Besides, the cultivation of the three of them posed no threat to him.
So, he didn't care at all.
Sure enough, upon hearing Song Wanníng's words, Patriarch Huo let out a light chuckle. He found Song Wanníng's arrogance amusing. He truly did not take the three seriously.
A few Alchemist like them combined were no match for him. He would make sure they died clearly.
He glanced at Song Wanníng coldly and said to Huo Jinchuan, "Take them to the secret chamber."
"Yes."
Huo Jinchuan nodded obediently and led the three out of the stone chamber. But they did not leave directly. Instead, they circled around and arrived in front of a teleportation array.
"Go."
The group stepped into the teleportation array and immediately felt dizzy.
After the incense stick's time passed, the array finally stopped.
Song Wanníng suppressed her shock. They had been inside so long—how far had they been transported? What kind of person were they saving that required such secrecy?
Baili Shang's expression darkened as well. He prepared himself to leave at any moment.
The teleportation array opened quickly, and a blinding light shone through.
They hurriedly raised their hands to shield their eyes. Only after adjusting did they follow Huo Jinchuan out.
A bone-chilling cold rushed over them.
Within seconds, frost covered all three.
Huo Jinchuan raised his hand and waved gently, shattering the frost into fragments on the ground.
But the deep cold still slowed their steps. Every move felt like pushing against a crushing weight. Their bones cracked painfully from the freeze.
Song Wanníng's face quickly flushed red, but as a Fire Spirit Root cultivator, her spiritual power swirled rapidly inside, driving away the chill and returning her to normal.
Huo Jinchuan glanced at Song Wanníng.
"This person's Luck is the strongest and also the hardest to deal with.
To seize her Luck, it won't be easy...
Looks like Xiao Heyun has to be dealt with first."
Only when his Luck rivaled Song Wanníng's could he have a chance to snatch it.
Otherwise, Song Wanníng had a high chance of escaping.
Huo Jinchuan knew the importance of Luck too well—he thought it surpassed everything. His obsession with Luck was almost pathological. As a transmigrator, he held no pride but was full of anxiety. And the act of stealing Luck was addictive. He lowered his eyes and kept walking forward.
Song Wanníng followed behind. Hearing Huo Jinchuan's plan, a gleam flashed in her eyes.
She cast a malicious glance at Xiao Heyun.
Two invaders competing—who would the Heavenly Dao of the Mùsù star system favor?
If it was insufficient, she wouldn't mind adding fuel to the fire.
The best outcome was for both to be badly wounded.
...
Half an hour later, they finally stopped before an ice palace.
The entire area was surrounded by sealing formations, enclosing the ice palace in the center. Even if discovered, no one could enter or exit.
Huo Jinchuan showed no hesitation. He squeezed a drop of blood from his heart into the seals, and a small door appeared. He led them inside, and only after the door closed did they continue deeper.
Baili Shang frowned. With so many seals, escaping seemed hopeless. But there should be a way out inside the ice palace—they would take it step by step.
Huo Jinchuan quickly led them inside. Ice blocks filled every corner, and even the furniture was carved from ice.
They climbed the stairs to the second floor.
As Song Wanníng stepped onto the second floor, a strong stench hit her.
It was the smell of decay.
Xiao Heyun and the others changed expression, looking toward the source.
Their faces went pale.
Though their hands were covered in blood, the scene disgusted them.
On an ice bed lay a corpse.
Judging by the clothes, it was a woman.
But despite being sealed in ice, the body was rotting beyond control. The flesh was swollen and decayed, dripping thick fluids.
The sight was utterly revolting.
Xiao Heyun almost gagged, barely steadying himself against the icy wall.
Killing someone is just a nod and a bow. But this corpse...
It was so disgusting, it could haunt nightmares.
Why was Patriarch Huo still keeping such a corpse?
He must be crazy.
The three reacted strongly.
Huo Jinchuan curled his lips in a cold smile.
He was calm, having long grown used to this scene. He slowly added layers of ice over the corpse.
Xiao Heyun watched in horror. Huo Jinchuan was a ruthless man, able to keep his composure even now.
As the three hesitated, Patriarch Huo finally arrived.
He hurried over, though his excitement was barely concealed.
His figure passed by the three and directly approached the corpse.
"Meng'er, I'm back!"
Patriarch Huo stepped forward, gently stroking the ice sealing the body, his gaze tender enough to squeeze out tears.
The deep affection made Song Wanníng and the others shiver.
A handsome, imposing middle-aged man was tenderly caressing a rotting corpse.
The scene was eerie no matter how you looked at it.
Even perverse.
More twisted than a demon cultivator.
Huo Jinchuan continued calmly layering ice over the corpse.
Only when the frost was thick enough to fully cover the stench did Patriarch Huo shove Huo Jinchuan aside.
"You useless fool. You can't even do the simple task of sealing your mother. If I'd known, I would have crushed you the moment you were born!"
Patriarch Huo glared at Huo Jinchuan with hatred and disgust.
His look was not that of a father to a son but a man facing an enemy.
Song Wanníng and the others shared a subtle expression. Wasn't Huo Jinchuan supposed to be favored and pampered by Patriarch Huo?
This didn't look like it at all.
Patriarch Huo's eyes flashed coldly as he turned to Song Wanníng and grabbed at her forcefully.
Song Wanníng was pulled toward him and choked.
"If you dare lie to me, I will make sure you can neither live nor die!"
His twisted expression and oppressive aura made Song Wanníng struggle for breath.
She fought back the impulse to resist and showed a hint of fear.
"Senior, rest assured, I dare not lie…
But... if I wake her up, will you spare me?"
Song Wanníng put on a brave front, which somehow lowered Patriarch Huo's guard. He threw her aside roughly and carefully took out a Buddha lamp from his storage ring.
Within the light circle above the lamp, a faint remnant soul drifted, trapped in unconsciousness.