Chapter 130: All Master Actors

Sena turned his head, his face slightly flushed, refusing to meet her gaze. "This was your own choice."

The Saintess of Hundred Flowers’ eyes brightened. She leaned forward, and a faint, warm fragrance invaded Sena’s senses, causing him to take a half-step back. "I know. At that time, I was arrogant and willful, believing that no one could ever refuse my charm. I was wrong; there are always those in this world who are so obsessed with cultivation that they have no room for worldly desires. After more than a year of reflection, I have long since regretted it. Why did I let my ambition ruin such wonderful days? If time could let me return to the past, if I hadn't ascended to the seat and instead remained a secure, titular saintess, would everything be different?"

As she spoke, her emotions overflowed. The Saintess began to sob, crystalline tears sliding down her smooth cheeks and dripping from her chin into her bodice. She took a step forward, as if wanting to throw herself into Sena’s arms.

Sena retreated quickly, hands behind his back, shaking his head repeatedly. "Do not do this. You are already the lover of His Holiness the Saint Son. Please, do not..."

"I am not a lover! I am no one’s lover!" the Saintess cried out, agitated. "That was a lie! I deceived you—Saint Son Jiankong does not like me at all! It was I who shamelessly clung to him, thinking that by latching onto him I could become the Chief Saintess, but in the end, I have nothing! And now you don’t want me either... I have nothing left..."

Her voice choked with sobs, tears falling like rain, and she stood helplessly in place, murmuring foolishly.

Sena reached out, seemingly wanting to comfort her instinctively, but he bit his lip and pulled his hand back to his side, clenching it into a fist. "You... you still have the child. The child His Holiness the Saint Son is looking forward to."

The Saintess lowered her eyes, her lashes trembling with tears. She caressed her abdomen, her voice fragile. "Yes, I still have the child. The child Saint Son Jiankong longs for." She looked up abruptly, her mysterious violet eyes crashing into Sena’s. "Because of his anticipation, this child is very healthy—healthier than ever. I must give birth to him, but this child cannot be born!"

After a pause, she softened her tone. "Bishop Qi Ning has already abandoned me. If I give birth to him, I will lose even the protection I currently have, which is akin to house arrest. Is my future to be nothing more than a breeding facility?"

Sena turned away, his voice trembling. "The news that you can conceive naturally despite being two levels higher has already spread among the upper echelons. Even the Universe-level powerhouses within the temple are willing to trade high contributions just to have you bear a child. I am but a lowly Profound-level practitioner; what can I possibly do?"

"No, you can." The Saintess rushed forward, grabbing the fabric of Sena’s chest, looking up with a captivating light in her eyes. "I know you can. With your Absolute Talent, you will surely find a way to turn around my dark future."

The mere thought of having to endure constant pregnancy and childbirth caused the Saintess’s heart to freeze into ice.

She enjoyed being pregnant; it gave her a sense of superiority, and the child in her womb provided a feeling of security. Although she would lose internal energy and profound power, it would eventually double upon recovery, along with the added benefit of insight into the Laws—an advantage only she possessed.

Without the reward of insight into the Laws, and with the lost energy failing to recover, the sense of security would turn into a warning of danger, and the child would become a devouring black hole. Her advantages would all turn into liabilities.

Sena lowered his head, his eyes red and moist. "Then you should also know that my talent is passive. It cannot be activated without intense desire. Until I have completely let go of you, I cannot think for you with my whole heart."

The Saintess stood on her tiptoes, letting her fragrance envelop him. She parted her lips, her breath as soft as orchids. "Then what must I do for you to let go?"

"You..." Sena’s face turned beet-red instantly. He shoved the Saintess away, breathing rapidly. "I do not know. Have you not always claimed to understand me better than I understand myself? I am leaving. Her Highness Sang is still waiting for me."

The Saintess watched as Sena’s figure—which could only be described as disheveled—disappeared. The expression on her face faded little by little until it became calm and composed. She floated to her daybed, conjured a water mirror to tidy her makeup, and after a while, dispersed the mirror and leaned back, sighing.

"Sena has matured; he is not as easy to control as in the past. How can I get him to use his talent for me again? Love? No, once he has made up his mind, he will not turn back—not even with all the love in the world." She muttered to herself, "Then it must be affection. His only sister seems to be in the Middle Circle now. However, I still need to curry favor with Sang Hongye; after all, she is Sena’s boss, and Sena is currently watching my performance."

Elsewhere, Sena returned to the Wan-Hua Building. The flush on his face had long since faded, and the struggle in his eyes had returned to calm. He looked at the familiar furnishings, his smile tinged with irony and contempt, but devoid of joy or affection.

He had once been a frequent guest at the Palace of Hundred Flowers, and the Wan-Hua Building was his fixed residence. Many things here had been arranged bit by bit with Bai Xing years ago. When he left, he never thought he would return one day.

"Time truly is the best medicine for healing. I thought it would be heartbreaking, but I didn't expect that now, even holding her in my arms requires internal energy manipulation just to make my heart beat faster."

Sena smiled coldly. He cast several purification spells on himself, yet he still felt the warm fragrance was pungent and cloying. He simply stripped off his clothes and jumped into the lake below to wash. Sinking to the bottom, he watched the water weeds sway and hooked a passing fish with a casual flick of his hand.

"Ask me to use my talent for you? That will never happen in this lifetime."

In the studio, Sang was painting. She had already handed the resurrection scroll to Jun Shi to take back, but seeing how excited the other party was, she decided to prepare a few more just in case, while the Saintess was busy trying to win over Sena.

She did not know the person who had died this time. Jun Shi said they were among the first group of people who had shamelessly insisted on staying. After arriving here, they were obedient at first, but once they realized Jun Shi’s restrictions weren't very strict, they started running out. Having been used to throwing their weight around in the Galaxy Civilization, one of them had dared to curse a clerk for refusing to sell items due to his weak cultivation, only to be thrown out and killed by the fall.

Jun Shi didn't even want to pay attention to such people, but fearing accidental casualties in the future, he was struck with awe by Sang’s ability to draw resurrection scrolls and used it as an excuse to run to the Palace of Hundred Flowers to beg for one. Upon returning, he ordered everyone in the logistics team to store their genetic samples to prevent the inability to resurrect them if their bodies were destroyed. It was a morbid task, but everyone was jubilant, even Elder Qing and Elder Qi were eagerly queuing up.

Sang emerged from the studio and saw Sena waiting outside, as if he had something to say. But before he could speak, a servant arrived to report that the Saintess of Hundred Flowers was feeling unwell and would be resting for the day.

Besides the news of the day off, the servant brought a gift of great sincerity. "This is the annual work report from when our Saintess was an intern transitioning to a full Saintess. Her Highness Sang may look at it when she has time."

After sending the servant away, Sang touched the small jade-like painting pendant at her waist. "Did she move the fetus? Is she going into labor? Or is it pregnancy syndrome? It can't be that effective, can it?"