Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 2422: Chapter 2417: The Prophet Is Dead (28)

The brightness that had dimmed due to the Decree Residue being shut off climbed back up again at that moment.

Fu Qian’s grabbing motion wasn’t fast, but unfortunately, the Black Doctor was somewhat cooperative, and the next moment, his neck was firmly grasped.

Ugh—

That’s the downside of being uneducated. If he recognized that kind of golden flame, he shouldn’t still be thinking about maintaining his posture.

In the end, the Transcendent criminal who faced death only held on for a moment before starting to struggle.

A familiar twist began to appear on his body, desperately trying to stop the spread of that wisp of golden flame.

Sadly, it was all in vain.

”Antidote.”

And after casually crushing a bone that came flying at him, Fu Qian directly repeated his earlier demand.

”I told you, there is no antidote... still unwilling to face reality?”

Even while struggling in pain, the Black Doctor couldn’t help but squeeze out a sliver of mockery from between his teeth.

”Too ordinary.”

At that moment, Fu Qian merely sighed lightly, the Mad Fire continued, and his assessment of the Black Doctor remained unchanged.

”Some things are difficult to truly grasp through simple imitation.

”I can see you desperately want to playthe role of someone seeking fun, but honestly, even if I were to indulge myself a bit, there are far more enjoyable choices within your series of moves than simply forcing a persona here.”

On a detailed operational level, Fu Qian even offered professional guidance.

”In short, your performance from start to finish makes it hard for me to believe you have the capability to drink poison wine without an antidote... Perhaps someone in this city can, but not you.”

...

Throwing oneself into such a game is not something everyone can do.

The gap between a thrill seeker and a thrill imitation seeker is vast.

Fu Qian’s meaning was straightforward, a person like the Black Doctor might have the courage to touch a power he himself could hardly control, but he would never use it on himself.

To torment the will of those from the Unseen Hillock, taking the unreturnable path first himself, he most likely lacked the nerve for that.

So there must be a way back, specifically, the analogy of poison, which is the ”antidote”—is it really?

”...Take it!”

The fact proved that even facing the deliberately restrained Mad Fire, the Black Doctor didn’t hold out for long.

One moment a hand quickly extended and deformed, but it wasn’t to attack Fu Qian. Instead, it burrowed into the heap of human bodies beneath his feet.

Crack!

With a crisp sound, yet another skull was pried open, and then something was retrieved from inside and handed over.

A glance showed it was a small transparent bottle, with pale pink liquid swaying inside, looking very much like an oral solution.

”Thank you.”

Fu Qian casually took it and let the person drop, not forgetting to maintain politeness at that moment.

The person’s jokester image was merely a marketing scheme. Clearly, he had made plenty of preparations in secret.

Aside from the substitute body in front, he even had a medicine storage cabinet specifically prepared.

”Just drink it, but it’s only enough for one person. It’s all I have right now.”

Having escaped danger, the Black Doctor reminded not to split it for use.

Though it was hard to tell if it was out of goodwill, it did highlight once more his survival instinct.

After all, on one hand, it meant one person between Fu Qian and another must stay, and on the other hand, if the person staying wished to leave, they mustn’t die—ah!

Though no sooner had he finished speaking than the golden flame once again ignited, consuming him from head to toe.

Its power clearly higher than the previous small simmer, the Black Doctor could only utter half a wail before truly turning to ashes.

...

”Do you think he was lying to you?”

The rapid changes were overwhelming, and it wasn’t until Fu Qian adjusted a nearby lamp to shine a little brighter, casting its last glow, that Amber finally regained the ability to speak, expressing incredulity at his actions.

”No, I believe this thing is real.”

Rubbing the antidote, Fu Qian, at that moment, didn’t even look back, just gazed at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle.

The flame’s explosion only illuminated a moment, quickly sinking back into silence, darkness unchanged.

”Then why did you kill him? Out of spite? Honestly, I don’t see you as someone driven by impulse.”

And his answer only deepened Amber’s confusion.

”How could it be? Although the performance was clumsy, merely staying in the pot without making us search everywhere, I was quite satisfied with his conduct.”

Fu Qian wasn’t surprised by her question and expressed an honest evaluation for a moment.

”Weren’t you hesitating about going back earlier? Now, you shouldn’t need to hesitate.”

Uh...

Amber didn’t seem to have considered this, once again falling silent for a moment.

Still no movement?

Paying no mind to her reaction, Fu Qian merely marveled at the surrounding darkness.

It wasn’t about venting anger; a character so despicable as the Black Doctor was indeed a waste to even glance at.

As for helping Amber make up her mind? It was merely a side effect.

As a Demigod more ”attuned” to the will of the Unseen Hillock, if he were directly taken out, and even in the form of Mad Fire, would Ji Feng, the elder brother, react?

That was the question Fu Qian was truly interested in.

Alas, even with such a sacrifice, nothing stirred.

...

”Wish you find something on this side, whatever that may be.”

After a brief wait, Fu Qian clearly didn’t intend to idle any longer, finally turning to offer Amber his blessing.

”Regarding Akasha’s claims, I don’t believe the Black Doctor was lying either, but honestly, that guy wasn’t too smart. Even if he wasn’t lying, his words might not be trustworthy.”

Not only that, but he even provided a goal to strive for, for the other to mull over when idle.

”But...”

Sensing some realization, Amber seemed to still harbor unresolved doubts.

Gazing towards the depths of the Unseen Hillock, she couldn’t help but hesitate to speak—then missed the chance.

In the corner of her eye, an outsider had already uncapped that potion and drank it down.

...

It was indeed the antidote.

Tasteless upon entry, just like a bottle of color-changed water.

Yet in the blink of an eye, Fu Qian realized the surroundings had changed, and Amber had quietly vanished.

The process lacked any dramatic dreamlike awakening, just as bland as the liquid’s flavor.

Though that subtlety was instantly altered by colorful neon signs.

He truly returned. Though still night, the bustle was noticeably more lively here.

Even returning to the initial starting point.

Fu Qian glanced around, more certain of understanding the poison’s principles at that moment.

No doubt, he was quite confident this was indeed where the mission began.