Chapter 162: Unusually Smooth

Deep within the underground area of the Benevolent Sanatorium, Irving and Elder Seville, along with their group, were advancing through the narrow passages towards even deeper sections.

Irving, Vicky, and Elder Seville had been here before.

So they were well aware of what to expect next.

However, Benjamin and two other experts from the Night Blades were here for the first time, making them slightly nervous about what lay ahead.

Particularly, the two Night Blades experts had a lingering suspicion that following Elder Seville into the depths might end up with them being used as sacrificial pawns.

Everyone harbored their own cautious thoughts.

Nonetheless, no one spoke. They simply moved forward silently through the dark, cramped passageway.

Soon, the group reached the first expansive area. S~eaʀᴄh the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

This was the zone where only the blood of a Smith family member could neutralize the abnormal state.

Under the watchful eyes of the group, Vicky pulled out a small dagger.

She made a cut on her hand, and blood flowed out, dripping onto the ground not far in front of her.

"Let's take a moment to appreciate Vicky's sacrifice." Elder Seville stated slowly from behind her.

The expressions on the others' faces varied upon hearing his words.

Irving turned coldly and glanced back at Elder Seville.

Although it wasn't yet time for Irving to reveal his true capabilities, he felt the need to caution Elder Seville not to overstep.

Vicky didn't even glance at Elder Seville, her disdain for him was profound.

As Elder Seville had suggested, the two Night Blades members expressed their thanks to Vicky, though their gratitude was hardly sincere.

Benjamin remained silent throughout, merely observing the situation around him and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the Night Blades members beside him.

After passing through the wide area, they finally reached a place filled with chaotic energy, a mysterious unknown space once discovered by the ancestors of the Smith family.

Upon their return to this location, Irving, Vicky, and Elder Seville all felt that the area had changed since their last visit.

The once overwhelming chaotic energy had now become significantly diluted.

Even with the Taikoo Flame Pearl within him, Irving could no longer absorb any chaotic energy from the surrounding space, as it was too sparse.

After observing for a while, Elder Seville approached Irving.

"You should tell me the clues related to the Smith family artifact as we previously agreed." Elder Seville said coldly to Irving.

Irving nodded, still feigning extreme weakness as he spoke.

"The artifact discovered by the ancestors of the Smith family is right here. However, if you wish to obtain this artifact, you must pay a significant price. You need to prove your strength and earn the artifact's recognition."

Elder Seville's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this. He pressed for details.

"What exactly should I do? If you don't provide a specific method, I will not hesitate to kill both you and Vicky!"

At this point, Elder Seville glanced at the two Night Blades members behind him, who were holding Vicky and Benjamin hostage.

Irving chuckled coldly.

"I will tell you the method, but I doubt you'd dare use it."

Elder Seville replied icily, "Just tell me the method. Whether I use it or not is my concern."

"The method is quite simple. You just need to chop off your own arm and throw it into the area filled with chaotic energy ahead."

Irving said with a sly grin.

As Irving disclosed this fabricated method, everyone's expressions turned exceedingly odd, as no one believed such a method would actually succeed.

Elder Seville was furious.

"You dare mock me! Do you really think I would believe such a method? Since you continue to deceive me, don't blame me for being ruthless."

With that, Elder Seville raised his left hand, and a dark portal appeared in front of Vicky.

She felt her soul being dragged out of her body.

"Stop right there!" Benjamin shouted at Elder Seville before Irving could speak.

"If Donald's life is threatened, I will never forgive you."

Elder Seville didn't even glance at Benjamin, his gaze fixed coldly on Irving.

"Don't you want to ensure her safety? Are you really planning to watch me take her soul away?"

Irving remained silent, prompting Elder Seville to question him with a hint of confusion.

"The method I told you is indeed the only possible one. You don't trust my word, so how can I save Vicky?"

Irving's voice was calm yet tinged with melancholy, as if he truly had no other way to save Vicky.

This caused Elder Seville to harbor some doubts.

He withdrew the dark portal.

He sized up Irving before saying, "If what you say about the method is true, then you use it first to retrieve the artifact."

Irving nodded without hesitation.

"My body is too weak right now. I can't cut off my own arm. So, Elder Seville, perhaps you should do it instead." Irving extended his left hand, smiling faintly at Elder Seville.

Elder Seville's suspicion deepened.

Although he had not believed Irving's method before, Irving's confident demeanor made him reconsider. Ultimately, Elder Seville resolved to test Irving's method to see if it could indeed be successful.

Elder Seville swiftly chopped off Irving's arm and hurled it into the area infused with chaotic energy. The moment Irving's arm made contact with the dense chaotic forces, the entire unknown space underwent a dramatic transformation.

The once faint chaotic energy suddenly surged in intensity.

Irving's eyes were shrouded in a pink glow.

"I see the artifact! It's rapidly approaching me!" Irving murmured as he extended his remaining hand. A golden apparition appeared above the palm of his remaining hand, and over time, this apparition gradually took on a solid form.

"The artifact will soon be mine! I will soon become its master!" Irving exclaimed excitedly.

Just then, Elder Seville abruptly pulled Irving's arm back from the chaos-infused area.

The gradually solidifying golden apparition vanished from Irving's palm in an instant, and the pink glow engulfing his eyes swiftly dissipated.

Regaining his senses, Irving looked at Elder Seville with eyes full of anger.

"Why did you interrupt the ongoing ritual? Don't you also desire to possess that artifact?"

In response to Irving's angry query, Elder Seville smiled slightly.

"I finally understand your scheme!"

He slowly approached Irving, looking at his remaining arm.

"You knew all along that this was the only way to acquire the artifact. You also knew that once the method succeeded, you would immediately become the artifact's master. That's why you initially described the method in a tone no one could believe. Your plot was to deceive me into experimenting with you first. If I hadn't interrupted you in time, you would have truly become the master of the artifact.

Then you could have used the powerful artifact to kill me."

Elder Seville openly shared his suspicions.

Though they were entirely incorrect. In reality, Irving's actions were merely an improvisation. Moreover, the residual spirit of the Smith family ancestor had once told Irving that no matter what method was used, it was impossible to become the master of the artifact found by the Smith family ancestors.

At most, Irving could only gain the right to use the artifact a few times from the Smith family ancestors.

After confidently sharing his suspicions, Elder Seville snapped off his own arm.

And threw it into the chaos-infused area.

At that moment, an apparition appeared in his eyes, holding a golden artifact.

Witnessing this scene, Elder Seville was extremely excited.

"I can finally obtain the artifact I've longed for! I will become the strongest member of the Night Blades!"

The apparition holding the golden artifact slowly approached Elder Seville, who could even see the specific details of the golden artifact.

At that moment, Elder Seville believed he had succeeded, not yet realizing that he had actually fallen into a trap.

Elder Seville's venture was proceeding far too smoothly, so much so that it was suspicious.

Normally, Elder Seville would have been able to detect such anomalies. However, the temptation of becoming the master of the artifact clouded his judgment.

Overly eager to claim the artifact, he lost his usual composure and caution.

Just as the apparition was about to reach him, Elder Seville was shocked to discover that the apparition was none other than the ancestor of the Smith family. Moreover, the golden object in the ancestor's hands was not an artifact at all but merely a piece of rubbish emitting a yellow glow.

In that instant, Elder Seville realized he had fallen into a trap.

He immediately launched an attack towards the apparition in front of him.

With Elder Seville's attack, the apparition of the Smith family ancestor quickly vanished. Elder Seville suddenly found that Vicky, who had been beside him, was nowhere to be seen.

Panicking, Elder Seville scanned the surroundings, only to see Irving fleeing towards the exit at top speed with Vicky.