Upon hearing this, Lu Hu sighed with emotion. "That's just like you. Always steady and never rash."

Wang Tao agreed, "Thankfully, it was Fang Zhou. If it were any other trainee, not only would they have failed to report back in time, but they probably would have been trapped inside themselves."

While directing the Stone Golem, Su Xinyan speculated, "Ordinary Professionals wouldn't feel that soul-chilling sensation brought on by the Desecration Torch. It's likely that Fang Zhou was able to sense it because his soul talent is so strong."

Fang Zhou took the opportunity to voice his doubts to the three instructors.

"Since the Desecration Creation is so dangerous, why didn't you clean up the Desecration Aura in Cave No. 1 before?"

The three instructors exchanged glances and sighed.

Lu Hu had Fang Zhou turn off the Hunting Recorder's live-stream function before explaining helplessly, "There's only one reason: we simply don't have the means! The Desecration Aura disperses into the Blue Star's environment. Currently, humans can only roughly detect it, not completely eradicate it. Even the Purification skill of a Light-Attribute Professional can only cleanse a highly solidified Desecration Core; it can't purify the intangible and formless Desecration Aura."

Wang Tao added with a grave expression, "For us humans, discovering a naturally formed Desecration Torch like this early is actually a good thing. The Desecration Aura in this area has already solidified into a Desecration Core. If we can purify it completely, it'll be a blessing in disguise."

Su Xinyan added, "Fang Zhou, for an Apprentice-level recruit like you, it's a bit too early to be learning about these things.

"Just remember one thing.

"Although most of the Abyssal Demons have been banished back to the Mythical World, the Desecration Aura they left behind is like a poison for Blue Star, posing the greatest long-term threat to humanity.

"The specific reasons are too complex to explain right now. Once you grow stronger and reach the Mythical Battlefield, you'll naturally understand."

Fang Zhou nodded slowly, gradually processing the instructors' explanations.

The Stone Golem's flight speed was extremely fast, and it soon carried the group to the edge of the Town Ruins.

By now, having absorbed and devoured the souls of many Night Demons, the fiercely burning Desecration Torch had grown even larger. The number of Desecration Ghost Fires dancing in the air had also multiplied, resembling a sea of blue flames burning over the ruins.

Faced with this suffocating sight, Su Xinyan breathed a sigh of relief.

She turned to Fang Zhou, her tone relaxed. "Thankfully, you discovered it early, Fang Zhou. They won't pose a serious threat now."

Lu Hu also smiled. "Indeed. It looks like the power of these Desecration Ghost Fires is still at the level of a Lower-Tier Apprentice, so they're relatively easy to handle. Fang Zhou, you'll be credited with a great merit for this when we get back!"

Amid their casual conversation, the Stone Golem circled several times above the Town Ruins. The three instructors measured the range of the Desecration Ghost Fire to get a clearer understanding of the Desecration Torch's current state. It was still in its nascent stages, but the evil power it emitted could not be underestimated.

"Now!" Su Xinyan shouted softly. She swung her Magic Staff, swiftly directing the Stone Golem to activate its Stone Skin Armor skill.

As she softly chanted the spell, the stony texture of the Stone Golem's body began to ripple as if it had come to life. Slab-like scales gradually covered its body, forming a layer of indestructible armor. Fang Zhou, Lu Hu, and Wang Tao were encased within this armor in a peculiar way, as if placed inside a mobile fortress, shielded from all external danger.

Then, like an arrow loosed from a bow, the Stone Golem plunged headfirst into the churning sea of Desecration Ghost Fire, carrying the protected passengers with it.

In the night sky, countless blue ghost fires lunged at the Stone Golem like greedy hounds. They exploded around it, making crackling sounds. But to the Stone Golem clad in Stone Skin Armor, it was all just a spectacular fireworks display. Despite their numbers, the Lower-Tier Apprentice-level ghost fires couldn't even begin to shake the defense of the Golden-Tier Stone Golem, let alone leave a scratch.

The Stone Golem was like a meteor falling from the sky—its target clear, its path unstoppable. It headed straight for the Desecration Torch at the center of the Town Ruins, which emanated a faint blue light, determined to obliterate it completely.

"Yahoo!"

Su Xinyan's excited laughter echoed in the night sky.

At her command, the Stone Golem continued to accelerate, finally crashing into the Desecration Torch with the force of a thunderclap.

At that moment, the thousands of Desecration Ghost Fires seemed to freeze for an instant.

BOOM!

A deafening roar shook the heavens and the earth.

Under the Stone Golem's impact, the Desecration Torch crumbled into fine powder like a fragile paper toy. Amid this destructive collision, a fist-sized black gemstone flew out from the ashes. It traced a strange arc through the air, but Lu Hu reacted instantly. The moment it shot out from the torch, he snatched it securely and pocketed it.

With the destruction of the Desecration Torch, the scattered ghost fires seemed to have lost their lynchpin. They began to lose their luster before finally turning into wisps of smoke and dissipating into the night air. The suffocating, bone-chilling cold that had filled the once-oppressive atmosphere gradually faded.

Where the Desecration Torch once stood, a gigantic crater now remained.

"COUGH! COUGH!" Fang Zhou struggled to straighten up on the back of the Stone Golem, which had landed on one knee.

He surveyed the devastated town ruins, and even with his mild temperament, he couldn't help but gripe, "Instructor Su, you're an Undead Mage, not a Stone Golem Knight! A single punch could have solved this. Why did you have to make such a big scene?"

He would have never imagined that Su Xinyan's battle plan would be so simple and brutally direct: just use the Stone Golem to clear a path and smash the Desecration Torch to pieces. Given the overwhelming power difference, the effect was naturally excellent.

But it's so crude! So utterly crude! How could a refined and noble Mage risk their own skin like some Berserker!

Su Xinyan let out a couple of sheepish chuckles. She was still reveling in the Stone Golem's might and didn't pay any mind to Fang Zhou's minor jab.

Lu Hu and Wang Tao also shook their heads, still dizzy from the massive impact of their descent.

Soon, Fang Zhou recovered and followed the three instructors down from the Stone Golem. He looked at the black gemstone in Lu Hu's hand and asked curiously, "Instructor Lu, is this the Desecration Core?"

Lu Hu nodded. "That's right! Judging by its color and quality, it's already a Black-Iron-level Desecration Core. If that Desecration Torch had been allowed to continue to devour souls recklessly for a few more days, it might have started producing Black-Iron-level Desecration Ghost Fires."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.