Myriad Realms Gatekeeper

Shen Ye crept along the deserted staircase toward the southwest direction.

"Someone is coming," the Underworld Lord warned.

"Hmm."

He casually released a piece of frost, and as it reflected Shen Ye's form—

he immediately initiated "Existence in Mirror" and hid within it.

The ice crystal melted into droplets, falling onto the crimson velvet carpet.

As expected, two knights appeared around the corner.

They were dressed in shiny Battle Armor, with swords hanging at their waists, walking past the staircase where Shen Ye was.

After they were gone,

Shen Ye dissolved "Existence in Mirror," reappearing on the steps.

He continued on his way.

For some reason... there was an indescribable strangeness to the feeling.

If Lord Nine Phases were such a powerful monster—

"There are guards on the terrace ahead, there really are a lot of guards here," the voice of the Underworld Lord rang out.

Shen Ye's thoughts kept flashing as he continued forward.

The terrace was just ahead.

The melodious sound of the flute suddenly filled with a sense of murderous intent.

"Karula is warning you, don't get any closer—perhaps Lord Nine Phases is right beside her," the Earth Mother said.

Shen Ye stopped in his tracks.

If Lord Nine Phases was with Centaur Carola, then rescuing her would definitely be impossible for him.

So, wait for later?

Later... when would that be?

"Retreat, this moment is not favorable," the Underworld Lord also said.

"...the longer we wait, the more variables will arise, I don't want to drag this out any more... Lord Nine Phases must not get hold of the Jade Terrace,"

Shen Ye responded in his mind.

He walked straight up the stairs to the terrace.

The two guards turned simultaneously, spotting him.

"Halt, don't move!"

"Who are you!"

They both shouted at the same time.

"Notify the Marchioness, I've come to find her, my name is Baxter," Shen Ye said.

One of the guards raised his spear, pointing at him, and questioned:

"You, an infiltrator—"

A voice arose from afar, drowning out the guard:

"It's all right, he's an old acquaintance of mine—bring him to see me."

It was a woman's voice!

Was it the Marchioness?

The two guards immediately sheathed their weapons, giving Shen Ye a complex glance.

"Please follow us."

"Thank you."

Shen Ye followed them through several rooms, along a lengthy corridor, all the way to the castle's bar.

Only two people were there.

Centaur Carola had taken on an Elf form, playing the flute.

A woman with platinum blonde hair stood behind the bar, holding a drink in her hand, enjoying the flute music.

The two guards saluted and then withdrew.

"Baxter, what would you like to drink?" the woman asked.

"Juice, thank you. Are you the Marchioness Charlotte?" Shen Ye asked.

The woman laughed.

"There are several of us—those who deal with you daily are responsible for replenishing body energy, that's Fernando, and I am the fighter really in charge of combat, my name is Charlotte."

As she explained, the floor of the entire bar, the ceiling, and the walls all started to show the distorted forms of snakelike bodies.

On the black snake scales, images of human heads emerged then quickly vanished.

All the heads of Lord Nine Phases congealed into this terrifying snake-bodied Dharma Aspect!

"My lord, it's you!"

Shen Ye exclaimed, astonished.

The Marchioness Charlotte—or rather, the Nine Phases who had changed personalities—spoke:

"Baxter, let's leave the introductions at that. Did you come to seek clues about the Earth Mother for Mo Ga Ru?"

Shen Ye shook his head: "Not exactly."

"Then I truly do not know what reason you have for so boldly intruding into my domain," a hint of murderous intent crept into Charlotte's expression.

"My lord, what shall I say?"

Shen Ye lowered his head and then raised it again, looking aside with a nervous and uneasy demeanor, "I feel—that I truly don't want to serve Mo Ga Ru."

Charlotte paused.

"Yes, Lord Nine Phases," Shen Ye continued, "I will always remember how you helped me kill a Frost Dragon. But following Mo Ga Ru, he never gave me any reward."

"—I was just a beast of burden."

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"Not only that, he is extremely suspicious; even when I meet with my girlfriend, he sends someone to check in. My lord, I can hardly stand it anymore."

"I couldn't help but come to find you."

Shen Ye said all this in one breath.

The murderous aura around Charlotte had dissipated.

—A trusted subordinate of her own, even after being sold out, had run back to her.

It naturally carried a special sense of achievement that was indescribable.

"But, I have taken three Ancient Corpses... it wouldn't be good to go back on my word, Baxter,"

Charlotte mused.

"Ancient Corpses are nothing, my lord, I will fetch you three—no, six! You can give the Ancient Corpses back to Mo Ga Ru and take me back, alright?" Shen Ye said.

"By the way, I have something to ask you," Charlotte seemed to ponder another matter.

"Please, my lord."

"Did you find out what exactly is in the depths of the Jin Enjia Gorge in Hell?" Charlotte asked.

Shen Ye immediately said: "Oh, that matter, yes, I have found out, it's another Hell, filled with Divine Spirits."

"Really?"

"Guaranteed genuine."

The flute music softened.

Carola, with her head bowed, simply played her flute, oblivious to what was happening on the other side of the bar.

Charlotte tilted her head, thinking for a while, then stretched out her hand to place a glass of juice on the bar, sliding it towards Shen Ye.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Baxter, you are indeed very effective in your work, but Mo Ga Ru may not let you go."

"My lord!"

Shen Ye leaned in close to Charlotte, lowering his voice: "I have not divulged to Mo Ga Ru until now that all the Baxters are actually me."

"—The secret of my identity is only known to you now."

Listening to his display of loyalty, Charlotte remembered the legends in Hell about the several brothers named Baxter and couldn't help but laugh.

It was too comical.

Yet, such a comical matter—