Ji Mo and his companions arrived smoothly before the palace.
The palace was sacred, ancient, and magnificent.
Two heavy stone doors were tightly shut, adorned with carvings of dragons and phoenixes, permeated with runes. Wisps of profound laws danced, forming a powerful barrier that securely protected the entire palace.
"This palace is protected by a barrier and seems to be intact. It appears the Wu clan's powerful enemies couldn't breach it. Doesn't that mean it's highly possible that the Wu clan's endless wealth and heritage are stored inside!"
Du Juan's heart pounded faster, her blood boiling, wishing she could rush in immediately.
However, after a furtive glance at Ji Mo, she dared not harbor any greedy thoughts.
A mysterious phantom, hidden high in the sky, watched all this closely, eager to see if Ji Mo could break the palace's barrier.
As soon as the barrier was opened, it could enter and eliminate all traces.
Ji Mo stood before the palace doors, observing the runes on the stone doors, his fingers tapping incessantly.
The runes lit up one by one, connecting to form an arcane pattern.
Then, the portal, which had been closed for who knew how many years, let out a "creak" and slowly opened on its own.
Suddenly.
The entire palace shimmered with iridescent light, erupting with terrifying energy fluctuations.
An incredibly powerful energy aura swept out in all directions.
The violent energy surged, and Bai Xiong and Du Juan, standing at the entrance, were immediately sent flying backward.
Had they not been positioned directly behind Ji Mo, they would have likely suffered severe injuries on the spot.
Ji Mo's hair flew, his robes billowed, yet he remained as still as a mountain.
The phantom hidden in the sky was also affected, tumbling several somersaults, infuriated.
However, when it saw the palace doors finally open, it became incredibly excited. But it cautiously refrained from acting rashly, waiting for the opportune moment.
Ji Mo stepped into the palace, intending to find a way out.
In the center of the vast hall, he spotted a faint glow. His heart leaped with joy, thinking he had found an exit. But upon approaching, he realized it was not.
What was emitting the glow was actually a coffin.
The coffin was made of ten-thousand-year-old cold jade, crystal clear, radiating a bone-chilling coldness.
What surprised Ji Mo even more was that there was a person lying inside the coffin – a stunningly beautiful young girl.
The girl had golden hair and appeared as if carved from ice and jade, possessing an elegant demeanor and flawless white skin.
Her eyes were tightly closed, with teardrops still clinging to the corners of her eyes. Her perfect face exuded boundless sorrow.
The girl had no heartbeat and no breath, and a malevolent aura flowed from her. A strong sense of evil emanated from her brows.
On her snow-white skin, worm-like demonic patterns could be faintly seen, clearly indicating that her entire body had been thoroughly corrupted by the evil aura, losing its vitality.
Ji Mo gazed at the girl in the coffin, feeling a pang of sadness. He wished she were merely asleep.
This was likely the last survivor of the entire Wu clan. Even hiding in the ten-thousand-year-old cold jade coffin, she couldn't escape the invasion of the evil aura and had perished.
He caressed the cold jade coffin and suddenly his brow furrowed.
A heartbeat!
He sensed a faint, almost imperceptible heartbeat. The girl's life force seemed not entirely extinguished.
"Could this woman be the Empress of the Wu clan!"
Bai Xiong walked over and, seeing the girl's golden hair and the multicolored scepter placed beside her, almost cried out in surprise.
Golden hair was a characteristic of the Wu clan's royal bloodline, and that scepter bore a striking resemblance to the legendary Wu Emperor's Scepter.
All signs pointed to the possibility that the person lying in the cold jade coffin was none other than the ruler of the Wu clan!
"Alas, beauty is ill-fated," Du Juan sighed softly.
Ji Mo spoke, "She still has a breath of life. Perhaps I can save her."
He opened the coffin lid and began to treat the girl using acupuncture techniques.
Before long, the girl regained her breath and her heartbeat returned.
However, she still failed to awaken. A malevolent aura gathered between her brows, refusing to disperse, continuing to erode her life force.
Ji Mo pondered for a moment, then bit his index finger, squeezing out a drop of crimson blood.
Instantly, a peculiar fragrance permeated the air.
Bai Xiong and Du Juan trembled, involuntarily licking their lips, their throats working as they swallowed incessantly.
The two stared intently at the drop of blood on Ji Mo's fingertip, their eyes gleaming, unable to resist the urge to pounce and devour it.
Fortunately, Ji Mo immediately placed the blood drop onto the girl's forehead.
In an instant.
The girl's entire body erupted in brilliant light, enveloped by multicolored radiance. She seemed like the morning sun, radiating immense brilliance.
The evil aura within her body was completely purified, like snow melting under the spring sun.
Bai Xiong and Du Juan exchanged glances, seeing the shock in each other's eyes.
What kind of blood was this, possessing such miraculous efficacy?
They felt a strong conviction that by consuming Ji Mo's blood, they would gain unimaginable benefits.
This wild thought was quickly dismissed. Even with ten thousand times their courage, they wouldn't dare harbor any ill intentions towards Ji Mo.
As the light subsided, the girl's eyelashes fluttered, as if about to awaken.
"All my kin have fallen in battle, leaving me all alone."
The girl suddenly opened her eyes, her bright gaze like the tinkling of a mountain spring.
The teardrops at the corners of her eyes traced paths down her smooth cheeks as she wept with profound sorrow.
Then, her gaze filled with confusion, her delicate brows furrowed, her face a picture of bewilderment.
"My name is Wu Xiaoxiao. I am the most incompetent Empress of the Wu clan. I… so many things… I can't remember…"
The girl stepped out of the cold jade coffin, clutching her head in pain, her body staggering.
Fearing she might fall, Du Juan kindly stepped forward to help her. However, the moment she touched the girl, she was sent flying.
"Don't touch me."
The girl merely waved her arm instinctively. Du Juan, at the peak of Spirit Saint realm, had no room to resist and was sent flying over ten meters.
Her condition was highly abnormal, her consciousness seemingly disturbed.
"Young lady, don't be afraid. No one will harm you. Your body has just recovered. Rest well for a while, and your memory should return."
Ji Mo spoke to comfort her.
He was unsure of what exactly had happened, but it seemed the girl's memory was problematic.
After all, she had slept in the ice coffin for so many years and had been invaded by the evil aura. No one knew what residual effects there might be.
"Who are you?"
The girl's gaze fell upon Ji Mo. She felt a sense of closeness, sensing a special connection between them.
"From today onwards, I am your family."
Ji Mo reached out and affectionately ruffled the girl's hair.
The words "leaving me all alone" had touched his soft heartstrings.
Upon hearing this, the girl's brows relaxed. A smile appeared on her face, and she suddenly threw herself into Ji Mo's embrace.
"All of you, die…"
Just then, a terrifying shadow seized the opportunity and launched a sudden attack.