Tomb raiding: Today is another day I don't want to go home.

Chapter 81 The Soul Beneath the Brahma Bell (Part 2)

thump...

108 down...

"Master!" The system finally burst from Yan Huai's mind, the white mist tightly enveloping him, but it couldn't stop his dragon body from continuing to slump. Its energy was insufficient; it couldn't hold back the heavy Yan Huai. "Master..."

Suddenly, a huge purple vine emerged from under the bell. It passed through the inextinguishable flame and white mist protecting Yan Huai, lifting his entire body up. Tiny branches sprouted from the vine, eagerly covering the nearly dried flesh on his waist and abdomen, quietly bringing a touch of coolness and comfort.

"Madam!?" The white mist gathered, slowly forming a sphere. The system's mechanical tone carried a trembling sob, but its body, as small as a rice ball, honestly and joyfully bounced several feet high on the purple vine. "You're finally awake... I knew you would wake up!"

"Hmm..." The woman's voice was gentle yet carried a long-lost feeling of breaking free from constraints. Before she finished speaking, her figure transformed into a phantom that was untouched by the dust of the world.

Gu Ling tentatively floated above Yan Huai. When her almost transparent hands touched those familiar features, a single tear slid down her cheek. Her dark pupils were filled with immense heartache, guilt, and longing, yet she murmured, almost losing her voice, "Ah Huai?"

boom--

The sound of the impending collapse of the Death Gate interrupted Gu Ling's thoughts. She withdrew her hand and looked sorrowfully in the direction of the Southwest Clan Chief's Seal.

The temple bell shattered, the Buddha's light dissipated, the hellfire lost its vessel, and the bones were reborn in the cycle of reincarnation...

After the silence subsides, a stronger backlash usually follows. Time is of the essence; otherwise, the external perception of the Death Gate tremor will be even more intense.

"Qi Yu... take the jade token, refine the contents inside, and bring it back along with the clan leader's seal."

"Yes, Madam!" The system enveloped the clan leader token handed over by Gu Ling, and with a swift white movement, it disappeared without a trace in no time.

Gu Ling turned around, her slender fingers gently stroking Yan Huai's mane. She bent down slightly and reluctantly kissed Yan Huai's brow, murmuring, "Ah Huai, I'm sorry you've suffered... I'll help you find your memories here."

Yan Huai, whose consciousness had already fallen into a deep sleep, seemed to sense something. His eyelids twitched, yet felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. Everything outside seemed to be shut out from him; he could no longer hear the system's call, nor could he see his mother...

In the chaos, Yan Huai felt his hands being enveloped in warmth, and the murmurs in his ears gradually became clearer.

"Ah Huai, you're not allowed to throw a tantrum and run around like last time. This time, Yan Chen will go with you to ensure your safety!"

Yan Huai was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, his eyes inexplicably stinging. He suppressed his instinctive refusal and replied, "Okay..."

"Hmm, so good!" A figure squatted down in front of her. She smiled and reached out to pat Yan Huai's head.

Yan Huai instinctively reached out to grab something, but grasped nothing. The figure walked further and further away, and his feet remained rooted to the spot...

"Roar—" Yan Huai suddenly turned around; it was his voice!

The chains were not yet rusted. The underground palace was imprisoning all the Azure Dragon Clan members, and on the blood-stained circular platform at the very center, Yan Huai's scales were being brutally peeled off by a group of people...

"The possessor of the Azure Dragon bloodline represents the majesty and power of righteousness. To be recognized as the Azure Dragon Clan Chief, Yan Huai's flesh and blood are far more nourishing than that of his useless father!"

"Of course! The coming-of-age ceremony is over, so the value of the flesh and scales is different now. Remember to save me a pretty one later, my snake will need it."

"Alright~ There are so many scales, you can choose whichever you like. I don't need that many to set up the formation!"

...After greed comes hypocritical humility.

Yan Huai was completely covered in black mist, which was thicker and more consuming than the black mist in his eyes when he saw Yan Zhe's remnant soul in the Gate of Death.

Another scale was peeled off, and Yan Huai's previously stiff and numb body suddenly floated towards his chained self, then slowly merged with it, and his senses returned...

"what--"

The long-buried memories, after the iron rod pierced the cracks in the scales, swept over with the excruciating pain of being unable to die.

Everything seems to make sense now...