Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Why can a "dying person" drive away spirits and demons?

When Lin Gui first learned about this from the scholar Evan, he pressed him for details.

Later, when he arrived in Bounty City and asked Blackbeard for information, he asked again.

The answers obtained were largely the same.

The spirit demons were not afraid of the old man himself.

Rather, it refers to things that will "come" after the old man dies.

An existence that only exists in fairy tales and ancient legends—

The messengers under the command of Death, the "Netherworld" who guide the souls of the dead.

Only those who have aged naturally and whose souls are intact.

Only then can the messenger of the underworld be attracted and his soul be led to the underworld sea.

And these underworld messengers who transport souls...

They are the natural enemy of all wandering souls and spirits.

Including those whose bodies are constructed from the power of the soul—

Soul Demon.

In their long, almost instinctive memories of fear.

When the messengers of the underworld take away the deceased, they are very likely to "casually" also take away other items.

These are the remnants of souls that should not have lingered in this world.

They were dragged together into their eternal destiny—the Netherworld Sea.

This is the real secret of the "guide".

This is also the root cause of why spirits and demons avoid them like the plague.

Of course, these are all just speculations without empirical evidence.

After all, no one has ever actually seen the legendary "Netherworld".

But now it seems that this speculation is very likely true.

Because of his magic that can see through souls—

Its name is [Eye of the Netherworld].

Just now, the instant he activated the Eye of the Netherworld.

The spirits and demons scattered frantically, as if they had seen a ghost.

It felt as if I had truly met the legendary messenger of the underworld.

The Eye of the Underworld, the Eye of the Underworld...

This ability does not exist in any known system of soul magic.

Could it be... that it's really related to the legendary Nether Sea?

Lin Gui tried to ask the system in his mind.

But as always, there was no response.

He wasn't surprised.

Aside from tasks, the system basically ignores him.

The thought that the Eye of the Netherworld could dispel spirits and demons was truly astounding.

A strange feeling rose in Lin Gui's heart.

The Awakening spell dispelled the deadly fog.

The Eyes of the Underworld also evaded the invisible demons.

These two threats terrify countless hunters.

It happened without him even being fully aware of it.

It was resolved almost by "coincidence".

The same applies to the previous forbidden area, "The Silent Sea".

These are the two Jedi that are on the list.

For him, everything turned out alright, though he escaped unharmed.

It was not even as good as the dangerous places he had traversed in his early years, places known for their large number of demons.

At least on those occasions, he really almost died there.

It seemed to sense his doubts.

The system in my mind, for the first time ever, spoke on its own initiative:

The route planned for the host is the optimal solution based on the host's capabilities.

[That is: the safest route that has been discovered.]

[The prerequisite for triggering a mission is strictly limited to the host's capabilities.]

Lin Gui frowned.

The safest route?

But this long-term commission required crossing the Wailing Wall from the very beginning.

If he hadn't completed the mission of fulfilling the hero's last wish in the capital of Carter, he wouldn't have been able to do so.

I didn't get the Netherworld Eye, nor did I draw the Awakening Spell.

For him, the Wailing Wall was a place of certain death.

What constitutes "the safest" option?

The system added casually:

[The "guide" method paved with the lives of bounty hunters throughout history.]

[This is also sufficient for the host to safely reach Blackwater City—the closest safe point to Avalon.]

As for the wailing corridor...

It paused, as if it could see through Lin Gui's thoughts.

[In the host's mind, besides crossing, isn't there another "safe" method?]

However, it took quite a long time.

Lin Gui's lips twitched as he thought to himself.

Ah, I really suspect you've installed a mind-reading device in my brain.

Indeed, besides crossing it, Lin Gui did consider another method.

That was a method of travel he had already considered before he obtained the flying boat.

A "clumsy" solution that might work only for the Wailing Wall.

He wasn't sure if Blackbeard or the Dwarf Court had ever considered it.

Or perhaps they didn't find a suitable master in the field of spirituality to verify it.

Actually, if all you want to do is cross the Wailing Wall and create a safe passage...

Perhaps the best thing they should have done was not to follow the traditional approach and send hunters to scout ahead.

Instead, they should focus on what their race is good at.

Dig a tunnel deep underground, through the Wall of Sighs...

typical.

Unlike other forbidden areas.

Due to the effect of "Silence Ends," all demons perished at the Wailing Wall.

This includes those demons who are good at digging and active underground.

Concerns about traversing underground in other restricted areas are largely nonexistent here.

And the Soul Demon...

Lin Gui recalled the soul studies books he had read in the magical city.

I remember it being explicitly mentioned therein.

No trace of the spirit demon has ever been found underground.

The demons associated with souls have only been found to be soulless corpses and buried spirits.

Some scholars speculate that the deeper one goes underground, the closer one gets to the Nether Sea.

That is a territory they instinctively reject and dare not approach.

If it weren't for the flying boat, Lin Gui would have actually considered digging a tunnel.

With his soil-loosening skills maxed out, digging was not a difficult task for him.

It's just that it will take... a very long time.

He piloted the flying boat and activated the Netherworld Eye.

We sped up and flew towards the location marked with a skull on the map.

Behind her, Shia hesitated for a long time.

Finally, unable to resist, she leaned against his back and whispered:

"Um...shouldn't you explain?"

She looked around, recalling those chilling sighs that had just echoed in her mind.

They've all disappeared.

It was exactly the same as when I came in with Ryan's team.

But... they don't have a guide right now.

Recalling the eerie scene of the retreat just now, she felt uneasy.

She knew it was Lin Gui who had done it.

But what can he do? Could it be that he'll soon...?

Shea couldn't help but look at Lin Gui's profile with a worried gaze.

Lin Gui felt her gaze and smiled.

"It's complicated to explain."

"Just think of it as me discovering a second way to exorcise spirit demons."

He paused, his voice calm.

"A method that... is probably only available to me."

Shea blinked, her silver hair swaying gently.

"Like that spell that lets you see into souls?"

Lin Gui nodded.

Shia tilted her head and asked again:

"So... this is what you're relying on to dare traverse the Howling Corridor?"

"No, that's not it."

Lin Gui shook his head.

"I just found out that this magic has this function."

"My true reliance—"

He tapped the control stick of the airship, making a soft sound.

"It's that, plus the inherent characteristics of the Soul Demon itself."

Shia asked in confusion, "What characteristic?"

In the back seat, Eve, who had been listening quietly, spoke softly:

"It's about speed."

Lin Gui nodded: "Yes."

"Because of the ethereal nature of souls, they move very slowly."

He turned his head to look at Shia.

"Didn't you notice? From the moment the sigh sounded until the actual attack."

"There was a gap of more than ten seconds in between."

"If it were an ordinary land demon, it would have pounced on us long ago."

Shia immediately retorted:

"But we're traversing the territory of an epic demon!"

"With such a vast difference in rank, how can they be compared?"

"you're right."

Lin Gui agreed, but then changed the subject.

"But besides that, do you remember what Blackbeard said—"

"How does Shadowblade Lin traverse the Howling Corridor?"

Xia was taken aback.

Lin Gui slowly revealed the answer:

"That is... ultimate speed."

Shia couldn't help but sarcastically remark:

"That's an epic-rank assassin! One of Akara's fastest assassins!"

"I admit your little flying boat is ridiculously fast."

"But do you think it can compete with Shadow Blade Lin in speed?"

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.

Looking at Lin Gui's slightly upturned lips, Xia suddenly had a bad feeling.

Her lips twitched, revealing an expression that showed her worldview had been turned upside down.

"No way... that's an epic-level upgrade!"

"The speed of the highest level of living beings!"

Behind her, Eve's voice sounded softly, with a hint of strangeness.

"Actually, the fastest speed record on the Akara continent..."

"It was not created by an assassin."

Shia: "Huh?"

Eve continued, her tone carrying an indescribable undertone.

"He is a mage, the wind tower master of the City of a Thousand Towers."

"He used a... very peculiar method at the time."

"In the speed competition, it defeated the then-recognized fastest speed."

"An epic-ranked assassin, the Grand Mentor of the Assassin's Court, titled Death God—Xiu."

"I was there during that competition."

Eve's voice carried a hint of distant reminiscence.

"At that time, I was studying light magic at the 'Holy Chant Academy'."

"That's the training center of the Holy Light Church in the City of a Thousand Towers, specifically for clergy to study magical theory."

"At the time, almost the entire student body of the magic academy went to watch that rare betting match."

"No one believes that a mage can defeat a top assassin in pure speed."

"Assassins, in terms of burst speed, even far surpass those of rangers and scouts."

"until--"

She paused, as if she could see that absurd yet shocking scene again.

"Until everyone saw with their own eyes the Tower Master binding himself to the stern of the floating ship with iron chains."

"Then, he activated the legendary wind magic—[Hurricane Boost]."

Eve's voice carried a hint of the same disbelief she had felt back then.

"The sudden burst of wind pressure directly collapsed an entire brick and stone building next to the viewing platform."

"Everyone was engulfed by the roar of the collapse and the dust."

"Once you come to your senses, look up again—"

"The target point in the distance, on that iconic earth mage tower."

"A wrecked airship was found."

She let out a soft breath.

"And that legendary assassin with the 'first speed'..."

"He's only just taken one step."

"It is said that after that, the Tower Master stayed in bed for a full six months."

"Afterwards, the Grand Master also admitted that the speed of the Wind Tower Master at that time had far exceeded his."

"At least he can't do it; he can't cover a straight-line distance of at least 10 kilometers in 3 seconds."

Eve added, a hint of helpless smile in her eyes.

Shia was stunned, then suddenly realized:

"Hurricane propulsion! That's it—!"

Eve nodded: "Yes, the magic that Captain Freya used to accelerate the train is [Hurricane Propulsion]."

"That was the Wind Tower Master's unique creation, just like the Night Veil was to the Forest Ghost."

"Miss Freya was the Tower Master's prized student back then."

She recalled the scene of the train tearing through the sea wind on the Black Reef.

She couldn't help but chuckle softly:

"It seems that Miss Freya has grasped the essence of it."

"If the tower master knew, he would be very pleased."

Shea was speechless.

Recalling the train's heart-stopping acceleration, she had to admit—

That kind of pure speed is probably unmatched even by epic assassins.

Compared to Lin Gui's heartless, reckless speeding of the flying boat along the way, and Freya's legendary acceleration...

Surprisingly... it seems the airship is still faster...

And it's more than twice as fast.

Eve covered her face, still finding it hard to believe.

Can this tiny flying boat outspeed an epic-level assassin?

This is like convincing her that a stray dog ​​on the street could solo kill the legendary Ghosn.

Lin Gui, standing ahead, smiled understandingly.

His voice came calmly:

"In fact, rank does not necessarily represent absolute advantage."

"Just like I never expected... that it would be... that could cross the red desert."

He paused.

"A blacksmith, a gardener, a bricklayer who earns a meager wage building houses for others, an auntie who washes dishes for others, a flower seller... a little girl."

Shia asked in surprise, "What? The Red Desert? Didn't you travel through it alone?"

Lin Gui gave a bitter smile.

"It was true when I came back, but not when I went."

"Back then, I was just a mid-level high-ranking mage. I didn't have the courage to challenge such a perilous place."

His voice lowered.

"If I hadn't met them... I'm afraid it would have taken me another year to reach the magic city."

"Them? You just mentioned some craftsmen or something, are they legendary masters?"

"No, he's just an ordinary person, he doesn't know magic, and he hasn't developed any internal energy."

Shia asked curiously, "How...did they do that?"

Lin Gui gazed at the churning gray mist ahead, as if seeing distant memories.

"Just like I said before."

"Those who are weaker can actually traverse certain forbidden areas more easily."

Shia couldn't help but complain:

"If you let an unarmed civilian into the forest, he'll be killed by a single brat."

"so--"

Lin Gui's voice was very soft.

"Keep a supply of wood ash on hand and take frequent baths."

"Before entering the forbidden area, disguise yourself as part of the bushes."

He paused.

"Don't let them 'see' you."

"Don't attract any attention."

"That's... their way."

Shia pouted:

"It seems you have a good relationship with those people."

She just said it casually.

But Lin Gui remained silent.

He paused for a long time, long enough for the airship to glide past another twisted, withered forest.

He spoke in a low voice, his tone tinged with suppressed bitterness:

"Yes...it's quite good."

Eve, standing behind Shia, seemed to have sensed something.

She looked at Lin Gui's straight but slightly stiff back and sighed softly.

She knew nothing of Lin Gui's past, only piecing together a fragmented history from snippets of conversation among the saintesses of past generations.

And then, they entered the red desert and arrived at the city-state of the Thousand Towers.

They were all slaughtered two years ago.

It wasn't a demon, but... a human doing.

Everything was reduced to ashes.

Warriors, civilians, children, nobles, homeless children...

Everything associated with it became corpses under the iron hooves of the Alliance Council's resolution.