Chapter Forty: Ignition—Unleashing the Shadow of the Abyss

Chenqi used the guiding power of the Morning Star to lock it into his hand, once again crafting it into a star lantern. With the help of the star lantern and the fruit of darkness, he now held a territorial advantage within the Abyss of No Light.

[You have entered the Abyss of No Light. Relying on the star lantern and your prior memories, you sprint swiftly through the darkness.]

[You can hear the roaring and wailing behind you!]

The Decaying Elder would never let him go!

Once he left the Abyss, with the Decaying Elder’s strength, killing him outside would be as easy as crushing an ant—Chenqi’s chances of survival were infinitesimal.

Therefore, just like a game character, instead of fleeing, Chenqi was more inclined to bury that damned Decaying Elder here in the abyss!

The fruit of darkness, the floral elixir, the black rain boots...

Yet, he was still missing the most crucial thing—light!

Even though the Master of Hounds had ordered everyone to throw anything that emitted light into the deep ravine, among this group, there was still one person who definitely possessed fire.

That was none other than the player and fire-wielder, Chen Shi, who existed in the real world.

Chenqi glanced at the game as he hurried toward Chen Shi’s room—they were not far apart.

Now, at full sprint, Chenqi could reach his destination in just over half a minute!

Time was of the essence. Chenqi arrived outside Chen Shi’s room and kicked the door open with a heavy blow!

A glint of ferocity flashed through Chenqi’s eyes as he scanned the room, quickly spotting Chen Shi in the midst of the New Sun game.

What’s going on? Is it the Saint Calamity Society? Chen Shi twisted sideways, but when he saw it was the newcomer Chenqi, he breathed a sigh of relief.

To avoid being devoured by the shadow of the abyss, Chen Shi had taken a hallucinogenic potion; now, his vision still swirled with a rainbow of colors, and under the abyss’s influence, his mind was far from clear.

He remembered that Chenqi had encountered trouble in the game and needed help, though he hadn’t been available before.

However, for some reason, the Decaying Elder had just flown into a rage, even resorting to self-mutilation in his mad charge toward the Abyss of No Light!

This had given Chen Shi, who was helping the Master of Hounds in besieging the Decaying Elder, a brief respite.

Both Chen Shi and the Master of Hounds were now baffled—they had no idea why the Decaying Elder had gone so berserk.

Chenqi slammed the table and spoke quickly, “Captain Chen Shi, I need a ranged weapon that can ignite—urgently. I can pay in moon silver coins!”

A fire weapon? How did you know I’m a fire wielder?

Chen Shi could see how anxious the other was. Once he was certain it was safe, he pointed to the bookshelf behind Chenqi.

As captain, Chen Shi felt responsible for helping new members grow; the early stages were always the hardest.

“The armory is behind there. Those with complex patterns are spell weapons—you can’t use those. The rest you can take freely.”

A hidden room...

Chenqi turned around, gripped the bookshelf, muscles tensing, and gave it a powerful yank to the left.

With a grating noise, a small arsenal filled with various tools and weapons appeared behind the shelf.

In the New Sun game, spatial storage items were rare; many wanderers had their own rooms solely for storing gear and weapons.

Chen Shi could sense Chenqi’s urgency—he must be facing a challenge in the game similar to his own.

Many newcomers, burdened by low starting status, found career transitions exceptionally difficult.

He remembered his own rookie days: if Old Yu hadn’t given him three daylight coins and a fire umbrella, he might have been stuck at the Tracker’s entry test for a full ten days.

Seeing the Decaying Elder enter the Abyss of No Light and himself temporarily safe, Chen Shi reminded him:

“Fourth row from the left, fifth item—a crossbow. Use it as you wish.

It’s only worth five silver coins. Nothing’s more precious than your life. By the way, what do you need a fire weapon for?”

Oh!

Chenqi hadn’t expected this senior Chen Shi to hand over the weapon so directly and bluntly.

“Thank you, Captain. I’ll return it later. I need to start a fire—to borrow a blade and kill someone courting death! Also, for your own safety, it’s best not to wander in the game right now; it could be dangerous.”

These weapons belonged to New Capital and could be transmitted into the game.

Chenqi glanced at the fire crossbow and its explosive arrows; they were exactly what he needed. He immediately headed back to his own room.

He came quickly and left even faster.

Chen Shi stared at the battered door, dumbfounded. That was some serious strength—was this rookie really this powerful?

And what matter could be so urgent?

...

Chenqi returned to his room and looked again at the New Sun game.

[“Boom! Boom! Boom!”]

[The sound of shattering stone echoes behind you.]

[You glance back to see the Decaying Elder’s body melded with a massive black tree; his limbs are fused with thick trunks, and green pus spurts constantly.

Familiar with the abyss, this monstrous horror relentlessly pursues you.]

[He can sense the scent of blood and flowers on you, the taint of the Book of Blade Aspects!]

[Before him, many Trackers and Great Hounds, consumed by fear, flee in panic.]

[The Decaying Elder bellows within the abyss, determined to execute you!]

[“Wretch! No one knows this abyss better than I!

Hand over the book! Or I’ll turn you into fertilizer for the trees! You and the Master of Hounds will both pay for slaying my Eyeless One, and your doom will be eternal!”]

[You turn back and taunt, “Come on, I’ll see you all buried with me!”]

Chenqi checked the description of the fire crossbow and its explosive arrows again.

The explosive arrows would ignite in a fiery blast upon hitting their target.

Transmit the weapon to the game character!

[You have no intention of fleeing. Once you leave the Abyss of No Light, your foe will catch up! You must bury this Decaying Elder here in the abyss!]

He exhaled, then clicked on the fruit of darkness.

The fruit of darkness—this was something from the Eyeless One. As expected, it was a safeguard the Eyeless One carried to prevent anyone from igniting and perishing together with him!

[You look at the crossbow bolt in your hand, your expression growing more vicious!]

[“Rotten-headed fool, I’ll say this one last time: you and your dogs will be buried here by me!”]

[“Arrogant wretch! My patience is at its limit!”]

[The Decaying Elder spat blood, his massive black-wood limbs flailing as he charged you in a frenzy.]

[You aimed the crossbow at the Decaying Elder’s eye.]

[You fired! With the blessing of the Blood Blade Feast Fruit, your explosive arrow flew straight and true, plunging into his eye!]

[“Such a flimsy weapon cannot harm me at all!” The Decaying Elder’s massive form loomed closer, still hunting you.]

[But at the instant the arrow struck, the Decaying Elder’s body suddenly convulsed; he smelled gunpowder, and the blood of the Eyeless One!]

[The Eyeless One had truly been slain by you!

In that moment, despair flickered in the Decaying Elder’s eyes as he desperately fled.]

[You saw the despair in his eyes and snarled in laughter, “Rotten-headed monster, say goodnight to your life!”]

Snap!

Chenqi snapped his fingers—ignition, releasing the Shadow of the Abyss!

[You crouched and used two fruits of darkness, creating a zone of pure shadow to shield yourself!]

[Boom!]

[The fire arrow exploded on the Decaying Elder’s body, blazing with brilliant light!]

[Boom! Boom!]

[Under the radiance of the Morning Star, you heard a low, sinister whisper from the abyss, and the entire chasm trembled. A giant black hand emerged from the depths!

Like crushing an ant, it seized the Decaying Elder’s massive black-wood form.]

[“No! No! I am the last heir of the royal bloodline—I cannot die to this filthy wretch’s trickery…”

The Decaying Elder reached out with his black-wood hand one last time, trying to kill you! Yet, at the instant he struck—]

[The Shadow of the Abyss pinched lightly, snuffing out the tiny flame that had just ignited.]

[You laughed uncontrollably. The one who hid behind the abyss’s decay is now buried here.]

[With the shattered wood tumbling into the depths, the Abyss of No Light returned to darkness.]

[After a long while, certain that it was safe, you slowly opened your eyes. The Decaying Elder’s corpse had been crushed to dust, scattered across the ground.]

[You stomped hard on the Decaying Elder’s wooden remains. Perhaps among these remnants, there is something to be found.]

I understand, Chenqi immediately used the Morning Star’s guidance!

[The Morning Star flew from your hand, pointing you to your prize.]

[You approached with care and soon retrieved the vital object.]

[You have obtained the Black Living Heart of Wood.]

[Black Living Heart of Wood:

Aspect: Cup’s Shadow

Description: The heart of wood, an extremely rare material, can be used for heart transplants to enhance physical constitution. This particular heart is exceptional; items crafted from it may grant special enhancements.]

[You stowed the heart and looked around.]

[In this abyss, untouched by light for years, you can faintly hear the low chants of the Shadow of the Abyss.

Because of the appearance of strong light, the Shadow now prowls restlessly—this place is no longer safe.]

Farewell, rotten-headed Decaying Elder. May your next head have less wood in it.

Chenqi used the guidance once more, and after confirming nothing was left behind, hurried his character out of the abyss.