Seven days later, on another bright, sunny morning, a morning breeze blew through the courtyard. A few withered leaves slowly spiraled down through the air. Autumn had already come again.
Today was the day Luo Ao and Echidna planned to set out for the Infernal Realm. Only those closest to Luo Ao waited in the courtyard.
Besides his father Bourne and mother Mansha, even his older sister Nicole, who had been away adventuring and tempering herself, had returned this time.
It was worth mentioning that Luo Ao's sister Nicole had long since broken through to Saint-level and had even comprehended one profound mystery of the Darkness Law.
His sister could be called a genius of the new generation who had risen in the past fifty years. Although her accomplishments could not compare with those of her younger brother Luo Ao, her talent was still astonishing enough.
"Father, Mother, Sis..." Luo Ao looked at the familiar people before him, an open, cheerful smile on his face.
"Little Luo Ao, just you wait. Sooner or later, I'll cultivate to godhood too and go adventuring in the Infernal Realm!" His sister Nicole suddenly turned her bright silver eyes toward him, her lovely face shining with confidence.
"Then I'll be waiting for you in the Infernal Realm." Luo Ao answered with an easy smile.
"Oh, right, I almost forgot. This is for you." A pure white ice-crystal longsword suddenly appeared in his sister Nicole's hand.
It was a longsword that seemed forged from pure ice and snow. Shortly after it appeared, a layer of icy mist at an extraordinarily low temperature began spreading around it. Clearly, this was a Divine Artifact of no low grade.
Although this sword fell far short of the azure longsword that had appeared in the Planar Prison, it was far stronger than any Divine Artifact Luo Ao had ever seen, and far more powerful than the Crimson Annihilation Divine Sword he had used before.
"Sis, how did you get this?" Luo Ao was somewhat stunned. If his guess was right, this was undoubtedly a Highgod Artifact, and probably no ordinary Highgod Artifact at that.
"Well, a brat with a twisted sense of humor gave it to me. He asked me to tell you that he's already caught that little mouse hiding in the shadows for you." As she brought this up, Nicole's face still clearly held some resentment.
Anyone who could give away a Highgod Artifact had to be powerful, so why was his sister calling him a brat? Luo Ao was somewhat puzzled as well.
"That brat also said that with him watching over the Boya Material Plane, nothing else would slip through the cracks." Nicole's words left everyone even more confused.
Who exactly was she talking about? Was there still such a powerful figure on the Boya Continent?
"Who is he?" Luo Ao already had a guess, but he still looked toward his sister Nicole.
"Just some brat who calls himself 'Shadow,' that's all." Nicole muttered a few words, still disgruntled.
"So it really was him?" Luo Ao now recalled that fellow, the mysterious man he had met once before.
"Thank him for me." Luo Ao put away the ice-crystal longsword, his mood instantly improving considerably once again.
He had still been somewhat worried about the miscellaneous affairs on the Boya Continent, but now that fellow was willing to help, he could feel much more at ease.
"Luo Ao..." As Luo Ao and Echidna turned to leave, everyone was somewhat dazed for a moment. All they could do, however, was offer the two their best wishes.
Under everyone's expectant gazes, the two figures soon vanished beyond the horizon.
"Are we heading back to the Forest of Dragons next?" Luo Ao knew Echidna had been born there. Strictly speaking, she should also have been a divine beast that had suddenly undergone an "atavism," just like Bebe.
"No need. I already said goodbye to Grandpa Duolagu and the others." Echidna shook her head. Luo Ao said nothing more, and the two flew swiftly all the way to the Nightmare Forest once again.
Deep within the Nightmare Forest, atop Mount Tesla.
Looking at Luo Ao and Echidna, who had appeared before her again, Betty could not help smiling gently. "Are you two really unwilling to consider going to the Radiant Divine Realm? With your talents, you would certainly receive the attention of the elders of my Cecilia clan."
"No, we'll go to the Infernal Realm." Seeing Luo Ao shake his head in refusal, Betty could only inwardly sigh at the pity of it.
"All right. This teleportation array leads to the Infernal Realm." Betty had the two step inside, then activated the teleportation array.
A dazzling, dreamlike light flared, engulfing Luo Ao and Echidna. By the time the light faded, the teleportation array was empty.
In the Shadow Courtyard, within that same ancient, imposing dark temple.
"Lord Shadow, Mr. Luo Ao also went to the Higher Plane of the Infernal Realm." Below the steps to the throne, Alpha, the beautiful blond elf, soon reported the news.
This was also thanks to Lord Shadow having happened to become acquainted with Mr. Luo Ao's sister. Otherwise, they might not have been able to obtain this information.
"He went to the Infernal Realm too?" The black-robed young man Xide abruptly rose from his dark gold throne, a barely perceptible smile on his face. "If this fellow can grow without mishap, perhaps we'll have a chance to meet again in the near future."
By meeting again, Xide clearly meant his other Divine Clone in the Infernal Realm meeting Luo Ao again.
"By the way, did Miss Nicole accept that sword?" Xide suddenly asked. Remembering Miss Nicole's incredulous expression when he had revealed his strength made him want to laugh a little.
The Material Plane no longer held many secrets for him. Only amusing incidents like these could give him an extraordinary sense of enjoyment.
"Miss Nicole accepted the ice-crystal longsword and has already passed it on to Mr. Luo Ao." Alpha answered Lord Shadow's question meticulously.
But recalling the scene when she had gone to see Miss Nicole and mentioned Lord Shadow, she too could barely suppress a laugh.
As always, Lord Shadow was still a kind fellow with a thoroughly twisted sense of humor.
"Good." Xide nodded at her words.
"After all, when it comes down to it, I was careless this time. I actually let that little mouse Aogemate cause such a commotion." Xide was referring to the "sealing" magic array. It turned out that Aogemate had been the one behind the destruction of that "sealing" magic array.
By the time the people of the Shadow Courtyard discovered this, however, it was already too late to remedy it.
Still, Aogemate's last Divine Clone had ultimately been killed by him. Xide had also passed the ice-crystal longsword that had held down the magic array on to Luo Ao, as a small gesture of compensation.
"Lord Shadow, this was not your fault. I failed in my duties this time." Alpha lowered her head even further, her spirits instantly sinking.
"See that it doesn't happen again. You may leave, Alpha." The black-robed young man's voice carried through the empty hall, with no hint of reproach in it, but Alpha was still deeply vexed with herself.
At the same time, she silently swore that she would never disappoint Lord Shadow again.
Meanwhile, Luo Ao and Echidna had now officially arrived in the Infernal Realm.