Chapter 18: The Mysterious Ally

The Gatekeeper Beast of Guixu twisted madly, and the black blood gushing from its reverse scale spread like ink, staining the earth a deep, inky black.Chen Jiuzhang gripped the Broken Snake Blade, now fused with the powers of the Celestial Master Token and the Imperial Jade Seal. The blade quivered faintly, as though crying out in pain from the overwhelming energy.Beside him, Shen Qingluan, her face pale as paper, was barely holding herself upright, yet still channeled the last of her spiritual power to support him.

Zhang Chengying had finally lost what remained of his electric scooter frame. Crouched behind a shattered boulder, he panted, brandishing a chipped peachwood sword.

"Why won't this damn thing go down?! If this keeps up, we're all done for!"

Su Nian clutched her cracked spirit bell, desperately trying to restrain the beast with what little energy she had left. Each time she summoned her power, she coughed up more blood.Old Wu's pipe had gone cold. Gasping for breath, he still gripped his last few talisman papers, unwilling to give in.

Just as despair threatened to consume them all, a flute's melody drifted from the sky — soft and ethereal like a spring breeze.Strangely, the monstrous gatekeeper's movements began to slow, seemingly calmed by the sound.All eyes turned upward.

Descending from the sky was a white-robed elder, walking upon the air itself. His hair and beard were like snow, and the jade flute in his hand glowed with gentle light.

"That's… that's Elder Chen Xuanshuang!"Old Wu was the first to recognize him, his voice shaking with emotion.

Chen Jiuzhang's heart jolted.Chen Xuanshuang — the most mysterious elder of the Chen family, long thought to have vanished into seclusion — had appeared at their darkest moment.

Landing before them, Chen Xuanshuang swept his gaze over the Celestial Master Token in Jiuzhang's hand and the Jade Seal fragment beside Shen Qingluan.He nodded slightly.

"You've done well."

Lifting his flute, he began to play a strange yet stirring tune. The melody transformed into invisible sound waves, spiraling around the gatekeeper beast.The beast, once frenzied, began to calm under the melody's enchantment.

"Senior—this…"Chen Jiuzhang started to speak, but Chen Xuanshuang raised his hand.

"There's no time. Listen closely.""The secret of the Guixu Secret Realm far exceeds what you imagine. This beast is only the first trial. Though you've cut its reverse scale, you've also triggered deeper disturbances within the secret realm."

He looked directly at Jiuzhang, his gaze intense and expectant.

"That birthmark on your body—it is the key blood-mark of the Chen lineage. It is tied to the Celestial Master Token, the Imperial Jade Seal, and the Guixu Realm itself."

Just then, the beast let out another angry bellow, trying to break free of the flute's control.Chen Xuanshuang frowned and played with greater force, strengthening the melody's grip.

"You must enter the Guixu Realm immediately. There, you'll find the answers you seek.But beware—it holds not only unknown monsters, but also factions with sinister intentions."

Chen Jiuzhang took a deep breath and steadied his grip on the blade.

"Senior, we won't let you down."

Shen Qingluan struggled to stand, moving beside him.

"Live or die—we go together."

Zhang Chengying, Su Nian, and Old Wu echoed their resolve.

Chen Xuanshuang's eyes flickered with rare pride.

"Good. I'll buy you some time. Once inside, follow the path of the Big Dipper.Seek the Sky-Piercing Tower—it may hold the key to the final mystery."

With that, his jade flute glowed brilliantly, fully subduing the beast in a web of sound.

Wasting no time, Chen Jiuzhang and the others rushed toward the entrance of the Guixu Secret Realm.Behind them, the elder's melody grew louder and more resolute—like a battle hymn blazing through the skies.

Ahead lay the Guixu Realm,mysterious and dangerous,its maw wide open,ready to devour all who dared enter…