"Sun-Severing Monarch, you were never my equal—neither before nor now. What gave you the confidence to go against my decisions?" Moon-Burial Warden dropped Mei Xueyin to the ground as casually as if brushing dust from his hand.

In the next instant, he teleported in front of Long Chen, whose body had been overtaken by the Sun-Severing Monarch.

Without warning, Moon-Burial Warden threw a punch straight at Long Chen's face. The Sun-Severing Monarch desperately summoned the last remaining miniature sun behind him to block the blow, but the defense barely lasted a moment. Moon-Burial Warden's fist tore through the blazing sphere as if popping a balloon. The golden sun shattered into fragments, and the punch landed directly on Long Chen's face.

The impact sent Long Chen flying through the air in an arc before he crashed heavily onto the coffin—the same coffin Moon-Burial Warden had just laid in.

Blood streamed from Long Chen's nose. His nasal bridge was clearly dislocated. Inside his body, the Sun-Severing Monarch struggled to catch a breath, gasping, but no air filled his lungs. Watching him writhe, Moon-Burial Warden couldn't help but flash a smug grin and began walking toward him.

The Monarch, overwhelmed by the immense difference in their realms, could only crawl backward in desperation. His cultivation plummeted, falling back to the Peak Foundation Building Realm.

Suddenly, a tear opened in the void behind Long Chen. Both he and the Sun-Severing Monarch's fragment were sucked in before Moon-Burial Warden could react. In truth, he couldn't have acted even if he wanted to. His body had been locked in place, as if the surrounding space and time had frozen solely for him.

He wasn't at his peak yet. If he had been in his prime, he would have torn through the void and pursued the Monarch's fragment without hesitation.

After all, even a fragment of a Monarch's soul was enough to satisfy his hunger.

Irritated, Moon-Burial Warden looked up at the sky. The storm had become even more chaotic. Thunder roared, and it seemed like lightning could strike him at any moment.

Not that he cared. Thunder was nothing to him. In fact, he would've welcomed the tribulation—it would help temper his body. But the same couldn't be said for the little girl who had just offered him her Blood Essence.

He didn't like owing favors. That's why he'd fed her the Dragon Lord's Blood Essence—yes, that's right. He wasn't the Dragon Lord. It was merely a single drop of Blood Essence he'd obtained through great secrecy. Yet somehow, the news had leaked. He'd been hunted by nearly the entire cultivation world… and even some dragons.

That was the allure of the Blood Essence. It was also the reason he'd gone into slumber. What he didn't know was who had brought him into this tomb and sealed him within the Secret Realm. Perhaps the realm's creator assumed he was dead. Someone who knew he'd obtained the Dragon Lord's Blood Essence… but for what purpose? To pass it on? To whom? That idiot of a monarch?

He'd wanted to absorb the Blood Essence for himself, but with the entire world against him, he never had the time. Refining such a thing required calm and stability. He couldn't afford to be hunted like a beast.

And hiding among mortals? That wasn't an option either. He didn't want innocent people getting hurt for his sake. If he'd hidden in their villages or cities, someone would've betrayed him eventually—thousands would have died.

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Sensing the incoming presence of cultivators from all four directions, Moon-Burial Warden didn't wait any longer. He took a single step and vanished from the spot.

The tribulation clouds above began to settle. The chaotic rumble faded, and the oppressive sky quieted.

Others slowed down in confusion, but not Xu Mo—he only quickened his pace. Wei Rong did the same, breaking away from his group and charging forward on his own.

Meanwhile, deep within the tomb, Mei Xueyin's bloodline had begun to change. But no one was there to tell her. She'd have to figure it out on her own someday. Her cultivation hadn't risen, likely because the drop of Blood Essence was incredibly ancient—much of its potency had faded. Had it been at full strength, it might have acted like a bomb inside her fragile body rather than healing her.

The drop had already exerted considerable effort just to drag her soul back from the brink. She'd been caught between life and death—half of her soul had already slipped toward the afterlife.

Now, the remaining energy of the Dragon Lord's Blood Essence merged quietly into her Life-Blood Cycle—the natural rhythm of vitality and blood that governs all living beings.

At that moment, Xu Mo—shrouded in the upgraded stealth technique of his Dao of Silence—had already bypassed Wei Rong and entered the tomb. He exhaled in relief after confirming Wei Rong was safe.

He began searching, but the tomb was vast. Covering every corner would take too long. Dropping his stealth mode, he focused his entire being on detecting even the faintest sound—breathing, movement, airflow.

Closing his eyes, an image of the tomb formed in his mind.

Air, after all, was everywhere. Its motion—however subtle—couldn't penetrate solid objects. And every obstacle it encountered created a faint sound, a whisper of friction that Xu Mo could sense.

But this technique had a major flaw: while using it, he was incredibly vulnerable.

Moments later, Xu Mo rushed behind the massive throne and skeletal remains. There, in a small pool of blood, lay Mei Xueyin.

The area bore signs of conflict—a broken coffin, faint traces of formation patterns.

Ding—

He knelt beside her. Her chest rose and fell ever so gently—she was unconscious, not dead.

[New Daughter of Destiny Detected – Mei Xueyin]

Xu Mo blinked. He had previously ignored such system messages, thinking they were pointless alerts. But now, he couldn't afford to dismiss them.

[View New! Status 🔻]

'Why her? She was just a normal girl before entering the Secret Realm… Could she have been reborn too?' Xu Mo mused. 'Am I going to be reborn someday too? Seems like it's becoming common lately… Future me, if you're out there—come back stronger. I want to experience what it's like to be the protagonist too.'

He chuckled softly at his internal monologue, even as he carefully lifted Mei Xueyin into his arms—princess-style.

He was just about to step out from behind the throne when a thought struck him: Wouldn't it be better if Wei Rong found her? A perfect chance to play hero. The more he thought about it, the more the idea appealed to him.

It would bring them closer.

He gently laid Mei Xueyin back down, positioning her so that part of her head and neck stuck out just enough from behind the throne for anyone looking to notice her. Sure enough, he could sense Wei Rong entering the chamber.

"Mei Xueyin… don't hate me. I'm doing this for you," Xu Mo whispered softly. He was certain no one could hear him—not her, and certainly not Wei Rong.

Still, guilt gnawed at him for leaving her like that. He stood up and turned away.

Had he lingered a moment longer, he might've noticed Mei Xueyin's eyelids fluttering. Her vision was blurry, and her mind foggy, but she caught a glimpse of a figure in gray disciple robes, walking away.

'…Don't hate me… I'm doing this for…' The fragmented whisper echoed in her muddled thoughts. She couldn't remember who it was—but something about that back felt familiar.

Xu Mo activated his stealth again, vanishing from her sight. She assumed he had abandoned her there to die.

In truth, he hadn't gone far.

He was now lying atop the throne's headrest—its width wide enough to resemble a double bed. He remained perfectly still, carefully monitoring the situation.

What if Wei Rong, in his anxious rush, didn't see her and simply moved on?

'It's tough being a matchmaker~' Xu Mo sighed, a slight smirk curling on his lips.

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