Chapter 44: The Approaching Shadow

In the time spent waiting for death to arrive, Duan Xiaoling thought about many, many things.

From the foolish things she did as a child, all the way to the dreams she never achieved, she thought through it all, back and forth.

But even until she started letting her mind wander, she still hadn't waited for death...

Why is this life-flashing-before-my-eyes sequence taking so long?

Could it be that she has already passed on?

Or is it that someone has come to provide support?

The answer is neither.

Duan Xiaoling raised her head and saw at a glance that the attackers, who had been so arrogant just a moment ago, were now rolling on the ground in agony.

Not a single person was standing in place; they had all collapsed onto the ground, and the liquid seeping from their trousers had even dampened several patches of earth.

Because the Array isolated the sound, Duan Xiaoling could not hear their screams, but just looking at their frantic twitching was enough to feel their terror.

"This..."

It wasn't as if Duan Xiaoling hadn't used Senluo Hell before, but she had never seen such an exaggerated reaction.

Although most people were terrified, they were still able to maintain basic stability...

Why were these people so afraid?

Was it that these people were all cowards?

"Or could it be that I am actually this powerful?"

Inside the Senluo Hell illusion.

"What kind of hellish place is this!!?"

Shen Feng was wailing in agony, constantly attempting to escape from here.

But he failed every time.

Every time he was about to succeed, he would be dealt a heavy blow to the back of his head with a club.

Clang—

And then all distracting thoughts would vanish, and he would numbly follow the line of those undergoing torture.

And when the torture began, his consciousness would suddenly return, and it would be much more sensitive than before.

Pain.

Endless pain.

Not just physical pain, but mental torment as well.

They seemed to know exactly at which moment he would collapse, and they would stop precisely before that point to give him a blow with the club.

Letting his spirit recover, then repeating this desperate process over and over.

Infinite and endless.

He did not know how many times he had been shredded, nor how many times he had rolled in the oil cauldron...

He wanted to die but could not.

Furthermore, what Shen Feng found most incomprehensible were the little ghosts carrying out the execution.

Why?

Why were they chanting slogans while carrying out the execution!?

"One, two, one! One, two, one!"

"Senluo Hell is my home, working overtime and staying up late for it!"

"One, two, one! One, two, one!"

"..."

"Hey! Oil cauldron team! Watch the seven-up-eight-down technique! Don't over-dip, you'll get old..."

Listening to the scolding and screams coming from afar, Shen Feng closed his eyes in exhaustion and jumped into the sea of fire himself.

Perhaps this is not an illusion.

"Hm? Someone is committing suicide here! Quick, give him a blow with the club!"

"This is all performance metrics; for our team's points, we absolutely cannot let him run away!"

But the real hell.

Lieyang Peak.

Zuo Yungui broke through the invaders' formation once again and escaped back into the peak-protecting Array before he could be surrounded.

The opponent's speed could not match his; as long as he was careful, it was enough for him to escape.

But just this was not enough.

Only being able to run away would not change the current situation at all.

The Earth Realm disciples had already gone to support other peaks, and it was unknown when they would be able to return.

"Senior Brother Zuo, thank goodness you are alright!"

Nodding slightly and humming, Zuo Yungui remained in his usual arrogant manner.

"Hm, how many people are still not ready?"

Long accustomed to this attitude, that disciple was not angry; on the contrary, they subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Senior Brother Zuo was still his usual self, which was truly reassuring.

"In another quarter of an hour, everyone will be able to transfer into the secret passage."

The protective Array of Lieyang Peak is the most powerful among all the peaks; it will not be broken through from the outside by the enemy in a short time.

"Still no news of my grandfather?"

If Grandfather were here, these invaders would be no match at all and could be easily wiped out.

The disciple shook his head, but he did not feel much worry, saying as a matter of course:

"We still haven't seen the Peak Master, but given the Peak Master's personality, he must already be on his way to reinforce the other main peaks!"

That is Zuo Su.

Our Peak Master is the second person of the Divine Path Sect, a dignified expert of the Wuxiang Realm!

There is no need for us disciples to worry so much.

Zuo Yungui actually thought the same way on ordinary days, but for some reason, he felt a sense of unease in his heart this time.

"Tsk, forget it!"

"Speed up the transfer!"

Lieyang Peak, Earth Fire Source Heart.

Not a single one of the Earth Fire Demon dared to poke their heads out of the magma, all of them trying their best to hide their own aura, fearing that they would be caught in the crossfire.

And in the very center of the underground space, two figures sat facing each other.

The palm-sized lava fire man from before had changed drastically; its size was now no different from an ordinary person, and its expression was much more vivid than before.

It was currently sitting cross-legged, smacking its lips in a devil-may-care manner.

"I say, Left Peak Master, our previous friendship wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either, right?"

It looked at Zuo Su and asked curiously:

"Why are you blocking me here instead of going to stop those invaders?"

Sitting with eyes closed, Zuo Su said indifferently:

"Because you are about to walk out from here."

Hearing this reason, the lava fire man was amused and laughed:

"Oh my, didn't I already guarantee it? I won't hurt your Lieyang Peak disciples; isn't that enough?"

"You, you shouldn't be too greedy."

Zuo Su ignored it and continued to close his eyes and restrain his breath.

Seeing this, the lava fire man felt somewhat helpless and turned to persuade him:

"We are all very clear about your predicament; Sikong Yu will never let you become Sect Leader."

"It is the so-called 'merit so great it shakes the master,' with nowhere left to be enfeoffed."

"No matter how much more you contribute to the sect, no matter how many more merits you establish, nothing will change."

"Although you now have the strength and reputation of the second person of the Divine Path Sect, you will never be able to take another step forward."

It bitterly exhorted Zuo Su, hoping he could recognize this cruel reality and give up his fantasies sooner.

"Besides, the fact that you were able to forcibly cross from the Earth Realm to the Heaven Realm back then left a deep impression on many big shots."

"No matter where you go, you can get the treatment you deserve; there is no need to keep being trapped in this dying old dragon."

"You gain no benefits this way; why do you suffer so?"

By the end, its voice was full of mockery, and it turned to giggle:

"Besides, we did have a deal, didn't we?"

"You don't stop me, and I provide you with information at the appropriate time."

With a relaxed posture, it was not worried at all that Zuo Su would keep insisting.

Impossible.

Because...

"Or is it that you no longer care about the soul of your deceased wife?"

It grinned, and pitch-black malice gushed out.

"Could it be that after persisting for so many years, now that you are just one final step away, you have decided to give up?"

Zuo Su: "..."

He remained silent.

His brows were tightly locked, and his whole person was almost crushed by the thick aura of twilight and frustration.

Finally, after a long silence, he slowly opened his eyes.