"Go, go, go—hurry up and go!" Another subordinate quickly chimed in, perhaps afraid that the talkative one would get them all killed. He yanked the man hard and hissed through clenched teeth, "Henry Collins, if your brain isn't working, don't drag us down with you!"

Henry Collins was dragged along for a few steps, then looked up in confusion. "Wait, where are we going?"

The group came to an abrupt halt. "..."

Right, where were they going?

They were a bit bewildered. After hesitating for a moment, they turned and asked, "City Lord, which way should we lead?"

Logan Barrett trailed behind at a measured distance, not stopping his stride. "What do you think?"

"…"

I...

No one dared say a word, nor did they dare to press further. After all, they all knew that Logan Barrett despised fools the most.

They lifted their eyes and scanned the surroundings.

It was a desolate wilderness, covered in a layer of snow, everything in shades of gray and white. In the distance stood a towering dead tree, seemingly scorched, mottled with charred patches, its top lost in the sky.

They suspected that the dead branch where Logan Barrett had stood earlier was the very top of this giant tree.

"Have you heard? The Northern Region of Canglang has thirty-three levels." Henry Collins quietly nudged his companion.

The Northern Region of Canglang hung above the Endless Sea, shrouded year-round in clouds and thunder, like a massive black cliff.

Rumor had it there were thirty-three levels, just like the Liuli Pagoda of Mount Taiyin before it collapsed, symbolizing the thirty-three heavens.

If the branch from before was the very top, then this wilderness with the giant tree before them must be the very bottom.

"Where did you hear that rumor? So what if there are thirty-three levels, what good does that do us? Did the rumor tell you where the City Lord wants us to lead the way?"

Henry Collins: "...No."

He thought back carefully. "But the rumor did say that there's a treasure hidden on the lowest level. Do you think, when the City Lord told us to lead the way, that's what he meant?"

"Think about it—does that make sense? How would we know where the treasure is, or how to lead the way? If that's really what the City Lord meant, that's just bizarre."

"Tch, enough nonsense. Let's just look around. If we find it, at least we won't have led the wrong way."

That enormous dead tree was truly eye-catching, and there was nowhere else in the wilderness that could possibly hide a treasure, so they started walking toward the giant tree.

As they got closer, they discovered that countless swords were thrust into the ground beneath the tree, forming a boundless graveyard of swords.

Logan Barrett followed them, weaving through the sword grave. After walking until their legs nearly gave out, they still couldn't get any closer to the giant tree.

"…"

Would it be too late if I threatened these people with chains to make them sit down for a while?

Logan Barrett stared at their backs, thinking to himself.

"City Lord?" Henry Collins must have felt a chill down his spine, and turned around, stammering, "This sword grave might be a formation..."

Logan Barrett showed no surprise. "So?"

"City Lord, as you know, none of us are very good at breaking formations," Henry Collins glanced at Logan Barrett and said, "Formations have always been your..."

Logan Barrett: "...My what? Go on."

He softened his voice, showing no emotion. The intimidation was just right—maybe enough to get him through this ordeal—

"City Lord, please, don't make fun of us," another subordinate said with a bitter face. "I know we've upset you, and whatever happens next is fine. But when it comes to formations, we're really not good at them."

"Yeah, and besides, this is the Northern Region of Canglang. If we blunder around and trigger something, we'll be in real trouble."

"That's right, City Lord. You could break this kind of formation in just a few steps—why waste your energy following us around?"

Logan Barrett: "…"

—There was no escaping this ordeal.

He looked at his subordinates, thinking, Forget a few steps—even in a few years, I might not get out. Aren't you scared?

He took a light breath, about to think of a solution, when something white caught his eye.

It was a white different from the snow, somewhat warm and luminous, like jade on the high steps of a grand hall.

He turned his head and, through the gaps between the cold swords, caught a glimpse of the object. Was it a white jade platform?

Logan Barrett ignored his subordinates and walked toward it.

Barefoot, he avoided the sword edges, and soon stood before the white jade platform.

Only then did he realize—it wasn't a jade platform...

It was a jade coffin.

It was a massive white jade coffin, lying beneath the towering dead tree, surrounded by thousands of cold swords. Nails were driven into each side of the coffin, each nail engraved with a character.

That character—Logan Barrett had just seen it not long ago, imprinted on the side of someone's neck.

This is...

"This is Owen Fletcher's coffin!"

Chapter 3: Puppet

Owen Fletcher's coffin?

Owen Fletcher...

Logan Barrett softly repeated the name.

The subordinates followed, but dared not get too close to the coffin.

Henry Collins craned his neck, puzzled. "How strange, how could the coffin of the Celestial Lord Tianxiu be here?"

Good kid, knows how to talk.

Logan Barrett had been racking his brain, trying to remember who Owen Fletcher was, afraid of making a mistake and giving himself away. Luckily, Henry Collins's quick tongue saved him from disaster.

But it really was strange.

Logan Barrett didn't know the rules here, but he had read storybooks.