Horcrux

With a flap of his silvery-white wings, Xiwen used the Patronus Charm to swiftly banish all the Dementor around him. Then, in a clean area that had been cleared, he touched the invisible barrier with his hand.

As a ripple appeared, the invisible barrier ahead suddenly extended into an opening, revealing another space hidden beyond this world. The architectural style here seemed to transport one forward thousands of years—

The walls, stacked layer upon layer, enclose a magnificent, square-edged giant building, a tower-temple originating from Sumer, standing in the very center of the space.

This towering temple is built on a multi-tiered platform, with long staircases for people to ascend and descend. Its shape evokes the Egypt pyramids while also possessing the charm of the Acropolis of Athens, like an epic poem spanning thousands of years, unfolding before the eyes of visitors.

A howling wind swept through the air as countless Dementor swirled around the towering temple that stood majestically in the desert. However, few of the more daring Dementor dared to intervene, intimidated by the Patronus soaring around Xiwen.

Xiwen adjusted his Cloak and walked unhurriedly. The Dementor scattered wherever he went, keeping the space around him clean at all times.

As the double-layered protective wall with multiple layers of colored glazed tiles depicting animal images drew closer, Xiwen gradually came into view of the handsome young man shrouded in black mist.

"Voldemort, I'm here to negotiate."

Looking at Riddle standing on the city wall, Xiwen said expressionlessly.

A pair of pure white wings extended from his back, fluttering gently as he floated into the air, eventually hovering in front of the city wall at the same height as Riddle, looking directly at the familiar yet unfamiliar junior in front of him, his expression indifferent.

Riddle's expression darkened as he coldly stared at Xiwen, who was suspended in mid-air, and said in a chilling voice, "I have nothing to negotiate with you!"

"Now that I possess the power of Death, you are no longer my match!"

Upon hearing this, Xiwen silently raised his eyes, then listlessly turned his gaze to the city wall behind Riddle, seemingly thinking that appreciating classical art was more enjoyable than talking to him.

"Are you looking down on me?!"

Enraged by the scorn, Riddle immediately pointed his wand at Xiwen—

"I'd like to see how you look down on people, Avada Kedavra!"

Kedavra!

Hearing Riddle's chanting, Xiwen turned his gaze back to the powerful Killing Curse, its green hue tinged with black, and sighed softly, "I thought after all these years, you would have gotten rid of your arrogant ways, Voldemort. But I didn't expect that a little bit of power would turn you back into your original form."

He stretched his left hand forward, forming a hand seal, while raising his wand with his other hand.

Blue and yellow lightning bolts shot out simultaneously, merging into a heavy gray in the air before colliding violently with the black and green Killing Curse!

This time, Xiwen directly used the power of his Soul Body, showing absolutely no intention of holding back.

The gray lightning suddenly propelled the dark green Killing Curse toward the city wall where Riddle stood, without any pause!

Riddle stared wide-eyed at the dark gray lightning rushing straight toward him. He struggled to deflect it with his wand, but the next moment, several more spells came crashing down on him, giving him no chance to catch his breath.

Under Xiwen's relentless bombardment, the city wall, imbued with a strong classical atmosphere, was quickly reduced to ruins. Riddle had endured countless spell attacks. Had he not modified his body with the power of Dementor and Death, enabling him to transform into black mist to evade most attacks, it would likely have been shattered to pieces by now.

In just two minutes, Riddle's clothes were tattered and torn, and not a single part of his robe was intact.

Xiwen held the Rings of Raggadorr in his left hand and pressed his wand against Raghadore's brow with his right, a warm smile on his face.

"Can we now have a proper negotiation, Voldemort?"

Riddle looked on incredulously, but dared not move an inch.

"What kind of negotiation is this, Rozier?!" he said, frustrated.

"If I remember correctly, you were the one who struck first." Xiwen removed the wand from Riddle's forehead, pursed his lips, and said, "Do you think I don't know you? You never learn to speak properly unless you're at a disadvantage."

Riddle's expression betrayed a hint of embarrassment, which he quickly suppressed, and he said stiffly, "Tell me, Rozier, how do you want to negotiate?"

"I need you as an inside man to tell me Death's location and his current situation," Xiwen said. "Death has gifted you this space in the Mesopotamian Plain; it seems he values you highly. I doubt you lack this basic information."

"But why should I tell you?" Riddle said. "If I simply summon Death to come and kill you, then who will be qualified to negotiate with me?"

"You wouldn't do that," Xiwen chuckled and shook his head, saying to Riddle. "I know your ambitions go beyond simply being a follower of Death. If you let Death come and kill me directly, you'll lose your chance to reap the benefits."

"Besides, you're not the kind of person who'd let others control your freedom, Riddle."

He looked intently at Riddle, and changed his address from the awkward "Voldemort" back to the surname "Riddle".

Riddle was silent for a moment before speaking, "Since you know I've joined Death's side, then I think you also know that I can't betray Death, because he can easily erase my existence through the Death's Mark."

"But you have a solution, don't you?" Xiwen asked with a light laugh.

"Why are you so sure?" Riddle asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because someone as afraid of death as you would never entrust your life to someone else," Xiwen said. "Besides, Dumbledore already got information about your plan from Professor Slughorn."

"Riddle, I never imagined you would learn such extreme Dark Magic, and even plan to use it repeatedly."

Xiwen's expression turned serious as he stared coldly into Riddle's dark eyes.

Riddle's expression also turned cold.

"What exactly do you know?" he asked grimly.

Xiwen slowly opened his mouth and uttered that chilling word.

"Horcrux!"