Eldritch Horror Theatre

The fallen leaves belong to you, and the fruit belongs to me?

Had he truly used some special method to steal that trace of hidden power within the Laria Family's bloodline?

Although their understanding wasn't that detailed, it was highly probable that none of their ancestors had possessed such a face.

While the face on the dome also carried a trace of eerie charm, a fundamental gap undoubtedly existed between it and this one.

And he had just addressed it as "fallen leaves"?

That face was merely an amalgamation of the Residue left after its power was stolen?

This was his true purpose for coming here!

This was also why Excellency Ji Ning couldn't pull out that Dagger... He had secretly obstructed them to guide the team's route of advance.

He had provided the clue about the Statue himself, making it impossible to falsify.

As the group's minds raced with frantic speculation, Aike finally couldn't help but ask.

"Would you have let me act alone?"

Fu Qian replied casually, keeping his gaze fixed ahead.

In the blink of an eye, the frail figure on the dome fled in a panic like a startled creature.

It didn't even climb along the ceiling; instead, a bloody, maw-like fissure simply split open on the surface, allowing it to drill straight in and vanish with an unstoppable momentum.

"Unstoppable" was not Fu Qian's exaggerated description, but the exact wording from the notebook's style of enlightenment.

Obviously, the decision not to attack was correct; that thing indeed displayed a posture of Transcendence.

...

This guy had indeed planned this all along!

Aike froze for a moment before grasping the meaning behind the response, feeling a sudden jolt of alarm.

Regardless, his initiative to travel together earlier proved that their group still held some value to him.

And in this predicament, after obtaining more information—especially after he pulled out the Dagger—how could the team possibly give him the chance to act alone?

Even if he insisted on leaving the team, they would definitely have someone keep an eye on him.

He had anticipated these reactions, silently making his choice without ever attempting to act alone.

Of course, the most important thing—

Aike noted the now completely empty dome and this man's utter indifference, his mood growing heavier by the second.

It was obvious that the moment they made contact, this guy had already obtained what he wanted and wasn't worried about being interrupted at all.

"That thing escaped,"

Excellency Ji Ning coldly reminded him.

"It doesn't matter. It won't leave this place."

Sure enough, he replied just as casually, without a hint of anxiety in his voice.

"My only regret is that it's a bit cowardly and doesn't quite trust me."

...This guy's very first sentence really had been telling it not to run.

"So you really didn't plan on hurting it originally, did you?"

Taking a deep breath, Ji Ning, who had once again taken off the Shroud, deeply disliked this feeling of being used as a tool.

"No."

However, to everyone's utter shock, the man simply shook his head as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"I was planning to trick it into coming down and then kill it."

...

Fuck!

At that moment, the ancient Blood Clan's moral integrity clearly shocked everyone present; even Ji Ning looked ready to curse.

So your actual regret was that it was too cautious to fall for your trick?

They had seen plenty of people who exterminated everything in their path, but someone so self-righteous about it was truly rare.

"I'm more concerned about where exactly this place is, and why we are here."

However, Old Man Li was mature and steady. Seeing the atmosphere spiraling out of control, he steered them away from dwelling on the issue.

"This naturally isn't reality. As for all of you, I can only say that you've helped me a lot along the way, and I am deeply grateful."

Fu Qian remained as elegant as ever, even giving a slight bow of thanks.

"You're welcome. So, how are we supposed to leave this place?"

They originally hadn't expected much, but he was actually willing to answer...

Li He decisively asked the most crucial question.

"That is why I feel regret for all of you."

He actually continued to answer, even gesturing toward the ceiling.

...

They needed to kill that thing to get out... Was that what this guy meant?

Everyone's reactions were extremely fast when survival was involved. But upon realizing the implications, even Old Man Li couldn't avoid a momentary lapse, his breath catching in his throat.

"But you haven't left yet either... Could it be that Your Excellency is trying to help us, and isn't in a hurry to leave even after achieving your goal?"

Somewhat surprisingly, the first person to speak up in this situation was actually Lu Yi.

His hand still hadn't left the Statue. Both his complexion and his tone were utterly ashen, while the foliage on his chest was lush and flourishing.

"Naturally, it's because I can't get out either."

Unbothered by the somewhat impolite tone, Fu Qian even showed a look of appreciation for his will to live.

"Completely ignoring the rules will also prevent you from obtaining the rewards defined by those rules. If things were really that simple, why would I have needed everyone's help earlier?"

Although the answer was frighteningly candid, his cryptic rhetorical question made the group frown in deep thought.

"Then there seems to be a flaw in what you said earlier. This regret clearly doesn't just belong to us."

Amid the silence, only Brother Lu Yi appeared unrelenting, pointing directly at the logical loophole.

"Unfortunately, it doesn't. Because what I said was, 'completely ignoring the rules' won't work."

Fu Qian smiled even more brazenly, pointing a finger at the tree on Lu Yi's chest.

"I indeed need to get out the same way, but my time isn't as tight as yours."

...

"The erosion has absolutely no effect on you... It's not just because you are in the Demigod Realm or a vampire..."

Lu Yi, who had mustered his remaining courage, ultimately ceased his struggle. At that moment, however, Excellency Aike came to a somewhat resentful realization.

The most direct reason everyone was in such a hurry to get out was undoubtedly the crying that could ring out from their stomachs at any moment.

From beginning to end, this guy hadn't shown any pressure in this regard at all. Now, there was finally an explanation.

It was hateful that, although they had discovered this earlier, he had casually brushed it off with an excuse.

"To be accurate, it has no effect on the current me."

Fu Qian only shook his head, correcting the phrasing.

"Before this, my resistance was only slightly stronger than yours."

That face... They couldn't even perceive a trace of Transcendent Tier aura from it...

Realizing what he was referring to, the team members before him were finally moved as one, no longer able to ignore the anomaly they had faintly sensed earlier.

As well as the level of power represented by the face that could achieve such a feat.

Was it really the Progenitor of the Blood Clan?

"So, what is Your Excellency planning to do next?"

Old Man Li nodded slightly, his tone already sounding somewhat heavy.

"Act alone."

Fu Qian looked as if he had prepared the answer to this question long ago.

...

"Or are you still not quite in favor of this?"

As the crowd fell into silence once again, Fu Qian smiled, turned, and began to walk away, completely unconcerned that anyone would stop him.

Finally couldn't hold back?

Of course, as his gaze swept across the unusually quiet Lu Yi's face, Fu Qian mused inwardly, though his expression remained completely unchanged.

If one wasn't careful, the high ground of the mind was easily occupied by others.

I have quite a bit of experience in leading people astray myself.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!