The girl's eyes fluttered and body twitched for a moment. She let out a soft groan and slowly moved her stiff arms to sit up.

"How are you feeling?"

A soothing voice echoed inside Shu Ru's head, startling her and sobering her cloudy thoughts. She turned her head to the source of the voice only to see several people looking back at her.

All of them were familiar faces, beginning for Arthur and Lucy to Cristina and the downcast Rosea. Bora and Ardor were still competing whereas Ho Qing retreated to his personal room to cultivate. In fact, he had not been seen ever since he secluded himself, but since Arthur gave his approval, no one, not even the objecting Cristina, raised a complaint.

"Only a bit dizzy."

The girl shook her head and cracked a faint smile, feeling embarrassed to be the center of everyone's attention.

"You need to rest for a bit more."

Lucy held the girl's hand and reassured her with a simple nod, to which Shu Ru lowered her head and bit her lips.

"There is no need to feel down. Our team reached the final and you did a great job, all three of you."

Arthur's compliment, which was a rare thing to hear, made Shu Ru hesitantly raise her head back again and gaze right into his eyes.

"Thank you, teacher."

Stoic-faced, Cristina wryly smiled and spoke a couple of words, however, both Rosea and Shu Ru maintained their silence, one was ashamed and the other guilty.

The atmosphere was turning a little awkward so both Arthur and Lucy left the infirmary. Although they had become friends only recently, the three girls were still capable of comforting each other and overcoming their mental hurdles.

Meanwhile, the couple returned to the VIP Box only to find a gloating Isadore eagerly waiting for their return.

"You remember our bet, yes?"

"Yes, and before you tell me, I already know that the Holy Dominion Team is leading."

"Oh… how?"

Arthur chuckled as he sat down, "Just because I did not see it doesn't mean I don't know what happened. If anything happens within the city, I'll be the first to know."

"Well, whatever… I had placed a bet on the Buddha Team and the Holy Dominion Team."

"Yes, there's no need to repeat everything, Your Majesty."

"Oh, then look!"

He pointed at the large screen, precisely at the bench specific to Veia and Leo. The quiet girl was currently meditating, but what was surprising was her blinding Holy Aura and her abnormally-increasing Cultivation.

"No rules disqualify a participant that breaks through mid-trial, right?"

"..."

Instead of replying, Arthur's eyes shifted to Veia. Whatever was happening inside of her body, and despite the great distance separating him from his target, he could see everything. It was unknown what she consumed or what was done to her, however, her cultivation was rising insanely-fast. She leap-frogged from the peak of God Realm to being a Fusion Sovereign, and it did not seem to be stopping.

"Arthur…"

Lucy nudged her husband and motionned at Cardinal Patrick. The white-robed skinny old man was, as usual, sitting in the same spot, motionless but strangely pale-faced.

'It seems to be some sort of temporary Energy Transfusion.'

As to not let other people hear her, she used Telepathy, but she only got a response after half a minute or so.

'I don't know about temporary. It seems to be a permanent thing… The Cardinal is sacrificing his Blood Essence and own vitality to strengthen her. I'm starting to understand their plan… it has become obvious by now.'

'I get what you mean, but what is their motive? Even if Veia reaches a cultivation realm strong enough to allow her to participate in the last two trials, it's not like it'll achieve anything. Moreover, the rewards are not lucrative enough for a Cardinal of the Dominion to sacrifice his Blood Essence.'-Lucy

'Maybe they just want to frighten us?'

'It could be, but I must say that it's not working. Even if that girl reaches the Exalted God Realm, it won't make a difference.'-Lucy

'It's not about the result but the process of achieving it. They are showing us they can turn youngsters into Overgods and whatnot. Of course, our assumption could be wrong.'

'Hmpf! It better be or else they won't be living this place alive.'

"Is it true?"

Isadore, who was excitedly watching Veia's power-up, frowned and looked at his protector, both surprised and confused.

"She's already a peak Sovereign? Isn't that against the rules?"

"Leave her be."

Arthur's voice silenced Dan, who was about to respond. Even Isadore closed his mouth and look at the parasite, who had a sly grin plastered on his face.

"I really don't like that expression."

"Whatever do you mean, Your Majesty? I thought winning the bet would be a happy occasion for you."

"Yes, but not like this. It has become unfair for the other participants."

Just when Arthur was about to speak again, someone came from the side. It was a tall woman with long yellow-ish hair and a clean white robe with long red line on its right side.

"Greetings, I'm Melissa, the High Priest accompanying Cardinal Patrick."

She elegantly bowed toward Lucy and Arthur then patiently and politely waited for a response. After witnessing what happened to Veia and, consequently, the Cardinal, Lucy and Arthur expected someone to come. Their brief yet elaborate telepathic conversation helped them speculate about the Holy Dominion's motive and goals.

"I'm listening."

Arthur did not speak, it was Lucy who stood up and faced Melissa, who maintained a straight posture and resisted the White Specter's bone-chilling aura.

"In regards to one of our participants, Veia. If the hosts do not mind, we would like for her to participate in the last two trials."

Melissa, who prepared a couple of arguments to provoke and convince Lucy and Arthur, was met with an immediate and unexpected response.

"Sure, but you cannot blame us or the other guardians if she gets injured."

"As the spokesman of the Holy Dominion Team, you have my deepest gratitude. I will excuse myself now."

Melissa bowed again then returned back to the Cardinal's side, her face filled with a mix of perplexion and astonishment.

By now, all the perceptive people with high enough cultivation would have noticed what had happened to Veia, but since it had nothing to do with them, they merely kept their silence.

While it was a worrying matter for some, neither Arthur nor Lucy were troubled by the Dominion's actions. No one could threaten them or anyone else as long as they were inside the city… and even outside, they had little chance to do that either.

No one would have expected that Arthur and Lucy would have gotten infinitely stronger since their last public appearance. Lucy had broken through to the Exalted God Realm and had solidified her foundation and honed her destructive spells. Meanwhile, Arthur retrieved Makaze and fused with one of his clones, which had brought him a handful of overpowered skills, such as the ability to control Sand and even the fearsome Telekinesis.