A torrent of gray essence ceaselessly swirled around the dull Mune’s Zhence, with vast amounts pouring into his ears, nostrils, mouth, and eyes, even forcing their way into his pores.

Before Mune’s Zhence, countless grotesque visions spun: an army resembling skeletal frameworks drifted across the endless desert, countless warriors engaged in a terrifying slaughter against the host, and he felt as if he were one of the skeletal troops, the very leader seated atop a golden chariot.

All these skeletal forces—some bearing human shapes, others resembling beasts or demonic creatures, and still others looking virtually indistinguishable from men, an undead legion—at this moment felt utterly within his grasp.

In this instant, Mune’s Zhence felt like a King! An Emperor! Possessing immense power, the authority to effortlessly decree the life or death of all living beings.

An emperor mightier than the sovereign of the Zhence Dynasty, mightier even than the Demon Lord of the Demon Race! One who stood above all, perhaps even transcending eternity, perhaps even overshadowing the legendary Star Gods.

The ambition and desire for power swelled, expanded, and continued to expand rapidly within Mune’s Zhence’s core! The Dou Heart on his forehead spun at high velocity, gradually coalescing into a gray Dou Heart—not a golden one, nor the spiraling vortex of Qian Jin’s energy. It was a Dou Heart Qian Jin had never witnessed before.

Specialized psychic energy incessantly climbed. Mune’s Zhence at this moment retained none of his usual composure or appearance; veins throbbed across his forehead and cheeks, covering his face in an indescribably terrifying and repulsive network, as if he were truly a grim spirit sprung from death itself.

Mune’s Zhence’s eyes slowly hollowed out, yet his empty pupils radiated an unspeakable dread. His mouth slowly opened, emitting a voice that seemed to transcend time, ancient and majestic, echoing from the primordial era: "Who… dares disturb my slumber?.."

Mune’s Zhence’s gaze instantly locked onto Qian Jin: "It’s you again? It’s you again! How many times has this been? How many times have you ruined my scheme? Today, I shall show you no leniency… I swear I shall…"

"Swear your sister's ass," Mune’s Zhence’s neck creaked audibly as he slowly tilted his head up to gaze at the massive swirling gray vortex: "I… I am… I am… the noble Sixth Prince of the Zhence Dynasty. I… I shall surely reign over all the lands one day, a true sovereign! You seek to control my body… treat me as a puppet?.."

"Foolish insect, how dare you resist the great Undead…"

"I am the noble Sixth Prince… the honor of a sovereign shall never bow to you."

"Submit to me, insect…"

"Go… go to hell! You bastard! Making someone as refined as me curse! When I’m done, I’ll wipe out your entire lineage!"

"Insect…"

"Insect your mother!"

Mune’s Zhence’s body shook violently, his gaze flickering between moments of clarity and moments of vacant emptiness, his facial expression rapidly shifting.

"Submit to Me…"

"Submit to your sister! I am the Emperor…" Mune’s Zhence’s hand constantly pulled away from the Heart of Lucifer, his neck emitting grating sounds as he turned toward Qian Jin: "Qian Jin… I can’t hold on much longer! The moment I throw this metal sphere at you… kill me… kill me!.."

Red blood slowly trickled from the corner of Mune’s Zhence’s eyes, his expression fluctuating wildly every second: "Take out your bow… draw your arrow…"

"Qian Jin, I am your friend, I am Mune’s Zhence. You cannot kill me."

"Stop pretending to use my voice, you son of a—"

"Qian Jin, we are friends, you said that yourself…"

"Qian Jin! You idiot! Can’t you tell which one is me? Later, let me die with the honor of the Sixth Prince, I don’t want to be this weird Undead thing anymore!" What should he do? Qian Jin stared blankly at the unfolding scene. Initially, the battle had proceeded almost exactly as Fen Tu Kuang Ge predicted, but at this critical juncture involving the Inscription discipline, he, the specialist in the group, had absolutely failed to anticipate such a development.

The Psychic system! Although Qian Jin didn't know what the gray essence was, he recognized the immense psychic power it contained, just like Mune’s Zhence’s own energy!

Qian Jin was not a Sorcerer; while he was competent with magic arrays, he had no real means to intervene in this situation. Lucifer Flow cultivated both Battle and Sorcery, but this scenario had already surpassed the realm of ordinary magic.

To kill, or not to kill?

Qian Jin, who had always been decisive and ruthless, wavered for the first time while looking at Mune’s Zhence. This man was his comrade who entered the Demon Realm with him; now, he was being asked to shoot his ally.

Kill? Easy enough! One arrow would suffice! But the result of that single arrow would be Mune’s Zhence’s permanent return to the embrace of the stars.

Not kill—at least hope would be preserved! Hope to seek aid from his teachers in the Endless World.

"I’ll do it."

Chek’s body materialized beside Qian Jin. He swiftly snatched the specialized heavy bow and arrow, instantly locking onto Mune’s Zhence perched atop the coffin.

Lucifer Flow watched Qian Jin with envy. Although Che Shuai was Qian Jin’s friend, and they were equals, Che Shuai was also the sharpest, most decisive blade in Qian Jin’s hand. When Qian Jin hesitated, this sharp sword would unflinchingly shoulder all responsibility.

Their bond had deepened over days of shared experience, especially in the oppressive environment of the Demon Realm, where clinging together became an instinctive necessity.

Chek also harbored deep affection for Mune’s Zhence. To act while bearing this double weight of emotion… Lucifer Flow sighed softly; Che Shuai truly possessed a heart of iron.

"I am the noble Sixth Prince Mune’s Zhence. How dare you make me so wretched? I will not be controlled by you! Come out! Come out!"

The coffin connected to the Heart of Lucifer emitted a mournful shriek, a sound so piercing it instantly vibrated and killed every inscription master present, leaving even Qian Jin and the others dizzy.

At this moment, the Heart of Lucifer was violently yanked out by Mune’s Zhence. He swung his arm rapidly toward Qian Jin’s side. The Heart of Lucifer spun rapidly in the air, trailing gray blood as it revolved.

"Qian Jin, this Prince owes you," a smile of unprecedented relief spread across Mune’s Zhence’s savage face: "This time, principal and interest, I’m paying it all back at once. Your Prince owes you nothing more!.."

An unprecedented pride flickered across Mune’s Zhence’s face. As a Prince, he had wanted to recruit Qian Jin as a retainer numerous times; later, he only intended to invite him as an honored guest, yet Qian Jin had saved him beyond the frontier passes. After entering the Demon Realm, he had also received Qian Jin’s care repeatedly.

The confident, proud Mune’s Zhence carried a deep sense of failure, a feeling he usually kept hidden but which perpetually churned in his heart.

Releasing the Heart of Lucifer might have saved him, but the price of self-preservation was still owing Qian Jin a debt.

Mune’s Zhence would not hesitate; he chose the former. Death would clear the debt; survival would only prolong the obligation.

The gigantic grimacing face of gray essence instantly twisted hideously, as if suffering a profound, severe wound. Its rotation in the air accelerated rapidly.

Chek’s eyes suddenly narrowed to slits, killing intent flashing sharply in his pupils. His fingers gripping the arrow twitched slightly.

"No," Qian Jin suddenly intervened, striking aside the bow and arrow in Chek’s hand. The arrow spun violently away toward another direction.

"Qian Jin! You’ve lost your mind!" Fury instantly surged in Mune’s Zhence’s eyes, but that anger slowly, millimeter by millimeter, was replaced by emptiness, the rage on his face gradually receding: "Fool…."

"Cannot kill, cannot kill!" Qian Jin repeatedly shook his head as he watched Mune’s Zhence’s features turn progressively cold, emotionless, and majestic: "It is my fault for letting you encounter this situation. I must bring you back. Cannot kill… cannot kill…" Bang bang… bang bang… bang bang…

Several metallic inscription artifacts on Mune’s Zhence’s body suddenly exploded, even the fan in his hand shattering, releasing countless streams of power that surged toward the sky like two sharp swords!

One pierced into Mune’s Zhence’s forehead, the other plunged into the massive demonic face in the sky.

The speed of these two swords was incredible, faster than the lightning above by a third, and their power carried an indescribable aura of masculinity, as if all the Yang energy between heaven and earth had been condensed into these two brilliant streaks of light.

The gray-essence demonic face had not anticipated such a sudden change from Mune’s Zhence; it had been wholly focused on pouring all its strength into that body, intending to stop only when the body reached its absolute limit before pouring in more.

A sudden mutation! The demonic face let out another agonizing scream, and Mune’s Zhence simultaneously cried out, his mouth for the first time unleashing a sound laced with a hint of fear, but mostly, rage: "Fu Long Zhence?.."

The sword light piercing the essence instantly transformed into rolling spring thunder, exploding wildly within the essence, wave after wave repelling the gray essence, scattering it in all directions, like a massive army charging violently through the chaos, tearing the mass of gray essence into countless fragments.

In the next instant, the gray demonic essence about to descend upon Mune’s Zhence violently burst, vanishing in a puff of smoke, yet somehow seeming not to have truly disappeared.

The emptiness in Mune’s Zhence’s eyes slowly cleared, and as the supporting gray power vanished, his body plummeted from the air.

Duan Feng Bu Er bounced off the ground, swiftly leaping forward to catch the still-unconscious Mune’s Zhence. His nascent Soul Domain only allowed for short-range teleports of ten meters, so Duan Feng Bu Er had to rely on his own movement speed to reach Mune’s Zhence faster.