Meditation World.
Two years after the Flower Field War.
Alan and Ella, both prisoners of war of the Abe Bee Tribe, each faced a different fate.
Over these two years, Ella gradually grew into an undefeated champion in the arena.
Every time she competed, thousands of fervent fans flocked to support her.
Her popularity was so immense that she was considered a top star in Hive City!
Even the Abe Bee Queen frequently attended Ella's bouts and became a fan.
"It's hard to believe that such a petite girl could easily defeat a soldier bee that was far taller and stronger than her."
"Courage and skill are perfectly embodied in her!"
The Abe Bee Queen praised Ella's performance.
Over the past two years, Ella's winning streak has reached an unprecedented forty-five matches.
The Queen Bee promised that if Ella won five more matches, she would be awarded the title of "Honorary Abe Bee."
After that, Ella could leave the arena and settle in Hive City as a citizen.
If she wished, she could also serve the Queen Abe and join the Abe Corps as a mercenary.
All in all, Ella's life was finally coming to an end, and she was becoming increasingly hopeful!
In contrast, Allen had faded from public view since being kept by General Eva.
The once-popular courtesan was no longer a topic of conversation.
Allen cared little for these empty titles.
He cared more about... becoming a father!
General Eva became pregnant shortly after their relationship.
As her belly grew larger, General Eva felt a growing sense of urgency.
Alan was her deeply devoted husband, and the baby in her belly was the fruit of their love.
These were indisputable facts.
But in the eyes of others, they were not legally married.
This was because Alan had not yet escaped his status as a prostitute.
Indeed, for the past year, he and Eva had been as close as husband and wife, never entertaining any other customers.
However, using a public bus for personal purposes was still a public bus in name only.
Every weekend, Alan had to return to the brothel.
He had to report his business for the week and hand over the majority of his earnings.
General Eva paid for this, but Alan had to report it personally and submit to official management.
As a prostitute, she could not, of course, be General Eva's legal spouse.
The baby daughter she was about to be born was an illegitimate child.
Alan was not particularly concerned about these matters.
As long as his daughter acknowledged him as her father, he would be satisfied.
But Eva refused to accept this.
How could someone as proud as her tolerate her precious daughter being pointed at and called a fatherless bastard?!
General Eva longed for a legitimate husband and a complete family for her daughter.
To this end, she entered the palace, heavily pregnant, to meet the Queen Bee.
She begged her mother for mercy, to remove Allen's prostitution record and grant him to her as a son-in-law.
With her mother's decree granting the marriage, she could legitimately hold a wedding ceremony.
Since the Flower Field War ended, weapons had been stored for two years.
Queen Bee Abe hadn't seen Eva for some time.
She was astonished to see this "iron virgin" pregnant and about to give birth.
She then developed a strong curiosity about the man who had captivated the "Iron Maiden" and conceived a child.
Queen Bee Abe didn't refuse Eva's request, but she didn't agree immediately either.
She simply said to pick an auspicious date and hold her wedding.
Eva naturally assumed her mother's words meant she had granted the marriage, and she excitedly returned home to prepare for the wedding.
However, her joy soon turned to sorrow.
On the weekend, Alan reported back to the brothel as usual.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he sensed a strange atmosphere.
Heavily armed Kingsguards stood guard at the entrance.
"Are you Alan?"
A soldier bee stepped forward and asked.
Alan nodded.
"Come with us!"
"Where are you taking me?"
"Don't you recognize us, the Kingsguard? Where else could we go?"
The soldier bee smiled strangely.
"Behave yourself tonight! Otherwise... hehe... you'll be going to bed with a head but waking up with no head!"
Alan's heart skipped a beat!
The scene of being favored by Queen Triere resurfaced in his mind.
For some reason, Queen Abe had taken an interest in this former courtesan and ordered the guards to bring him into the palace.
Alan knew that Queen Abe was not a good-tempered woman like Queen Triere.
Her willful and capricious nature, coupled with her unpredictable moods, had earned her considerable disapproval even among her subjects.
If he didn't treat this ill-tempered Queen well, he'd be beheaded in a matter of minutes!
The incident happened so suddenly that Allen had no time to contact Eva.
That very night, she slept with the emperor on the phoenix bed in the palace.
Queen Bee Abe's visit to Allen was initially simply to satisfy her curiosity.
She wanted to experience for herself the magical power of this man who had captivated the "Iron Maiden" and conceived a child.
The experience was like opening the door to a new world!
Afterward, Queen Bee Abe lay limp in Allen's arms.
The taste was sweet, and she couldn't stop.
Compared to this peerless beauty, every male bee in her harem was trash!
On this beautiful night, Queen Bee Abe's mindset subtly shifted.
The next day, despite Allen's repeated refusals, the Queen Bee resolutely accepted him into her harem.
As for Eva...
Queen Bee Abe didn't treat this meritorious servant unfairly.
Wasn't Eva eager to get married?
She chose a male bee from her harem and gave her to Eva as her husband.
Eva had already been exploited by Alan, so surely another man could barely satisfy her needs.
Besides, she was already pregnant with Alan's child and had an heir. If she didn't like the imperially appointed son-in-law, she could always find another lover.
Queen Bee Abe thought she had done her duty.
Eva didn't think so!
Learning that her lover had been forcibly detained by her mother and taken into the harem, she was nearly driven mad with rage!
Queen Bee Abe considered the imperially appointed son-in-law compensation.
But to Eva, it was nothing less than a naked humiliation! Having her love stolen, her treasures plundered, and given a pile of dog shit in return—could this even be considered a blessing?
Eva was deeply ashamed!
In a rage, she murdered the son-in-law bestowed upon her by the Emperor to vent her anger!
This was a major incident!
The son-in-law bestowed upon her by the Emperor might not have had a high family status, but he was a member of the palace and a symbol of His Majesty's dignity!
General Eva had publicly chopped the son-in-law to death, a slap in the face of His Majesty and a crime of grave disrespect!
When the news reached the palace, Queen Abe was shocked and furious!
General Eva had long been suspected of being too successful to be a threat to the Emperor.
Now, he had committed such treason, daring to kill the drone she had bestowed upon him. Could he be plotting a rebellion and usurping the throne?!
He must be severely punished!
The Kingsguard surrounded the General's residence overnight.
General Eva, about to give birth, gave up resistance and silently accepted her fate of imprisonment and trial.
The news spread, sending the city into a frenzy.
The people who learned the truth privately lamented the general's injustice.
The generals pleaded with the Queen Bee for leniency.
The more public sympathy there was for Eva, and the more people pleaded for her, the more uneasy the Queen Bee felt.
Eva had distinguished military achievements and a high reputation. If she were released, would she start a rebellion?!
Queen Bee Abe secretly harbored murderous intentions!
Considering the impact of public opinion, she couldn't execute Eva outright, as this would destabilize the military and potentially lead to a mutiny.
After careful consideration, Queen Bee Abe ordered Eva's dismissal, demotion to slavery, and consignment to the arena.
To appease the public, the Queen Bee granted special treatment in the arena.
Until she gave birth, she wouldn't have to fight.
After her delivery, she was granted ten days of rest.
Afterwards, Her Majesty the Queen Bee would personally attend Eva's first fight.
If Eva could defeat her opponent, slaying a powerful foe, the Queen Bee would pardon her death and grant her freedom.
As for Eva's opponent, the Queen Bee wouldn't reveal the details, leaving speculation abounding.
Rumors abounded.
This fight became a new hot topic in Hive City.
The voices of those who spoke out for General Eva were silenced.
Whether by design or sheer coincidence, Eva's quarters at the arena were right next to Ella's.
Ella originally hated the evil woman who had taken her senior brother from her.
However, seeing her wrongfully imprisoned, struggling with laundry and cooking while pregnant, she couldn't help but feel sympathy.
That night, she heard painful moans from next door.
Unable to bear the pain, she pushed open the door and took the initiative to enter the room to tend to Eva, who was suffering from labor pains.
Eva couldn't do much, but she simply held Eva's hand, chatted with her, and offered comfort.
The two rivals, sharing a room, sympathized with each other, overcoming their jealousy.
The atmosphere shifted from awkward to harmonious.
Eva took an orange gifted by a fan, peeled the flesh, and fed it to Eva.
Eva silently accepted her care, gratitude in her eyes.
For the next several days, Ella devotedly cared for Eva.
Forced by circumstances, an inexperienced young girl was forcibly trained to become a competent postpartum nanny and midwife.
Due to years of intensive training, Eva's physique was unique, preventing her from delivering naturally.
Ella had no other choice but to take the risk.
With Eva's consent, after she had dispersed her body-refining secrets, Ella performed a hastily performed a cesarean section with a cold iron dagger.
In the end, the dagger's blade bent, and the birth was finally successful.
Eva bit off the umbilical cord herself and set the baby aside.
Ella was still busy.
The bee needle threaded Dou Qi silk thread and sutured Eva's wound.
After all, Eva was a fourth-level expert, with a strong physique and a "rapid self-healing" physique, she could withstand the torment of Ella, a clumsy little nurse.
The wound quickly stopped bleeding and slowly healed.
The night of delivery was uneventful.
The baby was surprisingly well-behaved.
It didn't cry or make a fuss, just cuddling in its mother's arms to feed.
Watching the baby intently consuming her milk, Ella couldn't help but think of Alan buried in his meal, and a knowing smile crossed her mind.
"The baby is so adorable! She eats just like the eldest brother!"
"Yeah, I think so too."
Eva held her daughter, a gentle smile on her face.
...
Eva had successfully given birth to a daughter, and the news reached the palace.
Queen Bee Abe pondered for a moment, then ordered her guards to summon Ella to the palace for an audience.
"Of all the gladiators, I'm most optimistic about you."
After their meeting, the Queen Bee said to Ella with a friendly expression.
"If I remember correctly, you've won forty-nine fights in a row."
"One more win, and you'll be free."
"To be honest, I'm arranging for you to face Eva in this final fight."
Ella had anticipated this.
However, hearing the Queen Bee's words reveal this cruel arrangement, her heart still trembled.
The Queen Bee observed her expression, a faint smile on her face.
"Ella, I've inquired about your origins and know about your feud with Eva."
"If she hadn't intervened on the battlefield, you and Alan would have had a chance to escape."
"It's all because of Eva that you were taken prisoner, forced to fight bloody battles in the arena, and survived until today."
"Now, you have a golden opportunity for revenge."
"Your Majesty...with all due respect," Ella said, steeling herself. "With my strength, I'm not strong enough to defeat General Eva."
"If you expect me to kill her in the arena, you'll be disappointed."
She knew the Queen Bee was using her as a weapon.
Ella didn't want to be manipulated by the Queen Bee, used as her weapon.
What's more, after spending so much time together, she and Eva had transformed from hated rivals to sympathetic, open-hearted friends.
She couldn't bear to use Eva's corpse as a stepping stone to freedom.
However, her wish was worthless in the eyes of Queen Abe.
"Don't be afraid, Ella. I know the difference in strength between you and Eva, so I've prepared a magic weapon for you to defeat your enemies."
The Queen Bee turned and pulled a rapier from the weapon rack.
"This sword is called the 'Queen's Needle,' a treasure of the royal family."
The Queen's Needle is a Level 3 enchanted cold iron weapon, with the added bonuses of "Sharp Edge" and "Bleeding"!
With this sword in hand, Ella could easily pierce Eva's body, causing the wound to bleed profusely and unable to heal!
Ella had no room for refusal.
Dare to say "no" to the Queen Bee, and the Queen's Needle will immediately pierce her heart!
Ella bit her lip and silently accepted the Queen's Needle. At that moment, she truly wanted to draw her sword and stab the Queen Bee!
But she ultimately restrained herself.
The Queen Bee was even more powerful than Eva, not to mention the swarm of guards guarding the door.
If she dared to show any murderous intent, she would be instantly chopped into pulp by the swarming guards!
Ella had entered the meditation world to cultivate.
Dying in the palace on impulse would be of no benefit to her cultivation.
…
Ella returned to the arena, carrying the magic sword "Queen's Needle."
She paced back and forth in her room, hesitating for a moment before finally making up her mind.
She pushed open the door to the next room and approached the bed of Eva and her daughter.
"Baby, Auntie Ella is back! Are you happy?"
Eva shook her daughter's lovely, fair little hand.
The baby girl's dark eyes gazed at Ella, her face wide with a grin.
Ella felt an inexplicable pang of sadness.
She sat down beside the bed, took the baby girl from Eva's arms, and gently cradled her in her arms.
"Sister Eva, I just got back from the palace and have something to tell you."
Ella relayed the Queen Bee's intentions in detail.
Eva took the magic sword she offered her.
She drew out the gleaming blade, examined it, and exclaimed with a wry smile.
"What a fine sword!"
"To die by the Queen's needle, my life is worthwhile."
"Sister Eva..."
"Ella, listen to me. On the night of the gladiatorial contest, I must die!"
"If I don't die, my mother won't be at peace!"
"Even if you don't kill me, she'll still send someone else to do it."
"It's better to die by your sword. At least it'll buy you freedom."
"Ella, I've already decided. We'll name our daughter Aiqi."
"After I die, Aiqi is in your care."
"I hope you'll care for her as if she were your own daughter."
"
"After you take your daughter out, if you have the chance to see Allen, tell him that I have lived my life...with no regrets."
At this point, Eva and Ella both broke down in tears.
The baby girl in her arms stared blankly, her eyes wide open, still unaware of the helplessness and suffering of the human world.
Ella truly wanted to tell Eva that she would rather sacrifice herself than be forced to kill her.
However, her reason ultimately triumphed over her impulse.
She must always remember that she lived in a meditative world, in the memories of her ancestors.
No matter how much she sacrificed, she could not save Eva, who had long since vanished into the river of history.
The joys and sorrows she experienced now were nothing but echoes of history.
She must harden her heart and reject the weak mentality of "weeping for the ancients."
Adhering to the path of ruthlessness is the principle of sorcerer practice.
Those who fail to cross this threshold, completely immersed in the meditative role, will be captured by the inner demon.
Failing to distinguish between reality and fantasy, wallowing in the dust of history, they waste their future.
She cannot bear such a consequence!
Only by hardening her heart and accepting Eva's sacrifice can she dispel the ancestral spirit's obsession and achieve perfect meditation.
On this cold and rainy night, Ella and Eva have resigned themselves to their fate.
Fellow in Hive City, Allen refuses to accept his fate.
That same night, he was trying to solve the dilemma in his own way.
At his wit's end, he found a way out that neither Ella nor Eva could have imagined!
...
In the blink of an eye, a month had passed since Alan entered the palace.
For a whole month, he was under house arrest, unable to receive any news from outside.
How were Eva and Ella now?
He didn't know, and he didn't dare ask.
Asking the Queen Bee would be like confessing his longing for their past.
Who knew the Queen Bee would become jealous and capture both Eva and Ella and kill them all?
Tell the palace guards or male concubines. Listening would be like giving someone a handle. If he told the Queen Bee about it, he would likely fall from grace.
The Queen Bee's harem was like a battlefield without the smoke of gunpowder.
Everyone was forced into the vortex of life-and-death palace intrigue!
Being in favor was both a key to rapid advancement and a curse of jealousy.
Alan knew that falling from favor would spell doom!
To survive, he had to endure.
He swallowed his pride and devised every possible means to please the Queen Bee, captivating her.
At the same time, Alan dared not let his favor lead to arrogance.
He was wary of any words or actions that might arouse the Queen Bee's suspicion. As for his concern for his junior sister, General Eva, and her unborn child, he could only hide it deep in his heart, worrying about it alone.
For the past month, the Queen Bee had favored Allen, ignoring the other male favorites in the harem.
Naturally, Allen became a thorn in the eyes of the other male favorites.
Especially the Queen Bee's two former favorite drones, East Palace and West Palace, who particularly resented Allen.
The two drones were originally the closest men in the palace to the title of "Prince (King's Consort)."
For years, the two had fought tooth and nail for the position of the Queen Bee's legal spouse.
What they didn't expect was Allen's sudden intervention. In just one month, she had surged into the lead in the race for the princely title, leaving the other two far behind.
Even more devastating, Her Majesty the Queen Bee's obsession with Allen had surpassed normal limits, becoming utterly infatuated.
For an entire month, she hadn't visited any other male favorites besides Allen.
She even looked at the other male favorites with undisguised disdain.
As if in shock, she wondered why she had treated these idiots like treasures, wasting food in her harem all these years.
At this rate, Allen would soon completely conquer Her Majesty's body and soul, becoming the irreplaceable master of the harem!
The East Palace and the West Palace could not tolerate this situation.
The two sworn enemies, facing a common threat, joined forces for the first time to compete for Allen's favor.
One feigned illness, possessed by a green tea spirit, hoping to elicit the Queen Bee's sympathy.
The other pretended to be a white lotus, actively approaching Allen and showing goodwill.
Allen was best at dealing with all sorts of green tea and white lotus bitches.
The hatred between colleagues was the most naked, and they were also the most sensitive to each other's malice.
The East Palace and the West Palace's little tricks were nothing but clever tricks in his eyes.
Allen did not turn against the two drones.
He simply asked the ancestor Renée to possess him and create the "Silly" "Bai Tian" character.
On the one hand, she accepted West Palace's overtures and became intimate with him, becoming sworn brothers.
On the other hand, she took the initiative to visit East Palace and ask about his well-being.
Later, Allen took the opportunity of serving the emperor in the bedroom and, intentionally or unintentionally, mentioned East Palace's illness to Queen Bee.
I implore Your Majesty to consider their old friendship and take time to visit East Palace.
Queen Bee is no fool; she knew East Palace was feigning illness.
She didn't expose his hypocrisy to his face, but in her heart, she grew increasingly annoyed by his hypocritical behavior.
She was deeply pleased with Allen's understanding of the overall situation and his ability to unite the harem.
"My dear, the master of the harem belongs to none other than you! "
The next day, His Majesty issued an edict, officially conferring Allen the title of Prince of Abe, the Vice-King of the realm.
Externally, the Prince was merely the nominal second-in-command of the Abe Bee Clan, holding no real power.
Internally, he was the undisputed master of the harem, commanding all the male favorites!
If Allen disliked a male favorite, theoretically, he could execute him first and report later.
The charges?
Bullying the inferiors and fawning on the superiors, failing to observe male ethics, and causing chaos in the harem.
Who could withstand such a stern accusation?
Of course, Allen did not intend to use his power as a husband lightly.
Pride and arrogance beget disaster.
The East and West Palaces watched helplessly as Allen climbed above them, receiving His Majesty's exclusive favor, their teeth itching with resentment.
However, they still had a chance to strike back!
Alan was an outsider, and he didn't understand the palace. The secrets of the story.
Having just ascended the throne of the Royal Consort and enjoyed immense favor, it's inevitable that he'd become complacent.
He might not know that to secure his position as the head of the harem, he still has to pass a secret and fatal test!
Over the past decade, Queen Bee Abe has also appointed other Royal Consorts, but none of them have ever passed this test.
From his rise to favor to his sudden disappearance, no one knows the inside story.
Eastern and Western Palaces, there's reason to believe.
Sooner or later, Alan will finally give in to his curiosity and embark on the path of self-destruction!
The two men harbored jealousy, silently anticipating...
Watch him build his mansion, watch him entertain guests, and watch his mansion collapse.
On the night of the appointment, the Queen Bee summoned Alan to her bedchamber.
Personally handing him a set of keys, she solemnly instructed:
"Each key corresponds to a door in the palace."
"You can enter and exit all rooms at any time." "
"One of the blue doors must be opened with a blue key."
"There's a secret passage inside, leading outside the palace."
"My dear, if you ever tire of life in the palace, don't tell me, just open the blue door and quietly leave."
"You will lose your current wealth and glory, but you will also gain freedom."
"As for whether it's worth it? That depends on your choice."
"This door to freedom is open only to the Prince."
"This is a promise I make to the one I love most."
"This key proves the depth of my love for you." "
Alan accepted the key and thanked the Lord for His grace.
After a passionate lovemaking session, the Queen Bee collapsed, feeling completely satisfied.
Alan helped the Queen Bee to bed.
As she fell asleep, he couldn't help but feel restless.
Open that door and leave the harem?
Is this true, or just a test?
He longed to leave the palace and visit his junior sister and General Eva.
But what if this was a trap? Wouldn't that be courting death?
Alan resisted the urge to leave.
Another week passed in the blink of an eye.
That afternoon, Xigong invited him for tea.
Intentionally or unintentionally, he revealed two pieces of news that were circulating widely in the city.
"Your Highness, have you heard?"
"General Eva gave birth to a baby girl in prison and named her Aiqi." "
"Who on earth could have the ability to pry open the 'Iron Maiden' and make her conceive? It's incredible!"
"I also heard that in three days, General Eva will duel with the annual champion of the Colosseum, Ella."
"Of Eva and Ella, only one is destined to survive."
"I'd like to watch the fight, but it's inconvenient for me to leave the palace."
"Your Highness Allen is deeply favored by His Majesty. Why don't you ask His Majesty to take you out of the palace to watch this highly anticipated duel?"
"I see... I'll ask His Majesty later and try." After Allen saw West Palace off, he couldn't calm down for a long time.
The situation of Junior Sister and Eva was worse than he had imagined.
The two were forced to duel, and one of them would die.
How could this deadlock be broken?
Alan took out the key and held it in his hand.
A strong urge grew within him.
In the dusk, Allen avoided the sight of the palace servants and hurried on alone.
He walked through the maze-like corridors and arrived at the blue door.
Alan stood outside and picked up the key.
Opening this door would free him and see Junior Sister and Eva again, as well as his own flesh and blood.
However... Alan stood outside the door, his gaze fixed.
Before entering, out of habit of caution, he activated "Toxin Detection" and "Qi Sensing." The result was shocking.
Two Level 6 toxins were detected! One of them was bee venom.
The other was unfamiliar. The invisible Qi emanating from him penetrated the keyhole.
A familiar vital sign was detected. That's right, Queen Abe was behind this door.
The source of the Level 6 bee venom was on her body. Alan was very familiar with the Queen Bee's body.
Very familiar, absolutely unmistakable.
The problem was, the Qi sensor had detected another signal.
A sinister, eerie, and extremely powerful aura!
A conservative estimate puts its strength at no less than the early stages of a fifth-order rank!
How could a fifth-order monster be hidden deep within the Queen Bee's chambers?!
The more Allen thought about it, the more alarmed he became, his mind clouded with doubts.
He was certain of only one thing.
This door was definitely not a "door to freedom"!
Open this door.
What awaited him was not freedom, but death!
Alan stood silently outside the door, caught in a dilemma.
Of course, he didn't dare open the door. , nor did he dare turn around and leave.
Because, two powerful auras…
were already radiating through the door.
Like the crosshairs of a sniper rifle, they locked onto him.
Queen Bee Abe and the mysterious fifth-order entity had spotted him.
Want to leave now? Too late!
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
Alan tried to keep his breathing steady.
He stood there in silence until the sun set and the moon rose.
He slowly exhaled.
He turned and walked away from the door.
After such a long stalemate, he decided to give it a go.
Life or death.
This one fight depended on it!