The Soulless Sacred Artifact

This little lock is quite intriguing!

It resembled a common hall door lock from a noble estate, square and about the size of a baby's fist, entirely crimson. However, a small rotating compass sat at its center, with the keyhole nestled within the compass's core, making it appear almost like an anti-theft combination lock!

Indeed, a truly remarkable item!

This was Du Chen's first encounter with such a lock in the Battle God World. From his professional perspective, the craftsmanship of this small lock far surpassed the most advanced lock-making techniques in the Battle God World. Even the most brilliant dwarven artisans couldn't forge an item of such caliber. This left only one possibility: could it be a sacred artifact?

This lock was to Du Chen what a beauty was to Steve. Signaling Deboning to keep a close eye on Constantine, Du Chen's Azure Eyes shimmered with astonishment as he reached out to grasp the lock on Constantine's chest.

Constantine gasped in alarm. "What are you doing!?" This lock was his last hope, the very source that could grant him the power to turn the tables!

Du Chen squatted beside Constantine, toying with the lock in his hand. "Where did this thing come from?" This little fellow is truly impressive, boasting 'Twenty-Four Cores' craftsmanship – that's the standard for a Tenth-rank sacred artifact!

Constantine scoffed, "That's none of your business. If you want to kill me, then do your worst! I only regret that Francis is such a coward, hiding away and daring not to face me!"

Du Chen remained unfazed by Constantine's curses. His attention was completely captivated by the small lock. The more he examined the intricate mechanism, the more fascinating it became. Du Chen was certain it wasn't an ordinary lock, for it contained immense power. Yet, it wasn't truly a sacred artifact either, as it lacked an artifact spirit. If he had to give it an accurate description, Du Chen would call it... A Soulless Sacred Artifact!

Constantine feigned anger and despair, but inwardly, he was consumed by anxiety. *Damn it, this lock was the very mechanism for him to join 'them'! What was this Alex doing, staring at the lock? Had he discovered its secret? Impossible, 'they' had said that no one alive, apart from their leader, could uncover the lock's true nature!*

For this lock was inherited from the Eternal Divine Emperor, the first person in the history of the Battle Gods, Prince!

"Interesting, truly interesting!" Du Chen marveled with a click of his tongue, reaching into his belt for a few iron wires and a Lily Key. With a practiced motion, he then pulled out Beibei's favorite gummy candy from his pocket and popped it into his mouth, chewing heartily.

Du Chen began to fiddle with the lock with serious concentration, his actions utterly perplexing Constantine. *This Alex is fixated on the lock; something unexpected is bound to happen soon, alas! It seems I won't be seeing Francis today. In that case, before any further complications arise, I'll join 'them' now. I'll gain power to kill Brook and this Alex, and then half my great vengeance will be achieved!*

With that thought, Constantine immediately began to act!

But the Rebellious Dragon was no fool. With his life in Deboning's hands, he dared not make any move that might arouse suspicion. Thus, Constantine smirked inwardly, while his face contorted into a mask of desperate weeping, old tears streaming down. "Enough! Today I have fallen into your hands, and I shall no longer pretend to be a tough man! Master Alex, I beg you, I will tell you everything I know – about this attire, this lock – everything! I only ask... please tell me, is Andy truly my biological son?"

His weeping was heartbreaking to hear, enough to bring tears to anyone's eyes. For a dignified member of the Five Peaks of Myriad Streams to display such a tender, vulnerable paternal affection, it couldn't help but stir compassion in onlookers.

Yet Deboning remained as cold-blooded as ever, while Du Chen's focus was solely on the small lock. No one paid the Rebellious Dragon any mind. Constantine wept with increasing sorrow, "Sophia and I have suffered a lifetime of misfortune. Now, the mother of my son's fate is unknown, and his father has fallen into enemy hands... I beg you, if you must kill me, please do not let Andy see, alright?" As he cried, his two streams of murky old tears actually transformed into tears of blood!

"I beg you... whether Andy is my biological son or not, please, please ask Francis to take good care of him in the future..." With these words, Constantine began to cough violently, "Cough, cough!" A trickle of blood stained the corner of his mouth!

Deboning's icy gaze softened ever so slightly...

Du Chen, whose hands never stopped working, found himself pitying the old dragon. He said, "Just tell me the origin of this attire first, and we can discuss everything else. Are you willing?"

Beneath Constantine's pleading, pitiful gaze, his cold heart sneered inwardly. *Success! As soon as my blood tears and cough-blood touch the lock, hmph, that will be your moment of reckoning!*

Using his cries as a cover, the Rebellious Dragon subtly tilted his head, his gaze fixed on the lock. *Drip-drop*, a tear of blood landed on the iron chain, slowly flowing down it... flowing... until it reached the edge of the lock...

"Ha, haha!" Constantine suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, roaring skyward, "In the name of my blood, I am willing!!!"

"I am willing!!" Echoes reverberated through the Labyrinth of Life, a harrowing roar filled with resentment and boundless dominance. The Rebellious Dragon glared fiercely at Du Chen, ready to dismember him the moment the power arrived!

*I am willing, I am willing to sacrifice everything for power, willing to become one of you! As long as I can tear these two before me into ten thousand pieces and ensure they never reincarnate!*

*Power... come forth!*

*Splish!* Constantine waited, and then heard a peculiar sound. He looked down to see Du Chen spit out the chewed-up gummy candy, smearing it onto the small lock's keyhole. Then, with a forceful press, *click*, the small lock sprang open...

Du Chen then looked up. "If you're willing, just say so. Why all the shouting?" With that, he gave a sharp tug, and the small lock, still attached to the chains on Constantine's body, landed in Du Chen's hand. He then proudly told Deboning, "This lock's material is quite precious. Someday, I'll refashion it into a handy concealed weapon for you. Just make do with it for now!"

Constantine stared blankly at the small lock in Du Chen's hand, and the gummy candy stuck to it, suddenly feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him... *My power? Where is my power? Damn it, this lock was opened by Alex with a *gummy candy*?! Heavens, my life's hatred, my hope for vengeance, destroyed by a mere gummy?*

"Pfft!" A mouthful of agitated blood surged to his heart, combined with his previous severe injuries, causing Constantine to vomit blood and faint!

Deboning, somewhat perplexed, cast a questioning glance at Du Chen. "Young Master, the old dragon just said he was willing to cooperate with us. Why did he faint?"

Du Chen frowned in thought. "Strange," he mused, "he was willing, and that's one thing, but to swear such a heavy oath in the name of blood? When did the Rebellious Dragon become so forthright?"

The two who had just strolled past the gates of hell found themselves utterly perplexed.

...

While some were perplexed, others were seized by shock and fury!

Elsewhere within the Labyrinth of Life, stood a gloomy palace. Upon closer inspection, the palace's shape strikingly resembled a Flat-Top's Helm. And within the Grand Council Hall at the very center of this 'helm'...

*CRACK!*

The very instant Du Chen opened the lock on Constantine's chest, a chain on the Grand Council Hall wall suddenly snapped!

"Hmph!" A furious roar, brimming with rage and shock, resounded. "All members of the Divine Temple, assemble!"

As the assembly order was issued, figures began to appear one by one within the Grand Council Hall. Counting them, there were eight in total, all clad in floor-length robes beneath Flat-Top's Helms, dressed identically to Constantine. However, they bore no chains on their bodies, nor any exquisite small locks on their chests.

The eight individuals lined up, standing in the empty Grand Council Hall, facing the wall directly opposite the entrance. From this wall hung numerous iron chains; the one that had just snapped was the very last one on the left.

Once everyone was present, the furious voice spoke again. "Someone has broken the Secret Lock on Constantine!"

All eight bowed their heads. None dared to respond, for they all knew what the breaking of a Secret Lock signified... It meant the Master's wrath, and slaughter in the mortal realms!

The voice, heard but unseen, called out, "Thirteen!"

He coldly uttered a number. The leftmost of the eight stepped forward and 'thudded' to his knees! His features were indistinct, but beneath the Flat-Top's Helm was a beardless, pointed chin, thin lips, and pale skin on a moderately built frame.

He was precisely the one who, on that fateful day, single-handedly decimated the Shadow Legion and rescued Constantine!

"Constantine was your responsibility, so you shall lead your Thirteenth Squad to investigate and uncover who precisely broke the Secret Lock on him! Once found, capture them immediately!"

"As you wish, Master!" Thirteen replied respectfully, yet dared not rise. "Master, the Three Continents are currently in utter chaos. The second war between the Red-Bloods and Violet-Bloods has already begun. This subordinate's journey to the mortal realms may encounter situations requiring immediate discretion. I implore you, Master, grant me full authority!"

The voice sneered. "You will not be going to the mortal realms. Given Constantine's speed, he should currently be near the Bone Golem's Lair in the Labyrinth of Life. I will use a Life Shortcut to transport you directly there!"

Thirteen looked up slightly, appearing surprised and a little excited. "Master's trust, Thirteen is eternally grateful and will not fail to fulfill Master's command!" But he cautiously added, "The Secret Lock on Constantine is absolutely not something an ordinary person can break. For utmost certainty, this subordinate requests that Master assign personnel to assist!"

"Hmm, Fourteen and Seventeen, you two will lead your respective squads and accompany Thirteen!"

"As you command, Master!"

After Thirteen received his orders, a slow-rising, dark-green light appeared before him. This light was brilliantly dazzling, yet harbored a subtle, eerie quality—this was the very Life Shortcut spoken of, which would instantly transport Thirteen near the Bone Golem's Lair!

The three robed figures in Flat-Top's Helms stepped into the light, heading directly for Du Chen!