Chapter 766: The Awakened (5)

“So, the only way to get answers is to storm the City Lord’s Mansion. But we don’t have the power to do that right now, so we’ll have to bide our time.”

Shen Bai asked, “What is the City Lord’s power level?”

Hong Dongyi said, “He’s at the Celestial Spirit Realm Peak, but inside Molten Rock City, he can fight with the power of the next realm.”

Shen Bai mused, “That certainly makes things difficult.”

Not long ago, Shen Bai had killed Dean Hou. Even with the help of the Magma Core and the Ten Thousand Gu Insects, the Dean had only managed to reach a power level equivalent to having one foot in the next realm.

To be honest, that was incredibly strong.

Shen Bai wasn’t sure if he could take on the City Lord in a direct confrontation.

Hong Dongyi nodded. “Unless we can lure the City Lord out of Molten Rock City, but that’s impossible. He will never leave it.”

With Molten Rock City as his power base, the City Lord isn’t a fool. There’s no way he’d leave.

‘Biding our time will take even longer,’ Shen Bai thought.

By the time they were actually strong enough to kill the City Lord and find the Magma Core, who knew how long would have passed.

Hong Dongyi put away his Double Hooks. “Brother Ke, you’ve been through quite an ordeal today. Rest for a while. We can talk about Casting the Weapons later.”

Shen Bai nodded in agreement.

He didn’t press the matter, deciding to spend some time looking around. He wanted to observe the culture and customs of the Awakened, hoping he might find some clues.

Soon after, Hong Dongyi left.

After sitting in his room for a bit, Shen Bai went out to the street by himself.

The street was no different from the outside world. There were even vendors hawking their wares.

Everything here was orderly, like a small city.

Shen Bai even found a noodle stall and sat down.

Before long, a bowl of noodles was served to his table.

Shen Bai took a couple of bites and found that it tasted pretty good.

He looked up, watching the people come and go, and was suddenly struck by how pitiful everyone was—both the Awakened and the people of Molten Rock City.

Those who didn’t know the truth lived in a cage.

Those who did know the truth lived in terror.

Red Makeup’s voice sounded in Shen Bai’s mind. “Master, do you feel that everything in this world is merely a mix of truth and lies? Those who live the lie can never break free, and those who know the truth are forever tormented.”

Shen Bai nodded and replied, “True or false, it’s all just a struggle in the mortal coil. Only with power that transcends all else can you hold everything in your hands.”

Red Makeup chuckled. “Your mindset is excellent, Master. I am impressed.”

Shen Bai said, “There’s something else you’re not saying.”

After a long pause, Red Makeup said, “Master, when the Molten Rock Guards appeared, I felt something. It was as if I could sense a certain… thing on them.”

“It’s something that seems like it would excite me, something I really want to get. But I can’t explain what it is exactly.”

After Red Makeup finished speaking, Amber voiced the same sentiment.

“Me too.”

Hearing this, Shen Bai thought, ‘It seems there are still more mysteries surrounding the Molten Rock Guards and the City Lord.’

As he pondered this, Shen Bai quickly finished his bowl of noodles.

Shen Bai decided to lay low for now and continued to look around the open area.

Over the next while, Shen Bai explored the entire cavern.

He went everywhere he was able.

He saw sorrow in some of the Awakened, but also a sense of ease in many others.

Shen Bai asked around and learned the reasons why.

Those filled with sorrow were worried that their peace would be shattered, that everything they had would turn out to be an illusion, as fleeting as a dream.

Those who were at ease, however, felt they had never perceived the world so clearly before. For the sake of their future freedom, they were willing to risk everything, even their lives.

They were even prepared to fight to the last, taking their enemies down with them.

After he finished exploring, Shen Bai returned to his room.

With nothing else to do for the moment and his Void-breaking Red Eye about to reach Level 6, Shen Bai decided to take this opportunity to upgrade it today.

Before long, smoke coalesced into text, hovering before his eyes.

[Void-breaking Red Eye +3+3+3…]

…

「In Molten Rock City.」

Situ Sect Leader had gathered a massive force of Molten Rock Guards, numbering over ten thousand.

Every single Molten Rock Guard radiated a powerful Qi that was enough to make one’s heart tremble.

“Everyone, we can no longer delay the extermination of the crazed. I expect you all to strike with your full power. Kill anyone who must be killed.”

Situ Sect Leader’s tone was icy.

‘This is my only chance to live,’ he thought. ‘I have to seize it.’

The Molten Rock Guards had already received the City Lord’s orders. Without the slightest hesitation, they all stood in solemn formation, clearly ready for battle.

Situ Sect Leader glanced over the crowd, then took a glowing piece of Jade from within his robes.

The light from the Jade gradually rose, hovering in mid-air before coalescing into the shape of an arrowhead.

The arrowhead pointed in the direction Shen Bai and his group had gone.

Situ Sect Leader waved his hand. “Move out! Exterminate the crazed!”

With that, Situ Sect Leader was the first to fly into the air.

The Molten Rock Guards followed close behind, leaving Molten Rock City…