53: Chapter 53 The Death of the Old Master?

Taklamakan Desert.

Dark clouds churned, and gale-force winds whipped up gravel to form a storm. Looking closely, one could see the roaring, clawing phantoms and demons within this realm. Thick, oppressive resentment and evil Qi rose into the sky, refusing to dissipate for a long time.

Deep within the Ghost King's Tomb.

Corpses were scattered everywhere. Those who had entered the tomb earlier were already lying on the ground; apart from the Woman in Red Dress, the man in the black trench coat, and the old man Chu Jianghe, all had breathed their last.

"Master! You can die in peace now!"

The sickly-looking man in the black trench coat moved with lightning speed, catching him off guard as he plunged a sharp, dark red dagger into Chu Jianghe's body. The blade pierced right through, and blood dripped down, tick-tock, tick-tock.

His Disciples had fallen one after another, and Chu Jianghe was already severely wounded and exhausted, his heart withered and devoid of any vigilance. That was why the man in the black trench coat had succeeded with a single strike.

This was like the final straw that broke the camel's back.

It left Chu Jianghe's heart filled with despair. Hanging on by his last breath, his weathered eyes were filled with disbelief: "Why... why do this! Slaughtering your fellow Disciples, betraying your Master... is it all for that so-called Immortality Technique?"

The man in the black trench coat was named Chu Chen. He was a child Chu Jianghe had picked up thirty years ago and had raised in secret, regarding him as the heir to the Spirit Catcher lineage.

Chu Chen's gloomy face revealed a sickly pallor. He stepped back a few paces, then suddenly knelt on the ground and performed a grand kowtow, saying with tears in his eyes: "Master, you cannot blame me! If you must blame someone, blame yourself for being too selfish! You clearly possessed the secret technique of immortality, yet you were never willing to teach it to me! You even kept the core Seal method of the Spirit Catcher lineage a secret! Since you wouldn't teach me, I had no choice but to take it myself!"

"That is not an Immortality Technique!!... *cough, cough*... That is a dark art!! *cough, cough, cough*..."

Chu Jianghe roared, blood gushing from his throat, his eyes filled with unwillingness. He laughed miserably, looking so forlorn. Finally, unable to support himself, he collapsed to the ground, the light in his eyes gradually fading away.

He only kept murmuring: "Do not open the Seal... Do not open the Seal... Disciple... there is no such thing as an Immortality Technique in this world... you foolish child..."

Chu Chen sneered viciously: "At death's door, and you still want to lie to me? If the Immortality Technique wasn't real, why would you have spent all these years collecting those spiritual objects! It is fortunate that your grandson is a useless person who cannot Cultivate; otherwise, would you have been willing to let me be the heir to the Spirit Catcher lineage?"

"Whether the Immortality Technique is real or not, I will explore it myself!"

"As for the Spirit Catcher lineage, I will continue to carry on its Legacy...! This will also count as repaying the debt of your guidance over these years!"

As he spoke, he crouched down and searched Chu Jianghe's corpse, soon pulling out a key covered in copper rust.

Beside him, the Woman in Red Dress spoke coldly: "Now that you have the key, what do you plan to do next?"

Chu Chen laughed loudly: "The path to immortality is right before my eyes! It is ridiculous that the Spirit Catcher lineage possesses such an Immortality Technique yet treats it as a dark art! Let's go! Follow me to meet that Grandmaster!"

The Woman in Red Dress raised the corner of her mouth slightly, a smile that did not reach her eyes: "Chu Chen! You really are ruthless. To obtain the Immortality Technique, you did not hesitate to slaughter your fellow Disciples and personally kill the Master who raised you from childhood. I am truly curious, is there anything you wouldn't do!"

Chu Chen fell silent, a trace of regret flashing in his eyes, but this regret was quickly cast to the back of his mind. He just gave a faint, self-mocking smile and turned to leave the Ghost King's Tomb.

The Woman in Red Dress took one last deep look at the lifeless Chu Jianghe, then quickly walked away as well.

The entire Ghost King's Tomb was deathly silent.

...! Meanwhile. Jianghai City, Yuhuwan Villa district.

Just as Chu Xiao stepped out of the backyard, he was surprised to find that the girl, Chu Lingyin, was riding on the back of a large Golden Tortoise, holding a golden, strange snake in her hand, playing happily.

Golden Tortoise... Golden Snake!! Aren't those the strange creatures I saw inside the stone last night!

"Big Brother! Big Brother! Look! I caught two big treasures!"

Chu Lingyin giggled, waving her chubby, lotus-root-like arms. The strange Golden Snake did not attack her; instead, it coiled around her arm, shining brilliantly like a bracelet made of pure gold.

Chu Xiao said nervously: "...Damn! Little sister, you can't play with that thing! Let it go quickly!"

Chu Lingyin pouted, clutching the little Golden Snake to her chest like a treasure, and said: "No! I found them! They are my pets! I've decided, I'm going to keep them!"

Keep them? Can you just keep things like this! Someone could get killed!

Chu Xiao was sweating profusely, thinking to himself that if this snake was poisonous and bit Chu Lingyin, they wouldn't even know what serum to use at the hospital. If the old man came back, he would definitely hang him up and beat him.

"Listen to Brother, let it go quickly. This thing is a snake! If it's poisonous..."

Chu Lingyin said with a grin: "I won't let go. This snake is very well-behaved! It can understand human speech. If you don't believe me, I'll have it perform for you to see!"

Chu Xiao put on a stern face: "I'll count to three. If you don't let go, I'm calling Dad to come and take you away!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Lingyin lowered her head in disappointment. Tears immediately welled up in her big, dark eyes, and she began to wail, tears streaming down her face.

Chu Xiao stepped forward quickly, pulled the Golden Snake that was wrapped around her hand off, tossed it to the side, and checked carefully: "You weren't bitten by the snake, were you?"

Chu Lingyin wiped her tears and cried: "Big Brother, you are too mean. I won't play with you anymore. I just want to keep a pet, and you won't let me! You even want to send me to my stepmother! You are mean! I'm going to tell Grandfather!"

Chu Xiao was at his wit's end, so he could only explain: "You are a girl, how can you keep a snake? This afternoon, I'll take you to the flower and bird market! Let's pick out a dog, or a cat, or something to keep, okay?"

"No, no, I want to keep this big Golden Tortoise and the little Golden Snake!" Chu Lingyin cried while shaking her head, shaking it like a rattle-drum; she was on the verge of throwing a tantrum.

Chu Xiao was speechless: "...!"

He had said countless nice things, but unfortunately, this girl, Chu Lingyin, was stubborn and wouldn't listen. There was no other way. Chu Xiao's gaze fell back onto the Golden Snake and the Golden Tortoise. Their entire bodies radiated a golden light, even more dazzling than gold, quite extraordinary.

What exactly are these two things! Are they dangerous?

Chu Xiao rubbed his chin, unable to decide for the moment. Suddenly, he remembered the strange events he had seen in the backyard room last night. He felt he should first call the old man to ask clearly!