Chapter 277 Chapter 277 – Tiara's Trial
"You practice Charm Qi and thought it'd be a good idea to use it on me?" Ken asked Tiara once she finished her story.
"Only subtly, I did not know what your plans were, so I wanted to make sure you didn't throw me out of the group," Tiara confessed.
Ken's hand was still on the sword's hilt. He carefully considered the options he had. Either kill Tiara or forgive her and give her another chance.
"Alaric, do you know anything about enchantresses?"
"Not much, there are some evil cultivators that practice it, but I don't think our continent has seventh-stage ones. There should be some organizations with them in the Qiteria continent, but their power is limited when pitted against the Peaceful Demon Sect."
Alaric was his source of information because of his broader horizons as a former core disciple in a top 5 sect, unlike the three of them who originated from a smaller sect. Henry was quite inclusive so despite his unique powers, Ken assumed that the monk did not know much.
As for Tiara, although might be more knowledgeable on the topic as an enchantress, she obviously had motives to blow the value of enchantresses out of proportion, so Ken did not ask her.
'Hmm, so there are indeed some glaring weaknesses, but Celeste was right. She can either have a group to cover for those weaknesses or she can become so strong she can forcibly blast through her enemies when they're prepared for her. With me by her side, she can achieve both.'
Ken pondered for a moment and realized he was unwilling to lose a capable teammate like Tiara if she truly had no ill intentions, but he was also too untrusting to just let her be.
"Fine, I will give you a chance. Take a truth drug; if everything you said is true and you did not have any ill intentions toward me or anyone else in the group, we can discuss what to do next."
Ken waved his hand and a Truth pill he had concocted a while ago appeared out of his storage ring and floated toward Tiara. The young lady did not hesitate to catch it with her hand and swallow it. She had a shallow understanding of Ken's character by now, and she only said the truth earlier suspecting he'd have her take a Truth pill later.
"Sure." Tiara took the pill and let Ken approach her. Ken placed his palm on her forehead and used his Qi to probe her body, making sure the pill was taking effect and Tiara did not have a way to prevent it from spreading in her bloodstream and reaching her brain.
"Is everything you said was true?" Ken asked after he made sure the pill was in effect.
"Yes."
"Did you tell any lie?"
"No."
"Did you distort any fact or event?"
"No."
"Did you ever have ill intentions toward me?"
"Yes, but only when we first joined hands in the secret realm and I sensed you had a lot of BP. After I learned about your potential, I understood it'd benefit me more in the long run to truly join your side rather than backstab you for a one-time gain."
"If you had someone offer you better benefits than I can provide you with, would you betray me and have me killed for them?"
"I don't think anybody can offer me better benefits. Sure, maybe in the short term, but not when I look at the far future. I believe everyone in your group can break through the mortal realm and become immortals with your support," Tiara explained her considerations. She held his Alchemy, Formation Mastery, and the ability to tweak manuals and techniques in high regard.
"You did not answer my question. If someone like that did appear one day, theoretically, would you betray me?"
"Yes," Tiara admitted eventually, making Alaric's eyes twitch.
"Good, I will give you a chance for now."
Ken knew her answer to his question before he asked it, and he had only asked it to make sure she did not resist the Truth pill somehow. He was confident that she wouldn't find someone whose brain and constitution were boosted by Godly Qi, making it certain that he'd be her best choice forever.
Although she was not privy to the details, she already proved that she at least understood that Ken's abilities were not something she could find somewhere else, and that was what Ken needed to ascertain she wouldn't betray him any time soon. He knew her selfish personality when he recruited her, and he trusted her thanks to the mix of this trait with her calculative and intelligent mind.
"Team Leader, she just confessed she would backstab us! How can you give her a chance?" Alaric protested against his decision.
"Alaric, I hope your good example will allow her to correct her attitude and develop loyalty to the group. She is already part of our group, and if we kill her without trying to help her when we still have time, wouldn't it make us the backstabbers?"
Ken spoke profound bullshit about great ideals that he knew would appease Alaric. While Alaric was not an idiot, he tended to somewhat act like one when he interacted with Ken, interpreting everything his leader said as if it were absolute. Ken could recognize this certain thinking process from his previous world.
"I did not think about it. You're right, Team Leader, you've broadened my horizons today," Alaric widened his eyes in surprise as he mentally added this clause to the doctrine about friendship he had in his mind.
"It's good that you understand."
Ken then used his time to ask Tiara about her inheritance in detail, so he and the other two men could learn about its risks and avoid being affected. Tiara did not spare any information either. Since they knew about her ability to manipulate others, they would have to know enough about it to not be wary of her all the time.
"I see. You lost miserably against Henry because your charm's effects were weak on him. The movements that seem like a waste at first do actually have a purpose, and they make your opponents less focused on the battle, which slows them down," Ken remarked as they learned about Tiara's powers.
"Are you impotent? Did you also strengthen your body with Demonic Qi to such a degree?" Alaric asked Henry with a gaze that contained curiosity, wonder, admiration, and judgment all at once. Both Ken and Alaric felt a chill pass through their lower body when they thought of the possibility.
"The words we speak have power. We can use them to build up or tear down others. We can use them to bring peace or to sow discord. Let us choose our words wisely," Henry said in a serious tone.
"Team Leader, what does it mean?"
"I can't tell either."
The group left this subject open for future discussion and moved back to Tiara. They learned a lot about the inheritance. For starters, the techniques and manual she practiced changed her body and visage for the better, causing very small transformations that fixed small flaws. She was naturally pretty, but the enchanting cultivation was what made her as beautiful as she was.
"Okay, give me your complete inheritance so I can integrate it into the group's style. Just like Celeste suggested, your weaknesses will be null if you stick with us."
Tiara sighed and produced the inheritance from her storage ring, handing it over to Ken. It was her biggest secret that she showed nobody until today, but the benefits of cooperating with Ken were much better than the risks of trying to keep it to herself.
"Now, let's train together. I will sit behind Henry while you two sit in front of him with your backs facing him," Ken instructed the group and the four of them sat cross-legged on the ground according to the seating arrangement.
Ken placed his palms against Henry's back, and Henry placed one palm on Tiara and another on Alaric.
"Tiara, Alaric, let Henry channel his Qi throughout your body. Trust him and me; don't resist it or try to block his control. Henry, start the manual I have given you."
Ken channeled the Godly Qi into Henry's meridians. The flow was already set in his own body, making it easier for Henry to use the unfamiliar energy that coursed through his own body now.
Luckily, the Godly Qi did not have the same properties as the Immortal Qi; it was constructive and helpful, even aiding the user to control it without wreaking havoc in one's body in the case of failure.
Henry used the Godly Qi to enhance his own body while moving it next to the two before him. Their flesh, organs, bones, blood, veins, and everything else were destroyed and reconstructed, firmer than ever before.
The process was painful despite being done with the Godly Qi; although it made the process easier, it did not negate the pain that accompanied such injuries no matter how fast they were healed.
However, all of them were among the best cultivators the mortal realm had to offer, meaning their determination and willpower were stronger than the pain, allowing the procedure to happen smoothly.
Ken controlled the Godly Qi delicately, letting it seep into Henry's body in small bits. It was the first time he shared the Godly Qi with others, and he did not want to do it irresponsibly and carelessly.
"Haah…"
Everyone sighed a few hours later when the session stopped. They stretched their bodies as they got up, trying to sense the differences.
"We will do it a few times more and add some pills in the process. It should enhance your constitution at least to the point of being equal to sect seeds."
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