Chapter 345: Chapter 343: Condition
With no one else around, Jiang Chen looked at the old man with some apprehension.
The old man studied Jiang Chen for a moment, seeming quite satisfied.
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he smiled. "Don’t be nervous, boy. I sought you out to discuss something."
Jiang Chen was stunned. He truly didn’t know this old man at all.
He was powerless to resist and could only go along with the old man’s arrangements.
He had seen it himself—with a single word from this man, Grand General Ming Zhe had slapped his own face.
And Flame Dragon, with a Cultivation near the Martial Emperor realm, had vanished with a mere wave of the old man’s hand.
A person like this was powerful to a terrifying degree.
And this old man was none other than Fang Yinzi.
He sat on the altar, not having moved an inch.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Fang Yinzi. You have surely never heard my name."
"I know you’ve come for the Black Fire."
"The Black Fire is very important to you. So let me ask: do you truly want to obtain it?"
As he spoke, his burning gaze fixed on Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen barely hesitated.
He nodded solemnly.
"That’s right. I do want the Black Fire. It is critically important to me."
’My Alchemy Skill needs the Black Fire to advance.’
As he observed Fang Yinzi, he had a faint feeling that this man definitely had a way to get the Black Fire, and perhaps could even decide who obtained it.
The thought made his heart race.
His only worry was that the man’s conditions would be too harsh.
’I know a powerhouse like him wouldn’t approach me for no reason. I must have something he wants.’
Fang Yinzi chuckled.
He said playfully, "In that case, let me tell you a fact."
"To find the Black Fire, you must reach the ninth level."
Jiang Chen had already guessed as much. He suddenly said, "Senior, how about I get the Black Fire first, and then we can discuss the terms?"
Fang Yinzi shook his head.
"Wrong. You are mistaken."
"I am not finished."
"What I want to tell you is that you can never reach the ninth level from the eighth."
"The passage to the ninth level is on the seventh."
’What?’
Hearing Fang Yinzi’s words, Jiang Chen froze.
’You can’t reach the ninth level from the eighth... That means anyone who entered the eighth level has no chance of getting the Black Fire.’
The realization was staggering.
He then realized this Ghost Temple was no simple place.
’It’s bizarre through and through.’
’The most shocking part is that the passage to the ninth level is on the seventh.’
’No one would ever think of that.’
’Clearly, Flame Dragon and the others no longer have a chance.’
’The only one who still has a chance... is me.’
"Is that even possible?"
He looked at Fang Yinzi.
Fang Yinzi laughed heartily. "Surprising, isn’t it?"
"Don’t overthink it. None of them can get the Black Fire."
Jiang Chen took a deep breath.
’At this point, I understand. The Black Fire is in Fang Yinzi’s hands. He can give it to whomever he wishes.’
After a moment of contemplation, he knew the man was about to state his terms.
Before Fang Yinzi could speak, Jiang Chen said in a low voice, "Senior, please state your conditions."
Fang Yinzi was taken aback for a moment, not expecting Jiang Chen to be so decisive.
His expression then turned slightly more serious.
"Boy, tell me your name first."
"Jiang Chen."
Jiang Chen didn’t hide it and stated his name truthfully.
Fang Yinzi nodded.
"If you want the Black Fire, only I can help you."
"As for the conditions, they are actually very simple. For you, it should be a good thing."
Jiang Chen was surprised again.
’I didn’t sense anything detrimental to me in Fang Yinzi’s words.’
’Perhaps Fang Yinzi is just hiding it well. I know there’s no such thing as a free lunch.’
He waited for Fang Yinzi to continue.
With a flick of his finger, a black, square box slowly materialized in Fang Yinzi’s palm.
The box constantly emanated a black glow.
"This thing in my hand is called the Ghost Heart."
"The Ghost Heart is the core that controls this Ghost Temple."
"I am going to give this Ghost Heart to you now. Once you have it and can control the Ghost Temple, you can use the endless treasures here to advance your Cultivation by leaps and bounds in a short time."
In truth, the very thing trapping Fang Yinzi was this Ghost Heart.
Because the Ghost Heart was intrinsically linked to him, he was unable to leave the Ghost Temple.
His only way to leave the Ghost Temple was to transfer the Ghost Heart to someone else.
Moreover, it required a person of heaven-defying talent.
An ordinary person couldn’t withstand the Ghost Heart at all; they would be devoured by it.
He held out the Ghost Heart.
"You have learned the Nine Heavens Spirit-Seizing Technique from the third level, so this Ghost Heart will fuse perfectly with you."
Everything he said was true, without a hint of falsehood.
However, he certainly wasn’t going to tell Jiang Chen that once he fused with the Ghost Heart, he too would be trapped by it.
But it was also true that by obtaining the Ghost Heart and controlling the Ghost Temple, Jiang Chen could indeed use the environment and hidden treasures to advance his Cultivation by leaps and bounds.
Jiang Chen had no idea whether the man’s words were true or false.
He had a premonition that there was something strange about this Ghost Heart.
His instincts screamed at him to refuse.
"Senior, if this Ghost Heart is so important, why would you give it to me?"
Jiang Chen voiced his doubts.
Fang Yinzi was prepared for this and smiled. "I’ve watched you successfully pass through the levels. Your talent is excellent, and I admire it greatly."
"I built this Divine Hall myself. Now I wish to leave, so I’m looking for a fated person to inherit my Ghost Temple."
"You learned the Nine Heavens Spirit-Seizing Technique on the third level, which makes you the very person I am looking for."
This time, he was truly lying. After all, the Ghost Temple did not belong to him.
He had acquired it by chance, and even though he controlled the Ghost Heart, he still couldn’t completely control the Ghost Temple.
Now, by transferring the Ghost Heart to Jiang Chen, he could free himself.
Jiang Chen’s heart tightened. He knew Fang Yinzi was definitely setting a trap for him.
He refused.
"Senior, my talent is still lacking. I truly cannot inherit your legacy."
"You had better find someone else."
However, Fang Yinzi didn’t get angry.
He simply explained, "I know you still have reservations. Don’t worry. I’ll show you something, and then you’ll understand."
Right in front of Jiang Chen, he waved his hand.
SWOOSH!
An image in a Crystal Ball abruptly appeared before Jiang Chen.
Within the Crystal Ball’s image, Jiang Chen could see the first level, the Ghost World; the second level, the Black Water World; the third level, the Nine Heavens World; the fourth level, the Puppet World; the fifth level, the Blood Vine World; and the sixth level, the Staircase World.
He could even see the seventh level, where he and Fang Yinzi were talking.
Finally, he saw the eighth level. On the eighth level, Flame Dragon, Wen Shixuan, and the others had entered but were completely unable to find the passage to the ninth level.
At the same time, Jiang Chen also saw a black crow on the eighth level.
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