Chapter 80: Igniting the Fire of the Spirit

The five Immovable Golden Bells lasted less than ten minutes before dissipating like bubbles. The group had barely regained their composure when they were once again forced to flee for their lives.

This time, however, they got no farther than thirty miles before Wei Cheng had to halt—not because they were too exhausted to continue, but because the way ahead was blocked.

Another demon stronghold loomed just twenty miles ahead, precisely one hundred miles from the previous one. There was no doubt: only by breaking through this stronghold could they truly escape the poisonous ring. Otherwise, they would have to take a detour.

But time was running out. The fourth wave of Shadow Curse was about to erupt. They had to be in their best possible state.

“Old Wei, if you find yourself unable to go on, you must abandon us. Preserving what living strength remains is the highest priority,” Liu Sui said earnestly within the bell’s protection, his face pale, his entire being exuding the aura of decay. The situation was now painfully clear.

A demon stronghold barred their way ahead; behind them, the Shadow Curse was about to explode. Worst of all, after the curse swept through, the demons in the stronghold would mutate and evolve yet again, while they themselves would not have time to recover.

The balance shifting ever further from them—this was a fatal flaw.

Wei Cheng had looked after them all the way. In the beginning, it was only at Xu Shan’s request that he had left Zhou Wu’s team to stay with them. At this moment of life and death, they could not demand more of him.

After all, with Wei Cheng’s strength now, he could absolutely escape alone.

“Yes, Old Wei, Liu Sui and I have been your burdens. You have protected us all this way, you’ve done more than enough. Don’t let guilt weigh on you. If you truly believe the fourth Shadow Curse will be fatal, leave now—none of us will blame you. Otherwise, there won’t be time,” Xu Shan added, a wan smile somehow still gracing her pale lips. Perhaps, she thought it romantic to die on the same day, month, and year as Liu Sui.

“Boss, it’s us who are holding you back. We’re not strong enough. While the curse hasn’t yet broken out, please take the chance and go around,” Cheng An sobbed uncontrollably, terror gripping him. Though he could urge Wei Cheng to go, he himself was truly afraid of death, his will beginning to fracture—heading for a fate like Sister Zhao’s.

“Boss Wei, it’s been an honor to know you. The fact that we’ve made it this far is already something. I won’t blame you. If you stay now, we’ll likely all die together. I was hoping you’d avenge us. Oh, and I have an adorable, sensible, innocent, and lively daughter—please look after her if you make it back. She’s only thirty-five—” Mei Renli said with a broad, untroubled grin, rattling off a string of phone numbers and an address that made Wei Cheng’s scalp prickle.

“Boss, life and death are of little consequence. I never thought I’d make it so far in the first place. I know my own potential. If it weren’t for you, I’d have died back at the fifth trial. I’m not afraid of death, only regretful that I never made it to the Immortal World to slay a few aberrant demons. Didn’t the trial immortal say it himself? Winning or losing isn’t the point—if we can’t even muster the courage to resist at the end, then humanity is truly without spirit.”

Yu Liang was the most carefree of them all. Even with his breath faint and the aura of decay thick about him, he could still laugh heartily.

Listening to their words, the turmoil and tangled thoughts in Wei Cheng’s heart gradually stilled. Yes, life and death are of little matter—if death comes, so be it. But never let it be said that humanity lost its spirit.

He did not know what the true Immortal World was like, nor what the immortals themselves were. All he could see was that they, too, fought ceaselessly, even as their world crumbled around them.

Earth’s people might be the last human descendants among the Three Thousand Worlds—weak, unable even to cultivate immortality directly—but they were not without worth.

At the very least, they still possessed the courage and pride of being human, the will to care for the weak, defend their homes, uphold their dreams, and sacrifice for righteousness.

So why not fight?

Wei Cheng’s awareness, his will, suddenly cleared—as though he had finally cast off an enormous burden. Never before had he so clearly known what he wished to do, what he must do.

“Wait here. I’ll return soon.”

With that, Wei Cheng drained all the osmanthus wine from his basket in one go. Under the complicated, astonished gazes of his companions, he strode toward the demon stronghold twenty miles away—a fortress now swollen to monstrous proportions.

His blood surged through his veins, his heartbeat thundering like war drums!

With each step, his spirit grew ever more focused. It had nothing to do with mysterious powers or divine light. This was his own will, his own fighting spirit, the resolve passed down through his blood and soul, the battle-lust borne by his entire civilization.

No longer caring about life or death, the fear of dying could do nothing but whimper in the corner.

No longer concerned with victory or defeat, hesitation and cowardice could not touch his heart!

When his will, soul, and conviction burned together as a single blazing fire, it ignited his spirit in turn.

In that instant, his vast spiritual power at last took on a form that belonged to him alone.

Yes, at that moment, Wei Cheng suddenly understood.

Though the divine light bestowed many gifts, beyond enhancing the body’s potential, the spiritual power it increased was a kind of cheat—because that power could never truly belong to them.

They had to understand, to grow, to realize who they were, where their responsibilities lay, and whether, when faced with an invincible foe, they could still die as true humans.

This is vital!

Only thus could one ignite the true fire of their own spirit.

Boom!

In a single moment, Wei Cheng broke through the barrier at the edge. His spiritual power, under the blessing of will and conviction, fused and unified—then, almost effortlessly, broke through.

In that instant, he felt himself become a blazing sun, soaring into the sky, illuminating the earth, his radiance sweeping in all directions. Wherever it touched, monsters and shadows, curses and ghosts, had nowhere to hide!

It was an exhilarating sensation.

Alas, it lasted only a second.

Then he saw—or more accurately, sensed—a tiny golden seed had appeared at the center of his brow.

It was so small, no bigger than a needle’s tip or a grain of wheat.

Yet it was undeniably real—fundamentally different from all the vague, intangible, indescribable spiritual power before.

Wei Cheng instantly thought of the old saying, “When a man dies, his lamp is extinguished.”

At that moment, he was certain—there were no ghosts on Earth, at least not in the modern world.

Because only by condensing this seed of spirit could the soul persist after death.

Beyond that, he realized with perfect clarity: if the body is the foundation of cultivation, then this spiritual seed is the soul’s sole resting place.