Chapter 40: The Key and the Mask
Yueshitu and Molei stood like statues, motionless a hundred meters away.
A spatial fluctuation appeared. Yueshitu crushed a scroll in her hand while reaching for Molei with the other. Abandoning her teammate was something she couldn't bring herself to do.
Clang!
A slashing arc cut diagonally through the air, severing large sections of rubble and collapsed walls. Without the energy granted by the Void Tree, the buildings in the ancient capital were no longer sturdy, having grown brittle from the erosion of time.
Baha soared into the sky, circled once to survey the area, then returned. He found no trace of the two enemies.
Whether Molei had escaped or not, Su Xiao didn't care much. He had no personal grudge against her; their few clashes were due to opposing stances. But if he could kill Yueshitu, he wouldn't hesitate for a moment. An enemy who was an army unto herself—if she could be eliminated, she must not be left alive.
"They slipped away. Damn it. If we hadn't sealed the space a few days ago when dealing with the Spider Woman, Yueshitu definitely wouldn't have escaped."
Baha's Demon Hawk Domain was still on cooldown. After multiple potential activations, the ability's power had increased significantly, but the cooldown time had also grown longer. This was one of the characteristics of sealing-type abilities.
Su Xiao led Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha as they walked out of the ancient capital. He glanced back at the Sun Ladder deep within the city, a cylindrical structure that seemed to pierce the sky.
Shenfu picked up a branch, scribbled something on the ground, then followed Su Xiao out of the ancient capital.
Su Xiao first arrived at the nearby "White Birch City" and boarded a train back to "Baida City." The headquarters of the Magic Association was located in Baida City, and he was going there to meet President Rogesh.
An hour later, Su Xiao watched the scenery whiz by outside the train window. Shenfu sat across from him, with Amu beside him.
Judging by Amu's demeanor, if Shenfu made any suspicious move, he would immediately pull out his Dragonheart Axe and bring it down on Shenfu's skull.
"Shenfu, no need to hide it. We've killed plenty of Ancient Gods. In most cases, believing in them leads to no good end."
Baha's gaze was hostile. Hearing this, Shenfu nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, Ancient Gods suck the world dry. I'm not foolish enough to worship them. But... power has no distinction between good and evil."
Shenfu didn't directly answer whether he had a relationship with the Ancient Gods, but it was certain he wasn't worshipping them. Simply worshipping an Ancient God wouldn't grant that much power.
"Divine power is something people crave. All I'm doing is harnessing that power. Every time an Ancient God falls, a new one is born. Seizing their power as they fall—that might be feasible."
"Funny you mention that. I've met an Archbishop before, and his ideas were similar to yours."
Baha tried to sense Shenfu's aura. It was strange—it carried a faint trace of Ancient God energy but lacked the eerie, unsettling feeling typical of them.
"The Archbishop of the Doom Town, Jobya Sayukao? I've met him. His method was wrong. The Ancient God power he tried to seize was far beyond what he imagined. That was... a god that almost never falls."
Shenfu sounded somewhat wistful. It seemed his relationship with the Archbishop went beyond mere acquaintance; there might have been some camaraderie.
"You old bastard..."
Baha fell silent. He realized that Shenfu was different from those blind followers who pursued Ancient God power. Shenfu had been investigating this for a long time, possibly even having contacted high-ranking Ancient Gods.
"Bai Ye, if you kill Archbishop Jobya, that nearly immortal Ancient God will become your enemy. Archbishop Jobya has long been lost. He's just a pitiful seed."
"..."
Su Xiao was hostile to many Ancient Gods—the Unknown God, the Underworld God, among others.
Shenfu had a "key." If he made a move now, the chances of taking it were very low. This wasn't about whether he could kill Shenfu; seizing an item was several times harder than killing an enemy.
Someone like Shenfu, even if defeated and fitted with the [Endless Darkness] collar, would endure it without changing expression.
Moreover, trying to take the "key" now was the least wise move. Likewise, Shenfu wouldn't try to take the key from him. This was information Su Xiao had learned through his promotion assessment mission.
[Promotion Mission: Sun Gate (First Ring).]
Difficulty Level: Lv.71
Mission Brief: Successfully open the "Sun Gate."
Mission Info: To open the Sun Gate, you must obtain the Blazing Sun Disc, Judgment Scepter, Penitent Thorn Whip, Ouroboros Stone Tablet, and Heart Flame—a total of five "keys."
Tip: Hunters should not attempt to hold more than one "key" alone. During the process of opening the Sun Gate, key holders will bear a tremendous burden, and each key has different characteristics.
Ouroboros Stone Tablet Characteristics: Darkness, Infinity.
Hunter's Compatibility with Ouroboros Stone Tablet: 12% (Extremely Low). Usage risk is extremely high. Due to the hunter possessing high-level body energy, this key can be forcibly used.
Warning: If the hunter uses two "keys" simultaneously, there is a very high probability of death.
Tip: Each key requires its user to have extremely high comprehensive strength and compatible characteristics.
Mission Time Limit: 7 natural days.
Mission Reward: Sun Potion × 3.
Mission Penalty: All attributes -10%, immediate forced return.
...
Unlike mainline missions, promotion missions don't have forced execution penalties. However, if the promotion mission fails, Su Xiao's strength would drop significantly, and the next promotion mission would be harder.
There were five keys in total. Not everyone could hold them. When opening the Sun Gate, if any of the five key holders lacked sufficient strength to endure the process, not only would that person die, but the other four would also suffer permanent damage.
Su Xiao had Cyan Steel Shadow Energy in his body. Although his compatibility with the Snake Tablet was very low, he could tough it out.
Shenfu was also one of the key holders. That guy should be fine. President Rogesh also had a key. Though they hadn't met, Su Xiao felt that Rogesh, as the president of the Magic Association, should be able to withstand the opening process.
The last two keys and the two people to hold them were still undecided.
"Shenfu, lend me your key."
"..."
Shenfu smiled, then after a moment, took out the "Penitent Thorn Whip" and placed it on the small table.
Su Xiao picked up the "Penitent Thorn Whip." His compatibility with this key was extremely low—no, he couldn't use it at all. His compatibility with the "Penitent Thorn Whip" was -15%.
"Compatibility 50%."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Shenfu maintained his smile, trying to appear polite. He had learned a piece of information: Su Xiao's Charm attribute was low. The "Penitent Thorn Whip" was special, corresponding to the Charm attribute, slightly different from the other four keys.
Could Shenfu not probe Su Xiao's information? Indeed, he couldn't. Not only Shenfu, but Su Xiao also wouldn't do so. Once they started probing each other's information, it would mean a fight to the death. It was still too early for that.
Su Xiao tossed the "Penitent Thorn Whip" and the "Ouroboros Stone Tablet" to Amu. He immediately received a prompt: Amu couldn't withstand the keys. It wasn't because Amu's body wasn't strong enough, but because of his status as a follower.
Returning the "Penitent Thorn Whip" to Shenfu, Su Xiao thought of someone who could withstand the keys. The problem was, that person would most likely not join the Sun Gate team.
"Shenfu, what's your ultimate goal?"
Su Xiao looked out the window at the scenery. Vast fields of green wheat came into view. He was just testing the waters casually, never expecting Shenfu to answer.
Shenfu pulled an ancient book with a metal cover from his bosom, opened it, and pointed a finger at an illustration on one page. He said:
"I want to obtain... the Dark Mask."
PS: (Still four chapters today. The next two will come soon.)