Chapter 11: A New Secret Art—Purification
Bang!
After a thunderous sonic boom, Feng Zhe landed on the ground, while Guludi was sent flying and crashed heavily onto the earth. Fortunately, Guludi’s mask remained intact, preserving his dignity.
“I underestimated you!”
Come forth, Sacred Robe of the Furnace!
With another explosive sound, magma erupted from the distant volcano. From within it soared the long-slumbering Silver Sacred Robe of the Furnace constellation. Feng Zhe gazed toward the volcano and saw a deep crimson sacred robe appear in the sky. At Guludi’s shout, the robe disassembled and clad itself upon him.
Ikki had never known that Guludi was a Saint; even his daughter, Esmeralda, stared at her father in utter shock.
Clad in the Sacred Robe of the Furnace, Guludi radiated a fierce aura.
Feng Zhe looked at Guludi in astonishment—his cosmos had reached the Seventh Sense.
This was the first Saint he had ever encountered possessing the strength of gold, and his cosmos was so violent, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
“Die!”
Without any wasted words, the furious Guludi launched a punch as fierce as a volcanic eruption, mixed with scorching magma and blazing flames.
Feng Zhe was enveloped in this volcano, the searing pain overwhelming him.
The temperature of these flames far exceeded those of the minor fiery Saints.
At this critical moment, the sacred fire within the Altar Robe emerged.
The moment the sacred fire appeared, the raging flames were instantly subdued.
A massive whirlwind of fire circled the Altar Robe, as if something within it was drawing the flames.
Feng Zhe’s tightly shut eyes snapped open, shining with divine light.
Sacrifice!
Deprivation!
He softly uttered these two words, and the sacred fire rebounded directly onto Guludi.
Guludi felt an intense sense of stripping—a sensation he had never experienced before.
With a crisp snap, the flames enveloping Guludi tore the Sacred Robe from his body.
Once again, the Furnace constellation’s star map appeared in the sky.
The star map flashed briefly and then plunged into the sacred fire.
As the sacred fire entered Feng Zhe’s robe again, the story of the robe unfolded in his mind like the river of time.
During the first Holy War, the alchemists of the Mu continent helped Athena forge the sacred robes, which angered the gods. The Mu continent was submerged, leaving only scattered islands in the South Pacific.
The descendants of Mu spread across these islands, and one of them, using fragments of the sacred robes, created many more robes.
Because these robes were not recognized by Athena, they became Dark Sacred Robes.
The remaining alchemists, hoping for Athena’s protection, used the furnace that forged the sacred robes to create the Sacred Robe of the Furnace.
Its true secret was the forging of sacred robes.
Unfortunately, no Saint who obtained this robe ever comprehended its true power.
This was the origin and history of the robe.
Feng Zhe’s understanding of the Altar’s abilities grew deeper.
At that moment, the enraged Guludi roared and kicked toward him.
“What!”
No one expected the Furnace Sacred Robe to shield Feng Zhe.
Even Ikki could not fathom why the Furnace would betray the Saints and choose their enemy.
Only Feng Zhe understood—it was due to a trace of divine power within the sacred fire.
“Damn it!”
Guludi’s eyes turned crimson, and darkness swallowed him whole.
He charged, intent on taking Feng Zhe down with him.
Feng Zhe’s gaze brimmed with infinite compassion—this very feeling allowed him to grasp another secret art of the Altar.
Sacrifice!
Purification!
The sacred fire erupted anew, now pure white, blazing intensely upon Feng Zhe.
With a single punch, the flames of purification struck Guludi.
“No! Father!”
Even the ordinary Esmeralda sensed the formidable power of the flames.
She tried to save her father but was held back by Ikki, collapsing to the ground in tears.
The white flames burned on Guludi’s body, the agony suffocating him.
Dark energy rose from his head, only to be devoured by the white fire.
Feng Zhe landed once more, watching calmly.
After a quarter of an hour, the white flames extinguished, leaving Guludi collapsed on the ground, black smoke wafting from him.
“Father!”
Esmeralda threw herself onto Guludi’s chest, just as the mask atop his head began to crack.
With a shattering sound, it crumbled to dust.
A square face was revealed, strikingly similar to Esmeralda’s.
“You killed my master!”
Ikki, furious, launched a punch, but Feng Zhe intercepted him.
“He’s not dead.”
Feng Zhe’s words instantly halted the turmoil.
He walked over and gently pressed a pressure point.
Guludi’s brows twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes.
“Esmeralda! My daughter!”
The violence in Guludi’s gaze vanished, replaced by clarity.
“Guludi, can you now promise me to go to the Sanctuary?”
Feng Zhe’s question made Guludi fall silent for a long time before he replied, “I’ll go with you, but Ikki and Esmeralda must stay here to monitor the Dark Saints.”
“Master!”
Ikki still could not comprehend what had happened. The hatred that once filled Guludi was gone, replaced by something else.
“Ikki, there’s a sacred robe in the volcano, but to gain its recognition will not be easy…”
“Master, I will surely become a Saint!”
Seeing Ikki’s resolve, Guludi nodded, then turned to Feng Zhe and said, “Let’s go.”
Feng Zhe agreed, and they returned to the Sanctuary.
…
On the way, Feng Zhe couldn’t help but ask, “Do you think Ikki can really obtain that sacred robe?”
“No,” Guludi replied, “not only will he fail, but he’ll be beaten down by those Dark Saints—he might even die there!”
“Then why leave your daughter behind?”
At this, tears welled in Guludi’s eyes.
“Ikki is the most promising Saint to receive that robe, but to gain its recognition, his heart must be filled with hatred—he’s not there yet.”
Guludi’s words stunned Feng Zhe.
A sacrifice!
He was using his own daughter as a sacrifice, so Ikki could obtain the sacred robe.
“Don’t worry, I believe Ikki will get the robe and protect Esmeralda.”
Feng Zhe had changed the course of events; now that Guludi was brought to the Sanctuary, he doubted Esmeralda would die.
If she did, then Ikki truly deserved to remain alone.