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Chapter 969: Change into a Burning Spirit

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

"Don't threaten his life," the old man said with complicated emotions.

The dozen something people charged forward. When they closed in on Su Ming, his shrill laughter echoed in space. With great anger and sadness, he raised his right hand and threw a punch towards the dozen something people before him. With it, he executed the most powerful force he could bring out in this body – the offensive power of those in Solar Kalpa Realm.

Loud booms sounds surged into the sky. As it grew so loud that it was deafening to the ears, the dozen something people's bodies stopped altogether. In fact, even the old man's pupils shrank. The power that erupted from Su Ming's body caused him to be apprehensive!

"So this is my people!" Su Ming spoke with a bark of laughter filled with anger and sadness. However, the anguish in his laughter was an emotion that only those who had lived through his experiences could sense. "This is the people I never forgot and insisted on searching while living a life of trials and hardships, going through dangers that almost cost me my life!" Su Ming raised his right hand and threw a punch forward again.

"I did not come here today for you Dust Burners. I will take the things my father left here, and with just you… you will not be able to stop me!"

Su Ming took a step forward and threw a punch again. The full power of Solar Kalpa Realm erupted from his body at that moment. Booming sounds reverberated in the air, and by himself, he forced the dozen something Dust Burners to continuously retreat.

Su Ming's punches did not land on anyone's bod, but struck the area in front of them. Because of that, it formed a powerful impact. It swept up the dozen something people, preventing them from getting close to him. They could only move back continuously.

The old man's expression changed. His pupils shrank, and a strange light appeared in his eyes as he stared at the body Su Ming controlled.

'The previous tribe leader left this place ten thousand years ago. This child's appearance is practically the same as his, and he has the presence of us, Dust Burners. There is no possibility that we could be wrong in this.

'I might not know with what woman and from what race the previous tribe leader had this child, but the nine marks of the flames at the center of his brows clearly show the purity of his blood.

'He does indeed belong to the main bloodline of Dust Burners… If we judge based on this, then he should only be some thousands of years old, but with just thousands of years… he has already reached this Realm. His potential… Even if he doesn't have the main bloodline, he would still become a presence that surpasses all of the others in our tribe.

'It's a pity… If Progenitor could egress, then we might still be able to change things.' As the old man shook his head, he fell into contemplative silence. Suddenly, his eyes shone, as if he had come to some sort of decision, and he spoke swiftly.

"All of you, turn into the Burning Spirit!"

As the old man spoke, the dozen something Dust Burners stopped and wrapped themselves into a ball together. The marks of the flames at the center of their brows fused together, and suddenly, booming sounds reverberated in space. The dozen something people turned into a dozen something large flame giants in the blink of an eye, and as they roared, they charged towards the stranger.

Su Ming saw the old man's expression change, and a thought formed in his heart. He did not believe that this had not caught the attention of Dust Burners' Master of Fate, Lives, and Death, not when this happened right at the tribes doorstep. However, that person had still not appeared. There had to be a reason behind it.

Su Ming had a few ideas why that might be so.

There was a large floating continent at the core of the fog. That continent was not too large, but it was big enough for a hundred thousand something Dust Burners to live for countless years.

This was where the Dust Burners' tribe was stationed.

There was a desert on the continent, and not a single plant could be seen there. Hot air filled the entire area, and there were hot gusts of wind occasionally blowing through the place. There were towers on the ground. Their heights were different, but even the shortest tower was thousand something feet tall. As for the tall ones, they were several hundreds of thousands of feet tall.

If a person cast their gaze across the land, they would find that there were hundreds of thousands of these towers around. They were scattered all over the place, and there were flames burning around them. The most important ones were located at the top of the towers. As for those around the buildings themselves, they were formed by the sea of fire spilling down from the top like flowing streams of water.

The flames at the tops of the towers did not seem too strange at first sight, but if anyone looked carefully, they would find that each of them formed eyes.

Because of it, the continent gave off a feeling that it had hundreds of thousands of eyes that seemed to be looking at all the secrets in the universe for all eternity.

At that moment, at the top of the tallest tower, which stood at one hundred thousand something feet tall, was a middle-aged man sitting under the eye of the flame. His face was blackish red, and his expression gave off an awe-inspiring air. There were nine marks of flames at the center of his brows.

He watched the gigantic eye in front of him, not doing anything.

Standing beside him were nine old men. None of them were speaking at that moment. They only looked at the eye of the flame.

Within it was the image of Su Ming fighting against the dozen something Dust Burners in the fog beyond the continent.

After a long while, the middle-aged man asked faintly while remaining seated, "Has Progenitor shown signs of egression?"

"There's no signs whatsoever," one of the old men behind him answered in a low voice.

"No signs, hmm..? Then it means that the old man has already egressed." The middle-aged man smiled faintly, but there was a dark and sinister aura to it. This was due to the presence of the body Su Ming controlled in the eye of the flame.

"This person is not old, but he has already reached this Realm. It's clear that he has run into plenty of dangers and difficulties in the years he has wandered outside…" the middle-aged man said softly. "I have never showed any care towards him over the years as his uncle. I feel slightly ashamed to face my older brother." The middle-aged man sighed softly.

"Oh well, just kill him. The nine of you, go personally. Use the fastest speed you can muster to wipe out all his traces. I feel incredibly uncomfortable just looking at the nine marks of flames at the center of his brows."

The middle-aged man's voice remained calm. The nine old men by his side hesitated for a moment before lowering their heads and voicing their obedience. In the span of a breath, all nine of them disappeared without a trace.

"How can the old man not feel tempted by the presence of such a prodigy..? But why have you still not said anything..? Could it be that there is something wrong with this person..? Oh well, I'll help you solve this," the middle-aged man mumbled and closed his eyes.

In the endless expanse above the fog formed by the sea of fire was a spot far away from the battlefield. It was quiet there, and even the rumbles from the fright could not reach this place.

In the fog was a blurry figure sitting cross-legged. He was not tall and appeared very thin and small, having the appearance of a boy. He was currently staring at the area beneath him, as if his gaze could penetrate all the fog and see Su Ming on the battlefield.

The blurry figure shook its head and said to softly to itself, "There's nothing wrong with his presence. There's nothing wrong with the mark of his flame… The feeling of his blood is also correct… and his expression seems incredibly real as well, but why do I constantly sense an unfamiliar presence about him?"

'When Ze Rong and his brother had a falling out in the past, it was a pity that I had something to attend to outside. When I returned, he had already left the tribe. I predicted that he would run into a disaster that would cause his death, and it was of a kind that could not be resolved, which was why I did not chase after him and search for him. The tribe then obtained a new tribe leader.

'But in my predictions, Ze Rong did not have children…' The eyes of the blurry figure sparkled, and a piercingly cold look appeared within them, but there was still hesitation within them.

"Whether or not you are a Dust Burner and Ze Rong's descendant… will depend on whether you have awakened our people's inborn ability, Burning Spirit. If you can transform into a Burning Spirit, then I will appear and recognize you as well as let you return to us. If you can't… then I'd like to see just who is scheming against us Dust Burners!" The blurry figure laughed coldly and no longer spoke.

Booming sounds surged into the heavens from the battlefield and reverberated in space. In the face of the dozen something Dust Burners who had turned into Burning Spirits, which were the flame giants, Su Ming kept going forward and did not stop. Even if these people's level of cultivation increased exponentially once they transformed, the highest among them was just in Lunar Kalpa Realm. Compared to his current body, which could bring forth the power of Solar Kalpa Realm, the difference was too great.

And this was before Su Ming even activated the power of his Ecang clone. If he did, then he could let this body fight against an Almighty who had reached Mastery Realm, just like Heaven Traversers' Progenitor. If Su Ming had been in possession of this body created by the supreme treasure at that time, then he was confident that he could have engaged Heaven Traversers' Progenitor in an intense fight, and even made him frown.

The anger and sadness on Su Ming's face did not falter. With a cold harrumph and a step forward, he threw three consecutive punches.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The three punches landed in space and stirred up a powerful impact that turned into loud bangs that traveled in all directions, causing the dozen something Dust Burners who had turned into Burning Spirits to look as if they were being blown by violent gusts of wind. They immediately fell back, and with a single move, Su Ming rushed out of their encirclement.

Yet at the moment he rushed out, a sense of danger rose in Su Ming's mind. Xuan Shang, Hua Yu, Yun You, Nian Yin, and Xu Hui's hearts felt it as well.

"Careful! Powerful warriors are coming!"

"It's not just one, there are nine of them!"

The group's voices all reached Su Ming. At the same time, the expression of the old man who had appeared the earliest changed.

Nine powerful vortices appeared in the space around Su Ming. Then, nine people walked out from them. They were nine old men, and they… were nine Almighties in Solar Kalpa Realm!

Their appearance immediately caused the fog that was the sea of fire to surge like waves, and loud bangs rang out. As the fog fell backwards, a hot wave that could burn everything erupted from the bodies of the nine people.

At the same time, a piercing light spread out. It came from the nine suns behind the newcomers!

Once the nine people appeared, killing intent radiated off their faces. A solemn look appeared on Su Ming's face, but he did not forget to throw his head back and laugh. Its sound betrayed that Su Ming intended to bid farewell to the world, but it also contained intense anger.

This fitted his status. It also caused conflict to appear on the face of the old man who had appeared the earliest, then it turned into resolve.

'The previous tribe leader did a favor to me in the past… and I have never been able to repay him. Today, his son came here. Why should I hesitate any longer?!' The old man gritted his teeth. He did not attack, but instead immediately sent word to Su Ming.

"Young tribe leader, hurry up and transform into a Burning Spirit! With your current level of cultivation, you must have definitely awakened your inborn ability! Transform into a Burning Spirit, then all will be resolved!"

A glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes. When he saw Dust Burners transforming, he had already recorded the process in his head. He had also seen some clues regarding that transformation. Once the old man spoke, Su Ming took a few swift steps back. He was already certain in his heart that the reason why Dust Burners' Progenitor had not appeared was because he had not transformed into a Burning Spirit. This was definitely because he was uncertain of Su Ming's status.

'Transform into a Burning Spirit!'

The moment Su Ming sent this thought to the bald crane, he also sent it to Xuan Shang and the others. He prepared himself to curl into a ball, but then a thought appeared in his heart. He gave up on that action and instead stood there and executed the transformation into a Burning Spirit in a completely different manner!

As he did so, he began activating Ecang's presence in his soul and dispersing it.

Chapter 970: Dust Burners' Progenitor

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Su Ming had decided to disperse Ecang's presence because his so-called Burning Spirit Transformation was fake. For him, it was just an external transformation, but the other Dust Burners' level of cultivation would increase exponentially once they turned into Burning Spirits.

Since that was the case, then if Su Ming transformed and retained his current level of cultivation, everyone would be able to tell with one glance that he was a fake.

Once he fused with Ecang's presence, his power would increase, because of that, the body he controlled would also have its power increase by leaps and bounds. The quick rise in power and presence would be almost the same as when a Dust Burner transformed into a Burning Spirit.

Once Su Ming sent his divine thought outwards, Xuan Shang and the others immediately focused. The image of Dust Burners transforming appeared in their heads. The bald crane also used every ounce of its strength while yelling for crystals in its heart to transform with Xuan Family's supreme treasure while Su Ming acted as its main soul.

Su Ming did not know what form he should take as the son of the tribe leader and a Dust Burner who had nine marks of flames. Thus, he could only act according to his own judgment.

As he transformed, the marks of flames at the center of his brows fused together and his body was enveloped by a sea of fire. With a bang, flames that were the exact same as the ones the Burning Spirits had let out appeared distinctly in the fog.

Su Ming intentionally made the transformation slow. His eyes were hidden in the flames, and as he transformed, he observed the changes in expressions of the people around him, especially the nine old men in Solar Kalpa Realm and the old man who had previously given him a reminder. These ten were the ones Su Ming prioritized in his observations.

As he watched them, he noticed that when he began transforming, the nine old men in Solar Kalpa Realm stopped and did not attack anymore. Instead, they focused their attention on him, but when they noticed that he was changing into the same form as the other Dust Burners, seven of them appeared as calm as they did before, but there were two who looked as if they were sighing in relief.

This scene caused Su Ming to focus. When he looked towards the old man who had given him the reminder just then, he saw a hint of disappointment in the old man's expression.

Su Ming thought quickly. At the instant his body was about to complete the transformation, he lifted his right foot, stomped on the galaxy, and let out a low growl.

Blue flames swiftly appeared with a bang from the marks of flames that had fused together into one at the center of his brows. The blue flames were formed from the blue lines on the right arm of the body Su Ming controlled. When they appeared, they instantly enveloped his body, causing the flame giant that was Su Ming to turn into a blue flame giant.

When he brought forth this transformation, Su Ming's eyes, which were still hidden in the flames, did not show a single hint of inattentiveness. Instead, with bright, sparkling eyes, he saw the expressions of the nine old man in Solar Kalpa Realm change at once. In fact, a hint of nervousness as well as shock appeared on their faces.

The disappointed look on the old man who had reminded him earlier turned into excitement in the blink of an eye.

When Su Ming saw this, he no longer hesitated. He might still have been a little uncertain, but there was no longer time for him to think too much about this. With gritted his teeth, he finished his transformation in the blink of an eye.

What appeared before the people was a flame giant several hundreds of feet tall. The flames on its body were azure blue. While surrounded by other Dust Burners, Su Ming's flames became the most brilliant flames in this galaxy.

If it was just his body that had transformed, it would not have been enough to shock these people. Yet right then, power erupted from Su Ming's body. While it might still be power equivalent to those in Solar Kalpa Realm, it was a presence that was much stronger than that of a normal cultivator in Solar Kalpa Realm. It gave rise to a loud bang and formed a mighty pressure that forced the nine old men to retreat as their expressions changed.

And this was just Su Ming fusing Ecang's presence into his body and not him truly having his Ecang clone descend into this place. If that happened, he could fight against an Almighty in Mastery Realm with the supreme treasure around!

With the bald crane around, the supreme treasure formed a perfect layer of protection, preventing the presence of Su Ming's Ecang clone from spreading outwards. Because of it, his transformation had no flaws.

Almost at the instant the body Su Ming controlled turned into a blue flame giant, the eyes of the middle-aged man sitting and meditating at the top of the one hundred thousand feet tower in the Dust Burners' continent located in the depths of the fog flew open. He stared at the eye of the flame in front of him, and as his expression changed, he stood up.

"He reached Blue Flame Transformation?!"

At the same time, the blurry figure who seemed like a boy in the area above the fog curled his lips into a faint smile. At the instant he saw the body Su Ming controlled turn into a blue flame giant, all his doubts were dispelled. In truth, even if this person had just turned into a normal crimson flame giant, he would not have suspected him anymore. He would have been just slightly disappointed.

After all, crimson flames were something all of them could do once they awakened, but the level of difficulty for blue flames… was far greater. This required a second awakening, and it had nothing to do with level of cultivation. The key to it was in the blood.

"With just a few thousand years, he reached Solar Kalpa Realm, and his blood reached Blue Flame Transformation… Ze Rong, you delivered a great gift to our race!" The blurry figure stood up with a bark of laughter, then took a step downwards, towards the battlefield.

'This child has reached Solar Kalpa Realm, but a sun formed by his cultivation base did not manifest. This can only mean that he has not truly reached Solar Kalpa Realm, but attained it due to some sort of serendipity.

'If that's the case, then it explains why he obtained such offensive power within thousands of years. Not bad, not bad at all!'

The blurry figure was indeed a boy. He had a head full of white hair but appeared only to be about seven or eight years old. He strode forward with a smile, and the expression of praise as well as joy spread through his face.

On the battlefield, once Su Ming transformed, he looked at the nine old men in Solar Kalpa Realm whose expressions had changed by then. At that moment, everything around him was in dead silence. The Dust Burners' gazes when they looked at Su Ming were no longer the same as before. There was respect contained in their eyes, along with zealousness.

Su Ming looked towards the nine old men in Solar Kalpa Realm and asked in a ghastly voice, "Do the nine of you want to kill me?" A vast, mighty presence spread out as he spoke, sweeping up the fog around him while his voice echoed in the area in loud booms.

The nine people's expressions changed, and anguish appeared in their hearts. They knew that there were plenty of rules in the tribe, and one of them was that those who had more marks of flames were to be regarded with respect. These nine old men had only eight marks of flames, and when they attacked just then, they could be seen as going against the rules of their tribe. However, this person had not been considered a member of their race moments ago, so it did not bring about too much of an effect.

Yet at that moment, once he transformed, revealing Blue Flame Transformation, they knew that there was absolutely no need for anyone to verify his identity to make sure that he was a Dust Burner. When they added this fact to the one that he possessed nine marks of flames, a mighty pressure greater than his power was formed.

Even the tribe leader did not have the right to kill one of their own who possessed nine marks of flames and the Blue Flame Transformation.

As the nine old men in Solar Kalpa Realm hesitated, a long string of laughter broke the silence. The fog tumbled backwards as the laughter echoed in space, and a blurry figure walked out of thin air. With one step forward, his body gained corporeal form, and eventually, a boy with white hair walked out.

The boy's appearance immediately caused the expressions of the nine old men in Solar Kalpa Realm to change. Without any hesitation, they knelt down and worshiped him.

"Greetings, Progenitor!"

The Dust Burners around the area and the old man who had given Su Ming a reminder also knelt down together to worship him with zealousness and reverence.

Su Ming's pupils contracted as he stared at the boy walking towards him. He could sense the mighty pressure spreading out from the person's body incredibly clearly. This was… a Master of Fate, Lives, and Death.

The feeling that the other's entire body was filled with supreme power allowed Su Ming to know that this person had already perfected Mastery Realm. His power was almost the exact same as that of the one he had met in the territory where the four Great True Worlds were stationed.

"What is your name?" A smile appeared on the boy's face when he looked at Su Ming.

"Mo," Su Ming replied faintly.

At that moment, Xuan Shang, Yun You, Nian Yin, and Hua Yu immediately became nervous in the body he controlled. Su Ming's answer was not the name they had set previously, but Su Ming had been the one taking the lead all this while. During the course of their journey here, the decisions he made brought about a crucial effect, so his choices were clearly much better than they original plan, which was why even though they were nervous, they did not send out any thoughts to him.

"Oh? Why did you name yourself this way?" A light crease appeared between the boy's brows. This was not a Dust Burners' name.

"Because ever since I can remember myself, I had an important person in the place where I lived. His family name was Mo," Su Ming replied calmly. There was a hint of obstinacy in his voice.

"Who is your father?" the boy asked again.

Su Ming stared at the boy in front of him coldly and did not speak.

The boy was also staring at him, but as he observed Su Ming, he heaved a sigh in his heart. He could see the resentment, anger, and sadness in this person's heart, and there was no longer any need for an answer as to why those emotions were in him. When this child was born, his father should have died soon after, and he was brought up by a person whose family name was Mo. He must have been able to come to this place because Ze Rong had entrusted him with an authentication token and some pointers to this place before he died and left him an orphan.

"I don't have a father." Su Ming let out a cold snort.

"What are you saying?!" the boy shouted out. There was a hint of solemnness in his voice as he continued speaking, "Your father's name is Ze Rong. He is the previous tribe leader of Dust Burners. I watched him grow up into an adult, and you are a Dust Burner as well as the young tribe leader of our people!

"Oh well, I will tell you about your father later. Now… child, you are home!" The boy looked at Su Ming, and a kindly expression appeared on his face.

"I am not a Dust Burner, I came here to take that Ze Rong's belongings. Since you Dust Burners could cast my father and me aside for thousands of years, I���" The obstinacy in Su Ming's voice became even stronger, but before he could even finish speaking, the boy swung his arm forward, and all the fog in the area let out a loud bang before swiftly turning into a gigantic hand. That hand occupied most of the galaxy. It was made of fog, and no end to it could be seen.

Once it appeared, it swiftly clenched into a fist. What it grasped was not just Su Ming, but all the Dust Burners in the area. Booming sounds reverberated in the air. Su Ming could fight against it, but he did not attack.

If anyone looked at the fog in Dust Burners' territory from the distance, they would find that they could see a hand formed by fog dissipating the moment it clenched into a fist. The fog spread out once more then, but all the Dust Burners present moments ago had disappeared.

Chapter 971: I Want to Go to the Fifth True World

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

In the depths of the fog was the continent where Dust Burners lived. On it was a tower several thousands of feet tall, and hovering over it was a ball of flames resembling an eye. In that eye was Su Ming, and he was sitting cross-legged in there without moving.

There was an endless sea of fire around him, making it seem as if he was in another world.

Beyond the eye of the flame where he sat was Dust Burners' Progenitor, who was sitting cross-legged.

It was the ninth day since Su Ming was brought back to Dust Burners' continent from the battlefield of fog.

"How very impervious to reason. You are just like your father in the past. I've told you plenty of times that when your father and your uncle had a falling out and left in the past, I was outside and could not rush back. As for you… I told your father's fortune years ago, and in that prediction, I saw that he would never have children in his life.

"That is why I never had anyone venture out to search for you.

"But I'll admit that there are times when predictions do not end up true. This was caused by your father meeting someone who changed his fate when he was outside, that is why your existence was not part of my predictions, and it is also why your power reached this state within just thousands of years and even awakened to blue flames," the boy said with a frown while staring at Su Ming sitting in the flames.

He had detained him for nine days. Since the first day, the man did not acknowledge Dust Burners and did not want to become a part of their people. On the ninth day, it was still the same. In fact, he no longer spoke and was fighting back with silence.

This vexed Dust Burners' Progenitor. If it had been any other member of his race, he would have killed them with a smack and not have bothered wasting his breath on them. Even if they were members of his race, he would not have paid any attention to them if they only had normal potential. Since they did not want to become Dust Burners, then they might as well get lost and live on their own in the world outside.

Yet he was incredibly happy with this Mo before his eyes. He was already this powerful at such a young age and had awakened to the blue flames. Even Ze Rong and his brother could not do this at his age. In fact, in Progenitor's eyes, if he educated this child well, there was a high possibility that a second Master of Fate, Lives, and Death would appear in the tribe.

At that time, if he didn't begin failing in health, they could bring about a time of glory for Dust Burners and fight against Reng Wu Race.

"Son, I can understand your resentment and will make up for the lack of concern from your people in the past. But you've already returned to the tribe, and I've already made an announcement that you are the young tribe leader!

"While you're here, no one will be able to harm you. Even your uncle, who is the current tribe leader, won't be able to do it!

"As soon as you form your own Solar Kalpa instead of reaching that Realm with your offensive power, I will immediately invalidate the current tribe leader and make you the new tribe leader. By doing so… you can also make your father rest in peace…

"Besides, I can guide you in your training. I already look forward to you becoming a Master of Fate, Lives, and Death and making Dust Burners return to their former glory." The Progenitor who looked like a child continued advising Su Ming earnestly and patiently with good intentions.

Su Ming sat in the flames with obstinacy on his face, but Xuan Shang and his group were in a state of excitement and were itching to make Su Ming immediately agree to it, but he was the leader and had even helped them obtain success that they would not have been able to obtain with their own plan. Because of that, they did not dare to advise him though and only watched helplessly as he sat without saying a single word.

After several days of silence, Su Ming opened his eyes and asked, "How can you make me a Master of Fate, Lives, and Death?"

Dust Burners' Progenitor immediately smiled. As long as Su Ming spoke, it was fine. The thing he worried about the most was him having made up his mind to not speak again. But since he spoke, everything could be settled through discussion.

"Even if you don't become a Master of Fate, Lives, and Death, when my health starts failing, I will turn all the epiphany I have gained into the tenth flame and fuse it into your body so that you can become an Almighty in Mastery Realm. However, that will cause your level of cultivation to come to a halt, and you will never be able to gain an epiphany of Fate Realm." Dust Burners' Progenitor looked at Su Ming and smiled with kindness.

When Su Ming saw that smile, he fell silent, feeling rather complicated inside. That smile was real, and everything the other had done during the past nine days were also true.

He truly treated him as Ze Rong's child and a Dust Burner.

Su Ming had only seen this smile scant few times. The first to show it to him was his elder, next was his Master, and the third was Dust Burners' Progenitor.

"Mo, don't worry. I promise, I will make up for all the grievances you suffered over these years." Dust Burners' Progenitor looked at Su Ming, and his smile filled with even more kindness.

The praise on his face grew stronger as days went by, and as he communicated with Su Ming, he truly grew fond of the child before his eyes.

He was smart, but also loyal. Stubborn, but also impulsive. Thousands of years of loneliness might have made him slightly extreme, but it also gave him a trough of experience that other people could not obtain.

Dust Burners' Progenitor could see all of this.

The youth must have gone through plenty of trials and tribulations as well as countless life-and-death situations to be able to reach this state, obtain such power, and find where Dust Burners were located.

Dust Burners' Progenitor saw all the scars and wounds on the body Su Ming controlled. Some of them had already healed, but some were still closing up. Progenitor could even tell which beast left behind which marks on his body.

"Fate Realm is after Mastery Realm… so Life Realm is after Fate Realm?"

Su Ming raised his head and looked at Dust Burners' Progenitor. He did not have an in-depth understanding of Masters of Fate, Lives, and Death. Even Ecang had only a vague notion of it in its memories. Since it did not train in the path of cultivation, it had no details.

"Master of Fate, Lives, and Death, Rise and Fall of Fate, Reincarnation of Life, Death of the Universe, these are the four Great Realms…" Dust Burners' Progenitors said with a smile and explained in detail for Su Ming. He was very eager to explain this to make Su Ming excited and become hung up about this so that he would stay among Dust Burners.

"The people in the four Great Realms can all be known as Masters of Fate, Lives, and Death, but in truth, that title signifies four Realms, and Mastery Realm is the limit of physical power!

��The second is Fate Realm. With the limit of power, you will control the fate of the things around you, and from it, you will come to understand your own fate. Once your fate fuses with the fate around you, you will gain completion and be able to control the rise and fall of fate.

"The third is Reincarnation of Life. This is a Realm where it can be said that you have obtained eternal life, but there are simply far too few who have reached this state. I am not too certain on the details on how to get to that Realm either.

"The fourth is Death of the Universe. This is the final Realm for Masters of Fate, Lives, and Death." Progenitor's voice was ancient at this moment and gave off a feeling of time. It reverberated in the area, and there was a hint of yearning on his face.

"However, a stage of decline will exist for all within each realm. This is a disaster, but once we get through it, we will have a chance to reach a new Realm. Yet it is just a chance. If we don't manage to get through it… our forms and spirits will be destroyed." When he said these words, he sighed.

Su Ming remained silent for a moment, then a hint of resolve appeared on his face when he looked at Dust Burners' Progenitor. "What comes after the Masters of Fate, Lives, and Death? Is there anything else after that?"

"There is!" Progenitor nodded.

"After the Masters of Fate, Lives, and Death is the Sublime Realm! This is a Realm that I do not know the details of as well. Rumors have it that those in the Sublime Realm are known as Sublime Paragons and can replace an entire galaxy… However, these were Sublime Paragons of the ancient era. They have all perished in the Rho Leonis Disaster.

"As of now, there are four Great True Worlds beyond Divine Essence Star Ocean. There are Sublime Paragons in them… but there should not be anyone who has become a true Sublime Paragon. They are only Inferior Sublime Paragons," Dust Burners' Progenitor said calmly, but the impact brought to Su Ming by these words was incredibly great. It also caused Xuan Shang, Nian Yin, Hua Yu, Yun You, and Xu Hui's hearts to tremble as well while they were in the body Su Ming controlled.

They realized that when they were with Su Ming, they seemed to be able to learn some things that they would have otherwise remained oblivious to their entire lives, such as the three Great Ancient Kingdoms, the Resentful Weis, and the three hundred and sixty-one Expanse Cosmoses.

And just moments ago, they learned of the categorizations of Masters of Fate, Lives, and Realms, as well as rumors about Sublime Paragons.

"What is after that?!" The resolution on Su Ming's face grew greater.

"After that… is Avacaniya!" Dust Burners' Progenitor looked at Su Ming and shook his head. "Avacaniya is a Realm, and just like the meaning of the word avacaniya itself, unless you have reached this Realm, you are not allowed to speak of it, or else you will bring great disaster on yourself. That is… a Realm that has surpassed the imagination of all the living!"

Su Ming fell silent. This was the first time he had heard of such a circumstantial Realm. At that moment, he might have seemed calm, but a huge storm had already stirred in his heart. All the Realms were like ravines that were placed in front of him, but they stimulated the resolve in his heart. He longed for the day that he would cross these ravines and reach a Realm about which all the living could not speak of, or rather… did not speak of!

'Perhaps this is the true meaning of Avacaniya!' A glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes.

"There are plenty of lives in the universe, and a long period of time has already passed. Countless races have risen and fallen. Some of them remain to this date, albeit as remnants. Some have been destroyed, their bloodlines having disappeared. Some have become greater…

"The way to make a race strong is to have powerful warriors, to find people who can take over the tasks of these powerful warriors, and whether there is anyone who can become a Master of Fate, Lives, and Death!

"Mo, you are a Dust Burner!" Dust Burners' Progenitor said sincerely and earnestly.

"… I am not." Su Ming felt slightly complicated in his heart as he looked at Dust Burners' Progenitor in front of him.

"You…" Progenitor who had the appearance of a child stared at Su Ming, and after a long while, he sighed. "Since you are not willing to become a Dust Burner, then why did you come here? I do not believe in the things you said about wanting to take the things your father left behind. Tell me, what is your goal?" Dust Burners' Progenitor asked while shaking his head.

Su Ming remained silent for a moment before his gaze landed on Progenitor.

"I want to go to the Fifth True World." When Su Ming said these words, the boy's eyes suddenly focused.

Dust Burners' Progenitor cast a few scrutinizing glances at Su Ming before he asked calmly, "What is the reason?"

Su Ming met Progenitor's gaze and answered softly, "To return a debt of gratitude,"

Dust Burners' Progenitor fell silent. He did not ask for details, but instead stood up. Once he cast a profound look at Su Ming, he no longer spoke, but swung his arm and walked away. He then disappeared into space.

He left behind Su Ming who closed his eyes in the flames on the thousand feet tall tower.

Chapter 972: Master of the Kiln

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Xuan Shang and his clique had incredibly mixed feelings in their hearts. On one hand, they felt excited over the success they obtained after Su Ming changed their plan, but on the other hand, they were filled with surprise and a hint of uneasiness when Su Ming spoke about the Fifth True World to Dust Burners' Progenitor.

After all, this was where Dust Burners' tribe was located. Once their identity was exposed, it would be impossible for them to escape, and what would await them would be certain death.

While their hearts were filled with nervousness, Xuan Shang, Yun You, Nian Yin, and Huo Yu did not send thoughts to each other, but instead thought by themselves.

Xu Hui had always acknowledged Su Ming's decisions. Even at that moment, it was the same.

The bald crane was a simple-minded creature. No matter what Su Ming did, the main thing it would focus on would only be crystals.

Su Ming sat cross-legged in the fire with closed his eyes. His expression was calm, and not a hint of emotion could be seen on him. He did not want to deceive Dust Burners' Progenitor too much, even if he had harbored the desire to kill this race before he came here.

However, the kindly and amiable expression on Progenitor's face had turned into a sigh in the end in Su Ming's heart.

Humans were complicated creatures. They would be moved by certain things, and as their hearts were touched, their thoughts would also change. This was common sense.

Others would be affected in this manner, and it was the same for Su Ming.

If Dust Burners' Progenitor had been half-hearted towards him, then he would not have moved Su Ming's heart, but the more amiable he was to Su Ming and the more he looked at him with a kindly face, the more complicated Su Ming's emotions became.

He was not a Dust Burner. He also came to this place with a motive. With those thoughts in his head, Su Ming had replied that he was not when Dust Burners' Progenitor said he was a Dust Burner.

To Dust Burners' Progenitor, this was brought about by Su Ming's obstinance and resentment, but in truth, Su Ming was telling him the truth.

That was also why he had told the true reason why he came to this place. But clearly, it had been misunderstood by Progenitor as Su Ming making a request to him.

If he fulfilled this request, then he would choose to become a Dust Burner.

This misunderstanding came about not because Dust Burners' Progenitor did not have enough experience, and neither was it because he was dumb. Instead, it was because there was simply no flaw in Su Ming's transformation due to the supreme treasure, coupled with some changes the bald crane had made on some details.

There was not a single flaw in Su Ming's story, his expressions, his gaze, and all his words.

It could be said that if any one among the supreme treasure, the bald crane, and Su Ming was missing, they would have never reached this point.

Days went by with Su Ming continuing to sit in the flames and waiting.

When one month went by, Dust Burners' Progenitor appeared beside the one thousand feet tall tower, right beside the flames. There was a hint of fatigue on his face when he looked at Su Ming in the ball of flames.

Su Ming opened his eyes and saw the fatigue on him.

"Are you certain you want to go to the Fifth True World?" Dust Burners' Progenitor asked calmly.

Su Ming nodded.

"If you want to go to the Fifth True World, you will need the fifth stone to go to the fifth ocean. Over there, the fifth stone will be attracted by the Fifth True World in the void and with rush there at an extreme speed. You must remember to hold onto the stone tightly, for only then will it be able to lead you through time and space.

"When you go there, you must keep the fifth stone close to you at all times. It is the only way for you to come back." Dust Burners' Progenitor remained silent for a moment after that. He then swung his right arm in space, and two jade slips immediately charged towards Su Ming. They seeped into the flames and floated in front of him.

When Su Ming raised his hand to receive them, he scanned them with his Atman. His heart shuddered.

The first jade slip was divided into two parts. The first one was a detailed map of the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean, with the fifth ocean clearly marked in there.

The second part was a gigantic outline. Three words were written on it – Fifth True World. This was a general map of the Fifth True World. Even if it was just a small part of it, it was enough to stun everyone.

After all, this was… the Fifth True World that had disappeared countless years ago!

There was only a small part in the second jade slip that was an unknown region. Bedies it, the place was divided into nine layers, and each layer was incredibly detailed. In the ninth one, which was the deepest layer, was a flaming red region. There were three words marked on it – the fifth stone!

"The second jade slip is a map of the fifth kiln. If you want to go to the Fifth True World, you will need the fifth stone, and it is only produced by the fifth kiln." Dust Burners' Progenitor saw shock on Su Ming's face and explained the reason why he gave the second jade slip to him.

Su Ming fell silent, the shock in his heart becoming even greater. Besides the three maps, there was another reason why he was stunned. On the first jade slip, he had sensed… a bloody presence.

That bloody presence did not seem ancient… but was fresh.

"Progenitor, how… did you obtain this jade slip?" Su Ming hesitated for a moment before he looked at Dust Burners' Progenitor. When he once more saw the fatigue on his face, he gradually came to an understanding.

"It's nothing. I already had the map on the second jade slip, but the first part wasn't complete, and while I might know the way to the Fifth True World through the fifth ocean, I've never went there myself. I didn't know how to come back either. Besides, if you truly reached the Fifth True World, you would need a map. That is why I went to the fifth ocean to search for a few old friends and got myself a map." He might have described it with a casual air, but Su Ming could hear the bloody slaughter behind his words.

During the last month, Dust Burners' Progenitor had to have stirred up a storm in the fifth ocean, and only after a great battle would he have managed to snatch the first jade slip. The fatigue on his face was the proof of that great battle.

This was an important map, especially the parts regarding to the Fifth True World. Those in possession of such a map were definitely not weaklings, or else it would not have taken Dust Burners' Progenitor a month to obtain it, and he would also not have returned this tired.

"By the way, if you truly obtain the fifth stone, then once you reached the fifth ocean, remember to make a copy of the map and throw the first jade slip into the ocean. At that time, someone will come get it, and once they get the jade slip, they will not make things hard for you," Dust Burners' Progenitor said calmly.

Su Ming fell silent. He could already imagine that there were alien races in the fifth ocean, and they would not let just anyone enter their home ground. Then the jade slip in his hands was an authentication token. One that could allow him to enter and exit the fifth ocean at will.

And him coming to possess this authentication token was related to Dust Burners' Progenitor venturing out this time.

It was certain that besides fighting against them, Dust Burners' Progenitor had also paid some kind of price.

"Oh, come now, don't act like a child. I admit that I have been unjust to your father in the past and didn't search for him, making him wander outside for so many years.

"I said that I will make up to you. Since you brought up the request to head to the Fifth True World, I naturally had to help you with all that I could. As for me, I'm fine." Dust Burners' Progenitor smiled kindly as he looked at Su Ming. His expression was that of a senior member of a family looking at a promising junior member of the family.

Su Ming stayed silent. He had incredibly mixed feelings in his heart, along with a hint of regret.

"Now, let's talk about the main point. The fifth kiln…" The Progenitor's expression became serious. "Very few people know where the fifth kiln is located in Divine Essence Star Ocean. However, most of the ancient existences still know about the connection between the fifth kiln and Dust Burners.

"The fifth kiln is the supreme treasure we Dust Burners protect," Progenitor explained while looking at Su Ming. "However, there is one thing that most people do not know. If you could come here, then you must certainly know about the four venerated races in the inner parts of Divine Essence Star Ocean.

"Heaven Traversers have wings, Virtue Rooters have snake bodies, and Reng Wu Race… It is a group that is completely isolated from us. They live with ferocious beasts, and they have completely turned into them. In fact, I suspect that Reng Wu Race has evolved from a group of beasts.

"Only Dust Burners look somewhat normal, if you ignore our inborn ability to transform… Do you know the reason why?" Dust Burners' Progenitor looked at Su Ming with a smile.

Su Ming hesitated for a moment before he looked back. Suddenly, an inconceivable idea formed in his mind. Once it took root, it continued growing, until it occupied all of Su Ming's head.

His eyes focused.

"You came… from the Fifth True World, from inside the fifth kiln!" he only said these two sentences, but once they reached the child-looking Progenitor's ears, he laughed loudly. The praise on his face grew even stronger.

"As expected of a Dust Burner who possesses the greatest amount of potential since a long time ago. That's right, accurately speaking, we Dust Burners do not belong to Divine Essence Star Ocean. We… belong to the Fifth True World!

"In fact, we are not even a race within the Fifth True World, but are a race formed after the Vessel Spirit in the fifth kiln was dispersed!

"Our original appearance is how we appear after we transform with our inborn ability. However, once the fifth kiln reached Divine Essence Star Ocean and we obtained the forms we could manifest, we broke our previous master's seal. Since then, Dust Burners appeared in the inner parts of Divine Essence Star Ocean!

"It has been an incredibly long time since that time. I, too, only learned about this through the words passed down the generations. It's a pity that it has been a long time since then. When we were Vessel Spirits and had not left the fifth kiln, we did not know about much about the Fifth True World, or else I would not have needed to go to such trouble to search for a map," Dust Burners' Progenitor said faintly.

Su Ming might have guessed a part of it, but he was still incredibly shocked by Progenitor's words. In his shock, another vague guess formed in his head.

This guess made him unable to keep calm. In fact, he thought that this was even crazier and even more inconceivable than his previous deduction. It was highly impossible, but the guess still continued circling in his head, out of his control.

Su Ming forced down the guess in his heart and looked at Dust Burners' Progenitor before he asked, "Then… the master of the fifth kiln was..?"

The young boy raised his head and looked at the sky before he said softly, "Have you ever heard of a race… known as Abyss Builders..?"

A loud bang went off in Su Ming's head.

Chapter 973: Is He a Dust Burner?

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The Fifth True World had disappeared many years ago. No one remembered any longer when it had happened, just that it was in an age long past.

Perhaps the amount of years Dust Burners had lived in Divine Essence Star Ocean could be used to calculate how many years the Fifth True World had been missing.

Then just how many years had it been since Progenitor Dao Chen from True Morning Dao World had isolated himself? In fact, how many years had it been since one man brought his pregnant wife to pass by True Morning Dao World and was chased by Morning Dao Sect?

The wife was injured gravely as she was about to give birth. With a smile, she died, and when the man held her in his arms, he had shouted a sentence in a shrill voice, "This world shall be built for Abyss."

How many years had it been since then?!

Su Ming's heart trembled. Various thoughts appeared in his mind, but were immediately sealed up by his power, preventing Xuan Shang, Yun You, Nian Yin, Hua Yu, and Yu Xuan from sensing anything.

'The time isn't right… They… should not have left the Fifth True World with the fifth kiln…' Su Ming mumbled in his heart, but there was uncertainty in his guess.

Because even he did not know… for just how long he had lived.

"You are still a child. You wouldn't know about Abyss Builders." Progenitor's words reached Su Ming's ears, and he forced down the hint of complicated emotions and melancholy in his heart.

He had long since been able ascertain that the man who had wreaked havoc in True Morning Dao World was his father, and the pregnant woman who was about to give birth was his mother. He had seen her in the depths of his memories when he was in Western Ring Nebula's foreign lands. At that time, she had held him in her arms and insisted on protecting him even if she had already died.

However, he did not want to think about it, did not want to ponder over it, did not want to let himself sink into a vortex in which he could lose himself.

In regards to parents and familial love, perhaps it had once existed when the man looked at the woman with a smile, and she lowered her head to look at her large stomach. The hands that caressed it belonged both a man and a woman. There was anticipation contained within that touch, along with parental love, happiness, and warmth which Su Ming had never experienced in his life.

Perhaps it should be said that before that warmth could even get close to him, it had already reached the end of its existence without making a single sound. In the end, it was just a scene akin to mountains and rivers falling to eternal silence and the passage of time reaching its end. It was just the lonely snow.

Su Ming was lonely, just like the celestial beings in heaven. Time seeped through the cracks between his fingertips. His memories sank into the depths of his mind as he continued changing. His heart sought for a way to escape reality, and his dreams were laden with grief in the dark.

This was Su Ming's emotions towards his parents, and they were mixed with a hint of anguish that he did not want to dwell upon… along with a hint of resentment that suited his current identity!

What he resented was not his mother who held him after she died or his father who died after he went mad… but Morning Dao Sect who had brought about all of this!

That was why he Possessed Dao Kong. The simple destruction of Morning Dao Sect was not enough for him to vent his resentment and frustrations. He wanted to rain down chaos on the sect and become the sect's master. At that moment, he would smile and lead the entire Morning Dao Sect through a windstorm of self-destruction.

In fact, if he had children, he would not even choose to destroy Morning Dao Sect. Instead, he would turn the entire Morning Dao Sect… into a pen of livestock for the descendants of the Su Family to Possess for generations to come.

"Abyss Builders were the strongest race in the Fifth True World…" Progenitor's voice was slow, and Su Ming's mind, which currently had a storm raging within it, slowly returned to reality.

"The fifth kiln was created by Abyss Builders, and Dust Burners were in truth… created by Abyss Builders as well." There was a slightly complicated look on Progenitor's face as he told Su Ming the story that he knew.

"The fifth kiln had two masters. The first one was Abyss Builders' Progenitor, but he died during the disaster. The second master was his grandson, Su Xuan Yi [1]. He was the second strongest person among Abyss Builders, next only to Abyss Builders' Progenitor.

"There was originally a third master. He was Su Xuan Yi's son… but this child never appeared, which is why the fifth kiln doesn't have a third master even up to this date."

When Su Ming heard this, he could no longer hide the emotions on his face. His body shuddered, and his expression changed continuously. When Dust Burners' Progenitor saw this, he did not speak of it, but continued his tale.

"During the disaster of the Fifth True World, Abyss Builders were exterminated. Only Su Xuan Yi managed to escape and bring his pregnant wife through an All Directions Seal which he opened with the fifth kiln. When he escaped from the Fifth True World, he appeared in the inner parts of Divine Essence Star Ocean.

"They lived there for a long time and opened the fifth kiln so that Dust Burners could venture out. We regarded him as our master and lived for generations in Divine Essence Star Ocean.

"He wanted to break the curse placed on the baby within his wife's body. That curse… had been placed by a Sublime Paragon, and it would result in Abyss Builders' bloodline going extinct.

"This curse killed the baby, but Su Xuan Yi used his power and desperately maintained a hint of life force within the baby. A long, long time later, they ventured out once… and never returned," Dust Burners' Progenitor finished softly, his voice echoing in space.

Su Ming was silent.

After a long while, he asked, "If they were such a powerful race, how did they disappear? And even the Fifth True World disappeared from the universe."

"This is a story that happened a long time ago. I am not aware of the details. After all, at that time, I was just a ball of fire in the kiln and did not have my own consciousness.

"However…" Dust Burners' Progenitor looked at Su Ming. "Once I gained my consciousness, I heard a few Progenitors of the past generations mention some of it. This matter… is related to Sublime Paragons… limits… numbers… and Ancient Wei."

Su Ming's pupils contracted. This was an incredibly great question at the bottom of his heart. Why was the Fifth True World destroyed by the four Great True Worlds working together? And Abyss Builders, why were they exterminated?

Originally, Su Ming believed that this was somehow related to Abyss Builders' inborn ability. However, when he heard Progenitor's words, he suddenly felt that his guesses were wrong.

Since this concerned Sublime Paragons, then there was definitely not just one or two of them. Instead, all of Sublime Paragons from the four Great True Worlds had caused this to happen.

Then just what reason could push these Sublime Paragons who had surpassed the Masters of Fate, Lives, and Death to the point that they would want to exterminate Abyss Builders to the last person?

Numbers, limitations, Ancient Wei—these three words echoed in Su Ming's head, but he could not connect them together.

How great was the number and whose limit was it that made it necessary for them to destroy Abyss Builders? Why was it also connected to the already destroyed Ancient Wei?

"Alright, these are all the things regarding Dust Burners that you need to know. Now, I will take you to the fifth kiln. As for whether you can find the fifth stone in there will depend on whether you can encounter a serendipitous event.

"After the changes the fifth kiln went through in the past, plenty of things have transformed in it. The signs of manifestation of other Vessel Spirits have also appeared. There is a great amount of danger in there, but you are a Dust Burner. You have a natural advantage.

"But… once the kiln is activated, it'll be impossible for you to be the only one who will step in, because a sea of fire that will sweep through the entire Divine Essence Star Ocean will appear. Due to that, some Almighties in Divine Essence Star Ocean and cultivators from the galaxy beyond will rush over.

"Are you certain that you want to go to the fifth kiln?" Dust Burners' Progenitor looked over.

Su Ming remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

Dust Burners' Progenitor cast Su Ming a profound look. When he raised his right hand and swung it in the air, the flames around Su Ming immediately fell back, and Su Ming's body appeared in the air.

Immediately after, Dust Burners' Progenitor swung his arm again. The weather instantly changed. Winds rose and clouds surged, as if time and space had changed. It could be said that clouds were charging forward like flowing water in the sky. This scene made it seem as if the heavens and the land were being changed.

Su Ming obviously felt that he was not moving. In fact, even Dust Burners' Progenitor stood in his place without moving… but when everything about them stopped within a few breaths, Su Ming discovered that they… were no longer in Dust Burners' continent.

They were surrounded by an empty galaxy. Not a single sound could be heard in the dead silence. The only thing present there was a gigantic picture of a flame in front of them. The flame was so big that when other people saw it, the image could reflect in their entire pupil.

There was no end to the flame. It made no sound, and there were no hot waves crashing into Su Ming's face. In fact, he felt as if the gigantic flame was fake. It existed between a state of being real and fake.

Su Ming's pupils shrank. He was first shocked by the shift Dust Burners' Progenitor just executed. He had never seen that sort of shifting before. Clearly… this was a divine ability that only Masters of Fate, Lives, and Death possessed.

Dust Burners' Progenitor cast Su Ming a look and said faintly, as if he could see the thoughts in Su Ming's heart, "That was the Position Changing Art. If you reach Mastery Realm someday, you will be able to do it as well.

"This is where the fifth kiln that Dust Burners protect lays. It might seem close, but it is in truth very far away. Even if we fly for ten thousand years, we would not be able to get closer.

"There are two ways of going inside. One of them requires you to be the master of the fifth kiln, and the other… needs you to open it and make the outer flames spill out. By doing so, you will be able to enter the fifth kiln.

"You will need three days to activate the kiln. When the outer flames spread out through the entire Divine Essence Star Ocean, you will bring about a disaster. You will need half a month. Use that half a month to prepare yourself. When the color of the outer flames changes to purple, you can enter the kiln.

"Remember this. It will first be crimson, then it will turn blue, and then purple. In the end, it will turn black. When it turns black, all the living beings in the sea of fire will die.

"Wait here. I will go back and activate the kiln." Dust Burners' Progenitor cast Su Ming a look again. When he turned around, his body gradually faded away.

Su Ming looked at the fifth kiln in the distance. As his pupils shrank, he fell silent and did not speak, but there were hundreds of thoughts spinning in his head as he carefully analyzed Progenitor's words and the several profound looks he cast at him.

Gradually, a brilliant light flashed in Su Ming's eyes.

At that moment, in the core of the fog where Dust Burners' continent was, Progenitor's body walked out of thin air on the one hundred thousand feet tall tower in the land.

There was a person sitting cross-legged on the tall tower. This person was middle-aged, and he was Dust Burners' tribe leader. Once he saw the child-looking Progenitor, he immediately stood up and bowed respectfully to him.

"Activate the kiln!" Dust Burners' Progenitor said flatly.

The middle-aged man was momentarily stunned. When he looked over the boy before him, he hesitated for a moment.

"Dust Burners can never return to the kiln. This is the law set by our ancestors. If… you value him so highly, I can give him the position of tribe leader. For if he returns to the kiln, he will immediately return to become a fire spirit. This is…"

"Is he a Dust Burner?"

Dust Burners' Progenitor was silent for a moment, then he sighed softly. The meaning behind his words was incredibly shocking, and it caused the middle-aged man's expression to change swiftly.

Translator's Note:

Su Ming and Su Xuan Yi: Both their family names are the same character, 苏. Yes, my mind is running wild with theories at this moment.

Chapter 974: Has… He Died

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

There was no way people who became Masters of Fate, Lives, and Death could be easily deceived. Even if not a single flaw could be found once the supreme treasure and the bald crane worked together and even if not a single mistake in Su Ming's not just similar but extremely alike acting!

Even if the power that erupted from him was also the exact same as the blue flames obtained in Burning Spirit Transformation.

However… if it could have deceived Dust Burners' Progenitor, then he would not have survived up till then. Progenitor… would also not be worthy of being known as a Master of Fate, Lives, and Death.

Old men who had lived this long and who had become Almighties all possessed monster-like intelligence.

The breathing of Dust Burners' tribe leader quickened slightly. He cast an eye and the child-looking Progenitor and could not keep his heart calm. He had… been deceived.

He had come to believe that Su Ming was his older brother's orphan son, yet with a single sentence from Progenitor, things turned over their heads.

"This is…" The middle-aged man could not say anything even after a long while had passed. "Progenitor, then why do you still want to help him activate the kiln and get close to it? For this person… you even spared no pains in having flames cover the entire Divine Essence Star Ocean once the kiln is activated, and are willing for Dust Burners to be sealed for nearly a month?"

Dust Burners' Progenitor was silent while standing at the top of the lofty tower. By his side was the eye of the flame. He looked at the sky, and after a long while, he sighed softly.

"I might not know who sent him here… but I admire his courage and resolve. I also admire him for telling the truth. There are only a few people in the world who would still tell the truth when they were in his situation," Dust Burners' Progenitor said softly.

"I can see the complicated emotions within him. Part of them is due to me showing him love as an elder, and the other is due to him lying to me. He did not choose to hide these complicated emotions. Even I was uncertain because of them for a moment, but they also caused my killing intent to dissipate. If not for all this, I would have killed him right away." Dust Burners' Progenitor shook his head, and an ancient look appeared on his face.

"I still don't understand…" A freezing glare appeared in the tribe leader's eyes. If it was him, he would have definitely not let Su Ming to just leave like that. How dare he disguise himself as a Dust Burner? This was a taboo!

"You don't understand, huh..?" Dust Burners' Progenitor averted his gaze from the sky and fixed his eyes on the middle-aged man. "Then there is no need for you to continue trying to understand it. Activate the kiln."

Dust Burners' Progenitor did not say anything anymore. The middle-aged man's mindset might have changed due to Su Ming's matter, but he still bowed his head and voiced his obedience. He took a step forward and stepped straight into the eye of the flame. He moved in the flames, and in an instant, he turned into a Burning Spirit.

Flames spread out with a bang. From the distance, it seemed as if the tall tower had turned into a gigantic torch!

A piercing roar spread out in all directions from the flames. All the Dust Burners who heard it were momentarily stunned, but they soon charged towards the tower that was the closest to them.

After a moment, flames spread out from the countless rising and falling towers on the entire continent. They formed torches on the land, and after the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, all the towers turned into burning torches. A vast amount of power erupted from them with a bang.

A buzzing sound echoed throughout the area. The entire land of Dust Burners shuddered. Almost all Dust Burners had turned into Burning Spirits at that moment.

This lasted for three days. It was an offering. If someone wanted to activate the fifth kiln, then all Dust Burners had to make an offering to do it.

Three days later, all Dust Burners disappeared from the ground. The fog in the area enveloped the whole place. At that moment, a surging sea of fire erupted from the fifth kiln and swept through Divine Essence Star Ocean, forcing countless living beings into hiding as they trembled for their lives. If they were exposed outside, they would definitely die.

This would last for nearly a month. When it ended, Dust Burners would reappear in the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean.

When all Dust Burners who were qualified to make the offering blended into the fire and transformed into burning torches on the ground, Progenitor swayed and disappeared from the tower. When he reappeared, he was at the top of a tall mountain. Over there, he sat down quietly and looked at the sky. Fatigue and something ancient appeared on his face.

'Why should I help him…?' Dust Burners' Progenitor shook his head.

'That's because I didn't want to bring a huge problem to Dust Burners… Because the method he chose was within the area I could accept. Because… he let me feel as if I had found a truly talented Dust Burner for the past few days.

'He has a treasure that can turn him into a Dust Burner. It's definitely not something a normal Master of Fate, Lives, and Death could create. If he could reach this level of cultivation, then the power of the person supporting him behind his back is even higher.

'The time for my decline is nigh. The person who can take over my place has already obtained enough power, but to take over the burden of an entire race does not just require power… but also the making of a choice.

'Oh well, if he wants to go to the Fifth True World, why should I stop him and bring unnecessary trouble to my people… However, while I can activate the kiln for you… whether or not you will have the ability to step in will depend entirely on your own luck.'

Dust Burners' Progenitor lowered his head. Everything that he had said to Su Ming was true. The purple flames in the kiln were indeed the weakest flames… but their heat was next to the black flames' heat. Under that high temperature, all those who wanted to get close to the kiln and step in would not only need a sufficient level of cultivation, but also a serendipitous event.

"If he was truly a Dust Burner, how great… would that be?" Dust Burners' Progenitor mumbled under his breath. As his figure was illuminated by the endless torches on the ground, he was surrounded by an ancient and lonely air, along with worry about his race's future because he felt as if he had no successor.

This was an old man who had already reached the end of his path. He did not want to bring about trouble to his race. If he could pass through this possible disaster and have everything change without a sound, then it would be the best choice.

…..

Su Ming sat in the area where the fifth kiln was located and watched the piercingly bright kiln. He could not see the kiln's appearance, only a ball of strong light.

He could also sense a vast and might pressure within that light.

The fifth kiln was akin to a sun, making people unable to help themselves as respect formed in their hearts, but Su Ming felt no respect as he remained in his silence. There were only complicated emotion within him.

'In the past, he came to this place with the kiln… and he brought with him his wife and the cursed baby.' Su Ming stared at the kiln, and resolve suddenly appeared in his eyes.

'Has he truly died, or is he?' Uncertainty appeared on Su Ming's face. After a long while, he sighed. He did not want to continue thinking about this.

If Su Xuan Yi had truly died, then he would let it slide, but if that person was still around… Su Ming could not help the great resentment that rose in him. The emotion was so great that it caused him to clench his fists.

"Senior… what… happened just now?" Xuan Shang's voice echoed in Su Ming's heart, and it cut off the surging emotions that had risen due to his thoughts about Su Xuan Yi.

"We didn't manage to hear anything from the moment Dust Burners' Progenitor returned to to talk to you. Some form of power cut off our connection with you as well as the body," Xu Hui said softly.

Su Ming's pupils shrank swiftly.

"That's right, senior. What did Dust Burners' Progenitor say to you? And this place… this… this is…"

"Could… Could this place be the fifth kiln?!"

"We actually arrived here?!"

Su Ming's connection with Xuan Shang, Yun You, Nian Yi, Hua Yu, and Xu Hui had clearly been restored just then, and only at that moment could they sense the body too. They immediately noticed the fifth kiln, which was shining with a bright light.

As Su Ming's pupils shrank, he frowned. After a long while, he sighed. If he still did not understand what had happened, then he would not be worthy of having lived through years of hard experiences.

"He knows that I am not a Dust Burner. The words he said previously were also aimed solely at me. He did not want anyone else to hear them." A glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes before he fell into contemplative silence.

After a moment, he stopped caring about Xuan Shang and the others in his group. He only sent a divine thought to Xu Hui to ease her mind before he charging into the distance. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from the area around the fifth kiln.

…..

On the first day of the kiln being activated, wind rose in the galaxy within the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean. This was an incredibly rare thing. There was no wind within the galaxy, so when this wind rose and blew in all directions, the bodies of all living creatures who sensed it shuddered. No matter what they were doing, be it fighting, searching for food, or sleeping, all of them revealed expressions of extreme terror.

In the planet serving as a nest for Flame Fiends, the creatures who had gained human form after they occupied the bodies of cultivators were sleeping, but at that moment, all of them were shocked awake. They looked at the sky and sensed the wind from the galaxy as well as a hint of scorching flames. Immediately, they screamed shrilly.

There were many Void Beasts in the galaxy, but when the wind blew past them, all of them quickly revealed their bodies and headed into the distance with an unprecedented speed. There was terror on their faces, and they roared in voices that echoed in all directions.

Things like this happened in all the nests with ferocious beasts once the wind blew past them.

The thing that would happen after the wind began to blow was deeply branded in their memories. This was a disaster affecting the entire Divine Essence Star Ocean. Before the brunt of the disaster came, they had to search for a place where they could hide for a month.

If they were slow, then what awaited them would only be death.

There were numerous planets with green flora on them. When the wind blew past them, they instantly turned black and withered away, reduced to ashes. Soon, all the planets in the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean looked as if they had died.

Heaven Traversers had now migrated to a new place, but when the wind reached them, the expression of their Progenitor changed. With his fastest speed, he executed all his divine abilities, and with a bang, turned into a gigantic palm that enveloped all Heaven Traversers within it.

Virtue Rooters were a race possessing snake bodies. Once the wind whistled through space, all of them hid themselves deep underground.

Similar things happened everywhere within the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean. All sorts of living creatures of all shapes and sizes, and even powerful ferocious beasts, reacted in this manner.

Because they knew… that the fifth kiln was about to be activated.

Chapter 975: The Kiln Activated

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

On the second day Dust Burners were in the process of activating the kiln, the wind in the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean became stronger. When hot waves surged into the sky, the wind had already spread through the entire area and were spreading to even farther places. Wherever it passed, all alien races and beasts fled as their expressions changed drastically in the face of the wind.

All the beasts Su Ming had met on the way to the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean in the past were all fleeing. The threat of death and the deep brand left in their memories caused them to break and cross over the borders set by other races to mark their territories. All kinds of different ferocious beasts could be seen in any place where they could hide. Even if some creatures were mortal enemies, they gave up on any ideas of fighting in this wind and only hid in silence.

On the third day, the wind from the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean had already disappeared. However, the wind between the inner part and the periphery had reached its strongest. A galactic wind had also stirred in the periphery of Divine Essence Star Ocean.

On the ground where Ninth Tribe was located was Dijiu Mo Sha, who was sitting there and exercising his breathing. However, his eyes flew open at that moment, and disbelief appeared on his face. He sensed the wind, and his tribe members fell silent. They had also sensed the scorching hot wind, and they too saw all the plants on the land turn black before floating away as ashes…

"The fifth kiln!" Dijiu Mo Sha said quickly.

There was a valley at the edge of the periphery of Divine Essence Star Ocean, located rather far away from the continent of Ninth Tribe. There were a dozen something black warships floating in midair at that place, and thousands of cultivators on the ground. They were nine old Frail Darknesses and Su Ming's fearless warriors.

When the galactic wind blew past them, they noticed it, but they did not pay any attention to it. Only the catwoman's expression changed the instant she sensed the wind.

"This is… the Burning Wind before the kiln is activated!"

There was quite a large number of cultivators who took the risk to come to the edge of the periphery of Divine Essence Star Ocean in hopes of obtaining a serendipity. They were cautious, but there were quite a few of them who turned tail and ran without any hesitation once they sensed the wind.

A galaxy away was Black Ink Planet. At that moment, all the people there were looking towards a single direction. It was… the direction of Divine Essence Star Ocean.

Over there, they could see… a weak red light. It covered a huge area.

'The fifth kiln has been activated…' This was a sentence that echoed in the hearts of all those in Black Ink Planet.

Three days passed quickly. When the third day was over, the wind that filled the entire Divine Essence Star Ocean disappeared in the blink of an eye. It was like the calm before a storm.

Those who did not know the details would not pay too much attention to it. They would not be able to sense the bizarre air that existed between the time the wind appeared and disappeared.

The fog beyond Dust Burners' continent shrank swiftly. Once it enveloped all Dust Burners, even the land on which they lived disappeared from the galaxy.

By then, most of the living beings in Divine Essence Star Ocean had already found a place to hide. As they shuddered, they hoped that they would be able to avoid the kiln's fire.

However, there were also some ferocious beasts and madmen whose expressions were filled with greed and madness when the wind from the kiln disappeared.

All of these beings were existences who believed that they were worthy of entering the fifth kiln. To them, the activation of the fifth kiln was a disaster, but there was definitely a great serendipity waiting within it.

The fifth kiln was a place which caused great fear among a lot of people, but it was also a place which some people desired to enter. There were plenty of rumors regarding the fifth kiln. Even though there were few who could enter and leave it alive, it did not stop plenty of people from trying to enter.

The greatest of the desires was to obtain the fifth kiln. The second greatest… was to obtain a serendipity in the fifth kiln.

However, over the course of numerous years, no one managed to become the master of the fifth kiln, and slowly, this became a legend.

A piercing light was spreading from the location of the fifth kiln. It was caught in a state of being an illusion and being something real. Once Dust Burners disappeared, a loud bang erupted from the kiln.

A crimson red flame swept outwards in all directions like a wave. The high temperature from flames was difficult to put to words. Wherever it went, the galaxy would look as if it was about to melt.

Booms surged into the air, and the violent sounds rang through the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean. As they reverberated in space, a crimson sea of flame erupted violently. The loud booms did not stop then, but instead began to sound like the might of heaven. The sea of fire swept out, and as layers of fire tumbled about, they spilled in all directions.

In the blink of an eye, they covered a boundless area. The place where Dust Burners lived was the closest to the flames and was the first to be affected. It was immediately enveloped by the crimson sea of fire. However, there were already no Dust Burners there. Once that place was covered by the sea of fire, the flames surged farther away.

Their speed was indescribable. In the blink of an eye, a small region within the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean turned crimson. The sea of fire continued erupting with flames and spreading outwards until it enveloped the entire core of the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean. If it was compared to a circle, then anyone who looked from the distance would find that the center of this circle… was where the sea of fire was.

It continued spreading outwards and rumbling. Waves of flames continued bursting out from the fifth kiln, which was at the center of the sea of fire, as if there was no end to them

Planets were submerged, and continents were enveloped. Planets shuddered, and continents crumbled. All the living beings hidden within them needed to endure hot waves that would last nearly a month… or they would die.

As the sea of fire tumbled about and spread through the galaxy, one Void Beast had still not been enveloped by the flames. It was howling in terror and charging backwards without regard for anything. It originally did not belong to this place and had only been tamed by Xu Hui. It was the Void Beast that had brought Su Ming and his group to this place.

However, at that moment, fear occupied its entire body. It charged forward madly, but it could not escape from death. The sea of fire was already behind it. The flames that enveloped the area there were difficult to describe. In the blink of an eye, they closed in. The hot waves caused the galaxy to distort, and the Void Beast let out a roar of despair.

However, it did not receive any response. The sea of fire behind it did not pity it either. As booming sounds reverberated in space, the sea of fire stirred up a large wave as it tumbled forward. In fact, there were even a large number of struggling ferocious beasts contained in the sea of fire. Their bodies were being burnt to a crisp right before the crocodile beast's eyes, but their shrill screams of pain were drowned out by the loud booms from the sea of fire.

When the Void Beast saw the sea of fire surging towards it, about to devout it, a figure appeared in the galaxy. This figure was incredibly tall. He pressed his palm on the Void Beast, and it instantly disappeared without a trace. This person turned around and cast a glance at the sea of fire crashing towards him and, without any hesitation, left into the distance.

This person was naturally the body of the supreme treasure Su Ming controlled!

Three days ago, he had had been near the kiln, but he did stay there for long. Instead, he left. At the moment, the sea of fire was pressing on aggressively behind Su Ming, but his expression was incredibly calm. With a step forward, he charged into the distance.

He wanted to go to the Relocation Vortex near Dust Burners' territory. Right then, he possessed the body created by the supreme treasure and could bring forth a power he would never had never possessed before. He wanted to borrow this current power… and tame the Resentful Wei before the purple flames appeared within the sea of fire from the kiln!

To Su Ming, that creature was the key to entering the fifth kiln. Based on Dijiu Mo Sha's words, he might still be able to enter, but it would be an extreme challenge. As for Dust Burners' Progenitor's words, it was not that Su Ming did not believe him, but he needed to weigh his words.

'It is clear that he managed to tell that I'm not a Dust Burner, but he still activated the kiln for me. Does he want to have me remember the favor Dust Burners did for me..?

'But if the fifth kiln was so easy to enter, it wouldn't be one of the mysteries of Divine Essence Star Ocean. If I interpret it this way, then the kiln is a test. If I can enter it, then I will have to accept Dust Burners' favor. If I cannot enter and die in the flames, then it has nothing to do with Dust Burners.'

As Su Ming charged forward, a pensive look appeared in his eyes. But after a long time, resolve began to shine on his expression.

'Oh well, I won't ask Dust Burners to pay the price for chasing after my Master's life in the past.'

Su Ming shook his head and no longer thought about this. Instead, as the sea of fire behind him became increasingly more violent while surging forward, he shifted to the area beyond Dust Burners' territory, to the place of the Relocation Vortex.

He landed next to it, and a brilliant light shone in his eyes. He hesitated for a moment, which was a rare thing on him. However, in an instant, the uncertainty disappeared.

'If I want to enter the fifth kiln, I need a fire beast like that one!' Su Ming took a huge stride forward and stepped into the Relocation Vortex. In the span of a breath, his figure disappeared without a trace.

Five breaths later, booming sounds echoed in space. The heinous sea of fire instantly covered the vortex, then went past it with a loud bang.

On the first day the flames erupted from the kiln, all the regions within the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean turned into a sea. However, this sea was not formed by planets or water, but thick waves of fierce fire.

The palm that was formed by Heaven Traversers' Progenitor protected his people in the sea of fire. Virtue Rooters' tribe was covered by layers of snake fins. They covered all of the tribe's territories and stopped the sea of fire from spreading outwards.

When the second day arrived, the region between the inner part and the periphery of Divine Essence Star Ocean turned into a world of flames. The galaxy burned. The distortions formed under the high temperature turned into reality, as if it could distort all dimensions.

A disaster that had not been seen for years descended upon Divine Essence Star Ocean once more.

Flames continued spreading… While most living beings hid, several long arcs headed towards the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean at full speed. With the sea of fire right before them, they charged forward. Their goal… was the fifth kiln!

Chapter 976: Reverend Zi Long

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The sea of fire continued raging. The crimson flames continued spreading outwards from the core of the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean. Soon, it filled up the entire area between the inner part and the periphery of Divine Essence Star Ocean. High temperature covered the entire galaxy. Wherever the sea of fire passed, loud booming sounds would surge up.

This would last for nearly a month. During that time, the sea of fire would stretch to the periphery of Divine Essence Star Ocean. It would envelop the entire place, so the cultivators of Black Ink Planet will be able to clearly see the galaxy burning.

At that moment, Su Ming was not within the galaxy that belonged to Divine Essence Star Ocean. Through the Relocation Vortex, he had already stepped into one of the mysteries in Divine Essence Star Ocean – the world in the vortex!

No one knew where it led. It was dark down there, as if there was no end to it. If anyone dared to open their eyes to look, they would be unable to help but feel as if they were immersed in eternal darkness.

Even Su Ming still had that feeling rise in him after looking at the darkness in the lower part of the world in the vortex.

He did not know how many years and secrets were buried down there. He did not know how many spirits and bodies of those who tried to lift the veil of this darkness had fallen.

The endless darkness underneath formed a stark contrast with the many colorful, jellyfish-like creatures above. Su Ming remained silent. Within the semi-transparent tunnel of the two connected vortices, he could not keep his body from floating forward.

He knew that the sea of fire was raging in the world outside, for the fifth kiln had already been activated. Whether or not he would be able to get the fifth stone and whether or not he would be able to get into the Fifth True World would depend entirely on whether he would be able to step into the fifth kiln.

Even if based on the words of Dust Burners' Progenitor, there was a high possibility that Su Ming was the new master of the fifth kiln, the prerequisite was that Su Ming was the son of Su Xuan Yi and his wife.

This was something Su Ming did not want to think about.

He looked at the semi-transparent tunnel beside him. At that moment, Xuan Shang and his groups' hearts were incredibly shaken. In fact, Xuan Shang was already wondering whether he should forcefully revoke the fusion by the supreme treasure.

However, right when this thought appeared in his head, Su Ming took a swift step forward. He did not move farther down the tunnel, but instead… With one step, he crashed into the wall of the tunnel. He even raised his hands as if he was seizing the wall and swiftly pulled it in two directions.

With a bang, the tunnel was instantly torn. Once Su Ming opened it, he took a step forward and stepped out of the semi-transparent tunnel.

"If you want to dissolve the fusion of the supreme treasure, you can do so at any time."

With Su Ming's experience, there was no way that he could not tell that there was a huge problem with the supreme treasure, and that it was in Xuan Shang's hands. He might not be able to become a main soul to control the body formed by the supreme treasure, but he could make it disassemble, forcing all the people to walk out.

Xuan Shang had originally thought to do this, but he had hesitated because he was worried he would provoke Su Ming to anger. However, if they did run into a life-threatening danger, he would naturally attack with everything he had, but… Su Ming had acted too quickly. Once he walked out of the semi-transparent tunnel, the tunnel fused together once more. Su Ming had brought the group out of the tunnel's pull and protection, and from then on they were completely situated inside the world of the vortex.

If Xuan Shang dissolved the transformation at that moment, what would await him would be only even greater danger. In anguish, Xuan Shang sighed in his heart and did not speak. He knew that Su Ming was not a fool and would not look for death without reason. If he did not have reason for confidence, he would not have done this sort of thing.

Since the start, Xu Hui remained silent. She would support all of Su Ming's actions. As for the bald crane, once it stepped into the world in the vortex, it looked to be in a daze again.

When Su Ming walked out of the tunnel, he raised his head and let out a long howl that shook the world. As he roared, the colorful, shining jellyfish-like creatures instantly withdrew. At the same time, another roar came from a place that was rather far away.

Su Ming stood still as he activated Ecang's presence. It immediately spread from the body formed by the supreme treasure, resulting in the offensive power erupting from the body to rise by leaps and bounds again. At the same time, Su Ming summoned the projection of his Ecang clone.

A gigantic tree appeared in a flash before disappearing. However, the body Su Ming controlled now exuded an offensive power that was infinitesimally close to those at the peak of Solar Kalpa Realm.

At the same time, a tunnel created with the projection creating a path and his soul acting as a lead was also swiftly forming. Once it was formed, Su Ming's Ecang clone would descend.

At that time, he could… fight against an Almighty in Mastery Realm!

Time passed breath by breath. Roars traveled forth ceaselessly from the darkness in the distance. From the voice, Su Ming could tell that the black Resentful Wei was using an indescribable speed to rush forth.

Gradually, Su Ming saw see six balls of bright flame shining in the darkness ahead of him. Those were the Resentful Wei's six eyes!

"Come! You… are going to be mine!"

…..

As days passed, due to the fifth kiln coughing up four days' worth of crimson flames, the entire region within the inner part and periphery of Divine Essence Star Ocean had been completely submerged in flames.

Countless living beings let out shrill screams of pain as their bodies burned to ashes. Cultivation planets struggled in the sea of fire, all the plants on them long dead.

There were continents that slowly reduced in size, crystals appearing on their edges.

Even the living creatures who loved fire by nature shuddered in fear when the sea of fire reached them. They did not dare to touch it and could only hide from it.

The sea of fire was still spreading. When the seventh day arrived, it finally reached the periphery of Divine Essence Star Ocean… and completely enveloped the entire galaxy within it.

The disaster of Divine Essence Star Ocean had arrived.

The continent where Ninth Tribe was located was empty at that moment. The sea of fire swept through its sky and burned the ground, crushed the mountains, and melted the living creatures. In the depths of the continent where the core of the land was located was a karst cave. At that moment, all the members of Ninth Tribe were hiding there, and in terror, they waited quietly for the sea of fire to disappear.

Dijiu Mo Sha sat at the entrance of the tunnel, which was located closest to the ground. Over there, he could sense the great heat and bangs that resounded from the world outside. There was nervousness on his face, but he was also wondering whether the activation of the fifth kiln… was related to Su Ming.

At the periphery of Divine Essence Star Ocean were the nine old Frail Darknesses and the others. They had stepped on the warships under the catwoman's warnings to leave Divine Essence Star Ocean at the fastest speed they could muster. At that moment, their warships floated in the galaxy between Divine Essence Star Ocean and Black Ink Planet. They looked over from the distance and saw a shocking scene they would never forget in their lives.

All of them had anxiety on their faces, because… their young master was still in Divine Essence Star Ocean.

While the nine old Frail Darknesses could fight against the high heat of the flames, searching for a person whose whereabouts were unknown in the vast galaxy was so difficult it was akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

That was why they could only wait.

As they waited, the nine old Frail Darknesses and the cultivators on the warships saw a person who caused their pupils to shrink and left their hearts in shock.

He was a slender middle-aged man dressed in a long purple robe. He stood calmly in the galaxy and looked at Divine Essence Star Ocean from the distance. He looked incredibly normal and there was nothing strange about him… but laying behind him was a ferocious beast that was several tens of thousands of feet tall.

That beast… was a dragon!

It was an entirely crimson dragon with thick flames spreading out from its body. The temperature of the fire caused the galaxy to distort, as if it was slightly difficult for it to bear with it. By the looks of it, those flames from the dragon seemed to be even stronger that the crimson flames that covered the entire Divine Essence Star Ocean.

The dragon's mighty pressure was even more shocking. The nine old Frail Darknesses had only cast him a look from the distance, but they already felt an oppressive force pressing down on their bodies. This clearly meant that the dragon's power surpassed those who had attained great completion in World Plane Realm, but it was not in Lunar Kalpa Realm. It was in Solar Kalpa Realm!

Even if they were very far away, the nine old Frail Darknesses could still feel their skins cracking, and they could sense their cultivation bases becoming chaotic. Their hair turned a burnt yellow, and they were forced to make their warships retreat to a very far off place.

The man in the purple robe was incredibly close to the crimson fire dragon, but not a single change in expression could be detected on his face. By the looks of it, the crimson dragon was clearly incredibly respectful of the man. There was even a slight hint of fear within its eyes.

"Reverend Zi Long!" The nine old Frail Darknesses' expressions changed. Once they looked at one another, they saw the shock in each other's eyes.

"This should be Reverend Zi Long, from the Fourth True World. That place has always been incredibly mysterious, and even we do not have much understanding towards it. We only know that the other three True Worlds send out a person to deliver a large amount of materials to the Fourth True World once in a while…"

"We might have never met Reverend Zi Long before, but in Divine Essence Star Ocean, the only person wearing a purple robe who is a Master of Fate, Lives, and Death and who has a crimson dragon by his side… can only be Reverend Zi Long from the forces of power from the four Great True Worlds keeping a lookout over the Barren Lands of Divine Essence, no one else."

"The fifth kiln, huh? I didn't expect that the activation of the fifth kiln would actually bring Reverend Zi Long to this place!" As the nine old Frail Darknesses sent their thoughts to each other, their expressions changed suddenly, and they looked towards the galaxy behind them simultaneously.

There were intense, loud bangs surging forward from over there. Those sounds spread in all directions, and the hearts of people who heard them shook involuntarily.

This trembling even caused their cultivation bases to begin changing and caused the strongest power to erupt from the nine old Frail Darknesses because they were unable to control their bodies. It was as if only by doing so could they be able to make their power not spill out and leave their bodies.

As for the fearless warriors and the catwoman, their faces turned pale as their expressions changed. All of them immediately sat down cross-legged and fought back with great difficulty.

The booming sounds came even closer, and everyone saw the shape of a huge centipede in the galaxy. It had turned into a long arc while heading over at an incredible speed. That centipede was purplish black and looked incredibly hideous. There was… not a single person on it. This was a ferocious beast moving by itself.

It moved incredibly fast and closed in on the place within an instant. Waves of mighty pressure spread out into the area. It caused the crimson dragon beside the purple-robed man to continuously let out low growls.

"It's been a long while, Zi Long. Looks like this time, you and I are the only ones who did not enter isolation to train." A hoarse voice that sounded like metal chafing against metal echoed in space.