We agreed to set sail, so you'd become the ruler of the deep sea?

Don't read Chapter 99!

"Was that a living person?"

"Or is it some kind of monster residing in this space?"

A rare moment of surprise and uncertainty arose in Carles's mind, a mind made of gears and levers.

Anyone who sees this scene in a place where there should almost be no humans would probably have similar speculations.

"Could it be... the [Shadow Without a Face]?"

On the other side, Winston suddenly remembered the strange tales that had ravaged the Blood Moon Realm some time ago.

It sounds strange, but Winston has never actually fought the Faceless Shadow.

The reason is not hard to understand.

For him, the lives and deaths of the vampires in the Blood Moon Realm were not that important.

In Winston's eyes, the lower-class vampires, like the humans who feed on them, are inferior and lowly creatures.

Moreover, there is absolutely no benefit in dealing with a bloodless and difficult-to-destroy monster.

In fact, if Carles hadn't barged into his castle, Winston wouldn't have bothered with the steam knight at all.

At this moment.

Winston quickly connected the figure high above with the rumors of the "Faceless Shadow," and was secretly alarmed.

"After being exiled for so many days, he is still alive and seems to have adapted to the environment here?"

"Could it be... that he is truly immortal?"

"And what about those roots? Why are they in this position?"

Before this, Winston had always held the Faceless Shadow in contempt, believing that the other party was merely a second-tier Mystic.

The so-called "immortality" is nothing more than a special secret technique.

But now, his mindset has undergone a subtle change.

"Old man, if I'm not mistaken, those... are the roots of the [Crimson Ancient Tree]?"

Suddenly, Carles spoke up and asked a question.

Winston's expression changed slightly, but he remained silent.

But silence itself is, in fact, an answer.

Karlless looked enlightened: "So this is the underground of the [Blood Moon Secret Realm]. Then, beyond the sky is the Secret Sea."

He looked up at the figure high above and said in an incredulous tone.

"That guy is actually using the roots of the Crimson Ancient Tree to actively draw upon the power of the Secret Sea?"

"He must be insane!"

As a third-tier Mystic, Karlless has undergone three advancement rites and has gained a deeper understanding and insight into the [Mystic Sea].

That's why he understood even more how crazy and dangerous it was to directly draw upon the power of the Secret Sea.

The Secret Sea contains countless pieces of knowledge and mysteries.

It is also the source of power for many esoteric practitioners.

However, knowledge itself can also be deadly.

Especially those forbidden and filthy "knowledge" will relentlessly hunt down foolish seekers of knowledge.

The human mind simply cannot contain such a vast amount of information; consciousness will be washed away in an instant, turning one into a madman who talks incoherently all day long, or a muddle-headed fool.

on the other hand.

The Secret Sea also contains a large number of indescribable impurities, and mere contact with them will cause serious mental pollution.

It could even turn the absorber into a monster that is completely uncontrollable!

Simply put, the power that the Secret Sea bestows upon the Secret Path seekers after the [Ascension Ritual] is actually purified and pure Secret Power.

However, if one were to rashly absorb it, one would only end up in a very miserable state.

"But that guy seems to be... enjoying it?"

Carles and Winston exchanged a glance and fell into an eerie silence.

After a moment, Carles made his decision.

He decided to go and see the figure high in the sky.

Since this is the underground of the [Blood Moon Secret Realm], the key to escaping should be the roots of these [Crimson Ancient Trees].

The figure high above, however, seemed to possess some kind of ability to control the roots.

In addition, Karlless had also heard the legend of the "Shadowless" and knew that the other party was an enemy of the vampires.

If he hasn't gone mad yet, he might be able to become an asset!
Even if we can't escape, killing this old bastard while we're at it would be perfect!

With this in mind, Karl-Heinz did not hesitate. White steam enveloped his entire body, and he burst into the air at an astonishing speed.

at the same time.

Winston took similar action.

His goal was exactly the opposite of Karles's; he wanted to eliminate the Faceless Shadow before the Platinum Knight could!
Even if it's only temporary, I can't let these two team up against me.

boom!
Two figures, one in red and one in white, rapidly ascended.

Realizing each other's intentions, they acted decisively, colliding repeatedly in mid-air once again.

The aftershocks of their battle not only disturbed the desecrated flesh and blood on the plain, but also caused the surrounding roots to become restless.

For the purpose of self-protection.

They began to swarm around them, slithering like snakes, and attacked the two.

If they were ordinary tree roots, the two third-tier secret cultivators wouldn't even bother with them.

However, having absorbed the blood, flesh, and power of the [Secret Sea] over so many years, the roots of the [Crimson Ancient Tree] have long since become something extraordinary.

Not only is it extremely hard, but it also has considerable resistance to the power of blood and steam.

When they surged forward along with the fleshy monsters on the ground, both of them felt a sudden pressure.

Not to mention, their main enemies are each other, who are of equal rank!
Perhaps because of Winston's vampire status, the Roots seem to hate him even more.

But oddly enough...

Carles, who was previously stronger than Winston, has fallen behind in the climb and seems to be struggling a bit.

Winston thought he was feigning weakness to lower his guard.

But soon he discovered that Carles' strength seemed to have indeed weakened considerably.

"Hahaha... I understand."

Winston looked enlightened and laughed wildly, "You gave a steam core to that kid from the Blood Hunters, hoping he could hold out until you returned to the secret realm."

"After all, besides me, that kid Quinn is also a third-tier Mystic."

"You've really gone to great lengths to protect your juniors!" "However, you've become weaker as a result!"

"You are no match for me now."

To this, Carles merely sneered, "If that's the case, why don't you dare attack?"

"If you want to get rid of me, isn't now the perfect time?"

Upon hearing this, Winston's expression changed several times.

At that moment, he did indeed have murderous intent.

However, he couldn't guarantee that Carles really had no trump cards left to turn the tide.

What if this is just a trap, a seduction...?

As the saying goes, the longer you live, the more afraid you become of death.

Therefore, Winston dared not take the risk of fighting Carles to the bitter end.

He still chose to stick to the original plan and first deal with the [Shadowless] high up.

……

Within a few dozen seconds.

Winston has experienced countless attacks.

The Platinum Knight's steam, the snake-like roots around him, the mud and flesh emerging from the ground... all became obstacles to his upward movement.

Such intense fighting aggravated his already unhealed injuries.

He looked extremely disheveled.

But in the end, Winston climbed up to the strange throne, surrounded by many roots, before Carles.

"【The Faceless Shadow】..."

Winston, panting heavily, looked up at the throne.

Even at this distance, he still couldn't make out the figure's features.

The dark red roots twitched slightly.

A dark and profound atmosphere lingers.

Some indescribable substance flowed silently and quietly in the air.

Winston forcefully suppressed his unease and ruthlessly attacked: "No matter what you are, die!"

next moment.

The man on the throne opened his eyes.

His eyes were somewhat unfocused, yet held a hint of anger.

Winston's gaze was involuntarily drawn to it.

Because, deep within those eyes, there were countless luminous lines and twinkling starlight.

It's like a scene from the sky above or deep in the secret sea.

In those hazy starlight, there seemed to be a wealth of unimaginable knowledge and mysteries, which made him instinctively want to explore and pursue them.

"No! That's not right..."

Winston's last shred of reason was startled, and he suddenly issued a sharp warning.

"Don't look! Don't think! Don't absorb that knowledge!"

However, it was too late.

The moment he saw those eyes, the ending was already decided!
The chaotic and vast amount of knowledge began to multiply and expand in his mind, instantly exceeding the threshold of rationality.

In other words...

Winston has gone mad!

The alienation of the mind can also lead to physical deformities.

The next moment.

The blood-red man's skin was cracked all over his body, his flesh was expanding at an incredible speed, and pale bone spurs were extending and mutating.

Then, one after another, male and female faces emerged from his body.

Their faces bore expressions of resentment, hatred, or fear, and they all let out piercing howls.

It is obvious that these faces come from those whose blood Winston has drained.

At this moment, they were resurrected in Winscher's body in another form!
……

……

"What's the noise?"

Shaen, sitting on the Root Throne, opened his eyes and was puzzled when he saw the mutating flesh before him.

"what?"

"What happened? Where did this thing come from?"

It's no wonder Xia En was so puzzled.

Just like yesterday, he was using the power of the Crimson Ancient Tree to sense the Secret Sea, and even faintly touched the threshold of advancement.

Suddenly, a strange noise came from below, as if someone was fighting.

He originally intended to ignore it and focus on his spiritual practice.

Unexpectedly, a dangerous secret force suddenly came from in front of him, forcibly interrupting his perception of the Secret Sea.

When he opened his eyes, he saw a man mutating into an ugly mass of flesh.

Anyone would be completely bewildered in this situation.

I thought about it for a long time but still couldn't figure it out.

Xia En simply reached out and touched the roots beside him. Through the flow of blood, some vague information entered his mind.

They are bad...

We will protect you...

Xia En smiled and said sincerely, "Thank you."

"But...them? So there are others too?"

Soon, Shane looked at the roots not far away.