CHAPTER 2425  TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF SLUMBER

The guards didn't stop or look at the arriving guests for long. Many of them had actually seen them several times in the past too and in the current state of the world, they knew these were some of the important people in the entire empire.

The people in question looked around at the guards and could feel the somber atmosphere.

"Looks like the Crown Prince has elevated the security again." Daoist Chu spoke.

"You can't blame him. With how things are going, I wouldn't be surprised if even this is lacking soon." Ziran replied, looking a exhausted.

"Amithabha, the Crown Prince is wise to have chosen caution." Monk Hushu said, approaching from the side.

"Oh, you're here already?" Daoist Chu was surprised.

"I've been here for a week." Monk Hushu answered. "Come, let's go in. He's been waiting for us." He ushered.

"Yes." Daoist Chu nodded and the trio finally entered the palace's main hall.

~CREAK~

As soon as the door was opened, the people inside looked at it.

"Welcome back." Crown Prince Feng Shun greeted his companions. "You guys look tired." The man looked a bit weary, and mature, as a definite change had happened for him.

"It's good to be back." Daoist Chu said, seeing his friend. "Indeed… I didn't think I'd be this exhausted merely looking for records." Ziran said, rubbing his forehead.

"You all can rest in a bit later. What did you all find, though?" Crown Princess Shang, who was sitting on a chair diagonal to the Prince, asked. is the owner.

"Any luck?" Crown Prince asked with a bit of hope on his face.

"Qiao De's intel was right." Daoist Chu said, much to his satisfaction. "We found this." The man took out an old book and gave it to the Crown Prince.

"It was quite hard to find. It was most certainly hidden intentionally, and only those with the right clues would be able to find it." Ziran added. "Without knowing Shamanic Script of the Demon Tribes, it would be impossible to get to it." "Thankfully, we still have you." Crown prince Feng Shun said with gratitude. "Yeah… Without Daoist Lin Mu, we'll have to do the best we can." Ziran said with a hint of sadness.

"How's he doing now?" Daoist Chu asked with interest.

~SIGH~

"Same as ever." Crown Prince Feng Shun let out a disappointed sigh. "The blood dome is still present, and no changes have happened in it."

"The only movement I saw in the last few days was a pile of beast corpses being pulled into it." Monk Hushu added.

"Can't believe it's been twenty five years already…" Daoist Chu muttered. "It feels so long." As an immortal, twenty five years was a very short time for him and the others. But the recent set of events had been so exhausting and taxing on them that it felt like time was passing incredibly slow to them.

"It can't be helped. Our hands have been forced and we have to endure through it." Crown Prince Feng Shun said, trying to put a face of courage.

"Yeah." Daoist Chu nodded and the Crown Prince began to read through the old book that had just been given to him.

Ziran looked at the only other person in the hall who hadn't spoken yet.

It was a man clad in armor that had been through rough times. He had a full faced helmet on, but a large crack could be seen going through its front, that allowed one to peek a little at the man's face.

"Elder Hu," Ziran spoke, looking at the silent man. "How's Lady Kang?" "She's fine." The elder replied. "She's been working hard to find a solution to the transport lock down." He added.

"I see. That's good." Ziran replied. "Hopefully we can find something and don't just have to wait for years until the help arrives." He said, making the others nod as well.

~huu~

The Crown Princess took a breath hearing this as a forlorn look appeared on her face.

"Everyone's trying their best. Lady Kang, Min Ju, Qiao De, and even Little Shrubby." Crown Princess Shang spoke. "And yet I'm forced to stay hidden here."

"It can't be helped. You're specifically being targeted outside." Crown Prince Feng Shun spoke in the middle while taking a pause from reading the book.

"Wait, what?" Daoist Chu raised his brows in confusion. "When did that happen?"

"About eight months back." Crown Princess Shang replied. "Apparently, a bounty has been put on my head. And is being circulated in all the dark circles." She added.

"And they're trusting it?" Daoist Chu was surprised. "They shouldn't dare to do anything in the Dao Wind Empire, at least right?" he was doubtful.

"It was fine at first, but then some of the common citizens rushed to attack me when I was out." Crown Princess Shang answered, much to their shock. "They seemed desperate… so I don't think we can limit things even with our authority here."

Monk Hushu, who heard this, couldn't help but furrow his brows.

"So their web has spread this far… Foul Wretches…" The Monk cursed under his breath.

"Anything we've done to stop it?" Daoist Chu inquired. "If they're being influenced, there should be some signs, right?" he asked.

"There is." Crown Princess Shang replied. "Little Shrubby." She revealed.

"What?" Daoist Chu was surprised.

"What's he doing?" Ziran raised his brows.

"There's been sightings of him all over the capital region, plucking people from the streets, their homes, and the forests. They call him the Crimson Phantom now." Crown Princess Shang answered. "All the people he took away… They all had traces of the 'influence' on them." She revealed.

"So he can actually find them?" Ziran was pleasantly surprised.

"Indeed. He can smell them out." Crown Princess Shang confirmed. "He's done better than most of the soldiers and investigators we sent." Elder Hu chimed in at this time. "He's fast, efficient and lethal." "Everyone is pulling their weight—" ~BOOM~

Just as the Crown Princess was about to finish her words though, a loud sound rocked the palace.