Chapter 389: Fire and Ash

By the time Xie He and the others had gone through all the hardships and broken all the obstacles, nearly a quarter of an hour had passed.

They finally rushed into the gate of that Tower of Audience, immediately having to face the rioting darkness, countless frenzied shadow attacks and entanglements.

The bandages on Xie He's body instantly unfurled, the stench of rot spreading, instantly causing all things to decay and become diseased, and even the darkness faded rapidly.

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

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

And the moment he finally managed to rush to the top of the tower, he only saw a mess; between countless scorch marks and cracks, there were only patches of viscous blood stains.

Yet he couldn't find any corpses.

Such a scene was by no means accidentally triggering some taboo of the Temple of Sacrifice, 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 minced meat remained.

As if they had all been devoured by invisible monsters.

The moment he sensed such a scene, Xie He retreated without thinking, not even caring about the taboo of flying, directly vaulting over the edge of the high tower, falling.

And at the very last moment, what he heard was a crisp sound.

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

Accompanied by the vibration of the entire Rift Realm, the Bell of Invasion within the Temple of Sacrifice rang out fiercely; the echo was high-pitched, the darkness burst like a spring, raging and sweeping.

And the vast Tower of Audience exploded with a bang before Xie He's eyes; a terrifying air wave rose out of thin air, sweeping in all directions.

Heaven knows 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: "Lord Wuyou, be careful!"

Too late.

When the ritual of audience was completely interrupted following the destruction of the last high tower, the alarm had been triggered.

The fury buried within the Temple of Sacrifice erupted along with the darkness!

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

Beginning to attack any living thing that dared to approach without discrimination.

Bearing the brunt was Lord Wuyou, who was stared at by dozens of faces; each scarlet pupil was filled with anger, 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 thread of daylight that was like a hallucination.

The massive amount of residual shadows and black lines rioted, completely frenzied.

The night of cruelty began from this moment!

Unable to hear the heaven-shattering and earth-collapsing outside, only the crisp dripping sound echoed in the dead space.

Inside the workshop of the Doomsday Special Train, a brand new space unfolded from the darkness; under the hanging of chains, one dying shell after another hung high.

Mercury flowed, piercing through the body; under the reverse suppression of solid alchemy, it shackled the soul and sealed everything.

Only blood and life, drop by drop, drained away.

When the breeze blew from the pipes, one hanging body after another swayed, like wind chimes; amidst the woo-woo blurred wails, it echoed crisply.

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

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

Sublimating from ordinary things, transcending from mediocrity, extracting and purifying gold from rusted iron—this is the essence of alchemy.

And the application and effects of Tainted alchemy are even beyond the Association that is bound by human ethics and morality.

Among the techniques I know, there is also the distinction of the Twelve Great Tainted, three categories and sixteen types of dyeing and transforming Tainted techniques, seventy-seven types of Great Tainted forms and changes...

The number of things mastered and comprehended is even beyond that."

Ji Jue stood before the workbench, arranging the tools by category, explaining their 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 and exert your final effect; I guarantee that your consciousness and soul, after experiencing the grace of Stagnant Rot, 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 just end it all."

In that instant, the crisp sound rang out again.

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

"Now, you can tell me."

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

"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 the pale light, it lit up the blood on his face, hands, and body, layer upon layer, winding down, rendering one shocking scarlet after another.

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

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

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

Reflected in the mirror, his ten fingers, hands, neck, hair, and face were gradually cleared of all residue, leaving only the burn scar on his face still flushed red.

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

After a long time, he finally realized.

"So that's how it is..."

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

"Sir, are you okay?"

Starry light emerged from behind Ji Jue, gathering.

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

Snap!

In that instant, the sound of shattering emerged from the mirror surface; cracks wound and intertwined, splitting the face in the reflection.

Unrecognizable.

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

Amidst unprecedented peace, his thoughts flowed.

Sower, beneath the Vortex, disaster of the Flame Tide, Lord Wuyou, Tainted of Bai Bang, Wolf Nest...

He should have been furious, should have been roaring in anger, regretful and frenzied, but at this very moment, what surged from within his heart was only indescribable joy.

So relaxed.

He closed his eyes and laughed silently.

"I am very well."

"No, you are not well, 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... joyous and congratulatory; there is nothing better than this."

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

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

How fortunate!

The suffering he had encountered in his life actually had a reason...

It was no longer a disaster and misfortune that could not be avenged, but an enemy that actually existed somewhere and would never fail this long wait!

He was overjoyed for this, unable to stop laughing.

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

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

Only a thread of winding scarlet flowed down from the scar, like tears that hadn't been burned out, sliding down silently, as if falling toward the abyss.

There was no abyss.

Because a cold palm raised, unfurling simple fingers, carefully catching it.

Clenching.

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 embrace.

Just as if, fearing to poke through that 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 suffer into the fire, and burn it all 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 we will go pick up trash together again."

Ji Jue froze.

He 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 was her inherent duty and function, a 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 were enough to crush his perception no longer existed.

Another kind of power was injected into his soul, gentle yet persistent, wanting to prop up some weight for him, even if it was so minuscule, overestimating her own strength.

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 only need to command."

Thus, the 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. In this world, there is a place that needs a little fire, a little despair, and a little surprise." Ji Jue said.

"As you wish, sir."

Isis nodded, without hesitation.

"And..."

"Hmm?"

The starlight looked back in confusion.

"Thank you."

Ji Jue laughed, looking at her.

"..."

Isis froze for a moment, said nothing, and withdrew her gaze.

The 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, pitch-black firmament outside the station.

The same train, the same waiting, just like when he 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 someone very important to him, more important than so-called life, future, or ideals, yet he had never noticed it.

So, next, Ji Jue would find that person, using every means to find every way.

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

Sliced into a thousand pieces, bones ground to dust! ===== CHAPTER 390 =====

Death by a thousand cuts, bones ground to dust and ashes scattered!