Infinite Corridor's Sigh

"Owner?"

Faced with the sudden change in the scene before her, Angela was slightly surprised. At this moment, she and Li Lin were enveloped in a semi-transparent protective shield, floating in the dark and gloomy sea.

"This is..."

"Suoxiate is nearby."

As Li Lin answered Angela's questions, he looked around. The place seemed dark and boundless, like being in the depths of the ocean, making him feel as if he had been banished to another dimension.

"Are you here to see the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys?"

Angela blinked curiously.

Why not call Nia and that guy?

"If I were to approach either of them, I'm afraid a fight would break out before we could even speak."

Li Lin shook his head with a wry smile. How could he not understand his weapon's intentions? Although Nia claimed to have figured it out, it was hard to say whether there were still some underlying issues. As for Kalin, despite her seemingly harmless demeanor, she could definitely scare Angela if she got serious. Therefore, Li Lin didn't plan to bring the two of them with him to find Suoxiate this time. After all, Suoxiate's current situation was his own doing. There's a saying on Earth, "The one who tied the knot must untie it," so this was what he had to do.

Banishing the thoughts from his mind, Li Lin softly recited the incantation. Light spread from between his hands, piercing through the darkness and illuminating the surrounding scene.

"Waaah..."

Angela's eyes widened in astonishment as she gazed at the almost unimaginable scene around her. Beneath her feet lay shattered ships, countless gold coins shimmering like stars. Luxurious, enormous chests lay scattered across the seabed, overflowing with gold coins and jewels, as if the depths of the ocean had been transformed into a new sea of gold. The glittering gems, gold coins, and the seemingly well-preserved works of art and weapons created the illusion that almost all the world's treasures had been dumped there.

"Don't get so absorbed."

Seeing Angela's excited little face, Li Lin reached out and patted her head.

"These are all fake, all illusions."

"Fake?"

Angela shook her head and stared intently, but even she couldn't figure it out.

"Suoxiate's only ability... is this."

Li Lin looked at the approaching underwater wealth empire and said with a helpless bitter smile.

Just then, the two landed on the seabed, standing atop the endless pile of gold coins. Angela curiously reached out and grabbed a handful of coins. The texture in her hand felt real, not at all like an illusion. She frowned, turned to look at Li Lin, opened her mouth as if to ask something, but ultimately gave up.

Li Lin closed his eyes, sensing the Magic Power energy around him. Gradually, magical runes began to shine on his body, emitting a peculiar glow. At that moment, the gold coins also seemed to begin to glow, echoing the light emanating from Li Lin, and then bursting forth with a dazzling light.

"Ah!"

Angela instinctively closed her eyes. When the light faded, she found that she and Li Lin were no longer in the dark, gloomy underwater world. Instead, they were now in an endless corridor. The flickering lights illuminated their figures, which moved constantly. Li Lin sighed and patted Angela's head.

"Come with me."

He said in a low voice.

"It's time I showed you some things."

Perhaps because Li Lin's tone unusually revealed sadness and grief, Angela, contrary to her usual behavior, did not ask any questions. She silently held Li Lin's outstretched hand and obediently followed behind him into the dimly lit depths of the corridor.

The seemingly endless corridor appeared to stretch on forever. In fact, it felt like they had walked for a very long time, yet it also felt like they hadn't wasted much time. Anyway, when Li Lin stopped, they were standing before a heavy wooden door. Li Lin placed his hand on the door; he could faintly sense the presence emanating from within. But that presence was the defeat he no longer wanted to face. However, for now... he glanced at Angela again. The little girl's face held confusion and curiosity, but no suspicion.

So, Li Lin pushed open the door.

"The evil Arcane Mage!!"

A loud crash echoed through the luxurious hall. The blood-stained floor was littered with corpses—men, women, the old, and the young. At that moment, five young men clad in armor stood in the center of the hall, surrounding a mage.

"The Magic Empire has been destroyed, Arcane Mage! Abandon your evil intentions and prepare to die!"

The only female knight among the five wielded a longsword, the light flowing across it emanating a faint chill.

The mage didn't look at the female knight. Instead, he sighed and casually waved his hand. As the ice spike was pulled out, a maid fell from the ceiling. She struggled to her feet, blood gushing from the gaping hole in her abdomen pierced by the ice spike. She painfully raised her head, looked at the mage before her, and shed crystal tears.

"Master... I'm so sorry... I..."

"This is not your fault, Suoxiate."

The mage shook his head, then walked in front of the maid, blocking her view. His angry, cold eyes shone with an unspeakable hatred.

"You destroyed our country, you killed our people... Very well, Catherine, is this your answer?"

We will not listen to the sophistry of evil!

Before the female knight could speak, the warrior beside her spoke up, gripping his axe tightly and cautiously watching the mage.

"Now, of the thirteen Arcane Mage, only you remain. Do you really think you can escape? Evil mage?! Don't think we don't know what you're thinking. You want to rule and destroy this world. This is intolerable to us. No amount of sophistry can conceal your ambition! Thousands upon thousands have died trying to stop you, and now we will inherit their will and end your evil reign! Arcane Mage."

"Luoxia, surrender."

The female knight spoke only after the warrior had finished speaking.

"We all know that among the thirteen Arcane Mage, you are not known for your fighting prowess. Now, you understand our power. Moreover, I have broken your Mythal, and your power is almost exhausted. Do you still dare to summon the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys to fight us? No matter which one you summon, we can seize control of her. At that time, you will only face an enemy you created yourself. Will you not regret it then? Luoxia, this is our last chance for you. Surrender, give up the resistance..."

"And then obediently let you kill them?"

Luoxia —formerly Li Lin —revealed a mocking expression.

"Indeed, I am currently only the last among the thirteen. But don't be too arrogant!"

At this point, Luoxia suddenly roared in anger.

"This is our country! The country we built with our own hands! My comrades died protecting it, and I will not run away from it! You can kill me, but I will never give up my revenge. You destroyed my country, killed my people and comrades, and I will remember this grudge!"

Boundless blue light erupted from Luoxia's body, and immense magical energy coalesced into countless terrifying spells, which blasted towards the five people before her.

It was a brutal battle. Although Luoxia had given his all, he was clearly unable to unleash more powerful spells, while his five enemies were obviously prepared. They withstood wave after wave of Luoxia's spells and launched counterattacks. Exhausted, Luoxia was unable to make any further moves, barely managing to hold off the attacks with his magical barriers. Under no circumstances did he retreat a single step. Facing the oncoming enemies, the Arcane Mage did not choose to flee or escape; he unleashed all his power, along with his Magic Power, in a final act of resistance.

That's enough!

The spell shield, already weakened by repeated attacks, finally succumbed to the onslaught. After a flash of white light, the almost nonexistent spell shield vanished completely. Although Luoxia had cast Stoneskin on himself, the immense force still caused him to stagger. However, Luoxia did not kneel to counteract the impact. Instead, he calmly observed the five people before him, a cold smile on his face.

At that very moment, before the Stoneskin could take effect, the longsword had already pierced his shoulder.

"This is bad!!"

The middle-aged nobleman holding the longsword paled, clearly sensing the eerie aura surrounding Luoxia. He hurriedly sheathed his sword and retreated, crimson blood gushing from Luoxia's wound, staining the pristine white ground.

"The Magic Controller..."

Luoxia raised her head and looked at the five people in front of her with a half-smile.

"The bane of spellcasters, indeed, truly remarkable... To have fought me to this extent, you've already done exceptionally well."

"..."

A white, icy aura of death began to materialize, and one could even clearly feel the chill penetrating deep into one's body.

"Stop him!!"

Although they didn't know what Luoxia wanted to do, the unmistakable danger startled the five people. Soon, the female knight raised her sword again, attempting to attack the mage in front of her.

But it was too late.

"It's a pity that you possess the greatest power... but your knowledge is still far too lacking."

The white spiritual mist, almost tangible, swirled around Luoxia, forcefully pushing the female knight's longsword away.

"The Magic Empire will not perish, not even if we all die. You will never occupy this place. I will absolutely not allow our palace to become the spoils of invaders."

Luoxia trembled, his blood almost completely drained. His already pale face was now as white as a sheet of paper.

"We can't control it!!"

However, compared to Li Lin, his five enemies also seemed to be in a bad mood. They shouted in surprise and began to retreat uneasily.

"This place will never be your territory. Even in death, our people will protect it forever."

As he spoke, Luoxia raised his hands, and then complex, terrifying, and chilling incantations came from his mouth.

The gathering white fog grew increasingly intense, as if it possessed its own will, impatiently condensing and compressing itself in Luoxia's hand, before suddenly bursting forth after reaching its limit.

"Run! This is not a spell we can resist!"

A burst of necromantic mist erupted from Luoxia's fingers, enveloping the entire room and seeping outwards. At that moment, the corpses that had been lying on the ground began to react; they swayed and stood up again, only now they had transformed into something far more terrifying.

The five people didn't linger. Clearly, the necromantic mist had caused the same effect not only in this room but also outside, especially since the Arcane Mage didn't have much longer to live. So, they could only turn around immediately, defeat a few undead soldiers who tried to stop them, and rush out of the room.

"Hmph... cough, cough..."

Luoxia chuckled softly, took a few steps back, and sat back down in his chair.

"That's it..."

He muttered to himself, glancing at the maid beside him.

"Suoxiate... let's leave this place."

"Master, I can't leave you, but I can now..."

It's too late.

Luoxia shook his head, rejecting the maid's suggestion, and gave a wry smile before closing his eyes.

The side effects of the spell were fully manifested at this moment. In order to cast this powerful spell, Luoxia used power beyond what he possessed. Then, his body began to gradually dissipate, turning into dust, scattering on the ground, and then disappearing.

As the Arcane Mage disappeared, the entire scene began to sway and blur before fading back into darkness.

Li Lin could feel the little guy gripping his hand tightly, as if suppressing his anger. He could only shake his head slightly, shaking off his past regrets and melancholy, and then speak.

"I'm back, Suoxiate."

As Li Lin spoke, the dark, boundless corridor instantly brightened, becoming luxurious. The red carpet and sparkling crystal chandeliers shimmered with boundless light. Before them stood a young girl in a maid's outfit, her long, flowing brown hair framing her beautiful, delicate face. The girl took a few steps forward, facing Li Lin, her eyes flashing with a mixture of excitement and sorrow. Then, she lifted her skirt and performed a perfect servant's bow to Li Lin.

"Welcome back, Master."