37: Chapter 37 The furnace fire remains burning, and the bricklayers have returned.

A scorching shockwave, like an invisible giant wall, burst out, sweeping away all the gravel and broken tiles beneath Chen Fan's feet.

The terrifying energy, capable of melting steel, did not tear him to shreds. Instead, it was as if it had found a channel for release, surging wildly into every limb and bone of his body.

The triple red light in his palm retracted and compressed, finally settling deep within his Dantian, transforming into a heavy yet explosively potent energy seed.

[Critical Energy Stored x 1, Current Storage: 1 / 3.]

[Warning: Energy Overload. Constitution temporarily enhanced for ten minutes.]

The System's cold prompt sounded in his mind, but Chen Fan had no time to pay attention.

His eyes were reflecting the terrifying flames until they were blood-red. In his vision, Mysterious Candle's fanatical and twisted smiling face was melting in the fire, turning into flying ash along with the black banner embroidered with flame patterns on his body.

"Brother... Brother..."

Little Ma on his back let out a mosquito-like moan. The violent explosion had temporarily deafened him. His small body trembled on Chen Fan's broad back, both from fear and from the bone-chilling coldness regurgitated from the depths of the earth.

That was the extreme cold leaked from the 'Condensing Flame Paste' before its explosion, creating a bizarre convection with the intense heat from the furnace mouth at this moment, making the entire ruin seem half ice cellar and half purgatory.

"Don't be afraid, Brother is here."

Chen Fan's voice was hoarse, as if rubbed by sandpaper. He lifted Little Ma higher, using his own not-so-burly frame to shield him from the splashing sparks and debris from all directions.

Broken Gong's roar still echoed in his ears. That single command, "See the outside world for me," was seared onto his heart like a red-hot iron spike.

He had to survive, to take Little Ma, and see the outside world for Broken Gong!

However, reality was far crueler than imagined.

Mysterious Candle's self-immolating detonation was not the end of the madness, but... the beginning of a sacrifice!

"Welcome, Deacon Master!"

"Welcome, Black Robe Deacon!"

Before the roar of the explosion had completely subsided, fanatical shouts, like surging tides, rose from all directions of the ruins.

Dozens of black shadows poured out from the shadows of the collapsed factory buildings and from underground tunnels, like ghosts.

They were uniformly dressed in black tight-fitting clothes superior to those of the Flame Cultists. The 'Purifying Flame Talismans' worn on their chests were no longer paper but made of some kind of obsidian, emitting an ominous faint glow.

The one leading them stepped out from the thick smoke with a steady pace.

He was draped in a wide black robe, the hood obscuring most of his face, revealing only a section of a pale and thin jaw.

He didn't look at anyone, merely slowly raised his right hand, which was covered by a black glove, and gently pressed down toward the fiercely burning furnace.

An unbelievable scene occurred.

The tongues of flame shooting toward the sky seemed to have their throats grasped by an invisible giant hand, forcibly pressed back into the furnace mouth!

The violent flames instantly became docile, leaving only a dark red halo around the furnace mouth constantly contracting and expanding, emitting a muffled roar like the heartbeat of a giant beast.

This single move was even more bizarre and powerful than Mysterious Candle's fanatical ignition!

"Mysterious Candle has died for the Dao, igniting the 'Foundation for Cleansing the World.' His soul will live forever in the Holy Fire."

The Black Robe Deacon's voice was flat and emotionless, yet it clearly spread throughout the entire factory area, carrying an unquestionable majesty, "But the ritual is not yet complete. The filth must be purged."

His gaze, like two cold rays, instantly locked onto Chen Fan, who stood at the exit of the cellar.

"Capture him, and that 'Seed of Heresy.'"

He commanded indifferently, "As for the rest of the dregs, throw them all into the furnace to serve as the first batch of 'kindling.'"

"Yes!"

Dozens of black-clothed cultists answered in unison, their figures flashing, closing in on Chen Fan like a large net.

Their movements were uniform and coordinated, clearly elite troops who were well-trained, far superior to the patrol grunts from before.

At the same time, the prisoners who had luckily survived the explosion and just scrambled out of the chaos had no time to catch their breath before being instantly overwhelmed by this newly appeared group of enemies.

Screams and the sound of blades entering flesh rose and fell one after another. The small flame of resistance that had just ignited was instantly extinguished by even more brutal violence.

Chen Fan's heart sank to the bottom.

Wolves in front, tigers behind!

The retreat route was completely sealed off!

Charge out?

The Black Robe Deacon leading them had unfathomable strength, and he was surrounded by dozens of elites. Forcing a way out would be like striking a rock with an egg, especially since he was still carrying a defenseless Little Ma.

"Brother... are we... going to die?"

Little Ma's voice carried a sob; he felt the suffocating killing intent.

In Chen Fan's mind flashed the dying entrustment of Old Horse Head, and the roar of Broken Gong before he turned to charcoal.

No! He cannot die! And he absolutely will not die here!

His eyes frantically scanned his surroundings, searching for even the slightest chance of survival.

There was no retreat, walls on both sides. The only variable... was the furnace right in front of him, whose flames had just been suppressed but which still radiated terrifyingly high temperatures!

That place was a dead end, it was hell!

But...

Chen Fan's pupils suddenly constricted. An image deeply buried in his memory flashed through his mind like lightning.

Three years ago, he was still a brick mover who was arbitrarily insulted by the foreman.

Once, the factory's conveyor belt pulley malfunctioned, and the location was precisely inside the inspection passage on the inner wall of the furnace. Because the environment was harsh, no one was willing to go.

In the end, it was Old Horse Head who took him in, sneaking inside during the interval when the furnace cooled down.

He clearly remembered Old Horse Head pointing to an inconspicuous exhaust pipe opening on the inner wall of the furnace and saying: "Little Fan, remember this. This thing connects to Cooling Channel Number Three. If the factory explodes one day, this spot might be a dog hole, a way to save your life."

At that time, he took it as a joke, but now... this joke had become the only hope!

[Scanning terrain... Analyzing path to life...]

[Warning: Extreme danger zone ahead! Heat radiation exceeds standard! Structural instability!]

[...Recalculating... Found the only escape route, success rate less than five percent.

Target: Inner wall of the furnace, Cooling Pipe Number Three.]

The System's prompt confirmed his memory!

A five percent success rate...

Chen Fan took a deep breath. The air in his chest felt scorching hot.

He glanced at the closing black-clothed cultists, then looked back at the prisoners who were being slaughtered. The last trace of hesitation in his eyes turned into resolute madness.

"Little Ma!"

He roared, "Hold tight! If you want to live, don't be afraid of the fire!"

Little Ma seemed infected by the determination in his tone. Although still afraid, he used all his strength to tightly grip Chen Fan's neck, burying his face into Chen Fan's back.

"Very good."

Chen Fan grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, his smile carrying a trace of mania.

The Black Robe Deacon watched Chen Fan's actions. "Give up resisting. I can let you die quickly."

Chen Fan did not answer him, but instead poured the strength enhanced by the overload within his body entirely into his legs without reservation.

His muscles instantly bulged, and the ground beneath his feet cracked inch by inch!

"Stop him!"

The Black Robe Deacon seemed to sense something and roared sharply.

But it was too late!

Under the astonished gazes of all the cultists, Chen Fan did not charge forward or retreat. Instead, he suddenly turned around, facing the furnace that resembled the mouth of a giant beast!

There, heat waves rolled, the air warped, and the dark red halo pulsed like the breath of hell.

That was not a path to life; it was an abyss leading to death!

However, what burned in Chen Fan's eyes was a flame of survival even more blazing than the furnace fire!

Holding Little Ma, he moved like a meteorite thrown into purgatory, resolutely crashing toward that crimson expanse capable of melting steel!