When everything was said and done, Michael flicked his wrist. A wooden box materialized before every single on the table.

"Open it," said Gaya.

The subordinates stared at the wooden box in front of them for a moment. Silence fell over them. Eventually, they opened the wooden box to see a dull-looking silver chain with a Spyder pendant attached, a ring, a tiny tubular object, and a small arch energy crystal.

"Wear the chain and put on the ring," Gaya instructed them. After they all did what they were told, Gaya began to explain the reason why they gave a pendant and a space ring.

"That spyder pendant attached to the chain lets us see what you see," Gaya waved her hand as hand-held mirrors appeared before each subordinate. They noticed the mirrors showing what they were seeing. Some of them moved the Spyder around. The scenery in their mirrors changes.

Except for Maxine, who knew about the Spyders, the rest seemed stunned.

"You are to wear the Spyder all the time except when you want privacy. But you have to inform Azazel. How to contact him? Put the earpiece into your ear," Gaya opened her hands, showing the earpiece to everyone. The subordinates nodded before taking the earpiece from the box and putting it in their ears.

"Place your hand on the arch energy crystal," The subordinates one by one grabbed the glowing blue crystal lying on the wooden box's bottom. Sadie was the first to feel a storage sensation in her body when she touched the crystal. A few seconds later, her eyes went wide. A sliver of arch energy coursed through her veins. She felt a connection to the space ring on her finger and the earpiece she just put in her ear. Unlike the rest, Sadie knew the feeling of arch energy. So without a doubt, she could tell she had just felt arch energy within the void line.

Although the others took longer to feel the strange sensation, they all shared the same stunned expressions on their faces.

"This device will let you communicate with Azazel," Gaya's words sounded inside their heads.

The words of Gaya felt like a whisper but the subordinates heard each of them clearly. It took them several seconds before they realized the words coming from the device in their ear.

"Now I know most of you aren't familiar with the feeling of arch energy. But try to focus your mind to send a message. Feel the connection with the earpiece. Speak your names,"

"Sadie," Sadie sent a message, looking at Azazel.

When the old butler nodded, a gentle smile formed on her face. One by one, all the subordinates successfully sent a message. Of course, some failed, but Gaya didn't move on until everyone successfully spoke into the earpiece.

"They did it, my lady," Azazel informed Gaya. There was a tinge of pride in her heart. Although it was such a simple menial task, Gaya very well knew the grave importance of communication. With the silver chain and earpiece, the subordinates could contact Azazel anytime.

"You will be called this day every month. Under no circumstances are you to miss this gathering unless you are dead," Gaya's voice turned cold for a moment.

"Since you are all kings and queens, you need ministers and minions to do your bidding. From the next gathering, you can submit profiles of people you want to recruit to us. Also, this goes without saying, if you utter a single word about the order or the Dark Lord, I will make you wish you were dead," They all could feel the sudden chillness in the air.

"If you have any questions or thoughts, you are free to speak now," said Gaya. After several seconds she sat on her throne, Tiberius cleared his throat. He stood up,

"Dark Lord, what should we do about Quintus and the assassin who killed Heinberg?" the subordinates turned their gazes toward the Dark Lord, expecting to hear his answer.

"That's your first task," Michael slowly said.

"Coordinate with your fellow member, locate Quintus, and only if you can't kill him, contact Azazel for backup" Michael raised his finger.

"Training wheels are off from today,"

Tiberius nodded with absolute killing intent in his eyes. After Tiberius sat down, Corey rose from her chair.

"Pardon me for my dumbness Dark Lord but what are our tasks?" Corey scratched her head. She was proud and delighted to receive titles, but they didn't tell her what to do next. To be honest, Corey had no idea at all.

"You're the Queen of the Seas. Do whatever you like and can to strengthen your domain. That goes for everyone. Strengthen yourselves and your domains. Be better, be the best," Michael's thick voice resonated in the hall. With his words, they started to have some idea about their future.

"Coordinate with your fellow members when you need help or other's expertise. Remember this," Michael rose from his throne. He glanced at the subordinates briefly for a few moments.

"The people around you at the table are your family. Etch that into your brain deep. Got it?"

The subordinates bopped their heads up and down.

"If you don't have anything to say, you can leave," said Gaya.

They all remained silent without anything to say. Thus, Michael willed the system to teleport them back to where they came from. After the subordinates left the crypt, Michael exhaled deeply before collapsing onto the throne. Silence fell for several seconds. Michael looked at the empty hall and the empty chairs around the table. He felt proud. A strange sense of achievement rose in his heart.

"That went okay," Michael removed his mask, threw it on the table, and put his legs atop.

"Azazel," Michael called for his demon butler. He walked around the throne to stand before Michael's eyes.

"You are more important to us and the order. I hope you know that," said Michael. Although Michael soul bounded Azazel with him, the demon had his own personality and thoughts. He wasn't a robot programmed to serve him until the end of times. It would be troublesome if the demon butler thought he was not as important as the other subordinates. So Michael wanted to clear things up before the demon butler could think like that.

"I am honored, my lord," Azazel's words and the look in his eyes satisfied Michael.

"Return to the dark forest and monitor the subordinates,"

"As you wish," bowed Azazel.

After dismissing Azazel, Michael waved his hand as a stack of gold coins appeared on the table. The mound of gold coins lit the place with its radiant gold light.

"What're you going to do?" asked Gaya. Judging by the stacks, Gaya could tell there were atleast 10 million gold coins. Her guess was spot on. The mound of gold coins contained exactly ten million gold coins.

"Turning them into power," Michael calmly said. Since they were alone in the hall, he didn't use his demonic voice.

Under Gaya's curious gaze, Michael waved his hand. A bright light shot out of his body, enveloping the coins. The light swallowed the coins and in a few moments, the light disappeared along with all the coins. Gaya was startled. But when she turned her head, she saw a smile on his face.

"System, how long will it take you to upgrade yourself?"

[Finally] The system exclaimed as though it was tired of waiting.

[Three hours. The host will not be able to use the system during this time] said the system

"Do it," Michael ordered the system. Coupled with the three hundred thousand badass points, the four hundred thousand badass points he got from converting the gold coins added a total of seven hundred thousand badass points. As soon as Michael ordered, the badass points dropped from seven hundred thousand to a hundred thousand. Michael grinned despite losing the badass points and spending ten million in a snap of time. He felt relieved to upgrade the system finally.

Upon seeing the gold coins disappear, Gaya creased her brows.

"Whatever you did with the coins, I hope it's worth it,"

"It is," Michael wrapped his hand around Gaya's slender waist. He pulled her closer while slowly removing her hand with the other hand.

"What are you doing?" chuckled Gaya.

"I think you know what I am going to do," He whispered in her ear. Although Gaya wasn't a blushing type, his words created a tinge of redness on her cheek.

Upon seeing the blush, Michael pulled her even closer. He could feel her gentle breath and the sweet fragrance. Not wanting to waste the moment, Michael gently kissed Gaya on the forehead.

Inch by inch, Michael lowered his lips until he met her lips. Gaya closed her eyes. Her hands explored every inch of his body. When she reached his head, she grabbed his hair and pulled his face closer to the point both of them enjoyed a heavenly kiss in peace and silence.

After three hours, Michael and Gaya returned to their room. As Michael leaned back on the bed, Gaya and Nightmare slept peacefully beside him. Nightmare curled himself into a ball under Gaya's gentle embrace. Michael wanted to sleep but he simply couldn't. The excitement to rummage through new spells kept him awake.

[The system upgrade is completed]

[Current System level 6.0]

[The host can now have up to twenty-five subordinates]

[The host has received one free spell token as a gift for upgrading the system]

[The host will not get a fixed amount of Experience points when slaying a cultivator]

Arch Sensing Stage = 0

Foundation Stage = 5000

Body Refining Stage = 15000

Body Strengthening Stage = 50000

Core Formation Stage = 100000

Core Strengthening Stage = 200000

Soul Refining Stage = 300000

Fusion Stage = 500000

Half Immortal = 1000000

Immortal = 2000000

Michael creased his brows, looking at the experience points. The system reduced the number of points he would kill after each kill. As a result, leveling up had become harder than ever before. His smile froze on Michael's face.

"What the heck is this system?" Michael asked the system. There was spite in his voice.

[Calm down, host. The system reduces the points so the host can cross the heavenly tribulation with a 0% chance of dying]

Michael's shock and bitterness somewhat calmed down after hearing the system.

[The system has enabled subordinate kill experience points back. Now the host will receive experience points every time a subordinate kills a cultivator]

[New spells have been unlocked in the system store]

As though the system wanted to change his mind towards something good, it reminded him of the new spells. Just like the system planned, hearing about the new spells made him smile again. Wasting no time, Michael immediately opened the system store to buy new spells.