Chapter 601 - 329: Demand for Divine Blood, Meeting the Faceless Ghost Again

’This flame is so hot?’

Su Chen furrowed his brow. The surrounding temperature was soaring, but his position hadn’t changed. He hadn’t even gotten close to the flame; he was merely within its area of effect.

In just a moment, his skin was scalded red, as if brushed by a branding iron.

Before this, the only Flame Fire he had ever come into contact with was that of the Bronze Sect.

However, he had never felt such scorching temperatures on his trips to its inner sanctum, perhaps thanks to the protection of an Ancient King.

This Lost Flame before him was clearly no ordinary thing.

’This Sun Residual Fire isn’t just for guidance; it’s for protection.’

Su Chen realized that without the protection of this purple flame, he would have been roasted into a desiccated corpse in an instant.

But this worry didn’t last long. Just as the Residual Fire on his body began to fade and the surrounding temperature soared to a point he could barely withstand, his connection to the real world faintly started to return.

After a few more breaths, the connection was fully restored, and Su Chen hurriedly returned to the real world.

In the blink of an eye, the surrounding heat vanished.

His skin was still crimson, and the intense heat radiating from his body made the air SIZZLE as vapor billowed out in all directions.

The Divine Blood before him was completely consumed. The hair-thin strand of Sun Residual Fire sank back into his body and vanished.

Su Chen had no time for further thought. His mouth was completely parched. He quickly pushed open the door of the Nether Tower and went out into the main building.

GLUG, GLUG...

He summoned a stream of water and poured it directly into his mouth. Billowing steam escaped from his throat; his internal temperature was also incredibly high.

"Haaa..." After chugging water for five or six minutes straight, Su Chen finally let out a long breath. The surface temperature of his skin began to drop, and the searing heat in his chest gradually subsided.

Only then did he have a moment to process what had just happened. ’This Sun Residual Fire came from that guy who called himself Sun.’

’I don’t know if he’s really a Spirit Fragment left by a Sun Tier Professional, but this Residual Fire can use Divine Blood as fuel to take me into the Nether Realm—to the location of the Lost Flame.’

GLUG... Su Chen took another gulp of water, pondering to himself, ’If I have enough fuel, it’s highly likely it can actually get me inside.’

The Lost Flame... Su Chen’s heart skipped a beat. According to the information he had, that thing was said to contain the Spirit of Sun.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t curious, wasn’t greedy.

Under normal circumstances, he would likely have to compete with several other Ancient Kings and the wielders of Divine Dawn Level Talents.

Su Chen was resistant to that idea. Even if he became a Chosen One, the short-term disadvantages would far outweigh the benefits.

But if there was a chance to sneak in and reap the benefits, that was a different story entirely.

’As long as I can get one look at it, just one glance, that thing will be mine...’

At this thought, Su Chen’s heart soared. He took another gulp of water, the coolness of the liquid traveling down his throat to his stomach before spreading throughout his body.

He calmed down a little. Of course, that was the best-case scenario.

In reality, things were certainly not as simple as he imagined.

’Getting in is one thing, but it doesn’t guarantee I’ll see the Spirit of Sun. It doesn’t even mean I’ll be able to see the Profession’s requirements.’

’Qin Yun and her group managed to get in, but in the end, only she returned, and she was heavily injured. Even now, she’s still being watched by the other Ancient Kings.’

As he thought about this, Su Chen grew calmer. ’Besides, the Spirit of Sun is clearly different from a Spirit of the Morning Star. Its Power must be far greater. Back on Red Thunder Star, if the Great Venerable Stone Slab hadn’t been shattered, I might not have been able to see the Profession’s requirements at all.’

’According to Qin Yun, the other Morning Star Tiers were all burned to death by the Spirit of Sun. I don’t know how true that is, but the Ancient Kings seem to believe it for now, which means it’s a definite possibility.’

’With my current meager strength, even getting a single glance would be incredibly difficult.’ As Su Chen analyzed the situation, much of his earlier urgency faded.

’And regardless of whether this Sun Residual Fire can even help, there’s another pressing problem I need to solve.’

Su Chen felt a pang of helplessness. To approach, let alone enter the Lost Flame, he needed to use Divine Blood to fuel the Sun Residual Fire. Only then could it guide and protect him.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t last a single minute there.

"Divine Blood..." Su Chen murmured. Igniting the Morning Fire for Melting a Holy Profession required Divine Blood. The Purifier required Divine Blood. And now, this Sun Residual Fire also required Divine Blood.

Melting a Holy Profession required five drops—a fixed amount determined by the experience of his predecessors.

As for the Purifier’s analysis, while there wasn’t a fixed amount, it probably wouldn’t require too much either.

But entering the Lost Flame... there was no way to estimate how much Divine Blood that would take.

If, for example, it took a minimum of ten drops to get in, and he tried with only eight, those eight drops would be completely wasted if he failed. They wouldn’t be returned.

’The more Divine Blood I have, the better. I need to succeed on the first try, or it’ll be a devastating loss.’ The more Su Chen thought about it, the more his head ached. ’This Divine Blood stuff is so hard to get... ’

Requisitioning the Divine Blood he needed from the Sect for Melting his Holy Profession would certainly be no problem. That was a legitimate, aboveboard request.

But to keep requisitioning it... that probably wouldn’t fly.

When he’d requested a single drop, Qing Cang had acted as if facing a mortal enemy and had even insisted on watching over him. Requesting five or ten drops at once would be much harder to explain.

’What if I reveal some information...’ The thought had barely surfaced before Su Chen dismissed it. Experience had taught him that when the Spirit of Sun was involved, it was best not to test human nature.

Ascending to the Sun Tier offered far too much: power, status, and even an extended lifespan.