Chapter 578

At ZACK's feet bloomed a vivid, dewy flower, its petals translucent as jade, yet its stamen a brilliant red, radiating a chilling evil aura.

"ZACK, what the hell is that thing under your foot?"

Lin Yu arrived before ZACK in the blink of an eye, his gaze heavy as he stared at the flower, sensing a creeping evil.

ZACK smirked, looking at Lin Yu with a cold tone: "I advise you not to keep asking questions."

"Kneel!"

Lin Yu roared, his eyes blazing with intense light, instantly pinning ZACK in place; his armor dissolved into golden light, spiraling into a black dragon that coiled around ZACK, its vast aura crushing him until his knees bent involuntarily.

ZACK gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, his face stubborn, refusing to bow.

"Crack—!"

The black dragon roared, tightening its coils around ZACK, making his bones creak and faint smoke rise—clear evidence of the immense force applied.

"Kneel!"

Lin Yu roared again; the black dragon howled, squeezing ZACK until crimson blood seeped through his skin.

ZACK's face twisted as he growled, "Damn it, what the hell is this power of yours?!"

Lin Yu's lips curled into a mocking smile as he calmly said: "This armor's power suppresses all evil. Someone as weak as you? I crush you effortlessly."

"Aaaah!!"

ZACK screamed uncontrollably as his body slowly collapsed to his knees, finally collapsing fully onto the ground, his eyes locked on Lin Yu, filled with hatred.

"You know what this is, don't you?" Lin Yu stepped forward, looking down at ZACK.

He reached out to pluck the strange flower—but found he could not touch it.

Lin Yu frowned slightly and said coldly: "Speak. What is this thing? Or don't blame me for being uncivil."

ZACK said: "Why should I tell you?"

"Because I can kill you!" No sooner had Lin Yu spoken than the black dragon roared, circling ZACK, ready to end him.

"Wait, don't rush—" ZACK immediately halted Lin Yu. "Aren't you curious who that female demon really is?"

"Speak." Lin Yu paused briefly.

"That flower is called the Higanbana. It was specifically requested by the female demon," ZACK explained through gritted teeth.

Lin Yu's brow furrowed deeper. He had no interest in the Higanbana—he only cared about the female demon's true identity. He demanded coldly: "Cut to the point. Who is she?!"

"Her identity is extremely mysterious. I don't even know what she truly is."

"Back then, I wandered the Exile Lands of the Copper Dimension. A figure glowing with golden light suddenly appeared before me and ordered me to go to the Gold Dimension to help the female demon escape."

ZACK seemed to recall something, his eyes narrowing: "That man was terrifying. The moment I saw him, I was paralyzed with fear—no resistance, only obedience."

Lin Yu fell silent for a long while, then asked: "What does she need the flower for?"

"She didn't tell me." ZACK waved his hand.

"But I feel… this Higanbana is connected to something else."

"What thing are you referring to?" Lin Yu narrowed his eyes.

ZACK lifted his gaze, staring intently at the strange flower. "I can't say exactly what, but it's definitely not ordinary."

"You think I'll let you walk away after learning this?" Lin Yu sneered.

"You won't kill me."

ZACK said firmly: "You want to understand how the female demon was sealed, why she's so mysterious, and why she required the Golden Pen Master himself to suppress her."

"The Golden Pen Master is suppressing her? So the seal requires his power?" Lin Yu's heart churned violently. All the Wu Lin Alliance's top experts had perished; the Golden Pen Master had vanished. Now it all made sense—everything was because of that seal.

"Want to know what happened back then? Bring me the Higanbana!"

As Lin Yu pondered, Dugu Lang spoke. Lin Yu turned sharply and saw a wild face—Dugu Lang stood close, eyes gleaming as he stared fixedly at the Higanbana.

His eyes held nothing but that flower.

Lin Yu's eyelid twitched—he suddenly understood something.

【443】 Memories of the Past

"You really want to understand that period?" His tone held doubt; though he was certain Dugu Lang knew much, he still found him unreliable.

"That great battle erupted suddenly. The female demon appeared out of nowhere and ambushed every powerful figure—her strength was overwhelming, unmatched by anyone."

"At the time, the Golden Pen Master was not in the Gold Dimension. Only after the Wu Lin Alliance's top experts sacrificed themselves did they defeat her. By the time the Golden Pen Master returned, it was too late—he could only maintain the seal for all these years."

Dugu Lang exhaled deeply. Had the Wu Lin Alliance not vanished, the Judgment by Force organization would never have emerged, and none of those later events would have happened—he might have lived an ordinary life.

Lin Yu said calmly: "I've heard most of this already. It's meaningless."

"Then what exactly do you want to hear?" Dugu Lang narrowed his eyes.

Lin Yu said calmly: "I want to know just how powerful the Wu Lin Alliance was back then."

Dugu Lang snorted: "Hmph! In the Iron Dimension, aside from the Divine Step Adepts, no one else could match the Gold Dimension. They were utterly incapable of standing against it."

Hearing this, Lin Yu's inner gloom deepened. If this was true, the woman's true power must be unfathomable—even the Golden Pen Master could do nothing but continue suppressing her. How immense she must be.

"Now, can you hand me the Higanbana?" Dugu Lang's voice carried urgency.

Lin Yu glanced at him calmly: "I can give you the Higanbana—but you must let me nullify your combat power."

"Absolutely not!" Dugu Lang refused outright.

"Hmph." Lin Yu smiled.

"Do you think you still have the right to bargain with me?"

Dugu Lang glared at Lin Yu: "Lin Yu, what exactly do you want?!"

Lin Yu spoke calmly: "I simply wish to help a tragic woman fulfill one final wish before she dies."

Dugu Lang's heart tightened—he sensed something wrong. His voice turned dry: "What do you mean?"

Lin Yu's tone remained calm: "Gu Zhan's mother is dying."

Dugu Lang's face turned instantly pale. "You—you how do you know about this?!"

"What did you think?" Lin Yu asked, his face utterly expressionless.

Dugu Lang fell silent; he vaguely guessed the outcome, but refused to admit it, for to him, it was too cruel.

After a long while, Dugu Lang lifted his head and stared at Lin Yu, forcing out a few words through clenched teeth: "Bring me the Higanbana!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yu's eyes widened, and an immense force instantly suppressed Dugu Lang, causing his combat power value to begin plummeting.

"No… not allowed!!" Dugu Lang felt his combat power rapidly fading and couldn't help screaming.

For years, he had been bound by hatred, finally finding a chance to resolve his torment—only to face this. To him, it was like losing his most precious thing, worse than death.

Lin Yu's gaze was cold; his left hand extended, purple lightning flickering in his palm. "I'm helping you. Had I not been unwilling, you would already be dead."

Unwilling?

This was the last thought to flash through Dugu Lang's mind before he lost consciousness.

As the lightning spread, Dugu Lang's body softened, his combat power dissolving before ZACK's terrified eyes until not a trace remained.

"Just what kind of being is he? A single glance erased all of Dugu Lang's combat power?"

ZACK's heart raced, his eyes filled with fear; the scene he had just witnessed was horrifying—this was not the ability any adept should possess.

ZACK thought to himself: "How strong is he really?"

Lin Yu looked at the unconscious Dugu Lang, then turned his gaze to ZACK, speaking calmly: "I have a Spirit Ability Pill. Swallow it, and I'll let you take the Higanbana to that woman."

ZACK froze, staring at Lin Yu in shock—he never imagined Lin Yu wouldn't kill him, but would instead let him take the Higanbana away.

"You really plan to let me leave?" ZACK ventured cautiously, his emotions a tangled mess.

Lin Yu paid no heed; a pill woven with lightning appeared in his hand, which he tossed to ZACK. "Swallow it, and I'll let you go."

After a moment's thought, ZACK caught the pill Lin Yu threw and swallowed it whole.

Lightning crackled; ZACK felt searing pain inside his body, curling up in agony.

Lin Yu watched ZACK's unbearable suffering, smiling as he said: "If I want you dead, a single thought will trigger the lightning inside you to kill you. Don't try anything stupid. Understood?"

"You want me to be your spy?" ZACK spoke, face pale, drenched in sweat—he was clearly enduring immense pain.

Lin Yu replied calmly: "We cooperate. Each solves his own problem. That's the principle of mutual benefit."

ZACK nodded; he had no other path. "Fine. But I want one thing from inside."

"What's left inside?" Lin Yu frowned slightly. "Speak the truth. If you try anything, I'll kill you."

"How would I dare?" ZACK wiped the cold sweat from his face and gasped for air. "You forgot? The thing that suppresses all ordinary adepts."

【444】 Return to the Golden Time-Space

ZACK forced himself to stand, preparing to leave.

"Wait." Lin Yu suddenly called out to ZACK, his voice icy. "Take Dugu Lang with you."