My Beautiful Duchess Wife

Instantly, smoke and dust rose, and stone chips flew everywhere.

After patting a few rocks, Lin Peng slowly stood up, cracked his neck, and laughed, "Is that really the case? Hehe... What kind of seal is this, so powerful!"

"A spatial seal!" Angelina covered her mouth and chuckled, then turned serious and said, her eyes filled with genuine arrogance as she looked at the seal.

"Spatial seal? What spatial seal?" Lin Peng scratched the back of his head, looking completely bewildered. He walked closer to the seal again, poking at it with his fingers.

Angelina gently rubbed her temples before explaining, "This spatial seal is one of the ten great seals. Of course, this spatial seal is only a pseudo-spatial seal. A true spatial seal is nothing like this. Even touching it with your finger would likely result in a backlash from a force a hundred times stronger! So… this should be a pseudo-spatial seal used by a Demon Emperor-level expert! However, judging from the appearance, the red light is coming from inside. A Demon Emperor-level expert went to the trouble of sealing this place, and looking at the corpses of those slaves… perhaps, a fire-type treasure is sealed inside, or a powerful being at least at the Demon Emperor level! Hmm… judging from the current light, it seems to be periodically waning in power!"

"Can it be broken?" Lin Peng asked nervously, his face darkening as he looked at the seal. After all, it seemed he couldn't break it himself.

Angelina thought for a moment, then nodded with a faint smile: "Others might not be able to do it, but... I can turn it into a reverse seal. That is to say, we can go in, but we can't come out!"

After a quick calculation, Lin Peng shook his head helplessly. If he went in like this, what if he couldn't get out? Then he'd really just be waiting to die inside.

And... what if... what's sealed inside is an ridiculously powerful magical beast or a madman? It would be truly bizarre if a Demon Emperor-level being came to seal something that wasn't powerful!

Angelina smiled slightly, then turned and walked out decisively. The two returned very quickly, reaching the middle of the cave in less than five minutes.

At this moment, Eileen, who was still in the middle of the cave, saw the two of them come out and immediately asked anxiously, "How is it? We just felt a slight tremor, and then it seems there was no sound."

Howard nodded, looking with some fear into the depths of the cave, where there was still a long way to go. The eerie light had dimmed considerably. It seemed Lin Peng had dealt with it, as it only emitted a few beams of light after a long time. Therefore, it wasn't so hot for them to stand there.

Lin Peng looked at Angelina, laughed, and said, "Two questions, one good and one bad. Which one do you want to hear first!" He held up two fingers and chuckled as he looked at Eileen.

Eileen nearly slapped Lin Peng away in anger, and snorted, "Say it, just say two!"

"Firstly, beneath this mine, perhaps an extremely powerful being is sealed away. Or perhaps an extremely powerful treasure. Hmm... the light is getting dimmer now; in a few days, the burning ore should be gone. So... another possibility is that it's a spatial seal that we can't break. Therefore, if it's periodic, then... those lights might reappear next time!"

Eileen's willow-leaf-shaped eyebrows furrowed slightly, a sight that pained Frans. He seemed lost in thought, and after a long while, he said coldly, "It seems this is the only way. But... how often does this cycle repeat?"

He turned to look at Frans, who was originally from here and should know that.

Frans lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then hummed in agreement: "It happens about once every two months, and the slave miners don't know. Heh... Of course, the old Magris would have absolutely kept it a secret. If it's every two months, perhaps we can dig directly from the top to the bottom?"

Lin Peng smiled faintly and said, "Impossible. How could we dig that fast in two months? Unless we torture all those slaves to death. Of course, perhaps we can dig to the bottom within a year!"

Eileen nodded slightly, but Angelina chuckled, "Do you think that spatial seal is so fragile? A seal implemented by a Demon Emperor-level being could, at a certain point, seal the entire mountain! Hmm... it's just that one part of the seal was discovered. Of course... even if it's only for a year, the crystals we mine will be enough for our development. By the way, how long did it take you to mine before?"

"Half a year, hmm... a small portion of the crystals are stored in the mountain stronghold! But... judging by the time, Jess, Furen, and the Chris family should be coming here to collect the crystals soon!" Frans murmured, chuckling mischievously.

Upon hearing this, Lin Peng and the others began to laugh eerily. Little did they know, they were about to be utterly annihilated!

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Ambush

In Darkmoon City, for some unknown reason, the economic blockade and financial crisis were quickly resolved by a merchant carrying large quantities of food and daily necessities. Moreover, it's said that this merchant was a friend of the Duke's advisor, and had come at the Duke's invitation to resolve the situation.

Another rumor has surfaced: the city officials and treasurers have allegedly embezzled a significant amount of Darkmoon City's public funds. Furthermore, the merchants' taxes are ridiculously high, which is said to have contributed to the current financial crisis!

Such rumors spread like wildfire, like a swarm of locusts, until everyone in Darkmoon City knew about them. From the initial beast tide to this current financial storm, it seems the City Officer's reputation has reached its lowest point. And the Treasurer and Sheriff's reputations are also nearing their lowest point.

In one of the Furen family's study rooms, the enormous bookshelves and exquisite walls had been reduced to ruins. Outside the study, a large number of high-ranking demons lay prostrate beside a small pool.

They were all sweating profusely, and their whole bodies trembled as if they had entered a frozen wasteland.

Reed looked at Paglis's cold face and couldn't help but tremble. This old man of his really was a bit violent. He remembered yesterday when he forcibly took a commoner's daughter, he was given a severe beating by Paglis.

However, it seems even more terrifying today. I wonder if I'll get beaten up again in this state.

Paglius slammed his hand on the wooden table in front of him, sending wood chips flying. These chips instantly transformed into sharp blades, slicing Reed's face and drawing blood.

Her body trembled even more, and after kneeling down, she dared not look directly at her old man.

"Hmph... That idiot Jess, now he doesn't even need to consider their bottom line. Hmph... I didn't expect Sia to have really grown wings. Hehe... I just wonder if that merchant can even leave Darkmoon City! Hmph!"

Paglius snorted coldly, then turned to look at Reed with an extremely stern gaze.

"You brat, always causing trouble for me, humph... This year, I'll send you to collect those crystals for me. Hehe... I refuse to believe that with the combined wealth and power of our three families, we can't defeat a mere woman!" Pagris exuded an extremely cold aura, causing even the high-ranking demons outside the study to break out in a cold sweat.

If this continues, he will definitely not be able to withstand the pressure and will die from a heart failure.

"Yes, yes, yes... Father... please... please rest assured, I will definitely help you get the greatest benefit!" Reed trembled uncontrollably, leaning back. He was terrified that his father might accidentally kill him.

With a long sigh, Paglis shook his head helplessly. With Reed's temperament, could he really hold up the Furen family in the future?

……

Under the blazing moon, waves of heat were impartially distributed to all the demons of the Demon Realm. Grass had already sprouted on the ground; even in the harsh environment of the Demon Realm, they had tenaciously persevered and survived.

In the valley, a group of about a thousand people moved slowly forward. They were three hundred men led by Reed of the Furen family, three hundred men led by Daniel of the Chris family, and four hundred men led by a great demon dispatched by Jess.

A thousand people had run for a whole day to reach this valley. Once they crossed it, the swamp in front of them would be their territory. And... they could rest properly, fight for the greatest benefit, and then head back home.

Reed glared at Daniel with some resentment. From childhood, Daniel had always been better than him in every way. And... after any conflict, Daniel would definitely beat him so badly he'd be carried back home.

Of course, even if he were carried back, he would definitely get a severe beating from his own father, Paglis. So... if you were to ask Reed who he hated most in Darkmoon City, it would undoubtedly be Daniel.

Daniel gave a cold laugh, the pain still throbbing in his chest. He thought bitterly: once he recovered, he would definitely kill that staff officer. For the first time, someone his age had actually managed to hurt him. If his old man hadn't arrived quickly, he might really have died in his own family's shop.

The other great demon, observing the two men each lost in their own thoughts, sneered. This time, it might truly be the greatest loss their master had ever suffered. But if this mine still existed, then… they would never be able to defeat their master!

As for these two families, they've a history of defying Jess and secretly seeking personal gain. This time, they might even be involved! Hmph... Just wait, when my master gains control of Darkmoon City, he'll use you two as a sacrifice.

After letting out a cold laugh, the great demon suddenly glanced at the mountains on either side. That familiar feeling returned. It was as if someone had been following them ever since they entered the valley.

The crimson moon still hung high in the sky. Perhaps, once they crossed this valley and reached the mountain stronghold, they could enjoy roasted meat and fine wine. He swallowed hard, patted his mount, and the wildebeest galloped off once more.

On the mountain ranges on both sides, there were indeed people coldly watching the large group walking in the valley below. Lin Peng smacked his lips slightly and chuckled, "Looks like today's mission is very easy! There's not a single challenge!"

Now, he is a true Demon King-level expert. Even in the Demon Realm, he holds a very high position. Below him, although there are many high-ranking demons, there is also a Great Demon leading them.

However, in reality, they were just a few minor figures. Lin Peng didn't believe that these were the main forces of their three families. Furthermore, he didn't believe they would send out any truly capable individuals for such a task.

It's nothing more than the three families fighting tooth and nail over it.

Frans, standing nearby, snorted coldly and looked at Lin Peng with a hint of provocation: "Dare to bet that I can wipe out all one thousand people!" Howard, standing next to him, was taken aback and looked at Lin Peng with a smile.

Lin Peng's lips curled into a smile, and he flicked his fingers a few times. Several flames appeared, hissing as if sensing Frans's provocation: "Then how about we bet on how long it will take me to wipe out these thousand people!"

Frans paused, his straight eyebrows furrowing slightly. In an instant, his eyelids drooped, and he ignored Lin Peng completely. For a Demon King to kill these thousand people, perhaps… the time it would take depended on his plans.

If I were to gamble with him, I would be truly foolish.

Howard chuckled, feeling a bit bored, and turned his attention to the thousand-strong contingent below.

On the other side, a figure suddenly appeared in the void. It was Lei, who had gone invisible. After glancing at the thousand-strong army below, he said, "Why don't we just wipe them out here? Isn't it pointless to wait to cross the swamp and knock on the mountain stronghold's door?"

The icy depths in his delicate eyes had now turned a blood-red. The fighting spirit emanating from his very bones surprised even Howard. Was this guy a war maniac?!

Lin Peng pinched his chin with two fingers, then nodded slightly: "Hmm... I think so too. Other people would be fine. But... a thousand-strong force like this can be dealt with without any effort at all! Hehe... Let's go!"

Upon hearing this, he leaped high into the air. At the same time, a raging flame appeared in his hand. After a hissing sound, he hurled it fiercely towards the thousand-strong army below.

Boom...

The flames exploded directly in the very center of the thousand-strong army, sending more than a dozen mid-level demons flying high into the air with the dust they kicked up. When they crashed back down, the demons were too badly injured to get up.

With just this one move, the thousand-strong battalion was so frightened that they dared not say a word. At the same time, Frans on the other side took out a steel battle sword and charged into the valley, brandishing it.

In that brief instant, the heads of four or five high-ranking demons flew off. A chill ran through the members of those powerful clans, making them tremble all over.

Reed yelled, "Protect me! Protect me!" However, more high-ranking demons rushed forward to stop Frans, and they didn't hear his piercing cry. Daniel glanced coldly at Frans, and was about to spur his horse to join the fight when a chilling dagger suddenly stabbed towards his neck. He groaned, and his sword slid out, knocking the dagger away.

Just as Lin Peng landed, Frans raised his sword in a defiant gesture, displaying the number of people he had killed. Suddenly, Daniel shouted, "Lin Peng, this time, let's see who comes to save you!"

Grinning maliciously, he charged towards Lin Peng, brandishing his battle sword, followed closely by a dozen high-ranking demons. Meanwhile, the great demon sent by Jess coldly observed their ambush, letting out a sinister laugh: "Looks like we're really going to suffer heavy losses today! I wonder... if that bandit Magris knows!" With that, a spear appeared in his hand, and he patted his horse's belly, galloping towards Howard. His eyes were filled only with a bloodthirsty, murderous desire!

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Scroll, Escape?

"Why are there always so many ungrateful people? Heh heh!" With a sinister laugh, Lin Peng didn't make a move, just stood in his original position waiting for Daniel and his men to rush over.

As a Demon King-level expert, Lin Peng merely observed Daniel and the others with the same cold indifference he would show the four of them. He flicked his fingers slightly, flames dancing between them. It seemed that he had become accustomed to this gesture ever since he began to comprehend fire.

His eyes narrowed sharply, and his hand formed a claw, unleashing a handful of flames. With a whoosh, he hurled it at a high-ranking demon who had already surpassed Daniel. When the flames were less than half a meter away, the demon initially intended to dodge. However, just as he ducked, Lin Peng softly shouted, "Explode!"

boom……

A deafening roar erupted, sparks flying everywhere. The wildebeest leaped into the air, while a headless rider convulsed as he slowly plummeted from the horse. Daniel, startled, immediately pulled on the reins, staring at Lin Peng with fear.

The high-ranking demons behind him, however, fearlessly surrounded Daniel. They coldly watched Lin Peng, but the swords in their hands trembled inexplicably. At least, deep down, they were still afraid that Lin Peng might suddenly charge at them.

"Cowards!" Lin Peng spat out the words through gritted teeth, then chuckled and hurled fireballs at the soldiers who had just charged forward. Each fireball exploded above them, sending a dozen or so men flying. In a mere instant, at least a hundred men had fallen. Daniel gritted his yellow teeth and roared, "Charge! If we kill him, we'll be the biggest winners today!"

As he spoke, the demonic flames on his battle blade burned even brighter. His eyes widened, and after a swift, circular motion in the air, he swung his arm sharply towards Lin Peng. However, Lin Peng didn't seem to have any immediate urge to kill Daniel.

With a light tap of his left foot, he darted to the other side. He continued to unleash flames, while simultaneously giving Daniel the middle finger.

Daniel knew this posture was definitely inappropriate. But... just when his demonic flames were about to strike Lin Peng, he always managed to escape instantly. Moreover, he often ended up injuring many of his own men in the process.

Suddenly, a surge of heat rose within him. If he couldn't kill this guy today, he would truly have let down his fallen brothers.

After giving a cold snort, he led the high-ranking demons to continue following in Lin Peng's footsteps.

Meanwhile, Howard seemed to have met his match. This powerful demon under Jess's command wasn't just a drug-fueled monster. And...it seemed to be about the same strength as Howard.

Frans, on the other side, was killing with even greater gusto. Anyone within two meters of him was practically killed with a single slash. Ray's assassination technique was even faster. Each time, without even revealing his body, his gleaming dagger would lightly slice across the neck of a soldier, and head would fly off.

Howard was furious. Why did this guy have to target him of all people?

Of course, the Great Demon also had his own troubles. Judging from Frans's attack power alone, he was definitely a top-tier expert. The other person, however, was nowhere to be found. And Lin Peng's side was equally troublesome.

What if you run over there and get hit by a fireball?

So, they really had no choice but to mess with Howard. The two were evenly matched, and with Reed from the Chris family helping them, dealing with him was a piece of cake. Reed, on the other hand, was glowing with excitement, and the sight of blood splattering under the red moon seemed particularly exhilarating.

His battle sword trembled slightly, but a chill ran through him, preventing him from advancing. He only sent a few high-ranking demons to assist the greater demons under Jess's command. He would absolutely not help Daniel.

When they discovered that Daniel only had a little over a hundred people left, and... almost everyone was injured, the two realized something was wrong. Lin Peng also stopped and looked at Daniel with a smile.

Daniel almost coughed up blood at the sight of Daniel's relaxed expression. There really was someone like this. Even Daniel was exhausted from chasing him, yet this guy seemed completely carefree.

"Lin Peng... if you've got the guts, don't try to run away! Hmph..." Daniel shouted coldly, brandishing his sword after urging his wildebeest to a stop. And Lin Peng in front of him actually stopped like that.

A smirk played on his lips as he stroked his chin: "What... you want a one-on-one fight?"

Daniel was speechless for a moment. He was no match for him to begin with. What's more, his injuries didn't seem to have healed yet! Meanwhile, seeing the dire situation, Reed and his companion immediately left the battlefield and rushed to Daniel's side. A large number of his personal guards also quickly gathered together.

But when they gathered all their soldiers, they discovered that only three or four hundred remained. Most of them lay on the ground, resting forever.

Reed seemed to sense fear instantly, and trembled slightly as he looked at the four people who had gathered around him. He turned to the great demon sent by Jess and said, "Waise, it seems...we..."