The Rich Cultivator-Chapter 393. When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.

Chapter 393: 393. When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.

"When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus."

These words were scrawled boldly across a massive board hung on the third floor of the towering circus-like fortress. Beneath the sign, vibrant lights flickered and whimsical music played, masking the danger that lingered in the air. Beneath that sign, two clown-dressed pirates attempted to walk in, their curly green and blue wigs bouncing with each exaggerated step.

"Stop right there," a sharp voice called out.

"Huh? Registration again?" Tyler asked, voice muffled under the squeaky red nose and painted smile. He tilted his head like a confused jester.

The man who stopped them wore magician-like attire—complete with a swirling cape and star-embroidered top hat. He looked them up and down with visible disdain. "Hmph. Are you two even worth it? This isn’t a floor for newbies. Get lost."

He dismissed them with a wave, treating them like dirt beneath his boots. Tyler and Mana were shooed away without a second glance.

"He thinks we’re just some background clowns," Tyler muttered under his breath as they turned away. "That guy’s only at Master Level. Should I just knock him out?"

"Possess?" Mana asked with a raised brow, keeping her tone light.

Tyler shook his head. "Wait. Let’s not blow our cover just yet. We need to understand the entry requirements first. Each Floor is our goal. If we can’t get through this way, we’ll go back and sneak in using the same hidden path we used after leaving Candy Crush room from fourth floor to the second floor."

Before he could say more, another pirate appeared in front of them. Mana had already vanished from Tyler’s side.

The pirate suddenly stumbled, his eyes glazing over. He lost his footing, and Tyler quickly caught him, easing him down beside a stack of barrels. With smooth precision, he grabbed a half-empty beer bottle and poured a little over the man’s shirt to make him appear drunk.

From the outside, it looked like nothing more than a clumsy partygoer who had too much to drink.

A moment later, Mana’s form flickered into view behind a support beam. She had exited from within the pirate’s body like a shadow dispersing at dawn.

"Mana got the intel," Mana said quickly, her voice low. "Second floor is for normal crew members. Third floor is reserved for core members—those who work directly under the Clown, the Ring Master, or Dr. Juggler. Each of them has a special tattoo on their hand for identification."

"Let me guess," Tyler muttered, "we can’t replicate it?"

Mana nodded. "Exactly. The ink is enchanted. The tattoos resonate with each other. If we try to forge one and they won’t able to sense it, it’ll expose us immediately."

Tyler sighed and crossed his arms. "Then we need another route. If not, We won’t be able plant the explosive charms in the third floor.."

His eyes scanned the area again—but Mana had already disappeared. A few moments later, he spotted her casually walking up to a man near a cluster of carnival curtains.

"Do I know you?" the man asked, squinting at her suspiciously.

Mana smiled sweetly, flipping her hair. "Actually, there’s no need. Everyone knows that Hell is hot, so don’t be a Thot."

The man blinked. Recognition dawned on his face. "Oh... you’re from the upper floor!"

Tyler’s jaw nearly dropped. "That was a secret code?" he muttered to himself.

Mana turned and flashed him a wink. "Yeah... Take us to the secret trampoline."

The man nodded reverently and beckoned them to follow. He led them through a maze of fabric walls, some vibrant with stripes, others dull and grey.

Eventually, they reached a strange open area hidden in the folds of the circus structure. There, beneath dim lighting, was a giant trampoline set into the floor. Its surface shimmered with strange energy, and hanging above were banners that said, "Launch to the Stars!"

Mana leaned close to Tyler and sent a voice transmission, "As long as we jump on this, it’ll launch us straight to the third floor."

Tyler blinked. "Just like that?"

Mana shook her head slightly. "There’s one issue. That guy over there." She gestured subtly toward a man seated on a high stool. He was inspecting everyone before they were allowed to jump.

"Great..." Tyler groaned. "More checkpoints."

Mana smirked. "Don’t worry. Mana got this."

She began to hum again—a soft, almost whimsical tune that twisted subtly through the air. The two guards standing nearby began to sway. Their eyes lost focus. One of them let out a dreamy sigh.

"They’re out," she whispered. "Let’s go."

Without hesitation, Tyler and Mana leapt onto the trampoline. The moment their feet touched the surface, it rippled like water and launched them upward with a whoosh. They soared through the air in a perfect arc and landed lightly on the third floor platform above.

Back below, the guards snapped out of their trance—but their memories of the last few seconds were hazy, like waking from a strange dream.

"Why are you standing here?" the trampoline overseer barked.

"I... I don’t know," the pirate who led them stammered.

"Then get lost!" the man growled, clearly irritated.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

Meanwhile, on the Pink Mist...

The sea trembled under the furious thrashing of a colossal beast.

Temptress soared through the rain-heavy sky, it’s not the rain, it’s the water falling because of splashes made by the Serpent. With pinpoint precision, she landed atop one of the twin heads of the massive sea serpent. Its glistening scales reflected the eerie pink hue of the surrounding mist.

She placed a handful of explosive charms on the serpent’s skull, her fingers moving like a blur, but before she could finish, the serpent’s tail whipped up from below and slapped her midair like a fly. She spun out in the air and was sent crashing into the waves, but with a burst of energy, she regained control and shot back toward the ship, drenched but alive.

An instant later, the charms she had planted detonated with a thunderous boom. One of the serpent’s heads was blown open, bone and flesh scattering through the sky. For a moment, it looked as though the fight had turned in their favor—but the wound began closing, flesh knitting itself back together unnaturally fast.

"Tsk... Damn it. Missed the timing," Temptress muttered under her breath, wiping blood from the corner of her lip as she landed back on deck.

Mathilda—no, Malefic Catalyst now—stood beside her, hands on her hips, her eyes still locked on the creature. "Looks like you’ve got another plan already brewing."

"Yeah," Temptress replied, pulling off her wet gloves and wringing them. "That damned Twin-Headed Sea Serpent—its regeneration is tied to both heads. So long as even one remains, the other will heal. We need to destroy both simultaneously."

Malefic Catalyst nodded. "You tried planting explosive charms on both heads before. But being on top of one of those things for more than a few seconds is suicide."

"Exactly," Temptress agreed, already uncoiling the whip from her waist. "So we go with Plan C."

Malefic Catalyst grinned. "The cannon?"

"It’s already loaded and aimed," Malefic Catalyst said, snapping her fingers. The gun crew responded with a salute.

Without another word, Temptress took to the air again, soaring high above the pink mist that covered the ocean. The serpent hissed, its twin heads rising to meet her. They struck like vipers, jaws snapping shut inches from her every time she darted past them.

She weaved through the air with impossible grace, twisting and flipping through tight loops. The whip in her hand shimmered, its length extending unnaturally. She began to circle around the Twin heads.

With each pass, she lashed the whip around the serpent’s two heads, threading it like a needle until both skulls were bound tightly together.

Electric sparks began to crackle through the whip as Temptress channeled her mana into it. The Lightning surged, paralyzing both heads for a crucial moment.

"Now!" she shouted.

Malefic Catalyst raised her hand. "FIRE!"

The cannons roared.

From the shadowy orbs embedded in the hull—called Shadow Pearls—cannonballs surged forth. These weren’t ordinary munitions. They were forged from abyssal ore brought up from the deep, humming with corrupted energy.

The serpent’s two heads thrashed, its paralysis fading fast. Its massive muscles bulged as it fought against the whip, just seconds from tearing itself free.

But the rain of cannonballs struck.

Explosions rocked the sea.

The serpent’s heads were shredded, black ichor and shattered bone raining down like a grotesque storm. The headless beast stood tall for a moment, twitching violently, as if refusing to believe it had died.

Even Temptress’s whip snapped under the force, unraveling into glowing threads before vanishing.

Silence followed. A stillness so complete, even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

"Is... is it over?" one of the crew members whispered.

MC watched the giant, headless body standing motionless in the mist. Then she smiled faintly. "It is."

The serpent’s corpse collapsed with a mighty splash, sending a wave rolling across the pink sea. For a moment, the ship rocked like a leaf in a storm—but it held strong.

Then, the cheers erupted.

The have defeated the Twin Headed Sea Serpent.