Chapter 143 - 107: Pack It All Up and Take It Away!

Chapter 143: Chapter 107: Pack It All Up and Take It Away!

Chen Shang’s Eye of Truth fell on the Cyan Bird Face.

The evolved Eye of Truth lacked the swirling four-color patterns. Its pupils were merely deeper than usual, resembling a quiet, slumbering ocean.

But no one knew what kind of behemoth lurked beneath that ocean.

Occasionally, flashes of pale blue Magic Power darted through the depths of his pupils. It was a phenomenon he hadn’t fully mastered yet. Several Magic Springs within his body were breathing simultaneously as the Magic Power surged at the edge of his consciousness like roaring, giant waves.

The moment the Cyan Bird Face was targeted by those eyes, its body abruptly stiffened. It felt as though it had been completely seen through.

Its voice was a fraction lower than before as it threatened, "If you kill me, those Fire Elemental Spirits will riot. You absolutely won’t be able to escape."

Chen Shang didn’t speak. The Eye of Truth had already helped him see through all the nodes of the Cyan Bird Face. He was now ninety-nine percent sure he could precisely sever the bird face without triggering a Fire Element riot.

However, the things outside were still a hassle.

Furthermore, while a ninety-nine percent certainty seemed high, if he had to gamble his life on it, how was that any different from throwing his life away?

Even if he got rid of the Cyan Bird Face, what if those Lords refused to retreat? Were they supposed to just waste away in here?

Ultimately, he couldn’t completely trust the Heart of Fire, either.

They were currently facing a crisis, and the Heart of Fire needed his help. They could establish a cooperative agreement for now, but what if the other party turned hostile once the crisis was resolved?

This wasn’t insidious or cunning; it was about being responsible for his own life. He had to keep the initiative in his own hands.

Chen Shang retracted his gaze and turned toward the pale gold orb of light. "I’ve changed my mind. I’m not going to cut it. I want you to temporarily reside in my Second Magic Spring and escort us out of here."

The cavity fell silent for a moment. The Heart of Fire’s light flickered rapidly. "What... what did you say?"

Chen Shang’s tone was calm. "I’m going to take you with me. You’ll stay in my Magic Spring for the time being and escort us safely back to the Wizard World. When the time is right, I will send you back, or I’ll find a more suitable place for you to evolve.

"Think about it. The Wizard World is far larger than the Red Flame Realm. The Elemental Storm Association has a Half-Plane specifically dedicated to housing Elemental Cores. The concentration of the Fire Element there is no lower than it is here.

"Moreover, you’ve been trapped here for over a thousand years, polluted by the Wind Element for over a thousand years. What you need is a place where you can peacefully recover."

"Are you crazy?" While the Heart of Fire remained silent, Evelyn was the first to speak up, her tone laced with obvious disapproval. "Putting the Heart of Fire into your Magic Spring? Can a Second Level Apprentice like you even handle it?"

Ella, hugging her little bear, furrowed her brows. "It’s too dangerous. If it riots inside your body, losing your Magic Spring would be getting off lightly. In the worst-case scenario, your Spiritual Power could collapse entirely."

Twilight shook his head at Chen Shang. "Let’s think of another way."

Chen Shang explained in a low voice, "Even if it riots, I’ll lose one Magic Spring at most. I can afford that level of loss."

His Second Magic Spring inherently had a Fire Attribute and was specifically meant to bear the Samadhi True Flame. As long as the Heart of Fire stayed quiet, everything would be fine.

Furthermore, the newly evolved Eye of Truth held the authority to manipulate energy. Even if the Heart of Fire or the Cyan Bird Face tried to pull any little tricks, he was confident he could restrict them.

Chen Shang turned back to the Heart of Fire, his tone softening slightly. "This is a choice that benefits everyone."

"No!" the Cyan Bird Face abruptly shrieked. "Don’t let him deceive you! Where would there be a better place? He just wants to trick you into leaving so he can refine you!"

The Heart of Fire ignored it. It remained silent for a long time, its pale gold light flickering erratically, like a person caught in hesitation.

Chen Shang didn’t rush it; he simply waited quietly.

The Heart of Fire’s voice was firm. "No, I do not agree to your plan! I cannot leave this place. This volcano is the place of my birth. The Fire Element from the Earth Veins flows endlessly, and I need it to evolve.

"I’ve stayed here for countless tens of thousands of years. I was here when the Wizards descended, and I was here when the Wind Element polluted me. I will not leave."

Chen Shang wasn’t surprised. He had anticipated the Heart of Fire’s reaction long ago.

An Elemental Core naturally born of heaven and earth, hungering to evolve into an Innate Divine Spirit, wouldn’t easily abandon its foundation. But he still had a backup plan.

"You’ve stayed in this volcanic crater for countless tens of thousands of years. Just how far have you evolved?"

The Heart of Fire didn’t answer, so Chen Shang answered for it. "You’ve been polluted for over a thousand years. Not only have you failed to evolve, but you’re actually regressing. Your Fire Element Origin is being eroded by the Wind Element, your consciousness is suppressed by that will, and your power is being drained with every passing moment.

"If you continue to stay here, in another thousand years, will you be able to completely obliterate that will? Or will you be the one obliterated by it?"

The Heart of Fire’s light dimmed slightly.

Chen Shang continued, "The time wasted escorting us back to the Wizard World is nothing but a drop in the ocean compared to the grand span of your evolution.

"For a profound treasure born of heaven and earth to evolve into an Innate Divine Spirit, the time required is measured in hundreds of millions of years. Are you really short on this tiny bit of time?

"Furthermore, there are many successful cases of Innate Divine Spirits evolving in the Wizard World. If you come back with me, you can reference their paths to success. Don’t you want to see how those predecessors managed to evolve?"

The Heart of Fire fell silent once more. This time, its silence lasted much longer than before. The Cyan Bird Face squawked frantically beside it.

"You were born a long time ago and have felt the power of the Wizard World descending upon this Plane. You should know how powerful we are.

"Even the Plane Will of this world had to bow before the High Tower. I am willing to make a promise, with the Wizard’s Will as my witness. I will definitely send you back here, or I’ll find an even more suitable place for you to evolve!"