Chapter 972

Xuan Shang and his clique had incredibly mixed feelings in their hearts . On one hand, they felt excited over the success they obtained after Su Ming changed their plan, but on the other hand, they were filled with surprise and a hint of uneasiness when Su Ming spoke about the Fifth True World to Dust Burners’ Progenitor .

After all, this was where Dust Burners’ tribe was located . Once their identity was exposed, it would be impossible for them to escape, and what would await them would be certain death .

While their hearts were filled with nervousness, Xuan Shang, Yun You, Nian Yin, and Huo Yu did not send thoughts to each other, but instead thought by themselves .

Xu Hui had always acknowledged Su Ming’s decisions . Even at that moment, it was the same .

The bald crane was a simple-minded creature . No matter what Su Ming did, the main thing it would focus on would only be crystals .

Su Ming sat cross-legged in the fire with closed his eyes . His expression was calm, and not a hint of emotion could be seen on him . He did not want to deceive Dust Burners’ Progenitor too much, even if he had harbored the desire to kill this race before he came here .

However, the kindly and amiable expression on Progenitor’s face had turned into a sigh in the end in Su Ming’s heart .

Humans were complicated creatures . They would be moved by certain things, and as their hearts were touched, their thoughts would also change . This was common sense .

Others would be affected in this manner, and it was the same for Su Ming .

If Dust Burners’ Progenitor had been half-hearted towards him, then he would not have moved Su Ming’s heart, but the more amiable he was to Su Ming and the more he looked at him with a kindly face, the more complicated Su Ming’s emotions became .

He was not a Dust Burner . He also came to this place with a motive . With those thoughts in his head, Su Ming had replied that he was not when Dust Burners’ Progenitor said he was a Dust Burner .

To Dust Burners’ Progenitor, this was brought about by Su Ming’s obstinance and resentment, but in truth, Su Ming was telling him the truth .

That was also why he had told the true reason why he came to this place . But clearly, it had been misunderstood by Progenitor as Su Ming making a request to him .

If he fulfilled this request, then he would choose to become a Dust Burner .

This misunderstanding came about not because Dust Burners’ Progenitor did not have enough experience, and neither was it because he was dumb . Instead, it was because there was simply no flaw in Su Ming’s transformation due to the supreme treasure, coupled with some changes the bald crane had made on some details .

There was not a single flaw in Su Ming’s story, his expressions, his gaze, and all his words .

It could be said that if any one among the supreme treasure, the bald crane, and Su Ming was missing, they would have never reached this point .

Days went by with Su Ming continuing to sit in the flames and waiting .

When one month went by, Dust Burners’ Progenitor appeared beside the one thousand feet tall tower, right beside the flames . There was a hint of fatigue on his face when he looked at Su Ming in the ball of flames .

Su Ming opened his eyes and saw the fatigue on him .

“Are you certain you want to go to the Fifth True World?” Dust Burners’ Progenitor asked calmly .

Su Ming nodded .

“If you want to go to the Fifth True World, you will need the fifth stone to go to the fifth ocean . Over there, the fifth stone will be attracted by the Fifth True World in the void and with rush there at an extreme speed . You must remember to hold onto the stone tightly, for only then will it be able to lead you through time and space .

“When you go there, you must keep the fifth stone close to you at all times . It is the only way for you to come back . ” Dust Burners’ Progenitor remained silent for a moment after that . He then swung his right arm in space, and two jade slips immediately charged towards Su Ming . They seeped into the flames and floated in front of him .

When Su Ming raised his hand to receive them, he scanned them with his Atman . His heart shuddered .

The first jade slip was divided into two parts . The first one was a detailed map of the inner part of Divine Essence Star Ocean, with the fifth ocean clearly marked in there .

The second part was a gigantic outline . Three words were written on it – Fifth True World . This was a general map of the Fifth True World . Even if it was just a small part of it, it was enough to stun everyone .

After all, this was… the Fifth True World that had disappeared countless years ago!

There was only a small part in the second jade slip that was an unknown region . Bedies it, the place was divided into nine layers, and each layer was incredibly detailed . In the ninth one, which was the deepest layer, was a flaming red region . There were three words marked on it – the fifth stone!

“The second jade slip is a map of the fifth kiln . If you want to go to the Fifth True World, you will need the fifth stone, and it is only produced by the fifth kiln . ” Dust Burners’ Progenitor saw shock on Su Ming’s face and explained the reason why he gave the second jade slip to him .

Su Ming fell silent, the shock in his heart becoming even greater . Besides the three maps, there was another reason why he was stunned . On the first jade slip, he had sensed… a bloody presence .

That bloody presence did not seem ancient… but was fresh .

“Progenitor, how… did you obtain this jade slip?” Su Ming hesitated for a moment before he looked at Dust Burners’ Progenitor . When he once more saw the fatigue on his face, he gradually came to an understanding .

“It’s nothing . I already had the map on the second jade slip, but the first part wasn’t complete, and while I might know the way to the Fifth True World through the fifth ocean, I’ve never went there myself . I didn’t know how to come back either . Besides, if you truly reached the Fifth True World, you would need a map . That is why I went to the fifth ocean to search for a few old friends and got myself a map . ” He might have described it with a casual air, but Su Ming could hear the bloody slaughter behind his words .

During the last month, Dust Burners’ Progenitor had to have stirred up a storm in the fifth ocean, and only after a great battle would he have managed to snatch the first jade slip . The fatigue on his face was the proof of that great battle .

This was an important map, especially the parts regarding to the Fifth True World . Those in possession of such a map were definitely not weaklings, or else it would not have taken Dust Burners’ Progenitor a month to obtain it, and he would also not have returned this tired .

“By the way, if you truly obtain the fifth stone, then once you reached the fifth ocean, remember to make a copy of the map and throw the first jade slip into the ocean . At that time, someone will come get it, and once they get the jade slip, they will not make things hard for you,” Dust Burners’ Progenitor said calmly .

Su Ming fell silent . He could already imagine that there were alien races in the fifth ocean, and they would not let just anyone enter their home ground . Then the jade slip in his hands was an authentication token . One that could allow him to enter and exit the fifth ocean at will .

And him coming to possess this authentication token was related to Dust Burners’ Progenitor venturing out this time .

It was certain that besides fighting against them, Dust Burners’ Progenitor had also paid some kind of price .

“Oh, come now, don’t act like a child . I admit that I have been unjust to your father in the past and didn’t search for him, making him wander outside for so many years .

“I said that I will make up to you . Since you brought up the request to head to the Fifth True World, I naturally had to help you with all that I could . As for me, I’m fine . ” Dust Burners’ Progenitor smiled kindly as he looked at Su Ming . His expression was that of a senior member of a family looking at a promising junior member of the family .

Su Ming stayed silent . He had incredibly mixed feelings in his heart, along with a hint of regret .

“Now, let’s talk about the main point . The fifth kiln…” The Progenitor’s expression became serious . “Very few people know where the fifth kiln is located in Divine Essence Star Ocean . However, most of the ancient existences still know about the connection between the fifth kiln and Dust Burners .

“The fifth kiln is the supreme treasure we Dust Burners protect,” Progenitor explained while looking at Su Ming . “However, there is one thing that most people do not know . If you could come here, then you must certainly know about the four venerated races in the inner parts of Divine Essence Star Ocean .

“Heaven Traversers have wings, Virtue Rooters have snake bodies, and Reng Wu Race… It is a group that is completely isolated from us . They live with ferocious beasts, and they have completely turned into them . In fact, I suspect that Reng Wu Race has evolved from a group of beasts .

“Only Dust Burners look somewhat normal, if you ignore our inborn ability to transform… Do you know the reason why?” Dust Burners’ Progenitor looked at Su Ming with a smile .

Su Ming hesitated for a moment before he looked back . Suddenly, an inconceivable idea formed in his mind . Once it took root, it continued growing, until it occupied all of Su Ming’s head .

His eyes focused .

“You came… from the Fifth True World, from inside the fifth kiln!” he only said these two sentences, but once they reached the child-looking Progenitor’s ears, he laughed loudly . The praise on his face grew even stronger .

“As expected of a Dust Burner who possesses the greatest amount of potential since a long time ago . That’s right, accurately speaking, we Dust Burners do not belong to Divine Essence Star Ocean . We… belong to the Fifth True World!

“In fact, we are not even a race within the Fifth True World, but are a race formed after the Vessel Spirit in the fifth kiln was dispersed!

“Our original appearance is how we appear after we transform with our inborn ability . However, once the fifth kiln reached Divine Essence Star Ocean and we obtained the forms we could manifest, we broke our previous master’s seal . Since then, Dust Burners appeared in the inner parts of Divine Essence Star Ocean!

“It has been an incredibly long time since that time . I, too, only learned about this through the words passed down the generations . It’s a pity that it has been a long time since then . When we were Vessel Spirits and had not left the fifth kiln, we did not know about much about the Fifth True World, or else I would not have needed to go to such trouble to search for a map,” Dust Burners’ Progenitor said faintly .

Su Ming might have guessed a part of it, but he was still incredibly shocked by Progenitor’s words . In his shock, another vague guess formed in his head .

This guess made him unable to keep calm . In fact, he thought that this was even crazier and even more inconceivable than his previous deduction . It was highly impossible, but the guess still continued circling in his head, out of his control .

Su Ming forced down the guess in his heart and looked at Dust Burners’ Progenitor before he asked, “Then… the master of the fifth kiln was . . ?”

The young boy raised his head and looked at the sky before he said softly, “Have you ever heard of a race… known as Abyss Builders . . ?”

A loud bang went off in Su Ming’s head .