Gatekeeper of Myriad Worlds Chapter 296

Shen Ye stealthily followed the deserted stairs toward the southwest.

“Someone’s coming,” the Underworld Lord warned.

“Hmm.”

He casually unleashed a sheet of ice, and as it reflected Shen Ye’s image—

He immediately activated ‘Self in the Mirror/Mirror Image,’ hiding within it.

The ice melted into water droplets, splattering onto the red velvet carpet.

Around the corner, two knights indeed appeared.

They wore gleaming armor, with swords at their waists, and walked up the staircase where Shen Ye had been.

After they moved away.

Shen Ye dispersed ‘Self in the Mirror,’ reappearing on the steps.

He continued forward.

For some reason… there was an indescribable sense of strangeness.

If Jiuxiang was such a powerful monster—

“There are guards on the terrace ahead, there are so many guards here,” the Underworld Lord’s voice sounded.

Shen Ye’s thoughts kept flashing, and he continued onward.

The terrace was almost there.

The lingering flute melody suddenly turned full of killing intent.

“Carla is warning you not to get close—Jiuxiang might be right next to her,” the Earth Mother said.

Shen Ye stopped.

If Jiuxiang was with Carla, then he definitely couldn’t save her.

Should he wait for later?

Later… when would later be?

“Retreat, this timing isn’t good,” the Underworld Lord also said.

“…The longer it drags on, the more variables there are. I don’t want to delay any longer… Jiuxiang must not get the Yao Tai.”

Shen Ye replied silently in his heart.

He walked straight up the steps to the terrace.

The two guards turned their heads simultaneously and spotted him.

“Stop right there!”

“Who are you!”

They both shouted at the same time.

“Please inform the Marchioness, I’m here to see her. My name is Baxter,” Shen Ye said.

One guard raised his spear, pointing it at him, and demanded:

“You intruder—”

A voice echoed from a distance, drowning out the guard:

“It’s alright, it’s an old acquaintance of mine—bring him to me.”

It was a woman’s voice!

Was it the Marchioness?

The two guards immediately put away their weapons, looking at Shen Ye with complex expressions.

“Please come with us.”

“Thank you.”

Shen Ye followed them through several rooms, along a long corridor, all the way to the castle’s bar.

There were only two people there.

The Centaur Carla had transformed into her elven form and was playing the flute.

A woman with long platinum blonde hair stood behind the bar, a glass of wine in her hand, enjoying the flute music.

The two guards bowed and then withdrew.

“Baxter, what would you like to drink?” the woman asked.

“Juice, please. Are you Marchioness Chattelay?” Shen Ye asked.

The woman laughed.

“There are several of us—the one who usually deals with you is Fernando, responsible for energy replenishment. And I am the true combatant, responsible for fighting. My name is Chattelay.”

As she explained, twisted snake bodies appeared all over the bar’s floor, ceiling, and walls.

On the black snake scales, phantom human heads emerged, then quickly vanished.

All of Jiuxiang’s heads had condensed into this terrifying serpentine form!

“Your Excellency, so it was you!”

Shen Ye exclaimed in surprise.

Marchioness Chattelay—or rather, Jiuxiang, who had changed personalities, spoke:

“Baxter, enough with the self-introductions. Have you come to *Mogakou* for clues about the Earth Mother?”

Shen Ye shook his head, saying, “No, I haven’t.”

“Then I really don’t know what reason you have to brazenly intrude into my territory,” Chattelay said, a hint of killing intent in her expression.

“Your Excellency, what can I say—”

Shen Ye lowered his head, then raised it, looking to the side, his expression twisted with unease. “I feel—I genuinely don’t want to serve *Mogakou*.”

Chattelay was stunned.

“Yes, Lord Jiuxiang,” Shen Ye continued, “I will always remember you helping me kill an ice dragon, but I followed *Mogakou*, and he never gave me any reward.”

“—I’m just a workhorse.”

“Not only that, he’s also very suspicious. Even when I meet my girlfriend, he sends someone to watch.”

“Your Excellency, I can’t keep doing this.”

“I couldn’t help but come to you.”

Shen Ye finished in one breath.

The killing intent on Chattelay had dissipated.

—Her capable subordinate, even after being sold out by her, still came back to her.

Such a thing naturally carried an indescribable, special sense of accomplishment.

“But I’ve taken three ancient corpses… it’s not good to go back on my word, Baxter.”

Chattelay mused.

“They’re just three ancient corpses, Your Excellency. I’ll get you three—no, six! You return the ancient corpses to *Mogakou* and get me back, alright?” Shen Ye said.

“By the way, I have something to ask you.” Chattelay was thinking of something else.

“Your Excellency, please ask.”

“Have you found out what exactly is deep in the Jin-En-Jia Ditch of hell?” Chattelay asked.

Shen Ye immediately said, “Oh, that. I did find out. It’s another hell, filled with gods.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

The flute music was soothing.

Carla just played the flute with her head bowed, not paying attention to what was happening at the bar.

Chattelay tilted her head in thought for a moment, then reached for a glass of juice on the bar and pushed it toward Shen Ye.

“Baxter, you are indeed very capable, but *Mogakou* might not release you.”

“Your Excellency!”

Shen Ye leaned closer to Chattelay, lowering his voice and saying, “To be honest, Your Excellency, I haven’t told *Mogakou* yet that all the Baxters are actually me.”

“—Only you know the secret of my identity now.”

Chattelay listened to him feigning loyalty, then remembered the legends of the Baxter brothers in hell, and couldn’t help but laugh.

How ridiculous.

Yet, such a ridiculous thing—

“Is that so? *Mogakou* doesn’t even know this?” she asked with interest.

“I didn’t want to tell him, Your Excellency,” Shen Ye said.

“Baxter… you’re really a troublesome fellow…”

“Your Excellency, give me a chance and let me come back to work for you!”

A vibrant note entered the flute music.

Chattelay listened to the melodious flute, recalling the useless subordinates she had just dispatched, then looked at the vampire Baxter in front of her.

She swirled her wine glass and murmured, “Six ancient corpses… can you really get them? Those are ‘deep sea’ level ancient corpses.”

“Leave it to me, Your Excellency,” Shen Ye said.

—The Spirit of Magic of the Great Tomb sealing technique was on her. With her leading the way, dealing with a few ancient corpses would be child’s play, wouldn’t it?

Or simply treat them as “cans” and throw them to Jiuxiang, letting him handle it himself!

When Chattelay heard this, and saw Shen Ye’s confident demeanor, she was finally moved.

Not just moved by the six ancient corpses.

Even more so because of Baxter—

She knew before that he was capable.

But she didn’t know he was so capable.

After this comparison, his reappearance now showed both his loyalty and, once again, his talent.

—Then go see *Mogakou*.

“Wait for me a moment, I’ll be back soon,” Chattelay said.

“Yes, Your Excellency,” Shen Ye said.

Chattelay glanced at Shen Ye, then looked at Carla.

Hmm…

Actually, it was fine.

But just in case, still—

She raised her hand and pressed it toward Carla from a distance.

A cage made entirely of blood light immediately appeared, trapping Carla within.

“This is one of my prey. Don’t touch her.”

“Understood—but Your Excellency, what do you intend to do with her? Your subordinate might be able to help.”

“…I want to find out the Earth Mother’s whereabouts from her. She’s the Earth Mother’s envoy, she must know.”

Having said that, Chattelay’s figure flickered and she disappeared into the void.

Shen Ye looked at Carla.

But Carla was also looking at him.

At the same time.

The Royal Palace.

*Mogakou* sat high on his throne, listening to his subordinates report.

“All missions have come to a standstill.”

“Your Excellency, why don’t you let me handle things? That Baxter is really no good, he still hasn’t come to manage the work.”

Listening to his subordinate’s words, *Mogakou* hesitated.

Baxter—

That shouldn’t be right, he’s capable. Why isn’t he here yet?

Just as he was wondering, someone reported that a Human prince requested an audience.

Human prince?

“Your Highness, you arranged a banquet for him. This was planned yesterday, and the banquet is ready,” his subordinate quickly said.

A banquet.

Heh, what’s good about holding a banquet? Just kill him and install a puppet, that would be easier.

“No need, let him come directly to me,” *Mogakou* said.

Soon after.

Norton was brought before *Mogakou*.

“Are you settling in well in Yongye City?” *Mogakou* casually greeted him.

“Your Highness, Long Wu Baxter sent me,” Norton said.

“What did you say?” Regent *Mogakou* couldn’t help but ask.

“Long Wu Baxter introduced me. He persuaded me, and I will follow your lead with him,” Norton said, bowing.

*Mogakou* paused.

…Taking over the Human prince would make the entire Human race submit to him, without the need for conquest.

In the future, any treasures and resources produced by the Human race would be his.

—Baxter had accomplished this without a sound.

In contrast, setting up a puppet would still require worrying about internal dissent, passive resistance, and various rebellions within the Human race.

The royal family directly aligning with him was the most ideal situation!

“How do you know Long Wu Baxter?”

*Mogakou* asked curiously.

“We’ve known each other for a long time, a friendship forged through life and death. He’s loyal to you, so I’m willing to take the same stance as him,” Norton said.

Known each other for a long time…

*Mogakou* didn’t want to ask any further.

Actually, that’s just how Baxter worked!

He always brought surprises!

“Hahaha, Prince Norton, I assure you, your choice is absolutely correct.”

*Mogakou* waved his hand.

“Someone, take the Prince to the banquet, I’ll be there shortly!”

“Yes!”

Two subordinates led Norton away.

“Everyone, withdraw.”

The others left one by one.

Only *Mogakou* remained in the hall.

He spoke to the silent void:

“Haven’t you been avoiding me lately? Why are you suddenly willing to appear?”

A woman’s voice echoed from the void: “I don’t like others seeing my true form.”

“You mean, this is the real you?” *Mogakou* asked.

The void shimmered.

Marchioness Chattelay appeared in the hall.

“Do you think the you who is thinking now is the real you?”

She said with a mocking tone.

“Then which me is the real me?” *Mogakou* asked.

“This you, busy with everything, thinking, fighting, and conversing, is actually just the superficial you reflected by primary needs. The real you is drowned in琐事. You must find him, *Mogakou*,” Marchioness Chattelay said.

—She’s gone mad.

*Mogakou* secretly shook his head, but his expression remained calm as he said:

“Why have you come to me?”

Chattelay said, “For Baxter.”

“Which Baxter? My subordinate, or the geisha?” *Mogakou* asked.

“You know of the geisha Baxter?” Chattelay asked.

“Yes, I heard his brother drove him out of Yongye City. These are minor matters, worthy of a special trip from you?” *Mogakou* puzzled.

Chattelay stared at him, then suddenly burst out laughing.

Interesting.

Too interesting!

Baxter was right.

*Mogakou* had no idea that all the Baxters were the same person!

So should she tell him?

No, no, no.

What if *Mogakou* became enraged and insisted on killing Baxter? Wouldn’t she then lose a loyal subordinate?

Since Baxter hadn’t said anything, she wouldn’t either.

“I want to discuss something with you,” Chattelay said.

“Speak,” *Mogakou* stared at her.

Jiuxiang.

She was becoming increasingly abnormal.

“The geisha Baxter is mine—I need him to trigger inspiration and find ways to advance my skills,” Chattelay said.

“No problem, but remember, Long Wu is mine, he works for me now,” *Mogakou* said.

Chattelay nodded seriously and replied:

“Then it’s settled. The geisha is mine, Long Wu is yours.”

“Good.”

“Then I’m going back.”

“Wait a minute, Jiuxiang.”

*Mogakou* tossed something over.

Chattelay caught it and saw it was a pill.

“What is this?”

“Found it in the Great Tomb. It calms the mind. Take it.”

“Hmph, considering it’s well-intentioned, I won’t bother criticizing you.”

Chattelay pocketed the pill, and with a flicker of her figure, disappeared.

*Mogakou* sat on the throne for a while longer.

“Sigh… this fellow is bound to cause big trouble sooner or later… I still need to find the Nightmare Blade as soon as possible.”

“Where is Baxter? Should I have him come—”

A voice interrupted *Mogakou*’s thoughts:

“Report!”

“What is it, speak,” *Mogakou* said.

“An assassin named Rosalia, bearing a captain’s badge, has arrived outside the hall.”

“She requests an audience!”

Rosalia…

That was Baxter’s subordinate.

“Let her in.”

“Yes!”

A few minutes later.

Rosalia knelt on one knee, bowing to *Mogakou*.

“Baxter gave you the badge?” *Mogakou* asked.

“Yes, Your Excellency, I’ve found some things. Please take a look.”

Rosalia held out a heavy iron box with both hands.

*Mogakou* glanced at it and chuckled.

“Tian Luo’s divine casket? Too bad it’s damaged. I remember it took some effort to forge this thing back then. I commend you for finding it.”

He reached out.

The iron box slowly floated before him.

*Mogakou* examined it closely for a moment, then nodded.

Indeed.

This was Tian Luo’s divine casket. It was specially forged during the epochal shift to protect the “Five Desires” cage from the energy fluctuations sweeping through the void.

*Mogakou* smiled, and was about to dismiss Rosalia, when a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

Wait.

The “Five Desires” world…

Why was it considered a cage?

Why didn’t he remember this at all?

*Mogakou* sat there, lost in confused thought.

…

On the other side.

Marchioness Chattelay’s castle.

The bar.

When Chattelay returned, Shen Ye was sitting at the bar, still sipping his juice.

The Centaur Carla was trapped in a blood-light cage on the other side.

Everything was normal.

“It’s done—when you appear as the geisha Baxter, *Mogakou* cannot interfere with your actions. You are mine.”

“As long as you don’t appear as Long Wu Baxter again, this matter is fine.”

Chattelay said easily.

“Then, let Long Wu Baxter disappear forever,” Shen Ye said.

“That’s a good idea.” Chattelay was very pleased with his attitude.

More importantly—

“When do you plan to find me ancient corpses?” she asked.

“Anytime, but, Lord Jiuxiang, I was idle just now and managed to inquire about the Earth Mother’s whereabouts,” Shen Ye said.

“Hmm, that’s good—what did you say?!”

Chattelay’s voice suddenly rose.

Actually…

Whether it was *Mogakou* or herself, the most important task at the moment was the same.

—To find the Earth Mother.

Both Jiuxiang and *Mogakou* wanted to obtain the ultimate secret of this world!

Shen Ye had actually found out?

“She really told you?” Chattelay glanced at Carla.

Carla was still playing the flute.

She didn’t even look over here, nor did she care about what was happening.

“She told me,” Shen Ye said.

Chattelay didn’t immediately inquire, but instead walked up to the cage and said:

“Carla, why would you tell him rather than me?”

Carla recalled Shen Ye’s words.

—Never lie.

Having been with Jiuxiang for a long time, Shen Ye had keenly sensed that Jiuxiang had a way of distinguishing truth from falsehood.

There was no proof of this.

But no proof was needed; being cautious would certainly not be wrong.

Carla stopped playing the flute and spoke:

“I know him. He once helped the Orcs. He also found the Seal of Earth, which is the Earth Mother’s token. I must trust him.”

Chattelay froze, then slowly turned to look at Shen Ye.

Shen Ye placed a golden leaf on the bar, shrugging, “Your Excellency, I’ve been searching for clues about the Earth Mother. Perhaps I’ve gained her recognition.”

“Earth Mother?” Chattelay asked.

“Your Excellency, the Earth Mother was imprisoned by Tian Luo! It must be some incredibly powerful seal that prevented her from returning to the world, which is why we haven’t found her despite all our efforts!” Shen Ye said excitedly.

—This was also the truth.

Chattelay immediately sensed this.

“Baxter,” Chattelay murmured, “I now finally realize one thing: you are indeed a capable fellow, truly qualified to be my direct subordinate.”

Shen Ye pressed on, “Your Excellency, can you give me this Centaur? I suspect she still has her uses.”

“Suit yourself.”

Chattelay said, opening her mouth and pulling out a tooth, placing it on the bar.

—Jiuxiang’s tooth.

Shen Ye had once again earned her approval!

“Work hard. I’m not *Mogakou*. I helped you kill a dragon before, and I’ll continue to promote you in the future, Baxter.”

After saying that, Chattelay stepped into the void and disappeared.

She was gone.

—Perhaps she was eager to find Tian Luo’s relics.

Shen Ye withdrew his gaze and looked at Carla.

Carla also stopped playing the flute, looking at Shen Ye with an agitated expression.

She was the Earth Mother’s subordinate attendant god!

At this moment, she not only sensed the Seal of Earth but also vaguely perceived that the Earth Mother was nearby!

“Centaur girl, you’re mine now. If I ask you anything, I expect you to tell the truth, otherwise you’ll be in for some trouble.”

Shen Ye said.

Carla was startled for a moment, then quickly reacted.

—What a cautious fellow.

“Don’t worry, vampire… you have the Seal of Earth, which means I must trust you unconditionally.”

Carla said.

The blood-light cage around her slowly dissipated.

Shen Ye stepped forward and whispered:

“My strength is not as good as yours.”

“Don’t resist. I’m going to check your personal belongings, one by one.”

“Yes,” Carla said.

Shen Ye was already standing in front of her, and he snatched a ring from her hand.

—Success!

Shen Ye’s pounding heart slowly settled.

In the Manifestation, the Underworld Lord Mictetikasiwa and the Earth Mother both exclaimed:

“It worked!”

Their voices were filled with joy.

The enemy would not get the Yao Tai!

And with the Yao Tai on their side, there was hope for a shift in the war.

One day, the people of the “Five Desires” would be driven out of the Nightmare World!

“Take whatever you want. My ring only contains some stone materials for casting earth spells, as well as a long sword and a bow. There’s no gold!”

Carla said calmly.

Shen Ye immediately understood—

She was telling him that if he was looking for something, he shouldn’t look among those items.

Although Jiuxiang had left, the two still maintained the most cautious way of conversing and content.

Shen Ye rotated the ring, extending his spiritual power into it, and began to examine the various items.

He ignored everything Carla had mentioned.

Soon, he saw a strange object.

It was a—

Tablet?

Shen Ye was curious, but he couldn’t take it out and hold it in his hand for a long time to examine it carefully.

If Jiuxiang suddenly returned and saw this item, she might become suspicious.

He’d get his hands on it first.

He directly took out this “tablet” and instantly put it into his ring.

“Alright, Carla, let’s talk about the Earth Mother now.”

Shen Ye said, putting on an act.

“What do you want to ask?” Carla also feigned ignorance.

“What exactly does the Earth Mother wield—”

Shen Ye stopped mid-sentence.

Carla also stood rooted, eyes wide, not speaking.

Both remained motionless in their original positions.

Even the Underworld Lord Mictetikasiwa and the Earth Mother in the Manifestation held their breath.

At this moment.

The entire Nightmare World, every existence, sensed one thing—

—Their power was draining away!

Carla immediately fell to her knees, supporting herself with her hands with effort, and said to Shen Ye:

“What’s going on?”

Shen Ye was already lying on the ground, saying, “I don’t know either.”

The next second.

Chattelay suddenly appeared, looked at the two of them, grabbed Shen Ye, and disappeared into the void again.

The “Five Desires” world.

Palace.

Chattelay landed, set Shen Ye down in the palace, and hurriedly said:

“No matter what happens in the Nightmare World, it’s safe here. Don’t move around, I’ll go check the situation.”

After saying that, her figure flickered and she disappeared again.

Shen Ye lay on the floor, still motionless.

—All his strength had been drained, and he couldn’t even stand up at this moment.

But this was nothing.

He tried to remain calm, looking at the void in front of him, watching the lines of glowing small text constantly refreshing:

“Obtained Yao Tai.”

“You possess the Heavenly Gate Manifestation ‘Vast Cold Palace’.”

“You possess the Ultimate Secret Manifestation of the Heavenly True Moon, which is the key to the world’s secrets.”

“Yao Tai automatically activated.”

“Yao Tai has absorbed all the power of the Nightmare World, reawakened, and begun its attack.”

Attack?

Shen Ye was astonished.

—An attack must at least have a target.

He hadn’t specified any target, so how could it complete the attack?

Suddenly.

An unprecedented sense of crisis emerged in his heart.

Everything around him seemed to freeze.

Shen Ye was rigid in place, unable to move an inch.

…No way!

He immediately set a coordinate point in place, then opened a door in the floor and instantly dropped in.

This brought him back to the main world.

But the suffocating sensation of death didn’t disappear; instead, it grew stronger.

He opened the door again and returned to the underground passage of the Nightmare World.

—It was useless!

A blazing, light-shaped spear suddenly appeared and pierced through Shen Ye.

Shen Ye felt nothing.

However, a painful chirping sound erupted from his body.

At the same time.

That long-unheard voice sounded in his ear:

“Don’t be afraid, it’s not you it’s killing.”

“—Tens of thousands of years ago, the World Will, in its last moments of life, created me, condensing the Nightmare World, preparing to use this to execute a counter-attack spell.”

“Unfortunately, before the spell could be cast, it was killed by that Emperor Species cosmic worm.”

“I never thought that after tens of thousands of years—”

“This move has finally been awakened.”

“Its mission is to kill the Emperor Species, and it will surely succeed.”

“—This is the World Will’s revenge!”