Swallowed Star
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Swallowed Star - Chapter 1054: Flame Space of the Craftsman Star
In the twinkling of an eye, the black-robed figure of Luo Feng transformed into a rush of black current and condensed into a stone. Thereafter, he fell directly toward the bottom.
As the stone fell, it bumped its way down into the deepest depths of the mountain.
Pa!
The stone rammed into the red-hot stone wall and finally came to a halt. Then the stone transformed back into the black-robed form of Luo Feng.
"I've arrived," he said, taking in the view before him. He could not help exclaiming, "So beautiful!"
This was the bedrock of the mountain. He could see a strange, black matter about six miles ahead. It hung suspended in the air, standing than ten feet tall and in the shape of a "gourd-class" object. As this black gourd hovered in midair, its mouth facing upwards, it spurted endless flames that spread outward, nearly filling up the entire mountain. Disciples of Craftsman Master who were undying beings and universe knights created weapons forged by the heat of these endless flames.
As the black gourd hovered in the air, there were invisible connections all over the place—like lengths of chain that could not be seen by the naked eye—connecting the mountain with virtual space. Although these chains were invisible, there were traces of flames strung onto them. They came from the surrounding space and moved inward, directly into the gourd's mouth.
"There are a total of 36 virtual chains," said Luo Feng. He frowned inwardly. "This black gourd seems to merge with the limitless space here. And through this limitless space, it absorbs and stores energy from the flame continually. Is that how it maintains its ability to produce eternal flames?"
Luo Feng was Master of Star Tower. Star Tower absorbed energy from the vast universe to continue revolving, and so, looking at this black gourd… based on what he knew, Luo Feng was able to make a similar judgment quickly.
"Unquestionably, the flames near to the gourd's mouth will require the power of a universe overlord to ward off," he said. "These endless flames spread out almost 100 miles away… Every individual flame is strong enough to annihilate an eternal star. With such energy is being released continuously, there must be a source where it comes from."
Luo Feng could sense that the energy of these endless flames was being continuously transmitted into the black gourd through the 36 virtual chains.
Space transmission? wondered Luo Feng. What method is Craftsman Master using to maintain such an energy-consuming process? As a master craftsman of true treasures, he wouldn't be so foolish as to use up his own energy so relentlessly. There must be a source! Like Star Tower. To maintain such strong energy…
Luo Feng's eyes lit up as the realization dawned upon him. "Of course! The Craftsman Star! Only the Craftsman Star can do that! Craftsman Star is the greatest true treasure that Craftsman Master ever created. With its massive size, it can absorb the limitless energy in the atmosphere of the entire virtual space. Could it be that the star absorbs and internalizes the surrounding energy, then transmits the energy to the gourd? This gourd… It could be a part of the Craftsman Star."
After a few seconds of observation, Luo Feng had deduced the truth. Craftsman Master had made the Craftsman Star for two reasons. One was to build a protective home for himself. The other was to construct a primary tool for creating true treasures. The entire Craftsman Star would be used to absorb limitless energy and continuously churn out flames, which were drawn to the black gourd for the forging process.
"Killing two birds with one stone," said Luo Feng. "Just by modifying the massive Craftsman Star, he was able to achieve this effect. In fact, with Craftsman Master's ability, it would be a piece of cake." He stared at the black gourd. "I can sense that the black metal board is inside that black gourd. What should I do?"
Take the gourd away?
The thought crossed his mind, but he banished it instantly. It was a laughable idea! The black gourd was a part of Craftsman Star—it was a subject with a master! Craftsman Master would certainly know if he were to take it away…
More importantly, Luo Feng was not the master of Craftsman Star. If he wanted to take the black gourd, a component of it, he would have to take the entire Craftsman Star! Given the weight and power of Craftsman Star, he might as well have tried to move Thousand Treasure River. Even a universe master wouldn't have been able to make it budge. In this way, it was just like Star Tower. If it were to completely unleash its power, even a universe supreme master would not be able to take it away!
"I'd better not move the black gourd," Luo Feng told himself. "I should not act rashly. The gourd's mouth will always be open to spurt out flames. But if I follow the path of the flames being drawn into the gourd's mouth… There's no reason I should meet with any obstructions."
Still, Luo Feng was not so sure. He wondered whether the gourd was empty on the inside or filled with even more terrifying flames.
"Heck, I'm going to go all out," he said. "The black metal board is inside the gourd. I have to go in!"
The temptation was just too strong. In an instant, the black-robed form of Luo Feng's godly body split into two. One was his Mosha body, the other was his original earthling body.
"Mosha body shall try first."
Sou!
Right away, he used his talent technique "Domain." In the blink of an eye, he was taking the path into the gourd through the gourd's mouth.
Hong!
Stepping directly into a bed of red-hot, endless flames, Mosha body did not even have a moment to look around, nor did it have even a moment to react before it was annihilated. Not even a strand of hair managed to make contact with the flames.
Poof!
Moshy body was gone in an instant—up in flames faster than it took a single strand of hair to burn. The moment a godly body entered, it was annihilated immediately, without a split second to react.
Luo Feng studied the black gourd suspended in the air by the 36 virtual chains. Instantly, his body unleashed some godly power that rapidly converged to restore Mosha body. Mosha body might have been similar to his original earthling body in size, but qualitatively, there was a substantial difference; only a small amount of godly power was required to restore his Mosha body.
"Time to let my original earthling body try," said Luo Feng. "This godly body of mine is comparable to an ordinary universe knight."
Luo Feng frowned as he took out a world ring and toss it over to his Mosha body. At the same time, he also went into the world ring.
"Go!"
Mosha body immediately took the World Ring and used the talent technique "Domain" again.
Sou!
Instantly, they made their way to the black gourd's mouth.
******
Inside the world ring.
Hong! Long!
Luo Feng looked up at the sky to see the countless cracks on this side of the world. The next thing he knew, the world around him collapsed. Having briefly witnessed how terrifying the flames were, it was obvious that the material used to make the world ring was starting to melt. Then everything on this side of the world collapsed.
The next moment, Luo Feng found standing right in the heart of the flames.
"This is the inside of the black gourd?" he said.
The moment he appeared in this flaming space, the first sensation he felt was scalding hot. He was reminded of how it had felt when he had first scalded himself as a child. Yet, given his willpower today, Luo Feng was able to suppress this bit of pain without difficulty.
"Black metal board!" he said.
Luo Feng felt as though every cell of his body was boiling. The feeling was insane. He lowered his gaze to the bottom of this flaming space. There were many various materials here, and all were very precious and unique. All were able to put up with the high temperature without any trouble. And among them… was the black metal board!
******
At the foot of Craftsman Mountain.
Everything was peaceful, just like any other day. Amid the countless buildings left behind by various great beings from all over the universe, Remote Ocean Luo Feng stood at the door of his courtyard.
Mosha body was annihilated in an instant, he thought. Its consciousness did not even have time to react. My original earthling body only managed to lower his head. Though it was only a split second, his consciousness was allowed a moment of thought.
Remote Ocean Luo Feng sighed to himself. "This is so nerve-wracking," he whispered. "No wonder universe overlords can only resist the flames from outside… The flames on the inside of the gourd are far more frightening than those on the outside."
Luo Feng turned to go back into the house. He sat down cross-legged, to think in silence.
The flaming space within the black gourd contains extremely precious materials. However, these may only be a portion of the materials Craftsman Master owns.
Luo Feng understood that every type of material had different characteristics. Not every material was suitable to be stored within such a scorching hot place. This would be determined by the great beings' natural instincts. Truly precious materials would be carried about by great beings so that they could safeguard them.
My Remote Ocean body is much bigger than my original earthling body. The power of its godly body is much stronger, so I suppose it may be able to hold on much longer. Craftsman Master has three formidable disciples: the one called "ninth brother" and two others who are currently not around. I cannot miss such perfect timing… Let's give it a shot!
Luo Feng made up his mind. He divided some godly power and directed it to converge with his Mosha body. Then Mosha body brought his Remote Ocean body over to Craftsman Mountain, where they snuck in once again.
******
Mosha body snuck into the bedrock of the mountain easily for the second time, then stopped a distance away from the black gourd suspended in midair.
"Are the flames really that powerful?" he muttered. "I only need a small amount of time to grab the black metal board and fly out quickly."
With Remote Ocean body, Mosha entered the black gourd once again. Inside, Mosha body was annihilated in an instant, as expected; the world ring melted, and the side of the internal world collapsed.
The moment Remote Ocean body appeared, he lowered his head and accelerated toward the bottom in one swift dive.
"Black metal board!"
Chi! Chi! Chi!
Endless, red-hot flames annihilated the godly body of Remote Ocean body in a frenzied craze by the time he had managed to cover only about half the distance. Before Remote Ocean body was able to get to the bottommost area of the flaming space, where all the precious materials were, it was destroyed.
******
Yin Fa Secret Region, 3,000 light years from Craftsman Star.
A universe planet ship hovered in midair.
In the control room, an adorable Golden Horned Beast, only three feet long, lay sprawled on the sofa. Its eyes were full of frustration, and it was mumbling under its breath, "I knew it wouldn't be so easy. I knew it! Those frightening flames were much too powerful. Just like how a pinnacle emperor can easily subdue an official level undying with one hand, Craftsman Star has annihilated my godly body effortlessly."
"Remote Ocean body was massive," it continued, "but it only took a split second for it to be destroyed. The difference is much too great… No matter how much energy my godly body has, it is bound to burn. This power is more terrifying than the attack of a universe overlord—more powerful than the greatest attack by Qi Blood Palace Leader. I'm sure it far surpasses the limit of defense of ordinary true treasure armor. Under such force, just as how Golden King Armor's power was greatly reduced, to weaken it by one-tenth would be considered a blessing."
Golden Horned Beast shook its little head and continued mumbling, "Even if the power could be weakened to one-tenth, persevering would still be impossible in those endless flame. The fire within black gourd is more powerful than any other flames in the outside world."
The outside world needs universe overlords who have ordinary true treasure armor. In that gourd… isn't it a must to depend on Force Armor? With my Force Armor, the strength of the flames could be reduced to 1/10,000. That would make things much easier. But if I fail, I would lose Force Armor, too!
Golden Horned Beast lay sprawled in the same spot, letting out low growls intermittently. "I knew it… It is not that easy. Not that easy!"
Sou!
"To bring Force Armor or not? To go or not to go?"
Luo Feng sat down on the sofa with a wine glass in his hand. Golden Horned Beast was also lay sprawled on the sofa. Both sat there, deep in thought.