The Weight of Weakness

After meditating for some time, Lucifer managed to calm the whirlwind of emotions inside him.

"System, what did that Leonard do to me?" Lucifer asked.

[He utilized his spirit sense to investigate you]

"What exactly is a spirit sense?"

[Ability Name: Spirit Sense]

[Type: Sensory Enhancement]

[Description: Enhances cultivators' perception to detect and analyze spiritual energy (qi) fluctuations.]

[Benefits: Identifies cultivators, beasts, artifacts; assesses strength and cultivation level; evaluates energy purity and intensity, can detect any physical or non-physical thing that is not specifically hidden; in the range of spirit sense.]

"Shit! I knew it was something like this"

"Did he discover that I have no cultivation?" he asked anxiously.

[No, he couldn't determine your cultivation level due to you being a Devil].

"What?! So he wasn't able to figure out my cultivation?"

"Damn it! Why did I panic and back away so hastily then?"

.

"Fuck! Was he even a genuine member of the Phoenix Feather Clan?"

.

"Will he really take Emily to the sect? Why did I allow such a small child to go with him alone?"

.

"Shit! Shit! Shit! Why didn't I go along with them, at least until the sect? Was I afraid of him?"

.

"What have I done? Didn't I already decide to think carefully and investigate properly before making any decision? H-How could I repeat the same mistake again?"

[Madness has increased to 85]

"System, did he truly not use any techniques or skills to manipulate me into acting this way?"

[No]

[Madness has increased to 90]

Seeing the madness indicator starting to enter the danger zone, he took some deep breaths and forced himself to calm down and began reflecting on his encounter with Leonard.

The suddenness of their meeting and the abruptness of its end puzzled him.

He carefully replayed Leonard's words in his mind, trying to comprehend what had prompted him to do what he had done.

Lucifer acknowledged that while he might not give his life for Emily, she was still the only person he truly cared about and considered a friend in this new world.

Therefore, unless it would lead to his own demise, he would do anything to save her.

That's why his quick agreement to let Leonard take Emily without even considering retaliating didn't align with his usual behavior.

After much thought, Lucifer realized that three factors had influenced him.

The first factor was Leonard's conviction. Leonard seemed aware that Lucifer had obliterated an entire area of approximately one mile, something seemingly beyond the capabilities of a cultivator at the Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment stage.

Despite this knowledge, Leonard spoke calmly and even threatened Lucifer during their conversation.

This made Lucifer believe that Leonard possessed similar level of power.

However, he recently learned from the system that Leonard was only at Foundation Establishment Realm.

This meant that despite being weaker than the supposed power of the 'Cultivator Noah', Leonard had still dared to threaten him.

'This guy, did he have balls of diamond or what?' Lucifer couldn't help but have such thoughts.

But upon further thinking, Lucifer reached the conclusion that maybe Leonard was relying on the sect backing him to make even the cultivators with the power level of 'Cultivator Noah' think twice before attacking him. However, it also revealed the significance of Emily to him, to the extent that he would take such a risk.

The second reason was Leonard's demeanor and approach.

Despite facing a powerful cultivator, Leonard never flinched.

He maintained an air of superiority, even though he knew that Lucifer could kill him at single wrong word.

He skillfully navigated the conversation, carefully gauging Lucifer's limits to avoid provoking him enough to warrant immediate retaliation, while also using his sect's influence to exert pressure.

Lucifer, however, failed to grasp these nuances at the time and mistakenly believed that Leonard had seen through his facade, giving him a warning to obediently let Leonard take Emily, or else Lucifer might accidentally die.

The third reason Lucifer faltered was that, in reality, he was weaker than Leonard, a fact he was acutely aware of.

Whether Leonard was at the Foundation Establishment realm or a higher level, it made no difference to Lucifer, who was still a mere mortal with few skills to scare some villagers.

This realization created a sense of weakness within Lucifer and caused him to accept defeat subconsciously without fully considering all angles.

As Lucifer finished revising all of this, he recognized that the primary reason for his unusual choice was his own inferiority in terms of power as well as experience in handling such situations when compared to Leonard. However, Leonard's clever way of acting and talking also somewhat influenced it.

'I need to be careful of this Leonard' Lucifer declared to himself.

Given his acknowledgement of his own weakness, Lucifer understood the importance of finding alternative approaches to handle such situations in the future.

He needed to focus on gathering information, improving his communication skills, and finding ways to compensate for his relative lack of power. This could involve honing his strategic thinking and leveraging his unique abilities.

His key takeaway was that he needed to adapt his approach and mindset to navigate situations where he was faced with opponents who outmatched him in power.

"Huff, now I just hope Emily remains safe, until I get there," Lucifer said to himself with an worried sigh.

.....

After he was done facing the issue, finding his mistakes, and identifying ways to improve, he noticed that his level of madness had decreased to 70.

Taking this as a sign, he decided to continue his earlier quest of creating subordinated for himself, which would address his main weakness of power.

"System, tell me the location where I need to go in order to meet the soul of William Kennedy."

[Host, you don't need to travel to any specific location because the system has already obtained the soul of William Kennedy. This occurred when you requested the collection of information on the three most talented souls.]

"Okay, tell me what I need to do then."

[All you need to do, Host, is to entice the souls to follow you.]

As the message concluded, William's soul materialized before him, bearing an eerie resemblance to William himself. However, something seemed off—the soul's eyes emitted a disturbing aura of madness, while its face twisted with anger.

Lucifer quickly positioned himself behind the bed, using it as a protective barrier just in case the soul attacked. He had learned not to underestimate anything the system presented to him.

Observing William's soul closely, Lucifer hoped for some kind of reaction. Yet, all he saw was the soul growling and scanning its surroundings, as if searching for something.

Calling out to him, Lucifer tried to get William's attention. "Hey, William, can you hear me?" he called, but the soul continued to ignore him.

Lucifer attempted various things to catch William's attention, but the soul remained indifferent, focused solely on its search.

Feeling perplexed, Lucifer turned to the system for guidance.

"System, why isn't he responding to my calls?" he inquired.

The system provided an explanation, informing Lucifer that William's soul could indeed hear him but simply wasn't interested enough to pay him any attention.

Furthermore, the system mentioned that William couldn't engage in a conversation like a human and that Lucifer needed to find a way to entice him while he was still receptive.

With this knowledge in mind, Lucifer began his attempts at enticing William's soul.

.....

"William, if you come with me, I will help eliminate all the wolves in the world."

No Reaction.

.

"William, if you accompany me, I will grant you the power to eradicate all the wolves."

No Reaction.

.

"Hey, William, why don't you come with me for wolf hunting?"

No Reaction.

.

"William Kennedy, if you follow me, I will ensure the extermination of all wolves as your reward."

No Reaction.

.

"William, if you join me, I will treat you well and even provide you with a monthly salary."

No Reaction.

.

Ah, William! Do you seek to join me on a journey to hunt down the formidable wolf pack? If you dare to walk this path, I shall grant you the cultivation techniques to exterminate all wolves in our realm. Your name shall resonate throughout the land, as you become a legend, feared by beasts and revered by men. Immense treasures and boundless power shall be yours, as you rise above the mundane and ascend to the realm of immortals. So, William, will you embrace this destiny and embark on an epic adventure with me?

No Reaction.

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Hark, William! Dost thou wish to accompany me on a grand quest for wolf-hunting? Shouldst thou choose to venture forth, I shall endow upon thee the power to vanquish all the wolves that roam this realm. Thy valor and mettle shall be rewarded, for I pledge to bestow upon thee great riches and treasures beyond measure. So, what sayest thou, William? Wilt thou embark on this perilous journey by my side?

No Reaction.

.

William, behold the opportunity that awaits you. Unleash your burning hatred for wolves and join me on an extraordinary journey. Together, we shall eradicate every last trace of these loathed creatures from existence. Your vengeance shall be swift and merciless, as you become the harbinger of their downfall.

Imagine the satisfaction of seeing the wolf population diminish under your relentless pursuit. I offer you the means to channel your wrath into a force that no wolf can withstand. With each strike, you will witness their demise, your every blow a resounding triumph.

But that is not all, dear William. As you stand by my side, a world of rewards and recognition shall be yours. Your name will be whispered in fearful awe, as tales of your triumphs spread far and wide. Power, riches, and admiration will be lavished upon you, ensuring a life of absolute dominance.

No longer shall you suffer the presence of these detested beasts. Instead, you shall revel in their destruction, and the world will tremble at your wrath. Join me, William, and together we shall reshape this world, purged of the very essence of the wolf.

.

William's soul finally turned its gaze toward Lucifer, and within his eyes, a glimmer of sanity emerged.