Night of Despair

Deep within the Great Annihilation of the Black Disaster.

Inside Black Black Spirit.

Feng Xuezi was outside maintaining the covered area of the Red Sky Fruit.

Fu Bai and Yu Hong entered Black Black Spirit, guiding the way ahead.

Inside the Great Annihilation, it was a pitch black everywhere, nothing visible from the window, except for the light inside Black Black Spirit shining out from the windows, forming a slender white beam.

"Senior, how is Master doing now?" Yu Hong asked while controlling Black Black Spirit.

"Your master and the others are currently practicing with the Qinghe Mountain sect, they're doing quite well, just... sometimes they think about you and Quan He," replied Fu Bai.

"But didn't Uncle-master return to the sect with you? How come..." Yu Hong asked, puzzled.

"The sect did send Golden Immortals initially, migrating together with us, but we encountered the Great Annihilation midway, halting the migration. To protect the sect first, they left ahead. Maybe they'll come back later, but...." Fu Bai lowered his head slightly and didn't continue.

"So with the Great Annihilation, can't we go and migrate together with them?" Yu Hong frowned.

"The sect is too far, the Red Sky Fruit's range can't perform instantaneous movement, only flying migration.... By the way," Fu Bai pulled out a broken golden rear knife from the flesh lump behind his back.

Surrounding the knife were faintly visible circles of dark golden rune lines.

"This is the core of the defensive array that I co-crafted with your Uncle-master, it was heavily damaged before. Could you help repair it? The remuneration is as usual," said Fu Bai, handing over the broken knife.

"Alright, leave it to me." Yu Hong took the broken knife readily, the Black Mark on the back of his hand flashed, releasing a black line which entered the knife.

But soon, the next second, Yu Hong's smile froze.

From within the broken knife, that black line flowed back into the Black Mark on its own.

Unconvinced, Yu Hong tried once more.

After all, he had previously succeeded in repairing items crafted by Heavenly Venerates like the Red Sky Fruit, but now....

Yu Hong remained silent, attempting again, over and over. The black line from the Black Mark on his hand entered the knife only to swiftly return each time.

Until the twentieth time...

The black line once again returned to Yu Hong's hand.

He stopped.

Next to him, Fu Bai also stopped.

The safe house was quiet, silent, no one spoke.

Logically, the Black Mark had once repaired the Red Sky Fruit and other high-level treasures, but now...

After a long silence.

Yu Hong finally spoke slowly.

"My abilities, they seem to have a bit of trouble."

Fu Bai sighed, took back the broken knife and handed over a black box.

Yu Hong received again, trying to repair it.

But....

His expression grew increasingly grim.

"Senior...." He suddenly halted the safe house, floating directly in the black mist of the Great Annihilation.

"You all should go back..." he said in a low voice.

"Go back where?" Fu Bai countered, "Our previous position is almost unsustainable."

"Anywhere, just not with me," Yu Hong replied, "Best, best to fly in the exact opposite direction of the one I led.... Perhaps that's safer."

Fu Bai did not answer, but sighed softly, pushed the door open and flew toward the rear where Feng Xuezi was.

Not long after, the red glow from the Red Sky Fruit gradually disappeared from behind Black Black Spirit.

Feng Xuezi and Fu Bai left, without saying goodbye, simply departing without any reluctance.

Inside Black Black Spirit, Yu Hong sat down, recalling what Su Dan once said.

"I...."

He opened his mouth, discovering everything around beginning to fade, becoming transparent.

"So, I am...." Yu Hong finally confirmed, bitterly smiling, lying back on the ground, looking at the gradually transparent ceiling, slowly closing his eyes.

"I truly wish, everything was but a dream...."

Silently, he and Black Black Spirit completely vanished within the black mist of the Great Annihilation.

Not long after, Feng Xuezi and Fu Bai returned to the original spot, attempting to find Yu Hong and the safe house, but found nothing.

The two stood within the spherical red glow of the Red Sky Fruit, falling into silence.

It was a good while before Feng Xuezi spoke again.

"The Red Sky Fruit can barely protect us for now, with our combined strength, we can self-sustain. If we stay in the Great Annihilation, eventually something will happen." He estimated the area of the red glow.

"Compared to the beginning, the Red Sky Fruit's region has already shrunk by a third. At most, we can sustain for two more months."

"There is only one choice now," Fu Bai said calmly, "Enter the Heartless Belt!"

"You mean...." Feng Xuezi seemingly grasped something.

"Yes, if there's any place where Heavenly Venerates are likely to revive, it must be the Heartless Belt. Many Heavenly Venerates went missing back then, their bodies never found. But the Heartless Belt still has remnants of their corpses. If they revive, there's the highest hope there." Fu Bai replied. "Speaking of which, quite a few treasures on me were scavenged from there."

"But... we are now protecting the Red Sky Fruit, unlike back then..." Feng Xuezi hesitated.

"But now there's no other choice." Fu Bai lowered his head.

*

*

*

Floating City.

The immense Floating City was following the same Black Black Spirit, flying towards the depths of the Wind Disaster.

Ku Chan, Quan He, Yiyi, and Little White Dragon gathered together, standing inside the large ship of Aus Academy, looking out through the crystal windows at the countless strands of the Wind Disaster swaying outside.

"The Floating City can't stay inside the Wind Disaster for long. The outer shell has already started corroding and deteriorating. At most, we have a year. If we can't find a sufficiently safe isolation zone, the entire Floating City will have to further shrink the Defensive Array, cutting off the parts eroded by the Wind Disaster," Ku Chan said solemnly.

"Now it seems, Yu Hong is truly extraordinary. The Black Black Spirit can stay in the Wind Disaster for such a long time without fear of erosion, which indeed is beyond the capabilities of ordinary people," Quan He nodded.

"Actually, after returning to the Floating City, I realized that a person like Brother Yu is one of a kind. According to Lord Agrius, all other Vitality Ship captains are facing immense harm due to Source Disaster erosion. Their Vitality Ships will soon deteriorate over time," Ku Chan nodded.

"I hope we can really reach a safe place this time. Along the way, there have been nothing but debris and wreckage, and we've discovered no other settlements of living people," Quan He sighed.

Beep... Beep... Beep...

Just then, the Water Instrument Ball behind Ku Chan suddenly vibrated slightly, emitting a buzzing sound.

The Water Instrument Ball was placed there by Quan He for easy contact with Yu Hong ahead.

Now it sounded again, and Yiyi, who was standing by, carefully checked the symbols displayed on the ball's surface.

"It's Brother Yu," she quickly said.

"Connect it," Quan He squeezed a Seal in his hand.

Instantly, the surface of the Water Instrument Ball glowed with Golden Light, and the next moment, with a hissing sound, a beam of golden light shot out from the surface, forming a light curtain in midair.

In the light curtain appeared Yu Hong, sitting cross-legged at the bow of the Black Black Spirit ship.

His short black hair and blindfolded eyes, coupled with a more rugged physique and black attire, made him look imposing as he gazed at them.

"We're almost there. There's a checkpoint ahead that looks like a Black-White Wind Disaster Annihilation Vortex on the surface. But in truth, if you charge through its center, you'll reach a place called Ning. I've been there once; it's similar to the eye of a tornado, very safe and quiet. The only issue is resource scarcity; there's nothing inside, so we have to rely on ourselves," Yu Hong explained in a deep voice.

"Therefore, when you see me charge towards the Black-White Wind Disaster Vortex, you must not hesitate, because the moment for entry is fleeting. A slight mistake could lead to total destruction. Remember that!"

"Mm, don't worry, we trust you!" Ku Chan nodded without hesitation.

"That's good. Also..." Yu Hong nodded, about to say something more.

Beep... Beep... Beep...

Suddenly, the Water Instrument Ball sounded again.

Even though he was already in contact, the Water Instrument Ball was now making another connection request.

Yiyi quickly approached to check the symbols on the surface of the ball.

But as she looked, she was stunned.

"What's wrong, Yiyi?" Quan He noticed and stepped closer to look at the Water Instrument Ball's surface.

As she looked, she was also taken aback.

The symbols on the ball's surface were still indicating Yu Hong!? But Yu Hong had already linked up with them...

Quan He quickly raised her head, looking at the light curtain in midair.

Yu Hong in the light curtain also noticed the symbols on the Water Instrument Ball and recognized the situation.

"At such a time... could it be a Heart Disaster!?" Yu Hong's face grew serious. "At this critical moment, any hesitation or doubt will result in the ship's destruction and the crew's death. So even a slight wavering can cause catastrophic consequences..."

"That's possible..." Quan He nodded, looked at the perpetually flashing communication connection symbol on the Water Instrument Ball, pondered for a moment, and then directly disconnected the call.

"So, it's settled then. Remember, do not hesitate even a bit. When I tell you to charge, you must do so immediately. Set the speed right." Yu Hong emphasized again.

"Understood..." Quan He nodded.

Beep... Beep...

Just then, the Water Instrument Ball sounded again. The symbols on the ball's surface were still indicating Yu Hong.

This time, Yu Hong frowned, but before he could speak, Quan He swiftly disconnected the call again.

"Don't worry, we won't be swayed," Quan He said calmly.

"That's good. Now I can rest assured. I have some tasks to attend to," Yu Hong nodded, his tone softening.

"Alright." The light curtain dimmed, and Yu Hong disappeared.

There was a moment of silence inside the ship.

Quan He exhaled, lowered her head, and gently stroked the Water Instrument Ball.

"Did you remember the symbols from the communication just now?" she asked Ku Chan.

"I remembered." Ku Chan nodded.

"Call back," Quan He stated calmly.

Ku Chan, Yiyi, and Little White Dragon were all taken aback but said nothing.

Shortly after, Ku Chan redrew the complex communication symbols with mana, and Quan He input them into the Water Instrument Ball.

Beep, beep... beep, beep...

The rhythmic calling sound echoed again.

"Why call back? Do you not trust Brother Yu?" Ku Chan asked.

"I trust him, but I want to see what tricks the Heart Disaster can play, so we can prepare for it and defend against it in the future," Quan He explained.

Clack.

Just then, the Water Instrument Ball connected.

"Quan He... Junior Sister?" Yu Hong's voice came from the other side, tinged with caution.

"It's me. You used to call me Senior," Quan He's expression was wooden.

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

Then there was over ten seconds of quiet breathing.