Chapter 724 Crisis - Fog Ashes is Alive?

“Even if we kill Qin Yun right now, I’m afraid it won’t help. The Copper Heart currently doesn’t have a single usable Morning Star. We are weaker than ever before. Even with the methods Master left behind, we might not be able to last until the next sacrificial ceremony. Since the Royal Court has come, they must have brought their trump cards.”

“The next sacrificial ceremony?” Su Chen asked, his eyes filled with inquiry.

Qing Cang nodded. “That’s right. This matter was initiated by the Prison King, but in two and a half months, they still have to report to the Ancient Kings. If this matter isn’t resolved by then, he will have a hard time explaining himself.

“Furthermore, the longer this drags on, the higher the chance that other Sects will send reinforcements.”

“Can’t we hold out?” Su Chen hesitated.

“Sigh…” Qing Cang let out a long sigh. “Our ‘Copper Shield’ was forged using the Flame Fire as its core energy source. However, the Flame Fire currently merely doesn’t require active maintenance; it hasn’t completely broken free from the entanglement of the Fog Ashes. It cannot provide energy. We can only rely on the power Master left behind when he departed to sustain it.”

“The Flame Fire?” Su Chen’s expression shifted slightly. He thought, “Doesn’t this fall right into my area of expertise?”

Seeing the change in Su Chen’s expression, Qing Cang immediately knew what the kid was thinking. He shook his head and said decisively, “Don’t even think about it. I won’t let you try.”

Su Chen was taken aback. “Why not?”

Qing Cang clasped his hands behind his back and paced back and forth, speaking slowly. “Originally, I also wanted you to give it a try. But after thinking it over again and again, I rejected the idea.

“These core Fog Ashes are different from the middle and outer layers. They are the most dangerous and intense. Moreover, Master isn’t here. If any accidents occur, I absolutely wouldn’t be able to protect you.”

If Su Chen failed the purification, so be it. The problem was that if he failed, Qing Cang wouldn’t be able to pull him out. That was what worried him the most.

Su Chen hesitated before saying, “Senior Brother, let me try. I am fairly confident.”

“No.” Qing Cang’s attitude was resolute. “We could afford pointless attempts before because Master was here to back us up. Now, there is no one to provide a safety net. You should evacuate first.

“If the Copper Heart holds out, everything will naturally be fine. But if it can’t…”

“Senior Brother!” Su Chen interrupted sharply, his expression solemn. “Do you think I can really escape? Since the Royal Court has made their move, even if they aren’t fully prepared, they must have accounted for all potential variables. If I try to flee, it will likely play right into their hands.

“Furthermore, I’ve been with the Sect for three or four years now. The Sect has never failed to provide for me. Now that crisis is upon us, how can I just run away?

“Besides, I am truly confident in this. Let me give it a try.”

Qing Cang’s eyes trembled. For some reason, a voice seemed to echo in his ears: “Master, we have been provided for by the Bronze Sect for generations. With the Flame Fire on the verge of collapse, how can we stand by and watch? Please let us merge with the fire!”

About a hundred years ago, it was under such circumstances that his two senior brothers sacrificed themselves to merge with the fire, creating the opportunity for their master to separate the Fog Ashes into layers.

After a long while, Qing Cang’s expression shifted several times before he finally nodded.

Seeing Qing Cang agree, Su Chen breathed a sigh of relief. He was truly afraid that this senior brother would refuse to the bitter end, which would have left him entirely at a loss.

“Let’s go before they arrive.”

Now that his mind was made up, Qing Cang acted swiftly and decisively. He grabbed Su Chen’s shoulder. With a deafening boom of displaced air, rolling gales enveloped the Floating Island. However, Su Chen was no longer the same as he used to be. He didn’t experience that old sensation of his vision blurring before being yanked far away. He could clearly see the shifting of the scenery around him.

Su Chen speculated inwardly. The Shadow Shattering Body was no longer just about speed; it involved a higher-level ability. He thought, “Old Qing primarily uses wind-type classes, so he’s naturally adept at speed. However, if I used the Shadow Shattering Body at all costs, I probably wouldn’t be much slower than him.” Of course, Old Qing definitely had other tricks up his sleeve.

As his thoughts spun, Su Chen’s gaze gradually grew icy and still. He realized that against the Royal Court, he was still not strong enough. If he were already a Morning Star right now, then whether it was the Rebel God, the Profound Turtle, or the Peng King, even if all three Morning Stars combined their strength, they wouldn’t necessarily be his match.

Qing Cang remained silent throughout the journey. The two quickly approached the Flame Fire and, without pausing, plunged straight into its deepest depths.

Here, the Flame Fire still burned vigorously. The core Fog Ashes were so thick they no longer resembled mist; they wrapped around the lower half of the Flame Fire like Black Oil. Between the two, a thin layer of green data streams acted as a barrier, preventing them from eroding each other.

Qing Cang looked grave. He held back Su Chen, who was just about to step forward. “If anything goes wrong, I truly won’t be able to save you.”

Su Chen reassured him, “Don’t worry, Senior Brother. This is my own choice.”

Seeing that Su Chen didn’t look nervous, Qing Cang felt slightly relieved.

***

In the Artifact Hall of the Copper Heart Department, Zhou Yunyang stood by the window, gazing anxiously at the outer cyan barrier. “An unprecedented crisis…”

The news of the Royal Court’s impending attack was already known to everyone in the Bronze Sect. There was hardly anyone left in the Copper Heart. This was even more unnerving than the last Flame Fire crisis. After all, the Ancient King had been present back then. This time, the strongest figures in the Sect were only the Chairmen and Qing Cang.

The only Morning Star was still locked up in the Punishment Hall.

Behind him, He Peiting was also present. His expression appeared similarly apprehensive and grave, but deep down, he was scheming. He thought, “The Royal Court’s timing is impeccable. The window of opportunity is only these two or three months. If it works, it works…

“It’s a pity that the Divine Blood and Essences sent previously were all purged, and the newest batch hasn’t been delivered yet. It would have been a perfect opportunity to bring down the fire.”

Black Tuo felt genuine regret in his heart. The Bronze Sect was currently overwhelmed and too busy to fend for itself. He could hardly find a better opportunity than this. But alas, this descended form of his couldn’t exert much power at all.

Right at this moment, his expression shifted slightly. He looked up toward the direction of the Flame Fire. The remaining Fog Ashes had been disturbed by someone.

He thought, “Trying to purify the Fog Ashes at a time like this to resolve the Flame Fire crisis and fight against the Royal Court?

“Those are the densest Fog Ashes. Who would have such confidence? Su Chen?

“They’re thinking too simply. That is the most essential portion. Perfect…” Snapping out of his thoughts, he stood up and said, “Master, I’m going to the restroom.”

Zhou Yunyang waved his hand without looking back, a flicker of uncertainty flashing through his eyes. On the barrier at the edge of his vision, faint ripples resembling water waves began to surface.

“They’re here…” Zhou Yunyang murmured in his heart.

Meanwhile, He Peiting had already left the office, walked down the corridor to the restroom, and found a secluded stall.

He thought, “I want to see who exactly it is. If it’s Su Chen, it will be the perfect time to claim him.”

A dark glint flashed in his eyes. Utilizing the meager strength remaining in this descended form, he attempted to connect with the Fog Ashes deep within the Flame Fire. Because of the close proximity, he was able to submerge his consciousness into the Fog Ashes. However, without the aid of the Divine Blood and Faith Essences, that was all he could do.

It was useless under normal circumstances, but now, it might serve some unexpected purpose.

***

Watching Su Chen get swallowed by the Black Oil-like Fog Ashes, Qing Cang swiftly stepped up to the churning mist. Splaying his fingers, he sent wisps of wind currents into it, attempting to sense Su Chen’s condition.

His brows were tightly furrowed. After a moment, he let out a sigh. His wind couldn’t penetrate it at all, nor could he sense the physical state of Su Chen’s body.

“I hope he…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Qing Cang’s expression changed drastically. He watched as the mass of Black Oil-like Fog Ashes suddenly began to tremble violently. It gradually coalesced into a seated, pitch-black silhouette, its surface boiling like hot oil.

“Black Tuo?” He looked horrified. The Fog Ashes had never undergone such a transformation before. This sudden change was definitely not a good sign.

He thought, “How could this happen…” Feeling deeply uneasy, his heart sank to rock bottom. He already regretted agreeing to let Su Chen take this risk.

Just as he was overwhelmed with anxiety, he abruptly turned his head to look outside the Flame Fire. His expression turned ugly. “Why does it have to be now of all times…”

Qing Cang looked outside the Flame Fire, then turned back to look at the Fog Ashes that had taken the form of Black Tuo in front of him. He looked back and forth several times, his expression shifting rapidly, utterly conflicted and unsettled.

“Damn it!” he cursed through gritted teeth, the veins on his forehead throbbing. Stomping his foot fiercely, he vanished from the spot.

***

Within the Fog Ashes, a grayish-white landscape stretched out endlessly. Su Chen looked at the Black Tuo Illusion sitting cross-legged before him, just as it always did. Having grown thoroughly familiar with this routine, he prepared to enter a combat state.

To his surprise, the Black Tuo Illusion suddenly shuddered. Unlike in the past, it didn’t launch an attack at him right away. Instead, it slowly raised its head. Its expression was no longer wooden and cold; its eyes now held a look of scrutiny, amusement, and appraisal. It actually spoke in a hoarse, low voice: “Su Chen… it really is you.”

Su Chen’s eyelids twitched. He thought, “Has this Black Tuo Illusion… come alive?”