The sudden gravitational pressure was many times stronger than the field previously imposed by Master Zheng.

Even powerful martial artists like Yang Zhilu and Fei Xiao could only lie prone on the ground, unable to move under the terrifying gravity.

However, neither Yang Zhilu nor Fei Xiao were in despair, because both knew that Xia Chan still had a trump card up her sleeve.

She was an Envoy of the Holy Boi Religion, and more importantly, its young miss. How could the Holy Boi Religion Ancestor not grant her some means of self-preservation for a dangerous mission?

***

Lying on the ground, Xia Chan struggled to raise her head. She looked at Luo Xiu, who was pinned down nearby, and spoke. "Dr. Chen... I trust I don't need to elaborate on how terrifying our impending visitor is."

"You have only one chance right now. Hand the Jade Disk over to me, and I can save your life."

Luo Xiu smiled indifferently. "You can't even save yourself. Who do you think you can save?"

"How about this? I'll give you a chance. Hand the Jade Disk to me, and I'll spare your life."

Upon hearing this, Xia Chan's face grew gloomy. Could this guy have a trump card too?

But in reality, Luo Xiu had no such trump card.

He simply knew that the one about to arrive was on his side.

The Soul-devouring Evil Spirit Taof was a follower of Lin Tong!

And Lin Tong was his little brother!

So all he had to do was wait for Lin Tong to appear and have a word with Taof. Everything would be resolved, and the tables would be completely turned.

As time passed, the black cloud skimming along the ground gradually drew near.

A tall figure slowly emerged from within.

Everyone stared, their eyes fixing on a middle-aged man who stood nearly two meters tall.

Aside from the golden embroidery on his black robe, the man was entirely gray.

Gray eyes, gray hair, gray skin…

He looked just like an unpainted stone statue.

"I am the Soul-devouring Evil Spirit Taof! You are nothing but ignorant ants, and I shall…"

Before he could finish, he suddenly froze.

At that moment, Lin Tong had appeared right in front of him.

He stared at Lin Tong, his large frame beginning to tremble as his eyes grew moist.

"Your… Your Majesty? Is it really you?"

Lin Tong sized up Taof, his expression turning a little strange as he recalled the big, simple-minded oaf from the past. "I never imagined that after all this time, you've learned to put on airs. You actually look quite regal."

Hearing this, Taof chuckled awkwardly.

"How would I dare put on airs in front of Your Majesty?"

With that, he dropped to his knees and boomed, "The Soul-devouring Evil Spirit Taof pays homage to Your Majesty!"

Lin Tong waved his hand. "Rise. I'm no longer the King of the Spirit Realm. Anyway, first, get rid of this gravity field."

"Ah… of course, Your Majesty."

As the gravitational pressure vanished, Luo Xiu and the others could move freely again.

However, because they couldn't see Lin Tong, it appeared to Xia Chan and her companions that Taof was just talking to himself, as if he'd lost his mind.

But Taof wasn't concerned with what others thought of him.

At this moment, he only had eyes for Lin Tong.

With tears in his eyes, Taof said, "Your Majesty, after the Spirit Realm was shattered, I brought your Magic Wand with me to this world. I sensed a trace of your soul here, and I have been searching for you for so many years!"

Lin Tong shook his head gently and sighed. He placed a hand on Taof's shoulder and said, "Taof, my loyal brother, I understand your sentiment. I'm truly fortunate to have a brother as devoted as you."

Taof gritted his teeth. "Your Majesty, once we regroup, we must fight our way back and take our revenge on the Pink Emperor!"

Hearing this, Lin Tong couldn't help but think of Luo Xiu. In the past, if Taof had suggested seeking revenge against a Great Emperor, he would have thought it was a suicidal fool's errand. But now that he had a powerful backer, it no longer felt like a madman's dream.

"Let's not talk about that for now. By the way, Taof, let me introduce you to my big brother."

"What?"

At these words, Taof's gaze trembled with disbelief.

"Your Majesty, you are the esteemed King of the Spirit Realm! Who in this world is qualified to be your big brother?"

Lin Tong just gave a mysterious smile and said nothing.

Taof felt quite displeased and demanded, "Where is he? Let me see him!"

Lin Tong then led Taof over to Luo Xiu.

Seeing Taof approaching with a murderous aura, Luo Xiu felt a flicker of apprehension. With his cultivation gone, he felt genuine pressure when facing an existence like Taof.

But in the next moment, Taof's entire body shook as if he had received a massive fright, and he scrambled back several steps.

"You, you, you… It's you?!"

His eyes were wide with terror as he looked at Luo Xiu. Suddenly, he fell to his knees.

"Taof was disrespectful! Please forgive me, sir!"

Luo Xiu was speechless.

He was completely floored by Taof's reaction.

It wasn't just him; Lin Tong was also utterly bewildered. He knew Taof's temperament well—the man was a stubborn mule, impervious to reason. Lin Tong had thought it would take some effort to persuade him. Who could have imagined that upon seeing Luo Xiu, Taof would suddenly turn so meek, like a submissive grandchild?

Could it be that Taof also knows Luo Xiu and his true origins?

Meanwhile, when Xia Chan and the others saw the terrifying Taof kneeling before Luo Xiu, their hearts grew heavy.

Just what are the origins of this Dr. Chen?

Luo Xiu reached out to help Taof up, chuckling awkwardly. "Brother Taof, please rise."

Taof smiled sheepishly. "It's all a misunderstanding. Everything before was a misunderstanding."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Taof, Luo Xiu turned to face Xia Chan.

"Miss Chu, please hand over the item."

He had to obtain the other half of the Sea Oracle Map, no matter what.

He needed it to find Ai Hongye at the bottom of the sea.

However, he wasn't in a hurry now, because Xia Chan was a sitting duck.

Xia Chan wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and suddenly let out a laugh.

"Again and again… Dr. Chen, I've truly underestimated you."

As she spoke, her gaze grew cold. "But you're still not qualified to steal from me!"

The moment her words fell, she waved her hand, and a red banner materialized out of thin air.

Seeing this, Taof knew things had gone south. With a curse, he lunged at Xia Chan.

However, he lunged at empty air.

Just as he pounced, Xia Chan, Yang Zhilu, and Fei Xiao disappeared, vanishing as if they had evaporated, leaving no trace that they had ever been there.

The scene fell deathly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Luo Xiu stood stunned for a long moment before he could react.

Lin Tong asked, "That's it? They're gone?"

Taof said grimly, "That little wench just now must have used some kind of spatial magical treasure."

Just then, Xia Chan's chilly voice echoed from the void:

"Chen Shuisheng, if you have the guts, stay in the Land of Lawlessness forever. The moment you step out, no one will be able to protect you!"

「Somewhere in a Congolese jungle.」

Panting, Xia Chan stumbled to the edge of a stream. She crouched down, scooping up handfuls of cool water to splash on her face.

Yang Zhilu sat weakly beside her, patting her chest. "That was too close," she said, her voice filled with lingering fear. "If it weren't for your treasure, we would have all died back there."

Xia Chan looked at the now-broken red banner in her hand, a pang of heartache striking her.

This was the Wicked Tenderness Banner, a gift from her father, Chu Yiguan, before she set out.

Just as Taof had said, it was a magical treasure capable of long-distance spatial teleportation.

However, the Wicked Tenderness Banner could only be used once; after that, it was destroyed.

"Fei Xiao," Xia Chan called out suddenly.

"Miss, what are your orders?"

Xia Chan's gaze turned dark as she said slowly, "Contact the Protectorate Group immediately. Have them send another member over, and bring more Green-robed Cultists to surround this place."

"No matter what, we have to retrieve the other half of the Sea Oracle Map!"

"I refuse to believe they'll stay in that godforsaken wasteland forever!"

Yang Zhilu added, "As long as it's not in the Land of Lawlessness, with the strength of the Protectorate Group, that Taof is nothing to be afraid of!"

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