Spellcasting Gods

The body of Jinwala, which was burning fiercely just a second ago, collapsed with a bang the next second.

The blazing flames burst forth like a fleeting ephemera, creating a magnificent display before scattering and disappearing without a trace.

As for her soul, it remained rooted to the spot, staring in disbelief at the ever-growing black hole in its chest.

About a minute or two later, she suddenly let out a piercing scream without warning. As the scream rang out, the demon sword began to vibrate incessantly, as if the two had triggered some kind of strange resonance.

When the screams finally stopped, Jinwala's soul vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed at all.

Zhang Cheng gently stroked the skull-shaped mark on the hilt of the Soul-Binding Messenger sword and asked with a light laugh, "How do you feel now?"

“Fantastic! My esteemed master! You are the most wicked and most promising master I have ever met. Thanks to you, I have finally gained my own consciousness. Please sacrifice more and more powerful souls for me. In return, I will provide you with more power, power beyond magic.”

A very deep, hoarse, and sinister voice emanated from within the longsword...

Chapter 0180 Dangerous Weapons

"Oh? You still have memories?" Zhang Cheng looked surprised.

As Jinwala's soul and hundreds of ghosts were devoured as nourishment, the Soul Collector finally regained a clear consciousness. The awkward and obscure whispers that had been echoing in his mind, as well as the strong urge to kill and destroy, disappeared without a trace. He once again stopped on the verge of losing control and began to regain his calm and rationality.

However, as a mage, he could clearly sense that the disappearance of these disturbances did not mean that the sword's power had weakened.

On the contrary, the power of the sword not only did not weaken, but was greatly enhanced.

If the previous impact on the mind was likened to indiscriminate bombing, then the current one is a strategic and targeted precision attack, the latter being many times more terrifying than the former.

Although the Demon Sword's consciousness has not yet launched such an attack, nor has it attempted to control or change its personality and thoughts, the threat remains.

The Soul-Binding Messenger was clearly unaware that its wielder was secretly on high alert. It explained to itself, "No, it's not a memory, at most it can only be considered a fragmented scene. I am a sword of death that needs to constantly devour souls to remain awake, and at the same time, I am a sword of slaughter. Whenever I cannot obtain enough replenishment for a long time, my consciousness will fall into slumber, and the things I have experienced will slowly be forgotten."

Zhang Cheng nodded thoughtfully: "Then can you tell me what you still remember? For example, what happened to the previous holders?"

"Ah, them? They couldn't satisfy my ever-growing thirst for souls. Eventually, they grew tired of the endless killing and ended up being eaten by me." The Demon Sword gave a chilling answer in a completely ordinary tone.

"Hahahaha! Then give me a reason not to abandon you. Since you are so dangerous, why shouldn't I just throw you away in some inconspicuous corner as soon as possible?" Zhang Cheng asked with a loud laugh.

He really couldn't understand why the true owner of the parchment would give him such a dangerous weapon.

A trial? Or for some other purpose?

“No, you won’t abandon me, because you need my power. Perhaps you’ve chosen a different path from my previous masters, becoming a spellcaster, but magic isn’t as omnipotent as you imagine. There are many situations where it can’t be used, and that’s when you’ll need me.” The magic sword stated its reason for existence directly.

It must be said that this reason is very powerful and sufficient, especially for Zhang Cheng, who has just been poisoned and is still unable to create magic. It is quite convincing.

Because he knew very well that no matter how careful he was, he could never guarantee that a similar situation would not happen a second time, so having a trump card that could turn the tide at any time became very important.

Although the "Soul Collector" has various shortcomings and can even be described as extremely dangerous, its role in critical moments is irreplaceable, and at least at this stage, there is no good alternative.

After figuring this out, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but show a helpless expression: "Okay, I have to admit you're right. Besides, I'm someone who pursues power, and the stronger the power, the more dangerous it often is. I can't back down just because I encounter danger. Now tell me about the stories of your previous masters. I'm very curious to know where they came from and why they were chosen for no apparent reason."

"Hehe! You are very smart, smarter than all my previous masters combined. I believe you will go further than them."

As for the stories of the previous owners, I've mostly forgotten them, but I still have some recollection of yours.

She was a woman, an ordinary-looking woman with an eccentric way of thinking who liked to place herself on a moral high ground before committing murder, and then judge others with a condescending attitude.

I really don't understand how a murderer who slaughtered thousands of lives could maintain such a sense of self-righteousness, as if her values ​​were the only ones that were just, and everything else was evil.

Of course, I still quite enjoyed the time I spent with her, especially when she launched one massacre after another in the name of justice, which thrilled me to the extreme.

But later, for some reason, she suddenly began to doubt and criticize herself, and eventually wanted to atone for her sins.

I grew tired of her self-pity and her nauseating hypocrisy, so I drove her completely mad with relentless questioning, and then consumed her soul after she committed suicide.

When the previous owner was mentioned, the Demon Sword's tone suddenly became sarcastic, as if in its eyes, killing a master who did not meet its expectations was as natural as eating when hungry or drinking when thirsty.

"Does she also possess a strange parchment?" Zhang Cheng asked tentatively, squinting his eyes.

His focus was clearly not on the other person's gender or behavior, but on whether the other person, like himself, had been chosen by the owner behind the parchment.

The Demon Sword was silent for a moment, then quickly replied, "Yes! She also has a strange parchment. To be precise, each of my masters has a parchment. Whenever they complete the task given on it, they will receive the corresponding reward or reward."

"Interesting. So I'm not the first, and I probably won't be the last either..." Zhang Cheng muttered to himself, pursing his lips.

According to the information revealed by the Soul-Binding Messenger, the owner behind the parchment is clearly plotting something in secret, constantly selecting guinea pigs, but the purpose is still unknown.

"My esteemed master, what are your plans next? If not, how about listening to my suggestion?" Finding that Zhang Cheng had been standing still for a long time without reacting, the Demon Sword began to try to take the initiative.

"Suggestions? You can even offer suggestions?" Zhang Cheng stared at the skull-shaped decoration on the sword hilt and let out a cold laugh.

He wasn't an idiot; he naturally understood what this demonic sword, which was devouring its master, wanted to do.

"Of course! Don't you think there are too many humans in this city? Why don't I kill half of them and turn them into undead? Then the remaining half will submit to you out of fear. Then you can use them to build a powerful and brutal army. With my strength, we could conquer the whole world without any problem."

The Soul Reaper truly lives up to its reputation as the weapon of the Dark Guardians; its very words are inextricably linked to evil, slaughter, and tyranny.

But Zhang Cheng clearly had no interest in this, retorting without hesitation, "Conquer the world? Are you out of your mind? I almost forgot, you don't even have a brain. Tell me first, what good would conquering the world do me? Money? Power? Women? Sorry, I'm not interested in any of those. I only have one goal: knowledge and power, understand?"

After being scolded, the Demon Sword promptly shut its mouth, because it realized that the master it had encountered this time was completely different from the previous ones. Before confirming the other party's preferences and weaknesses, it was best to remain silent.

Chapter 0181 Overconfident

At the King's Landing docks, a small boat rests quietly on the pier.

Beside the small boat, Petyr Baelish gazed at his old friend and rival, asking in a somewhat uncertain tone, "My dear Varys, are you sure you want to leave at this crucial moment? Don't you want to see that self-important bastard's end? You know, not every victory brings the indescribable pleasure of defeating a formidable foe. I think you should learn to enjoy it."

“No, Your Excellency, I never enjoy such things. You know, the biggest difference between you and me is that I always remain cautious under any circumstances, while you tend to become overly complacent when you feel you are about to win. Believe me, that's not a good habit. Besides, what happened today is not in our area of ​​expertise, so to be on the safe side, I'd better leave for a while to avoid trouble.” With that, the fat eunuch bowed slightly, then pulled his hood over his face, boarded the small boat, and waved goodbye.

Upon receiving the order, the sailors immediately began rowing vigorously, and in the blink of an eye, they left the dock and slowly disappeared into the distance.

Watching the small boat gradually disappear into the distance, Littlefinger smiled and shook his head, muttering to himself in a voice only he could hear: "You're right, there are differences between us, but the real difference is that you only hide in the shadows like a spider, and you'll be easily eliminated once exposed to the sunlight. But I'm different. I possess a noble status that you don't have, and sooner or later I will stand in the sunlight and taste the sweetness of power."

Without a doubt, he never felt that Varys was his equal from the very beginning.

After all, the foundation of rule in Westeros is the nobility. If someone wants to gain power in this land, the first hurdle is to obtain noble status.

Unfortunately, although Varys was the Grand Master of the Palace Intelligence and controlled countless secrets, his physical disability made it impossible for him to obtain a title. The nobles could not tolerate a eunuch as one of their own, so he was destined to be like a vine, clinging to others to obtain the nutrients necessary for survival.

This means that he cannot directly control power; he can only participate in the game of power through the help of others.

However, Petyr Baelish was different. He was born into a minor noble family and now held the title of Earl of Harrenhal. In terms of status and position alone, he had already gained the recognition of all the nobles.

Some may look down on his background and shallow family connections, but no one will question his qualifications to participate in the game of power.

Whenever he thought about this, Littlefinger felt a surge of superiority. Coupled with the fact that the greatest threat he regarded was about to be eliminated, he became inexplicably excited.

To reward himself for the immense effort he had put in, he decided to "devour" the young and beautiful Sansa Stark today, to satisfy his long-standing voyeurism and desire for Catelyn Tully.

As the saying goes, the best things are always the ones you can't have.

Who could have imagined that a youthful, innocent crush would eventually become the driving force for a man's lifelong struggle?

Of course, this motivation wasn't love, but rather his inability to tolerate having what he wanted forcibly taken away.

Fortunately, he has finally found a replacement to fill the void left by his past love, and this replacement is younger and prettier than the original one...

Baelish planned to take advantage of the situation, first getting Sansa pregnant with his child, and then marrying her off to Robert Arryn.

In this way, after the frail and sickly Robert Arryn dies in an "accident," he can secretly take control of the Vale with the help of Sansa and her unborn child. When the time is right, he can then propose a marriage alliance as the Earl of Harrenhal and rightfully gain control of the Vale.

In fact, according to the original plan, he intended to marry Lysa Tully, but Zhang Cheng's fierce revenge completely destroyed everything.

With anticipation, Littlefinger quickly returned to the brothel on Silk Street.

As soon as he stepped inside, the woman waiting at the door stepped forward and reported in a low voice, "Sir, your lovely little lamb has been waiting upstairs for quite some time. As you instructed, I added something to her drink to enhance the experience, and it should be working by now."

"Heh, well done. Remember, no matter what happens, don't bother me before dawn tomorrow, understand?" Baelish instructed with a smirk.

"Understood! I promise I won't let anyone spoil your enjoyment." The woman quickly bowed and gave her assurance.

To outsiders, Littlefinger may always appear harmless, but she is well aware of how dangerous her master is. Many new girls have mysteriously disappeared after accidentally angering him, and their tormented corpses would appear on the beach a few days later.

After passing through the noisy hall, Baelish hurried to the innermost room on the second floor.

As soon as he opened the door, he noticed Sansa sitting in the chair with her legs tightly pressed together, her face flushed and her breathing rapid, her blue pupils slightly unfocused.

Clearly, whatever was added to the wine has already started to take effect.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Little Finger feigned concern and took two steps forward to support the other person.

However, while helping her up, one of his hands inadvertently brushed against the girl's round buttocks, causing the already sensitive girl to shudder involuntarily.

“I…I don’t know either…” A look of fear and unease appeared on Sansa’s face.

Having never tasted the "forbidden fruit," she was completely unaware of what was happening to her, let alone realizing that this seemingly friendly "strange uncle" would make a move on her.

"Ah, I think you've probably had too much to drink. Come on, lie down and rest for a while." With that, Baelish picked up the girl and strode toward the large bed not far away.

Just as he put Sansa down and took off the girl's boots and coat, the door to the room was suddenly kicked open with a bang.

Interrupted at the crucial moment, he immediately turned around and shouted loudly without looking back, "Damn it! Didn't I say that no matter what happens, don't bother me before dawn?"

"Sorry to interrupt your good time, but I have a score to settle with you right away!"

Accompanied by a familiar voice, Zhang Cheng suddenly appeared at the doorway of the room, his eyes filled with coldness.

"You... how did you get here?!" Seeing the person who should have been dead standing in front of him, Baelish was so frightened that all his desire vanished, and he instinctively wanted to turn around and find a window or something to escape to.

Unfortunately, to keep the secret, the room had no windows at all, only a hidden door leading to an escape route, the entrance of which was under the bed.

Now that Sansa has pressed down the trigger, he has no way to open the entrance, and escape is out of the question...

Chapter 0182 Taking Life and Death Lightly

"What, do you think I'm so worthless in your eyes that you believe a mere priestess of the King of Light could kill me?" Zhang Cheng asked with a cold laugh, kicking aside the corpse of the woman lying in the corridor trying to block him, and then closed the door again.

Although he had long anticipated that the other party would eventually break the alliance and turn against him, he underestimated Littlefinger's growing ambition and his naturally adventurous nature.

According to his initial assessment, the alliance between the three should last until Baelish completely controlled the Vale.

But who could have imagined that this guy would play by his own rules, completely disregard the serious consequences of failure, and even cleverly exploit the nominal marriage between Sansa and Tyrion.

It's important to know that Zhang Cheng has always been cautious. When dealing with people like Varys and Littlefinger, he almost never touches the food or alcohol they prepare.

However, Tyrion was clearly not the type to poison people, so he subconsciously lowered his guard and overlooked Sansa, a girl who was both foolish and easily manipulated.

"You're still alive, which means Jinvara failed? She's dead?!" Baelish's face was filled with disbelief.

He simply couldn't believe that Kinvara, the first priestess of the Lord of Light, who was many times more powerful than Melisandre the Red Witch, would die at the hands of this unknown guy in front of him.

Zhang Cheng casually pulled over a chair, sat down unhurriedly, and replied with a sarcastic tone, "Yes! Otherwise, do you think I would give her a second chance? No, I've always been very serious about my enemies, and my attitude never changes because of their gender, age, or background. Besides, do you know what your biggest mistake was? It wasn't your ever-growing ambition, nor the inferiority complex hidden behind it, but your lack of understanding of magical power. It was precisely this lack of understanding that led you to make the wrong judgment. Now, tell me, do you have any last words?"