The scene in the room made Baiyu feel as if he had stepped into hell.
The stench of rotten flesh wafted through the air, surrounded by ornaments and specimens made from various skulls, like a hunter showing off his trophies.
Baiyu frowned, forcing himself to endure the discomfort, and began searching the room.
Even with his adaptability, he found it hard to bear, which showed just how terrible the environment was here.
Enduring the stench.
He wandered around the room but didn't find anything significant.
The only gain.
Was the discovery of many things resembling currency in a safe-like box, supposedly the "Rupees" the demons spoke of.
These were special circular black coins.
Baiyu had never seen the material before.
They were engraved with many strange symbols, resembling numbers.
Though there was an entire safe full of them.
Yet it's demon currency, practically useless if taken.
Moreover, Baiyu didn't lack money now.
The profits brought by the Qiong Ning Chamber of Commerce allowed him to fully cover the expenses of a martial artist.
Though not wealthy.
He no longer was in dire straits selling his house for money as he used to.
Aside from this safe, nothing else useful was in the room.
However.
Just as Baiyu was about to leave, he discovered a secret compartment.
After struggling to open it.
Inside was a very simple small room.
It was barely one square meter, with nothing around it, just a small shrine built in the middle.
Gentle smoke rose from the shrine.
A dagger was placed at the offering position in the center of the shrine.
This dagger was extremely delicate.
Only palm-sized.
The blade gleamed coldly, with exquisite patterns.
It was inlaid with red, green, and blue gemstones, supplemented with gold.
As soon as Baiyu saw the dagger, he knew it was a magical item.
Effect unknown.
But generally, magical items reveal basic information upon contact.
He contemplated.
Whether to touch the dagger.
Magical items shouldn't be touched carelessly; they carry certain risks.
But for now.
After hesitating for a moment, Baiyu reached out and grabbed the dagger.
A sensation spread through him like an electric shock, tingling all over his body.
His expression unchanged, he continued to feel the dagger.
Instantly, faint messages flickered in his mind.
"Ritual... dagger."
Some obscure words appeared in his mind.
Though Baiyu didn't recognize the characters, he clearly understood their meaning.
Evidently.
This was the mystical language.
"Is this magical item's name Ritual Dagger? It hasn't disclosed further abilities."
Baiyu was uncertain about the dagger's purpose.
But he didn't dwell on it.
After the dagger stayed in his hand for a while, it was absorbed into the space owned by the academic prodigy.
Two walls within the academic prodigy space had many recessed spaces.
These were specifically for placing magical items and sealing objects.
The ritual dagger's effects were unknown, as were its side effects; Baiyu tossed it inside anyway, as it wouldn't cause any disruption in the space.
After that.
He thoroughly searched the room again, hoping to find more secret compartments.
Unfortunately.
No further discoveries were made.
When he carried the safe downstairs, the Butcher had already cleaned the entire hall.
"Anything worthwhile upstairs?"
Seeing Baiyu come down, the Butcher asked.
"A magical item and this box of things resembling currency."
Baiyu didn't hide the matter of the ritual dagger.
After all, it was the Butcher's trophy, and technically, Baiyu wasn't entitled to search.
However.
Since they were both followers under the Red Cup, the Butcher was generous enough to share, which Baiyu appreciated.
He had no intention of keeping secrets.
He was principled and reasonable.
"These are useless; magical items aren't much of interest at my level, keep them for fun.
Initially thought this evil being might have some good stuff.
Turns out it was so poor."
The Butcher disdainfully glanced at the sack in his hand, the black aura inside still swirling chaotically, attempting to escape.
Baiyu walked aside, not discussing the trophies further, instead asking the crucial question: "How do we get out now?
Originally thought killing the demon here would reveal a way out.
But after checking around, there seems no exit."
The Butcher replied: "You're wanting to return to the Spirit Realm, right?
The Tidal World is an independent small world but relies on the Spirit Realm for existence, and is intricately connected with it.
The reason the evil being could capture people.
Was by using the teleportation array ritual to have Spirit Realm inhabitants perform specific rituals to summon her.
She can accurately reach the summoning locations from the Tidal World.
It's simple to return to the Spirit Realm.
However.
To go back to the location where you entered, you can only use this method.
The Spirit Realm is vast; without pinpointing, you might end up anywhere after leaving."
Baiyu felt a sinking feeling:
"Does that mean someone must set up the summoning array outside for us to get out?"
The Butcher affirmed: "Yes, set up the array, then you can reach the location designated by the array. If not, I can get you out, but the location might deviate."
Baiyu felt a bit troubled.
Setting up a summoning ritual outside sounded easier than done.
Yet they couldn't contact anyone outside, how to set up the ritual?
"No other ways?"
"No."
The Butcher affirmed, shaking his head: "Don't you have special means to contact outside, like through magical items?"
Baiyu thought for a bit, then suddenly his eyes lit up.
Indeed.
He did have a way to contact someone outside.
"If you can get in touch, what's next?"
"Follow me."
The Butcher, without hesitation, led Baiyu to the back of the hall. Here was a small chamber, very empty.
In the center of the small chamber.
Stood four lampstands, each with a white candle burning on it.
Within the rectangle formed by the lampstands were intricate array patterns painted, looking dizzyingly complex.
"Just set up an array like this one at the summoning spot and use the Boundary-breaking Stone to connect the Tidal World and Spirit Realm."
The Butcher pointed out the array on the ground.
Baiyu carefully observed the array's structure; it wasn't too difficult.
Perhaps designed for ordinary people's use.
Count Gray Rock and others.
Clearly tempted or controlled by the evil being, had drawn this array in their villa, thus connecting Tidal World with the Spirit Realm.
This was their own downfall.
Demons, aberrant beings couldn't freely access Tidal World and Spirit Realm.
Only the evil being.
Seemed unaffected.
Not only able to traverse between the two realms, but also sneak onto Canglan Star.
Now Baiyu just needed someone in Mountain City to draw the array driven by the Boundary-breaking Stone to open the passage back.
He already had someone in mind.
Currently, the ones he could contact were Qiao Wan and her sister!
