"Whoosh!"
Before Chen Daolin could react, the deep-blue mask was snatched away by Baruch.
Baruch held the mask in both claws, staring at it intently, his eyes filled with excitement and nostalgia.
"As expected, it's this. This is the Astral Realm Armor, though it seems incomplete..."
Chen Daolin was somewhat surprised to see Baruch so agitated.
"Lord Baruch, what is this...?"
Baruch looked up at Chen Daolin. Realizing he had lost his composure, he took a deep breath and quickly calmed down.
His expression turned somewhat wistful as he handed the deep-blue mask back to him. "Chen Daolin, this is the Astral Realm Armor. Though it isn't complete, it is still extremely precious. For you right now, it is also a rare treasure."
Chen Daolin took the mask and asked curiously, "Lord Baruch, do you know its origins?"
Baruch immediately glared. "I was right there watching when this mask was forged. How could I not recognize it?" After saying that, he seemed to deflate, slumping down as even his tail drooped listlessly to the ground. "Unfortunately, its owner is already dead, and can never be resurrected..."
"Dead? Resurrected?" Chen Daolin was utterly confused, but he understood that Baruch seemed very familiar with the mask's former owner—perhaps they had even been close.
Baruch sighed again, his tone full of melancholy. "It was so long ago. If I hadn't seen this mask, I might have forgotten it entirely..."
Chen Daolin could not help asking, "Lord Baruch, what exactly happened? Tell me about it."
Baruch glanced at Chen Daolin. Seeing the curiosity written all over his face, he thought for a moment before saying, "Fine. Since you obtained this mask, it proves that you share a fate with it. There's no harm in telling you."
After a brief pause, Baruch said, "This mask