Chapter 66: The Time of Awakening

"I suppose I could."

The Duke picked up the envelope and examined the seal, his voice languid.

"But if I do, it will break the Divine Hall Alliance’s rules, and you might end up on their blacklist."

"The Divine Hall Alliance rarely sends letters to Beastmen proactively. This means they think highly of you. It’s also possible they want to give you some ’benefits’."

"If you don’t open it yourself, none of the contents of the letter will be honored."

Yu Zhizhi mostly understood.

A conflicted look appeared on her face.

The Duke took a drag from his pipe. "So, still want me to open it?"

"Well..." Yu Zhizhi took the letter back and said softly, "I’ll open it myself. But when will I awaken my spiritual power?"

Yu Zhizhi wanted to awaken her spiritual power.

Even now, she still couldn’t change into her Beast Form at will.

If she awakened her spiritual power, she wouldn’t need a lot—just enough to get by. She wanted to try turning into a "rabbit," and she also wanted to open this letter.

The Duke’s fingers gently twirled a lock of her long hair. "It could happen any day."

It was different from males, who awaken both their abilities at birth.

A female’s spiritual power and Super Talent would awaken without any warning on some ordinary day.

"The Wizard is coming to the Duke Mansion tomorrow. Should I have him test you?" the Duke asked.

Yu Zhizhi nodded lightly. "Okay~"

Wizards of the Empire possessed the ability to test spiritual power. In the Imperial City, noble manors would invite a Wizard over every month to cleanse impurities.

「The next day.」

Yu Zhizhi went to the main hall with the Duke.

The Empire’s youngest Wizard stood, took off his hat, and bowed. "Good morning, Duke, Ms. Zhi Zhi."

Yu Zhizhi saw the antelope horns on the Wizard’s head. He was in a semi-humanoid beast form, with a human body and an antelope’s face. He wore a wide, black wizard’s robe, and on his chest hung a turquoise gemstone necklace that emitted an enchanting light.

Mumu of the Snake Clan, who had been out traveling for fun, had also returned.

Today, she was uncharacteristically composed. She lifted the hem of her skirt with both hands and curtsied to the Duke and the Wizard.

Upon seeing the cute Rabbit Clan female, she blinked her eyes.

Besides Mumu, a few other females from the Snake Clan arrived one after another. They had all come specifically to see the Wizard, wanting to test if they had awakened their spiritual power.

The Duke sat in the main seat, his right hand holding a long-stemmed pipe as a servant lit the shredded tobacco in the lotus-shaped bowl.

His golden, vertical pupils landed on Yu Zhizhi. Among the many Beastmen, the only one he truly saw was this little female rabbit.

"How lively."

A young woman, surrounded by a crowd of servants, walked in holding a white lace parasol, a polite smile on her face.

"I just knew the Wizard would be coming to the Duke Mansion, so I came to get tested with everyone else~"

"I was on an exchange to the Moon Rising Empire for half a year. Let’s see if my spiritual power has grown."

Upon seeing her, the Beastmen all bowed.

"Greetings, Princess Fei’er."

Fei’er was a Snake Clan Beastman herself. Although she had an arrogant and domineering personality, she was very patient with her own clansmen.

Catching sight of the petite figure, her smile stiffened slightly. She subconsciously glanced at the Rabbit Clan female’s flat stomach and sneered inwardly.

’The room is full of snakes.’

’Having a rabbit dart in is irksome no matter how you look at it.’

’Of course, the Wizard is an exception.’

Fei’er closed her parasol and handed it to the attendant beside her.

The Antelope Wizard stepped forward and bowed. "Since Princess Fei’er has arrived, please allow me to test the Princess first."

All the Beastmen looked over curiously.

Mumu was closest to Yu Zhizhi.

She leaned over and whispered in the little rabbit’s ear, "Your love rival has arrived."

’A love rival?’

Yu Zhizhi’s rabbit ears twitched. She turned her head, a look of confusion on her face.

All the Beastmen in the main hall had their attention drawn to the Princess. No one noticed the two of them in the corner.

Mumu raised a hand to cover her mouth.

"Princess Fei’er is currently the most outstanding female of the Snake Clan. She was taken in and raised by the Royal Family from a young age, so her status is extremely noble."

"And it’s no secret that she’s in love with the Duke."

"So? Feeling the pressure?"

Mumu couldn’t resist pinching the rabbit girl’s soft, pink cheeks. If the Duke weren’t here, she really would have flicked her snake tongue out to scare her.

Yu Zhizhi listened intently.

She made a soft "mm" sound, recalling what the Duke had said before—

’As for me, I will not choose a female from any clan other than the Snake Clan to be my wife.’

’So...’

’Does that mean Princess Fei’er, the most outstanding female in the Snake Clan, is the most suitable candidate in the Duke’s heart?’

The Antelope Wizard gripped the gemstone pendant on his chest, enveloping Fei’er in a deep blue light.

Fei’er felt a sliver of iciness penetrate her forehead. A confident smile played on her lips, and after a moment, she heard the Wizard’s admiring voice.

"Compared to six months ago, the Princess has improved a great deal."

The Antelope Wizard retracted the gemstone’s light.

"You now have 500 spiritual power."

Five hundred!

The surrounding females’ eyes went wide. For a female, 50 was already considered very high spiritual power, and the Princess had more than ten times that!

Mumu looked envious. "She can maintain her snake Beast Form for a whole week—no, if she just lies still, she could even go for half a month."

Compared to males, females had very low spiritual power.

However, spiritual power was directly related to how long a female could maintain her Beast Form.

Much of the time, everyone preferred to stay in their Beast Form. It was more comfortable, and they could recover their stamina quickly.

The Antelope Wizard’s gaze passed over the crowd and landed on the Rabbit Clan female.

She was currently the only non-Snake Clan female in the main hall.

He glanced again at the Duke in the main seat, who was looking at the Rabbit Clan female with a faint smile in his eyes.

At that, he pretty much understood.

’Today—’

’The Duke must want me to give Ms. Zhi Zhi some special attention.’

’I’ve heard she’s carrying Duke Bolan’s Snake Pup.’

’And she’s an S-Class female on top of that.’

’Then she deserves to be treated with even more care.’

The Antelope Wizard slowly walked in Yu Zhizhi’s direction.

The gazes of the many Beastmen were drawn to him.

"Ms. Zhi Zhi, would you like to be tested?" the Antelope Wizard asked with a smile.

"Yes." Yu Zhizhi was a little nervous.

’The last time I was tested for Fertility was back when I was with the K family.’

"Please give me your hand."

The Antelope Wizard opened his palm, his expression gentle.

Yu Zhizhi slowly offered her hand.

He gave it a gentlemanly grasp, channeling the Divine Power of the Destiny Gemstone through her fingertips.

A deep blue light quickly enveloped the two of them.

Beside them, Mumu’s face was full of anticipation.

On the Beast World Planet, a male’s spiritual power awakened the day he was born, but there was no fixed time for females.

Some would have it tested along with their Fertility when they came of age.

But for most, it remained dormant.

The Antelope Wizard sensed the Strength in the young woman’s mind. The turquoise gemstone in his hand emitted a soft glow.

"Soon." His eyes could see the hidden thread.

The Antelope Wizard smiled and said, "In just over a month, your spiritual power and Super Talent will awaken together."

Yu Zhizhi’s heart gave a heavy thump!

She looked at the Antelope Wizard before her in pleasant surprise. "Really?!"

Not just spiritual power!

But her Super Talent, too!