Chapter 66 Birth Ceremony
Xia Feng immediately recognized the woman inside the glass coffin—she was the mysterious woman from his dream.
In the dream, she had mentioned having a husband, who must have been the prince.
But the strange thing was, if the person inside the glass coffin was the princess, then who had been outside earlier?
Before Xia Feng could dwell on it further, a sharp cracking sound erupted from the ceiling.
Bang!
A figure burst through the wall like a cannonball, hurtling through the air before slamming straight into the ice-blue glass coffin.
Dong—
Ripples spread across the coffin's surface, and the figure was violently flung back by the impact, crashing into the wall amid a cloud of dust and debris.
"Cough, cough—"
Xia Feng recognized Zhao Jie's pained coughing—he was likely badly injured.
"Click, click, click—"
A rapid series of camera shutter sounds echoed behind him. Xia Feng turned and saw Wei Shutong standing there, holding a camera and photographing a glass chamber in the corner.
Inside the chamber, filled with nutrient fluid, floated the head of a girl, her eyes vacant and lifeless.
"Hey, Old Wei! We're surrounded, and you're still taking pictures?!"
More and more white-faced figures flooded into the corridor, forcing Xia Feng and the others to retreat step by step.
"Kid, you've got to learn to stay calm in any situation—that's what makes you cool."
The slick-haired man in a suit pressed the shutter with his left hand while raising a hunting rifle with his right.
Bang!
A fiery muzzle flash erupted, and the white-faced man charging at him collapsed backward, his head exploding in a spray of blood.
"Cool my ass!" Xia Feng cursed, twisting his blade and driving it backward. The white-faced man behind him gurgled blood and crumpled to the ground.
Swish—
Xia Feng yanked his sword free, dashed toward the mushroom girl sitting on the floor, scooped her up by the waist, rolled through the crowd, and landed smoothly beside Wei Shutong.
"You're here."
Wei Shutong lowered the camera and shoved a thick stack of photos and a USB drive directly into Xia Feng's hands.
"What the hell?! What's going on?" Xia Feng instinctively took them, then froze. "Wait, why are you giving this to me?"
Bang bang bang bang bang—
A dense array of gun barrels materialized around Wei Shutong, spinning rapidly before unleashing a storm of bullets.
The white-faced men outside the gun formation were instantly shredded, blood spraying in all directions.
"Hey! Our people are still out there!" Xia Feng shouted in alarm.
"Then let them fend for themselves."
Wei Shutong replied casually before turning serious. "Two things. First, give these photos to Big Face Cat—his location's written on the back. Tell him it's confirmed: his granddaughter is dead. Second, keep the USB safe. If you can't, pass it to someone you trust."
"That's it. Now go."
As he spoke, the gun formation parted, revealing a small exit that had somehow appeared.
Shing—
A blade suddenly pierced through the gunfire, its bloody tip stopping just before Wei Shutong's forehead.
"She's with us!" Xia Feng shouted at the black-skirted woman outside.
The gun formation split open. Wei Shutong frowned at Mu Qingtong. "Can she be trusted?"
"Yes."
"Good. Both of you, leave." Wei Shutong stomped his foot, sending a shockwave that blasted the two through the exit.
"Wait! What about the mushroom girl?!"
"She's safer with us than with you."
Wei Shutong spun his hunting rifle, transforming it into a hunting knife. Standing before the door in his suit, blade in hand, he barked, "We'll protect her. Now go!"
Xia Feng and Mu Qingtong exchanged a glance. Neither was the type to hesitate. Having chosen to trust Wei Shutong, they would trust him completely.
"Move!"
The two turned and sprinted into the dense forest.
...
When Wang Jue arrived at the laboratory, the ice-blue glass coffin at the center remained untouched, but the surrounding area lay in ruins, engulfed in flames.
White-faced men scattered across the battlefield, cleaning up the aftermath.
Wang Jue surveyed the devastation around him with a darkened expression, barely containing his fury as he growled, "Where are they?"
"Wei Shutong stayed behind to cover their retreat. We've captured him—he's currently unconscious," Zhao Jie reported, cold sweat dripping down his forehead as he kept his gaze lowered. "But Li Hongdou... the cat-faced man took her."
"Took her?!" Wang Jue whirled around, his glare so intense it seemed he might devour Zhao Jie where he stood.
Zhao Jie immediately bowed deeper, not daring to utter another word.
"The princess's birth ceremony commences in two days."
A black-robed figure emerged from the shadows, his white mask marked with a blood-red number 8. His voice grated like rusted metal. "My Lord, I warned you this would happen. After years of experiments and complications, the princess's causal thread has become unstable. Li Hongdou is now our only viable vessel. Without her to anchor the princess's existence, the spirit cannot complete the birth ceremony, much less merge with the divine vessel."
As he spoke, the 8-Faced Man turned his gaze toward the glass coffin containing the woman in ancient imperial robes.
At that moment, a red-clad woman entered through the doorway, causing everyone to hastily retreat three paces.
The woman's form flickered before solidifying, revealing fox-like features identical to those of the figure in the coffin.
She drifted soundlessly around the glass enclosure like a specter before stopping directly before it. Though her eyes remained veiled by black silk, she stared upward as if seeing through the barrier.
Visible strands of spiritual energy streamed from the red-clad woman's form into the coffin—proof of an exceptionally stable soul capable of prolonged earthly manifestation.
The prince studied the spirit with a furrowed brow. "You're certain she'll acknowledge me as her master upon awakening?"
"Set your mind at ease, My Prince." The 8-Faced Man's mask twisted into what might have been a smile. "Our Divine Malevolence Society's intelligence never errs. Historical records confirm that when this being opens her eyes, golden light will fill her pupils. The first person she sees when that light fades will be imprinted as her master."
His masked head tilted slightly. "However, this presumes her spirit completes the birth ceremony and merges with the divine vessel within two days. Otherwise, all our efforts become meaningless."
"Prince, Li Hongdou is the linchpin. I recommend immediate retrieval."
The prince needed no further prompting. His glare returned to Zhao Jie. "Why are you still here? Retrieve her!"
"Yes, My Lord!" Zhao Jie clasped his fists and scrambled backward.
"Master Eight." The prince's tone shifted. "My forces are depleted. Might I trouble your assistance?"
"Command me as you will." The masked figure gave a shallow bow. "Though our assault on Area 51 failed, we recognize Your Highness's sincerity. Minor assistance is only proper."
The prince nodded, eyes narrowing to slits.
"Among the escapees are two particular nuisances—Xia Feng and Mu Qingtong. They carry photographic evidence and a USB drive that could prove... inconvenient."
"I would ask Master Eight to hunt them through the Evil Dragon Forest."
"Oh?" The 8-Faced Man tapped his chin. "Xia Feng... Ah, the boy who replicated spirit weapons? Caused quite the stir in Boundless City. A rare talent."
"A talent who chose the wrong side." The prince's smile held no warmth. "A word of caution—your B-grade spirit weapon is exceptionally rare. Don't let him copy it."
The masked man's chuckle rasped like grinding stones. "Your Highness needn't worry. My spirit has been thoroughly corrupted by malevolent energy. Should he dare replicate it..." The mask tilted ominously. "Let him try. I'll be curious to see whether he lives long enough to use it."
(End of Chapter)