If that giant stone divine statue was here, then they could’ve swiftly crossed with a few giant
steps. But it was left behind by Xie Lian at the royal capital to guard and suppress vicious spirits,
and those three mountain spirits had already transformed into a sword, so it was best that they
didn’t come.
“San Lang, can the silver butterflies bring us across? Xie Lian asked.
“With the steam of the lava, the silver butterflies might melt halfway across the river.” Hua
Cheng replied.
It wouldn’t look too good to fall from mid air halfway through crossing and crash head first into
the heart of the lava stream. However, Hua Cheng added,’ But, there’s a ready-made path.”
The group turned their gaze to where he was looking, and a moment later, Xie Lian exclaimed,
“Why are there people in the lava?”
It was the absolute truth, Xie Lian wasn’t hallucinating. Just now in that instant. He saw a
tragically pale hand roll out of the lava, reaching towards the sky. Upon a closer inspection, Mu
Qing said, ”There really are! And not just one?”
There were at least over thousands of people, a number of bodies and heads floating upon the
surface of the river, some rolling and turning by the current of the lava stream, and there were
even some flowing against current. Their bodies were all a peculiar white, their faces blurred.
They were not actual living people. Xie Lian figured it out, ”They’re those empty-shelled people
from the royal capital of Wu Yong… they’ve been flushed out here by the lava.”
By their martial skills, it shouldn’t be too difficult to use those empty-shelled mutants as stepping
stones and leap over. Only, those deceased spirits have been tormentedly struggling in the
burning stream, it’d be rather tragic that they had to be stepped on too. But they didn’t have the
time to worry about that now. Mu Qing went forward first, aimed for the right positions, and with
a few ups and downs, he soon crossed the moat, standing at the shore on the other side of the
river, looking back this way. Xie Lian turned to Guoshi, ”Let me take you across first.”
Guoshi wasn’t a martial god after all, and wasn’t one who practiced martial arts, so he needed
someone to take him. He nodded and went forward. However, Hua Cheng spoke up, ”Gege, let
me.”
Going with the flow, Xie Lian acknowledged, ”Alright.”
Thus, Hua Cheng went forward, and held onto Guoshi’s arm as if he was assisting an elderly
senior, ”Guoshi, sir, please. Watch your step.”
Guoshi turned his head and saw the one assisting him wasn’t Xie Lian and knitted his brows,
“Huh? Why is it you?”
Xie Lian guessed that one, Hua Cheng was worried it might not be convenient for Xie Lian to
take another person along, and two, Hua Cheng wanted, for the sake of some particular goal,
show himself off a little in front of the elder, demonstrate some attentive diligence, which was
why he offered to take over. Seeing this, Xie Lian couldn’t help but puff a laugh, hiding it with a
light cough, ”San lang said very sincerely that he wanted to assist you, so I…”
As for Hua Cheng, he said with a smile covering his face, ”Does it matter if it’s me or gege?
Besides, I respect you very much, sir, so of course I don’t mind assisting, this is nothing.”
Guoshi was speechless for a moment, then said, ”If you really do respect me then put away that
fake smile on your face. That fakeness really is too much…”
Hua Cheng immediately put that smile away, ”Oh.” Then, without another word, he carried
Guoshi and with a flash, their forms had already moved to the other shore.
His movement was freakily fast, and before Guoshi had reacted he was already standing by Mu
Qing’s side, completely stunned. As for the Empty-Shelled people Hua Cheng stepped on with
his boots, they didn’t notice they were stepped on at all, and only looked up to nothing above
them, puzzled as they rubbed their heads, continuing to swim in the lava stream. Senses finally
returned to Guoshi, and he glanced at Hua Cheng, giving his comment, ”Not bad, I suppose.”
On this end, Xie Lian thought, ’That’s too strict. How can skills like that be only ’not bad’?’ Then
he called out, ”I’m coming over now, too!”
Hua Cheng turned around, ”Gege, stay there first, I’ll come get you!”
But Xie Lian acted faster than his words and had already moved, leaping upwards, his toes
lightly tipped on the stomach of an Empty-Shelled mutant who was floating with its face looking
upwards. He felt the solid body beneath his feet dip, but he had already leapt out again, tipping
on the head of another Empty-Shelled mutant ahead.
In this manner, he stepped over five or six of them, and came to the centre of the lava stream.
Just as Xie Lian was about to make another leap, his body abruptly sank, almost losing balance.
Using his incomparably fast reaction to steady himself, he looked down, and the mutant beneath
his feet actually reached out and caught his boot!
‘Oh no, not again!’ Xie Lian groaned inwardly.
His terrible, bad luck had struck again. The people before him all crossed the river just fine, but
it just had to be him who ran into a difficult monster, seizing his right ankle, not letting him jump!
Those Empty-Shelled mutants could only float on the surface of the lava stream because they
were hollow, so they couldn’t support too much weight. With steam boiling, Xie Lian was
sweating profusely, and a corner of his sleeve actually caught on fire. If he continued to remain,
then his person along with the stepping stone were all going to sink into the lava, and his entire
person would catch on fire!
In the last second, an idea came to Xie Lian in this time of crisis, and RuoYe came flying out,
catching another Empty-Shelled mutant from about three feet ahead and dragged it over,
stepping his left foot on the back of that mutant. Thus, the two stone empty shells supported the
weight of his one person, increasing his buoyancy, so he wouldn’t immediately sink. Crisis
averted, Xie Lian thus pulled out Fang Xin, and slashed away the arm that was seizing him. As
he was about to leap out again, a red shadow had already flashed to his side, and Xie Lian
spoke, ”San Lang? I’m already fine. You didn’t need to come over.”
From afar, Hua Cheng used a palm and blasted the hollow mutant that had caught Xie Lian into
pieces, ”Let’s talk after we’re ashore.”
The two came to the shore, and Xie Lian said, ”Sorry, I made you worry.”
“It’s my fault.” Hua Cheng said, ”I should’ve told you to wait for me to get you before I crossed.”
“Alright, alright.” Guoshi chided, ”Break it up. His Highness isn’t that weak, he can handle
himself just fine even if you didn’t go over, so why did you have to go get him? Come! This way.”
The group climbed ashore, walked for another while and came before the Palace of Wu Yong.
Half of the palace was buried in the ground, and after the group entered, the path was slanted,
going straight to the deep recesses of the underground.
Having left the aboveground, the scorching air gradually cooled down. The entire underground
palace was empty, and even the smallest movement would echo and reverberate.
The group each ignited a palm torch separately, illuminating the surroundings. Although this
palace had been sealed away for a long time, it was still considerably majestic and sumptuous,
the firelight reflecting many golden, shimmering patterns, sculpted columns and painted
buildings. However, without a soul, the air was dead, like this was a giant mausoleum.
“This was where His Highness grew up.” Guoshi said.
“Is he really here?” Mu Qing asked.
“What do you think?” Guoshi replied, ”This is where his powers are the strongest, so, watch
yourselves.”
Just then, Xie Lian suddenly noticed something.
Upon Hua Cheng’s waist, the silver eye ball on the hilt of E-Ming was spinning rapidly,
abnormally agitated. However, Hua Cheng’s expression was still cool and focused, ignoring it
completely. Xie Lian couldn’t help but reach out to pet it, and only then did E-Ming somewhat
calm down. Hua Cheng looked down slightly, and when he saw Xie Lian’s hand was still resting
on the hilt, he was about to speak when just then, from the corners of the great hall came a
series of ”hehehe” cackles.
It was the voice of a middle-aged man. Sly and cunning, like it was scheming something,
making all the hairs on Xie Lian’s back stand. And, he’d heard that voice before.
It was the voice of that fetus spirit!
Mu Qing shouted, ”OVER THERE!” A trail of flames was hurled out, brightening the space
above them. They could see a lump of something white pressed against the tall corners of the
palace ceiling like a gecko, and it was that fetus spirit!
Its long, bright tongue was licking its own back, like it was scratching its own itch. When it saw
flames comes flying, it snickered and spat something like puke towards Mu Qing. Mu Qing
dodged it, his expression full of contempt. Guoshi looked at that sticky matter on the ground,
then looked at the fetus spirit above, and said in disgust, ”Is that really the child of that brat Feng
Xin???”
Xie Lian quickly called out, ”Wait! Cuo Cuo! You’re called Cuo Cuo, right?”
When that fetus spirit heard its own name, it paused for a moment and turned back to look at
him. Xie Lian said, ”Cuo Cuo, we’ve come to find… to find… to find your dad. Do you know
where he is?”
When that fetus spirit heard ”your dad”, it snorted, using all of its limbs and pata-pata crawled
away and disappeared. Xie Lian called out, ”CUO CUO? Quick, find it!”
The group immediately burn the palm torches brighter, searching all around. Suddenly, Mu Qing
exclaimed, ”THAT WAY?”
“Which way?” Xie Lian responded.
Mu Qing pointed at a ptath, ”I saw it went there just now.”
The path he pointed at was on the side of a palace building, a narrow and long corridor,
haunting and gloomy. Even if they couldn’t tell where it led to, it was obvious it wouldn’t be any
place good.
Hua Cheng suddenly spoke up, ”Did you really see that it went in there?”
Mu Qing replied irritatedly, ”What good would it do me to lie to you?”
Hua Cheng ”hah”-ed but it contained no emotions, and it didn’t sound friendly. Guoshi chided,
“What are you both fighting over at a time like this? Don’t overlook anywhere suspicious, so
even if we just take a look it’s fine.”
That long corridor was very narrow. It must’ve been much wider once upon a time, but it seemed
to have been crushed, and now it could only allow one person to pass at a time. Perhaps Mu
Qing felt indignant over the tone of doubt in Hua Cheng’s voice earlier so he went in first. Hua
Cheng very naturally walked in front of Xie Lian to open the path for him, but Xie Lian noticed
that E-Ming’s eye on Hua Cheng’s waist was spinning wildly again. His mind stirred, and
instantly pulled Hua Cheng behind him. Hua Cheng was surprised, ”What is it?”
Xie Lian softly cleared his throat, ”Didn’t I say I’ll protect you… stand behind me.”
A moment later, Hua Cheng laughed softly.
As they walked deeper, Xie Lian felt more and more uncomfortable. When it came to danger, his
instinct was extremely acute, and what was making him uncomfortable was coming from ahead.
“Guoshi, do you remember where this path leads to?” Xie Lian asked, ”How come the more we
walk the more I sense there’s a very heavy…”
Murderous aura.
And it wasn’t a lively murderous aura, but a very cold and frozen murderous one. The deeper
they went, the more tense he became.
However, Guoshi didn’t answer him. Something clicked in Xie Lian’s mind and he raised his
voice to ask again, ”Guoshi?”
Still no answer. Xie Lian whipped his head around, and since who knows when, there was
already not a soul behind him!
The reason why he hadn’t noticed sooner was because both the lantern lights Hua Cheng and
Guoshi released were still floating in the air, shuffling and following him, lighting the way for the
masters that had now vanished.
Mu Qing turned back to look too and was shocked, ”Where’s Crimson Rain Sought Flower??”
Xie Lian strode out without another word to go back the way they came. Mu Qing caught him,
“What are you doing? We’re almost there! Besides, do you really think Crimson Rain Sought
Flower would go back?”
“…No.” Xie Lian replied.
It was precisely because Hua Cheng would never go back on his own without a word that it was
scary!
Xie Lian suddenly recalled the thing Hua Cheng left on his person, and hastily raised his hand to
look. When he saw the red string on his third finger was still bright and vivid, indicating Hua
Cheng was fine, Xie Lian sighed in relief. Yet when he remembered the snake eyes Hua Cheng
rolled out before they came, the tension of his brows increased.
“You’ll most likely find nothing even if you go back.” Mu Qing said, ”So why not continue
forward, and see just what exactly is inside? Otherwise wouldn’t you be wasting time if you went
back and found nothing, and had to come back again?”
Xie Lian was just about to speak when he suddenly held his breath, ”Shh. Listen. What’s that
sound?”
Mu Qing also listened intently.
It was the sound of a man breathing deeply and quietly.
It was coming from ahead!
The two were high on guard, each gripping their weapons tight, and walked forward.
They finally emerged from the long corridor and came to a chamber. Mu Qing very carefully felt
around the chamber, and Xie Lian flicked a finger, sending a small flame light to the front,
instantly illuminating a figure slumped on the ground.
The moment he saw the back of that figure Xie Lian recognized him and rushed up, ”FENG
XIN?!”
Flipping the man over, it was indeed Feng Xin. He was covered in burns and gashes all over his
body, but his life shouldn’t be in danger. Xie Lian carefully patted him for a good moment before
he slowly came to, and the moment he woke he cursed, but the moment he realized it was Xie
Lian before him he stopped cursing, ”Your Highness?? Why are you here?”
Xie Lian huffed a breath, ”Why don’t you tell me first where this is?”
Feng Xin sat up and looked around, ”Where is this?”
As expected, Feng Xin didn’t know either, so Xie Lian asked for nothing. Xie Lian shook his
head and reached out, ”Get up first. Now that we’ve found you, we’ve got to look for San Lang
too.”
“Are you talking about Crimson Rain Sought Flower?” Feng Xin asked, ”What’s happened to
him? He’s not with you?”
“It’s like this,” Xie Lian started, ”We were together…”
Before he finished, Feng Xin suddenly raised his hand, ”Wait! Who’s that behind you??”
Xie Lian looked back, and only saw a figure sunken in the shadows, unmoving, ”That’s Mu Qing.
What is it?”
Feng Xin’s pupils suddenly shrank, ”SEIZE HIM, QUICK!”
———–