Chapter 4641: Out of Protection

Arcis, and especially Kachia, were the ones suffering the most from the rising temperature. Both belonged to races with a strong affinity for the Ice Element and its Laws, making this environment particularly unpleasant for them.

The heat seeping through the shop was already difficult to endure, and the temperature continued climbing as the daylight grew more intense. Even with their Godly Energy barriers, they had to work considerably harder than the others to keep themselves protected.

Tobao, on the other hand, possessed Lightning Element Affinity, which was one of the Yang Elements. Although he couldn’t handle the heat as easily as someone with Fire Element Affinity, he wasn’t doing too badly. His lightning-based energy helped him resist some of the discomfort, allowing him to endure without consuming quite as much energy as Arcis and Kachia.

Celis was another one who didn’t like this place one bit. As a World Swallowing Cedar with Wood Affinity, he was almost as uncomfortable as the two Ice-affinity cultivators. The intense heat was especially troublesome for his nature, and maintaining a sufficient defense required a constant supply of energy.

Fortunately, Celis had one significant advantage: his ability to absorb energy was far superior to that of anyone else in the group. With the enormous stockpile of Godly Crystals they had brought along, he could simply maintain a Godly Energy barrier around himself and replenish whatever energy he spent. His reserves barely diminished, making the situation far more manageable for him than it would have been otherwise.

Kentucky, meanwhile, was having a relatively easy time. Possessing affinity with both Light and Dark Elements, along with the highest defensive capabilities among the group, he could withstand the heat without much difficulty.

In fact, he was secretly using his control over Yang Energy to alleviate the temperature around Kachia, who was beside him. He didn’t make the assistance too obvious, though. There was no reason to attract unnecessary attention when he could help her discreetly.

Then there were the twins, who seemed almost entirely unbothered by the temperature. Their hair had taken on a mixture of dark and white colors, a visible sign that they were exchanging their elements. More specifically, Roan was using Rean’s Light and Yang Energy to counter the effects of the heat. Naturally, they still needed to consume some Godly Energy to maintain their defenses against the extreme temperature, but replenishing those reserves was hardly a problem for them.

Last but not least were Lunelle and Luxa. Frankly, the two could almost be ignored when it came to the group’s struggles. Luxa, in particular, seemed more curious than concerned. As a creature with a pure Fire Element affinity, she actually felt tempted to venture into the daylight just to discover how high the temperature could get. The fact that the light could heat the surrounding environment to so many degrees only made her more interested.

Lunelle was in a different situation. As a Water Element creature, she would ordinarily have had reason to dislike such extreme heat. However, she was completely unaffected by Godly Pressure. That meant she had no difficulty using her own energy to protect herself.

—

Several hours passed, and the daylight grew more intense. The temperature inside the shop continued rising, turning what had initially been a tolerable refuge into another test of endurance. Even with the protective shade of the building, the heat gradually seeped into every corner. The cultivators gathered inside had to keep circulating their Godly Energy, and those with weaker defenses were forced to consume their reserves at an alarming rate.

Kentucky glanced at Kachia. She had her eyes tightly shut, concentrating on maintaining her defense while trying to conserve as much energy as possible. The strain was evident.

’Are you okay? If things become too difficult, I’ll send you straight into the Great Void.’ Kentucky contacted her through Godly Sense.

’I’m-I’m okay,’ Kachia managed to squeeze out through Godly Sense. ’This is... training. I won’t get in anyo-anyone’s way.’

Meanwhile, Rean crawled over to Arcis’s side.

’Senior Arcis, you should use the Godly Horror Crystals. They contain more concentrated and purer Godly Energy, so they’ll help you replenish your reserves more efficiently. Nothing good will come from pushing yourself to the point where you can no longer withstand this trial.’

Rean paused briefly before offering another suggestion. ’If you want, I can do what Kentucky is doing for Kachia and use Yang Energy to alleviate some of the heat around you.’

’No!’ Arcis immediately refused. ’I’ll use the Godly Horror Crystals if necessary. Instead, go near Kachia and help alleviate some of the heat around her. For now, though, I’ll keep trying to endure with Godly Predator Crystals alone. If things become too difficult, I’ll do as you suggested and switch to the Horror Crystals.’

Arcis was clearly determined to endure the trial through his own efforts for as long as possible. Rean understood that there was little point in arguing, so he accepted the decision and crawled toward Kachia instead.

Kentucky glanced at Rean but didn’t object. In fact, he was glad to have the additional help. He could reduce the temperature around Kachia even further on his own, but spreading the effort between the two of them would be more efficient. Besides, if Kentucky did everything himself, there was a greater chance that someone might notice his help. He hasn’t forgotten the rule: no external aid.

Kachia immediately noticed the temperature dropping slightly once more. The relief was subtle, but it made a considerable difference after hours of enduring the heat.

’I’m be-being a burden again...’ she murmured through Godly Sense.

’Don’t worry about that,’ Rean replied. He would have smiled reassuringly, but even that required more effort than he cared to spend in this environment. ’If we were in a place where the cold was the problem, you’d be the one helping everyone else instead.’

Kachia didn’t seem entirely convinced. She was fairly certain that the twins’ group could still endure such cold on their own, even without her help.

Finally, midday arrived, and the temperature reached its peak.

The cultivator who had advised the twins’ group to use Godly Crystals couldn’t help feeling surprised. He had sensed their cultivation levels when they first entered the shop, and he hadn’t expected them to last this long. Considering how much weaker they were than the cultivators normally sent to this place, their endurance was genuinely impressive.

Then again, he had noticed the considerable number of Godly Horror Crystals they possessed. Those crystals contained far more energy than the lower-grade varieties, so they were undoubtedly helping the newcomers remain in the game.

’You’re doing much better than I expected,’ he said through Godly Sense.

Roan glanced in his direction. ’We appreciate your help earlier. What should we call you?’

The man answered without hesitation. ’Howard. And I didn’t help much. I merely told you to get away from the door and not to be frugal with your Godly Energy.’

He paused, then continued in a more serious tone. ’Besides, you’re not out of danger yet. This is only your first day, and you’ll need a lot more Godly Energy to endure the days that follow. Expect to spend at least a year here if you’re lucky. I hope you brought plenty of Godly Crystals... and that’s only if you survive what is coming later today.’

Roan’s expression remained calm, but Howard’s words immediately caught his attention. A year? They had only just arrived, and they were already being told that surviving here might require an entire year of preparation. That alone suggested the place served a purpose far beyond simply testing how much heat a cultivator could endure.

He decided to take the opportunity to obtain some information. ’We were sent to this location against our will, so we have no idea where we are. Can you tell us more about this place?’

’What?!’ Howard was taken aback. ’No wonder you were sent here with such puny cultivation. Those who are sent here are always Region Gods, after all. Who did you piss off?’

Roan very much wished he knew the answer to that question himself.

As far as he was concerned, the group hadn’t done anything to deserve being sent somewhere like this. Could this have been part of Duze’s plan? The possibility had crossed his mind several times since their arrival, but he found it difficult to believe.

Why wait until now?

If Duze had wanted to get rid of them, he could have dealt with them the first time they met. There had been plenty of opportunities, and sending them to an unknown location with such low cultivation seemed like an unnecessarily complicated approach.

’Let’s just say someone has very bad taste,’ Roan answered.

’I see...’ Howard didn’t press the matter. ’All right. You’ve earned it by surviving this long with such low cultivation. Besides, it would be better if you at least knew where you’re going to die later today.’

His casual remark made the situation sound even more ominous, but he continued before Roan could ask anything else. ’This is one of countless cities throughout the Celestial Plane that serve as starting hubs.’

’Starting hubs?’ Roan narrowed his eyes. ’Do you mean places where ascenders first arrive?’

’Huh? No, not that.’ Howard quickly clarified. ’It’s a different kind of hub. These places are meant for cultivators who are leaving the protected areas for the first time. This city, specifically, is called Granfel.’