Chapter 121: The Bronze Artifact, Soundless Heavenly Melody

Crack!

Suddenly, the sound of fracturing echoed all around. Su Mu looked up to see tiny fissures appearing across the sky, spreading before his eyes.

The Headless Ones had all been sacrificed. This Nightmare World was about to shatter.

Having experienced a scene like this once before in Tingting's nightmare, Su Mu was in familiar territory. He knew that when the Nightmare World shattered, the Nightmare Apostles would return to the Real World.

He had thought that was normal before, but after seeing the Black Fog, doubts suddenly crept into his mind. Why return to the Real World instead of the Black Fog?

Logically speaking, once this massive dream bubble popped, the people inside should return to the Black Fog. Could it be... that the so-called Hell was actually just an even larger dream? Only people from the Real World could return there after the dream shattered, while those native to the dream, like Wan, were doomed to live in it forever?

Su Mu couldn't figure out the answer, nor did he want to learn it so easily.

Crack, crack...

The sounds of the shattering dream grew more frequent, and a dense web of fissures spread across the entire realm. Even the boulder previously occupied by the Headless One leader began to split apart.

Su Mu's eyes narrowed. Something seemed to be glowing inside the fractured boulder!

Seeing the surrounding fissures about to swallow him, he shot his hand out like lightning and snatched the glowing object.

...

...

Amidst the ruins of the Poisonous Snake Gang, Su Mu's figure appeared out of thin air. The surroundings were deserted. Police tape had long been strung up alongside warning signs and barricades, and the scene bore the marks of numerous investigations.

Su Mu didn't mind. Such a massive explosion at the Poisonous Snake Gang would definitely attract the attention of all of District 13, and even Star City. It was perfectly normal for the Law Enforcement Bureau to lock down the area, especially since almost four days had passed.

He opened his palm, revealing a small, exquisite ear. It looked exactly like a human ear but was crafted entirely of white jade, crystal clear and emitting a faint glow under the moonlight.

When he probed it with his spiritual power, countless chaotic noises immediately exploded in his mind: human screams, the roars of various animals, the howling wind, pouring rain, explosions, crashes... It was as if the sounds of an entire world were ringing in his head all at once. But gradually, as the noise grew louder and louder, all the sounds vanished, and he could no longer hear a thing.

As Su Mu withdrew his spiritual power, faint traces of blood appeared in his ears.

Yet, there wasn't the slightest hint of pain on his face. Instead, a smile touched his lips. "Bronze Stage 3 Artifact, Soundless Heavenly Melody."

This was an Artifact, incubated over an unknown amount of time by over ten thousand Headless Ones using all the sounds in the world. Its functions were very simple: first, it could mimic any sound within a hundred-meter radius; second, it could use sound waves to attack.

Adding the storage Artifact he had obtained earlier, the Sheepskin Bag, he now possessed a total of three Artifacts. Although this battle had been incredibly perilous, the haul was quite good: three Artifacts, one Mithril Alloy Cyborg, and an Eye of Gold.

The Eye of Gold, in particular, was an absolutely priceless treasure. It was, after all, a divine item capable of helping a Silver 3 advance to Gold. If it ever reached the open market, even nobles would fight tooth and nail for it.

Just then, a light flared in the distance, followed by a voice filled with pleasant surprise. "Leader! Thank goodness. I knew you'd be fine!"

Zhao Chaoyao ran over, holding up a flashlight. Beside him was a stern-faced man in black, whose waist bulged with concealed weapons.

"How did you know I was here?" Su Mu asked, looking at the two men jogging toward him.

Zhao Chaoyao quickly replied, "Ever since you disappeared, I've come here every day to check. During this time, people from the Law Enforcement Bureau, the Bronze Coffin, and many strangers came one after another. They all said you were dead, but I didn't believe them. I figured that when you returned, you'd definitely need someone to serve you, so I made sure to check in every day."

"Mm. You're very thoughtful," Su Mu praised him lightly. Zhao Chaoyao grinned, clearly overjoyed.

At this moment, the man in black suddenly spoke up. "Minister Su, I am from the Bronze Coffin's special ops team. The boss has been worried about you, so she stationed me here to keep watch. Now that you're back, I'll inform her immediately."

The boss the man in black referred to was naturally Murong Mengli. Su Mu didn't stop him from making the call. His return wasn't a secret; there was no need to hide it.

"Minister Su, it's the boss."

Su Mu took the phone. Murong Mengli's cool voice immediately came through the speaker, laced with a trace of barely detectable excitement. "Susu, I knew you wouldn't die so easily. Though I don't know where you've been these past few days... as long as you're safe, that's all that matters."

Su Mu smiled faintly. "Thank you for your concern, Miss Mengli. If it hadn't been for your Crimson Heart this time, I'm afraid I would have had a hard time making it back alive."

"When it comes down to it, I'm the one who dragged you into this. After all, I'm their real target. If I hadn't invited you to join the Bronze Coffin, this wouldn't have... Never mind, let's not talk about that right now. Hurry back to the Bronze Coffin. During the days you and Mu Cheng were missing, Qian Zihao went crazy. He even mobilized the Silver Transcendent guarding the Mithril Mine to search for you. Once he finds out you've resurfaced, he definitely won't let things rest."

Hearing this, Su Mu's smile deepened. "That sounds like something to look forward to."

...

...

Bronze Coffin Company.

Su Mu met with a slightly haggard Murong Mengli. Her makeup was still impeccable, and her fashion sense remained outstanding. Every single item she wore seemed tailor-made for her, with both color coordination and style choices being spot-on. However, her exquisite makeup couldn't hide the exhaustion lingering between her brows.

The moment Murong Mengli saw Su Mu, the weariness on her face faded slightly, replaced by a genuine smile. "Welcome back, our great Minister Su of the Bronze Coffin."

Murong Mengli slowly stood up, revealing a lavish dinner already prepared on the table behind her, along with a bottle of expensive red wine.

She didn't ask what Su Mu had been through during the time he was missing. Instead, she smiled and gestured to the dinner. "Your welcome-home banquet."

Su Mu accepted the invitation and sat down.

He was indeed hungry; he had barely eaten anything during his days in the Nightmare World.

Murong Mengli poured Su Mu a glass of red wine, the rich, crimson liquid swirling inside the crystal goblet.

She picked up her glass and looked at Su Mu with a beaming smile. "This first glass is to celebrate your safe return, Susu."

Clink!

The clear sound of glasses clinking rang out.

Su Mu downed the wine in one gulp. It went down smooth, yet carried the faintest trace of an off note.