Chapter 407: Su Mu, Why Did You Lie to Me!

"It is indeed me. I didn't expect you to still remember me."

"Did you come on the Mad King's orders?" The Blood Clan Progenitor paused, a hint of confusion flashing through her eyes. "The Mad King... who is that? Why is the name so familiar?"

Hmph! Just a wandering ghost left over from the previous era, her memories in complete chaos.

Shangguan Chen sneered inwardly but maintained a respectful expression. "The Mad King is already dead. I have come to seek your help."

"Oh," the Blood Clan Progenitor replied calmly. She fell silent, seemingly unwilling to continue the conversation.

"I know you have been searching for your memories. I can help you with that."

The Blood Clan Progenitor finally reacted. Her ruby eyes fixed on Shangguan Chen. "What do you want me to do?"

"The Seven Kings Barrier." Shangguan Chen slowly straightened, his gaze burning. "I need you to go to the Seven Kings Barrier and retrieve something."

"The Seven Kings Barrier?" The Blood Clan Progenitor frowned slightly, finding the name familiar.

"I can help you recover a portion of your memory first. Once the matter is settled, I will restore the rest."

"Fine." The Blood Clan Progenitor nodded, her gaze vacant.

"Now, put this Silver Ring on."

The Blood Clan Progenitor picked up the Silver Ring and slowly slipped it onto her pale, almost transparent finger.

Shangguan Chen began casting Primal Divine Magic. To others, the Blood Clan Progenitor's lost memories might be an incurable disease, but for a Saint Grade powerhouse like him, it was no difficult task.

After years of navigating the Nightmare World and claiming the Pope's body, his strength and methods were far ahead of anyone else in this world.

A beam of holy light shot from the Silver Ring and landed on the Blood Clan Progenitor. Bathed in the silver glow, she looked incredibly divine.

A moment later, clarity flashed through the Blood Clan Progenitor's eyes. She looked down at her hands and muttered, "I seem to remember something. The Seven Kings Barrier was constructed by me and the other five first-generation kings using our lives. It's just... shouldn't I be dead? Why am I still alive? Why..."

Scarlet light flickered in her eyes, and her eerie red dress fluttered without wind. Her state grew highly unstable.

"Why am I still alive! Who exactly am I?"

Shangguan Chen's expression shifted. He hurriedly channeled his power to stabilize the Blood Clan Progenitor's condition. Holy light surged like water from the Silver Ring, washing over her.

Gradually, the Blood Clan Progenitor's state stabilized.

Only then did Shangguan Chen breathe a sigh of relief. He knew the Blood Clan Progenitor was the Royal Power Artifact Scarlet Moon. She existed by believing she was the first-generation Undead King. If she ever realized she was not the Undead King, and that the original was already dead, her consciousness would likely collapse, reverting her into the Scarlet Moon.

It was a good thing he hadn't restored all of her memories, or it could have caused a massive problem.

"You didn't die. You are the first-generation Undead King, an immortal existence. Even if all the other kings perished, you survived."

"Is that so?" The Blood Clan Progenitor's eyes were filled with confusion.

Shangguan Chen quickly changed the subject, preventing her from dwelling on the question. "Regarding the Seven Kings Barrier, you just said it was constructed by you and five other first-generation kings using your lives. The missing one is..."

"The Mad King," the Blood Clan Progenitor recalled. "The Mad King didn't participate. He sacrificed everything to the Supreme Heaven and vanished from the world forever."

Shangguan Chen's heart skipped a beat. "Do you know why he sacrificed everything? What wish did he actually make back then?"

The Blood Clan Progenitor shook her head slightly. "I don't know. After he came out of the Land of Origin back then, he acted incredibly mysterious. No one knew what he was planning."

The Land of Origin!?

Shangguan Chen froze. The holy light on the Silver Ring surged silently, continuously exerting its influence over the Blood Clan Progenitor.

"What is the Land of Origin?"

A trace of bewilderment flashed through the Blood Clan Progenitor's eyes before she revealed the secrets of the Land of Origin.

The more Shangguan Chen listened, the more shocked he became, but a surge of wild joy rose in his heart at having uncovered the Mad King's secrets.

So that's how it is! That's how it is! The Mad King's abilities in this life must be related to the Land of Origin. He clearly didn't possess the power to open the Two Worlds Passage in his previous life. It seems he must have gained some benefit from the Land of Origin, and that should be the reason why he used the Supreme Heaven to sacrifice everything.

In an instant, his ambitions shifted, elevating from the Supreme Heaven to the Land of Origin!

The Land of Origin requires the seven great Royal Power Artifacts to open—whatever is inside must be related to the Gods!

Hahahaha... Mad King! No matter what you're plotting, it will all just benefit me in the end, exactly like when I stole the empire you founded all those years ago!

Several days later.

Su Mu, who was killing enemies on the front lines, was suddenly approached by a special envoy from the Imperial Capital.

"Lord Marquis, Her Majesty has ordered your return to the Imperial Capital," the envoy said respectfully.

"Oh? For what reason am I returning to the Imperial Capital?" Su Mu asked with a slight smile.

"Her Majesty noted that you have slain several Gold Nightmares and earned illustrious military merit on the battlefield. Upon your return, you will be titled a duke. That is the highest noble rank in the Empire! Please allow this lowly one to congratulate the Lord Duke in advance." The envoy's face was full of flattery.

"Can't I be titled directly? Do I really need to go all the way back?"

"Conferring the title of duke is a matter of the utmost importance; it cannot be treated carelessly. Moreover, Her Majesty does indeed have other matters to discuss." The envoy lowered his voice.

"Currently, quite a few nightmares are running rampant within our borders, killing many nobles. These nightmares hide in the cities, and even the army can do nothing about them. Therefore, Her Majesty needs an experienced powerhouse like you to handle them.

"Furthermore, the Empire has recently recruited a significant number of Nightmare Apostles, and Her Majesty would like you to select and train them."

"I understand." Su Mu nodded. "I will return to the Imperial Capital as soon as I finish the matters at hand."

"There's no rush. Naturally, your matters are the most important, Lord Duke. This lowly one will wait in the camp," the envoy said, bowing and scraping.

The next day.

Su Mu followed the envoy and made the journey back to the court.

After several days of travel, he arrived at the Chiyan Imperial Capital. As soon as he stepped out of his carriage, dedicated attendants were there to greet him, clearing the way all the way to the Chiyan Imperial Palace.

"Lord Marquis, Her Majesty is waiting for you in the main hall."

Looking at the solemn and towering main hall of the Imperial Palace before him, a hint of a smile touched the corners of Su Mu's mouth as he strode inside.

Upon entering the hall, he saw King Chi sitting high upon the throne, clad in a dark gold phoenix robe. When she wasn't speaking, King Chi truly resembled a peerless empress.

King Chi sat in a dignified manner, her pale hands hidden beneath her wide sleeves. No one could see the Silver Ring she wore on her finger.

In the empty hall, their eyes met.

A complex emotion flashed through King Chi's eyes. "Su Mu, why did you lie to me!"

Her voice, brimming with conflicting emotions, echoed through the grand hall.