Mo Hei Shen Zai spoke, his expression darkening slightly.
He had once abandoned all principles and dignity in order to survive, including the so-called self-respect he had clung to.
But now, faced with Jia Meng's provocation, the anger in his heart began to burn again.
"The only thing I need you to do is raise your hand. If you refuse, I'll kill you right here and turn your body into a puppet. The respect I owe you won't amount to much."
Jia Meng's voice carried a hint of coldness, warning Mo Hei Shen Zai that he possessed terrifying strength and a ruthless heart.
Mo Hei Shen Zai clenched his fists, the fury in his heart twisting together with his unwillingness to yield.
However, at that moment, Jia Meng once again unleashed a powerful explosion.
"If it weren't for your last words about releasing my son, I wouldn't have left you alive. After all, your hands are stained with the blood of countless innocent people."
Those words struck Mo Hei Shen Zai's heart like a heavy blow, piercing the deepest wound within him.
He thought of his own children. He had once sworn that he did not care about them.
Yet at the moment of his death, he realized that the emotions he had buried deep in his heart had never truly disappeared.
He had also never expected that what he could not let go of even after death was not the vengeance of the Xia family, but his own children.
Jia Meng watched Mo Hei Shen Zai remain silent and knew that he had been shaken by his words.
"I hope you'll think this through carefully. Decide whether you want to throw away that so-called dignity, or come down and fight me. And you have a daughter too, don't you? I advise you to show her some mercy as well. A grown man bullying a young girl isn't exactly something to be proud of."
His voice carried a trace of mockery, as though he were waiting for Mo Hei Shen Zai to make his final decision.
Mo Hei Shen Zai stood where he was, thinking for a long time.
His spirit wavered in the darkness, caught between two choices as Jia Meng pressed him relentlessly.
Finally, he slowly raised his head and chose silence.
He understood that he had no way out. He could only accept Jia Meng's warning and continue living for his son and daughter.
Jia Meng stood before Mo Hei Shen Zai. A trace of deep disdain and confidence showed in his eyes, as if victory were already within his grasp.
"Looks like we've reached an agreement. From now on, we're allies. I'll let you eat your fill, and you'll come down and work for me."
Jia Meng stretched out one hand, curled his fingers, and made a beckoning gesture, signaling for him to come down.
A strange light gathered in his palm. In an instant, a flesh-and-blood puppet, exactly like a living person, gradually took shape under his control.
Mo Hei Shen Zai stared at the scene, a trace of shock and fear flashing in his eyes.
He had never seen such a miraculous spell before—one that could so easily create a human body out of flesh.
At that moment, he once again deeply felt Jia Meng's immense and profound strength.
He stood rooted to the spot, his thoughts churning chaotically.
Mo Hei Shen Zai understood that Jia Meng's expression concealed a forbidden curse. It was not merely to let him complete the exchange, but also a concealed form of warning—a silent trust and a cry from a friend who had not completely abandoned him.
Mo Hei Shen Zai knew very well that he had no way out.
He boarded the cursed vessel, knowing that leaving would require him to pay with his life.
However, he no longer wanted to die. He wanted to watch his children grow up and become strong warriors.
He looked at Jia Meng, and complicated emotions flickered in his eyes—gratitude, as well as a trace of helplessness.
"No matter who your enemy is, even if it's the Divine Curse Sect, you can consider it defeated."
Mo Hei Shen Zai left those words behind, then turned and walked toward the doorway, carrying on his shoulder the "Heavenly Principle" Jia Meng had created.
Before leaving, he glanced back once more at Jia Meng. His eyes held a complicated expression.
He knew that he and Jia Meng had established a strange relationship—one that was both hostile and cooperative, yet also carried a faint sense of trust.
They had each come for their own purposes. But in this cruel world, being able to find a genuine ally they could trust might itself have been a rare blessing.
As Mo Hei Shen Zai's back gradually vanished into the distance, the underground chamber once again returned to silence.
As he watched Mo Hei Shen Zai's figure disappear into the winding corridor, Jia Meng slowly turned and quickly walked back into the main hall, dark and deep like the maw of a beast.
Inside the main hall, tall pillars supported the ancient roof beams. The dim light cast mottled shadows across the stone floor, adding an ancient and mysterious color to the empty space.
Xia Bu was talking about something.
At that moment, a voice filled with boundless joy suddenly echoed through the empty chamber. Like ripples spreading across a calm lake, it shattered the silence.
Immediately afterward, a figure emerged from the interwoven light and shadows. It was Wu Wuxing. His arrival seemed to bring with it the violent storm of another world, turning the entire hall into a terrifying black tide.
Wu Wuxing's figure appeared especially imposing beneath the swaying light. His body seemed to surge with an extraordinary aura, like a god stepping out of an ancient painting. Every movement carried an otherworldly majesty, and his presence was impossible to ignore.
His tall figure was shrouded in faint light. His eyes were deep and profound, containing both the joy of having gained a new life and the pride and confidence of having broken through his former limits.
Those sharp eyes seemed capable of seeing through everything in the world, yet they also concealed wisdom and unfathomable depth.
"Old man, have you finished your business? What happened to that Divine Curse Sect fellow?"
Wu Wuxing's voice was low and powerful. Every word seemed to rise from the depths of his heart, carrying a force that could not be ignored.
Xia Bu raised his fist. A knowing light flashed in his eyes, and the calmness of the room was restored at once. "You finally came out? I thought the process had gone wrong. Did you run into trouble?"
"Did that fellow find trouble with you? Take a look at yourself first. How did you end up covered in blood, as if you'd just had your stomach ripped open by someone?" Her voice became soft and concerned, and a trace of worry appeared in her eyes.
She stood to one side, crossing her arms over her chest. Her eyes held both pride and concern.
Wu Wuxing lowered his head and glanced at his clothes, soaked in blood from head to toe. The only thing that remained in heaven and earth was the aura of my exalted self, and more than half of it had already been worn away. A bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Something unexpected happened. Fortunately, it's over now. I even began to wonder whether I'd misunderstood myself. It was frightening. I need to find a place to rest and properly release the power I just gained."
"I found him. I've already joined forces with Mo Hei Shen Zai—that is, the man from the Divine Curse Sect. He has released the hostages and gone into hiding."
Jia Meng slowly walked out. His voice was calm and steady, while his figure looked especially indistinct beneath the dim light.
"Huh? Since you let him escape, then come and fight me for a while. Let's see how far you've come today."
Wu Wuxing's gaze instantly locked onto Jia Meng. A fierce battle intent rose in his eyes, and his imposing aura erupted like a volcano.
Jia Meng rubbed his forehead helplessly, a bitter smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"You didn't even look at what kind of place this is. Besides, I've already fought for two days and nights. I just want to find somewhere safe to get some proper rest. I don't have the energy to accompany you in a life-or-death battle."
Wu Wuxing sighed, then brushed the dust from his body. His eyes clearly conveyed that he did not want to deal with Jia Meng.
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