Chapter 853: Saint Relic

Chapter 853: The Sacred Relic

The Ash Realm.

Clatter—Clatter—

On the rugged wasteland, a damaged flatbed cart rumbled over gravel and shallow pits, groaning and creaking as if it were about to fall apart. Two burly men, one at the front and one at the back, maintained the cart's balance, pushing it forward little by little. The wheels carved two deep furrows into the ground, as if the cart carried a weight of a thousand pounds.

A procession of over two hundred people slowly advanced, centered around this cart.

Most of them were children, dressed in dust-laden, tattered clothes. With heads bowed, they occasionally glanced back, as if searching for the direction home from the black, white, and grey horizon.

"A-Qian, don't cry," a teenager in black linen robes gently said, stroking the head of the girl beside him. "We'll definitely reach the Tianshu Realm safely."

"Brother Xiao Li, why aren't Daddy and Mommy coming with us?" the girl called A-Qian asked, rubbing her red eyes and choking back tears.

"The sorcerers said that the aura of the sacred relic only covers a few dozen meters around it, and the number of people it can protect is limited... That's why only us children can be sent out first."

"Then Daddy and Mommy, staying there, they'll be safe, right?"

The linen-clad teenager remained silent for a long time, then forced a gentle smile and spoke as reassuringly as possible: "No, they won't... Didn't your mom and dad say that once we reach the Tianshu Realm, they'll follow? Then we can all live in the Tianshu Realm together."

"But I don't want to live in the Tianshu Realm. I want to go home."

"Be good, there'll be a chance later." The linen-clad teenager changed the subject. "We've been walking for so long, are you tired?"

"A little..."

"I'll carry you. You can sleep for a while... After all, we still have a long way to go."

"Mmm, okay."

The linen-clad teenager lifted the girl onto his back. Perhaps due to exhaustion, the girl's tear-reddened eyes slowly closed, and she soon drifted into sleep. The linen-clad teenager walked silently among the children, looking at the desolate and unfamiliar black-and-white world before him, clenching his fists in silence, lost in thought.

"Time for a change," another burly man said, walking up to the cart and addressing the two sweating men.

"It's fine... We can keep going for a bit longer."

"Don't be reckless," the burly man said, lowering his voice and frowning. "Have you forgotten what the sorcerer said before we left? You can't stay in close contact with the sacred relic for too long, or you'll be cursed... We must strictly follow the schedule and rotate shifts!"

"The sacred relic..."

The man pushing the cart glanced thoughtfully at the motionless, mummy-like figure on the flatbed. "Do you think this mummy is really as miraculous as the sorcerers claim?"

"I don't know, but since we entered the Ash Realm, we've indeed been safe all the way... Even if disasters passed by, they always went around us."

"So is it dead or alive?"

"It's definitely dead. Since we started, it's just been lying there perfectly still, not even breathing... How could it be alive?"

"Don't speak ill of the sacred relic. Without it, we wouldn't have survived in the Ash Realm until now, let alone reach the Tianshu Realm safely... Get back to work!"

The two figures replaced the sweating cart-pushers, completing the shift change.

No one noticed that, just as they were busy steadying the cart, the mummy-like figure, wrapped tightly on the flatbed, quietly extended a middle finger...

"Phew... At this distance, we should be safe, right?"

On the dark, barren ground, three figures slowly descended. Jian Changsheng looked back; the outline of the Tianshu Realm had faded from view. He immediately relaxed, letting out a long, weary sigh.

Sun Bumian stood nearby, calmly twirling the prayer beads in his hand, and spoke: "We were always safe."

"...Oh, come on. Who was running so fast just now? I couldn't even keep up!" Jian Changsheng rolled his eyes.

"My apologies, but that's just my usual speed when I go for a stroll after dinner."

Jian Changsheng was speechless.

Jian Changsheng couldn't be bothered to argue further with him. He simply found a rock, sat down, and began to recover his strength.

"What's the plan now? Which way do we go?"

"We caused such a commotion in the Tianshu Realm, so going back is definitely out of the question." Chen Ling pondered for a moment. "Now there are only two paths: either we keep going in this direction towards the Wuji Realm, or we take a detour to another realm."

Hearing this, Sun Bumian's eyes lit up, and he immediately spoke: "I choose the Wuji Realm."

"Why are you so excited? Do you have something to do in the Wuji Realm?"

"I..." Sun Bumian hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "No, nothing important... I just heard their black mousse cake is exceptionally delicious, and I want to try it."

"?" Jian Changsheng couldn't help but retort, "Don't you know how chaotic the Wuji Realm is right now? You're going there just for a piece of cake?"

"What's wrong with that?" Sun Bumian pushed up his small round sunglasses and spoke seriously, "In life, all external possessions are fleeting clouds. Fame, fortune, power—they all amount to nothing in the end... Only eating well, drinking well, and finding joy and freedom are the true meaning."

"Then why did you risk your life for a million-dollar prize?"

"Nonsense, how can I buy food without money?"

Chen Ling sat on the other side, finding the bickering between the two buzzing in his ears. He finally interjected, "From our current position, taking a detour to another realm would take at least seven or eight days... Going directly to the Wuji Realm is indeed the fastest option."

"But isn't the Wuji Realm quite dangerous right now? Are we really going there?" Jian Changsheng hesitated. "With you around, walking for seven or eight days in the Ash Realm shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"...It is a problem."

"What?"

"We left too hastily and didn't bring any food."

"Wait... Don't you have a Blood Robe like me? You wouldn't starve to death in ten or fifteen days, would you?"

Grrrrooowwl—

A thunderous rumble came from Chen Ling's stomach. Both Jian Changsheng and Sun Bumian paused, then looked at Chen Ling with strange expressions.

"...This time, it's different." Chen Ling looked down at his stomach, his brows furrowed, seemingly perplexed. "I don't know why, but ever since the struggle for the Celestial Star position, my physical energy seems to deplete incredibly fast... If I don't replenish food soon, I might actually starve to death on the way."

"...Huh?"

Jian Changsheng was a bit bewildered. In his mind, Chen Ling was a symbol of mystery and power, a monstrous anomaly... Just as one couldn't imagine a fairy needing to use the restroom, he simply couldn't fathom that the demonic Chen Ling would ever be troubled by a lack of food.

In contrast, Sun Bumian's nested, colorful eyes carefully observed Chen Ling, as if he had discovered something, looking pensive...