Chapter 393: Chapter 253: World-Burning Evil Fire, and the Familiar Aspiration of the Blue Clouds

’Light of Sloth?’

Zhou Chen instantly perceived the nature of this strange light.

"Die!"

Satan roared in a frenzy. Its Power of Sin surged as it threw a punch with its full strength.

BANG—

A dull thud rolled through the air. Zhou Chen’s body shuddered for a moment, and then cracks spiderwebbed across the molten armor covering his body before large chunks of it crumbled away.

Satan froze. ’A punch that should have been enough to utterly destroy Zhou Chen only shattered his armor?’

It suddenly dodged, evading the Sword of the End as it stabbed from a treacherous angle. Black mud struggled to churn at the wound on its severed arm, slowly regenerating the limb. Adopting a combat stance it had absorbed from another, it threw a ferocious punch.

The powerful fist came flying at him like a shell from a tank’s main cannon.

Zhou Chen dodged without a second thought. As he evaded the blow, his sword slashed out, leaving a gash brimming with deathly energy on Satan’s body. He immediately followed up with a fluid series of attacks. Satan could only scramble to defend, but neither could gain the upper hand.

As long as a single trace of the Power of Sin remained in Akita Town, Satan could regenerate indefinitely.

’I have to use a much greater power to destroy it completely in one blow!’

’My current power still isn’t enough...’

The Star Chain binding the Book of the Dead was about to loosen again, but Zhou Chen sensed a disturbance behind him.

Renie, who had just arrived, stood beside Old Jack with a bewildered expression, unsure of what was happening.

’Has Zhou Chen... been corrupted?’

"Renie."

Just then, Zhou Chen’s voice called out, "Is the weapon ready?"

’He’s still completely lucid even after being corrupted? This seems to be a controlled form of it...’ Renie hesitated for a moment before responding, "It’s ready."

"Good."

The evil fire flickered. Zhou Chen used several consecutive instances of Instant Teleportation to return to their side.

This move left even Satan baffled, and it grew wary.

Renie instinctively took a defensive stance, but in the next moment, the distorted features on Zhou Chen’s body vanished before her very eyes. He returned to his human form, aside from his wildly overgrown hair.

"Where is it?" he asked.

Renie was stunned for a moment, then pulled a sharp spearhead forged from Mottled Crystal out of her hip pouch. "Materials were limited. This was all I could forge."

Zhou Chen took the iridescent Crystal Spearhead, feeling the Light of Spiritual it contained. He nodded. "This is enough."

"What... are you planning to do?" Renie asked, confused.

’If Zhou Chen had stayed in his corrupted state, I could have supported him, and together we probably could have killed Satan. But he canceled the transformation...’

"To kill Satan, you have to find the right cure for the disease," Zhou Chen said.

"Will that work?" Renie sounded doubtful. The power in the spearhead was far too weak compared to Satan. In the face of such absolute strength, even if the Light of Spiritual countered Satan, it probably wouldn’t have much of an effect.

"It will be difficult. That’s why we need some outside help."

Zhou Chen looked at the Contract Ring on his finger, which he had never taken off, and spoke softly.

"You’re watching, aren’t you?"

Seeing this, Renie frowned in confusion.

In the next second, fine azure arcs of electricity suddenly erupted across Zhou Chen’s body. The lightning wrapped around him, dancing and flickering over his skin.

’That familiar Aspiration of the Blue Clouds... No, it’s even stronger than before!’

’And that familiar Soul.’

"Yes, I’m watching."

The powerful Soul replied, "You knew all along?"

"I’ve known for a while," Zhou Chen answered. "I knew the moment I returned."

"..." After a brief silence, the Soul asked again, "You have that much faith in me?"

"I looked into your records. I know how strong you are, and I know the extent to which you’ve developed your Extraordinary Abilities. They’re perfect for this situation."

Zhou Chen gazed at the azure arcs crackling and dancing at his fingertips. "So, can you help me?"

"Of course."

Li Xiye gave a genuinely joyful smile. "Take it, Zhou Chen."

"—My Power. You can use all of it."

"Thanks."

Zhou Chen returned a knowing smile. "Next, it’s time for me to advance to Tier Three."