Caesar collapsed onto the ground, his eyes staring hollowly at the rocks at the top of the mine.
He looked like a child who had lost everything and even forgotten how to cry.
His lifelong ambition, his plans built upon enduring humiliation and heavy burdens—even the power he had not hesitated to sacrifice his companions for—had turned into an absurd and pathetic joke in the face of those insignificant strands of hair.
Everything that had sustained his will to live and fight seemed to have completely crumbled at this moment.
As an old rival, Elvia had, in a way, witnessed Caesar's journey: how he had grown from a hatred-filled youth into the current leader of the rebels.
Watching him in this state of complete breakdown, she felt no sense of schadenfreude whatsoever. Instead, a complex emotion bordering on pity spread through her heart.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that any words at this moment would be pale and hollow.
The situation had turned completely.
That terrifying Soul-Slaying Blade was darting around inside the mine like a headless fly, bombarding the places where Lin Gui had hidden the Saintess's hair.
The hard dirt and stone were like paper before it. Every impact erupted with shocking energy.
But anyone could see that, without a continuous drive of soul energy, it could not sustain this crazy venting for long; its power would soon be exhausted, and it would fall completely silent.
Clearly, the greatest threat had been removed and they were completely safe, but Elvia didn't feel a hint of relief.
Her chest felt like it was blocked by a massive boulder, heavy and suffocating.
Given her past nature, she would have already clung to Lin Gui by now, using charming words and body language to "reward" him and solidify her relationship with this partner who had once again shown incredible means. But now... she didn't even dare to look Lin Gui in the eye.
Caesar's blood-and-tears accusation and the shame surging from deep within made her feel as if she were standing naked before him.
All her meticulously crafted disguises and pride had been stripped away, leaving only the unseemliness underneath.
"Let him go, Theia," Lin Gui's voice rang out calmly.
Theia withdrew the dagger pressed against Caesar's neck as instructed. She backed away two steps but remained vigilant.
Caesar lay completely limp on the ground, his eyes lifeless, as if he had lost the strength even to breathe.
His fighting spirit and all his mental energy seemed to have been invisibly crushed by Lin Gui along with the utter failure of his plan.
Lin Gui walked up to him and looked down at this man who seemed to have aged decades in an instant. After a moment of silence, he spoke.
"Giving up already?"
"Your main force—the over two hundred core rebels outside—has suffered no losses; they were just knocked out."
Caesar's eyes moved slightly, but they didn't focus.
Lin Gui continued in his flat tone.
"You lost a few Transcendent assassins; that is indeed a heavy blow."
"But what about the Royal Capital? John's Holy Knights have been wiped out, and the Legendary Duke Sam of the Twilight Fortress was crippled by you."
"In the current Carter Royal Capital, how many Legendary pillars are left that can be openly mobilized?"
He paused and threw out the most critical piece of information.
"Furthermore, as far as I know, the bloody struggle between the Eldest Princess and the Third Prince, Charles, is about to begin."
"The interior of the Royal Capital is empty, the top-tier forces are damaged, and the nobles are fighting among themselves..."
"Isn't this an unprecedented opportunity for you?"
"Don't forget what you buried under the Royal Palace."
After saying this, Lin Gui ignored Caesar and turned to walk toward Viper, who was lying heavily wounded on the other side.
This was all he could do. If Caesar couldn't get back up himself, then he wasn't fit to be the leader of the rebels or a great enemy of the nobles.
Behind him came Viper's weak voice.
"Mage... Lin Gui... Thank you... for saving my life... just now..."
Lin Gui looked at him.
Viper gasped for breath with difficulty, a hint of plea in his eyes.
"I... I'm afraid I won't make it... Can I... trouble you... to bring a message to my brother in Caran City... say... tell him that I..."
"Tell him yourself," Lin Gui interrupted.
Viper was stunned.
Holy Saintess Eve gave a shallow smile, stepped forward, and knelt beside him.
She gripped her staff once more and began to chant softly.
Transcendent Rank Light Healing spell—Hymn of Life.
A soft, milky-white light enveloped Viper's body, continuously repairing the wounds on his frame.
What was even more startling was that the light seemed to contain a warm and steady power that far surpassed ordinary magic.
"Is this... the power of faith?"
Lin Gui keenly perceived the difference.
Eve nodded slightly, focusing on maintaining the spell.
Under the powerful healing spell infused with the power of faith, the withered and terrifying wound on Viper's ribs where the Soul-Slaying Blade had grazed him actually regained color at a speed visible to the naked eye. Wisps of black energy were forced out and purified.
The strange poison eroding his heart and veins was also rapidly dispelled under this sacred light.
After just a few moments, although Viper was still weak, his complexion had improved significantly; at least his life was no longer in danger.
Feeling the long-absent ease and vitality within him, he looked at his hands in disbelief.
Immediately after, he struggled to thank Lin Gui and Eve.
"No need," Lin Gui raised a hand to stop him.
"If you still want revenge, I suggest you head directly back to Caran City."
Before entering the mine, Elvia had told Lin Gui all the information about the assassins under Caesar, including their grudges.
A flash of struggle and hatred appeared in Viper's eyes: "I... my wife and son..."
"Don't let hatred consume you; you are not alone now."
Lin Gui looked at him, his tone flat yet carrying a strange persuasiveness.
"You are already a High-tier Transcendent. With this strength, you can entirely allow your brother's family in Caran City to live a stable and prosperous life."
"You won't have to worry about being oppressed by nobles, nor will you have to fear starving or freezing to death."
"Don't you want to see them safe? Do you want your brother to encounter misfortune one day, just as your wife and son did?"
He paused before continuing.
"Accumulate power—not just martial force, but also wealth, connections, and intelligence."
"When you have enough power, revenge might only require a single sentence or a look, rather than throwing your life away like this, trying to strike a stone with an egg."
Viper fell silent, the flames of hatred in his eyes gradually replaced by complex thoughts.
He thought of the hope-filled life described in his brother's letter and then thought of Lin Gui's words.
Ultimately, he took a deep breath and nodded heavily.
"I... I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Lord Mage."
Before leaving, Viper seemed to remember something and whispered to Lin Gui,
"Mage Lin Gui, be careful... of the person who provided us with that artifact behind the scenes..."
"He... is a High-tier Legendary assassin."
After saying that, he gave Elvia a meaningful look.
"I believe Her Highness should know who I am talking about."
As Viper prepared to leave, Lin Gui added another instruction.
"Once you go to Caran City, if... if there is no noble oppression there and the commoners can live and work in peace... then do me a favor. Use your abilities to assist the City Lord there in managing Caran City well."
Although Viper was somewhat puzzled, he still nodded in agreement.
Then, dragging his not-yet-fully-recovered body, and with Lin Gui's authorization, he took the limp Caesar and quickly vanished into the shadowed tunnels of the mine.
Lin Gui had just turned around when he saw Elvia's face go pale, devoid of all color.
She looked as if she had been greatly frightened and suddenly rushed over, grabbing Lin Gui's arm so tightly her nails almost dug into his flesh.
Her voice carried an uncontrollable tremor and fear.
"Run!! We have to run!! Leave the Royal Capital! Leave right now!!"
Her fear was so genuine and intense that she seemed like a different person from the steady and proud woman she was before.
And just as Elvia's words fell, a notification rang out.
[Ding! Special Commission: Deliver the remains of Hero Reinhardt to the Tomb of Queen Catriona, completed.]
[Rewards being distributed...]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a special soul magic: Eyes of the Netherworld.]
A cold and strange power flooded into Lin Gui's eyes.
He felt his vision transform instantly. Colors seemed more distinct, and light became clearer.
He could even vaguely see fine energy particles floating in the air.
Even more obvious was the change in his appearance. His originally deep black pupils were rapidly fading, transforming into a cold grey shrouded in mist.
Within that grey, fine specks of light resembling soul fire seemed to slowly swirl, adding a touch of non-human mystery and eeriness to him.
Eyes of the Netherworld, activated.
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