Chapter 341: Chapter 204: Chasing the Nether Fog

"If that’s the case..." Red Sun hesitated slightly, his gaze shifting to the body of the cauldron not far away, where a fissure had appeared.

A torrent of red fire surged out, enveloping the edges of the fissure. The metal spikes on it gradually melted into liquid before finally reforming into a small tablet, about the length of a forearm.

On the red metal, two large, gilt words appeared—Red Sun.

It floated gracefully into Su Chen’s hands.

He extended both hands, accepting it with reverence. "I will keep it safe," he said.

’After all, I owe this elder a huge favor. It’s no trouble to pay my respects during the holidays. Pleasing the old man is part of the reason, too.’

’Of course, it also has its use as a trump card.’

’Setting aside the vast Dust Star Sea, the internal politics of the Bronze Sect are a tangled mess. As a Red Sun Disciple, I’ll naturally be under the Ancient King’s protection.’

’But who knows what the future holds? If something really goes wrong, I’ll just take this tablet, throw myself down before the Ancient King, and start wailing. We’ll see who dares to stop me then.’

Of those four matters, only one was truly related to Su Chen himself.

More detailed requests, such as his future treatment and benefits, went without saying.

"Go," the Ancient King ordered, seeing that Su Chen was all right.

"Yes, sir," several people replied in unison. Qing Cang led the group of people away from the top of the cauldron and down toward the ground.

...

"What’s happening?"

"It looks like it’s over. Those aggressive people from the Royal Court left, too."

"Has the chosen one been decided? Weren’t they still supposed to be selecting an heir?"

Below, many in the spectating crowd were still confused.

Although Su Chen had been the first to distinguish himself, many people’s attention was still fixed on the giant screen, waiting for the epic clash to come.

But as a result of the sudden anomaly on the cauldron, the giant screen had also disappeared.

Chong Jingtian’s and Xia Hanshi’s gazes didn’t waver for a second; they were locked dead on that area.

’Impossible...’ Lan Hao murmured to himself. He already had a feeling, but it still seemed incredible. In his mind, he just kept repeating the word "Impossible."

"Someone’s coming down! But why is it a whole crowd of people?" someone suddenly shouted. Since everyone’s attention was already fixed on the cauldron, no one needed the reminder.

That’s... Xia Hanshi’s pupils contracted. He felt a weight sink onto his side and turned his head to see Chong Jingtian’s eyes filled with barely contained excitement, his vein-popped hand gripping his own shoulder tightly.

’That bastard!’

Xia Hanshi cursed inwardly, but for some reason, his will, long forged into something as cold as iron, now felt a tremor of emotion.

With their powerful eyesight, they could naturally see the group of people being led down by Qing Cang.

Mixed in with the crowd, Zhou Yanwu was stunned and confused. ’Didn’t Qing Cang say the people trapped inside couldn’t be saved? How did he bring them out?’

A moment later, Qing Cang brought the group over, and all eyes converged on them.

Aside from people like Chong Jingtian and Xia Hanshi, most others had only a vague understanding of the purpose of Qing Cang’s group, or of concepts like a "chosen one" and an "heir." They only knew it was important—immeasurably so.

So they all wanted to know: what exactly had just happened?

But for a moment, no one spoke.

"Ling Yue, Zhipei, Yu Hao..." Xia Hanshi shot forward, landing beside the group behind Qing Cang and immediately pulling out three young men.

At that moment, they were only just stirring, still dazed and confused as they first woke up.

Among the three young men before Xia Hanshi, the tallest one stared blankly and called out, "Master?"

"Yes." Xia Hanshi’s heart surged. The emotions he had suppressed for so many years were like a volcano on the verge of erupting, yet he still managed to choke them back.

His gaze flickered toward Ji Rou, who was standing nearby. He had already checked his three students’ vital signs with practiced efficiency, but now he faltered, hesitating.

"Ji Rou?" Chong Jingtian had already flown forward, calling out her name with hesitation.

"You are..." Ji Rou had just woken up. She frowned slightly, sizing up the man before her, and called out uncertainly, "Brother Chong?"

Chong Jingtian’s heart skipped a beat. He nodded. "Yes, it’s me."

"It really is you! How did you turn into... this?" Ji Rou couldn’t help but ask in surprise, looking him up and down.

"It’s a long story," Chong Jingtian said, shaking his head with a complicated expression. He repeated, "It’s not something I can explain in just a few words."

In the shadows, a pair of eyes stared in their direction. Su Chen muttered to himself, ’Old Xia is dropping the ball. Don’t tell me he’s actually a simp?’

"Ji Rou..." Xia Hanshi finally shuffled over, his voice low. His eyes, which on any other day were as sharp as a hawk’s or as haunting as a will-o’-the-wisp, were now somewhat evasive.

"You’re... Hanshi?"

Xia Hanshi had aged far more than Chong Jingtian, yet Ji Rou had recognized him even faster.

"How could you..." Ji Rou’s gaze trembled. She unconsciously reached out, her delicate hand coming to rest on Xia Hanshi’s wizened cheek, trembling gently.

From the deep lines on his face, it was as if she could feel the years, the pain, and the torment Xia Hanshi had endured. The rims of her eyes gradually reddened, and her voice shook as she asked, "Just how much time has passed...?"

Xia Hanshi’s heart of stone trembled slightly, but he remained silent. Ji Rou, however, suddenly laughed. "But... you’re still as dense as you’ve always been."

’Whoa...’ Su Chen, who was secretly peeping, sucked in a sharp breath.

’So Old Chong is the real simp. Old Xia, you sly dog.’

’And Old Pu, holed up in his house researching that Divine Language for so many years, and for what? It didn’t even come in handy.’

’This Ji Rou... no wonder Old Xia has been hung up on her for so long. She strikes right at the heart. Who could possibly stand a chance against that?’

’She’s really been saved...’ Even Xia Hanshi himself wasn’t sure what emotions he was feeling.

He just felt a rare prickling in his nose, a sensation he hadn’t experienced in a very, very long time. This time, the feeling came on with an uncharacteristic, fierce intensity.