"There’s no concept of time, either. This place is eternally fixed in a single moment, endlessly repeating... But thankfully, I still remember that time is passing. I just don’t know how much."

Westheid heard Wan Qi’s words and somewhat regretted bringing up a sore subject.

’This is so heavy!’

He quickly changed the subject.

"It’s been a month since my last visit. Like I told you, I’ve arrived in the Country of Yonglan. And hey, you won’t believe it, you really won’t... the Knights are..."

Wan Qi tilted her head, listening with a vacant expression as Westheid rambled on, until he finally stopped, still looking like he had more to say.

"Wan Qi... can you understand?"

The gray-haired Demon shook her head gently.

"I don’t. I know nothing about the current state of the Mortal World, or any of these things that are happening."

"But I can sense my love’s emotions. My love, you are very excited and happy. That’s enough for me. It makes me happy, too. I like listening to you talk."

"...That’s true."

Westheid was silent for a moment, then said:

"Next time I come, I’ll teach you how to play a strategy board game. That way, we’ll have some interaction."

The man took a step forward and said:

"But I’ll have to wait until I’m done with my current business. Securing the title of Knight King is urgent, and I still need to raise my power level."

"I want to continue observing your memories. Preferably just like the last few times, by directly experiencing them through your body."

Wan Qi was noncommittal in her response, but her actions proved she would never refuse any of Westheid’s requests.

She reached out a finger and extinguished the candle flame. Everything in the Imaginary Space turned to ash like a fire burning out. The scene before them grew dim and obscure as Chaos Demons swarmed in from all directions like a tidal wave.

This was Wan Qi’s memory, and Westheid’s perspective was locked onto hers... It wasn’t just his vision; his other senses were shared as well.

A cold, bloody wind assailed his nostrils. The viscous, filthy Water of Chaos was utterly depressing. The hoarse cries of the Demons sounded like something sharp scraping against smooth glass. And the sword in his hand... it burned hot enough to scorch his bones and sear his heart.

"Huuuh..."

Westheid clearly perceived how Wan Qi mobilized her power, how she used incomparably exquisite techniques to ignite her soul.

And... how she used it to coat her blade and slaughter her enemies.

This was Westheid’s preparation for the final battle—training and learning persistently within the Imaginary Space.

Since he knew the flow of consciousness in a Demon’s Imaginary Space was vastly different from the outside world, how could Westheid possibly pass up the chance to exploit this bug?

While keeping Wan Qi company and relieving her boredom, he was also raising his power level.

And through Westheid’s incredibly diligent immersions, he finally learned Wan Qi’s Combat Techniques.

[Soul Burning Technique]

[In an ancient era before the Celestial Gods appeared, a Warrior bore the souls of 783,000,000 of their kin and comprehended these Combat Techniques by burning those souls as a sacrifice.]

[This is the unpardonable act of soul burning, an unnatural deed that defies the heavens and goes against all morality, and also a sorrowful dirge.]

[Uses souls as fuel for burning, which can be substituted with pure Life Energy, to add the "Annihilation and Extinction" effect to attacks.]

This wasn’t shared through [Heart and Soul’s Gift]. As much as Westheid wanted to get it for free, he had not yet formally met Wan Qi. A meeting in the Imaginary Space, a crack in spacetime, did not meet the conditions.

The [Soul Burning Technique] was something Westheid had comprehended through earnest imitation and absorption, by experiencing Wan Qi’s combat experience countless times.

’I got stronger all through my own effort!’

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Westheid was immersed in the Imaginary Space. To the outside world, Duke Qinghui had frozen the instant he drew his sword. Except for the gleam flowing along the crimson blade of [Shadow-Born], he was like a statue, with even his vital signs having nearly ceased. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Is... this some kind of Knight’s meditative state?"

Reiya sat beside Westheid, carefully observing his condition before asking Mivana.

"It doesn’t look like it..."

The Lady Knight’s beast ear drooped. Westheid’s state was nothing like the meditation techniques she remembered.

"It might be some improved version. Teacher West has always liked to add his own modifications."

The Silver-haired Princess caressed Westheid’s cheek and placed a light kiss on his forehead. Her fingers then slid from his forehead to the side of his face. With her eyelids slightly lowered, her fluttering eyelashes brushed against the man’s cheek.

Mivana stared at this scene for a long time before asking, "Reiya, you really like West, don’t you? Enough to want him all to yourself. I don’t understand that kind of feeling, but why aren’t you angry?"

"Because I could not be so despicably selfish."

Reiya stood up and looked at Mivana.

"West once risked everything to save my fate. How could I obstruct him from fulfilling his own?"

"I know he has grand ambitions. West is destined to achieve a Great Enterprise more magnificent than anyone else’s. To do that, he needs power and will obtain it by any means necessary. That’s why he attracts all these women... I don’t care about those vulgar women who only lust after West’s looks. I scoff at them. They don’t understand what’s truly precious and captivating about him. My beloved has never bared his heart to an outsider."

The White-haired Dragon Lady’s lips curled up slightly, seemingly quite proud of her special status.

For Reiya, the "Pure Love War God," the purity of a romance is extremely important. Feelings of love and attachment must be undying. As for Westheid’s harem of beautiful women, one could only say that’s just how Duke Qinghui is—it’s merely necessary sowing, which is perfectly natural in the eyes of an Imperial Citizen.

As long as she was the one who occupied that special place in her lover’s heart, that was enough.

Thinking of this, Reiya’s mood soured. She stared at the Beast-eared Maiden with purplish-black hair and said slowly:

"But you are an exception. West likes you, just as he likes me. That’s why he risked everything to save your fate. To be honest... I disliked you at first."

"I still don’t particularly like you, but I will open the path to the Pool of the Holy Grail for you. You need to advance to the Legend rank as soon as possible... West needs help. If you want to stay by his side as his lover, don’t let yourself fall behind."

The Wolf-eared Maiden straightened her back and nodded solemnly.

"Thank you."

"Don’t thank me. The one you should be repaying is West. I am merely following his wishes."

Mivana showed a bright smile and said with feeling:

"Reiya... you really are a good person. We will become friends. I’m sure of it."

The Silver-haired Princess stood before the floor-to-ceiling window with her arms crossed. Hearing Mivana’s remark, she pursed her lower lip.

"Hmph..."

The Floating Fleet majestically sailed past the neighboring Knight Territories. There was no need to fight. Even before the pilgrimage began, the Knight Lords adjacent to Dusk Lamp Territory had surrendered at the speed of light.

They had witnessed Westheid’s heroic bearing before the Boundary River and were immediately won over by Duke Qinghui’s powerful, domineering will, expressing their willingness to submit.

These people were the most typical power-worshippers in the Country of Yonglan. As long as a King Claimant displayed overwhelming strength, they would immediately offer their support. They were also the easiest group of Knights to deal with.

Of course, to be more realistic, the cautionary tale of Jinquan Territory still loomed. Those who didn’t surrender would truly have their entire families annihilated. The path of pilgrimage seemed civilized, but if a King Claimant’s prestige was insufficient, the pilgrimage would become a bloody massacre.

Because of the Yonglan Knights’ characteristic stubbornness, those who refused to submit would genuinely risk their lives to challenge him, and it was common for their entire clans to be wiped out in the process.

From sparring to slaughter, the pilgrimage permitted any level of conflict and violence.

After requiring these subservient Knight Territories to plant a small flag representing Qinghui, the Floating Fleet continued onward, heading straight for the Pool of the Holy Grail.

That was the final destination for a Yonglan Knight to achieve the rank of Legend, and also the source of the [Blessed Chalice] Talent.

Although [Blessed Chalice] was a completely inferior version compared to [Cursed Source Blood], and she didn’t need such a Talent, Mivana had given up the achievement of annihilating the Corrupted Holy Tree in the Imperial domain precisely so she could become a proper Grand Knight.

Therefore, the journey to the Holy Grail was imperative.