Ahead, intense fluctuations of magical power surged.
A powerful monster with a grotesque appearance was staring at her with predatory intent.
Luo Shangyu raised her Magic Staff and unleashed an S-Class Light Attribute Combat Skill, but the creature showed no sign of being affected.
It turned and manipulated flames to attack Luo Shangyu, a burning sting spreading all over her body…
Luo Shangyu jolted awake from the nightmare, lying on a spacious bed.
Qin Yu was sleeping soundly in her arms.
Her head rested on Luo Shangyu’s soft chest, rising and falling with each breath.
The pillow was just the right size—comfortable and soothing.
Luo Shangyu held her breath, focusing intently to sense her surroundings.
The night was eerily silent; even the insects’ chirping was barely audible, with only one or two birds singing.
Pale moonlight poured gently through the window.
‘This silence is a little too much,’ Luo Shangyu thought silently.
Suddenly, she detected a faint spatial magic fluctuation.
The trace was extremely subtle—it was clearly someone deliberately hiding.
‘This is bad!’ Luo Shangyu warned herself.
‘A spatial forbidden curse, sealing the space. They’re about to strike, and escaping will be very difficult.’
She woke Qin Yu, preparing to flee.
Qin Yu slowly sat up, taking ten seconds to reboot her mind.
She turned to look at Luo Shangyu, who had already changed out of her sleepwear and dressed.
Now, Luo Shangyu was carefully sensing the constraints on the outside space.
The spatial restriction outside seemed very strong.
“Looks like a Magic Conduit Array is in use,” Luo Shangyu muttered.
“What should we do?”
Qin Yu also changed clothes and stood behind Luo Shangyu and replied, “We’ll try to escape using our own strength. The forbidden curse outside is very powerful. The Jade Cong will consume a huge amount of magic power to break the seal; it might not be able to teleport us to a safe area.”
“All right.”
The two opened the room’s door and stealthily moved behind the palace’s pillars.
Luo Shangyu skillfully manipulated light attribute magic, altering the reflected light around them to achieve invisibility.
“This must be Pseudo-Divine Level Magic!” Qin Yu asked in astonishment.
“Yes. My magic proficiency can barely reach the ninth tier, but my magic reserves are only seventh tier,” Luo Shangyu explained.
“So my invisibility spell won’t last long; ten minutes is the absolute limit. We have to find a place to hide.”
“A place to hide?”
“The Garden.” Luo Shangyu led the way, and they entered the Garden.
It was early autumn; the night air was slightly chilly.
Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu moved stealthily through the garden until they reached a pavilion.
They hid in its shadow, waiting for the right moment.
Qin Yu carefully recalled the layout of the Changning King’s Residence: the garden was at the back; their guest rooms were on the east side; the Duke of Changning’s room was on the west side; the main hall for official business faced south; the main gate was on the south side; smaller gates were on the east and west; and the northern part of the garden had no gates.
Qin Yu looked south—the main hall was brightly lit, guards patrolled the gate towers on the east and west smaller gates, and although the main gate was out of sight, it was obvious it was guarded.
Soldiers patrolled constantly along the outer walls. Looking around, only the northern side’s defenses were relatively weak.
“It seems we can only break out through the north,” Qin Yu whispered.
Suddenly, the clanging of metal came from afar.
Two guards approached on patrol.
Luo Shangyu immediately activated her combat skill; they vanished from sight.
The guards found nothing abnormal, completed their patrol, and left.
The invisibility faded.
Qin Yu breathed rapidly, clearly startled.
Luo Shangyu gently stroked her head, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
Qin Yu calmed down and looked at Luo Shangyu.
Her green eyes sparkled in the air with sincere trust.
“Mm,” Qin Yu responded, clearly less scared.
She felt a hand reach out—it was Luo Shangyu’s.
“Holding hands helps calm nerves,” she said.
Qin Yu tightly grasped Luo Shangyu’s hand, soothing her anxiety and fear.
Suddenly, a dazzling light flashed at the center of the residence.
A circular Magic Array rose from the ground into the air, its intricate patterns and complex magic channels weaving a bewildering design.
Even more shocking were four black dots at the array’s corners—on closer inspection, they were four people!
Intense magical energy swept across the entire residence; all elemental power in the air surged toward the floating array, forming solid beams of light shooting upward from each person’s back.
“Three eighth-tier, one ninth-tier!” Luo Shangyu immediately judged.
“It’s those Masked Men!”
As time passed, the array emitted scorching, brilliant light.
“This is…” Luo Shangyu’s eyes glazed momentarily.
Being familiar with light element magic, she recognized it.
“This is a divine technique—the Saint Light Judgment array! Though it’s a divine technique-level magic combat skill, only tenth-tier true gods can usually wield it, but that ninth-tier Pseudo-God still found a way. Amplified by the array and supplemented by the other three’s magic power, he can unleash Saint Light Judgment! But he’s still only ninth-tier, so releasing a divine technique will drain his magic and he won’t recover quickly.”
Listening to Luo Shangyu’s explanation, Qin Yu finally understood the horror of their magic.
Many people probably never saw a divine technique-level magic in their lifetime.
At this moment, the array began to change form, no longer absorbing elemental power.
The four on the array reduced to three.
The ninth-tier Pseudo-God flew out, waving his Magic Staff as the array shifted from horizontal to vertical placement.
The three remaining figures floated before the array.
The ninth-tier Pseudo-God carefully rotated the array, roughly aiming it east, then began fine adjustments.
“That’s… our room!” Qin Yu exclaimed.
“They want to—”
As if to answer her, a thunderous roar echoed above the Changning King’s Residence: “Saint Light, Judgment!”
A blinding beam of holy light pierced the sky, shooting toward the east side of the residence.
Instantly, a massive energy storm tore across the ground.
The east wing was instantly obliterated, engulfed in towering flames.
Qin Yu shuddered, unable to imagine what would’ve happened if they had still been asleep.
The entire residence lit up as bright as day in that instant.
“Run!” Luo Shangyu decisively ordered, seizing the chaos as cover.
They darted through bushes and a sea of chrysanthemums, heading toward the northern wall.
The Changning King’s garden was luxurious, filled with pavilions, towers, rockeries, and water features.
They still had some distance to cover before reaching the wall.
Above, the ninth-tier Pseudo-God sensed his all-out Saint Light Judgment and suddenly shouted, “Wrong! They’re not inside the house! They’re still alive!”
Then, pointing his staff at the ground, a wave of magical energy radiated out—detection magic!
“In the back garden!” he called to the other three Masked Men.
“Go!”
The three flew out; one unleashed fire magic, one water magic, and one lightning magic.
Water arrows shot through the air into the garden.
Fireballs erupted on contact with plants, burning large patches to ash.
Bolts of lightning cracked toward Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu.
Luo Shangyu activated invisibility again and pushed toward the wall.
The attackers lost their target and paused their assault, hovering above the central courtyard searching carefully.
Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu were only four hundred meters from the wall when the Masked Men struck again.
Water magic was released, then fire magic.
The water quickly evaporated into steam, which combined with atmospheric magic to summon strong winds.
The steam rapidly spread, enveloping Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu, revealing their movement patterns.
The three Masked Men unleashed a full barrage again; the two hurriedly dodged.
“Quick, hide behind the rockery!” Luo Shangyu shouted.
They took cover behind the rockery, which once again blocked the Masked Men’s sight.
Holding their breath, they crept along gaps in the rockery toward the wall.
They were less than a hundred meters away, but the situation worsened.
The Masked Men began bombarding the rockery with magic; one by one, rockeries toppled.
On the wall, Elite Warrior Automatons gathered, and heavy magic cannons were rolled forward.
Qin Yu sighed deeply, “The enemy has us flanked on two sides; there’s no way out.”
Luo Shangyu looked back.
The rockeries were being demolished; they were about to be exposed.
“We can’t delay any longer,” Luo Shangyu decided.
“Qin Yu, they’re almost upon us. Use the Jade Cong, even if the forbidden curse means the teleport distance is short—it’s better than staying in this residence.”
“All right!” Qin Yu took out the Jade Cong, trying to recall the Imperial Palace’s location.
The space element inside the Jade Cong glowed brightly; the jade turned almost transparent.
Light shone through its surface, illuminating the surroundings.
The Jade Cong trembled faintly—it had locked onto the spatial coordinates.
Then, space elements oozed from the magic conduit grooves on its surface, accumulating rapidly and completing the circuit.
Suddenly, the Jade Cong shattered, releasing a surge of space element energy that enveloped both of them.
Qin Yu felt her body lighten, then an intense pressure, before all sensation vanished.
“This is…” She opened her eyes.
They were still in the same place.
Luo Shangyu shook her head and said, “A very strong forbidden curse. Our energy wasn’t enough to break even half of its shield. We can only fight to the death.”
“…”
“What? No response? Scared?”
“No,” Qin Yu whispered, lowering her head.
“I just wonder—can we really escape?”
“We will win,” Luo Shangyu patted her shoulder.
“With me by your side, you’ll definitely get out.”
“And what about you?”
“…” This time Luo Shangyu fell silent.
“Let’s give it our all,” Qin Yu looked up at Luo Shangyu.
Their blue and green eyes met, filled with unwavering determination.
“All right!” Luo Shangyu smiled, “Meeting Your Highness is the luckiest thing in my life.”
“What are you planning?” Qin Yu’s gut twisted.
That line wasn’t supposed to be said here!
“Use Base-State Magic Shield to protect our backs. Full power, just hold for twenty seconds!” Luo Shangyu’s commanding voice cut off Qin Yu’s suspicion.
Qin Yu glanced deeply at Luo Shangyu, then turned and raised her Magic Staff, ready to face the pursuers.
Luo Shangyu waved her staff.
A beam of holy light shot out for hundreds of meters, solidifying into a longsword that slashed toward the guards on the wall.
The Saint Light Sword, a Pseudo-Divine Level magic formed from intensely condensed light element power!
Luo Shangyu could wield this not only because her magical proficiency reached the ninth tier, but more importantly, her elven bloodline granted her stronger affinity for light attribute magic.
“There!” The Masked Men spotted the sword.
The rockery used as cover was shattered.
Qin Yu had to face the enemy directly.
She raised her staff, forming layer upon layer of Base-State Magic Shields.
Though only fourth tier in level, their quantity compensated, and the distance allowed some magic power consumption from ranged attacks.
Qin Yu barely managed to hold.
However, as the Masked Men rapidly closed in, her magic reserves drained quickly.
Two seconds later, the shields shattered with a crash.
Qin Yu’s magic was exhausted; she was unable to continue fighting.
At this critical moment, Luo Shangyu finished off the enemies on the wall, turned, and conjured a shield, blocking the three attackers’ advance.
On the wall, automatons and cannons were smashed to scrap by Luo Shangyu’s Saint Light Sword, but this Pseudo-Divine level combat skill consumed her magic reserves heavily.
Now, she too was nearly out of magic.
Luo Shangyu pushed her body’s last reserves, summoned the Saint Light Sword again—a hundred-meter blade appearing in the air, stabbing toward the Masked Men.
The three underestimated her and were fully focused on offense, unaware of defense.
More importantly, they had never seen the Saint Light Sword and didn’t know its power.
They had no chance to resist.
“Ah—!” A scream.
The light blade pierced one in the heart, killing him instantly!
Seeing the first strike land, Luo Shangyu relentlessly swept her sword.
One failed to dodge and was cut in half.
Two were dead instantly; one fled in terror.
Luo Shangyu, utterly exhausted, sheathed the Saint Light Sword and crouched to catch her breath.
After a moment, Luo Shangyu recovered slightly.
She and Qin Yu retreated cautiously toward the wall.
Though almost spent, they were only fifty meters from the wall.
A flicker of relief passed between them.
“No good! This feels like halftime champagne!” Qin Yu shuddered, suddenly alert.
The memory of AC Milan’s collapse before crossing flooded her mind.
‘If this is going to backfire… where’s the problem?’ Qin Yu thought carefully.
“Did that ninth-tier Pseudo-God really overexert his magic after one strike? If he recovers, then we’re—”
Before she finished, a crushing pressure swept over them.
The ninth-tier Pseudo-God descended from the air.
Their steps froze—not because they didn’t want to move, but because his presence overwhelmed them.
“Since you’re here, you might as well not leave!” His voice was low and magnetic.
The ninth-tier Pseudo-God looked down on them with a mocking gaze.
“Luo Shangyu…” His sinister tone carried a chill.
“I’ve heard of you—the last known descendant of the Elf King, with supposedly pure bloodline. Your performance was impressive just now. A seventh-tier quasi-god wielding pseudo-divine techniques and instantly killing two eighth-tier quasi-gods—that’s credible. If I can properly utilize your body, maybe I can ascend to godhood.”
Luo Shangyu’s heart sank.
Her identity had been hidden for a millennium, yet the enemy knew her so well.
Clearly, they had prepared.
Their intelligence was formidable.
Then he turned to Qin Yu.
“Qin Yu… the Empire’s crown princess, gifted beyond measure. I’ve studied your trials; your talent is limitless. Judging by your aptitude, you must carry the blood of the primordial human god—Pan Gu. If that’s true, you might become the first in the Illusion Realm. But unfortunately, you won’t have that chance. Today is your death day!”
The ninth-tier Pseudo-God raised his Magic Staff, aiming at trembling Qin Yu.
This was a sign of impending slaughter.
“The final moment has come…” Luo Shangyu stepped forward, raising her Magic Staff, facing him head-on.
“Heh, so eager to depart? Not so fast. You’ll be next,” the Pseudo-God sneered.
Water magic burst forth—a fine jet shot out.
Atmospheric magic controlled temperature, condensing the water into ice.
Base-state magic propelled it forward.
A slender, fast ice spike launched—a Pseudo-God’s strike: simple but deadly.
Luo Shangyu summoned a Base-State Magic Shield, but the ice spike hit, unleashing energy that shattered the shield.
Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu were stunned—they knew their end had come.
The Pseudo-God launched another ice spike, aiming for Qin Yu’s heart.
Luo Shangyu could no longer summon magic.
She looked at Qin Yu, who was frozen in fear, her hands trembling and unable to grasp the staff.
“It’s time!” Luo Shangyu used her last strength to leap before Qin Yu, trying to block the spike.
“Pfft—” The ice spike pierced Luo Shangyu’s right shoulder, then suddenly exploded.
“Ugh…” Luo Shangyu groaned, collapsing.
“Luo Shangyu!” Qin Yu cried, kneeling and holding her upper body, urgently calling her name.
“Run!” Luo Shangyu shouted with her last breath.
Her right shoulder was mangled and bleeding profusely, soaking her clothes and Qin Yu’s arms.
“We can’t escape,” Qin Yu sobbed, looking up at the Pseudo-God, who landed, wielding a longsword.
“My life ends here!” Qin Yu sighed.
She lowered her head, gazing at Luo Shangyu’s delicate face, thinking over the past days together, whispering, “Meeting you was the luckiest thing in my life.”
Luo Shangyu blushed, recalling what she had said earlier.
Tears poured uncontrollably from Qin Yu’s eyes.
“What sincere feelings!” The Pseudo-God laughed, strolling forward.
“But you won’t have another chance in this life!”
With that, he raised his longsword.
Just as the Pseudo-God was about to swing, a thunderous roar boomed through the sky: “Duke of Changning! How dare you attempt to kill the crown princess!”
The Pseudo-God startled and looked up.
At this moment, the Duke of Changning, watching the battle from the main hall, looked toward the figure in the sky, stunned.
“It’s you!”
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