Su Chen felt slightly relieved upon hearing this. Through this detail, he could roughly gauge Lao Hei's intentions.
Towards Qin Tianlin, the guy who could purify Mist Embers, Lao Hei probably wanted to eliminate the hidden threat, saving the Mist Embers from being further purified.
As for "Su Chen," it was likely more of a desire to probe and investigate.
In other words, one was to be killed, and the other was to be abducted. Under the current circumstances, the possibility of Su Chen being abducted was very low.
But could Lao Hei actually manage to kill Qin Tianlin?
Su Chen originally didn't doubt Lao Hei's abilities, but now that he knew Qin Tianlin possessed Sunless Embers, he couldn't help but feel somewhat suspicious. Moreover, the Black Buddha wasn't in its true body. Once it made a move, the Ancient King might also notice, so it was truly uncertain whether it would succeed.
'Whatever,' Su Chen thought. 'It would be best if he could be killed. If not, there's no harm in it either. At the very least, the secrets of Qin Yun and Qin Tianlin definitely won't remain hidden anymore, and the next time I purify Mist Embers, I can still shift the blame onto Qin Tianlin.'
Su Chen pondered it over. Regardless of the outcome, it seemed there were no downsides for him.
Besides, his initial goal wasn't to deal with Qin Tianlin, but to trick Lao Hei into giving him the Heart of Spiritual Light, which was very difficult to obtain. As for what the result would be, he truly didn't care that much. 'Let nature take its course.'
Shifting the topic, he considerately asked, "Is there anything else you need help with?"
"It should be very difficult for you to inquire about Qin Tianlin's whereabouts, right?"
"I will do my absolute best..." Su Chen immediately expressed his stance. A Believer would never consider whether a deity's command could be completed or not.
Black Buddha's voice was flat. "There's no need. You still have a great use. Dragon Abyss is so lively; this Qin Tianlin will likely go there. As long as he goes, there will be a chance. I will have the people from the Dark Moon Group keep an eye on him."
"Understood," Su Chen replied, secretly thinking to himself. 'It seems I can't go to Dragon Abyss during this time, or rather, even if I do go, I have to call people to protect me. Although Black Buddha is currently prioritizing Qin Tianlin, it's hard to guarantee he won't change his mind after seeing me.'
"Also, if there is no important news during this time, don't contact me."
"Yes," Su Chen nodded, thinking of the prolonged prayer time just now, and Black Buddha's voice that drifted near and far. He couldn't help but sigh with emotion. 'It seems it's not easy to lay low right under the Ancient King's nose.'
However, he felt much more at ease.
The voice in the black mist vanished. Su Chen wiped away the engravings on the ground and returned to reality.
'Now that I have the Heart of Spiritual Light, this matter with Black Buddha can be set aside for now. I'll wait and see the outcome of his move against Qin Tianlin,' Su Chen calculated. 'If he really kills Qin Tianlin, I should definitely hurry up and extract some Divine Blood from him, otherwise, when I purify Mist Embers again next time, this old ghost will definitely fly into a rage.'
Coming out of the Nether Tower, Su Chen slightly checked his condition. The metallic liquid in his stomach was almost completely gone.
'It's mostly absorbed. It's about time to head to the Fortune Bronze Core to prepare for the final requirement.'
He didn't strictly have to wait until the metallic liquid was fully absorbed before heading to the Fortune Bronze Core. The absorption was happening constantly, and he could continue absorbing it while completing the final requirement.
The reason he hadn't gone earlier was that the Heart of Spiritual Light hadn't been in his hands, so he couldn't put his mind at ease.
After notifying Ming Lin, Su Chen boarded the flight vehicle and headed to the Bronze Core. Familiar with the way, he arrived at the Fortune Bronze Core and greeted Senior Brother Ku.
"It's you again." Senior Brother Ku's eyebrows drooped, looking sluggish and weak. "Go on, go on."
Su Chen nodded and stepped inside.
"Welcome, Your Excellency Su Chen."
In the expansive and empty Starry Expanse environment, the Copper Spirit's voice echoed leisurely. "May I ask how I can help you?"
Su Chen thought for a moment and said, "I have a class requirement here. I need to comprehend the essence of Vajra amidst destruction. How can I complete this requirement as quickly as possible?"
Although there was guidance available, based on his previous experience, the guidance was merely the last step before successâa push forward, rather than helping him complete it entirely from nothing to something. The Copper Spirit had rich experience and might be able to provide some assistance to shorten the time. Furthermore, this entity only answered to the Ancient King, so he didn't have to worry about anything leaking out.
The Copper Spirit quickly responded, "This is a concept-type requirement. It tests your comprehension of the class and your resonance with stability. It is considered a relatively difficult type of professional requirement."
"It should be similar to comprehending the heart of the sword. The time consumed is generally calculated in years, and the turning point for completion might happen in a single thought."
"Coming into the Fortune Bronze Core to attempt to complete this requirement is actually not a good solution."
"Comprehending the heart of the sword?" Hearing a term both unfamiliar and familiar, Su Chen couldn't help but feel somewhat curious. "There's this kind of professional requirement too?"
"High-level classes related to cold weapon swords generally have similar requirements. It can significantly enhance one's own strength and the intensity of their abilities," the Copper Spirit briefly explained, then continued, "As for Vajra, it carries the meaning of being fierce, unyielding, and indestructible. You can try to move in this direction."
Su Chen certainly knew what Vajra meant, but knowing it was useless. It was like how everyone understood grand principles, but truly achieving the unity of knowledge and action was extremely difficult.
"Let's try it here with you first," Su Chen said.
The Copper Spirit was only providing suggestions. Hearing this, the surrounding scene gradually changed. The ground beneath his feet extended outwards, while rolling pitch-black clouds gathered overhead. A rumbling thunder echoed as the glow of lightning flickered faintly within.
"To comprehend the essence of Vajra amidst destruction, the simplest and most direct method is to inflict severe injury upon Your Excellency with an extremely strong attack. Are you ready?"
"Ready."
Su Chen took a deep breath. Only to hear a crack of explosive thunder above his head. Immediately after, a pale white lightning bolt, as thick as a bucket, tore through the pitch-black clouds and crashed down.
A scorching wave of air mixed with the pungent smell of ozone rushed toward him. Even before the lightning struck, its oppressive might was like a mountain pressing down.
In an instant, Su Chen's expression drastically changed, and a chill ran down his spine.
This might... something's wrong!
His reaction was extremely fast. Streams of light intertwined behind him, reflecting the Shadow of the Great Sovereign onto himself, while rapidly enhancing the various Mystic Tools integrated into his body. Because of absorbing the metallic solution, his body had been constantly in a state of Arcane Artifact Enhancement recently.
Su Chen only felt a blinding expanse of incandescent white explode before his eyes. First, his limbs became burning hot like branding irons, and then a piercing, agonizing pain erupted from deep within his bone marrow. His muscles twitched uncontrollably, as if being repeatedly bludgeoned by an invisible giant hammer.
"Cough, cough..."
A long while later, the lightning dispersed. Su Chen let out a few dry coughs, black smoke billowing from his mouth, as he stumbled backward.
In the next instant, green fluorescent light emerged from all directions, rushing eagerly into his body. His injuries healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, swiftly returning to a normal state.
"Copper Spirit, why is the might of this lightning so great?" Su Chen calmed his mind and couldn't help but ask. Had he not realized something was wrong and rapidly elevated his physical condition, he might have been struck dead just now.
"The attack intensity was deduced strictly according to the data stored in the system. It should be within Your Excellency's tolerance range." The Copper Spirit seemed somewhat puzzled.
"This..." Su Chen was speechless, but then he figured it out.
Whether it was the data retained in the Challenge System or his physical strength performance when he previously adjusted the environmental time flow in the Copper Core, they were all under the buff of the Weapon Lord.
And this was defaulted by the Copper Spirit as his normal state.
But right now, he was attempting to comprehend the essence of Vajra; he definitely wouldn't use the Weapon Lord's buff.
He couldn't blame the Copper Spirit either.
Su Chen could only say, "Decrease the intensity a bit more. Just the upper limit of a normal 6th-Tier Professional will do, then slowly adjust it up. I'm really afraid you'll strike me dead."
"Please rest assured. Within the Copper Core, under no circumstances will your life be in danger." The Copper Spirit's voice was gentle. "Even if the intensity just now was too high, I could have intervened when you were about to be in mortal peril."
"Alright, you're awesome." Su Chen stayed silent for a moment and could only give a thumbs-up.
This Copper Core was indeed fierce, Su Chen realized. The injuries just now were absolutely not light, but right now, they had been completely healed. He didn't know what method was used, but it was definitely not conventional medical repair.
If he were outside, with injuries that severe, it would take at least several days to fully recover, which would be a huge waste of time.
"Let's continue." He adjusted his state and cooperated with the Copper Spirit, gradually regulating the intensity of the lightning strikes, settling on a certain range. He attempted to comprehend that so-called fierce and unyielding nature amidst the continuous lightning strikes.
Several days later, deep within the Punishment Hall.
Wu Feng's face was as solemn as water. Standing behind him were several high-ranking members of the Punishment Hall, their expressions also very grim. The atmosphere was extremely dead and silent.
"How could this happen?" a high-ranking member couldn't help but ask, staring at the corpse on the ground with bulging pupils and a hideous expression. He died with remaining grievances. It was actually Fan Zhao.
"When did this happen?" another high-ranking member asked the Punishment Area guard standing to the side, who was already sweating profusely.
The guard trembled in response, "I-It was earlier, about three hours ago. When I came to patrol, it was already like this."
"Hall Master, should this matter be handled secretly?" Someone beside him carefully asked. "Although Fan Zhao's matter has already been concluded and he was sentenced to death, formal execution and sudden death in prison yield entirely different impacts."
"I have already notified Qin Yun," Wu Feng said coldly.
The expressions of the few people behind him changed slightly, words caught in their throats.
Fan Zhao suddenly dying in prison was not a positive influence on the Punishment Hall. Was there really a need to be this honest?
Anyway, Fan Zhao was going to die no matter what. Wouldn't it be better to just deal with it secretly? Although everyone felt dissatisfied in their hearts, no one voiced it out.
Step, stepâ
Hurried footsteps approached without any concealment. Everyone looked toward the sound. It was Qin Yun, guided over by the Punishment Hall staff.
After arriving at the Punishment Area, his gaze immediately landed on Fan Zhao, who was lying on the ground. His expression drastically changed, and in a flash, he appeared before Fan Zhao. Taking a closer look, Qin Yun's face turned even more unpleasant.
"Dead?" Qin Yun's voice was suppressed with anger, as well as a trace of confusion. His gaze fell upon the expressionless Wu Feng. "Hall Master Wu, it isn't time for Fan Zhao's execution yet, is it? Moreover, Fan Zhao doesn't seem to have died a normal death."
With his abilities, a simple sweep of his gaze already revealed that Fan Zhao's body was weakened to the extreme, as if it had been hollowed out.
"He indeed did not die a normal death." Wu Feng nodded, staring directly at Qin Yun. Facing the questioning of this Morning Star Venerable, he showed no intention of backing down. "I asked the Venerable to come over precisely because I want to determine together how exactly Fan Zhao died."
As he spoke, Wu Feng casually waved his hand, and a virtual screen popped up. Playing on it was a scene of Fan Zhao just before his deathâ
He was originally doing fine in his cell when, for some unknown reason, his body suddenly started to twitch. He let out bursts of low, mournful howls, and soon fell into dead silence.
"This..." Qin Yun frowned deeply, seemingly puzzled. "Hall Master Wu, what is the meaning of this? To prove that Fan Zhao committed suicide?"
Wu Feng emphasized, "Whether it is suicide or not, I cannot determine. It's just that this sudden twitching condition only started recently. To be more precise, it gradually occurred after Qin Tianlin visited Fan Zhao in secret without my knowledge."
"Tianlin?" Qin Yun was slightly shaken in his heart. He truly didn't know about this matter, but sensing the scrutinizing look in Wu Feng's eyes, he also didn't hold back. "What does Hall Master Wu mean? Fan Zhao's matter has already been concluded, and my Qin Family has no objections to his death sentence. Even if we wanted to kill him to silence him, we wouldn't choose this timing, right?"
The two stared at each other, the atmosphere tense. Wu Feng's brow furrowed slightly, and he suddenly said, "The Venerable is right. After all, Fan Zhao is the Venerable's student. This matter is the Punishment Hall's negligence. I will naturally request punishment for myself."
Qin Yun's gaze swept over Fan Zhao's body and then fell on Wu Feng again. Restraining his expression, he said indifferently, "I believe Hall Master Wu will naturally uncover the truth."
"As for this disciple of mine..." His gaze landed on Fan Zhao's body, and he said slowly, "I will have to trouble you to clean him up properly before burying him."
"Naturally..." Wu Feng nodded, watching Qin Yun leave.
Leaving the Punishment Hall, Qin Yun's eyes harbored a certain rage, as well as a faint sense of regret. Returning straight to the Qin Family Compound, his psionic power rippled outwards, yet he couldn't find Qin Tianlin.
"Young Master Tianlin has gone to Dragon Abyss," the butler responded in a low voice.
"Dragon Abyss? What did he go to Dragon Abyss for?" Qin Yun frowned.
The butler explained, "Today, the preliminary leaderboard seems to be opening up. Young Master Tianlin appears to have the intention to compete."
Compete? The anger in Qin Yun's eyes surged even stronger. Ultimately, he couldn't hold it back anymore, heading straight out of the Qin Family Compound toward Dragon Abyss.
He needed to figure out exactly whether Fan Zhao's death had anything to do with Qin Tianlin!
Boom!
A massive sound was accompanied by lightning crashing down from the sky, striking straight at the top of Su Chen's head. Electric arcs surged, instantly swallowing his entire being in blinding blue and white light.
Every inch of his muscles spasmed and twitched within the lightning. The agonizing pain of flesh and skin being forcibly torn open transmitted over, followed by another round of his skin splitting and flesh tearing.
However, Su Chen was already accustomed to it. His eyes were startlingly bright. Looking closely, within those rolled-open wounds, a streak of golden lightâthinner than spider silk and paler than the morning lightâquietly emerged.
It carried a peculiar texture that belonged neither to flesh and blood, nor to metal and stone.
Immediately after, streams of green light surged from all directions, quickly repairing his body.
Phew... Su Chen let out a breath, but he didn't call out to the Copper Spirit to keep striking him with lightning like before.
The endless torture was still somewhat useful. Su Chen placed his right hand on his chest, feeling the surging heartbeats.
About ten days ago, under the relentless lightning strikes, he had felt an irrepressible sensation, but he didn't know where it came from. After being tormented for another ten days, this sensation became increasingly clear, as if something was desperately impatient to drill out of his body.