In an instant, dead silence.

When Ji Jue turned the handgun over and handed it out, the originally crowded crowd seemed to stir for a moment, retreating, as if the barrel aimed at them rather than the grip.

No, even more than the barrel...

For a fleeting moment, those vastly different faces stiffened, as if unable to react, or perhaps not yet able to comprehend the significance behind this piece of good news.

Opportunity, turning point, dawn, redemption.

Call it whatever you like.

Sometimes, when such a crucial moment arrives at one's door, the first thing felt in the heart is not relief and joy, but... fear.

Panic, unease, wavering.

Something surged within those hollow eyes.

What if this is fake?

After such a great escape, to receive such a surprise, everything felt too good to be true, yet so close.

But, what if it is true?

When such a thought emerged in one's chest, the burgeoning impulse suddenly froze, vanished.

Leaving only chilling silence.

Accustomed to repeated failures and surrender, fleeing time and again in endless exile, those tormented repeatedly tell themselves they simply lack the blessing of the Holy Lord, lack equal opportunities, lack necessary conditions...

Even, resign themselves to despair.

But now, when such an opportunity is laid before them, they realize that from now on, there may no longer be excuses for losing.

No more excuses for losing.

Even if there really is the power to kill Angels before them, the precious glimmer of light illuminated only greater darkness and more terrifying futures.

Moreover, even if they could kill Angels, so what?

The disparity between enemies remains daunting, like fighting dogs in desperation, rebellious ones can't even compare to a grain of sand in the vast sea. After fleeing so long, is there really still confidence to grip weapons and fight this endless war?

Even, whether one still has the chance...

Surrender?

In that instant, Linka raised her hand without hesitation.

Ji Jue ignored her, even as she waved, shouted his name, he remained deaf. This wasn't where she needed to step in, nor did she need to display miracles again.

In this brief delay and silence, Ji Jue's expression stayed blank, yet not surprised. Too many have been scared, too many want to escape reality... Even in this dream, they cling to naïve fantasies, unable to face despair.

But the stiff crowd suddenly surged forward, heads crowded together. As some stood rigidly in place, more surged forward without hesitation, shouting, raising their hands, striving to attract Ji Jue's attention.

And among them, suddenly a small, stooped figure came forward, fell to the ground, climbed up, scrambling forward.

Exerting all their strength, pushing aside those before them, even, without any respect or restraint, crossing prior boundaries, staggering up the platform.

On the youthful face remained traces of a nosebleed from the fall, the patched-up arm clearly wasn't his own, missing several fingers.

The young man, determinedly extended his hand toward him, almost demanding:

"I should do it!"

In that rough and hoarse voice was impudence, lacking education, like a burning urgency.

It must be me!

It has to be me!

Because, without me it won't do!

Such eyes...

"Alright."

Ji Jue smiled silently, placing the handgun into his hand, indifferent to the disrespect in his tone, even, hand by hand, taught him to stand firm, assume position, personally pulled back the hammer for him.

"Have you really thought this through, kid?"

He bent down, softly reminding in the young man's ear: "You understand what you're doing, right?

Once this shot is fired, Sky City will definitely not tolerate you, even if in the future you lose, manage to escape, or surrender, even if you contribute greatly to them, you will only eternally burn in Border Prison."

For a moment, the young man's wrist holding the gun seemed to tremble, almost imperceptibly.

Yet immediately, veins bulged.

"Why should it be them burning in Border Prison?"

The young man fiercely turned, looking at him, questioned.

Then, definitively pulled the trigger!

Once, twice, and again—the heart-stopping roar suddenly erupted, causing the entire camp to halt abruptly, and amidst the residual echoes of the thunderous noise, only the mechanical click of the empty shell casings rotating was heard, besides a nearly desperate lament.

From within Angel's remains—

A small bullet drove through the indestructible body, like a red-hot needle pierces the Dream Shadow.

Next, line after line of minute fractures suddenly spread, expanded, covered the entire body.

Piercing howls spread, numerous broken eyes suddenly widened. After the last glimmer faded completely, only dead fish-like hollowness remained.

The visible collapse began, yet was immediately swallowed, covered by writhing silver light, becoming a sculpture of death standing before everyone.

He, or it, is dead.

At this moment, amidst silence, everyone dazedly watched the scene before them, and then, involuntarily cheered and shouted, hoarse roaring, even, hysterically waving arms, tears streaming.

The entire camp neared boiling, each shocked face did not fade, revealing uncontrollable joy and delight.

Celebrate, shout.

Like sparks extending in grass into a sea of flame.

Amidst the excited and shouting torrent, Ji Jue lowered his eyes, looking at the young man beside him, still holding the empty gun, stiff fingers clamped on the trigger.

No delight, nor joy.

Just staring fixedly at the corpse of the Angel, as if waiting for it to rise again, ready to engage in a desperate struggle once more!

In the pitch-black pupils, only deeper hatred and loathing burn silently, like smoldering embers.

Ji Jue couldn't help but smile.

Gently stroking his hair, and finally patting his shoulder.

Then turning to leave.

Truly a fine piece of material.

He began to look forward to it.

.

.

Half an hour later, inside the Chicken Foot House, Ji Jue unapologetically took over Old Deng's workshop, claiming it for himself, even picking out and complaining about the internal structure and making judgments regarding its usability.

You better take it easy!

Bao Dacai rolled his eyes, watching as Ji Jue unceremoniously went through his jars and bottles, quickly hiding the treasures he had saved during this time deep within his arms.

But the Melting Furnace was too large, really couldn't be hidden, so it had to be used.

Except...

Inside the Melting Furnace, the molten iron formed by the Angel's remains was filled with wails, faces rising and falling, merging into bizarre shapes.

"Living Spirit Refining?"

He started pointing and sneering without any courtesy, "Oh my, I am so familiar with this, you do look unrecognizable... I remember this is a forbidden technique in the association, right?"

"Funny that someone from Nirvana is talking to me about forbidden techniques."

Ji Jue replied coldly without turning around, "I kill the Federation's ministers and generals, I kill emperors and princes, but I know, I am a good person..."

"Don't say it so carelessly, how could you label people so severely!" Bao Dacai started to be stubborn again, refusing to admit anything, turning it around: "Whether I am Nirvana is another matter, but your skill here, tsk tsk tsk, not even You Sui is this familiar with it, right? Thankfully, this patch of land doesn't have Superior, or, adding more blessing and some effort, great disaster could even arrive..."

"Then go report me."

Ji Jue rolled his eyes, stood up straight, adjusted his collar, curiously asking: "Excuse me, are you going to report the association's craftsman chief this term, the Heavenly Artisan, me, appointed by Delong the old president and Gustav, association's new pillar, having association with You Sui?"

"Lucky for you, you didn't bring up Ye Xian and the Heavenly Furnace's banner, or else there wouldn't be enough space here for me."

Bao Dacai sneered, "If Jian Yuan had even one-tenth of your hypocrisy, he wouldn't have gone to You Sui, but unfortunately, you don't have one-tenth of his sincerity."

"Heavenly Furnace? Jian Yuan? Who is that, I'm not familiar, it sounds like roadside weeds."

Darn...

Bao Dacai was stunned, involuntarily wanting to give a thumbs-up, realizing that Ji Jue is indeed Ye Xian's student, skilled in deceit and betrayal: "I hope you'll dare say that in front of them."

"Well then, the question arises—"

Ji Jue smiled slightly, turning back to ask: "How do you know I haven't said it before them?"

"…"

Bao Dacai's expression twitched twice, not wanting to talk anymore.

Being this old, suddenly experiencing for the first time, we're all darn Ashes, yet among craftsmen, there's still a darn distinction in moral level...

Watching as Ji Jue, the rascal, did as he pleased in this place built out of his dreams, throwing around various messy skills.

Just felt the association's Punishment Team not yet knocking at the Coast's door, absurdly unbelievable!

Ji Jue wanted to use something normal, but unfortunately, there were no relevant documents or basic rules inside this dream.

Using his hands directly to operate, it was possible to achieve effects through transformation, but involving soul manipulation alchemy skills, simpler violent quick effective methods were largely found along You Sui...

Otherwise?

Otherwise kill Old Deng next to him first, see if he might explode some Gold Coins of Marvelous Alchemy?

Forget it.

Alchemy, after all, has the concept of affinity. Ji Jue figured, with his heel, he knew his affinity with Marvelous Alchemy was touching enough to tears.

Three elements, three Superiors, he doesn't have any!

"Hiss, too sinister and outrageous."

Bao Dacai leaned close, gazing at the black flame blood fire gradually shaping into that one gleaming illusion, shaking his head: "This kind of demented stuff, who do you plan to use it on?"

"Um, not quite sure yet." Ji Jue shrugged, "Speaking of which, just met a promising young person, they're a bit young, but there is potential for the future."

Potential for the future?

Bao Dacai rolled his eyes, do you have the right to say someone else has potential for the future? You're also a little novice!

But... now Ji Jue, probably no matter where he goes, it's difficult to be treated as a normal craftsman. Whether it's the Heavenly Artisan he made, the corpses he stepped over, or the background he relied on...

Even within the association, he could move forward to those few front tables.

Regarding the young person he mentioned…

He thought a bit, tapping his forehead.

"That child, I remember him."

"Is he famous?" Ji Jue wondered.

"In not very likable ways? Surely."

Bao Dacai shook his head: "Doesn't obey management, doesn't listen to others, often fights, flips out at any moment, like a hedgehog.

Initially, everyone pitied him, later on, nobody cared, letting him fend for himself."

"Details."

Ji Jue looked down at the flames, waiting for the final Purification to complete.

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