The gnawing hunger in his body gradually faded, which didn’t surprise Su Chen.

Su Chen tested it further and found that the ability’s backlash only manifested once he had entered a completely calm state.

’Still, for draining 50% of my Physical Strength, the backlash is much lighter than I expected.’

’Could it be that the extra 20% bonus from the panel is created from nothing?’

Su Chen had never really thought about this before, but now that he was mulling it over... ’Considering the reduced consumption and increased total Spiritual Power I’ve gotten as bonuses from main class promotions, it really does seem to be the case. It defies all logic.’

He glanced at the time. It was still a few hours until the Dark Sun. Wisps of crimson flame mixed with electric arcs emerged around Su Chen, sinking into his body and letting out faint crackling sounds.

He had selected his Tier Five Body Refining Technique and Meditation Technique two days prior: the Flame Thunder Bone Refining Body Technique and the Flame Thunder Bright Heart Meditation Method. He had already grasped the basics of both.

However, the Great Venerable’s Double Experience Card was about to expire. He still had a little over ten days left.

Su Chen glanced at his panel, a pang of regret hitting him. Although being one of the chosen gave him a special buff that boosted his affinity for flame-and-thunder-related professions, who would ever think their progress was fast enough?

But the Great Venerable’s chosen were few, and he had already farmed them all once over.

Looking at the cold, aloof Great Venerable, Su Chen muttered to himself, ’I wonder if there’s any other way to provoke it... Maybe defeating the chosen ones of other Morning Star Realm professions would work...’

As his mind raced with these thoughts, time flew by.

When the time of the Dark Sun arrived, he opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them. He first downed a few gulps of a Nutritional Potion, then walked out of the training room and into the Nether Tower.

He entered the Nether Realm with practiced ease. Wisps of grayish-white mist swirled around him.

He pinpointed his location at once. This time, he was somewhat close to the core area controlled by the Sect; he could already faintly make out a stretch of buildings.

Thankfully, however, his location was remote, not near any mining areas, and there was no one else around.

The time of the Dark Sun had its advantages for him. At least under these conditions, the mist was thick and Spiritual Power was severely suppressed. Even a High-tier Spiritual Body would find it difficult to perceive things too far away.

A Metal Mask materialized on Su Chen’s face as he became fully equipped. A closer look revealed a layer of crystalline, transparent substance clinging to the outside of his slightly ethereal Spirit Body—the unique effect of the Crystal Skull.

Only after cautiously leaving the area did Su Chen relax slightly. He glanced in a certain direction and then shot off at full speed.

He had already determined the general direction of the Spiritual Fire, primarily by tracking the Sect members who had left the Nether Realm.

But despite searching several times recently, he still hadn’t discovered its exact location.

After dashing for a while, he suddenly stopped.

’This route happens to pass by that new mining vein,’ Su Chen thought. He transformed into his Faceless Ghost Follower state and approached the new vein once more.

A scene of utter pandemonium broke out among the gathered Netherworld Creatures.

Meanwhile, Su Chen spotted Xiao Hei at the edge of the chaos.

Su Chen’s eyebrows rose. ’He’s actually here.’ For the past while, his main objective had been the Spiritual Fire, so he had rarely visited the mining area.

Spotting him, Xiao Hei seemed thrilled. With its two legs and four arms scrabbling at the ground, it kicked up a cloud of dust as it bounded over.

’Perfect. You can come with me.’

Su Chen waved his hand, and Xiao Hei followed. As a Netherworld Creature, Xiao Hei was still somewhat useful here—for instance, it could sense High-tier Netherworld Creatures.

The man and the monkey-like creature raced across the Nether Realm’s landscape. Only when they were far from the new mining vein did Su Chen deactivate his Faceless Priest state.

Xiao Hei was visibly taken aback. With its level of intelligence, it seemed unable to comprehend what had just happened, but it didn’t react any further.

Then, Su Chen’s Spirit Body was gradually suffused with a crimson hue.

The rapid, successive transformations left Xiao Hei looking baffled and confused. It twitched its nose. Why had this being it revered suddenly become so unfamiliar?

Su Chen was already used to this. It was an unexpected discovery he’d made recently. The Mighty Lord state not only reduced his energy consumption but could also conceal the aura of his Outer Realm Spirit Body, saving him a great deal of trouble.

After all, his Deceitful God’s Follower state created quite a stir. This was a perfect solution.

"Let’s go."

With a push of his foot, Su Chen glided a great distance away. Xiao Hei stared blankly for a second before instinctively following.

...

’It should be around here...’

An unknown amount of time passed before Su Chen came to a sudden halt. The terrain of the Nether Realm rarely changed.

Sometimes he could run for hours, and the scenery would remain nothing but cold, hard, grayish-white earth, with almost no variation. This made it very difficult to get his bearings.

He had already traveled in this direction several times, which was the only way he could be reasonably sure he hadn’t gone astray.

He searched the vicinity and, sure enough, found the black stone marker he had left last time, planted firmly in the ground.

On it, carved with what looked like unknown symbols, were two words. To any other observer, the symbols would have been indecipherable, but Su Chen could read them clearly. They were Chinese characters that formed the words "Departure Marker."

He’d made the mark when he left last time to ensure he could find his way back.

’Hmm, in that case, it should be over there.’

Su Chen slightly changed direction and once again plunged into the endless, hazy, grayish-white mist.

’Exploring this Nether Realm is just too damn difficult.’

Su Chen grumbled to himself as he traveled, having lost count of how many times he’d made the same complaint.

"AWOO!"

Suddenly, Xiao Hei, who was beside him, let out a high-pitched howl.

Su Chen stopped in his tracks and turned back, stunned. "Aren’t you a monkey? How can you howl like a wolf?"