In a dim, frigid underground chamber.
A faint, eerie green glow flickered within the secret room. A blurred figure, completely shrouded in darkness, sat cross-legged on the floor. Before him hovered a crystal ball the size of a human skull, emanating a ghostly green radiance.
Inside the crystal ball, thick mist churned, and amid the fog, several silver droplets floated.
The hazy light cast by the crystal ball illuminated the mysterious figure's aged face. His wrinkled skin clung to his cheekbones like layers of dried, old parchment, gaunt as a skull. Only those cold, green-gleaming eyes cut through the gloom—sharp as a poison-coated blade, enough to chill one's heart.
"Oh?" The green light in the old man's sunken eyes suddenly flared.
A long moment passed…
"What's going on? When did the Eighteen Kingdoms of the Northern Region become Master Beirut's forbidden territory as well?" the wizened old man murmured. "It seems Master Beirut is making an example. Best not to provoke him. Whoever does will probably end up being that chicken used to scare the monkeys."
"A pity about my silver-robed guard, though."
"Still, if the refinement succeeds this time, it would be worth the loss of all nine." The gaunt old man stared at the crystal ball before him, his gaze as greedy as a venomous snake that had spotted its prey.
Countless powerhouses across the Yulan Continent—whether those who had just entered the Saint Realm, the Saint-level strongmen who had escaped from the Gobata Plane Prison, or even… God-level experts—felt a chill run through their hearts upon hearing that voice laden with warning.
Beirut!
The sovereign of the Yulan Continent. The battle of annihilation ten thousand years ago had already cemented his standing.
O'Brien Empire, Martial God Mountain.
"That must have been Master Beirut's voice," Fain said with a furrowed brow. "The day before the Master departed for the Necropolis of the Gods, Master Beirut had already issued his orders—no one is to cause destruction in the Forest of Darkness or the Eighteen Kingdoms of the Northern Region."
Lin Lei gave a slight nod.
More than five years ago, Beirut had only relayed his message to Lin Lei, the Martial God, and the High Priest. Naturally, before the Martial God left, he had made sure to entrust matters to Fain.
"That powerful energy fluctuation just now," Lin Lei estimated. "It was most likely caused by Master Beirut killing a strongman who had been slaughtering people freely in the Eighteen Kingdoms of the Northern Region." Even Lin Lei was shaken by Master Beirut's decisiveness.
Clearly, Master Beirut would show no mercy.
"Oh, right—Lin Lei." Fain's eyes suddenly lit up. "Killing indiscriminately in the Eighteen Kingdoms of the Northern Region? How could an ordinary Saint-level powerhouse go on a rampage like that? Do you think it could be…?"
Lin Lei's heart stirred at the words. "You mean the perpetrator behind the Dead Cities—the silver-robed expert?"
Fain nodded. "If that's the case, then hasn't the perpetrator already been killed?"
Lin Lei pondered for a moment. "Fain, you may be right. But you could also be wrong. The person Master Beirut just killed, the one who caused such a powerful energy fluctuation, isn't necessarily that silver-robed expert. Even if it is, whether there's only one silver-robed expert or many is still hard to say."
"Lin Lei, what you're saying is…" Fain was visibly surprised.
In Fain's mind, he had always assumed there was a single culprit. Subconsciously, he had pictured one Saint-level strongman with some hidden agenda. The idea that there might be a whole group of silver-robed experts had never occurred to him.
But Lin Lei's thinking was different.
Knowing that the 'Mysterious Religion' operated within the Baruch Empire and deducing the existence of a God-level expert, Lin Lei had grown suspicious. The strongmen appearing on the Yulan Continent this time were not merely Saint-level peak powerhouses—there were very likely God-level experts among them as well.
To dare carry out Dead City incidents with such brazen audacity.
It was almost certainly the work of subordinates commanded by a God-level expert. And those subordinates probably numbered more than one.
"Fain." The moment Lin Lei considered that a God-level expert might be behind it all, he felt uncertain. He turned to Fain and said, "Sitting here thinking won't help us find the culprit. How about this—you and I set off together for the Forest of Darkness and make some inquiries."
"The Forest of Darkness?" Fain started.
The Forest of Darkness was something Fain felt genuinely apprehensive about. Even the Martial God had to look up to Master Beirut. As a mere Saint-level cultivator, Fain would feel some fear at the mere thought of meeting Beirut.
"It'll be fine. Come with me." Lin Lei had a measure of confidence.
Setting aside his own relationship with Bei Bei, even Beirut's three sons—Harry, Hart, and Harvey—were on good terms with Lin Lei. He was only going to ask a few questions. Lin Lei believed it should go smoothly.
"All right, I'll go with you." Fain nodded.
Without delay, Fain gave his instructions to the Martial God's sect members, then departed with Lin Lei. The two flew straight off from Martial God Mountain, vanishing into the dark night sky. Fain was exceptionally skilled at speed, and Lin Lei, who had comprehended the 'Dao of Velocity,' moved at a pace that was frankly absurd.
The two quickly arrived at the Forest of Darkness.
At the heart of the Forest of Darkness, that living metal castle sat in its place. Seeing the castle from midair, Lin Lei felt a chill run through him. He estimated that this colossal metallic life-form was far more powerful than the Insect Queen Lashabel.
Lin Lei and Fain descended to the ground before the metal castle.
In the black of night, the metal castle rested quietly in silence. No sound at all could be heard from within.
Fain and Lin Lei exchanged a glance.
"What do we do? Shout from out here?" Fain said with a wry smile. "Or go inside? I've heard that if you don't possess God-level strength, the moment you step inside the metal castle, it will attack you."
"Don't worry." Lin Lei smiled.
A moment later—
*Swoosh!* A streak of black light shot straight out from within the metal castle and landed on Lin Lei.