Chapter 83: True Fragrance
Solar flames scattered through the air. The burning land showed no change due to Agamemnon's death. This place felt special, not only because it suppressed perception, but also due to the surrounding heat.
A few days ago, when he first entered the Burning Land, Su Xiao felt this place was extraordinary. This was definitely not a place created by Agamemnon or King Doin. Before the Doin Empire was established, legends of the Endless Inferno already existed. What the common folk called the Endless Inferno was actually the Burning Land.
King Doin used this strange land to seal Agamemnon. Agamemnon had no way to deal with it and could only rely on time to gradually wear away the seal.
This Burning Land seemed similar to the "Dark Prison" from the previous world, both being independent spaces separate from the outer world. But that wasn't the case. The Dark Prison was more like a marble stuck to a basketball, hanging outside a world.
The Burning Land was a different form of alternate space. It seemed the entire world enveloped this space within itself, using World Force to suppress it while keeping the magma perpetually hot.
Why did this phenomenon occur? Su Xiao had a bold speculation: this place had once been invaded by Dead Silence City, just like the Black Throne World.
The area invaded by Dead Silence Force on the Azure Dragon Continent wasn't large, not reaching the irreversible degree of the Black Throne World. Moreover, this eroded area was covered in magma. Later, for some reason, the magma here was infused with World Force, maintaining its heat. This magma-covered land was the Burning Land.
Countless years passed. After consuming immeasurable World Force, the Burning Land barely resisted a small amount of Dead Silence Force erosion.
Precisely because so much World Force was consumed, this world's resources were scarce. The magma infused with World Force in the Burning Land was very special. The appearance of Flame Orcs wasn't because Agamemnon mastered some advanced technique; it was entirely due to the unique magma of the Burning Land, nothing more.
Through the Burning Land, Agamemnon learned many secrets, such as Dead Silence Force, the existence of outer worlds, and Ancient Gods.
Su Xiao looked around. He had already deactivated Dead Silence Descent. No abnormalities appeared in the Burning Land, indicating that this world had barely resisted the erosion of Dead Silence Force.
Dead Silence Force was pure. At its root, it seemed like an extremely high-level power. But this power was something almost no living being could withstand, which was why they became People of Death, gradually turning into frenzied beasts, ultimately losing all reason.
Only the Black King, Day King, and others successfully resisted Dead Silence Force for a long time, even using this power to strengthen themselves. But the price was also severe.
One could only say that the Black Throne World was fortunate because it had selfless kings like the Black King and Day King, preventing Dead Silence City from devouring the entire world. But it was also unfortunate because it encountered power far beyond its rank.
The most formidable aspect of Dead Silence Force was that to accept it, physical strength was useless. What was needed was powerful willpower; otherwise, one would inevitably be eroded into a People of Death.
A seventh-rank world eroded by Dead Silence Force, even if only a small part, nearly collapsed. This showed how dangerous this power was.
Near the shattered Infernal Well, Su Xiao ordered the Wolf Cavalry Legion to retreat and guard the Black Ring City.
Su Xiao sat cross-legged on a stone pillar within the magma lake, looking at the endless magma ahead. Bubu Wang beside him was eager to try. Seeing this scene, Bubu felt like "jumping in," but after looking at the bubbling magma below, it felt this would be "try it and die." It decisively chickened out. Dog life was more important.
After defeating King Doin and Agamemnon, Su Xiao felt regret about one thing: both of them had their souls burned to ashes, one by soul fire and the other by Solar Flame into a gaseous state. Neither could have their soul memories extracted. Especially King Doin, a Technique Grandmaster's soul memories were the most precious.
[Tip: Stay time has reached the limit. About to return to Reincarnation Paradise.]
[Announcement (Void Tree): In this world, 95% of Contractors have already left this world. Among the remaining 5%, there are no Contractors in the top 30 of the Battle Merit Rankings.]
[Announcement (Void Tree): As most Contractors are waiting at the Starry Sky Transit Station, calibrating...]
[Announcement (Void Tree): Calibration complete. As the top 10 of the Battle Merit Rankings have all left this world, and among the remaining Contractors, there are none in the top 30.]
[Announcement (Void Tree): Contractors still in this world at this stage will each receive 80 Battle Merits. No further Battle Merits can be obtained.]
[Announcement (Void Tree): The settlement of the Battle Merit Rankings is about to begin.]
...
Spatial fluctuations dissipated. Faint light shone from above. Su Xiao looked down at his feet. He was standing on an invisible barrier. Below was the vast starry river. This was the Starry Sky Transit Station. He had been here several times. Every time before a World War, he had to come here.
A somewhat unfriendly gaze came from nearby. Su Xiao followed the gaze and saw Mu Xiao.
"A few days ago, we agreed to meet at the Royal Capital."
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak. Baha beside him said, "Uh... this, hahaha, circumstances forced it."
"I waited at the agreed location for five days," Mu Xiao said, taking a slow breath before continuing, "I waited for you at the Royal Capital for five days, and in the end, I waited for a city wall. I... almost got crushed to death by that wall."
"Accident, pure accident."
Baha's smile was a bit awkward. Originally, it was supposed to go to the meeting on Su Xiao's behalf, but it forgot about this matter, too busy dealing with King Doin.
"You... forgot, didn't you."
"Hahaha, impossible!"
"Sigh~"
Mu Xiao sighed and turned her head. At that moment, a sword scabbard 20 centimeters wide flew over.
"Next time, I won't cooperate with you..." Mu Xiao's words were cut off as she raised her hand to catch the flying scabbard. She was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "Next time, if there's a chance, let's cooperate again."
With that, Mu Xiao walked away to meet a female Contractor from Holy Light Paradise.
Not far away, Gray Gentleman was also there. His top hat was pressed very low, and there was a faint smile on his face. This old Yinbi had clearly completed something.
[Battle Merit Rankings have been settled. Rankings are as follows:]
First Place: Bai Ye (Reincarnation Paradise), 4.96 million Battle Merits (Obtained Dragon Hunter Set · Holy Spirit Rank · 3/3.)
Second Place: Gray Gentleman (Reincarnation Paradise), 320,000 Battle Merits (Obtained Origin Stone · Silver Star.)
Third Place: Gulu (Reincarnation Paradise), 42,500 Battle Merits (Obtained Origin Stone · Meteor Fragment.)
Fourth Place: Flame Master (Sanctuary Paradise), 21,000 Battle Merits (Obtained Origin Stone · Common.)
Fifth Place: Mu Xiao (Holy Light Paradise), 14,392 Battle Merits (Obtained Origin Stone · Cracked.)
Sixth Place: Wild Sea (Watchful Paradise), 1,950 Battle Merits (Obtained 4 True Attribute Points.)
Seventh Place: Biting Cat (Holy Light Paradise): 999 Battle Merits (Obtained 4 True Attribute Points.)
...
Some were happy, some were worried. For example, Flame Master. After Moon Apostle was forcibly removed from the rankings, he originally thought his third place was secure. But Gulu rose unexpectedly.
In reality, Gulu barely exerted herself in the first half. Her idea was to kill all opponents who could threaten her, then she could rank high.
In fact, that's exactly what she did. Frenzied Beast Gask died on the spot. Mu Xiao was hunted until she doubted life. Flame Master was assassinated every few days, worrying so much he was almost losing hair.
Spatial fluctuations appeared. Three items appeared in Su Xiao's hands: an upper body armor, a sword-spear, and a necklace pendant.
[You have obtained Dragon Hunter Set · Holy Spirit Rank · 3/3.]
[You have obtained Dragon Hunter Battle Armor (Holy Spirit Rank Set · Upper Body Armor).]
[You have obtained Dragon Hunter Heavenly Fang (Holy Spirit Rank Set · Long Weapon).]
[You have obtained Dragon Hunter's Glory (Holy Spirit Rank Set · Necklace Pendant).]
[This set can be forged into 1/1. After forging, set effects remain unchanged. Individual equipment bonuses disappear.]
[Set Effect: Dragon Hunter (Active). After activating this ability, forcibly extract the Dragon Blood Force within this equipment. True Strength +5, True Agility +5, True Stamina +5, Max Health +46%, Health recovery speed greatly increased.]
[Tip: The three-attribute bonus and Max Health increase effect also apply to True Attributes above 200 points, with high priority.]
[Tip: This effect lasts 5 minutes. Cooldown is 10 natural days. Each activation consumes Soul Crystal (Complete) × 1.]
[Tip: After this bonus effect ends, if the wearer's Health is below 50%, a Health recovery effect will be obtained. This is a continuous recovery effect until the wearer's Health is above 50%.]
[Tip: If this recovery effect lasts for a long time, it will greatly consume the durability of the Dragon Hunter Set. When equipment durability reaches 0, the recovery effect will be forcibly interrupted.]
[Tip: As the Dragon Blood Force within this equipment has life characteristics, each activation of the set effect will provide a certain degree of permanent enhancement to the user's body.]
[The end of battle is not at the point of death, but at the moment of giving up in the heart — Dragon Hunter · Zimel.]