There was a searing pain in his head as he opened his eyes in surprise.
The Demons have awakened once again!
With a blink of an eye, he got out of the water and his clothes were now dry and clean. He tried to decipher what the demon's restlessness meant.
Closing his eyes again, he felt a trail of demonic energy and used his senses to probe around. He felt faint prints of this energy on the door, and throughout the whole pathway coming from the corner.
Did a demon escape? But why would they have come here? This is the place they would most definitely avoid.
He felt the aura around and he finally noticed two trembling figures just outside the door. They were kowtowing in fear, their heads almost buried on the stone floor.
"What happened?"
In a flash, the King appeared in front of the kowtowing Reapers. One of the Reapers, Shi, spoke while still bowed down.
"The 1000th soul under our care has escaped, your Excellence."
The King was once again surprised.
"Escaped? How?"
"W-we don't know, your Excellence." Shi stuttered.
Sensing that it will be bad if they were blamed, Shi Yi decided to narrate everything. "We were properly escorting the soul back when Shi noticed it slightly moved. I thought it was due to us carrying it that it moved and we wouldn't want to implore for your help and waste your energy, your Excellence, so we figured it as nothing of importance. But we didn't expect her to be awake already. Just as we were about to head left, there was a sudden burst of energy that paralyzed and blinded us, making us unable to move. We felt her escape but due to the effects, we weren't able to move for the meantime. But after a few moments, it was gone so we immediately followed after her at full speed. But she was already too far deep inside the passage ways. We saw her struggle in bashing the doors before she gave up and opened it. She entered and we planned to stop her but we sensed your presence, your Excellency, so we opted not to enter."
The King digested these words carefully.
"Rise." The two Reapers immediately stood up but their heads were bowed in respect.
"She was awake halfway through your way to the dungeon?"
Both Shi and Shi Yi nodded.
"There was an energy that blinded and paralyzed you?"
Both Shi and Shi Yi nodded again.
"She was able to see through the illusions in the lowest floor? The ones I personally made?"
Both Shi and Shi Yi nodded again.
"She was able to open these doors without any external help?"
Both Shi and Shi Yi nodded again.
The King was confused. Waking up, paralyzing and blinding Reapers, breaking complex illusions, and breaking multiple barriers and seals, this soul is truly mysterious. No soul could have done all these without any backing, especially a newly harvested soul.
But then again, that soul's circumstances are also peculiar. She was immune to the pilgrimage purification and she ate the Clearing fruit. If there is a backing behind her, he must find out. It might endanger the kingdom.
This is a far worse issue than he thought.
"Where is the soul now?"
"In the pool, your Excellency." Shi replied with a hint of remorse.
No. Not again.
"She jumped towards the pool?" The King said with dread.
"Yes." Both of Shi and Shi Yi nodded again. Suddenly, an oppressive aura exploded around them. They hurriedly knelt with one knee, their heads bowed.
"Do not let anyone else enter this part of the castle again." Two deep voices sounded out above them.
Two voices?! This is!
The Divine skill of Duplication! Only one can use this skill!
We've been speaking to the Original King!
They slammed their heads on the floor, heavily bowing before the two figures.
"Esteemed deity! We have erred!"
"Take my copy to the courts to continue judgments. I will deal with this matter personally." A figure that looked so identical to the King elegantly walked out of the room, followed by the slightly trembling figures of Shi and Shi Yi. After a moment, they disappeared without a trace.
The lingering demonic presence gave the King dread and nostalgia. He walked towards the pool and saw that someone did trigger the spell in the pure waters.
"This is bad. We cannot let another lost soul go rampant in the worlds. It caused a great commotion the last time there was." The King muttered darkly, his gaze looking at the pool meaningfully.
And that soul just had to go to the Reincarnation pool!