Chapter 1297

"First encounter kill?"

Qin Shi Huang rubbed his chin, repeatedly saying this word with interest: "I have never heard this word before; you might as well explain it further."

"You can understand it as a move first revealed, capable of catching the opponent off guard." Zuosong Xiaoxiaolang continued, "According to my observation, Dan Heng has never truly transformed in Weng Luoluo before, although he had revealed the Deep Abyss Pearl, but that was only when fighting Aigle... The Fire Pursuer is not there, so they cannot obtain this information."

"Using Dan Heng's Dragon Sovereign power, strike the Fire Pursuer off guard. Perhaps even it won't quickly figure out where Dan Heng's power comes from. However, this method can only be used once; once unleashed, we cannot let the Fire Pursuer escape. Otherwise... killing it again will be very difficult."

Chongtian Zongsi held his forehead, the corner of his mouth twitching into a wry smile: "You're still wondering whether the Fire Pursuer will escape? Honestly, Zuosong, I think you're far too optimistic. Now we can't even guess that guy's identity, yet we assume the opponent will flee... it's simply naive."

——

"During the stay at Dawn Cloud Cliff, Professor Kexia conducted investigations everywhere... I still remember his oral method—hopefully it works."

"As Bai E slowly chanted the prayer, the huge block slowly descended, and with the star's help, successfully dispelled the Senate's secret art."

"The world-burden fire seed hovered silently in midair."

"... Success!"

"Bai E overjoyed: 'Take the fire seed, hurry down the mountain!'"

"Just as everyone prepared to set off, Kaines beside them suddenly threw back her head and laughed: 'Heh... hehe... hahaha...'"

"Bai E also seemed to sense something odd: 'Dan Heng, can you use the Spirit Water Technique once more?'"

"'The spiritual water I carry has been used up. Moreover... just now, after we left the Eye of Dawn and Dusk... I feel that Weng Luoluo's water body has been severed from me.'"

"'Is this also the effect of Heichi... Looks like we can only run down the mountain.'"

"Bai E stepped forward, preparing to absorb the fire seed into his body, but the fire seed suddenly turned into a clay pot before his eyes and shattered on the ground."

"Ah…!"

"'Heh... Do you think... I've gone completely mad?' Kaines staggered to her feet, 'If the fire seed hasn't been tampered with, always stored intact here... Do you think... I lack the ability to take it away? Ha... hahaha!'"

"Calm down... think carefully."

"Bai E closed his eyes, and suddenly flashed back to Sai Feier's earlier instruction to him: 'I will complete what I ought to do—so before you pay the equivalent compensation, don't you die first.'"

Bai'e instantly let out a long breath, feeling much lighter: "... No need to worry about the whereabouts of the fire seed; we'll continue down the mountain. Before setting out to attack Aigele, I asked Miss Sai Feier to guard KefaLe's fire seed while we're away... by any means."

"If the fire seed isn't here…then she must have tampered with it. In other words…she fulfilled her duty in her own way."

Danheng said worriedly: "But what if she hasn't succeeded…"

"You two——besides trust, we have no other choice now. Assuming it's ten thousand steps from here to the nearest ritual basin…then all we need to do is sprint all the way, then hope she meets us when there are still nine thousand steps left."

——

The Funeral of Frieren.

"Lord Bai'e…can no longer wait for Miss Sai Feier." Filien lowered her head dejectedly, "But if the fire seed was taken by Miss Sai Feier, and yet the fire seed is not on her person, where could it be?"

"Filien, do you still remember that letter? It's the gift Sai Feier gave to Ti Bao."

"Ah…! Lady Frieren! You mean, that fire seed is inside that letter?"

Frieren nodded: "This was her preparation made in advance; she said to activate it after nightfall. At first we didn't understand why the eternal day of Aohema would bring darkness, but now we do—darkness means she has already died……She had already made the worst possible plans before setting out."

"Miss Sai Feier……"

The more Filien learned about what she had done, the more heartbroken she became.

"The fire seed is in Ti Bao's hand, meaning as long as Bai'e and the others reach the heart of the Creation Vortex, the Recreation of the World can be activated! We're just one step away!" Xiu Ta'erk exclaimed excitedly, but soon he realized, clapping his hands together with a "pa" sound, he prayed up and down: "Please! No fire thieves, no fire thieves……"

Zan Yin said calmly: "Given the fire thieves' speed, he will surely come to Aohema; regarding the fire seed, do not harbor any luck—instead, prepare for the worst."

"The worst…plan? What plan?"

"Of course, it's the failure of the Recreation of the World." Zan Yin lifted his gaze to the sky, where endless fire rain poured from the dawn machine, turning much of Aohema into a sea of flames, "Not to mention the world's anomalies. Since Sai Feier's death, the world's destruction has visibly accelerated, and although Bai'e and company's apparent greatest enemy is the fire thieves, behind the scenes there is still someone who has yet to act……"

A bead of cold sweat slid down Xiu Ta'erk's cheek: "You mean…Laigushi?"

——

"If she doesn't show up, we'll just keep moving forward…hoping she'll appear at the eight‑thousand‑step mark. Seven thousand, six thousand, five thousand…I'll carry the same hope onward——" Bai'e clenched his fists, gritting his teeth as he spoke each word, "——until she appears before us, wearing her usual irreverent expression."

"... I understand." Danheng nodded, "At least, up to today…I don't recall any of the golden descendants who participated in the Fire Pursuit Journey having failed their duty."

"... She certainly won't be an exception."

Bai'e turned around, only to see a vast expanse of gloomy Heichi constructs not far off; after the three of them fought them together, those monsters were all lifeless.

"... Bai'e."

Bai'e lowered his head, seeing that in the recent melee, Kaines had already died at the hands of the Heichi constructs; even as she died, she remained kneeling on the ground, a horrible wound running straight from her back through to her chest.

"A just desserts."

"Perhaps, but…the Purifiers, for an unchanging millennium‑long goal, willingly bound their identity and memory for a thousand years with forbidden arts…this might also be an extreme distortion of resilience." Bai'e lifted his gaze forward, "Let's go, it's time to leave this place."

"\"Everyone, can we run a bit faster? \""

"Mimi suddenly appeared above the heads of the few, anxiously urging, \"I have another…bad feeling! \""