Nuwa-sama really felt like smiling.
Though the Bai family had come by invitation, they were the first among the great clans to immediately question the validity of the Magic Circuit System.
She didn't mind their doubts—once they witnessed it for themselves, they'd come to appreciate its wonder.
Alongside Emiya standing beside her, there were others stationed a bit farther back—Old Tang, Zhou Minhao, and several other bright young talents. All of them were disciples under the same project team, currently cultivating within the Magic Circuit framework.
But their significance went far beyond that.
They represented a new, emergent power born within the Zhou family—those who were directly loyal to Nuwa-sama. A vanguard of the new system that would grind the old world into dust. Their presence was Nuwa-sama's confidence, her leverage in debates and negotiations with the other family heads.
"Master of the Bai family, surely you're aware that the superiority of the Magic Circuit system has already been clearly demonstrated through side-by-side video comparisons and real-life case studies," Nuwa-sama said.
Sitting atop a majestic, high-backed throne, Nuwa-sama extended her hand for a sip of tea. Her expression showed a slight hint of displeasure—as if her next gesture might just become "serve the tea and show them the door."
The message was clear. Bai Ziyang, head of the Bai family, hesitated slightly. "That's true, but in practical terms, your system appears overly reliant on talent. As you mentioned, each person's Magic Circuit is innately fixed and unchangeable—it seems to impose a hard limit on personal growth."
"Don't twist the narrative," Nuwa-sama cut him off coldly. "Then tell me—if I said your mixed-blood heritage is fixed from birth and unchangeable, does that not count as a limit? Be honest. The mere existence of this new system has already massively expanded individual potential!"
She narrowed her eyes, her voice dropping several tones. "Besides, once the Thought Disc is completed, innate talent won't even matter anymore…"
"Wait, what did you just say? Thought what?" Bai Ziyang blinked.
But Nuwa-sama wasn't about to answer. Her lips pressed shut.
That left Bai Ziyang inwardly panicked. For families like his, Zhou's willingness to share their newly developed system in exchange for cooperation against the Chen clan was a monumental deal.
However…
The Zhou family was too generous. Or rather, they'd aligned themselves with too many other families. The mid-tier clans were overjoyed to jump onboard, sensing a shortcut to greatness. But Bai Ziyang felt like the Zhou family was tossing around too many golden tickets.
If everyone got stronger, then weren't they back to square one?
The Bai family's real intent was clear: even though the agreement said they'd help fight the Chen clan before getting full access to the system, Bai Ziyang wanted to bend the rules. If he could cast doubt on the system's effectiveness, perhaps he could get a sample early. Just a test, he'd say—purely for verification purposes. That way, he could jump ahead and "steal a lead" without violating the letter of the contract.
Nuwa-sama smiled knowingly. Oh, so that's your game?
"Very well, Master Bai," she said, her smile razor-sharp. "Since you don't trust words or data, why don't we settle this with a demonstration? A few rounds of live combat. Let your people experience the truth firsthand. Then we'll see what's real and what's not."
Bai Ziyang tensed up the moment he saw a red-haired youth descend from Nuwa-sama's side. That wasn't what he planned for. He had brought some disciples—but for sampling the system, not for a full-on duel.
"Are you Zhou Yuxuan, Nuwa-sama's attendant?"
"You're mistaken," the youth replied. "I am Emiya. Newly appointed Chief Historian of the Zhou family."
Emiya…? That wasn't a surname he recognized. It didn't even exist in the established Shenzhou noble clans.
Bai Ziyang hesitated. What small family is this guy from? How'd someone like that catch Nuwa-sama's eye? In his understanding, the Zhou family was one of the most traditional and rule-bound clans. Even a low-ranking palace steward needed a rock-solid pedigree.
But if Nuwa-sama herself arranged for this person to stand front and center, that could only mean one thing: he was exceptional—likely a prodigy in this new Magic Circuit system.
Bai Ziyang scanned his disciples and subtly gestured: All of you—go up together.
At the front, one of the Bai disciples—a towering hulk of muscle with a heavy beard—hesitated.
We're the ones who picked this fight… and now we're ganging up? That's just bullying!
Bai Ziyang shot him a glare: Do what I said. Big body, small guts? Stop pretending you're some kind of expert when you don't know a damn thing.
So, grudgingly and awkwardly, the group of young disciples stepped forward—one after another, heading into their doom.
"Hup—"
Emiya tilted his head and dodged the first attacker's punch. A massive gust of wind followed behind the fist, brushing past his cheek.
The brute was wrapped in some kind of turbulent aura—strong winds swirled around his limbs. He could accelerate, redirect, and punch with unpredictable force, ignoring physical momentum.
But it didn't matter.
Thanks to his recent training with Old Tang in Shingan (Mind's Eye), Emiya could preemptively sense these kinds of unfamiliar attacks.
As the brute suddenly swung his arm horizontally, Emiya ducked low, grabbed the man by the waist, and hurled him into the air—smashing him squarely into the next Bai disciple.
The second attacker launched seven flying blades—short, magnetized weapons similar in length to daggers. Some kind of remote control trick.
But that was even easier to counter with Shingan.
Emiya weaved between them, caught two mid-flight, and struck down the rest. He casually tossed the captured blades, nicking the attacker's scalp just enough to cut hair—not skin.
The third came barreling in while chanting some mysterious incantation. His muscles swelled grotesquely, surpassing even the first brute in sheer size. Like a charging tank, he stormed forward.
But Emiya, only slightly enhancing his limbs with mana, stepped in.
BOOM!
Their fists collided. Emiya caught the man's wrist, twisted, and in one smooth motion flipped him over his back, slamming him across the hall.
"…."
Each opponent was downed in a single exchange. Emiya made sure not to cause permanent damage, but his execution was flawless—graceful, lethal, and efficient.
When he turned around, he found the remaining three or four Bai disciples had frozen halfway in. They hadn't even reached him.
"…You're not going to fight?"
The Bai disciples exchanged nervous glances. Their eyes flicked toward Bai Ziyang, who had ordered them to swarm him in the first place.
Should… should we really go up there? Against him?*
(End of Chapter)
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