The Invincible Young Master

Artifacts came in many forms. Some were born from the world itself, shaped by nature's mysteries. Others, however, were forged by mortal hands, crafted in ages long gone when the Human Emperor waged war against the Mother Witch and her endless army.

Countless such relics had been lost to time, but a rare few endured, passed down through generations or hidden in the earth until rediscovered.

Those weapons, bound to the ancient war, came to be known as holy artifacts, treasures made solely to oppose the darkness within the ruins.

The monster's eyes widened, sensing the weapon's deadly intent.

With a piercing screech, it reared back, spewing a strange red mist that spread downward, twisting and writhing as if alive, seeking to blind its enemies.

But it was already too late. The general released the string.

The arrow of pure light shot forth like a falling star, tearing through the red haze without slowing.

In a blink, it struck the beast's skull with a thunderous crack. The force drove it back, pinning its massive form against the pillar. Its body convulsed violently, then sagged, hanging limp against the stone.

Seeing it hit the target, a wave of relief swept through the chamber.

Soldiers exhaled as one, some clutching their weapons tighter, others lowering them slightly. The holy artifact had struck true.

But then, the creature's eyes flared open once more.

Its two crimson eyes blazed with fury. Its coils tightened, stone cracking beneath its clutches.

It came back alive.

Lina's frown deepened, realizing her speculation came true. "…I-it's immortal."

"Immortal? How can that be? It's only an Astral Bloom–stage creature." Ling Yan's brows furrowed, disbelief sharp in her tone.

No creature at such a level should have the right to immortality. To claim it was impossible.

Everyone knew that only beings who had long surpassed the Ethereal Manifestation realm could brush against that threshold.

Even stepping into Ethereal Manifestation itself was like scaling an unscalable cliff; few across history had managed it. To go beyond? That was the domain of mysteries.

"Because it's a puppet," Lina answered, her voice flat and certain.

Her eyes never wavered from the towering creature, not even for a heartbeat. "A-as long as it remains inside this tower, and the tower itself stands, it will not die. T-the tower sustains it."

Ling Yan's expression darkened. "Then is there no other way to pass this chamber?"

"N-no," Lina replied, "We'll have to brute force our way through."

Before Ling Yan could respond, the monster stirred. Its massive coils shifted against the pillar with a grinding scrape.

Its jaws opened wide, but no screech followed this time. Instead, a suffocating tide of crimson poured forth, spilling from its throat like smoke from a burning furnace.

The mist spread in a steady flood, thick and heavy, swallowing the ground in a red haze. It coiled like a living tide, curling around the chamber and crawling across the cracked floor.

Every surface it touched seemed to darken, as if the fog itself was drinking the life out of the stone.

Then it pressed against the glowing white barrier of the Yan formation, sliding across its surface like oil on glass.

In moments, the entire chamber drowned in the haze. The air grew dense, heavy to breathe, as though the fog itself had weight.

Inside the barrier, the soldiers watched in grim silence. Their eyes, though calm from discipline, flicked nervously toward the crimson shroud pressing closer and closer.

At first, their defense held steady. The white light of their barrier shone against the fog, repelling it with a faint hum.

But before long, sharp-eyed ascendants began to notice the faintest shifts, a ripple, small cracks rippling across the glowing surface.

Tiny fissures appeared and vanished in rapid succession, sealing almost as soon as they formed. Yet they were there.

And the realization struck them all like a blade of ice.

It was the mist. The crimson mist was not a simple smokescreen. It was eating at their barrier, chewing on the very energy that sustained it.

Their defense was repairing itself, yes, but every second demanded more power, draining their strength faster than they could recover.

"Princess," one of the generals said, his voice edged with urgency. "If this goes on, this barrier won't hold much longer. We must break for the gate while keeping formation."

Ling Yan's gaze turned toward the massive gate at the far end of the chamber. Beyond its lies their next trial.

However, they must first cross this monstrosity in front of them. She could ask her general to shoot that arrow again, but knowing the creature is immortal, they would only be wasting their energy.

Her frown deepened. She weighed the choice in silence.

To march forward in formation was their safest path, but also their most dangerous. If even a single step faltered, the creature would tear through their ranks like paper.

Yet if they lingered here, letting the crimson fog drain their defenses, the casualties would mount with every passing breath.

She knew the truth.

Lina, the elder, and the four masters could all slip through alone, their speed carrying them past the creature's reach. If it were just her and the masked man, the two of them could dash for the gate in the blink of an eye.

But she did not have just herself to protect. She had her army.

Inside the barrier, they were shielded but burdened, their pace chained by the rhythm of the formation.

But without the formation, they would be helpless beneath the crushing pressure of an Astral Bloom stage monster, perhaps slaughtered before they could take even a single step.

Her brows knitted tighter, the weight of choice pressing down on her chest.

Every heartbeat was another crackle against the barrier, another bite the crimson mist stole from their strength. If she delayed too long, the tide would swallow them whole.

Then, a calm voice broke through her storm of thoughts.

"Princess, I'll buy some time for the army to march ahead."