CHAPTER 319: CHAPTER 318-IMPORTANT.

’It’s such a waste.’

Azrail clicked his tongue as his focus turned back to the other members scattered around, all of them going on with their lives, but Azrail knew each of them would create their own legends in the making. Having them work for him, or at the very least indebted to him, would be of great use.

’Right now, they are perfect for the taking.’

Though he can’t kill them, he can at least use some of them to his advantage. Adding them to work under him will take some effort, plus the reason they grew to be who they are is because of all the challenges and problems they went through in life, and the opportunities that fell to them. Too much help from him would only have the opposite effect that Azrail wants.

’It won’t be too late to take them in when they have reached a middle ground.’

A certain glint passed through Azrail’s eyes as he thought of all the profits he would be able to reap. Plus, not all of them will be useful to him according to his evolution requirements; some will have to fall for him to get what they have. It won’t be easy, but a path will have to be created. The main thing will be to leave an impression on all of them.

An impression they will not be able to forget later down the line, no matter what happens, and even open them up to a part in his empire. Their talents will be put to good use by Valencia; she will know how to play them well enough to have them in their hands. Azrail just has to give her the data she needs.

’Though for these, I have to play the cards carefully.’

Zooming in, Azrail focused mainly on the most important ones: the MC and the villain. Just because he is a villain doesn’t mean he won’t be of use. Establishing a working relationship will be helpful. For now, Azrail can’t rip that treasure from him, but Azrail can definitely have him use it for his own advantage in a different way too.

Thus, having made plans and seeing their current growth, Azrail gave Nayan some more instructions, after which he left the Realm Scraper, soon preparing within the mansion to which he already headed toward where everything was prepared. He soon entered his mother’s workroom, where she, looking at him with a smile, spoke.

"Took you long enough."

"I had some more things to iron out on my training."

Azrail replied as he took a seat. Right now, this was just a normal room with sofas and chairs around. His mother, Lan, took a seat, drinking tea with a smile on her face. Sitting beside her was Raena, who seemed to hold a tea glass, but the smell of wine filled Azrail’s nose. Sitting aside, doing her work, was Valencia, who smiled and nodded at him.

Taking a seat near Xuanyin, Azrail relaxed for a moment as he patted her head. Xuanyin melted into it, her eyes meeting his.

Xuanyin: "..."

"Yes, I am fine, and I am doing well."

After Azrail’s reply, Xuanyin just went back to focusing on the head pat, enjoying it and sitting next to her brother to feel his warmth. Raena, shaking her head at it, replied.

"This still feels weird seeing it."

"Weird as wine in a tea glass?"

Azrail shot back, to which Raena just shrugged her shoulders. Azrail then focused back on his mother as he spoke.

"Everything is ready, right?"

To which Lan, with a smile, replied.

"It’s all set. The invitations have gone out, and our power is there for everyone to see, our backings hidden too. Soon, this realm’s first all-continental auction will take place."

As his mother said this, Azrail could see the sheer joy and pride she was feeling. A dream that was nothing more than a pipe dream was now coming to life right in front of her eyes, he now being undeniably the largest and most powerful figure in this realm, and it being hidden deep within her hands too.

"How did they all take it?"

Azrail asked, taking a sip of the tea.

"As well as they can. The fear still lies in them, deeply."

Azrail smirked at those words as he leaned against the chair, his mind running through several matters as he asked.

"The situation at the Aurelian royal family still chaotic?"

"Yup, Meng Yao keeps updating us with needed information, and it seems the upper powers want to see us squashed."

Azrail smirked at those words. Experts were still sent down below and others to kill Valencia and Raena, yet none of that worked out, which is driving the other side mad. Not to mention that Valencia has played her cards well within the Ewald family. Her talents, skills, and presence of mind have won her own set of followers and support from the elders.

Not to mention she has her father, Lian, wrapped around her fingers using guilt, which means she has already established a reputable amount of power within the third heaven! This is a huge deal going forward. This led to the wives no longer being able to push more into it with several eyes now focused on them. They are gritting their teeth and waiting for the time when Valencia will step into the third heaven.

’By then, she will be too powerful to stop.’

Azrail smiled at that thought as he, focusing back on the present, spoke.

"With the situation unfolding like this, they must be broken up. The upper realms that wanted action are now quiet and not making any moves, while in their inner hearts, they all also want to attack us and stop our growth, but now they will only have fear."

To his words, Lan smiled as she replied.

"True, according to Meng Yao, the emperor wants control, but the Empress Aihan Aurelian insists they get closer to us, pushing more toward establishing a greater connection, the same for every empire in this continent. We have a lot of calls, after all."

’Some of them might be useful.’

Thinking of such, Azrail thought of certain secrets he had been running through in his mind regarding Lady Xia and the princess Huifen, the image of the girl with red hair and green eyes being something Azrail remembers.

’Prince Ruibo, he is still young and hasn’t touched more toward his real powers.’

Running through those thoughts, Azrail suddenly asked the more important question.

"Is Aunt Kia still troubled?"

At Azrail’s words, he saw his mother flinch. He could feel the problem she was facing as Lan replied.

"Yes, somehow it seems her talent or growth is stuck going forward, and even after using some treasures and such, it seems there is no change. She is growing, it seems, very slowly."

Azrail, taking in the words, fell into thought.

’This is faster than before.’

Azrail could also understand the reason too. Anya was moving faster than in her past life. She reads a difference in the flow of her fate, sees everything that is happening, and wants to quickly take everything over and crush her.

’It seems Anya got a warning from fate itself.’

Azrail smiled inwardly; things were getting more interesting.

Azrail’s gaze fell on Xuanyin, her quiet strength a reminder of the bonds that tied them together. She was not just his sister but a symbol of resilience, someone who had endured the same trials he had and emerged stronger. Her presence grounded him, a reminder that his fight was not just for power but for those he cared about.

The continental auction was more than a display of wealth and influence; it was a statement. By inviting every major power in the realm, they were forcing their enemies to acknowledge their rise. The fear Lan mentioned was palpable, a shadow that lingered in the hearts of those who opposed them. Azrail relished it. Fear was a tool, one he wielded with precision.

His thoughts returned to the villain, the one who held the lost relic of talent. That item was a game-changer, a piece of the puzzle that could elevate Azrail to heights unimaginable. But taking it was not a simple task. The villain’s protection, granted by the heavens, made him untouchable for now. Azrail’s only option was to bide his time, to build a relationship that could turn the villain into an asset rather than a threat.

The MC, on the other hand, was a different challenge. Charismatic, powerful, and destined to lead, the MC was someone Azrail could not afford to underestimate. Yet, their shared origins gave Azrail an edge. He knew the struggles of this realm, the pain of clawing one’s way up from nothing. That connection could be leveraged, turned into a bond of mutual respect—or at least mutual necessity.

As for Aunt Kia, her stagnation was a mystery that gnawed at Azrail. Her potential was immense, yet something held her back. Was it fate, as he suspected with Anya? Or was there a deeper force at play, something even he couldn’t yet see? He made a mental note to investigate further, perhaps consulting the ancient texts he had uncovered in the Realm Scraper’s archives.

The auction would be the first step in a larger plan. By showcasing their power, they would draw out their enemies, forcing them to act or retreat. The upper realms, with their quiet scheming, would have no choice but to confront the reality of Azrail’s growing influence. The Empress Aihan’s push for an alliance was a sign that cracks were forming in their opposition. Azrail would exploit those cracks, widening them until the entire structure crumbled.

Lady Xia and Princess Huifen were pieces he had yet to fully place on the board. Their connections to the higher realms could open doors that even Valencia’s cunning couldn’t unlock. Prince Ruibo, young and untested, was another variable. His powers were dormant, but Azrail knew that awakening them would shift the balance of power in unpredictable ways.

The room grew quiet as Azrail sipped his tea, the warmth of the cup grounding his racing thoughts. He glanced at Valencia, who was now engrossed in a scroll, her fingers tracing the lines of text with practiced ease. She was the key to so many of his plans, her ability to navigate the political landscape unmatched. Raena, meanwhile, had poured herself another glass of wine, her casual demeanor belying the sharp mind that Azrail knew lay beneath.

Lan spoke again, breaking the silence. "The preparations are flawless, Azrail. We’ve accounted for every possibility. The auction will be a spectacle, one that will echo through the realms."

Azrail nodded, his mind already moving to the next phase. The auction was just the beginning. The real battle would be fought in the shadows, where alliances were forged and broken, where secrets were traded like currency. He would need to stay one step ahead, always anticipating, always planning.

Anya’s accelerated growth was a wrinkle he hadn’t expected. If fate itself was warning her, then the cosmos was watching closely. Azrail’s smile widened. Let them watch. He had clawed his way from the bottom, survived the horrors of his past, and emerged stronger. The heavens might think they controlled the board, but Azrail was rewriting the rules.

As he leaned back, Xuanyin shifted closer, her warmth a quiet reminder of what he fought for. The Heavenly Opposers, the relic, the auction—all were pieces in a game he intended to win. The cosmos might be vast, but Azrail’s ambition was vaster still. With every move, he was carving his name into the annals of history, a legacy that would outshine even the heavens themselves.