The maid led Lin Ming and the other two toward the guest rooms of the City Lord's Mansion. She stopped before a door that looked undeniably luxurious. Turning to Yuhan He, she said, "Miss Yuhan, this is your room."
Yuhan He darted over, opened the door, and stepped inside. A moment later, she let out a delighted cry: "Wow! It's so huge!"
Lin Ming peeked through the door crack and saw the scene inside. He was instantly startled.
"Holy crap! This is even more luxurious than that hotel suite! Do officials really live in such nice places?" Lin Ming thought to himself.
"Hey, where are our rooms?" Lin Ming asked anxiously. Seeing how lavish Yuhan He's room was, he figured his own couldn't be much worse.
The maid looked at Lin Ming and said flatly, "Your rooms are right across the hall." She pointed to two small rooms opposite Yuhan He's. It was obvious they were servant quarters—nowhere near the same level as Miss Yuhan's room.
Lin Ming gazed at the indicated rooms and was utterly dismayed. Just as he was about to protest, Rosen grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Thank you, Miss Maid. You may go now."
"Then I shall take my leave," the maid said with a bow before walking away.
"Hey! Why did you stop me, old man?" Lin Ming complained to Rosen after she left.
"No reason. Being close to the young lady's room makes protection easier," Rosen replied flatly.
"Hmph!" Lin Ming couldn't argue with that logic, so he just pursed his lips. *Ah~ Do luxurious rooms just not suit me?*
Just then, Yuhan He opened her door and poked her head out. "Senior, don't forget tomorrow, okay?"
"Got it, got it," Lin Ming replied helplessly, waving his hand.
Hearing this, Yuhan He happily closed the door.
"I'll go rest too!" Lin Ming turned toward one of the small rooms. Partly because of Rosen—he had been glaring murderously at him ever since Yuhan He spoke.
After watching Lin Ming enter his room, Rosen didn't head to the other room. Instead, he walked outside. "Ah~ When you're old, you can't sleep this early. I'll sneak a couple of bottles from the City Lord's Mansion kitchen."
...
Inside Lin Ming's room.
Lin Ming stepped in and was instantly shocked. The room was... tiny. He felt utterly cheated—he'd seen through the door crack how magnificent Yuhan He's room was!
He looked at the plain space: just a bed and a toilet. It wasn't even as good as his Academy room. He felt powerless. Damn, this really was a servant's quarters. He wanted to switch, but his duty was to protect Yuhan He. For now, he'd just have to grit his teeth and bear it.
Lin Ming sat cross-legged on the hard bed. As usual, he began internal visualization cultivation. He observed the sixth Seal within his Qi Sea. Gazing down at the small, unsealed portion of his Spirit Sea, he sensed the Spirit Energy within. He sighed slightly. *Damn, no change at all! How many years to fill this part of the Spirit Sea?*
Well, it wasn't zero change—just too little to mention. Lin Ming withdrew from his internal state. He lay spread-eagled on the bed and closed his eyes to sleep. He was very tired after eating so much. He needed to digest the food to replenish energy. After all, the gap in his heart drained his Vitality, and food was his only way to barely compensate. Soon, steady breathing filled the room. Lin Ming was asleep.
...
It was a vast green land. A youth wearing a Spectral God Mask stood clad in blood-red Fierce Armor. The armor covered almost his entire body, with only joints left open for movement. Countless fierce beasts were carved into it, adding to his ferocity. Behind him floated twelve dim Crimson Spheres.
The youth stood on the grass, his scarlet eyes behind the mask fixed on a massive city hundreds of miles ahead. The city was enormous, like a steel dragon. A golden light enveloped it, making it look sacred.
But now, countless people filled the area outside—standing and flying. Each radiated immense power. Their expressions were grave, as if waiting for something.
The youth took a step forward. With each stride, he drew closer to the city, and his killing intent grew stronger. He walked straight to the gates. The crowd saw a figure slowly materializing in the distance. Their faces showed fear, excitement, hatred...
In an instant, the youth stood before the city. He gazed indifferently at the crowd, as if they were nothing. Coldly, he uttered, "Those who block my path—die!"
"Kill him!"
"Kill him! Absolutely cannot let him pass!"
...
A wave of killing intent erupted. Then, from sky and ground, countless Magics, Sword Qis, and light beams bombarded the youth.
He watched the attacks without a flicker of emotion. He raised his right hand. A Crimson Sphere flew from behind him and transformed into a Heavenly Patterned Halberd. He grabbed it and swept forward. A red blur flashed—all attacks were swatted away. Pointing the halberd ahead, he declared, "Then all of you—die!"
The halberd shifted into a spear. He leaped powerfully into the air. Gripping it tightly, he gathered blood-red Spirit Energy onto the tip. With a mighty throw, he hurled it toward the crowd's center. A terrifying whoosh tore through the air.
The crowd activated defenses. A massive semi-circular barrier formed around them. But it was useless. The Blood Spear, carrying endless Crimson Aura, crashed into it. *Crack!* On contact, the barrier shattered like glass.
The Blood Spear pierced through and landed in the crowd. A massive explosion echoed. A blood-red wave spread outward. Countless died or were injured. The youth flashed to the impact point.
He pulled out the spear and began slaughtering everyone around him mercilessly. The air filled with a strong stench of blood. The dim Crimson Spheres behind him greedily absorbed the surrounding Crimson Aura. With each absorption, they grew redder.
"Since it's like this, then all of you die!"
The scene shifted. Corpses littered the ground everywhere—a Mountain of Corpses and Sea of Blood. Rivers of blood flowed. The sky was stained red. The once-glorious city was now ruins. In the blood-red sky, several figures flew like Heavenly Gods. They looked down at the youth with a flicker of fear. Especially the two young men at the forefront—one golden, one white—for this devastation was caused by him alone.
The youth's armor was riddled with cracks, layered with dried blood. The Crimson Spheres behind him were now dark red, almost purple and black. A White Sword was embedded beside him. In his arms, he held a silver-haired girl in white robes. Blood gushed from her chest. His eyes were filled with sorrow and rage—he couldn't stop her Vitality from draining no matter how much Spirit Energy he poured in.
The girl peeled off the broken mask on his face, revealing a stiff expression. She caressed his cheek and spoke haltingly, "Lin... Ming, your face still has no... expression. You should... smile more."
An awkward smile appeared on his stiff face. The girl let out a "Pfft" laugh, but coughed up blood. He immediately wiped the smile away. Blood trickled from her mouth, yet she smiled gently. "Lin Ming, I hope you can live happily. I'll always be with you."
As she finished speaking, her whole body turned into glowing specks that scattered. The light, wrapping the White Sword, flew into his body.
The youth stood frozen. His eyes turned blood-red—pupil-less, only red. A blood-red tear flowed from his Blood Eye. An astonishing aura of Madness and Slaughter surged skyward, turning the heavens blood-red.
"Aaaah!" A roar erupted, filled with brutality, killing intent, unwillingness, and pain.
"Die! Die! All the gods! Must die!!!!!!"
...
"Aaaah!!!!!!"
Lin Ming screamed and sat bolt upright in bed.
