Chapter 47: Death and Sunlight
A warm current surged within Su Xiao, and he could feel his vitality growing stronger. His mind, which had been clouded by the intense heat moments ago, now cleared significantly.
"Woof."
Bubu Wang recovered and looked around. His memories of what just happened were hazy. He only remembered walking and then falling asleep, followed by a terrifying scene.
In his dazed state, Bubu felt as if he were inside a giant steamer. When he opened his eyes, he saw his body covered in scallions, ginger, and garlic, scaring him so much that he nearly squeezed out a few drops of urine.
"Phew~, the temperature is finally normal."
Shenfu walked in through the arched doorway, followed by Guild Leader Rogesh, Death Shadow Ovia, and the others.
"Since everyone's fine, let's open the door."
As Ovia spoke, she took out the 'Blazing Sun Disc.' Seeing this, Shenfu produced the 'Penitent Thorn Whip.'
Guild Leader Rogesh raised his hand. Iron-sand-like energy appeared, and within it, a scepter materialized—the 'Judgment Scepter.'
Xiusiluo pulled the 'Heart Flame' from his bosom and tossed it in his hand.
All four of them turned their gazes to Su Xiao. The 'Ouroboros Slate' appeared in his hand.
"Is this our first collaboration? Shouldn't we leave something behind?"
Shenfu spoke with a smile. He wasn't afraid to enter the Sun Gate, but he wasn't blindly confident that he would survive inside.
"Woof."
Bubu Wang pulled out a camera. Shenfu nodded.
"What is that?"
Guild Leader Rogesh was wary of anything he hadn't seen before.
"A hyper-era recording device."
Baha told Amu to step back. Bubu Wang, using the current angle, snapped a picture with a click.
In the photo, Su Xiao was bare-chested, holding the 'Ouroboros Slate.' Beside him, Shenfu was draped in a black clerical robe. Guild Leader Rogesh tilted his head slightly, frowning as if displeased.
Ovia smiled, one hand resting on the head of the red-eyed girl. Her black smoke skirt billowed. The red-eyed girl had one cheek puffed out, holding a piece of ice in her hand. As for Xiusiluo, he wore a tattered pair of shorts, grinning while flipping the middle finger.
Before the Sun Gate, Su Xiao embedded the 'Ouroboros Slate' into the door. The other four also inserted or latched their respective keys into the door.
Hmm~
A wave of energy spread out. From the five keys, five distinct types of energy surged, converging toward the circular ring at the center of the Sun Gate.
A repulsive force came from Su Xiao's hand, nearly pushing him back. He pressed one hand against the Sun Gate and pushed forward with all his might. Cyan Steel Shadow Energy surged through his body.
Rumble...
The Sun Gate slowly opened. Veins bulged on Shenfu's neck, and from his right arm pressing against the gate, black tentacles as thick as pinky fingers emerged.
Bang.
Beside him, Xiusiluo's shoulder burst open. Blood and bone fragments flew through the air before turning to ash. He said:
"I'm... about to give out."
"..."
"You can do it, Xiusiluo."
Shenfu's expression twisted slightly. The strain on him was also immense.
"I'm fucking... clearly... done for."
"If you can't... then die."
"Then... I sure as hell can!"
Xiusiluo pushed against the door with both hands. He could feel that if he died now, his 'Immortal Body' would be useless. The power causing his death was of the same origin as his immortality, and was even higher in rank.
The Sun Gate gradually opened. Blinding sunlight streamed in through the crack. With a whoosh, flames erupted on Shenfu and Ovia. They both leaned toward dark attributes, and the blazing sun was purifying them.
Sparks clung to Su Xiao's skin. He felt as if his body were about to melt. But as a melee fighter, if he couldn't withstand this, he would have died in battle long ago.
Boom~
The Sun Gate opened. Xiusiluo and Ovia collapsed to the ground with a thud. Guild Leader Rogesh was barely able to stay standing, supported by soul energy. Beside him, Shenfu was nearly burned to charcoal.
Su Xiao's breathing was a bit rapid. The advantage of being a melee fighter showed itself now. If he struck at this moment, he could kill at least two of them.
The process of opening the Sun Gate was more dangerous than imagined. It felt as if his entire body were about to be melted by the blazing sun.
After a moment, the sun ahead was no longer blinding. A scene came into Su Xiao's view.
Inside the Sun Gate, a few gray-white withered trees were sparsely scattered across the land, white smoke rising from them. The ground was covered in a layer of shriveled material, making the colors of the entire world seem dimmer.
A few blades of grass poked out from the ground, barely alive. Dozens of clumps of yellowish-brown molten material, like candles, were scattered within a hundred meters in front of the Sun Gate.
Inside these yellowish-brown molten clumps, some were wrapped around weapons, others around armor, gem pendants, and so on.
Xiusiluo reached his hand into the Sun Gate. After feeling around for a moment, he smiled.
"Looks like there's nothing wrong."
Xiusiluo stepped into the Sun Gate. Baha was a bit speechless. Xiusiluo's mind was getting worse and worse. In recent days, he had become increasingly reckless. For example, three days ago in Smoke City, although Xiusiluo wasn't smart, he hadn't been this reckless.
Now, he was reckless to the point of being brainless. Anyone with a shred of reason wouldn't enter the Sun Gate like this.
"Yeah, nothing wrong indeed."
Xiusiluo kicked a pile of molten material beside his foot. It had dried out and become very brittle. He picked up a sword, examined it for a moment, and then looked stunned.
"Isn't this the 'Ipoft Sword'? I thought this pile of stuff was excrement. The 'Ipoft Sword' was stuck in shit?"
Xiusiluo searched around for a while and found quite a few more good items, all weapons or artifacts that had once been famous in the Eastern or Western Continents.
"You..."
Ovia's eyes showed disbelief. She hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn't reach her hand into the Sun Gate.
"Bass."
Guild Leader Rogesh spoke. The masked man behind him, Bass, lowered his head.
"As you command."
The masked man, Bass, stepped forward and entered the Sun Gate. He had only taken two steps when he stopped. He hunched over, his body trembling.
Hiss~
White smoke rose from the masked man, Bass. His hands began to melt like candles. The skin melted first, dripping down like wax, turning into yellowish-brown molten material upon hitting the ground, identical to the dozens of piles nearby.
Bass clearly wanted to retreat, but he couldn't move an inch. A strand of black hair coiled around his neck and pulled him back.
Hiss~
A burnt smell spread from the masked man, Bass. His clothes turned to ash, and his skin became uneven, as if eroded by the sun's power.
"Guild Leader, save me."
The masked man, Bass, tremblingly raised his hand. A strand of black hair wrapped around his arm and threw him back into the Sun Gate.
Hiss~
"Rog...esh!"
The masked man, Bass, crawled toward the Sun Gate. Guild Leader Rogesh just watched him calmly. He hadn't been trying to save Bass; he was just sensing the changes in him up close.
A few seconds later, the masked man, Bass, turned into a pile of yellowish-brown molten material, white smoke still rising from it. A ghost-faced mask was half-buried in the molten clump.
"Seven seconds."
Guild Leader Rogesh shifted his gaze to Ovia and the red-eyed girl. Death Shadow Ovia raised her arm, shielding the red-eyed girl.
"You brought her here to get rid of her, didn't you?"
"Of course not."
Ovia's heart stirred. She knew that the masked man, Bass, had followed Rogesh for many years. But today, Rogesh had used him as a test subject to determine how long a powerhouse one tier below him could survive in the Holy Land without drinking the Sun Potion. The answer was seven seconds.
"Thank you for your hard work, Bass. You followed me for so long to take revenge on me."
Guild Leader Rogesh spoke in a low voice. After saying this, he glanced at Xiusiluo inside the Sun Gate. As he had imagined, Xiusiluo and his sister could both enter the Blazing Sun Holy Land without drinking the Sun Potion.
"Seven seconds, huh. More dangerous than I thought. Ovia, shouldn't you fulfill your promise now?"
Shenfu tore a tentacle from his arm and tossed it into the Sun Gate to test it.
"One bottle each, as promised."
Ovia took out four bottles of Sun Potion. The seal on the bottles was exquisite. Inside the pale golden liquid, specks of light seemed to float.
[Tip: The Hunter has completed the first ring of the promotion quest. The second ring will be activated upon entering the Sun Gate.]
[You have obtained Sun Potion × 3.]