Chapter 402

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Chapter 402: “The Truth”

“Mu Ling, in fact, your past life was the most legendary ancestor of the Mu family.”

Bai Yan’s eyes held sincerity, as if every word he spoke was absolute truth.

“And I and your ancestors were once very close friends. We fought together many times, hundreds of years ago. I regret that I couldn’t save her back then.”

“Ah…”

The sudden revelation left Mu Ling taken aback, her mind in a state of confusion.

Bai Yan lifted his head, gazing at the sky, before continuing, “This is the truth… that’s why, after meeting you, it was love at first sight for me, and I understand your preferences.”

“The familiarity you feel toward me, I’m afraid it all comes from here.”

Bai Yan spoke without a hint of hesitation. His face remained calm, his heart steady, and the lies flowed effortlessly, as if they were undeniable facts.

Mu Ling stood there, stunned.

“Surprisingly, it turned out to be like this…”

After a brief pause, she began to realize that, in a strange way, this explanation made everything seem logical.

During the final battle against the Legion of Doom, Mu Ling had already felt a strong connection to her ancestors. She had mentally prepared herself to accept that she might be their reincarnation.

“So, all of this is true?” Mu Ling asked again, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Bai Yan nodded, his expression unwavering.

His words blended truth with falsehood, leaving no clear way to discern what was real. It was up to Mu Ling to decide whether to believe them or not.

From what Bai Yan had observed of her…

Mu Ling would probably believe it.

“I understand now. I have had doubts in my heart all along, but now I finally see clearly.”

Mu Ling nodded slowly, then paused thoughtfully before saying, “Actually, I have completely forgotten all the memories of my past life. Right now, I am just Mu Ling. You don’t need to treat me differently because of who I was.”

Look!

She had fallen for it, hadn’t she?

Poor Mu Ling, a mere puppet in Bai Yan’s hands.

“But in my eyes, you have always been my friend,” Bai Yan said with a soft, genuine look. “It’s perfectly reasonable to treat your friends with kindness… Are you trying to take away that power?”

Mu Ling shook her head, “I… It doesn’t matter to me anymore. Never mind, Senior Profligate, let’s quickly settle this matter underground.”

For some reason, Mu Ling couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to Bai Yan’s gaze. It was… beyond friendship.

It felt strange.

She couldn’t quite place the emotion—it was something unfamiliar, something she had never experienced.

“Okay.”

Bai Yan didn’t want to linger on the lies any longer. It would be embarrassing if the truth came to light.

He extended his hands forward, channeling the power of Mysterious Magic. He smiled and clapped his hands together.

“Snap.”

In an instant, both of them were transported deep underground beneath the Ironcore Fortress.

The underground space was vast, far larger than the surface fortress, its ceiling reaching hundreds of meters high. It was dim and imposing, a place filled with an ancient, suffocating air.

“Look! It’s Senior Profligate!”

Bai Yan and Mu Ling soon witnessed an astonishing sight.

Hundreds of towering giants were shackled, their massive bodies forced into labor. These enormous creatures, dozens of meters tall, toiled tirelessly, digging for ores with their bare hands in the underground world.

“Ah!”

The sound of the giants’ cries echoed through the cavern. These once proud beings had lost their freedom, guarded by members of the Doomsday Race. But despite their immense strength, they dared not resist.

“What exactly are they digging?” Mu Ling asked, her curiosity piqued.

“That kind of mineral…” Bai Yan analyzed his surroundings, gathering information instantly. “It’s a critical material used for casting curses. The Doomsday Race’s weapons are forged from this mineral. It’s used for close combat, but also as a staff to amplify the effects of curses.”

“Wand?” Mu Ling asked, puzzled. “What is a wand?”

“Yes, it’s used to enhance extraordinary powers.”

Bai Yan realized something then. In the world of Noah, sorcerers didn’t use wands. In fact, the concept of “rituals” existed across all universes, but “magic”… magic was unique to Noah.

In other worlds, power systems could sometimes lead to tools like staffs, but in Noah’s world, they were unnecessary.

The strength of various power systems was difficult to measure, but Bai Yan believed that “rituals” were the most powerful system of all. They had existed since the birth of the multiverse.

Bai Yan and Mu Ling continued along a path that appeared too wide for ordinary people to traverse.

“Let’s move forward.”

Bai Yan spoke, and Mu Ling nodded.

For half an hour, they advanced, until finally, they reached an enormous and magnificent statue that loomed before them.

This statue stood at a towering height of three hundred meters, shaped like a black sun with a grayish-white sphere at its center.

There were no more slaves here—just the guardians of the Doomsday Race, clad in pitch-black armor, positioned in perfect formation. Every few steps, there was another soldier, creating an impenetrable barrier.

“This is it,” Bai Yan said. “The heavily guarded altar. ‘Ming’, the owner of the Ironcore Fortress, is praying beneath the statue of Black Abyss Deep Sea.”

After speaking, Bai Yan continued without hesitation, leading Mu Ling onward.

The soldiers were not their concern. They passed unnoticed, as if they had entered a realm untouched by the guardians.

Eventually, they approached the base of the altar.

The flower-shaped altar, beneath the Black Abyss Deep Sea, absorbed the fear of the giant slaves and offered it as a tribute to the abyss.

Bai Yan saw Ming—the owner of the Ironcore Fortress.

A colossal woman, towering at least twenty meters tall, her bronze-colored skin gleaming under the dim light. She had six arms, each holding a different weapon.

Ming knelt before the Black Abyss Deep Sea, her back to Bai Yan and Mu Ling. Her face was hidden from view.

No guards were around them.

It seemed the guards dared not approach such a majestic and terrifying presence.

A roar, like that of a wild beast, reverberated in the underground chamber.

“Reveal yourselves… two visitors from the Otherworld.”

“Has the magic been detected?” Bai Yan thought for a moment. “It’s normal for non-forbidden magic to be uncovered too.”

He nodded, smiling, as he dispelled the magic, stepping forward with Mu Ling.

Ming, once kneeling, slowly stood, causing the earth to tremble beneath her. Her massive form radiated a terrifying aura as she turned to face the two intruders.

Mu Ling felt a rush of fear grip her heart upon seeing Ming’s face. It was a terrifying visage with countless red pupils moving wildly across her face, emanating an invisible aura of dread.

If it weren’t for the fear radiating from Ming, Mu Ling would have been less frightened. After all, as a seasoned crime-hunter, she had faced many strange creatures.

Ming didn’t speak, but her voice was projected directly into the minds of Bai Yan and Mu Ling.

“You dare to enter this sacred place, a blasphemy to the Black Abyss Deep Sea… Since that is the case, I shall bestow upon you eternal fear and curse!”

Bai Yan couldn’t help but appreciate Ming’s approach. As a boss, she wasted no time with unnecessary words and went straight to the fight.

“Yes, it’s time to go, Miss Mu Ling.”

“I understand.”

Mu Ling unsheathed her sword, but before she could make a move, she felt an unnatural force taking control of her body.

[Nightsaber, fate has chosen you.]

At that moment, a familiar voice resonated in her mind.

Mu Ling took a deep breath.

“Face your sins!!”