Start by conquering the world with unlimited job opportunities.

Chapter 203 What would you do if all the gods descended one day? (Updated 55 times out of 2 words)

The five people were bathed in the unique gloomy light of the "Abyss".

We set off quickly toward Dingyuan Station, the nearest stronghold.

The scene along the way was even more chaotic than when we arrived. The earth seemed to have been turned over by countless giant plows, with huge claw marks everywhere, glass-like pits formed by solidified lava, and scattered remains of dead ghosts.

Occasionally, you can still see some abandoned equipment fragments or congealed dark green blood clots, silently telling the story of the terror that swept everything not long ago.

There were no surprises along the way.

Hours later, the outline of the fortress, constructed of heavy alloy and the skeleton of a giant demon, finally appeared on the horizon.

Dingyuan Station, we've arrived.

Entering the base's lower level, the familiar hustle and bustle remained, along with the murky air and a diverse array of explorers, all exuding weariness and hostility.

However, unlike Iron Anvil Fortress, the atmosphere here seems more somber and tense.

There was a depressing feeling of impending storm in the air.

Many people were talking in hushed tones, their conversations revolving around words like the Sighing Barrier, ruins, ant swarms, and core.

The five quickly passed through the chaotic lower-level area and headed straight for the upper-level residential area.

I rented a relatively spacious suite, and finally I could completely relax my tense nerves.

Rest, inventory supplies, treat wounds, and consume Qi and Blood Crystals to recover.

As the five people sat around the simple metal table, the conversation naturally turned to their next goal.

Thunderstorm clouds, the source of thunder!
“Last time we went in to familiarize ourselves with the area first.” Wei Banmeng’s cool voice carried a sense of determination as her fingertips slid across the unfolded map, which marked the complex terrain of the core area of ​​the thunderstorm cloud sea. “This time we will be stationed in the core area for an extended period, holding out until we can no longer withstand the pressure before withdrawing. This means we need more thorough preparation and a more detailed plan.”

“The choice of where to set up a base is crucial.”

Fang Qingyu spoke, pointing to a relatively recessed area in the core region of the map. It was a natural lightning shelter formed by several huge charred rocks. Here, the terrain was low, and towering rock walls blocked some direct lightning strikes. The rocks themselves had been tempered by lightning and fire, making them relatively stable and suitable as a temporary camp. However, some things needed to be set up beforehand.”

"What's the route?" Wei Banmeng asked Fang Qingyu.

"Follow the same route as last time, and once you reach the edge of the core, go around from here."

Fang Qingyu traced a winding path on the map that avoided several obvious areas prone to thunderstorms. "This route is relatively hidden, with a slightly lower density of ghosts, but it requires crossing a lava glass belt. The ground is hot and slippery, so be careful."

The group began to discuss the list of supplies in detail.

A specially made double-layered insulating cloak; find some Transcendent-level Thunderwalker Lizard Reverse Scales.

A potent nerve blocker targeting the effects of thunder-induced paralysis and a drug that rapidly repairs meridians.
Each item needs to be exchanged at the stronghold exchange point using precious contribution points or life-ghost materials.

The five of them took stock of the materials they had brought from the ruins and the spoils from their previous hunt of the Fate Ghosts, and Wei Banmeng and Lu Jiuyuan were responsible for exchanging them.

Not long after Wei Banmeng and Lu Jiuyuan left, Fang Qingyu and Chu Kuanglan took Jiang Wei and planned to go to the simple canteen at the bottom of the stronghold to replenish their energy.

As soon as I reached the stairwell leading to the ground floor, I witnessed a scene that left me speechless.

A dozen or so explorers, dressed in various styles and ranging in age, were quietly packing their belongings.

Most of them had weathered faces and tired eyes, yet they burned with an almost obsessive flame.

The equipment was not of high quality, and some even showed obvious signs of repair.

The group of people deftly stuffed the last supplies into their backpacks, checked their weapons, and then, without a word, walked out one by one through the heavy alloy gate of the stronghold, their figures quickly disappearing into the gloomy wind, rain, and leaden clouds outside the stronghold.

Their direction was clearly pointing towards the entrance of the ruins.
Chu Kuanglan's smile vanished, and he muttered in a deep voice, "These people are after the newly discovered ruins?"

Fang Qingyu watched those resolute figures disappear into the wind and rain, his eyes deep, and remained silent.

Just then, Wei Banmeng and Lu Jiuyuan returned after exchanging the supplies and witnessed this scene.

Wei Banmeng's cool gaze swept over the empty gates, and she said calmly, "This is the epitome of most people in the 'Abyss.' Resources are scarce, and the future is uncertain. The news of a relic appearing in the world is the only light in the darkness. Even knowing that there is a nine-out-of-ten chance of death, they will risk their lives to gamble on that one-in-ten-thousand chance to bring out something that can change their fate."

Fang Qingyu listened and slowly nodded.

He himself is the biggest beneficiary.

Indeed, as Wei Banmeng said, if we can win the core within the ruins...
Even at a deeper level, it's not impossible for it to soar to new heights.

Whether one is lucky enough to survive is another matter.

Chance and death, on this land where nature reigns supreme.

There are always two sides to every coin.

Of those who just left, how many will come back alive?

How many of them can truly touch that light that changes their destiny?
No one knows the answer.

But that resolute determination to risk one's life for a sliver of hope seems so ordinary in this cruel "abyss".

After a brief silence, the five of them left without lingering and returned to their room with the large amount of supplies they had exchanged.

The following period was filled with tense but orderly final preparations: allocating supplies, practicing coordination in case of emergencies, and repeatedly reviewing and memorizing the details of the planned routes and encampments.

Time cycles between the rage of the "Abyss" and the rest of the stronghold.

Passing away quietly.

the next day.

Fang Qingyu and his group ventured deep into the core of the thunderstorm cloud sea for the second time.

The purple thunderstorm cloud wall surged like boiling water, and the thick, pale lightning bolts, like javelins thrown by the gods, tore through the thick fog erratically, bombarding the earth and leaving behind scorched craters and flowing lava.

The omnipresent, violent electrical charge in the air made his hair stand on end and his skin feel a continuous, needle-like numbness.

Following the plan, the five people finally reached the designated lightning protection harbor, Jiaoyan Depression, with great difficulty.

Chu Kuanglan and Lu Jiuyuan immediately began setting up lightning protection measures.

Fang Qingyu provided central support, his vision fully open during the night, precisely targeting and eliminating those who were startled by the thunder or were already lurking nearby.

Wei Banmeng and Jiang Wei were responsible for vigilance and energy monitoring.

"Holy crap! Are the Thunder God and Lightning Goddess celebrating the Lunar New Year here?!"

Just as Chu Kuanglan finished setting up a bone stake, a thick bolt of lightning struck a hundred meters away, causing his blood to surge and making him unable to hold back his curses.

The booming thunder is the constant background noise, keeping our minds on edge at all times.

For two days and two nights, apart from brief rest periods when they needed to take turns on duty, the five of them spent almost all their time fighting against the harsh environment and sporadic attacks from ghosts.

The rate at which the materials were being used was far exceeding expectations.

Finally, on the morning of the third day, a dense, all-encompassing thunderstorm left everyone's heads buzzing.

When almost all lightning protection materials were exhausted.

Fang Qingyu decisively ordered an evacuation.

However, after resting at the outpost for one night.

The group rallied and began to fight again.

This is the third time I've entered.

With the experience from the previous two trips, we were better prepared and more familiar with the route.

The journey to the mine-avoiding harbor was much faster.

This time, they even discovered a makeshift camp nearby, left behind by previous inhabitants and almost buried by lava and lightning, with only a few charred skeletons and broken equipment remaining.

The five men silently reinforced the defenses there, using it as a backup base.

Holding on remains difficult.

The power of the Thunder seemed to increase as they stayed in the core longer.

The ubiquitous static electricity interferes with the flow of Qi and blood, and the cold, damp air contained in the thick fog is like a leech, constantly eroding Qi and blood.

Jiang Wei's warnings became more frequent.

On the afternoon of the third day after entering the sea of ​​clouds.

A sudden thunderstorm swept through the core area, with purple clouds pressing down like giant waves. The terrifying suction and destructive ball lightning put the five people in grave danger.

Chu Kuanglan withstood a burst of electric current to protect Jiang Wei, resulting in half of his body becoming paralyzed.

Fang Qingyu made a decisive move, using the Dragon Sparrow to clear a path and the Calamity Fire Qi to tear open a way out. The five of them, injured and disheveled, retreated back to their stronghold.

The fourth time, and the fifth time.
Each entry is like a journey through purgatory.

Having become familiar with Thunder's "temperament," the group figured out more effective meditation and breathing techniques to resist mental shocks, and were able to deal with the attacks of the Fate Ghost more easily.

However, their target, the Thunder Source Tide, never appeared.

Time cycled endlessly through monotonous perseverance, fierce battles, and disorganized retreats.

A month passed quietly like that.

Federal capital.

The Longyuan Pavilion is a blessed land and training ground.

Soft light streamed through the simulated sky, filling the air with freshness and vitality.

Compared to the violent stillness within the "Abyss," this place is like a paradise.

In one corner of the venue, Fang Qingyu sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed.

It held in its mouth a translucent-grade Qi and Blood Crystal the size of a pigeon egg, entirely crimson, radiating astonishing heat.

As the Crimson Bright Nine Revolutions Tribulation Jade Scripture - Third Revolution was fully activated, the Qi and Blood Crystal shrank and dimmed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The surging, magma-like essence of blood and qi was forcibly extracted and refined.

It merged into the surging river of qi and blood around Fang Qingyu's body.

Buzz. Buzz.
A deep humming sound emanated from Fang Qingyu's body, as if a huge furnace was roaring within his internal organs.

The exposed skin now possessed a strange hue, as smooth and lustrous as jade, yet subtly radiating a crimson glow from within.

The surrounding air distorted slightly due to the high temperature. A scorching wave of heat slowly spread out from Fang Qingyu, making Chu Kuanglan and Lu Jiuyuan, who were not far away, feel their skin burning.

"Fang Shen's Qi and Blood Technique is terrifying."

Chu Kuanglan wiped the sweat from his forehead and said in a deep voice to Wei Banmeng beside him, "This commotion... it feels like there's a volcano inside him!"

Lu Jiuyuan also looked on with a serious expression and said in a low voice, "Junior Sister Wei, Fang Shen is the inheritor, right? The grade and power of this Qi and Blood Technique are definitely not ordinary."

Wei Banmeng's cool eyes were fixed on the increasingly condensed and heavy crimson aura around Fang Qingyu, and she slowly nodded: "Yes, that's right."

Chu Kuanglan clicked his tongue, his face full of emotion and curiosity: "Goodness. I wonder what kind of important figure Fang Shen's ancestor was, that he could pass down such a powerful blood cultivation technique! If this were my family's ancestral inheritance, my father would be so happy that he would renovate the ancestral hall three times over!"

Just as Chu Kuanglan finished speaking...

boom!
The deep, muffled thud within Fang Qingyu's body suddenly rose, as if a volcano that had been suppressed to the extreme had finally found an outlet!

A crimson shockwave, far more intense and violent than before, exploded out!

Like an invisible shockwave of flames, it instantly swept across a space of several meters in radius!

The specially designed ground of the training field sizzled under the strain, and the air crackled as it was scorched!
Chu Kuanglan and Lu Jiuyuan were forced to retreat several steps by the sudden heat wave, their faces filled with horror.

Wei Banmeng also subconsciously gripped the hilt of the Xuan Chi sword, her eyes sharp.

At the center of that crimson aura, Fang Qingyu's figure seemed to be enveloped in a blazing, illusory crimson flame!

An ancient, domineering, and terrifying aura, capable of burning away all wilderness, was faintly emanating from it!
The diagram unfolded silently deep within Fang Qingyu's consciousness.

A notification suddenly popped up:
Congratulations! Your core skill "Crimson Light Nine Revolutions Jade Scripture - Third Revolution" has been upgraded to Lv.5 (Max)!

Perfection!

After countless life-and-death battles and the consumption of massive amounts of Qi and Blood Crystals, and with the advancement of martial arts cultivation brought about by consuming the core of the Abyss Corpse, the third transformation of this top-tier Qi and Blood technique originating from Hong Qitian has finally reached perfection!

The surging river of qi and blood within my body seemed to be given new life.

It instantly became more condensed, pure, and vast!
Operating speed increased dramatically, and handling efficiency soared.

Each cycle of the body is like the Crimson Bird soaring through the meridians, delivering boundless vitality and power to every part of the body.

The crimson glow emanating from beneath the skin quickly receded and settled like a tide.

Ultimately, it transforms into a warm and understated jade-like luster, yet it contains the power of a volcano.

The violent aura that could scorch the heavens and boil the seas instantly subsided.

All that remained was an unfathomable sense of weight and heat.

Fang Qingyu slowly opened his eyes.

Deep within his pupils, two tiny red flames seemed to flash and disappear, before returning to a profound calm.

Feeling the seemingly endless flow of qi and blood within his body and the perfect, effortless control he felt, Fang Qingyu couldn't help but let a faint smile of satisfaction appear on his lips.

It's been over a month.

A month has passed since I joined Project Hidden Dragon and entered the world of "Abyss".

There is still no news about the Thunder Source.

Fortunately, progress is good in other areas.

The Qi and Blood Method was successfully completed today.

The visualization technique was also maxed out using skill points within two days.

It unlocked two new forces: water and earth.

In terms of martial arts, he has successfully mastered the Nine Prisons Mountain-Crushing Fist and the Swift Shadow Step, and finally perfected the Thunder Strike Cloud Trail without spending any skill points.

He was only slightly slower in terms of physical skills.

However, it wasn't that Fang Qingyu didn't want to cultivate; he was simply accumulating materials.

The materials required for several hard skills.
It’s a bit hard to put into words.

Thinking of this, Fang Qingyu raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

A calm and gentle voice, as precise as a fine needle, entered his ears.

"Qingyu, go to Longyuan Martial Arts School. Elder Hong is looking for you."

The voice of Pavilion Master Yan!?
Fang Qingyu paused slightly, then stood up and was about to walk towards the pavilion where Yan Shouzhen was, pondering who Elder Hong was.

Suddenly I realized something was wrong.
Longyuan Martial Arts School! ? Elder Hong?
Dead memories begin to attack Fang Qingyu
Longyuan Martial Arts School is the alley I went to when I participated in the Martial Arts Competition, Hong Qitian's martial arts school!?

Longyuan Pavilion is the martial arts school where Wei Banmeng works.

The only difference between the two names is the suffix.

No wonder I felt a sense of familiarity when I first heard it.

Fang Qingyu immediately let out a bitter laugh.

Jiang Wei, who was standing nearby, had already come over and asked curiously, noticing the change in Fang Qingyu's expression, "What's wrong?"

Wei Banmeng and the others also frowned.

"Fang Shen, is something wrong?"

"fine."

Fang Qingyu snapped out of his daze, waved his hand, and his expression returned to ease. He then looked at Jiang Wei and patted her head.

"I'm going out for a bit. You wait here for me."

He didn't know just how strong Old Master Hong was.

But he should be better than Yan Shouzheng.

Pavilion Master Yan couldn't tell that Jiang Wei was a deity, but Old Man Hong might not be. Fang Qingyu still hasn't forgotten the scene of him summoning lightning with a wave of his hand.

"Oh okay."

Jiang Wei listened and nodded thoughtfully.

Upon hearing this, Wei Banmeng and the others fell silent. Since they weren't letting Jiang Wei come along, they naturally wouldn't let them either.

It's still that same ancient street paved with bluestone slabs, with mottled gray walls on both sides.

There was no one around.

Only inside the shop can one occasionally see one or two people tending the store.

However, this time Fang Qingyu knew all of this because they were all Hong Lao's people.

This ancient street.

It was set up specifically for that old man.

The streets were so quiet you could hear the echo of your own footsteps.

Passing through the familiar alleyway, the winding stream came into view.

The murky river flowed slowly, reflecting the clear sky.

A hunched figure sat on a small stool with his back to the alley entrance.

A slender fishing rod extends diagonally and disappears into the water.

At his feet were several bottles and jars scattered about, along with an open bait box.

It was Hong Qitian.

Fang Qingyu slowed his pace and stopped a few steps behind the old man.

Old Master Hong seemed completely unaware, or rather, he didn't care who the visitor was.

He was focused and intently fiddling with the open bait box in front of him.

Withered fingers picked up a clump of bright red earthworm segments, then shook some grayish-white powder from a small brown bottle, mixed them together, and deftly kneaded them with his fingertips.

That focused expression suggested he was doing something important, not just fishing bait.

Fang Qingyu didn't make a sound to disturb them. His gaze swept over the bottles and jars. There was powder that emitted a strange herbal fragrance, a viscous honey-like substance like amber, and even a small box of tiny, shimmering crystal particles.

The equipment here is far more complete than what I saw last time; it's practically a mobile bait depot.

It seems the old man didn't heed what I said last time.

Fang Qingyu silently walked to Hong Lao's side, sat down on a low stone stool by the riverbank, and gazed at the calm, waveless river surface.

The river water was murky and the bottom could not be seen. Only the occasional tiny ripples appeared, and it was hard to tell whether they were from fish or the wind.

Time flows on in silence.

The only sounds were the faint rustling of Old Hong kneading the bait and the indistinct noises of the marketplace in the distance.

After an unknown amount of time, Old Hong finally hooked the carefully prepared, reddish-brown bait with a strange, mixed smell onto the fishing hook.

He slowly and steadily raised the fishing rod, then flicked his wrist.

The fishing line, with its sinker and bait, traced a faint arc before disappearing into the river with a soft "plop," leaving only a tiny ripple that quickly spread outwards.

Just as the fishing float stabilized and began to sway gently with the current, the moment came.

Old Hong's slightly hoarse, aged voice rang out without warning, as calmly as if he were asking about the weather, but the content was earth-shattering:
"Kid, what if one day..."

Old Hong's cloudy eyes remained fixed on the slightly swaying fishing float on the water's surface.

"The entire realm of gods has descended. What will you do?"

Fang Qingyu was taken aback.
Because of past easy interactions, I blurted out a sentence without thinking.

"Kill them!?"

(End of this chapter)