Not long after running, Ji Xun noticed that this underground palace seemed to have a "回"-shaped structure.
It was vast.
But also limited.
The three of them did not attempt to explore the entire underground palace.
Without having to walk through it all, one could guess that some corners of the palace still had [Secret Keepers] wandering around.
Following the battle marks on the ground, the trio passed through a corridor and arrived at a secret chamber filled with broken bones.
Spatially, this was the central location of the palace.
Looking at the various patterns and mysterious symbols carved on the walls, Ji Xun immediately realized that this was the final exit recorded in the adventurer's notes.
Seeing the scattered bones, Ji Xun muttered, "The skeleton monsters have all been cleared out. That's convenient..."
According to the adventurer's diary, there should have been many elite skeleton monsters near this secret chamber.
They would be quite troublesome for low-level Curse Card Masters.
But now they were all reduced to fragments.
The [Great Graveyard Maze] was not highly catastrophic by nature; the strongest skeleton monsters were at most second-tier calamity level.
A third-tier elite Frost Knight could naturally slaughter them easily.
That guy had been here for two or three days and didn't suppress his San value. Once the monsters were lured, they were all cleared out.
This made things easier for Ji Xun and the others.
The only pity was that high-level Curse Card Masters hardly ever get materials and cards from low-level dungeons.
Even if they could get out, the final rating would be very low.
A pity for the silver skeleton leaders on the ground.
In a corner, there were signs of someone having sat on a pile of bones, indicating that this secret chamber had been the hiding place of that Frost Knight for the past few days.
The Ninth Day did not sense any [Secret Keepers] near the chamber, suggesting that the Frost Knight had lured all the monsters away.
There was no need to think further; there was no safer place in the palace than here.
After observing the surroundings, Ji Xun said, "Let's wait here."
Hiding was not an option.
It was better to choose a place to wait and prepare.
The Ninth Day nodded, "Yes."
In a hui-shaped maze, continuing to run would either lead to encountering more monsters or running into that Frost Knight.
No need to keep running; it was better to wait here.
...
The Ninth Day's injuries had not fully healed. After entering, he found a place to sit cross-legged and meditate, also preparing a big move.
Knowing he couldn't help much, Nan Jing searched through the pile of bones for materials to make spiritual skeletons for future use.
Ji Xun entered the dim chamber, immediately attracted to the carvings on the walls.
He carefully examined the carvings with a light.
The carvings in this chamber were the most numerous and complex in the entire maze, containing the most information.
To others, these might be mysterious symbols, but to him, they were intermittently readable words.
Although he couldn't fully translate them, he could roughly understand their meaning through the combination of text and images.
Judging by the murals and carvings outside, this was likely a massive tomb built by a king of the ancient Talen Dynasty for himself.
This maze was just the entrance to the tomb.
The murals didn't provide much information about the tomb.
But as Ji Xun looked up at the core position on the ceiling, he saw that mysterious symbol "☾" again.
It was just a simple moon symbol, yet it seemed to have a magical power that stirred a deep-seated instinct in the soul, awakening terrifying memories inherited through blood.
It was an indescribable feeling.
As if... seeing an unspeakable god.
He had felt the same way in the tailor shop cellar before.
To avoid being contaminated by some mysterious power, Ji Xun immediately put on the clown mask.
But since this was an other-dimensional space, some things were not as real as physical objects.
After observing, he didn't find any hints of "Old Miracles."
Looking around, the distribution of the four stone pillars was also subtle, seemingly implying some formation.
The carvings depicted robed figures that looked like priests performing a mysterious ritual. Although the priests worshiped in different directions, they all faced the central ceiling with the moon symbol.
Seeing the patterns of sacrificed corpses hanging in the ritual, Ji Xun thought, "Isn't this the skinning ritual from the tailor shop cellar?"
A flash of inspiration hit him as he saw the carvings.
But what was the purpose of this sacrifice ritual?
Was it to communicate with some ancient god?
Or to seek power?
He couldn't find a clear answer in the carvings.
Curse Card Masters, though using demonic power, didn't have divine beliefs. So, in Ji Xun's mind, ancient god followers and old cults were like sewer rats to hunters—crazy and extreme outcasts.
Ji Xun didn't dwell on the sacrificial rituals. His main task was to find a way out.
But the carvings in this chamber were too numerous to finish in a short time.
Before he could finish, the sound of clanking armor echoed through the corridor.
The meditating Ninth Day suddenly opened his eyes and said softly, "He's here."
Ji Xun was not surprised.
The Frost Knight had arrived.
...
Even weakened and injured, the presence of a third-tier Curse Card Master was overwhelming.
The three of them watched as the Frost Knight in white armor stepped into the chamber, each step accompanied by the clanking of iron.
The oppressive aura bore down like a mountain.
Ji Xun felt his breath almost stop, his eyes revealing a cold glint.
Clearly, the intention was hostile.
Like a sick tiger eyeing three rabbits, the gaze through the T-shaped slit in the iron helmet was sharp and disdainful.
In this world, the class divide was stark; nobles and commoners lived in different worlds, let alone the exiled criminals of Innocent City.
This was contempt born from strength and status.
It was also the arrogance ingrained in the bones of the noble class for thousands of years.
After scrutinizing the trio, the Frost Knight saw a small-time undertaker and two Curse Card Masters in adventurer gear, none of whom were worth mentioning.
The Frost Knight, without any preamble and with a commanding tone, demanded, "How did you get here?"
He didn't even care who they were.
The implied threat in his tone was unmistakable.
Ji Xun naturally understood this threat and feigned trembling, "We... we found an adventurer's diary, and since we know a bit about solving puzzles... we found our way here."
The Frost Knight immediately thought the diary might be key to escaping!
He impatiently ordered, "Give me the diary!"
Ji Xun, understanding the situation, promptly handed over the diary from his waist pouch.
The Frost Knight took the diary, but his heavy gauntlets, though capable of wielding a sword, were too cumbersome for flipping through thin pages.
He set his sword against a nearby pillar, removed his gauntlets, and, still holding the mysterious box in one hand, began to flip through the diary with the other.
Instantly, he understood.
Many people had entered, and a few always survived by sheer luck.
Like himself.
And like the three people who found the diary.
But upon examining it, the Frost Knight realized the diary didn't detail a way out.
Frowning, he turned and asked, "Can you solve puzzles?"
Ji Xun, with a timid expression, replied, "Yes. We noticed the maze corridors were shifting, and by following the hints in the diary, we found our way here."
Ji Xun's words were intended to suggest that they were his best hope for escaping.
If a fight broke out, the Frost Knight wouldn't dare kill them immediately.
Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't kill his only hope of survival.
Anyone who had experienced despair would cling to any glimmer of hope, even if it was a mere straw.
Impatient to leave the maze, the Frost Knight skipped any further discussion and directly asked, "Did you find a way out?"
Ji Xun answered straightforwardly, "We have some clues."
This was true.
A third-tier Curse Card Master had exceptionally sharp senses; if it was entirely a lie, no matter how good the acting, it wouldn't fool him.
The Frost Knight, filled with anticipation, pressed, "How do we get out?"
Ji Xun pointed to the carvings on the ceiling, "This depicts a sacrificial ritual directed at an ancient god. The hint from the space mentioned the mass burial of thirty thousand craftsmen. I suspect their deaths might be related to this ancient god's sacrifice. So, I guess these craftsmen may have left clues for escape among these carved symbols..."
This was no lie.
It was Ji Xun's most plausible idea for breaking through.
"Sacrifice?"
The Frost Knight's mind immediately cleared up upon hearing this.
Instinctively, he wanted to look at the symbols on the ceiling.
But the T-shaped design of his helmet, though offering excellent protection, severely limited his vision.
It was very difficult to see things overhead without removing the helmet.
As he instinctively reached to remove his helmet, he paused for a moment.
To be fair, the intuition of a third-tier Curse Card Master was quite sharp.
He sensed something and coldly warned, "Kid, don't try anything funny."
Ji Xun, with a terrified expression, continued his flawless act.
He positioned himself cleverly to block the Frost Knight's view of Chu Jiu and Nan Jing, preventing any hints of their plans.
Despite his arrogance, the Frost Knight was also extremely cautious.
The oppressive aura he released earlier was a test of the trio's strength. Even after realizing their lack of threat, he maintained a safe distance.
Although the Frost Knight's instincts sensed something amiss, his urgent desire to survive overrode everything.
He activated the mechanism inside his armor, and with a click, his helmet opened, revealing a vicious face.
In his eyes, these three were easy prey.
He never expected that a first-tier Curse Card Master would dare to plot against him.
With his helmet off, the Frost Knight looked up, trying to decipher the mysterious symbols he hadn't noticed before.
Little did he know, this was exactly what Ji Xun had intended!
...
Almost immediately after the Frost Knight removed his helmet and looked up, Ji Xun swiftly moved back.
At the same time, Chu Jiu sprang into action!
But the combat instincts of a third-tier Curse Card Master were incredibly sharp.
The Frost Knight instantly sensed Ji Xun's retreating intent and smirked: "Overestimating yourself!"
Knowing Ji Xun was key to escaping, he didn't intend to kill him. Instead, he reached out to capture him.
At that moment, he didn't intend to use lethal force.
He thought of capturing Ji Xun and breaking a leg as a lesson...
However, as he reached out, he felt an inexplicable moment of sluggishness in his body, instantly becoming alert: "Mental attack?"
But this mental force wasn't strong enough to stop his actions, merely causing a brief delay.
Could a first-tier Curse Card Master manage this?
Realizing something was off, the Frost Knight quickly turned his head.
He ignored Ji Xun's retreat and focused on the approaching Chu Jiu.
For some reason, looking at this first-tier Curse Card Master, his disdain vanished, replaced by a primal fear.
Yet his combat instincts made him react immediately, his hands emanating a pale blue icy aura, instantly turning chillingly cold.
Even though his power was nearly depleted from continuous battles, he could still easily kill a first-tier Curse Card Master.
The Frost Knight expected to subdue Chu Jiu instantly, but in the next moment, his expression drastically changed!
Chu Jiu, having prepared in secret, would not miss such an opportunity.
...
The Frost Knight had advanced along the Order path [Spade 6 - Punishment Iron Guard], specializing in control and counterattacks. Paired with the Cao family's secret ice-breathing technique [Frost Qi], he could both control and strike effectively.
To the Frost Knight, the people of the lower city were like sewer monsters, dirtying the air just by sharing the same space.
This was the best combination, honed and refined by countless generations of Frost Knights.
In normal combat, enemies ensnared by the frost spell couldn't escape.
In legion-wide engagements, it was a nightmare for opponents.
Yet, to his astonishment, his high-level frost magic didn't bind a first-tier card master?
Before he could comprehend why, the mysterious girl in the burlap cloak transformed in an instant, her hair turning silver. Her hand, surrounded by an invisible field, was already at his face, accompanied by a brilliant silver card glinting in the air.
The Frost Knight's eyes widened with a trace of terror.
With his higher rank, any curse card master below tier three should be severely restricted.
Yet, the cold emanating from her was at the level of law-based suppression?
He immediately realized that this girl was not ordinary!
When he saw the distorted face on the card, he was even more alarmed: a second-tier mysterious card, [Arcane: Will Collapse]!
Even second-tier mysterious curse card masters might struggle to use such a card effectively.
But she activated it instantly?
As the knight captain of Governor Cao's household, he knew many high-level secrets.
Seeing this, he suddenly thought of a possibility: "Are you that...!"
To suppress his third-tier frost magic at the law level, this girl's demon mark must be of much higher quality.
He had a silver mark, which meant she must have at least a legendary-quality demon mark!
Moreover, each legendary card has a significant backstory.
An ice-type card with mental attack abilities...
In Innocent City, there was only that S-ranked fugitive!
The Frost Knight was stunned, never expecting to encounter such a significant figure in the maze.
But Chu Jiu gave him no chance, attacking with lethal intent!
The Frost Knight's emitted frost was light blue like the sky, whereas Chu Jiu's surrounding frost was deep blue like the ocean!
As the card disintegrated, the demonic power from the demonic shadow behind Chu Jiu surged, launching a powerful punch.
In that instant, his mind became chaotic.
The Frost Knight's sensory world seemed distorted, seeing countless silhouettes.
A dull thud echoed.
Unable to dodge, he had to take it head-on.
As the hand knife approached, an invisible field more terrifying than the cold pierced his mind like needles.
This was a mental attack!
Already exhausted and on the brink of collapse after days of battle, this blow shattered his spirit like a frozen soul hit with a sledgehammer, breaking into pieces.
The Frost Knight's eyes rolled back, and he staggered backward.
But he wasn't dead yet!
Chu Jiu didn't stop.
Giving no chance for retaliation, her frost-enveloped fists pounded on the Frost Knight's face.
"Thud," "thud," "thud"...
The large chamber echoed with bell-like thuds.
....
Not far away, Ji Xun watched Chu Jiu's fierce combat with glowing eyes: "Much stronger than last time..."
Seeing his old friend's sharp aura, he felt a sense of awe.
Ji Xun had seen formal curse card masters before.
But none as overwhelmingly powerful as this one before him.
Chu Jiu's formidable combat ability was directly related to the demonic shadow behind her.
Previously, in room 407, Ji Xun was unsure about the nature of Chu Jiu's silver-haired state and the shadow behind her.
Now he had a clearer guess.
Although he didn't know which of the fifty-two demon gods Chu Jiu's demon mark corresponded to, its quality was undoubtedly very high.
At least legendary, or perhaps an epic source card like [JOKER].
Ji Xun leaned towards the latter.
After all, to be completely untempted by something, either one has strong moral principles, or they possess something of equal value.
This old friend of his had a complex identity.
....
Due to the advantage of a sneak attack, Chu Jiu heavily injured the Frost Knight with one strike.
Though the battle was intense, the Frost Knight's spirit was already disturbed, and he fought more on instinct than reason.
His overconfidence cost him dearly.
With physical, magical, and mental attacks combined, he was driven back step by step.
Although it looked fierce, the outcome was certain.
The battle's intensity was life-threatening, and the Frost Knight's frost magic was deadly for Ji Xun and Nan Jing, though ineffective against Chu Jiu.
In the moment of their clash, the vast chamber turned into an ice cave, the cold piercing to the bone.
Fortunately, the walls of the crypt were made of regulated materials, and with the zombies blocking, Ji Xun and Nan Jing were relatively unharmed.
Finally.
With a heavy thud, the tall Frost Knight collapsed.
Seeing the battle end, Nan Jing quickly ran to support the blood-spitting Chu Jiu.
Ji Xun also asked with concern, "How are you?"
Chu Jiu responded calmly, "I'm fine."
Ji Xun didn't say more, knowing Nan Jing would help with healing, he couldn't do much else.
He walked over to the corpse.
Looking at the overflowing supernatural properties, he felt anticipation: This was the body of a third-tier curse card master...
Without lingering, his attention was drawn to the hand-held box the Frost Knight never let go.
This box contained something immune to the Keeper's curse attack.
With this, breaking the maze was only a matter of time.
Ji Xun was very curious about what was inside.