Evan Chu’s mind raced. Could there really be other beauties among these remnant souls, just like Selena? Maybe. Maybe not. But right now, none of that mattered! The most important thing—the only thing—was to figure out exactly where the Soul Mushroom was hiding. Once it ripened, he had to seize it in an instant, no matter what! No hesitation!
He swept a glance over the countless remnant souls and skeletons crowding the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons. Then, silent as a shadow, Evan Chu crept behind the purple Skeleton King, keeping his distance—far, far away. This monster’s strength was off the charts. If he got caught, it’d be game over. Absolutely, positively, he could not be discovered!
The moment the remnant souls heard the Skeleton King’s words, excitement exploded! Every soul was wild with hope, desperate for a body—any body! Even a skeleton shell would be a blessing from the heavens. With a skeleton, maybe, just maybe, they could someday regain flesh and blood. All at once, every soul who could speak erupted in ecstatic shouts. The atmosphere boiled!
The purple Skeleton King started shuffling toward a dark corner, moving at a snail’s pace. He kept glancing back, suspicious, like he’d sensed something lurking in the shadows. Evan Chu’s heart clenched. Had he been spotted? No way! If the Skeleton King noticed him now, it’d be a disaster—a living nightmare!
After several tense breaths, the Skeleton King stopped dead. Evan Chu’s gaze locked onto a black mushroom not far ahead. But was it real? It flickered in and out of existence, shrouded in wisps of energy. Mysterious. Dangerous. His pulse hammered in his ears.
That’s it—the Soul Mushroom! Evan Chu’s heart nearly leapt out of his chest. His spiritual sense swept over it, feeling not just waves of energy, but a terrifying, pure soul force. No wonder this thing could mend broken souls—it was the real deal!
"This Soul Mushroom hasn’t even formed a true body yet! Damn it, so frustrating! Half a month—only half a month! What if someone tries to steal it before then? No, I have to set down a protective barrier, a soul-sealing formation, right here. Only then can I rest easy!" The Skeleton King muttered, his voice thick with paranoia.
Evan Chu’s mood soured instantly. The Skeleton King was a monster—if he set a soul-sealing barrier, breaking it would be nearly impossible! But right now, Evan couldn’t stop him. He was stuck, helpless, caught between frustration and dread.
Suddenly, inspiration struck! Evan Chu’s mind spun, and in a flash, he summoned his Fire Golden Body. Heavenfire—deadly to souls, feared by all remnant spirits! Maybe, just maybe, he could use it to disrupt the Skeleton King, stop him from setting that barrier. Worth a shot!
If only he’d finished refining the Light Golden Body! If he had, he could’ve gone invisible, hidden right beside the Soul Mushroom, and snatched it the instant it matured. The Skeleton King would never see it coming—he’d be utterly defenseless! What a missed opportunity!
Just as expected, the moment the Fire Golden Body appeared, the whole place went wild! The Skeleton King froze, his voice booming like thunder: "Who dares intrude in my Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons? Who has the guts to challenge me here?!"
The Fire Golden Body itself was mute, but Evan Chu’s spiritual sense was sharp as a blade. He made his own voice ring out from its mouth: "I’m just here for a taste of wedding wine—why so nervous? What’s got you so rattled? Surprised to see me, aren’t you?!"
The Skeleton King was stunned. He’d only just mentioned a wedding—how did this stranger know already? Too weird! Too suspicious! His empty eye sockets burned with cold soul fire, staring at the Fire Golden Body as if he could pierce through its secrets.
"Who are you? Why have you come? Wedding wine? Hah! It’s not time yet! Come back in half a month if you dare!" The Skeleton King barked, impatience and wariness dripping from every word.
"Old friend, of course! Have you forgotten me already? You really think I died in the Immortal–Demon War? What a joke! I just switched bodies, that’s all. Surprised? You should be!" Evan Chu pressed on, his bluff bold and relentless.
The Skeleton King faltered, disbelief etched into his every word. "You—You’re the Yin–Yang Demon Empress? Impossible! I heard you were wiped out, your soul scattered to dust. How could you possibly stand here now?"
"Wiped out? You underestimate me! I’m the number one powerhouse in the Demonic Realm! Those Immortal Realm clowns? Not even worth mentioning! Sure, the Immortal–Demon War had a tough opponent, but I cut him down and claimed his body. Don’t look down on this body—its defenses are monstrous!" Evan Chu laughed, doubling down on his lie.
"You survived and gained a new body, but why come here? You’re after the Soul Mushroom again, aren’t you? I won’t let you have it! Not this time! I’ve waited tens of thousands of years for this Soul Mushroom. You promised—promised!—not to fight me for it. Will the mighty Demon Empress break her word now?" The Skeleton King’s voice trembled with desperation and suspicion.
"What makes you think I’m here for the Soul Mushroom? I’m not interested in fighting you for it. I came for the female remnant soul I left here long ago. She’s still safe, right?" Evan Chu asked, his tone probing, eyes sharp, testing the Skeleton King’s reaction.
"Selena? Her remnant soul is weak—very weak—and she’s still sleeping. You’d best not disturb her. If you’re truly my friend, come drink wedding wine in half a month. But if you’re here to stir up trouble, I won’t back down!" The Skeleton King warned, his protectiveness and suspicion flaring up.
"Why get so worked up? I never said I wouldn’t leave. I just want to see her, that’s all. She’s a rare beauty of the Demonic Realm—of course I care about her! Who wouldn’t? Isn’t it only natural?" Evan Chu said, acting casual, but every word was calculated, every glance loaded with hidden intent.
"Hahaha! Yin–Yang Demon Empress, you dare talk about caring? You stole Selena’s body, didn’t you? If you truly cared, would you have possessed her, dumped her remnant soul here, and left her to rot? Let me tell you—Selena’s remnant soul only has three souls and six spirits. One spirit is missing! Where did it go? I bet you devoured it!" The Skeleton King roared, accusation and fury echoing through the abyss.
Evan Chu’s heart skipped a beat. So it was true! Gavin Wei’s theory was spot on—Selena’s body really did have a sealed remnant soul. If he could just bring back her three souls and six spirits to the Immortal Realm, he could save her! And the Soul Mushroom… the Soul Mushroom could heal her soul completely, maybe even make it stronger than ever! His pulse raced, resolve hardening.
That’s what he thought, but Evan Chu kept his true feelings buried deep. He flashed a sly smile: "I’m not that foolish. One of her spirits is sealed inside her body—why, I’m not sure. And as for her flesh, it was snatched away by Immortal Realm experts during the war. Why did they do it? Beats me. Do you know the reason?"
"The reason? I might know a thing or two, but who can say for sure? I heard Selena mention someone named Evan Chu. Did you ever hear about this person in the Immortal Realm?" The Skeleton King pressed, suspicion flickering in his hollow eyes.
"Evan Chu? That’s the Immortal Realm’s top expert—the one I personally killed! This body is his, you know. Looks like Selena is far more complicated than she seems. So, how is she now? Let me see her. I promise, I won’t take her away—I know you care about her. I just want to hear what she has to say about Evan Chu. Isn’t that fair?" Evan Chu layered flattery and bluff, every word dripping with calculation.
Truth be told, I can’t fully control this body—there’s still a stubborn remnant soul inside. No matter how I try, I can’t devour it. The only way to drive it out is to let it meet Selena’s remnant soul. Evan Chu spun his bluff to the absolute limit—even he felt a bead of cold sweat on his brow. This was high-stakes deception!