Chapter 339: You're Awake?
Chapter 339: Chapter 326: You’re Awake?
Deng Yuan’s heart stirred with excitement.
‘There are still righteous and brave ones among our race.’
“But, it’s a funny story.”
Deng Gu’s crystal flickered faintly as it said with a laugh, “That elder was named Deng Cheng. It told me, quite honestly, that its Hanging Lamp had broken. It saw another member of the Lamp Race and came over for help, but it ended up scaring everyone away.”
“It wasn’t some great savior, but it rescued me and lit my fire. That’s what I believe the Lamp Race should be.”
“We may be weak and filled with Fear, but we should also possess courage and persistence. Just like the great artisans of the past, who created the Sun and drove away the black fog. That is what we should do for ourselves and for all of the Lamp Race.”
Deng Gu’s crystal burned like a flame, unreservedly displaying the scorching colors of its heart.
Deng Yuan had named itself after the kite. It had heard of a tool that could fly into the sky, soaring above the fog. The kite could gaze down upon the land in freedom, detached from the heavy pull of the ground.
It wanted to build a brand new type of Celestial Lantern.
The Celestial Lantern would not only provide light but also carry the Lamp Race through the sea of fog where Fog Beasts gathered, flying toward a distant, unknown future, no matter what awaited them there.
Deng Yuan poured all its energy into building the Celestial Lantern.
It collected materials and resources from above and below ground, following the word-of-mouth traditions of the great artisans of the past while also experimenting with numerous new techniques.
The Celestial Lantern was, in essence, an advanced version of the Hanging Lamp, but its scale and size were hundreds of times larger.
To ensure the Celestial Lantern’s endurance, it was best to use the High Level material All-Purpose Stone as its core. This would guarantee that both liquid and solid fuels were utilized to their fullest, reducing consumption and increasing brightness.
Deng Yuan received help from many of the Lamp Race, including advice on resources and techniques. Among them were even some of those who hunted their own kind.
For many years, no one had attempted to build a Celestial Lantern. Just keeping their Hanging Lamps lit and staying alive was hard enough.
It was then that Deng Yuan realized the Lamp Race itself was complex.
Darkness and light, filth and ideals, fighting spirit and despair—all these contradictions existed simultaneously within the Lamp Race.
After so many years, a Celestial Lantern once again shone in the sky. All of the Lamp Race looked up, and beneath the brilliant, dazzling light, a joyous fire flickered in the crystals atop their heads.
Unlike before, this Celestial Lantern could also carry Deng Yuan into the air.
The Celestial Lantern flew higher and higher, as if lifted by a great, unseen hand, soaring straight toward the pinnacle of the black clouds.
The crystal of this great Lamp Race artisan had grown quite dim. It sat in a small wooden basket attached beneath the Celestial Lantern, watching as it slowly ascended, broke through the black fog, and entered a place never before seen.
It looked down below.
Beneath the wooden basket, the black fog formed an isolating, dark ocean. It was thick and dense, separating the higher sky from the world below. And above the black fog, a massive, luminous body was radiating boundless brilliance.
Deng Yuan stared blankly at that golden heart of light.
‘So the Sun is still there. It’s just above the black fog. The sea of fog below severed its connection with the Lamp Race. The clouds are white, and light is everywhere.’
The world’s true face sent waves of emotion through Deng Yuan.
‘I have to tell everyone! I have to tell them that this world is full of light and heat!’
‘As long as we drive away the black fog, everything will be alright!’
‘But… how do I get back?’
This was a journey for which it had never planned a return. When Deng Yuan had tied itself to the Celestial Lantern, it had no such intention. Its own oil had run dry, its lamp was extinguished. Returning was impossible.
Just as it was racking its brain, the entire Celestial Lantern was suddenly pulled by an indescribable force into a bizarre and dazzling world.
Deng Yuan was overcome by a sense of suffocation, as if it had returned to its initial, muddled state of slumber.
‘Am I dying?’
‘So this is what death feels like… I can’t accept it… I can’t…’
The world started to sway, then it felt like a wood chip falling into a sea of clouds, continuously rocking, drifting down with the waves.
The violent jolt of an impact snapped Deng Yuan back to its senses.
The first thing it did was look at its hands.
The line was still wrapped tightly in its grasp.
‘The Celestial Lantern is still here… I’m back! Back in Fog Harbor!’
‘This is great!’
Deng Yuan struggled to get up but found its body wouldn’t obey.
Its body was severely damaged; its metal limbs were practically falling apart.
“You’re awake?”
A person completely encased in silver armor looked down at Deng Yuan on the ground.
“Who… are you?”
Deng Yuan had never seen anyone like this. The surroundings were blindingly bright, the light so intense it felt unreal. The ground was covered in precious, pure sand.
Around the armored person were several strangely shaped creatures. Some were small and had tails, while others were tall and wrapped in some kind of cloth… They were whispering among themselves, but Deng Yuan couldn’t understand a word they were saying.
Only the armored person could understand it.
“Where is this?” Deng Yuan asked, enduring the pain.
“This is Yunzhong Temple, a place shined upon by Lord Yao God. You’ve fallen just outside Sand City.”
The voice sounded pleased. “I never expected to see one of the Lamp Race this way. You must have suffered a great deal to make it here, haven’t you?”
Deng Yuan was stunned. “You know of the Lamp Race? Are there others of the Lamp Race here?”
“Yes, there are. I’m one of them.”
The armored person patted their chest, producing a metallic CLANG CLANG.
“My name is Deng Cheng. I’ve been dead for many years, though. I was lucky enough to be taken in by Lord Yao God’s world.”
‘Deng Cheng?’
Deng Yuan suspected this was all a hallucination at the moment of death. “Do you know of Deng Gu?”
“Deng Gu… The name sounds familiar.”
The person seemed to be lost in thought. “Ah, I remember now. A member of the Lamp Race I once lit and awakened. Did you know it? Is it doing well?”
“It died a long time ago…”
Deng Yuan said with a touch of sadness.
“Your crystal’s brightness is low. You’re suffering from Weakness.” The one calling themself Deng Cheng observed for a moment. “Here, lift it onto the Fire Steam Carriage and take it back to Sand City for repairs and treatment.”
“I know you have many questions right now. We’ll get to them one by one. For now, rest. Don’t burn yourself out.”
Deng Yuan stated frankly, “My Life Spine has already burned out. I’m about to die.”
The other replied, “This place is filled with fire and light. You are very much alive, and you will continue to live.”
“How is that possible…”
“Nothing is impossible.”
Deng Cheng said in a firm and confident tone, “As I said, this is the world shined upon by Yao God. In Sand City, death is just another beginning.”
“Besides, we have All-Purpose Stone and Magic Oil here, which can help your Life Spine continue to burn. Don’t worry, you won’t die!”
Everything felt like a waking dream.
Deng Yuan looked up.
The light of the golden Sun filled the entire world. There was no darkness or Fog Beasts here. The God was still present.