Chapter 91: Awakening
Low-Tier Derived World, Crescent Castle, Chelsea's Bedroom.
The energy magic circle in midair dissipated, leaving three young maidens unconscious on the floor. Beside them lay a half-dead holy-attribute creature.
Su Xiao sat by the bedroom window, a black chain coiled around his left arm. He had arrived here via a summoning array and could only stay for five to ten minutes. During this time, he could not leave the castle, or he would be forcibly teleported back to his exclusive room.
Su Xiao glanced at the three unconscious maidens, then turned to his unscrupulous guide, Mawen Hua'erzi.
"They haven't figured out you're a shady old man yet?"
Su Xiao lit a cigarette but stopped before tossing one to Mawen Hua'erzi, remembering the latter was a remnant soul without a physical form.
"Not yet. You came to me this time to ask about the Starry Sky Seat?"
"No. It's about the awakening of Azure Shadow King."
"Don't even think about it. The Law-Destruction Hall was..."
Mawen Hua'erzi stopped mid-sentence, as if struck by a thought.
"Reincarnation Paradise can manifest the Law-Destruction Hall? That's actually possible. You're here to ask what to watch out for when awakening Azure Shadow King?"
"Exactly."
"As for precautions, the main thing is not to die. The process isn't pleasant. As for what your Azure Shadow King's traits are, I wouldn't know. Every Law-Destroyer's Azure Shadow King is different."
If even Mawen Hua'erzi called it "not pleasant," the experience of awakening Azure Shadow King was clearly brutal.
"Remember one thing: believe in what you firmly believe. Don't let anything deceive you."
"Will I see illusions or something?"
Su Xiao exhaled a plume of smoke, which the breeze from the window dispersed.
"Of course not."
"Then what do you mean by 'firmly believe'?"
"That was just encouragement. Don't overthink it."
Mawen Hua'erzi's grin grew even more mischievous.
"..."
"You hesitated?"
Mawen Hua'erzi's smile gradually faded, his expression turning serious.
"Of course not."
"Good. You're the last Law-Destroyer left. Watch out for Arcane Eternal Star. They got beaten badly back then, and now that you're the only one, they won't let you go."
Mawen Hua'erzi spoke with a mix of emotion and nostalgia.
"They've already come knocking. Their representative opposing me is named Sefeiliya. Apparently, she's from your era."
"Sefeiliya?"
Mawen Hua'erzi's eyes showed clear confusion.
"Let me think."
He tapped his forehead with his index finger. After a moment, his expression shifted.
"Oh no."
"What?"
"I forgot something very important."
"Is it about Sefeiliya?"
"No. That name rings no bells. I'll have someone help me look into it. I have to go now—urgent matters. Don't forget about the Starry Sky Seat. You have the Black Maple Tree; that's your chance to soar."
The moment Mawen Hua'erzi finished speaking, Su Xiao felt a pulling sensation.
"Oh, and one more thing. When you enter the Law-Destruction Hall, firmly believe one thing: you are the strongest. Don't fear whatever appears before you. And most importantly, never let go."
With that final warning, Su Xiao returned to his exclusive room. He had to admit, after meeting Mawen Hua'erzi so many times, he finally got some useful advice.
Inside his exclusive room, Su Xiao slowly exhaled. He had prepared everything he could. If even this wasn't enough to awaken Azure Shadow King, then there was nothing more he could do.
Azure Shadow King: Unawakened (Ultimate Skill)
Awakening Progress: 99%.
Awakening Condition: Enter the Law-Destruction Hall
...
The awakening progress had been stuck at 99% for a long time. Su Xiao chose to use the authority he had obtained.
[Tip: The Hunter has activated a high-tier authority. The Law-Destruction Hall will be temporarily manifested.]
[Law-Destruction Hall Restoration Rate: 100%. Duration: 5 hours. After 5 hours, this manifestation will end.]
[Space-Time Power transmitting.]
[Void Fragment simulating.]
[Law-Destruction Hall manifested: 1%, 2%, 3%...]
...
The manifestation of the Law-Destruction Hall was not fast, and it could only be sustained for five hours. Su Xiao sat on the sofa and waited.
After about half an hour, another prompt appeared.
[Law-Destruction Hall manifested. The Hunter is about to enter the Law-Destruction Hall.]
Light and shadow flickered before Su Xiao's eyes. After an unknown amount of time, some light returned to his vision.
Looking around, a magnificent hall appeared before him. It was so vast it seemed almost boundless, though that was an optical illusion.
The four walls of the hall were covered in murals, each one blurry, as if connected to countless worlds, making the hall appear endless.
At the center of the hall stood six hundred-meter-tall stone statues. Seeing these six humanoid sculptures, Su Xiao suddenly remembered—he had been here before.
The last time he came here was when he received the Law-Destroyer's inheritance. But that time, he had arrived at a ethereal version of the Law-Destruction Hall. This time, it was truly manifested.
Su Xiao recognized three of the six stone statues. Mawen Hua'erzi was among them, as was the female Law-Destroyer who liked to lock people in cages.
The third was the old Law-Destroyer with pitch-black eyes who had devoured the Demon Blade's power within himself—Mawen Hua'erzi's master.
As for the remaining three statues, Su Xiao had no idea who they represented.
With only five hours left, Su Xiao stepped forward and walked to the base of the six hundred-meter statues. There, a raised stone platform stood. At its center floated a pale blue crystal, nearly a meter in height.
Most of the crystal was ethereal, filled with energy meridians, with only a fist-sized section at the front being solid.
The moment he approached the crystal, a blue glow appeared in Su Xiao's eyes. Almost instinctively, he raised his hand and pressed it against the crystal.
Boom!
A thunderous roar echoed in Su Xiao's ears. Blue energy patterns spread from his hand, crawling across his body.
In an instant, half of Su Xiao's body went numb. The hand pressed against the crystal lost all sensation.
If it had stopped there, it might have been bearable. But when the blue energy patterns spread across his entire body, his sensation returned.
The veins on Su Xiao's neck bulged. His current state was unbearable. It felt as if his body was breaking down bit by bit, then recovering, then breaking down again, then recovering—cycling roughly every five seconds.
If Su Xiao removed his hand now, the sensation would vanish. But that would also mean the awakening of Azure Shadow King had failed.
Time stretched unbearably. After just two minutes, Su Xiao felt he couldn't hold on any longer. It wasn't that he couldn't endure the excruciating pain throughout his body, but that the pain was about to drain his strength, causing him to collapse.
Just as Su Xiao was about to fall, the pale blue crystal he was pressing against exploded. Fragments of the shattered crystal clung to his skin.
In that instant, Su Xiao knew that the agonizing pain from before was just an appetizer. The awakening of Azure Shadow King had only just begun.
With a thud, Su Xiao collapsed onto the floor of the Law-Destruction Hall. Blue energy patterns covered his entire body.