Chapter 173: The Ghosts of Taiwei

The guardians of the Taotie deity were known as the Taiwei clan. Led by King Taiwei, his people had lived generation after generation within this deep pit secret realm of the Nanguang Abyss, where they achieved a certain level of prosperity, living in peace and contentment, far removed from the struggles of the mortal world.

However, during that chaotic era when countless powerful beings vied for supremacy, this place could not escape being dragged into the epicenter of the storm.

Ultimately, the Taiwei people fell victim to a malicious curse cast by a Demon Commander. After death, they were transformed into monsters covered in ominous black fur, forced to endure the agony of the gale winds once or twice every single day.

Worst of all was King Taiwei himself. His soul was sealed within a giant statue, turning him into the creator of the black gales. Day in and day out, he suffered through unimaginable torment and unspeakable agony.

While the totem inscriptions of the clan fought against the curse, they could only manage to sustain the protective array, preventing outsiders from destroying it while dispersing the black winds to slightly reduce the corrosion of the malevolent Qi.

Yet, having endured the curse of the Taiwei clan for such endless years, everyone longed for nothing more than for their physical bodies and souls to perish swiftly, bringing them complete and utter release. But how easily could such a wish be granted?

This time, the emergence of the Seven-Tentacle Demon Insect caused this deep pit to surface and the stone gates to manifest, drawing Lin Zhan and the others right into the midst of it.

Coincidentally, the Fortune Spirit Wheel possessed by Lin Zhan was the exact artifact capable of restraining and absorbing the cursed black winds. As a result, the souls of the Taiwei clan were finally freed from the ominous and stifling shackles of the curse, walking away from this unimaginably long and harrowing chapter of their history.

"I shall lead the warriors of my clan to break into the void and continue our battle against the demonic imps and witchcraft spirits..." King Taiwei radiated an inspiring battle intent, his entire body glowing with a dazzling, brilliant light. "Upon the altar rests the Seal of the Taiwei King belonging to my clan. Once you bind it with a drop of your blood, young friend, should you ever face peril, you need only stir your divine sense. No matter where our souls may reside, I shall personally lead the Taiwei warriors to come to your aid! Furthermore, there is a key to unlock the Taiwei Treasury; you may seek it out yourself to claim your destiny."

Lin Zhan's eyes welled up with hot tears. What could possibly be more moving than securing a stroke of fortune? And that unimaginably powerful Taiwei King Seal, capable of summoning the spectral warriors of the Taiwei clan—this was truly striking gold.

Of course, Lin Zhan also knew that unless it was a matter of life and death, a moment of sheer survival, it would be inappropriate to summon them just for fun. Otherwise, he would certainly face far more than mere contempt.

King Taiwei cast one final glance at Lin Zhan, his gaze finally revealing boundless gratitude. Then, turning away with resolute determination, he walked before his people and warriors, imbued with the release born from endless years of suffering, stirring with the burning passion to charge into battle once more.

No overly sentimental mobilization was needed, nor any tedious exchanges. Those warriors stood with bright, piercing gazes, full of spirited valor—unmoving as mountains yet brimming with fierce battle intent.

"Children, follow me!"

Dazzling screens of light surged around King Taiwei as an invisible teleportation array activated. Standing at the very center of the formation, he slowly turned his head, nodded to Lin Zhan, and then vanished in a flash amidst the oscillating waves of light. His warriors, too, surged in neat, orderly batches into the light curtain and disappeared...

Throughout this process, as if by a silent agreement, every single warrior cast a distant, lingering glance back at Lin Zhan before stepping into the light curtain, entering without a single trace of hesitation.

Lin Zhan knew that although these Taiwei warriors were now mere spiritual entities, this gesture was a silent salute of respect and an unspoken expression of gratitude. It was a thank-you that required no words. Their greatest longing had been precisely this: to cast off the shackles of the ominous curse, be reborn in spirit, and follow their king to a new realm to fight and conquer. Only thus could their souls find peace and their martial spirits endure forever.

*Whoosh!* With the very last sound, all the light and shadow vanished. The cavern within the cave returned to its hazy, secluded tranquility, and this City of Taiwei finally became a thoroughly empty city.

Lin Zhan mused that if the opportunity arose in the future, he could treat this place as a vacation spot. Whenever he had free time, he could bring a few close friends to stay for a few days—that would surely be a most pleasant and leisurely experience.

Aside from the empty city, right in the center of the distant plaza altar, a square object was emanating a soft glow. That was none other than the Taiwei King Seal!

"Lin Zhan, go quickly and collect the Taiwei King Seal!" Shui Xinxin reminded him in a soft voice.

Indeed, only the treasures in one's own hands truly belonged to one. This maxim held true in any era, for one could never be certain whether someone else might also be able to summon the Taiwei specters if the seal fell into their hands.

"Go ahead, Lin Zhan. We'll keep an eye on the surroundings," Tan Qingxuan said as well.

The others naturally had no objections whatsoever. This fortune belonged to Lin Zhan, and no one dared to covet it. Without Lin Zhan's Fortune Spirit Wheel, it remained an unknown whether they could have ever escaped this place, let alone whether they could have left alive. Therefore, even those with lingering ambitions felt too ashamed to contend with Lin Zhan for the Taiwei King Seal at a moment like this.

The plaza was vast and boundless, stretching as far as the eye could see. Just moments ago, it had been packed to capacity with hundreds of thousands of Taiwei spectral warriors. Yet, Lin Zhan's pace was swift, and he arrived in the blink of an eye. Stepping onto the stone stairs of the altar, his expression grew solemn and dignified.

At the summit platform of the altar, a rich and mellow spiritual energy and power faintly emanated. Even before drawing close, Lin Zhan knew this was a treasure of a higher grade than the white bone pagoda, likely incomparable even to precious magical implements, for its excellence was simply beyond immediate estimation.

At this moment, the Taiwei King Seal was massive in size, rendered entirely in the earthy yellow favored by royalty. Its shape was perfectly square, topped with the fierce figure of a Taotie beast, radiating majestic awe. Carved around the sides of the seal were crimson patterns, all depicting Taotie totems.

When Lin Zhan pressed a drop of his blood onto the surface of the Taiwei King Seal, the blood was instantly absorbed, vanishing without a trace. The blood-binding was complete, and mastery of the artifact followed as naturally as a river flowing into the sea.

With a flick of Lin Zhan's mind, the King Seal shrank and condensed, flying autonomously into the palm of his hand. Upon contact, a wave of boundless pain and stifled grief surged into him, but it quickly transformed into a sense of solace and intimacy. In the end, only an unassailable royal aura remained, as natural as Heaven itself. Even Lin Zhan felt as though he had suddenly transformed into a veteran commander, born of blood and battlefield glory. This innate imperial arrogance made his blood boil uncontrollably...

Clutched within the grip of the seal—specifically inside the mouth of the fierce Taotie beast—was a red key. Lin Zhan pulled it out. It had been refined and polished from meteorite ore containing stellar energy; it felt ice-cold and carried an exotic aura.

Touching this red key, Lin Zhan still had no idea where the treasury of the Taiwei clan was actually located. *(To be continued.)*