
It made Martin occasionally wonder—just what level had the Emperor reached?
Felix turned his attention to Aengus, their new Emperor.
"Your Imperial Highness, do you still plan to move to the Skyfall Kingdom tomorrow?" General Felix asked, seeking confirmation.