Set Up

Deep Sea Sinking Silver Silver Mother was exceedingly rare, practically peerless.

Back then, the Tang Sect Hidden Weapon, the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle, required Deep Sea Sinking Silver Silver Mother to forge. Who would have thought that today, Lou Gao's disciple Morris would turn it into a mask?

Wasn't this stone supposed to be incomparably hard, impossible to work even for a divine craftsman?

Liu Yi could not help picking up the mask. Its icy chill instantly spread through his entire body, as though he were holding a refrigerator.

He could also sense the incredibly violent aura of the ocean within it.

What a priceless treasure!

"I'd like to ask something. Deep Sea Sinking Silver Silver Mother is exceptionally hard. How did you temper it?"

Morris smiled faintly. "Why would I temper it?"

Liu Yi was somewhat puzzled. "If you didn't temper it, how could you remove the impurities inside?"

"Not at all." Morris took a sip of tea and waved his hand. "Little brother, do you know why Deep Sea Sinking Silver Silver Mother is so rare?"

"That is because anything forged from it becomes a peerless treasure, especially when crafted by a divine craftsman."

"Once, I happened upon a piece in the sea. No matter how I tempered it, I could not damage it in the slightest. But I am a blacksmith who loves forging divine artifacts, so I ground it into powder."

"I couldn't temper it, but grinding it into powder took me more than a year."

"After grinding it into powder, I placed it in a vessel and refined it anew. I also added remnants of national treasures from various countries. In the end, I created this—the masterpiece of my life!"

Liu Yi suddenly sensed that something was wrong. If this truly was something Morris had made, why would he bring it out? Deep Sea Sinking Silver Silver Mother was not something an ordinary person could obtain.

At that moment, Liu Yi's vision began to blur. He abruptly came to his senses. There was knockout drug in the water.

He truly could not understand why Morris wanted to harm him.

Amid his confusion, Liu Yi collapsed onto the sofa and lost consciousness.

Morris sneered, picked up the mask that had fallen to the ground, and gently wiped it clean.

"Someone, take this fellow away and lock him up."

Meanwhile, inside the royal sleeping chambers of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Qian Renxue looked at the three people before her and asked, "Why have all of you come this time?"

She Long said, "Miss, Ci Xue and I came to protect you."

"And you?" Qian Renxue turned to Gui Mei.

"I... I came to deliver a letter."

Naturally, Gui Mei would not say that he had come to kill Liu Yi. That would be idiotic.

"A letter?" Qian Renxue frowned. Due to her status, almost no one would send her letters. A Titled Douluo had personally come to deliver one—could it be from Grandfather?

Gui Mei took out a letter from his Soul Guidance Device and handed it to her. Written on it were the words: Prince Xue Qinghe.

Qian Renxue did not think much of it. She tore open the outer wrapping and took out the letter inside.

Upon seeing its contents, Qian Renxue froze. Her eyes reddened, and she hurriedly turned around.

"Miss, what is this?"

"Leave! No one is to enter without my order!"

She Long glanced at Ci Xue and Gui Mei, then nodded. The three vanished from sight.

Qian Renxue sat in her chair, looking at the handwriting and the contents of the letter.

"Xue Er, I received your letter. I miss you too, but you should know my current situation. It's difficult for me to get away. Once I finish dealing with these matters, I'll go to the Heaven Dou Empire to find you. Don't worry about me. I'm doing well. You too—take good care of yourself, understand? Make sure you eat on time."

Liu Yi~

Qian Renxue revealed a happy expression. As long as she could confirm that Liu Yi was living well, she was happy.

"Husband, I'll wait for you~"

Meanwhile, in the underground prison of Suotuo City, Liu Yi was bound to something resembling a sacrificial altar.

All around him were agonized wails and curses.

No one knew how much time had passed.

Liu Yi slowly opened his eyes. He was still dizzy, and his vision remained blurred.

"I... where am I?"

"Oh? You woke up so quickly. You really are a genius."

At that moment, a mocking voice came from the distance.

A man clad in silver armor and holding a steel whip walked in through the door.

Liu Yi frowned slightly and glanced at the four iron chains binding him.

"It's useless. My boss has already sealed your Soul Power. Be obedient and become our puppet."

"What do you mean?" Liu Yi asked coldly.

He could sense it as well. With his strength, it would take five minutes to break the seal.

"Hehe, judging by your clothes, your status must be extraordinary. But today, you'll still die here."

"Before you die, I'll let you understand. Do you know why you ended up here? It's because Lord Morris wants to turn you into a species that is neither human nor Soul Master."

"We have already captured eighty-one Soul Masters. Among them, your strength is relatively high—a Soul Emperor. Hahaha! Reaching such a level at such a young age, your future would surely have been extraordinary. But no matter how talented you are, you will die by my hand today. Don't worry, I guarantee I'll be gentle and won't damage your body."

The man in silver-gray armor slowly approached, his eyes filled with excitement.

His Soul Power was only at the level of a Great Soul Master, just over level twenty. Being able to kill a Soul Emperor-level expert today would be more than enough for him to boast about for quite some time.

But he was wrong. If Liu Yi could truly be killed so easily, none of these events would have happened.

"Hehe, kid, before I die, may I ask why you want to kill us?"

"Hmph! Why else? Didn't I already say it? We're turning you into armored warriors, into puppets!"

Liu Yi nodded and said calmly, "Then I understand. Your president, Morris, is the mastermind behind this, right? You have another name as well: Evil Soul Masters."

"Insolence! We are the true Soul Masters. You are all demons! Today, I'll show you what it means to kill someone above your level!"

Liu Yi lowered his head, the corners of his lips curling upward. Then he burst into laughter.

The man froze, lowering the steel whip he had raised in his right hand.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Hehe, I'm laughing at how foolish you are. Kid, let me give you a piece of advice: never give your enemy a chance to catch his breath. Otherwise, the one who dies will be you."

Before the man could react, several crisp snaps rang out as the iron chains broke.

"Ah!"

The man was startled and hurriedly backed away, terror appearing in his eyes.

"How... how is this possible? How did you break free in such a short time?"

Liu Yi shrugged. If he had been an ordinary Soul Emperor, perhaps he would have fallen for it. But who was he? He was the protagonist. How could a mere seal possibly keep him down?