The entrance to the third circle of the labyrinth opened, and Liu Zixuan did not hesitate at all, directly taking the still-surprised Qiqi along with him.
The time wasted in the second circle had been too long, they must immediately quicken their pace to reach the loft in the center, otherwise, no matter how great the opportunity, it would slip away.
"What a thick mist."
This was their first impression upon stepping into the third circle.
"Brother, is that a person up ahead?"
Peering through the mist, Qiqi pointed at the figure moving in the distance and asked.
This mist was unusual; while they could see the ghostly figures from the second circle, the X-ray Vision was unable to penetrate the mist, nor could it discern the features of the figure.
However, the figure's silhouette seemed somewhat familiar.
"Don't speak, let's go and take a look."
After Liu Zixuan spoke, he gestured for silence and then took Qiqi's tiny hand, walking toward the figure ahead.
Upon closer inspection, the familiarity increased.
Qiqi cheerfully exclaimed, "It's Sister Luo Xi."
"Where did you come from?" The voice was from Luo Xi, clearly she had also spotted Liu Zixuan and Qiqi, using the secret code they had set up before to communicate.
"Lingxiu Village!" Qiqi replied and ran over directly.
"Sister Luo Xi, have you been here long?"
Luo Xi glanced at Liu Zixuan, then smiled, "I just got here, but the mist here is so strange, I couldn't find the way ahead."
"How did you get past the second circle?" Liu Zixuan asked.
"Second circle?" Luo Xi scratched her head, "I just walked through it, didn't encounter any obstacles. What's wrong?"
"That's odd, we encountered lots of ghostly figures in the second circle, if it weren't for brother, we might not have made it here," Qiqi said.
Luo Xi furrowed her brows slightly, "Perhaps everyone's experiences are different."
"No matter, as long as we're reunited it's a good thing." Qiqi smiled happily, linking arms with Liu Zixuan and Luo Xi, "Now let's find a way through the mist."
"There's no poison in the mist, but there is a nauseating fishy smell. There's clearly no ocean nearby, yet it's peculiar!" Liu Zixuan murmured.
"Yes, and when following the mist forward by touch, you end up back at the starting point." Luo Xi added, murmuring.
"Brother, is this an array?" Qiqi asked.
Liu Zixuan shook his head, "No, it's man-made!"
"Man-made? But where is the person?" Qiqi asked, puzzled.
"Isn't the person right beside you!" After Liu Zixuan finished speaking, he suddenly pulled Qiqi away from Luo Xi, keeping a distance of more than a meter between them, coldly asking, "Who are you really!"
"I'm Luo Xi," Luo Xi replied.
"Brother, are you okay? This is Sister Luo Xi, we even matched the secret code just now!" Qiqi was dumbfounded, wondering when her brother didn't recognize Luo Xi.
Liu Zixuan smiled meaningfully, "The code was matched by you, not her. Think carefully, when we came over, she merely asked where we were from."
"What's inappropriate about that?" Qiqi asked.
"Certainly, if it were just this, there'd be nothing wrong, but after seeing both of us, you called her name first, after which she started speaking. Every word she said was directed to you, yet she didn't pay much attention to me. Don't you find it odd?"
Upon hearing this, Qiqi furrowed her brow, "Yes, Sister Luo Xi usually sticks close to you. Although the time apart in the ruins wasn't long, given the surrounding dangers, upon seeing you, she should be asking lots of questions, but she's so calm!"
Liu Zixuan nodded, "More importantly, there wasn't a trace of the Power of the Dragon Veins mark I've left on her arm. Considering all of this, it cannot confirm she is the real Luo Xi."
With those words, Liu Zixuan suddenly raised his head, staring directly at the person in front of him, "Tell me, who exactly are you!"
"Heh heh heh!"
A very hoarse laugh emerged from the fake 'Luo Xi', abruptly her appearance reversed, it was still a human face, but the skin was clearly covered in scales, and the whole body emitted a rotten fishy smell, truly making one want to vomit.
"This... this is a merperson?" Qiqi exclaimed.
"There is a record in the Earth Book, a country named Gui Xu in the Eastern Domain, hidden deep in the ocean, the inhabitants are human in appearance with fish tails, who transform into human shapes through mist during the full moon nights on the beach." Liu Zixuan explained.
"You know quite a bit," the fake 'Luo Xi' chuckled hoarsely, not bothering to hide, "Indeed, I come from Gui Xu, sent by my master to guard Qiankun Palace!"
"Guard the entire Qiankun Palace?" Liu Zixuan asked.
"Don't you find your questions too many?"
The fake 'Luo Xi' sneered coldly, then several figures appeared around her, all identical merfolk monsters, clutching weapons like knives and forks, attacking Liu Zixuan directly.
"Stand behind me, don't move!"
Liu Zixuan advised Qiqi, immediately drawing the Nameless Sword, started battling the merfolk monsters.
These monsters are different from humans, their abilities couldn't be measured through realms, but the impact of their attacks was extremely powerful, giving Liu Zixuan the impression that these merfolk monsters' strength was comparable to the Innate Emperor Realm Third Heaven!
One or two of the Innate Emperor Realm Third Heaven wouldn't be much for Liu Zixuan, but these unusually numerous monsters comparable to the Innate Emperor Realm Third Heaven really gave Liu Zixuan a headache!
While fighting, he pondered the solution.
The fake 'Luo Xi' said she guarded Qiankun Palace but is only within the third circle, reaching the center loft, there is still another circle inside, this place isn't the ending, by conventional thinking, the big boss appears at the end, not here.
Thus, to sweep through the mist into the next circle, one must deal with these merfolk monsters from Gui Xu!
Thinking of this, Liu Zixuan suddenly grinned, "As a physician for years, I've seen all types of physiques; today I truly want to see how these merpeople are structured!"
The Nameless Sword issued a dragon's roar with a hum, dislodged and directly blocked the merfolk monsters, while Liu Zixuan, after advising Qiqi, grasped several Ghost Gate Needles and rushed violently towards the fake 'Luo Xi'.
With Mind Manipulation, thirteen Ghost Gate Needles burst forth simultaneously, transforming into thirteen golden illusions, immediately piercing into the fake 'Luo Xi's' body.
"This... this is ancient...!" When the fake 'Luo Xi' sensed the destruction caused by the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles within her body, she widened her eyes, "Are you a descendant of Shennong?"
"Whether I am or not, what difference does it make?" Liu Zixuan formed a seal with two fingers, "Break for me!"
Immediately, the fake 'Luo Xi's' limbs shattered instantly, as her injuries worsened, the mist around them gradually dissipated.