From cute to empress

Chapter 235: Bravely Entering the Castle to Find the Secret Book

"Let's go." I took a deep breath, suppressed my anxiety, and took the lead into the valley. Zhen Youcai followed closely behind. He squeezed my hand, the warmth of his palm conveying strength. Xiaoyao Gongzi and Tiexue Escort stood guard at our sides, one in front and one behind, vigilantly observing the surroundings.

The further we went, the more eerie the atmosphere in the valley grew. The trees twisted their branches, seemingly roaring silently; vines snaked around the rocks, casting dappled shadows. I could feel my heartbeat accelerating, and sweat formed in my palms.

"Be careful!" The Iron-Blooded Escort walking in front suddenly shouted, and at the same time, he nimbly leaped to the side. Suddenly, a dense rain of arrows erupted from where he had been standing. The sharp arrowheads flashed with a cold light, making people shudder.

"Someone has tampered with this place!" Zhen Youcai drew the long sword from his waist, the blade reflecting a cold light. "Mengmeng, follow me closely!"

We fought our way through various obstacles, carefully avoiding various traps and mechanisms, and finally arrived at the entrance of the castle.

"Be careful!" Young Master Xiaoyao suddenly reached out to stop me, pointing to the ground and saying, "There's a formation here!"

I looked down and saw the ground covered with all sorts of oddly shaped stones, faintly forming a strange pattern. A chill ran down my spine, knowing this formation was formidable. A single misstep would have disastrous consequences.

"Youcai, can you tell what kind of formation this is?" I turned to look at Zhen Youcai, my eyes full of worry.

Zhen Youcai didn't say anything, but just squatted down and carefully observed the pattern on the ground with a frown.

"This is the long-lost 'Seven Star Bewilderment Formation.'" After a long silence, Zhen Youcai finally spoke in a serious tone, "This formation is unpredictable. Once you step into it, you will lose your mind and be at the mercy of others."

I took a deep breath and secretly thanked myself for the reminder from Master Xiaoyao, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.

"Then what should we do?" I asked anxiously, "Are we going to be trapped here?"

Zhen Youcai didn't answer, but took out a copper coin from his pocket and muttered something. After a moment, he threw the copper coin into the air, and it spun and danced in the air, making a crisp sound.

"Borrow the power of Qiankun to break it!" Zhen Youcai shouted loudly, while pointing his sword at the ground.

There was a loud "bang" and the rocks on the ground exploded instantly, and the Seven Star Enchantment Formation was broken!

We didn't dare delay, and taking advantage of the moment the formation was broken, we quickly rushed into the castle. The interior was dark and damp, and the air was filled with the smell of decay. We advanced cautiously, taking every step with extreme caution.

Just then, I suddenly heard a faint sound coming from the front, like someone whispering.

Something in my heart moved me, and I quickly signaled everyone to stop, then held my breath and listened attentively.

"...The secret code is just ahead... Be careful... the trap..."

Intermittent voices came into my ears. Although I couldn't hear the specific content, I could feel that the speaker's tone was very anxious, as if he had encountered some danger.

Zhen Youcai and I exchanged a glance, and we both tightened our grips on our weapons. Then, stepping softly, we made our way towards the sound... We stepped softly, groping our way forward. Deep within the castle, darkness reigned, only the faint moonlight filtering through the broken windows, illuminating the scattered weapons and broken furniture on the floor. The air was thick with the stench of decay, mingled with the faint scent of blood, making it nauseating.

"It's just up ahead." Zhen Youcai lowered his voice, pointing to a tightly closed stone door at the end of the corridor. I held my breath, tightening my grip on the dagger at my waist. The stone door was carved with ferocious demonic images, as if silently warning of the fate of any trespasser.

Zhen Youcai took a step forward and pushed the stone door open. A sharp, frictional creaking sound echoed in the silent castle, making people's hair stand on end.

Behind the stone door lies a spacious chamber, its walls inlaid with night-shining pearls, emitting a faint glow. In the center of the chamber, a figure in a black robe stands with his back to us, holding an ancient tome in his hands. It is the secret book we've been searching for!

"Put down the secret book!" I couldn't help but speak, and my voice echoed in the empty secret room.

The black-robed man slowly turned around, a cold smile on his pale face. "You're finally here! I've been waiting for you for a long time."

I saw his face clearly and was immediately shocked. It was Ghost Face! The evil master we defeated was still alive!

"Impossible, haven't you already..." I was so surprised that I couldn't speak.

"Haha, do you think you can kill me with just yourselves?" Ghost Face laughed wildly, his voice piercing and piercing. "I have practiced forbidden techniques and now have an immortal body! I will make you pay with blood!"

"What exactly do you want?" Zhen Youcai stepped forward, protected me behind him, and asked coldly.

"I want chaos in this world, and I want all of you to be buried with my revenge!" Ghost Face roared hysterically, with crazy flames burning in his eyes.

"Wishful thinking!" Zhen Youcai stopped talking nonsense and swung his sword to attack the ghost face.

Ghost Face didn't dodge or evade, letting the sword pierce his chest. I screamed in surprise, but saw that Ghost Face was unharmed and instead showed a strange smile.

"It's useless. I'm no longer an ordinary person." Ghost Face said, and waved his hand. Suddenly, more than a dozen black shadows jumped out from the corner of the secret room and surrounded us.

"These people..." I recognized them at a glance. These men in black are all famous masters in the world. How could they be controlled by Ghost Face?

"Haha, I have used secret techniques to control their minds, and they are all my puppets now!" Ghost Face laughed triumphantly.

My heart sank, knowing I was doomed. However, at that moment, there was a sudden commotion at the entrance to the chamber, and then several figures flashed in... Swords clashed, cold light flashed, and several figures rushed into the chamber like a whirlwind, instantly breaking our encirclement.

"Master Jianxin! Master Xuedao! Master Lingjiu!" I recognized the leaders as some of the most famous figures in the martial arts world! How could they be here?

"Your Majesty, we are late, please forgive us!" Sect Leader Jianxin held a long sword in his hand, and with sword energy running wildly, he forced back several men in black and saluted me.

"The devil Ghost Face is still alive and dares to cause chaos here. His crime is unforgivable!" The leader of the Blood Knife Sect roared, and the bloody scimitar in his hand was like a bloody lightning, splitting a man in black into two halves.

The Lord of the Lingjiu Palace was lithe and swift, his palms wielding fierce winds, forcing back several men in black. He said to me, "Your Majesty, rest assured. We are here to protect you!"

Instantly, the situation that had been unfavorable to us was reversed, and a chaotic battle broke out in the narrow chamber. Swords swirled, knives flashed, palms whistled, and screams rang out. The entire chamber turned into a living hell.

Zhen Youcai and I stood back to back, fighting together against the swarming enemies. Zhen Youcai's swordsmanship was fierce and powerful, each move carrying the force of thunder, while I, with the blessing of the magic circle, was flexible and versatile, capable of both offense and defense.

"Mengmeng, be careful!" Zhen Youcai roared and blocked a fatal blow from a man in black for me, but another man took the opportunity to hit him in the chest with a palm, causing him to spit out blood.

"Talent!" I was shocked and quickly waved my dagger to force back the sneak attacking enemy.

"I'm fine, be careful!" Zhen Youcai wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, endured the pain, and continued to fight with the enemy.

I was extremely anxious, but I was at a loss as to what to do. At this moment, I noticed that Ghost Face had been standing there, forming seals with his hands and muttering something, as if he was controlling these men in black.

"He's controlling these people!" I pointed at the ghost and shouted at Zhen Youcai, "Only by defeating him can we save these people!"

Zhen Youcai also noticed the abnormality of Guimian. His eyes were stern and he said to me, "I'll deal with him, you protect yourself!"

"No, it's too dangerous!" I grabbed him and said anxiously, "Let me do it!"

"You?" Zhen Youcai was obviously worried.

"Believe me!" I looked at him firmly, my eyes full of determination.

Zhen Youcai looked at me deeply, finally nodded, and said, "Okay, let's go together!"

We exchanged glances, understanding each other's intentions. The next moment, we launched an attack simultaneously, but our target was not the men in black, but Ghost Face!

Zhen Youcai's sword energy was like a flash of lightning, striking Ghost Face in the face, and I took the opportunity to inject a ball of magical energy into Ghost Face's body.

"Ah!" Ghost Face let out a scream, and his control over the man in black also stopped.

"Now!" I yelled.

Zhen Youcai seized the opportunity, and the long sword in his hand turned into a silver light, piercing the ghost face's chest...

A silver light flashed, and Ghost Face let out a shrill scream. The movement he was using to control the men in black came to an abrupt halt. Those martial arts masters who had been moving like puppets suddenly froze in place, and the confusion in their eyes gradually faded away.

"The ghost mask has been removed, why don't you retreat quickly!" Master Jianxin seized the opportunity and shouted loudly. The powerful internal force shook the entire secret room. Those people in the martial arts world who were controlled by him woke up as if from a dream, looked at each other, and retreated one after another.

Ghost Face covered his chest and looked at Zhen Youcai and me in disbelief, with a trace of black blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, "You...actually..."

Before he could finish his words, his body collapsed weakly, completely lifeless.

"It's finally over..." I breathed a sigh of relief, my body went limp, and I almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Zhen Youcai supported me in time.

"Are you okay?" he asked with concern, his eyes full of worry.

I shook my head. "I'm fine, just a little weak..."

The battle in the secret room ended with Ghost Face's death. Sect Leader Jianxin and the others walked up to us, bowed, and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, for successfully eliminating Ghost Face and resolving this crisis!"

I gathered myself and looked around. Most of the controlled Jianghu people had already left. Only Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue were still standing. They walked up to us and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Your Majesty, and General Zhen for saving my life!"

I quickly helped them up and said, "No need to be so polite, this is what we should do."

"Your Majesty, now that the ghost mask has been removed, that secret book..." Sect Leader Jianxin looked at me, hesitant to speak.

I naturally understood what he meant. I turned to look at Zhen Youcai. He nodded, took out the ancient secret book from his arms, and handed it to me solemnly, "Mengmeng, this secret book is of great importance. You will keep it."

I took the secret book with mixed feelings. This secret book carries the hopes of so many people. I must protect it well and never let it fall into the wrong hands.

"Your Majesty, this secret book is of great importance. We should bring it back to the palace as soon as possible and keep it properly." The Lord of Lingjiu Palace suggested.

I nodded and agreed to her proposal, "Okay, let's go back to the palace."

Everyone escorted us out of the secret room and onto the ground. The sky was already slightly bright, and a ray of morning light penetrated the clouds and fell on the earth, indicating that a new day was about to begin.

I looked up at the dawn, my heart filled with hope. This dawn not only dispelled the haze that had shrouded our hearts for many days, but also illuminated our way forward.

"Let's go back to the palace!" I jumped on my horse, full of energy and confidence. However, at this moment, a voice suddenly rang in my mind, "Be careful... it's... ominous..."

The sound was ethereal, as if it came from ancient times, yet also seemed to be right next to my ear. I was startled and turned around suddenly, but found nothing...