Chapter 877: Chapter 75: Gunfire in the Black Snow (Part 2)
Yet the Phoenix Fire within the Phoenix Ring can burn everything.
Two “contradictory” objects of order collided.
This time, Zhong Yuan’s Phoenix Ring was of a higher grade.
“Perhaps it’s due to the ‘River Poison’, or maybe it’s the ‘calamity’ hidden within the snowflakes of this snowy mountain…” Yuan Yuan’s voice was somewhat hoarse, he spoke bitterly, “We’ve been traveling for so long, my spirit is indeed quite weary. Thankfully, we have your Phoenix Fire, otherwise, I wouldn’t know how to endure the road ahead.”
Gu Shen squatted by the campfire, feeling the long-awaited “warmth”, staring at the brilliant dancing Phoenix Fire burning within the stone pile, his gaze drifting a bit… If it weren’t for Yuan Yuan’s voice indirectly reminding him.
Then he would have almost “merged into one” with this black snowy mountain.
It’s truly strange; the endless black snow didn’t cause Gu Shen any true pain or discomfort.
This Duolu River makes many feel “Silent Annihilation”, “suppressed”.
But in Gu Shen’s view.
This Black River is merely “calm”.
He seemed not to dislike it here…
Could it be because of the “Netherworld Fire”?
Though he hasn’t yet fused with the Netherworld King’s Spark, after the battle in the graveyard, they selected each other… So, has the fire spark from the graveyard begun to infuse him with the Netherworld King’s traits?
There seems to be no other reason.
Gu Shen extended his palm, catching a handful of black snowflakes, watching these black snowflakes melt under the warmth of the campfire, finally turning into black water droplets… A thin puddle lay in his palm, and even though there were tiny gaps at his fingertips, it didn’t fall.
He saw his delicate face reflected in the black water.
Familiar yet strange.
A breeze gently passed, and the young face reflected in the black water seemed to distort slightly, revealing a small arc of a smile… But this smile made Gu Shen’s heart sink.
Once these black snowflakes melt… do they become like the waters of the Duolu River?
The intelligence reports claim this is a toxic substance. Contacting it, if one’s strength is insufficient, could lead to river poison, bad omens, and many calamities!
But he has made contact with them without issue.
While on this journey, being in company with Zhong Yuan and warning from the intelligence, Gu Shen never truly touched the waters of the Duolu River, filled with Silent Annihilation aura… But now it seems this was a neglect.
“Zhong Yuan… brother?”
Gu Shen spoke, his voice paused after a moment, raising his head as the cold black snow wind whipped past, the world was silent.
Not a single figure… Surrounding the campfire were eight figures, empty, gone without a trace.
Only the flame surrounded by stones continued to burn tirelessly, which seemed to be the sole proof of Zhong Yuan’s existence, the Phoenix Fire burning the black snow, black smoke rising straight up, then scattered by the strong wind.
Gu Shen’s expression instantly became gloomy.
Have I entered a dream?
Was it the moment I lowered my gaze to look at the water?
Or… earlier than that?
Countless possibilities spread in his mind, Gu Shen clenched his palm, under Chi Huo’s covering, erupted a heat as intense as the Phoenix Fire, in an instant, these black beads were crushed and burned to dry.
The extinguishment of Chi Huo differed from Phoenix Fire’s burn—
Chi Huo’s burn was a true “annihilation”, without smoke, without heat, even without the slightest sound, the puddle of melted Black Mountain snow water was burnt to void!
He touched the “Goddess of Destiny’s sanctuary”.
The pendant’s spiritual fluctuations remained calm.
It seems that after “entering the dream”, danger wasn’t immediately imminent… Gu Shen squinted, stood still, sensing the Spiritual Link established by Chi Huo.
Logically, his Spiritual Link hasn’t broken.
He should be able to sense everyone’s spiritual aura, locate them immediately.
But now, even Zhong Yuan and Yuan Yuan vanished from the link, not to mention those with slightly weaker spiritual power.
What a terrifying strike could do this?
When did my “Spiritual Link” break?
Gu Shen was expressionless.
He walked alone towards the mountain… Amidst the whirling snow, he summoned a strand of “Chi Huo”, hovering before him, forming a lantern, not spreading wide, covering merely a three-meter radius to ensure visibility and enlightenment in the area.
Gu Shen prepared all the seals he possessed.
Quietly sensing the pendant’s spiritual fluctuations, he moved forward unhurriedly, always vigilant for a “strike” from the distant darkness… Even took out the Truth Ruler’s Black Silver box, holding it in his hand, prepared for unforeseen circumstances.
The snowy mountain road was exceptionally smooth.
So smooth… it felt eerie.
All the way to the mountain summit, Gu Shen encountered no danger… He felt puzzled, the “Mirror Dream” he saw in Zhong Yuan’s Spirit Sea wasn’t a fake.
The “illusion” which couldn’t discern reality from fantasy, even after leaving the dream, troubled him for a brief period.
Chi Huo has not offered a warning of danger…
The pendant hasn’t signaled an alert of peril…
He has successfully reached the summit, and next would only walk down the mountain to reach the segment of the Black River intercepted by the snowy mountain?
Gu Shen stood atop the snowy mountain, silent for a long while.
He raised his head, attempting to see the scene previously witnessed in the dream… The vast dark sky, transforming into a mirror, then engulfing him.
The howling black snow accompanied Gu Shen through these brief but very desolate minutes.
“I have no choice… I can only descend.”
Gu Shen took a deep breath, the harder it was to see clearly the situation, the less he dared to relax.
He stepped down the snowy mountain—
The pendant’s spiritual fluctuation changed.
Gu Shen’s pupils slightly contracted, expression composed, he continued forward with his lantern, the surrounding remained annihilated, black snow scattered, seeming peaceful yet he knew… “calamity” was approaching.
If the pendant had remained tranquil, Gu Shen would suspect himself to be caught in an unperceivable nightmarish dream!
On the Black Mountain, the sound of boots stepping on hard stones pierced through wind and snow, dull and resounding.
Gu Shen stood silently.
He looked at the familiar figures climbing the wild rugged path.
One two three four five six seven eight…
Zhong Yuan, Yuan Yuan, and six team members.
The sound of footsteps abruptly stopped, all of Zhong Yuan’s team looked up, shocked and astounded at the “vague figure” not far from them atop the snowy mountain.
The lantern Gu Shen held aloft illuminated the black snow and thick mist between them.
Both sides simply stared at each other.
After a brief silence—
A steady, resolute voice calmly sounded from below the snowy mountain.
The golden-haired man glanced back, all the other team members also turned to the source of the voice.
Gu Shen expressionlessly counted to the final number, now standing on the summit, overlooking the team that traveled with him.
Surrounding him, there were nine people altogether.
At that moment facing him, there stood nine people.
Beyond the black snow, there was someone identical in appearance, even aura, to “Gu Shen”.
The destiny-guiding cross-shaped pendant… began trembling fiercely!
The trained team members of the reboot squad displayed immense decisiveness, responding immediately upon encounter!
Amidst the wind and snow, a gunshot broke through the sky.
(PS:1, Took a few days to rest, adjusted my condition. Will gradually increase updates starting tomorrow, not just 4K words. 2, My personal plan is to explode in November, so October will focus on steadily advancing the plot. Those finding the serialization slow may save up and binge in November.)