Mingyin found himself swallowed by utter darkness. Reaching deep inside hi eyes
There was no sense of direction, no ground beneath his feet—until his body slammed down onto something hard and jagged. Bone scraped against his back as he landed heavily on a chair formed entirely of fused remains.
He gasped.
His hands flew to his throat as his head snapped back, a strangled cry tearing from his chest.
"Ahhh—!"
For a terrifying moment, his lungs felt as if they were being crushed from the inside, air refusing to enter no matter how desperately he tried to breathe. Pressure wrapped around his chest, suffocating and absolute—then, just as suddenly, it vanished.
Mingyin dragged in air greedily, breathing hard, sweat clinging to his skin.
Footsteps echoed in the darkness.
Magman stepped into view and stopped several paces in front of him. Another bone chair rose from the ground behind Magman, identical in shape, equally grotesque.
His gaze was cold.
"It seems I was right," Magman said calmly. "You're a mortal."
Mingyin's fingers loosened from his throat as his breathing slowly steadied. He lifted his head and stared back, eyes sharp despite the lingering pain.
Then—without warning—he stood.
In a single motion, Mingyin seized Magman by the collar of his tunic and yanked him forward. His eyes snapped open wide, madness flashing within them.
"Everyone who aligns with me wins in the end," Mingyin snarled. "But you—you're shallow, weak, and blind."
A powerful aura burst outward.
The air trembled.
Magman felt the pressure press down on him—but he didn't move.
With a sharp motion, he grabbed Mingyin's wrists and forced them away, slamming both feet firmly into the ground. The pressure dispersed like mist.
"If you truly were a sage artist," Magman said evenly, "you would be dangerous."
Mingyin laughed softly and released his grip, lowering himself back onto the bone chair as if nothing had happened.
"And if I am mortal?" he asked lightly. "What then?"
Magman turned his gaze forward, eyes growing colder.
"A mortal should never be allowed to win," he said. "Imagine it—someone like you obtaining the mountain spirit, awakening… your soul force with obtain everthing
while we lose the two or three legendary artifacts promised by the Supreme Elder."
He exhaled slowly.
Giving mingyina jealous look
"What would become of our reputation?"how would we look outside
Mingyin smiled.
"Hehehe… if you truly believe I'm mortal," he said, tilting his head, "then tell me—what kind of game are we playing?"
Magman snapped his fingers.
The darkness rippled.
"You are inside my Soul Realm," Magman said. "I won't kill you directly. The realm itself will do that."
Mingyin froze for a split second.
Then he burst into laughter, clutching his face as his shoulders shook.
"Young brat," he said mockingly. "No matter how hard you try, you cannot defeat me."
Magman slowly opened his palm, as though grasping something invisible.
"Then let us see," he said. "If you can survive this game."
Mingyin's smile widened.
"Oh?" he replied calmly. "Go on."
The ground trembled.
A red smoke began to crawl upward from beneath the bone chairs, thick and unnatural. It coiled around their legs, their chests—then slowly drifted toward their faces.
The smoke slipped into their nostrils.
Into their lungs.
Into their bodies.
Mingyin's breathing immediately grew strained. He adjusted his rhythm instinctively, slowing each breath, carefully timing the next.
Magman, by contrast, remained unmoved.
Mingyin observed him closely.
He's going easy on me, Mingyin realized. He thinks I'm a mortal… and that killing me outright would bring trouble.
That was fine.
Mingyin had no intention of appearing threatening.
Suddenly, light bloomed in the darkness.
A massive ring of flame materialized above them, surrounded by a circular wall engraved with faint symbols. The fire rotated slowly, radiating oppressive heat.
Mingyin's smile deepened.
He rested his cheek against his palm, biting lightly at his finger as a trace of saliva slipped free from his finger
He continue bitting his finger
He smile like slingshot lunatic
"Life is full of unexpected moments," he murmured. "Only when you look back do you realize how far you've come."nothing but blood
He leaned back into the bone chair, and gave a relaxing looks on his face
"So," Mingyin said lazily, " yawing softly
what are the rules? Though… I already thought of something fun
Magman smiled faintly as smoke curled around his mouth and nostrils.
Reaching deep inside
He raised a single finger.
"These are the rule! Mingyin be prepare to face your own demise
Magman kept his finger raised, his expression calm, almost ceremonial.
Yet he was still planning
"This game forbids leaving your seat," he said slowly, eyes half-closed. "Any attempt to rise will be judged as a loss."don't even try with any tricks !
Mingyin leaned back slightly, listening. To magman Words
"The ring within the wall will continue to spin," Magman continued. "Inside it are six numbers. At every turn, one of us will guess which number the ring currently holds."
He opened his eyes and glanced at Mingyin.
"If your guess is wrong, I will guess next. Should my guess be correct, the chains will glow—and the Dead Smoke entering my body will lessen, allowing clearer thought."
Mingyin's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So the smoke dulls the mind," he murmured. "Lose too many guesses, and your intelligence erodes. Win, and you gain clarity over your opponent."
Magman nodded once.
"But if you guess incorrectly," he added, voice lowering, "the ring of flame will descend. The fire will burn the smoke inside your body."
Mingyin's hand rose to cover his mouth.
"…From the inside," he said quietly.
Magman smiled.
"You understand quickly."
Mingyin exhaled, then laughed under his breath.
"So this is why you brought me here," he said. "You never intended to kill me directly. You wanted me to die inside your realm, under your rules."
His gaze sharpened. "What artifact is this?"
Magman's smile widened faintly.
"The same artifact Lady Singling used before she fell to the future overlord."
Mingyin's eyes lit up—not with fear, but excitement.
"I'll play," he said immediately. "This game is interesting."
Magman studied him for a moment, then nodded.
Mingyin lifted his chin. "But if you fail, I take your soul."
The air seemed to freeze.
Magman rose halfway from his chair before stopping himself, fury flashing across his face.
"What nonsense are you speaking?" he snapped.
Mingyin smiled calmly. "Are you afraid of losing?"
Magman clenched his fists.
"If I die here, you may take the artifact," he said tightly. "But not my soul. I will not be tortured for eternity."
Mingyin nodded slowly.
"A captured soul does suffer," he said thoughtfully. "Ah… I shouldn't have said that. It's forbidden knowledge in the mortal world."
He tilted his head. "So—do we have a deal?"
Magman turned away, jaw tense, then nodded sharply.
"Accepted."
Mingyin sighed.
"You were once proud," he said. "Now you're willing to trade your life for borrowed power."
Magman answered without emotion.
"I need your artifact. And the two relics the Ruler of the Region entrusted to you."
Cold sweat poured down Mingyin's spine.
"You knew they were hidden?" he asked quietly.
Magman nodded. "The regional overlord ordered me to annihilate you here."
Mingyin closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"So he still hates me," he murmured. "Even after the soul-transfer lie."
Then he looked up.
"Fine," Mingyin said. "Let the damn game begin."
Magman snapped his fingers.
"The game starts now."
Their auras shifted instantly.
"One," Magman said.
"Two," Mingyin replied.
"Three," Magman spoke aloud.
They spoke together:
"Let the game begin."
The Dead Smoke thickened.
Mingyin's body trembled as every hair stood on edge. His mind sharpened painfully against the pressure.
He raised a finger.
"It's six."
Magman didn't respond.
Instead, he tapped the wall.
The ring of flame flared violently. Small sparks fell, burning through the smoke near Mingyin—but stopping just short of his nostrils.
Mingyin's face went blank.
"…Shit."
Magman slowly opened his hand.
"If you believe you can win," he said coldly, "then you haven't even peeled the skin beneath your own arrogance."