To live, or to die, that is the question.
This is a... question that stretches before all humanity, one that requires a lifetime to explore.
But at this moment, Meng Xiao does not think this is a question... He is a Transcendent who has completed the spiritual testing of the tenth level of the deep water area, advanced to the fourth rank, and mastered the domain.
As for Gu Shen, he is only a newcomer to the third rank.
The immense gap between the two means that he doesn’t need to contemplate the outcome of this battle; victory or defeat, life or death, these are things only the weak need to consider.
"The place you want to escape to doesn’t seem to be here, does it?"
Although the bottom of the Nether River is quite dark, under the illumination of the Blazing Light, some scenes can still be seen... This great river has not been trodden by living beings for countless ages, and under the glow of the Dark Light, the large stones at the riverbed reveal a desolate and withered shattered appearance.
For ordinary people, such a scene holds no memorable points.
But for the Transcendent.
Every section of the Nether River’s bottom is different.
In the preceding pursuit, Gu Shen seemed to have a very "definite" destination, yet upon arriving here, surrounded by total darkness and silence, it was evident that this East Continent person feared he would find something within the Nether River, so he chose to change his course.
Gu Shen certainly would not answer Meng Xiao’s question.
He grinned slightly and took out the Truth Ruler. Under the enveloping Blazing Fire Spirit, a sliver of dark silver light seeped from the ruler, gathering in his palm and transforming into something long and curved.
It was a longbow wrapped in silver Dragon Scales.
This bow exudes a Silent Annihilation aura similar to the Black River’s waters, deeply unsettling.
The Truth Ruler can construct any form at will.
All this is built on the user’s spiritual power.
Theoretically speaking... as long as the spiritual power is strong enough, the Truth Ruler can unleash the maximum lethality that any weapon can produce within the limits of the rules!
Such a bow, woven together, consumes a considerable amount of spiritual power.
Yet the reality is different.
Gu Shen merely imagined a "bow shape" in his mind and let the Truth Ruler transform it on its own, then began to plan his next attack. He didn’t have much energy to delineate the details of this bow; the scales and the intense murderous intent radiating from its surface were all the work of that bored Devil within the ruler.
After the transaction was made, this guy decided not to intervene anymore, and now that the show was about to begin, he very thoughtfully crafted the lifelike Dragon Scales for Gu Shen.
After the light gathered, Gu Shen raised an eyebrow.
The Devil explained indifferently, "This bow is named ’Extinguishing Candle.’ It was once a beloved item of a remarkable individual. By your current rating standards, it’s undoubtedly an ’S-level’ sealed artifact. Of course, what you hold now is a counterfeit. If it can exert even a tenth of its power, that would already be quite impressive."
Just a counterfeit is enough for anyone to feel its weight!
Gu Shen incredulously pinched the weight of the Dragon Scale Bow and muttered, "...I didn’t agree to any other deals."
Pausing, Gu Shen cautiously asked, "There won’t be another ’charge,’ will there?"
"Free." The Devil said amusedly, "With the great enemy at hand, do you still need to be so wary of me?"
Gu Shen remained vigilant, "Why are you being so kind to offer such a special service?"
"Don’t misunderstand, I simply despise the ’Light’s aura.’" The Devil said gloomily, "The experience of fleeing for my life on the mountain just moments ago was not pleasant, was it? Since the Light God’s Seat didn’t descend successfully... we cannot let this Blessed Son trample over me, can we?"
The words were crude.
But the reasoning was sound.
Gu Shen chuckled softly, "Very well... you’ve finally caught on."
"Take it, even Devils can be generous once in a while."
The Black Shadow on the Throne gracefully waved his hand, exuding an unusual grandeur. He again lifted the blood-colored goblet, composed and unruffled, "Moreover, free things are always the most costly... aren’t they?"
Gu Shen was momentarily stunned.
The breaking sound of the Nether River’s waters infiltrated the Spirit Sea.
The Blazing Fire spread in all directions, immediately sensing something unusual.
A beam of light shot forth, piercing through the waters of the Nether River, and aimed directly at Gu Shen’s position—
On the Black Snow Mountain, during their first encounter, Meng Xiao had already employed this move.
The Light Blessing in his chest could be amplified and concentrated through the Magic Robe, transforming into purest energy, blasting forth!
This was a heavy and powerful strike.
Normally, it should be evaded.
But in this moment, as if under an enchantment, Gu Shen raised the Dragon Scale Bow.
The counterfeit [Extinguishing Candle], formed from spiritual power, its string was also forged from the silver light of the Truth Ruler. In an instant, Gu Shen pulled it to its fullest, the silver Dragon Scales instantly becoming searingly hot, radiating a pure golden hue as if from a burning fire!
Gu Shen released his fingers, and with no arrow nocked, [Extinguishing Candle] merely shot out a wave of invisible sound.
The black water shattered.
A strand of anomalous light erupted from Gu Shen’s fingertips as he released the bowstring!
This silent and invisible [Extinguishing Candle] sound wave surged straight into the radiant torrent, colliding with the surge of Light Blessing!