Ten zhang ahead.
A wisp of black mist.
The mist churned and condensed, taking the form of a black figure.
Gui Mei knelt on one knee in the dew-covered mud.
His black cloak was coated in dust, and his aura carried a trace of weakness and exhaustion.
"This subordinate failed in his duty to protect Your Highness. I beg for punishment."
His voice was hoarse, filled with deep self-reproach.
Su Chen stopped.
His gaze fell on Gui Mei.
"Get up. You're a dignified Title Douluo. What kind of sight is it, kneeling in the middle of the road?"
"That Blood Fiend killing trap in Heaven Dou City was mine to break. Keeping you there would only have slowed my sword."
Gui Mei rose to his feet.
Yet he still kept his head lowered.
"That day, when Prince Xue Xing was swept away by the spatial rift, this subordinate should have remained at the Crown Prince's Residence to receive him."
"But when that spatial rift closed, a faint trace of Blood Fiend origin seeped out."
"This subordinate followed that trace and tracked the remnants of the Holy Church all the way."
"I wished to make up for my failure by capturing the mastermind and delivering him to Your Highness, but I arrived too late."
"What did you find?"
Gui Mei raised his head, his gaze grave.
"Following the aura, I crossed the border of the Heaven Dou Empire and discovered a Holy Church stronghold hidden deep in the mountains."
"Several hundred Evil Soul Masters were concealed within, sacrificing living people to a small Blood Pool."
"This subordinate slaughtered every one of those Evil Soul Masters, leaving only the red-robed archbishop leading them alive."
"Did you get anything out of him?"
Gui Mei gritted his teeth, his brow tightly furrowed.
"Those madmen