'Xiao Hui, any moment now!'
Blood Moon Marsh,
North Mist Hillrock.
On a lonely hill in the northern region, hundreds of kilometers from the ruins of the Divine Moon Peak Empire's castle, the landscape lay shrouded in drifting fog. Jagged rocks jutted toward the sky, while mist clung to the slopes as though guarding secrets buried deep within the earth.
Amid this desolate landscape, the sounds of battle echoed through the air. The roars of demon beasts shook the ground, reverberating through every crevice of the rocky hillside.
At the heart of the chaos, Chen Zhenlong, in his demon spirit form, fought against a Kingfisher Alligator, a One-Star Black Gold Rank demon beast, and its relentless horde.
RAAARRR!
BOOM!
Chen Zhenlong swiftly sidestepped the Kingfisher Alligator's incoming jagged tail before driving a powerful kick into its face, sending the massive beast flying.
The ground trembled as the giant alligator crashed into the earth.
With a furious roar, it immediately rolled onto its side and barreled toward Chen Zhenlong.
Seeing the enormous beast rolling toward him, Chen Zhenlong narrowed his eyes and opened his maw. Spiritual energy rapidly gathered inside his mouth, swirling into a concentrated mass.
White Wind Blast!
SWOOSH!
THUD!
With impeccable timing, Chen Zhenlong unleashed his White Wind Blast the moment the Kingfisher Alligator exposed its belly, striking its most vulnerable spot.
The attack landed squarely, and the demon beast howled in agony, its massive body writhing from the impact.
'IT'S OPEN!'
Upon hearing Xue Hui's voice in his mind, Chen Zhenlong immediately abandoned the fight and turned toward the boy's location. Leaving the enraged demon beasts behind, he sprinted toward the treasure chamber.
Earlier, Xue Hui and the others had finally located the Moon Peak Emperor's hidden treasure chamber.
It lay beneath a massive rocky hill in the northern region of the ruined empire, surrounded by a group of powerful demon beasts that had made their nest there.
Unfortunately, the entrance was located directly beneath the nest of a Black Gold Rank demon beast.
After considering their options, Xue Hui devised a simple plan. Someone would have to distract the demon beasts while he approached the hill and deciphered the inscription lock sealing the entrance.
Once they had settled on their plan, Xue Hui and the others took a short break before putting it into action.
They found a suitable spot and burrowed the Sacred Jade Room into a nearby rock wall before entering it.
Inside, everyone shared a quick meal while Xue Hui and Chen Zhenlong made their final preparations.
The plan was straightforward. Chen Zhenlong would draw the attention of the entire horde and lure the demon beasts far away from their nest.
While the beasts were occupied fighting him, Xue Hui would approach the hill with Silver guarding his back and open the entrance to the treasure chamber.
Simple, yet effective.
And so far, everything has gone exactly as planned.
Now, with one palm resting on the treasure chamber's control mechanism, Xue Hui stood before the newly opened entrance, waiting for Chen Zhenlong to arrive.
With a horde of enraged demon beasts hot on his heels, Chen Zhenlong raced toward the nest. From a distance, he spotted Xue Hui standing beside the open entrance.
He immediately increased his speed, widening the gap between himself and the pursuing horde.
"JUST GO AHEAD! I'M CLOSING THE ENTRANCE!" Xue Hui shouted as Chen Zhenlong approached.
Trusting the boy, Chen Zhenlong nodded and dashed through the entrance, rushing past Xue Hui without slowing down.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
RAAARRR!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The moment Chen Zhenlong entered, Xue Hui manipulated the inscription lock through the control mechanism, slamming the entrance shut.
Unable to stop in time, several demon beasts charging at full speed crashed violently into the sealed entrance. The impact killed some of them instantly, while the surviving beasts continued roaring furiously outside.
Inside the treasure chamber's hallway, darkness descended the moment the door closed, leaving the two of them unable to see anything.
Then came the faint crackling of flames from both sides of the corridor. Tiny embers flickered into existence, resembling a swarm of fireflies struggling to illuminate the darkness.
One by one, the lamps lining the walls ignited, bathing the corridor in a soft, yellow glow and gradually revealing their surroundings.
Having successfully entered the treasure chamber, Xue Hui stepped to the side of the pathway and sat cross-legged on the floor, taking a slow, steady breath.
He glanced at Chen Zhenlong, whose ragged breathing betrayed how exhausted he was after his earlier battle.
"Let's rest for a while, Lord Patriarch," Xue Hui said. "We need to be in peak condition before continuing, especially you and Silver."
Chen Zhenlong nodded and settled into a corner of the hallway. After steadying his breathing, he took out one of Xue Hui's pills and swallowed it, allowing its medicinal effects to circulate through his body and gradually restore his physical strength and soul force.
Once he had caught his breath, Chen Zhenlong cast a sidelong glance at Xue Hui, a thought crossing his mind.
"This is it, huh?"
Xue Hui lifted his head and met the older man's gaze. Understanding what he meant, he nodded.
They were thinking of the same thing.
Once they obtained the Glaze Blood, they could finally use it to rebuild Chen Linlin's soul realm, bringing their year-long mission to an end.
And when everything was over, they could all return home to Glory City.
Chen Zhenlong could hardly wait to see his wives again, sleep in his own bed, and enjoy a peaceful life without constantly having to watch his back.
For Xue Hui, however, this was merely the beginning.
Once Chen Linlin's soul realm was successfully rebuilt, he would devote himself to raising his strength to the peak of this world.
Although he could help trusted experts like Chen Zhenlong and Chen Linlin break through to Legend Rank, strengthening Glory City as a whole, and use his extensive knowledge to improve the city's defenses, his primary focus would remain his own cultivation.
Only by becoming a supreme expert could he ensure the safety of everyone he cared about.
"Let's do this!"
After resting for several minutes, Xue Hui rose to his feet. Chen Zhenlong and Silver followed suit, and the three proceeded deeper into the treasure chamber.
"Lord Patriarch, Silver, I'll need you to buy me enough time to refine the Moon Glaze Eternal Lotus Physique."
Both of them nodded.
Xue Hui removed the Fuzhuang Box from Silver's back and secured it to his own before continuing down the corridor.
"Don't underestimate that Corpse Servant. Despite her current appearance, she was once a Legend Rank expert. She undoubtedly possesses some formidable techniques," Xue Hui warned.
Chen Zhenlong and Silver acknowledged his words with a nod.
As they advanced, Xue Hui carefully disarmed the hidden traps scattered throughout the passageway.
The farther they ventured, the more spacious their surroundings became. The walls widened, the ceilings rose higher, and the once-rough flooring gradually gave way to smooth, polished stone.
Along the way, they passed numerous well-furnished rooms.
"Why did the Moon Peak Emperor build so many rooms inside his treasure chamber?" Chen Zhenlong asked curiously.
Without stopping, Xue Hui glanced briefly at the rooms before shrugging.
"The Moon Peak Emperor enjoyed collecting treasures from all over the world. That included beautiful women."
Chen Zhenlong turned to him, his expression betraying his disbelief.
Xue Hui continued as though he had said nothing unusual.
"Whenever he found someone he fancied, he would send his subordinates to abduct her and force a soul slave imprint on her. Then he would keep her locked away here until he grew tired of her and discarded her."
Chen Zhenlong stopped walking and looked at the rows of lavish rooms surrounding them.
His expression shifted from anger to sorrow.
As a husband and the father of a young girl, he couldn't imagine the despair those women's families must have endured.
Even if they knew who had taken their loved ones and where they were being held, what could they possibly have done against the overwhelming power of the Moon Peak Emperor?
Without the strength to crush the entire Divine Moon Peak Empire, rescuing their loved ones would have been little more than a desperate fantasy.
They could either give up or risk their lives trying.
Chen Zhenlong knew that if he were in their position, he would choose the latter.
"Please tell me that the emperor died horribly."
Xue Hui chuckled at the older man's words.
"He certainly did. A supreme expert crippled his soul realm, forced him to swallow a regenerative pill that continuously healed his body for the next fifty years, and bound him with cursed chains before throwing him into a place infested with flesh-eating vines."
Upon hearing that a supreme expert had inflicted such a fate upon the Moon Peak Emperor, Chen Zhenlong shuddered.
He silently prayed that he would never cross paths with someone capable of such terrifying methods.
"She can be pretty vindictive," Xue Hui added with a chuckle.
He recalled how Emperor Shen Jiao Dao, despite being pursued by her enemies, had still taken the time to track down and torture the Moon Peak Emperor before the Sage Emperor eventually forced her out of the Tiny World.
The trio continued onward.
The farther they went, the quieter they became. Eventually, the only sound accompanying them was the echo of their footsteps against the stone floor.
Squinting, Xue Hui could just make out the silhouette of a gigantic door in the distance.
"We're here," he announced.
The three stopped before the enormous doors, and Xue Hui exchanged a knowing glance with Chen Zhenlong.
Beyond those doors lay Suo Leiyue's body and the Moon Glaze Eternal Lotus Physique they had traveled so far to obtain.
After securing the Fuzhuang Box on his back, Xue Hui nodded toward his companions, signaling them to open the doors.
Chen Zhenlong positioned himself on the left, while Silver stood on the right. Together, they pushed against the massive doors.
The heavy iron hinges groaned as the doors slowly swung open. A rush of cold air spilled out from the darkness beyond, carrying the faint scent of metal and aged wood.
Xue Hui stepped inside first, followed closely by Chen Zhenlong and Silver.
The chamber stretched far deeper than they had anticipated.
Piles of spirit stones shimmered like scattered stars across the floor. Gold coins lay heaped in small hills, reflecting the light from the crystal lamps embedded in the ceiling. Jade artifacts, ancient scrolls, demon crystals, weapons forged from rare metals, and armor engraved with intricate inscriptions were arranged in orderly rows along the walls.
Every corner of the vast chamber glittered with unimaginable wealth.
The sheer quantity of treasures was staggering.
This was no ordinary treasury. It was practically a mountain of riches, its total value easily surpassing the combined wealth of all the families in Glory City.
Even Chen Zhenlong, a man long accustomed to great wealth, couldn't help but hold his breath at the sight.
Xue Hui, however, remained unfazed. His attention was fixed on the object resting at the center of the altar, the Eternal Tomb.
Behind it sat a corpse whose body had been almost entirely consumed by the passage of time.
Slowly, the corpse lifted her head and turned toward the newcomers. A faint glimmer of awareness flickered in her seemingly hollow eyes.
She knew why they had come.
With stiff, awkward movements, she rose from her chair and began walking forward, keeping her gaze fixed on Xue Hui and his companions as they descended the stairs toward the altar.
The Corpse Servant soon positioned herself protectively in front of the Eternal Tomb and opened her mouth to speak.
"Child, you are far too young to die. Go. Take all those treasures with you."
She extended a bony arm toward the mountains of riches behind her.
"Leave this place at once. There is no need for a beautiful child like you to die at my hands."
Her voice rasped through her decayed throat, hollow and eerie. Each word sent a chill down their spines, as though icy fingers were crawling across their skin.
Xue Hui showed no reaction. Instead, he stepped forward and respectfully cupped his hands toward the corpse.
"Senior, I apologize, but we absolutely cannot do that."
The moment he finished speaking, the sound of joints snapping into place echoed through the chamber. Chen Zhenlong and Silver immediately tensed, preparing for a possible attack.
Ignoring the growing tension, Xue Hui continued.
"We need Senior Suo Leiyue's help to rid my friend of her withered soul realm," he explained calmly. "With the Glaze Blood, we hope to rebuild it and give her a new one."
Xue Hui bowed deeply.
"I hope Senior will understand."
After hearing his explanation, the Corpse Servant tilted her head slightly. She remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing his words, before finally nodding.
"Show me the child."
When Chen Zhenlong realized that the Corpse Servant wanted to see his daughter, he instinctively grabbed Xue Hui's shoulder.
He was reluctant to let Linlin leave the protection of the Fuzhuang Box, especially when she would have to stand directly before such a terrifying existence.
Xue Hui turned to meet his gaze and gave him a reassuring look, silently asking him to trust him.
Chen Zhenlong glanced at the Corpse Servant before looking back at the boy.
After a moment of hesitation, he reluctantly nodded his consent.
With permission granted, Xue Hui lowered the Fuzhuang Box to the floor and opened it. He leaned inside and spoke softly to Chen Linlin before helping her step out.
The moment her eyes landed on the Corpse Servant, Chen Linlin froze.
Despite her fear, she forced herself to move forward. Approaching the corpse, she knelt and kowtowed respectfully.
"C-Chen Linlin pays her respects to Senior. I-I apologize for attempting to take Senior Suo Leiyue's remains, but… but…"
Her voice trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I don't want to be crippled for the rest of my life."
The Corpse Servant remained silent, her hollow eyes fixed on the little girl.
"I want to be free from my withered soul realm and walk alongside the people I-I love. I don't want to be left behind by them."
Hearing his daughter's heartfelt plea, Chen Zhenlong struggled to contain the emotions welling up inside him.
Beside her, Xue Hui gently took Chen Linlin's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, letting her know that he would remain by her side no matter what happened.
The Corpse Servant did not respond immediately. She simply gazed at the little girl before her, her hollow eyes seemingly lost in memories of the past.
After a long silence, she slowly nodded.
"You remind me of Suo Leiyue when she was little… back when we first met."
Turning toward the tomb beside her, she gently ran her long, emaciated fingers across its surface.
"I am certain Suo Leiyue would be more than happy to give you her Glaze Blood."
Before Chen Zhenlong and Chen Linlin could react, however, the Corpse Servant continued.
"I would gladly let you take it as well, but…"
She paused, emphasizing the words that followed.
"I am bound by the Emperor's enslavement. Whether I am willing or not makes no difference. I am compelled to protect the Glaze Blood from anyone who tries to take it, no matter the circumstances."
Her words nearly made the hearts of the father and daughter stop.
Despite her willingness to let them obtain the Glaze Blood, they would still have to fight her to do so.
Yet Xue Hui merely smiled, showing no sign of disappointment.
"We knew that, Senior. That's why I brought Lord Patriarch and Silver with me."
Breaking the awkward silence, Xue Hui stepped forward, gently leading Chen Linlin along by the hand.
"As long as the Senior is willing in her heart, that is more than enough."
The Corpse Servant gazed at the small boy before her, silently questioning how he intended to obtain the Glaze Blood while she was still bound to protect it.
Xue Hui pointed his thumb toward himself.
"I'll handle obtaining the Glaze Blood, while Lord Patriarch and Silver keep Senior from stopping me."
Silence settled over the chamber.
The Corpse Servant stared at Xue Hui as understanding gradually dawned on her.
"This servant's name is Guān Ning. I will do my best to restrain myself for as long as possible, so please do everything in your power to stop me."
With those words, Guān Ning stepped forward and walked past the two children, leaving them behind as she approached Chen Zhenlong.
Stopping before him, she looked him in the eyes.
"Your daughter?"
Chen Zhenlong nodded.
"You're a good father. Please don't die."
End of Chapter 26