Heaven's Shadow

Chapter 114: The Growth of Black Fire

Chapter 114: The Growth of Black Fire

The woman’s name was Su Qingjun.

Lu Chen knew her name. He also knew that she was an exceptionally talented disciple of the Kunlun Sect, only a step away from reaching the Golden Core stage despite her young age. She had a renowned and powerful Nascent Soul master, Mu Yuan Zhenren. Since her branch, the Iron Branch, was weaker, her master and the other elders placed their hopes for the branch’s future resurgence on her.

She was a favored child of the heavens, one of the four most exceptional talents, and one of the brightest young geniuses in the Kunlun Sect, even more prominent than He Yi.

A servant disciple like Lu Chen could only watch her back from a distance, as they were worlds apart.

Perhaps only the beautiful red feather cloak that looked like burning flames reminded him of the small mountain village, the mountain, and the swallows within.

Lu Chen watched her figure disappear into the depths of Liuxiang Garden, then turned and left quietly.

※※※

After being selected for spiritual power cultivation and coming to work at Liuxiang Garden, Lu Chen’s living quarters also changed. Compared to his previous residence in Shipan Valley, his new place was noticeably better. It was twice as large, with much brighter lighting and more furniture, including a desk by the window.

Perhaps it was these unseen benefits that made many servant disciples flock to this opportunity.

When Lu Chen returned to his room, it was already dark. As he opened the door, a shadow flashed by, and Ah Tu greeted him.

Ah Tu was a hybrid of two types of demonic beasts. Although its combat power seemed quite low at the moment, which was disappointing considering its parentage, its recovery speed was impressive. When Ah Tu was first rescued in the Land of Confusion, its broken leg healed much faster than Yi Xin’s broken arm. Now, despite recently breaking some bones, it had almost fully recovered.

Lu Chen squatted down and petted Ah Tu’s head. Ah Tu wagged its tail and barked twice, looking towards the door.

“Hmm? Do you want to go out and play?” Lu Chen asked.

Ah Tu wagged its tail even more vigorously.

Lu Chen smiled and said, “You really fear nothing. You just recovered from broken bones and already forgot about it?”

“Woof, woof, woof...” Ah Tu whined, seemingly unconcerned.

“Alright,” Lu Chen said, laughing. “Do whatever you want, but don’t cause me any more trouble. Besides, it’s dark outside and there’s a curfew. You can’t go out now. Wait until tomorrow.”

With that, he closed the door tightly. The room went dark as there was no lamp lit, making the surroundings barely discernible. Lu Chen walked to the bed and sat down, with Ah Tu following him.Cheêck out latest novels at novelhall.com

In the darkness, Ah Tu’s eyes began to glow with a faint green light, creating a slightly eerie yet strangely beautiful sight, like pure, translucent emeralds.

Lu Chen watched Ah Tu’s eyes for a while, then looked away, lying on the bed quietly.

After a while, there was a rustling sound as Ah Tu jumped onto the bed and curled up beside Lu Chen. The faint green light in its eyes gradually faded as it seemed to fall asleep.

The night deepened, and as time passed, the surroundings became completely silent.

Then, in the darkness, Lu Chen suddenly opened his eyes.

Doors are meant to be opened, so what lay beyond these doors?

Lu Chen subconsciously thought of that day, the starlit sky in his memory, and the seemingly endless dark void.

He suddenly felt a chill.

※※※

“Woof, woof, woof...”

Barking nearby snapped Lu Chen out of his thoughts. He turned to see Ah Tu near the central puddle of the tree hollow, cautiously looking into the water, occasionally barking at its reflection, seemingly nervous.

Lu Chen walked over and looked into the water, seeing Ah Tu’s reflection. He couldn’t help but laugh, “Don’t be alarmed, that’s your own reflection.”

Ah Tu glanced at Lu Chen, whimpered softly, then suddenly barked at the water again.

“Woof, woof, woof, woof...”

Lu Chen, slightly puzzled, moved closer and followed Ah Tu’s gaze. The black dog was looking through its reflection in the water, deeper into the clear water.

Lu Chen suddenly fell silent.

He silently watched Ah Tu, noting how its fur bristled slightly with tension.

After a while, he walked over, squatted beside Ah Tu, and hugged its head. Feeling his familiar warmth and scent, Ah Tu quickly calmed down, stopped barking, and relaxed.

“It’s alright,” Lu Chen whispered, “It’s just a pesky fire.”

Ah Tu didn’t respond or react, remaining quietly by his side. Lu Chen looked down through the water, and saw, in the clear depths, a shadow gradually emerging behind the shimmering reflections.

It was a mass of black fire, burning silently at the bottom.

But the next moment, Lu Chen’s pupils suddenly contracted.

The black fire seemed larger than he remembered.

The black flames burned silently, a familiar sight that would never fade from his memory, like a demon etched deeply into his mind.

Lu Chen slowly raised his head, furrowing his brows as he looked around the seemingly revitalized ancient tree hollow. He suddenly wondered if, amid this vitality, the mysterious black fire was also absorbing the life essence and growing, just like the tree hollow?

Could the black fire, like the ancient tree hollow, possess some unimaginable form of life?

(Please vote, thank you.) (To be continued.)