Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 2436: Chapter 2431: The Prophet Is Dead (42)

This door...

It was almost the most familiar stretch of road in this city, and Fu Qian walked smoothly ahead.

Until he reached the base of the Prophet Mansion, there was no more ambush like the one from the anonymous Demigod, cunning yet confused.

Even the colors black, white, and gray didn’t appear again, as Ashfall was left behind.

The biggest commotion triggered along the way was merely due to the excessively cool armor, drawing the attention of the natives.

Even upon reaching the destination, there was almost no gaze anymore.

The crowd of pilgrims here remained dense, yet their attention was evidently drawn.

The focus of their gaze was conspicuously the door on the building that had been watched for days on end.

Logically, not everyone would have sufficient eyesight to discern details under such lighting.

But clearly, everyone staring could sense something.

The subtle black, white, and gray did not merely bring visual effects.

Indeed, it was another source spreading Ashfall, evidently centered on the ”Gate of Freedom.”

So much that the metaphor used before seemed to fit again — a long-inflamed wound finally unable to heal, even beginning to fester.

Most people lacked the courage to step through the door, and what lay beyond it directly seeped out in reverse.

It seemed it didn’t overly depend on human will as the node.

Because evidently until now, the Ashfall hadn’t spread out of the ”eye of the storm,” and within the range, hardly anyone was seen.

Yet the extension of Ashfall was silent yet determined, as if the door itself symbolized some kind of will.

”Do you see it?”

Fu Qian halted, and after calmly observing for five seconds, someone finally noticed him, asking with a somewhat shaky voice.

”See what?”

Fu Qian turned his head, continuing the inquiry naturally.

...

It was a relatively young woman, with thin lips and pale skin. Apart from delicate features, her neck and above were fully covered by a wide headscarf.

With a slender body, she appeared relatively normal compared to other natives, without bizarre parts, even somewhat fragile.

”That presence of death and silence, even a call...”

Her response carried the same tone, evidently trying not to look at the door, yet gasping to express genuine inner fear.

Indeed, her perception was quite keen, and the description was fairly accurate.

Fu Qian’s assessment of the headscarf lady’s remark was that the precision was quite high.

Her emotional state was entirely understandable as well, watching for days without daring to take a step, only to see such a scene seep from the Gate of Freedom, something beyond ordinary psychological impact.

Furthermore, why she noticed him, Fu Qian believed he had vaguely found the answer—

Under the wide headscarf was an equally wide, dark robe.

Due to excessive emotional turmoil, as she swayed, she revealed the arm below.

One aspect was as thin as imagined, and whether it was as pale as the face, was momentarily hard to discern.

Because her arm was densely covered, nearly every position had shimmering metal pieces.

Though fundamentally different from the structure of his armor, more akin to pins pressed in.

Setting aside the pain factor, it at least showcased a similar aesthetic.

”I feel it, seems a bit dangerous.”

Closely observing this scene, Fu Qian expressed his agreement.

”Yes... dangerous...”

Successfully identifying a second common point, the emotional state of the pained headscarf lady seemed to find a slight and negligible thread of comfort.

Repeating Fu Qian’s words, her voice clearly trembled harder, sensing more about what the Ashfall symbolized—thud!

The next moment, she had already collapsed to the ground, ignoring everything around her.

...

This... sensing danger, then surrendering?

The contrast in actions and words before him was somewhat large.

Because Fu Qian could see clearly, the headscarf lady did not fall due to weak legs, but made that action deliberately.

Making the content discussed with her earlier suddenly seem meaningless—not surprising, wasn’t there a precedent already?

Fortunately, Fu Qian wouldn’t mind this, still expressing understanding.

Even at a glance, she wasn’t the only one doing this here.

Witnessing Ashfall sweeping through, already nearing the ”eye of the storm” edge.

However, whether about to be engulfed or those standing slightly further away, most almost made the same gesture—not escaping, but staying put, as if awaiting judgment.

One could only say that indeed people’s hearts tend toward passivity.

After long waits and torment, perhaps insufficient to accumulate courage to step through that door and embrace ”freedom.”

But when ”freedom” embraces them back, even if the style seems strange and risk somewhat unknown, it’s much easier to muster courage not to leave.

Thud! Thud!

As Ashfall approached, those closest were already falling continuously.

”What’s wrong with them?”

And only then did Holle, covered in blood, finally arrive.

Discovering the most conspicuous outsider in the crowd effortlessly, he expressed deep bewilderment at the situation before him.

”Forced freedom, where’s the other person?”

Fu Qian casually blurted out, glancing behind the Ashen Messenger.

Crystal was nowhere to be seen.

...

”I’m looking for her too.”

Seemingly poked on a sore spot, Holle’s voice instantly grew low.

”On the way here we encountered an ambush. I was exiled to another place, and when I made it back, she was already gone. I thought she might have come here.”

I see.

Fu Qian nodded, expressing no disagreements.

With the High-level Extraordinary density in this place, it’s unlikely that the anonymous Demigod’s cleverness alone was present.

Among suspicious characters emerged from Ashfall, since he could encounter an ambush, why wouldn’t they?

Also indicated by the wounds on Holle, his ordeal might not be as casual as described, clearly went through a tough battle.

”Unfortunately, I haven’t seen Crystal either, but don’t worry, she might pop out of that door any moment.”

While commenting, Fu Qian casually reassured, albeit with slightly abstract phrasing—swish!

With an unusual sound, Fu Qian swung his fist, directly knocking away a bloody claw.

Perhaps because the consolation was too abstract, at that moment Holle skipped the ”bewildered-rage-fury” process, without a word, he attacked directly.

”The true Ashen Messenger wouldn’t act like this.”

Blocking casually without pursuing, Fu Qian simply shook his head at him.