My Professions Have Too Much Personality

He also didn’t believe the Bronze Ancient King would actually send him to his death.

"You just need to tell me what to do. Should I go straight in, or..." He seemed proactive and eager.

"Haha..." The Bronze Ancient King let out a rare laugh. "I wasn’t referring to you in your current state. Even the Fog Ashes at the outermost edge are of a medium level. One must be at least Tier Six to enter. Anyone below that Tier isn’t even qualified to approach, or they will be assimilated."

"Medium? Aren’t the Fog Ashes a single entity?" Su Chen asked, somewhat surprised.

The Bronze Ancient King then explained, "It was originally a single entity. But with two Morning Star Tier molten fires, combined with my own efforts, I barely managed to separate them, creating the situation you see now. This is the only reason the Flame Fire has a sliver of a chance at survival."

"Otherwise, the Flame Fire would have already fallen into the Nether Realm."

’So that’s how it is. Forcibly separating them to weaken their Power... The Ancient King is quite resourceful.’ Su Chen was lost in thought.

’The basic Power of medium-level Fog Ashes can corrode Professionals below Tier Six. So why call me here?’ Su Chen was doubtful. ’Was it just to tell me this?’

As if sensing his doubt, the Bronze Ancient King explained, "I called you here for two reasons. One was to inform you of this matter and ask your opinion, so you’d have a clear picture."

"The other reason was to see if you might have a chance of succeeding."

As he spoke, the Bronze Ancient King extended his hand, and a piece of Fog Ashes the size of a fingernail materialized in his palm.

Looking at the Fog Ashes, Su Chen’s expression shifted slightly. ’It’s about the same size as the one I got before.’

"This is the lowest-level piece of Fog Ashes I’ve managed to separate," the Bronze Ancient King said, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Although I can destroy it directly, purifying it is immensely difficult. I’ve had many others try..."

’Tried?’ Su Chen latched onto something else. ’The Bronze Ancient King can also pull people out of the Fog Ashes?’

’Right. He’s a Moonlight Tier, after all. The Great Venerable can do it, so there’s no reason the Ancient King can’t.’

"You were able to withstand the corrosion of the Deceitful God’s Power before, and you defeated Qin Tianlin as a Tier Five. Perhaps you truly have a chance of purifying these Fog Ashes."

At this, the Ancient King sighed again. "If you fail, then there will be no need for you to risk it later."

’Fail?’ A glint flashed in Su Chen’s eyes. ’Isn’t this just a free meal for the Great Venerable?’

’I might not be sure about that massive blob over there, but this little fingernail-sized piece? I’m extremely confident!’

His expression turned grave as he replied solemnly, "Please rest assured, Master. I will do my utmost."

Seeing Su Chen agree so readily, both the Bronze Ancient King and Qing Cang were quite pleased.

Qing Cang then offered a warning. "These Fog Ashes are no ordinary thing. They contain all sorts of visions. They might trap you in an Illusion Realm, forcing you to watch your loved ones being tortured."

"They might even fabricate an entire life for you to experience, full of extreme bliss that makes you never want to leave. Or, you might have to face a Deceitful God of an equal Tier, only to be crushed and fall into despair..."

Qing Cang spoke in great detail, suggesting he had experienced this more than once. Even now, just mentioning it, a faint look of trepidation crossed his face.

’I’ve experienced it many times, too...’ Su Chen feigned a calm expression as he listened, but inwardly, he was already growing impatient.

’I wonder what excuse I can come up with after I purify this to get the Ancient King to give me the Fog Source. Since I’ll have done the work, it shouldn’t be too much to ask...’

’This little bit of Fog Source is probably useless to the Ancient King, anyway.’

The Bronze Ancient King offered some reassurance. "I have been entangled with these Fog Ashes for a hundred years, so I understand them quite well. The moment I sense you are on the verge of corruption, I will pull you out immediately. You don’t need to worry."

"With you here, Master, I’m not worried at all. I just hope I can be of service to the Sect."

An opportunity was right in front of him, and Su Chen naturally seized this perfect chance to lay on the flattery.

Seeing this, the Bronze Ancient King couldn’t help but feel a stir of emotion. Su Chen had experienced the power of the Deceitful Gods on the Desolate Planet, yet these Fog Ashes were even more formidable than the Deceitful God’s Power.

Although the Ancient King had assured him of his safety, Su Chen had never witnessed the Fog Ashes firsthand. The fact that he could still agree so decisively, without a moment’s hesitation, was a clear testament to his sincere heart.

’This is enough...’ A thought drifted through his mind.

"Just do your best. Don’t overthink it." With a wave of his hand, the Fog Ashes drifted toward Su Chen.

Su Chen casually reached out and caught it, then hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Master, based on what Senior Brother Qing Cang just said, there are a few scenarios I might struggle with. However, if it comes to facing a Deceitful God of the same Tier in battle, I might have a fighting chance."

"Battle a Deceitful God of the same Tier?" Hearing this, Qing Cang seemed to recall some unpleasant memories. The corrosion from this weak-level Fog Ashes had an upper limit; it could hardly affect those at Tier Nine or the Morning Star Tier, nor could it simulate a Deceitful God of that same Tier.

But he, Chu Lingyuan, Qin Yun, and some of the other most brilliant prodigies in the Sect had all entered the outskirts of the Flame Fire and attempted to face a Deceitful God of an equal Tier.

’We were... almost completely powerless to resist.’

’That was the accumulation of countless eons. Even if Su Chen defeated Qin Tianlin from a lower Tier...’

Seeing Su Chen already contemplating how to overcome the challenge, the Bronze Ancient King chuckled to himself. ’Ah, youth...’

He valued Su Chen’s mentality more than his strength. As for battling a foe of an equal Tier, those Deceitful Gods had existed for far, far too long.

But he didn’t want to dampen Su Chen’s enthusiasm. He nodded and said, "I understand. The moment I detect any fluctuation in your Spirit Core, I will pull you out."

"If you fail in the battle against an equal-Tier foe, we will try other methods."

Only then did Su Chen feel completely at ease. He clenched his fist around the Fog Ashes.

The Bronze Ancient King pointed a finger, and wisps of ripples spread out. As if stimulated, the Fog Ashes began to expand rapidly, just as they had before, completely enveloping Su Chen.

"What a coincidence. He ran into Black Tuo on his very first try."

After a moment, the Bronze Ancient King was somewhat surprised. He hadn’t detected any fluctuations in Su Chen’s Spirit Core.

Standing to one side, Qing Cang watched as Su Chen was enveloped by the black substance, a hint of worry in his eyes. "Master, do you think Su Chen can do it?"

He recalled the torment he had once suffered, and his heart still pounded with lingering fear. There had been several times when, if his Master hadn’t intervened in the nick of time, he feared he would have been corrupted.

"I don’t know..." The Bronze Ancient King shook his head, equally uncertain. His gaze shifted to the flickering Flame Fire in the distance. "There are no other options. If this fails, my only choice is to quickly select a successor and merge myself with the fire. The Flame Fire won’t last until the end of my natural lifespan."

"This..." Qing Cang’s expression changed. ’Choose a successor as soon as possible?’

’Right now... the only suitable person in the Sect... seems to be Qin Yun.’

"You are the pillar of the Sect! Even if you must merge with the fire, you cannot be the one to perish," Qing Cang said hurriedly.

The Bronze Ancient King let out a long sigh. "Or... we could let the Royal Court merge with the fire, borrow their Sun Flame Pillar, and forcibly melt the Fog Ashes."

"Let the Royal Court merge with the fire?" Qing Cang couldn’t help asking. "Would that mean we become vassals of the Royal Court?"

The Bronze Ancient King remained silent.

"What if we also merge with other fires? There are many scattered Flame Fires in the Dust Star Sea..." Qing Cang asked cautiously.

"Foolish child..." The Bronze Ancient King sighed. "That would mean cutting ourselves off from the rest of the Dust Star Sea. Everyone would rise up and attack us."

"Not even the Royal Court would dare to brazenly plunder the factions that possess smaller Flame Fires."

Qing Cang knew he had misspoken and quickly said, "I was being thoughtless."

The Bronze Ancient King didn’t blame him. He had already considered every possible solution. This was, after all, an intricate trap designed by Black Tuo. It wouldn’t be so simple to resolve...

"Hm?"

Suddenly, the Bronze Ancient King looked over in astonishment. The distant Flame Fire, still wrapped in the black substance, had suddenly flared to life. It shot up dramatically, and crimson-white magma burst from its cracks as if it were trying to break free from its bonds.

’This is...’ An incredibly intense light bloomed in the Bronze Ancient King’s pupils. He whipped his head around, a look of shocked disbelief on his face.

"This..."

The black substance covering Su Chen’s body receded like a tide. The Fog Ashes in his hand trembled faintly as the swirling black mist around it gradually dissipated.

"Master... could it be..." Qing Cang’s expression shifted, his heart pounding. He couldn’t help but look at the Ancient King’s phantom, as if seeking confirmation.

He saw the edges of his master’s phantom blur, as if on the verge of dissipating. The Ancient King’s gaze was fixed on the now translucent, crystalline Fog Ashes as he murmured, "It’s... actually been purified."