Chapter 520 - 290: Vajra Venerable
"Thanks." Su Chen waved.
Xiao Hei, who had been waiting by the side for a long time, rushed forward.
Qin Guang was currently in a weakened state, suppressed by the Centipede Dragon. He was completely unable to resist, only able to watch helplessly as the Black Ape tore at his body. A wisp of Flowing Light sank into Xiao Hei’s body.
"I’m still useful! I can help you! I can help you!"
Qin Guang’s pleas turned into furious curses.
Su Chen watched without expression as Xiao Hei devoured Qin Guang completely.
Halfway through the process, Xiao Hei’s body began to tremble violently. The thick black fur covering its body started to fall off in patches, revealing new, grayish-blue skin underneath.
Forcing itself to finish devouring him, Xiao Hei’s body swelled continuously, growing two or three times larger. Two new arms even sprouted from its ribs, and its aura climbed steadily.
After consuming Netherworld Stones for so long, Qin Guang’s Spirit Body had finally triggered another evolution. It was now a Tier Seven Netherworld Creature, standing five or six meters tall, its grayish-blue skin looking robust and powerful.
"Great master." Xiao Hei prostrated itself before Su Chen, its reverence and piety immense. Su Chen could faintly sense that the level of its faith had risen once again.
"Mm." Su Chen patted its large, lowered head, gave a nod to the Centipede Dragon, and then returned to the Nether Tower to sort through the information he had just obtained.
’That plundering profession... that purple flame is incredible...’
’However,’ Su Chen thought, ’based on what Qin Guang said, you need at least fifteen people—maybe even more—with the same profession to even attempt to plunder someone.’
’Killing more than ten Sect members at once, even if they aren’t very high-profile, is just too ruthless.’
Su Chen mulled it over. ’If I could find a way to make others notice this, or maybe follow the trail to uncover something, that would be for the best.’
Then, his gaze fell upon the two shining words on his panel: "Vajra Venerable."
’I wonder what kind of thing will be created when I finally melt all these professions together?’
’Let’s see... including Vajra Venerable, I have a total of eight professions that can be melted.’
’According to common sense, when Melting a Holy Profession, you should try to find professions with similar affinities, like Phoenix and Permanent Body.’
’Although my professions are powerful, they all develop in different directions. I even have things like Gourmet and Wind Dancer mixed in.’
However, Su Chen didn’t plan to get too hung up on this. A Holy Profession melted from professions with similar affinities might be more powerful.
But for him, the effort it would take might be enough to prepare for a whole other Holy Profession.
Leaving the Nether Tower, he ran right into an excited-looking Ming Lin.
"Went to the Nether Realm again?" Ming Lin asked, having spotted Su Chen emerging from the Nether Tower.
"Yeah." Su Chen nodded and glanced at him. "What’s got you so happy?"
"Ha!" Ming Lin grinned, his voice filled with excitement. "Something happened to Qin Guang!"
’That was fast. Has the news already gotten out?’
Ming Lin suppressed his emotions and said, "Out of nowhere, he was attacked by Netherworld Creatures in his own home! His fate is still unknown."
"Is that so?" Su Chen put on a look of surprise.
"I never would have guessed!" Ming Lin’s face was full of emotion. "I really thought that guy was going to be trouble. Our luck is pretty good!"
"It was the same with Meng Shiyu last time. He had just started targeting us when he got taken out in the Nether Realm." As he spoke, Ming Lin suddenly paused and muttered, "They’re both related to the Nether Realm. We sure have some kind of fate with that place, huh?"
Su Chen’s expression was odd as he warned, "Don’t get too excited. We don’t want anyone connecting this to us."
"Right, right..." Hearing this, Ming Lin quickly composed himself, his expression turning serious. He couldn’t help but admire Su Chen’s self-control. ’How can he stay so calm when such a wonderful thing just fell into our laps?’
"So, should we start moving our goods again?" Ming Lin asked.
Su Chen thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Let’s wait. His fate is still unknown, after all. If he survives, it’ll still be a problem."
"True," Ming Lin agreed. "Let’s just hope that fortune favors the fortunate."
It was unclear just who this "fortunate" person was supposed to be.
The two chatted as they walked. Before they even reached the main building’s entrance, Su Chen’s Wristband suddenly vibrated.
He glanced down. It was a message from Wei Zhenghong, inviting him to a small get-together on his Floating Island.
’It couldn’t be...’ Su Chen’s expression grew even more peculiar. He said a word to Ming Lin and then headed for Wei Zhenghong’s Floating Island.
Sure enough, as soon as he entered the main building, he heard Wei Zhenghong’s excited laughter. "I can’t believe it! That old bastard Qin Guang finally met his doom!"
’Old Wei really despises him...’ Su Chen thought as he walked into the room.
Chu Ran, however, was trying to calm him down. "Keep your voice down! If anyone hears you, they’ll think you did it."
"I’ve wanted to do it for a long time, but someone beat me to it. If I find out who did it..." He paused here, and meeting everyone’s strange looks, he cleared his throat and continued, "I definitely won’t let them off!"
"Old Su is here!" Chu Ran spotted Su Chen and came over to greet him. "You haven’t heard, have you? Something happened to Qin Guang."
"I have, actually," Su Chen replied honestly. "Ming Lin already told me. A while ago, it seems Qin Guang was targeting me, so Ming Lin has been paying close attention to news about him. I heard he was randomly attacked by Netherworld Creatures, and his fate is unknown."
"What do you mean his fate is unknown?" Wei Zhenghong interrupted. "It’s been confirmed. He’s dead as a doornail!"
"He’s actually dead?" Su Chen feigned a daze.
Jiang Mufeng, who was standing to the side, said helplessly, "Old Wei, don’t be so excited. This isn’t necessarily a good thing."
"From what I know, the Faceless Ghost Followers were behind this. They likely paid a hefty price to lure that Netherworld Creature to attack Qin Guang directly."
"The fact that they could get something past all the security checks and right to Qin Guang’s side... the situation is probably not looking good."
"Have they found anything?" Chu Ran couldn’t help but ask.
Jiang Mufeng shook his head. "They’re still investigating. You all know what Qin Guang was like. Plenty of people sent him things, and even more people handled them along the way. Every step involves a lot of people. It won’t be easy to get to the bottom of this."
"These are turbulent times," Su Chen sighed. "Everyone, it’s best not to leave Copper Heart for a while."
The others deeply agreed.
Jiang Mufeng then brought up another matter. "The True Martial Sect has arrived at the Hengdao Hub."
"So soon?" Zhao Ming said with surprise.
Wei Zhenghong sneered. "The True Martial Sect has been at odds with us for years. Now that they have a chance to kick us while we’re down, of course they’d be the first to arrive."
’The True Martial Sect?’ Su Chen knew the name, but it seemed they held a grudge against the Bronze Sect.
Chu Ran had already sent a quiet mental wave. "The True Martial Sect are old enemies of ours. The feud goes back several generations of Ancient Kings, ever since our Sect killed one of their Morning Star Tiers. That’s how the bad blood started."
Su Chen understood. Shen Yi’an, who rarely spoke, added in a solemn tone, "Sheng Huaixu, one of the True Martial Sect’s two Star Seeds, is a Divine Dawn Level Star Seed. He already melted his Holy Profession five years ago, and it’s said he has a chance of melting a second one before reaching Tier Eight."
"At this Peak Star Conference, he’s one of the most promising contenders for the position of Peak Star."
’A Divine Dawn Level Star Seed,’ Su Chen couldn’t help but be amazed. ’The most perfect kind of Star Seed.’
The number of Divine Dawn Level Talents was scarce, and it was even rarer for one to appear just when a Star Seed position was vacant. There were only a handful in the entire Dust Star Sea, and this Sheng Huaixu was one of them.
"When will they arrive at the Sect?" Wei Zhenghong asked.
Jiang Mufeng shook his head. "They aren’t planning to come alone. They’re waiting for the Royal Court and other sects to come with them."
"Coming together?" Chu Ran frowned.
Jiang Mufeng said helplessly, "It’s for the Peak Star Conference. They’re worried our Sect will completely break off relations, but they also don’t want us to think they’re scared. This is to put pressure on us..."
"And," he hesitated, "for some reason, not long after the Royal Court’s delegation set out, they sent another person... the Profound Turtle King."
Hearing this, everyone’s expressions changed slightly, turning grim.
"That old geezer..." Wei Zhenghong’s expression was stormy. "Why would the Royal Court randomly send an old-timer like him?"
"The Profound Turtle King is of an extremely high generation. He is the Hanhai Emperor’s uncle and had a deep friendship with the previous Ancient King," Chu Ran explained to Su Chen.
"He’s actually still alive? Don’t tell me..." Su Chen said in surprise.
Chu Ran nodded. "That’s right. His Morning Star Tier profession specializes in longevity."
"It’s said he’s carrying something that the Ancient King requested for a trade," Jiang Mufeng sighed. "If the Ancient King doesn’t personally greet someone of his seniority, it would be a breach of etiquette."
Su Chen understood why their faces looked so grim. The current Ancient King couldn’t get away right now.
’But the thing the Ancient King wants to trade for... could it be the Morning Star Essence?’