145: Hidden and waiting, the Ancestor descends!

Bedrock finished his instructions, casting a meaningful glance at Lu Yuan.

“I will assist you from the shadows.”

“Remember, we are ‘the same kind’.”

No sooner had he spoken than he flipped his hand again, and an unfamiliar card, glowing with an orange light, appeared in his palm.

A Seven-Star Orange card!

He pressed the card onto the fake crown he had just created.

Then, he reached out and gently stroked the crown.

A strange scene unfolded.

The fake crown, radiating immense fire energy, along with Bedrock’s figure, began to waver and distort like ink dropped into water, its edges gradually turning transparent!

Within a few breaths, both completely vanished into thin air, as if they had never existed!

Lu Yuan immediately released his Source Power perception, probing the surroundings.

Empty!

Inside the temple, apart from him and the naive Flame Sprites, there was no trace or aura of Bedrock.

Including the fake crown!

Only his hands could feel its weight!

His heart tightened.

“Are the people of the ‘Kindling’ all this formidable?!”

“This fellow is definitely an old fox!”

This concealment ability was more eerie than any stealth card he had ever seen.

Lu Yuan even suspected that if he hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, even if Bedrock stood right in front of him, he might not have noticed.

“Jiji? Gugu?”

The Flame Sprites also seemed completely unaware of Bedrock’s disappearance, still circling Lu Yuan, rubbing their small heads against his legs, making affectionate chirping sounds.

They tilted their heads, looking at Lu Yuan, then at the spot where Bedrock had stood, seemingly wondering why the “big guy” had suddenly vanished.

Lu Yuan quickly put the now transparent fake crown into his backpack.

Then, he tightened his grip on the Breath Concealment Transfer Card.

The cool touch of the card brought his chaotic thoughts to a gradual calm.

He adjusted his breathing, composed himself, focused all his attention, and waited quietly.

Waiting for that aged figure to appear... Meanwhile, at the peak of the volcano.

The bloody melee triggered by the heart of rules was nearing its end.

The dozens of Card Masters from various major forces were now reduced to just a few, all wounded, their Source Power depleted, their eyes filled with exhaustion and the hollowness after madness.

Zhou Wanhe and his brother, Zhang Yue, Duan Kong, De Xiner, Li Qian, and others, though still alive, were all at the end of their tether.

Beneath their feet lay piles of bodies, some of enemies, some of former comrades.

The Old Flame Spirit’s figure appeared at the edge of the volcano crater at some point.

At this moment, he didn't even look at the people fighting below, casually swinging the giant hammer in his hand.

“Whoosh—!”

A violent flame swept out, knocking everyone away.

Immediately, the Old Elf began to chant again.

As he chanted, the scattered dark-red slate fragments seemed to respond to a summons, trembling and transforming into streaks of light, converging towards the Old Elf’s palm.

He spread his massive hand, allowing the fragments to fall into it, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Finally, he had succeeded!

He carefully counted each fragment, ensuring none were missing.

Following that, the Old Elf’s figure, along with the slate fragments, transformed into a pillar of soaring firelight, instantly vanishing into the sky, as if he had never appeared.

Only a scene of wreckage remained at the volcano’s peak, along with the surviving, shell-shocked remnants of the battle, looking at each other.

Zhou Wanhe struggled to lift his head, looking in the direction where the Old Elf had disappeared, his eyes filled with resentment.

“Damn it... Damn it!”

Zhang Yue and Duan Kong were in similar states; they didn’t even have the strength to stand up.

De Xiner’s face was even paler, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth, her eyes unfocused.

They had gone to great lengths, sacrificed countless subordinates, only to ultimately pave the way for others.

This feeling was worse than death... Approximately ten minutes later.

At the entrance of the main temple hall, space subtly warped.

Then, an aged figure, holding a giant hammer engulfed in raging flames, slowly emerged.

It was the Old Flame Spirit!

“Jijigu! Jijigu!”

The Flame Sprites, who had been frolicking in the hall, immediately let out a burst of joyful chirps upon seeing the Old Elf.

They eagerly flew over, gathered around the Old Elf’s legs, and affectionately rubbed their fluffy little heads against his rough skin, as if expressing the joy of a long-awaited reunion.

A rare hint of warmth appeared on the Old Flame Spirit’s face, etched with the furrows of time.

He extended his large hand and gently stroked the heads of the little elves one by one.

Ancient and convoluted elven language slowly flowed from his mouth, imbued with tenderness and contentment.

Until he passed Lu Yuan, and gave a sharp slap to the Little Fellow’s head.

The Flame Sprite yelped in pain, chirping loudly.

The other Little Fellows responded with “jijigugu” sounds, seemingly reporting something to him.

Lu Yuan stood not far away, quietly observing the scene.

Only when he was closer could he feel the Old Elf’s profound and vast aura, like an abyss or a sea—Sixth-tier? No, at least Seventh-tier!

Although it didn’t apply to the Source Power system.

That sense of oppression was very real.

But what caught his attention more was the affection that inadvertently showed in the Old Elf’s eyes when he communicated with these Little Fellows.

This somewhat calmed his heart.

At least, this old fellow wasn’t completely cold-blooded and ruthless.

After a moment, the Old Elf’s conversation with the Little Fellows seemed to conclude.

His flame-burning eyes suddenly turned towards Lu Yuan.

His gaze was scrutinizing, and also probing, as if wanting to see through Lu Yuan from the inside out.

Lu Yuan’s heart tightened.

Here it comes!

On the surface, he remained composed, meeting the Old Elf’s gaze without flinching, his expression neither humble nor arrogant.

He displayed the composure of an Oscar-winning actor.

He knew that any hint of panic at this moment could arouse the other party’s suspicion.

The Old Elf’s gaze lingered on Lu Yuan for several breaths.

Then, the Old Elf’s gaze slowly swept across the empty temple, seemingly searching for something.

When his gaze passed over the spot where Bedrock had disappeared earlier, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Although it was only for an instant, Lu Yuan, who had been fully focused, keenly caught it.

Lu Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.

Could he have been discovered?

Impossible! Bedrock’s concealment methods were so clever...

Just as Lu Yuan’s thoughts raced, the Old Flame Spirit finally spoke.

He spoke in human language!

“Outsider.”

“Let’s talk.”