Chapter 455 - Palace of Darkness (2/2)

“I see.” Hutton nodded firmly, but he started cursing away in his head. d.a.m.n it, I knew you wouldn’t speak the truth, but could you at least put in a bit of effort when you’re lying? What do you mean a twisted demon, you think it’s the first day I met you?

But of course, this was all in Hutton’s head, and he would never dare say it aloud…

Connoris’ chanting lasted a long time, almost as long as the ritual at the altar.

He finally ended the long and mysterious chanting with a loud growl after a good 10 minutes.

Then, Lin Li realized that the calm lake water started boiling over.

It started out with a few ripples, but then the surface of the lake started bubbling. In the end, the water started churning, and the deafening sounds of the thras.h.i.+ng water filled their ears. It looked as though the whole lake was boiling.

“BOOM!”

In an instant, a loud noise could be heard, and it sounded as if the world was collapsing. When Lin Li came back to his senses, a towering palace had abruptly emerged from the surface of the lake, spanning across nearly half of the lake. The sight of it emerging from the surface could only be described as breathtaking. Even though Hutton and Lin Li had seen many things in their life, they still couldn’t help but stare with their mouth agape at that instant. It did not even cross their mind to dodge the splas.h.i.+ng water as they were still in shock.

Thankfully, Connoris had thought of that, and had the both of them stay aside and out of the water’s way.

n.o.body knew how long it was until Lin Li started to regain his senses as he studied the palace that had suddenly appeared with a face of disbelief.

Mysterious, solemn, and eerily enchanting all at the same time. It was as if the reflection in the lake had suddenly been turned around.

“This… This is the Palace of Darkness?” Hutton gulped, and his voice seemed to be unusually hoa.r.s.e.

“I guess so…” Lin Li was not much better than Hutton in that moment. After wondering what he should do for a while, it finally occurred to him that he should call Connoris over to ask him a few questions…

Lin Li calmed himself down before he picked Connoris up and placed him on his back again, and used his mental strength to ask, “My n.o.ble Soul Trader, where exactly is this chant from?”

“Huh? Don’t bother asking where this chant is from, since you won’t get it anyway. This chant has to be recited in the language of the demons, and unless you are of a devil’s lineage, your chant won’t have the same effect. As for why I know this chant, there’s an interesting story behind it…”

“What story?”

“Something that can drive the lord of the Abyss crazy…” Connoris suddenly stopped here. “Alright, stop asking so many questions I won’t answer anyway. You’re a person of questionable credibility, so before you help me create a new body, I will not tell you this secret. Of course, if you can make me a new body as soon as possible, I may reconsider and tell you a part of it…”

“What secret could be so powerful?”

“I’m not blowing my own horn, but if you know this secret, you’ll be able to do whatever you want in the endless Abyss, and not one Demon Lord will dare disrespect you. Why else do you think Geresco tried so hard to capture me then…?”

“Wait a second, what did you say just now? Geresco tried so hard to capture you?” Even though Connoris spoke quickly, Lin Li still picked up on the tiny detail. “Say, n.o.ble Soul Trader, didn’t you tell me that you were once the lord of one of the levels of the Abyss and that Geresco sealed your soul in this hammer after attacking your palace?”

“Did I say that…?” Connoris sheepishly said before he realized that he might as well continue with his bluff. “Alright, alright, take it that I did say that. This happened so many years ago, so how could I remember everything clearly? You must know that this happened over 1,300 years ago! Would you remember what you had for breakfast today 1,300 years later?”

“…”

“Alright, alright, stop wasting time asking questions like that. If you don’t hurry into the Palace of Darkness, I won’t help you if Mephistos catches up with you.”

“That’s true…” After hearing what Connoris said, Lin Li realized that now was not the time to ask questions. Mephistos was after the Palace of Darkness as well, and wouldn’t he be inconveniencing himself if he met him here?

“Alright, Hutton, let’s go.”

Lin Li intended to head into the Palace of Darkness after calling upon Hutton, but he suddenly heard the sound of wind coming from the surface of the lake. Lin Li looked up in shock, and saw a black figure flying over from afar. It was a thin figure in a black long robe—who else could it be but Stephen?

“You finally caught up, Stephen.” Hutton was pleasantly surprised to see that Stephen had caught up with them. There was no telling what was hidden in the Palace of Darkness, after all, and it was better to have Stephen’s help if they met with any danger.

“Yes, I was delayed on the way.” Stephen nodded at Hutton in a greeting, but did not even spare a glance at Lin Li.

However, Lin Li did not mind it this time. Oh, no… more than that, Lin Li even warmly welcomed him despite his apparent nonchalance. “Could it be that you met demons along the way? Mage Stephen, I nearly forgot to ask you: how did you manage to find your way here?”

After finis.h.i.+ng his question, Lin Li stared closely at Stephen.

“Only a few Minion Demons.” A trace of panic flashed across his face, and if not for Lin Li staring closely, n.o.body would have noticed that. “Don’t forget that I, too, am an Archmage. It is a basic skill for an Archmage to track others using magical waves.”

“Hehe, I see…” Lin Li smiled and nodded as though he never noticed that trace of panic.

The door to the Palace of Darkness was still wide open, and after the trio finished their short chat, they flew into the open doors of the Palace of Darkness with the Power of Flight.

As they pa.s.sed through the door, Connoris moved on Lin Li’s back. “He’s lying, I sense Mephistos’s aura on him!”