'So it was the female lead's blood that undid the array's core?'
'Looks like I'll have to find a chance to get some more of her blood to keep as a spare. After all, the female lead is tough, so I might as well put her to good use.'
At the same time, a fiery red pillar of light shot up, illuminating the night sky.
A beam of light like that was a clear signal that a treasure was emerging. Members of both The Immortal and Demonic Paths who sensed this aura and saw the pillar of light immediately rushed over.
Some, desperate to be the first to claim the treasure, even began fighting and killing each other on the way.
"That's the aura of a Divine Beast! That Divine Beast is mine!"
Two figures sped through the sky toward the light. One of them launched a surprise palm strike, knocking the other out of the air.
"You old dog! How dare you ambush me!"
Cultivators from other areas were also looking in this direction.
"This aura... it's so powerful."
"What kind of treasure is appearing? Let's go take a look."
The Azure Sect, the Immortal Sect closest to Breezewind Town, also summoned its disciples immediately.
"All disciples, listen to my command! We must secure the Divine Beast! We cannot let The Demonic Sects get to it first!"
"Yes, sir!"
「Back in Breezewind Town.」
In the dilapidated courtyard, by the well, a fiery red array had lit up on the ground. The patterns on the array looked ancient and complex. It was all esoteric chicken-scratch to her; she couldn't make heads or tails of it.
This development finally caused the female lead and her man, who had been in the middle of an intimate moment, to stop and turn their heads to look.
"This aura... a Divine Beast is emerging."
Jocelyn Grant's eyes lit up.
She knew she'd always had good luck since she was a child, but she never expected to encounter the birth of a Divine Beast after ending up in such a rundown place.
The pressure it exuded was immense. If it was raised to maturity, it would definitely be a huge asset to her.
She didn't know what it was, but it was hers now.
Thinking this, she put on a hurt expression and looked at the man beside her. "I knew there was a reason you chose this route. You weren't coming to find me at all. You were planning to come here all along. You came for the Divine Beast here. And I actually thought... I hate you so much!"
The masked man, his heart aching for her, pulled her into an embrace. "Jocelyn, you've misunderstood. I had no idea a Divine Beast was appearing here. Besides, nothing can compare to you. You know that if you just call me 'husband,' I'd give you my life."
Hiding nearby, Celeste Grant stuck her fingers in her ears. 'These two nutjobs. Just go die already, I've had enough.'
At that very moment, an oval-shaped egg floated out from the glowing array on the ground. The egg was red with golden patterns, and it flew into the air, wreathed in flames.
The air around them grew scorching hot.
"It's Vermilion Bird Fire."
"This is a Vermilion Bird Egg."
Jocelyn Grant couldn't wait any longer and rushed forward to grab the Vermilion Bird Egg, but as soon as she got close, she let out a squawk. Then she was sent flying backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Seeing her pathetic state, Celeste Grant was delighted. 'That's a Vermilion Bird Egg, and one that's about to hatch, at that. Did she really think she could just grab it so easily?'
She looked up at the sky.
The egg was about to crack.
*CRACK... CRACK...*
The sound rang out crisply.
The eggshell cracked open, and at the same time, a cry echoed across the heavens as a fiery red Vermilion Bird flew out, circling in the air and calling out.
In that instant, the Vermilion Bird Fire rained down and ignited... In just a moment, the flames spread, engulfing the whole of Breezewind Town in a sea of fire. Any building touched by the flames was instantly reduced to ash and vanished.
Vermilion Bird Fire could burn for three days and three nights, leaving nothing but scorched earth in its wake.
'What a scene!'
'Even a TV series couldn't produce special effects like this.'
The scene was indeed spectacular, but also cruel. If she hadn't arranged to have the people in town cleared out ahead of time, the devastation would have been horrific.
Celeste Grant had the Spirit Fire Pearl on her, so the fire was useless against her.
Nerida had already flown toward the Vermilion Bird, her figure appearing in mid-air.
"The Bloodfiend Den claims this Divine Beast."
"It's a Demon Cultivator! Quick, stop her!"
Cultivators from all directions arrived at that moment as well.
"It's The Divine Beast, the Vermilion Bird! Quick, catch it!"
"The Vermilion Bird is mine!"
"The Phantasm Sect saw it first!"
"Look, the Vermilion Bird is flying away!"
All the Cultivators gave chase.
Seeing so many people trying to snatch the treasure, Jocelyn Grant grew anxious.
"Hades, the Vermilion Bird flew away!"
"Jocelyn, this lord will capture the Divine Beast for you to be your Spirit Companion."
Even the powerful man by the female lead's side had gone after it.
The Vermilion Bird flew off. Nerida could have chased it, but she gave up, her figure flashing back to Celeste Grant's side.
Her duty was to protect the Madam and the Young Master. A mere Vermilion Bird Egg was nothing; even if they lost it, she could just snatch it back later. Protecting the Madam's safety was what mattered most.
Everyone had gone to catch the Vermilion Bird.
But Celeste Grant smiled.
'Only I know...'
'The thing that flew away wasn't the Vermilion Bird's real body.'
'The real body is still here.'
'But surprisingly, the female lead didn't give chase.'
'Heh, the author is just tripping over themselves to hand her opportunities.'
Jocelyn Grant wanted to leave as well, but she couldn't help but glance at the base of a nearby tree. That was where the cracked eggshell had landed when the Vermilion Bird hatched.
Her gaze fell upon the eggshell, and she wanted to pick it up and take it. Even just the shell was a fine material for refining Magic Artifacts.
However, Celeste Grant, who had been hiding in the shadows, was one step ahead. With a wave of her hand, she threw a handful of lime powder in Jocelyn's face.
'I prepared this before I came. Didn't think I'd actually get to use it.'
'Being despicable and shameless doesn't matter.'
'The result is what's important.'
"My eyes!"
"Who... who's there?"
Celeste Grant seized the opportunity, pulling out a Magic Artifact she had bought from a street stall long ago from her Storage Ring.
It was just an ordinary Low Grade Spiritual Artifact, but it was perfect for bashing people. It could be used like an iron rod.
She attacked without hesitation, aiming to beat her senseless, maybe even to death.
"Who am I? I'm your ancestor!"
"Jocelyn Grant, you little bitch! I've been waiting to deal with you for a long time!"
She'd wanted to slap her for ages.
Today, she finally had her chance.
"You... you... Celeste Grant."
Apparently, the female lead had recognized her voice, likely not expecting her to be there.
But she only managed to weakly reach out a hand before collapsing. Celeste Grant had already knocked her unconscious, and blood was trickling from her forehead.
Just as she was about to deal the finishing blow, the female lead vanished.
Celeste Grant sneered.
'Her plot armor really is thick.'
'Oh well. I never expected to be able to kill the female lead anyway.'
"She escaped. What happened?"
Nerida had originally intended to help capture the woman, but seeing as her Madam was having such a good time beating her up, and figuring the target couldn't escape with them both there, she had simply waited quietly.
She never thought that in the blink of an eye, the woman who had been polluting their ears would just disappear.
"I can't sense her aura at all."
'Can't be helped. It's the female lead's halo!'
"It's fine, don't worry about her. Some man or other has probably picked her up by now. It's the same old trope."
She'd given the female lead a good thrashing.
She was in a great mood.
Celeste Grant let out a breath.
Celeste Grant put one hand on her hip.
'I'm just tired.'
She felt a little dizzy.
Her body swayed, and she took an involuntary step back.
A hand from behind caught her shoulder. "You, woman. You can't even stay still when you're this pregnant."