Chapter Eighty-Four: Reverse Absorption

Fengmo's face turned pale, and he hurriedly looked up. At this moment, the silver-white thunder dragon had completely enveloped him, and within those terrified red pupils, the exploding lightning was reflected.

“No!”

With a piercing, agonized scream, Fengmo’s body was swallowed by countless bolts of lightning, and a scorched, sulfurous stench rushed forth. With a thud, Fengmo, charred to a crisp, plummeted from the sky, gouging a crater into the earth.

His body was ravaged, not a patch of skin unscathed; yet even so, his chest still rose and fell slightly, clearly showing that even such injuries had not managed to kill him.

Fortunately, Gu Chongyan had anticipated the demon’s tenacity and was not surprised. Raising his magic staff, he prepared to deliver another blow and finish him off.

“Wait, Gu!” Suddenly, Su Yan shouted from inside the car.

“Hm?” Gu Chongyan frowned, turning to look.

Su Yan, somewhat hesitant, said, “Gu, could you subdue him first? I feel he might be important to me—it seems better to keep him alive.”

As he spoke, his voice grew quieter, as if even he felt his request was unreasonable. Yet Gu Chongyan merely furrowed his brow slightly and nodded. “Understood.”

He waved his staff, and beneath Fengmo’s scorched body, a complex magic circle unfurled. Golden runes, like invisible chains, bound Fengmo tightly to the array.

This was an ancient spell from Kamar-Taj, specially crafted to restrain demons and other extra-dimensional beings. Unless Fengmo’s power surpassed Gu Chongyan’s by double, entering the magic circle was like meat laid upon the butcher’s block, awaiting slaughter.

Clearly, Fengmo lacked such strength; at this point, he was barely breathing, almost indistinguishable from the dead. Even at his peak, if not for his unique constitution, Gu Chongyan would have subdued him long ago.

Seeing Gu Chongyan indicate that Fengmo could no longer move, Su Yan finally hopped out of the car and hurried over.

With Su Yan gone, Richard, who had been pinned and unable to move, was finally freed. He appeared dazed, as if emerging from a dream, and walked wearily up to Gu Chongyan. He opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but could not find the words.

Gu Chongyan, accustomed to such scenes, patted his shoulder and said, “Sorry, brother, for keeping this from you for so long. But everything is as you’ve seen—I am a wizard, I use magic, and this world contains demons and other supernatural forces.

“I know it’s hard to accept all at once, but that’s alright. Take your time, and speak when you’re ready.”

Richard nodded helplessly, then went off to process it all himself.

Meanwhile, Su Yan had reached the edge of the magic circle. He gazed curiously at Fengmo within, utterly unafraid of the demon’s terrifying appearance. After his ordeal with the Hand, his courage was beyond that of ordinary children.

Suddenly, he extended his hand.

“Sean, wait—!” Richard’s face twitched, quickly looking to Gu Chongyan.

Gu Chongyan reassured him, “It’s fine. Fengmo can’t do anything right now. Let’s see what Su Yan intends.”

Knowing Su Yan was no ordinary person, Gu Chongyan did not stop him from this seemingly perilous act.

At that moment, Su Yan’s hand touched Fengmo’s body, and instantly, the magic circle beneath Fengmo lit up. Fengmo, who had been barely breathing, began to struggle violently, letting out agonized screams.

The three were startled, and Su Yan quickly tried to withdraw his hand, only to find his palm stuck fast to Fengmo, unable to pull away.

“Gu, Gu, I’m scared!” Now truly panicked, Su Yan cried out to Gu Chongyan.

Gu Chongyan’s expression changed. Could it be that the magic circle had not truly bound Fengmo, and he still had tricks left?

He raised his staff, ready to intervene.

But then, Fengmo’s screaming grew even more desperate.

“No, my power—my power, give it back, give it back, my power, ah!”

In the midst of the wailing, Fengmo’s body began to tremble violently, dissolving like a stream of melting air. Wisps of energy flowed from where Su Yan touched him, swirling around Su Yan’s body.

Under the influence of the energy, Su Yan’s small form slowly lifted off the ground, suspended in midair.

“Huh? What’s this?” Gu Chongyan was momentarily stunned. This didn’t seem to be Fengmo unleashing another trick, but rather, something special happening between Su Yan and him.

Realizing this, Gu Chongyan refrained from acting, instead waving his staff to reveal a unique magic circle on Su Yan’s skin.

It was the magic circle he had placed upon Su Yan in the past to seize the power of the beast; after the beast died, the circle lost its effect. Now, it could help Gu Chongyan understand what was happening within Su Yan.

Through the circle, Gu Chongyan sensed that the demonic power of Fengmo was being absorbed at a tremendous rate by Su Yan’s body.

Normally, absorbing demonic power would transform one’s body into that of a demon. But Su Yan’s body had already been altered by another demonic force; though still human, to demonic power it was little different from a demon’s physique.

Thus, the demonic power, mistaking Su Yan for a demon, did not transform him, but instead became pure magic stored within him.

Gu Chongyan now understood. Indeed, Su Yan and Fengmo were like opposite poles of a magnet.

One, having discarded his demon body, was left only with demonic power fused with elemental forces.

The other, a human transformed by demonic power, but without a complete demon body.

Because Fengmo’s power far exceeded Su Yan’s, he could have devoured Su Yan’s body, regained his demon form, and returned to Hell.

But conversely, when Fengmo’s power was less than Su Yan’s, Su Yan could absorb his power in reverse.

Normally, this would be impossible. But Fengmo had been grievously wounded by Gu Chongyan, weakened to the brink of extinction. Now, with the magic circle sealing him, unable to access even a shred of power, he was actually weaker than Su Yan.

The moment Su Yan touched him, he was drained of his strength.

Seeing this, Gu Chongyan finally relaxed.

As the power was absorbed, Fengmo’s form grew increasingly indistinct. When the last trace was drawn away, with a soft pop, he truly became a formless breeze, erased entirely from the world.

Su Yan, having absorbed Fengmo’s power, now floated in midair, encircled by currents of energy.

Within a few breaths, the land was swept by wild winds and shrouded in dark clouds, as if the apocalypse had descended.