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Chapter 459: Fulfilling the Promise
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Time passed by slowly as Su Ming sat cross-legged before Lan Lan and Ahu. The Spirit of Nine Yin might also be sitting beside them, but his gigantic stature made him look like a small hill.
The crimson dragon floated in midair and remained cautious as it surveyed its surroundings.
Su Ming had his eyes closed. His expression might be calm, but his heart remained uncertain, and that uncertainty stemmed from the strange snake's current dejected look and the continuous forlorn cries.
The snake's emotions had transitioned slowly from the excitement it felt in the beginning to its current sorrow. This gradual transformation made the snake look incredibly pitiful.
'Have the Candle Dragon's tribe always devoured their kin to grow since the beginning of time..?' After an unknown amount of time, Su Ming opened his eyes and stared at the Candle Dragon's carcass with a chilling glare in his eyes.
'If that is the case, then this Candle Dragon that died a long time ago and only has a hint of its will left clearly wants to devour my snake so that it could use its life to revive itself…
'But since the members of the Candle Dragon's tribe have always devoured their own kind, then perhaps my snake can also devour this Candle Dragon!'
As Su Ming mulled over his thoughts, he looked towards the Spirit of Nine Yin.
"You mentioned that the giant eyeball we saw just now was the Candle Dragon's second eye. How many eyes does this Candle Dragon have then?"
The Spirit of Nine Yin opened his eyes and replied in a whisper, "It has four…
"The Candle Dragon has two heads. One of them is a python's head, and the other is a hidden head that is similar to mine. Each of these heads has two eyes, which is why it has four eyes.
"That giant eyeball just now is one of the python head's eyes. We have detailed descriptions of the Sacred Nine Yin in the legends passed down among my people. Once it dies, it must be sealed, or else its blood and flesh will turn into Ominous Fog, its grudge will turn into Spirit Tears, its bones will turn into the Bone Fiend, and its eyes will turn into the Yin Funeral…
"That eye just now clearly woke up because the seal has weakened. Once it fixes its on something, then with my current level of cultivation, it will be difficult for me to escape, and I will need someone to save me." The Spirit of Nine Yin's voice echoed in the fog and fell in Su Ming's ears. Su Ming narrowed his eyes.
"If you are eaten by the crack in the pupil of the Eye of Yin Funeral, then will you turn into a Soul Catcher's puppet?" he suddenly asked.
"Puppet..?" The Spirit of Nine Yin shuddered when he remembered what nearly happened just now, then shook his head.
"You won't turn into a puppet, but all your flesh, blood, and essence will be sucked away, and you will turn into a dried corpse… But that's not all. Your mind will be captured, and you will enter the Undying and Imperishable World created by an adult Candle Dragon.
"You will live a life akin to being sealed up for eternity over there. You will never be able to escape, and you can only fight continuously against the numerous living souls that have been killed by the Candle Dragon when it was alive. You have to fight endlessly, and even if you die, you will be revived shortly...
"And it will only stop when your will crumbles and you submit to the Candle Dragon. It will only stop when you become part of the Undying and Imperishable World…
"Your corpse will stay in the Candle Dragon's body and turn into his flesh and blood. This is a fate more terrifying than death. Compared to that, it is much better to die in battle," the Spirit of Nine Yin said in a low voice, and Su Ming could feel the fear in his voice clearly.
Su Ming remained silent for a moment before he asked, "What if I don't submit to it? Is it possible to walk out of the Undying and Imperishable World?"
"Walk out..?" The Spirit of Nine Yin cast a deep look at Su Ming.
"When a Candle Dragon is alive, it will need to receive offerings from all sorts of tribes and races. The more offerings it receives from the living, the stronger it will become… This is one of its inborn abilities. Look at your Soul Catchers. You should be able to imagine just how strong that ability is just by seeing how its dead will is able to create Soul Catchers in your tribe.
"The Soul Catchers are equivalent to the worshipers of the Candle Dragon. However, since there aren't many Soul Catchers among you Shamans, that is why my people allowed you here.
"When it is necessary, the Candle Dragon will devour a certain race, but similarly, the races who offer themselves to it will obtain a privilege, and that privilege… is to enter the Candle Dragon's Undying and Imperishable World!" The Spirit of Nine Yin's voice became lower.
"A privilege?" A glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes.
"That's right. Training in the Undying and Imperishable World and going through all endless cycles of life and death will allow you to understand the origins of battle and forge you into the strongest warrior… Each of the races who make offerings to the Candle Dragon will choose their best to receive this privilege. He or she might not be able to increase his or her level of cultivation much, but that person's brutality and decisiveness in battle is something no one else will be able to compare to.
"Because they have simply... gone through too many cycles of life and death. However, this will only happen when the Candle Dragon is alive. It can release the people it captured at will, that is why it is considered a privilege.
"But once it dies, then this will no longer be a privilege. This is a cage that is even more terrifying than death… Perhaps there are people who have indeed managed to walk out of the Candle Dragon's Undying and Imperishable World, but no one from my race has ever been recorded to have done so."
Su Ming fell silent. The Spirit of Nine Yin stopped speaking as well.
When approximately two hours passed by, suddenly, the crimson dragon let out a low growl in midair.
Su Ming's eyes sparkled. He saw the white figures appearing once again in the fog in the distance, and they did not come alone. There were eight of them, and they were drifting about in the fog while letting out wailing sobs.
When those wails fell into Su Ming's ears, they annoyed him again.
But that was not all. Besides those white figures, another roar would occasionally echo from within the fog, and Su Ming could somewhat see bodies covered in scales as the fog tumbled about around them.
Apart from these creatures, Su Ming also saw a gigantic dark shadow in the fog. That dark shadow was one hundred something feet tall, and it was floating in the fog. When Su Ming saw it, he immediately had the feeling as if his gaze was stuck to it.
That dark shadow was clearly the giant eyeball that had disappeared just now - The Candle Dragon's second eye!
"Don't move!" The Spirit of Nine Yin's eyes flashed and he stared fixedly at the creatures in the fog as he whispered.
"By right, they won't come near. After all, they're born from the Candle Dragon, and they only attacked us just now because we didn't have the dead Candle Dragon's will on us…
"Right now, those two people of yours are sensing its will and area about to turn into its worshipers. Since they're doing this, they won't attack.
"Once those two have been acknowledged, then with them around, we will be able to walk out, we shouldn't be attacked anymore." As the Spirit of Nine Yin spoke, he swept his gaze across the area.
Su Ming did not act recklessly. As time passed, he found that the spirits in the fog were just as the Spirit of Nine Yin said. They were only lingering around and did not come too close. When he saw this, Su Ming sent a thought to the crimson dragon to placate it slightly, but he continued remaining on guard.
When another hour passed by, Su Ming's pupils shrank. He saw the number of white figures in the fog increasing, and there were now about several dozens of them around.
Similarly, the ferocious beasts hidden in the fog had also increased. They stood close to each other and numbered to hundreds. Low growls and sobs fused together to turn into waves of sound.
Apart from that, as Su Ming and the Spirit of Nine Yin remained alert, sharp howls came from within the fog. They seemed to have come from a distance when they first sounded, but closed in within an instant. A dozen something rays of white light shot out rapidly from the fog and turned into arcs that impaled the ground hundreds of feet away from Su Ming and the group.
The dozen something rays of white light were gray bones. Once those bones impaled the ground, they immediately melted to turn into small gray humanoids that were filled with murderous aura.
The moment those small humanoids appeared, Su Ming fell into shock, because he realized that the appearance of these humanoids was incredibly similar to the small humanoid sealed within the mountain rock.
However, when he took a closer look, he found that they were slightly different. These small humanoids were all gray and not black. Their appearances were also indistinct and they did not have detailed facial features. There was a crack where their eyes should be, and another crack where their mouths should be.
"The Bone Fiends have also appeared. Looks like the seal hasn't weakened but has been damaged…" The Spirit of Nine Yin's expression immediately changed.
Su Ming's expression turned dark. Without a single word, he stared at the creatures in the fog. When he looked over, another dozen something white figures had come.
Clearly, as time passed by, the amount of spirits in the fog would increase!
At that moment, Ahu, who had his eyes closed, suddenly started trembling violently. Pain twisted his features, but gradually, that pain turned into determination. However, in the midst of determination, Su Ming saw a hint of respect as well.
'Acknowledgement… By what the Spirit of Nine Yin said, to obtain the right to practice the ways of the Soul Catcher, they must first acknowledge the Candle Dragon as their master…' Su Ming remained silent. This was something concerning only White Bull Tribe, he had no reason to interfere.
After a moment, pain also appeared on Lan Lan's face. She looked as if she was struggling, but those struggles did not last too long before they turned into an expression of respect that was similar to Ahu's.
Soon after, the two of them opened their eyes almost simultaneously. A dark light appeared in their eyes before it disappeared slowly, and in Su Ming's eyes, the two children already looked slightly different from before.
"Thank you for your help, senior!" Ahu stood up and wrapped his fist in his palm towards Su Ming as a form of gratitude. Lan Lan did the same thing by his side. Once they thanked Su Ming, they looked towards the creatures in the fog.
"This is a deal made between your Patriarch and me, you don't need to thank me. Once I send you back to Shaman City, I will have fulfilled my end of the deal." Su Ming stood up and swept his gaze across the creatures in the fog.
"Senior, don't worry. I can sense that they harbor no ill-will towards Lan Lan and me. We can leave without any problems," Ahu said quickly. When he walked forward, the creatures in the fog did indeed move away to reveal a path for them.
However, when Su Ming moved closer, the creatures in the fog immediately let out a shocking roar. The white figures shrieked and the fog beasts growled, the Bone Fiends howled and the giant eyeball in the distance floated out from the fog and stared at Su Ming.
"Take the two of them back to Shaman City," Su Ming stated after a moment of silence.
Chapter 460: Breaking in Alone!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The Spirit of Nine Yin cast Su Ming a glance and looked as if he wanted to say something but was hesitating. In the end, he did not say anything and only nodded his head.
"You saved my life and you are also my employer. Once I send them back safely to Shaman City, I will rush back here. If you still haven't walked out by then, I will wait for you here for ten years." The spirit wrapped his fist in his palm towards Su Ming, then walked towards Lan Lan and Ahu.
The boy and girl turned their heads back to look at Su Ming. They had complicated expressions on their faces but did not say anything. Instead, they turned around and walked quickly towards the fog with the man.
When they saw that Su Ming did not move, the creatures in the fog spread out and opened up a path for them to leave before they sealed off the place once again.
A freezing glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes. Just when he was about to send out his thoughts, that ancient voice appeared in his ears once again. This time, that voice sounded as if it was right beside him, and it echoed incessantly, seemingly without end.
"You… will be the fourth of my kind that I will devour. Come… let me eat you. This is the fate of our race. You will disappear, and I will… wake up once again… The Candle Dragon's essence, the brilliance of the sky, and the light of the earth will give us the long life that belongs to us Candle Dragons!"
When the ancient voice uttered those words, a strong desire could be heard in them. This was the first time any hint of emotion was revealed in that voice.
The instant that voice spoke, the strange snake let out its loudest cry in Su Ming's Han Mountain Bell. Its body trembled, and blood capillaries appeared all over its scales, making it seem as if it was about to shatter to pieces. It rose, and the instant it crashed into Han Mountain Bell, its body turned into an illusion, and it left Han Mountain Bell to appear before Su Ming.
Su Ming had never seen this sort of ability from it before, but he did not have time to think about it. The snake that was about the size of his finger let out a strong screech towards the sky in the air.
As it cried out, the wails of the white figures around him also reached a piercing volume. The roars of the fog beasts shook the skies. The Bone Fiends also started howling louder.
Even the fog around the giant eyeball had started tumbling about viciously. It was as if all sounds were pandering to the strange snake's screeches.
Struggle appeared in the snake's eyes. It turned its head back and cast a glance at Su Ming in midair. There was an unwillingness to part in its eyes, along with sadness, and attachment.
When Su Ming saw the small snake's eyes, his heart trembled. As the snake cried out, the beasts in the fog that were blocking Su Ming's way spread out and opened up a path for Su Ming.
If he continued down this path, then he could leave the burial grounds of this Candle Dragon without any danger!
This was clearly the path left behind by the snake for Su Ming!
There were still blood capillaries spreading out from the snake's body. It turned away, and with a grief stricken cry, the struggle on its face growing even stronger, it charged straight towards the Candle Dragon's carcass. Its body was no longer under its control and it crawled in the body, whose exact length was unknown, then rushed straight towards its head.
Su Ming's eyes gradually turned red. He could leave right now, but he would not!
This snake had stayed with him for many years, and when he had returned to that cave abode after disappearing, he had sensed the snake's joy.
Right now, he absolutely could not just watch the snake disappear into the Candle Dragon's body and wait for its own kind to devour it so that the dragon could turn it into its life and resurrect itself.
Su Ming lifted his left hand swiftly and waved it at the air.
"Ze Long Shen!"
With one wave of his arm, the mark of the Spirit of Nine Yin on his left hand immediately started flashing with a brilliant light. Then, with a sigh, the old Spirit of Nine Yin slowly manifested before Su Ming.
"Please enter the Candle Dragon's body and stop it from devouring my snake!" Su Ming looked towards the old man.
The old spirit looked at the Candle Dragon's carcass and said in a low voice, "I can't help you… We worshiped this Sacred Nine Yin when it was alive. Its will is still remaining as of now, and there is a sort of madness in that will…
"I can't fight against it…" The old man averted his gaze and looked towards Su Ming apologetically.
Su Ming's heart fluttered with anxiety as he said immediately, "I'll give you more Spirit Plunders!"
"It doesn't matter how many Spirit Plunders you give me. With this will around, it is difficult for anyone to enter its body. But since that snake belonged to you before, then perhaps you can go in, but I can't…"
As the old man spoke, he took a step forward and appeared before a damaged part on the Candle Dragon's carcass. The moment he was about to enter, a huge rebounding force suddenly surged out from the Candle Dragon's body. When that impact crashed into his body, the old spirit was forced several steps back, and he turned to look at Su Ming with a bitter smile.
Su Ming stared at the Candle Dragon's carcass. A glint appeared in his eyes, and he made his decision. Sometimes, there was no such thing as what you should do and what you shouldn't do when it came to how you should act in certain matters. In those occasions, you only need to feel what you must do it, and that was what you should do!
Su Ming took a step forward, then lifted his right hand to point at the crimson dragon in the sky. The dragon instantly turned into a red light and charged towards him. Once it turned into the mark of a dragon on Su Ming's arm, he rushed straight towards the Candle Dragon's carcass.
Right behind him were his clone and the Poison Corpse.
However, right when Su Ming got closer to the Candle Dragon's carcass and was about to crawl in through that damaged area, a strong rebounding force surged out from the skeleton and swept through Su Ming's body in an instant.
When that power swept through him, Su Ming trembled and a strong repelling force along with a nearly crazed will spread through his entire body. The strength of that will was so great that it caused Su Ming to feel as if he was plunged into a raging sea. It was as if he was a boat trapped in a roaring sea, and he was incapable of resistance.
"Go away!" There was a roar contained within that will. That roar surged straight into Su Ming's mind, causing his body to tremble, and the mark of the dragon was forced out of his body.
Su Ming coughed out a mouthful of blood. His face turned pale, and once he was pushed back hundreds of feet, he coughed out blood once again. He lifted his head and stared at the Candle Dragon's carcass with an incredibly dark face.
The old Spirit of Nine Yin sighed and shook his head beside him. He was just about to say something when he saw a glint flashing past Su Ming's eyes.
He lifted his right hand and pointed at the crimson dragon. Immediately, the crimson dragon that was forced out of his body turned into a mark on his arm once again. At the same time, Su Ming cast a glance at the old Spirit of Nine Yin and sent his thoughts to him.
The old man sighed. His body gradually dissipated to eventually turn into the faint mark on the back of Su Ming's left hand.
Once he finished doing all these, Su Ming put away the Poison Corpse and his clone, wiped away the blood at the corners of his lips, then took a deep breath and had his divine sense surge into the black stone fragment hanging on his neck. The dark light on the stone fragment instantly shone brilliantly, and the moment it covered Su Ming's entire body, the snake's presence appeared around him.
The presence felt incredibly real, almost as if he was the snake itself!
The instant that presence took form, Su Ming executed his absolute speed, and he shot through so quickly that he closed in on the Candle Dragon's carcass within an instant. At the same time, the rebounding force disappeared right when it touched Su Ming, and he heard a faint gasp of surprise from the will that descended on him.
Su Ming knew that he could only deceive it for a moment. Very soon, the dragon's remaining will would figure it out, and then, no matter what, it would be difficult for him to try and enter the Candle Dragon's carcass again. Without a hint of hesitation, he charged forward, straight into the Candle Dragon's body.
Yet at the very instant he was about to enter the Candle Dragon's carcass, the mark of the crimson dragon on his arm was separated from his body once again, along with the marks on his left and right hand. The Poison Corpse and the clone in his storage bag were also pushed out from his body as if they had been screened. They were all blocked out of the Candle Dragon's body.
Only Su Ming himself and his Nascent Soul could enter the Candle Dragon's body!
Apart from them, everything else was blocked out!
Su Ming's face was as dark as night. He took off his mask. At that moment, he was on a dried up path of flesh and blood. Everything around him was dark, and a rotten stench filled the air. This was the Candle Dragon's tail.
Stepping on this road felt like stepping on mud; it was a revolting feeling. Su Ming looked around him. His Nascent Soul returned to his body, and with a brilliant shine in his eyes, he spread his divine sense around, but it was immediately absorbed by the flesh walls around him. He could only spread his divine sense to an area of one hundred feet.
Not only did this place block his divine sense, it also cut off his connection with his puppets, the crimson dragon, and the Spirits of Nine Yin. Fortunately though, since he and the snake were in the Candle Dragon's body, his connection with it still remained. He charged forward without a word, rushing onward with the connection as his guide.
Su Ming's Poison Corpse sat near the tail of the gigantic Candle Dragon's carcass with a blank expression on his face, where Su Ming had crawled into and disappeared. He sat there cross-legged, still and unmoving.
Ji Yun Hai's corpse fell to the side. The black beetles that filled his entire body also remained motionless. The crimson dragon was letting out low roars, and it paced around the area as it growled. There was anxiety on its face because it could no longer sense Su Ming's presence. After a long while, it chose to shrink its body and turn into a small dragon, landing right on the spot Su Ming had disappeared to wait for him.
The old Spirit of Nine Yin was frowning and sighing repeatedly at the moment. It was not that he did not want to help, but he truly could not enter the Candle Dragon's body. He was a little curious as to how Su Ming managed to do it though. Perhaps he truly had some of the Candle Dragon's presence remaining on him, which was why he could enter.
The change of presence in Su Ming's body just now had surprised the old spirit greatly.
'This child has great fortune. That small snake is clearly a descendant of the Candle Dragon. It is incredibly difficult to meet such a ferocious beast now… Oh well, I'll wait here for some time. If he manages to come out, then I can continue fulfilling my end of the deal with him, but if he doesn't… then I'll just have to treat it as a loss.'
The old man sighed and sat down by the side.
Chapter 461: Endless
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Su Ming continued dashing forward through that dark path of flesh and blood. The rotten stench in the air was nauseating, and if he breathed in that stench for an extended period of time, he would begin to feel lightheaded.
Su Ming bit the tip of his tongue so that he could remain awake. At the same time, he increased his speed. After all, this Candle Dragon was dead, and it was now a far cry from when it was still alive, which meant that it was far less dangerous than before. However, Su Ming still remained vigilant. If he had not watched his snake being devoured, he would definitely not step foot in a dangerous place like this.
As he charged forward, Su Ming could even see rotten corpses around him that had stayed in the dragon for an unknown amount of years. These corpses were the same as this Candle Dragon, they had not completely decayed, and their horrifying state made all those who saw them to be unable to help themselves but be afraid.
From how these corpses were strewn about in the place, it seemed like they had never moved. When Su Ming remembered just how difficult it was to enter this Candle Dragon, a sharp glint appeared in his eyes.
'Could it be that once this Candle Dragon died, no one has been able to get into it..?'
It was quiet all around. Besides Su Ming's footsteps, there were no other sounds, not even wind. No matter how quickly he went, it was still difficult for him to stir up even the faintest wind.
This strange condition made Su Ming even more cautious, and because this place was sweltering, he gradually began to sweat. In truth, there was quite a large amount of cold stored in his body because he had stayed in the glacier for a long period of time.
Because of this cold, it had been quite a while since Su Ming last sweat. However, in this place, that cold in his body was continuously dispersing, and sweat was also trickling out of his skin.
As Su Ming continued onward, besides these rotting corpses, he also saw quite the number of skeletons. Most of these skeletons had already melted away, and what remained in their places were masses of black goo. Judging by their skeletal frames, these skeletons did not belong to people but to ferocious beasts.
In fact, Su Ming had even seen some items that looked like Enchanted Vessels scattered everywhere in the dragon's body. However, since he was in a hurry, he did not have time to inspect them. Nonetheless, he did grab all the Enchanted Vessels he encountered on the way.
'Just how long has it been since this Candle Dragon died..?' As Su Ming continued charging forward, he kept his mind open to sense his snake's location while beginning to form guesses in his head.
As he traveled forth, a sudden sense of danger abruptly rose in his heart. He forced his body to immediately move back a few steps, and almost the instant he began moving back, a bone abruptly shot out from the wall of flesh before him.
That bone was entirely gray in color, and once it appeared, it let out a bang that caused the floor made of flesh to surge before that bone turned into a small gray humanoid that was the height of up to Su Ming's knees. The small humanoid was naturally the creature Su Ming had seen outside - the Bone Fiend that was formed from the Candle Dragon's bones!
The Bone Fiend opened its mouth towards Su Ming and let out a low growl. Dark light shone in its eyes and it charged at him. At the same time, faces started protruding from the wall of flesh around Su Ming. Those faces all looked incredibly hideous, and once they appeared, they let out piercing screeches, as if they wanted to rush towards Su Ming and devour him.
These faces did not belong to humans but to strange looking ferocious beasts. They were all formed by the Candle Dragon's flesh and blood, and they were the beasts in the fog Su Ming had seen outside previously.
Similarly, sharp spikes started shooting out from the wall of flesh before Su Ming, and they all turned into Bone Fiends. From further down ahead, wailing sounds started traveling towards him swiftly, and the white vengeful spirits appeared out of thin air!
Immediately after, a low murmuring sound faintly came from behind Su Ming, and thousands of feet behind him the giant eyeball gained physical form. The edges of that eyeball were white, and right at the center was a vertical, dark-yellow pupil.
There seemed to be a crack in the pupil, and that crack was slowly opening up.
A strange suction force appeared behind Su Ming, and the mumbling voice seemed to be summoning him. Su Ming's heart lurched, and a false desire of wanting to turn his head back rose in his heart.
However, right at that moment, he bit his tongue. His mind immediately snapped awake and he told himself to absolutely not look back. In truth, even if he did not look back, he could still guess that the thing that appeared there was the Candle Dragon's second eye.
As of then, there was no one else in the Candle Dragon's body, so Su Ming did not have to bother about exposing his identity as a Berserker. When those gray humanoids charged towards him, a chilling glare appeared in his eyes.
The four Berserker Bones in his body, along with the fifth Berserker Bone that was transformed due to the Wind Berserker's legacy, let out a mighty power at the same time. That power instantly filled every single spot of Su Ming's body, and the incredible strength in his physical body was something he had been dreaming of for a long time.
Ever since he came to the land of the Shamans, besides the time when he was at the glacier, he had never executed the full power of the Berserkers. Right then, as it burst forth, banging sounds immediately spread through Su Ming's mind.
At the same time, his Berserker Mark, Dark Mountain, appeared on his face. Under his clothes, Dark Mountain Tribe emerged on his chest. The full execution of the power of the Berserkers caused his Berserker Mark to also fully manifest on his body.
"Get lost!" Su Ming roared and clenched his right hand into a fist, then hurled a punch straight at the gray humanoids pouncing on him.
The five Berserker Bones on Su Ming's spine shone with a piercing golden light. It spread through his entire body, and if anyone looked at Su Ming's back right then, they would be able to see golden light seeping through his spine.
When the power of Berserker Bones was fully brought out, that power surged through Su Ming's fist and traveled outwards.
A loud boom reverberated in the air, and banging sounds rang once again in Su Ming's body. The gray humanoids shuddered and were forced back a few steps before exploding, turning into bones that fell backwards. However, the bones shone with a gray light in midair and turned into the gray humanoids once again to continue lunging forward.
Su Ming had suppressed his power of a Berserker for a very long time. At that moment, as he let all of it explode from his body and transferred it into his punch, he suddenly had the feeling that this was not all. It was as if he still had energy to spare, and he could bring it all out without a problem.
A glint appeared in his eyes. The mumbling sounds behind him were getting closer. He did not have time to think. He took a huge step and rushed forward swiftly.
The numerous gray humanoids charged towards him, howling. The large number of white figures closed in, crying out in piercing screeches, and the endless amount of fog beasts that had crawled out of the wall of flesh rushed towards Su Ming from all directions.
With a low growl, Su Ming's Divine General Armor manifested in the form of an illusion. It had been a long time since he brought this armor out. At that moment, the mist from the armor arranged itself into various Runes, causing the illusionary armor to obtain a certain level of hardness.
At the same time, as Su Ming continued charging forward, his Nascent Soul opened his eyes in his body and flew straight out of the top of his skull to float above his head. Rivers of light flowed out of the Nascent Soul's body. When he appeared, he opened his mouth and let out a thunderous cry. The small virescent sword manifested itself and swept horizontally across the area.
When Su Ming's Nascent Soul began forming seals with his hands, he breathed out a breath of Nascent Soul and pushed it forward swiftly. That breath turned into a fist that rushed outwards.
"When two adversaries meet at a narrow path and cannot back out from a fight, the courageous one will win!"
Su Ming did not take a single step back. He could not move back. In fact, he had a feeling as if he had returned to the battlefield between the Shamans and Berserkers once again.
While moving forward, he lifted his right hand and drew a line swiftly at the incoming beasts transformed from the Candle Dragon's carcass. With that one line, the area seemed to have turned silent, and Berserker Obliteration appeared once again!
That one line swept through the area, and rumbling sounds reverberated in the air. The fog beasts in front of Su Ming immediately let out shrill cries of pain before they turned into a large mass of decaying flesh that spilled over the floor.
The fog beasts were not powerful. Each of them was just about the level of a Medial Shaman, but their numbers were endless, and they were continuously springing out of the wall of flesh around Su Ming.
The Bone Fiends were not very strong either. However, they were Undying, and even if they crumbled under Berserker Obliteration's attack, they would soon gather together and reappear.
The truly strong ones were the white figures, the crying Spirit Tears. Each of the Spirit Tears had the power equivalent to that of a Medial Shaman who had arrived at the peak! However, compared to the Candle Dragon's eye behind Su Ming, they were still nothing.
After all, the Candle Dragon was already dead, and only some of its will remained.
However, as Su Ming started attacked these creatures, he made a shocking discovery: He found that the creatures were slightly stronger when in the Candle Dragon's body than in the fog…
The white figures had more substance and their cries were shriller. The Bone Fiends all had a small tail behind them. In fact, there were several of these Bone Fiends who had longer tails, and they were much stronger than the others.
The fog beast claws were much sharper, and their bodies were larger than those Su Ming had met in the fog.
"The seals are broken...
"The Candle Dragon's carcass will start giving birth to these ferocious creatures…
"You Shamans had once broken the seal, then you came to our tribe so that you could work together with us to seal up this place again… but the seals are very fragile…"
The Spirit of Nine Yin's words echoed in Su Ming's head. Suddenly, he understood why the creatures transformed from the Candle Dragon's Carcass were not that powerful.
'These creatures were just born, that's why they aren't incredibly strong, but as time passes, they will become stronger, and it will happen over a short period of time. When that time comes, they will truly be ferocious beasts born from the Candle Dragon's carcass!'
As one of the Bone Fiends collapsed and gathered together once again, its originally short tail grew much longer, and the Bone Fiend now had to drag the tail on the ground. It lifted its head and let out a roar. The presence exuded from its body was equivalent to those of the white figures!
A glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes. The suction force behind him was becoming more distinct. Clearly, that eyeball was rapidly getting closer, and perhaps the eyeball… was also rapidly growing as well!
Without a hint of hesitation, Su Ming immediately brought out a small bottle from his storage bag. The Sea Marrow that allowed him to instantly recover his power was contained within it. Once Su Ming drank one drop, the Sea Marrow turned into a large wave of heat as if it had exploded.
Su Ming's eyes sparkled brilliantly. He swiftly rushed forward, executing that extreme speed that allowed him to travel like light itself, the speed from the Art he created himself after Berserker Obliteration.
There was no wind in this place, but Su Ming had the Provenance of Wind in his body, and it was circulating rapidly at the moment, causing his speed to reach the level as when he was outside.
He charged forward, and Han Mountain Bell also formed around him. With the sturdiness of the bell and the firmness of Divine General Armor, Su Ming forced his way through and charged ahead as quickly as he could!
Chapter 462: Sixth, Seventh!
Translator:EndlessFantasy Translation
Editor:EndlessFantasy Translation
The Sea Marrow exploded in Su Ming's body, turning into a wave of heat that felt like magma wrecking within him. It abruptly burst apart and turned into a great force that surged straight into the five Berserker Bones. Once it was rapidly sucked away by them, what was left swelled outwards!
The swelling of that heat was like that of an endless body of water in a long river abruptly turning into several thousands of streams. They filled every single corner of Su Ming's body in an instant, causing him to feel as if there was an unending stream of power at his disposal.
The might of the Sea Marrow caused Su Ming's eyes to sparkle. As he took a step forward, he executed his fastest speed, and when he traveled at that speed, there was no need for him to cast any sort of divine abilities. His Divine General Armor, Han Mountain Bell, his body, and the small virescent sword before him were his best weapons!
He was like the tip of an arrow. He only needed to deliver a strong impact with his speed, and then he could… destroy everything in his path!
Rumbling sounds reverberated through the air as he ran, and all the Bone Fiends that tried to block his path were forced back by Su Ming's furious and brute impact. Their bodies shattered, and before they even had time to gather together once again, Su Ming had already passed through them. Even the fog beasts turned into masses of decayed flesh and splattered all over the place as they let out shrill screams of pain.
The crying white figures still lunged on Su Ming with their piercing wails. They vanished into smoke amidst the rumbling sounds, and with his extreme speed, Su Ming had already crossed a distance of several thousands of feet in that tunnel within the span of a breath.
He had crossed through those thousands of feet with just one breath, and that one breath was all the power contained within the Sea Marrow in his body. Once he had rushed over that distance, his face turned pale and blood trickled down the corners of his mouth. Han Mountain Bell had shrunk considerably around him, and his Divine General Armor had shattered numerous times. Clearly, the impact was quite a large burden on him.
His Nascent Soul's eyes were sparkling as he remained above his head and controlled the small virescent sword to slash through the area.
The tunnel in front of Su Ming in the Candle Dragon's body was still filled with dense ferocious beasts packed so close to each other it was impossible to count them. They were being born continuously, manifesting without stop, looking as if there would be no end to them.
This sort of feeling was enough to crush a person's mind, and they would begin to feel as if they would never be able to break through no matter how hard they tried. After gasping for a few breaths, Su Ming immediately brought out the small bottle containing the Sea Marrow and drank another drop without any hesitation.
Once that drop entered his mouth, that feeling as if his body was about to explode rose once again. Veins popped out on his face, and there was a feeling in him as if his body was swelling endlessly, but he looked normal on the outside. It was as if that feeling of swelling was just a figment of his imagination.
With a low growl, red appeared in Su Ming's eyes and he charged forward swiftly. In the span of a breath, he charged through another few thousands of feet. The ferocious beasts that had tried to block his path were all destroyed.
However, once that drop of Sea Marrow disappeared from Su Ming's body, he coughed out a mouthful of blood. Han Mountain Bell shrank back into his body, and Divine General Armor was greatly damaged. Su Ming's face was pale, but his gaze remained steadfast.
"The more you use these beasts born out of your carcass to try and stop me, the more telling it is that you are afraid. You, who are already dead and only have a shred of your will left, are afraid of my pursuit!
"If that is the case, then it means that you are currently very weak, so weak that… your will might disappear once someone touches it…" As Su Ming gasped for breath, he spoke with a grin. He knew that the Candle Dragon's remaining will had heard his words.
The ancient voice did not answer him. The only things that appeared were those ferocious beasts, who continuously pounced on Su Ming with increasingly maddening movements.
Killing intent shone in Su Ming's eyes. As he moved forward, he brought out the Sea Marrow once again. This was the third time he drank this liquid in this place. When that feeling as if his body was about to explode rose once more, Su Ming let out a low growl and forced his body to cross another several thousands of feet.
As he continued charging forward, banging sounds rang in his body. Those sounds came from above the five Berserker Bones. When they sounded, suddenly, Su Ming's seventh Berserker Bone started shining with a golden light as well.
However, the golden light from the seventh Berserker Bone was rather faint and could not compare to the other five, still, it was indeed shining. The appearance of that light made Su Ming's level of cultivation seem to break through the wall that was those five Berserker Bones, and his power increased by quite a large margin within an instant.
A sharp glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes. Before he drank that Sea Marrow and called forth all his strength, he could already feel that he could bring out more power. At that time, he had to deal with the endless amount of ferocious beasts and did not have time to ponder about it in his head. As he drank the three drops of Sea Marrow, the feeling as if he could bring out more power only increased.
Right then, the continuous accumulation of that feeling that he still had strength remaining in his body caused his seventh Berserker Bone to shine with golden light, and the appearance of that golden light meant that Su Ming's seventh Berserker Bone was on the verge of awakening.
It was like a sudden explosion of vast power that had accumulated over time. After collecting a large amount of power through a long period of time, Su Ming's level of cultivation had received an explosive burst in the battle with the aid of the pressure in this place and the stimulation provided by the drops of Sea Marrow!
While it still could not compare to his other five Berserker Bones, as the golden light from the seventh Berserker Bone gradually turned brighter, it looked as if it only needed another push before its full strength would explode forth.
Su Ming brought out the small bottle and drank another drop of Sea Marrow. His eyes were already covered with red and his hair was dancing without wind. Loud rumbling sounds came from within his body, and golden light shot out from his spine with a piercing glare.
The Sea Marrow seemed to be boiling in Su Ming's body. This time, once all of it surged into his Berserker Bones, it did not spread outwards but was instantly absorbed entirely by the seventh Berserker Bone. As it absorbed the Sea Marrow, a large amount of golden light surged forth, causing the seventh Berserker Bone to look no different from the other five within an instant!
With six Berserker Bones, Su Ming's power of cultivation instantly increased by a large margin. Veins popped up on his body, and when he let out a low growl, he took a large step forward and hurled his right fist straight in front of him.
The six Berserker Bones started operating fully, causing all of Su Ming's power to seem as if it had been focused on his arm. As he hurled his punch forward, a ripple appeared in thin air and spread out rapidly before him. The creatures before him were all thrown back, and many of them exploded.
Su Ming panted for breath, then turned into a long arc to charge forward. However, once he crossed several thousands of feet, a large amount of hideous faces belonging to ferocious beasts protruded out of the wall of flesh before him. Fog beasts swiftly appeared, and at the same time, rows upon rows of bone spikes shot through the floor, turning into a large amount of Bone Fiends. Their numbers were endless...
It seemed as if there would never be an end to these creatures, and Su Ming stared at the deeper parts of the tunnel in the Candle Dragon's body. As he looked there, determination appeared on his face. There was one Berserker Bone protruding off his back under his robes. That Berserker Bone was usually hidden under his robes and other people could not see it. Only Su Ming could sense it.
That bone was located right where his sixth Berserker Bone should be. At that moment, as Su Ming looked over with his inner vision, he could clearly see that the sixth Berserker Bone, which was located after the five golden Berserker Bones, was dark and dull. The seventh bone was flashing with golden light, but since the sixth Berserker Bone was dull, the seventh bone could not connect with the others to become one.
Occasionally, a numbness would come from that spot as if there was lightning crawling about in that bone. That Berserker Bone was naturally the remaining half of the Lightning Crystal of Inheritance that Su Ming had shoved into his bone after cutting through his flesh in the freezing air in the glacier!
That day, he had only managed to absorb the Wind Crystal of Inheritance. As for the Lightning Crystal of Inheritance, he had never found a suitable time to refine it. After all, just the Wind Berserker's legacy alone had already taken up much of his energy.
As of then, the Wind Crystal of Inheritance had melted and fused with Su Ming's fifth Berserker Bone to become one. Su Ming had originally decided to clear his mind and slowly refine the Lightning Crystal of Inheritance, but the crisis of an endless amount of ferocious beasts in the Candle Dragon's body loomed right above his head right at that moment.
Su Ming gritted his teeth. The instant the ferocious beasts that just appeared lunged at him, he lifted his right hand and slammed it right on the protruding sixth Berserker Bone.
Intense pain shot through his entire body. At the same time, the remaining half of the Lightning Crystal of Inheritance hidden under his flesh and in his sixth Berserker Bone instantly stabbed into his spine.
A strong surge of lightning exploded abruptly in Su Ming's spine. That lightning charged downwards and connected with his feet. Rumbling sounds echoed in the air, and a large amount of lightning sparks appeared out of thin air around Su Ming.
Soon after, his Origin Berserker Vessel which he had created when he Awakened woke up and caused the lightning in the world to instantly go into a frenzy. They charged straight towards Su Ming's sixth Berserker Bone and fused with it in the blink of an eye.
Sharp pain spread through Su Ming's entire body, causing his pain to twist from it. With that extreme method, the Lightning Crystal of Inheritance forcefully fused with his Berserker Bone when he let out a roar.
As lightning sparkled and thunder rumbled, as the sixth Berserker Bone gradually started shining with a golden light, the seventh Berserker Bone connected with the other Berserker Bones on Su Ming's spine, causing him to swiftly lift his head and abruptly charge forward.
Outside the World of Nine Yin, in the outer region of the land of the Shamans, was a vast expanse of black sea. Far into the distance of that sea was a gigantic continent whose end could not be seen, and it was traveling forth at an extreme speed towards the Land of South Morning. The waves that were formed due to the movement of the continent surged wildly, and they moved so quickly that they were letting out continuous loud bangs that spread in all directions.
On that continent was a mountain, and there were always nine bolts of lightning raining down from the sky all year round, causing the mountain to always be surrounded by endless bolts of lightning.
There was an old crimson-haired man sitting cross-legged on that mountain. He had a hawkish nose and his expression was dark. Almost the instant Su Ming forcefully fused with that Lightning Crystal of Inheritance, the old man opened his eyes, and his gaze was sinister. There was a monstrous murderous intent and anger burning in his eyes, along with a hint of wariness.
He was naturally Chi Lei Tian from the Eastern Wastelands, the true scion of the Lightning Berserker! However, there was only half of the Lightning Crystal of Inheritance remaining in his body. The other half was the source of his anger and madness.
Translator's Notes:
Chi Lei Tian, the guy who swore to kill Su Ming after having half his Crystal of Inheritance ripped off his body by the Deity Statue of Bone Sacrifice.
Chapter 463: One Sentence!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In the World of Nine Yin, as Su Ming remained in the Candle Dragon's carcass, lightning swam through his entire body. The power from the seven Berserker Bones burst forth fully, causing him to become even faster and his power of cultivation to also increase by a large margin.
When he crossed another several thousands of feet, he drank the fourth drop of Sea Marrow. He originally did not have that many drops, but when he was in Shaman City, he had discovered them on sale while on his shopping spree for medicinal herbs. Although there were not many on sale, he still bought them with some Shaman Crystals.
By doing so, he managed to charge through around seven thousand feet without a single stop. Carnage rained down behind him, and there was only a wreckage remaining where he passed through.
Yet he also had to pay a heavy price. The pouring of blood from his mouth, the shattering of his Divine General Armor, the return of Han Mountain Bell into his body, and the tumbling of his Qi all over his body caused Su Ming's face to turn pale, but he did not stop. Instead, once the power of the drop of Sea Marrow disappeared, his Nascent Soul let out a piercing howl.
Light began flashing on his Nascent Soul's body as he howled. Once that light enveloped Su Ming's entire body, he took a swift charge forward, and they both immediately disappeared.
His Nascent Soul had warped, bringing Su Ming with him to appear at a spot nearly one thousand feet away from where they originally were. When they reappeared, the Nascent Soul let out another piercing howl, and they warped again.
They did this seven times, causing Su Ming to cross another seven thousand something feet in the tunnel. There were no longer any ferocious beasts being born from the Candle Dragon, but there was an endless supply of those creatures behind him, and they were all charging towards him.
Su Ming was gasping for breath. His Nascent Soul had already become quite dull and had returned to his Dantian region. Su Ming gritted his teeth and charged forward, drawing out a long arc with his movements. His speed as he traveled through the Candle Dragon became increasingly faster, and after a moment, the roars from the ferocious beasts behind him grew faint. Clearly, Su Ming had widened the distance between them quite considerably.
However, he did not let down his guard, because that suction force behind him did not disappear, but had instead become much stronger. Mumbling echoed beside his ears, and the words within it baited Su Ming time and again, making him want to turn his head back to look.
However, the words from the Spirit of Nine Yin remained as a constant reminder to him - he was to not look into the Candle Dragon's eye no matter what!
Su Ming did not turn his head back. He only continued charging forth, even drinking one drop of Sea Marrow on the way, causing his power to instantly recover. His speed had also arrived at a state where it could not be described with words.
As he continuously charged into the deeper parts of the Candle Dragon's carcass and got closer to its head, gradually, the heat around Su Ming reached its most intense state. Even the act of breathing itself sent waves of burning and painful heat in his body.
Even the walls of flesh around him had turned a crimson red. There was also a large amount of liquid dripping down the walls of flesh. When it trailed down and fell on the floor, sizzling sounds could be heard.
The liquid clearly contained powerful corrosive properties. The heat and the suffocating sensation that made Su Ming feel as if he could not breathe quickened his breathing and filled his heart with irritation.
A large amount of sweat seeped out of Su Ming's body, and it instantly turned into steam the moment it appeared, causing Su Ming to look as if he was surrounded by a white, misty layer of fog as he pressed onward.
If anyone else was in his place, perhaps they would have found this situation difficult to bear. This had very little to do with the power of cultivation and was more related to an individual's ability to resist heat.
Although it was difficult for Su Ming to bear through the heat, he continued maintaining that extreme speed, because this was not the first time he had such an experience.
When he was still a teenager, this sort of earthen fire had already been lying part of the cave abode he had made for himself. In fact, he had even gone into the deeper parts of the cave and seen the Wings of the Moon along with the rolling magma.
He had even practiced the Fire Berserkers' Art and had in fact never given up on practicing the Fire Berserkers' moon worshiping Art. That in itself was already enough to let Su Ming's control over fire be much stronger compared to other people.
That was why he could charge forth like the wind without slowing down even the slightest bit in the Candle Dragon's body despite the heat.
Time trickled by. He did not know how long it had been, but in Su Ming's mind, his connection with the small snake always remained. He could sense that the small snake was flying forward in the distance.
He had called to it many times, but the small snake always ignored him. However, Su Ming could sense through the connection he had with the small snake that there was an unfamiliar power in the snake's body controlling its mind.
With that connection, Su Ming never stopped moving and continued chasing after the snake until he reached an area that even he found difficult to beat. That was an area that covered ten thousand feet, and it was a place that seemed to be able to burn everything into ashes!
The instant he stepped into that area, pain shot through Su Ming's entire body, and it was a pain brought only by burns. He saw a green light shining within that region. The ground was covered in a layer of green-like substance that made it seem like a swamp. That area was empty, there was not even a single skeleton around that spot.
The scorching heat came from that green swamp.
Su Ming only took a few steps forward before a feeling that his whole entire body was about to be burned to ashes rose strongly in him. If he did not take any preventive measures and just walked into the area like this, he believed that his feet would burn up before he could even take three steps forward, and when that time came, only death would await him.
However, he did not have time to think too deeply into this. The suction force and the mumbling sounds behind him were becoming stronger, causing him to be unable to stop and think of a foolproof plan.
During this moment of crisis, Su Ming lifted his right hand swiftly, bit the tip of his finger, then immediately swiped his finger across his eyes. The instant he smeared his blood on his eyes, the Fire Berserkers' Art activated in his body. The moon could not be seen in this place, but the instant Su Ming wiped his blood on his eyes, his blood started feeling as if it was burning up, causing him… to perform the burning of blood!
The instant Su Ming's blood started burning, the heat in the area instantly felt weaker. He did not hesitate any longer. He charged forward, turning into a long arc. One thousand feet, two thousand feet, three thousand feet… when he flew six thousand feet, sharp pain abruptly shot up his legs, bringing a great burning sensation. As his legs burned, the flames enveloped his entire body. At that time, Su Ming had already covered a distance of eight thousand feet.
When those flames covered his entire torso and charged straight to his head, he had already covered a distance of nine thousand feet. He lifted his burning right hand and performed the burning of blood once again.
With a hoarse roar, Su Ming flew past those ten thousand feet in an instant to appear on the other side of the green swamp in the Candle Dragon's body.
When he arrived there and was just about to charge forward as per usual, cracking sounds abruptly sprang forth from his legs. Layers of ice covered his entire body, and the process only lasted for an instant before he turned into an ice statue!
Su Ming's frozen body remained in his previous act of taking a step forward, and at that moment, he was standing on the spot, unmoving.
After going through the heated tunnel in the Candle Dragon's corpse, an icy stage appeared before him, and Su Ming, who had run headfirst into this freezing chill, turned into an ice sculpture.
After three breaths, a spark of fire suddenly appeared in Su Ming's eyes where he was sealed in that ice. At the same time, lightning sparks spread through the layer of ice from his spine. Soon after, a whirlwind spread out from within his body with a bang, and as cracking reverberated in the air, that ice instantly shattered to pieces.
Su Ming walked out of the ice, and freezing wind came crashing into his face, seeping into his body. Immediately, just like the heat from before, sharp pain spread through his entire body with each breath he took.
However, compared to this pain, the suction force that remained as a constant behind him, along with the roars and howls that had begun echoing beside his ears once again, were what bothered Su Ming the most.
He did think about setting up some traps to block those creatures before, but it was already difficult enough to set traps or Runes in this place, and that was not counting the fact that these creatures could come and go as they pleased since they were born from the carcass. Su Ming had even seen the fog beasts moving through the Candle Dragon's flesh. The Bone Fiends also moved deep under the floor in the form of bones, and it was difficult for him to stop them.
A glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes, and he dashed forward, once again executing that extreme speed of his face with the freezing wind blowing against him. He did not know just how far he had traveled, neither did he know where exactly he was in the Candle Dragon's body.
His path and his actions were all made after he sensed in his heart where the small snake was flying!
As he moved forward, Su Ming suddenly stopped, and the thing that brought this about was a frozen body stuck to the cold wall of flesh to his right.
It was a dried up corpse whose appearance could no longer be seen. However, he was wearing a purple armor, and it was shining with a purple light. The glowing armor was incredibly eye catching.
There were deep scars on the walls of flesh around that corpse. Judging by the scars, it could be seen that this person had actually managed to harm the Candle Dragon before his death.
There was one scar that looked as if a chunk of flesh had been ripped off, and it was a terrifying sight to behold.
But that was not all. Su Ming would not have stopped if that had just been the case. The one true reason that made him pause in his charge was because the armor's appearance and presence gave him an incredible sense of familiarity at that instant.
That familiarity was not because he had seen this person before, but because that armor was… practically the same as his Berserker Armor, besides the color!
Su Ming's armor was an illusion, and he had to get the true Berserker Armor from the Great Yu Dynasty. It was unknown as to whether the Great Yu Dynasty truly existed, but the armor before Su Ming's eyes right at that moment told him… that the country truly existed!
The instant Su Ming saw the armor, his heart pounded against his chest. This was the first item that actually managed to tempt him ever since he arrived inside the Candle Dragon's body.
Right at that moment, the suction force and the mumbling sounds behind him grew stronger. The roars and howls followed swiftly, and bumps even popped out of the walls around and ahead of him before they started squirming about. Clearly, the ferocious beasts had caught up to him!
Su Ming did not hesitate. He took a step forward, arrived beside the skeleton, and seized the purple armor. Yet the instant his hand touched the armor, the skeleton that Su Ming had deemed dead suddenly lifted his right hand and grabbed his wrist!
At the same time, within the skeleton's eyes in his dried up head, a faint, dark light flickered.
"I found… the third…"
It was also right at that moment that an accident happened - Su Ming's connection with the small snake broke.
At the same time, the eyes of the person in black robes who had followed Su Ming all the way into the fog surrounding the Candle Dragon's carcass began flashing as he sat at a corner in the fog, looking as if he was hesitating and uncertain about something. Yet after a moment, he lifted his right hand and flipped it over, and a green jade slip appeared in his hand.
"Master made this personally, and this is the last Destiny Talisman I have…" The old man gritted his teeth and pressed the green jade slip to the center of his brows.
Almost the instant he pressed the jade slip to the center of his brows, his body began trembling furiously. Fog filled the insides of his eyes, and gradually, a picture appeared within his pupils. The person in the picture was Su Ming, who was inside the Candle Dragon's body!
Chapter 464: Candle Dragon, Nine-Headed Dragon!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Su Ming's heart trembled. He had used his divine sense to check the skeleton and used his eyes to verify that it had been dead for many years. His body had also completely dried up.
When his wrist was grabbed by the skeleton, a huge storm stirred up in his heart, and as he stood there completely stunned, he almost forgot about the ferocious beasts that were charging towards him with those incessant roars.
This sudden accident that happened completely out of his expectations made Su Ming's pupils shrink.
"I found… the third… he's at… Eternal…"
A faint, dark light glowed in the skeleton's eyes, but before he could even finish speaking his sentence, that light immediately became dull and disappeared. The dried up hand that held onto Su Ming's wrist also fell to the floor.
Su Ming was shocked to the core, but he did not have time to think. He grabbed the skeleton's armor, and once he did so, a transparent jade slip about the size of his palm slipped off from under the armor covering the skeleton. Due to its transparency, it was difficult for anyone to discover it.
Su Ming had also only taken notice of it when he tore that purple armor off the skeleton. Without a hint of hesitation, he swept that transparent jade slip towards himself with a sweep of his arm, then immediately charged forward into the distance the instant the squirming creatures from the walls around him started crawling out.
The moment he left, the bumps in the walls around him burst open, and fog beasts that were now obviously slightly different from those Su Ming had seen previously rushed out with unending roars.
These creatures looked like pythons, but also had indistinct human faces where their heads should be. Forked tongues protruded out of their mouths as they hissed, and there was an eerie light in their eyes. Once they slammed their tails on the floor, they immediately charged towards Su Ming.
At the same time, the bone spikes shot through the floor and exploded, turning into small gray humanoids with long tails. Besides the cracks where their eyes and mouth should be, there was another crack at the top of their heads. That particular crack had now been ripped wide apart, making it seem as if there was a strange thing stored inside the heads and it was trying to crawl out from their skulls.
Apart from the fog beasts and Bone Fiends, the white figures that were floating forward while crying were also different. Their facial features were originally hidden under their hair and were rather indistinct, but as they lifted their heads, absolutely gorgeous faces could be seen, and their grace was especially breathtaking. It was enough to make a person who saw them be completely infatuated with their looks.
Su Ming could see none of it. He simply continued speeding forward at his absolute fastest speed. He had already lost his connection with the small snake and was feeling extremely anxious, but he could still sense the final spot where his snake was before the connection broke!
A long time passed as he continued charging forward, and the tunnel before him abruptly expanded. Then, a gigantic hole of flesh and blood—so great that it was like a field—appeared right before Su Ming!
This was the spot where his connection broke with his snake!
The instant Su Ming arrived at this spot, he saw a bizarre object that looked like the crown of a tree, and it was formed by several thick black tendons intertwining with each other right at the center of the gigantic hole!
At the top of those black tendons was a mass of dried up flesh nearly ten thousand feet big. That mass of flesh was filled with bumps, and it was in a dark grayish color. There was also several spots on that mass of flesh that had drooped down.
Su Ming saw nearly a hundred glittering crystal fragments floating above that mass of flesh. The sizes of those crystal fragments differed, but each and every one of them exuded a presence that made him feel as if his mind was about to be sucked into them. It was as if there was a world contained within each of those crystal fragments.
There was a total of ninety-seven of those crystal fragments!
They floated near that mass of flesh, and if Su Ming took a closer look, he would see that there were black threads connecting those fragments to that mass of flesh.
Almost the instant Su Ming arrived at the place, the humongous mass of flesh shrank before instantly swelling up slightly, and the spot where it swelled up was turned straight towards Su Ming. A crack slowly opened up on that mass of flesh, and as that crack was continuously ripped apart, Su Ming saw a head within its deeper parts!
It was a woman's head. She had long, lustrous hair, but there were black tendons covering her neck. At that moment, the woman had her eyes closed and her face was pale. There was not a hint of life within her. At the center of her brows was a flashing mark, and the shape of the mark looked like a star.
Su Ming's snake floated silently beside the woman's head. It did not seem to be struggling, just in a daze. There were wisps of white smoke spreading out from its body, crawling straight into the mark at the center of the woman's brows.
"This is the fate of all the descendants of the Candle Dragon… You cannot stop it…" The instant Su Ming saw the small snake, the ancient voice that he once heard echoed by his ears once again.
When he first heard it, he had been unable to discern whether voice belonged to a male or a female, but at that moment Su Ming could sense that it was an old voice clearly belonging to a woman.
"It only has a hint of the Candle Dragon's blood within it, but as long as it has that blood, then it is a part of our race… This is fate. The Candle Dragons are destined to devour each other. This is its predetermined fate after running into me in my current state…
"Before it lost its will, its only hope was for its master to leave this place safely… You are its master, as long as you do not anger me during the sacred ritual of my race, then after I complete the ritual, I will let you leave safely." There was a wave of mercilessness in that ancient voice as it echoed in Su Ming's head.
Su Ming looked at the small snake, looked at its closed eyes, looked at its unmoving body, and he clenched his right fist. His Divine General Armor appeared once again, and his right hand was no longer in the form of a fist, but was already holding onto the spiked club that had materialized in his right hand!
His Berserker Mark flickered on his face and his seven Berserker Bones shone with a piercing golden light in his body, causing Su Ming to look as if he was surrounded by golden light. At the same time, his Nascent Soul began forming seals with both hands. Even though it did not appear outside his body, it was already ready for a fight in his Dantian region.
The small virescent sword flashed before Su Ming. As green light filled its entire body, Su Ming took a step forward without wasting a single breath of his on meaningless words and charged straight towards the giant mass of flesh.
"I might only have a shred of my will left, but… How dare an ant like you provoke me..? Flesh and blood within the fog, form your body with my will!"
As that ancient voice echoed in the air calmly, the fog beasts with the appearances of pythons among the endless amount of ferocious beasts that were giving chase roared and exploded in an instant. Once an unknown number of those creatures exploded, their bodies turned into pieces of rotten flesh and appeared right before Su Ming out of nowhere while he rushed forward.
As those pieces of flesh gathered together, they turned into a gigantic body that was ten thousand feet tall in front of Su Ming. The body reminded of a snake but had the head of a dragon. It was entirely crimson, and it looked savage. Its eyes were gray, and each of its scales were about the size of an adult's head.
An indescribable presence spread forth from the odd creature's body.
"Murderous spirits in my bones, turn into bones and veins with my will!"
The ancient voice spoke once again. This time, the Bone Fiends behind Su Ming turned into sharp spikes and charged towards the gigantic body. Once they impaled it, the odd dragon and snake hybrid started moving, and the gray light in its eyes became stronger.
"Spirits formed from my soul, merge together into a single soul with my will…"
The instant the ancient voice said those words, the white figures behind Su Ming fused together as they cried shrilly and charged towards that dragon and snake hybrid. When they disappeared into its body, the dragon snake's eyes suddenly shone brilliantly like the sun and moon. It lifted its head and let out a roar. The gray light in its eyes flickered, and it looked as if it had been revived as it charged towards Su Ming with a howl.
Su Ming swung the spiked club in his right outward, and it grew several times in size before ramming straight into the dragon snake's body. At the same time, Su Ming drew one line with his left hand, executing Berserker Obliteration!
Immediately after, his Nascent Soul let out a piercing howl in his body. A large amount of ripples appeared around him. At that instant, all the divine abilities that he could cast from the array of skills he inherited from Hong Luo were executed by his Nascent Soul.
A violent bang reverberated in the area and spread in all directions. Once that bang faded away, Su Ming's spiked club was bounced off and fell to the side. The divine abilities his Nascent Soul cast shattered, causing his Nascent Soul to instantaneously become so limp that he looked as if he was about to scatter away.
The Divine General Armor exploded, and his Berserker Obliteration did nothing. Everything that he had was completely useless before this dragon snake!
As that dragon snake closed in on him, Su Ming coughed out blood, and as that bang reverberated in the air, his body was forced back around a hundred feet, but there was not a hint of panic in his eyes.
"As expected, you're indeed incredibly weakened. No matter how much will you have left remaining, you can't hide just how terrified you are…"
As a cold sneer appeared on Su Ming's lips, he lifted his right hand, formed a seal, then pointed in the direction before him. Immediately, his Han Mountain Bell manifested before him. This time, Su Ming did not intend to use Han Mountain Bell for defense but summoned it to cast its strongest power - the sixth head's ability!
If Su Ming had not seen the white figures screeching and retreating when he summoned the Nine-Headed Dragon when he was outside, if he had not brought out the Nine-Headed Dragon before his small snake in the past and seen the small snake showing a guarded expression, then howling at it as if having run into its mortal enemy, it might not have left such a deep impression on his mind. If these things had not happened, then he would be uncertain as to how he should fight against this dead Candle Dragon's will even after he had entered its body.
But that would only happen if those things had not occurred!
"Nine-Headed Dragon, Southern Emperor, Absolute!"
Once Su Ming's Han Mountain Bell appeared and he finished forming those seals, he pointed forward. As Su Ming muttered the string of words without even wiping away the blood at the corners of his lips, Han Mountain Bell abruptly let out an intense howl.
The instant the howl reverberated through the air, a guarded expression immediately appeared on the dragon snake's face, and it even started roaring. Its current look was the exact same as the small snake's in the past, as if it had run into its greatest enemy!
"When I used this thing outside, you should have sensed it! You did everything that you could to stop me, even trying to kill me when I entered your dead body, because of your weakness. Perhaps I cannot fight against you, but I have here with me a creature that can frighten you!
"This is that creature!"
As Su Ming said those words, the roars within Han Mountain Bell grew stronger. At the same time, a nine-headed gigantic beast of ten thousand feet manifested above Han Mountain Bell. Six of its heads roared at the dragon snake at the same time, and the remaining three heads that were still sleeping started vibrating.
It did not matter whether it was the Nine-Headed Dragon's expression or its gaze, there was also a sort of guardedness and hate within them, as if the Candle Dragon was also its mortal enemy!
"Candle Dragon… Nine-Headed Dragon…"
A glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes.
Translator's Notes:
Candle Dragon, 九陰 (jiu3 yin1) and Nine-Headed Dragon 九嬰 (jiu3 ying1) is a play of words too. If you can tell, the pinyin for Candle Dragon and Nine-Headed Dragon are almost exactly the same, and considering how prideful dragons are, they wouldn't want to share the same name with another completely different kind of dragon, suggesting that both types of dragons are mortal enemies in this book.
Chapter 465: Sky and Earth, Ice and Fire
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"Nine-Headed Dragon…" the ancient voice said in a low voice, its words reverberating in the air. "I have always wanted to ask the Lord of all heavens why the earth must exist after the world has a sky…
"Why is it that when the world has fire, ice must appear..?
"I also wanted to ask the heavens why the Nine-Headed Dragons were born… even after there's already us Candle Dragons! I spent my entire life searching, but I couldn't find an answer…
"When ice and fire blend together, what appears is boiling water, frozen fire, and a presence that is completely different from ice and fire!
"When the sky and earth fuse together, what appears is a gray piece of sky, a broken void, and the power of one World!
"Then, what appears after the Candle Dragons and Nine-Headed Dragons fuse together..? What is it..? What is it..? What is it?!" At the end, the voice had practically slipped off the edge, and her roars resounded in the area.
The dragon snake roared at the same time as well. With a savage expression and madness, it charged towards the Nine-Headed Dragon. Su Ming's Nine-Headed Dragon also roared, and without Su Ming even needing to control it, all six of the heads rushed towards the dragon snake.
Booming sounds reverberated in all directions. The Candle Dragon was already dead, and this dragon snake was put together with great difficulty by its remaining will. The difference between this candle dragon and its original body was like heaven and earth.
Yet similarly, Su Ming's Nine Headed Dragon did not have a physical body, only a spirit one. It was Han Mountain Bell's Vessel Spirit, and it had been asleep for many years. It also only had six awakened heads, that was why its strength was largely different from when it was alive.
As such, the Candle Dragon and Su Ming's Nine-Headed Dragon were an equal match for each other. These two powerful beasts that considered each other as their mortal enemy started fighting against madly.
Su Ming stood there with a hint of confusion in his eyes for an instant. The source of his confusion were the words that the ancient voice had uttered just now. Those words echoed in his head, making him feel as if he had understood something, but when he thought about it carefully, he found that he had gained nothing from it.
'The fusion between ice and fire… The fusion between sky and earth…'
This sort of feeling was just like the one from when he sat on the platform outside his cave abode on the ninth summit after speaking to Tian Xie Zi. Understanding those words had taken him several months, but in the end, he had obtained his own Creation through an epiphany!
He came to understand his very own method to clear his mind, and the exact same process of confusion followed by understanding had appeared when he drew that one line and executed his first Berserker Obliteration.
As of then, the confusion in Su Ming's eyes grew stronger. The words from the ancient voice echoed incessantly in his head. Su Ming had a strong hunch that if he understood those words completely, then… he would hold control over an unimaginable power!
However, at that moment, he could only bite down on his tongue and snap himself out of it. This epiphany might be precious, but the timing was absolutely not suitable. If he continued mulling over it, then he would die. He could not think of anything else that would come out of it.
That was why even though he felt that it was a pity, Su Ming had to force himself to instantly snap awake before he completely immersed himself in those words. As he regained his senses, a shocking boom traveled into his ears. The dragon snake and Nine-Headed Dragon were fighting against each other in midair, and the fight between these two enemies had reached its most intense state.
A glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes and he swiftly turned into a long arc. When he took a step forward, he circled around the fighting pair to charge straight towards the giant mass of flesh floating in midair.
The beautiful woman's face in that mass of flesh did not change. Fine white threads of mist were still continuously seeping out of the small snake before her and being absorbed by the mark at the center of the woman's brows.
Killing intent flashed in Su Ming's eyes. He took a step forward, and the instant he closed in on that mass of flesh, it started squirming viciously. At the same time, that ancient voice traveled forth gently.
"I will grant you a long life. I will let you be the same as me, that even when the sky and earth crumbles, you will not be destroyed, that even when the heavens fall to ruin, you will not die��� Do you want that?
"I will grant you endless power. I will let your body be almost the same as mine. I can let you break the rules of the world and step into the endless emptiness so that you can see a bigger world and see the stars in the sky… Do you want that?
"I can even grant eternity for your soul so that you can be the brightest star under heaven. I can let all those who see you with their eyes bow down and worship you… Do you want that..?
"I can grant you control over the power of one World. I can let you become a powerful warrior so you will be able to do whatever it is you want… Do you want that?
"I can grant you the power to tear through all mysteries. I can let you understand what is up ahead, above the blue sky. I can let you see what is under the ground. I can let you hold control over your own life with your own hands, and no one will be able to control it… Do you want that?!" When that ancient voice spoke, Su Ming's footsteps froze for a moment when he heard those words.
"You must have dreams, desires. I can help you fulfill all your wishes and let you obtain the power to fulfill those dreams and desires… You can find your dreams. You can tear away the sky that covers your eyes. You can control your own fate. You can… crush all your enemies before you...
"I can do it. Trust me. I can really do it. I am the Candle Dragon. I am the strongest of all Candle Dragons… When I was alive, I could make darkness fall on one hundred worlds in an instant. I had devoured more than one hundred million souls…
"As long as I wake up, as long as I am resurrected, I can swear on my race's oath, I will definitely do all that I have just said… As long as… you don't interrupt my race's ritual… As long as you back down now and not come closer.
"If you agree to this, then I will fulfill my oath!"
A boom went off in Su Ming's head. His breathing quickened as he stared fixedly at the woman's face. The sincerity in her words could not be doubted.
He did not care for eternal life, neither did he care about having an everlasting spirit. But he did care about what lay above the blue sky. He cared about having control over his own fate. He cared about tearing apart the mist that covered his eyes. He cared about searching for Dark Mountain, cared about understanding the true source behind Destiny!
All of these were the things he desired, were things he yearned for so greatly that he almost dreamed about them in his sleep.
"If you don't believe me, then I can acknowledge you as my master, but the process is separated into two parts. The first part is just the initial state. If we go according to what we promised, then once I am resurrected, we can complete the second step… I will definitely fulfill all that I have promised. You will only lose a snake that is only an infant, and one that doesn't have a pure bloodline to boot, but in its place will be me!"
Su Ming fell silent, and after a long while, he shook his head.
"I don't trust you!" The instant he said those words, he charged towards the woman's head in that mass of flesh.
"Why don't you trust me? All that I have said is the truth. As long as I am resurrected, I will definitely do it. You are not the first person to whom I have made an oath. There was someone before you who received my oath. I don't remember his name, but the feeling of his blood is similar to yours!
"He called himself… the third God of Berserkers!"
Right at that moment, within the endless fog surrounding the Candle Dragon's gigantic carcass, the old man in black robes had already used his final Destiny Talisman as he sat in that fog. The scenes flashing in his eyes were the things that were happening to Su Ming right at that moment.
With a special method, this old man in black robes had seen everything that happened after Su Ming entered the Candle Dragon's body.
A glint appeared in his eyes, and a strange smile suddenly formed on his lips.
'The remaining will of the Candle Dragon… might be strong, but it now has to devour its descendant and face Destiny… perhaps I can use it.' The old man's smile grew brighter.
'Destiny has that crimson dragon and the old Spirit of Nine Yin. It's difficult for me to restore order and let him continue walking down his predestined path… Only when he is in the Candle Dragon's body can I avoid the crimson dragon. But I, too, can't enter its body. I can only use the Destiny Talisman to see him…' The old man licked his lips, and Su Ming's inverted figure in his pupils twisted.
'But if I offer my power to the Destiny Talisman, then I can cast some divine abilities. These divine abilities might not be able to fulfill my initial plans to make Destiny fall asleep once again, but… I can use them to stir up the Candle Dragon's will and have it open up the Undying and Imperishable World so that it will turn into a cage to trap Destiny!
'He will be forcefully made to stay there, and I will achieve the same result as in my initial plan. I will also have enough time to wait for master's second projection!
'If everything goes according to plan, then I will have obtained a huge achievement!'
As the old man in black robes smiled, he lifted his right hand and pointed at the green jade slip at the center of his brows. It vibrated, and a black ball of thread seeped out from its edges. Those black threads were spreading quickly, and in the blink of an eye, they covered his entire face. There were especially a lot of those black threads by the corners of his eyes. They even seeped into the old man's eyes as they continued stretching outwards.
They replaced the blood capillaries in his eyes, and when they turned into black threads, they covered his pupils. Su Ming's inverted figure in them also became much fainter. At the same time, the green hue on the jade slip rapidly faded away and became dull. Once it turned black, it exploded with a bang. But the instant it was reduced to powder, the old man in black robes opened his mouth and let out a puff of air.
Once that breath escaped his mouth, it turned into black fog and disappeared into nothingness.
Over at Su Ming's side, the instant he heard the Candle Dragon mentioning the third God of Berserkers, his heart was shaken, but still, he did not stop. He charged deep into the mass of flesh, clenched his right fist and had the seven Berserker Bones in his body burst forth with incredibly power. Right then, just as he was about to ram his fist into the woman's head that was absorbing those white threads from the small snake's body—
Right at that moment, a gust of wind appeared out of nowhere at the edge of that giant mass of flesh, at a spot where Su Ming could not see. A layer of black fog appeared along with that wind and drifted lightly into the giant mass of flesh, disappearing into it. All of this happened in an instant, and in the blink of an eye, it ended.