Chapter 38: The Eerie Encounter

Buzz!

At that moment, the golden seal within Xiao Chen's soul trembled violently, emitting a sound akin to a low hum. Though imperceptible to the outside world, it rang through his spiritual sea like the toll of a great bell, clearing the fog clouding his mind. His soul snapped back into focus, and a surge of terror filled his eyes as his escape speed instantly accelerated.

The mysterious woman let out a soft murmur of surprise, her expression betraying a flicker of astonishment. That someone could resist her allure seemed unexpected.

"Hmph! I was hoping to toy with you a little longer, but if you won't submit willingly, then don't blame me for being ruthless. I'll extract your soul and shatter it, denying you reincarnation for all eternity."

Her demeanor shifted yet again—from the gentle warmth of a sisterly figure to the cold majesty of an ice queen. Her phoenix-like eyes radiated merciless killing intent, freezing the air around her as the entire space filled with a chilling wind.

Mature seductress, gentle sister, regal queen—this mysterious woman was not only a paragon of beauty but a chameleon of charisma. Yet Xiao Chen felt no admiration. Trapped under her suffocating aura, even his soul seemed to creak as though it would crack and shatter at any moment.

Faced with such overwhelming danger, Xiao Chen's face tightened in resolve. Though his odds of survival were slim, he would not bow to despair.

If death was certain, he would fight with everything he had—leaving his fate to the heavens!

In a surge of determination, his aura erupted, his body tapping into reserves of strength he didn't know he possessed. His cultivation at the fifteenth layer of the Qi Refining stage surged to its peak, his spiritual energy pressing upward into the realm of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The mysterious woman's gaze flickered once more, a faint glimmer of surprise breaking through her icy expression. Yet her resolve didn't waver, and she raised a delicate hand. Invisible forces gathered at her fingertips, forming a tangible pressure that locked onto Xiao Chen, draining all color from his face.

But before she could strike, her expression shifted, her brow furrowing in irritation. With a cold snort, she muttered, "Damned seal! You've imprisoned me for years, and even now, you seek to stop me from breaking free?"

Her voice was icy, filled with venomous hatred, and carried the chill of millennia-old frost.

The woman cast one last glance at Xiao Chen, her phoenix eyes glowing with disdain. With a flick of her wrist, a dark beam of light shot toward him. The mysterious energy bypassed his protective spiritual shield entirely, sinking directly into his body.

Darkness swept over Xiao Chen's consciousness, and he slumped to the ground, utterly limp.

With a wave of her hand, the woman sent Xiao Chen's body flying into the nearby stone wall. The surface rippled like water as he sank into it, disappearing entirely.

Her task complete, the woman's expression darkened further, and her body slowly faded into the shadows.

Elsewhere, in another section of the cave system, the two brothers of the Di family stood before an ornate garden, their faces alight with excitement.

"This is the final barrier," Di Qiu exclaimed, his voice trembling with anticipation. "Once we break through this, we'll have direct access to the ancient cultivator's core treasures!"

His brother, Di Shuai, nodded, his eyes gleaming. "If your words hold true, Chu Kuang, then we've struck a fortune beyond measure."

Chu Kuang stood behind them, a faint smile playing on his lips as he silently mocked their naivety. "It's true. Once this barrier is breached, everything will be revealed," he said, his tone carefully measured.

The brothers exchanged glances, a flicker of suspicion passing between them. Without a word, Di Qiu sat down cross-legged to recover his spiritual energy, while Di Shuai stood guard, his posture tense and wary.

Chu Kuang suppressed a cold laugh but didn't press the matter, instead settling down to meditate himself.

Two hours later, the brothers returned to their peak condition and resumed their efforts to dismantle the barrier. Chu Kuang kept his distance, observing the dazzling illusions of the garden with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.

"Break!"

With a synchronized cry, the Di brothers unleashed a series of complex hand seals. The garden rippled like water under their attacks, the illusion growing more unstable with each pulse. Finally, it faded away, leaving behind a single ominous doorway surrounded by a gray haze.

Di Qiu and Di Shuai shared another glance. Then, with a unified decision, they turned to face Chu Kuang, their expressions hardening.

"What's the meaning of this?" Chu Kuang asked coolly, his voice calm despite their obvious hostility.

Di Qiu smirked. "No offense, Chu Kuang, but why should we split the treasures three ways when two would be far more rewarding?"

The brothers' killing intent surged, suffocating the air around them as they prepared to strike.

Chu Kuang's gaze remained steady, a trace of derision flashing in his eyes. He nodded slowly, his voice dripping with scorn. "You're right. Three is too many... and two is still one too many. You should both die."

As he spoke, a flood of malicious energy erupted from his body. With a casual wave of his hand, two orbs of dark light shot forward, enveloping the brothers before they could react.

"What is this?! Demon techniques? You're a demonic cultivator?!" Di Qiu shouted, his face pale with terror.

"Spare us!" Di Shuai pleaded desperately. "We won't reveal your secret to anyone, we swear!"

Chu Kuang sneered. "You think me so foolish as to trust your oaths? No. But for your efforts, I'll grant you the mercy of reincarnation."

The dark light surged, piercing through their defenses. Moments later, the brothers' agonized screams echoed in the cavern, their bodies reduced to charred skeletons.

With a satisfied smirk, Chu Kuang retrieved their storage pouches and turned his attention to the doorway. A wave of energy dispelled the final remnants of the barrier, and a scroll materialized, floating gently to the ground.

In its image, a grotesque demon stood triumphant over two blackened corpses. Chu Kuang didn't hesitate to pick it up, letting it transform into a pitch-black gemstone that radiated ominous energy.

"Finally," he muttered, pressing the gem into the awaiting socket of a teleportation array. With a flash of black light, his figure disappeared.

Meanwhile, Xiao Chen awoke in silence. Though his body ached from the woman's attack, he had retained his consciousness. Judging that he wasn't in immediate danger, he chose to remain still, feigning unconsciousness while assessing his surroundings.

When he finally opened his eyes, he found himself within a beautifully enclosed courtyard. The walls were seamless, with no apparent exits.

Xiao Chen furrowed his brows, his wariness spiking. Standing in place, he extended his powerful spiritual sense—a force comparable to a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator's—and meticulously searched for any hidden dangers.

Yet after a thorough sweep, he detected nothing.

"No spiritual fluctuations at all? Could this place really be a physical space and not an illusionary array?" he murmured, a trace of doubt flickering across his expression.