Chen Zhe pressed forward following the faint energy trail his enhanced senses detected. The journey spanned about 18 li, the terrain growing more chaotic with each step. Broken trees and scorch marks littered the ground showed the remnants of a fierce battle. His heart pounded as he spotted the guide’s mutilated body lying near a tree with his lifeless form bearing deep axe wounds.

The skull chuckled darkly its tone had again changed with mischief. “Ah my dear inheritor, you’re learning from such a poetic end for the poor soul. See, the path to power is paved with corpses. Look how... artistic his end is such symmetry in the cuts!!?”

Chen Zhe grimaced. “Could you not Keep quiet?”

“Oh, don’t be like that.” the skull retorted its voice suddenly shifting to a child. “Am I Scaring you, now? BOo!Booboo! How was that?”

Ignoring the skull’s antics, Chen Zhe advanced. Ahead, he saw Tian Lou bloodied but battling the three enemies. His sword swung in wide arcs desperate to fend them off. Nearby, Tian Lan with her injuries severe was slumped against a tree.

Chen Zhe clenched his fists. He could feel the power coursing through him, the legacy of the Scarlet Demon amplifying his strength. Again the skull spoke but this time with a his real voice. “Remember your strength boy, it comes at a cost. Overuse of the bloodline causes your mind slip into madness. yah, balance such a fickle thing.”

Chen Zhe nodded subtly taking a deep breath to steady himself before charging forward.

The spearman noticed Chen Zhe approaching and sneered. “You? How did this useless archaeologist survive the beasts and make it here unscathed?”

Chen Zhe stepped forward his expression calm. “Why don’t you find out?”

The non-combatants in the enemy group laughed mockingly. “He’s got a death wish. He could have escaped from us but he is throwing himself here just to die.”

Behind him, Tian Lou managed to lift his head weakly. “Chen Zhe don’t... You’ll get yourself killed.”

But Chen Zhe ignored the warnings. As the spearman pushed forward at him aiming a deadly strike toward his head, Chen Zhe tilted his head with precision and caught the spear mid-thrust. With a strong pull, he got the spear in his hand and he got the weapon from the attacker's grip. Then he spun the spear around.

The spearman barely had time to react before Chen Zhe moved like an expert . A streak of crimson flashed as the spear found its mark. The spearman’s headless body slumped to the ground and blood splattered across Chen Zhe’s face.

The skull’s voice broke into wild laughter now sounding like a teenager. “Oh man! Did you see that? Boom headless one like me. You’re really getting the same vibe as my master. Keep at it, brat.”

Chen Zhe wiped the blood from his face, his eyes cold. The two axe-wielders circled him cautiously with their confidence visibly shaken.

Tian Lou lying on the ground watched in awe and disbelief. “Is this... really Chen Zhe?”

The axe-wielders moved in flow attacking him from both sides. Chen Zhe parried one strike with the spear with his shift movements. As the second attacker aimed for his back, Chen Zhe changed direction delivering a spinning kick that sent the axe flying from the man’s grip.

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The skull spoke up again its voice now sounded like an elder. “Sloppy footwork, boy. You call that a kick? In my day, we’d have shattered bones with a single strike. Tsk, tsk.”

Chen Zhe growled under his breath. “If you’re not going to help, at least don’t distract me.”

“Distract you? Me? Never ever lie again.” The skull’s tone shifted once more “I’m your fan now Go get him Chen Zhe Rah rah raaa!”

Chen Zhe exhaled sharply focusing his qi. The ground beneath him cracked as he surged forward his spear driving through the unarmed axe-wielder’s chest. The remaining combatant, their leader stepped back fear flickering in his eyes.

“Wait.” the captain said raising his hands. “We don’t need to fight. I’m willing to share the treasure. We can split it three ways.”

Chen Zhe’s grip on the spear tightened. “You think I’d believe that?”

The captain laughed nervously. “I’m serious. No tricks.”

But as Chen Zhe prepared to strike, the captain’s blade suddenly turned but not towards Chen Zhe but toward his remaining ally. With a swift motion, he aimed to cut down his companion.

Before the strike could land, the other man retaliated plunging his weapon into the captain’s side. The betrayal played out in an instant, leaving both men mortally wounded.

Chen Zhe stood still processing the scene. “What... just happened?”

The skull’s voice turned smug sounding like a jester reveling in chaos. “Oh, the beauty of greed. They couldn’t even trust each other. Such poetic irony, don’t you think?”

Chen Zhe approached cautiously ensuring both men were truly dead before turning to Tian Lou and Tian Lan.

With the immediate danger gone, Chen Zhe helped Tian Lou to his feet and carried Tian Lan on his back. The skull, now adopting a soothing grandfatherly tone began speaking again.

“Ah, young one, you’ve seen the truth of the world today. Greed, betrayal and blood. It’s all woven into the fabric of existence but let me tell you a tale. Did you know the Scarlet Demon once faced a similar betrayal? His closest ally turned on him for power. The irony is delicious, isn’t it?”

Chen Zhe shook his head unsure whether to laugh or be concerned. “You’re a strange one.”

“Strange?” the skull said with its voice suddenly playful. “Strange is just another word for special.”

As they moved away from the battleground, the skull whispered something chilling. “You should know... that man who killed the captain? He wasn’t ordinary. He was a Foundation Establishment cultivator hiding his strength. The Scarlet Demon’s bloodline saved you today, my dear inheritor but remember power attracts enemies and this is just the beginning.”

Chen Zhe’s steps faltered. The weight of the skull’s words settled on him like a heavy cloak. He glanced at the smoking remains of the battlefield, a sinking feeling in his chest. What had he truly inherited?