The flying boat Xu Chen and his companions were riding on had been flying for several days and was now close to the location of Star Dance! Along the way, they also witnessed various scenes in the Mengyan Kingdom. Besides the barren plains and ravines, there were wailing souls everywhere, as well as some large buildings or projects that seemed never-ending. Countless pitiful slaves worked here tirelessly, without seeing the light of day. There were also a large number of Mengyan citizens, most of whom were demon guards, watching over them. Any slight mistake would result in the slaves being viciously whipped by the demons.
However, the slaves were immortal, so they either endured endless labor or endless torture.
At the thought of Izayoi's soul suffering in this place for so many years, Xu Chen clenched his fists tightly, making a cracking sound. He wished to kill all the demon citizens of the Mengyan Kingdom!
However, his purpose for this journey was to rescue Star Dance and bring back Izayoi's soul fragments. Therefore, he couldn't afford any distractions here! Izayoi's fluctuation had disappeared and hadn't appeared again, which greatly worried Xu Chen. No matter what, he had to first rescue Star Dance before anything else!
Star Dance hadn't been in the Mengyan Kingdom for long, so he hoped she hadn't suffered too much. Along the way, although they encountered many demons, they hadn't been attacked. It seemed that these Mengyan citizens had their own strict duties and wouldn't pay attention to anything other than the slaves. They seemed to live without any thoughts of their own, just like those slaves.
Xu Chen couldn't help but sneer. He thought he was the slave owner, but little did he know that he was just a tool enslaved by his own mind.
In the distance, a lonely tower stood on the barren plain. Xu Chen looked at the tower and said, "Star Dance's fluctuation is coming from there! Star Dance, I'm here!"
"Xu Chen! There might be a fierce battle ahead! Although the Mengyan Kingdom hasn't made a move against us so far, I don't think they will sit back and let us take away Star Dance! In that case, what face does the Mengyan Kingdom's ruler have?" Saki reminded.
A strong fighting intent flashed in Xu Chen's eyes. "Hmph, just what I expected!"
The ruler of the Mengyan Kingdom imprisoned Star Dance and tortured Izayoi's soul. If he didn't make a move, Xu Chen would go find him and settle the score!
"Everyone, get ready for battle!" Xu Chen shouted.
Qingyin stood in the center of the Four Heavenly Demons and shouted, "Formation of the Four Heavenly Demons!"
A strong magical energy fluctuation arose between the five women. They flew together and formed a battle formation in front of the tower.
Xu Chen also leaped into the sky and walked in the air, approaching the formation.
"Listen up, people inside! Hand over Star Dance! Otherwise, there will be no mercy! Even if you are wandering spirits, I have a place to exile you!" Xu Chen's anger was evident as he shouted towards the tower.
However, there was no response for a long time.
"Something is strange!" Qingyin said.
The Mengyan Kingdom was a place where anyone could come and go as they pleased. By challenging them like this without any response, wouldn't it invite ridicule from the powerful beings of the world?
Xu Chen felt that something was off after no one came out for a long time. He released a light hammer and smashed open a window at the top of the tower. Then, he flew in.
"Xu Chen! Be careful, there might be traps!" Qingyin and the others from the Four Heavenly Demons formation quickly followed.
Inside the tower, chaos reigned. Many engraved weapons were scattered around, and a few slaves seemed to be counting and packaging the weapons. They didn't react when the wall was smashed open, they just stared at the young man blankly.
Several large demon slave masters wielded whips and clubs and attacked Xu Chen.
However, these mere overseer slave masters were no match for Xu Chen. Several shining blades were conjured beside Xu Chen and flew towards the demons. With just one exchange, the demon overseers were eliminated.
"They are actually so weak?!" Qingyin and the others, who were originally planning to utilize their formation, were also surprised.
The remaining overseers abandoned the slave, Wushengnu, and fled for their lives.
Xu Chen picked up a carved weapon with an imprint on it, feeling that it resonated with his own attributes. "Sister Star Dance!"
Xu Chen rushed towards one of the Wushengnu who was engraving inscriptions on the sheath of a carved weapon. The Wushengnu was a pale and thin young man. Xu Chen grabbed his collar and asked, "Where is Sister Star Dance?"
The Wushengnu did not resist but obediently answered, "Master Star Dance is the best engraver on this tower. All the weapons here are engraved by her. She is in the top room on the tower..."
"Sister Star Dance!" Xu Chen let go of the Wushengnu and ran directly towards the spiral stairs leading to the top of the tower.
"Xu Chen!" Qingyin and the others followed behind.
"Sister Star Dance!!!"
With a loud crash, Xu Chen broke down the door to the top room and rushed in!
Inside the room, there were numerous engraved weapons, as well as various engraving materials and tools. It seemed like someone had just been using them, but the room was empty.
"How could this be?! I clearly felt Sister Star Dance's presence here!!!" Xu Chen exclaimed in shock. He carefully sensed the direction of the presence and discovered it was coming from a small room inside.
Xu Chen pushed open the door to the small room, revealing a shabby bedroom. There was a small broken window in the room. Although the room was dilapidated, it still carried the scent of Star Dance. It was where Star Dance rested when she engraved weapons.
"Hmm!?" Xu Chen noticed that Star Dance's clothes were scattered on the bed. He walked over, picked them up, and found not only clothes but also underwear. However, Star Dance herself was nowhere to be seen.
"Xu Chen! Where is Sister Star Dance?! "Qingyin also rushed in.
Xu Chen held Star Dance's clothes in his hand, looking worried.
"Sister Star Dance, she's no longer here," Xu Chen said.
"But didn't you sense Sister Star Dance's presence?" Qingyin asked.
Xu Chen held the clothes that still carried Star Dance's warmth and fragrance, saying, "The presence is coming from these clothes! I know it sounds unbelievable, but it seems someone has used some means to make these clothes continue to emit the soul's presence even after the owner has left."
"Then where is she now? What about her own presence?"
Xu Chen lowered his head. "For now, I can't feel it."
Just then, suddenly, a woman in a black robe appeared behind Xu Chen and the others. She had no face, only a black silhouette. "You're a step too late, my dear guests."
"Who are you?" Xu Chen and the others cautiously surrounded her.
"Hehe, I'm no one. I'm just the soul servant of my master. Even if you kill me, my master won't care. I'm only here to deliver an invitation to you all."
"Invitation?"
"Yes! Deep within our Mengyan Kingdom, there are eighty-eight Heavenly Pillars. These pillars directly support the sky realm. Between the sky realm and the demon realm, there is a resting platform on one of the pillars, and that is where the Mirage City is located! My master, the creator of the Mengyan Kingdom, will hold a wedding for his only son, Prince Meng Gu Da, in seven days. At that time, the superpowers of the heaven, human, and demon realms will gather here, making it an unprecedented feast in the ancient demon realm! My master said that if you can come here without being influenced by the soul's dark wind, it means you are remarkable, and he invites you to attend his son's wedding!"
"Hmph, we don't have time for this now!" Qingyin said.
"No, my master says you will definitely attend! Because the groom of this wedding is my master's only son, Meng Gu Da, and the bride is the newly acclaimed number one weapon engraver in the three realms, a woman named Star Dance."
"What??!!"
"Well then, good day to you all in a week!" The servant left behind a black invitation with golden writing and disappeared into a black mist.
Xu Chen picked up the invitation and exclaimed, "Star Dance, Meng Yanguo, what do you think you're doing?!"
"This is too sudden, Xu Chen. I'm almost certain there's a conspiracy behind this," Xia Zi said.
"Whether it's a conspiracy or a real wedding, I can't believe they would make Star Dance work so hard and even betroth her to their son! Hmph! Such a grand wedding, gathering all the three realms, but I will make sure to cause a scene like never before!" Xu Chen crushed the invitation into powder in his hand.
