...

"I know you're there!" he roared. "Show your face to Lord Bai!" However, the mask did not react at all. His eyes flashing wickedly, he tried to crush the mask, but no matter how much force he applied, nothing happened.

"Won't come out? Do you really think I can't deal with you?" With that, he plummeted from the mountain to the banks of the Heavenspan River, where he raised his hand behind him, as if to throw the mask into the water.

The river water was the only thing Yan Xiaobao could think of that could melt anything. However, before he actually threw the mask away, it trembled and suddenly shouted, "Old man, let me say something!"

"Ah, you can speak now, huh?" Yan Xiaobao said, his eyes flashing fiercely. "Come out of that mask and tell me who you are!"

A mist suddenly flowed from the wrinkled mask, quickly forming a small figure. Although he did not look like the person he had killed in the Fallen Sword World, he looked very similar. He appeared utterly terrified, his body trembling, hands bowing in respect to Yan Xiaobao.

"Honestly, please do me a favor," "Your humble servant made a mistake, I know. I'm an Inner Sect disciple of the Blood Stream Sect. My name is Nightcrypt..." After the disaster in the Fallen Sword World, he had remained in Yan Xiaobao's grasp. His plan had been to slowly escape, but before he could, Yan Xiaobao found him.

Initially, he wasn't too worried, assuming Yan Xiaobao couldn't harm him. He never anticipated the threat of being melted in the Heavenspan River.

The spiritual power of the Heavenspan River's water is difficult to express in words; even some of the most powerful defensive treasures can be destroyed by it.

When Yan Xiaobao heard the name "Nightcrypt," he was a bit surprised, even feeling a bit tense. That name was truly daunting. Whether the name hinted at burying people at night, or burying the night itself, it certainly felt very cruel. [1. Generally, I transliterate characters' names and translate Taoist names or nicknames. For Nightcrypt, I'm somewhat of an exception. This should be his actual name, not a Daoist name. So, if I transliterate, it would be Ye Cang. However, it's a completely ridiculous Chinese name that no one in real life would have. It should sound cool/creepy/badass, other than being somewhat "made up" rather than a real name. To maintain the appalling flavor of this name, I'm going to translate it rather than transliterate it. PS I'm sorry if anyone in the audience is actually named Nightcrypt and feels offended by being deemed a ridiculous name.]

Looking at the confused soul, Yan Xiaobao cleared his throat. "Alright, your name could use some work. You know, it doesn't sound very good. Definitely not as good as mine."

Nightcrypt hesitated for a moment, obediently expressing his agreement. However, he dared not say anything more. The truth was, he felt very sorry for himself. The Blood Stream Sect never paid much attention to him, and he worked very hard to reach the large circle of Qi Condensation.

Initially, he was not qualified to enter the Fallen Sword Abyss. The fact was, he studied some odd things within the Blood Stream Sect. Besides a little understanding of medicinal modulation, he also studied the sect's divination magic. He often put his future into practice, and although the results were not always accurate, they provided some benefits to his cultivation.

Before the opening of the Fallen Sword Abyss, his divinations showed that if he continued forward, he would encounter some incredible good fortune.

Although he didn't believe it at first, after countless divinations, he got the same result. Finally, he gritted his teeth, paid a huge price, and even endured significant humiliation to get himself a spot. Who would have thought, not only did he not receive any good fortune, he ended up captured by the ruthless Yan Xiaobao.

"Lord Bai," he said, continuously bowing, "considering your incredible power, sir, why don't you let me go? I can be your spy! I will return to the Blood Stream Sect and report to you within the Spirit Stream Sect. I can even swear an oath!"

Yan Xiaobao looked at him and then coldly snorted.

"A spy? I suppose this is your real face, right? The Nightcrypt I killed is nothing like you! I can't believe you tried to deceive me! Yan Xiaobao hates it when people try to deceive him! Prepare to die!" He glared at him as much as he could, then knelt down, ready to toss the mask into the river.

A wave seemed about to crash upon Nightcrypt, and he screamed and trembled in terror. The feeling of imminent death he experienced exceeded anything he had ever felt in his life. Then he thought of all the humiliation he endured within the sect, and he felt like crying.

"Don't kill me! I'll tell you a huge secret!"

Yan Xiaobao sneered, more distrustful than before. Then, he relaxed his grip, and the mask began to fall.

As the river water surged toward him, Nightcrypt was terrified. "No! I'm serious about the secret! It concerns eternal indestructibility!!"

A tremor ran through Yan Xiaobao. To his mind, the words "eternal" and "indestructibility" basically meant "eternal" and "living forever." Without a moment's hesitation, his hand shot out at lightning speed to snatch back the mask.

"You better not deceive me," he said sternly. "You've already seen how much I hate it when people try to deceive me!"