Following the faintly visible golden figure, the Lust Demon stepped into this secluded No. 2 Mine, step by step.
In the gloom, his breath caught, and his pupils dilated with intense excitement.
The mine was not completely dark.
A beam of sunlight streamed down at an angle through a cracked fissure in the rock ceiling above.
It cast a clear pillar of light into the dim mine, with dust motes drifting slowly within the beam.
On a flat, massive boulder right at the edge of the pillar of light, Saintess Eve sat quietly.
Her posture was upright yet relaxed, as if she were not in a perilous mine, but rather inside a prayer room in the Temple of Light.
Her purple eyes, which seemed to hold a vast sea of stars, were gently closed.
Her long, thick eyelashes cast soft shadows beneath her eyes.
Her hands were naturally folded over her knees, her fingertips glowing with a faint, soft light.
An invisible, holy halo seemed to envelop her body, creating a stark contrast with the dark, decaying environment around her.
She was like a pure white snow lotus blooming in the mud—fragile, yet breathtakingly beautiful.
This ultimate holiness and beauty struck like a violent jolt of electricity, instantly piercing through the Lust Demon's long-numbed defenses.
His life was filled with plundering, killing, and fleeting carnal pleasures.
He had wallowed in the mud like a living corpse, never having seen true light.
Joining this doomed Saintess Assassination Plan was, to him, merely another form of self-destruction.
Until that day, when the procession of the Holy Church of Light entered the Royal Capital.
Peering through a gap in the crowd, he had caught a fleeting glimpse of the Saintess atop her high carriage, looking like a goddess descended to the mortal realm.
Holy, pure white, and supremely majestic.
At that moment, a massive boulder was cast into the stagnant pool of his heart.
He had found the ultimate purpose of his existence.
And that was...
To drag this bright moon hanging high in the heavens down to the dirt.
To defile her, possess her, and make her sink into ruin with him.
“I found you... my goddess...”
The Lust Demon's voice was hoarse with excitement.
He did not pounce immediately, but approached slowly, as if admiring an artwork about to fall into his hands.
His gaze greedily swept over every inch of the Saintess's skin.
“Stop pretending. Did you really think I wouldn't see through such a clumsy trap?”
“You lured me here, wanting your companions to ambush me?”
A sneer of absolute control played on his face. His strength as a High-tier Transcendent gave him the confidence to be fearless.
“But I don't care... Do you know? From the very first moment I laid eyes on you, I swore I would have you!”
“You are so holy, you should be far away from all filth—including men!”
His tone suddenly grew agitated and furious.
“But I saw it when I was tracking you!”
“That black-haired mage, he got so close to you!”
“You actually allowed him to get near you! You are unchaste! You don't deserve this holiness!”
Mad possessiveness intertwined with distorted affection, contorting his face.
“Once I've had my fill of you, I'll first kill that man who touched you, and then end your life with my own hands.”
“In the end... I will go to hell with you! We will be together forever.”
Facing this frenzied confession and accusation, Eve remained with her eyes closed.
Yet, the corners of her lips curved into an extremely faint, mysterious smile.
She did not even speak a single word.
Yet, this silent response and that slight smile were like a spark dropped into a barrel of oil,
completely igniting the Lust Demon's remaining sanity.
“What are you laughing at?!”
He growled. Unable to restrain himself any longer, he lunged forward, wanting to taste her sweetness.
The instant he moved,
a sharp whistling sound cut through the air, right against his back!
The sneer on the Lust Demon's face did not fade.
The reaction speed of a High-tier Transcendent assassin allowed him to spin around in an instant.
His hand, wrapped in dense, powerful energy, suddenly grabbed outward!
“Crack!”
The steel blade of a longsword was shattered by his bare hand!
He looked at Elvia, whose sneak attack had failed, his eyes filled with mockery.
“Your Highness, is this all you've got? You can't even get close to me...”
But mid-sentence, his heart suddenly sank.
Something was wrong!
How did a High-tier High Rank knight sneak up behind him so silently that he only noticed her when the blade was right on him?
He was a High-tier Transcendent!
A true powerhouse of the Royal Capital.
And an assassin, who was most proficient in concealment!
Just as this unease surfaced,
he saw that Elvia's face showed no panic from her failed sneak attack.
Instead, she wore a sly, triumphant grin.
She pointed her slender finger to his left.
“There's another one over there~”
The Lust Demon was startled and dodged to the side almost purely on instinct, while warily glancing in the direction Elvia was pointing.
There was no one there!
He had been tricked!
“Hum—!”
A violent, cold, and destructive wave of energy exploded behind him like an erupting volcano!
A fatal sense of danger pierced his mind!
He had no time to turn around before an irresistible force slammed violently into his back!
“Boom!!”
The arrow fired by Theia was wrapped in a pitch-black, almost solid demon energy, sounding like a roar from the abyss.
Wherever the arrow passed, the air tore and warped, and the resulting gale ground the gravel on the ground into fine dust!
An arrow of Low-tier Transcendent rank, enhanced by the most violent demon energy, actually unleashed power comparable to a High-tier Transcendent.
This arrow struck the Lust Demon squarely in the back.
His protective energy shattered instantly.
He was sent flying, crashing heavily against the stone wall.
The crisp sound of breaking bones was clearly audible, and the blood spraying from his mouth stained his chest red.
The arrow severely wounded him, but his vitality as a High-tier Transcendent kept him from dying immediately.
He struggled and roared, trying to conceal himself using his assassin instincts.
However, Theia gave him no such chance.
Even as the Lust Demon was sent flying, she was already lunging forward, pursuing him closely.
As he collapsed, she pinned him down with her foot.
Her boot, wreathed in demon energy, stomped heavily onto his chest, forcing his newly raised head back into the dirt.
At this moment, Theia's eyes gleamed with a violent red light fueled by her demon energy.
Her usual elven elegance was completely gone, replaced by pure, ruthless intent to kill.
She looked down from above, her movements were swift as lightning as she repeatedly plucked her bowstring!
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Four arrows pierced with absolute precision through the Lust Demon's wrists and ankles!
The bones in his joints were instantly blown to splinters by the demon energy-infused arrows!
Almost simultaneously, the 【Shroud of the Gloomy Night】 descended, completely swallowing and neutralizing the agonizing shriek that was about to escape his throat.
Confirming that his limbs were completely ruined and he had no power to resist, Theia did not pause for a second, drawing her bowstring to the limit once more.
The arrowhead, wrapped in lethal demon energy, pointed steadily right before the Lust Demon's eyes, which were filled with despair, terror, and disbelief.
“Wait a moment.”
The Saintess's voice softly rang out.
Theia raised an eyebrow and looked at Lin Gui not far away.
Lin Gui nodded slightly.
Yet, Theia's hands holding the bow remained as steady as a rock, the arrowhead firmly locked onto the Lust Demon's head.
Even if the opponent was already crippled with his hands and feet blown to pieces, as long as he showed even a single trace of suspicious behavior, Theia would blow his head off without hesitation.
Eve walked over to the Lust Demon with slow steps and squatted down gracefully, that pure, gentle smile still on her face.
She leaned in slightly, and in a volume only the two of them could hear, she softly said to the despairing Lust Demon:
“You're as stupid as a half-castrated boar. With a face and attitude like yours, you think you're worthy of touching me?”
“Go to hell and lick a demon's ass, you piece of trash.”
The Lust Demon's eyes bulged. Even his excruciating pain seemed to be overshadowed by absolute shock at this moment.
What did he just hear?
These... these vulgar words actually came from the mouth of the pure, flawless Saintess?!
Having spoken her mind, Eve stood up and nodded gently to Theia.
Theia released her fingers from the bowstring.
“Splat!”
Flesh and blood splattered.
The Lust Demon, who possessed a terrifying reputation in the Royal Capital, had his head blown apart instantly, losing all signs of life.
“Let's go!”
Lin Gui uttered a low shout, and his mana surged.
【Levitation】 was precisely cast on the three women.
Controlling his staff, he guided them as they floated up, silently slipping into the entrance of a narrow tunnel not far away that led to a higher vantage point.
Lin Gui had scouted this position beforehand; it offered an excellent field of view.
They could clearly see the area below where the Lust Demon's corpse lay.
Moreover, it was shielded by massive stalactites and rock protrusions, making it extremely well-concealed.
Although the 【Shroud of the Gloomy Night】 had muffled the sound, the destruction caused by Theia's arrow, packed with violent demon energy, was simply too massive.
The huge crater in the stone wall, the spiderweb-like cracks all over the ground, and the turbulent energy still lingering in the air all clearly indicated that a brief but intense battle had just taken place here.
This disturbance would not escape Caesar and his men, who were close by.
And this was exactly the outcome Lin Gui wanted.
Startling the snake to lure it out of its hole.
Compared to the relatively enclosed and structurally complex No. 3 Mine, this area connecting multiple branch tunnels was exceptionally open.
The ceiling was higher, and the underground space was larger.
Most importantly, there were very few obstacles.
It was highly unfavorable for an assassin trying to conceal themselves.
In the shadows of the mine ceiling, the air warped slightly. Lin Gui and the three women sat on the rocks, silently staring at the corpse below.
“Theia, if we fight later, remember not to use your demon energy.”
Lin Gui's voice was kept extremely low, echoing softly within their cramped hiding space.
Hearing this, Elvia could not help but turn her head to look at him, her golden hair brushing against his ear.
“Why? With that demon energy enhancement, a half-demon's combat strength skyrockets to the High-tier Transcendent rank.”
“Combined with your ridiculous concealment magic, it shouldn't be hard to kill the remaining four if you work together, right?”
She paused, her tone carrying a hint of deliberate provocation.
“Or are you... getting soft-hearted?”
“What if one of those people is a 'good person' who has never done any evil? Would killing him weigh on your conscience?”
She leaned even closer as she spoke.
Her warm breath practically tickled Lin Gui's ear, her voice hushed and heavy.
“I don't really like this kind of personality.”
“If you want to survive in this era, you'd better discard your insignificant values.”
“You have to be ruthless, merciless, and always ready to stab someone in the back.”
Lin Gui gave her a flat glance.
That calm, emotionless gaze made Elvia choke on her next words.
He spoke, his voice completely flat.
“Once Caesar is dead, won't the forces under his control naturally fall into your hands?”
“Of course you can't wait to use my blade to kill him.”
Elvia's expression stiffened. Caught red-handed, she coughed twice to hide her embarrassment.
“Well... although that is part of the reason, I am also looking out for you.”
“If you don't pull up the weeds by their roots, you're just letting the tiger return to the mountain. Be careful not to suffer for it later!”
“Suffer for it?” Lin Gui chuckled softly, a trace of mockery in his voice.
“In a few days, Theia and I will be leaving the Royal Capital.”
“How are they going to cross the perilous wilderness just to seek revenge on me?”
Elvia was momentarily speechless.
Lin Gui continued, his tone turning a fraction colder.
“The reason I plan to spare their lives is simply because I'm annoyed.”
“Just the thought of inadvertently helping those damn nobles get rid of a major thorn in their side makes me extremely annoyed.”
At the very least, Caesar had to live.
Lin Gui still wanted to see if this guy had the ability to blow that damn palace sky-high.
Having finished speaking, Lin Gui gave Elvia a cold look.
Elvia was looked at so intensely that cold sweat almost broke out on her neck. She quickly waved her hands to clarify.
“Hey! I'm telling you, when you mention 'nobles' in the future, can you not always drag me into it?!”
“It's true that I'm a noble, but I'm a good noble!”
The corner of Lin Gui's mouth curved into a tiny arc.
“The gatekeeper of... noble morality's high standards?”
The corner of Elvia's mouth twitched violently, and she decided to stop bickering with him.
After a brief, silent clash, their surroundings fell back into a dead silence.
Theia lay flat beside them, her sharp gaze scanning the empty mine below.
After waiting for a long time without seeing any movement, she could not help but whisper in confusion, “Why haven't they come over yet? Did they not hear such a massive commotion?”
Lin Gui's gaze remained locked onto every single corner of the mine below, his voice deep.
“While Elvia and I were bickering, they already arrived.”
“They're here?” Theia grew even more puzzled, straining her eyes.
“Where? Why can't I see them?”
Hearing this, Elvia let out a scoff of superiority.
“Ignorant half-demon.”
“As top-tier assassins of the High-tier Transcendent rank, concealment is their ultimate survival skill. How could they let you see through them so easily?”
She was right.
Assassins, a branch specialized from the warrior class, had poured almost all their training into concealment, perception, burst power, and defense penetration.
A powerful assassin could even hide within the shadow of a single stone, patiently waiting for the moment their prey let down their guard to launch a fatal strike that concentrated their lifetime of cultivation.
For that life-or-death blow, their patience was often unbelievably long.
In fact, shortly after Lin Gui had hidden his group, Caesar and his men had already slipped silently into this No. 2 Mine.
However, they had made the same choice as Lin Gui.
Conceal, and search for the enemy.
Thus, a bizarre balance was formed in this vast underground space.
Lin Gui could not see through the top-tier concealment techniques of Caesar's group, which blended magic, energy, and items.
Similarly, Caesar and his men could not pierce through Lin Gui's 【Shroud of the Gloomy Night】.
“Are we just going to waste time waiting like this?”
Elvia frowned and looked at Lin Gui, her tone carrying a habitual trace of skepticism that she herself didn't even notice.
“Lin Gui, can your mana hold up?”
As someone who had followed Lin Gui all the way from Caran City, through the Whispering Forest and Withered Rift, to the Royal Capital, Elvia knew very well that when it came to mana endurance, the man beside her... was highly advanced.
On the surface, he could lead them through dangerous areas in a single day.
But in reality, most of his mana was consumed by maintaining the 【Shroud of the Gloomy Night】.
【Levitation】, being a Novice Magic, consumed very little.
But the 【Shroud of the Gloomy Night】 was a proper high-level spell, and maintaining it was no small burden.
On their journey through the wilderness, as long as they didn't encounter demons with ridiculous strength, Lin Gui would avoid using it as much as possible.
Saintess Eve, who had been quiet all this time, smiled faintly and spoke in an ethereal voice.
“Do you need me to transfer some mana to you?”
She raised her pale hand, a faint magical glow gathering at her fingertips.
Lin Gui nodded without standing on ceremony. “Yes, please.”
Eve softly chanted a brief incantation and pressed her palm lightly against Lin Gui's back.
A gentle, pure stream of mana flowed like a creek, slowly pouring into Lin Gui's body.
The 【Mana Restoration】 spell she cast was extremely efficient.
The pure mana replenishment perfectly offset the continuous consumption of the 【Shroud of the Gloomy Night】.
Lin Gui could feel his slowly depleting mana reserves stabilize.
And so, Lin Gui's group, hidden up in the ceiling, entered a silent standoff of waiting with the invisible enemies below.
This wait lasted for a full four hours.
Elvia looked down at the mine, which was still devoid of any movement.
She couldn't help but whisper to Lin Gui again, “How long do we have to wait?”
“For you, it shouldn't be hard to see through their disguises, right?”
She had this confidence.
Although Lin Gui was not a professional assassin, his understanding of and expertise in concealment magic were far superior to Caesar and the others below.
Though the assassins' methods of concealment were diverse and integrated multiple systems, Elvia believed Lin Gui had the ability to find a flaw.
Yet, he made no move, simply wasting time waiting here.
Elvia did not understand what Lin Gui was waiting for.
Lin Gui did not answer. His gaze remained sharp as he scanned the area below.
However, a portion of his mind had sunk into his silent system interface.
He was waiting.
Waiting for that crucial system notification.
Waiting for the status of the commission 【Find the Tomb of Queen Catriona】 to switch from 'In Progress' to 'Completed.'
Only by obtaining the reward, the 【Eyes of the Netherworld】, would he truly possess the power to see through everything in this darkness, and have the trump card to face the real danger that lay ahead.
Rate on N.U.
