Chapter 380: Fire and Ash

By the time Xie He and the others went through all kinds of hardships, broke all obstacles, it had already been nearly a quarter of an hour.

Finally rushing into the gate of that Audience Tower, they had to face the rioting darkness, countless crazy shadow attacks and entanglements.

The bandages on Xie He’s body instantly unfolded, the stench of rot spread, instantly causing all things to decay and become diseased, even the darkness was fading rapidly.

And within his body, the sound of shattering was incessant.

The pressure of the tower’s shadow was increasing rapidly, targeting step by step.

And the moment he finally rushed to the top of the tower, he only saw a mess, amidst countless scorch marks and cracks, only patches of viscous blood stains.

Yet he couldn't find any corpses.

Such a scene did not look like accidentally triggering some taboo of the sacrificial temple, but rather like encountering a massacre! A crushing, cruel, and ferocious slaughter and ravaging!

But the scene was too clean; besides blood stains and cracks, not even a trace of spiritual quality or broken meat remained.

As if they had all been devoured by invisible monsters.

Sensing such a scene, Xie He withdrew and retreated without thinking, not even caring about the taboo of forbidding flight, directly vaulting down from the edge of the high tower, falling.

And in the final moment, what he heard was a crisp sound.

—Within the hub of the high tower, the self-destruction sequence, activated.

Accompanied by the shaking of the entire Rift Realm, the Bell of Invasion within the sacrificial temple sounded violently, the echo high-pitched, darkness breached like a spring, raging and sweeping.

And that huge Audience Tower exploded in front of Xie He’s eyes, terrifying air waves rose out of thin air, sweeping in all directions.

I don't know how many subordinates who didn't have time to dodge were torn apart by the erupting thunder and flame light, flying into the sky, shattering along with the bricks and stones.

"Oh no!"

Xie He in mid-air felt his heart tighten, having no time to care about the countless black lines entangling him after violating the taboo, turning back in shock: "Wuyou Gong, be careful!"

Too late.

When the audience ritual was completely interrupted with the last high tower being destroyed, the alarm had already been triggered.

The fury buried within the sacrificial temple erupted along with the darkness!

Amidst the roar, the Forbidden Domain wall shook violently, one gorgeous door after another appeared out of thin air, one ferocious and violent face after another emerged from within, opening their eyes.

Beginning to attack any living thing that dared to approach indiscriminately.

Bearing the brunt was Wuyou Gong, who was stared at by dozens of faces at once. Each scarlet pupil was filled with fury, descending absolute punishment without reservation!

[The Usurper Dies]!

Amidst the high-pitched and shrill bell tolls, dark clouds appeared out of thin air above the firmament, like an iron curtain, obscuring the last strand of hallucination-like daylight.

The massive amount of afterimages and black lines rioted, completely crazy.

The night of cruelty, starting from here!

Unable to hear the collapse of heaven and earth outside, only the crisp ticking sound echoed in the dead silent space.

Inside the workshop within the Doomsday Express, a brand-new space unfolded from the darkness; suspended by chains, one after another, the dying husks hung high.

Mercury flowed, piercing the body, under the reverse suppression of solid alchemy, shackling the soul, sealing everything.

Only blood water, like life, dripped and dripped, lost.

When the breeze blew from the pipes, the bodies hanging in mid-air swayed, like wind chimes, amidst the muffled wails, ringing crisply.

"After four hundred years of development, modern alchemy covers all aspects: blood, flesh, spiritual quality, soul, consciousness, resentment, curse...

The life and value of people have also gradually increased with the development of alchemy. Until today, waste that was once as cheap as wild grass can also become worth a fortune.

Sublimation from ordinary things, transcendence from mediocrity, extracting and purifying gold from rusted iron, this is the essence of alchemy.

And the application and effects of Sin-Alchemy are even beyond the Association bound by human ethics and morality.

Among the techniques I know, there is also the distinction of the Twelve Great Sins, three types of sixteen kinds of dyeing and sin-changing techniques, seventy-seven kinds of Great Sin types and changes...

The number mastered and understood is even more than that."

Ji Jue stood before the workbench, placing tools in categories, explaining the functions one by one, and even, operating on the spot, demonstrating every detail.

Without hiding, without reservation.

"Next, you can choose to act as material, exerting your last bit of effect. I guarantee that your consciousness and soul, after experiencing the grace of stagnation, will be able to remain immortal for the next thousand years of torment.

Or, you can choose a simpler, easier method that is good for everyone... We can, end it all at once."

In that instant, the crisp sound rang out again.

The blockade and restraint of the mouth, nose, lips, and tongue loosened a line amidst wails, cries, angry rebukes, or pleas.

"Now, you can tell me."

Ji Jue raised his head, looking at the twisted faces before him, finally asking:

"His name."

An hour later, Ji Jue walked out of the workshop.

Behind the closed door, in the darkness, there was only dead silence.

Under the illumination of pale light, it illuminated the blood on his face, hands, and body, layer upon layer, winding down, rendering one shocking scarlet patch after another.

It was as if he had gone into a trance, walking familiarly to the sink, following the standard operating procedure, completing the hand washing and cleaning after the work.

As if he had lost his focus, he walked familiarly toward the sink, following standard operating procedures to wash his hands and clean up after completing his work.

In the reflection of the mirror, ten fingers, hands, neck, hair, and face, all residues were gradually gone, only the burn scar on his face remained red.

Reflected in the mirror, his ten fingers, hands, neck, hair, and face—all traces gradually vanished, leaving only the burn scar on his face still flushed red.

In that instant, Ji Jue lowered his eyes in doubt, staring at his hands.

For a long time, finally realizing.

"So that’s how it is..."

He laughed at himself, "This is my blood."

"Sir, are you okay?"

Star-like light emerged from behind Ji Jue, converging.

Ji Jue raised his eyes, looking at the projection in the mirror.

Pop!

In that instant, the sound of shattering appeared on the mirror surface, cracks winding and interweaving, splitting the face in the reflection.

Unrecognizable.

It was as if he had suddenly woken up from a long and dim dream, so, amidst the winding of the cracks, he gradually realized.

Amidst unprecedented peace, thoughts flowed.

Sower, under the Vortex, disaster of the Flame Tide, Wuyou Gong, Sin of Bai Bang, Wolf Nest...

Clearly he should be furious, clearly he should be roaring in anger, regretful and crazy, but at this moment, what emerged from his heart was only indescribable joy.

So relaxed.

He closed his eyes, laughing silently.

"I’m fine."

"No, you’re not fine, sir."

The spiritual quality projection changed, hesitating, staring at him, eyes unblinking: "You... are very sad."

"Perhaps? But this doesn't conflict with joy, right?"

Ji Jue shook his head indifferently: "The biggest problem and confusion in my life has been answered today. I only feel... gratifying, nothing could be better than this."

Fate is so stingy, letting him struggle in hesitation and pain until today.

But fate is also so generous, bestowing upon him the final answer.

How fortunate!

The suffering he encountered in his life actually had reasons...

No longer a disaster and misfortune that could not be avenged, but an enemy that truly existed somewhere and would never fail this long wait!

He was overjoyed and happy for this.

Happy to the point of wanting to burn the entire world into ashes!

In the silence, Ji Jue grinned, unable to restrain this surging and violent joy.

Only a strand of winding scarlet flowed down from the scar, like unburned tears, sliding down silently, as if falling toward the abyss.

There was no abyss.

Because a cold palm raised, spread its simple fingers, and carefully caught it.

Clenched.

Isis was silent.

Clearly close at hand, as if within reach. But the void spiritual quality phantom was so fragile, like a bubble, shackled in the broken mirror, unable to touch anything in reality.

Until, amidst the harsh friction sound, a pair of cold and simple steel hands slowly raised, closing bit by bit.

A gentle hug.

Just as if, fearing to poke the fragile phantom.

Carefully.

"Then burn everything into ashes, sir."

Isis’s eyes were gentle and quiet, "Light a fierce fire, throw everything that makes you painful into the fire, and burn it to the ground, even if it turns this world into hell.

If, at that time, on that scorched earth, you still have interest and leisure... then let’s go pick up trash together again."

Ji Jue was stunned.

Heard her voice, so gentle.

The eyes in the reflection were like stars, overflowing with flashing light, staring intently at himself, promising the creator before him:

"No matter where you go, I will be by your side."

This is her inherent duty and function, the soul named Isis, the mission chosen for herself.

",,,,,,"

Ji Jue stared blankly at her eyes.

For a long time.

It seemed that for a moment, those pains that could crush perception no longer existed.

Another kind of power was injected into his soul, gentle and persistent, wanting to prop up some weight for him, even if it was so small, overestimating one’s capabilities.

But the moment he sensed it, he felt incredibly relaxed. Even if he were to fall into hell, he would feel happy and expectant.

"Then, let’s go create hell, Isis."

He reached out, touching that dreamlike flash, telling her: "Together."

"I am your tool, you just need to command."

Thus, starlight gathered again, turning into a figure like a lady, bowing and saluting, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Help me flip through the inventory on the special train, find some old things." Ji Jue said, "In this world, there is a place that needs a little fire, a little despair, and a little surprise."

"As you wish, sir."

Isis nodded, without hesitation.

"And..."

"Hmm?"

Starlight looked back in doubt.

"Thank you."

Ji Jue laughed, looking at her.

"..."

Isis was stunned for a moment, didn't speak, and withdrew her gaze.

Starlight vibrated slightly, dissipated, and disappeared like fireflies.

In the silence that followed, Ji Jue leaned on the chair in front of the window, stroking the handle, quietly staring at the station outside the window, and the dark and pitch-black firmament outside the station.

The same train, the same waiting, just like when it was swallowed by the disaster of the Flame Tide back then.

It seemed there was no difference.

But unlike the fear and confusion at that time, this time, Ji Jue was full of patience and expectation.

This feeling was so wonderful.

It was as if, in this world, there was suddenly a person very important to himself, more important than so-called life, future, or ideals, yet he had never noticed it.

So, next, Ji Jue was going to find that person, using all means to find every way.

Until in the fire of hell, he and everything he had...

Cut into a thousand pieces, smashed into bones and ashes!

A thousand cuts and ten thousand scrapes, ground to bones and scattered as ash!