But she still curiously leaned forward to take a look.
Gu Jianlin gently shook the Soul Comforting Bell, releasing a near-shattered, wooden soul.
Hasegawa Shinichi, leader of the Grave Diggers.
A subordinate of the Nightmare Master.
The Moon Princess claimed she didn't know, but upon seeing this soul, she immediately said, "You're a subordinate of the Nightmare Master, aren't you? Was the Blood Moon Slaughter Incident orchestrated by the Nightmare Master? Tell me everything you know."
Her gaze turned cold, radiating an icy hostility.
Gu Jianlin turned his head to glance at her.
Truth be told, when it came to knowing Old Gu, this student of his certainly understood him better than his own son.
In this matter, she had more authority to speak.
After a moment of silence, Hasegawa Shinichi replied woodenly, "I… don't know. At my level, I couldn't access those things. But before the Blood Moon Slaughter Incident, my mind had already been corrupted. At that time, the Nightmare Master had already sent someone to contact me, wanting me to act as a spy within the association and work for him."
Gu Jianlin and the Moon Princess exchanged a glance, their pupils slightly constricting.
"The Nightmare Master said that the shadow of death had already enveloped me, and only by becoming his servant could I have a slim chance of survival. I didn't believe him until I encountered the Blood Moon Slaughter Incident."
Hasegawa Shinichi said, "The Nightmare Master saved me at the brink of my death and promised me a chance at rebirth. At that time, I didn't know his true identity. It wasn't until later that I realized he was the Gu Master hunted by the association years ago. He survived, fell into a dimensional rift, but didn't die."
"He accidentally entered the Qilin Immortal Palace and received a gift from an Ancient Ancestor, becoming a Divine Servant of the Candle Dragon Clan. In just a few years, he rose to the Sixth Rank."
The Moon Princess coldly said, "What is his goal?"
Gu Jianlin frowned as he asked, "Is the Nightmare Master working for the Candle Dragon Clan now?"
Hasegawa Shinichi's soul stirred and said, "No, the Nightmare Master's goal seems to be breaking free from some kind of constraint. The Nightmare Master once contacted someone, or perhaps a certain force. That force once helped him perform a sacrificial ritual, allowing him to break through to the Superdimensional Level. But later, he discovered he'd been deceived."
"I once heard him angrily roar; the ascension ritual was correct, but someone tampered with it."
"After becoming a Divine Servant, the Nightmare Master's evolution wasn't complete, but he gained a certain degree of freedom. He wants revenge on that mysterious force, to vent his rage."
"As for the Candle Dragon Clan, although the Nightmare Master never explicitly said, I think he eagerly anticipates the day when Qilin Venerable resurrects from the Ancient Tomb to kill the Kui Dragon Ancestor. Only then could he achieve true freedom."
The room fell into a dead silence.
Gu Jianlin thought to himself, then your expectation is likely in vain.
Foolish Nightmare Master.
The Moon Princess looked at him and calmly said, "Hasegawa Shinichi's soul cannot be handed over as evidence."
Gu Jianlin nodded, "I understand. Clearing Old Gu's name now requires not just evidence but also power. If we hand it over now, it might only alert our enemies. Most importantly, Third Master once told me that they're also searching for the relics left by Candle Dragon Venerable. The Nightmare Master is clearly connected to those relics."
At this moment, Hasegawa Shinichi spoke again: "The Nightmare Master once said that Gu Ci'an was his best friend. He also tried to invite Gu Ci'an to join forces, as Gu Ci'an is widely recognized as the person who knows the Ancient God Clan best. But Gu Ci'an refused. The Nightmare Master was very angry. I once heard him say something… Now, Gu Ci'an should feel the same way, shouldn't he?"
Everything that needed to be said had been said.
Gu Jianlin narrowed his eyes: "Feel the same way?"
His first thought was being hunted by the Ether Association.
The Moon Princess glanced at him in surprise, clearly thinking of the same thing.
"Do you think the mysterious organization mentioned by Hasegawa Shinichi could be the one hunting me?"
Gu Jianlin pondered for a moment: "It's a pity that the sniper back then didn't leave anyone alive. Of course, I don't blame you; the person they sent must have been on a suicide mission. He could never allow himself to be captured alive under those circumstances."
The Moon Princess said indifferently, "Leave this matter to me. I can use the You Ying Group's focus to direct attention to the Nightmare Master, since they are determined to obtain Candle Dragon Venerable's legacy."
She paused for a moment: "But ultimately, if possible, the secrets of the Qilin Immortal Palace should be acquired by us. We have the strategy left behind by your father, and we're not without a chance."
Gu Jianlin was momentarily stunned.
Because she had said, "us."
This word carried intriguing connotations.
"If you want to break the Vermilion Bird Clan's curse, strength is indispensable, and Candle Dragon Venerable's legacy is extremely important to you. I'll find a way to create opportunities for you."
The Moon Princess pulled out a storage card and handed it to him: "This is the strategy I've decoded regarding the Qilin Immortal Palace. Trust your father; he was the world's best at exploration, even surpassing Catastrophe Levels in this area. But you must only open it after entering the Qilin Immortal Palace because Taixu will monitor everyone's phone."
Gu Jianlin nodded slightly: "Understood."
"In that case, I'll keep an eye out for information in the Ether Association. If there's anything of value, I'll share it with you as soon as possible. Outside, you must stay safe—be cautious in all things."