Then, the Countess added with regret, "However, it is regrettable that your powers seem to be recovering. Sooner or later, you will have the ability to break free from the suppression of the Fragrant Nebula and start plotting your escape from here."

Upon hearing this, Hao Yun and his companions all changed their expressions, as they had not anticipated that the Countess would so easily see through the changes happening to them. But upon reflection, since they were now firmly suppressed within the world created by the Countess, it was normal for them to feel exposed in front of her, with no secrets left hidden. However, this would make it even more difficult for them to plan their escape from the Fragrant Nebula. Thinking of this, Hao Yun and his companions couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

"It seems I guessed right. Sigh! This is such a headache! Perhaps, I should just end your lives while you're still weak," the Countess said, seeing the unpleasant expressions on Hao Yun and his companions, feigning reluctance. As she spoke, she even mimicked scratching at them with her hands like a wild beast and made roaring sounds to express her aggression.

After a few growls directed at Hao Yun and his companions, the Countess sighed again, letting out a breath. "Ah! It's a pity, I just enjoy dark humor and don't want to be a real demon. So, I can't just kill you. Sigh!"

Seeing the Countess's inner drama, Hao Yun couldn't help but interject, "You still don't want to be a demon? You've imprisoned so many creatures here, subjecting them to torment? Hmph! I think your actions are fitting of a demon!"

"Oh, come on. What's this about 'imprisonment'? I'm clearly 'rescuing' them here. I'm just helping them, and I hope they can help me in return. Besides, I've made promises to them that as long as they complete their performance tasks satisfactorily, they won't need to continue performing. And whether they stay or leave, I'll respect their wishes. Sigh!" the Countess retorted.

"Hmph! They have to survive long enough for that!" Dao Lao grunted, expressing his disgust at the Countess's self-righteous attitude.

"Well, if we want to survive, we have to accept the risks and rewards that come with it!" the Countess shrugged.

"Since you release people after they complete their performances, why don't you let us leave?" Dream Jia asked straightforwardly, tired of the Countess's useless theories.

"Because you three are different from the others! So, I naturally have to establish a new set of rules for you three. Only then can we better balance our conflicts, take what we need from each other, and then part ways peacefully!" the Countess replied cutely.

"Enough of the nonsense! Just tell us what you want from us! My intuition tells me that you want something more than just generating negative energy from us," Hao Yun urged.

The Countess raised her shoulders in mock fear and looked at Hao Yun with a frightened expression. "Oh, this little guy is quite extraordinary! He can actually intuitively judge my thoughts! You're amazing! Sigh!"

Hao Yun and his companions all rolled their eyes at the Countess's antics, as it was clear to anyone that she was just mocking Hao Yun.

"But, indeed, I want something from you three. But rest assured, what I want is very simple. And normally, it won't harm you. Sigh!" the Countess admitted without hesitation.

"So, what do you want from us?" Dao Lao asked seriously, staring at the Countess with vigilant eyes.

The Countess stood up and snapped her fingers, causing a mechanical background music to sound out from nowhere in the tent. Then, she said somewhat helplessly, "It's like this. Due to some reasons that I can't tell you about, I have a special relationship with the mold spirit energy that fused with Elina. It's because of this special relationship that I agreed to secretly help her escape from the blockade of the Divine Realm after she fused with that guy."

"Additionally, although we mold spirit energies never clean up after others or take responsibility for messes caused by others, we must lend a hand to colleagues in trouble once we understand the situation. Of course, our assistance is not to bail them out of the trouble they created themselves but to allow them to recuperate under the protection of others, so that they can continue their mischief after recovering from their state."

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After a brief pause, the Countess continued, "So, after learning about your identities, my goal is to keep you confined as long as possible so that Elina can have enough time to escape. As for how far she can escape and how to continue healing her injuries and restoring her strength, those are none of my concern."

Dao Lao seemed to understand the Countess's meaning, so he stroked his beard and asked, "Then what if we manage to escape from here quickly?"

Nonchalantly, the Countess answered while awkwardly performing the moonwalk, "If you can escape quickly from here, it's your ability, and it's Elina's misfortune. It has nothing to do with me."

Then, the Countess switched to a dance reminiscent of a scene from a traditional Chinese opera, with exaggerated smiles, shaking her head and tail as she swayed her voluptuous body, saying enthusiastically, "Of course, given your special status, I won't make you perform those boring circus acts again. Because I believe your identities are more suitable for performing more interesting shows. As long as you can complete the games according to the rules of the program, I will let you leave."

"What kind of program do you want us to perform this time? Will you really let us leave if we complete the games?" Hearing the Countess mention letting them go, Hao Yun immediately asked with some anticipation.

"Don't listen to her nonsense! How could she be so kind as to let us go? If she were, she would have let us go after we completed two performances in a row!" Dream Jia rolled her eyes at Hao Yun, reminding him not to believe the Countess's nonsense.

Dao Lao also agreed with Dream Jia's view and questioned, "Dream Jia is right. Why should we trust you?"

Seeing this, the Countess covered her chest and put on a pained expression, "Oh, dear, you don't believe me? That's really sad! Look at yourselves, as your enemy, not only do I not want to kill you, but I also provide you with a way to leave, allowing you to continue hunting Elina. Isn't all this enough to prove my sincerity?"

Actually, upon careful consideration, the Countess's words made sense. She had never shown much hostility from beginning to end, unlike other mold spirit energies who either fled or fought upon seeing them, the priests. So, compared to fearing the Countess's great power, Hao Yun and his companions were now more worried about being disgusted by the Countess's exaggerated and bizarre body language, which made them want to vomit on the spot.

Seeing that Hao Yun and his companions did not raise any objections or questions, the Countess added, "Moreover, my purpose in doing this, besides helping Elina delay time, is also to help myself."

"What do you mean?" Dream Jia asked.

After adjusting her emotions, the Countess spoke in a very formal tone, "Because this way, I won't violate the rule of not turning a blind eye to colleagues in distress, nor will I incur the punishment of the true Mother Mold Spirit. Besides, I only want to detain you to delay time, but I have no intention of harming you three. It also indicates that I prefer to resolve our conflicts peacefully and amicably."

"Because, I'm not interested in the battle between mold spirit energies and the Divine Realm. I'd rather explore freely than engage in meaningless fights here with you. And after getting what I want, I'll leave here forever. Away from the Divine Realm, away from the darkest space, to find my own happiness in a place that belongs only to me. From then on, you go your way, and I'll go mine. We'll have no further intersection or involvement, and we won't meet again."

It had to be said that the Countess's tone at this time was very sincere, indicating that she meant what she said. Moreover, if they put themselves in her shoes, Hao Yun and his companions could also understand the Countess's behavior of detaining them and buying time for Elina to escape. Plus, from the perspective of strength, Hao Yun and his companions actually didn't have the ability to negotiate terms with the Countess. So, all in all, the three of them had to admit that the conditions the Countess proposed were indeed very attractive.

However, after thinking it over again, Dao Lao still couldn't help but ask worriedly, "But what if we're unlucky and can't complete the games you've set? How will you deal with us then?"

It seemed that the Countess hadn't thought about the question Dao Lao raised. So, she first exclaimed in surprise, then imitated Dao Lao's actions, stroking her non-existent beard, and said, "If that's the case, you'll be trapped in the game until you find a way to complete the tasks. Hmm, yes, that's it. As for me, I'll naturally just be an excellent spectator, enjoying the spectacle you three put on!"

Then, the Countess's tone changed, "Anyway, we both know that sooner or later, your divine powers will break through the suppression of the Fragrant Nebula. So, even if you can't complete the tasks for a long time, you will still use your overwhelming strength to forcefully complete each task after your divine powers recover. Yes, just like that terrifying Valkyrie back then. But by that time, Elina should have escaped far enough, and I may have found what I want. So, for me, that kind of result would be very acceptable!"

Noticing the Countess's slightly fearful and resentful expression when she mentioned the "Valkyrie," Hao Yun couldn't help but activate his passive skill of speaking without thinking, "Eh? Why do I feel like you're quite afraid of that Valkyrie? Did she beat you up pretty badly back then?!"