The Defeated Saintess Is On A Journey To Tame The Evil God Book 01 Chapter 07.08.1 - Red Epiphyllum

"There are so many people..." After entering the manor, Xing Mo stared in disbelief at the sea of people in yellow robes, unsure of how to feel. She knew Prince Austin was beloved, but this overwhelming display exceeded her expectations.

With such a crowd, surely, the Prince must be pleased, right?

Activating the Tree of Life vision, Xing Mo saw a dense black fog, woven like an ocean, permeating every corner of the manor. This must be Prince Austin’s true plan—to create an environment where Steam Men could manifest at will. If the Church attempted to arrest him on his birthday, he’d have a safeguard—turning the entire crowd into his hostages.

These very people had unknowingly become part of his safeguard.

...

As she quietly listened to the crowd chanting praises for the Prince, Xing Mo found herself momentarily at a loss for words. Then, a faint voice reached her ears: "Lady Saintess, I’ve found the Prince’s study. It’s behind the banquet hall, on the third floor. It's heavily guarded."

It was Aria, who had been scouting ahead.

"Did you find any signs of the curse?" Xing Mo whispered.

"I couldn’t check. The spiritual realm there is sealed by a string magic formation. I can’t get in."

Aria, a Dark Elf trained by Aurora, had learned to navigate the spiritual realm, much like how Aurora had once extracted Xing Mo’s soul from her body. However, this ability was limited to the soul, making it easy to counter.

Looks like we’ll have to infiltrate through the material plane… Xing Mo thought before whispering, "Leave it to me."

"Understood. I’ll be awaiting your orders." Aria replied.

Xing Mo glanced down, noticing her shadow darken subtly, almost imperceptibly. Straightening her posture, she moved forward with the crowd, blending in as they approached Prince Austin’s mansion. Every step was careful—her high heels made walking a challenge, forcing her to shorten her stride and focus on maintaining her balance. It was her first time attending a formal event in such attire, and the unfamiliarity kept her nerves ta

…