Through the swirling sands, a torrent of Dragon True Qi erupted from below, coiling across the earth like a serpentine dragon—it was instantly recognizable as the core of the Sandstorm Spirit Curse.

"Go!" Old Liu hurled Ye Xiu out with all his might, immediately following up by launching the Seven Demon-Shattering Swords, whose shimmering, agile forms accompanied Ye Xiu. "The talisman must be inside; find a way in!"

Ye Xiu’s mind was still slightly hazy, but seeing Old Liu’s absolute trust, he forced himself to rally and charged in, bringing the Heavenly Glimpse Sword to bear against the fierce, dragon-shaped hurricane. Sand and dust billowed everywhere, each silhouette slicing against his skin like a blade, dotting the yellow sand with flecks of red. "I didn't expect this hurricane to have its own form. I need to figure out how to enter the dragon's body."

"Ice Dragon Qi!" Old Liu unleashed a spell from a distance. The Seven Demon-Shattering Swords encircled Ye Xiu from above, below, and all sides, freezing every incoming sand blade into chunks of ice. "Find the spot and get in!"

"The spot? The spot!" Ye Xiu waved his Black Flame, melting the surrounding sand blades into water. With his hands raised and the Heavenly Glimpse Sword held high, he felt certain of success. He realized that the most fatal blow against any dragon-like creature is aimed at its seventh vulnerable spot—just as one strikes a snake at its midsection, for dragons and snakes share an intrinsic link. He vividly recalled the giant dragon skeleton unearthed beneath the Seven Star Dragon-Trapping Formation, its body clearly severed precisely at the seven-inch mark. "It's here!"

"Aooo-hooo..." With Ye Xiu’s sword striking its vital point, the dragon-shaped hurricane thrashed wildly in the air like a wounded beast. The gale ceased, the flying sand rained down, and the dragon’s maw curled open before Ye Xiu, transforming into a unique cavern carved from earth and sand.

"It’s in there! Once I break the curse, I'll be free!" Ghost Face sounded agitated, his voice barely coherent. "Yes, yes! This Ghost Path Eight Trigrams Array will be utterly annihilated, and you can proceed to the next Crimson Cliff Mystery. Hahahaha!"

Old Liu leaped in behind him, stopping at the edge of the dragon’s mouth. He gently traced the earth-formed fangs, deeply impressed. "I never imagined a curse technique could be so profound. Just a few talismans have imbued the mountains, trees, and sand with such destructive power. The combat strength of these ancient Curse Arts seems formidable."

Ye Xiu moved ahead toward the dragon's throat. The injured earth dragon stood frozen like a statue on the ground, and he wondered what peculiar thing might reside within its belly. "What advantage does a Sword Path Valley Art practitioner like you truly possess? Just the simple art of brandishing blades?"

"Advantage or not, we’ll know after a fight. Lead the way quickly," Old Liu grumbled, impatient with Ye Xiu's questioning. He nudged Ye Xiu forward and stepped back. "Those talismans are likely inscribed with the Crimson Cliff Heavenly Texts. I’m interested in Zhu Yuanzhang’s experiences."

"And... the connection this world has with the God of Death," Ye Xiu’s voice was heavy. All knowledge regarding the Death Kingdom seemed to hinge on one single clue: the Myriad Demon Saint Empress.

Inside the earthen dragon, there was nothing remarkable besides the yellow sand. Utilizing the narrow passageway, the two stepped into a large circular hall. Based on the distance, this must be the dragon’s abdominal cavity.

"Look up! There’s another dragon inside this dragon's belly?" Old Liu shouted in amazement, craning his neck. Coiled at the top of the cavity was a stone-carved dragon shape, glaring down ferociously. It was fashioned from a massive boulder, and he couldn't fathom who had carved it there. "You scared me! I thought a real dragon had materialized inside here!"

Ye Xiu was startled by Old Liu’s outburst but looked dismissively at the stone dragon carving above. The carving was exquisitely detailed; not only was the coiling, nascent form captured, but even the scales on the dragon's body were lifelike. It was less a stone carving and more a true dragon turned to stone. "This must be the place. Look, a green light is emanating from the dragon’s mouth. I think the talisman we seek is inside there."

Old Liu nodded and tossed his Thin-Bladed Knife, which lodged perfectly into the dragon's mouth. Instantly, a burst of green light flooded the area, transforming the world of yellow earth into an expanse of jade green. "What did I hit? Could that mouth hold a legendary Dragon Pearl?"

"Do you think it’s like the Seven Dragon Balls you collect to make a wish?" Ye Xiu teased, lightly slapping Old Liu. He braced against the wall, leaped up, and reached directly into the dragon's mouth. The green light pulsed with a reddish hue, and a talisman inscribed with the Crimson Cliff Heavenly Text dangled down along the dragon’s tongue.

"Splash..." A torrent of water poured down from the ceiling of the cavity. Strangely, despite the sheer volume, neither of their clothes became wet, as the entire scene dissolved back into nothingness, and the image-reversal effect inherent in the talisman began to manifest.

"Well, time to relax a bit," Old Liu muttered, crouching down to tend to the scratches on his leg. Those sharp branches had been brutal, piercing right down to the bone. Fortunately, years of brawling had perhaps made his bones tougher.

"You said you have a way to grant me eternal life?" Zhu Yuanzhang was now clad in imperial robes, his leisurely demeanor from fishing entirely gone. He sat firmly upon the Dragon Head Throne, surrounded by a dazzling golden light that bespoke supreme majesty.

The Myriad Demon Saint Empress stood below, slightly bowed. Though she could disdainfully look upon any emperor, she always appeared accommodating and humble in his presence. "I merely wish for Your Majesty to become an emperor immortal throughout the ages, to wage great wars, expand the borders, and forge a truly glorious Ming Dynasty!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was unremarkable in appearance, having suffered greatly from continuous warfare. His rebellion was fought solely for the common people, striving for universal peace. With a hint of skepticism, he pointed at the Empress. "Will the Ming Dynasty you construct be like the current one, where the populace lives in peace and the realm is united?"

"The Dynasty's surroundings are already rife with instability; neighboring nations are still embroiled in conflict. Only true power can secure lasting peace," the Myriad Demon Saint Empress stated firmly. She raised her hand, holding a sparkling golden spirit pearl that outshone every jewel in the grand hall. "I can bestow upon Your Majesty inexhaustible life and power transcending all ages. If you wish it, the entire world shall be yours."

Zhu Yuanzhang swallowed hard, his gaze locked onto the pearl in the Empress's palm. Immortality was an absolute temptation for any ruler, compounded by unparalleled power. He rose and slowly walked before the Empress. The spirit pearl shone so purely, so brilliantly, that he found it almost impossible to refuse. "Eternal life? What meaning is there in only my eternal life?"

The Myriad Demon Saint Empress was momentarily stunned by Zhu Yuanzhang's question. Hesitantly, a shadow crossed her face as if recalling her own past—why was she doing this? Where did she come from, and where would she eventually return? She closed her eyes, ignoring the emperor before her. Had she chosen the wrong man?

Zhu Yuanzhang managed to compose himself. He then thought of his weak and sickly grandson, the grandson he adored, feeling even a paternal love for him. Composing his spirit, he slowly inquired, "I don't think I can accept such a divine object. Could my grandson accept it in my stead?"

"Oh..." The Myriad Demon Saint Empress opened her eyes. Her objective was to sow chaos within this dynasty, and the critical element was that the person causing this chaos must remain under her control. "Who..."

"Rumble!" The entire hall began to shake violently. A deluge of dust erased all preceding images. The phoenix tree, the coffin, and the sandstorm all retracted in an instant into a singular void. Before them was nothing but raging flames, and beneath the fire stood the Ghost Mask.

"Hahahaha, I never expected you two brats to actually destroy the Ghost Path Eight Trigrams Array." The Ghost Mask clenched his fists, stretching his arms. The chains binding the ghosts upon him had vanished along with the destruction of the array. He cracked his neck, the sound of grinding bone echoing eerily. "You two did wonderfully. I am quite pleased, hahahaha!"

Ye Xiu finally snapped back from the vision, looking at Old Liu with confusion. "Do you think the Myriad Demon Saint Empress eventually turned Zhu Yunwen into the God of Death?"

"Given the nature of that vision, it’s highly probable," Old Liu gasped, finally relaxing. "But this completely contradicts the logic of the Crimson Cliff Heavenly Texts."

"Are you saying that Zhu Yunwen, having become the God of Death, couldn't possibly lose to Zhu Di?" This was a grave problem. A God of Death would never yield to a mortal, unless Zhu Di was not human. Ye Xiu sucked in a sharp breath. He wondered if historical figures were just like the people they saw today—living outwardly conventional lives while secretly belonging to ancient clans who had existed for millennia.

"What are you two muttering about?" The Ghost Mask was in high spirits. Seeing the two squatting on the ground whispering, he boomed, "You succeeded in shattering the Grand Profound Dao Curse of the Limitless Dao Master. Tell me, how should I reward you?"

"Reward?" Old Liu was the first to stand up at the mention of this. He grinned at the Ghost Mask. "Whatever the senior deems appropriate for a reward, perhaps just one or two Daoist magical artifacts will suffice."

Ye Xiu was still discussing serious matters with Old Liu when Old Liu reverted to his usual self: "Senior, now that the Ghost Path Eight Trigrams Array is broken, don't we get to enter the next crucial stage of the Crimson Cliff Mausoleum?"

"Correct!" The Ghost Mask threw up his hands, and a black vortex materialized amidst towering flames. He looked mysteriously at Ye Xiu. "The next realm is exceptionally perilous. All I can do is bestow upon you a curse technique to ensure your safe passage."

"A curse technique? Not a magical artifact?" Old Liu looked slightly disappointed, as he knew exactly what 'bestowing a curse technique' entailed. "Senior, could you perhaps change it to something else?"

The Ghost Mask paid no further heed to Old Liu. He spread Ye Xiu’s palm open and haphazardly drew a pattern on it with his finger. In moments, he smiled. "This is an ancient curse technique recorded in the Grimoire of Curses. It can conjure a barrier out of thin air, capable of resisting general attacks and saving your life in a moment of crisis."

Old Liu found this curse technique completely useless and looked disdainfully at the random markings on Ye Xiu's palm. "If it’s so powerful, why don't we test it?"

Ye Xiu found it amusing. He held his palm vertically and channeled his energy. A powerful current began to stir, intangible yet perceptible. "It feels active already. Go on, try it! But don't use too much force and hurt me."

"Yee-haw!" Old Liu drew his Thin-Bladed Knife and threw it with raw force. Although this strike didn't use his full power, it was still a sharp attack. As the blade neared Ye Xiu’s palm, it abruptly met resistance, and the entire knife clattered onto the ground. "Holy hell, there really is something there!"