Rhett's body tensed as he realized the magnitude of the threat. Not even when facing the Blood God Cult Leader or the Beastman King had he felt such a powerful soul-crushing pressure.
At this moment, he had no doubt that whoever was releasing this pressure posed a lethal threat to him!
Even Heisenberg was forced to abandon his current work, pulling out a staff taller than himself, swirling it in the air to form a dark barrier, and shouted sharply:
"Whoever you are, hiding in the shadows like a rat in the sewers—foul and venomous—if you have the guts, show yourself, and I'll make sure you regret it!"
In his tension, Rhett quickly cast an earthen armor imbued with the Stasis Profound Mystery and a Rocklight Shield enhanced by the Shaking Profound Mystery.
The air was instantly filled with earthy yellow elements.
Sensing the formidable energy from Rhett, Heisenberg couldn't help but glance at him. Two Profound Mysteries of Earth at perfection?
Heisenberg studied Rhett with newfound interest, subtly revising his opinion of him.
"Oh? Another human with such remarkable talent!"
An ancient voice echoed out of nowhere, filled with surprise and intrigue.
Upon hearing the unfamiliar voice, both Rhett and Heisenberg's wariness shot to its peak. Without needing to speak, they instinctively stood back-to-back, shoulders touching.
"Could it be a beastman? Such stealth skills—it must be a Shadow Tiger!" Heisenberg muttered to himself, the tip of his staff gathering a black sphere of light, ready to unleash a devastating strike once the target revealed itself.
"Is it really a Shadow Tiger?" Rhett wondered, but remained unconvinced.
Having fought Shadow Tigers before, Rhett was already familiar with their capabilities. Even a Saint-level Shadow Tiger couldn't possibly exert this kind of overwhelming pressure.
Instinctively, he felt this was something else entirely.
"Heisenberg, it seems time has dulled your memory... you've forgotten me already," the ancient voice rang out again from the void.
Rhett quickly glanced at Heisenberg, his eyes filled with suspicion and caution, silently raising his guard.
Could this mysterious figure have some connection to Heisenberg? What if they both turned on him?
He couldn't dismiss the worst-case scenario, not when his life was on the line.
Heisenberg, sensing Rhett's questioning gaze, shook his head with a mix of confusion and anxiety, hastily explaining, "I have no idea who this is. Don't get the wrong idea!"
He then shouted into the void, "Cunning Shadow Tiger, stop trying to drive a wedge between us! If you have any guts, show yourself!"
"Hahaha."
The void resounded with an eerie, ancient laugh.
"Very well. Since you've forgotten, let me give you a hint—have you really forgotten who helped you escape the clutches of Timos?"
At those words, Heisenberg's face twisted as if it had frozen solid, his pupils filled with shock as he stared incredulously into the empty air, his mouth agape, unable to speak.
Even Rhett felt chills run down his spine. He gasped softly, realizing the gravity of what had just been revealed.
It seemed Heisenberg had spoken truthfully about his past—someone had indeed helped him escape from Timos' nightmare. But who was this mysterious person? And what were their intentions?
Rhett's mind spun with questions, but he chose to remain silent, watching the situation unfold.
"Is... is that you?" Heisenberg's once-guarded expression transformed into one of complex emotion as he glanced around, searching for the figure that had spoken.
A simple sentence had completely convinced Heisenberg—after all, who else in this world could so easily have dealt with Timos? There was no second person who could have done it!
"That's right. Now, I imagine you can guess why I've come. How is the project we agreed upon coming along?"
The ancient voice held no hostility toward Heisenberg. Instead, it was filled with encouragement and hope.
Upon hearing this, Heisenberg's expression shifted. Forcing a strained smile, he replied, "Rest assured, regarding alchemical fusion, I've made significant progress. In the near future, I will definitely complete what you asked."
"Haha, I've always believed in your ability!" the ancient voice replied, "This time, I've also taken care of Timos for you. Now, you won't need to hide anymore—you can research in peace."
"W-what?" Heisenberg's pupils shrank as he gasped in disbelief. "Timos... dead? You killed him?"
The ancient voice responded calmly, "Yes... no need to thank me."
Heisenberg swallowed hard, lowering his head with a bitter smile. "Of course, who else could have done it but you..."
Rhett, who had been quietly listening, couldn't help but ask, "But wasn't Timos in the far north? If you killed him, what happened to the others?"
"I've adjusted their memories slightly. Don't worry, everyone believes Timos simply fell at the hands of the beastmen," the ancient voice responded after a brief silence.
Hearing that the mysterious figure had no particular interest in him, Rhett decided not to push further.
Yet internally, waves of shock crashed within him. Who was this person, capable of altering the memories of Saint-level individuals with such ease? This was no ordinary being from their world!
Rhett, as the master of the Sanctuary, could be certain that the essence of their world could not support such powers. This figure had to be from elsewhere.
The Beast God World? Or perhaps... the Netherworld?
Rhett calmed himself, choosing to remain silent and continue listening.
"You don't seem very pleased. Don't you hate him?" the ancient voice asked, as though genuinely puzzled.
Heisenberg's shoulders trembled, but he remained silent, lost in thought.
"Why isn't he happy? Could it be... Stockholm syndrome?" Rhett wondered, surprised by Heisenberg's reaction. Was there more to their relationship?
Sensing the strange mood, the ancient voice softened, "If you truly don't want him dead, I can bring him back to life. Of course, you won't see him in this world again."
That statement hit Rhett like a thunderclap!
Resurrection?
This person could bring someone back from the dead?
At that moment, Rhett finally confirmed the identity of this figure—they had to be from the Netherworld!
It made sense now. Only the Netherworld, with its deep understanding of souls, could possess such an unimaginable ability.
But Heisenberg shook his head and sighed, "No need. Let him face the consequences of his own actions."
The air fell silent, and the ancient voice didn't respond.
Rhett's mind raced. Fearing the figure would slip away unnoticed, he quickly asked, "Wait, are you from the Netherworld?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt an oppressive force lock onto him. The pressure grew stronger, completely engulfing him.
Yet, determined to gather more information about Nicole and maintain his composure before Mingge, Rhett forced himself to stay calm on the surface.
"Haha, how interesting. And where did you hear about the Netherworld?" The ancient voice chuckled, but the air grew noticeably colder.
Rhett didn't answer directly, instead speaking as though deep in thought, "This time, you must not have much time to stay in this world, right?"
At that moment, Heisenberg turned to Rhett with a look of shock. This version of Rhett was completely different from before—he no longer resembled a battle-hardened commander, but rather a knowledgeable and insightful scholar.
"Dagula, you..." Heisenberg began, but hesitated, deciding instead to wait and see what unfolded.
The ancient voice spoke again, "You're a peculiar human, unlike the other Saints. You've fully grasped the essence of the Earth Element and seem to know quite a bit about the Netherworld. Have you perhaps encountered someone from another Elemental World?"
Rhett's heart skipped a beat. Another Elemental World?
He seized the opportunity, flipping the conversation. "Have you had contact with an Elemental World?"
"In a way. I haven't seen one with my own eyes, but I have solid evidence that proves their existence."
Rhett stored this information carefully in his mind before responding softly, "Indeed. I come from another Elemental World, and I've heard rumors about the Netherworld. If you wish to know more about the Elemental World, answer one question for me first."
"What question?" The ancient voice now sounded genuinely curious.
"Can you revive anyone?" Rhett asked, taking a deep breath.
The ancient voice replied, somewhat amused, "As long as I have their soul, theoretically, I can revive anyone."
"Then... are you the ruler of the Undead Continent?" Rhett inquired.
"Oh? I didn't expect you to know that as well. It seems your understanding of the Netherworld goes far deeper than I anticipated," the ancient voice said, this time with an undertone of authority.
With this confirmation, Rhett's excitement grew, though he kept his face composed. "When do you plan to establish your soul passage?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the entire laboratory shook violently.
It felt like a volcanic eruption. The overwhelming pressure struck Rhett, leaving him nearly paralyzed.
The ancient voice now carried a deadly edge.
"Tell me how you know this secret! You aren't just some simple Elemental World visitor."
"Never mind. Regardless of how you know, I can't let you live with that knowledge!"
A dark claw descended from above.
Rhett's face changed drastically. His Shaking Profound Mystery was effortlessly shattered, and only the Stasis Profound Mystery barely managed to hold up, draining his mental energy rapidly.
Before he could replenish it, vines formed behind him, binding him tightly.
"You're making a grave mistake. If you kill me, there will be terrible consequences for both you and the Netherworld!" Rhett wasn't afraid of death, but he wanted to avoid it if possible, hoping to extract more information. He decided to bluff.
"I won't kill you. Just relax, and let me search your soul for the answers I need..."
At that moment, Rhett's heart dropped. Searching his soul would be worse than death!
His secrets could not be revealed!
Without hesitation, he ended the simulation.
The world went black, and a familiar screen appeared.
[Simulation ended. Please choose which family member and attribute to receive the feedback.]
[1. Constitution]
[2. Battle Qi]
[3. Mental Power]
[4. Other]
Since this simulation had yielded no notable personal gains, Rhett quickly dismissed the selection screen.
He glanced around. Tuck, Riley, and Taylors floated nearby, looking bewildered.
Riley was the first to regain his composure and asked, "Father, is it over? It felt like I didn't accomplish anything. I didn't even encounter the beastmen or see the fishmen..."
Taylors chimed in, "Did you meet that genius alchemist?"
"Yes, there was an unexpected incident, so I had to end the simulation early," Rhett recalled the terrifying figure from the Netherworld, his heart still heavy with the memory.
He turned to his sons and smiled. "But don't worry, we achieved our main goal of acquiring a wealth of alchemical knowledge. It wasn't a waste."
Hearing this, his sons breathed a sigh of relief. While they felt a bit unfulfilled, they were soon excited at the thought of seeing their mother in the next simulation.
Just then, Manu's hologram appeared from a distance, his expression serious. "Rhett, are you alright? Why did you suddenly end the simulation? What kind of incident occurred?"
Rhett paused briefly before recounting the encounter with the Netherworld's powerful being.
"The Undead Ancestor?" Manu's expression was one of astonishment. "That being sought you out? I sensed the disturbance in the far north—the very ripples caused by its arrival. It's an extraordinarily terrifying figure."
"I couldn't take the risk that it might learn about the Sanctuary's existence. That's why I cut the simulation short," Rhett admitted with some regret. "There are so many mysteries I wanted to explore, like the connection between the soul passage and Heisenberg, the ultimate fate of his alchemical breakthroughs, and the strange phenomena happening with the fishmen and beastmen."
Manu stroked his chin. "How about we try again, this time setting the timeline a bit further forward?"
The suggestion was tempting.
But after a moment of contemplation, Rhett shook his head. Seeing the eager expressions on his sons' faces, a mix of melancholy and determination filled his heart. "We'll save that for another day. Right now, there's something far more important we must do..."
Manu seemed to catch on, rubbing his forehead. "Ah, I nearly forgot about that. My mistake. Alchemy is crucial, but it's not everything. Now is the time for you to fulfill your promise. I hope it brings you the joy you seek."
Rhett smiled gently but said nothing more. Instead, he willed the Sanctuary to begin the next simulation.
[Select the starting time of the simulation.]
"Fifty-one years, four months, and twenty-one days ago."
[Select participants for the simulation.]
"Rhett, Tuck, Riley, Taylors."
[Each day in the simulation will cost 1 Fate Point. Would you like to begin now?]
Taking a deep breath, Rhett replied firmly, "Yes."