On the Face, There's Confusion

At this moment, Little Yu was navigating a perilous killing array. Though she struggled at first, she soon adapted and handled it with ease.

Su Luo remarked, "Why don’t you give it a try? It’d be great for honing your reflexes."

"Spare me, please," Yun replied, adamantly refusing. She insisted it was a death trap.

"Look at Xiao Pa—she’s even more proactive than you. Keep this up, and you’ll ruin yourself."

Xiao Pa, meanwhile, was eagerly scouting the surroundings, clearly fascinated.

"But didn’t I learn from you?" Yun countered.

"If you learned from me, you’d be hopeless."

"Heh." Yun played dumb.

As they spoke, Little Yu successfully dismantled the array and claimed her reward.

Su Luo immediately discarded it—Little Yu’s talent didn’t require such secret techniques with severe side effects.

"Barely made it," Little Yu said.

"Don’t think you’re done yet. There’s more ahead," Su Luo replied sternly.

"I can handle it." Far from being intimidated, Little Yu was excited to prove herself in front of Su Luo.

Suddenly, the labyrinth trembled.

Su Luo frowned. To shake the maze required immense power—what was happening?

Normally, she could sense disturbances, but the labyrinth’s protective arrays made it nearly indestructible and severely dampened perception. Even someone of Su Luo’s current strength was affected, a testament to the array’s potency.

Still, it might just be a minor anomaly, not worth dwelling on.

With Su Luo’s familiarity guiding them, the group pressed deeper into the maze, targeting areas where Little Yu could further improve. Along the way, Su Luo shared insights about the labyrinth.

"So the Heavenly Demon Sect has a place like this," Yun mused.

"Indeed. There’s plenty you don’t know."

"Would knowing too much bring misfortune?"

"Of course. Silence the witness—why do you think I brought you here? To..."

"Then I’d rather not hear it." Yun theatrically feigned fear.

But Su Luo saw through it—Yun wasn’t scared at all. Such trust. Did she truly believe Su Luo would never harm her? One day, if Su Luo became the Demon Sovereign, Yun might stand against her.

What should have been a grim and treacherous journey through the maze unfolded smoothly under Su Luo’s guidance.

Yet, an unease gnawed at her.

Boom!

The noise grew louder.

Su Luo wondered—had someone else entered?

The Decaying Labyrinth’s mortality rate was so high that ten entrants a year was considered excessive. The Heavenly Demon Sect deliberately kept its existence hidden; only high-ranking members knew of it.

No matter. Even if others had come, it was none of her concern. Su Luo led the group toward the labyrinth’s heart.

Boom!

The explosions intensified. Someone was inside, brute-forcing their way through. Reckless—though Su Luo had tried the same method before. It worked.

"Su Luo, is that... someone causing this?" Yun asked.

"Yes. But I don’t know who. Ignore them. We stay on course."

The deepest part of the Decaying Labyrinth was also its most treacherous. Here, the Sword Demon guarded the final treasure—a mindless entity, akin to a zombie.

The "treasure" itself wasn’t remarkable. The truly valuable items had long been taken. This was merely a consolation prize, left by the Heavenly Demon Sect to placate those who made it this far.

Otherwise, reaching the end empty-handed might drive someone to darkness—though, given the sect’s nature, its members were already steeped in it.

The treasure wasn’t exceptional, useless to Little Yu but potent for demonic cultivation.

Little Yu stepped forward to face the Sword Demon.

Initially outmatched, she soon deciphered its patterns and defeated it. Under Su Luo’s tutelage, her combat skills had sharpened, and her strength soared.

"Su Luo, I did it."

"Well done."

No reward surpassed Su Luo’s praise.

Yet, the smoothness of it all only deepened her unease.

"Something’s wrong. Hide in that array."

Su Luo repurposed a labyrinth array, modifying it to ensure safety.

"What about you?"

She pushed them inside. "They’re here for me."

Turning, she faced the approaching threat. She could feel the lock on her.

Soon, a figure shattered the wall and emerged—the East Extreme Demon Lord.

"You’re Su Luo?"

His mere voice exuded crushing pressure.

"I am. What business does the East Extreme Demon Lord have with me?" Su Luo remained composed, unfazed by such displays.

"You know why I’m here."

"I don’t."

The East Extreme Demon Lord threw out Madam Niu’s body—already lifeless and disfigured, her form riddled with deep, fist-shaped indentations, clearly beaten to death.

"What does this mean?" Su Luo couldn’t make sense of it.

"Little Niu Niu, this shouldn’t feel unfamiliar to you, should it?"

"I think there’s been a misunderstanding between us."

The East Extreme Demon Lord tossed Wei Changli’s evidence at Su Luo. "So you die with clarity."

Su Luo picked it up and realized Wei Changli had dragged her into this even in death—she’d underestimated him.

"I doubt you’ll listen even if I say it’s a misunderstanding."

"Correct. Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not no longer matters. Right now, I just want to kill you."

Anyone who knew the East Extreme Demon Lord’s dirty secrets had to die. He had no patience for investigations—better to slaughter the innocent than spare the guilty.

Besides, crushing Su Luo would be as easy as squashing an ant.

"If that’s how it is, I understand." Su Luo drew Xia Ying.

Little Yu was frantic but trapped within a formation, helpless.

Yun also sensed something amiss, worrying whether Su Luo could handle this. In her eyes, the East Extreme Demon Lord was anything but ordinary.

"Oh? You still have the courage to strike at me? How reckless. Against you, one-tenth of my strength is more than enough." The East Extreme Demon Lord raised a single finger, his face dripping with disdain.

To him, Su Luo was merely a Nascent Soul cultivator—utterly insignificant.

Su Luo said nothing more, swinging her sword.

As the blade neared the East Extreme Demon Lord, she followed the usual routine—stacking damage.

[Your power, I accept it.]

Dice roll: 8.

The sword descended with terrifying force toward the East Extreme Demon Lord’s chest.

His instincts were sharp—or perhaps sheer survival reflex—warning him of danger, prompting him to dodge.

But it was too late. Su Luo’s slash sent him flying.

The East Extreme Demon Lord twisted midair before landing, one foot slamming into the ground to steady himself.

His face was blank with shock.

A gash now marred his chest, blood seeping out.