The way Uma Musume looks at me is so scary!

Speed: S [Crown Class]

Endurance: S+ [Crown Class] → S [Crown Class] [Limited]

Strength: A+ [Elite]

Root quality: S+ [Crown level]

Intelligence: B [Elite Level]

Adaptable to: Grassland (A) and Muddy (C)

Domain: [Demon Blade]

Skills: Intuition (Purple), Phoenix (Blue), Painful Pilgrimage (Blue), Burning Flame (Purple), Blood of Nobility (Purple)

Looking at the glaring word "restriction" on the panel, Xiu Xingmeng narrowed her eyes. As her gaze focused, another screen appeared in front of her at the right time.

【limit】

[Introduction: The power drawn by his ever-rising talent has surpassed the limits of his body. Although he still possesses his original abilities, it has become extremely difficult to use them.]

As talent grows, the resulting power gradually erodes bodily functions. To withstand the pressure of this power, the body will instinctively reduce its capacity to a manageable level; as long as it doesn't exceed its limits, normal functioning is still possible.

[Currently, the level it can withstand is: S-level]

Looking at the information that appeared before her eyes, Xiu Xingmeng subconsciously clenched her fists.

In this scenario world, Xiu Xingmeng, who has inherited the blood of a prestigious family, has her talent constantly rising under the guidance of her bloodline, gradually moving towards the heights of her ancestors.

While the Emperor was enjoying the spring, Xiu Xingmeng, whose talent was enhanced by the bloodline of a noble family, had already raised her attributes to an unprecedented peak. Not only did her speed become S-rank, but her endurance and tenacity were also raised to S+ rank.

This is precisely the key reason why she was able to repeatedly use the tactic of mass escape during the Emperor's Spring Planting Festival.

Xiu Xingmeng's domain is called Demon Blade. Since it is a blade, it naturally has the ability to slash multiple times. However, her previous basic abilities were not enough to support such a huge physical exertion. Many times, drawing the blade once was already her limit.

It wasn't until the spring of the Emperor's reign that Xiu Xingmeng finally transformed the demon sword into an extension of her own will, making it completely her own. At that time, she was able to fully control this bloodthirsty demon sword.

However, her peak period has ended. The power provided by her bloodline has exceeded the limits that Xiu Xingmeng can bear. Under such immense pressure, her body has actively limited the power that Xiu Xingmeng can use.

She can still use S-class power now, but what about later? Who knows if this decline will go further? There are still nearly six months until the Emperor's Autumn Viewing Ceremony.

If her physical limits continue to decline over the next six months, how will she face Narita Shirahito, who has returned to his peak?

Narita Shirahito at that time will be even more terrifying than when the Emperor was enjoying the spring. Her golden vertical pupils will completely transform into bloodthirsty wolf eyes, and her ferocious domain will be free from any restraints.

Like a shadow wolf breaking free of its chains and unleashing a bloodbath on the track, she will tear apart all her opponents' defenses with the most brutal force, using her fangs and claws to rip off the flesh and blood of victory, forging her own crown.

At that time, Xiu Xingmeng, whose strength was suppressed by the power of her bloodline and could not even be fully exerted, was no match for her.

"The Northern Family's curse..."

Xiu Xingmeng stood there talking to herself, the dazzling sunlight stinging her eyelashes and making it almost impossible for her to see anything in front of her.

She had actually been mentally prepared for this for a long time. After all, the precedents of her grandmother and mother were right in front of her. Xiu Xingmeng knew that one day she would have to face the curse engraved in her blood by the Northern Family.

It has only just begun to show its fangs. The curse could not possibly be limited to this level, given that it could have reduced the once-powerful Northern Clan to its current state of decline.

Xiuxingmeng must be prepared that her attributes will drop to A or even B level when the Emperor appreciates autumn. Should she use the attributes of the classic year, or even the first half of the classic year, to face Narita Shirohito at his peak at that time?

Thinking of this, Xiu Xingmeng felt a surge of pressure, like a tidal wave, which would be the most difficult battle she would ever face in this script world, and perhaps even the most difficult battle she had to endure.

Under such a sense of urgency, she even subconsciously turned her gaze to the system's item interface.

Looking at the perfect limiter that the Northern family had exhausted all their resources to create, Xiu Xingmeng couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

If she is used at this time, her attributes may remain at the current level, and she will still be able to exert an S-level ability when the Emperor appreciates autumn.

Under such circumstances, she was still confident of defeating even Narita Shirahito at his peak.

But here's the problem: should we really... use it now?

Or should we gamble on a possibility, on the possibility that this perfect limiter can awaken your real-life mother?

Chapter 197 Both Sides of the Balance

Xiu Xingmeng confirmed the description of the limiter once again. It had been added to the system's inventory as an item. It could not only preserve the moment when the medicine was at its most effective, but also bring it back to the real world.

And this is why Xiuxingmeng has hope for it.

Bloodline Limiter

[Durability: 1/1]

[Introduction: The powerful bloodline of our ancestors is both a blessing and a curse. While bestowing outstanding talents upon their descendants, it also cuts off their future paths. Perhaps only when a descendant with qualities comparable to their ancestors emerges can they fully bear this power. Unfortunately, the Northern Family no longer has that time.]

To ensure the continuation of the family line, generations of people and countless funds were poured into custom-made limiters for future generations. Once used, these limiters would permanently stabilize the runaway bloodline and completely dispel the curse that had been entangled with the Northern family.

The bloodline limiter, after becoming an item, is somewhat different from what my grandmother described back then. My grandmother described the limiter as being able to stop the evolution of the bloodline the moment it was used.

The description of the Bloodline Limiter item does indeed suggest that it can permanently stabilize a runaway bloodline. The subtle difference between the two descriptions is what makes Xiu Xingmeng feel conflicted.

The bloodline limiter was originally the final achievement of the Northern Family in this scenario world, but it was given to Xiu Xingmeng by the system in the form of a mission. According to her grandmother's idea, even if Xiu Xingmeng did not learn the truth about the Northern Family, the limiter would still be given to her.

Xiu Xingmeng had an idea: perhaps the system had enhanced the original effect of the limiter, since it was a reward for a stage mission.

As one of only three mission rewards in the script world, is it somewhat incongruous with her status as an item to freeze her bloodline at the moment of use?

Xiu Xingmeng desperately hoped that it wasn't that simple. If the bloodline limiter, as an item, could restore the rampaging bloodline to calm down as described, then there would be a glimmer of hope.

A glimmer of hope to awaken the mother.

Just as Xiu Xingmeng was struggling to decide whether to gamble on this sliver of possibility, she suddenly heard a series of undisguised footsteps behind her.

Xiu Xingmeng frowned in confusion. There was only one person she could think of who would visit the Northern Family at this time: the Meguro Family, or more precisely, Meguro Takamori.

Her arrival was simply because Megumi Asama and the others' plan had failed, and they wanted to mend their relationship with her.

Already feeling frustrated because of the curse and the limiter, Xiu Xing's anger intensified upon hearing this. She didn't even have the strength to turn around, and said coldly with her back to the other person.

"This is Northern Home. Unrelated people, get out!"

"But I have Northern blood, so I don't have to leave...?"

The gentle voice made Xiu Xingmeng's pupils shrink slightly; she never expected that the person who came would be her.

Turning her head sharply, Xiu Xingmeng saw Megumi Aldan standing before her. Her face was slightly pale, and under the blazing sunlight, she appeared fragile and translucent. She seemed to be a little tired from climbing the mountain and was panting after speaking.

"Why...why did you come here...?"

The sudden appearance of Meguro Aldan surprised Xiuxingmeng. She had not told him where she had gone. Did he find out from Meguro Takamine or the doctor?

Meguro Ardan did not answer Xiuxingmeng's question directly, but after recovering slightly, he continued.

"Actually, I wanted to surprise you or something, but I was too tired, so I couldn't keep my voice down."

As she spoke, she smiled somewhat embarrassedly, as if regretting her previous failed prank.

Xiu Xingmeng looked at her smile, that warm and gentle smile was no different from a few months ago, but she knew that everything could never go back to that time, and that an absolutely irreparable rift had opened between her and the Meguro family.

And she showed no intention of making amends.

She even wanted the Mejiro family, who had committed such acts, to pay an even greater price.

At this moment, Xiu Xingmeng was convinced that Megumi Ardan had learned of her location through Megumi Takamine, and subconsciously regarded him as an envoy sent by the Megumi family.

“I don’t care why you came here, but this isn’t what you want.”

"Go back, go back to your Mejiro family."

Xiu Xingmeng bluntly told her to leave. She didn't want to say anything harsh to Mubai Aldan, but she also felt there was no need to talk to her.

"Didn't I already say... I also have the blood of the Northern family in my veins?"

"We are both descendants of the Northern Clan, so why should I, who am connected to you by blood, go to the Mejiro Clan?"

Looking at Meguro Aldan, who was stubbornly clinging to her bloodline, Xiu Xingmeng felt a rare surge of annoyance towards her. She turned her back and tried her best to suppress her anger, speaking calmly.

"The Northern Family? You have the Mejiro surname, yet you say such things. Don't you find it ridiculous?"

After a long silence, Meguro Ardan finally responded.

"Even so, the blood of the North still flows in my veins, and don't you also have the blood of the Mejiro family?"

"We are the last link between the Mejiro and Hokuto families in this world, and also... an undeniable family."

"How could I, as the older sister, find this ridiculous? Even now, I can still feel the closeness that blood ties bring us. Don't you feel the same way?"

Meguro Ardan's words made Xiuxing Meng increasingly irritated. She knew clearly that he was right, because even now she still felt a certain closeness to Meguro Ardan, and it was this closeness that drove her to stay there several months ago.

But everything changed after the press conference held by Megumi Asama. Now, Xiuxingmeng even feels that Megumi Asama had anticipated this sense of closeness from the beginning, which is why she specially arranged for Megumi Aldan to wait for her there.

Meguro Aldan is now seen by Xiuxingyu as a chain that the Meguro family wants to use to bind her. Whether it was locking her in the Meguro family at the beginning or now, all her actions are aimed at pushing her towards the Meguro family.

If we divide the two bloodlines into two ends of a scale, then it's as if Megumi Ardan is constantly adding chips to the Megumi family with his own weight, causing Xiuxing Meng to gradually shift towards the Megumi family.

Once she realized this, hearing Megumi Ardan talk about the closeness of blood ties only made Xiuxing Meng feel annoyed.

Chapter 198 Surnames

Xiu Xingmeng didn't know if Meguro Aldan realized that she was being used as a bargaining chip for the Meguro family to influence her. Based on their interactions over the past few months, she really didn't want to think of him in such an embarrassing way, so she swallowed the anger that was rising in her mouth and tried to calm her voice.

"Now that you're here, where is Mejiro Mine?"

Megumi Ardan was taken aback by his question; she clearly hadn't expected Xiu Xingmeng to ask such a question.

However, wanting to get along well with her, Megumi Ardan still told her what she knew, her voice soft and tinged with worry.

"Sister Gao Feng is working hard to calm the public opinion right now. She works very late every day, and I've noticed that she's been quite listless these past few days..."

Before Megumi Ardan could finish speaking, Xiu Xingmeng interrupted her with a cold laugh.

"Calm public opinion? This is just the beginning. I will use the victory of the Emperor's Autumn Viewing to leave the Mejiro family with a wound that can never heal."

"And her? Let her just keep running around like this!"

Unlike Megumi Ardan, Hideyuki believed that Megumi Takamine, as a candidate for head of the family, knew everything. In her view, Megumi Takamine was also secretly guiding Megumi Ardan, forging him into a chain that bound him to the Megumi family.

So if Xiuxingmeng were to choose the person she hates most in the Mejiro family right now, then the first place would undoubtedly be Mejiro Asama, and the second place would be Mejiro Takamine.

That's why she spoke so harshly to Megumi Takamine, venting all her anger on her, which made Megumi Aldan want to retort.

"That's not true! Xingmeng, Sister Gaofeng has always liked you too..."

Megumi Ardan raised his voice slightly, speaking with a hint of urgency.

"Then why didn't she come herself, but instead sent you as an intermediary?!"

"A lobbyist? Xingmeng, what are you talking about? I clearly decided to come here on my own!!"

Hearing Megumi Ardan's bewildered reply, Xiu Xingmeng simply snorted coldly.

"Perhaps that's true."

"But I will never be fooled by the Megumi family a second time!"

Looking at Xiu Xingmeng, who had completely sealed off her heart, Megumi Ardan's voice trembled unconsciously.

"But we are, after all, family connected by blood... What is there that can't be discussed or resolved..."

"Relatives?"

Upon hearing Megumi Ardan's words, Xiu Xingmeng turned her head and looked at her with her deep, dark eyes, as unfathomable as the night sky, without any expression.

"All my loved ones in this world have passed away."

"Then what about me... Can't I become your family, Xingmeng?!"

Faced with Aldan's desperate shouts, Xiu Xingmeng merely narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Family? Does the Mejiro family consider me family, or do they see me as a tool to seize the Emperor's Jushinshu?

"For the glory of this so-called Emperor's Shield, they've already driven Mother to her death, haven't they? And now they want to use me as the price for the Mejiro family's prosperity?!"

"I don't understand! I don't understand any of what you're saying, Xingmeng! I don't care about the Emperor's Shield, and I don't use you as a tool."

"I...I just thought of you as..."

"...Then let's leave. This is a feud between the Northern family and the Mejiro family, and between Mejiro Asahi and me. Mejiro Aldan has no need to get involved in this vortex of hatred."

Suddenly, Megumi Ardan rushed forward and grabbed Xiu Xingmeng's wrist. Her fingertips were icy cold but carried an undeniable force.

At this moment, tears were streaming down her face, dripping onto the ground, and Aldan cried out in a choked voice.

"But Megumi Ardan is also Hokuho Seimu's older sister, isn't she? How could she possibly watch her younger sister be swallowed up by the past and be left alone in a place like this?"

"..."

Seeing her tears streaming down her face, Xiu Xingmeng felt as if a sharp knife had been plunged into her heart, causing her excruciating pain. She remained silent for a long while before wearily speaking.