Xu Yuan caught it and took a look.
It was a familiar-looking Emblem.
It was blood-red all over, much like the Blood Devour Emblem, but several Inscription Runes marked its back.
"Crush this Emblem, and the guardians of the first level will descend."
"Only by defeating them can you qualify to learn the Ninefold Nether Arts."
The leader spoke.
"Has anyone succeeded?" Xu Yuan asked.
"Bribing them takes a vast amount of Transmutation Material. Most Ghost Entities can't gather enough," the leader said.
"What about fighting them?" Xu Yuan asked.
"They represent the vast Dark Kingdom behind them. If you lack ambition, that's fine. But if you dare kill them, you may gain their teachings, yet you'll also be openly declaring yourself an enemy of that kingdom deep within the Ninefold Nether," the leader said.
So that was how it worked.
"Thank you for telling me. I truly appreciate it. If you ever need anything, please contact our Buried Love Lineage," Xu Yuan said sincerely.
"I'd rather never have any business dealings with you," the leader replied.
"Of course." Xu Yuan smiled.
The Buried Love Lineage buried not love, but remains.
No one wanted to deal with corpse collectors.
Xu Yuan toyed with the Emblem, then casually closed his fingers around it and crushed it.
"You crushed it!"
The leader waved its Bone Spear, backed away again and again, and shouted:
"Everyone, retreat! Don't get caught in it!"
They fled without so much as looking back.
Even the countless rooms built into the cliff of white bone shut their doors and windows. Not a single Ghost dared peek outside.
Xu Yuan paid them no mind.
His gaze seemed to pierce the impossibly thick walls of white bone and find the woman racing after him.
Faster.
Come on, faster.
*I have